Soundtrack of Life

A few years ago Starbucks coffee came out with a TV ad campaign that has stuck in my memory.  In the commercial an everyday normal person wakes up to get ready for work, and finds that he has a rock band that follows him around giving him a soundtrack for his day.  The band is there to pump him up, to encourage him, and to narrate his day through their music, essentially giving him a soundtrack for his day. (You can find it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9buedr_YDQ)  As I watched this commercial I began to think, what if my life had a soundtrack?  What if a band narrated each day in my life as a Christian?  What would it sound like?

Throughout scripture we are reminded that as Christians our faith must be present and lived out in our daily actions as well as in our quiet time.  In the book of James we are told, “You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2:20, TNIV)  In Ephesians we are reminded that we have an obligation to use the gifts and experiences that God has given to us, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up“ (Ephesians 4:11-12, TNIV) There are countless other scripture passage that point us to the importance of living out our faith in our daily lives.  In each we are reminded that all that we do, in word and deed are a reflection of Jesus.  We are his ambassadors, his representatives; we are the body of Christ.  We are reminded that in all that we are to reflect Jesus to the world.

So what kind of soundtrack would our church have?  As someone walks through our doors are they overwhelmed by the love of Christ, and devotion to following Jesus?  Do they sense a passion for doing God’s will?  Do they hear a song of hope, a song of salvation?  Or looking to our lives personally, what would your soundtrack be like?  Would it be filled with joy or pain?  Would it be rockin’ or a bit mellower?  Would it be filled with words of life and encouragement, or lyrics of hurt, and discouragement?  Jesus has given to each of us gifts, talents, and experiences to bring glory to Him, and to make an impact in this world.  So the next time you are listening to your iPod, or radio, or stereo, be thinking, what would my soundtrack be like, what would our church’s soundtrack be like?  Is there a clear reflection of the message of Jesus, of Hope, of forgiveness, or restoration?  Whether or not we like it everyone around us is listening, waiting to see what they hear, what they see, and what they experience.  They are wondering and observing these Christians, and about our church.  So let your life’s song ring true, may it be a reflection of Jesus to everyone that you meet, and everyone that you know.

Be the Center

Right now I am working on my first major do-it yourself project at home.  One the key things I am learning is the key to how you begin your work.  You cannot just start building or demolishing without preparing the work site, getting key tools, and thinking your work through.  Now this may sound simple and straight forward, I mean how someone could not think carefully about the first steps, or the foundations that a project will be based around. Yet I think that sometimes we at church can be the worst culprits of doing this very thing.

I believe that too often God is not the center, the beginning, and the foundation of the work of Christians and churches.  Often discussions around church begin with logic and reasoning that has little to do with God, but instead preferences or strategic goals.  As we look to scripture we see a very different example laid out.  In this passage of Acts 15 the disciples are coming together for a first church council meeting to make some decisions on a number of heated topics, “When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them”. (Acts 15:4 TNIV)  Long before they began to get into the “business” of the church their conversation started with God.  What has God done?  How do we sense God moving and working around us?  By hearing and seeing how God is already at work they knew it would help them make better decisions.

In Psalm 78 we read about the importance of story.  The Psalm is about passing along your story and faith to your children so that they may continue to pass it along saying, “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.“ (Psalm 78:4, TNIV)  The focus of their story is not about great leaders or people, but about God.

As we seek to be God’s people, and do his work in this community is that where our center is?  If God is our center, we will be able to better discern his leading, and know where He is calling us.  What would our ministry team meetings look like if we began with sharing how God is at work?  It is so encouraging to hear about God’s work, and I believe we need to take more time to share about the work of God we see all around us.  I leave you with a few words from this song, “Jesus Be the Center”

Jesus Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live

Jesus be my vision
Be my help
Be my guide Jesus

Why roots?

It says in Psalm 1 of the Bible that, ”They (those people whose roots are in God) are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:3, TNIV). Now those who know trees, know the importance of roots.  Roots are how food and energy are taken in, roots are the way a plant holds itself upright, and is able to not just be pushed over by a strong wind or storm.  As Christians and those seeking God we too need deep roots for growth and protection against all that life throws at us.

Jesus told a parable in Matthew 7 about two homes, one that does not have good roots because they have not heard Jesus and put his words into practice; and that house is washed away when the storms of life come in.  The other house had a firm foundation, and could withstand the storms and winds because its roots were in the words of Christ and living the life He calls us to.  I desire deeper roots in God, and hope this website will be a place that we all can think, pray, and learn about God and his word, but also grow deeper roots with one another and with God.  All the posts are meant to be responded to, for questions and comments to be left, and thoughts to be pondered.  So please come with me on this journey as we all seek to grow deeper roots.