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We live in a world of skeptics it seems. People seem to be pessimistic, on guard, suspicious of others motives. It seems to be the darker side of our human tendencies I suppose. We're all prone to it from time to time...some more than others. Perhaps its the media age where we learn so easily of all the scandals of religious leaders, politicians, corporate CEO's, celebrities, pro athletes etc... Perhaps it's also a by product of living in a "marketing age" where you gotta "read the fine print"...there's "always a catch"...you got to "buy 2 to get one free"...you get the idea. It seems it's never for real, so we're conditioned to be suspect of the "deals" that are too good to be true. I've been burned...I'm sure you have to. The same skeptical tendencies come into our hearts as we explore things spiritual or religious...is it for real? It's too good to be true? It's another scam? There must be a hidden agenda? It's got to be about money, ego, or some kind of power trip...at least we tend to think that way sometimes...so we don't trust easily. Many see philosopher's, and religious teachers this way. Whether its Socrates, Plato, Buddha, Confucius, Mohammad, Joesph Smith, L. Ron Hubbard, or Jesus...we tend to be suspect of whats the "real story" behind the facade. Now I'm not one to simply say, there all nuts or evil people trying to deceive us...and only Jesus is right. That would be very presumptuous of me. The bible encourages us to "believe the best of every person", so I choose to believe these philosophers and religious teachers all were seeking truth...genuine truth...as best they could. They all were attempting to discover God's truth and explain it to mankind as best their search would allow. Now, though sincere in their search, they may have only discovered a portion of the truth, being limited, as all human beings are. It is interesting though to see how they all have found room to include Jesus into their philosophical and religious equations. To some He is a wise philosopher, to others a prophet, perhaps another might say He attained christ-consciousness or was simply a humble teacher of what was good and right. But the real proof lay in the events of the first Easter morning. That morning, Jesus proved He was God...not just another guy talking about God. That's what separates Jesus from the rest. He conquered the one thing no philosopher or religious teacher has ever conquered...death! All the great leaders of the past have indeed died, in spite of the noble search for truth. But Jesus said "He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life"...and proved it. Living Proof, He rose from the dead. Hundreds saw Him after He rose. Men and women who hid in fear suddenly became bold and very. very public about seeing Jesus alive again. In fact they changed the world with that message...a message of hope...victory over sin and death was available to everyone through Jesus! Many of them died cruel martyrs deaths as they spread that message. History tells us not "one" ever denied Jesus was alive again. No one ever said they "made it up", even when facing torture and impending death. The significance of the resurrection of Jesus at the very least should prompt any of us to examine who Jesus said He was, and what He taught...regardless of your spiritual view...its worth a serious look. This once in history occurrence completes the miracle events of Good Friday...Jesus sacrifice on the cross (that we spoke of in a previous blog entry "Things Are Not Always As They Seem"). The sacrificial death of Jesus, paying the price for you and me, removed the penalty of sin for all who trust Jesus in that sacrifice. That penalty the bible says is "the wages of sin is death"...and Jesus took care of that and proved it! He not only died for all our sins...He rose from the dead to prove He even had the power over death itself! That penalty of sin was of no effect now...in the hands of the giver of life...Jesus! Living Proof He was God and that we could trust Him with our eternal life. How cool is that! "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life though Jesus Christ", the bible tells us (Romans 6:23). To think God loves us that much! Our hope at FRIENDS is that we can be a group of Jesus followers who will share this Good News with everyone within our spheres of relationship, in authentic and loving ways, so that all may know how much God loves and cares for them! Join us in this adventure and watch what God does through us and in us!
be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas
Have you ever heard of the Knob Cone pine? They grow predominantly in the Pacific Northwest. They are a very interesting tree, a very unique creation in God's world of nature. You see the Knob Cone pine tree can only reproduce under the most unusual of circumstances, or so it seems. There is one circumstance that ideally releases the seeds contained in the "cones" of the tree. The cones are extremely hard, and virtually impossible to open...except by fire! The heat of forest fires causes a reaction within the cone that releases gases, that as the cones cool after a forest fire, the cones slowly expand and pop open, releasing the seeds... and that allows the Knob Cone pine to flourish! Isn't that wild! The very thing you think would destroy these trees, actually is essential to their survival as a species! To think God wired into the trees DNA a way for them to survive and even flourish in the aftermath of their greatest threat...fire! That's so cool...amazing really. It's a constant reminder to me of how we, as humans, don't always see things, as God does. Things are not always as they seem. The bible says we "know in part", that we "see through glass dimly", that in a sense, we just don't know what God does. Isn't that the truth! I suppose if we were smarter than God, then what kind of God would that be? I know we "think" we are smarter sometimes...we think we know what is right...or wrong...or just...or fair...or what makes sense. But in reality, we are very limited in our understanding of our world, human nature, our universe, and things spiritual. Now its awesome to strive to gain more understanding in all those things, but not to the point where we diminish God's view in favor of ours. Because much of life, naturally and spiritually isn't always as it seems. Like the Knob Cone pine tree, it almost doesn't make sense...but in the end...how brilliant was that idea! As we learn to trust God's ways, our ways begin to make more sense, even though, to a degree we simply can't always comprehend everything. Like when Jesus died at the crucifixion. We remember this time in history, on the Friday before Easter. Now that's an event in history that almost doesn't make sense in human terms. Anyone who has seen the "Passion of the Christ" got a taste of the injustice of that day. Jesus, a man of the people, a lover of the downtrodden, a forgiver of the sinner, an includer of the outcast, a man who brought a taste of the Kingdom of God in such a way that crowds gathered wherever He went...and He was unjustly accused. Not only accused, but a sham of a trial convicted Him...to death. Now His enemies probably figured he was toast. Satan himself, in the spiritual realm, celebrated the defeat and end to Jesus attempts to reveal the Kingdom of God to people on earth. His death would end that...or so they thought. You see God was once again, one step ahead. Like the Knob Cone pine, the very thing that seemed to destroy...actually was essential in bringing new life! As Jesus died, He paid the price of every sin, that anyone has ever committed, for all time. It gave each person the opportunity to have a right relationship with God...no more barriers between man & God. The payment for sin was paid, so you and I wouldn't have to pay it. "There is no greater love than this", Jesus said, "than a man lay down His life for another". Now I know it seems harsh for God to declare that "the wages of sin is death"...you may not think its even fair. But since God Himself submitted to His own punishment, in place of you and me, then does it matter if you "think" its fair? If God's penalty is "way over the top unfair and harsh" to you, then what's it matter, since He paid the penalty for you! If anything it shows how incredibly determined He is to have you know Him and be in relationship with Him...He wanted nothing to get in the way! Now it all rests in your free will...your choice to trust Him with your life...or your choice to do your own thing? God is gentleman enough to give you that choice...so now it's your call. I know that I have personally come to a place in my spiritual journey where I trust God enough to admit "His ways are not like mine". He is God and I'm not, and I'm glad. The fact that God can bring the opportunity of eternal life to you and me through death...seems very ironic, even baffling, yet somehow brilliant. The very thing that Satan thought would end the Kingdom of God...actually has caused it to flourish. For now, 2,000 years later, hundreds of millions, even billions have said "yes" to trusting Jesus...accepting His sacrifice on their behalf...and enjoying the benefits of living in right relationship with a God that's crazy in love with them! Now this is why this Friday before Easter, is known as a "Good Friday".
be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas
Go outside... And praise the God who mapped the stars out in the sky. Gather ‘round with those who love and sing...He is our King. No one should be left out... No one should be left out... No one should be left out... No one should be left out... If you have air to breathe, Hear your call to sing... I love this song by Robbie Seay. If you don't have it downloaded on your iPod yet...you should! Soak it in as you take in the wonder all around you. It evokes that sense of awe we feel when we take time to linger a bit and enjoy God's creation. A sense rises up...a wonderful sense of I'm so small...and He's so beyond my imagination. Yet a humbling sense that God created it all for you & me. You see it wherever you live or travel. In Texas you see the wide open plains, the rolling hills to the south, the forested hills and wide open spaces in the eastern part of the state. Rivers, lakes, and wonder as far as the eye can see. It's amazing, from the sky scraping metropolis of Dallas to the farms, ranches and forests surrounding Tyler, God's handy work is on display. When I lived in Hawaii, it was the majestic mountains rising over the tropical rain forests that meet the crystal clear turquoise blue ocean. The waves gently rolling in with a breeze onto the soft grainy sand unique to Hawaiian shores. When we lived in the Northwest we saw God's hand at work in a uniquely blessed location. Man it's everywhere...lush green landscapes, forests, lakes and rushing rivers. With Eugene, in particular, being such a cool area where all these things are right around us every day...and drive 15 minutes and your rolling through awesome fields of farm land and pastures of grazing animals. Go 45 minutes east and you're seeing waterfalls and snowy peaks throughout the Cascade mountains. Go 45 minutes west through the Coastal Range and you'll see the incredible Oregon coast where the forest meets the beach and rolling sand dunes. It truly is so inspiring to take some time and "go outside"...and admire God's handy work...a Master Artists' work no doubt! Whether its the rolling hills of east texas, or the oceans of Hawaii, or the forests of the Pacific Northwest...and everywhere in between...God's artistic flair is on display. The bible speaks of creation itself testifying to God's awesomeness, wonder and awe! We are so blessed to have it so close to us every day. So take some time to "go outside" and praise the God who mapped it all out...for you! I also love how the song speaks of "the call" that goes out to everyone...that no one should be left out. God's heart is that all of us are His...we're all included. It encourages me to "go outside" in other ways...perhaps out of my comfort zones...beyond my convenience... beyond my preferences...to include others. To reach out to everyone, so that they may be drawn towards the One who loves them so much...a God that's crazy about them! That means I need to get "outside" church..."outside" my home perhaps...maybe even "outside" my neighborhood...but what a privilege it is to "love others" as I am loved by God. It's a challenge, but something FRIENDS is deeply committed to...to go "outside"...so that no one is left out...so that all have an opportunity to explore and experience their journey of faith. Our privilege is to be a group of Jesus followers that is willing to "go outside", and "love others" in the hope we may point them towards a God that wants to draw them close. And together we can "go outside" and join the song of praise to the God that paints us a new canvas every day! At FRIENDS our commitment is...as long as we "have air to breathe"..."no one should be left out!"
be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas
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We live in a world of skeptics it seems. People seem to be pessimistic, on guard, suspicious of others motives. It seems to be the darker side of our human tendencies I suppose. We're all prone to it from time to time...some more than others. Perhaps its the media age where we learn so easily of all the scandals of religious leaders, politicians, corporate CEO's, celebrities, pro athletes etc... Perhaps it's also a by product of living in a "marketing age" where you gotta "read the fine print"...there's "always a catch"...you got to "buy 2 to get one free"...you get the idea. It seems it's never for real, so we're conditioned to be suspect of the "deals" that are too good to be true. I've been burned...I'm sure you have to. The same skeptical tendencies come into our hearts as we explore things spiritual or religious...is it for real? It's too good to be true? It's another scam? There must be a hidden agenda? It's got to be about money, ego, or some kind of power trip...at least we tend to think that way sometimes...so we don't trust easily. Many see philosopher's, and religious teachers this way. Whether its Socrates, Plato, Buddha, Confucius, Mohammad, Joesph Smith, L. Ron Hubbard, or Jesus...we tend to be suspect of whats the "real story" behind the facade. Now I'm not one to simply say, there all nuts or evil people trying to deceive us...and only Jesus is right. That would be very presumptuous of me. The bible encourages us to "believe the best of every person", so I choose to believe these philosophers and religious teachers all were seeking truth...genuine truth...as best they could. They all were attempting to discover God's truth and explain it to mankind as best their search would allow. Now, though sincere in their search, they may have only discovered a portion of the truth, being limited, as all human beings are. It is interesting though to see how they all have found room to include Jesus into their philosophical and religious equations. To some He is a wise philosopher, to others a prophet, perhaps another might say He attained christ-consciousness or was simply a humble teacher of what was good and right. But the real proof lay in the events of the first Easter morning. That morning, Jesus proved He was God...not just another guy talking about God. That's what separates Jesus from the rest. He conquered the one thing no philosopher or religious teacher has ever conquered...death! All the great leaders of the past have indeed died, in spite of the noble search for truth. But Jesus said "He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life"...and proved it. Living Proof, He rose from the dead. Hundreds saw Him after He rose. Men and women who hid in fear suddenly became bold and very. very public about seeing Jesus alive again. In fact they changed the world with that message...a message of hope...victory over sin and death was available to everyone through Jesus! Many of them died cruel martyrs deaths as they spread that message. History tells us not "one" ever denied Jesus was alive again. No one ever said they "made it up", even when facing torture and impending death. The significance of the resurrection of Jesus at the very least should prompt any of us to examine who Jesus said He was, and what He taught...regardless of your spiritual view...its worth a serious look. This once in history occurrence completes the miracle events of Good Friday...Jesus sacrifice on the cross (that we spoke of in a previous blog entry "Things Are Not Always As They Seem"). The sacrificial death of Jesus, paying the price for you and me, removed the penalty of sin for all who trust Jesus in that sacrifice. That penalty the bible says is "the wages of sin is death"...and Jesus took care of that and proved it! He not only died for all our sins...He rose from the dead to prove He even had the power over death itself! That penalty of sin was of no effect now...in the hands of the giver of life...Jesus! Living Proof He was God and that we could trust Him with our eternal life. How cool is that! "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life though Jesus Christ", the bible tells us (Romans 6:23). To think God loves us that much! Our hope at FRIENDS is that we can be a group of Jesus followers who will share this Good News with everyone within our spheres of relationship, in authentic and loving ways, so that all may know how much God loves and cares for them! Join us in this adventure and watch what God does through us and in us!
