The new perspective on Jonah

When we think Jonah, we think fleeing from God's call. We think big fish. We think veggietales. But yesterday we had a new perspective on Jonah. We didn't look at how we run from God. We didn't debate wether the fish is figurative or literal. We sang no songs about pirates who don't do anything.

We looked at the reason why Jonah fled. If you remember, Jonah didn't go and preach the word of God to the Ninevites because he didn't want them to know God. He didn't want them to repent. He didn't want them to recieve grace from God. He didn't think they deserved it.

Who is Jonah to say who can believe in God? Who are we to say that? Our attitudes can be the same as Jonah. We don't want to love our enemies...we want them to get what they deserve! But that is not what we learned on Sunday. That is not what we learn from Jesus either.

Jesus tells us that we must love our enemies, and pray for those who want to
harm us

Isn't that a pill that is hard to swallow? But get this. When we love our enemies...it drives them crazy! They can't stand that. They would have us return evil for evil instead of turning the other cheek. They would have us give them the attention they are crying our for. But...its easier said than done. Most of the time we are not like Jesus. We don't love people...we judge people. We don't give people our time...we are to busy to hear thier story, to busy to care, to busy to share grace. We have better places to go (like Tarshish) and nicer people to minister to.

Next time God prompts you to be Jesus (compassionate, gracious, loving, merciful) to your enemy...don't run to the other end of the world. Instead...BE JESUS to them!

Thanks John Pleau for teaching us a new perspective on Jonah!

much Love,
johnny

Sunday ReCap, high school

What a day! Sunday is not a sabbath. It is the Lords day. The difference? Resting vs. Working! Sunday was so busy for the staff here at the church! We had so many little responsibilities with the Gala, that it is stressful! Praise God that He worked out that I (johnny) would not be teaching yesterday, but Courtney!

Court did a great job giving us an overview of the book of Ruth. She showed the suffering that happens in life, highlighting the fact that when you become a Christian it is not a tea party all the time (she didn't say that exactly, but she spent some time in England, where the tea party originated. I hear they are quite fun).

She also talked about suffering in her own life, with her plans being thwarted by God, just like Naomi. Only she didn't lose a husband and kids like Naomi, she lost a career that she was headed toward because a disease in her wrists. Ask her about it.

But what I loved the most about Court's teaching, was that the story doesn't end with suffering. The story ends with redemption. Just like the book of Ruth, Naomi is given a "kinsman redeemer", showing us that God had a plan all along! And when Court's suffering came to an end, she realized that God had a plan after all! The career change was God's plan, and she is now on staff at Believers Fellowship! (Can you believe it?!?)

Yeah, it is part time. Really part time. 20 hours...a month. But we are so excited to have Courtney on the team. Her love for God is shown through her love for students. Her main role will be helping with Middle School Girls Ministry! We are excited that God brought her around, and we look forward to seeing His plan unfold. Just like in the book of Ruth!

much Love,
johnny

Sunday ReCap, high school

Judges. Lots of cool stories of God raising up warrior judges to lead the people back to Him. When you sit down at Forza to take the half hour this week to read it...remember that it is very bloody at times and war like. Probably rated R for violence. But don't let that stop you!

And when you read it remember to look for the "judges cycle." That is: the people turn from God, suffer oppression from surrounding nations, cry out to God for help, God raises up a Judge, they turn back to God. This cycle happens a number of times in the book and we can learn a lot from it today.

This "cycle" happens because "everyone did what they saw fit" (Judges 17:6, 21:25). You see just how bad society is when you read Judges 19-21. It has gotten very bad in Israel! I don't think USA is at the point where the book of Judges ends, but similar to our society, the moral code is loosening greatly in recent years. Take for example sex before marriage. 60 years ago it was frowned upon in our society. Now, it is practically expected to have sex if you are dating. Because society says it okay, does it make it right? Is there a higher standard that we are to live by? Yes!

And this puts Christians in a tight spot. We DO have a moral code to live by, regardless of what society says. But it is becoming increasingly more difficult to BE a Christian. To constantly choose God over our selfish desires. To constantly be a light to this crooked and perverse generation (Phil. 2:15). I am praying for you!

God has set His standard higher. I am once again reminded of the classic DC Talk song, "I don't want it." It is very poetic (a stretch of the word) about how Christians should live in a society that has loose morals about sex. Check it out!

much Love,
johnny

Sunday ReCap, high school

What does Back to the Future and Leviticus have in common? Not much to be honest. Back to the future is about a time machine, which runs on electricity, but needs a nuclear reaction to create the 1.21 gigawatts of power to achieve time travel.

Leviticus is a bunch of details about how to properly sacrifice when performing different offerings, what is clean and unclean, various laws about sideburns and tattoos, and which feasts the people of Israel are supposed to keep.

However, consider this. Time travel can be dangerous...mainly because of the hazards that are involved with nuclear technology and stolen plutonium. If you notice all the precautions people take when dealing with the stuff (plutonium, not time travel) then you can see some similarities on how the priests of Israel were to approach God. Very Carefully. Special clothes, special cleansing (before and after), special rules. God can be dangerous if not approached properly. Check out Leviticus Ten to see how dangerous...

Se what we get in Leviticus is that we have a very Holy God that can not look upon sin. That is why He demands the sacrifices for the forgiveness of our sins. So if we have a mighty and holy God who we can't approach because we are sinners, what do we do today when we don't have priests making offerings on our behalf all the time? What do we do today to approach this mighty and holy God?

I am glad you asked! Today, we don't do all those offerings. Today we don't have priests go in on our behalf to sacrifice to the Lord. Today we don't have to fear coming into the presence of God. Today things are different. Today we have a great high priest. That man is Jesus. Check out what Hebrews says about our great high priest, and how different it is today!

Hebrews 4:14-16 "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who as been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Memorize it. Seriously. Do it. It will do wonders for you.

When you are going through rough times, it will help you. Believe me. When you don't think you can go to God because of what you have done, remember that we can approach the throne of grace with confidence because of what Jesus did for us!

much Love,
johnny