More Than Bread

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When I look around it seems like the people who really live life, the people who make a difference, the people I want to be like, are people who deeply care about
something that matters. Bob Pierce was the founder of World Vision, what has become one the largest Christian relief and development organizations in the world today.  But it all started with a holy discontent. One day as a young pastor in Korea, Bob watched with disbelief as a young girl in third world Asia died while standing in line for food. When Pierce tried to find out why, he was told there just wasn't enough food at the head of the line.  That birthed a sacred frustration in Bob's heart and he wrote in the margins of his Bible, "God break my heart for the things that break your heart." 

I believe we each have a holy discontent with our name on it, a broken place that God will call us to serve, maybe even rebuild. But we won't find that place without a soft heart. And so we pray like Pierce, "God break my heart for the things that break yours."

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In this episode and the next few, we are going to dive into fasting. Fasting opens up time, makes space in our lives for something that matters more than what we are giving up. But I think fasting also somehow softens our hearts. That's what Joel 2 is all about. It's a reminder that some things are worth crying for. I believe that the next move of God is going to be a movement of tears. Charles Finney in his book, "Lectures on Revival" said, “When the sinfulness of sinners grieves, humbles and distresses Christians expect revival... Sometimes their behavior drives Christians to prayer, breaking them down, making them mourn with tender hearts.  They weep night and day. Instead of scolding and reproaching they pray.  

Then you can expect revival. And that causes me to pray, "God would you give us the gift of tears?"

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I'll be honest; I spend way too much time telling God, "If you would only give me more, more influence, more people at church, more money, then I could really make a difference in the world.  Because people with more, they make a difference. But here's the bad news, sometimes the more stuff we have, the harder it is to follow Jesus. But if we will open our arms and surrender all, we get so much more in return. Because...you can trust Jesus. This is truly the great gamble. It's the gamble for greatness. Can I trust Jesus? Do I believe Jesus? If I get good at serving will I ever taste greatness?  

Have you taken the gamble of greatness? 

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I'd guess that most of us have experienced the illusion of the myth of more.  If I had just had one-thing more; one more relationship, one more degree, one more  promotion, one more toy, then life would be good. What are you chasing today?  What one-thing do you lack? Maybe it's a dream or a passion, a million dollars, a better relationship, a vacation, a new job, or health. Or maybe you have simple desires like me on that trip to D.C, (some people call them shallow, I call them simple). Sometimes all I want is for the red-light at Krispy Kreme donuts.

And sometimes we get the red light, but our souls are strangely restless, because our souls are made for Christ. In other words, if you gain everything you heart thinks you desire, but miss Jesus, you will walk away sad!

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We are starting a new series for Lent, a season of preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. For the next 40 or so episodes we are going to unpack two themes, "making space for Jesus" and "taking the great gamble." And we are going to start with John's vision of Jesus in the book of Revelation.

So as we pause here at the beginning of Lent, what will John tell us in Revelation 1?" I think his simply message might be, "Stop taking Jesus for granted. Ask Jesus to take first place in your heart. Ponder the stories...ponder with specificity who he
is and what he did... his greatness and his glory...his wisdom and his grace... ponder the cross...and his amazing love.  And let him ask you the question, Who do you say I am?"

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Matthew 16 is one of only two places where Jesus uses the word "church." He says, "I will build my church and when I build my church, the gates of hell will not be able to stand against it." In essence Jesus is saying, "My legacy is a church that is an unstoppable force." But we know that that unstoppable force is at times an unspeakable mess. So here's my question,

"When people come to us, do they see Jesus?"

BY THE WAY -- I'll talk about joining me on a social media+ fast in this episode, if you join me, would you click the link below and let me know. I'll get you more information. It's part of become his church, as we make space for Jesus!

Social Media+ Fast

If you need to cut and paste us this https://calvary.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/780/responses/new

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In Mark 6, Jesus was amazed by the unbelief of those who had grown up with him. I wonder if I sat down with Jesus and he pointed out all that he has done for me & thru me and around me...if he might be amazed by my lack of faith?  How about you? Have you lost your wonder? Where am I on the ho-hum scale? Have I lost my sense of wonder for the power, the love, the transcendent all-encompassing utter awe-fullness of God? Has Jesus become -- just-Jesus?  
      
If so, how do we go about...regaining our wonder?

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Mark 6:1-13 describes two completely different responses to Jesus. One response was an amazing lack of amazement. The other response is all-in surrender. So here's what I believe. I believe that if you come to Jesus with ears to hear and eyes to see...you will. If you don't, you won't. Sometimes our lack of seeing is more on us, than it is on him. We come unprepared. We come with distracted minds, souls so saturated with stuff that we don’t really have space in our lives to be amazed by Jesus. 

Let me ask it this way, "Can you imagine growing up with Jesus?" Sometimes I do. I guess the question that jumps out frm Mark 6 is "What would it've been like to grow up with Jesus?"

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 One of my favorite stories is a story of four guys contending for the life of their friend. And while there is more than one thing, I'll share from that story, one of the most powerful realities it points to is this... "Your faith may bring life to your friends." Don't miss it when it says that Jesus looked at the faith that these four guys had and because of their faith, he forgave and healed a man. Your faith might be the catalyst needed for someone else to find life. At the risk of spoiling the surprise, let me share the end of the story in Luke 5.

Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!  And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, "We have seen amazing things today!" 

All because of the fellowship of the mat! 

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In 2025 Jesus may ask you to do something that you or others don't necessarily think is a good idea. "Not sure that will work Jesus." When he asks u to lean in, you are going to have to decide, do I trust that Jesus knows better than I do. Will I lean into what he tells me to do. Luke 5 is the story of a test for Peter and perhaps a test for us, because Jesus is looking for people who want to make a difference in 2025.  

And the people he's looking for are the kind of people who will say to him...if you say so Jesus, I will do it. Are you willing to say yes to Jesus?