February 09, 2005
Time...
It's time to make peace with the past...
The next move of God in my life is to release me from my past. I must make peace with it, by owning it and also coming to the revelation of how it makes me who I am and makes me gifted to touch people in the future. The answer is this, INTIMACY WITH GOD. I must become so intimate with Him, that I only hear Him and follow. This will release me from the FEAR OF MAN. You see, I have made IDOLS of men my entire life, seeking their approval- their affirmation. I've learned to manuvere, in my wounded state- in the church and secular cultures and survive there, protecting myself at all costs. Sure, God has changed countless people's lives thru me. But, my calling is not to be ordinary. I am a prophet. This means that I hear and I say. This "gets me out of the way" and brings Glory to God.
As Jason Upton sings..."better smash our idols if we wanna be, in the army of the Lord. our greatest idols are you and me, we'd better get on the threshing floor. when will we learn that God's strategy, is giving glory to the Lord? so, we'll smash our idols if we wanna be, in the army of the Lord."
When I can STOP thinking life is all about me, THEN, I will be free.
Posted by chasyrdrmz at 01:00 PM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2005
Super Sunday... the pinnacle of them all?
So, I'm kickin' it... at halftime of the Super Bowl. The one event that really brings our nation together each year. Everyone watches it... even the women who could care less about the game, catch it for the sweeeeeet commercials:) Hundreds of millions of dollars exchange hands in Vegas, at parties and in office pools all over the place. It makes me think about the whole world of sports- something that has been on my mind a lot this past year.
I've been completely addicted to sports since 1976, when I was 5 years old. I remember completely digesting each day's LA TIMES and memorizing every stat from every player in baseball, football and hoops. This led into a decent baseball career that led to paying for college and many championships. After baseball ended at 23, I got into marathons and ended up running 8 and finishing 7 of them. I definitely learned a lot PLAYING sports. Around that time, I got into fantasy sports. Fantasy sports progressed in my life until a point when I was in three leagues for each of the three major sports. I spent hours, each day, trying to keep on the cutting edge of who was hot, who was hurt... whatever it took to win. I even spent lots of money for internet sites to keep track.
God thrust this question in front of my face this year... JB- you yell and scream and jump up and down for your favorite sports teams... do you have that kind of passion for me? Do you spend even HALF the time, thinking and learning of me as you do about sports? Do you talk to your buddies about me? Or, do you disguise what you really want to talk about with empty sports banter? Tough, tough question. But... you know what? My heart was very receptive to this truth. I gave up fantasy sports forever, on the spot. I've drastically cut down on the amount of sports I watch. I think I've seen two or three games in the past 6 months. Funny thing is, I don't even miss them. Once I realized the Truth, they simply fell away.
It's crazy to see people's reactions to this as they discover that I'm not kidding. It's almost like they don't believe me. But, no matter the "cost" to me, I need to realize this. Sports was used, as a way for our fathers to connect with us. Where a generation of fathers was unable to communicate with their sons, sports bridged the gap. Therefore, we have a LOT of false connections with our fathers. Generations upon generations have suffered for this. The devil prowls about, like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may DEVOUR. What is his greatest weapon? DECEPTION. And, what better deception than making our priority and passion in this country sports? You have your Cheeseheads, Hogs, Baaaaaston fans, Laker junkies... where are our Priests, our Prophets, our Kings, our Evangelists??? Who will be a fanatic for Christ?
Conclusion? NO- I don't avoid sports completely. I'm not called to stick my head in the sand. I still get a feeling in my gut for Shaq, for the Pirates, Chargers and Lakers (well, I will after Kobe leaves). I love those Bruin hoopsters still. But, I am clear that sports are nothing more than deception. Something to "believe in" that is not real. Sports are a master of time-suckage. The Bible tells us that we are almost out of time. Yes, I'm slightly amused by this Super Sunday, but I'll tell you what... I LEFT THE BEST OF JB, AT CHURCH, ON THE ALTAR- IN WORSHIP TODAY. Worshipping Jesus was the best part, by far, of my Super Sunday.
Posted by chasyrdrmz at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)
February 04, 2005
We DON'T KNOW God!
About two years ago, I set about on a quest...
TO READ THE WORD OF GOD IN A COMPLETELY UNADULTERATED MANOR- WITHOUT THE DISTRACTION OF THE THEOLOGIES CREATED BY MAN. I WOULD ONLY HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, TO "LEAD ME INTO ALL TRUTH"
What I discovered, brought me to this realization... WE DON'T KNOW GOD AT ALL!
The Church in America has become more of a "middle-class moral code" than anything else. We pick and choose the most comfortable parts of Christianity and mold them to our liking. If we LOOK like we are living by certain standards, we feel good about ourselves and therefore assume that God is "happy" with us or that we live "Godly" lives. Not so. Not so, by a long shot.
We wonder why the Church has no power. We wonder why our friends no longer go to church with us. We wonder why we hardly see any miracles in our country. It's because we are aneorexic. We are lacking food. We are lacking the WORD. We THINK we are fat and well fed (by religion), yet we are barely able to make it through the day without falling to temptation, because we are so skinny and weak! We have no WORD in us! We are walking around dead and we don't even know it! I went to a church in Malibu, a few years ago, where I felt like an outcast for even bringing my Bible to church! It was incredible how the rantings and ravings from the pulpit could lack the Word so much. Interesting thing was, when the church eventually had a huge split, I saw people thrown into tailspins. This was from a lack of a Word-life. The pastors there did not equip their congregation for hard times... only for emotionally-charged good times, fueled by awesome worship. I've been on the other end of the church spectrum also, where the church had denied the Power of God and the gifts that He has given us in the Bible. In both instances, very lacking.
I was spiritually aneorexic for 25+ years! Luckily, my mother stressed the importance of memorization. This has kept me out of SO much trouble in my life, due to the Word of God that I had, hidden in my heart! But, I've fallen, over and over again, due to the lack of a Word-walk!
Here's my question... How do we, as the Church, claim to KNOW Jesus when we don't read His very Living Word? How do we live by something we don't understand? Are we really content to give our very lives to this mythical religion called Christianity, but not actually know what we are living by? Why do we look forward to a place called Heaven, when we don't even personally KNOW the God we are someday going to BE with? OK, OK... so, how do we know Him?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thiing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:1-5
The answer???: By reading and knowing the Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to "lead us into all truth". My life has not been the same since I began this pursuit. There are others who are taking this journey with me and they also have been forever changed. There is freedom in the Truth and I am now free. The best part of it all... the answer to all the problems... I'm now getting to know God.
Posted by chasyrdrmz at 12:11 PM | Comments (1)
The Goal... Is Elevation
So...
After the complete MESS that the U2 presale was, I ended up with Ticketmaster calling ME and offering GA tix. So, I guess I'm on the floor at Staples, along with some "raise the roof and have yerself a nosebleed, son" seats at the Pond, a few nights earlier. I'm pretty stoked. Much more on this in the coming months.
People often walk into my house and make some comment like, "you're a big U2 fan, huh?" or "didn't those guys used to be a Christian band?". I often just laugh and say, "you have no idea". Now, let me set the record straight...
I don't glorify or praise U2. I don't consider them celebrities. I don't try and sneak backstage to meet Bono. The truth is, U2 is a SOUNDTRACK FOR MY LIFE. Nothing more, nothing less. I think my wife said it best (remember, she met me when I was 32), "I feel like the guys from U2 are just gonna' show up at the door, one of these days. They are so much like our buddies." Ahhhh, so true. For every U2 song, there is a memory, a moment, an experience in the life and times of JB. There's a glimpse into the heavens and a trudging thru the mud. The music has made me laugh and cry and dance and worship. It's made me think deep thoughts. The concerts are nothing more than huge worship services. Church on a grand scale. A sliver of what heaven will be like. Thy Kingdom Come, if you will.
My first live concert experience was U2, on the Unforgettable Fire Tour. LA Sports Arena. 1985. Yes, I'd been to the Undercover and Altar Boys shows of the SoCal Christian Alternative Scene. But, this was different. Way different. This blew my face off. An experience I would try to replicate at church on many occasions. An experience that I have shelled out big bucks to attend- over and over again. 18 shows in all.
So- yeah, you may wander thru my house and see all the artwork on the walls. But, know that each one of those is not only strategically placed, but has deep and impactful meaning to me and my walk with my Creator.
...if the sky can crack, there must be some way back, to love and only love...
Posted by chasyrdrmz at 12:27 AM | Comments (0)