Because I don't ask

Sometimes things are right in front of us and we don't see it.  I've heard in sales that what separates an average salesperson from a great one is that the great one's ask for the sale.  God wants to give us the best.  I wonder how many times I limit God by my small mindset?  I convince myself that what I'm praying for is not that important.  I make the decision for God without even asking.  James 4:2b-3 says.

You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

I could care less about getting rich.  I didn't get into vocational ministry to make money.  But God has given me a dream.  It has been stuck in my head for almost 4 years.  It hasn't happened.  Was that dream just indigestion?  Or have I just said that my request is not important to God?  It is a God-sized dream.  It is something that I have no way of doing on my own.  Maybe I'm the problem.  Maybe I just ask with the wrong motives.  My dream has nothing to do with money.  So it isn't to get rich.  I'm asking God today.  I'm not sure how much I believe.  But God helps those with just a little faith.  That is all I have.

Is it really Good News?

"Our nation is going downhill"
"We've lost our way"
"Lord help us"
"America is in crisis" 

Insert your own favorite line.  I'm not going to pretend that I haven't had those thoughts.  But how does saying derogatory things about our nation or world in public help us in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ?  Just because we don't agree with something, doesn't mean we have to shout it from the Mountain Tops!  Publicly blasting our someone who isn't a follower of Jesus comes across as mean spirited.  Claiming that we are being persecuted is going to fall on deaf ears. Why do some Christians continually look for the next opportunity to be offended?

This is why I love the Apostle Paul.  He was shipwrecked, left for dead and put in jail but he was constantly giving thanks to God.  He was trashed by people outside of the Christian faith and from fellow believers.  Yet, Paul always looked at things from a positive perspective.  Whenever I read Paul's letters I get a heavy dose of conviction.  What right do I have to be offended by someone who doesn't claim to have a relationship with Jesus?  Why should we expect people outside the church to have the same convictions that we have?

Do circumstances and events in the world point to things getting worse? Yes.  But what time in History didn't?  When I read or talk to people who were around during World War II, that was a time of uncertainty.  I remember how scary things were during the Cold War.  If we believe that complaining or voting certain ways are going to change our world we are greatly mistaken.  The only thing that will change our society at any time in History is to turn to God. But putting "Turn or Burn" signs or anything like that on our church billboards will only turn people away.

I know that when things are rough for me I enjoy hearing good news.  I think the same is true for people who are struggling in their lives.  If things are going well, people don't think they need God.  But when things are tense or their world is falling apart, people want to hear good news.  What better news can we share than the truth that Jesus died for their sins? So is the "NEWS" we are spreading "GOOD" or are we turning people away?

Why complain about Modern Worship?

Psalm 105:2 says "Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!"

I've heard since I was a kid-people complaining about Modern Worship.  I grew up in a church that sang from the Hymnal but also sang "Choruses." For our day, I guess we were contemporary.  I can worship in any kind of style of music.  I will never say that Hymns are bad and Contemporary is good or visa versa.  The reality is Praising God is good no matter what style it is in.  My personal preference is Contemporary but I'm not a hater on Old Hymns and love the way new artists redo them for a Modern generation.

While I was pastoring one church I often heard snide remarks about a contemporary service we started.  Some griped about "7-11" songs.  They said the songs were seven words sung 11 times.  That may be funny to some but who cares?  Where in God's Word does it say you can't praise God over and over?  What can possibly be "Wrong" with any song that gives praise and glory to God and puts attention on Him rather than us?

Why would a growing follower of Jesus have a problem with someone praising God?