In The Battle

Is this what life is all about?

2008-10-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

Work... Eat... Sleep... Kiss the wife... Hug the kid... Wake up and do it all over again... Is this what God would have us do?

I'm thinking this is not the life that God would have for any of us. We as men especially end up running like dogs until we break down or until we are sick or we just lose heart. No one should live like that. One thing God has instilled in me is a breaking point and I normally know it right away. When my emotions aren't in check and I'm being the wrong kind of fruit, I know that I'm doing the wrong thing. The Bible does say, "You shall know them by their fruit."

I've been thinking about this the last day or so and God doesn't want you to be without joy. Nor do I think he would have life be mundane.

What I expect my brothers in Christ to hold me to...

2008-10-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

John 10:11-16

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

I know that in my story I used to be a major poser. I came to church, I sang the songs... I even prayed... but the problem was... I wasn't really listening to God, nor did I care what He was doing. I "played" church... so to you out there pretending, I say... Watch yourselves very closely. You are like a hired hand... You aren't a shepherd and you leave the sheep and the wolf... snatches them...

I'm asking those who are closest to me to hold me to this. I don't want you to be snatched up by the enemy. I don't want be the one who runs and hides like a coward. I will listen for the shepherd's voice... and I encourage you to do the same... We will become one flock!

Abandonment

2008-10-03T20:41:00.000-07:00

I'm going to share two things... One will be part of an audio book I'm reading right now by John Eldredge called... "Walking with God"... Check my Talkshoe widget on the right to hear an excerpt from this book. It has been stuck in my head all week... and I simply love this story.

The other has to do with the book... but something I had been dealing with that goes with the book.

Eldredge has one really good story about agreements we make ... with spirits... or even ourselves without even knowing it? For instance... Joshua 1:5 says, "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."... yet people feel abandoned by God sometimes. So who is saying that to them... I'll give you a for instance from my life. When my dad passed away 9 years ago, I know that death is a part of this world, but I didn't understand. This couldn't happen now. My dad won't see my children grow... and so I felt abandoned by God and confused and terribly upset. Now... that wasn't coming from God ... was it?.. of course not. And we know that contradicts His word. Could it be that some foul spirit was intervening to make me agree that God was distant and didn't care about me? I would say ... almost certainly. And I just don't know why I never thought about these things. And the Bible most certainly talks about the battles that we will engage. Just thought I'd share that.

In the battle,

DJ

"Every man dies, but not every man really lives"

Listening to God

2008-09-27T20:25:00.001-07:00

I sat down tonight... and was thinking of something else... when a voice came to me tonight... You see... earlier in the night I started asking... God, what do you want me to read? The answer came loud and clear... John 5.

So... I sat down to read... I think... ok... you want me to read about the man at the pool who Jesus comes and heals him? What does this have to do with anything? ... And then it hits me like a ton of bricks. John 5:6, "When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?"

Notice that Jesus already knew his condition. After all... he was God and man. He already knows this man. He already knows every detail of this man's life. Do you wish to get well ... are you kidding me?... of course he wishes to get well... He's only been lying there for 38 years! (v. 5)

And then the real answer comes to me. Jesus already knows every detail of my heart... and yours as well... and He asks you... Do you wish to get well?... Well of course we do! ... and then I realize... Wow... Jesus... is inviting me into something here... He's offering me the chance to be healed of things that I have dealt with for some time now. Jesus is willing to take away all those hurts... all those things that you need healed from. Sin is the sickness of mankind... and well... Jesus is the cure. He is willing to come into your heart and mind and clean out those things which haunt you. Lust, pride, envy, jealousy... He's taking those from you... all that and more.

Ed Young

2008-09-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

Delicious - Foodie (blog) from Fellowship Church on Vimeo.

Check out this video from Ed Young... Some pretty good stuff. I was blown away by the message that God poured through him.

Do Not Give the Devil a Foothold!

2008-09-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

Check out the sermon by Pastor Mike on the talkshoe widget on the right... It's definitely worth a listen!

I will not back down!

2008-09-13T08:41:00.001-07:00

One thing that I have always struggled with is my sexuality. Pornography as we know is everywhere. Here are a few statistics.

When it comes to online pornography:

There are roughly 4.2 million pornographic websites. (12% of all websites)
Daily pornographic search engine requests: 68 million (that's 1 in 4 of all search engine requests)

Internet users who use porn: 42.7% (are we scared yet?)
Average daily pornographic emails/user: 4.5 per Internet user
Monthly Pornographic downloads (Peer-to-peer): 1.5 billion (that's 35% of all downloads)

So why do I bring up these stats? It's a little shocking... isn't it? And here is what I have to say. It doesn't have to be this way. So many guys want to be free of this. I know I did.

One thing that really stands out to me about these guys are... that they live like their is no villain in there lives. Now.. what do I mean about that?
Simple. Satan only comes to steal, kill, & destroy. And make no doubts about it... he is out there and always plotting his next move against you.

Jesus warns us about Satan.... "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:10-11)

Now the good news... Notice Jesus says... that the good shepherd gives his life for his sheep! Jesus stands in the gap for us. Think about all the super hero movies you have ever watched before in your life. Superman... Batman.. Spiderman.. Don't they always risk themselves and their lives for the lives of others? How much greater then is Jesus who GAVE his life for us?

There are a few resources out there for guys to be accountable with others. www.xxxchurch.com has free software (yes I am currently using it) that keeps a record of what you have looked at online and then reports it to two people. Another software program is comes from www.covenanteyes.com It's not free but it is a very good tool as well.

The real thing that works for me is to find people who would hold me accountable and to uplift me to stay in the battle when I had fallen. I've decided that beating people who are already beaten just doesn't quite cut it.

Mighty is the Power of the Cross

2008-09-03T20:25:00.001-07:00

This video speaks for itself. I just thought I'd share it with everyone.

Disaster

2008-09-02T19:18:00.000-07:00

As hurricane Gustaf moves out of the region I couldn't help but think about the disaster of Katrina... not to mention what Gustaf has done. And that got me to thinking about the disasters that happen in life. So many of us encounter "disasters" in our lives. I'm about to share some real stories that are hard for me to talk about. First off... I love my dad... and I miss him dearly. There are some things that happened between us that I will never forget. I'm about to share a few of those scars and shed a little light about the way I think that effects me.

Now to those of us in the Moss family... who are close enough to know about this story... I guess it could be titled "the fork story" and they would know what I was talking about. One night while I was sitting at the kitchen table... my sister, mom, dad, and I were all eating dinner, when out of nowhere I was knocked to the floor in my chair. From what I remember, the chair went straight back and I landed on my back. Once I hit the floor... my dad happened to be so mad that he threw his fork at me. I know no one will believe this, but the fork hit me in the rib area... and stuck. It wasn't a deep wound... (not in the physical sense anyhow). My mom ran off to get a towel... and to get something to clean the wound. It really wasn't all that bad as far as that went.

So... why tell this story? Because some of us have been wounded. My dad's alcoholism shaped me in a way I didn't want to be shaped. I find myself at times being just like him.... Especially to my wife. I'm not trying to give excuses but it hasn't been an easy road in my life. I think these disasters that happen in our life can sometimes lessen the person we want to be. I know I feel like I've been down that road.

Now for the good news... I Peter 2:24 says, "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." No matter what you have been through... Christ has laid down his life as the ultimate sacrifice for you. Your wounds are healed.

I have a podcast by John Eldridge up on my talkshoe widget on the right. Listen to him talk about his "ordeal". Take a listen and leave some comments. It's funny to me how the timing of things happens. If only we would listen to God...

Walking with God

2008-08-18T07:49:00.000-07:00

Please check out the new podcasts I'll be sharing through my talkshoe widget on the right. After listening to Eldridge about how he will share with us his own thoughts and feelings... I started thinking that I was doing the same thing he was doing... I always thought.. "Well.. my friend is doing this... so I should be doing the same"... That's probably how this blog started. And rather than helping people fix one problem, I'm going to attempt to help teach you to solve multiple problems.

How do we do that you ask? Let's find out in this journey over the next year or so. I'm going to share some of my journals... and really open up. I know I'll leave myself open for comments that I may not want to hear but that's where I'm willing to go. I'd rather not leave the door closed. I'm going to share some rather crazy ideas that I have... so bare with me... not all of them are life breaking events... but you never know if you've had some of those weird questions that you never had answered.

Batman comes to epic...

2008-07-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

Of course I was thoroughly impressed by the movie when I went to see it... but there is a message that spoke to me loud and clear when I watched this clip.

Bruce asks Alfred... "People are dying... what would you have me do?" Alfred says, "Endure." Isn't our Christian walk like that? We are running this continual race. We are always in the battle.

Alfred goes on to say... "You can make the choice that no one else can face." That struck me right to my core. No one else can live your life. No once else can make those decisions for you. So many times we come to a choice in our lives and sometimes we fail in our walk, but only we can make the choice to follow Jesus. Your mom can't do it... your dad can't do it... your sister and brother can't do it... your neighbor can't do it... It's up to you to decide.

I leave you all with this. I like to think that God wants us to endure.

I Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Prayer

2008-07-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

The video isn't all that good but we had prayer for Ryan's new house. Praise be to God for you guys being faithful to what God would have you do. There is no doubt that God has been with you all during this process.

Is God Homophobic?

2008-07-01T18:13:00.000-07:00

In the midst of a few of us reading currently reading the book, "UNChristian"... there is a message that needs to be heard. If you check my TalkShoe Widget you will find a new podcast from the pastor of my home church (Westlake Community). Listen to Mike talk about a very very tough issue. Please leave some comments. This message could not be any more relevant to this book we are reading.

Cubs vs. Sox

2008-06-20T08:58:00.001-07:00

OK... OK... We all know I'm a huge Cubs fan and while I don't commend violence, I commend watching it... LOL

It's just too bad Barrett isn't around to do this again.

Epic Clip

2008-06-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

I had to add this. If this doesn't inspire you to follow God whole-heartedly, I don't know what will!!!!

Epic: Act One (Eternal Love)

2008-06-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

Watch these clips and then answer these questions in the comments section. Notice how there is a larger story going on in the Matrix, and how Neo is just starting to get it. I love how Morpheus is calling up into the real story.

In the beginning….. Something about those words eludes our imaginations. How has
your past religious experience helped you understand the “Fellowship of the Trinity,”?
Describe how you have always understood the trinity.

John shares his story about being invited into his grandfather’s world in Eastern
Oregon. Have you been chosen or invited into something like that—a great story or an
adventure already in motion? If so, what? If not, into what would you have liked to be
invited?

Most of our best memories involve others. Our greatest joys, hopes, and dreams for life
often involve others (loved ones, family, friends, children, grandchildren). Share a good
memory that comes to mind involving others. (The memories shared may be vastly
different, don’t let someone else’s memory determine yours).

One of the realities of a larger Story is that Life is not all about you. You’re precious,
important, and valuable; you have a crucial role to play. But this story is something
bigger than you. Does that disturb, comfort, discourage, anger, or bring clarity to you?

Epic Act I: Coming soon to a blog near you

2008-06-13T04:51:00.000-07:00

Act 1 is coming very soon. I would expect it today or tomorrow. I have to get everything uploaded to youtube, which can take quite some time.

Thanks all and please, keep the comments coming!

Epic: Prologue

2008-06-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

Watch all three clips and then answer these questions.

Briefly, What did this stir in you? (Excitement? Intrigue? A new thought? A question about your understanding of God or Christianity?)

In what kind of Story have you found yourself? Is it a drama, epic, romance, adventure, or all of them?

Do you have all the information to understand your story or is it a pretty confusing mess?

What do you think the plot of your story is?

What are the stories you love?

Video Clip I

Video Clip II

Epic Prologue

Epic is Coming!

2008-06-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

Ok boys and girls. I know I've been promising to be on time with my stuff, and I really have not. I'm currently getting all the videos together, and I have to rip some of the videos from a dvd with the clips on them. I'm going to start all over again at the prologue. There will be some questions, and please ... comment on them. I learn something new each time I watch this. I would love for Joe and Mark to hear this, so they can get excited to have a retreat in September and spread the news about the story we are all currently living in.

Be looking for the first video to be posted very soon.

In the Battle,

Butch

Epic Retreat Pictures 2008

2008-06-01T17:50:00.001-07:00

More Conversations

2008-05-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

A new podcast is up on the talkshoe widget on the right. Join Noah, Ryan, and I as we talk about our stories, what we have learned from our Epic retreat, and where God is leading us in evangelism. Leave some comments about the podcast and give us some more ideas where we should head with our evangelism! Check out Episode 4.

For those of you who may not know

2008-05-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

The 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman died after being struck by an SUV in the driveway of the family's Nashville-area home late Wednesday afternoon (May 21). Maria Sue Chapman was playing in the area with several other children. Her teenaged brother did not see her in the driveway when he struck her with the Toyota Land Cruiser he was driving. A spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol termed it "a terrible accident" and said no charges are expected to be filed. The child was the youngest in the family and one of three daughters adopted by Chapman and wife Mary Beth. The entire family was home at the time of the accident. Steven Curtis Chapman, 45, has won 51 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association and five Grammys.

Let us all pray for their family and just offer to their family that we are sorry to hear about their loss. I have a 7 year old, and I really don't know how I would handle something like this.

Misconceptions

2008-05-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

What are the misconceptions we have about our church and about our pastors? Listen to Mark, Kirby and I discuss what some of these common misconceptions are, and how we debunk them. Check out my podcast and give a listen in...

Sacrifice

2008-05-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks be to God, for his indescribable gift!

What happens next?

2008-05-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

If these statistics are true, then I'm really starting to get worried. I think part of it is, we all think, but I'm just one person. And rather than laying down our lives for God, we would rather take the easy way out, and say... eh... someone will talk to them and help them. But, why not us? Shouldn't our duty be... to love God first.... and then... and only then, to love our neighbor as ourselves?

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

I just had one thought come to mind. Notice that verse 39 says, "and a second is like it". Wow, that is very different than just naming the second as loving your neighbor as yourself. To me, that is saying that you shall love your neighbor in similar fashion to loving God. I won't say it's the same, but I will say it is... "like it".

We have some guys in our group at Westlake (and a few who don't attend out church) who are having struggles. To admit that I don't have any would be stupid. But, I'm taking a stand with them. I won't sit idly by and just watch them go down in flames. With every fiber of my being... I'll do whatever it takes, I'll go where God wants me to go, but I will take a stand. I ask that you all stand with me. Let's stand in the gap and reach the lost, and reach these kids who have no clue what is going on. Let's reach these broken families that Satan is tearing apart. Go to battle with me and with your God!