Do you have a Jesus toaster?

When I saw this on MSN I couldn't believe it! Some company has designed an appliance than burns an image of Jesus on your toast for you. This of course is in response to the worship thousands have given what they consider the image of saints that appear through burn marks, rust and mildew around the world as a would-be sign to the faithful. Monopolizing on that trend, this company gives you an opportunity to create your own signs and wonders.

Now, I know this sounds ridiculous, but the truth is we do this all the time! How many times have we justified something by saying, "I believe God wants me to..." or "The Lord is leading me to..." Sometimes the things we say God is telling us to do aren't even scriptural! When we do that, aren't we just burning the image of Jesus onto our toast?

Don't get me wrong, I believe God speaks to His people! He has promised to lead us and guide us by His Holy Spirit. But the first and foremost way He leads us is by His Word! He will never tell us to do anything that violates what His Word declares. 

God warns us in the book of Jeremiah, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds."

There are times when we will want to do things that the Bible clearly condemns. Those are the times we must deny our own desires and follow the will of God. To ignore the scriptures and do what we want and then justify it by saying we prayed and God gave us a 'peace' about it, is to call God a liar and essentially fire up our Jesus toaster! 

Providence's Tap On The Shoulder

Last night we officially moved Robin into her Master's Commission apartment. Little Samuel has been dropped off at the temple! It's truly bittersweet. On the one hand, it's hard to think about the fact that my little girl will be living away from home for the next nine months. (Her room looks so empty!) On the other hand, we are so proud of her. 

She told me yesterday that this is a fruition of a dream she's had for six years! At a stage of her life where so many young people want to get out from under authority, discipline and structure, she has purposefully placed herself squarely under a more intense form of those virtues than she has ever known! God will do so much in her life the next nine months and all of it will serve as a foundation for the great things He will continue to do in and through her for the rest of her life! 

We enjoyed her orientation this morning with other XMC parents from around the country. It was so cool to look over the 2011 class of our Master's Commission program and realize that in 1991, our church launched the first MC program outside of Phoenix, AZ. Twenty years later, my daughter is going through that program led by one of the graduates of that first graduating class - Shawn Marcell, whose daughter Autumn is also going through the program this year! Providence sure has a great way of tapping you on the shoulder. 

Burning Books

Have you heard about the pastor in Florida who's promoting the 'Burn a Koran Day' this week? The only book-burning I am aware of in the New Testament happened in Acts 19. It was actually the owners of the books who did the burning, not someone wanting to burn books on their behalf. When we effectively introduce people to Christ who have been caught up in false religions, they will dispose of the trappings of their former life as the Holy Spirit leads them. Until that happens, I doubt burning the books they believe in will be that effective in leading them to Christ. 

Interestingly enough, Paul appealed to the people in Athens sense of religion even though they worshiped pagan gods. Instead of pulling down their idols or burning their religious books, he made the point that despite their religious fervor, God was still unknown to them. However they could know Him if they would truly seek after Him. 

I'm no fan of the Koran - It is a misleading religious book that many interpret in ways that are dangerous and harmful. Islam is responsible for leading millions into an eternity separated from God. However, the way to combat the effects of a false religion is not to pile up copies of the Koran and burn them. If we just take the time to point out the things missing in a false religion like Islam and then show the Muslim that what is missing in his religion can only really be found in Christ, he will be much more likely to receive Jesus as his savior. Then he can do some book-burning of his own! 

My friend, the Psalmist

The Old Testament book of Psalms is basically a praise manual. If it weren't for these psalms or songs we wouldn't even know how to approach God in worship. It's these musical compositions that inform us to come before God with singing, clapping, shouting, dancing - praising God with musical instruments and with our hands lifted high.

If there were no psalmists, there would be no psalms. These songs were written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by early songwriters like King David. We still have psalmists today. One of the most prolific psalmist I know is my friend Kari Campbell. Every week here at Crossroads Church we use musical compositions the Holy Spirit has inspired her to write to embrace and celebrate our God in song.

We felt like we needed to capture that celebration on CD and DVD and God willing - Wednesday, September 15 that's what we'll be doing. Our new Crossroads Church live praise and worship recording featuring Kari Campbell will be awesome! Don't miss it!