Razor Ray’s World

Awhile back, I started having some very serious questions about some things going on in my life. I was really enjoying my walk with Jesus, but was silently struggling with some issues regarding things in life. Finances, relationships, giving, being a new dad again, and the list goes on.

My greatest concern however was coming in the area of finances/giving. Having not been in an organized “church” culture for several years had brought us to a place of waiting and trusting Him to show us where to give. Our walk in this matter had somewhat evolved as the months wore on as we strove to simply see Him at work and give as He led. However, this old nag kept bugging me regarding 10%. I did not know if it was just the old hag of religion, or Him speaking. I thought about asking the opinions of several people, but something Craig and I had discussed before came to mind!

“Just ask Him!” Taking the question to the Scripture and simply seeking His words on the subject matter. So I did. I started in Matthew and was looking to see what Jesus had to say about money and giving.

But, I was not finding “the answer” I was looking for. Several weeks in and it just wasn’t coming to me. There were not a-lot of Scriptures screaming out at me, and I was still be nagged in my heart that maybe there was something aloof with my search.

About a week ago it HIT me, and Hit me hard. A quite voice rocked my world and said, “Why are you looking for ’something’ when I AM the answer?”

It all came back full circle. There are topics in Scripture from which we can learn, however, HE in his person is the answer to all our questions. It is in our walk WITH him and listening to His voice that we know where to go and what to do. It is NOT found in the letter of the law but in the ONE who fulfilled the law.

SO here I am again, staring once again at Jesus in all his beauty. And in staring at Him, my issues have found rest in knowing he will direct me in His paths. My only “job” is to Listen and OBEY! aka, Follow Him!

John 5:19-40

I have been going through some vicious thought cycles regarding “Is It Enough!” It has been on my mind like “white on rice!”

In our world, we “have” many things that we either own, want to own, or own us. I have long been a listener of Dave Ramsey. He loves to talk about “piles of cash” and helping you build wealth. BUT, what wealth are we really building? I know Dave talks about putting yourself in a better position financially in order to be able to “help” more people. You can hear that sermon every week at church. They offer financial classes (often Mr Ramsey’s) so you can learn to be a better steward of “your” money!

But I am beginning to question the wisdom of this “focus” on money. Or maybe better said, the idea of a blanket philosophy surrounding money, or any other issue for that matter.  When it comes to matters is stewardship, there are any number of books on issues regarding how we should or should not handle them. But is there a mold for everyone to follow in these areas?

Over my last two years or so in my journey with Christ, I am starting to think that the answer is “No.”  There really is no “one size fits all” Christianity. Although some principles can be extremely beneficial for our journey, saying there is a higher, better, or only way to handle a particular stewardship issue does not seem to jive with “walking in the Spirit.” Although I believe being wise in stewardship, I do think God is more interested in our “listening and obeying” His leading. At times this could mean saving up, at other times it could be giving it ALL away.

What I have been wrestling with is the question “Is Jesus Enough?” and “How do you know Jesus is enough until He is all you have?” or, can you learn that lesson while having it all?  From what I can tell, God’s ultimate purpose is to transform me (and His children) into the image of His son, Jesus. This will surely take many different roads for his beautiful diverse body of children. The only “one size” I can find is OBEDIENCE to His voice.

So, at times I am sure “storing up” like Joseph will be His leading, while at other times, giving it all away (like the rich young ruler). What is required is learning to listen and seeking Him for the ability to obey! The key is whether or not Jesus himself is Enough for me!

What are your thoughts?

p.s. Dave Ramsey does say, and with great wisdom, that Financial Peace is the result of walking with the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ!

Recently I was listening to the TobyMac cd, Portable Sounds! I have been a DC Talk and TobyMac fan as far back as they go, 1989. As I was listening, on the Tru Dog track, at the end, Toby’s son Truett said, “Oh Snap!” This got me to thinking.

When I was in college, this was our favorite catch phrase. “Oh Snap!” or “Snaps!” We (college buddies and I) said it all the time. If someone did something cool on the field or court, we would say, “Oh Snap!” Or if you got busted (like Truett had) we would say, “Oh Snap!” Or when my friend had his leg sliced by a boat propeller, I said it as I grabbed for his life jacket to bring his head back above water! We said it a TON!

So, I got to thinking back through my years about my catch phrases! There were:

1. “Rah” (said Raaaaaaaaaaaaaa!). Back in my late high school years and early college, this was something I picked up to say when someone said or did something cool, sarcastic, or silly. Mostly around those who were listening to rap music, although it moved into other areas of life.

2. My Nigga! Yes, I was known to use this phrase to refer to my friends and “homies.” ( I am sure to most I was just another Wigga though – White boy acting like he was from the ghetto!)

3. NASTY! – This was from my junior high days and early high school years. A couple of girls in school started using this a-lot so it quickly caught on for everything from the gross to “he is just Nasty on on the court.” If you were really cool, you would be known as the “Big Nasty!”

4. Cow-a-bunga dude. Heading way on back to those days of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! If you were cool, you were saying it for just about anything you could dream up!

5. In like Flynn! once again, beats me why I said this one.

6. Good to go like Rudy Ray with a double astro fro! picked it up from a friend and still catch myself saying it some today instead of just, Good to Go!

7. This morning I remembered yet another classic! “Good Geetta Mosquita!” basically that replaced good grief and was started by the same two who did “Nasty!”

Up to today, when all the sudden, I can’t find myself using any type of catch phrase on a consistent bases. I wonder why that is? Maybe because we were using these words or phrases to simply try and fit in with a group we longed to be accepted by. Or was it just a habit? However, I do find myself today, more and more doing and saying things just like my earthly father. I catch myself in mannerisms and phrases I have heard from him through the years. I no longer know the cool hip thing to say, but have reverted back to what is more natural or accustom to me from when I grew up. When I forget something, I snap my fingers hard and say through gritted teeth, “Dag gum it” or “Shoot!” ( which reminds me of another phrase from my youth “Shoot a monkey!” I have no clue why we said this one!) I also find many of my actions follow suit with what I saw in him as well. I am sure this is because he is my earthly hero, and because I seem to be like him in many, many ways (genetics maybe!) I can say is that although sometimes this is freaky, I am pleased this is true! I always said I wanted to grow up and be like my dad! Guess my wish is coming true!

So what about you? Did you have any phrases you said that were hip growing up? Why did you use them? Was it to fit in, or stand out? And if you know, what are the new ones today? Just curious!

A few days ago I had sat down with my girls and read from their little Bible. We were at the point of the story of the people of Israel demanding a king to lead them. The story can be found in 1 Samuel chapter 8. The jist of the story was that the people of God had looked around at their surrounding neighbors and wanted to be like them. But, to have their desires, they first had to reject the fact that God was their king. To have a “new” king, the “old” One first had to be removed. Samuel spoke to God about the issue, and God agreed, but it came with a stiff warning:

“ ^{10 -18} So Samuel told them, delivered God’s warning to the people who were asking him to give them a king. He said, “This is the way the kind of king you’re talking about operates. He’ll take your sons and make soldiers of them—chariotry, cavalry, infantry, regimented in battalions and squadrons. He’ll put some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury. He’ll put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks. He’ll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. He’ll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy. Your prize workers and best animals he’ll take for his own use. He’ll lay a tax on your flocks and you’ll end up no better than slaves. The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don’t expect God to answer.”

However, the people still responded, and God answered:

^{19 -20} But the people wouldn’t listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We will have a king to rule us! Then we’ll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles.”

^{21 -22} Samuel took in what they said and rehearsed it with God. God told Samuel, “Do what they say. Make them a king.”

How uneasy this moment had to be for a Father. His children had begged and pleaded for what He knew would hurt them in the long run. Yet, he allowed them to stumble down their own path, thus setting up a grea rescue in the future! (see the story of Jesus)

I came across this story again today while re-reading Blackaby’s book, “Spiritual Leadership.” Blackaby made several points on how today’s pastors are measured by the numbers of people, dollars, and buildings they build up. He also mentioned that “pastors are finding that the godliness of a minister may not be enough to satisfy a congregation looking to keep up with the church down the street (or across town.)” Blackaby hits on how our leaders in church today are more like CEO’s than shepherds.

What has struck me from this is the overwhelming possibility that we have followed the steps of our fore-fathers, the Israelites. When God becomes more than we want, or not visible enough  for our liking, it is all too easy to find a replacement for Him as our Leader.

I say this, cause I am a hands on person. I like to feel, touch, see, and breath in what is around me. I thrive on the personal aspects of life. If I cannot touch it, I tend not to want it, like it, or give it the time of day. I am a dreamer, but only of things within my grasp. And so it was easy to embrace the “new king” of church, service, worship services, and leadership in a group. These things were easy to touch, feel, and gain a sense of accomplishment from.

On the other hand, “spending time with God” seemed far to much of a stretch than say, having a quiet time and fellowship with other believers.  These were things I could count and measure as steps toward success. But, they never satisfied the deeper need inside of me, and never quenched the thirst He placed inside of me for Him personally. Yes, for a small while, they would pacify the longing, but they never fulfilled it. I could change the routine a slight bit, and get a bump in the “feeling” of my walk, but they never lasted. So, I was taught to try different angles. Told I needed to serve more, give more, and trust more in the system around me. I did this, but the satisfaction only He could give still was so distant.

So the question finally arose, what was really missing? The answer came through the principle found in the above verses. Could it possibly be that I had replaced God as king of my life with a substitute of the religious system. Was going to church on Sunday, placing myself in a teachers role, and pointing my fingers at those who seemed less committed drawing me closer to Jesus, or pushing me away. Was I seeing time with the King (and Lover), or a poor substitute which I thought I could control. (Look through the passage of Samuel and you will see that the children of Israel were under the assumption they could control a physical king and thus get their way! Sound familiar? Kind of like a group of people who bring in a leader assuming they can manipulate him/her in order to obtain their objectives of growth and popularity. What happens when the leader decides to pursue God instead of mans agenda? Ever hear the words “fired” or “dismissed from duty.”)

My point is, that just like the Israelites, if we are not VERY careful, we can clamor for a replacement king in our own lives. We, like my daughter Raygan, thrive on some sort of tangible security blanket that can be seen, touched, and lived through. If we can’t get our hands on it, then we tend to give it little value.

Another side of this coin is, God can also be extremely intimidating in His Holy nature, which leaves us feeling insignificant. We are a people who now THRIVE on our “feelings” of importance, and if God REALLY does not need us, then we begin to shrivel from our complexes of inferiority, making us seek something we can manipulate all the more.

Over all, the founding question we need to ask every day is, “Have I replaced my King, and if so, to what am I now a slave?” (remember the promise God made of how a king would enslave the people.) These things can be various in nature. The machine of the big church. The security of a small house church. The feelings of accomplishment of quiet times, tithes, and service in church. NONE of these things are evil or bad in ANY way. BUT, if they are what we gain our sense of completion from, then we have replaced our king with one of lessor value, and thus are missing the greatest opportunity of all, developing a relationship of friendship with our King and Savior, God Himself! And instead of enjoying His freedom, we are now finding ourselves slaves to religion. If we fail in our efforts to meet the needs of our new king, we are riddled with shame, guilt, and more manipulation. ( I played the part of each in my life trying to make people more committed to the “new king”, religion. SO I speak from experience!)

If you are trapped in a clamor for a new king, God offers you immense freedom in simply following Him. I hope you are able to grasp the unfathomable  in Jesus Christ!

May God’s face shine on you!

This is to all my dear friends and family who serve in the ministry of the institutional church. This is a copy of a conversation I had this week with a neigbor of mine, and I feel compelled to share it with you. As a deterent from hostility, this is in no way pointed at one particular church, although a certain church was being discussed. I feel like this conversation with an unbeliever speaks to us all in general.

As I was out on a walk, I ran into a neighbor and a friend. As backdrop, this particular neighbor is known for their “wild” ways and foul language. Great person who would give you all they have if you needed it, just has not met Jesus face to face.

In the course of our conversation, I asked him about some news I heard that he and his wife were attending a chuch of which I had once been a part. At first he was confused, but then said, “oh yea, we have gone there some when we go.”

The next words from his mouth both broke my heart and angered me at the same time. He said:

“I really enjoy going there and all, it is a different type of church. BUT, I got really tired of them talking so much about money. Seems like every week they were hitting you up for more money for what they were doing. When I go to church, I want to hear about Jesus, not about your need to have more money for your projects. I don;t mind giving you money, but tell me about Jesus please!”

That one hurt! It hurt alot! But, unfortunately it is true! We have become so engulfed in our projects and our series, and what we want to accomplish, we have forgot the central theme of our calling, to preach Christ and Him crucified.!

Dear brothers and sisters, is your next big series so important? Is your next big move or building project so important, that we forget to preach Jesus to the world?

Dear fellow believer! Is your job status so important? Is your yearly earnings so engulfing? Is having the next great “thing” so meaningful, that we have forgotten to reflect the image of Jesus to our world?

What could POSSIBLY be of greater value than to seek His face so that we reflect His image and the world looks on in wonder as they glorify God? What?

Think on these things?

Of recent, I have been reading a book by Stephen Villanueva called “We Have Been Lied to!” It has been a good word from a mans personal journey of coming to know God. The REAL God of the Bible. I enjoy reading another mans journey to coming to know Jesus!

Today I was reading a chapter he wrote on Christian Idolatry. I was amazed at some of the descriptions of a false god we have living among us today all because of little lies. Amazing how we can get so far off course with such small lies embedded by our Enemy.

My uncle is a land surveyor. For years I have heard the stories of how VERY important it is to start at the correct place or you can end up a long way off. They have told me a story of how one of his crews one day started at a corner for a survey. Unfortunately they had started about 6 inches off. YOu and I would think that would mean they would come out about 6 inches off course at the end. But following the deed instructions, they were approximately a mile off form where they should have been. A great story of where a little lie or seed of misconception can take us so far off course in knowing the REAL God.

With all we have going on in our country, in our individual lives, and in our circle of friends, it has caused me to come back to a very important question in my life. ” How well do I personally know this real Jesus and this Real God I claim to know and follow?” Do I know the Real Deal, or just something I have concocted for my own personal comfort and desires? 2 Peter 1:10 says “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall”

So in this time it has pushed me back to the same question that started this journey of mine 2 years ago, “Who is Jesus?” Not just the general or Sunday School answers, but who really is this man? John 6:43-46 says this, ” ^{43 -46}Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End. This is what the prophets meant when they wrote, ‘And then they will all be personally taught by God.’ Anyone who has spent any time at all listening to the Father, really listening and therefore learning, comes to me to be taught personally—to see it with his own eyes, hear it with his own ears, from me, since I have it firsthand from the Father. No one has seen the Father except the One who has his Being alongside the Father—and you can see me.”

My hope and quest is to sit at His feet and learn of him!

I have always enjoyed this message excerpt from a pastor in San Diego preached in 1976. Here it is without the glitz and glamor we seem to think it needs. This is as it was in 1976:

How much time, effort, and money did Jesus spend in the effort to “attract’ the lost? How high was He on being a place they could feel comfortable? How much effort did he put into building a place where his followers could bring in people so He could teach them and welcome them?

Should we not put the same amount of time into those same things?

Believe it or not, I have been asked several times recently if some of my recent post were just because I like to stir things up. #1, I did not realize talking about my family and garden were stirring the pot that much! #2, I have no desire to “stir things up” for personal gain.

If you read something that is considered “stirring it up”, it is because my heart has been stirred about that issue in my personal walk and I am just sharing from the heart of things my Father has been teaching me. I am trying to learn to speak only when He speaks and what He speaks. Perfect? No! But listening and trying!

But I understand some folks are only going to see what they want to see. It is true we only go to a church that suits our personal taste, therefore, no matter how “hard” the sermon is, our human nature is to only see what we want to! (right Matt?) In our world of prosperity, we do not want to see the starving of which we lose over 30,000 a day (mostly kids) They die not from diseases needing a cure, but rather of hunger caused only by our greed! And if you think God is not seeing this and judging properly, you have a major shock coming.

We also do not care to see to 7,8,9,or 10 year old girl, someones daughter, being sold into and / or forced into sex slavery because it brings home some bread to feed the family. Not to mention it brings home HIV/AIDS that will take her life in a few years, thus putting her younger sister into her job role for the sake of feeding thise left behind. We do not REALLY want to see this because it will force us to one of two things:

1. We must face our sin of greed and hoarding and selfishness and the ugliness of it, thus causing us to repent and change our ways in order to do ALL we can to help “cure” this hungerness.

or

2. Shake our head in pity as we turn and look the other way! Going back to our multi-million dollar complex (and in case you are not good with numbers, that is ANY number over 2 million), and the majority of our budget to sustain a building(s) and staff (once again, that is any percentage over 51%), and go back to doing what we are doing (a pathetic little of nothing), enjoying our lives as we try to forget that girl and her family.

We have but those two choices. In a world where we complain that the government is doing all it can to make the rich richer, is that not REALLY what we are doing as the body of Christ as we build / buy more million dollar complexes where we workout, fellowship, and “worship.” Is it really a “sweet” smell in His nostrils, or does it wreak of greed and laziness stemming from our prosperity? Is the government the one to change the world, or is that not the responsibility of those claiming to be “Little Jesus?”

Am I stirring the pot? I do not know if your heart is stirred or why it is (anger, or passion) What I do know is that I have been awakened from my own slumber to arise and follow my Jesus. If that happens to stir a pot or two, so be it, I do believe He stirred a few in His days on earth. My true hope is only that I can see Him, Hear Him, Understand Him, and have the courage to follow, while hopefully a few will see and will be interested in following.

David Livingston once was asked upon his proclamation he was going to follow Jesus at the age of 8, “Davey boy, what can God do with a 8 year old boy like you?” At the mature age of 8 he answered, ” I do not know, but I am going to find out.”

Some ask, “Ray, what can God do to change the world and these issues through you?”

I do not know, but I am going to find out!

Jesus said “Pursue Life, Follow Me!” and I can honestly say, over the past two years, as I have pursued Him, although away from the institution that claims His name, I have NEVER been more ALIVE!

Funny thing, as I am writing this I am listening to a player I have set up and just now Keith Green has come on singing his song “Asleep in the Light.” What a message! Click here to enjoy!

I wanted to take a moment and ask all you out there to please give some money to a great fund for relief of those in need. You have a great opportunity to reach out and change the life of others by sending your donations to this relief effort. We will promise to use your funds to reach out and share the gospel to all we can. Our goal here is to always do what we can to reach sinners for Jesus. We are the Church!

Disclaimer: 40% of all donations received here will be needed to maintain and expand our existing structure for use of those who choose to come here and worship. Another 30-40% will be used to pay our great staff of highly trained Christians who use their skills to help organize our weekly gatherings for our members and kids and guest coming in. We do all we can to make this place attractive to sinners so they will enjoy our service and maybe meet Jesus. Once those have been paid, the remainder of your generous giving will be sent to feed the hungry, treat the sick, bring hope to the hopeless, and support missionaries in their given fields as long as we are current on our fiscal budget. If we have a shortage, then we will have to make that up first!

THANK YOU for giving to the cause! We highly appreciate your generosity. Because of you, we can still have air conditioning, coffee for our members, nice homes and cars for our staff, shirts on our racks, golf carts to help people get to their cars, and expand our current facility for others to come enjoy.

Our deepest apologies to those who are dying of hunger and thirst. We promise we have a team working on how we can possibly send more releif funds. We have just hired an additional staff member who graciously accepted a low 50k a year so they can review our budget and tell us how we might possibly send you more food, water, and clothes. In the mean time, we hope our prayers for you are effective and we cry with each death of your kids and parents. We really want to do more, but these members are giving all they can, and our facilities are growing immensely, so we hope even more people will join us and our giving will grow faster than our bills so we can help more. (Oh Wait, if more people come, we are going to need even more space.) Oh well, our new guy will surely come up with a plan, we better give him a raise so he can work harder on the issue. Till we do get it done, hang in there, our prayers are with you!

Recommendation to the reader of this post, please read all the life of Jesus and his followers, and maybe James. Then ask Jesus where he would like your donations given instead of blindly giving because you were told you had to tithe. Consider the value of HIS money and be the steward of it you were meant to be.

p.s. If God wants you giving it to our local body, that is fine, just be sure you are asking Him where it goes and not just going through a routine.

Was just reading in Matthew 16 as Jesus tells the disciples to “beware of the yeast” of the Pharisees. If you remember the story line, the guys had forgotten to bring any bread for the trip. When Jesus instructed them about the yeast, they immediately went to the literal thought of bread, but Jesus had a deeper concern. The false/wrong teaching of the leaders in the temple.

Today we talk a lot about the need to feed the hungry. We rally to gather up things to help the needy. We give ourselves to “causes.” All good things, yet some where in the midst of it, we have missed the fact that we have a HUGE problem with some “wrong” teachings which are unintentionally leading some people to follow good causes or “become church members”, but they never get to know Jesus.

If Jesus gave great concern to the teaching from the pulpit of the temple, should we not also open our ears and Bibles to test the words from the pulpits today!