Get Up—Get Out—Get to Dancin’

To what can I compare this generation?

They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

 “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance . . .”   Matthew 11:16-17a

How sad, that so many “did not dance.”  Likewise, C. S. Lewis, when speaking of God not being a static thing, but His being dynamic, pulsating with life, added that God was, “Almost, if you will not think me irreverent, a kind of dance.”  Why would we have to think C. S. was being irreverent?  God is, as revealed by the fruit of His Holy Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness!  So, when Jeremiah spoke (v 31:4) of the everlasting (faithful) love and kindness of God, he encouraged the people of God:  “go out to dance with the joyful.”  In other words, show your joy, get reverent:  Get Up—Get Out—Get to Dancin’!  Hallelujah!

When the Prodigal Son (see Luke 15:25-27) came home to his father, the joy of “music and dancing” was heard!  Music and dancing wells up and gushes out as a spring of life when someone comes home to the Lord.  As we see someone come home to the Lord—it is time to dance!  When we see deliverance—it is time to dance!  When we see God’s miracles—it is time dance!  With God in us, it is time for loud music and dancing!  Hallelujah!  Get Up—Get Out—Get to Dancin’!

God’s loving promise of hope in Christ Jesus is why we rise to dance.  God did not invent the pew, we did.  God created hands to be lifted in praise and feet for joyful dance!  Use what God has given you!  My prayer is that the body of Christ plays the song of hope in Jesus; we are the flutes to be played in the marketplace, everywhere; when our music is heard and the lost come home, then, our joy explodes with dynamic, pulsating life as we reverently:  Get Up—Get Out—Get to Dancin’!

Rreverently Dancing,

Owen <><

Much, Much More

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

—Luke 9:23-24 NLT

Disciples go to church, … and much, much more!

Knowing the will of God—knowing your portion, your appointment, designation, within His will—is to change your life to his will, His ways, and His desire.  When you are in the will of God you will find that knowing His will requires doing His will.  Then, when you do God’s will, you will be enabled to change lives, you will be complete within discipleship—you will be a disciple and be a disciple maker.  Getting beyond "your” desires, or as Jesus said, your selfish ways. 

A disciple walks life’s journey by keeping in stride with the Holy Spirit, this begins in prayer and the becomes an active giving of self in the fulfillment of the desire that is so dear to Christ Himself, the desire that none perish by eternal separation form God.  

Being a disciple of Christ isn’t merely attending a church service, it’s that and much, much more.  A disciple embraces and lives by reflecting the compassion, humility, mind, lifestyle, and Spirit of the one we say we follow, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Owen Mannin <><

More than a Thought

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” —Luke 9:23-24 NLT

Faith is more than merely believing in your head that Jesus is the Christ. Faith must be reflected by how we live, what we do—that is being a disciple.  To believe Jesus existed, and that there is only one true God does not make you a Christian—as James said (James 2:19), “Even the demons believe that — and shudder.”  A demon or even a person may believe that there is a God; but, they do not live a life for Him. 

So, what’s the fine line between doing works for your salvation and doing works because you’re saved?  James addressed it like this, that if one claims to have faith, then their actions will reflect it, you can’t do nothing; he the adds, “a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” (see James 2:14-24).  The Christian life, the life of a true disciple, a Christ-follower, can’t be absent of bearing the fruit of the Spirit, such as patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23), which leads to Christlike compassion and good deeds.  In fact, in Matthew 5, Jesus told us that those who are humble, merciful, and pure in heart would enter the kingdom of heaven; he added the need of a holy life, where we are to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (v 48).  Even C. S. Lewis advised us that, “If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”    

So, is there a problem?  Yes.  Often, we rationalize our faith as a Christian; but we are not dedicated Christ followers.  Is that what is missing in our title, follower?  We never teach nor witness of Christ, and only when it suits us do we love one another as He commanded us to do (e.g., Matt 28:18-20, John 13:34-35).  There is a great oversight in our faith walk, the flaw is with our “head belief,” we haven’t committed our heart and soul, our being to Jesus Christ—He is not our Leader, our Master or Teacher.  We do the “church thing” and call ourselves Christian, but have not committed our lives to Christ, have not loved without fear, have not lived differently.  It is time to do so.

Owen <><

Scared to Death

“We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row; that it was all over for us.  As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally — not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead!”  2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (The Message)

Apostle Paul shared a story of how things were so difficult for the disciples that they feared for their very lives; Paul said, “in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.”  But they learned to not rely on themselves but on “God, who raises the dead.”  These disciples of Jesus had, in dire circumstances, discovered the importance of the promise, hope, and peace that is in Christ Jesus. 

The disciples turned their deepest fear of life’s battles into peace by embracing the assurance one has in Christ.  I have no desire to die, I like living.  God created us in his image, which includes living eternally—death is not a God thing, it is not his desire for you, or me.  We have a promise of eternal life.  It boils down to one question by Jesus (John 11:25-26).  Paul believed it and I believe it, but, what is your response to this question by Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”

Owen <><

Are You Hated Because of Jesus?

He [Jesus] looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." 

He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

Then [they] went out and began to plot … how they might kill Jesus.  Mark 3:5-6

Jesus said, “All men will hate you because of me” (Luke 21:17). 

Are you hated because of Jesus?  If not, then I must ask, why not?

Do you witness, do you offer to pray for the hurting, do you offer to lay-on-hands for the healing of those around you?  I’m referring to those who are in the community you live and work within, not church friends—are your eyes fixed with compassion upon those who need to hear of the hope and encouragement found in Christ alone?  If so, then around you are those who have stubborn hearts toward the Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, they hate you – it’s that simple. 

Again I ask, “Are you hated because of Jesus?”  I hope your answer is, “Yes!” 

Owen <><

Matt 10:22, Mark 13:13

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

(see also: Luke 21:17, Matt 10:22, Mark 13:13, Luke 6:22). 

JUST PRAY

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  … because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.  Romans 8:26-27

We can cry out to God in a desperate moment and he is willing to protect us.  Even so, we need to be prepared before a desperate situation.  So, what do we do?  We pray!  What do we pray for?  We may not know, but, the Holy Spirit will assist us in prayer.

In example, I was pressed by the Spirit to pray for the safety of my family as they drove to and from work and school.  Why?  I didn’t know.  But I prayed.  I prayed for my wife and children by name, I prayed that each one be protected during driving.  I asked the Lord to cause them to slow up or speed up, whatever was needed to keep them safe.  After just two days our daughter came in from high school, telling how her dive that morning was crazy.  She had been held up in traffic, continually slowed up, unable to pass slower traffic.  Then she had been caught by a red light—at the same moment, across the intersection, a truck with an extension bucket, or “cherry-picker,” had snagged power lines that then fell across the road.  Had she not been slowed a few seconds, she would have been next to that truck.  To this day, we know God had intervened, I had prayed for it, though I had no idea what I was praying for.  God did, and answered. 

My point is simple; remain in prayer and respond to the whisper of Christ’s Spirit, he intercedes for us, according to God’s will.  God will let you know what to pray for, He may be vague, or he may be specific—but God’s Counselor, the Holy Spirit is there guiding you.  God’s Spirit orders our steps for every situation, we must keep in step with the Spirit (Gal 5:25), being in prayer keeps us in step with God’s Spirit.

Just Pray,

Owen <><

If you can? Only by prayer!

"If you can'?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

Mark 9:23

In Mark 9:14-29 we find Jesus and his disciples facing a scenario similar to what we may face today.  Within a crowd were religious teachers of the law arguing with Jesus’ disciples.  Jesus asked the obvious question, “What’s up?”  The argument was apparently over a boy.  The religious leaders then, as many today, argued against God’s work as available to heal our bodies and route demons.    

A man began telling Jesus about his son had been possessed by a spirit that made him unable to speak and manifested seizures.  He then told Jesus, “I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not;" then he desperately asked Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”  Jesus responded, “If you can?  Everything is possible for him who believes.”  The boy’s father cried out “help me overcome my unbelief!”  Then, disappointed in the religious crowd and his own disciples, Jesus spoke out, “How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”  Jesus then commanded the spirit to leave the boy and “never enter him again.” 

Afterwards the disciples privately asked Jesus, “Why couldn't we drive it out?”  Jesus replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” 

So, what have we learned?  By being a disciple of Christ, healing is available through prayer offered in faith.  Prayer is where you are prepared for every disease, injury, or demon that you may meet along life’s journey.  In Prayer the Spirit of God counsels and enables you—then, any and everything is possible if you believe.   

He can—I believe, I pray,

Owen <><