by Jason Joyner | Mar 23, 2008 | Blog, Jesus
From Rich Mullins’ posthumous album, The Jesus Record:
Surely God is With Us
Mark Robertson and Beaker
Matthew 1:23, Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 13:54-57
Matthew 21:10-11, Matthew 27:50-54, Luke 7:34-35
Luke 23:33, John 6:14, John 6:35-43
John 7:37-41, John 8:19, John 20:26-29
Well, who’s that man who thinks He’s a prophet?
Well, I wonder if He’s got something up His sleeve
Where’s He from? Who is His daddy?
There’s rumors He even thinks Himself a king
Of a kingdom of paupers
Simpletons and rogues
The whores all seem to love Him
And the drunks propose a toast
And they say, “Surely God is with us.
Well, surely God is with us.”
They say, “Surely God is with us today!”
Who’s that man who says He’s a preacher?
Well, He must be, He’s disturbing all our peace
Where’s He get off, and what is He hiding
And every word He says those fools believe
Who could move a mountain
Who would love their enemy
Who could rejoice in pain
And turn the other cheek
And still say, “Surely God is with us,
Well, surely God is with us,”
Who’ll say, “Surely God is with us today, today!”
They say, “Surely God is with us
Well, surely God is with us”
They say, “Surely God is with us”
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Heaven belongs to them
Blessed are those who make peace
They are God’s children
I Am the Bread of Life, and the Way”
You hear that Man, believe what He says!
Tell me, who’s that Man, they made Him a prisoner
They tortured Him and nailed Him to a tree
Well if He’s so bad, who did He threaten?
Did He deserve to die between two thieves?
See the scars and touch His wounds
He’s risen flesh and bone
Now the sinners have become the saints
And the lost have all come home
And they say, “Surely God is with us (Surely God is with us)
Well, surely God is with us,”
They say, “Surely God is with us today!” (Today!)
They say, “Surely God is with us
Well, surely God is with us”
They say, “Surely God is with us today”
Lyrics from Kid Brothers.
by Jason Joyner | Sep 6, 2007 | Blog, Jesus, ministry, musings
It’s really hard to complain about life. I have a steady job, working four 10-hour shifts Mon – Thurs, (even though I’m on the bus at 5:40 am to get there). I have a good house in a good neighborhood. My bills are reasonable, both cars paid for. I’ve graduated from college. I have a computer with DSL and a Xbox 360 (yes, I am waiting for Halo 3…).
Now the important things: I’ve got good friends at my church and I’m able to minister out of my giftings there. I have three wonderful boys who are a delight to me every day. My beautiful wife is my breath and my joy. I have been redeemed from my sins and walk as a new creation as a son of the Most High King.
My only reaction should be one of continual thanks to Jesus for all these blessings.
And yet…
I don’t know why we have such a hard time being content. I do know that God has placed me at my church, at my job, in my town.
And yet…
I can’t shake the feeling that I’m in a place of…isolation? It seems that I am far from making a difference with my life, at least the difference I think I could be making. My heart is for ministry. My heart is to actively and consistently be of service to my Lord. I have dreams of doing greater things than what I’m doing right now. My job is quite unfulfilling in the day to day grind of things. Why can’t I be doing something else? Then again, last year at this time I was out of work for 4 months, so how dare I complain?
Now, I know that I am called to serve God wherever I am, that my work and my town are mission fields in and of themselves. I know that true worship is walking in the light every day and being a vessel ready to be used by Him at any time. I realize this, and I really do my best to walk in it (not that any of us nail it perfectly all the time).
I ask the Lord to help me be content where I am. I feel like the description Yoda gives about Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back, “Always looking to the stars, longing for adventure is he.” (paraphrase) I try to stay focused on what is in front of me, not worrying about tomorrow for He knows my needs and His purpose for me.
Still, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m in a Joseph place right now. Whether it’s in the prison or Potiphar’s house, I think I need to do the best I can right now, keeping faith that God will be faithful to the call and words spoken to me in the past. I’ve been reading some novels where the main character has their “wilderness” experience, frustrated that they’re not in the Promised Land yet, but being led by their God into these trying times to test or train them. I wonder if that’s where I am right now.
I’m not sure why this post bubbled out of me. I don’t want to be a whiner. Sometimes we learn from others’ struggles, so maybe someone out there can relate or get something out of this. If you can’t get anything here, try Heather over at L’Chaim, who has a good response to this post (even though she posted first!)
by Jason Joyner | Sep 6, 2007 | Blog, Jesus, ministry, musings
It’s really hard to complain about life. I have a steady job, working four 10-hour shifts Mon – Thurs, (even though I’m on the bus at 5:40 am to get there). I have a good house in a good neighborhood. My bills are reasonable, both cars paid for. I’ve graduated from college. I have a computer with DSL and a Xbox 360 (yes, I am waiting for Halo 3…).
Now the important things: I’ve got good friends at my church and I’m able to minister out of my giftings there. I have three wonderful boys who are a delight to me every day. My beautiful wife is my breath and my joy. I have been redeemed from my sins and walk as a new creation as a son of the Most High King.
My only reaction should be one of continual thanks to Jesus for all these blessings.
And yet…
I don’t know why we have such a hard time being content. I do know that God has placed me at my church, at my job, in my town.
And yet…
I can’t shake the feeling that I’m in a place of…isolation? It seems that I am far from making a difference with my life, at least the difference I think I could be making. My heart is for ministry. My heart is to actively and consistently be of service to my Lord. I have dreams of doing greater things than what I’m doing right now. My job is quite unfulfilling in the day to day grind of things. Why can’t I be doing something else? Then again, last year at this time I was out of work for 4 months, so how dare I complain?
Now, I know that I am called to serve God wherever I am, that my work and my town are mission fields in and of themselves. I know that true worship is walking in the light every day and being a vessel ready to be used by Him at any time. I realize this, and I really do my best to walk in it (not that any of us nail it perfectly all the time).
I ask the Lord to help me be content where I am. I feel like the description Yoda gives about Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back, “Always looking to the stars, longing for adventure is he.” (paraphrase) I try to stay focused on what is in front of me, not worrying about tomorrow for He knows my needs and His purpose for me.
Still, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m in a Joseph place right now. Whether it’s in the prison or Potiphar’s house, I think I need to do the best I can right now, keeping faith that God will be faithful to the call and words spoken to me in the past. I’ve been reading some novels where the main character has their “wilderness” experience, frustrated that they’re not in the Promised Land yet, but being led by their God into these trying times to test or train them. I wonder if that’s where I am right now.
I’m not sure why this post bubbled out of me. I don’t want to be a whiner. Sometimes we learn from others’ struggles, so maybe someone out there can relate or get something out of this. If you can’t get anything here, try Heather over at L’Chaim, who has a good response to this post (even though she posted first!)
by Jason Joyner | Jun 17, 2007 | Blog, Father's heart, Jesus
I have been wonderfully blessed with three special boys (yes, so far we specialize). I know that it is by God’s grace, because I do not deserve my beautiful wife and these three gifts from heaven that we have to raise.
However, I still have some issues when Father’s Day comes around. My father died of a heart attack at the age of 52; I was only 5. My mother did over and beyond what she could in my life, but there was always a void from being fatherless. Part of it manifested through being one of the youngest and smallest in my class. I don’t know for sure, but I believe that I would’ve had more self-confidence and ability to stand up for myself if my dad had been around. I never quite fit in with my peers. High school was an awkward time for me, to be sure.
After high school I attended a Discipleship Training School through YWAM Montana . This is an intensive three month training program, emphasizing the character and ways of God, followed by a two month practical outreach. It was an amazing time that really cemented a lot of things in my walk with the Lord. Nothing compared, however, to the teaching of David Graham on the Father’s heart.
He shared for a week in September about how the Father loved us so unconditionally. He described the adoption we have in Him, and how it made us sons and daughters of the King. Me, a prince of Heaven? It sounded wonderful, but it was all head knowledge. Thankfully, God has a way to move beyond our intellect.
David was speaking out of Romans 8 and Galatians 3:26 – 4:7 one day. He shared how our adoption gives us the stature of God. We take on His character and standing through this. As he described how God “sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” (Gal 4:6, NKJV) Abba is an Aramaic term that shows deep affection, like the term Daddy in modern America. This hit something deep within me, and I felt the churning of emotion and hurt inside.
David began to minister to different people in my school who were undergoing similar revelation from God on what it meant to be a child. Finally, it felt as if a fount, long blocked up by junk in my life, was released. A torrent of emotion and pain flooded out of me, washed away with divine love from my heavenly Father. No longer was I fatherless. No longer was I insignificant. I was a child of the King. So much fear, self-doubt, and insecurity was cleaned out of my life that day. I truly felt like a “new creation” at that time.
That was 9/24/91. It was my 18th birthday. It also became the first Father’s day that I truly could comprehend. Now I have a Father in heaven that looks over what I do, and it is my greatest joy when I hear, “Well done, son.”
My prayer for my boys is that they will understand the Father’s heart for them without going through the turmoil that I did. I also pray that anyone who reads this, and doesn’t know about the glorious freedom of the children of God, will also experience God as their Father.
by Jason Joyner | Jun 17, 2007 | Blog, Father's heart, Jesus
I have been wonderfully blessed with three special boys (yes, so far we specialize). I know that it is by God’s grace, because I do not deserve my beautiful wife and these three gifts from heaven that we have to raise.
However, I still have some issues when Father’s Day comes around. My father died of a heart attack at the age of 52; I was only 5. My mother did over and beyond what she could in my life, but there was always a void from being fatherless. Part of it manifested through being one of the youngest and smallest in my class. I don’t know for sure, but I believe that I would’ve had more self-confidence and ability to stand up for myself if my dad had been around. I never quite fit in with my peers. High school was an awkward time for me, to be sure.
After high school I attended a Discipleship Training School through YWAM Montana . This is an intensive three month training program, emphasizing the character and ways of God, followed by a two month practical outreach. It was an amazing time that really cemented a lot of things in my walk with the Lord. Nothing compared, however, to the teaching of David Graham on the Father’s heart.
He shared for a week in September about how the Father loved us so unconditionally. He described the adoption we have in Him, and how it made us sons and daughters of the King. Me, a prince of Heaven? It sounded wonderful, but it was all head knowledge. Thankfully, God has a way to move beyond our intellect.
David was speaking out of Romans 8 and Galatians 3:26 – 4:7 one day. He shared how our adoption gives us the stature of God. We take on His character and standing through this. As he described how God “sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” (Gal 4:6, NKJV) Abba is an Aramaic term that shows deep affection, like the term Daddy in modern America. This hit something deep within me, and I felt the churning of emotion and hurt inside.
David began to minister to different people in my school who were undergoing similar revelation from God on what it meant to be a child. Finally, it felt as if a fount, long blocked up by junk in my life, was released. A torrent of emotion and pain flooded out of me, washed away with divine love from my heavenly Father. No longer was I fatherless. No longer was I insignificant. I was a child of the King. So much fear, self-doubt, and insecurity was cleaned out of my life that day. I truly felt like a “new creation” at that time.
That was 9/24/91. It was my 18th birthday. It also became the first Father’s day that I truly could comprehend. Now I have a Father in heaven that looks over what I do, and it is my greatest joy when I hear, “Well done, son.”
My prayer for my boys is that they will understand the Father’s heart for them without going through the turmoil that I did. I also pray that anyone who reads this, and doesn’t know about the glorious freedom of the children of God, will also experience God as their Father.
by Jason Joyner | Feb 17, 2007 | Biblical worldview, Blog, Jesus
I saw a fairly disturbing snippet of Oprah yesterday. On the show they were talking about a book called The Secret. Some attractive and well-meaning people were talking about it earnestly. I don’t fault any of them (don’t know ’em, didn’t watch long enough to find out), but the part that I saw had a flawed concept, and I wanted to address that.
Apparently the book in question talks about the law of attraction, saying that we receive what we think about. If we think about the obstacles in our path, that’s what we’ll get. If we think positively, and think about-say, the promotion we want, that’s what we’ll receive.
This all comes from the worldview that people are basically good, and we just need to think/do good and everything will be alright. Nevermind that this bedrock of postmodern society doesn’t work and isn’t changing life as we know it. There was a quote on the show that was the main kicker for this topic.
As a Christian, Maureen says she believes in heaven and hell, and she’s concerned that The Secret’s promotion of free will and personal choice imply that you do not face a final judgment.
James says that while he honors Maureen’s Christian belief system, he suggests looking at the concepts of heaven, hell and judgment in a different way. “Jesus the Christ said the kingdom of heaven is within. He didn’t say it was out there somewhere—[he said] within. And so is it possible to consider that the kingdom of hell is within as well?” he says.
“The kingdom of God is actually in us, and what comes out of your mouth, what you think about, how you express—you’re either participating in the realm of ever-expanding good or you’re cutting yourself off from the realm,” Michael says.
Michael suggests that instead of living a life preparing for some ultimate reward, you should live in the now. “When you’re anticipating some future good, you’re preventing that good that is all around you from expressing through you,” he says. “[Don’t] put life on the layaway plan and try to anticipate that it’s going to get good in the future.”
It is too bad that this is the idea Michael has about the Kingdom of Heaven. I’m afraid to say that Christians can give support to the idea that all we’re doing is putting “life on the layaway plan” by focusing on eternity rather than what is going on today.
The truth is that Jesus came to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. As Christians, we are to live a life by faith. According to Romans 8, we live a resurrection life. In short, we look ahead to the life we will have when we are with Jesus, and by faith walk as if we were there now. According to Francis Schaeffer:
It means that, through faith, I am to die to all things both good and bad, but then to take my resurrected body, as though I had already been raised physically from the dead, and step back into this present world, to serve in the power of the indwelling Spirit.
(The Finished Work of Christ, pg 188)
As we walk as children of God, we are to bring light and life to those around us. Jesus said that “no man knows the hour” of His return. Keeping our head on a swivel trying to see if He’s come back yet isn’t going to help this world. By showing the love of Jesus in living out the example AND telling them about His great gift of salvation. The Kingdom will grow as we work with what God is doing to bring people to Himself. The Kingdom is invading this present age, but not as those on Oprah would suggest. It is only through people submitting to Christ as Lord that it is here. There is still a future aspect of the Kingdom, when it is fully revealed at His second return.
So I take the Oprah episode in two ways. In one way it is a rebuke. Christians need to be about loving people, and loving is not just an attitude but action as well. If we are seen as “too heavenly minded to be any earthly good”, that isn’t how we are commanded to live.
On the other hand, the world won’t understand that the true “heavenly minded” will be the ones who make the most difference in this world, because we see the light of God and reflect it, helping others to see the Way. On Amazon The Secret is described as an ideal that permeates all cultures and religions, being brought forth all together for the first time now, although people like Plato and Jesus walked in it. Um, not my Jesus, sorry. My Jesus was the Son of God who was and continues to be rejected by the world. He was not just one of many great teachers in history. Without revelation, man cannot understand Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven, or His followers.
It is incumbent on us who call on His name to show the Way as best we can, knowing that it is Jesus that will ultimately draw people to Him.
