Painting Galaxies: Redeeming Culture with the Gospel

So for about two years, my blog has been named Painting Galaxies. I had no good reason for the title other than I thought it sounded cool and captured a creativity that I possess but have difficulty harnessing.

God, in his grace, has recently shown me a new aspect of the title, Painting Galaxies, which has set me a new direction for this blog*. It has to do with what the body of Christ should do to culture: Redeem it. This shows up in a powerful way in Acts 19 when the idol-makers of Ephesus are outraged that the truth of Jesus has shut down their business. CRAZY! Christians changed the economy!!!

This radical, Gospel-centered, Christ-exalting purpose for the Church has not changed. We need to be doing this in our jobs, with our marriages, with our investments, friendships, free time, Facebook accounts, and care for the poor.

Like the Church in Acts 19, saying "no" is only half the witness. In fact, the more powerful witness is what we say "yes" to.

Turn from the idols of culture and run to Jesus. He is the only King.

* Lord willing, I plan to blog a series on different ways we can redeem culture called, "REDEEM IT"

Jesus Wants the Rose

It's All About Jesus!

I borrowed this image and the series title from Mars Hill Church, but found it an appropriate truth to proclaim and prayer to renew my mind. In addition, I am preaching through the book of John on Sundays in our youth group. The truth is, in Orange County, we make it ALL ABOUT US! It is clearly NOT, for one day "Every knee will bow on heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tounge will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!" (Philippians 2:10-11).

Tomorrow, I will preach on John 1:6-9:

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

A couple of things stand out to me:

1. John the Baptist had a specific MISSION and MESSAGE: He was sent by God to testify concerning the light (Jesus) so that all men might be saved.
2. John understands that he was NOT the light...it was not about him!
3. He is pointing people to the light, because it's ALL ABOUT JESUS!

We should take a lesson from John and carry out the same MISSION and MESSAGE. It's clearly not about us, but ALL ABOUT JESUS! Pray that the true light that gives light to every man would shine brightly in Orange County so that God may receive all the glory!

For more on the Gospel and Orange County, visit The Gospel for OC and follow them on Twitter!

Discipleship and the Gospel

I lay on a mattress on the floor in Texas. I have just spent an incredible night of food, sharing, jokes, stories of mission trips to Thailand, and church life with our host family.

Our pastoral staff is attending a conference called "How Church Works" by Harold Bullock. Harold intentionally sought out my senior pastor, Seth, about 29 years ago while he was in seminary. Harold discipled him and a couple others and started Hope Church. Hope Church is now around 1000 people and has planted more than 70 churches around the world and sent out over 50 missionaries-- all from their own congregation.

Before Seth left Texas for California, he got his hands dirty and poured into peoples lives with the same intentional discipleship that Harold taught him. He taught the Gospel and spiritual disciplines. He then felt called to plant a church in Orange County, so 24 years ago he did.

We came to Texas this week to hear Harold teach on how church works. I have learned so much about how to shepherd people from the consumer mindset in Christianity to the comando soldier mindset.

Not only that, I have seen the power if the Gospel through generational discipleship and how the efforts of other men have impacted me personally.

First, I have gained so much knowledge and wisdom on pastoral care, godly life, and church leadership directly from Seth, but indirectly from Harold. Seth says to me always daily, "Harold always said.." or "From Harold I learned that..." and continue on explaining some biblical truth of Christ's character that must be lived out in my life. Meeting Harold was like meeting a spiritual grandfather that I never knew but one who played a huge part in the life of a man now disciples me.

Secondly, I have met so many people in the kast day who have also been touched by Seth's life (usually over 25 years ago) and are now serving in radical ministry. We are staying with a man who is one of those people. He and his wife are wonderfully hospitable. What is crazy is that I now get to reap some of the reward of the hard labor and obedience of godly men before me. I am thankful for them. I got to see this further while hanging out with our host's teenaged boys and watching a DVD of one of their mission trips to Thailand.

The Gospel is making it's way around the world and we get to celebrate that with beleivers. I am convinced that discipleship plays a HUGE role in that now. I always knew the great commission was true and that we should do it (...make disciples...) but now I have seen that it is real.

Please take the great commission seriously and make disciples. It is a long and difficult process, but through it the Gospel is preached, learned, and passes on...and God is glorified!!!