So did Jesus mean suits, ties and pantyhose when He said for us to give Him our best?

I stole this from Perry Noble (senior pastor at Newspring Church) and thought it is a must read!!OK…so I am on a rant today…it’s been a while and I am fired up…this one will be fun! I recently heard of a church in the area taking a stab at NewSpring DURING a worship service, saying that we allow people to dress any way they wish and that suits and dresses are not required, even frowned upon in our church. This comment was made to criticize us…but lets unpack it for a second. :-) First of all–we do not look down on those who choose to wear a suit or a dress…unless it is a man in a dress, then we will say something! We simply ask people to wear what is comfortable and modest. What I am wondering is where in the world did the modern day church ever get the idea that somehow dressing up in a suit OR wearing a dress equals godliness…and those who would wear jeans and a T-shirt, or even (GASP) flip flops just are not as godly.  Can we all say “insecurity” boys and girls?Now I’m not a theologian or a scholar…but it seems to me that someone who would look down their nose at someone else for not dressing properly–when no dress code is mentioned in the Bible–is PRIDE and ARROGANCE…you know, the things that got satan kicked out of heaven! I know, I know…some wing nut is firing off an e-mail right now, telling me about how the Bible says for us to give God our best! Uh…yeah…somehow I just don’t think that the Lord meant suits and ties and dresses–especially since none of those things existed when the Scripture that says to give God our best was penned! Do you REALLY think that, just because someone wears a suit, tie or dress that they actually love Jesus more? Are you really that stupid? Are you really that superficial? SERIOUSLY…I worked in/attended churches where people “dressed up” in an effort to “give God their best” every Sunday…AND… • I saw a man, who wore a suit every Sunday, get caught having an affair with several different women, all of whom wore the latest fashion. • I saw a deacon, who had a NICE suit, get caught having sex with a staff members wife. (And she wore a dress to church every week as well!) • I saw a man, who wore a suit every week, have an affair on his wife and LEAVE her like a coward! • I saw a lady, who wore a dress every Sunday, gossip and lie and try to DESTROY lives through “prayer requests!” • I saw people who, dressed up every weekend, but were at the parties the night before and were so drunk they could not walk! (Can you imagine their faces the first time they saw me at church–it was a sight to see!!!) I could literally go on and on…people–it DOES NOT FLIPPIN’ matter what is worn to church…as long as you are there!!! I Samuel 16:7 says that God is looking at the heart…and I honestly believe there are some very well dressed people in churches all over America who are on their way to hell because they are so caught up in looking good and playing the part that they have never trusted Christ with their salvation!!! Oh yeah…by the way…that whole “giving your best” thing–I know people who wear suits every week but are not… • Giving their best in their time to Jesus! • Giving their best in their marriage. • Giving their best in their money! • Giving their best in the way they raise their children. • Giving their best in the way they take care of their bodies! BUT…this doesn’t flippin’ matter to some superficial Christians…as long as you wear a suit and look good–you get a pass on actually having to know Christ like Paul said we should know Him in Philippians 3:10-11. (I wonder what Paul wore? Never really mentions it in Scripture…MUST not be important–EXCEPT for the command In I Timothy 2:9 for women to dress modestly!!! AND…if you will look at I Timothy 2:8-10 ONCE again you will discover that dress is secondary to true worship!) It’s time that Christians people that go to church STOPPED this crap! Dressing up does not make you godly…for many it simply means they are good looking hypocrites!!! The REAL question is how is your heart…are you and I doing what Jesus outlined in Matthew 22:36-40? THAT matters!!! (Once again please note they asked Jesus about what was most important…and He never mentioned a dress code!) I am pumped because at NewSpring Church I see people coming every week–many who can not afford a suit (and would be judged at others churches) and they are being accepted by our community and CHANGED by Jesus!!! THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!!! We are not anti-suit–we are anti-stupidity…anti-superficial…anti-Pharisee…you know…all the things that people say you MUST dress up to love Jesus stand for!!! By the way…I do own ONE suit…and I do weddings and funeral in it–but ONLY if it is requested!!! :-) Jesus changed me from the inside out…and that change is real and doesn’t have to be dressed and proclaimed in some sort of fashion statement.  I praise God for our church–for an environment that does not CARE how you are dressed as long as you are here.  We understand that there are WAY more important matters each and every week than picking a tie that matches and finding those darn earrings. Just so we know where Jesus stands on this–He made it VERY clear in Matthew 23:25-28!  He was very clear that those most obsessed with outward appearances often had something inward to hide!  Isn’t it funny how things never really change…2,000 years later and the Pharisees still exist!Labels: clothes, Jesus, Pharisees

True Courage

This might be tough to swallow but just for a moment think about this. Imagine your neighbors home on fire you see it run outside and laying beside your feet is a hose but you freeze. You stand there fear has you helpless you know that they are going to die but you do nothing. Think of your emotional state. The sleepless nights that follow. Now is this you in the story, really do you freeze or grab the hose and attempt to save their life? I just got done reading a great quote and it reads like this. "So many churches have diluted and adulterated the clear, powerful gospel in ways that robbed it of its vitality and power." We need to see the gospel the way the early disciples did fearless and convicted. Now back to the story its easy to hear a story like that and sat no way I just let them burn, but really? There is people around us all of us who are dying daily and we need to ask ourselves are we standing there froze or are we ready to take action. Do we lose sleep over the lives that don't know Christ. I just ask you this are you truly passionate about saving the lives of those around us or are we standing like cowards froze watching people burn?

God aka the show off

I just got done spending a few days with Melanie and while I was away I would watch the sunrise. That got me thinking you know God is a show off and I mean that with love. Lets just think of a few the sunrise and sunset, the northern lights (that's neat) and the grand canyon just to name a few of what is a very long list. God also shows off right in front of us but we miss it alot. Several weeks ago I was talking with my dad about outreach goals for the church we joked how nice it would be to get one person a week. That just seemed too ambitious so we settled on two or three people a month. That's when God decided to show off. In the last ten weeks we have had 11 families join yes families for a total of twenty six people. Its like God said don't you see I am better than you can imagine. I am sorry for ever doubting just how capable God is. I think we do that far to often. Think of all the wonders that God has created the fact he is the one who tells the sun to rise yet we struggle with the idea of fully relying on God. Well as for me I got it God you keep working your miracle and I am honored to be on this awesome ride with you. Thank you Jesus you are so great and I pray that you continue showing off. I am paying attention and don't want to miss a thing.

And the lights shine!!

You know that Christmas time is a great reminder of what Christ meant when he called us to be the light of the world. When you drive around you just cant help but be drawn to the lights. Hanging from the houses and on the trees. We just cant help but be reminded of Christmas by all the lights. Which gets me thinking if we are to be the light of the world when people See you what are they reminded of. Now we might not be reminding them of all the dark that is in the world but the truth is we are to remind people of Christ and his love for us. Life is a light so you cant avoid it you are shinning a light on something. When I was a golf pro I would shine for golf people that I came in contact with knew what I did. I was excited about golf and talked people into golfing. My energy towards the game of golf was contagious people who didn't golf found themselves trying it. We must realize that we are guiding people towards something restaurants movies. people influence people period there is no denying it. So just think to yourself this Christmas when you see the lights how are you influencing people. What are you shinning your lights on?

Room for Christ (stupid inn keeper)

Well you know we talk alot about missing Christmas. Just think of that inn keeper, man if he only knew that he wouldnt make room for Jesus Christ. We look back on this guy and think man what an idiot. While I think about this guy and think of how busy we get around Christmas maybe we are not so different. Are you leaving room for Christ? Lets be honest we look at that man at the inn and say wow how in the world could he turn away Jesus. Well Jesus is at the door of our hearts and he stands and knocks. Are you leaving room for Christ? People say well if I was the man at the inn I would have cleared a room out. Well just maybe we need to do some cleaning out of our own. Lets just examine ourselves and see how much room we are leaving for Christ. Do not look back and see we were just like the man in the inn. Leaving Jesus knocking at the door with no room. So ask yourself are you leaving room for Christ??

Litter nose

The other day my dog walked into the room with cat litter on her nose gross. Yes she is eating cat poop and it got me thinking. You know I never would have noticed if it wasn't for the litter on her nose. We go through each day as an ambassador for Christ with a bunch of poop to deal with. We are faced with decisions in which we know the right answer yet we may find ourselves compromising. So just ask yourself do you have litter on your nose?

Its not Happy Holidays!!!

Thats right its not happy holidays it is HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Let us all remember what Christmas is really all about. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Want to know what all the gift giving is about then? Well with the birth of Jesus Christ came the greatest gift of all. When remembering his birth lets remember why he came, he came here to give us the gift of salvation (eternity in heaven) Which he paid for by giving his life for us. With that said the greatest gift of all time has been given to you do not leave it unopened (not accepting a gift of this worth is simply not smart). Open it by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior dont put this off!!!

With Love, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS
Dax