Have you got some New Years’ goals, but aren’t quite sure how to implement them? Join the club. I’ve got a great podcast episode for you:: “How to Get Ready for a New Year“. It’s in the iTunes Store, and… it’s FREE!!
UNITED YOUTH CHURCH CHICAGO
If you would listen and review that would be totally awesome!
Pastor Robb
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Robb Gorringe
I Killed the Dove
Going forward is a necessity. Old paths though have something, that if we’re not careful our forward inertia will be a sliding backwards into mindless regression. Even the Bible talks about this. You might be thinking, “Yeah, didn’t Jesus say, “Remember Lot’s wife.”?” Actually yes, He did. But why? Because there is an innate danger in lusting for that which is evil – that which we used to live-in and feast on. But Jeremiah flips the script a bit when he said,
“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said we will not walk therein.” [Jer. 6:16 KJV].
Some people are so busy about making New Year’s Resolutions that they have forgotten the old paths of the ancients. They’re busy thinking about their new figure, new careers, the New Age, New Wave, and… of course, new shoes, (gotta have ’em)
One ancient, so-to-speak, in particular that I’m thinking about is someone from the 80’s Southern California Punk Rock scene. Lyrical genius, Jonithin Christ of Code of Honor said in his song, “I Killed the Dove”…
There is a hunger on this planet, reflections of past
The dreams you thought were real last night were nights of the last
The hunger’s inside of you, distorting your view
Nothin’ here but wasteland all wrapped up inside of you
I did it for Money
I did it for Love
I did it for Myself
I killed the Dove
Why can’t we see where our lives are going and change?
If you listen to the song, [found on Savage Jaw Records], singing that last line, Jonithin belts out an eery cry… Why can’t we see where our lives are going and change? During this first part of the year I have been asking myself this same exact question. Because if we really could see where our lives are going most of us would change. There would be a reason to stop doing what we’re doing, and start doing what we should be doing. But the haunting questions still lingers, What if we don’t see where our lives are going and change? We “Kill the Dove”.
The the gospels are clear, that the Dove represents the Holy Spirit. I hope I never kill the Dove. I do know that I’m sure I have clipped His wings on numerous occasions. The Dove is so innocent. The Dove represents perfect peace. And we forfeit that peace when we fail to see ahead, and when we fail to go back to the old paths of doing what is right. Most of the time we go back to old sins. The wheel of old habits ends up moving forward to crush us.
To conclude, don’t kill the dove. Don’t let that be written on your epitaph. The Dove comes to cleanse you and set you free through the power of the One He landed-on so many years ago beside the Jordan River. Open your eyes, and see the path your on. Do it for yourself. Do it for the Dove.
Most people don’t really know the language of young people, but… a Best Friend is worth their weight in Gold. The link below will take you to a quick 15 minute MP3 on iTunes. If you have a BFF then take a quick listen and see if your relationship will improve as you head into 2009.
Whatcha Doin with your BFF?
Do you have any priorities? If so, how do you know which should come first? Are you right? Is it possible that you’re wrong?
Devotions for January 5, 2008
#1 PRIORITY
Pastor Robb Gorringe
Daily Bible reading: Mark 1-3
SCRIPTURE
And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. Mark 3:13-15
OBSERVATION
I keep coming back to this passage of Scripture when I begin to feel like being a Christian is becoming too much of rules and regulations. Here Jesus calls His disciples to merely “be with Him”.
It’s like Jesus was saying, “listen guys, I really don’t have a huge agenda to start a world religion, or to simply “use you”. Right off the bat I want to let you know that I want to hang with you and get to know you, and I want you to get to know me.”
Jesus said in John 14 that if we have seen Him we have really seen the Father. And this is what God is really like. The number #1 agenda is the eternal God wanting to spend time with us. The flip-side is true as well… as disciples of Jesus our #1 priority ought to want to spend time with Jesus.
APPLICATION
When I think of my #1 priority I tend to think of taking care of my wife, my son, [and certainly these are in order], but are they really? Could it be that life get out of whack when I get priorities out of order? I might be criticized by some, but I believe that true disciples of Jesus are to make Him their #1 priority and that as we do – everything else will fall into place. Marriages will be preserved. Our children won’t be neglected. Stress will diminish. Financial worries won’t intimidate us, and perhaps there won’t be as many gray hairs.
PRAYER
“Lord, I come to You today desiring to make you my #1 priority. Let everything else take 2nd place, because if I crown You as Lord of all You will take care of the rest. Today I worship you and believe you are making subtle changes in my life that will launch me into this New Year with supernatural strength. I thank You for it, In Jesus’ Name. Amen”.
Have your priorities been off? Are you making Jesus your #1 priority?
FEED THE FIRE! 