Retro (Part II)

Sup? Check out the Retro crowd from the third service on Sunday. Can you say, “Hilarious?”

Second service people – where are you? First service came out strong. Third service got into it? But the second service level of participation was lame if I might say so myself. :>) What is up with that? Our biggest service crowd is not into Retro? That causes some reflection.

That "take it or leave it" reminds me of our vision. We all know the vision of newhope is to Reach, Teach, and Release! We exist to reach people with the love of Jesus, Teach believers the Word of the Lord, and Release volunteers as fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

People who have truly experienced the life saving grace of Jesus, the truth of His Word, and experienced life with a capital P purpose, are all about reach, teach, and release. As I shared on Sunday, it comes naturally from the overflow of thanksgiving.

Others, though, are content to play religious games with God. Maybe you have been there – kind of playing church and religion but never really getting serious enough to open your life fully to the transforming power of God pulsating in and through you. I have never been able to understand that approach with God. Either He is God and deserves every living breathing part of us or he is not and we should all forget this faith thing and leave our so called “Savior” behind.

I have always loved the story in I Kings 18 about Elijah on Mount Carmel: (Check out the full story here)

“So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing.”

“Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the Lord's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—He is God." (I Kings 18:20 – 24)

Notice that little word, “IF” in verse 21! IF He is God, than serve Him with all that you have. IF he is not, than let’s forget it and close shop.

What does it mean to serve God? It means to give Him every part of your life. To surrender this day to His purposes in the world. To surrender my agenda for His agenda. His agenda has always been to reach people, teach them the commandments and Word of the Lord and release them to go back into the word reaching more and more people for His Kingdom.

II Peter put it like this – “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9) God doesn’t want anyone to perish. God never sends anyone to hell. People chose hell when they refuse God.

I am so thankful today that God wants to use my life in such an eternal, revolutionary, and life-shattering way. I spent far too much of my life fishing for perch when God was calling me to fish for men and women. (Matthew 4:19)

Wherever you are today, right now, why don’t you pray and give your life fully to God. Quite playing games. Quite serving a part time God – there is no such thing. Either He is your first love or He is nothing. God will have all of you or He will have none of you. Why not give Him all of your life afresh and anew this day? While you are at it, ask God to show you who He wants to reach through you and then ask God to lead you as you reach out to them in the name of Christ. As I have said before, if you get them to church, we will creatively offer them Christ and His Word and invite them into the journey!

I am praying for you and I look forward to seeing you and your friend(s) at newhope.