Forever Fame

So Josh

We all have decisions in life to make. Sometimes it's us making them, sometimes they seem to be made for us. I think it's true that everyone desires their fifteen minutes in the spotlight, where everyone sees, recognizes and loves them...the thing is (and the entertainment magazines seem to back this up) that the higher you climb, the farther you have to fall. Is there an alternative?

FIRST WATCH THIS VIDEO

Fame
I'm gonna live forever
I'm gonna learn how to fly
High

I feel it coming together Fame
People will see me and cry

I'm gonna make it to heaven
Light up the sky like a flame
Fame

I'm gonna live forever
Baby remember my name

I was a teenager when I first heard this song from the movie Fame and I still remember how it connected with what seemed like every student’s dream at the time - to do something, be something, or leave something behind that would be remembered forever.

Fast forward 30 years, and we have the remixed, rebooted movie that looked promising in the previews, but still is not a flick that I think will live forever.

Except maybe in the bargain bin of misfit movies at Blockbuster.

That being said, there’s something in the song and movie that I believe still connects with the soul of a teenager. In fact, not only the soul of a teen, but of all human beings. We want people to remember our names, don’t we? I know I’ve never met anyone who said, “Gee…I hope my life turns out to be a meaningless, purposeless collage of failed attempts to be remembered for something.”

But how does one go about lighting up the sky like a flame? Do we have to have mad music and dancing skills? Do we have to attend a special school and look like Abercrombie and Fitch models?

Well, that would definitely rule me out…but no big deal, because I’m looking for a very different kind of fame - the kind that actually will live forever because it’s attached to something that lasts forever.

You get this, right? You understand that even the highest level of recognition and celebrity status will eventually fade away, so that all the attempts to live forever will eventually be thrown into the bargain bin of eternity.

It’s too bad that so many people believe the lie that fame equals happiness and take their God-given desire to leave a mark on the world and use it for themselves.

You want fame? Take this advice:

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever (1 John 2:16-17, NLT).

Did you catch the formula for “fame” here? No special talents, looks, or connections…simply an unquenchable desire and unflinching direction to do “what pleases God.”

In other words, when you take fame off your agenda and instead live to make Jesus Christ famous, you attach yourself to something that will never fade away. And if you do have special abilities, you can use the applause of the crowd as a platform to bring praise to God.

Of course, the best way to make Jesus Christ famous is to spread the word about who He is and what He has done for all of humanity. My song and dance in life is telling everyone I know about the High King of heaven who humbled Himself and died a horrible death in our place in payment of our sin, then came back from the dead to show His power and plan to raise us from the grave as well.

And my fame? No, it won’t be in this life and frankly, I couldn’t care less about that because my sights are set on a day that is painted beautifully in this song:

I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me;
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea.
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name.
We turned and saw a young man running
And he was smiling as he came.

And he said, "Friend you may not know me now."
And then he said, "But wait,
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you
And said, "Remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money,
But you gave it anyway.
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I'm here today."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see.
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.
Little things that you had done,
Sacrifices made,
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven, now proclaimed.

And I know up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes.
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord.
He said, "My child, look around you.
Great is your reward."*

*Music and Lyrics by Ray Boltz

That’s fame. That’s forever fame.

Do you want in? Then make this poem your life motto:

“Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”
—Unknown Author

Original post taken from "Soul Fuel: Fuel for the Mission" 09.28.09

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A Message (from Coldplay)

So Josh,

I was listening to this song on Youtube today. It's called "A Message" by Coldplay. I know you know it, you being the Coldplay freak you are :-)!! The link to the video is here. It's pretty powerful. Check it out. Part of the lyrics are as follows:

A Message
My song is love
Love to the loveless shown
And it goes on
You don't have to be alone

Your heavy heart
Is made of stone
And it's so hard to see you, clearly
You don't have to be on your own
You don't have to be on your own

And I'm not gonna take it back
And I'm not gonna say I don't mean that
You're the target that I'm aiming at
Can I get that message home?

My song is love
My song is love unknown,
But I'm on fire for you, clearly
You don't have to be alone
You don't have to be on your own.

It makes me smile, because today I'm not feeling too close to the Lord. Today, I'm more aware of my humanness and sin than God's holy Presence living inside of me. Today, I'm asking the question: "Why even bother with me, Lord?"

It makes me smile, because even though this song may be, on the surface about human relationships, it's actually a hymn of worship! Don't believe me? Then check out these lyrics to a hymn, written by Samuel Crossman, in 1664:

My song is love unknown,
My Saviour’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

You can read the full lyrics here.

Hmmm...interesting similarity, eh? Coldplay...inspired by a hymn? Why not!
In fact, Chris Martin, in an interview with Rolling Stone talks about this song. He said:

"A Message" and "Til Kingdom Come" both come from having quite a religious upbringing. "A Message" is taken from a hymn we used to sing called "My Song Is Love Unknown," and we'd say "kingdom come" every week in the Lord's Prayer. One of the great things about being forced to go to church services is that we'd sing all these big songs. That's partly why I'm obsessed with getting everyone to sing along at our shows. It makes me feel like I'm a part of something.

To read the full interview, click here.

I just need to hear that right now - Christ's love was (and is) shown to the loveless (me). So that I might become lovely. He took my robe of sin so I might wear his robe of cleanness, wholeness, holiness. Why did Christ die for me? I don't know. Except to say it was for love. This is the greatest love song ever - Jesus' life, death and resurrection. This song I can keep repeating over and over in my head, and it NEVER grows old. And the chorus to this song?

Even while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me (Romans 5:8)

That can be your life chorus too.

God: "My song is love unknown.
Love to the loveless shown.
And it goes on: You don't have to be alone"

God: "You're the target that I'm aiming at..."

God: "Can I get that message home? But I'm on fire for you, clearly..."

Me: I'm beginning to get it again. Thank you, Lord.

Imprisoned for 18 years...

So Josh, this is a little different - it's a prayer request from a girl in my youth group, Becky, who is writing about something God has brought to her attention. In bringing this to our attention, she's being obedient to God.

Hey Everyone. It's Becky.

Maybe you've not heard
Now, I'm not sure if any of you have heard about this, and maybe if you have you've been affected by it, just like me. I'll fill you in just in case you haven't heard it, and if you have, well I encourage you to keep reading.

What happened
18 years ago, there was an 11 year old girl named Jaycee Lee Duggard who was abducted in 1991 from her California street. She was held captive in a backyard, by a registered sex offender who was on federal parole for rape and kidnapping convictions. She fathered his two children while she was stuck inside a camp in his backyard, and his wife even knew he was doing this, but didn't object! I'm going to enclose a URL link to a website, so you can read more if you like. You can read more about the story here.

The same age as us
So, that's basically the gist of what happened. But what really stood out to me when I heard about this, is that she had 2 kids, when she was a kid herself. Her children are now 11 and 15. Those are ages of some of the teens/pre-teens that attend our Youth.

They need our love and support
I felt like God was asking me to pray for these people, and to spread the word about them too. These are kids that have practically never seen the light of day, a church, a friend's house, and even school. When my dad told me about it, I sat crying in the back of our car, because I thought, How can we be dreading back to school time so much, when there's kids around the world who haven't even picked up a pencil? SO. What I am asking you to do, is to pray for these kids that are so close in age to us. They need our love and support and prayers more than ever now. I'm just going to write down some quick prayer points, and of course, you can add your own.

How to pray

• Pray that God will allow them to see everything he has to offer in a new light, and that any anger or frustration they are having to be wiped clean because Jesus loves them.
• Pray that any guilt that surrounds their thoughts is overcome by a realization of the fact that none of this was their fault.
• Pray that at this point, they can start off fresh, and can experience the world through Jesus's eyes.
• And, please pray for LOVE. That love will surround them and keep them together through everything that is to come.

Thanks so much guys. :) I know we can do this.
Becky

Why not forward this to your friends to encourage them to pray too?

Come, follow me

So Josh,

"Come, follow me". Three simple words. There's not much to them. They were said to two guys, Peter and Andrew, two brothers, ages and ages ago. Just three words. "Come follow me".

You see, three simple words are transformed into a daily invitation of adventure, power, meaning and transformation when we find out who says them. Let's read the passage:

"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him." (Matthew 4:18-20)

• Jesus gives them this invitation when they were in the middle of their humdrum, day to day life. Jesus invites us to follow him when we're serving up fries at McDonalds, or working on the farm, or going to a friends party, or swimming in the pool. In the middle of our day to day life - Jesus is constantly whispering to us "Come, follow me"
• Jesus invites them while they were doing what was needed for them to survive. If they didn't fish, they wouldn't eat. If the catch wasn't big enough, they wouldn't eat. If they didn't put in the hours on the boat (at the office, in school etc) they wouldn't move on in life. In the middle of living in survival mode, Christ gives us a different option: "Come follow me".
  
• Jesus invites to leave what they find comfortable. Fishing made sense to them. They'd done it all their lives. They understood the ins and outs of handling a boat, mending a net, what fish to keep and which to throw away, how to gut a fish, how to preserve, what was a good price for the fish. This life made sense. But Jesus invited them out of what made sense, he invited them to leave their comfort zone...to do what? Follow him.
• Jesus is sometimes vague about the details. He didn't give them a 3 year plan, or tell them to get a degree first in healing or preaching or demon casting out. They passed or failed on one thing - would they follow him? To where? They didn't know. For how long? They didn't know. What would the accommodation be like? They had no idea. Did they know at this point that they would be laughed at, persecuted, tired, hungry, angry, hard done by? No. Did they know that they would be responsible for building the church, spreading the gospel, seeing thousands of people come to know Christ through them? No. All they knew what that Jesus said "Come follow me". And they did.

Sometimes we need to know all the details, sometimes we want God's plan to fit into our plan, sometimes we want to have it all figured out, make sure our health insurance is up to date, ensure we have a contingency plan..a plan B. We want God to give us a HUGE sign before we'll even take one tiny step. Have we packed our bug spray, our sun screen, our travel sickness pills?

Sometimes we think "I don't know enough...I'm not good enough...I'm not smart / funny / witty / good-looking / together enough". Still Jesus looks you in the eye and says "Come follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men". He will make you into the person He wants you to be. He knows you better than you know yourself. And He wants to use you. Right here. Right now.

Jesus always takes the first step in inviting us.
We just have to respond by taking one step, and then another, and then another. You see, when you put together a lifetime of taking one step at a time with Jesus - you have an entire lifetime of following Jesus. But all he's asking you for, right now, is the next step. Will you take it? Will you come and follow Him?

Remember the kids song:

"I will make you fishers of men if you follow me"

Perhaps there's more truth to this than we think...

Love you mate

Dan

Transformers or Transformation?

So Josh,
I was checking out a video blog by this guy called Brett Ullman (you can check out his website here). He was reviewing the movie Transformers 2. I've not seen it personally, but have had every intention of doing so. This video blog has given me pause for thought. I'd love to know, Josh, what your thoughts are on this video blog (and I'd love to know the thoughts of anyone else who reads my blog). To view the video, just click here. It's only 7 minutes long, and should get you thinking!
A couple of questions for you to think about and reply to (by hitting the comment button under this blog post).
1) Have you watched Transformers 2? Was Brett's insight the impression you got from the movie?
2) Do you agree with what Brett is saying? Why or why not?
3) Is he making a big deal out of nothing?
4) How far should we take this issue of holiness?
5) Are you and I influencing the world with love and purity, or is the world influencing us?

Let's get this discussion started...

Love you,
Dan

The Dog's Dilemma

So Josh, before reading on, take a couple of minutes just to watch this video. Check it out...it's pretty entertaining!

All done? Good.

"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs" (Jonah 2:8)

"Those who cling..." - Those who hold on tight with both hands (as if to a lifeline)
"...to worthless idols..." - Mark Driscoll says that an idol is "a good thing that we turn into a god-thing which is a bad thing". Is there anything that you're clinging to which is substituting God's role in your life (as Saviour, Lord, Master, Friend, Lover, Creator...)? Remember, an idol isn't necessarily a sin - it could be something good and noble and great...but if it's squeezing God out of your life...get rid of it!!
"...forfeit the grace that could be theirs..." - Holding on to something with both hands, clinging to something means that you are not in a position to receive anything else (here, God's grace). Your hands are full! If you're holding mud in your fists, how can you eat a cookie? If you've got a bone in your mouth, how can you eat the ground beef? God's grace is always available, but if your grip is on your idols, how can you grasp God's grace? The answer - let go of the idol, and grasp hold of God's grace once again.

Jonah's response:
"But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD."


You can read the whole scripture chapter here.

So, make a decision. Sacrifice your worthless idol(s) so you can grasp hold of God's immense and free grace with both your hands. Vow to God and stick to it, with His power. Don't forget - these idols can't save you - only God's grace can. Salvation comes from the Lord.

"The circumstances are:

You have meat.

And he’s pretty doggone sure you’ll give it to him…if he’ll just let go of the bone.

But you have to understand:

The meat is just a promise; and it may not be much, but he has the bone.

That’s the dog’s dilemma. You see his problem don’t you?"

Don't you?

56 tattoos on her face...

So Josh,
Perhaps this following article puts some of the things that we do that annoy Mum and Dad into perspective! The words I'm writing are to everyone who reads this blog (just in case you're wondering...)! Oh, and another disclaimer - I actually quite like her tattoos!

Star-faced teen admits lied about tattoo

The Belgian teenager who made headlines across the globe after claiming a tattoo artist had drawn 56 stars on her face, rather than the three she asked for, has admitted she lied.

Kimberley Vlaeminck from the city of Kortrijk, 90 km (56 miles) northwest of Brussels said she fell asleep during the procedure, and woke up in pain when her nose was being tattooed.

But the 18-year-old was caught off camera on Dutch television when she said she quite liked the tattoo, but lied about asking for all 56 stars when she saw her father's furious reaction.

Tattoo artist Rouslain Toumaniantz said Vlaeminck initially liked her new look, and that she got what she asked for.

(Reporting by Antonia van de Velde, editing by Paul Casciato)

I'm sure you know that feeling...or at least I do - when you're caught red-handed, right in the middle of doing something you know you shouldn't be doing. You try to lie or excuse your way out of it, but you know the guilt is written all over your face (quite literally in Kimberley's case! Hahaha!)

I've done that before - I remember the shame, the total shame of being caught. But what about those sins / mistakes / screw-ups that aren't written all over our faces? The failings that are only known to us...and God. The skeletons in our closets? Is there any hope?

Let's see what God says, through His word, the Bible

Step 1

⁸ If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. ⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. (1 John 1:8-9)

OK, so we've all screwed up; we've all sinned; we've all hurt God and chosen other things / people over Him; we've all rejected Him. If you're honest, that's what you'll say. I know it's true about me - Dan Wallis, Assistant Pastor - BIG SINNER, expert repenter! So we've all sinner: that's the bad news. But without the bad news, how can there be good news? Let's keep reading...

Step 2

¹ My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate (someone who's on your side) who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. ² He himself is the sacrifice that atones (pays for in full) for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. (1 John 2:1-2)

So, the good news is that, even in our guilt, we can come to Christ and ask Him to forgive us. He then speaks to God on our behalf and clears our name and makes us clean once again. (Yeah!)

But that's not where it ends. Let's keep reading:

Step 3

³ And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. ⁴ If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. ⁵ But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. ⁶ Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3-6)

God desires us to be holy, to follow Him, to obey Him. Saying "sorry" just to make ourselves feel better just doesn't cut it - God wants genuine screw-ups to follow Him, who feel genuinely sorry about the way they're living...enough to change their ways (in His power). That's what repentance means - turning round 180 degrees and walking in the opposite direction.

But what if you make that big decision to follow God and then the next day, the same sin grabs hold of your and pulls you down into the pit of shame, self-pity and guilt? (Yup, I've been there more times than I like to admit). Let's read on, one more time...

Step 4

Go back to step 1 and repeat the process. As we keep bringing our brokenness before God, He keeps on forgiving us, keeps showering us with grace and mercy and keeps cleansing us. I know life is WAY more complicated than this, and I HATE boiling mine and your complicated life down to steps, but I created the steps so that you can see clearly the hope that God has given us all (that includes YOU).

Kimberley can't realistically get rid of the star tattoos on her face. The whole world knows she had her face tattooed. More importantly, her dad knows too. And, perhaps all that she needs right now is for her dad to do to her what we all need our Heavenly Dad to do to us - to forgive her, and to tell her he loves her - tattoos or no tattoos.

"...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6)

Going deeper

What are the 'tattoos' on your face? What are the tattoos on your heart? How have you broken the heart of your Heavenly Dad? Are you thinking, man, He'll never accept me -I'm too messed up, too insincere, too hypocritical...

• Take some time and just tell God exactly what's on your mind, weighing you down (don't try to sugarcoat it - just be honest)
• Ask for His forgiveness (take some time to wait in silence)
• Thank Him for His grace (giving us what we don't deserve - His love, strength and forgiveness) and His mercy (not giving us what we do deserve - punishment).
• Worship Him as you watch this video called "Thank you for saving me"
  
• Ask Him for strength to live in a way that honours Him.
  

Thank You For Saving Me

Thank you for saving me, what can I say?
You are my everything, I will sing your praise.
You shed your blood for me, what can I say?
You took my sin and shame,
a sinner called by name.

Great is the Lord,
Great is the Lord,
For we know your truth has set us free,
You've set your hope in me.

Mercy and grace are mine, forgiven is my sin,
Jesus my only hope, the Saviour of the world.
"Great is the Lord" we cry,
God let your kingdom come,
Your word has let me see,
thank you for saving me!

Written by Martin Smith ©1994 Curious? Music UK


If you've never given your life to Christ, for Him to forgive, cleanse and own, click here to read "Steps to Peace with God". If you want to chat, send me an email (its.dan.wallis@gmail.com). I'd love to hear from you. Don't forget to take a minute to comment on the blog!!!