Define "Religion" Please! - A critique of Popular Video culture.

A popular video floating around blogs and Facebook posts has been: "Why I hate religion but love Jesus". It is rapidly approaching 1 million hits around the world and has great appeal to the twenty-something world. It is extremely well done, and the speaker: "Jefferson Bethke" speaks with compassion for people turned off to religion.

I believe the popularity surrounding the video may stem from hatred of "religion" however the context of the our culture lends itself to be "anti-church". The years of 2000-2010 saw the rise of the "seeker service", "emerging church" and other such movements to expose the irrelevance of traditional church. While the movement had valid criticisms, the critique can be certainly declared to be over. Most traditional churches are providing "contemporary" services and youthful expressions of change which seem to be meeting that need.

My concern is that to the un-trained eye, "religion" can be equated to "church" (the Sunday morning experience). This is my modern day equivalent of "throwing the baby out with the bath water." An old expressions which means that there is much good in the dirty water you want to throw out the window.

Youth transition network did a study on High School Students the year after graduation and found these statistics: “An Assemblies of God study showed a loss of 66% of their students within one year of high school graduation.”

“A Southern Baptist transition project estimates an 82% loss of youth within one year of high school graduation.”
“Fifty to eighty percent of high school students walk away.”
“As someone who recognizes the importance of an ever-growing faith, especially during the college years, these are staggering statistics,” said Cyndi Forman, campus minister of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) of Georgia Tech and Emory University. “The statistics are sad, disappointing and dangerous, all at the same time.”

If this study remains true, twenty-somethings do not need reasons to not attend church regularly and maintain their spiritual life. In fact, they need to understand that these are the years in which they need the church the most. The early 20's are years of great change in a young adults life. They are years of new found freedom, and also years of experimentation and development. Without guidance, direction and encouragement, they can easily find themselves in a tail-spin into disillusion and despair.

For me, my college years were years of great transition, growth and dedication to the Lord. All of this was formulated in me by a great group of Christian peers, a Pastor in my life and involvement in social activities at my Church. My university education exposed me to many alternative philosophies and secular positions, however my church kept my feet on solid ground. I actually survived my college years with a bright outlook and a belief that I could make a difference in a dark world.

While there can be the presence of "religion" in Church, the Church is not religion. In fact, the video talks about the "four walls" of a church building. But the church is people, not a building. It is a family, it is a fellowship, it is as the Bible calls it: "the Body of Christ." The reality is that everybody needs a church home just as every family needs to be a home for it's members. In fact it is impossible to say "I love Jesus, but not the church", simply because the church is His body. Like it or not, when you walk away from the Church, you walk away from the visible expression of the historic Jesus. So our obligation to the Lord is to find a church and help make it a better place. A place where He is worshiped and proclaimed.

The local Church in your community does not start wars, it simply is a place where people can find comfort, encouragement, growth and even sometimes a warm meal. While people make mistakes, and Lord knows we do all the time in the local church, it is a place to find forgiveness and healing from a broken world.

There was once a sign out in front of a church which read: "Ch ch". What's missing? U R. Kind of corny, but appropriate for young people who are looking for an alternative to church but not realizing that they are the church.

You can watch the video here.

Clothing Matters: What We Wear to Church | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Clothing Matters: What We Wear to Church | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Making the Most of Christmas -

Christmas can be one of the most stressful times of the year. Even more so than tax season. Here are a few tips I have found that can make Christmas a better time for you if you find that you are overwhelmed with activities, shopping, budgets and people.
Spread your activities throughout the month

Take activities slow and enjoy them. Don't try to do everything at once. Remember, "less is more" at Christmas time.

Delegate items on your "to do" list.

Spend more time finding volunteers and coaching them through the holidays. You can't do everything yourself. Remember, that is what passing on traditions is all about.

Eat healthy food during the day.

You will need your energy for the long evenings. Sugar zaps energy from you. Remember: "All things in moderation". Save the treats for the evenings and try to limit them so that you can enjoy them more throughout the season. My reccomendation is to avoid alcohol altogether. Believe it or not, it does more harm than good, especially during the holidays when you think it is ok to drink. Fatigue, stress, depression and other holiday experiences are multiplied by alcohol.

Take time to stretch

Stretching relaxes muscles and increases blood flow. Get a good stretch if you have been sitting too long or getting ready for a long ride home.

Take time to be alone with God.

Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Christ, salvation, joy, peace and good will towards man. It should be a time of reflection, renewal and hitting the spiritual "reset" button. Take time to be alone. Read scripture. Think deep thoughts and recommit your walk with Christ. You will soon find that the holidays will be especially meaningful, fulfilling and heart warming once again. Here are some great passages to read throughout this season: John 1:1-5, 9-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-7; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 20:28

Merry Christmas from Pastor Vince and Family

The ones whom Jesus heals - Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43 records two miracles happening in one episode. The miracle of raising Jairus daughter from the dead and the Woman suffering with continuous bleeding. Both were in great need from the Lord and were looking for a miracle from the Lord. One was a "big shot" in the community. A religious leader, well know and probably very well off financially. The other was an insignificant woman. Perhaps with little or no friends or family because of her illness. The two characters paint a startling contrast in the story. Does God care more for the rich or the poor? For the popular or for the unpopular? Looking at these two stories declare an amazing "Yes!"


Note the contrasts in these two persons:

Jairus Woman:
Miracle needed Jairus :Resurrection Woman: Healing from bleeding
Position Jairus : Father, leader Woman: Random woman
Character Jairus :Well known Woman: Unknown.
Request Jairus : falling, pleading, public Woman: Secretly, hidden
Response Jairus :Jesus heals in secret Woman: Jesus heals in public
Result Jairus :Girl walks around Woman: goes in peace
Jesus said Jairus :"Don't tell anyone.." Woman: "Who touched me?"

God heals peoples secret pains and problems, at the same time he heals even people who's lives are very public. Jesus is not limited to space, time, celebrity status or insignificant people. Who is the one who has a problem is too big? Or too small? Jesus would go out of His way, or on His way to help you. He wants to do a miracle and answer the prayers of every ones walk of life, great or small, big or little. As Peter says: "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Jesus is only limited by those who do not ask, and do not have faith. Have you put your cares on Him today? Have you asked Him to help you in your trial? He is waiting for you to ask.

A disciple like that! That's what we need. Mark 5:1-20

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. Mark 5:18-20

When I was in Israel last year I noticed that there was a Catholic church built over the sight of every major Bible story. So much so that my tour of Biblical sights quickly became a tour of strangely named Catholic churches. I told one of my Pastor friends that I bet there is a church where the "pigs rushed off into the sea", jokingly, just jokingly. And sure enough, there is a church built on that sight bearing that name. We didn't go see. I had no desire to see it.

It is obvious from this story that the peoples first thought about Jesus was that He was Satan himself. And that He was the one controlling the man called "Legion", for there were many demons in this poor man. They begged Jesus to leave the area, but Jesus told the man to stay and be a "witness" of His power in him.

I was quickly reminded of how many people fear Christianity because they see it as an evil or bad element of our society. This is true. Many people for whatever reason see our movement as the epitome of evil because we dare speak out about what the Bible calls wrong. Trust me, the more you follow Christ, it is just a matter of time before people start wondering if what you are into, is really a bad thing and not good for society.

Jesus did not do any miracles. No tricks, no schemes. He left only one man to be a witness.

This man:
Spoke truth
Presented his life as a witness
Stayed active in the community (The Decapolis of all places, that's downtown!)
Used the fact that he was well known as a testimony against his former lifestyle.
Never stopped talking about Jesus.

I think we need a few more good men like him, who are willing to be faithful disciples. Why don't we join him today?

Have a blessed day my friends

Pastor Vince

Ask the wind - Mark 4:35-41

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

We see a destination, He sees a destiny
Where God leads us is a mystery to us, but never to Him. He knows what we need and when we need it. He know what we can handle, and what we cannot. The disciples thought they were going on a simple little boat ride. After all, they were fisherman, skilled navigators. They knew the sea. There was no need to worry. A child could navigate this small sea. The confidence in themselves was sure and secure... or so they thought.


We see a storm, He sees a nap
As the storm on the horizon drew closer, Jesus took advantage of some good nap time. He was not worried. Nor concerned. He fell fast asleep. I am amazed as to why the disciples woke Him up in the midst of the storm. Did they want Him to grab an oar? Did they want Him to help with the sail? Just exactly how much help could a carpenters son be on a capsizing boat? Panic and fear gripped the crew. Perhaps they were angry at Jesus because He was not afraid but asleep? How dare He not be concerned for them? Perhaps they just wanted some company as they thought that they were going to meet their certain doom.

We see Him not caring, He sees us not believing
It was not that Jesus did not care, it was that the disciples did not see. They saw Jesus in His humanity asleep, but in His deity, He was wide awake! They were looking for a human solution, not a God solution. Jesus responded in a God-like fashion and stilled the seas. I believe the disciples were attempting to dictate the terms of God's work in their lives. Just help us row a little bit Jesus, just until we get out of this mess. Jesus says "I put you in this mess so that you would treat me with the respect I deserve."

We see the problem as the storm, He sees the problem as our faith.
What limitations we place on ourselves by our lack of belief! What negative thoughts we think, what impossible odds we stack against ourselves by our lack of faith! The disciples battled, struggled, failed until their faith showed up! What battles are you facing today? Where is your faith in the midst of the storm?


We fear the storm, the storm fears Him.
Storms are nothing to laugh at. The story of Joppa, Missouri is a tragic one. We can see the effects of weather and the damage which tornadoes and storms can do to an entire community. The question is not why did Jesus calm the storm for the disciples but not for Joppa, the question is whether the Deity of Jesus ceases to be true because Joppa was hit. The answer is clearly "no". Jesus remains true to who He is regardless of the effects of storms in our life. The point of the story is not that Jesus stops storms, the point is that Jesus can stop storms, because He is God. Our fear of God http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifshould not be based on His activity, but rather His power.

We ask skeptics who He is, but we should ask the wind, "Who is this man!"
Don't wait before it is too late to trust Jesus as your Savior. Believe on Him now. Don't judge His effectiveness as a Savior on your situation, or even on other people who do not know Him. Look at the world, the creation, the smallest to the greatest and asked "who created all these?" Then look to Jesus, the author, the perfecter and finisher of life to be everything you need for today!


Pastor Vince Gonzales
North Dallas Family Church

Disciples may not have all the answers, but they have the one who gives them the answers. Mark 4:30-35

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. Mark 4:30-35

How many times have we asked God "why?" and received no answer? Have you ever felt like God is holding out on you and not answering prayers or giving you a reason why? When and where do you search for the answers to the unexplained "why?". This passage gives us a little insight into that dilemma.

The crowd vs The Quiet

Jesus operated in a public arena. He engaged the crowds in ways which perplexed them. He disturbed their comfort zone with strong words at times, and at other times baffled them with questions. Crowds and mobs are prone to uncontrollable rage. There is something about the presence of large people that naturally raises the adrenaline in the room. However, Jesus was not about crowds, he was about people. He used the crowds to create a stir, but the quiet intimate moments to stir peoples hearts to action and understanding. Being a disciple means that we can enjoy the public Jesus and also the private Jesus. As we draw close to Christ, He draws close to us and offers us insight which the mob is incapable of understanding. There are some Christians which enjoy the crowds and the excitement of public gatherings, but there are also others who seek Christ in the quietness of personal bible study and prayer. Being a disciple means you can enjoy both.


Being a disciple is not necessarily being "his" disciple.

The scripture clearly differentiates between disciples and being a disciple of Christ. Jesus spoke differently to his own disciples and left the outsiders trying to figure things out on their own. This is because being a disciple of Christ has its privileges, but not without cost.

Meaning and understanding for us only comes through the lens of suffering and sacrifice. That is where the teachings of Jesus make sense. Some interpret scripture through the lens of fame and prosperity, this is not what Jesus is wanting from us. When we learn to accept Christs teaching about following Him in the light of great difficulties and obstacles, life makes sense. The parable of the mustard seed can be seen as an insignificant life becoming great in the kingdom or just simply a nice story about a tree. Following Christ brings insight and greater commitment.

The peace that comes from explanation.

Perhaps we all want that peace the most. The peace that comes from hearing from Christ, regardless of the explanation. While answers and outcomes may not be the ones we were hoping to hear or to receive, knowing they are the Lords answers brings comfort and eventually, joy. This is because peace comes not from the information gathered buy by the one who gives it.

Are you seeking purpose and meaning from the outcomes of life, or from the one who holds life in His hand? That is something to think about!