Part-One of a Series called “First-Choice Worship: Preferences”

Good Questions

What is revival? What is this idea of renewal? Are these concepts that are more rightly founded in the attempts of man to appease God or are they indeed the moving of the Holy Spirit of God to regenerate or rejuvenate our hearts to a place of freshness in our relationship to Him? My pastor has frequently mentioned from the pulpit that we should always ask good questions in order to get good answers. These are Good questions; where do we get good answers?

Do you want to know how to get God to pay attention to you? Peruse the shelves of the religious section of any typical bookstore or for that matter any Christian bookstore and you will see a surplus of “how-to” and “how-come” books enlightening us to the means and techniques of bringing the Holy Spirit down on our lives, ministries or plans. If reading a book is not your style, then click and listen to a podcast and you’re off and running again tackling the giants and keeping at bay, monsters that lurk ready to pounce. Well, isn’t that true? Is this not where many of us begin? I have to confess my first point of contact is all too often GOOGLE®.

Okay, I am convinced God uses media of all kinds to reveal to us some of the insights and mysteries of His Word; He does this through men and women authors and teachers, whom as servants, have poured through His Word and have shared with you and me what the Holy Spirit has revealed to them much the way a pastor does from the pulpit. I am equally assured that God has inspired a great deal of these works to His Glory and our benefit. But where do these books and podcasts, and sermons lie in our arsenal of defense? Is this a backdoor approach to the throne of God? What does God’s desire?

Likewise, we can maintain that whatever method we choose to serve and worship God should be satisfactory as long as it is from the heart: Classic, modern, time-tested, cutting-edge, old, new, traditional, high-tech- what really makes God smile? Another good question.

Respectfully, allow me to jog your memory back to a sermon-series our pastor preached well over a year ago: Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” I am redolent of verse 12 earlier in that same chapter: And finally in the eleventh chapter, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” “…And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Bill Gaither asserts in his gospel song: “Where could I go but to the Lord? " Clearly our first line of defense is God Himself. We can access God in our time of need through the doorway by which He Himself has provided to us: His Word – The Bible! We approach His throne boldly because our confidence is in what Christ has done to allow that access. The more we discover who He is the more we realize it’s not what we’ve done.

So begs this question, as long as we get to God, who cares when and how we get there in the first place? Indeed we serve a God of second and many times multiple chances. He is patient and long suffering in a way we just do not grasp. Yet we also serve a God who has so much more He can and will do in and through us once we surrender to Him. So here is a really good question: “When will we surrender?” “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”. Isaiah 41:10.

-John Martinez

Take My Life (And Let It Be)

Enjoy these video entries.





-John

What's your Opinion?

I recently read this article by a man named Clint Brown; Are you willing to share your opinion?

Thanks.

-John

One thing that dominates the thinking of most of our brethren today is the drive for church growth. Many books have been written over the past few years in an effort to "enlighten" us on how to increase the numbers in our congregations. The books give insight into the social circumstances and felt-needs of the people around us and set forth methods of evangelism that promise to "bring in the big numbers." They tell us that in order for our churches to grow we must have such things as: (1) a preacher who has a dynamic personality and who is a "motivator," (2) a dynamic, inspirational song leader, (3) a warm, tolerant, accepting, "no questions asked" environment, and so on.

I'm sure these "church growth experts" have spent many hours researching the attitudes and aims of the people around us, but I have a question: Where do these "experts" get the idea that we should seek the increase of the church anyway? "The Bible," you say. That's right! So you mean that God gives us the obligation to seek the growth of His kingdom, but fails to instruct us in how that is to be accomplished? The truth is, the only way to fulfill this duty is by the ways God has set out in His word. So how do the findings of the "church growth experts" compare with God's view of church growth?

We are to be gospel centered, not entertainment centered. When we seek to accommodate the "felt needs" of people, the first thing to go out the window is the pure gospel. We are to meet the real needs of the people, not their felt needs and the true gospel is the only cure (Rom. 1:16; Jn. 8:32). People today seek entertainment centered religion in order to satisfy their carnal appetites. They look for churches that offer sporting and recreational activities with a "fun" environment for the kids. They go "church hunting" rather than "truth hunting" and wind up hearing a weak message from the pulpit that doesn't meet their greatest need – the salvation of the soul. Meeting the "felt needs" of the people may increase our attendance role but it certainly won't fill the Lamb's Book of Life.

We are to be Christ centered, not self-centered. At the heart of the "church growth" fallacy is a deeper problem. When we bypass the instructions of God in order to increase our number, we are seeking our own glory, not God's. If we truly love Him we will keep His commandments (Jn. 14:21). This involves preaching the Word and not accommodating the "itching ears" of the society around us (II Tim. 4:2-5). A so-called "no questions asked" environment is not in the best interest of the lost soul, nor the glory of Christ.

We are to be quality centered, not quantity centered. There's certainly nothing wrong with a concern for the numerical growth of the church. However, the Bible teaches that our emphasis should center on quality, while God takes care of the quantity (I Cor. 3:5-6). Paul and Apollos were merely ministers of the truth while God gave the numerical increase. They certainly didn't stress the need to be "dynamic or inspirational motivators" in their ministries as our present "experts" stress. Rather, Paul taught the exact opposite. His preaching was not with excellence of speech or persuasive words of human wisdom (I Cor. 2:1-4). That kind of method was a mark of the false teachers (Col. 2:4, 8, 23). The only way to truly increase quantitatively is to preach qualitatively.

We would do well to consider what God's word says concerning "church growth." Instead of placing such emphasis in the wisdom of men, we should let God "give the increase" (I Cor. 3:6).

Into the World

Yes, it is hard to believe but both Shari and I are old enough to have a high school graduate in our household but it is true.

Jessica Leigh Martinez is now an official holder of a High School Diploma from the prestigious Martinez Family Homeschool. Jessica and her friend Brandi are ready to show their independence by driving to Boise today to see a movie and have lunch.

Naturally as her father, I queried if indeed we had movie theaters and dining establishments here in Twin Falls, but I suppose that is just not the point. Our daughter wants to express her independence and "Go To The Big City".

Shari reminded me that she did the same thing when she was her age, and I recall my first independent trip to the big city of Albuquerque was only days after I had acquired my drivers license; mine was a date with one Karen Iorio two years my senior to do what else, see a movie and eat lunch. Strangely enough that day is still etched in my mind: We watched the movie Terms of Endearment and ate lunch at Garcia's Mexican Restaurant where I ordered a Chimichanga and a coke.

Freedom is just a bit sweeter when you know that mom and dad are out of reach and you are on your own for a little while: at least for a lunch and movie in the "Big City".

-John

Special Day

Yesterday was a very special day for me and my family. My ordination does not come lightly and I am humbled at a Mighty God who has chosen to set apart a simple man for His great work.

I am convinced that it is His intention to accomplish any work of significance through me rather than assume I can pull anything off apart from His power and Divine intervention.

I am so grateful for the effort that Pastor Paul has gone through to assure that the service was special and done well. He is a good and trusted friend. I appreciate the Charge that Pastor Paul shared to the Church from Timothy as to those who minister.

Pastor and Chaplain (BG US Army Ret.) Dan Robinson provided a sermon that I will be thinking about for a long time. There is great responsibility in Shepherding that is not to be handled in a pious manner; yet with humbleness and realization that God is to do the work through us we are to be thoroughly obedient to Him.

-John

2009 GRADS

(Top left to Right) Jessica Martinez, Carissa Mathews
(Bottom Left to Right) Jordan Crider, Silas Thompson, Andy Yung
(Jake Hanchey not pictured)

Congrats to our 2009 High School Graduates!

Eastside Baptist Church stands proud to celebrate our 2009 High School Graduates. We had a wonderful time this past Saturday hearing stories that left us laughing and proud of their accomplishments.

I choked up several times as I listened to moms and dads tell their stories, and I could hardly look at Jessica in the face as I spoke of her, because I didn't want to blubber all over myself.

Sunday May 24th will be yet another time we honor these 'grads' in our 10:30 morning service.

-John

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less...

Where do you stand? Do you take a position on the issue style and preference in your church design?

Let me be more clear:

Do you prefer what types of sermons your pastor preaches or are you happy that he preaches from the Word of God?

Do you like it that your church has child care and children ministries or is that a critical element for your family in deciding where you worship?

If your church didn't have a youth group would you attend?

Should your church always be looking to add new members and constantly grow or are you satisfied to be a part of a small congregation?

If people around you started to lift their hands and weep during worship would this make you uncomfortable enough to seek another church home?

Do you have a set of preferences that keep you tied to your church with the possibility that if these standards were compromised you would leave? Perhaps we all do. I would venture to say that we should all have standards for the Bride of Christ.

However, where do those standards find their foundation? Our congregation is literally in the process of pouring concrete 'footings' (foundation) for a new building/ sanctuary. Over the past week workers have been diligently and precisely preparing the ground for this concrete foundation.

The backhoe and tamper and electronic grade have all been wisely and heavily used in order to prepare what will serve as a stable and solid foundation for a permanent building. It is interesting to think that the building we see on the surface is only as strong as what is anchors itself to.

Christians, we can not say any different of ourselves. We are only as strong as what we anchor to. In other words, if our foundation is speculative and based on opinion at best, then when the winds come, (and they will) we will fall flat.

Think about it, when tornadoes sweep through towns where there are both permanent homes built on solid foundations and mobile home parks with trailers on minimal temporary foundations, the difference in the after-math of the two is remarkable; the lightly tethered homes are whisked away in a heart beat leaving nearly no trace behind other than concrete pads, whereas despite the destruction of the permanent homes, there remains a remnant and evidence of what once stood.

The point is, that there will be storms of such magnitude in our lives that despite our best efforts we will suffer loss. Yet the foundation that remains will tell the story to those look on of one whose life was different. Some of us will likely encounter the prophet Job did; some of life's most treacherous and debilitating tragedies such as Cancer, or an unexpected loss of a family member, or perhaps even worse we may become incapacitated to a degree that we can no longer care for ourselves. Whatever the challenge, James reminds us that trials will come our way. How we deal with these challenges we be directly reflected in what we have anchored our life.

A lot to think about, but I am reminded that Jesus offers to take upon Himself our burdens in trade for His which He says is light.

Moose Tracks Have Great Influence

Here I was attending the Sunday evening worship service at Eastside listening to my pastor teach through Psalm 1. And then he goes and drops the bomb.

You realize that a pastor's well placed sermon illustration can have a far reaching and perhaps unintended impact on young ears in the audience. It did just that with both my daughters.

Pastor Paul chose to use Moose Tracks Ice Cream to illustrate the point in Psalm 1:2 to bring dimension to the word "delight". I am sure the crowd made the connection as did I, but my daughters could not focus their adolescent minds and hearts on much else other than getting that ice cream.

First of all, I have to admit that Moose Tracks Ice Cream is a regular in our household. We know it well...too well perhaps. Long story short, we did not fall prey to the call of the moose, conveniently because our neighborhood Swenson's Grocery store is closed on Sundays, but I will not bee too surprised when the Moose comes a calling sometime this week.

I wonder if the Psalms hold a potential Dairy Queen Peanut Buster Parfait illustration?

Thanks Pastor... (and thanks)

-John

Is it Worship or is it Worship?

WORSHIP... What do we mean when we say that word anyway?

Do we use it to describe what takes place on Sundays at church or when someone breaks out their guitar or sits behind the keys of the piano?

Perhaps the place to start on a spiritual question is the Bible.

I have a confession to make: My background as a worship leader has had a greater influence on my interpretation of what the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter the Christians at Rome. "Therefore I urge you my brothers, in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing which is your spiritual act of worship..."

I assumed that the act of worship had more to do with what takes place on a typical Sunday Morning Corporate gathering than the way we live the rest of the week. Now hear what i am saying, I know that it still influences what takes place on Sunday mornings as it were, but I am convinced that Paul is talking about the everyday part of life and not just the special occasions.

You see I sort of half way breezed past the living sacrifice part and moved right to the act of worship phrase.

Have you ever noticed how our eyes tend to see whatever is more prevalent in our own lives at the time? Let me give you an example: when Shari was first pregnant with Jessica, we saw pregnant people (ladies) everywhere. When we bought the Chevy Venture van we suddenly noticed hundreds of those same types of vans everywhere on the road. Were they not there before we got the van?

I am guilty of the same thing with scripture: the word worship is more important to me than the word sacrifice. We don't spend a lot of time preaching about sacrificing on altars in our New Testament Churches.

The Apostle Paul realized that he had to find a way to communicate this important issue with the Roman believers. So he described the concept of sacrifice (which they knew well) in terms of an act of worship.

Paul, in his speaking about living this worship, uses a couple of other words to make his point more clear; He talks about being transformed by renewing our minds. Hmmmm? Sounds 'churchy' to me.

Thats where most of us get turned off and say alright preacher, this is the 21st century and you have to be more relavant.

That's just it, Paul is so relevant to the Church today when he speaks like this. You see it all comes down to one thing: who we give permission to run our lives. That's right, who gets to be the boss of us.

The only way anyone can have any influence in our lives, is if we give them permission to do so. God gets that permission from us when we transform by renewing our minds. We give him permission by intentionally living our lives as a sacrifice.

Still sound 'churchy'? Let me put it another way. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were generally animals that the believers MADE to God on their behalf in worship. In the New Testament we have Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, but when we worship God still expects a sacrifice, so we are to BE that sacrifice by the way we live our lives.

RECAP:

Old Testament Believers were to "Make" a Sacrifice.

New Testament Believers are to "Be" that sacrifice.

So if sacrificing our lives to Him is the Act of Worship, then that act takes the form of obedient service to Him at the office, in the classroom, at the bus barn, in the shop, behind the steering wheel, in front our computer screens, in front of the TV, in our own homes and in front of everyone we meet everyday. How more relavent can he get?

So next time we gather on a Sunday morning to "worship" lets lift our praise to Him in songs and through prayer and corporate thanksgiving, and lets do it with all our hearts because we had a week full of worship as living sacrifices, but lets also be sure not to confuse "Worship" with Worship". Sunday is just part of the picture, and God desires everyday not just Sunday.

Blessings,

-John

The 44th President of The United States

History has once again been made in our great land and liberty has prevailed. I watched the Inauguration of the Barack Hussein Obama this morning at a few minutes after 10:00am Idaho time, and I have to admit that I was filled with pride at much of what I watched. It was something like watching the Space Shuttle take flight for the first time, I knew that what I was watching was big and truly historic.

Some forty-four years ago in a press interview, Martin Luther King Jr. predicted that our nation would see, as he put it, a "Negro" president within forty years and possibly within twenty-five years. We are a little later than he thought, but we have lived to see that day come to pass.

Does this mean that our country is bigot free? Do we live in a land that is no longer plagued by discrimination? Unfortunately no, however we do live at a time in history that God has chosen to allow you and I to witness such an historic event. Nonetheless the job of our president remains the same as for all those who have led before him: To honorably represent the best interest of an entire nation.

There are not many nations in either our modern history or the past that one can observe both current and former and potential leaders leaders co-mingle and honor each other in a peaceable manner as we saw our former presidents today. It was refreshing to see Bush' H. & W. as well as Carter and their wives embrace each other.

We have clearly taken a crossroads in our American history. Indeed there is much that needs be done and said about the economic conditions and financial challenges with which we are faced, however, as with anyone who takes the mantle of leadership at any time in history is thrust the great burden of guidance.

It is my prayer that our new president will take advantage of the great value of coming on his knees in earnest prayer before a mighty God; as to our duty: to Christians who claim the freedoms and responsibilities of this great nation also fall the task of sincere prayer for those who lead.

I recall in the days that followed the inauguration of President George W. Bush, there was a ground swell of believers who pledged to pray for our president. I believe there should be a commitment among believers once again to pray for our president as he leads and has influence on the lawmakers and impact on the short and long-term history of our nation.

Take time to lift him and his administrative staff in earnest prayer; bring him before the God who has Soverignly allowed him to take the office of the greatest nation on earth.

-John

God Bless America?

I was sent this interesting poem from my Friend Dennis Bortz today:

Thanks Dennis, I will pass it on in the form of my BLOG-posting for the week:


Some of you may be wondering what Judge Roy Moore has been doing since he was removed from the bench for refusing to remove the Ten Commandments from his courtroom wall. Please read the poem he wrote.


The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama . Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama ! The judge's poem sums it up quite well.

America the beautiful, or so you used to be. Land of the Pilgrims' pride; I'm glad they'll never see. Babies piled in dumpster's, Abortion on demand, Oh, sweet land of liberty; your house is on the sand. Our children wander aimlessly poisoned by cocaine choosing to indulge their lusts, when God has said abstain From sea to shining sea, our Nation turns away From the teaching of God's love and a need to always pray We've kept God in our temples, how callous we have grown. When earth is but His footstool, and Heaven is His throne. We've voted in a government that's rotting at the core, Appointing Godless Judges; who throw reason out the door, Too soft to place a killer in a well deserved tomb, But brave enough to kill a baby before he leaves the womb. You think that God's not angry, that our land's a moral slum? How much longer will He wait before His judgment comes? How are we to face our God, from Whom we cannot hide? What then is left for us to do, but stem this evil tide? If we who are His children, will humbly turn and pray; Seek His holy face and mend our evil way: Then God will hear from Heaven; and forgive us of our sins, He'll heal our sickly land and those who live within. But, America the Beautiful, If you don't - then you will see, A sad but Holy God withdraw His hand from Thee.

~~Judge Roy Moore~~


Let's lift Judge Moore up in Prayer. He has stood firm and needs our support.

IN GOD WE TRUST!

This Word Will Change You

In the ministry God has allowed me to share, (about 25 years) I have not preached as many sermons as some pastors with only a fraction of the time; mostly because I have served in a support staff role all those years. However, after I teach a lesson, sing a song, or during one of those few sermons (probably less than 25 ever) I have had a few people come back to me and tell me that something I said or sang really spoke to them.

I am reminded of a story I read in a guideposts publication one time about a man who heard a pastor preach a sermon one Sunday that changed his life. He admitted remembering nothing about the sermon except for one verse, that he continued to repeat over and over to himself. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

The Word of God however little it may be has the power to transform lives. I have to admit to you that My mother constantly repeated that very same verse to me as I was growing up. I remember her verbally telling me that verse, I remember finding the verse written on cards, letters, and sometimes scratched out on a piece of paper in a lunch sack.

My mom understood something of the power of the Word of God as well. The Word of God is different from anything else. Simply because it is Truth. Truth transforms.

We are urged to memorize God's Word because it will get us out of tight spots and keep us from sinning as well. Psalm 119:11 says "I have hidden Thy Word in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."

Repeating verses is so much different than "Positive Thinking", because of the nature of God's Word. Positive thinking attempts to put you in a frame of mind to reap benefits of being positive. A verse like Phil. 4:13 focuses you mind and heart on Christ as the souce of our transformation, not our ability to think something into being.

So, with that in mind (pardon the pun) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16