Author: pastorjonathan

Christian,Husband, Dad, Pastor, Mentor, Volunteer.

Sex, Tatoos and Resurection (A Theology of the Body)

On By pastorjonathanIn Just Thinking, spiritual disciplines, theology1 Comment

I was challenged and inspired by my pastor’s sermon last year. While dealing with the issues of the heart he also took time to address body posture in worship.  We often as Western thinkers have a tendency to set up a false dichotomy between body and soul. (As if our soul were just a mere part of us or though our body were just an extension of who we really are.)

We tend to gloss over the way scripture speaks of the body opting instead to think of our bodies as “earth suits” instead of an indivisible aspect of who we are. However, from Genesis to Revelation we are reminded that we are very much physical beings with bodies that interact in a physical world. We are made from the dust as physical beings and that will forever impact how we interact. And “forever” is not an exageration. The gospel demands a physical body. Jesus was born of a virgin, crucified for our sins, buried, raised from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and now sits at the right hand of the father making intercession for us.  We believe in a bodily resurrection.  Disembodied souls aren’t a Christian notion.

Our bodies were given us to enjoy and celebrate God’s creation. That’s why we get to enjoy eating apples and the gift of sex inside of marriage. Our bodies were given to us to worship God… Posturing our bodies in worship is a natural expression of who we are and who we were made to be.   Indeed without posturing ourselves to God we can miss the full benefits of corporate or private worship. Before you get upset, please understand that kneeling has been understood as a right response to God for ages and so has raising your hands. It’s not a new thing, it’s actually a very old thing.

I think we miss intimacy with God when we fail to worship him fully with our bodies. But that is so much more than just raising your hands to your favorite Christian anthem. Worship with your body also involves discipline like making sure you’re well rested on Saturday night before Sunday’s service. It means withholding food for short periods of time as a fast to submit my will to God. It involves the taste and sensory experience of the bread and wine for the Lord’s supper.

Listed below are a few resources that have helped develop my  theology of the body.

10 Reasons Why I Taught My Children to Pray Lord’s Prayer

On By pastorjonathanIn Family, parentingLeave a comment

At the writing of this post my kids are 4 and 8. Both have learned the Lord’s prayer and have been quoting it each night from memory for quite some time now. The Lord’s Prayer, or as it is also called, the Model Prayer can be found in Matthew 6:9-13 where Jesus teaches his follower how  to pray. Here are 10 reasons why I found it important for my kids memorize this (each one memorized it around age 3 before they could read).

10. So when some genius says, “the sinner’s prayer isn’t in even in the scripture” they can just start quoting scripture… “Thy Kingdom come… Forgive us our sins” (Maybe I’ll teach them Psalm 51 as well).

9. I don’t think they will come up with anything cooler on their own since this is the way that Jesus taught the disciples how to pray.

8. To improve and expand upon their capacity to memorize information.

7. To help hide scripture in their heart that is obviously both immediately relevant and applicable.

6. To provide a reference point for teachable moments… “It’s like we say in the Lord’s prayer…”

5. To give them confidence in prayer.

4.So they learn forgiveness through remembering what it is like to be forgiven.

3. So the will learn to be Kingdom focused rather than self-centered in their prayers

2. The Lord’s Prayer is a map straight to the heart and character of God.

1. So That They might Know God. (both at times have prayed on their own small childlike prayers of faith for the forgiveness of their sins and to follow God based on the Lord’s prayer).

How to Be Rich… A Fitting Title to a Very Good Book

On By pastorjonathanIn booksLeave a comment

how to be rich I don’t hang out with Warren Buffet, Bill Gates or even Donald Trump. I imagine the lawn mower that their yard guys cut grass with cost more than my car… but in the great grand scheme of things, I’m rich. Sometimes we can take the pleasures of life for granted simply because someone else has more stuff or even that we just want more stuff. Andy Stanley does a fantastic job in his book, How to Be Rich: It’s Not What You Have. It’s What You Do With What You Have., in highlighting just how rich most of us are and encouraging us to be good at it.

Stanley is an amazing writer and a gifted communicator. I’ll admit that I left most of his books on the shelves earlier in my ministry because he didn’t come across as a verse by verse expositor. Since then I’ve come to understand and appreciate his talent in bridging the gospel between the text and the culture. He’s one of the best I’ve ever seen and How to Be Rich bares it out as Stanley opens up 1 Timothy 6:6-19 in this book.

I highly recommend How to Be Rich to everyone. This isn’t a book on producing wealth, it’s a book on recognizing the wealth you have and using it in a God honoring way. I dare you to read it. It may just change your life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher as part of their Reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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A Handy Reference to the Life, Thought and Writings of C.S. Lewis

On By pastorjonathanIn booksLeave a comment

A-Z I was in the fourth or fifth grade when the world of Narnia was first introduced to me. My teacher began to read the chronicles to the class and I was mesmerized. She would close out each chapter and I ached to know what would happen next. Something happened in me that year and I found myself immersed in the next book of the series. I had become a C. S. Lewis fan. Years later in College I would be introduced to his other works  such as The Four Loves, God in the Dock and Mere Christianity. I can’t explain what it is about Lewis’ life and writing that I like so much, other than they have helped me make sense of the world.  You can imagine my delight when I found out that Colin Duriez produced an encyclopedia of Lewis’ life, thought and writings.

The A-Z of C S Lewis: A Complete Guide to His Life, Thoughts and Writings is without a doubt an accessible treasure chest of information about C.S. Lewis and his writing. I’ve enjoyed looking through this book and remembering key characters and passages I had almost forgotten and then finding some new ones from works I haven’t read yet (but will soon!).  It has become a second awakening for me in regards to Lewis and his writings; a reminder that I have not exhausted the joy that his reading brings to me. I think it’s a fantastic book and a great addition to any library, especially to those who would consider themselves a fan. I can’t recommend it enough.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse as part of their Blog Tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Secrets of Happy Families

On By pastorjonathanIn books, Family1 Comment

SecretsThe Secrets of Happy Families: Improve Your Mornings, Tell Your Family History, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play, and Much More by Bruce Feiler is an easy to read, engaging, and timely book all about families. Bruce’s secrets come from the most unlikely sources. He interviews with a myriad of people from all sorts of backgrounds who apply everything from game theory to business strategy to everyday family life.

The book is set up in an organized fashion. The author sets up the dilemma (traveling with kids), zero’s in on a family who has a unique approach, highlights the source of that approach and then uses his own family as a field test and provides some honest results. The book has a very pragmatic feel and offers several great tips, tricks and tidbits.

I doubt anyone walks away putting this whole book into practice, but I do admit we’ve tried a few of the tricks along the way here at the Hill house with varying results. If you’re looking for an easy and fun non-fiction read with a few tips and tidbits on family life this book is for you. It won’t change your life or your family but it may provide a few great resources to get more out of the areas that you may be missing.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse as part of their Blog Tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

 

Acts 12: Is It Too Good to Be True?

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

When Peter was out of the game. Caught by Herod. Held in prison. Not on the streets healing or preaching… out. It looked like he was going to lose. The region knew what violence was possible against Peter. They knew Stephen who was already murdered. The knew Peter was in hot water… So they prayed.

Maybe there prayers were half-hearted God covering prayers just in case things didn’t turn out as they hoped… “If it be your will, according to your pleasure, Help us to understand, etc.” So then maybe they really didn’t expect an answer? Maybe they thought it was beyond God to set a captive free? Maybe they weren’t in the mood for an interruption?

But isn’t that just like the Lord to break into our plans with a miracle. Surely this God who is capable of saving rebellious sinners is capable of a little local Jail break and maybe he’s capable of more than we pray for too.

Acts 11: Standing Up

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Soon after Peter had visited Cornelius word had spread. Some of the believers thought that Peter was wrong to share the gospel with the gentiles or even to eat with them. Peter had a choice to make. He could back down or he could stand up for his new friends in Christ.  Thankfully Peter stood up  for the gentiles.

A Step Deeper:Because Peter stood up many other people began to realize that the gospel was for everyone. Sometimes as a believer you will be called on to do the hard, but right thing. It may seem difficult or scary at the time, but standing up for the truth is always the right thing to do and it gives people an opportunity to accept or reject what God has done.

Act 10: The Gospel and the Nations

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

God was reaching out to the Gentiles. Throughout history there have always been others who were not of Jewish birth who would come to recognize the one true God. Cornelius was such a man. But He didn’t know about Jesus and so an angel appears to him and tells him how to make contact with someone who can tell him about Jesus. 

A Step Deeper:Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t just sent an angel to tell people about Jesus or appear to people in their dreams? Sometimes he does. But when he does, he directs them to a person who will fill in the gaps. God always uses people to reach people with the Gospel. Who is might God be using you to reach with the gospel?

Peter Had a dream that revealed to him that he was supposed to go with the people outside at the gate. Did you read verse 28? God had to show Peter that he wasn’t to look down on anyone because of their nationality.

A Step Deeper:One of my favorite Hip-hop artists called Propaganda released a song entitled “Precious Puritans” and in the song he says that God can use a “crooked stick to draw a straight line.” Sometimes we think we have to be perfect for God to use us, but if we are willing God can use us in impact others and in the process teach us something greater about him… Just like Peter.

Peter Preaches the Gospel and the Gentiles come to believe in Jesus Christ. Their conversion is accompanied by the sign of being able to speak in tongues! This is important because it was a sign that God had used in Acts chapter two. This indicated a realization that gospel was going to the whole world, not just the Jews but the gentiles as well. What had been done at Babel would become undone through the power of the gospel.  God in Heaven was reaching down!

 

Acts 9: How to Worship with a Murderer

On By pastorjonathanIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

In Acts 9 we read about the conversion of Saul. Saul was a mean dude intent on uprooting the church. He probably thought he had God on his side while he was blessing the murder of Stephen (7:58, 8:1).  But here we read of the radical power of the gospel to forgive sin.

Saul is converted, but few trust him. (would you?) Yet this man who has been intent on persecution now stands up and testifies to the power of Jesus Christ to change lives. How amazing is God that he would take perhaps the strongest voice against Christianity and use him instead to promote the gospel message.

 

Acts 8: Time to Go

On By pastorjonathanIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

We see now the fulfillment of Acts 1:8 is starting to take place. The gospel has gone forth from Jerusalem and now based on Stephens martyrdom the gospel continues to spread through out Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1).

Samaria is a big deal. The Jewish folks used to treat the Samaritans with contempt. Even though they were half Jewish, they weren’t considered to be Jewish at all. The fact that the gospel would go to the people of Samaria and be confirmed by radical healing and other signs was amazing. The gospel is truly for the nations and the early church is now quickly spreading beyond the scope of Jerusalem and the surrounding Judea.