Joey Dean

Elevate Devos

2010-02-09T15:41:52Z

Hey everyone, Check out the DAILY devotionals we will be running leading up to our Elevate (Disciple Now) Weekend. Follow the link below to find them! http://blog.fbcc.org/elevate/2010/02/elevate_day_1_february_8.html

frustrations

2010-01-22T05:25:33Z

I was writing this blog when I ran into a frustration which most of us have experienced at one time or another. I had just finished writing what I felt was a great inspiring story for the blog, and even read it to my wife. I was about to hit the button to publish the blog, when I thought "I should read this over one more time." Of course, as I am reading it over for the last time, the screen blinks and the story which I had so carefully crafted is gone... frustration. What is funny is that I was writing a story about checking our attitudes in the face of frustrations. As I said, I had read the story to my wife, who coffered that it was a good reminder to make sure our attitudes reflected Christ at all times. She then walked into the bedroom to fold laundry, when she heard me groaning about the sudden computer failure that rendered my story irretrievable. She came back in to see what the problem was, only to find me wallowing in self-pity over the loss. She offered a comforting word and advice, but was quickly dismissed with a typical male grunt. As we all know, this grunt is man-speak for "I know you are right, but I don't want to hear it right now." Instead of calling me on my grumbly mood, she quietly and humbly returned to the laundry (perhaps knowing the Lord would convict me in due time). Still searching to appease the yearnings of my grief, I went online to air my grievances with someone who understands computers. While he could have easily dismissed my disgruntled state, he instead offered a understanding word and advice on how to prevent such problem from occurring. It wasn't until then that I realized the irony in this whole thing. I was trying to use a story of a woman who lost her temper because of some small meaningless thing, and my objective was to encourage Christians to keep their attitudes in check at all times. And yet, here I was disgruntled simply because of an avoidable minor technical glitch. Perhaps I should spend some more time studying my own attitude, and less time writing blogs about others. All I can say is praise God for technical glitches... and patient wives! "Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in (J)Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil 2:4-11

Summer

2009-07-30T17:54:32Z

Well, the summer is quickly coming to a close, and once again i find myself suffering from the 'tired satisfaction' that I've come to know and love about working in the ministry. We had some great times, and went on some great trips. I was blessed to witness and walk with many students who had the Spirit work powerfully in their lives this summer. I am always amazed at how God works in our lives when we get out of our normal routine and focus on serving him. But the same old question looms large now: as the spontaneity of summer ends, and the doldrums of normalcy (be it school or work) begins again, how can we keep our focus on serving the Lord? Note carefully: I am not asking how can we keep our 'camp high' or 'spiritual high'... because I do not believe that the 'high' we experience is related to summer, camp, or any trip. We feel closer to God spiritually because we are physically closer to where He is working. So, the key to maintaining our spiritual fortitude is not replicating camp or worship. The key is to be where God is moving. We should pray for God to challenge us, and to show us how we can be involved in His missional work here in our own town and in our everyday lives. The Lord doesn't just want to reach people in Boston, Seattle, Oklahoma, or Africa... He wants to touch the lives of our families, teachers, bosses, friends, and enemies. If you want to feel that close connection to God again, then focus on sharing His love with the people you see everyday. Check out http://www.vimeo.com/user1415716/videos to see the videos of our Boston trip. Camp video will be up soon as well. Enjoy!!!

Diluted Baptism, Diluted Lives

2009-06-30T14:52:57Z

This past weekend I had the special privilege of baptizing one of our students named Charlie. Over the past few years, I have watched Charlie grow and wrestle with the truth. I have seen his close friends reaching out to and challenging him. Most of all, I have seen Christ begin a great work in Charlie's life (see the video of Charlie's testimony that will be posted below shortly). So, I was very proud of him when he decided to follow the Lord in being baptized, and I was honored to be apart of the experience. However, given the varying views surrounding baptism today, I want to stop and ask a question: have the baptismal waters of our churches today become diluted? In Matthew 16, just before Jesus ascends to sit at the right hand of God, He instructs His followers to go out into all the world and preach the good news to all of creation. In verse 16, He explains exactly what that good news is- He says "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." It seems odd to me that Jesus would give two conditions for those who will be saved (believing and being baptized), and yet only one condition for those who will be condemned (not believing). This verse hits at the heart of baptism's role in our lives. On the surface, it might seem here that we must be baptized in order to be saved. However, if that were true, then the inverse must also be true. In other words, if being baptized yields salvation, then a lack of baptism must yield condemnation... yet it does not. Christ clearly says that the only thing that brings condemnation upon us is not believing (in His gospel truth). So, we must wonder: why is baptism mentioned in the first half, and not in the second half of Matt 16:16? What Jesus is doing is demonstrating that true belief (or faith) CANNOT be separated from true obedience. Jesus has commanded all believers to be baptized (Acts 10:48). This baptism is not meant for salvation (as demonstrated above in Matt 16:16); it is meant to primarily serve two functions. 1) Internally- it unifies the believer with the Lord and the church by means of a common experience; 2) is serves as a great testimony and sign of obedience to the world. So, if we don't need to be baptized to be saved, why did the Lord command us to and why did He mention it in the same breath as our faith which saves us (Matt 16:16)? It is because often times, our lives do not reflect what we claim to believe. The second chapter of James gets right at the heart of this issue. Some people misread this chapter as saying that James is claiming you need faith and deeds to be saved (look closely at James 2:14, and you will see he knows faith alone is what saves). What James is saying, and what Jesus seems to be saying in Matt 16, is that true faith will always be accompanied by obedience. By "obedience", i do not mean they way a child begrudgingly follows a parent's instructions- what I mean is someone who closely and faithfully follows the leading of another. It is not out of obligation; instead, it is because they truely believe the other person is leading them in the right direction. You see- true belief must coexist with obedient following. However, many of us profess a believe in Christ, and even get baptized to testify to that belief, then turn around and lead lives that betray what we claim to believe. We have already established that we will follow what we truly believe- so if your baptism is saying you believe one thing and your actions on friday night say you believe something different, how are we to know which one is true? Do you even know which one is true? If I truly believe in and want to follow Christ, then why would I continually obey the deceitful instructions of the forked sinful tongue? By doing this, we are effectively diluting our baptism- we are watering it down until all of the sweet flavors of Christ fade away. If I were to mix a pitcher of lemonade, but I didn't quite get it all the way incorporated, it would taste just fine at first. The bitterness the lemons would be replaces by the sweetness of the sugar, and all would seem fine and well. However, if I let the pitcher sit for a while, eventually the sugar and flavoring will settle to the bottom. If I take a sip now, I do not taste lemonade, only sour lemons- the drink has become something other than what I intended it to be. In fact, as the sugar collects at the bottom I would only taste the sweetness that is there at the END of the pitcher, after suffering through many cups of sourness. To me, this clearly demonstrates how many people live their life. They throw a few cupfulls of Christ into their pitcher to combat the sourness of their sin, and it is very sweet at first. However, then everything settles, and their lives become diluted and the sourness returns. It is only then at the end of their life (when they see all the sugar that has been sitting on the bottom not being unused) that they realize the grave mistake they have made. They realize that they have wasted the sweetness, and could have enjoyed it all along- they have lived a diluted life. What we must do, is continually stir the lemonade, to ensure all the components are thoroughly incorporated into every sip. Likewise, with our lives, we must ensure that our faith is thoroughly incorporated into every aspect- including our actions and obedience. Our baptisms do not serve as a one time act of obedience. They are meant to represent the first step in a lifetime of following Christ. We run the risk of diluting our baptism, diluting our testimony, diluting our faith- diluting our whole existence- if we do not incorporate the sweetness of Christ into every drop of our lives. So, you must ask yourself today: does your faith show in all of your actions? Are you refreshing lemonade, or just sour lemons? Can someone look at the testimony of your life and clearly see that you follow Christ? If not- then how can you claim to be a follower of Christ? Are you living a life that is diluted?

Salty Christians

2009-06-01T21:13:32Z

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” ~Mat 5:13-16 The Sermon on the Mount (found in Matthew 5-7) is the most comprehensive sermon or teaching of Christ that we have recorded. Jesus handles many different subjects in this sermon, including Christian living, the Beatitudes, the Lord’s prayer, and the ‘golden rule’. Many of the most recognizable Christian sayings come from this sermon. One of the more interesting and significant parts is found in our text, Matthew 5:13-16, where Jesus instructs us to be the “salt and light” of the world. This week, I want to look at the first part of these verse. I want us to think more about what it means to be a salty christian. Next week we will look at the second half, being the light of the world. In this sermon, Christ gives His first command to Christians- which is where we find our text. This imagery must be of great significance if Jesus chose to use it first and foremost. Jesus used every day items to portray extraordinary truths. Christ divided His imagery cleanly into two distinct statements- first, He says that we are the salt of the earth. On the surface, this may seem like an odd comparison by modern standards. Even though in today’s society, salt usually just sits in a shaker in the cupboard, in ancient times it played a much greater role in every day life. Especially during Biblical times, salt had a much greater value than it does today. Salt was used to purify and prevent decay, to season and preserve foods, and even to brighten lamp oils. Salt was also used in certain religious ceremonies, offerings, to rub on newborn babies, and was even used as currency; some Roman soldiers were paid in salt. Salt is a necessary component of any biological system. Salt is a basic component of most of the world’s water, and salt water is able to sustain much more abundant life than fresh water is able to. Animals seek out salt and other minerals in the foods they eat- and if no sodium is found in their diet, many animals will begin to lick the ground to get at this necessary mineral. Salt is also a key component in how our bodies function, and miniscule changes in our salt content can have catastrophic effects on our ability to function and survive. Below is a chart (adapted from the World’s Bible Handbook) of some of the major ways in which the Bible references salt: • An aid in healing and cleansing- 2 Ki 2:20, 21 • A bond of friendship- Ezra 4:14 • Sprinkled on sacrifices- Ex 30:35; Lv 2:13 • Rubbed on newborns- Ezra 16:4 • Satisfaction- Job 6:6 • Soundness: Luke 14:34, 35 • An evidence of grace and peace in the heart- Mark 9:50 • And useful- Mark 9:50 • And wise speech- Col 4:6 Perhaps one of the most important uses of salt is found in the Old Testament. Both Leviticus 2:13 and 2 Chronicles 13:5 reference a “salt covenant”. In the times of the Old Testament, people would signify the everlasting or unbreakable nature of a covenant by forming a salt covenant. Each party involved in the formation of the covenant would bring an equal portion of salt, and then all portions would be combined and thoroughly mixed together. After the portions of salt were mixed, it was impossible to separate them from one another again. This carried significant meaning to the people who practiced it. Salt was also added to offerings that people made to God, in order to represent the eternality of God and His promises. Therefore, it is obvious that salt carried much different connotations in the past than it does today. It helps us to more clearly and completely understand Jesus’ imagery by study these meanings. IMPLICATIONS OF BEING SALTY The imagery of the salt is notable because of the worth of the salt and what it represented, as we have discussed. So it is those two values that should be carried over into the application of the imagery to our everyday lives. If Christ used the salt because of its worth and representation, then He surely was trying to teach His followers about their worth and what they should stand for. In the sermon, Christ says that salt is only useful as long as it maintains its flavor or saltiness. J. Vernon McGee prefers the Scottish translation of the word flavor as tang- rendering the reading “If the salt loses its tang...” Though a bit dramatic, I think this word better expresses the intended function of salt. Ideally, only a small amount salt should be enough to impact the flavor of an entire dish. However, if the salt loses this “tang”, what use is it anymore? Another interesting aspect of salt is that it does not take on the flavors of the food it is added to it; it only imparts its own zeal to other items. In other words, if someone adds salt to their sandwich and then decides they don’t want the salt, they will have to try and scrape it off. First of all, it will be almost impossible to remove every grain of salt; the sandwich will certainly always taste salty to some degree. Secondly, the salt that is removed would not taste like the sandwich that it came from. You see, salt is what does the changing; it is not changed by what it gets added to. In my opinion, salt is also the humblest of ingredients. After tasting a meal, no one ever proclaims “Wow, the salt in this dish is really good! Really high quality salt here.”. However, if the salt is missing, everyone is quick to make note that “This could really use a little salt”. You see, salt is an essential part to the completion of many delicious recipes; however, the success of those meals are not contributed to the salt itself. It is the chef who receives all of the credit and accolades- and rightfully so. A master chef will artfully dispense specific ingredients in order to achieve the perfect flavor that he desires. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) we can see Jesus sending out His disciples into the whole world to share God’s message and love, much like spreading salt through a recipe to impart its tang. By considering our command to share God’s truth in light of the properties of salt (which the Lord compared us to), we can learn many things about how we are supposed to function here on earth. We are to be an unbreakable sign and representation of God’s covenant with us that has been poured out through Jesus Christ. Just like salt, we are not to be changed by this world, but we are supposed to be the agents through which the world is changed (Rom 12:2). We are here to bring glory to the Master Chef of the universe, our God. The Lord is sending us out into the world to share our zeal for Him. We are to be grains of Truth, meant to provide this sinfully drab world with a good measure of spiritual tang.

Abortion Sermon

2009-05-15T18:41:24Z

On Wednesday (5-13), we began a 3 week series entitled "We've Got Issues". It is a practical series aimed at discussing some of the most debated topics in today's world. The first week was about abortion, whereas week 2 will cover addictions and week 3 will discuss homosexuality. I am glad for each and every student and adult who came last Wednesday, and I hope you all got some good information from the evening. For those of you who weren’t there, my wife (Allison) and I tag teamed and taught all about the abortion debate. I covered the theological issues and what the Bible has to say about abortion. Then Allison came up and discussed the medical aspects and procedures, as well as the emotional ramifications that abortion has on families and women. Then I closed out the night by discussing some of the major views and arguments surrounding the abortion debate. Our hope was to provide people with truth and information, so that anyone listening could make a decision or better defend their position. I have heard from many people that the night was very impactful. I know of at least two people who came in believing in pro-choice; but have since realized the preciousness of every human life, and have changed their stance on the issue after much critical thought. I am very proud of you students who came in with an open mind, listened intently, and asked the tough questions. In today's society, we cannot run away from issues simply because they are difficult or messy. It is our responsibility to learn the truth, and to defend it. 1 Peter 3:15-16 says "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame." I want you guys to notice the end of those verses. Peter talks about defending the truth with gentleness and reverence. When discussing a topic such as abortion, it is very easy for tempers to flair and feelings to get hurt. If we as Christians are arguing, fighting, yelling, or outcasting people because of their opinions, we are betraying the Savior that we claim to follow. We are to treat people with love and respect, no matter what their opinions are. However, we are not to back down from the truth. When you are talking about this issue with your friends, please remember to do it in a loving and compassionate manner. Don't be like the "Christians" picketing outside of the abortion clinic that Allison talked about (listen to the Sermon to hear her amazing story). I hope this topic has been beneficial to you all, and I hope it has helped you to learn/solidify the truth in your life, and given you the tools and confidence to share this truth with your friends. Please don't be discouraged if you share your opinions with someone and they do not accept you. That is OK. Just keep on loving them, and keep on being there for them. Eventually, the door will open up again for you to share truth of Christ with them once again (whether through your words or your actions!!!). If this sermon/blog has been helpful for you, please leave a note in the response section. Also, I would LOVE to hear your comments (positive or negative) and experiences from those of you who attended the "Abortion" sermon last Wednesday!!! I hope you are planning on attending session 2/3, as these topics will be just as powerful. ]]> NOTE: I am finishing editing the video of last Wednesday's sermon. It will be posted here next week. Come back to check it out and listen to it again, or hear it for the first time if you missed it. I will also be posting a copy of my/Allison's notes as they are avaliable. If we are able to, we are going to try and convert each sermon in this series to an iPod friendly format, and post them somewhere so you can download them (vidoe or audio only) to your iPod and share it with your family/friends or listen to it in the future.

A Catfish that Climbs Walls

2009-04-08T22:13:44Z

No matter how much we think we already know, it seems that there will always be new things in this world that challenge our way of thinking. One such thing is a newly discovered species of catfish that has been found climbing around the rivers of Venezuela. That’s right, I said climbing. This catfish is challenging scientist’s methods of classification, and defying their attempts to explain its existence. Some of you may have heard of a species of catfish that can walk (Astroblepidae), because of its bony pectoral fins and special muscles it has developed. The species found in Venezuela is very similar to these fish; however, it has another set of characteristics found only in armored catfish (Loricariidae). These Venezuelan catfish have a thick epidermis, armored skulls, and their mouths are more like that of suckers; all of which are traits of the armored catfish. The mystery doesn’t stop there, though. These new catfish also have a special armored plate on their stomach with tiny backward facing spikes, a trait never before seen on any species of fish. These Venezuelan catfish will use their mouth to suction themselves to a rock, and then use their stomach plating to hang on while they move their mouth a little further up the rock, moving much like a caterpillar. In this manner, they can inch their way up a vertical face. The rivers in Venezuela are not flat, meandering streams like we have here in the US. They are full of roaring rapids and towering waterfalls. If a fish cannot navigate these water features, it is confined to one pool for its whole life. They could not spread their territory, nor search for more fertile waters. The armor-like skin of these fish helps them withstand intense pressure, despite their small size. It seems that they were specifically designed to navigate these waterfalls, and they excel at it! So, what does all this mean. Scientists struggle to explain how these fish developed such specific traits. It seems that someone actually took the best parts from two different species, and pieced together this fish so it could live in this specific area. To me, this Venezuelan catfish speaks of the wonderfully creative works of God. God is not bound by our scientific rules, and He is able to create things that are specifically designed to accomplish a certain purpose. He doesn’t need evolution or trial and error, for He knows His purposes and how to accomplish them. These specific traits on this catfish could not have come together by chance. God gave this catfish unique abilities, so that it could live and thrive in this unique environment. So, that forces us to ask the question: what purpose did He have in mind when He created me? Psalm 148 shows us that all of creation serves to praise the Creator, and clearly this catfish shows us a glimpse of God’s creative abilities which defy our understanding. If we are created, then we are also to praise God. Colossians 3:17 teaches that everything we do or say should praise God. Is this true of your life today? Are you glorifying God in your words and actions? What about when school piles up? When you boyfriend/girlfriend dumps you, how do you react? Are you still praising God, and greatful for all that HE has done for you... These are tough questions, but ones that we must ask ourselves. Psalm 150:6 says “let everything that has breath praise the Lord”. If even a small catfish, lost in the Venezuelan jungles, can serve to show God’s glory, then we certainly should be able to as well. Remember your Creator, and seek to praise Him with every part of your life today!