Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Facebook | David Bondurant
Facebook David Bondurant: "Pursuing Love - It is a matter of your heart. Did you know that the subject of the heart is addressed in scripture more than any other topic - more than works, service, belief or obedience - even more than money and worship. Course - all those things I just listed are matters of the heart. How's your heart really today?"
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Pursuing Love - Pursuing Jesus
Pursuing Love - Pursuing Jesus
Think with me of Peter walking on the water. The story is found in Matthew 14, beginning in verse 23 - check it out.
What could have compelled him to step out of the boat? I spent a lot of time in a fishing in a boat growing up. I only once willingly jumped out of it and it wasn't in the midst of storm. It wasn't all that far from shore and it wasn't without a good reason. I can only think of one compelling reason for Peter to step out of the boat in the midst of the storm and that is the desire to be in the presence of Jesus.
Look at what Peter did: He was in the boat in the midst of the storm. He sees Jesus coming - walking on the water (doing the impossible, again). He calls out to Jesus: "Lord, bid me come if it is really you." He then is obedient when the call back says: "Come." by stepping out of the boat. What Peter really does here is an act of trust. I think he looks at Jesus and sees all the amazing things: healings, casting outs, weather control, fishing success, and recalls his wonderful words of love and steps out of the boat. He based his act of trust on the relationship that had been built and could see no reason not to trust Jesus. So he steps out of the boat and begins to walk to Jesus - to move to Jesus - to be in the one place on the sea that was safer than the boat - with Jesus. His desire to be in the presence of Jesus was stronger than his fear of the wind and his knowledge of gravity (that people sink in the water).
Now I know what you are thinking - those of you who know this story. You are already saying it to yourself: "Wait - wait - he failed. He lost his focus, his faith, saw the wind and the waves and looked down and sank." And its true. He did fail. But that's really the beauty of this story. Peter - when he took his eyes off of Jesus, when he looked at the world around him instead of focusing on his relationship with Jesus sank like a rock. And he cried out: "Jesus, save me!" Jesus reached down and immediately lifted Peter up out of the water.
His desire to be with Jesus moved him out of the boat, his failure caused him to call to Jesus for help. His being in the presence of Jesus allowed him to walk on the water back to the boat and in the boat with Jesus, the storm is stilled.
If we want to really pursue love - we must with our whole being pursue Jesus. We have to step out of our boats called lives and answer Jesus invitation to come. When we fail - cry out for help. And then walk back to the boat in the presence of Jesus so our storms will be stilled.
Get out of the boat!
Think with me of Peter walking on the water. The story is found in Matthew 14, beginning in verse 23 - check it out.
What could have compelled him to step out of the boat? I spent a lot of time in a fishing in a boat growing up. I only once willingly jumped out of it and it wasn't in the midst of storm. It wasn't all that far from shore and it wasn't without a good reason. I can only think of one compelling reason for Peter to step out of the boat in the midst of the storm and that is the desire to be in the presence of Jesus.
Look at what Peter did: He was in the boat in the midst of the storm. He sees Jesus coming - walking on the water (doing the impossible, again). He calls out to Jesus: "Lord, bid me come if it is really you." He then is obedient when the call back says: "Come." by stepping out of the boat. What Peter really does here is an act of trust. I think he looks at Jesus and sees all the amazing things: healings, casting outs, weather control, fishing success, and recalls his wonderful words of love and steps out of the boat. He based his act of trust on the relationship that had been built and could see no reason not to trust Jesus. So he steps out of the boat and begins to walk to Jesus - to move to Jesus - to be in the one place on the sea that was safer than the boat - with Jesus. His desire to be in the presence of Jesus was stronger than his fear of the wind and his knowledge of gravity (that people sink in the water).
Now I know what you are thinking - those of you who know this story. You are already saying it to yourself: "Wait - wait - he failed. He lost his focus, his faith, saw the wind and the waves and looked down and sank." And its true. He did fail. But that's really the beauty of this story. Peter - when he took his eyes off of Jesus, when he looked at the world around him instead of focusing on his relationship with Jesus sank like a rock. And he cried out: "Jesus, save me!" Jesus reached down and immediately lifted Peter up out of the water.
His desire to be with Jesus moved him out of the boat, his failure caused him to call to Jesus for help. His being in the presence of Jesus allowed him to walk on the water back to the boat and in the boat with Jesus, the storm is stilled.
If we want to really pursue love - we must with our whole being pursue Jesus. We have to step out of our boats called lives and answer Jesus invitation to come. When we fail - cry out for help. And then walk back to the boat in the presence of Jesus so our storms will be stilled.
Get out of the boat!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Pursuing Love Brings In Power
Pursuing Love Brings Power
This formula when I first thought about it scared me. Love and Power in the same sentence - in the same thought pattern did not really seem to fit together. At least not the love that is talked about in 1 Corinthians 13 - that agapic - unconditional love seen in the redemptive act of Jesus. We hear the word "love" and we think "nice" "calm" "hopeful" we hear the word "power" and we think "control" "strong" "decisive." They seem at best to be contradictory and at worst inflammatory towards the other.
IN REALITY - the formula above is exactly right, pursuing love brings power to our lives. As we pursue the love of God - we find forgiveness for our own sin, reconciliation to our own God and restoration relationship with our God. As we pursue the love of humanity we also find forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration. The love talked about in the Bible - isn't a noun but a verb. It is an action that we take, not an object of affection. As we love God we are given more power for loving others. As we love others our capacity and strength for loving grows exponentially and cannot hardly be measured. But it can be seen and understood. Loving others means "doing good" to and for others. Loving means to forgive faults and accept people for who they are - even if we don't "feel" like it. When we love like this - we become powerful. When we love like this, lives are changed. When we love like this, hope is found. Broken hearts are mended. Broken relationships restored. When we love like this the lame are made to walk and the blind are made to see. The hungry are fed, the naked are clothed. That is the kind of power I want to have.
Pursue love my friends, pursue love.
On the Journey -
YourPastorDude
David
This formula when I first thought about it scared me. Love and Power in the same sentence - in the same thought pattern did not really seem to fit together. At least not the love that is talked about in 1 Corinthians 13 - that agapic - unconditional love seen in the redemptive act of Jesus. We hear the word "love" and we think "nice" "calm" "hopeful" we hear the word "power" and we think "control" "strong" "decisive." They seem at best to be contradictory and at worst inflammatory towards the other.
IN REALITY - the formula above is exactly right, pursuing love brings power to our lives. As we pursue the love of God - we find forgiveness for our own sin, reconciliation to our own God and restoration relationship with our God. As we pursue the love of humanity we also find forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration. The love talked about in the Bible - isn't a noun but a verb. It is an action that we take, not an object of affection. As we love God we are given more power for loving others. As we love others our capacity and strength for loving grows exponentially and cannot hardly be measured. But it can be seen and understood. Loving others means "doing good" to and for others. Loving means to forgive faults and accept people for who they are - even if we don't "feel" like it. When we love like this - we become powerful. When we love like this, lives are changed. When we love like this, hope is found. Broken hearts are mended. Broken relationships restored. When we love like this the lame are made to walk and the blind are made to see. The hungry are fed, the naked are clothed. That is the kind of power I want to have.
Pursue love my friends, pursue love.
On the Journey -
YourPastorDude
David
Friday, May 8, 2009
Pursue Love
Pursue love. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
This concept is so vitally important - so urgent in our community and in our world that we are spending these 40 days really learning to love.
This week we look at the theme: Loving as Jesus Loved. What does it mean to love God the way Jesus loved God. What does it mean to love your neighbor the way Jesus loves? These are two very important questions for everyone of us.
As Jesus did, I believe it means we need to set aside time for worship, prayer, conversation with our "father in heaven." We need to be in relationship with God. From the heart, not just in our heads. Knowing Jesus means more than knowing about Jesus.
As Jesus did, I believe it means we need to listen to our neighbors, care for our neighbors, share the joys and the sorrows of our neighbors. If we really want to have better more fulfilling, life changing relationships we must love them - spend time with them, meet their needs, touch their lives with our lives.
To your better relationships pursue love!
Pastor David
This concept is so vitally important - so urgent in our community and in our world that we are spending these 40 days really learning to love.
This week we look at the theme: Loving as Jesus Loved. What does it mean to love God the way Jesus loved God. What does it mean to love your neighbor the way Jesus loves? These are two very important questions for everyone of us.
As Jesus did, I believe it means we need to set aside time for worship, prayer, conversation with our "father in heaven." We need to be in relationship with God. From the heart, not just in our heads. Knowing Jesus means more than knowing about Jesus.
As Jesus did, I believe it means we need to listen to our neighbors, care for our neighbors, share the joys and the sorrows of our neighbors. If we really want to have better more fulfilling, life changing relationships we must love them - spend time with them, meet their needs, touch their lives with our lives.
To your better relationships pursue love!
Pastor David
Friday, March 27, 2009
How Connected are You?
How connected are you? Most of us have a real connection with one or two people, perhaps a spouse, a child, a parent, a friend. Some of us may have a connection with the Holy, some with a community, others have no connection at all, with anyone.
Jesus had some very important words in the gospel of John about connections. In John 15:1-11 Jesus begins by saying:
Jesus had some very important words in the gospel of John about connections. In John 15:1-11 Jesus begins by saying:
"I am the vine, you are the branches."
As we approach Holy week I want to ask you about your connections - who are you connected to? When Jesus says, "I am the vine - you are the branches" He is giving us a way to picture how we are called to be connected all that is Holy. He gives us an understanding of how the community of faith is connected - first to God and then to one another. Find a grapevine and look at how everything is connected to the vine - from growing as the branches to the production of fruit nothing happens without a connection.
I invite you to connect with the Holy - the vine of life.
As we approach Holy week I want to ask you about your connections - who are you connected to? When Jesus says, "I am the vine - you are the branches" He is giving us a way to picture how we are called to be connected all that is Holy. He gives us an understanding of how the community of faith is connected - first to God and then to one another. Find a grapevine and look at how everything is connected to the vine - from growing as the branches to the production of fruit nothing happens without a connection.
I invite you to connect with the Holy - the vine of life.
Monday, March 23, 2009
WTL
Jesus - The Way, the truth, the life - 03/18/09
"I am the way, the truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through me."
These words from the Gospel of John (14:6) are some of the most powerful words Jesus utters - in any place. They are powerful because they tell us exactly who Jesus is. "He is the way, the truth and the life." And they are often words truly misunderstood as absolutely exclusive.
But I believe these words are exclusively inclusive - they are words that bring us together under one banner, they are words that demand from us a choice, they are words that, if we believe them require a new way of living.
The question is do you believe it?
"I am the way, the truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through me."
These words from the Gospel of John (14:6) are some of the most powerful words Jesus utters - in any place. They are powerful because they tell us exactly who Jesus is. "He is the way, the truth and the life." And they are often words truly misunderstood as absolutely exclusive.
But I believe these words are exclusively inclusive - they are words that bring us together under one banner, they are words that demand from us a choice, they are words that, if we believe them require a new way of living.
The question is do you believe it?
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