Jeth Looney

Will you get high?

Listen, I'm not encouraging drug use, but I am encouraging some abuse of pride today. We rarely have expectations for what God can do with our day, so take a sec and have some high expectations. I know many will go to church, but far too many of us go and never change. How about you? Will you get high with expectations to see God move big in your life? Murder the pride and the mundane and ask God to change you! "incline your ear Lord" Psalm 86:1

Stop going to church when?

 

Is it ever okay to stop going to church? This question isn't difficult as it may seem, if you think about what scripture says:

  It's imperative that we are in fellowship with believers (the church). But when the quality of the fellowship is smelly as my 18 month's dirty diaper, you may need to stop going to church THERE and find another. Here's things to look for:

1. The great commandment & commissions aren't being exuded by the pastoral leadership and lay leadership of the church. 

2. If the Gospel and its message aren't preached and taught with a willingness to die for it. 

3. If the pastor lacks compassion for the flock, no matter what or how much they talk about him. If he doesn't love them, there's good chance he doesn't love you. 

4. When the worship is an "experience" and just emotional hype, rather than missional in moving you closer to the throne of God. 

5. If money takes higher value, than ministry and missions. 

6. If the Pastor preaches from his soapbox, instead of preaching from the Word. He's ticked with the people about what they are not doing, which leads into the next one.

7. The Pastor ties to be the Holy Spirit. He talks condenscening and hateful from the stage, rather than allowing the Holy Spirit convict and move people to live change. 

8. If they aren't providing you with opportunities to find, use, and cultivate the gifts that God gave you. 

9. If the church brings just happiness or unhappiness, then helping you become Holy. 

These are just a few, but you get the idea. What do you think? Love to hear your thoughts

2 on Tuesday

I've been on a slight hiatus for the last couple weeks with my transition to a new ministry. None the less, I'm excited about what getting back on here and here's the 2 on tuesday. 

1. Recently my pastor shared some alarming numbers about baptism. There is around 9,169 churches that recorded 0 baptisms. 

2. This is scary for many reasons, but here's just one from the survey. "The number of churches baptizing no 12-17 year olds has also been increasing." 

This means churches aren't reaching young folks with the Gospel of Jesus. What's broke? I just recently finished a lunch discussion with some pastors about it. What do you think? I'm interested to hear from people in ministry and outsiders of it. 

 

Isn't it a shame?

Isn't it a shame when this happens? You want more, but it's bone dry. Sort like when you keep sipping on the creme of frappuccino, knowing fully it's all gone. This is a sad moment for anyone that's experienced it and one that you try to avoid. You feel passionate about trying to re-live the experience or even extending it for a drink more, but the unfortunate reality that cup keeps getting empty. This whole thing leaves me wondering and pondering this question, "Do I feel this way about God?" Am I bothered about getting empty or dry spiritually? Isn't it a shame that this happens with us and God? Go get filled... 

"If anyone thirsts, let him Come to me and drink." John 7:37

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2 on Tuesday

 Just two short things to say today: 

1. I apologize for the 11 reasons post series that I started and have been nearly non existent. I'm in the process of finishing school and haven't been able to the kind of time required and due for the series, so I'm postponing until future time. 

2. I am just day and half away from starting a new ministry. My family is excited about the opportunity to serve a new group of students and community, but my thoughts and prayers are with the ministry I am leaving behind. I believe God will continue to do amazing things there and ask that anyone that reads the blog remember them in your prayer time. Not very short, but hey can acknowledge a failure and victory in your life? 

11 reasons this Friday is Good | 2

    Have you ever been in a situation in which you couldn't escape? As a 17 year old I got myself into some really horrible circumstances with the suspension of my license. Here's how I earned it: driving on a hardship license for too many points and getting caught driving where I shouldn't. For those of you upstanding citizens that don't know about it. A hardship license limits a person where they are allowed to drive (places to drive church, school, work, ER), but that didn't limit me from driving to the beach. I can remember very well going to court and hearing the judge condemn my idiocy and telling me what I earned: losing my license, over 50 hours of community service, and a lovely parole officer. I eventually got of the situation and earned my drivers license back, but the sin situation is much different. 

    The sin situation places us as the guilty party that has violated God's standard of Holiness. This violation left us in a condemned state with absolutely no chance of community service, not enough sacrifices to be brought into right standing with a Holy God; therefore imprisonment with the guilt of sin. 

    Christ's atonement brought himself as substitute for sin and brought satisfaction of the law. The shedding of Christ's blood brought about deliverance from sin and redeemed us and brought forgiveness (Heb. 9:22). This goes all the way back to the Old Testament with our first parents and seen throughout it. Jesus paid the price with His blood and we are no longer slaves to sin. This is redemption by blood and another reason why this past Friday was good. 

"Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." Titus 2:14

Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7

11 reasons this Friday is Good | 1

 "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt." Isaiah 53:10

Jesus death on the cross brought atonement for the sins of mankind, but have you ever thought about Jesus as your substitute? I can remember back to my freshmen year of high school, where I had a specific substitute teacher that was weird as finding cookies in pickle jar (point of reference: dude spoke about aliens and invasion). Being the great student I made fun of the dude to his face and proceed to do so from the hallway (I'm still chuckling about that junk). I gave him a hard time and loved every bit of it, but think about the job of the substitute. It's a person who acts or serves in the place of another. We all know Jesus died in our place, but remember His substitution was different. Think about this: You could be a substitute teacher, but you lack in one thing and can't do the job perfectly. Jesus was a flawless and sinless substitute who is perfect; that offered himself to atone for our sins. No matter what the insults were or physical agony Christ suffered and died for our sins. Jesus our Substitute.

Isaiah 53:6; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18 

11 reasons this Friday is Good

Today is a widely celebrated holiday, known as "Good Friday." Unfortunately, our culture and society has deluded its true meaning while recognizing it only as a day off from work and egg hunting weekend. Christians understand the importance goes far beyond the colored pastel eggs and ties/shirts. Christ's death on the cross was to atone for the sins of the world. I love this truth and enjoy it everyday, because of my sinning self. But I wanted to share with you that Jesus' death on the cross runs far deeper and its a "Good Friday" for 11 reasons. Tomorrow will begin the first of eleven reasons why this friday is good. 

Appetite for Destruction?

Yeah, its not 1992 when Guns was a really hot rock band, who had the cool music video for Terminator 2 and Appetite for Destruction Tour was kickin' it like Blackeyed Peas Tour today. But didn't know if you realize that Appetite for Destruction isn't from 1992 and Guns 'N' Roses really didn't creatively birth that child. The idea hungry for destruction is more likely around 6000 years old and you can thank your first parents, Adam and Eve for it (Genesis 3). When sin entered the world an appetite for wickedness and destruction came. REALITY CHECK OR REMINDER: people are still wicked with this appetite. The opposite of destruction is peace. Jesus' atonement brought peace that reconciles every human being who believes. Sadly enough it is Christians that still live destructive lives with their rants on using only the KJV Bible, using their self-righteous fingering point (hey btw this is the equivalent of outsiders flicking a bird),and don't change my traditions in the church. Christ's reconciliation brought you from the life of destruction to a life of peace through the blood of the Cross. What's eating you today? What's your appetite looking like? 

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Colossians 1:19-20