John Mayer.

I dig John Mayer.  I love music.  Not a shock to the two of you who actually read this blog.  

(shout out.)


But what I really love is the connection that music makes with faith.  While some authors have no desire for an intentional connection, the truth is still there.  John Mayer just released his new album - "Born and Raised."  I considered using him as part of my Gospel and ___ Series, but in the past few years John became a bit more synonymous with being a jerk and saying stupid things rather than his incredible talent for writing and performing.  So he was put on the back burner.  Well... who knew that redemption would come to even John Mayer?  I am not speaking in the full salvific weight of the term (though one never knows...), but more so in his enlightenment as a human being.  This is clearly seen in his new style and album.  


John moved to Montana to get way for a while.  You can note his new Montana style in his hair, clothes, and even guitars.  Everything is stripped down, rustic, and free.  Born and Raised is similar in style.  Freedom has come to John and this is clear in his first single "Shadow Days".  (See Below for full lyrics).  
Isn't it fascinating that through retreat, John was able to find himself again?  Maybe he didn't 'find himself' but discovered who he was supposed to be for this time in his life.  As Christian, this act should not be foreign to us.  We are a people who, like our Savior, practice the spiritual discipline of solitude and silence.  We need to take the time to evaluate our souls, and in our busy world, we rarely take that chance.  Unfortunately the church has not helped this discipline because in order to get people to on the 'retreats' we fill them with fun activities that everyone will enjoy.  Instead of silence, prayer, reflection, and solitude, there is shopping, games, fellowship, and food.  I believe in the core principle of fellowship- don't get me wrong.  But when Jesus went off to pray, he went off to pray.  It wasn't about who was going with him, what they were going to do, or where they were headed.  John, like Jesus, just went off into the wilderness.  He came back a new person.  This is what happens when we take some time to take a good hard look at our souls.  We see our need for grace and live into this reality.
  
Shadow Days-

Did you know that you could be wrongAnd swear you're rightSome people been known to do itAll their livesBut you find yourself aloneJust like you found yourself beforeLike I found myself in piecesOn the hotel floorHard times have helped me see

I'm a good man, with a good heartHad a tough time, got a rough startBut I finally learned to let it goNow I'm right here, and I'm right nowAnd I'm open, knowing somehowThat my shadow days are overMy shadow days are over now

Well I ain't no troublemakerAnd I never meant her harmBut it doesn't mean I didn't make it hard to carry on
Well it sucks to be honest
And it hurts to be real
But it's nice to make some love
That I can finally feel
Hard times let me be

Changeless & Change

There is great insight when one can know the difference between what is changeless and what can be changed.  Below is some reflection from the teaching of Dr. John Ed Mathison.  I am grateful for his leadership and time that he has taken to invest in younger leaders.  

What is changeless when it comes to the church?

The Man  - Hebrews 13:8

The Message – John 3:16

The Mission – Matthew 28:19

What can be changed then?

Mindset – Philippians 2:5

Methodology- 1 Corinthians 9:20-22

Ministries – Acts 10:45

Let us not be confused that if we change the things that need to be changed that we are in any way changing the core and fundamental truths about who Christ is, what he has come to do, and now the calling that He has given to us as His body. 

Methodism began as a movement and it has now become a monument... how can we recapture our movement again?  

Finding Contentment.

Richard Foster powerfully depicts the benefits of contentment, then challenges us to think through this paradox: as Christians, we cannot be contented with what is wrong, destructive and sinful:


“Think of the misery that comes into our lives by our restless gnawing greed. We plunge ourselves into enor- mous debt and then take two and three jobs to stay afloat. We uproot our families with unnecessary moves just so we can have a more prestigious house. We grasp and grab and never have enough. And most destructive of all, our flashy cars and sports spectaculars and backyard pools have a way of crowding out much interest in civil rights or inner city poverty or the starved masses of India. Greed has a way of severing the cords of compas- sion. How clearly the Apostle Paul saw this when he warned that our lust for wealth causes us to fall into ‘many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction’ (I Tim. 6:9).
But we do not need to be imprisoned to avarice. We can be ushered into a life of peace and serenity. With Paul we can say, ‘If we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.’ (I Tim. 6:8)
I wish I could end our discussion of contentment on this high note. But as you have probably already real- ized, contentment has certain difficulties. The great problem with a principle of contentment is its tendency to baptize the status quo, to give religious sanction to present conditions. It is the kind of counsel that the powerful enjoy giving to the poor and defenseless. Often it is the very spirit of discontent that has prompted wonderful changes for the good. There is a kind of holy restlessness that inspires important social advances. And so we are faced with the practical issue of knowing when our disquiet stems from a God-given concern to improve con- ditions, and when it is the result of self-serving greed. There are, of course, no fool-proof answers, but I share the following guidelines in the hope that they may at least turn us in the right direction.
First, we can share the concern with other brothers and sisters whose discernment we respect. Second, if our restlessness has its root in anguish over the plight of those whose condition is clearly desperate, most likely it is of the Lord. Third, if the concern involves the well-being of our children, it is often right. Fourth, if we are want- ing to improve our own state, we should not automatically assume that it is wrong. Fifth, let us consider if our discontent has its source in a lack of inward peace with Christ. Sixth, we need to learn to distinguish a genuine psychological need, such as cheerful surroundings, from an obsession. Seventh, we must grow in our discernment between desires that spring from Heavenly Love and those arising from the love of money. Eighth, by an act of the will we must still every motion that is centered in greed.” 


(Richard Foster, Freedom of Simplicity. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1981, pp. 88, 89) 

Setbacks

For further reflection and growth...


“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplica- tion with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” --Philippians 4:6-7, NRSV


Scriptures to read this week:
Mark 2:1-5 (for insight into how God means for us to bear one another up, read 1 Corinthians 12:20-27) 
Matthew 6:25-34 (to see how Jesus encouraged his friends to apply these principles in everyday life, read Luke 10:38-42)
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (for more on the importance of supportive relationships, read Romans 12:8-9) Psalm 91:1-4 (what does a person who trusts God sound like? 
Read 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18) Proverbs 3:5-8 (for insight into one of the main ways we can incorporate God’s wisdom into our life, read Psalm 19:7-11)


Ask yourself:
Is my faith resting on a foundation solid enough to handle whatever “storms” may come my way? What steps can I take right now to strengthen my relationship with God and with others?