We Have To Make A Change...

I think it is important that we all take time on a regular basis to check our lives and see if we who are called by the name of Jesus Christ are doing what He would have us do. For weeks now, I have been evaluating my life. I am looking at where I am spending my money. I am looking a where I am spending my time. I am looking at my life and wondering, "Is this what Jesus would want me to be doing?"

Pastor Rick preached a powerful(slap in your face powerful) message Sunday, May 2. He made this quote:

"We have come to a place in America where people think they can worship Jesus without doing what He did or obeying what He said."

How does that line up with the Word of God?

The one who says, "I have come to know Him," without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. - 1 John 2:4

While preparing for the sermon I am preaching Sunday, I have come to a realization. I sat down with my wife this week and told her, "Honey, we have to make a change." I am not sure to what extent it will be, but I know that I will follow Jesus Christ in whatever He leads.

In Christ,

jon walton

Passion...

I attended a conference yesterday with some others from Crossroads and had the opportunity to hear Johnny Hunt speak. Let me say right off, if you every get the chance to hear him preach, you should. The man has a gift for preaching the Word of God. In fact, he preached for nearly 25 minutes before he got to what he had prepared, then started what he prepared, was on stage for over an hour and a half and never once did I want him to stop. He really is that good!

He told a story that caught my attention. He said that after someone had visited his church for 3 months, they approached him and told him they were not going to be coming back. He wasn't hurt, made mad by someone, or asked to leave. No, the reason he was leaving was because he didn't believe what the Johnny Hunt was preaching. He didn't believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. He didn't believe the Bible was Truth. He told Johnny that he wanted to give Johnny the chance to convince him, but after 3 months the visitor just did not believe. Yet, he made a statement to Johnny Hunt that was profound.

"Preacher, I don't believe what you are preaching, but you sure do!"

Let me challenge you as this challenged me. Does the way you live your life, the things you say and do, show that you are so passionate about Jesus Christ that it is obvious you BELIEVE He is the Son of God? That you BELIEVE the Bible is Truth? That you BELIEVE living for Jesus Christ in everything is really the best why to live? That you BELIEVE Jesus is coming back?

Are you passionate about Jesus? Really?

In Christ,

jon walton

Being Corrected...

Missy and I have been getting ready for a youth event at our house this week. We have been cleaning, cooking (well, SHE has been cooking, I burn toast on stage in front of everyone), moving stuff around, and just in general being very busy. It can make for a stressful environment when you are doing lots of extra stuff along with everything else that is normally going on in your life. These stressful times are opportunities for us to either be encouraging or hurtful.

Last night, as we were finishing up I was talking with Missy as I was cleaning and she was cooking. We were both tired and I wasn't really paying attention to what I was saying. To be dead honest, I remember the point I was trying to make, but I don't remember the exact words I said. What I do remember very clearly is what my wife said in response: "Just shut up." That got my attention as I was quickly trying to go back over what I had just said. She was mad.

Later that night before bed I pursued her on the conversation we were having. I heard what she has told me before. It is something I constantly struggle with in our relationship. "Sometimes you really degrade me and my decisions." She said. "You hold things over my head and tell me what a bad choice it was, all while talking about the good choice you made. It hurts."

I felt like a pile of dung. I knew I was in the wrong. I was being corrected for incorrect behavior.

At this point, I have a choice to make. We all do when we are being corrected. I see it with Isaiah when I correct his behavior. I see it in a teenager when I call them down for talking during the sermon or lesson. I even see this choice being made in a dog when training it. Anytime we are being corrected, we can choose to go on the defensive, get angry, and take a stand on our point even though we know we are wrong, or we can choose to accept the fact that we are wrong, apologize, and begin to adjust our behavior as needed.

God corrects our behavior, too. Again we have a choice in the matter. We can choose to accept His correction, or reject it.

But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects...

-Proverbs 3:11,12

I hugged my wife, told her I was so sorry. I am accepting the correction that she is giving me to make our relationship better. 11 years in and I still want to do more for her. 11 years in and I am so glad that she loves me enough to tell me when I am wrong. Today I am mindful of the words I say. That I am being a Godly husband, and loving my wife as Christ loves the church: abundantly and without restraint.

In Christ,

jon walton

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A Reflection...

I sometimes get very frustrated with people who claim to be following Jesus Christ, yet their actions, words, and thought process doesn't reflect it. Not that we don't make mistakes, anger gets the better of me at times, I can be selfish, rude, go too far, push too hard, and be a down right jerk at times. However, I have learned through, the grace of Jesus and my desire to serve Him as my Master, that whenever I mess up I should seek quickly to make a mends where possible and repent of my wrong doing. That is, not only correct my mistake (apologize to who I hurt/made mad) but to also doing my best to stop that behavior. Yet everyday I see people who don't. They only apologize, or try to correct a problem when they are caught doing something wrong.

I think this stems from the "casual" view of Christianity many have in America. The most persecution you would most likely come under in our country from saying you are a Christian is possibly being laughed at, or told "no" when you offer to share your faith with someone. So, in reality, saying you are a "Christian" in America is an easy thing to do. Yet the ease of this leads many to not take their walk with Christ serious at any point. Never taking the time to consider the entirety of one's commitment to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ & the Bible leads to a life that is just not honoring to God.

Perhaps Paul said it best in Titus 1 in his instructions for leaders:

(10a)For there are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers...
(14)They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.

When you look in your mirror, do you see a person who matches what you say about yourself? Does your reflection match your description?

In Christ,

jon walton

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Think About This...

I read something recently that I wanted to share. I will quote part of it here, and give you the link to the full article.

I came across a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe. It is a short version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this:

Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise.

Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old–barely out of diapers–and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the import of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, “An enterprise. That’s a business.” After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha’s raised hand, “Yes, Martha.” She asked such a simple question, “A business? But isn’t it supposed to be a body?” I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was, “Yes.” She continued, “But when a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?”

How are you treating the body of Christ?

Link to full article

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Because I Love You...

Last night when I got home, there was something waiting for me. A small envelope with no name on it, no markings, just a small, sealed, white envelope. "Your son said that is for you. He wouldn't let me open it." My wife informed me. I opened it to find that Isaiah had written my name, Jon, in scribbly, orange marker. I stood there holding this piece of printer paper with my name on it along with some other small marks. I almost cried.

The next morning I told Isaiah, "I got your note you left for me." His eyes lit up as he ran to the kitchen table. Grabbing the piece of paper he had written and left for me he exclaimed, "This is your name, dad. I wrote it for you because I love you!" I did cry. I bent down and hugged my son tightly. "I love you too, buddy." I muttered out between tears. I truly can not express how much that means to me. It is one thing for him to love me, but he takes it further. He allows his love for me to affect his actions. He does things for me because he loves me.

When is the last time you did something for Jesus just because you love Him? Do you realize it doesn't matter if it is a masterpiece or not? It doesn't have to be a painting of the Mona Lisa, your "scribble on a piece of paper" still shows you love Him.

"The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him." - John 14:21

"Thank You, Jesus, for my family."

In Christ,

jon walton

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Growing a Beard...

I am growing a beard for our Easter Play. I have been growing it since February since my beard grows somewhat slow and I knew it would take some time if I wanted a good, full beard at the time of the the play, Easter Sunday. While it has been growing I have noticed some "stages" if you will of the process up to this point, can I share them with you?

Stage 1: The decision.

The reason here is important, though it may not seem like it until later on. The real focus at the time is that I have made a decision and I am sticking with it no matter what. Nothing can detour me as I embark on my endeavorer to change my appearance. I really have no idea what's in store.

Stage 2: Staying the course.

As my face began to get "scruffy," as my wife and son put it, I began to think about how nice it would be to shave it off. My wife didn't like that when I kissed her she had to endure the rough upper lip stubble. I looked like I just didn't care enough to take care of my self and look decent. However, I kept in mind my goal: To have a good, full beard by Easter. This is just a time that will pass.

Stage 3: Its getting more difficult, but encouragement helps.

As it turns from stubble into a light beard, something happens that I knew was coming. It was unavoidable. It began to itch like poison ivy had been smeared on my face then rubbed in with a wire brush. I was constantly scratching it. My wife asked me on several occasions, "Do you have fleas or something?" I was not amused. She reminded me as well that I looked like a bum. However, some other people commented on how good it looked and that it suited me well. Including my son who interrupted me suddenly once just to tell me, "DAD! I like your beard." "Thanks son, can I please finish ordering our supper now?" I wanted to shave it off so bad. I could hear my razor calling me every morning.

Stage 4: Maintenance.

The beard still itches and now it is long enough that the hair growing under my nose is constantly touching my upper lip and driving me crazy. I begin to trim it so it doesn't bother me as much. The wife has stopped telling people we are married for fear of embarrassment in public(not really, but I'm sure she thought about it). If I don't trim it and keep it up, it is going to look horrible. Why am I doing this again? Oh yeah, Easter is just a few weeks away...

Stage 5: Confidence.

After several weeks of growth, it finally no longer itches. I have gotten use to trimming it when needed and now even I am starting to think it looks ok. For some reason some people have an uncontrollable urge to touch or rub it. I'm pretty sure it doesn't give good luck, though some my be spreading that rumor. Please stop if you are.

You may be thinking that this is a lot of thought to put into growing a beard, but in actuality I thought of it because many go through the same stages when they accept Jesus as their Savior.

Stage 1: The decision.

The reason here is important, though it may not seem like it until later on. The real focus at the time is that I have made a decision and I am sticking with it no matter what. Nothing can detour me as I embark on my endeavorer to change everything about me. My life is in shambles and I needed someone to save me. Jesus, I am following and trusting You!

Stage 2: Staying the course.

As my life began to get "challenging," as my friends and pastor put it, I began to think about how nice it would be to just give up. Some of my friends don't like that I am not doing the same things I used to. They think I just don't care and call me "self righteous." However, I kept in mind my goal: To have a better life. To give honor to Jesus Christ and live with Him in Heaven one day. This is just a time that will pass.

Stage 3: Its getting more difficult, but encouragement helps.

As I follow Jesus more, something happens that I knew was coming. It was unavoidable. I began to be persecuted. I was constantly being ridiculed, or even hurt for my belief in Jesus Christ. I was told how stupid I am for beveling in such silly nonsense. However, some other people commented on how much I had changed and how much better my life was even though some things were difficult. Including my friends and family who had also accepted Jesus as their Savior because of the change in my life. I wanted to stop being a Christian sometimes, but the love of my new family drove me forward. I could hear my past calling me, but I know I can continue with Christ on my side.

Stage 4: Maintenance.

I have been following Jesus for some time now and my life has gotten busy. I tend to neglect my quiet times with Jesus, I haven't read my Bible in a while, and I have missed meeting with other Christians from time to time. Its time I did some upkeep on my spiritual life. If I don't, it is going to get forgotten and forsaken. Why am I doing this again? Oh yeah, because of what Jesus did for me... and because I love Him.

Stage 5: Confidence.

After many days of prayer, reading my Bible, and spending time with Jesus, I am ready for whatever is next. I am not perfect, but I know I belong to Jesus who will testify to God on my behalf. I am confidant He is the only way to Salvation. Things may get difficult again, but I will trust in the Lord. I can't wait to get to Heaven!

What stage are you in?

In Christ,

jon walton

P.S. I know this isn't the same for everyone, just for some.