Are all things possible?

Are all things possible through faith? That was a question that has been running through my head since it was mentioned in one of my pastor's sermons a couple of weeks ago.

If I had to answer right away, I would have to say YES and NO. But wait, let me explain....

There is nothing too great for God. He could snap His fingers and make me dance like a puppet if He wanted to. Not that He would, but He definitely could. That being said, there is nothing we can't accomplish if our faith is strong enough, right? Even Jesus says this in the Bible! In Matthew 17, the disciples are wondering why they were not able to cast a demon out of young boy. In verse 20, Jesus says "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." But the question we really need to ask is does God want us to accomplish it? This was the hardest concept for my mind to grasp.

I like to think that the possibilities are endless. Look at all these amazing things that people did in the Bible - casting out demons, healing people, talking with God directly. If only I could develop enough faith to do these things too. I am still trying to grow my faith daily, learning how to depend on God instead of myself. But I know that deep down it is a never-ending process. I know that my faith still has a long way to grow.

So what exactly was so hard for me to grasp? There is a clear distinction between potential vs. overcoming. Potential refers to our abilities as human beings. I want to be able to heal someone. Does that mean that if I simply have enough faith that it will happen? No, it doesn't. And the reason is because it is not God's plan for me to go around healing people. Overcoming refers to struggles or obstacles in our life. And there is nothing too great for God to handle or help us overcome. Again, His timing may not match up with our own, but through faith, there is nothing that we cannot overcome. That is the distinction between the two. Our abilities and talents are limited by God to those in which He wants us to have. His capacity to help us through a problem or bad situation is limitless.

We must depend on God at all times - for both the good and the bad. Growing our faith is important because it leads us to greater challenges and dependence on God. Not just depending on Him for the challenges, but for everything. Depending on God should not be considered a weakness, but a strength. Sometimes we do genuinely sell ourselves and our abilities short. The important thing to remember is to understand not what we can't do, but what we won't [be able to] do because it isn't God's plan for us.

Our Words Affect Others

Are we careful about the things we say? We should be. The tongue has the power to build someone up or tear them down.

Many times we say something with one intent, not even realizing that the other person might be taking things the wrong way. Even when friends joke around, one person might kid the other and say things like "Wow, you are really stupid." This is meant all in good fun, which in most cases will be perceived this way. But, when something like this is said more frequently, it can start to sting like a dart. Not that the person receiving the words in jest will start believing them, but there exists a triviality that can be confusing and even damaging. Words can lose fun and significance in this situation and can evolve to being pointless and degrading. Paul makes note of this in Ephesians 4:29 - "Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."

As Christians, we should use every opportunity we have to fellowship together and build one another up. The world offers us so much foul language - should we really add to it? We are ultimately responsible for everything that comes out of our mouth. Jesus says in Matthew 12:36 - "And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgement day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."

The world does so much and Satan does so much to tear us apart and mess up our relationship with God and our fellow Christians. Our focus should be on building relationships and supporting each other in Christ every chance we get. We really should all try to be aware of what we say and how it could be affecting others.

Blind Faith vs. No Faith

So many times, I talk to people that believe something but don't know why. We call this blind faith. It is important to understand why we believe what we believe not only so that we can share our beliefs with others - it is an important part of defending what we believe as well.

But is "blind faith" always negative? I don't believe so. The search for answers is part of everyone's life in some way, shape, or form. As I was sitting here thinking about how people come to know Christ, I started thinking more about the search for answers.

Accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior is the biggest decision anyone could ever make. And there is a lot of uncertainty that goes with this decision. Many decide to refute the possibility and legitimacy that God sent himself in human form to die for everyone's sins - past, present, and future. What Jesus wants is each of us to accept Him as our personal savior, confessing to Him that we are sinners and that we acknowledge, believe, and thank him for dying for us. This is where blind faith is important. I truly believe that the Lord will meet us halfway and help us find the answers that we are looking for. I don't think all the answers are necessary when they stand in between someone and their decision to accept Christ.

What is tough is to see people so caught up in the search for answers, that the search itself obscures the simple truth of mercy and salvation. So much of current day thinking is based around science. As man, we cannot have all the answers, because then we would be omniscient (all-knowing). God did not create man so that he could exist at the same level as God. God created man to know and freely serve Him. Part of the mystery of life and creation is to look around and see God in nature. The more we explore creation, and learn about it, the more we find we do not know. I think that science and the Bible can indeed work together. But with an acceptance of the Bible first, and proof by science later.

So, if I had to choose between blind faith and no faith at all, then I would have to choose blind faith. With blind faith we can still find the answers to substantiate and understand our beliefs. After all, the search for answers is temporary....eternity is not.

Driving in the Dark

So I've been having some issues with the headlights on my car. I replaced them about a week ago. Two days after I replaced them, they just didn't seem as bright. I checked out the reflection in the car in front of me at a stop light and guess what....another lamp is burned out. I'm thinking how could this be happening, I JUST bought these! So I made a mental note to take them back and TRY to exchange them (though it seems like I would have as much success returning those as taking a half-eaten loaf of bread back to the grocery). :) Then yesterday...I get in the car after work and the other bulb is out to! So I go to the auto parts store to pick up a new set. I pull into the parking lot and park. Then I figure I'll check under the hood (as all of us guys do). I pull the hood release and the cable is broken. I can't seem to get the hood open. So, I decide to leave and head home in spite of my dilemma. Driving home in the dark is NOT fun, trust me! I had an appointment to go to and had a long day at work, so I wasn't thinking as clearly as I should have been. "Ed, why didn't you use your brights?" That's what I said to myself when I got home. :) You don't realize how many overhead lights are out on the Interstates here until you really need them.

I get home and manage to finally get the hood open so I can replace one of the faulty bulbs with the only old one that still worked. I make it out to Amy's to do some computer work. Now you're thinking, "Great, so now Ed can see at night whilst driving." Yes and No. I was leaving Jason's tonight and the single headlight bulb that I had JUST replaced died. I know it was old, but c'mon people - what are the odds? (LOL)

So as crazy as all this was, I did learn something. But it just came to me before I sat down at the computer. I think we as humans sometimes drive around "in the dark". What do I mean by that? Well, sometimes we don't have clear direction. At least not in every single aspect of our lives at all times. I feel like we are tested in this manner too. Are we so caught up in the occasional dark moments that we don't find alternative guidance or "light"? Myself using the highway's overhead lights seemed like a good plan at the time. But it is like depending on the world instead of depending on God when the lights on the road get dark. You can't always count on the world. But Jesus never does let us down. I could've turned on my brights, but I didn't think to. That doesn't change the fact that they were there ready to be used. I might have upset some people, but that wouldn't have been as serious as not using the light. In that case, I would have been noticed by more cars and would have had a safer trip home. I don't want to drive this analogy (pardon the pun) into the ground. But I just wanted to share it with you. We should all make an effort to notice the lights in our life. Are they dim? Can we make them any brighter? Or are we just getting by with one light instead of two?

Jesus wants both of our lights to shine as brightly as possible so that the world might see where we are headed.

Mosaic Church

We had our second service today and it was totally awesome! Somewhere around 340 people showed up today. The praise and worship was amazing today as always (Gil is an INCREDIBLE leader & the band doesn't slack either). So far, it hurts me to break down the sound equipment each week when it sounds so good. We were pushing 110 dB today (C-weighting, A-weighting it was more like 100 dB - what the heck? {click here}) and it sounded phenomenal. When the Charlotte Observer said it was like a church and rock concert all in one, they weren't kidding! I am looking forward to our third service next week. :)

I never thought the weeks would fly by so fast. I spend the week in anticipation of being able to do it all again. It is so great to be able to serve the Lord and do something I love to do - engineering sound. God has truly blessed me with Mosaic. I hope to bless others through Mosaic as well. Hold on Charlotte, you're in for a treat!

It was long overdue for me to have a blog, so here it is. More to come soon. Blogspot rocks...