First Christian Church of Scottsburg

A Reflection Amidst Tragedy

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:16:58 -0700

Why We Resist Obedience: A Reflection Amidst Tragedy

In the wake of the tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk, many are grappling with the deep divisions and tensions in our society. This act of evil has left us questioning the state of our nation and our roles within it; especially those of us who are following Jesus. As we process this tragic event, it's an opportunity to reflect on the broader themes of obedience, trust, and the choices we make in whom or what we place our allegiance.

Why We Resist Obedience

When we talk about obedience to God, it can stir up all kinds of emotions—especially if you're not sure you trust Jesus Christ yet. For many, the word obedience sounds restrictive, even frightening. It presses against our pride, our independence, and our desire to stay in control.

And yet, at some level, we all know that our lives are already bent in obedience to something. The only real question is: who or what we are obeying?

For some, it's the voice of culture—the latest trend, the loudest influencer, the strongest personality on the airwaves. For others, it's our own desires—whatever feels good in the moment. For still others, it's success—chasing after money, approval, or recognition.

But every other "master" we obey ends up taking more than it gives. Only Jesus, the Servant who obeyed first, offers life. Still, the hesitation is real. Why do we resist obedience to the Father?

Have you ever felt separted from God? Have you ever felt so broken that you couldn't breath? It's in some of life's hardest moments that we realize that we need something. It's in those moments we seem to seek out God. But what if you can't do that... what if you simply can't get the strength or the courage to seek out Jesus. You're life has been turned upside down and your everything has been taken away.

In these moments of life we usually don't realize we have stepped away from God's presence until we've messed some things up. It's in these moments we are blinded. We can't hear the voices near us try and help us. It's in these darkness days that we simply can't see the light. What do we do when we wake up and realize we are in the dark and we've hurt lots of people and relationships around us? What do we do? How do we step back into the presence of God again? Or do we really want to? Or know how?

C. S. Lewis wrote in "Grief Observed"... “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing. At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in. It is so uninteresting. Yet I want the others to be about me. I dread the moments when the house is empty. If only they would talk to one another and not to me.”

I've felt this! I mean I've felt this very...Read More

Sunday's Coming...

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:47:13 -0700

Not sure about you, but I love music! I love what it does for my heart, mind, soul and strength. Not sure about you, but music is one of things in my life that speaks directly to me. Zach Williams song, "Sunday's Comin'" is just one of those songs. I think for a lot of us we don't realize what exactly Jesus did for us on that morning of his resurrection. Let me share with you a lesson learned this week.

First, let me share some of Zach's lyrics with you:

When your week feels like a beat down
And you can't tell the night from day
And you're tired of fighting battles
When all you feel is pain, oh
It's a heavy weight
There's hope on the horizon
'Cause the cross was not the end
Let joy come in the morning
And, child, lift your head
Don't you give up yet

Keep on holdin' on
There's gonna be a breakthrough
Keep on holdin' on
Don't stay buried in that grave
If He can roll the stone
He can send the darkness runnin'
Might feel like Friday
But your Sunday's...Read More

WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 08:35:10 -0800

Well I'm not up on today's country music, but I did hear a song just the day by Luke Combs (my son asked me - "Dad you don't know Luke Combs, man your old" - and I said, yes son..... I'm that old!). Anyway... I heard the song "When It Rains It Pours" for the first time...
Now before we get too far along... this song is about a bad breakup and how one guy turns it around in true redneck fasion. Initially heartbroken, he quickly realizes that losing his girlfriend brings unexpected blessings. He wins the lottery, scores free drinks, finds a fishing spot, and generally has everything go his way. The song embraces a lighthearted, silver-lining perspective, celebrating the idea that even tough times can lead to unexpected good fortune.
Not that I would say that this is a great way to come off of a breakup or bad day however the idea that blessings comes in waves is a great thing. Now when most of us hear the phrase "When It Rains It Pours" we focus on the negitive things of life. But for this one ole dude - I like to think about the positive things of life and how they do come in waves when you are living with Jesus.
I guess you could say that I was that guy that would stop by the gas station near I-65 on my way home from a bad day (for those of you that know - Yes - It was Julians). But that would change. I did find Jesus and I was able to realize, now some 30 years later, that life is always better with Jesus. Is life always good - NO. There are still those tough days and days that I'd like to just simply startover. There are even a few days I'd like to forget. And YES, there are those moments when "Jesus has left the building". But man there are those days that are full of nothing but pure joy and blessing and in those days its great to be in the RAIN!
As we move into another week of rethinking the church and what "church" is really all about I'd like for us to do something this weekend before we get to Sunday morning... I would like...Read More

Are we "All in the Family"?

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 13:43:15 -0800

If you are younger than 40 then most of you won't even know the reference or if you do won't understand the point about "All in the Family". "All in the Family" is an American sitcom that aired from 1971 to 1979. Created by Norman Lear, the show broke new ground by addressing controversial social issues with humor and candidness. It revolves around the lives of the Bunker family, a working-class household in Queens, New York.
This sitcom, however you feel about it, attempted to take on some of the most hard hitting social issues of the 1970's and however you may feel about how they attempted to do it - at least they were attempting to make a difference. I'm not suggesting that it was great TV, but it sure did make you cringe and it was in those cringe worthy moments that the truth was being protrayed on the TV set.
What's my point... well... it's complicated and it's not one that I have fully grasped at times. My point in all it's complicated implications is this: "We are ALL IN THE FAMILY" and we should probably try and figure out how to live as a family if we want to honor God and bring glory to His Church. Because if we fail at this, then what are we gathering together for?
N.T. Wright said: "I don’t possess very many suits of clothes, but there is one which I keep for best, which only comes out on the most special of occasions. That’s what being ‘holy’ means, from God’s point of view; it means that God has set people aside for special purposes; and the people in question are expected to co-operate with this."
CO-OPERATE WITH HIS PURPOSE
Much like the sitcom, we too stumble and bumble around trying to make a difference and in many ways we simply make the issue more difficult by trying to be funny or cute about it. It's in those cringe worthy moments in life that some of the most teachable moments show up. When we understand that we are created and prepared and equipped to show the world "Who"...Read More

RETURN; Part 2

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 13:31:58 -0700

Have you ever misjudged someone at first glance? Have you ever taken a conversation or a text message out of context? Have you ever simply misunderstood the information that you were processing in the heat of the moment? I sure have! I've been guilty of this more than just once or twice.
Unfortunately I have misjudged, misunderstood and taken lots of things out of context - that's why I have learned to take my time and lean into the context of the situation. Now this doesn't always change my opinion or my judgement, but it sure does help me keep my foot out of my mouth or my heart in the right place.
We're on this journey together now - an adventure to figure out how to return to God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. To do that I want to look at the "Book of the 12" or the "Minor Prophets" as our backdrop of learning this discipline of "returning". In order to do this, we've got to consider a few general ideas when reading these books of the Bible.
First, these 12 books were compiled to be ONE, single unit and they were placed in order to paint a picture of what God was doing in the midst of the Hebrew people. To understand their deep content we must always try to keep them in their context. If we are going to see how we can return to God - then we must first understand what it meant for the Israelites and the countries and people surrounding them.
It's like when I look back on our adoption journey. If you would pick just a few small moments throughout the past 6 years you could form very different stories depending on what moments you chose to weave together. You could make our last 6 years the worst of our lives. You could form the images and memories and events in...Read More

RETURN...

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 14:58:47 -0700

I'm just a few days removed from returning home from a week long study break with Dr. Jody Owens and some great friends. We spent a week looking at the depth and richness of "The Book of the 12" or Minor Prophets. I know it sounds amazing right - well to this Bible nerd it was more than amazing. For days I felt if God was feeding me with a fire hose. But all I could think about in my down time was the idea of "RETURN" and how this concept is scattered throughout the Old and New Testaments. The concept of "RETURN" is everywhere. The idea of returning to God is almost nausating at the amount of times the Scriptures speak to this idea of "RETURN" and for the most part - I've missed it - I've missed it for years!
With this revelation that I've missed it! I decided to get to work and put my thoughts and lessons together for others to see. It's kinda like I wanted to invite you inside my brain and how I process the information. I thought if God is going to change my mind and my heart - He might as well have a crack at yours at the same time.
So, I would like to invite you on a jounrey with me. I would like for you to join me on discovering just what it means to "RETURN" to the Father and help people along the way "RETURN" to a blessed life - one full of God's very best! I would like for you to join me as we discover what it means to please God in such a way that our lives are full of hope, restoration and concern for this broken world like we've never had before as we daily live for God and live with people of all different backgrounds and issues. Will you join me? I pray that you will. And I pray that you'll share this with someone else, so that, we can go together.
If you're still here reading, I'm assuming that you are going to appease me for a few more paragraphs at least. So thank you!
One of the first things that I noticed about the "minor prophets" or the "Book of the 12" is their understanding that the message they shared was from...Read More