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As Long as Jesus is Comfortable

February 20, 2025 / / 0 Comments

At Caesarea Philippi, Peter declares Jesus as the Christ, Jesus immediately tells his followers that he is going to suffer and die, then Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes him. He tells the One he just proclaimed as the Christ that he is not going to die, that they’re going to change the world in other ways. It seems confusing, doesn’t it? Peter tells Jesus he is the Christ and then in the very next breath tells him that he’s not the one making the decisions.

In essence, Peter is telling Jesus, you are the Christ as long as it’s comfortable. As long as you don’t push me outside my comfort zone, as long as you don’t challenge me, as long as whatever you’re calling me to doesn’t stretch me or hurt me, we’re good. You are the Lord.

Jesus says, “I want you to give more.”
Give more? If I do that, I’m going to have to cut back on something!

Jesus says, “I need you to lead a small group.”
In my house?! I’ll be vacuuming every Sunday afternoon! When will I take my nap?!

Jesus says, “I’d like you to volunteer with the children’s ministry.”
Teach the little kids?! Hey, I did my time there! That’s somebody else’s job!

Churches do things like this, too. Some churches make the comfort of their members too big of a priority. In some churches, all anybody has to say is “I’m uncomfortable with that,” –whatever it is– “That makes me uncomfortable,” and the elders rush in and shut whatever it is down. That’s why we put big crosses in our Worship Centers, to remind Christians, and their elders and ministers, that the divine call to follow Christ has absolutely nothing to do with being comfortable!

Peter says Jesus is the Christ as long as he’s comfortable. Is your confession confusing like that?

Peace,

Allan

As Long as Jesus is Sensible

February 19, 2025 / / 0 Comments

“What about you? Who do you say I am?” ~Mark 8:29

I imagine the apostle Peter answers Jesus’ question immediately. Peter doesn’t do dead air. He’s going to speak first, think later. Ready-fire-aim! — that’s Peter. Always jumping in, always shooting off his mouth. But, here, he gives the exact right answer:

“You are the Christ!” ~Mark 8:29

You are the Anointed One, the Messiah. You are the Holy One of Israel. You’re the one who was prophesied about, the one we’ve been praying for our whole lives, the one we’ve been waiting for for generations. You’re the one, Jesus! You are the Christ! You are the Lord!

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this…” ~Mark 8:31-32

The other Gospel writers tell us this was the first time Jesus had mentioned to them that he was going to die. He spoke plainly about it.

“And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.” ~Mark 8:32

Peter’s very first words in this story are, “You are the Christ.” But his very next actions say, “No, you’re really not.”

“You are the Christ” means “You are the boss.” You are Lord. You are the sovereign ruler over all the earth and you are the sovereign ruler over me. Whatever you say, goes. That’s what it means to say Jesus is the Christ. But Peter follows up his declaration by telling Jesus they were not going to do what he said needed to happen. He began to rebuke the one he called Christ. “Nobody is dying here, Jesus–not you, not me, not any of us.” It was a very confusing confession.

“‘Get behind me, Satan!’ Jesus said. ‘You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of people!'” ~Mark 8:33

Peter, you are more worried about what people say than what God says. You’re trusting your own feelings and instincts more than you’re trusting the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Peter seems perfectly fine with Jesus being Lord as long as Jesus is sensible. Peter is good with declaring Jesus as the Christ, the Lord of his life. But as soon as Jesus steps out of sensible? Well, that’s when Peter takes over.

Turn the other cheek? Jesus, seriously? Give up my shirt and my coat? Refuse to retaliate? Jesus, if I do that, I’ll be taken advantage of. People are going to walk all over me. Give up wealth and power and force in exchange for love and mercy and grace? I know that’s what we talk about in church, but that’s not how the real world works, Jesus. You’re out of touch. Protect the outsiders? Give up my rights? Jesus, did I hear you right? Love my enemies? I don’t even like my friends! If you’re not sensible, you’re no longer my authority. You are not my Christ.

That’s a confusing confession.

Some churches do this.

Lord, we know you said give freedom to prisoners and release the captives from their bondage, but you want our church to pay off people’s debt? Their medical debt? Their school cafeteria debt? But we’ve never met these people! How will they know it’s us? How many of these people will come to our church? What kind of return are we getting on our money? It doesn’t make sense.

Jesus healed ten lepers and only one of them even said “Thank you.” But the Gospel point of that story is not that you’d better be extra cautious about how much of God’s grace you dole out to strangers.

You are the Christ as long as you’re sensible.

I wonder if that kind of behavior confuses Jesus.

What’s the deal, Peter? Have I lost my mind? Because you’re with me when I say love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. You’re with me when I say be faithful to your spouse and don’t forsake the assembly. But when I tell you to lend to those who ask, suddenly I’m not making sense? Your commitment, Peter, is not to my lordship, it’s to your own logic. Your obedience is to the values of the world instead of the values of the Kingdom of God.

There’s a difference between following Jesus because it makes sense and following Jesus because he is the Christ.

How confusing is your confession?

Peace,

Allan

A Presidents Day to Remember

February 18, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Monday was Whitney’s 32nd birthday, but it got overshadowed all day long by other things. We had already celebrated with a slew of her GCR friends Saturday night at Ryan and Kristin’s new house, and she had to pull a five-hour shift at Market Street. So it didn’t really feel like a birthday. Especially considering that bigger things kept happening.

The church offices were closed for the holiday, so I took off for Lubbock with a couple of friends, Jim and Clint, to see the new documentary, Becoming Led Zeppelin. The movie was shot in IMAX and is only being shown in IMAX theaters and, since our Regal IMAX in Midland closed last year, Lubbock is the closest place to see it. And it was well worth the nearly four-hour round trip.

The documentary details the back stories of each of the band’s four members with tons of never before-seen-footage and interviews, sit-down conversations with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones, and audio recordings of John Bonham, who died in 1980. They talk about their childhoods, their musical influences, and their early years as studio musicians and, in Plant’s case, a gig-hopping bum. The stories and pictures are great–who knew that Jones and Page had worked together on the James Bond Goldfinger soundtrack? But the highlights were the footage from those very first Led Zeppelin concerts in 1969.

Those people in those tiny crowds had no idea what they were experiencing. Nobody played guitar in 1969 like Page did. It was revolutionary in every way. Every guitar player in rock and roll history who came after Led Zeppelin was imitating what Page started. Nobody ever hit the drums harder than Bonham, chocking up on those giant sticks and smashing the drums like they owed him money. Jones’ bass was actually a featured part of their style, not just a background rhythm necessity. And Plant’s vocals are disturbingly in your face. The whole thing was just absolutely glorious.

With Led Zeppelin, there is plenty to talk about it terms of bad behavior. They were legendary in some of the worst ways. But this documentary showcases the music. It’s all about the music–Jimmy Page’s vision, John Paul Jones’ amazement at Plant’s incredible vocal range, Bonham’s joy, Page’s insistence that Atlantic Records release no singles because Led Zeppelin makes albums, not singles.

My hope is that there is going to be another film. This one ends with the release of Led Zeppelin II in January 1970. Surely there’s a Part Two that documents the making of their fourth album with at least 30-minutes devoted to Stairway to Heaven alone.

If you’re in a town with an IMAX, go see it. If you’re in Midland and you’re driving to Lubbock, I’ll go with you.

In the meantime, here’s some of the earliest Led Zeppelin footage out there: Communication Breakdown in front of a bunch of kids who have no clue what they’re seeing.

In the middle of our drive to Lubbock, Carrie-Anne called to tell me that, after 80 agonizing days, our dear friend Shanna Byrnes was being released from the hospital! That was the most wonderful news of the whole day! The whole year! Shanna is home!

I do not have words that are appropriate to the occasion. I don’t know how to start telling you about this and, whatever I would write about it here, would not do justice to the eternal mercy and grace of God we are all experiencing for and with Shanna and David and their beautiful family. The doctors and surgeons told them three weeks ago there was nothing they could do for her. No options. The only thing that could save Shanna would be a miracle they couldn’t foresee.

Another dramatic reminder that all things are possible with our God. Praise him!

Of course, we know we’re never going to see Shanna again. She’s certainly going to write a best-selling book and go on a speaking tour all over the world. Before it happens, though, I’ve already asked for about six hours with her. I’ve got like four million questions.

About ten minutes after I digested that amazing news, our middle daughter Valerie called to tell me they moved her doctor’s appointment up to Monday because of all the snow they’re expecting today in Tulsa. And she told me the sexes of both of our future twin grandchildren! We already knew at least one was a boy because of the blood work, but now we know both!

And I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Sorry.

I’m not sure if Val wants us to wait for one more appointment in two weeks for another level of confirmation, or if we’re waiting on a photographer to take an Instagram-ready portrait for some official announcement. But I’ve been told to keep it to myself for now. If you’re really dying to know, maybe you could ask Jim or Clint.

And, yeah, yesterday was also Whitney’s birthday. She chose Texas Roadhouse as the site for the customary birthday dinner and we celebrated her and all the other things that made Monday a really terrific day.

Peace,

Allan

Partners with Emerson

February 14, 2025 / / 0 Comments

The Golf Course Road Church was honored by the Midland School District last night as one of their outstanding Partners in Education. Our work with Emerson Elementary is just one part of our recently renewed focus on doing ministry right here in the community where God has placed us. But it’s certainly the one that gets the most attention and energy from our congregation. Dozens of our church family are on the Emerson campus every month fist-bumping on Monday mornings, reading to kids at lunch, and encouraging teachers and staff with meals and gifts. We’ve also completely remodeled two courtyards so that parents can eat lunch with their kids in a comfortable setting. And when there’s a special need for a student or an Emerson family, the counselors there call GCR first.

Several of our GCR family attended the dinner last night to receive the. award, including Gordon, seen above shaking hands with one of the MISD school board members, followed by J.E. and Jim. Ryan, Kristin, and April were also there to represent Golf Course Road.

It’s not a competition, of course, but we’re winning.

I attend a quarterly “Pastors for MISD” meeting with Dr. Howard and several other school district administrators, and three times they have singled out GCR for our work with Emerson as an example for the other churches. Golf Course Road Church has been featured on the back of the past two handouts for these pastors meetings and it’s kind of become a little joke.

I thank God for our leadership at GCR and our whole church as we invest Christ’s love and grace into our local schools. And I praise the Lord for the work he is doing in and with these Emerson kids and their families.

Peace,

Allan

Better Christians!

February 9, 2025 / / 0 Comments

“We don’t need more Christians; we need better Christians.” ~Francis Chan

Most of our culture in America right now, especially with the majority of people younger than us, are turned off by Christians. The world is sick of Christians. People don’t listen to Christians anymore. So, as Christians, it’s tempting to think, in order to win the world, we need to be less Christian. Christians don’t have credibility in our society anymore. People seem to be angry at Christians. So, maybe we shouldn’t act too Christian all the time. Maybe we should relax our Christianity every now and then.

No. The whole premise is wrong.

Yes, we do hear the world complain about Christian fanatics. These fanatics get born again and they start screaming against things. They holler and yell and make speeches and forward posts against politicians and parties and same-sex couples and evolution and abortion and the homeless and immigration. Pick a topic, pick any issue, and Christians can appear to be very judgmental and intolerant and loud.

That’s what turns people off.

And when that kind of behavior is done in the name of our Lord, it turns me off, too.

Most people say those folks are too Christian. They need to lighten up on their Christianity. They’re too radically Christian. They take their Christianity too seriously.

No. Those kinds of folks are not Christian enough. They’re not taking their Christianity seriously enough.

The people who are considered extreme Christians are overbearing, self-righteous, harsh, and opinionated. But they’re not radical Christians; they’re not Christian enough. They may be radically zealous and extremely bold. But they’re not radically humble. They’re not extremely compassionate. They’re not over-the-top loving or extravagantly forgiving or fanatically empathetic. They’re not sacrificial servants. They’re not like Jesus very much at all.

Some Christians can be arrogant and selfish and actually be a hindrance to the Gospel. We can be working against our God as he redeems and restores the world. We say we carry a message of grace, but how are people going to experience it as truth when we act that way? Sometimes, in the name of Jesus, we just run over people. We can be so narrow-minded and stubborn sometimes that nobody’s right about anything but us. Jesus totally embodied a powerful message of truth that called people to repentance and accountability and a choice. But he never ran over anybody.

If we are really fanatics and radical Christians–too Christian–the world would fall in love with our God. If the world saw all of us walking to the cross, walking with a cross, serving and sacrificing, dying to ourselves and dying for one another, loving unconditionally, forgiving lavishly, showing mercy and grace to all, speaking only kind words–radically Christian!–the whole world would fall down and worship our God.

Peace,

Allan

Moderate Christian?

February 7, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Moderate Christian is an oxymoron. The two terms contradict each other. There’s no such thing as a moderate Christian.

When Jesus says, “Follow me,” he’s calling you to a radical all-in commitment to Christ as Lord and his ways as the only Way. Knowing Jesus, loving him, resembling him, serving him, following him has to be the number one passion of your life. Everything else, whatever it is, must come second.

But that sounds so fanatical. You know, you can be TOO religious.

Wait. Really? Is that how Christianity works? Does Jesus say moderation in all things? Or is that something the culture tells us to keep our discipleship private?

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” ~Luke 14:26-27

Does that sound moderate?

Jesus does not say to the crowd, “Look, most of you can be moderate, but I do need a few good women and men who really want to go all the way with this discipleship thing.” No, he says “Anyone.” There is not one set of rules for Peter and another set of rules for me. With Jesus, it’s always all or nothing.

Some people say we can be Christians without necessarily having to be disciples. I’ve heard people say that out loud. Why, then, was the last thing Jesus told us was to go into all the world and make disciples, teaching them to obey all he had commanded? Jesus didn’t add, “But, hey, if that’s too much to ask, tell them to just become Christians.”

Francis Chan used to talk about watching recruiting commercials on TV for the Marines. He was very inspired by the call to become part of the few, the proud, the Marines. But, he says, every single commercial showed people running. Everyone was always running. And Chan hated running. He says, “I didn’t bother to ask if they could modify the rules for me so I could run less and maybe do fewer pushups. That would have been pointless and stupid. Everyone knows that if you sign up for the Marines, you have to do whatever they tell you. They own you. You belong to them.”

When Jesus says, “Follow me,” it’s a radical thing. The call is to lose your life so he can save it. Throw your life away so he can give it to you. Be last so he can make you first. Suffer and serve so you can share in his eternal glory.

Peace,

Allan

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