Having Trouble Understanding Easter?

Watch this and I think you’ll get it.

A powerful film parable.

Why I’m a Christian…

I woke up at 3:30 this morning feeling the need to post a message to facebook telling why I’m a Christian. I decided to share it here too.

I’m not a Christian because I’m unaware of my own depravity.
I’m a Christian because I’m totally aware of my own depravity.
I’m not a preacher so I can tell people they’re going to hell.
I’m a preacher because Jesus pulled me out of my own private hell.
I don’t talk about sin so I can make you feel like a sinner.
I talk about sin because it’s the one thing we all have in common, it’s killing us and I’ve found someone who can help us with that.
When I was at my worst, God gave me His best. It’s what Easter is all about.
I love God because He first loved me.
Because I love Him, I try to follow Him and often fail miserably.
For my failures, I am terribly sorry, because they make Him look bad, but I refuse to give up trying when I fail because I know He still loves me. He is good even when we’re not.
I found an answer and I want to share it. Following Jesus is the best decision I have ever made. He loves you right now, right where you are and He laid down His life to take you someplace better and rose again proving it’s true.
He’ll be there when you need Him. He loves you.

Happy Easter.

God With Us

My friend Fred Keener sent me this link. It tells a great story, the story of Jesus from incarnation to resurrection. It is really inspirational (and will probably get me to do an art video soon.) It’s a great meditation for this Easter season. Check it out.

IllustrationFriday.com Challenge: Return

Well, maybe it’s just too close to Easter but when I saw the word return, I kind of got a one track mind. Jesus is going to return and set things right. He’s going to come and fix the mess we’re in. He’s going to redeem creation and return this world to what it was intended to be… Perfect. In the mean time, the best thing any of us can do is return to Him. It won’t give you a perfect life but it will give you a purpose. To love your neighbor, share the Gospel and prepare for His return. He loves you and He’s preparing a place for you. Easter reminds us of His love. How He died on the cross to free us from our sins and rose again to redeem us for ever.

He shall return!

AMOKArts.com Message of the Week: The Hero Falls…

AMOKArts.com Worship Painting Jesus Christ Crucified "Father Forgive Them"

The Palm Sunday/Good Friday Message looking at Jesus as the hero of the greatest story ever told and exploring how we can live heroically. Follow Jesus into living a better story.

Sacrifice

Sacrifice

As we pass the Easter holiday, hopefully our minds are still, at least to some degree, on the sacrifice our Lord made for us. It got me thinking of the sacrifices we make every day. For me one of the great sacrifices is time. Time is the great equalizer, rich or poor all of us have 24 hours in a day with which to do what we do. In my case this blog takes time, my job takes time, my family takes time, my art takes time, my ministry takes time and self maintenance and health takes time. It’s all a sacrifice.

In the midst of all the busyness, everything we do requires sacrifice and so it’s important we are careful. I found myself gaining weight over the last few months. The reason for that is simple, I’m trying to get a book finished and develop a speaking ministry. The problem is if I lose my health, I won’t be effective in the ministry to which God has called me and if that happens, what good is all the work I’ve done?

Be careful what you sacrifice and make sure it’s worth it. Also make sure what you’re sacrificing to. We can push ourselves too hard to do things God never called us to do. Ultimately if we’re not sacrificing to God, our priorities are not in the right place.

Bible Reading Guide
An important part of following God is knowing what He wants and a great way to know what He wants is to read His Word. Follow this plan and you will finish reading the Bible in a year.
Joshua 15; Mark 11; Psalm 26
You can also download your own chart here.

AMOKArts Art Church presents: WDJD?/WWJD 17: Resurrection

In this message, our Easter message, we’ll look at the resurrection of Christ and what it means to you. Happy Easter from Dave Weiss, New Creation Fellowship and AMOKArts.

Jesus is Risen

Bible Reading Guide
An important part of following God is knowing what He wants and a great way to know what He wants is to read His Word. Follow this plan and you will finish reading the Bible in a year.
Joshua 13; Mark 9; Psalm 117
You can also download your own chart here.

The Creative Process: The Easter Video

I decided to do a video sharing the creative process and how my ideas come most of the time in hopes that my subscribers and viewers will seek the Lord for what He is putting in them. Watch the video below to see the end result.

Knowing God’s Will Part 3 Good Friday

As I put this message together it is good Friday and I think that is very fitting. Remember what Jesus said in that most famous of all verses, John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. That is ultimately God’s will, that we come to Him through Jesus and receive eternal life. 2 Peter 3:9 says it this way, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Another translation says It is God’s will that none should perish. So as we look at God’s will for our projects and our ministries and our very lives, it becomes less about our projects and more about how everything we do and everything we are represents Christ.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven. To live out God’s will for our lives is ultimately about how we represent Him in every aspect of our lives. In every action, we need to ask ourselves does this represent Jesus well or will it make God’s work in this world harder. If it’s God’s will that none should perish then those of us who love Jesus must be about helping others to love Him too.

And finally 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Why do we do all this? Because we are grateful for what Jesus has done for us to save us. We’re not earning our salvation. We could never do that. We are living out our lives to say thank you to God for the free gift that cost Jesus everything. May God bless you as you seek to know and do His will.