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So this book that I have been reading really has been rocking my world. I am not completely finished with it, but thus far Francis Chan’s “Crazy Love” has challenged me to put to action what it is I say I believe. Far to often in my walk with Christ I find myself trying to perform or make myself better so that in some sense I can be justified before God. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know that it is not what I do that merits my salvation, it is only by faith that I am saved. But for some reason I still find myself at times feeling like I need to do this or that because it is what I am suppose to do. For example, I may go a couple of days without picking up my Bible, maybe even without acknowledging God exists. I may not go to church on the proper day, or maybe I haven’t been to church at all the whole past month. For some reason there tends to be this guilty strand that starts to creep in my head that tells me I need to do better at these things. I mean as a Christian this is the bare essentials. Right? It is so sad to think that this is my state of mind so often. I boil down my relationship with God to something that I do rather than something I am.
Maybe that last statement wasn’t so clear, so let me try and explain. I have been married for almost 6 years now. One thing that I have come to notice is that marriage changes who I am. I am a changed man. In fact the Bible tells me that I am joined with my wife and that we are one flesh. My desires have changed. No longer do I desire to only meet my needs and do only what pleases me, but rather I am constantly looking to find ways to please my wife and meet her needs. My focus has changed. My wife has in a sense stolen my focus… taken it off of me and put it on her. Do I find this as taxing or tiring? No, of course not. This is what happens when you are in love.
As many of you know, I am away from my family quite a bit these days. My wife and I communicate primarily by phone when I am away. What if I were to just not call her for an entire trip. What would that communicate to my wife? Or what if I called her because it was what I had to do? “Hey honey… just calling because I have to. Everything ok?” Wow… I could only imagine how my wife would feel. Unloved to say the least. Instead what if I couldn’t wait to talk to her. In fact I called her so much ours ears began to hurt from the phone. At times we would be on the phone not even saying anything, but we just want to be with each other so we don’t hang up. This is a picture of what I think our relationship with Christ should be like.
The love that I have for Christ is what should propel me to act. When I don’t spend time with Him it should hurt and feel like something is missing. I should desire to be with Him, because I know that in Him is the fullness of joy. No longer should this life be about me, but rather about Him. He should consume my thoughts. If my life is spent loving Him then everything else should follow naturally. In fact, it should change me to a point that I end up doing crazy things like loving other people as he has loved me. My thoughts should be so fixed on the day that I finally see Him, that the things of this world should fade away. I’d be giving my time, money, and resources away as if they were not mine to begin with. It’s crazy I know, but people who are in love do crazy things.
I know this may not be a mind blowing concept, to actually live like we are in love with Christ, but it really has been changing the way I think and act recently. Just thought I would share… I am sure I will have more to talk about as I continue to read. Until then, farewell.
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I loved this post! Thank you for making everything so clear.
Thank you Jason, I really appreciate you sharing! This makes so much sense. I just think it’s sad that we all tend to fall away because of blindness. I know a few people that have been trying to please their partner in the relationship the way that they should be with God. We all make these mistakes not with just relationships, but worries, the enemy’s lies, and distractions. This leads me to understanding, then praying. Then again, thanks for posting your blog. It has brought understanding to me and i will try to apply this to my life daily. Thanks for everything! God bless!
First off, let me say, I LOVE your music! The lyrics are incredible! I love your song “You Are More”. We do a discipleship program at our county jail each week and that IS the message we try to get across to them…They ARE more than their past mistakes….we ALL are! We HAVE BEEN remade, when we are in Him!
I have never seen you in concert, but the 1st time I saw a video of you I had to do a double take. Jason, you look soooo much like my son physically AND the way you play! He too is an incredible drummer and plays worship music all the time. If you ever need time with the family…he could “stand in the gap” for you musically! :-)
May God Bless you all as you “go into all the world, and spread His word”!
totally know how that feels
i went on two mission trips and both times i was so stressed i didnt have time for fellowship with the lord like i’m used to just group devotions and we moved out on the field.
everytime i started getting sick and by the fourth day i thought i’d lose it.
something was wrong with me and i didnt know what is was. until i took time out for fellowship i realized that’s what it was.
the second trip i went on and that happened i just cried and cried…
so yea the relationship makes u do stuff, but we dont do it because we have to, besides that just suck.
Jason,
One of my youth group leaders brought Crazy Love to a youth group gathering one evening.She explained how it had helped her during a difficult time she was having and how it changed her perspective on God.The next day I bought the bookand now I’m almost finished with it. It’s chaged my life too. Thanks for sharing.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Ruth
Amazingness!! To me, that WAS mindblowing! It was totally marvelously, majestically, and magnificently what I needed to hear! For me that’s sometimes how I feel, like time with God is a duty, a right. Like praying is a duty. Now that you’re a Christian, hear are the guidelines, the rules you have to follow. Pray, read your Bible, go to church, tithe. When those simple things, those are privileges. Those are things we should want to do. Things we want to do for God to bring honor and glory to Him. This past year I have struggled with my relationship with God, but things I read here are definitely letting me understand, I am able to more easily comprehend, the motives of God, The why in the things He does. Thanks to you, the influences in my life, my friends who are Christian and help me in my relationship with Him, my family, my school that I am so blessed to go to I continue growing in the Lord, in Christ. Thanks a ton and billion after that! You guys totally rock with amazingness!! I hope I can go to your concert! WOW! That message was just so totally cool beans!!
-Marisa
Hey Jason—
I read that book, and it’s SO right. It’s a long story, but to give you the jist of it:
I have a youth leader that used the words “crazy love” to describe the incredibleness (if that is even a word) of God’s love. To put it aptly, in your guys’s words: God’s love is over, it’s underneath, it’s inside, and in between. And that’s just what God’s love is—completely and totally uncontrollable, unstoppable, and untamable=CRAZY. When you get to the point where you get out of your own way and let yourself see how much God really loves you….well, it’s hard to not lose your mind. You should keep this book near and read it over again from time to time—it never gets old. Rock on, Jason!
Wow, I think that this journal entry is the answer to my recent prayers…I MUST check out this book. Thanks, Jason!
In Christ,
Erin
!! :)
dude! you just voiced everything that ive been thinking about lately!
i WANT a love for God that pushes me t be in his word everyday, to have those quiet times of communication, and i do feel guilty as well not so much because i dont, but because it doesnt tax me emotionally no to.
the fact that i havent gone to church for a bit makes me feel bad because i know that i chould, and wish that i would want to so much more..
its SO GREAT to know that i am not the only one who struggles with this and that this isnt just a problem that im having because im in high school..
your a real man of God, Jason and a sort of personal role model.. thanks for posting what you do..
a brother in Christ, Simon
Pastor Chan is awesome. I attended his church for about 8 years, until we moved to N. CA. I have not read his book Crazy Love yet. I heard it is really good. My daughter (12 y/o) likes your music and so do I (old mom) Ha Ha. Keep up the good work.
I really just wanted to say thank you. Thank you guys for being a blessing guys.. you’ll never know what you’ve done in my life. Your music has been a blessing to me. Continue to seek God and bring Him Glory! Love ya Brothers in the Lord. :)
Wow. so crazy how God brings people together! Im reading Crazy Love too. My dad/pastor recommended it and I was hesitant to because im not really the kind of person to sit down and just read. But this book is amazing , its revealed so many truths in my life and has brought me so much closer to God. shown me how abundant God’s love is for all of us. I would recommend this book for anyone. Especially young girls. Dont look for love in men girls, look for love in God. He’ll never hurt you and he’s the only man capable of holding your sacred heart. Tenth av.- I love your music. its been a blessing. Keep spreading the love. Thanks for reaching out into the souls of people through your music. Its drawn me closer to God.
Thank you
Sounds like a great book! I loved the way that you compared your relationship with your wife with Christ’s relationship. Never looked at it that way before! Puts everything into a new perspective! I too fall short of who I need to be for Christ all the time! I am going to remember what you wrote and treat my relationship with Christ as a Love relationship! (like it was suppose to be all along) Hopefully now I can stay consistant with time in His Word and in my prayer life! Because when it is all said and done….only which is done for Christ matters…everything else will fade away!
Wow!!! thats so true! woot and amen to you! I always find myself just “going through the motions”, you know…i guess i need to read my Bible and pray because i have to. When it truly boils down to my relationship with Jesus, i guess he would feel that way…unloved…it would be just like me saying to my family…i love you because i have to. I can imagine how Jesus feels when i do that. its not that i necessarily mean to do that…i just get caught up in every day life…and i lose sight of his love…and my passion for him. I hate it, but again….when it truly boils down to it….i love Jesus…and i want to draw closer to him, i want more of his love…his comapanionship…hes the best friend, savior one could ever have, andi could never be the same without him. Thank you for writing what was on your heart. you really opened my eyes to something that i hadnt really ever paid much attention to.
like i said….i always get into this…routine….and thats not what our faith is built around….its built around being founded on Jesus, His word…and our time in prayer with him. if were always just praying or reading because we have to…were not really growing in Christ…were just going through the motions. Thank you again for writing what was on your heart. it really helped me! God bless you!
Jason, thanks for sharing what the Lord has been showing you through Chan’s book. I have been reminded of the same things lately. I work at my church now and I find myself trying to “play the part” and “serve out of duty” thinking that God is impressed by my acts of service. But what’s my heart condition? Selfish most times. Only by His grace can we cultivate love for Him and other people and live out that CRAZY love for our spouse and others. God bless and again….CONGRATS ON THE DOVE!! wow, so proud of you guys.
I love how God used your marriage to teach you about loving Him.
I’d love to take to you offline about a project I am working on. You can view my website and contact me at this e-mail.
Dear Jason,
My # is 856-678-5226 E-mail tvfinlaw@comcat.net. It would be wonderfull for you and your band to play for us. You can also sell your CD
10/% of your sales would go to Stoncroft . Please Let us know when you could do this for us and your local fans. I am the financial Coordinator.
Tims mother was chair and now is the Prayer Coordintor. We would LOVE to have you, Just for 20-30 min. Veronica Finlaw tvfinlaw@comcast.net
Hello Jason.
We are local people.My husband is Tim Finlaw, sister Dawn and Beth Finlaw Main Street Alloway. Your father Pat put the addition onto Beths home on Alloway lake. Any way the reason I would lLove you guys to play at our Gardent State Christan Womens Connection It will be in our area around August 13th 2009.
This would be such a special time
wow, thats awsome..and so true….i know that sometimes its hard to keep that relationship with the Father the way we know it should be….and its time like that that, having done all to stand…stand…...it means that when we feel stuck, and we have done all that we know how to do, we need to keep to it until God shows us something new…and He always will…just like He spoke through this book (which i’m gonna have to read now!)........thanks for sharing, it was a blessing to read that. God bless
Thats awesome..I just picked up crazy this week..thats cool..you are reading also..I cant wait to finish reading and see what can do through it..Congrats on Dove awards..You guys are great examples of Christ..
LG
Quote from a book - not exactly a Christian book so i’m not mentioning a name ... but the quote is pertinent.
“The words “make” and “stay” become inappropriate. My love for you has no strings attached. I love you for free.”
Just as your wife would not want to “make” you call her or “stay” at home, neither would the Lord. They both know that they are in your heart, and yes, both love you unconditionally - or “for free”.
So it’s all good - your body is a temple. You can worship there at any time - don’t always need to be at church or on your knees. And you don’t have to stay on the same track all the time, I mean honestly if you’re on the road, it’s just not possible. If the Lord is in your heart, which I know He is, then you’re with Him all the time, no matter where you are. We should love Him for free, because He’s already doing that for us.
Not mind blowing, but it’s still insightful :o) I can relate to what you shared..feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt when I don’t read or forget to pray..or whatever. Funny enough, it was the posts I’ve read from members of the band that first made me aware of it. I look forward to seeing that changed. Good analogy too
AMEN to this!!! :)
hey jason, this is brianna grout from spearfish south dakota at mountain view baptist church. we went to the chophouse for lunch with u and the rest of the band after the church service together. (i’m the drummer)
ive had some things that have been bothering me but lots of things have been good too since we saw you. i had my jazz band contest and played the song that i had a solo in and that went good but while the judge was talking to us he looked right at me and said, “and sometimes as drummers we need to stop showing off and just play the melody.” that kind of made me upset but once i laughed about it i got over it. now we are getting ready to perform at a teachers banquet and then at all of the schools. in regular band we are getting ready for large band contest. i dont know how that is going to go though:( thats not whats making me upset though. u know my brother sam the little boy that called you bob and you called him jim. well he hasnt been doing so good lately. this has been going on since at least october. he has had days where he is just his normal self and then days come along where he just feels awful and exhausted. he went in a couple times to see a doctor but both times they just said that it was viral. then a few months later he went in and the tests came back as positive for the disease lupus. im so scared for him. he is going to billings montana in a week to do some blood tests and see a specialist on lupus to see if its major or minor. we are praying day and night for the tests to come back as minor. its really made everything different now. i just hope he gets better. i love him so much!!! i dont want to see him have to go through life that way. please just pray for him and our family. your friend brianna:)
Wow…that is just freaking awesome! Thank you for sharing that!
I just finished reading that book, and it was absolutely AMAZING.
Hello,
My husband and I went to the Hope Foundation concert at Belcourt Theatre. You guys were so great! My husband and I went out and bought your cd right afterwards. We are now avid fans of yours. Just wanted to say that first. Every song on that cd is so good. We are like ” why aren’t all these on the radio?” The words hold so much meaning. Second, We have also read Crazy Love and it was really awesome. It will totally change the way you look at the christian life. May God Bless you all, best wishes for the dove awards! We voted for ya.
I just picked up the book today and read the first two chapters. I was really struck by how he writes that it should be easy to love a God so wonderful. I sometimes feel like I love out of obligation, instead of with a true and genuine love. I agree that we need to constantly remind ourself of who He is and how we already have everything we need in Him. Our life is just a short movie as Francis Chan writes about. What will I use it for? Our life is too short to live it without remembering that He is everything. Such a great book so far. I’m glad I came across your journal to find out about the book! I appreciate your insights. Take care :)
I have read the book. It is amazing but so hard to practice in today’s world. I’m trying and so should all who believe that Christ is who we should love “amazingly”
Thanks! That was good for me to read! :) It made me think of the song ‘desire’ by Phil Wickham.. Isn’t that kinda what you were talking about? I think you’re totally right and thanks for sharing it! :)
I boil down my relationship with God to something that I do rather than something I am….
It gets like that way too often, doesn’t it? And, thats how it usually starts for Christians… Ok, I guess I’ll read my Bible and pray, cause that’s just what Christians do, right? So easy to view it this way instead of making Christ what He’s supposed to be.. Who we are.. Not just who we study..
Thanks for the insight! God bless
Wow I really have to read this book! :)
Every time I inhale I can feel my lover breathing back into me, saying “just a little while longer, endure faithful one and we shall delight in each other for eternity” I speak with Him, and he understands my desires, but still he encourages me “just a little while longer then you will be in my arms” That thought alone ushers in a pure flow of peace so deep and vast I lose myself in it. My body sways in complete pleasure caught in the flow of his love, the river of life. His eyes are perfect and loving with a tear like a perfect jewel shed for me! He wants me and can barely wait till my arrival! Each moment away is agonizing, the sum of all sufferings. Your words is the origin of peace. Perfectly made, as they reach my ears my entire body shimmers with delight! Your face is so perfect! The expression on your face is nothing but pure love! Your laugh resounds in Your perfectly made halls. and there I lay in your basket of love! That is my dwelling place, to be caressed by the gentlest touches! Stroked all over adding to the perfect peace. As your arms wrap around me and I go down with you, submersed in your love! Completely drowned, our bodies meld and become one, every part is designed to produce the sweetest pleasure when my lover draws near. You picked me up off the floor, clothed me in your garments of glory! You place on me the crown of life, a perfect fit, it was made perfectly, that it might bring pleasure to me. Your heart,Lover, throbs, to produce the perfect lullaby as I am completely lost in your love forever. Your breath excites every cell in my body, I become lost. Time has no bearing, worries and trials are unheard of, all is put behind. The world has fallen on both sides and only me and my lover remain for all eternity to be lost in perfect unfailing love, Every single part of creation….everything was designed for this very moment in which me and my lover lay as one, in perfect love for each other. Harmonized by a chorus of angels, the music is alive, each note is full of perfect peace. We run into the clearing together as one and play the best of games, we roll in the perfect grass…with sparse and perfect trees crafted by the careful hands. there are no cares only me and my lover. His eyes drill me, and a fragrance is let lose that suffocating and smothers me in love. Everything is real and pure. Glory and light is everywhere bringing the fullest light to whatever its rays are on. All images sense sounds taste touches are combined into a perfect flow! This is my home my place in heaven where my lover is patiently waiting for me to carry out His business. So that I might bring others into His circle of love and share in the same delights forever.
This is not fit to be called the first letter of the first page of the never ending book that can only be experienced in the heavenly realm in which God dwells.
“A Son of man”
dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Revelation 1:13-16)
I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. (Daniel 10:5-6)
“How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.”
Psalm 36:7
“Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.”
Psalm 48:9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FqoY8yxI7s&feature=related
Yes yes and yes! we are children of God developing into pure a Bride so we need to start acting like it.
Put my mind at ease, rid me of these earthly worries!
Wrap me in your wings Lord!
Surround me with your intoxicating presence, fill me with your love!
Let me see your face!
Your eyes burn with fire and passion!
and your hair is as white and pure as snow,
Your breath gives life to my being,
Your words are like the rushing of a waterfall,
I collapse at your feet in adoration!
My heart leaps when I hear the voice of my creator!
No man can begin to comprehend your love and passion for me, but I acknowledge it!
Jesus died for me, how could I do anything less in return?
When I sin, I see a perfect tear fall from your eye,
A priceless jewel shed for me!
How can I stop it! Why am I put in this horrid situation!
God please don’t let another tear fall, I can’t handle it!
Let this raging war pass, I just want to be with you in paradise!
Danger and death, wars and conflict rage on either side of me!
But I keep my eyes on you!
Your Spirit takes me by your hand and guides me amongst ruin.
I can feel you longing to be with me!
Your love for me I am hardly able to contain!
At times I shake from your amazing strength!
Other times the peace that surpasses all understanding washes over me!
And still yet your resounding joy is magnified!
your arms conform perfectly to my body as you lay me in your basket of love.
What more can I ask for, then your perfect embrace?
Designed just for me, to satisfy my every desire!
Never is there a touch that can surpass the intimacy shown through God.
Heaven is the sum of all good and perfect things multiplied by infinity in which each day is better then the last.
The Prince of Peace is there awaiting my arrival.
I belong in his arms. I long to be caressed by your tingling gentle touch.
I want him to smile as he holds me!
I cry in anguish because I am not there yet.
I am a promised bride eagerly awaiting my wedding day!
Each day brings me one step closer to you!
I want to please you in everything I do!
I want you to be satisfied with me.
Drown me in your blood and purify me!
I surrender to you Lord!
Send your spirit to spur me on until meeting day!
As a deer pants for a stream so my soul longs for you!
All creation cries out in love for you!
Lord, I can’t contain your love anymore! Help me to be BOLD!
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11)
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1John 4:12)