Let Love In

The Goo Goo Dolls sing a song that I really like. In part, the lyrics go like this:

You're the only one I ever believed in / The answer that could never be found / The moment you decided to let love in / Now I'm banging on the door of an angel / The end of fear is where we begin / The moment we decided to let love in / There's nothing we can do about / The things we have to do without / The only way to feel again / Is let love in / There's nothing we can do about / The things we have to live without / The only way to see again / Is let love in.

I'm pretty sure this song was not written to Jesus. But it speaks to me that way every time I hear it. 1 Corinthians 14:1 says, " Let love be your highest goal!" Could it really be that love should be our highest goal? I mean, how would that work? I thought my highest goal was to be a leader or to build a big church. Could it really be as simple as letting love be my highest goal?

Jesus said that if He be lifted up He would draw all men unto Him (John 12 :32). So why is it that pastors are lifting up programs and process? Why is it that churches are trying to be relevant to the current culture? Is there another goal that is higher than love? Has love somehow slipped in the ratings?

Love is a way of life. Love is the reason Jesus came to die for all mankind. Love is still the highest goal. 1 Corinthians 13 is not some fluffy, warm poem. It is the manual for being a real Christian (or Christ-follower if you're relevant). When are we going to obey the one command that Jesus gave us? It's found in John 13:34-35 and it's crystal clear. People will know we are disciples of Jesus by our love for one another. There is no other command!

By the way, you'll need the help of the Holy Spirit to live this life of Love. But Romans 5:5 says you have been filled up with the Love of God by the Holy Spirit. Like everything else in this Kingdom, it has to be believed to be seen. So just let love in and then give it away.

It's the only way to see again!

Merry Christmas Branch

To all the great families, students & staff of the Branch Family Church & Branch Christian Academy...

Merry Christmas!

You are a gift! Thank you for being a part of our lives.

We live to make Jesus famous by valuing what He values. The Bible says that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:2).

I believe you are that joy!

Jesus looked down through time and saw you. He gave His life for you. The greatest gift ever. At the Branch we value you and are willing to invest the time to help strengthen your walk with Jesus. The Branch is a safe place where love is at the heart of everything we do. We are all about real relationships. A place where you are accepted loved and challenged to be who God created you to be. A place to get planted, grow strong and branch out.

And to those of you who are coming in 2008... You are always welcome at the Branch!

Pastor Derek, Sarah, Caroline, Kate & Cosmo

Pull The Trigger

My Grandpa taught me how to shoot a gun, but a good friend taught me that to become a great shot you needed to be "surprised" by the shot. You should take careful aim and then squeeze the trigger gently until the gun goes off. Don't jerk or yank and anticipate the recoil. Let it surprise you.

Why am I telling you this? One reason is because that is the coolest Jesus picture I have ever seen and I had to work it into my blog. The other reason is because I got surprised in my Bible reading this morning.

Ephesians 2:14-15 NLT says, For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.

Verse 15 surprised me like a gun going off! Jesus ended the system of law with it's commandments? I've been teaching John 13:34-35 @ the Branch for several weeks now. It basically says that Jesus left us with a new commandment: Love one another - The way that I have loved you - By your love for one another all men will know you are my followers. I have been teaching this as the 11th commandment, but after reading today I see this is the ONLY commandment. Jesus did away with the other system. He gave us one simple instruction... LOVE. Obedience to the one command covers all the others. And Love is actually fulfilled in two steps found in Matthew 22:37-40.

I like being surprised by the Word. It happens when I am just reading with no other agenda like to study for a message or prove someone wrong. Try it for yourself. Sit down and read the Word and I guarantee you will stumble across something that goes off like a shot in your heart. Too many times we read the Bible thorough the filter of our experience or through some preachers opinion. Or we read to find ammo that bolsters our position.

JUST READ... You'll be surprised!

Don't You Recognize Me?

Today at the Branch I shared a true story that many wanted to read again. This story is so compelling that the last time I shared it our drummer went out and got "Do you remember me?" tattooed somewhere on his person. Read and be changed...

Tony Campolo tells a true story of a Jewish boy who suffered under the Nazis in World War II. He was living in a small Polish village when he and all the other Jews of the vicinity were rounded up by Nazi SS troops and sentenced to death. This Jewish boy joined his neighbors in digging a shallow ditch for their graves and then faced the firing squad with his parents. Sprayed with machine-gun fire, bodies fell into the ditch and the Nazis covered the crumpled bodies with dirt. But none of the bullets hit the boy, though he was splattered with the blood of his parents. When his parents fell into the ditch, he pretended to be dead and fell on top of them.

Several hours later, when darkness fell, he clawed his way out of the grave. With blood and dirt caked to his little body, he made his way to the nearest house and begged for help. Recognizing him as one of the Jewish boys marked for death, he was turned away at house after house as people feared getting into trouble with the SS troops. Then something inside this Jewish boy seemed to guide him to say something that was very strange for a Jew to say. When the next family responded to his timid knocking in the still of the night, they heard him cry, “Don’t you recognize me? I am the Jesus you say you love.” After a poignant pause, the woman who stood in the doorway swept him into her arms and kissed him. From that day on, the members of that family loved and cared for that boy as though he was one of their own.

“I am the Jesus you say you love.” Those words were more correct than you might imagine. Matthew 25:40 tells us that one day the Great King and Judge of all the earth will say to people like that kindhearted Christian lady, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.”

Listen to Matthew 25:35-40 in the Message - "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

• I was hungry and you fed me,


• I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,


• I was homeless and you gave me a room,


• I was shivering and you gave me clothes,


• I was sick and you stopped to visit,


• I was in prison and you came to me.'

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

Let's remember that we are the Jesus that most will see. Represent well!

How To Give a Gift

I'm a sucker for It's A Wonderful Life. It's arguably the best Christmas movie ever! I come across it often as I am surfing channels during the Christmas break and if I sit through a few frames I'm hooked. I love the redemption and restoration theme. I love the black & white. I love the slice of life view of post war America and the 40's dialogue. Aw heck, It's just swell!

I guess I relate to it because I was given a gift much like the one George Baily was given. A second chance. You can read about my life story here.

Getting and giving gifts is fun. The Bible is our guide on how to give. I'm talking about this tomorrow at the Branch, but wanted to share my notes with you today. Enjoy!

How to give a gift:

1. We must give freely.

Matthew 10:8 NLT - Give as freely as you have received! & Message - You have been treated generously, so live generously.

2. We must give generously.

1 Timothy 1:14 NLT - Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. Luke 6:37, 38 Message - Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.

3. We must give indiscriminately.

James 2:1, 8&9 NLT - My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

4. We must give with joy.

Acts 20:35 NLT - It is more blessed to give than to receive. & 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT - Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

As you give this Christmas and throughout the new year, remember the words of Jesus found in Matthew 25:34-40 Message - "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

• I was hungry and you fed me,
• I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
• I was homeless and you gave me a room,
• I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
• I was sick and you stopped to visit,
• I was in prison and you came to me.'

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

Merry Christmas!

Dad Can Fix It

My daughter, Caroline, thinks I can do anything! She is easily impressed with my juggling skills and looks at me in awe when I throw a football. She brings me stuff to fix and sometimes I can. Other times I go buy the same thing while she is in school. Caroline thinks her Dad is capable of heroic feats. I know some day she will see me for the human I am. Her Mom already knows!

But I am pointing her to the One that really is heroic. The One that can do anything. The Creator of stars and planets. The one who made so many species of flowers and plants that some have yet to be discovered. You know who I'm talking about! But do you realize that He is your Father? I know that some have had a horrible example of "father". Many don't even know their father. But everyone knows what a true father is supposed to be like. Everyone instinctively knows that a father is a protector and provider. That he is always there when you need him. Everyone has an ideal for what father should be. By the way, I have a great example in my father, Mark Turner. I know he loves me. But he can only do his job well if he points me to the Father of all fathers.

That's what Jesus did! He came to earth to point us to the Father.

John 14:6-7 (The Message) Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!"

We see the Father in Jesus. In fact, the Bible declares that Jesus is the express image of the Father. When God the Father wanted to show who He really was, He chose to reveal Himself in Jesus.

But Jesus is in Heaven. Who reveals the Father now? I know the Holy Spirit is in those who have received Jesus and He always points us to Jesus. But who represents Jesus to the lost world? Who can possibly represent the Father?

John 15:5-8 (The Message) "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

Are you kidding me?! I get to show who the Father really is?

Absolutely! You do too. Accept the privilege to reveal the Father today. Mature in love so you can show who the Father really is. Point to the One that can fix anything.

Goodness Leads

What are you letting lead you? Better yet, who are you following? The obvious answer is "Jesus", but what does it mean to follow His leadership?

Imagine you had a friend that followed you everywhere and was able to read your thoughts. This "friend" would berate you every time you did something wrong. He would yell at you for thinking evil thoughts and constantly ride you with criticism. How long would you want to hang with this "friend"? Personally, I would ditch him! But many Christians think that that voice in their head is the Holy Spirit. They walk around beat up and feeling dejected. They keep listening because they think they are being spiritual.

The night before Jesus was crucified He spoke a lengthy message to His disciples. You can find it in John chapters 14-17. He had been their leader for three years and now he was going away. He was going to die. But He said it was better for them that He go away because He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them and actually live in them. Four times in the KJV (John 14:16,26; John 15:26 & John 16:7 ) Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the "Comforter". Other translations use words like Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener and Standby. The Message says simply, "Friend".

I want to hang with someone who will encourage me and guide me like a great lawyer who really knows how to help me. Or like a great coach that shouts adrenaline inducing words from the sidelines. Or like a good father that puts his arm around me and tells me everything is going to be OK. That sounds like my kind of friend!

Many people think that the "ministry" of the Holy Spirit is condemning you for all your sin. But the Bible says that the the goodness of God leads you to repentance. Romans 2:4 NLT says, Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? The answer to sin is not the voice of condemnation! Finding out how good God really is and acknowledging the amazing work that Jesus did on the cross for us is way to shut that other voice up and listen to the one that will encourage you. This is all so you can start living a life free from sin and give yourself to a life of love!

Still don't believe me?

Check out 1 John 3:18 (The Message) My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

God believes in you! He sent Jesus to die for you and now His Holy Spirit lives in you. Let Goodness lead the way today!

Plain & Simple POWER

I have a new prayer request that I went public with yesterday @ the Branch. I'm asking for everything, I want it all, I need more!

Recently, after reading John 15:7 - But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! Again, in John 16:23,24 - At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

It dawned on me that I have never asked for the most important thing a pastor could ask for. I felt silly that I had never thought of it. But the time was right so I just asked for it. I also pleaded with the entire congregation to ask for it on my behalf.

Here it is:

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (New Living Translation) - When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
The Message reads: You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified. I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.

I'm through with "good information" and "nice talks". I want the power that is found in the plain preaching of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Pray for me!