Archive for March, 2010

This Just In… Family Devotions are Not the Answer.

// March 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Faith@Home

Maybe we’ve been telling people the wrong answer to success at home all along.  Wouldn’t it be just like Americans to over-categorize our answer to the most pressing problem in our culture?

Deuteronomy 6 is an oft-quoted verse by many pro-family speakers – including myself.  However, I must admit that we all might have taken some of these words a bit off the path of their original destination.

Verses six through nine of this dynamic chapter challenge the families of Israel as to how the wonderful book of the law should be used: “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”(NKJV)  In other words, the Word of God should be taught at all times!

Now, here’s where most of us take a bit of a wrong turn.  I can almost hear myself tell a group of families, “Now, don’t you see?  God is making it clear that we should have a specific time of family devotions every day in our homes!  If it’s that important, shouldn’t we set aside a time every day to spend as a family in the Word?”  While the PROMISE of that statement will always be very positive for any family, the PREMISE of it is not the content of those key verses of Scripture.

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The Three Walls that Separate the Church

// March 22nd, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Church, Faith@Home

For the past five years, our church h has been connecting church life and home life using a process we call Faith Breakthroughs.  A Faith Breakthrough is a turning point when a person intentionally moves beyond spiritual barriers to the blessings God has promised.  There is no doubt that our walks with God were never intended to take place in one building on Sundays; yet a large proportion of American Christians find themselves stuck in their faith when it comes to real-life transformation.

The process of a Faith Breakthrough begins with identifying specific “walls” that are holding back the believer.  These walls are barriers of unbelief that keep us from living the life God intended.  Walls are not circumstances, as the Scripture makes it clear that Christ Followers overcame all sorts of circumstances.  Instead, walls of unbelief take the shape of bad attitudes, unhealthy choices, and rebellious acts – all of which hold us back from the abundant life for which we were made.  We’ve seen walls of resentment, of doubt, of anger, of greed, and many more.

We have also seen God tear those walls down, and He always uses the same weapon.  Walls are built by unbelief, and walls are destroyed through a process of believing God’s promises!

Not only do walls hold back people, there is evidence in Scripture that walls can hold back churches as well.  Laodicea faced a wall of pride.  Pergamum faced a wall of compromise.
They are not alone: most congregations have dealt with the reality of unbelief – and the barriers it causes.  These walls keep them trapped inside their internal programs and agendas – distracted by unimportant things that matter little in eternity.  These walls also isolate individual congregations from the Church as a Whole – the Body of Christ in Austin and beyond.

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Ryan Rush Show on The Prosperity Gospel

// March 16th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Faith@Home, Ryan Rush Radio

Talking today on the radio show about the dangers – and difficulties – of the prosperity gospel.  John MacArthur has an interesting, if not polarizing, article on crosswalk.com: http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/11626683/.  Amazing how many people have called in with scars from being disappointed from false teaching.

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Ryan Rush Show 3/12/2010

// March 12th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Ryan Rush Radio

I don’t get to talk sports all the time, but every now and then, sports intersects with life, and it becomes show-worthy!  Today is such a day.  Houston Yates High School is ranked number one in the country, and they play tomorrow here in Austin for their second consecutive state 4A boys basketball championship.  Unfortunately, they have done so at the expense of good sportsmanship.  Read Rick Reilly’s ESPN commentary for the details:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4977305

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to have a lively discussion about Bullying in schools, Austin Police Chief Acevedo, and lots of legal questions for Terry Belt.  Thanks to all who called in!

Radio Show on Wednesday, March 10

// March 10th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

We had an interesting conversation today about what people should wear to church.  But it wasn’t what you think – we weren’t rehashing ties versus no ties, or sandles versus dress shoes.  We are speaking about modesty in the church.  Here’s an interesting video clip: http://www.wvec.com/news/local/INSIDE-A-NAKED-CHURCH-85062392.html about a nudist church in Virginia.

Great comments from our listeners!  The bottom line – this is not about legalism, but honoring God and not becoming a distraction to others.