NAME brand clothes... (Jesus and the little Gods #4)

God's name and his reputation go hand in hand.

When you hear a persons name, it immediately brings to mind that persons reputation if you know them. For example if I say Mother Teresa and Britney Spears, both names would bring to mind a strong impression based on the life that each lived.

In the same way God's name is deeply tied with his reputation.

The ancient Israelites thought his Name and reputation were so amazing, that instead of actually saying his name, they would say the word "Name"

NAME sounds like SHEM in Hebrew.

If an ancient Israelite was reading the bible, they would replace the different names for God with the word shem while they read along...

IT was so important to them that God's name be treated with the respect it deserved.

Today things are different.

We are no longer afraid to say God's name, and we often do not think about how we are saying it, or what it means.

It is important that we realize that this is not good.

Paul taught in Colossians 3 that:

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

As Christians we no longer live to create a name for ourselves, but to spread the reputation and name of God. We are his name bearers to the world. Almost like we are wearing a Jesus shirt... or NAME brand clothes

Here is the problem: Whatever people see us do while we are Christians, they assume that must be how God is too.

Our actions get attributed to him...

so when I sin, or lie, or steal, or am just mean... people think that God must be like that too. So be careful how you wear the name!

Has your life helped people to better understand who Jesus is?

are you more in love with the blessings or the BLESSER?

My friend Nick posted this on his blog. And I wanted to share because it really made me pause and think...

What do you think about it?

Half: Full or Empty? Of What!??

Half full or Half Empty really is the wrong question...

The right question is this... partially full or what?

If it is part full of Garbage... then it is bad... it doesn't matter if the glass is half full or half empty... what matters is that half of the glass has garbage in it...

In the same way, if the glass has poison in it... partially full or empty is not nearly as important as the substance present in the glass.

No on the other hand, if it is the right thing however... then the amount does matter.

If I am dying of thirst and there is some clean water in the glass... I want it to be fully full. Even half full would be better than nothing.

In the same way, our lives often get a bunch of stuff dumped in them... some good... some bad...

What is amazing is the Jesus wants to fill us up completely... not half full... or half empty... he wants to make us Fully Full. Plus he wants to fill us fully full with him. HIS LOVE, and Power, and Grace, and Acceptance.... GOD WANTS TO FILL US FULLY FULL with the best "stuff" in the entire universe.... himself!

Jesus desire is that the very infinite completeness that is in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, would be in us.

In Jesus all the fullness of Deity Dwells... in in Jesus we can have this fullness too if we let God fill us up so much that all the garbage gets washed out.

The Evolution of Brandon Brown? (and so what?)

I think that we often do not think enough about the universe... and particularly how incredible it is.

People often say that they believe in evolution because the science of it is incontrovertible. ... I am not sure what they mean by this.

According to science anything that cannot be proven by observation and extensive experimentation, is not a scientific absolute... it is merely a possibility.

We call these scientifically plausible possibilities Theories...

I am just not sure what it means to "believe" in a theory... That sounds sorta like faith to me. I mean if it was a proven fact, it would not be a theory and then no faith would be necessary...

SO... when I hear people talking about believing in the THEORY of evolution I am often confused... but I already said that....

What confuses me even more is when they say, usually trying to sound very intelligent, that they do not believe in God because they believe in evolution... and they are far to scientifically minded to believe in an unprovable myth such as God...

They further argue... that a bunch of philosophers or theologians created God because they are trying to explain all the things in the universe that they cannot understand... so because these religious people are too "weak" to deal with the reality of a Cold Evolving universe... they have chosen to believe in a Creator God instead...

SO now my head is spinning... When the scientists guess what must have happened an indeterminable number of millions of years ago and then baptize this unproven non-scientifically verifiable theory as the only logical choice for an educated person... that just sounds life faith to me...

it sounds like religion...

They must want to believe its true because are too "weak" to deal with the reality of a universe that they cannot understand scientifically because it is simply to large for science alone to grasp.

Maybe they make fun of everybody else because they are trying to convince themselves they are right.

I think that God created the universe. That is my FAITH assumption or Theory. I have been testing this my whole life... and the series of experiments that are my life keep verifying that my theory is right.

I cannot prove this with science... but science has never, disproven it... because it can't. Personally I think evolution would actually make me believe in God even more.

Who else but God would be able to create such an intricate system of planets and stars and life but God.

Who else would be smart enough to set a course of action in place that would take millions of years to reach its fulfillment.

The theory of evolution demands an Intellectual God capable of keeping track of the advancement of all things.


Maybe God Spoke and the there was a big Bang as he created all things....

that sounds almost like what the Bible says...

Colossians 1:16 For in [Jesus Christ] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,... all things have been created through him and for him.

So here is my thought... if you are going to set the course of your life on religious faith: GOD or Evolution... why not choose the one who made everything.... after all...

Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,

What are idols?

Everyone worships something. In the Ancient days people used to make idols out of wood and stone and metal. They would select a tree and then cut it into pieces. From the pieces they would burn some to heat their house and make their food, and then use the rest to carve into an idol. Isaiah was a prophet of God who lived around this time. God sent him to tell people to stop making idols. He said,

Isaiah 44:16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
"Ah! I am warm; I see the fire."
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
"Save me! You are my god!"

Isaiah though this was so stupid, and so did God.

19 No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
"Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a [idol] from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"

Because the ancients wanted to be able to control their gods and make the gods do things for them, they made their gods small enough to carry around with them. They wanted to be able to manipulate their gods and make them do the things the people wanted.

Today, we do this as well in a few ways.

One way that we make idols is by creating celebrities that we can worship. You might not call it worship, but what else can it be. People lined up for hours just to see them. Girls and Boys obsessing over them and trying to be just like them. Screaming for them in ways that we would never think to scream for the real God (through maybe we should!). We worship them because they are so glamorous and cool, and we hope that by worshipping them we can maybe touch it in some way. God in Heaven feel to far away, so we created celebrities that are a little lower than the angels, and almost within reach. The problem though is that they are often famous for all the wrong reasons and have nothing truly important to say.

Another way we create idols is by the way we treat God. We grab ahold of a few verse about him, or a few ideas about him and then think we can control him to get what we want. We make him smaller than he really is so we can get a handle on him and control him. We want to make him perform for us in such a way that our lives are blessed in all the ways we want them to be.
So we call our god Jesus, or Father... but sometimes we really are worshipping a glorified reflection of Santa Clause who grants our wishes if we are "not naughty, but nice."

Jesus so much more famous than our little celebrities, and so much bigger than our little Fat bearded Santa-God. Jesus sits above the circle of the earth and knows everything, sees everything, and loves everyone. In the midst of all of this idol worship, Jesus is often seen as a forgotten relic of a dead religion. Though he is and always will be God, we see him as small, powerless, and plastic. We treat him as a good luck charm at best, and imaginary more often. But even in the midst of the lessor gods, Jesus remains both real and awesome. This universe exists for him and was created by him.

So you choose: Who will you worship? A god you made... or the GOD who made everything?

Cool Video about Life in on our little planet.

Check it out!

The Problem with Being "Mostly Dead"

A lot of Christians are mostly dead.

This is a really big problem because in order to be full in Jesus they have to die the rest of the way first. The old life has to go so they can start their new life... So if they don’t want to die, then they are going to need help, and it is not going to be pretty!


In Jesus all the fullness of Diety dwells in Bodily form, and in Jesus we are given all of this fullness. While those around us try to fill themselves up with everything that the world offers, for the Christ follower we are given ultimate fullness from God himself. This is not a quick fix, or easy, but it is true. When Jesus died, he took our sins with him, and in exchange he offers us his God-ness. It is a rags to riches story for which the world has never seen and equal.


But... to have this fullness we have to die to our old way of life. We cannot add Jesus to whatever we were already doing. To gain Christ, the old dies and we are reborn in a renewed image of him... It cost me everything that I have, in exchange for everything that he is.


Some have tried to have both, but they end up not being satisfied with either. It is a lot like falling on a barbwire fence with one leg on each side... it hurts no matter who you are...

But for the foolish few who choose Jesus, the world will never look the same again. They are now awake to something bigger than themselves, and Christ himself works powerfully within them to remake them into the people they were always supposed to be....

C4: Why Follow Jesus?

If following Jesus is hard to do, and can cause me to miss out on some of the fun that life has to offer then why do it? Why Follow Jesus?

2 main reasons

1. Because, according to the Bible, he is the only way to God the Father. If you want to have a relationship with God and have your sin taken care of then you must follow Jesus. Now, don't get me wrong... I think there is nothing better than following Jesus... truly. But regardless of my thoughts on the matter, I need to follow him...


2. Following Jesus is crazy awesome...and scary all at the same time. When I follow Jesus and truly let him have my life... it can be scary because I am not sure what he will do with it.

In my case... God called me to be a pastor when I was around 15 years old. At the time, I felt like he was ruining my life. I would be poor and single forever was my fear. The truth is that God has made me so rich because I trusted his path for my life. Not rich in money (Although I am not poor either), but rich in friendship and experience.

If I had not followed him, I would have missed out on Elmbrook and all of the students there that I love so much.

I would not have met and married Emily... and I would not be having a Baby with her...

I might have had a few more moments of fun here and there... but would I really trade my life now... and all of its blessings for anything else? I never would.

Choosing to Follow God... even though it is hard at times... was the best decision I could have ever made.

C4: Why would Paul choose to suffer so much?

Colossians 1:24 tells us why Paul chose so much suffering... Paul suffered for those who did not yet know Christ. In his own words he said:

~Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Saul's dramatic conversion to Jesus, and his acceptance of the suffering of following Jesus changed the world.

With great personal cost, he spread the truth about Jesus to the far reaches of the Roman world. While Jesus suffering on the cross made a way for all to be restored in their relationship with God, Paul's suffering ensured that everyone heard about the amazing God who loved his creation so much that he suffered for them.

When we consider Paul's willingness to give it all for the sake of those who have not heard about the awesome love of God, it motivates us to also be active in sharing out faith with others.

Colossians: Saul's story

Once there was a man named Saul who murdered those who followed Jesus. Saul went from village to village looking for Jesus followers, and when he found them, he dragged them out of their houses and arranged to have them stoned. Once when a famous Christian missionary was being stoned, Saul, held the robes of those who threw the stones that killed him. Saul hated the followers of Jesus and did everything that he could to stop them.

While he was traveling looking for Christians to imprison or kill, he decided to head to Damascus.

(Acts 9) 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"

 "Yes, Lord," he answered.
11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

From this point on, Saul became known as Paul. Paul had caused many to suffer for their belief in Jesus, but none as much as he was to endure. God charged Paul with taking the Gospel to the furthest reaches of the world. Paul did this very successfully, but at great personal price. Later in Paul’s life, after he had done what God required of him, he wrote about his suffering to a church that he had cared for deeply. He wrote:

(2nd Corinthians 11:) “Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. … Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own people, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”

Saul's dramatic conversion to Jesus, and his acceptance of the suffering of following Jesus changed the world. With great personal cost, he spread the truth about Jesus to the far reaches of the Roman world. While Jesus suffering on the cross made a way for all to be restored in their relationship with God, Paul's suffering ensured that everyone heard about the amazing God who loved his creation so much that he suffered for them.