Brian Dolleman's Blog

Open my eyes to see the wonderful things in your Word. —Psalm 119.18

I rejoice at your Word as one who finds great treasure. —Psalm 119.162

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. —Psalm 119.105

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. —Matthew 4.4

The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. —John 6.63

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. —Romans 10.17

You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you. —John 15.3

You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God. —1 Peter 1.23

You like it. You want it. You need some more of it.

There’s more where that came from—lots more.

God’s Word will encourage, build, and strengthen your faith every day.

So dig in… and keep going back for more.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heart through the Word about Christ.” —Romans 10.17 (NIV)

Make it known that you were there…

Leave some residue, make a mark, and leave a stain.

The goal isn’t to keep it in perfect condition—the goal is to dig in, excavate, and extract something from it!

A perfectly clean Bible is an unused Bible.

Think about your luggage.

The only luggage in perfect condition is luggage that’s never been used—never been anywhere.

If you’ve gone anywhere with your luggage, it quickly gets tagged, labeled, scuffed, marked, stained, worn, and torn.

How about your Bible…

Are you going somewhere with your Bible?

Leave a stain. Highlight. Underline. Write notes. Make marks.

Let some tears drop in there once in a while.

Some crumbs will probably fall in there too.

I really like the wide-margin Bibles and the note taker versions because they give you lots of room for notations.

Get yourself a great Bible and some colorful pens or highlighters.

Dig in and leave a stain!

PS—

I use my own invented “code” to notate key verses when I’m studying the Bible… it’s my way of leaving a stain so that I can find my way back to those verses easily. For example, I draw a heart by verses that talk about the heart. I also draw a star by verses I want to memorize. Here are a few others that I use:

S—salvation
R—relationships
M—mouth/words
W—wisdom
B—Bible/Word of God
U—understanding
G—giving/generous
GR—grace
CH—church
PR—prayer
PU—purity
LV—love
BL—blessing(s)
HS—Holy Spirit
TH—thoughts
TE—teachable
FG—forgiveness
FR—freedom
RT—righteousness
TR—trials
WO—worship
$—money
P—provision
K—knowledge
O—obedience
F—faith
A—attitude
E—encouragement
D—discipline
J—joy
L—leadership

This works for me. The letters/symbols that I use might not make sense for you… but I’m sharing it with you to inspire you to invent your own.

It was written with you in mind.

It is FOR you and TO you.

It has your name all over it.

The Bible has one central message: God loves you.

The Bible is God’s love letter to humanity.

If we could know God—his love and his plan for our lives apart from Scripture, he wouldn’t have bothered giving it to us… but he did.

God is not hiding from you. He’s all about revealing himself to you (1 Corinthians 2.10).

If you want to get to know God, get to know his Word.

You don’t need a PhD, doctorate, Bachelor’s Degree or even a high school diploma to read and understand God’s Word. Honest!

Jesus spoke in common, everyday language. He used real-life examples to illustrate his teaching.

The Bible was written to be read and understood.

If the language in your Bible is confusing or too difficult to understand—get an easier translation. I suggest the New Living Translation (NLT).

God’s Word is living and powerful. It is truth and life. It is our source of instruction, direction and purpose.

The Bible is more than a book you bring with you to church like a textbook in school and it’s more than a decoration for your coffee table…

It is God’s Word to YOU!

The Word of God is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4.12).

Growing spiritually means growing in the Word (Romans 10.17).

How to dig in to the Word:

• Get a Bible!

• Set an appointment (make time) with God and keep it.

• Have a plan (and use it) so that you’re not all over the place and you actually get somewhere in reading through the Bible. Here’s the Fairwood Church reading plan: http://www.fwchurch.com/resources/brp.php

• Get the Fairwood Church app. Through the app, you can access the Bible reading plan and read it on your phone. Here’s the link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fairwood-church/id437044966?mt=8

• Get the YouVersion Bible app. It gives you access to tons of translations and other great resources. Oh yeah, it’s free. Here’s the link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bible/id282935706?mt=8

• Start in the New Testament. Don’t even worry about the Old Testament until you understand the New Testament.

• Dig in deeper. Go beyond just reading—use the SOAP journaling method: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.

• Got a verse that significantly impacts your life? Write it down on a note card and memorize it.

I make you this promise: if you read God’s Word, he will speak to you and you will grow.

Remember: it was written with you in mind. It is FOR you and TO you. It has your name all over it…

So dig in!

My daughter just started the 5th grade.

Apparently, this means she has to choose either band or choir.

Serious? Those are the options? What about breakdancing? Or beatboxing?

I really pushed for choir. It seemed like the lesser of two evils.

I was nervous that she might continue in band through high school…

Anyway, she chose band. She wants to play the clarinet.

My house will soon be filled with the terrible sound of a grade-school child learning to play a horn.

And I know there’s gonna be a band concert at her school that I will be attending. I’ll send you an invitation too.

The truth is, I’m going to be proud of my daughter playing her clarinet.

It will be a beautiful sound—squeaks and everything.

For the past few days, I’ve also been thinking about the story of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus.

Her expression of worship was criticized by Judas and the other disciples…

But Jesus silenced them and defended her.

“Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me.” (Matthew 26.10 CEV)

The disciples thought what she did was ugly, tasteless, and unnecessary.

Jesus disagreed, saying: “no, that was beautiful.”

When we worship Him—it’s a beautiful thing, squeaks and all.

Don’t become a band critic, a clarinet critic, a music critic, or a worship critic.

Be a worshiper—because to Jesus, it’s always a beautiful thing.

It happened at a dinner party.

Mary & Martha were there. Lazarus was there. The disciples were there…

And Jesus was there.

Mary knelt at Jesus’ feet—she broke open an expensive jar of aromatic oils and anointed Him.

She honored and lifted Jesus up. It was an expression of worship…

And it really annoyed Judas. He complained. He criticized.

You know who agreed with Judas?

The other disciples.

“The disciples were indignant when they saw this. ‘What a waste!’ they said.” (Matthew 26.8 NLT)

Jesus knew what was going on in the room.

He was aware of their complaint and said, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?” (Matthew 26.10 NLT)

Here’s an important point:

When there’s worship going on, jump on board and lift Jesus up.

Don’t agree with Judas and get all critical.

Notice what Jesus said: “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?”

Worship is about Jesus, not you.

Worship is about what’s good for Jesus, not what’s good for you.

Now, worship IS good for you… but it’s not ABOUT you.

It’s about Jesus.

Don’t like the smell? Doesn’t matter. It’s about Jesus.

Don’t like the sound? Doesn’t matter. It’s about Jesus.

Don’t like the worship leader? Doesn’t matter. It’s about Jesus.

When there’s worship going on, jump on board and lift Jesus up.

Don’t agree with Judas! Instead, honor Jesus. Lift Him up and worship.

When Mary dumped expensive perfume all over Jesus’ feet, Judas popped a cork.

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

He fumed, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” (John 12.4 MSG)

He didn’t think it was appropriate—this isn’t how things are supposed to be done.

He critiqued Mary. He complained about her expression of worship.

He said it was wrong.

Here’s the deal…

What you complain about says more about you than it does about the thing you’re complaining about.

Later in John chapter 12, we discover that Judas wasn’t concerned about the poor.

That was just a smokescreen.

His real issue? Judas was the treasurer, and he was a thief.

His complaint wasn’t about the expression of worship or who was being overlooked.

He was mad about what he wasn’t getting.

Of course Judas couldn’t say what he really meant.

Most people don’t say what they really mean when they’re complaining.

We couldn’t ever say: “Gimme what I want. I’m the most important person in the room. Gimme—right now or I will make life miserable for you.”

When complaining, we usually make the issue about someone else.

We say things like, “This isn’t real worship. This isn’t how things are supposed to be done.”

We say, “It’s too loud, too quiet, too bright, too dark, too wordy, too simple, too new, too old…”

Maybe what we really mean is: “Gimme what I want. I’m the most important person in the room. Gimme—right now or I will make life miserable for you.”

Let’s be like Mary—focused on selflessly lifting Jesus up, and not like Judas—selfishly tearing people and things down.

We live in a land of excess and we have more than enough.

We shop at Costco. Hello!

Much of what we have will go unused.

Whenever I throw a dinner party, I always prepare too much food—and you know what that means… leftovers.

It seems like leftovers inevitably get tossed.

In our culture, there’s a lot of waste.

Reading John chapter 12, we see Jesus and his disciples attending a dinner party.

It was at Lazarus’ house (the guy Jesus raised from the dead).

Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, were there.

Martha prepared a big spread of enchiladas, chips, fresh salsa, and guacamole (I imagine).

And then… Mary comes in the room with a jar of expensive perfume—aromatic oils.

She knelt down at Jesus’ feet and poured out the oil, then wiped it up with her hair.

The fragrance filled the house.

One of the disciples, Judas, got all up in arms about this act of extravagance.

He said the oil was wasted.

“Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” (John 12.4 MSG)

The Bible explains that Judas didn’t actually care about the poor. He was the treasurer—in charge of the funds, and he embezzled them. He was a thief. His angry response was fueled by greed, not generosity.

Jesus responded to Judas’ outburst by saying, “Let her alone. She’s anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You will always have the poor with you. You don’t always have me.” (John 12.7, 8 MSG)

According to Jesus, the expensive aromatic oil wasn’t wasted.

Mary’s act of extravagance was about worshiping Jesus.

It was all about “anticipating and honoring…”

And it wasn’t wasted.

When you worship—when you anticipate and honor Him, it’s never a waste.

You might be the only one doing it.

It might cost you something…

But it’s not a waste.

So, go for it—really dig in.

Anticipate and honor Him.

Be an extravagant worshiper of Jesus.

Sure, we can attempt to “go it” alone—but why would we?

We’re better together.

Jesus came and he built a team…

Since that time, the plan no longer calls for lone prophets or independent contractors.

Scripture calls the church a body, a family—and both of these images require “togetherness.” (1 Corinthians 12.12 & Ephesians 1.12)

We’re better together… and things aren’t right when we’re not together.

I love the story about the net-breaking, boat-sinking catch of fish in Scripture.

Jesus gets in Peter’s boat and tells him to “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

Peter complains, “We worked hard all night and didn’t catch a thing—but if you say so, I’ll put the nets out again.”

Here’s where the story gets good.

“It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.” (Luke 5.4-7 MSG)

Summary: Huge haul of fish. Nets strained past capacity. Partners waved in to help. Barely made it in with 2 boats.

Good thing they had partners, huh? Think about it.

If they barely made it with their partners help and 2 boats, it’s obvious they wouldn’t have made it alone.

We’re better together; better with partners, friends, homies—a group we are part of.

Sometimes in life, we feel like our “nets are strained past capacity.”

This is a good reminder: we need partners.

We really are better together.

PRACTICAL TIP: Look over the LifeGroup catalog (available Sunday) and sign up for a group this week.

I wonder when the disciples really started growing and learning…

Was it when they heard a powerful sermon, where Jesus just “tore it up”?

Was it after Jesus told them to read a few great books and listen to some incredible podcasts?

Or maybe Jesus only invited them to follow him after they graduated from Bible College—all educated, trained-up, and ready to go.

Hmmmm. Maybe not.

I’m sure they grew and learned while listening to sermons. I know reading helped too.

Classrooms and books and sermons and podcasts are all great. Really.

But they’re not enough.

Much of their growth came while spending time with Him on hikes, at weddings, on boat trips, and at dinner parties…

Hanging out.

Eating and drinking together.

Running errands.

Traveling.

Laughing.

Talking.

Jesus’ invitation wasn’t “Listen to me” or “Download my video podcasts” or “Tune in to see me on TBN tonight.”

He invited them to follow him…

And they followed.

They went places together. They shared experiences, adventures, and meals together.

Jesus modeled something for us:

Discipleship doesn’t happen in isolation.

Growth doesn’t just happen in the classroom or auditorium.

We grow when we go places together—when we share experiences, adventures and meals together.

We need each other—and we’re better together.

“The believers met together… They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.” (Acts 2.46, 47 NCV)