Galen Tidd / Hoops4Him

Galen Tidd

Galen Tidd, long-time dedicated member of the Hoops4Him Leadership Team, passed away early this morning. Please keep his wife and children in your prayers during this unimaginably difficult time.

We will keep the Hoops4Him family informed as arrangements are made to celebrate Galen’s life and the work that God did in and through this wonderful man. While we are all still in shock and just beginning to process this news, we know that “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116:15

For the glory of God in all things…

Jason & the Hoops4Him Leadership Team

Stop Having a Relationship with Jesus

I just stumbled across a message that I shared with the congregation at Ardmore Moravian Church five years ago in 2008. It’s definitely weird hearing my own voice recorded, especially since I don’t really like how it sounds. So I wanted to share this message here not because I think I sound so wondeful, but because I think that what God was saying to me at that time is something I needed to hear again…and perhaps something that others might need to hear.

The heart of the message is a call to stop merely having a ‘relationship’ with Jesus (the common language of modern day so-called evangelical Christianity)…rather to truly abide in Jesus…to marvel at the person of Jesus the Anointed One and what He is actually calling us to–HIMSELF! This may sound so simple, but I think we all too easily turn Jesus’ invitation to HIMSELF into something else and in the process we are missing the very heart, the very essence of the gospel of GOD  – JESUS.

The audio link should be directly below followed by the handout from that day. It was a long service and I would certainly change how I said and did some things that day as I’ve experienced more of the heart of God since that time…and especially the past five months dealing with my sickness. But hopefully some of you will take the time to listen and be blessed and have your passion for JESUS reignited!

01 Stop Having A Relationship With

“Stop Having A Relationship With Jesus”

Quieting Our Hearts and Immersing Ourselves in the Love of God…

Deep, Deep Love                                                                    Choir

Words printed for your reflection, meditation, and/or participation.

Your deep, deep love
Washes over me
Your deep, deep love
Fills my every need
How I long to hear Your voice call out my name
It draws me to Your deep, deep love

Your deep, deep love
Cleanses all my sin
Your deep, deep love
Brings a peace within
How I long to hear Your voice call out my name
It draws me to Your deep, deep love

Lord, my heart is filled with praises
For Your goodness makes me sing
Jesus, I’m forever grateful
For Your love has done a work in me

Silence

Prayer 

Sharing the Heart of God through His Word…

“Stop Having a Relationship with Jesus”                     Jason Clubb

1.  It’s all about Jesus!

Hebrews 1:1-4 (Amplified Bible)
1IN MANY separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets,

2[But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].

3He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,

4[Taking a place and rank by which] He Himself became as much superior to angels as the glorious Name (title) which He has inherited is different from and more excellent than theirs.

Hebrews 2:1-3 (Amplified Bible)
1SINCE ALL this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away.

2For if the message given through angels [the Law spoken by them to Moses] was authentic and proved sure, and every violation and disobedience received an appropriate (just and adequate) penalty,

3How shall we escape [appropriate retribution] if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation [as is now offered to us, letting it drift past us forever]?

Luke 10:38-42 (Amplified Bible)
38Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house.

39And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching.

40But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]!

41But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;

42There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.

Open Our Eyes, Lord

Open our eyes, Lord
We want to see Jesus
To reach out and touch Him
And say that we love Him

Open our ears, Lord
And help us to listen
Open our eyes, Lord
We want to see Jesus

---

2.  Come to Me.

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message Bible)
28-30″Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

John 6:35-40, 44, 47 (Amplified Bible)
35Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time).

36But [as] I told you, although you have seen Me, still you do not believe and trust and have faith.

37All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].

38For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will and purpose but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me.

39And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I should not lose any of all that He has given Me, but that I should give new life and raise [them all] up at the last day.

40For this is My Father’s will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

44No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

47I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me] has (now possesses) eternal life.

John 5:39-40 (Amplified Bible)
39You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me!

40And still you are not willing [but refuse] to come to Me, so that you might have life.

John 17:3 (Amplified Bible)
3And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.

Jesus, You Are My Life

You are my life; Oh, precious Christ
You are to me the pearl of greatest price
My love for You will never die
Jesus, You are my life

chorus:
I come to You
I run to You
There’s no greater joy than knowing You

Oh, holy fire, Love’s purest light
Burn all desires till You’re my one delight
My love for You will never die
Jesus, You are my life

Oh, conquering King, conquer my heart
And make of me a pleasing gift to God
My love for You will never die
Jesus, You are my life

---

3.  Follow Me.

Luke 9:57-62 (ESV)
57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

John 21:18-22 (Amplified Bible)
18I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [put on your own belt or girdle] and you walked about wherever you pleased to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a girdle around you and carry you where you do not wish to go.

19He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. And after this, He said to him, Follow Me!

20But Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following–the one who also had leaned back on His breast at the supper and had said, Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?

21When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man?

22Jesus said to him, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of yours?] You follow Me!

Jesus, Be The Center

Jesus, be the center
Be my source
Be my light
Jesus

Jesus, be the center
Be my hope
Be my song
Jesus

chorus:
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus

Jesus, be my vision
Be my path
Be my guide
Jesus

---

4.  Abide in Me.

John 15:1-11 (Amplified Bible)
1I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

2Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.

3You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].

4Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

5I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

6If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.

7If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

8When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

9I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me].

10If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love.

11I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.

John 6:56-57 (Amplified Bible)
56He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him.

57Just as the living Father sent Me and I live by (through, because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me [whoever takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me] shall [in his turn] live through and because of Me.

Jesus, Draw Me Close

Jesus draw me close, closer Lord to You
Let the world around me fade away
Jesus draw me close, closer Lord to You
For I desire to worship and obey

Draw Me Close To You

Draw me close to You; Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I’m Your friend

You are my desire; No one else will do
Cause nothing else can take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the Way; Bring me back to You

chorus:
You’re all I want
You’re all I’ve ever needed
You’re all I want
Help me know You are near

---

5.  Say So!

Psalm 107:1-2 (ESV)
1Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble

Psalm 63:2-5 (ESV)
2So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
5My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips;

Talk About It                                                        Bionca Goodman & Jessica Lewis

Words printed for your reflection, meditation, and/or participation.

Tell rich and poor in slavery
The king has ordered the decree
Ransom all captivity
Ring the bells of liberty
He sacrificed His everything
To buy us new identities

So every knee could bow
And every tongue confess
That Jesus our Lord is marvelous!

chorus:
So let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Talk about it, say so, talk about it
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Talk about it, say so, talk about it

Bangladesh to Bangor, Maine
If you’re talking about His name
Give Him glory unashamed
His love is so exciting
Say it loud or quietly
Nod your head or disagree

But every knee shall bow
And every tongue confess
That Jesus our Lord is marvelous!

If you’re not ashamed
If you’re not ashamed
If you’re not ashamed

I’m not ashamed
I’m not ashamed
I’m not ashamed

Parting Declaration…

Who Can Satisfy

Who can satisfy my soul like You?|
Who on earth could comfort me
And love me like You do?
Who could ever be more faithful, true?
I will trust in You
Lord, I will trust in You, my God!

chorus:
There is a Fountain who is the King
Victorious Warrior and Lord of everything
My Rock, my Shelter, my very own
Blessed Redeemer who reigns upon the throne!

Living Water rain down Your life on me
Cleansing me, refreshing me
With life abundantly
River, full of life, I’ll go where you lead
I will trust in You
Lord, I will trust in You, my God!

Sent Out…

“Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 17:17-18

Good News!! God Ran!!

This song and the parable to which it refers is the essence of the Gospel…

It touches every level of our being…emotional, mental, physical, spiritual.

How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?

When God Ran

Almighty God, the great I am
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings
Mighty conqueror, and the only time
the only time I ever saw Him run

CHORUS:
Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran

The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
Then one night I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road ahead I could see
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run

And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise as He brought me to my knees
When God ran – I saw Him run to me

BRIDGE:
I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day

I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again

He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”, He called me Son
He said, “Son do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me and then I ran to Him
When God ran

A Wasted Life is Worse Than Dying

I just came back across this powerful audio compilation below. Renee and I first encountered it when God grabbed a hold of our hearts in 2000. That year, after several years of marriage as DINKS (dual-income, no kids), we were led to give up the comforts and familiarity of our lives and go the Dominican Republic. And not just go, but lead a group of teenagers whom we didn’t even know through a ministry called Global Expeditions. What God did in our hearts through our experiences that summer forever changed the trajectory of our lives. Upon our return from that trip, Renee and I both quit our full-time jobs. We had come to realize that the American dream we were pursuing, with a nice sprinkling of church of course, was in fact not God’s dream.

Since that summer our lives have had many twists and turns with seasons of extreme closeness to God as well as times of rebellion where we wanted to go back to Egypt (Acts 7:38; Numbers 14). This audio clip reminded me today of the brevity of life and what is really worth living for. It starts out like this…

“Every man gives his life for what he believes. And every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing and yet they give their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have. We live it and it’s gone. But to live without belief is more terrible than dying. Even more terrible than dying young.”

The Oxymoronic Gospel

The institutional church in America is in panic mode. Faced with the prospects of dwindling attendance/membership and meager giving, she is trying her best to concoct a strategy to preserve some semblance of relevance and viability and to ‘attract new members’. Ironically, she is relying upon the same type of man-centered thinking and employing some of the same marketing tactics and gimmicks that are largely responsible for where she now finds herself. Ultimately, she is more concerned about self-preservation than the heart of God. She likes her buildings. Her pastors and administrators like their salaries and their retirement plans. She likes her perceived place of moral authority. She likes her programs and all that her hands have made. And it would seem that all of these may have blinded her eyes to Jesus’ call to ‘come and die’.

The good news that Jesus brought us is shrouded in both a simplicity that even a child can understand and a depth and a mystery that defies human comprehension. This oxymoronic gospel …simple yet deep and mysterious…has at its core a call to ‘come and die’ in order that we may ‘truly live’.

Perhaps it’s time for the institutional church to die. Perhaps it has become an idol and a stumbling block for those truly seeking God. If I’m correct, then there are two obvious ways that this can happen.

The first is for the leaders and the members of these institutions to simply continue with their current trajectory that is rooted in self-preservation rather than Christ-centered self-denial. These man-centered strategies will not work and eventually church buildings will close, programs and gatherings will cease…the institution will die.

The second is for the leaders and the members of these institutions to confess (agree with the heart of God concerning our condition) and repent (turn back to God and His infinite wisdom)…to re-identify with the death of Christ (Romans 6) and to embrace our position as a people belonging to God not to ourselves (Isaiah 43:21, 1 Peter 2:9). In doing these things, the institution (as we know it) will die.

In either scenario the ‘institution’ dies. The first is an involuntary death and it will only further dirty the face of Jesus. The second is a voluntary death and I believe it will bring days of refreshing as we throw off the entanglements and weights of man-centered religious activity and embrace the oxymoronic gospel!

(NOTE: When I speak of the ‘institutional church’ I am referring to the man-made organizations/institutions who self-identify themselves as ‘Christian churches’ or ‘Christian denominations’ with a variety of structures, forms, stated beliefs, and leadership hierarchy. By ‘institutional church’ I do not mean ‘the church, the called out ones of God’. With that said, I understand that there are many called out ones in the institutional church but not everyone who is a ‘member’ of the institutional church is truly a part of the church. Likewise, there are undoubtedly people who profess faith in Jesus and who are not part of the institutional church but who are in fact part of the church. Ultimately, there is only one true church–the body of  Christ, the elect, the called out ones. With that said, I believe the sorting out is God’s business not mine–Matthew 13:24-29.)

Peace

Just take a glance at today’s news headlines and it is easy to become paralyzed with fear and anxiety…even a sense of hopelessness can envelop us. For those who truly know God this should not be, but if we’re honest oftentimes it is. We find ourselves overwhelmed by the chaos, pain and suffering that we see all over this planet…even in our own lives.

Over the past several weeks God has been awakening me more and more to my need for ‘peace’ and the reality that He has already provided it. The problem is rather simply a matter of my unbelief and my disobedience. I thank God that He is turning my heart back to Him yet again…reminding me of His loving commands to fix my eyes on Jesus, to gaze upon Him, to think on good things, to pray about everything, to seek Him first, to lay down my agenda, to rely upon,  cling to, and lean on Him, to know Him deeply, to praise Him, and to count everything as rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Him.

During this time, I came across a great article on the peace of God that I thought I would share. I hope you will read and be blessed. “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

THE PEACE OF GOD
by Archibald Alexander

There are three words, pregnant with precious and important meaning, commonly used by the apostles in their salutations and benedictions, GRACE, MERCY, and PEACE. These words include everything which man needs or can desire.

Peace is the legacy which Christ gave to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” And after his resurrection, the first time he met with his disciples when assembled together, he said, “Peace be unto you.” He gives peace not as the world gives. He is the PRINCE OF PEACE, and his gospel is the “gospel of peace.” It is called “the peace of God,” because he is its author. It is a sweet and gentle stream which flows from the fountain of life beneath his throne. Happy is he who has received this heavenly gift; it will, in the midst of external storms and troubles, preserve his mind in a tranquil state. It is independent of external circumstances. It is most exquisitely enjoyed in times of affliction and persecution. “In the world you shall have tribulation; but these things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace.” It is a fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace.” It includes reconciliation with God. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Peace of conscience is a fruit of reconciliation with God. The blood which reconciles, when sprinkled on the conscience, produces a sweet peace which can be obtained in no other way. If the atonement of Christ satisfies the law which condemned us, and we are assured that this atonement is accepted for us, conscience, which before condemned, as being the echo of the law, is now pacified.

The peace of God also includes freedom from jarring, discordant passions of the mind. The wicked, however prosperous externally, can have no true peace within. Their ambition and pride and avarice, and love of ease and carnal indulgence, can never be harmonized. One may be the master-passion, but the others will arise and create disturbance and turmoil within.

The only passion which effectually harmonizes the discordant passions of human nature, is the love of God. Wherever this is introduced, it will not only be predominant, but bring all other desires into willing subjection. The peace of God is not a mere negative blessing, consisting in exemption from the misery of discord; it is a positive enjoyment of the purest, sweetest kind. It is a foretaste of the bliss of heaven. Nothing on earth is so delightful. It is therefore said to “pass understanding.” No one could have thought man’s miserable soul could possess such enjoyment in this world. But why is so little known of the peace of God–in the experience of professing Christians? I leave everyone to answer for himself.

Beautiful Things

Thought I would share another Gungor song that I really like. It’s older I know, but it really resonates with where I am these days. God is in the business of restoration…and not just some things…but the restoration of ALL things. He makes all things beautiful in His time. I find myself more and more aware these days of my pitiful condition apart from His continual work in my heart. So I’m just thanking God and standing in awe of the fact that He is able and willing to make something beautiful out of us all. And I’m really looking forward to the restoration of ALL things…in His time. Even so…come LORD Jesus!

[verse 1:]
All this pain…
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way.
I wonder if my life could really change, at all.
All this earth…
Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come up from this ground, at all? 

[chorus:]
You make beautiful things,
You make beautiful things out of dust.
You make beautiful things,
You make beautiful things out of us.

[verse 2:]
All around,
Hope is springing up from this old ground.
Out of chaos, life is being found in You.

[chorus:] 2x 

[bridge:]
You make me new,
You are making me new.
You make me new,
You are making me new.

Oh Great God, Give Us Rest

I recently posted a few songs by Gungor from their new release Ghosts Upon The Earth. Well the David Crowder*Band also has a new, and final, release – Give Us Rest. Both of these albums are epic in how beautifully they depict the story of GOD…which is also our story. A story of tragic loss…death-defying love and redemption…restoration and eternal joy. Oh that we would embrace the HUGE-NESS and the REALITY of this incredible epic in which we all find ourselves. Instead, we tend to spend our lives consumed with lesser things, seemingly oblivious to the feast set before us. As C.S. Lewis said, “”If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Here’s one of my favorite songs from the DCB album. I hope you’ll give it a listen…and be reinvigorated by this epic story of God.

This Is Not The End

One more Gungor song from their Ghosts Upon the Earth release. I like this song because it reminds me that the best is yet to come…this is not the end. Restoration is coming…the restoration of ALL things. Let it begin in me…today. This song also reminds me of Come Awake by the David Crowder Band.

This is not the end
This is not the end of this
We will open our eyes wide, wider

This is not our last
This is not our last breath
We will open our mouths wide, wider

And you know you’ll be alright
Oh and you know you’ll be alright

This is not the end
This is not the end of us
We will shine like the stars bright, brighter

You Are The Beauty

Awesome song. Incredible musician, songwriter, and singer. Got to worship with them live in Charlotte back in November. Enjoy.

Love, love, love of mine
You have caused the sun to shine on us
Music fills our ears
Flavors kiss our lips with love divine

You are the beauty
You are the light
You are the love, love of mine

Breath and sex and sight
All things made for good in love divine