michaelcriner.com | a non-emergent College Pastor

I was interviewed by the Baylor Lariat [VIDEO]

michaelcriner — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:46:43 +0000

The other day I was interviewed by the Baylor Lariat which is the camp newspaper. It’s one of the top Collegiate Newspapers in the nation… in other words – it’s legit. They’re venturing into a new multimedia aspect so this is one of their ventures.

I was asked a series of questions in regards to how can students connect to local church. I was shocked and humbled to be invited by them for the brief interview (it took literally 7 minutes). They somehow made sense of my rambling. You can read editions online along with see other features. But below is the video.

A church to call home from Baylor Lariat on Vimeo.

Sunday Morning Reflections 8.29.2010

michaelcriner — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:01:51 +0000

This week was simply another greet morning in our ministry and at our church. More and more, Abigail and I are thankful to be in a church that empowers us and allows us to serve… it really is a joy. Here are some of my reflections from our time together this morning:

-We sang “Chosen Generation” to kick things off… and it is so powerful to think about the impact this group will make and is making.
-All things are secondary to a saving relationship in Jesus… yet when we understand this priority, the secondary things become redeemed.
-Did you see the art this Sunday??? Awesome.
-We are justified… I need to hear that over and over…
-We are being sanctified… God isn’t done with us yet!!
-Sin is like a sneeze… I’ll just leave it to that.
-Being ‘elect’ is not a four letter word, it’s a five letter word! And it’s a wonderful description of us.
-When I’m sinned against, in my response, I’ll sin! Is this true for you? It sure is for me!!
-Satan will us the ‘Roman Road’ to accuse us, he’ll just leave out the rest of the verse…
-It’s God who justifies. Hello again!
-Religious people always think they can earn and even prove their justification to God. This is big… You can never be more justified before God than you are RIGHT NOW.
-What Christ is doing in you is still incomplete (sanctification). But what Jesus Christ has done for you there is not a single tiny crack that the satanic arrows can penetrate (justification).
-Do you like us singing more at the end of the talk? I tell you, I’m loving it!
-My sin o the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
I’ve been thinking about this the entire afternoon. God’s grace has been strong in me with that verse of ‘It is Well’.
-We had a HUGE crowd AGAIN this week!! BUT, we still have more room! Bring a friend!
-Our leadership and volunteers are amazing. I mean that. They work so hard and do such a great job. I’m so humbled that they’re part of what God is doing at FWCM.

If you want to see what God did during our time together, head over to skippingchurch.com and you can see!!

My Tribute to John Owen [1616 – 24 August 1683]

michaelcriner — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:34:06 +0000

One of the things that I find myself enjoying from time to time is reading from dead men. It’s how, in my opinion, men (and women) who have passed on to the next life can still speak. Upon graduating from Seminary, I gave myself a gift. This was the one thing that I wanted and something I was setting out to accomplish in my lifetime: A.) Purchase the works of John Owen. B.) Read these Works.

I was first introduced to John Owen in my class on the Trinity. I was required to read Communion with God, and may I just say – almost every line has been marked in that little book. From there, I was introduced to The Mortification of Sin. Every Christian should read this book. No, really – stop reading this blog and go read that book. It will be good for your soul.

John Owen was a Puritan – which really doesn’t mean much to you or I these days. Essentially, these men were “passionately concerned with God and godliness… Puritanism was essentially a movement for church reform, pastoral renewal and evangelism, and spiritual revival. . . ” (A Quest for Godliness , JI Packer) That’s the kind of man I would want to read. In pouring over his works, over and over I see Jesus being exalted and framing all of his life and work. Here are some quotes that point this out:

“A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more.”

“Many poor creatures are aware of their needs, but do not know where to find the remedy. Indeed, whether it be life or light, power of joy, all is wrapped up in Christ.” (Communion with God, pg 50).

“Our communion with God lies in his giving himself to us and our giving ourselves and all that he requires to him. This is communion with God flows from that union which is in Christ Jesus.” (Communion with God, pg 3).

“The vigour, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh.” (The Mortification of Sins, chapter 1).

“What the Holy Spirit means to show us is that the word of Christ is sweet, fragrant and precious to believers. Believers see Christ to be excellent, desirable and beautiful in his commands, promises, exhortations and even in the most bitter warning.” (Communion with God, pg 74).

All this being said, I have much respect for the dead man. In 1644, John married Mary Rooke and they had eleven children, ten whom died as babies. Their only daughter to survived adulthood died of tuberculosis. I hope you find time in your day and life to read at lest a little something from this great man.

As a side note, I have not completed the works, but I’m making my way through them.

Worst Cover to a Guns N’ Roses Song: Sweet Child of Mine

michaelcriner — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:55:47 +0000

If you’re able to watch this entire video, you’re a champ. This may cause your ears to bleed.

(via)

Sunday Morning Reflections 8.22.2010

michaelcriner — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:33:01 +0000

Below are some of my reflections from our first college hour this Sunday. Let me just say… it was so great. I have big hopes for this year!!!

-If you missed the 9AM worship service, it was one of Pastor Toby’s best sermons ever! But that is for another day… On to College Hour.
-We started by singing ‘Chainbreaker’ – there were two words that stood out to me in that song “heart Savior”; I didn’t want to move too quickly from those two words because it runs to our deepest need & our deepest hope we have for students.
-There’s just something powerful and excited seeing new students along with old faces – it was like a big reunion – good times.
-BY FAR one of the BEST first Sunday’s we’ve ever had.
-Greg’s leadership along with the band was POWERFUL!
-We love the gospel. At the same time, we want to be people who are loving the gospel well…
-We ran out of donuts. (10 dozen folks… T-E-N)
-Since Satan is the father of lies, we’ve got to know his lies – BUT MORE important is to know BIBLICAL TRUTH so that you might dispel such lies.
-Satan can attack us but he can never ultimately destroy true Christian faith, because we are preserved by God’s grace.
-Satan ultimately seeks to destroy our enjoyment of the grace of God.
-God seeks to restore our enjoyment of Him.
-Paul tells us to put up the shield of faith to fend off the “fiery arrows” of the enemy – you know what that means? Put up the shield!
-I quoted John Owen today but didn’t give him credit… so here is me giving him credit: “there is a difference between the knowledge of the truth and the knowledge of the POWER of the truth.”
-We do not base God’s love for us on our circumstances; rather His PROVISION.
-The only way you can really feel the security of God’s love is by beginning to understand the inner meaning of the death of Jesus on the cross.
-Our God!! AWESOME song, right!?
-Absolutely LOVE hearing students sing “we are Yours!”
-LIE: God is not for you. – TRUTH: If God is for us, who can be against us!?
-How can you know that God is for me?
-Rom. 5:6-8 – “For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
-Rom. 6:7-8 – “For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”
-Rom. 7:24-25 – “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
-Rom. 8:31-32 – “What then shall we say of these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
-Thank You Jesus for the cross!
-We prayed that we’d have a fire code violation because of how many students were at church… we came close!! We had more students come to College Hour today than ever before (every student matters, but shouting the number to the world is a little pretentious, IMO).

As a final note, a BIG thanks to all of our volunteers. We had a lot of people jump in and just help without being asked. SO – THANK YOU!! YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!! Also, thanks to all those who prayed for us and have been praying for us… we can feel it!!

It was a great day, and I’m ecstatic as to what God has in store for us this semester! If you weren’t able to join us, check out www.fwcm.org to check out what took place. God has been very kind to us today… we plead that it would continue!

Open Email To FWCM Leadership

michaelcriner — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:44:01 +0000

Here is a letter I sent to our leadership earlier this week:

Open Letter To FWCM Leadership

Hey Gang -

I’ve been working on this email the past couple of days – trying to figure out what to say and how to say it. It’s slowly been hitting me that THIS WEEK we (Abigail, Adele and Ebenezer) begin our fifth year of being at First Woodway. C-R-A-Z-Y.

I won’t tell you that it “seems like yesterday” because it doesn’t… it seems like forever ago that we loaded up all that we had and moved into (what is now) the Best Value American Inn across from the campus. And now, we’re here.

In thinking through all of this, I thought of three things:

1. Get Excited. The semester is upon us. It’s here. We cannot move back time, and only once in the Bible did God suspend the sun (Joshua 10:13). So, get excited. I sense it in me, but I also feel a level of excitement in you as well. Even in talking to many of you, some of you had like the “most-awesomest-coolest-God-wowing-movements-of-your-life” summers.

I don’t doubt that. I say this because I stalk you on Facebook or you’ve called to tell me these things over the phone. I honestly can’t want to hear all that God did IN and THROUGH you this summer.

If you don’t mind though, can I lob this out there for you to ponder and pray about?

What if this semester was even better?! THERE – I said it! What if this semester was even better than your summer?! What if this next year signaled in your heart and in your life a spiritual marker; a high-point you never forget; a moment in time that God captures your heart and affections for the rest of your life!?

Now THAT is something to get exited about.

Can I lob something else out there?

It can happen. In SO MANY WAYS I believe that it WILL happen. As a gentle reminder, COLLEGE HOUR 10:!5am THIS SUNDAY… get excited. Let’s embrace this movement of God together!

2. Get Prepared. I’m always of the opinion and thought that you and I should work really really hard at what we do and leave all the results up to God. Trust me… we’re working hard on our end. We’re doing our best to have all of our “ducks” in a row and working to make this the most prepared we’ve ever been… but having a website, videos, brochures, t-shirts (which are AWESOME), etc. our new series (skippingchurch.com) planned and ready really isn’t all that important to me.

There is something bigger at stake this year than just having things prepared physically… we need to be prepared spiritually.

Before the semester ended, I read to you a quote:

“Great men and women of God are great because they enjoy exceptional intimacy with their God.” – Dave Kraft

I read you this quote because honestly, this will be the most important thing for us this upcoming year. The state of our intimacy with the Lord will be primary for us. Since failure many times is unavoidable throughout the year, the one thing we don’t want to fail on is in our intimacy individually and corporately with the Lord.

So I’m pleading with you (and for myself) that we press in this year. If we fail in our intimacy with the Lord, we will fail in all the other areas of ministry. Our intimacy with Him must be at the forefront in our hearts and minds. I don’t want us to miss one moment this year that might bring honor and glory to Jesus. I don’t want us to miss one moment with each other – but more importantly, I don’t want to miss one moment with Jesus.

So – get prepared – we’ll talk more about this at Leadership Retreat (Aug. 27-28) – but take some time to begin to pray through these thing this week… and ask God to do mighty things.

3. Get Here. Here’s the facts… we need you here. We’ve already had (I believe) quite a bit of people visiting on Sunday mornings and I can’t help but be thankful for God bringing these students by… but we need you here. We need you to be praying over our room at 8AM on Sunday mornings. We need you to be praying over our students during our corporate singing. We need your prayers. We need your passion. We need your servant hearts. We need you as worshipers of Jesus.

We also need you to do everything you can to bring everyone and anyone you know to be part of what we really believe God is doing in our midst.

I mean, what would happen if because of a H-U-G-E movement from the Holy Spirit, 2, 3, 10, 50(!!) people who did not know Jesus, come to know Him the first Sunday!? What if that many wanted to become baptized! What if that didn’t happen on the first Sunday, but took place of the course of the semester? How incredible would that be to walk through that together? What would happen if because our hearts were so AWARE of the presence of the Lord, we had to stop doing what we were doing because His presence was so thick? (2 Chronicles 5).

What would happen if you and I stopped pretending we have it all together and be honest with our God and ourselves that TODAY we need the gospel… that it isn’t for those who don’t know Jesus only, but for those who DO know Him as well.

What would happen if we didn’t stay within our little circle of friends but were eager to bring others into an encounter with our Lord and God.

What would happen if we each invited just 5 people we did not know – and they came… we’d be setting off fire code violations. It could happen. Let’s get a fine this year for having too many people hunkered in to hear the Gospel and then respond to it!

I’m praying for these things. I’m hoping for these things. I believe these things. But not for our own glory or sake… but for His.

There will be many challenges this year – but I’m thankful for your service to our ministry. I’m thankful that you’re dedicating yourselves to our ministry and more importantly to Jesus.

Please join me in expecting great things from God this year.

Come quickly… come running!!

I love you… and can’t wait to worship with you.

Love&Live the Gospel,

criner

Everybody has a relationship with Jesus.

michaelcriner — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:40:55 +0000

In our evangelical circles, we put a lot of weight behind and put a lot of emphasis on having a ‘personal relationship with Jesus’. In fact, we’ve been taught that this personal relationship is what differentiates us (Evangelicals) from religion (fill in any other faith-practice apart from Evangelicalism). I get it, and to the extend that it is implied, I agree with it.

But…

after some thought, I’ve come to this conclusion: everybody has a relationship with Jesus.

Think about it. In some way, shape, or form, we’re in relation to Jesus. I mean, even the devil has a relationship with Jesus… only his relationship is one that is at odds with Jesus. All of us are in relation to Jesus, but not all of us are united to Jesus. This to me is simply a matter of distinction and probably another way I’m becoming hung up on words, but it’s an important distinction. Why is it important? Well, if you aren’t united with Christ, then you’re against Christ.

So how does someone become united to Jesus? (thanks for asking)

Faith. Faith in Jesus. Faith that what he has done on the cross satisfies the wrath that was to be poured out on you. Faith that the cross is the extreme and extravagant love of God onto people. Faith that Jesus was who he said he was, and did what he set out to do. This is how we may become united to Jesus and not simply related to Jesus.

So, having a personal relationship with Jesus does not save us unless it’s a saving relationship… do you have faith in Him – faith that He was who He said He was? Faith that He is and will do what He set out to do? May His grace continue to draw you in if you struggle like I do at times with my faith. And may you live your life in awe and worship of Him.

While I don’t think ultimate frisbee is a sport, this video is nice

michaelcriner — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:43:51 +0000

(via)

Kitties Singing Joy-Joy-Joy

michaelcriner — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:33:39 +0000

If you love cats, you’ll enjoy this little diddy. This is on a whole other level of creepy.

Accordion music and a plea to not smoke marijuana

michaelcriner — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:17:15 +0000

I love the end: “when you get 85 yrs old you get out of breath!”

The next governor of Tennessee: Basil Marceaux

michaelcriner — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:35:13 +0000

I do not endorse this person, nor personally know this person. I just couldn’t believe the TV station would put him in front of a camera. I actually don’t know how to respond to the video…

I want to ride this Hot Air Balloon

michaelcriner — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:17:14 +0000

How to properly display Scripture on your car

michaelcriner — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:17:12 +0000

Have you ever wanted to put Scripture on your car? Now you can!

Do you have a favorite verse in the Bible? Do you want to display it all over your car? Now you can… just click on the picture and find out how you can be a witness all over your car. Sadly, the Bible only comes in KJV… BTW – my favorite line on the whole site is this: “You could change someone’s life… at a traffic light!”

A really bad video about reading the Bible

michaelcriner — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:17:14 +0000

Here’s a little video that includes graffiti, bad football form, breaking radios, and a lot of the B-I-B-L-E. This video comes from a show called “Cherub’s Wings” and the song is entitled “Super-Duper Heaven’s Troopers” – yikes.

Running the aisles at Church

michaelcriner — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:15:24 +0000

Things to look for:
0:30 – Man sprinting from stage
0:37 – Man follows his lead
0:41 – Man jumps over pews
0:55 – Man in blue shirt goes a little too far into the baptistry
1:09 – Man tosses jacket onto worship singer

All in all, it seems the bunch has an exciting time in their worship service. If you’re interested in “running the aisles” (a Pentecostal or Holiness tradition) then head over to Wikipedia.

This guy would never preach, sing, or dance at our church

michaelcriner — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:29:56 +0000

*DISCLAIMER – I do not endorse or condone the language or theology (lack of actually) of this man. Honestly, I think he’s on something, but it isn’t the Holy Spirit.

As a note, at about 1:27 you get a glimpse of Tupac’s “Can’t C Me” along with some nice dance moves. We won’t invite him this Sunday to our church. Also… I think next time I preach, I’m going to hold a cane.

(via)

A letter to my daughter

michaelcriner — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:51:16 +0000

Dear Adele,

You turned 4 months old yesterday – it seems like yesterday I held you in my arms for the first time and all you did was cry, and then proceed to poop all over me. It’s true what they say about parenthood; it is the most stressful blessing ever.

Each day I’m reminded of God’s generosity towards us. From our struggle to conceive (although very small compared to others), to our fear of raising a girl, to our joy in our lives now lived with you. You’ve adjusted well to our lives… and I would say that we’ve adjusted too.

I love you sweet cheeks. I never want you to doubt that. But I need you to know two additional things: 1) I love your mother very much. I will always love her more than I love you and will try my hardest to demonstrate my love for her in unique ways that will probably embarrass you… 2) I love our God more. I need you to know this. I need you to see this in how we live our lives. You may never come to faith – and that has been something that has haunted me every moment I open my Bible; every time I pray; every time we pray with you before (or sometimes as) you sleep. This being said, you will be given every opportunity to see the glory of God displayed in our family. You may not want anything to do with faith or Jesus or his gospel – but I’ve committed to reveal and live the gospel message out in front of you. My prayer is that you’ll never be able to say that you never saw the gospel of grace displayed before you.

I want our lives to be bent towards the gospel… maybe even walk with a limp like Jacob did after wrestling with God. I want you to know what matters most to us – but not to assume that we’re always going to be doing that. Sometimes the things that matter most to us aren’t what they should be. Sometimes they’re pagan. Sometimes they’re self-seeking. Sometimes they’re self-exalting… and when you see that, I’m praying that by God’s grace they are exposed for what they are; sin. I’m praying that we will be open and honest about our failures with you and quickly change course so that you might again see the gospel of grace lived out.

Adele – maybe that’s what I’m praying against: hypocrisy. This is so plaguing us as followers of Jesus. I’m praying that as a family, we are so intimate with the Father, that the Holy Spirit will quickly draw to our attention our callousness. May we be a family that as often as possible we make most of Jesus, his cross, and a life lived for him.

So, today, on your four month birthday (man I feel like a Jr. High relationship counting how many months we’ve been together…) I’m praying for you, for us. I’m praying that we would not be like our fathers, “a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God” (Ps. 78:8). And I’m praying that you will one day embrace the most sacred, glorious fact I’ve ever know: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ is coming again – and this Christ loves me, loves your mother, and loves you too. This love compels us to live differently, and my hope is that you live that way too.

Your daddy

Several shirts you will not see me wear on July 4th

michaelcriner — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:36:27 +0000

Abigail and I will be with my parents for the 4th of July holiday. The conversation came up as to what we as a family will wear on the actual day we celebrate our independence as a nation. Just so you all know, we will not be wearing any of these shirts:

Everybody likes helicopters in movies because they do one thing

michaelcriner — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:33:40 +0000

For all you iPhone lovers out there

michaelcriner — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 12:16:18 +0000

(via, via)