Whatever the case may be, the statement is still true. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what you have done, and where you are going. The simple truth is that Jesus loves YOU.

For those that are “saved,” meaning they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, this statement rings especially true. The biggest reason is that we have experienced that love firsthand. We are sinners that have been redeemed by His love for us!

The downside to that is that sometimes we can begin to place ourselves above those around us that have not yet experienced that love for themselves. Many well-meaning Christians find it easier to judge and criticize from the safe corner of the church building instead of going out and actually loving the world.

The simple truth that Jesus Loves You also applies to people that don’t belong to Christ. Their life choices have not led them to a place of belief in Jesus, but He still loves them. Maybe they’re Buddhist. Maybe they’re gay. Maybe they read horoscopes and mix potions to cast spells. The truth is, Jesus loves every one of them. In fact, He loves them just AS MUCH as He loves us. Who are we to think that we are somehow above them simply because we have found Christ (or Christ has found us)? The bottom line is that we are all sinners. And Jesus died for every sinner, me included.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Romans 5.8 (NLT)

When we look at people that are different than us in belief, behavior, appearance, speech, etc., we typically want to judge for not being like Christ. Or for not being “Christian” or even conservative. But we have to begin to realize that they are in a different plight, and that Jesus loves them just as much as He loves us.

Unless they’re in proximity to the message of hope, they’ll never understand the liberating power of that message.”
- Jason Harper, Outreach Pastor, Capital Christian Center, Sacramento, Ca.

This single question has been ringing in my head and spirit for a while. What does loving THEM actually look like? There’s a Christian cliche that I can’t tell you how many times I have heard. It goes like this: Love the sinner, hate the sin. More often than not, that is easier said than done. More than that, most Christians say that without really thinking through what that really means. What does loving them but hating the sin really look like? Is that really the approach of Jesus? I don’t know. The Jesus that I read about in the Bible seems closer to loving the sinner, looking past the sin. Once the love and open arms were given, then opportunity came for sin to be forgiven by the Savior. In fact, Jesus had more tolerance for the sin of the sinner than the judgment of the religious. So maybe we have missed that one too. But I don’t know. That’s just me.

It’s essential to show people they can belong in our world, your world, even if they don’t act, think, behave, or believe like you!
- Craig Gross

I want Adrenaline Student Culture to be a place where we preach and model a Jesus in such a way that everyone belonged! Regardless of upbringing, lifestyle, nationality, political stance, religious views. sexual orientation, Jesus loves. And so should we.

Real religion, the kind that passes muster (meets the requirements) before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
James 1.27 (MSG)

Jesus loves THEM just as much as he loves ME. What is it going to take for ME to show THEM that Jesus loves THEM?

Pastor Tony

*Jesus Loves You logo and quotes taken from Jesus Loves You This I Know by Craig Gross and Jason Harper

Our church recently started small groups for our growing number of adults, and we have been talking about the vision of our particular church, which is Loving, Reaching, Growing. The first two weeks were on loving. Loving God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and translating that into real-life. It was an awesome two weeks.

Today is the third week and the start of the second area, Reaching. I came from a very evangelistic church, so “reaching” is sort of in my blood. But recently, that task has slowly become secondary, and not a primary function of who I am as a follower of Christ.

This morning, Pastor Scott showed a video that I sent him called Jesus Loves the Outcast. In the video, Jason Harper, outreach pastor at Capital Christian Center discusses his relationship with a man he calls “Gay Joe.” Through his friendship with “Gay Joe,” he has broken down many of the stereotypes that Joe had/has of Christians because of his sexual orientation. I love the video, because it truly displays the heart of Christ. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That rings true in the video, and it rings true for all mankind.

I loved the video because of it’s about something that is very real, loving homosexuals. I also hate it because it makes me ask what kind of outcasts am I loving? Who am I reaching? I mean, I am a pastor, it should come even easier! But the truth is, it isn’t. I was personally convicted, thinking, “How many people in my apartment complex even know that I am a pastor? How many have I talked to about Christ, let alone talk to at all?

I’m glad my senior pastor has the guts to show a video like that to our church. Sometimes believers need to be rocked out of their comfort zones and even have some of their paradigms challenged. We say, “Love the sinner, hate the sin!” But more often than not, it’s easier to hate the sin than it is to love the sinner. It’s easier to cast judgment and label someone than it is to actually get down with them, enter their world, and love them the way Jesus does.

My wife and I had a great conversation about it afterwards. Sometimes we think evangelism is a huge event or witnessing on the street. That isn’t to say that God can’t use those methods, He certainly does. My life was changed at a huge event. But I think the downfall to those methods is that it can cause the believers to place themselves above the sinner. I love the relational approach because it builds an environment of trust. And that environment is far more fertile soil than a tract, an event, or a street evangelist. As my good friend and mentor Jeanne Mayo says, “Friendship is often the highway the Holy Spirit travels on most.”

In the opening chapter, he boldly writes, “I have become a paid professional Christian.” For me (like many), the tendency is to get so good at doing God’s work that we forget about the God of the work. The work becomes the god. Primal is all about getting back to the roots of Christianity, back to it’s raw form, when it was all about loving God with everything that we are and have.

Anyways, it’s a phenomenal book and I encourage every Christian to read it!

Get Primal today!

In dating relationships, most people settle for the average person that sort of measures up to their standards, if they even have any other than physical criteria. If you compare a dating relationship to a car, God doesn’t want us to settle for the average, cheap car. He wants us to have a Ferrari. He wants us to have the best spouse available! Who you choose to marry is the 2nd most important decision we will ever make, the first being our choice to serve Christ or not.don’t settle for a Ford when God wants you to have a Ferrari.

Unfortunately, far too many people settle for the Ford. They make the choice based on looks, they go too far physically, they don’t truly get to know the person before giving their heart and emotions away. They don’t seek the wisdom and advice of their parents, leaders in their life, pastors, etc. They don’t seek God for His will regarding their relationship. They don’t wait until they are ready to actually take the relationship to the next level.

Our goal is that teenagers and young adults would make the best decisions in regard to their dating choice. There is so much heart break and hurt over relationships when it’s not done correctly. We want to avoid as much of that as possible. We had a tremendous discussion each week as well as the Guys Only/Girls Only C9 groups.

*Thanks to Pastors Matt and Lynn Clayton for the original “Pimp My Ride” material

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We limit ourselves to the expectations of others. Especially if we have a track record of failure. I can’t tell you how many teenagers’ parents tell them they’ll never amount to anything. They aren’t smart enough, disciplined enough, popular enough, driven enough, good enough to really stand out. And so they settle. They believe what they are constantly told, instead of getting in with God and finding out what He says about them.

Gideon did this when God showed up in the wine press and told him to go and rescue Israel.

“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh,
Judges 6.15

He quoted back to God the lie that he had heard! His family was the weakest in the entire tribe! Maybe he heard that his family were weak and couldn’t stand up for themselves. Maybe he heard that since his family was small, they wouldn’t do anything significant. Maybe he heard that his family always backs down from a fight, or are incredibly needy. Whatever he heard about his family, he believed it. He was limited by the expectations of others.

…and I am the least in my entire family!”
Judges 6.15b

Gideon also believed the expectations he had of himself. He believed the lie that said his family was the weakest. And he also believed that he was the weakest of the weakest! These usually come when we play the comparison game. We compare to people around us who are better, more gifted, more talented at something, and we think that we don’t have anything to offer.The expectations we carry for ourselves are far more dangerous than those of others. Mostly because no one sees the battles that take place inside of us, except God. Everyone deals with expectations of ourselves. When we believe the lies we put on ourselves, we end up settling for less than what God has for us.

God speaks big things over his people. But just because He spoke it doesn’t mean it will happen. There is a huge part of that equation called “free will.” We have to choose to do what’s necessary to walk in the promise that God spoke. Most people settle because they don’t break out of the box.

There’s another story of someone who had a promise from God and settled. That choice would have ramifications all the way to today. God shows up to Abram and Sarai and tell them that they will have a child and that child would birth a nation of God’s chosen people. The big deal about this is that they were both very old when God made this promise. 25 years later, the promise happens. That’s a long time to wait. I’m sure Abram tried to figure out how God was going to do it. In fact, I know he did, because we find an interesting story in Genesis 16.

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. 3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.) 4 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant.

Sarai thought it would be a good idea to help God. Abram went along with this. they both settled for less than what God promised. “We’re too old to make this happen, so we’ll do something else instead.” They limited themselves and God. They put themselves in a box. They eventually listened to God and received the child of promise. But not before the consequences of selling themselves short of God’s full promise.

Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. Ishmael would become the birthplace of Islam. The end result is one of the fastest growing religions in the world today was started because someone limited God and themselves.

God is sending out a call to people who won’t settle, who will break out of the box. Those who won’t be bound by the expectations of others or of their own expectations. These are the people that will receive and walk in the full promise of God. God didn’t call us to settle, to stay in the box. But He called us to leave the box and follow his lead.

So, what are you limited by?

Pastor Tony

In a single day, he lost everything God had ever given him. His possessions, wealth, and even family except his wife. He didn’t do anything wrong. He was more godly than anyone else mentioned in the Bible. he offered sacrifices to God for himself and every member of his family DAILY just in case they MIGHT HAVE SINNED.

So what’s a cheap shot? A cheap shot is a blow that is against the rules. In boxing, it’s illegal to hit below the belt. It’s also illegal to hit after the bell has rung. When a boxer throws a hit below the belt, it’s not fair. We call that dirty fighting. We also call it a cheap shot. Cheap shots are intended to take you off guard and do a lot of damage.

The Devil likes to use cheap shots. We see it all throughout scripture. He uses trickery and unfair hits to knock the people of God. Adam and Eve were tricked – cheap shot. Job lost all he had – cheap shot. The Devil doesn’t play fair. He doesn’t play by the rules. He looks for a crack in our spiritual life, and then hones in with all of his might to take us down.

The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy.
John 10.10

He has no other reason to exist but to steal, kill, and destroy. That is his primary function. And he is good at it. He hits people with cheap shots all the time. Cheap shots come in all shapes and sizes. It can be a parent leaving home. It can be a relationship or friend that you thought was in this for life. It can even be the church and it’s leaders. They happen to everyone, no one is exempt.

So the issue isn’t IF we will get hit with a cheap shot, but rather what we do afterward. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond. The way that you respond greatly determines how you grow as a Christian, a leader, and a person. Life is not fair. It never will be. The sooner we can come to grips with that fact, the better we will be. Most people would quit, throw in the towel, and say, “I’m done!” But Job shows us how we SHOULD respond instead:

Job stood up and tore his clothes in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to WORSHIP…In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
Job 1.20, 22

Job saw things a little different than most. He understood something that we must understand if we are going to survive cheap shots. it’s kind of like Rocky Balboa. Rocky had an attitude of “Never say die!” He didn’t care if he won, he just stayed in the fight. No matter how hard he got beat, he just stayed in the fight. He got hit over and over and over again. He was beaten to a pulp. but he just kept coming. No matter how hard and how many times he got hit, he just kept coming.

That’s what Job did. He didn’t quit. When he was at his lowest, darkest place, he didn’t quit. Instead, he ran to God and just worshipped. His worship was just like Rocky. He kept coming. The Devil hit him, and he kept coming. He got hit again, but he kept coming. No matter how hard and fast the Devil hit Job, he kept coming.

Have you been hit with a cheap shot? Are you thinking of throwing in the towel because it’s too hard? If so, remember Job. When it was all said and done, God not only restored everything he lost, but actually doubled it! So hold on! Don’t give up! Stay in the fight!

- Pastor Tony

• To our adult leaders, you are incredible! Much of our C9 Groups could not be done without you pouring your hearts into these students! All of the time you take away from family and personal sacrifice for these students means to much! Thank you!
• To our student leaders, you work so hard every week to make Adrenaline one pretty awesome place. Adrenaline wouldn’t be what it is without some great student leaders. Thank you!
• To our students, we wouldn’t even be in existence if it weren’t for you. This last year has been an amazing year with all of you. Seeing God work in you has been our greatest joy this year.
• To Chico First Assembly, thank you for letting us be an oasis for students in Chico. Without a vision to reach young people, none of what has happened would have been possible. Thank you for believing in us and in these students.

Looking ahead to twenty-ten,
Pastor Tony Mazon

P.S. What was your favorite moments of 2009? Leave it in the comments!

Savior by Adam Price

Story Time with Uncy Joshy

A Special Thank You with Pastor Tony and Malia

And we want to thank our Adult Staff, Student Leaders, and students of ASC who made tonight an awesome one! Thank you!

Pastor Tony

It’s estimated that Americans spend $450 billion on Christmas every year.* And for what? For a gift that he/she MAY like? How long are they actually going to use that? How long until it’s being sold at a garage sale, given to a church or homeless shelter, or worse, thrown away? My wife and I have decided that this year, we are going to go minimal on the consumer type gifts this year, and instead try to do something a little more helpful to those in need.

I want to mention a few organizations that have really got me thinking in the last year.

TOMS Shoes

One of them is TOMS Shoes. I love the “One for One” model of business they represent. With every pair of shoes we buy, they give away a pair to a child in need. Sustainable giving to help. I love it.

Trade As One

Another is one I recently learned about is called Trade As One. Trade As One is an organization that sells “fair trade” products. In case you don’t know about fair trade, let me give you my version of it. Fair trade employs workers in poverty stricken areas of the world to produce quality products while being well paid. Fair trade helps fight poverty in developing nations by giving opportunities for enterprise and sustainable business. From the Trade As One website:

There are two crises that keep us awake at night. First, the crisis of extreme poverty that defines much of the developing world. Second, the empty consumerism that has left much of the developed world bereft of meaning and purpose. We believe Fair Trade is a way to alleviate both.

Advent Conspiracy

The last is probably the most spiritual, and I think really hits the heart of consumerism at it’s peak moment. Advent Conspiracy was started a few years ago by a group of pastors who were fed up enough with the consumer version of Christmas that they decided to bring the story of Christmas back to it’s roots. Instead of spending hundreds of billions on gifts that will most likely be tossed aside, spend less on those gifts, and give gifts that people REALLY want. Gifts of relationship, hope, and life. And the money that wsn’t spent? Give it to really help some people. What started as a few churches in the first year giving $500,000 to build wells in Africa, turned into $3 million the second year. And it’s continuing to grow.

This holiday, lets not forget what they are REALLY all about. Worshipping God the way the shepherds and wise men did. Giving like the wise men gave. Loving like our God did.

*From adventconspiracy.org