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Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Who will mourn Bin Laden??
To Bin Laden we were his enemies. To him hating us and killing us was an offering to Allah. “Christianity” is not innocent of this crime.
In my flesh I am glad he is dead. I have wanted him dead from the moment I found out he was behind the attacks of 9-11! Everyday, I waited in anticipation of the news that some hero had found him in a cave and filled him with lead! I do feel that justice came to him, but there is also something inside of me that twinges when I say this. Who am I to call anything just, when I am subject to the same judge as Bin Laden? In fact, the only reason that our judgments may be different is because of something that has nothing to do with me.
This Passage keeps coming to mind:
“ There's nobody living right, not even one,
nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God.
They've all taken the wrong turn;
they've all wandered down blind alleys.
No one's living right;
I can't find a single one.
Their throats are gaping graves,
their tongues slick as mudslides.
Every word they speak is tinged with poison.
They open their mouths and pollute the air.
They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year,
litter the land with heartbreak and ruin,
Don't know the first thing about living with others.
They never give God the time of day.
This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin.”
(Romans 3:10-20)
It is easy to say that Bin Laden deserves to die and burn in hell but so does everyone else. In God’s eyes sin is sin. Bin Laden’s murderous attitude and deeds do not somehow weight heavier on the God scale than my own sins. “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” (1 John 3:15)
Hell sounds like a horrible place. So much so that God gave his only Son as a perfect sacrifice for us so that we would not have to endure it. (John 3:16) Then he sent his spirit into all those who believe to empower them to carry this message of salvation all over the world so that others will also have a chance to accept this gift of salvation. (1 Cor. 5:20) Anyone who dies without this gift is a tragedy to God, even a man like Bin Laden. So, shouldn't that be a tragedy to me as well?
In my flesh I am glad he is dead. I have wanted him dead from the moment I found out he was behind the attacks of 9-11! Everyday, I waited in anticipation of the news that some hero had found him in a cave and filled him with lead! I do feel that justice came to him, but there is also something inside of me that twinges when I say this. Who am I to call anything just, when I am subject to the same judge as Bin Laden? In fact, the only reason that our judgments may be different is because of something that has nothing to do with me.
This Passage keeps coming to mind:
“ There's nobody living right, not even one,
nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God.
They've all taken the wrong turn;
they've all wandered down blind alleys.
No one's living right;
I can't find a single one.
Their throats are gaping graves,
their tongues slick as mudslides.
Every word they speak is tinged with poison.
They open their mouths and pollute the air.
They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year,
litter the land with heartbreak and ruin,
Don't know the first thing about living with others.
They never give God the time of day.
This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin.”
(Romans 3:10-20)
It is easy to say that Bin Laden deserves to die and burn in hell but so does everyone else. In God’s eyes sin is sin. Bin Laden’s murderous attitude and deeds do not somehow weight heavier on the God scale than my own sins. “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” (1 John 3:15)
Hell sounds like a horrible place. So much so that God gave his only Son as a perfect sacrifice for us so that we would not have to endure it. (John 3:16) Then he sent his spirit into all those who believe to empower them to carry this message of salvation all over the world so that others will also have a chance to accept this gift of salvation. (1 Cor. 5:20) Anyone who dies without this gift is a tragedy to God, even a man like Bin Laden. So, shouldn't that be a tragedy to me as well?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
A Transforming Perspective
We have to stop reading the Bible as a collection of stories about amazing or not so amazing people of God! The Bible is one story and the main character is God. If you have ever read the Bible from cover to cover (and I highly recommend it) you will see that the stories are not isolated. They all intertwine and many times, unless you know what happened earlier in the book, you will not be able to get the full meaning of a passage you are reading. Most importantly we have to recognize that God is the center of the story and all creation is used to proclaim his glory, even people.
I was reading in 1 Kings 3: 5-14 yesterday and had an interesting revelation. This is the beginning of Solomon’s reign as king over Israel. God says to him “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Instead of asking for money or fame, Solomon asks for a wise and discerning heart. God is so pleased with Solomon’s request that he decides to not only give him wisdom that will never be rivaled but he also gave him riches and fame beyond any king who ever lived. This all sounds great until in verse 14 God says “and if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” This phrase is what you call foreshadowing. As it turns out Solomon did not obey all the commands and statues of God, but was lead astray by multiple women.
Now here’s what makes that story hard to read. Solomon’s downfall is no surprise to God. He knew it was coming and yet he still lavishes all this wisdom, wealth and fame on Solomon knowing also that those very things will become stumbling blocks for him. Why would God do that? It seems like God is setting Solomon up for failure.
There actually is no “seems” about it, he most certainly is setting Solomon up. I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sit well with me. Why? You see, I was looking at Solomon as the main character of the story. I was more focused on what he was trying to accomplish and where he was trying to go than I was God. If Solomon is the main character then he is the protagonist or hero and anyone who fights against him or plots against him is the antagonist. In this perspective the one who is ultimately plotting against Solomon is God, so He, in our minds is now the antagonist or bad guy. No body likes the bad guy.
Now let’s look at it as if God were the main character or hero of this story. He just lavished his son with wisdom, wealth and fame with the only condition being obedience. What does Solomon do? He continues to disobey God and fight against him for what he wants and each day plots ways to do it again. Solomon becomes the antagonist or enemy of God, but don’t miss what God does here.
Even though he knew Solomon would be His antagonist, He still blessed him with all that he asked for and more. Even though Solomon became God’s enemy, God used him by raising him up as proof for future generations that having all the money, fame and in Solomon’s case women (700 wives and 300 concubines) you could ever want, will never be enough to satisfy that emptiness inside. Only God is enough. Solomon learned this and in his repentance was privileged to be used by God to write Proverbs and the book of Ecclesiastes in which, with all his wealth and fame, he writes:
Solomon, the apparently main character of this story in the Bible, is revealed as merely a tool used by the true main character, God, to proclaim His own power, authority and glory. As you read through the Bible and come in contact with these famous characters, begin to train yourself to ask, “what am I learning about God, the hero of the Bible, through this persons life?” If you do this I promise you it will transform your relationship with God.
God’s story is not finished. We are in the middle of it right now. Are we any different than Solomon to God? Are you not a possible tool God can use to prove his glory to the world? Do you want to be?
I was reading in 1 Kings 3: 5-14 yesterday and had an interesting revelation. This is the beginning of Solomon’s reign as king over Israel. God says to him “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Instead of asking for money or fame, Solomon asks for a wise and discerning heart. God is so pleased with Solomon’s request that he decides to not only give him wisdom that will never be rivaled but he also gave him riches and fame beyond any king who ever lived. This all sounds great until in verse 14 God says “and if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” This phrase is what you call foreshadowing. As it turns out Solomon did not obey all the commands and statues of God, but was lead astray by multiple women.
Now here’s what makes that story hard to read. Solomon’s downfall is no surprise to God. He knew it was coming and yet he still lavishes all this wisdom, wealth and fame on Solomon knowing also that those very things will become stumbling blocks for him. Why would God do that? It seems like God is setting Solomon up for failure.
There actually is no “seems” about it, he most certainly is setting Solomon up. I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sit well with me. Why? You see, I was looking at Solomon as the main character of the story. I was more focused on what he was trying to accomplish and where he was trying to go than I was God. If Solomon is the main character then he is the protagonist or hero and anyone who fights against him or plots against him is the antagonist. In this perspective the one who is ultimately plotting against Solomon is God, so He, in our minds is now the antagonist or bad guy. No body likes the bad guy.
Now let’s look at it as if God were the main character or hero of this story. He just lavished his son with wisdom, wealth and fame with the only condition being obedience. What does Solomon do? He continues to disobey God and fight against him for what he wants and each day plots ways to do it again. Solomon becomes the antagonist or enemy of God, but don’t miss what God does here.
Even though he knew Solomon would be His antagonist, He still blessed him with all that he asked for and more. Even though Solomon became God’s enemy, God used him by raising him up as proof for future generations that having all the money, fame and in Solomon’s case women (700 wives and 300 concubines) you could ever want, will never be enough to satisfy that emptiness inside. Only God is enough. Solomon learned this and in his repentance was privileged to be used by God to write Proverbs and the book of Ecclesiastes in which, with all his wealth and fame, he writes:
"Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and striving after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” (Ecc. 2:11)
Solomon, the apparently main character of this story in the Bible, is revealed as merely a tool used by the true main character, God, to proclaim His own power, authority and glory. As you read through the Bible and come in contact with these famous characters, begin to train yourself to ask, “what am I learning about God, the hero of the Bible, through this persons life?” If you do this I promise you it will transform your relationship with God.
God’s story is not finished. We are in the middle of it right now. Are we any different than Solomon to God? Are you not a possible tool God can use to prove his glory to the world? Do you want to be?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
You Might be a Consumer Christian if…
1. You talk more about being a member at your church (club) than being a member of the Body of Christ.
2. You worry more about your “church” walls and who is coming in them than about being the Church outside the walls.
3. The time between your prayers is seven days.
4. You come every Sunday but never serve.
5. Are constantly “checking out” churches
6. You leave a body of believers because you never got anything out of the message.
7. You get upset if the service goes long.
8. You don’t like having kids in the service because then you can’t GET anything out of it.
9. You believe the purpose Of Church is to fill you up for the week.
10. If you invite people in you sphere to Church but not to your home.
11. You complain that there are not enough programs.
12. You feel it’s the churches “job” to feed you.
13. Don’t come to Church on a Sunday the Senior Pastor isn’t preaching.
14. The only time your child hears about God is from his small group teacher on Sunday mornings.
15. After Church you spend more time talking about the volume of the music than you do the message.
16. You consider it a sin to cancel a church service.
17. You complain about the Children’s Ministry curriculum, but don’t have a curriculum that you do with them at home.
18. You the definition of Worship is Singing in Church.
Other Thoughts about Consumerism in the Church:
Many people ask for more “meat” from their Church like it was a Wendy’s and when the church obliges, they take a bite and realize that chewing takes a lot more work than sucking milk from a bottle and they give up.
Some after this go back up to the “customer service counter” and complain that this is the wrong “meat” because they can’t eat it all in one sitting on Sunday and they realize the only way they can finish it is take it home and take bites of it throughout the week but they don’t have time for that.
Others, upon finding the meat a challenge, take a bite and stuff the remainder of the uneaten sandwich back in the bag and pretend like they have eaten it so that the others in the restaurant (church) would not look down on them. But when the manager (church staff) comes and asks how was the “meat” we worked so hard to provide, you say something like, “I couldn’t eat it. It was too salty, or too filling or it is too expensive, or I don’t think I have time to eat.
Some ask for more “meat” (resources) and when the “Wendy’s” (church) provides it they are turned off by the price and don’t take the meat. The manager sees this and realizing that they are starving and will die without the food, hands it to them for free. They take it and smile but as they walk away they realize that it was not the price that turned them off, but the cost.
Our time with God either at home or at a church building is not about us it’s about God!
2. You worry more about your “church” walls and who is coming in them than about being the Church outside the walls.
3. The time between your prayers is seven days.
4. You come every Sunday but never serve.
5. Are constantly “checking out” churches
6. You leave a body of believers because you never got anything out of the message.
7. You get upset if the service goes long.
8. You don’t like having kids in the service because then you can’t GET anything out of it.
9. You believe the purpose Of Church is to fill you up for the week.
10. If you invite people in you sphere to Church but not to your home.
11. You complain that there are not enough programs.
12. You feel it’s the churches “job” to feed you.
13. Don’t come to Church on a Sunday the Senior Pastor isn’t preaching.
14. The only time your child hears about God is from his small group teacher on Sunday mornings.
15. After Church you spend more time talking about the volume of the music than you do the message.
16. You consider it a sin to cancel a church service.
17. You complain about the Children’s Ministry curriculum, but don’t have a curriculum that you do with them at home.
18. You the definition of Worship is Singing in Church.
Other Thoughts about Consumerism in the Church:
Many people ask for more “meat” from their Church like it was a Wendy’s and when the church obliges, they take a bite and realize that chewing takes a lot more work than sucking milk from a bottle and they give up.
Some after this go back up to the “customer service counter” and complain that this is the wrong “meat” because they can’t eat it all in one sitting on Sunday and they realize the only way they can finish it is take it home and take bites of it throughout the week but they don’t have time for that.
Others, upon finding the meat a challenge, take a bite and stuff the remainder of the uneaten sandwich back in the bag and pretend like they have eaten it so that the others in the restaurant (church) would not look down on them. But when the manager (church staff) comes and asks how was the “meat” we worked so hard to provide, you say something like, “I couldn’t eat it. It was too salty, or too filling or it is too expensive, or I don’t think I have time to eat.
Some ask for more “meat” (resources) and when the “Wendy’s” (church) provides it they are turned off by the price and don’t take the meat. The manager sees this and realizing that they are starving and will die without the food, hands it to them for free. They take it and smile but as they walk away they realize that it was not the price that turned them off, but the cost.
Our time with God either at home or at a church building is not about us it’s about God!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Church Signs and Other Crap...
I used to watch the show Glee and one of my favorite quotes came from the Cheerleading Coach Sue Sylvester, “I’m going to the DMV today to tell them that I will no longer be carrying ID. Why? Because people should know who I am.”
Why do churches need signs for their buildings? If we were really being the Ambassadors for Christ to the world as we are called to in 1 Corinthians 5 then people would just know who we are.
My Church currently doesn’t have a sign on the corner where we reside and I constantly hear grumbles that we really need one because this will help us grow. Grow what?
When I think of big signs, I think of consumer advertising. When I think of advertising I think of competition because advertising is not just to pull you in for their product but also to pull you away from a like product they believe is inferior. Ie: McDonalds and Burger King.
My Church is literally across the street from two other Churches. If we were to put a big sign out front I wonder what the community would think our advertising purpose is? My fear is that they believe for one reason or another that all these churches, because they all had Easter services yesterday, worship the same God, ergo they are on the same team. Because of this belief their response to a new sign may be the absolute opposite of what people who are pushing for the sign, want.
I think the community will see this “advertising” as our church calling them away from the other churches to a better product. Nobody likes watch couples fight at a party. They need to keep that mess in the privacy of their own home! Unfortunately, The Churches mess has been out on the streets in the public eye for centuries and I truly believe it is one of the main reasons people want nothing to do with us, and definitely don’t want to come to our homes (Church Buildings) They have enough drama in their lives why would they want to get in the middle of ours.
I am not saying that our church’s motivation for a physical sign is to draw people away from other churches, but seeing that some churches still feel “called by God” to a piece of land right across the street from another church keeps me from denying it!
How did God advertise for his Church? Transforming power and undeniable truth! In Acts chapter 2 The first Christians (even though they were not called this yet) were given the gift of the Holy Spirit, people saw God’s power through the gift of tongues (Acts 2:4) ,that were interpreted by the people in the crowd, (Acts 2:8) and were amazed and in wonder. (Acts 2:12) Then they heard the message of Christ preached with boldness (Acts 2:14-35) In response to God’s power and truth they ran into God’s arms by the thousands (Acts 2:41) God used and continues to use his PEOPLE as the advertisement! WE are the “sign” for God. (1 Cor. 5:20)
So, for those of you who are upset with me because you think a physical sign with a jumbo screen that ticks through Bible verses and shows "The Passion of the Christ" everyday during rush hour, is the answer for church “growth”, perhaps your time and people's money would be better spent if you were to step back and first evaluate if people are running to YOUR "sign".
Why do churches need signs for their buildings? If we were really being the Ambassadors for Christ to the world as we are called to in 1 Corinthians 5 then people would just know who we are.
My Church currently doesn’t have a sign on the corner where we reside and I constantly hear grumbles that we really need one because this will help us grow. Grow what?
When I think of big signs, I think of consumer advertising. When I think of advertising I think of competition because advertising is not just to pull you in for their product but also to pull you away from a like product they believe is inferior. Ie: McDonalds and Burger King.
My Church is literally across the street from two other Churches. If we were to put a big sign out front I wonder what the community would think our advertising purpose is? My fear is that they believe for one reason or another that all these churches, because they all had Easter services yesterday, worship the same God, ergo they are on the same team. Because of this belief their response to a new sign may be the absolute opposite of what people who are pushing for the sign, want.
I think the community will see this “advertising” as our church calling them away from the other churches to a better product. Nobody likes watch couples fight at a party. They need to keep that mess in the privacy of their own home! Unfortunately, The Churches mess has been out on the streets in the public eye for centuries and I truly believe it is one of the main reasons people want nothing to do with us, and definitely don’t want to come to our homes (Church Buildings) They have enough drama in their lives why would they want to get in the middle of ours.
I am not saying that our church’s motivation for a physical sign is to draw people away from other churches, but seeing that some churches still feel “called by God” to a piece of land right across the street from another church keeps me from denying it!
How did God advertise for his Church? Transforming power and undeniable truth! In Acts chapter 2 The first Christians (even though they were not called this yet) were given the gift of the Holy Spirit, people saw God’s power through the gift of tongues (Acts 2:4) ,that were interpreted by the people in the crowd, (Acts 2:8) and were amazed and in wonder. (Acts 2:12) Then they heard the message of Christ preached with boldness (Acts 2:14-35) In response to God’s power and truth they ran into God’s arms by the thousands (Acts 2:41) God used and continues to use his PEOPLE as the advertisement! WE are the “sign” for God. (1 Cor. 5:20)
So, for those of you who are upset with me because you think a physical sign with a jumbo screen that ticks through Bible verses and shows "The Passion of the Christ" everyday during rush hour, is the answer for church “growth”, perhaps your time and people's money would be better spent if you were to step back and first evaluate if people are running to YOUR "sign".
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Freedom Dance
I love this video! After my last post I think I needed to share this lighter thought.
Everytime I see this video I think of Christ. He entered his ministry saying and doing things that many considered crazy. They watched him in unbelief with critical eyes wondering if he was in his right mind. They giggled and pointed. Some even engaged him in conversation, pretending to respect him when deep down they only wanted to bring focus to his errors, but he was unfazed. He seemed to dance to the beat of a different drummer but his dance was so free. FREE from fear and anxiety. FREE from the feeling of unworthiness. FREE from the trappings of what is acceptable in society.
And after a while of intense observation a few brave souls decided to throw caution to the wind and Join Him in his FREE dance. Other watched and noted how easy it was to join in the dance because there was no set choreograph or rules about motion, only freedom of expression based on the talent for dance that you possessed. This dance inspired so much boldness and so much joy in the participants that soon crowds of people came from everywhere to join in because they had to know if this dance was as freeing as it looked.
1 Corinthians 1:18 says" For the word of the cross is folly those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Much like the scene in this video. Not everyone wanted to join. Some still sat and scoffed because it was stupid to them. But for those in the mob, the dance was epic joy.
Do you know the dance? Or did you join the mob because everyone around you was jumping in, but instead of tapping into the freedom the master displayed you merely watched him very closely and mimicked his every move hoping that in doing so he and those around you would believe you were part of the mob? Problem is that that dance in not for them. it's for those in the outside and they can tell if you are faking it.
As we prepare ourselves to enter into the life, death and resurrection of Christ this weekend. I don't want us to miss that through Christ we are FREE to now dance in the presence of the God without shame. This freedom dance is a gift to us, not to be used entertainment for us in front of our bathroom mirrors, but instead as an invitation to others who are desperate to dance freely. But if no one who watched you outside the mob sees you dancing this dance again or if when asked to dance again you refuse because your are embarrassed, then you are only affirming the sitting scoffers original thought; that this master dancer possessed no freeing power at all, only a sadistic propensity for foolishness.
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