I Was Thinking...

Wheelchairs and Resolutions

2010-01-13T18:23:00.000-07:00

Well January is almost half over and by now, many New Years' resolutions have probably been broken, but I am proud to report that I have not yet broken my resolution… because I have not resolved anything. New Years has always been one of my favorite times, it reminds me of the possibility of new beginnings something every Christian should continually hold on to as Martin Luther said, “A Christians life is one of repentance”.

Yep there is that word.

Repentance

It seems that everyone declares that they want change and when the giant ball of Light drops there is a hope in there heart that this year will be different! Sadly, things rarely change. Why? Because of lack of repentance. ‘Things’ do not change because people refuse to change they want everything to be different but they want to keep doing the same old things.

It is interesting to notice that Christmas comes before New Years! Jesus comes before New Beginnings!

If we want the hope of newness we must first go to Jesus, we must turn from old ways and trust Him with everything.

My boss said to me the other day that religion is for the weak. I have heard this from people before parroting what they have heard others say “Religion is a crutch”

Religion is a Crutch… there was a time when I would have disagreed with this statement, I would have argued, "It’s not for the weak!!!"

side note-before all the church people get up in arms and declare its not a religion it’s a relationship cool your jets that’s another topic just walk with me for a moment

Religion is a crutch… there was more recently a time I would have simply agreed and said yes its true I need Jesus

Religion is a Crutch… I am moving in the direction now or at least would like to be, where I once again must disagree and say it is not a crutch, it is a wheelchair, it is life support, it is a feeding tube and a breathing machine!!

(Again note I only use the word religion here because that’s the word people use I am talking about Jesus so don’t get all religious in protest of the word religion)

Therefore, if I were to make a News Year's resolution it would be to lean continually deeper into the arms of Grace, into the arms of Jesus walking by faith not by sight learning to trust God with everything! I would resolve to realize that there is nothing good in me and that apart from Christ I am nothing. I would first visit the truth of Christmas before I seek the newness of 1-1-10. I would resolve to have the same heart as John and proclaim that I must decrease and He must increase. That Jesus would not simply be a crutch as if I only had a sprained ankle (a crutch is a step above arch support shoe inserts) but He would be my very source of Life.

And maybe I should resolve not to procrastinate since I have been thinking about writing this since before 1-1-10… well maybe that can be my resolution next year.

Just Something I was thinking about

about the flood

2009-12-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Noah stood a top his construction project preaching to all those that passed by “repent! Trust in God!” he warned of the coming judgment “God will send rain and flood the earth unless you put your faith in him you will perish!”

The people that passed by scoffed

The Atheist said, “There is no God there will be no rain”
The agnostic said, “We can’t know for sure if there will be rain”
The eastern spiritualist said, “It is all an illusion”
The New Ager said God is in all of creation God is in the rain and in the trees God would not destroy himself.
The relativist said what is rain to you is not rain to me what is wet to you is not wet to me.
The self-righteous person said, “I will be ok”

The sky turned gray the lightening flashed and the first drops of rain fell.

The atheist said, “It will only be a local flood”
The agnostic said, “We can’t know if it will continue to rain”
The eastern spiritualist said, “It’s all in my head”
The New Ager said, “God is wet?”
The relativist said, “This feels wet, but maybe it’s not wet to you!”
The self-righteous person got out an umbrella

It rained and it rained for forty days and forty nights water filled the earth

The atheist met God
The agnostic now knew
The eastern spiritualist soon drowned in his illusion
The New Ager met the creator
The relativist discovered truth

The self-righteous climbed to the highest peak until it was covered he grasped for floating debris. He frantically paddled his arms and legs until finally he realized he was not strong enough.

Noah and his Family were saved.

Stuff Christian like

2009-12-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

Well I was going to write something else about Noah but then I read the stuff Christian like blog and thought to just direct my handful of readers over there today.

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/12/9-words-that-changed-my-life/

About Noah's Ark

2009-12-18T09:45:00.001-07:00

The other night I decided to read some bible stories to my boys after dinnertime. I grabbed an old book published back in 1986 “One minute bible Stories, Old testament” because after all when it comes to sharing Gods word with your kids why take more than 60 seconds. I immediately went to the story of Noah because well it is often a story that children’s books screw up (and I feel extra spiritual when I point out the errors).

Normally children’s bibles will simply mess up the count on the animals declaring that they went in 2 by 2 ignoring the animals that went in by sevens, this is an annoying error but not grievous.

The next common mistake I notice is that they declare Noah to be a good man and that is why God saved him! This position is more than annoying and I think portrays an inaccurate view of God and Scripture, it completely ignore the verse “but Noah found grace…” I will expound more on this in a moment.

The most ridiculous mistake I have seen a children’s Bible make when it comes to the story of Noah, I found the other night in the above-mentioned book. Here is the quote “God said, ‘obey my rules and I wont send another flood…”

WOW!! Way to put words right in the mouth of God!! He never said that not even close!!! Boy, I am thankful that this was not his promise or else the earth would be continually flooded!!! In fact, God said the exact opposite of what this book claims!

“Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.” Genesis 8:21

When we tell our children the story of Noah we must be very careful that it is an accurate portrayal of the actual story and accurate to the rest of scripture. Are we preaching a salvation by works theology to our kids? I am going to let a sermon by Mark Driscoll do most of the heavy lifting for me but before I do, I want to make a couple observations about the story of Noah.

Gen 6:8 – “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” the very definition of the word Grace tell us that Noah did not deserve to be saved!

Before the flood the condition of the world was “always evil all the time!”(Gen 6:5) after the flood, the condition of the world was “every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.” (Gen 8:21)

When we read this story, see that it is a story of Grace poured out to Noah and his family

Just something I was thinking about.

Driscoll's semon on Noah's Ark

Driscoll's sermon on The Flood

about Common Grace

2009-12-14T18:35:00.001-07:00

I recently heard a new term from my new favorite preacher Mark Driscoll, Common Grace. It is a concept and idea I have heard before but it seems for me that when terminology is put to things it clicks a little better for me. Common Grace; count your blessings. God sends ran and shine on us all not because any of us deserve it but because of Grace. Anything besides hell is a display of Grace. Just now as I am typing this, the verse saying praise God in all things has become a little clearer. Technology that makes our life easier is grace. Health care that allows us to live longer is grace, being able to create and appreciate art is Grace. We look all around us and we see grace, grace, and grace. So in thinking about this I thought to share a few examples of Common Grace in my life.

I hate waking up at 3am to go to work but I love fresh (as if that is possible in phx) crisp cold morning air that only occurs at about 4am.

I love uninterrupted sleep but nothing is better than hearing the small voice saying “daddy?” at 2am and my boy Caleb climbing in bed next to me and cuddling up so so close.

I love that look my wife gives me after I say something completely insane and she just looks at me with the look “Why would you say that?”

I like to relax after work but turning up the Christian Ska and punk music and dancing around the house with my boys that is common Grace.

I believe that there is a certain time of day when music sounds better and more importantly a hot cup of coffee that my wife made me tastes the best!

Being able to see the sunrise just about everyday, this is another perk of having to wake up so dang early!

Just something I was thinking about.

Esau and the Edomites(Comon Grace)
Religion Saves(Grace)

about Strongholds

2009-11-19T16:36:00.001-07:00

I was listening to a preacher today and this verse came up.

Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

then I started singing a song based on this verse, and everytime I came to the line "the lod is the stronghold.." it felt strange to me i have sang this song many times before and never felt strange before so at first I ignored it and again came to that line, something wasnt right! so I stopped and thought for a momment of the word stronghold and what it means and other places that I have heard that word used.

alot of times in church the word stronghold is used in reference to a habitual sin, i have heard that many times in church services and always made the conclusion that strong hold in regaurd to sin meant that a particular sin had a strong hold on you which made sense to me and I think it was even explained to me like this one time.

but that is not what a stronghold is and that is not what this verse is talking about, its not saying God has a strong hold on us(which He does) this is a war time verse! when the enemy comes I run to my stronghold my place of best defense my military fortification. and that place is ..... JESUS! that is what the verse says now lets take a step back and talk again about sin.

Sin came be a stronghold for people and that doesnt mean that sin is so powerful that it is holding you and wont let you go and you cant escape it, because we know the Bible teaches us that there is freedom in Christ.

Sin is a stronghold because when the enemy comes against us. when we have a bad day or stressfull occurance or strong temptation comes we do not run to christ as we should but rather we run to.... sex, drugs, alcohol, etc etc....

its not that it is holding us but rather we are holding it.

we do not trust that Jesus will take care of us so we count on self in the form of various sins. we put our faith in sin to help us to guide us to protect us to comfort us.

when the enemy comes against us we run straight into his traps

you may say "but you dont know how bad I struggle!"

struggle intresting word how hard do we really struggle? how far do we really go to resist temptation? How long before we cave in thinkng this time it will be different this time my sin will relieve my stress take away my dificulty make me feel better.

what is it to struggle? if someone was holding your head under water then you would struggle.

maybe this thought has occured to everyone already but me but...
Just something I was thinking about

about Mr. Clean

2009-11-11T18:27:00.002-07:00

One day it would be cool to write a book about the ones the Lord calls righteous, but for now a couple things off the top of my head.

Abraham was a coward and an adulterer, He pretended to be his wife’s brother so he wouldn’t be harmed and he was ok with her being taken to be part of the King’s Harem… but Abraham believed God and it was accredited to him as righteousness.

Abraham’s nephew Lot unlike Abraham seemed to have zero redeeming qualities in 2 Peter 2:7 he is called righteous. Lot was a man that seemed to be full of doubt and very conniving. He moved into the evil city of Sodom where he sat at the cities Gate (Gen 19:1) which would indicate that not only did he live there he was an active member of the community. Sodom was a evil place! When Lot had 2 angels visit him to warn him of Sodoms destruction every man in the city young and old came to Lots house demanding he send out the 2 men so they could rape them. Lot offers his 2 daughters to the mob instead thankfully God intervened struck the crowd blind and even then the blind mob groped around to find the door to Lot’s house undeterred by there blindness intent to have there way! after all this and after the stern warnings of the angels that God would destroy the city Lot lingered there until he was literally drug out of the city(v16) later we see Lot getting drunk with his young daughters and them having sex with him.

Noah it is always taught that Noah was a good man in a bad world that is why God saved him but notice that almost immediately after the boat touched ground and Noah got off he got drunk and naked! Also it is interesting to note in Gen 8:20; when God makes His covenant with us to never flood the earth again God repeats what he said about the earth before the flood(6:5) “the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” God said this about the state of humanity after the flood. The statement I believe included Noah before and after the flood. but Noah found Grace(6:8) and then God saw that he was Righteous(7:1)

That was 3 examples now think of David the man after God’s heart the murderer, lust filled Adulterer.
Think of Peter the coward
Paul the murderer of Christians
Matthew the thieving tax collector

all this corruption hidden from God’s Eyes because of Jesus(I know most examples I listed were BC but according to John chapter 1 there is no such thing as BC)

2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Just something I was thinking about.

about names

2009-11-05T19:48:00.002-07:00

Revelation 19:12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.

Wouldn’t you be disappointed if you found out that that name was “Fred”, “Gerald”, or “Josh”?

Now I am not trying to be disrespectful, to Christ, and I know that His second coming will be much different from his first.

The Jews had a certain Idea of what the messiah would look like they had grand expectations then Jesus showed up…

Isaiah 53:2 “…he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”

Jesus to some was kind of a disappointment, today we know the whole story we see the big picture we see the humble life, the miracles, the death resurrection and exaltation. Early believers did not have that advantage. I used to wish that I were alive then that I could have seen Jesus then been one of his followers but I wonder if I would have followed him? Imagine that regular guy the ordinary guy at the construction site that didn’t have a halo or a glow about him, wasn’t really good looking, what if he claimed to be God and said you must love him obey him and follow him if you want to go to heaven! Of course, today in light of all of scripture we would not listen we would dismiss someone like that.

Today we have a great advantage over the early believers and followers of Christ we have a snap shot of the whole picture, sure some areas are blurry but imagine if all we saw was a carpenter that claimed to be God… what faith it would have taken!

So what if that name was Josh? Funny thing is “Joshua” is the Hebrew equivalent to the Greek name “Jesus”

Just something I was thinking about.

about hot coffee

2009-11-02T16:44:00.001-07:00

Have you ever driven a truck while trying to hold an open cup of coffee? I first saw this feat when I was a boy and my dad would hold on to his mug in such a way as to not spill a drop when his old Ford bounced up and down. Recently I greatly benefited from witnessing my dads technique (That I am sure took him years to master)as I drive my truck over railroad tracks. So how do you hold an open cup while driving in a bouncy vehicle without its hot contents spilling all over your lap? Your arm must be bouncy as well! To some this may seem counter intuitive, because if you were just sitting at the table bouncing your cup around then you would definitely spill.

“Systematic theology is a discipline which addresses theological topics one by one (e.g. God, Sin, Humanity) and attempts to summarize all the biblical teaching on each particular subject. Sometimes called constructive theology or even dogmatic theology, the goal is to present the major themes (i.e. doctrines) of the Christian faith in an organized and ordered overview that remains faithful to the biblical witness.”

Since last post, I brought up Calvinism and Arminianism I will continue slightly with that.

It seems to me that there are very intelligent people on both sides of this debate; also good Christian people that we could all learn a lot by there teaching and examples. Subsequently I am not willing to dismiss either side completely, while I lean to the side of Arminius. Am I to believe that men with great intelligence on either side are completely wrong?

Here is what I would suggest, subscribe to either side you would like and that the Spirit leads you, do so not forfeiting the greater matters of the Word like mercy compassion grace and love. The danger for any believer would be to become like a Pharisee and completely miss the message and think that it is your understanding or works that have saved you rather than Christ.

At this point let me back up and say it is hard not to spill coffee in an open cup in a bouncy truck, it is impossible with no cup at all. if we hold our arm too firmly the coffee will spill but if we hold are arm loosely and move with the truck we rarely spill a drop and if we do it is caught by a larger cup of Grace.

Systematic theology is important. Understanding Scripture is important. There are many many aspects of our faith that we must not compromise.

We must realize God Is Big! Sometimes we might miss it a bit and if we do grace will uphold us.

Because this was a difficult post to articulate without it sounding like I believed that we should disregard doctrine let me affirm that I believe the opposite to be true let me add a few things.

I am not saying truth is relative.

I am not saying we should accept teachings that are clearly heretical.

I am not saying that God is too big for us to understand on any level, God chose to reveal himself to us through Jesus and through Scripture.

I am saying to carefully and faithfully study scripture and never come to a place where you think you have figured it out completely.

about Justification.

2009-10-29T17:18:00.001-07:00

Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

This is a message that I have heard from childhood. Salvation comes through Christ alone.

I have heard that the difference between Christianity and other religions is that Christianity requires nothing from you but faith.

I know the verses.

I have heard the idea.

It is not Jesus plus anything it is Just Jesus.

You know there are churches that preach that salvation comes from baptism.

Many churches preach faith in Christ alone but once someone is saved, they load them down with things they ought and ought not to do.

Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Have you ever been caught up thinking that you are not good enough? That God will reject you. (You are not good enough and apart from grace, God does reject you)

I must confess something as a Wesleyan Methodist Nazarene guy.

It took a Calvinist to bring a greater understanding of this truth to me. While I am still a Wesleyan at heart I have come to realize something

My sins are forgiven. While I was a sinner, Christ died for me. By Gods grace, He lifts me out of the mud and holds me firmly in his hand. God’s Grace has power!

When sin abounds Gods Grace abounds more!

Is it possible by our sin to walk out of Gods Grace? If God grace was able to save us, can his Grace not hold us?

I believe it is possible to turn from and abandon the faith; however, I think it is harder than many teach; another thing to consider is if it comes so easily for one to abandon faith in Christ maybe they never had faith. I am not trying to bring up the debate of “did he lose his salvation or was he never saved”

Something else comes to mind about those who start with faith in Christ and then try to continue with works as if what we do can earn us anything. If we try to become justified by works that is when we fall from grace (Gal. 5:4)

Just so that no Wesleyan friends think I have left the faith I will close with something a Nazarene preacher (Stephen Manly) said and I am paraphrasing “You know why preachers get uncomfortable preaching that we don’t have to do anything to be saved? They are worried that people will listen!”

Lets Keep the focus where it belongs (it is Jesus! It is only Jesus! It is always Jesus!”(Oops, I ended with something I heard from a Calvinist (Mark Driscoll))

Just something I was thinking about.

about brownies

2009-10-22T14:07:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time, there was a man; He was the best baker of brownies the world has ever known. And there was a girl, a girl who caught the brownie man's eye. The brownie man thought and thought about how he could show his love to this girl. He would make the best batch of brownies that the world has ever seen! He studied about all the proper ingredients he scoured over the earth looking for the best ingredients. He hiked up the highest mountains to find the freshest spring water, he traveled from one corner of the globe to the next finding the best chocolates and eggs… everything had to be the best.
At last he was finished the brownies where pulled fresh from the fire and he delivered them to the girl while there was still steam floating off the top.

The girl graciously accepted the brownies told him to come back tomorrow and enjoy them with her and closed her door to the man. After the man had walked down the street, she casually set them aside. They sat and sat and sat…

She paid no attention to the brownies she went about her day as if nothing was different as there were no brownies in her house at all. The brownies sat and sat and she left them to sit while she went to run some errands, while she was about her day the girls dog ate the brownies.

The girl cam home to find an empty pan and a happy dog, the girl did not panic she had a plan to replace the brownies before the man arrived the next day.

She followed the dog around with a shovel and a baggie for several hours finally had enough to fill the pan back, she then sprinkled a few chocolate sprinkles on top and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds.

The man arrived the girl presented him with the plate of brownie

"Blahhuck!!! What is this!"

“It’s the brownies!”

“These are not the brownies that I made!”

"It is all the same ingredients! I even sprinkled some chocolate on top. I don’t understand the problem!”

So are our religious efforts to please God.

We have two options when we come before God.

With a pan full of reheated Dog poop saying God all I have is Crap at which point Jesus will step in and present to the king Brownies on our behalf.

Or with a pan full of reheated dog poop and declaring to God Look at these awesome brownies, I made for you at which point God will vomit.

Just something I was thinking about.

about war

2009-10-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

we hear the discussions about providing our troops with proper body army to keep them safe in war.

I see on movies where the swat team storms a building and everyone has on bullett proof vests.

Clint Eastwood his the steel plate under his poncho before a gun fight, or was that Michael J Fox?

why because its not just war! its not just a Gun fight. when something is dangerous you need protection.

So if its just sex then why do we need protection?

its not just sex.

It is sex. and it is only dangerous when outside of God's guidlines as described in the bible. between one man and one Woman that are married.

Just something I was thinking about

about 30 Rock

2009-10-20T14:50:00.001-07:00

Before I start this, in effort of full disclosure I want to say that I Like 30 Rock.

I was watching 30 Rock the other day, and Jack (Baldwin’s character) was talking to Liz (Fey’s Character) about a girl he was “falling for” The conversation went something like this

“Liz I think I want to take it to the next step with Elisa”
“You mean marry her?”
“No before that”
“You want her to move in!”
“No before that”
“YOU haven’t had sex yet!!”

Is it just me, or does our culture have everything backwards?

It is funny that we often joke and almost criticize Shows of TV past because the husband and wife had separate beds and they would not show a pregnant woman on TV etc…

Is our current alternative better?

- insert bible verse here-(i left it blank on purpose find your own verse)

Just something I was thinking about.

about Romantic Comedies

2009-10-19T13:51:00.001-07:00

(Also known as Chick Flicks) Here is the plot line. Rich Guy(prince or whatever) seeks to find a wife but for fear that he will only attract someone that will marry his money and not care about him he goes to a far away land like Ohio blends in to culture and searches out someone whom he can love and that will love him back.

Application on this one is easy.

Have you ever wondered why God creator of the universe would chose to reveal himself to us in such ordinary ways? He could have come in any shape or form that he pleased but he chose to be born in a barn grow up in a backwoods no name town, come into this world as a baby have to be potty trained learn to walk and talk. Go through Puberty. Be a carpenter.

Yeah that kid over there you know the one with the cracking voice and pimples learning how to swing a hammer, that is God. That is the savior of the world. Follow him.

I cannot wrap my mind around that. Think of this. If he had come in all his power and glory, would we have understood that? I think that however God would have came it would have been too much for us.

That’s God revealed to us in Christ. Now think about God revealed in scripture, I wont expound but again the God of all creation revealed in a leather bound Book.

Just something I was thinking about.

about Dick Van Dyke

2009-10-17T11:02:00.002-07:00

I was watching the Dick van Dyke show the other day(I know real timely) if you are familiar with the show at all you know that the character named Sally is a single “middle aged” woman desperately wanting a husband. Just about every episode she states in one way or another that any guy will do. On an episode entitled “Romances, Roses, and Rye Bread” there is Bert Monker, a guy that is totally in love with her and wants to marry her he seemed like a good enough guy but… Sally rejected him.

I do not want to talk about saying one thing and doing another it seems too obvious.

Bert says something to Sally that I have been thinking about off and on for a little while.

“You know I just figured out what’s wrong with you (Sally)…you never stumble”

I agree with Bert Monker. I know that the problem appears to be that we never stop stumbling, which I suppose I could agree with that as well. But I agree with ol’ Bert.

The problem is (at least with some) that we never stumble. Bert continues, “Like in all the Clark gable movies, Claudette Colbert would stumble and hurt her ankle and he would run over and she would lean on him and they would look into each others eyes and without saying a word they would get married. Like in all those big movies… half of them would never get a girl unless the girl stumbled so what chance does a guy like me got with a sure foot like you?”

Some of you got it already.

Self Righteousness.

If we think, we can do any amount of Good works to please God we are mistaken. If our feet our too sure (at least in our own mind) we will never have a chance at salvation. We must stumble! Stumble into God’s Grace for without it we will never be married (for we are to be the Bride of Christ). We must recognize that we are a fallen people completely separated from God our feet are not sure our steps are not firm we dredge and drudge throw the mire and mud thinking we are ok. Thinking that the mud is good for our skin when really it is feces. We must stumble into God Grace, he will give us a firm place to stand, and he will hold us there by His sovereign grace alone and our feet will be sure not because anything that we have done or could do but because God willed it to be.

Just Something I was thinkng about

about 3rd and inches.

2009-10-08T13:54:00.001-07:00

Hut! Hut! Hike! Snap, pass, tackle. The refs come out with the two orange posts with the chain… Missed it by inches!

If you have been a Christian for any length of time you have heard the verse “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

I have always known this to be true of myself. I was taught the verse and I believed it I knew it to be true but the problem was when I thought of myself falling short I thought it was by just inches so close that the refs needed to come out and measure it. I got it almost there I just needed Jesus Help to take it another 2 and ½ inches.

Hut! Hut! Hike! Snap, sink back, sack, penalty offense 100yards!

That is more like it! To be anymore accurate football fields would have to change size.

Even as I type this, I am prideful of my writing of my humbleness in expressing my own sinfulness and in admitting I am prideful.

He must increase I must decrease

Apart from Him, we are nothing

Just something I was thinking about.

about Christian

2009-10-07T14:27:00.003-07:00

The Word Christian means Christ Like, it was originally a derogatory label that nonbelievers put on early followers of the way, we embraced it.

Recent years the word Christian has been turned into a brand of religion rather than a way of life.

In many countries around the world, believers will walk miles to attend church; they will sometimes carry their own seat or an extra seat for someone that may not have one.

In America, we skip church if the weather is bad or if we have family in town or we sleep in by mistake. We worry about how God wants to make us happy don’t worry so much about the other guy.

In countries where Christianity is illegal I have heard that they will meet in secret and will whisper the songs or even just mouth the words because if someone were to hear them the penalty could be death.

We complain if the music is too loud, or too long. We cater to people giving multiple styles of music in multiple services, and still not everyone is content.

Men and women throughout history have been violently killed because of their faith

We hide ours for fear someone will not like us.

Many countries Bibles are illegal. They will have only one copy to pass around, often times they will have only pages to pass around; these pages are priceless.

We have 3 or 4 copies of the Bible, access to internet, and Christian radio countless ways available to study Gods word but…

Let me switch the "we" to "me"

How can I put the same label on a Buick as a Cadillac?

How can I label myself as a Christian and call the believers who have truly risked and gave all to Christ by the same title?

Just something I was thinking about.

about God.

2009-10-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

Who

Is

God?

What

Is

A

Christain?

about Patch Adams

2009-10-04T10:52:00.001-07:00

Have you ever seen the Robin Williams' Movie “Patch Adams”? I watched it this morning with my wife.

2 scenes.

Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character is trying to convince Patch Adams (Robin Williams) to stay at the hospital/school after a tragedy.

Hoffman’s character says something to the effect “I have studied and worked hard I know a lot about medicine I can probably diagnose anyone better than any other person at this hospital! But I cannot get Mrs. Wilson to eat. You know how to connect to people I need your help.”

Second scene

Patch is in front of the medical board pleading his case so that he doesn’t get kicked out of med School. Patch says, “If you treat a disease you can win or you can lose, if you treat a person you win guaranteed!”

I love movies like this where one guy makes an impact on people’s lives; I always wanted to be that person.

Have you ever seen a street preacher? Someone treating the disease so to speak not taking the time to listen to what the person they are trying to reach is saying but only having one purpose diagnosing the problem and shoving the answer in their face.

Maybe seminary is not as important as learning to connect with people.

I know a lot about the bible not as much as some but probably more than most. But I lack social skills I have no idea how to make conversation with people.

Many people will seek opportunity to talk to people about God (which is ok), but let’s move from talking to people about God to talking with People (which would be Christ like).

How do we do that? I DO NOT KNOW.

Just something I was thinking about.

about where's Waldo?

2009-10-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

Remember those kids books “where’s Waldo?” there would be a scene of a bunch of people at the beach or a zoo and you would have to find where Waldo was hiding. It would seem like it would not be hard to find a goofy looking guy in a red and white striped shirt but strangely enough, everyone in Waldo’s world wore red and white (even the dogs)

I met a Christian today.

I am tempted to leave it at that.

…

There is a guy that I deliver to often I do not talk to him much just the basic “Hi”, “how you doing’?”, “Have a good one”. Today I found out he was a Christian or at least that he reads his bible everyday and attends a Nazarene church(funny thing is that I attended a Nazarene church for a long time and know people that go to his church)

How our conversation started is not important, what should be said however is why is it so hard to find a Christian? Maybe because we are wearing red and white stripes in a red and white world.

I could scoff and say “HA! he is a lousy Christian” I couldn’t tell he was a Christian he seemed just like every other guy I deliver to!” The problem is however that there were two parties involved here and I was the second

May God have mercy on us

Just something I was thinking about.

about Christian things that are not very Christian

2009-10-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

I once had an idea to look at some things that people say are not “very Christian” but are actually really Christian. I think of how Christian people are so quick to announce that you do not need Christianity you need Jesus, when the very definition of Christian is Christ like. You don’t need Christ likeness you need Jesus? Now of course I know what they are trying to say. So many things in church seem to drive people from Christ not to him. It seems that the church is designed for church people with only a verbal interest in the lost the poor the sinner the different.

This week at work, I was talking to a couple of the guys and brought up the fact that we are enemies of God (I of course tried to explain that this does not have to be). When I told them that we are enemies of God the reaction “that’s not a very Christian thing to say”

I think we have put so much focus on God’s Love as a church that people miss the fact that we are separated from God because of our inherent sinful condition and the only way to experience that love is through Christ.

God will give you warm fuzzies

Jesus offended. I am not saying that we should try to offend but we have gone the other direction and tried so hard not to.

Starting with the point, we are separated from God I believe led into a discussion that would not have happened if I simply said Jesus loves you.

Jesus said things like we are slaves to sin; we are children of the devil….

While we were sinners, Christ died for us

Do not only focus on how Jesus loved us so he died… we were still sinners. Sinners separated from God. Children of the devil, not capable of good, slaves to sin, enemies of God.

If we present an incomplete gospel of God loves everyone people get the impression that God is super happy with us and if God is super duper pleased with us then why do we need Jesus.

I know this was scatter brained, but it was just something I was thinking about

about port-a-potties

2009-09-30T14:49:00.001-07:00

I walked into an outhouse yesterday on a jobsite, at first whiff it was fresh and seemed to have been recently cleaned. Moments later the smell of poo filled my nostrils. It was worse than poo it was a strange mixture of cinnamon scented cleaner and poo. Enough cleaner to trick you into breathing normally almost enough cinnamony goodness too tempt you to take a great big breath of…. ugh pooo! The cleaner convinced me it was safe to breathe and once I did, the poo curled my nose hairs.

I relate this to sin and temptation.

Prov 14:12
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to poo smell”

I think of lukewarm believers.

Rev 3:16
So, because you are cinnapoo—neither cinnamon nor poo—I am about to vomit.

I think of Matthew 23 and white washed tombs, the more we try to cover up our own sinfulness the more we smell. It may be appeasing and appealing at first but in the end, we reek both to God and to those around us. We are screwed up, I am screwed up and the solution is not some squirts of cologne. Let us lean on God’s GRACE and try to place your feet into the footprints of Christ.

I read a short story a long time ago in school this is what I remember of it. There were two stowaways on a train with a dead guy in a casket, it started to stink so they tried everything they could think of to mask the smell and the more they did the worse the smell got. (I think it ended up being some cheese that stank) I think we can learn a lesson from that.

(Steps down from soap box) ;-) Just something I was thinking about.

about mohammed.

2009-09-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

Do you remember a couple years back when Muslims took to the streets in violent protest? I guess I should be more specific. A cartoon was made depicting Muhammad and apparently that was a grave sin so they burned down some buildings. It is sin to make a blasphemous image of Muhammad. I will not mention the irony that they were burning down buildings because “Muslims consider some of the images particularly demeaning, including one of Mohammed wearing a turban shaped like a bomb with a lit fuse”

Imagine if Christians reacted the same way. There would be groups of Christians burning down movie theaters because they did not like how Jesus was portrayed in the passion of the Christ. Every time an American looking Jesus was portrayed, a different group would riot. Some would want only the baby Jesus to be shown, other the resurrected Jesus, other Jesus on the cross, others the glorified Jesus, Others the table flipping whip Jesus and on and on just think “Talladega nights.”

It is unfortunate that I cannot write how my brain works, from here my thoughts almost simultaneously branch off in to a couple directions, first. I think of how we want to make Jesus fit into our own idea of what is comfortable with us. We all act like artists and make our own renderings of Jesus.

and the point I want to get across with this post is….

Really, what if we responded like the Muslims, I do not mean violently but with the same resolve, principle and conviction? Should we be offended at artsy depictions of Christ? Should we be offended at blonde hair blues eyed Jesus? More importantly and the (overall idea) what about the image of Jesus we show the world through our words and our deeds?

Just something I was thinking about.

about third pounder angus burgers

2009-09-27T08:55:00.002-07:00

On the way home from work I see a giant billboard for the new third pounder Angus burger. The burger on the billboard looks big juicy with fresh veggies it looks like an artist carefully put it together. Go into the restaurant and you got a pimply face kid making 7 bucks an hour wipe his nose then serve you something that is not what you saw on the billboard.

One of the biggest reasons I hear one give about why they do not go to church is “there are too many hypocrites at church. Absolutely right! There are definitely too many hypocrites at church.

Imagine a company that has a motto “A customer obsessed company!” and this company has semi regular meetings with the employees telling them to go the extra mile to serve the customer etc etc etc….

However, in the actual course of the day the customer is lied to, mistreated and mislead. Management makes promises to employees and customers that never come true. One could then say I am not going to work tomorrow there are too many hypocrites at work, but we do not say that.

If we held the same standard we do for church as we do our work places and fast food we would all be unemployed and much healthier. I can understand holding the church to a higher standard but why look at the speck when we have a plank? It is interesting that the people who point at the hypocrites in the church are the same people that talk about how God loves them no matter what. They understand God’s acceptance of there own faults but cannot look past the faults in others. The point of Christianity is that we are all screwed up and need saved from ourselves! How then can we expect perfection from the ones that have decreed I am not perfect and I need help!!!

Just something I was thinking about

about blogging.

2009-09-25T17:24:00.002-07:00

I have been consistently blogging for just over a week now and I am digging it. I started writing this blog on a suggestion from a pastor friend, to get some thoughts on paper, or in this case some thoughts in the ether.

Here is my dilemma, the purpose of this blog was to record some thoughts I had throughout the course of the day pick one and write a tad-bit about it. Which I have been doing faithfully and hope the few that read it enjoy it. However, I find myself as of recent not just taking note of an idea or thought I have during the day but rather thinking in blog. There would be an event, or I would see something and I would stretch my imagination in wonder, "how can I blog about this!”

I’m a freak I know, this is not much different from when I was teaching the youth group and I would think in “preach”, how can I make this preach.

I have learned to filter my thoughts and not try to force a blog out of something so not to defeat the purpose of this blog.

I would also like to add however the challenge to the followers of Christ out there to look at the world around you in new ways. Do not let a router just be a router.

It is my ambition that we will never look at the world the same way again!

So if there was something you were thinking about leave a comment or start your own blog and add to the already overpopulated World Wide Web.

Just something I was thinking about.

about running in flip flops.

2009-09-24T15:07:00.003-07:00

Yesterday my son and I went for I walk to the park up the street we had a great time as he held my hand and walked down the sidewalk talking about the wind and the trees and flowers and the birds. Everything is still fascinating to him (I wish I could see the world through the eyes of a three year old). We played at the park for a little while picked some flowers for mommy then headed home.

“Daddy let’s run!”

So run we did! I held on to his hand and awkwardly ran down the street, my strides were short and lacked rhythm (I had to keep in step with the tiny 3yr old legs). We ran laughing, bump in the sidewalk, OOOOHHH no! I quickly let go of his hand calculated the chances of me staying on my feet, tucked and rolled.

“DAAADDY!”

He had never seen daddy fall before, plenty of times he has bumped his head or tripped, tripped, skinned his knees but daddies; they are not supposed to fall. The sound of his voice at first was one of concern fear even but it was quickly a question of bewilderment and curiosity, “What are you doing daddy?”

To add to it all just as I was skidding across the sidewalk and landing in the gutter a car was driving by, nice lady that stopped to make sure I was ok. Embarrassing.

Now there is a fork in the road, I can turn left and simply bring up the verse “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor 10:12), however, I would rather take a right and agree with my son Daddies are not supposed to fall. Unfortunately they do. One day my boy will be old enough to realize that Dad is far from perfect, One-day mommy’s kisses will not contain healing powers, One day the fact that Dad drives a big truck will not be cool. One day they will see our faults and on that day, we can point him to the one that will not fall. Daddies are not supposed to fall but when we do, let us show our kids the arms that we can fall into.

Just something I was thinking about.

about customer service

2009-09-23T16:41:00.002-07:00

We all have had bad experiences with businesses. Companies that did not seem to want our business, or at the very least did not care one way or the other. Sometimes we have had such unpleasant experiences that we decree that we will never return to that place.

Why is that? What is it about bad service that would make us never return to that restaurant, hotel, or airline?

We expect to be treated right! To be waited on properly to be served in exchange for our money.

To be served, is that too much to ask for?

Do you know anyone that has been offended at a particular church, and moved to another church and then gotten offended at the new church so they went to find another one? Maybe you know someone who has gotten offended at so many churches that they have given up on church completely.

Now I could go two different directions from here.

I could insist that churches need to be more user friendly and service oriented but I think the church gets beat up on enough. Instead I want to bring this back to the individual, the source of all problems.

Christians should not go to a church the same way we go to the Olive Garden. Looking over the menu and the price, analyzing the service, deciding if it meets our standards. Asking, what can they do for me how can they tend to me and wait on me?

We are not called to be served but to serve.

How about we stop treating our local church like the businesses we regular and then complain that it has become too much like a business. Christians are called to serve one another and to serve the world to take on Christ’s example and pour our lives out. This is a hard thing to do, may Gods Grace direct us.

And as a side note, maybe we should have a servant heart in those situations when we think a company is mistreating us.

Just something I was thinking about.

about child care.

2009-09-22T14:50:00.002-07:00

Sunday we went to a church we have been trying out the last couple of weeks. We put our 3yr old and our 1yr old in there classes (nursery and children’s church) and went to service. We essentially dropped off our kids with strangers, people whom we did not know anything about, except the church provided them to watch after our kids for. It is a nerve-racking thing to leave your kids in someone else’s hands even if it were someone you knew let alone strangers.

Here we are people on this earth and God put His son in our hands completely trusting us with Him. I am not only talking about 2000 yrs ago we all know how that ended. I am mainly talking about today, here and now. We are called to be the body of Christ in the world…

Did you get that?
We are the BODY of Christ.
We are supposed to be Christ to the world, all of us (believers), working together, to be representatives of Christ, to act on Christ’s behalf.
To be Christ.
We are given God’s son to tend to in the world!
We are given the scripture to be stewards of, to teach and spread.
We have a deep and hefty responsibility.

I look around and see the disdain people have towards Christians. I think of a boss I once had that told me he would not hire Christians because they are lazy and take advantage. I think of the people standing behind the pulpit and using the bible for their own gain. I think of petty arguments and divisions in churches. I think of the crusades. I think of so many things and I am sure you can add a couple to the list yourself.

We have been given Jesus!
HOW WE HAVE ABUSED HIM!!!

Repent and cling to the Grace of God.

Just something I was thinking about.

about smoking my pipe.

2009-09-21T15:02:00.003-07:00

I was sitting in my backyard watching my boys run and play, Caleb my 3yr old would sprint from one side to the other and Zackary my 1yr old would do his best to keep up. I sat watching them play and laugh as I tried and tried to light my pipe. After several attempts, I finally had a good burn going. I sat watching my boys and watching the thick smoke from the pipe slowly and elegantly float up. It moved so smoothly, strangely, mysteriously dancing around itself. Have you ever noticed that no matter where you are sitting you end up getting a face full of smoke?
Watching the smoke reminds me of the bowls of incense in revelation.

Rev 5:8

…bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

No grand spiritual idea here just something I was thinking about.

about routers.

2009-09-20T12:39:00.001-07:00

I was recently trying to set up a wireless router at my home that not only worked with my computer but also did not affect my XBOX playing. In this process of trial and error, I became acquainted with the terms Dynamic, and Static. Do you have a dynamic IP address or a static one? My router was asking me its own fancy way; does you IP address change (dynamic) or stay the same (static)?
I hear many people describe their church or worship service as dynamic. The interesting thing is I have been to many churches. They all seem the same. There are a few differences of course like is the music from the 1880’s or the 1980s but the basic layout is the same. It goes something like this. Welcome song followed by opening prayer and announcements then some more songs old or new or some mixture of both, then collect the offering during which time there is a music solo of some kind if not a solo then the church choir will sing some sort of song then the preaching and after that usually dismissed to another song.

dy·nam·ic - 1also dy·nam·i·cal \-mi-kəl\ a : of or relating to physical force or energy b : of or relating to dynamics2 a : marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change b : energetic, forceful

Of course one could argue that there service is dynamic because of the “energy” or the “productivity”
A never changing Church hour sounds more static to me.

stat·ic - 1 : exerting force by reason of weight alone without motion 2 : of or relating to bodies at rest or forces in equilibrium3 : showing little change 4 a : characterized by a lack of movement, animation, or progression b : producing an effect of repose or quiescence 5 a : standing or fixed in one place : stationary b of water : stored in a tank but not under pressure 6 : of, relating to, or producing stationary charges of electricity : electrostatic 7 : of, relating to, or caused by radio static
“Without Motion”, “showing little change”, “lack of movement”, “fixed in one place”, “stationary charges of electricity”.

Let us not be like the boy who rubs the balloon on his head hoping for his hair to stand up.

Just Something I was thinking about.

about bus stop benches.

2009-09-19T13:53:00.018-07:00

9-11-01, there have been many memorials constructed to honor this day and the Americans who died. There have been memorials in song, in poem, in structure, and in sticker. However, none as pitiful and unworthy a monument as one I recently found.

A bus stop bench.

Normally as one sits waiting for the bus you could enjoy advertisements for a local restaurant or real estate agent but this bench had bigger aspirations bigger dreams it was not going to feature a $15.95 oil change it had a bigger purpose.

“9-11-01, WE WILL NOT FORGET, GOD BLESS THE USA”

It stood proudly in the Arizona sun paint-cracking, picture fading; the plastic that once protected the message held within was beginning to turn yellow. The dusty dirty bench where dusty dirty people sit did the best it could.

It could not compose a song, for it did not know music
It was not pretty or shiny, for its home was in the dirt and the sun.
It was not a multimedia show with a fireworks finale; it only had three colors and one font to work with.
It was not a sculpture, carefully formed
It was a bench, a dirty old bench.
Not an artistic bench made of stone displaying a plaque
It was not to be beautiful
It was practical.

Give tired feet rest and display a grand message in the most simple and unworthy manner.

While all its bench buddies lived in the status quo…
it strived to be something more.

It gave all that it had (even though it was not much) to display a noble message

Maybe it was not a pathetic display but an honorable one.

I think of the widow and her 2 mites and what Jesus said about her and I think of the parable of the talents and the servant who buried his.

When the master returns this bus stop bench will receive a great reward

But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on." Mark 12:42-44

18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money… 24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matt 24:18,24-30

Just something, I was thinking about.

about punctuation.

2009-09-18T14:41:00.003-07:00

Exclamation point! Comma, Period.

A message from God.

I Love You!
Exclamation point! With all my heart! With all my emotions! My Joy! My anger! My hurt! The kind of love that jumps on sofas! With every ounce of emotion in the universe, I love you! The love that weeps, that laughs, that rebukes, the love that goes to the cross. I love you Exclamation Point!

I Love You,
Comma, pause, consider. These three words cannot contain my love for you. Comma, there is more to be added. I love you comma, no matter what. I love you comma, with all my soul. I love you comma, when you are not lovable. Your mind cannot contain, or begin to understand how much I love you. Pause, consider, marvel, fathom.

I Love You.
Period. Statement made. Fact. With all of my mind. I love you. Period. It is undeniable. It is beyond emotion. It is. I love you. The choice has been made. I have decided. It is settled. Period. No more discussion.

Matt 22:37
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind

1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us

Just something I was thinking about.

about interruptions.

2009-09-17T15:42:00.003-07:00

It was 8:39pm, my bedroom lights were off I was wrapped up in my blankie and I was falling asleep. The sound of the bedroom door creaking and little footsteps made me aware that I had a visitor. I lay still, maybe he will go away... or maybe he will come get my attention, either way it was fine with me. My 3yr old boy walked over to my side of the bed turned on the light looked me in the eye calling my name demanding my attention.
"Daddy mommy says she love you."
A big hug off with the lights and my visitor was gone.

3:09am comes the most horrible sound in the world, my alarm clock. I stagger out of bed half awake thoughts of the night before come to my head.

What a purely motivated interruption of my world, "daddy mommy says she love you".

Sometimes we are rudely awaken, or there are other interruptions in our plan that are not so purely motivated.

I suddenly thought of Jesus coming to earth with a message similar to the message my son brought to me.

" I Love you, God Loves You!"

Jesus brought to us a message with 100% pure, good and righteous motives, a message that was not from him but from the father. His message would interrupt our lives forever... how do we respond to it?

I could have scolded my son for turning on the light for bothering me when I wanted sleep, but why?

Jesus came turned on the lights, called our name, demanded our attention, delivered his message, and how did we respond?

Just something I was thinking about.