Will You Join Me?

I was saved in a very legalistic (many rules to keep) environment. I felt like as a Christian one had to read their bible daily, go to church every time the doors were open, etc. Now, those are good things but you can do that and be a lousy Christian or maybe not even one at all. I guess I am a recovering Pharisee. I still struggle mainly with other people’s shortcomings (Pharisees usually fail to see their own). See that is what a Pharisee does. He measures people. Usually people he does not even really know.

I now want to give GRACE & JESUS.

I will seek to lead my life toward those that are hurting. Some will not understand. I cannot help them all but I can do something.

Will you join me? Please leave a comment to let me know. 

What Do We Have to Offer?

Mary Anne and I had a refreshing time at the beach last week and are encouraged to come back to continue God’s call on our lives. As we left the beach we stopped by the donut shop at about 10:45 on Sunday. As I surveyed the people there were those who appeared to be coming by after/before church and those who did not appear to have church on the agenda. I realize there is certain risk in trying to make that distinction by how someone looks/dresses, but I did. This question crossed my mind, “What does the church have to offer that is worth all the trouble?” I think I have just three simple answers: Jesus, a faith family and eternal hope. Therefore, should we not make Jesus, our faith family and eternal hope our priorities? We have nothing to offer greater than Jesus. A faith family that really cares is always special. Hope is missing in so many lives so let us have eternity on the brain. Fall in love today with Jesus, your faith family and let us all look to our eternal prize with great hope. 

2 Cor 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 

Jesus Stuff

I overheard a student at the University of Alabama say yesterday,  “I’ve Got Enough Jesus Stuff”. Now she was at Get On Board Day and was walking down the church portion of those seeking to get the students to see that their cause was worth a student’s time. They were getting t-shirts, cups, water, drinks, biscuits, etc. There was a lot of Jesus stuff given away, but that statement just caught my attention. I think there are a few ways to think about that statement. Now, I saw her make it and I think I know what she meant, but I will get to that shortly.

Here are just a few thoughts about “I think I have enough Jesus stuff!”

Ω   You can have “Jesus stuff” and not have Jesus.

Ω   “Jesus stuff” can be good things like faith, hope and love.

Ω   “Jesus stuff” can be religious clutter getting in your way of really experiencing Jesus.

Ω   “Jesus stuff” can be just like all stuff that we have in our lives.

The students statement came off as a dig at Christians. I think she can be right at times. There are times when we are more concerned with giving away “Jesus stuff “ than we are Jesus. We want to give away our programs, events, churches, groups, opinions, denominations, etc and never tell them about Jesus. I think what many Christian organization did yesterday was one great way to reach the students at the UofA, but let us not stop there. Let us seek to give them Jesus. 

Book Review - Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola hit the spot. They seek to give us Jesus and not some watered down version of Him. If one could erase all their brain has stored about who they think Jesus is, and let this book guide them through the Scriptures they might end up in a different place in their belief system.

It seems like Jesus has just become some cool guy in a pair of sandals hanging out at the local coffee shop. As they present in this challenging book, Jesus is much more. He might would be that guy in the coffee shop but He would be the main guy in the coffee shop. He is not some second rate person who is around to make everyone feel good about themselves. He is the all powerful, never surprised, amazing Savior and Lord. Western society seems to have produced this Jesus that looks very little like the one seen in the word of God. Take the time to read this book and be challenged in your life as it relates to Christ. 

Invisible

How much in your world has become invisible? What color is the house that is three doors down from you? Who did you walk by yesterday and did not see? Who in your world is invisible? We live such fast paced lives that we do not see the world around us. There will be people at work who will show us through our facial expressions that they are hurting. There will be people who wait on us that really need someone to pray for them. A poor person will need just a little for food. A thought for you today - Look around and see who you have not seen. Many who Jesus ministered to were people who had become invisible to society. Who are your invisibles?

WHO REALLY NEEDS CHURCH?

I have been a Christian since Dec 15, 1985. During the years since, I have spent most of that time on church staff. I have had great experiences with church and some really hard experiences. Now, understand that when I use the word church I am talking about a local body of believers. There have been times when I have had great faith (trust) in the church and times that I almost lost my faith (trust) in the church. It has been a vacillating relationship. Right now I am having one of the best times of my life in my relationship with the church and especially with Lord of the Harvest. This week I have been building my sermon for Sunday and guess what my topic is - CHURCH. I have gained a much deeper appreciation for the local church during this study. I have a couple of quotes that are part of my sermon I want to share. 

J.F. Powers wrote in Wheat that Springeth Green, "This is a big old ship, Bill, She creaks, she rocks, she rolls, and at times she makes you want to throw up. But she gets where she is going. Always has , always will, until the end of  time. With or without you."

Archbishop William Temple said, "The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exist for the benefit of its non-members."

Brian Kay in The Relevant Church wrote, "It is impossible to be a follower of Christ and not be part of a local church."

St. Cyprian put it this way, "No one can have God as FAther who does not also have the church as Mother."

These are very high opinions of the church. We all know that Christ had a high view of the church as did the Apostle Paul. They saw the church as a living organism not an organization with its rules and codes. They did not speak of denominations or divisions in a positive nature. The body of Christ is His way to reach and teach a lost and dying world. A world in an amazing amount of hurt, uncertainty, confusion and chaos. The Church should be bringing answers to a world that has many questions. Answers of hope and future. Not answers of despair. The Church has a high calling. Let us, all churches and especially Lord of the Harvest, be Christ to the world. Your world is your sphere of influence. Let us work together to create and enable fully functioning followers of Jesus Christ. 

Who really needs church? Well, for one, I do.  

Belief Systems

It is amazing how some things are so connected that one cannot sustain itself without the other. Consider what I call the 7 Intrinsic Truths: God, Bible, Sin, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Church and Christian Living.

God loves you so He gave you His word, the Bible, which reveals our sin for which He sent Jesus Christ to die and be resurrected from the dead and He gave us His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) so that we can be His church and live the Christian life.

This is the system that God put in place so that each of us can achieve all that He has planned for our life. If your system of belief is off it affects everything. If your view of God is wrong nothing else is right. If your view of the Bible is wrong, nothing else is right. If your view of sin is off, everything else is off. If you view of Jesus is wrong, nothing else is right. If your view of the Holy Spirit is wrong, nothing else is right. If your view of church is wrong, nothing else is right. If your view of Christian living is wrong, everything is affected.

We all should take the time to make sure our belief system is right.