If God showed His love to us by having Christ die for us...

...then why don't we 'GET' IT... and why don't we REST IN IT!!!

Ok, ok, count me in as one who has fallen short of fully understanding, acknowledging and appreciating the love of God 100% of the time! But let's always encourage each other in the truth, eh!

For one reason or another I was thinking about my parents today and how I grew up 'in church' (my dad is a pastor), although I didn't really have much or any of a 'commitment' to Christ. I began thinking about how as a teenager I didn't really pay a whole lot of attention in church, although I think I've always been a believer, as far back as I can remember. And I remember that there were a few words and/or Bible verses that were repeated each and every week that couldn't help but get stuck in my mind no matter what my level of attention was. I bring this up because I think that hearing these words repeated every week most likely played a big part in the foundation I now have of God's love. Even if I didn't hear anything else that was said or done, I do know that I heard the Good News every Sunday morning.

One of the verses that my dad repeated each week during the service was John 3:16. And now it's sort of coming back to me that perhaps he recited the next verse along with it too, but I'm not totally sure of that. (John 3:17 is just as crucial as John 3:16 when it comes to truly understanding the good news). Anyway, the main verse I want to focus on right now is Romans 5:8. I think (although I'm not totally certain) that my dad read this from the Revised Standard Version:

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

There are two things I want to point out here. 1) (Just to repeat...) This is good news! 2) This is the TRUTH!

While we were sinners, Christ died for us. This is one way that we can actually see and know and understand the love of God. God didn't wait till we got our acts together and did things that showed Him that we loved Him. If that were His plan, He'd be waiting for all eternity! But the fact that God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for us demonstrates His love for us. It shows His love for us. It proves His love for us. No matter how we look at it, we cannot escape the truth of His love for us. He sent His Son to die for us while we were sinners.

So... if we know God's love by the fact that while we were sinners Christ died for us, then we have a much better basis for understanding His unstoppable, unconditional love for us as holy and righteous saints who just happen to sin sometimes!

Think about it. Christ didn't die for us in order to make us question God's love for us!

Sick and on the mend

It's amazing what a little bug can do. I mean, a little virus. At least that's what they think I have. An infection that has caused swelling in just a small part of my body (my inner ear) has caused things to happen in me that have left me nothing short of miserable! I began feeling slightly dizzy on Saturday afternoon, but by the time I opened my eyes on Sunday morning, the whole room was spinning around, and if I kept my eyes open for more than one second I felt very, very nauseous! Aggh! But I think today I'm finally beginning to get over it. Not completely, but I'm getting there. I can at least look at my computer screen without it beginning to spin around! And if I'd only known earlier that a little pill that people take for traveling sickness would have helped out tremendously, I'd have saved myself at least a little bit of agony. Well, at least I know for the future!

You understand and appreciate the value of time and people when you're down and out for a few days. Things you normally take for granted are gone and there's nothing you can do about it! "Don't know what you got till it's gone." I don't know how many times I've learned that lesson in life. But I've also come to a place in which I've learned to be more content in these situations. In the past, I would not only have been longing to feel better, but longing to be able to go and "do" all the things I love doing on a daily basis. And if I would feel even slightly better, I would forsake getting all the rest I needed to get better and I'd go and try to do some of the things I wanted to do. Which only prolonged the illness.

This time, I pretty much just stayed on the couch and slept most of the day and all night! I didn't touch my computer for two days... which is a miracle for me! Well, a record anyway. Today I'm able to get caught up on a few things, but yet I'm sensing that I need to still rest and drink plenty of fluids and all that good stuff. My kids are off school today, but fortunately they're at ages in which they can pretty much play by themselves and they don't "need" me so much while my wife is at work. I'll think I'll go get them some lunch and then it's off again to la la land for a while this afternoon!

Let me be

I am what I am and that's all that I am, I'm Popeye the Sailor Man!

And in Christ, what "I am" is quite a lot! And what "I am" is quite unique. By the grace of God, I am what I am (1 Cor 15:10) and even if you try to shape me into something else I still am what God has made me to be and not necessarily what you want me to be. Also, you are what God has made you to be and not necessarily what I want you to be!

And this is GOOD!

But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. (1 Cor 12:18-20)

Paul is using the illustration of a human body to describe what God has done (and continues to do) collectively with all of us who are in Christ.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. (1 Cor 12:12)

Who I am in the body is not who you are in the body. Who you are is not who I am. We are not who someone else is. But together, when we all are who we are, we form one body. And the body works.

But if I'm trying to be someone other than myself, or if someone is trying to be me, or if someone is trying to get you or me to be something else other that what we are, then things may not work so well.

Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? (1 Cor 12:29-30)

Do all do the same things I do? Do all do the same things you do? Does the big toe pump blood through the body? Does the elbow work to bend the ribcage? Is the body supposed to lift with its back??? Each part is unique and has its proper purposes, as well as limitations. Sometimes in ignorance, or out of envy, or for whatever other reasons, we'll try to "be" some other part of the body, or we'll expect others to "be" like the part that we are. But the Head of Christ's body - Jesus Himself - will never send the wrong signals to the wrong parts of the body to do the things that they were not created to do within the body.

So let me "be." And I'll let you "be." Together, as we "be," the members of the body will work together as one body. And please, encourage me in who I am. And I'll encourage you in who you are.

Titus 34567

Titus 3:4-7
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
NIV

And I might add: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Just Come In

Beautiful song here. Margaret Becker's song, "Just Come In," recorded by someone else simply with a guitar and her voice.



What do I see you draggin' up here
Is that for your atoning?
I know you're sorry
I've seen your tears
You don't have to show Me
What makes you think you must
Make that go away
I forgot
When I forgave
I wish you would

Chorus
Just come in
Just leave that right there
Love does not care
Just come in
Lay your heart right here
You should never fear

You think you've crossed
Some sacred line
And now I will ignore you
If you look up
You will find
My heart is still toward you
Look at the sky
The east to the west
That's where I threw this
When you first confessed
Let it go now

Chorus

I will forgive you
No matter what you've done
No matter how many times
You turn and run
I love you
I wish you'd come

---

Note... I know some of you would say that there are a couple of unnecessary lines in this song (having to do with confessing and being forgiven over and over again) - and I agree - but the overall message of the song is wonderful and it's a very soothing, comforting song about God's love, grace and acceptance.

Successful Christian living

Heard these quotes from Paul-Anderson Walsh as I listened to the message he preached while at Hope Fellowship in Canada.

"The key to living a successful Christian life is failing at being a Christian."

"God will not partner with self-sufficiency."

The entire "Deep Calls To Deep" message can be heard here. (Note: the audio is quiet at first, but is eventually turned up). Paul really digs deep into not just being confident of who we are in Christ for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the world. And more than simply knowing about who we are in Christ, and more than knowing about God's wonderful grace, but actually knowing God.

More things Paul didn't say...

Please bear with me as I think out loud some more. :) These are all things I've thought a lot about over the years but have pretty much kept it to myself. To repeat something I said earlier, here's what Paul said about God providing for his own needs through the Philippian church: "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."

Notice what Paul didn't say. (I mentioned some other things in the "God's supply" post, but here are some more thoughts). Paul didn't say, "For I have learned that in whatever state I am, if I will just tithe ten percent of my income, God will pour out the windows of heaven so much that I won't even be able to contain the blessing!" He didn't say, "For I have learned that in whatever state I am, if I will sow my $77 seed, I will reap a great harvest - a hundred fold - and all my debts will be resolved and I'll be able to move into a much larger house!" He didn't say, "For I have learned that if I just dig in and give more and of myself - of my time, treasure and talents - then God will bless me abundantly.

Notice again the things that happened to Paul as a result of his sacrificial living for the sake of the gospel:

Beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep, in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of his own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness... (from 2 Cor. 11).

If we modern day western Christians had to deal with even one of these things, would we wonder if perhaps we were "out of God's will," or that He was disciplining or punishing us for some reason, or that we simply weren't blessed like the person driving that Cadillac over there?

Regarding the Philippians themselves, Paul didn't congratulate them for fulfilling some biblical principle of giving. He didn't say, "Wow, you gave generously and so now God will pay you back by blessing you!" He did say that their sacrificial giving was "a sweet-smelling aroma, and acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God." So don't read me wrong, I'm not saying that their gift to Paul meant nothing to God. What I'm getting at is that this was not at all about a principle of giving so that God will reward you. Paul was confident that "my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." But this had nothing to do with God paying the Philippians back or rewarding them for their generosity. God will supply all their need, not according to a principle of "you give, I'll reward you," but rather according to His GRACE... according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING that God gives us in Christ Jesus - all His riches in glory in Christ Jesus - cannot be earned!

I don't see Paul preaching at the Philippians (or at anyone else) a message aimed at trying to get them to give generously for any other reason except from a cheerful, willing heart.

Do we have it backwards in the church today? There seems to be a lot of preaching about us giving in order to get the Lord to open up His storehouses and pour out blessings on us. Isn't it true instead, that He gives abundantly to us (perhaps materially, perhaps not), and we give as He enables us, and as our hearts grow in our understanding of His generosity?

The abundant life...

Terry Rayburn has recorded another excellent program for Grace Walk Radio this week. In this week's program, entitled "Is The Abundant Life Only For Heaven?", Terry brings up too many great points to discuss here (so I encourage you to listen to it - it's about 14 minutes). But part of his program really goes along well with thoughts I've had for a long time about God's supply for the Christian. We modern day western Christians think of God's supply, and His "blessings," in terms that are so different from many people in other parts of the world.

While flipping through the TV channels a few weeks ago (part of my blessed, abundant life, right?), I came across a program that is essentially a "Christian" version of American Idol. The contestants are all Christians, and it all has to do with Christian music. The winner that night spewed all the usual Christian jargon. Stuff like: "I just know God has blessed me." "I just know that God was with me in this all the way."

Well, what about the losers? They're Christians too. Has God not been with them? Has God not blessed them?

And then tonight I just happened to catch part of a show called "The Next Great American Band" (from the producers of American Idol). Well, one of the bands in the contest was known as the Clark Brothers. I was truly amazed at their performance. Turns out that these 3 brothers are members of a family with a total of 11 siblings. They described their father as a traveling evangelist. The lyrical content of the song they performed was definitely "Christian." The three judges could not say enough great things about them, and they moved on to the next level of the competition with no problems. Well, you know where I'm going with this. The brothers said they felt "blessed" about being given this opportunity to move on to the next round.

So my question... Is this what it means to be blessed by God? To have the opportunity to win competitions? What if a Christian enters a competition and doesn't win? Is he or she still "blessed?"

Well, back to Terry's program. Terry speaks of a friend of his, a retired physician, who had just returned with his wife from a trip to Malawi, a country in Africa. This retired physician was well-qualified to compare the differences between the medical help that was available in the United States with the medical help (or lack thereof) that was available in Malawi. In this physician's home town here in the U.S., there is a hospital with two hundred beds and more than six hundred physicians. Over 200 of these physicians are specialists. But the hospital he saw in Malawi had several hundred beds... but just ONE physician.

It's reported that 14.2% of the population in Malawi has HIV/AIDS. Almost 100,000 people per year die from AIDS. The people of Malawi, according to this physician, eat maize three times a day, mostly made into a form of grits. 6% of the people of Malawi have electricity. And basically, the people have very little opportunity to do anything about this way of life.

"And yet," says Terry, "there is a vibrant Christian community in Malawi." See, this community of Christians is not relying on what we understand as blessings and prosperity in order to have an abundant, vibrant Christian life.

So, who's got it right? Us or them? Are we "blessed" and living in "God's supply" because we have all our physical and material needs met? What if we can't come up with the mortgage payment this month? What if we pray hard and we still don't receive our "need?" What if little Johnny has holes in his shoes but we can't afford to buy him a new pair? Are we only living in God's supply if someone comes along and gives us money to buy a pair of shoes? As per my last post, is that really what Paul means by "my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus?"

What if we're working hard to spread the gospel, "laboring more abundantly" than others, as Paul said he was, by the grace of God, and yet we find ourselves hungry, shipwrecked, beaten, naked... etc, etc. Have we missed the supply of God?

God's supply...

Do we really get it? I mean, do we really understand "God's riches in glory by Christ Jesus?" (Phil 4:19). Do we really understand Paul's words, "God shall supply all your need...?"

This is something in which I can definitely say I am growing... and in which I can say I definitely don't have all the answers. For years my thoughts have gone back and forth and side to side. Two steps to the left. One step to the right. Nine steps backwards. One and a half steps forwards.

But I'd like to share my current thoughts, and see what anyone else might have to say. In particular, I'd like to focus in on Philippians 4:10-20, Matthew 6:8-15 ("The Lord's prayer" and Jesus' commentary) and Matthew 6:31-34 ("seek first... and all these things shall be added to you"). Ok, really all of Matthew 6, but just these few verses to keep it short. I'll try to be straight up about my thoughts, while remaining open to any and all comments.

Paul tells the Philippians that he rejoiced that their care for him had flourished. He essentially says that he always knew they cared, but they hadn't had the opportunity to show it. As the following verses show, they had cared for Paul by providing for him in some physical/material ways. However... and this is where it gets very interesting for me... Paul tells them that none of what he's about to say really has anything to do with his NEEDS being met (verse 11). He says that he has learned that no matter what state he is in, whether "abased" or "abounding," whether he's "full" or "hungry," and whether he's "abounding" or "suffering need," he's content. His physical "need" is not really need at all. It's not what really matters because... "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Take some time to prayerfully read through Philippians 4:10-13.

The next few verses speak of how the Philippians had also previously provided for him (vss 14-16). But here's the thing that really sticks out to me in regards to Paul's maturity in Christ. His whole point is given in verse 17. "NOT THAT I SEEK THE GIFT, BUT I SEEK THE FRUIT THAT ABOUNDS TO YOUR ACCOUNT." It seems that to Paul, the whole point of the matter is NOT that God has provided for him, but that he was joyful that the fruit of God was abounding through these people.

In other words, for Paul it's not about God providing for him in his need, as seems to always be our mindset when we think of God's supply and provision. It's about God working in and through His people. Paul acknowledges that, having received what they sent him, he was now abounding and full (materially), and that their sacrifice was "a sweet smelling aroma, well pleasing to God." He then adds, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (verse 19).

So, about that "supply" thing... can I be blunt? We tend to rip this single verse (verse 19) right out of the Bible, and quote it with confidence, saying that we know that God will always provide all our material needs. But here's my question, in regards to the true meaning of this verse. If it really means what we've always taken it to mean, then WHY didn't Paul simply claim it for himself, starting in verse 11? Why didn't he simply say, "For I have learned that in whatever state I am, God will always provide for all my needs?" He didn't say that. He said that he has learned to be content whether or not all his physical/material needs are met! He has learned to be both abased (lowered, humbled, degraded) and abounding, both full and hungry, both abounding and suffering need.

Again, why didn't Paul say, "For I have learned that in whatever state I am, I can pray the Lord's prayer, 'give us today our daily bread,' and God will always provide for my hungry stomach and all my other physical needs?" Why didn't he simply say, "For I have learned that in whatever state I am, if I simply 'seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things will be added to me?'"

Boy, Paul must've really disregarded Jesus' teachings in a HUGE way! I mean, there's NO WAY that God would let the following words be the testimony of one of his dear children, an apostle no less, who was heeding Jesus' words. "Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness — besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches." (Paul's testimony in 2 Cor 11:25-28). Paul must not have had a proper revelation of God's supply and provision!!!

Or... did he have a revelation of God's supply and provision in a way that we just can't seem to understand here in the modern day western world?

As usual, I've gone long here and I'll have to break this up into more than one post...

Good 'n Evil

A question came up in my small group meeting last Tuesday. "Do you believe you can have deep, impacting relationships with others without being connected to God? Why or why not?"

Well, I know that there are many, many people in this world who are not "connected to God" who have deep, meaningful, impacting, lasting relationships with other people. And so that's basically how I answered the question. It's very possible for people who don't know Jesus to live as part of vibrant communities. I realize this answer is controversial within the borders of the stained-glass windows of churchianity, but I'll explain more about where I'm coming from as this post continues. The main thing I said in our small group is that it happens all the time: people who don't know Jesus will care for each other, lean on each other, admonish each other, etc.

Well, the conversation quickly turned, and this gets to the subject of this post. It turned into a discussion about how people who don't know Christ will live in community with each other... but it's always a "bad" type of community. They'll go and meet in the bars. They'll party in their homes. Their deep, impacting relationships, apart from being connected to God, are "bad."

I was somewhat frustrated with how the conversation so quickly turned that way. I pretty much kept quiet on the subject after that, for my own personal reasons. I'm just so amazed at how easily we view only the "evil" side of sinners. Do we not realize that Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? We make a point in Christianity that people are born "in Adam" as sinners. Sin means "miss the mark." It's very true that "sin" misses the mark of God's righteousness. But missing the mark does not just mean evil behavior. It also includes being good! Some of the best behaved people in the world do not know Christ and will die in their sin. Some of the "goodest" communities in the world are made up of people who don't know Christ.

We know that we know that we know that we know that there are people who do not know Jesus who would DIE for their friends, neighbors, relatives and even for people they don't know. And they would do all of this without thinking for a moment that it has anything to do with being connected to God. The "good" part of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil can certainly be more prevalent in some people than in others. And so, while many people do take part in "bad" communities and "bad" fellowship, there are also many who take part in really, really "good" communities and fellowship.

Where I'm going with all this has to do with how we view people who don't know Christ, and how we relate to them. It seems to be a common thought and practice among Christians that we will be "tainted" if we spend time with those "bad" sinners, but yet if we're surrounded by "good-behaving" people, even if they don't know Christ, we'll be just fine. And there is some validity to that. Bad company does corrupt good character. And I've most certainly taken great advice from "good" sinners and have sometimes looked at some of them as examples of great character.

But the main point is... As we grow in grace, and as we grow in the knowledge of Jesus, and of who we are in Him and who He is in us, then I think we can get more and more away from always being in "defensive" mode when around "evil" sinners. And rather than living with the fear that they'll taint us, we can instead live with the expectation that God will shine through us. That said, something I always try to make clear is that growing in grace is a process, and some of us really should think twice when it comes to spending time with those who might corrupt our character. This isn't a "lawful" principle and it's not a matter of me being fearful that anyone will lose their salvation by giving into temptation. It's more "practical" than anything else.

And here's what I believe is a very important key in all this. We're not out to change BAD people to GOOD. We're not out to lead people from one side of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to the other side of the SAME tree! Salvation isn't a matter of bad people becoming good people. It's a matter of dead people becoming alive! So the same holds true with sinners who have predominantly "good" behavior. We're not out to glorify their good behavior and tell them how wonderful it is to see people with such great morals. They are also dead, having eaten from the same tree as the "evil" people, and our hope - no matter what their behavior - is to lead them to the Tree of Life, which is the Person, Jesus Christ!

Valley of Decision - video

Christafari - Valley of Decision


Joel 3:14-21

Run, come and fall people take heed to His call
Valley of Decision. Valley of Decision.
This is no game, people have to die in His name
Valley of Decision. Valley of Decision.

Darkness it looms all around us, I find it hard to see.
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
Whether I should stay or whether I should flee.
People all around me seem, they seem to be so sad.
I see them cry, I hear them bawl, I see them back against the wall
I wish I could wipe away those tears.

There's a Holy, a Holy hill
Holy Mount Zion, Holy, Holy Mount Zion (Heb 12:22).
Just know that He's the Lord your God,
Yeah, in this Valley of Decision, Valley of Decision.

Even though I run through the Hills and Valleys
I fear no evil cause God is with me.
Even though I run through the Hills and Valleys
Thy rod and staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).

Jah Great and dreadful day will soon come (Joel 2:11).
Jah will pour out His mighty, mighty, mighty Spirit
To all mankind (Acts 2:17).
Through Him all creation, all creation was made (John 1:3).
Those who call upon His name
Call on His name and you will be saved (Rom 10:13).

Valley of Decision

Several years ago, as I was just beginning to understand what it means to live in grace, I had a decision to make. I was part of a church in which there was quite a bit of legalism. I wouldn't say that these people were the "dogs," or the "mutilators of the flesh" that Paul talked about in Philippians. I believe that most of these people were sincerely trying to live the Christian life as best they could from the understanding of the Bible that they had. But as I was beginning to grow in grace, my mindset, my heart and my understanding of the gospel were all changing, and I often felt that I was being pulled down and away from the things I was learning. It was very difficult at times.

I prayed a lot. I knew there was this church across town that taught a gospel of pure grace. I wanted to leave my church and go to that church, but I had two issues to deal with. One was my wife (actually, she was my fiancée at the time). She'd been part of our church for much longer than I had and I knew it would be hard for her to leave. Secondly, and mainly, what did God want me to do? Should I stay or should I go?

I remember pulling up to the house where I lived at the time. A song came on the radio that I had heard many times, but had never really clicked with me. However, God spoke to me at that particular time, through that particular song, regarding that particular situation. The song was probably actually a culmination of a lot of things He had been showing me at the time.

The song was "Valley of Decision" by a 'Christian' reggae band Christafari (a song from the same album as "Modern Day Pharisee"). The lyrics "whether I should stay or whether I should flee" were exactly what I was dealing with, and God spoke to me through the words, "This is no game, people have to die in His name, valley of decision," and also, "People all around me seem to be so sad. I see them cry, I see them bawl, I see them back against the wall, I wish I could wipe away those tears."

I began bawling myself, and I made the decision to stay, based upon what I truly believe was God's word to me at that particular time. People are hurting due to legalism, and I want to be there to give them words of life. I knew it would be hard and uncomfortable. Not only would I have to hear the legalism being preached, but I also knew that my own words would not be accepted by some, if not many people. But even in those early days, God was showing me how love superseded everything else. And... I knew I would have to keep myself encouraged in the grace of God through books and tapes, and through fellowship with one friend in particular. If I wouldn't have had all that, I couldn't have done it.

Well, after we got married, my wife and I began to lead a College and Career group there, and it was pretty exciting for me as a leader to be sharing grace and truth with these young people (who were really only a little younger than us at the time). Some of them really weren't receptive, and they spoke up, but it never got heated. Some of them were just there for the "fellowship." But I do think that some of them also grew in their understanding of God's unconditional love and grace. AND... I grew a lot during that time as well!

The point I'm making here is different than in the "Beware of Dogs" series. "Those dogs, those mutilators of the flesh," are to be kept as far away from us as possible, I believe. Jesus didn't try to convert the Pharisees, as far as what I can tell. He called them bad names and He stood up for those who were under their so-called "authority." But yet we find Jesus having a conversation with a Pharisee named Nicodemus, giving him words of life. We find him being there to comfort those who had been under the heavy burden of legalism. And He spent three years with 12 men who sometimes seemed thick in the head when it came to understanding God's love and grace, but He didn't run from them. He embraced them. That's what I'm talking about here.

The most important thing here is prayer. What God did with me is what God did with me. He may do the same with you or He may do something completely different. But I encourage you to pray, to seek God and to listen as He speaks to your heart in regards to the situations in your life in which you deal with legalistic people. He may tell you to flee as far away as you can, or He may have other plans. Just as we look beyond the evil deeds of "sinners" so that we can lead them to Jesus, I believe that there are cases, when we are Spirit-led, in which He'll have us embrace those who we don't see eye to eye with. And all too often it's for our own growth.

After much continued prayer, my wife and I did eventually leave that church, and we began attending that other church in which we heard solid grace teaching for three solid years! I was very sad when our group dispersed, but yet I took it as an opportunity to take this message of love and grace wherever I went. I've had many "valley of decision" times since then. Sometimes I've stayed and sometimes I've fleeeeeeeeed! Thank God that He doesn't have us doing this thing on our own. :)

Modern Day Pharisee

No, I'm not obsessed with legalism, legalists and modern day Pharisees, even though my last few posts may make it look that way! But this is all so real and so prevalent in the church today. I know it has hurt people deeply, and has even caused various people to get as far away from a relationship with God as they can.

In my next post I'll show sort of another side of the coin, a side in which I have made decisions based upon God's leading to embrace others who have legalism mixed in with their true relationship with Jesus, mainly because it's what they've always been taught, and not so much because they have hearts that desire to bind people with heavy burdens.

But for now, here's a song about those modern day "dogs" from a reggae band named Christafari. I copied these lyrics from another site, so I don't know about the validity of all the lyrics here, but the point comes across nonetheless!

Christafari - Modern Day Pharisee

(Chorus):
Judgment! Enough of them run up their mouths with their Bad lip service. Blah blah boom boom. They say that they are bonafide but them bones fe fry. They try to give you respect but they give you disrespect. Contangarous, Friendenemy. They are a big disturbance!
Modern Day Pharisee you didn't have to judge me, Modern Day Pharisee you can do no wrong, no wrong, I said you can do no wrong, no wrong.

Look the way that you live your righteousness worn on your sleeve. You're working so hard to be good to convince that you've done your duty. You are a pillar of society. A righteous man you claim to be. So well respected in your church, you know it's by grace you've been saved and that not of your works Modern Day Pharisee.

(Chorus)

You tie your heavy load and throw it upon my back, and if I stumbled and fell to the floor you'd pursue with a viscous attack. You love to sit and accuse, and go so far to inflict abuse. Are you really out for blood? Don't forget that we all fall short of the glory of God Modern Day Pharisee. Modern Day Pharisee you love to shine brightly. Modern Day Pharisee you didn't have to judge me.

Boy you go on like you are article, but your artificial
Back stabber, Go have His mercy!
(Chat Chorus):
See the hypocrites and parasites bite. Plastic smile they love to shine bright. See the hypocrites and parasites bite. Concrete hearts. Watch this!

Jesus He turn over the tables, and He let loose the doves, it is time to rebuke, that means to encourage in love. Crack the whip and stop the bad lip service when you speak. What makes you go on acting like you're meek.

(Chat Chorus)

Modern day pharisee, Concrete hearts! You give a tenth faithfully, and even fast maybe twice a week. Yet you judge me from the start? Don't you know that the Lord only sees what is there in you heart Modern Day Pharisee. Modern Day Pharisee you love to shine brightly. Modern Day Pharisee you didn't have to judge me.

They're a brood of Vipers, they would pluck you off one by one just like a sniper. They lash out there tongue like a lethal weapon. They don't deal with a relationship (with God) just religion.

Beware of dogs - Part 4

Beware. Dogs are on the loose. Some of them are running rampantly through your city and some of them are sitting there inside the fences and behind the pulpits, looking nice and friendly, but are ready to pounce upon you once they get a chance.

They can't let you have too much freedom because that will only lead to a licentious, sinful lifestyle. If they give you just an inch, they know you'll take a mile. They see that you might perhaps be thinking differently about something they preach, but if you don't line up to their way of thinking you are on God's list and you'd better just be quiet and get with the program. Things have always been done a certain way, and if you're not going to abide by the rules, ordinances, programs, steps, codes, principles and traditions, you'd better watch out 'cause God's gonna get ya!

They greet you with a nice wide smile, a wink, a hug, a handshake. But once the doors are closed, they make a meal out of you.

But all too often it's much more subtle than all this. They may not openly devour you, but they'll put you under just enough law and on just enough of a leash (heh... dogs putting you on a leash) so as to leave you questioning your standard of performance for God for the church. They'll give you all the steps to take to make yourself right with God or keep yourself right with God, and if you succeed they'll pile just a little more on you. And if you fail, they'll have you rededicate your sorry self back to God so you can start all over and try again, only harder this time. The joy of the Lord will come when you get your act together, and only when you get your act together!


All of this is nothing new. The early church dealt with it. Just imagine having been a Jew who had come to trust in Jesus. You'd formerly been a keeper of the Law, but one day it finally dawned on you that all the Law could do was to show you how sinful you are, and when Paul's "good news" doctrine hit you, you finally died to the Law so that you could be married to Another... to Jesus Christ. You'd heard that in Christ, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision meant anything... but only faith working through love. You were finally FREE! You were finally dead to sin and alive in Jesus Christ!

But then some people came along who weren't so fond of all this freedom in the gospel. Sure, it was great to trust in Jesus, but you still had to keep the Law and you still had to maintain a certain code of ethics in order to remain in the fellowship of believers. And so they came secretly into your church to spy on you and find out just exactly you were up to. They couldn't let this freedom thing go too far. They had to make sure that you got back into the shackles, into the traditions, into the Laws.

Yep, Paul ran into these people. And he sounded the alarm loud and clear to beware of these people and to not let them hinder the freedom that the church had found in Christ. He was rather blunt when he wrote to the Philppian church:

"Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!" (Phil 3:2)

They knew what he meant. I'm amazed today, even when we look at the context of what Paul is talking about, at how these words are taken to mean something so different! "Evil workers" is taken to mean "sinners" or people who are coming in to try to get you to sin. And "the mutilation..." What does that mean? People don't get it so they ignore it! (The NIV words it as "those mutilators of the flesh," and I think the NLT words it in such a way as to help the modern person understand it: "those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.")

That was a huge debate back in the day (whether or not one had to be circumcised in order to be saved). In the church today, we're pretty much over that. But we're pretty big on adding many other things in place of circumcision! If you don't submit to the rules, traditions, tithing (10% of your gross income), etc, and if you don't submit to the (so-called) authority of "the leadership," then you're no longer under God's protection. I'm sure we could all add stuff to the laundry list of things we've heard in church that sure might have sounded good at the time, but ended up putting us into bondage and taking away our freedom in Christ!

Paul uses some pretty strong language against legalists. In regards to circumcision, he goes so far as to say that he wishes that "those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!" (Gal 5:12). He's not talking about cutting off a hand if it causes them to sin.

Again, today we don't deal with circumcision so much as we deal with other rules, regulations, traditions, etc, that others would put us under. Some of the people may even really think they're helping us to be free by having us submit to these things. But in the end, it's only bondage. The only freedom is truly found in knowing and being known by the Lord Jesus Christ, and in walking in the freedom for which He set us free!

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Gal 5:1-6)

In the above passage, we can substitute the words "circumcision" and uncircumcision" with all the various things that people try to put us under in order to supposedly keep us right with God and on the good side of the church.

Surely we all want to live fruitful, productive Christian lives! But the bondage of religion and tradition, even if it looks good, won't get us there! Only the life of Christ, living in us and through us by faith, will achieve victory. We will be victorious and free, at the same time, when we cut off the shackles of religion and legalism and walk in the freedom for which Christ has set us free.

I could go on and on here, but this has already gotten long! I'm sure I'll pick up on it more as time goes on, and I welcome discussion on it. One last passage:

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing-if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? (Gal 3:1-5)

Beware of dogs!

See clearly

Before getting to the fourth and final part of "Beware of dogs..."

I had an unrelated thought today about Jesus' words about specks of dust and planks in our eyes.

Luke 6:41-42
41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.

One thing that has really helped me to grow in grace is understanding more and more what I am apart from grace. When I'm left to my flesh... to my own resources... things are never what they would be if I were walking according to the Spirit by the grace of God. And in all this, I've realized more and more that the only thing that ever truly causes me to walk in the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit... is God's grace and His grace alone.

I've realized that when I have a plank in my eye, the only thing that clears it up and removes the plank is pure grace. This in turn gives me much more confidence that it's only going to be pure grace that will remove the speck in other people's eyes.

In other words, it's ONLY after I've dealt with my own planks, and have seen that it's only grace that removes the planks, that I see clearly that it's only grace that will help others with their own specks.

Beware of dogs - Part 3

In this post, I'm going to attempt to answer the questions I asked in the last post. When Jesus gave the "sermon on the mount," was He:

a) ...trying to get all these people to start working on all these things so they could have righteousness that exceeded that of the scribes and Pharisees, and thereby enter the kingdom of heaven?

b) ...hoping that people would take a hold of His words as practical principles for Christian living?

Let me see if I can find the right words to describe my thoughts on both a) and b).

"No!"

There, that was easy!

I fully understand if you're shaking your head in disgust at my answer, but at least allow me to explain.

Do you really think it's possible for anyone to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect?" If we were to look at the zealous life of Saul the Pharisee, and try to compare ourselves to his performance, and then aim to be even more righteous than his "blameless" (his own words) righteousness according to the law, would any of us ever measure up? Read all of Jesus' words in Matthew 5-7, and ask yourself, is Jesus really laying out methods and principles for Christian living?

"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out..."
"If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off..."
"Whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery."
"Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
"Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Jesus says so much more. And the thing is, He means every word He says. What I've noticed about modern Christians is that they follow the words that seem doable, and they make excuses for the things that don't seem doable. OR... they say things such as:

"Jesus was just exaggerating to make a point."
"We can't really be perfect."
"We shouldn't really pluck out our eyes or cut off our hands."

"However, we really should turn the other cheek, and if someone marries a divorced woman, he does commit adultery... but at least there's forgiveness."

We basically pick and choose certain words of Jesus, and we zero in on specific sins that are mentioned here, and we essentially ignore the rest because, well, Jesus didn't really mean it.

But as I said... I think He really did mean every last word. And I believe we can summarize all of what He said with "be perfect" and "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

If you're going to follow the word of God, you have to follow it perfectly, without fault. Period. That's the end of it. If not, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

And so we're left with two basic options. Try harder or give up. As Kathy J commented in the last post, trying harder wearies us to the point of exhaustion. I mean, seriously, can you tell me that you have lived up to the words of Jesus' sermon on the mount? I know, I know... you haven't done it, but at least there's forgiveness and you can try harder tomorrow, right?

WRONG! I don't care how hard you try and I don't care how many times you think the Lord has forgiven you for failing to live up to the sermon on the mount (or any words of Jesus), the fact still remains: If you aren't perfect and if your righteousness doesn't exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you're TOAST!

So let me get to the point. If we can't be perfect and if our own righteousness will never measure up, then we need to find some other way. We need to give up our efforts to do all this and we need to cling to the ONLY way that God actually provided in order for all of this to be fulfilled in us: The perfect sacrifice of Jesus. We KNOW that the only way we can be perfect is through the blood of Jesus, so why do we somehow think that we can work the works of the sermon on the mount and actually impress God somehow???

As Kathy J also commented, what she needed was not a changed heart, but a new heart. We can try and try and try and try, and we can change a lot of things in our lives, but what we've received in Christ isn't a changed heart, but a new heart. Ezekiel, in speaking of the New Covenant, prophesied that the Lord would give us a new heart and would put a new spirit within us (Ez. 36:26).

So what we did when we came to Jesus is that we DIED to our own efforts to change. We died to struggling and striving to prove ourselves to God and to make ourselves more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees. We died to trying to be perfect. And we received freely a new heart and a new spirit. We received perfection as a gift. (See 2 Cor 5:21, Heb 10:14, Heb 7:19)

So why do we keep going back to what never worked?

"Dog" was a term of reproach used to humiliate people. Paul called false apostles "dogs." Dogs were unclean animals, and Paul used the term against those who would try to bring us back to a fleshly walk of trying to maintain righteousness by our own efforts.

So again, why do we keep going back to that? Who let the dogs out?

(Fourth and final part coming up).

Beware of dogs - Part 2

This series of posts is called "Beware of dogs" for a reason. And believe me, I'll get to it eventually!

Well, so, in Matthew 5 we have Jesus telling people to be perfect, and that unless their righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, they shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. I do realize that many scribes and Pharisees weren't on the up and up. They were "white-washed tombs," according to Jesus (see Jesus' "woes" to them in Matthew 23). They had an appearance of righteousness, but yet were unclean on the inside. However, there were also some well meaning, truly religious Pharisees who were really zealous and sincere as they tried to maintain a certain standard of living based upon the Law. (More on this later).

The Apostle Paul had been one of these Pharisees. In his former life, before coming to Christ, he had lived quite the righteous and holy life. Listen to him describe his former life as Saul the Pharisee:

"...circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." (Phil 3:5-6)

Paul said that he had quite a good reason to have confidence in himself, according to his religious performance. Let's just say that Saul had been there on the day Jesus was speaking on the mountain. Jesus could have said something like, "Everybody, look at Saul. If your righteousness does not exceed his righteousness, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

So, my first question: Was it Jesus' intention to get all these people to start working on all these things so they could have righteousness that exceeded that of the scribes and Pharisees, and thereby enter the kingdom of heaven?

And then my second question has to do with the "Christianizing" of the sermon on the mount. In churches today, we realize that we've already entered the kingdom of heaven by faith, so we've taken a different approach to all this. We pretty much preach these words of Jesus as "principles for Christian living." But I wonder... I really wonder... Is this really what Jesus was hoping people would get out of His words that day? And did the people who heard Jesus' words suddenly say, "Oh, NOW I get it! Here are some practical principles to help me in my walk of righteousness!"

Is that the point Jesus was making here?

Beware of dogs - Part 1

Jesus said, "unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 5:20). In fact, up on the mountain Jesus spoke many more words that should give anyone pause if they think that somehow their works and law-keeping is causing God to smile upon them. He first said, "Whoever breaks the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (previous verse, Matt 5:19).

Ahhhh! How wonderful to be able to keep the commandments and be called great! And at least if you don't keep them, and are called "least" in the kingdom, at least you're in, right? Well, hold on. What's that again, about your righteousness not exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees? If your righteousness does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, "you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

And not only that, but on top of all the stuff that Jesus says a person needs to do, He says "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt 5:48). And He's only getting started, folks! His, um, "sermon" goes on for two more chapters. (As a side note... did I unnecessarily use "quotes" on the word "sermon," or was it proper? - - - - Thanks to on coffee for this interesting link!)

So, let's read Matthew 5 through 7... and then let's get busy!

(Or am I missing something?) ;)

Elmer Fudd sings Bruce Springsteen

Ok, so the cleaning lady at one of the clinics I visit daily on my job accused me the other day of getting the song "Smoke on the Water" stuck in her head all throughout the evening as she went about her business. But she's the one who brought it up in the first place! I can't remember at all what we were talking about, and she mentioned those words and then I started singing it... which apparently made it stick in her head.

Well, she then proceeded to bring up another song. "Remember the song that Robin Williams sang on Saturday Night Live? He was doing some Elmer Fudd impersonation or something like that."

I remembered the song, and it actually wasn't on Saturday Night Live, but rather on a TV special (I think). So... I told her that I would now get another song stuck in her head, and I proceeded to sing this song, Elmer Fudd impersonation and all. It was qwite a wiot!

Value

"The shepherd didn't go to the hills to find the sheep because it was bleating pitifully. He went because it was valuable."

-Malcolm Smith

---
Ps 8:4-5
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than Elohim,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
---

To those I tagged...

It appears as if I've made a simple thing into something complicated... so I just want to apologize to those I "tagged" yesterday in my "250 / I've been tagged" post. I was hoping it would be fun but I think I made it into more of a chore than anything else! God is not the author of confusion, but I know that yesterday I was the author of confusion, so I hope you'll all forgive me for the error of my ways. :)

I do hope that everyone will check out the blogs of those I tagged, as well as the other blogs and websites I've linked to in the right column. There are some wonderful resources out there and I always hope to point out things that have helped, encouraged or enlightened me!

Another tag (8 random facts)

A month ago I was tagged by a MySpace friend. The purpose of this tag was simply to post 8 random facts about yourself. Well, it took me a while but I finally got to it today.

Rather than copying it and pasting it here, I'll simply link to my MySpace blog. Normally, everything you see there is what you also see here. I post the same blogs in both places. In this case I didn't do that.

Here are "8 random facts" about me. :)

250 / I've been tagged

Well, Blogger tells me that I've reached my 250th post! I've been blogging since 6/12/06, so just about a year and a third. I hope that the 249 previous posts have not been a matter of me speaking in tongues, but a matter of me speaking in love. :)

LivingSword from Life on the Blade has tagged me, so what better time than now to follow up on that. I'm not sure if I'm quite doing this right but essentially what this is about is that I'm going to link to three of my previous posts in the comments section of LivingSword's blog. I'm also going to link to them below. And also, I'm going to link to LivingSword's three posts that he chose.

And then I'm going to tag five people to do essentially the same thing! If I tag you, you can reply with your three posts here in the comments section. And don't worry... I'm not legalistic about all this stuff. If I tag you and you don't participate, or if you change it somehow, that's fine with me! This just seems like a neat way to promote your own stuff and to read some great stuff from other people.

Here's da rules:

Start tag:

This is based on the SEO theory that links to posts inside your blog are more important than links to your home page. I have selected three posts I want to promote along with my site’s name. You should do the same thing. Keep it simple and spread our good work around to both share and build some ratings! Pick three posts that you feel are your best or those you simply want to promote. Your site name is listed with your 3 selected posts beneath. Once you have your post up: Add the sites and post links of the folks you tagged onto your post. Try to add the site and post links to anyone involved to maximize the effectiveness. Tag a minimum of 5 people! Try your best not to double tag people so it will spread better! Please actually read the posts from everyone so you can see some really good work from our beloved blogging friends! Make your title a little different from mine to avoid repetitive titles. Please try maintain some friendly updates to your post too.

Here are my three posts, followed by LivingSword's three posts, followed by a list of those I'm tagging!

Grace Roots (I'm digging back to some of my earlier posts):
What's RIGHT with you
A big difference
Life has always been by grace

And one for good measure... Yes, I'm cheating! But as I looked back on my posts I couldn't pass up this video that should be required viewing. ;)
We're Not Gonna Take It!

LivingSword:
Religio-Hedo-Sexual-Unlife: Graffit on the Soul?
Letter to Osama...
Commuter Stories: Traffic, Transit, Torture or Tranquility

And now I'm tagging:
Somewhere in my Memory
Branch of Vine
nightwatch
Walking in the Spirit of Grace
Grace in Flood

Remember, if I tagged you, reply in the comments section with your 3 posts. After you do that, I'll insert them into the actual post. And if I didn't tag you, but you want to do this, go ahead and let us know that you're participating! I don't want to leave anyone out!

Speaking in Tongues follow up

After posting the "Speaking in Tongues" video from The Elms, I remembered back to the time when we played that song on the radio. (For those who don't know, I spent 11 years in Christian radio). I vaguely remember hearing the guys from the band explaining the song. The 'speaking in tongues' phrase isn't really a reference to the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. It's really a play on words that has a lot more to do with Christianese - the biblical "language" that Christians speak that comes across either as holier than thou or else in a way that is not easily understood by others.

In that respect, the point of the song is more along the line that we can do and say all kinds of things, but the one thing that people will truly "get" is love. And again, my purpose here is always to point out that this way of life - the life of love - is not automatic. It's something we grow in as we dig our roots deeper down into grace and as we encourage each other day by day.

Speaking in Tongues (Speak in Love)

Bino posted an excellent list of the difference between Law and Grace tonight. I love the whole list, but one thing in particular stuck out to me that has to do with a thought that's been on my mind a lot lately. The contrast is this:

Under Law Man Says: Look at how I spoke in tongues
Under Grace Christ Says: Look at how I spoke in love

Without love, I'm nothing. I could die a martyr, but without love I'm nothing. I could give myself over to be burned. I could speak deep, deep revelations. I could have faith that moves mountains. I could lead 2,000 people to Jesus. I could write the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the grace of God. I could speak in tongues.

I do love writing about grace, and God did give me the gift of tongues in my early pentecostal Christian walk, and I believe both of those gifts have been an ongoing blessing. One time I was praying fervently in tongues while I was walking on my treadmill and I did not understand why I was so overwhelmed by it at that particular time. A friend who was pregnant came to mind and I prayed for that little life inside her. "Pray for the baby" is all I remember. I cried, almost in desperation, as I prayed. The next day, she was present at our small group meeting and she said that they had found a problem with the baby... something to do with the heartbeat... and this was at the same time I had been praying (unknown to her). Everything turned out ok. This is a very condensed version of the story... and I want to be very brief because I truly want to highlight that:

Nothing competes with love. Nothing compares to love. Even prayer that works miracles. Faith itself is nothing unless it works through love. And love is a pretty tall order.

And fortunately the One who IS love is living in us. He can and will love in and through us. Love is a fruit of the Spirit.

All this leads me to a song. Imagine that! I love music and I love how thoughts are conveyed through simple lines in songs. This one's from a band called The Elms. It's essentially a song about how love is so much greater than speaking in tongues... or anything else for that matter!

And remember... the key here, at least as I see it, is that this is something we grow in! It's not automatic. Love grows, not as a result of being obedient to commandments, but as a result of abiding in the Vine.

The Elms - Speaking in Tongues (Speak in Love)
The Elms "Speaking in Tongues"

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Got the kind of face everybody knows.
Run around barefoot when it snows.
Growin’ out your hair and you like it long.
Fighting in the road and you know that’s wrong.
People got a thing for the dangerous.
You’ll find it inside the best of us.
Taking what they want like it’s owed to them.
Some of us do the best we can…
Some of us do the best we can!

Brothers! Brothers!
Everybody’s speaking in tongues, we gotta speak in love!

Never met a man ‘said he did not try
Running from the truth time again in life.
You can be the poor one, rich or wise,
Everybody knows ‘bout sacrifice.
Put me in the water, put me in the fire.
Put me in the world and I’ll walk that wire.
Seen the people come and I’ve seen them go.
Talk all day but it’s what they show…
Talk all day but it’s what you show!

Established and growing in grace

If I don't mention these Bible passages enough, I'm sorry. If I mention them too much... well that's just too bad!

Heb 13:9 (NKJV)
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods [read: laws] which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Col 2:6-7 (NKJV)
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Col 2:7 (NLT)
Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.

Ps 92:12-15 (NKJV)
12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
15 To declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Jesus: The Friend of Sinners

Came across these words on a blog post the other day.

You know, I got to thinking about how some Christians are so ridiculous when it comes to dealing with unbelievers. And I thought about it this way: Would unbelievers call Christians the friends of sinners? Hardly. The sad fact is that Christians today see unbelievers as the enemy and not the precious lost sheep that Christ came to find... (more)

Take a couple of minutes to read the entire post. I think it's right on. And my question is (one question of many)... why does the church shrink back from unbelievers rather than embracing them?

When God Ran

Benny Hester - When God Ran


And the only time... the only time I ever saw Him run...

Was when He ran to me
Took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest
Said My son's come home again
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said son, do you know I still love you?

Coffee revisited

The "Smellin' Coffee" video and the small discussion that came out of it reminded me of a couple of posts from earlier this year in which I shared a somewhat comical experience I had with coffee. Well, it wasn't funny at the time, but afterwards it was! I still have people picking on me about it! Some of my newer friends here weren't around at that time so I just thought I'd link to these two posts from March 23.

But the label is GREEN!
Analogous

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ...

2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Phil 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Smellin' Coffee

The caption for this on youtube says "When the Boss Is Away the Spazzes will Play!"

I was looking for a video of Smellin' Coffee by Chris Rice and this is all I found... and I'm glad did. :) This one's for you Matthew! Have a cup on me... just don't over-do the French Vanilla!



Last thing I remember sayin’ bye to yesterday
Glad to see it over, pullin’ covers over my head
What were You doin’ while I dreamt the night away
‘Cause I can tell that somethin’s different and
My eyes ain’t even open yet

I’m smellin’ coffee, birds are singin’ just outside
Here comes Your mercy streamin’ in with the morning light
My heart is racin’, wakin’ up to Your smile
It’s a good mornin’, it's a good mornin’

I remember readin’ You’re the God who never sleeps
While I’ve been dreamin’ You’ve been singin’ over me, yeah
Singin’ about my freedom, wakin’ me up to hear Your song
Now I can’t dance hard enough
‘Cause yesterday is gone, gone, gone!

I’m smellin’ coffee, birds are singin’ just outside
Here comes Your mercy streamin’ in with the morning light
My heart is racin’, wakin’ up to Your smile
It’s a good mornin’, good mornin’

Every little breath, every heartbeat
Is a gift of love that You give to me
You keep givin’ even when I’m asleep
‘Cause I know You never stop watchin’ over me
I wake up, my past is gone
‘Cause Your mercy’s new with the mornin’ sun
I’m forgiven, I’m free, it’s a brand new day
‘Cause Your faithfulness is the greatest, hey!

I’m smellin’ coffee, birds are singin’ just outside
Here comes Your mercy streamin’ in with the morning light
My heart is racin’, wakin’ up to Your smile
It’s a good mornin’, good mornin’