Time to Panic or Surrender?
As I write this article, it is Saturday morning and the US Credit rating has been downgraded from it’s AAA rating by one of three rating agencies. Funny how this happened after the markets on Wall Street had already closed giving them no time to react impulsively to the news. The news media is giving voice to anyone who wants to get in front of a camera and point fingers, and many hold their breath waiting to see how the markets will react on Monday morning. Whatever is going to happen will start in Asian markets first, and will ripple around the world to US markets later the same day. Are you worried? The truth is, no one knows what will happen next. The economy seems to be on a daily roller coaster that is being built daily, and the future is...
What is a church?
“It is easy to determine when something is aflame. It ignites other material. Any fire that does not spread will eventually go out. A church without evangelism is a contradiction in terms, just as a fire that does not burn is a contradiction.” – Christian Theology in Plain Language, p. 42 I love this quote, because it begs the question: “If you cannot really have a church without evangelism as it is a contradiction in terms, then exactly what is a church without evangelism?” Well?
In the world
I’m searching for balance. Believe it or not, it seems to be much harder than you’d think, because it is admittedly so subjective. In living the Christian life I see extremes. Here are some themes I see as extreme: 1. Liberty in Christ without responsibility. The thinking goes along the lines of “I’m saved so I can do whatever I want. You cannot judge me. Only God can judge me.” There is no accountability there, and no responsibility. 2. Saved and Separated and out of touch. This is the more conservative side of Christianity where the saved take defensive positions within church walls and have no contact with the lost. They see the world as it truly is, a desperate and sinful place, but fail to see their place in...
Running with Thieves
Yesterday I heard a sermon somewhat directed at the folks in our church still in school. Talking about people seems to gravitate toward people who are like them and shun those who are not. While listening to this the pastor rolled over to the adults and asked us to also look at who we hang out with. I was like “wait wait wait, lets go back to the youth. You seemed to be on a roll there, why stop now?”. He got me thinking. Jesus ran with the worst of them. Sure he had his 12 close christian friends but he hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes. While this isn’t my normal crowd, I can’t help but wonder if we as Christians are doing it all wrong. We seems to be building up walls between us and the outside world wherever we can instead...
Better Late Than Never?
It has been a crazy week, and it is only Tuesday. The rest of the week doesn’t look good either as the sky seems to be falling on my secular job. Good thing it cannot start any sooner than 8:AM and cannot last any later than 5:PM because I simply won’t allow it! However, it does exhaust me, and quite simply, I forgot to post yesterday at all. However, whatever I was going to write about probably would not have been as meaningful (to me anyway) as the post I am going to write now. Last Sunday night, I preached on prayer for the end of the AWANA year service. It is something God has really been working on me about. For so long, I have had issues I have been dealing with on a personal level, and never felt like I could really talk with God until...
Making room for love
I don’t love well. That’s especially true if you are needy or you’re below my social demographic. Regardless of race or creed if I get the slightest inkling that you are going to try to use me then you are probably not going to make it far with me. But then I thought about my relationship with God. How even though we talk pretty often the only time that I truly run to him and NEED him is when I want something. For some reason he still loves me. How am I taking advantage of God any less then the person in need is “taking advantage of me”. I use quotes because I don’t think everyone who ask for something is trying to take advantage of me it’s just that I perceive it that way. But so what if they are? Why can’t I love...