"Do you know why I am not a Christian?" a friend once asked. Her answer was shocking, not what I expected. "I am not a Christian because based on what I hear from many of you Christians, the gospel is too small. It isn't sufficiently challenging. It seems to be all about you--your subjective needs, your eternal salvation, your prayers for yourself and your immediate circle, and your eventual escape from a 'hopeless' world"--Quote from With Cords of Love: A Wesleyan Response to Religious Pluralism Al Truesdale with Keri Mitchell
We have forgotten that the Good News of the Kingdom is Jesus Christ. But we have so misrepresented Him in all His glory that He no longer draws men to Himself but in our attempt to make that happen in our own strength, we have been trying to draw men ourselves to ourselves.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Syncretism and its role in Christianity
Syncretism, the attempt to reconcile opposing practices or principles, has a subtle and insidious way of worming its way into our thinking that we don't even notice it. Things like mojo, karma, stars, yoga, gurus, moon phases, astrological signs and how they affect our lives and how we relate to others become commonplace in our conversations.
My particular pet peeve is with popular psychology and self-help that suggests that if you try hard enough you can change yourself and that if you are unable to change your behavior then you are not trying hard enough. This current line of thinking has invaded the church taking the power of the Holy Spirit completely out of the equation and setting "self" squarely on the throne of self-determination. There is not enough room for two on the throne of our heart. We cannot serve two masters especially if one of them is ourselves. Either Jesus is LORD or we are.
The role of historicism in Christianity.
Historicism is the belief that social structures--including religions--are best understood in the context of their historical origins. If we don't know where we come from we cannot be objective about ourselves or anyone else. I believe we become adults when we are able to see our parents as people who make mistakes. This can be applied to us as well. We need to understand the flaws that have been intrinsically added to religious practices by virture of the humanity involved. Historicism minimizes the work of God at that particular point in history and makes it all about us. But it must always come back to Jesus. Our faith is not built on an institution but on a relationship. That's what makes our religion different. When we spend too much time talking about the how something works i.e. programs, principles then we totally miss the point. Jesus will draw people to Himself if we will stay out of the way long enough for people to see Him. God, Father, Son and Spirit, do not need us to defend them. The test has been and will always be, "Can you say Jesus is Lord of my life?"
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Miss Gloria
I hadn't seen Miss Gloria for about seven years. She is the most southern woman I have ever met. I remember that drawl like it was yesterday. The kind of drawl that takes me days to get out of my system. I remember in those days, she was a formidable woman. The kind that wouldn't back down from anything. The master of dirty rice and other southern dishes I had never heard of. I just heard yesterday that she was in the hospital and was drawn there. I went to see Miss Gloria tonight. She has been battling cancer. But that isn't her story.
I went to see Miss Gloria tonight. But I saw Jesus. I found Him in the hospital room of a dear, sweet, saint who doesn't miss an opportunity to share. Her body may be battling cancer but her story is about her Savior. The one who promises her every evening before she goes to sleep that He is with her, that He hasn't left her, and that she is going to be alright.
You see she had a conversation with her Savior a while back. It went something like this.
"Lord, I'll do whatever it takes to bring my family to you."
He asked, "Whatever?"
She said, "Whatever it takes."(I think she even added "Bring it on, I can handle it.")
He saw her love for her family and granted her request.
He has allowed her to go through cancer. But she doesn't see that. What she sees is that she is amazingly untouched by the situation. Oh, her body still has the effects of the double mastectomy and the titanium vertebra in her neck the tumor ate and the pain in her hip from the tumor there but her spirit rises above all that not to talk about her problems (we had to find get that information from her husband) but to talk about her Savior. Not the Savior who is going to deliver her from her illnesses but the one who promises He will be with her here or there (heaven) and that her family will see Him too.
I saw Jesus tonight and He looked like Miss Gloria.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 NIV
I went to see Miss Gloria tonight. But I saw Jesus. I found Him in the hospital room of a dear, sweet, saint who doesn't miss an opportunity to share. Her body may be battling cancer but her story is about her Savior. The one who promises her every evening before she goes to sleep that He is with her, that He hasn't left her, and that she is going to be alright.
You see she had a conversation with her Savior a while back. It went something like this.
"Lord, I'll do whatever it takes to bring my family to you."
He asked, "Whatever?"
She said, "Whatever it takes."(I think she even added "Bring it on, I can handle it.")
He saw her love for her family and granted her request.
He has allowed her to go through cancer. But she doesn't see that. What she sees is that she is amazingly untouched by the situation. Oh, her body still has the effects of the double mastectomy and the titanium vertebra in her neck the tumor ate and the pain in her hip from the tumor there but her spirit rises above all that not to talk about her problems (we had to find get that information from her husband) but to talk about her Savior. Not the Savior who is going to deliver her from her illnesses but the one who promises He will be with her here or there (heaven) and that her family will see Him too.
I saw Jesus tonight and He looked like Miss Gloria.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 NIV
Stay
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lightedward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lightedward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his
son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his
son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
"I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey. His Son was Killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this Gentleman's Name?"
The Nurse with tears in her eyes answered,
"Mr. William Grey............."
The next time someone needs you ... just be there. Stay.
**************
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Notes on John
07-17-10
About taking Scripture out of context. Satan did it with Jesus in the wilderness. Using Scripture to prove a point must be done with care.
07-31-10
Taking a Scripture out of context is like coming in on the middle of a conversation, eavesdropping.
08-17-10
In the temptation of Jesus, Jesus was able to see the bigger picture of what satan was saying. Jesus understood that he wasn't just going to feed himself he was being led by something outside the will of his Father. He understood the implications of his actions and how it was going to affect His future ministry. He was living in such close communion with his Father He didn't have to stop and pray about it. But the temptation came as soon as he got His commission. Just after His Father told everyone He was pleased with Him and to listen to him. Jesus then had to convey this message personally to satan.
12-08-10
John the Baptist was sent from God.
John the Baptist wasn't the light but he was a witness to testify concerning the light. How could he testify about the light and be a witness if he had never met Jesus (shout of his experience in the womb).
About taking Scripture out of context. Satan did it with Jesus in the wilderness. Using Scripture to prove a point must be done with care.
07-31-10
Taking a Scripture out of context is like coming in on the middle of a conversation, eavesdropping.
08-17-10
In the temptation of Jesus, Jesus was able to see the bigger picture of what satan was saying. Jesus understood that he wasn't just going to feed himself he was being led by something outside the will of his Father. He understood the implications of his actions and how it was going to affect His future ministry. He was living in such close communion with his Father He didn't have to stop and pray about it. But the temptation came as soon as he got His commission. Just after His Father told everyone He was pleased with Him and to listen to him. Jesus then had to convey this message personally to satan.
12-08-10
John the Baptist was sent from God.
John the Baptist wasn't the light but he was a witness to testify concerning the light. How could he testify about the light and be a witness if he had never met Jesus (shout of his experience in the womb).
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Diary Notes for 2010
1-27-10
Rom 9:32.
They perused the law as it were something to check off their list instead of by faith.
2-4-10
We don't need revival, we need a Pentecost!!!
02-14-10
I Cor 13
Love is... God is love. Read the scripture, as God is patient, God is kind....
04-18-10
Gal 5:22-23 Fruit of the Spirit. Against such things there is no law. We have laws for everything against mankind but there is no law against being loving, kind, gentle, etc. Gov't is trying to mandate kindness and compassion with redistribution of wealth.
04-25-10
Ananias & Sapphira playing church has dire consequences.
05-02-10
The difference between anger and anguish is a broken heart. What makes you laugh, angry, cry?
06-26-10
Life is a Terminal Illness
WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE.-Author Unknown
07-02-10
[When we are worshipping] "We aren't the audience of Christ we are the Body of Christ."--Mark Hall Casting Crowns
07-04-10
Deu. 8:6-14
When the prosperous think that they are responsible for their prosperity arrogance will eat away at the national conscience --Andy Stanley
07-08-10
Its impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows—Epictetus
07-11-10
Romans 12:2
Renewing your mind not only means correcting errors in our thinking from lies that we have believed but it means returning our thinking to Kingdom thinking; the kind of upside-down thinking of Jesus. Last/first, lose to win, give-to-get thinking that is so opposite world than the way we are taught to think.
07-17-10
From the adult Sunday school literature, lack of obedience is really a sign of a lack of faith in the person who is requiring the obedience. "Thus, obedience issues forth from faith. The one who believes and trusts God is willing to do what he commands. Refusal to follow God indicates a lack of faith. Fear, doubt, and uncertainty mark the life of the unbeliever."
07-17-10
About taking Scripture out of context. Satan did it with Jesus in the wilderness. Using Scripture to prove a point must be done with care.
07-21-10
If our life is like a vapor here today gone tomorrow then our current troubles are light and momentary. We concentrate too much on this present reality and how it affects us. I, me, mine. Our worries are useless.
Would we be arrested for sharing the gospel? Is there enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian?
07-25-10
We hold onto stuff and people as if we own them therefore we worry, panic and get stressed out because we are trying to protect our reputation
07-31-10
Taking a Scripture out of context is like coming in on the middle of a conversation, eavesdropping.
08-08-10
We so easily slip into thinking about ourselves, our desires our wishes that we don't even notice when we have done it. And then it spirals out of control till we land in a "what about me" funk and we are no longer focused on Jesus and we wonder why we have no peace. "Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our rights into God's hand; and then when we have given all to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about."--Hudson Taylor
If we are discontented sheep it's really a reflection on our Shepherd. What are our lives saying about how we'll we feel God is taking care of us?
08-10-10
We believe that just because we understand a certain truth or we know how to do something others will do or believe the same way. This is a terribly self-centered and arrogant way of thinking. I think we misunderstand the Scripture Jer. 29:11. It's not that God wants to harm us but that His idea of prosperity and ours is different. What we think of as prosperity may ultimately harm us in that we will lose our perspective of God and His provision. With hindsight, would that be considered prosperity?
08-17-10
In the temptation of Jesus, Jesus was able to see the bigger picture of what satan was saying. Jesus understood that he wasn't just going to feed himself he was being led by something outside the will of his Father. He understood the implications of his actions and how it was going to affect His future ministry. He was living in such close communion with his Father He didn't have to stop and pray about it. But the temptation came as soon as he got His commission. Just after His Father told everyone He was pleased with Him and to listen to him. Jesus then had to convey this message personally to satan.
08-29-10
The difference between salvation and sanctification is salvation is about you being saved from hell. Sanctification is about deciding its all about him and you die to yourself. The difference between baptio and baptiso; going down a dry cucumber and coming out a wet one. And going down a cuke and coming out a pickle. It wasn't the cuke it is the medium.
09-12-10
Exchange Yourself for Love (I Cor. 13).
10-03-10
Its not about how much He loves you its about how mch you love him back.
11-09-10
Obedience to God boils down to coming into alignment or agreement with the plan He had all along.
12-05-10 KCotN
The woman caught in adultry was the only one forgiven. Was she married and with another man?
The ones with sin couldn't condemn her. The one without sin wouldn't.
Everyone walks away, only one walks away
12-26-10 KCotN
Christmas
The Pharisees were also in Bethlehem. The star was in thier midst.
Anna recognized the Christ Child
Simeon recognized the Christ Child
They were looking for Him
The shepherds were the only ones who weren't too busy
The star was visible to everyone but only the Wise Men noticed
Everyone else was too busy with the cares of life to notice
Hope is the expectation based on the realized promisess of God
You can't break God's promises by leaning on them
Jesus "fleshed out" the Old Testament
"we are in the land of the dying, moving on to the land of the living" so actually I am living, to die, to live yet again."-Unknown
Rom 9:32.
They perused the law as it were something to check off their list instead of by faith.
2-4-10
We don't need revival, we need a Pentecost!!!
02-14-10
I Cor 13
Love is... God is love. Read the scripture, as God is patient, God is kind....
04-18-10
Gal 5:22-23 Fruit of the Spirit. Against such things there is no law. We have laws for everything against mankind but there is no law against being loving, kind, gentle, etc. Gov't is trying to mandate kindness and compassion with redistribution of wealth.
04-25-10
Ananias & Sapphira playing church has dire consequences.
05-02-10
The difference between anger and anguish is a broken heart. What makes you laugh, angry, cry?
06-26-10
Life is a Terminal Illness
WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE.-Author Unknown
07-02-10
[When we are worshipping] "We aren't the audience of Christ we are the Body of Christ."--Mark Hall Casting Crowns
07-04-10
Deu. 8:6-14
When the prosperous think that they are responsible for their prosperity arrogance will eat away at the national conscience --Andy Stanley
07-08-10
Its impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows—Epictetus
07-11-10
Romans 12:2
Renewing your mind not only means correcting errors in our thinking from lies that we have believed but it means returning our thinking to Kingdom thinking; the kind of upside-down thinking of Jesus. Last/first, lose to win, give-to-get thinking that is so opposite world than the way we are taught to think.
07-17-10
From the adult Sunday school literature, lack of obedience is really a sign of a lack of faith in the person who is requiring the obedience. "Thus, obedience issues forth from faith. The one who believes and trusts God is willing to do what he commands. Refusal to follow God indicates a lack of faith. Fear, doubt, and uncertainty mark the life of the unbeliever."
07-17-10
About taking Scripture out of context. Satan did it with Jesus in the wilderness. Using Scripture to prove a point must be done with care.
07-21-10
If our life is like a vapor here today gone tomorrow then our current troubles are light and momentary. We concentrate too much on this present reality and how it affects us. I, me, mine. Our worries are useless.
Would we be arrested for sharing the gospel? Is there enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian?
07-25-10
We hold onto stuff and people as if we own them therefore we worry, panic and get stressed out because we are trying to protect our reputation
07-31-10
Taking a Scripture out of context is like coming in on the middle of a conversation, eavesdropping.
08-08-10
We so easily slip into thinking about ourselves, our desires our wishes that we don't even notice when we have done it. And then it spirals out of control till we land in a "what about me" funk and we are no longer focused on Jesus and we wonder why we have no peace. "Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our rights into God's hand; and then when we have given all to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about."--Hudson Taylor
If we are discontented sheep it's really a reflection on our Shepherd. What are our lives saying about how we'll we feel God is taking care of us?
08-10-10
We believe that just because we understand a certain truth or we know how to do something others will do or believe the same way. This is a terribly self-centered and arrogant way of thinking. I think we misunderstand the Scripture Jer. 29:11. It's not that God wants to harm us but that His idea of prosperity and ours is different. What we think of as prosperity may ultimately harm us in that we will lose our perspective of God and His provision. With hindsight, would that be considered prosperity?
08-17-10
In the temptation of Jesus, Jesus was able to see the bigger picture of what satan was saying. Jesus understood that he wasn't just going to feed himself he was being led by something outside the will of his Father. He understood the implications of his actions and how it was going to affect His future ministry. He was living in such close communion with his Father He didn't have to stop and pray about it. But the temptation came as soon as he got His commission. Just after His Father told everyone He was pleased with Him and to listen to him. Jesus then had to convey this message personally to satan.
08-29-10
The difference between salvation and sanctification is salvation is about you being saved from hell. Sanctification is about deciding its all about him and you die to yourself. The difference between baptio and baptiso; going down a dry cucumber and coming out a wet one. And going down a cuke and coming out a pickle. It wasn't the cuke it is the medium.
09-12-10
Exchange Yourself for Love (I Cor. 13).
10-03-10
Its not about how much He loves you its about how mch you love him back.
11-09-10
Obedience to God boils down to coming into alignment or agreement with the plan He had all along.
12-05-10 KCotN
The woman caught in adultry was the only one forgiven. Was she married and with another man?
The ones with sin couldn't condemn her. The one without sin wouldn't.
Everyone walks away, only one walks away
12-26-10 KCotN
Christmas
The Pharisees were also in Bethlehem. The star was in thier midst.
Anna recognized the Christ Child
Simeon recognized the Christ Child
They were looking for Him
The shepherds were the only ones who weren't too busy
The star was visible to everyone but only the Wise Men noticed
Everyone else was too busy with the cares of life to notice
Hope is the expectation based on the realized promisess of God
You can't break God's promises by leaning on them
Jesus "fleshed out" the Old Testament
"we are in the land of the dying, moving on to the land of the living" so actually I am living, to die, to live yet again."-Unknown
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