I received an e-mail from one of our members this weekend. It was informing me of a protest at Moore High School. You know that group that protests soldiers funerals with signs that say, "God hates fags." "God hates you!" "You are cursed." I still have not figured out what their "end game" is our what their purpose is.
On their website, they address the people of Moore High School with things like:
"We will picket your really large High School because you southern(ish) hypocrites keep lying to the children. So, here's what we need to tell them: "We have a message, from your Maker, High school students - we're here to deliver that God has cursed you, with your parents' lies. Now God is rejecting your filthy raging lies violent brats, God hates you. We're here to tell you that fornication makes God angry... Simple sluts - will go to hell. God has cursed you. No more jobs - the economy has crashed. Nothing left but misery - all your hopes are dashed raging punks, God hates you. You'll scream in hell. You're cursed of God, and your rants and rage won't stop us from telling you that God is your enemy, and even as you search for jobs you soon will wish you'd long repented - Yesterday - AMEN!" One of their website is www.godhatestheworld.com.
I have very little to say about this except, I don't think this is the Jesus God has called us to reveal. We are to say what John the Baptist said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Our member wanted to know what she should do. I told her to pray that people would see Jesus... the REAL Jesus! I also told her to reveal the REAL Jesus to people. We can't combat the people who are hurting the cause with arguments... we can only reveal Jesus in our own lives.
2.23.2009
2.09.2009
Destiny - Where Will Your Journey Take You?
Does anybody have any hope that the stimulus package that our government is trying to shove down our throats has any chance of working? I don't want to be a cynic, and I am praying for our president that he will be led by God and succeed, but REALLY... I don't see any hope for this junk that our government thinks will work.
I was listening to a radio talk show host who said that we gave $17 billion dollars to General Motors, and that it is not working. On top of that, the taxpayers aren't even the first in line to get paid back... The banks will be paid first! REALLY! In fact, the government that said we couldn't let GM fail and go into bankruptcy is now suggesting that we force GM into bankruptcy so that we can get our money back. There's some efficiency in government, don't you think? That same talk show host also said that we have spent nearly $10 trillion dollars since October trying to "bail out" our economy. That is enough money to pay almost 90% of ALL mortgages in the United States. Would that stimulate your economy if you only owed 10% on your house?
Hope is a funny word. It gets thrown around like it comes easily or like it is cheap... But hope is a precious commodity. We all need hope. Hope for a better future... hope for relief from a horrible past... hope for a divine destiny. In Romans 8, Paul says this... "Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
What are you hoping for? An eternal life in heaven? That has been promised. Are you hoping for relief from the pains of this life? God's Spirit is here to help. Do you wish (hope) that your life would be better than it is? God's wish for you is an "abundant life" (John 10:10).
But, I've been struggling with something. I have been thinking how we all wish we could just arrive at our destination, and we miss much when we ignore the journey. When we're 13 we wish we were 16. When we get married we hope that we'll just begin with a perfect marriage. When we struggle with our weight we pray that the pounds will just disappear. When we become a follower of Jesus we think that God will impart on us the perfect life that we have always wanted. The problem is that in each of these instances, we miss the journey... the process... the growth.
Even when we realize that it is a process, sometimes we look for the rules, regulations or guidelines that will help us get there. "If I just do this..." "It worked for them..." "What's the least I can do..." The problem with rules and regulations (especially when it comes to our faith) is that they can never substitute for a real relationship or real progress. The journey is what it is all about.
God doesn't want robots who do the "right" thing, but don't even know him. Walking with God every day is how we live out this hope... it's how we grow in relationship with him and progress towards the eternal life he has promised. And how much more fulfilling will that life be when it is spent with a God who we know intimately! Living by rules and regulations (or expecting others to live by our rules and regulations) means that we don't trust God's Spirit to live in us (or in others), and to direct our (their) paths.
Divine destiny can only be found in a daily walk with God! Where will your journey take you?
I was listening to a radio talk show host who said that we gave $17 billion dollars to General Motors, and that it is not working. On top of that, the taxpayers aren't even the first in line to get paid back... The banks will be paid first! REALLY! In fact, the government that said we couldn't let GM fail and go into bankruptcy is now suggesting that we force GM into bankruptcy so that we can get our money back. There's some efficiency in government, don't you think? That same talk show host also said that we have spent nearly $10 trillion dollars since October trying to "bail out" our economy. That is enough money to pay almost 90% of ALL mortgages in the United States. Would that stimulate your economy if you only owed 10% on your house?
Hope is a funny word. It gets thrown around like it comes easily or like it is cheap... But hope is a precious commodity. We all need hope. Hope for a better future... hope for relief from a horrible past... hope for a divine destiny. In Romans 8, Paul says this... "Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
What are you hoping for? An eternal life in heaven? That has been promised. Are you hoping for relief from the pains of this life? God's Spirit is here to help. Do you wish (hope) that your life would be better than it is? God's wish for you is an "abundant life" (John 10:10).
But, I've been struggling with something. I have been thinking how we all wish we could just arrive at our destination, and we miss much when we ignore the journey. When we're 13 we wish we were 16. When we get married we hope that we'll just begin with a perfect marriage. When we struggle with our weight we pray that the pounds will just disappear. When we become a follower of Jesus we think that God will impart on us the perfect life that we have always wanted. The problem is that in each of these instances, we miss the journey... the process... the growth.
Even when we realize that it is a process, sometimes we look for the rules, regulations or guidelines that will help us get there. "If I just do this..." "It worked for them..." "What's the least I can do..." The problem with rules and regulations (especially when it comes to our faith) is that they can never substitute for a real relationship or real progress. The journey is what it is all about.
God doesn't want robots who do the "right" thing, but don't even know him. Walking with God every day is how we live out this hope... it's how we grow in relationship with him and progress towards the eternal life he has promised. And how much more fulfilling will that life be when it is spent with a God who we know intimately! Living by rules and regulations (or expecting others to live by our rules and regulations) means that we don't trust God's Spirit to live in us (or in others), and to direct our (their) paths.
Divine destiny can only be found in a daily walk with God! Where will your journey take you?
2.03.2009
Take A Leap Of Faith
From Monty Python to U2... from Allie Barone ("Everybody Loves Raymond") to Rick Warren... It seems that people are asking, "What is the meaning of life?" "Why are we here?"
God has put within us a "God-shaped" hole. It is in our heart; it is in our soul; it needs to be filled; and it can only be filled by God. We all crave meaning. We all want life to make sense. It is no wonder that Bono sang, "And I still haven't found what I'm looking for."
One of my favorite scenes from the third Indiana Jones movie, was when Harrison Ford was trying to find the holy grail. He had passed two of the tests that had killed most people before him. He stood at the opening of a cave and looked down at a drop of several hundred feet and across at another opening in the rock. It looked impossible to get to the other side, but his instructions said to take a leap of faith. It looked like If he jumped, he would fall to his death... but he did what the instructions said, and when he jumped, a ledge that had blended in with the floor of the canyon was there only about 3 feet below to catch him. He walked over to the opening and continued on his quest.
Take a leap of faith. Sooner or later, you will have to believe. Thane Pittman said, "I'll see it when I believe it." Erwin McManus said, "I don't know how to prove God to you; I only hope to bring you to a place where you and him can meet." Truth is not found through academic pursuit. Faith is not something that you do when you get all the facts lined up. Sooner or later, you will have to just believe; to just put your faith in something.
I am not saying that when it comes to faith in God, we need to check our brains at the door. In fact, God wants you to pursue truth no matter what, because he knows that the pursuit of truth will always lead back to him. God is not concerned that you believe what religion tells you... he is not even concerned that you follow what Christianity tells you... What he is concerned about is that you find the truth, because truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ.
Take a leap of faith. If you have decided that there is no God, that takes faith as well. What if you're wrong? Take a leap of faith. Believe in Jesus. Know God. Let his Spirit lead you. I have staked my entire life on the truth that God is real and that his Son, Jesus, died to save me. This is truth!
Take a leap of faith... and when you do, I'll bet you'll find the source of all truth, and you'll find the meaning that your soul has been craving. Take a leap of faith!
God has put within us a "God-shaped" hole. It is in our heart; it is in our soul; it needs to be filled; and it can only be filled by God. We all crave meaning. We all want life to make sense. It is no wonder that Bono sang, "And I still haven't found what I'm looking for."
One of my favorite scenes from the third Indiana Jones movie, was when Harrison Ford was trying to find the holy grail. He had passed two of the tests that had killed most people before him. He stood at the opening of a cave and looked down at a drop of several hundred feet and across at another opening in the rock. It looked impossible to get to the other side, but his instructions said to take a leap of faith. It looked like If he jumped, he would fall to his death... but he did what the instructions said, and when he jumped, a ledge that had blended in with the floor of the canyon was there only about 3 feet below to catch him. He walked over to the opening and continued on his quest.
Take a leap of faith. Sooner or later, you will have to believe. Thane Pittman said, "I'll see it when I believe it." Erwin McManus said, "I don't know how to prove God to you; I only hope to bring you to a place where you and him can meet." Truth is not found through academic pursuit. Faith is not something that you do when you get all the facts lined up. Sooner or later, you will have to just believe; to just put your faith in something.
I am not saying that when it comes to faith in God, we need to check our brains at the door. In fact, God wants you to pursue truth no matter what, because he knows that the pursuit of truth will always lead back to him. God is not concerned that you believe what religion tells you... he is not even concerned that you follow what Christianity tells you... What he is concerned about is that you find the truth, because truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ.
Take a leap of faith. If you have decided that there is no God, that takes faith as well. What if you're wrong? Take a leap of faith. Believe in Jesus. Know God. Let his Spirit lead you. I have staked my entire life on the truth that God is real and that his Son, Jesus, died to save me. This is truth!
Take a leap of faith... and when you do, I'll bet you'll find the source of all truth, and you'll find the meaning that your soul has been craving. Take a leap of faith!
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