Christmas -- What is your response?

There is not enough time to buy everything that I need to get. I am going to have to spend too many days with my crazy in-laws. Just another day that no one will notice me and why does my life even matter. One of the two times a year I have to go to church just in case there is a God.

Maybe the above comments are some of the responses you think of, or maybe there are others. The typical response I get when I ask someone about the how the Christmas season is going usually revolves around buying presents or having to cook a meal for a large family.

What should our response be when we think about Christmas? It is the time we celebrate the birth of our Savior. God intervened into our lives and came in human flesh to accomplish what we could not do for ourselves. He became our perfect sacrifice for sin, and then defeated death on the third day. This all started with the birth of Christ in a manger, in the town of Bethlehem.

As I looked at the stories surrounding the birth of Christ it became apparent that the birth of Jesus set in motion many different responses. Matthew and Luke give us different perspectives of how individuals responded to the announcement and the actual birth of Christ.

Mary was the first person to be told about the birth, which of course would make sense since she is the one to carry and actually give birth to Christ. In Luke 1:29 we see Mary’s first reaction which is fear as the Angel pays her a visit. This is the typical response within the Bible when an angel visits anyone, and I would imagine would still be the response today if we came face to face with an angel. There would also be fear, as she was about to become pregnant without her husband, meaning she could be stoned for having a baby out of wedlock.

Next Mary responds with curiosity on how it is possible for her to be with a child, as she has not “known” a man. This would certainly be a legitimate question, as opposed to when Zacharias asked the angel about having a child, because he did “know” his wife and could continue to do so for his wife to become pregnant. This is most likely why Zacharias was punished for his disbelief and Mary was not, as her curiosity rational.

Luke 1:38 says, “Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the Angel departed from her.” Mary responds in obedience and says basically that she is the slave of God and will do His bidding. She realizes her place and completely submits.

Lastly, we see Mary worship God in Luke 1:46-55 for her blessing. She has been given the responsibility and honor of bringing the Savior of Jews and Gentiles into the world.

We see Joseph in the Matthew account and his first response would seem to be disbelief, as he was going to quietly divorce Mary. Obviously Mary told him, as he knows, but must not have believed her. In some ways it is probably the same response a lot of men would give if their soon to be bride came to him and said that she was pregnant with the Messiah. Joseph was being very “compassionate,” at least in his perspective, in his decision as he could have had Mary stoned to death for being pregnant when they had not “known” each other yet. Instead he was going to end the marriage quietly, which would allow her to live.

Joseph receives a visit from an angel that changes his mind very quickly, as we see Joseph marry Mary, which would probably become a very dishonoring act within the Jewish community. Joseph responds in obedience to God once what Mary said was confirmed. It took an interjection by God for him to believe.

On the other side we see Herod who makes a devious plan to have Jesus brought to him so he could kill the child, as he was afraid of this prophetic king being born. Herod talks with Jewish historians and lawyers to learn about the prophecies and then he brings in the wise men. Just a side not, there is no where in the Bible stating there are only three wise men. He then lies to the wise men and tells them he wants Jesus brought so he could honor him, but in reality it was to kill him.

The wise men find out and tell Jesus’ parents of the plot and they are able to flee to Egypt. When Herod finds out the wise men deceived him he orders that all children two years old and younger be killed. Herod responds as a paranoid megalomaniac. He is only thinking of himself and will destroy anyone he believes may take over his kingdom. How would you like to explain this to God at your judgment? You are the one who tried to kill His begotten Son, the Messiah. Definitely not a good response on Herod’s part! Is there a difference from what Herod did, and when we deny who Jesus is in the eyes of God? It seems denying Christ as Lord may even be worse, as at least Herod realized that Jesus is a king. Either way I certainly would not want to find out the hard way, which is the judgment seat.

The wise-men also respond in an interesting fashion. They first respond in obedience to Herod and start out planning on retrieving Jesus and bringing Him back to Herod. Something weird happens. They see what looks like a star move and stop over a specific location. As being wise men they know that stars do not just move around the sky and then stop. They probably also knew that comets and asteroids (whether or not known by those names) would burn out or disappear.

They find out about the plot and their immediate response is to warn Mary and Joseph, as the vision of the bright light dramatically changed their belief about what happened in Bethlehem. Upon arrival they fall down and worship Jesus, who was probably around two years old at this point. Their response is worship and praise.

These men, however many of them there were, most likely gave up their position with Herod and had to go to their home town by a different route. They responded with sacrifice and what could have been their lives if Herod found them and they were tried for their direct disobedience.

Now we come full circle and ask the question again. What is your response now to Christmas, as you rethink about what happened in Bethlehem? Go back and read the accounts in Matthew and Luke and really dig into what is happening within the texts. It may not have been on Christmas exactly, but it is the time we celebrate Christ’s birth. We should bough down and worship our Messiah, and respond the way Mary and the wise men did. We should respond in obedience, worshiping Him and celebrating the great day that the Second Person of the Trinity invaded was born in human form. He became fully human while at the same time being full God. A mystery of the ages, but it was done so we may have a relationship with Him and live eternally in Heaven.

Because of Him we can handle the shopping lines a little easier. Our families will not bother us nearly as much. We can be assured that someone does love us and cares about us deeply. We will want and look forward to attending church where we can worship God with fellow believers.

If you do not know Christ as Savior and Lord then I would ask that you accept Him today. Just pray that you are a sinner and that you realize there needed to be a perfect sacrifice for your sins. Pray that you believe that Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross, and then defeated death on third day by resurrecting physically from the dead. Pray that you accept Him as Lord and Savior and you will be saved.

Here are some verses to follow to support what I said above:

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Acts 16:31, “And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.’”
Romans 10:13, “For ‘Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This is by far the most important decision you will ever make. This is the response one should have it a response has not been given yet. Again, I ask you: What is your response to Christmas? Is Christ Savior or not?

If Chuck Norris Says It Then We Must Do It!

I went to www.wnd.com to see the current news our there today and noticed that Chuck Norris now has a commentary on this site.

He talks openly about saying "Merry Christmas." I will refrain from giving my opinion, as I would not want anyone to think that could say anything better then Chuck Norris.

Here is his link to read: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53112

This just proves that Chuck Norris can do anything.

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What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
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What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Being Thankful!

Over this time of year we are suppose to take the time to think about the things we are thankful for in our lives. Have you truly done this? If not, take the time right now to think about what and who you are thankful for in your life. Sit back, close your eyes and think about who or what first comes to mind. If it was someone you know then let them know through a letter, phone call, over lunch, but let them know.

We all have people, especially, that we should be thankful for in our lives. There is usually someone that has impacted our lives in one fashion or another. I can think of the college professor who opened up the prospect of a political science degree. Norman Geisler also comes to mind, as he impacted me in the area of apologetics and is the reason why I pursued a Master’s degree in Seminary.

This year I have much to be thankful for in life. I have a gorgeous wife, two beautiful daughters and two great jobs. None of this would be possible had it not been for a couple of people in my life. This year they have helped me in many ways that I will not go into on this blog, but just know if they had not helped who knows where me and my family would be today.

I am thankful for this couple, and I will not use their names, but those who read this and know them will be able to figure it out quickly. This couple has been a major part of my life since I was 21. God used them to help me turn my life around and to return to Christ, as I had walked away from my faith for a time. They encouraged me to go back to school, to go to Seminary and to seek after God with all my heart.

Over the years they have been a shoulder to cry on, a discerning ear and an example of what it means to strive to walk the talk of the Christian faith. They have been an anchor in my life and have always been there when I needed them. They are the first people I go to when making major decisions in my life. If I turn out to be half the Christians they are I would consider it lucky.

As I am encouraging you to do, I have done. I have written them a letter expressing my deep gratitude for their impact on my life. I encourage you to write a letter, as a letter is something that is tangible and intangible. The emotions expressed and felt are intangible, but the letter and words on the page can be looked at, held and read over and over again, making it very tangible.

Make the decision now to write and express your thanks to a loved one in your life. It will be a great blessing to you and the one who receives your letter. If you do not like to write then call or invite them to a meal and let them know, but by all means tell them.

May God bless and keep you all, and may the Grace of God always abound in your life.

Politics -- Schmolitics!!

I received an email from a very good friend today, and I said I had to post his response to the recent election. I have to say he says it very well. I pretty much ditto everything he says. Let me know what you think. All I can say is: PREACH IT MY FRIEND!!!

Mike says,

"ELECTIONS? PARTIES? DEMOCRATS? REPUBLICANS? THEY ALL MAKE ME ILL

THAT INCLUDES THE BIG GOVERNMENT... PRO GAY... PRO ABORTION DONKEYS AS WELL AS THE BIG SPENDING... POWER HUNGRY... BIG BUSINESS ELEPHANTS!

I REFUSE TO BE DEFINED BY ANY PARTY, AFFILIATION OR GROUP BECAUSE I AM NOT A LEFT WING LIBERAL WACKO OR A FENCE SITTING MIDDLE OF THE ROAD INDEPENDENT OR A RIGHT WING RELIGIOUS NUT!

I DON'T CARE WHICH PARTY THE CANDIDATES ARE ALIGNED WITH. I CARE ABOUT THE CAUSE OF CHRIST. I AM A BIBLE BELIEVING, PRO LIFE, SOCIAL AND FISCAL CONSERVATIVE WHO WANTS TO BE REPRESENTED AND LED BY LIKEMINDED PEOPLE!

I AM NOT ABOUT THE PARTY IN POWER, CORPORATE WELFARE, GOVERNMENT GIVEAWAYS, FREE MEDS, BLACK VS WHITE, THE MIDDLE CLASS OR ELDERLY ENTITLEMENTS. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A TIME FOR CHARITY AND THERE IS A TIME FOR RESPONSIBILITY HOWEVER, IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE BASED ON THE DIRECTION OFFERED THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES WHICH LEAD PEOPLE TOWARD SALVATION AND ETERNAL SECURITY (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH SOCIAL SECURITY). WITHOUT FACTORING IN BIBLICAL TEACHING, REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS WILL SURELY PERISH IN A GODLESS NATION.

ALONG THOSE LINES, HOW ABOUT THESE MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENTS...

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
LEAVE YOUR RELIGION AT THE DOOR
REMOVING THE 10 COMMANDMENTS FROM PUBLIC PLACES
REMOVING PRAYER FROM OUR SCHOOLS
REMOVING THE NATIVITY SCENE AND CHRIST FROM CHRISTMAS
SILENCING ALL "BIGOTED", "ANTI-PROGRESSIVE", BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS
GAY MARRIAGES AND ADOPTIONS
40 MILLION ABORTIONS...AND COUNTING
LARGEST DEFICITS IN HISTORY
SOON TO BE BANKRUPT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE PROGRAMS
CHEAPER, FASTER, MORE PLENTIFUL MIND NUMBING MEDS FOR AMERICANS
DEPRESSION AND CHILD SUICIDE RATES
RECORD HIGH CREDIT CARD AND PERSONAL DEBT
CEO PAY AT ALL TIME HIGH VS AVERAGE WORKER
STOCK FRAUD AND CORPORATE FRAUD
BILL CLINTON, TED KENNEDY, MARK FOLEY, TOM DELAY
UNFORTUNATELY, I COULD GO ON FOR HOURS...

FORTUNATELY, THANKFULLY AND REST ASSUREDLY, THERE IS A PARTY OF LIKEMINDED PEOPLE IN HEAVEN THAT WE WILL ALIGN OURSELVES WITH SOMEDAY (SOON I HOPE) AND THAT IS TRULY SOMETHING WORTH CELEBRATING!

SEE YOU THERE -- MIKE"

I leave you with this:

Jean-Peirre De Caussade says, "God allows himself to be seen in ordinary things, even when they are darkened by shadows."

Unti next time.

Some Questions for the Christian Evolutionists

I went to a Christian discussion group the other day. The group is called TREK, and one of my friends was answering some questions regarding problematic questions regarding Scripture.

During the questioning the idea of evolution came up and that there should be no reason that we should have any trouble believing that God used evolution to bring about man. I am not going to get into too many specifics, as this is a blog designed to bring up questions and new ways to think about issues and ideas, but this is a very important topic and needs to be looked at by everyone in my opinion.

His argument was based on bones that demonstrate that evolution existed, but in reality there are no bones that show a transition from one species to the next, and there should be thousands demonstrating the small transitions from one species to the next. This is not an area I necessarily want to focus on for this conversation.

First, the Christian evolutionist would say that God basically got the ball rolling and then had man evolve from the primordial ooze. But what about Eve? The Bible says that she was made from Adam’s rib. How does this correlate with evolution? The Christian evolutionist would have to say this is not accurate, and must be some sort of error in the Bible. Then this itself becomes a slippery slope right from the beginning, because if there is one mistake in the Bible then there could be many more. It puts the entire Bible into question, including the resurrection of Christ, which is just as miraculous as making a woman from a rib, and is even more miraculous to bring a person back to life. It would be no problem at all to create man from the dust of the earth and a woman from a rib.

If evolution is true then when was the soul entered into humans? Which human was the perfect one to start with? Was the part human, part monkey not good enough to have a soul worth saving, or did all animals to that point have souls worth saving? Did Christ die for all creatures or humans, because if we all evolved then we are all connected and hence we are all of the same essence? Are animals saved then?

When did morals evolve and whose morals are the best? We assume that the West has it best, and maybe we do, but maybe we don’t? What is going to happen in the future as we evolve to the next stage? Will there still be humans, and if not was the atonement only for a period of time?

If anyone has any answers or suggestions to my questions above then let me know, but unless there is some accurate information to the questions above then I am going to stick with what the Word of God tells me. God created man from the dust of the earth and did not just cause him to evolve.

My Conversation with Local College Newspaper

Below you will find an article in our town's local college newspaper, and then my response to it. I was actually impressed that they published my response to the article. The first article is from "The Penn," the newspaper and then following is my response to it.

Tolerate and be tolerated
Posted: 9/15/06
Your mom or dad has probably already told you: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
The GLBT forum Wednesday night brought up a lot of ideas, some of them focusing on intolerance. IUP may not have the most diverse of student populations, but that's no excuse to single-out or exclude anyone.

Tolerance doesn't mean you have to march with Pride in the homecoming parade or hug every minority student on campus. It means being sensitive, being aware and being compassionate.
Tolerance starts with seeing people as people. Everyone walking around in the Oak Grove or eating dinner in the HUB has something in common with everyone else. Perhaps you and that random guy are huge "Family Guy" fans. Maybe you both love thin crust pizza.
The next time you think about doing something intolerant - like shouting a slur, vandalizing someone's property or even harboring preconceived negative thoughts about someone - remember that he or she is a person, just like you.

Imagine what it would be like if people criticized you for something you couldn't help. What if people harassed you for being tall or having brown eyes? What if people assumed that because you were right-handed that you acted a certain way? It wouldn't be fair or kind.
You don't have to love everyone, but you don't have to hate anyone, either. If you disagree with the way someone acts or dresses, keep it to yourself. That person isn't going to change, especially not because someone else wants them to.

There's no excuse for prejudice in Indiana and no reason for disrespect. Intolerance is more than rude - it's just plain mean.
© Copyright 2006 The Penn
http://www.thepenn.org/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=c43640a1-0153-4477-9675-dad580405660

Here is my response to the article.

Tolerance more complicated than blind acceptance
Posted: 9/23/06
As I read the Penn Editorial, "Tolerate and be tolerated," I felt compelled to respond as the definition and examples used are misguided and utilize a false philosophical notion. You are trying to compare the idea of eye color and your dominate hand, which are ingrained in your genetic make-up from conception with being GLBT, which is not in the genetic makeup. This has been proven time and again by science. Making such a comparison is propagating false information and trying to have someone form your opinion regarding an issue. It is a fact that many people in the GLBT have chosen to leave the lifestyle and live completely heterosexual lives. Any real research would demonstrate this fact.

Another misguided premise is your definition of tolerance itself. Merriam-Webster defines the type of tolerance you are talking about as "a: sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own b: the act of allowing something." It does not say one has to accept it, nor does it say one should not try to convince another to change their thoughts about something through meaningful and respectful dialogue. To use the editor's line of questioning: Would not someone try to talk their best friend out of using heroine if they had a problem with using the drug and it was killing them? What if someone believed that living the lifestyle of GLBT was just as dangerous to their friends and believed by telling them in a respectful manner that they are helping them? Would one be seen as all right while the other is seen as intolerant? By the editorial summary, we should stop all alcohol and drug treatment centers because those people will not change, either, as there is more scientific evidence that alcoholism can be passed generation to generation then there is that someone is born GLBT.

Just about every major religion witnesses because they believe people can change. Muslims and Christians in particular believe that people are capable of change from any practice they deem as sinful or unholy. By your definition you are not being tolerant of other faiths' intolerance toward GLBT. Those religions should demonstrate love, but they should not have to accept it as a healthy lifestyle, nor should they be silenced in presenting their opinion in a loving manner, hoping to change the other's opinion. Just as the editor is trying to do in his/her editorial.

I can love my brother or sister and not agree with their lifestyle. I can love my best friend and believe that his/her drug use is wrong. I can love my wife or husband and believe that their overeating is going to kill them. I can also love the people in GLBT and still disagree with their lifestyle. I believe in all those instances it would be alright to offer help in changing in a loving and respectful manner, and let them decide whether to accept it or not.
Alan Seymour
© Copyright 2006 The Penn
http://www.thepenn.org/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=fd2d1f53-81a5-4a0f-b6a5-30881c68f32a

RANSOMED!!

1 Peter 1:18-19 states, “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” This verse has become the central verse of the College Ministry where I serve.

We have named ourselves Ransomed based off the verses above, because we want to emphasize the price that was paid for us on the cross by Jesus Christ for our sins. Then we want to live out what that means in our lives for others to see and hopefully they will come to realize their need for a Savior.

I had to give my testimony at the two services at my church this past Sunday and it was an interesting experience, especially after just teaching on 1 Peter 1:18-19 on Friday night and telling everyone what we are about and are going to be about as we outreach to the campus near our church, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Do we ever truly take out regular time to think about what it means to be ransomed from our sins? That Jesus took upon Himself our sins so that we may enjoy eternity with Him in Heaven. The physical pain would have been nothing compared to taking on the spiritual pain of suffering for us; having God turn Himself from Christ the man as He took on our sins.

If we truly understand what was done on that cross and believe that Jesus is our Savior defeating the sting of death through the crucifixion and resurrection, then why don’t we live like it? Don’t we all have those areas where we know we should be acting and living differently? Instead of doing anything about it we rationalize that it is not as bad as what others do, or tell ourselves that he or she is doing it so it cannot be that bad. Maybe we are afraid to offend someone by walking away from the dirty joke, or walk out of the movie because of what others may think of us. Is it more important for us to worry about what others think or Christ? When you stand before Him in judgment of how you presented yourself here on earth as believers, how are you going to respond?

Christ paid the ultimate price and if you accept Him as Savior and Lord then you are His and not your own. We need to live like it and not worry about what the world thinks of us, but worry if we are making the One proud who paid the ransom and took the penalty of sin upon Himself because you nor I could do it for ourselves.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (1 Peter 3:15). One way to demonstrate that we realize what happened when the price was paid is to tell others and be ready to defend your faith, and the only way we can do this is by studying His word and spending time in prayer and meditation.

I am going to end with a couple of verses, Romans 12:1-2, which tells us how to live. If we owe Him everything then we should be willing to do whatever He asks us to do in our lives. “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

IS JESUS YOUR LORD???

I believe it was Augustine who said, “If Jesus is not Lord of All, then He is not Lord AT All.” This is a very powerful statement, because it should lead one to think of areas of our life where Jesus is not Lord. It also makes a powerful statement as to how we see Jesus.

We tend to want to make Jesus like a dog, where He is always excited to see us, even when we are cruel, but at the same time we can tame Him and control what He does and how He invades our space. This is not at all who Christ is and is not even remotely close to how the great figures in Scripture speak when they speak about Him.

Psalm 101

1 I will sing of mercy and justice;

To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.

2 I will behave wisely in a perfect way.

Oh, when will You come to me?

I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;

I hate the work of those who fall away;

It shall not cling to me.

4 A perverse heart shall depart from me;

I will not know wickedness.

5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor,

Him I will destroy;

The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart,

Him I will not endure.

6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land,

That they may dwell with me;

He who walks in a perfect way,

He shall serve me.
7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house;

He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.
8 Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land,

That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.

This Psalm describes that we should be the ones being tamed by Christ, and not the other way around. David talks about how he is making God Lord of all in his life. He talks about behaving in a perfect way. How do we do that? The only way that I know of is by spending time with Christ in His Word and in prayer. By submitting ourselves under those God has put in our lives to help teach us His ways. By keeping garbage out and only letting nourishment in, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” Phil. 4:8.

The Psalm then talks about what we let into our eyes, and that we should not allow wicked things into our eyes. How well do we do at this? How well do we protect others from this? When a Victoria Secret commercial comes on T.V., do you turn the channel or allow it to penetrate your eyes? Why was the television show, “Desperate Housewives” the number one show in America if Christians are not watching it?

I was given a movie to watch, “The Inside Man,” and was told it was good, and the story plot may have been excellent, but I had to turn the movie off within 5 minutes because they must have used the “F” word 20 times in that 5 minutes. I had to ask myself if the college students I worked with were with me would I be watching this. Would I want my daughter to watch a movie filled with such language? The answer is a big fat NO!! Why do we rationalize putting these things into our heads when in fact I bet that if Jesus was down here walking with us we would not watch or say half of what we do, yet He has sent His Spirit to be with us continually and we some how forget that. Myself included.

There is a disconnect today in morality and Christianity, from Sunday to the rest of the week. We have a hard time lining up with what Scripture tells us about who Christ is and how we are suppose to act once we accept Him as Lord and Savior. What would happen if everyone who called themselves Christian started to live their lives by what the Scriptures tell us in our daily lives and not just while we are at church? I believe there would be a dramatic change in every area of America, from government to the media, from schools to churches. It would end the life of most of the shows on T.V., pornography would almost disappear, and there would be a revival of our entire nation. There is a figure that says that 1 in 10 men are addicted to pornography. How many call themselves Christians, and yet allow themselves to be succumbed by such filth? Christ surely is not Lord in this area! Is that worse then watching a movie that every other word is swear word? Neither one is filling your mind with anything productive.

Here is the challenge. Look where Christ is not part of your decision process and make Him Lord of it. If He is Lord of everything then there is no area that He should not be first in. Our beliefs and theology should not start with “I,” but with “Him.”

“IF JESUS IS NOT LORD OF ALL, THEN HE IS NOT LORD AT ALL.”

DRESS UP! ARE YOU CRAZY?

I just returned from a great retreat with my campus students (a few of them in the picture) who are training to become leaders within the Campus Ministry. It was a wonderful time of discussing the Bible and issues that surround us today. The last morning we were there I went off alone while everyone, but the other leader that went along with me was asleep. During this time I read some of the Old Testament, which I have been reading lately during my devotions. It was here that another issue hit me regarding the church we attend on Sundays.

In the Old Testament we never see them refer to the church the way we do today, though back then it would be the temple where the ark was contained. For the purpose of this blog I will refer to the church and the Old Testament temple the same, because both places are and were used for worship purposes. They are both utilized as a central location where we come to pay homage to our Creator and give Him the praise and glory He rightfully deserves.

Why is it today we take going to church so lightly? We treat the church as if God is not there. During the time I was director of an inner-city ministry outreach in Charlotte, NC, I would have to ask people for money on a regular basis in order for the ministry to function. When I would go to meet with the donor(s) I would dress in a nice outfit and many times with a tie and jacket. As a matter of fact if I would have gone in just jeans and a t-shirt I probably would have not received the money, because they would not have believed that I was being respectful to them and did not truly care about what I was doing in ministry. Now, there were times when I did wear jeans and t-shirts, but it was when I was playing with the children I worked with or just going to spend the day in the office. But when I was to meet with people that could have an effect on the ministry, I was dressed appropriately and respectfully.

So, why is it we do not treat the church we attend with the same respect? Why do we allow our kids treat a place we go to worship our Savior as if they were going to a rock concert or to a local hang out. We tell people that God is first in our lives and that we are there to worship, but why not with the way we present ourselves for worship? We have downplayed this aspect of our worship and it has shown by the way we act and portray ourselves within the church. If you don’t believe me on this aspect, than try this little experiment. For a few weeks dress in your best outfit and go and worship at church, then dress in your blue jeans or shorts and a t-shirt and see if you mentally see the difference.

Why do you think counselors, psychologists, salesmen, and multi-level marketers tell you dress in your business attire even if you are not going to meet with anyone in person? Because they know that when you dress with a purpose your posture will line up with it. Why do you think they tell depressed people to make sure they groom appropriately? Because it helps start a positive attitude about yourself. Why not dress in a manner that will line us up with worshipping Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? He definitely deserves our best!!!

One example I always used with the young adults and college students I work with when they get angry for people judging them on their dress, is telling them that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it is probably a duck. Meaning that if you walk like and dress like a gangster, skate boarder, goth, or banker then people will think you are those things. That is what you are portraying. What does our statement make when we you walk through the doors to worship God? Does it say you are there to commune and give respect to the Exalted One, or that you are more worried about being part of the cool crowd, attracting the opposite sex, or just plain do not really care?

Of course we all cannot afford Armani suits, but we usually have at least one pair of nice pants, and if not you can get a nice pair cheap during a sale at a department store. The woman who poured the perfume on Jesus did not grab the cheap bottle, thinking that it did not matter whether or not it was cheap or expensive as long as I made the attempt. No! She used the most expensive perfume to anoint Jesus. Why? Because He deserves our best. We don’t dress to impress others or to attract others, but we dress to demonstrate what we think about coming into the house of God.

Just as in Old Testament times and the New Testament, we need to build respect back into our worship. We need to come into the church demonstrating our attitude inward and outward. Our dress can indicate what our mentality towards our Savior is and it tells others what we think about coming to a house of worship. Why not give Jesus our best at least one day a week? Matthew 22:37 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” Does your presentation at church represent loving God in such a manner? Would your dress be an indicator of your love for Christ and demonstrate that as a witness to others?

TO CHURCH OR NOT TO CHURCH?

There seems to be a fad right now of attacking the church in one form or another today. I am referring to the church structure, as in coming to a building on Saturday or Sunday to worship. I think what bothers me most is that most of the attack is coming from within the Christian church (universal). I continue to hear excuses about why they do not want to go to church on Sunday to worship. I hear it from young adults to the older generation, and there seems to be every excuse in the book.

One I hear a lot lately is that it is hard to stay awake or focus on the sermon. Usually this comes from the younger generation. One easy answer is to go to bed earlier, as these same people seem to think that because it is Saturday that they should stay up all hours of the night playing video games, watching television or whatever else one does until early morning. Then they wonder why they cannot focus or pay attention for the whole 20 to 30 minutes the message is given to them. Why do we make sure we focus at our jobs, but not when we are worshiping the reason we have the lives we do, Jesus Christ, who provided our salvation.

Another reason they cannot focus in my opinion is because they have been so entertained in youth groups and in everyday society. Their attention span to anything deep has been dwindled down and down to the point that if their ears or eyes are not being amused then they lose interest. Because of this churches have become more like a circus then a time of worship through learning and singing. We make sure everything is timed accordingly and leave no room for God to move anymore. If it interrupts the service in some form then it cannot be of God. I digressed there a little. The point is we have taken the real reason out of church in order to cater to the people that really do not want to be there worshiping anyway.

Church to me is supposed to be for the believer, where we gather together to worship our Creator through song and message. I am not suggesting that we go back to Gregorian Chants, though I like those, but that we stop trying to tickle the ears of the people that are just there because they were dragged there by a spouse or parent. We need to turn the church back into a place where the Inerrant Word of God is taught, where the Trinity is the forefront of our focus and not the joke in the sermon or the style of worship (contemporary or traditional). We need to start challenging the believer and start talking about sin and righteousness in a more profound manner then cliché and fluff surrounded by stories regarding a television show or the most recent sporting event.

“So and so offended me” or “the preacher does this or that I do not like,” are other excuses not to go to church. If everyone were to stop going to church because someone or the pastor said something to offend them there would be no one at church. Unfortunately that happens in the family of God here on earth just as it happens within our own family, but instead of working it out we make it an excuse not to go to church and be with our eternal family. It is a good thing that we do not treat our families like we treat the church, there would be no family left. Why do we treat the family of God this way? Ultimately it hurts us, as we lose the opportunity to worship God the way He deserves and commands. He is a jealous God. We need to quit putting ourselves before Him. Where is God in your life?

We need to change our perspective about why we go to church. We have lost the real reason. We think we go to church for us, but we do not. We do go to church for ourselves, but not in the way most people think; we go to church to worship God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), God the Holy Spirit. We do not go to get our ears and eyes tickled by contemporary worship, power point sermons, and flowery sermons. We go because we realize what Jesus did for us through the cross and resurrection. We go to demonstrate our love to God and because we want to worship Him with all our heart, soul and mind. Do you go to church to be entertained or to be filled?

If you are not going because you think church is boring, or because you cannot focus on the sermon, or someone offended you, then you need to really rethink why you come to church. Who is the church for in your life? You or God?

Lover of Jesus

The poem you are about to read is titled, "Lover of Jesus," and was a poem I read at my Nannie's funeral. She was a great example of what it meant to be someone who desired Jesus over everything else. I was honored to be chosen to say a few words for the grandchildren, as my grandfather, her husband, was my hero in life. He died many years before her, but she was his princess and because of that it was a greater honor to write this poem for her as not only a tribute to a great woman, but also a tribute to my grandpa.

She passed away in March of 06' and this is the poem I wrote and had the privilege of reading.

Lover of Jesus

She believed in the blood of Jesus

Lived her life by His Word.

Nanny never doubted the resurrection

She always lived within that protection.

Even though she had to leave us

There is one thing that was always known.

She is a lover of Jesus

One can tell by the seeds she has sown.

On Your Own!

My wife left for the day with my two girls and I had the place to myself for a few hours. What better way to waste that time then to watch a movie? I was just going to watch a movie I had seen many times, as I was not feeling well and was planning on falling asleep for a few hours. For some reason I decided to look through the movies that my mother had given me to watch. I had watched two already and they were just brain dead movies, comedy and action. While looking I saw "Annapolis" and decided to throw it in and see what it was about. It would turn out that I was very glad I did, as it is a great movie with a very relative message for today.

You will not go wrong watching this movie. It delivers in a fresh and gripping way that no one is an island in this world and we need each other. It also deals in a realistic fashion that life does not always go our way and the good guy does not always win in the way that movies try to portray. Of course, you cannot seem to get away from the love story built into the plot as all movies seem to need, but they do it in a more realistic fashion. I can only recall a couple of instances with foul language and there was only one kiss in the whole movie, though there is a scene where the main characters’ buddies fool him into believing that a woman in a bar they frequented was a call girl they had bought for him for the night. The call girl is not one and ultimately plays an important role in the movie.

I started thinking about the church today while watching this movie. The gist of the film is that a young man kept pushing and finally made it into the Naval Academy. He is a loner and does not want help from anyone, but unfortunately life does not work that way and Annapolis teaches this lesson of life. Through out the academy he continues to try to make it on his own when in reality there is no way he can without the help of the other students. It is done this way purposely; as it teaches everyone has something to offer in their own special way.

In this same fashion God created the church to be the same way. People come in with the whole intention of doing everything themselves and that just does not work in the family of God. He has given us each gifts that will correspond and compliment the gifts of others. It is nearly impossible to walk through this life on our own apart from the body of Christ. "Annapolis" does a great job of projecting this philosophy throughout the film. If you try it alone you will wind up angry, frustrated, and lonely.

One last area that impressed me was they stayed pretty honest to real life. One young man in the film talks about only hearing his father tell him he was proud of him twice in his life and one was when he made it into the Naval Academy. Unfortunately he does not pass the obstacle course requirement, and he ultimately tries to kill himself because he felt he failed his father and everyone in his town. No matter how hard we try to please everyone and try to be perfect we will fail and if we do not have the saving faith of what it is to live for Christ the world will beat us down, as it did this character in the movie.

Thankfully, there is an answer and that is living for an audience of One, God. Of course we always want to make our parents proud, but it helps to know that ultimately we are loved unconditionally by Jesus and that even though things in this world may not end up as we wished they did, we can rest assured that in the next life we will enjoy eternity with God the Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost. Of course the only way to be assured of this is through salvation; believing in Christ as Savior and Lord.

In the hospital room the two roommates are talking and the young man that tried to kill himself looks at his friend and says, “I have gotten my second chance and I am not going to waist it. And you better not waist yours.” Though he was not talking about anything spiritual, it can be used as a great application for a spiritual lesson. Christ offers that second chance free of charge by just believing in Him as Savior and Lord. Confessing with your mouth that He is Lord and you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead three days letter, defeating death forever. Do this and you will earn your second chance. Then the question is, “What will you do with your second chance?” Do not waist it.

THE KJV CONSPIRACY

I am currently teaching different attributes during the Sunday school, and during this time someone asked me whether or not the King James Version was the only reliable version. I must confess that I have not heard this question in all seriousness in all my years in ministry. I have looked at the arguments during my time in Seminary, but I have not run into anyone that actually holds this view. That is until this young lady asked the question.

I first asked if that is what she believed, and she said no, but her employer believes that the KJV is the only inspired version of the Bible. I do believe that the KJV is a beautiful translation and believe it to be a valuable translation, but it is not the only infallible translation, and definitely not the only inspired.

There are just too many questions that would need to be answered for the English version of the Bible to be considered the only inspired version and the only version to be used. There are at least 1,200 versions of the Bible out there in many languages, so why not the Latin version, or the African version, or the Greek version?

If we were going to pick based on the longest enduring version then we would have to use the Latin Vulgate and if we were going to use the most widely available and used today it would then be the New International Version.

Why do they consider the recent KJV to be the inspired version and not the 1611 version? One reason would be because the 1611 version had many errors in it. Not just simplistic errors either, but serious errors. One was in Matthew 26:36 where Jesus’ name was replaced with Judas’ name in the verse. Or what about the second edition where 20 words are repeated in Exodus 14:10? In 1611 there were two different editions that differ from one another. Which one should be used?

The errors mentioned above are just some of the problems over the years that the KJV has been distributed. There is the wicked version where one of the commandments says, “though shalt commit adultery” in Exodus 20:14. In the 1659 version there was a claim of 20,000 errors, and I did not mistype that number, it is 20, 000. Not to mention the original KJV version had the apocryphal books in it, and those are not considered part of the canonical books.

Now, if you pick the KJV in the original as the inspired version then you have to admit that some things are meaningless and false. What do you think is meant by “We do you to wit” in 2 Corinthians 8:1 (KJV)? How about “I trow not” in Luke 17:9 (KJV)? How is possible that words are continuously changed in the inspired version? Just in case you are wondering the “We do you to wit” means “We want you to know,” and “I trow not” means “I think not.” Other words now not in use: creeple, et, shalbe, middes and ioy. I have not even gotten into verses that would have the exact opposite meaning if we relied only on the original KJV today.

Taking the extreme view that the KJV is the only version to use can be seen as anti-intellectual as it fails to carefully and insightfully respond to language changes and thus culture. They tend to isolate themselves instead of engaging culture as Paul did (Acts 17). How can one preach the Word effectively to other societies and cultures if one does not understand to whom they are preaching it and their surroundings? Must we teach everyone the English language before they can understand the Saving grace of Christ?


Below is a list taken from Dr. Norman Geisler’s Theology, Volume 1 that gives some reasons for not accepting that the KJV is the only version that is inspired and all others should be compared to it. We forget that Christ was fully God and fully man, and to place one version of the Bible diminishes the human side of the Bible.

The Bible had forty human authors utilizing their own writing style and personality to proclaim the words within the Bible.
The Bible was written in Greek, Hebrew and Aramiac, which are all human languages and not a spiritual one.
Poetry, allegory, parables and symbols are all used within the Bible as literary forms.
There is simplistic to very extravagant language used in the Bible, demonstrating different human literary forms.
Shepherds, prophets, historians, and the apostles all used their different human perspectives to write the truths contained in the Bible.
Human thought processes are revealed within the pages of the Bible. Just read Psalms sometime.
Joy, pain, anger, vengeance, forgiveness and many more human emotions are seen within the text of the Bible.
Different human cultures are seen within the Bible.
Josh. 10:13; Numbers 21:14; Acts 17:28; 1 Cor. 15:33; Titus 1:12 are all other written sources used within the Bible.

Again, I do not believe there is any version better then the other in a fashion where one is “more” inspired, but believe we can utilize many different versions from all the different languages out there today. One should not place the Bible on a pedestal above God, as that becomes Bibliolatry.

The KJV Bible is a wonderful version, and should be read for its’ beauty, but it should not be considered as the only inspired version out there today. A new Christian today would have many struggles reading the KJV version as compared to the NIV or even the New King James Version. As long as the truths are not changed then we need to allow these versions that will help someone from America and from Africa to understand the saving grace of Christ and how to live out that life in their daily lives.

For more information on this debate you can pick up Dr. Norman Geisler’s theology work mentioned above or D.A. Carson, “The King James Debate.”

A New Kind of What?

I was told continually by a few people that I should read this book by Brian McLaren called, ‘A New Kind of Christian.’ It is becoming popular among the college and young professional population. Being a College Minister I figure I better read it to see what new enlightenment this book could bring to my ministry. Unfortunately, for me, it would only bring frustration and confusion, as it was not what I thought it was going to be at all. I found this book to be dangerous and leading down a slippery slope that could throw those who follow its principles into heresy and unorthodox Christianity very quickly.

I think one of the reasons this book is popular is because everyone thinks that since “everyone” else thinks it is good then so should they. It is to me a fad book, and has no more quality to me then Dan Browns ‘Da Vinci Code’ story. Both are written the same way, in story form and claiming truth within the tales they are telling. Both have literary backgrounds and would know that the best way to tell what you believe as truth and to get others to buy into it is to wrap it around a well written story, which they have both done. I know it seems to be an unfair and poor comparison, but they are both spreading information that can be damaging to the Christian that reads them and is not founded in Biblical truth. To me McLaren’s could be worse, as he writes under the umbrella of being a Christian and a pastor as well. His could be more far reaching, as those who read it will just accept his convoluted ideas about Christianity and the truths found in the Bible because he is a Christian.

With that warning said, I do want to start with the positive about the book, as I think it could still be a book worth reading. It just needs read with a critical mind. Test what he is saying and see if it does line up with Biblical truth. I do like that McLaren challenges how we think about God and Christianity and that we need to be more engaged in our communities. And I would agree with those challenges, but not with his answers to a lot of those challenges, in particular to how it pertains to the Bible and our faith. I want to keep these blogs at a readable length. I will only talk about a couple of issues within the book, but there are many more than I will mention below.

The first flag went up for me when the two antagonists, Daniel and Neo were talking and they were discussing what will be the future of Christianity. Neo ends up telling a story about being at a stop light and seeing a crucifix with a dream-catcher on the rear view mirror of another car. He said that some would see this as, “. . . syncretism, a Samaritan mix of Christianity with a pagan religion. . . .” I would agree with this definition, but he did not. This is what he wrote he perceived, “I would interpret that scene very differently. My guess would be that this driver respects Christianity but finds something lacking in the modern version. . .” He goes on to say that the dream catcher is holistic and fulfills that need that is missing in Christianity. That may be correct in that the driver is missing something in his life, but it should be found through building his relationship with Christ through prayer, worship, discipleship and meditating on the word. If his church is not supplying this then he needs to find another church. Then again maybe the guy is just superstitious and has no interest at all in either religion, but in any regards to allow this would be just the same issue Paul was dealing with in the 1 Corinthians church. It would lead to a pagan influenced Christianity and thus would end up negating many doctrines of the Bible.

Some would say, “Now come on, he was just using it as an example, but he does not necessarily believe that one should be allowed to do it.” I would say there are two problems with that, because for one McLaren says on page 36, “Well, there really isn’t such a thing as the Christian worldview.” He has the main character who is influencing the pastor say this, and then he goes on to give a poor reasoning behind its’ truth. Again on page 75 he has Neo say, “That’s why, in my mind, it should be possible to be a Christian and yet be culturally Buddhist, Muslim, or Navajo.” It is nearly impossible to be culturally any of those, as these three above intertwine everything through their customs. One could be culturally Indian, Palestinian, American, or Canadian, but not still part of a religious culture. However, Buddhists, Muslims and Navajos all intertwine their religious beliefs with everything they do in life, whether it is politics or home life. Does McLaren mean that we can sit in a sweat tent until we hallucinate (actually he goes on to say we can in another book), or have more than one wife and just add Jesus to a list of other gods out there? That is part of the culture of Buddhism, Muslim and Navajo. This is not Biblical and we are not to live that way. “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:8). Anything else added to the Christian faith other than what is laid down by the Bible, where Christ communicated with us, is communicating a false doctrine and thus should not be followed. We do not need to add to our faith, as Christ is all we need. The problem is that we just do not believe it at times, nor seek Him as we should.

Through out the book he challenges Biblical truths and concepts. In the beginning he challenges the creation account with Neo’s belief in evolution. He later challenges the belief of a literal hell, and he continues to do this in his book ‘Generous Orthodoxy.’ But this one also put up a red flag to me, which can be found on page 56, “Sure, there was history, but not with all the modern trimmings like concern for factual accuracy, corroborating evidence, or absolute objectivity.” Luke tells us that, “it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” (1:3-4). Either Luke is lying or McLaren is lying in his story. I am going to lay my cards on McLaren. Again, we see false information being passed as truth in a story form and people will believe it without even questioning whether it is true or not, because a pastor said it was so. We need to test everything by Scripture.

This is ridiculous on all accounts, as is seen from the beginning of Luke just quoted. The apostles talk about what they saw, and there are writers in ancient history that account for things that happened, making corroborating evidence. My question then would be, “Why should I believe anything else about the Bible if I cannot even believe the history or accounts of what happened?” Our faith is based on the evidence of things not seen, as Hebrews 11:1 put it so eloquently. Meaning the evidence of history, including the eye witness accounts, creation, and everything else all points to God. Hebrews 6:18 says, “that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie. . . .” If the Bible is the Word of God and God cannot lie then how can any historical mistakes be in it? God can use a crooked stick to make a straight line, meaning God can use a sinful man to still write an inerrant book. Questioning the very reliability of Scripture in the fashion he does with no evidence to support it and a plethora of evidence against his premise, both Biblically and secularly, makes me wonder what the motive really is.

I find this book to be dangerous and not a book that should be read by a Christian who is not founded in their faith. If one wants to read a book about how to take your church into heresy and into a watered down faith, then this book is for you. There are many other issues that could be challenged about this book, but the two mentioned should be enough to demonstrate the dangers of such a belief system. I can see now why so many churches are struggling with the homosexuality issue and the Trinity and the atonement. They have fallen into this thought process that there is not a Christian worldview and that we can incorporate unbiblical cultural beliefs into Christianity. If the ideas that McLaren is spouting take root we could be in serious trouble in the next few years.

I believe that the church has to be relevant to whom they are trying to reach without ever watering down the Gospel or challenging the truths within it. It is not the Bible or God that needs to change; it is us if we do not agree with what was being said. We are either reading incorrectly or we are not willing to fall under the rule of God. The question is, “Do you control God and how you are going to worship Him? Or is He the ruler of all and you are going to fall down and worship Him, following what He commands in Scripture?” If there is a historical fact that one cannot prove that does not mean it is not true, it just means we need to keep searching and I guarantee that we will discover the truth one day. My God does not lie, and He would not use His word to purposely deceive His children. My God is all-powerful and can write an inerrant book even through the sinners He chose as apostles.

This book fails as a challenge to the modern world and is counterproductive to anyone who reads it. I am frightened that Brian is going to lead a lot of Christians astray through his books and concepts. If anyone asks you to read this book, then run away. Don’t look back don’t ask any questions, just run. Remember, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16). Unfortunately Mr. McLaren would have you believe otherwise by the tone of his books.

Blue Like Jazz

I am sure you are picking up on why I am writing this with blue lettering, but if not just reread the name of the title. ‘Blue Like Jazz’ is a book written by Donald Miller. It is a very well written and thought provoking. If you have not read this book, it is well worth the price. Warning: this book is not written like any book I have read in a long time, as it reads like jazz, where at times the book flows naturally and elegantly and then it can take an abrupt change. The change though somehow fits perfectly within the context of the story, making it an even better read in my opinion.

I was first apprehensive about reading this book when I saw that Brian McLaren had written a recommendation for the book on the back cover. As I am very leery of the Emergent Church movement, which Mr. McLaren is considered one of the founding fathers. I have read his book ‘A New Kind of Christian’ and ‘Generous Orthodoxy.’ I would have to say both of the books are “as deep as a mud puddle,” as my friend can so eloquently describe something that is lacking. I will post more detailed thoughts on the Emergent Church and McLaren at later postings, but for now let’s focus on ‘Blue Like Jazz.’

Like I said, I was apprehensive, but as I read I became more and more engrossed in the book and the story behind Donald’s spiritual walk. He presents a very compelling story that draws you in and at the same time gives thought provoking commentary that will convict and challenge any Christian no matter where they are in their journey today. “This is the hardest principle within Christian spirituality for me to deal with. The problem is not out there; the problem is the needy beast of a thing that lives in my chest.” This is just one challenging quote of many that you will find within the pages of ‘Blue Like Jazz.’

During an interview Mr. Miller was asked about how some of the Christians were acting, and whether or not that was appropriate. His response is very sufficient for the only warning I would have prior to reading the book. He basically said that he is just reporting the truth and not abdicating or rationalizing any behavior that is described. It is just what happened during his spiritual journey. There is no language that I can remember and nothing a reader would have to worry about, but he does talk about drug use, drinking and smoking, though he never condones the behavior. The behavior actually helped me to intermix with the characters, making me get a better sense of what Donald was going through.

It was a challenge to me because the book in essence, and as stated on the book, is a book about spirituality without the religion. It is that, but also about how a man seeking a true relationship with Christ. He drew closer to Christ and was able to see what it meant to follow Him, even from tree hugging, pot smoking hippies who lived in the woods. You would not think you could learn anything from tree hugging, pot smoking hippies, but Donald clearly demonstrates that even in this situation there is a lesson to learn.

As you can see I am being detailed on my thoughts, but vague about what you can learn. I am doing this on purpose, as I do not want to ruin the book for anyone. You will not go wrong reading this book and you will come away with a new perspective on people different then yourself. Hopefully it will also dare you to look for Christ speaking to you in all situations that present themselves, as it has me. I will end with one more quote from this very provocative and stimulating book. “I can no more understand the totality of God than the pancake I made for breakfast understands the complexity of me. The little we do understand, that grain of sand our minds are capable of grasping, those ideas such as God is good, God feels, God loves, God knows all, are enough to keep our hearts dwelling on His majesty and otherness forever.”

Opening Day

As this is my first blog, and it seems to be the thing to do now, I have taken the jump and going into this new adventure. This will be short and sweet as I am just trying to set everything up and see how everything moves forward.

My intention for this blog is to allow those of you interested to read my thoughts on topics of interest to me, in particular Christianity. I will also look at a variety of issues that will typically centralize along the main theme of Christianity. I will attempt to look at the tougher issues of the day and some issues not so tense, but either way the attempt is to just put my thoughts on the blog and allow those who wish to comment or engage to do so.

My first thoughts of the day will be coming soon. . . .