Imitating the world

Sheep just don't look right when they try to act like tigers. Something is wrong with this picture of a sheep in a tiger's skin. But I have watched as the children of some of our "sheep" have tried to be tigers...tried to look like, live like the world. These are Christian kids acting like the world. It not new, but it doesn't look right, it's not the way it's supposed to be. Last Sunday Dave, one of our pastors, taught on this topic. I like the way "The Message" describes what Dave taught and our challenge-

Rom 12:1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
Rom 12:2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

If you are one of God's sheep, one of his children, don't try to be like the world. Don't try to "fit in." It looks funny! Rather, do this-

Eph 5:1 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents.
Eph 5:2 Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

A book I enjoyed

Here's a book I just finished. I really enjoyed it! If you're looking for a good book I recommend this one.

If you have read anything that you really like I would love to hear about it.

Coloring our lives

Be careful what you add to your life. It changes you, it flavors you. All that we read, watch, take in affects us...affects who we are and how we act with those around us. Just a few drops of bitterness can change the color of a bright day and a bright life into something different, something we wouldn't want if we could see it in colors.

I've been praying for one specific comedian...for his salvation....for a long time, but as I watch him he continues to put "dark paint" into his life and continues to be bitter, angy, rude, an atheist. I will keep praying for him.

But be aware that we "color" our lives by what we put into them. Most lives end up being a muddy gray with no clarity, no distinct color, no brightness....just a mess of colors poured together. The picture we are painting is confusing, the life we are living does not tell anyone who we really are.

Choose your colors, choose what you read, what you watch, what you say, what you entertain, who you hang out with....choose them because they really do make a difference.

Here's a passage from Psalms that has fascinated me for a long time. It describes a man who isn't picky about the colors he puts into his life.

Psa 109:17 He also loved cursing, so it came to him; And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
Psa 109:18 But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, And it entered into his body like water And like oil into his bones.
Psa 109:19 Let it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself, And for a belt with which he constantly girds himself.

It "colored" his life, how he thought, what he saw, and how he lived. Wow.

Choose your colors carefully, make your life a painting that will beautifully point to Christ as Lord of your life, and bring glory to God. We have enough "gray" people around us, paint your life in such a way that all who look at you will see a painting of Jesus.

Belief-O-Matic

If you find yourself bored, with nothing to do, here's a fun little quiz to see what you really believe-

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

P.C. Christianity

We are in a very interesting time in the history of the church. Our culture has continued to pressure us to be "politically correct", "culturally sensitive" and be sure you don't impose your beliefs on others. The world is trying to press the church and it's people into its mold. If we don't stand out we won't bother them and we won't make a difference. In many ways the world has won the day.

Jesus would have none of it. He railed against the establishment of his day, both religious and political, and called them to a higher law. Here's a "cut" from one of his encounters with the "establishment"-

Mat 23:13 "I've had it with you! You're hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God's kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won't let anyone else in either.
Mat 23:15 "You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned.
Mat 23:16 "You're hopeless! What arrogant stupidity! You say, 'If someone makes a promise with his fingers crossed, that's nothing; but if he swears with his hand on the Bible, that's serious.'
Mat 23:17 What ignorance! Does the leather on the Bible carry more weight than the skin on your hands?
Mat 23:18 And what about this piece of trivia: 'If you shake hands on a promise, that's nothing; but if you raise your hand that God is your witness, that's serious'?
Mat 23:19 What ridiculous hairsplitting! What difference does it make whether you shake hands or raise hands?
Mat 23:20 A promise is a promise. What difference does it make if you make your promise inside or outside a house of worship? A promise is a promise. God is present, watching and holding you to account regardless. (THE MESSAGE)

Well, you get the idea.....those aren't soft words. They leave no question behind, "what did he mean by that?" Jesus made it very clear what he wanted to communicate. In many ways we fail at that today. We have softened the message of the cross to the point that it irritates no one. We have stopped talking about sin, death and hell so that we won't offend. If we comply with the cultural demands to tone down our message, the message of the cross, we neither obey God nor serve those who need it most.

I found a call back to these topics on Mark Driscoll's blog, and thought it would be great challenge-

Anthony Bradley's Blog
This Year Don't Forget To Warn About Hell
Jesus, in an act of compassion, warns about eternal punishment and calls all to repentance. Jesus did not shirk from preaching the truth about the disastrous future awaiting those who do not confess Jesus as Lord. Many of today's preachers, out of cowardice, are not warning people about the impending justice of a holy and righteous God. In fact, it is entirely possible that people are confused about the necessity of the atonement because they are confused about the reality of hell. Preaching the gospel includes both dimensions of God's grace and his justice.

King of the Hill- Church!

One more to make you laugh today...

Airtap

As you can tell by now I really love different kinds of music. Here is another guitarist from Spain with an amazing style. Some of these guys are reinventing the way a guitar can be played, and I think it's great! Enjoy.

A redemption story continued...

A few weeks ago I went to the hospital to see the mother of a friend of my son. If you read an earlier post you saw the beginning of this story. The story is great because I got to share the good news with Robin. She prayed, and trusted Christ as her savior. It's been a hard few weeks for her. Regrets, fears of the future, still in hospital. Life doesn't get any easier because you become a Christian, but the future sure looks much better!

Today I went to see her and check on her. We had a good visit, talked about her move to an extended care facility, and then she said, "I wish I could be baptized. I've never been baptized." I asked, "Would you like to be baptized?" She responded with an excited affirmation. I got a Styrofoam cup filled with water and a towel, and we baptized Robin in her hospital bed. It was great! She was soaked, smiling and happy. Her son was thrilled. It was the first time I had used a cup of water to baptize someone, but I'm sure God was smiling too.

Then she said, "I wish I could go to church. I've never gotten to do that…..”

It will be interesting to see how this story will work out, but so far it’s a “God thing” all the way! Thanks, Lord.

a "finishing well" apology

Readers,

I'm sorry I have been so sporadic, and light in thoughts recently. I have just been far too busy. Unfortunately this blog has suffered. Please be patient with me, and I will get back to sharing in more depth as soon as possible. Until then I will try to post short, pithy comments...with pictures of course!

Thanks for your patience.

Mike

Faces

I love people. I must admit they are my hobby! I really like to spend time with people who have faces that have lived! Not the "pretty people", mind you, but the people who have really lived, and it shows! They are stories to be read, lives to be shared, they are the people who are fun to sit with for hours and talk to.

Our culture is programmed for youth and beauty, but the faces that captivate me are the faces that have really lived! The faces that have felt tears. The faces that smile even when they aren't really smiling at all. The faces that show a life lived. The faces with wrinkles. Give me a face with character anytime, I know with that face are stories to be told.

Let me encourage you to seek out those kind of faces....faces that have lived, and get to know them. It will amaze you what they have to offer.

Here are some other faces for your edification-

Psa 139:13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.
Psa 139:14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
Psa 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Psa 139:16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
Psa 139:17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Psa 139:18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.

Did you "feel" it?

Today Called the Most Depressing Day of the Year (NPR News)

January 22, 2007 · January 22 is the most depressing day of the year, according to Wales-based psychologist Cliff Arnall. Arnall talks with Luke Burbank about why the day is so depressing, how to get through it and when to mark the happiest day of the year on your calendar...

I couldn't find the rest of the story on the NPR site, but I'm thrilled that I made it through the most depressing day of the year and I barely even noticed! I guess we need to mark it on the calendar next year so we can "celebrate" it. It's a shame to miss such an important day in the year and not even feel it, not even be depressed...I feel like I got cheated...it really wasn't that bad for me at all!

Now I have to find out which day is the happiest and get ready for it. With the way my days go I will probably not enjoy it at all.

Hahaha

There's nothing better than a baby laughing....enjoy.

A Grandpa's first date

Well, tonight I ventured out on my first "date" with one of my granddaughters. It was her idea (I should have thought of it first) but she has been asking for an outing for over a month, so off we go to the mall.

Candy, ice cream, fairy wings, a crown, time spent in toy stores and a lot of talk...it was great!

She will have a sugar buzz for hours, but we both had a great time. It's been years since I spent some one on one time with a small child, in fact the last time I really got to do this was with my own daughter, so it was a special treat to spend time with one of her daughters.

I think it's an event I will need to repeat with the other girls in the near future....in fact, when they saw the "haul" this first one made I KNOW I am destined for more of these wonderful outings.

I look forward to each one. (And, no, it wasn't necessary to use duct tape.)

The prayers of the saints

Prayer. What a topic. We are invited to pray to God and ask for his help. Yet we understand so little about how all of this "prayer stuff" works. The bible paints a very clear picture that we are to be God dependent, and that's best demonstrated when we pray.

But I must tell you that, after over 40 years of faith, I still have problems with the issue of prayer.....I don't have all the answers. When discussing this topic I find that I come to the response, "I don't know" far more than I would like. I pray for people all the time, and don't always get my prayers answered. The truth is that I don't know what God is really up to in the life of that person. The answer to my prayer might be "yes", "no" or "in a little while we will do that". I feel like a blind man at times as I try to pray "in God's will". And, like the cartoon, I hear myself too often whining.

I want to see answers to prayer, we all do. So like so many prayers I have heard I pray "safe prayers" like- "Lord, be with Mary." The truth is that if Mary is a Christ follower he has promised to never leave her, so I can just see the Lord waiting for me to pray, hearing this prayer and finding there is nothing he can do with the prayer....he's already doing it!

My goal in my life is to no longer pray "safe prayers", but to pray at the edge of my comfort zone, to pray big prayers, prayers for healing, miracles, changed lives, you know BIG things. Now I know that when I pray that way I won't always see answers, but I may...and when I do I am challenged to pray even further out in my faith.

For me, I plan to stop whining, to stop praying safe prayers, and to be bold. I have had this goal for a long time, but find that I easily revert to the safety of "Lord, be with George today"...and I miss the chance to see what God, working through my prayers, could do.

I want to close with a passage that has challenged the church for centuries. These are Jesus' words, but they are big. I don't intend to explain them, I just want you to read them:


Joh 14:13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

Hanging on

I'm having one of those weeks.....just barely hanging on. I know it happens to all of us. I just wish the little birdies in my life would leave me alone. I have enough trouble of my own without others helping me fail.....don't you love the cats expression? He's doomed, and there isn't anything he can do but wait for the fall. It feels like that at times. Yesterday was a down day for me. I will hit days when the bottom falls out, when I am down, discouraged, depressed. I don't know why these days happen, but they do. Often, I find that there isn't really a reason for them. The "dark days" could follow a wonderful series of days, and then suddenly here it is...the bottomless pit! I have learned over the years that when I hit one of these days the best thing I can do is be quiet. It's a great time of prayer. It's at those times when I most love the Psalms, David's own journals as he dealt with his dark days. He was melancholy a lot, and had good reason to be, and his journals (Psalms) really are comfort for us who are just barely hanging on. Here's one that really helps me when I'm in the pit:


Psa 40:1 A David psalm. I waited and waited and waited for GOD. At last he looked; finally he listened.
Psa 40:2 He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip.
Psa 40:3 He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to GOD.
Psa 40:4 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to GOD, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships;
Psa 40:5 The world's a huge stockpile of GOD-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you! I start talking about you, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words. Neither numbers nor words account for you.
Psa 40:6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you-- that's not what you're after. Being religious, acting pious-- that's not what you're asking for. You've opened my ears so I can listen.
Psa 40:7 So I answered, "I'm coming. I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
Psa 40:8 And I'm coming to the party you're throwing for me." That's when God's Word entered my life, became part of my very being.
Psa 40:9 I've preached you to the whole congregation, I've kept back nothing, GOD--you know that.
Psa 40:10 I didn't keep the news of your ways a secret, didn't keep it to myself. I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough. I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth For myself alone. I told it all, let the congregation know the whole story.
Psa 40:11 Now GOD, don't hold out on me, don't hold back your passion. Your love and truth are all that keeps me together.
Psa 40:12 When troubles ganged up on me, a mob of sins past counting, I was so swamped by guilt I couldn't see my way clear. More guilt in my heart than hair on my head, so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.
Psa 40:13 Soften up, GOD, and intervene; hurry and get me some help,
Psa 40:14 So those who are trying to kidnap my soul will be embarrassed and lose face, So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable will be heckled and disgraced,
Psa 40:15 So those who pray for my ruin will be booed and jeered without mercy.
Psa 40:16 But all who are hunting for you-- oh, let them sing and be happy. Let those who know what you're all about tell the world you're great and not quitting.
Psa 40:17 And me? I'm a mess. I'm nothing and have nothing: make something of me. You can do it; you've got what it takes-- but God, don't put it off. (The MESSAGE)