From an Associated Press story on the Florida primary:
"Steadfast in a crisis, as a candidate Giuliani was a bundle of contradictions, so much so that he liked to joke that even he didn't always agree with himself."
Sort of reminds me of a significant number of Christians. Many times there is little agreement between what we say we believe and the actions we take. We believe we ought to pray consistently and frequently, yet seldom do. We believe we ought to attend the functions of the Church, but are often too busy or tired. We believe we should actively share our faith with others, but rarely take the opportunity. We are confident that we are to llove one another, yet find the actual discipline much to difficult.
It's as if we don't agree with ourself about who we are in Christ Jesus, or what we are to be about as believers. That needs to change, and quickly.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Communication Two
Wow! I stand corrected! Did George W. Bush put me in my place, or what? His State of the Union address was as good a rhetorical offering as I have ever seen him deliver. He seemed at ease, happy, undeterred by the opposition, and willing to stand up for his administration's agenda. Whether you agree with his assessment of our Nation's position and future needs or not, there is no equivocation regarding his "presentation" of the material.
Now, that is exactly what we need when we share the Gospel. Be at ease (the Spirit is at work), happy (we're on our way to Glory), undeterred by the opposition (he's a loser), and willing to boldly present our Savior, Jesus Christ, to a lost and dying world.
We may be, like George Bush's Presidency, in our last days of opportunity. Let's move forward with enthusiasm and victory -- all the way to the end.
Now, that is exactly what we need when we share the Gospel. Be at ease (the Spirit is at work), happy (we're on our way to Glory), undeterred by the opposition (he's a loser), and willing to boldly present our Savior, Jesus Christ, to a lost and dying world.
We may be, like George Bush's Presidency, in our last days of opportunity. Let's move forward with enthusiasm and victory -- all the way to the end.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Communication
Tonight the President of the United States will present his State of the Union Address. It will be received with mixed reviews from a policy perspective and almost everyone knows that it will be rather poorly delivered from a rhetorical perspective.
One of the realities of the current Presidential race is that Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee (for example) are very charismatic and rhetorically astute. Significant numbers of people will judge the content of the message less objectively when it is poorly presented. Even bad ideas get a hearing when the "speechifying" is outstanding.
My point (I have no political objective here) is that the message you and I have to deliver when we proclaim Jesus Christ is in itself offensive to a lost world. We further limit its hearing when we say it poorly. You have the greatest task in the World, promoting the Gospel through a shared testimony. Learn to do it well!
One of the realities of the current Presidential race is that Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee (for example) are very charismatic and rhetorically astute. Significant numbers of people will judge the content of the message less objectively when it is poorly presented. Even bad ideas get a hearing when the "speechifying" is outstanding.
My point (I have no political objective here) is that the message you and I have to deliver when we proclaim Jesus Christ is in itself offensive to a lost world. We further limit its hearing when we say it poorly. You have the greatest task in the World, promoting the Gospel through a shared testimony. Learn to do it well!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Hang On!
Don't you know those folks who jumped off the stock market roller coaster on Tuesday are kicking themselves on Thursday? I know some folks who sold their AMR stock on Tuesday just to watch it rise almost two dollars per share on Wednesday. It's always the folks who jump off the ride when it's still in motion that get hurt.
Life is a series of up's and down's. There are good times and bad, tough times and easy living. Sometimes we have the idea that we ought to abandon the Church, or God's people, or the Truth that we live by because things are going badly. Don't! Instead, follow the Psalmist's counsel:
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8
Life is a series of up's and down's. There are good times and bad, tough times and easy living. Sometimes we have the idea that we ought to abandon the Church, or God's people, or the Truth that we live by because things are going badly. Don't! Instead, follow the Psalmist's counsel:
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Bad News
Fred is out of the race (if you care, and some do). The stock market is an absolute mess (not the first or last time). Calvinism is growing in the SBC (and that's bad news for many). The city of Allen is trying to get folks to obey the law and some are screaming that regular folks moving into the city would rather be homeless and live under a bridge than pay a $5 registration fee (that anyone would believe that to be true means the idiocy level is way up, and that's bad news). Airline fares are going up (cancel that trip to the coast). Church attendance is down (hey, I care!). Heath Ledger is dead (another life cut way too short).
Isn't there any good news out there? Well, yes! You and I need to report it, shout it out, make it heard above the din of despair. And if you're having trouble finding it -- you need to get your self into a Bible believing, Bible teaching, Bible preaching Church. Hey, the whole thing is GOOD NEWS!
If you don't know where to find one of those Churches - drop me a note! I know of several.
Isn't there any good news out there? Well, yes! You and I need to report it, shout it out, make it heard above the din of despair. And if you're having trouble finding it -- you need to get your self into a Bible believing, Bible teaching, Bible preaching Church. Hey, the whole thing is GOOD NEWS!
If you don't know where to find one of those Churches - drop me a note! I know of several.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
In Between
My enquiries yesterday included a full scale of life. One person I asked about is late in life (near 90 years) and working well on recovery from various problems, and one is a tiny baby (just three pounds or so) with multiple concerns, as you can imagine, yet with a bright future on the horizon.
As I look forward for one, and back over the years of the other, and pray for the future of both, I wonder about their life. . .and think of us, those in the years between these two. Whether one is 14 or 40, 27 or 70, the only thing we possess is today, and a clear understanding that when today is over (remember, tomorrow never comes) we have eternity, either to know the incredible joy of dwelling in God's physical presence forever, or separated from Him in everlasting death. I have no concerns about the safety of these two examples of life, because they are both clearly clasped in the hand of God. There are others, however, about whom I worry.
We have such an awesome responsibility regarding this "treasure we hold in earthen vessels." The Good News of God's grace, the payment of the ransom to release us from the curse of sin, the hope that lies in an intimate, personal relationship with the Savior, are bound up in those of us who are His, awaiting release in the minds and hearts of those He will quicken from death to life.
Today is a good day to enquire of others. You may see new life spring forth, and hope born anew.
As I look forward for one, and back over the years of the other, and pray for the future of both, I wonder about their life. . .and think of us, those in the years between these two. Whether one is 14 or 40, 27 or 70, the only thing we possess is today, and a clear understanding that when today is over (remember, tomorrow never comes) we have eternity, either to know the incredible joy of dwelling in God's physical presence forever, or separated from Him in everlasting death. I have no concerns about the safety of these two examples of life, because they are both clearly clasped in the hand of God. There are others, however, about whom I worry.
We have such an awesome responsibility regarding this "treasure we hold in earthen vessels." The Good News of God's grace, the payment of the ransom to release us from the curse of sin, the hope that lies in an intimate, personal relationship with the Savior, are bound up in those of us who are His, awaiting release in the minds and hearts of those He will quicken from death to life.
Today is a good day to enquire of others. You may see new life spring forth, and hope born anew.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Encouragement
Yesterday our Preacher asked us if our mouths are used for encouragement or discouragement. I think the answer is: both. Sometimes we encourage others, and sometimes we discourage.
We also need to remember that it is not just our mouth that speaks discouragement, but the way we fail to take responsibility for our actions, or lack thereof. I cannot help but find myself discouraged when many of our folks, those who are part of the Body of Christ at the Church I attend, are so irregular in their attendance and participation. It's discouraging to see the Choir with several empty chairs. It's discouraging to see empty pews, more than a few empty seats in classrooms, or teachers with only one or two children when there ought to be several. (Our Church is blessed with many more members than seats.)
It's important to understand that the reason it is discouraging is because those empty places represent people that are lloved, who are vital to the life of the Body, and are genuine friends.
Don't hear me saying that people don't get sick, take needed days off, visit with families in far away places, or have to work. Whatever the reason they are absent, genuine or manufactured, it is hard not to be discouraged that another opportunity to share llove and joy while worshiping together has been missed.
I know our Preacher is wise enough to focus on the encouragement that exists because there are so many who do come, and are always faithful to the task of "doing Church." I'll try to take a lesson or two from him. Discouragement is a good thing to avoid.
We also need to remember that it is not just our mouth that speaks discouragement, but the way we fail to take responsibility for our actions, or lack thereof. I cannot help but find myself discouraged when many of our folks, those who are part of the Body of Christ at the Church I attend, are so irregular in their attendance and participation. It's discouraging to see the Choir with several empty chairs. It's discouraging to see empty pews, more than a few empty seats in classrooms, or teachers with only one or two children when there ought to be several. (Our Church is blessed with many more members than seats.)
It's important to understand that the reason it is discouraging is because those empty places represent people that are lloved, who are vital to the life of the Body, and are genuine friends.
Don't hear me saying that people don't get sick, take needed days off, visit with families in far away places, or have to work. Whatever the reason they are absent, genuine or manufactured, it is hard not to be discouraged that another opportunity to share llove and joy while worshiping together has been missed.
I know our Preacher is wise enough to focus on the encouragement that exists because there are so many who do come, and are always faithful to the task of "doing Church." I'll try to take a lesson or two from him. Discouragement is a good thing to avoid.
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