Peter's Final Moments

Sitting there, beaten and bruised, waiting to be nailed to a tree like his friend, his Savior, Peter weeped and rejoiced and closed his eyes. For reasons unknown to him his thoughts were not centered on the boards or the nails waiting to drain his final breaths on this earth. Instead, his mind was drawn back to a beautiful beach. The sand between his toes and fresh fish on his plate, the company of good friends, and an ache in his heart.
Peter was much younger then and his soul yearned for peace from a betrayal that he never thought possible. Sitting beside him, Jesus, a man he shared life with for the past three years, was cooking the fish they had brought in and was talking with the other apostles. Peter longed to speak with Him as well but he couldn't bare to look Him in the eyes. He felt so unworthy, so dirty, like a leaper, unclean. He was overwhelmed with joy when he first realized that it was Jesus on the shore calling out to them. He abandoned ship and swam, unwilling to wait for the boat's slow journey to shore. His emotions were stirring wildly within him. His friend was alive, but how could he possibly expect Him to forgive his betrayal. The look Peter saw in Jesus' eyes on the night of his betrayal burned a hole deep inside him that still burned as they sat there on the beach.
How could he have been so foolish. How could he be so wrong. He remembered that moment like it was yesterday. He remembered the things that went through his head. All the wonderful things that he had heard Jesus say and the amazing things He had done. But the thing that stuck out most was the memory of a conversation he had with Jesus just the day before. Jesus had looked very somber during that conversation with His apostles. He knew what the rest of us could not know and it weighed heavy on His heart. He spoke of betrayal and death and Peter could take it no longer. He was his friend, his companion, he believed he would do anything for Him. He could keep it in no longer, after Jesus spoke of leaving and his disciples being unable to come with Him right away, Peter belted out, "Why can't I go now? I'll give my life for You!" With sorrowful eyes Jesus turned to Peter and with tears flowing from His eyes He spoke to him and said something Peter thought could never be true, He said "Will you really give your life for Me? I tell you the truth: you will deny Me three times before the rooster crows."
How could this be? Peter loved Him, nothing could seperate him from Jesus. Surely he would give up everything to go wherever Jesus would go, even to death. He refused to believe it! He thought, surely Jesus underestimated his devotion to Him.
If only that were true. Sure Peter had bravery in the heat of the moment when he thought the revolution was about to begin, but in the face of doubt his bravery failed. He let them take Him. He didn't even put up a fight. How could He be the Messiah that the apostles had been waiting for all their lives? Peter was so confused. Curiosity and friendship brought him to the place where the soldiers had taken jesus. He wanted to know what they were going to do to Him. He had a feeling that He wasn't going to just disappear into the crowd this time. As he waited to see Jesus someone approached him. A servant, they looked at him very carefully then said the thing that he feared most, "You were with Jesus the Galilean, weren't you?" Peter panicked. He was afraid that they would arrest him as well, so he denied it. A little later this happened again, and again. Peter's mind was racing, his head was growing hot. For the third time he denied even knowing Jesus, this time cursing and putting on a show that would convince anyone that he had nothing to do with this Jesus who they had arrested.
Just then, he looked up and there, across the courtyard, was Jesus. He was looking right at him with those familiar tears in His eyes and Peter knew what he had done. His heart stopped and his eyes filled with tears. The emotions he felt that night cannot be put into words. It was as though the world had stopped and the weight of despair would soon crush him. He struggled to breathe and only by the grace of God did he feel air passing through his lungs again.
Now here he was again, in Jesus' presence. His eyes beginning to feel with tears. He looked up long enough to see Jesus staring right at him. He looked as though He knew exactly what Peter was thinking about, and then He asked him the one question he didn't want to have to answer. He looked Peter in his tear-filled eyes and asked "Simon (Simon was his name before Jesus turned it to Peter), son of John, do you love Me more than these other things?" The word He used for love meant unconditional love. How could he ask that? He knew the answer to that question now, they all did. Peter had failed Him. He'd denied that he even knew Him when He needed him the most. Peter looked back at Him, voice trembling, and said "Yes, Lord. You know that I love you." The word he used for love meant more like a brotherly love, a flawed love, but love nonetheless. Then He said "Take care of my lambs." This happened again and again. Three times He asked, three times Peter answered in the same way, and three times he charged him with a task that surely someone else was more qualified to undertake.
Why would He ask Peter to take care of His lambs? He had failed Him. He was dirty. He was unworthy. It wasn't until later that Peter realized that he had to be humbled before he could truly take on the task that Jesus had appointed him to do. He had to learn to depend on God and not himself.
But it was what Jesus said next that brought all this back to Peter now as he faced his death. Jesus had said "I tell you the truth, when you were younger you would pick up and go wherever you pleased; but when you grow old, someone else will help you and take you places you do not want to go."
("Jesus said all this as an indicator of the nature of Peter's death, which would glorify God.")
It wasn't until this moment that Peter discovered what Jesus had meant when He had said this, and it was at this moment that Peter probably looked to the heavens and said, I love you unconditionally.

(All quoted scripture taken from the Voice)
www.hearthevoice.com

THE Salvation Issue(s)

On my way home tonight I was thinking about the divisions in the church and that got me thinking about "salvation issues". What are and are not "salvation issues" is a very important thing to determine because this is what splits up the body of Christ. Disagreement about what issues are "salvation issues" is the leading cause of disunity in the Church. Christ prayed that we be unified and yet that doesn't seem to be high on our list of priorities.

As I was thinking something occurred to me that I had never thought about before. There is only ONE salvation issue and it is one that I believe all Christians could agree on. The only salvation issue is the issue of faith in Christ. All the other things that we argue and bicker about are just part of that faith, components, and on our part, each is a work in progress because none of us has it completely right. I think that we all can agree that each one of us is going to die having an imperfect knowledge of God and what He wants from us. The important thing is that we have faith in Him and continue to seek out His will. I'm not trying to say that these other issues aren't important but I am saying that they're secondary when it comes to our unity in Christ.

The way our churches are set up now, we all just wallow in our ignorance but in the way that a pig wallows in the mud. We are happy in our ignorance because the areas in which we are ignorant are shared by all those around us which in essence pulls a sheet over our ignorance so as to pretend it doesn't exist. We don't have to get into too many discussions about women's role in the church, the role of instruments in worship, speaking in tongues, miraculous healings, baptism, etc. with people who have a different views than us. I believe this makes us weaker rather than stronger in our faith and our understanding.

What must we do to be saved? Have faith, journey with God through this life. We won't get it perfect but we will continue to try. Every issue can be considered a salvation issue if we let it veer us away from our journey with God to pursue our own interests or desires because when we do that we are no longer putting our faith in God but in ourselves. It is that break in faith that is the salvation issue. Not homosexuality, not adultery, not theft, not women's roles, not baptism, etc. It is when we learn God's will and refuse to follow it that we break faith and refuse God's salvation. If a thief discovers that God does not condone theft and decides that he/she is going to be a thief because that's what they want to do they are replacing their faith in God with a faith in themselves. They believe that they know what is best for themselves rather than God even though God has said otherwise.

Wrap-up: An issue only threatens our salvation when it threatens our faith. (Disclaimer: If you believe that faith just means acknowledging God's existence you have much to learn and for now you should ignore just about everything I just said)

I know that these thoughts may step on many people's toes and may make you feel somewhat uncomfortable but if that describes you, please give the post another run-through and think about it for a while before deciding to comment. If after that you still disagree with my conclusion, I'm all ears.

Just Faith?

I find it interesting that when most preachers/pastors talk about faith, they describe it in a way that makes it sound so simple. I often hear things like "all it takes is faith" or "you just need faith". Those are just a few of the phrases that get tossed around. However, having faith in God is not that simple. In fact, it requires more of you than a religious system that is built solely on works. Faith and faithfullness share more than just their first five letters. The faith that is talked about in the Bible requires faithfullness. A works-based system of religion says if I follow this list of dos and don'ts then I'll be okay. A system based on faithfullness goes to a much deeper level. To take a relational example from the Bible, you go beyond not sleeping with that attractive person at work, you don't even think about him/her in that way. You are faithful to your spouse in both thought and deed. In the same way, if we have a relationship with God that is built on faith, we go beyond a shallow list of dos and don'ts and we focus more on whether or not we are trying to be faithful to Him at all times. A faith without faithfullness is no faith at all. James says that "faith without works is dead." It is hard to be faithful when nothing you do reveals your so-called faith. In order to be faithful we must live our lives with Him in mind. Is what I'm doing right now being faithful to God? Don't cheapen faith. If you truly have faith in God the evidence of that faith will be much greater than that of someone who is just trying to follow a list.

Offered Drugs

Watch. Reflect. Comment. What do you think?

Can I Trust God?

Many have posed the question, "Why do we have this struggle between our dependence on the Law and our dependence on grace?" I'm sure there are plenty of answers that you could give me, and if you wish feel free, but let me share one thought on the subject. There seems to be a struggle that the majority of us wrestle with called fear. Fear of disappointing, fear of going to hell, overall, fear of not doing enough. Everything in life is earned, we have to at least do enough to get by if we want to obtain the things we desire. So to stay out of hell many of us try to draw a line, what do I have to do to make it? So naturally, we lean towards the Law, not to mention traditions that the church has ordained as law. We strive to do enough to insure that we make it to heaven. The problem? We've forgotten about grace and in turn we've forgotten to trust God. God assures us that as long as we're on the journey His grace will cover us. So, if we're battling to earn our place in heaven, then we're forgetting to trust God to do what He has promised us He will do. The problem with this is that it hits the very heart of the gospel. When Jesus summed up the 66 books that we refer to as the Bible Jesus had this to say, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Love is the central theme to the gospel and for anyone who has ever been in a relationship (which is everyone, whether it was parents, friends, spouse, whatever) you know that trust can help or hinder that relationship. When we do not trust God it is hard to love Him. Fear leads to mistrust, mistrust leads to a lack of love, a lack of love leads to the absence of the gospel itself. Trust that God will give you what He has promised and join Him on the only journey that leads to life. If you have truly given your heart to God then everything else will follow and you have no reason to fear hell. Enjoy the freedom that only comes from Christ.

Stop and Think (Video)

Organic Christianity

Organic Christianity is a term that I've ever heard thrown around a bit lately and I like the sound of it. Although I must admit that I have not read any books or articles about this so-called "Organic Christianity", the thought of such a thing is intriguing. When I think of Organic Christianity I think about the struggle between quality and convenience. On one hand you have the name brand Christianity. The kind that is sold in bookstores and on tv, and don't kid yourself, it's also the kind that is practiced at most churches. It is easy Christianity. It is going to church on Sunday morning, watching what we say (especially when other people are around), trying to stay away from pornography, essentially, it is playing by the rules. Sure it will cost you something. But it probably won't break the bank, and if you're a thrifty Christian you may even discover a generic brand. What does the generic brand look like? Well, at church it looks like the name brand but at home and at work it's barely visible. It doesn't cost you anything but a smile and a nice suit on Sunday mornings. The appeal of both of these types of Christianity is convenience. They are easy to come by and they don't cost very much. Then you have Organic Christianity. Organic Christianity is the real thing. It is usually harder to come by and it will cost a bit more than the normal name brand stuff and significantly more than the generic brand. It hasn't been tampered with or tainted. It hasn't been sprayed down with a bunch of chemicals (poisons). The most significant thing about Organic Christianity is the difference it makes on the inside, which will eventually be reflected on the outside. It is pure. It is quality. No shortcuts. No facades. What you see is what you get. It is evident at church, at work, in your home, and most importantly, in your heart. So what it all comes down to is this. Are you willing to pay what it costs for quality Christianity or are you going to settle for the name brand or generic forms?

Children of God

What does it mean to be children of God? In my life it has come to mean many different things, but recently it has taken on another meaning. If God is my Father and all of us are His children, then that would make you all my brothers and sisters. I am not very wealthy at all but I live comfortably for the most part. So, that being said, how do you think our Father feels when I comfortably pass by one of my poor brothers or sisters on the road without giving them a second thought? Or how does He feel when I'm spending all my time or money on me when many of my brothers and sisters are struggling just to survive (not just physically but psychologically as well). How does my father feel when I curse my brother or sister, cheat them, lie to them, make fun of them, and so on? I imagine that if I was cheating my flesh-and-blood brother or sister in these ways my father would be very upset with me. If I let them starve while I dined on fancy foods, if I walked on by when all they needed was someone to sit and listen to them, if I cheated them just so I could get my way. I'm not saying to stop having fun or to live your life paranoid because you may have missed an opportunity to help someone. I'm just saying that we need to live our lives with our eyes and our hearts wide open. We have a lot of brothers and sisters out there crying for our help, next door and as far away as Africa, and we have a father that expects us to look after one another. And don't forget, you will find that many times throughout your life you will be the brother or sister crying out for help and praying that someone hears your cry.

90/10

I was at a wedding recently where the preacher said something that I really liked. He said that most couples enter marriage thinking that a marriage relationship should be 50/50 when it should actually be 90/10. There is a lot of truth to what he said. When we go into a marriage thinking it is going to be 50/50 we are setting ourselves up for a largely self-centered, non-sacrificial relationship. The phrase 'self-centered relationship' seems to me to be an oxymoron within itself. If it is self-centered then it isn't really a relationship is it. The Bible tells men to love their wives like Christ loves the church. Well, while Christ was being beaten, spat upon, denied by his best friends, and nailed to a cross, he was praying for the very people who were doing these things to him, and for us. Why was he being beaten, spat on, denied, and hung on a cross to die? So that his church, his bride, might live. 90/10. In a 50/50 relationship we run into a lot of conflict because half the time we are looking out for ourselves and not the one "we love". In a 90/10 relationship it is the one we love who is looking out for us. Trust me, I know it's not always that easy. You may be going at it 90/10 while your spouse is going at it 10/90. A word of encouragement: love is patient. In most cases your spouse will come around in time as long as you stay focused and continue giving him/her 90 percent. Most people, when they are truly loved, can't wait to return that love. It may take time and practice, but they'll get there. For those of you whose spouses are completely content with you carrying the entire load, I know it sounds crazy, but you will be happier in your relationship as long as you continue to give your 90 without expecting her 90 in return. People who are self-centered are also self-destructive. You promised to love your spouse for better or worse and it would do you good to honor that promise. If your marriage is about what you can get out of it, or what your spouse can do for you, then it will always be on rocky ground and most likely it won't last. Ask not what your spouse can do for you, but what you can do for your spouse. When we are focused on our spouse and their needs we will find ourselves getting upset a lot less often. There will be fewer fights. There will be more hugs, kisses, loving words, acts of kindness, and yes, according to all the experts, more and better sex. The tricky thing is to make sure that those things don't become your motivation because then we have shifted the focus back on ourselves and our relationships are once again self-centered. Our motivation should rest on two basic foundations: our love for our spouse and our commitment to them. Don't let yourself get in the way of all that God has planned for you in your relationship. Sacrificial love is the greatest kind of love there is. Think of all the greatest love stories and you'll notice that the really good ones, the ones you grew up dreaming of, are the ones where great sacrifices are made. The ones where the heroes go up against great odds to defend the ones they love. The ones where a man or woman leaves everything they know to be with the one they love. The ones where forgiveness, not anger, is offered to the one who has done wrong. When we set ourselves aside and live our lives for the ones we love, then we will begin to experience the love that we'd began to think only exists in dreams and fairy tales. Then we will begin to understand the love of Christ for his bride.

The Hammer

Here is a poem that I wrote a couple years back, about our Lord's unfathomable mercy.

The Hammer

As You cry out to me now
I take the hammer in my hand
As You plead for my love
I hold the nail and strike again

Lord, take this hammer from my hand
And remove these stains from my soul
With the wounds that I've created
Take Your blood and make me whole

For so many broken people
You wore a crown of thorns
With blood dripping from your brow
You bowed Your head and it was done

Yet I raise my arm up high
To strike another blow
Lord, I cannot save myself
Please let your grace and mercy flow

- Matt Alan Semanek

Tolerance < Love

The Bible says that they will know we are Christians by our love. So how well are we doing at revealing our identity to those around us? Sadly, when I look around I see a lot of "Christians" who seem to be characterized more by hate than love. We seem to have forgotten the great old saying "love the sinner and hate the sin". Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not advocating tolerance, besides, tolerance isn't love. Tolerance usually means forgetting about the sin, not hating it. I'm talking about truly loving people where they are, developing relationships, and sharing with them along the way what you believe. Why are you sharing what you believe? Because you genuinely care for them. For many years, evangelism meant going from door to door talking to people about what you believe. There may still be a place for that but for the most part those days are over. Most people today are looking for something more. Something deeper. Something real. They don't want answers from a book (just yet), they want a connection. They want evidence that can only be found in interaction, in seeing the true love of Christ being lived out through those who call themselves the body. As Christians we have bought in too much to the age of reason and we run too quickly to books like The Case for Faith when defending our faith, when the best defense we have is our own lives. So, back to loving the sinner. When we express hate for homosexuals, prostitutes, members of different religions, etc., we are not being Christians. When we are tolerant towards homosexuality, prostitution, different religious beliefs, etc., we are not being Christians. When we are showing the love of Christ through relationships with homosexuals, prostitutes, members of different religions, etc., while hating the things that we believe are keeping them from the life God promised them, that is being a Christian. They will know we are Christians by our love, and so will we.

Drink MYTHology

I have heard many different views on what people think the scriptures say about drinking alcohol. To be honest, some have been down right ridiculous. So let's examine what the scriptures do say, without bringing a lot of baggage to the table and pulling out of them what we want them to say. The first point that we must address is whether or not the wine mentioned in the Bible contained alcohol like our wine does today or whether it was just grape juice. Many people will argue that the wine mentioned in the Bible was closer to today's grape juice, and even though it may not have been as potent as our wine today, it is ridiculous to compare it to grape juice. When was the last time you heard a mother tell her child who is drinking a glass of grape juice to be careful not to get drunk. Well that's essentially what the author of 1 Corinthians says to a group of people who have gathered together to take the Lord's Supper where wine was being served. In fact, the author actually mentions that some of them had become drunk. How much grape juice were these people drinking! Seriously, the virgin-wine concept just does not stand up against scripture. So, that issue being laid aside, what does scripture say about consuming wine. Well, first and foremost, Jesus drank wine, not grape juice, wine. The same stuff that these people in 1 Corinthians were drinking. So to say that drinking wine is a sin is completely ridiculous unless you’re willing to accept that Jesus was a sinner. Timothy was encouraged to drink wine. The author of Ecclesiastes says "drink your wine with a merry heart". And scripture NEVER, not once, forbids the consumption of alcohol. However, we cannot end the discussion there. Although drinking wine is never forbidden, it does come with a disclaimer. Drinking too much wine, becoming drunk, is frowned upon by God. The introduction of automobiles into our culture has placed an extra emphasis on God's disclaimer. When we drink we must drink in moderation. There are many things in life that when done in moderation are good but when allowed to get out of control can be very bad. Medicine for instance. There are plenty of medicines out there, that when taken in moderation, are good for you and may even keep you alive. However, those same medicines, if taken inappropriately, could kill you. I'm not saying that you have to drink alcoholic beverages. Just that we need to stop pretending that the Bible says something that it so clearly never says.

The Other Side of Niagara

In the book of Mark there is a story about a man who goes to Jesus for help and he says to Jesus, "I do believe; help my unbelief." Now this phrase always seemed a bit odd to me and I can still remember sitting in Bible class trying to figure out exactly what it means. Well, I recently heard a story that helped explain it a little better (forgive me if you've heard it before and I completely mess it up).

There was once a very strong and talented man. And this man had a rope tied from one end of the Niagara to the other. A large crowd gathered and he said to the crowd "do you believe that I can walk across this rope?" They knew that this man was a very talented man so they shouted "yes, we believe!" So the man did it. Then the man took a wheelbarrow, and he said to the crowd "do you believe that I can push this wheelbarrow across this rope?" Again the crowd cried out "yes, we believe!" So the man did it. Then the man took several bags of concrete and placed them in the wheelbarrow and he asked the crowd, "do you believe that I can push this wheelbarrow full of concrete across this rope?" And again the crowd cried out, "yes, we believe!" So again, the man did it. Then the man looked at the crowd and asked "do you believe that I can push this wheelbarrow across this rope with one of you in it?" And one last time the crowd cried out "yes, we believe!" Then the man asked, "who will volunteer?" And slowly the crowd began to disappear until there was no one left.

"I do believe, help my unbelief." Help give me the courage to get into the wheelbarrow. It is easy to claim to believe in Jesus. It easy to rejoice at what He's done. It can even be easy to tell others about what He's done. But it's not always so easy to go up alongside Him, to put ourselves at risk, and to live the lives that He's called us to live. "I do believe, help my unbelief." But you know what the most beautiful part of getting in the wheelbarrow is? It only takes one to step up and to get in, and then others start to follow. Sure, you will always have those people who will laugh, make fun of you, and say that what you are doing is pointless. But what they don't get, is that life, true life, is on the other side of Niagara.

LOVE

I hope this doesn't sound too much like a bunch of random thoughts crammed together. This was just my attempt at forcing a chapter full of thoughts onto just a couple pages. So enjoy, and I hope you are blessed.

The more I come to understand marriage and being a parent the more I understand and appreciate God. Ideas like love, sacrifice, joy, suffering, and many more, become more real to me the closer I get to those I love. Yes, I mentioned suffering in there. The fact is, when we love someone we will inevitably suffer at times because of that love. Love is a risk, but when done right, it is well worth it. When you love feelings get hurt, painful experiences are shared, pains and aches are felt even when they're not your own, and the loss of someone's life burns that much deeper. We all know this but we chase after love anyway. Why? Because when you're loved hurt feelings are mended, there's a shoulder to cry on when you need it, the burden of your aches and pains don't have to be carried alone, when you lose someone close there is someone to hold and comfort you, and because there is no feeling in the world that compares to it. We were made to love. The problem we face today is that we have many false views of love. Love is considered giving your child whatever they want. Love is considered trying to be your child's best friend. Love is considered getting involved with someone sexually (outside of marriage). Love is considered to be something that is all about ME. When my "relationship" is focused around me and what I want then it just doesn't seem to work out right. So we need to rethink LOVE. What does it mean to love someone? How do we go about doing it? The answer is simple: SACRIFICE. To many people the word sacrifice sounds like a four letter word. That is until someone sacrifices something for them. See what I mean by our relationships are "focused around me". If we profit then sacrifice is good, if others are profitting at our expense then it's bad. I have found that the more I sacrifice in my relationship with my wife and with my daughter, the more I gain. I may not always FEEL like getting off the couch and playing with Miranda but when I do I never regret it. I may not always FEEL like going out of my way to do something nice for my wife but I'm always glad when I do. If you haven't seen the movie Fireproof it does an excellent job of portraying how much sacrifice can change your life for the better. Love and sacrifice. In all reality you can't do one without the other. For that very reason many marriages now end in divorce because most people get married these days thinking about what they're going to get out of it instead of what they're going to contribute to it. God has been trying to teach us this principle since the beginning but many of us have gotten to busy to listen. We are so busy trying to please ourselves that like C.S. Lewis once wrote "we are...like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." We settle for so little when God has offered so much. Learn how to make sacrifices for the ones you love, to contribute instead of just seeing what's in it for you, and you will start to see that there is something far better planned for you than just playing with mud pies.

PROUD

A common phrase that most people have heard is that "pride comes before a fall". At the same time our culture seems to covet pride and hold it up as something to strive for. Why would we covet something that is going to throw us down? Why does our culture cling to pride as though it is a means to our salvation? I believe part of the answer can be found in our interpretation of the word salvation. When most Christians think of salvation their minds go directly to thoughts of Heaven and life after death. However, the Bible seems to paint it as something that begins before we die. When we begin to think of salvation as something that takes place here and now then the source of slavation changes as well. Let me explain what I mean. If salvation doesn't occur until after we die, then there are many aspects of our lives that we don't consider when we are thinking about our salvation. The source of our self-esteem for example, is sought in our accomplishments at work, in our athletic ability, in our abiblity to keep a clean house, in our possessions, and many other things that are directly correlated with things that WE have done with OUR talents. If salvation begins to take place when we welcome the Spirit of God into our lives then our self-esteem is sought in the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, in the price He paid, in God's love for us, in the amazing things that He is able to do through our otherwise incapable hands, and so on. When we recognize what our salvation truly is then we can rest in the fact that our self-worth doesn't come from all the many things we do but instead comes from God and what He's done for us. Pride comes before the fall because we are living in the dark. When the light of God is there to show us the way then we can make it home safely. Sure we may turn our heads and stumble from time to time but as long as we look back towards the light ahead we'll make it okay.

Points to ponder:
The point of pride is winning and the humble seek the truth. (Remember this in your marriage as well)
Lack of prayer reveals the presence of pride.

Philippians 2:3-5
"Don't let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. We will get nowhere if our motives spring from selfish ambition or from indifference to the plight of those around us. Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors' interests first. In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus, your Liberating King. Live with His attitude in your hearts." (from The Voice New Testament)

Church Dirt

When I walk into church I can't help but think that something seems wrong. I am constantly surrounded by suits, dresses, fancy purses, and expensive shoes. I look around and notice that I am standing in a building that costs more money than I will ever see in my lifetime and a building where someone with dirty shoes would not dare to enter. I look around and I see a lack of people who Jesus would have sat down and ate with, the types of people Jesus spent most of his time talking to. I can't remember the last time I saw a prostitute enter into the church where I was attending because to my knowledge it has never happened. Where are the murderers, the thieves, the sex-offenders, the ostracized, the outsiders, where are the homeless? We have kept the doors open for those who we feel safe around, those who we can feel comfortable around: the adulterers, the liars, those who covet, those who are slaves to greed, etc. How many homeless people attend your church? How would they be treated if they did? Would you introduce your children to them? Would you invite them to sit with you? What about a prostitute? A convicted felon? Are we not called to love and to forgive? Should we not make our places of worship, places where they would feel comfortable entering? Church should not be safe? If you disagree you need only read the New Testament to find evidence that this is true. We are not called to make church a safe haven from the evils of this world or even from those things that make us uncomfortable. We are to bring in those who are struggling and to love them and to participate with God in a transforming process that may change us more than it would the people who came seeking hope and redemption. Church should not be a place we go to get dressed up but stripped down. Stripped down to reveal the sinners that we are. Stripped down to reveal that we are no better than the prostitutes, the thieves, the murderers, the men and women who have no place to call their home. Church, is where we should be reminded that our only true worth is found in Jesus Christ.

Judged Accordingly

I was born and raised in a church home. We went to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. I was raised under the direction of the Bible. So what does that mean for me on judgment day? Do I get judged exactly the same as someone who was raised by atheists and raised to hate God? I don't believe that it does. The Bible makes it clear that different people will be judged by different standards. For instance, if you choose to be a minister of God's word the Bible says that you will be judged more harshly. When we say that God has a "giant ruler" and everyone has to reach the same point on that ruler I believe we are insulting God's intelligence. I believe that God judges people according to where they are and the opportunities that they have been given. That does not give the child raised by atheists a get out of hell free card. I believe that God reveals himself to everybody in one way or another and then it is up to that person whether or not they will choose to believe. However, the child who was raised as an atheist will have a much more difficult time trying to adapt his or her lifestyle to the way of God than someone who was born and raised to know what's right. They will each have their own challenges and therefore their journeys will be different. What it really all comes down to is this; there are people living right now who will never even hear mentioned the name of Jesus Christ. However, God does say that He reveals himself to these people through nature and other ways. These people will never hear of baptism or partaking of the Lord's Supper but I believe God says there is a way for them to be saved. No I'm not saying that they will be saved apart from Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, I'm just going to let the scriptures speak for me here. This scripture is written to those under the old covenant but was still written by the same God that will judge us under the new covenant and at the end of this scripture the writer says something that ties everything together. "..it is following the law that makes one right, not just hearing it. For instance, some outsiders who are not required to follow the law often live quite naturally by its teachings. Even though the law wasn't given to them, in themselves they have the law. Here's the thing: their lives demonstrate that God has inscribed the law's teachings on their hearts. On judgment day, their consciences will testify for them, and their thoughts will both accuse and defend them. This good news given to me declares that this affirmation and accusation will take place on that day when God, THROUGH JESUS, the Liberating King, will judge every person's life secrets." (Romans 2:13b-16) Even those who have not heard may be saved THROUGH JESUS based on whether or not they followed what God put on their hearts. God judges our lives. Not our baptism. Not our service projects. Not our childhood. Not our adulthood. He judges our lives and what we did with what He gave us. To those who have been given more, more will be expected. In the end it's not up to us to decide who is saved and who is not. It is up to us to be Christ to all and let God take care of the rest.