I am looking forward to celebrating the Anniversary of my high school, Kofa. (This comes from the largest copper mine in Arizona, of which the owner called, The King Of Arizona, or KofA, Kofa.) Go Kings!!
So as I hit the county line, I saw as I was heading west bound on I-8, the "Border Check" on the east bound lane. Seems that this temporary camp is still temporary with the tents and all, but it seems now 4 times bigger than just 18 months ago. Or am I imagining this? It shall be fun traveling through it on Monday.
Now I have crested Telegraph Pass. Then I see it just before the 32nd street exit. My FOURTH PHOTO RADAR! This time, the cameras flashed! Who will get this ticket? I was driving one of 4 black SUVs, I kid you not. Our top speed at the time of the flash? 63 in a 65 zone. Hmmm were we tailgating?
I am not liking these 2 observations. What is next? Oh, for the record, I will fight any ticket I may receive.
God bless! --smh
(This is a rant. There is no spiritual lesson. Sorry.)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
When God Smiles♦
Did you know we are "Veggie Ambassadors"? This means that the people who produce famed Veggie Tales send to us a copy of the newest DVD supposedly a couple of months before its release in stores. The purpose is so that we can play the movie for the community and give out posters, stickers and coupons so that people will buy the movie when it is released. We like this arrangement. We get to see the movie and then we get the left over stickers to use for Vacation Bible School and neat posters for the boys' room. (yeah, we stack 'em like cord wood around here.)
Anyway, one of the more recent releases was "Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's Umbrella." This episode bothered me. It talked about making God smile. Not being afraid to be ourselves makes God smile. This seemed to be the main message of the story.
Now Veggie Tales has been known for bringing Biblical truths in a fun presentation format. I have been good with this. This time, they used a message, as if it were from the Bible, that is not in the Bible, not even alluded to in the Bible. God smiling? Where did this come from?
Then last night, I was seeing some videos and accusations against "America's Pastor" Rick Warren. I watched 4 videos. None of them agreed, though all 4 of them were Pastor Rick talking. But it is this last one that shed the light for the Veggie Tale that has bothered me so. Take a gander at it.
As a preacher, it is our duty, our responsibility to make sure what we preach is found within the Word of God. This is not just Sunday mornings or at church settings, but all the time, 24/7. When people see me walking down the aisle at Wal-Mart, they greet me as preacher, pastor, or depending on the person, even reverend. (I really don't like this last title for me and he knows it.) People know me around this community. So what I do on Sundays is not, and cannot be separated from how people see me even on the soccer field as I coach the Bandits.
So it really bothers me when, at a glance, someone whose theology is close to mine then leaves that theology and "creates" new "truths". I sit back and watch how main stream people watch, swallow and follow these new teachings. I pray for those who follow "America's Pastor".
Now please don't misunderstand me. I do not hold the average person responsible for bad theology. I will open the Bible and show him what God really says, if the person wants, but I will not draw into an argument with them. I save the arguing for my colleagues, the other preachers.
They as "God's shepherds" should know better. James 3.1 tells us that we should not presume to become teachers {of God's Word}, because we know that as teachers we shall be held to a higher standard.
I guess that this is all part of "Re-Imaging our Christian Faith" to fit with our new world times. That just really bothers me.
2 Tim 3.16 says the Bible is all we need to become the person God wants us to be, for doing the good works that God wants us to do, aka spread His Good News.
And Rick, do you really want to please God? I implore you to look at Hebrews 11.6.
Thanks for listening to this rant of mine. May God's blessings flow through you to those who need His love. --smh
Now Veggie Tales has been known for bringing Biblical truths in a fun presentation format. I have been good with this. This time, they used a message, as if it were from the Bible, that is not in the Bible, not even alluded to in the Bible. God smiling? Where did this come from?
Then last night, I was seeing some videos and accusations against "America's Pastor" Rick Warren. I watched 4 videos. None of them agreed, though all 4 of them were Pastor Rick talking. But it is this last one that shed the light for the Veggie Tale that has bothered me so. Take a gander at it.
As a preacher, it is our duty, our responsibility to make sure what we preach is found within the Word of God. This is not just Sunday mornings or at church settings, but all the time, 24/7. When people see me walking down the aisle at Wal-Mart, they greet me as preacher, pastor, or depending on the person, even reverend. (I really don't like this last title for me and he knows it.) People know me around this community. So what I do on Sundays is not, and cannot be separated from how people see me even on the soccer field as I coach the Bandits.
So it really bothers me when, at a glance, someone whose theology is close to mine then leaves that theology and "creates" new "truths". I sit back and watch how main stream people watch, swallow and follow these new teachings. I pray for those who follow "America's Pastor".
Now please don't misunderstand me. I do not hold the average person responsible for bad theology. I will open the Bible and show him what God really says, if the person wants, but I will not draw into an argument with them. I save the arguing for my colleagues, the other preachers.
They as "God's shepherds" should know better. James 3.1 tells us that we should not presume to become teachers {of God's Word}, because we know that as teachers we shall be held to a higher standard.
I guess that this is all part of "Re-Imaging our Christian Faith" to fit with our new world times. That just really bothers me.
2 Tim 3.16 says the Bible is all we need to become the person God wants us to be, for doing the good works that God wants us to do, aka spread His Good News.
And Rick, do you really want to please God? I implore you to look at Hebrews 11.6.
Thanks for listening to this rant of mine. May God's blessings flow through you to those who need His love. --smh
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A Lesson From a Point
Perhaps I have done a bad thing. I have created, and then fed an addiction. No, this is not my addiction. But it is an addiction within the household. But it is so funny to watch him come and beg for more as if he were coming down hard from a high. Relax, it is not with my sons, nor my dogs.
We have this cat, an orange tabby named Toby. And he has an addiction that I created and feed whenever I have the whim to do so. And what is this addiction? "Laser Light!"
I bought this neat pen that came equipped with LED light and a laser pointer at the top end. Our other cat liked it, but she never became "addicted" to it. Then we got Toby and one day I pulled the pen out and shined the laser. He went ballistic!
Mention "laser light" he comes running with a loud purr. Or if I sit at my chair or I am in the kitchen, he comes to me, chirps and then starts looking around for the little red dot. If he does not immediately see the red dot, then he becomes insistent. He has even jumped in my lap and nipped my hand because I was not giving in to him. He needs me to show him the light. (What a monster I have created!)
This brings me to another application as I was one day showing him the pointer. I started thinking about the Bible, and how this might apply to our spiritual lives. (Surely you saw this coming.)
Jesus told his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5, verses 14 & 16, "You are the light of the world... (so) let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Christian Standard Bible)
Another way to look at this: we are declared the light of the world, shining the way to the Father. The world needs us to be that light. To live so that we show others the way we have found. And why do they need us?
When I was in Boy Scouts, we once circled a campfire and then we started walking away from the fire. We were to stop when we each reached as close to the edge of darkness as we dared, without actually entering the darkness. When we had all stopped, we turned around to face the fire. We could not clearly see one another, not across the fire, nor to our sides. While we thought we were still in the light, we were really well into the dark.
The point of this story is that our neighbors around us may not know the extent of darkness that they are in. This is where we come in. We are to shine their paths out of the darkness, not with arrogance or superiority, but with gentleness and love, the Gentleness and Love of God, our Father. And who knows? Someone may love that light you shine for them.
The Father's blessings to you! --smh
We have this cat, an orange tabby named Toby. And he has an addiction that I created and feed whenever I have the whim to do so. And what is this addiction? "Laser Light!"
I bought this neat pen that came equipped with LED light and a laser pointer at the top end. Our other cat liked it, but she never became "addicted" to it. Then we got Toby and one day I pulled the pen out and shined the laser. He went ballistic!
Mention "laser light" he comes running with a loud purr. Or if I sit at my chair or I am in the kitchen, he comes to me, chirps and then starts looking around for the little red dot. If he does not immediately see the red dot, then he becomes insistent. He has even jumped in my lap and nipped my hand because I was not giving in to him. He needs me to show him the light. (What a monster I have created!)
This brings me to another application as I was one day showing him the pointer. I started thinking about the Bible, and how this might apply to our spiritual lives. (Surely you saw this coming.)
Jesus told his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5, verses 14 & 16, "You are the light of the world... (so) let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Christian Standard Bible)
Another way to look at this: we are declared the light of the world, shining the way to the Father. The world needs us to be that light. To live so that we show others the way we have found. And why do they need us?
When I was in Boy Scouts, we once circled a campfire and then we started walking away from the fire. We were to stop when we each reached as close to the edge of darkness as we dared, without actually entering the darkness. When we had all stopped, we turned around to face the fire. We could not clearly see one another, not across the fire, nor to our sides. While we thought we were still in the light, we were really well into the dark.
The point of this story is that our neighbors around us may not know the extent of darkness that they are in. This is where we come in. We are to shine their paths out of the darkness, not with arrogance or superiority, but with gentleness and love, the Gentleness and Love of God, our Father. And who knows? Someone may love that light you shine for them.
The Father's blessings to you! --smh
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Question of Salvation and Works♦
A friend of mine stated on Facebook, "If our faith cannot take us to church, what makes us think that it will take us to heaven?" I liked that comment of his. Then another friend of his questioned that. It appears to me that he is of a "faith only" belief. Just believe that God is your savior. That's it. I almost replied with, "Consider Philippians 2.12. Of course that passage Paul is telling the church in Philippi to work out their salvation.
I didn't post it so that I could talk about it here, in my blog. Sorry Gary. :-)
Comes to me that this question is not about the gift, but the nature of the gift. One might use the Christmas gift to explain salvation. You might have heard it: A person was given this nice, probably expensive gift from a very wealthy friend. He set it on the mantle of his fireplace. He looked at the nice wrapping, and admired it. Yet he never unwrapped it. He has no idea what was in the box. The question is, did he truly receive the gift?
Yet, for this thought, that illustration fails. It perhaps is on the right track. Perhaps it's not. The biggest problem is our understanding the nature of the gift. From reading 1 Corinthians one can see that God's wisdom is not the wisdom of the world. The world really cannot understand God's wisdom and therefore looks at it as being folly.
So let us consider the gift of salvation from God through Jesus Christ. What is the nature of it? Is this something that we receive once, that we admire and stare at, such as one would do a crystal elephant? I sure hope not.
I got my wife a crystal elephant for Christmas, either our first or second Christmas. We both like to look at it. I bought a light box that changes colors to bring out different beauties within the crystal. And yet, it sits there. We stare at it. That's it.
That is typical of the gifts of the world. Sure, you may use a video game system or some other more usuable object. But does it change us? Does it motivate us to live differently? Maybe, depending on the item we may change our diet, we may drive more if we are so blessed, but will it change our attitude? Will it make us really transformed as with what we read in 2 Corinthians 3.18 or Romans 12.2? *Paul talks about how we need to be transformed through the renewing of our mind, becoming more like Jesus.
No, for that, the transformation comes from within. The gifts of the world brings perhaps transformations on the outside while the heart remains unmoved.
Yet there is another nature or aspect of the gift of God, being the motivation or the doing. James 1.22 says, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
So often we feel that if we pay our tithes, and attend church, then we have done our duty to God. Yet that is no more, nor better than what the Pharisees were doing when Jesus blasted their traditions.
James' letter is all about our motivation. It is about living our faith. Do we have faith in Christ? Let me back up, do you like to attend sporting events, such as a Dallas Cowboys game? What makes it better in person than on television? Perhaps because you are able to share your joy with other, like-minded fans? See where I am going?
Do we have faith in Christ? Do we show the same enthusiasm for Christ that we would our favorite team? Do we want to be around others who are like minded? Why wouldn't we?
Let us now return to what James wrote in 1.22. Let us do what the Word says. What does the Word say for us to do? Matthew 22.37-40, Jesus replied, "Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second one is like it: Love your neighbor like yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments."
In short, we are to live fully for God, and show His love for our neighbors, even if we don't want to.
Then we have the passage from Matthew 28.18-20. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey every commandment I have taught you. And I will always be with you, even to the end of the ages."
And there is one more. (Actually there are quite many more, but for brevity, I have only looked at just a scant few.) James, once again tells us what pure religion looks like. James 1.27, he writes: "Religion that is pure and acceptable to God the Father is this: to look after the widows and orphans in their times of distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by this world."
Jesus lived His faith, because He loved God. He set the example for us to imitate. Now mind you, we do not live the faith to earn salvation, but because we have been given salvation. We live our faith not because we want God to love us, but because we already love God for what He has done for us. That is a different nature of the greatest gift you and I will ever receive.
God bless, and thanks for reading my thoughts.
I didn't post it so that I could talk about it here, in my blog. Sorry Gary. :-)
Comes to me that this question is not about the gift, but the nature of the gift. One might use the Christmas gift to explain salvation. You might have heard it: A person was given this nice, probably expensive gift from a very wealthy friend. He set it on the mantle of his fireplace. He looked at the nice wrapping, and admired it. Yet he never unwrapped it. He has no idea what was in the box. The question is, did he truly receive the gift?
Yet, for this thought, that illustration fails. It perhaps is on the right track. Perhaps it's not. The biggest problem is our understanding the nature of the gift. From reading 1 Corinthians one can see that God's wisdom is not the wisdom of the world. The world really cannot understand God's wisdom and therefore looks at it as being folly.
So let us consider the gift of salvation from God through Jesus Christ. What is the nature of it? Is this something that we receive once, that we admire and stare at, such as one would do a crystal elephant? I sure hope not.
I got my wife a crystal elephant for Christmas, either our first or second Christmas. We both like to look at it. I bought a light box that changes colors to bring out different beauties within the crystal. And yet, it sits there. We stare at it. That's it.
That is typical of the gifts of the world. Sure, you may use a video game system or some other more usuable object. But does it change us? Does it motivate us to live differently? Maybe, depending on the item we may change our diet, we may drive more if we are so blessed, but will it change our attitude? Will it make us really transformed as with what we read in 2 Corinthians 3.18 or Romans 12.2? *Paul talks about how we need to be transformed through the renewing of our mind, becoming more like Jesus.
No, for that, the transformation comes from within. The gifts of the world brings perhaps transformations on the outside while the heart remains unmoved.
Yet there is another nature or aspect of the gift of God, being the motivation or the doing. James 1.22 says, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
So often we feel that if we pay our tithes, and attend church, then we have done our duty to God. Yet that is no more, nor better than what the Pharisees were doing when Jesus blasted their traditions.
James' letter is all about our motivation. It is about living our faith. Do we have faith in Christ? Let me back up, do you like to attend sporting events, such as a Dallas Cowboys game? What makes it better in person than on television? Perhaps because you are able to share your joy with other, like-minded fans? See where I am going?
Do we have faith in Christ? Do we show the same enthusiasm for Christ that we would our favorite team? Do we want to be around others who are like minded? Why wouldn't we?
Let us now return to what James wrote in 1.22. Let us do what the Word says. What does the Word say for us to do? Matthew 22.37-40, Jesus replied, "Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second one is like it: Love your neighbor like yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments."
In short, we are to live fully for God, and show His love for our neighbors, even if we don't want to.
Then we have the passage from Matthew 28.18-20. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey every commandment I have taught you. And I will always be with you, even to the end of the ages."
And there is one more. (Actually there are quite many more, but for brevity, I have only looked at just a scant few.) James, once again tells us what pure religion looks like. James 1.27, he writes: "Religion that is pure and acceptable to God the Father is this: to look after the widows and orphans in their times of distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by this world."
Jesus lived His faith, because He loved God. He set the example for us to imitate. Now mind you, we do not live the faith to earn salvation, but because we have been given salvation. We live our faith not because we want God to love us, but because we already love God for what He has done for us. That is a different nature of the greatest gift you and I will ever receive.
God bless, and thanks for reading my thoughts.
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