I had a train of thought... but it looks more like the escape scene from "The Fugitive" now

This past Sunday in church my mind was running 90 miles per hour.  We are going through a revisit of our Mission Statement as well as messages on encouraging the congregation to "deeper and wider". 
For a long time i have struggled with 'man-centered' sermons.  Ones that talk about what we need to do, how we need to act to feel better, to improve our relationship with God, etc.  It is only natural i guess.  Especially in those whom the Holy Spirit has awakened the awareness of our own depravity apart from God.  We know there is problem and we know it has to be taken care of, and it is human nature to want to fix it.  To bring something to the table so to speak.  That spills over into sermons on Sunday morning and we spend so much time focusing on ourselves that we never look at who God is.  Sure we use the Bible to insert into appropriate parts of the sermon, but it is to examine ourselves, not to examine God.  One reason we are at the church we are at now is because i have spoken with the pastor, and i can see glimpses of him trying to turn the focus more on who God is.  Anyway... i digress... during the sermon my mind would grab on points and seemingly expound upon what was being preached upon. 

Anyway... this Sunday i took several notes, and i was all pumped up about blogging about this most excellent train of thought i was having... only to read my notes today... and they are not making sense... at least they are not clicking as to why i was so pumped up excited.  So... what i will do is just use my notes to expound upon my own thoughts... and just go from there.

I do remember thinking why are most sermons so watered down.  The messages talk about Jesus saving people, about how good He is.  Rarely have i heard about Him dying on the cross.  Even more rare is to hear the word sin, or that He saves sinners... let alone declaring that anyone listening is a sinner.  Some may think this harsh, but i would encourage you to pick six churches at random in your local neighborhood/city/town.  Most nowadays, do some form of recording, but if they don't and you have the time, sit through the usually no longer than 30 minute sermon.  If you hear the reference to people being sinners more than twice all together, i would be surprised.  Even still we hear generalities such as sin is bad, God is good, and God is love and He forgives.  None of that is untrue, but why can't we go deeper?  Why can't we touch on things like that we are still sinners, saved by grace.  That we do fail God, that He does work in our lives, that we do still require His discipline - which is uncomfortable.

I cannot remember the full context of the sermon (sorry Pastor) where our preacher was talking about being "called out" and "called to".  While i agree we have indeed been "called out" of something, and "called to" something... I do having the opinion that it was too superficial however.  What exactly have we been "called out" of?  A life of sin?  Surely, and yet we still struggle in the flesh.  Ultimately we have been called out of a life apart from God, out of a life where we only live for our self, we have been called out of a life of hating God.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:6-10, ESV emphasis mine)

I feel that deep appreciation, and the best thing we could ever do for both the seeker and the saint, is to not shy away from what our condition would be without Christ.  Even after our heart and mind have quickened to the heading of God, and accepted Jesus' work on the cross, it is only His sustaining grace that brings us through.  If it were not for Christ going to the cross, we would never have regained fellowship with God.  There for, not only have we been called out of our own depravity, our own self imposed isolation, we have been called to a relationship with God.  We have been called to living for God and not for ourselves.  We have been called to a state that we will never again be alone.

And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined [4] to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin [5] a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:14-20, ESV)

While, now that we are one with God, we should not take ownership of our sin, because through the blood of Christ and his propitiation upon the cross it has been taken away, we should never forget our sorry state apart from Christ, lest we deceive ourselves and think we have arrived before we have been called home.  Apart from the grace of God, and His transforming work in our lives, we are retched little creatures.  This is why i keep a statue of the creature Gollum from the Lord of the Rings on my desk.  By the inspiration of Joshua Harris i quote the conversation between Gandalf and Frodo from the works of J.R.R. Tolkein:

"What do you mean?" said Frodo.  "Surely the Ring was his precious and the only thing he cared for?  But if he hated it, why didn't he get rid of it, or go away and leave it?"

"You ought to begin to understand, Frodo, after all you have heard," said Gandalf.  "He hated it and loved it, as he hated and loved himself.  He could not get rid of it.  He had no will left in the matter."  (from The Fellowship of the Ring)

Apart from the work of God we could never leave our sin behind.  We both love it, and hate it, but we can never just rid ourselves of it.  If we deny that we still struggle with sin and are still in need of Christ, we deceive ourselves. (1 John 1).  I do not think we can have a better example than Paul:

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, [1] a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.(2 Corinthians 12:7-9, ESV)

So long as we dwell in this vessel, we will continue to wage war against desires of the flesh... our precious... our sin.  To do nothing... to fail to draw our attention to our truest need... is to leave one vulnerable to the guile of the enemy. Do we remain there?  No!  We should rejoice and celebrate all that God has brought us to!  We should sin praises, we should rejoice, but unless we reach down and realize just what we have been saved from - if we continue to gloss over the ugly parts - we will only ever superficially respond and our worship will be deficient for it.

Until we sing...

‘Twas I that shed the sacred blood;
    I nailed him to the tree;
I crucified the Christ of God;
    I joined the mockery.

Of all that shouting multitude
   I feel that I am one;
And in that din of voices rude
   I recognize my own.

Around the cross the throng I see,
   Mocking the Sufferer’s groan;
Yet still my voice is seems to be,
   As if I mocked alone.
(A Hymn by Horatius Bonar)

We can never fully appreciate...

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

For those who have endured this train wreck to the end... thank you for your patience.  I take no credit in anything other than the sharing of thoughts.  I pray that this has blessed you, and may you richly and deeply feel the passion of your Savior.

---

Enough is never enough

This morning i was reminded that sometimes no matter how hard we try we do not always get things right. Our best efforts, our best intentions, no matter how motivated we might be it will never be perfect. Sometimes our intentions are not noble, they are mischievous. Sometimes our failures are mistakes. But in the end the result is the same. A perfect 'score' has not been achieved. Even the best efforts, the noblest intentions, have some taint of imperfection. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump." (Galatians 5:9, ESV) - it only takes a hint of selfish ambition, or pride, or covetousness, or any other form of sin, and the sin works it way through and taints the whole. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8, ESV) There are two expressions that kind of bother me. The first one is that there is good in everyone. Good and evil are used in relevant terms. In one sense i could agree with this expression. When used in a human comparison point of view, yes this is possible. But when used in light of God's perfection this is not true.

"And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." (Luke 18:19, ESV)

The second is giving "110%". This would imply that it is possible to give more than your all. By the very definition our "all" IS 100%. It is impossible to give more than that. The expression of giving "110%" would imply that the standard for "all" is a bar set so that everyone can achieve it and thus the person giving the "110%" was superior to all of the rest because (s)he was able to give more. Granted we are not all born with the same abilities. I will never be an Evangelist like Billy Graham, or an Apologist like Lee Strobel. In college i took Finite Math. At the beginning of the semester the instructor told us that he grades on a curve because it is rare for anyone to score higher than the upper 60's and he felt that it would be unfair to fail the entire class because they could not score high enough on his tests. Well, when the first test came back there were two in the class who score in the upper 90's while the rest of the class was in the Intrsuctor's anticipated range. When it happened again with the second test i thought the class was going to Lynch me and the other guy. Fortunately the Instructor saw this and informed us that he would exempt our two scores from the over all curve. Having said that i will still never be a mathematician like Albert Einstein. Our best is our best, and my 100% is not your 100% and vice versa. Today i am "suffering" with the fact that i am not perfect. I want to be perceived in certain ways. I have been known to 'exagerate' (i.e. lie) personal accomplishments in order to be better thought of by others. I like being thought of as the 'hero' in my home. The 'go to' guy in all things. I like the fact that others come to ask me things at work (i still think it ironic that i am asked to proof read things... especially since i never passed an English class past the first half of the 10th grade). But here's the kicker... when i fail to live up to some perceived standard (more often than not - my own) i get irritated, and too often it spills out on those around me. Such is the sin of pride. If you take such a train of thought out to its logical conclusion... isn't that what got Satan and his followers tossed down from Heaven? But the truth is we are to run the race as if to win it? (1 Corinthians 9:24) And at the same time realize that because of my own sin i will never achieve the perfect obediance that God requires... it is ONLY by His grace, His substitution that i am redeemed and made perfect it in sight. In the end i do receive the prize because of His initiation on my behalf.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. [2] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling [3] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, ESV)

Ten Lepers and VBS

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, [6] who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” [7] (Luke 17 : 11-19, esv)

Last night was the second night of VBS (vacation bible school) at out church. Before I get too much into my subject I want to be up front. I am not a big fan of our current methodology. We are pushing for more and more kids, with 'incentives' if a certain number show up on any given night. We then have two and a half hours in order to get through: 'Opening ceremonies' and drama presentation, crafts, recreation, snack, instruction, and music. This gives us about twenty five minutes for each section per night. It feels more about the quantity of people and 'things' than it is about teaching these kids about Jesus and His gospel. My beloved heads up the preschool ministry at our church so she is hoping. She makes sure all four of the classes of preschoolers have what they need. and are taken care of. With DS2 having Aspergers I am an assistant teacher for the 4th grade group (when he moves on to 5th I will follow along with him). DS1 is almost too old, but I am very, very grateful that the church has expanded VBS to include the 6th grade and beyond (to about 8th I think). DD3 is upset with me this week because I am never (emphasis hers) with her. As a result we are probably not going to be home before 9:00PM any night this week. Then getting them down, etc. I am not getting to bed before 11:00, and not asleep before 12:00 midnight. With the little sleep I got this past weekend, I am hurting pretty bad right now - so my mind may not be all that... 'crisp'. Ok, enough background... this is one of the stories from Jesus' time of ministry that really affected me when I was a young Christian. Now, I am no expert on leprosy, or even the what the world was like in and around 0 - 30 A.D. But I do know a little about thankfulness, and the differences in social standings. Ten men who are the absolute bottom of the social ladder in their day (straw dogs would be more welcome), who were suffering physically, mentally, and spiritually called out to a man whom they heard could do miracles. This was a man (Jesus) who was traveling with what is essentially an entourage, and yet he stopped and talked (and, more importantly, healed!) them. The part that really grabbed my thoughts was not necessarily the healing because this was something that Jesus had done in other places, but it was the response of the men. I can only assume they went on their way and at least rejoiced with their families and friends. Perhaps most, if not all, of them did do as Jesus told them. But only one man realized who he should give the praise and thanks to. And the man was not even an Israelite. Throughout the gospels there are instances of gentiles recognizing Jesus' authority. The Centurion, several Samaratins. The most telling passages are when Jesus says, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 15 : 24, esv ). How eye opening is that! It's not that He did not come for the rest of us 'Gentiles', but that His ministry was focused on Israel first, and then His disciples would be sent out to the rest of the world later. To me this just heightens the awareness of the privilege of knowing Jesus as my Lord and Savior. And the great need to acknowledge what He has done in my life. Verse for today: John 3 : 16-21, ESV “For God so loved the world, [9] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Thank you America, and good night

Well, I am not signing off forever, just for the next 19 days or so. I am getting ready to head out on my last National Guard 2-week annual training. With the additional day to load, and giving myself an additional day at home reuniting with the family, it will be a little while. ;-)

This will be at least my 22nd two-week stint since I joined back in July of 1986. I plan on picking up like 10 of those disposable cameras! But as I am preparing to go I can't help but remember some of the past stints.

My very first AT was in August of 1987. We had a fly away out to "Death Valley". Why is it that the Air National Guard goes to places like Puerto Rico, and the Army goes to "Death Valley"?!? I had volunteered to go out on advanced party for the extra money. When we arrived the barracks were literally WWII era - but it didn't matter. I was only able to stay there for a few nights until the main body caught up. Once they arrived me moved out to the training area. I remember training in a placed that had been exposed to heavy amounts of CS (think tear gas) and my nose ran like a faucet. I thought I was going to get dehydrated right there. But the best part was when I was given the opportunity to perform an 'air mobile' operation for a visiting VIP. My first exposure to Air Assault operations. What a rush! My adrenaline was pumping. We flew pretty low, landed and the three of us in the anti-armor team jumped out and ran across a ground hog heaven. I must have tripped three times. Each time the computer module for our anti-tank system slammed into the back of my helmet. We got in position, did our thing, packed up, the helicopter came back and picked us up. I was so excited I didn't even feel me tearing both deltoids! The next day I couldn't lift my arms past my waist! Still - it was a great time. By my third week my platoon sergeant came up to me to ask me the last time I had "taken care of business". I thought that an odd question, but as I did up the math in my head I realized it had been about 13 days! He hands me a cup of MRE (meals ready to eat) hot chocolate (and it was welcome, because those mornings were chilly). I drank it down, then he hands me another, and another. Thirty minutes later I was running to the "portapot"! Ah memories. I could go on and on, and that was just about my first one. I have at least twenty more such stories.

Well, I hope to have some pictures to post when I get back. Please bear with this old soldier as he remembers the "good old days".
Verse for today:
1 John 5 : 13-20, ESV
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God [1] will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Wonderful Wednesday

Ok, it's not a great title, but I was stuck - and it came to mind. ;-)

Yesterday I was waxing nostalgic about when I first enlisted in the Guard in 1986. I actually had a little trouble enlisting. Right off the bat I had to get some medical information for a condition I had while growing up, actually from two doctors. At first I think the recruiter didn't take me seriously, but after I called him once a week for a month or so he began to work with me to get the info and the waivers. My first drill was in July, and I was sent to the Recruit Training school somewhere in MD.

At this training school we were basically grilled like the Drill Sergeants of old. We would be tossed out of the rack at O'dark hundred where we would be marched and PT'd (physical training) until breakfast, then some more till lunch, etc. till dinner. Sunday was not as bad, we usually did some classroom like instruction on the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and then be sent home. I only had to go there twice, and for both times it was only for a weekend. One of the weekends I remember getting woken up at some point in the middle of the night. I was doing push-ups so long that my hands began slipping on the gym floor because I was sweating so much.

In the end it helped get me ready for basic training. When it came time I was able to do the minimum required number of push-ups to leave the reception station... a whole 10 pushups. ;-)
Verse for today:
1 John 4:7-12, ESV
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Getting ready for school

Ah, it is "The Most wonderful Time of the Year". I love that commercial that shows mom and dad dancing around, buying school supplies and the kids are all mopey. It is also kind of a drag for me. I am just not looking forward of another year of battling with DS2's teachers over his individual development plan. Of having to work with my son and how the other kids mess with him. Just this Saturday we were at DS1's soccer try outs. One boy was playing with DS2. At one point this boy comes over, without saying a word, and provokes DS2 to chase him. Well, he leads my son out of my sight. A few minutes later the same boy comes up to me to tell me that DS2 was hitting on his car because he didn't want to play anymore. Apparently this boy leads DS2 around the building and gets right into his car where he rolls up the window and locks the door. DS2, in frustration, hits the window once and then leaves. I just ache for my son. I want him to have friends that don't tease him, that don't push his buttons to watch him react and then laugh at him. The problem we have is that he is not making friends on his own. Not like his older brother. I just don't want him to be alone in the world. Verse for today: 1 John 3:16-18, ESV By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

A family outing

Two 'funny' - not typical - family outings to amuse... Last night my beloved and I had our Chiropractor appointments. Our doctor has these really nice recliner type chairs that massage up and down the back - with heat! (Man! If only I could get the insurance company to pay for one of those!) Afterwards, my routine differs from my beloved's. I am placed on a "rack" wearing some ankle brackets that have a 'reverse hook' on them. I then step up on a foot rest and move the table into a horizontal position. From there I then put the table into a steep incline with my feet up in the air. It sounds wierd, but does it ever feel nice! I also then do some 'half' push ups. This is the "McKenzie Method" of working the back into proper alignment, and it does not work for everybody, but it sure is a nice alternative to more invasive methods (when they are not needed). Then there are some alignments that take place for my back and neck. I mean, I feel like a whole new man. And the kids had some great questions. "Daddy, why are you putting those boots on?" LOL Then this morning, in preperation for upcoming vacations to Busch Gardens and Disney World (No, not at the same time) I had to get all new military ID cards for me and the family. It's an experience to work through a military process with my family who, for all intents and purposes, are really not much more than civilians. After all, I am only a part time soldier. "How much longer? was an oft asked question. But in the end, the kids were all very pleased to have their very own ID card. :) A side, and unrelated, note: While I was running this morning I was listening to a recent sermon from one of my old Pastors, Kenneth Maresco. It is titled, "The Pursuit and Practice of Fellowship", and is based off of 1 John 1:5-7. Now, my HTML, or blogging skills, are not really all that great, but I would encourage any one who may stumble upon this little blog of mine, to click on the link here: Kenneth's Sermon on Fellowship. The sermon was dated 06.24.2007. I would have preferred to do something like I've seen in other blogs where the audio/video would be accessable directly from here... but I have not learned how to do that yet... I am going to be re-listening to this sermon myself, as well as requesting some of the hand out material. It really spoke to me and where I find myself currently. Verse for today: 1 John 1:5-10, ESV This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Gerber's vs. a Cheesburger

A thing has been "eating" away at me for some time. Why is it that churches (and I am speaking in a very broad stroke of generalization) feel the need to water down the message of the Gospel? I often hear of the Sunday services being "seeker friendly". That is, great care is taken so as to not offend any visitors that may not have made a decision for Christ. But I say that this is a dis-service. Not only to the "seekers", but to the faithful regular attenders.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25, ESV)

The American church is on the verge of becoming spiritual innefective. When we. in effect, take it easy, we water down the message. The only essential message - that of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we only talk about it not being good to gossip, or how to pray effectively, or doing good, where is the message about Christ? Where is the why we should (or should not) do these things? To many there is 'assumed' - or implied - message of this underlying theme. But if we are not proclaiming Christ, and Him crucified, it becomes meaningless. Do not the Scientologists preach 'good' things? What about the Mormans, or many other cults? What about Confusionism , or the Hindu religion? Islam also preaches that their followers are to do good things unto others. But what is it that sets Christianity - Bible believing, born again, Christianity, apart from all the others?!? It is Christ! And why is it Christ? Because HE accomplished it. He fulfilled the law! He died so that we might live! There is nothing that we can do to achieve salvation (even our turning to Him was because He revealed Himself to us). I mean, after our salvation we are to walk in our faith with Him in performing "works", but it is not the works that justify us before an almighty God. And it is He who was crucified - ONCE - and then it was "finished" (John 19:30). I am not talking "Fire and Brimstone" - but we cannot talk all "Peaches and Creme" either. We need to be frank, and loving. We need to talk about sin, and grace. We need to talk about heaven and hell. These are very real things, and unless the "seeker" hears these things, it is impossible to make an "informed" decision. But I feel an almost greater dis-service is done to the one who walks in the doors believing everything is 'hunky dorry' in their own lives. They (I include myself) are fed the equivilant of spiritual 'milk', and there is power in that...

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God [2] may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)

The gospel, the Lord Christ, has so much more to offer. There is "meat" and vegitables. There are delights and depths that need to be plumbed from the pulpit. When things are set aside for the "beliver" services, or even deligated to the small groups (if your church uses such things) then a good portion of the congregation is missed. For example, many people have difficulty attending "off day" meetings, either for work or family schedules. As for me, the "rubber meets the road" in a small group (defined as a few families, or individuals that meet for further fellowship and study). This is a context for members of the church to practice what is preached from the pulpit, perhaps a time to study further and work through the material. Well, I could ramble on and on - but this post has already taken up a considerable amount of time. I pray that my concerns have been adequetly expressed. Verse for today: Romans 1:16-23, ESV For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, [5] as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” [6] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Living Cross centered

I actually managed to drag my tired old bones out of bed at 6:30 this morning so that I could go and walk for exercise. I really want to make this a habit in my life. I actually have goals in this....

1) I want to get back down to 185. I'd be happy to get back to 190! lol :)

2) I would like to lower my colesterol back down below 180. I would especially desire to get the good and bad ratios back to healthy levels.

3) To walk for 10,000 miles. Now, that seems like a crazy number... maybe it is, maybe it isn't... but it sets a "carrot" before me. Something to shoot for. One thing a marksman does before he takes a shot. He focuses on the target, not the sights of the weapon. This allows the eye to naturally adjust the weapon to line it up with the target. In this way I hope to keep my 'program' sighted in on the goal of 10,000 miles. By God's grace I hope it will be a habit so that when that goal is reached it may be a mere stepping stone to continue on.

Ok, this is getting a little off track... maybe. :) Who knows where this is going. "Is anyone driving this bus?"

My beloved got an MP3 player for me before I left for my two week training. It was my Father's day gift this year. Wow do I enjoy that little thing. What a wonderful little device that I can use to listen to Praise and Worship music, contemporary Christian music, AND (for me this is the biggest thing I was hoping for) I can download and listen to sermons. This morning what a wonderful walk. I listened to a sermon from what I would consider to be a "sister" church - Living Faith Church in Frankliln, WV. The sermon was on a subject near and dear to my heart, "A Cross Centered Life" (Pastor Steve Teter, 6-May-2007).

I have heard similar sermons before by CJ Mahaney (who wrote "The Cross Centered Life: Keeping the main thing, the main thing") and to be honest I struggled to keep my mind focused on the sermon, but God stirred my sould again. My mind fills with doubts, but God is good. I want to focus on what little morsels God places before me, and then allow His Word to nurish my soul and see where He leads.

The one thing that really struck me and inspired todays blog (finally getting around to it...) was that when my Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross and became a propitiation for my sins I am completely forgiven. My sins which are ever before me are completely and totally forgiven. So much so that I am considered to have kept the law perfectly because of what He accomplished. Not by anything I did, only by what He has done. And there is nothing in my life that my Father is surprsied by. Every day of my life is known to Him already.

Now, this does not give me license to go about and sin. The very fact that I am redeamed and forgiven, reconciled, changes my heart. I want to do nothing but please and obey my Lord, despite my failures.

The last thing that stuck in my mind was this. As we walk through this life, as we work more and more on our on going sanctification, we (should) become more and more aware of our sins. This side of heaven we never arrive, we are constantly being conformed into the image of or Lord, why? Because He loves us.



Verse for today:
1 John 3:4-10, ESV
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's [2] seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.