Adult Day Care Center

11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13: 11 - 13 NKJV

There is a theory out there about the level of understanding of christians.  New christians, baby believers, many times will require what is basically being led in their new faith.  Some may see this as spoon feeding a believer in the infancy of their faith.  However, as a new christian grows in their faith, they will supposedly become less and less dependent on being spoon fed the gospel and will begin branching out on their own into their belief.  Like a young bird just learning to spread its wings to fly for the first time, it may take a few attempts before a believer advances to the next level of their belief.  The next level of christian maturity is young men.  The apostle John addresses the three levels of christian maturity in 1 John 2.  Naturally, as a infant christian matures, they will begin to advance in their faith and understanding of who they are in the Lord.  The third and final level of christian maturity is fathers.  These "fathers" of the faith are those who have matured to a personal knowledge of God through time spent walking in Christ Jesus.  This is the mature level of christianity.  So it is that we advance from little children to young men to fathers in our spiritual maturity.  This only seems logical, for as one advances in their knowledge of their life in Jesus, their maturity would increase as well.  It's no secret that those of us who have endured the storms of life in our own faith have walked away from it with a deeper maturity in our faith.  But wait, what about those who for one reason or another remain wedged in their "Little child" maturity level of christianity?  Believe me, they're out there among us.

12I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. 14I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
1 John 2: 12 - 14 NKJV

Dennis and I have had more than a few discussions on spiritual maturity as of late.  Most of our discussion has been centered on those believers who for one reason or another refuse to budge from their infant level of christinity.  They are constantly in the mode of being spoon fed everything which they need to survive in their faith.  For this very reason, you will often see more than a few of these infant christians in our local churches.  For if the modern institutional church indeed serves a purpose it is to guide a infant believer into their next level of spiritual maturity.  There will indeed come a time when these spiritual infants will spread their wings and become young men and, eventually, spiritually mature fathers in the faith.  It's also no secret that as a believer advances in their spiritual maturity, that their reliance on the church as their sole means of being led and fed will decrease as well.  In a perfect world, this is how a believer matures in their faith.  However, as I mentioned, what of those infant beleivers who remain lodged in their infant level of maturity without maturing spiritually?  Well, it is in this very situation where the local church becomes more of an adult day care center for christians.   You have infant christians who have chosen to remain in the infant stage of spiritual maturity, choosing instead the safety of the church for their leading and feeding.  Instead of advaning into adulthod, they choose to remain in their infant maturity in the church to be led and fed.  I have to believe that at some point that these young believers will take it upon themselves to leave the safety of the nest and spread their spiritual wings to take flight on their own.  As the apostle Paul tells us 1 Corinthians 13, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things."  Of course, if more new believers followed the natural path of spiritual maturity, then more adult day care centers would be out of business.

~Scott~

A Road Seldom Taken

1We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15: 1 - 6 NKJV

They call it community, that relationship we have with those around us where the needs of others outweigh our own.  In fact, I would stop short of calling this practice of community a relationship and call it as it is...a heart for others.  The only reason for this is that I believe that the relationships we share with others are more personal than the community we may or may not put into practice.  Spending time with someone is far different than a true relationship.  That's not to say that community cannot lead to relationships, and it usually does.  The first conversation I had with Dennis about those with a heart for self or a heart for others was just my mother had passed.  Now, my mother definately had a heart for others.  I cannot recall too many times when my mom wasn't reveling in the relationships she had with the other women in the church we attended.  Unfortunately, for the most part that part of her personality has not rubbed off on her son.  I'm not saying that I don't have relationships with others, it's just not as much of a focus for me as it was for her.  Do I still share her heart for others?  I'd like to think I do.  If there is one thing for sure, we certainly cannot have community with others if all we are concerned in is our own needs.  How can we bear one anothers burdens if we're only concerned about our own?  All too often all we end up doing is chasing our own tails in our desperate attempts at true Christ centered community.  Do I think that most people only have a heart for themselves only?  Definately not, and we see this each day all around us as people bear the burdens of others.  Sadly I don't see this as community but random acts of kindness.  I've often wondered just how different the world around us would be if we truly practiced community with those around us.  I even commented to a freind some time ago about how we could have community as the early did in Acts 2.  His response?  We would definately need drastic changes in the  society we have today.  So, why is it that bearing one anothers burdens is a road seldom taken?

44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2: 44 - 47 NKJV

Now, I will share my thoughts as to just why true community has eluded Christs church for so many generations.  I believe that it is based on the very same lie told by satan to Adam and Eve in the garden.  That very same lie that led to the fall.  This is the false belief that we ourselves are independent and in control of our own lives.  Should we see someone who is struggling, then obviously that person weak minded without too much motivation.  They just need to pull up their boot straps and get on with what God intends for their life.  But wait, what if Gods intention is for you to assist that person?  Has He not put them into your path for a reason?  This isn't simply a time where we need to retreat to our safe place and wait for Gods leading...HE IS LEADING!  Of course, all too often we tend to miss the signals God intends for us, I know I do.  Our question should never be why God?  Instead, we should ask, God, what are you doing through me?  For far from being independent as so many christians think, it is Christ Jesus who WE live as today {Galations 2:20}.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if Jesus were here today to love on those who need Him?  But wait, if Jesus lives through us today, can't He exhibit His love through us?  Won't those around us see the love of Christ when He does just that?  When this happens...that's community.  Bearing one anothers burdens, forsaking our own desires for the needs of others.  A heart for others.  My mom would often tell me of how she felt led to befriend someone she had just met.  Truthfully I don't feel comfortable with saying she was "led" but that she was simply showing others who she really was in Jesus.

~Scott~

My Church

~Sunday morning at McChurch~

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25“Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27“so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us."
Acts 17: 23 - 27 NKJV

At the risk of being kicked out of every christian church in the civilized world, I pose this question to those who hold fast to their belief that true church is not about allowing Christ Jesus to grow their congregation, but in the trappings of old man made traditions.  That Christs "Church" is not about a pastor figurehead, but about Him alone who is head of His body of believers.  I wanted to title this piece "How not to do church," but I thought that was a tad bit over the top.  After all, everyone does church in their own way so I'm told.   However, the question of church came to light once again this week in response to a local pastor friend.  Upon reading a few comments from this pastor, it suddenly hit me that almost everything he was saying all centered around him.  My church, ME raising up leaders and ME guiding MY flock.  Honestly, can anyone see Christ Jesus in these comments?  Is not Jesus the head of the church {Colossions 1:18}?  Will not Christ Jesus raise up His church {Matthew 16: 18}?  The job of raising the church is not the duty of one faithful pastor, but of Jesus Himself.  The apostle Paul tells those gathered in Athens in Acts 17 that God indeed does not "Dwell in temples made with hands."  Nor is He "Worshipped with mens hands, as if He needed anything."  Think about that for a minute, what is it that we can offer to God?  The simple fact is that we NEED God, He does not need us.  That's not to say that He does not love His children, that's a given.  All I'm saying is that there is not one thing that we can give God.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, The First and the Last.  He is the great...I Am.  He who created the universe out of nothing.  What shall we, His creation, offer up to Him which He does not already have?

1The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
1 Peter 5: 1 - 4 NKJV

Now to the next part of this conversation, of how a pastor will proclaim a church to be "His" congregation.  Excuse me?  Have we not settled this issue that the church belongs too Christ Jesus who will one day return for her?  I know of no scripture which stakes the claim that any pastor will return from the dead to claim "his" church to himself, so it is that the church is Christs and Christs alone.  Be it from ego or pride, too many pastors have resorted to take it upon themselves that they themselves are responsible for the growth of their congregation.  There has been NO church which I have ever attended where a pastor personally invited me to attend.  No, when that time came, it was Christ who guided me to whatever congregation I was to be a part of.  It is God who will ultimately reveal to us where He wants us to be.  For me, my church is with a few good Christ centered men at a fast food joint on Sunday mornings.  For others, it may be hiking with friends.  Our worship and joy we find in Jesus has never been limited to within church walls.  God does not dwell in temples made with hands.  As Paul tells his young apprentice in 1 Peter, a shepherd of the flock must "Not be Lords of those entrusted to you."  In my opinion, when a pastor makes a claim of ownership over a congregation, he is lording himself over them.  Suddenly he becomes the center of attention while Jesus is pushed further away.  Instead of Jesus being the head of the congregation...it now belongs to one man alone.

~Scott~

True Identity

9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies dthrough His Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8: 9 - 11 NKJV

Some time ago a co worker of mine became upset with me because of the fact that I refused to engage in the typical workplace politics.  That just wasn't me, it didn't fit who I was.  Don't get me wrong, I used to dabble in these practices of gossip and rumors until I realized that it didn't fit who I was as a person.  More importantly, it didn't fit my one true identity.  Most people associate their identity, self worth and value based on how the world sees them.  Granted, I still fall into this blackhole at times.  For the world surrounds us and we are a part of it day after day.  This is our temporary home, so it is pretty feasable that it would influence our lives at some point.  Very strong is the christian who can stake their claim that they are immune to all this world has to offer.  To date I haven't met one, but my search continues.  I mention this simply because of the fact that what this world around us is...is not compatable with who we are in Christ Jesus.  The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8 that our one true identity is not flesh and blood but spirit in nature.  This is the image of God in which we were created {Genesis 1:26}.  This was a pretty tough pill for me to swallow because all I knew and understood was what I could see for myself.  I saw my flesh body, just not my spirit identity.  However, I can see no other way to explain my identity than it is my identity in Christ, for I am a child of God.  It is for this very reason that I realized that what was happening around me each day was not who I truly was, and this upset more than a few people.  I heard all of the criticisms that came along with it...christian hypocrite, holier than thou and bible thumper.  It wasn't that I was trying to force my beliefs on others, I just simply was realizing who I truly was.  Of course, I had zero idea of the firestorm that would cause.

1Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know bus, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3: 1 - 2 NKJV

Remember the reaction of the Jewish Pharisees to Jesus when He proclaimed Himself the Son of God?  This is that very same reaction we receive when we reveal the truth of Jesus Christ in us.  Not that He died to forgive us our sins, but that we live as Christ today.  People simply can't handle that revelation.  Such blasphemy!  Do we simply ignore the scriptures which claim that Jesus is indeed alive in us today?  If we do then we are simply cherry picking those verses which suit our needs at the time.  So, if Gods identity is not one of flesh and blood, then this is not my identity.  For having been created in His image, I share His identity.  This is who I am.  We're told that Jesus was the image of the invisible God {Colossions 1:15}.  God, being in spirit, needed a flesh body in order for His children to see Him as He was.  This is Christ Jesus.  Knowing this, we can also proclaim that those around us will indeed see God through us.  For if Christ Jesus is in us, He will be manifested through all we do.  He lives THROUGH  us.  The disciples asked Jesus to "Show us the Father and it is enough for us."  The trouble is, they had already seen the Father.  So it is with those around us today.

5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” 8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
John 14: 5 - 9 NKJV

~Scott~

Ordained

8“Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. 9Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
Isaiah 46: 8 - 10 NKJV

Beware of universalism.  Universalism is that belief that it by Gods endearing love that NONE of His children could ever be condemned to hell.  For as God is love, so His love would guarantee that none would find themselves under our Lords condemnation.  This sounds like a good theory to believe in for a good number of people.  Throw away of that stuff we read in scripture of those who don't have Christ and the fate which awaits them.  Gods love is too powerful enough to prevent even them from condemnation.  Now, while this may be true, I don't believe that we can live under such a pipe dream.  Like the child who gets a trophy simply for participating in a athletic event, universalism guarantees our salvation no matter what.  While this may be good news for the likes of Adolf Hitler and Charlie Manson, I don't think the universalists are on the same page.  Indeed, we find in scripture many a reference to what awaits those who do not have Jesus.  Do we read in scripture of the rich man and Lazarus where both men were enjoying eternity with our heavenly Father?  No, for one was suffering in torment while the other was at last at peace in Abrahams bossom.  I'm certain that Jesus had more than a good reason for relating this parable to all who would listen.  There are indeed two sides to eternity...the good and the not so much.

34“For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?” 35“Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11: 34 - 36 NKJV

Once I understood that heaven was not simply a participation award for all christians I turned my eyes to the more important question.  Who is it that will be saved?  How is it that one becomes saved?  Through years of christian belief and scriptures I have followed the narative that it is we ourselves who make the ultimate decision to accept Christ Jesus or to reject Him.  We are told this in scripture that we ourselves confess Jesus with our spoken word {Romans 10:10}.  I get it, for if we believe in Jesus we will more than likely say as much.  But does this guarantee our own salvation?  It was at this point that I had to step back and contemplate what I had come to accept as the basis of my own belief in Gods salvation.  We know that our salvation is but a gift from God {Ephesians 2: 8 -9 NKJV}.  Not one of us can strut around and proclaim that they themselves are responsible for their being saved...I get it.  However, I then began to ask that deeper question of my Lords soveriegnty.  The knowledge that nothing ever escapes His sight, and that everything from yesterday to the future will occur according to His ultimate plan.  So, if God has already ordained all past and future events in His creation, where does that leave our own salvation story?

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not acomprehend it.
John 1: 1 - 5 NKJV

I'll tell you the conclusion which I came to.  As our heavenly Father is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last who was and always will be {Revelation 22: 13}, it is therefore my belief that all things have and will occur according to His perfect plan.  Yes, that means the good, bad and ugly as well.  Knowing this, it is my belief that our heavenly Father has already ordained who will and who will not receive Christ Jesus in their lives.  There is the plan which was put into place long before His creation and which He Himself will bring to a conclusion at a time of His choosing.  To believe that we ourselves are responsible for our own salvation may just be ignoring our Lords holy soveriegnty.  Beware of universalism.

~Scott~

Sovereignty Versus Choice

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not acomprehend it.

John 1: 1 - 5 NKJV 

There is a belief among christianity that through our Lords love that all of Gods children are eventually saved from eternity apart from Him.  I believe that this belief, this universalism, is in error.  However, there will always be those who will adhere to this line of thinking.  While it is true that Gods true nature is one of love {1 John 4:8}, to claim that all are saved refuses to take into account the freedom of choice we all share as Gods children.  Scripture leaves us without any doubt that our heavenly Father is indeed sovereign over all of His creation.  For he is the alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last {Revelation 22: 13}.  In fact, we are told in John that through Christ ALL things were created.  Therefore, we can honestly say, as christians, that our Lord indeed is Lord of all.  There is nothing in His creation that escapes His attention.  His devine plan not only includes His children but all of creation.  Everything that has or ever will happen has done so according to His will.  For good or bad, He has ordained each and every event in history.  This is His holy sovereignty.  It is God who is ultimately in control of all which happens in His creation.  But hold on, now here comes the question of the hour.  Where does this leave us as far as having the opportunity to choose Christ Jesus?  For are we not free to choose whether to accept Jesus or not?  Is this not the very same freedom to choose which Adam and Eve had?  Can there even be freedom of choice in a universe where God has ordained everything which will ever happen?  

34“For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?” 35“Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11: 34 - 36 NKJV 

My full intention for this writing was to proclaim the differences of free will versus our heavenly Fathers sovereignty.  However, I've come away knowing that with everything this is revealed through our Lords timing.  Instead of being a cut and dry issue of choice versus sovereignty, it boils down to whether we truly believe that God is Lord over all.  Yes, Adam and Eve indeed had the free will to choose whether to accept the lie of the independent self, but who is it that granted that freedom to them?  Indeed, Adam and Eve were created in Gods own image along with their ability to choose.  However, God being sovereign certainly had their choices already planned out.  So, knowing that God has already ordained everything which will ever happen, is this really a issue of our freedom to choose Jesus or the belief that God has already ordained all who will come to Him?  

30For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32For God has hcommitted them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

Romans 11: 30 - 32 NKJV 

As for myself, I have a difficult time accepting that God has somehow forgotten to include something in His plan.  Therefore, I believe that everything, including what we see as our choice, happens according to His ultimate purpose.  

~Scott~ 

No Free Pass

Choose Wisely

11Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before cGod, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20: 11 - 15 NKJV

Recently Dennis pointed something out to me which Wayne Jacobsen had pointed out as a criticism of the Paul Young story The Shack.  The those who adhere to this theory of universalism will state without question that it is our Lords intention that all mankind will be saved.  Therefore, whatever works we do here on earth are for not as we are already saved.  It is our heavenly Fathers love nature which will not allow anyone to be condemned to a eternity in torment.  For if God is love, then He could never allow one to be condemned to torment in hell.  I might consider playing the devils advocate on this issue, were it not for scripture which tells us otherwise.  The apostle John tells us in Revelation of how it was revealed to him that "Anyone not found in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."  So, if God is willing to condemn all who are not found in His book of life to a eternity of suffering in the lake of fire, did He not love those who will be condemned?  Absolutely not, for God is the same yesterday, today and forever {Hebrews 13:8}.  Knowing this, I believe that it is a falsehood to hold to the belief that God would somehow turn His back on us despite our shortcomings.  Remember, it is God who loved us despite our sin condition {Romans 5: 8}.  Could God have passed us by despite His love nature for His children?  Absolutely, but instead He chose to reveal His love to us that we might spend eternity with Him.  It was never our heavenly Fathers intention to condemn us for our trespasses, but to reconcile His children unto Himself.  So what of those whose names will not be found in our Lords book of life?  Did God not love them as well?  YES.  The question here is not one of our Lords love for us, that is undeniable.  However, the question we face is one of choice.  That is...our choice.  Do we choose to accept what God is offering us or do we simply trust in ourselves?  Of course, it is understood that to trust in ourselves as independent is in error.  So, the choice we are left with is....

10He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, eand that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5: 10 - 13 NKJV

What is that choice which we must make?  Well, the apostle John lays it out for us in John 5.  For we are told "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Sof of God does not have life."  This is the choice we must face.  Indeed, making this choice for Jesus is not a "effort" for salvation on our part, but simply our choice to accept Christ Jesus or not.

8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2: 8 - 10 NKJV

This is very same choice which the condemned thief on the cross next to Jesus made, that he might be with Him in paradise {Luke 23: 43}.  Jesus did not reach out to this man, he reached out to Jesus.  The truth of Jesus had been revealed and he chose life.  It is this very same choice which we ourselves are faced with today.  Will we choose Jesus or our own way?  Keep in mind that choosing our own way is not the way our Lord desires for us.  Indeed, it is our heavenly Fathers desire that all of His children would come to accept Jesus {John 3: 16-17}.  However, instead of a flat out guarantee for our salvation, God gives us the choice whether to accept His Son or not.  This has absolutely nothing to do with Gods love for us, but everything to do with what choice will make.  Choose wisely.

~Scott~

Submission Hold

Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience, it is all about relationships of love and respect.
~William Paul Young - The Shack~

I recently got into a pretty spirited discussion with a co worker about the passages found in Ephesians 5 suggesting that wives should "Submit" to their husbands.  Now, for her part, my co worker is more than aware that I am a christian and is usually open to Christ thoughts I bring up.  However, something about that word submit threw her into a frenzy of a feminist rant.  Suddenly, all christian men had become  overbearing ogers bent on the enslavement of their chosen wives.  All of this, of course, was done in the name of God.  I quickly reminded her that our Lords definition of submission certainly did not mean submission hold!  For some time now, many a christian couple has withered under that one word...submit.  From the husbands viewpoint this would seem like a pretty good deal.  All the man of the household need do is shuffle off to work each morning leaving his loyal, submissive christian wife to dote on him in everything she did.  Of course, if she failed to do so, then his wife was definately NOT following the will of God in submission to her husband as scripture clearly required of her.  It's no wonder with teaching such as this that christian marriages suffer the same divorce rate as those of the unchurched.  Obviously, other factors play into this as well.  I would venture that submission does not in any way mean respect, and that submission in no way leads to love between two people.  That is, submission as we know and understand it.  The Greek word for submission (Hupotasso) refers "To get under, to lift up or to put in order.  How is this important?  Because this is the crowd which the apostle Paul was writing to in the book of Ephesians.  As so often happens in scripture, our word submit has become lost in translation.  For instead of meaning obedience, it asks wives to "Lift up" or to raise her husband to her own level of importance and worthiness.  Rather than being subjected, she is equal in importance to her mate.

22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
Ephesians 5: 22 - 29 NKJV

Now, for those Christ fearing husbands out there who still hold fast that their wives submit ot them in every way I have a 3 AM wake up call for you.  That is, that you love your wife as you would your own body.  "For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it."  Do you expect your wife to be at your beck and call each and every day?  Then obviously you do not love yourself all that much.  Suddenly it is YOU who is going against scripture.  One of my favorite quotes from Paul Youngs story The Shack is that relationships are not about authority nor about obedience, but about love and respect.  When you require your mate to submit to you in the disguise of christianity, you are neither loving nor respecting that person you have sworn to love and cherish till death do you part.  However, when you regard her with the same importance as you would yourself, THEN you have the beginings of a true relationship.  A relationship not based on power over another but your own  love and respect for each other.  Interestingly, when I told my co worker that Gods definition of submission certainly did not mean a relationship submission hold, her tone immediately softened.  It was no longer a conversation of submission but one of Christ centered relationships.

~Scott~

The Wolfs Worst Nightmare

9Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9 - 12 NKJV

There is a saying of someone who prefers to go it alone.  One who forsakes the assistance of others and decides it's best to strike out on their own.  They're known as lone wolves, and they're the very enemy of teamwork.  For the lone wolf needs not the help or assistance of others around him, but prefers wo work, live and survive solely by their own devices.  I've often wondered just how we came across the term "Lone wolf," as wolves themselves are communal by nature.  They neither live nor hunt to survive alone.  On the contrary, if you've ever had the opportunity to see a wolf on the hunt, you more than likely saw the rest of the pack as well.  The DNA of the wolfs social structure is to be among others.  I dare suggest that our own DNA requires us to be among others as well.  For we were not created to go through this life alone, but to be in the company and in relationship with others.  It is no coincidence that God declared upon creating Adam that, "It is not good that man should be alone."  Consider that we ourselves were created to be in relationship with our heavenly Father from the very begining.  Think about it, why would God not want to be in relationship with the crown jewel of all which He had created?   Knowing this, why would He not want the crown jewel of His creation to be in relationship with one another?  God was not satisfied with just the creation of man (Adam).  No, for He knew that upon his creation that Adam needed another to be in relationship with.  Therefore, He created a "Helper comparable to him."  God did not create for Adam a pet dog, cat or other animal to keep him company.  No, for only another such as Adam would be comparable to himself.  With another such as himself could Adam be in relationship with.  The circle would be complete, man and woman in relationship with Father God AND with each other.  That is...until that lone wolf came along.

21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He hmade into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2: 21 - 24 NKJV

I find it quite ironic that the origin of the term woman is defined as "From man."  This was not done to piss off the feminist community, but to signify the relationship between our Lords creation.  Adam himself proclaimed her "Bones of my bones And flesh of my flesh."  Indeed, Adam must have realized how Eve had arrived at his doorstep.  This was the helper comparable to him, taken from his own flesh and created for relationship with him.  It is here where we see the entrance of that lone wolf thought process.  Indeed, with satans suggestion to Eve that she could "Be like God, knowing good and evil," mankind fell for the lie of the enemy hook line and sinker!  For what was the origin of the lie which satan himself had believed in?  Indeed, satan believed that he himself could "Be like the most high."  This is indeed the very same lie he used to deceive Adam and Eve.   This is the lie that we ourselves are independent...the lone wolf had arrived on the scene.  I am no pharisee school theologin, but I find it difficult to believe how a CREATED being could somehow think themselves independent.  However, this is the lie which we ourselves have fallen into.  I've even heard it claimed by many a pulpit pounder that there was indeed a seperation between ourselves and God.  Really?  The only seperation I see is that we believed that we ourselves were independent from God.  We ourselves have become the lone wolf.  We truly believe that we are better off on our own, only in need of God as one we can turn to in trouble.  For His part, God has never changed {Hebrews 13:8} nor has He ever left our side despite our viscious independent streak.  We're told that we were created as social beings, and I agree with this statement.  I would suggest that as being created in our Lords very spirit image, that we were created not only for that relationship with Him but with each other as well.  Just as a lone wolf is a danger to the rest of the pack, so also are we who forsake our relationships with others.

12“How you are fallen from heaven, O dLucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
Isaiah 14: 12 - 14 NKJV


~Scott~

The Occupation

"When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you,"
~William Paul Young - The Shack~

The question arose this week of just how God manifests Himself.  Through some back and forth Dennis and I came to the agreement that theology has done us no favors when it comes to our true relationship with our heavenly Father.  In fact, those who constitute the institutional church have done their very best to stifle rather than grow our relationship with God.  So much so, that the modern churchs image of God is 180 degrees from who He truly is.  Many a pulpit pounder will scream from the podium that God is a jealous, vengeful God to whom HIs children must seek continual forgiveness for any sins we may have committed since the last time we came to Him for forgiveness.  It is this image of God which Mack struggles with in Paul Youngs story The Shack.  It is easy to see, then, just why there was such an outcry against this story from the begining.  For this was NOT the God which we were told He was.  I fully expected some massive protests to break out after the movie adaptation of The Shack was released with protestors carrying signs proclaiming "NOT MY GOD!"  Fortunately it didn't come to that, but there was still and continues to be resistance.  Why?  For as much scriptural reference there is for a angry and vengeful God, there is indeed more references to a God who is loving and has been returning His creation to Him.  In fact, the apostle John refers to the true character of God as Love {1 John 4:8}.  For it is God who loved us first.  It is God who, despite our sin condition, loved us enough to save us {Romans 5:8}.  Indeed, though we deserved punishment from a jealous and vengeful God, He chose instead to show His true nature and shower His love upon us.

"As the crowning glory of creation, you were made in Our image, unemcumbered by structure and free to simply 'Be' in relationship with Me and one another.  If you had truly learned to regard one anothers concerns as significant as your own, there would be no need for heirarchy."
~William Paul Young - The Shack~

One of the main arguments against the story of The Shack was its depiction of God as a woman.  Not only that, as a black woman!  I admit, I myself was taken aback when I first knew of this part of the story.  Again, the churchs image of God has done us zero favors.  In the background of these rumblings was how God should choose to manifest Himself.  Could God choose to manifest Himself as a woman?  Of course!  Which is precisely what He did in this story.  Why?  So the main character could better understand His love I'm assuming.  See, Macks own father was abusive towards him.  All of that aside, how should God choose to manifest Himself?  Well, a friend once told me that we can see our Lords manifestation each day in the world around us.  It's not hard to see all which He created, and all which remains a part of Him.  That tree, that deer and that bird.  The apostle Paul tells us in Galations that Christ Jesus indeed lives through us {Galations 2:20}.  Knowing this, the question should not be how God chooses to reveal Himself...but just why He chooses to reveal Himself as US!  Indeed, if God lives through us, then when He chooses to reveal Himself, He is revealing Himself through the crowning glory of His own creation.  Created in His very image, should He choose to reveal Himself through us, we are seeing Him as He is.  We should never discount the fact that God can reveal Himself through us as He chooses.  Even as a woman.

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20 NKJV

~Scott~

Mister And Mrs. God

26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1: 26 - 27 NKJV

There have been quite few detractors of the book and film adaptation of The Shack since Paul Youngs story came out.  Despite the crys of heresy, I have not personally seen the evidence that the story is anti God in any way.  However, I HAVE seen that the story is anti religion, anti institutional church and anti establishment.  Knowing this, I do not see how this can be a bad thing.  This week I ran across a peice by Wayne Jacobsen as he tried to reason as to why there was so much opposition to a story he himself helped create.  One of the issues which he raised was one which Dennis had told me about previously.  This is the issue that Paul Young inserted God in the form of a large black woman into his story.  Now, I was also privy as to why the author would do just that.  See, one of the most influential people in Paul Youngs christian life indeed resembled that image of God which he used in The Shack.  Now, before anyone goes out on a limb and chooses to proclaim that God Himself, the creator of all that we see daily, is somehow not able to manifest Himself how He sees fit stop and consider that very thought for a moment.  I would venture to proclaim that we ourselves have seen or met people in our own lives who may just have been the manifestation of our heavenly Father.  So why is this such a shock to anyone?  Do we choose to simply accept God as the white haired, bearded elderly image which the church has fed us for thousands of years?  I would say THAT is more anti God than this stoy ever was.

"I am what some would say 'holy, and wholly other than you.'  The problem is that some folks try to grasp some sense of who I am by taking the best version of themselves, projecting that to the nth degree, factoring in all the goodness they can perceive, which often isn't much, and then call that God.  And while it may seem like a noble effort, the truth is that it falls pitifully short of who I really am.  I'm not merely the best version of you that you can think of.  I am far more than that, above and beyond all that you can ask or think."
~William Paul Young - The Shack~

So, what would the detractors of The Shack have to say if the authors image of God was one of a athletic, blonde haired white man?  Don't get me wrong, for if this were the case, there would still be those who would find error in this story in one way or another.  This is not a racial or gender conversation as some would have us believe, but one where all of our perceptions about God are challenged.  We're told that God is a certain way, so that is what we believe.  We're told that God looks a certain way, so this is what we believe.  This flys right in the face of the story we find in The Shack.  All too often, we view God on our own terms while ignoring who He truly is.  We do this in our view that God is a vengeful God, while ignoring the fact that He loved us enough to save us.  Our traditional view we have of God is opposite of what the author of The Shack attempts to ferret through.  God is not vengeful, God is love {1 John 4:8}.  God does not appear to Mack in the story in order to condemn him for his sins, but that through His Fathers love he would walk him through the pain of his childs death.  God does not speak fogiveness but then send fire and brimstone in its place.  No, He simply finds us where we are at in His love.  To do anything else would be contrary to who He truly is.  Why did God choose to show Himself as a woman?  For those who have read the story or seen the movie, you know of Macks relationship with his abusive father.  Therefore, Mack responded differently than he would have to a male figure.  One of the truths of our heavenly Father is that He is not limited to our expectations we have of Him.  Should He choose to exhibit Himself to someone as a woman in order to exhibit His true love nature, then He is fully capable of doing just that.  We do well to remember that it is our heavenly Father who created us male AND female.

~Scott~

The Unwanted

35‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25: 35 - 40 NKJV

I've seen the problem first hand.  The disheveled man shuffling through the store.  The man in worn clothing holding the sign by the side of the freeway.  Here in Portland, the plight of the cities homeless population has been grabbing headlines locally for over a few years now.  Scorned first for being a unsightly presence in the city downtown district, they've become a symbol with all which is wrong with society.  However, in the course of my job I have continually come face to face with the by products of the homeless situation.  See, for the most part I have viewed the homeless issue not as one of another person suffering, but as another pile of trash or drug needles left behind by the masses.  Of course, I couldn't be blamed for having this opinion, as we are continually confronted with having to clean up whatever remains from the latest homeless camp.  You may have guessed that I don't relish cleaning up needles, garbage and human waste of different types, but this is the job we do on occasion.  In the process, I've formed a pretty callous opinion of those who live on the streets of my city.  That being said, just as it is not my job to find a solution for this issue, it is not your job to label me as uncaring or unsympathetic.  For I have seen a sid eof the homeless issue that many in society seldom see.  I've seen countless homeless people insult and degrade me as I attempted to assist them.  I've seen two men having to restrain a homeless man whose only concern seemed to be where to get his next drug fix.  Yes, I have seen my share of this obnoxious issue.  It's not as if I am uncaring, it's just that my upbringing and feelings on self survival have given me a different view on what Iwould do should I be in their place.

41“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45“Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25: 41 - 46 NKJV

I cannot say for certain what I would do if I were to become homeless as I've never been in that situation.  However, this does not mean that my opinion is not valid.  Being homeless does not give you more rights than someone else who is struggling.  Being homeless does not give you the right to harass someone who is simply walking by.  So, I will answer that question which I am sure someone would ask of me if they could.  What would Jesus do if He were homeless?  Well, the simple truth of the matter is that Jesus WAS homeless as He walked about on His ministry here on earth.  It was indeed Jesus who relied on the provision of the Father, which usually came in the kindness of others towards He and His disciples.  It was Jesus who made the claim, "If you have done to the least of these you have done to me."  See, the fact which I must face is that I do not have a lock on Gods salvation.  His desire is that all would be saved {John 3: 16-17 NKJV}.  Not only that, but the very same Spirit of Christ Jesus which lives through me today, is also available to that homeless person on the street should the desire to seek Him be layed upon his heart.  Of course, just because one is saved, does not guarantee that his life will be a cake walk either.  So, as I walk the streets of this city, can I tell just who has received the Spirit of Christ and who hasn't?  I'm afraid it's not that simple.  For in the past there have been more than a few people who have been surprised that I was a christian.  The worst thing that we can do is promote the homeless issue as simply a political stand, for in this we will surely not give to those least among us.  For His part, Jesus never met a man whom He refused the gift of the Spirit.  Many of those least among us have come to know the freedom found in Christ Jesus.

~Scott~

Learning To Love

"Once you have heirarchy you need rules to protect and administer it, and then you need law and the enforcement of the rules, and you end up with some kind of chain of command or system of order that destroys relationship rather than promotes it.  Heirarchy imposes laws and rules and you end up missing the wonder of relationship that we intended for you."
~William Paul Young - The Shack~

I used to think that being a christian was akin to being a robot that followed orders and obeyed at all costs.  Along we would marching orders of the pulpit pounders to the strains of onward christian soldiers.  There was no feeling and thus no emotion involved in this movement of Gods followers.  Not surprisingly, the world around us classified christians as dry, humorless sticks in the mud.  I can say that I didn't disagree with that assesment all too much.  I can recall walking into church on Sunday morning to many a false smile from someone who was truly hurting inside yet afraid to let anyone know.  For relationship, true relationship, was not something to be found within the church structure.  There were rules and traditions to be followed, which is the deathblow to relationships.  Now, I'm not saying that there were not those who indeed found relationships through the church, many of my friends are those I've carried over from my days in the church.  However, these are definately the exception rather than the rule.  Not surprisingly, many a christian has faced the task of learning to love once again.  Loving without that  fear of condemnation or rejection.  I would be happy to see truth in advertising.  For if this were the case, we would see local churches advertising in the local news rag with ads like, "Come join us Sunday to hear a speech on how bad you are but just how good you can be if you try hard enough!"  It's no wonder that the church is a relationship killer.  And one of the biggest relationships which the church kills within us is that relationship with the very one who created us FOR relationships.

7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
1 John 4: 7 - 12 NKJV

I lost count of just how many Sunday pulpit pounder sermons raised the subject that we can have a relationship with God, if we try hard enough and if we're devoted to Him.  There is absolutely nothing there that encourages a relationship, a loving relationship with God.  No, for in order to even attempt a relationship with God we must be clean and pure of all imperfections.  See, we're told that God cannot stand to be in the presence of sin.  Since we're told that we are simply sinners saved by grace, what chance to we have for a meaningful relationship with God unless we rectify our sin condition?  This is what we are fed each and every week.  It's no wonder that I already felt as if the deck was stacked against me when I was in church.  It's here where I began to think of the false idea that I was actually seperated from God.  I was a sinner, and God could not tolerate that.  Sound like relationship to you?  Me either.  The point at which my eyes were opened to what God truly wanted me to realize about His love for me did not come about until my friendship with Dennis started to grow.  In the process, many of the misconceptions I had carried for so many years about how God felt for me were put to rest.  In their place was a new realization of just how much my heavenly Father truly cares for me.  He loved me enough to send His Son to die in my place despite my sin condition {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  There was no seperation between me and God.  The whole time that I clung to this false belief He was drawing me closer to Him.  Not only that, in the freedom which we have in His love for us can be found the freedom to learn to love others as well.

~Scott~

Not Who You Think

"I don't need to punish people for sin.  Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside.  It's not My purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it."
~William Paul Young - The Shack~

In the movie The Shack, Mack struggles in hs faith in a God whom he feels has abandoned him.  Not only that, he reads into scripture far too much in his belief that God indeed abandoned His own Son as He suffered on that cross.  In Macks mind, this was a hypocritical God who promised salvation yet punished His own children should they deserve it.  A God who demanded not only obedience but adherence to all His demanded of them.  After all, they were Gods messengers to His children.  After I saw the movie, I came away with the realization that I had been just as the main character of this movie had been.  When I was growing up, my mother made sure that her youngest knew exactly who God was.  However, I would later find out that this was NOT  the God who I was told that He was.  Sure, my mother repeatedly told me that God loved me and always would, but from the church pulpit I heard a different story.  God was a vengeful and jealous God who loved His children enough to save them yet who was always quick to punish any of us who should stray from His commandments.  Rather than a God of love, I served a God of strict obedience.  More often than not, I came away from a Sunday morning service worse off than when I came in, having been painfully reminded that I needed to repent and make amends for all that I had done.  In my heart I knew that Christ had bled and died for me, yet each day I found myself on my knees in prayer asking forgiveness should God feel the need to punish me for something I had done.

13And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Colossions 2: 13 - 17 NKJV

These are the two Gods which we are told exist today.  The God who loved us first and the vengeful and jealous God who is quick to punish those who disobey Him.  Love and punishment, do those two go together?  The first time I had an inkling that perhaps I had the wrong idead of God was when I heard a friend refer to God as a loving parent to His children.  Now, for those of us who have been parents, there is no doubt that we love our own children.  However, knowing this, we also are aware that discipline is definately needed in the raising of a child.  I believe that the key here to understanding God is in that relationship of a loving parent.  Indeed, as I was growing up my mother did discipline me when required, but it was corrective disipline and never abusive.  I believe that to remain in the belief that God is in heaven just waiting for us to screw up so that He can unleash just punishment is to believe that God is a God of abusive discipline.  This is never discipline born out of love and correction, but punishment born out of control.  Above all, control is at the very heart of the chruch version of God.  How can one live in the freedom of Gods love while they are under His thumb?  That is a impossible task for anyone.  One of the best quotes which I have found from Paul Youngs story was Papas explanation of His view on punishing our sins.  Sin needs no punishment for sin is its own punishment.  We always know when we sin, and it eats away at us.  However, our heavenly Father has already given us the cure for sin.  By sending His Son to the cross, the sin debt which we carried has been paid in full.  Without sin as our hinderance, we are truly free to live in the love of our Father.

~Scott~

Family Tradition

~Bocephus~

1Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know bus, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3: 1 -2 NKJV

I remember growing up in Virginia, a small town on Minnesotas Iron Range.  While my memories of these years are few, I do recall that my fathers youngest son carried with him somewhat of a celebrity status.  See, my father worked as a county deputy sheriff while I was growing up.  The people of this small town, for good or bad, knew my father.  Whether they had interacions with dad in the course of his job or outside of it, there were plenty of people in town who had formed their own opinions of my father.  I can recall a few instances where my mischief had gotten me into a spot, but the targets of my behavior chose to watch me walk away rather than deal with my father.  It was not until I was older that I understood just why they would do such a thing.  Back then I attributed it to my good fortune and nothing else.  There must have been something about my father that the people of my hometown realized that I didn't at the time.  Later on I became privy as to how alchohol had consumed my fathers life and ultimately led to his downfall and the breakup of his marriage.  Of course, my father was only following in the footsteps of his own father and his brothers who also suffered from alchoholism.  Unfortunately, this was his family tradition.  Fortunately, it hasn't been my own.  The point I raise here is that others judged me due to my own fathers actions.  Be it good or bad, I was my fathers son.  This was my identity, I did not choose it but I lived it.

Country music singers, have always been a real close family
But lately some of my kinfolk, have disowned a few of us and me
I guess it's because, I kinda changed my direction
Lord I guess I went and broke their FAMILY TRADITION.
~Family Tradition - Hank Williams Junior~

These days I look upon myself with the tradition of another family.  The family I now belong to is not a earthly family but one where my Father is my Lord in heaven.  Of course, I now have many brothers and sisters as well.  I've related a few times in the past of a friend of ours who would often refer to God as Daddy.  Back then, such behavior was pretty new to me.  For calling God Daddy was somehow robbing Him of the glory He so rightly deserved.  However, as I thought about it, my friend wasn't too far off base in his description of His Lord.  This was also a part of the criticism of Paul Youngs book The Shack when it first arrived on the scene.  I recall my pastor at the time cautioning his flock against reading too much into this new book.  Why would he do this?  Every person I have talked to who has seen the big screen adaptation of the book came away a changed person.  why?  Because they became keenly aware of their heavenly Fathers...their Daddys love for them.  For in the face of his own  tragedy, the movies main character is once again drawn back to Daddys love.  For it is only here where he could find the healing he truly needed.  For me, I have a family tradition of pain and dissapointment.  However, as this flesh is not my true identity, so it is that my family tradition is now one where I am a child of God!  My family tradition is now one of love, forgiveness and grace.  My loving Daddy has again brought me back home to Him.

~Scott~

Authentic Belief

"Religion must use law to empower itself and control the people they need in order to survive."
~William Paul Young - The Shack~

The movie The Shack has certainly received its own share of criticism since it appeared on the theater screen recently.  Just as Paul Youngs book of the same title had done years before, those within christian circles were quick to assail this story which by all means seemed...unconventional.  When the book first appeared, the pastor of the church I was attending certainly made it a point to caution his flock about this unconventional christian story.  After all it was just that, a fairy tale.  Or was it?  Since the movie has been released, the men from our circle have watched one of the most powerful films of all time.  One of my friends has even watched the movie with his wife and then his teenage daughter.  Now tell me, for a story which was originally seen as so blasphemous in christian circles, what is it about this very same story which is now changing lives?  The story has not changed.  In fact, the film stays pretty close to the book from what I have heard.  These days I wonder just why the christian church was so quick to discount this story within its own circles.  When it seems that the lives of those who have seen this movie have been so possitively affected.  Why would the church put up such a fight over this story?  Well, I believe that I've come to see a big reason as to why there has been such a backlash by the church.  That reason...is religion itself.

20“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21“that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23“I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25“O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26“And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17: 20 - 26 NKJV

Dennis made the comment the other day of the difference between authentic believers from true pretenders (sorry for the shameless plug buddy).  Indeed, when we as Gods children are aware of who we truly are inside then we can rest in our relationship with Him.  That was the prayer of Jesus in the garden we find in John 17, that we would be one as Jesus and the Father are one.  This is relationship, and it flys in the face of what the church is.  For the church is organization, the church is control and the church is structure.  Tell me, how do any of these foster relationships with God?  Indeed, it is no wonder why the church has come out with pessimistic eyes against this story.  From what I can see, the church needs people in order to survive, God doesn't.  Knowing this, it is still our heavenly Fathers desire that all would come to Him {John 3: 16-17}.  This is the relationship which we would have with Him that Jesus prayed in the garden.  This is also the relationship which we today who have accepted Christ Jesus DO HAVE today {Galations 2:20}.  This is authentic relationship without boundries.  This is authentic belief, knowing that we ourselves are one with the Father.

~Scott~

How Jesus Loves

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Colossions 1: 15 - 17 NKJV 

There has been much talk in christian circles of exhibiting the love of Christ Jesus.  After all, it is through the selfless love of Christ that we have been saved.  Knowing His destiny, He chose to accept the anger of those around Him, all for us.  Who among us would choose to do as Jesus did in a moment of anger?  Not me, for there has been many a time where I have allowed my anger to get the best of me.  Anyone else want to try?  Think about it, as you've faced the bitter words and punishment of others around you, was your very first thought to allow their mistreatment of you and to pray for them?  Well, for most of us I'd venture to say that we would have failed that test with flying colors.  So, how is it that we exhibit the love of Jesus when we are so quick indeed to follow our flesh?  How do we show the love of Jesus?  Rather than see this as a daunting task, I would suggest that we allow ourselves to show who we really are inside.  For if Jesus indeed lives in and through us (Galations 2:20), Then we already have it within us to be Jesus.  Yes, we can BE Jesus.  I know of no other way to describe the apostle Pauls passage in Galations 2:20 than to make the claim that Christ lives through us each and every day.  That sin nature which we were born into no longer exists.  We are not sinners saved by grace, but the very image of Christ who is in us.  

Mack: "I can't...I can't...could I go instead?...I'll go in their place...could I do that?"  He fell at her feet crying and begging now.  "Please let me go for my children...I am begging you.  Please...please..."

"Now you sound like Jesus...THAT is how Jesus loves."

~William Paul Young - The Shack~ 

That is how Jesus loves?  Imagine that for just a moment.  Imagine the most vile person you've ever met punishing you with his words, what would you do?  Imagine someone you love dearly on their death bed knowing that their time here on earth was short, how far would you go to help them?  I ask that very question because I've been in that very situation.  As my mother lay sick with pnemonia in the hospital, at her bedside I asked God a few times if I could go in her place.  See, in my heart I was thinking that my mother had been sick for quite some time and deserved to be healed and have a normal life.  It is funny how grief affects our feelings and reasoning at times.  Well, God did not heal my mother from her sickness, but He had given her the gift she truly needed...to be free of the pain and sickness she had endured for so long.  This is how Jesus loves.  As Jesus walked to that cross, He was tormented by those around Him, yet He asked His Father to forgive His accusers.  That is how Jesus loves.  So how is it that we can love as Jesus does?  Dare I say that we ourselves endure the wickedness of those around us without reprisal on our part?  How often are we to turn the other cheek?  Well, as Jesus poited out, seventy times seven.  In other words, we should be more inclined to forgive our accusers than take matters into our own hands.  This is how Jesus loves.  

~Scott~   

The God We Exhibit

When we who claim to believe in a loving Father use His mercy and graciousness as an excuse for our dishonesty, lack of integrity, or selfishness we discredit the very love we tout.
~Wayne Jacobsen~

It's one of the biggest criticisms  I've heard of we christians.  That we're nothing  more than holier than thou hypocrites.  I might just take offense to this observation, had I not experienced it for myself from time to time.  Have I not exhibited myself from time to time.  Sadly many a christian at times lives under the false belief that living under our heavenly Fathers love, grace and forgiveness often gives us carte blanche to behave badly.  Think about it, if we are to somehow fall again into sin, not only are we forgiven, but we serve a God who has infinate love and grace for His children.  Some see this as a green light for all sorts of bad behaviors.  Unfortunately, I've experienced this very side of christianity quite often.  Even more unfortnate is that I've dabbled in this hypocracy myself.  Knowing this, how could I blame others for seeing this hypocracy within christianity and thereby be appalled by it?  As I said, I've experienced this hypocracy personally and I came away from those experiences feeling belittled and brow beaten, NOT a good feeling at all.  Now, I totally get it that we are to be Gods representatives here on earth, but just what kind of God are we exhibiting to those around us?  Do we show others that God of the old testament who dealt harshly with His people in their disobedience, or do we exhibit the true love of Christ who is in us today {Galations 2:20}?  I believe that the all too familiar "What would Jesus do?" craze of not so long ago was a direct result of this issue.  Someone may have seen a christian behaving badly and therefore wondered, what would Jesus do?  I've thought that very same thing.

1Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; aand he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died band rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans 14: 1 - 10 NKJV

A good friend of mine once commented that he was not at all surprised that others would see the hypocracy of christianity, as christianity is indeed filled with those who often follow their flesh instead of Gods leading.  Actually, the very word and notion of christianity is not a creation of God but of man.  In fact, early believers were given the name "Followers of the way."  As with this nickname for the early followers of Christ, such is our term christianity.  And so, we describe ourselves with a term we ourselves have created.  Not only that, but we worship our Lord with an institution which we've created.  For the examples we see of the early church of the followers of Christ was not a church at all, but simply a gathering of those who followed the teachings of jesus.  That's right, no ornate building, no rock and roll worship band and certainly no pulpit pounder sermon.  They simply gathered to share their belief,experiences and life together.  THIS is true worship.  THIS is true christianity.
So, who is that God that we ourselves show to others?  Christ Himself called His followers to be a light to the world around them {Matthew 5: 11-12}.  This is what happens when He who is within us is manifested through all that we do.  For when others see us, they are seeing the image of the invisible God.  This is Christ Jesus, and it is He who is in us.  When we truly exhibit Christ who is within us, there is no room for the bad behaviors of christian hypocracy.

14“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15“Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5: 14 - 16 NKJV

~Scott~

Behind The Woodshed

15“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16“But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17“And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19“Againd I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Matthew 18: 15 - 20 NKJV 

It is a common practice in the church to place criticism and shame at the feet of one who deserves it.  Should one wander from the flock to partake of the pleasures of the world then that individual needs to be reminded of his errors in a major way.  Often, simply confronting a brother with his indiscretion is not enough.  No, the sinning brother must be shown the error of his ways.  With enough shame and condemnation, he will think twice before he dips his foot in the pools of temptation ever again.  The trouble with this approach is that we are told that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus {Romans 8:1}.  And if there is indeed no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, how is it that we approach a brother who has fallen short?  I was reminded this week by Dennis of this very situation.  See, Dennis noticed that I had partaken in a behavior which did not fit who I truly was.  Now, Dennis' thoughts on my actions are key to his response not only to myself but to how we should approach a wayward brother in Christ.  Do we march the lad into a church office in front of some witnesses in order to shame him into behaving?  Do we escort him in front of the congregation to serve as a example of how to deal with a sinning brother?  Unfortunately, this is common practice in the church today.  Apparently it is more useful to shame someone into good behavior than to approach a brother with gentleness and understanding.  So, when is the last time that you responded positively to someone who was heaping shame upon you?  To one who was placing his moral standards above yours?  I know that I would not and HAVE NOT responded well to such tactics.  There is indeed a better way, and one that may well save your friendship with another.

1Brethren, if a man is aovertaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5For each one shall bear his own load.

Galations 6: 1 - 5 NKJV 

The apostle Paul provides us with some words of wisdom when we are dealing with a wayward brother.  "For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself."  Likewise, if anyone thinks himself to be holier than thou, he is indeed deceiving himself.  Anyone ever heard of the pot calling the kettle black?  Indeed, shame never healed anyone.  So, the first question that Dennis asked of me this week was not "What the hell were you thinking?"  No, he simply asked "Who is it that you really are?"  Ok, I get it Dennis.  Am I indeed that wayward prodigal son who wanders far from the Lord he loves?  Of course not, I'm dead to that {Romans 6: 6-11}.  The antics of my "Old man" who was indeed crucified with Christ Jesus are no longer a concern to me.  That man is long dead.  What remains today is Christ who is in me {Galations 2:20}.  There is no longer any need for that dreaded whooping behind the woodshed, but instead a gentle reminder of who it is we truly are in our identity.  I am not simply a sinner saved by grace, but the image of Christ Jesus who is in me.  What was Jesus' response to satan in his temptations?  No, satan, for IT IS WRITTEN!  BOOM!  The old spirit of error will indeed continue to try to persuade us into partaking in what feels good.  The fact is, we're now dead to that.  

~Scott~