Risky Behavior

~Dennis, led to speak His truth to others~

14How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” 17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10: 14 - 17 NKJV

The comment was brought up by Dennis this week that if our group doesn't show up for our Sunday morning meeting, does that in turn put others at risk?  At first I bristled at this comment as institutional thinking, but once I stepped back and thought of it I sort of saw where he was going with this.  So, are others at risk by our not being at a certain place at a certain time in order that they might hear that truth of Christ Jesus?  If this is indeed true, then there are many people headed towards damnation right about now.  I recall many conversations with Dennis about the truth to be found in Jesus.  However, if I had not been present for him to tell me this truth, would I somehow lose my salvation?  No, for I had already accepted Christ into my life.  However, I certainly would not have known the truth of Jesus.  Does this put me at risk?  Perhaps, but I doubt it.  For another conversation we have been having recently is that "God is in all."  That is, our heavenly Fathers influence is not hard to see for He has a hand in everything we see.  In fact, I would go so far as to say that everything that has occured or will ever occur is done according to His ultimate plan.  Is this pre destination?  I believe this to be the case.  Therefore, if everything is pre destined, doesn't God already have it planned out just who will receieve the truth of Christ and who will not?  Is that risky pre destination perhaps?  It is my belief that if it is in our Lords plan that one would hear the truth of Jesus, then He will provide the one to speak that into their hearts.  For God certainly provided one to speak into the hearts of others over time.  He provided one to speak the truth of Jesus to myself in His timing.

15For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2: 15 - 17 NKJV

I love the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 2.  We are not merely "Peddlers of the word of God, as so many do."  We've all seen this type of exhuberant christian, that guy who will ask anyone and everyone he comes across if they know Jesus...if they are saved.  Indeed, I've known my share of these traveling one man salvation shows.  I have nothing against what they are doing, for in their joy of the new found love of Jesus they want nothing more than to tell others.  More power to them.  Are others at risk if these people were not around?  Maybe, but isn't Gods hand in everything we see?  If we truly believe that God is "In all" then we must rest in that knowledge that He has those who would hear His truth already set aside as well as those who would relay His truth to them.  It was God who led Dennis into my life in order that he would speak the truth of Christ Jesus into me.  I have a few other friends who God has led to speak of Himself into me as well.  Would I be in danger had they not done so?  Probably not, as I already knew the Lord.  God Himself led my own mother to speak of Him to her sons.  For this was indeed Gods leading.  He is all in all.  We cannot one minute speak that our Lord is in all that we see and in the next place the salvation of others at risk unless we are there to speak the truth of Jesus unto them.  He is all in all, the Alpha and the Omega.  It is also a truth that there will be among us those who will hear the truth of Christ and those who will refuse it, by our Lords plan.  There will also be those, who being led by Jesus will speak His truth unto others as well.  He is all in all.

23Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25“When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26“then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27“But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’
Luke 13: 23 -27 NKJV

~Scott~

The Forgotten Man

~The Forgotten Man by Jon McNaughton~

"When I go home, people ask me, 'Hey Hoot, why do you do it man?  Why?  You some kind of war junkie?  I won't say a goddamn word.  Why?  They won't understand.  They won't understand why we do it.  They won't understand that it's about the men next to you...and that's it.  That's all it is."
~Master Sergeant Norm "Hoot" Hooten, Black Hawk Down~

I have a coworker who some time ago had become so stressed out over her supervisor and the politics of our job that she eventually ended up taking periods of time off from work because of her dislike for the way things were done.  I've seen this more and more in our society in recent years, when the rubber hits the road, there are those who revert back to hiding from what they are facing as a way of dealing with it.  Now, obviously I'm no psychiatrist, but that is not the point of this post.  The fact is that people will deal with situations in their lives differently.  The way that I deal with the politics and workplace garbage which we deal with is to take it with a grain of salt.  After all, at the end of the day they're paying me to be there.  As long as they keep paying me I'll keep showing up.  That's my mindset.  Believe me, I've had this same conversation with my coworker man y a time, but she's stuck in her ways.  I've even forwarded the clip from the film Black Hawk Down where Eric Bana (Delta Operator Norm Hooten) explains to his astounded army Ranger companion just why he does what he does...she didn't get it.  Yes, I was trying not to instigate her, but it was frustrating.  Because at the end of the day, when she is missing in action, there are others she works with who still need to do our own jobs.  This is that forgotten man.  This is what the Norm Hooten character in Black Hawk Down was refering to in his speech to the other soldier.  Yes, it was dangerous work.  Yes, it was deadly to go back into that hell that was Mogadishu on that day...but he still had a few of his comrades out in that city who needed to come home.  He would not forget the forgotten man.  In his heart he was thinking of others and not of himself...self for others.

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

The point which I was trying to get across to my coworker without being so blunt was that while she retreated herself away from her job as a result of stress, those of us around her still needed to do what it is we do.  The forgotten man.  Like I said, I'm no psychiatrist.  It is Dennis who first introduced me to that concept of a heart for self versus a heart for others.  It would seem that my coworker has a heart for self.  However, there are times when she shows another giving side as well.  Go figure.  Those that put the needs of others above their own are those who display a heart for others.  However, those who more often than not place themselves above the needs of others may be displaying a heart for self.  Be it a self for self or a self for others, there is no denying that there will often come times when we will all need the help of those around us.  Will those we choose to surround ourselves with respond to that forgotten man?  I've been fortunate to have a circle of friends who look after one another from time to time...our band of brothers per se.  Now, is teamwork an obligation we must uphold?  Obviously not, or I would not have had this conversation with my coworker.  However, is teamwork a virtue we might seek to exhibit?  Absolutely!  I guess I shouldn't refer to it as teamwork, but as putting the needs of others above our own.  I know that's a strange concept in these days of self gratification.  How will what we do affect those around us?

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne-er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in England now a-bed shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks that fought with us on Saint Crispins Day!
~William Shakespeare, Henry V~

~Scott~

A Belief Beyond Words

25The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20: 25 - 29 NKJV

I've been on the other side of the christian belief fence once or twice.  I've had others ask me, "Scott, why do you believe?"  I'm not ashamed to say that this is one of the most difficult questions I've ever answered.  Difficult as far as how much thought I put into my answer.  One answer to this question which I've always regurgitated is simply, "I just do."  Why can't people just accept my response to their question and move on?  For I am not, nor have I ever claimed to be a preacher, pastor or Pharisee school scholar.  That's just not me.  However, what I do bring to any discussion about faith and Jesus are my own experiences on why I have placed my trust and belief in the risen Lord Jesus.  It is not my job to justify to others just why I believe the way I do, only that I share my experiences in the arms of Christ.  In His so called "Great commission" to His disciples upon His resurection, Jesus made it clear that these men were to go and make "Disciples" of all the nations.  Now, many a believer has seen this as a commandment from Christ for us today to create disciples in the mold of those who followed Jesus.  After all, the scriptures indeed call these men His disciples.  So, when Jesus instructed these men to go and make disciples of all the nations we assume that He meant others such as those who followed Jesus.  In fact, there have been countless manuals, videos and pulpit pounder sermons preaching the virtues of making disciples of just about anyone we come across.  I've even had christians approach me with that dreaded question, "So, how many disciples did you recruit this week?"  To me this question is almost as bothersome as why I believe the way I do.  It is my opinion that far too many people are stuck on biblical instruction than in true relationship with Christ.  There, I said it.  So, why do I believe?  I believe because Christ loved me first.  I believe because He loved me despite my sin nature, which He ultimately took upon Himself to be put to death at the cross {2 Corinthians 5: 21}.  This is what Jesus asks of me, to trust in Him.

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11: 1 - 3 NKJV

It is interesting when the very words of Jesus are put into context and removed from the fog of our own translation.  For when Christ instructed His disciples to make "Disciples" of all the nations, what he meant was to make...followers.  The greek terminolgy for their word Mathetes literally means student or pupil...more often than not of a religous teacher.  In fact, the Greek philosophers themselves had disciples who learned at their side.  So it is that we ourselves are to inspire new followers for Christ Jesus.  Now, I also don't believe that seminars and sermons are the best way to show someone to be a follower of Jesus.  Do we turn to seminars or pulpit pounder sermons in order to follow Jesus?  Perhaps, but one of the best teachers of the love and freedom to be found in Christ is through the spoken word of those who have come to know Him intimately.  This may be why people are so perplexed by my answer as to why it is I believe.  I believe because I have seen the influence of Jesus in those around me.  There is no sermon which brought me to a relationship with Christ, only the words of a dear friend of mine.  Jesus lived a good part of His life among His disciples, sharing His life with these men who followed Him.  They came to have a intimate relationship with Him.  That relationship is not far from us today.  For when Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross, that spirit of error which we once carried was put to death forever {Romans 6: 6 - 11}.   Let nobody question just why we believe in Jesus.  As it was for me, it is revealed to us in our Lords own fullness of time.

~Scott~

Lost Years

48So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. 51Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Luke 2: 48 - 52 NKJV

Not too long ago Dennis and I ventured to see the premier of the film Young Messiah.  Of course, I had some pre conceived notions before seeing the movie.  First off, I was looking for the film makers to finaly explain one of the great mysteries of christianity, that being the formative years of the young Christ child.  For the most part, I was dissapointed in that aspect.  I'm not saying that this movie was not worth seeing, just that it shed very little on a young Jesus than we already know.  So, what do we know of the life of Jesus?  Well, we know that the birth of this child was foretold by the prophets {Isaiah 9: 6-7}.  We know just where He would be born {Micah 5:2}.  The prophet Isaiah even went so far as to tell us just who this Christ child would be born to {Isaiah 7:14}.  So, this is what we know from the scriptures of the early life of Jesus.  One of my main complaints over the years has been that the authors of these texts failed to give us a further glimpse into the life of the young Christ.  Was Jesus born humbly in a manger and then suddenly by some miracle advanced in years to begin His ministry?  No, I believe that a miracle such as this would have been worthy of mention in the scriptures.  But we see no mention of things working out this way, so we must assume that Jesus had a normal childhood for a boy in His generation and time in history.  This may turn out to be a key peice of history in that search for the young Jesus.  Can we not see the lives of so many other young boys at that time in history and assume that the young Christ child had a similar upbringing?  Perhaps, there is no scriptural evidence that the life of Jesus was any different, only that He grew in knowledge and stature.  Of course, there may have been others boys His age who followed a similar path.  I will go by the assumption that if there was a significant event in the life of this young Messiah that the authors of scripture may very well have mentioned it...we hope.

39So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2: 39 - 40 NKJV

They are refered to by biblical scholars as "The lost years."  These formative years in the life of the young Christ Jesus.  For good reason, for as I mentioned, little is known of this period in the life of Jesus.  Yes, we can make presumptions based on the lives and upbringing of other children His age at that time.  I believe this to be the case, as scriptures make little to no mention of significant events in the life of Jesus up until His late twenties as He begins His ministry.  Knowing this, we can assume that the young Jesus spent much of His time in the presence of His father Joseph who was a carpenter by trade.  Jesus must have learned this trade as well from His father, as this was how things were done in His day.  One aspect of the film Young Messiah which I was pleased with was the portrayal of the young Jesus at play with other children around Him.  THIS makes the young Jesus real to us, as He was just like any ordinary boy His age.  This savior of His people must have grown as any other child of His day.  He would play, interact with His parents and those around Him.  However, the scriptures also fail to mention much in the way of just when Jesus sensed there was something different in His life.  As He grew in knowledge and stature, He must have become aware of His relationship with the Father.  For this relationship was very important to Him later in life.  Just when did Jesus realize who He truly was?  How did He react to this revelation?  How did Mary and Joseph react?  For we know from scripture that His parents knew very well how special their child was.  For we know that the angel of the Lord visited Mary and told her of the special nature of the child she was carrying {Luke 1: 26-37}.  So, Jesus' parents knew how special He indeed was as He grew.  This must have played into just how they raised their son.  We also know that Jesus was not a only child, for even His brother James initially doubted his brothers prominence.  So, we can assume that the young Jesus grew as any other boy His age of that time.  Learning at the feet of His father while learning of His Father.  Despite the lack of scriptural evidence of this period of His life, we can rest assured that Jesus was being prepeared for His ultimate purpose.  The reconciliation of the world unto His Father in heaven.

~Scott~

The Jesus Proclamation

16For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, dand sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” 18Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."
John 5: 16 - 19 NKJV

It's easy to imagine the surprise of the Jewish authorities of Jesus' day as He made that audacious claim that He was indeed the Son of God.  In fact, it is for this very reason that many of these Pharisees sought to kill Him.  How could a mere man, a mere SINFUL man be the very Son of God?  The very brashness of this man proclaiming Himself to be equal with God caused quite a stir back then.  In a similar way, it is this proclamation which receives confusion and scorn even today...from christians.  For we who follow Christ Jesus today can ourselves proclaim ourselves to be Jesus.  What?  Yes, I can already see the people lining up to condemn such a bold statement.  How could a sinful man even dare claim to be Jesus?  Such a person would have to be delusional...or lying.  Well, I'm here to tell you that I am neither.  Indeed I was once where many christians are today, believing that it is their sins which kept them from intimacy with God.  Sure, we could talk to our heavenly Father, but at the end of the day many still feel that there is a seperation between themselves and God.  However, it is throught the finished work of Christ Jesus that we not only no longer have that weight of our former sins to drag us down but that Jesus Himself is in us today {Romans 6: 6 - 11}.  This is the Jesus proclamation.  When Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the very Son of God He stepped on more than a few toes and pre conceived notions.  For the people of His day, it seems that God and man simply could not exist together.  Indeed, the Jewish temple of God had a place called the Holy of Holies where only the high priest was entitled to venture into.  So it was that each year on the day of atonement that the priests would enter into this Holy of Holies seeking repentence for the sins of the people.  God on one side...sinful man on the other.  This was just how things were done.  The sinful condition of mankind had yet to be dealt with.  That was the purpose of this Son of God, to reconcile Gods children to Himself once again.

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

For those who would scoff at the very idea of a man being jesus I present to you the Jesus proclamation spoken by the apostle Paul in Galations 2.  As Paul tells us, it is no longer he himself who lives, but "Christ lives in me!"  Whoa!  Now, those very same christians who scoffed at a sinful man being Jesus might look a him and say, "Well, that's Paul."  My response to this would be...and your point is?  Paul was not just proclaiming Christ in himself but for all believers.  We today can make this very same Jesus proclamation.  Dennis and I have a dialogue where we will refer to one anothe as Jesus, and he's right!  However, it has taken me some time to come to the point where I can make my very own Jesus proclamation.  Yes, I still struggle with this bold statement, but I realize the truth of the proclamation of Christ in me...of BEING Jesus.  It is indeed a weighty thought, that I could be Jesus.  However, it is no different than it was for Paul himself.  I find it hard to get into just how we got to this point from sinful man to being Jesus without receiving correction from Dennis, so I will just say that it is my BELIEF that for our sin nature to be eradicated that it had to be put to death.  This is indeed what Christ came to accomplish {Romans 6: 6 - 11}.  Agian, it is Paul who tells us that it is our "Old man" sin nature which has been done away with.  Therefore, the sin which once occupied us has been replaced with...Jesus.  The Jesus proclamation.  If only those old Pharisees could hear me today I would be just another heretic.

6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be adone away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV

~Scott~

The God Filter

 

8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55: 8 - 9 NKJV 

I came across a Wayne Jacobsen post this week where he continued to discuss the reaction from recent film The Shack.  As much as this Paul Young story has been a target for criticism from those who seem to be set in their ways about their religious views, I found it to open up discussions not only about the film itself, but about God.  It's wonderful how our heavenly Father orchestrates things at times.  Far from a attack on religion, I saw this movie as opening hearts of Gods children and ultimately bringing more than a few of them home to Him.  Dennis has often ribbed me for not reading the original Shack book, which is fine.  Given the choice I'd rather watch film than read a book most of the time.  The truth is, this story has stayed pretty close to the book version of the story from what I've been told.  So, what did I miss from not reading the book?  One of our good friends was led to the Lord from reading this story, which is fantastic.  Now, not having read the book, I did not go into the movie with any pre concieved notions of how good or bad the story was.  Sure, I'd heard the praises and criticisms, but that didn't influence my opinion all too much.  It is the pre conceptions that many people had before the movie was even released that is interesting.  Why were they upset over Paul Youngs story?  Was it his depiction of God as a african american woman?  Was it the fact that God would allow such tragedy in the life of one of His children and then attempt to draw him closer to Him?  Whatever view we may have had of this story, we may have inadvertently viewed it through that belief of how we ourselves feel that God should be, act or behave.  For we ourselves often feel that God should always heal the sick, bring justice to those oppressed and refrain from exposing His own children to tragedy.  Despite the assurances that we would surely endure such things {2 Timothy 3: 1 - 17}.  So it is that despite our Lords advice that we will surely endure hardships as we follow Him, we come to the table expecting God to do things the right way, the just way.  

"Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean that I orchestrate the tragedies.  Don't ever assume that my using something means that I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes.  That will only lead you to false notions about me.  Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors."

~William Paul Young, The Shack~ 

After my mother passed away I struggled with just why God would allow such a God fearing woman to suffer so much.  Indeed, I questioned His motives.  Why would He cause such pain and grief?  Didn't God love His children?  Didn't He love me?  Turns out I was looking at this from the wrong angle.  I call it our God filter.  In spite of my mothers pain and suffering, I pleaded with God to heal her for me, for my comfort and for my emotional health.  This was not about my moms well being but about me only.  So goes the God filter.  We see God as a white haired, bearded old timer who sits on a throne.  The very fact that someone would have the audacity to challange our own God filter could only mean that person was a heretic!  We scratch our heads and wonder just how God could allow tragedies upon the children He supposedly loves so dearly.  When tragedy comes we question His love and compassion.  The God filter.  We are told in Isaiah 55 that the ways of our Heavenly Father are far above our own, yet we continue to view Him through our own actions and experiences.  If we feel that someone deserves mercy, then God should do just that.  If we feel someone needs punishment, then God should act in that manner.  The truth is, this is never how God operates.  The woman Jesus encountered at the well deserved punishment according to the law, yet Jesus showed her love and compassion.  The woman caught in adultry had every right to be stoned according to the religious laws of the day, yet Jesus did not condemn her.  What of the thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus?  The one He welcomed into the paradise supposedly set aside for believers?  One of the memorable lines from The Shack was that "where there is suffering you will find grace."  Remember that it was man who condemned those whom Jesus lifted up, not God.  Surely they deserved punishment as decided by man, yet God showed them mercy.  It's funny how we celebrate these scriptural examples of Gods grace yet question His motives when he chooses to do the same today.  Our God filter at work.  It is easy to see that Christ came not to condemn but to reconcile Gods children to Him {John 3: 16 - 17}.  Does our heavely Father allow for tragedy to take place?  Absolutely!  Does Gods allowing such tragedy mean that He has suddenly  changed?  Not in the least.  As the story of The Shack shows us, God can often work incredible love, grace and mercy through even the most unspeakable tragedies.  For there is a huge difference between using a tragedy for good and causing that tragedy to happen.  It's just that our God filter often may not see things that way.  

~Scott~  

Strange Events Of Jesus

5Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6“He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7“saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”8And they remembered His words.
Luke 24: 5 - 8 NKJV

Imagine that you were a common citizen of Jerusalem walking donw the road morning minding your own business when all of a sudden you're confronted by a stranger who asks if you're aware of the recent happenings in the city.  Now, if you were not all that familiar with goings on around the contryside, you might not be aware of current events.  However,  with the mere mention of the name Jesus and you might stop and pay attention.  Indeed, for the events in the life of the man Jesus had been big news in the region for some time now.  There's been talk of various miracles and talk of Jesus being someone special.  Some called this man a prophet while others placed their trust in Him that He was, as He claimed, the Son of God.  For even if you had never had the opportunity to see Him for yourself, you've heard the stories which circulated around the countryside.  The lame had been healed, the blind now see and...the dead were risen.  Just who was this man Jesus?  Perhaps you'd wondered for yourself from time to time as you heard of His teachings and exploits.  Jesus had definately caused quite a comotion in this region.  Unless you had been out of the country or wandering in the hills for the past few years you probably had heard of His travels.  You had more questions than answers it seems.  Who was Jesus?  What was His message?  Who were these men who always seemed to follow Him wherever He traveled?  For some reason, the local priests, Pharisees and authorities have been more than willing to call for His detention.  What was it that Jesus had done to deserve such hatred?  You may have wanted to see Him to find out for yourself.  That thought had indeed crossed your mind.  Now, on this bright morning as you traveled to the city of Jerusalem...something seemed different.

24When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a ctumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this djust Person. You see to it.” 25And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” 26Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had escourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
Matthew 27: 24 - 26 NKJV

Indeed, the events surrounding Jerusalem over those past few days were enough to make many stand and take notice.  Jesus had taken this city by storm.  This man who preached love and forgiveness was suddenly the main topic of conversation.  For some time the Jewish people had been anxiously expecting their messiah whom the prophets had foretold would be the savior of His people.  Was Jesus this messiah?  There were those who indeed claimed that He was.  However, there were also many who viewed Him more as a rabble rouser among the people than any kind of prophet.  One thing was certain, wherever this man Jesus went controversy seemed to follow Him.  Still, you wanted to meet Him for yourself.  Perhaps this is why you walked the road to Jersulam on this morning, in hopes of finaly being able to meet this man claimed to be the Son of God.  How could a mere man be the Son of God?  Perhaps if you met Him these questions would be answered.  And so on you went into Jerusalem.  However, more and more you would come across those who were in great disbelief over the man Jesus.  It seems that you had been too late to travel into Jersulam, for He had been put to death three days before by the hated Romans.  Well, the Romans and the chief priests.  What was His crime?  Had not Pilate, the Roman governor, found Him guilty of nothing?  However, instead of releasing Him, he turned Him over to the Jewish officials and to be crucified.  The death of a innocent man?  All of this seemed too much to take in.  These were indeed strange events.  Then, amidst the commotion of the recent events in the city came a new revelation.  A new buzz now raced through the city.  For the tomb had been found to be empty this very morning!  There were even rumors that this man who had been crucified three days earlier had now been seen by some of those close to Him!  It all seemed so strange.  Every so often you would hear the shout..."He is risen!"  What did this all mean?

~Scott~

Light In The Darkness

"Evil is a word we use to describe the absence of good, just as we use the word darkness to describe the absence of light or death to describe the absence of life.  Both evil and good can only be understood in relation to light and good; they do not have any actual existance.  I am light and I am good.  I am love and there is no darkness in me.  Light and good actually exist.  So, removing yourself from me will plunge you into darkness.  Declaring independence will result in evil because apart from me, you can only draw upon yourself.  That is death because you have seperated yourself from me: Life."
~William Paul Young, The Shack~

One of the biggest insights I came away with after seeing the film The Shack was how well the producers portrayed just how our lives would be affected in the absence of God.  In seperation from Him.  Now, in my opinion we've never actually been seperated from our Lord.  Were that to happen, the consequences may indeed be undesirable.  As Paul Young so brilliantly states, seperation from God would be...death.  One topic of discussion which Dennis and I return to quite often is the fact of our false belief that we are indeed independent.  That we ourselves run our day to day lives to the best of our ability.  If we succeed we are seen as strong.  Yet, if we stand alone and fail, we are branded as a failure.  Where is God in that picture?  Is He not with us with each and every step?  Yet, this world is filled with those who continue to stand alone against the world, but cry out to God when they ultimately fall.  We were never created to stand alone.  To be lone wolves.  However, this is the lie which has been perpetuated from the begining by the enemy.  That lie which satan told Eve that she could indeed "Be like God {Genesis 3:5}."  This was the same lie which satan himself believed as he prepared to stand against Gods kingdom {Isaiah 14: 13}.  We marvel at that audacity of satan even as we ourselves participate in his lie.  As The Shack so brilliantly points out...that seperation from our heavenly Father leads only to death.  For without Him we are nothing.

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 3: 1 - 5 NKJV

I cannot look too far into scripture without being humbled by the fact that it is not me  who has importance, but God.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.  All things were made by Him and through Him.  We just happen to be one of His creations.  Not just any creation, but the crown jewel of all which He has created.  Before we were created there was darkness, and without Him there is but darkness as well.  To me, for us to declare that we are the ones in charge of our environment and all which we do ignores the reality of our Lords creation.  Yet there are those who sit in church each Sunday reveling in the reality of our Lords creation while holding fast to the belief that we ourselves run our lives.  I am not naive enough to believe that God has no place in this world which He created.  The fact is, that we are nothing without Him.

Not A Christian Am I

"Those that love me come from every system that exists.  They were buddhists or mormons, baptists or muslim, democrats, republican or many who don't vote or are part of any Sunday morning religious institutions.  I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous.  Some were bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraquis, Jews and Palestinians.  I have no desire to make them christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my beloved."
~William Paul Young, The Shack~

I remember someone asking me some time ago what part of chirstianity that Jesus belonged to.  It may have been a question to trap me into a overly religious answer or perhaps they maybe they were genuinely curious.  I had no response.  Sure, I struggled with my thoughts as to what the best answer might be in order to convert this person, but the words escaped me.  Suppose for just a moment that this person was genuinely interested in the answer to his question.  We've been told for thousands of years that those of us who follow Christ Jesus are known worldwide as christians.  Indeed, we are all part of the worldwide religion of christianity.  We are followers of Christ, following that religion which bears His name.  So is it man who created this following or Jesus Himself?  Well, truth be told, many of the traditions which we christians follow today were created by man.  Yes, we have the old Roman emperor Constantine to thank for much of what is today modern christianity.  It was considered that bringing the followers of Jesus under one new religion would ultimately make them easier to control.  Remember that the Romans were the ones who persecuted the early church of the followers of Jesus.  In fact, those early believers were often forced to meet in secret in fear of this Roman persecution.  Obviously, the brainstorm of Constantine was to bring these zealots under government control permanently.  For if he couldn't destroy this religious uprising by killing the early followers of Jesus, then why not bring them under the umbrella of his throne?  Genius.  Thus christianity, in regards to name and tradition, was born.

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; 28“for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring."
Acts 17: 24 - 28 NKJV

One of my favorite lines from The Shack came as Mack was in the workshop talking with Jesus.  Somehow the topic turned to being a christian and Mack is curious.  Then Jesus throws him one of the biggest curveballs of the story.  His response to Mack is, "I have no desire to make them (His followers) christian."  What?  Was this the same question my aquaintance had asked me some time ago?  Didn't Jesus want more christians, more followers?  What happened to all that great commision stuff we've been told about Sunday after Sunday?  Wasn't it our very job as christians to recruit new followers for Jesus?  Once I became familiar with the history of christianity I realized that the words of Jesus in The Shack were closer to the truth than we care to admit.  For why would Jesus desire to create more followers of a man made religion?  Instead, His deepest desire would be to see, as He called it, "Transformation into sons and daughters of My Papa."  Indeed, Jesus is not interested in making christians, but sons and daughters of His Father in heaven.  For these are the TRUE followers of Christ Jesus.  Unhindered by traditions and free to live in the love of the Father.

Church Without Pulpits

~A church without a pulpit~

1Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3“Therefore whatever they tell you ato observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4“For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5“But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7“greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10“And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“And whoever exalts himself will be ehumbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14g“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hhell as yourselves."
Matthew 23: 1 - 15 NKJV

I ran across a post from Wayne Jacobsen this week which was appropriately titled "Pedestal people."  What was interesting about Waynes post was that this was a subject which our Sunday group has broached from one time or another.  Just what is a pedestal person?  Well, a pedestal person is one who seeks out and finds glory and pride in a position of importance.  Be it a management position or a position of authority over others, a pedestal person will definately find enjoyment in these surroundings.  They will feel right at home.  I've been in these situations myself, and I can honestly say that being that center of attention is indeed a powerful feeling.  Some have compared such situations as intoxicating or addicting.  I wouldn't argue with such comparisons.  A few discussions Dennis and I have had have centered around pedestal people in christianity.  Of course, I am of the opinion that the pedestal persnonality has no place in christianity, but that's just me.  For once we take it upon ourselves to place ourselves above others, then we lose sight of just who it is we serve.  That position of importance switches from our heavenly Father to that of ourselves.  Suddenly, our own abilities, talents and desires take priority.  We feel that need to be the center of attention for those around us.  Now, how well does this work in a church environment?  Well, one of the main reasons I've heard from people who have become dissatisfied with the church is that they were tired of the politics of the church organization.  Really?  Think about that statement for a minute...the church ORGANIZATION.  We're not talking about some Donald Trump boardroom here but the recognition and worship of our heavenly Father.  Politics, power plays and organization are just a few things which should never be seen in a church.  It would also seem that I am far from alone in feeling this way.

3For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Romans 12: 3 - 5 NKJV

One cannot look at the woes of the Pharisees we find in Matthew 23 and not immediately draw comparisons to more than a few modern day pastors.  I know I did.  Indeed, how these Pharisees were conducting themselves certainly drew criticism from Jesus for good reason.  For here were the religious leaders of the people lording themselves over Gods children.  The attention of the people was drawn not to God, but to these men.  If one were to poll these Isrealites as to their opinions of their church, we might just get a similar response as those christians of today.  Tired of the politics, tired of the organization.  It seems to me that little has changed in the structure of the church over time.  Same structure, same organization and the same pedestal people.  Obviously, this was not how things were supposed to be.  I would suggest that at the very heart of each and every pedestal personality lies the mistaken belief of our own independence.  That fractured trust in our own independent self which was the lie which Adam and Eve fell victim to {Genesis 3: 1-5}.  Indeed, it is this very same trust in our own independent selves which still hampers many pedestal people today.  It's not God who has importance, but ourselves.  Again, can anyone see the issue with this line of thinking in Christs church?  Instead of focusing on our heavenly Father, we set our eyes on Gods "Anointed" leadership.  Modern day Pharisees.  Sunday after Sunday, our attention is drawn to the man in that pulpit screaming "Look at me, look at me!!"  Pedestal people.  This morning I forwarded a comment to Dennis about Waynes recent post.  He responded by saying "Thats't why there are no pulpits at McChruch."  Well said my friend.

1Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3“but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.”’ 4Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3: 1 - 5 NKJV

~Scott~

Filthy Rags

"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~

Sin is a killer in more ways than one.  Sure, as christians we are warned almost from day number one of our acceptance of Jesus that it it our own sins which will keep us from His presence.  For even though Jesus Himself became sin on our behalf {2 Corinthians 5:21}, many a believer continues to live in abject fear of just what God has planned for His response to their sin.  I believe that this is indeed one of the great discrepencies of modern christianity.  Many a pulpit pounder has made his living preaching the truth of the forgiveness of our sin debt which Christ has given to us freely while all the while warning of the consequences of our sins.  If your head is spinning at this statement then you're probably not alone at all.  I myself have heard more than a few pastors teach the forgiveness of sins and yet cast a dire warning that we need to see out our Lords daily for the forgiveness of our indescretions.  I just don't get it.  Did Jesus somehow decide not to forgive a few sins just to keep us in line?  I think not.  I have a habit of taking things literaly.  Therefore, if I see scriptural evidence that Jesus indeed became sin and died on that cross that ALL of our sins would be forgiven us, then I'll tend to trust the scriptures over some pulpit pounders interpretation of such.  From all I have seen, it is indeed true that not only did Christ Jesus give Himself that our sins would be forgiven, but that He rose again that He would live through us today {Galations 2:20}.  There is more than enough evidence that Jesus died for our sin debt to debunk and pulpit pounders opinion.  Yet many a christian continues to live in a "what if?" salvation mentality.

6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6: 6 -11 NKJV

One of my favorite quotes from the Paul Young movie/book The Shack is when Papa explains to Mack that He needs not punish people for their sins...sin being its own punishment.  Think about it, how do you feel when you are conscious of your own sin?  You wallow is dissapointment, you stress out over how God sees you and in the end may just wear out more than a few pairs of trousers as you fall to your knees seeking the Lords forgiveness.   Are we to believe that God intended for His children to suffer in their sins?  If so, why did He go through that trouble in order that our sins would be forgiven?  Was Jesus' sacrafice in vain?  Absolutely not.  The evidence is that God loved so much that even while we were yet sinners, that Christ died for us {Romans 5:8}.  Gods intention was to release us from our sin debt, not to hold it over our heads.  Our heavenly Father definately knows the stranglehold that sin can have on His children, which is exactly wy I believe that He never intended us to be enslaved by our sin nature.  You could even say that we are dead to sin.  This is how the apostle Paul described it, "That the body of sin might be done away with."  So, if indeed our former sin nature has been put to death with Christ, and we have every reason to believe our heavenly Fathers word to be true, then we no longer carry that sin debt with us...we're dead to that!  Imagine the freedom to proclaim each and every time the guilt of sin comes knocking..."You're dead to me!"  As Paul Young writes in The Shack about sin, "It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it."  We must consider ourselves cured.

~Scott~

Negative Waves

33Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Corinthians 15: 33 NKJV

There was a film in the 1970's titled Kellys Heros, one of my all time favorites.  One of the main characters of this world war two flick was a hippie like tank comander whgo went by the well desereved name of Oddball.  Donald Sutherland played this role to a T, making Oddball one of the movies most memorable characters.  It seems that oddball was indeed thirty some years ahead of his time.  However, taking into account the timeframe in which the film was produced, I gave it a few liberties.  One of oddballs most famous lines would come whenever someone would give a dire prediction of their current situation.  Almost imediately, oddball would cry out, "Would you stop with the negative waves!"  Obviously, a hippie on a world war two battlefield was as out of place as a polar bear in the desert, but it produced enough comedy to keep the movie flowing.  I have to say that I have learned something from oddball for my own life.  That being, I've come to despise negative waves and try my best to avoid those people who produce them.  As the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15, it is bad company that corrupts good habits.  I tend to agree.  Many is the occassion where my mood has been brought low simply by the words of another persons negative waves.  This seems almost unfair.  Therefore, some time ago I made a commitment to avoid at all costs those that would seek to bring about depressing moods or attitudes.  I simply don't have the time to carry someone elses baggage.  It seems that I have enough of my own to worry about.  Granted, I've had more than a few people express their displeasure at this approach.  For the most part, I've managed to decrease the negative waves that once found their way into my life.

16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5: 16 - 19 NKJV

One of the things which helped me in my quest to disregard those with negative waves were the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 2.  Here, Paul informs us that we are to no longer regard anyone in regards to the flesh.  So, that very person who was bombarding my space with a negative attitude was doing so not because of his fleshly desires, but something deeper than that.  For our flesh is but a small part of our being, with our true identity residing in that spirit which dwells within us.  This is our identity.  It is the image of the invisible God in which we were created, and it is His spirit that we live as today {Galations 2:20}.  So, how are we to see that person who brings negative waves into our lives?  Does bad company indeed corrupt good habits?  I would absolutely agree with this scripture that bad company does corrupt good habits, with a catch.  I believe that bad company will corrupt good habits...if we allow it to.  See, there is this trait which we all share called freedom of choice.  Should we CHOOSE to allow mister negative waves to invade our personal space and bring us down with his negative mood, then bad company indeed corrupts good habits.  However, if we follow Pauls advice and no longer regard others according to the flesh then we are left with only one solution.  That being the roaring lion which walks about seeking whom he may devour.  That lion being satan our adversary.  I have no doubt whatsoever that just as the Spirit of Christ Jesus lives through those who follow Him, that the spirit of the power of the air (satan) also lives through those who have not known Jesus.  It is the work of the deceiver which brings about the negative waves of others.  We should not regard them according to the flesh, but according to which spirit dwells within them.  Pretty heavy stuff...even for oddball.

~Scott~

Two Faced

4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 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.
1 John 4: 4 - 8 NKJV

One of the arguments I've heard from those who somehow oppose my christian beliefs is that God is a jealous and violent God.  That God I serve is a God who allows violence and tragedy to be sowed upon His children whom He claims to love.  What sort of loving God would allow such things?  Did not God destroy Sodom and all of its inhabitants {Genesis 19:24}?  Didn't God Himself destroy all of the creation which He claimed was "Good" {Genesis 6:13}?  Time and again in scripture we see our heavenly Father showing a side of Himself which we are not at all comfortable with.  This is the side of God which portrays His jealousy, anger and vengence.  It is this side of God that those who wish to find fault with Him point a accusatory finger at and proclaim Him a angry God.  I won't disagree with that statement, but is this our Lords true nature which He exhibits each and every day?  I cannot dispute that there have been times in which God has exhibited that side of Himself which we rarely see.  However, I also believe that this is not that side of Him which He chooses to identify with.  The characteristics of God that I identify with is His identity which the apostle John tells us in John 4.  For this God we serve is indeed...Love.  These two sides of Gods nature were confusing in my attempts to further know and understand Him.  Yes, I knew the evidence of each side of His nature, which led to that confusion I'm thinking.  Does God want His childen to identify Him as BOTH a jealous God and a loving God?  Is anyone else confused here?  Well, through the help of a trusted friend I've come to realize that although our heavenly Father has often displayed both sides of Himself, it is His loving nature which He CHOOSES to identify with.

23“Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you. 24“For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."
Deuteronomy 4: 23 - 24 NKJV

The question came up yesterday from Dennis that our God is indeed loving, but has He always been this way?  My response was...no.  Others might want me kicked out of whatever church I was attending, if I did attend church.  The reason for my response to Dennis' question was based on the two sides of the God we know, and the side of Him we often wish He didn't need to exhibit at all.  That side of God which exhibits His anger and jealousy.  I will say this, that our Lord NEVER does something without a reason or purpose.  If we look at the two examples I presented for the opposite side of Gods Love nature, we may see why it is He chose to reveal it when He did.  Yes, God CHOSE to reveal His opposite side to destroy the city of Sodom, but also recall the wickedness of Sodom in its day.  God CHOSE to destroy the earth and all of His creation in that great flood, but also rememeber His thoughts before He did.


5Then cthe LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intentd of the thoughts of his heart was only evil econtinually. 6And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
Genesis 6: 5 - 7 NKJV

So it is that we see a glimpse into just why God would CHOOSE to exhibit that opposite side of Himself.  Keep in mind that I said that God CHOSE to reveal that side of Himself, for this opposite side of our Lords Love identity is not how He wishes His children to see Him.  If we were to experience the opposite side of our heavenly Fathers nature, then perhaps we would indeed lack that grace we experienced at the cross.  No, this is not the side of Himself He chooses to exhibit.  We do well to remember that it is because He loved us first that he lives through us today {Galations 2:20}.

~Scott~

Not Me

10“Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
Exodus 3: 10 - 11 NKJV

There was a popular cartoon strip when I was growing up called the family circle.  It's author, Bill Keane, would always use his creation to illustrate the comedy reality of parents life with their children.  One particular character in Keans comics was the infamous invisible ghost known simply as "Not me."  Without fail, whenever some accident would happen in the Keane household, each and every child would chime in with their innocence by calling the ghosts name"Not me!"  Obviously, any of us who have been parents can relate to the not me ghost.  He was nowhere and yet everywhere at the same time.  But did you know that the not me ghost came along long before the Keane comic?  Just ask our friend and patriarch Moses.  For in the midst of one of the most important burning bushs in history, Moses suddenly came down with a serious case of the not me's.  Granted, God had not chosen to reveal Himself to Moses because he had done something wrong.  On the contrary, He was presenting His servant with a unique opportunity.  See, God had indeed witnessed the suffering of His children at the hands of their Egyption captors.  He had indeed heard their cries.  This was Gods "Fullness of time" moment, and Moses was front and center in Gods devine plan.  Moses' response?  Not me God!  Well, he may as well have called on that spirit of the not me ghost.  As Moses exclaimed, "Who am I that I should go to Pharoh?"  Obviously ol' Moses did not realize that when God comes knocking, not me is usually not a appropriate response.  For sooner or later, with or without you, Gods plan WILL be revealed.  Thankfully, Moses exercised that not me ghost and followed where God led him.

31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Luke 22: 31 - 34 NKJV

The apostle Peter was just another example of one who conjured up the not me ghost.  Indeed, Peter loved Jesus and was more than willing to walk that same path as Christ, or so he claimed.  That is, until not me showed up once again.  For as Jesus had predicted, the time would come when young Peter would be faced with the most difficult of decisions.  He could admit to following Jesus and risk facing the same punishment as Christ would endure, or deny His Lord and retreat into the safety of his own comfort zone.  Indeed, not me is everywhere and anywhere.  Despite his Lords warning, Peter was adamant that he would never give in.  Well, we all know how that worked out for him in the end.  However, despite Peters denial, Jesus knew better days were ahead for his young disciple.  For even as He predicted Peters fall, He at once reassured him.  Jesus consoled Peter with another prediction, "When you have returned to Me."  This was not the end of Peters road, but the begining.  What followed was the redemption of Peter and one of the greatest defenders of the faith we can point to today.  In Peters mind, his denial surely meant failure.  However, in Gods ultimate plan, that denial was not meant for bad  but for Peters growth.  Indeed, Moses' own hesitation was also Gods way of preparing Him for what lay ahead.  Although we may not be able to exercise that not me ghost, one thing we can do is proclaim "Why not me?"

~Scott~

The Grace Contradiction

6For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5: 6 - 8 NKJV

As a young christian I remember feeling as if I would never measure up to the standard which was expected of my heavenly Fathers love.  After all, I was a sinner and had been born into sin from the begining {Romans 3:23}.  I was often told that I should rejoice in being a "Sinner saved by grace."   After all, Christ Jesus had died on that cross that my sins would be forgiven.  Nonetheless, I was told that I needed to be in daily prayer for my heavenly Fathers forgiveness for things I may have done.  In my mind I was still a sinner which in turn left me feeling unforgiven and unworthy in the eyes of God.  My life was a daily struggle in my attempt to win Gods favor and forgiveness.  For as God could not tolerate the presence of sin, so I had to fight to earn His favor.  I had something to prove, or so I thought.  Little did I know that the underlying issue I had had been in the teaching and not in my understanding of God.  For had I understood the true nature of my heavenly Fathers love {1 John 4:8}, I would have saved myself some serious grief.  It is here where the grace contradiction of chirstianity lies.  For it is common knowledge among christians that Christ Jesus gave Himself so that our very sins would be forgiven us.  In fact, we make a point of celebrating this fact each and every Easter season.  Christ Jesus was crucified on the cross, buried and then rose again three days later.  Lost somewhere in that time period is the fact that somewhere along the way, my sins were forgiven me.  That means SINS in the plural, meaning each and every mistake past, present and future which I have ever made Jesus took upon Himself at the cross {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  My debt had been paid, the slate was now clean.  Still, I was told that I needed to be in prayer daily for Gods forgiveness.  Seriously?  Had Jesus somehow missed a few of my sins with the shedding of His blood?  Were my sins so flagrant that even the sacrafice of Christ Jesus could not cover them?  Am I the only one who saw this grace contradiction?  It's not hard to realize just why more than a few christians feel unworthy of Gods love.

9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18: 9 - 14 NKJV

This contradiction in Gods message is nothing which is from God.  On the contrary, Gods very nature is to love His children.  So much so, that as the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5, while we were yet sinners...Christ Jesus died for us!  Did God condemn us while we were yet sinners?  For this would not have shown His true nature.  It was never His intention that we should suffer in the presence of our sins.  For if this were true, He would not have reconciled the world to Himself through His Son.  There need be no condemnation with God {Romans 8: 1}.  Therefore, those feelings of unworthiness which I was once plagued with were not from Him.  I mentioned that the underlying issue with this grace contradiction was with the teaching and not in my understanding of Gods nature.  I knew the scripture, I read it quite often.  It was fortold that Christ Jesus Himself would be the one to bear our sins.

4Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our hsorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53: 4 - 5 NKJV

Indeed, the message we receive today is a contradiction of the truth which our heavenly Father has revealed to us through His word.  For though we were yet sinners...Christ died for us.

~Scott~

Show Me The Father

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

I found the words of Jesus spoken in John 14 interesting for some time.  Here was Philip asking his teacher to "Show us the Father."  Obviously, Philip knew just who the Father was, for Jesus had talked often of Him.  Not only that, but He had proclaimed Himself to be the Fathers Son.  Night and day, Jesus' dicsiples had traveled and lived with Him as He taught His ministry through the region.  Yes, they knew who the Father who Jesus spoke of was.  Indeed, Jesus had shared some pretty interesting things with His disciples as they traveled.  So it was that I found Philips question to show them the Father interesting.  Didn't he know that he had been in the very presence of the image of the invisible God {Colossions 1:15}?  Had Philip simply forgotten what Jesus ha dtold him at some earlier point?  Perhaps, but here he was asking the Son of God to show him the Father.  Now, who would know more about the Father than His Son?  In that respect, Philip was on the right track.  If he was looking for the Father he had come to the right place.  Some time ago there was a book put out by Henry Blackaby titled Experiencing God.  I don't recall going through this study, but I remember feeling that I needed to be closer to God.  Not only did I hear sermon upon sermon of the need to be closer to the Father, I myself felt that need as well.  Just like Philip, I found myself praying "Lord, show me the Father and I'll be ok."  Anyone see the issue with this?  Here I was, praying to God Himself, asking Him to show me...Him.  It may sound silly, but this is what I believed at the time.  Only God could show me God.  As it turns out, He did something better than that, He showed me the His Son.

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

My own search for experiencing God came as I began to realize the importance of the truth of Christ Jesus.  That is, that there is NO seperation today between ourselves and Jesus.  The truth which I realized was we ourselves live today as Christ Jesus who is in us.  We are His spiritual image.  When it comes to experiencing God, we do this each and every day through Jesus.  It is interesting the reaction I get when I relate this truth to others.  How can a MAN be Jesus?  What sort of quack philosophy is that?  Far from a new age philisophy, Christ in us is His very truth.  Recall the reaction the Pharisees of Jesus' day had whenever He proclaimed Himself to be the Son of God.  Now, most everyone is secure in the trust that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, but these Jewish leaders had a cow whenever Jesus would proclaim it!  How could a MAN be the Son of God?  This flew straight in the face of the religious teachings of the day.  Man was sinful, unholy and unclean.  Such a man could never come close to being related to God, for God hates sin.  This is the same reaction I see today.  The truth is that through Jesus we are children of God {1 John 3: 1}.  Our question shouldn't be show us the Father, but for Him to reveal His Son in us.

~Scott~

Living Organiclly

16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not dimputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5: 16 - 19 NKJV

Despite what the title proclaims, this is by NO means some hippie earth loving naration on how to grow vegtables.  However, it may just be a example of how to grow a church.  For just as fruits and vegtables are grown organiclly, so it is with our congregations.  But what is organic christianity?  This was a term thrown about by Dennis from time to time as he described this new era of believers.  A new era of believers who had become disallusioned with the traditional trappings of the institutional church and are looking for something new in their faith.  I am one of this new age of christians.  Some time ago I had grown weary of the sermons, the rock music and the compulsive tithing of my local church and ended up leaving in search for something else to fill that void.  The problem was, as I hopped from one congregation to another in the vain hope of finding one without the trappings of tradition, the more congregations I found which resembled the one I had just left.  Was this all that there was out there?  Was I wrong for leaving the church I had attended for so long?  Was the problem not with the church but with myself?  Well, the answer to all of these questions I had was...no.  For the issues I encountered with the church had nothing to do with myself and everything to do with how I felt things should be.  I felt that there had to be more to church than a weekly dog and pony show and performance based christianity.  We've all been there, sitting in the pew on sunday morning listening to some Pharisee school educated pulpit pounder telling us that we could have peace and happiness in Christ...if we would only do this or give that much.  Is this what God intended for His children?  Were all of these man made traditions and drumbeat worship music my only connection to Him?  I wanted more.
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

I was not surprised when I read a recent survey which said that one in five christians were tired of organized religion.  This was me, and I wasn't alone!  Far from being on the fringe of a radical belief, I soon realized that others like me were also looking for more out of their local church...and not finding it.  However, I soon realized that what I was looking for I would never find in any church I visited.  See, most churches have long standing traditions which have been around for tousands of years.  Along with these traditions more often than not comes organization and hierarchy.  Somehow, the church seems more like a business than a house of worship.  One in five christians seem to agree.  We're looking for something more than a sound bite sermon or another christian fad.  We want Jesus!  Well, the good thing is that we already have Jesus.  See, it is Christ Himself who lives through us today {Galations 2:20}.  We need not suffer through the trappings of tradition in the local church hierarchy in order to get closer to Jesus.  The church is by no means the gateway to Christ.  He is alive and well in all believers.  We will never need to pray more, tithe  more or serve more often just in order to be in good standing with Christ Jesus.  Performance based christianity is as man made as any church tradition I've ever seen.
I've told a few times before of a gathering which Dennis and I attended recently at the home of a friend.  This gathering was unusual in that we were gathered with others who were searching for more than the church offered.  We were tired of the traditions, organizations and rock music.  All we wanted was to come closer to Jesus.  It would seem that one in five christians agree with us.

~Scott~

Looking For Jesus In His Church

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 book penned by Wayne Jacobsen titled "So you don't want to go to church anymore."  In it, pastor Jake has a few repeated interactions with a man whom he at times feels resembles the apostle John.  Of course, through his interactions with this stranger, Jake comes to a closer relationship with Christ Jesus in the process.  From the begining it is clear that Jake has becomed disillusioned with the church he serves.  I can relate to this very feeling because I have been in the middle of this feeling of disillusionment as well.  I've often wondered if Jesus Himself meant for our worship of Him to be so centered on traditions and performance.  Then, I need to take a step back and realize that Jesus never claimed in His ministry that Gods children would need to compete for that free gift which He offers to us.  Indeed, there is nothing which we can, or cannot do which will make Jesus love us more or less.  Not only is this performance based salvation, it's based on a dog and pony show and it's wrong.  It's no wonder that the modern church has been hemorhaging membership at a alarming rate in recent years.  A recent PEW research survey found that 70.6% of Americans claimed to be traditional church going christians.  This was a 7.6% drop since the last time a similar poll was taken in 2007.  What is more interesting is that of these new numbers of those leaving the church, one in five cite a distaste for organized religion.  It would seem that pastor Jake was onto something.


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

I recently involved myself in a Facebook debate with a local pastor and aquaintance over this very issue.  Granted, this is not exactly the correct venue for such discussions, but his responses he gave were indeed interesting.  For he went out of his way to explain that Christs church was indeed in need of annointed leadership and heirarchy.  Not only that, but that it is Gods own desire that we instill heirarchy in his church.  What?  Wasn't  disdain for organized religion the very reason why so many are leaving the modern church?  Apparently we've learned nothing from the early church of Jesus.  For the church of the followers of Jesus had no heirarchy, no pastor nor leadership.  What they DID have was a deep desire to gather in reverence and worship of Jesus.  Can you imagine a church service with no sermon, no tithe AND no worship band?  What you're left with is almost exactly what the early believers had.  It's been called "Organic christianity" and it's catching on big time.  Those who cling to organic christianity have chosen to leave the traditions and baggage of performance based christianity behind for a life in Christ Jesus.  In organic christianity their is no heirarchy, sermons or rah rah worship services...there is only Christ.  My only thoughts on organic christianity is why it is not very popular as of yet.  I believe in time that we will indeed see a growth among these believers of Jesus.  As the modern church is losing people who are weary of heirarchy and organized religion, it is God who added to His early church daily those who were being saved.  We should never look for Jesus in the church, but in those who live in Him daily.

~Scott~