My Own Dragons

"Dwight Eisenhower said that from the begining, his mother and father operated on an assumption that set the course of his life - that the world could be fixed of its problems if every child understood the necessity of their existance.  Eisenhowers parents assumed, and taught their children, that if their children weren't alive, their family couldn't function,"
~Donald Miller To Own A Dragon~

My mother raised me on the notion that everyone, all of our Lords creation were not only loved by Him but that we all are important and valuable to Him as well.  In fact, not a day went by that she wouldn't tell me how important I was to our family.  To a kid growing up in a single parent home, this was a HUGE deal.  I wasn't lost.  Nor was I forgotten or of less importance to someone else.  I was her son, I was Scott.  However, somewhere along the way to manhood some of those assurances which she gave me seemed to get lost in the shuffle of growing up and marurity.  There's that time in every kids life just before he enters adulthood but barely into his teenage years.  I think it's here that I somehow lost myself in the business of life.  While most kids my age were frustrating those around them with teenage antics, I was being thrust into a world of adult responsibilities far too soon.  These were my dragons.  Don't get me wrong, I did my own share of hellraising in those years as I fought to find out just who I was.  There times when my mom would tell me how important I was to our family one minute, then wonder out loud in amazement the next if her youngest son was capable of what he had just done.  Such was the life of a reckless teenager finding his way in the world.  Despite all of my antics, she would always reassure me that I was indeed special.  As a result, I grew up knowing that I was loved and cared for.  I was also fortunate enough to have friends who had solid family structures, so I grew up seeing just what a sound family structure was like.  Of course, one of my other dragons was the fact that my own father was nowhere to be found.  At this point I was too young to grasp the idea of God the Father...of God as my true Daddy.  I won't lie and say that I never wondered what I did to piss my dad off so much that he would want nothing to do with his own son.  As I found out later, he had his own dragons he was fighting.  Through some set of circumstances which only God knows, I've been able to tame most of my dragons...he never did.

14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8: 14 - 17 NKJV

The first time I ever heard someone refer to God as Daddy was from a friend in church as he prayed for me one Sunday morning.  "Daddy...love on your son Scott" he prayed.  I had more questions than answers as a result of this.  I was Gods son?  What about Jesus?  Was I indeed on the same level as the Son, the image of our invisible God? What sort of blasphemy was this?  I had been raised on the accepted christian story of Christ Jesus our savior.  The virgin birth, His ministry on the mount of Olives, His death on the cross which led to His being raised up into heaven three days later where He now looked down upon us with approval or disapproval depending on our behavior.  To me, this was Jesus, not the "Daddy" which my friend prayed over me that morning.  See, to call someone Daddy puts someone on a personal level with you.  I had one daddy, and he had failed me when I had needed him most.  Yet, something in my spirit told me that my one true Daddy was there waiting for me.  As the apostle Paul tells us in Galations 1, when it pleased God, He revealed His Son in him.  Apparently it did not please God to reveal Christ Jesus in me until later in life.  However, I'm not complaining at all.  For all of my dragons which I have fought and tamed over the years, knowing that I have one true Daddy who will never leave me nor forsake me isn't one of them.  I guess mom was right all along.

15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Galations 1: 15 - 17 NKJV

~Scott~

Freedom

Thank you my friend

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

I finally feel as if I am free now.  Although I live in one of the worlds greatest and most democratic nations, I've often felt closed in.  What I felt was nothing like freedom at all.  I felt more like a dutiful subject marching to the drumbeat orchestrated by my leaders.  I had been told what to think, who was worthy and how I was to pray.  Of course, each week I was expected to enter that inner sanctum of my faith to hear someone else tell me just how it was to be a christian.  For the longest time, that freedom which the pastors would teach about had eluded me.  But was this  really the freedom I needed?  I may have had freedom to worship, but true freedom?  That still was a ways off for me.  It wasn't until I deepened my relationship with two men that I began to see just where my true freedom was to be found.  The first was pastor Dennis, who for so many years has shepherded others in mens ministry.  To say that Dennis has a heart for men to see the truth of Christ Jesus would be akin to saying that Babe Ruth had a heart for hitting home runs.  For his calling has been not only to experience relationship with Christ for himself, but to encourage others to experience it as well.  It has been through his guidance that the door to relationship with Jesus has been opened to me.  Of course, it hasn't been easy for him to convince one so set in his ways as I have been.  I may have been a dutiful christian soldier, but when it came to really knowing Jesus I knew squat.  How can you be a follower of someone who you don't really know?

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.
John 17: 20 -25 NKJV

That second man who I give thanks for my freedom is the man Jesus.  The man Jesus who it took me so very long to come to know.  The man Jesus who not only bled and died for the forgiveness of my sins, but that we would be one as He and the Father are one.  It's interesting that in my bible that scripture of Christs prayer in the garden that night is titled "Jesus prays for all believers."  As He knelt in the garden that night facing the punishment which was to come, His thoughts were of me and my relationship with Him.  His desire was that I, as He was,would be one with our heavenly Father.  That...is freedom.  To enjoy a intimate relationship with Christ not bound by regulations and traditions but by love.  For it is Jesus who loved me first {1 John 4:19}.  Instead of marching to the drumbeat as a dutiful christian soldier, I can now walk as Christ Jesus who I live as today {Galations 2:20}.  I can let others decide for themselves just what freedom they may have in their christian walk.  For me, I would rather walk AS Jesus than have someone tell me how good my life can be by following His example.

~Scott~

The Cost Of Knowing Jesus

7But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3: 7 -8 NKJV

This week Dennis forwarded a few questions to a few of us asking, "Do you really want to know Jesus?"  This was all fine and good to me, because who wouldn't want to know more about Jesus right?  Well, what struck me about his questions reminded me more about what are we willing to give up in order to know Jesus on a more personal level than do we just want to know Him.  This may indeed be a tack that not too many people will take in getting to "Know" Christ Jesus.  Yes, we know that Jesus was the Son of God, that he died for us on the cross and rose agian on the third day, but there's so much more to Jesus the man than that.  For not only did Christ die on the cross that our sins would be forgiven, He BECAME sin on our behalf that we would no longer face the punishment of our own sin {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  I believe what Dennis did was ask us to search our hearts to ask if we really wanted to know Him.
1.  What is most important, your personal well being or knowing the person of christianity?

Most of us place a pretty high value on our own life and safety, for good reason.  What person is there who would not value their own life?  Yet, are we willing to forsake our own well being in order to have that relationship with He who loved us first?

2. Are you concerned more about the things of your life or knowing the person who IS your life?

We all place alot of value on those things which we own, our possesions.  Somehow our homes, cars and clothing seem to take on a higher value than their actual worth.  Jesus Himself warned us of this in His sermon on the mount.  When we worry about our possesions, it is Jesus who tells us "Do not worry, for your heaveny Father knows your needs."  Knowing this, shouldn't our focus then be on He who is our very life {Galations 2:20}?

3. Are you trying to be a good person or trusting in the goodness of Christ?

This can be a tough one for some of us.  For the church continually tells us that there is a link between how we behave and our very salvation and blessings from God.  We may try to be a good person, but in the end this has zero influence over our Lords blessings or our own eternity with Him.  That is performance based christianity and it's more old covenant than the new which Jesus gives us.

4. Are you anxious for your future or resigned to the future of Christ in you?

We all worry about that road that lies in front of us.  Truth is, we are not given the promise of tommorrow.  Jesus Himself tells us to first seek our Lords righteousness before we ever worry for what the future may hold {Matthew 6: 33-34}.  Should we know the truth of Christ Jesus which Paul tells us of in Galations 2:20, then we indeed can be secure in the knowledge that the ONLY thing which we can count on is that Christ Jesus has reconciled his Fathers children unto Him.  Once we know this truth of Christ Jesus in us, we can cast aside our worries of the future and rejoice in our eternity with Him.

When we hear the words of the apostle Paul to the Philippians we can see just where his thoughts were directed.  For Paul, all things which he had gained he counted as loss for Christ Jesus.  How many of us can count our homes, cars or relationships as loss for Christ Jesus?  If we truly want to know the man Jesus, then this is where our own hearts need be.

16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8: 16 - 18 NKJV

~Scott~

The Blessings Lottery

38“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” 39And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?
Luke 6: 38-39 NKJV


 I had a interesting conversation with a coworker this past week which had me thinking for a bit.  Now, keep in mind that when I first worked with this gent a few years back he was one of the most crass individuals I'd ever met.  Fast forward to this past week and what now strikes me about this man.  See, he grew up in north Portland, so we will always run into someone he has met when we are out on the road.  So, I asked him how he knew so many people.  His response surprised me a bit, "Because I'm good to people so I get blessed."  I almost spit up my coffee.  You're good to others, so you get blessed in return?  Am I missing something here?  Am I not being good enough to others that I will be blessed more by God?  Have I run out of my blessing credits now?  You can see how this made me stop and think on his response.  Don't we all want to be blessed more by our heavenly Father?  Isn't that one of the gauges by which we will judge our relationship with Him?  Since when did our relationship with God become a blessings lottery?  Since when has the favor of our Lord been for sale?  Unfortunately we still have those who see God in this way.  Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't expect blessings from God by any means, but at a price?  I'm guessing that if this were the case that then each and every wealthy person in the world would be able to purchase all the blessings that they need.  Thankfully this isn't the case at all.  For if it were, would Jesus still have preached the love and mercy of the Father?  A loving Father who takes joy in blessing His children despite their wealth or status?

2For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
James 2: 2 - 5 NKJV

It seems that James, the brother of our Lord Jesus, did not see favoritism as being of God.  On the contrary, he saw our favoritism as being against what God has shown His children.  That being His own love and mercy.  For has not God showered those of lowly status with blessings and the ultimate gift of His promise of eternal life through Christ Jesus?  Obviously if our Lords intention was for His salvation to be bestowed only upon those with wealth and status that He would have made it so, right?  However, many is the rich man who has not seen Gods eternity.  Recall Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus we find in Luke 16?  That rich man had all the blessings of life, yet when he died he was on the outside looking in as Lazarus was comforted in the presence of his Lord.  Still think that our Lords blessings are for sale to the most righteous?  If so you may just join the rich man on the outside of Gods eternity looking in.  We do well to remember that there is NO partiality with God
{Romans 2:11}.  That in no way means that we should then treat others badly as we know that our salvation is not based on performance.  For when we do it is we ourselves who are showing partiality.  The blessings and provision of our heavenly Father are not showered only upon those He deems worthy based on our performance.  His desire is that all would return to Him and be saved {John 3: 16-17}.

25“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28‘for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29“Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30“And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31“But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”
Luke 16: 25 - 31 NKJV

~Scott~

Distracted Christianity

3“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
Matthew 7: 3 - 5 NKJV

I came across a post from Wayne Jacobsen this morning titled simply "What is it to you?"  From what I got out of his peice, Wayne was focusing on how we can lose our focus on just what God may be trying to accomplish in us as WE ourselves focus on what others are doing.  I get it.  Now, I will admit that Dennis has been critical of the ratio of my writings that focus on the imperfect nature of the modern church.  Again, I get it.  For if our attention is indeed focused on others, we may just miss where our heavenly Father is leading us.  Any police officer will tell you that distracted driving is extremely dangerous, but what about distracted christianity?  What happens when we ourselves are so lazer focused on the behaviors of others that we lose sight of what is happening in our own lives...distracted christianity.  Jesus Himself warned against this on His sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7.  As He tells us, "Why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?"  Again, I get it.  Why is it that I focus on the behavior of others all the while perhaps ignoring where God is leading my heart?  Trust me, we all have our own planks in our eyes which just might prevent us from seeing where God is truly leading.  Now, don't get me wrong, it is not above the creator of all that we see to use others to show us a little bit about ourselves.  Trouble is, all too often we're blinded by those planks in our own eyes.  We become distracted, which isn't always a good 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.
Romans 14: 1 - 4 NKJV

One thing that I took from Waynes post was the fact that when we concern ourselves with what others may or may not be doing, we just may be seeking to control what it is they believe and how they believe it.  We want everyone to be as we are, to worship and know God as we do.  Sorry, but God doesn't work that way.  It is God who took a Jewish Pharisee (Saul) and led him to be one of the greatest defenders of the gospel in history.  It is our heavenly Father who even today is seeking to lead us to where He wants us to be.  The million dollar question is, how can He show us where He wants us to be when we are not focused on Him but on the behavior of others?  Distracted christianity.  As that reformed Pharisee tells us, "God is able to make them stand."  So it is that we should be able to see clearly where God is leading us and not how He may be using those around us.  That, my friends, is between God and our brothers.  Once we become less concerned with where God is leading others, we can see clearly enough to see where we're headed.  That doesn't mean that we will not show concern over where others are headed in their lives, but that we trust God enough in our own hearts to reveal Himself in them in His own time.  For it was in His timing that He revealed Himself in the apostle Paul, so it also is with us.

15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Galations 1: 15 - 17 NKJV

~Scott~

Walking As Jesus At Angels Rest

~Dennis and I on the Angels Rest summit~

17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4: 17 -19 NKJV

I still recall it from time to time, even though it happened over a year ago.  Dennis and I were scrambling up the Angels Rest trail in the Columbia River Gorge on one of our summer hikes.  Well, Dennis was scrambling while I tried to keep up with him.  Now, if you knew me, the very sight of me climbing this 1,600 foot shale rock faced monster would make surely make you do a double take.  See, for some time I have a held a numbing fear of heights.  In fact, I have been on a few hikes with Dennis where I have simply froze in place as I looked out over some 50,000 foot high cliff.  It matters not if I exagerated here, heights are heights in my book.  As I see it, there is NO sane reason for a man to soar with the birds, jump out of a perfectly good airplane or hug the rock strewn face of some mountain.  This is why you don't see too many people chasing mountain goats up a mountain.  At least I don't.  Anyway, as Dennis and I stood ready to descend down the Angels Rest trail from the very top, I glanced around me at the scenic views...and froze.  Now, I knew that the only way down this godforsaken hill was for me to hike my way out, and the thought of it still terrified me.  It was at that moment that I remembered something Dennis had shared with me from 1 John 4, that perfect love casts out fear.  Then it hit me, I wouldn't be walking this trail alone.  Far from it, for Christ Jesus would indeed be my strength that day.

13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV

Some time ago, Dennis shared his interpretation of one of his favorite scriptures found in Philippians fourth chapter.  Most christians are familiar with that scripture which encourages us that we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us.  However, instead of doing all things through Christ who strengthens us, can't we also claim that it is Jesus Himself who IS our strength?  For if we are secure in the knowledge of that truth of Jesus that the apostle Paul relates to us in Galations 2:20, then we can be secure in the belief that we now live each and every day AS CHRIST JESUS who is in us.  Whatever it is that we now experience, we can trust in our hearts that we experience it as Jesus.  How else can we explain that, as Paul put it, that it was no longer I (Paul) who live, but Christ lives in me?  This wasn't just Paul being Paul, this was Paul coming to the realization that his "Old man" had been put to death the very moment that Christ Jesus took our sin upon Himself upon that cross {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  No longer are we slaves to that sin nature which we were once born with, that has been put to death once and for all by Jesus {Romans 6: 6-11}.  Yes, all have sinned and fallen short of our heavenly Fathers glory, but through Jesus we have been reconciled once again to the Father.  So it was that as I walked homeward down the Angels Rest trail, I did so with an extra confidence that I wasn't alone.  Far from it, I walked with Dennis...and Jesus.

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~

A Counterfeit Leadership

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 eprincipalities or fpowers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Colossions 1: 15 - 18 NKJV

I've been watching for some time the antics of the local church of a old friend of ours.  This past week I noticed a "Conference" which his church was holding geared towards raising up church leadership.  I immediately took notice of this due to what Christ Jesus has told us.  For not only is He the very image of the invisible God, but the head of the body, His church.  Of course, His church is composed of all who trust and believe in Jesus.  Which led me to the question, how can one man, one person, have leadership over the church of Christ Jesus?  Do we, as christians, indeed require the leadership of men over us in order that we don't lose our way?  Do we really need those among us who would shepherd the flock of the church of Jesus?  I would say no.  I pose the question, where was the leadership of the early church which we read of in the book of Acts?  Did not the early followers of Jesus gather of their own accord to talk of and celebrate Christ Jesus?  Yes, the early church had Peter, Paul and the rest of the apostles who had shared their lives with Jesus.  Were these men ordained church leaders?  Were they educated through the church so that they would have the skills needed to shepherd the early flock?  Did they have the blessing of the early church of the followers of Jesus?  No!  To my knowledge, the skills that these men of the faith carried with them were the knowledge and presence of Christ.  For many of these men had indeed lived and walked with Him.  They had no classes, seminars or seminary courses under their tunic belts that would qualify them for a position of leadership.  What they did possesss was...Jesus.  In the much celebrated great commision, Jesus had instructed His disciples to go and make disciples (followers) of all nations and to "Teach them all things I have commanded you."  It is through these instructions of Jesus that I view the apostles not as church leaders but as messengers of the words of Christ.  So, the early church of the followers of Jesus may not have had leaders, but it definately had its messengers.

13“You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16“Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
John 13: 13 - 16 NKJV

In a world with woefully declining church membership, it is commonplace that men would place themselves over those who they have supposedly been called to serve.  As I look at the words of Jesus that "he who is sent is not greater than he who sent him," I see a problem.  For if many, if not all, of the worlds pastors have been called and sent as shepherds by our heavenly Father, why do these men place themselves over those they are supposedly serving?  Would the worlds church congregations simply evaporate if there were no human shepherds to guide us along that path of christianity?  Probably not.  Would our trust and faith in Jesus suffer if there were no shepherds to shepherd us?  Again, I really don't think that would happen.  For what is it that draws many to their local houses of worship each week?  It's not to be shepherded, but to HEAR the word of God and to be among others who share the joy of their faith in Jesus.  To be among others of a similar belief.  I'm sorry, but I just don't feel that a group of believers such as this doesn't need to be led by the hand and shown what they need to do.  What they desperately need is to hear that truth of Jesus which Paul relates to us in Galations 2:20.  Freedom is not found in following the orders of the pulpit pounder, but in living as Christ Jesus who is in us.

~Scott~

Culture Rot

18“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21“But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
John 15: 18 - 21 NKJV

I glanced over a post from Wayne Jacobsen this week with at least a sense of familiarity for his topic.  The post concerned a recent book by Rod Dreher titled The Benedict Option, which is apparently causing quite a stir among the christian community.  In his book, Dreher cites the work of Saint Benedict who created monasteries to combat the collapse of the Roman empire.  Now, I'm assuming that what the author was refering to the perversion of the Roman culture which some say would have made todays culture degredation seem like a G rated movie.  So, it was Benedict who created monasteries in order to protect the gospel from the evils of Roman society, I get it.  However, knowing the state of our modern liberal orchestrated culture rot, would simply withdrawing from a man made society be the best thing for christianity?  I say no.  The bigger question which we need to be asking ourselves is will our Lords gospel ever be diminished or destroyed by mankind?  Again, I would say no.  There is something interesting which I have known for quite some time.  That is, some of the largest christian churchs across the world are found in countries where christians are persecuted more than accepted.  In fact, a few of the largest christian churches can be found in China and North Korea.  So, what is the common denominator with China and the Norks?  OPPRESSION!  It is my opinion that the harder a government pushes against a countries christians, the stronger the desire of the people to cling to the gospel of Christ Jesus...which offers hope to those oppressed.  It is for this very reason that I do not believe that the gospel of Jesus will EVER be taken away.  For as long as there are followers of Jesus, His words will find a way into the hearts of Gods children.

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.
1 John 4: 5 - 6 NKJV

As I mentioned, I have been aware of the fall of our modern culture for some time.  I see a culture where it's illegal to take another life, unless it's a LIVING unborn child.  I see a culture where theft is illegal, unless you have money and influence.  I see a culture where lies, obscene language and behavior is now considered common.  This is our modern culture rot.  Strangely enough, despite all of the perversions of our modern society, we continue to be one of the strongest christian cultures the world has ever known.  So, would withdrawing from society really be a good idea to protect the gospel of Jesus?  Well, since the gospel has flourished in oppressive nations as well as those where society has taken the moral low road...I'd say not all.  We do well to remember that although our heavenly Father created the heavens and all that we see, this culture of ours is a man made entity.  The words of Christ Jesus have survived not only the degredation of the Roman culture but our own immorality as well.  Gods word will eventually be revealed to those who need hear it most.

~Scott~

Yesterdays News

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: 10 - 14 NKJV

Recently there has been a term thrown about the media concerning fake news.  Fake news is nothing more than opinion, conjecture and lies disguised as everyday news.  Now, most of us know that what we see on the evening news is nothing more than sensationalism in disguise.  However, I would point out that the job of these television talking heads is to ensure that YOU will continue to tune in to THEIR broadcast, which in turn boosts their ratings.  Yes, these people need us more than we need them.  I was contemplating the use of this fake news recently and immediately I was reminded of the fake news of the church pulpit pounder.  Yes, even our local church messages can and do engage in fake news.  I can remember countless Sundays where I would sit in service only to listen to the padre give a talk on just how we needed to be in prayer continually for our heavenly Father to forgive our sins.  Now, what became REALLY interesting was going to church and hearing such a message on Easter Sunday.  For here was the pastor standing there telling me that I needed to be in daily prayer for the very forgiveness of my sins as he led a worship service which was all about celebrating just how Jesus had given Himself on that cross that our sins would be forgiven.  Can anyone spot the fake news here?  Why would we call on people to lift up their sins to God when God Himself has provided that sacrafice that those sins would be wiped out?  It always seemed to me that somehow the church was keeping their congregations in bondage by doing this, but that's just one heretics opinion.

"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~

Just like that hollywood wanna be news anchor on television, our local pastors depend on the people in their pews each Sunday for their very existance.  In a way, we are their customers.  I know it sounds cheap, but I can't think of any better way to emphasize the point.  I have seldom seen too many congregations which have survived on the teaching of our Lord Jesus alone.  Sadly, that just doesn't happen anymore.  Jesus doesn't fill too many seats in our local churches.  Instead, we've resorted to weekly dog and pony shows, performances, raucus praise and worship sessions...and fake news.  Seriously, I'm still waiting for a pastor to base his teaching on the freedom of the truth we find in Christ Jesus.  This the freedom that we are no longer dependent upon our daily confession of our sins, but rejoicing in the knowledge that not only are we cleansed, but that we who know Him live as He who is in us today {Galations 2:20}.  So, why would we continue to preach that our sins which Jesus took upon Himself {2 Corinthians 5:21}?  Well, for lack of a better word...control.  Like I said, the pastor needs us more than we need him.  Now, I'm still a strong proponent of the role of the pastor as a councelor to guide the flock.  However, there is a huge difference in that and keeping a congregation in submisson.  I believe that this is the number one reason for the fake news of the modern church.  For once we know the truth of Jesus who is in us, we can live our lives in the freedom that those sins which we are constantly reminded of are now yesterdays news.

~Scott~

Pitfalls

8The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
Psalm 103: 8 - 13 NKJV

These days I really choose not to think of those times.  Those times where I partook in what I knew was wrong in the eyes of my heavenly Father.  Those times I fell into lifes pitfalls.  For it was in times such as this that I would choose to seclude myself from those friends who had stood beside me.  Instead of seeking counsel in those around me in my time of need, I chose instead to isolate myself from them.  Be it pornography or some other behavior, that shame which I surrounded myself wth made me feel as if I would soon face the scorn of others.  See, christians aren't supposed to act this way...right?  It was that disapointent, shame and how I perceived others would see me that often would keep me away.  It's funny what shame will do to a person.  Of course, we all know that christian or not, we all will eventually face the temptations of the enemy.  I've seen many a pastor and evengelist fall by the wayside in my time, brought down by their own actions.  These were CHRISTIAN people.  Apparently there is a behavior standard by which the world judges the followers of Jesus.  There is no doubt that as christians that we will come into temptations and lifes pitfalls.  Christ Jesus Himself warned us about this {John 16:33} and the Lords brother indeed claimed that we should consider these tribulations as joy {James 1: 2-3}.  Nowhere, it seems, are we told that as christians we are immune to lifes struggles.  On the contrary, we are told to expect such things in our walk with Jesus as He is our example of just how to deal with such pitfalls {1 Peter 2:21}.

"I don't need to punish people for sin.  Sin is it's 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~

One of my all time favorite phrases on the subject of the shame of sin comes from the film The Shack.  As Mack struggles with the sins of his past and his own personal tragedy, he is reminded of our heavenly Fathers true feelings for His children.  He does not need to punish us for our sins...for sin is indeed its own punishment.  Having been through many a situation where I have backslid into bad behaviors, I can attest to the reality of this statement.  From that moment where temptation leads us into sin, it is sin that devours us from the inside.  Through our own guilt, shame and self incrimination we run the gauntlet of self destruction.  In those moments where we stumble, we all too often fail to realize that there is no longer no need for us to cling to the guilt that accompanies our sin.  For not only did Christ Jesus become sin on our behalf that we might be saved {2 Corinthians 5:21}, He ultimately put to death that sin nature which we were born under {Romans 6: 6-12}.  Sure, we all have sinned and fallen short in our own  behaviors {Romans 3:23}, but it is through Christ Jesus that we no longer fear the condemnation of our sins {Romans 8:1}.  Far from being lost in our own  condemnation, it is Christ Jesus Himself who gives us freedom, for we know that He has taken our guilt, shame and condemnation upon Himself at the cross.

~Scott~

Runaways

2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces apatience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be bperfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1: 2 - 8 NKJV

It seems obvious to me that our Lords brother James was not a runaway in any sense of the word.  As Charles Stanley puts it, for James,  true faith will never allow us to give into our lusts.

Genuine faith endures trials. Trials are bound to come, but a strong faith will face them head-on and develop endurance. Genuine faith understands temptations. It will never consent to our lusts and thereby slide into sin. Genuine faith harbors no prejudice. For James, faith and favoritism cannot coexist.
~Charles Stanley~

Yes, I do not see James as a runaway.  In fact, when the trials of life do come, it is James who tells us to count it all joy as we face them head on.  Count it all joy?  Dude, do you realize what I'm going through?  How can James possibly claim to count our tribulations as joy?  By faith, my friends.  We who have known Jesus know in our own hearts that it is Christ Himself who we live as in our daily trials and triumphs {Galatiosn2:20}.  Not so the runaway.  For when trials inevitably come, the runaway will retreat to a safer place.  Perhaps one less threatening than their current situation.  I know the behaviors of the runaway because I used to be one.  For myself, retreating from a difficult situation was all too often preferable to facing it.  Of course, the reality of this approach is that despite our deepest wishes, running away from a situation RARELY makes it go away any sooner.  On the contrary, not confronting a difficult situation will often only make what we are running from worse in the long run.  Be it relationships, finances or other personal tragedies we come across, seldom is anything accomplished by running from a bad situation.  Like I said, I know all to well what it's like to run from a bad situation.  For when I avoided bad financial decisions, running from them only made things worse.  When I avoided people instead of encouraging relationships, the ONLY person I was negatively affecting was myself.  I believe that nothing good comes from being a runaway.

7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12: 7 - 10 NKJV

I love the example which the apostle Paul gives us in 2 Corinthians 12.  As this "thorn in the flesh" buffets Paul, he immediately turns to Christ Jesus in his anguish.  I do not see this as Paul himself being a runaway, but knowing in his heart that Jesus had the ability to remove this infirmity from Paul.  However, Jesus' response to Paul was probably not the one he was expecting.  For instead of relieving Paul of his pain, Christ instead takes this opportunity to give a lesson to Paul.  As Paul tells us, Jesus' response to his request was simply "My strength is made perfect in weakness."  In the end, it is Paul who claims to take pleasure in his infirmities and distresses, "For when I am weak, then I am strong."  As difficult as it may seem to we runaways, this is good advice.  For not only are we secure in knowing that we face each and every one of our trials as Christ Jesus who is within us, but we gather strength as we endure them.  When we are weak, then He who is in us is strong!

~Scott~

Who I've Become

4Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not bpuffed up; 5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, cthinks no evil; 6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7 NKJV

While most people awoke this morning with thoughts as to how they would celebrate Mothers Day, I reflected on that which had been.  Indeed, we do well to celebrate the women in our lives who have had the honor of raising children.  This in itself is no easy task, as I was so often reminded of as I was growing up.  Even now I reflect on some of the things I did as a child and wonder just how my mother found the strength to deal with such a impetuous child.  Then again, we all have our moments.  On this Mothers Day, my thoughts are not of how I will honor my own mother, but how she has honored me as her son.  It seems that Mothers Day has not had the same meaning for me since my mom passed, only that I see it from a different perspective.  Only recently have I truly seen the sacrafice that my mother went through for her own sons.  When I was younger I wondered why she wasn't around as much and why she couldn't be home when I got home from school.  Although I knew that she knew God, I wondered why I would often see her on her knees praying in our living room.  Back then, it never occured to me that all of this, all that she did...was for me.  See, when we're young we don't have time to think of such things.  We have better things to think of...field trips, hockey and video games.  What do love and sacrafice mean to a ten year old?  However, it is because of that sacrafice that I am who I am today.

17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4: 17 - 19 NKJV

It's funny how we most always fail to understand the reasons why our own parents made the decisions which they did until we ourselves are grown.  So it was with me.  These are the things which I reflect on Mothers Day.  It's hard to imagine that one person would give so much for me.  But that is exactly what Jesus did for me as well.  Despite the sin nature which I was born with, it was Christ Jesus who loved me in spite of this {Romans 5:8}.  As I know in my heart that my own mother had a heart for Jesus, I know that He loved her first as well.  I am confident that she is resting now with Him, free of the worries of this life.  I realize that things were not always easy for her being a single parent, but she remained strong in the Lord.  As I think back, her first reaction to any stressful situation that came along was to lift it in prayer.  For those who knew her, she was indeed a prayer warrior.  Even as she was recovering in a care facility, one of the things she missed the most was being in church among her friends.  No one could ever say that she didn't love Jesus.  I am also grateful that she passed this on to me.  For in those trials in my own life, I am reminded of how she would turn to her heavenly Father in prayer in the midst of the storms of her life.  I could not have had a better example of a Godly person.  Happy Mothers Day mom...thank you.

~Scott~

No More Mister Nice Guy

~Alice Cooper...No more Mr. nice guy!~

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. 

2 Corinthians 5: 16 -17 NKJV

I was reflecting just the other day about how I handle dificult people whom I run across from time to time.  In the past, my first reaction was usually to give back as good as I was getting from that other person.  To stick it to the man!  Well, surprise surprise, this approach usually only led to escalation and not DE-escalation of the situation.  Unfortunately, this latter approach is the very same approach which we all too often use in our own difficult situations.  So, my question is, how is it that conflict can defuse conflict?  The old Teddy Roosevelt philosophy of walk softly but pack a big stick may not be the best advice when dealing with the flesh.  When I say flesh, I'm refering to that fleshly part of our being, our very emotions and behaviors.  It is this very part of us which the apostle Paul warned us to not judge others by in 2 Corinthians.  But flesh or not, these are people and those people are getting on our last nerve!  And so we continue to do battle against a well known enemy the wrong way.  For when we are faced with a difficult person, we are not only dealing with the flesh but the roaming roaring lion satan himself.  Once we put this into perspective, we may just see that each and every time that we are confronted by a difficult person, it is satan who is pulling the strings of escalation.  For he loves nothing better than to wage warfare on Gods children.  We can see a excellent example of this in the book of Job.  Here was ol' Job minding his own business and going about his righteous life when satan decided to throw a few curveballs his way.  That...is the spirit of error.


17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19We love Him because He first loved us. 20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1 John 4: 17 - 20 NKJV

We do well to remember that, as we ourselves were a creation of our heavenly Father in His very image, that satan and his minions were also created by God to be used for His ultimate purposes.  That means that satan himself is also subject to our heavenly Fathers desires and plans, not the other way around.  When we as feel as if satan is influencing a situation, we should immediately ask one important question.  Our question should never be why me God?  Instead, we should be asking, what is it that you are doing God?  Knowing that the battle which we are facing is spiritual in nature will help us to put things in perspective {Ephesians 6:12}.  Indeed, our heavenly Father can use satan for His own purposes.  THIS is what we should be wondering in these times of conflict.  It wasn't Jobs neighbors, cattle or family who were causing him distress.  No, it was satan himself who was warring against Job...allowed by God of course.  Notice that even before Job came under attack, satan entered into our Lords presence.  As God so correctly observed, "Have you considered MY SERVANT Job?"  God was indeed proud of Job as He held him up before satan as an example of righteousness.  Of course, satan didn't see things that way at all.  The rest is history.  So it is that when we ourselves are faced with difficult situations of people that we keep things in perspective.  What is it that God is doing in this situation?

12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of cthe darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6: 12 -13 NKJV

~Scott~

The Way

1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4“And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 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.”
John 14: 1 - 7  NKJV

From what I've heard, heaven is a wonderful place to be.  Our Lords kingdon is indeed one that is reserved for His children and those He chooses to allow into eternity with Him.  Of course, there is no way for us to know if there are those among our Lords elect who are now in His presence who never claimed to be christians.  That, we're told, we will find out by and by.  There have even been countless pulpit pounder sermons on the subject of gaining admittance to our Lords kingdom.  It seems that one week the pastor will praise his flock as being ready for our Lords paradise, but the next we've fallen far too short and we need to be "Closer" to Jesus in order to gain entrance into heaven.  Do the requirements of getting into heaven change every so often?  Are they flexible?  How is it that we can "Punch our ticket" to eternity with our heavenly Father?  Well, it seems that Jesus definately knew the way into heaven.  In His sermon on the Mount of Olives, Jesus laid out perfectly what must be done in order to enter into His Fathers kongdom.  As Christ claimed, "Nobody comes to the Father except through Me."  That's it in a nutshell, if you want to experience the beauty of our heavenly Fathers glory, then you must follow Jesus as He leads you in.  There is no other way.  For Jesus Himself is "The way, the Truth and the Life," and we will not come to the Father but through the Son.  Yet there are those who still try to crash the party and somehow buy or perform their way into our Lords paradise.  I would call such claims utterly ridiculous, but that's just me.

21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"
Matthew 7: 21 - 23 NKJV

Far too many times in the modern institutional church I have heard of our need to perform better in order to gain entrance into our Lords kingdom.  For if we tithe more, perform our service to others and pray more we can expect to punch our salvation ticket.  And so we try in vain to work our way into our Lords favor.  The issue with this approach lies the message and not in reality.  The apostle Paul himself warned us against such thinking.  For it is by our Lords very grace by which we have been saved, and not of our own efforts {Ephesians 2:8}.  Can you imagine the arrogance of one who worked or bought his own way into heaven?  Talk about favoritism!  Fortunately we will never need to suffer the indignity of seeing those with more than influence than ourselves gain our Lords favor while we suffer.  For salvation is a GIFT of our heavenly Father.  Man has been taken out of that equation...thankfully.  That path to heaven leads through the Way, the Truth and the Life of Christ Jesus.  Jesus Himself became sin on our behalf in order to make this possible {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place for us in our Lords kingdom.  For those who follow Him, He will return once again to receive His own unto Him.

 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.
Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

~Scott~

One With Jesus

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 floated the question this week about the difference between our relationship with Christ Jesus and our union with Him.  Now, to a novice such as myself this might seem like a slam dunk question answered easily.  Somehow I think that Dennis enjoys these brain teasers that he throws out there.  My first thought was that our relationship and our union with Jesus were somehow related, but I've changed my tune.  Yes, we can have a relationship with Jesus, but does this indeed make us "One" with Him?  Jesus' disciples enjoyed some of the closest relationships with Christ that anyone living possibly ever will.  Were these men one with Jesus in their relationship with Him?  I would say that at the time of their relationship with Jesus that they weren't one with Him.  It is through this example that I say that our relationship and union with Christ may just be two different things.  I may indeed have a relationship with Jesus, but am I one with Him?  Well, looking at what the apostle Paul tells us in Galations 2:20, that union with Christ may be closer than we think.  According to Paul, that very sin nature wich we were born under was put to death with Christ on the cross.  Jesus Himself now occupies that place within us.  When we ourselves accept Christ Jesus into our lives, are we then one with Him as Paul states?  This seems to be the case, for from this point forward we live AS JESUS who is in us.  That old Paul was dead and crucified, what remained was...Christ in him.  Of course, the argument can be made that this transformation comes only through relationship with Christ Jesus.  I believe that is where it all begins.


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

As Dennis has so correctly pointed out, relationship is people sharing life together while union is two acting as one.  Can it not  be said that a courtship is but a relationship while marriage is two living as one?  That relationship Jesus' disciples shared with Him was Jesus sharing His life with these men.  Therefore, Jesus did not have union with His disciples.  Indeed, we may share relationship with another, but it is not union with them.  We are not acting as one with that person but simply sharing life with them.  I believe that this is why Pauls revelation in Galations is so important.  It was revealed to Paul that he no longer lived as he had come to know it, but that he now lived IN UNION  with Christ.  Paul was not sharing life with Jesus, but living as one with Him.  Paul was one with Christ.  So it is with us.  When our eyes are opened and we accept what Jesus has to offer us, we cease from sharing our life with Him and start anew living each day as Jesus.  This is the message of Galations 2:20, that each and every day we experience our lives as Christ Jesus who is in us.  The valleys we walk through...we do as He who is in us.  This was the crux of the prayer of Jesus in the garden, that "They also may be one with us."  Jesus has always had a union with the Father, His prayer was that we would enjoy that very same union.

~Scott~

A Well Oiled Machine

"So no, I'm not too big on religion...and not very fond of politics or economics either...and why should I be?  They are the man-created trinity of errors that ravages the earth and destroys those I care about.  What mental turmoil and anxiety does any human face that is not related to one of those three?"
~William Paul Young The Shack~

I noticed this weeks post from Wayne Jacobsen with more than a bit of interest.  In this message, he referred to the christian institutional church system as "The machine."  I can't say that I disagree with his assesment.  I don't think that there are many people out there who have not been run over by that machine at one time or another.  I have heard many complaints over time that the church is impersonal and distant.  I would have to agree with this as I've faced it for myself.  However, it is my opinion that the machine was never meant to bring genuine community and relationships.  For the machine is a organization,a entity and a system.  The church organization is designed more for control over its members than for relationships.  Through traditions and generations old practices, the well oiled machine insists that its members follow its doctrine.  Oh sure, the can talk night and day about the importance of relationship with Christ Jesus, but they always fall short by design.  For from the pulpit each week we are bombarded with messages of being "More like" Jesus.  Will we ever get there?  I've often questioned Dennis as to why the church does not teach more about our relationship with Christ.  The fact is, if the machine were to teach the truth of Jesus which we find in Galations 2:20, then they may just hemorrhage church members like a sieve.  It's no secret that church congregations have been in steady decline for some time.  One of the main reasons people have given for leaving, or falling away from the machine is their distaste for organized religion.  Notice that they did not mention a distaste for relationships, only organized religion.  relationships which are forged within church walls are not the by product of the institutional church, but rather of our need for community.  Sadly, the machine doesn't follow suit.

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

I have to damit that whenever the church I was attending would statrt talking about community and relationship that my interest would be peaked.  However, this was usually short lived as the machine once again settled into its centuries old practices and traditions.  It is unlikely in this environment to foster relationship with Christ.  For in a true relationship with Jesus, the traditions of the machine no longer apply.  In its place we will find the love and freedom one would expect to find without constraints of the machine.  For in Jesus there is no obligation to assemble, no obligation to give and above all...no organization to maintain.  There is only Jesus and our relationship with Him.  This is one on one, mano y mano fellowship with our heavenly Father.  For in Jesus we find the image of the invisible God {Colossions 1:15}.  We will not find Jesus in church buildings or traditions, but only as our own eyes are opened to who we truly are.  For when we know the truth of Jesus which Paul relates in Galations 2:20, we realize that He is closer to us than we have ever known.  Not within the walls of the church, but in us.  It is no longer WE, but HE.  How many churches would survive were all Gods children to know this truth?  Not too many I'm afraid.  I have no doubt that Christ Himself is not too big a fan of organized religion but of our relationship with Him.

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.
Colossions 2: 13 - 15 NKJV

~Scott~

Through The Eyes Of Jesus

27“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28“But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29“If your right eye causes you to jsin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30“And if your right hand causes you to ksin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."
Matthew 5: 27 - 30 NKJV

I've never had one of my eyes gouged out, but according to Jesus I should have.  I'm talking about my usual reaction to a attractive female, which is rarely focised on how good of a person she may be.  Who's wife or daughter she may be in that moment seems pretty unimportant.  More important seems to be her physical attractiveness and attributes.  This is how men are.  Where women are more centered to emotional and other behavior attributes, men are more often than not drawn to a physical attraction pleasing to the eye.  Men are visually stimulated.  I guess Jesus knew this as He gave His thoughts on the Mount of Olives that day.  He should, He created me in all that I am.  It is Jesus Himself who I live as today {Galations 2:20}.  For some time I had figured that I somehow needed to change who I was in respect to my thoughts towards women.  However, after more than a few heart to heart chats with a few godly men I've come away with a different view.  Yes, Jesus knew exactly the challenges of temptation that we would face.  He Himself also faced the temptations which we face, yet without sin {Hebrews 4:15}.  I can hear the nay sayers already, "yeah, but that was back then and things have changed!"  Really?  Ok, since we already know that men are more drawn to visual attributes of a female by design, what has changed?  Nothing!  How men often see women is the same today as it was in that day of Jesus.  Yes, men in Jesus' day did not have movies, magazines and Al Gores internet, but they still definately struggled with their own temptations when it came to how they viewed women.  Just ask Abraham and our old friend king David.  The temptations of the opposite sex have been around for some time.  For if they hadn't, then maybe Jesus wouldn't have seen the need to bring up such temptations.  However, since we find this teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5, it's my belief that the men of Jesus' day indeed struggled with that very same issue which we do today.

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 bfreed 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 the things that a old friend of mine told me some time ago on the topic of men and their visual lusts towards women was to think of who is sharing our sight...and thoughts.  Indeed, if we live today as Christ Jesus who is within us, then it is Jesus Himself who shares our each and every thought and gaze.  He sees what we see.  We may shudder at the very thought of Jesus watching pornography, but isn't that what is happening for those of us who have that Spirit of Jesus in us yet we choose to engage in the temptations of lust?  Would that give you a new perpsective?  It did for me.  For we live today through the eyes of Jesus, He sees what we see.  That doesn't mean that He will suddenly leave His place within us should we stumble and fall in our temptations.  It does, however, mean that He may be grieved for He knows that He has so much better in store for us.  May we never make that claim that Jesus somehow does not know just what we are going through.  For not only do we live as Christ today, He was intimately involved in our very creation.  Not only did Jesus face the very same temptations which we today face, He did so without sin.  He knows His children, and He knows what is best for us.  When we see through the eyes of Jesus, we always see things as they were meant to be.

~Scott~

The Unteachable Christ

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 was a comment by Dennis this week which got me thinking.  Well, most all of his comments start me thinking, but this one in particular.  We were discussing the topic of my previous post where I spoke of how pastors try in vain to keep up the interest level of their sermons.  They try everything from gimmicks to the warning of displeasing God in order to keep their pews filled.  Although this is a issue in the modern church, Dennis rightly pointed out that the real issue is just why Christ Jesus is not taught in church.  I will agree with him on this point.  For I have seen many a sermon on our Lords supposed view on various social issues as well as how we should live today, but I have rarely if ever heard a sermon from a pulpit pounder on the truth of Christ Jesus.  What is the truth of Jesus?  Well, as I have written before, the truth of Christ Jesus is that we today who have accepted Him now live AS JESUS.  Indeed, we have that very Spirit of Christ within us.  When we look in that mirror each morning, we see Jesus looking back at us.  THAT is the truth of Christ Jesus today.  So, why is it that so many pastors ignore this truth and continue to draw on the same old preachings pulpit pounders have relied on for ages?  Is Jesus really that unteachable?  Absolutely not!  For as the apostle John tells us in John 1, Christ Jesus was there from the begining.  Not only that, but "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."  From the begining was Jesus and until the end is Christ Jesus.  He is, indeed, the same today as He was in the begining {Hebrews 13:8}.

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

So, is Christ that unteachable?  I would say no.  The comment I made to Dennis on this topic is that were the church to teach on the truth of Christ, then perhaps people would be less dependent upon the church for their daily lives and more dependent on Jesus.  This is the freedom which we find in Christ, that we would rely on Him and Him alone as He will never fail us.  In the end, man will fail us but Jesus will always be by our side.  I believe that the church has alot to lose by teaching the truth of Jesus.  For one, fewer people in the pews means fewer dollars in the collection plates, which is what the modern church survives on.  Also, what need would we have for the church were we to know and live the truth of Jesus?  From time to time I've related a gathering of friends that Dennis and I attended one Sunday morning.  To a person, each one in attendance related the freedom which they had found by being seperated from the traditions and requirements of the institutional church.  I question whether the truth of Jesus could even be taught in the environment of the church, as in Jesus we find freedom and not requirements.  In fact, it is Christ Jesus who put to death those requirements which were against us {Colossions 2:14}.  In Jesus there is freedom.  In the modern church we find traditions and that which we are required to do to somehow earn our Lords favor.  Sorry, but I already have that in Christ.

~Scott~

Feel Good Christianity

2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4: 2 - 5 NKJV

A bad television series rarely brings rave reviews.  Likewise, we all too often find ourselves changing our radio stations continuously until we find that song we like.  So it is with christianity as well.  For many a pulpit pounder will try and try to maintain the intrest level of his congregation while preaching the word of God.  I've witnessed pastors resort to everything from jokes to riding a motorcycle down the center aisle of a church in order to grab the attention of those in attendance.  At what cost?  If a congregation member feels they are not being "fed" at their present church, they will undoubedly find another church that is more to their liking and style.  The very number of churches in our towns and cities testifies to the different styles of christianity among us.  We have everything from lutherns to southern baptists.  Each with their own style and way of doing things.  I've often wondered just how many branches of christianity we need.  Which christianity is the RIGHT christinaity?  Surely God has His favorite line of believers, right?  Yes, if we fall in line with mans standards.  For as the apostle Paul warned young Timothy in 2 Timothy 4, people will ultimately seek out teachings more in tune with their beliefs "according to their own desires, because they have itching ears."  So, due to our own desires to hear what WE  feel our Lords word should be is that standard we use to choose a "Good" church.  Still wondering why it is that we have so many churches around town?  Since when did our Sunday morning worship become more about entertaining the masses than preaching the word of God and our relationship with Christ Jesus.  Is Jesus that boring that we need to spice up our sermons on Him in order to get to people to listen?  I'd say no simply because rarely is our relationship with Christ {Galations 2:20} taught in the modern church, but that's beside the point.  So it is that we immerse ourselves in feel good christianity.

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; 28“for in Him we live and move and have our being.'
Acts 17: 23 - 28 NKJV

Don't get me wrong, I've sat through many a boring sermon in my time.  In fact, it is often the standard family practice to eagerly await many a post church activity on Sunday once that "boring" sermon is done.  This is the arena where the modern pastor finds himself.  For it is indeed a fine line to preach Christ Jesus and yet hold the interest of his flock at the same time.  It is my belief that it is not Christ that is boring, but how the truth about Him is presented.  There is a good reason why 28.6% of our population now considers themselves to be unafilliated with any religion.  Indeed, one of the most common complaints heard from those who have left the church is their weariness of "Organized" religion.  Those traditions and practices which we once held so near to our own hearts we've suddenly found to be not important.  For it is not within the buildings or traditions we surround ourselves with where we will find our true relationship with Christ Jesus.  If this were true, then perhaps that 28.6% of people leaving the church may not have done so.  Obviously they were seeking something they were not getting from their local pulpit pounder.  I believe that this true relationship with Jesus comes from within and not from what we are surrounded with.  For when that veil is lifted and we fully realize that we are one with Christ Jesus, we won't need the gimmicks of a motorcycle riding pastor.

~Scott~

The Reluctant Brother

 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

Through my time studying alongside Dennis I have certainly learned much about of the inner workings of the modern institutional church.  For in his time as a pastor he has certainly seen the good, bad and the ugly of the modern church structure.  I have certainly come away with a much different view of the church as we know it.  One of the situations which he has shared with us is how a church pastor would shepherd their flock from week to week.  See, if a member of the congregation would miss two Sundays in a row, they could then expect a call from a pastor to check in on the possible lost member of the flock.  Of course, I question whether this was done out of true concern or out of fear of losing another dollar in the collection plate.  Either way, you could not miss too many services without hearing from whichever pastor had drawn shepherding duty for that week.  I've experienced this for myself.  I've often wondered if I needed to schedule my vacations through the church in order to avoid such inquiries.  Of course, this leads me into the subject of the reluctant brother.  We all know them, those few christians among us who for one reason or another prefer to fly under the radar instead of partaking in the traditional christian aspect of community.  Again, I've experienced my own share of these people as well.  I've gotten plenty of flack from Dennis for my choice to recluse myself at times from many of those around me.  Plenty of scripture they will quote from our Lord not wanting us to be alone to the great commision of making disciples of all the nations.  I've heard it all.  Does this make me a unsociable person?  Definately not.  I prefer to think of it as placing a good value on my private time away from it all.  See, I work in a public service occupation and I have often seen the good, bad and extremely ugly of human behavior.  There are times when I just need to get away.  Am I one of those reluctant brothers?  I would say no, but a few nay sayers would surely want to make their opinions known on that point.  I can hear them quoting scriptures already.

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 often mentioned my mother in  my writings on Christ based community, as this was one of her strengths.  My mother was one of those unique people who was drawn to others.  One of her best friends once shared with me as to how she first met my mom.  It seems that she was at church one Sunday and having a pretty low day.  The next thing she knew, my mom was coming up to her and asking this stranger to share lunch with her.  That was my mom.  Now, does this mean that by heredity I would assume her fondness for community with others?  Absolutely not!  For being fearfully and wonderfully made as I am, God has indeed gifted me with my own set of gifts with which to reveal Himself to others through me.  I believe this to be our ultimate destination, that Christ Jesus would be revealed through us for others to see {Galations 2:20}.  So what are we indeed to do with that reluctant brother among us?  Do we follow the lead of the church and check on them every two weeks?  How long would it be before we ourselves wore out our welcome?  Indeed, I have friends who connect with me on a regular basis as well as those who choose not to do so.  This is our human dynamic.  I am glad to hear from my brothers, but if I don't I also realize that I still hold that relationship with them.  the apostle John tells us in 1 John 4 that we are to love one another, for God is love AND He is within we who have accepted Him.  Therefore, others will surely see Him revealed through us, even that reluctant brother among us.

~Scott~