An All Too Familiar Ending

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

I like a good movie.  I especially like a good movie where I'm kept on the edge of my seat between the plot and the action.  One of the reasons that I am a huge fan of the Star Wars films is that everything I enjoy in a good movie is provided.  Sure, everyone knows that in the end the good guys will somehow squeak by the clutches of the empire and escape, but we enjoy how the film develops its plot.  Lately there has been a slew of christian, family oriented films coming out of Hollywood.  This seems strange, of course, as traditionally Hollywood has shunned anything having to do with telling the truth about christianity.  A few recent examples include Noah and Exodus: Gods and kings.  Although loosely based on the biblical stories they represented, Hollywood once again managed to bastardize a well known bible story.  Far from being a oversight, I feel that films such as this are by design, meant to cloud the nations view of scripture.  All of that seemed to change with Mel Gibsons 2004 film The Passion Of The Christ.  For once, I watched a christian movie which was not watered down with the crazy subplots of Hollywood.  We saw the scourging, mocking and crucifiction of Christ Jesus.  I think that why so many were touched by this film is because of the violent nature of which Jesus was treated by His accusers.  Of course, I believe that Gibsons film showed only part of that horror which Christ endured for us.  Up until that point, this had only been a story on a few pages, not brought before my eyes in such a revealing way.  However, if the story of Jesus was going to be told, then this part of His life needed to be told as well.  Indeed, Gibson received much criticism from the Hollywood elites who somehow felt that we would not fall for such christianity being shoved at us.  They were wrong.

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

I thought of all of this the other day when I asked Dennis if he would consider viewing the upcoming christian film "Let there be light."  His response surprised me at first until I realized where he was coming from.  Predictable plot...he's right.  For as we have seen in more than a few recent releases, the main character struggles with a lack of faith, knowledge or religion but then in the end he comes to his senses and is saved.  I get it.  However, what make sfor a good Hollywood movie may not make for a good teaching for the mature christian.  As the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13, when he was young he indeed spoke, understood and thought as a child.  However, when he became a man...he put away childish things {1 Corinthians 13: 11-13}.  So, what are those "childish things" which we, as Paul, will put away as we grow in our faith and knowledge of Christ?  Well, one thing that our group discussed in the recent past were the levels of christian understanding.  It seems that our understanding is different when we first feel Christs pull on our hearts.  Indeed, many a sermon is devoted to "spoon feeding" the gospel to new christians.  However, as we grow in our faith and understanding, it is these childish things which we leave behind as we mature.  I believe that this is what Paul was refering to in 1 Corinthians.  He had matured in his knowledge of Christ and did away with other childish things.  So what does this have to do with a Hollywood movie?  While I am glad that there are more family oriented christian films coming out, I believe that there are a few of us who have matured in their faith that may find films such as these to be like old hat.  They've seen it, and read it, before.  They've sat through many a Sunday sermon on the very subject.  They know the outcome.  For the new christian, films such as this may shed some light on their new found faith.  For others...the ending is all too familiar.

~Scott~

The Dark Side

"But beware of the dark side.  Anger, fear, agression; the dark side of the force are they.  Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight.  If once you start down the dark path, forever it will dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi Wan's apprentice."
~Yoda~

There is a saying out there, and forgive me if I don't recognize the author.  The saying goes that absolute power corrupts absolutely.  I would tend to agree.  This week Wayne Jacobsen chose to tackle this very subject in his weekly "God Journey" podcast.  He ponders how those who achieve such power often start out with good intentions but in the end fail to have the "grace" to resist the influence of their new found power.  Again I would agree...to a point.  I have seen many a christian mega church pastor who undoubtedly began with good intentions but in the end were themselves consumed by that "dark side."  Speaking for myself, I have on a few occasions fallen into that trap of power and influence when a promotion or possitive life event has come about.  I'm sure I'm not alone in that respect either.  So what is it within us that inevitably points us in the wrong direction when we are graced with power and/or influence?  I say blessed because we need to realize without any doubt that our heavenly has allowed each and every opportunity we will ever face.  What is Gods purpose for granting influence to someone?  That is the question we should be asking of ourselves.  What is Gods purpose for granting influence to a mega church pastor?  What is His purpose for blessing a christian businessman with his power and influence in his community?  Honestly, I don't think I know the answer to either of these questions.  Perhaps it is our Lords desire to see just how we will handle that influence which He has given us.  But, how would that bring glory to Him in the end?  See, I believe that this may be the ultimate goal of our Lords blessing one with power and influence, that through him He might bless others.  Yet, many are those who have failed in this endeavor.  Does that make them wicked people?  Definately not.  However, it does make them the latest victim of the lie which satan has perpetrated on us from the begining.  The lie that we as our Lords creation, can be independent from Him.

 13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1: 13 - 17 NKJV

That independent self is not too difficult to recognize.  It is there each and every time we place ourselves above our heavenly Father who created us.  Each and every time we say to God "That's ok God, I got this."  Yet each time we set about down the path to that independent self we are always reminded all too quickly of our mistake.  Indeed, self help programs have never been too successful at curing those addictions which plague us.  Believe me, I've tried more than a few.  I used to become frustrated as I struggled to overcome a pornography addiction...on my own.  There was never any amount of prayer, fasting, tithing or beating my chest in a Sunday service that moved me closer to removing myself from the addiction that plagued me.  It wasn't until Dennis reminded me of a very important fact one day that I realized that there was nothing that I could do which would ever draw me closer to recovery.  What he reminded me of that day was simple...how can I remove something from my life that I am dead to?  Indeed, as the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6, we are no longer slaves to sin {Romans 6:6}.  So what does all of this have to do with the christian man who allows his power and influence to draw him into corruption.  Simple, he has forgotten who he truly is in Christ {Galations 2:20}.  Far from having the grace to resist corruption and use his power and influence for good, he only need realize that Christ Jesus Himself is living and working through him each day.  Far from being a independent self, we are the vessels through which He makes Himself known.

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 Jesus Test

 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

The question came up this week of just how we will ultimately know if one is ready to hear the words of the truth of Christ Jesus in us.  Personally, I really don't feel that we should attach a litmus test to someone before we testify of the truth of Jesus to those around us.  If this were the case, I might never have heard these words.  Is it really up to us who have known Him to decide who we shall pass along His truth to?  Who was it that ultimately revealed the truth of Christ in the apostle Paul?  Indeed, when it pleased our heavenly Father, He revealed Christ Jesus in him.  Are we now taking God out of the picture and claiming that when it pleases us...we in turn will tell others of Jesus?  Forgive me for ruffling any feathers out there, but I find this line of thinking just a bit conceited.  As God revealed the truth of Christ to Paul, so He will to those around us as well.  Think of where we ourselves would be if someone had used that same approach with us?  I might still be searching for the truth of Christ in me.  I feel that we who have known Him have been called to spread His truth far and wide.  Is this not part of the great commision of Jesus when He called on His disciples to go and make "followers" of all the nations? {Matthew 28: 16-20}.  Well, Jesus spoke of making "disciples" of all the nations...but this word translates into the word follower and it  makes sense in that context.  For who were these disciples of Christ Jesus if not followers of Him?  We today who know Christ are also followers of Him.  Why?  Because someone took the time to show us the truth of Christ Jesus.  Again I ask, where would we be in our own lives had that person who revealed Christ to us had chosen not to do so for fear that we were "not ready?"  As the institutional church does to this day, we have gotten into having those around us prove that they are worth hearing about Jesus.  My friends, as Gods children, we are ALL worthy of the truth of Jesus!  For it is Christ Jesus who Himself came to restore that which we once lost at the fall...our relationship with Him.

16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28: 16 - 20 NKJV

This week I once again heard another story of another christian who had grown weary of the trappings of the institutional church.  I have heard more than my share of these life stories, even from those whom I once knew in the church.  Needless to say, all too many of them sound all too familiar to my own story.  For I too had grown tired of the pomp, celebration and tradtitions of the church.  I was looking for something more.  Something inside me told me that there was more to knowing Jesus than a Sunday celebration and dropping a few bucks into a collection plate every week.  Something told me that there was more to Jesus than some pulpit pounder telling me each and every week that I needed to be "more like Him."  Something told me that the love and heart of Jesus was not to be found in a building, small group or Sunday sermon.  I was hungry for more of Him.  I was blessed that a dear friend took it upon himself to tell me of the truth of Christ in me.  But wait, what if he hadn't taken the time to reveal this side of Jesus to me?  I would still be out there looking, searching and wondering if this was all there was to a life of following Christ.  How many others like me are out there in the world?  Obviously, from the stories I keep hearing, there are many followers who still do not know the truth of Christ in them.  It is these who we need to be sharing the truth of Jesus with.  We are not called by Jesus to be selective of those who we share Him with.  Jesus did not call upon us to go and make followers of those we feel are worthy of Him.  No, He called on His followers to go and make followers of all the nations of the earth.  His truth is one we cannot hide.

15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16“For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”17And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 9: 15 - 17 NKJV

~Scott~

God Talk

 26Then the Angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!” 30So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.”
Numbers 22: 26 - 30 NKJV

Honestly, I don't know just what to think had I been in Balaams shoes that day.  Seriously, what would anyone think were they to hear a donkey speak them clear as day?  This isn't some mister Ed rerun episode, this was Balaams actual donkey who somehow had suddenly decided to speak its mind against its master.  I suppose that were I in Balaams shoes I might react that same way as he did...wishing for a sword to slay this indignant beast of burden.  Of course, we know that the Lord God is the one who had Himself opened the mouth of Balaams donkey that he might hear the words of his Lord.  Going through this story the other day I found myself thinking of just what words or conversations our heavenly Father has tickled our ears with in our own lives that He wanted only us to hear.  I mean, if God can open the mouth of a donkey to get His message out, could He not use the words of those around us to do the same thing?  What words has someone told us that God desired for us to hear?  It could have been anything from a intimate conversation to a argument with a friend.  Somehow, somewhere God may have opened the mouth of another person to declare the words He meant for us to hear.  I can recall a dear friend of mine in Christ who matter of factly told me one day that I had a problem with pornography.  He was right.  Yet, despite the fact that his words were meant to bring my attention to my own actions, up until that point I did not feel I had a problem.  Of course, I know now that God knew all along what I needed to hear.  I can also remember the very first conversations that I had with Dennis regarding Christ Jesus in me.  God definately intended for me to hear that!  The very first question that someone might ask is how do we know that what we are hearing is from God?  It's a question I've asked a few times myself.  Did Balaam know that the words of his own donkey were the words of God?  It was not until the Lord opened Balaams eyes that he saw the angel of the Lord {Numbers 22:31}.  It was not until it pleased God that He would reveal to the apostle Paul Christ Jesus in him {Galations 1:15}.  When that time comes for us to hear what He wants us to hear, our Lord will find a way to deliver His message.

 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

Of course, I have yet another theory as to how our Lord will make known to us His thoughts.  For if we are to trust that Christ Jesus lives through us today, then we already have those thoughts of the Father within us.  It is in our quiet moments when we are free from the distractions of everyday life where we may hear His voice within us.  For to have Jesus in us is to have God Himself within us.  As Jesus Himself proclaimed to His disciples "If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father" {John 14:9}.  Therefore, we do not need to look too far if we desire to talk to our heavenly Father.  It is Christ Jesus, the image of the invisible God who gave Himself and rose again that the relationship with the Father would be restored {Colossions 1:15}.  Therefore, there is no seperation, there is only Christ Jesus in us.  We don't need to look too far when the troubles of this life have us searching for the presence of our heavenly Father.  We only need to listen His voice within us.

 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: 21 - 26 NKJV

~Scott~

Finding Jesus At The Oregon Coast

Celebrating Christ in us

 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

I recently spent some time with a few brothers whom I have not had the company of for quite awhile.  For me, it is always good to reconnect with brothers in the faith.  However, as we talked there was definately something missing.  It seems that Jesus wasn't invited to this gathering.  Don't get me wrong, we definately talked about Christ Jesus and how it was that He died to save us from ourselves and how we today proclaim things in His very name, but we were missing the real Christ.  See, Jesus is not simply sitting in heaven at the Fathers side seperated from us for the remainder of our time here on this clod of dirt we call earth.  Yet this has been the prevailing thought in christian circles for far too long.  We are told that we need to be more like Jesus, act more like Jesus and strive to know Jesus.  All of this gives one the impression that Christ is seperate from ourselves and that our lives are but a struggle to finaly one day attain union with Him.  Nothing could be more untrue.  Yes, Jesus became sin on our behalf to shoulder that burden for us {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  However, like someone who walks into a movie halfway through, we're missing the rest of the story.  Jesus did not simply vanish from us upon His resurection.  No, something far better happened on that glorious morning which may change our entire outlook of easter from now on.  For I believe that or celebration of this occasion should not be one of a celebration of a life seperate from Christ...but of our lives IN HIM.  For this is the truth of Christ Jesus today.

3Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it happened, as they were bgreatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 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: 3 - 8 NKJV

For those who still feel that they need to be more like Jesus I will ask this question...why do you seek the living among the dead?  The apostle Pauls words in Galations 2 assure us that it is not we who live, but that Christ lives in us {Galations 2:20}.  Paul does not tell us that we need to be more like Christ.  He does not encourage us to work that much harder to know Him.  No, Paul tells us that Jesus lives IN US.  Maybe it's just me, but I trust the words of the apostle Paul over any pastor any day.  So I guess the next time I hear a pulpit pounder tell me that I need to be more like Jesus I should make mention of Galations 2:20.
I should also mention that I had the opportunity recently to be in the company of a few brothers as we came together to celebrate Christ Jesus in us.  As I write this I can almost hear a collective gasp from christian leaders far and wide.  Christ Jesus in sinful man?  Heracy!  Perhaps this is why the Christ in us school of teaching has been put on the back burner for so long.  So, can Jesus live on in sinful man?  Are we indeed still sinners saved by grace?  Think about this before you rattle off your answer.  Did not Jesus Himself perish on that cross that our sins would be wiped clean?  That is all sins past, present and future.  So the truth is that we no longer carry the sinful man label which we once did.  As Paul tells us in Romans 6, we are now dead to that sin which once haunted us.  We are no longer slaves to our own sins {Romans 6:6}.  So, can Christ Jesus live in sinful man?  Perhaps not, but since my own sins have been covered I trust in my heart that He lives in me.

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~

Open Ears

27And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” 28But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Luke 11: 27 - 28 NKJV

Once again I was drawn to the weekly podcast of Wayne Jacobsen as he continued in his attempts to either rationalize or overcome racism in our country.  This week ol' Wayne tackled the subject of just why we don't listen to others as we should.  Why do we disregard the opinions of others?  Why do we try our like hell to assert our own views on others?  Are we so important that God imself has entitled us with the task of making sure that others see things our way?  Hardly.  One thing that I have learned through the years is that there are those who listen...and those who hear.  Make no mistake, the two are very different.  I had a conversation with a coworker recently on this very same subject.  It seems that his son was having difficulty communicating with his children.  However, in the presence of grandpa or grandma, the child would open up and talk freely.  Listening and hearing.  See, the child would listen to his parents...but he would hear grandpa.  The simple fact of the matter is that, as parents, part of our duties is to provide direction to our own children.  As a result, we may often be forced to make decisions which are not popular with our young ones.  Therefore, our children may at times seek to bend the ear of one who will...hear them.  Listening versus hearing.  This is by no means a reflection of the parent child relationship, it's just that the kid feels more comfortable talking to grandpa and/or grandma about certain things because they know there will be no resistance from mom and dad.  They're looking for someone to hear what it is they have to say.  it would seem that grandparents have more of an open ear than parents do...perhaps.

3“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4“And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds aof the air came and devoured it. 5“Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6“But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7“And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8“But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” 9And He said cto them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Mark 4: 3 -9 NKJV

I find it interesting that Jesus would at times punctuate his words with the phrase..."he who has ears, let him hear!"  Was He speaking among those who were listening...or hearing?  Obviously Jesus Himself knew the difference and sought to teach others as well.  So, are we listening to those around us or are we hearing them?  My friend, anyone can listen to the life going around them, but there's definately more involved.  When I was younger, I used to lie awake at night and listen to the train whistles of the distant iron ore trains of northern Minnesota.  However, when I was outside playing, I would hear my friends talking to me.  All too often I would be listening for my mother to call me inside, but I wouldn't "hear" her.  Like I said, there's a difference in the two.  So, in regards to our own interaction with those around us, I believe that it's important that we keep our own ears open to what it is they are speaking to us.  Just because we don't agree with something someone is telling us in no way means that it did not happen.  I think that Wayne could have taken a big step by acknowledging this fact.  We can talk all day long about the racial divide in this country, but that in no way means that millions of people were forced from their homeland, enslaved and treated as property in the early years of our nations history.  Sorry folks, it happened.  The moment in which we as a nation can come together with open ears to HEAR the thoughts of others we will be taking a huge step.  To have a open ear is to hear others...not just listen.

~Scott~

Those Left Behind

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

I was asked a question this past week about how I would be remembered after I'm gone.  Now, the person who asked me this is someone with a good deal of possesions to his credit.  He has his house, his four fancy cars as well as other things.  One thing he often points out to me is that I save too much of my money.  "You only get one ride Scotty...enjoy it while you can!"  Seriously, this guy should be the poster child for the "Sieze the day" Carpe Deum movement.  Now, I agree that we should take some enjoyment from this life of ours, but I also believe that we should be aware of tommorow as well.  Maybe I'm too frugal in my finances.  But what is it that will be our legacy?  How is it that we will be remembered by those we leave behind?  Will people say of me, "that Scott, he sure had a lot of things."  Or will they be reminded of who I truly was?  Will it be said of me on that day, "Scott really had a heart for Jesus?"  How is it that we will choose to be remembered?  I know of a rich man who had everything he ever wanted in life...yet he would spend his eternity in that place of torment.  Likewise, I know a man who had to beg and borrow that which he needed in his own life...only to spend his eternity in comfort.  Does this seem like a polar opposite of what we see today?  Obviously, from my conversation this week.  I believe the story of the rich man and Lazarus we find in Luke 16 is an attempt by Jesus to illustrate to those who were listening just what it is that is important in our life.  To be honest, although I would like to have more than I do, this is not how I want to be remembered by those around me.  No, I would like to be remembered as someone who lived for those around him and not for what he had.  How would a new car lead someone to Christ?  How would a expensive house spread the truth of Jesus?  See, all of these material things are but temporary.  For without Christ living through me, His words may never be known to others {Galations 2:20}.  Without Christ Jesus being that image of our invisible God which He is, the heart of our heavenly Father may never be known.  Our own possesions will not speak to the truth of Christ in us.  Only we ourselves will do that.

16Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17“And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18“So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12: 16 - 21 NKJV

It was Martin Luther King Junior who proclaimed that ALL men should be judged not by the color of their skin...but by the content of their character.  Therefore, do not judge me by what is seen by all...but by who I am inside!  I am not Scott the owner of all that he has.  No, I am Scott, the very image of Christ Jesus whose image he shares.  There is no doubt that we bring nothing into this world,and we take nothing with us when we leave.  However, that which we shall always keep with us is the Spirit of Christ Jesus who lives through us.  Metal shall rust and fabrics shall fade, but the Spirit of Jesus will endure forever!  Now, tell me again how important these earthly possesions are to you christian.  Where will they be when God calls you home?  I feel that we shall long be remembered for the words of Jesus which we speak among others than for all which we own.  In the end, are we trusting our heavenly Father to provide for us that which He desires...or are we taking it upon ourselves to circumvent His provision?  One of the follys of the independent self is thinking that we ourselves know what is best and then proceed to go out and get it.  I want to be content in knowing that when my soul is required of me...that my eternity will be with He who is in me.

13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15“Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5: 13 - 16 NKJV

~Scott~

Life Change

8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 13: 8 NKJV 

I spent quite a bit of time this past weekend working through the thoughts that I needed to do something to change my station in life.  I'm not exactly sure what drove me to this decision, only that I was sure that I needed to change something.  I think we've all been there at one time or another.  We may become frustrated with the way that we feel our lives are headed and our desire is to do what any sane person might do.  That is, to hit the brakes and change what we're doing.  It wasn't until late on Sunday night that I realized that I was chasing a losing proposition.  I was running after something I had no chance of catching up to.  Better yet, I was chasing something I no longer needed to worry about...at all.  See, it was at that point that I realized that...Christ Jesus never needs to change.  The author of Hebrews tells us this as he tells us that Christ Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  So what does this have to do with me?  Well, as the apostle Paul tells us in Galations 2...I AM Jesus.  I share His identity, His Spirit and His very DNA.  Knowing that, what is it that I need to be changing in this life of mine?  For each and every day I am living as Christ who is in me.  Believe me, I think that I just saved myself a ton of money on psychologist fees by recalling this simple truth about the man that I truly am inside.  There is nothing about me that needs to be changed if Christ Jesus is in me.  Now, I know that I'll more than likey get a bit of pushback from those who have entrenched themselves in the institutional teachings of the modern church, where we are but sinners saved by our Lords graces.  Despite the sacrafice of Jesus, we must continue daily to dig ourselves out of our sin hole.  I was reminded of this this weekend in our Sunday meeting when one of our own expressed his concerns over what he perceived as that sin that was in him.  That sin which, as we were all reminded once again, we are all dead to {Romans 6:11}.  

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 

See, the apostle Paul got it.  Paul knew that in his flesh there was nothing good {Romans 7:18}.  Paul had that very same frustration which we all to often hold against ourselves.  In our hearts we know that it is Christ who has set us free, yet we continue to listen as that tape from our own past is played back in our minds.  I'm just a sinner, I need to change, how could God love ever love me?  I get it.  However, it is not that voice of our heavenly Father who is throwing these flaming darts of accusation our way.  For we know that there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ {Romans 8:1}.  Or, at least we should know this by now.  The enemy uses any means at his disposal in order to set us astray from the God we love.  Despite this, it does not change who it is that we truly are.  

I remember a epiphany moment that occured when I was still attending church on a regular basis.  It happened during the annual Easter morning celebration as the congregation was celebrating the resurection of Christ.  In the midst of this celebration, the pastor called upon the congregation to come forward in prayer if we felt that need to confess that sin in our lives.  I remember thinking to myself...what sin?  Here we were celebrating the resurection of Jesus, who had become sin on our behalf that we should not face that penalty {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  What sins of ours did Christ not take upon Himself?  Needless to say, I left that morning feeling more confused than forgiven.  I remember feeling that maybe, just maybe, it was me who needed to change.  I'm glad I  know better.

19For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Romans 7: 19 - 24 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Todays Heroes

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 8: 7 - 10 NKJV

It seems that everywhere I look these days I see another ad, commercial or tv show which touts the extraordinary exploits of those whom we choose to call heroes.  Now, I have had this monicker bestowed on me a few times in my life, but I've never been the subject of a tv show or documentry.  No, the reason that someone refered to me as a hero was simply because I chose to do the right thing under the circumstances.  After all, isn't that what being a hero is all about?  The man who ignores death to save the life of his comrade on the battlefield does not do it because he's ordered to...he does it because it's the right thing to do.  He does it because if he didn't...another man would die.  The man who rescues someone from a burning building is not a hero simply because we say it is so...but because of the life he has saved.  I have a real problem with placing that label of hero upon someone who simply stands up for something.  Colin Kapernick is not a hero by any means.  The many NFL players who have followed suit like trained goats are not heroes in my mind either.  They are simply protesting something they feel strongly about.  Whose life has Colin Kaepernick saved?  NOBODY!  To place a two bit, unemployed former football player in that same catagory as men who have risked everything to save the lives of others is a joke.  Hey, Colin, why don't you try your hand at saving a life so you can be a REAL hero?  To say that this man is a hero is to say that the thousands of protestors in the 1960's were of the same caliber...wrong!  In my eyes, there is a huge difference between one who talks about being a hero...and one who puts his words to action.  I know of nobody who has ever been saved by someone who WANTED to do the right thing but chose not to.

"I don't measure a mans success by how high he climbs but by how high he bounces when he hits bottom"
~General George S Patton Jr.~

Far too many people would never consider the apostle Paul a hero, but to me he is the definition of the word.  It is because of this one man that we today have much of what we consider to be the gospel of Christ Jesus.  Far from being a follower of Christ, the man Saul was a persecutor of the early church.  However, in our Lords chosen hour, He revealed that truth in Paul of Christ in him.  Paul went from being on of the chosen social elites of his day to an outcast...all for Christ.  To me, that makes him a hero.  If we look at all that Saul gave up on that road to Damascus we begin to see the sacrafice that he made.  Make no mistake, Paul suffered much after his conversion.  However, he was never ungrateful, selfish or embarrassed by his condition in life.  To Paul, to know Christ was his reason for living and to die he considered gain {Philippians 1:21}.  So much so that he proclaimed that when he was weak then he was strong {2 Corinthians 8:10}.  Paul is a hero.  What of Christ Jesus?  He who forsake all for the lives of so many?  Is Christ a hero?  Well, I believe that Jesus embodies the very definition of the word.  For although His path was already laid in front of Him, he forsook all that He knew that through Him we might be saved {John 3:16-17}.  These men are heroes, not some protestor claiming to be one.  Once we place the well being of others above our own, then we may well one day be called a hero by someone.  The hero seeks not fame, fortune or status...only to do the right thing.

1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12: 1 - 2 NKJV

~Scott~

The Fathers Voice

23“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

John 16: 23 - 24 NKJV

The conversation came up this week of just how it is that we will hear the voice of our heavenly Father.  It wasn't so much of a conversation as it was a question I posed to Dennis.  Charles Stanley begins one of his devotionals from Matthew 5 with the admonishment that as christians we must not see God as miserly or tight fisted when it comes to our requests.  However, this passage from one our most well known pastors reminded me not of a intimate conversation with God, but of His children coming to Him with their own wish lists.  Was this really Gods intention when Jesus assured us that our joy would be full?  I'm thinking not.  For it was Christ Himself who warned us in Matthew 6 that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" {Matthew 6:21}.  I simply cannot believe that our heavenly Father would have us link those material things which we desire with our intimate conversation with Him.  No, it is Christ who tells us to first "seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" {Matthew 6:33}.  Think about that for a minute, God never tells His children that He would never provide for us, but that when we seek Him that all these things would be added to us.  Of course, I believe that Jesus was refering to Gods providing for our own basic needs in this passage.  So, what does all of this have to do with hearing our Fathers voice?  Well, when is it that we so often find ourselves seeking our Lords presence but when we are in need of His provision.  Now, that doesn't mean that He does not delight in providing for us, but to me it seems like a one way street if we only come before the Father when we are in need.  I truly believe that this is not how it is meant to be.  

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 

I had a conversation with a coworker this week which in some way inspired me to write this post.  This man was relating a experience a friend of his was having with his wife.  It seems that any time there was a disagreement in their relationship that his friend would all too often attempt to quell any discord by taking his wife on a trip or with some other reward.  Well, like pavlovs dog, the young lady soon learned to equate their marital issues with her material rewards.  Although I've never been a parent, I'm smart enough to know that any parent whose child would equate their own parents love for them with material rewards would feel slighted.  What does this all have to do with hearing our Fathers voice?  Well, I believe that we've all too often made it a one sided conversation.  We have needs, so we go to our Father to have them met.  We've been conditioned.  Too many of us contiue to see God as seperate from our own lives.  However, far from being seperated, the Father is nearer to us than most of us realize.  The apostle Paul tells us in Galations that it is Christ Himself who now resides in us.  We ARE Jesus.  So, if we indeed share that Spirit of Jesus in us, what can then be said of those desires that we?  Are those desires which we have the same desires of He who is in us?  Indeed, if we listen to our own hearts, we will surely hear the voice of the Father who is in us.  

 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: 21 - 26 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Seeing And Believing

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 often told Dennis that one of the toughest parts of the whole Christ in us thing is that I cannot physically see He who is in me.  Nor have I ever met Him.  How can I be sure that Jesus even exists that I should receive His Spirit in me?  Has anyone else ever shared this issue?  Each day we are bombarded with sermon and song which tell us that as christians we must suffer in order to come into our Lords glory.  Somewhat like a spiritual toll bridge, our own sufferings pave the way for our rewards in heaven.  The more we suffer and endure, we're told, the greater will our reward be.  This is one of the main reasons why I first had trouble accepting the whole Jesus in me concept.  See, we're told that Jesus suffered and died for us that we would be saved.  So, is Christ therefore suffering again since He is now in us?  Am I to believe that as we suffer, He who is in us suffers as well?  Believe me, I've spent many an hour struggling with these thoughts.  However, I don't believe that I am the only one, not by a long shot.  For as humans we tend to find it easier to trust and believe in something which we can physically see.  At least Thomas did.  Thomas only wanted to see what was in front of him.  Despite the affirmation of his friends that they had indeed seen the risen Christ, Thomas made his bold claim that he could not trust these men whom he had spent so much time with.  "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"{John 20:25}.  See, Thomas was seeing things as I once did.  I don't think that I am entirely alone in feeling this way either.  Believe me, one of the most common complaints I have heard from others is that I am trusting in something which I cannot see...thanks Thomas.

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’? 10“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves."
John 14: 7 - 11 NKJV

Then there's Philip.  Yes, I have often prayed out loud to Jesus, crying out for HIm to "show me the Father!"  Again, if I could not see Him then how could He even exist?  Well, in my amateur theology way I will try to explain just why this argument does not hold water.  See, each day I am surrounded by such things which I cannot fully explain and yet they are there in front of me.  I'm no weather man, but I know that the rains of Oregon WILL fall.  It's a fact of life here in the Northwest.  I'm no psychic, but I trust in my heart that the sun will rise each morning.  How can this be?  Somehow, somewhere, there is something by which the winds and tides around us answer to.  Yes, I know that answer already.  It is by our Lords desire that all of this occurs {Genesis 2: 1-2}.  So, why is it that I trust that my heavenly Father created that which is around me but struggle with the unseen Spirit of Christ Jesus in me?  Dennis has mentioned a few times that our Lord is shown through all of His creation, from that which we can see to that which we cannot.  I can't see those atoms around me, but I know in my heart that God made them, and I trust that they are there.  So it must be with knowing that Spirit of Christ in us.  Despite the fact that, like Thomas, we cannot see our Lord, it is BECAUSE of the print of those nails in His hands, the scars on His back and the wounds in His side that we must trust that He remains in us.

 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 powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Colossions 1: 15 - 17 KJV

~Scott~

That Which Divides Us

~August 28, 1962~

26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galations 3: 26 - 29 NKJV 

I wasn't going to go there.  I mean, with all that has gone on recently in our country, steering clear of that racial conversation seemed like the best thing to do.  But along came Wayne Jacobsen and that all changed.  See, Wayne put out his weekly podcast this morning, and with this one he was tackling the very same racial divide issue which I had been skirting.  My first question when confronting this issue would be, are there indeed different races among Gods children?  I mean, aren't we all created in His image?  Could it be that this issue of race is more about us than it is about our Lords creation?  I guess if it is then we have a whole lot of soul searching to do amongst ourselves.  I cannot fathom that as God created His children in His own image that He would do in such a way that would divide us so violently.  Therefore, it is my belief that the weight of the racism we all too often strive against lies squarely on our shoulders.  We see someone who seems different than we are and we instantly attach a race label.  Sound familiar?  As christians, we should know that God does not see His children in regards to race.  That is the mistake we ourselves have made.  Is it that difficult for us to see others as they really are, as someone created in His image as we are?  As the apostle Paul tells us in Galations 3, we are all one in Christ Jesus with no racial barriers.  It wouldn't be the first time that we have bastardized our Lords creation with our own ideas.   

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and hamlet, from every stahe and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of Gods children, black men and white men, jews and gentiles, protestants and catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old negro spiritual, "free at last!  free at last! Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!"

~Martin Luther King, August 28, 1962~

I used to be like most of you.  In fact in many ways I still am.  I attach race labels when in my heart I know full well that the very same Spirit of Christ Jesus which is in me is also in that person whom I am labeling.  Paul did  not discriminate between the races when he told of Gods revealing Christ in him.  Therefore, how is it that we can so proudly proclaim that we are different than any of His other creation?  As I said, this is our own doing and not our Lords intention.  In the past few years, I have come to have a different perspective on race relations from a african american coworker of mine.  It is he who enlightened me to the other side of race relations that many of us will never see.  That side of police injustice, labels and being treated differently than others.  To be honest, I cannot claim to know his point of view as I have never been in his shoes.  However, one thing I can proclaim is to began to see him as my heavenly Father sees him.  To see him as anything less would be to ignore what God has created.  In God there is no racial divide.  In Him there are no labels.  There is only Christ Jesus in us.  

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~ 

An Uncaring God

 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

In the wake of a of our recent tragdies I've once again heard the all too recited chorus of just how a loving God could ever allow such suffering on His own children.  I've even overheard a few pastors speaking in anger towards the Lord they serve.  I get it.  In the midst of our own pain and sorrow we are all too often blinded by our own emotions.  However, I feel that it is important to mention that it is the God who created us in His holy image who has bestowed these very emotions upon His creation.  Our own emotions are part of what make us who we are.  Indeed, to be without them and those around us would notice that something was seriously wrong with us.  Therefore, I cannot blame one pastor or another for expressing what the Lord has created in him.  There have been plenty of times where my own emotions have caused me to question my Lords motives in my life.  However, I feel that where we go wrong is that we all too often ask the wrong question when those events in our lives stir up our emotions.  The prophet Isaiah reveals to us that our Lords thoughts and ways are far above our own {Isaiah 55:9}.  So, knowing this, why is it that we would so often question our Lords working in our lives?  Does He not know what is best for His children?  Indeed he does.  The issue is not that God has changed, but that we have.  We've changed in the way that we often see God.  We've changed in the way we often go about our lives.  Now, I can't speak for everyone obviously, but there has been many a time where I have simply said to God "I got this" and went about things the way I felt I should.  Was I following my Lords will for my life?  Probably not.  However, what I was doing was seeing myself as a independent soul who was in charge of my life and my environment...CARPE DEUM!

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've written a few times before of the folly of that independent self.  Of the mistake we make when we believe in our own heart that we are the ones who are in charge of the world around us.  This is the same lie satan layed out for Eve at the fall {Genesis 3: 4-5}.  Indeed, satan promised Eve that were she to eat of that forbidden fruit that she would "be like God."  Be like God?  What could be better than that, right?  I mean, if we were like God then we'd have no need to go to Him in our time of need right?  If we were like God then we could truly be free, right?  Wrong.  Which is why the deceiver continues to spread his lie today.  There is no better way that I can lay out a rebuttal of the independent self than to say that we did...not...create...anything.  In fact, all that we are and all that we see around us has been provided for us by our heavenly Father.  Yes, including that pain we all too often experience.  So, what does this all have to do with how we see those tragedies which will occur around us.  Well, we can start by asking "what are you doing through this situation Lord?"  That simple question cuts through the folly of our independent self and puts the focus exactly where it belongs...on God.  All too often when our emotions react to our pain we will cry out "WHY GOD?"  Instead, we should be asking He who has given us life and all which we have just what He is showing us through the midst of our toughest times.

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

~Scott~

The Next Question

1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit that does not confess athat Jesus bChrist has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 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.
1 John 4: 1 - 6 NKJV

There was a catch phrase back in the late 1960's counter culture hippie movement which claimed "never trust anyone over 30!"  I would expound on that statement a bit and proclaim that we should question everything.  For when we question those things around us, we may just learn more along the way.  That is never a bad thing in my book.  Now, one of the main reasons for the young generation of the 1960's to make such a outrageous claim was most likely due to the fact that it was those people over 30 who were at the time running things and telling these kids what to do.  Who likes being told what to do, right?  It's my belief that the current strife in our own culture began with that strife in the culture of the 1960's.  While I don't disagree with the fact that the youth of that time questioned things, I do disagree with how it was that they went about making those changes they thought needed to be made.  A better question might be, if I disagree with something, do I have that right to change it for everyone around me?  I'd say no.  Then again, there will always be those who disagree with me.  So, how does this thinking fit into christiandom?  Simple, our christian faith is filled with those who will always have different views of the faith than we ourselves have.  In fact, the protestant reformation may never have occured had it not been for Martin Luther himself questioning the practices of that holy church of his day.  See, in Luthers time there was but one church where we could worship...and it was controlled by the state.  The state itself told you what, how and when to worship the heavenly Father.  To Luther, that needed to be questioned.  I agree.

2For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; aand he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
Romans 14: 2 - 6 NKJV

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 14 that we ought to receive our brethren who do not practice their beliefs as we do.  For indeed God is able "to make him stand."  Paul was not talking about questioning ones faith here, but of avoiding the disputes that inevitably will come in this christian faith of ours.  Indeed, some may be set in their ways of worship while others will seek to worship another way.  It is not the method of worship which i would question, but what is being taught in the house of worship.  This was what brought forth Luthers questions of the church of his day.  Paul also warns his young apprentice Timothy that there will be those in the faith who will have "itching ears" and will thus raise up for themselves teachers who share their point of view.  It is these itching ear teachers who we must, in my opinion, question.  One main point by which I use to question any church pastor is how they teach Christ Jesus.  Do they teach a seperated Christ who simply rose into heaven after His resurection?  Or, do they speak of the truth of Christ which Paul tells us in Galations 2 that Jesus lives and exemplifies Himself through us today?  Unfortunately, many a church leader continue to hold to that belief that there is a seperation between our heavenly Father and us and that we need to "be more like Jesus."  My friends, we ARE Jesus {Galations 2:20}!  It is this belief by which I will question any church leader.  In my opinion, the question shouldn't be trust nobody over 30...but trust no one who doesn't  know the real Christ Jesus.

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.
2 Timothy 4: 2 - 4 NKJV

~Scott~