I am in a Bible study with a group of friends. We get together and discuss Biblical things...thus we call it a Bible study. One of the participants of this group is, shall we say, a deep thinker. I enjoy listening and thinking about the ideas presented during this study. Whether or not they are true 100%, the jury is still out. BUT I haven't found anything with which I scripturally disagree. I am challenged on what I "think I know" and if "what I think I know about the Bible is really IN the Bible." For instance, at the church I was previously at we discussed Hell and found that many of the ideas of hell that we understand DON'T come from the Bible but from Dante's Inferno. Or I'm reminded of a story my mother tells about a disagreement that she and my father had about "wearing your Sunday best" to church. My father challenged her to find the passage and she, to my knowledge has yet to find that verse some 30 years later.
So the point is this group is very fun and mentally and spiritually challenging. One of the ideas presented last night was, "What if you could PROVE Jesus is the Christ...and NOT use the Bible?" My eyebrows furrowed then raised and responded "Prove it."
What would you say the odds are of someone winning the lottery? The odds that someone would win the huge March Mega Millions Lottery were 1 in 176,000,000. What if you won in March and decided to play again, and won. Since you were on a winning streak, you play again...and win. Creepy? Fluke? Cries of "It's RIGGED!" What if you won it 300 times? What are THOSE odds?
Scholars have said there are 300 prophecies in the OT that point to the Messiah. Others say upwards of 500. What are the odds that ONE man would fulfill everyone in his lifetime?
Maybe you are saying, "Yes, but he could set out and plan to achieve each one. Like a checklist." Ok, Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. How does one PLAN on location to be born. I know that mother and child have an intense bond but that seems a bit much for me. Or, the fact that it was prophesied that the Messiah would be betrayed. Did Jesus, when choosing the 12, say,
"Let me see, I have a big mouth, and his brother...well I need a tax guy, so there's where Matthew fits in...oh, John. Man I LOVE him. Now lets see, all I'm missing is a...crooked, money laundering betrayer who will be in charge of all of our money....Ah HA!! Judas! Checklist done." I don't think so.
Mathematician, David Williams, crunched the numbers and said that in fact the odds that Jesus is undeniable. He calculated the figures on 48 of the prophesies and discovered that the odds that ONE man would fulfill those 48 prophesies was 1 in 10^157 (that's a 1 with 157 "0"s. Want to see how big that number is? 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. That's big huh!)
That was only 58 of the 300 prophesies. Jesus fulfilled another 250...can you imagine what the number would be!?
As cool as this statistic is, it means nothing if his people don't live the life he calls them to lead. I read that only 11% of Christians live a "christian lifestyle." That number is more shocking to me than the number above. Just something to think about.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Pay to Caesar what he Seizes
Hopefully you have payed those wonderful taxes today. But did you get all the deductions? Here are a few that you may want consider for next year.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
WPS!!!
"Arkansas Fires Petrino as Coach." That is what the headlines read this morning in the Natural State. Now, let the armchair quarterbacking begin! I have friends on both sides of this issue who vehemently defend their stance.
"His personal life should be separate from his professional life!" "Jeff Long made the correct decision. 'No single individual is bigger than the team.' AMEN!!" "But it's ARKANSAS FOOTBALL, He'll keep his job. They HAVE to keep him! (this before Tuesday's announcement)"
Nothing is more sacred to Arkansans than their beloved Hogs. The only thing that even comes close to the level of love and devotion is how Texans refer to their homeland. I do believe there is a line at which you say, "we'll go this far and no further." That is, at least in reference to the Hogs...Texas, I'm not sure about. I would venture that if Satan himself came and claimed Texas as his own...since he's familiar with hot, dry uninhabitable places, that the Texans would shoo him away with their 10 gallon hats or just shoot him with one of their thousands of firearms. "Granny! Get your gun! that red devil is back in our yard again!"
Personally, my props go to the U of A and the AD Jeff Long, no man IS greater than the team. In the university setting the faculty and staff are a team. They work together to achieve a goal, educated, well rounded students. They lean on the talents of each other. Arkansas has a good football team BUT that ISN'T the whole college. They also have this thing called...academics. Although many view these two as a "church and state" or "Lord's supper and the offering" issue, you cannot keep academics and sports "separate and apart." They are a PART of the WHOLE.
In the church we do the same thing. The younger generation wants to sing all the new songs and worship radically, while the older generation thinks everything will be fine if we go back to the way church was in the 50's. Neither are correct in and of themselves. There is a yin and yang to this thing we call the church. And until we look at each other as FAMILY the church will continue to be filled with the Hatfields and McCoys.
No individual is greater than the team should be a call for the church. We are in this thing together...we are in it to win...there will be some who see the church as a political or personal stage and that isn't the issue. Sometimes we may have to cut someone NOT because we don't like them but because he/she has become "too big for their britches."
In those raw cases it needs to be remembered that those people are still family. They any actions done need to be done in love and affection for the person NOT as a vindictive "AHA!"
"By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another. (and if you call the Hogs)" John 13:35 (Hezikiah 3:5)
"His personal life should be separate from his professional life!" "Jeff Long made the correct decision. 'No single individual is bigger than the team.' AMEN!!" "But it's ARKANSAS FOOTBALL, He'll keep his job. They HAVE to keep him! (this before Tuesday's announcement)"
Nothing is more sacred to Arkansans than their beloved Hogs. The only thing that even comes close to the level of love and devotion is how Texans refer to their homeland. I do believe there is a line at which you say, "we'll go this far and no further." That is, at least in reference to the Hogs...Texas, I'm not sure about. I would venture that if Satan himself came and claimed Texas as his own...since he's familiar with hot, dry uninhabitable places, that the Texans would shoo him away with their 10 gallon hats or just shoot him with one of their thousands of firearms. "Granny! Get your gun! that red devil is back in our yard again!"
Personally, my props go to the U of A and the AD Jeff Long, no man IS greater than the team. In the university setting the faculty and staff are a team. They work together to achieve a goal, educated, well rounded students. They lean on the talents of each other. Arkansas has a good football team BUT that ISN'T the whole college. They also have this thing called...academics. Although many view these two as a "church and state" or "Lord's supper and the offering" issue, you cannot keep academics and sports "separate and apart." They are a PART of the WHOLE.
In the church we do the same thing. The younger generation wants to sing all the new songs and worship radically, while the older generation thinks everything will be fine if we go back to the way church was in the 50's. Neither are correct in and of themselves. There is a yin and yang to this thing we call the church. And until we look at each other as FAMILY the church will continue to be filled with the Hatfields and McCoys.
No individual is greater than the team should be a call for the church. We are in this thing together...we are in it to win...there will be some who see the church as a political or personal stage and that isn't the issue. Sometimes we may have to cut someone NOT because we don't like them but because he/she has become "too big for their britches."
In those raw cases it needs to be remembered that those people are still family. They any actions done need to be done in love and affection for the person NOT as a vindictive "AHA!"
"By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another. (and if you call the Hogs)" John 13:35 (Hezikiah 3:5)
Monday, April 9, 2012
In One Ear and Out the Udder
I spent Easter with my family in Bollinger Co. It was fun to dye eggs, play in the sprinkler, try to fly kites...the whole 9 yards. The day began with going to a church that I hadn't probably been to in 10 years. The building wasn't nearly as large as I remember it, nor were the pews as big and comfortable as I remember but what struck my heart strings were the people.
Ten years ago the church was...well seasoned. Ten years later, the once Goliath sized song leader was bent with age, hard hearing and horribly off tune and rhythm. The man whose baritone voice once was a sliding trombone, effortlessly sliding from one note to the next couldn't tell if he was on tune at all.
This sad sound from behind me also made me smile because regardless of song or tune the man was singing. Singing aloud, not embarrassed or ashamed but singing letting all those that heard know that there was a Savior WORTH singing about.
That afternoon the boys and I went down to say hello to the cows behind my aunts house. I was reminded of the cruel joke my mother use to play on us. "OH! the cows LOVE jokes! You need to go down and talk to them. Go tell them your jokes!" Even then nobody wanted to hear my horrible jokes...and the cows didn't even laugh! They just went in one ear and out the udder.
My oldest mooed for 10-15 minutes straight trying to get the skittish cows to come close. Not a hyper excited moo but a dull monotonous moo. over and Over And OVER!! I again point back to the fact that my mother use to play this cruel joke on me too.
Everything comes full circle. You came in this world dependant on someone to take care of you. If you live long enough that is how you will go. The stress you caused your parents as a child will come back to haunt you as a parent...it is true that you pay for your raising but I think God gave me my BROTHER's child because I couldn't have been THIS difficult.
Enjoy this life because it goes quickly!
Ten years ago the church was...well seasoned. Ten years later, the once Goliath sized song leader was bent with age, hard hearing and horribly off tune and rhythm. The man whose baritone voice once was a sliding trombone, effortlessly sliding from one note to the next couldn't tell if he was on tune at all.
This sad sound from behind me also made me smile because regardless of song or tune the man was singing. Singing aloud, not embarrassed or ashamed but singing letting all those that heard know that there was a Savior WORTH singing about.
That afternoon the boys and I went down to say hello to the cows behind my aunts house. I was reminded of the cruel joke my mother use to play on us. "OH! the cows LOVE jokes! You need to go down and talk to them. Go tell them your jokes!" Even then nobody wanted to hear my horrible jokes...and the cows didn't even laugh! They just went in one ear and out the udder.
My oldest mooed for 10-15 minutes straight trying to get the skittish cows to come close. Not a hyper excited moo but a dull monotonous moo. over and Over And OVER!! I again point back to the fact that my mother use to play this cruel joke on me too.
Everything comes full circle. You came in this world dependant on someone to take care of you. If you live long enough that is how you will go. The stress you caused your parents as a child will come back to haunt you as a parent...it is true that you pay for your raising but I think God gave me my BROTHER's child because I couldn't have been THIS difficult.
Enjoy this life because it goes quickly!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Holy Week
From time to time I will pour out my heart to those of you who read this regularly (thanks Mom). This is one of those posts. It struck me today while putting on my shoes...why my shoes? Because they are the only religious clothing I have...They have soles.
What did you do for Palm Sunday last week? Are you going to do something for Good Friday? What are you plans for Easter? Is there anything spiritual you are doing to prepare your minds for this week?
Working in the church biz, I ALWAYS remembered Holy Week. I prepared lessons and events centered around the crucifixion and more importantly, the Resurrection of Jesus. But for some reason, now that I am NOT in a ministry position this week as simply passed me by. I completely forgot about last Sunday being Palm Sunday, imagining the shouts of "HOSANNA!" and the triumphal entry.
One of the things I LOVE about this week is Good Friday. My first Good Friday Service was 9 years ago this year put on by a wonderful church family in Hollywood, California. The idea of watching Jesus dying NOT knowing the rest of the story and leaving him dead for the weekend was a VERY powerful experience for me and a few others and it made Resurrection Sunday SO much more exciting to know that NO! He is NOT dead!!
But even for Easter my mind is turning to family time after service, dying eggs and fellowship. Honestly, I guess I feel a little guilty. How much does Jesus really mean to me if I pass through barely noticing one of the most important weeks of the year in the Christian tradition?
I don't believe I have lost my faith, nor do I believe it was a show during my paid ministry days. But it has opened my eyes to how easily I can get lost in the trivial things of this world and lose focus on God. Is my Christianity something I only really pay attention to on Sundays? What am I doing to feed my soul during the week? Who am I surrounding myself with that will point me to journey with me to a better understanding of God?
I guess my plea for the three of you who read this is, Where do you stand? Are you looking forward to this weekend NOT because it means a chocolate rush just before tax time or watching kids finding Easter eggs in the yard wearing their Easter clothes.
When we become a Christian we marry ourselves to Christ. We say, 'That from this point forward I will follow you anywhere. You are the most important thing in my life." But honestly there are times in my life where our relationship anything BUT a marriage and resembles something much more dark and sad. I go to him, spend a few hours with him, sometimes I pay for the time I spend with him but many times I don't, I leave feeling better about myself but thankful that I don't have to spend all my time with him...cause, man...that would be BAD.
Wow, forget my shiny bunnies...I have gone off the deep end!
For the rest of the week, my mind will NOT be the above statement. I will be thinking and longing looking for a renewed relationship with him. Because it is his death that saves me and his resurrection that gives me hope. He is my Lord, my Savior, my Brother, my Friend. HE IS GOD!
What did you do for Palm Sunday last week? Are you going to do something for Good Friday? What are you plans for Easter? Is there anything spiritual you are doing to prepare your minds for this week?
Working in the church biz, I ALWAYS remembered Holy Week. I prepared lessons and events centered around the crucifixion and more importantly, the Resurrection of Jesus. But for some reason, now that I am NOT in a ministry position this week as simply passed me by. I completely forgot about last Sunday being Palm Sunday, imagining the shouts of "HOSANNA!" and the triumphal entry.
One of the things I LOVE about this week is Good Friday. My first Good Friday Service was 9 years ago this year put on by a wonderful church family in Hollywood, California. The idea of watching Jesus dying NOT knowing the rest of the story and leaving him dead for the weekend was a VERY powerful experience for me and a few others and it made Resurrection Sunday SO much more exciting to know that NO! He is NOT dead!!
But even for Easter my mind is turning to family time after service, dying eggs and fellowship. Honestly, I guess I feel a little guilty. How much does Jesus really mean to me if I pass through barely noticing one of the most important weeks of the year in the Christian tradition?
I don't believe I have lost my faith, nor do I believe it was a show during my paid ministry days. But it has opened my eyes to how easily I can get lost in the trivial things of this world and lose focus on God. Is my Christianity something I only really pay attention to on Sundays? What am I doing to feed my soul during the week? Who am I surrounding myself with that will point me to journey with me to a better understanding of God?
I guess my plea for the three of you who read this is, Where do you stand? Are you looking forward to this weekend NOT because it means a chocolate rush just before tax time or watching kids finding Easter eggs in the yard wearing their Easter clothes.
When we become a Christian we marry ourselves to Christ. We say, 'That from this point forward I will follow you anywhere. You are the most important thing in my life." But honestly there are times in my life where our relationship anything BUT a marriage and resembles something much more dark and sad. I go to him, spend a few hours with him, sometimes I pay for the time I spend with him but many times I don't, I leave feeling better about myself but thankful that I don't have to spend all my time with him...cause, man...that would be BAD.
Wow, forget my shiny bunnies...I have gone off the deep end!
For the rest of the week, my mind will NOT be the above statement. I will be thinking and longing looking for a renewed relationship with him. Because it is his death that saves me and his resurrection that gives me hope. He is my Lord, my Savior, my Brother, my Friend. HE IS GOD!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Soundtrack of Life
A couple of years ago, my wife and I were staying with some friends in Colorado. We were playing games at the kitchen table and I was struck as their oldest son was singing almost every song that came on the Christian radio station. I didn't know very many of the songs yet this 1st grader was singing every word.
During this same time period, my sons and I would listen to the radio. I smiled because my oldest was picking up the words to secular music. It was cute listening to him sing songs with the radio. But I started listening to the words he was singing and a child that young shouldn't be singing words like that. Not profanity, but just the ideas behind them. So what do I do?
I need to tell you that I didn't grow up on Contemporary Christian Music. I was raised on different music entirely thanks to my older brother and my mom's secret sister at church. My soundtrack growing up was Acappella, Donny Osmond, the Carpenters and Air Supply...Don't laugh...Ok...you can snicker. I remember songs like, "Jesus Freak", "Dive", "Big House" but as far as LISTENING to CCM, no, there was some spiritual line that I felt I couldn't cross...I mean...they use...INSTRUMENTS!!!
So I tentatively turned the channel to the local KLOVE channel...no lightning strike...no thunder...whew! I knew some of the songs but many were new. The kids didn't seem to mind. So with the little boy from CO in mind, I continued to listen to this station. IF I was going to brainwash my children with music, I wanted them to be singing a message that was about/to God.
Today on our 20 minute drive to school we sing along with KLOVE. My son's musical taste is starting to develop. He likes Mandisa's "Morning Song" but more because he likes the Toby Mac's rapping. He was singing and dancing having a blast. I've caught him other times just looking out the window singing along to himself. But today for some reason it hit me. I was listening to a 1st grader singing along with the radio but this was my child. My son.
Now I am NOT suggesting anyone reading this turn off secular music or that if you listen to secular music you are less of a believer than me and my family. This was a decision I made. Does listening to CCM mean that my children will grow up to be faithful strong believers, NO. It's gonna take more than Chris Tomlin, Toby Mac, and KJ-52 to get my kids to heaven. But I do believe that we are affected by the music we listen to. Those songs become our soundtrack. We attach ideas and feelings to those songs and they become a part of who we are. I can't hear "Puppy Love" or "All Out of Love" without thinking of summer days jumping on the trampoline. I just want my kids to put God into children's soundtrack while I still have a say in the type of music they listen to.
During this same time period, my sons and I would listen to the radio. I smiled because my oldest was picking up the words to secular music. It was cute listening to him sing songs with the radio. But I started listening to the words he was singing and a child that young shouldn't be singing words like that. Not profanity, but just the ideas behind them. So what do I do?
I need to tell you that I didn't grow up on Contemporary Christian Music. I was raised on different music entirely thanks to my older brother and my mom's secret sister at church. My soundtrack growing up was Acappella, Donny Osmond, the Carpenters and Air Supply...Don't laugh...Ok...you can snicker. I remember songs like, "Jesus Freak", "Dive", "Big House" but as far as LISTENING to CCM, no, there was some spiritual line that I felt I couldn't cross...I mean...they use...INSTRUMENTS!!!
So I tentatively turned the channel to the local KLOVE channel...no lightning strike...no thunder...whew! I knew some of the songs but many were new. The kids didn't seem to mind. So with the little boy from CO in mind, I continued to listen to this station. IF I was going to brainwash my children with music, I wanted them to be singing a message that was about/to God.
Today on our 20 minute drive to school we sing along with KLOVE. My son's musical taste is starting to develop. He likes Mandisa's "Morning Song" but more because he likes the Toby Mac's rapping. He was singing and dancing having a blast. I've caught him other times just looking out the window singing along to himself. But today for some reason it hit me. I was listening to a 1st grader singing along with the radio but this was my child. My son.
Now I am NOT suggesting anyone reading this turn off secular music or that if you listen to secular music you are less of a believer than me and my family. This was a decision I made. Does listening to CCM mean that my children will grow up to be faithful strong believers, NO. It's gonna take more than Chris Tomlin, Toby Mac, and KJ-52 to get my kids to heaven. But I do believe that we are affected by the music we listen to. Those songs become our soundtrack. We attach ideas and feelings to those songs and they become a part of who we are. I can't hear "Puppy Love" or "All Out of Love" without thinking of summer days jumping on the trampoline. I just want my kids to put God into children's soundtrack while I still have a say in the type of music they listen to.
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