Giving Thanks

"It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Phillippians 1:9-11

Happy Thanksgiving!

Condemnation

"Judge not that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Matthew 7:1-3

This comes from the sermon on the mount where Jesus is talking to the Jews who started following after him. He was teaching them how they should treat each other. The word for judge would probably be better translated by using the word "condemn". Quit condemning each other! Why condemn someone in something when in another area of life you are just as bad as the one you are condemning. Seems like we still haven't learned to do that.

It's sad how each denomination uses certain doctrines to condemn each other with. One says that if you're not baptized...you are not saved. One says if you take the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner...you're history. One says if you don't follow the law then you are missing it and not worthy of being called a believer. If you don't do it our way, believe our way, exactly the way we believe...you are a heretic and not a "true believer" and are condemned.

I try to read and study as much as I can. Because of the internet, I am able to find a massive amount of material to study and learn from. But it's a bit scary out there. I fell into some blogs the other day that at first glance, seemed to be decent blogs. Then I realized their whole purpose was to condemn others for not following the "scriptures" exactly the way they believed. I think pretty much every known minister, church, author, was found to be heretics and sinners that were damned to hell for preaching "another gospel". Now, believe me, some that they were talking about are clearly walking outside of the Christian faith...but most of them were believers who just didn't see certain scriptures the way they understood them. Because of this, it was not just judging them by their fruit...but it was pure "condemnation". How sad that some feel that their purpose is to destroy others by making fun of them, calling them names, and never trying to teach and rebuke in love. Love..was the last thing I saw coming from these sites. Love...was not the point. Love...had no place to try and restore those whom they thought had walked away from the "truth".

I admit that when I hear or read things that I disagree with...it's hard not to just slam them for being so ignorant of the Word! But...as believers we need to be careful. We need to be reminded that none of us see the complete picture yet. We all see in part by our lack of knowledge, experience, maturity, faith, understanding...and as we condemn each other for that, we will also reap condemnation.

Sure...some purposely teach false doctrines for their own personal gain or glory. But we need to be stronger than that and be wise on how we present the "Gospel".

Today may be the day.

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you." John 16: 13-14

For years I have studied and looked for "the things that are to come". I have asked the Lord to guide me by his Spirit and to reveal his plan. I've looked and still look for the signs...and probably like everyone since Jesus ascended to the Father on a cloud, have been confused by what I'm looking for.

Thousands of articles and books have been written about the coming of Jesus. I've read half of them! and just when I think I have a "truth" about something...it seems that something else comes up that disqualifies that truth.

I've come to the conclusion that however anyone decides how it will happen or when it will happen...I can probably ignore it! Even if some are right on the timing...when it happens it will probably not look like or seem like what anyone has suggested. So where do I go from here?

Hopefully, I'm going to simplify my search. I'm going to walk through each day believing God will accomplish everything he wills...and I will trust in him, and by faith, live as if he is coming today.

In defense...

There's a website that has the complete "promo" by John Hagee for his newest book "In Defense of Israel". I don't know much about this website, I was directed there to listen to this promo on the book.

Hear for yourself what John Hagee says: http://threshingfloor.onevoicemm.net/weblog/?p=868

As much as I wanted to blast this man immediately upon hearing and seeing this promo, I decided to go purchase the book to see if what his promo says is backed up by the book.

This is what he says:

• The Jewish people, as a whole did not reject Jesus as Messiah.

• Jesus did not come to Earth to BE the Messiah.

• Jesus refused by word and deed to be the Messiah.

• The Jews cannot be blamed for not accepting what was never offered.

What can I say...yes, it is in the book too. Hagee says he believes that Jesus is the Son of God and Saviour of mankind. His understanding of Jesus' purpose for the Jews is laid out in the book and as you read you could easily get caught up in his theology...if you choose to ignore a lot of other scriptures too.

I don't know Hagee. I've listened to him off and on (sort of as I passed by a station) and do not agree with some of his theology and especially his eschatology. But hey, I'm a little off too!

I think this is a dangerous book and will lead to things that we wished it would have never led us too. It scares me that Christians like Hagee seem to forget that as believers in Christ Jesus, we are called to love. So, calling for us/Israel to strike first before "they"can strike us....just doesn't seem right.

But, to agree with Hagee on something, He says that no matter what some try to do to trigger world events (which he certainly seems to be trying to do), nothing will happen unless it is God's will and God's timing. I feel that this may be part of God's timing...and His will, will be done whether Hagee has it right or wrong.

Go into all the world...

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

I love this picture. This is my dad doing exactly what the Lord had asked his disciples to do. A simple farmer from Texas, the Lord called him to minister in Korea and he landed there in 1954 right after the Korean war had come to an end. For over thirty years he preached the Gospel to the "nations" and baptized them. He sent hundreds out to mission fields to many nations from a small college that he established to what is now a University. The nations are hearing the Gospel, believing the Gospel, and living the Gospel.

This is what we are all called to do. It doesn't matter who you are, where you are, what you do, or where you are going...present the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Love the way Jesus loved and be a light to the world.

Quotes

I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.--H.G. Wells

A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act. --Mahatma Gandhi

Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ's 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. –Unknown

Dancing with Jesus (Lifehouse's Everything Skit)

We struggle with the things and ways of this world. Reach out to Jesus again. The Dance can begin today.

Belief

"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name."
John 20:30-31

Belief is a gift from God. Just like grace. Just like faith. Some get a lot of it and some receive just a small amount. Maybe it's as small as a mustard seed, but it's still there and it's enough.

Oils on this Canvas

God had us in mind from the beginning.
He created the oils, the canvas, and painted a beautiful picture.
We are that picture.

Spread the Good News.

The Barbarian Way

"The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out - until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels." Exodus 40:34-38

The civilized build shelters and invite God to stay with them; barbarians move with God wherever He chooses to go. The civilized Christian has a routine; the barbarian disciple has a mission. The civilized believer knows the letter of the law; the barbarian disciple lives the spirit of the law. The religiously civilized love tradition; the barbarians spirit loves challenges. The civilized are satisfied with ritual; barbarians live and thrive in the mystical. For the civilized disciple, religion provides stability and certainty; for the barbarian, a life in God is one of risk and mystery.
And maybe even a little insanity. There's no way to escape that barbarians can appear out of their minds. No reasonable person would ever fully follow God everywhere He calls. God is simply unreasonable. (from the book: The Barbarian Way by Erwin Raphael McManus * Published by Nelson Books)

May we all choose "The barbarian way!"