Have you ever seen a CBD (Christian Book Distributors) catalog? It boasts "more than 5,000 products inside". I think it would be safe to say that at least seventy-five percent of those products are books. That would be 3,750 books. THREE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY BOOKS!!! Are you thinking what I'm thinking? With that many resources the American Christian should be the best discerning, happiest, healthiest, prayingest, wisest, culturally relevant Christians in the world. Our society should have strong Christian values and our churches should be packed. Right? We have all the answers, right?
We hear about the latest ideas for church growth. It worked well for one church, it should work in all churches. Write a book! House church, cell church, emergent church, mega church, the possibilities are endless. Pre-trib, post-trib, mid-trib,
pre-wrath, how's it going to end? Read the book! Are you Calvinist or Arminian? Not many have heard of this, are you a preterist? How did the early church grow without all this information?
All these books can give us things to think about. They can also lead us to over complicate God's Word. We start looking between the lines and pages of the Bible, taking it out of context, in order to find some hidden message.
Can we learn from other books? Sure we can. I would be a liar if I said I wasn't influenced by other writers. However, I'm tired. I'm taking a vacation from other books. Right now I'm going to focus on one book, the Bible.
Remember when you first became a believer? If you are like me, you devoured the Scriptures. I couldn't get enough. Each session with the Word brought fresh meaning to my life. It was a wonderful time.
Maybe I've spent a lot of time in other books so I could get to the place where I am now. I want to return to the simple pleasure of loving Jesus, reflecting His love to others, and living my life in a way that would please God. I want to be a good disciple that disciples others.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
Maybe if we all would return to our roots, things could be different. Study the Scriptures to find out what is from God and what is from man. Let the Bible be the ultimate authority. Then each day the Lord can add to our fellowship those who are being saved.(Acts 2:47) God bless y'all real good.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
U-Needa Wednesday Group
How could imperfect Christians make a judgement of another believer and apply church discipline? The point here is not the application of discipline (that could be the subject of a future post) but the discussion of the subject itself. It took place last night at my Wednesday group meeting.
Every Wednesday I get together with about eight other people and we discuss God's Word. What is God telling us in the Scriptures? How can we apply it to our lives? Someone shares a concern or a need. We pray for each other. We praise God together. We hold each other accountable. We eat together, watch movies together, and encourage one another. The word that sums it up best is relationship.
Our discussions are sometimes "spirited", sometimes we can get "passionate", we don't always agree, but at the end of the evening we are able to laugh and part as friends ( family). This is real church, this is what it's all about. In my opinion, one Wednesday evening is worth a month of Sunday mornings.
Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in big trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
1 Corinthians 14"26 says" When you meet together......But everything that is done must strengthen all of you."
There are numerous Scriptures that talk about encouraging each other. After a Wednesday group meeting I am stoked! Fired up! I realize that there are others who genuinely care about me. They challenge me to be the best I can be. They have my back and I have theirs. They can see my ugly side and not judge (although they could) but encourage me to change. I love them, they love me.
I want to encourage you to find or start a group. Sunday morning worship is okay but U-Needa Wednesday group! God bless y'all real good.
Every Wednesday I get together with about eight other people and we discuss God's Word. What is God telling us in the Scriptures? How can we apply it to our lives? Someone shares a concern or a need. We pray for each other. We praise God together. We hold each other accountable. We eat together, watch movies together, and encourage one another. The word that sums it up best is relationship.
Our discussions are sometimes "spirited", sometimes we can get "passionate", we don't always agree, but at the end of the evening we are able to laugh and part as friends ( family). This is real church, this is what it's all about. In my opinion, one Wednesday evening is worth a month of Sunday mornings.
Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in big trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
1 Corinthians 14"26 says" When you meet together......But everything that is done must strengthen all of you."
There are numerous Scriptures that talk about encouraging each other. After a Wednesday group meeting I am stoked! Fired up! I realize that there are others who genuinely care about me. They challenge me to be the best I can be. They have my back and I have theirs. They can see my ugly side and not judge (although they could) but encourage me to change. I love them, they love me.
I want to encourage you to find or start a group. Sunday morning worship is okay but U-Needa Wednesday group! God bless y'all real good.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Our Easter Basket
I wrote a song ten years ago with the following lyrics:
Christian do you know who you are; By the resurrection of the Lamb; you're more than forgiven, you gain more than Heaven; You are now a new man.
The song was based on a book I read by Bill Gilham titled, Lifetime Guarantee. The following is a partial list taken from Chapter Five, "A "New Man" in an old Earthsuit"
-You are justified and redeemed (already). (Romans 3:24)
-You are free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
-You are sanctified (holy, set apart). (1 Corinthians 1:12)
-You are a new creature. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
-You are the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians5:21)
-You are a son and an heir. (Galatians 4:7)
-You are chosen, holy, and blameless before God. (Ephesians 1:4)
-You are redeemed, forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7)
There are many more "you ares" but I hope you get the point. Many things happened when Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead. Forgiveness, new life, and a restored relationship with God were mentioned in my previous entry. But do you see that there's even more for believers, through Christ?
This past week at our Wednesday Group meeting, we discussed these things. It was exciting to consider the results of Christ's work in light of the Easter season. A woman in our group summed it up in a way that fit the holiday, "This is our Easter basket (from God)".
Thank you Lord that you loved us so much. God bless y'all real good.
Christian do you know who you are; By the resurrection of the Lamb; you're more than forgiven, you gain more than Heaven; You are now a new man.
The song was based on a book I read by Bill Gilham titled, Lifetime Guarantee. The following is a partial list taken from Chapter Five, "A "New Man" in an old Earthsuit"
-You are justified and redeemed (already). (Romans 3:24)
-You are free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
-You are sanctified (holy, set apart). (1 Corinthians 1:12)
-You are a new creature. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
-You are the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians5:21)
-You are a son and an heir. (Galatians 4:7)
-You are chosen, holy, and blameless before God. (Ephesians 1:4)
-You are redeemed, forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7)
There are many more "you ares" but I hope you get the point. Many things happened when Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead. Forgiveness, new life, and a restored relationship with God were mentioned in my previous entry. But do you see that there's even more for believers, through Christ?
This past week at our Wednesday Group meeting, we discussed these things. It was exciting to consider the results of Christ's work in light of the Easter season. A woman in our group summed it up in a way that fit the holiday, "This is our Easter basket (from God)".
Thank you Lord that you loved us so much. God bless y'all real good.
Not Just Life, But A Relationship
The celebration of the resurrection of Jesus is about triumph, a resounding victory of life over death! That's what most people think of when Easter is mentioned, and that would be correct. However, many don't know that it is about a restored relationship too.
I knew someone who said that with most religions we obtain heaven (a joyful afterlife) by being good people in this life. As life progresses, if you do more good things than bad things, don't murder or take advantage of others, help people in need, and are considerate of the environment ( "one" with the universe and others), you are headed to eternal joy and peace with God. Christianity, on the other hand, says we have no chance (on our own).
The Bible says in the book of Romans (chapter 3) that "no one is righteous-not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one." "Their talk is foul, like stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies." "Snake venom drips from their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them. They don't know where to find peace." "They have no fear of God at all." Whew! Can it be more plain?
In chapter 5 of Romans it says "When Adam sinned (Old Testament book of Genesis, chapter 3), sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.""Yes Adam's sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God and a new LIFE for everyone." "So, just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us RIGHT STANDING with God and resulting in eternal LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord." Here's the hope, God's grace (undeserved favor).
Apologist Ravi Zacharias said, "Jesus didn't come into this world to make bad people good, He came to make dead people live." The Bible, in the book of John, chapter 6, Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." "For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal LIFE."The book of Ephesians in the New Testament of the Bible says, "Once you were dead because of your many sins." "By our very nature we were subject to God's anger." "But God is so rich in mercy, and loved us so much, that even though we were DEAD because of our sins, he gave us LIFE when he raised Christ from the dead." This is his gift to us. HIS Son, HIS gift, HIS work, HIS action, HIS love, HIS, HIS, HIS!!!!! He did it because we can't! WOW!!
I hope this gives you something to think about. Check it out, search for yourself and find the life and a restored relationship with the Creator, God. God bless y'all real good.
I knew someone who said that with most religions we obtain heaven (a joyful afterlife) by being good people in this life. As life progresses, if you do more good things than bad things, don't murder or take advantage of others, help people in need, and are considerate of the environment ( "one" with the universe and others), you are headed to eternal joy and peace with God. Christianity, on the other hand, says we have no chance (on our own).
The Bible says in the book of Romans (chapter 3) that "no one is righteous-not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one." "Their talk is foul, like stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies." "Snake venom drips from their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them. They don't know where to find peace." "They have no fear of God at all." Whew! Can it be more plain?
In chapter 5 of Romans it says "When Adam sinned (Old Testament book of Genesis, chapter 3), sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.""Yes Adam's sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God and a new LIFE for everyone." "So, just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us RIGHT STANDING with God and resulting in eternal LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord." Here's the hope, God's grace (undeserved favor).
Apologist Ravi Zacharias said, "Jesus didn't come into this world to make bad people good, He came to make dead people live." The Bible, in the book of John, chapter 6, Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." "For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal LIFE."The book of Ephesians in the New Testament of the Bible says, "Once you were dead because of your many sins." "By our very nature we were subject to God's anger." "But God is so rich in mercy, and loved us so much, that even though we were DEAD because of our sins, he gave us LIFE when he raised Christ from the dead." This is his gift to us. HIS Son, HIS gift, HIS work, HIS action, HIS love, HIS, HIS, HIS!!!!! He did it because we can't! WOW!!
I hope this gives you something to think about. Check it out, search for yourself and find the life and a restored relationship with the Creator, God. God bless y'all real good.
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