Jesus

Cow Patty World

December 15, 2016 0Comment

One of my favorite movies is the spy flick, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. In the movie, the characters are discussing foreign intelligence, when one of them says that the intelligence has been gold. Another character disagrees and says, “It’s just enough glitter amongst the chicken feed”. In other words, it was just good enough to convince them that it was good intelligence, when it was actually bad intelligence.

I believe that the preceding paragraph is a pretty good analogy for the world, but I have a better one. If I sprinkled gold glitter in a cow patty, that’s equivalent to the world. The world is full of death, disease, famine, and suffering. That’s a cow patty, my friend. The cow patty is sprinkled with money, fame, and power. That’s glitter. And the Bad Guy uses the glitter to his advantage. Firstly, he uses the glitter to keep us from focusing on the patty. If we chase money, fame, and power, we’re not interesting in doing anything about death, disease, famine, and suffering. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, if we chase glitter, it keeps us from building a relationship with God.

The Bible is very specific. The following are just a few verses that further explain the cow patty and the glitter:

Luke 4:5-6 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he (Devil) said to him (Jesus), “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me (because of sin), and I can give it to anyone I want to. Hence, why the world is a cow patty.

Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Hence, money and wealth are just glitter.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Hence, again, money is just glitter.

Matthew 23:12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Hence, power and fame are glitter as well.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Hence, don’t conform to the cow patty, but seek God’s will.

There is hope, however. Jesus came and died so that we could ultimately be saved from death, disease, famine, and suffering. There is also hope in Revelations 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything (including heaven and earth) new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” In other words, NO MORE COW PATTY.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like to accept Jesus, simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.

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In a Different Light

January 28, 2016 0Comment

After I wrote my last blog, I started thinking about how that dog made me want to rescue him. I thought how helpless and hungry he looked. Then I started wondering why I don’t feel the same way about homeless beggars…..

Everyone has seen that guy or girl, holding a sign and begging for money. Why doesn’t it strike the same feelings as a lost, hungry dog? Well, I’l be the first to admit it. The situation is complex. For instance, we don’t know if it’s a scam. Frankly, I’ve seen my share of them. I once saw a guy at the entrance of a shopping center with a nearby McDonalds. He was holding a sign that read, “Help, hungry”. Beside him was a power pole with a large concrete base. Behind the concrete base he had hidden 4 or 5 bags of McDonalds food. Apparently, some wise people had decided to buy him food instead of giving him money. However, undaunted, he had hidden the food and was still trying to coax cash out of people.

We’re called to be charitable, but we’re not called to throw money away either. Yet, we’re called to serve; we’re not called to judge. As I said before, it’s a complex issue. However, I think the most important issue for me is viewing the person in a different light. When I look at a beggar, I should see a fellow human being. I should see a person created in God’s image just like me. I should remember that God loves that person just as much as he loves me. If I view the person in that light, then the answers become clearer. It still might not mean that I give the person money. It may mean that I refer him to church. It may mean that I take him to a shelter. It may mean that I help him find a job. It may mean I that find him some drug treatment. It may mean many different things, but it’ll mean more if I view him in a different light.

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Birthday Inventory

December 17, 2015 2Comments

I’ve come up on another birthday, and it’s time to take inventory. I think back at things I wanted to accomplish as a teenager going into college. I can’t remember much. I do, however, remember a few goals. I wanted to make a lot of money. I wanted an exciting career. I wanted a big house, a mansion, in fact. It’s been about 23 years since I graduated high school. Did I accomplish any of my goals? Well, I make good money, not a lot. I have a career that can be exciting sometimes, and I live in a modest house.

So, I accomplished 1 out 3…..if we stretch it a bit. I think many other people also have birthdays and take inventories. However, when their accomplishments don’t match up to their goals, they get depressed. I haven’t reached all of the goals I made when I was younger, but it hasn’t depressed me. I simply learned that my goals were misplaced.

The Bible says in Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Let’s face it. These verses are easier said than done. Nevertheless, living into them adds an immeasurable amount of peace to one’s life. I found that if I try to store up “earthly” treasures, I’ll never make enough money, my 401k will never have a big enough balance, and my house will never have enough square feet.

Now, I’m not saying that I live completely and whole heartedly by Mathew 6:19-21. However, each small step I make towards living into those verses, adds more and more peace to my life. So this year, instead of taking an inventory of my earthly treasures OR instead of taking an inventory of the misplaced goals I’ve reached….or failed to reach, I’m going to take a birthday inventory of my blessings: Jesus, church, family, friends, peace, health, contentment,……….and the list goes on.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like to accept Jesus, simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.

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No Sheep Left Behind

December 7, 2015 2Comments

My church is currently in the middle of a series called “Kingdom Come”. As part of that series, families are required to read certain Bible passages and to reflect on them. A few nights ago, my family read Luke 15; 1-7, the parable about the lost sheep:

All the tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus. ²But the Pharisees and the experts in Moses’ Teachings complained, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ³Jesus spoke to them using this illustration: ⁴“Suppose a man has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the 99 sheep grazing in the pasture and look for the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵When he finds it, he’s happy. He puts that sheep on his shoulders and ⁶goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says to them, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ ⁷I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval.”

I asked my seventeen year old son for his take-a-way on the preceding verses. He responded, “No sheep left behind”. I am assuming that he was making a connection to the educational act, No Child Left Behind. Nevertheless, after I stopped laughing, I realized that his response was not only comical, but it was also brilliant. “No sheep left behind” precisely sums up God’s intentions with us, His sheep. When we are lost, He leaves His other sheep grazing safely in the pasture, and He searches for us. When He finds us, He is happy. Then He puts us on His shoulders and carries us home. Notice, however, how much effort He puts into one sheep. He could have said, “Well, I have 99 others, why should I waste time on one stupid, little, lost, sheep…who should’ve known better than to wander off like that”. But He loves ALL of His sheep, and when He finds us, He does not scold us for getting lost. He does the opposite. He throws us a party!

If you’re a lost sheep, call out to Him. He’s looking for you right now. Let Him put you on His shoulders and carry you home.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like at accept Jesus simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.

Cow Patty World

In a Different Light

Birthday Inventory

No Sheep Left Behind

You Missed

Intersection of this Life and the next Life

Child-Like

Inverse Hypocrisy

Spread it out before the Lord