“The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly.”
― Søren Kierkegaard
This quote still ruffles my feathers. take a min and think about it.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Jesus didnt ask you do to anything He didn't do first
The cost of being a disciple is high:
-Die to your self,
-Die to your self,
Jesus did
-pick up your cross,
Jesus did
-love your neighbor,
Jesus did
-bless those who curse you,
Jesus did
-forgive those who persecute you,
Jesus did
-Love the least of these,
Jesus did
-love the "sinners",
Jesus did
-preach the Good news, in truth and love,
Jesus did
-loose your life,
Jesus did
Jesus does ask a lot from us, but He did it first. He left heaven, became a man, Felt pain endured long suffering, resisted sin, went with out food, Feed the needy, hung out with the "sinners" of his day, shared the Good news with the "unclean" associated himself with the lowest of the low out of love for them and love for God the Father, He endured being forsaken but everyone he loved and he still forgave, He Picked up his Cross and allowed him self though all powerful, and Holy, and with out sin to be nailed to a Cross that we deserved so that we might know the fullness of God's love.
So remember next time you read something in the bible that seems to hard or crazy, remember Jesus didn't ask you to do anything he wasn't willing to do first.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Do work son!
Do you ever have one of those days where you know God is standing up in heaven saying "Do Work Son!" Lately life's been increasingly busy a good busy but busy none the less. I've been getting challenged to think of the problem of pain, not just evil but Human suffering and how God is deal with it and questions like where is God when an tsunami hits people unexpectedly, or where is God when there are children being abused. I've also been reading through the 4 Gospels lately trying better understand what Jesus is like and I keep getting Hit with the things Jesus says that seem to be absent from the "normal" American christian life. I'll start to connect the dots don't worry.
I think what we're missing is that Jesus was a suffering servant (see Isaiah 53 if you want to know more) and in America we tend to shy away from both of those concepts. we live and loved to be served. In Fact we'll pay more for the same piece of meat on a bun that we could make at home If it comes with some good Service. However Jesus Didn't come to be served but to serve. We also hate to suffer. think about it, we have pills to help relieve suffering from all kinds of things. we'll try and get out of suffering even if the suffering is good for us. Example: working out, being healthy and avoiding heart problems but a lot of America (my self included in someways... I really like Bacon) isn't willing to put the time effort and hard work and sacrifice into getting the results we want. Instead we'll sit in front of our T.V.'s and wait for the next diet pill or metabolism boosting wonder drink to show up. Far to often I think we let that same consumer mentality bleed over into our spiritual lives, but If we stop and look at How Jesus lived and served others. and who Jesus said was truly blessed I have to conclude its time I stop sitting around waiting for something and get into action and Do something. I'm not going to tell you what You should do I'm pretty sure God's plan for you isn't the same as His plan for me but something tells me Its bound to include some suffering, and some serving others. Take a look at the examples below and don't just take my word for it. I'm just guy Rambling.
Matthew 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Luke 9: 1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Matthew 5: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Mark 10:20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
I think what we're missing is that Jesus was a suffering servant (see Isaiah 53 if you want to know more) and in America we tend to shy away from both of those concepts. we live and loved to be served. In Fact we'll pay more for the same piece of meat on a bun that we could make at home If it comes with some good Service. However Jesus Didn't come to be served but to serve. We also hate to suffer. think about it, we have pills to help relieve suffering from all kinds of things. we'll try and get out of suffering even if the suffering is good for us. Example: working out, being healthy and avoiding heart problems but a lot of America (my self included in someways... I really like Bacon) isn't willing to put the time effort and hard work and sacrifice into getting the results we want. Instead we'll sit in front of our T.V.'s and wait for the next diet pill or metabolism boosting wonder drink to show up. Far to often I think we let that same consumer mentality bleed over into our spiritual lives, but If we stop and look at How Jesus lived and served others. and who Jesus said was truly blessed I have to conclude its time I stop sitting around waiting for something and get into action and Do something. I'm not going to tell you what You should do I'm pretty sure God's plan for you isn't the same as His plan for me but something tells me Its bound to include some suffering, and some serving others. Take a look at the examples below and don't just take my word for it. I'm just guy Rambling.
Matthew 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Luke 9: 1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Matthew 5: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Mark 10:20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
What are we doing Church? He is Comming back
I really feel like this needs a drop mic walk away moment because that hit hard. I Still can't get over how deep this is. What have we been doing church? the Gospel was clear. God's Truth stands on its own and He alone should be our foundation, HIS word our daily bread, HIS grace should be sufficient for us. Yet we turn to other things to make ourselves feel whole, we turn back to false first loves to try and feel something to try and fill a God shaped hole. Here's to dropping the facade and letting Christ run the show. So let me get out of the way and Let God speak:
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
John 6: 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
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