What kind of Christian are you?
By this question, I do not mean what denomination you are, or if you are a strong or weak follower of the Lord, but rather, how you would be described in your approach to living for him.
We all process life through at least one dominant emotion, be it through pessimism, optimism, realism, or even romanticism. The list could go on. So the Christian, for instance, who sees the glass half full may be described as a pessimistic Christian, and so the logic goes for the other emotions listed. That is not to say that one person could not process life through multiple emotions in a balanced mentality. We might call that person a “Well Rounded Christian”. There is great value in all of the emotions that mold a person’s outlook on life, and especially as a Christian. I have found that when my pessimism has prepared me for the very worst, I was utterly delighted that the worst didn’t happen.
I first started thinking about this idea of processing life through a dominant emotion a few years ago when I was sharing a message from the book of the Revelation, and the Lord’s address to the early church about leaving their first love. I translated the Lord’s message through the fond memories of my wife before we married, and how over the years, we began to take for granted what once made our heart skip. After the meeting, a young lady told me that I was “such a romantic”. I have been thinking about this idea since then, and find it is useful to understand ourselves, as well as others, as to why we think and react to life in such different ways. Why we choose a particular church to attend, what programs are important, what issues we are pleased with, or mad about. I can see a “Romantic” Christian attending a Catholic or even a formal Protestant church because of the formal attire the priest or pastor wears, the rituals that are observed, and so on. The beauty of it moves the romantic Christian, and they believe that it is a fitting way to not just honor the Lord, but to worship him in beauty. The realist may lean more to a strict adherence to the doctrine of God’s word, and be appalled at the empty ritualism of the formal church. The Optimist may feel more alive in the Lord when in a church that preaches a positive message that reveals all of the good that God can and will do through the believer that allows him access. The pessimist is always making sure that we don’t make a mistake in the way we meet, pray, study, and fellowship.
Never deny the emotion that dominates your outlook on life, it is what makes you who you are. It is what endears you to others, and helps balance the church as a whole. Never forget that we are created in the image of God, and the very emotions we have, he has. Just take my little list. As a pessimist, he is seen in the Old Testament telling his people all of the good things he will do for them if they obey his word. At times, the nation is on fire, following him in victories over their enemies, possessing their land, offering sacrifices, but even as he tells them about all the blessings, he says in essence, But, I know you will turn from me, and disobey me, and quit loving me, and love others, and you will never see my blessing, but a curse instead. Wow, I get so bummed every time I read some of those passages, even though they always turn out the same way. But we also see him as an Optimist. Even after he tells them about the curse, he then tells them about the future, and how he will restore them, he will give them a heart of flesh in place of the heart of stone they now carry. He will make them the head and not the tail, and all the nations that he allowed to oppress them, will bow down to them. You may ask why he would go through great lengths to have this rebellious people with him in the future, and the only answer is his romantic side. He reveals himself in the very beginning of man’s history, when he created a woman for man. Look how he did it, taken from his side, near his heart, so much so, that man proclaimed her as WOMAN, bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh. We see the Lord with some of the prophets, having them take a wife, and uses that object lesson as a way to call his own beloved back to himself. And who can forget the greatest love story ever written, the song of songs, revealing a great king taken by the beauty of a lowly slave girl, much like the Lord’s love for us, so filthy with sin, a slave to sin and death, yet he loved the church, and gave himself for her.
Don’t get upset with your brother or sister in the Lord because they do not think like you do, or react to things the same way we feel is right, but rejoice that God has allowed us to be who we are, and desires that we approach him as we are, loving him for who he is, and what he has done for us, and where he will take us. Through all of man’s history, and all of God’s dealings with man, he will one day stand and watch as the bride, who has made herself ready to be presented to him, his heart skipping with excitement, all in anticipation of having you and me by his side forever. Now I don’t care what emotion you process that thought with, it has got to move you to devotion to the one who made you thus!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
#RadioStationAppCoolestThingEver-NOT
That’s right, I started with a hash, Jordan said it was ok (I Think). Anyway, I heard the coolest thing available for free, I mean absolutely no cost to you. It is the app for your favorite radio station. And best of all… It’s FREE! So when you are at home, working on your computer, you no longer are a slave to your vast music library on your computer or iPod, you can now listen to music from your favorite radio station right in your home. Of course that’s music in between commercials, and Public announcements, and the host’s witty chatter. But even with all that, you get to hear new music (They say it all the time, “Here’s a new song by so and so”, though it is only a song off a three year old album that they never played. I guess it is new to them).
You know, as I say all this out loud it really sounds ludicrous. I don’t know about you, but I would love a mute button for my radio for the in between the two whole songs they play before the commercials, but really, how would you know when to un-mute? So ok, this was a really bad idea, so I have another that may even be better…. The “Toolbar” for your internet browser… It’s FREE too. Imagine my surprise, when I found I could have ten at a time on internet explorer… wow, what a great Free experience. Hey has anybody seen my webpage, I want to run my radio app.
You know, as I say all this out loud it really sounds ludicrous. I don’t know about you, but I would love a mute button for my radio for the in between the two whole songs they play before the commercials, but really, how would you know when to un-mute? So ok, this was a really bad idea, so I have another that may even be better…. The “Toolbar” for your internet browser… It’s FREE too. Imagine my surprise, when I found I could have ten at a time on internet explorer… wow, what a great Free experience. Hey has anybody seen my webpage, I want to run my radio app.
Monday, November 21, 2011
What Must I Do?
Acts 16:30 And {the keeper of the prison} brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
So, there is the question for all mankind to ask. So what answer does God give man for this desperate quest?
Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
So we have several questions from these two verses:
1-Did the prison guard want to know what action he could take to secure salvation from his sin, and obtain eternal life? I would have to say, “YES”
So it seems evident that the question to the Apostle Paul carried “Theological” and “Doctrinal” implications.
I would guess that the Great religious thinker, and now converted Christian, and chosen Apostle to the Gentiles, would have surely corrected this man if indeed correction was needed.
2-So, by his answer to this guard, did the Apostle Paul reveal to us the answer of God? Is God’s plan of Salvation as simple as this, that a person must “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” to be saved?
3-Then, we ask, would the belief on the Lord Jesus Christ by this Gentile prison guard, also be enough to save his house? I would have to say, “NO”
4-This leads to a follow up question then, what did Paul mean by “and thy house”? One would have to conclude that those of his household could be saved by the exact same action of belief. {Was Paul privy to the list of God's chosen to know that this man's whole household would be saved? I don't think so}.
I am certain that we can conclude from this that God chooses to save men that believe on his Son. So the age old debate on this subject is, Does God choose people from before he created time to be saved (thereby excluding the ones he did not choose)? So that when the spirit of God begins the separation process of a person unto himself, does that individual no longer have a real choice to believe, but is compelled by something that spiritually happens to him, like “Irresistible Grace”? Or, is it really up to the individual to hear the gospel and respond with an action of either “Belief” or “Rejection”?
Listen to the response of Philip to a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch concerning belief:
Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
5-Was Philip speaking from his own logic, or was he speaking the word and doctrine of God?
6-His reply was that the eunuch needed to “Believe with all his heart”. Sounds like an action of effort.
So, our theological debate has God’s sovereignty in view with two opposing views.
a)Does God choose based on an "unrevealed to man" method who will be saved?
b)Does God choose to choose any and all who will believe?
For man, God has set a final line in the sand between an eternity in Heaven and an eternity in Hell:
Mark 16:16 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Listen to the final instructions of our Lord Jesus to his disciples, to go, preach the gospel to all the world, to every creature, and “he that believes and is baptized (another subject to be explained later) shall be saved”. But the line drawn here is the next part, “he that believeth not, shall be damned”.
1 John 2:2 2 And he {Jesus Christ} is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Last thought: God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes on him, should have everlasting life. His death, and shed blood is sufficient to redeem and forgive the “Whole World”
What must I do? You must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You must be born again. You must do it today.
So, there is the question for all mankind to ask. So what answer does God give man for this desperate quest?
Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
So we have several questions from these two verses:
1-Did the prison guard want to know what action he could take to secure salvation from his sin, and obtain eternal life? I would have to say, “YES”
So it seems evident that the question to the Apostle Paul carried “Theological” and “Doctrinal” implications.
I would guess that the Great religious thinker, and now converted Christian, and chosen Apostle to the Gentiles, would have surely corrected this man if indeed correction was needed.
2-So, by his answer to this guard, did the Apostle Paul reveal to us the answer of God? Is God’s plan of Salvation as simple as this, that a person must “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” to be saved?
3-Then, we ask, would the belief on the Lord Jesus Christ by this Gentile prison guard, also be enough to save his house? I would have to say, “NO”
4-This leads to a follow up question then, what did Paul mean by “and thy house”? One would have to conclude that those of his household could be saved by the exact same action of belief. {Was Paul privy to the list of God's chosen to know that this man's whole household would be saved? I don't think so}.
I am certain that we can conclude from this that God chooses to save men that believe on his Son. So the age old debate on this subject is, Does God choose people from before he created time to be saved (thereby excluding the ones he did not choose)? So that when the spirit of God begins the separation process of a person unto himself, does that individual no longer have a real choice to believe, but is compelled by something that spiritually happens to him, like “Irresistible Grace”? Or, is it really up to the individual to hear the gospel and respond with an action of either “Belief” or “Rejection”?
Listen to the response of Philip to a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch concerning belief:
Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
5-Was Philip speaking from his own logic, or was he speaking the word and doctrine of God?
6-His reply was that the eunuch needed to “Believe with all his heart”. Sounds like an action of effort.
So, our theological debate has God’s sovereignty in view with two opposing views.
a)Does God choose based on an "unrevealed to man" method who will be saved?
b)Does God choose to choose any and all who will believe?
For man, God has set a final line in the sand between an eternity in Heaven and an eternity in Hell:
Mark 16:16 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Listen to the final instructions of our Lord Jesus to his disciples, to go, preach the gospel to all the world, to every creature, and “he that believes and is baptized (another subject to be explained later) shall be saved”. But the line drawn here is the next part, “he that believeth not, shall be damned”.
1 John 2:2 2 And he {Jesus Christ} is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Last thought: God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes on him, should have everlasting life. His death, and shed blood is sufficient to redeem and forgive the “Whole World”
What must I do? You must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You must be born again. You must do it today.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
I think I hear the ice cream truck coming!
I love ice cream. There is nothing like hand churning five quarts of that creamy frozen goodness on a hot summer day. I think the sore arm, and the sweaty brow makes it taste all that much better. As a kid I think the old folks played us like Tom Sawyer, and convinced us of how much fun they were having turning that hand crank, and we just had to have our turn. And we felt like we pulled one on them when they forgot to take the churning back from us. Kids today don’t fool so easily. They want the frozen creamy goodness, but also want it after the fact.
Now there are a lot of things that goes into a good ice cream recipe, like eggs, sugar, and of course Cream. Now while you are churning there is a lot of time to think. What I found myself thinking about, was who was the first person that thought it would be a good idea to consume excretion from a cow? I know that we all were breast fed, and it is not a weird thought to consume the milky substance we call breast milk, as a baby. But as an adult, it kind of grosses me out now. Ok, So, have you seen a cow? Really, who in their right mind would look at one of these fury beasts and say… “Oh Yum, Cow Breast Milk”? I don’t even want to know how they first sampled it. Gross, just gross.
The same thought goes for the egg. I am glad I was not the pioneer in that expedition. Imagine if you were on a quest to find something weird to eat. The thought process may be something like, what about eggs? So your first attempt was with a turtle egg. Yuk… I mean, YUK! And how many species were tried before the chicken? So here you are, crack an egg, and there it is, yellow and clear goo. You instantly find that you can’t pick it up with a fork. There is no telling how long it was until they thought about cooking it.
But I am thankful for those that went before me in the food conquering world. We now have something as wonderful as ice cream to show for it. Which leads me to the many ways you can eat it. Really, who doesn’t love a banana split? Or a hot fudge sundae? But the best of all is the eatable containers. You know that if you were in possession of a food creation machine (that’s where we get all those crazy crackers and cookies. They are not made in a tree like Keebler wants you to believe). But with one of these machines, I know I would have created the ice cream cone. Something you can hold in your hand, and lick your ice cream like a crazed dog Then you get to the cone itself, and now you don’t have to worry about leaving any of the sweet goodness in a bowl, you just start eating your way to the end, lick your fingers clean, and smile like nobody’s business. Well, sorry to run, but I have to go, I think I hear the ice cream truck coming!
Now there are a lot of things that goes into a good ice cream recipe, like eggs, sugar, and of course Cream. Now while you are churning there is a lot of time to think. What I found myself thinking about, was who was the first person that thought it would be a good idea to consume excretion from a cow? I know that we all were breast fed, and it is not a weird thought to consume the milky substance we call breast milk, as a baby. But as an adult, it kind of grosses me out now. Ok, So, have you seen a cow? Really, who in their right mind would look at one of these fury beasts and say… “Oh Yum, Cow Breast Milk”? I don’t even want to know how they first sampled it. Gross, just gross.
The same thought goes for the egg. I am glad I was not the pioneer in that expedition. Imagine if you were on a quest to find something weird to eat. The thought process may be something like, what about eggs? So your first attempt was with a turtle egg. Yuk… I mean, YUK! And how many species were tried before the chicken? So here you are, crack an egg, and there it is, yellow and clear goo. You instantly find that you can’t pick it up with a fork. There is no telling how long it was until they thought about cooking it.
But I am thankful for those that went before me in the food conquering world. We now have something as wonderful as ice cream to show for it. Which leads me to the many ways you can eat it. Really, who doesn’t love a banana split? Or a hot fudge sundae? But the best of all is the eatable containers. You know that if you were in possession of a food creation machine (that’s where we get all those crazy crackers and cookies. They are not made in a tree like Keebler wants you to believe). But with one of these machines, I know I would have created the ice cream cone. Something you can hold in your hand, and lick your ice cream like a crazed dog Then you get to the cone itself, and now you don’t have to worry about leaving any of the sweet goodness in a bowl, you just start eating your way to the end, lick your fingers clean, and smile like nobody’s business. Well, sorry to run, but I have to go, I think I hear the ice cream truck coming!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Dr Smith will be with you in a moment, he is on the line with Tech Support
Ring:
Tech: Thank you for calling supreme tech support, how may I help you today?
Caller: My computer don’t work and I hate your company.
Tech: I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with you computer, but I will be happy to assist you in getting it working again.
Caller: Why do you make such a rotten computer, I need it to work. I cannot make any money when the computer is not working. All my stuff is on this thing, its my whole life on this thing. All my finances are on this thing. all my customers are on this thing. I need it to work!
Tech: I fully understand how important all of your data is. May I ask, do you do a regular back up of your data, to protect against a computer failure?
Caller: I don’t know how to back up, and if your computer wasn’t so rotten I wouldn’t have any trouble anyway…. I feel like throwing this computer out the window.
Tech: Really? (Bite lip, and supress quip) Listen, I am sure this is a problem that I can help you get resolved. Tell me what happens when you press the power button?
Caller: What is the power button?
Tech: On the front of your computer there is a power button. It is the button you need to push to turn on your computer every day.
Caller: All I know is the screen is black, and there are no lights anywhere.
Tech: Ok, look on the front of your computer, do you see the power button… it’s round… it is right in the center of the front of your computer.
Caller: I see a button.
Tech: OK, now press it, and tell me if any lights come on, or if you see anything on the screen.
Caller: Do you want me to press it now?
Tech: Yes.
Caller: Ok, the light on that button is lit green. And I see your company name on the screen. And I see Windows XP on the screen. I see my log in screen. What should I do now?
Tech: OK, that’s good. You can log in.
Caller: I see my screen now. I hate your company, I have wasted more time with you people, having to get this thing fixed all the time.
Tech: I understand Sir. I would suggest, the next time your screen is black, to try and turn your system on, that has always worked for me.
Tech: Thank you for calling supreme tech support, how may I help you today?
Caller: My computer don’t work and I hate your company.
Tech: I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with you computer, but I will be happy to assist you in getting it working again.
Caller: Why do you make such a rotten computer, I need it to work. I cannot make any money when the computer is not working. All my stuff is on this thing, its my whole life on this thing. All my finances are on this thing. all my customers are on this thing. I need it to work!
Tech: I fully understand how important all of your data is. May I ask, do you do a regular back up of your data, to protect against a computer failure?
Caller: I don’t know how to back up, and if your computer wasn’t so rotten I wouldn’t have any trouble anyway…. I feel like throwing this computer out the window.
Tech: Really? (Bite lip, and supress quip) Listen, I am sure this is a problem that I can help you get resolved. Tell me what happens when you press the power button?
Caller: What is the power button?
Tech: On the front of your computer there is a power button. It is the button you need to push to turn on your computer every day.
Caller: All I know is the screen is black, and there are no lights anywhere.
Tech: Ok, look on the front of your computer, do you see the power button… it’s round… it is right in the center of the front of your computer.
Caller: I see a button.
Tech: OK, now press it, and tell me if any lights come on, or if you see anything on the screen.
Caller: Do you want me to press it now?
Tech: Yes.
Caller: Ok, the light on that button is lit green. And I see your company name on the screen. And I see Windows XP on the screen. I see my log in screen. What should I do now?
Tech: OK, that’s good. You can log in.
Caller: I see my screen now. I hate your company, I have wasted more time with you people, having to get this thing fixed all the time.
Tech: I understand Sir. I would suggest, the next time your screen is black, to try and turn your system on, that has always worked for me.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
A Letter To My Dad
Dad
I wanted to ask you some questions, but now that you are in heaven, I may never know the answers. But I feel like asking them will help.
Why did you leave us? As an adult now, I understand why you left our home, but why did you leave us? I remember so many things we did together. You took us to the beach. You took us to hockey games. You took us to see Pro Wrestling, my favorite wrestler was Wahoo McDaniels. I saw the Harlem Globe Trotters with you.I caught fly balls at the baseball games you took us to. But all of these things I remember when you lived with us. I don’t remember you ever doing anything with me after you left. I don’t remember you at any of my birthdays, and you never took me fishing, as much as you loved to fish, it makes me wonder why?
Every night, you taught us something from God’s word. You helped us memorize scripture verses, and rewarded us for saying them. You always took us to church on Sundays, and showed us how important it was to be in God’s house on the Lord’s day, and to show respect. But after you left us, you never took me to church again. You never talked to me about my salvation ( I was only six), and you never asked if I was reading my bible, or memorizing scripture. I still wonder why?
Did you stop loving us when you left? Did you stop caring if we knew God anymore? When God led me back to the church where I was raised, and revealed his son to me at the age of twenty three, you were still there. After all those years of going to that church without us there too, did it ever feel strange to you? Did you ever wish we were there with you? After God saved me, and began to use me in this church, why did you act like I was your opposition? After seventeen years of me being in the perils of God’s wrath, were you not glad that I was now saved from that wrath?
Dad, what did we do to make you not care about us anymore? I wish I knew before you left us again, so I could say I was sorry. I grew up with many of the values I learned from you in the six short years you lived with us. I became a man that is trustworthy, Kind, and honest. I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I married and raised a beautiful daughter that loves the Lord. I did all that with only six tears of your influence in my life. I wonder what kind of man I would have been if you had not left us?
Dad, I forgive you for leaving. I may never know why you left, or why you did not want to share your life or faith with me anymore, but I forgive you. I know if I were you, and had time to think about what I had done to my children, I would be really sad. So I forgive you, and I Love you anyway!
Happy Father’s Day,
Your Son.
I wanted to ask you some questions, but now that you are in heaven, I may never know the answers. But I feel like asking them will help.
Why did you leave us? As an adult now, I understand why you left our home, but why did you leave us? I remember so many things we did together. You took us to the beach. You took us to hockey games. You took us to see Pro Wrestling, my favorite wrestler was Wahoo McDaniels. I saw the Harlem Globe Trotters with you.I caught fly balls at the baseball games you took us to. But all of these things I remember when you lived with us. I don’t remember you ever doing anything with me after you left. I don’t remember you at any of my birthdays, and you never took me fishing, as much as you loved to fish, it makes me wonder why?
Every night, you taught us something from God’s word. You helped us memorize scripture verses, and rewarded us for saying them. You always took us to church on Sundays, and showed us how important it was to be in God’s house on the Lord’s day, and to show respect. But after you left us, you never took me to church again. You never talked to me about my salvation ( I was only six), and you never asked if I was reading my bible, or memorizing scripture. I still wonder why?
Did you stop loving us when you left? Did you stop caring if we knew God anymore? When God led me back to the church where I was raised, and revealed his son to me at the age of twenty three, you were still there. After all those years of going to that church without us there too, did it ever feel strange to you? Did you ever wish we were there with you? After God saved me, and began to use me in this church, why did you act like I was your opposition? After seventeen years of me being in the perils of God’s wrath, were you not glad that I was now saved from that wrath?
Dad, what did we do to make you not care about us anymore? I wish I knew before you left us again, so I could say I was sorry. I grew up with many of the values I learned from you in the six short years you lived with us. I became a man that is trustworthy, Kind, and honest. I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I married and raised a beautiful daughter that loves the Lord. I did all that with only six tears of your influence in my life. I wonder what kind of man I would have been if you had not left us?
Dad, I forgive you for leaving. I may never know why you left, or why you did not want to share your life or faith with me anymore, but I forgive you. I know if I were you, and had time to think about what I had done to my children, I would be really sad. So I forgive you, and I Love you anyway!
Happy Father’s Day,
Your Son.
Monday, June 13, 2011
My Favorite Niece
Let me tell you about my favorite niece.
First of all, She is very beautiful.
She has the sweetest spirit.
She loves the Lord.
She is very smart.
She is very witty.
She is tenderhearted.
She is fun to be around.
She has the cutest smile that warms the room.
And best of all… I am her favorite uncle!
Who is my Favorite Niece? I thank the Lord for all of the wonderful children that he has graced this family with. I have watched each one grow up, and mature into wonderful people that bless all who know them. All of my nieces match the description I noted in my blog. I am thankful for each one, and proud to be loved by them. Yes… “YOU” all are my Favorite niece!
First of all, She is very beautiful.
She has the sweetest spirit.
She loves the Lord.
She is very smart.
She is very witty.
She is tenderhearted.
She is fun to be around.
She has the cutest smile that warms the room.
And best of all… I am her favorite uncle!
Who is my Favorite Niece? I thank the Lord for all of the wonderful children that he has graced this family with. I have watched each one grow up, and mature into wonderful people that bless all who know them. All of my nieces match the description I noted in my blog. I am thankful for each one, and proud to be loved by them. Yes… “YOU” all are my Favorite niece!
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