Adopt a new law!!!

Luke Benson5 Comments

  When the law was given, it was given in order to instruct the Israelites how to live and please God. It was a tutor to show mankind the holiness of God and to teach man of his inability to attain that holiness on his own. It still teaches mankind of its need for a Savior and that Savior is Jesus. For those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior that law has been replaced by an indwelling of the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth and teaches us the will and desire that God has for our lives. The Holy Spirit unites our hearts to Gods

Heart and restores the relationship that was broken in the fall. This restored relationship replaces the need for a law.

   

    Ok so you’re probably saying, ”this is all basic Christianity”. What’s your point? My point is that this new relationship isn’t always easy to navigate. Its not always as clear as a neatly written law. It requires some thought and prayer on our part. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of all is it requires honest self-examination in the light of God.

                       

    Because of these difficulties has the church at large adopted a new law? Instead of deciding what kind of entertainment is appropriate for our children and us have we left it up to the law of Christianity so that anything dubbed Christian is ok? There is now a satellite TV service called Sky Angel, which supplies its customers with nothing but Christian TV. Who decides what Christian TV is? Are we placing ourselves under a new law with things like this? I heard a pastor on a nationwide Christian radio station the other day say “There is so much cancer in this country because we don’t eat the way God has instructed us to. We have chosen to eat pork and that’s the reason why people are sick”. To me that’s absurd but I wonder how many people adopted a new law from that pastors teaching.  It’s not only in entertainment but this adopted law extends into all aspects of our lives. Instead of making educated decisions about political candidates are we just going along with the Christian majority in placing our votes and putting our trust in candidates who we honestly know little our nothing about? Are we in some way living a lifestyle that reflects the way other Christians think we should live instead of the life God wants for us? Have we carried a new law down from the mountain of modern day Christianity?

  

dustinbryson1 Comment

67109527_f967441f23_mWhile working on a sermon awhile back I was once again struck at the awesome love of God. I am floored at how God chose to extend His loving hand toward us, his broken children. It’s an easy equation really. One that shouldn’t require much discussion. God loves us like crazy, Sends Jesus to show His great love, Jesus is a perfect example, and then we are told to love like Jesus. Pretty simple right? WRONG! There is nothing easy about love, and right when you think you have it all locked down Jesus throws in ‘Love your enemies’! The wonderful thing is though, we do have His example. Without it Love would have no definition.

When have you felt his daddy arms around you?

Jesus for Christmas?

Luke Benson3 Comments

 An article caught my eye on the MSN homepage yesterday and I wonder what others are thinking about this. It seems a company that manufactures dolls has offered to donate 4,000 talking Bible action figures including Jesus dolls to the Toy’s for Tots program. Toy’s for Tots collects and distributes toys as holiday gifts to children who would otherwise not have any. The Jesus dolls are battery powered and recite such verses, as “unless a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” and “love you enemies”. The spokesperson for Toy’s for Tots said they would have to “regretfully decline” the offer fearing that the toys may wind up in Muslim or Jewish homes and cause offense. He went on to say, “ Kids want toys that are fun and religious toys are not.”

   

   At first I was wondering why anyone would make plastic Jesus dolls to begin with. To me the whole idea is kind of yucky and weird. After I thought about it I could see the educational value of religious action figures. In an educational setting children acting out the stories of Bible would be beneficial to learning the stories. As toys though, what boy would want an action figure that says, “love your enemy” instead of one that says, “Annihilate your enemy with your full laser proton action blaster”. Who can compare an action figure that slays Philistines with an ass’s jawbone to one that has a tank that really shoots? This brought back memories of my childhood and sitting in cars that had a glow in the dark plastic Jesus on the dash. I remember thinking how tacky that was. In spite of the tackiness did it somehow remind those people of their identity in Christ and help them through tough times? Am I being to judgmental when I say it’s weird and yucky?

   So anyway I am really interested to hear where everyone stands on this. Should Toy’s for Tots have accepted and distributed those dolls? Is it offensive to give Jesus dolls for Christmas? Should I get one of those plastic glows in the dark dash mounted Jesus figures to remind me of who I am and where I am going? The Coalition to save Christmas and Christianity has said “this is just more proof there is a war against Christianity and Christmas in this country” Is there?  Do we really need a coalition to save Christianity? What do you think?

It’s all About Who Holds the Hand

Rob Woodrum4 Comments

 Rob Woodrum

He wasn’t really walking as much as he was dancing.  Dressed in a blue Power Rangers sweatshirt, he cavorted in front of the line of cars in the Wal Mart parking lot. 

I had to stop for him.  I watched with rapt fascination as he moved to a position that was more in line with my vehicle’s projected path than he had been  before, for the sole purpose of stomping through a puddle of rain water.  Was he Godzilla, smashing a town?  What images were conjured in his mind as water dropplets hurled from either side of his foot?  Another car came to a stop behind mine.

A strong hand pulled on the little boy’s left hand, and he literally soared away from the puddle, back into a position which provided more safety than his previous one.  Out from the path of the waiting cars, off to the side of his parent.  He tilted back his head, all buzz-cut and freckles, and let loose a laugh from the ride.

I didn’t move until they were safely inside, and I could virtually feel the impatience of the driver behind me.  I had to wait…let it soak in.  Lessons like that are important.  He was not in a safe place…nothing safe about a sea of cars laden with consumers.  Danger rolled on each side of him, in front and behind him, but he was calm.  He was dancing.  It’s all about who holds the hand.  For that little man, nothing around him posed a threat, because he knew his mom was there, holding his hand, guiding him to safety.

There was shopping to do, there were cars to park, but I was caught up in a little angel’s jig.

There are a lot of things facing me…facing us….that could threaten, and frighten us.  Bewildering things like church growth and responsibilities…mysterious things like illness and death.  I want to be like that angel in blue.  I want to joy in the journey like he did.  I want to trust that the One who’s holding my hand is good, and have confidence that He will guide us all through. 

The problem is, it’s easier to write about it than live it out.  Well…maybe not for you, but it’s that way for me.

The Delete Button

dustinbryson4 Comments

Sonym1 As a photographer one of the things I love about digital shots is the ability to immediately erase any shots that are blurry, too dark, or just plain messed up.

Wouldn’t it be nice if our lives had that delete button? Earlier in the day I was discussing television shows with a group of people I respect a great deal. At one point in the conversation the most elderly of the group brought up the fact that his wife enjoys watching the ‘Ellen’ show. After allowing this info to sink in for a second he immediately followed it up with, ‘Well, she thinks she’s funny. We don’t condone her lifestyle or anything’. It was in this moment I wish I could just hit delete and walk away.

As Christians we don’t need to make statements like that. I don’t believe it’s necessary. I mean if my friends were talking about how much they like me and then said ‘Dustin’s a fun guy to hang out with, but I don’t condone his thoughtlessness’ I would feel weird. Sin is the absence of our Lord and Savior. We [Christians] need to face the fact that we are all infested with it. It should make our hearts heavy when someone lives a life apart from the King. We shouldn’t be more worried if others think were condoning sin. The religious thought Jesus was a condoner of sin, but He was instead sent to demolish it. Some talk, some love .. I want to love.

There have been many moments in my life that I wish I could hit the delete button. Many times I have put my foot in my mouth, showed disrespect to another, or was just plain rude. One of my favorite promises is that when we ask for forgiveness God tosses our sin as far as the east is from the west. God has the ultimate delete button. Ever have an incident where you wish God would hit it?

Know it all?

Luke Benson2 Comments

By Luke

  I usually get together with my mom once a week when I have the time. I will take her to lunch and the grocery store to do her shopping. Ever since I gave my life to Christ she has witnessed a great deal of change in me. She is very curious about this new life I have been given and has a question or two about my faith every time she sees me. I am always ready to answer her questions and give her sound Biblical responses. Last week she asked me about the people in the world who have never heard the name Jesus and if they would be cast into hell for their ignorance. In most cases I would immediately quote from Psalms and how it talks about the heavens revealing the glory and righteousness of God or Romans chapter 1.  The problem with that is that my mom doesn’t think much of the Bible. You see she grew up in a Catholic family and spent 12 years in Catholic school during the 30’s and 40’s. To her the Bible is a dusty old book that nuns and priests used to condemn and manipulate her and her family with. There was something different about her expression when she asked though. This time she wasn’t challenging my faith but I could tell it was something she was honestly having a struggle with. To be honest I have often wondered and struggled with the thoughts of God condemning these people. I could sense a theological response wasn’t going to cut it this time. I had to be real and say I don’t know the answer to that one mom; I have struggled with the thought of this myself. When she heard my answer she looked relieved. I think she needed to know that someone who is following Christ is struggling with some of these things too.

     I wonder if too often we are more focused on proving our point and defending non-essential theology than loving people and seeing their struggles with our faith. Is it ok for a Christian to struggle with someone regarding theological issues and not always have the absolute truth and the only correct answer? Is it ok to be real?

Christians and Politics

Rob Woodrum10 Comments

Rob Woodrum

“We’ve got to be more politically involved as the church!  We’ve got to take this nation back for Christ!  We’ve got to get God back into our schools!  We’ve got to support our president and his war on terror, and stop the media from spreading lies and liberalism!  It’s our duty as Christians!” 

 Is it really? 

Why wasn’t Jesus political at all?  He was dropped right into the most tumultuous political and governmental turmoil that region of the world had known for a long time. Even apart from the Roman occupation of Palestine, the theocratic nation of Israel was intensely divided between Conservative Judaism and Hellenistic Judaism. The debates and conflicts were raging all around him, begging for his opinion and denouncement or support. 

Why didn’t Jesus get involved in politics?  Why didn’t he weigh in on whether the right or the left was closer to the truth?  Why didn’t he “take a stand” on at least one issue of political purpose?  As followers of Jesus, why is it our duty to take a political stand now?  Why do we need to be politically involved?  Why do we need to endorse Republican agendas and denounce Liberal Democrats and their values?  Or, on the other side of the coin, why do we need to write our congressman to stop a war in Africa, or push for social reform that will end poverty?  When did writing a congressman become something that superceded praying for peace? 

What changed?  Jesus didn’t involve himself in the politics and governmental struggles of his day.  The early church declined to do so as well.  In all of Paul’s writings, there is no mention of a Christian’s duty to get involved in the system and make positive civil changes.  Why are these things taken for granted as the Christian duty today? I can’t imagine that we shouldn’t vote…but is that our highest good?

I really want to know.

Church Marketing and YOU!

dustinbrysonLeave a comment

churchsign.jpg

Sometimes words dance. Sometimes they go together like peanut butter and chocolate, sometimes they don’t. Church & Marketing are two words that simply don’t gel. Unfortunately many churches gauge success by numbers and dollars. When the numbers dip, they run an ad in the local paper in order to get butts in seats, and dollars in plates.

I believe that church marketing starts with you. You go to work or school everyday and you have hundreds of interactions with others. You choose to love those around you or act like a jerk. You have the ability to be a very real example of Jesus to those around, that to me is the greatest billboard for Christ that exists.

For more info go to www.ChurchMarketingSucks.com

What examples of church marketing bug you?

K.I.S.S.

Luke Benson1 Comment

 By Luke

A simple drive down Any Street USA will reveal there are an amazing amount of different churches out there. Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic and so on and that’s just to name a few within the Christian faith alone. The list is enormous. So with all these different churches how is it possible to know which is the right one? As a world that is desperately seeking answers, whom can we turn to?

 The vast array of churches we see are the result of interpretations of scripture and tradition and these interpretations lead to different beliefs on the who, what, when, where and why of the church and its function. This set of beliefs then becomes the doctrine or foundation that is unique to any particular denomination and is the reason why there are so many different churches. Unfortunately these doctrines often take a place of hyper- exaggerated importance within the church as a whole and cause division between an otherwise united group of believers. In most cases these beliefs fall into the category of “non-essential”. Meaning they have no bearing on salvation and the commandments Jesus told us we could hang everything else on. The result of placing to much emphasis on these non- essentials is a body of believers finding its identity in doctrine and not in Christ. Dare I say? To some extent raising doctrine up as idols .

 Jesus said things like;” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). 

 So no wonder people outside the faith looking in at all the divisions and strife are confused and sometimes label the church as hypocrites. Instead of bridges of love they see mostly fences of doctrinal protection.

 

 

 The Cross, in its purest form is relevant to every situation. The unencumbered Gospel transcends all cultural, economic and political boundaries. It’s when we add to it that it becomes burdensome and irrelevant.  As we enter into the 21st century and try and realize Christ in our own lives and represent Him to the world around us, what non-essentials to the faith should we consider leaving behind? What are the doctrines or beliefs necessary to have a real workable Christianity?

 I know that the writer of Hebrews probably wasn’t addressing this but I cant help but think of this verse when I consider this question. After all when we place doctrine above love wouldn’t God see it as an encumbrance? What do you think?

 

 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

A Pirate’s Keyboard

Rob Woodrum2 Comments

Ok…so they have a keyboard ergonomically designed for pirates now. 

 

Ninjas need not fear, because they have one designed for them as well.

 

Uh…no, they’re not real. But they are funny.  Why?  Well, because of course, ninjas hate pirates.  Beyond that, I like this concept.

 

I like it that a pirate knows who he is, and has no use for things that don’t pertain to who he is.  Extraneous issues like “J”, “K”, “L” or “;” have no place on his keyboard.  All he needs is “RRRRRRRRRRRRR” and “!” with a hot key for “avast!”.

 

Ninjas live on an even narrower plane of existence.  One button, one kill.  I suppose my personal make-up is more collaborative with a pirate.  I feel I’m a little more complicated than a ninja….but the simplicity of both keyboards intrigues me.

 

It makes me think of the Bible. (“Doesn’t everything make you think of the Bible?”  “No.  Well…maybe, I don’t know.  Stay out of this!”)

 

Paul said when he came to Corinth, he was determined to know only one thing.  One thing summed up his identity.  Sure there were lots of other things about his life, peripheral keys that could be touched if he felt like it.  Paul, like a pirate, knew who he was, and had little use for a lot of other keys.

Paul’s keyboard may have looked like this:

 

Jesus Christ and Him crucified made up his core identity.

“But Paul, don’t you care about evolution vs. intelligent design?  Don’t you care about political scandals?”

“Maybe…but its not on my keyboard, so I don’t have a lot of use for it.” 

There is something to be said for stripping things down to core essentials.  I like Paul’s essentials.  Short, easy words whose depths can never be fully known. 

Jesus.  The closeness of that name.  God with human name.  The forever God-Man who touches my frailty, shares it with me, adding His infinite strength. 

Christ.  The Hero King.  The Rescuer.  Aragorn, Braveheart, Arthur, Superman…who only have meaning because they mirror Him. 

Crucified.  Love so unspeakable it had to be acted out in blood and agony.  The result of a world gone wrong, yet the course for a world made new.  

I can see why this was Paul’s obsession.  The depth of these simple words stir something deep in me.  It’s a good keyboard design. What do you think of as you ponder those words?  Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  What stirs in you, what do you feel?  Could that ever be the sum of your keyboard?