Every Wednesday I lead a Bible study at a assisted living center for those not so good at managing it at home alone, but not ready for nursing home care either. I really love it because they come from such diverse religious backgrounds, and then I come along and tell them religion doesn't matter at all in God's kingdom, and that truly rattles their world. But God must be doing something (OK they could simply be bored) because the group keeps growing.
Then, every now and then, I'll have a conversation with one of them, and in the course of that talk they tell me they are finally reading the Bible everyday, or from Genesis to Revelation, and how amazed they are at what they are learning. And every time, I stand there in amazement that anyone could attend church for 60-70-80 years and never have read the Bible through at least once. That blows my mind. Why anyone would stay in any church for that length of time and NOT read God's Word, or be encouraged to read it is way beyond me! And just one reason why I say life with Christ isn't about any religion - it's about the ever expanding kingdom of God!
PJ
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
The Old Is Better?
I was challenged recently to spend time absorbing the Scriptures of the Bible, instead of simply reading them. So I've been practicing that. Reading and re-reading 1 chapter every day to see what God has to teach me. It's been very enlightening, give it a try.
Anyway after reading my chosen chapter several times and really thinking about I usually read one more, but to not as much detail or thought given to it. Today I read Luke 5. 2 things 'jumped out' at me. The 1st one was that after they have this miraculous catch of fish, to the point 2 boats are so full they are almost sinking; then they leave everything and follow Jesus. They just walk off and leave this huge catch of fish. And at that time that was a lot of financial gain they just walked away from to follow Jesus. This thought instantly came to me, "What am I willing to walk away from in order to follow Jesus?"
Now, here's the 2nd thing I noticed. Chapter 5 ends with this illustration given by Jesus: No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch and old garment. ... And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The new wine would burst the old skins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be put into new wineskins. (Here it comes) But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the fresh and the new. 'The old is better' they say." This whole section spoke to me about the church. Do we really want the fresh and the new? Do I?
Jesus Christ is alive, and the Holy Spirit is constantly revealing more truth concerning Christ and redemption and restoration and new life. Question is, do we, does the church want it, or does it believe as in Jesus' day on earth that the old is better? Tell me what you think.
PJ
Anyway after reading my chosen chapter several times and really thinking about I usually read one more, but to not as much detail or thought given to it. Today I read Luke 5. 2 things 'jumped out' at me. The 1st one was that after they have this miraculous catch of fish, to the point 2 boats are so full they are almost sinking; then they leave everything and follow Jesus. They just walk off and leave this huge catch of fish. And at that time that was a lot of financial gain they just walked away from to follow Jesus. This thought instantly came to me, "What am I willing to walk away from in order to follow Jesus?"
Now, here's the 2nd thing I noticed. Chapter 5 ends with this illustration given by Jesus: No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch and old garment. ... And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The new wine would burst the old skins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be put into new wineskins. (Here it comes) But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the fresh and the new. 'The old is better' they say." This whole section spoke to me about the church. Do we really want the fresh and the new? Do I?
Jesus Christ is alive, and the Holy Spirit is constantly revealing more truth concerning Christ and redemption and restoration and new life. Question is, do we, does the church want it, or does it believe as in Jesus' day on earth that the old is better? Tell me what you think.
PJ
Thursday, August 16, 2007
I Love It
Here's one of those I love it thoughts. I love Men's Fraternity. Why? Because it gives me the opportunity to figure out with a bunch of other guys what it means to be a real man, from the biblical perspective. And then go and do it, because there will be someone cheering me on to be the best man in Christ I can be! The other reason is because that's what Christ was - a real man. he rejected passivity and his shadow mission, he lived up to his responsibilities, he led courageously - all out of love for His Father in heaven and believing in the greater reward that awaited him. That's the kind of man I want to be! And then I hope and dream and pray I will be able to inspire my sons to do the same!
PJ
PJ
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
WOW! I just realized it's been another week since I last posted. I know that's not that big of deal; but I've had some really great notions lately that have since slipped through the 'cracks' in my brain.
I was able to attend the latest Leadership Summit presented by Willow Creek Assoc. and there was one thought from there I've been wanting to share. It was from a talk given by Marcus Buckingham, who wrote "Go Put Your Strengths to Work". It's about the idea that we have it all wrong when we tell anyone that if the improve on their weaknesses they'll get better at whatever it is they already do quite well - which when you think about it is really quite daff! One of the illustrations he used was when Shaq went the L A Lakers. He couldn't shoot a free throw to save his soul (Kind of a really dumb analogy isn't it). So what they told him was not to worry or work on that part of his game, but to work on scoring in the paint. He asked why when he was already the best center in the game. They said that was true, but he wasn't the best that ever was, and that was what he was capable of being. So he did, and earned 3 scoring titles and 3 NBA championships at the same time. And guess what? His free throw shooting % went up by 20%. So, to all of us out there trying to get better by working on our weaknesses, let's do this. Take a paper and draw a line down the middle. On 1 side write I Love It and on the other I Hate It. Now go and live life for a week writing down everything you love and hate. At the end of the week, select the top 3 things you absolutely love, and work at getting to be the best you can at it. Have fun. I know I am!
PJ
I was able to attend the latest Leadership Summit presented by Willow Creek Assoc. and there was one thought from there I've been wanting to share. It was from a talk given by Marcus Buckingham, who wrote "Go Put Your Strengths to Work". It's about the idea that we have it all wrong when we tell anyone that if the improve on their weaknesses they'll get better at whatever it is they already do quite well - which when you think about it is really quite daff! One of the illustrations he used was when Shaq went the L A Lakers. He couldn't shoot a free throw to save his soul (Kind of a really dumb analogy isn't it). So what they told him was not to worry or work on that part of his game, but to work on scoring in the paint. He asked why when he was already the best center in the game. They said that was true, but he wasn't the best that ever was, and that was what he was capable of being. So he did, and earned 3 scoring titles and 3 NBA championships at the same time. And guess what? His free throw shooting % went up by 20%. So, to all of us out there trying to get better by working on our weaknesses, let's do this. Take a paper and draw a line down the middle. On 1 side write I Love It and on the other I Hate It. Now go and live life for a week writing down everything you love and hate. At the end of the week, select the top 3 things you absolutely love, and work at getting to be the best you can at it. Have fun. I know I am!
PJ
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
The Samson Clause
I had my Bible study again today and my new atheist friend attended. He asked some good questions, but mostly he listened. He's really not as atheist as he thinks he is. We talked a little and he thanked me for answering a few more of his questions. Eventually we'll have a close enough friendship I can share the truth with about Christ and he'll accept it. It will happen, not because I say it will; but because Jesus says He doesn't want anyone to be lost. That includes Ed.
Yesterday, we had several power outages. It's amazing to me how much we rely on our electrical power. I even had to get out my books to study and prepare the Bible study with because the computer was down. My only light was from the window, and the only cool air was what was left in the room after the A/C quit. Fortunately the water fountain is gravity flow and I could still get cool water. We are really a spoiled bunch of whiners aren't we! How many people around the world would gladly live in those 'awful' conditions I just described?
The thought that I had as I sat in the window light, was how helpless I felt without the power. Of course, being a pastor I related that to Christ. He is the 'power' behind all life. Without Him, there is no life. I've had moments when I have felt that He isn't there. (Everyone of them was because of something I've done to separate myself from Him) Those moments are horrible and empty, and they drive me to the foot of His cross. Maybe one of the scariest thoughts for me is what I call the 'Samson Clause'. He was the strongest man to ever live because of the power of God at work in him, and when God took it away because he went away from God - Samson never realized the power was gone! Maybe that's why when I feel that God and I aren't connecting, I go to the cross. A temporary 'blackout' is bad enough; I never ever want to experience a permanent one.
PJ
Yesterday, we had several power outages. It's amazing to me how much we rely on our electrical power. I even had to get out my books to study and prepare the Bible study with because the computer was down. My only light was from the window, and the only cool air was what was left in the room after the A/C quit. Fortunately the water fountain is gravity flow and I could still get cool water. We are really a spoiled bunch of whiners aren't we! How many people around the world would gladly live in those 'awful' conditions I just described?
The thought that I had as I sat in the window light, was how helpless I felt without the power. Of course, being a pastor I related that to Christ. He is the 'power' behind all life. Without Him, there is no life. I've had moments when I have felt that He isn't there. (Everyone of them was because of something I've done to separate myself from Him) Those moments are horrible and empty, and they drive me to the foot of His cross. Maybe one of the scariest thoughts for me is what I call the 'Samson Clause'. He was the strongest man to ever live because of the power of God at work in him, and when God took it away because he went away from God - Samson never realized the power was gone! Maybe that's why when I feel that God and I aren't connecting, I go to the cross. A temporary 'blackout' is bad enough; I never ever want to experience a permanent one.
PJ
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Hope is amazing
I facilitate a Bible study every Wednesday morning at a nearby senior citizens assisted living facility. Today we had an atheist join us. His only question was how could I believe in an omnipotent God? We had quite the conversation. Of course, and belief comes down to some very basic truths. 1) There's some reason or foundation for our belief. 2) All beliefs are based on some form of faith. 3) It's always a matter of choice as to what you believe. Like I told him, it's not that you can't believe in an omnipotent God, but that you won't believe. It's a choice.
As we talked, what 'came to the top' was the matter of hope. I asked him what was his hope for tomorrow or better yet for eternity. He really had none. When we die we die according to my new friend. So I told him this. I live every day full of hope in a Living God and His promise of heaven that awaits me upon my death. Now if by chance I am wrong, and there is no God, what have I lost? I live with hope every day that gives me joy and peace. If I am wrong, and all life ends when I die, I've loss nothing. On the other hand, If I'm right, I've gained everything. Then I asked him, what about him. He lives everyday believing this is it. Not too much hope or joy or peace in that. And on the day he dies , if he's right, he dies. But if he's wrong, he misses out on heaven and spends eternity in hell. Seems to me that hope is indeed amazing, because I win, no matter what; and according to his belief, he loses, no matter what.
Lots more went into the conversation, and we parted friends. Next week, although he may not show up for the study, I will find him and give him a book about 'How to Deepen Your Relationship with God. You see at one point he said he wanted to believe, it was just so hard. Which told me, he's not really convinced that he's right. Isn't hope amazing! Pray for him please. His name is Ed. thanks.
PJ
As we talked, what 'came to the top' was the matter of hope. I asked him what was his hope for tomorrow or better yet for eternity. He really had none. When we die we die according to my new friend. So I told him this. I live every day full of hope in a Living God and His promise of heaven that awaits me upon my death. Now if by chance I am wrong, and there is no God, what have I lost? I live with hope every day that gives me joy and peace. If I am wrong, and all life ends when I die, I've loss nothing. On the other hand, If I'm right, I've gained everything. Then I asked him, what about him. He lives everyday believing this is it. Not too much hope or joy or peace in that. And on the day he dies , if he's right, he dies. But if he's wrong, he misses out on heaven and spends eternity in hell. Seems to me that hope is indeed amazing, because I win, no matter what; and according to his belief, he loses, no matter what.
Lots more went into the conversation, and we parted friends. Next week, although he may not show up for the study, I will find him and give him a book about 'How to Deepen Your Relationship with God. You see at one point he said he wanted to believe, it was just so hard. Which told me, he's not really convinced that he's right. Isn't hope amazing! Pray for him please. His name is Ed. thanks.
PJ
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