-
An Interview With Nimrod
You asked me what we’re doing, up here on the 80th floor of this building. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors; that I’m leading some sort of rebellion against one of the bigots referred to as God. Such a tyrant; a despot. He deceives people like Terah and his son Abram. Such despicable people. People like that family are a blight on society. I personally would like to see them picked up and transported to some place far from here; like another planet. Just let us be!
But no, there’s no rebellion here. I’m just fed up with stupid rules and regulations; commandments! I’m so tired of intolerant people trying to impose their ideas and lifestyles onto everyone else. So, instead of just sitting and whining about it, I’m taking action.
You see, it’s taken a while, a long while, actually; but mankind has just about reached the height of glory.
From the cave man, with his grunts and groans, crude inventions, and fear of the unknown, to the modern man with his enriched vocabulary, engineering skills, and penchant for exploration; mankind’s come a long way.
There was a time when man was ruled by superstition. Superstition and religion. Those were dark days, indeed. Days of intolerance and bigotry. Days when one’s style of worship was preferred over another. Days when enlightenment was frowned upon; even punished. Days when it was risky to think for yourself. Risky to use our brain.
Before the intolerant one destroyed our growing civilization with such a violent and unwarranted deluge, mankind was just beginning his ascent to the heavens. Mankind was on the verge of becoming God!
Sure, there was a little bit of violence among the people. That’s to be expected, what with all those people that were on the planet. Really though, can anyone blame them? They were made that way! The intolerant one made mankind with the ability to feel and think, and then punished him for using his imagination and responding to his feelings. The hypocrite!
What does he call murdering 7 billion men, women, boys and girls? Compassion?
And that goody-goody Noah and his family. He was a great example of what was wrong with the society back then. Preacher of righteousness is what someone called him. Big mouthed, narrow minded, and full of himself jerk was more like it.
But that’s alright. We’re finally getting things back to where they should be. You see, not everyone on that boat was as perfect as his majesty would have everyone believe.
One of the preacher’s kids, Ham, had a little more sense than his old man and brothers. He trained his kids in the way they should go, and they didn’t disappoint him. Especially Canaan. There was something about that kid. Sort of like he was destined for greatness; possessing much more than what a person could discern by just looking at him.
Anyway, we’re finally seeing some positive changes in our world. Loud mouthed holier-than-thou people, like Noah, are finally getting their comeuppance. No one is concerned with what old people, with their old fashioned thinking, believe any longer. Man was made to rule over everything! They weren’t to be limited to someone’s idea of something called morality. No one put the moral minority in charge of anything, anyway.
Mankind should be above everything. Including the destroyer of innocent people’s lives!
And that’s why I’m up here on the 80th floor. We’re about half finished with this project, this tower of life. The one who can’t control his temper will never again catch us unprepared with his outbursts of violence.
And when we finish this one, we’ll go over into our neighboring country, teach the citizens how to think for themselves, and build for the betterment of all mankind; not just a few who think we’re evil anyway.
I hope you’re writing all this down.
Oh, please excuse me for a minute.
“What’s that, Pasha? There are a couple visitors from OSHA? They say they’re here just to look around? Okay, show ’em around.”
Now, where was I? Oh, yeah, mankind’s betterment. As I was saying, man is finally coming together, celebrating diversity, honoring free speech, and letting people decide for themselves what’s right and what’s wrong. That’s the way it should be, don’t you think?
Oh, excuse me again. “Pasha! What now?”
“You say 90% of the workforce left for the day? Why? What do you mean, you couldn’t understand them? Pasha? Pasha! What are you saying? Quit playing around, Pasha! It’s not funny!”
Man, this is weird. Okay, back to you. Huh? Hey, what gives? Don’t play games, man!
Hey! Cut it out, I say! Talk so I can understand you!
Thank you for reading this post. Please comment, I’d love to hear what you think. For more posts and a weekly newsletter delivered to your email address, please go to http://eepurl.com/PaJK5 and sign up. Thanks.
-
I’m Gonna Smile!
“I can do it myself, Ollie”, Stan Laurel would say, in his own self-assured way.
The brains of the outfit, Oliver Hardy, would smack his partner around while saying, “That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into, Stanley.”
Watching those guys always put a smile on my face.
What a pair. One who’s a bumbling goof, who thinks he can figure things out for himself, and the other guy, Mr. Big, who always insists on doing things HIS way then blames his partner when his plan fails.
Does this remind you of anyone?
I wonder what the devil will say to his fellow rebels when his days of tormenting others are through? I can just imagine, as the flames from the lake of fire crackle, engulfing satan and his clan forever, that old serpent hissing at the others, “that’sss another fine messss you’ve got ussss into!
I feel a huge smile coming on!
How about you?
-
Is Freethinking Free?
How much does it cost to be a freethinker?
What is a freethinker? According to the dictionary, it’s a person who forms his or her own opinions about important subjects (such as religion and politics) instead of accepting what other people say.
Is that even possible? Form your own opinion? Without anyone’s help or influence?
Maybe if the person was raised by wolves on a deserted island.
Another definition: freethinker – n. One who has rejected authority and dogma, especially in his religious thinking, in favor of rational inquiry and speculation. -The American Heritage Dictionary
The famous revolutionist Thomas Paine was a noted freethinker. While greatly despising Christianity, he did believe in a Creator. He believed simply because he could see evidence of a creator, and thus he reasoned there must be one. He advocated deism, though; which is a movement or system of thought advocating natural religion, emphasizing morality, and denying the interference of the Creator with the laws of the universe. In other words, no miracles, no revelation, no accountability to a god or a devil.
Natural religion, that is, religion based on reason rather than divine revelation, is such rip off. To believe that somehow, someway, someone created everything, and yet not believe in anything contrary to natural law is absurd. To think something or someone made the stuff yet has nothing to do with it? Really? And people think Christians are naive.
Much to do is being made today about man’s ability to reason his way out of the mess he’s in. How did man get into such a mess? Because he thought he was smarter than God. In fact, he STILL thinks that.
Man wants to be a freethinker because he doesn’t want to be accountable to someone’s rules. He’s just proud enough to believe he’s smart enough to figure out everything about the universe, our planet, life, and death. Thinking and reasoning is worshipped, and the God who said, “Come, let us reason together”, is completely ignored.
There’s no such thing as a freethinker, anyway. No one just dreams up a brand new thought. Not where morality, God, or spirituality are concerned.
We are affected by those around us, by those we read after, and by people we trust to speak into our life. Yes, we have to decide what we believe, but we are still influenced by our surroundings.
And God. And satan.
Faith in God comes by hearing the Word of God. Faith in man, in animals, in “Mother Nature”, and in the alignment of the stars and planets comes by hearing the whispered, deceitful ramblings of the evil one. Ever since the garden of Eden, where man first began the practice of freethinking, the devil has coerced and deceived man into believing:
-God is a myth
-The devil is also a myth
-Man is in charge of his own destiny (he pulls himself up)
-There’s no such thing as an eternal reward
-Hell was concocted by some tyrant who wanted to scare others into submission
-Mankind will eventually solve all of his problems
-Eternal life is within man’s ability to discover
-Morality isn’t important.
-Mankind is essentially good (just a few bad apples in the basket)
-If man doesn’t understand something, it must not be real. Therefore, God cannot be real.The very FIRST freethinker was Lucifer. In Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 the story is told of a mighty angel named Lucifer who chose to rebel, and lead a rebellion, against Almighty God. It’s one thing to “step out of the box” now and then, but Lucifer did not have the right to think for himself. He was created to serve.
Man was created with the right to choose, but within certain parameters. But the rebel influenced Adam and Eve’s thinking and down they went.
So, on and on man walks, alone with his thoughts. Freethinking. But not realizing his freethinking, his wonderful, grandiose thinking isn’t without a high cost.
The cost? A life without a true, God given purpose. A future without the glorious Presence of God.
Freethinkers, think about this. What if your reasoning is wrong? What if you’ve bought into a lie?
Finally, think about the One who thinks about you constantly, who is forever interceding for you. The One who thought about you so much he went to the cross, for you.
You and I believe something. We can’t get away from it.
Think what it would be like have eternal life, to know your savior, and know the peace of God that surpasses understanding.
Think about it. While you still can.
Freethinking isn’t free. It either costs you or it cost Jesus. Someone has to pay for Adam’s “freethinking”.
Thank you for reading this post. Please comment, I’d love to hear what you think. For more posts and a weekly newsletter delivered to your email address, please go to http://eepurl.com/PaJK5 and sign up. Thanks.
-
Playing In The Ditch
Are you fond of your childhood memories? Maybe not all of them, but possibly a few?
Ever play in the street? In our neighborhood, when I was 8 or 9, we’d play baseball and kickball right smack dab in the middle of Jefferson Avenue. We’d move to one side or the other when cars drove by, but that didn’t happen too often.
When we’d travel to Burlington Junction, Missouri to visit relatives, my older brother and I would play on the road and in the ditches. Burlington Junction is a little town of 500 people, located in the vicinity of Maryville, Missouri. Maryville is home for the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, in case you’re interested.
My brother and I would play in the ditches, looking for pop bottles. We didn’t want them for their monetary value; we wanted to smash them! We’d line them up next to the ditch and throw rocks at them. SMASH! We’d laugh, punch each other in the arm, and look for more bottles. Beer bottles worked even better. I think the glass wasn’t as thick. If we couldn’t find bottles, we still had targets handy. On top of each telephone pole were a number of glass insulators. That is, they were there until we knocked them off.
Mom and Dad always wondered why we were so tired after playing around town.
Yep, I love to think about those fun times in my life. Smashing things, getting dirty, without a care in the world. My brother and I could talk about anything and everything, and still be friends afterwards. When we did things grownups didn’t approve of, we covered for each other. You know, things like smashing the windows of an old, abandoned house. There was a beauty just across the street from our grandparents house. I thought it was good exercise and training for my arm (in case I wanted to be another Johnny Unitas). Picking up a rock weighing about the same as a football, I’d try and heave that thing 35-40 yards, and hit a target about the size of a window. SMASH!
Mission accomplished, exercise over.
It was fun being a kid. But, like all of us, I had to grow up and start acting like a responsible adult.
The same is true as a Christian.
Baby Christians do things, say things, and play in places grownups don’t; or shouldn’t. Grownups tolerate the antics of children, but expect them to eventually mature. So does God the Father.
Maybe it’s just me, but I seem to have noticed a lot of Christians who are old enough to be adult believers, still playing in the ditches and looking for things to smash. Maybe they enjoy smashing a person’s hopes, “You can’t do that. God won’t answer that stupid request.” Perhaps they enjoying throwing rocks at objects about the size of a window. “How can you believe something like that? When’s the last time you read your bible, anyway?” SMASH! Someone’s confidence and desire to study just got shattered.
Grownups have a lot more strength than an eight year old. They have the ability and strength to help or harm a lot more than someone who’s still just a little boy.
Ditches are great places to play, but lousy places to live.
How do people wind up in ditches? Usually by veering to one side of a road or the other. The road, spiritually, represents the way of truth. On one side of the road is the ditch of unbelief; no one believes anything. On the other side is the ditch of “I’m always right, I know what I’m talking about.” The ditch of self-centeredness and pride.
Both ditches reveal the immaturity of those who play there.
The Lord wants us to walk His Highway of Holiness and stay out of the ditches.
Yes sir, I think it’s time we grew up.
“I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you’ve picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one – baby’s milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God’s ways; solid food is for the mature, who have some practice in telling right from wrong.” (Hebrews 5:11 MSG)
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV)
Thank you for reading this post. Please comment, I’d love to hear what you think. For more posts and a weekly newsletter delivered to your email address, please go to http://eepurl.com/PaJK5 and sign up. Thanks.
-
Heaven’s Sound
“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.” (Acts 2:1-6 NLT)
Heaven has a sound to be heard, not only by believers, but by the whole world.
Generally, however, the world doesn’t understand heaven’s message; or won’t tolerate it.
“Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.” (John 12:28-31 NLT)
People heard the voice, but needed someone “with ears to hear” to interpret its meaning. Jesus did so; Peter did as well. “This is that,” Peter declared.
In these last days, The Lord has MUCH to say to earth’s inhabitants. His Church MUST hear God’s voice like never before. It needs to recognize the lateness of the hour, and the word for the moment.
On the day of Pentecost, the SOUND meant God and man were, once again, in union. God and man, working together. God clothing man once again; only this time man was clothed with power from on high instead of the skin of an animal.
The SOUND on the day of Pentecost was a message for the world – the tabernacle of God is among men. The pillar of fire and pillar of cloud seen from center of the tabernacle in the Old Testament can now be seen in the heart of each believer.
And the God on the inside will be seen on the outside, as people respond to the SOUND.
God speaks, we hear. We respond. God confirms his word with accompanying signs.
Are you hearing God’s sound?
Thank you for reading this post. Please comment, I’d love to hear what you think. For more posts and a weekly newsletter delivered to your email address, please go to http://eepurl.com/PaJK5 and sign up. Thanks.
-
Go Into All The World And…Stereotype?
Ever hear the word – “stereotype“? People who use that word always act defensive; about nothing!
Like…
Whenever you see someone who’s dressed in dirty, raggedy clothes, hang on tight to your wallet or purse. Bums can’t be trusted.
A person too lazy to shave doesn’t make a good employee. Don’t hire him.
A person of color isn’t as intelligent as the Caucasian. Deep conversations will confuse them.
Men have only two things on their mind. Sex and sex.
Women only have two things on their mind. Marriage and shopping.
A Christian is an idiot. They use their brain less than a Rush Limbaugh ditto head.
All democrats are liberal, and all republicans are Christians. Now you know how to vote.
Young adults prefer Starbucks and Obama over sweet tea and G.W. Bush. They know who to blame.
Texans think they’re better than anyone else in the world. Californians know they’re not.
All West Virginians are hillbillies and chew tobacco. Don’t walk down wind of them.
People who play golf are loaded with money.
Soldiers only want to kill. Marines make terrible marriage partners. Navy Seals are half crazy. No, completely. Army soldiers are the bottom of the barrel. Air Force troops are sloppy. Coast Guard…they’re lost at sea.
A true patriot will own at least one gun; an AR-15. Commie’s don’t think guns are necessary.
Fat people are lazy, selfish, and only think about stuffing their face. Fat people stink.
Preachers are money grabbers and egomaniacs. They don’t know how to actually work for a living. They don’t have to, as long as I pay them.
Tree huggers and Prius drivers only vote for liberals. Same with Subaru owners.
Police officers consume more donuts than those of any other profession. That’s why a donut shop is never robbed.
Postal employees are unsafe employees. They cannot control their anger.
Lawyers, politicians, and used car salesmen are liars. Stay clear of them all.
Immigrants, legal and illegal, only want to take our jobs.
Welfare recipients are bums. All they’re looking for is a hand out. They live for the stamps.
Women on welfare keep having babies because they receive more money each month.
People who stereotype others are always making false assumptions.
Assuming someone, anyone, believes a certain way, or IS a certain way, because of their age, dress, amount of education, speech, color of skin, vehicle, bumper sticker, living conditions, bank account, occupation, or any number of such things comes under the heading of “stereotyping.”
We all do it. See? Even I do.
Why? Maybe because it’s easier to know someone from a distance that way. If I already know what they’re like, I don’t have to waste time, or risk anything by trying to build a relationship with them. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
On the other hand, what if I’m wrong? What if my opinion based on my stereotypical understanding is 180 degrees off?
How are these types of opinions formed? Things we hear, observations we make, things we read, friends we trust; all help to define what we believe to be facts about people we see for the first time.
Did you know people have a preconceived idea, a stereotypical image, of what God is like?
“He’s old and grumpy, he hates fags (right, Westboro?), he thinks women who have abortions are monsters, and he’s just waiting for us to mess up so he can clobber us.”
“He hates tattoos, sex is taboo (unless you’re planning a family), piercings are of the devil, and so is Obama.”
“Christians are just like him. They are two-faced, self proclaimed saints. They quickly judge others but not themselves. They build big buildings, wasting millions of dollars, but won’t help a woman whose husband rapes her and beats her 5 nights a week!”
Stereotype.
When Jesus told the Christians to, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to everyone”, he wasn’t telling them to go and “rack up numbers of ‘converts’” like they’re individual conquests. He wanted them to go, meet the world one by one, find out what makes them “tick”, and represent Jesus to them like he represents us to his father.
How can people (we) get close enough to help, and to be trusted to help, if they (we) judge (sorry, stereotype) from afar?
God believes in drawing near to us, us to him, and us to one another.
If I’ll drop my preconceived notions, I just may learn something, hear something; and who knows what that may lead to?
God.
Do YOU prejudge others? Have YOU PREJUDGED God?
Thank you for reading this post. Please comment, I’d love to hear what you think. For more posts and a weekly newsletter delivered to your email address, please go to http://eepurl.com/PaJK5 and sign up. Thanks.
-
Names
There’s a word used to describe a certain segment of the Church. Actually, there are a NUMBER of words used in describing the Body of Christ. No, I’m not referring to words like “arms”, “legs”, “hands”, etc. Different words that seem to imply division, rather than unity.Names.
Of course, it’s nice to locate people by what they believe. It makes it easier to know who we can hang around with, and who we should avoid. Right?
That’s why we call some people liberals, others fundamentalists. Some are known as Armenians; I’m told they clash with the Calvinists. And I can never keep it straight who believes what.
There are Lutheran, Methodist, and Jesus Only believers. Baptists, Free Methodists, Brethren, and so many others I can’t remember, or keep straight. Of course, each group believes their doctrine is THE correct interpretation of the scriptures; which means the other groups are just a little bit flaky (at least, a little).
So about this word, this group, I started to tell you about. They’re called “Pentecostal“. From Acts 2:1-4. The word is used a couple of different ways, depending on which part of the church is using it. For instance, when a “Pentecostal” says, “I’m Pentecostal”, they say it loud and proud. But we all believe what we believe, and we believe what we believe is right! Bless God!
And we stick a name on people who don’t believe like us.
When a “Non-Pentecostal” points to someone and says, “They’re Pentecostal”, chances are they mean, “That guy is a nut!”
Have you ever been guilty of pointing out a Baptist to a Pentecostal brother? I have.
Tongue talking fanatics, that’s what Pentecostals are. But they’re not the only odd duck.
Lutherans are people who can’t pray unless the prayer is written down for them to read.
Methodists, they used to be bible thumping, holiness preaching, students of the Word. Now they’re just a bunch of liberals, like the Presbyterians.
Baptists? You can’t be a good one unless you believe in eternal security and read from a Schofield bible.
Jesus Only people, well, they’re stuck in Acts 2, skipping clear past Matthew 28:18-20. And they’ll just about fight you to prove their point. But if there isn’t a trinity, what’s it called. Parity?
Brethren? One group of Brethren baptize in water face first, and another clan baptizes like the Baptists.
And of course, there isn’t just one group of Baptists. Oh no. There’s Regular Baptists (they’re the ones with plenty of fiber in their diet), Black Baptists, American Baptists, Full Gospel Baptists (they’re the ones who received the left foot of fellowship from the “Non” Full Gospel Baptists), Southern Baptists, and, I don’t know for sure, but there’s probably Montana Baptists (made up of ultra conservative types, Tea Party Republicans). They’ll be running the country, some country anyway, one of these days. Just wait and see.
I’m NOT putting down Pentecostals (I am one, if you must know which group I’m in). I’m not making fun of any other group, either. There’s a bit of weirdness in each and every group. How do I know?
Easy. People are weird.
What I’m attempting to say is this: Jesus didn’t die so he could have a bunch of body parts. He didn’t go to prepare a place that has to be partitioned, so the holy rollers are separated from the prayer readers.
He is the head of a (singular) Body. Filly joined together. Not just the Baptists joined with other Baptists (which doesn’t work too well, anyway), or the Assembly of God folk (you know, the “All the Gospel” cats) locking arms with “those of like precious faith.”
Jesus is the head of One Body of Believers!
Yes, I have different things which I believe are true; according to the scriptures. But first, foremost, and really, what else matters; I am a believer. Jesus died for my sin and rose from the dead so I could have eternal life.
He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquity. Surely he bore our sorrows, and by his stripes we are healed.
Pentecostal? So what? Baptist? Big deal! Child of God through faith in Jesus? That’s what I’m talking about.
How about you? What’s your favorite label to use? Can you receive communion with a tongue talker? Can you learn from someone who went to a different seminary? Can you listen to someone teach, who never went to school? How about reading material from an ignorant fisherman? Like First and Second Peter?
Yes, the Church of Jesus needs to grow up. That’s what Paul prayed (you Lutherans know this stuff).
“…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”(Ephesians 4:13-16 ESV)
It’s what the Lord has been working on for a long time.
How about us growing up TOGETHER?
-
What Does Everything Mean To You?
I saw this commercial the other day. “What does ‘everything’ mean to you?”, asked Samuel L. Jackson for Capital One.Now, for the record, I am NOT endorsing Capital One OR Samuel L. Jackson. But the commercial caught my ear.
I think sometimes we forget what the word “everything” really means.
We are told to not worry about anything, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6 ESV)
There’s the word, everything. Pray about everything, worry about nothing.
Here’s another word for us. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV)
In everything. Can we agree with Mr. Jackson’s definition? Can we agree with God’s?
The word declares we can receive God’s bountifully supply in everything, so we can always be generous. 2 Corinthians 9:11
Oh, we agree with Mr. Jackson with that verse!
But what about these…?
Do everything without complaining and arguing… (Philippians 2:14 NLT)
…but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 NLT)
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:26 NLT)
Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:5-6 NLT)
We’re instructed to: not complain or grumble about anything. Test everything and let go of evil. Look to the Spirit to teach us and remind us. About every thing!
And if you’re breathing, praise God!
You see, “everything” to God means every problem has an answer, every word of wisdom we need will be supplied, every stronghold of addiction will be broken, and every demon must flee when resisted in faith with the Name of Jesus..
Every knee must bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus is Lord.
Every prayer will be answered, every word spoken won’t return without accomplishing it’s intended purpose.
Every heart can believe, every voice of repentance is heard. Every angel dispatched to minister to those who are heirs of salvation.
Every truth will be revealed, every lie exposed, every mountain and hill brought low, and every crooked path straightened.
One other thought before I wrap this up.
For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. (Colossians 1:19-21 NLT)
…for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him. (Colossians 1:16 NLT)
God wasn’t willing for anyone, or anything (just in case you don’t want to identify with the human race), to be separated from him. So he did something about everything. In Christ.
Every person will have an opportunity to receive the savior; the one who died for everyone.
He created everything through Christ, and reclaimed and restored everything (and everyone) in Christ.
This is powerful stuff! Something we shouldn’t forget. Something even Mr. Jackson agrees with.
God’s definition of everything.
After all, “That’s what everything SHOULD mean.”
-
What Do You Have Against Jesus?
“What do you have against Jesus?”“So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” (John 18:29-30 ESV)
The evening prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate. Treating him worse than a common criminal, they demanded attention from Pilate. As Pilate observed the abuse, he asked them a simple question.
“What did he do?”
They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”
What an answer! Pilate thought so as well. He told them, “Look, take him out of here and give him the punishment he deserves. But leave me alone.”
“But we want him dead!” That got Pilate’s attention.
Pilate had never met anyone who claimed to be God. But that’s why the religious leaders were so much against their prisoner; his claims were blasphemous, they said, and he deserved to die.
However, God vindicated Jesus by raising him from the dead. Case closed.
Well, not exactly.
Nowdays, for some strange reason, people all over the world have an issue with Jesus. People who have never met him talk as though they have personally witnessed his crimes against humanity. They act like he’s some kind of war criminal, or a person who’s bilked millions out of their life savings.
People will discuss religion, God, their church, their youth group, and even the amount of money they donate to charity. But mention, even briefly, the Name of Jesus…and some of those same people become red faced, their hands begin shaking, and you just know they’re about to call 911 and have you arrested.
Why? What does the world have against Jesus?
Has he ever been on the FBI’s most wanted list? Did he ever rob a store?
He’s been misunderstood, that’s for sure.
But did he ever make a promise he didn’t keep? Did he ever violate even just one of the Ten Commandments?
Did he ever speak ugly about labor unions or endorse Walmart?
As far as I can tell, his record’s clean. If my memory serves me correctly, all he ever did was love and help people.
Well, on second thought, he has been known to associate with some pretty shady characters. Rumor has it, he even had a prostitute as a friend. He took a little boy’s lunch one day, and acted like it was his own.
Once he interrupted a funeral. He actually had the audacity to open the coffin and raise the young man from the dead. Such inconsideration! No wonder people don’t like him.
Yeah, and there’s another time he ruined a perfectly good fishing net of Peter’s. Those things aren’t cheap at all. I heard that’s why he gave Peter a position in his organization; to keep him quiet.
He let his temper get away from him one day, and in the Temple of all places!
Also, shortly after he had John baptize him in the Jordan River, he was seen walking into the desert with the devil right behind him. He seemed to hang out with seedy looking characters, that’s for sure.
He had a couple of his associates steal a donkey one time. And (this is huge) he told his body guards to buy a sword; in spite of all of the sword control laws!
Sure, a lot of people say they were helped by him, those many years ago. But what has he done for people lately?
Is there anyone who will stand up and testify on his behalf?
Reader, I ask you: “What do YOU have against Jesus? What has he done to you or your family?”
Do you care to respond?
If Jesus was on trial today, would you be a witness for the prosecution?
Or, would you rather testify for the defense?
Please comment. I’d really like to know why you either despise Jesus, or love Jesus.
Thank you.
-
If I Was God For A Day
What if one morning, while sitting at your breakfast table munching on a bowl of Cheerios, your doorbell rings. You rise, walk to the front door, and peak through the peephole to see who it is.
“It’s God!”, you gasp, as you pick yourself up from the floor.
Nervously, you open the door and ask him in. “Please, have a seat”, you offer, barely above a whisper.
As he sits, you find the closest chair and fall into it. You think to yourself, “What in the world could he want with me?”
As if he heard you he says, “I’ve decided to stay at your house today; gonna have myself a little vacation. While I’m here, I want you to do my job. You are now ‘God for the Day.’ “
Whoa!
I ask you, what would YOU do if you were God for the day? And what would I do?
Well, let’s see…
Alright. Here goes.
I’d make the Russian troops go back to where they belong. I’d force the terrorists to turn in their bombs, and stop trying to settle grievances by killing innocent children. I’d make Hollywood quit acting like the world’s savior, and I would help the Boy Scouts be prepared.
I’d find a home for every homeless person, and give a “welcome home, thanks for serving”, to every Vietnam Vet. I would remove the Ten Commandments from each and every public place and weave them into the fabric of each person’s heart.
I would encourage the single mother, and care for her children. I’d be a father to the fatherless, and a very present help in a time of trouble. I would lift up the fallen, rebuke the proud, punish the thief, and release those trapped in any and every kind of slavery. I would drop the hammer on deadbeat dads, and reconcile each heart with their children’s hearts.
I would end divorce, pornography, child abuse, domestic violence, and TV shows that portray fathers as boobs and idiots.
I’d bring back the true meaning of the rainbow, and once again reclaim the word “gay”.
I’d speak of Heaven as if it’s something to look forward to, and describe Hell’s flames as something to shun.
I would open up the floodgates of Heaven, inundating the faithful with showers of blessing.
The hungry I would fill. The proud? I don’t know them. I can’t reach them.
I would love the unlovely, the lovely, the perverted and the bible banger. I’d love them enough to tell them the truth. My goodness would draw them to repentance.
If I was God for the day.
I’d let the politicians know how to fix their problems. I’d show them how to have affordable healthcare, based on my 40 year study back when Moses was the leader. I would show Washington how to really be a liberal, without bankrupting the nation.
I’d stop all killing.
I would listen to everyone’s problems and concerns. I would be slow to anger.
I would make our schools safe, by personally walking each and every hallway; if I could get in the building, that is.
I would end the hostility one nation has against another.
I’d make nations beat their swords into plows, and spears into pruning hooks. I’d introduce the lion to the lamb, and they’d dwell together peacefully.
Rebellion, witchcraft, illegal drug usage, and gluttony I’d remove from the heart of man. Worry I would replace with faith, terror and fear would be forced to turn over their house keys to my peace.
My church would quit fighting amongst themselves.
If I was God for the day.
Yes, things would definitely be different.
Until someone made me mad.
If someone wouldn’t follow my instructions, or look to me for wisdom. If people mocked me, ignored me, cussed me, blamed me for something I didn’t do, or gave someone else the credit I deserved. If the hungry rejected the bread I brought them, or complained of thirst while my living water was within arms reach.
Then, I’m afraid I’d lose it.
If the academia stood in their classrooms and read my obituary, I’d probably not be silent. To hear someone pronounce you dead; well, I just can’t tell you how it would make me feel. It would be almost as bad as people thinking you’ve never even existed!
It would probably send me over the edge. You know?
I’m liable to say something back at the person who just asked me to damn something. Something like, “Be damned, your own self.”
I’d be tempted to burn up someone with a lightning bolt…I just don’t handle rejection all that well.
And if I saw someone mistreat one of my little ones, or act as though life wasn’t important, I’d probably regret my actions, the next day.
When I was no longer God for the day.
No, there’s too much of the old me lurking about to allow me to be God, even for only a day. In fact, none of us would be very good at it. We are all much too caught up with our needs and desires to be trusted with all of God’s power.
Besides, God, even with all he knows and is capable of doing, can’t seem to do all of those things I said I’d do; if I was God for the day.
Nope, better count me out, as well as every other human being living on planet earth.
We have a hard enough time letting God be God.
So, what would YOU do if God made YOU God for the day? Would you change anything? Would you help others, or fix the Lottery so you’d win the $257 million prize?
Thanks for commenting…
Jan Grace
adding God's Word into my world…
