Lessons from the Banana
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Thursday, November 07, 2013 | |
Behold: the banana! High in potassium, bananas are great for preserving your eyesight and accelerating bone growth—not to mention warding off kidney cancer. And let’s start living with the expectance that His fragrance really will rub off on them! |
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Jesus is ALWAYS the Issue
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Thursday, October 31, 2013 | |
So I had a conversation today with a new friend from East Africa. Happened to be Somalian. As is my habit, I immediately asked him (nicely, mind you) if he was a follower of Mohammed. When he answered yes, I smiled back saying (boldly, mind you) “Well I am a follower of Jesus.” Very predictably, the conversation turned quickly to the person of Jesus. He affirmed what every other Muslim I've talked to about Christ affirms—that he was a notable prophet. My friend went to great lengths to be polite—but even greater lengths to assure me that Islam and Christianity BOTH share a respect for Jesus. Because our time was short—and Muslims have no problem being up front about their faith—I quickly assured my new friend that Jesus was MORE than a prophet. I quoted Christ's own words, “I and my Father are one.” And... “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” Naturally, there was no agreement with my biblical claims. But the conversation reminded me again how quickly we come to the “sticking point” for so many conversations related to faith. People from most any stripe of belief are happy to talk about “God.” They are more than comfortable discussing “beliefs.” They are not the least bit threatened should you claim to be a “person of faith.” Even talking about Jesus is acceptable—as far as it goes. Yet take one teeny weeny step toward declaring that Jesus is God and BOOM! Your ideological match has just ignited the kerosene of another's convictions. Jesus is always the issue. While I believe strongly we need to build bridges in friendly conversation with Muslims—and other friends, I have zero appetite for conversations that subject Jesus to a role any less than Almighty God. Please understand, I'm not advocating belligerence or harshness. But there's a line in the sand over which we must be ever be vigilant. And when someone—anyone--suggests that Jesus is less than God, it's time to lovingly and respectfully—but unapologetically--state the truth: Jesus....is....God. |
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Church Cliques
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Thursday, October 24, 2013 | |
Have you ever had a natural gas leak in your home or office? Gas leaks can be deadly, you know. They are invisible, they are poisonous, and left untreated, they can kill with deadly force. It's the same with church cliques. They are invisible, they are poisonous, and left untreated, they can kill with deadly force. The problem is, lots of people claim they can identify a clique at their church...but almost NOBODY would ever admit to being a part of one. So let me offer this three-part exam to help you assess yourself. Number 1: If you have ever secretly regretted someone else being a part of a church project or ministry that you're working on, you might be part of a clique. Number 2: If you honestly (but quietly) resent it when new people come join your circle of friends at church, you might well be a part of a clique. Number 3: If you cannot recall inviting someone newer to your church over for dinner...or to a social function of any kind...you might just be part of a clique. Cliques, by the way, are rarely the product of intentional design. They are, rather, the byproduct of an unchallenged—even sanctified—selfishness. Nor are they new. Church cliques go all the way back to the first church. Paul took a look around and observed rather bluntly that “Some were of Apollos. Some were of Cephas. Some were of Paul.” But Paul made it quite clear that such cliques were unacceptable. So how could we possibly be so unaware of them creeping into our churches? And how could we possibly allow them to flourish...through our own participation? Any time... any thought... any word or any action excludes any one...it's a clique. Meaning a clique could be made up of just two. So let me ask you—honestly. Are you part of a clique? Or are you moving away from a clique? Only one of those two statements can be true about you. There will be no cliques in heaven. There ought not to be cliques on earth. |
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The Outrageous Truth
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Thursday, October 17, 2013 | |
At first, it struck me as blasphemous—then incredulous. |
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Why We Don't Memorize the Scripture
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Thursday, October 10, 2013 | |
Houston, we have a problem: adults are not memorizing the Bible. Not like we should, anyway. I don't know about you but I struggle in committing Scripture to memory. When I was a kid, it was much easier to memorize the Bible. Awana was a great experience. But time is not kind to our brains. Or is it that we adults have allowed too much data clutter on our hard drives? Either way, we don't memorize the Bible—at least not much. I've taken survey after informal survey and the results rarely vary. “When I was younger I used to memorize...but not so much anymore.” But how have we dismissed Scripture memory? On what basis have we jettisoned all sense of accountability--all legitimate guilt? Last time I checked, there wasn't even a hint of age restrictions in the admonition, “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.” And how could the Psalmist claim, “I meditate on your law day and night” unless he had memorized a good portion of it? Folks, this is not an incidental problem, a minor issue. It's huge. I think it strikes at the core of why the Church is so much like the world. It's part of the reason we divorce so much... part of the reason we're able to look at on line porno with virtual impunity. We have not embedded sufficient quantities of Scripture to point our moral compass toward true North. You know what my conclusion is? We don't memorize because we don't want to memorize. Okay, so memorizing for adults is hard. So what! Too bad! Were you and I called to a life of ease? Is personal comfort our measuring stick? The truth is, it IS harder. But it's NOT impossible. My own struggle—and the struggles of countless others—proves it CAN be done. It just takes a little more time and a lot more effort. Shouldn't “denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily” possibly include doing the hard work of Bible memorization? It's time to stop making excuses. It's time to start memorizing the Word. |
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