Ouch

I was reading a blog today from Jeremy Myers and thought this was horrible..

...I ran an experiment to see.

Right now, I am growing my hair out. It covers my ears and looks a little shaggy. A while back, when visiting a church, I wore jeans, a grey t-shirt with holes in it, and a baseball hat, just to see how I would be received. I didn’t bring my Bible. Nobody greeted me. Nobody shook my hand. During the sermon, nobody offered me a Bible.

I returned the very next week wearing slacks, a tie, and carrying a big Bible under my arm. I must have been greeted by 20 people in 10 minutes, and nobody said “good to see you again.” They didn’t recognize me as a second-time visitor! I now fit in with the kind of person they wanted in their church, and so I received a warm welcome. I was handed whole reams of literature. Someone personally took me up and introduced me to the pastor. I guess I was now a “keeper.”

I didn’t go back.

Now, I realize that every church has their faults and even once in a blue moon, this CAN happen without true intention of prejudice against people. But, God forgive us and change us when we're not at least giving people a smile and a handshake to say, "how are you?" I mean, it honestly convicts me with a huge heaviness because when we go back to practice for choir, I don't have a lot of time to mingle. And sometimes I really think I could do a little more than I do anyways. But, I feel grateful and secure in knowing that the men and women we do have at our church don't pick and choose whose hands they shake, and who they greet. They are accepting of anyone who walks through the door. My father-in-law, Mark, is always buying Bibles too and our church will pass them out at events. Plus, in the past few weeks I've been able to give away probably 10-15 Bibles to kids coming to our youth group. It's been pretty awesome. We're not a perfect church, but I thank God that we have a group who loves people no matter what they wear to church.

God's Plan

It's crazy how much faith it takes to really be a follower of Jesus sometimes. I was thinking about when Jesus was being arrested. Up until then, the disciples had been following him so closely and desiring to see His power fully manifested. We see this when Jesus would tell them of His coming death and they would have nothing to do with it. Peter was thinking that there was no way he was going to let that happen. They had seen Jesus perform miracle after miracle on top of knowing the prophecies of the Messiah--how He was going to be this great conqueror of the nations. I can only imagine that they were going along with this peace making gig, but soon Jesus was going to really exercise His amazing power and start ruining some people.

But, that's not how Jesus did things. In fact, when it came to Jesus' arrest, Peter was carrying his sword and swiped off the ear of the high priest's slave. It was like Jesus had told them some big stuff was going to happen so Peter picked up his battle equipment and was ready for war. That's not an official scholarly opinion or anything, but judging by his decision here and then denying Christ later that night, it seems as if his attitude changed when he started to think that Jesus wasn't going to be what Peter thought He was going to be. It seems for a brief moment that his faith started to waiver.

I can see the same thing in my life though. There are these times when I feel at the top of the faith ladder and that God is doing exactly what He's supposed to do as far as I'm concerned. And I'm thinking that if any hard times fall that He's there about to show His true power in the way that I think it should come. It's like I'm waiting on Him to show that warrior, Messiah power in my life to not just help my faith, but establish it with the proof in His power. But, time after time, His abundance of power comes in such a different way than I expect. I'm caught off guard and sometimes even wonder if this is really Him, because it's not how I would have did things, and after all, He can read my mind, so why not do it the way I want.

But, God's glory is so much greater. And, eventually, Peter would see this and change his focus again. I guess that's part of the Christian life. Discovering God in so many new ways. Waiting for His presence and getting so much more. Even if pain is there longer than we want, He's still going to be there somehow.

Christianese

LOL My favorite parts:

"Learn popular phrases such as 'uh-huh' and 'mmm..mmm..mmm'"

"Learn why other religions 'refuse to laugh'"

Awful

Article

I read the above article about two men (high school students when the incident occured) who were sentenced to nine years in prison for beating and kicking another man to death. Because the two men were white and the man who was beaten to death was Hispanic, there is a lot of racial tension and controversy. It said that the boys called the man a "spic" before beating him to death followed by an acquittal of all serious state charges (including murder) by an all white jury. Federal hate crime charges were then filed.

Aside from the racial issues, how could anyone acquit these boys of those crimes. What's sad, is that there were actually four boys. They were all drunk and beat this guy. Two of them plead guilty and testified AGAINST the other two boys in this article. They told everyone what happened, how they plotted to cover it up, and even that one of the two boys plotted with local police to cover up the situation.

Going back to race, clearly this was what it was about. The Hispanic guy was here illegally, the boys were drunk, and that doesn't mix well. I would even bargain to say that the boys didn't mean to kill the guy. However, why does anyone think that a person deserves to be beaten because of their nationality or even status as a citizen of this country? Obviously, there will always be racial differences that cause us to argue with one another. People get heated about things and many just feel more comfortable around their own race. I'm not Ghandi preaching that we should hold hands and kiss. But, I would say that there is a general rule of common decency that we need to show to mankind. Needless to say, this is a Biblical principle of loving our neighbor, but in the broad spectrum on humanity this should even be present.

I would also bargain to say that the man wasn't here illegally with malicious intentions, but to provide a better life for himself and his family. Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware that people take advantage of our system and abuse our country's generosity. But, if I were in a place where my family wasn't being provided for, I would do what I needed to do to make it happen. That's not my excuse for illegal aliens, I'm just stating the facts. Going back to the topic though, again, this guy didn't deserve a firing squad. If you wanted to take out your drunken anger, you should have called immigration services. Killing people is illegal too, you know.

And that brings me to my last point. Ah, yes, the anger of these innocent young men. Seeing how this horrible illegal immigrant was over here stealing jobs from hard working Americans. So, let's get drunk (illegal because you're not 21) and beat the guy and really teach him a lesson (illegal). What? He's dead? Well, let's plot a scheme to cover our tracks or lie to the police (illegal). Now that we're arrested, let's do everything we can to make us look like law abiding citizens and just taken by a righteous surge of anger to get off easy instead of facing the consequences (morally wrong). They attacked this guy for being here illegally, breaking more and worse laws in the process.

Now, I realize that there is clearly more to this story. I realize that even though a man is dead, that these boys are still a parent's kids. I also realize that there may be more of the story that I don't know. But, when you beat a man to death when you're life wasn't in danger, what more of the story is there to tell? Clearly, a lose/lost situation. But, what are we telling people when we acquit murderers? I'll give you the answer. We're telling people that it's okay to let your anger escape your better judgment. It's okay to murder if your judgment is impaired by alcohol (even when underage). It's okay to manipulate our system for our betterment even when having to do so because we murdered someone for supposedly manipulating and abusing our system.

Let Freedom Ring

By far, the best they've ever done this song. David Phelps is from another planet. If I were him, I would put my voice in a museum.

May 21, 2011--Last Day?!?!

Harold Camping Article

What in the world are people thinking believing Harold Camping and his nonsense that the rapture will be on May 21, 2011. I don't get it. The boat for his proving himself sailed long ago when he said it was going to be in 1994. Let me rephrase: he said it might be in 1994...but there was the most humble possibility that his calculations could be wrong and it would be 2011 when it happened. Either way, only true believers (i.e. anyone who believes that the world will end when he does) will be raptured. I wouldn't quite call him a false prophet; after all, he never claimed to receive a vision from God or anything. I would say that he's a false teacher though. Telling people you have a sure thing when you don't isn't the best way to go about teaching the Gospel. This isn't the Da Vinci Code where we have to decipher hidden and complex messages in the Bible to figure out when this thing is going down. It was written for every man! Sure there are complexities here and there, but not to the point we dig for the timing of something that Jesus said no man knows. That's why Paul said not to worry about it. He told us to preach the gospel, not the timing of judgment day. Just that we will be judged one day.

Alabama Governor Apologizes

The new governor of Alabama, Robert Bentley, after his inauguration Monday, made some pretty heavy comments.

"There may be some people here today who do not have living within them the Holy Spirit," Bentley also said, according to the Birmingham News. "But if you have been adopted in God's family like I have, and like you have if you're a Christian and if you're saved, and the Holy Spirit lives within you just like the Holy Spirit lives within me, then you know what that makes? It makes you and me brothers. And it makes you and me brother and sister." Source

Now, normally, I would be just as uneasy as the next person because I would be thinking that the public forum, especially revolved around politics, is NO place for what this guy said. Within personal conversation maybe, but these words pretty much make you look rebellious and like you're ignoring the laws of the land that say don't push religion on our state. However, the guy wasn't at his inauguration in front of a group of mixed religion bystanders--he was in a Baptist church!!!

Clearly, we have politicians everywhere that push their own hot-button agendas. Religion just happens to be one of he hottest. But, why on earth should he have to apologize for what he obviously believes. It's not one of those statements made in anger where you call your friend an idiot or hypocrite and then later say you're sorry. You know they're not really an idiot or hypocrite, you were just mad. Bentley made this level headed comment in a speech he had planned. A speech that he knew would be among fellow believers-in a BAPTIST church-with the anticipation that some would not be believers and as a way of evangelism, made his comments.

It's like we want to pretend that because he made this comment that he's going to push Christianity as the government appointed religion and bring prayer (Christian only) back into schools. These are the same people that pitch such a huge fit over raging Christians propagating that Muslims are trying to infiltrate America's system to push Sharia Law. Let the guy worship how he wants to and say what he wants from the pulpit. I hardly think that worshiping how he desires and being passionate about his beliefs means that he's not going to defend others' right to worship freely.

Star Wars!

Okay, let me preface this video by saying something...Benny Hinn does some pretty awful manipulation of people and I find that very sad. To keep my judgmental thoughts about him aside, I'll leave it there. But, I thought the video was genius and hilarious with the light saber scenes.

Transforming Grace

I've been reading this book lately called Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges. It's an excellent read so far with the basic premise being that God's grace is completely unmerited and it is nothing we can earn. That's a difficult concept to take in sometimes. To think that I have absolutely NO control whatsoever on my eternal state. Obviously, I ask God to save me from an eternity apart from Him, but I'm told that I was dead to sin and it was Him who made me alive. So, my very salvation is completely unmerited. It's mind boggling to grasp this because I like to think I control most things in my life. However, God controls this.

Then, I was reading in Zechariah and in chapter 3, Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan was standing beside him ready to accuse him. Then, the Lord rebukes Satan and He has the filthy garments that Joshua was wearing taken off of him. In verse 4 the Lord says, "...See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes." Imagine that: You're standing before God and you know you've broken His laws that separate you. Then, you get before Him and Satan busts out a list a mile long of your worst sins and he's ready to start reading them off before God to get you in the worst kind of trouble. Then, God rebukes HIM instead and says, "this is MY child and I've made him clean!" It's like a giant boo-yah, in your face to your accuser. So, even though I don't understand how salvation is outside of my controlling sometimes, I read verses like that and become a little more excited that it's all God and not me. After all, if I was standing before God and all I had in my name was a few of my good works compared to the list that Satan was holding, I might not be in too great a standing with God...

Unredeemed

This video doesn't have the best sound quality, but I loved the beginning of it with the story of the song. I make the mistake and horrible judgment of thinking many times that so many Christian artists really don't believe what their singing. I mean, I hear people sing about how if God puts them in the valley that they'll just keep on singing and smiling until their death. Then I think, really? Would you seriously? When Todd (the singer in this video) said that about his daughter, I was floored. I just kept thinking how horrible that was and then listening to the words and really seeing how this song could be meaningful to him. But, I've been a fan of Selah since their first CD where they told their personal story of "It Is Well With My Soul."

In a practical sense, I love to say I have a truck load of faith in theory, but it's in the tough situations that we're really tested do we see that faith lived out. But, like Todd said, there are good days and there are horrible days, but we have to choose to continue to serve and praise the God who promises redemption and restoration of hearts and lives.