Tag Archives: Jesus

Day 17 – “Free” thinking

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I saw a news story yesterday about a group of college kids who call themselves the “Atheist Agenda” who set up a table on the campus of UTSA in San Antonio, Texas offering porn to students in exchange for their holy texts.  One of the leaders said it was trading smut for smut.  He said porn is consensual “unlike religious texts that condone lying and using violence against individuals which is the exact opposite of let’s say anything that is peaceful.”  To view the short story click here.

It sounds like he hasn’t read all of the Bible at least and is taking a few instances out of context on which to base his argument – which is ridiculous to me.   And why hand out porn in exchange?  Does porn stand for peace, for something better than what holy texts offer?  That doesn’t make sense.  They were just appealing to an urge and desire as a lure to come away from God.

I don’t understand why some atheists feel it is their obligation to enlighten others to the error of their ways if they believe in God or some other diety, or follow a religion.  Why should they care?  If they don’t believe in God or an afterlife, why would it bother them if someone else believes that way?  Seriously.  At first I thought they were only asking for Bibles in exchange for porn and that led me to think “is this really an opposition to believing in God or an opposition to Jesus?  Why not a Quran?  Or one of the Vedas of Hinduism?  Or the Book of Mormon?”   Is it all to satisfy some need we all seem to have to feel superior to others?  To proclaim that we’re right and they’re wrong?  Do they feel they are doing a civic duty by leading Christians back to reasonable thinking, back away from following the teachings of Christ, back from their foolish lives of faith in things that are often unseen?

If I share my faith with someone, or testify about something God has done for me, it is because I believe it will benefit them in their life and give them hope.  If I knew of a cure for an illness or a medicine that would relieve pain and met someone in great pain or with that illness, I’d want to share what I knew with them to hopefully help them.  If I was walking through a really dark place with some others around me and had the only flashlight or torch, I’d walk closer to them and hold out the light to help them see the path.    I think it would be odd for someone who didn’t believe in light to come and tell me to snuff out my torch or turn off my flashlight.  If they want to walk on their own and find their own way that’s their choice, but why bother to try and convince me I don’t believe in or need the light I have in my hand?

What do you think about the reason behind atheists’ campaigns against people who believe in God?

Another interesting interview with the leader from Atheist Agenda on Youtube

Day 16 – A foot in the door isn’t enough

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Jogging on the treadmill has to be one of the most boring ways to burn calories but if I have the choice of jogging indoors in a comfortably heated room compared to jogging outdoors through snow and ice in 20 degree windy weather, I’ll take the treadmill. Sometimes I watch the TV in the exercise room or listen to music on my ipod. Today I thought I would put a podcast on and it really helped. Now if I could just have something fun to look at while I jog other than the electrical outlet straight ahead of me on the wall.

One of my new favorite “web pastors” is Craig Groeschel of Lifechurch.tv. I’m in the midst of the series called “Practical Atheist” – about when we claim to believe in God but we live as if He doesn’t exist. The message I heard today was about when Jesus spoke to a church from Laodicea (in the book of Revelation). He said this to them, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!  But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” Rev. 3:15-16 The Greek word used in that last phrase is “emeo” which means to spew, spit or vomit. When we say we believe but live as if we don’t, it makes Jesus want to throw us up. That’s pretty graphic!

According to Craig (and author Francis Chan) Lukewarm Christians:

  • Crave acceptance from people more than acceptance from God.
  • Rarely share their faith in Christ.
  • Do just whatever it takes to alleviate their guilt.
  • Think more about life on earth than eternity in heaven…stuff, image, money, etc.
  • Gauge their morality by comparing to others.
  • Want to be saved from the penalty of sin without changing their ways.
  • Only turn to God when they’re in a bind.
  • Give whenever it doesn’t hinder their standard of living.  Studies show that Non-Christians are actually more generous than most Christians.
  • Are not much different from the rest of the world….same morals, entertained by the same things…
  • Want the benefits of what Christ did without conforming to who He is.

WOW.  That is a tough list.  Tough message.  The truth truly does hurt sometimes but how absolutely vital it is!  Have I become a full-time mom, wife, worker, friend and a part-time Christian?  It can happen so easily.  I’m backwards much of the time.

Why are we like this?  How do we become lukewarm?  Many of us had emotional conversion moments when we really felt cleansed of our sin, when we first gave our hearts to Jesus.  What makes the difference between someone who has lost that fire and become lukewarm and someone who is still burning with God’s passion and love in their heart?  One reason is that it’s so “easy” to believe in God here in our country.  There is no price to pay, no sacrifice compared to believers in countries where it’s against the law to profess Jesus as their Savior, where they may lose their jobs, families or lives for remaining faithful to Christ.

If we read on in Revelation, Jesus offers, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”  (v. 20) He was saying that to the “believers” in Laodicea – it sounds like he’s not in yet.  They couldn’t really follow and live for Jesus because they didn’t know Him, because they hadn’t let him come in.  Think if someone had invited you over for dinner, someone who wanted to get to know you better, but once you arrived they stood in the open door, not allowing you to step inside.  Awkward to say the least.  It reminds me of how I behave when someone from Jehovah’s Witnesses comes to my house.  I don’t want them to come in.  I’ll listen to them at the door while they stay outside and then politely tell them I’m not interested.   Sometimes we’ve even ignored their knocking on the door, pretending to not be at home.  I know, that’s kind of pathetic isn’t it?

Jesus said he’s knocking.  He’s ready and willing to come in and let us know Him, but we have to open the door and let him in.  We’re not just talking about letting him stick his foot in the door.  He needs to come all the way in.   Close the door behind Him.  Sit down with Him.  Engage in conversation.  Listen to Him.  There is no in between, no halfway, no little bit of Jesus – either you ask Him all the way in or you leave him outside on the porch.

Come in, Jesus, please.


To watch Craig’s message, click here.

Day 14 – Ruined

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ru·in// [roo-in]

1.  ruins, the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay
2.  a destroyed or decayed building, town, etc.
3.  a fallen, wrecked, or decayed condition: The building fell to ruin.
4.  the downfall, decay, or destruction of anything.
5.  the complete loss of health, means, position, hope, or the like.
6.  something that causes a downfall or destruction; blight: Alcohol was his ruin.
7.  the downfall of a person; undoing: the ruin of Oedipus.
8.  a person as the wreck of his or her former self; ravaged individual.
9.  the act of causing destruction or a downfall.

I heard a convicting, compelling message yesterday by Pastor Craig Groeschel of Lifechurch.tv about practical atheism in the Church:  when people profess belief in God but live as if He doesn’t exist.  Craig proposed that if we’ve really encountered God and given our hearts to Him, we would be living transformed lives.  Things would be different.  We wouldn’t be thinking we can just say or do whatever we want and still be God’s child, still be saved.  It’s as if we say of our faith, “I’ll take what I want but give back the rest.”  Craig said we don’t fully surrender to or obey God because we don’t fear Him and we don’t fear Him because we don’t really know Him.

I think back to elementary school days.  If a little friend of mine tried to tell me what to do, I might put my hands on my hips, look them square in the eye and say “you’re not the boss of me.”  However, if my teacher called my name, or worse called me to her desk, and told me to do something, I would go do it right away.  I didn’t want to get in trouble!   I appropriately “feared” or respected my teachers because I knew that they were in charge and I wasn’t.

Jesus said even the demons believe in God and tremble.  How many of us who say we believe in God tremble in His presence or have a reverent awe-filled fear of who He is?  Do we know/realize who He is?

Pastor Craig asserted that when we truly encounter God we are ruined.  Our values change completely – what was once so important to us is not important anymore.  Instead, we are transformed by passion from God’s own heart and pursue what He values – which in turn leads us to a rich, full, forgiven and free life.

In the Old Testament you can read the story of Isaiah, a man who had a very personal, life-changing, mind-blowing encounter with God Almighty.  Aside from being overwhelmed visually by the immense majesty and presence of His Creator, there were the resounding songs of praise by angels who hovered near.  Their thunderous voices singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!” were so powerful the very floor shook where Isaiah stood and the room filled with smoke.  He fell to his face shouting, “I’m ruined!  I’m so sinful. I could not be more unworthy!  I’m a man of unclean lips and yet my eyes have actually seen the Lord!”  An angel came to him with a burning coal to purge his lips and make him clean.  Instead of death or chastisement, he was forgiven.   Then when Isaiah heard God asking for volunteers to go and do his will, Isaiah jumped up, probably waving his hands and answering, “Me!  Here I am, Lord!  I will do whatever you say.  I’ll go.”  (Isaiah 6)

One of the definitions of the word “ruin” above that I particularly relate to talks of the downfall or undoing of a person.   There are moments when I come face to face with God’s holiness and I realize again, falling face down in my heart, that my flimsy cardboard will is no match for the gale-force wind of God’s majesty and presence.  In surrender, I come undone.  The things my heart has treasured begin to fall away and I mourn.  I watch the downfall of my human understanding, the loss of every earthly thing, the wreck of my efforts to save myself, the destruction of all my plans and expectations.  It all sweeps away as great, roaring breakers of God’s love crash down.  They wash over me and I find myself lifted out of the rubble, buoyed up by love so deep my feet can’t touch the bottom.  I float helplessly and thankfully straight to Jesus’ arms, where I find salvation and hope.   Now that I know Him, no other love will ever be enough.  Nothing I’ve treasured before matters or compares.   I am ruined.

Day 8 – Peace, Providence & the Peewee

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I pulled into the parking lot at work this morning and thought to myself, “How did I get here?”  My head was pounding from a sinus headache and my body evidently switched into autopilot to transport me from point A to point B.  The office is very quiet – on Wednesdays I’m usually the only one here – and so the whir of the heating system and the quiet clicking of the keys on my keyboard were the only sounds I heard for a while.  Even though my head was still hurting, the quietness was welcome and gave me peace.

God reminded me yesterday that fretting over the future or letting fear creep in robs me of the peace He has for me.  Continue reading →

Day 7 – Undercover Boss

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Have you seen ads for a new show on TV called “Undercover Boss”?  In a reality show format, a boss or CEO of a company suits up in the uniform of his/her employees and works side by side with them.  They won’t know it’s their boss.  I want to see it sometime.  I can imagine a couple of possible outcomes:  one – the employees might get embarrassed or worse, even fired, if the boss sees that they goof around all the time or cheat or some other unethical choices, two – after working in their shoes for a while the boss might gain more compassion, appreciation or respect for them and treat them better afterward, three – boss and employees could have a much better relationship after their worlds intersect more closely for a while and after the boss gains some new perspective.

I saw this bumper sticker once and it made me laugh.  Jesus is coming again someday, true, but He already came and walked with his people, lived side by side, and stood in our shoes.  It’s so hard to comprehend God, who is not limited in any way, who made everything that exists (so He must be bigger than it all), who can be everywhere at once and knows everything, putting skin on and becoming one of us.  It’s almost as if He said, watching people mess up and live broken by sin, “I need to take care of this myself.”  How did He shrink Himself down?  How awkward would that be for Him to be enclosed, to be limited, to be in a body that could be sick or damaged? Continue reading →

A little more about Kelly

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Since I posted about Kelly Clark, US Olympic Snowboarder, the other day I’ve heard more of her story and have to pass it on.

I was encouraging a friend who emailed me this morning, a friend who tends to be hard on herself if she messes up or falls short on a goal.  As I typed a reply to her God really spoke to my heart, too.  I think everyone falls into the trap of equating personal worth with accomplishments or the things we are doing, so that if we fail to do something or mess up we feel less worthwhile, even downright worthless.

Like I posted before, Kelly Clark was doing the same thing and it wasn’t working.   After a competitor fell during a match, she overheard one of the other competitors tell her, “It’s okay, God still loves you.”  That stirred a hunger in Kelly to find out more.  Read this great article to find out the details of how God drew her to Him and filled her heart with His freeing love.

Our worth comes from the fact that God loves us and adopted us.  He wants you.  He gave everything anyone could give so that you could be His and be close to Him.  When you accept that gift of forgiveness and are willing to be adopted by Him, that alone gives you endless worth in His eyes.  “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done…”  Ephesians 2:8-9

Failing to do something you think you should, not doing something well, or messing up can never make God love you any less.   Performing 150%, working your tail off, and striving every day for excellence (while those can be good things) will never make God love you any more.  He LOVES you.  He loves.  He loves.  Just because of who You are in Him.

If the enemy is trying to pull a fast one on you by making you feel a failure, that you’re a disappointment, that you’re not good enough, or any other lies like that, be like Kelly and put your spiritual iPod on your heart to drown him out.  Listen only to Jesus’ loving voice and live in freedom today!  You can enjoy the moment you’re in right now knowing no matter what you do or don’t do, you are worth more than you know to God.

Day 6 – Recall

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I feel so badly for Toyota these days. What an expense they’re paying for all the repairs they have to make on recalled vehicles. So many models had to be recalled for defects and problems. It could potentially put them under, I suppose, especially if people lose faith in their long-standing reputation for safety and reliability.

If the customers ignore the recall it could have serious repercussions for them. You know, an acceleration pedal that sticks isn’t exactly safe – could be exciting but definitely not safe.  We have some friends who owned a truck that had been recalled due to something in the ignition. They hadn’t yet taken it in for repairs and one day the defective part caused a spark that caused a fire and burned down their home! Thankfully no one was hurt.

It hasn’t been on the news lately, but there is a recall on the human race.  Because of sin, we’re born defective and need God to repair us, to fix the brokenness with His forgiveness. If we ignore the recall there will definitely be serious repercussions, now and forever. Some people haven’t yet heard about the recall so they are unknowingly going about life in a dangerous state. If they don’t hear in time it could cost them their lives…in the truest sense of the word.

The Toyota vehicles can’t fix themselves and the owners can’t really fix them. They have to be returned to the original manufacturer who has the original parts, technology, and know-how to really make things right.

Our original manufacturer is the only one who can really fix us and put us in the best operating condition. It probably won’t be a one-time repair – but thankfully He’s available 24/7 and is more than willing to look us over time and time again. One day there will be a final recall.  It will be the last one but a beautiful one: life forever with God with bodies and souls that won’t need repairs anymore.

He heals the heartbroken
and bandages their wounds….
Our Lord is great, with limitless strength;
we’ll never comprehend what he knows and does.
God puts the fallen on their feet again… Psalm 147:2-4 The Msg

Day 5 – Filled up

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Today in church we heard a message about emptiness and finding true fulfillment, something that really fills the emptiness we often feel inside.  So many times I’ve tried to fill my heart with other things but they aren’t lasting.  Kind of like the foamy fizz on top of a fountain soda, it fills the cup to the brim for a minute or so but soon goes away leaving lots of empty space.

I realize that I expected facebook to help fill the loneliness I’ve been feeling.  It helps a little but I have to admit that facebook is mostly fizz.  Connections there are on the surface and not the same as when we connect face to face or voice to voice.  I feel so much more connected to someone if we talk on the phone or in person, if I can actually be with them and see their face (not just a photo and status), can hear their laughter and voice, and feel their hugs.  (I still like facebook just realizing it can’t really fill me up)

Today we met some friends for lunch and while we waited for them to arrive, a whole gang of other friends from our old church showed up.  My girls and I practically ran to the door to give them hugs and greet them Continue reading →

Day 3 – Alone

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Forty days is a long time to spend wandering in a rocky, dusty wilderness, especially without food.  Lots of time for thinking, praying, listening, walking, resting, trying to sleep.  It was hard for the tanned and sweaty man not to think about the gnawing hunger and thirst inside.  Then there were the moments of temptation and taunting from the enemy, so artfully crafting arguments to try to persuade Him to abandon his true purpose, even His true identity.  Would he be able to keep his weakening heart and tired eyes focused on obedience and perseverance to complete this time of solitude, to be honed and made more ready for what was coming?  He had God’s Word, He WAS God’s Word and the enemy was no match for that or for Him.   Even so, heading into the wilderness and surviving its lessons and temptations, Jesus was alone.

Once he began teaching and performing miracles, the people couldn’t get enough of Him.  He would teach, heal and love all day, get in a boat with his disciples, arrive at a different place only to see a sea of smiling, eager faces of those who wanted to hear him teach, to have his attention, to feel his healing touch.   Reading about his compassion even when he must have been physically exhausted always amazes me.  No wonder Jesus often got up early before the sun even came up, and went off somewhere by himself.  That time of quiet prayer with God must have been refreshing, even imperative.

Living life with the men He called to follow Him for three years, journeying from town to town, sleeping in others’ homes or outside under the stars, or even by the sea, interacting with hundreds of people in crowds everyday, must have been wonderful, tiring, rewarding, and disappointing all at the same time.  There must have been times when he would pause from teaching to look into the bewildered eyes of his friends and disciples, seeing that they didn’t really understand what He was saying or who He really was.  In those times, I think He felt alone.  Continue reading →

Day 2 – For Real

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Today I don’t feel super spiritual, which is kind of a disappointment.  I thought once I started this 40-day journey to Easter with Jesus I’d be face to face with revelations and epiphanies to share with you, but today was just a regular day.  It was a good day, just kind of ordinary.  I guess there’s nothing wrong with that.  Prepare yourself for randomness…if you’re game, read on.

Jon Acuff, founder of the popular blog, “Stuff Christians Like” and now author of a book by the same title, posted this fantastic, soul-baring post yesterday.  I was moved by his vulnerability and openness and reminded that in openness we are healed, we find freedom.  We don’t have to pretend, we don’t have to hide anything or lie and that is definitely a good thing.  Read this:

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/02/throwing-up/

I’m always encouraged to remember that we are all fallen and there are no Christian super heroes.  Every single person struggles with sin and temptation.  I’m positive that everyone at one time or another feels like the apostle Paul when he exclaimed, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate….Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 7:15-25)

One lesson I hope to learn through this 40-day journey to the cross is how to be less self-absorbed and more focused on others.  Truly!   Following Jesus as he walks this path I’m sure I will see Him compelled by love and sacrifice, by purpose and obedience, by prayer and loyalty to God…not by self.

Now for something completely unrelated…

I also saw this today, something very non-conventional:

http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

I don’t think I’ll go out and buy it, but it certainly is unique, made my family and I laugh, and I think for the most part, God would get a chuckle out of it, too.    Take, for instance, this version of Romans 8:28, “U no, teh Ceiling Cat, he always doin stuff for ur own gud, if yu luvs him.”

Last night we watched Lindsay Vonn win a gold medal, overcoming a shin injury and a great deal of pain, skiing to victory!  When asked how she felt, she remarked how she had given up everything for this and it made the win so sweet, so amazing.  She really has dedicated her life to this moment in time and to succeed must have been the most beautiful reward.

I think I should go downstairs and sit with John for a while, watching some more amazing athletes do their thing.

Who knows what tomorrow may bring?  Maybe a spiritual  mountaintop?  Maybe an ordinary day.  I just want to walk with Jesus and be there in case He has something special to tell me.   If we end up just walking and hanging out together, that’s fine, too.