Your sins will find you out

A Sign of Good Things to Come?

 

David Letterman said something interesting and profound on his show last night when talking about the remarkable story of the “Miracle on the Hudson.” After both engines died due to a flock of birds, a US Airways plane crash landed in the Hudson River and every single passenger and those in the crew walked (or swam) away from their sinking plane.

Letterman almost seemed to be praying when he said:  “Maybe God, this is a symbol for good, strong, positive things to come in the year 2009 because you don’t get any news better than that.”

Just before that he he also said, “Airbus planes float better than they fly.”

Philosophy

Stuff in my head 1/11

• I had a great time this morning at Community Christian Madras.  I was interviewing people for Vision Day.  That’s coming up February 1 and the “All In” series that will start.
• Imagine how this would be protested in Coweta.  Starship wouldn’t even be an issue.  BTW it doesn’t mean I think Starship is a good idea.
• The Obama Presidency is almost here, will we do what is necessary to avoid the Great Depression II
• Can a company do good and do well?
• Wireless electricity!!
• I will miss watching him pitch in Atlanta. He might have been the greatest competitor of his generation.  I can’t say I blame him for wanting to go and have a chance to play in the postseason again.  I do wish he and other aging athletes wouldn’t make it all about money.  Seems like if you’ve made over $100 million in the course of your career and you really wanted to stay in Atlanta $2million dollars wouldn’t keep you from staying.
• The first two weeks of Cash Flow have been great.  I’ve heard so many people taking positive steps.  If you would be willing to tell your story email cashflow@community-christian.net or post it in the comment section here.

This person needs to come to “Cash Flow”

This is off the site “the customer isn’t always right”.  It’s an actual conversation from a bank

Customer: “There seems to be a problem with my ATM card. I can’t get any money out.”

Me: “Hold on, let me check your account…you only have $3.35 in your bank account.”

Customer: “Ok, so how do we fix that?”

Come to Cash Flow at Community Christian this Sunday

Stuff in my head for the first time in 2009

• Since I was about 12, I have loved Eric Clapton’s music.  Here he talks about his spiritual life.
• An atheist says “Africa needs God”
• Bill asks a great question here.
• I have no use for this but I want one.  I do know what to do with this - eat it and then schedule heart bypass.
• Dating ain’t what it used to be.
• In defense of teasing
• Here is something to go ahead and get for next year’s “White elephant” gift exchange.  If you like these and actually want one, stop reading and go directly to therapy
• I don’t know Amanda but I am the father of thee boys and I remember some of these.
• The best thing about the calendar turning to January is – 6 more weeks until Spring Training.  If you miss baseball as well here is an interview with retiring Braves announcer Pete Van Wieren

Your bias is showing

Anytime you hear some one speak you should ask yourself ‘What is there bias?’ Every speaker has one, every writer has one, every listener has one. The one thing you can know for sure is when someone says they are presenting something to with an “unbiased viewpoint” they are either lying or they are blind to their bias. Now on to the rest of this.

Is there anything more fun at the holiday season than sitting down with your spare time and reading one of the magazine or newspaper stories that is debunking some claim of the Bible. It’s become one of our great American Christmas traditions.

And National Geographic delivers on the annual seasonal debunking of religion in favor of science. National Geographic dismisses the Bible as a valid historical source without stating a reason or giving us an argument. It’s as if we're all supposed to know that it's a given that the Bible doesn't give us facts.

The first paragraph of the article tells us that "Herod is almost certainly innocent of this crime" of the slaughter of the infant boys because "there is no report apart from Matthew's account." However, the piece goes on immediately to admit he murdered his own sons, wife, mother-in-law, and members of his court, cruel, evil acts in complete harmony with the slaughter of babies. It's just that that account is found only in the Bible, which apparently doesn't count as history.

But the fact that only one ancient writer mentioning an event can't be a reason to dismiss it according to National Geographic's standards because the article goes on to name historical events found only in Roman historian Josephus' history. Josephus is a contemporary of Matthew the Biblical writer, so the only reason for dismissing Matthew's account is that it's in the Bible and we all know that doesn't count.

Even if you take the Bible simply as a book by men and set aside the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the eyewitnesses and historical claims should be taken seriously, not dismissed out of hand. There are good reasons for and scholars widely accept the early dating of the Gospels. And Matthew, a Jew and native of the country, surely would have been aware of such a bloody act. The heinous killing of so many children in a small country would have been widely known. So Matthew, even as the only source, should be taken seriously until an argument is given to discredit his claims.

Religion is myth and feeling; science is fact and knowledge. There's no argument beyond that assumption. You will see this kind of thing in the seasonal specials on the History Channel, Discovery Channel and the like. This assumption often runs through stories of this nature. I know many Christians who love watching these programs and reading these articles. I just wish up front they would state their bias upfront.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Jesus no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Jesus no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

Jesus no army, yet kings feared Him.

Jesus won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

Jesus committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

Jesus was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

I feel honored to serve such a leader that loves me.

Merry Christmas!

Penn Jillette gets a Bible

At Community Christian Church one of the things that regularly happens if you are a part of a small group or serving team is we hold each other accountable to share our faith.  Once every few weeks in small groups we will ask “the grace question”.  In different forms the question is basically “How are you doing at sharing God’s message of grace with people in your world?”  We encourage people to identify the folks God has put in their world that are lost and to pray for them, serve them, invite them to come with them to church, etc.  In short, do what you can do to tell the people in your world that they need a relationship with Jesus for assurance of eternal life.

The trend among many of my friends who are believers and in many churches is that we need to “show” our faith in Christ and not worry about “telling” others of their need for Christ.   I believe the Bible would say we need to do both. In addition to that, there is the pervasive thought, among many christians, that we should not try to convert anyone. The idea is that it is arrogant to think we are right and they are wrong and that grace means everyone will be okay no matter what.

With that in mind I offer you this video.  I just had a friend send me this video.  It blew me away.  Penn Jillette of the comedy/magic team of Penn and Teller is a very outspoken atheist.  He makes no bones about it and openly challenges our belief in God.  This video talks about a Christian who shared his faith with Penn.  In this video Penn talks about the guy proselytizing (that just means to try to convert someone). 

My favorite quote

I don't respect people who don't proselytize. If you believe that there's a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell, and you think, 'Well, it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward'... How much do you have to hate somebody not to proselytize?

How much do you have to hate someone to not proselytize? Wow! That man can preach.

Holiday Eating Tips

There has been a good bit of talk around our office about holiday food.  As a guy who knows a lot about eating I offer to you now my top 4 holiday eating tips collected over the last 49 years.

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots anywhere near a Christmas spread is of the devil and should be avoided.  You should leave immediately and go find some rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. Because they won’t sell it to you any other time of the year.  And it’s awesome!

3. If gravy is an option always take it.  We are living in the south – we like fried foods and we like it covered in gravy.

4. If you come across something really good on the buffet table, like those awesome Christmas cookies that have the icing on them, do  not leave them behind.  Stay right there and eat as many as you can before someone notices.  If you leave them you will never see them again.

Okay those are my top 4.  What would you add?

blog “open mic”

Before the end of the year I thought I’d host my first “blog “open mic”.  What is a blog open mic? It’s simply a digital version of an OPEN MIC.  Click on comment on this post  and, you can share anything - well, almost anything: a joke, your blog, random thoughts, scripture, a news story, your personal story or introduction, world changing ideas, your music, YouTube videos; your confessions, rants, rage against the machine, inspiring stories, the answers to life, you could show us your flow, your art, your poetry, prose or haiku.

You can share whatever as long as it’s not hateful. So, here is your chance to express yourself.  Take a minute and “open mic.”

Wow! The Hubble Advent Calendar

Someone just sent me this link.  I plan to check back every day through Christmas for these amazing sites from the Hubble Telescope.  “The Heavens declare the glory of God.”

BEST CHRISTMAS GIFTS

It hit me today that since my mother passed away this will be the first Christmas of their lives that my sons won’t be getting a gift this Christmas from their MaMaw Martin. My mother loved to give people gifts.  It got me thinking about what were the best gifts my parents ever gave me.

Here are a few gifts my parents gave me growing up that I'm trying my best to pass on to my children.

1. THE GIFT OF A HEALTHY MARRIAGE: My parents were always affectionate, loving and respectful to one another. Watching how my dad treated my mother (and vice-versa) has taught me how to treat Becky. The example of a healthy marriage is better than a cellular phone or an X-Box, and it's the gift that really last a lifetime. When children see the way their parents love and respect one another, it teaches them to do the same.

2. THE GIFT OF INTEGRITY: I was taught from a young age that we didn't lie, cheat or steal. When I did things like that there were consequences to pay.

3. THE GIFT OF DISCIPLINE: This is going to be hard for some of you to believe, but there were a few occasions when I got “paddled” at school by teachers or principles. Since I grew up in a very small town by the time I got home my parents knew about it and I got another one when I got home.  They stayed after it, even though it took a long time, and I finally understood “you reap what you sow" or you have to be responsible for your own actions?

4. THE GIFT OF LOVE. There are different ways to spell love. T-I-M-E spells love. L-I-S-T-E-N spells love. I can’t ever remember not knowing that my parents loved me and would do whatever they could to help me.

5. THE GIFT OF A SPIRITUAL HERITAGE: This came mainly through my mom early in life but through both parents later on.  For as long as I can remember I knew that my mom had a real growing relationship with God.  On my desk sits her very last Bible.  It is filled with notes and prayers, it has dates of what she was reading and what she was learning.  I never ever got the feeling that my mom was not fully engaged with her Savior.  Even now as I grow in my relationship with Christ, I follow her as she followed Christ.

What are some of the gifts your parents gave you that have lasted a lifetime?

What does it take to grow?

How would you answer that question? I think my answer has changed a good bit through the years.  I heard an answer several months back that has been rattling around in my head.  I’ve been sort of trying it on for size to see what I think.  To see if it works as a truth in many different areas of life.  Here is the answer, I’m working with these days.

Truth + Grace + Time

What do you think?  Better yet, what is your answer to the question?

Advent

This year during the holidays I’m doing something I haven’t done as an adult - I’m celebrating advent.  When I was a boy one of the churches that my family attended celebrated advent but for the most part the others didn’t.  Honestly the only part I remember about it was there was a wreath, candles and something we read everyday.  Once I became a teenager I went my own way spiritually. My family was in a different Christian tradition by then and they didn’t include the advent tradition in their celebration either.  Now because of some personal spiritual discipline I am putting in my life, the advent tradition is back in  my life.

Advent is the Christian season of waiting. We remember how the nation of Israel waited for the coming Messiah.  We see the promises made to them that a deliever was coming.  They waited and prayed that God would come.  Finally their waiting was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. 

Now we wait for the return of the Lord.  Believing and hoping.  All our prayers take place with the fulfillment of the old covenant behind us and the fulfillment of new covenant waiting still before us. We wait for a savior to redeem and heal God’s broken world. 

The Advent celebration of waiting started this year just after America’s new holy-day is “Black Friday,” the day when the national messiah is born: bargains on presents. At the heart of it: we can’t wait to get what we want. The power, the pleasure, the purchase: it’s all ours to take as long as we show up and rush for the prize of the high calling of cheap gadgets.

Jesus has come to bring God’s kingdom in power and to fill his Good News with victory over sin, death and the grave. Until Jesus returns, we are watching, on guard, waiting, serving as those trusted by the master to do his work until he returns. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

What do you do during the holiday season that helps you grow in love for God’s gift of Jesus? Have any of you used the Advent tradition as a part of your celebration?

8 THINGS

I got tagged, by a friend, to share some "eights" about myself.  At the end I am tagging all of you you.   To keep this going answer these categories with your “eight” either in the comments or on your own blog and link back here.  Here you go:

8 Favorite TV Shows:

• Atlanta Braves baseball
• Prison Break
• The Shield
• Chuck
• Amazing Race
• The Simpsons
• Dexter
• House

8 Favorite Restaurants:

• Cafe Pig’
• Taco Mac
• The Half Shell
• Any Cheap Mexican Restaurant
• Smokey Bones
• Jade Garden
• Outback 
• Zaxby’s

8 Things That Happened Today:

• Slept late
• Finished up a message
• Went over this Sunday’s service with the producer
• Finished some details for “When Love Came to Town”
• Packed for a trip out of town with my wife and youngest son
• Said goodbye to my two oldest sons who aren’t on the trip because of college.
• Got on an jet

8 Things I Am Looking Forward To:

• Christmas Eve/When Love Came to Town Outreach
• My annual Christmas tradition of playing “give away”
• Snorkeling
• Braves Baseball  - spring training February 14
• Talking about “The End Times” in the next “You asked for it” message, December 28.
• Playing games with the family over the holidays
• Trip to Israel next year
• Heaven

8 Things on My Wishlist:

• Seeing the three young men God entrusted to Becky and me grow into strong men of God
• To see many of The 60,000 come to Christ
• Another Braves World Series
• Amazon Kindle
• Trip to Normandy
• Me being more content with me
• Running “wide open” until I die
• Fully enjoying the people God calls me to serve along side

I tag you…..

"Happy Thanksgiving"

To Grandmother’s house we go

I offer the following for those of you who can’t be this year’s Community Thanksgiving Meal because you have family responsibilities.  Here are some fun shotgun calling rules for the trip over the river and through the words.

Generation WE

I am great believer in the next generation.  From what I have seen they are smarter, more concerned about others and their world, more involved politically and ready to do something to change their world. This is also the generation that in large degree is leaving the church behind.  Those of us that believe in them must hear what they are saying.  We need to hear them and they need to hear us.    This video may have a political agenda but it’s important we hear it so we can understand.  Then we can hopefully speak with wisdom.

Stuff in my head – a catch up

• I love John Ortberg’s stuff, I thought this was one of his best.
• This is an interesting string of comments on the de-churching of America
• Jason did a great job ending “I want it All”.  Overall I thought this was a great series.  If you missed a week go to the church web site, click on resources and catch up.
• It’s all in the marketing
• I am loving watching the Falcons these days.  That being said only 83 days until pitchers and catchers report for spring training. :)
• Survey says – Churches that are over 1000 in attendance are more intimate and their members less spiritually gullible
• We have the Women’s Bible, the Promise Keepers Bible, the Bible for the prayer of Jabez, The Bible for left handed men who like to sing alto, now comes The Soprano’s Bible (an excerpt)
• I hadn’t commented on it but I thought this was the coolest thing on election night.  I wish they had used it more.  If I had it I would use it for more church campuses.
• “The Customer is not always right” is a recent addition to blogs that make me laugh.
• Don’t forget this week we continue the series “You Asked for it” with “What does the Bible teach about Heaven and Hell.” I love this picture of heaven

 

• Okay I’ll end with this. I laughed and laughed. 
  

Become a disciple

I haven’t blogged for a bit.  I’m trying to decide if blogging is something I should continue to do or not.  But while I’m still in the decision stage, I saw this and it was too good not to share.

Look at the ad above? What kind of “disciple” is this slightly-slutty woman wanting to make you? Well it’s a come on for an online bar where you can, and I quote, “Get someone drunk by buying them a virtual Corona or shot of whiskey.”

Have you noticed how our world is taking Christian vocabulary! The word “Christian” has become an adjective for marketing all kinds of stuff. I call it “Jesus Junk.” All kinds of musicians are singing about “born again.” This Sunday night I’ll be watching Jack Bauer on 24 kicking off with “Redemption.”

So what is the one thing that can’t be counterfeited? 

Jesus said, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35 NLT).

Prayers for Our President-Elect

I Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.  Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. …8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

I Peter 2:13 For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.

Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Whatever happened to personal responsibility

Is it just me, or does the theme of our times seem to be “It’s not my fault?”  Whether it’s the economy, the political process (does anyone know what these candidates are for? Where is the vision we can rally around?), or especially in our personal lives.  It’s always the same conclusion.  I’m a victim, the devil made me do it, it his/her fault, if life was more fair, on and on and on.

Doesn’t the Bible say that “we are more than conquerors in Jesus”?  We can choose to with hope, peace, optimism, good will and faith no matter what our circumstances.  People screw up, plans fail, stuff happens but God is still God-all knowing, all powerful and always with us. He not threatened when we question or uninterested in our problems.  He loves us even when we don’t  feel it.  We do not have to take the path of least resistance.  We do not have to give in to the gloom and doom that is playing 24 hours in our world.  We can chose how we respond.  We are not victims.  This is our chance to stand in faith.

Am I the only one that gets frustrated with our country of victims?  Maybe I’ve on political commercial overload – need to take a break from reading out our current economic situation.

Some good news in bad economic times

It is very difficult to have much hope about the economy with all that is going on.  At the church office we see people every day who have lost jobs, are loosing their homes and are in real need of help.  It’s hard to watch the news or if you have one to look at your portfolio or not begin to draw comparisons to the Great Depression of the 1930’s.  But underneath all the stuff that’s been coming out here is one good note.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reports consumers saved an annualized $297 billion in the second quarter -- more than 10 times higher than the first quarter, and the highest quarterly savings since 1995. From 2004 through 2007, the average rate was around $85 billion. In the third quarter of 2005, things got really out of hand, with a negative savings rate … meaning that as a collective body, living paycheck-to-paycheck meant you were ahead of the pack.  

Maybe there is a silver lining in this very dark cloud.

Would more self inspection help us

Last week as I prayed and prepared for the message “Jesus wouldn’t be a Christian because Christians are judgmental and anti-homosexual” I wound up reading a great article by Michael Spencer.  It’s helped me focus on my own need for self-examination instead of looking at the sins of others.   His thoughts have stayed with me so I wanted to share them with you.

Some Christians love to talk about the sins of Obama or gays or the mainstream media, but get really animated when I suggest we need to talk about our own, even if they are listed in the Bible dozens of times.

If the Gospel isn’t grabbing you by the real sins in your real life, just exactly what is the Gospel doing for you? Or you with it?

I don’t like the fact that I can give a really good talk on prayer when I rarely pray.

I don’t like it that I can read Matthew 5:23-24 and, as far as I can recall, never take a single step toward obeying it.

I don’t like that I can sin and then condemn someone else’s sin in almost the same breath.

I don’t like it that I’m convinced people need to understand me, but I take so little time to understand others.

I regret that I’ve spent so much of my life seeking to make myself happy in ways that never led to real happiness at all.

I don’t like it that I’ve accumulated so much stuff I don’t need, and I’m so reluctant to give it away.

It causes me real sorrow that I’ve said “I love you” far to little in my life, especially to the people I love the most.

I don’t like the fact that some of my students think I’m a hero, when I’ve done nothing more than be an unprofitable servant.

I hate the difference between what I know and what I do.

I hate the fact that I can use words like “radical” describing what others should do in following Jesus when I’m the first one to want to play it safe.

I don’t like that part of me that thinks everyone should listen to what I say.

I wish I could see myself as God sees me, both in my sinfulness and in the Gospel of Jesus.

I regret using so little of my life’s time, energy and resources for worship and communion with God.

I despise that part of me that always finds fault, and uses that knowledge to put myself above others.

I am embarrassed by the words I use that come so easily from the tongue but have little root in the heart.

I regret taking so few risks in the cause of living a God-filled life.

I despise the shallowness of my repentance for sin that has caused hurt and pain for others.

I don’t like that part of me that can make up an excuse, even lie, almost endlessly in the cause of avoiding the truth and its consequences.

I don’t like that I can talk of heaven in a sermon or at a funeral, but very little of me wants to go there.

I regret that I have loved my arrogant self far than I’ve loved my self humbled in Christ.

I regret that so much good advice, good teaching and good example was wasted on me.

But I am glad for the endless mercies of the Lord, and the amazing fact that those mercies extend to me, today and every day.

I am glad that Christ my substitute took this sorry life, pathetic obedience and lethargic worship and exchanged it for his perfect righteousness.

I am glad that the Holy Spirit is remaking and raising dead men- even at age 52.

I am glad that one day I will look at all these failures and regrets and they will have been transformed into the very glory of Jesus Christ himself.

I am glad that God has cast the very things I most dislike about myself into the depths of the sea and has removed them as far as the east is from the west.

I am glad that when I return in shame and embarrassment, my Father meets me running, covers me with his gladness and throws me a party in the presence of the naysayers and pharisees.

I am glad that Jesus takes these things I loathe about myself and says “It is finished. Come you good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord. Today you will be with me in paradise.”

I am glad Jesus says “Before I have called you servant, but now I will call you friend.”

I am glad Jesus says “Who condemns you? There is now no condemnation because you are in me and I am in you. If I am for you, who can be against you? Go, and sin no more.”