God is a Collector

Stamps, coins, baseball cards… all things that get collected.  Perhaps Barbie dolls and firearms could be collectible.  It takes a special type of person to collect exotic sports cars.  What collectors have in common is the desire to gather, catalog and/or display as many of a particular item as can be obtained.

God is a collector, too.  What could God possibly collect?  He created the heavens, the earth, and all that exists.  He owns the cattle of a thousand hills.  What could be of such importance to God that he pays careful attention to gather, store with care, and perhaps one day put on display? Continue reading

Eyes Are NOT the Window to the Soul

“Eyes are the window to the soul.”  It’s a well known phrase, and so old that no one really knows the source.  It’s very poetic, just not scriptural.

Jesus, in Matthew 12:34, says that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  What is really inside of a person comes out of their mouth.  You will know the tree by the fruit it bears.  That’s a more reliable indicator than a person’s eyes.  He says in v.35 ” The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.”    In Matthew 15 Jesus is responding to the accusation that his disciples eat without washing their hands.  He says what gets eaten goes into the stomach and is later expelled; it’s what comes out of a person mouth, not what goes in, that defiles.  What comes out of the mouth shows us what a person is really made of. Continue reading

What Is A Blogger?

People that don’t blog probably have a pretty negative image of what a blogger is.  Computer geeks, emo girls, tree huggers and every single personality on G4 all come to mind.  Many blogs are driven to generating profit, whether for the entertainment industry or marketing products and services.  But then there is the other type of blogger; enter the world of the Christian Blogosphere.

Michael Spencer, the original Internet Monk, introduced me to blogging.  He was neither 24 years old nor living in his parents’ basement at the time.  The internet is a tool, just like books, radio and television.  There are some Christians that will never let a t.v. in their house but there are also some good Christian programs on it.  There are Christian radio stations and Christian book stores.  The internet is neither inherently good nor evil but could be used for either.  And some of us are using this tool to reach people and places with the Gospel that wouldn’t let missionaries or a case of Bibles cross the border.

I recently added Meeting in the Clouds to my blogroll.  My mother is 71, and knows how to push the space bar to pause Netflix.  That’s the beginning and end of her computer literacy.  Cloud Watcher is 74.  Notes from a Retired Preacher is authored by former pastor Jack Weaver.  His is a spry 82.  He uses the Internet to reach the world that he is no longer as capable of physically getting around in.  We may not agree on everything (if we did one of us would need to stop blogging) but he is not short on passion for sharing the Gospel.

Whatever a “blogger” looks like, the Christian blogger is sometimes a whole other animal.  In a sense, blogging is all about saying “Look at me!”  The Christian blogger is saying “Look at Jesus.”

Christ Centered

Take a good look at da Vinci’s portrait The Last Supper.  What is the first thing you notice?  It is probably Jesus.  Everything about this picture is designed to draw your attention to him.  I want my blog to be “God honoring” and “Christ centered” because that’s what the Christian life should be like.  What follows is the 3-point sermon on why.

1) Jesus’ Ministry was Christ Centered  

Jesus was all about humility, having the heart of a servant and doing nothing but directing people toward God.  But there is no getting around the fact that Jesus is the way to get to God.  Jesus himself said “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”   Continue reading

The Pat Robertson Antidote

By now everyone has heard about Pat Robertson and his advice to those with Alzheimer’s spouses.  For anyone up in arms over the incident, or for those not sure if his advice is best, I recommend watching The Notebook.

James Garner is the Pat Robertson antidote.

 

Is Anything Too Hard for the LORD?

God had first spoken to Abram when he was about 70 years old, promising him many descendants and lots of land.  Abram didn’t hear from God again for about 15 years, but when God reminded him that he would have his very own son, Abram believed him.  God counted his faith as rightousness, making Abram the first person made righteous by faith.  God explains that although his descendents will be innumerable like the stars in the sky, they will not be given the land for 400 years.  God’s schedule is not our schedule; he will speak to Abram again in another 15 years. Continue reading

In God We Trust: Let’s Be Honest

Quick thought: I heard a preacher this morning say that “In God We Trust” is printed on all our money, and that must really tick God off.

I’ve wondered before how much longer that was going to last.  In all honesty I can’t believe our printed bills and minted coins still I have that on them.  Some ridiculous things have occurred in the name of separation of church and state.  We don’t live in a theocracy, but in a free country, and I understand that well.  Michael Spencer said that mixing church and state is kind of like mixing dog crap with ice cream; you can’t make the crap any better but it sure does ruin your ice cream!

What do you think: Is it to our credit that our money bears “In God We Trust” or is it just a lie?  Remember, this is our money we’re talking about.  We know what Americans really trust.

Lord of History

When God speaks to Moses from the burning bush, he knows that Pharaoh will not let the Hebrews go “unless compelled by a mighty hand.”  God has a series of signs and wonders in store for Egypt.  There comes a point when Pharaoh would have been willing to let them go and we’re told that God hardened his heart, because he was not done demonstrating his power.  It was all part of God’s plan.

I did not intend to preach a sermon featuring 9/11 on the 10th anniversary.  I decided to use text from Genesis 15, when God met with Abram (not yet Abraham) and renewed his covenant to make of him a great nation.  God explains that it will not happen right away; as a matter of fact it will not happen for another 400 years.

Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.  But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.  Gen. 15:13-14

Continue reading

Blogroll: Meeting in the Clouds

From time to time the old blogroll just has to be updated.  The blogs listed at right are ones that I read and would recommend to others.  Sometimes a good blog I enjoy reading fades away.  If you haven’t posted in the past 6 or 12 months, then you’re really not blogging.  I had one blog friend that just quit; he claimed there were hundreds of goods blogs on the internet and writing another would be irrelevant.  I sometimes reluctantly edit my listings.

On a brighter note, I sometimes make and then add new blog friends. Meeting in the Clouds has been on my blog roll for a while, but hasn’t been introduced yet.  The author identifies herself only as Cloudwatcher.  Originally from England, she now lives in Australia with her husband of 50+ years.   The visual style of her blog is very different than mine, but I have found her to be very insightful.  Well versed in scripture and eternally the optimist, her blog is certainly worth a look.

Life in Mordor, My “Other” Other Blog

I blog religion and theology on this site, The Master’s Table.  My Other Blog is filled with YouTube clips, funny pictures and random entries on life, sports, television shows I’m watching and the weather.  (Everybody blogs about the weather…)

I occasionally join Mike F. and Joe Derbes in a group project titled Life in Mordor.  My latest contribution is The Gospel According to Allegory.  Check out some Mike and Joe stuff while you’re there; comments and link love would be greatly appreciated.