Monday, December 7, 2009
10 Wonders
Friday, November 20, 2009
Jake Barry makes me think.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Story of Adam and Eve (with never-before-seen-alternate ending)
Monday, November 2, 2009
He says it Himself.
Friday, October 16, 2009
We do not accept cash, credit, debit, or check.
Tithing
Monday, October 12, 2009
Fruit baskets, atomic bombs, and Jesus
I think society sees Jesus as a gift-wrapped fruit basket.
The population realizes this man, Jesus, is something special, hence the gift-wrapping. He stands out as something that has been given as a present. Society has no problem saying that Jesus was a great teacher, a rabbi, some might even say he was a prophet. Everybody likes a good fruit basket, there isn't a threatening thing about a bowl full of fruit (except perhaps an occasional bug). The general population wants Jesus to be something safe and subdued, like a basket full of fruit.
If Jesus were to ask the Christians who they think he is, most would reply, “The son of God”. The Bible nicely outlines this response when Jesus asks Peter and Peter replies and says that Jesus is the Son of God. Then Jesus tells Peter to keep in on the DL, and its all right there in the Bible.
Instead of seeing Jesus as a fruit basket, Christians see Jesus as an atomic bomb. No, I do not mean to say Jesus has the destructive capabilities of an atomic bomb, I just want to focus on the power of an atomic bomb. Atomic bombs have power, they get people talking, they shape countries diplomatic relationships with each other. Jesus has that kind of power. At the mention of the existence of an atomic bomb, things change. At the mention of the existence of Jesus, things change.
If the population came to realize that this nicely wrapped gift was not harmless bananas and apples but was instead full of power and would change the world, I think things would be in perspective a bit more.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Mom, Dad, I want you to meet him. I think we're in love.
Monday, September 28, 2009
A Bicycle Built for Two
I rode fifty miles on a bicycle built for two. It wasn't like the song, though. I was not riding it with some handsome hunky man or anything. I was riding with my best friend. We've been best friends since second grade.
Of this I am sure.
I'm just not sure about this whole sanctification thing.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Speeding Tickets
Is sanctification our responsibility or God's?
Sanctification is being forgiven. Can we forgive our own sins? Nah, I don't think so. I can't do that stuff. God forgives sin.
Sanctification, as far as accepting God's forgiveness, well, there are people refusing that.
I'm no good at theological debates, but I do like telling stories. I guess I see this whole debate in terms of a speeding ticket.
There is a guy cruising down the street, correction: he is whizzing down the street. He is going 70 in a 55 mile per hour zone. Bam! School zone sign that says the speed limit is 25 mph. So here is this guy going 70 in a 25 mile per hour zone with little kids. Big no-no.
So, of course, a flurry of red and blue lights appear behind him, and he gets pulled over and issued a ticket.
On the ticket, it says to show up in court on such and such a date and your fine will be lifted.
“No Way!” the guys thinks. Thats dumb, why would he get a ticket just to have it lifted two weeks later? The guy is incredulous and doubtful, not so sure about this. Where are the loopholes? Where is the fine print?
The guy decides to go to court on the date. The judge knows he was speeding, knows there were children around, but the ticket is lifted. It costs the guy nothing.
The guy starts asking the judge tons of questions. Why would people miss this? How does this work?
The judge shrugs and looks at the guy. The judge says the ticket has been paid. Thats it. He doesn't say anything more.
Baffled, the guy walks away. Thankful and slightly confused.
The end. Well, sort of.
That is how I see this whole process of sanctification. The guy's reaction is all too familiar. I can't wrap my mind around this concept of grace that simply states, “it has been paid.” I know my theology is missing a few key points, like Jesus and being born again and the Holy Spirit and life after being forgiven. But I like to think of it simply, just like this. I like thinking about it simply because it shows that it is nothing that we did to deserve it, we just had to show up and accept it.