Sunday, December 19, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Blogging Mad
I know better than to blog mad. But today, I’m making an exception.
I pastor a church filled with military personnel. Every week we pray corporately for literally dozens of men and women from our church who are deployed, and I personally pray for them daily. They are noble individuals, carrying out their orders with dignity.
Too bad I can’t say the same for the government they represent or the Church in America which is turning a blind eye.
This morning I opened the daily e-version of The New York Times. The lead story? With New Violence, More Christians Are Fleeing Iraq.
Believe it or not, it’s a new story, at least “new” in the history of the Church. Christians have lived in relative safety in Iraq for hundreds of years. Until the US invaded Iraq. Now a second consecutive president is choosing to ignore something that is just short of religious genocide. In a country we occupy.
And it’s not the only place. It’s even worse in the other nation where our military are risking their lives. Afghanistan is poised to execute a Christian for, well, being a Christian.
The New York Times has noticed--at least in Iraq--and is speaking up. When will our government?
And when will the Church in America start screaming so loud the government is forced to hear us?
I pastor a church filled with military personnel. Every week we pray corporately for literally dozens of men and women from our church who are deployed, and I personally pray for them daily. They are noble individuals, carrying out their orders with dignity.
Too bad I can’t say the same for the government they represent or the Church in America which is turning a blind eye.
This morning I opened the daily e-version of The New York Times. The lead story? With New Violence, More Christians Are Fleeing Iraq.
Believe it or not, it’s a new story, at least “new” in the history of the Church. Christians have lived in relative safety in Iraq for hundreds of years. Until the US invaded Iraq. Now a second consecutive president is choosing to ignore something that is just short of religious genocide. In a country we occupy.
And it’s not the only place. It’s even worse in the other nation where our military are risking their lives. Afghanistan is poised to execute a Christian for, well, being a Christian.
The New York Times has noticed--at least in Iraq--and is speaking up. When will our government?
And when will the Church in America start screaming so loud the government is forced to hear us?
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Too Light
It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. (Isaiah Isaiah 49:6 (ESV)
Too light a thing.
How often do we attempt things for God that are "too light"?
How often do we discount things as impossible that are, in reality, just about right?
Is it possible one reason the world doesn't believe is that we spend all our time on things that are too light? Things that don't let them see just how awesome our God is?
And what's "heavy" enough? Try taking salvation to the entire world. Try the "end of the earth." Try not settling for reaching a small percentage of our community. Try reaching everyone. Try not just impacting Ft Bragg. Try impacting every military base.
Try something that's too big for us but just right for God.
[Father, help me to not settle for "too light" things.]
I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. (Isaiah Isaiah 49:6 (ESV)
Too light a thing.
How often do we attempt things for God that are "too light"?
How often do we discount things as impossible that are, in reality, just about right?
Is it possible one reason the world doesn't believe is that we spend all our time on things that are too light? Things that don't let them see just how awesome our God is?
And what's "heavy" enough? Try taking salvation to the entire world. Try the "end of the earth." Try not settling for reaching a small percentage of our community. Try reaching everyone. Try not just impacting Ft Bragg. Try impacting every military base.
Try something that's too big for us but just right for God.
[Father, help me to not settle for "too light" things.]
Monday, December 6, 2010
Christmas Turmoil
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
If this is true, what does it mean if my mind and emotions are in turmoil?
Yep, it's a gauge. It means my mind isn't set on God.
And the answer?
Try harder? Get cracking on that to-do list? Nope, wrong answer.
Right Answer: Set my mind on Christ. Refocus on God. Realign my thoughts with Him, my being in His presence.
Simple when you think about it.
Funny/sad thing is, this time of year, when our thoughts should be most centered on Jesus, is when we find ourselves in the most turmoil.
Question: What helps you escape the turmoil and re-focus on God?
If this is true, what does it mean if my mind and emotions are in turmoil?
Yep, it's a gauge. It means my mind isn't set on God.
And the answer?
Try harder? Get cracking on that to-do list? Nope, wrong answer.
Right Answer: Set my mind on Christ. Refocus on God. Realign my thoughts with Him, my being in His presence.
Simple when you think about it.
Funny/sad thing is, this time of year, when our thoughts should be most centered on Jesus, is when we find ourselves in the most turmoil.
Question: What helps you escape the turmoil and re-focus on God?
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses,
who trust in chariots because they are many
and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!...
3The Egyptians are man, and not God,
and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. (Isaiah 31:1, 3 ESV)
Sounds basic. Trust God, not people and resources.
But it's not easy, and the Bible can even make it challenging, seeming to encourage you to count the size of your army before going to battle.
The answer, I'd guess, is Gideon. Count your troops, and take note of your resources. But not to decide whether to do something, but rather to determine the best strategy to use to do what God has called you to do, using the resources He's provided.
Too often we wait for additional resources instead of figuring out how to attack utilizing the resources He's provided. Moving forward with what He's provided, trusting Him to provide the rest en route.
So, what do you think? Is there something you've put off doing because you don't have everything you think you need instead of seeing what God want to do using what you already have?
who trust in chariots because they are many
and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!...
3The Egyptians are man, and not God,
and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. (Isaiah 31:1, 3 ESV)
Sounds basic. Trust God, not people and resources.
But it's not easy, and the Bible can even make it challenging, seeming to encourage you to count the size of your army before going to battle.
The answer, I'd guess, is Gideon. Count your troops, and take note of your resources. But not to decide whether to do something, but rather to determine the best strategy to use to do what God has called you to do, using the resources He's provided.
Too often we wait for additional resources instead of figuring out how to attack utilizing the resources He's provided. Moving forward with what He's provided, trusting Him to provide the rest en route.
So, what do you think? Is there something you've put off doing because you don't have everything you think you need instead of seeing what God want to do using what you already have?
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