Our job is NOT...

To condemn.
To judge.
To hate.
To fear monger.
To point fingers.
To value us before others.
To look down upon.

Thankfully, we can relieve ourselves of all these burdens that we take upon ourselves.  These jobs are not, were not, meant for us.  And it is wrong for us to assume these tasks AS our jobs.

Again, thankfully, Jesus gave us our "instructions" our REAL jobs, and they are three, but one in the same. OUR job is:

1) To Love God.
2) To Love our neighbor.
3) To Love our enemy.

In short: Love.

That's all we need to do, that's all Jesus WANTS and EXPECTS us to do.

But what am I doing?

There are times when I wonder if I make a difference in this world at all.

Sure, I work with a group of people and do a monthly serving to those in need.  We provide food, clothing, care kits, etc...

When I remember to do so, I hand out McDonald's gift cards to those on the corner flying the sign.  Or 20 bucks, which I was called to do recently.

But is that all I can do?

Short answer is: no.

But there's a difference of what we can/should and are called to do.  We can all do the SAME thing, but that doesn't mean we are supposed to.  We are all called to something, and not always is that "something" the same as what others are doing.

The group of people that I work with that do a monthly serving to those in need - that's what we are currently called to do. Maybe this is all we will be called to do, I don't know.  Maybe we will expand or grow in ways I can't foresee right now, but we know what we can do RIGHT NOW.

So what are we doing?

A couple things.

While we aren't "religious," that is while most of us are Christian that has never been criteria for what we do or people to help what we do, we are Christian.  We are trying to love as Jesus loves.  All who come to us get help, that we can provide.

We aren't the best at what we do, there are other organizations that do what we do better...but that's okay and that should spur others on.  Anyone can share God's love in any number of ways.  If we can, you can.

And sure, some days, you'll think "what am I doing?" because you won't see what you have done or know that you have really made a difference.  But when you need it most, God will show you what exactly you are doing.

And no, not everyone you meet will be on the same page as you.  And that's fine.  God will find a way to use them too, if they are willing.

Honestly, I just want people to know - if you feel a passion toward something that you want to do: do it.  God is with you in it.  It might not be big or get noticed.  We aren't and haven't and we have served for over three years!

But God notices and those whom we help notice too!

Some servings go better than others...but we never regret doing it.

So what are we doing?

We are loving...as best we can.

Can we do better?  Of course!  But that's part of why we keep doing what we do...to learn to love how Jesus loves.

No, we won't always see or know if we have made any impact...but when we truly need to know we will.  Trust me.

So what can you do?  You know it already.  God's told you.  Just trust him and follow it.  It might not be World Vision (we aren't!) but it will impact someone and that is the truth.

Take care,

Chris

Loving our Enemies: the illogical command.

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"  Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

Another year passes by 9/11 and now the President has just asked us to be ready and WILLING to bomb Syria (should diplomacy not work); both make me think of perhaps Jesus' most controversial command to us: love your enemy.

But what does this mean?  Really?

Are we truly to love those who persecute us?  Who wish to kill us?  Who wish to harm us?

Well, if we read on in the Bible passage...the short answers is: yes.

Jesus gives us examples of loving our enemies, but guess what he doesn't give us?

Exceptions.

In my opinion, this command, while tough, couldn't be any clearer.

But yet, we can find Christians who will argue and run through a list of "what ifs" as evidence that Jesus couldn't REALLY mean what he said.

Love God?  Can do.
Love my neighbor?  You got it.
Love my enemies?  Well, let's not be so hasty!  I might need some clarification - and by that I mean: you can't be serious?

Sure, I can love the guy that just cut me off in traffic.  I can love the guy at work that seems to hate me for no good reason.

But you can't expect me to love __________(insert your exception here).

I know, there are days when I wish Jesus didn't give us this command - it would make things SOOOO much easier.

But he did.

And for a reason.

1) because WE are someones enemy...

I know, we like to think we are perfect, but guess what?  We're not!  I guarantee you, right now, there is someone that can put you in their list of perceived enemies or they just plain don't like you.

And this means something even more, but I'll get back to it...

2) because Jesus loved (and still loves) his enemies...

If Jesus' enemies are good enough for HIS love, then our enemies certainly are more than worthy of OUR less than stellar love.

3) because Jesus said so.

Serious, it's a command that is non-negotiable and not to be taken lightly or debated by us looking for loop holes.  Because of this simple, yet profound, truth: if we truly are looking at people with the heart and through the eyes of Jesus, we have NO enemies.

Did Jesus see enemies?  No.  He saw lost sheep, and lost shepherds too.  Oh, he got on the shepherds, let's not kid ourselves, but he did not see them as enemies..."God forgive them for they know not what they do..."

And, because WE may think someone is our enemy, does that mean they truly are?

Well, let's put it back on us, because someone thinks WE are their enemy, does that mean we truly are?

The answer is no, to both.

And 4) this command is logically impossible.

You can't love your enemy.  For once you love them, they are no longer your enemy but a loved one.  The very nature and act of love removes someone from the enemy list.


If we are loving them, if we love them, they cannot be our enemy because to be our enemy means we do not love them.

Jesus was quite a clever guy.

By giving us an illogical command, he points out one of our biggest failures: to love.

So the question, "How do we love our enemy?"  Is a trick question...

You can't, because if you truly love your enemy, you don't have any enemies...all you have is "neighbors."

And what are we to do with our neighbors?  Love them.  Not ONLY love them, but love them as we love ourselves...or better in some cases.

And yes, some neighbors are "better" neighbors than others, but...

Okay, but what does this look like in practice and in our lives?

Well, folks, I'm going to have to defer to the expert on this: God.

You want to really know what this means in YOUR life, you have to turn to the author of your life and find out from Him.

Can't use me as a cop out.

Hell, I'm working this out on my own...I'd be a poor example to go by!

But God will be more than happy to tell you...if you're truly willing to listen...

Dear Zubeidat Tsarnaeva - a letter of Love.

Dear Zubeidat Tsarnaeva,

Recently a Judge Jeanine Pirro’s addressed your personally HERE.

Rather than address Judge Jeanine Pirro’s remarks directly - as I originally wanted to, I offer my own response to you.

I love you.

I don’t really know who you are.  Prior to the bombing, I had no idea that you even existed.  Now you are making headlines on a daily basis.  What I catch about you in the news is little and not enough to reveal who you are as a person.  Certainly I have seen clips and read statements recently made by you, but that is too little to make a judgment about a person.  Nor am I to make a judgment other than this: you have un-surpassable worth.

This doesn’t come from me, however, but from God; from Jesus.

Now, being a Christian, I understand that you and I differ on certain aspects regarding Jesus.  I’m not going to discuss those here.

Rather, I offer you the love and kindness that Jesus commands of his followers.

Sadly, this is not always as easy command to follow.  More often than not, we followers of Christ react as Judge Jeanine Pirro reacted.  I do it. We all do it.

But that doesn’t make it right – and in fact, it’s not if we are to take Jesus at his word.  Which I try to do as a follower of Him.

I understand the anger that is directed at your family, however, I cannot abide by it or condone it.

Jesus said to love our enemies.  This is non-negotiable.  He gave no exceptions.  Why?  Because in reality, no one is our “enemy.”  I cannot view you as an enemy, if I also view you as you really are: a child of God.

If God doesn’t see you as an enemy, than neither can I.

I cannot begin to imagine what those directly affected by the bombings in Boston are feeling or going through.  I won’t pretend to either.  Nor will I speak upon their behalf.

As well, I cannot begin to imagine what you are going through, experiencing or feeling.  I won’t pretend to.  Nor will I try to put words in your mouth.

I only offer you what I can: my love and prayers.

See, while there are times when I find it easier to hate people that harm and do me wrong, I know to do so is itself wrong, and against what Jesus taught.

And I either take Jesus as his word in EVERYTHING, or I don’t at all.  Picking and choosing is not an option.

Often hate and anger is the easier route – and for the moment it feels right and justified.  But it’s not.  It never is.

Love is.

As followers of Christ we are commanded to do that, in all cases, at all times, to all people – no exceptions.

We are to love, because he first loved us and because He loves you.   And if you are worthy of Jesus’ love, who am I to believe that my love is too great for you?

And while what your sons have allegedly done is an act of evil, to make the judgment OF your sons that they too are evil, is not for us to make.

Only God alone can and will judge.

For us to judge and make judgments is to put ourselves above God.  Something, I’m sure you would agree, we should not do.

I know little of your sons, but they too are offered my love and prayers.  Yes, if found to have perpetrated the bombing, your surviving son should be held responsible and accept what consequences there are to follow.

But that doesn’t mean he can’t or shouldn’t be loved.

We must not forget we live in a fallen world.

You, I, all of us created this world and do so on a daily basis.

Your sons may have carried out the act of the bombing, but we are all responsible for creating the atmosphere in which it was allowed to happen. We do this when we choose hate over love, even in small ways.  Such as Judge Jeanine Pirro’s video.

Sadly it sometimes takes these bigger tragedies to see that we are still in error and are still fallen…but we ALL are fallen.  All of us are sinners and fall short of the Glory of God.

None of us are free from judgment outside the grace of God that has been given to us.

I’m no better than your sons, or you, or anyone.  We do not posses the correct eyes, knowledge, and wisdom to determine who is “better” or “worse” or “deserving.”  That is left for God and God alone.

When we start to believe we can determine value and worth, we will find any number of reasons to take it away.

While I understand the want and desire of Judge Jeanine Pirro to make the statements she did.  It’s statements such as she made that contribute the fallen nature of the world.  Her anger and (dare I say) hate that she put forth is NOT what the world needs.

She may not care what the world thinks of America, but she should care about the world.  She should want to foster love and kindness and true justice (not just seeking punishment for wrongful actions).  But the words she used do just the opposite.

No, neither Boston, nor the world, needed what she said.  Though I completely understand why she said what she did.  She’s not evil for doing it, just human and fallen like we all are.

But anger doesn’t build, doesn’t heal, doesn’t create; it only destroys and hurts.

What does do all of that and more is love.

And I don’t write this from some high and lofty, self-righteous position.  I am as guilty as anyone of fostering more anger than love at times.  I may not have murdered anyone physically, but I have – as Jesus has said – murdered people in my heart.  I may not have placed bombs of steel and metal, but I have placed bombs of anger and hate and hurt.  And to this day, I don’t always love as I should.  Sadly, never on this earth will I do so either.

But I can, we can, always love MORE. And choose love more often.

And it is at times exactly like these we see today that we need to choose love.

Perhaps we don’t choose to love as often as we should because we believe it to be weak, or a sign of weakness.  But that is not true.

Love takes a strength that far surpasses what anger requires.  As it is far easier to destroy, than to build.

Anger is easy and fruitless.

Love is at times tough, but fruitful.

And despite what you have said, may say, or will say, that is exactly what I offer you: love.  And pray for you too, to find the peace and love that Jesus offers all of us.  God has placed a value on you that no one can take away and if I am a true follower of Jesus I know this to be true and honor it.

With Peace and Love,

Chris

“So they were offended at Him.” Matthew 13:57

(the following was an essay written for entry into a contest from a Christian publisher...I didn't win, but still thought I'd share it!)

“So they were offended at Him.” Matthew 13:57 NKJV

It’s almost sad there aren’t more verses like this found in the New Testament.  So blatant and in our face that we can’t ignore it.  They were offended at Him – at Jesus!  This was his hometown, he grew up here, they knew him…and yet, they were offended.

            Why?

            More importantly, how could anyone have found Jesus offensive?

            It’s hard for us to imagine today, but it certainly was the case then.  Of all the things Jesus was, we often forget – or maybe we didn’t know – but he was also offensive.  Very offensive.  So offensive – he was put to death.

            The Gospels are full of Jesus being offensive – yet, we don’t always see it.

            Perhaps it was this offensiveness alone that grabbed the attention of the religious elite and powerful of that day.  After all, if Jesus were just another “nice guy” saying “nice things” though oddly equating himself with God, why bother with him?  He might have attracted a small following, but like those before him He would most likely have faded away after some point; perhaps when a new, nicer, flashier “prophet” came along.

            But not Jesus.

            Jesus sustained.

Jesus got people’s attention. Jesus got everyone’s attention.  Sure he brought a message of hope, reconciliation, restoration, rest, peace, a new kingdom, any and all the Christian buzzwords we use when it comes to Christ, but he also came with a message truly offensive, if not the most offensive: his message of love.

            It’s easy to think of Jesus loving us, and he does to be sure, but Jesus’ love knows no bound.  Jesus loved the unlovable, the undeserving, the “other people.”  The Pharisees and Sadducees of his day were not just upset at some “rules” that Jesus was breaking, but they were offended at who he was loving – after all, they figured, if he truly was the son of God, THEY would be the loved ones, not the sinners and reprobates that Jesus was hanging out with and choosing to be his disciples.

            And in a way, if we are honest with ourselves, don’t we have a list of who Jesus would or wouldn’t love?

            Are we not, at times – more often than we would admit – offended by whom Jesus loves?

            The rapist? The murderer? The child molester?  Are they too far fallen for Jesus to love?

            No one can be too far from his love.  His love knows no bounds and never runs out.

            And it’s this love that we are called to and called to share.  Oh how great it is to receive it.  But they how can we be so selfish not to give it?

            We act as if this love will run out; it won’t.  If we run out of love, all we need to do is go back to the source: Jesus.

            So why are we so reluctant to love like him?

            Jesus tells us exactly why: we will lose our life if we do.

            We will lose friends, family, status, respect, comfort, and more if we love like Him.  We too, will offend.  For a servant is no greater than his master.  If Jesus offended, how much will we offend?  How much will we suffer for this offense?

            And we will suffer for this offense, do not doubt.  There will be pain, Jesus promises us this – for he knows how the world reacts to this love – but this isn’t a pain we should run from…but to!

            For how else will we know where we lack in love if we are not caused pain by it?  If I find myself offended at someone else’s love, then I become aware of where I lack.  And for this I should be thankful as I have been shown where I can grow.

            But let’s not be confused and set out to offend.

            Love does no such thing.

            The mere act of loving as he loves alone will cause offense.  No further action from us is needed.  No marching, no protesting, no slandering, mocking, or cherry picking of scripture.

            Just simple, unbounded, unleashed love.

            Let us remember the three love commands Jesus gave us: God, our neighbor, and our enemy.

            No one is excluded from this list.

            No one.

            And that’s what is truly offensive about it.

Order number

033997

Mike Gallagher is Evil!

Today on the Mike Gallagher Show he spoke of the audio clip of the abortion doctor ranting and raving at pro-life protesters.

Mike asked if this man (and Democrats as a whole) are evil because abortion is evil and they support abortion - and if we only rely on the rant of the doctor, he is racist too - another tally in the evil category.

One of his early callers - if not the first caller - was Mary.  And Mary took the stand that while racism and abortion are "evil" she hesitated to call the man evil.  Even went so far to say she "used to" think that Hitler was evil.

Mike was flabbergasted by Mary.

Mike had a hard time seeing how a person could NOT be judged evil - in light of one's actions.

Mary tried to make the case, but failed.  She appealed to the authority to a theologian that showed her that the person isn't evil.  Mike flat out said the theologian was wrong and wrong for telling Mary that.

But Mary is right.  WE - you and I - DO NOT get to judge people as evil.  That is, if we are followers of Christ.

I attempted to call Mike to throw in my support for Mary and to point out what, I believe, she was really trying to say.

I was put on hold, but my call wasn't taken.  The segement ran out of time (though two calls supporting Mike's position were taken, especially a person who cherry picked the Bible and misusing it to support judgement).

now, I only point that out not to say that I was 'ignored' (as I told the screener I was calling to support Mary) on purpose - but in a later segment, Mike made this statement about a similar topic "If you disagree, call me, I'll put you to the front of the line."

So how is Mike Gallagher evil?

I can't say.  Why?

1) as a follower of Christ, we are not given AUTHORITY to judge people.  NO MATTER WHAT.  Ther is no case, no situation, no nothing that Jesus gives us the authority of judge a person - and calling a person EVIL is a judgement.  Jesus, however, DOES give us this warning: judge not, lest ye be judged.

2) we are sinful and fallible.  We are not perfect.  We ALL sin and fall short, so none of us has ANY standing to judge the sins of another.  We are told to be mindful of the "log" in our own eyes, before worrying about the "speck" in anothers.

3) our command, from Jesus, is to do NOTHING MORE than love.  And when we turn to love and love only, we find that this requires A LOT from us.  Love, as we are commanded to do, does NOT judge in any way or form.

I sent Mike and email and challenged him to find a command of Jesus that says we can and SHOULD judge people....hint: he won't find a SINGLE ONE.

Only God can judge, and when WE judge - we are telling God, move over, we know who's good/bad.  We play God.

I would venture that Mike would beleive himself to be a loving person - I assume he's a Christian.  However, in this case he is being UNloving and NOT following Jesus' commands to us.

Now, I like Mike Gallagher.  I listen to his show when I can.  However, in this case I have to severly disagree with Mike and point out that HE is wrong.

We can call an action evil, but we CANNOT JUDGE a person evil - only God can, as only God knows the heart and soul of a person.

Not me, not you, not Mike Gallagher.

Not that you'll read this Mike, but if you still believe that you are supposed, can, and have the authority to judge someone evil, I would love to discuss it with you and hope to change your mind.

justoneministries@hotmail.com

attn Chris

Love is tough, and as the blog says love is offensive - Mike, your position shows just HOW offensive love is, especially the love of Jesus.

Please reconsider you position Mike and look to Jesus for how we are to deal with evil.  Love is our weapon, NOT judgement.

Judgement is God's alone - you are not God. Neither am I.

Love is our weapon against evil.  Jesus commands this.  Narrow (love) is the way...I hope you chose it.

Jesus Loves You, James Holmes...and so do I.

I debated whether or not to post this.

For one reason, I haven’t posted in quite some time; hadn’t had much to post about.

Two: because of the raw feelings that might still be out there regarding the tragedy.

Three: I hesitate to even say or write your name, to give you “credit” for the evil that you have perpetrated.

However, after much thought and prayer, I have decided to write this post.

Believe me when I say that there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to say it.

But I believe it to be true, thus I believe it should be said:  Jesus loves you James Holmes.

Part of me feels there is no way this could be true.  Dare I say there’s a part of me that DOESN’T want it to be true.  Not for you.

But that’s the sinful, worldly nature part of me, though.

The real part of me, the follower of Jesus part of me, however, knows it is true.  Jesus does love you, and even more…he forgives you.

If there is one thing we are to know about Jesus – it is that he loves us.  All of us. Every one of us, no exceptions.

This includes you.

This is includes all of us.

It’s easy, James, for us to point our fingers at you and condemn and judge you – your “evil” is right there for all of us to see.  And by pointing out YOUR evil actions and thoughts, we then get to hide and keep our evil actions and thoughts from being discovered.

Of course, we don’t want to use the word “evil” when we speak about ourselves.  Sins, yes, issues for sure – but nothing evil.

But that would be a lie.

If our thoughts and actions were on display, such as yours were, James – we would be devastated by what we would uncover…not just about ourselves, but about those whom we know and love and deem “good” people.

And this is a big part of the problem James…because part of our evil, is that we allow other evil to exist.

You don’t just remind us of our own evil, James, you also remind us that we have failed.

Jesus calls us to love one another, as ourselves, and as he has loved us – yet it doesn’t take any special eyes to see that we fail at this miserably.  Pick up a paper, and while you might be on the cover James, our failings are evident from the first to the last page.

And instead of seeking the true solution: Love.  We seek to blame.

So in a way, James, we failed you and blame you – and are now reaping what we have sown.

This does not take away what you have done, nor relieves you of your responsibility in the actions.  But if we are to stop this sort of evil from happening again...only through admitting our failings will we discover the true problem.

The problem wasn't just that you killed 12 people...it's far deeper than that.  And maybe that's what we are afraid of...to look too deep, for we might discover our hand in the matter.

We didn't pull the trigger, you did.

But before you even set foot in the door, James, where were we to stop you.  Not just at that moment, but far before then?

Maybe we'll never know...

And since you can't take it back, and we can't stop you (from that one instance) there is something we can offer you in hopes to stop this in the future by other James Holmes'.  We can offer something to combat the evil that you were a part of: love.

Love is the true and most powerful weapon against evil.  Especially the love of Jesus.

You have been and will be called many names for the rest of your life, but I wish you to remember the most important name you have “Child of God.”

And though, for whatever reasons, you have strayed away from – as we all do from time to time – he is closer to you than perhaps he has ever been before.

Should the full realization “hit” you one day of what you have done, you will most likely find yourself in a very dark place…perhaps darker than where you are now, but do not forget.

You are loved.

Not only by your friends and family.

But by God, by Jesus.

And by me.

You are also forgiven.  You were forgiven before you even set foot in that theater.

No, James, neither you nor the rest of us can take away what you did.  But we can stop the flow of evil that came from it.

You, like the victims and their families, have tough days ahead.  But evil will not get you through them, only love.

As much love as I am able to offer you, and to all those effected by this tragedy.

It is a narrow path that Jesus calls us on – and love is narrow because it’s so broad.  We sometimes wish it were not so, but Jesus didn’t call us to be likers – but lovers.

If Jesus loves and forgives you James, then we – especially us followers of Christ – are to do no less than the same.

This is His greatness; this IS why I follow him.  It is this love.  A love that surpasses ALL understanding.  And such a tragedy as this – shows this never more clearly.

Yes, this – in a way – is easy for me to write.  I have not been directly touched by this.  However, for those who think this love, this forgiveness aren’t possible – I beg you to listen to message I link Here.

This woman HAS experience the tragedy and evil of losing a loved one through senseless violence…yet, through the love and forgiveness she found in Jesus…well, it’s best if you hear it from her.

Again, I prayed about whether or not to write this…but I believe it to be true and I hold firm to this belief and should not fear expressing it.

Is it popular?

No, but Jesus didn’t come to win a popularity contest either.  He came to save, and show us the truth and light and the way.

That way is: Love.

God Bless.

Peace and Love

Chris

To Love Like The Rain

Matthew 5:44-45

⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

I have read over these two verses many times before, but not until today did they really stick out for me.

I was listening to Greg Boyd this morning and he came to these two verses.  Greg pointed out that our love is to be like that of the sun and the rain.

The sun and rain do not discriminate - the same rays of sun that shine on me, shine on everyone, including my enemies.


Thus is how we are to love.  Our love is to fall on everyone as the rain falls, and our love is to rise and shine on everyone as the sun does: without discrimination.


More often than not, I think of terms of "deserve."  I deserve ________, they DON'T deserve ________.  But love does not fall into such a category.  That is: no one deserves love.


God loves us out of his nature, not because we have earned it, not because we have merited it.  God's love, as revealed to us through Jesus, is freely given to all.


God is love.


And like the rain and the sun, His love is to the just and unjust.


So is our love to be.


No one "deserves" our love, because ALL deserve it.


The rain cares not who it falls on, neither should our love.


The sun cares not who it shines upon, neither should are love.


THIS type of love, freely given to all, isn't easy at first.  We may have some worldly ideas and beliefs that will desperately try to hang on...but the more we love, the more we will love.


And this love is freeing!


If we love everyone, we need not have to carry the heavy burden of hate, anger, rage, jealousy, you name it...all those negative emotions that do weigh us down.  We can chuck them aside and leave them for we now love.


How much easier is it to "carry" ONE way of being (love) than all the others?


Jesus said his yoke is light...it certainly is: Love.


However, sometimes it seems heavy, and I believe that is because we are still carrying OUR yoke, so of course ADDING to our yoke makes it that much heavier...so first we must REMOVE our yoke and then we can experience the ease and lightness that is Jesus'.


So as the rain falls, as the sun shines, let your love BE.

Forgive us our sins...

The next (and I believe) toughest line in the Lord's Prayer is this:

Forgive us our sins AS we forgive those who've sin against us.

I highlighted the AS - it wasn't until recently that the "as" struck me.

Is is "as" as in is "while" or as in "like"?

The more I got to think of it - what if it's "as" as in "like?"

Then I might be praying for something I don't really want!  Because if God forgives ME as I forgive others?  I'm in trouble!  And here I am asking God to do just that.

This puts forgiving in a whole new context...

And one that more and more I am trying to forgive others as I want God to forgive ME.  Which means: absolutely and without reservation.

Am I ready for that?  Is that what I really want?

If I am to live how Jesus taught and lived, then yes.

If I want to do things my own way, then no.

Well, considering the trouble I have gotten myself into - I think I'll go with the former.

And while I don't completely like the idea that I am asking God to forgive me the same way I forgive others - I DO like the idea of forgiving others as God forgives them.

I'm not for rewriting the prayer, but one way to look at it might be: to THINK "Help me to forgive others AS YOU forgive us."

The Lord's Prayer - Part One

In our look at prayer, we are going to take a look at The Lord's Prayer.

However, we will go through this slow and easy.

Remember, we are trying to answer: what exactly IS prayer? What's it for?  What's it look like?

To find out we are looking at the prayer that Jesus gave us as a model: The Lord's Prayer.

It starts: Our Father, who art in heaven...hallowed be thy name...thy kingdom come, thy will be done...on earth as it is in heaven.

For the moment we will start there.

What have we said so far?

For one, we addressed who we are praying to: God.

But then we say, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done."

No doubt, at least in this case, we are admitting that God's kingdom IS coming, and his ultimate will, WILL BE done.

That's a pretty heavy admission!  Humbling too!

Not OUR will, not OUR kingdom - but God's...and it's coming!

Where?

On Earth - as it IS in Heaven.

I have always glossed over this part in the prayer, just rambled it off in order to get through the prayer.  However, now, I realize how heavy of a statement this is, and right at the BEGINNING!

We haven't prayed for anything yet - all we have done is ACKNOWLEDGE what is going to happen...someday.

So the question is: what does this mean in regards to OUR prayers?

I would take it to mean that somewhere (perhaps the beginning) we are to acknowledge that God's will, no matter what, when all is said and done WILL BE done.

And we should take A LOT of comfort in that.

A LOT.

The first part of our prayer is GREAT NEWS!

God will be done!

Seriously, what IS prayer?

Given what my family has recently gone through, I have done a lot of praying.

Now, that isn't to say I don't pray everyday; I do!  But during the time of my father's illness, I prayed more than I usually did.  Heck, I think some days I was in nothing BUT prayer, just to get through the day!

Now that my father has passed, and things are "relatively" getting back to normal - or as I tell my clients: there is no normal, only average.

But back to prayer.

At first, I was praying that my Dad would be healed.  That he would gain his strength, be able to have surgery, and get to have him with us for a few more years.  Eventually, my prayers were not so....grand.  They were down to the point of just asking that my Dad have a good night sleep.

As the days passed, after Dad died...I continued to pray...but I didn't know exactly what to pray for.

After all, God knows what's going on.  I'm not telling him anything new.  I'm not giving him any information that he isn't privy to.

Given this, I reverted back to what I do in real times of stress and worry: I pray the prayer Jesus taught us.

"Our Father, who art in heaven..."

You know the rest.

I figure, if Jesus said to pray it - there must be a reason!

But what is that reason?

What is the reason for prayer in the first place?

I know we are supposed to - but why?  Because God wants to hear a bunch of us complain about our lives and ask for help?

I hope not!

I'm sure he'll hear any prayer that we offer to him, but is that truly the purpose?

According to the words of the Lord's prayer that doesn't seem to be the case.

I have heard other teachers say that the Lord's prayer isn't so much a word-by-word prayer we should say, but a guide to prayer.

I believe this to be true - however, I don't see a problem with the word-by-word part.  If it was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for me! And it usually is.

But what is the breakdown of the prayer?  How is it a guide?

I don't exactly know, I have forgotten the sermons I listened to that spoke about it, but I have some ideas of my own.

In the next post I'll take a look at the first part of the prayer.

"Our Father, who art in Heaven.....on earth as it is in Heaven."

If you have any ideas, or opinions or beliefs, or input on how you pray, please share!

Why Doesn't God Grow Back Limbs?

One form of recreation I have is listening to debates between atheists and Christians.

During such a debate, the atheist brought up miracles - rather, lack thereof - as disproof of God.  His main contention?  God must have something against people who lose their limbs.  After all, if God can heal a diseased person, why couldn't he just grow back a limb?  Especially one lost to war or other tragedy?

At first thought, it does seem to be a valid question...and a tough one to counter at that.  What is a limb compared to a disease?  Certainly he can do it, right?  After all he is all powerful!

Not to mention all the publicity God would get if someone actually DID have their arm grown back!  Think about it, an Iraq war vet who lost his/her leg via IED and glory of glories their leg grew back, thanks be to God!!!

So, why not then?

Seems reasonable doesn't it?  It did to the atheist.

Perhaps that's the problem though.  It "seems" reasonable.

Clearly we aren't the plum bob for reason, as humans.  Many bad things have been done in the name of "seemed reasonable at the time."

Do we truly think we are more reasoned than God?  Do we honestly think that if it were truly reasonable to do such a thing, God wouldn't?  Sure, at times we think we are more reasonable than God - we try to outsmart him with our reason.  Yet at the end of the day, if we are honest, we know better - reason isn't our strong suit.

So why might God not grow back a limb?  Especially one of a veteran. They would deserve it, right?

Let's get the deserve out of the way.  We deserve NOTHING.  None of us.  And no, not the vet.  Though while they may have served our country - are they any better than any of us who didn't?  Why would a vet be anymore important that a child who lost their leg?  And is that child any more important or special that the pastor who, too, lost their arm?

See where this is going?  We can all make a case for who would "deserve" this special healing.  However, none of us are truly deserving of anything, including the Grace that is given to us.  So what do we value more?  A leg, or Grace?

And that's the crux of the issue.

It doesn't come down to what God can/can't, will/won't do - it's our VALUE.

We VALUE the human BODY more than we should.  Take a look at the newsstand, or watch TV for five minutes, or checkout all the diet/fitness books at the store, or the porn industry - we are obsessed with our bodies.  To the point that we evidently see that someone without a leg, arm, all four limbs as such a less person we want God to "fix" them.

And that's the truth.  We honestly don't value human BEINGS as much as we do human BODIES.

We feel bad because someone doesn't have a leg...yet couldn't care less if they have something to eat, a good home to go to, a loving family, or just a friend...

The truth is: we want God to "fix" them so we don't have to be reminded about how obsessed we are with our BODIES.

Yet we are asking God help us in our obsession?

And a loving God would do as such?

If WE truly loved, honored, cherished, treasured the person - it won't matter what part/s of their body is missing or not working correctly.

Rather than seeing them as someone God could fix.

Is that how YOU would like to be looked at?

Who Is To Blame?

We blame.  We blame A LOT.  We blame the ref for a bad call, traffic for making us late, the Democrats for ruining the economy - or wait is the Republicans? Maybe it's both.  We blame the terrorists, we blame the fundamentalists, we blame the atheist, the Christian, the Muslim, the guy down the street who's lawn is always a mess, those people - you know the ones - can't trust them, we blame the mortgage company because WE didn't read the fine print, we blame the kids at McDonald's earning minimum wage for having to wait TWO MINUTES before we could stuff our face with grease and fat, heck we blame McDonald's for making us fat, we blame eggs for our heart attacks and Phillip Morris for our lung cancer,  we blame our boss when we are fired, blame the homeless for decreasing our home value, blame the rich that we don't have money to buy groceries, blame the bleeding heart liberals because our taxes are too high, blame the homosexuals for ruining OUR family values, we blame those wacky Christians that Adam and Steve can't get married, we blame...boy do we blame.  Kid gets hurt?  Who's to blame!  I get sick, it's got to be someone else's fault!  Blame!

Sadly, if we made a list of everything and everyone we blamed for what went on in our lives, well heck, we might just about blame everything and EVERYONE!

Why do we blame?  Because we can.  Especially here in America.  We are a blaming society.  One only has to listen to any given conversation at any given time to hear someone or something get blamed for...(insert problem here).  Heck, we blame others for NOT stopping us from doing something stupid.  Have you ever said, "Why didn't you stop me?"  Yeah, that's called blame.

We blame because it's easy.  9/11? Terrorist of course! See?  Easy.

We blame because we don't want to take responsibility, or think we might have some part in the problem.

In short, we don't want to take the time to understand why something happened the way it did, or why someone acted the way they did.  We want to blame, then we want JUSTICE!  That is, unless someone blames us for something, then we want mercy and understanding.

God is not free from our blame either.  How often have we dug our own holes, so deep we pray for help to get out of it.  And when said help doesn't come, we blame God that we are still in the hole.  After all, he has the power to help us, so it only stands to reason that he should, right?

There is a saying, "When you point a finger at someone, there are three pointing back at you."

Jesus said something similar, "Remove the plank from your own eye, before you help someone remove their speck."

Plank and speck...quite a difference isn't there?

That's the other reason, maybe the main reason we blame...if we didn't, we might have to remember our planks.  And we don't want to do that.

Do we really get to blame?  That is a question we should ask too.  Are we in any position to blame?  To point a finger, to point out a fault, to find a reason to punish in the name of justice?

What does Jesus say?

Something we don't want to hear: Love your enemy.

Say What? (or in those ATT commercials Say Butt?)

Love. Your. Enemy.

Okay, but what does that have to do with blame?

Well, nothing, because if we are loving someone we can't blame them can we?  If we are truly loving someone, and they do something that might hurt us, do we get to blame them for our pain?

Doesn't appear so.

After all, does Jesus point his finger at you and blame you for his crucifixion?

Oh, we know we are to blame, there's no doubt about that...but we aren't blamed.  Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit don't blame us...oddly, Jesus willingly took the punishment (blameLESS as he was) that we deserved, and didn't even want a thank you...only for us to do the same "take up your cross daily."

Love understands, it doesn't, it never blames.

"That which we understand, we can't blame." Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe.

If we truly love, then we strive to understand.  Love our enemies, means not only to pray for them, but to understand them.  Do we understand why we were attacked on 9/11?  I don't truly think we do.  I don't truly think we want to either, because as unpopular as it might be to say: we might not want to discover that we might have some blame to share.

So, who is to blame?

All of us.  All that is wrong in the world, all the hurt, the suffering, the you-name-it...we are all to blame.  We all in some form or another by what we do or don't do have contributed to it.

And if we are all to blame...well then, perhaps we can put down our fingers, start working on our planks and maybe, just maybe, get some real love spreading through the world.

Book Review - "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I have read many quotes by Bonhoeffer, and many people have quoted him and spoke of his amazing life.

A true disciple of Jesus if there was one in our modern age.  I highly recommend just finding out about the man, let alone reading "The Cost of Discipleship."

TCD is a challenging book.  Not because it's hard to read, or understand, but because it does just that - it's challenges.

If you've ever admitted that you "fall short" of the glory of God this book will show you more.

Yes, at times you will feel "guilty" and "convicted" but at the same time, you get a clearer, more direct, more honest look at your own walk with Christ - and how much we are not only falling short with God, but ourselves!

With Jesus, yes, we have great responsibility, but what a responsibility it is!  Truly, the cost of discipleship is high, but the rewards are even higher (and I'm not just talking about heaven).

Bonhoeffer doesn't pull any punches and gives insight to the Sermon on the Mount that perhaps you might not have heard - I know I hadn't.

It's a quick read, but don't let that fool you, it's a deep one as well.

This was the first book, or any writings for that matter, by Bonhoeffer I have read - I will certainly read more!

Love Your Enemy? Including Osama bin Laden?

While fitting with our Western Culture idea of "justice" the picture to the left doesn't quite fit does it?

Yet, if one were to glance about at some Christian blogs recently, one might think this is the kind of Jesus we believe in.

Certainly looks tough, and perhaps a bit cool...certainly more manly than what we are used to...but is it correct?

With the murder of Osama bin Laden, many Christians are dang near rejoicing.  An evil man has been removed from the planet - and some speculate that he is in hell.

Maybe he is, maybe he isn't.  I'm not going to debate that here.

What I wish to bring up is the command Jesus gave us of "Love Your Enemy."

Now, post this (as I have) on some of those blogs and see what you get.  What you get is a laundry list of Bible verses (predominantly Old Testament) pointing out God's wrath and judgement and "destruction" of evil.  Can't argue with the fact those versus exist.

Yet, what does Jesus tell us?

Love Your Enemy.

As in my previous post, this brings up the question of authority.  Does Jesus have authority, or does the Bible.  One or the other has authority.

I'm going with Jesus on this one.

He says, despite what I would rather do, to love my enemy.  No wiggle room, no grey area...it's right there!  Love your enemy.

Now, I don't really care what you can bring to me in the way of "evidence" in the Bible that you might have found that shows that killing OBL was righteous...because, well, I'm going with Jesus on this one.

Take it up with him.  He gave a commandment - follow it, or don't...but don't try fool yourself: he meant what he said.

As a disciple we are to be like our teacher: Jesus.

How many people did Jesus kill?

In fact, he could have killed someone, and he would have been correct, just, and in his divine right to do so.  Yet, well, he didn't.

Of course, this is where you get a bunch of "what if" questions:  what if we didn't fight Hitler, etc.

Those questions, while they may seem to be a valid question, really are shallow in their context and cause us to rule out history and the relationship of cause and effect.

As for violence, sure it may remove a symptom (ie. OBL, Hitler) but it doesn't and NEVER HAS solved a problem.

Also, if ANYONE can find me a list Jesus gives us of all the exceptions to this rule are, I would love to see it.

It's clear, we are taking matters into our own hands...matters that if we were true to our faith, we would leave up to God.  God tells us to do just that.  Yet, we act as if we don't trust him.

Killing Osama bin Laden...

We call it justice...but does God?

Guess we won't know, we decided not to find out.

On What, or who's, Authority?

It has been an interesting week seeing the different responses "Christians" have been posting in regards to Osama Bin Laden's death.  I put the word in quotes because, well on the interweb it's a bit hard to tell who's being real and who's being funny.

Sadly, many of the comments I have read I truly believe to have come from "Christians."  Christians who are happy, and delighted, at the death of OBL.  Some even speculating it was God's will that he be killed.

Yet, the more I thought about it, the more I couldn't agree with them.

After all, Jesus said it bluntly:  Love your enemy.

I posted this myself.  And then came the shots.  No, not too many were mean, some had the notion I didn't have a firm grasp of Biblical teachings - which I will admit too always, until the day I die (shouldn't we all?)

What was amazing was all the "evidence" they pulled out from the Bible to show how killing your enemy was fine, if not justified.

At first glance, I would almost agree that they had a case.  Yet, that would only be true if not for one thing:  Jesus said, "Love your enemy."

There is no question there.  He does not go on to list exceptions to this rule.  He does not list certain circumstances in which killing one's enemy is okay, if not justified.

Three words, couldn't have been plainer.

He wasn't in the middle of a parable.

He was speaking the truth, he was speaking as one with authority.

Which begs two questions we each must answer: Who has the final authority.  The Bible, or Jesus?  And honestly, you can't follow both.

One MUST have more authority over the other.

Either Jesus has more over the Bible (regardless of what it might say) or does the Bible hover above Jesus and he must fit within the front and back covers?

The other question is this:  Did Jesus mean what he said?

Jesus gave NO indication that this was up for debate or that he was using hyperbole.  So he must have meant it, because if he didn't mean it, why would he say it?

He couldn't lie, he couldn't have steered us incorrectly, or he couldn't have been kidding...in fact he seem to go to some lengths to ensure that we understood "Love your enemy" was EXACTLY what he meant when he said it.

Now we may not like this little fact, this tid bit of information because as a culture (especially American) this does not fit well with our view of "justice."

THAT is another part of the problem.  Our brand of justice DOES NOT fit with God's...in fact there is more evidence of "justice" for God meaning giving and helping, than it does punishing.

For if we were truly more Christ-like, we most likely wouldn't have some of the issues now that we feel the need to "punish."

I'm not saying we chuck the Bible.  But when we read and study the Bible, we must keep in mind who has authority over what.

Jesus has the final word - hence we are Christians.

Now, if something in the Bible (seems to) contradict what Jesus taught, we MUST error on the side of Jesus and do some digging and study to find out if the contradiction truly exists.

Loving your enemy isn't easy.  Of course, Jesus never said it would be.  But it IS what he commands us to do, there is no question about that.

If we are to submit to him and his authority, we must submit to this command.  Regardless of what we FEEL should happen to our enemies.

Following Jesus isn't complicated, he does have a light yoke, but it is difficult - especially in this world.

Peace and Love,

Chris

New Podcast! - Don't Follow Jesus

Title almost speaks for itself...almost!

Don't Follow Jesus Podcast

Thoughts or questions please share them here.

"You'll get 'em next time!"

It's baseball season once again.  And as proof that God's favorite sport is baseball I offer you this post.

There's an often said, though not so famous phrase said in baseball.  Most people if they've played baseball have heard it, often said it, though outside of the game you're not likely to hear it.

It's most often said when a batter strikes out.  As they make their way back to the dug out, one or two of their teammate will slap them on the back and say, "You'll get 'em next time!"

Unfortunately, because this phrase has been said so often, for soooo many years, it's lost it's luster a bit.  But let's buff it a little bit and take a look at it.

"You'll get 'em next time!"

What a fabulous phrase - and I don't call ANYTHING fabulous.

There are two great points in this phrase.

1) Next time.

Next time!  Yes, there is a next time!  I may have struck out at this at bat, but there will be a next time, a next at bat, another opportunity!

Oh, sure, it may not be in the given game i have struck out in.  Might not be in the next game, if I'm not in the roster, nor will for sure be in the same league or with the same team...but there will be a NEXT TIME!

2) You'll get 'em.

Said flippantly it doesn't mean anything, but if said with a true heart it tells the person, the batter - I know you are capable of more and I have faith that you will do better next time.  But it's not in a condemning way, but in an encouraging way!

You CAN do better, and I bet you WILL!

You CAN get a home run, or a double...I've seen you do it, I have faith you WILL get 'em! Next Time!

We do this, say this because we know they didn't MEAN to strike out and we have seen them do better and know that they WANT to do better and are just as disappointed, if not more so at themselves than we could ever be, so we try to help pick them up.  We don't want this strikeout to affect the rest of their game, they are a part of the team, we need them to be at their best, just like they need us to be!

We might even remind the hitter when they knocked the cover off the ball off the pitcher before and other times they came through at the plate.

One thing we don't do though, is yell and chastise them.  We don't scream at them saying, "How in the hell could you have done that!  You know we needed that hit!  What were you thinking?  Great, now I don't get to hit until next inning!  It's not like you haven't hit the ball before!  Did you even TRY to make contact?"

Of course not...what good would come of that?

Yet, isn't this what we do with our walk with Jesus?

If not just ourselves, to others?  Even if it's just in our head?

I know I have...and still do from time to time.

I shake my head at someone and say, "why did they swing at that pitch?"  "Why did they do THAT?  Clearly that wasn't a good thing."

Sometimes, given the right mood, I might even go about pointing this out to them, and explaining where they went wrong and what they needed to have done and how they could have done it far better than they did because they clearly weren't paying attention or praying about it so God would want me to point these things out to them, I'm just holding them accountable for your actions because if I don't, they might not be aware of what they did wrong.

Is that what Jesus taught us to do?

No.

The job of the coach is to work with each player on what they are good at and what need practice on...WE on the other hand have quite a bit different job: we are to DO OUR BEST and to CHEER each other on and pick each other UP when we are down.

Jesus is our coach...let's let him do his job and let's focus on ours.

So let's start patting each other the back and say, "You'll get 'em next time!"

After all, isn't that what we'd want to hear ourselves when WE STRIKE OUT?

Yes.

So have faith, keep your head up, because I believe YOU WILL GET 'EM NEXT TIME!

Who are the Least?

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Who is the "least of these?"

Back then, people had value place upon them - rightly or wrongly - didn't matter.  You were a leper, you were "unclean" for example.  Unclean, such a nice word for: worthless.

Sadly, when I have read that verse in the past I immediately thought of: the homeless, the drug addicts, the "really bad" sinners of the world.  Of course, Jesus would consider them the "least" of his brothers, right?

Before I yell out YES! and pat myself on the back, I think I need to take a step back for a second.

This "value" that had been placed on people then were values placed on them by man - not by God.  When God chose the Jewish people to be his priests to the world, he didn't do so because they were better or more valued...they were just a people...God chose an ordinary, regular, group of people to display what would be his love for the world.

Needless to say they didn't do the best of jobs...neither to we now!

We certainly can't do a better job if we still consider people to be "least" of Jesus' brethren.  Remember, he said the last shall be first and the first shall be last.

Now, some people take that literally...but how could it be?  That would mean there are still values to people that God place upon them...but does he?

That certainly isn't what Jesus preached.  One thing that Jesus preached is that we are no better than anyone else...nor are we any worse...to God we are all equal.  (though how Jesus preached this has been a bit distorted)

There is no first, there is no last, there is no middle...there is no "least."

So I must change my thinking.  When I feed the homeless, they are not the "least" of anything.  I am no better than they are.  I have no more value to God then them.  Nor are they any less of a value to God.

When I feed the homeless, I'm feeding Jesus' brothers and sisters...your brothers and sisters...my brothers and sisters.

New Podcast - Jesus Is Killing My Religion

Listen HERE.