Thought of the Day !!

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Psalm 100:3

We live in a world of my, my, my and take, take, take. Our society teaches us to strive to be the best we can be. In our country we're taught that we can do anything we want to do. We're raised going to school and college to better ourselves.

All these things have one thing in common. The emphasis is on ME. It's not bad to do things for ourselves, but we must remember that this life is NOT all about us. When it all boils down to it, we aren't even our own. We are God's creation; we are His people.

Let us live as His people, enjoying life, but putting Him first and serving others. It's then that we'll find true joy.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

What would you say is your biggest complaint about your life?

(Answer and then read the "Thought of the day !!" below.)

Thought of the Day !!

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.’
Numbers 21:4-5 (NRSV)

As I read this passage, I couldn't help but smile as I thought of how my response to the Israelites' complaints would be if I were Moses. They complain that there's no food. Then they follow that complaint up by saying that they "detest this miserable food." Hey, wait a minute. I thought you said there was no food. Which is it? No food...or miserable food? It can't be both.

I guess what really made me smile was thinking back on how I've gone through my kitchen before and opened all the cabinets and the refrigerator only to shut the doors and complain, "There's no food in this house!" Was there actually no food for me to eat? Oh there may be a can of chicken noodle soup. There may be some peanut butter and some saltines. There may have been something I would have to take the time to cook. But the truth of the matter is that I didn't want what I had in my kitchen. And so I've complained before that there's no food, when in reality it was right in front of me.

The Israelites were getting spoiled. They evidently had access to food. They just didn't want it. And so they complained.

The problem was that the Israelites forgot. You see, they forgot just how miserable they were in Egypt. They forgot how they prayed for God to save them. They forgot how God sent Moses to them. They forgot how God brought them out of Egypt and how God saved them again at the Red Sea and how God had produced food and water for them and protected them. They evidently forgot all that God had done for them. Because they complained. And if they had thought about how good God had been, they would realize that there was nothing to complain about.

I think we can get just like the Israelites from time to time. We forget all the blessings we have. We forget how good we actually have it when we see someone who has it better than us. We forget that life itself is a blessing, and that there is much good to find in it. We simply forget. And we do the same as the Israelites. We complain. Why did I get.... Or why didn't I get.... Why did so and so do better.... Why oh why. And the whys become whining. And negativism or envy or jealousy or whatever turns us into complainers.

I wonder what would happen if every time we started to complain about something, we found something to be thankful for first. Maybe this world would become a more positive place. And maybe God would be happier with us.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

Reality shows have been the most popular form of entertainment for a while now. What do you think of reality series? And if you like them, which one is your favorite?

Thought of the Day !!

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:9-10

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil because a love of money is actually a love of self.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

Think back to yesterday. How many times did you lift up the name of Jesus or God in something other than a prayer?

Thought of the Day !!

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.
John 2:14-15

While doing some research for last Sunday's sermon I came across an interesting fact in a couple of my commentaries. The Greek work used here for "lifted up" has a dual meaning. It can also mean to exalt, or glorify.

This got me to thinking about who we lift up, exalt or glorify in today's world. Our culture teaches us what is to be desired, and the ones who have these special gifts seem to be the one's who we, as a society, lift up. Think about this. Super-models are what many girls and young women want to look like. Many boys and young men want to have someone who looks like this to date or marry. In another era, these girls may not have been all the craze because they would be too skinny. But in our culture we glorify those beautiful ladies because of what they have...good looks. The same goes with actors and actresses. We rush to box office every time our favorite star comes out with a new movie.

In today's world, our culture teaches us that happiness lies with power, prestige, fame and wealth. And who better fits this description than Donald Trump. We exalt this man because he created an empire for himself. He's got it all, supposedly (even a super-model girlfriend).

Then there are those professional athletes that I'm always hearing people complain about how much money they make. But in reality, they only make this because we, as a society, lift them up so highly. And we do this because so many want to be able to dunk like Kobe, hit a homer like Bonds or throw a pass like either of the Manning's.

So we lift up these people whom society has deemed "great". We talk about them, as well as politicians and other kinds of leaders throughout the week. But how often during our conversations do we lift up the name of Jesus? He said that he must be lifted up. But often times I think we get so caught up in this world of ours that he gets forgotten.

Lets see how many ways we can think of to lift Christ up this week (other than on Sunday morning).

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

God is faithful to us. But just how faithful to Him have we been today? This past week? This past month? This past year?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

We can start all over again with our brackets. Who's going to the Final Four? and Who's going to win it all?

Final Four = Memphis vs. LSU & UCONN vs. Florida

The Big Game = Memphis vs. UCONN

The Winner and all-time champion of the world...........MEMPHIS Babeeeeey!!!!



YES, you heard me. I said Memphis baby. You gotta believe!!!!!

Thought of the Day !!

Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)

We live in a me...me...me culture. What we must do to get away from this is simply wake up every morning and say to ourselves, "It's not all about me today!"

As you go through the day today, and over the weekend, see just how many people you can put before you by serving them or lifting them up in some way. If there's anyone that you're around that you normally just try to "tolerate", try doing something special for them.

Doing this can set us free from so many things. Just think about. Putting others first and not thinking about ourselves could hold off anger, envy, jealousy, mistrust and a whole host of other weapons that the devil is trying to use against us.

When it's not all about you, it can become all about Christ. And isn't that what the life of a Christian is really supposed to be about?

In the love of Christ,
greg

The Via Egnatia - The Roman Road - This road was the paved road built so trade could be had, and most especially so Roman Soldiers could travel between the west coast of Macedonia and the east coast. It was about 500 miles long and 15 feet wide. Paul traveled the Via Egnatia between the cites of Philippi (where picture was taken) and Thessalonica and Illyricum.  

Question of the day ??

If elected President of the United States, which blogger would most likely end the war in Iraq? Which would most likely go to war with Greenland next?

Thought of the Day !!

[Jesus] came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God....
John 1:11-12

All who receive Jesus get more than they could ever imagine. We may find despair and loneliness in this world. Depression may set in because of situations that come about through the actions of people or other circumstances. But the one place where we can be assured of having no fear of being hurt or depressed is in the presence of God. His arms are outstretched. His hands are motioning you in. Come and be comforted.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Looks Like We Made It......

I'd like to thank the academy and the BOM and of course...all the little people that made this ordination possible.

All I have to do now is get my robe dry cleaned and wait till June 13. It took 7 years, but it's truly been worth it. Many folks talk about all the hoops that we have to jump through. But as for me, I don't mind. I think that it shouldn't just be a piece of cake. And the RIM groups I've had to be part of have each helped me in some way. Not only that, but the RIM groups and RIM seminars were all mini vacations where I got to visit with friends. It wasn't like I had to turn in papers for these things.

Now the questions were kind of tough. The Bible Study and being taped during worship and critiqued weren't the funnest things. And of course the interview was nerve racking for me. But just as Jesus never said being a Christian would be easy, he never said being called would be either. I seem to remember some scripture about taking up crosses.

I should also mention that my buddy Andy Stoddard made it too. He's much to modest to admit it, but he's the smartest person I know. And that's saying a lot seeing how I know at least a dozen folks. :) Anyway, I knew he would have no problem.

So everyone's invited to Christ UMC in Jackson on June 13th for the ordination service. And if you can't make it, I do take personal checks. :)

The Acropolis and the Parthenon in Athens, Greece - taken from on top of Mars Hill where Paul argued Christ to the Athenian thinkers.  

Question of the day ??

What are some of the things that people worship in this world other than the Lord?

Thought of the Day !!

To an image carved from a piece of wood they say, "You are my father." To an idol chiseled out of stone they say, "You are my mother." They turn their backs on me, but in times of trouble they cry out for me to save them! Why don't you call on these gods you have made? When danger comes, let them save you if they can! For you have as many gods as there are cities and towns in Judah.
Jeremiah 2:26-28

God was telling Jeremiah what to say to the Israelites who had turned to other gods to worship. They were checking out what other nations were doing and worshiping. And they evidently liked what they saw. So images of Baal were everywhere being worshiped. And true faith in the LORD their God was diminishing. As a matter of fact, this faith was only exhibited when the people were in trouble.

Does any of this sound familiar? Are there any other gods that we worship today? Does God only hear from us when we need something?

As you think about these questions understand that our gods may not be graven images of wood or stone as the Israelites had. But that doesn't mean that there are no other "gods" to worship today. Many come to the altars of capitalism, commercialism or secularism. People all across America have decided to replace their worship of God with the worship of the "almighty dollar". People worship the gods that we call athletes, super-models, actors and actresses, the rich and the famous.

Even good things can become the gods that we worship if we're not careful. Don't let the great gifts that you've been blessed with such as family or abilities become more important to you than the one who blessed you with them.

The Israelites turned their backs on God because something else peaked their interests. But they wanted to have the best of both worlds. They wanted to do as they wished whenever they wished, only turning back to God when they got themselves in trouble. This sounds like selfish children. And this does sound familiar.

Don't let anything come before you and your relationship with God through Jesus. Find ways of showing God that He's what's truly important in your life. And in doing so, your life will be much better. For no other god that we find in this world will ever be as fulfilling as the one we were created to worship.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
Philippians 4:13 (NLT)


Have you ever had a situation in your life that seemed nearly hopeless? Christ can give you the hope you need to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Have you ever had something go really, really wrong in your life? Christ can give you the strength you need to recover.

Have you ever had an problem you didn't know how to handle? Christ can give you the discernment you need.

Have you ever needed a little direction in your life? Christ can give you the wisdom you need.

Christ is our help in times of distress and trouble. He's our help in times of joy and satisfaction. He gives us the strength we need everyday to do what's right and good. He gives us the strength to make it to a place where we can be happy and have peace. He can do all these things if we will only let him.

Have you ever...Christ can help you do everything.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Barna Statistics

Spirituality May Be Hot in America, But 76 Million Adults Never Attend Church
March 20, 2006

(Ventura, CA) - Marketers devote billions of dollars to penetrating the Baby Boomer market – the generation of 77 million individuals that populate the nation. There is another market segment equally as large that is of interest to the faith community: the 76 million adults who regularly avoid going to church.

A new report based on its annual tracking survey by The Barna Group reveals that one-third of the adult population (34%) has not attended any type of church service or activity, other than a special event such as a funeral or wedding, during the past six months.

The Barna report described this “unchurched” population in relation to its spiritual and demographic background.

The Religious Profile of the Unchurched

Citing past research that discovered most unchurched adults were formerly churched, the new study indicates that six out of ten unchurched people (62%) consider themselves to be Christian, 4% say they are Jewish, 4% are associated with an eastern religion, and 24% say they are atheist. Denominationally, the largest share of unchurched adults is made up of lapsed Catholics: almost three out of every ten unchurched people (29%) associate with Catholicism. One out of every five (18%) say they are Baptist.

In the eyes of these individuals, absence from church life does not indicate a lack of commitment to the Christian faith. Three out of four unchurched adults who consider themselves to be Christian (77%) contend that they are either absolutely or moderately committed to the Christian faith.

Millions of unchurched adults engage in spiritual activity during a typical week. For instance, nearly two-thirds (62%) pray to God, one-fifth (20%) read from the Bible, and 5% participate in a small group that meets in someone’s home for Bible study, prayer or Christian fellowship.

The aggregate numbers of the unchurched are not as clean-cut as they used to be, however, one out of every eight unchurched adults (13%) is involved in a house church at least once a month, with another 15% involved in a house church less frequently. In the survey, these house church participants stated that they had not attended a “Christian church service or event” during the past six months, despite having attended numerous house church meetings during that period.

Unchurched Possess A Variety of Beliefs

Adults disassociated with a conventional church have a wide range of beliefs, some of which are biblical in nature. Some of the perspectives held by half or more of the unchurched population, either strongly or moderately, include the following:

50% agree that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches.

66% agree that their religious faith is very important in their life today.

64% contend that Satan is not a living being but is just a symbol of evil.

62% believe that a good person can earn eternal salvation

51% believe that Jesus Christ sinned while He lived on earth.

61% say their single, most important purpose in life is to love God with all their heart, mind, strength and soul.

55% argue that they are totally committed to having a deeper relationship with God and will do whatever it takes to get and maintain that relationship.

66% say they are completely committed to making the world, and other people’s lives, better.

The Barna Group survey noted that one out of every five unchurched adults (21%) is born again Christians. However, only 4% of unchurched adults possess a biblical worldview.

George Barna, who directed the study, also pointed out that a minority of unchurched adults has a biblical view of God. In addition, less than one out of five say that involvement in a community of faith is necessary to become a mature and complete person. Interestingly, nearly one-quarter of the unchurched (23%) say that a person’s faith in God is meant to be developed mainly through involvement in a local church.


(If you would like more information, check out the link from the title or go to www.barna.org. What's posted is the first half of the article.)

Missippi United Methodist Katrina Response Update

Mississippi United Methodist Katrina Response Update
March 17, 2006


We got great news this week for Hancock County. Our prayers were answered when a Georgia company donated to our effort a 5,000-square-foot modular building that will be set up on the Gulfside Assembly grounds in Waveland. This building is in excellent condition and will allow us to provide housing long-term for our volunteers in Hancock County.

We thank regional coordinators Elijah Mitchell for making the contact to acquire this building and Terry Hilliard for working through all of the permitting that will allow us to set up at Gulfside. We should be able to house up to 60 volunteers in this building.

The acquisition of this facility solves our more pressing need at this time.

- Ed Blakeslee

***

Spring Break brings record number of volunteers

Around the country students are enjoying Spring Break this March, and many have chosen mission trips to Mississippi instead of the usual beach trips. During the two weeks that make up Spring Break, March 10-26, more than 3,000 volunteers, many of them students from around the country, will pass through Mississippi churches, offering time and labor to help those most impacted by Katrina. We in the Mississippi Conference wish to thank all volunteers who are choosing mission work in Mississippi over vacations elsewhere!!

To schedule a work trip, contact the Mississippi United Methodist Disaster Response Center at 1-866-435-7091 or e-mail disastercenter@meridianumc.org.

***

Churches active in Western Region

Terry Hilliard, Western Coastal Region coordinator, reports that several United Methodist churches in her two-county region are active in disaster response, hosting teams and coordinating projects, providing a source of relief for what might be the hardest hit area of Mississippi - the Pearlington-Waveland-Bay St. Louis area. These churches include Main Street UMC in Bay St. Louis, First UMC in Picayune, Byrd-Wesley Charge in Carriere, Mt. Zion UMC, DeLisle, and First UMC in Pass Christian. Together the churches can house nearly 200 volunteers at any given time. Thanks to these churches and others who are continuing to step up and make a difference in these communities.

***

Main Street UMC and the Kansas East Conference

Since the early days following Katrina, the congregation of Main Street UMC in Bay St. Louis has reached out to its neighbors, offering the love of Christ to the hurting, despite significant damage to its church facility. By partnering with the Disaster Recovery Team of the Kansas East Conference, Main Street was able to set itself up first as a distribution point for needed supplies and later as a work site for volunteer teams coming into the area.

Main Street volunteers have logged more than 20,000 hours of labor just since December, even while the church’s daycare is being rebuilt and with relatively little space for volunteer housing. It is amazing what can be accomplished even in the midst of chaos. Our sincere gratitude goes out both to the people of Main Street, and the Disaster Recovery Team of Kansas East Conference, without whom this could not have all come together.

***

E-mail addresses

Please encourage pastors and team leaders outside the Mississippi Conference who would appreciate receiving these updates to provide their e-mail addresses to us. Communicating what is going on with as many of our friends and supporters as possible is extremely important to our ongoing success. Send addresses to gwen@mississippi-umc.org.

Question of the day ??

Do most Christians hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)? Do you?

Thought of the Day !!

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6 (NRSV)

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness have a deep desire to be right with God and to have a right relationship with God. That's basically what righteousness is. So Jesus teaches us that if we truly want to be filled with God through the Holy Spirit, then we will. But how many of us truly desire that?

Something to think about today - Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, especially if it might mean going places you now don't want to or acting in different ways or giving up some things you'd rather hold on to?

If you truly hunger and thirst for God, you will receive God. But I think that many people claiming to be Christians don't really have a hunger or thirst for righteousness. Imagine what this world would be like if we all did.

In the love of Christ,
greg

I Survived !!

I made it unscathed. That's not to say that I'm a shoe-in or anything, but at least I didn't pass out or throw up in front of the BOM - Ha ha!!

Anyway, I was fine until about an hour before. And then for some unknown reason I started getting really nervous. I did not expect this because I'd been confident about the whole process ever since my first interview three years ago when I came up for probation. But for some reason, anxiousness set in.

We met at 5pm for supper and then worship. I was the first after the worship to go in. My dear friend Andy Stoddard pulled me outside and he and another friend (Harold Manning) prayed over me. And then the Holy Spirit took over and my nerves were settled. One of the questions was where had I experienced the Holy Spirit in the last year. If I'd have thought about it, I could have said 15 minutes ago.

It is now 9:35am on Saturday and Andy Stoddard is just finishing up his interviews. I have been praying for him from afar. He thinks he's going to be deferred. But that's because Andy is the ultimate pessimist. But in truth, he's one of the smartest people I know, as well as one of the most caring pastors. He'll do fine.

Thank you very much for your support and the prayers. Reading the responses this morning was truly an uplifting experience for me. To have people that only know me by the words I type on a computer praying for me and supporting me truly shows what it means to be Christ-like. So I say Thank you. And God bless each of you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Philippi - Traditionally thought of as the prison where Paul and Silas were held. - Acts 16:16-40 

Question of the day ??

Today is the day. Yes, it's the "day that the Lord hath made". But it's much more than that. This is the day when everything I've learned, everything I've practiced, everything I've worked for will be questioned in two 30 minute interviews. So the ultimate Question of the day is:


Will I survive my BOM interview today?

Thought of the Day !!

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires ....
Ephesians 4:22

I would hate to know the number of people that went to church this Sunday who were baptized members of the body of Christ, but still lived the same way that they did before their baptism. Now I'm not saying that we are perfect or that we should pretend to be. I'm also not saying that once we join the church or get baptized everything about us will automatically change. But the thing that should change is our hearts. True Christians have more of a desire for Christ than for self.

While we may still be sinful people, we can know that we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb if we choose such. The big difference in the way we were before and the way we should be now is that we are trying to be better Christians, having more Christ-like love; hence being more like Jesus. John Wesley (the founder of Methodism) called this going on towards perfection.

Are you going on to perfection in the love of Christ, striving to be more like him each day, even though you may have a long way to go? Or are you still living in the old self, being corrupted by its deceitful desires and doing nothing to try to change?

I believe God appreciates us even when we mess up if we're honestly trying to do our best. May God bless you today on your journey towards Christian perfection.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Our ship, the Astoria, docked at Patmos. 

St. Mark's Basilica 

Question of the day ??

Who (individually or as a group) has done the most damage to Christianity over the years?

Thought of the Day !!

[Jesus says,] "Keep alert and pray -- otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing, the body is weak."
Matthew 26:41 (NLT)

Paul talks about how our battles are against the dark forces of this world. We don't see the spiritual powers that continue to tempt us, that are always trying to keep us away from God. So we must do as Jesus was telling his disciples. We must keep alert and pray so that we will have the strength and the wisdom to fight the spiritual forces of this world that are working so hard for our souls.

In the love of Christ,
greg

The Swiss Alps view from the plane 

Question of the day ??

How many states have you visited? How many countries?

Thought of the Day !!

[God says,] "Away with your hymns of praise! They are only noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry."
Amos 5:23 (NLT)

Does God want us to worship Him in song? Of course. Does He want us to praise Him? Yes. So of course He desires to hear hymns of praise from us. But when these hymns of praise come from people who are not being obedient, who are something totally different within the walls of the church than they are outside them, then He'd just assume not listen to their false praise.

As Christians, God wants us first and foremost not to become hypocrites, thinking we're better in any way than others. Neither does He want to see us becoming the kind of people that put ourselves and our selfish desires before Him. So let us submit ourselves to a life's purpose of putting God first, through the life and teachings of His Son Christ Jesus. And let us strive to living that life out to the best of our ability. Then justice and righteous living will flow from us naturally. And our worship will be pure and received by the Father with joy.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Ahh...Venice !!

We left Memphis and flew a whole 50 minutes before laying over in Atlanta for four hours. Then came the longest plane trip I've ever endured, an eight and a half hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany. After being rushed through the airport and having my passport stamped for the first time in my life, we were bussed out onto the runway to walk up to our plane. This began the final leg of the journey, our plane ride over the beautiful Swiss Alps to Venice.

We arrived at Venice and was taken to our hotel. We stayed one night there and had a tour the next day. But it was this day that we had two very memorable things, one being the best Pizza ever in a little town just outside Venice and the other a very cold Gondola ride through Venice. Then after some shopping, it was back to the hotel where we slept and got ready for our official touring to begin.

The tour around Venice was truly exciting and informational. If you had asked me before the trip where I thought my most spiritual experience would have come, I would probably had said from Patmos or some place where Paul had traveled. But I would have been wrong.

We toured through St. Mark's basilica without much moving in me other than possibly hunger. But after the tour of the city we had some free time before boarding our ship. There were four of us together and one of the group wanted to go back into the basilica. So we did. The second time around we went to the back of the church where the altar was. We had to pay 1.5 Euros to go back there (the best money spent on the trip). But when we got back there it hit me where I was.

I was standing next to where the actual remains of Mark (the gospel writer) were laid. I began breathing funny and felt weak all of a sudden. It's like God was telling me that I was truly on holy ground. I just stood there and took in all the beauty of the painted walls and the altar that was over the place where the man who wrote the gospel that I've been preaching out of this year laid. This was a man who sat with Peter and learned from him. This was a man who had been inspired by God to write the first gospel. This was a man who truly had been touched by God. And I was right there where his remains were laid, if only for a short while.

The experience so overwhelmed me that I had to go over to the chapel area and get on my knees and pray. What an experience! I will always love the sights and cafes and small walkways of Venice. But nothing will ever stand out in my mind as much as the day I visited St. Mark's basilica. Ahh...Venice !!

Question of the day ??

What is the most beautiful place on Earth?

Thought of the Day !!

God's way seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven to prove it is true. And it is foolish to the Greeks because they believe only what agrees with their own wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God. This "foolish" plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.
1 Corinthians 1:22-25

To an unbeliever in Paul's day, the message of God coming to earth in the form of a man to suffer and die for the sins of the world must have sounded foolish. I'm sure nothing has changed though. Many today have a hard time believing in a loving God when there's so many bad things going on in our world. Many have a hard time grasping how a person can be 100 percent human and at the same time 100 percent God. Others can't understand how any being has simply always existed without having a beginning. And so the message of the cross is foolish to them who are perishing, for they simply cannot believe.

The problem is that much too often we try to package things up into something we can understand so that we can believe. But faith is not logically thinking things through until they make sense. Faith is believing even when we don't understand or comprehend.

We'll never completely understand the totality of God's wisdom. And that's alright. We don't have to. We simply have to have faith.

And that's the message that an unbelieving world needs to hear.

In the love of Christ,
greg