Question of the day ??

Today's question was stolen from Andy Stoddard's post this morning, being used without permission :).

Click here for the whole post.


And, one of the 95 thesis (or statements) that he (Martin Luther) posted was the notion that each of us can go to God, and each of us can interpret the scriptures. I always hear folks talk about how tragic it is that on election day, so few folks vote, after all that has been given to give folks the right to vote, all the blood that was shed. I feel the same way about the Word. Do you realize how many folks died and were persecuted to ensure that you and I can read the word each day? Do we take for granted what has been given us in this holy gift?

Thought of the Day !!

Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?
James 2:19-20 (NLT)

What James is trying to tell us is that simply believing that God exists and that He created us is not enough. It's not the kind of belief that Jesus speaks of in John 3:16 when he says that "all who believe shall never perish, but have eternal life". This kind of saving belief (or faith) has good deeds attached.

He is not telling us our good deeds will save us, but that true faith (or belief) in Jesus is life changing. When we accept, we not only accept Jesus as our Savior (the one who saves us), but as our Lord (the one whom we invite to run our lives). And when Jesus is in control, good deeds will naturally follow.

So it's not that good deeds save us, but that they point to a person who is living out his/her salvation. As Jesus said, "We will be known by our fruit."

So what kind of fruit have you produced lately? Are there signs that you are a Christian? Do good deeds pour forth from you? Or do you claim to have faith while having no deeds to show the authenticity of it?

May we all have a fruit-producing day today.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

Charles Wesley would take bar tunes and turned them in to hymns. If Charles were around today, what songs might he use the music for "O For a Thousand Tongues" or "Come, Sinners to the Gospel Feast"?

* Can you imagine hearing "Come, Sinners to the Gospel Feast" being rapped????

Thought of the Day !!

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13

I wonder how many half-heartedly seek God and how many truly seek with all their heart. What about you?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Answer to last Friday's "Question of the Day ??"

An excerpt from The Bible Answer Book by Hank Hanegraaff (the writer/radio show personality and self titled "Bible Answer Man"). In it he answered last Friday's "Question of the Day ??"

"With the word 'amen' we are in effect saying, 'May it be so in accordance with the will of God.' It is a marvelous reminder that any discussion on prayer must begin with the understanding that prayer is a means of bringing us into the conformity with God's will, not a magic mantra that ensures God's conformity to ours."

Question of the day ??

Does anybody know why we end our prayers with the word "Amen" and/or what it means?

I'll give you a hint: It doesn't mean "That's all God!"

Thought of the Day !!

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)

Pay very close attention to these words of advice, for these are the actions of a true Christian. Are you doing these things?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

What's your favorite holiday and why?

Thought of the Day !!

Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.
James 4:13-16 (NIV)

We want to control things don't we? I think it's in our nature. I'd love to be able to control the weather today. I want the sun to come out and stay out so that the ground will dry by Saturday for our Fall Festival. Yet, in this world there is very little we have control over.

It is God who is in control. Now this doesn't mean that He moves us around like pieces on a chess board. He gives us the ability to choose our own actions; what we will say, do, accept, etc. But He is in control of what happens in this world. Only He can decide if it will rain or not Saturday. Only He can miraculously cure someone's body. Only He can stop time. Only He can add another star to the night sky. Only Him. This is because He created all these things.

The two most important prayers in the bible to me come from our Lord Jesus. One is when he teaches us to pray the Lord's prayer and the other is when he is at Gethsemene. In both he prays that God's will be done. And isn't it of comfort to know that the one who created and controls everything knows how all things should work out? We may want this or that, but God knows so much more than our limited minds can handle. He knows how the things that we ask for will affect us. He knows the outcomes of all things and we can only know the here and now.

He also answers "No" to us at times because we need to go through the fire and be refined like silver is. Sometimes the impurities of our lives must be burned out to make us better. Sometimes we have to go through hell to see heaven on earth. And only God knows when those times are.

So let us submit to God's will in our lives through our actions and through our prayers. Let us all pray today that God's will be done. And if that is the same as what we want, then great. If not, then let's learn to accept that God knows better and He is still listening and still in control.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

Do you think there will be a war with North Korea in the near future?

Thought of the Day !!

Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Romans 12:11 (NLT)

We do various types of work during any given week. Some we get paid money for. Others we find fulfillment purely in the act of doing them. Some are called honey-do's, while others may come from a to-do list that we've made ourselves. Some tasks require a lot of manual labor, while others make us think. But no matter what kind of work we do...no matter how unimportant or important it may seem...lets do it as if we're doing it for the Lord and His approval. Instead of going into it with a bad attitude and complaining about, we should be enthusiastic, giving every job our best effort. This will bring about a sense of joy for us as well as being a witness for others.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the Day ??

Why is it so much easier to see other people's faults than to see our own?

Thought of the Day !!

Again this morning I am swamped, so I will share another of my own devotionals that I get on the net. It actually goes along with the revival sermon that I preached last night.

Ephesians 4:2 -- Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. (NLT)

Your friends are not perfect. The people at work are not perfect. Your kids are not perfect. Your spouse is not perfect. You are not perfect, either. So lighten up! Whose faults bother you more -- yours or others? Why?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the Day ??

Should we have funerals in a church or funeral home? Are there advantages or disadvantages to either?

Thought of the Day !!

Good morning, afternoon or evening, whichever the case may be. I came across these words in my own devotional reading and thought I would share them with you today. I had a good vacation and look forward to getting back on track with the Thought of the Day!! posts tomorrow. Have a blessed today!

Proverbs 18:8 -- The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. (NIV)

When you gossip, it's like feeding your soul high-fat junk food. Who gets hurt when you gossip? With what spiritual "health food" can you replace gossip?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Cuke Skywalker vs. Darth Tater

Ok one more stupid video before trying to go back to bed.

Good-night

No Posts next week

I doubt that there will be any posts next week seeing how I will be at Camp Wesley Pines. Unless the local squirrels got Wi-Fi, I doubt I'll be receiving an internet connection.

Anyway, I'll be on vacation next week. It's a pretty cool deal. The camp, which is one of our Methodist Camps, allows us ministers 3 days and two nights free during off season. My wife and I are putting our 3 days with another couple's 3 days and will be spending the week doing absolutely nothing. Maybe that's because I need a break. Or maybe it's simply because I broke or just to cheap to take my wife on a real vacation.

Whatever the case...see ya'll in just over a week.

Question of the day ??

What else is there to do at 4 in the morning when you can't sleep?

Thought of the Day !!

[God says,] "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9

Be courageous today for Jesus. Tell someone about Him that you've never felt comfortable speaking to in that way before. Help someone you may normally leave alone. Reconcile with someone who's been mad at you. Forgive someone who you've been mad at. Pray in public. Do something...something you don't normally do or just haven't done in a long time. Be strong and courageous, not terrified or discouraged, because God will be right there with you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

2008 Blogger Conference

A blogger conference...Yippee!!

See
Gavin Richardson's blog for more info.

Question of the Day ??

What's the first thing you would like to say to or ask Jesus when you see him?

Thought of the Day !!

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No on who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
1 John 3:4-6 (NIV)

To understand this passage better, I think we must first understand just what sin is. People who think sin is robbery, murder, lying, rape and other deeds along these lines are right, but only partially. Sin is much more than breaking one of the Ten Commandments. Sin is the very thing we do or do not do that separates us from God and His love for us.

Lets make sure that we understand that it is what WE do or don't do, and that God never stops loving us. But with the action or thought that is sinful, we push ourselves farther away.

I was reading an excerpt by Hank Hanegraaff this morning that made a lot of since. He says that sin is a barrier between us and God and that just as light and dark cannot coexist together, neither can God (perfection) and sin (imperfection). And this explains why when we sin we are separating ourselves from God.

Now if God's love were not so great and He didn't bring us back to Him through forgiveness, we would be doomed. And this applies to each and every one of us. Paul writes that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

But God does love us so much that He gave His only Son so that we could have another chance at true life...so that we would not be condemned by our own separation...so that we could be brought back into God's loving arms. And Thanks be to God for that.

Remember that you (just like I) have sinned. We have all separated ourselves from God...some more than others. But when we receive Christ in our hearts, and he abides there as Lord of our life, our sinning will decrease. The reason for this is that our heart and Jesus' heart become more like one. And so we go on towards perfection as we live out our lives. Does this mean we never sin again? John says that "no one who lives in him keeps on sinning." But I tend to believe that means willfully. I think John means that when we live in Jesus and he in us, that we will grow in his ways and gradually become more and more like him, which is just opposite of sin.

Allow Christ to truly abide in you and you in him and everything else will work itself out. This is because it will be Christ running the show then and not yourself.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the Day ??

John the Methodist had a good question on his blog that I was going to wait to ask. But since he's already begun the discussion over there, I ask it as well.

Should Christians celebrate Halloween?

Thought of the Day !!

Don't long for "the good old days," for you don't know whether they were any better than today.
Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT)

We can long for a past when things seemed much simpler...much easier...much better. We can also live our lives in the past trying to relive what happened, only to be disappointed by the fact that we can never truly go back.

We can try to hold on to the past so that we are unchangeable in the future. Or we can treasure the memories of the past, while preparing for the future by making today worth living as well.

Life is ever changing, and when we fail to realize this, we get left behind in despair. Allow God to share His future with you and then go and share that future with others. In doing this we won't complain about today and wish things were like they were way back then. Instead, we will make a future worth living as well.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the Day ??

Which is worse for a new pastor to hear, "But we've never done it that way before" or "But this is way we've always done it"?

Thought of the Day !!

I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
Romans 1:11-12 (NLT)

Paul is writing to the church in Rome when he shares his great desire to be with them. This desire is not to receive something, but to give something. He longs to be with them so that he can share "some spiritual gift that will help (them) grow strong in the the Lord." That is Paul's great desire...to help others grow strong in the Lord. And his encouragement comes from seeing others' true faith.

If you were to write a letter to your church...or a church you used to be a part of, what would it sound like? What is your great desire for others in the community of faith? Are you encouraged by others' faith?

I guess the most important question for us today, though, is if we have the same desire that Paul had. Do we truly desire today to bring others spiritual (or any other kind of) gifts that would help them grow strong in the Lord?

Today has been one of the many days that the Lord has made for us to rejoice in. Let us not only rejoice though. Let us make it even better by sharing any spiritual gift we may have in our possession...especially the gift of love.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the Day ??

Do all dogs really go to Heaven?

Thought of the Day !!

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16 (TNIV)

What faith children have! They simply believe God is God and Jesus is who we say he is. No need for us to prove it…just say it. And they believe.

Children believe in miracles. Children believe that God will take care of them.

It’s not until sin becomes evident to them and the world teaches them about pain and misery that they begin to doubt.

Jesus says that we must have the audacity to believe again. And when we do, we will join the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom begins here on earth with true believers. But it continues on into an eternity with Jesus in Heaven.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the Day ??

Who believes that canvassing neighborhoods, going door to door and inviting people to church will increase your church attendance?

Thought of the Day !!

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you want to, you can make me well again," he said. Moved with pity, Jesus touched him. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" Instantly the leprosy disappeared--the man was healed.
Mark 1:40-42 (NLT)

The gospel says nothing about this man except that he was a leper. But we know that lepers in that day and culture were outcasts. They were at the lowest class level. They were unclean, and if you touched one, you would be unclean as well. If this were not bad enough, they had to walk around wearing certain clothes that distinguished them as being different and yell out “unclean, unclean” so that all would know what they were.

Most believed that these people were sinners and had gotten themselves into this situation by the way they lived their lives. Most people thought them unworthy. Most people thought them to be different and repugnant people that were no good ---- and often up to no good.

But not Jesus. Can you see these poor people in your mind. Picture them. Take a good hard look at them. Do you have pity for them? Do you feel sorry for them? Jesus did.

Now think about those in our culture today that fit that same mold. Those whom you may think are outcasts, or different, or unworthy, or no good, or up to no good. Who are those people today? Can you find yourself feeling sorry for them?

Jesus does. Those are the ones that Jesus most wants to heal. He said that He came to heal the sick, not those who were well. And He wants us to help Him help them.

In the love of Christ,
greg

This is just sickening!!!

No one who protests at funerals can have the love of Christ in them. They may be trying to make a statement, but all they're doing is hurting the mourners.

Funeral is to be protested

Question of the Day ??

If there was a movie being made about the Bible using strictly cartoon characters, which role would spongebob play? Who would play the role of Jesus?

Thought of the Day !!

Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
2 Corinthians 8:7-9 (NLT)

We’ve all seen small children playing before. Sometimes they’ll get along, and sometimes they won’t. I’ve seen a child hoard all the toys, even the ones that he wasn’t playing with before, because he didn’t want the other one to touch his stuff.

I’ve also noticed a little girl who spent a great deal of time creating some craft, only to hand it to me when she was done.

The difference is not between little boys and little girls. For either can hoard their toys, and either can share generously. The difference is that one is showing love for self and the other is showing love for another.

We are the little boy with all the toys, as well as the little girl with the newly made creation. But it’s up to us to choose which we will act like.

Are we insecure and afraid to give? Or are we satisfied knowing that what we have is not really our own, but something that is on loan from God?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

If you had a worship service that could involve only one form of worship and nothing else, would it be the reading and preaching of God's Word, singing God's praises, prayer or the sharing of Christ's body and blood through Holy Communion?

Thought of the Day !!

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
Matthew 5:13

William Barclay once wrote that "Christianity is to life, what salt is to food. Christianity flavors life."

Of course...that is only when Christians have not lost their flavor. How many Christians do you know that have poor attitudes or are always negative? How many Christians do you know that have taken on the look of the world because they're so caught up in it, and therefore look no different from non-Christians? How many Christians do you know that say one thing and then do another, coming off as hypocrites to nonbelievers?

How about you? Are you a flavorful Christian, or has your salt lost its flavor? It's time that we become the people we were meant to be and flavor the world by sharing Christ's joy and love with it. Where can you be a salty Christian today?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the Day ??

Last Friday's Question about whether or not people should be held accountable for their membership produced some good answers. Last Friday's Question about whether or not people should be held accountable for their membership produced some good answers. John B decided to post his response on his own blog because (I'm assuming) it was a long one (a good one too).

The bulk of the responses were that "yes" there should be some sort of accountability for members of a church. But even the answers bring about more questions (as Tony points out). So here's Tony's questions.

(you might want to read last Friday's question and answers first)


But which one of us will take the responsibility to decide if those mumbled yeses (sp.?) are sincere?

And then what do we do?

When we strip the insincere of their membership, where do they go?

They're certainly not coming back here where they have been made to feel unwelcome

Are they going to be nurtured into our concept of authentic discipleship out in the world?

Just askin....

Thought of the Day !!

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)

Years ago I preached a sermon entitled "Acquitted" where I used a sermon illustration that was originally told by Bill Bouknight of Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis. AS I was digging through some old stuff I came back across it and wanted to share it with you today.

Bouknight tells about his favorite story that comes from the Ernest Hemingway novel The Capital of the World. Hemingway tells of a father and son in Spain who did not get along. Finally, the tension became so intense that the son exploded and called his father all kinds of derogatory names. Then the boy left home. The father was heartbroken over his son’s leaving. For several days he searched everywhere for his son, but with no success. Finally, the father took out an ad in the main newspaper in Madrid. The boy’s name was Paco, a very common Spanish name. The ad said, “Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper building tomorrow at noon. All is forgiven. I love you.” On the following day at noon, 800 Paco’s showed up, each longing for forgiveness and reconciliation.

We’ve all got a little Paco in us. We all are guilty and in need of forgiveness. The forgiveness is there to be had. Jesus has placed an add in the Bible. It reads, "acquitted", or cleared of the charges. And it’s addressed to you. And it's addressed to me.

In the love of Christ,
greg