I Don't Get It!

I don't get why Bush wants a private middle eastern company to be in charge of U.S. goods in foreign ports??!! I don't get why Buck O'Neil was not inducted into the Hall of Fame. I don't get why it's eighty degrees in K.C.! But I'll take it. I don't get why Jesus died for me? Well, then again, maybe I do. He died for me so I could live this great life I now live and live an even greater one with Him in His house some day. I don't get why some people can't get that?

Who Do You Say I Am?

All last week through Sunday and even through this week I've been thinking of the passage on Mark 8:27-9:1 in the Bible. This is the passage is the turning point for Peter and Jesus' disciples. On their walk north from Capernaum to Caesarea Phillipi Jesus turns to his disciples and asks Peter who people say he is. Peter in all his brashness declares that Jesus is the Christ the Messiah. Well, Jesus continues to describe what will happen to him as Messiah and Peter compares this to his agenda for the Messiah and these two agendas don't mix well.

What's my point? I won't labor long, but suffice it to say even 'goin' to church folk' like me often get wrapped up in personal agendas and expect OUR Messiah to do what we want. Ooops! I'm sorry, says Jesus, I have my own agenda and it looks nothing like yours.

Who do I say Jesus is? Well in the good times according to my agenda He's the Messiah. In the bad times, dark times, then who is he? Well, I guess He's the Messiah. It's a bit hard to accept this agenda seeing as I'd like to know the future and all, but He's the Messiah not me and so this means a cross for me too!

I've been thinking about this. What about you? What's your agenda?

Peace

Jesus and Taxes

Jesus did say render to Caesar what is Caesar's, but I do have to confess that itemized deductions are a wonderful thing! For all those out there waiting till the final second to do your taxes I can sympathize. It isn't the funnest thing in the world to do, but some of the software out there is very helpful. Well, I'm wrapping mine up tonight and sending it down the fiberoptic highway. Hope you'll take time to belly up with the taxes sooner than later. It takes a lot of stress out of your life and while your doing them remember Who's in your heart.

The Church I Attend

Followers of Jesus most typically have strong feelings about the church they attend. These strong feelings can run from great satisfaction to strong disappointment depending on...who the pastor is...what he/she preaches...how he/she preaches...if the coffee was too strong...if the A/C was cranked too high or the the heat too low...if there were more choruses than hymns...if the Sunday School teacher was boring...blah, blah, blah.

My point is this. If we keep our focus on this...

then maybe a few followers could just zip it and quit fussin' and be about the work of the Father and showing the world what it truly means to walk a humble obedient life before God! We are utilitarian at our core, but when the Holy Spirit enters in, our core becomes transformed into His likeness and the knit-picking of the church should decrease as we pray about the church and His increase. I know your response will be that it should be OK to express concern, and I agree, but when this concern turns into a bad attitude locomotive...this is not what Paul contended for when he said he wanted to know Christ. So, all you whiney, fussy, can't have it my way believers out there...get off it and get into Him. Your church and His purpose does not need your cancer. This is how I feel about the church I attend.