Increased Faith

We have recently been going through a series in apologetics on Wednesday nights at nightLIFE. We are learning about other religions, and how their belief system differs from Christianity, specifically Southern Baptists. So far we've covered, Islam, Atheism and Theism, Hinduism, Buddahism, and Jehovah Witness. I have to say that while looking deeply into each of these religions, my faith has increased in my own beliefs about God and scripture.

Each of these organized religions requires faith. The atheist may be the only one to argue, but if they would be honest, they are certainly applying faith to evolution. These religions are placing their faith in different places than Christianity does though. The one thing that they all have in common is that their beliefs depend totally upon their actions or good works. Their faith and hope is in themselves to be good enough, or to do enough good things to achieve paradise, nirvanna, completion, heaven, etc.

This is where we differ at our very foundation. Scripture teaches us that we are saved by GRACE alone. We can in no way achieve, or earn, or ever be good enough to accomplish "holiness". This word "holy" is an adjective used to describe God alone, so unless God does something to us we could never achieve it. And scripture teaches without holiness no one will see God. I am comforted that in my readings, I have only religion that speaks of a loving, personal God who is pursuing all men. Not only this, but He is the only God who came on a rescue mission where the Creator came and died for His creation.

Because of this great act of our God. Salvation is exclusive to this particular faith(this makes others angry). We must place our faith in the Creator God who became flesh, and died for His sinful creation. This is why there is no other way to God, this is why salvation is exclusive to those with faith in Christ. This is why there is only one narrow road to heaven, not many as Oprah would suggest. Unless we come through Jesus, our rescuer, we do not come.

Don't misunderstand. I don't think you have to be "Southern Baptist" to go to heaven! But you do have to be on the "narrow road". The narrow road is Christ Jesus as Lord. You can have some messed up theology, I probably do myself, but you have to at least have the correct foundation of Jesus right. That being: his full deity and humanity, virgin birth, perfect sinless life, death on the cross for the sins of the world, burial, and physical ressurection. Because He lives, He is the Way!

Offended by the Cross

Until the supreme court makes a ruling, this cross, a World War I monument remains covered up in the Mojave National Preserve in California. It appears that after over 60 years of standing, one man is now "offended" by this cross and wants it removed. Why do the complaints of "one" get heard louder than the satisfaction of the many? At what point do we say "enough". No more will we be told to take down our crosses, put away our commandments, silence our prayers, and pack up our nativity scenes. My mentality is to push the limits, put up bigger crosses, pray louder and more often, and celebrate Christmas and Easter year round. We've really gone a long ways from the Declaration of Independence where "...all men are CREATED... by their CREATOR...". This was once "self evident", and now it's debatable.

click the link below and watch the "who's to blame" video.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?src=em&fa=PAGE.view&pageId=104618

Abortionist killed.

"Is it not possible that an individual may be right and a government wrong? Are laws to be enforced simply because they were made? Or declared by any number of men to be good, if they are not good?" David Thoreau

The news has been covering a story lately that has been troubling me in many different ways. George Tiller, referred to as America's most notorious abortionist, was murdered in his church last Sunday. He was called "Tiller the Killer"because of his well-known willingness to perform late-term abortions almost no other doctor in the nation would do. Because of Dr. George Tiller, Wichita became the destination of choice for women seeking late term abortions.

Those of you who know me, know I have some very strong feelings about this issue, and am continuously frustrated that we Baptists are not championing the fight for life as the Catholics are. But that's a different blog for another day. As for now I'm trying to figure out how I'm supposed to feel about this Dr. of death being killed in his church. My first reaction was "wow! he went to church?", and my next feeling was, "well, he got what he deserved". I do not condone people killing abortion doctors. I'm not sure that it would necessarily save lives; those seeking abortions would and will just go somewhere else. But in a strange way I feel like justice has taken place in the case of Tiller. He was unrepentant, promoting the disposal of unwanted children, and personally, violently, killing babies every day he goes to work. He was famous for killing babies during the third trimester of pregnancy, most doctors would not do this because at this point the baby would most probably survive on it's own outside the womb.

So I am stuggling, and trying to sort out how I feel about this whole thing. I have a righteous anger that gets pretty fired up when anyone harms children, babies, or anyone unable to defend themselves. So in the same way that I have no sympathy for the bully who finally gets beat up at school, I'm having a hard time having sympathy for what has happened to Dr. Tiller. Maybe I'm wrong.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522637,00.html?test=latestnews

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Ok... the government is officially making me nauseous. The video above is a clear example of government getting too big and meddling without restraint in the lives of law abiding American citizens. I'm not an anarchist, I love my country, but our govenment has been and currently is going down roads it shouldn't even be on. I could rant on several different current issues but will try to restrain myself to this current video. If you've watched it, I hope you are as shocked as I am. The rebel in me says let's start having all of our church services in our home just to rock this boat and pick a fight!! I never would have imagined that in my country, the good ol' U S of A, officials of any level would be knocking on the doors of christian homes and calling their activities illegal. Will the church in America be forced underground? Never say never. (It's getting really bad when an optimist is writing stuff like this.)

Pottymouth... are some words off limits?

Bad, dirty, filthy, foul, vile, vulgar, course, in poor taste, unseemly, street talk, gutter talk, locker room language, naughty, saucy, raunchy, crude, lude, indecent, profane, inappropriate, obscene, off color, gray, suggestive, cursing, cussing, swearing...
These are the bad words that we use to describe "bad words". There are "bad words" in music, jokes, speeches, books, tv shows, and movies. Politicians have been caught using them, and so have doctors, lawyers, parents, teachers, the President, and yes even some preachers. I've invented a "bushism" for this kind of talk... foulmouthiness.

Here's the deal, some words although harsh may be ok to say. Other words are only ok to say in certain groups. Then there are the select "dirty" words that should always be avoided. Let me try to explain this. Words are cultural. Each culture has acceptable and unacceptable language. Men are able to talk about some things women are not comfortable hearing, and women are able to have certain conversations that will make men run away. The process of childbirth spoken in the language of my nurse friends is one example of this. Wisdom and maturity tells us to be sensitive to our listening audience. Another example is the culture of age. The younger generation uses the word "sucks" to have a negative meaning. Most adults over 40 are offended by this usage. It doesn't mean they have to stop using the word since in their culture it's accepted, but they should be sensitive to those around. In the same way the word "pregnant" many years ago was not even allowed on TV. It was considered inappropriate. My, how things have changed.

The real problem with our language and speech is not only a cultural problem, but a heart problem. The bible says "...out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Simply said, our words reveal the condition of our heart. If our heart is full of love and compassion, it will be made known by our words. If our heart is bitter, and full of anger, our speech will reveal that as well. If your speech is undisciplined... bingo... so is your spiritual life. If we let cuss words fly, not caring who's around to hear, or who we are offending, it shows a selfish heart unconcerned about others. From my experience with people who have been newly saved by God's grace, one of the first things that change is their language. Why?.... because of the heart change. The mouth reveals the condition of the heart. The potty mouth is just a symptom of a more serious problem.

Some may say I'm being legalistic... I've been called that before (once). But I'm not,... I am in no way saying you are going to hell for saying a cuss word when you stump your toe. I am simply saying to look deeper than the cuss word. If you said it in a loss of control then it's wrong. If you curse to be cool, then it's wrong. If you cuss to offend, wrong too. James, the brother of Jesus, was brutally honest about our words. He says "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. (James 1:26)

On the other hand, our tongue has been entrusted with the salvation of all men. "the tongue has the power of life and death..." (Prov. 18:21) It started with the prophets and the angels, and now has been given all believers. The responsibility of telling, speaking, sharing, saying the good news. The message of Jesus was entrusted to our irresponsible tongues. The very tongues that have a hard time with cursing, and gossiping. But God has faith that we will use our words wisely. Let's honor, not embarrass God with our mouths.

inked and pierced

Becoming more and more trendy in our culture is young people getting tattoos and untraditional piercings. I recently addressed this in our student mininstry because of their own questions about these "body enhancements". I use that phrase because i think many less controversial alterations fall into this same catagory... dying the hair, piercing one hole in the ear lobe, make up tattoos, breast enlargement/reduction, tummy tucks, etc. Here's the truth. If you are a believer in Jesus then your body and your life is not your own, it belongs to God. 1Corinthians 6:19 states this, and I know the context is sexual imorality, but the truth still applies. Since the body is not our own and was bought at a price, then permission is required before altering right?
I don't believe that altering our bodies brings us closer(circumcision Gal.5:2) or farther away from holiness. I think that scripture teaches that it is the condition of our heart. In some cultures I think it's wrong to get a tattoo or provocative piercing, because it would hinder relationships with people and if our hearts are right, relationships are far more valuable than our personal preferences. Maturity and wisdom says that it's just not worth the risk when it comes to parental, grandparent relationships, church relationships etc. In other cultures there may be no issue or hindrance at all. It is very similar to Paul's issue of meat sacrificed to idols in scripture. Paul thought the meat was Ok to eat, but because it was a problem for some, he chose not to. This takes matruity and obedience to sacrifice freedoms for the sake of others and the gospel.

So the questions to ask before getting pierced and inked are these:

What is the condition of my heart? rebellious? Prideful? Conceited? Defiant?
Does it honor God?
How will it effect my culture (relationships)?
Will it hinder my purpose, mission, ministry, career?
Does my spouse approve? If single I advise to wait until marriage before considering the tattoo or alteration.

the bucket list

Not long ago I saw a movie called "The bucket list". It was about two men who had near death experiences, but finding that they had a second chance in life, composed a list of things they would like to do or get done before they die. I've always had a list, or at least some dreams but I've never written them down, or even knew what to call it until I saw this movie. So here goes... my bucket list, some already done others not yet. Do you have a list? If not then write one down. If we have common events on our lists maybe we can do them and mark them off together?

Marry the hottest girl in school.

Have a house full of kids.

Baptize all of my kids.

perform the wedding of all of my kids.

Raise a bloodhound from a pup.

Hike 26 mile Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas.

Stay up for 72 hours straight.

Catch a fish bigger than myself.

Hike to the Peak at Wolf Creek, Co.

Backpack the Grand Canyon.

Ride a motorcycle to Canada and back.

Visit the temple mount in Israel. (Is that legal?)

Run, not walk, a marathon.

Ride a century on my bike.

Advance 2 belts in jiujitsu.

Camp on a snow capped mountain.

Watch all of the "Lord of the Rings" movies nonstop.

Take my wife to see a George Strait concert.

Own a motorcycle.

See a LSU football game.

See a tornado.

Get scuba certified.

Save someone's life.

Go on patrol with a police officer.

Preach at my childhood church.

See a NFL game.

Bold = completed

If you can help me out with any of these let me know. If you want to join in on any you're welcome to come and live a slice of life with me.