You Are Loved
I passed a church sign on my way to work. It said, “Welcome – you are loved.” Hmmm! Is it appropriate to say of someone you have never seen or met, “I love you?” Don’t misunderstand me. I know we Christians are supposed love everyone. We know that. But, to the non-believers who drive past the church sign, how do they receive that impersonal affection? The implication is that we already love you, even though you are a faceless person in a sea of people. It reminds me of getting valentine’s cards in the 4th grade that didn’t have my name on it or the person’s name who gave it. Here is your obligatory expression of love given to you by someone. I would rather see a sign that reads, “You are welcome! We are a loving and accepting … [Read More...]
The Parable of the Fruitful Church
Jesus explained His parable of the sower found in Matthew 13. The seed is the word of the kingdom and the soil is the hearts of men. The seed that fell along the side of the road represented anyone who hears the word and does not understand it. There was nothing of the heart that received the word. The seed that fell on rocky ground represented those who hear the word and rejoice in it but there is only temporary interest. When times get tough they fall away. The seed that fell on ground full of thorns represented those who hear the word and seem to be firmly planted but there is never any fruit because the world has greater hold on their heart. The seed that fell on good soil represented those who hear and understand and their life … [Read More...]
Boston Bombing
I receive periodic emails from The Presidential Prayer Team, an organization whose stated mission is “encouraging, inspiring and practicing PRAYER on behalf of our President, nation’s leaders and our troops” 1 Timothy 2:1-2. I enjoy reading their recommendations and the reminder they are for me to pray for those people and issues. You will note, at www.presidentialprayerteam.com, the caption under their logo reads, “GOD-COUNTRY-FAMILY.” On April 15th PPT sent an email call to prayer in response to news of the Boston Marathon bombing. Now, I’m going to be a bit overcritical of their initial prayer recommendations, but I hope it is received as constructive criticism. I like their order of prayer focus: “GOD-COUNTRY-FAMILY.” It is … [Read More...]
Rick Warren’s son
After Pastor Rick Warren’s son committed suicide recently, Rick Tweeted: “Someone on the internet sold Matthew an unregistered gun. I pray he seeks God’s forgiveness. I forgive him. Matthew 6:15” I am certain Rick has had many other responses to his son’s death which were biblically sound and appropriately Christian. I only wish this immediate social media wording hadn’t been so much like the focus of the news media and political pundits. He implied the guilt of the gun seller and focused the attention on illegal gun sales instead of providing an answer to a question on the minds of every person who has ever lost a loved one to suicide. “Is your son now condemned for eternity?” Rick Warren may have answered that question by now, but the … [Read More...]
Pocket Scripture
What a great idea! A website called bibleparent.com provides Bible verses on strips that can be printed from the site. The idea is to cut the verses apart and place them in locations each day for your children to find, i.e. lunch box, near computers, inside reading materials, etc.. An article in the April edition of the AFA Journal tells about the ministry of Christian Child Care Coalition and its website. "CCCC created Pocket Scriptures as an extension of the group's belief that carrying God's written Word - even a little piece of it - with you everywhere you go is a practice that reinforces the importance and the power of the Word present in the believer's life." Surrounding ourselves and our family members with The Word is important, … [Read More...]
