Friday, July 29, 2011

Racing Towards Him

An ever-reminding call to chase after salvation.  The only way is through His son.  Many people feel unashamed about claiming they have tolerance for people not of Christian faith.  What is tolerance?
tol·er·ance
[tol-er-uhns]
–noun
1.
a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
2.
a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.
3.
interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.
 
Sounds great.  Although, I have a however moment to share.  The third definition sounds to be the most accurate path to take.  I understand a person that does not believe in the Way has opinions, ideas, etc.  They vary greatly from Christianity or share similiarities.  However, I have an interest and concern for them.  They don't need to believe it.  God and Christ never looked for anyone's approval or acceptance, but I know He is the way.  I may sound crooked for saying that this is the only way for a true relationship with God, but think of it this way.  Even demons know God exists.  Even the devil is aware of God.  I guess someone could say well that's their relationship, but we're not looking for an awful dysfunctional relationship... we are called to be intimate with God.  The most amazing thing for me is to understand that people are looking for attaining this amazing awareness and growth to reach this God-like presence and to be so much greater in their development than people that pay no mind to it.  What if you didn't have a mountain to climb to God?  What if he came down the mountain... to you?
 
God bless.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Duty Free

Non rhetorical: have you heard this word before?

When you are on a trip to another country outside of the US, you will find these shops that are duty free.  This means, in short, items without tax are for sale.  You are purchasing something with no duty to any place except for possible profit margins you are paying just the cost for the object.  I turn to you and Christianity as Un-duty Free.  We are saved and receive salvation in only two acts of faith.  The first, repentance of sin.  The words to repent or the act of repentance has come to have an extremely negative connotation.  However, this word's original Christian meaning, before it became so bastardized, was to turn from sin and to be of a new heart.  You shall no longer desire earthly desires and sinful nature would be disliked, dispised, and all words synonymous to that.  The second piece, to trust in Jesus Christ.  These are the cornerstones of our faith and not only an opinion.  This is biblical, and good thing too.  For I am merely man and can do nothing new under the sun.  I no longer have the task of reinvention.  Phew!  My point in this blog is to see how you know the matters of duty in Christianity.  We are called to make disciples.  I hear many say well I will do this by good acts.  Terrific!  However, if you were to deliver food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, shelter for the homeless, and mistake there needs to solely matters of planet Earth, they may never know Christ.  This can be seen as gimmicky, but I ask, 'where in the world would you have a negative experience with a gimmick that delivers to you the greatest life?'  Jesus says basically we cannot live on bread alone.  He is the bread of life.  Even without evangelizing (another word with negative connotation I know), even without preaching... we are not duty free so to speak.  We are called to make disciples and spread the gospel which literally means the good news!  How awful of us!  To deliver good news about our faith to share with others and not make false converts, but to show them we are salt and light of the earth. 

I'll wrap this up with a prayer for the day.  Lord, help me with my unbelief.  I love you and worship you with all my being.  Bring me to the place where I may find a relationship with you where I will be satisfying to you as you are to me.  Millions of blessings to everyone that reads this and who does not read this today.  God's will and not my own.  Bless Christ's work in your life.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

In the Arms of Christ

Today's journey, an expedition to uncovering self awareness.  How faulty I am!  Once, I thought I had all the answers.  Then, I realized I only have an instruction manual, but I have to still put the pieces together.  Arrogance can play out like leather armor, and how foolish to think one could leave battles unscathed with such a mild attempt of protection.  Glory to God for being an armor of streel, iron, and all heavy metals.  'I bring to you a new life,' I feel him say to me.  Thank you Father, Abba, Lord. 


My first posting, I will bring to you a semi introduction to the power of what faith I was given; a free gift, salvation, not deserved or earned, but given.  I thank you for reading this, and invite you back for more.  My goal: for you to have a learning of the faith marked by fish.  The Christian mark used by many to signal fellowship between it's members.  I bring you my heart on a platter... a trout, a bass, a striper.  I am a Christian.