Throwing Digital Stones

We all believe something. We have convictions about other things. But
there is a sad truth in all these; some of us don't know why we
believe what we believe.

This past weekend an article was published by Justin Taylor at The
Gospel Coalition. I was shocked at what was written. The article sets out to ask if Rob Bell is a Universalist. A Universalist believes that eventually,
everyone will be saved. As the article continues Taylor pronounces Rob
Bell a Universalists. Several Christians, some prominent like John
Piper, have began the digital stoning over this very dangerous belief. Equally disturbing is supporters of Rob Bell rushing to his defense.

While it seems like this should be an open and shut case. Bible says
"A" and Teacher says "B" so Teacher must be a Heretic. The problem is,
the book isn't out yet. We don't know what Rob Bell is teaching or
saying. The digital stoning started because of a clip written by the
publicist combined with the video where Rob Bell expresses that our
views of Heaven and Hell are essential to understanding God.

For what it's worth, I don't believe for a second Ghandi is in hell.
Nor do I believe Hitler is in hell. Wait for the other shoe to drop
and put down your digital stones down. Satan himself is not in hell,
at least not yet. Hell is what happens during eternity after judgment
for those without Christ as Lord and Savior. Hell is a prison for
Satan, not his command post and it's certainly not his kingdom…at
least that is what the Bible teaches.

Would love to hear your thoughts and discussion below!

all about Christ,
David

Time well spent?

"How we spend our days is, how we spend our lives." -Annie Dillard

Focus on yesterday, look back for just a moment. Grab a pen or pencil and a scrap piece of paper and go back through your day. Scribble down everything you can remember regarding how you spent your day, starting with the sound of the alarm lock or maybe you're like me and you're kicked by the foot of a three year old that snuck into your bed. Write out your day. I read about this exercise and tried it this week, it really opens your eyes to how one spends their life and puts James 4:14 into perspective.

Is yesterday reflective of how you're spending your life?

There is no such thing as saving time...it's only spent. How will you spend it?

Feel the Pain

I woke up with a migraine today. Hated it. Took some meeds to feel
better. Then I began to think about how much we want to kill pain. I'm
not just talking about something like a headache, but the pains of
life (finances, death, illness, persecution and so on). We want
everything to be fine. We want to be happy all the time. We don't want
pain. And you are probably asking, the problem with that is…

Have you ever heard of CIPA? It's a condition called Congenital
Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis. It affects close to 2 dozen
Americans…not many. For those who have it, they hate it. CIPA is the
inability to feel any nerve related sensations and that they cannot
sweat. Someone who cannot sense heat or cold or even know they need to
go to the bathroom. You can't feel heat…you may get burned. You can't
feel cold…you may experience hypothermia. You can't sweat…you may
experience a heat stroke.

Ever been eating food and bite your tongue. It hurts. Then a few
moments later, you bite it again. What if you didn't feel it the first
time? The damage that is caused when we can't experience pain is
deadly.

James 1:2-4 tells us that we should consider our trials, our pains,
all joy or pure joy. Pure joy? Yes, pure joy. The pains of this life
(not broken bones or hurt heads, but broken lives and hurt hearts) are
there for a reason and a purpose. No addiction will kill those pains.
Only God will allow you to recover from the pain. He is the medicine
we need. When you have pains, and you will, consider it pure joy
because your faith is being developed as you trust in God.

all about Christ,
David

Spur

One of the things David and I would like to do through this blog is Spur you to love and good deeds, simply applying Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider how we may spur one another toward love and good deeds."

A few thoughts about spurs...

• Spurs make a horse advance, moving to a place it may not want to go, or something it may not want to do. Many times you and I need that push or encouragement to advance to go and love when we may not want to.
• Spurs are to back up the natural aids (the leg, seat, hands and voice) used to control a horse. Sometimes love and good deeds just come natural and other times a spur is needed when the norm it's effective.
• Spurs are not to hurt, but to transmit a signal. Spurring and encourangement should not be used to guilt others, but to trnsmit the signal we must be about loving others and serving them.
• Spurs aren't used by novice riders, one must know how to handle a galloping horse. You must know how to spur and encouage people and the key is knowing who's life you can speak into and challenge and who's you cannot.
• Lastly just for fun..."Don't squat with your spurs on" Will Rogers.

Today, my challenge to you before the sun goes down and you ride off into the sunset seek to love and serve others...Spur.

Inspired to write this from blog http://www.morethandodgeball.com/ post written by Joseph Robinson.

What is Love?

Valentines is a day when thoughts are turned to love. But what is love? Just last night the Grammys were on and I saw on my Twitter feed that people “loved” this performance or that outfit. Tonight, I plan on making a dinner for my wife that she will hopefully “love”. While those may be types of “love”, there is more to “love” than the things we hear, see and eat.

The Scriptures tell us that we are to love our neighbor (Mark 12:31) and that we are to love our enemies (Luke 6:35). As we love our neighbor and our enemies our love must be sincere (Romans 12:9). And we are told the greatest example of love is seen in sacrifice, specifically the sacrifice of Christ for us (1 John 3:16-18).

And I think the last verse I mentioned is where there answer is. Love is not a feeling, or something we fall into. Love is giving. Love is intentional. Love is active. Love is truthful.


Happy Valentines, now go show real love.


all about Christ,
David

P.S. When you read the title did you start bobbing your head a little and singing?

It's not just for you...

Ever wonder why are you so creative, why you got the creative gift from God? Obviously it's so you can innovate and create, right? Or maybe your finances are surprisingly strong in this weak economy, you excel in money manners, you've always been blessed to be an entrepreneur.  Possibly you have the leadership gift and people just seem to follow you and believe in your vision.

Why? Why does God give us these gifts, these blessings? We know to advance and help us, right?  But you need to realize this...It's not just for you. 

God tells Abraham in Genesis 12:2 " I will bless you...and you will be a blessing." God blesses, then we bless others. We are blessed to be a blessing to others...

Your creativity...is not just for you.
Your finances, your entrepreneurship...is not just for you.
The leadership God has blessed you with...is not just for you.

What has God blessed you with that you can blessed other with? 

You are blessed to be a blessing to others...

If you want to be challenged more regarding this topic I recommend a book my friend Andy Martin gifted to me on missions and subject...Unveiled at Last by Bob Sjogren

Blessings and Gifts

When is the last time you were blessed by God? I mean really, really BLESSED. Warning, I'm setting you up. I'm very guilty of this myself, so it's not just you. I saw a tweet post about being incredibly blessed the other day by someone who had received something. Maybe it was just the wording, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. I know nothing of the situation they were talking about, but it got me thinking. I tend to only think about God's blessings when it is in connection with something I want. I have a hunch I'm not alone in this.

God doesn't simply give us the things we want or think we need. God gives us what He knows we need. Sometimes His gifts and our wants/needs line up, sometimes they don't. When they line up we say, we are blessed. When they don't line up, we tend to overlook the blessing. Think about the gifts God gives. James 1:17 tells us He only gives the good and perfect gifts. We see those as blessings, funny thing though, they aren't called blessings…they are called gifts.

I got to thinking about the blessings mentioned in Matthew 5:2-12. I'm not simply blessed because I receive something from God, but I'm blessed, when my motives are pure. When I have a pure heart I get to see God! Talk about being incredibly blessed! And that's just one of the many blessings talked about in the scriptures.

The final thought I had was this, we all want to be blessed. Right? So look at a text like Matthew 5:2-12 and realize that we can be blessed by living for God, not just by receiving from God.

all about Christ,
David

The best movie I saw in 2010...

The best movie I saw in 2010 was Inception by Christopher Nolan. I love watching movies just to watch and join in the story. But I also love to watch and see how we can find redemptive themes movies, leveraging culture for the Kingdom.  

As I watched Inception, I thought it was interesting in the movie that each character carries a "totem" a marker or reminder to reality to mark what is real and what is a dream. Cobb carries the famous spinning top, Ariadne a golden chess piece, Arthur a weighted die and Eames a poker chip. 

For the Christian, everyday is filled with totems that point directly to God and to truth. From the sunrise this morning to the star lit sky tonight, from the simplest to the most complex, people in and around our lives, to moments and experiences, all totems reminding us of God. Psalm 19:1-4 tells us even creation reminds us, without speaking a word.   

Maybe it's time we "wake up"...and see the totems all around us.

What’s your choice for the best movie of 2010? Click on comments to share…