One thought leads to another. My mind wanders and chases rabbits.
I was thinking about faith and what it means. Some equate ‘faith’ with doing good, being good. “I believe in God, therefore I will do good stuff. If I don’t do good stuff, God will get me, He will punish me, He will send me to hell.” We cower at the feet of God likes slaves trying to please a vicious task master. Or, we think of God (unconsciously) like an abusive husband whose wife feels like “he only beats me because I’m not good enough, so if I do better he’ll treat me better.” We can even quote scripture verses that back up our views of faith. He’s even portrayed that way by many churches. Eventually you realize that you’re not good enough, then you either give up and slip away, or surrender to playing ‘religious’ games and hope no one finds out what a hypocrite you are and hope maybe God will accept you in the end.
We’re told that “Without faith, it’s impossible to please Him. We must believe that He is, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” But we like to add, that He’s a punisher of those who don’t seek Him.
A thought came to me today. What do we place our faith in? We like to sing, “Jesus loves me this I know.” But how many actually believe that? How many actually believe that, “God so loved the world…?” Do we really believe that God loves us? Do we place our faith, hope, our lives on “God loves us?” Or do we place our faith in “God loves us if we’re good. God loves us if we’re religious. God loves us if we act ‘spiritual.’” We just don’t put faith in “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”
We don’t trust God’s love for us that all we have to do is walk through the door (Jesus) and we’re saved. We believe God’s love is conditional. We don’t believe that God’s love for us is not based on what we do.
God loves us. It’s such a simple concept, yet, so hard to grasp. It’s so freeing to know that when we are unlovable, God loves us anyway. He loved us so much He made the only sacrifice acceptable to cover our sins to make us acceptable to Him. We no longer have to strive to make ourselves acceptable because in Christ we are accepted. God’s love is not something I have to earn. God’s love is something all I need to do is accept. Faith is not about hoping just maybe I’ll obtain God’s favor if I’m good enough, or religious enough, or perfect enough. Faith is knowing that even if I’m not good enough, religious enough, or perfect God loves me anyway and He did it for me. He did it for you. Jesus died that we might have life. Our life is Christ.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
LOST DOGS!!!!!
If you didn't show up for the Lost Dogs Concert last night you missed quite the experience.
That was sooooooooooooooooo cool...
I know, not really deep....
But it was sooooooooooooooooooooooo cool!
LOST DOGS!!! Whoo hoo....Eleanor!!!!
That was sooooooooooooooooo cool...
I know, not really deep....
But it was sooooooooooooooooooooooo cool!
LOST DOGS!!! Whoo hoo....Eleanor!!!!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
More Thoughts I've Had
There was a saying that I once heard that I've kept...
Many things in the Bible I don't understand.
Many things in the Bible I only think I understand
But there are many things in the Bible I cannot misunderstand.
"Religious" people throughout the ages has either ignored, misquoted, misapplied, and misunderstand/misunderstood the Word of God...I'm guilty...but like the last part of that quote says, there are many things in the Bible that I cannot misunderstand. John 1:12...how can we misunderstand such a simple concept? John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:" Using God's word as the guideline...not everyone is a child of God...only those who received Him and believe in His name.
We are called to a relationship with God through Jesus. The more we learn about Jesus, the closer we get to God. I believe in listening to teachers of the Word, but like Acts 17:10,11 says:
Acts 17
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
We should receive the word with readiness, but also check scriptures out for ourselves whether what we are being told is true. Most people think that since "we don't have a degree" we should trust what the 'learned' people tell us. I believe God is bigger than degrees...sometimes degrees can be a hindrance to God. We get so caught up in how smart we are, we forget that God uses the simple things of the world to confound the wise. We doubt God, because someone "smarter" than us causes us to question what the word of God says. I don't "know it all." I don't claim to. I'm no smarter than you. You know me. But for me, it's not about me...It's about Jesus. Not how religious I can be. Religion is about trying to make myself better. I can't do it. But, as I trust Jesus on this journey I'm on, I find that He makes me better without me having to think about it.
The Word of God is not some daunting religious document meant only for scholars with letters to tell us what they say. The Word of God is a love letter to "those who believe" to "those who call on His Name." It is God's promises to us. It's His reminder to us of how much He loves us.
Oh, there is just so much to the depths of God's love, the simplicity of His Grace, that gets lost in the morass of religion.
If we think we are good enough because we've done our "religious duty" we miss the awesome love of God that was given to us by the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. If we think that God can loves us any more because we behave ourselves and follow all the rules, we miss the awesome love that God has for us.
As bad as I am, I know how much God loves me and I would not trade that for anything. His grace is sufficient for me...
Many things in the Bible I don't understand.
Many things in the Bible I only think I understand
But there are many things in the Bible I cannot misunderstand.
"Religious" people throughout the ages has either ignored, misquoted, misapplied, and misunderstand/misunderstood the Word of God...I'm guilty...but like the last part of that quote says, there are many things in the Bible that I cannot misunderstand. John 1:12...how can we misunderstand such a simple concept? John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:" Using God's word as the guideline...not everyone is a child of God...only those who received Him and believe in His name.
We are called to a relationship with God through Jesus. The more we learn about Jesus, the closer we get to God. I believe in listening to teachers of the Word, but like Acts 17:10,11 says:
Acts 17
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
We should receive the word with readiness, but also check scriptures out for ourselves whether what we are being told is true. Most people think that since "we don't have a degree" we should trust what the 'learned' people tell us. I believe God is bigger than degrees...sometimes degrees can be a hindrance to God. We get so caught up in how smart we are, we forget that God uses the simple things of the world to confound the wise. We doubt God, because someone "smarter" than us causes us to question what the word of God says. I don't "know it all." I don't claim to. I'm no smarter than you. You know me. But for me, it's not about me...It's about Jesus. Not how religious I can be. Religion is about trying to make myself better. I can't do it. But, as I trust Jesus on this journey I'm on, I find that He makes me better without me having to think about it.
The Word of God is not some daunting religious document meant only for scholars with letters to tell us what they say. The Word of God is a love letter to "those who believe" to "those who call on His Name." It is God's promises to us. It's His reminder to us of how much He loves us.
Oh, there is just so much to the depths of God's love, the simplicity of His Grace, that gets lost in the morass of religion.
If we think we are good enough because we've done our "religious duty" we miss the awesome love of God that was given to us by the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. If we think that God can loves us any more because we behave ourselves and follow all the rules, we miss the awesome love that God has for us.
As bad as I am, I know how much God loves me and I would not trade that for anything. His grace is sufficient for me...
Friday, July 6, 2007
In Christ Alone, I Find My Peace
Matthew 23:23-28
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
[Ye] blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
[Thou] blind Pharisee, cleanse first that [which is] within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Religious people (on the left and the right) are so concerned about what the outside looks or acts like, that they fail to realize that only Jesus can change a person where it matters – on the inside. Trying to talk about faith in Jesus and trusting in Him alone with a religious person is like speaking a foreign language. The religious always couple faith with works. If you aren’t “doing” the right things you aren’t ‘in Jesus.’ Or rather, if you are not doing things like they think they should be done, you are just not a “good” Christian. It’s all about appearance.
Religious people will turn on you if you don’t say things right, or don’t push for more rules. They will denounce you if you play ‘heathen’ rock music in church, or if you are friends with people they deem unworthy. They will turn their backs on you if you vote the ‘wrong’ way, or read the ‘wrong’ things. They will use threats of hell to bring you back in line. But Jesus has taken that threat away.
Hebrews 2:12-15
“Saying, I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
“And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
“And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
We are all unworthy. We are all sinners in need of THE Savior. That’s why Jesus died on the cross. He makes us acceptable. Nothing I could do will ever add to what Jesus did. Nothing I ever do will take Jesus’ love away from me.
Change comes from the inside to a heart that has called on the name of the Lord, to a heart that has been set free, for in Christ, you’re free indeed.
I’m just a simpleton, who chooses to simply believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one comes to the Father but by Him. In Christ alone I find my peace.
Keep up the gospel of peace Pastor James. Rock on Bro!
DJ GlenMC aka Glen McClead
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
[Ye] blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
[Thou] blind Pharisee, cleanse first that [which is] within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Religious people (on the left and the right) are so concerned about what the outside looks or acts like, that they fail to realize that only Jesus can change a person where it matters – on the inside. Trying to talk about faith in Jesus and trusting in Him alone with a religious person is like speaking a foreign language. The religious always couple faith with works. If you aren’t “doing” the right things you aren’t ‘in Jesus.’ Or rather, if you are not doing things like they think they should be done, you are just not a “good” Christian. It’s all about appearance.
Religious people will turn on you if you don’t say things right, or don’t push for more rules. They will denounce you if you play ‘heathen’ rock music in church, or if you are friends with people they deem unworthy. They will turn their backs on you if you vote the ‘wrong’ way, or read the ‘wrong’ things. They will use threats of hell to bring you back in line. But Jesus has taken that threat away.
Hebrews 2:12-15
“Saying, I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
“And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
“And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
We are all unworthy. We are all sinners in need of THE Savior. That’s why Jesus died on the cross. He makes us acceptable. Nothing I could do will ever add to what Jesus did. Nothing I ever do will take Jesus’ love away from me.
Change comes from the inside to a heart that has called on the name of the Lord, to a heart that has been set free, for in Christ, you’re free indeed.
I’m just a simpleton, who chooses to simply believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one comes to the Father but by Him. In Christ alone I find my peace.
Keep up the gospel of peace Pastor James. Rock on Bro!
DJ GlenMC aka Glen McClead
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
I Wonder
I started this blog, because I was thinking, "Hey, James is doing it. Why not start my own," and I thought that I would have all kinds of people stop by and comment...but JesusBMyKing reminded me it's not about receiving comments, but about sharing what God has put on my heart. If people chose to comment, cool, if not, cool too.
But to be honest, my human side wants to know as Pink Floyd would say..."IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?"
So feel free to comment. Feel free to not comment. In Jesus you are free.
Blessings and Grace,
Glen aka DJ GlenMC
But to be honest, my human side wants to know as Pink Floyd would say..."IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?"
So feel free to comment. Feel free to not comment. In Jesus you are free.
Blessings and Grace,
Glen aka DJ GlenMC
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