Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
L is for Law/Love/Liverpool
Yeah I know. Why 3?
First the law. I posted a couple of weeks ago a blog titled something along the lines of “The Gospel Oversimplified.” Talked about the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve thinking they could decide what was right and wrong. They failed.
Years later we are given the same choice as they were given in the Garden. Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Religion) or the Tree of Life (Faith in Christ). What does religion promise? (Any religion) If you do what we tell you to do, you will be acceptable to our god. (What did the serpent promise in the garden? If you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will be like god.) What did Jesus tell us? “I am the Way, The Truth and The Life. No man comes to the Father, but by Me.” So now the choice is Faith in our good works or Faith in Christ. Works or Christ.
Which brings us to the second word, Love. After Jesus said, “There is none good but God,” He then went on to say that the greatest commandment was to Love God with all your heart, mind, body and soul. The second greatest was to love your neighbor as yourself. “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” If we say we have faith in Christ, then according to Christ, everything is tied up in Love. Jesus was critical of the religious leaders of his day because they would profess God with their lips, “but their hearts were far from me.” He also said they knew the law, but they didn’t know the Spirit behind the law. Just because we know that law, doesn’t mean we know the Lord.
Finally, the last word, Liverpool. Birth place of the Beatles. Also, who wants to jump into a pool filled with liver…LOL…Has nothing to do with anything...
Until another day.
Be blessed. Be a blessing.
DJ GlenMC
First the law. I posted a couple of weeks ago a blog titled something along the lines of “The Gospel Oversimplified.” Talked about the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve thinking they could decide what was right and wrong. They failed.
Years later we are given the same choice as they were given in the Garden. Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Religion) or the Tree of Life (Faith in Christ). What does religion promise? (Any religion) If you do what we tell you to do, you will be acceptable to our god. (What did the serpent promise in the garden? If you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will be like god.) What did Jesus tell us? “I am the Way, The Truth and The Life. No man comes to the Father, but by Me.” So now the choice is Faith in our good works or Faith in Christ. Works or Christ.
Which brings us to the second word, Love. After Jesus said, “There is none good but God,” He then went on to say that the greatest commandment was to Love God with all your heart, mind, body and soul. The second greatest was to love your neighbor as yourself. “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” If we say we have faith in Christ, then according to Christ, everything is tied up in Love. Jesus was critical of the religious leaders of his day because they would profess God with their lips, “but their hearts were far from me.” He also said they knew the law, but they didn’t know the Spirit behind the law. Just because we know that law, doesn’t mean we know the Lord.
Finally, the last word, Liverpool. Birth place of the Beatles. Also, who wants to jump into a pool filled with liver…LOL…Has nothing to do with anything...
Until another day.
Be blessed. Be a blessing.
DJ GlenMC
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
K is for Kindness
In this day and age kindness is a rare quality. We seem to live in a ‘every man for himself’ attitude. Simple acts like paying for someone’s meal or offering someone a ride or just a simple smile to a stranger are becoming rare.
I saw a bumper sticker once that said, ‘Smile. It makes people wonder what you’re up to.’ Simply offering to help someone is questioned. We have bred cynics. We live with distrust. We don’t take anyone at their word anymore, because we don’t trust anyone.
There are plenty of kind people. We just don’t trust most of them. Business people who are only nice because it affects their bottom line or religious people who are nice because they want to ‘convert’ you to their point of view all add to the age of distrust.
We should remember that “Love is Kind.” In Christ, kindness is a fruit of the spirit. It becomes a part of who we are in Christ. It should flow, not because it affects our bottom line, or because it means someone will be more receptive to ‘our message.’ It should be a part of who we are because it is who we are in Christ.
Start with a smile to a stranger. Maybe say something nice to someone you particularly don’t like. If they say something stupid of mean in return, just smile and walk away.
Be blessed, be a blessing.
DJ GlenMC
I saw a bumper sticker once that said, ‘Smile. It makes people wonder what you’re up to.’ Simply offering to help someone is questioned. We have bred cynics. We live with distrust. We don’t take anyone at their word anymore, because we don’t trust anyone.
There are plenty of kind people. We just don’t trust most of them. Business people who are only nice because it affects their bottom line or religious people who are nice because they want to ‘convert’ you to their point of view all add to the age of distrust.
We should remember that “Love is Kind.” In Christ, kindness is a fruit of the spirit. It becomes a part of who we are in Christ. It should flow, not because it affects our bottom line, or because it means someone will be more receptive to ‘our message.’ It should be a part of who we are because it is who we are in Christ.
Start with a smile to a stranger. Maybe say something nice to someone you particularly don’t like. If they say something stupid of mean in return, just smile and walk away.
Be blessed, be a blessing.
DJ GlenMC
Monday, April 12, 2010
H is for Habbakuk
Thought I would backtrack a letter or two since I'm just now jumping into this fray.
Habbakuk was ticked at God. "Why God are you punishing Israel with a people that are a WHOLE LOT worse than we are?" (Don't we do that, take pride in ourselves and think we don't deserve what we are getting? I once heard someone say, "Why do bad things happen to good people, is not the question to ask. The question to ask is why do good things happen to bad people?" Did not Jesus say, "There is none good but God.")
Okay back to Habbakuk. He asked his question then went up on a tall tower to wait on God. (Sometimes we need to wait. "They that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength...")
God shows up and says, "Habbakuk, I want you do something for me."
"What God?"
"I want you to make me a sign so big people that come by this tower can read it." (Basically the first Billboard)
"Okay God. What should it say?"
"I want it to say...THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
"Okay."
Then God went on to explain, that it was He who raised up the people who would punish Israel. It was He that would deal with them when He deemed the time was right.
We, as a people, need to LIVE BY FAITH. Trust Him when we don't want to. Hold fast to Him when we want to let go. LET HIM LOVE US.
Okay...enough of my ponderings for today...
Tomorrow is K...
Until then...Blessings and Grace,
DJ GlenMC
Habbakuk was ticked at God. "Why God are you punishing Israel with a people that are a WHOLE LOT worse than we are?" (Don't we do that, take pride in ourselves and think we don't deserve what we are getting? I once heard someone say, "Why do bad things happen to good people, is not the question to ask. The question to ask is why do good things happen to bad people?" Did not Jesus say, "There is none good but God.")
Okay back to Habbakuk. He asked his question then went up on a tall tower to wait on God. (Sometimes we need to wait. "They that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength...")
God shows up and says, "Habbakuk, I want you do something for me."
"What God?"
"I want you to make me a sign so big people that come by this tower can read it." (Basically the first Billboard)
"Okay God. What should it say?"
"I want it to say...THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
"Okay."
Then God went on to explain, that it was He who raised up the people who would punish Israel. It was He that would deal with them when He deemed the time was right.
We, as a people, need to LIVE BY FAITH. Trust Him when we don't want to. Hold fast to Him when we want to let go. LET HIM LOVE US.
Okay...enough of my ponderings for today...
Tomorrow is K...
Until then...Blessings and Grace,
DJ GlenMC
J is for Jesus...whoohoo...2 days in a row for me!!
Since I jumped into this alphabet soup a little late J was kind of an easy letter for me. If you’ve ever read any of my earlier posts you would know that and would think to yourself, “You don’t say, Mr. Obvious.”
Jesus is what I would consider is the most misunderstood, misused, misinterpreted, misrepresented, yet, the most important figure I can think of. Do I know it all and have Him figured out completely? Oh heavens no. I’m of the mind like the old hymn “Amazing Grace,” “When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we’ve first begun.” Why is that? Because, after 10,000 years, we still won’t have God figured out.
I heard a saying once that said, “If you think you’ve got God figured out, your god is too small.” But what I do know is this, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him (puts their faith and trust in Him) shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
I believe that God is Love. I also believe that Jesus is God incarnate, or “God in the flesh.” Therefore I also believe that Jesus is the very embodiment of Love. Foreigner once sang, “I wanna know what love is.” Look to Jesus.
Which leads me to one of my “I wonder sometimes” moments, there is a scripture verse that states, “Having a form of godliness, but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Tim 3:5) These are the same people that are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” and 2 Tim 3:7. Are these people who claim to love but have ulterior motives? Paul gives Timothy a good idea of who these people are at the beginning of the chapter. These people cover a wide range of people from the religious to the anti-religious, to the politicians to the business community. “If you say you love God and hate your brother, you’re a liar.” Simple statement. Love is the greatest of these. Not personal gain. Not position or power.
So much to say and share, so little brain power…LOL…
Until K.
Jesus is what I would consider is the most misunderstood, misused, misinterpreted, misrepresented, yet, the most important figure I can think of. Do I know it all and have Him figured out completely? Oh heavens no. I’m of the mind like the old hymn “Amazing Grace,” “When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we’ve first begun.” Why is that? Because, after 10,000 years, we still won’t have God figured out.
I heard a saying once that said, “If you think you’ve got God figured out, your god is too small.” But what I do know is this, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him (puts their faith and trust in Him) shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
I believe that God is Love. I also believe that Jesus is God incarnate, or “God in the flesh.” Therefore I also believe that Jesus is the very embodiment of Love. Foreigner once sang, “I wanna know what love is.” Look to Jesus.
Which leads me to one of my “I wonder sometimes” moments, there is a scripture verse that states, “Having a form of godliness, but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Tim 3:5) These are the same people that are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” and 2 Tim 3:7. Are these people who claim to love but have ulterior motives? Paul gives Timothy a good idea of who these people are at the beginning of the chapter. These people cover a wide range of people from the religious to the anti-religious, to the politicians to the business community. “If you say you love God and hate your brother, you’re a liar.” Simple statement. Love is the greatest of these. Not personal gain. Not position or power.
So much to say and share, so little brain power…LOL…
Until K.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
I is for Incredible ...just for Arlee
Saw the Air Force Thunderbirds today...
Incredible group of flier...
They were Incredible.
Blessings to everyone of our service people who serve this country...
May God bless you and keep you and may His face shine upon you.
DJ GlenMC
Friday, April 9, 2010
I Wonder Sometimes...
I posted on Facebook about a week ago that I “wonder sometimes.” There is so much implied in that. What do I wonder about? Why just ‘sometimes?’
I wonder sometimes about people who are ‘Christians’ who claim to believe that “God so loved the world,” then proceed to tell the world that God hates them. Then I remember that Jesus looked down from the cross and said, “Father forgive them. They know not what they do.”
I wonder sometimes about people who claim there is no God and then claim to have the evidence to prove that evolution is ‘true.’ But when I read about the ‘evidence’ there are always clarifying statements like ‘scientists believe that’ or ‘they think.’ But I can say that “I believe the clouds are made of cheese,” but it doesn’t make it true. I always think of simple questions like, “If man evolved didn’t a woman have to evolve at the same time, in the same stages so that he could reproduce another one?” And, “If man evolved, didn’t a food or energy source have to evolve at the same time?” Then I remember that “God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.”
Then I wonder sometimes why people hated Jesus so much. Then I realize that Jesus strips away all pretense of pride. Jesus freely loved anyone (not this modern day definition of ‘love.’) “For God so loved the world…” He was willing to forgive anyone that would believe in Him with their hearts. Jesus could see right into the heart of everyone. He once noted that the religious leaders professed God with their mouths but their hearts were far from Him.
Jesus died on the cross for the whole world. He looked down from the cross on the whole world and said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Steve Camp wrote a song that said, “Don’t tell them Jesus loves them, til you’re ready to love them too.” Jesus declared that “They will know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another.” “If you say you love God and hate your brother, you’re a liar.”
Disciples are teachable not dogmatic. Disciples love when self says, ‘hate.’ Disciples love whether a person’s a right-winger or liberal. Disciples love whether a person’s rich or poor.
I wonder sometimes…
I wonder sometimes about people who are ‘Christians’ who claim to believe that “God so loved the world,” then proceed to tell the world that God hates them. Then I remember that Jesus looked down from the cross and said, “Father forgive them. They know not what they do.”
I wonder sometimes about people who claim there is no God and then claim to have the evidence to prove that evolution is ‘true.’ But when I read about the ‘evidence’ there are always clarifying statements like ‘scientists believe that’ or ‘they think.’ But I can say that “I believe the clouds are made of cheese,” but it doesn’t make it true. I always think of simple questions like, “If man evolved didn’t a woman have to evolve at the same time, in the same stages so that he could reproduce another one?” And, “If man evolved, didn’t a food or energy source have to evolve at the same time?” Then I remember that “God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.”
Then I wonder sometimes why people hated Jesus so much. Then I realize that Jesus strips away all pretense of pride. Jesus freely loved anyone (not this modern day definition of ‘love.’) “For God so loved the world…” He was willing to forgive anyone that would believe in Him with their hearts. Jesus could see right into the heart of everyone. He once noted that the religious leaders professed God with their mouths but their hearts were far from Him.
Jesus died on the cross for the whole world. He looked down from the cross on the whole world and said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Steve Camp wrote a song that said, “Don’t tell them Jesus loves them, til you’re ready to love them too.” Jesus declared that “They will know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another.” “If you say you love God and hate your brother, you’re a liar.”
Disciples are teachable not dogmatic. Disciples love when self says, ‘hate.’ Disciples love whether a person’s a right-winger or liberal. Disciples love whether a person’s rich or poor.
I wonder sometimes…
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