I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
How 'bout you?
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Whats Your Stew?
Just half a thought here but I was wondering whats your bowl of stew? Don't answer me just think about it to yourself.
Read the story of Esau and Jacob... its in the Bible!
Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew - now that seems kind of stupid, and quite frankly it was. But thats what happens when you let you life be led by your hungers. Esau was hungry and he wanted food, in order to get the short term satisfaction of eating his soup he gave up the long term benefits of his birthright. Had Esau taken the time to carefully weigh the consequences of his actions do you really think he would have given up his birthright for soup? Probably not!
Esau gave up his God given blessing in order to fill his belly. So I ask you - what are you giving up in order to enjoy life a little more now?
Seriously think about it, we live in a society that is plagued by short term satisfaction. Credit Cards, fast food, and swiffer wet jet's have all taught us two things - have whatever you want now, and don't worry about paying for it later that will take care of itself. What is the result of this instant everything attitude? We have a society where people pay little if any attention to the consequences of there actions. People rack up huge debt buy things they don't need because they have been taught that if they arn't buying then they arn't happy. People are getting fat, eating crappy food, not because it tastes good or is cheap, its instantly available. People spend money buying time saving gadgets thinking it will make life easier - and all they do is waste their money.
Who ever said that you have to have a swiffer, yet most people have given into the craze and bought one (I'm a cheap German boy... I bought a knock off!). But think about it, how much more does it cost to own a swiffer verses a broom? It might not be that big of a deal to own a swiffer if you didn't have to continually buy more of those stupid pads. Now I have a knock off swiffer and no pads with which to use it.
I know its hard to do but if we as a people were to stop and think about the consequences of our actions in my opinion we would be financially freer, a little bit thinner, have a lot less guilt, and a lot more happiness.
Read the story of Esau and Jacob... its in the Bible!
Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew - now that seems kind of stupid, and quite frankly it was. But thats what happens when you let you life be led by your hungers. Esau was hungry and he wanted food, in order to get the short term satisfaction of eating his soup he gave up the long term benefits of his birthright. Had Esau taken the time to carefully weigh the consequences of his actions do you really think he would have given up his birthright for soup? Probably not!
Esau gave up his God given blessing in order to fill his belly. So I ask you - what are you giving up in order to enjoy life a little more now?
Seriously think about it, we live in a society that is plagued by short term satisfaction. Credit Cards, fast food, and swiffer wet jet's have all taught us two things - have whatever you want now, and don't worry about paying for it later that will take care of itself. What is the result of this instant everything attitude? We have a society where people pay little if any attention to the consequences of there actions. People rack up huge debt buy things they don't need because they have been taught that if they arn't buying then they arn't happy. People are getting fat, eating crappy food, not because it tastes good or is cheap, its instantly available. People spend money buying time saving gadgets thinking it will make life easier - and all they do is waste their money.
Who ever said that you have to have a swiffer, yet most people have given into the craze and bought one (I'm a cheap German boy... I bought a knock off!). But think about it, how much more does it cost to own a swiffer verses a broom? It might not be that big of a deal to own a swiffer if you didn't have to continually buy more of those stupid pads. Now I have a knock off swiffer and no pads with which to use it.
I know its hard to do but if we as a people were to stop and think about the consequences of our actions in my opinion we would be financially freer, a little bit thinner, have a lot less guilt, and a lot more happiness.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
I have been thinking, and reading, and praying, and listening for the past little while, and I think that God has told me something...
Do you ever look throught the book of Acts and underline some of your favorite passages about what the early church was like? I DO! A good chunk of Acts in my Bible is highlighted, with lots of little notes on how we need to be a strong community that meets daily, breaks bread together, shares possesions, worships constantly, is filled with the Spirit, performs miracles...
I was reading Acts the other day. While I was reading and dreaming what it would have been like, I looked down at the pages and saw all of my highlighted passages, and then it was like God came and highlighted a bunch of other passages. So I read some of the passages He underlined they were the ones where John and Peter were out preaching to the masses, despite opposition, the ones where Philip was preaching everywhere and everywhere he went, or when Stephen was preaching and teaching so much that the religious leaders killed him. Then theres Paul, the guy never shut up!!
Here I have been wanting to have a more Biblical church all these years, but what have I been doing to get it? Not enough, not when you compare it to what the apostles were doing.
I felt God saying to me that real church takes real work, you cant just open the door and pray for the lost to find there way in, that's why we call them "lost". It takes someone going out there, in the world, the mall, at work, at school, talking to people, talking to people about God and what is going to happen to them when they die.
Is is scarry? Yes, I found out first hand monday. I never thought in my whole life that I would think it is easier to speak in front of three hundred people than it is to speak to one stranger. But you know what by the end of the evening it was fun, and some of the people we talked to were really awesome and we laughed and really made a difference in there lives. Other people litterally ran away from us and tripped over furniture. Nobody yelled at us, nobody got mad, most people were very polite, and even thankful. I can't wait to get out there and do this again, and get better at it.
How is the church supposed to grow if we arn't out in the world showing the lost how to find their way inside the front door?
Do you ever look throught the book of Acts and underline some of your favorite passages about what the early church was like? I DO! A good chunk of Acts in my Bible is highlighted, with lots of little notes on how we need to be a strong community that meets daily, breaks bread together, shares possesions, worships constantly, is filled with the Spirit, performs miracles...
I was reading Acts the other day. While I was reading and dreaming what it would have been like, I looked down at the pages and saw all of my highlighted passages, and then it was like God came and highlighted a bunch of other passages. So I read some of the passages He underlined they were the ones where John and Peter were out preaching to the masses, despite opposition, the ones where Philip was preaching everywhere and everywhere he went, or when Stephen was preaching and teaching so much that the religious leaders killed him. Then theres Paul, the guy never shut up!!
Here I have been wanting to have a more Biblical church all these years, but what have I been doing to get it? Not enough, not when you compare it to what the apostles were doing.
I felt God saying to me that real church takes real work, you cant just open the door and pray for the lost to find there way in, that's why we call them "lost". It takes someone going out there, in the world, the mall, at work, at school, talking to people, talking to people about God and what is going to happen to them when they die.
Is is scarry? Yes, I found out first hand monday. I never thought in my whole life that I would think it is easier to speak in front of three hundred people than it is to speak to one stranger. But you know what by the end of the evening it was fun, and some of the people we talked to were really awesome and we laughed and really made a difference in there lives. Other people litterally ran away from us and tripped over furniture. Nobody yelled at us, nobody got mad, most people were very polite, and even thankful. I can't wait to get out there and do this again, and get better at it.
How is the church supposed to grow if we arn't out in the world showing the lost how to find their way inside the front door?
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