In a recent book, evangelical pollster George Barna describes a new type of Christian whom he (positively) calls Revolutionaries. Barna describes them as "born-again Christians who had eliminated church life from their busy schedules. " He writes that the life of a Revolutionary Christian "reflects the very ideals and principles that characterized the life and purpose of Jesus Christ and that advances the Kingdom of God-despite the fact that [a Revolutionary Christian] rarely attends church services. " Barna thinks this type of Revolutionary Christian "is typical of a new breed of disciples of Jesus Christ."
How should we respond to proposals like this? How important is the local church in the plan of God? And when we talk about "the church," what exactly do we mean--and why should we care?
12/29/07
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. -- James 3:16
What are your goals and plans for the New Year? Do you have great dreams and laudable goals? I hope so. But, please join me as I seriously look at why I set the goals I do and make the plans I make. In the afterglow of Christmas, that great season of giving, let's make sure our plans for the future are not selfish or based on envy, lust, or greed. Instead, let's set our hearts to reach great heights for God's glory and to do great things to be a blessing to others. Otherwise, all our attempts to reach great things ultimately will end in chaos, heartbreak, and destruction.
Heartlight
12/28/07
12/27/07
When you really see Jesus, I defy you to doubt Him. When He says - "Let not your heart be troubled," if you see Him I defy you to trouble your mind, it is a moral impossibility to doubt when He is there. Every time you get into personal contact with Jesus, His words are real. "My peace I give unto you," it is a peace all over from the crown of the head to the sole of the feet, an irrepressible confidence. "Your life is hid with Christ in God," and the imperturbable peace of Jesus Christ is imparted to you. - Oswald Chambers
12/26/07
The Christmas eve service at my church was beautiful. Several men read from scripture about Christ's birth. On the way home, I was thinking how much I love to hear scripture - how much I love the Bible. It was then I heard God whisper, "Yes, but do you love Me?" What? Of course I love God. I devote all my heart, soul, and strength to Him. But I knew that wasn't what He was really asking me.
We can become fascinated with the beauty and wonders of the Bible. The Book is full of great truths of theology and principals for living. Even the style and structure of scripture is captivating. I knew I often thrived on an ability to explain the Bible to others, to sort out the doctrines, and to apply it's principals for those who need direction. But in this enthusiasm for exploring scripture and seeking all these treasures am I missing the treasure: God Himself. In the process of mastering the Book am I missing the Person?
There is nothing wrong with going to the Bible for wisdom, direction, comfort, or theology. The Bible openly advertises it's practical benefits as "teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16). But there is something more - something even better than the timeless truths. Second Timothy 3:16 also says, "All scripture is God-breathed." As we read the Bible we can feel Him near us. We can hear Him speak to us. And often, this encounter with God is what we need the most.
We can become fascinated with the beauty and wonders of the Bible. The Book is full of great truths of theology and principals for living. Even the style and structure of scripture is captivating. I knew I often thrived on an ability to explain the Bible to others, to sort out the doctrines, and to apply it's principals for those who need direction. But in this enthusiasm for exploring scripture and seeking all these treasures am I missing the treasure: God Himself. In the process of mastering the Book am I missing the Person?
There is nothing wrong with going to the Bible for wisdom, direction, comfort, or theology. The Bible openly advertises it's practical benefits as "teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16). But there is something more - something even better than the timeless truths. Second Timothy 3:16 also says, "All scripture is God-breathed." As we read the Bible we can feel Him near us. We can hear Him speak to us. And often, this encounter with God is what we need the most.
In his 1952 novel about the Black experience in America, Ralph Ellison begins with these words:
I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids -- and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me. When they approach me, they see only my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination -- indeed, everything and anything except me.
Is it possible for us to love the people that we don’t see?
I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids -- and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me. When they approach me, they see only my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination -- indeed, everything and anything except me.
Is it possible for us to love the people that we don’t see?
12/25/07
12/24/07
12/23/07
12/22/07
12/20/07
Charlotte Elliott learned an important lesson about Jesus one sleepless night in 1834. She was an invalid, so when her family held a bazaar in Brighton, England, to raise money to build a school, she could only watch from afar.
That night she was overwhelmed by her helplessness and could not sleep. But her sadness turned to joy when she realized that God accepted her just as she was.
Her experience inspired these well-loved words: "Just as I am, without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!" When she published the poem in The Invalid's Hymn Book, she included with it John 6:37.
Jesus always accepts people as they are. In John 6, the people had come from miles around to hear Jesus. When the crowd became hungry, He miraculously fed them with a boy's unselfish gift of five loaves and two fish. Then the Lord offered Himself as "the bread of life," promising that He would not turn away anyone who came to Him.
It's still true today. No one who comes to Jesus will be turned away. Come to Him with all your sin. He'll accept you just as you are.
- David Egner
That night she was overwhelmed by her helplessness and could not sleep. But her sadness turned to joy when she realized that God accepted her just as she was.
Her experience inspired these well-loved words: "Just as I am, without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!" When she published the poem in The Invalid's Hymn Book, she included with it John 6:37.
Jesus always accepts people as they are. In John 6, the people had come from miles around to hear Jesus. When the crowd became hungry, He miraculously fed them with a boy's unselfish gift of five loaves and two fish. Then the Lord offered Himself as "the bread of life," promising that He would not turn away anyone who came to Him.
It's still true today. No one who comes to Jesus will be turned away. Come to Him with all your sin. He'll accept you just as you are.
- David Egner
12/19/07
12/18/07
Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951) was one of the most loved and most effective Bible teachers of the early 20th century. According to a close friend, Ironside devoted the first hour of every day to Bible study and prayer. It was his "morning watch," as he put it, and a necessary part of every day.
On one occasion when Ironside was lecturing at a seminary, a student came to him and said, "Dr. Ironside, I understand that you get up early every morning to read and study your Bible."
"Oh, I've been doing it ever since I became a Christian," he replied. "Well, how do you manage to do it?" the student asked. "Do you pray about it?" "No," Ironside said. "I get up."
Ironside knew that his spiritual life depended on a regular time in the Word of God. He didn't need to ask God if he should do it, or to give him the desire to do it. He regarded this discipline as absolutely necessary in the development of his spiritual life and his influence on others. He couldn't get along without it.
The psalmist wrote, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). Do we realize how much we need the light of God's Word each day? Are we developing the habit of reading it regularly? How do we expect to hear from God if we are not reading His message to us?
- ODB
On one occasion when Ironside was lecturing at a seminary, a student came to him and said, "Dr. Ironside, I understand that you get up early every morning to read and study your Bible."
"Oh, I've been doing it ever since I became a Christian," he replied. "Well, how do you manage to do it?" the student asked. "Do you pray about it?" "No," Ironside said. "I get up."
Ironside knew that his spiritual life depended on a regular time in the Word of God. He didn't need to ask God if he should do it, or to give him the desire to do it. He regarded this discipline as absolutely necessary in the development of his spiritual life and his influence on others. He couldn't get along without it.
The psalmist wrote, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). Do we realize how much we need the light of God's Word each day? Are we developing the habit of reading it regularly? How do we expect to hear from God if we are not reading His message to us?
- ODB
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