Church or Image Builder?

I heard my fiance mention in conversation the idea of the church just being an image builder. Something people put on their resume. This struck me as a sad state of affairs, it did her also. I have been thinking about this and wondering how true is this, especially here in America. Its all about an image our culture is very concerned about our images. We have to drive nice cars, have big houses, and so forth. So why would it be any different for our spiritual image. The problem in this is that an image can be build up very nicely without having any substance. I can look rich and play reach, but have no money and be maxed out on all my credit cards but my image is intact. This is easily done in church also. We can show up every week join the right bible study and do all the right things, but have our hearts changed? Do our hearts reflect the life we are leading? We need to let Jesus change our hearts. Because when we are squeezed our true selves will be revealed. I challenge you my readers to take a look at your image then to take a look at your heart. Do they match? Or are you live a lie within your own skin?

Open minded

Being open minded. I have come to the conclusion that the saying "be open minded" is the catch phrase of my perverse generation. I say this because no matter what the subject, no matter how disgusting, if one makes a negative comment about it they are viewed to be close minded. I consider myself to be relatively open minded. I will listen to what others have to say and decided then for myself whether to accept it or reject it. That is being open minded. Because I decide to listen and draw judgment does not make me close minded. For example I have heard arguments why abortion is ok. I disagree. But that does not make me close minded. I would be close minded if did not even listen to the other side. But to listen and to make a rational informed decision based on fact and ethics is not close minded it is INTEGRITY. I believe that someone that does not have a stance, does not have a platform on which they base their lives is irrational and foolhardy. You have to stand for something or you will fall for everything as it has been said. If you do not have a basis for your belief then you will let everything be permissible. There will be nothing safe nothing sacred. I challenge you my reader to not be caught in the catch phrase of this perverse generation and to make informed decisions. To have a stance on life. To have a world view. I suggest that of Jesus. But if you follow my advise you will look into it and any other world view you choose. And if you do God will show you the way. That much I do know.

Pax Americana

I was driving the other day and listening to talk radio. I had an interesting line of thought consume me as I listened and just thought. I was listening to the radio host as he spoke and as he read an article that talked about how America was spreading "its" form of democracy around the world. From this I began to think about the end times. I remember reading about how people believe that a form of the roman, something "Romanized" or if you will the Roman Empire would be reborn. This is one theory of the end times. I was thinking on this and thought that the United States is spreading democracy across the world. Good thing? Maybe? The Romans devised their government from the Greeks, they are credited with developing democracy. Now the Romans with all good intentions also started with democracy that ended in Imperialism. So my thoughts continued on this tangent. What if America spreading democracy across the world was in actuality setting the stage for Imperial conquest. What if our zeal for democracy is setting the stage for something so much bigger? I continued from this thought thinking how for Americans and those under a democracy how much more difficult it is for us to understand an all powerful God. When we have never known that in our lives. When we have never know an all powerful ruler where our say is not equally weighted. We all have a voice in democracy, but in the politics of heaven it is a hierarchy. From God down. It’s His rule. It is a concept that resonates with those that live under a system of government where one has absolute power. Those that live under a rule of one can understand the greatness and power of a righteous ruler, because they have seen the reality of this or the reality of the opposite, but I digress. I wonder where all this will lead. Will our manifest destiny eventual encompass the globe, and are we setting ourselves up to take a tremendous fall. Only the Lord knows. I certainly don’t, but it was an interesting thought as I drove down the road. It made the drive go faster. What do you think?

Pride

Sometimes I forget how much pride will really mess up your life. I have a tendency to be pride full especially when I think I'm being attacked. I have found out though that my reaction to that usually makes things much worse. If I would only humble myself like Jesus tells us I would avoid so much extra mess. I would still have to address the original issue, but at least I would not make it that much worse by adding fuel to the fire. I am thankful though that I have people to humble me and people to bring it to my attention. I am also thankful that God is so great that he allows me to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. He is there to help me master my life. And it all starts by surrendering my pride and all aspects of my life. It is a work and progress and again Praise God he allows us to be a work in progress. Well back to work.

Super Steeler

Being a Steelers fan I have been reading a lot about the up coming super bowl. And I do mean a lot. All the stupid little article on why this and why that. I was reading about my new favorite steeler Troy Polamalu. I have always been a steeler fan and will always be a steeler fan, but Troy Polamalu is not only a great football player but from what I can tell a great Christian man. I have read article were they quote him talking about Jesus and the importance of remaining loyal to your wife for the majority of his media day interviews. In another interview he states he does every thing with passion from playing football to reading the Bible to hanging with his wife. What a refreshing thing from pro sports when the thing we first thing of is that they are all thugs. I am proud to say that this man represents my team. My Steelers. Oh and not only that he prays between each play. He not only has impressed me with his talents, but now I see him as a man of faith to look up to. Most people would fold or just not talk about their love of Jesus in his place but he is laying it out there for all to see with no shame and with that same passion he plays with. Praise God for people like that. To have that venue to glorify God and he does with all that he does. I should hope we all would aspire to do the same.