Friday, June 10, 2011

It's not about you.

Suppose you are an extra in an upcoming movie. You will probably scrutinize that one scene where hundreds of people are milling around, just waiting for that two-fifths of a second when you can see the back of your head. Maybe your mom and your closest friend get excited about that two-fifths of a second with you....maybe. But no one else will realize it is you. Even if you tell them, they won't care.

Let's take it a step further. What if you rent out the theater on opening night and invite all your friends and family to come see the new movie about you? People will say, "You're an idiot! How could you think this movie is about you?

Many Christians are even more delusional than the person I've been describing. So many of us think and live like the movie of life is all about us. (From "Crazy Love", by Francis Chan)

Thursday, June 9, 2011

"I find it interesting that in Acts 11, at the end of verse 26 it says, "The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch". What I find interesting is the simple thought that the Christians didn't name themselves. But rather, they were called (or named) Christians by those watching their lives. I wonder if it would be the same today. Could someone look at your life or look at my life and name me a Christian? A humbling question for sure." From Crazy Love, by Francis Chan

I love this quote. They didn't name themselves, but were named that because of the way they lived. Today, however, we DO name ourselves Christians when we accept Jesus. Then, it becomes our responsibility to live our lives in such a way that we reflect the proper attitude for a Christian. And you know what the world is watching? How we love. Not how many times we go to church, not if we obey all the rules (shoot, most don't even know what the rules are), not even how many committees and "teams" we are on at Church. Just simply, how we love.

I can't wait to read this book. That was just in the Foreword. What nuggets of truth God must have for me in the rest of the book.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Why can't she go to Church?

Anyone in the Waco area has heard all the hoopla about a new burger establishment here called "Fat Ho Burgers". Now, I haven't been there, but I've heard it's a really good burger. The only reason I haven't gone is that it is across town for me, and I hear the line stretches out the door. That's a little much for my one-hour lunch time. But, it has nothing to do with the name.

Now, I don't approve of the name. I think they did it for the shock value, and they have certainly gotten that, but they were in the news today because someone stole their sign, and that's where my anger started bubbling up.

The owner's Mom was on the news talking about the hate mail her daughter has received, and that, even though she, (the Mom) is a pastor, she is not welcome in some churches because of her daughter's busines. WHAT??????

Let me repeat that, just in case you didn't get it. Ms. Ho's Mom is not welcome in some churches because of her daughter's business?

Come on, Christians! What is the second commandment Jesus gave us? LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF! Not love your church more than people. Not love your view of holiness more than people. Not love your reputation more than people. Not love the rules more than people. Not love anything, even yourself, more than people! There is only one other thing that we are to love more than people, and that is GOD! And, God is love, so we are to love. His word even tells us that if we pretend to love others, then we are liars. And forgive me, but if we tell others they are not welcome in church because of something they did, or something their family did, we are not being loving people.

WAKE UP, CHRISTIANS!