what I think I thought…

Hard to believe it

Reading through Ezekiel 18 this morning.

There are a lot of people who have a perception of God though the Old Testament that just doesn’t match the reality.  They see him as angry, vengeful, looking for a reason to spite people…especially in the writings of the prophets.

Then they look at Jesus and claim him because he is loving and compassionate and full of forgiveness and grace.  And often there is a disconnect between the two.  But Jesus said to his disciples…”if you have seen me you have seen the father.”  Everything Jesus is…God is.  And everything you God is…Jesus is.

I bring this up because of two verses in Ezekiel 18: 23, 32…

“Do I take pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord.  Rather, am I not pleased when     they turn from their ways and live?”

“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord.  Repent and live!”
God’s heart has always been about seeing people live.  Truley live.  That isn’t a New Testement ideal…it is a Holy God ideal.  It has been his heart since he first spoke like into existence.

I love what Eze. 14:5…when speaking about people who had traded him in for idols they had placed in their hearts…God says he is going to answer them in accordance with their idolatry…here’s why.

“I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have deserted me for their idols.”

God wants us all to experience life…but the problem comes when we search for in everyone and everything that is not of him.  He is the life giver.  So why are still trying to get life from a murderer? (John 8:44)

“Lord give us the courage to repent from whatever it is that we are seeking life from.  Remind us all that life…real life…abundant life only comes from you and nothing else will do.  Thank you for being willing to fight for our hearts.  Amen.”

Ran across a link for this website on a blog I read every once in a while.  It is a group of Atheists who will take care of your pet if/when you get raptured.

Listen to this straight from their site:

You’ve committed your life to Jesus. You know you’re saved.  But when the Rapture comes what’s to become of your loving pets who are left behind?   Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind.

We are a group of dedicated animal lovers, and atheists. Each Eternal Earth-Bound Pet representative is a confirmed atheist, and as such will still be here on Earth after you’ve received your reward.  Our network of animal activists are committed to step in when you step up to Jesus.

We are currently active in 20 states and growing.  Our representatives have been screened to ensure that they are atheists, animal lovers, are moral / ethical with no criminal background, have the ability and desire to  rescue your pet and the means to retrieve them and ensure their care for your pet’s natural life.

Our service is plain and simple; our fee structure is reasonable. For $110.00 we will guarantee that should the Rapture occur within ten (10) years of receipt of payment, one pet per residence will be saved.  Each additional pet at your residence will be saved for an additional $15.00 fee.   A small price to pay for your peace of mind and the health and safety of your four legged friends.

Seriously…you can’t make this stuff up. If you need a break from reality…go read their Frequently Asked Questions page. These guys thought of everything.

This past Sunday I shared a message about just how powerful our words can be.  Proverbs 18:21 says the tongue has the “power of life and death”.

Today I had an old friend comment on a totally unrelated FaceBook status…that was a perfect example of what I was trying to say.

I made the comment that God has called us to make disciples…and asked how do you know when a disciple has been made…here was the response…

When a young woman opens a business and isn’t sure she was listening to God’s plan or going off on her own. She confides this in a young youth minister. He shows her that God intended that business to be her ministry and all the opportunities there are to minister to others. Maybe you don’t remember that conversation between you and I. But I will … never forget it. Ten years in business this year and my ministry here is still strong.i don’t know if I would have saw that on my own. But everytime I minister to someone, I think of you. Thank you for that. I believe you made a disciple that day. Wondering if that were the answer you were looking for.

WOW.  You are right Brandy.  I don’t remember that conversation specifically…but I do remember you stepping out on faith.  Thanks for sharing…I am honored to be a part of the story God is writing with your life.

So…what’s the moral…believe it or not it has nothing to do with Jason…the moral is God can take your words and use them to bring life into the people around you.

Words are a powerful thing…use them wisely.

Doing a little reading this morning from Ezekiel 10.

Today I am experiencing a feeling I have never really experienced before. As I am reading through this text today, I can’t help but feel like I am seeing something I am not supposed to see. The text is a vision of Ezekiel looking on the Cherubim and Glory of God. I feel like a voyeur spying into a second story window with binoculars from the neighbor’s tree.

I know God gave us his word for us to read…and many people love to take passages such as these and dissect them and analyze them. But I just can’t.

I feel like the Psalmist who said in Psalm 139:6…”such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

Have you ever read anything in scripture and thought…I don’t deserve to know this?

So tonight Tucker was riding his bike when all of the sudden…he jumped, screamed like a girl and came home.  Here is why…

• I don’t know about you…but today’s message hit me right between the eyes.
• I hope you realize…whatever it is I preach to you…I first preach to me.

• The part of the message when I spoke of the gap between what we say we believe and the way we actually live was not easy…because I see myself in so many of them..

I believe everyone will spend eternity somewhere…but we sleep just fine at night knowing ½ the world doesn’t know Jesus

I believe Jesus is the only way to God…but I don’t want to be intolerant of any other religions

I believe the Bible is the Holy Word of God to teach me who he is and how to live…but I get my reading cues from Operas Book Club.

I believe Jesus is coming back…but I live as if I am only accountable to me

I believe through Christ my sins are forgiven…but guilt is the motivator of my faith

I believe god is sovereign…but we won’t let our students go anywhere where we or our government can’t protect them

I believe God uses trials to draw me into him…but whenever they come my response is to blame him and shut him out.

I believe God will supply all my needs…but my security follows the stock market ticker

I believe God knows what is best for me…but if it comes down to what he wants for me and what I want for me… I often do what I think is best.

• If you have appreciated having the devotional thoughts to go along with our study of James make sure you say thanks to Mandy…she was the one who created them

• It was great seeing a Father baptize his children today…I only pray someday I will have that same privilege

• Loved the song “screen door on a submarine” by Rich Mullins today…don’t think there is a better mental image of Faith without deeds.

• Can’t tell you how excited I am to meet so many new young families week after week.  If you know someone who needs to know Jesus…and is looking for a place to belong…Get Em Here!

• This week I am planning our elder/staff retreat.  Looking forward to what is going to happen through our time together.

• Started reading a book this week called Simple Church…just started it…but the first chapter lays out the problem with many to may churches…we have made things WAAAAYYY to complicated.

Thanks for being a part of PCC…we are just getting started.

Doing a little reading this morning in 2 Peter chapter 2.

Verses 7-8 describe Lot as a “righteous man who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man living among them day after day was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)

I was struck by the thought…his soul was tormented by what he saw and heard.  I wrote this question in the margin of my Bible…”Does living in a sinful world bother you?”  And if I am honest with myself, most days it doesn’t.  Maybe I am like the frog in the kettle…the conditions get worse and worse and I don’t even notice until it becomes my demise.

Its not that I don’t notice the sin around me…you would have to be a fool not too.  But it has become commonplace…accepted…expected.  I have gotten used to it.  There are a lot of words I could use to describe my attitude toward it…frustrated, annoyed, miffed, judgmental…and there are times I am tolerant, apathetic and maybe hidden away there are times I am a little relived…but I don’t think tormented would make my list.

Which makes me wonder…why not?  Why am I not tormented?  Is that a sign maybe be my soul isn’t as righteous as I would like to think?

“Lord, help me to see the world around me as you see it.  And give me a heart that is tormented by unrighteousness…both in myself and in those around be.  And may that torment not show itself in indignation…but in compassion to see those filthy lives cleansed through the blood of Jesus.  Amen.”