Reading through 2 Timothy yesterday and was hit with two thoughts.

In 2 Timothy 3 Paul describes some characteristics of godless people and two jumped off the page at me.  It is something I see way too often around me and often times in me.

The first one is found in verse 5…its people “who have a form of Godliness but deny its power.”  They may go to church read their bible and even pray…but their life doesn’t look as if the power of the living God is alive in them.  This one scares me because I see this so often in myself.  I try know the right things, and believe the right things, and even try and do the right things…but sometimes I wonder my life puts on display the power of God that is alive in me.

The second one is found in verse 7…”always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”

This one is HUGE in church world right now.  With the proliferation of blogs and twitter, magazines and newsletters, books and DVDs, TV sermons and small groups…the fact that you can go online right now and hear/watch sermons from almost any pulpit in America and many from around the world…we have the capacity to learn more scriptural knowledge than ever before.  But the question is…does knowing more translate to being more like Christ?

Paul says these people are “always learning…” always reading, listening, participating…but “they never acknowledge the truth.”  The may learn it but it doesn’t change them.

As James put it…”do not merely listen to the word (always learning) and so deceive yourselves (thinking learning something is enough) Do what it says (acknowledge the truth by putting it into practice.)

If you aren’t putting it into practice you are deceiving yourself.

Do you have a form of Godliness but live powerless?

Are you someone who is always looking for the next great teaching, lesson, sermon, book, blog, tweet, but never seem to be transform by them?

These are two of the many things Paul said to Timothy in 2 Tim. 3 that stood out to me.  Which ones stand out to you?

Ran across this video of some girls outside of a Lady GAGA concert.  They are a part of the Westboro baptist church and have made this parody of her song “Poker Face”

I Peter 3:15 says, “but in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope tha tyou have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Do you think the actions of these girls fulfills this commandment?

How would you have responded?

What would you have done instead?

This weekend we finished up a series on 1 Peter.  Throughout the letter Peter is talking to Christians undergoing great persecution …simply because they are followers of Jesus.  For most of us this doesn’t translate very well.  No doubt we go through hard times and difficult situations, but rarely are they solely tied to the fact that we are followers of Jesus.  But today I was reminded again that we are the exception.

Blasphemy accused Christian brothers shot dead in Faisalabad

Faisalabad: July 19, 2010. (PCP) Muslim extremists shot dead Rahid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel in broad daylight in front of hundreds of people in district courts compound in Faisalabad today.
There were rumors and reports on July 18, 2010, that both of Christian brothers are free to go home from Civil Lines Police Station Faisalabad where they were detained on July 4, 2010, under blasphemy charges on complaint of one Muslim businessman of Railway Bazar because police told friends of Rashid and Sajjid that there is no proof found against them which may extend their detention.
Today, investigation officer Mohammad Hussian produced Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel before Judge in District Courts where he testified that police have investigated allegations leveled against them but found no proof that they may be charged under blasphemy.
Police investigating officer Mohammad Hussian told court that complainant Mohammad Khuram Shehzad lodged FIR alleging Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel producing a handwritten leaflet which he stressed is defiling Prophet Mohammad but police have report of Handwriting expert that pamphlet handwriting presented by Mohammad Khuram not match with handwriting of accused Christian brothers. Police further submitted that they have nothing to investigate against them and find no proof to remand them in custody.
The court ordered to send Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel to Judicial custody till next date to issue further orders.
As there were rumors that Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel are found innocent and will be released, the extremists Muslims reached in District Courts Faisalabad and were waiting for them to come out of court house.
As Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel were walking towards district courts custody cell with police, the unidentified gunmen opened fire and Rashid Emmanuel felt on ground.
Sajjid Emmanuel stepped to safe his brother but gunmen shot him down too. When police tried to fire back on gunmen, they also came under attack and Inspector Mohammad Hussain felt down on ground.
In minutes, masked gunmen fled from scene, till medical aid reach, Rashid Emmanuel died on spot while Sajjid Emmanuel and police officer were rushed to hospital, where they were pronounced dead till our posting this sad incident.
The leaders of Christian Lawyers Foundation CLF, Rao Naveed Zafar Bhatti Advocate reported that adequate security was not in district court which made easy for killers to fled from scene.
Pastor Rashid Emmanuel was 32 years of age and running a Ministry while his brother Sajjid Emmanuel was helping him in Lords word.
.According to PCP reports, a blasphemy case was registered on 1st July, 2010, under section 295- C PPC, against Rashid Emanuel and Sajid Emanuel of 30 years of age who were residents of Street No.5 Daud Nagar, Faisalabad, Pakistan and arrested by police on July 4, 2010.
Muhammad Khuram Shezad merchant of Railway Bazar, Faisalabad, had complained that his servant told him that both Christian accused were distributing pamphlets in open bazar which is desecrating Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and their numbers are under the writing of the Pamphlet. He went to PS and told fabricated story to police to charge 2 Christian young men under blasphemy.
The Muslims took out a procession on July 10, 2010, when they burnt tires and pelted stones on Catholic Church Warispura Faisalabad. The mob threatened that if these brothers are not executed according to Muslim law, the mob will exact revenge not only on them, but the entire Christian community.
Mr. Khalid Gill, Chairman Christian Lawyers Foundation CLF, have strongly condemned target killing of Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel.
Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC have condemned brutal daylight murder of Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel and termed it heinous crime against humanity.
Nazir Bhatti urged Punjab government to adopt necessary security measure of Christians and arrest killers to punish under law.
“We demand government and President of Pakistan to repeal blasphemy law by executive order to end genocide of Christians in Pakistan pretext to blasphemy law and other discriminatory laws” said Nazir Bhatti