balancing act

I am enjoying the discussion with the Sr. Pastor at our church about balancing the key priorities in Christianity today. We are talking about knowing and obeying what God wants, and living that out in a life of compassion.

He had a great quote from Mark Batterson (whom I don't really Know much about)

The true measure of spiritual maturity is not how much we know but how much we obey. And the truth is--all of us are educated way beyond our level of obedience!

Check out the post here.

My Final comment was challenging the conclusion that seems to be drawn from this. The conclusion appears to be that where we aren't obedient we should therefore stop trying to know more, and get out there an do it.

The Christian Church is not great about doing what they should do. But I think part of the problem is with new believers, sometimes they know what is good but don't know that God has really spoken with authority about that specific thing. They think they are "in the clear" by avoiding all the big no-no's. In really if we would pick up and read the bible, we would see all the ways we are lacking. I think that a frank correction from God's word will spur more people to action, than not.

Here is a quote from my last comment on that post

As the church (small groups) we should be doing so much more about meeting needs like that.

However I would challenge that at Five Oaks, where we fail to do compassion, it is not because we are distracted trying to "gain more and more information". I just don’t think that is the problem. I think it is because we are:

• Comfortable with all God has provided us
• Busy with our daily (over) commitments
• Happy socializing with friends
• Focused on our career
• Unaware of what the word of God says about our responsibility in compassion
• And hardhearted toward the "least" in our day

I think that taking the time we are already spending in study, and turning it to more convicting passages of God's word will break up the soil of our hard hearts. The Word it isn't just the seed, it is the plow. All of us in American Christianity need a little tilling.

magic...

So we went to Disney, all 7 of us. The long awaited trip. It was fun, and crazy. I traveled for business and the kids got to stay with Mom at Grandma and Grandpa's house (with auntie Erin). We all made the trip the kingdom.

We had what must have been the best lines of any time of the year. Our longest wait was for the Dumbo ride about 45 min. The rest were about 10-15 min, or about as long as it took to walk down the elaborate scene scape's they make to keep you interested while waiting. The weather was wonderful. Two thumbs up.

Plus Cara and I got to go to Universal with the Kids by our selves. It was nice. Hannah really enjoyed the Curious George watter area. Later that day Cara and I went back and made it to the Islands of Adventure park. It was closing early for the Halloween experiences so we were forced to run through the whole thing. We hit 6 major rides in 1 hour (All the way around the island). It was so much fun, but we were exhausted afterward.

Love them into the Kingdom

I agree with people who say that we need to love people into the Kingdom of God. And my heart is broken over all the bitterness that Christians have over the "world" and its woes. Remember the parable of the ungrateful servant? (Mt 18:21-35) There are many places in the bible where the same message is communicated. A servant is forgiven a great debt, and then turns around in ungratefulness to hold against others their sin. Recognize that this is the story of the church, of our lives. WE have been forgiven such a great debt. Yet we stand condemning others when we should be loving them as God loved us.

• The bible says that God is a God of Love Joe 2:13
• The Greatest Commandment is: Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength. Mt 22:34-40
  
• The Second is like it: Love your neighbor as your self
• Christ gave only one new commandment: Love as I have loved you Joh 13:34
• Our primary method for reaching the world with the gospel of god is Love: They will know you by our love
  

The thing we tend to forget is that Gods love is not a pampering love, it is a perfecting love. God wants us to be holy more than he wants us to be happy. 1 Pet 1 He would rather see us cold, lonely, depressed, and afraid than living happily in sin. Look at Jonah, David, Paul. God brings us low to draw us close. This is as true in marriage, in parenting, and in discipleship as it is in the church. God wants to accomplish so much through us.

Often what He is trying to accomplish comes thorough tough love. Blessing comes in through the gate of the lords discipline. Heb 12 For the Christian especially many times it comes through trials and suffering James 1. But the pain is not God's goal. It is meant to wear away those hard edges that keep us from useful service. It is meant to prepare the soil of our heart for the love of God. Both to give, and to receive his blessings.

The End is Near

I have to tell you. I just realized that one of my favorite disks was not on my PC. AKA not in my Ipod, and in this crazy world that means it does not exist ot me. Sad I know. But the great thing is I just realized it.

I have now loaded FIF's The End is Near onto my Ipod and I am loving it. On Random, it rolled to FIF, Poor Old Lou, and then Pedro the Lion. I may be at work, but I am flying.

Later.
Bill

The Myth of application?

I don't know if you have ever wanted to pour yourself over the word of God but just fealt like there were barriers. Am I alone here? More than once I have had people tell me it is "OK" if you study the Word in small group "if you apply it".

Have we lost the idea of what the Word of God is? Is there any power in it any more? It is sharper than a butter knife; isn't it?

Lets remind ourselves that faith comes by hearing the word of God. Let me suggest that it is the role of the Holy Spirt to apply the Word to our lives. Don't you remember that God will not let it return to him empty without accomplishing the puropose for which he sent it forth?

In the evangelical community are we letting life application displace conviction over sin? Isn't the real application of scripture, a changed life? My wife and I recently had the privlage to attend the downpour confrence in Minnesota. In one session the speaker suggested that if confession means to say the same thing as God, than wisdom means to see things the same way God sees them. God give us wisdom to see our own sins and turn from them, instead of seeing all the sin in the world and condeming them.

Intimidation

Nothing is so difficult as starting a thing. Unless of course we consider finishing a thing well. A unique challenge for me since I am easily distracted. We will see how this goes.