Monthly Archives: September 2011

Good Dad v. Bad Dad

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Here is an excerpt from the book I wanted to share with you. It comes from chapter 5 entitled Good Dad v. Bad Dad.

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter six, Jesus teaches about how much His Father loves us. In the NLT, verse 25-30 says, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”

God loves people more than the birds. He loves us more than the flowers. He takes care of both of these and they do nothing to deserve or earn it, they just receive the gift without any choice in the matter. Doesn’t it make sense that God would also take care of people, His most important creation? He is a good father, isn’t He? That’s a belief I start with. It’s something I have confidence in. How good would God be if He took care of us here on Earth but after we die, we are on our own? He’s a good Father and He has a better plan than many Christians think He has.

In the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus keeps teaching. This is a passage familiar to Christians and non-Christians alike. Nestled in between a message to not judge others unless you want to be judged and the golden rule of treating people like you want to be treated is a description of the type of father that God is. Verses 9-11 in the NLT says, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

If earthly parents know how to give good gifts, wouldn’t God the Father know how to give better gifts? In fact, the gift of salvation is the best gift of all. A gift with strings attached is no gift at all. A gift that requires the recipient to do something, anything at all, is by definition not a gift. You can’t have it both ways.

It’s either a gift or it’s not.

Just like the verses we looked at in the previous chapter, salvation is for all. It belongs to the entire world. Christians agree with that statement but claim you must receive it in order for it to apply to you. I believe you need to receive the gift of salvation by putting faith in Jesus Christ. However, if someone does not receive this gift, I do not believe they are lost for all of eternity. There is an important distinction between the two thoughts. There will be a very real judgment day with very real consequences. The punishment will fit the crime. Eternal punishment does not fit the crime for a handful of years lived on Earth. Do we receive salvation by grace but receive eternal punishment by works?

After the Music Fades

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I enjoy Starbucks, cloudy days in the 60′s, 5 mile runs, Atlanta Braves baseball, Georgia Tech football, thought provoking books, and music that makes me sink into a surreal mode of imagination.

Death Cab for Cutie. Blink 182. Goo Goo Dolls. Mumford & Sons. Nirvana. The Classic Crime. Foo Fighters. The Fray. Kings of Leon. U2. Switchfoot. Third Eye Blind. The Script. MxPx. Thousand Foot Krutch. Plankeye. The Airborne Toxic Event.

These bands have made music that I have listened to over and over again. Some of them while running. Others while reading. Some albums I’ve worn out while studying. In high school. In college. Preparing for messages. On road trips.

I’m awed at the way music takes you back to a particular time and a specific place. These songs have meaning and sing about life. What’s good and what’s bad. What’s right and what’s wrong. The serious and the silly. The spectacular and the mundane. They collide for an emotional explosion that keeps you coming back, time and time again.

Are We Promoting Arrogance With Certain Doctrines?

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Here’s a really good article written by a friend of mine, Julie Ferwerda. I thought I’d share and also recommend checking out her book Raising Hell. My copy is on the way and I am really excited to read it. It’s received fantastic reviews on Amazon and sounds like an interesting read.

The Doctrine of Hell Breeds Arrogance

Fare Well, Rob Bell

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Many blessings to Rob Bell as he makes this transition in his life. He is resigning as pastor of Mars Hill church in Grand Rapids, Michigan that he founded. I thoroughly enjoyed John Piper’s tweet this time that said, “Fare well” instead of his tweet a few months ago that said, “Farewell.”

A little grace goes a long way.

You can read the story below:

Rob Bell Leaving Mars Hill Church

Grace, Love, and the Christian Finger

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I’ve been thinking about grace a lot lately. One of the best books I’ve ever read was What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey. That book has stuck with me as to how loving and merciful God truly is. One phrase that appears over and over again in the Bible is “love endures forever.”

Over 40 times.

As I’ve been promoting the book and writing new blogs, I’ve had the opportunity to talk to dozens of people in the last two months about Christianity. In fact, I’ve probably corresponded with a couple hundred different people since the site launched in mid-August. What I’ve found has been discouraging at times and encouraging at others. Unfortunately, it’s been more on the negative side.

The condemnation, wrath, anger, and pride has been coming from self-professed Christians. I don’t doubt their faith in Christ but I do doubt their obedience to the very words of Jesus Christ. We can disagree on things in life and still get along. There’s nothing wrong with discussing and telling someone why you think they’re wrong. That is actually healthy and appropriate most of the time. It’s not right when it turns to name calling and personal attacks which many, many Christians are taking part in.

Matthew 22:36-40 says,

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Jesus said it and He meant it. Sound doctrine is important but it’s not the most important thing. Resisting sin is important but it’s not the number one thing in life.

Love is.

Easy to say, difficult to live out.

I know there are millions of Christians who disagree with me on this doctrine but guess what? There are millions of Christians who disagree on speaking in tongues, divine healing, women pastors, infant baptism, end time events, and hundreds of other doctrinal beliefs.

It’s how we handle these disagreements that demonstrates whether we are obeying Jesus’ words to love. We can disagree and still love each other. Not simply say “I love you” but actually say “I disagree with you but see where you’re coming from, here’s where I’m coming from; let’s go see a movie.”

Love. I’m begging you fellow Christians; can we please practice love?

Put down the Christian middle finger that is screaming, “I’m right.” Focus on loving God and loving others because that is what’s most important.