Free Speech?

Protesters are invading New York City to express their right to free speech. Most of them are democrats or Kerry supporters by default (no one more liberal with a chance to beat Bush).

I am struck by these righteous crusaders of free speech how they are so intent on quieting the "Free Speech" of others. Plans are being made by various groups to delay buses carrying delegates in hopes of thwarting Bush's nomination. Cabbies are planning to refuse to pick up Republicans. (Do they look that obvious?) Instructions have been given to these peace activists on how to cause false terror alerts, which will endanger everyone at the convention.
And what if the police strike (big union Kerry lovers) and the firefighters don't respond (big union Kerry lovers) if called upon?

The dems had their lovefest in Boston, the liberal bastion of the nation, free from those pesky protesters...........wait a minute, those pro life protesters only make the news when they blow up clinics. They were there but not heard, you can bet every left leaning cause will have a voice this week, all in the interest of equal time you see. Did you know it takes 2 liberals to debate 1 conservative? It must be some kind of unbreakable rule.........Maybe that's how the cabbies tell who the Repubs are, the smart looking ones or maybe the friendly ones.

Who really is dividing the country? I am glad I don't rely on whoever is sitting in the White House for my contentment. DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED I Peter 3:14b
And remember it is only Free Speech if it is the right (actually left) speech.

Is it worth it?

In discussing discipleship and the book that inspired this blog, Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard, the topic of "do we believe discipleship is worth the cost?", came up.

In chapt 8 Willard states (as Jason pointed out) that if we see God for what he really is then we would be like the parable of the man selling all that he had to be the field with the treasure. We would seek and desire God as we would a treasure and stop at nothing to be a true apprentice to Christ.

If we believe like Christ wants us to believe, then we can start to become disciples. There will be a price to pay. But merely believing is not enough, we have to intend to become a disciple. Actually do something. I liken it to an athlete who trains and trains for years until the skills that he or she performs are done automatically with no conscious thought to the physical task at hand. If we consciously make an effort to do the things required to become a disciple, eventually they will come naturally. I look forward to that day, which will make whatever small sacrifices(small compared to Christ's) well worth it.

More on books

On another blog I commented on how I disagreed with a point the author of a certain book made. I had one response which was not surprising that agreed with the author. I know some people hold a different view of God than I do and I accept that.

Another response stated that if he quit reading every semi-peligian out there, he would be limited in what to read. This is true as well.

My fear is what is on the best seller list under Christian books contain a lot of harmful beliefs in them. An educated reader can discriminate what part of a book has value and what part is rubbish. But the average Christian does not take the time to study, to seek truth. So when a book hits best seller status, but contains harmful doctrine I do get concerned. Not for myself, but that new christian or that one who is now deciding to search.

In fact I enjoy reading books by people with different perspectives, even wrong perspectives to find out what they think and where they are coming from. In the course of these readings I learn and either affirm what I already knew or am enlightened to new understanding. I appreciate debate and discussion because it stretches our intellect. So at what level do we embrace these misguided authors or at what point do we dismiss them entirely? Am I too critical or too discerning?

Coincidence?

What a coincidence. My wife and I go to a christian book store and I look at the list of best sellers. Then I get home and read some blogs that I like to read and another man(Rick Davis) commented on what kind of books are selling today and lamenting how men are portrayed etc. which I agree.

Does it disturb anyone else that the stuff christians are reading is fluff? Does the term market driven ring a bell? Not just that is fluff, but some of the stuff is out right misleading. Did people have others in mind or righteous intentions when they bought "Prayer of Jabez"? Is the "Left Behind" series harmless entertainment or do people base there beliefs on such stuff? Is God really a risk taker as the author of Wild at Heart claims?

Now some books really are helpful, even if they are very basic. But why are mature christians buying and reading books that are basic and elemental? Even though these books like Purpose Driven (fill in the blank) are helpful to many, the fact that they are helpful to many disturbs me!

The christian bookstores will market only what people will buy. To buy really challenging and interesting books written by true scholars you have to go to a secular store. Isn't that backwards? Should not the market driven fluff be at secular stores and the thought provoking writings based on years of study, be found at Christian stores?

The author of "Scandal of the Evangelical Mind" (not found at Mardels) writes in his foreward that the real scandal of evangelicals is that we don't use our mind. Before you argue with him go to a Christian bookstore and check out the best seller list.

WWJD II

'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,'Matt 9:13 (NASB)

Meaning what is in your heart, proven by your love, is more important than your adherence to any religous tradition.

As Todd has said in his preaching and his blogging, we have traded "imitation for presentation".
I used to think "witnessing" was a very hard thing to do, until I tried to imitate Christ. We have taken the easy way out. If we just believe right everything will be ok, irregardless of what we become or do as long as we share our personal testimony about our personal relationship with our personal saviour.(Sounds a bit self centered when you think about it, I thought God called a people, priesthood, nation, kingdom, etc. )

It is amazing what you find when you read those gospels. Who would have thunk it? It's every where in those books. Do we have compassion toward God? No, not if we hold Him in the position He deserves, it has to mean compassion toward our fellow man. And true it must come as a result of a personal relationship which brings about transformation, which cannot occur in a vacuum.

Fear Factor

I am new to this blogging stuff, so this is the first time I am posting from another blog. At Just Todd, Doc raised the issue of fear or how we base our beliefs or our actions on fear or guilt. Some people were raised up with a doctrine of fear as their basis for service or attempted service to God. This issue was first raised at Ain't so Bad blog. But here is my comment.(Check out the entire blog)

Remember 9/11 when people lined up at gas stations for fear there would be no more fuel? What were they thinking, that one tank full would last them forever? The only real thing it accomplished was that it allowed some unscrupulous station owners an opportunity to price gouge.
My point is that fear cause us to act irrationally, and I know you are making a slightly different point . But yet when fear is the motivator for many things, they never turn out as well as when there are other motivators.
For one, fear can pass. If fear keeps you going to church, as time passes you get more comfortable in your life and if that was what kept you in church, then it will cease to motivate. Or if guilt keeps you coming to church, eventually you will realize you can never be good enough and possibly give up. But if you rely on Grace then you can be free from the hold of guilt and fear and freely express your love for God, by showing love to others. Aren't we being a little self centered (when you really break it down), when we are afraid or guilty? If that is true then aren't fear mongers really playing on our selfishness?

Bothersome Images

In my other life (outside of blogging) I am a professional firefighter, among other things. As a result I see things that are rather bothersome. Sometimes it's not the graphic nature of the scene but the cause of the situation that is more or just as bothersome. For example the other day I responded on a suicide. A nineteen year old boy had hung himself, in his room, with his belt.

By the evidence, which I won't describe, he had been there all day, with his parents in the next room or down the hall, oblivious to the horror they would discover....... eight to ten hours later.

The biggest problem we have in our families today is that we don't show love. How can a family live in a house together and not interact all day long? Before you answer, take inventory of your family. Do the kids have a TV in their room? Computer? Nintendo? Does your family watch different TVs? Do you have meals together every day?

I'm sure his mother loved him, but somewhere they had gotten in a routine where they stopped showing love. How do you not interact with your family all day long? We may find that we might not show love as often as we should and the consequences could be devastating. So you might want to get up from your computer if you have been on it too long and see what's going on with your family.

WWJD

A man walks into the lobby of a church asking for $5.00 for gas. It is after Sunday Evening service. One member without hesitation whips out a $20 bill and gives it to the man. A prominent member, let's call him, scolds the man and says why did you do that? You are supposed to send him to the church office and let them help him.

21st century "discipleship", let me take you to my: pastor, associate pastor,youth leader, sunday school teacher, family minister, church secretary, deacon, VBS director, custodian
(pick any of the above, as long as I am not involved)

I do not mean to belittle the prominent member, but..........if Jesus meant when someone asks you for your coat are we to determine if it is cold outside or if the coat he has will do, or direct them to Good will? or are we to just give it?

When people like the man in need above come to a church for help they expect to get it. May it always be so. But in addition may we serve whenever and WHEREVER the need arises, like THE CHURCH instead of A CHURCH. The above story is true by the way.