Friday, April 8, 2011
Taitim Bun: Call
Taitim Bun: Call: "A friend just wrote and ask me what it means to have a call. Here was my reply: Our first call is always to Christ and who he makes u..."
Thursday, March 5, 2009
In Christ
What does it mean for us(humans) to be in Christ?
Is our concept of holy communion backwards? Are we in Christ or is Christ in us? If we are the temple of God and the Holy Spirit lives in us than isn't Christ in us and we are an extension of Christ through the Holy Spirit?
Does it really matter who is in whom?
Is our concept of holy communion backwards? Are we in Christ or is Christ in us? If we are the temple of God and the Holy Spirit lives in us than isn't Christ in us and we are an extension of Christ through the Holy Spirit?
Does it really matter who is in whom?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
What are people looking for?
I am amazed at how many people are using blogs or forums. I go to answers.yahoo.com and look under Religion and Spirituality and read through some of the posts. Some of them are meant in jest or in fun but I think there are a group of people that have serious questions and are looking for answers.
I'm not suggesting that every Christian should go out and start blogging to the non-Christian. It has its place and can be used. But I would be very careful, because this doesn't build love and relationships. It doesn't open up our lives to the kind of scrutiny that Christ calls for.
I think we need to be aware that people are out there and are actually looking, but we also need to be aware of the opportunities that are next to us and open to God moving in us to build relationships and love those around us.
So I'm sitting here at work asking myself, how many of these people know that I'm a Christian? Not a Bible thumping you're going to hell because you don't believe the way I do person. But a loving person that cares about them because Jesus died for them?
I'm not suggesting that every Christian should go out and start blogging to the non-Christian. It has its place and can be used. But I would be very careful, because this doesn't build love and relationships. It doesn't open up our lives to the kind of scrutiny that Christ calls for.
I think we need to be aware that people are out there and are actually looking, but we also need to be aware of the opportunities that are next to us and open to God moving in us to build relationships and love those around us.
So I'm sitting here at work asking myself, how many of these people know that I'm a Christian? Not a Bible thumping you're going to hell because you don't believe the way I do person. But a loving person that cares about them because Jesus died for them?
Friday, January 30, 2009
John Wayne to Alan Alda
Taken from http://www.mainstreetbaptist.org/roadblocks-to-christian-manhoo/#2
JOHN WAYNE TO ALAN ALDA I'm part of the first wave of baby-boomers. I was born right after World War II and I grew up with heroes who were larger than life: Generals Eisenhower, Patton and MacArthur. As a young boy I had my own set of heroes: the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy and Gene Autry. I remembering wanting to grow up and be like these cowboys. I'd wear a white hat, ride a white horse, and protect women and children from the bad buys in black. Truth and justice would always prevail. Then I'd ride off into the sunset and look for other helpless people to protect. I had it all figured out. I knew exactly how to act and what to do as a man. Lines were clearly drawn. It was a no-brainer!
But then someone changed the rules! During my teen years the rebellions of the 60's wiped out my old heroes. John Wayne was out. Alan Alda and Michael Landon was in. All of a sudden ,em were supposed to be sensitive, feeling men who could relate. However no one told men how to make this change! Men didn't know what to expect of themselves or others. Just being a provider and keeping away from major sins (ones that would embarrass the family) was no longer enough. Divorce rates doubled and tripled. Roles of men and women and blended and became obscure. Everyone was trying to "find" themselves. The shock waves from this are still with us. Do wives expect too much of their husbands today -- or not enough? Do men expect too much of themselves -- or not enough? What does God expect of men? Does He expect more of us than we do of ourselves -- or less? These are important questions.
EXPECTATIONS OF MEN TODAY John Wayne is dead, replaced by the new Alan Alda type caring, sensitive man. Today our wives want both: the strong, silent provider and protector who is always there as well as the caring, approachable, sensitive, open emotional male. The trouble is that when they want John Wayne we are being Alan Alda, and vice versa. Add to these roles the others a man is given and it can get overwhelming. Men are expected to be spiritual leaders, guiding our families in devotions and spiritual growth. We are to be child care experts, able to care for children from birth through the teen years and cheerfully sharing that workload with our wives. We are to be amateur psychologists, always able to analyze our children's current fears and angers and knowing exactly what to do about them. We are to be home repairmen, keeping everything in running order and maintaining our properties in top condition. We are to be financial experts, able to pay our bills on time as well as invest for college and retirement in the proper funds. We are to provide fun when the family wants to have fun, discipline when things go awry, guidance and direction when the family drifts, and encouragement when times get tough. We are to be part romantic lover, part handyman, and part junior mother. We are to be always available, always in a good mood, always ready to listen or give answers (we always seem to get these mixed up, giving solutions when we should be listening, or not saying anything when we should be giving opinions). If we fall short in any of these roles we are stamped as not committed to our family, not 'walking with God,' not having right priorities, or not being a good enough manager of our time.
As other relationships and support groups fail, more and more is expected of the family. People used to have close, supportive relationships among neighbors, extended family (parents, uncles, siblings), and even at work. Our society today is that these relationships have become shallow surface relationships at best, leaving the family to meet all our needs. I'm not saying that is wrong, for the family is the foundation of everything else in God's plan. I am saying its going to take a bit for families to catch up, to get 'on line' to meet these needs.
What is the role of the man in marriage today?
JOHN WAYNE TO ALAN ALDA I'm part of the first wave of baby-boomers. I was born right after World War II and I grew up with heroes who were larger than life: Generals Eisenhower, Patton and MacArthur. As a young boy I had my own set of heroes: the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy and Gene Autry. I remembering wanting to grow up and be like these cowboys. I'd wear a white hat, ride a white horse, and protect women and children from the bad buys in black. Truth and justice would always prevail. Then I'd ride off into the sunset and look for other helpless people to protect. I had it all figured out. I knew exactly how to act and what to do as a man. Lines were clearly drawn. It was a no-brainer!
But then someone changed the rules! During my teen years the rebellions of the 60's wiped out my old heroes. John Wayne was out. Alan Alda and Michael Landon was in. All of a sudden ,em were supposed to be sensitive, feeling men who could relate. However no one told men how to make this change! Men didn't know what to expect of themselves or others. Just being a provider and keeping away from major sins (ones that would embarrass the family) was no longer enough. Divorce rates doubled and tripled. Roles of men and women and blended and became obscure. Everyone was trying to "find" themselves. The shock waves from this are still with us. Do wives expect too much of their husbands today -- or not enough? Do men expect too much of themselves -- or not enough? What does God expect of men? Does He expect more of us than we do of ourselves -- or less? These are important questions.
EXPECTATIONS OF MEN TODAY John Wayne is dead, replaced by the new Alan Alda type caring, sensitive man. Today our wives want both: the strong, silent provider and protector who is always there as well as the caring, approachable, sensitive, open emotional male. The trouble is that when they want John Wayne we are being Alan Alda, and vice versa. Add to these roles the others a man is given and it can get overwhelming. Men are expected to be spiritual leaders, guiding our families in devotions and spiritual growth. We are to be child care experts, able to care for children from birth through the teen years and cheerfully sharing that workload with our wives. We are to be amateur psychologists, always able to analyze our children's current fears and angers and knowing exactly what to do about them. We are to be home repairmen, keeping everything in running order and maintaining our properties in top condition. We are to be financial experts, able to pay our bills on time as well as invest for college and retirement in the proper funds. We are to provide fun when the family wants to have fun, discipline when things go awry, guidance and direction when the family drifts, and encouragement when times get tough. We are to be part romantic lover, part handyman, and part junior mother. We are to be always available, always in a good mood, always ready to listen or give answers (we always seem to get these mixed up, giving solutions when we should be listening, or not saying anything when we should be giving opinions). If we fall short in any of these roles we are stamped as not committed to our family, not 'walking with God,' not having right priorities, or not being a good enough manager of our time.
As other relationships and support groups fail, more and more is expected of the family. People used to have close, supportive relationships among neighbors, extended family (parents, uncles, siblings), and even at work. Our society today is that these relationships have become shallow surface relationships at best, leaving the family to meet all our needs. I'm not saying that is wrong, for the family is the foundation of everything else in God's plan. I am saying its going to take a bit for families to catch up, to get 'on line' to meet these needs.
What is the role of the man in marriage today?
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Lame Will Walk
God in all of his intimate wisdom has chosen to use the Lame to build his kingdom. He has come into our lives and stretched out his hand to us and given us an option. Take his hand and follow him building his kingdom as you go. Or stay seated with lame legs.
The biggest problem in the Church today is the people in the church. We are inperfect, immoral, reckless and failed beings, but yet God chooses to come by us and stretch out his hand to us and give us an option to become part of him.
Only by Christ can the Church survive. Only by Christ can the Church walk.
It amazes me that God has chosed to use the outcast of society to build his church. And sometimes I need to be reminded that God is in control and not his people.
May the peace of God fill your life.
The biggest problem in the Church today is the people in the church. We are inperfect, immoral, reckless and failed beings, but yet God chooses to come by us and stretch out his hand to us and give us an option to become part of him.
Only by Christ can the Church survive. Only by Christ can the Church walk.
It amazes me that God has chosed to use the outcast of society to build his church. And sometimes I need to be reminded that God is in control and not his people.
May the peace of God fill your life.
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