Archive for February, 2012

Romans 8 text image

What If: There Was No Condemnation

I think we get repentance all wrong most of the time.  We treat repentance like penance.  We repent to pay for our sin, to pay for our mistakes so that we can be accepted back into God’s good graces.

What if your repentance for your sin had more to do with reminding yourself of who you are, in Christ, than paying some kind of penance to win God’s favor and approval again?

Any Christian who has ever sinned knows the temptation to return to the Father like the Prodigal Son did – attempting to win back the Father’s affections by self-punishment, and penance-making.  But this is not the heart of God!  He runs out to meet you each and every time you sin.  There isn’t a hint of smugness or “I told you so”.  Just joy in the restoration.

What if Romans 8:1-11 is actually true?  What if there really is no condemnation for the Christian?  There is nothing to pay for, it’s been paid in full.

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89 days ago /  Tagged: 0
Josh Garrels

Zion and Babylon – Josh Garrels

I love the prophetic vibe of this song, and much of Josh Garrels’ music.  It would be easy, I think, to write off this kind of lyric as young, post-modern angst.  But that’s too easy, and misses the heart of God.

“Lord, let your kingdom come as it is in heaven.”

Click through for the lyrics…

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100 days ago 0
dog running in a field with caption that says live like someone left the gate open

What If: God’s Dreams Were Your Dreams

The above image has been floating around the internet in various forms for a little while and I usually ignore this kind of cuteness. But I really like it! Maybe it’s that I’m a new dog owner. Maybe it’s that God has been working on me regarding my cynicism. Or maybe it’s because the sentiment is really, really true.

I have a dog that loves to run. When she runs full tilt she looks like she is hovering over the ground like a low flying plane. It’s why I call her Daisy the Wonder Dog. If I leave the gate open long enough, she will make a break for it. She really can’t help it, and I don’t blame her. When she’s running like that, she’s doing what she was made to do and it’s an absolute joy to watch.

Live like someone left the gate open.

I’ve begun a sermon series at the church called “What If”. I’m essentially asking a series of What If questions that amount to wondering what the Christian life would be like if the gospel were really true. I like the format of “what if” questions because they invite us to dream and imagine instead of making us feel like we aren’t up to snuff. I’m discovering that thinking this way is making room in my soul to believe God for this kind of life with Him.

This week’s What If was this:

“What if your dreams for your life were more than weak and misguided attempts to define yourself by something other than Jesus’ love and mercy towards you. What if your dreams for your life actually reflected the glory that God designed you for.

What if your dreams actually fit the “You” God made, instead of the “You” that has been shaped by brokenness and cynism?”

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105 days ago /  Tagged: 2
bibles on a shelf

Wycliffe Bible Translators “Son of God” Controversy Explained

There is a growing controversy over Wycliffe Bible Translators and how they are dealing with some tricky concepts in their translations into Islamic languages and cultures.  I believe that most of the problems have to do with ignorance over how language works in different cultures, and how translation works in general.

I’m coming across an awful lot of rumor mill alarmists that are sharing things on Facebook and Twitter without really understanding what they are sharing.  What this amounts to is gossip.  Facebook and Twitter make gossip easy.  You can do it with the click of one “Like” button.

My concern is that in the end, all of this RT’ing and Liking will only result in delaying the Scripture getting to these people groups that so desperately need it.

The above article is an abridged version of this one, which is longer but more detailed.  Please share these articles whenever, wherever, you can.

Unabridged Article Shorter, Abridged Article More Resources

109 days ago /  Tagged: , , , 1
Mom and Child on Laptop

Keeping Your Children Safe on the Web

girlI have heard several stories over the past 6 months where young children have been exposed to hard core pornography on the internet. This was stuff that they didn’t go looking for. It came searching for them like some kind of wicked, sleazy stalker in the dark. Those parents were devastated and left trying to repair their little ones’ innocence and all of them wishing it had never happened.

These stories have left me very concerned that the world is moving faster than many parents are prepared for.

If this has happened to you and your child, please know that Jesus can and will restore that child’s innocence when you pray! Talk with your child and work through all of their questions. Then pray with them, and for them, and you will be amazed at how easily Jesus can wipe their little soul clean for a new start. The last thing you should do is start down a self-accusational road that makes you feel condemned and keeps you from ministering effectively to your child.

So, I want to address this in as helpful way as I can. I don’t normally write blog posts that are this long or this detailed, but I really believe this is an important and timely issue. If you have young children, or have friends that do, please take the time to read through this and pass it on.
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111 days ago /  Tagged: , , , , , 2