Another in a long line (whch will get longer) of old man's wondering.

9So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?
 Luke 6:46 NLT

Well?   What is your answer?

Just a Thought (and/or reminder)

I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.  ~ Psalm 120:1 NLT

Then when you call, the Lord will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply.   Isaiah 58:9 NLT



 Thank you KLOVE and Air1 for these verses of the day.

 

More Wondering By This Oldman

 ⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.   Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)

Again a verse of the day that will start one wondering; read yesterdays for my wonderings on church unity.  This one gets me to thinking about how we treat our physical body and if we would/do treat Christ's body likewise.  Just my wondering thoughts!!!

Building the House

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.       Ephesians 2:20 NLT


This verse was the verse of the day from either Klove or Air1 today.  It got me to wondering "what are we apart?"  I guess I see Christendom as a house divided; not together.  I am not even meaning denominations.  I am think of the clans of the Christendom like the American Baptists or the United Methodists or the Presbyterians or the  Southern Baptists.     In fact it is more like individual congregations can not even be built together into a house on one foundation.  Another man in my church and I were talking when we were the only two to show for men's group Wednesday about the church (the local congregation we fellowship in) and what it will take to get the body to care about the not-yet-Christians in our community.  As I look back at the conversation in the light of this verse it just may be a need of "coming together" allowing the cornerstone Christ Jesus himself to build the house one the foundation of His choosing.

Just my wondering wandering mind at work!

Just A Thought!!

Do not remember where on the net I found this (did so long ago) but it is a thought!!!!!

Wondering some more

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. ~ Psalm 103:8, NLT

When I saw this verse in my E-mail this morning, my first thought was is this our image of God as his children and is it the image the world, the not-yet-christians, has of God?  In both case I think the answer is no.   For the not-yet-christians I think it is a fear, as well as a message given, at least in times past, of God being "out to get you!"  The image of "God sending people to Hell".  This may be the same thing that causes God's kids to not think of God in this way.  Just wondering way before I even had a chance to wander today!

Another thought came as I wrote; why are we as God's kids not acting like our Daddy.  Being compassionate, merciful, slow to anger (been in a church board meeting or business meeting lately?) and filled with UNFAILING love?   Again simply wondering!

More wondering

This post from Holy Soup; got me to wondering . . .

I wonder if there is a relationahip issue in the church as a whole; as in we do not have relationships with each other as well as Jesus. We come to church but are not church, are not a body dependant on one another. Especially in larger churches, but in even in the small church where I am a member there is a limited commitment to relationship without the estabished groups. The mens grp just talked about the lack of fellowship event — events for no other reason than simply building relationships. We have men’s/women’s mnistry on Wednesday (a time of study) Sunday School and Worship Sunday AM (study based) when do sit around andget to know each other? Also most churches I have been apart of in the last 20 years have done away with Sunday Evening time when the “Testimony time” was. Just wondering; would this have anything to do with a lack of people having a today vs historical Jesus?

Another Moment of Wondering

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.  2 Peter 1:3 NLT

Peter tells us that God had given us what we need to live a Godly life; therefore we have no reason or excuse for not living Godly!  Maybe the reason we have problems is that we do not "come to know Jesus"!  Just a thought!!!!!! (Thanks AJ3)

Interesting 2!!!!

Dan Edelen wrote a response to the Out of Ur article I looked at Friday 032212.  I love it when some one prove the left wrong!!!!!!

Interesting!?!

Interesting Out of Ur Article

I like Peter Berger idea it reminds me of a teaching in Matthew 7:13 & 14  ¹³ "Enter through the narrow gate. The gate is wide and the road is wide that leads to hell, and many people enter through that gate. ¹⁴ But the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to true life. Only a few people find that road.

I wonder if practice what you preach is not the mantra of the younger set?  I see the Body of Christ at times being right in their thoughts but wrong in their actions.  Homosexuality and Abortion being the two that come to mind.  We have handled both as if they are Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit; unforgivable.  It is the one place we as the Body of Christ will allow hate speech; both from the pulpit and from the pew.  This cause the young folks to call Bull Manure alert and Rightfully so.  We need to look at Berger's, as well as Campbell and Putnam's, thinking and deal with the whys and hows of the matter.

Here is  Berger's full response

One more moment of wondering

This is a video of Ed Dobson. While his statements are about his life as a pastor; I wonder if it is not just as true of the body of Christ in general; ie the congregation.  We get so busy with the business of the work of the ministry that we forget to do the ministry in the community in which God has planted us.
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/living/2012/02/11/eds-story-my-garden.cnn#/video/living/2012/02/11/eds-story-my-garden.cnn

Just wondering

^1-3 "I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
⁴"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
^5-8"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.   John 15:1-8 (The Message)

As I read this I wonder if there is a reason for the majority of churches in the United States not growing.  Especially, the first eight verses.  Just a thought.

Fank and Ernest nails it.

Saw this in todays paper; just thought it was worth a repost for those who missed it.

Marriage and Sex

Here is another video that is a must watch  thanks K Love on there facebook page.

God knows more than you think he knows!

Psalm 139 New Century Version (NCV)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹ Lord, you have examined me and know all about me.
² You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them.
³ You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do.
⁴ Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it.
⁵ You are all around me—in front and in back— and have put your hand on me.
⁶ Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand.
⁷ Where can I go to get away from your Spirit? Where can I run from you?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the grave, you are there.
⁹ If I rise with the sun in the east and settle in the west beyond the sea,
¹⁰ even there you would guide me. With your right hand you would hold me.
¹¹ I could say, "The darkness will hide me.  Let the light around me turn into night."
¹² But even the darkness is not dark to you. The night is as light as the day; darkness and light are the same to you.
¹³ You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother's body.
¹⁴ I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.  What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.
¹⁵ You saw my bones being formed as I took shape in my mother's body. When I was put together there, ¹⁶ you saw my body as it was formed. All the days planned for me
were written in your book before I was one day old.
¹⁷ God, your thoughts are precious to me. They are so many!
¹⁸ If I could count them, they would be more than all the grains of sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
¹⁹ God, I wish you would kill the wicked! Get away from me, you murderers!
²⁰ They say evil things about you. Your enemies use your name thoughtlessly.
²¹ Lord, I hate those who hate you; I hate those who rise up against you.

 ²² I feel only hate for them; they are my enemies.
²³ God, examine me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any bad thing in me. Lead me on the road to everlasting life.

I have read this verse a number of times; never really saw waht I was shown during men's Bible Study.  The discussion that night showed me another way this passage canbe used.  It can be used as a way of pointing out to people that God already knows what you hve done. Not just us in the church but even not-yet-christians.  Those who say God cn't love me becasue I am TOO BAD A PERSON for God to love.  If they are willing to believe the Bible then Romans 5:8 (NCV)  "But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners." points out that Christ died for us while we were still sinners, at odds with God, and the Psalm 139 points out that knew EVERYTHING about us and the person we are speaking with WHEN CHRIST DIED FOR US!

To me the is the GREAT NEWS of the GOD NEWS!  God was willing to die for us knowing everything about us!!

Seeking GOD

Hebrews 11:6c (New Living Translation) [GOD] rewards those who sincerely [diligently] seek [God].

So, my  question is just how sincerely, diligently, do we seek God both as individuals and as a body?  The word sincerely, means "without wax".  It was used to tell the buyer that a carving had not had places repaired or cracks find with wax mixed with stone dust.  So are should be with a mindset of really seeking God not just paying lip service to the idea.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diligently?show=0&t=1326916591 defines this way : "characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort : painstaking".   I think of a Bloodhound on a scent.  I have heard of Bloodhounds running the pads of their paws raw refusing to give up on a scent.  Do we seek God in a way that would make us "bleed"?

Just wondering?   Again no wandering involved!

GOD Cares for you!

Isaiah 43:1-7 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

¹The Lord created Jacob and formed Israel. Now, this is what the Lord says:

Do not be afraid, because I have reclaimed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
²When you go through the sea, I am with you.
When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away.
When you walk through fire, you will not be burned,
and the flames will not harm you.
³I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Egypt is the ransom I exchanged for you.
Sudan and Seba are the price I paid for you.
⁴Since you are precious to me, you are honored and I love you.
I will exchange others for you.
Nations will be the price I pay for your life.
⁵Do not be afraid, because I am with you.
I will bring your descendants from the east
and gather you from the west.
⁶I will say to the north, “Give them up,”
and to the south, “Do not keep them.”
Bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the ends of the earth.
⁷Bring everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.

As I read this passage preparing for a Men's Bible Study I was impressed by the idea of how we are precious, honored and loved by God.  This in turn got me to thinking that those who yet to know God through Jesus are also precious, loved, and honored by God.  This lead me to think about who we God's children do not honor, love and find precious those who yet to know our Papa, our Abba, Baba, our Daddy, our Father.  We are God's children and God's Ambassadors; shouldn't we love, honor and find precious those he finds precious; who He loves and who He honors?

Just wondering!! No wandering involved!

This is a great video! thanks to the friend who posted on facebook

A question asked

As we began the men's group at church last night we started discussing the what the body needed to do as a way of ministry.  One of the questions asked was why we as a church/as individuals did not do the outreach we ought to do.

We came up with a number of reasons from fear of rejection; being told no; lack of training (or maybe that should be no paying attention to the training we have had) and I even suggested that we just did not want to; God might call us to do outreach to a person but we simply said NO! to God's Holy Spirit.

As my mind tends to do, I am the old man and I do wonder, my brain continued to turn the question over; as it did so a couple of old sermon illustration came to mind.  Both you will see below; (Thank God for the Internet search engine!).

 

"The Parable Of The Lifesaving Station"

On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, they went out day or night tirelessly searching for the lost. Many lives were saved by this wonderful little station, so that it became famous. Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding areas, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews were trained. The little lifesaving station grew. Some of the new members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and so poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. They replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in an enlarged building. Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they redecorated it beautifully and furnished it as a sort of club. Less of the members were now interested in going to sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired life boat crews to do this work. The mission of lifesaving was still given lip-service but most were too busy or lacked the necessary commitment to take part in the lifesaving activities personally. About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boat loads of cold, wet and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick, some had skin of a different color, some spoke a strange language, and the beautiful new club was considerably messed up. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside. At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal pattern of the club. But some members insisted that lifesaving was their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save the life of all various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast. They did. As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. They evolved into a club and yet another lifesaving station was founded. If you visit the seacoast today you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters, but now most of the people drown!-- Taken from Personal Evangelism 101, by Brent Hunter

The Starfish Story

adapted from The Star Thrower

by Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977)

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

I see a few of things from the lifesaving station.  First, we have stopped seeing the need to reach a dieing world.  Second, we enjoy the safety and comfort of the station (the church building) Third, is those who still see the need must continue the work either in a new place or inspite of the majority and (while not in the story blame God for this) not blame or condemn the majority for their lack of commitment.  It is not our job as the people seeing the need to a) force the others in the church to se the need and b) force the others to do outreach.  Those who see the need, WE must go out and reach "rescue" the needy and dieing world!

The Starfish story spoke to me in the area of some feeling overwhelmed by the great need.  People get overwhelmed by the great number of unreached folks they see and get the attitude of "what does it matter we can not reach them all!"  Yet like the starfish thrower; we need to pick up the one near us and throw it back!  We need, we must reach the person/people we can and allow God to figure out how to reach the person/people we can not reach.

Surprizing what one question does!!!

Advent past and Advent future

At the first Advent the message of the angels to the shepherds was;
Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.  ¹¹The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!  ¹²And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:9b - 12 New Living Translation)

And Jesus spoke these word to the eleven and to us as we await the second advent;
 ¹⁸Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  ¹⁹Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  ²⁰Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Matthew 28:18 - 20 (NLT)  & Acts 1:8 (NLT)

Let us do these things until He comes!!