Today as I was out running errands I passed a church marquee that read, "You can't be good enough to get into Heaven, you must be born again!"
My mind began circling around the idea of being "born again" into Heaven and this thought occurred to me, people have no problem understanding the fact that you have to be born first to live on this Earth. You don't ever introduce yourself to a new friend and ask, "So, how do you believe you got to this Earth?" We don't ponder various theories of how people arrive here on Earth. Even the biggest sceptic doesn't walk around saying, "There are many ways you can get to Earth, there is no one true way." They don't say it because they would sound crazy...everyone knows there is only one way to get to Earth. You are conceived by a man and a woman, you are nurtured in a womb and ultimately you are delivered from that womb.
Let's think about the word "delivered" for a moment. When we think about being delivered it usually means we are escaping something painful or seeking something more meaningful. We talk about people in history being delivered out of captivity. Now think about being delivered into Heaven - you leave behind the suffering of being separated from God and you enter into the most meaningful relationship you will ever experience, a personal relationship with God!
Why is it so hard to understand that there is only one way to get to Heaven? And that the path to Heaven involves being born? You are born onto the Earth, why couldn't you be born into Heaven?
Our spirit is conceived by God, and during our life here on Earth He is nurturing us in hopes that one day our spirit will be delivered into His kingdom. I have never seen a documentary on the birth of the spirit, but that birth is just as miraculous as being born of the flesh! Ask anyone who has ever been delivered from sin and separation from God! Like our lives are forever changed by being born of the flesh when we leave our mother's womb, once we are born of the spirit we are never the same again! The difference in a person's life after they are born again is not forced upon them, the changes are as natural as the changes an infant experiences as they learn to breath and cry. Have you experienced the awesome wonder of being born of the spirit?
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Stewardship, pass it on...
I just calculated that if my kids start working at age 15 and invest $35 each week until age 65 (at 6% return) they could retire on $500k. If they make the same contribution starting at age 35, the total would drop to $136k. Or, if they contribute that same amount starting at age 5, the total goes up to $918k! This is just an example of the impact money management can have over a lifetime.
Money management is an important skill at many levels... individuals, marriages, families, communities, corporations and governments. Teaching this skill is one of the most significant ways we can help our kids improve their future.
Even now I give my preschooler a bit of change each week and he has five banks where he divides the money - share, tax, retire, save, spend.
"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Genesis 2:15
Management on a more personal level is called stewardship, and it is an important piece of developing a full character of integrity. Even above being stewards of our resources, we are stewards of our souls and the souls of those around us. What does that mean? I believe it involves seeking spiritual truth, sharing what we discover, treating others with respect and being an example of virtue.
"'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,' declares the Lord."
Jeremiah 29:13
"The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"
Galatians 5:22-23
Imagine that the numbers I mentioned earlier are not dollars but lives of people. How many could you impact if you start intentionally investing today?
Stewardship is a lifestyle, it demonstrates self-respect, respect for the resources we have been given and respect for those before us, around us and after us. May we strive as individuals to be good stewards with our lives, and may we motivate others who are watching.
Stewardship is a lifestyle, it demonstrates self-respect, respect for the resources we have been given and respect for those before us, around us and after us. May we strive as individuals to be good stewards with our lives, and may we motivate others who are watching.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
What do you believe about Jesus Christ?
How can anyone get anything enjoyable or useful out of a gift if all they do is examine it from the outside? (1)
Metaphorically speaking, many people think the idea of Jesus is a pretty package, yet choose to leave it sitting all wrapped up under the tree and never open it. They don't really have anything bad to say about Jesus, but neither do they accept His gift of reconciliation.
There is a very thoughtful argument refuting the idea that Jesus was just good, personally I think it is a thrilling concept! Jesus Christ cannot be called good without being called God - there are three possible choices here. 1) He WAS indeed who He said He was, the Son of God and our Redeemer; 2) He was LYING His pants off (which would eliminate the option of being "good"); or 3) He was simply CRAZY and didn't know what He was talking about (again, not the profile of someone you could classify as "good"). (8)
The past few years for me have held many spiritual discussions on a variety of meaningful topics. Some of these have been dialogues with other people and some merely monologues with myself. But no other topic is as relevant to our human spirituality as the discussion about Jesus.
Recently the teachings at our church have been centered around the overwhelming evidence there is in support of Bible based beliefs. (2) And if you prefer evidence provided by a more objective source, I also recently saw a convincing program produced by a national television network and hosted by an internationally renowned journalist. (3)
As I consider the fundamentals of those beliefs, especially concerning eternity, I begin to feel a tremendous burden for those who have missed the message, whether by intentionally dismissing it or by accident through ignorance or neglect.
Here is the nutshell version I like to use:
There is one God, and there are three types of relationship we have with Him. (4)
God the Father, Yahweh, created us and watches over us - He also gives us free will to do what we choose, and will ultimately judge us for our choices. The most important choice being whether we accept His gift of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. (5)
God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to show us how to live and forgive us of our sins - He left behind his royal place in Heaven to get down and dirty here on Earth, His life was the prime example we have for how to live in obedience to God the Father and in love and service to one another. Even more, He took our place in Hell even defeating the powers of Hell for our sake. He ultimately offers us reconciliation with God the Father, and He now is preparing a place for us in Heaven if we choose to accept His gift of reconciliation. (6)
God the Spirit, Holy Spirit, comes to live in our hearts and minds to comfort and guide us if we accept the gift of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. (7)
Your decision about Jesus Christ influences your relationship with God, your life here on Earth and ultimately your experience for eternity. To be reconciled with God the Father you must accept His gift of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. To receive the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit you must accept the gift of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. It would seem as if all of spirituality hinges on that question, what do you believe about Jesus Christ? Of course, only God is God, only He knows the hearts of people, but He has provided us with a message of reconciliation that we should not ignore and we should not keep to ourselves.
I challenge you today to make a decision about Jesus Christ - what do you believe, is He Lord, liar or lunatic? (9) Now go talk to somebody about your decision...let's keep the conversation going!
Notes:
(1) Of course, you also need to be able to tell the difference between a true gift and a prank simply disguised as a gift. (1 John 4:1-21)
(2) http://www.kineticchurch.com/teaching/ (pending, February 2013)
(3) "Back to the Beginning", ABC News, Christiane Amanpour
(4) Matthew 28:19, John 10:30, Romans 8:9, Ephesians 4:4-6
(5) Genesis 1:26, Psalm 91:11, Deuteronomy 30:19, Revelation 20:12-15
(6) John 3:16
(7) John 14:26
(8) Concept from Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (arguement known as the trilemma)
(9) Josh McDowell
Metaphorically speaking, many people think the idea of Jesus is a pretty package, yet choose to leave it sitting all wrapped up under the tree and never open it. They don't really have anything bad to say about Jesus, but neither do they accept His gift of reconciliation.
There is a very thoughtful argument refuting the idea that Jesus was just good, personally I think it is a thrilling concept! Jesus Christ cannot be called good without being called God - there are three possible choices here. 1) He WAS indeed who He said He was, the Son of God and our Redeemer; 2) He was LYING His pants off (which would eliminate the option of being "good"); or 3) He was simply CRAZY and didn't know what He was talking about (again, not the profile of someone you could classify as "good"). (8)
The past few years for me have held many spiritual discussions on a variety of meaningful topics. Some of these have been dialogues with other people and some merely monologues with myself. But no other topic is as relevant to our human spirituality as the discussion about Jesus.
Recently the teachings at our church have been centered around the overwhelming evidence there is in support of Bible based beliefs. (2) And if you prefer evidence provided by a more objective source, I also recently saw a convincing program produced by a national television network and hosted by an internationally renowned journalist. (3)
As I consider the fundamentals of those beliefs, especially concerning eternity, I begin to feel a tremendous burden for those who have missed the message, whether by intentionally dismissing it or by accident through ignorance or neglect.
Here is the nutshell version I like to use:
There is one God, and there are three types of relationship we have with Him. (4)
God the Father, Yahweh, created us and watches over us - He also gives us free will to do what we choose, and will ultimately judge us for our choices. The most important choice being whether we accept His gift of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. (5)
God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to show us how to live and forgive us of our sins - He left behind his royal place in Heaven to get down and dirty here on Earth, His life was the prime example we have for how to live in obedience to God the Father and in love and service to one another. Even more, He took our place in Hell even defeating the powers of Hell for our sake. He ultimately offers us reconciliation with God the Father, and He now is preparing a place for us in Heaven if we choose to accept His gift of reconciliation. (6)
God the Spirit, Holy Spirit, comes to live in our hearts and minds to comfort and guide us if we accept the gift of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. (7)
Your decision about Jesus Christ influences your relationship with God, your life here on Earth and ultimately your experience for eternity. To be reconciled with God the Father you must accept His gift of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. To receive the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit you must accept the gift of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. It would seem as if all of spirituality hinges on that question, what do you believe about Jesus Christ? Of course, only God is God, only He knows the hearts of people, but He has provided us with a message of reconciliation that we should not ignore and we should not keep to ourselves.
I challenge you today to make a decision about Jesus Christ - what do you believe, is He Lord, liar or lunatic? (9) Now go talk to somebody about your decision...let's keep the conversation going!
Notes:
(1) Of course, you also need to be able to tell the difference between a true gift and a prank simply disguised as a gift. (1 John 4:1-21)
(2) http://www.kineticchurch.com/teaching/ (pending, February 2013)
(3) "Back to the Beginning", ABC News, Christiane Amanpour
(4) Matthew 28:19, John 10:30, Romans 8:9, Ephesians 4:4-6
(5) Genesis 1:26, Psalm 91:11, Deuteronomy 30:19, Revelation 20:12-15
(6) John 3:16
(7) John 14:26
(8) Concept from Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (arguement known as the trilemma)
(9) Josh McDowell
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