Recall Notice

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed "Sub-sequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some of the symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.

The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

For repair, please contact the manufacturer through prayer. Once connected, please upload your burden of sin through the repentance procedure. Next, download atonement from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control

Please see the operating manual, the Bible, for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention!

P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time.

*This is not original with me, I found it recently and though it would be a great topic to blog!

PC

Just Friends?

Friends. This is a priceless commodity that we all enjoy. Friends are people we can relate to, share our heart with, and be ourselves around. Songs have been written about friends, sitcoms are based on the concept of friends, movies center on friendship, and marriages have been built by two people who were friends. We have known people who are our friends in various stages of life that we have lost contact with, like your best friend from high school or college. You have work friends, golfing buddies, guy friends, girl friends, school friends, and your best friend forever (also known as your BFF). We lump a lot of people under the title of 'friend'.

The Bible talks about a friend that sticks closer to us than a brother, and we sing songs in church like, "What a Friend we have in Jesus." To many people, Jesus is a friend, and rightfully so! But if Jesus is only your friend, you are missing out on so much more! He's the Healer, the Lover of my soul, my Strength when I am weak. He's my Defender, the Remover of fear, and the One who knit me together. He's the Man of sorrows, the living bread, and the Giver of life. I think that covers most of the areas of our life that we need more than a friend - protection, provision, defense, strength - these all come from our God.

Today, make sure Jesus is your friend - talk to Him today, pray with Him today, take Him with you on the road, but grab a hold of his strength and power today. Think through all of the many names of Christ and make Him intimately yours today.

Interpretive Coffee Psychology

There’s no way around it.  I am a huge fan of coffee. When we built our home two years ago, we actually installed a coffee maker that is plumbed right into the water supply so we don't have to measure water - the machine does it all by itself. After it measures the water for me, it superheats the water and makes an incredible cup of coffee. 

It’s not what you think.  Yes, I have a cup of coffee in the morning, to get a little caffeine into the system, but, the lure of java isn’t so much a dependency, it's like spending time with a comfortable friend. Within the sealed canister in the cabinet near the futuristic coffee maker lies an emotional connection to something warm, dark, and fragrant. Coffee is one of the simple pleasures in life that I’ll never tire of and will always quietly keep me company.  It’s freshly brewed very often, and is great fuel for conversation. 

So, this morning, with coffee in hand, and Bible before me, it’s no surprise that I associate coffee with the Word of God. Is there any connection to what kind of coffee you enjoy and what kind of Bible reader you are? Let's examine the possibilities! 

Black Coffee – Likes the Word plain and straight.

You are a hard core Berean, who enjoys printing out the text without paragraph breaks, line by line.

Your Bible is clean from notes or commentaries, just the Scriptures and maybe a concordance. You hold a separate collection of Bible dictionaries and commentaries for reference and stuff your notes in 3-ring binders that cause your shelves to sag. You are an experienced Bible scholar with defined positions on all things Biblical. You approach Scripture hoping to add to your faith and already established positions. 

Coffee with Cream and Sugar -Likes additional materials in your devotional time.

You are among friends! You enjoy adding things to your devotional time, perhaps an extended prayer time, or writing your own tune to one of the Psalms. You will find one phrase in your devotions that really stands out to you and will mark it in your Bible. You will write it all over your notes in a meeting just to keep it in your mind all day. You are a free thinker who enjoys both traditional and cutting edge sermons, as long as you learn something new about your Creator. You approach Scripture hoping to learn something new about your Bible, God, and yourself.

Cappuccino – Likes the Word like a shot of espresso, indulged with frothy foam.

 

You enjoy digging into the Word with notes and commentaries readily available, inserted alongside the text.

Your Bible is a Study Bible, and it’s most likely the "best Bible you own".  You underline and make notes in the margin.  Your Bible is covered in either (faux) leather or in a canvas Bible cover. You approach Scripture with a magnifying glass and highlighter, looking intently for something to meditate on from your study time.

Latte – Likes the Word, rich and creamy, and enjoys a foamy mustache.

 

You love walking through the Word with companions of devotional thoughts or inspirational questions.

Your bookshelf is never short of a fave devotional or Bible Study series. Your Bible might be a Life Application Bible, or it’s simply paired with your favorite “Daily Bread” or stacked on top of a study book.You approach Scripture with a stack of books, and a desire for practical instruction.

Mocha – Likes the Word, like a chocolaty treat, a rich confectionery splurge.

 

You love journaling in the Word, reflecting on Christian writing, meditations or even art, music and photography. The Word comes alive in a mosaic of artistic expressions.  Your Bible might be a journaling Bible where you weave whatever prompts your heart into God’s words.  You are an artist who takes in the Word and sees it reflected in unexpected places. You approach Scripture with an imaginative spirit, painting pictures in your mind's eye of what is happening on the pages you are reading. 

If you don't like coffee, well, that's a different problem altogether! Keep on being faithful to the Word though, regardless of your love for a smooth, wonderful cup of joe. 

Forgiverence

In November, 2001 I flew home from college for Thanksgiving break, and on that flight home, I learned a spiritual lesson. I boarded the plane in Tampa, heading for New York City when we got delayed and had to circle in a holding pattern for a few minutes. This holding pattern literally lasted about 10 minutes, but what happened lasted ten years so far. As we were circling above NYC, we were able to see some of the destruction of what used to be the World Trade Center. Everyone on the plane had been laughing and smiling and talking to one another about their destinations, and how much football they were going to see on Thanksgiving day. All of a sudden the pilot announced that if we looked out the left side of the plane we could briefly see what used to be there. 

Silence fell over the plane. People held their breath and had a range of emotion rushing through their body. A feeling of patriotism coursed through our veins as we beheld in awe what had happened there merely two months prior. That was pure awe. It was reverence for that scene that silenced everyone on the plane. It was a moment that has been etched in my mind as strongly as the moment I heard about the towers falling. That moment changed a part of me. 

That was awe. All of us on that 747 experienced what the Bible tells us is how we relate to God. 

We have many reasons to stand in awe of God - He is everything we are not, and that causes us to revere Him and stand in awe - He is perfectly holy, He is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, omnitemporal. He exists everywhere at once, and holds the world in motion. He directs mankind and draws all men to Himself. He provides salvation and eternal life to anyone who asks in faith. In comparison to me, I can, tie my shoes by myself seems to be the best thing I can come up with!

However, this morning, I found another reason to stand in awe, and this one is a shocker. This one is a game changer. 

Psalm 130:3-4 says “If you, O Lord, keep a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. 

What we have here is the understanding that God does not keep a record of all our forgiven shortcomings and forgiven sins. In His omniscience, He certainly could, but there's a conscious decision not to. 

Forgiveness is at the forefront of our heavenly Father’s thinking. The power of pardon is permanent with God, and He is ready to forgive in an instant. So go to God with guilt, and leave it with Him, because He saves and forgives to the uttermost.
 

Even more, forgiven sin is even more reason to fear God. Because you have experienced His redeeming love, there is immense reverence and awe for Him because He does not rain down judgment. God’s grace leads us to have such a holy regard for Him that we fear grieving Him with continued sin. Forgiveness leads to reverence: forgiverence.

God has every right to destroy us and leave nothing but a pair of smoking shoes where we used to be, but He forgives us, not keeping a running total of those forgiven sins of the past. Think on that today, and be most grateful! Experience forgiverance today!

8? What? I didn't learn that one...

In my reading this morning, I came across an interesting statement. A man by the name of Evagrius of Pontus, a 4th century monk who coined the phrase "The 7 Deadly Sins" originally had 8 on the list, but hacked it to seven because, as we all know, 7 is the most holy of numbers! The eighth deadly sin? Gloom. That's right, along with Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride, we have Gloom.

After some interesting investigation, I am convinced that 8 deadly sins are more complete, and here's why. In the early church, the spirit of joy was abundant. Joy is the opposite of gloom, and joy was seen throughout early Christianity. They were accused of possessing overflowing joy, beautiful, and most dangerous of all, contagious joy.

Contrast these early believers with some of the other 1st century pagan religions - these pagans were in a settled position of despair, sadness, and pessimism as they worshiped with unsettled doubts in their hearts. These early Christians were filled with joy and hope that radiated outward!

The gospel begins and ends with joy. Have you ever considered that? It's true! Gabriel's words to Mary when she found out that she was carrying the Son of God were, I bring you good tidings of great joy (Luke 2). How does it conclude? Luke 24, following the resurrection and ascension of Christ, we read that the disciples headed out to Jerusalem with great joy. In John 15, Jesus promises His joy to be with them, and that joy would be made full.

Joy is an attribute of God - God has joy when a sinner comes to saving faith, and the sign of God in someone's life is joy!

Joy should be one of your obvious characteristics that people know about you. Don't be "the guy with the beard," or "that lady who always cracks her knuckles". Work today on showing joy to others - have a settled peace that comes across loud and clear.

A Constant Battle

I read an article this morning entitled, "Despite missing goal, Girardi proud of Yanks". This was an article, about how the coach of the New York Yankees was disappointed in the outcome of the 2011 baseball season, but very proud of his team members for putting on such an excellent display on the field.

This got me thinking about my failures, and my shortcomings as a Christian. Sure, there are a few (who am I kidding, there's a myriad of failures in my life) struggles that I have, and in the 20 years that I have been a Christian, I have never reached the goal of complete obedience to Christ, or total faithfulness to the things of the Lord. I have fallen short every time of reaching a spiritual peak. And so have you. Multiple times.

Christianity is a constant battle of progress and failure, struggles and breakthrough. If it were a simple, sinless path of righteousness with no challenges, we wouldn't have to rely on God for our strength! Today, accept your shortcomings as opportunities to grow. Accept the defeat as a means to pull yourself closer to your Heavenly Father.

The Yankees didn't meet their goal of world championship number 28 this year, but when they do (next year?) the celebration will be sweet, and the defeats of the past will be forgotten. How much time are you going to spend on your defeats and shortcomings when you are in heaven? My guess is...none. Embrace this day as a gift from God and grow as a Christian through both your shortcomings and successes.

Community Relevance

We have just had one of the most exciting outreach efforts at our church in the time that I have been here. We held Praise in the Park, an off-site service that enabled us to cancel our regular Sunday evening service and move it to a city park, right in the downtown area of Delmar, a small town on the Delaware/Maryland line (hence Del/Mar).

We had to postpone the initial event due to the hurricane, but the second time was the winner! We had excellent attendance, and experienced some incredible music from a couple of our musicians in our church. The casual atmosphere created a very non-confrontational invitation to others in the community, and we got to meet some new faces in our midst.

All in all, this was a wonderful, incredibly new and exciting event to put on, and be a part of in our community.

Ministry has evolved into community interaction. We have got to be engaged in our community, and while we are living our lives in the community, we should be showing other Christ through our words, actions, and attitudes. The great commission expects us to be active in our community - Literally, the Commission says "As you are going [about your daily lives in your community], make disciples..."

Today, look around for someone that you see every day, or pass in the hallway, and think of how you, as you go about your daily life, can make another disciple for Christ.