Things That Are Interesting

I’m not voting.

Call me a traitor.  Call me irresponsiible.  Call me what you wish, but after both the Republican and Demoncratic National Conventions, I see it as pointless to vote.  Essentially both candidates are promising the exact same things.  “Where’s the proof?” you ask.  Go here and here and you can see.  CNN took note of what each candidate was promising during his acceptance speech.  As you read through those lists, count how many times a particular candidate is proposing to do something his opponent is against.  It equals zero.

Here’s the thing.  This world is messed up.  Their are problems in America and throughout the rest of the world.  Politics solves none of them.  God is the only one who can.  Living out the things written in his word are the only way we can change the world for the better.  Granted, there are millions of programs, policies, procedures, and people that mean well, but until we can live out the life God has created for us, nothing will ever get better.

Love your enemies, don’t bomb them for oil.  Treat homosexuals and those who have had aboritions with love, not hate.  Seek God and his purposes first and everything you worry about will be taken care of.  Live of life of integrity and purpose.  Be like Jesus.

You want change?  Live like Jesus.

Volunteer

I work with kids for a living.  I prepeare lessons and write questions and facilitate environments of spiritual growth for them.  The thing is, none of it would be possible with out the volunteers I love with all of my heart.  They are much more important than I.

Tonight I spent an hour in front of the thirty-two volunteers out of seventy-five or so that come in faithfully on the weekends and love God and love kids.  I could not thank them genuinely or long enough to let them know how much the truly mean to me and my two fellow elementary co-workers.  They are our eyes and ears.  They are the hugs that welcome a kid into a new and strange environment.  They are the Connect Four professionals that every kid wants to beat just once to earn bragging rights as a giant slayer.  I love them all dearly, even those whose names I forget on a weekly basis.  Thank you all for the hard work you do and for how great you make a child’s experience.

If you aren’t doing something in your life to make even a little difference in another’s, please turn of your computer now and go find someone whose life you can change.  It will probably change yours.

Crazy Churches

Seriously?

Truth decay?

I was talking to my friend John today while we were at lunch. John as been a summer intern at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, located in Las Vegas, where I work. John was born and raised in Kentucky and goes to Johnson Bible College in Johnson, TN. He also is the youth pastor at a small church somewhere in the southeast. I’m not sure how our conversation ended up where it did, but we spent a good amount of time talking about how crazy churches in the east are.

I know this may come off as rude, but so many churches in the east think they have everything figured out. The way to heaven. The way to a closer relationship with God. The way to get “more jewels in your crown” as they say. Sadly, most of it is solely based on the tradition of the church rather than what the Bible really says. Many churches believe that the only way to grow closer to God and be more loved by him is to bring so many people to Christ or serve this many homeless people a hot meal or attend this many church services. It is simply not true. Our relationship with Jesus is based only upon our trust in him.

In Philippians 3, we read about Paul, the author of the letter, and where his confidence lies. Paul tells those he is writing the letter to that there is no reason to put confidence in human effort to be more loved by God, and he, of all people, has the most reason for human confidence. Paul grew up a pure bred Jewish male. He followed every law brought forth by Moses, never breaking one. He was a pharisee; one of the most respected spiritual leaders of his day, and had earned the respect of his peers. But listen to what he says. Paul says:

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Paul considers everything he worked for his whole life—all his schooling and religious studies—GARBAGE compared to who Jesus is and how Jesus loves him. It does not matter how good or bad we have been, we are still loved by Christ and mean the world to him. Our standing with him does not rely upon our efforts, but upon placing our trust in him and giving Jesus control of our lives.

If you have been burned by the church for not being “holy enough,” I am sorry. Please understand you still matter to God and he loves you regardless of your faults. He offers forgiveness for our sins if we ask, and will be happy to make us right with him again.