Take a second and think about this question:

If someone were to come up to you today and tell you that your entire belief system was wrong, would you listen to him and try to discern what he was saying?

Two thoughts come to mind when I think of this question. First, that is what we do to others who we seek to lead to Christ, telling them they are wrong instead of leading them to truth. I think there is a big difference in these two methods. Second, I know that if one told me my entire belief system was wrong, I would give him the time of day and listen to what he had to say, if for no other reason than being able to refute what he was saying and seek to lead him to the Lord.

I think my point is this. All too often we get prideful of our existing belief systems and believe in the form and facet of what we beleive and the culture in which we believe it rather than what we actually believe. I think that gets many religious people into trouble and keeps them from truly knowing and loving Jesus Christ.

This world is just such a big place and so diverse, I am continually humbled as to the beauty and diversity of the Creation. I want to see it all, I want to talk with natives in Hanoi, cut firewood in Siberia, view the wildlife in Kenya, see the coastlife in South Africa, attend a wedding in India, all with the people of God's Creation. I want to do so much, and I want all of it to glorify God! My heart yearns to meet others and bring out the glory of our Creator!

I just finished reading this article about the two guys that write the "Left Behind" series. It's funny that you think you know something about someone based on the books they write, the fame they garner, etc. But really after reading this I find that they are just normal humans like you and I, except maybe just a hair richer. They have the same struggles with their faith, some questions for the Lord, etc. They seek to live their life pleasing to Him. Whether I like the books or agree with them is a moot point, they are on this same journey as I as children of the Lord and we are brothers in the Kingdom of God. That is refreshing and very freeing to know.

I don't know why but I have no interest in this homosexual marriage thing. I get all these emails and read all of the articles but I just want to stay totally out of it. It makes me wonder why my heart is like this but it just wants to stay neutral. Crazy...

Just a couple of thoughts on this rainy Friday morning...

The weather does crazy things to one psychy (sp?). Every Friday I have coffee with a friend. Last Friday the weather was great and I left Starbucks feeling great, ready to take on the day. This Friday the weather sucks and I felt like crap when I left, wanting just to go home and go to bed. Every other variable was constant except the weather...

When we read some of Jesus' teachings and that of the entire NT, we find that many of the teachings are radical. But then as we re-read and study and grow in the Lord, we find that living in His Kingdom is something that is very radical and takes a radical commitment, something we in the West have a tough time with...

Along with that, if I were to ask what the essence of Christianity was, I would say the Gospel. What does one do to become saved? Believe the Gospel, which is found in 1 Cor. 15. Yet I know a lot of people who would affirm 1 Cor. 15, yet I would not believe they are saved. Is there more to it then? Doesn't that then make it works? I'm confused by this...

As I said before, God continues to draw me into His Kingdom and the radical living that it requires. My prayer is just that I can live what the Spirit is guiding me into...

Last, I used to think I was high stuff in God's Kingdom. But He is really convicting and humbling me more lately. There are so many people out there who are just spiritual giants compared to me. That's all right, but I just have to remember that the first will be last and vice versa, and instead of building my own Kingdom on this earth I need to build up the Kingdom of God.

God Bless!

I think I finally figured out last night the fulfillment of my heart's desire. It's quite simple, living for Jesus Christ with my entire mind, body, and spirit. Living every single minute of every single day for Him. That is what I desire, that is my understanding of Kingdom living, the problem is what does that mean. That is my question but at least I now know what my heart is longing for. I think I knew it already but not it is in the forefront of my mind.

I continue in my reading to hear how the new wave of thinking focuses so much more on grace rather than legalism. I like to hear this, yet my heart is still struggling to move from one to the other. I totally am in with the grace thing when it deals with others, for instance showing the grace and love of Christ to unwed mothers, to the poor, etc. However, when it comes to my own life I tend to stay on the side of legalism, not wanting to use grace as a license to sin. Right now I am thinking that this is because I know my heart and my ways and know that if I go too far who knows what may happen, and I don't want to fall into sin. I'll stay on the right for now in my personal life and go to the left when dealing with others. We'll see what happens with that.

I messed up on that last one, three thousand weren't saved as a result of that, more were added to the number being saved. Sorry, I think the same point holds true though.

Ditto on that last blog about understanding love more now that I am a father. Maiya never talks on the phone but talked to me for a few minutes today, told me about her day, and told me she loved me. I could hardly understand her but it is the thought that counts. I see her vying for my affection more lately, please pray that I continue to realize this and put her before my other useless hobbies I like to spend my time on.

I didn't mean to go here, but I am thinking right now of how stupid and worthless it is to put one's time, especially if one is a Christian, in the meaningless things of this world. Here I am, a father of a beautiful little girl, I have the power, according to research, to play a large role in how she will grow up, and here I am sitting at the computer in the evening ignoring her as she is trying to get me to play with her. I make myself want to puke.

What I meant to write about today was my struggle trying to balance having non-believers at our Sunday gathering with keeping it just to believers. I see the purpose and believe strongly that believers need time just to hang out by themselves. Yet I also see biblically that Paul told the Christians in Corinth to behave themselves in case non-believers were present (which means they were welcome at the gatherings?) and how in Acts 2 three thousand were saved when they saw how the believers lived.

What really got me thinking on this was Robert E. Webber's comment in his book "Younger Evangelicals" that "Evangelism is not 'come to Christ and then to church' but 'come to church and then to Christ.'"

Like I said, I see both sides, right now I am going to stay with the former but think more on the latter.

I think I have already blogged on the fact that since becoming a father, I have been able to understand the love of God in a better way. Recently though, this has come to the forefront of my mind in an even greater fashion.

For example, my dauther is very shy (I say she is weird but I don't really mean that). Right now, and I hope it is just her age, but it seems like she has trouble fitting in and playing with other children. So when I watch her, my heart just goes out to her, I grieve for her and my entire spirit just feels for her. I want so much for her to be accepted and get along with others and fit in and so on. I get that feeling in my stomach, I think you all know what I mean, that feeling you get when you want something so bad you would do anything for it. It's that feeling.

I think God has that feeling for us all the time. In a different way than I have it for my daughter of course, but that same feeling. He wants so much for us to just love Him, to be in His presence, to sit in His arms and enjoy His company, His Spirit, His love and grace. Of course He wants us to serve Him and others as well, but I think more than that just to be His child. And when we struggle and don't live or love as we should, I think He gets that feeling as well. I could be wrong, but I am finding out more and more how much He loves me and wants me to experience that love.