low-minded Christians

I just got through reading an article that I have to share.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/gospeldrivenchurch/2013/07/30/in-praise-of-the-low-minded-christian/

In Praise of the Low-Minded Christian

A long time ago in a blogosphere far, far away, a fellow named Judson Heartsill offered the following toast at the Boar’s Head Tavern. That post has been lost to the electronic aether, but I’m glad I archived it for safe keeping. I present to you “A Toast to the Low-Minded Christian”:

I’m talking about the low-minded Christian.
Everybody knows one. Or two.
They send you chain blessing emails. (Send this back to me and 5 other people, or you’re a mean pud who doesn’t like God). They send you emails PURPORTEDLY by Andy Rooney about how there’s pictures of the 10 commandments everywhere in Washington D.C. on buildings.
They probably believe the earth is 6,000 years old.
They’re Christians primarily because they don’t want to go to hell.
They want to go to heaven primarily to see their grandma.
They watch some TBN occasionally.
They gave you a copy of “The Purpose Driven Life”.
They’re threatening to give you a copy of “Your Best Life Now”.
If they even know what apologetics is, they probably think it’s demeaning to Christians.
They read certain portions of Ephesians and tell you “now, I just can’t believe that Paul really means what he’s saying here, on election.”
Know the type?
Here’s some other facts about some of them.
They believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead– something only God could have revealed to them.
They watch their tongues.
Singing hymns or praise songs makes their heart leap upwards.
They read their bible every morning at 5:00 AM.
God is using them, right now, to make his will be done on earth.
God bless them.
High-minded Christian: You know a lot. Are you putting all that knowledge to use to serve your Master and your fellow slaves? Or are you using it to stoke your ego? It pleases God to use the weak. Just how weak are you? As weak as your low-minded brethren? I sure hope so.

I loved that piece then, and I love it now. I also need it, as a reminder and rebuke of my frequent cooler-than-thou-ness.

I remember back when some church produced a video that went viral pitting “authentic Christ-followers” against nerdy “Christians.” The message was as clear as it was simplistic and stupid: “real” disciples of Jesus wear jeans and listen to U2. The kind of Christians we should distance ourselves from are those who wear ties and listen to CCM.

This pitting of “real” against “lame” ones is spiritually bankrupt dreck from the pit of hell. Really what most mean by “authentic” in these contexts is “cool.” And the entire enterprise of mocking the uncool Christians is a huge self-justification project. It is a smug fetishizing of cynicism and hipness that is idolatry.

It is reverse pharisaism. It is, “I thank you, God, that I’m not like that lame, religious guy over there,” which is anti-grace, anti-gospel, and anti-christ.

A good number of Christian culture’s self-appointed Statlers and Waldorfs have effectively answered the question “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:9) with “I have no need of you” (1 Cor. 12:21). But anyone who identifies with the way of Christ ought to have nothing but love for all the saints (John 13:35), even the dorky ones.

Look, it’s possible Jesus needs new PR, but I seriously doubt those who’ve accepted Jesus in their snark are the ones who should be providing it.

So, here’s to you, cheesy, kitschy Christians! You are the real deal.

pray and prepare

Last week in our Bible Study we were discussing bringing our concern directly to the person. I thought this article added to our conversation of last week.

answered prayer

Be Kindness

blessed is the man who hears God like a child

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.worldmag.com/2013/07/god_bless_the_child_at_heart#.UfEiecwSVJg.facebook

Then there is this devotion:

READ: James 3:13-17

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. —James 1:5

Wisdom is the beauty of holiness. James says wisdom is reasonable; flexible; forgiving; peaceful; caring; given to friendly visits, small acts of courtesy, and kind words. It is humble, transparent, simple, gentle, and gracious to the core (James 3:17).

Where can wisdom be found? It comes from heaven (1:5). “Wisdom,” wrote Charles Spurgeon, “is a beauty of life that can only be produced by God’s workmanship in us.”
It’s good to ask from time to time: “Am I growing in wisdom?” After all, life is relentlessly dynamic. We’re either growing sweeter and wiser as the days go by, or we’re growing into foolish or even sour-faced curmudgeons. Into what are we growing?

It’s never too late to begin growing in wisdom. God loves us with an ardent, intense affection that can deliver us from our foolishness if we yield ourselves to Him. His love can make the most difficult nature into a miracle of astonishing beauty. It may hurt a little and it may take a while, but God relentlessly seeks our transformation. When we ask, His wisdom will begin to rise in us and pour itself out to others.

We have this promise: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to [you]” (1:5). —David Roper

Lord, please put an end to our foolishness and
turn our hearts toward the wisdom that comes
only from You. We ask You now to take our
lives and transform them into Your likeness.
True wisdom begins and ends with God.

Bible in a year: Psalms 37-39; Acts 26

This is the link to Our Daily Bread: http://odb.org/2013/07/25/where-can-wisdom-be-found/

soul prospers

have you encouraged anyone lately?

 

found on Life88.5's Facebook page

 

 

Faith and Work

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/07/11/faith-and-work-what-needs-to-be-read-and-what-needs-to-be-written/

This article gives some reading suggestions and addresses how we spend most of our time at work. "maybe you've simply realized that you spend most of your life working, so if you don't live out your faith through your work, you won't grow much in grace."

We serve God by sharing His Word with others.

**Copied from Our Daily Bread**

READ: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. —2 Corinthians 4:5

While serving as a maid in London, England, in the early part of the 20th century, Gladys Aylward had other dreams. Her goal was to be a missionary to China. Having been rejected by a Christian missionary organization as “unqualified,” Gladys decided to go there on her own. At the age of 28, she used her life savings to purchase a one-way ticket to Yangcheng, a remote village in China. There she established an inn for trade caravans where she shared Bible stories. Gladys served in other villages as well and became known as Ai-weh-deh, Chinese for “virtuous one.”

The apostle Paul also spread the gospel to distant regions of the world. He extended himself as a servant to meet the needs of others (2 Cor. 11:16-29). He wrote this about serving: “We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (4:5).

Not all of us are called to endure hardship to spread the gospel in distant lands. But each of us is responsible as a servant of God to share Christ with people in our sphere of influence. It’s our privilege to help our neighbors, friends, and relatives. Ask God for openings to serve and to talk about Jesus who gave Himself for us. —Dennis Fisher

My life is a painting created by God,
And as such I’ve nothing to boast;
Reflecting the image of Christ to the world
Is what I desire the most. —Sper

We serve God by sharing His Word with others.

Bible in a year: Job 25-27 & Acts 12

Anthony's lunch

Anthony is heading to the southern part of the United States. We'll miss him but we know he'll start up a Bible Study at his new home and increase our family that much more. :)

Here's a picture of our time at Olive Garden.

Anthony led us in prayer, even the waitresses joined in.

Phil 4:13