Our Response When Bad Things Happen: The Umpqua Shooting

Bad things happen. Unfortunately, this is a reality in the world that we live in.

If you've followed the news recently I'm sure you heard about the shooting at the Umpqua Community College yesterday. It's heartbreaking. I find myself wondering how anyone could do what the shooter did. How could anyone take innocent lives?

Sitting here on a rainy day in Washington, D.C. I feel at a loss. Helpless and ineffective to convey adequate compassion to those affected by this man's heinous crimes. The wake of his destruction will affect more than those injured or killed, it will ripple out to family, friends, and the community.

It comes back to two things for me. The actions I can take. I can pray. And I can watch.

Prayer. It can sometimes feel inactive, but it is the best and most effective response. It suffices to calm me and remind me who is really in control. It also focuses my heart on the One who has the power and the might to bring wisdom into the situation, no matter how bleak it may look.

At times when things appear darkest, the light of the Lord shines the brightest.

Watching. This may sound odd, but hear me out. A line from one of the blog posts that's allegedly associated with the shooter caught my attention:

"People like him [talking about another recent shooter] have nothing left to live for, and the only thing left to do is lash out at a society that has abandoned them." (source)

Nothing excuses the shooters actions, but this statement gives us a window. When I read this, I think about the fact that the person who wrote it (shooter or not) needs the love of Christ. That's obvious, but what is also clear is the fact that they were seeking acceptance in a "society" that abandoned them. They were looking in the wrong place. What they thought would satisfy--fame, notoriety, recognition, acceptance from others--would only suffice to leave them empty again.

In the wake of this tragedy, and in light of the fact that there are others in the world who feel this way, I urge us to watch and to act. Aside from prayer, an action we can take is to love. To have our eyes seeking out those who feel abandoned--whether by society, their family, their friends, or their community--and to show them that the Love of Christ is more than able to transform their lives.

Let us remember to love. To love everyone. To love always. And to love well.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. - Romans 12:9-10

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. - 1 John 4:7

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. - Luke 6:35

Jumping out of Your Comfort Zone by Jamy Whitaker | Guest Post

I'm excited to introduce you to my friend Jamy. We met at the ACFW Conference last year and she is just the sweetest! I know you'll be encouraged by her post today and don't forget to leave a comment because she has graciously offered up a giveaway copy of her book, Get Real: Stop Hiding Behind The Mask!

 _________________________________

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV)

The majority of us like to live within our comfort zone, because we feel safe and secure. However, if we are going to fulfill the purpose that God has for us, we are going to have to take that first step of faith. This is not easy. Many times we sit inside our safe, comfy box and think of all these reasons why we could not possibly step outside. I speak from experience; making excuses is exactly what I had been doing for quite sometime.

Over a year ago, I was sitting in a Bible study group trying to decide whether I was going to step out of my comfort zone and let those around me know where I felt the Lord was leading me. I will admit that this was difficult for me to do. It puts you in a very vulnerable place when you step out in faith and announce what direction you are going for the Lord. I knew by letting these women know, they would be watching me closer to see if I indeed followed through or simply retreated back to the security of my comfort zone. However, I knew the Lord was leading me in the direction of speaking and writing and I could not imagine turning my back on the purpose He has for my life.

For those who do not know me, this is so far outside of my comfort zone that I could no longer even see the box. Obviously, this is exactly where God wanted me, relying on His power and strength instead of my own. God has given me this passion to help others through my speaking and writing and He wanted me to jump out of the box and follow His path.

From Flickr by Denise P.S.

Therefore, I took that first step by telling those precious women what the Lord had placed on my heart and the direction I was headed. I asked for their prayers as I started this journey. I do not know where this road will take me, but I am certain I do not want to continue to sit on the sidelines. I made the choice to chase hard after the purpose God had given to me.

Since that first little step God has been redirecting me by closing and opening doors. Some opportunities were beyond anything I could have ever hoped for or imagined, but that is simply how God works. It all starts with that first step or leap of faith out of your comfort zone. The road will not be easy, but God has promised to walk with us every step of the way. Do not be satisfied with sitting and watching life pass you by. You need to get up and get going on your own journey.

Now, it is your turn. I challenge you this week to spend some time with God and see where He is leading you and then make a list of things you need to do to start your journey. Then, I want you to select one thing from the list and do it this week. No more excuses!

_______________________________

-->I am married to a wonderful man, Mitch. He is truly a blessing from God. He works as a project manager for Interior Fixtures. When he is not working, he can be found roaming our woods known by all as Whit-Akers. We have 5 wonderful children. Yes, that’s right 5. I cannot believe that God blessed us with so many children. They range in age from 7 to 17. They are the joy of our lives.
Join me as I work to stitch God's truths into everyday life.
Website: www.jamywhitaker.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamyWhitaker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamyWhitaker

A Flawed Perspective and A Missed Opportunity: Rob Bell on Oprah

From Christianpost.com

My, oh my. Rob Bell has been busy. Books. Opinions. Oprah. Attempting to undermine the authority of the Bible....

Yeah. That's a thing.

I'll preface this post by saying I don't usually do this. I'm not one to "soap box" it up, but there are some things that I can't let by without a healthy dose of thought, which eventually comes out in words that land on Thinking Thoughts. The inerrancy of the Bible is one of them. Sometimes you have to take a stand, even if that means rocking the boat.

In my post about true love and Fifty Shades of Grey, I said the following:

Without His example of love and self-sacrifice, we wouldn't have a picture of what true love is.
I was talking about Christ here and I stand by that declaration. I fully believe that Jesus, the Son of God, was and is the living example of true and perfect love. That's not a notion I made up, I found it in the Bible. That is, God's word. His authority on the topic of...well, life.

As I was scrolling through my Facebook feed the other day I came across a video of Rob Bell on Oprah. As they discussed his new book, The Zimzum of Love: A New Way of Understanding Marriage(no, I won't be talking about this book), he made some...interesting claims. These claims reached way beyond promotion for this book, though I'll admit I'm not surprised he made them. I remember Mr. Bell in his Nooma videos. At the time I though, Wow, this guy is cool and takes a different approach to life. Awesome.

But he's changed. Or maybe who he was the whole time has surfaced? I'm not sure, but I'm saddened by the fact he has such a large platform and he's using it to spread lies.

Yep. I just said it. Lies.

Flickr by Jim Forest

Take his quote he made about the Bible to Oprah: "...And the church will continue to be even more irrelevant when it quotes letters from 2,000 years ago as their best defense." (quoted from www.cbn.com)

Um, "best defense"? Back up. The Bible isn't a defense. It's the reason. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I decided to dig a little deeper and found a treatise by Bell titled, "What is the Bible?" There was a lot there, it was a looong post (followed up by several more) but I was unhappy with what I found. In essence, he made the point that, in his eyes, the Bible is human. That is to say, written by humans and therefore human in its flaws.

He says, "If you let go of the divine nature of the Bible on the front end and immerse yourself in the humanity of it, you find the divine in unexpected ways, ways that can actually transform your heart." (Rob Bells tumbler)

I'm sorry, but when you "let go" of the divine nature of the Bible in any way, shape, or form, there are no longer any standards. You start to believe a version of God that doesn't fully represent Him. You can suddenly pick and choose the attributes of God you like (ie: love and gentleness), instead of seeing the full image of Him. Both just and loving. Both wrathful and forgiving. Both humble and divine.

When the Bible simply becomes a story, it's no longer truth. 

This is dangerous because it undermines a standard. Christ set the example for us. The Bible relays that standard in writing inspired by God. The minute the Bible is found to be inaccurate is the minute we get to decide. Decide what to accept and what not to . Decide what to think about God and what we'll throw out. You don't like the idea that there is punishment for sins? Well, if the Bible is just human--just a great story--then we don't have to believe in punishment.

Flickr by Adam Dimmick

This is flawed. There is a lot of info written by far wiser people than me on why the Bible is inerrant (you can see writings by John Piper, The Gospel Coalition, John MacArthur, Tim Challies, and even listen to one of my favorite speakers, Matt Chandler on the topic). There are also historical reasons, but there are spiritual ones too.

We can't pick and choose what God says. Any discount of scripture is against scripture.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

It reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite authors and theologians, C.S. Lewis. It speaks to the reality of who we believe Christ is and what He said about himself and I believe it is the same with the Bible.

C.S. Lewis

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
(source)

God gave us--breathed out--His word to equip us. More than that:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13 (emphasis mine)

Words that are living and active are not out of date. They are not a defense against the reality of life, but rather a guide in dealing with, handling, and living out a Christ-like example in this life. Can something human made "discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart"? No.

Rob Bell had an opportunity. Sitting there, only a few feet away from one of the most influential women in this modern age, he could have shared the beauty of the gospel to everyone watching. The reality of who Christ is. The hope found in the realization that we've all sinned (Ro. 3:23) and deserve death (Ro. 6:23) BUT that God created a way for us to be made right with Him (Ro. 5:8, 10:10, 10:13).

But he missed it.

Jesus in real life {Thinking Theology}

E.A. Creative Photography

I’m tired.

And I’m guessing I’m not the only one out there who is thinking those very same words. Possibly even saying them as an excuse (though a valid one) right now.

*Yawn* Yep, still tired.

But, you know what? That’s okay.

I’ve come to realize that life doesn’t look as pretty as I thought it once did. I know that sounds slightly defeatist, but I’m not treading down that path. I’m only reflecting on the fact that, the older you get, the more you've seen. The more you've experience. The more that affects you.

Sometimes, it’s so much that it threatens to overwhelm me. I see the hurt in the world and think – why can’t I do something about it? I see those in need and think – why can’t I give them more? I see the unloved and think – how can I love them like He did? These are all good things to think, but they require a lot of time, resources, and effort.

In the midst of this I wonder...what heaven will be like? I start to think about the sick being healed and the Lord personally wiping away my tears.

I think of that, and then I think of where we live now, and I see the disparity between the two. And yet, it’s okay to be like this, because He promises to come again. He promises to make things new. He promises to heal this broken and torn down world.

I’ve been thinking about Jesus in real life.

How He loved those around him who were dirty. How He spent time with those that the religious leaders wouldn't. How He broke the mold of rules and regulations with a new covenant of love. How He put aside His desires for the sake of His Father and for us…ultimately giving up His last breath in order for ours to never cease.

Now I’m awake.

I’m thinking about His love. His grace. His just governing. His righteous right hand. His overwhelming goodness. His promises.

We live in darkness here, shadowed by the cloud of sin on an Earth ruled by the prince of the air, but there will come a day when we will no longer squint to see the truth. We will rise with Him, our feet pounding the pavement of a new earth restored to perfection beyond our wildest dreams.

Can you see it? Can you feel the exhilaration of hope that those thoughts bring?

So today, though you may be tired—though I am tired—let us put our thoughts away from present suffering and turn them to the future. Turn them to the One who upholds us. The One who never leaves nor forsakes us.

And let us be renewed.

Speaking against the "Self" {Thinking Theology}

I've been seeing a lot of things lately that really bother me. In particular is the idea that you can figure it out. Whatever it is.

It's this unhealthy focus on self that has me bothered. 

It's all about me, hence the picture--->

We mistakenly think that we have all the answers. I hate to break it to you, but you can't figure out it. No matter how much time you spend "loving yourself" or trying to "make yourself happy" you're eventually going to hit the bottom of the proverbial well.

Happiness is the wrong aim in the first place, but that's a whole different post. 

The biggest lie you can believe is that you are strong enough on your own. That you can make some adjustment to your life that will ensure eternal--or even momentary--happiness/contentedness/security. That you have the answers.

Let's take a look at some of what the Bible says about self: 

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (emphasis mine)
Galatians 5:24 

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by His wounds you have been healed.” (emphasis mine)

1 Peter 2:24 

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:11

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.Colossians 3:3-7

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. (emphasis mine)
Luke 9:23-24

Whew. I don't know about you, but even just those few verses have me reeling! There's one more that I think will really set us straight. I quote it all the time, but it's so applicable!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.
(emphasis mine)
Proverbs 3:5-6

That says if very plainly - we are to put our trust in GOD and to not rely on us or what we know, but to turn to Him in all things.

I hear so many great speakers and modern thinkers advocating "self" and the "power" that we have in us to do...well, pretty much anything. It's all false! Clearly, when we trust in ourselves we are bound to fail. There is just no way that a human brain could comprehend all that it would take to figure life out.

But there is true life in Christ. 

As it says above in Colossians - when we trust in Him, our life is hidden in Christ! We are alive in Christ! We are set free in Christ! We are no longer dependent on our own understanding to create happiness in ourselves. We are no longer responsible to have all the answers.

The minute we understand that there God is a God who loves us (1 John 4) and who died for us (John 3:16, Romans 5:10) and who desires for us to have fulfillment in Him (Romans 10:4) is the minute we are truly set free (Galatians 5).

I hope as we come up to this 4th of July we will be able to taste and experience true freedom in Christ. To remember we are not bound by our own intellect or self, but rather that we are free in Him.

Are You Real With God? {Thinking Theology}

Sometimes it's difficult to be real with God. 

We want to hide. To clean ourselves up first. To put our best face forward.

But is that how God want's us to come to Him? I'd say the answer is no. All you have to do is take a look at most of the Psalms to see how real they are. They get to the heart of things. There is no mincing of words, just raw, honest emotion.

The other day I took time to look through just the first verse of various different Psalms. No, I don't recommend this as a technique to reading the Psalms - but I did see some very interesting things...

O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! 

 Psalm 3:1

Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?  

Psalm 10:1

Help Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.  Psalm 12:1

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! 

Psalm 20:1

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance re the words of my groaning. Psalm 22:1

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.

 Psalm 42:1

Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!

 Psalm 43:1

Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your power. 

Psalm 54:1

Give ear to my prayer, O God; and do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

 Psalm 55:1

Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; fighting all day long he oppresses me. Psalm 56:1

We give thanks to You, O GOd, we give thanks for Your name is near; men declare Your wondrous works.

 Psalm 75:1 

My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing  praises, even with my soul. 

Psalm 108:1

Praise the Lord!  

Psalm 111, Psalm 112, Psalm 113, Psalm 117

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.

Psalm 130:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

 Psalm 136

I know, it's a lot and they are from all over the Psalms, but take a look at all of them - they range in emotion from anger, to frustration, to pleading, to praise, to understanding as well as any other type of emotion you could think of (and this is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak).

A lot of these are said to have been written by King David - you know, that one guy who was called "The man after God's own heart". Yeah, you remember him. He was the guy who killed Goliath and then later in life ended up sleeping with a married woman, getting her pregnant, basically having her husband killed, and then being the cause for the death of that child as well. I don't know about you, but looking at David's life (among many others in the Bible) brings things into perspective.

David was a passionate man. You can see it by the way he pleads with God and the way he blesses Him. In Psalm 51, when he's faced with his sin with Bathsheba, he says, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit."

Wow.

He just messed up - big time - and here he is, coming to the Lord and boldly asking Him to fix the problem - his heart. How often do we sin and the first thing we do is turn to ourselves. We mistakenly think we can do better or that we have to atone for what we did. The thing is - we can't fix it. There is no way we can clean ourselves up. It's actually pointless for us to turn to ourselves first (or at all).

Romans 8:1-4 says:

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeliness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who did not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (emphasis mine)

Basically, all our striving and working to be "good enough" isn't worth it. We fake it, hoping we'll make it, but we're just not fooling God. Christ came to die for our sins not so we could keep trying to save ourselves, but so that we could accept His perfect sacrifice and "cease striving" (Psalm 46:10).

Are you hiding from God? 

Are you depending on yourself to "get better" before you come to Him? Or are you just trying to do it all on your own?

Thoughts about exciting news

As I'm sure you've guessed, I love writing of all kinds. Part of the reason why I started this blog was to give myself an outlet to "publish" these thoughts. Over time, the focus of this little blog has grown and been shaped by the growth of my own passions.  As I delve into scripture my thinking theology posts reflect this (posts like Hearing & Doing or Thoughts on Community).  When I felt the Lord leading me to focus more on my writing, I noticed another change in the blog, like the addition of {Writer Wednesday} posts as well as my RE:View Friday posts focused on reviewing books.

You, my dear readers, have taken all of these changes in stride and I appreciate that so much! I love that I can come to you with thoughts on the Bible one day and introduce a new writer to you the next. I'm a bit eclectic and my blog reflects that due to the nature of my varying passions. In addition to the things I've already mentioned, I have also shared my thoughts in a more devotional manner in my recent Valentines Day Blues posts (found here). I really enjoyed writing those posts but I think what I enjoyed more was the feedback I got from the women who read the posts. I bring this all up because the news I have to share with you deals with that type of writing.

*Drum roll please*

I am now a monthly contributor to a brand new magazine and online blog called Her Glory! This is a wonderful place for women to come and be encouraged through articles and real stories of women just like them. The team of writers is extensive and covers a wide range of women in all walks and stages of life.  I love that there are married and single women as well as younger and older women contributing to this magazine and blog. If you are a woman, I'm sure you will find something on this site to encourage and bless you.

Used with permission from Her Glory

I love how the Lord has brought this into my life at just the right time. I've been interested in joining a site just like this but everything I looked into just wasn't "right" for me. You know, that little feeling that nudges your heart and you know not to take the next step. Then, one night I happened across a post from the Founder and Editor in Chief of Her Glory, Aysha Gerald, in a photography group I'm a part of. After checking it out, I just knew we'd be a good fit and thankfully Aysha thought so to!

Used with permission from Her Glory

I am excited for this next stage of my writing and what it will free me up to do with this blog. I love how thinking thoughts... has really morphed into a place for readers and writers to come and discuss books, writing, and occasionally a little practical theology.  I will continue on with {Writer Wednesday} and RE:View Friday posts in addition to my musings on writing as I take you with me through the trials and joys of attempting to be published.

I also invite you ladies to continue to follow my devotional posts at Her Glory. This magazine and blog is new as of March 1st and could use as much publicity as it can get! Check out thee Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram pages and help spread the word.

As for this {Writer Wednesday} I will give you a hint and say that if you are looking for a new book to read, you will need to check out the author interview on Wednesday *cough*GIVEAWAY*cough*.

A Monday Mindset {Thinking Theology}

I've been thinking about how some people dread Mondays.  When I was in school I used to - it meant the end of the weekend and the beginning of a tough week of work and stress.  Some of that was lost when I worked a job in retail - you don't really get weekends and if you do they can sometimes be on a Tuesday or other weekday (so I guess Mondays can really be any day of the week). I did, however, feel that pang of disappointment when my "weekend" time-off ended and I had to go back to work. 

With my current job (Office Manager for my church) I find (thankfully) that I don't have that dread of going into work.  My week is technically Sunday to Thursday, so I guess you could say Sunday is my "Monday" (just to make things confusing), but in all reality I enjoy Mondays.  For us, it's the day we come together as staff to pray for one another and the church, to discuss our upcoming week and its duties, and to spend time encouraging one another.  It's a great way to start off our week, and as I think about it, I know that I'd want to incorporate that habit no matter where I worked. 

My thoughts for you this Monday morning:

• What are you thankful for today? 
• What do you have to accomplish and how can you make prayer about that part of your daily routine? 
• How can you encourage those you work with this week?

To me, Mondays are like little New Years that happen every week.  We get a fresh start (hopefully after a break during the weekend) and have the choice to remember the joy and grace the Lord has bestowed on us as a way to bless others.

What will your Monday look like? 

Hearing & Doing {Thinking Theology} | Part 2

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock..." Matthew 7:24 (to 27)

As I mentioned in Part 1 of Hearing & Doing,  we are saved to something.  We have not been freed from sin and death to seclude ourselves from the world or to continue on in our lives the way we want them to be.  Instead, the Lord says that if we are listening to His word, we will be called to action because of it (James 1:22, 2:14; 1 John 3:18 etc.).

I referenced verses from Romans 7 & 8 in the previous post but I wanted to move further into chapter 8, verse 26 which says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness..." This, to me, is the key.  Christ accomplished salvation on the cross and when we put our faith and trust in Him, we receive the free gift of salvation (this is the gospel).  We must remember this daily - sometimes even by the minute - but we also must remember that, with the introduction of the Holy Spirit into our lives, we are called to action.  No, these actions will not save us and our salvation is not dependent on them, but a hearer that is truly changed will desire to do.  James says this and more so clearly.

I turned to Acts 2:42-47 for a guide for my own life with regards to how my life should be shaped by these revelations.  These are my initial observations about what the church in Acts became devoted to as they were filled with the Holy Spirit:

They were...

• Devoted to teaching (learning)
• Devoted to fellowship & meals
• Devoted to prayer (& praise)
• Meeting needs
• Meeting together
• Reaching out to the lost

What a list!  When I first read through his passage I was slightly overwhelmed, but as I mentioned before, we must remember that we partake in them with the help of the Holy Spirit!  It is in God's strength that we learn and fellowship together and meet each others needs. 

To bring this close to home, I'll point out a few areas in which I've been challenged:

• Finances
• How are we spending the money God has entrusted to us?  
• Do we wait on helping others until we have taken care of our own needs first?
• Are we willing to sacrifice our more lavish desires for simpler things so we're living within our means and able to give more?
•  Friendships
• Who do we spend our time with?
• What does that time look like?  Is it profitable or always self-focused?
• What is the point of your friendships?
• Are you friends with non-Christians?  
• I'd say this is one of the most important things to ask yourself.  Do you have friends who do not know Christ that you spend time with for the purpose of showing them His love?
•  Free Time
• How do you spend your free time?
• Do you use your free time as an excuse to do what you want, or what the Lord would have you do?
•  Work
• What is your focus on when you are at work? 
• Are you a living representation of Christ to your co-workers?  
• Do you work hard and do your best because you represent Christ?
• Do you look for opportunities to invite your co-workers into your life so they can see Christ in you?
• Home
• Have you asked the Lord where you should live? 
• Do you feel compelled to live beyond what you can afford?  
• Are you opening your home to others?
• Are you reaching out to those in your community? 

Those are some loaded questions, huh? I'm answering them myself as well. They aren't all-inclusive, but they are a great start to get us thinking about our daily lives.  I pray these questions would prompt us to ask the Lord to show us what needs to change and then change it with His help!  I hope that we would make this life about Him - not us.

***
For sermons on these topics and others like them check out the end of The Mission of God series titled "The Gospel in Real Life" by Cornerstone Church. 

Hearing & Doing {Thinking Theology} | Part 1

I have been thinking a lot on hearing and doing.  I've spent a lot of time in 1 John where this is emphasized but also in James over my Christmas vacation.  Some of the statements I've read are so clear that I wonder how we get away with rationalizing lazy Christianity.  I'll warn you now - this post is inspired by a passion that I have for making every area of our lives subject to the Lord and is not just about walking away feeling good about ourselves as Christians.  I pray it touches your heart where needed and know that I'm speaking to myself as much as any of you, my dear readers!

First, let me share a few of the verses that have stuck out to me (emphasis mine):

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says." James 1:22

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18

"This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are. Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:10

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?"  James 2:14

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17

"Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by is good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." James 3:13

That is a lot of doing, isn't it?

Now, I know a quick response to this always seems to be that we are not saved by works.  Amen!  I completely agree. But, the Bible also makes it very clear that if we claim to have faith but it is "not accompanied by action" then it is dead.  Dead mean's it is not actually faith - it's a lie.

I have often met people who will claim to be Christians but who sadly fit into this last category - living a lie with dead faith.  You (or I) can claim to have put our faith in Christ, but if we continue on in the lifestyle we've always lived, we are lying.  We are claiming something that sounds good and even looks good to others (maybe we claim faith because it helps us fit in or because it's what we've always known) but if we've relegated God to a small portion of our lives, it's all false. God isn't satisfied with the leftovers.

How do we know where our faith stands? Romans 7:18b says,  "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."  Here, Paul explains that we can desire to do good and yet fail when we attempt to carry it out because we are doing it by ourselves (apart from Christ).  We aren't expressing a faith that resides in Christ, but one that resides within ourselves.  This form of doing will not bring salvation and is not an evidence of salvation because it is placed in the wrong thing. 

Paul goes on in Romans 8:1-2 and verse 9 to say, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death...You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you."  The key in all of this is the gospel!  His death on the cross is complete and He has finished that work. It's very clear - when we are saved by Christ and redeemed to a life as a part of His people, we are freed completely from sin and death to a life devoted to Him.

He has saved us for a purpose.

This is a radical call for action!  Christ requires our heart and our lives. We cannot be completely His when we are still holding on to our own fleshly desires. We cannot be content giving Him Sunday morning and keeping the rest of the week for ourselves. We cannot be wholly His when we are seeking our own way.

So what is our excuse?  Why aren't we doing?  (And realize when I say that, it is within the understanding of "doing" through His help and with His direction, not as a prerequisite for salvation or grace).  Do we shy away from releasing hold of our lives to Him?  Do we make excuses to continue to live the way we want?

I pray you will ask these questions and contemplate them today.  What is holding  you back from being His?  Tomorrow I will focus on the beautiful fact that we are not alone in this!  I hope you check back in to see the rest of this truth unfold in practical ways.

Thoughts on Community (part 2) {Thinking Theology}

I felt it was high-time we made it back around to community.  (If you missed part 1 be sure to check it out!).  I'm going to start titling these posts focused on spiritual growth: {Thinking Theology}. 

At church we've been going through a section of our Mission of God series that our pastors are calling "The Gospel in Real Life".  They then attach a focus to the end of that like "eating" or "bless" or "education".  The point they are trying to make is the fact that the gospel affects everything in our lives.

Take a moment to let that sink in.

When was the last time you really thought about how your relationship with Christ affects the way you eat?  I know I've thought about it with regards to being thankful, but what about using the time spent around the table as a focused, gospel-centered time?  Then to have this same thing affect the realm of your finances.  Pastor Luis shared that we are "blessed to be a blessing" and not blessed without an outward focus. Too many times I've found myself blessed with something and haven't thought past my own good fortune to think how my blessing could bless others.

I've really begun to see how viewing this life in light of God's Kingdom changes everything.  I'm no longer content to walk around blind to the fact that all things are to revolve around God.  I feel like Christian society today is too easily divided.  We have the secular realm where we do business, live life, eat food, and spend our free time as we please, and then we have the sacred realm where we are "good Christians" who attend church, talk about spiritual things, and generally live "better" than most.  Is that what true Christianity is about? 

I just don't think so.

Christ is our perfect example and I can't say that He separated his life into two realms.  In fact, He was the embodiment of living fully in all ways of life.  The pharisees were always so quick to watch Him and critique who He ate with, how He spent his time, and what He was saying but they never fully saw that He was modeling life for their sake (for our sake as well).  Christ ate with sinners and tax collectors (Mark 2:13-17).  Do we realize who those people were?  They were the outcast, the maligned - the rejected of society and He was sharing a meal with them (think Luke 7:36-49 /John 8/John 4:1-45).  You could equate a tax collector to a secret service agent (someone known for protecting the nation) selling national secrets and being known as a traitor.  Christ was having dinner with that guy.

Do we even invite our unsaved neighbors in for dinner?

For me, this is where all this talk of community is launched into overdrive with purpose.  The beauty of living our entire lives in light of the gospel is that we get to do this together (and that's not even mentioning the Holy Spirit...)!  Christ saved us as a people for himself [more on this in another post] and because of that we are live as a people - redeemed and always ready to give an answer for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15).

How beautiful that Christ not only gave us himself as a sacrifice but as an example too! 

There is so much to say about community but the point I'll leave you with today is this: does the gospel affect every area of your life?  Or have you relegated it to Sunday mornings or a Tuesday night Bible study?  Are you living effectively in your neighborhoods or at your jobs to be an example and a blessing to your neighbors and coworkers?  How are you (or can you) partner with Christians in your area to love those people and show them that you care for them - not to fulfill some heavenly quota of "people saved" but to truly reach out and share the Good News with them? 

I would love to hear creative ways that you have found to reach out to those living near you or those who you work with.  I'll share some ways in my next {Thinking Theology} post!