Monday, September 27, 2010

Either It's True or It's Not

If you believe the Bible is true, you need to live like it's true. You need to live in the conviction that it's true from Genesis to Revelation. It's all on the table. No piece of can be discarded because it's inconvenient or painful or awkward to explain to those who don't understand.

If you are going to live like it's true, there will be "God-moments" in your life and things will start to happen that can only be explained by the existence of a God. If you live like the Bible is true, your life will start to become a testimony to the truth of God and His Word.

But be consistent. If you say you believe in the Bible, live it. And if you don't want to live it, then don't say you believe it's true. Let your actions be consistent with your beliefs.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Wisdom from Rick Warren

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems: If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

Friday, September 10, 2010

For Our Sake, That We Might Become

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  II Corinthians 5:21

This is the what and the why of our lives.
He became sin -- so that we might become His righteousness.
He took on death -- so that we might have life.
He took our place -- so that our lives would take on glory and holiness and action that brings forth God's Kingdom.