What's free?

This past week I started my job at CVS Pharmacy. One of the displays that we have hanging from the ceiling says "What's Free, check your receipt." As I was looking at it one night I began to think about what really is free in this world. Not a lot, but there was one thing that did come to my mind. God's grace is free and available to all people. It is a wonderful message filled with hope. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8

Since we have such a great message about hope, salvation, and grace then why are people so turned off by Christianity? Could it be that we as Christians are not living it out in a way that really shows what it means to be a follower of Christ? Maybe, we need to really begin to think about that and see what we come up with? Maybe we need to ask the question "What's Free, check your Bible."

Bulls eye?

I have been doing some thinking lately about God's will. We have all heard of The Purpose Driven movement and all that it entails. God has created us for a purpose, but is there a specific will or purpose that God has for me, or is it more general. According to Purpose Driven, if I understand correctly, our purpose is to have a relationship with God. Is that good enough though. Does God have a target out there for us, a bulls eye so to speak, that we are to hit. If we miss the exact center and end up doing something a little different does that mean that we are out of God's will. Is God's will for our lives very narrow, or is it a little bit broader than we tend to believe? Does God have a particular position out there for me, in a particular church, in a particular city, state, etc. Is there a house that God has reserved for me, a school that he wants my children to go to, a street that he has picked out for my family to live on? All very good questions, but sometimes I think that God's a little bit more open than we think. I wonder if maybe the fact that God has called me to be a minister is fulfilling his will. Not that I have to be at a particular place at a particular time, but that I obey his leading when it is very direct and specific, and when it is not so direct and specific, that I continue to minister. Maybe, God wants us to just do the thinks we know to do. Worship him, serve God and our neighbors, share the good news of Christ with others, no matter where we find ourselves or what position we end up in. Just some random thoughts and questions.

On a lighter note

As you might know I have been serving as a Children's Pastor. Well kids love jokes, and I thought I would lighten up the mood a little and share some of my recent discoveries. ENJOY!

Q: If 20 monkeys run after one banana, what time is it?
A: Twenty after one!

Q: What kind of key doesn't open a door?
A: A monkey!

Q: What did the banana say to the monkey?
A: Nothing. Bananas don't talk!

Q: Where does a 2,000 lb. gorilla sit when he's tired?
A: Anywhere he wants!

It's a Matter of Timing

How many times have we all heard that it is "a matter of timing?" The problem becomes who's timing? As a Christian I have been taught and I believe that God's time is not our own. The best example I can come up with is of a little child. For those who have kids you will understand. When Junior wants to do something we tell him that he will need to wait a minute, even if we are true to the 60 second minute, for him it seems like an hour has passed. Our children do not have a good perspective of time. For them an hour seems like an eternity, and sometimes it is the same for us.
As I said before I fully believe that God will act in his time and in the best manner possible, but sometimes in my human body (captured in time and space) it is difficult to wait. I pray daily that God will give me the patience I need to see his hand at work in my life and I pray that he will prevent me from trying to take control of my situation and make things happen. I want him to do his will in and through my life. Please join with me in that prayer. If we could all just submit to the Christ as the head and allow him to function through us, what amazing things we might accomplish for the kingdom.