Things I Think
1. I think that a focus on gratitude this week would be helpful…being honestly grateful would be even better…
2. There’s something sinister in my mind about something called “Black Friday” coming the day after “Thanksgiving”…
3. “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (1 Timothy 6:8 ESV) No, we won’t be…
4. The problem with making the Bible “relevant” is that to do so,you have to ignore the fact that it is “radical”. We’ve domesticated the wildest, most demanding text there is…
5. There is something that speaks to our depravity that we’re still trying to define what it means to be a Christian and to find a label that suits us…
6. When the Bible speaks of living under empire it tells us to “come out of her”, not “take her over”…
7. This election cycle did not cause the sicknesses in our souls,it merely revealed them. Would that we had spiritual doctors who not only could diagnose them,but preach the cure. Unfortunately,this plague sickened them as well…
8. My giving of thanks sounds a lot like this, far too often… “‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.”(Luke 18:11 ESV)
9. I believe tofu is the devil’s attempt to mimic “mammon”… if not, I still think it’s from the pit.
10. I think that our refusal to give place to the supernatural makes the church another social club instead of the army of God…
Lots of thoughts on my return from Mozambique but I will respond simply to the postings.
My tribe is often accused of the “take her over” theme but so are the postmillinarians, Come out of her still requires us to live in community forms that involve education, healthcare, distribution of wealth and other such things. So it always sounds as if we either take over or build a parallel society thought the room for a parasite society still remains. The latter simply meaning separatism while participation in common life.
As for giving place to the supernatural. I was immersed in an entire province that has been changed from folk Islam to Christianity by the infusion of supernatural Christianity. These particular folk bring with them education, feeding the hungry, clean water, and all kinds of practical initiatives. None however would exist if the people had not come to Christ primarily through deliverance from spirits and healing. I witnessed a man deaf from birth get his hearing. Met his aunt the next day who confirmed his status, and stood in amazement. The village will be easily evangelized now and it has already begun. The tribal and community leaders welcomed us and gave us complete freedom.
Anyway none of this is polemic just testimonial. That is all.
it’s been noted before (many times), but this reminds me that our Lord stood silent before Herod who wanted Him to put on a show for him… however, when God, in His wisdom and according to His plan, sees that there is a bonafide need for the supernatural affirmation of His reality and power – it happens 🙂
God have mercy on this nation and bless us yet with faith – convict us of sin, righteousness and judgement
amen to the list this morning… although black Friday still means the books finally balance on a positive note… interesting and accurate ponder, tho… lots to ponder on what Michael is thinking again
from a simple minded Believer’s viewpoint, i find the unbelieving, intellectual element (left, right, up or down – all the same) that is now taking a bow for all that is good in this nation and expecting homage for their efforts just a bit ignorant and presumptive…
Why is there no tofu flavored anything?
I don’t mind Black Friday. Thanksgiving is not a Church feast day so I don’t feel it’s sacrilegious to connect it with a chance to save money on Christmas shopping. It’s not like it’s the day after Easter. I always go out at the crack of dawn with whatever family member is game, and we eat breakfast at Denny’s and have a blast. I love people-watching. I usually have all my shopping done before Thanksgiving so I’m not in a panic. I have a very large family and everybody gets one or two small things which aren’t the kinds of things on sale on Black Friday anyway so I usually don’t buy anything. I just love being out with the people. Some people need cheering up.
We eat a lot of tofu during Lent. Tofu tacos!
For the same reason there’s no bread or pasta-flavored anything.
From #7
“Would that we had spiritual doctors who not only could diagnose them,but preach the cure. Unfortunately,this plague sickened them as well…”
We already have these people who can be described as spiritual doctors – at least in my church (I would include the entire denomination – and I would not discount others) – but the medicine they practice is preventative – they do what they can to keep you from getting sick in the first place by feeding you Jesus every week (literally the Body & Blood) while prescribing a low “this worldly diet” (especially around election time) and you will not find that kind of medicine in the evangelical churches – this time of year their medical practice is limited to ambulances and the ER.
Well put for number 7 Michael!
#10 well said big brother
#4
I’ve wondered if we took the text seriously if there would be a lot more people who lopped off a hand or plucked out an eye…
Never recommended it to anyone, though…
#8, Among the important doctrines of biblical Christianity that have been ignored by most American churches are (1) Christian humility and (2) Christian suffering. It’s disgraceful.
driving and listening to J Vernon McGee today… he observed that any offering of praise that we bring to worship God is never acceptable to Him, if we have rancor or arrogance in our hearts… hmmm…
I have not posted for a long time here. I am grateful to God about the simple things and for the people I get to help. I hope to be a blessing this coming holiday season.
It’s very nice to see a comment from you Brian. The Lord be with you.
brian, never doubt that you bless those who you caretake and affirm
perhaps the simple things are the only things that we should thank God for… dunno… thinking…
Great list, Michael.
As for #7, all I can say is I’m glad the election cycle is over.
As for the results of it, well, a song plays in my head that I find relevant…
“I’m not afraid of the thunder in the sky, all I fear is the lightning in Your eyes,
For I love only You. And I fear only You.
I’m not afraid of the rulers of this land, all I fear is the power in Your hand,
for I love only You, and I fear only You.”
( The Choir, from “Diamonds and Rain’, 1986).
In the bleak truthful scenario of Michael’s cynical post there is always hope…
And it does have something to do with all of us.
http://shekinahfellowship.blogspot.com/2016/04/revival-begins-with-you-and-i.html
5. There was a podcast that I was listening to the other day, that I loved the concept of but their examples were so terribly liberal that I would rather not share it… the lengths that we will go to, the lies that we will accept, the parts of ourselves that we will deny just to be accepted, to have a box that we can be put into to feel like we belong.