It Was An Accident

Kids says the most wonderful things. Our congregation has a lot of kids so each week I could write something from them. But I have to share what one mother told me her six-year-old daughter said. This is what the mother wrote:

We were driving and she noticed the Methodist Church. We talked about how that was an old church and we had a new church (building). She then asked who lived in the big white house next door to the church. I told her it was a funeral home, and proceeded to tell her what a funeral and funeral home were. She asked me if that's where Granny and Papaw went to say goodbye to Jesus! I told her that Jesus died way before Granny and Papaw were born...it happened a looooonnnnnggg time ago.

She began talking about the video showed during communion on Sunday (an edited version of the Passion). She was saying how much blood Jesus had on him and how terrible it was. I told her that Jesus' death was terrible, that people were incredibly mean to him, but that he was very brave and did it for us. That just shows us how much Jesus loves us!

Then Hope asked "why did Jesus do that?" I told her "Jesus died for our sins," and she asked "our sins...your sins Mommy?". . . "yes, for my sins". . . She asked "did Jesus die for my sins Mommy?". . . I said "he did Hope." She sat for a few minutes in silence then said "Mommy, whatever I did to Jesus I promise it was an accident!"

Don't we wish that was true of us all. Unfortunately some of my sins are not an accident. Jesus died for all sins. May we all say - whatever I did to Jesus, may he forgive us.

Sid

Lead or Get Out of the Way!

A very smart and spiritual man told me once, "the purpose of leadership is not to make decisions, but to lead people into the presence of God."

I struggle with leadership. I have always believed that I was a leader, but I am not so sure now. The paradigm that I have worked through most of my life may not be the one that truly shows leadership. I believe I know what to do. I believe I know how things are to be done. But that is where the issues begin. Most of the people I know who might be considered leaders are the ones that are good at making decisions - so what do we do?

Do I lead people into the presence of God? It is more than being the preacher. It is more than being an elder? CEO? CFO? or boss. At the end of the day if all that matters is whether you are closer to God, then there should be fruit to show it. Being a servant leader means that it is not about meetings, decisions, plans, or paradigms. It is about you getting closer to God. It is you consuming God. Then it is about asking others to join you on your journey, rather than telling them what they need to do to straighten them out.

May our leaders, whether preachers, elders, teachers, administrators or bosses, lead us closer the Creator. May our lives be enriched by those who have chosen a path to God and asked us to go along. May we enrich others by asking them to join us on our journey, so that they may see God.

Sid

Indian Givers

When I was a kid and someone gave you something and then took it back, they were called an Indian giver. It may not be a politically correct term today and I don't want to offend, but convey a concept. At least three athletes have had this reality thrust into their lives. Marion Jones admitted to taking a prohibited substance and has relinquished the five Olympic medals she won at the 2000 Sydney Games. Michael Vick has plead guilty in a dog fighting ring and as it stands right now the Atlanta Falcons want nearly $20 million back. Then Floyd Landis won the 2006 Tour de France and had to return his metal due to drug testing. They had to give it all back because they didn't follow the rules. They didn't do what was right. They didn't think they would get caught.

Two things:

1. We all get caught, in the end! Live for God knowing that he knows. He knows what you have done and even if you get by with it now, eventually you will have to face the Judge. He knows.

2. We are bought with a price. We are God's. We have to desire Him to remain His. He took us from the devil when we gave our lives to him. May we never hear the devil say - "give them back, they didn't live for you." We have no excuse - yes we sin, but God will forgive. Yes we fail, but he will restore. Yes we blow it, but he puts air back into our lives. Never let Satan get you back.

Don’t Go To Church

CHICAGO (Reuters Life!) - Next month across the United States several hundred Christian congregations plan to tell their faithful to skip coming to church -- and head out into the community to help those in need. 1
The concept is to “be church” instead of going to church. This sounds great. In fact, it sounds biblical. Raising money for missions, helping those that can’t help themselves, caring, working, loving, and showing compassion are at the foundation of the Christian faith.
I think this is an awesome concept – being the church in today’s world. Too many of us come for our “holy huddle” and never experience service or give a witness in our daily walk. I love this concept of being church. But . . .!
I think a question needs to be asked. “why can’t the church be the church every day and still worship together on Sunday?”
I don’t believe that Christianity should be viewed only as the time that the church assembles on Sundays, but I also believe that the Bible teaches that we are to be the church all the time and still have this time together in communion with God and each other in worship. Serving the kingdom is great. Helping others is Christ-like, but skipping a time to honor God as his family, I don’t think so. God called all men and he also called his church to congregate. Be the church in your walk each day, but also praise God with his family on Sundays. That will exalt God on the Lord’s day and it will also show the Father and others that being a Christian is more than just Sundays.

1 klove.com news story 10-1-07

Sid