Responding to Ticket Talker 3000

Have you heard about the Ticket Talker 3000 iPhone app? It is an app provided by 76 gasoline which gives a variety of answers (or excuses) which could be given to a law enforcement professional who is seeking to give you a ticket.

The premise of this app is to provide a way to get out of the penalty where you have done something wrong. The Bible tells us to take responsibility for our actions, to respect and honor the authorities above us, and to live in honesty and with high standards. This application seems to oppose all of those things, giving excuses and hopefully a way out rather than admitting our shortcomings, taking responsibility, and living in honesty and truth.

As a Christian how should we respond to something like this. Do we ignore it? Laugh about it? Use it? Get angry about it? Take action toward the company in response to it? I am not someone who typically takes response to such things but recently I heard a quote that said “what one generation allows the next generation accepts”. If American consumers allow or even accept things like this which move us further and further from God’s heart and his standard than where will we be a generation from now?

Sorry 76 gasoline but I think you made a serious error in judgement in creating this and I believe it shows part of your character and some of the heart behind your business which is not a heart that I want to share. I choose to live a life of honesty, integrity, and righteousness and if I have done wrong and am given a ticket then I will pay it, in fact I have paid the two parking tickets I received without question. I desire to glorify God in all things, especially the small ones.

Community: Spiritual and Gospel Centered

I recently have been learning about what real Spiritual and Gospel centered community looks like. I have started attending a church that is gospel centered and I am seeing lives changed by the truth of God’s word in powerful ways. I also have become connected with other believers who are walking in community with each other in real spiritual community. We gathered on Saturday evening for a time of fellowship, prayer, talking about the bible, sharing community, and talking about service and ministry to others. This time together in a home and over dinner was one of the best times I have shared with others and it deeply touched my heart. I keep reflecting on Acts 2:42-47 and all the believers in the first Christian church shared. While this community it not there yet I think they have the heart to go there if we all continue to be authentic as we walk with each other toward God.

What does real community look like? How do we create it? I think it starts with our heart and relationship with God. “True intimacy cannot grow in an untrue environment.” (Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed by Beth Moore, Week 3, Day 4). What is the condition of your heart toward God? Is it in a place to be true, authentic, and open with others?

This post by a pastor (in Florida I think) is a very thoughtful post about what real gospel community looks like. If you really read it and let it affect your heart I believe you will be challenged. http://timmybrister.com/2009/10/21/homogeneous-community-vs-gospel-community/

Do you have real spiritual community?

Yesterday I received a phone call from a friend who warms my heart. Just hearing his voice and feeling the hope and connection to him uplifted me and stirred the passion in my soul. The afternoon before I had shared emails with another friend that I get to hang out with tomorrow. He also lights the fire in my spirit. These men are people who I walk in community with, they are people who I know walk with God, who are passionate about their pursuit of God, and who inspire me toward Godly character. They are people I have in my heart (“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.” Philippians 1:7a).

I have experienced true spiritual community. It is different from the fellowship and connection we experience in most churches. It runs deeper, connects at the heart, and is truly centered on Christ and not on us. It is what Larry Crabb describes as true church. It is not something most people understand or have ever experienced, and it is not something you can really experience unless you are willing to come into a group in humility, vulnerability, and with brokenness because it requires you be authentic. I have experienced community, and I crave for it again but find it is so hard to find. I still can’t find a church that has this type of community, but I am so thankful that God has brought a few people into my life this summer who share this heart and passion. Through them and because of God I am deeply blessed!

“The cry from your heart is your longing to be part of the true church, to participate in spiritual community, to engage in spiritual conversations of worship with God and of co-journeying with others.  You yearn for a safe place, a community of friends who are hungry for God, who know what it means to sense the Spirit moving within them as they speak with you.  You long for brothers and sisters who are intent not on figuring out how to improve your life, but on being with you wherever your journey leads.  You want to know and be known in conversations that aren’t really about you or anyone else but Christ.” (Becoming a True Spiritual Community by Larry Crabb, p19)

But that’s not what we’ve done.  Instead, we found ways to “do church,” even to participate in small groups that don’t require real connecting, ways to involve ourselves with fellow Christians without fully turning our chairs.  We’ve walked well-traveled roads, broad highways involving activity, organization, and ambition (both secular and religious), and built church buildings along the way.  We’ve welcomed into our buildings the throngs of travelers to walk those roads with us and herded them into audiences we call communities.  But they’re nothing of the sort.  In real community people know each other; they relate in ways only God’s spirit makes possible.  As a friend recently commented, “I worship so much better when I’m with people I know.” Christians in community give and receive what God provides through no other means than through a handful of folks who intimately know him and each other and who at least are in passionate pursuit of that goal.  Churches are rarely communities.  More often they are social machines that run smoothly for while, break down, then our fixed so they run smoothly again or noisily chug along as best they can.  The invitation to greet pew mates during the early part of the worship service typically leads nowhere.  It’s often nothing more than a supportive oil on the gears.  You could say your name was Bob or Howard or Rita or Sue and it would make no difference.  Those kinds of interactions rarely create community-they more often substitute for it.  The path of the Spirit is so very different.  It’s a narrow way, steeper, and straighter than any other.  It’s a path traveled only by worshipers who celebrate their dependence on God and each other by turning their chairs toward a small community of friends and sticking with them, and who find the power of God’s spirit to make that community work.  They know that God gives them his spirit and works miracles both in them and among them, not because they cleverly make it happen, but because they revel in their dependence and learn to hear the Spirit voice’s (see Galatians 3:5). (Becoming a True Spiritual Community by Larry Crabb, pXIV)

What does living as a Christian look like?

An assistant pastor at a church I used to attend was always asking “What does it look like?” in regards to living out a life as a Christian. While the question was a little over used, the intent behind it was really good. It made me stop and reflect on life a lot. As a Christian we profess to believe something that should be walked out in our life every day, but the question is how? Is there a certain way it should look? Are there things that shouldn’t be a part of it?

I am not a strong supporter of absolutes regarding moral behavior. For example, I have friends that have drawn the line and will not watch an R rated movie. There are some R rated movies that have that rating due to the reality of the content (e.g. war, trauma, street life, violence) and the story can not be told well without that.

I am wrestling daily with how to live my life in a way that is worthy of the gospel, a witness for Christ, and where I am truly walking in the spirit with him. Yesterday I had the privilege to take a meal to a couple I met last month who had their first baby a couple weeks ago. It was a wonderful time sharing with them and hearing about the joy they have had with family and with their son. Before I left I asked if I could pray with them. The husband smiled and said that would be wonderful, and then he said “no one else has prayed with us”. That made me sad because at least eight others had brought them food already.

What does living as a Christian look like? At the core I think it looks like we walk with Christ, have priorities shaped by him, and live by values he professed (like love, forgiveness, hope, grace, mercy, purity, boldness). I think it looks like we not only have a relationship with him, but that we invite others into that relationship through prayer, worship, study, and conversation. If we only talk to others about God, but never share in relationship with them and God at the same time are we missing something? Praying with others, and especially being bold enough to ask if I can is not something I strong at or that comfortable with, but it is an area God has challenged me to grow and I am stepping up to take that challenge. It is part of making prayer a higher priority in my life, and learning to walk as a disciple more so that I can also disciple others.

Worthy of the gospel?

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. (Phil 1:27-28)

Do you live in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ? When we tell others we are a Christian our lives should reflect and exhibit certain conduct, attitudes, and hopes. Those will grow over time as we mature in our walk.

Have you ever been challenged about your conduct and if you are living in a manner that is worthy? I have been daily asking myself if I am living in a manner that is worthy. Do my priorities, values, activities, and goals reflect this? Does my communication? Do my actions?

A few days ago I was watching an episode of an old TV show, Early Edition. In that show one of the main characters was talking with a friend from church. The characters were both supposed to be active attenders who were actively involved at a church. That tells me they were proclaiming to be a Christian. Their speech though was critical of others, angry, unforgiving, unloving, impatient, lacking self-control, and rude. My heart ached as I watched it because that is the image of Christians that is being given to the world. If that behavior is shown as okay and acceptable for Christians then what sets us apart?

Christian’s lives should be marked by love, grace, humility, hope, forgiveness, and unity. We should love without bounds, forgive repeatedly, pursue after and hold onto relationships, and have a hope and peace that others do not carry. Let me ask again, do you conduct yourself in a manner that is worthy of the gospel? Don’t change for the gospel, let it change you!

Lecture or lab?

God is trying to get a message across to me today…I am learning to recognize when the same concept comes up several times in the same time period that I need to listen.

Are you living your faith in a lecture or a lab setting? In the lecture or classroom we receive information. This is the typical American church setting where the pastor shares regarding God’s word, but the people in the congregation are just the audience, taking in the information. In a lab setting you practically walk our experiment with things. This is where the application of things you might have heard about or learned during the lecture are lived.

A friend reminded me last week that there should only be one member in the audience..God. We need to be living a life that models after Christ. As believers our lives should model what we profess is most important to us.

So far today, my life has been based on taking on more learning, information, and living in a classroom. Looks like it is time to go live my faith out in the lab of life! Wondering where God wants to use me today.

What the Christian faith is all about. Why did you believe?

Abraham Lincoln went to a slave market.  There he noted a young, beautiful African-American woman being auctioned off to the highest offer.  He bid on her and won.

He could see the anger in the young woman’s eyes and could imagine what she was thinking, another white man who will buy me, use me, and then discard me. 

As Lincoln walked off with his “property,” he turned to the woman and said, “You’re free.”

“Yeah. What does that mean?” She replied.

“It means that you’re free.”

“Does that mean I can say whatever I want to say?”

“Yes,” replied Lincoln, smiling, “it means you can say whatever you want to say.”

“Does it mean,” she asked incredulously, “that I can be whatever I want to be?”

“Yes, you can be whatever you want to be.”

“Does it mean,” the young woman asked hesitantly, “that I can go wherever I want to go?”

“Yes, it means to you are free and can go wherever you want to go.”

“Then,” said the young woman with tears welling up in her eyes, “I think I’ll go with you.”

That is what God has done for us.  That is what the Christian faith is all about.  We have been bought with the price, the price of God’s own son.  We now have a new master, one who, once he paid the price, set us free.
(Quoted from A Scandalous Freedom by Steve Brown, 2004, p12-13)

Confronting in Conflict or in Love

Think about the last time you were in conflict with someone. Maybe it was a one on one issues, or maybe you had an issue to respond to in a group setting or a leadership role. How did you respond? Did you confront the issue or did you avoid it? If you confronted it did you do it in confrontation? Blame? Condemnation? Love?

Not long ago I was on the receiving end of a situation and those sharing with me spoke blame, condemnation, and broke the relationship with me. Like Adam responded when Eve sinned I felt like fingers were pointed at me being the entire source of the problem instead of others taking their responsibility. When conflict arises often all parties have a role in the conflict, at least we have a role in how we respond to the issues.

This weekend I had the opportunity as a leader for a youth/young adult event to address some disruptive and inappropriate behavior. I had a choice as to how to confront the issue. Should I respond with harshness and criticism or with love? I went before the entire retreat and choose to address the issue in love. Despite the choices others had made to cause disruption and made poor choices I told them of God’s forgiveness and how we can move forward in repentance and begin to make more mature choices. The impact of choosing to respond in love was huge! Youth said they had never heard anyone discipline with love. Leaders said they saw an example they will strongly consider in the future when they have to deal with an issue.

Our example for this comes from Christ. In the temple with those who had turned the temple into a place that was not glorifying to God he confronted with harshness and confrontation. With Peter who would ask dumb questions and didn’t learn the first time he responded with love. There are times for both. Next time you need to confront take a minute to ask God what method you should use, because the message that might be the most powerful could be something different from what you would consider with God’s lead.

Taking Stock of Life

I have been taking stock of life lately. As summer is nearing the end and I am looking toward the fall I am evaluating how I have spent my summer. This year there weren’t many trips, but there was a lot of other things going on. When we look back on our lives what is it that we remember? What is it that stands out?

Every year I could count the number of hours I sleep, work, take care of daily needs, etc. I could reflect on the trips I took, the parties I went to, the social events I attended. Those are all good things, but I am starting to look at life differently and to ask:

• How much time did I spend in relationship with God? (prayer, bible study, etc.)
• How much time did I spend serving and loving on others?
• How much time did I spend learning more about how to be a Christian and how to live well?
• How much time did I invest in helping others grow toward a relationship with God?
• How many times did I tell others about God?
• How many times did I poorly represent God through my words, actions, attitudes, and interactions?
• How many of my resources (money, belongings, etc.) did I share with others? Do I consider them my resources or God’s?
• How much of my time did I allow God to lead?
• How many opportunities did I say no to or leave neglected because my heart was unwilling to go where God wanted me to?
• How many times did I overlook what God was doing?
• How honest have I been about the sin in my life and walked in true repentance?
• How many times have I told others I would do something and didn’t do it?
• How many times have my words or actions hurt others?
• How many relationships have I left unresolved where I have been unwilling to forgive, reconcile, and love?
• What haven’t I returned to others that I borrowed from them?

Are we asking the right questions when we take stock of life? Whose life are we taking stock of……our life, or the life of God’s servant?

Anyone who has faith will do what I have been doing!

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)

I have been thinking about this verse for days now. As I searched online for others views on the verse I find most people pay attention to the second half of the verse and especially to the word greater. What stands out to me is the first half of the verse.

Are you a Christian? Do you have faith in Christ? If so, this verse says you WILL do what he has been doing. This expresses the same message that we hear from the book of James, faith without actions is dead. It leaves us asking the question, if we are not doing what Chris was doing are we really living as a believer, and if we are not living as a believer do we truly believe.

Believing in Christ is not the same as believing the light will come on when you flip the light switch, or believing that your paycheck will arrive when it is supposed to. Belief like that does not really take much effort or involvement on our side, we just expect it to happen. Believing in Christ means we enter into a relationship where there is give and take and where Christ will ask things of us. What he is asking of us is to live like he did, and to do the things that he did. He cared for the poor, fed the needy, healed, preached, taught, counseled, spoke truth, sacrificed, made God’s priorities first in his life, and much much more.

Are you living a life where you are doing what Christ was doing? If you believe in Christ and you are not living that way I guess I have to ask why and when you change. (Don’t worry, I am asking that same question about my life as there are areas where I am not living like it either. )

Do you respect your spiritual leader/pastor?

As a member of a church we are under spiritual leaders who are pastors or ministry leaders, and depending on our role they might even be our supervisor. We also have elders who are over us and hopefully leading the way. I have been reflecting lately on the characteristics of the people I truly respect as spiritual leaders, and therefore as people.

• Those whose speech and actions are about living for and glorifying God. They have such a love for and walk with God that they can’t keep from talking about him, living out the 1st greatest commandment.
• Those who place others before themselves, living by the 2nd greatest commandment.
• Those who seek to truly live by the standards given in scripture.
• Those who understand the priority and importance of prayer, both individually and corporately.
• Those whose values (seen through time, resources, money, words, blog/twitter posts, entertainment choices, etc.) are growing more and more toward God’s values, which they know through close walk with him.
• Those who live out Philippians 2:5-11 considering themselves nothing and taking the very nature of a servant.
• Those who live out Philippians 3:7-11 seeking to love Christ more than they breath, considering everything other than knowing him a loss, and desiring to know him so much that they will even suffer for him.

What causes you to respect your spiritual leaders? If your leaders do not have these characteristics are they good leaders that are truly leading you to God?

Twitter – What are we communicating?

For the past year or so I have been following a few people on Twitter. I still am not convinced about what this social networking is truly accomplishing. Often I feel like I am stalking others as I learn intimate details about their thoughts and lives that I wouldn’t know through any other means. While it is enticing and at times almost addictive I think it many ways it is like a real life soap opera as we wait to hear what next will happen in this person’s life.

Yesterday I was reflecting on what we as Christians communicate to others via this medium. You don’t have to know someone to follow them on Twitter, you just have to find them and sign up. I know of several people who have followers from all over the nation that are only vague acquaintances of the Twitter poster, so the Tweets are the only image of this person’s life that the follower has. If your Tweets were all that someone knew about you, what would it communicate? Would others see Christ in your life? One person I know is a ministry leader, but they post mostly about their frustrations and food. Is that a good witness?

I saw two Tweets yesterday. Which one inspires you?

• “We need to stop being fools for Christ and start truly living for him.”
• “teaching christians to live normally”

I guess I would rather have an extraordinary and non-normal life. I don’t know the context around either Tweet as this is all I was given, so again I wonder…..what are we really communicating to others, and is it furthering the kingdom of God? As Christians I think we need to be a lot more careful regarding what we communicate and how it might come across to those we don’t really know our heart and the greater context of our words.

God wants to love on us

I have been reflecting on God’s character and heart a lot lately as I am praying to be more and more like him as I give my heart, soul, mind, and strength to him completely. Yesterday as I was praying I started getting so excited about who he is and what his character is like. All of a sudden I started laughing and burst out…”It must be so much fun to be you!”

God’s has a huge, and I mean HUGE, heart that is loving us and giving us blessings. We see so few of them because we can’t comprehend his ways. Every day he gets to bless people, make them smile, make them laugh, warm their heart, bring them joy, give them peace, etc. His heart breaks that we receive these things from him in such small supply. He wants to lavish them on us and overwhelm us with his love.

Are you allowing him to be who he is and to give to you fully and completely? I know I struggle to receive that, but as I learn more about his character and see him in new ways I realize that not receiving from him is denying who his is. I am learning to walk in a way where I actually am starting to enjoy the gifts, surprises, and joys he is bringing me and I am finding God has an incredible sense of humor!

Blessings to you!

One flock?

I ran into a new friend this morning and had a great time sharing with him. As we talked he shared about a youth group he works with. The group and my friend are both of East Indian descent. We shared about multicultural issues and how those issues divide people much like other issues divide the church.

Next week I will be a part of a conversation where division in a local church will be discussed. Division can be caused by many things. Sometimes it is different views, arrogance, pride, sin, or even things like multicultural issues. As Christians we are called to unify, love, accept, welcome, and embrace.

Our world church has been divided over and over and over again. We separate and divide on so many issues. We shut others out, turn them away, and close doors. The friend I shared with this morning was raised in India and he said something I have heard before. One of the largest obstacles Indians and Muslims have to Christianity is the fact that we are not unified. If we would heal, forgive, accept, and unite we would be a very strong witness and they would definitely listen to our call, but until then they see us as hypocrites. Ouch!

Are you living as part of a unified flock? Are you living in unity with others or are you turning your back and leaving others out? Are you willing to forgive, heal, accept, and unify for the sake of God’s message and his call to this world? We are representatives of Christ in all we do, and if we will not repent, forgive, love, and accept then who will. Is your flock going in the same direction?

Ready to follow?

What if Jesus was alive today and he walked up to you? If he asked you to follow, “Come, follow me, and I will make you leaders of men.” Would you follow? What if you couldn’t go home to pack, you couldn’t pick your kids up at school, you couldn’t post your blog entry or tweet?

God is calling us to follow today. His message is to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Often we want to ask where he wants us to follow, how to be obedient, and how much he wants us to sacrifice. In the Old Testament the act of tithing was described as giving 10%. In the New Testament Christ made the math easier for us and just said “ALL”.

One of the oldest and most repeated scriptures in the Bible is to “love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” When we love with only part of who we are we are not truly following. If we want to really have a powerful, abundant, victorious, amazing life with God, the math has been made easy. All we have to do is let go and give all.

So much easier said than done!

Taken captive

Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Have you ever been taken by anything? Most of us living in America have never experienced captivity. We live in a free country, have not experienced martial law, and have laws that keep families and spouses from abusing us. Some from our country have been captured through political or military actions, or even for some type of ransom. When we think of captivity we tend to think of captivity of the body.

God’s word speaks of another type of captivity, that of the spirit and mind. It is the captivity that our enemy, Satan, wants to place us under. He tries to deceive, confuse, frustrate, and mislead us. His ways are corrupt, evil, and very sly. He can convince us of things that make no real sense but he shapes them in a way that we do not even recognize the problem.

God wants to set us free from captivity. He wants to tear down the lies of the enemy and reshape all we believe. Captivity isn’t just something that can happen to non-believers, although that is the core of what they experience as non-believers. Believers can also be deceived and come under a spiritual stronghold that results in captivity. These strongholds often will come about after a loss, trauma, extended period of stress, or from time being in a corrupt environment.

The part that is most difficult is to recognize that the stronghold exists. I personally have experienced the deception of a stronghold in my life and had no idea it was there until others held me accountable and brought it to my attention. Author Beth Moore introduces a way to break through these strongholds once they are recognized in her book Breaking Free.

1. Recognize the captor. Know who has brought you into this captivity.
2. Stand in agreement with God. Acknowledge your sinful ways and the deception you have been under and agree with God that you want it to come to an end.
3. Tear down the lies. Work to recognize all the untruthful, incorrect, or distorted thoughts, beliefs, and facts you have believed.
4. Put up the truth. Fill the gaps with God’s truth directly from his word. Don’t leave any gaps remaining or the deceit and lies will reenter those places.
5. Bow your thoughts to the truth. Believe, speak, and apply truth as a daily part of your life. Have faith that God will change things as you believe more in him and apply his word to your life.

Thinking of heaven

(http://www.kandle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/heaven.jpg)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. (Revelation 21:1)

Have you ever wondered what heaven will be like? Will it be something new and glorious? Yes, I am sure of that. This verse in Revelation says we will have a new earth. I am left wondering today why God would do that. He created the world once, a glorious and wonderful place. The first people he placed here on earth defied the relationship with him and moved into sin. He is leaving us here to work out our salvation so that all of us can come into relationship with him through the gift of his son’s death and the sacrifice that was paid for our sin.

Why would God’s view of heaven include creating a new earth and doing this over again? Will there be free choice again? Will we move in sin again? Even though those who are faithful to him will be those in heaven we still will have been people of sin from this earth. How will the new earth be different?

Too many questions…..no real answers. Sometimes we just have to believe and trust that God knows best!

Hearts set on serving

“Jesus “hit a beaches” with his people.  He did not recruit angels to be his leaders, but flesh-and-blood humans who would take this world as a theater in which to show forth his power.  He planned to build in the world through transformed sinners, so at his baptism he chose to be one with sinners and offer them forgiveness and sonship with the Father.  He wanted leaders who would lead from the experience of real-like testings, so he himself was tested.  He wanted men and women whose hearts would be set on serving God, so he came as a servant who trembled at God’s word.” (Transforming Leadership by Leighton Ford)

God does not build his world and lead us through perfect people, but through sinners that are transformed and forgiven. We all are still a work in progress. We all will face testings, trials, and deal with sin. We will at times fall mightily, and other times it will appear that no one even saw us stumble.

The important issues are not those struggles but where our heart is set and what we are devoted to. When you face struggles, where do you turn? Do you pick up the phone? Do you turn to food, alcohol, nicotine? Do you run to some type of earthly comfort or do you look for spiritual leadership? God wants people who come before him in awe, respect, submission, and incredibly deep love for him and his word. How are you doing on that journey today?

Restoring Theology Through Song

As I am stripping back my theology and trying to go back to the basics of what should be core to my beliefs. One of my struggles has been that I have put “me” too central in my beliefs and need to put God/Christ back in their right place. As I awoke today I gave my head/mind, spirit, soul, and heart to God again. The act of giving my mind to him made a huge difference. Since that time songs have been stirring in my heart. Songs that I was raised on that teach some core basic truths about God that I really need to make central to my life.

• Lord’s Prayer
• Rejoice in the Lord Always
• I Will Enter His Gates
• I Exalt Thee
• Lord You Are More Precious Than Silver
• Seek Ye First
• Love the Lord Your God With All Your Heart
• This is the Day That the Lord Has Made

What is stirring in your heart today? Is it about God? If not, why don’t you make an adjustment and lean your ear his way. He has something precious to share with you.

A Narrow Gate

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Do you believe that the road to God and a saving faith is wide open to any who believe, or is it a narrow road?

My entire life I have believed that Christianity is open to all who believe. This week that belief has been changing, not away from the belief I have held, but into a deeper maturity about it. I am not saved because I believe, I am saved because I believe that Christ paid a price for my sin, stood in the gap for me, and because I willingly accept the gift he paid for my life. I have come to realize the distortion in my beliefs and as I have been throwing out all I believed and starting over I have realized that as my beliefs are distorted, so are so many others.

How do we find truth? How do we get right with God? How do we move away from our hard hearts, darkened thoughts, stiff-necked ways, and truly repent and return to our faithful God?

I don’t have those answers yet, but I am in search of them more than ever before. I believe the gate is small and the road is narrow but I want with all my heart to be one of those that finds the way, God’s way.