God's Mercy

"How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for considering me trustworthy and appointing me to serve him, even though I used to scoff at the name of Christ. I hunted down his people, harming them in every way I could. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how kind and gracious the Lord was! He filled me completely with faith and the love of Christ Jesus.

This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - and I was the worst of them all. But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen." - 1 Timothy 1:12-17

God's mercy is amazing. He purposely looked for someone who was ignorant and unbelieving and had mercy on them in order to show the world his patience with the worst sinners. And who was this terrible person? It was Saul, the pharisee. The one who believed in God, but did not believe in Christ.

Just this past week I received an email from a friend that contained pictures (supposedly) of an Iranian man holding an eight year old boy's arm down, as a car runs over and crushes it. The email explained that the boy had stolen from the marketplace and this was the punishment he would receive. I was horrified and angry. I have an eight year old daughter and I can't imagine that happening to her. If that's the way those Iranian people think and act, someone should go rescue those kids and obliterate the rest. Honestly, I would have no problem with that.

But, today, as I read this passage, I wonder what God's perspective is. Let's assume that the story and pictures are true. Were those people punishing the child with such extreme measures because they believed God would want them to? To teach the child stealing is wrong and God would rather have the child with a crushed arm than to lose his soul? If crushing his arm would cause him never to steal again, is that such a bad thing?

Before you start freaking out, know that I'm cringing asking these questions. Keep following me...

From God's perspective, he sees people who are ignorant and unbelieving. They are very religious, but they reject Christ. It is in their hearts to do "good" for God, but in their pursuit to do good, they do evil instead, harming people in every way they can.

Now, I wonder if somewhere in Iran God has chosen the worst sinner and shown mercy on him. If he has, it has not become a mainstream story yet. But, after reading these verses, I am more inspired to pray for that possibility.

Here's my last thought on this for now. Is it possible that God is more likely to show mercy to those who are ignorant and unbelieving than He is to those in the fold who persecute the children of God? If that is the case, then I would stay clear of anything that would harm another Christian or tear him down.

Giving Up On Church, But Not On God

This summer I picked up a few books of interest and began reading. One of them was Jaded by A.J. Kiesling. I have wanted to post about this for a long time, but I haven't gotten around to it until now. It's a very easy read at 125 pages and I found it to be enlightening about why believers are leaving churches and how they still desire to be part of the Church.

This is from her Introduction called Divine Discontent:

"During my research I stumbled onto a phrase that captures the heartbeat of this message: divine discontent. Revolutions, whether social or spiritual, are always preceded by a collective restlessness, a heart-cry for something more. Could it be that God is stirring a divine discontent within the heart of his people, preparing them for much more than the staid, program-centered state of Western Christianity?"

A couple pages later she writes: "Everywhere I turn I run into fellow believers so jaded on institutional church life they rarely bother to darken the doors of those hallowed spaces anymore. Or they begin a search for a place that fits - a place that offers more than just programs. A place that encourages those deep, sometimes dark, questions that accompany any meaningful spiritual quest. A place that won't cast believers aside when they encouter their own dark night of the soul. For some, that place may be a house church, a Bible study, a coffeehouse meeting, or something as a simple as breakfast with another believer once a week.

Spiritual fatigue wears many different faces, and we may find ourselves in this slough of the soul as a result of a number of catalysts:

• a world-weariness that replaces the first spark of belief over time
• scars inflicted by fellow believers or pastors
• a life crisis that casts God in a bad light
• the existence of pain and suffering in a supposedly God-ordered world
• a growing awareness that what's preached from the pulpit doesn't always work in reality
• a despair that we'll never break out of churchianity into abundant life"

Here, she covers so much to think about. I have many things I could say, but I would like to hear from others first...

Fighting Sin and Demons

I'm finally back. It seems I have been on vacation all month. This last trip we took was really great. Five days in California with Junior High students I didn't have to chaperone because there were 4 other adults to do that. Kathy and I were just along for the ride. I even read a complete novel out loud in the van during the trip. I read House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker. It was the second time this year. The kids loved it. Heck, I even enjoyed it more the second time than I did the first.

I don't know, I've been thinking. My head swims a little when I surf from blog to blog and read so much doubt and question concerning things like prayer, Truth, grace and God. I know it's good to question and search and I welcome that. But, somehow I get so darn analytical that it seems a bit silly. The more I listen to doubts and commentaries, the further away from reality I get, like I'm tripping out.

House reminded me again that there are such things as evil spirits. People often allow their demons (sins) to keep them from the light. In fact, demons and our sins will work to bring death in us if we fail to stand up to them in Christ's authority.

I think that we fail to recognize these forces of darkness on a regular basis. Maybe we don't want to be thought of as a cookoo? But, the Scripture clearly teaches that they exist. "Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." - Ephesians 6:11-12

So, speculating whether God is at work in us or our prayers seems kind of naive. If there are authorities fighting against us, then surely God is fighting back with us. In fact, that whole Ephesians passage admonishes believers to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. Then, Paul asks for people to pray for him to receive the right words from God, and to have boldness. Surely God could do these things without prayer. But, prayer is the method of God's choosing.

I think that all of the problems we face today are due to a lack of prayer, not the reverse. Men and women don't pray enough. They don't fight against the enemy. They stand and take the fiery darts. What they don't realize is that their sins and the Devil are killing them. They blame their troubles instead on flesh and blood.

I went to New Jersey and got a "Syndrome."

I told a good friend of mine that I would post this incredible pic. This is what happens when you spend time in the Apple store. Some of you may remember Dorsey's post about the store and how it affected his magnificent forehead. When my wife first saw this she laughed so hard she started to cry. I doubt you'll have the same reaction. Her love for me is very unique.

So, do you think I should crop it and use it as my new icon?