The Basic(s)

God is mad at you. You broke His Law and you were expected to keep it... perfectly. He's mad that is, if you haven't been completely and perfectly cleaned. How can you do that? Trade your sin (Law breaking) for Jesus' perfection (perfect obedience) by repenting (turning from sin) and putting your whole trust (faith) in the person and work of Christ. Make Him your King and Savior (cleaner-upper). Is He mad at you? Ask Him not to be! JS

The Chameleon

The Chameleon In a short conversation one can become "all things to all people". Question: does that sound positive to you? What does all people mean? Do we want to have something in common with everyone? Which something should it be? Are you a color changing adapter? Two mothers are in common. Listen to the conversations. Pounds, allergies, doctors, bottles, no bottles...it doesn't take work for two moms to connect. This probably holds true in other areas. The area in my mind however is that of Christianity. If boldly representing Jesus as your King is a dark Royal blue, what color are we in most of our daily communications. Days ago a man (claiming to be the number one real estate agent in our county - how do you measure that?) came to my business. His reply to "how are you?" was intriguing; "I don't know. It's like when I was in the service overseas. I got into a cab messed up(drunk) and the driver asked where to, I said 'I don't know. Take me home!'" In this single statement there is no disguise. Many profanities (not mine) and business subjects later after I mention that I am a Pastor, the very next words from his mouth were, "I definitely consider real estate my ministry." The yucky talk disappeared and it was nice and churchy from this point on. The appearance seemed to go from one color to another as though the first impression was to be deleted from memory and replaced with this lovely blue color. The quandry I have is not what color he was either first or after the shift. Pink, yellow, pale blue, or teal. But rather, how do I know if my true color is blue. Or do I blend given different surroundings? Oh, how often those around me talk blue to me, and then the most pea-green colors to those that may be a closer match? But, this is for me to answer. Do I do this as well? How comfortable am I in that crucial first impression time speaking of King Jesus? How long would someone have to hold their breath if they were waiting on my mentioning the Savior to inhale that life saving o2. I pray they won't turn blue from the waiting, but from the saving. JS

Da Vinci Madness

How Serious IS a heart attack? If you can't answer that, then how can you use it as a measurement standard? Precisely (Bad pun)! This observation serves a two-fold purpose in this installment: (1) The 'seriousness' of the Da Vinci Code and (2) The standards of measuring Truth (capital's on purpose - hang in there) First, do you remember a book called "Embraced by the Light"? Have you been to the Wal-Mart and seen "Chicken Soup for the Plumber's Soul"? Have you made a pilgrimage to see Mel Gibson's 'the Passion' lately? What I'm driving at is simple. You can repackage Gnosticism all you want. Slap the "FACT" sticker as Dan Brown does on it, but this fad will soon be doused out as all others. Not by Truth I'm afraid, but by a fickle consuming public. In fact, check back and read this in a few months and you'll snicker that I wrote it. Not even a mild heart attack. Second, the standard of truth for Brown? There isn't one. Yup, that's it. There is no need for Truth when you have truth. Just make it up. If you fall prey to his fantasy story about 80 gospels, a close vote on Jesus' divinity and the 25 gazillion women burned as witches, you deserve what you get. You may have drank the Kool Aid and/or Diet Root Beer too in other circumstances. And you should be ashamed. As Paul says to Timothy: 2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. What have you divided to come to your conclusions? The book in question isn't even that good either. It's just the only thing a TV addicted public has read recently, so they think it's good. Hey, Martha. There's words-n-stuff in this here book. I give it 4 stars! JS

Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People?

Part 1 Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People? Read that line again...One more...Did you catch it? I'd like to know if the experiment worked. Did you read it the "other" way the first time? Did it read in your mind: "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?" Instead of wasting a bunch of time trying to justify this, let me just come out and say it. There are no "good" people. I know, I know. All of the people who go to Church with me will say, Amen. But do you really mean it? Do you really believe that Indonesia "deserved" a Tsunami? Do you really believe Katrina was justifiable by God? Would you tell someone who's lost a loved one in Iraq they deserved it? How do YOU jive these two things. People are basically evil and explaination of pain and/or suffering. I'd like to suggest the anwer is both and neither. All discussions, especially those that start with these types of questions have a context. If a grieving mother looks at you and asks the expected question, "Why?", the response must come with compassion and tell the big picture story of Adam and his "helper". Thanks for the help Eve! Sin has infected the world and all of its people. We are all deserving of all punishment that fits a crime like high treason... Highest treason. But the infection and symptoms may be treated separately. If the context is Worldview, Justice, Theology and Web-Site banter like this, the answer to the first line is. There ain't any good people. I'll discuss the more full answer and where I think the question comes from in my next episode. Just wanted to put the discussion in it's proper context. Banter, not counsel. JS

The Myth Of Individual Christianity

The Myth of Individual Christianity "The church is in here", or "I am the church" pointing the thumb authoritatively at his own chest. This is what one hears from individuals quite often as an answer to the question, why don't you go to church. Similarly, you, if you inquire about such things, often hear, "I need to find a church that does XZY for me and my family". Examples of XYZ may include, teach me to be a better husband, involve my kids more or have a more dynamic worship style. However noble these may be to pursue, the question in my mind is: are these the "most" noble and/or proper statements to make and/or attitudes to have. It is so often said in the sphere of Christianity that it is a "personal" relationship and not religion. That "organized" religion is bad. I snicker internally at this one because I want to ask, "do you prefer disorganized religion?" My relationship with God is between me and Him. The tone of this is most certainly, "Back Off". Well, and this is the reason for my writing, why do we think this and where does it come from? Of course I believe our faith is "personal" and that my relationship to God is "individual" but what does the Bible say I am with regard to the church. The word corporate as of late is a bad word, but I invite you to do a small experiment for yourself. Or, rather, for the bride of your King (if He's your king). Read the first few Chapters of Luke's best-seller "Acts". Specifically Chapter 2. My Pentecostal friends gravitate to the "Fire" verses, but I'd ask that the bigger picture stay in the frontal lobe. In tandem to "personal" faith and transformation, something else happens. Were people searching for programs for themselves? Were they avoiding the gathering. Or (my point) were they corporately functioning as a family. Were they considerate of what their actions do to their family. Would you sell your possessions to help the local church? In short, a rhetorical question, who is Christianity for? You or Him. When you make decisions do you make them with you in mind first or His bride. I suggest their is no such thing as individual Christianity. If that rubs the wrong way, it might be proving me right. JS

Why Do Good Things Part 2

 Part 2 We decided in our last adventure that depending on context - Theological discussions or couseling, the answer to why either bad or good things happen to people is contingent. The correct answer is not relative, but rather the method of sharing it. When a family member grieves the loss of a loved sinner, you do not say, "they deserved it for their breaking of God's Law." Duh! (even though that is true) Now on to the real answer. There are no good people. I know, I know... your Aunt Tilly was wonderful! Then the simple straight-forward reponse I have is why didn't she die for our sins. I am now transforming into a Preacher (insert Transformer sound here). This question of why God allows bad things almost always carries with it the assumption that people (sinners) do not deserve what befalls them.. Unless of course it's good. If you don't intently grasp this basic of the faith, you will like the Galatians suggest that Christ died in vain. More than convincing you Aunt Tilly is sinful, I'd rather point to the high price that was paid for the sin of the world. Would God kill His Son if Tilly were "good"? Meditate on that. If there were any good, why the cross. Does Christ have peers? Be careful with your "good person" labels. It is patented by Jesus. He is sole proprietor of that title. I could write part 3 and convince the reader that everyone is yucky, but what would be the point now given that God has closed the matter by showing what He thinks of us all in the Sacrifice of His Son. Would you call you good if your sin nailed Jesus to a cross. Filthy rags come to mind. JS

For Preacher Transformation In Part 2