Fame

So I'm watching the news and reading magazines, and it's all about Barack Obama. I don't have a problem with that. He got himself elected 44th President of the US, no small feat.
Old friends want to have lunch, new friends want to meet with him, world leaders calling on the phone. He's the center of attention. Whether it's to see what they can get, or to see what they can do to help, all eyes are on the man-of-the-hour.
Of course, he has enemies. He's young, black, intelligent, and reasonably good-looking. He wants to do things a little differently. Change is the word. Either one of those will get you some enemies.
My point is this; Barack Obama, whether you like him or not, has what the dictionary calls fame. Fame is a reputation, a following, a magnetism. For whatever reason, good or bad, people are drawn to him. He has the attention of the masses.
2000 years ago, another young man of color, with different views, attracted the attention of the masses. Matthew 4 talks about how the fame of Jesus spread abroad, and the people flocked to Him. Matthew 14 talks about how even Herod heard about Jesus and wanted to see Him.
There was something about this young man from Nazareth. People hung on every word. They marveled at the way He carried himself. They were in awe of the things He did. Jesus was talking about change too. He introduced Grace into the picture, and Salvation by Faith.
Of course, He had enemies. Any of the above mentioned things will get you enemies. His enemies killed him.
No I'm not trying to say that Barack Obama is our new savior. Jesus is the only savior. And I certainly hope that Obama's enemies don't do to him what they did to Jesus.
But wouldn't it be nice if the people of God were as excited about Jesus as people are about Barack Obama. Wouldn't it be nice if his name was on everybody's lips. Wouldn't it be nice if JESUS became famous once again.
I'm not going to tell you that I know how to do that. I just have a burning desire to see it happen.
What do you think?????

God's Gonna "Git" You!

Overheard a lady talking the other day at work. She was real distraught over the fact that Obama had won the election. She said "God is going to get everyone that voted for Obama." Now needless to say, she made that statement because she thought God's side lost the election, but sadly that statement reflects a lot of people's thoughts about God. You meet people all the time who have a "God's gonna git you attitude". You even hear preachers from the pulpit talking about how God is going to git those people. God's destroyed that city because they are so wicked. You know God has destroyed cities before (i.e Sodom and Gomorrah), but if God destroys a city, it won't be rebuilt in a couple of years. I've heard all my life that one day God's gonna push California into the ocean because they are so wicked. It's a "God's gonna Git you attitude". The man in Luke 19, had one talent and ran and hid it because he said "I was afraid of you". That's how a lot of people are. Don't get cause up in that stuff. The truth is that God loves you, and he sent his son to die on a cross for your sins, to save you, and to git you out of Satan's hands. One day he's gonna send his son to git you. Revelation says I saw a new heaven and a new earth, and there was no more crying and no more death .........Don't be afraid of God. He loves you!!!!!

Storing Christmas

The rush is finally over. Another Christmas in the bag, so to speak. The Christmas cards will grow yellow in a drawer somewhere. Toys, for both young and old, will break and be discarded. The last crumb of Christmas cookies will be eaten. The gifts that were so needful will become unused. Some will be returned immediately. It's not a negative commentary on Christmas. It's just the way it is.As the lights are turned off, and the tree is discarded, or in some cases put in the garage, and we make our way to the dump with the last of the wrapping paper and boxes, I pray that we can be reminded once again that the Christmas season is about the Saviour, Jesus. Let's not put Him away with the rest of the stuff of Christmas, but remember that He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Presidential Inauguration

I was reading an article about Pres-elect Obama asking Rick Warren to do the invocation at his inauguration. Man, did that turn into a brouhaha. The gay/lesbians are mad at Obama for asking a Christian who preaches against homosexuality, gay marriage, and abortion, and a lot of Christians are mad a Rick Warren for accepting the invite.

Wow! Two things just jump out at me from this.:
1: I think Rick Warren did a good thing by accepting the invite. I would have accepted it. Just think, there will probably be 2-4 million people there, not counting those who watch by TV. Many of those people will be of the gay/lesbian persuasion. Rick Warren has a golden opportunity to speak the name of Jesus.
2: I think President-elect Obama is trying to do what he promised during the election, that is bring the country together. He's brought some of his enemies into the administration, he's talking to Republicans and taking their advice, and now he's asked a pro-life Christian to do the invocation at his inauguration. Those folks that are mad at Rick Warren obviously haven't thought it through. We're suppose to hate the sin, but love the sinner.

Jealous

Wife and I went over to see our newest grandchild "Sophie" the other day. She is so beautiful. I can't figure out who she looks more like though.Anyway we were holding her and squeezing her, and all the things grandparents do. All the while, her 2 year old brother who is "no longer the baby" was running from person to person getting up in our laps and hugging us. When that didn't work, he started making all kinds of noises. He was trying to get our attention. He was saying "Hey, have you forgotten me"?And I'm thinking, how many times has God done that in my life? How many times have I let things, people, or just stuff get between us. how many times has he become "no longer God".I've been a Christian since '77, so you count the years. I am not superchristian, so there have been more than a few times when God has run to me, and even made noises in my ear "hey, have you forgotten me"?Exodus 34:14 says that God is a jealous God. He wants to be God. He doesn't want to be second best in our lives. The challenge today, in this Christmas season, and all the time, is to let him be God in your life.

Throwin Rocks

An estimated 2.4 million Muslims made the pilgrimage to Mina, Saudi Arabia this year to take part in the "Stoning of Satan". This ritual is part of the Hajj, one of the 5 pillars of Islam which every believer must carry out at least once in their lives.
In Mina, there are 3 pillars, each one 82 feet tall. Believers must throw 21 pebbles at each one of the pillars during the ritual. The thing is, hundreds of people have been trampled to death as the pilgrims rush to throw their rocks at the pillars. Satan's probably getting a good laugh at that.
Several years ago a young man bowed at an altar and asked God to forgive his sin. Jesus came into his heart and he was saved. There were no pebbles thrown, nobody got trampled to death. Just a sinner beginning a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Folks, you can't beat Satan by throwing rocks at pillars or going through some ritual. You beat Satan when you accept Jesus as your savior.
Anyway, it's God's job to take care of Satan. Revelation 20: 10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Amen

UNCOMPLICATED

Went to the movies with my grand son EP yesterday. Had a good time. Ate some popcorn and stuff. One of those James Bond 007 movies. Car chases, crashing, bang bang, destroying everything in sight. The movie kept going back and forth between two or three different scenes. You know "multi-plotting". EP had that puzzled look on his face, so I leaned over and asked him if he knew what was going on. He said "stuffs blowing up". I knew right then that I was not the only one in the theatre that was lost.
If there is one word you could use to describe things theses days it's complicated. Movies are complicated, politics are complicated, families are complicated. I wanted to enter a contest to win $1,000,000 from Dr. Pepper. Ripped the label off the bottle to read the instructions "rocket science". The technology that is suppose to make life easier is complicated too. It takes me forever to get anywhere on the computer.
But I'm so glad that the most important thing in life is not complicated at all. Acts 19, the Phillipian jailer asked the Apostle Paul "what must I do to be saved". Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ". The most important yet most uncomplicated thing in the world is to be saved from sin and made a child of God. Believe that Jesus is God's son, that he died on the cross for your sin, and that he rose the third day. That's all