You're full of...

How can God fill me when I'm full of myself?

The life you choose

We all have choices to make. One that has confronted me recently has been whether to choose an Easy Life or a Great Life. Which will you choose?

God is like coffee

While at the Alpha weekend away, our discussion of the Holy Spirit led to this analogy: His empowerment is like coffee and I'm like a cup. Sometimes the coffee slops out if I'm not careful, sometimes, I drink it, sometimes I share it, sometimes I choose to toss it out. Just like my coffee cup needs refilling, I need refilling of the Holy Spirit's power. I'm glad He's got more in  reserve than even Starbuck's.

Pumpkins

Is the point of this picture that 'pumpkins are orange'?

How about this one?

Now this one?

The Bible makes statements along the lines of  'pumpkins are orange,' and yet we miss the point if that's the main thing we get rather than something along the lines of  'Emily went to the pumpkin patch and had a great time as she celebrated the fall harvest with some orange pumpkins.' Did Paul write Galatians because "we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ and not by our works, or the works of the Law," (link) or because "some people are disagreeing with me about salvation and here is why they are wrong. Don't listen to them." Every part of the Bible was written in a specific historical context. The truths in them, both revealed and implied, are being brought to bear in a very specific way. It's easy to forget - especially when the pumpkins are so orange.

The point of scrapbooking

If the Bible is a scrapbook of God's family, treat it how you would a other scrapbooks. Acknowledge the setting of the pictures. Emily's Year in Review books serve a different purpose from What to Expect: The Toddler Years similar to how the Bible serves a different purpose to Systematic Theology. Which way do you treat the Bible?

A Pastor by Any Other Name - Part 1

We do not find terms such as "lay pastor" or "facilitator" in the Bible - one is either an elder/pastor or he is not - it's that simple. Our getting past the distinction between "staff" (paid) and unpaid elders is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome if we hope to establish a healthy house church ministry. We must publicly acknowledge the deep-seated, Biblical truth that an unpaid pastor of a small group meeting in the home is every bit as much a pastor as one who is paid to lead a larger congregation meeting in a church building. Steven Lorch in Welcome Home: A Practical Guide to House Churces, Small Groups, Home Fellowships or Whatever Else We Call Them.

Simply Floored

Acts 9:4 and he fell to the ground...
In response to God's work, Paul fell to the ground. Have I ever been literally knocked to the ground by God's working?

God, please don't leave me in the mundane, but allow me to experience your working!