BOUNDLESS BLOG
Happy Thanksgiving!
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The turkey shot out of the oven and rocketed into the air,it knocked every plate off the table and partly demolished a chair. It ricocheted into a corner and burst with a deafening boom, then splattered all over the kitchen, completely obscuring the room. It stuck to the walls and the windows, it totally coated the floor, there was turkey attached to the ceiling, where there’d never been turkey before. It blanketed every appliance, It smeared every saucer and bowl, there wasn’t a way I could stop it, that turkey was out of control .I scraped and I scrubbed with displeasure, and thought with chagrin as I mopped, that I’d never again stuff a turkey with popcorn that hadn’t been popped. – By Jack Prelutsky
Evil at Ft. Hood
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Evil in our Hearts
The more we hear and find about the shooting at Ft. Hood the more I am convinced, the question should not be the typical, “How can somone commit such evil?” but rather why doesnt it happen more often. We do not like to say it, but evil lurks in the hearts of men. 
5 The Lord saw that the human beings on the earth were very wicked and that everything they thought about was evil. 6 He was sorry he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. Genesis 6:5-6 (NCV)
God in his grace limits or restrains evil. (Book of Job 1:1-2:10) Then he will end Evil. (Book of Revelation 20:7-14) If God did not do this, if Satan had completely free reign to do what he wanted, we would kill each other in the streets on a daily basis and would have wiped ourselves out world wide. What happened is horrendous, but without God’s grace it would happen so much more.
Who is Responsible?
Too quickly in situations like this we hear cries of mental instability as an excuse for their actions. Well yes there must be something terribly wrong with someone does such a thing religious motivations notwithstanding. It is crazy! So does that mean we let them off the hook? If everyone who does not live write has an “out” it would be chaos, so let’s just drop that arguement. Yes they obviously have an issue, however that does not mean they are simply excused. Every day we choose to act just as Nidal Hasan chose to. There is an old Ameican Indian illustration about two dogs within a person one evil and one good. The young person in the story asks the wise elder who will win. The elder says the one you feed! This speaks to our choices, not our ability to earn our salvation, but it is relevant still.
What Now?
I am wondering the reprecussions? What will the Military do? What of those of the Islamic faith who have no intent to do something like this, who truly love this country and their faith. I pray that they will not be unjustly impacted although they may know some changes are coming authorized or not. This again shows that you can not win a war against a world view with weapons unless you want to wipe out an entire people off the face of the earth, complete eradication. This is a war that can only be won with words, (and I do not mean polotics) the words of Christ to be specifice, the heart must be changed.
I feel for the family of this man
Stupid People Tricks
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I had a conversation with a friend concerning a church he knew about that had a split about too much grace! Wow. One leader pitted against another and boom half the church gone. Now in regards to the “split’ I certainly don’t know all the details or particulars, but it is obvious that communication didn’t happen. I am not saying that people didn’t talk, just that communication didn’t happen while under the authority of the Bible. And we think unbelievers should act like us?!
THE CRUX OF THE MATTER
The context revolved around how we treat people who may come to church and interact with the body of believers. At what point do we hold people responsible to be accountable to: “stop living in sin”? How long do we extend such grace? Some will say we are looking the other way. Others will say we are loving people where they are. There in lies the arguement. It important to make a distinction between the people we are considering. We cannot expect non-believers to act like believers. Let’s be honest, many believers don’t act like believers (thus the need for GRACE).
Here are my thoughts on the subject.
1. God is a God of Grace. He is in an ongoing ministry of reconciliation and that means that he is daily extending grace to each of us. By the way, none of us are deserving.
2. God’s grace does has his limists. At some point in time, he will withdraw his mercy and give us over to our own hardness of heart.
3. We cannot sacrifice the Truth for Love (Grace): Thought Process-”I love someone so muchI better not offend them with the truth.”
4. We cannot sacrifice Love (Grace) for the Truth: Thought Process-”I am going to tell them where they are going wrong whether they want to hear it or not.”
5. We do a diservice if we are not making actively making disciples and constantly attempting to move people to their “Next Step” in Christ. If we fail here, how can we complain?
6. Preaching only one of either Grace or Truth can become a dangerous prospect. Grace only can create an easy believeism. Truth only can create legalism and disuade those honestly seeking faith.
7. We should always love others, but we should never fail to call sin sin or to let them know God’s thoughts on the subject to do so would be absolutely wrong!
8. If we are going to err on one side, err on the side of GRACE! Isnt that what you would want.
Grace Grace God’s Grace!
The Real Reason
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When you share your faith with spiritual skeptics or seekers, they typcially fall into two categories, either they want to believe, knowing that there is more to this life. Or they simply do not want to believe, knowing that if the claims of Christ are true they will have to make major changes in they way they live their lives.
It is important to help others find out what it is that is really keeping them from believing. It is about helping people get honest. If people are simply not ready to believe, no evidence will suffice. One of the best things you can do is to be a friend. They should never be nor should they ever feel like a project to you. Help them discover what objections they may have that are really smokescreens and which are genuine. What is the real reason they are “stuck” where they are? Remember that no matter where they are, they need time and Grace. Listen to them, hear them out, understand what shapes their world view today. God will open the doors and remember you may be one of many steps in this persons journey to God.
I wish God were here,…
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Tyler and I were driving home from soccer practice on Monday. It was a great day. We were listening to a Christian Talk show. I believe it was Focus on the Family and favorite of mine. Tyler is a smart and perceptive Kid (Gets it from his mom) and he heard the voice on the radio say the words “killing babies” and of course a remarkable yet short conversation ensued. “Daddy is that true” “Yes, I am sorry to say that it is Tyler. Some people think that it is okay to kill babies before they are born.” (Usually when I talk to him while he is in the back, I will tilt the rear view mirror so I can see him. As I looked back he furowed his eyebrows in a look of indignant concern and he said something I will always remember.) “Daddy I wish that God was here!” “I wish that he was here too, so people could see him, but he is here and some people just don’t care, so we have to.” It made me think about how God used to be so important in our country. Now he is marginalized or simply ignore, even though we hear the statistics that 90% believe in God and claim to be his followers. “I wish God were here!” 25 In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 21:25 (NLT) He dropped the subject after that but I am continually thankful for the character God is developing in him. I feel loss over all the amazing children like him that are not here today due to abortion. I am glad that one day God will set everything right.
Mormonism
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You usually see them in pairs in white button ups and an Elder name tag despite the fact that they are very young- Mormon Missionaries. I have members of the Latter Day Saint Church in my extended family and have known quite a few. Most Mormons are typically highly moral deeply religious, family minded and educated intensely in what they believe. That being said with all due respect, many Mormons, just like many who call themselves Christian actually know little about what they are supposed to believe. Ignorance in either respect is disapointment.
Here is my beef with the Mormon church. This is from MY expereince in talking with Missionaries and LDS members in various circumstances. To begin they call themselves Christians, yet their “Quad” and “more” (Authoratative Books and Prohpet-Thomas S. Monson) do not match what the Bible says and they do not see a problem or inconsistency?
(Link to Article by Bill McKeever on MRM.ORG)
http://www.mrm.org/topics/introductory-issues/were-christians-just-you
I would have no problem with their beliefs as long as they took an honest look at what they taught when talking to me. In my experience they are not. They give their version of the “truth incrementally. Truth as they are instructed to. Unless someone investigates Mormonism or has someone to counter and bring balance to what the missionaries are sharing, they will not know the more unusual teachings of Mormonism. Their teaching are extremely inconsistent with the claims of Jesus Christ. Essentially they use terminology that poeple would assume mean the same thing. Words like, Salvation, Grace, Jesus, Heaven, Creation, Sin and so on.
(Link on Terminology)
http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/terminologymain.htm
6 I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you because of his wonderful kindness. You have believed another message, 7 when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ. 8 I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn’t matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. 9 I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed.
Galatians 1:6-9 (CEV)
To any Mormons, and for another gripe, it seems okay for LDS leadership to say that I am part of Apostate Christianity, but if I express that The LDS church is wrong,.. I must be Anti-Mormon. It seems that I cannot disagree without being intolerant?
(Link Anti Mormon Article)
http://www.mrm.org/anti-mormon
I am not anti-Mormon Mormon, but yes I am opposed to their teachings. It seems that Joeseph Smith should have been reading his Bible, had he,.. you would not be a Moromon and I would be blogging about my sock drawer.
6 I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you because of his wonderful kindness. You have believed another message, 7 when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ. 8 I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn’t matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. 9 I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed.
Galatians 1:6-9 (CEV)
Mormons are amazing people who have been knowing lied to and I hope to dialogue with anyone who would like to do so. They have high moral values and are incredibly giving and a great example of family, but that did not and does not make Joseph Smith right.
Downturn and Downtime
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Life has been pretty hectic for he last couple of months. We have had some major life changes. We have changed schools, churches, where we live and it has all been for the best. We are closer to family and my wifes work so that is great. However I had to leave my job and as we all know, job are not exactly as prolific as bills in the mail box.
So I have been working with all due dilligence to stay off the proverbial couch, and the real one and stay busy as I look for work.
Here is what I am doing, if anyone has experienced being out of work, what did you do?
Studying to learn something new. Working in the Yard. Being industrious-I am going to “try” to build bookshelves. Keeping up with past professional skills. Helping family and friends as often as I can. Listening to Audio Books. Spending time with my wife and son. Reading my Bible. Volunteering at a local DJJ center to hold “Church”. Volunteering at Church by helping to start a Men’s Ministry. Vounteering with the Student Ministry. Spending time with my wife and son. Studying for a MAT test- I am looking into getting my Masters? Working Out. Spending time with my wife and son. Catching up with old friends. Seeing my mom more = ). Going to the library. Netwoking. Looking for Jobs and of Course Praying.
I hope that all of us who are not working right now will use our time wisely. I am encouraged that God is faithful and will see us through.
The Right One
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Maybe you are in a church that you love, maybe you are not. Regardless, what do you look for in a church? What is your church doing right that is keeping your connected, or what is your church failing to do that is making you look for greener pastures? I would love to have your feedback. Thanks
Staying in the Word
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If any of you like me at times have trouble sticking to a plan to stay in the word, here is some help. Just link to these great Bible reading plan and find one that fits your personality, strenghts or weakness as the case may be. Some may be duplicated, but I hope that you find something.
Link
http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=138
http://www.emmausroadonline.org/pdf%20documents/Bible%20Reading%20Plans%20and%20Family%20Ideas.pdf
Bad Reputation
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In Church we have been going over the Sermon on the Mount, or what our Pastor calls Christ’s manifesto. He had made two comments that made me think about how Christians, of which I am one unashamedly, are percieved.
Number One: He talked about a friend of his that he knew that either owned or managed a resteraunt. According to this person, he said that it was tough to get people to work shifts on Sundays, not because they wanted to go to church, but because of people who go to church. Wait staff said that Christians can be rude, cheap and obnoxious. Its pretty sad. Inisde I had a list of objections but knew the truth. Christians can be like that. Many that claim to be Christians arent really, they are just under a religious obligation, or a works based religion. Not an excuse, but a reality.
I want to treat others the way I want to be treated, to love the way I want to be loved. God did’nt give us the choice of “who” to love, he just said love.
Number Two: He also mentioned how we wrongly reflect Christ. You have seen it, the little fish on the car. I think they are fine, but when you see some, you wonder if they know it is even there, I mean its not like some Holy tagger slapped the fish on the back of their car without their knowledege. The Pastor talked said that even how we drive is a reflection of Christ. So here is the funny part. I pulled out of the parking lot heading to my moms to have lunch and a big SUV cuts me off trying to get into a left turning lane. Guess what I say on the back? Yep, the Fish. It gets worse, there was a sticker on the window from the church I attend. I wanted to flag them down and ask them if they were in the same room I was?! Do people listen, or do they just not care. Christains are certainly not perfect, but when we ignore the basics of Christianity, we fail Christ.
A Final Thought
Not a Christian? Don’t evaluate Christ by Christians. You will totally get the wrong picture. If you are unsure about Jesus and Christianity, don’t look at a fallen man and throw the book at Christ so to speak, sinful men will always sin, look to Christ.
A Christian? If you are a Christian, be responsible, you have a Lord in Heaven who expects you to love others as you claim to love Him. I hope that in time, when I lock eyes with a person, I will see Christ and treat them that way. I am certainly not there yet, but I certainly hope that I will be closer day by day.
