In many circles the words church and christian are negative.  The stereotypes of these words I believe give God a bad reputation.  If we could change that, at least in our community, what would you want them to stand for? To ask it differently, what words do you wish would describe church and christian?

Do you have any input on how to make that happen?

I need help though.  I’m working on several projects with a common theme and I’d love to have your input. (Especially if you don’t belong to a church.) But no matter where you stand in the church scene feel free to be real, raw or even mean.  I’m in the search for honest truth.

The first question is this: the stereotypical church is… (you fill in the blank)

The next follows the same idea. The stereotypical christian is…

Give me what you’ve got and then I’ll post some follow up.

Perry Noble wrote what I’ve been thinking lately.  It even covers some of what I taught about on Sunday…

I’ve just about had enough…and am so glad I left the country yesterday…that way I don’t have to listen to this crap anymore.

And no, I’m not talking about the politicians and their crazy adds on television that are right in line with a middle school “yo mama” fight!

I’m talking about the Christians who have prostituted themselves with the political process and taken their eyes off of Jesus as their Savior and put them on either McCain or Obama as their Savior.

It’s STUPID!

Should we have a political opinion as Christians?  HECK YES!  Should we vote?  ABSOLUTELY!  I think a Christian who doesn’t vote is completely missing an opportunity that God has blessed us with as citizens of this country.

BUT…we can’t actually think that the salvation process is tied to who happens to be in the White House!

In reading through the Gospels the other day something HIT ME like a ton of bricks…the Jews missed the fact that Jesus was the Messiah because they were looking for someone to deliver them from the politics of Rome.

Let me say it more clearly–they missed Jesus because of politics!!!  (And religion as well…but that’s another post!)
For a Christian to claim that the world is going to be doomed to hell because a particular party happens to “control” the White House is a slap in the face of a Sovereign God.

He reigns!  Read through Scripture & it is so clear…God has used kings and princes that were sold out to Him…and He’s also used those who had no love for Him at all…all for HIS glory!

So…next Tuesday…go vote!  “For who,” you ask…well, here’s an idea…ask Jesus who to vote for…and then do what He says.  (Yes, it REALLY is that simple.)

Then…whoever gets elected…PRAY FOR THAT MAN OFTEN!  Even if the guy you want to win doesn’t…all the more reason to pray!

One more time…YES, we should have political opinions…and YES, it is OK if they are strong AND we believe in the cause…BUT PLEASE let’s not make the mistake of thinking that God is somehow limited by the policies and philosophies of a particular party!

HE REIGNS!  Always has, always will!

I find it hard to stop and write regularly.  I love writing but this doesn’t get my top priority.  So for now I’m just going to steal good content from people smarter than me.  While it’s less personal I believe much more worthwhile to read.

This is Christie’s latest post…

I spoke on the subject of control, briefly, last week. There were quite a few people who had a problem with the statement, “Control is an illusion.” Now I have to admit quite a few years ago, I would have had the same reaction. But a few things have changed since then. One is I have learned that control is an illusion. Now, mind you, this is coming from a typical first-born, type A, minor ocd personality type. I have had my issues with control (and some may say I still do, but I can’t control what they think!) I have learned this fact: I cannot control one thing in my life other than my reaction to it, and even that is sometimes tricky.

There is not one thing that I have absolute control over. As much as I would like to, I can not “control” my children. I can discipline them and instruct them in ways that are right, but I can not “make” them do what is right. When they are left alone they will make their own choices, and thus suffer the consequences, and I can’t control that either.

I can not control whether or not a hurricane will devastate my town. I can prepare with the necessary supplies, but where that storm hits is not up to me.

I can not control my parents… I can not control the economy or the gas prices…I can not control the neighbor’s dislike for children…I can not control our government leaders…I can not control church attendance… I can not control ________.

When you think about, how burdened would my life be if these things were possible. And yet we live as if these things were possible.

Forgetting that it is God who puts these things in order. It is God who takes care of his people and his creation. It is God who orders the heavens, as well as our government. It is God who has ultimate control, we are just privileged to be included in his plan.

The only thing that I can have any influence in is “Am I open to the Holy Spirit’s leading?”

And so that is why I say Control is an illusion!

I finished my first half ironman race today.  My times weren’t great but I FINISHED 70.3 miles in less than 7 hours. Toward the end of the run, 13.1, I was pondering some of the things I learned today.  In no order of priority:

• Expect the unexpected.  Life is just that way and so is this race.
• 13.1 miles of legs cramps is not fun.
• Hope or wishful thinking doesn’t do any good. If you want to finish the race you have to do it one miles at a time. (A mile is a mile no matter how much you wish it were shorter.)
• The road is a lonely place.  People may cheer for you but you are on your own. No one is going to help or can do it for you.
• My wife loves me a lot. (She woke up a 5:00 AM to watch the start of the race.)
• I made a good choice marrying her.  She puts up with my training schedule and the cost of triathlons.
• “You are almost there” is very relative.”  When you are at mile 68 of 70, two miles is not almost.
• Come to find out you CAN go 10 hours without peeing.
• You know how scratching your scalp feels good but if you do it too much it leaves you in pain? I’ve had my triathlon itch scratched.
• If the pain at mile 3 is the same as mile 6, you might as well keep going and finish the race.
• I’m betting the pain of not finishing the race is more than the pain at mile 6.

There are some life lessons here. This isn’t just about a triathlon.

Be sure to read this today…

Another Day in Paradise

The lady who wrote this is awesome!

I love to hear people tell about feeling accepted when they attend our church.  To belong is a wonderful thing.

In my mind it’s even more fun to know that people feel this way AND my theology is very conservative.  It’s funny to hear some people think that just because we are growing and they feel accepted that my theology is very liberal.

Just think… you can have your cake and eat it too!

p.s. Don’t tell anyone about my conservative nature (well… except that whole “expel the sinner” saga).  All those complainers might start to like me.

So it goes in our culture, when you don’t understand something you criticize it.

I’ve heard rumors of people who criticize me and our ministry with accusations of moral relativity. In other words, the reason are church is growing so much is our liberal theology. Since we just let anybody worship and service with us, not to mention the lack of specifics on the “what we believe” page, it makes it comfortable for people to attend. (If we were preaching the truth of Jesus “properly” less people would attend.)

I know this line of thinking well. Years ago I would hold to these ideas to best explain the lack of growth in the church I was currently attending.

Here is my question. Is it true?

• Is it true that I/we hold to a liberal theology?
• Is it true people worship with us because of a comfortable theology?
• Is it true that having a small congregation means that you are “doing it right”?

They say that the best way to avoid criticism is to do nothing. So maybe we are doing at least one thing right.

I didn’t write this but thought it was compelling enough to use here.  I don’t mind a bit of controversy – so read on and investigate for yourself.

(This was taken from my friend Arron Chambers’ blog.)

I’m thoroughly enjoying the Olympics.

That being said . . . as I cheer for the Olympians I’m also praying for the Christians in China who are being persecuted. China is propagating an image to the world that is quite different from reality.

Here are a few stories to remind you of the reality behind the “smoke and mirrors” we’re witnessing from Beijing each day on our televisions.

BEIJING — A group of American Christians who had more than 300 Bibles confiscated by Chinese officials when they arrived in China is refusing to leave the airport until they get the books back, their leader said Monday. Full Story: China Confiscates Bibles From American Christians – 2008 Summer Olympics
Pastor Zhang “Bike” Mingxuan, known for traveling across China on a bicycle to evangelize, was arrested by Chinese police just two days before the Olympics began. Pastor Bike was the inspiration for the recent partnership between The Voice of the Martyrs and China Aid Association to create the Olympic Prayer Band. Full Story: The Voice of the Martyrs
Under a “one-child policy,” introduced in 1979 to help slow down the galloping population growth rate, parents are routinely sterilized and face large fines if they have more than one child. The government claims it has successfully prevented 250 million births since it was introduced. Full Story: China Uses Abortion as Female Genocide.
The BBC has found the first evidence that China is currently helping Sudan’s government militarily in Darfur. Full Story: China ‘is fuelling war in Darfur’

“They hung me up across an iron gate, then they yanked open the gate and my whole body lifted until my chest nearly split in two. I hung like that for four hours.”That is how Peter Xu Yongze, the founder of one of the largest religious movements in China, described his treatment during one of five jail sentences on account of his belief in Christianity. Full Story: China’s Christians suffer for their faith

“It’s human nature to put on a good face in public. But when the reality is so dark you can’t just smile and nod.)

What do you think?

Blake left a comment in response to “C”. He writes…

“You’re right, C. Thank you, Robbie, for putting yourself out there and asking for input. You didn’t have to but you did and I admire you for it. I find that to be exception-al. I know 1 Corinth 5 isn’t exactly going to bring revival, but I wish you the best in however you choose to apply it.”

I believe there is a difference between a fist fight and a boxing match. Not that I do a blog for sport but I think a healthy exchange of ideas is important. Blake’s last comment is great because we agree to disagree, specially about his non-essential matter of faith. In the end we are both brothers and for the benefit of others know when to take a break. (Can you tell we are both competitive?)

My point is we should continue to wrestle with matters of faith but do it in ways that honor God.