Saturday, March 28, 2009

healing and Jesus

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus does not heal impersonally or arbitrarily, but relationally and personally.

Have you ever wondered why there are no records of Jesus randomly emptying out hospitals or asylums with the wave of his healing hand? The reason is because God does not heal arbitrarily or impersonally. God’s healing is the result of being in relationship with him. The great physician heals us, the closer we get to him the more whole, thus healed we become. That is why death for the follower of Jesus is a great victory. It is the ultimate healing for the believer- because it presents the opportunity to be the closest to God.

Friday, March 20, 2009

an experience, not a title

I ordered a new Smartphone last week, and I asked if there were color choices for the phone. "Yes", i was told by chirpee (his/her chat name) "you can have the phone in any color you would like as long as it’s black."

Jesus once told a man that no one will see the kingdom of God unless he/she is born again. There really isn’t any other kind. I suppose its unfortunate that this phrase has become so distasteful to so many- the phrase born again. I must admit I don’t use it very often.

When someone says 'born again Christian,' thoughts of some loony, bizarre, dogmatic, judgmental person stock piling explosives waiting to blow up an abortion clinic after Wednesday night study on the book of Revelation comes to mind.

But like the phrase or not, there is only one type of Christian- it’s the born again ones. Maybe you’ve heard this- “I’m a Christian but I’m not one of those born again Christians.” That is kind of like saying, I’m a guy but my feet down smell. It’s not really possible. Or like saying I’m from the south and I don’t like tobasco sauce. Not possible.
You don’t have to call yourself one, becuase Jesus wasn't giving out titles, he was describing a requisite experience. To be a Christ follower one need not use it (born again) as a title, but you gotta have the experience. (rf, John 3.1-21)

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Mixed Feelings

I've heard people say, in justification of their actions, well it feels/felt like the right thing to do. I've done that, and said that myself before. But here's the deal...sometimes our feelings are right and led us to right actions. But sometimes the heart is wrong, leading to disastrous results. It’s not that we are bad people, it’s just a fact that the heart is not always a trustworthy source of truth, of what is right. The heart gets mixed up. The heart is filled with mixed feelings. When it comes to living what is true, we need something more. We must look UP, not IN for truth.