The Loneliest Book in the Bible

I've been thinking so much lately about how for those of us who follow Jesus, love is a verb. It's an action word, and we are called to be doers of that word. Jesus did not come that we might think about and analyze what it means to love each other; he came so that we might LOVE ONE ANOTHER! Today's encouragement comes from my favorite little devotioal book, God Is No Fool by Lois Cheney (Abingdon Press, 1969).  Let these words wash over you. Then DO something about them.

A woman came from seeing a religious movie. She was moved by it. She thought of the technicolor wonders of God, She choked up at the vista-vision close-ups of the men of God. She mused on the stereophonic destruction of evil. All the way home she thought and thought. When she had gotten dinner she bathed the children, played bridge and then went to bed. Before she feel asleep she told her husband about the movie and said, "It really made you think."

A young man went into a church after a long, too long, absence. The minister spoke of the Love of God, of the Hope of God, of Life in God. The young man was troubled and he was stirred. That afternoon he went for a walk with his girlfriend, and they talked and they had a hamburger. Before he kissed her goodnight, he told her about the sermon, and he said, "It really made you think."

A grown man concerned for life and love read many books of religious depth. They spoke of the Need for God, the Hope for God and the Promises of God. He couldn't put them down. He would read late into the night. At breakfast he would tell his wife why he stayed up so late. He would tell her about a special book and would say, "It really made you think."

Could it be that the loneliest book in the Bible is the book of ACTS?

A Prayer for Today

Today,  For what I am that I ought not to be,

Forgive me.

For what I am not that I ought to be,

Forgive me.

Be with my mouth in what it speaks.

Be with my hands in what they do.

Be with my mind in what it thinks.

Be with my heart in what it feels.

Work in me,

   Through me.

and in spite of me.

And I will give you the praise...

  

From the 1969 devotional God is No Fool by Lois Cheney.  Abingdon Press

"You're Soaking In It"

Some of my older readers may remember the old Palmolive dishwashing detergent in which clients of a manicurist named Marge would discover they were soaking their hands in the detergent. She would always reveal her secret by announcing, "You're soaking in it." From time to time I like to provide you with inspirational readings- Scripture, song lyrics, poetry or some other devotional reading- so you can just soak in it. Treat the words like a hot tub. You don't have to DO anything; just sit, soak in them and let them wash over you. Stay WIDE OPEN to what God has to say to you. Today's words come once again from Lois Cheney's 1969 devotional classic God Is No Fool.

"Be still and know that I AM God."

The hymns rise and fall.

The organ lifts and uplifts.

The choir in its practiced solemnity focuses its praise.

Standing at the sound of prayers, we hear the chants of Scripture fill the nave.

The sermon adds its one-voice contribution.

All, all in reverent noise.

The meeting turns on Christ.

The conversation patters to Christ.

The laughter smiles with Christ.

The daily devotional drowns out the Christ.

All, all in reverent noise.

The first bird is heard.

The baby's cry is heard.

The embarrassed cough is heard.

Who is silent?

Who is waiting for Jesus?

Who is listening to God?

"Be still and know that I AM God."

Because of Jesus,

Worshipping Worship

For many, today is a day of worship. We enter into our sanctuaries, our auditoriums, our Fellowship Halls and our worship rooms all in the name of God. We worship through music, the spoken word and through liturgy. Our styles and traditions may vary, but we come to worship in the name of Jesus. 

Or do we? Too often we judge our worship experiences by human standards. We either love the soaring guitar solos or miss the classic beauty of organ music. We love singing the hymns our parents sang or we throw our hands in the air at the direction of a praise leader leading us in the newest songs. We listen to sermons, either soaking in the teaching or complaining about how long it is to our neighbor. We may be at church because it communion Sunday; or we may be skipping church for the same reason. We wonder about baptism. Is it for babies or adults? Is it blasphemous to be baptized for a second time? And why does THIS pastor do it THAT way- our last one was MUCH better? Our thought process often revolves around how  the elements of worship effect ME rather than how do they help me praise God. We often seem to worship the act of worship more than we worship the One who created both it and us.

Do we show up for church services expecting a "good show" or anticipating the presence of God? Do we despise change in our worship styles because we are certain that God hates change as well? Do we sing words of praise because we want to bring glory and honor to our Creator or because it has a good beat and we can clap to it? Are we in church to hear a preacher or to seek out THE teacher? Do we gather to hear what God has to say to us, or because we have always gone to church? These are important things to know. We may be able to fool ourselves into believing we understand worship, but we cannot fool God- because God is no fool. Now go- and give praise to the LORD!

True Joy

Last night, while walking the dog in an amazing evening breeze, I found myself thinking about joy and how to define it. A blissful image entered my mind. I was transported to North Myrtle Beach, SC, and one of my favorite places in the world- the three story house known as The Betsy B. I was sitting on the oceanfront porch, starring out at a full moon over the Atlantic Ocean and playing my guitar while people I love gathered around me. And I thought about how happy those moments always made me. But is that truly joy? Today I bring you words from Lois Cheney's 1969 devotional masterpiece God Is No Fool (Abingdon Press) that seek to answer the question- what is joy?

Joy is a old-fashioned word. What did it used to mean?

Like "happy" maybe? Or was it "silly" and "giggly?" Could just anyone get to it? Or was it buried in book and brow?

I wish I knew what it used to mean,  for I need a word- a good, solid word that shows how I feel when the day is over, and I've worked well and I'm so glad to be tired.

I need a word for when I've spent hours and hours with those I love, and I'm talk-sore and smile-aching. I need a word for when I'm alone, and over the miles are parts of my heart, deep in others who are warm, safe and at peace.

I need a word for when a job looms like a greyhound and I can do it, and I want to do it, and I tingle to get at it. I need a word for that warm, gentle flow that covers every corner of my being. And says, "Lo, I am with you always."

I need a word. Real bad. And I think it might be "joy."

Or maybe it's God. Then again, maybe they're the same word...

Because of Jesus,

Remember Who You Are

There is a great scene in Disney's The Lion King where the spirit of Mufasa, the dead King, reminds his son Simba that as the child of a King there are certain things that are expected of him. He is royalty; he needs to behave in a way that will reflect that. Sometimes such expectations feel unfair, but the truth is everyone who wears the label of royalty represents not only themselves through their actions and words, but also the King. If you are a Christ-follower, then your behavior represents THE King- and many of us aren't doing so well. It's time to remember who (and whose) you are. Here are 3 quick stories...

Before and during most every youth trip I ever led there would come a time when the students would be reminded that while on our adventure we represented three very important labels. We represented our families at home. We represented the church who sponsored the trip and whose name was on the side of the van. And most importantly, we represented Jesus, the reason our groups existed. Anything we did that brought shame to ourselves trickled down to those 3 entities. Embarrassing me was one thing; bringing shame to Jesus was a much tougher pill to swallow. And for the most part they lived up to their royalty for nearly 30 years.

One of the Senior Pastors I worked with was very aware of the danger of hypocrisy in his daily life. He was a devout believer, but he refused to label his car with bumper stickers or a "Jesus fish" logo. Why? Because he knew himself as a driver, and he was afraid that the strong possibility that he would flip off someone who cut him off might reflect poorly on his Savior if his car screamed "Christian Inside!" The thought of a driver thinking less of Jesus because of his action was more that he could deal with- so he made a choice. Sometimes it is painful to remember who you are.

And finally, the story that spawned this post. My son Will is a seating host at a very busy Olive Garden. He often works lunch, and on several occasions now it has been his task to greet and/or seat a middle aged man who comes in alone. Each and every time the man has been gruff and demanding, rude to other patrons and a true pain in the butt for the staff. The servers complain when they get him, and have mentioned that he is a rotten tipper. While we are certain he is not the only one who behaves in such a manner, Will has taken special notice of him because he recognized the man- from a church staff where he once served as a youth pastor, and from his announcements in church as the leader of an international mission organization. The man is a long-time professional Christian. Will recognizes him and sees his behavior. Who else does? Does he ever share a kind word or the love of Jesus with his server, or is he too busy not tipping them? Everyone has bad days. He seems to be having a bad year- and at least at Olive Garden he has forgotten who he is. And oh by the way- Christians who tip poorly really rattle my cage!!!

All of us are human. Like Simba, there are times when it is easier to hide than to acknowledge our royalty and seek to be the people we are called to be. If we claim to be part of God's royal family but do not show love and respect to the people we encounter daily, we embarrass Jesus. If we spout scripture but live lives of pettiness and hypocrisy, we are not serving the King. If we are bold enough to claim friendship with the Son of God yet claim others are not "good enough" for his family, then we have lost our identity- for who among us is truly worthy? And if we wear a gold cross around our necks so that the world will know to whom we belong, then we need to remember that the cross means something. It's not just a symbol. It's a proclamation of whose we are. So today, with everyone you encounter- even the guy you flipped off on the way to to work- remember who you are. A child of the one true King. Let's show this hurting world what a royal family REALLY looks like...

Because of Jesus,

God Is No Fool

(Inspired by Lois Cheney's great little book God Is No Fool)

Psalm 19:14 (New Living Translation)
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

If it was just my words that I need to worry about, I wouldn't have much of a problem. But it's not- and I do. There have been times when I thought my words could fool God. But they can't. God knows what is hidden is our hearts, and what consumes our souls. He sees our sin and the false idols that pop up in our lives. We cannot fool God- because God is no fool... He knew we needed a Savior. Thank you, God, for your grace and mercy.

Because of Jesus,

A Modern Parable

Ever wish God would send you a sign or rescue you from a situation. only to feel disappointed because there was no burning bush or chariot of fire to be found? The following is a modern day parable of unknown origin. As Jesus often said, let those who have ears, hear!

A terrible flood had come to the city. Water was rising to record levels and the streets had become impassable. A very faithful and pious man was forced to the second floor of his house for safety, and he began to pray that God would deliver him from the flood. He truly believed that God would answer his prayer. As he looked out his window a police speedboat came by the front of his house, calling for evacuations and offering rescue. The man thanked them for their efforts, but refused a ride. "God will save me," he announced with more than a little bit of pride. The water continued to rise, and moments later a neighbor came floating by in a canoe, and the neighbor called to the man. "We have room for one more. Come with us and we'll find shelter from the storm." The man thanked his neighbor, but told him not to worry about it. "My God will save me." Soon the flood waters had risen to the point that the man had to climb on his roof. A Navy rescue helicopter arrived on the scene and began to lower a ladder to the man. He waved them away, saying "You should help someone else. God is going to save me." Within the hour, the current swept the man off of his roof and he drown.

When the man reached heaven, he stood before God and expressed his frustration. "I was always faithful. I obeyed your laws, I tithed, I taught Sunday school. While others panicked and sought other help, I believed you would save me. You promised you would never leave or forsake me. Where were you in my hour of greatest need?" God looked at the man and let out a deep, passionate sigh. "My dear son...I sent you a speedboat, a canoe and a helicopter. What else did you want?"

God is always at work in our lives. Th question is are we too blind to see?

Because of Jesus,

Are You Qualified To Serve God?

We often say that we will be happy to serve God just as soon as we are "ready." What we often mean by those words is that as soon as we feel educated enough, blessed enough, happy enough or qualified enough we will will allow God to use us in areas we feel good about. If you think God is waiting for you to be qualified, you have not paid much attention to scripture. Take a look at the two items below. The first I saw on Marilyn's Facebook. The second is a devotional I have used here before from my favorite little book, God Is No Fool. Soak in them, and remember this truth- we are often called to join God in ministry where He is already at work, not invite God to join us in places we want to go. That was a very tough lesson for me to learn. God needs us all now. People who love God and live lives that share the love of God whose name is Jesus are God's Plan A for saving the world. There is no Plan B. God will use you right now, no matter your weakness, no matter your faults. Just surrender. It' not about what you can do. It's about what God can do with you!

Lois Cheney wrote:

Moses said, "Oh come on now!  Be sensible!  Not me! I'm a terrible speaker.  They'd never listen to me."  And God said, "Oh for crying out loud!  OK, I'll use your brother to help with the speaking."  And Moses led God's people out of disintegration.

Jonah said, "Oh come on now!  Be sensible!  Not me!  I'm not the type."  And after a rather unexpected vacation in a fish, just thinking things over, he talked to God's people and led them God's way- even though he wasn't happy about it.

And Zacharias said, "Oh come on now! Be sensible!  Not me!  My wife and I are too old to have any kids."  And God said, "Oh shut up!"  And he did shut up- for nine months.  And John was born, and the way for the Christ opened up.

And I heard a child say

"I can't serve God, I'm too young."

And I heard a boy say

"I can't serve God, I'm not good enough."

And I hear a woman say

"I can't serve God I'm not skilled enough."

And I heard a man say

"I can't serve God I'm not pure enough."

I wonder if God ever gets any new problems...

Because of Jesus,

I Need A Word

Last night, while walking the dog in an amazing evening breeze, I found myself thinking about joy and how to define it. A blissful image entered my mind. I was transported to North Myrtle Beach, SC, and one of my favorite places in the world- the three story house known as The Betsy B. I was sitting on the oceanfront porch, starring out at a full moon over the Atlantic Ocean and playing my guitar while people I love gathered around me. And I thought about how happy those moments always made me. But is that truly joy, or is joy something deeper and greater? Today I bring you a selection from Lois Cheney's 1969 devotional masterpiece God Is No Fool (Abingdon Press) that seek to answer the question- what is joy?

Joy is a old-fashioned word. What did it used to mean?

Like "happy" maybe? Or was it "silly" and "giggly?" Could just anyone get to it? Or was it buried in book and brow?

I wish I knew what it used to mean,  for I need a word- a good, solid word that shows how I feel when the day is over, and I've worked well and I'm so glad to be tired.

I need a word for when I've spent hours and hours with those I love, and I'm talk-sore and smile-aching. I need a word for when I'm alone, and over the miles are parts of my heart, deep in others who are warm, safe and at peace.

I need a word for when a job looms like a greyhound and I can do it, and I want to do it, and I tingle to get at it. I need a word for that warm, gentle flow that covers every corner of my being. And says, "Lo, I am with you always."

I need a word. Real bad. And I think it might be "joy."

Or maybe it's God. Then again, maybe they're the same word...

Because of Jesus,

Kissing Frogs

My Dad was a little league football coach for many years in the 1970's and 80's. Before many of the games he coached he would deliver the following pep talk to his 8-11 year old players: Football is supposed to be fun. And the best way to have fun on a football field is to hit somebody. So get out there- and HIT somebody!!!"

Jesus gave similar pep talks. He told his disciples and followers over and over again that God is love, and that our main task is to help people connect to that love. He wanted the lost and the lonely- the ragamuffins- to know that the grace and forgiveness of God was meant for them. He left little doubt as to the best way for us to do that- get out there and LOVE somebody!!! But too often we try to make God's love and power an intellectual exercise. It is much easier to talk about than to demonstrate. Witness the following account from Lois Cheney's classic 1969 devotional book God Is No Fool:

A woman came from seeing a religious movie. She was moved by it. She thought of the technicolor wonders of God. She mused on the stereophonic destruction of evil.  All the way home she thought and thought. Before she fell asleep she told her husband about the movie, and said, "It really made you think."

A young man went to church after a long, too long absence. The minister spoke of the Love of God and the Grace of God. The young man was troubled and he was stirred. That evening, as he kissed his girlfriend good-night, he told her about the sermon and said, "It really made you think."

A grown man read his Bible everyday. He read of the Love of God, the Need for God, the Hope of God and the Promises of God. He would read late into the night. At breakfast he would tell his wife why he had stayed up so late. He would tell her about the wonders of scripture, and he would say, "It really makes you think."

Could it be that the loneliest book in the Bible

is the book called "ACTS?"

Jesus told us to take care of one another, to love one another, to feed the hungry, to give hope to the hopeless and offer grace and forgiveness to our neighbors. When asked, "Who is my neighbor?" he told the parable of The Good Samaritan, which illustrated that everyone is our neighbor. To do these things, we have to "get out there and hit someone!" We have to SHOW people God's love, not just tell them about it. Now I don't know about you, but it seems to me like there are a lot of folks in this world who are not easy to love. They are not yet princes; they are still frogs. Yet Jesus calls on us to love them as they are, not as we wish they were, because that is the love He offers us. We are all frogs until we experience the love and grace that Jesus brings us. 

So what is our task as Christians? It's simple. We are called to kiss frogs! Now get out there and KISS someone! Have a blessed Sunday...

Because of Jesus,

#DangerDays: "Im Not Worthy!"

Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar of Wayne's World fame would often greet their heroes by falling to their knees and chanting, "We're not worthy!  We're not worthy!"  I am afraid that far too often we greet opportunities to be part of the #DangerDays with that same reaction. We feel too small, too fragile and unworthy of being used by God to make a difference in the world we live in. In fact, this is one of Satan's best tools. He reminds us of our faults and our weaknesses and convinces us that we are losers and failures who cannot possibly be of use to God. I know I have felt that way before, and I suspect you have too.  Jesus says, "Come.  Follow me." And we respond with, "I'm not worthy..."

Lois Cheney captures our doubts about our worthiness to serve the Savior in her classic 1969 devotional book God Is No Fool. One of my favorite passages, read on Youth Sundays by dozens of students over the years, reminds us that we walk the same path as so many others who doubted they had anything to offer God. Listen to her words:

Moses said, "Oh come on now! Be sensible! I'm a terrible speaker. They'd never listen to me." And God said, "Oh for crying out loud! OK, I'll use your brother to help with the speaking." And Moses led God's people out of disintegration.

Jonah said, "Oh come on now! Be sensible! Not me! I'm not the type." And after a rather unexpected vacation in a fish, just thinking things over, he talked to God's people and led them God's way- even though he wasn't happy about it.

And Zacharias said, "Oh come on now! Be sensible! Not me! My wife and I are too old to have any kids." And God said, "Oh shut up!" And he did shut up- for nine months. And John was born, and the way for the Christ opened up.

And I heard a child say
"I can't serve God, I'm too young."

And I heard a boy say
"I can't serve God, I'm not good enough."

And I heard a woman say
"I can't serve God I'm not skilled enough."

And I heard a man say
"I can't serve God I'm not pure enough."

I wonder if God ever gets any new problems...

A Prayer For Myself

Today,  For what I am that I ought not to be,

Forgive me.

For what I am not that I ought to be,

Forgive me.

Be with my mouth in what it speaks.

Be with my hands in what they do.

Be with my mind in what it thinks.

Be with my heart in what it feels.

Work in me,

   Through me.

and in spite of me.

And I will give you the praise...

  

From the 1969 devotional God is No Fool by Lois Cheney.  Abingdon Press

Your God Is Too Small

Prayer Request: Ashley Goad and her team are headed to Russia today, so be praying for their mission and that God will open big doors for them. And also that they find a way to stay warm in temps that may get to -18. Brrr....

The late Brennan Manning was one of my favorite people, and this is one of my favorite quotes from him:

"If we maintain the open-mindedness of children, we challenge fixed ideas and established structures, including our own. We listen to people in other denominations and religions. We don't find demons in those with whom we disagree. We don't cozy up to people who mouth our jargon. If we are open, we rarely resort to either-or: either creation or evolution, liberty or law, sacred or secular, Beethoven or Madonna. We focus on both-and, fully aware that God's truth cannot be imprisoned in a small definition. " 

Too many of us lose the open-mindedness Brennan speaks of above. We all try to put God in our own little boxes, and then seek to destroy anyone who finds God outside that box. I have often said that anyone who begins a sentence with "God can't" or "God wouldn't" has obviously never heard of Jesus. Sending His only son to die for us was impractical, irrational and foolish. It was the ultimate in "outside the box" thinking. And yet that is exactly what God did. 

There are too many Christians in our world (and on my worst days this includes me) who think they have all the answers, when in fact following Jesus is often more about questions. We think that we have a full understanding of God. You know what? If you think you understand God, then your God is too small...


Because of Jesus,

I Am Not

Sometimes it is easy to feel like I am not important at all in the grand scheme of things.  Sometimes it is easy to feel small and insignificant.  God  does not want that for us. He wants us to know we are special and we are loved. But other times we begin to feel like we are the most important people around, like we have the answers, like we are gods ourselves.  Here's a little reminder to myself that I Am Not... (Thanks for inspiration all those years ago, Louie Giglio...)

When Moses asked God who he should say sent him to save the people of Abraham, God responded "tell them I AM sent you. Yahweh is the "I AM," the God who was and is and is to come; the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I am none of those things, and neither are you. We are but tiny parts of God's plan, like so many before us and so many around us. When John the Baptist was asked if he was the promised Messiah, he replied, "I am NOT...but there is one who will come and reveal everything God has promised." We, like Moses and John and Peter and so many other giants of our faith, are NOT. But we know the great "I AM." As you worship today, be WIDE OPEN to the fact that God is God...and you are NOT. Open your hearts that God might use you so His will can be accomplished on this earth. Submit yourself so that Jesus might have His way with you and that you might quit trying to have your way with Him. Only then can His light shine its brightest. Only then can Jesus truly be the hope of the world. I forgot this for a period of time and made a huge mess of my life.  I don't intend to ever let it happen again.  A sign I used to have up in my office said The Main thing is to keep the Main Thing the Main thing!  I pray this prayer everyday in the hope that it will keep me focused on the things that truly matter.  I hope you will pray along...

Loving God, today I turn my life over to You. My skills, my failures, my sin and my joys all belong to You. I recognize that my life is not about me, but it is all about You. I realize that I sometimes like to play god, but that I am NOT..You ARE! Help me to understand that Jesus did not die on the cross so I could accomplish some political agenda or achieve some lofty position on this earth. Jesus died for my sins, because I am a sinner. Jesus gives me grace so that I might offer love and forgiveness to others, especially to the "least of these brothers of mine" who are in need and to the lost who think themselves to be beyond His grace. In the words of King David, himself a sinner of great magnitude, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit with in me, so that I might serve You." Use me, and I will give you the glory. Remind me today that I am NOT...but I know I AM, and that when I serve You we can offer hope to a hurting world.

In the name of the great I AM,
Amen

A Bigger Faith

"If we maintain the open-mindedness of children, we challenge fixed ideas and established structures, including our own. We listen to people in other denominations and religions. We don't find demons in those with whom we disagree. We don't cozy up to people who mouth our jargon. If we are open, we rarely resort to either-or: either creation or evolution, liberty or law, sacred or secular, Beethoven or Madonna. We focus on both-and, fully aware that God's truth cannot be imprisoned in a small definition. "  - Brennan Manning

Too many of us lose the open-mindedness Brennan speaks of above.  We all try to put God in our own little boxes, and then seek to destroy anyone who finds God outside that box.  I have often said that anyone who begins a sentence with "God can't" or "God wouldn't" has obviously never heard of Jesus.  Sending His only son to die for us was impractical, irrational and foolish.  It was the ultimate in "outside the box" thinking.  And yet that is exactly what God did. 

There are too many Christians in our world (and on my worst days this includes me) who think they have all the answers, when in fact following Jesus is often more about questions.  We think that we have a full understanding of God.  You know what?  If you think you understand God, then your God is too small...

Because of Jesus,

Flashback Friday: How To Be An Atheist

"Everyone is entitled to have an opinion.  It's just that yours is wrong..."
-George Carlin

(This post originally appeared on this blog in 2010)
Every Wednesday morning I board a city bus at 6:10 AM and head to Temple Terrace for a class.  This is not a class anyone volunteers to take, it is one some people are required to attend.  To say that it is a diverse group of people is a major understatement.  The discussions are often quite entertaining for me, and this past week was no exception.  A 38 year old man, when asked what he was doing to meet new people, indicated he was preparing to join an Atheist Club.  The group facilitator, knowing my beliefs quite well by this point, asked me if I thought the guy was an atheist.  I told the group I didn't think so, but for me to explain why I doubted him would take too long.  So today, I offer up my opinion on what makes a good atheist.  I hope you will read it in the spirit it is intended.  So here we go- how to be an atheist:

1. Believe in something.  Too many people call themselves atheists when in fact they are agnostics.  What's the difference?  An agnostic doubts and denies the existence of God.  An atheist believes there is no god- and everything that goes along with that belief.  They don't answer questions about God with statements like "I don't believe all that stuff" or "I've never seen God."  They answer flatly and with conviction- "there is no god." An atheist believes- they just believe in no god at all.
2. Understand what it means.  To believe that there is no god has ramifications in every part of your life, just as believing in God does.  A good atheist knows that their belief system means that everything that has happened in all of history was an accident.  Nothing created the universe, it just happened.  Christians may argue about creation theories, but they all begin with "in the beginning God..."  The atheist's universe has no beginning.  People were not designed by a Creator, they just morphed out of slimy ocean creatures or magically appeared one day.  There is no purpose to life, you just do whatever you want to because there is no higher calling to which you should aspire.  And you can't just offer these thoughts as possibilities- you must believe them.
3. Watch your language.  It is a moral imperative that you quit asking God to "damn" things.  You believe there is no god, and to keep saying this makes you a hypocrite.  Interestingly enough, hypocrisy by Christians is often the #1 reason cited by non-believers when asked why they do not attend church.  Wonder if it keeps them away from the Atheist Club too?
4. Become lawless and loveless.  A true atheist understands that our laws are based  on the 10 Commandments.  Since God does not exist, those commandments were bogus (despite historical documents that prove otherwise- See Item 5) and therefore the laws of our land are not valid.  Make up your own, or live in the total chaos of a lawless society.  And since our basic understanding of love- the way we treat our fellow human beings and show them respect- comes from the world's religions, you must throw out that stuff as well.  If God is love (and He is!) then love must be totally foreign to you.  You can have all of the sex and lust you want, but the concept of love should be removed from your belief system.
5. Believe something for which there is no evidence.  It's tough being an atheist.  There are historical documents and confirmed events dating back thousands of years that point to the existence of God.  The miracles and the resurrection of Jesus were reported in many historical documents (not just the Bible) by many different witnesses.  Hundreds of people have spent millions of dollars and their entire lives trying to prove the Bible to be fake or God to be a fairy tale.  Instead, they keep proving the very things they were trying to discredit.  The fact that you got sick on your vacation or that your football team lost by 37 points yesterday is not proof that there is no God.  Many scientists who believe in creation theories like evolution or the big bang cannot get past the question of how those things began.  They are hesitant to say "God created," so they use the phrase "intelligent designer."  Sounds like a creator God to me.  In any case, it is hard to make the case that the universe "just happened."  But that is the case you are left with, so learn to defend it.
6. Have no hope.  I cannot personally imagine going through life without the knowledge that God loves me.  God's love and grace have lifted me from the depths of despair on many occasions.  Without God, I would have no idea where I would turn for hope.  Both of us have to have faith- the evidence of things unseen.  But for the atheist, your faith is in you.  No one stronger, no one greater, no one who loves you unconditionally.  Just you, with all of your flaws and failures.  You must be much stronger than I am...

Many atheists consider themselves to be intellectuals, above all the "hocus-pocus" of religion.  Consider this intellectual perspective.  Have you ever witnessed child birth?  Have you ever picked a ripe apple from a tree and tasted its amazing flavor?  Have you ever looked into the Grand Canyon or out at the waves on the ocean, or thought about the precision complexity of the human body?  If you can consider these things and still think all of it happened by accident, then you may have what it takes to be an atheist.  But consider this- if you are right and there is no god, then I look foolish, and neither of us have lost anything.  But if I am right, and God created the world and sacrificed His only Son so that we might spend eternity with Him, then there is much to gain through seeking God- and much to lose by choosing to ignore His presence.  If all of that sounds like a case for God, then why don't you look into Jesus?  I know He's got the answers...

Because of Jesus,

Jesus, the Storyteller

Who was Jesus?

He was a storyteller.  He told stories.  He was the world's greatest storyteller.  Ask him a question; he'd answer with a story.  Give him a crowd of people listening intently; he told them stories.  Give him an argument; he'd give you a story.  Give him a real tricky, catchy question; he'd give you a real tricky, catchy story.

Have you ever watched a 7-year-old listening- inhaling- a story?  Eyes wide, mouth slung open, mind churning, he lives, accepts and believes.  He is totally absorbed.

This man-God Jesus.  He was a good storyteller.  He knew what he was doing...

Lois Cheney, from her 1969 book God Is No Fool   Abingdon Press

By Our Love...

John 13:34-35: (Jesus said) Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples—when they see how you love one another.

The other day I came across a pamphlet from a group called The Christian Coalition.  It was designed to be handed out at churches and to tell us who we should vote for in the upcoming election.  It told us of the evils of those running against "God's candidates" and suggested that voting for anyone not chosen by them could result in apocalyptic consequences, or perhaps even having your salvation revoked.  Even apart from my belief that such political things have no place at a house of worship, this really ticked me off!  Then a few days later I saw a tweet saying that women have no place in church leadership.  REALLY?  These things reminded me that many of the things that THEY say in the name of Christianity do not represent me and have little to do with Jesus. Who are THEY?  I don't really know, but every day on Christian radio, TV, in blogs and on websites THEY certainly have a lot to say.  What are THEY telling the world about the best ways to identify a Christ-follower?  Things like this:

THEY say people will know we are His disciples by which church we attend and which translation of the Bible we have collecting dust on our end tables.

THEY say people will know we are His disciples by our doctrine and the ways we keep riff-raff and ragamuffins out of our churches.

THEY say people will know we are His disciples by our knowledge of scripture- and the way we use it to make others feel small and stupid.

THEY say people will know we are His disciples by the things we don't let people see us do, such as smoking, drinking, gambling and sexual promiscuity.

THEY say people will know we are His disciples by the things we are against, like abortion and homosexuality.

THEY say people will know we are His disciples by the amount of money we make, because God blesses the faithful with wealth.

THEY say people will know we are His disciples by the bumper stickers on our cars and the t-shirts on our backs.

THEY say people will know we are His disciples because we are patriotic and worship the flag.

THEY say people will know we are His disciples by the way we point fingers, judge people and tell them that they are sinners.  You can't be a good Christian if you haven't told someone they are going to hell!

THEY say people will know we are His disciples because we understand this to be true:  God is good, and you are not, so try harder!  We can save ourselves, because this world is all about us!

THEY say people will know we are His disciples by our intolerance of other religions, other races and anyone who disagrees with us.  Also the way we ignore the homeless, the poor and the different.

That's what THEY say; what do I say (and more importantly, do)?  Do I represent God with love and grace, or do I too enjoy pointing fingers and making my own words more important than His?  Do I remember that whoever THEY are, I must love them too, because in Jesus we should be "one in the Spirit."  As my friend Ashley Goad Broadhurst likes to say, "It should be simple; love God, love people."  Why do we make it so complicated?  I have to believe that God is shaking His head at the nonsense that comes out of His church.  We may fool ourselves, but God is no fool. His word is the truth. You cannot focus on being anti-anything if you become pro-love.  God's word says that there is only one way the world will know if we are followers of His Son:  "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they'll know we are Christians by our love..."  We need to get out there and love each other before THEY convince this world that Jesus is who THEY say He is.  Have a blessed Sabbath, everyone!

Because of Jesus,

Equipping the Called

Some days I feel totally unworthy of talking to other people about Jesus. You know what I mean?  Who am I to offer anyone spiritual guidance, or even to talk about youth ministry?  After all, I blew it.  I sinned big time. I lost my ministry. I left people disappointed. I am a mess! I should be that last person God would call upon to write a blog and talk about about faith with an ever-growing audience. It seems to me that I am ill equipped to serve the Creator.  I mean, who am I?  And then I read my bible...

• Noah may have been the "one righteous man" God found before destroying the Earth, but that didn't stop him from drinking himself into a naked stupor in the days after the flood. (Genesis 9 :20-25) 
• Moses went on and on and on about how how he couldn't speak well enough to be God's messenger in Egypt.  Later he lost his chance to see the Promised Land by disobeying God. Yet he is among the giants of faith for leading the children of Israel out of captivity. (Exodus)
• David was called "a man after God's own heart." He wrote many of the Psalms. He also committed adultery (and perhaps even a sex offense) with the grandaughter of a trusted adviser, and then conspired to have her husband killed in battle. (2 Samuel 11)
• Jeremiah complained that he was too young and not fit to be a prophet. God told him to get himself ready, and he eventually led the nation of Israel to repentance. Not bad for a young whippersnapper who didn't want to go...
• The birth of Jesus was foretold to Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah by the angel Gabriel.  Zechariah doubted Gabe, and was made mute for the next 9 months or so.  He messed up- but he was the father of John the Baptist.  Still, you should never doubt an angel.  (Luke 1:5-22)
• Mary was just a teenager, and not even a very special teenager, engaged to a carpenter, when she was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus.  As the song says, What a strange way to save the world!
• Simon Peter was a...well, he was an idiot! He got so many things wrong, was rebuked by Jesus on several occasions and denied even knowing him on three. And yet Jesus knew all along that "upon this rock I will build my church."  And he did. The idiot came through when it really counted.  Peter is the patron-saint of screw-ups like me.
• Saul killed Christ-followers.  That was his job, and he loved it.  But an encounter with the Risen Christ gave him a new name (Paul) and a new calling, and he became one of the most important men in history, spreading the gospel all over the known world.  

Now I am in NO WAY comparing my accomplishments and contributions to the world of faith to any of these great people.  I will however, compare all of us to their weaknesses and failures. None of them were anxious or ready to serve God, and many of them felt ill equipped to handle the work given them.  But they did.  One of my favorite little stories in scripture concerns a man named Ananias.  In Acts 9:10-19 he is told to go find a man named Saul of Tarsus (killer of Christians- see above) and restore his sight.  When Ananias points out that Saul is not a nice man, God says GO!  And so Ananias went. It wasn't reasonable. Ananias had no special training. Ananias did not want to go. And yet, Ananias went. He just went.

And so I sit here writing with the realization that while I am not ready, not trained and far from perfect, God can and will use me anyway! I don't know who said it first, but it has been said many times that "God does not call the equipped; He equips the called."  It is not about ability, it is about availability.  It is not about skill, it is about faith.  And if God can still use a mess like me to make difference, just think what he could do if we in the church would let go of our own issues and simply GO...and DO!  Something to ponder, isn't it?

Because of Jesus,