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Staging Jesus

If you've ever heard anything about selling your home, you know they recommend that you stage the house. This is where you depersonalize your place so that the new owner can see themselves in it. They may not like your magenta dining room, or be able to see anything but the 1,273 Star Wars collectibles in the spare bedroom. You do everything you can so that they can see the house for what it is and what it will be with them in it.

Shouldn't we do the same thing when introducing people to Jesus. Jesus loves this person and wants a personal relationship with them, so shouldn't that be something they grow into together? Won't that look different than what your relationship with Him looks like? Same house, but with individual expression.

Instead, we bring so much of our own junk with us. We share God's love, but also our own views on different issues. We might share our story of how we were convicted about our own behavior, but also insist that they need to quit things they they're doing too. We share who Jesus is, but only if they'll believe in Him the way we do. They need to interpret the Bible the same way, and find the same causes important that we do.

We are the church and it is God's instrument to reach the people He loves. But the church is people and people are fallen and sinful. The church has the truth, but we have a lot of barriers to that truth too. Bring people to the church, and they'll be disappointed and hurt. Bring people to Jesus, and they won't be.

How can you start to share Jesus without all the personal baggage?

So like, where has the time gone?

Well, the biggest news in the last few months is that I finally got new full-time employment. I'm working at a small county hospital in their IT department.

To be honest, it's really good. It's a small team and I'm going to be able to work with people again. I had missed being able to get to know the people I support. The relationships were always the biggest reward for me, and that had been removed from my old job.

The benefits are really good too. In addition to the great healthcare, retirement and workout facility, I'm also close enough to walk to work in about 5 minutes.

God has really blessed me here. This is an answer to a prayer that's been prayed for a long time. I really was miserable at my old job and this seems so very freeing. I'm motivated to work and happy to go in. God is good.

In other news, school is going very well. This quarter is 'Church History' and 'Systematic Theology'. While most people kinda groan when I say what I'm studying, I love it. Just helps confirm in my that I'm on the right track.

So this post is really a testimony and praise to God. He has been and continues to be faithful in His time and for His glory. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Grabbing the Brass Ring

My professor made an interesting comment during his lecture last week, and I'm still not sure what I think about it. Unfortunately, I don't have the scripture references he made. I'm going to try to get those.

So here's the basic idea. We know that we cannot save anyone alone. Unless the Holy Spirit opens their eyes and touches their heart, they will not be open to God. I recognise this in my own life. I had Jesus shared with me over the years, yet remained closed. However, once He opened my mind to the possibility that this was true, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The choice was definitely in front of me.

However, Steve's point was that in that moment you still have a choice (seems right). That you can choose Jesus or not. But if you don't then God may close your heart again and you will have missed your chance. Maybe not your only chance, but at least this one.

In a way, this makes sense. We do have a choice. Even if the Holy Spirit allows us to see the choice clearly we still decide for ourselves. We could chose not to follow Jesus. If we did, do we know that invitation is open forever?

Another point is that it does relieve some guilt on behalf of Christians. "Why did God choose me to be saved and not others?" Maybe He has chosen all of us at one point, yet only some chose to believe.

I'm still not sure where I fall on this. I need to do more study. But at first blush, it does seem to make sense.

I really want your opinion. Click the comment link and leave your thoughts.

Robin Hood

I was thinking this Easter weekend about how Jesus is alive. It is so easy for me to think of Jesus living so long ago and they God is in Heaven. The truth is, Jesus is alive. He may not be with us physically, but He is with us.

This reminded me of Robin Hood. In the story, Robin steals from the rich and gives it to the poor. This is done much to the aggravation of the Sheriff of Nottingham and Prince John who sits on the throne. Prince John is a horrible ruler. He does not care for the people, rather uses his position purely to enjoy his power. He burdens the people with heavy taxes so that he may enjoy his lavish lifestyle.

However, Prince John is not the king. King Richard is the king. However he is away fighting in the Crusades. Even though he is not with them, the people place their hope in the fact that Richard will one day return. They know that means that Prince John's rule of oppression will be over.

This Earth is also ruled by a horrible prince. Satan is the prince of this world. He has authority over it, and he abuses that power to his own end. However Jesus is alive. He is the rightful King and He will return to reign.

Update - St. Patrick's Day

Well it's been three months since I last wrote. In wondering why, I think it's a mix of not really knowing what to write and having other outlets for some of my thoughts. Anyway, if you're still around here I'll bring you up to speed quickly on what's been happening then later I'll post some of the particular things God has taught me in these last few months.

First of all, I started and completed my first quarter at Vineyard Leadership Institute (VLI). It was a great time. So far, it looks like I'll have an A average. The classroom time was good, but I really enjoyed the preaching mentoring with Linden. Six sermons preached, but overall a really good way to build experience. Overall, it really wasn't as hard as I expected. Then again, I wasn't working.

Speaking of that, I am starting back to work this coming Friday. I'll be contracting through RHT to Worthington Industries. It's only a month assignment, but you never know how these will go. My last assignment was only two months and I was there seven years.

Other that that, God has taught me a ton on trusting Him and relying on Him for provision, but that's another show.