Monday, February 11, 2008
God's Blog
Lanny Donoho wrote a book back in 2005 called God's Blogs." I read it in practically one sitting it is that good. In fact, I gave it to my 16 year old nephew two Christmas' ago...he loved it. It is written as if God has written a series of blogs about different subjects.
Blog #36 is entitled "The Wrong Picture"
"I AM a little disturbed--actually a lot disturbed--that so many people and churches have painted such a distorted picture of Me throughout the centuries.
People, of course, have no idea how to paint Me, but they have often attempted to paint theface of Jesus, and it intrgues Me that you almost never see him smiling or laughing. Some have Me pegged as the CELESTIAL KILLJOY. Lots of preachers and scholars have portrayed Me through their sermons and writings as one who is 'set in His ways' and 'scowls' at those things which do not go according to My heavenly plan.
If you've been listening to the wrong people or someone has handed you a picture of Me...before you decide to set it on a shelf somewhere, do Me a favor; Go read some of MY stories.
Here are some of the things you'll see:
I once caused a donkey to talk out loud.
I had a big fish swallow a man and three days later spit him up unharmed.
I helped a few guys walk on top of water in a storm.
I made it nighttime in the middle of the day.
I set a bush on fire and kept it from burning.
Did the same asbestos kinda thing with three teenagers although I didn't start the fire.
I split the water of a huge lake right down the middle and held up the sides while over a million people walked on dry land to the other side.
Then I brought the water down on the bad guys who were following close behind.
Little bitty armies beat big ones. Sometimes with just instruments and pots & pans.
I made a storm stop and the waves settle with just a few words.
I took some spit and mud and used it to make a blind guy see.
Talked the leprosy right out of a couple of guys and made their ears and fingers grow back right in front of their eyes.
I sent so many frogs and gnats and flies to a place one time that no one could see anything two feet in front of them.
I turned water into wine so a party would go better.
I fed over five thousand people with just what was in a kid's lunchbox.
And I watched a dead man hop out of his grave when I ask him to...mummy suit and all.
That's a short list. There weren't enough gigabbytes in this computer to type out half of the long list. (Did I mention that I also created the platypus, the giraffe, the kangaroo, and the grasshopper?)
Now do you still think I don't have a good time and laugh and smile? Do you catch a bit of creativity in some of My actions? Do you still want to put My picture on the shelf with all the old relics you have collecting dust?
Like I said...those were just a few of the millions of fun things I've been up to. I do small fun little things now and then too.
I helped some people find their keys today, and I made their car run when it was out of gas. I've turned on television sets and turned off electricity just so some good stuff could happen to some good people. Hey, I've even saved your life a few times, and you weren't even aware of the danger.
Okay, that's My blog.
Sure, I'M God and I'M old and Holy and Pure and Sacred. BUT, I'M fun and I smile and laugh and do exciting things that you couldn't imagine.
So, tear up the old pictures you have of Me in your mind (or on that old church bulletin board). Quit listening to the folks who make ME look boring...and spend your time and energy discovering who I really AM.
It's all written down.
Plus, you can see lots of Me in lots of people.
And...
I'M right here,
ready to chat."
Blog #36 is entitled "The Wrong Picture"
"I AM a little disturbed--actually a lot disturbed--that so many people and churches have painted such a distorted picture of Me throughout the centuries.
People, of course, have no idea how to paint Me, but they have often attempted to paint theface of Jesus, and it intrgues Me that you almost never see him smiling or laughing. Some have Me pegged as the CELESTIAL KILLJOY. Lots of preachers and scholars have portrayed Me through their sermons and writings as one who is 'set in His ways' and 'scowls' at those things which do not go according to My heavenly plan.
If you've been listening to the wrong people or someone has handed you a picture of Me...before you decide to set it on a shelf somewhere, do Me a favor; Go read some of MY stories.
Here are some of the things you'll see:
I once caused a donkey to talk out loud.
I had a big fish swallow a man and three days later spit him up unharmed.
I helped a few guys walk on top of water in a storm.
I made it nighttime in the middle of the day.
I set a bush on fire and kept it from burning.
Did the same asbestos kinda thing with three teenagers although I didn't start the fire.
I split the water of a huge lake right down the middle and held up the sides while over a million people walked on dry land to the other side.
Then I brought the water down on the bad guys who were following close behind.
Little bitty armies beat big ones. Sometimes with just instruments and pots & pans.
I made a storm stop and the waves settle with just a few words.
I took some spit and mud and used it to make a blind guy see.
Talked the leprosy right out of a couple of guys and made their ears and fingers grow back right in front of their eyes.
I sent so many frogs and gnats and flies to a place one time that no one could see anything two feet in front of them.
I turned water into wine so a party would go better.
I fed over five thousand people with just what was in a kid's lunchbox.
And I watched a dead man hop out of his grave when I ask him to...mummy suit and all.
That's a short list. There weren't enough gigabbytes in this computer to type out half of the long list. (Did I mention that I also created the platypus, the giraffe, the kangaroo, and the grasshopper?)
Now do you still think I don't have a good time and laugh and smile? Do you catch a bit of creativity in some of My actions? Do you still want to put My picture on the shelf with all the old relics you have collecting dust?
Like I said...those were just a few of the millions of fun things I've been up to. I do small fun little things now and then too.
I helped some people find their keys today, and I made their car run when it was out of gas. I've turned on television sets and turned off electricity just so some good stuff could happen to some good people. Hey, I've even saved your life a few times, and you weren't even aware of the danger.
Okay, that's My blog.
Sure, I'M God and I'M old and Holy and Pure and Sacred. BUT, I'M fun and I smile and laugh and do exciting things that you couldn't imagine.
So, tear up the old pictures you have of Me in your mind (or on that old church bulletin board). Quit listening to the folks who make ME look boring...and spend your time and energy discovering who I really AM.
It's all written down.
Plus, you can see lots of Me in lots of people.
And...
I'M right here,
ready to chat."
Friday, February 08, 2008
Standing in the Gap
Jesus says in Matthew 7: 7-11 the following:
I’m not sure why God wants us to keep asking Him for the things we need. Why He wants us, basically, to keep bugging Him...but it’s laid out here pretty black and white straight from the Man Himself!!!
So, ASK, ASK and ASK again. SEEK, SEEK and SEEK again. He wants us to come to Him for everything we need in our lives...from paying our utility bill, to standing in the gap for our children. And, He wants us to keep asking, keep coming back, keep knocking on His door, and keep seeking. There are gaps in the line of spiritual defense of our children. Who will “stand in the gap” against Satan and his legions of attacks on our children? At the last G3 Summit we committed to each other to “stand in the gap” for each other’s children. This is a spiritual, unseen war our children are fighting. ASK, ASK, ASK.
I pray that we all can get it through our thick skulls that God IS wanting that kind of relationship with us...He wants to be our “go-to” guy. :+) This is a LOVE that we can’t grasp and wrap our heads around for sure...it is a mystery. But He really dares us to try Him out. Don’t grow weary. Be steadfast. Stand. Stand strong for your children.
“Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking (reverently) and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened. Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? Or is he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? If you, then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven (perfect as He is) give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!” (see also Luke 11: 5-13)
I’m not sure why God wants us to keep asking Him for the things we need. Why He wants us, basically, to keep bugging Him...but it’s laid out here pretty black and white straight from the Man Himself!!!
So, ASK, ASK and ASK again. SEEK, SEEK and SEEK again. He wants us to come to Him for everything we need in our lives...from paying our utility bill, to standing in the gap for our children. And, He wants us to keep asking, keep coming back, keep knocking on His door, and keep seeking. There are gaps in the line of spiritual defense of our children. Who will “stand in the gap” against Satan and his legions of attacks on our children? At the last G3 Summit we committed to each other to “stand in the gap” for each other’s children. This is a spiritual, unseen war our children are fighting. ASK, ASK, ASK.
I pray that we all can get it through our thick skulls that God IS wanting that kind of relationship with us...He wants to be our “go-to” guy. :+) This is a LOVE that we can’t grasp and wrap our heads around for sure...it is a mystery. But He really dares us to try Him out. Don’t grow weary. Be steadfast. Stand. Stand strong for your children.
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