Homophobics: Know-It-Alls WhoTreat Others as Know-Nothings

This week’s Taboo Bible study was on homosexuality (even homophobia).  The Bible seems pretty clear about this, but I read this tonight, “But knowing isn’t everything.  If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings.  Real knowledge isn’t that insensitive.”  And “sometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds.  We never really know enough until we recognize that God alone knows it all.” (FYI Bible references: 1 Corinthians 8:7 and 3ish, The Message)

Top 10 Signs You Might Be a BR (Bible Reading) Addict if…

10. You can recite entire chapters (not including Ps. 23)
9. You know the number of chapters there are in at least 20 books.
8. You listen to an audio Bible while driving.
7. You have your Bible on your desk at work.
6. You carry a Bible with you in your purse or pocket.
5. You schedule your day around reading the Bible.
4. You can tune out your kids and spouse while reading the Bible.
3. You salivate when someone quotes a scripture.
2. You still have your perfect attendance award from Bible drill.
1. Your first words to answer most questions are, “The Bible says…”

Warning: If you answered Yes to at least 7 of these, consider joining a local Bible Readers Anonymous.  Join me on your road to recovery.

Bible Reading: An Addiction?

We’re in a study called “Taboo" about things many Christians don’t like to talk about, like alcohol, abortion, and gambling. The point came up that we aren’t to be “mastered” by anything. I explained an addiction as something you plan your life around without regard to other things. I asked, “Can reading the Bible become an addiction?”

Can reading the Bible become so important that family or work obligations are put on hold, even forgotten?

What does life look like with reading it regularly?

What does life look like without reading it regularly?

Are the risks of it becoming an addiction less than the ramifications of living a life without regularly reading the Bible?

My Life-Changing Faith

1. God did all of the work to save me from the eternal consequences of my sinful choices. I must receive His forgiveness and live graciously.
2. Jesus is God’s answer to our sin problem. I must trust and obey Jesus as my Leader and Forgiver.
3. The Holy Spirit changes lives, counsels followers and keeps promises of heaven to believers. I must tune in to, follow the insights from and be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
4. The church includes all believers who build up each other’s faith and understanding of the Bible’s teachings. I must be friends with other believers.
5. The Bible is God’s Message about how God restores our broken relationship with God, our Creator. I must do what the Holy Spirit teaches me to do while reading it regularly.
   
   

You're Really Telling them, "Go to Hell"

As I’m reflecting on all the wonderful things that I’ve been told I am today (on Father’s Day), I’m faced with a harsh reality. I wonder if I was too harsh, even judgmental, to a fellow teacher on Fri.

She said, “I tell my students, ‘You’re going to miss out of heaven,’ when they do wrong things.”

I said, “This may sound harsh, but you’re really telling them, ‘Go to hell,’ because what’s the opposite of not going to heaven? …unless you believe, there’s some other place to go.’”

She politely said, “I’ve never thought about that. That’s deep. I’ll have to give it some thought.” Then the conversation fizzled out.

An ironic part about the “but” in my response is it actually meant “but I’m going to say it anyway.” I’m wondering if the “But” actually should have been the End of that thought.

Okay, Dad.

(Originally written Thurs. 6/16/11)

When dropping my son off this
morning at preschool, I told him that he couldn't take his cars in with him. He
thought for a moment and then responded, "Okay, Dad."

As we're thinking on Father's Day, I'm wondering how
much pride wells up inside the heart of our Father in heaven when we are told
to do something that we really don't want to do and we too respond, "Okay,
Dad."