Bible vs. BlackBerry

Hello again, I wanted to share a text message that I received a few nights ago. First let me say, this one is quite convicting for me. I take my cell phone everywhere but I usually only take my bible to church or Sunday School. This one really makes you think....

CELL PHONE vs. BIBLE...

Ever wondered what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones? What if we carried it around in our purse or pocket? What if we flipped through it several times a day? What if we turned back to get it if we forgot it? What if we used it to receive messages from the text? What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it? What if we gave it to our kids as gifts? What if we used it when we traveled? What if we used it in case of an emergency? This is something to make you go...hmm...where's your Bible right now?

Here's another one that I just thought of, what if we committed to a two-year agreement just to upgrade to a new bible?

And unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!!! Praise God!

Wait! I get the internet on my Berry. I can access The Word from my phone. Does this count? I didn't think so either. Can't blame a guy for trying.....

Until next time....

Air-Brushed Society

I read a great devotional a few nights ago. It was written by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. It's titled "Air-Brush Christians". It talks about Oliver Cromwell, a British statesman and war hero who was having a portrait of himself painted. After the artist was finished, Cromwell was upset because the artist had "air-brushed" out many of his blemishes and imperfections. He responded by telling her, "When you paint me, you paint me warts and all!"

I think this story is very indicative of how we operate as a society. We never like to admit our mistakes. We like to conceal our faults and failures, pretending they don't exist. We create these illusions that everything is "peachy" all the while we're dealing with turmoil. The problem is, Christians are sometimes just as guilty. We have a difficult time admitting that we're struggling with sin. We don't like to admit that at times our faith becomes weak. We don't like to acknowledge our pride. I think Jesus referred to this as "whitewash". This is where everything looks good on the outside but the inside is a different story. So, what should we do? Look at this passage:

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each
other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

For us to achieve true spiritual growth, we are going to have to take off the masks, stop the charade and get real. We are constantly battling that flesh that lives inside of us. Unfortunately, at times, we are going to fail. Let's quit pretending that we've got it all together. James says we should be confessing our sins to one another and asking for prayer and support. This will require trust, humility and making yourself vulnerable. It won't be easy at first but your relationship with the King will start growing stronger.

In the spirit of transparency, here are a few of my "warts" that I sometimes like to air-brush out of my picture:

1. I should be more encouraging to others
2. I sometimes act like my spiritual gift is criticism
3. I sometimes allow worry and fear to become larger than my faith in the Lord
4. I still occasionally struggle with anger
5. There are times that I allow my circumstances to cloud my true identity in Christ Jesus
6. I don't always pray through decisions or problems like I should
7. I hate to admit when I'm wrong......Did anyone order a side of pride?

I'm sure this will not come as a shock to anyone who knows me, but Scott Hedges doesn't have it all together. I miss the mark all the time. Isn't it about time we stop pretending and just acknowledge that?

My challenge to you, say NO! to being Air-Brushed, find a person you trust, confess something that you're struggling with and ask for their prayers and support. Live out the passage of James. There is a good chance that person may do the same thing with you. You know, that James guy might know what he's talking about after all.

Until next time.....

The World Didn't End...

Well, Election Day is over. Thank goodness! I'm not sure I can take any more mud-slinging, empty promises and yard signs. By the way, aren't you glad the folks in Florida finally mastered how to vote on their first try? My sincere appreciation goes out to the Sunshine State for saving us from another "hanging-chad" fiasco. In case you've been living under a rock, Barack Hussein Obama soundly defeated John McCain and was elected as the 44th President of our great Nation. It's amazing, the world did not stop rotating on its axis. The sun still rose this morning and the birds were still singing as if nothing significant happened. Put simply, the world did not come to an end. Why is that? I think it's because there are things in this world far more important than electoral votes, political parties and election results. My pastor Billy Edwards has some great thoughts. Read below...

Regardless of where one stands politically, today is a new day in America. Better or worse? Prosperity or Recession? Safer or more susceptible to attack? Willing to face terrorism head on or cowardly acquiescing? More abortions or the same sickening number? Marriage = one man and one woman or anything goes? The fringes of society marginalized or included? Honestly, despite what one may think or imagine, only time will tell.

One thing, however, has already been decided: God is on His throne, Jesus is Lord of all, and the church is the one hope for the world. Those things are true no matter who is president! I've told you this before...I've lived through 6 Republican presidents and 4 Democratic presidents. And honestly, not much changes. Neither can give us salvation. Neither can give us deliverance. Neither can give us hope that matters. Neither can make iron-clad promises. Salvation and deliverance and hope and promises come through Bethlehem, not Washington!

I am a citizen of the United States (proudly), but I'm not at home here. My home is in the Kingdom of God, which is both here and in the future; which supercedes nations and borders and political causes. The older I get, the more I feel like an alien, for I long more and more to be home. I don't plan on going home anytime soon, so I am yielding more and more of my life to God today. I gave my life to the Kingdom of God years ago; I re-up that commitment right now. Join me.

Until next time......