Quotes to Consider...

"Let me tell you what will end those $100 million churches: when some "visitor" to a megachurch, with a big bulky sweater, pushes a button. There is only ONE place left in culture where thousands of people can gather without any security. I can't get megachurch pastors or architects to take this seriously." (Leonard Sweet)

Interesting. I had heard this same prediction by a CUI professor in a Perspectives class a year or two ago. Scary thought, yet it makes sense that this would be a logical course of action. How grateful this makes me for my cell group church! I can only pray this would allow us to survive outside the boundaries of our church building.

"This 'turn the other cheek' business is all well and good but it's not what Jesus fought and died for. What we need to do is take the battle to the Muslim heathens and do unto them before they do unto us." (Jerry Falwell)

I am a little afraid of this thought process. Not entirely sure what he is implying, but it seems to be the opposite of Christ's teachings (In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you- Matt. 7:12). Is not this "turn the other cheek" business exactly part of what He died for as explained in the sermon on the mount (Matt. 5:39)? How does Falwell's attitude differ from Muslims who want to impose their law by force on the western world?

"Don't tell your problems to people: eighty percent don't care; and the other twenty percent are glad you have them." (Lou Holtz)

Being a Carolina Girl, I had to laugh at this quote. Further incentive not to gossip and complain, perhaps?

Jimmy Hoffa Found!

Being the visual person that I am, I found this interesting. Try it.

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Imprecatory Psalms?

We are often told that the writings of David demonstrate a transparent relationship with God. We are challenged to pray honestly- that God desires to have that sort of conversation with us. I had therefore almost disregarded some of the Psalms as that type of encouragement and example for us. Psalms like 55, 69, 79, 109. These, I have learned, are Imprecatory Psalms. They involve David calling down the wrath of God against his enemies, that I can sympathize with occasionally. Recently in fact- but that’s another story. Anyway, with more thought I have wondered how these verses are “God-breathed” and how they mesh with our call to love (and forgive) our enemies.

Then I came across this:
“They [these hard sayings] are not statements of personal vendetta, but they are utterances of zeal for the kingdom of God and his glory. To be sure, the attacks which provoked these prayers were not from personal enemies; rather, they were rightfully seen as attacks against God and especially his representatives in the promised line of the Messiah” (Hard Sayings of the Old Testament, Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity Press, 1988, p. 172).

So I have been reminded that our God is a God of justice, that He abhors evil. Therefore, it stands to reason that David, who is a man after God’s own heart, is not speaking merely out of cruelty towards his enemies for a personal offense. Instead, David seems to be in tune with God’s sense of justice and intolerance of sin. How great is our God! May I be so in tune with Him that my soul resounds with these reactions to the evil that is so prevalent in this world.

A lovely picture of the Christian marriage

I found this quote on a website today and am encouraged by the image it paints. For this God would have me to wait patiently. Despite my past failures and disappointments- or perhaps because of them, I am trusting Him to arrange something better & more pleasing to Him than I could ever imagine.

"How shall we ever be able adequately to describe the happiness of that marriage which the Church arranges, the Sacrifice strengthens, upon which the blessing sets a seal, at which angels are present as witnesses, and to which the Father gives His consent? For not even on earth do children marry properly and legally without their fathers' permission.

How beautiful, then, the marriage of two Christians, two who are one in hope, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practice. They are as brother and sister, both servants of the same Master. Nothing divides them, either in flesh or in spirit. They are, in very truth, two in one flesh; and where there is but one flesh there is also but one spirit. They pray together, they worship together, they fast together; instructing one another, encouraging one another, strengthening one another. Side by side they visit God's church and partake of God's Banquet; side by side they face difficulties and persecution, share their consolations. They have no secrets from one another; they never shun each other's company; they never bring sorrow to each other's hearts." (Tertullian, Ad uxorem)