Counter-cultural…

When my wife and I were in Bulgaria, back in 1995 with YWAM, we ran into an art-rock band comprised of a group of Christians who decided to be counter-cultural by invading the culture and changing it.  They played secular clubs — not because they wanted to “make it”, but because they wanted to transform it.  They were called RATRAG, which is an acronym: Rebellion Against The Rebellion Against God

We are called to be REVOLUTIONARIES.  We can never just peacefully co-exist with this World’s system, because we are called to be God’s agents for bringing Heaven to Earth — and the New Jerusalem will never peacefully co-exist with Babylon, any more than matter and anti-matter can.

That does not mean that we are to purposely act like religious jerks or to go out of our way to be controversial.  True Love, Holiness, and Shameless Worship of the Living Christ are controversial enough, all by themselves.

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What Grace is and what it is not.

The reality and concept of Grace cannot be separated from an obedient, loving relationship.  Grace is not an unstoppable force that moves us along in life, regardless of our response to it.  Grace enables us to be set free from bondage, so that, like Adam and Eve, we have an abundant life filled with blessings, and the power and free will to, at every crossroads, choose God’s way.

And as we continue to respond rightly to His enabling Grace in each situation, we acquire what I like to call a “momentum of Grace” that makes the right choices more and more “spiritually intuitive” and less of a struggle. But if we, like Adam and Eve, choose to ignore that Grace, the consequences can be devastating.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

And as we respond rightly to each situation and challenge, it is an indication that we are truly walking by faith and truly opening our lives to His enabling grace, which is also an indication of our love for Him:

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)

It really happened!

HAPPY PENTECOST SUNDAY!!!

Pentecost…

Pentecost Sunday is this coming Sunday.  Pentecost and the Book of Acts are not museum pieces to be pulled out and marveled at once a year or given a bit of a religious obligatory perusal.  But rather, the are living realities that we as the Church today are called to walk in as our inheritance in Jesus.

Heaven is your career…

Careers and jobs can be very boring or difficult or rewarding or exciting…but ultimately they are all merely a means to an end. The job or career of a Christian can never be a destiny or an end in itself — it is always and only an opportunity to mingle with the lost children of Adam and Eve and lead them to Jesus.

When we get to Heaven, people won’t come up to us and ask us what we did for a living on Earth.  There will be…uh…more interesting things to talk about — and only those who heard the Gospel (from people like us) will be there to take part in these conversations.