Ministers In The Media

If you watch CNN and all the other news networks like I do, you have seen all kinds of "Christian" ministers shouting all kinds of controversial epitaphs and big news statements. Whether it is Reverend Jeremiah Wright screaming out on one end of the spectrum or conservative white evangelicals on the other end of the spectrum screaming out. Certainly it is not up to me to judge what each of those Christians do and I do not make a habit of condemning other Christian leaders or their congregations.

However, sometimes I wonder if we all stopped shouting as much--and just focused on the mission of Jesus Christ--if we might see larger glimmers of hope around us? Perhaps if church leaders spent more time teaching and training their flocks for ministry--more lost people might be brought to Christ? Perhaps if more church leaders went back to the basics of the elementary teachings of Jesus--there might be more love and kindness among us?

Serving the Lord and executing Christ's mission to bring a lost world to redemption and salvation--is NOT ABOUT US! IT IS NOT ABOUT ME! IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU! Maybe we all need a little more humility. Maybe we all need to go back and look at the early church leaders in the Book of Acts and see how they were spending their times and efforts.

Just some thoughts?

God Speed,

Bruce

Easter Sunday

I think it is wonderful that so many Christians celebrate Easter Sunday--in a biblical way and not in the worldy way. However, let us all be more driven to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ--everyday! All 365 days of the year! Let us honor God that way and not just on special occasions.

Grace and Peace,

Bruce

All The Hoopla

Every election, we (in the Christian world) hear about the need to elect candidates who are pro-life and against same sex marraiges. We hear about Christian groups marching in front of abortion clinics and various statewide election ballots around the nation that puts to a vote whether or not to legalize or criminalize same sex marraige. Ok, thats fine. But let me ask this:

Is our concern about specific sins taking place? If so, why are we not also marching on the offices of slum lords around the nation who take advantage of poor working families whose children are lucky if they get one decent meal a day. If so, why are we not marching on the homes of people who committ adultery. In the OT, such people were stoned. Please don't think I am for abortion or same sex marraige--NOTHING COULD BE MORE TO THE CONTRARY! As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am against all sin. However, I believe there is a better way to have less abortions and less homosexual relationships. What is the better way?

Very simple. Go make disciples, baptize them, and teach them everything Jesus teaches us through God's word. How do we do that? Go love on people, make friends, show Jesus working through our lives. If every Christian just got to work executing that command--imagine how many more Christians there would be and how many less abortions, homosexual sin, less murders, less hate, less greed, less fornication, less adultery, and the list goes on.

Go figure? :)

Blessings and praises to the Lord.

Bruce

3:10 To Yuma

I watched last night, the new movie "3:10 To Yuma." The cover said the best western since Unforgiven. It was a decent movie, but I would not go so far as to compare it with movies like "Unforgiven" or "Tombstone."

It is sad that we see less and less movies that reflect the old west or movies that have those old rugged values and perhaps a little valor and good guy verses bad guy stuff. So often the movies we see today, the good vs bad is all kinda blended together and everything is kinda grey?

It is sad the culture we find our young people in also. So many of them only have an interest in what is most contemporary. We don't expose our kids to enough things of old to give them some kind of values besides the newest thing. I just find that sad.

We need some more John Waynes, Jimmy Stewarts, Henry Fondas and all the others!

God Speed,

Bruce

Goals For The New Year

We often hear about new goals and new resolutions for the new year about this time. As we are planning--do we ever make new goals for a strong relationship with and service to our Lord?

Let us incorporate into our plans for the new year, to gain a closer and more intimate relationship with the Lord as never before.

Let us begin to have the kind of relationship with God that we have with our closest friends and spouses and children--but much better!

Take a journey into Psalms and see how David talked to God--that is a wonderful place to start.

Happy New Year!

Grace and Peace,

Bruce

Love

Remember the old Captain and Teneel Song "Love Will Keep Us Together?" Or the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love?"

Those song while secular in nature, have a lot of wisdom to them. If we just practiced love a lot more--imagine what a different world it would be. Jesus said that all the law and the prophets hung on love. We can get so wrapped up on "church things" and all other sorts of religious matters. And yet, we often find ourselves lacking in true Jesus love. Let us be a people of love. The kind of love that makes people want what we have. And my God receive all the glory.

Bruce

Tis The Season

The longer I am a parent, the more I enjoy the Christmas time of year. Not because of gifts and material things--but because of the special time I get to spend with my wife and children. I love the Christmas movies and the values of giving and love and kindness they impart--that I desperately want my children to understand that such Christian attributes should be a year round thing. But if it takes this time of year for them to get an extra does of those values--thats cool with me.

My favorite Christmas movie is "Its A Wonderful Life." I have been watching it since I was a boy and I never tire of it.

Take some special time with your family this season. And praise God for all of His blessings.

Bruce