Comments on: road trip

By: MarkE

MarkE — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:32:36 +0000

I was about to be late for work and Cassie’s was shorter. Sorry…

I think it’s clear to all that we have produced what we have worked at. We have harvested what we have sown. Hence, my comment that we must get back to God’s Word… sowing it, proclaiming it, living it. His Word will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish that which He pleases and PROSPER in the purpose for which He sent it.

Jesus is the Word. God sent Jesus. Jesus fell into the ground and died and so He will not abide alone, but will doubtless come again, bringing His sheaves with Him. (Yes, I know I’m combining scriptures.)

If we go forth, weeping, bearing the precious seed of Christ in our hearts and lives, we will also doubtless come again, bringing our sheaves with us. As the Father sent Jesus, Jesus is now sending us.

Are we bringing anybody with us as we are on our ‘road trip’ to God?

We talk about affirming Christ (making a decision for Him). Does the Living God need ego strokes from us? Hey, what’s really important is that HE affirms US! Remember the dudes who came to Him bragging about all they had done ‘in His name’? Jesus’ reply… “I don’t know you.” Those who know their God shall go forth and do exploits. Many are doing exploits these days without knowing Him.

The Word of God… the fear of God. Back to the book.

FB – what did you think would happen when you started this?

By: fierybones

fierybones — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:43:44 +0000

so mark read cassie’s comment before my post. i see how i rate. : )

By: MarkE

MarkE — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:35:12 +0000

Wow… Cassie just wrote a complete, eloquent, no wasted words, dead-center book about the second thing that needs to change in what we in America call Christianity.

The first thing that needs to change is that we need to preach the Word, all of the Word and only the Word of God, as written, in season, out of season, without regard to any feared consequence, i.e. with no fear of man. We have forgotten that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, i.e. that without a proper fear of God, we have ZERO wisdom and what we build from that position is folly and will not stand.

Now I need to read what Marty wrote!

By: Cassie

Cassie — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:29:14 +0000

I hear what you are saying. I think that reality is closer to a combination of the two. It is the churches responsibility to clarify the expectations of new believers. So many times, we push people to the front in an effort to save their souls, but we neglect the duty of teaching them how to save their daily lives. If you plan a trip from LA to NY, and expect hard times and moments of redirecting– it is because you know what lies between LA and NY. If I set off to NY from LA, and know nothing about where I’m going, only that the destination is where I want to be, then I will have misguided expectations.
When I come to a dificult place, kowing that I have entered in to a commitment with God in the past, gives me courage and confidence in my future– even if I mess up. It is what makes me capable of doing another day. On the other hand, if I’ve not been taught that there will be bumps, and road blocks, and detours, when I come across them I am most likely to give up because I am frustrated and things are not going how I planned.
True Christianity is a decision. It is the quality decision to walk the path of a living, growing, maturing relationship with God. It’s not a club. It’s not a status of your soul. It’s who you are, what you live. One of the greatest shortcomings of the church as a whole is her negligence in training and nurturing new believers in the essence of Christianity. That being, the person of Jesus and the Character of God, and how the Word applies to every moment of every day. We have enticed people to the front of the sanctuary with promises of what life can be, then left them to stumble about and figure out how to get there on their own. How can a person take a journey, with no map, and no supplies, and live to see the destination?