The Blue Church

Shall I read my Bible again?

Are there really new things to find within?

Shall I hear something more about man and his sin?

I have read these stories a hundred times.

What else is there that I could I hope to find?

God’s Word fits on me like an old worn glove.

What more does He have to say about His love?

⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

Mankind holds to a lot of different views about what causes people to change. Some people believe that if a person commits a behavior and then meets with negative consequences, they will stop performing the behavior. The penal system was built on this idea, with the hope that if a person was imprisoned they would think about the cost of their actions and refrain from committing more crime when they were released.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way  and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, ³ though its waters roar and foam  and the mountains quake with their surging.” – Psalm 46    

This past week I wrestled with what it means to have faith. I have seen examples as of late of people stepping out in faith and doing things that many people would consider foolish or impractical. When questioned as to why they were doing this, they replied that they were trusting God for a desired result and they believed that He would come through.

On my drive to work this morning I was thinking about how blessed I am. In particular, I was thanking God for his grace and mercy towards me, and how He has blessed me with such a wonderful family and life. When I arrived at work, I pulled into my parking spot and started my devotional time which featured the following verse:

I recently read about how monasteries came about. It was fascinating to learn how they were instituted primarily out of a need to keep certain Christians safe. The account spoke of how before there were monasteries some Christians would subject themselves to a prolonged period of isolation in a desert so that they would experience suffering and build their dependence on God.

I recently watched a movie that was based on a book I had read several years ago. It is called “The Shack” and it has been the subject of much opinion since its release. I went into watching the movie with some hesitation because the book left me questioning some of the theological underpinnings that were presented.

Can you identify the lost person in this list?

• The alcoholic who now lives on his own because his family kicked him out.
• The teenage girl who just learned that she is pregnant and who is contemplating an abortion.