Tumblin' Along

Blown here and there by every wind of teaching. Ephesians 4:14

A couple days ago, I saw this poor tumbleweed roll down the street and come to rest against the curb.

Now, out here in west Texas, it's windy. When we first moved here, the meteorologist on the local news said, "Tomorrow will be breezy."

I'm not sure what breezy means to you, but here it means 10-15 miles per hour. When they say it's windy, you better hold onto something so you're not blown away.

In our churches, too, we sometimes need to hold onto something so we're not blown away.

• Blown away by prosperity doctrines.
• Blown away by "don't offend anyone" doctrines.
• Blown away by "you just have to be a good person to go to heaven" doctrines.

There are lots of "tickle your ears" teachings out there.

Those churches are probably the largest ones in your area. Everyone wants to leave the service on
Sunday morning feeling good about themselves.

• No challenges
• No convicting sermons
• Just fluff

All of us wish Christianity was that easy - but God's version isn't.

God offers forgiveness - we must admit our sinfulness.
God offers salvation - we must believe in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
God offers relationship - we must draw near.
God offers wisdom and guidance - we must follow Him.

So...what can we hold onto when the winds blow?

His Word

In the pages of Scripture, we find God revealed.

• We find peace and joy
• We find strength and protection.
• We find wisdom and guidance

Without His Word in our hearts and minds, we are adrift, blown by the winds of the world's changing truth.

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.

He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30

 

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4

 

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

What does God's Word mean to you?
How has it provided stability in a wind-blown world?


If this post blesses you, please share.

Getting Comfortable?

Greyhounds are nesting dogs, so I've been told.
And I can see why.


Ruby occasionally gets up and stands on her bed.

Then she turns around

                                   and around

                                                    and around.

She uses her paws to fluff the bed

                                   She fluffs

                                                    and fluffs.

Finally she lies down and snuggles in.

She gets all comfy and sighs with this super-contented look on her face.


Are we like that?

Are we nesting Christians?

We go to church on Sunday mornings and circle around, saying hi to folks - usually the same folks, week after week.
Then we come to OUR pews and snuggle right in, all comfy.
We sit by the same people week after week.
We don't need to walk around and reach out to people we don't know.



Do we want to be challenged or do we want to surround ourselves with fluff?



After all, we're content where we are.



During the week, we visit with our friends, our Christian friends.
We gather around a cup of coffee and our conversations are comfortable.

We don't associate with those who don't believe what we do.


And certainly not with non-Christians.


We avoid those who might challenge our faith or,


heaven forbid,


ask us to talk about what we believe.


Comfortable.


Settled.


Is that what Jesus had in mind for us?


I think not.


As you read through the gospels, over and over, He said, "Go!"


Be a light to everyone you meet - not just the ones who make you feel comfortable.


Be salt to the world - a seasoning that makes others want to taste what you have.


Go into all the world - don't settle in the Christian community where you feel safe.

Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of

fresh air

in this squalid and polluted society.

Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.

Carry the light-giving Message into the night.

Philippians 2:15 (The Message)

This doesn't sound very "nesting" does it?


It doesn't allow us to settle.


It doesn't permit us to stay where we're comfortable.


It commands us to step out into a world that's decidedly unsettling,


to live in a way that's challenging and uncomfortable.


In other words, it's time to leave the nest and shine!