Small Town Life: A Question of Morality

I read a passage in the Bible the other day that said, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” – 1 John 4:20

So my question to the world: Is the inverse true? If someone says they hate God (whatever the name they use for him or if they even believe in a higher being), but loves their brother, are they a liar? Is a person who doesn’t have any solid belief in a god but is kind and loving to their fellow man still going to go to heaven?

I think so. I think that as much as the God I believe in wants to have us include Him in our lives, if some human uses the idea of Him to hurt someone and that someone rejects that idea of God but continues on in life in a loving way toward their brother in humanity, they are a follower of the true deity in their heart.

What do you think? Do you have to have thoughts on this verse? Do you believe in a deity who is loving? Do you not believe in a loving deity and why? What are your thoughts on loving your brother?

God is Special!!!

Our 6 year old wanted to let everyone know that God is special and you are to.

Morning Star

I took the photo the other morning of Venus and Wifey added the text and photo editing

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the      churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”  Revelation 22:16

Gift of Song…

This is one of our many uber talented students that my wife and I have had the pleasure to work with over the years.  We are so proud of all of them. They just make us smile. I hope they will continue to use their talents to serve others and most importantly to serve God.

 

How Great Thou Art

The Words are from the Hymn How Great Thou Art

It’s one of my favorite Hymns. Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend.

Pillar of Fire

I am reminded of how God used a pillar of fire to help lead the Israelite nation, while on their journey to the Promise land.

Moonlight

God made two great lights–the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. Gen. 1:16 NLT

black and white

Plugged In (A Sabbath Post)

I once heard someone say they were tired of church because when they went, it seemed that no one was “plugged in.” I’m amazed to say that I have never seen that. Even those who I don’t get along with well are “plugged in” at my church. I am so lucky to be a part of a VERY small church where every member is a part of something. Everyone has friends who they spend time with outside of church who attend the church. Even in a church where there are only about 80 regular members, there are small groups, bible studies, youth activities, and alot of lingering in the foyer after the service making plans about vacation bible school and date nights and play dates. It’s amazing to be in an active church. I love it. It is not always perfect. There are times when there is upheaval and angst and discord but we never leave. Like a good marriage, we stay and work things out and agree to disagree and still interact and live together.

Recently I have visited several other churches. I have been asking questions at these places. Questions to those around me who attend them on a regular basis. I find that they are all feeling like those around them are “not plugged in.” However, the people I have talked to are not involved. Involvement doesn’t necessarily means you are leading the youth group, singing up front or giving the sermon. It might just mean that you have made a conscious effort to become friends with others in the same congregation. It might mean that you are attending something other than the weekly service. It might mean that you are a helper in a department or take up the offering or open the doors in the morning or paint a backdrop or collect items for the kids program or make food for someone who is in need. It can mean any number of things but being plugged in doesn’t mean that you go to church, sit in a pew, listen, sing and then leave. That is not being plugged in. Just because you thought the speaker had something good to say does not mean you are plugged in. Just because you love the band does not mean you are plugged in. I am alarmed at how many people believe this. It amazes me how many people believe they are plugged in when they don’t even say one word (or live one word) of that christian life outside of their church.

So my conclusion is this: make a friend. Just one, who attends the same church as you do on a weekly basis, and see what happens.

image came from the prescott life church.

The Athiest in Heaven

I’m a Christian. I believe in God the way the protestant Christian church describes him to me. I believe He loves me, wants the best life on this earth for me and despite knowing better than me, would never take away my power of choice no matter how much I might hurt myself or others with those choices.

That being said, I have read Love Wins and although I don’t believe in every part of the books presumptions, I believe what I think is the strongest message in the book, that God cannot be limited. He cannot be contained by any description or theology. He is bigger than anything we can imagine and He can present Himself to those who may never know His name (do we even really know His name?) or His form or His church. I believe that there will be atheists in Heaven. I do absolutely mean those who identify themselves as atheists in North America where there is infinite information available via the internet and were we have unlimited access to churches and complete freedom to believe how we want. There are people, in this country, world… whatever, who have been presented with the idea of the Christian Jesus Christ in such a distorted way at an impressionable time in their life that they are not able to accept that idea of Him that way. I believe that only God Himself knows who will be happy in Heaven, which is an idea so far from what we know, that we cannot even fathom it. He alone can determine who will be in eternal bliss or in eternal hell in the Heavenly setting and we have no idea who He is working on and who He has already touched. Is it hard to understand that? Is it hard as a Christian to accept that we don’t have a guest list in hand? Yes. We think we have at least some of the answers and that we know who will be there with us but we really don’t. We don’t even know for sure who WON’T be there and that is an even harder concept to accept. It is easy to think we know who might be there but is it easy to accept that we don’t know for sure who won’t? Can we accept that? Can we, as Christians, be ok with what God decides at the end? I hope so because He is God! and we are not.

My God Shall Supply

I wrote this a couple of years ago and an update at the end. God is always looking out for us!!!

My mother asked me one day what my favorite Bible verse was. I thought about it, but couldn’t really decide. I asked her to pick one for me. What is it about mother’s and their ability to always know what to say and when to say it? The verse she chose for me was Philippians 4:19. She also created this cross stitch for me as a daily remind that God is in control of my life and He will supply all my needs. 

A little less then a year ago Callie and I decided to pack up our house leave our friends and my job behind and test the unknown. I was going to head back to school and work on getting into Physical Therapy school. Callie would stay home and take care of our two girls. This unknown path has been filled with many potholes along the way, but God has blessed us with supportive families and the promise that He will take care of us. Our plan has taken a hit  and I will have to wait another year to try and get in to my program, but God has a plan and He will supply us with all our needs. God’s plans have not led into Physical Therapy. We packed our little home in Missoula, MT and we moved to Alamosa, CO. I have been working part time Substitute Teaching and working at our little airport. But my biggest role right now is staying home (when not working) with our girls.  God is still working in our lives all we have to do is hang on for the ride. His plans are so much better than ours.

Pine Cone & Frost

Purple Aster