Radical Christian

Hard to wish for your son, what Paul Washer wishes for his son, but is that not what we should be doing ourselves as well?

Being scared

Psalm 118:6 (The Message)

GOD takes the side of the helpless;
when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me.

Psalm 118:6 (NIV)

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

Reading today’s section of My 30 Days Under the Overpass, they were speaking about this verse, and how, for the first time, they realised that they were unable to really commit to this verse in their lives on the streets.

This got me thinking…

Do you totally commit your fears to the Lord, and honestly believe that He will keep you from harms way?

I honestly know, I don’t.

Love

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

This is my command: Love each other.

The discussion

This morning, spending some time in Exclusive Books, looking for a Rob Bell book, I came upon his Velvet Elvis book. By just reading the back page, I was hooked, and didn’t even think about price before I bought it. This must be one of the best saying, and if one and all of us, can just remember this, when we type or talk to people about our faith and believes it would go a long way in restoring faith in the unbelievers out there. So here goes…

We have to test everything.

I thank God for anybody anywhere who is pointing people to the mysteries of God.

But those people would all tell you to think long and hard about what they are saying and doing and creating.

Test it. Probe it. Do that to this book.

Don’t swallow it uncritically. Think about it. Wrestle with it.

Just because I’m a Christian and I’m trying to articulate a Christian worldview doesn’t mean I’ve got it nailed. I’m contributing to the discussion.

God has spoken, and the rest is commentary, right?

Now, I honestly think that when we talk to people, be that non-believers or fellow Christians, and we can simply remember this, and not try to force our opinions down their throats as the be all and end all, it would go a very long way in starting to get this world we live in, to become a godly place again.

I, personally, are very guilty when it comes to this very issue, as I can convince myself sometimes of some strange things. It all only depends on how much I believe it, before I will start to try convince other people about it…

Gut Check 1.0

OK, so I read through the introduction and the Gut Check part of the book ‘My 30 Days Under the Overpass (Mike Yankoski)’, and WOW. I am already challenged, without even starting with the devotionals.

Here is an excerpt from the Gut Check 1.0

Flip on tonight’s news or go to a news blog and you’ll learn about the wretched things that are going on in our world – famines, epidemics, earthquakes, hurricanes, rapes, beatings, political chaos, slavery, human trafficking, just to name a few. When you look at all of it, it’s enough to make you feel really, really small, like there’s no way you can make an impact.

well, I want to let you in on a little secret: The world is not yours to change.None of us is big enough, influential enough, or powerful enough to end any one of the world’s major issues. The only person powerful enough to eradicate poverty or cure all disease or stop earthquakes is Jesus. But He didn’t do any of that. Jesus, in His wisdom, knew He couldn’t just come down here and fix everything for us; He knew we wouldn’t learn anything that way. Instead, He showed us how to live by spending thirty years on earth, setting the ultimate example for us to follow. He didn’t end poverty. Instead, He reminded us that ” you always have the poor with you” (see Mark 14:7)

But that doesn’t mean Jesus did nothing to help the poor, nothing to reach out to those whom everyone shunned. Instead, He lived with them, listened to them, ate with them (sometimes He brought the food), partied with them, healed them, wept and laughed with them…

Same with us. Yes, the world is messed up. There are a lot of hurting people and a lot of important issues. You can’t end poverty, stop earthquakes, or feed every person on the planet. But that’s no excuse to do nothing. If you’re a Christian, loving other people is not a “calling” you can patiently discover or wait for God to reveal to you. It’s a direct, non-negotiable command.

Like I said, WOW

Straight to the point, won’t you say.

Now, this book is structured in weeks, with an action day at the end of each week, so what I am going to do, is on every action day that I reach, I am going to blog about the challenges raised during the week, and hopefully, we will be able to get some conversation going on this, as well as, hopefully change some people’s views.

WOW

As I was sitting here in front of the computer, I was thinking on a topic to write a blog about. While reading Collide Magazine I got this scripture.

James 4:7-10 (The Message)

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

Pretty to the point…

I need to get back to a routine, of setting out an hour a day, and just spend time with the Lord. I have slipped the last month, due to work pressures, and just life happening.

What do you do to make time to spend with Him?

Best Question

Ephesians 5:15-17

Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Found this great blog post on Beliefnet.

What is the best question to ask in every situation, in order to get closer to what God wants to do for you in your life?

Read further here

Some new challenges

Ok guys and girls. Sorry for not having posts this last weekend, as I was simply just too busy.

On Friday I had some job interviews, and then I spent the day with the 2 girls in my life, and my, how awesome was that. The interview went really great, and I really expect God to come through on this change in my life in a BIG way.

Saturday was really hectic. Played golf in the morning, rushed home to have a shower, and then we were off to Retief Burger’s new CD and DVD recording. I promise you, when this CD comes out, it will be a must have to any music collection in South Africa. Powerful worship music, mixed in with some really hard praise. Very Hillsong United like, but with a true South African feel to it.

Today was actually not too bad. Slept in a little, as babygirl stayed over at her grandparents last night, so we had the opportunity to get some much needed sleep in. We are all home now, and I just finished completing a Personality Test for one of the job opportunities that I had interviews for.

I really would appreciate all and any prayer with regards to these positions, as I really need to get a job where I feel God can use me to my full potential.

Ok, back to the heading…

On Friday, I came across a little devotional book called ’30 Days Under the Overpass’ by Mike Yankoski. After reading the introductions etc, I just had this overwhelming feeling that God wants to use this little book together with this blog, as this devotional book, unlike the standard, feel good devotional, will really challenge you. So, as I work through this little book, I will post the challenges raised through it, to you guys as well.

I really pray that God will use these challenges to change my life, as well as all of your lives as well.

See you under the Overpass…

Sarcasm

1 Peter 3:9

That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless-that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

How many of you, like me, use sarcasm as humour? For a very long time it just flowed out of me, without even thinking of it. I would be able to make a sarcastic remark to almost anything somebody would say to me.

In the process, I have hurt a lot of people along the way. Girls in our class, at school, would want to have nothing to do with me, due to my sarcasm, but I didn’t feel worried about it. That is up to the day I got married, and my wife asked me why I feel the need to be so sarcastic.

Anyhow, through the last 5 years I have learned to tone down the sarcasm, but it still lingers. That is until I read this passage this morning. God just has such a great sense of humour to place these challenges on me on a  daily basis.

I want to challenge each and every one of you to, when you feel the urge to say something sarcastic, to rather bless that person, and give them a smile.

God’s Word

Hebrews 4:12-13

God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.

Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it-no matter what.