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Bathrooms, Babies, and the Bible

5/31/2016

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​In recent weeks, we’ve seen a rather large influx of what I consider to be ridiculous news stories, but also a sign of the times in which we live.

People have their panties in a bunch (pun possibly intended) about the transgender bathroom issue - so much so that those who fall on the conservative side of the fence are calling for boycotts of Target… never mind that other corporate giants like Disney and McDonald’s also strongly affirm the LGBT agenda, but I don’t see very many offering to boycott those institutions (at least, not with the same volume).

Yet, a few have realized that transgender bathrooms have actually been around for quite a while.  We usually see them at races, parks, concert venues, and other public gatherings. They’re called a “Port-A-Potty” and have been in use for decades now.  Before you automatically turn me off, I do realize the physical harm and danger that seems to be more tangible with this societal direction.  I understand that the POTUS (President of the United States) seems to have stepped out of his jurisdiction with his “decree” that all schools follow his rules or lose funding.  I’m not arguing any of that…

I do, however, find some humor in the fact that the same people using their voice on social media screaming for a boycott of Target or how horrendous the decree is from the POTUS about transgender issues are the same ones who get highly offended when liberal celebrities say they’ll leave the U.S. if Trump is elected President… many conservatives are ready and willing to boycott and bash liberals for their views.  And many liberals are ready and willing to bash conservatives for their views.  And they BOTH get offended at the intolerance of the other while screaming for tolerance.  Do you see the “Brother against brother” mentality here?

Over the Memorial Day weekend, a gorilla in the Cincinnati Zoo was shot to death 10-15 minutes after a baby/toddler got into its cage and the gorilla was flinging the baby around like a rag-doll.  When the gorilla was shot (instead of tranquilized, or subdued by some other means), more than a few people used their voice on social media to LAMBAST the mother of the baby for allowing the child to get into the cage, and to continue to call out authorities at the zoo for killing the animal because “he was someone too.”

It’s those same people who are up in arms and seriously grieving the death of the gorilla who have no issue with late-term abortions (which, if you’re unfamiliar with the details of that horrific form of murder, you can read more about it here).  In fact, according to the link I just shared, and you most likely just passed right over, in the same time that people have been grieving and protesting the loss of a gorilla, approximately 125,000 babies have been murdered.

If you’re like me (and I understand that I’m somewhat unique), you may be wondering what the heck is going on?!  And how do we respond to all of this?

To help with that, let me take this quick opportunity to introduce our BIG series for this fall - “A Study of Thessalonians: Living Between the Already and the Not Yet”

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​I introduce it now, because that’s where we’re at - we’ve read in the Bible what Jesus has done, and we study it and have accepted it, but we’re awaiting His return… we’re waiting for Him to fix it all so things are made new, as it talks about in Revelation.

We’ve seen the issues that society is dealing with, and as followers of Jesus, we look around and wonder where God is and how can it get worse, only to find out just how it does and will get worse.

And we begin to feel hopeless… 

We begin to despair…

And we lose faith and trust in God.

You’ve been there.  You are there right now - go ahead and admit it.  That’s where we’re all at too, sometimes.  Welcome to being human.

B U T.

Being human doesn’t overcome the Spirit that dwells within us!!  GREATER is He who is IN YOU than he who is in the world!!!  GREATER!!  

For the math majors, it looks like this:   “JESUS > ________”

And no matter what you fill in that blank, the statement is still true.

So what do we do? How do we respond??

We are called to persevere… 

We’re called to trust… 

We’re called to faith… 

We’re called to hope… 

We’re called to love.

“Faith, hope, and love abide. But the greatest is LOVE” (1 Cor. 13:13)

Respond in love. Keep the faith.  Finish your race.

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Silence the Fear

5/10/2016

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“What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.  And when we bring what is within us out into the world, miracles happen.”

The quote above is generally attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Whether he actually said it is a matter of debate, but we’ll go with general consensus.  There’s a lot of truth to that.  What we find within us, more often than we’d like to admit, is fear.  

Fear of what was… 

Fear of what is…

Fear of what could be.

BUT, fear doesn’t take up the majority of what is within us.  

It’s like the really vocal minority that seems to get their way against what popular opinion seeks.  Do you know what I mean?  Lots of times, the disgruntled minority in any situation becomes so loud, they overpower the voices of the strong, the patient, the majority.  And that’s what fear does to our hearts.  We give fear a microphone and a loud speaker while trying to keep the Spirit of power, love, and self-control down to a whisper - partly because we know if that vast majority ever really takes over, BIG, SCARY, AMAZING, COOL, AWESOME things will happen, and we don’t know if we’re ready for it… we allow fear to drive us.

But there’s this small Bible verse… tucked away toward the end of the Bible that says this.  “…for He who is in you is GREATER than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4b)

That Greek word used for “Greater” is this - μέγας “megas"

It means “GREAT, POWERFUL, HIGHLY INTENSE, EXCELLENT, SPLENDID, STATELY, SPACIOUS, ABUNDANT”

To us, it should mean this - all we’ll ever need to overcome whatever lies behind and whatever lies ahead.

Some of our paths that we’ve been through are filled with pitfalls, potholes, swerves, sharp gravel, mountains and valleys.

And some of our paths that we’re headed towards are filled with the same.

BUT.

That. Doesn’t. Matter.

Because, for those who follow Jesus, what Mr. Emerson said is true.  Jesus can and will work miracles in us and through us for His glory and our good.  Many of us have seen it, and long for it again.  

Some want to experience it, but are still giving fear the microphone.

Silence the fear.  

Allow He who is in you to drive. to lead. to steer. to control…  

and then you’ll see the miracles of He who is in you - because He’s greater!!!
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    Jason

    Lead Pastor

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