I Bought LIFE

Yep, I did it. I bought it–the game called LIFE. You, who know me, know I’m not a game player, especially a full-size game bored type that takes an hour to play. And, Mr. Editor, I did spell “board” as “bored” on purpose. Live with it, okay! That’s LIFE!

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Why did I do it? Why did I fall or fail into this depth of despair? Crazy, I know, but I woke from a dream very early one morning thinking about it. Wildly, I sometimes plan my sermons and lessons in my sleep, looking for ways to keep people from falling to sleep when I teach and preach.  Sometimes, it even works!

Unfortunately, LIFE isn’t merely a dream. You eventually wake up. It’s not a game. You don’t get to play it again and again. It’s not a drama. There ain’t any dress rehearsal. It’s the real deal! You get it live it once. But, like the board game, at the end all the pieces go back in a box.

I love the description: “a classic family game that can be a reality check–or just a fun time.” Living life is certainly a wakeup call—at times from what occasionally seems more like a nightmare than a dream.

“Different spaces offer life challenges like babies, houses, night school.” Yep, life challenges compete and contest God’s very purpose and plan causing you to comply and change. You are propelled to take a drive along twisting roads because life is full of twists and turns. You only get to see as far as the next bend in the road.

Note some of the comments left on Amazon:

“It takes forever to put together and it’s kind of boring.” The real deal feels like that at times. Seems to take forever to get it together, But, beware, once together, life is over before you know it. Whew, here today, speedily gone tomorrow. And boring? Sometimes, but that’s up to you. It can be adventure after adventure, pursuing God’s will, fulfilling His plan, and living out His passion.

Another commentator said, “It does not have enough money and does not fit in the box well.” I’ve experienced that too. Haven’t you? Seldom enough money. Well, usually enough. God provides. But, often there’s not a lot of excess to spare, but just enough to depend on Him.  And it’s irritating fitting life into the neat little box. That’s for sure!

I grinned at this complaint, “missing some pieces.” The real thing feels like that too. But, in actuality, you’ve been given all the pieces necessary to travel through life. It’s all there. And, with Him, you are totally complete! 

We’ll come back to this thought again and likely again. I’m not finished with LIFE; gladly still on the journey! See you on the road of LIFE!

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Becoming the Biblical Church

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We must also be the Biblical Church:

  • “A Church which believes the Bible.
  • A Church which teaches the Bible.
  • A Church which honors the Bible.
  • A Church which lives according to the Bible.
  • A Church which reproduces the Acts of Christ.
  • A Church that steps out on the promises of God and exercises the power of God.
  • A Church where our voices are blended with the voice of God.
  • A Church where the impossible becomes possible, and is brought to pass.
  • A Church which senses the power of the Spirit.
  • A Church which is more concerned with a manifestation of God’s Spirit and power than with enticing words of men’s wisdom” (Anonymous).
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We are to Complete what Jesus Started

If we were to try to explain all Jesus did while on the earth it would take more than all the books available (John 21:25).  However, let us look at a sampling.

We see Jesus performed seventeen healings of individuals (fever, leprosy, paralysis, withered hand, blindness, deafness, internal bleeding, dropsy, and severed ear.) He still heals today.

He supplied needs by feeding the hungry on five different occasions; financial need of tax money; stood in the boat and calmed the storm (protection); and walked on water.  He said, “Greater works than these shall he do” (John 14:12).

He did His miracles anywhere and everywhere; weddings, funerals, graveyards, synagogues, houses, mountains, pools, and boats.  Is there anywhere we can allow Him to use us?

How He performed His miracles:  He touched, was touched, spat; wept; groaned; and was moved with compassion.  Couldn’t we touch, weep, groan or be moved with compassion over the needs in this world? We are to complete what He started.

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Jesus stated what He was beginning to do in Luke 4:18-19 when He said the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and He was anointed to….

  1. preach the gospel to the poor
  2. sent me to heal the brokenhearted
  3. to preach deliverance to the captives
  4. recovering of sight to the blind
  5. to set at liberty them that are bruised
  6. preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

When He had finished stating what He was going to do He “closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister” (Luke 4:20). This is symbolic of the completion of His earthly ministry and giving us the responsibility to carry on what He began.

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions” (Luke 10:19-20).

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing; it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17-18).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father….I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you” (John 14:12, 18).

We are to complete what Jesus started!

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Know Who, What, and Why You Believe!

Kevin J. Conner in The Foundations of Christian Doctrine says believers need to know:

  • “WHO they believe.
  • WHAT they believe, and
  • WHY they believe it.”

He further explains that all religions are founded on doctrines and that the “teachings received, believed, obeyed, and continually practiced determine:

  • Character—what we are.
  • Behavior—what we do.
  • Destiny—where we go.

Strong character is determined by strong beliefs, and clearly defined doctrine makes for clear cut convictions.”

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Four Purposes of All Scripture

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

  1. Doctrine – What is right?
  2. Reproof  – What is not right?
  3. Correction – How to get right?
  4. Instruction – How to stay right?

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