HEE HAW!

I'm such a Jackass...biblicaly speaking.

Let me explain.

I am a pastor/preacher/teacher (whatever you want to call it). Not because I hold a position at a church and not because I have been given a title but because that's what I am. It is the gift that God gave me. I say God gave it to me because I hate public speaking with a passion. If I have to stand up and speak in front of any amount of people I lock up (deer in the headlights). I have panic attacks, I get the sweats, I can't think...you get the idea.

So when I felt the calling to become a pastor I knew it had to be God because NOTHING in me ever wants to do any of what a pastor has to do.

I preached my first sermon a few years back. I was a nervous Nelly. I practiced and practiced and practiced so that my fear of forgetting everything wouldn't come to pass.  I almost didn't do it. But on that day I got behind the pulpit and prayed, not for the sermon and not for God to speak through me or any of that kinda thing. I prayed for ME. And I have to say that things went better than great. I was absolutely flabbergasted. There was a peace on me during the sermon that was supernatural.

When it was all over I stepped down from behind the pulpit and talked to everyone there and over and over again everyone told me how good I did.

Modestly I thanked them and gave all the glory to God but deep inside I really enjoyed all of that praise. Which leads us to where I'm going with this ramble.

I read the 21st chapter of Matthews gospel last night. I want to share the section that made me remember this event.

"And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."

 This is where Palm Sunday comes from. Everyone laid their clothing and palm fronds on the ground and praised the Savior on His triumphant entry to bring peace.

My original statement was derived from this moment in the scriptures.

On the occasion that I deliver a sermon I will always receive praise. And deep within I accept it as if I had done something wonderful, when really I am just an ASS bringing Jesus to the place He needs to go.

Imagine that day if the Donkey had thought all that praise was for him instead of for Jesus.

So I guess I can say that I am proud to be such a Jackass...biblicaly speaking

HEE HAW!

WWF style

I read an article a few weeks ago that had a quote from the Genesis story about Jacob. It had been a while since I had read that story so I flipped over to Gen. 32 and read thru the chapter. Something stuck out to me that I had never seen before, possibly because I was reading it in a translation I hadn't read it in before. The verses that drop kicked me are below:

^24-25 But Jacob stayed behind by himself, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he couldn't get the best of Jacob as they wrestled, he deliberately threw Jacob's hip out of joint.
²⁸ The man said, "But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it's Israel (God-Wrestler); you've wrestled with God and you've come through."

Depending on the translation you are reading, there can be a variance of who exactly Jacob was wrestling. Some say he wrestled a man, some say he wrestled an angel and some say he wrestled God Himself.

regardless of the translation you read/prefer, the issue that body slammed me was in the definition of Jacob's new name, Israel.
Israel literally means "God-Wrestler".
I was locked on this thought much the same way a wrestler can lock you in a hold and you just can't escape it.

Here's my thought: God named His chosen people "God-Wrestler"
He didn't name them "loved ones" or "the best of the best" He gave them a name that best describes  what it is that He wants from us:
To wrestle with Him.

Mentally, Spiritually or physically, His desire is for us to grab onto Him and work out our issues with Him. It's how you build a relationship!
Much the same way you form relationships with people/friends/loved ones. Sometimes you just have to get work it out (Phil. 2:12)  to understand each other.

My advice to you...
Jump off the top ropes and get into it with God.

A Parable

On that day, everyone from every nation was raised from the dead, As all of creation gathered around the glory of his burning thrown, as the brilliance of the seraphim's and cherubim circled above, humanity was separated into two groups. 

Some started asking each other “did you accept Jesus?”

In both groups you could hear people saying:

I went forward at that rally!

I’ve never heard of Jesus!

I went to church and played bass in the band!

I was born centuries before him!

I drove out demons and did deeds of power in his name!

I was a good person, I’ll be going to heaven! 

The Son of Man, frustrated with the talk of "going to heaven," interrupted the babel and confusion with a clarifying question that silenced all of creation:

“You thought this was about "going" somewhere else? Did I teach you to pray "Your kingdom we’ll go" or "Your Kingdom come?’"I have come to bring heaven here, not to take you elsewhere. Heaven isn’t a ‘place’ that you go, it’s the very Presence of God that I bring. And now, those who have responded to God’s grace and have not dammed Heaven from flooding the earth by accepting me will inherit this kingdom of a transfigured creation.”

The seas roared with the outcry and joy from within both groups as some lamented they have never heard of Jesus let alone accepted him, while others ecstatic that they prophesied and saved souls in his name. 

Then the King with a voice like lightening silenced the nations with this stunning declaration:

“You accepted me, as a child solider in Darfur, as a Thai child enslaved in sex trafficking, as a refugee seeking to enter your country, as a disabled black youth on death row, as a homeless vet on the streets, as a gay youth victimized in High School, as a drug addicted prostitute needing a meal, as an inmate needing a visit …”

As the list of where Christ had been camouflaged throughout creation went on, a shock wave rippled throughout all of reality at the realization that the two groups were not separated by their doctrines or ideas about Christ, or grace, or Heaven, or hell. They were separated by their response to the saving grace of Jesus in the most vulnerable and oppressed. The reality of this revelation for one group felt like eternal punishment. And for the other, eternal life. Eternal Life of the New Heavens and the New Earth liberated from all that does not look like Jesus’ Calvary-shaped love.

Your Thoughts? I'm interested to hear what YOU have to say.