Carrying Your Own Cross

First, I want to say that I truly appreciate all of the encouraging comments I've received on my recent posts as I wrestle with God over what He wants me to do about the plight of the poor. However, this is not just about me. This is much bigger than a question about how much of my disposable income should be given to charity. This is about all of us, Christ's body, seeing the problem with Jesus' eyes, not just when we read about it, but it should be part of our every thought and every dream.

Warning - I am going to attempt to put a visual in your mind that will never leave. Stop reading now if you'd rather not think about it.

The stadium in the picture above is Kyle Field. The seating capacity is 82,600. Every week, during football season, this stadium is packed with Aggie football fans. That is a lot of people. That is more people than the entire population in most small towns in America.

Every week, all year long, 98,000 children quietly die directly from starvation or indirectly from their inability to resist common diseases. That number is small compared to the number that are suffering, hurting, and crying but just not dead yet.

This football season, when you see a packed stadium, remember that a stadium full of children died because of starvation this week and thousands more are just waiting their turn.

Each of us has a different calling from God on what to do about this issue. I am also well aware that this is just one of many problems in our world. As Christ's body we are full of different parts and different roles. However, we each do have a part and a role.

Luke 14:27
27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Carrying our own cross does not mean carrying our own problems and burdens. Our own problems and burdens are to be handed over to Jesus. Our cross is the spiritual and physical problems and burdens of others.

It is obvious that God is telling me that my cross includes the starving children around the world. It's not so obvious yet, all that He wants me to do about it, but I'm seeking. I encourage you to know your cross, but more importantly, to actually pick it up and carry it.

If you're living a comfortable life most days, chances are there may not be a cross on your shoulder. If you're living under your own stress most days, chances are there may not be a cross on your shoulder because your shoulders are already weighed down with your own burdens.

This is not just about me. It's much bigger than that.

What is Abundant Life?

John 10:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

God has really been working on my heart lately about my own excess and the poor.  Maybe it's good to go through these struggles from time to time.  Otherwise, it might be a sign that my heart is getting too calloused. 

I spent this past week at a Baptist preteen camp.  I was really looking forward to this trip because last year I had great spiritual experience.  I not only had a spiritual high for a few days but the experience altered my course of thinking for the long-term as well.

This year we went to a different camp and this year the camp only served to heighten my current spiritual struggles.  The camp theme this year was "living the dream" and John 10:10 was the key verse.

I loved the "camp" atmosphere.  There were canoes, BMX bike trails, a great pool, rock-climbing, and bungee jumping among other activities.  I loved the time with the kids.  I got to minister to a few of them, including my own son.  We had some great bible study and devotional times as a small group.

The part that I really struggled with was the way the kids took to the snack shack and gift store during free time.  Buckets full of money were being poured into candy, sodas, and trinkets.  As I'm struggling with how I should respond to the fact that a child is dying every 7 seconds due to lack of food, watching the indulgence by our kids at a Christian camp was seriously intensifying my struggles.

The teaching lessons to the kids was on living the dream, as in living your life for Christ and the promise of a fulfilled life and eternity in heaven (hmm, what about the resurrection - that's another topic).  So, the message being taught in the worship services and the small group discussions was good.  However, what was the lesson we were sending on their hours of free time each day with pockets full of money and free reign on the junk food and souvenirs?

This leads me back to my own struggles.  How much is too much?  God has blessed me to live in this great country and he has blessed me with a great job, health, and money.  When is it wrong to spend this money on myself?  Where is the line where I say, rather than feed that one child for a month, I'm going to spend this $30 on a non-essential item for me or my family? 

On the other hand, does this mean I sell everything, move into a small house somewhere, only buy the bare essentials, and give everything else away?  Do I live as if I were in poverty even though God has blessed me with much?

Where do I draw the line?  Is this what it is like getting a camel through the eye of a needle?

Matthew 19:24 (ESV)
²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

How do you celebrate Christmas?

I ran across this video today and had to post it.

My wife and I talk about ways to celebrate the "true spirit of Christmas" each year.  We've often thought about cutting way back on the presents and focusing more on Jesus.  However, each year, our Christmas has more and more stuff.

We do focus on Jesus at Christmas.  We go to church on Christmas Eve.  This year I wrote a Christmas story, taking a quick bible tour from Genesis through the Gospels, and we read it as a family.  We visit a local assisted living center each year with one or two other families and sing Christmas carols to the elderly residents on Christmas morning.

However, with all of this, the presents steal the show.  Its not our kids fault.  They're kids.  If you load up the tree with presents, that's going to be the highlight of the day.  Christmas stories and carols to lonely, elderly strangers are ok, but the new Wii is the bomb.

I believe the problem we experience with Christmas is the problem with many churches today.  We preach and teach spiritual messages from the Bible but we mix in so much consumerism, that the spiritual message is forgotten behind the "church experience".

This Christmas, we're going to do something about the consumerism.  This Christmas, we're going to join the Advent Conspiracy.

What if we start a Worship Conspiracy and truly have Christmas all year long.  After all, this message is too good to celebrate only once a year.

Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Prayer, Sacrifice and Expectations

Psalms 5:3 (ESV)
³ O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

David is confident that God hears his prayers.  He knows God is listening and he is confident that God will answer.  He prepares a sacrifices and watches for God's answer.

Is this how I pray?  Do I pray with the confidence that God is listening?  Do I sacrifice to God each morning and then watch for His answers?

If you were to ask me, my intellectual answer will be that I know God hears my prayers.  However, I question how my faith matches that belief.  If I really had faith that the God of the universe is listening, praying without ceasing would be much easier.

How about that morning sacrifice? 

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Each and every morning I should present myself again to God as a living sacrifice.  I need to give each day to him.

Of all the lessons in this verse, watching may be the toughest.  At least it is for me.  Maybe it is a faith issue again.  However, even if I believe God is listening, I often wonder if I really expect God to answer my prayers. 

It's not that I don't think God is active in this world or capable of directly answering my prayers.  It's just that rather than expect an answer, I expect no answer.  It's like if I expect no answer, I will never be disappointed.

David sacrifices and then watches.  Watching here denotes an expectation.  He's prayed to God and watches in expectation for God to answer His prayers.

I wonder how often I miss God's answers because I do not watch expectantly for His answer.

The rest of the story

Has this ever happened to you... You're reading your Bible and come across a familiar passage.  You are subconsciously nodding along, recognizing the truths you are reading.  And then, POW!  Where did that verse come from?  God lays a new truth on you that has been there all along, you just missed it until now.

I had that experience this weekend.

I came across this familiar passage in Luke:

Luke 12:22-31 (ESV)
²² And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! ²⁵ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁶ If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. ³⁰ For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

This is a great passage about stress and worry.  God is sovereign.  He will meet all of your needs.  Seek His Kingdom and everything else will be taken care of.

I've heard many lessons and sermons on this passage and I was nodding along as I read.

Then, I had to read the rest of the story...

Luke 12:32-34 (ESV)
³² "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Can you see the verse that struck me between the eyes?  Verse 32 is comforting.  Verse 34 is a truth that is often preached and well known.  Who's going to argue with that?

However, what is up with verse 33?  Sure, I know that Jesus challenged the rich young ruler to sell everything and give the proceeds to the poor.  That's because He was dealing with that rich guy's heart.  But who is Jesus talking to here?

I am more than happy to claim the "don't worry, be happy" message here, but can Jesus really be talking to me about selling my possessions and giving to the needy?  He must mean I need to be prepared to do that if "called." 

Right?

Or does He mean what He says?

Red Letter Theology

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

I was reading some blog comments the other day about Christianity and homosexuality. One of the comments in support of accepting the homosexual lifestyle as an acceptable Christian lifestyle was that Jesus never condemned homosexual behavior in the Gospels. The point being made was that since Jesus was silent on the issue, this overrides whatever may have been stated in the Old Testament or in Paul's Epistles.

I've seen this logic used more than once and it's been gnawing at me for the last couple of weeks. I think what bothers me so much about this errant view of the Bible is that I've used this logic myself in the past to justify my own sins. It's a favorite practice of Christians to lean on the parts of the Bible that agree with our views on life but not on the parts of the Bible that disagree with our own bias.

My point here is not to argue the homosexual issue (I've raised that issue in a couple of other posts and comments if your interested - God Loves Gays, Seinfeld, Comment). I'm not saying that there cannot be strong arguments on both sides of a particular interpretation of scripture. My point here, is that you should not use Jesus' silence on an issue in the Gospels to override other biblical principles and truths.

There are probably many positions on the scope of the authority of scripture. For my case against what I am calling "red letter theology" I'll just assume a couple of broad views. One view is that all scripture is the infallible, inerrant word of God. An opposing view would be that the Bible was written by men, highly spiritual men, but men that had a personal and cultural bias included in what they wrote. Therefore, the Bible is not without its faults and is not infallible and inerrant.

If you hold to the first view, then you cannot put more weight on the Gospels and less on the rest of the Bible. It is all God inspired and it is all God's words, whether written in red or black ink. There is a NewTestament  covenant that has replaced the Mosaic law. However, we know this because the Bible declares this. Not because there are issues in the Old Testament not addressed in the New Testament.

If Moses said it, God said it. If Paul said it, God said it. If you don't believe this then you have to admit that you do not hold to the infallibility and inerrancy of the Bible.

The other broad view is that Bible is holy but not infallible and inerrant. However, even with this view, putting more weight on the Gospels than on other parts of the Bible is not logically sound. The Gospels were not written by Jesus. They were written by men that could have just as much personal and cultural bias in their accounts of what Jesus said as Paul has in his letters.

If you disagree with how a principle discussed in the Bible should be applied in our culture today, then do your homework and pray. God did not intend for His truth to be hidden from those that seek it. However, don't take the lazy way out by declaring everything is good that wasn't explicitly called out as evil by Jesus in the Gospels.

Let's not forget, Jesus made a point about speaking against man-made pharisaic interpretations of the Old Testament. If silence is to be given more weight to a particular view, then the case should be made that silence means agreement, not opposition.

God hears me even when he lets me struggle

Psalms 4:3 (ESV)
³ But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.

In my devotional, this Psalm about confidence in God hearing my prayers, made me think of when it appears God is not listening.

God loves me, he has set me apart, he hears me when I call to him.  However, sometimes he doesn't intervene when I'm struggling.  Sometimes, I think He anxiously watches me struggle, as He purposely holds himself back.  He knows that, sometimes, I need to endure the disappointment and feel the pain in order to grow.

This year my oldest son participated in baseball tryouts for the first time.  His only previous experience with baseball had been playing with me in the yard and tee ball about five years ago.  He did great under the circumstances.  But for a little boy that is a perfectionist, he struggled.

As I watched, I knew it was painful for him.  I knew every missed catch and every missed swing discouraged him.  However, I also knew he had to learn from the experience.  He had to learn more than baseball that night.  He had to learn how to struggle and get back up and try again.

I wanted nothing more than to be out on that field with him.  I wanted to hug him after every misstep and tell him it would be ok.  I had to hold myself back for his sake.  At the end of the tryouts, while I know he was discouraged, I was proud.  My little boy had struggled through disappointment, picked himself up, and kept going.

So, when I'm struggling and I'm wondering why God is not making all of my issues vanish before my eyes, it may be because He is holding himself back for my sake.  I only hope I can make Him proud when I struggle and I am able to keep going by leaning on His promise.  His promise that I am set apart and He does hear me when I call to Him.

Why don't I love my neighbor?

Mark 12:28-31 (ESV)²⁸ And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?"

²⁹ Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

³¹ The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

I found out this morning that a co-worker and acquaintance had died last night.  He was relatively young, mid-forties, but he had been fighting a relapse of melanoma  since April.

I remember when I heard he was sick in April that I felt I needed to call him and see if there was anything I could do.  So I called him and asked how he was holding up, and let him know that I would be praying for him.  What a nice thing to do.  Brownie points for me somewhere, right?

I did pray for him, for a few days.  Then he did not cross my mind again until I heard the news of his death this morning.

It occurs to me, if I was battling cancer, I would be praying everyday for myself.  Why?  Because I love myself and I know I need God just to get through a normal day without disease and sickness hovering over me.

Why did I not pray for this co-worker every day?  Why did I completely forget about him and his struggles?  The only thing I can come up with is I did not love him enough to keep him in my prayers.  I did not love him as much as I love myself.

I want to love others like myself.  Why can't I do it?  Why does it always come back to being all about me?

Romans 7:15 (ESV)

¹⁵ I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Do you ever struggle with self-absorption?  Do you ever find yourself so wrapped up in your own problems that loving God and loving others gets lost in the busyness.

Thankfully, God does not have this same struggle.  He loves me in spite of me.

Romans 8:1 (ESV)

¹ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

I'm bad, you're bad, John Piper is bad?

I came across this video a few months ago. I don't know why I like it. Maybe because I like John Piper and maybe because I grew up liking Michael Jackson.

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

I am not quite sure how to review this book. It was an easy read, I liked it, but I'm not sure what I think about it. Does this make any sense?

I'll give it a shot anyway.

If I had to pick out one of the themes of this book it is that the Christian faith is always "reforming". Rob Bell is clear that he does not believe that biblical truths change but our understanding of those truths change - or reform. He cites the Reformation and Martin Luther as an example of this type of ongoing reforming.

I'm not sure what to think about this concept. There is some validity here but it is also an idea that could be abused. Many cults probably started by the leader changing the explanation of  the truth behind the scriptures to meet their own means.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think for a second that Rob Bell is doing this. It just makes me nervous - not that nervous is a bad thing. I think what Bell is saying is that we should not be afraid to study doctrine and question doctrine in light of scripture. A quote he likes to use is, "God has spoken and the rest is commentary."

I do think he made a poor choice of the virgin birth as an example of this questioning of doctrine. The scenario he used was far fetched so this example only serves to have mainstream evangelicals get up in arms. Bell affirms that he believes in the virgin birth. However, I think using this extreme example gets people side tracked on an otherwise valid point.

In chapter six, "New", Bell talks about our sin and the necessity for a new birth. He does not talk about it in terms one may have learned in Sunday school so this too may make more conservative evangelicals raise their eyebrows. However, I do like the point he makes that eternal life is not just about life after death. Jesus says that eternal life is to know God. Christians too often focus on heaven and neglect God's Kingdom now.

Overall I enjoyed Velvet Elvis and it was spiritually edifying to me. It really made me think. Am I just doing the church thing, or am I really living as Jesus calls me to live? Am I impacting the Kingdom in my life?

A New Day

Psalms 3:5 (ESV)
⁵ I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

I have often struggled reading the Psalms in the past.  Mostly because many are laments of David's struggles and I often feel like I can't relate to people wanting to kill me.

However, I'm getting better at appreciating God's voice in these Psalms.  This verse hits home for me.  Everyday that I wake up is a new day God has given me.  Why has God blessed me with a new day?  So that He can work through me today for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13) which in turn blesses me with pleasure as well.  One day it may be to face a horrific challenge.  One day it may be to just enjoy the day that He has given me.

The point is, I went to bed and I awoke again, only by the grace of God for his good pleasure.  How do I please God today so that I may join Him in His pleasure?

What Am I On The Earth For?

Do you ever ask yourself this question?  Did you come up with a good answer?  Do you know why you are here?  Do you know your purpose in life?

I think the older we get, the more important this question becomes to us.  Some may say that's quite tragic.  If we have a purpose in life, wouldn't it be much better to know that purpose when we're 20 rather than figuring it out when we're 60? 

I agree, it's tragic if you squander your purpose for your first 20 years of your life (I think I squandered much more than 20).  However, I'm not sure that means you don't still have a unique purpose at 60.

The problem is that the younger we are, the less we seem to care about a true purpose.  As we get older and see the end starting to approach, we naturally get more reflective.

There are quite a number of people and groups (religions, etc.) that will gladly offer to help you find your purpose.  I did a Google search and here is a small sampling:

Personal Development Expert, Steve Pavlina - write down any self-purpose you can think of on a piece of paper.  Keep doing this until something you write down resonates with you so deeply that you cry.
Bahá'í Faith- In summary, the spiritual reason for our life on earth is to provide us with a training ground; our life is a period of growth during which we focus on the development of our innate spiritual and intellectual capacities.
Want to Know . info - ...you can start to find and develop your own purpose and intentions by stopping for a moment and asking yourself two questions: "What is most important to me in my life? What are my deepest values and beliefs?" Consider inviting divine guidance and your own inner wisdom to help you with this.
Atheist, Aaron Ross Powell - The atheist, on the other hand, sees this life, the one each of us is currently living, as all we get. Death is final. Thus we need to make the most of life and instill great value in every moment because those moments are of limited quantity.
Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren - The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.

You'll notice that the first four statements are more about "you" and the statement from Rick Warren is more about "God".  However, even with the "Purpose Driven Life" explanation, there is still an open question.  If my purpose is for God's purpose, then what is God's purpose?  Does he have a purpose or a task, specifically for me?

Personally, I believe God does have a specific purpose and specific tasks for each of us.  However, I'm not sure we'll ever know all of God's plans for us on this earth until after our time here is done.  I don't think we'll know everything because part of our purpose is to keep seeking.  The key is to seek from God, and he'll make his purpose for you today, known to you today, while tomorrow brings a whole new adventure.

Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV)
³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
³⁴ "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Jesus is talking about God providing your daily necessities if you seek God's kingdom and his righteousness today.  I don't think I am stretching the context here to make my point.  Isn't knowing your purpose in life, a necessity of life?

Enough preaching...

This is an open question for everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike.  We all are searching for meaning to our life.

So what's your definition of the purpose of life?  More importantly, what is your specific purpose for being here?  Have you thought about it?  Are you searching for it?  Have you found it?

What if the Church Was Invisible?

I came across this great post about the church, or rather what the church shouldcould be. Jeromy from Mending Shift has graciously allowed me to re-post it over here on Seeking Things Above. Let me know what you think. If this message resonates with you, drop by and visit Mending Shift and give Jeromy a shout.

What if we, as the church, were invisible? What if we had no church buildings? No signs declaring a church location? No denominations or headquarters? No mega weekend gatherings? No Christian radio presence? No Christian stores? No Christian bumper stickers or other outward personal identifying stuff? What if the Yellow Pages didn’t have a “church” category and if you Googled “church” it came up with no search results? What if there was no such “thing” as the church? Would there still be a church?

What if we, as the church, were invisible? What if we simply lived the life of Jesus, speaking and displaying his love to the people we knew and came in contact with on a daily basis? What if we as followers of Jesus simply did just that? What if we gathered quietly in homes to break bread and encourage each other in Christ; where our goal would be to simply live as agents of God’s restoration, serving God and the “other” in real and tangible ways? What if church were not a weekend thing, but a people who radically lived behind the cultural scenes bringing God’s kingdom to earth?

What if God’s church was more like a tiny mustard seed instead of trying to be the biggest oak tree on the hill? What if Jesus’ church was more like a tiny amount of yeast…itself unnoticed, yet quietly transforming and restoring people and, in turn, culture? What if the Holy Spirit’s church sought to be the last and the least—a servant? What if the church daily sought self-death—dying to itself and loosing its life in order to find it—instead of doing all it can to save its life? What if God’s church chose to sit down in the least honored seat of society and culture, instead of clamoring and fighting for the most prestigious one? What if the church “thing” disappeared and all that was left was the church—people who realize they are forgiven and loved by God and who actively want to be a part of his restorative and healing work in lives of other’s?

In other words, what if the church was invisible—or even better: visible, yet invisible? What if?

Fear and Rejoicing

Psalms 2:11 (ESV)
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

If God is love, why would I need to serve Him with fear or rejoice in Him with trembling?  This does not sound like love.  I certainly don't want my children being obedient to me only because of fear?

The context of this verse is God looking at an evil world with evil rulers.  God sends his Son, Jesus Christ, to establish a new kingdom and the world's rulers need to recognize the Son as their ruler, or face God's wrath.

Since I'm not a king, does this verse apply to me?

You bet it does.  In my sinful nature, who is "the man"?  I'm the man.  It's about me.  Even if I am a generous man, it is about my causes.  In my sinful nature, it's not about God.

In my sinful nature (that I struggle with daily):

God is there.  Jesus is there.  However, I take both for granted, because I am "the man."  God loves me because that is who He is. He has to love me, regardless of my choices and my lifestyle.  That's why he died for me.  Because he loves me and of course, a loving God, will save me.

Now, I may not really be so bold in my minimizing who God really is, as in my sarcastic dialog above.  However, do I really sit back and meditate on how awesome, gigantic, inspiring, perfect and powerful God really is?

I have no right to any grace and mercy from God.  I shun him every time I have a selfish thought, every time I have a jealous impulse, every time my eyes linger on a provocative billboard, every time I speak a word that breaks down someone rather than edify them, every time I make myself and my cause the main thing. 

Yes, God has given me grace and mercy by the sacrificing of His own Son.  But I don't deserve it.  Everyday, I need to hold onto that grace and mercy with fear and trembling - and rejoice!

Scripture Thursday Participants

1. GPARTHA 2. vikki at Livin' the Life

3. carol 4. mel avila alarilla

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Radical Christianity

About six years ago, I was sitting with my then four-year old son watching TV.  On the screen they showed one of the recently captured terrorist.  His hair was ruffled, his eyes were puffy, and he looked like an overall wreck.  To me, he looked like he was breathing, so he looked like he was doing too well.  My four-year old on the other hand, he asks, "Do you think that man knows that God loves him?"

Wow.  I remember thinking back then how awesome it was that God can speak directly to your heart through your own child.  I'd like to say that I've been praying for terrorists for the past six years but that would be a lie.  My epiphany on loving my enemies lasted all of a day or two.

How can I love someone that would kill innocent women and children?  How can I love someone, that if I was ever in the wrong place, at the wrong time, they would kill me and my family because I'm an American or because I worship Jesus and not Allah?  How could God ask me to do that?

I guess maybe...because the cross is bigger than their sin...and without the cross...my sin is just as great.

I blogroll this site called, There's Something Deep Inside.  On it there's a post about this site called, Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer.  This brought back memories of when God spoke to me about loving my enemies through the innocent eyes of my son

Now this is radical Christianity.