a glimpse towards Sunday 10.18.13

Would God really put aspartame in His holy, ordained Testamints?  THAT should get you a thinkin’ on this awesome, Fall Friday!

How about this question…  Is all that Christian stuff bad?  You know what I’m referring to:  t-shirts, CD’s, coffee mugs, books, Bible covers, key chains, scripture wrapped mints, and anything with Jesus’ white, American, blue-eyed face plastered on it.  Is that stuff bad?  It continues to be debated in church world.

Some will tout the benefits of Christian supplies, and others will bemoan the cheesy-ness.  I’ve landed on a possible analysis tool to help sort through the fog.

IF a Christian “something” is a merely means for our improvement, this might be a red flag.  IF a Christian “something” engages our souls in ways we remember our brokenness and consequent need for Jesus… stick it on your car all day long!

In Mark 12:38-40, Jesus gave some serious attention to the stuff of religion.  Why?  Was it merely about Christian tees with plagiarized cultural icons?  I don’t think so.  Jesus’ vehement teaching was hours before His crucifixion.  There must be something here we’re supposed to sit up and get.

Could Jesus be pointing to a real dark side of our fallen-ness where we actually believe we only need improvement?  It’s a fairly common idea echoed with words like, “I’m a good person.  I just need a few tweaks.”  If we’re only looking for improvement, then some religious stuff will do.  However, motivations of improvement masked by long robes only hides the undeniable fact of our complete brokenness needing Jesus.

It comes down to this: Do you need improvement or desperately rescued?  How you answer this and what you pursue has huge ramifications for all of life.

I’m thinking this is going to be a huge Sunday to gather!  Katie Balch will unfold her non-religious 180 video.  My favorite band, Wire Method, will be leading worship.  And… I’m pumped to teach.  I hope you’ll come, and have the Kingdom boldness to bring a few folks with you.  In the end, we’ll point to Jesus.  It’s all we CAN do.

See you on Sunday… 9 & 11 a.m.

Blessings Ya’ll,

Weekly Giving | 10/13/13

$20,653.11

Weekly Need 29,000.00