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Redgirl75 said in What's Your Someday?Central Online Campus
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Apr 2nd, 2009Megaphone
I don't think that I'm alone when I express my frustration and outrage when I see a particular sect of a "religious" group who are often seen boycotting funerals of American soldiers, denominational conventions, or anything that pertains to the American government. I'm sure that most of you have seen this group. They have their men, women and children holding up picket-signs with degrading images and messages of hate and condemnation. The spokespeople of this group claim to be the mouthpeice of God, and their insensitive, rude, and offensive demonstrations are (in their eyes) the faithful duties of Christian believers.
I consider myself a believer and follower of Jesus, and I get very troubled when I see these types of protests and demonstrations of hate done in the name of God. Their motives and actions seem to in no way align with what I see to be the central theme of the Christian life--the gospel of grace. I would think that people who are "speaking" on behalf of God would sound an awful lot like what God has already said in the Bible.
I understand the Bible to show that all our condemnation and punishment for sin was absorbed by Jesus on the cross. The Bible seems to indicate time and time again that God, who was rich in mercy toward undeserving sinners, so loved us that he sent Jesus to stand in our place and to take our punishment on his own shoulders. Jesus willing lived the perfect life of righteous obedience that we were incapable of living, and was executed on a cross as our substitute so that we wouldn't have to endure the punishment for sin that we deserved.
The good news of what God has done for us in Jesus to rescue and redeem and renew us is called "the gospel." And the Bible tells us that the gospel is a gospel of grace. The good news of the gospel is that it doesn't matter who you are, or where you've been, or what you've done, Jesus can make you new. This message of forgiveness and reconciliation is offered freely to all who would receive it. It is called a message of grace because this good news is not based on whether or not you can earn it or whether or not you deserve it--it is based on the sheer kindness and mercy and love of God.
These hateful protestors have either drastically misunderstood this message, or have chosen to ignore it altogether. I don't want to say too much to condemn this group because then I would be guilty of the same kind of hypocrisy that I see in them--they will have to answer to God for their actions, not to me. But I do want to overpower their skewed message of condemnation with the clear gospel message of grace. All of us have failed to live perfectly. All of us are overly-selfish. None of us are as kind and loving as we ought to be. If we got what we deserved, then none of us would enjoy a happy ending. But the good news of God's great love is that he has offered to save and forgive us of our sins if we would look to Jesus and embrace him as our Savior. The gospel is the good news of grace. It is not earned. It is not for the deserving. In fact, it is only for the undeserving.
So, I for one would like to be a champion for grace, not hateful condemnation. (After all, I am one of the countless underserving who has been radically transformed by the unspeakable love and mercy and grace of God in what Jesus has done for me.) Therefore, let's live this week as though we were a megaphone for the grace of God--not the hateful condemnation of men.
Blessings,
Danny
Mar 21st, 2009What Matters?
Hello Central family...and guests. My name is Danny Dyer and I'm honored to contribute as the guest bogger for the Online Campus. I am one of many who have experienced uncensored grace from the people and ministries of Central Christian Church.
Let me begin my first blog entry with a confession. It has been very hard to concentrate at my job this week as I am an avid college basketball fan, and this week was the beginning of March Madness--the national championship tournament. I've filled out my bracket predictions on who I think will win and who will lose. I've read articles on ESPN.com. I've listened to sports experts on the tv trying to get some helpful inside-information. I've done all this preliminary work in order to prepare for my March Madness experience.
Why do I do this? Now, before you judge me, I'm fairly certain that I'm not the only person in the world who goes to all this kind of trouble to prepare for their favorite sporting event of the year. At least I don't take my shirt off and paint my face! (No offense to all the shirtless, face-painters out there.) So why do I go through all the trouble? A lot of my time, energy, and thoughts are consumed by this very enjoyable event in sports. But why?
The answer could be simply because I enjoy watching college basketball, and this tournament is always the most exciting basketball to watch. Okay, fine. Some people enjoy golf; some people enjoy reading novels; some people enjoy shopping...and others enjoy watching college basketball. "To each his own," I guess.
But there is a nagging thought that has stuck with me this week. I keep hearing the question in my mind, "What are you doing now that will actually matter in a hundred years?...a thousand years?" March Madness is fun, but I can't really see how it will matter all that much in a hundred years--much less, a thousand years.
Jesus--though he was the Son of God--came to earth and lived a humble, compassionate life. He came teaching us about God his Father. He came doing miracles, healing people who were sick and declaring the good news about the kingdom of God. The Bible records Jesus saying of himself "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransome for many." (Mark 10:45) Well, I for one claim to be a follower of Jesus. That means that as one of his disciples, I ought to be patterning my life after the example that he gave me. Jesus lived his life not primarily to be served, but serve others. Can the same be said for me? Do I live in order to put the needs/cares/concerns of others ahead of myself?
Though Jesus walked the earth nearly 2000 years ago, the ripple-effect of his life is still impacting the entire world even today. So, this is what I have been thinking about this week. What am I doing personally that not only matters now, but will have a continuing impact long after I'm gone? There is nothing wrong with enjoying March Madness--I plan on doing plenty of that this weekend. But I hope that the majority of my life (my time, my energy, my resources) is spent on things that really matter. I want my life to resemble the life of my blessed Savior Jesus. He spent his life serving and sacrificing himself for me, so maybe I can follow in his footsteps and do likewise.
God bless you all, and I hope that you decide to join me in making sure that our lives are counting for the eternal good of the world we live in.
Mar 9th, 2009Top 10
I've been asking just about everyone lately what their Top 10 Movie list would be. And honestly ... I have been quite shocked! I've also learned tons about people through this little conversation. So I thought I would pose this question to my Online Campus friends. I’ll go first. I’m sure there are other favorite movies if I sat down and thought about it. But in no particular order, straight from Facebook, my top 10 movies are: 1. Pride and Prejudice: I don’t think that is any surprise to you if you have been around here very long. It is the best story ever written … ever. 2. Juno: Amazingly good movie with a positive spin on adoption. I thought the writing was fantastic. Since I used to minister to Teen Moms, this movie is one of my tops. 3. About a Boy: I love British humor … and I love Hugh Grant. This is a quirky movie about community, and I love it! 4. The Matrix: The first time I saw the Matrix I was in awe. Jud and I quickly grabbed some friends and drug them with us the next night. My friend said the movie made her feel closer to Jesus. While I don’t know about that, the spiritual aspects of the movie were interesting. 5. Gladiator: Every time I see that scene in the middle where Maximus reveals himself to that awful Caesar guy, I get chills. Plus, Russell Crowe is quite amazing in that role! 6. Pride and Prejudice (the A&E Colin Firth edition): This was the first Pride and Prejudice movie I ever fell in love with. No one will ever replace Colin Firth as the perfect Mr Darcy. When we lived in California, I used to “watch” this while I cleaned my house every other week. It was the perfect length. I always finished just in time to sit and watch the very end. So, figure out twice a month over two years, plus the numerous other times I’ve watched it, and you get the idea of how much I love this story. 7. Hairspray: This seems like a silly movie to put in my list, but I love everything about it. The story … great. The music … great. The dancing … great. I love a good musical! 8. Lord of the Rings- Fellowship of the Ring: Jud and I have watched this on Christmas Day for years. It is so good. And amazingly creative. The film making is astounding. And who doesn’t love a hobbit?! 9. Braveheart: “Freedom!!” So, so good. It always makes me think of what it must have been like when David was on the battlefield. Bloody? Yes. Violent? Yes. Totally awesome? Yes. 10. Slumdog Millionaire: This certainly wouldn’t be 10th on my list if these were in order, it is just my newest addition. I’m sure you remember how much I love this movie. If you haven’t seen it, and it is still at your theater … you must go … right away! Enough said. So what are your top 10 movies of all time? If you can’t come up with 10 … what are your top 5? Also, please go ahead and make fun of the movies that you think shouldn’t be on my list, because I’m bound to say something later myself. 
Mar 3rd, 2009What's Your Someday?
Someday I’d like to be a little bit of a photographer. I just want to take pictures of kids for their moms. It is that simple. Someday I’d like to take some college level Bible class. I didn’t go to Bible college and wish I knew so much more. Someday I’d like to start painting again.
What’s keeping me from it? Our kids are so small, and we are so busy. I literally can’t imagine adding one more thing to the mix. But maybe someday …
What’s your “someday”? And what is keeping your from it?
Lori
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