Late night Sunday thoughts

One thing I love is to get into good discussions, not the kind where we all agree, but the kind where we can really challenge each other as Christians and come out closer to each other and stronger in our faith. One particular subject that I think is just such fodder I have taken from church today. It has to do with Satan taking what God had planned for good and twisting it in our minds as bad or at least not good or even just not of God anymore. We talked about global warming. Through the whole right wing left wing set up of politics it isn't a conservative Christian's responsibility to consider the earth's health in our dealings. Wasn't it though God's ordained human responsibility? Adam was put in charge of the earth from the very beginning. It is so easy to be swayed be culture as to what our responsibilities as Christians are. I am so thankful that we have God's Word to go back to too remind ourselves of what our true purpose is for and how we are to live our lives. Politics, Hollywood, or any other cultural influence is not to dictate our role in this world. Dan had a good point that even a good farmer knows the necessity of caring for the earth, rotating fields even crops and rebuilding soil to continue being able to reap a harvest.

Another thing that comes to mind is phrases. An example is the term, "The audacity of hope." Barack Obama took it from his pastor and now it is a some what culturally tainted phrase never mind that the concept its self is worth its wait in gold. For in deed hope and faith alike take a great audacity. Wickepedia defines audacity as fearless, intrepid (fearless, bold, brave) daring. Faith is a belief and trust. The Christian hope however is very different from the world and that much more audacious. My hope isn't just a willy nilly bet like at a poker table. I don't hope I'm right knowing there is a chance I could lose. My hope is a firm belief that in what my faith is rested in is very real and not role of the dice. God the Father chose to love me despite my unworthiness, He chose to send His Son, His Son chose to come, He chose to die for me. I'm not betting this is true, I'm resting in it. "For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son that whom so ever believeth in Him will have eternal life. He did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him." John 3:16-17

If we are to paint audacity in a bad light, then how about the audacity to think we will ever be good enough to go to Heaven? Indeed that is a foolish audacity, a false belief. Ephesians 2:8-9, "8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. " How great is that because I know when I try the hardest to be good is usually when I fall the hardest. I know the stupid stuff I do so I am thankful eternity is not dependent upon me except to simply accept that it in fact is dependent upon the cross.