daddy4ms

It’s that time of year when the spooky takes over. We, as Americans, like to be scared based on the number of haunted houses around. Or notice the number of movies or TV shows out now that seek to freak us out or get us to scream. Churches have responded to this phenomenon by offering alternatives such as Trunk or Treat, Harvest Festivals, and the popular Judgment House This post which was originally published at 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting in October 2016  is not a critique if you decide to attend a Judgment House. I attended a Judgment House while we lived in Colorado but have not attended one where I currently live in Kansas. They are scripted well, have talented actors and actresses, elaborate sets, and are backed with results. However, over the years, I have become more critical of them. Here are my thoughts: Fear should not be a motivation for salvation . Has the fear of hell forced a decision? Proponents of Judgment House will say look at all of these people w...

I am preparing to preach on May 29th on Nehemiah 9.  In this prayer, Nehemiah reminds us of who God is.  This reminded me that as humans we have many views of who God is.  Some of these views are shaped by what we were taught as children, others shaped by life and circumstances, and some by our favorite preacher, speaker, author. A.W. Tozier writes, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. And the second is what we think God thinks of us.” I plan to share various views of God in my introduction on May 29th.  I am asking my readers to share views of God they had or have heard described.  For example, the Genie God is the God you just ask for things and He gives them to you.  Please share in the comments views of God you have heard.  Thanks!

How does our theology of God affect how we pray?  You might think there is no connection, but Mark Batterson in The Circle Maker  believes there is.  I would agree with Batterson.  We really have a limited view of God and base prayer on our power not God's.  As I read four chapters of the book on Thursday, I found myself highlighting huge portions of the book.  Because of all the great thoughts, I encourage you to pick up the book and have your view of God and prayer expanded. Here are some quotes from Chapters 7-10: Yet many of us pray as if our problems are bigger than God . . .Our biggest problem is our small view of God. That is the cause of all lesser evils. And it's a high view of God that is the solution to all other problems. The size of prayers depend on the size of our God. And if God knows no limits, then neither should our prayers. We allow our circumstances to get between God and us instead of putting God between us and our circumstance...

I am reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan right now. It is a great book! It challenges your thinking about how you view God. Maybe we are not that excited about worship or serving because we have a narrow and small view of God? I have only read the first 3 chapters, but would definitely recommend it to you. Here are a few quotes to stimulate your thinking today: "The core problem isn't the fact that we're lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians. The crux of it all is why we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God." "Isn't it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?" "When I am consumed by my problems--stressed out about my life, my family, and my job-I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice (Philippians 4:4). In other words, that I have a "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities." ...