How Can a Christian Effectively Moon Someone?

Ever been mooned? I was once. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant experience. Have you ever mooned anyone? No? If you’re a Christian you really need to learn how to moon. Actually the Bible requires it.

“Seriously, Stan,” you may ask, “the Bible requires a Christian to moon people?”

Yep.

“Scripture, please,” you demand.

The Grace Response

 “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

That familiar verse is Jeremiah 29:11 from the New American Standard Bible.

Many times you and I have quoted and claimed the promises from that verse. It speaks to our needs. We don’t want calamity. We do want a hopeful future. It affirms our faith in a personal God who does, in fact, have a purpose for each of us.

Some claim that verse has been lifted out of context. I disagree. Other verses and passages confirm God’s desire to give us a life of purpose and a hopeful future.

In fairness to those in the lifted-out-of-context crowd let’s take a look at that verse within the context of Jeremiah 29.

3 Ways to Make Your Days Count

There are obviously more than three ways to make our days count, but it’s easier to remember three ways than to remember thirty-three ways.

Consider this verse from Psalm 90.

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

“Number our days.” What does that mean? Is it simply counting the days we live here on planet earth, or is there a deeper meaning?

Called Up Called Out

Jeremy walked into the kitchen, stopped, and stood speechless.

“What’s wrong?” Karen inquired.

“It’s official. War has been declared. The Commander-in-Chief has order the mobilization of the military.” Jeremy responded.

Karen returned a blank stare.

“We both have been called up” announced Jeremy.

“But we’re in the reserves” pleaded Karen.

Dad, What Does Ante Up Mean?

Bob noticed his son Jimmy had suddenly stopped eating his lunch. Hot dogs and Tater Tots were Jimmy’s favorite Sunday lunch, so Bob was surprised when Jimmy put his fork down.

“Something wrong, son?”

“Nope. Well, maybe.”

“What’s on your mind?”

“Dad, what does ante up mean?”

“Ante up?”

“Yeah, when they passed the offering plate in church today, you whispered ‘time to ante up.’ What does that mean?”

Mary gave Bob that look. Bob knew he was in trouble.

“I was just making a little joke. Ante up means paying someone what you owe them.”

“Do we owe God money?”

How would you answer Jimmy? Do we owe God money? Is that what offering is? A debt to God? Are Christians obligated to give, and, if so, is there a required amount?

I Just Want to Beat the Snot Out of Him

Jack wearily ambled into his house and received that familiar greeting.

“Hi, dear. How was your day?”

He plopped himself onto the couch, loosened his tie, and composed an answer.

“It was just another regular day of listening to Dennis rant and rave. Once again he changed the priorities on the projects I’m working on. That sorry son…”

“Jack!”

“That jerk is the poorest excuse for a manager. My priorities change daily. I can’t get anything done. Then as I was leaving he asked me to give him an update Monday morning. Seriously, I just want to beat the snot out of him.”

Been there? You have someone in your life right now that you’d like to beat the snot out of? Yes? Good. Read on.

Mask On Mask Off

I’m a fraud. I’ve been conning my readers. I’ve been deceiving myself.

I’m a fake. But I didn’t intend to be.

I wrote a blog series called True Discipleship. I emphasized the need for Christians to be true followers of Jesus. I criticized the church for making discipleship optional.

Surely after writing all those posts one might think I took to heart my own words. One might think I began to change the way I lived my life. One might think I actually was on the way to becoming a True Disciple.

The one who might think those thoughts would be wrong.

There is one key ingredient in the recipe for true discipleship. There are no substitutions. Without it there is no recipe. You can’t make an omelet without eggs. You can’t make bean soup without beans.

What is that one item that makes or breaks the discipleship recipe?

Are We Digging Deep Enough?

 Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

What happens when our Bible study gathers? Is there a concerted effort to learn and understand the real meaning of verses and passages?

Or do we just share our opinions?

How would your group determine the meaning of the word ‘love’ in this verse?

“But I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 (New American Standard Bible)

Do we go around the circle and tell each other what we think it means? If two or more disagree on the meaning then what? Do we agree to disagree? Do we try to come to a mutually accepted meaning?

What if our opinions are wrong?

Personal Responsibility

 Photo credit: pixabay.com

As he entered Panera Bread I noticed he had a slight limp. He was probably 80 years old. Maybe 85. I imagined him being a Korea War veteran. It was easy to see him as having owned an auto parts store or perhaps he had been a supervisor in a factory.

I had no idea who he was, but for some unknown reason he looked trustworthy. I’m sure he lived his life being personally responsible for everything he did.

Where does personal responsibility come from? A quick answer would be one generation passes it on to the next. But where did it originate?

What Is Your Fire?

 Photo credit: pixabay.com

“Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something. Find it and keep it lit.” Mary Lou Retton

A small crackling fire in a fireplace at a Bible study. A campfire on the beach with friends. A roaring celebratory bonfire. A building engulfed in flames.

One kind of fire has many uses. It can warm our homes. It can destroy a forest. It can set a cozy mood. It can end lives.

Another kind has different uses. It can consume our thoughts. It can motivate us to action. Everyone has that kind of fire living deep inside them. It’s that one cause that keeps knocking at the door of your heart. Do you hear it?