Anyone who has seen the movie, the Matrix , automatically brings to mind this little man. For so long I was taught that I was the keymaker. I held the keys that would let people into heaven. If I didn’t give them their key, they’d go to hell. God, Jesus, and Heaven needed me. Get those tracts out, make those home visitations each Tuesday, and query every person you meet on whether or not they know where they’ll be when they die. I felt like I was being picked on and humiliated because, none of my keys worked! And all of that conjured up the question, what is salvation anyway? Continue reading ‘I Am Not The Keymaker!’
Monthly Archive for January, 2007
Somewhere around 55 I started wearing reading glasses. I could see well enough in good light. I bought those cheapie ones for $10 bucks or so that had a 125-150 magnification. At 63, I’m now buying the cheapies but the price has increased to $15 and I’m more comfortable with 200 (2x) magnification.
But, something more important happened at age 61. Being a pastor means that I have to be cautious about what I say and believe. It’s not just about ME, but about OTHERS. But leaders are to do that- LEAD! Who follows must be left up to what destiny has planned. So, two years ago I decided I needed to leave the safety of the known, the city, and venture out into the wilderness where my heart was calling me. Continue reading ‘A New Prescription!’
I grew up being taught what was RIGHT. I guess I was too young to ask “according to who“? Of course since I was being taught by older and wiser men and women, who was I to question. Besides, I was told early on that to QUESTION was the first sign that you might lose your salvation. Yikes!
All I needed to do was follow, practice, and teach others what I was taught and all would be well with my soul. God loves an obedient servant who’ll walk in faith and follow the Word! Continue reading ‘A Rational Religion?’
I just posted an article on MyJesusMyGod that’s similiar to what I’m about to write here so when you’re done here- go there. 
After I wrote that brief commentary. I had this related thought that I want to share here and it is basically that we have too many people living in the past- wanting the “good old days“. I hear people talking about being the church in Acts, etc. Nostalgia is not where I’m going and neither do I think it’s in God’s heart. Continue reading ‘NOW Is Better Than Then!’
I’ve been all over the place in my thinking about God. I guess one could logically expect that. He’s infinite and we’re finite- so why not? God’s out there somewhere hiding behind a huge star. God’s done His work here on earth and He’s done with us. I am God. God help! Continue reading ‘From No-where To Now-here’
Most of the time the verbage (often times garbage) that you hear is that someone is on the “highway to hell“. How often do you hear that we’re on the highway to heaven? That’s what I think about ALL of us. Do I believe in hell? HELL NO! Do I believe in divine judgment? HELL YES! Let me explain the distinction, difference which is great. Continue reading ‘Stay On The Journey!’
Life used to be so simple. I knew where I was going and I was so darned sure that I’d get there. The ego does a lot of trash talking. Of course I was young then and I didn’t need to rely upon common sense. Jesus was truly my co-pilot! I was sitting in the left hand seat baby. Continue reading ‘The Quest For What?’
I grew up being “told” that it was okay to not have all the answers. It was a show of humility to say “I don’t know“. It all sounded so full of humility. Just one problem! I never heard anyone say they didn’t know! And not only did they not, NOT KNOW, they were the only ones with the right answers. So is the home church the solution? Continue reading ‘Google Me Up Pastor Scottie!’
In the past two years I have voiced many things that I know to be true, but without words to explain the truth. That’s a very dangerous thing to do in the religious environment within where we live today. My only salvation (no pun intended) was a loving body, a loyal eldership, and an apostle who stood with me to hold me up.
One of those things which I released from my digital pen was the tongue-in-cheek statement that God was a sympathetic universalist so how could I not be? Hey, it’s right there in II Peter 3:9 and I Tim. 2:4. But let me elaborate a little more. Continue reading ‘A Sympathetic Universalist?’
Who’s Afraid Of Me?
The short and really important answer is I am! Well, I have been (past tense there), I was. And most of us are afraid of who we are or might be underneath the mask we’re wearing. The charades that we play so well are hard to separate from the real deal. And then of course, I was taught that I couldn’t trust my emotions. The heart was wicked and deceitful above all. Don ‘t go there. Trust your mind and the theological beliefs of your church and all will be well. BS! Continue reading ‘Who’s Afraid Of Me?’