Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Life's Better With...
So, early this morning I was buzzing over to St. Louis Bread Co. to meet a friend of mine for a cup of coffee. I got stopped at a traffic light which gave me an opportunity to find out how my life could be better.
In front of me at the light was this mini-van with a "nice" slogan of stickers on the rear view window. It read: "Life's better with bearded collies." Ya, you read that right. If you want your life to be better you need bearded collies!
I'm not saying they aren't a nice looking dog, but do they really make your life better? Do they improve the quality of life so much that one can't help but put stickers on the back of his/her car to announce it to the world?
I mean, you've really got to believe in something to advertise it on the back of your car. Personally, I love Jesus more than anything, but I'm still not the kind of person to put bumper stickers of the back of the Suzuki. How impactful have the bearded collies been on this person's life that he would try to influence us to get a bearded collie for ourselves?
The driver believes the bearded collies have helped his life so much, that he is announcing to you and to me that we too need to take advantage of this opportunity to have a better life. We too need (sound the trumpets)...bearded collies!
Okay, at the risk of being a little too simple and not making a nice long theological argument, I'm going to type it anyway. Are you ready for this? I know you aren't reading a bumper sticker right now, but this is still HUGE. Life's better with Jesus. Ya, you read that right. If you want your life to be better you need Jesus. :)
How 'bout that? And, you didn't even have to get stopped at a red light.
Peace
In front of me at the light was this mini-van with a "nice" slogan of stickers on the rear view window. It read: "Life's better with bearded collies." Ya, you read that right. If you want your life to be better you need bearded collies!
I'm not saying they aren't a nice looking dog, but do they really make your life better? Do they improve the quality of life so much that one can't help but put stickers on the back of his/her car to announce it to the world?
I mean, you've really got to believe in something to advertise it on the back of your car. Personally, I love Jesus more than anything, but I'm still not the kind of person to put bumper stickers of the back of the Suzuki. How impactful have the bearded collies been on this person's life that he would try to influence us to get a bearded collie for ourselves?
The driver believes the bearded collies have helped his life so much, that he is announcing to you and to me that we too need to take advantage of this opportunity to have a better life. We too need (sound the trumpets)...bearded collies!
Okay, at the risk of being a little too simple and not making a nice long theological argument, I'm going to type it anyway. Are you ready for this? I know you aren't reading a bumper sticker right now, but this is still HUGE. Life's better with Jesus. Ya, you read that right. If you want your life to be better you need Jesus. :)
How 'bout that? And, you didn't even have to get stopped at a red light.
Peace
Labels: Brad, Chapel, Collies, Faith, Jesus, Pastor, Riley
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A Simple Phone Call
I received a phone call about 15 minutes ago from a friend.ﾠ He and his family are facing some challenges right now.ﾠ His work industry is going through major changes and, of course, as trickle- down economics works, it is affecting him and his family.ﾠ Financial changes.ﾠ Job changes.ﾠ Lifestyle changes and other changes that don't need to be mentioned.ﾠ Needless to say, they are going through aﾠdifficult season.
You might be thinking, "Okay, Pastor Brad, you are using your blog to talk about another Christian's challenges.ﾠ We all go through challenges."ﾠ You're right--that is the point exactly.
We all go through challenges, and yet, in the middle of his challenge he called to check on me.ﾠ He called to let me know that I had been on his mind lately.ﾠ He called to let me know that he is praying for me!ﾠ Wow!ﾠ In the middle of his stress--he called me.
Have you ever read 1 Peter 5:9?ﾠ It states, "...Stand firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."ﾠ NIVﾠ The apostle was reminding the Christians, who were scattered all over the Middle East, that even though they felt like they were isolated and alone, they were not.ﾠ They were in individual challenges, but because they shared them in common they could face them together.ﾠﾠ
Do you need to be reminded of that today?ﾠ If you do, then, I hope the simple phone call I received is an encouragement to you.ﾠ We all face challenges.ﾠ We all face struggles.ﾠ We are not alone.ﾠ We have the presence of Christ with us and we have the promise that our brothers and sisters are undergoing the same challenges.ﾠ Let's stand strong with one another to get through them.
And, maybe all of us could follow my friend's example.ﾠ We, too, could learn to make aﾠsimple phone call to someone else weﾠknow who could really use a moment of our time.ﾠ We could lay our situation aside for a moment and let someone else know they are loved; that they are going to make it.
Go ahead and take the chance.ﾠ Your simple phone call could change someone's day, hey, maybe even their life. :)
Peace
Labels: Brad, calls, Chapel, Faith, friends, God, Pastor, phone, Riley
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