Labels

In today's local paper I read an article from the front page titled FDA Calling for Stricter Labeling of Sunscreens. Apparently the government has decided that there should be some "truth in labeling" requirements. All this is around the fact that there are two types of harmful ultraviolet light, UVA and UVB, which affect the skin differently. UVA rays cause the skin to tan and actually penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays, which cause the skin to burn. Well currently, the SPF ratings only measure protection against UVB rays. Big Deal, right?!

What jumped off the page to me had nothing to do with growing up as a fair-skinned-burn-at-the-thought-of-the-sun-redhead... I'm a pastor, a Christian at that, and so- cliche or not- there, of course, had to be a deeper meaning in the newspaper than the FDA and Sunblock! :^p

Think about this... what if, as the church, we have had this problem all along too? You know, Truth in Labeling issues... what if, as the church, we have been giving away a mislabeled product claiming to protect people from the harmful effects of the unseen powers of sin.

Stick with me here...

Too often our message is understood to be the "cure-all" and yet it only contains enough to cover the surface issues. We've protected the surface burn and become content justifying the good looking tan we come out with. Unfortunately, much like the UVA rays that leave the tan on the outside, uncovered -excused away- sin is left to attack deep within.

What am I getting at?

What if our label read "Our gospel has been proven 99.9% effective in positively adjusting a person's outward appearance while allowing sin to eat away and destroy the heart." Ouch!
When we leave out the power of the Full-Gospel message, lead and inspired by the Holy Spirit, that is exactly what we end up with... that would be "truth in labeling!"

God help us, as your church, to be filled with your truth. Require us to rise to your standards of love and forgiveness through Jesus your son to bring protection and freedom from the effects of sin deep within to the world around us in need.

Something Creative

My very first blog. (that's just the way to start so you'll all check back often!)
I have purposly titled this "Something Creative" so that even if it flops, at the very least, you'll have to say "It was something creative."

Ok, enough of that. I got a new book yesterday. Mavericks at Work. I'd like to say that I jumped right in and was blown away, but I cannot. Blasted ADD. Instead, when I sat down this morning to begin my productive day by reading something to stir personal growth I left the new book on the table and popped in a CD that was given to me by a friend that contained over 300 pages of a book he is writing on Christian Leadership.

So, ADD or divine providence? I'm going to go with the latter and finish this first entry with a few practical and thought provoking items I picked up...

• Faith Transformation: What's Different? When we come to God, by Faith in Christ, we become NEW. Now I know that this is not a novel idea to life-long Christians, but I do know, that in most instances, we struggle with living this New Nature.
• Heart Attitude: What am I feeling right at this moment? Interestingly enough, the message on Sunday, from Romans 13, was about developing an Attitude or Behavior of Love. It's living this Attitude of Love that accomplishes the goal of the Law of God.
• Listening: Set a reminder Alarm for every hour. Am I listening for Him? Simple? Yes, but am I really living with the thought of every moment listening for His direction?