Paul and Death Row Converts

Yesterday in church someone mentioned something about how we become outraged when people who have done awful things become Christians because we don't think they deserve Heaven. In this case we were speaking about Death Row Converts. Men( or sometimes women) that have done terrible thing such as killing multiple people, or even hundreds. Let's think back to biblical times though. Can anyone think of someone similar to these men? (Hint: i already told you in the title) very good it's Paul! Haha Before his conversion on the road to Damscus Paul was Saul. Saul killed many many Christians just because they were Christians, but then after his conversion he went on to bring many to Christ and write most of the new testament. Why do we love and study Paul and follow the things he teaches, but we become upset and angry when people today that do awful things get to go to Heaven? It's hypocritical of us I think. Everyone deserves grace and receives it from Christ. Even if you do become upset it doesn't matter because our God still has compassion on them. Being upset doesn't change the fact that they will go to Heaven. Maybe , though, just maybe we should try to be like Christ(Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live of a life of love, just as Christ loved us...-Ephesians 5:1) and have compassion on those on death row, on terrorists, on the person at work or school that isn't very nice, on everyone. We are called to be like Christ and see the world through His eyes. Let's see if we can really do it. When you have trouble just think about Paul and how he became someone worth watching in the world of Christianity.

Psalm 18:16-24

But me he caught—reached all the way from sky to sea; he pulled me out of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning. They hit me when I was down,but God stuck by me. He stood me up on a wide-open field;I stood there saved—surprised to be loved! God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I'm alert to God's ways; I don't take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.
-Psalm 18:16-24 (The Message)

I just want you to think about that. Today I won't give you all the wonderful things I feel about it. I just want you to meditate on it.

PS: This is also found when David said it before in 2 Samuel 22...if you were wondering.

How we are like Israel

hello world. I have been reading the book of Amos lately. One of those little books in the old testament that tend to get over looked because everyone loves the new testament so much. Well lately I have been feeling pulled towards to OT trying to up my Bible knowledge, but anyways....so like I said I've been reading Amos. Amos is a pretty awesome dude. He isn't like the other prophets that go around prophesying and come from like cool backgrounds and stuff he is a just a guy. Kind of like David before he did this whole prophet thing he was a shepherd. So Amos is like tending his sheep and all and then he gets this crazy message from God to give to Israel so he heads north to deliver this message. Now don't take my word on all of this cause I'm no bible scholar so defintely get out your Bible and read Amos for yourself. Basically God's message is that he is straight up fed up with Israel and their sinning. The time has come for punishment. He goes on to talk about all the 'smaller' things He has done to get their attention and they still haven't turned back to Him. These smaller things are definitley not small though we are talking lack of food, lack of water, PLAGUES. Serious business but these people have not turned back to Him. Okay so you are probably wondering why the title says we are like Israel. Today I studed Amos 5...and starting in verse 21 through the end God talks about he despises their worship. Isn't that crazy that He would despies their worship? Well here is the thing. Their worship was EMPTY. They didn't have real love for Him. Their words and actions didn't line up. They would give sacrifices and say they loved Him and say He was their friend but they didn;t live it out. The continued to mistreat eachother and disrespect God. I feel like all of us in the world today have that problem. We say we love Him but we love things of this world and sin more. We say we love Him but we continue to sin and hope the worship evens it all out and keeps us in his good graces. I think a lot of us today need to turn back to God and stop having empty worship. We need to quit loving the things of this world and start loving God and loving others.

I hope this made a little bit of sense. Maybe..idk..it made sense in my head.

Crazy Love

I just started reading this wonderful book by pastor, Francis Chan. I haven't even finished the first chapter but I am alreadt falling in love with this book. Chan has the kind of view of God I enjoy. He doesn't just see Him as God. He sees Him as a lover, friend, creator, protector, and as everything. I highly recommend the book, and watching the online videos mentioned in the book. Want to know more before you go out and buy check it out at http://www.crazylovebook.com/