tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35385872024-03-07T19:25:10.914-05:00[praxis]['prak-s&s] <i>n</i>: exercise or practice of an art, science, or skilljohn o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1143150162404308232006-03-23T16:42:00.000-05:002006-03-23T16:50:37.046-05:00audio test<div class="audblog"><a href="http://www.audioblogger.com/media/109933/330968.mp3" class="audLink"><img src="http://www.audioblogger.com/media/images/audioblogger.gif" class="audImg"border="0" alt="this is an audio post - click to play" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1133956866726581302005-12-07T06:49:00.000-05:002006-01-20T23:58:56.336-05:00Naivity SceneIf my life was on display this Christmas, I'm sure some would call it a naievity play. I've swung from one form of naiveity to another, gradually learning to keep my eyes and ears open for what could be true.<br /><blockquote>Paul writes:<br />Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.<br />1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:16-24&version=65">The Message</a></blockquote><br />My first take on these words was to throw out everything in my record collection that wasn't obviously God-focused. Over time I started learning to hear the wisdom of the Spirit in the voices I'd previously rejected. I've learned that evil can sometimes be found within as much as without. I've learned that suppression and stifling can be done in the name of purity.<br /><br />So with that in mind, I'm keeping an open mind this Christmas about what God is doing in my community, in and beyond the Christian community.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1132690755316154232005-11-22T15:17:00.000-05:002005-11-22T15:19:15.326-05:00WE NEED YOUWE ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO JOIN THIS LITTLE ADVENTURE IN POSTING AND HELP POST A DAILY STUDY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED EMAIL ME [JOHN O'KEEFE - JOHN@CONNECTIONCHURCH.COM] AND YOUR VOICE WILL BE ADDED HERE :)<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1131978334080964802005-11-14T09:16:00.000-05:002005-11-14T09:25:36.420-05:00moving in next doorwho lives in your neighborhood? who lives next door? now, i am not talking about "do you know the people next door" thing, because to be honest that is getting rather thin - what i am talking about is knowing your community, and knowing who lives in your community. do you know the baker, and do they call you by your first name? do you know the gas station person, and do they call you by your first name? this week, when the trash people come by and pick up your garbage do you know them, and do they know you? will you offer them something to drink?<br /> <br />i love the way the messahe puts the words of john when it says: <blockquote>"The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.[john 1:14 - the message]</blockquote> it may sound silly, but we need to treat those who live in community with us as if they were "the word" - living among us. we need to treat people as if they are close personal friends, because we need to make people just that - close, personal friends.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1131712008294419542005-11-11T07:24:00.000-05:002005-11-11T07:27:17.803-05:00working in us:when nGod is working in us, and when we are allowing God to work in us - we get to feel:<blockquote>"The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you." [2 corinthians 13:13-15 the message]</blockquote>we need to keep the grace, love and friendship ideas in our hearts today - and express them to others - live the faith, not just talk about the faith.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1131600050917811472005-11-10T00:09:00.000-05:002006-02-07T13:36:38.163-05:00murder?ever read scripture and ignore it? i have. for years i did not care for those things that caused me to change my life. here is one of them:<br /><blockquote>"Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don't go together. [1 john 3:15]</blockquote>this one gets to me, because for years i hated people - come on, admit it, we all did - but that can change. when i realized that my hating someone was so wrong that it caused me to murder another - wow - that changed my life. today, think about those you hate and ask yourself if it is worth it all.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1131514438276145842005-11-09T00:24:00.000-05:002005-11-09T00:33:58.286-05:00satisfactionhow much do you need? i love watching those "get rich with __________"...real estate, ads, internet, or anything else you want to place in "the blank." how mcuh do you need? and,i might add, at what cost? your health, your family, your marriage, your relationships, your future? what is the cost you are willing to pay? in his first letter to timothy, paul puts it out - <br /><blockquote>"after all, you did not bring anything into this world with you, and we will not take anything with us when we die. so, if we have enough food and cloths let us be content." [1 timothy 6:7-8]</blockquote>what is enough? how much do you need? take today and spend some time thinking about what running for the dollar is moving you away from.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1131432189860242592005-11-08T01:14:00.000-05:002005-11-08T01:43:09.873-05:00what is your intention?today, as you start your morning, think about this: what is your intention today? what is driving your motives? what is driving your walk? the idea that we live each day with a heart on our intentions is never seen with our faith. today, that the words of paul and walk in another direction, and live intentionaly for christ:<br /><br /><blockquote>One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. 18They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They're only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren't above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents. [Romans 16:17-19 (The Message)]</blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1131343479502743102005-11-07T00:59:00.000-05:002005-11-07T01:04:39.513-05:00poor?does money matter? someone once said, "it does if you don't have any." well, i don't have any and i am not sure it matters much. money is not the answer to anything. some of the happiest people iknow have very little. in fact, they could place all they own in a small bag and carry it over one shoulder.<br /> <br />here is a test to see if you place money over your relationship with God - give it all away. if you have, give till you have nothing - this is the only real way of knowing if money rules your life. if you are not willing to give it all away, then it controls your life.<br /><br />jesus said, "If you want to give it all you've got," Jesus replied, "go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me." [in mathew] - sould like something you are willing to do?<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1131118645115097312005-11-04T10:32:00.000-05:002005-11-04T10:37:25.126-05:00a confessioni have not been very good at keeping up with this - and i have no excuses for not getting on the stick. all i can say is that i will start to post in the evenings, so it will be here for those in the morning :) i think this will be easier and allow me to be "regular" in posting - so, i will post this evening - God bless<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1130514477968770382005-10-28T11:22:00.000-04:002005-10-28T11:47:57.990-04:00standing in peace.i will have to admit, i tend to get angry at times. when certian things happen, i get frustrated and in turn, angry. while i strive not to "slander" of insult others, i do hold my ground and stand fast. i have been on the edge of calling people names, or attacking them on a personal level - but i know that will solve nothing - all it does is give the other party the right to pull out of the conversation. i have been on the attacked end, and truly felt the pains of "slander" - in his only recorded letter, jude [who is a "half-brother" to jesus and a brother of james] wrote, when dealing with personal attacks:<br /><blockquote>"The Archangel Michael, who went to the mat with the Devil as they fought over the body of Moses, wouldn't have dared level him with a blasphemous curse, but said simply, "No you don't. God will take care of you!"</blockquote> michael was willing to go to the mat for a person who followed God, but he was not going to lower himself to a personal attack. the idea is that we can stand-up for each other, but we can not attack those who attack others - at best, and this truly is the best, we can say, "God will deal with this issue" and let it rest.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1130336355097131592005-10-26T10:08:00.000-04:002005-10-26T10:19:15.103-04:00the fine linei have to admit, there is a fine line between confronting a person who is not doing right with God and judging a person for falling. it is a very fine line, but one we still need to stand on; but never cross. here is an example:<br /><br />you know a friend is doing wrong - stealing, cheating, hurting someone, or other wrong as you know - what do you do? confront? but that seems so judgemental. let go? but then you are approving of the acts - so, what is one to do? <br /><br />i think timothy had the same issue, because paul gives some very good advise. paul, in his first letter to timothy writes:<br /><blockquote>"if anyone falls into sin, call that person on the carpet. those who are inclined that way will know right off they can't get by with it. [1 timothy 5:20]"</blockquote> now, that does not mean "jump on the person" and "condem" them for what they have done. because, if you read what leads up to that you will know that paul spoke in love and that the "calling on the carpet" is not based on judgement, but love. so, we are to treat everyone like a brother and sister, and support them through the hurts of their lives and be ready to pick people up, and not kick them while they are down.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1130250169568643742005-10-25T10:13:00.000-04:002005-10-25T10:22:49.573-04:00sharing christi have always felt it important to share my understanding of jesus with others. the method used by me is not that used by many - i strive to live my faith and speak it openly with others. i do not hide my faith, nor do i "pocket" my faith in certian situations - i strive to live in chirst 24/7. this has given me the undestanding that God wants everyone to be in relationship with him - everyone.<br /><br />as paul brings out in his first letter to timothy, "he wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we learned: ..." [1 timothy 2:4 - the message] today, think about how you live your faith. can people look at you and know you are different - not in dress, but in heart? can people see in you a difference from the world? are you striving to let everyone know, in words and actions, the message that changed your life? think about it, this could be the point of change :)<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1129213037368592432005-10-13T10:05:00.000-04:002005-10-13T10:17:17.373-04:00the "fallen" excusei am amazed at the number of evangelicals that claim to follow christ, and then hurt someone so bad that the other person leaves the church, and the "excuse" of the one doing the hurting is "well, we live in a fallen world." - to me, that is the greatest of "christian cop outs." in john's first letter he writes:<br /><blockquote>Every God-begotten person conquers the world's ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. [1 john 5:4]</blockquote>our faith brings change, but that change first starts with people - changed people - people who overcome the "fallen" line and simply love others. i think, and this is my personal view, that people do not love because they do not know God - they know the church, they know the bible, they know religion, but they do not know God and they do not follow christ. in my mind, the time for excuses is over, and the time to love is now. when we love others, we transend this world, and we get closer to God - but to love others means we need to go beyond oursleves, and into the lives of others. we need to get out of our houses and start to go into the houses of others. how can you love? what will be the guide to love this day?<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1128942600646692332005-10-10T07:03:00.000-04:002005-10-10T07:10:00.653-04:00is "love" a big deal?the simple answer, "yes." the more complexe answer. "yes." you see, loving someone is easy - the hard part is convincing your self that we have to love others.<br /><br />God teaches us that loving others is not an option, not a "pick and choose" - it is how we are to live, how we are to relate to others - because the reality is, if we are not loving, we are not of God:<br /><blockquote>"My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love--so you can't know him if you don't love." [1 john 4:7-8 - the message]</blockquote><br />notice i did not say "people would not know we are christians" - i said, "we are not of God." loving others is a test to see if we belong to the God of love - for me? today i will try very hard to show my love for others.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1128700103618494722005-10-07T11:38:00.000-04:002005-10-07T11:48:23.623-04:00actions speak volumeswhen i was a child my father once told me to "do as he said, not as he did" - needless to say i was very confused. over time, it got me thinking that many in the church have the same idea, "do as we say, not as we do." because, wheile many speak of love, few show it; while many speak of caring, few do it; while many talk about frogiveness, few do it; and the list is endless. many call this "the fallen world" reality, but i just can't buy that pitch. you see, when we are in christ we desire strongly to "do" and not talk about out faith - we realize that being in faith is actually a verb, and action call. john knew this when he wrote:<br /><blockquote>"My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. 19This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. 20It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves." [1 john 3:18-20 - the message]</blockquote><br />the idea is that we express love everyday, not just when it works for us. if we live in love, we show the world we live in christ. the key is to pick a time to just say, "from this point foward i desire to show love to all people" and then do it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1128599704785029532005-10-06T07:47:00.000-04:002005-10-06T07:55:04.793-04:00what is the wattage of your light?i would like to "back-track" a bit for a second. how bright is your light? how bright does your light shine? sometimes mine is very bright, but is i am honest i give off a faint glow - we are called to be light, and to live in light. one of the ways we know if we are doing this is how we speak about one another. here is how john put it in his first letter:<br /><blockquote>"Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It's the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up, blinded by the darkness." [1 john 2:9-11]</blockquote><br />when we hate others, and we are not sharing christ with them. when we hate others, we are not sharing christ with the world around us - we are sharing darkness. we are called to share light, and to bring a message of love, hope and grace to a hurting and confused world. but if we hate, we are confusing the message, with the world.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1128513934447676502005-10-05T07:55:00.000-04:002005-10-05T08:05:34.453-04:00where do we place our love?what do love? what do you think you can't live without? when we think of the things we love, i'll be we think of things in the world, right? after all, what else is there? well, as i continue through 1st john i had to think hard about this, because i do love what is in the world - here is what john writes:<br /><blockquote>Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. [1 john 2:15]</blockquote><br />this woke me up to realizing that my life is to center on God - i need that wake-up call once and a while - and that my love for God should be greater then anything in this world - wow, a slap in the face to my reality :)<br /> <br />what about you? what do you love?<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1128428606341019362005-10-04T08:14:00.000-04:002005-10-04T08:23:26.346-04:00it is simplehow can you tell you are a follower of jesus? because you claim him as your savior? because you read scripture? because you read this blog? what makes you a follower of jesus? what makes anyone a follower of jesus? i have been told that those are hard questions to answer, but i believe they are simple. here is what john says in one of his letters:<br /><blockquote>We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love[b] is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. [1 john 2:3-5; the message]</blockquote><br />simple, do as jesus commanded us; love, forgive, accept, welcome, and be gracefilled. once we do those things we are living in the light of jesus and we can claim to be a follower. none of that is impossible. i will admit it is hard, because we have to push ourselves aside and allow others to go before us; it can be done. the first step, is to realize that none of that is based on law and judgement, that's God area. our only concern on earth is to love others - it truly is that simple.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1128356911602188972005-10-03T12:21:00.000-04:002005-10-03T12:28:31.606-04:00what is being built?how do you define the church? what is the center reality of what the church should be? if given an opportunity to define "church" what would it be? what would be the "core" or "foundation" of the church? i think, depending on who we are, the defination changes, but does the core? should the core? here are some words of jesus in matthew: [16:17-19]<br /><blockquote>Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.<br /><br />"And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."</blockquote><br />the "core" is that jesus is the christ - nothing mre then that is needed. many churches, people and demoninations desire to add so much to this reality, but it still boils down to christ. but, if we are "the church" should not our core be christ? everything we do needs to start with christ, end with christ and should be filtered through christ - not paul, not peter, not james, not our pastors - but through christ.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1127994219869858492005-09-29T07:33:00.000-04:002005-09-29T07:43:39.876-04:00Power and Suffering<blockquote><p>I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.</p><p>Philippians 3:10-11 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203:4-14;&version=65;">The Message</a></p></blockquote>I was asked today if there was a danger of becoming too relaxed in our approach to Christian faith. Perhaps we might become so laid back that we lose the depth of spirituality that is possible when we're totally committed to a rigorous discipline of worship. I replied by saying that meeting with one another in community takes us beyond the discipline of private engagement with God. As we take part in shared mission, we're moved beyond intellectual assent to join in a life-changing, costly experience of Christ.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1127820047688065632005-09-27T06:45:00.000-04:002005-09-27T07:32:25.426-04:00Dog Dung CV<blockquote><p>The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash - along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant - dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ - God's righteousness.</p><p>Philippians 3:7-9 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203:4-14;&version=65;">The Message</a></p></blockquote>Dog dung. Trash. So much crap. What a way to describe a curriculum vitae, a list of achievements. Having the right family connections counts for nothing. Having a religious background - worth squat. Clean lifestyle - don't smoke, don't drink... much. Doesn't register. Orthodox theology, emergent theology... whatever. Reputation in ministry. Knowing all the latest praise and worship songs or having a great prayer life. These are not the foundations on which I want to base my life. I'm glad that even if my life falls apart I continue on the same basis with God - a relationship centred on Jesus Christ - who he is and what he's done.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1126760117121864952005-09-15T00:45:00.000-04:002005-09-15T00:55:17.126-04:00it has nothing to do with your pasthow many were raised christian? and, because of that, how many think they have "got a place" with christ? well, jesus shared with us a very cool story about that:<br /><blockquote><strong>The Story of Two Sons</strong><br />"Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, "Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.'<br />"The son answered, "I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went.<br />"The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, "Sure, glad to.' But he never went.<br />"Which of the two sons did what the father asked?"<br />They said, "The first."<br />Jesus said, "Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God's kingdom. John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn't care enough to change and believe him." [matthew 21:28-32]</blockquote><br />when we think of who will be with God in His kingdom we always think of those "born" into the faith - but jesus explianed that that was not going to be the case. the kingdom was going to be for those who did what God asked, not those who said they would and did nothing. so, it is our actions that help us see how we will fit into the kingdom set before us.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>john o'keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10028206413718784285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1126351651268960732005-09-10T07:16:00.000-04:002005-09-10T07:27:31.273-04:00freedom of conscience<blockquote>Say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.<br />Romans 14:1-12 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:1-12;&version=65;">The Message<br /></a></blockquote><br />It can easily be argued that Saturday should be set aside as holy. After all, the Hebrew scriptures make it very very clear that keeping the Sabbath holy is a crucial part of obedience to God the creator.<br /><br />But what if the Sabbath is more a principle than a day? Then what day should it be? Sunday? Monday? It's a luxury Christians and Jews can follow when living in a country that observes the weekend. But in a place like first century Rome that luxury was not offered to most followers of Jesus.<br /><br />So - the tension between being pure and being pragmatic was around back then as it is now. Paul gives permission for people to develop a sense of personal responsibility in this tension. Having that freedom changes the nature of the gospel somewhat. Instead of being called to living as 'Messianic Jews' with one shared culture, we're invited into the multi-cultural diversity of Christ followers.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538587.post-1126184791368542892005-09-08T08:56:00.000-04:002005-09-08T09:06:31.376-04:00Table Grace<blockquote>A person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help. <br />Romans 14: 1-12 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:1-12;&version=65;">The Message</a><br /></blockquote>The classic application of this bit of the Bible is the debate over alcohol. Some Christians are teetotallers - total abstainers. Some Christians enjoy a pint or two. And some struggle with life-threatening addiction. I grew up in a family with all three categories. My father was an alcoholic who every now and then had moments of prolonged sobriety. My mother was an abstainer by principle. And in between was us kids who were being schooled in two cultures.<br /><br />The Evangelical culture I grew up in was one of total abstinence. I remember the minister stressing out at a wedding. He wasn't sure he could even drink water for fear of people thinking it was vodka! Those in leadership were to stay off the bottle for fear of offending the abstainers.<br /><br />But I don't think that's what Paul's on about here. He's not talking about bending over backwards so that we change food and drink codes for fear of offending someone. The point is not to be offended by people who develop a different approach to food and drink culture.<div class="blogger-post-footer">all from http://www.ginkworld.net</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0