Gal 2:20

Galatians 2:20 says that Jesus now lives within us and I have always, at least as long as I can remember, believed that he really does, and it was more than just "through the word." However I didn't really associate how that belief would affect my actions/relations with other people. Maybe I thought it just had an internal effect, or maybe it was just one of those good beliefs I hung up in my mind and never seriously considered.

But now I am coming to believe, that if Jesus lives within me then someone ought to be able to look at me and see Jesus. This is not said in a prideful and boastful sense, but humbly as in the attitude of Matthew 25:37ff. This would be one of the greatest complements I could receive, for people to say they see Jesus in me, but it will only happen with the help of the Spirit, and I am praying that He will.

This leads to how I think about people, who are a little different or even a whole bunch different from me. There is this guy who's social skills need some polishing and although he tries to be friendly he comes off awkward, and consequently other people make fun of him. How would Jesus treat him? I wonder does he see Jesus in my relationship with him?

Another related thought, if we are made in the image of God (duh.. of course we are) then when I see another person, aren't I looking at a part of Jesus. I am not quite sure how to say what I mean here, but everyone is an image of God, right? So no matter what their level of our social skills or any other difference doesn't Matt 25:40 still apply?

Who You Know, Really Does Lead Somewhere

I am continually amazed at how knowing this person leads you to that person who knows this person who leads back to someone you know. A friend of mine gave me a book to read called "Love, Acceptance, and Forgivness" by Jerry Cook. I read it and was challenged by what he said. A year or so later the same friend invited me to go hear Jerry Cook speak. I went and was again duly impressed by his understanding of loving people. The coincidence is that Jerry talked of ministering at a church called East Hill in Portland OR. They had great success in sharing the gospel and out grew the building they owned. They sold it to the congregation where my oldest son is now a member, interesting connection.

I bring this up because I have just lately read another one of Jerry's books called "Monday Morning Church" and reread the Love Acceptance and Forgivness book and it reminded me of this unusual connection.

Less said the better

Wow, it is hard to believe I haven't posted since the first of Aug. I could say I have just been too busy, we have had a week of company, Carol has been gone some and I got a new (to me) motorcycle or I just haven't had anything to say. Most likely the last one.

I have come across a quote I really like, even Carol said this is the way she has felt for a long time. Come to think about it, this is the way Carol actually lives, as you don't get a lot of opinions from her on her beliefs.

“When we were first drawn together as a society,” says he, “it had
pleased God to enlighten our minds so far as to see that some
doctrines, which we once esteemed truths, were errors; and that
others, which we had esteemed errors, were real truths. From time to time He has been pleased to afford us farther light, and our
principles have been improving, and our errors diminishing. Now we are not sure that we are arrived at the end of this progression, and at the perfection of spiritual or theological knowledge; and we fear that, if we should once print our confession of faith, we should feel ourselves as if bound and confined by it, and perhaps be unwilling to receive farther improvement, and our successors still more so, as
conceiving what we their elders and founders had done, to be something sacred, never to be departed from.”

This is from Michael Welfare a founder of the Dunkers in colonial America.

Look Out!! Motorcycles Coming Through

We have just had the Hells Angels World Tour in Cody, a town only 20 miles away. They say there were about 1500 of them here this past week. The state spent about $500,000 to send an army of police, highway patrol, and DCI to Cody. They wanted such a presence of police that nothing bad would happen. It must have worked because the comment by the police chief in today's paper was, "the past week was a success from the police viewpoint." There were no major confrontations and only 7 Hells angels were arrested. It was also interesting to notice the tenor of the newspaper reports of the past week. They emphasized the "human side" of the Hells Angels. In reality they are just a misunderstood motorcycle gang(opps I mean) club. It was just interesting to see the "spin" put this event. But then again it may not be spin at all.