HERE IN THE REAL WORLD

Well the weather was warmed a bit; the flower bulbs are busting through the ground; song birds are singing in the trees. You know what that means? Baseball season is just around the corner. Now, I know you are thinking this is going to be a sports post, but you are wrong. This is going to be a Gospel post. And, to drive home the point I am going to turn to that noted philosopher of old, Yogi Berra. And, if this seems like déjà vu all over again, I promise this is a new post and not a rehash of the post from last year.

Yogi Berra once said, “Baseball is ninety-five percent mental. The other half is physical.” And, that is so true of the life we live in Christ. Just take a look at the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Matthew 5:27). That’s the easy part: they physical part! No matter how many men may want to commit adultery with Britney Spears or how many women want to commit adultery with Brad Pitt, it most likely “ain’t happening!” But, then Jesus took the physical half and added the 95% mental to it when he said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). The Yankee Stadium of sin is the mind, and Satan is always ready to stand in and be the Sultan of Swat. We have to concentrate on the purity that Christ taught and let Satan become the Mighty Casey!

Everyone complains today that church attendance is down. Yogi once said, “If people don’t want to come out to the ballpark, how are you going to stop them?” Jesus said we are to teach and make disciples. But, in addition to making them, we have to “KEEP THEM!” For that Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). Salt is a preservative. We are to live lives that “preserve” the faith. We are to live lives that serve as examples. When the lost are out there we have to be lighthouses lighting the way for them: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid (Matthew 5:14). If we do our parts and live lives worthy of Christ, they will be “moths” and come to the light. People, if we build it they will come!

Though this post is getting long, I am reminded of one of Yogi’s famous statements: We’re open until we close. And, Jesus Christ is open until the end. Until he comes back it is not to late for anyone to come to him. Yogi said once that it gets late early out here and to be honest, it is getting late. And, though “it ain’t over until the fat lady sings,” there will come a time in history when the fat lady sings when the last trumpet sounds. Will you be with the Home team of the Visitors?

Around the world of Blogdom tonight;

Trey Morgan says churchis for weirdos too
Tim Waldrop looks at medicine and comfort
Tim Archer is telling fish stories
John Dobbs ain’t tired yet!
Bill Williams has wonder words 002
Richard Mansel looks at the James Cameron code
Neva Cooper makes a Deal or No Deal

Until Next time may the Good Lord Bless and Keep You: All Y’all!

Bobby

27 February 2007
Bobby Cohoon
North CArolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

Okay, so the blind man goes into the bar and sits down. When the waitress comes over he asks if she wants to hear a blonde joke. She replies, “Sir, I know you are blind so I am going to tell you some things that might help you a bit before you tell that joke. The lady who owns this place is blonde and she has a baseball bat behind the bar that she isn’t afraid to use. The bouncer is 6’8” 300 pounds and he is blonde. There is a couple sitting at the table next to you and the man is a professional wrestler and he is blonde; his wife was on the roller derby and she is blonde. Are you sure you want to tell that joke?” The man thought for a minute and said, well no, I guess not if I am going to have to explain it four times.”

It is not like that just with the telling of a blonde joke; Christianity many times is the same way. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, “To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe” (Philippians 4:1). The church in Philippi was established and yet Paul had to tell them the same things over and over. Yet, many times when we teach a person we tell it one time and expect them to have it all. We lead the horse to water and don’t teach it how to drink.

Jesus said to teach. That is a process. In that process one thing builds on another and reinforces the first. Yet, many times we think as soon as we have told the story once that the foundation is sturdy and secure. Sometimes it takes more than one person. One can plant and yet another waters. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “I have planted, Apollos watered” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Yet, we are too many times contented to plant and leave.

Jesus said to make disciples. Making something in most cases involves more than one step. And, many times it involves doing something over and over again. When you make that first recipe and it doesn’t taste like Mama’s cooking you don’t give up; You go back and do it again. It is the same with making disciples. We can tell people something one time, but we have to stay with them through the course to reinforce what was first told them.

It wasn’t grievous for Paul to write the same things again and again, so it shouldn’t be for us. But all too often we don’t follow up. If someone comes to a Gospel meeting and obeys the gospel, we sometimes assume that they know it all and we never check on them. If we don’t see them in church we assume that they are in another church. When many times they have fallen away because they didn’t know what to do next. We put the seed in the ground and forgot to water it. Like the blind guy in the story we don’t want to have to explain it more than once, or we don’t think we should have to.

Next Time you tell THE story remember that you might have to do more than plant a few seeds. You might have to throw in some water and mix up some miracle grow and by all means make sure there is plenty of SON light!

Around the World of Blogdom tonight:

Tim Waldrop asks “Whose Will are you following?”
John Dobbs has a good series on his page about meditation
Neva Cooper is riding the Rumble Bars
Lisa Leichner has moved to “Word Press”
Bobby Valentine says it’s text and context

Until next time may the good Lord bless and keep you; All Y’all

Bobby

25 February 2007
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

Have you ever had one of those days when no matter what you said or did it seemed to be the exact opposite of what everyone expected? One of those days when everything seemed to be turned upside down? Everyone has them. You know the days when if you said the sun was shinning the world would tell you it was cloudy. I have had them days when everything I said seemed to go against the grain of everyone else. And, why not? Isn’t that what Jesus preached? In the most famous sermon ever, Jesus preached “turn the world upside down.”

Matthew 5 records what has become the most famous sermon not just of Jesus, but of anyone. We know it as the Sermon on the Mountain. In that sermon Jesus set the world upside down. Jesus challenged the spirit of the world. Anyone who challenges the maxims of someone else will be unpopular and Jesus didn’t just challenge the maxims of one or two, but the maxims of the world.

The world measures a man’s worth by his wealth. But, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3 KJV). We think a person is at his/her best when they are happy, but Jesus preached, “Blessed are they that mourn” (Matthew 5:4 KJV). The world teaches our kids survival of the fittest, but Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek” (Matthew 5:5). The world loves promiscuity; Jesus taught, “Blessed are the pure at heart” (Matthew 5:8). Throughout the Beatitudes all the norms of the world are turned upside down by the prerequisites of being blessed.

Jesus taught that we are not to act like the world; In order to be blessed we have to act the opposite. We are not of this world. Paul said, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). The NIV translates that verse like this: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Savior was not of this world, thus his teachings were totally opposite. And, as followers of Christ we are not of this world so our actions shouldn’t be “worldy.”

So then next time you seem to be having a “topsy turvy” day and seem to be out of sync with the world around you, count your blessings; You might just be living the greatest sermon ever told!

Around the wolrd of Blogdom tonight:

Trey Morgan gives us Lea’s List
Tim Waldrop wonders where Cain got his wife
John Dobbs gives meditation number 2
Don Neyland takes the long road home
Phil Sanders talks about Jihad

Until Nex time may the good Lord bless and keep you; All Y’all

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

Have you turned on the radio lately? For the most part commercial music has slipped to an all time low. If you go buy a CD you have to look at the ratings to make sure it is going to be fitting to listen to. But, even the clean versions leave something to be desired. I didn’t understand a few words in a song not to long ago and I asked what they were. I actually I asked what they meant. I would have probably been better off not asking. But, at least I learned that I shouldn’t use them. It seems that in the clean versions “catch phrases” and euphemisms are used to set them apart from the “R” rated versions. But, when we do this have we really made the song “G” rated or just substituted on “R” word for another?

Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:49). The NIV translates it this way, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth.” Our airways today are filled with “unwholesome talk.” Though the ‘R” rated versions are changed to be suitable for airplay, the euphemisms that are substituted convey the same message as the original. The filth is still there, just in deferent words. This allows for even younger buyers to be able to buy them and pick up all the “filthy” euphemisms.

Many of our youth, as well as adults, use some of the worst language ever. And, though many times they disguise it with other slang, many times they just use the original words and in all cases convey the same message. Paul said we are to, “put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth” (Colossians 3:18). And, substituting one word that carries the same meaning for another one does not “put off filthy communication.” It allows it to persevere! Paul told the church in Ephesus, “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:4). Removing a “four letter” word and replacing it with a euphemism for that word doesn’t make it not obscene; it perpetuates the obscenity.

Though I have been using the word “youth” a bit, what I am writing about is not limited to our youth. The word I asked about was in good old country music! No matter how we changed the words, no matter which euphemisms we use, no matter how many people do not understand the clean version, God knows the intent because that comes for the heart: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). A “Rose and a Baby Ruth” by any other name is still a “Rose and a Baby Ruth!”

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

Trey Morgan Says it takes more than sperm
Tim Waldrop asks “Why must I forgive”
Tim Archer tells why he is against school prayer
Paula Harrington asks “Where Are You”
Daniel Berry looks at Baseball and Spring
Neva Cooper has her own Mount Hood
Richard Mansel asks “What Is Sin?”

Until next time may the Good Lord bless and keep you: All Y’all!

Bobby

21 February 2007
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

Diets, diets, diets everywhere you look. Turn on the TV and I promise you will see a few diet advertisements and if you watch late at night they are even more plentiful. Each one is so very different from the other and yet they all claim you can loose tons. Don’t eat carbs, eat fats. No. don’t eat fats they will kill you eat carbs. No, don’t do that; eat rabbit food. No, kill and eat! And, each one can boast of people who have lost on their plans. The sad thing is everybody won’t loose on the same plans. We are all different. Our metabolisms are different. What works for one might not work for the other. Many times our spiritual metabolism works the same way.

Jesus told us to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19). That is where it gets tricky. Of course we know what we are to teach, but the “HOW” sometimes throws us. Just as in loosing weight one plan might not work for you that works for someone else, in evangelizing the same plan that worked for miss Bertha who grew up in church all of her life might not work for the lady down the street who has never been inside a church. What worked when talking to the kid who had been telling lies might not be the same plan of action needed for the guy behind bars for murder.

For that reason we need many plans. Plans, of course, are equal to people in this instance. We each are unique. Our circumstances are different. We all have a story to tell and it just might be that when you tell yours there is someone out there who will identify with what you are saying. We have to be prepared to open up to the person we are ministering to and let them know that they are not the first to walk the road they are on. To many times we fall into the habit of thinking that only a preacher is to do the teaching and making disciples, when if more in the church would open up the body would grow even more.

Just like the differences in diet plans, approaches to evangelism should also be different. Too often we are happy just telling a short story and not letting any of our personal experience come out. And, to often the person listening doesn’t find anything to relate to. Spiritual metabolism is different among people and the person being taught needs to see something they can metabolize as being a part of their life. The more we can relate our personal story with the person we are teaching the more apt he/she will be to take the message. The next time you go to tell the story open up with the person you are teaching; your approach to spiritual metabolism might just help someone loose Hell!

Around the world of Blogdom tonight;

Trey Morgan gives us ten ways to put someone to sleep during a sermon
Neva Cooper if number 2
Bobby Valentine communes with God and family

Until next time may the good Lord Bless and keep you!

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

I don’t plan my post ahead of time. If there is holiday I do try and write something about it, but that’s about all the planning I do. I had planned to write about President’s day for this post: Hence the picture. But, here In The Real World those plans changed this morning. My sister is in Daytona for NASCAR speed week and I am tending to her children: her dogs. And, it seems every year when she goes something goes wrong. Well, this morning proved to be no exception. When I went to take them out and feed them I found her oldest, 13 years old, dead. This one was special to me as I called him my “dog away from home.” She was going to give him to me as a pup but I already had too many strays I had taken in. So, he became my dog away from home.

Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that love “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). The NIV translates it this way, “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Our dogs show us that love.

Our dogs bear all things with us. No matter how bad it gets he/she is right there with us. They believe all things. What ever we teach them they are there ready to do it. No matter how difficult the task, or how dangerous, they believe in what we teach them. They are there ready to perform. Their sole task is to please their master. Oh, what a world we would have if our lives were wrapped around trying to please our master.

“Love endures all things,” Paul wrote. The lives of our dogs exemplify that. No matter how bad it gets, he is there. When the neighbors stop speaking, the wife leaves, the kids go off to college, the walls fall down, you loose your job, he is still by your side until the end. No matter what trials you face and what bad decisions you make in them, he endures it with you. And we have a God that endures it all with us and is waiting to give us the strength to endure all things. Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). Our dogs get the strength to endure all things from living a life of trying to please their masters. If we set our sites on lives that are pleasing to God we, like Paul, will get the strength to endure all things. Our dog’s sole task is to please us and through that he endures all things with us.

Last night around eleven when I saw him last he wouldn’t take a treat from me. I wondered if he was feeling bad, but he went out as normal, much slower than in his youth, but normal for him nowadays. I brought him and put out food and plenty of water. Talked to all three of the dogs a few minutes and turned to go. I think he knew that this was it. He looked up at me and wagged his tail. It was a final, “We have endured.” It was a final, “I love you.”

We get a new puppy and the first thing we set out to do is train it. In the course of training them we need to take a step back and learn the lessons they are waiting to teach us and apply them to our relationship with God. So Long Rooter.

As for President’s Day, well Paul wrote, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Whether you like them or not, they are our leaders: Keep them in prayer.

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

Trey Morgan is remodeling
Tim Waldrop asks, “Why Would I Want Jesus?” Tim also responded to the 5 songs tag in my last post. His answers are in the comment section. (Trey, John and Paula are still thinking so if you smell something burning that might be it!)
John Dobbs talks about the Blessed Stranger
Bobby Valentine gives his life in song
Mike Rassberry looks at the Gay old NBA
Neva Cooper asks Where’s Vinnie?

Until Next time may the Good Lord Bless and Keep you: all y’all

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

Anyone who knows me knows that I love music. It seems like it has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. My MP3 player has every thing from Flatt and Scruggs to Gregorian chant; from Aerosmith to ZZ TOP and all points in between. Certain songs seem to stir certain memories. I know I hear people all the time saying, “That’s my song” or, “That’s our song.” It seems everyone has a song that they claim as their own. Maybe it was the song they heard on their first date, or maybe even their last! No matter what the occasion “your song” means something to you.

Like everyone I see the Bible divided into two distinct halves. Unlike everyone else I divide it differently. I see the division of the Bible as the world before sin and the world after: My dividing point comes in Genesis 3. Our lives have a similar dividing point: Our lives without Christ and our lives with Christ. Looking at my MP3 player I noticed that my whole life was reflected in song. (Pay special attention at the end; You may be tagged).

Before I found Christ, not that he was missing mind you, the old song “Born To be Wild” sort of characterizes my life. Not that I was necessarily wild, but I was looking for adventure. And, I sought that adventure apart from Christ. Which is why I kept looking for adventure: a life apart from Christ is empty. You have to keep looking to try and fill the voids. But, somewhere along the way I noticed the more I sought, the emptier I got. I knew I was lost. And then I heard and old, old story about a Savior came from glory.

Someone taught me about “Victory In Jesus.” And, while I sought adventure in the world, He sought me and bought me. While I was looking for everything else, He was looking for me. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” He came to save what was lost: ME!

But, how could he save me? I didn’t know what to do to become saved: I was lost; I was a wretch. But then someone showed me that it wasn’t what I could do, but what He had already done in that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” It was not by me, but by grace: Amazing Grace.

Someone loved me enough to die for me. Someone righteous died for some one lost. It is sometimes hard for the finite mind to fathom that concept from an infinite God. While it is hard to understand, one thing that isn’t hard is to praise Him for it. And all of my days I want to sing His praise. What he has done for me makes me want to “Shout To The Lord.” There is no like my Jesus: My Savior.

It wasn’t enough that I was saved. I wanted to not only share my good news, but I wanted others to partake in what I had found. “I Love To Tell The Story.” And, have been telling it ever since! There is a world of hurting lost people all around us. And, all they need is someone to take a minute and share the good news with them. They need to hear that old, old story about Jesus and His love. ‘Twill be my theme in glory; what will be yours?

I think It would be interesting to see how some of my blogging friends would tell their stories through song so I am going to tag 5 to do just that, and ask them to tag five more. Stop by there sites and see what 5 songs show the new and old testaments of their lives.
And for you that don’t have sites, leave a comment and let me know what songs represent you.
Who is tagged??
John Dobbs, I know you like music as much as I do gimme five songs brother!
Trey Morgan what disc are you spinning?
Bobby Valentine I know you are a diverse person what’s on your play list?
Tim Waldrop can you name 5 tunes?
Paula Harrington, what’s your songs?

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

Tim Waldrop has a great article on abortion
Trey Morgan talks about the Old Man
John Dobbs is communing with Christ and Christians

Paula Harrington talks about the rarity of certainty
Bill Williams also olooks at communion

Until Next time may the good Lord bless and keep you: all y’all!

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

Well it’s Valentine’s Day and I am sure every blogger in captivity will write about love. And, why not, I mean, after all Paul wrote, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Well let them all write about love; I am going to write about hate!

Mark Twain said once, “If Christ were here there is one thing he would not be–a Christian.” Now, I am not sure in what context he used this quote, but he could have taken a crystal ball and looked into the future. Sometimes I wonder What Christ thinks when he looks down on the actions of Christians today.

I hate it when I see people do bad things in the name of Christ. Now, I know that abortion is wrong, but when I see someone blow up an abortion clinic in the name of Christ that just irks me. If those people are our enemies, and I guess if you are going to blow them up they would be an enemy, we are supposed to love them. Jesus said in Luke 6:27 that we are to love our enemies.

I hate it when I see Christians get so bent out of shape over the removal of the Ten Commandments from a government building. They should be happy; if they were judged by Christ on the merits of these Ten Commandments they know they would fall. They can remove every written form of the commandments but does that take them away from where we are supposed to have them? “write them upon the table of thine heart” (Proverbs 3:3).

I hate it when I see people use denominational lines to not help a brother in need. Maybe it’s someone from the church across town. Or, even worse the church on the bad side of the tracks. First, if they are of another denomination and we deem them the “enemy” as I have already pointed out Jesus said we are to love our enemies. And, if we are looking to add people to the Kingdom it is a known fact that you can catch more bees with sweets than you can with…well you fill in the blank! And, when we love them it shows that we are of God: every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God (1 John 4:7).

When I see the things that I hate in society I let it serve as a reminder to me. I let hate remind me that I am of God and God is love. And, when I see people doing the many things I hate it reminds me that while God might not like what they are doing he loves them; it also reminds me that I have caused Him to shake his head a few times too. So this Valentine’s Day while you are reflecting on the things you hate, let them point you to love.

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day and Love Someone!

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

Trey Morgan tells about the Three Little Pigs
Tim Waldrop asks are you a Chrisitan and just don’t act like it?
Bobby Valentine found an Amos in the Family Tree
Chris Gallagher has something to ponder
Neva Cooper looks at Wormfest ‘08
Daniel Berry looks at 1 Corinthians 15
Charlie Whitfield has a rag-tag collection

Until next time May the Good Lord Bless and Keep you: All Y’all!

Bobby

14 February 2007
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

Recently I had to run in Wal-Mart to pick up some stuff for my mom. She was going to sit in the car and her instructions to me were as follows and I quote, “If you see anyone you know just speak and keep going.” Then the instructions changed: “Don’t even speak just keep going.” Possessed by every weakness that makes a man a fool I asked why I couldn’t even speak. Her reply was, “Because you can’t do that within twenty minutes!” My mother knows her son all to well. There could be several reasons for this problem. One being the “hick” code of why say in ten words what you can say in ten thousand. But, the must likely reason is just plain and simple: I love people . Some people get bit by the love bug and fall in love with one person; well, them little suckers must have nibbled on me for quite a spell because I love all people.

I don’t love people so that I can have Jesus. It’s quite the opposite; because I have Jesus I love people. I love to hear of the good fortune of others. Not, so that I can be envious or jealous, but so that I can share in their joys and praise God for them. Paul wrote, “charity envieth not” (1 Corinthians 13:4). I want to hear of the misfortunes of my brothers, not so that I can be proud in my higher state, but so that I can lend a hand, or at the very least try and find someone that can help if I can’t. “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3).

I try and be kind to all people. Somehow it is easier to see past a person’s past and see them for what they are: sinners just like me. It would be so easy to throw stones, but then again as far as God is concerned we all live in fishbowls! So, we best be careful of the stones that we throw.

There is a world full of people out there waiting for a neighbor. Many of the people we pass everyday have fallen among the thieves. Jesus asked the lawyer in Luke 10, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? “ The lawyer answered, “He that shewed mercy on him.” Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:36-37). Anyone who needs us and we can help is our neighbor. Their need might be as small as a conversation in Wal-Mart. Or, it may be prayer. Or, it may be something on a more grand scale. Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew25:40). Jesus equated being a neighbor to someone in need as also being a neighbor to Him. What we do for those who need help, we do for God. Love of neighbor and love of God are one in the same. In our brother who is in need we find Jesus, and in Jesus we find God: “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6b).

Next time you walk through Wal-Mart take a good look. See the child you smiled at. Or, take a close look at the old man with the walker who you helped in to door. How about look close at the old lady who couldn’t reach the washing powder on the top shelf. Did you see the weather beaten old man at the front door who was asking for enough money to get a cup of coffee on a cold day? You might be looking into the eyes of God. A hug or a handshake can be more fulfilling than a Whitman sampler or Russel Stover’s prettiest Valentine box.

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

Trey Morgan talks about the stones, no not Mick and Kieth, Memorial Stones
John Dobbs talks about Jeremy Camp
Les Ferguson tells God’s Counter Story
Bill Williams has Wonder Words 001
Tim Archer asks, “What the Point of Leviticus 10?”
Daniel Berry was “Called ToPreach”
Richard Mansel talks about “When guilt and law are the enemy”
Phil Sanders isn’t ashamed to be a Christian
Tim Waldrop asks if you have seen his new shoes?

May the Good Lord Bless andKeep you

Bobby

12 February 2007
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net

Herman was an entomologist. He had studied bugs all his life. He caught them and then would do all the classifying. Though he studied all insects, Herman’s specialty was ticks. Herman knew ticks. He had one he had studied for years. He kept it locked away in a box. The box he kept inside a steel strong box locked away inside a waterproof box, which was well hidden inside his fireproof safe in the closet. Occasionally he would tell people about his special tick and on even rarer occasions he would allow them to view the door to the closet. He knew all there was to know about this particular tick, if he had only shared his knowledge then maybe less people would have died from the disease caused by its bite.

Many of us do the same thing with Jesus. We put him in a box. We get so caught up in this doctrines or that doctrine that we loose sight of Jesus. We stop following Jesus and start to become disciples of whoever has the best doctrine going. We stop saying this is what Jesus says, and begin to say, “this is what {whoever} teaches.” We lock the Gospel away in a box and put so many safe guards around the box that those who are seeking can’t find Jesus.

Paul didn’t “gussy” up his message with this guy said this and that guy said that; Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1). Paul brought the Gospel in the purest of forms: “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Paul didn’t put Jesus in a doctrine box and hide it away keeping people away from touching it. Paul was proud of the Gospel. He wrote to the Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17). When we lock Jesus away in an untouchable box we take faith out of the equation. We make Him a rigid plan of mechanical acts without meaning and devoid of faith. We become Pharisaical in that we place so many regulations around the box that its true contents can never be found. Paul, echoing Habakkuk, said the just shall live by faith.

I remember as a child one of the popular pranks was to call the local grocery store and ask, “Do you have Prince Albert in the can?” When the grocery store clerk would answer yes, our normal come back would be, “Well, YOU BETTER LET HIM OUT!” Do you have Jesus locked away in a box? Now, would be a good time to let Him out and share his love with someone.

Around the world of Blogdom tonight:

Trey Morgan talks about the needs of husbands and wives

Chris Gallagher asks “What Do You Say?

Paula Harrington looks at the lifestyles of the rich and famous

Bill Williams is growing closer to God

Bobby Valentine is Forever Free

Daniel Berry looks at conflict

Neva Cooper is in a fog!

Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Until next time may the Good Lord Bless and Keep you.

Bobby

10 February 2007
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@earthlink.net