All People? Loved? C'mon...

Today I posted this on our church blog...rather than redirect, I thought I'd just give it to you here this time.

We believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 (TNIV)

All People. Rich and Poor. Healthy and Sick. Hurting and Healed. African and American. Latino and Asian. Popular and Unpopular. Pleasant and Annoying. Christian and Buddhist. Optimist and Pessimist. Heterosexual and Homosexual. Sober and Drunk. Blue Collar and White Collar. Republican and Democrat. Man and Woman. Adult and Child. All People.

Loved by God. Not just liked, but loved. Loved with the agape love of God. Loved where we see their needs as important as we see our own. Loved where we sacrifice on their behalf. Loved by us. Loved by God.

Need Jesus Christ as their Savior. Don't need platitudes. Don't need trite sayings. Don't need Christian jewelry. Don't need a bashing. Don't need judgement. Don't need hypocrisy. Don't need condemnation. Don't need guilt. Don't need church. Don't need a tongue-lashing. Need Jesus. Need a personal God. Need love. Need the Church. Need someone to point the way. Need a remedy. Need Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Season Premiers

Yesterday, I found myself eagerly anticipating the season premier of one of my favorite shows...The Office.  It was kind of like knowing the punchline of the joke is going to be funny and giggling before you can get the whole joke out.  I caught myself laughing at the mere possibilities of what the night might bring.

This is one that didn't disappoint me.  What is it about season premiers that gets us a little geeked up?  Or am I simply a geek for even writing about this?  I think there is something about the fresh start of a new season.  All of us inherently like a new beginning.  There is just an excitement built into the start of something.  Potential is powerful.  4 weeks ago I was stoked about the thought of the Baylor football season...because it was all potential.  Now we are 2-2, and that excitement has waned a little.  I love February because it's when the Texas Rangers report to spring training - September...not so much.

This is completely just conjecture on my part, but I believe that God put inside us a desire for a new beginning.  In John 3, check out Jesus' conversation with a man named Nicodemus"

   Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.  He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 

    Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again. ” 

    “How can anyone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 

    Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit  gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You  must be born again.’ 

"Born again."  This is a phrase that has been misunderstood since the time it was uttered.  I am not going to explain all of the intricacies of the phrase here.  However, I do want to point out the value of a new beginning.  Now this is much bigger than a season premier, but I believe it's the reason why we get excited at the start of new things.  There is just something in us that loves a new start because all of us need a new start.  Jesus offers us that new start.