Thanksgiving Perspective

I grabbed this video from my friend Neely’s site the other day. I saved it for today because I thought it would give a great perspective on Thanksgiving.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZFFxDcSfeA]

America…you are truly blessed. Even if you are considered “poor” or in “extreme poverty” in America, you are rich and have plenty to be thankful for. Beyond the material things that are obvious, today I am thankful for a loving Jesus who gave up everything to love me, to forgive me, and to have a relationship with me. I am thankful for my beautiful, awesome wife and my beautiful and healthy 3 kids. I am thankful for my family, my friends, and life! I am also thankful for living in America and the freedoms that we have, and for our soldiers who put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe and free.

Join the Conversation…What are you thankful for today? Have you been taking it for granted?

Random Bible Thoughts

My Community Group started doing the NOOMA video series with Rob Bell a few weeks ago. We are on the 4th video, called “Sunday.” This is the first video I ever saw of his when they first came out, and it is one of my favorites. In the video Rob talks about Jesus when he dealt with the Pharisees from Matthew 23. I’ve been thinking a lot about that since Sunday. Have you ever noticed how impatient Jesus seems when it came to dealing with the religious leaders of his time, yet he was extremely patient with those who were unbelievers. Check out these verses from Matthew 23 to see for yourself (13, 15, 16, 23, 33 All in one link). He called them hypocrites, Sons of Hell, Sons of Vipers, Snakes, Blind guides…just to name a few.

Now compare that to Jesus’ patience when he was being crucified on the cross, by the non-believers, his famous words were, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) That is one of many examples that I could use, others being the woman at the well, Nicodemus, and others. I don’t know what made me even make that comparison, however it is clear to see that there is a huge difference in his attitude towards the “religious leaders,” who knew better, and the non-believers, who were acting in ignorance, as Paul said he did when persecuting the church (1 Timothy 1:13). I wonder how angry Christ must get at some pastors, churches, church leaders, and Christians with the way they act, the way they treat their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and most of all those who do not yet believe in Christ? Continue reading “Random Bible Thoughts”