Muddy Waters, Motorcycles, and Mud Pies!!

Muddy Waters absolutely RAWKS!! Most people have heard of Muddy Waters...few ever hear him. Literally, I could listen to Muddy Waters all day long!! He started in the pre-electric age of acoustic blues...he could pick a guitar and play a harmonica like a madman, but his true talent was writing!! Woooo!! You want to get your blood pumping to some music and simply GROOVE a while?? Muddy Waters is your man!! Listen to him today!!

I have been riding motorcycles since I was young. I remember my pop taking me on rides when I was like four on his Honda and me blowing the horn the entire time...cause I sat in front of him...lol. There's something extremely relaxing and liberating about just jumping on the bike and riding!! Go anywhere!! See anything!! By the way...it's amazing how much more I see on the bike than in a car!! There is also a great friendship between all bikers that comes in handy when you want to be social!! You want freedom?? You want to see the world around you that you've been missing?? Go get on a bike!!

Mud Pies!! I love mud pies!! Not the kind you make by mixing dirt and water...though that IS fun!! I'm talking about these awesome desserts my Tennessee family members make!! Mmmmmmmmm....they are made in this yummy pie crust with pecans, chocolate pudding, icing, whipp cream, peanuts and white chocolate drizzle....Sweet mother!! If that don't sound good to you then you are going to HATE Heaven...cause I think Mud Pies will be served daily there!!

In three short paragraphs...less than 2 minutes to say each of them...I have given examples of EVANGELISM.

I told you about something I have experienced...that I think is AWESOME...and have altered my life in such a way that I literally get pumped up about it when I talk!!!

THAT IS EVANGELISM!!! And it is the commandment..direct order...The Commission from Jesus Christ, Son of God...to every one of us who have accepted Jesus in our hearts!!

It's funny...so many of us go to church...talk to church friends...struggle to walk right in God's eyes...but we IGNORE the very command of our Savior!!

"But Gus...it's uncomfortable talking about Jesus." -- Then you have never met Him!!





Then you have never met Jesus. Period.

I'll say it again so that there is no confusion: If talking about the Son of the living God that died on a cross naked and bleeding in front of people that hated Him just so that YOU might have an opportunity to live with Him eternally embarrasses you...THEN YOU HAVE NEVER MET HIM!!

I just lost a lot of people right there. But this ain't a post to make you feel good, this is a Bible site. The Bible is true. The Bible is the living word of God. The Bible is our reference to everything.

My statement is Biblical!!

I can reference over 200 instances (and that's off the top of my head and I'm pretty ignorant) where people met Jesus (both in person and spiritually) and went forward to spread the news to EVERYONE they knew!!

So if the Bible gives us clear examples of what people do when they have a REAL encounter with Jesus...AND we have a standing order from Jesus to do that very thing (Go Tell People About Him!)...then why do you think your meeting with Him should be different???

Are you that special?? Was Jesus talking to everyone except you?? Hmmm....

We can talk about our favorite sport with co-workers and friends and people we don't even know.

We can talk about our favorite TV shows and movies with co-workers and friends and people we don't even know.

We can talk about our favorite foods and restaurants with co-workers and friends and people we don't even know.

We can talk about politics with co-workers and friends and people we don't even know.

But we refuse to talk about the single most important thing...the thing that matters most with them.

Cause here's the deal: The Braves, LOST, Olive Garden, and Health Care Reform ain't going to matter in 200 years...The Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely WILL!!! And it's our duty as followers of Jesus to talk about it!!

"Love one another." -Jesus

I Can't Hear You...Cause God's Talking!! (Moses and Slaves)

I'm continuing to read through Exodus and I am continuing to be blown away by almost every verse in it!! Today I cam across this:

"May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us." -Exodus 5:21

These are the words coming from the very people that Moses had been sent to save in Egypt! They cursed him...they rallied against him...they despised him.

At this point, Moses had come to Pharaoh on God's orders and had commanded that the people be set free...Pharaoh had ordered extra work from all of the Israelites in response. But before he had gone to Pharaoh, Moses had sat down and explained everything to the Israelites and they had understood completely and believed that Moses was there on God's behalf.

What an awkward and frustrating position Moses was in!! Here he was...doing God's will...trying to help people...but the very people he was there to help and support were cursing him!! How would you handle that?? I'd probably have told them how ungrateful they were and then went back to Pharaoh and said "Give me a whip..."!! Of course...about that time, God would've probably smacked me with a bolt of lightning too...

Good thing that never happens today!! Good thing Churches and Christians never turn on people trying to help them when times get tough these days...

I hate to say it, but it is VERY common today!! It is so common that I hate to think of the number of people that have been called to do glorious things in God's name and lead thousands to Christ in the process....who have simply given up because the very people and system that they were there to support...turned on them.

How many preachers waste more time critiquing and criticizing other churches and denominations than they do supporting and leading their very own flock?? How many organizations refuse to entertain the thought allowing others in because they are "different"??

Here's a prime example: As a youth minister, I am constantly looking for things to edify and entertain my youth!! I'm good....but whew...help is always needed. So when I get a call (which is rare) from people wanting to speak or play for my youth, I almost always invite them over!! Most youth directors guard their groups with a heated passion...deflecting any attempts that might come from the outside and criticizing anyone who doesn't come out of the normal channels with the normal degrees and the normal training, like graduating from cemetery...oops...I mean seminary.

They're afraid someone else might get the credit...they're afraid someone else might lead their youths to Christ...bottom line: They're afraid someone might take they're job!!

Let me tell you what Moses knew: God hired him and only God could fire him. The same goes for youth directors and pastors and anyone working at a Church!! So if you're constantly worried someone might come take your "job", then your "job" is already lost cause you took your eyes off Jesus a while back!!

Moses found something out about following God. He found out that it ain't always the people far from God that come after you...sometimes it's the very people you are helping!!

Moses also sets the example: Without a word...he simply kept following God. So what if they were angry with his words to Pharaoh...So what if they didn't approve of his methods...So what if they didn't support his actions.

They weren't his words, methods, and actions to begin with...They were the words, methods, and actions of God!! And brother...when you're following God and you are answering to THAT higher power and not some self appointed church body, board of deacons, event committee, convention, organization, denominational group, or even government...when you're truly following the LORD, everything that those other groups do or yell or scream or say falls on deaf ears and blind eyes!!

The Bible doesn't address how Moses responded to the naysayers, but the lack of response says it all to me! He simply walked on by, knowing he was there to do God's work...not to please some congregation of bench warmers who claimed to know the most high God, but when the going got rough, they simply forgot how powerful He truly was!!! Moses walked on by and prayed to God...wow...that's true faith and strength right there!!

I look at my son and I know that he and his generation will brings new ideas and methods to Christianity that none of us have thought of...and that I will probably not like all of them. But I pray that I look for Jesus in everything and that Christ be my measuring stick...not my own personal preferences.

One last thing: Moses came to free the Israelites so that they could worship and follow God...But the process was uncomfortable (for both Moses and the Israelites). In my experience, following God always has a level of discomfort. Are you uncomfortable??

"Love one another." -Jesus

God = Frustration (Moses)

Okay...sorry to do this...I have been reading through Exodus and the story of Moses and have come across a TON of things to write about in the first 5 chapters...but this one slapped me in the face.

For those that don't know, Moses was this murderer who dealt with anger issues, self esteem issues, hardheadedness, and many other problems...but he was the one that God chose to represent Him in front of pharaoh. (Don't ya love how God never chooses the people that have it all together?? Awesome to a loser like me!!)

Well...Moses gets his orders (which is a super cool story too) and packs up his house to go and visit pharaoh as God told Him.

THEN God says to him on the way to Egypt: The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. -Exodus 4:21

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!! I thought that when you follow God everything was supposed to be great and easy??

Unfortunately...the Bible doesn't say that anywhere...and Moses is finding that out first hand!!

First off...He has to travel back into a land where he is wanted for murder!! You ever walked into a room where someone was that didn't like you?? Okay...multiply that feeling by infinity!!

Secondly...God gives Moses all these AWESOME miracles to perform and to show Pharaoh and the people of Egypt what an AWESOME God he serves...But God is going to harden Pharaohs heart on purpose so that he won't believe and the miracles will have no effect?? I'm sure Moses was rolling his eyes and thinking "Greeeeeeaaaat..."

Sometimes I look around and I wonder why others cannot see the transformation I have seen. I wonder why others do not see the joy, purpose, and new life and how awesome it is to know Jesus!! It's so obvious to me...yet to them...it has no effect. Many times I have wondered how people can be so ugly and mean when I have repaid them with nothing but kindness...

No where in the Bible does God promise us an easy road...no where. As a matter of fact, Jesus said we WOULD be persecuted...not "might" or "possibly" or even "some of you"...He said that we all would be persecuted...

Imagine how Moses felt as he performed miracles and Pharaoh just laughed and refused to believe...

Here's the hard part for a lot of us: Moses knew that he was there to do God's will and that's all!! If three people followed him out of Egypt or if 30,000 people followed him. All Moses could do was tell them about God and what God was doing through him.

For many of us...we've wasted so much of our time trying to convince Pharaoh to believe in God when there's a crowd of people eagerly waiting right outside the doors...

All we can do is tell people about God and what He is doing through us...and move on. The ones that receive the message will follow...the others we must trust to God and His will.

** Thank you guys for reading!! I appreciate the opportunity to share the things I learn as I read through my Bible. I am available most every day if you ever want to email me or have questions. **

"Love one another." -Jesus

I love God...I just don't trust Him...

Every single day, millions of Americans participate in some of the most extreme worship services ever generated in the history of the world. These services are not held in temples, or tabernacles, or even in sanctuaries. These worship services are held on things like radio...TV...and the Internet. The arena and spectacle of politics in our society has become overwhelmingly consuming for many of us...drawing lines in the sand and dividing houses over issues that we rarely have any control over personally.

Now, two things you should know:

1 - I do not like government or political drama at all. I'm not Republican...I'm not Democrat. I feel that we have allowed our system to get into a state of disrepair. I also feel VERY strongly that we should NEVER argue over politics...if you honestly feel strongly about a subject...then show me the physical hours you have logged WORKING to support that subject (and not year 2000 type work such as blogging and writing...1940's style work that actually requires you to get up, get out, and DO something!). But let that be your argument...not mere words.

2 - If you are offended already, then I am probably talking about you being the worshiper. If you're not, then read on. Remember though...I'm just an idiot that happens to love reading the Bible and spending time with God...Do not take my word for anything!!

Here's the biblical part and the part I would honestly like feedback on since I am still making my way through the entire Bible:

I'm finishing reading up in Samuel I and it is occurring to me that Saul hunted David fiercely...I mean...King Saul spent every resource he had to hunt David!! And in chapter 24, David is hiding while Saul is doing his "business" (yep...seriously...gotta read your Bible man, it's got some strange stuff) and David sneaks up and cuts a small piece of cloth off the kings robe. David then confronts Saul and shows him the piece of cloth as he falls on his face apologizing to Saul for what he had done!!

Now wait...let's recap: Saul hunts David. Saul wants to kill David. David cuts small piece of cloth off Saul's robe. David bows down crying and apologizing to Saul!! Huh??

David goes on to explain that Saul is the chosen king. He has been placed as king of Israel and since we serve a sovereign God that is all knowing and all powerful, then obviously God is in control...and why should he (David) do anything against God!!

Wow!! That's powerful...but...wait a minute...maybe that was just David! Let's see...hmmm...oh! Let's check others:

Joseph served a king that did MANY things that he did not believe in...yet he served.

Daniel served a wicked set of kings as the only believer in God in the entire court!! They were always changing the gods they served! They were violent, irrational, prone to blasphemy, etc. He and his brethren were threatened repeatedly and even sentenced to death...yet Daniel continued to serve.

Paul operated his entire ministry under the watchful eye of an empire that despised him and the people he preached to. He was beaten...battered...threatened...imprisoned...almost killed...then eventually assassinated. Yet he constantly claimed that while we serve a higher authority...we must serve those that God has chosen to lead us.

Peter also operated under the same empire and more specifically under Nero...a man who chose to burn Christians alive as torches along the city streets..yet Peter continuously told us that all power comes from God and that those in power were chosen by Him.

Finally and most importantly, Jesus...who more than once spoke about authority both from God and from government. Matthew 22:21 is the famous "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”. A statement that has been used and abused, but basically tells us to honor God first and then those He has placed over us.

Now's the best time to remind you guys that I do not like politics AT ALL!! I don't think Democrats are okay....and I don't think Republicans are okay. I dislike them all equally....BUT....

Do you read of political protests in the Bible??

Even when they imprisoned the apostles...do you read of protests??

Even when they burned Christians alive...do you read of boycotting of oils??

Even when they threw leaders into the dens of lions...do you read of smack talking debates??

Even when they killed our KING on cross and ridiculed Him in public...do you read of hate speeches or revolts??

The list goes on and on, but I say all this to say:

Why do we allow something that God is in control of...to consume SO MUCH of our worry...our time...our emotions??

Why do we allow something that our all powerful God is in control of to divide our families, define our friendships, and destroy our churches??

Why do we intensely worship for hours a day at the computer, radio, or TV over something that God has already decided...yet we get mad if the preacher goes past noon and then can barely remember what he even said??

Maybe I'm off base...Maybe there is something in the Bible I have not read yet...Maybe...or....Maybe we should just trust the God that we all call sovereign...we call All Knowing...All Powerful...Almighty...Maybe we should just trust Him like we claim to.

John Calvin once wrote: “If it has seemed good to God to set kings over kingdoms, senates or municipal officers over free cities, it is our duty to show ourselves compliant and obedient to whomever he sets over the places where we live”

"Love one another." -Jesus ("One another" refers to everyone...even Obama...even Bush...even Bin Laden...even your mother-in-law. I know it's tough...but if you disagree, that's between you and Jesus.)

Hey! Let's Go Stone Jesus!! (Palm Sunday)

So, as most of you know, I'm an idiot when it comes to church days and customs and stuff. Well, today is Palm Sunday and we celebrate the ride that Jesus took on a donkey into Jerusalem...thus fulfilling the ancient prophecies told centuries before. I like the story and I enjoyed reading it as I read through the New Testament a few months ago...but as I am re-reading it now in preparation for Easter, this story hits deep!!

Here is Jesus, riding a donkey that had never been ridden through the gates of Jerusalem! People are shouting and cheering for Him!! They are excited!! They love Him!! They are praising Him as they lay Palm branches before Him...a sign of great royal honor!! It was truly an exciting time...for the people.

You see...I have to stop and imagine how Jesus was feeling at this moment. He hadn't come back to be part of some grand parade in His honor!! He knew the facts...He knew the future...He knew that He had come back to die an absolutely horrifying death on a cross after being beaten within an inch of His life and taunted mercilessly!!

The people were quite confused as well...they thought Jesus had come to save them...liberate them...empower them...and elevate them!! They called Him king...but they were not aware of what was about to happen.

Flash forward a few days and suddenly we see these same massive crowds that had been cheering and praising Jesus only days before...now they are cursing Him as He carries His own cross...they are spitting on Him as He passes by...these very same people who so loved Him are now throwing stones at Him as He falls under the weight of the cross He is carrying.

For many of us, every single Sunday is like Palm Sunday!! You see...we go to church. We sit in our pew. We listen to the preacher. We sing praises. We talk about what Jesus has done in our lives. We mention prayers we need asked on our behalf. We say amen from time to time. We communicate to everyone around us through actions and words that we LOVE Jesus and that we are so happy He came into our presence.

Then...a few days later...after the Sunday meals have been eaten and the nice suits and dresses have been changed out of...maybe we are at work...or with friends...or by ourselves. A few days later, we curse Jesus through our actions! We spit in His face through our thoughts and deeds! We throw stones at Him through our countless sins we refuse to correct in our lives.

Yes...many of us are EXACTLY like the crowd on Palm Sunday back then...sad but true.

Oh...by the way...the absolutely AMAZING thing about back then and today??? Jesus is ALIVE and Jesus is still willing to suffer the beatings...endure the curses...carry the cross...and forgive you and I of our sins!! He did it that very day for the crowds and He has done it every day since!!

You see, when Jesus died on the cross, it wasn't for a few sins!! It wasn't for some sins!! It wasn't for most sins!!

It was for ALL of our sins!!! I ask you today: DO YOU KNOW HIM?? Do you?? Have you had that radical meeting with Jesus that changes who you are from the inside out?? Do you know Him?? Do you??

If you don't...I beg you to take a moment and seek Him out. As you read this, the small voice tugged at you a little bit. I know...it freaks me out too!! But that is God asking you to let Him in!! You don't have to change...The change will occur through His undeniable love and grace!! You will WANT to change once you meet Him and His glory!!

I know you walked an aisle when you were younger...or got christened as a baby...or told some man in a collar behind a screen all your sins...or said three hail Mary's...or got dunked in a swimming pool back when all the other kids were doing it...or grew up in a church going family and was told that would get you in...

But unless the change is evident...Unless the change is radical...Unless the change is apparent...Unless the change is supernatural...Then I have four words: Do You Know Him??

You don't need a church....you don't need a Bible...you don't need a preacher...you don't need a life coach. You need a savior!!! Thank God we all have one just waiting for us all to invite Him into our hearts!!

Woooooooooooooo!!!

I love you guys!!

"Love one another." -Jesus

Five Reasons We Don't Like Church!!!

I recently had several great conversations regarding Church and even had quite a little paradigm shift of my own occur in the process. This...in addition to now being on staff full time at a small country Baptist church in Ocilla...is what brings us to this topic.

First...allow me to give you a brief history on me and church: I was born and raised Methodist...but we were like most families in America in that we went (I say I got dragged) every Sunday...but that was the only day we heard, spoke, or even prayed really. I think my parents went through some religious phases...but never strong enough for it to bleed through to the family as a whole. So we were, in effect, Sunday Christians. The church was a decent family unit. They cared for everyone inside the four walls and everyone shook hands and played nice, but I personally don't recall ever feeling that there was any unity or love there. It was stuffy...cold...rigid...boring. Of course...these are my impressions and I am sure that plenty of people felt the opposite. But...

As a result, when I became a teen, I started turning away from church. As I developed into my twenties...without Jesus in my life, I formed aggressive opinions on how the church was useless and more of a mind control of the masses. By my thirties, I had written off Christianity and certainly the church...let me rephrase: I could tolerate Christians but I was vehemently opposed to church of any kind.

Once I got saved about a year ago...I still had no need for a church, but felt like I could go if I could find the right man (preacher) to follow!! So I started shopping...and shopping...and shopping. I got a great sampler of quite a few churches and denominations, but could not find a preacher I liked!! Then I walked in Holt Baptist and BAM!!! Love swarmed over me like nothing I had ever experienced!! The people generally cared and loved me...and they had just met me!! It was very bizarre and freaked me out. Since that time, I have come to understand the importance of Church (notice the big "C" now). As I explained to a young lady the other evening: "You know how you felt after being saved...and how you wish you could've been feeling that way all along?? Well...when you find the right Church, you'll experience the exact same feeling...it'll be like WOW!!! I've been missing out!!"

Okay...on to the list:

1 - Church is FULL of hypocrites!!! As Zig Ziglar says "Well come on...we got room for one more!!"

It's true...Church IS full of hypocrites!! But...let's look closely...There definitely ARE those that stand up and speak out against sexually immorality and then run home and jump on the internet to browse porn. That is a true definition of hypocrite. But I am honestly finding that to be the exception...not the norm. The real problem is how the outside world defines Christians. You see...most people hear that you are a Christian and assume that you are now perfect...which is outlandish!! That's like hearing a 400lb friend has joined a gym and expecting him to be 180lbs and ripped when you see him next week!!

So when people see Christians messing up, they immediately say "Freaking Hypocrites!!"...but it's not their fault....it's OURS!! You see...for too long, the system (church) has stood silent on the fact that we are ALL SINNERS...and that as Christians we strive for perfection with the understanding that we will always...ALWAYS and FOREVER...fall short of that goal and the glory of God!!

Imagine if preachers everywhere started standing up and saying "Wow...I am seriously screwed up!! I sin every day!!". You think that's a crazy thought?? Paul did it...repeatedly!! Is your preacher on Paul's level?? So what makes him better?? The more we inform the outside world that we are imperfect...the sooner the argument of "I don't go to Church cause they are all full of hypocrites" will go away.

2 - Church people are judgemental...And...the Bible says not to judge so also see #1!!

Again we are faced with two issues: Christians misbehaving...and people outside the Church having a distorted view. You see...There definitely are Christians who adopt the "holier than thou" mentality and wield the Bible like a Golden Spatula in Bikini Bottom!! But really...who cares!! That's really no different than you thinking New Orleans is a great city or that cats are not from the devil!! (**both are severely incorrect and the Bible says so!!). But seriously...who cares if a handful of people disagree with you?? I challenge you to go and join any other large group on the planet and not have at least a few people that disagree!! Church ain't no different!!

As for the outside...We live in a judgemental society...as a matter of fact...we are a judgemental species and always have been!! Laws are nothing more than judgements. Your internal "Right and Wrong Meter" is essentially judgement. Let's face it...we judge people ALL of the time!! Murderers are judged and considered unfit for society...as are pedophiles and rapists. No one has an issue with THOSE judgements...lol.

We tend to use the "Judgemental Card" when sin in our own life is being exposed. It's tough...take it from a guy who deals with it weekly!! LOL...but the fact is that Christians have a divinely inspired book of history, prophecy, rules, and commandments that guide us. There are some things that are debatable (Did Noah inspect every creature to see male/female and how did he know on frogs?) and there are others that are set in stone (like the Ten Commandments....literally). But the point is that we have a clear understanding through the Word of what sin is AND we are called to destroy it in our personal lives and help others do the same...through love.

If you are homosexual and walk into any of the Churches I visited on my shopping spree, I promise you that you would be greeted with absolute open arms and invited to PLEASE come back!! These people judged you and said "He's homosexual...and seeking God." Does the Church, as a loving body of Christ have an obligation to approach you eventually and discuss homosexuality with you?? YES!! They are mandated by God to do so...If it's done in LOVE and you still have an issue with it...then that's on you. By the way...if Homosexuallity is a touchy subject, then insert Liar, Thief, Drunkard, Idolator, Adulterer, or a multitude of other sins in there and they'll work just as well...it's all the same in God's eyes anyway...

Now...Churches...Jesus said "Be careful HOW you judge...because you will be judged the same way by your Heavenly Father." He also said that we should not judge people hypocritically...in other words...if you have a problem with anger...you probably are not the right person (biblically) to approach another brother about his anger issues!! Also...Since this is our Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, we MUST hold each other to the highest standards when it comes to dealing with sensitive issues! Love, Love, Love!!

3 - Church is BORING!!! Stop being lazy and go find you a Church that fits your style!! Look...I decided that I would consider any church as long as two things were solid: 1) They preach from the Bible!! 2) They believe in The Gospel (Christ crucified and resurrected). As long as those two requirements are met, it's a solid church in my opinion...so find one with the flair you enjoy!!

4 - The Church just wants my money!!! Here's the deal: God said we are to tithe 10%...So unless they're standing at the pulpit screaming "You need to give ten to forgive your sin!!"....or..."Write us a check or your life will be a wreck!!"...then I'd say they are just doing what God has told them to do as good shepherds and that is to ask the flock to follow Jesus. Now...if you disagree with God...that's tween y'all.

5 - Sunday is my day off and I like sleeping in!!! Well...first off...there are many Churches that offer later services. Find one!! If there's not one in your area, then sleep in...but just remember that Christ HUNG ON A FREAKING CROSS NAKED AND BLEEDING SO THAT OUR HEATHEN SELVES COULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WITH HIM...I think the least you could do is get up at 10am on Sunday and go worship Him once a week.

Look...the bottom line is that you DO NOT have to go to Church to get to Heaven or even be a Christian!! No where in the Bible does it state that (so far as I have seen...lol). BUT...trust me when I tell you that finding the Church that God has for you...and experiencing the awesome worship and fellowship along the way...is SO incredibly worth it!!!

** New Orleans nor Cats are mentioned as evil in the Bible...the author was joking!!

"Love your neighbor as yourself." -Jesus

Son, I Brought You Into This World...I Will Take You OUT!! (Abraham & Isaac)

We all have guilty pleasures...and I have been trying to follow the "garbage in...garbage out" rule as far as my entertainment goes, but I love The Family Guy. One of the best clips ever is where Peter references the time that God told Abraham to kill Isaac...and the scene flashes over to Abraham Lincoln standing on The Love Boat and shooting Isaac the bartender...

I'm sure we've all heard something about the real story of Abraham and Isaac in the Bible. You know...the one where God comes to Abraham at like 100 years old and says "Hey! You're about to father a son...and many, many, many, more family will follow!! So...Grab Sarah...throw on some Marvin Gaye and get it on!!"

So they have a son named Isaac...then one day, God comes to Abraham and says "Hey...about that son. Take him to a mountain and sacrifice him."



Yep...so Abraham packs up the horses...a few servants...his son...and they start walking until God reveals the mountain where it should take place. Once there, Abraham tells the servants that he and the boy are going up and that they will be back...all the while slipping a huge Rambo knife into his boot strap!!

As they get to the top of the mountain, Isaac looks over at his father and says...so where is the sacrifice?? Abraham replies that God will provide and builds an altar...then proceeds to lie Isaac down on it and raises the knife.

Just then the Angel of the Lord appears and stops Abraham!! He tells Abraham that because he trusted in the Lord, he will be blessed many times over through children that will inhabit all the nations!! Also...suddenly there is a huge ram that is stuck in the vines nearby...and they sacrifice it instead.

Okay...I'll say it...This is an odd story!! Kinda sadistic even!! I mean...really?? Go kill your only son that God gave you??

But then it starts to make sense...check it out:

0 - Not really a point to the story, but Abraham was freaking 100 years old before he even had Isaac...NEVER think you are too old to serve God in AMAZING ways!! You might be in the 4th quarter of your life, but remember...most points are scored during the last 2 minutes of a football game!!

1 - Notice that even though it was his only son, Abraham NEVER QUESTIONED God!! Also...I've always seen or just understood this to be some great dilemma for Abraham, but as I read the story, there is NO SIGN that concern, doubt, or sadness ever crossed Abrahams mind!! He simply said "Ok...let's pack it up guys...we need to find a mountain!"

2 - Genesis 22:5 is SO key to understanding this story...it hit me like a ton of bricks!! "He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

Notice Abraham told the servants "...WE will come back to you." I read this and thought to myself...Did Abraham lie?? He knew he was there to kill Isaac!! But you see...that's the whole point!! Abraham trusted in God so much that he KNEW God would handle the situation!!

3 - Not convinced?? How about when Isaac asked where the offering was and Abraham said: "Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together." Genesis 22:8

"God will provide the lamb..."!!! Abraham is not lying...or shuffling his feet!! He is trusting FULLY in the Lord to handle the situation!!! AND HE DOES (umm...Ram in vines...hello!!!)

Look...I don't know about you, but I LONG for the same type of relationship these OT guys had with God!! I know it is possible...He's the same God as back then!! But...in order to have that type of relationship, we must first have that type of faith...and WOW...that's a tall order!!

I think this story is so key because it shows us that, Yes! God will test us at times...and Yes! Those times can be tough and unpleasant...If we allow them to be!! If we try to handle the situation ourselves!! If we choose to stop trusting in God instead of relinquishing all control to Him!!

I see neither tough times nor unpleasant times in Abraham through this story...He had ABSOLUTE faith that God was in ABSOLUTE control!! That's awesome!!