A Blow Torch in a Blizzard

Wow - what a blizzard. It seems like everytime we get ourselves shoveled out there is more snow on the way and I have to admit, there are things I would rather do with my time than shoveling snow. But as with everything, when we take time to reflect, there is usually a lesson to be found. The Bible talks about snow 20 different times. Of course there is Moses who puts his hand in his cloak and pulls it out leprous like snow. Then he puts it back in and it's restored. Then as we know our sins are washed as white as snow which is a miracle when you consider our lives are like filthy rags outside a relationship with Christ. But then there is the picture of Jesus. Even though he was a Jew, it's funny because we tend to picture Christ like some long haired, blond, GQ model which is completely inaqurate. But I wonder - Have you ever pictured Christ like a blow torch in a blizzard? The Bible says in Rev 1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. Let's face it - a blow torch in a blizzard could do some serious damage. I mean talk about a hot knife in butter. You could immediately pierce through the ice, and that's exactly what Christ does. He is the creator and the judge and on that day - He will not only be the reflection of purity as white as snow - but he will also pierce through to the core of our very being. For those of us in Christ, it will be the Bema seat judgement of reward, but for those who never received the Lord - it will be a time when they are melted in his presence. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
So the next time your shoveling snow - think of the Lord in all his purity with eyes of blazing fire.
Think about the blow torch in the blizzard.

Party Righteous

Well Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great time counting down till midnight. My family and I were privileged to bring in 2009 with some old friends in the Youngstown area and it was great sharing laughs, eating all night, and partying it up. And it was nice to know that we would actually wake up without a hangover, without regrets, and with the ability to remember the night. I think a lot of people feel that partying has a worldly connotation and I suppose it does to some extent. But does it have to? Shouldn't Christians have the most fun of anyone? And shouldn't we be able to have fun and party it up without sinning? According to my Bible laughter and fun and joy are a good thing. So why then do some people act like we have to be staunch and stuffy to be Christians? I think we should be showing the world what real fun is all about and let them see that they don't have to sin to be in. It's like an old pastor friend preached one time; If you've got the joy of the Lord then let them see it on your face. PROVERBS 17:22 says "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine!" However, that same verse goes on to say, "but a broken spirit drieth the bones." In other words we can either bring joy to people's lives or we can burn them out. So I don't know about you, but in 2009 I want to strive to be the kind of person that is a good medicine for people. I want to be the kind of person that rubs off the joy of the Lord on everyone I meet. I want to party righteous this year and I hope you'll join me.