Car Scam

My wife and I just started looking for used cars. Since we're new to Craigslist we've discovered that there are a number of deceptive scams to "ship" very expensive vehicles sold ridiculously low cloaked by a story of urgency and sympathy.

This is the second car scam we've encountered. This conversation picks up where I've just asked for a phone number. Here is the response from "Anna" and my email back.

Hi again Rob,

Please understand that I just moved here and I don't yet have a phone. Until then please understand the situation and carry on with this by e-mail cause I don't have any other way yet. And again I'm truly sorry we can't talk over the phone. But please understand.

The car is located in Honolulu HI. Is already crated at the shipping company ready to be sent to any location anywhere in the world, like i told we will use eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection, so we can both be protected and insured. The price for the car is $3,000 with shipping included.

1. Buyer, seller reach an agreement (price and delivery conditions)

2. Buyer sends money to eBay.

3. eBay confirms to seller that the amount has been received.

4. Seller performs the required services (shipping, insurance).

5. Buyer accepts delivery and informs eBay about the acceptance.

6. eBay releases the money to seller.

As you can see, you will receive the car BEFORE any money is released to me. You will get the chance to inspect it, test drive it and everything you like while your money is still safely held in eBay's account. ONLY after you confirm to eBay that you agree with the vehicle, they will release the money to me.

If, for some reason, you disagree with the car (I assure you that is NOT going to happen since my 2006 Acura TL is in IMMACULATE condition inside and out) it will be shipped back to me on MY EXPENSE and eBay will send you your money back.

If you wish to proceed further, I will need your complete name and address so I can start the transaction with eBay's Vehicle Purchase Protection Program.

Let me know if we can get the ball rolling.

Regards,

Anna Parker

no. thanks.

praying for you friend that you will turn from this sin and find new freedom and life in Jesus Christ.

We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Rom. 3:23) but God came to us in Jesus Christ to set us free from sin. If you turn your life to him recognizing your sin and need of Him by faith--He will forgive you--and give you new life (Acts 3:19-20).

God will provide for your needs if you become His child--we are not all children of God by birth. But we become His children when we turn our lives over to Jesus Christ by faith alone (John 1:12-13).

He can provide for your financial needs. But you must turn from this and trust in Him.

Praying that you do that this hour.

Broken Down but Not Broken

Friday before last I was in Garland having lunch with a guy new to the church. As I was driving off I was grateful for how the conversation went. It was almost exclusively about the gospel--and encouraging to talk about the grace of God.

So when my car died just 5 minutes down the road I was at peace. My mind was filled with thoughts of God's grace. Can you hear a Tomlin song in the background?

However, 3 hours later, and 3 mechanics in--my peace melted off my conscience and onto the pavement outside of Peachtree Food Mart to join the pools of sweat. Nobody could figure out the problem of my Nissan mystery machine.

Questions filled my mind.

"Am I going to get home?" "Will this be the end of my car?" "Can I afford another one?" "Can this be salvaged?" "Am I going to get mugged?"

Long story short--the mobile guy discovered the non-fixable problem I had the the car towed and we are still praying about what to do with it. But one thing that did happen was an opportunity to share the gospel when I was at the end of my rope emotionally and physically tired.

One of the mechanics was a friend of the guy I met with. He called him and this man came to help. But he didn't just stay for 20 minutes in the 102 degree temperature, or 1 hour, but for over 3 hours!

At one point I was on the phone juggling calls with AAA, my wife, and another friend who works at a dealership and I looked over at him. There he sat--next to my defunct car--waiting patiently for me to see if I needed his help for anything else. He was an amazing example of compassion and generosity.

I was floored. As I asked him questions I learned that he was born in another country--and had a Christian upbringing--and some interest in church.

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed--so after 3 hours in the sun--mostly of us silently starring down at the sea of gray under my hood--I thought it may be a good idea to share the gospel.

We talked about the peace of forgiveness through the death of Jesus--and new life through His resurrection. As I surrendered to the Spirit's desires--I found the words to say and sensed His power. I am convicted that it has been a while since I've stepped out in faith at an open door.

It was a great reminder not only that God uses inconveniences as open doors--but more than that for me. This reminded me that He will see to it that His message of reconciliation be shared with all people--and even when we're not actively going into the world--He will bring the world to us.

Just give us eyes God.

5 Reasons I Love You Joel (on your 5th Birthday)

1. I love your joy. Your smile and your laugh is contagious—and you suffer from the same thing your Daddy does—the ability to smile at the most inappropriate times.

2. I love your mind. The way you can enter a whole world through your imagination. You love to pretend—and we love to watch you pretend (and spray the sound effects all over the living room).

3. I love your personality. You enjoy taking the smallest and most random part of a toy and focusing all your energy and enthusiasm on it for hours. Very strange—but very cool.

4. I love that you sing. I love hearing songs come out of you when your playing—and hearing you ask for music when we’re driving.

5. I love that you are mine and I get to enjoy you every day. I will never stop loving you Joel.

Posted via email from robtombrella's posterous

Global Prayers for a Local Church

Every Thursday morning we have a prayer gathering of Grace Church from 6:30am to 7:30am. Although it's an early hour, I've grown to really love these times together.

Something brand-new we just started this morning is to take the first Thursday morning of the month and dedicate the whole meeting to the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). In a sense, all prayer orbits around our call to "go and make disciples" but on these mornings we will try to discipline our praying for specific areas of gospel break-through.

After a brief meditation on Matt. 4:12-25, here are some things we prayed for this morning...

1. A local outreach to our city at Frisco Square. We are seeking to give away 6,000 glow-in-the-dark bracelets to children and demonstrate the love of Jesus this Saturday night.

2. Our Sunday gathering. We asked that God would empower the preached word to draw the listener to Himself and bring change through His grace.

3. Our ministry to Rambling Oaks. A retirement home we've partnered with through faithful men in our church. Every Sunday someone from our church is preaching there and leading worship. A friend named Shayne heads this up. We asked that God would stretch out his hand to heal many for His glory according to Acts 4:30.

4. Every Orphans Hope. We prayed for Gary Schneider and his ministry to orphans in Zambia that office at our church building.

5. Political and Social Tragedy and unrest in Mexico. Through our partnership with Sovereign Grace Ministries we prayed for a church to be strengthened with power and boldness in Juarez, and for the orphanage they support called Rancho 3m to be protected in these days.

6. Gospel for Asia. We have a few members of our church that serve at Gospel for Asia as self-supported missionaries in a full-time capacity to see churches planted among the unreached. We asked God would empower them and their efforts for his glory.

7. An evangelical Russian church that will begin meeting in our church this Sunday. We are seeking to be a part of a church ministering faithfully to Russians in the Dallas area.

8. Iraq. Through Operation World, we united with the global church in praying for the country listed for this day which happened to be Iraq. We prayed that God would reach the unreached Bedouin, Persians, and Gypsies.

Cab Drivers at T4G...(2)

If you're like me--sharing the gospel with Muslims can be intimidating.

What do I say?

Well, in short--be loving--ask questions--and talk them about God's love in Christ and the promises we have in Jesus--in particular of atonement for sin in the death of Jesus and of assurance of eternal life in Jesus.

On the return trip to the airport I shared a cab with Craig and Aaron from the hotel to the airport. Once again we jumped into a cab that was driven by a Muslim. One difference was that this man seemed to be a practicing, much more serious Muslim. A stack of religious books were on his dashboard.

"Are those religious books?" Craig asked.

"Oh yes" he said, "they are--books about the Koran to help explain it."

For about 10 minutes Craig asked him questions about his beliefs, what he thought of the Koran, and his understanding of God. He was eager to share. As we pulled up to the airport to get ready to get out we asked about who gets to go to heaven as a Muslim. Good people.

"Do you think you'll go to heaven?" Like the previous Muslim he only hoped he'd go--he insisted that no one can really know.

"The Bible says you can know" we said. He recoiled at the mere mention of that and as we got our bags out of the trunk he wanted to know how we were so sure.

Craig shared the gospel with him--told him about the love of God in the death of Jesus for sinners and told him about the gospel of John and encouraged him to read (1 John 5:13). He said he had a Bible--but this seemed new.

When we reflected on the conversation and getting into the cab Craig mentioned feeling a sense of darkness in the cab--before noticing the books.

Thankful God placed us there to shine the light (2 Cor. 4:4-6)

Don't be intimated to share with Muslims. If you know the gospel--you're ready.

Cab Drivers at T4G....(1)

One memory I have from T4G was the drive to the airport.

With 7,000 men from around the globe descending on Louisville, I was a bit cautious of being a clanging cymbal of white evangelicalism to an Indian cab driver just doing his job. But, when I found myself taking a cab solo it seemed like an open door.

On the drive to the airport the man I spoke to claimed to be Muslim and had taken his trip to Mecca. He didn't seem very strong in the teachings of the Koran, and he didn't know what his standing was before God, but he did believe that he held to the Law as written in the Koran. He believed in the Law of Moses and the 10 Commandments.

"Do you think you've kept all the commandments?"

"Well...yes."

"Like what about lying? Have you ever told a lie?"

As we raced to the airport he told me several times that he had lied to his friends a couple times. "But every time it was only a joke. I was just kidding--and told them later."

He shook his head 'no' with confidence when I asked him, "Is your god of the Koran a god of love?" He later said he didn't know where he was in his standing with God.

"I....I don't know....I...don't know...." He said in a kind of hopeful way.

Out of the jet-lag I found the Lord gave me His compassion for Abib. Out of what can only be Christ's love for him I shared the good news.

Have You Quit?

My apologies for a long time in posting. I've been recently encouraged by folks to keep the posts coming. Some of the reason for the delay has been...

1. Relational. I've found it difficult at points to "quickly" blog interactions I have with folks if it hinders a long-term relationship in some way. In other words--without permission from the person I've wondered about the wisdom of posting something too quickly. I think you get that.

2. Busy. I've been a bit busier than a year ago.

3. Desire to write other things. For better or worse.

4. Lazy. Let's face it. This is what gets all of us. If you fail to plan to reach out to people--you plan to fail. I can make excuses till I'm blue in the face but it doesn't change the fact that I can get very lazy in interacting with people who need to hear good news. One of the very reasons I started this blog.

So...please pray for me. I need to get back at it. Maybe you do too?

FYI...next post will be on Craig Cabaniss and the interaction we had with a cab driver at T4G.

Would You Move to a Miserable City to Plant a Church?

One enjoyable memory that will stay with me from the T4G conference in Louisville was going with a friend from the church to eat sushi for the first time with some of his friends from Detroit Michigan.

The memory will stay with me for at least 2 reasons.

First, it was my first time to go sushi I decided to really go for it. I feasted on raw fish and even ate an eel ninja role that tasted just like it sounds. Unfortunately I made it through about 20 minutes of Al Mohler’s session before I got sick and spent the rest of the evening in my hotel room. Sorry Al. It really was the sushi.

Secondly, I learned a little bit more about Detroit. My new friends talked about the difficulty the city has experienced for years—how racial tensions still cast a dark cloud over the city—about how all of them would love to move out but are upside down on their homes because of the depressed economy (I’m talking about a lot folks). I also learned that Detroit has huge pockets of cultures including one of the highest Arab populations in the country helped along by the auto industry for years.

What struck me about this conversation was that I was recently talking to my wife about a recent Forbes listing of “Top Cities for Jobs.” Texas has the top 5 on their list (Starting with Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio).

While discussing what this means for Texas in years to come we discovered their list of “America’s Most Miserable Cities” with Detroit coming in #7 among major cities. Among the reasons given are the scandals surrounding its mayor, continued decline of the auto industry, and the highest crime rate of any major city in the US. Only the success of the Red Wings and the winnings of the Pistons seemed to knock it off of its 2007 crown of Most Miserable City.

So, with all the people moving out of the city, and the growing rise of urban church planting, I wondered if anyone was moving IN to this city. I discovered this article and was encouraged by the families that have partnered together at great cost to advance the good news of Jesus to a city in need of joy.

So, I asked myself the same question I ask you.

Would you move to a miserable city for its joy in Jesus?

Along the Silk Road

Fascinating video journals on a project that is revealing in regards to observations on culture and challenging in regards to mission. Great thoughts from Carolyn McCulley about this project.

Chile

Gospel Revolution

Agnosticism in the Bible Belt

With the Launch of REACH--our college ministry at Grace Church--we've been going on campus inviting people out to our Thursday night "non religious" Bible study.

One conversation I had recently was with a very open and friendly student who held to a general belief in God (who he referenced as the Omega), but had serious issues with the biblical portrayal of God. Specifically, he took issue with the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden, and the tower of Babel. Although he was missing some details he recalled stories from his Catholic upbringing well and was able to articulate his concerns thoughtfully.

His questions came raw and real. His vision of God is distant and uncaring.

"I mean, why would God put a tree in the middle of the garden just to set us up for failure? Like...thanks a lot."

Regarding the tower of Babel, "Why would he get so mad at people for building a tower to get to heaven when we all end up there anyway?"

His concerns echo the thoughts of an unbeliever at REACH last night. In discussion groups one visitor understood Jesus only as "hope" for people who believe but didn't hold to the Christian understanding of Jesus as a resurrected, real, and returning.

Agnosticism, cynicism, and unbelief aren't isolated to the urban wilderness, but live in the brass buckle of the Bible belt. Moreover, it may thrive in a culture that easily touches religion, and where having some experience or connection with a myriad of churches comes easily--but just as easily comes to reject what they've seen as an uncompelling witness to Jesus.

Is There Gonna be Beer?

We went out on campus at Quad C this week to invite people to REACH--our college ministry Bible study at It's a Grind. We had a great time doing it. It had been a while since being on a college campus so it was refreshing in a lot of ways. Both UNT and Quad C reveal the same desperate needs college students face that I remember from over 10 years ago.

One of the funniest encounters was what seemed to me to be the a-typical response to a Bible study invite from someone on a college campus to my friends humble invite. When he mentioned there would be burgers etc. he asked,

"Is there gonna be beer?"

Okay. Let's assume the best of intentions in this question for a moment. Maybe he felt that beer would be as effective as burgers as a free commodity for a Bible study in the buckle of the Bible-belt hosted by a church to largely under-age students. Maybe he felt it's pointless to invite college students to something without it and this is helpful information. Or maybe he really, really, really likes beer. I get that. I don't have anything against beer. Honest.

But maybe not.

Maybe, just maybe, after 30+ years of Hollywood glamorizing the fullness of the college experience as a 5+ year keg party it still sells tickets for movies in August and makes it's way to the lips of students at times to deflect the idea of pursuing anything of seriousness. Maybe it's still an effective trump card to out-awkward a potential threat to freedom.

Maybe the world, the devil, and the flesh still encourage people to hide behind false images and turn this poor drink into a weak, unfit, and useless god.

No. No beer at the Bible study. But lots and lots of the best vintage wine (Acts 2:13; Eph. 5:18; Matt. 9:17)

Col. 1:15-20 and Jehovah's Witnesses

I recently had the opportunity to preach on Col. 1:15-20 on the supremacy of Christ.

One attribute that Paul highlights about this cosmic Christ is his supreme place as the "first born (1:15)." One thing I tried to share was how Paul's use of this word is unique in distinguishing Christ as the "highest authority" over all creation (as vs. 16 summarizes).

A very good question from a friend in our church was, "The JW's would respond to the verse you quoted from Colossians with "well, God created Jesus first, and then everything else that existed was created through Jesus."

Can you explain how to defeat that argument that Jesus was the agent of creation of everything that he could be the agent of creation for - but not for himself?

Here's my understanding to this very good question...

thanks for asking. the first place I'd go in Colossians is verse 16. Even though a JWs would say he's exalted and created all things, can they agree that all things were created "through him AND for him"? The question they haven't settled in that verse is how all things the Son creates for his praise doesn't compete with the praise of Jehovah. If he's the goal--he puts himself in direct competition with God--unless he is equal with God.

Of course if I'm talking with a JW I'd want to go to John 1 and show that "..and the Word was God" and point to the fact that you cannot make the Word be "a god" as their translation says. The Greek doesn't allow that. It literally says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and 'God was the Word.'" I'd also want to show all the other places Jesus puts himself equal with God (John 14) and the place where he says, "before Abraham was, I am."

As for him not being created himself I'd want to show every place in Scripture where the Son is described as "eternal." The Son took on human flesh and "became" Jesus of Nazareth at a point in time, but the Son's eternality makes his incarnation so glorious. If he's eternal he can't be created--infinity can't have a starting point--and infinity is an attribute only a being who is fully God can have. The Father has ALWAYS existed, but if the Son has ALWAYS existed as well he is fully God--though distinct from the Father--they exist as one God for all of eternity.

Titus 2:13 says, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” In John 10:30 it says, “ I and my Father are one.” Revelation pictures Jesus as eternal throughout. Isiah 9 describes Jesus this way, "for to us a child is born, to us a son is given...and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." How can Jesus be called both "child" and "everlasting Father?" Because of his oneness in essence with the Father, and his eternality.

Tattoos are Talking Points...

From a friend named Nicole--released from the comments...

I found myself in Wal-Mart on Halloween night at 9:30 buying food for our Bible Study group the next day. I pulled into the one of many checkouts open...apparently no one shops on Halloween(all out being scary:). Anyway, the guy working had a HUGE tat of the grim reaper, which was sort of ironic being on Halloween and all. Before I even thought about the words leaving my mouth I was asking him about his tattoo. He told me how it reminds him of how he almost died. He told me the story and I was then able to ask him if he knew where he would go when he did die one day. He looked at me puzzled, I explained the gospel to him and asked him to think about that question every time he looked at his tattoo. I invited him to the college Bible Study and we figured out we knew some common people.
He told me I should get a tattoo, I told him I was too much of a whimp to get one. He advised I should just be intoxicated then it wouldn't hurt as much, I told him that probably wouldn't be a good idea. I have thought about a tattoo, the Hebrew letters for integrity, that is probably what I would get "IF" ever! So, being intoxicated wouldn't really go with that theme :) We laughed and parted ways! I was on a high though, because being in the midst of something God is doing is thrilling! I knew that night I was right where God wanted me to be, and it was peaceful!
So, what started out as a usual run to Wally World turned into a divine appointment...

10 Great Memories on My 10th Anniversary

On the eve of our 10 year anniversary my wife and I decided to write down 10 of our favorite memories over the years. Here are mine in no perfect order.

1. The births of all three of our boys (the walk down the hallway to Sam, the late night run to the hospital for Joeler, the mid-day call that Ash was on his way).

2. The early morning run on my wedding day. Dec. 18th 1999 at 7am I was up running with Joey and Adrian around the campus of SHSU. I was so nervous about the wedding I felt like I could run forever. I couldn't believe I was about to be married to Michelle and even though I was tired from playing video games the night before (sadly) I needed that run.

3. Dancing to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", Caedmon's Call's "Somewhere North" to my wife on our wedding day. So thankful my mom talked sense into me that I needed to have a dance. I have to throw in Frank Sinatra Christmas CD that we played in Fredricksburg on our honeymoon.

4. Letters and pictures from my girlfriend Michelle Marquart when I was in Indiana preaching bad sermons and she was in California in the summer of '99

5. Watching "Muppet's Christmas" in a Super 8 Motel the night after Samuel was born. Eating fast food on the bed and glowing all over with joy.

6. Being overdressed for a play in Dallas on our second anniversary. We were decked out and everyone was wearing jeans. Expensive tickets. Casual atmosphere. Bad planning. Lots of laughs.

7. Michelle wearing a blue dress and meeting me at the airport after 3 weeks away on an Istanbul study trip. I was so glad to be home and couldn't wait to see her. She made welcome home signs and put them all over our seminary house.

8. Snorkeling down a river in Mexico called "Tres Rios". Laughing at all the misadventures of the trip too many to count (on just one day).

9. Countless encouragements when God has spoken to me through Michelle. I can be so wound up with an issue or discouraged by something it can feel like barbed wire. How many times after talking about it on a date or through prayer, it unravels like cheap yarn?

10. "Robbie there's a roach in the bed!" nuff said.

Can I have another 10?

Why Santa Comes to Our House (this year)

I'm as passionate as Charlie Brown on steroids about the commercializing of Christmas but I thought I'd offer a few lines in the midst of some solid (and very strong) arguments against Santa why (this year) we've decided to include him.

1. Santa is make-believe. We are a house filled with make-believe. Everyday I come home I'm blown up at least a dozen times, downsized to a Lego man, turned in to a monster, then back to a superhero. We act out countless scenarios of good guy/bad guy. Before I kiss them goodnight we talk about how breakfast will be chocolate-covered crickets and squiggly worms. Santa stays in the category of make-believe--the same place where fairy tales and kids stories thrive. Should his bowl full of jelly belly ever eclipse the Savior, it will be toast. Pun intended.

2. Santa is generous. Let's face it. After every whiny kid has peed his pants on cheep red felt telling Santa what he or she wants, Santa just keeps giving. Year after year. Outside of some stale cookies, nobody every thinks to give Santa a gift. Superman comes and goes and hangs out incognito most of the time, but Santa works year round in his giving frenzy (or at least his elves do). Since we're having fun, we'd like to highlight that charity.

3. Santa has potential. Since he's make-believe you can make him into whatever you like. This year our Santa will love Jesus. In fact, he goes around the world at great cost to himself to tell people the good news of the birth of Jesus. He gives everyone gifts to remind them of the greatest gift ever given--the gift of God's Son. Okay, a little hokey--but none of their Playmobile pirates do that (yet).

Great Tattoo...

I've recently had some opportunities to connect with people around their tattoo. It's about the easiest way to engage in conversation with a complete stranger. All you ask is...

"Wow. I like your tattoo. What's the story behind that?" You can launch in to all kinds of topics from there that are all relevant to me.

For instance, "did that stinking hurt?" [big one for me]

"How did you finally choose that one over another one?"

"Will you get another one?" etc.

"What's it mean?" [from here it's pretty easy to cross over from the temporal to the eternal and into the spiritual. Many times a tattoo has real significance]

Yesterday at Legacy Books I was meeting someone to talk about college ministry in our church. We ended up talking with a great guy that works there about his tattoo.

It led into a great conversation about his life, moving to Frisco and his hopes of obtaining a better life here. We were able to talk about the church we're apart of and invite him out. Good conversation.

Leverage the tattoos all around you.

Tell someone today...

Parenting is Incarnational Ministry

One thing that parenting does is allow you glimmers of the glory of God's heart in the incarnation.

We've been gone for a few days on vacation and it's no surprise to us that today has been tough. For one, we usually need a day for everyone to readjust. But all three boys have been sick. Last night I noticed one of my boys had what looked like chicken pox all over his body and his cough hasn't improved in 3 weeks. Moreover, our 1 year old has had a barking cough. So while it snowed in Houston I took our oldest to the doctor for the bumps all over his skin while Michelle took our youngest to another doctor for his cough.

Since my oldest son has had strep throat he's familiar with the "swabbing" that makes him gag. Today he wanted nothing to do with the test.

The nurse cajoled. I encouraged. The doctor demonstrated. Nothing seemed to work.

I had to get down on my knees, look him in the eyes with a cotton swab in my mouth and take the journey of suffering with him. He was able to muster the courage to swab his own throat as he watched me swab mine.

This afternoon the same son struggled desperately with the taste of the cough syrup. It was less than strawberry flavor. Less than pancake friendly. We cajoled. Encouraged. Threatened. Insisted. I even put sugar in it. Nada.

Desperate for him to finish his teaspoon I asked, "it tastes bad doesn't it?" His head nodded. "It tastes gross?" Affirmative. "I'm so sorry. Come sit on my lap and tell me."

He lamented the strawberry vile of despair--he wept with great sadness. But he finished the medicine. When I put my anger to death and quit trying to sell it as "yummy" and just met him in his fear it made all the difference.

Tonight was the same. After celebrating Christmas with family the boys were wired. Didn't want to go to sleep. At. All. I spanked. Stated the case. Commanded.

But tonight I needed to get down on the carpet. Forget the coughing. Forget that they are contagious with strep and I'll probably get it. Forget the tickle when you swallow. I needed to lay in the guest room in the dark and let them hear me breathing. They needed me to be with them--near them--go through it with them. It made all the difference.

Moments like this remind me of my own need--my own restlessness--for God to come down to me--in my helplessness and need. What I'm so often reluctant and unwilling to do God did with no reserve hesitation (John 10:18).

Note the steps of God's journey to us from Philippians 2:6-7.

Though equal with God in resplendent glory and perfect fellowship of joy, Jesus...

"made himself nothing..." [low]

"...taking the form of a servant..." [lower]

"...being born in the likeness of men." [lower]

"And being found in human form," [lower]

"...he humbled himself" [lower]

"...by becoming obedient to the point of death," [still lower]

"...even death on a cross." [lowest]

In the mercy of God salvation comes through the incarnation of the Son. This incarnation displays the eternal glory of God's heart for lost, desperate, and miserable sinners.

Sinners like you and me. Sinners that need a Savior to come down to us. To meet us where we are. A Savior willing to do the unthinkable and be near us--with us. This incarnation looks us in the eyes and makes us come face to face with courage-inducing love.

Parenting gives us plenty of opportunities to incarnate the love we profess to our children--and in so doing remind us of the One who did this perfectly for every time we don't or even won't.

His love can make me thankful for the tickle I feel in my throat.

Who Do You Say I Am?

We are home from our 10 year anniversary celebration in Playa Car, Mexico. We had a blast. One way we were able to join our friends Jeanna and Justin of 11+ years was because my wife found a great deal for a few days if you're willing to sit through a "90 minute" presentation.

If you've sat through a time share pitch or something similar you're familiar with the approach. Great location. Great opportunity. Great deal. Great pressure in the final few minutes.

Ours was a good experience from a man who professed to be a born again Christian of 8 years. He had two couples who were Jehovah's Witnesses buy the plan the day before. I noticed he had a book in his pocket and he later pulled it out to show us "What the Bible Really Says." A gift from the couple he thought were Christians.

Walking past the tanning aged on the way to slurp lemonade with the closers he asked, "okay...you guys are pastors. What's the difference between what these guys believe and others?" He showed the book that was given as a gift.

I said the biggest difference is their understanding of who Jesus is. For Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus--for all his exalted status as the "firstborn" is still a created being. He is not one with the Father. To legitimize this belief they have their own false translation where the "word was a god" rather than what the Greek clearly says (John 1:1). This is what separates them from being Christians.

Justin replied, "it comes down to what Jesus asked, 'who do you say that I am (Matt. 16:15)?'"