Christian Exceptionalism

"American Exceptionalism" ...I heard this term yesterday as I was listening to Rush. (I know you find that hard to believe!) Exceptionalism is the perception that a country, society, institution, movement, or time period is "exceptional" in some way. ...so I began to think...what if we...as the followers of Jesus, were to practice... "Christian Exceptionalism" Joyce Meyer once said, "Excellent people exceed expectations."  If people were to describe your walk with Christ, would excellence come to mind or simply mediocrity? Colossians 3:17 says, "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus . . . " and later Paul writes, "Whatever you do, work at It with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward" (Colossians 3:23-24). Excellence does not necessarily mean the absence of mistakes, but it does mean the presence of faith and determination. To be excellent at whatever God has called you to do, you must first ask for His strength... And...this leads us to our Bible Study tonight - "Strength" - Zachariah 12:5 ... "Great STRENGTH comes from God.!" As you know I am just sayin'.  See You Tonight - Bring your Bible of choice. - Kelly

A Mystery

It's a mystery...Does faith make life easier, or burdens lighter?  Don't believers have as many difficulties as non-believers? We live with success and failures our entire lives.  We live with questions.  Sometimes God is silent. Sometimes God speaks to us -- right where we are -- and what He says is often far different from what we expect. Job questioned God - but he did not get answers.    What Job did get, was the experience of encountering  God and Job's understanding of God was greatly expanded.   God does not explain...instead He reveals himself - and - in the midst of His awesome presence....Job's questions are not answered....they simply disappear! How awesome to know that we are all...each of us...a part of this magnificent mystery. "Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.   Each morning I bring my request to you and wait expectantly."  Psalm 5:3 NLT  ..and you know...I'm just sayin'. See Ya... Kelly

Holiness

Holiness...Holy...Ness!

Holy is an ADJECTIVE...(Did you just roll your eyes? C'mon even when Dave Olson went to school they had adjectives)

Ness,  is a NOUN.... (Remember? ...a person, place, or thing!)

Ness gives "quality" to the adjective Holy...thus Holiness...  

An old hymn say, "Take time to be Holy..."  But "holiness" is not something we hear much about.

The greatest attribute of God is His holiness.  He is love, mercy, grace, long-suffering, and more,  but above all He is Holy. 

Soooooooooo ... Just what does God mean when He commands that we “be holy”?

Some Christians have  a "cultural holiness".  They adapt to the character and behavior of those around them.   As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. 

But God has not called us to be like those around us.     He has called us to be like himself!

Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.

“As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is

Written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” 1 Peter 1:15-16

 ....OK class is over, maybe... Or, is class really just begininng....

I'm just sayin'.

See You Tonight

- Kelly