Shepherd's Garage

What does it take to get heard?  It seems like to really get attention you have to be over the top these days.  That should have an effect on how we listen and judge others as they speak in this day and age when pretty much anyone can pick up a mike and potentially broadcast their ideas to millions.

Jesus asks us to daily take up our cross and follow him.  Maybe to understand this cross should not be understood as a burden, but as a mission.  The cross is not a problem but a purpose.

The last in this series of looking at the Happy Lies book.  The last installment looks at seeker sensitive churches and her criticism of those.

This may be the sinner's prayer we all need to be praying.  "God be merciful to me a sinner."  Why?  Let's explore.

As we continue to look at the book "Happy Lies" I discuss the idea that I want Jesus to save me from myself, not to affirm me.  It makes a lot of difference as to how we listen to him.

People come to Jesus for all kinds of reasons.  Some are spiritual and some are not.  Jesus welcomed all who came for whatever reason.  We should too.

Let's take a break from the review of "Happy Lies" and look at the other side.  There are those who have not had success in life and they do need to hear a message that life can be more than what they currently have.  I'll get back to reviewing the book next week, but want to pause for a side commentary.

Do you want to get well?  This is a question asked by Jesus a long time ago and we need to be asking ourselves.  Our first response might be, "Yes, of course."  But do we really.  Many do not want to get well.  Why?

If we ask and God does not do what we ask is that a lack of faith on our part?  If we just had more faith would God give us what we want?  Maybe not.  It is likely something else.  Let's explore.

In John 4 there is the story of the official whose son was near death.  Jesus spoke the word and the son lived.  However, the man had to wait the night to gete the news that his son was well.  How hard is it when Jesus makes a promise but we have to wait for it to be experienced?  Sometimes it can be a day and sometimes it can be years.  Jesus can still be believed.  

We take a look at Chapter 7 of the book Happy Lies.  Is there any danger to the Law of Attraction?

Back to school time.  Let's hear what the parents and teachers have to say as the children go back to school.

Why do Christians meet each week?  The meaning of the word church is assembly.  Why is it so important to get together each week. Let's explore.  My apologies, the first part of the sermon was cut off.

A fundamental question you have to ask yourself is this:  Am I enough and I just need to discover myself or do I need a savior?

The series from Ecclesiastes continues from chapter 5 today.  "Whoever loves money will never have enough."  We also know it is so easy to fall in love and it is easy to fall in love with money as well.  How do we keep from this evil.  Is what you have an achievement or a gift.  It matters how you view it.

Just because we have a desire does that mean we should act on it?

Don't think of the church as a building or even an institution but an assembly of those who desire to follow Jesus.

This week i take a look at chapter 4 of Melissa Dougherty's book "Happy Lies."  Truth is not found inside us.  it is external to us.  One reason why we struggle with pursuing truth and loving it is that the truth is hard and may even cause is to suffer.  There are a lot of other reasons why we pursue truth inside ourselves instead of outside so check them out in this episode.

Why?  Such a small word with so much power.  We want to know why but are not given answers.  What is going on?  With all the problems in the world it seems like God could do more.

We continue our look at Melissa Dougherty's book "Happy Lies."  We desire to be God.  Maybe not even in some metaphysical or ontological sense, but just wanting to exert and have control and make the world the way we want it.  This is one reason "New Thought" has such a powerful influence and can make it's way into our lives.

The 10 Commandments are in the news again.  But, do yoou even know what they are?  Many believers cannot even name them, so what does that say about those who want them in public cpaces but cannot even name them.  Let's explore.

# 1 of a series as I take a look at Melissa Dougherty's book called, "Happy Lies."  

How do we live among those who do not believe?  First, we make sure that we have our own house in order.  We need to hold each other to a high standard and then we can walk more confidently among those who do not believe.

As Christians how do we have conversations with those who do not believe.  We start first with the understandng that if we have the Holy Spirit we have been given a gift to help us understand spiritual truths.

To be a good father one needs to be a man of integrity.