I hate legalism. All it does is put the focus on what not to do. If we're constantly focused on that we will never get anywhere. I think the focus should always be on the positive side. We're all human and no one should make a big deal about people's mistakes. We should instead inspire each other to do positive things. We need to realize how beautiful it is to do things that are constructive rather than destructive to our lives and the lives around us. Rules don't keep people from doing what they want to do, it just creates guilt and shame and causes them to distance themselves and keep secrets. It's better just to live, love and enjoy the life we've been given and encourage one another. Allow yourself and others to make mistakes. That is the human experience. Don't resist it.

Hearing from God

In line with my last couple of posts, I asked God the other day how to lead my friends to him, and his response was, "Show them that I love them." I replied, "How?" and he said, "By loving them." It's simple and confirming what I'm already doing, but I had an observation about hearing from God; when I have a thought, it starts as an idea or an observation, and begins to develop into a more complete thought, but when God speaks to me, he gives me an already complete thought. It's as though I am hearing from another person who says something I hadn't thought of before.

God's love is infectious. You don't have to understand it to be affected by it.

My approach

My approach to sharing the gospel: be open to it and let it happen. It takes time to build trust. Without trust, no one will care what you believe. You gain their trust by showing you're not out to press your views on them, but you truly care about them regardless of what beliefs you share. When you truly let God's love live through you, it will capture the hearts of people, and they will seek it out for themselves. You're not the hero, but one who has been rescued. People relate to that because it's real.

Well, I moved into a new spot North of town. It's a really nice change of scenery and pace. There's much less traffic, and no concrete hammering next door at 3 am like the last place. Plus, it's beachfront and ground level, so no more hiking up the maze of stairs ever time I step outside. Buying groceries is a workout considering I have to hold it all in one hand while riding my bike for a couple of miles, but hey, at least it's exercise! Much cheaper too. And great view. I'm in the downstairs part, which is the grounds keeper quarters, 3 bedrooms split between 4 people, although, two of them are almost never home. My room is really small, but it's big enough to put my stuff and a small bed, which is all I need. Hey I just saw a dolphin!

Lawlessness or lovelessness?

If sin is lawlessness, and Jesus focuses the commandments into the greatest two being Love God, and love your neighbor, then the law is to love, thus lawlessness is lovelessness. So, if we act in love, we are acting lawfully, and if we act in sin, we are acting not in love, but in selfishness. We aren't supposed to manage sin, we aren't supposed to focus on do's and don't's, instead, we are to be motivated by love. I don't know anyone who doesn't like to be loved.

psalm

“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them. “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Psalm 39 4-7 NKJV