by Marc Buxton | Jan 30, 2010 | General
I recently watched the movie The Soloist with Jamie Foxx about a musical genius who basically went crazy due to his life circumstances. He ended up homeless. It is based on a true story. As the story goes, someone saw what no one else did and helped him regain his platform. He could still play the cello like no one else could.
We were recently traveling in Kansas, and we were eating breakfast in McDonalds. There was a man sitting behind us who was obviously “crazy” by any definition. He was talking to himself, had a table full of ‘nick-nacks’ and kept getting up and down and looking in the trashcan. My heart went out to him. I thought, “Jesus could change his life”. I prayed that the tract I was about to hand him would make an impact, and then I walked it over to him.
“Here you go”, I said. “It’s one of my favorite stories“.”
He looked up to heaven as if asking God, “why is he talking to me?”. Then he looked at me. His eyes told me that no one had talked to him in a long time.
“Your favorite? Did you write it?” he asked.
“No I didn’t, but it’s a good one”, I said with a smile as I walked away.
And that was that. If he read it, Christ could heal him and change his life. I am confident of that.
What could you see in someone today?
by Marc Buxton | Jan 19, 2010 | General
Read Part 1 here
Part 2:
Church (n): the spotless and pure bride of Christ (Eph 5)
Believer’s Baptism seems like a funny place to continue our discussion, but hang with me. “Believer’s Baptism” says that you cannot be baptized until you have first trusted Christ for salvation, thus following the biblical model. Those who hold to this model generally also hold to the teaching that you cannot join the church until you have been baptized. And in baptism the believer is counseled and is sure of his decision to repent and trust Christ. So, in effect, to join the church as a member, a person has been vetted, if you will, and joins in like faith and like mind. He is a member of the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, as part of the ecclessia. Ecclessia is the Greek word meaning “assembly”; in other words, the assembling together of those who have been saved, baptized, and brought into the body of the local church.
We assemble. As a majority. This gives strength to the body of Christ. Any schisms or disagreements are to be addressed in the common Spirit that we all have. This is the biblical model of a church. How does this differ from some models today, you ask. I’m glad you asked.
The New Testament church assembled together, and then went out to evangelize and bring others in. I’m sure there was a visitor here and there, and they probably had their version of “Friend Day”, but on the whole they went out. Why? They knew that their lost friends would not enjoy assembling with them and worshipping a God they currently were rejecting! We worship in Spirit and truth. The lost world has neither. So why do some have this idea that we can create an assembly that will simulatneously glorify God and attract “seekers” who are lost? Creating a service atmosphere of this nature, in my opinion, requires removing much of the spiritual content and “meat” (doctrine) from the service. This has two damaging effects:
1) it dilutes the church body
2) it gives “seekers” a false assurance of their present state
In conclusion: 1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The strongest church is the one that assembles together as a body and energizes people to go out and do the work of God, ultimately bringing others into the body. It is this strength of the body, soundly holding up the light of Jesus, that changes lives. It is not a church’s job to dilute things and make the message palatable to the lost world. It is a churches job to shine the Light.
Do you agree? Is there a limit to how acceptable the content of a church service should be to the lost?
by Marc Buxton | Jan 7, 2010 | General
“Caffeine is the most commonly used mood-altering drug in the world”
I am now +1 week cafeeine free. It was one of my New Year’s resolutions. I am drinking decaf in the morning, and laying off sodas (which I have been for a while now).
And after reading articles like this one by John Hopkins Medical Center, with words like “mood altering drug” and “reinforcer” , I am glad to have quit this particular drug cold turkey.
Question: How do you view America’s addiction to caffeine? Good, bad, or neutral?
by Marc Buxton | Jan 6, 2010 | Book Review
A quick review of a good book from Max Lucado called Fearless. If you aren’t familiar with my reviewing style, I don’t give a chapter by chapter overview of the book. I give my favorite parts (and not so favorite parts) from the book, and then tell you whether I would recommend it or not. Enjoy…
Much of Max Lucado’s work gets easily dismissed because it is so easy to read. But don’t let that fool you- the author is certainly a scholar and theologian, and has a knack for transmitting difficult principles in everyday language. Fearless is no exception. My favorite parts:
pg. 24: A story about Chinese orphans learning of their worth as God’s creation:
When they first distributed these books to the children and staff of the deaf school, the most bizarre thing happened. At a certain point everyone started crying. I could not understand this reaction.. . . Americans are somewhat used to the idea of positive reinforcement. . . . Not so in China and particularly not for these children who are virtually abandoned and considered valueless by their natural parents because they were born “broken.” When the idea came through in the reading that they are special simply because they were made by a loving creator . . . everyone started crying—including their teachers! It was wild.
pg. 26: On being God’s masterpiece…
Why does he love you so much? The same reason the artist loves his paintings or the boat builder loves his vessels. You are his idea. And God has only good ideas. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Eph. 2:10 nlt).
pg. 35: On the dangers of mishandled fear:
Fear, mismanaged, leads to sin. Sin leads to hiding. Since we’ve all sinned, we all hide, not in bushes, but in eighty-hour workweeks, temper tantrums, and religious busyness. We avoid contact with God.
Overall, if you are looking for an inspiring, easy read that is theologically sound – Max Lucado can’t be beat. Fearless is a good book to reconnect you with the basic principles of being a child of God. I recommend it.
by Marc Buxton | Dec 23, 2009 | General
Merry Christmas! Below you will find two codes that get you access to an instant download sampler from The Bible Experience. Enjoy!
1. Copy www.bibleexperience.com into your browser
2. Enter the code below in the box marked “Free Download Code”
3. Select your age in the drop-down menu
4. Click the button to download
Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Jonah – CODE: JONAH2CAT09
Mary Mary’s inspirational Psalm performance – CODE: PSALMSCAT09
