We do this now as well. We make our own rules and regulations, our own boundaries – designed to keep “others” out and make us feel superior, part of the club. In short, we are just as guilty as the Israelites were.

Paul refers to Moses for a description of the law we need in Romans 10:8:

The word that saves is right here,
as near as the tongue in your mouth,
as close as the heart in your chest.

I really think that God was trying to tell us (through Moses) that the law we need is not written in a book, but written upon our very souls. We are born with it. We die with it. Our choice is whether we live with it.

Their actions and customs would have been completely foreign to any other people, yet it would be incredibly obvious that these were a special people.

I used to thank God that we don’t have to live by the extreme rules and regulations of the Old Testament. How much easier it is to simply love Jesus and follow his teachings than some archaic protocals.

Now, i realize that the rules of the Old Testament weren’t a cage, but a release; release from the diseases, idolitry, and enslavements of the day. Jesus gave us his rules as well – and through Jesus, those rules give us the way to The Father.

We are still called to be recognizably different by our actions and customs. The actions and customs have just been changed to keep pace with the world around us.

The modern world is conflicted concerning sexuality. Jesus said to stay pure and avoid immoral thoughts. [1]

The modern world says the pursuit of wealth is most important. Jesus says money is not a treasure [2] , Love for the Father is most important. [3]

The modern world says spirituality comes from inside ourselves. Jesus says the Spirit comes only from God. [4]

We are called to be recognizably different. When the people around us stop asking why we are different, we have forgotten who we are here for.

[1] 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. – Matthew 5 NIV

[2] “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” – Luke 12:21

[3] 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “`You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. – Matthew 22 NLT

[4] 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. – John 14 NLT

I would not be in love with the LORD had someone else not carried me to Jesus. We often think that we do everything for ourselves, and we try to. Yet this is not how God planned life or how it is in reality.

God puts people in our lives; some for us to help guide, some to help guide us. If we ignore the friends and family God has given us, we also ignore the gifts God is trying to give us through them. Beyond our current friends and family, God also wants us to seek out new relationships, to bring others to Christ – especially those who cannot carry their own mat.

I am so thankful for the members of my small group. They continually provide views i hadn’t (and wouldn’t have) thought of on my own. They offer fellowship freely, but most of all, they allow me to freely share my love of Christ. Without them, i don’t know that i would be growing as fast spiritually, or even growing at all without their help.

We don’t get to God on our own, at the very least Jesus takes us to the Father. I have friends who don’t yet know Christ. They say that they see a change in me, but that “Religion isn’t for [them].” I let them know that religion isn’t for me either, Christ is. I try not to pressure them – i know God will bring them around, and when he does, i hope i get to help lower their mat in front of Christ.

Like everyone else, I have something to say. At this point I’m not sure what that “something” is though.

And like everyone else, what I have to say is different, even in the most miniscule way, from what everybody else is saying.

So, I expect that I will post on here programs and scripts that I create, usually for Linux, though I have one of those boxes here too. I expect that I will post my views on society, which I have found rapidly changing lately. I’m positive that I will post my views on God and religion (they aren’t the same you know) as well.

I’m also hoping that my wife will post her thoughts and pictures here as well.

If that interests you, check back and comment. If not, that’s OK too.