One More Thing

Hi Five Oakers, The weekend is coming and I have a few things I want to share with you.

The Weekend

There aren’t many Bible passages that start like our text for the weekend. Here it is in the Message translation. It’s really quite accurate in capturing the meaning and emotion in the opening words of Galatians 3.

You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened… (Galatians 3:1)

Paul is incredulous. And we’re going to see why.

FYI

Jeni Carlson on "Kid's Edition of Story of God Wraps Up with a Kid-Created Movie!"

Dear Parents of Saturday Night KidsROCKERS, We are coming to the end of the Story of God Curriculum. It has been a pleasure teaching your kids this amazing story. We will be working on our final movie on May 10th and 17th.

Tim Challies on "7 Things a Good Dad Says"

I have found myself thinking back to the many models of fatherhood I have seen and admired through the years. What made these fathers admirable? What set them apart? What was it that they said to their children? From these models I have drawn seven things a good father says.

One More Thing

One of my personal favorite Far Side cartoons comes in two panels. I hadn't seen it in a long time, so I had to look up someone else's description. But here it is:

Top half of the cartoon: "The Names We Give Dogs" (Two men standing in a yard with a dog.) Man says to other man:  "This is Rex, our new dog."

Bottom half of the cartoon: "The Names They Give Themselves" (Rex talking to two other neighborhood dogs.) Rex says:  "Hello.  I am known as Vexorg, Destroyer of Cats and Devourer of Chickens." Other dog: "I am Zornorph, the One Who Comes By Night to the Neighbor's Yard, and this is Princess Sheewana, Barker of Great Annoyance and daughter of Queen La, Stainer of Persian Rugs."

When Jesus spoke of building his church, he spoke of a church so strong and so mighty that not even the gates of hell could hold back its offensive (Matthew 16:18). He spoke of it as a church so mighty it would attack hell's stronghold and break through with grace and liberation to the captives.

When Jesus talked about this kind of church, he was talking about our church and other churches that hold to the gospel. What looked like Fido to the world was Vexorg (destroyer of Satan’s strongholds) to God. Even the crazy Galatians were Vexorg, as long as they didn't abandon the gospel of God's grace.

The church isn't a club or association. It's God's means of accomplishing his purposes in the world. When God looks at us, I assure you, he doesn’t see the surface. He sees a force ready to go out and daily invade Satan’s domain. A bunch of gatebusters. That's who we are. That's what you do.