One object of pursuit

There is ONE object of pursuit in life and that is Jesus Christ, and none other. Not Holiness, nor purity, nor security, nor goodness, nor generosity, nor any fruit of the Spirit- they are fruits - not objects of pursuit, not happiness, (it is a mind set, it can't be pursued), nor missions, nor ministry. All these are enjoyed as by products. They are enjoyed because they are good, but they are good because they are right. They are right because God has designed them that way. The best thing for a man to do is to bow his head before the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, the solution, the origin, of all things material and immaterial. All the universe falls in place in looking at him. 

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1:15-20

...There is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

1 Cor 8:6

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:36

I want to grow old on the Gospel

A friend of mine once made a comment about dogs, when one continued to chase and bring back the bone he threw. He said, "It is interesting that dogs continue to do the same thing over and over again, with the same level of excitement". 

I look at human beings and myself completely differently. I need new and better things keep me excited. Things bore me quick. Living here for 26 years, I tend to find lesser things that excite, interest, and boggle me. I am unable to keep my mind fascinated... and please, gadgets are one of the least impressive things. However there is an anomaly to this. 

I have heard the gospel message over and over again. It is simple. I can put it in about 5 sentences using really simple words. Here: I am a sinner, and desperately so. I rebelled against a righteous and holy God who should justly punish me into hell. And when I was still and enemy of God he chose to die for me. He killed his Son for me... so that now, if I believe in his Son, I can have eternal life with Him. And his Son... he continues, even today, to intercede for me. 

This simple message that is stupid to some, that people stumble at because, it has in it no "wisdom" for them, is so powerful that it saved me and it continues to save me. My mind continues to get  boggled by it. Isn't that amazingly weird? I can't believe God can continue to boggle my mind with the same old thing. He insults my intelligence. I love it. 

Yesterday I turned 26 years old... and I want to grow old on that message. 

A Sermon A Week

Why should we have a sermon every sunday? What if a pastor stands up, goes to the pulpit and says 'I have no sermon for you today'? 

What is/should be/ideally has been the role of pastors? How much of it is expositing what the bible says and how much of it is modeling for the church what it means to be a man who is led by God, and out of that having sermons preached, may be twice a week? Shouldn't a shepherd be more of a man who is walking and leading the sheep and preaching being only one of the several ways he leading them? Or does a shepherd look at his responsibilities as, "If i give the sheep 5 whacks a day, give them to the waters once a week, then my responsibilities are over "

I find it hard to believe that every Sunday God wants the church to gather in a building, sit in the pews, and to listen to a pastor preach, and then go back home. I find it hard to believe that a pastor is called to preach every sunday. Don't get me wrong. There is a place for sermons, there is a place for preaching. However, as of today, I stand unconvinced that it needs to be done every sunday.