Numero Uno

MAR 14 - MAR 20 2010 – NUMERO UNO – ISSUE 145

See what happens when you steal an hour of my sleep just to save billions of dollars in power bills? I start speaking other languages and claiming I can time travel. (Think about it, I went from 2:00 to 3:00 in the blink of an eye — that's time travel.) As cool as those powers are, I'd much rather just fall back every time we change the clocks. And to prevent us from having entire days in the night (which would happen if all we ever did was fall back an hour), we'd just have to fall back like 7 hours at some point. We'd all get really good nights of sleep and put an extra half day on our lives, keeping us younger longer. This could give the world over a renewed vigor and joy, resulting in mass euphoria and global peace.

Maybe I should go back to bed. Clearly I'm losing my sanity.

At the end of last weeks 'C, I mentioned how God takes the idea of idols incredibly serious. I nearly rewrote the entire issue as I realized just how serious that was, but decided to save it for this week.

As New Testament Christians we tend to view sin in a little different way than the Jews did under the Law. They had ten specific things that laid the foundation for acceptable behavior, (which rabbit trailed into all sorts of other laws) while we focus on a person's heart as well as actions that stem from nine of those original ten. Sometimes I think we forget, though, that God hasn't changed his heart or thoughts about that original "list" He made. And even though sin is a bit more complicated than some tangible list of Dos and Don'ts, the ones He did list should still be held in high regard and be considered very specific things we definitely should not violate.

Guess what's number one on that "list"?  I'll give you a hint, it has something to do with idols and not having anything be more important than God. (Exodus 20) I realize God didn't emphasize any of the Commands over the others, or tell Moses to number them, but if the first thing out of His mouth is "don't worship idols", I have to believe there's a reason He said that first. We know He's a jealous God who's always vying for our attention, striving to win our hearts and affection from a world that will leave us empty and unfulfilled. So maybe it's first because He desires our love above all else. Certainly you could make a strong Biblical case for it.

Or maybe He mentions it first because He knows how easily our mind, heart, and attention are given elsewhere, and the dangers of what we tend to always give ourselves to. Perhaps this was His way of warning us of a very real danger, one we tend to overlook, and trying to protect us from the repercussions pursuing worldly treasures and pleasures will bring. Regardless of why it was the first of His commands, it emphasizes the importance of making sure we have no idols in our lives.

As we continue through this month, keep digging deep to unearth idols that are stealing your heart, affection, and usefulness from the Lord. And then take any steps necessary to destroy them. Jesus made it clear that it was better to be radical in ridding sin from your life than "trying to control it." And if God and Jesus were both so concerned with this issue, shouldn't we be, too?

MATTHEW 18:8, 9 - (Click to view)

THINGS TO NOTE: Ohio Valley Women's Retreat Sat and Sun // Sunday = All brother service at Young's at night

THIS WEEK:

Monday - is tired of eating all those carrots and celery it brought to the brunch that people passed over in favor of amazing food and fantastic desert. Not that Monday's bitter or anything...

Tuesday- Keep smashing idols on that list and/or doing your own

Wednesday – Normal 7:00 Midweek at the FQ

Thursday – Pray for your sister's and their conquering of idols

Friday- Normal 7:30 Bible Talk at Biggby's

Saturday – Ohio Valley Women's Retreat

Sunday - No normal Sunday Service. Night Service for brothers at the Young's

Brett "You call it Day Light Savings, I call it a super power" Hibbler