Razor Ray’s World

http://www.inews3.com/play.php?first=Ray&last=Carman

As I read this verse this morning, I was curious as to how it fits into the modern day prosperity gospel preached by so many. You know the line, “Jesus wants to heal your brokeness and take away your burdens!”

Does He really? Or does He possibly intend to break us?

Hmmm…..

My wife decided to go webkin crazy today! She bought 150! Yes, you read it right, 150 webkins!

Of course she is going to try and make money with them at a yard sale and on Ebay. She better hurry, she borrowed money to buy them (from me!)

If you need a webkin, contact Katie at sharpkiddo82@gmail.com, she has plenty!

Here are the latest photos from home -

Hip boots and a Bible! What a combination! Jesus has a real hip girl on my hands!

This is my dear wife caught of guard showing her true feelings about all the noise the girls are making behind her as they dance! ( I actually just snapped this while she was working. Her mood was fine at that moment. Just thought it was funny!)

There is one HUGE noticeable difference in a Carman (me) and  Sharp (Katie). It is in our choice in food consumption. Me, I love meat! Steaks, chicken, sushi, anything protein. Katie and her family LOVE breads! I mean this family can eat muffins for breakfast, rolls for lunch, and bread with a side of veggies for dinner. In this picture, we once again prove that we have been blessed with one of each. Hailey, give her a hot-dog and bun, and half way through, she discards the bun and eats the hot-dog. Raygan, give her the same “dog” and bun, and about a 1/4 way through, she discards the meat for the bun. Then, Hailey eats Raygans remaining “dog”, and Raygan returns the favor and eats the bun. OH MY!!!!

Blessed to be their Dad! Thanks Jesus for these two gifts!

A couple of Sunday’s ago, the whole family went to the pool. (an unusual event, especially since I don’t care for pools and alot of sun.) Anyhow, my little Hailey has turned into quite the little fish. Afraid of nothing and swimming very good. Here are a few pictures (and yes I have put on a few pounds and NO, I am not cousins with Chew-bacca)

Was an amazing day of fun and relaxation, and I even avoided the sunburn!

Don’t jump away too fast. This is simply a real life story that tells so much of how “we” are now doing church.

Last night I was catching up with a neighbor and he was reading a commentary on Romans by one of my favorites, Martin Luther. As we were talking, he mentioned having attended “So in so” church this past Sunday with some friends, which I found interesting seeing as they were seemingly very committed to their home church. As the conversation went further, this was his statement:

“some friends of ours have been going to ’so in so’ church recently because our church has had some issues over the music. So a-lot of our friends are now going to ’so-in-so’ church for the music, then coming back to our church for the Sunday School.!”

WHAT!!!!!!!!

Do you see the progression here? Church, buffet style! “I will have your music, your doctrine, your pastor (he is entertaining and funny), my sunday school, and this churches picnics!” Because we have left using the Word of God as our center of decision making, and been trained to be deaf to the leading of the Spirit (because we were taught that “leading of the Spirit” was tongues and all that holy roller stuff, name it claim it, stab it and grab it, hocus pocus), we now have consumer driven church. It started out as, “I don’t like the music,” or “I don’t like the style of preaching,” to where now we just mix match what we do like to have our “own” church. And with the internet and multiple church “styles” handy within minutes of each other, (traditional, contemporary, house, big, small, country, and cutting edge), why wouldn’t we just have church “our way.” (there is a new slogan for a church, “Have it your way!”, better check in with BK though).

I just do not see this in Scripture or in Jesus ministry. Jesus prayed we would be “one as He and the Father are one.” This did not mean we just all get along and sing a happy song, NO, this was real unity. And this unity is found in the person and being of Jesus Christ, not in our style of church!

I honestly do not have a “fix it” idea for you, or a “how to” book on the issue. But, I do think we would be better served staring at Jesus (not the latest book or ministry model) and stare so much that our images, words, and actions start to mirror his own. If you truly want to be like someone, you must stare at them, study them, watch their every move, and imitate it in your own life. And instead of jumping wagons when we want something fresh and new, just keep staring at him, he is fresh and new everyday. And I promise, if you intoxicate yourself in Jesus, you will find there is never a dull moment as he is boundless in his wonder and beauty. A lifetime spent staring at him will NEVER come close to getting into the depths of his being and LOVE!

I pray we again will become a people who are intoxicated with Jesus. It matters not where you go to church (that is church as we know it), or if you are on mission with Jesus and gather with his people at different places and with different faces, it all boils down to this, Are you LISTENING to his voice through the Holy Spirit, are you LOOKING at His actions and works through the Holy Spirit, and are you LONGING to join him in His work through the Holy Spirit! (did I just do a three point sermon outline? oops!)

Lord, open our eyes to see You, our ears to hear You, our hearts to understand You, and give us the courage and resolve to Follow You in each day, every hour, every minute! Make us like You so the world will see your glory, and they will give you glory! Draw us away from our consumer driven models based on proven business practices, and draw us closer to you!

Matthew 5:16 , Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

James 2:18 , Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

I know it might be crazy throwing this out for the world to see, but I have a large burden to visit Africa. Knocking on some doors and we will see which ones open.

How much time, effort, and money did Jesus spend in the effort to “attract’ the lost? How high was He on being a place they could feel comfortable? How much effort did he put into building a place where his followers could bring in people so He could teach them and welcome them?

Should we not put the same amount of time into those same things?

My silly girls. Man are they growing up fast!

I literally thanks God for each day we have. They truly are “God’s greatest gifts” and I am thankful He made Katie and I the stewards of these particular two gifts!