Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Evil Lazy Servants

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents;[3] to another, two; and to another, one—to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’ 22 “Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I’ve earned two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’ 24 “Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest. 28 ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents.
29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matt 25:14-30 (HCSB)

Do I want to be the "food and faithful" servant or the "evil, lazy" servant?
Hmmmmmmm. Tough Choice.
The servants that doubled were good and faithful. The one who did not was evil and lazy.

I think that for far too long we church people have been evil lazy servants - hording away in our churches and waiting for the day Jesus returns so we can say, see we have kept the people you gave us. And Jesus is going to be like... "What? You didn't double? You evil lazy people."

What is going to get us off our ***** and get moving to do the work He has called us to?

We must be about our master's business.

Advent is upon us...

Check out my Advent blog for devotions for each day of advent!

If you didn't get a chance to use it last year, the devos from last year are there too!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Clearing out stuff

So I am clearing out stuff from my office today - stuff that at one time (mostly) had a reason to be here. You know the drill - VBS is over - I help take down some of the left over decoration on Sunday morning and stash them in my office - I'll put them away next week.... etc.

I have gotten in the habit of "floor filing" - making little piles of this and that on the floor around my desk.

Anyway, I cleaned some of that up today.

It makes me think that there are little piles here and there in our lives.
Stuff you were thinking you would do. Stuff that just didn't get done.
Perhaps if we cleaned it out and started fresh, we would do better next time.

By God's grace alone!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 19, 2007

Sunday, November 18, 2007

countdown to Christmas

Not to make you panic, but check the banner at the bottom of the page for the days until Christmas!

I am thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for many wonderful things beginning with my wonderful wife and children!

Of couse it goes withouyt saying that my relationship with God through Jesus surpasses that, but what a wonderful life I have.

I am so blessed!