BLOWING OUT THE DUST

I got home from a long trip last weekend. I came home and my wife was a little overwhelmed with the housework. The next day, while she was out I decided I was going to clean. I started with the kitchen and moved my way into the living room. I noticed that there was dust on some of the furniture. I was going to grab a cloth to wipe things down when a wonderful idea came into my head–"Leaf Blower". Yes, that’s what I needed. I grabbed the extension cord and it was on! Now, I don’t know if you have ever turned on a 40 mile and hour leaf blower in your house, but it’s . . . amazing. I don’t know why, but the first place I pointed my new weapon was under the stove. Not only did I blow dust out, but a Pokemon card and a swirl of other toys evacuated their shelter. Before I knew it, I was pointing this thing under the fridge, on top of the china cabinet and let me just tell you- I would not have been surprised if a tumbleweed would have blown by. Huge clouds of dust engulfed me. The power! I "dusted" everything imaginable. Ten minutes later, I turned the blower off and just let the dust settle. It looked like a hurricane came through our house. The next hour was spent wiping and cleaning the mess I had created.

Today, we will look at the tension between staying and going. There is a time to go and there is a time to stay. Today, we will look at two stories. In one story, Jesus crossed over a lake to meet with one crazy person. He passed through a wicked storm to get there. When He got there and healed this one man–THE ENTIRE TOWN begs Jesus to leave. This young man, who has been healed, asks to go with Jesus, but Jesus tells him to stay.

In the other story, Jesus told His disciples to go and they stayed. So, Jesus allowed the first follower to be killed, so that the disciples would go.

Both stories seem contrary to what seems best. It seems like it would be a great idea for a man to spend MORE time with Jesus. But Jesus sends this lonely, strange man away from Him. In the other story, it seems odd that God would allow a man to be killed, so that His message can get out. Didn’t Jesus come to protect, to save, and help us? This is a strange way of getting people to follow him. 

The cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise God-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. 

-Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship 

Tension

Day 6 of 10 (start at day 1 by clicking HERE)

**SOME OF TODAY’S CONTENT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN**

 Psalm 139:23-24

Welcome to day 5 of Tension.  We are so proud of you for hanging in there and fighting through the tensions of this life that all of us live in.  Some have maybe hit home for you more than others, but all of them are important to look at.  Keep fighting to live OUT OF BALANCE for God and watch the amazing things He will do through you!  You are on the right path and you are not alone!  Keep up the great work — Danny & Joe

The more sinful and guilty a person tends to feel, the less chance there is that he will be a happy, healthy, or law-abiding citizen. He will become a compulsive wrong-doer — Dr. Albert Ellis

Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness — William Arthur Ward

Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ — Deitrich BonHoeffer

The next 10 days are about the Tensions in life. The tension between the desire for purity and the dirty places we find ourselves in. The tension between sacrifice and pleasure. The tension between dreams and reality. The tension between the Kingdom life and the earthly life. These are a few of the tensions we are going to explore. What it comes down to is this: We want you to live an unbalanced life. We want God to tip the scales in such a way that the life He calls us to entices us more than the lust of flesh. 

 

This series will be 10 days of learning, stretching, growing and seeking God more. We want to walk with you through this journey of sweet surrender. It is going to take work, sweat and sacrifice to go deeper so if you aren’t up for being challenged Tension isn’t for you. But if you want to be a part of a community that really wrestles with the Scriptures and seeks to be more and more like Jesus then join us for these next 10 days. 

 

Just like Progress the main focus will be Monday through Friday. The weekend will be light and reflective. So without further ado . . . 

 

Tension.

Tomorrow starts a new Tenthdot mini-series called "Tension".  Basically we’re going to challenge you to live totally out-of-balance.

You read me right — we want all Tenthdot users to get their lives jacked up to one side and to quit living in the comfortable middle zone of tension.  We think there is TOO MUCH balance in most believers and it’s time to swing the pendulum waaaaaaay to one side.  That’s what our series on Tension is all about.

Day 4 of 28 (start at day 1 by clicking HERE)