Lazy Dog Theology

Lazy dogs won't hunt.

They lay around all day.

They don't bring home the dinner.

It just ain't gonna happen.

In fact, the colorful expression "That dog won't hunt", can be loosely translated as "It just ain't gonna happen." There is disappointment mixed into that somewhere.

If you need it tightened up a bit more, it just means something that has occurred, or is about to occur is not, nor will not be acceptable.

Common misconceptions about God and His interaction with the human race is a dog that will not hunt.

Religion is a dog that will not hunt.

Conversely there is the dog that will indeed hunt.

John 3:3 - "Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God."

Jesus was responding to the schmoozing that Nicodemus was giving Him. While Nicodemus was hitting on the truth, he was at the same time missing the important truth.

Yes, Jesus was a miracle worker, He was obviously sent from God, He did things no one else could do, etc.

Jesus basically told him, "Nicodemus, that's a lazy dog theology. It's not enough to bring home the dinner."

And He told Him the bottom line. The end all of theological truths and debates.

Teach, preach, extol, and beat every bible doctrine to death if you want to. Lean heavy on particular doctrines such as healing, prosperity, love, good will toward men, the virgin birth, the Trinity, and baptism. Be a part of this church or that denomination. At the end of the day you will be no closer to the Kingdom of God than you were when you started.

There is one truth that if you get it deep down in your spirit will transcend and supercede all of the others.

Jesus made it clear.

You MUST be born-again.

You may never become a biblical scholar or a theologian.

You don't have to be to make it to heaven.

There is no church or denomination favored over another.

Only one thing matters in heaven, in hell, and on earth.

You MUST be born-again.

You must.

Your spirit must be reborn in Christ.

It must.

You have to confess Jesus as Lord.

In your heart and with your mouth.

Rom. 10: 9-10 "Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation."

Do that and all other necessary things fall in behind it.

The ship is righted.

The hounds are released.

The dog will hunt.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Why Does That Caged Bird Sing?

The singing bird in the cage.

What does it have to sing about anyway?

Maya Angelou claims to know why (metaphorically speaking).

Paul Lawrence Dunbar claims to know why in his poem "Sympathy".

It almost begs a person to go deeper than they need to and wax philosophical.

It's a bird. It's in a cage. It sings.

I know why.

It doesn't know it's not free.

It doesn't know there is life beyond the cage.

It doesn't know any better.

Stupid bird. It doesn't know any better. What does it have for a brain? Matter the size of a pea?

The human brain is much, much larger...

Moe to Curly: "Quiet, birdbrain!"

Uh-huh...

There's a point in here somewhere. Trust me.

A lot of us human like characters are no better off than the bird in the cage.

Remember the movie "Animal House"? Dean Wormer's advice to the student "Flounder"?

"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

Yet we do, maybe not in that exact description, but variations of the theme.

Billy Corgan wrote, "In spite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage."

Sing or be filled with rage.

Ignorant of the cage, we sing. Awareness of the cage brings rage.

The cage can be a 5X5 prison cell...

...or 10,000 acres of Montana ranch land.

Freedom can exist within the same dimensions.

It all depends on how you define freedom.

Americans get all wrapped up in the Constitution.

Freedom on paper.

More Americans have lived and died in the cage believing they were free having never tasted a morsel of real freedom.

So where is it?

Real freedom?

John 8:36: "So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free."

Gal. 5:1: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."

All of that before Thomas Jefferson and the boys were even a blip on the radar screen.

It transcends circumstances. Or politics. Or human and civil rights.

In the cage of rage. In the cage of song.

The freedom Christ supplies is one of the human heart, soul and spirit, which is essentially only really free when free in Jesus Christ.

Even when the flesh is incarcerated or confined, limited or confounded, by situations self-imposed or forced, Jesus changes things.

It's the one time the caged bird can sing even while knowing there is life beyond the cage.

You may never be rich, but your desire to be rich no longer confounds you.

You may never be healthy, but you are no longer confined just because you are ill.

You may never fulfill your dream to become this or that, but you have become satisfied by a more realistic hope.

Jesus is the fulfillment of all things. Life happens in spite of it all.

He is the Song.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Definitely

Matt. 12:30: "He who is not with Me [definitely on My side] is against Me, and he who does not [definitely] gather with Me and for My side scatters."

I have found this verse to be most truthful.

I've seen it happen.

I've seen it unravel right before my eyes.

Like a train about to go off the rails, I have seen the wishy-washiness of people when it comes to Jesus book them passage on that very train.

Definitely.

A firm word.

It means "without reservation".

Clear. Unequivocally. Positively. Absolute. Certain.

If you have been been considering yourself a Christian for a while now, consider something else.

Are you certain? Do you have any question or reservation AT ALL? Are you positive that Jesus is everything He says He is?

Would you unequivocally state "Yes I am!", before anyone who asks you the question: "Are you a follower of Jesus Christ?"

Would you state it without hesitation?

Or would you have to think about it? Would you get frightened? Embarrassed? 

Would you punk out?

Peter punked out. He was scattered for it. Jesus knew He would and warned him.

"Peter, before the rooster crows you will deny me three times."

Peter's response? "Not me Lord. Not me. Never!"

Definite. The conviction in the term is defining.

And Jesus will not settle for anything less than definite. Jesus only settles for everything.

That's why it is about Him and nothing else.

There is only so much definite we can generate. We had better direct it toward the One who is the Definite One.

Don't say you are and then act differently. You will be scattered.

Scattered is separation from Jesus. Not by His choice. By yours. You decide.

Be definite or be wishy-washy. Be careful though because there are consequences. Scattered is a consequence.

The one thing about being scattered though, like most everything else injurious we do to ourselves spiritually, there is a way back.

Jesus forgives. Remember Peter? Jesus forgave Him and set him straight. Even after Peter completely and totally and DEFINITELY denied Him, Jesus forgave and restored him!

That's good news for some this morning I suspect.

Be for Him, but be definitely for Him. He doesn't stand for anything less.

After all, He DEFINITELY gave it all up for you!

Be blessed and well today!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Animus Domus

The title today means "Soul Dome".

It's the habitat of your character, intellect, memory, consciousness. 

Your very mind.

It is accessible to spiritual matters and beings.

Good and evil can enter in.

You have control although many do not realize this.

The mind of the unsuspecting and ignorant becomes a revolving door party zone for evil spirits.

Jesus addressed the issue most adequately and succinctly.

Matt. 12:43-45: "But when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it roams through dry [arid] places in search of rest, but it does not find any. (44) Then it says, I will go back to my house from which I came out. And when it arrives, it finds the place unoccupied, swept, put in order, and decorated. (45) Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and make their home there. And the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. So also shall it be with this wicked generation."

This is the picture of the person not completely dedicated to Christ.

The person could even be described as largely religious (there is a vast difference in being a follower of Christ and being religious).

In any event it appears that there was some kind of reckoning of sorts where unclean spirits were deposed.

However, as the spiritual life of the overtly religious or spiritually dead (the terms are interchangeable) often runs, the evil spirit sensed that the Soul Dome was open for business again, returns to the previously vacated digs and finds it in a neat and orderly condition.

Seeing that there is no conviction which would prevent the spirit from re-entering, it decides to call a few friends and announces a party at the Soul Dome.

Now, as Jesus explains, the host of this demonic soiree ends up in a far worse condition then he was when there was only one demon to contend with! 

Makes perfect sense. Do the math. There are more to contend with. What happens when those eight invite seven more each? A real motel where demons check in but never check out.

The demonic realm senses weakness in the flesh. They know who's an easy mark and who's not.

Demons/unclean spirits are intelligent spirit beings (NOT fallen angels), but since they are spirits without bodies of their own they need to inhabit warm blooded creatures. According to the bible, animals and humans fit that bill nicely.

Only the true born-again disciple and follower of Jesus Christ filled with the Holy Spirit are protected.

Pretend or "play" Christians have no such guarantee. In fact the scenario described by Jesus fits that category perfectly.

The pretend Christian. The Christian who plays church. Always in a bad way. Always trying to kick something unclean out of their life, and once it appears they have gained the victory, are plunged back into darkness again, each time sinking deeper into more desperate situations.

Until you just don't see them around church anymore.

The evil spirits come to your Soul Dome to steal your Soul. They are often successful. 

A casual relationship with Jesus, and you thinking He rubber stamps your sins, is a perfect setup for the Soul Stealers.

Only a transformation of soul and spirit by Christ Himself is the answer.

You can't fight this battle in this evil realm on your own.

Listen to me and trust me on this. You can't. You will fail. You will lose.

You will be lost forever.

Jesus is the answer. Jesus never fails.

The Soul Dome must become the domain of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Give it some thought today.

Be blessed!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

The Word On The Street

The "word on the street". Things we "hear" and often act upon or believe.

For instance.

You have heard it said that Craigslist is a great way to sell stuff.

But I tell you that over 2/3's of the responses you get are scams and you have to be very careful.

I don't know but I've been told, living in an igloo sure is cold.

In reality I have also heard that they are actually quite warm.

Jesus addressed the word on the street, and countered with the Word of Truth.

Matt. 5:21: "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court."

Sounds reasonable. Who wouldn't believe that?

In essence it's the truth. However, sometimes what we know as the truth is superseded by a greater truth.

Many things we "have heard" is the truth, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't heed the greater truth.

Listen to Jesus' response to the issue of murder.

Vs. 22: "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire."

Notice how Jesus tweaks it a bit?

He's not disputing that killing someone is bad, and deserving of punishment, but He takes it up a notch.

He raises the stakes. He holds our feet to the fire. He insinuates that we murder in our thoughts and words, and in our attitude towards others.

If we do not act out of the purified center of the transformed heart, we are liable to judgment as sure as if we plunged a knife into our fellow man.

Matthew 5 is full of those "You have heard... but I tell you."

Here's one a little more down to earth and more relative to a greater number of people.

vs. 27: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery'."

vs.28: "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Yikes. 

See what I mean?

We thought we were off the hook as long as we didn't do the dirty deed.

Jesus comes along and while not denying the previous truth reinforces and cranks it up a bit.

Thinking about committing adultery with someone is as bad as actually committing adultery.

*Gulp*

Swallow hard only if you have no intention of believing and adhering to the truth, which in actuality is really all contained in believing and adhering to Jesus.

No checklists to keep. No zillion laws to worry about breaking.

Jesus says in Matt. 5:17: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law. Keep Jesus, keep the Law.

No more guess work. In Jesus you are washed by His sacrifice. Purified. Regenerated. Given a new nature (2 Cor. 5:17). In the eyes of Jesus we are what is called "justified".

Get in touch with that today will you?

You'd be surprised how many Christians are living under bondage to their old ways and to the O.T. Law, not realizing they have been freed from that.

It's like being thin and always seeing yourself as obese.

It's the disease of not seeing yourself as you really are.

If you are a disciple of Christ today then see yourself as Jesus sees you.

He sees you as the object of His affection. He is the Lover of your soul.

Be blessed! Run everything past Him first!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

What's A Person Have to Do To Get Accepted Around Here Anyway?

Acceptance.

Depends by whom.

You can do things to win affection and attention.

To get noticed by a supervisor or a person in charge, I suppose you have to do your job well.

To gain notoriety as an entertainer you need to perform well.

To be accepted into a circle of friends you have to become a good friend yourself.

How about by God?

What's it take to be acceptable in the eyes of God?

One would think that it would be the most difficult to accomplish.

Paul says quite the contrary.

Romans 14:18 - "Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men."

To be acceptable to God you must accept His Son Jesus Christ.

Everything that God finds in us that is acceptable and good, is filtered through Jesus.

If we have received Him as Lord and are serving Him, that's what God sees and accepts about us.

We have no righteousness in and of ourselves except self-righteousness, which conflicts with God.

Those of us who serve Christ have exchanged our self for Him, and that is what pleases God and makes Him look upon us with pleasure.

Pretty simple actually.

A lot less hoops to jump through to be acceptable then your boss might make you do.

Or your spouse.

Or your friends.

Or your church (some churches might impose more stringent qualifications to get into heaven than God does).

God just looks to see that Jesus is all over you.

So how about you today?

What does God see when He looks at you?

You?

Or Jesus?

Your alleged good deeds?

Or Jesus?

Your wealth?

Or Jesus?

Need I go on?

Feeling like your the odd person out today?

Don't fit in?

If you have Jesus in your life you are loved and accepted by God.

I hope you can feel that today. 

Perhaps you need to get honest with yourself and with God if you're not.

I know it's been said to death, but Jesus really does have the answer.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Jesus Or Nothing

John 14:6 (Amplified Bible) - "Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me."

There are some people who are just not going to get there from where they are right now.

They are not going to get there using their road map.

Their TomTom needs a tuneup. Their Garmin is garbage. Their NorthStar needs to be replaced by the Morning Star.

That saddens me more than anyone but Jesus could ever know.

It shatters me. It leaves me in pieces.

I'm not sure I can measure up to Jesus in searching for the one lost sheep.

That's because it's never just one.

It's those who can't say "Jesus or nothing."

There's too much "Something else and maybe Jesus."

There is really nothing besides Jesus.

It's a constant.

Remove Jesus from the equation and there is much less than zero.

There it is.

All - Jesus = << 0 (double "less than" sign signifies "Double less than zero")

What's your equation for life today?

Whatever + Jesus = Maybe?

We at Real Life Church say, "You + Jesus = Real Life".

"Real Life" not being church membership, but real living because Jesus is a part of you.

Are you "all in" as far as Jesus is concerned?

Or is He just an ideal? A philosophy? An after summer replacement?

It's THE question of the ages my friends. There is no more important one.

It begs to be answered today.

Luke 11:23 (Amplified Bible) Jesus speaks..."He who is not with Me [siding and believing with Me] is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me [engage in My interest], scatters."

Who are you gathering with today? What are you gathering today?

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <>< 

www.reallifect.com