Jesus tells us many stories in the Bible.  In the book of Luke, chapter 15 He tells us three very interesting stories.

First He tells us about the lost sheep.  The sheep gets lost and the Shepherd leaves His entire flock in order to find the one lost sheep.  This story represents the person who was part of the flock.  Does this discribe you?  You went to church, but don’t anymore.  You followed your nose so to speak, looking for things that satisfy.  You never planned on getting lost.  You look up one day and you have not been to church in a while, you don’t pray or read your bible.  Hmm... how did I get here?  Maybe you are not even sure you believe anymore.  Did God really create everything?  Or did it evolve?  Is the bible true?  Or are they just old stories passed down?  The bad news is that you are lost!  The Good news is that Jesus, the good shepherd, has just left his entire church and is out looking for you!  That’s how important you are to Him. Now, when He calls, answer the call.  He will be so happy to find you... and you will too!

Thirdly He tells us about the Prodigal son.  Wait you say, what about second?  Well, I’m gonna save that for last.  The prodigal son is the one who rejects his father and leaves to do his own thing.  It all sounded good at first, but then the consequences start to pile up.  Does this sound like you?  Do you have regrets about what you have done?  Have you left God behind so that you can have fun, only to find out that after every fun night there is a hang over, an STD, a baby, another lost friend, or an accident?  The bad news is that it was your choice and he allowed you to make it.  The good news is that He is waiting for you to come back so that He can restore you to where you aught to be.... Oh, and then have a party in your honor!! Now, when He calls, answer the call.  He will be so happy to find you... and you will too!

Now, the second story.  The meat in the middle of the Luke 15 parable sandwich.  This story is a little different.  Where the sheep and the boy left, the coin never moved.  It just sat there.  Under a pile of papers, in the laundry, in a pocket of some cloths hanging in the closet.  A more modern analogy would maybe be a lost cell phone.  Where did you leave it last?  

Hmm... “Just call it!”  

“I did, it’s turned off and not responding!”

Is that you?  Are you sitting here, reading this, having never left the church, never rejected God, but you know you are lost? Does this sound like You?   You haven’t seen Him and He hasn’t seen you in a long time.  You can’t even remember what His voice sounds like?  Why do some churches look like such a mess?  Kinda looks like a crime scene from a TV show. 

“Hmm... Seems they were looking for something.”

Yeah, ya think?  He’s looking for YOU!  He’s willing to make a mess and experience some major embarrassment in order to find you.  Now, when He calls, turn on, answer the call.  He will be so happy to find you... and you will too!

Oh, Really?

Through the summer we have been having breakfast on Tuesday mornings here at The Studio.  Then we spend about two hours watching a video, discussing, sharing, and then praying.  It’s called The Truth Project.

One of the questions they repeat often is this.  Do you really believe what your believe?

God has been asking me this question over and over during the past few years.  I am going to discuss some of the questions that have come up in my life, but have not come up in The truth Project.

So, if you want to come along for the ride, climb aboard.

I’ll start with the obvious.  Do you believe that God is everywhere and sees everything?  Well, after you say yes, I can either ask you, “Oh, really?”  Or just respond sarcastically, “Oh really.”  You know, you have heard that response before.  When the person absolutely does not believe you.

Well, if you really believed that, why did you watch that movie last night?  Send that text Post those comments on that website?  Go do what you did with your friends last weekend?

I heard a guy say once, “I know it is wrong if I wouldn’t do it in front of my mother.”  Hmmm...   I remember once, after not having or watching TV for a while, sitting down and watching a football game with my father.  Certain commercials or shots of the cheer leaders made me feel uncomfortable.  I would look away, reach for my chips or pop, turn to talk to Dad.  Why?  I felt uncomfortable watching that stuff knowing my Dad was watching me watch that stuff.

Just  think how our lives would change if Jesus was really with us every second?  Even inside us.  But wait, He already is.  Do we really believe that?  Oh really?  Then why don’t we act like we believe?