Boomer Chronicles: Be Holy as I am Holy

It's laughable. Truly laughable how a lot of pet owners dress their pets up. It's not a bad thing by any means, but it's pretty funny.

I must confess. Boomer has a pink snuggie we'll put her in when we take her outside and it's cold. It's cute.

We all try to humanize our pets. I see this particularly in dogs.

We train our dogs to act in ways we deem appropriate. We have to break them of their natural habits. We don't let them roll around in mud or eat poo. We trim their claws. In many cases we cut their tails and ears.

We change them and groom them to be something else then what they would naturally be. If we are going to allow them to live with us they have to be different then what they would naturally be. They have to act differently then they would naturally act.

Boomer is a shelter dog. She is a very good shelter dog. She has come with a significantly small amount of emotional baggage. Which is perfect. However, she has to learn the rules of living our apartment- and in our presence.

We don't let Boomer on the couch when we are eating. We don't let her eat our food. We have prepared her a crate for her den which she will sleep in. She doesn't get a treat unless she demonstrates restraint and obedience.

All of these things set her apart from other animals.

Before she was able to comply with our rules we gave her a beautiful collar which identified her with our family. She is chipped with an ID number that will tell anyone who finds her should she be lost that she is a Moore.

While she didn't have to be different before we gave her the collar we fully expect her to change.

Why?

Because she isn't other dogs. She isn't just some wild animal. She is beloved by our family. She is our dog.

As our dog she must conform to our ideal image. We help her with that.

She must be allow herself to be set apart from all other wild animals. Because we are set apart from them.

None of this is too different from our relationship with God.

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:13-16)

While our ability to image our God was defaced after the fall it is not erased.



We are definitely supposed to be different than other people. I think we struggle with this every single day.

I know I do.

We can make a multitude of excuses for why we don't look more different than we do from non-Christians, but at the end of the day we're supposed to look very different.

A wild animal is unkempt, stinks, acts without regard to anything else, and most importantly cares primarily for itself.


God wants us to be different then what we would naturally be and act in a way we would not naturally act. We're just shelter dogs. We have nothing to do with the why God chose to adopt us. It was out of pure grace that he showed up at our kennel and took us home, cleaned us up and put His beautiful collar around our neck.

We conform to His nature because that's what living in His presence demands.

We aren't other dogs. We aren't the normal people of this world. We are His.

Lessons of Boomer: Who wants to be God?

I do.

It's fairly obvious too.

I want to control things. Actually we all do. Before Christ all of our pursuits are to become God. I would say that almost every sin man commits can be traced back to pride and power.

We want people to respect us. We want the best things ever. If you had one wish what would you wish for? Infinite wishes. Don't try to deny it.

Why? Because you want the power of God.

Just like ole Boomer.

If it were up to her it would be lunch time, play time, sleep time, lunch time, sleep time, play time, lunch time, sleep time, lunch time, sleep time.

She wants food, but not her food. She wants our food.

I don't give her our food because I have purchased food that is perfect for her. It's formulated and everything! Absolutely perfect.

If you give Boomer infinite wishes she's going to wish for food a lot. She'll eat it. Get super fat. Sick. Then she'll die.

I know this.

That's precisely why I don't give her all the food she wants. She can't handle it just like I couldn't handle the power of God. Her place is on my lap enjoying my affection and warmth. This isn't any different than my place in God's lap.

He knows what is best, but I want what I want. I will try to get what I want despite God's provision of the perfect meals for me. It's formulated and everything!

Oh, well. The consequences of eating too much of what I shouldn't or something that will kill me is the same for me as it is with Boomer.

She brought a ant poison trap to my feet. She laid down and started chewing it.

I'm typically not a monster so I said "No."

She looked up and left it alone.

I didn't grad it up right away because I wanted to see how far my "No" was going to go.

In about 5 seconds she grabbed it and started chewing again.

Whelp, she got popped with a louder "NO!"

Now I don't need people crying at me telling me that I commited doggie abuse. In the Moore household if you don't listen to the first "No" you get popped. Dems the rules.

It made me think about how God pursues me with the same vigor. I hate striking my dog, but if she doesn't associate these black poison traps with "No" then if she actually eats one it's over. She'll die. (We don't just leave a ton of these thigns out, but they're around. So don't give me that "Just pick them up!")

She needs to learn that when Daddy says no it's important.

Just like I need to learn that when my God says no it's important.

I could die.

I'm glad I'm not God, and you should be too.

I'm not the one who reeks of rejection.

Hume, in an angry sea of loss and tragedy -- his son's death in 1998 -- found a life preserver in faith. He offered that life preserver to another drowning man. Whatever your view of Hume's beliefs, he could have no motive other than concern for Woods himself.



Christians take heat. It's actually what we do best. Have you ever read Fox's book of Martyrs? If you want to squelch Christianity- Do. Not. Persecute. It's like throwing high octane gasoline on a fire. The church will explode in your face.

This isn't what I want to discuss right now.

I want to discuss motive.

Motive is a big deal. We always hear about it in the judicial system. Motive can mean the difference between murder and accidental homocide/manslaughter. However, when faced with religion we don't really consider motive. Ever.

As a Christian, my God has commissioned me to share all the blessing (read: fullness of life) he has bestowed upon me with others. As I believe, when I die I will spend eternity in bliss with my Savior. It will be perfect.

This is the best thing I have ever heard of, and my God doesn't ask me to keep a secret so Heaven won't be crowded. He doesn't say, "You can bring peeps with you, but you'll have to share everything. The more people you bring the less you get!"

No. Not even close.

He says-

"Those people, please love them.
Don't hate them, we're not above them." - TFK, Last Words

God, who I believe to be the only source of true joy and everlasting life, asks me to share this with you. So, because I have been forgiven by Him- I obey the best way I know how. Now, this may look different, and it may backfire on the image of Christ...but what is the motive?

Christians' evangelical motive is for everyone to come to the best thing they know.

If this is subversive...I don't know what isn't.

Christians aren't perfect, and I pray none claim to be. However, the motive behind a Christian sharing their faith with you is the purist expression.

My (our) motive is to give you the best thing that I (we) have. This is a relationship with Jesus. I don't get special powers for each person I "convert." There isn't a secret Jesus fund that doles out each time I share my faith.

We do it for you.

So, please remember if you don't share the Christian faith and one of my brothers or sisters attempts to communicate their faith in an evangelistic way to you it's not because they want to control you or because they want your money.

It's because they love you.

Doggie Chronicles: pt 2

It continues to surprise me how much we can actually learn from any animal that we may keep as a domesticated pet. Specifically in my case I got Steph a tiny black terrier for Christmas. Her name is Boomer. She is super cute. We have had her at the apartment now with us for almost two weeks now, and she teaches me a lot about my relationship with God everyday.

She will sometimes scarf up a piece of poo when no one is looking. This is disgusting. However, it makes me think about what it must be like when I come to God with prayer or praise when I have been "eating poo." A lot of time I will pray or worship and I have not a repentant heart. This must be pretty disgusting to Him. Just like Boomer, I still love her. However, i am disappointed, and her breath stinks like poo. Sick.

I have been dwelling a lot on something else my relationship with Boomer has been teaching me- Daddy knows best, but I don't always act like I believe that.

I have no desire to hurt Boomer. (Which is a good thing for her because I have a good 215lbs on her. I would DESTROY!) I want her to be a good and healthy dog. So, I train and discipline her to that end. When she is doing something wrong she gets scolded and faces consequences, but in the end it's for her benefit.

I don't believe it's too much different for us. God knows best- and when we stray we face consequences and discipline. Because He loves us. He wants us to be better. Just like we face difficult times in life- Boomer has to go into her crate when we leave. She's not a huge fan of this, but when she is crated it means that there will be a time when Mom and Dad come home and let her out. This is a great time! Just like when we enter the valleys of life- Daddy's going to come home (not that he has ever left us) and things will get better. If not on this side of life...then on the other.

It's funny what we can learn about God from a dog.

Eating Poo == Bad Breath

So I haven't stopped thinking about the whole poo eating thing.

Every time I take my dog out now I am going to have to watch and make sure she isn't eating poo.

If she does eat poo her breath will smell like poo and when she goes to give me kisses or snuggle up close it will absolutely reek.

The thought persists in my mind.

"I bet God feels that way when I have been consuming sin."

When I speak before I repent my breath smells like poo and I taint the air around me.

I have got to take sin more seriously. I have to treat sin like it's eating poo.

Seriously, it's gross.

Why do we eat poo?

So I caught my dog eating poo when I took her out. I was furious.

I was like, "WHY ARE YOU EATING POO!?"

Then it hit me. I bet God thinks the same thing about us.

"MATT, WHY ARE YOU EATING POO?!"

"Because this movie/song/game is awesome! Sure, it's got some bad parts, but c'mon...it's HI-larious and fun, Fun, FUN!!"

"WHY ARE YOU EATING POO!"

I don't know.

Why do I eat poo?

Rebellion

"Jesus was a rebel, a renegade, outlaw
A sanctified troublemaker but He never sinned, naw
and He lived His life by a different set of Rules...

I'll remain a rebel while the rest of them just carry on
this is what I live fo
this the hill I'm buried on
if Jesus is the truth
that means one of us is really wrong
think about it


No glory in me/ all glory to the King on the throne (Jesus)
you either love Him or leave Him alone but you can't do both..."

---

It's no secret. I love pirates. I don't know what it is...well, yes I do. I don't overly appreciate most forms of authority and I tend to buck the norm. It's not a gift- I don't deny it. However, there is something inside of me (and probably most of us) that desperately wants the freedom of life without the restrictions it comes with. Pirates do whatever they want. That's their freedom. However, they still have their own set of rules. They have to because they wouldn't be effective without some way of accomplishing their goals. It's just not the way you would do it.

Christ gives freedom, but it doesn't come packaged how we would package it. Christ doesn't abide by the rules man has set up. He doesn't make sure everyone is comfortable. He came down and brought a sword. We didn't expect it.

I write all of this to say that it isn't the violence and profanity of pirates I admire. I admire the freedom they enjoy riding the high seas and taking what they want captive...but they're tricky.

I want to enjoy the freedom of Christ in life- riding the high seas without a care because my eternity is secure. I want to take captive the hearts of the suffering and the lost leading them to Christ with love and grace in the most cunning fashion!

Ha-Har!

Fake it. Why not?

It's funny how we get this great idea: I know! I'll write all my great thoughts down on a blog, and people will love it! I'm sooo witty.

Then you create a blog, and I realize, "I don't have any deep thoughts. Whoops."

Fake it til you make it, right?