Laziness Leads

Pastor’s Sermon this morning exactly mirrored my prayer concerns over the last weeks.  I saw a bear, huge, upright, very fluffy in a burnt honey shade.  He looked so cuddly, but the warning was that he had sharp teeth.  As I have been praying about it I had the thought that the bear was our culture which has permeated church communities and contaminated them to a major degree.
The sermon spoke of flattery and flirting as very dangerous activities for Christians, as they involve a damaged self image and a desperate need for something in terms of recognition.  I could add a lot of things to the list of problems with self-image, or an image that doesn’t co-ordinate with God’s image of us.  They would be all the cultural distractions from the holiness of God – much of TV, radio, teaching in schools and businesses, certain programs accessed on computers, just as a beginning.
But the whole question of self-image is interesting.  Only man has it. 

There’s a bear in there!
“ A bear? Where?  Where?”
“In church.  See there?”
“Can you see the bear?”

“It’s a fashion trend
With a flirty look.
It’s a magazine
With a gossip hook.

It’s a leading man
With an undead past.
It’s a promise made
That doesn’t last.

It’s a lazy trend
That wastes the time,
And doesn’t relate
To the heart sublime.”

“I always said that
We musn’t judge.”
“But we must discern,
Maybe give a nudge.”

“But the Scripture says
Take the beam out first.”
“That’s exactly right,
And so we must -

But then  we durst
Turn a sinner back,
Save a soul from death
For His great love’s sake.

Our lampstand must
Remain in place.
Sexuality
May not seduce.

Toleration and
Compromise
Bring death.  Not there the
White stone lies.

Comfort Gospel
(Jezebel’s whim
And society’s ease )
Is a preacher’s sin.

Earthly treasure will
Close the eye so
The Light is dim
Where many go.”

“But Jesus promised
His healing hand,
Great plans for our future
We understand.”

“You’re right, He did
But the problem is
It’s not in the carnal
His purpose lies.

It’s in character building
Through struggle ,pain
And sacrifice
Again and again,

Until His children
Can submit
To his greater plan
In a perfect fit.

Until they can get
A handle on
His vision for Life
And eternity strong.

Will you go there?
With determined tread
And a single mind
His purpose read?

Will you open your page
In His blueprint plan
And download a copy
To your hard drive, (wo) Man?