Author: Scott Strand

Posted on

How does God speak to us today?

Have you ever had an experience where your random thoughts coalesce around a bigger thought or idea? Well, that is what I am ruminating on right now. My 4 X 10 white board in my office at work (I do this on breaks and at lunch)is full of what appear to be random ideas, concepts, verses, and such. My task now is to decipher the larger meanings. What is it that ties them all together? Here are a few of the components on my white board: The Barbarian Sheep (see prior posting), Serving Him by Serving You, the chorus form Lifesong by Casting Crowns, Joshua 1, Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Peter 3, a meta-narrative for the entire Bible (similar to the Why God? postings).

The reason I share this is in part to ask “How is God talking to you?” These thoughts come from Scripture, music, books, studies, and other people. You see God talks to us in a variety of ways. Now don’t misunderstand me, I am not say that all these are divine revelation, this I reserve only for Scripture, however, I am saying that God more specifically the Holy Spirit can use a variety of ways to teach us more about who God is and how we should live our lives in a way that honors and glorifies Him.

In Lifesong the chorus has this line: “I want to sign Your name at the end of this day Knowing that my heart was true…” This is how I want to live. I want to know that at the end of day God would be proud of who I lived it.

Posted on

Why God? pt 3

To continue thinking about the restoration process…

Through people like Noah, Abraham and David God’s plan flowed. Though the Law and the prophets we can see the restoration process unfold. Though out the Old Testament we see restoration and redemption through the sacrifices and the keeping of the Law. When the people drew near to God, there were blessings, when the people fell away there were consequences. The prophets foretold of the Messiah, the one who was coming as the fulfillment of the the law. We see the restoration process completed in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is through Christ that our sins are washed away. It is through Christ that our relationship with God is restored. It is through Christ that we are set free.

Why God? Because He cared enough that He sent His Son to die on the cross so that you I and might have a restored relationship with the creator of universe.

Posted on

Stupid Sheep or Barbarian Sheep?

I responded to a post from the blog by Eagle Brook Church Men’s Pastor Josh Kesler with regards to a stupid sheep he saw. He ask me to follow up so here with go with my first thoughts.

In his illustration Josh talked about this poor stupid sheep whose head got stuck in a fence trying to reach something better. Great illustration and 100% right. It goes along with the current sermon series at the church also. I looked at it from a slightly different perspective. As you may or may not know we can all look at an event and come away with sightly or even vastly different perceptions of the event (what a great movie theme, oh wait it is coming out in a week or two).

My vantage point is influenced by my recent rereading and discussion around the book The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus. You see in Josh’s illustration I didn’t see a stupid sheep looking for something better, no what I saw as a barbarian sheep looking to break out the conformity of the pen and do something greater. You see we can be that barbarian sheep, we can step out of the confines and safety of the “our pen” (what every your pen is) and serve God in a great an mighty way. You see it is not about us, rather it is about doing the will of God regardless of the danger, regardless of the sacrifice, regardless of the cost. What did Jesus say, come and follow me when it is convenient, after the big game, when you have a spare moment? No Jesus told us to take up our cross and follow. Don’t ask questions, don’t make excuses, simple follow me. I would love to say that this is who I am, 100% on board, but that would be a lie. It is something I am working towards, something that I believe in. You see I would rather be know for how I serve God and others, that for what I know.