Thoughts about Romans 3
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: MyWords::RE::God'sWords

> It doesn't matter how filthy a hundred-dollar bill becomes--it still is worth $100.00. And you would likely take it, even if it's filthy, because its value doesn't depend on how clean it is. It depends only on what it is (well, that, and on the trustworthiness of the USAmerican government, but their integrity doesn't rate very high on my list and that would ruin the illustration, so I likely won't mention that.)

> Most of us, whether we admit it or not, live by what I call "the Hitler Scale"--a scale of goodness with Hitler at one end, then Richard Simmons and PeeWee Herman and Osama Bin Laden, until at the other end you get to Mother Teresa. We figure that, as long as we're close to the middle, we're okay. At a roller-coaster, there's always a specific height--a standard. It doesn't matter if you miss it by one inch or three feet; you still miss it. Jesus Christ is God's standard; it doesn't matter how far you miss it, you still do.

> I may use this one, from Charles Schultz ...

We still identify power with bigness: big names, big headlines, big weapons, big bank accounts. These are the powerful movers and shapers of our society, our selves, our world. But are they really? Try this exercise before you answer. It's an exercise that Charles Schultz, the creator of Peanuts, devised before he died.

[You might want to actually have your people write these answers down on a sheet of paper]

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How'd you do?

Schultz's point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one: [This time, you might want to break your congregation down into small groups and give them a couple minutes to answer these questions with each other.]

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier?

The lesson of the Peanuts creator Charles Schultz is this: The people who make a difference in your life, the people with the greatest power in your life, are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.

They are the ones that care. They're the ones that love you the most. They are the ones that empower you.

> Story of Jake Porter is interesting, from the perspective of our strength and God's strength.