"I DARE you!" #teamJesus #Ragamuffin

Are you up for a dare?  

Recently, at First Christian Church, the Ragamuffin Movie appeared on the screen.  

Those that watched the movie saw the value of having a loving father and the impact an earthly father had on a child's life.  

To lay a little framework, Rich Mullins is now dead.  As part of his journey in search of God, he found a Ragamuffin named Brennan Manning, the author of the Ragamuffin Gospel, who had a message specifically for the beaten up, bedraggled, and burned out.

A Ragamuffin would consider "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle" to be true.

Now, your dare, quoting from the movie, God would say "I dare you to trust that I love you".  That is your dare.  In the face of nominal Christianity ... what I call American Churchianity ... , God stands there daring YOU to believe that He loves you.  Forget Religiousity; embrace the Relationship He offers.

Are you up for a dare?

Here's a cute Dog Story! #teamJesus

An old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard.  I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home.

He followed me into the house, down the hall, and fell asleep in a corner.

Old Tired Dog

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, resumed his position  in the hall, and slept for an hour.  This continued for several weeks.

Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: “Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.”

The next day he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar: “He lives in a home with ten children — he’s trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?”

–Author of this story is unknown

Is anyone sick? #teamJesus

Over in James, the Apostle asks the question.

The directive is to call the elders of the church.  The elders then have a duty to act by coming to see the sick person, anoint with oil, and pray with the result that the sick person's sins are forgiven.

So, tell us why you do or do not do this?