TODAY'S CHURCH

When I was much younger, my dad would often wear a pair of fancy boots, jeans, and a cowboy hat. We was (and still is) about 5 foot 9. He spent most of his time in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex which was coincidentally the set of the famous TV show "Walker Texas Ranger". Oh and one more thing, he always wore a beard in those days. I don't know if you realized it or not, but I just described Chuck Norris. No Chuck Norris is not my dad, but lots of people thought my dad was Chuck Norris. Maybe he looked more like Chuck's caricature (see below), I can't be sure myself. Many times he would go to a restaurant and the waiter would inform him that the meal would be "on the house" because they were grateful that a celebrity with the fame and notoriety of Chuck Norris would choose to eat there. Of course, he would then have to tell them that he was not who they thought he was. (just his stunt double- jk -not even that. Chuck Norris always does his own stunts!)

I have known people who have met Chuck personally. I think 4 people have told me that they actually had conversations with him in person at least once and one who used to know him pretty well. I also know a lot of Chuck Norris jokes. here are some of my favorites:

• When the Bogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris!
• There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live!
• Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice!
• When Chuck Norris does a push up, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down!
• Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door!
• Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one!
• Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas!
• if you have some favorites please post them to this blog!!

So I guess you could say I grew up in the shadow of Chuck Norris' shadow. But even still I would have to admit I didn't ever know Chuck Norris. I have seen lots of pictures of him. Heard people talk about him. I have even told some of the jokes I have heard about him. I have read about him. I have met people who knew him. There were even several weeks in a row where I tuned in to his program. Yet I never knew him.

There is a cultural danger in some circles of Christianity. People who look at their affiliation with God as a heritage, something that is passed on to them from their parents like their nationality. (You might hear someone say that they are Italian because their parents were Italian and grandparents were Italian too. Some might say well, my parents were Baptist and my grandparents were Baptist so I too am Baptist) There are people who are satisfied with hearing about Christ or reading about Him, even many who will attend religious ceremonies on a weekly basis but have never truly come to know Him in a personal way like he intended.

Matt. 7:21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

Jesus wants us to know him! We must be careful to do the things that Jesus taught for they will help us to know Him better. Focus on his voice will allow us to become more attentive and obedient. Our obedience will help us to learn his character. But the first step to knowing Christ is knowing his forgiveness. Some think it is important to be obedient to God so that you can earn your way to heaven, but that is not it. It is out of gratitude for his forgiveness that one chooses to submit their life to Him. Ultimately knowing him will produce fruit in our life.