MORE THAN AFRICA IN HIS HAND

The Truth Project is a DVD-based Small Group study by Del Tackett that examines the major questions in life. The major questions?

Some samples. Who is God? Who is man? Where did evil come from? What is truth? Does Heaven exist? Does Hell exist? Why am I here? Is there something more?

And more. In a twelve week study. With stimulating discussions after viewing a 60-minute video. Plus, what would be a good Small Group or Christian fellowship for that matter without food. Our group munches on popcorn while watching, and after discussion and prayer, we eat dessert or veggies. Sometimes we combine the popcorn with veggies and dessert.

Since we claim to have or possess a biblical rather than a secular worldview, last night's session focused on the pernicious lie than man is inherently good. If that's the case, then where did evil come from? Those are the kinds of questions we discuss.

But to me, the best question, a self-assessment question is the teaser at the start of the study: "Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?" Now, that's a good one.

One illustration. If we do believe, as most Christians do, that God is omnipresent, then He is with us in some places that we shouldn't be. No need to explain. And how do we feel about taking Him there?

For more info, please go to mytruthproject.org. It's a great study.

LAST IN A SERIES

So now you've had plenty of time to implement 6 suggestions for making a sweet aroma for the Lord. I know if you've even tried one that you've been blessed.

But we have to keep doing them. Yesterday in the grocery store, I started to comment about the great blueberry muffins we ate yesterday. At a church conference in Tucson. I amended before I spoke within earshot of others. "Weren't those muffins great that we had yesterday at church?" Just a little thing, But they add up. On with the list.

#7. Be pleasant. People are watching us. Especially those who know that we are Christians. If they don't know, then our behavior should indicate such. Let someone go ahead of you. Allow a driver to cut in. Bless someone when they sneeze. Don't scowl. Make others wonder why. What does this person have that I don't? Make them desire that something, that Jesus in your heart.

#8. Be salt and light. Never let them see you sweat. Contain your anger. A regular golf buddy of mine was playing with another golfer recently who couldn't contain his frustration. Yelling, throwing clubs, using bad language. When they finished, he said to my friend, "You're a Christian aren't you?" "Yes, I am," my buddy replied. "I am, too, but I'm afraid I didn't act like one today." Maybe next time he will.

#9. Be positive. Don't dwell on the negative. No one likes to be around a complainer. Because nothing could be so bad as what they have to suffer.

#10. Sing in church. We're to edify the body of believers as well as giving glory to God. Sing praise songs? Yep. Psalm 96 tells us to sing to the Lord a new song. In the Bible there are 400 references to singing. Fifty commands to sing. Jesus sang. In Hebrews 2:12 He sang with the disciples. So when we sing, we're being Christ-like. It's one of the easier ways to be like Him.

And I only gave you 10. Multiply this list and work on your aroma. Try to get just one person to say, "What's that smell?" when you're around.

PART II

Ok, I tried to give you time to perform. By now you should have prayed in public, spoken about church with fervor, or peppered your speech with Godly references. If you did all 3, great! Two, good! One, also good.

Number four is a combo #1 and #3. Tell people you will pray for them. Or ask them how you can pray for them. And, then of course, do it. A quasi-administrator that I used to work with got ill and missed a few weeks of school. When he returned, I saw him in the Mail Room and told him I was glad he was back and that I had prayed for him. Never one that found much favor with me, he seemed absolutely stunned that I would have prayed for him. Also, that I had bothered to tell him. Did it make our relationship stronger? Nope. In fact, I retired that year and don't recall speaking to him again. But I'm sure not sorry that I prayed and shared with him.

Number 5. Use the expression, "Lord willing." Now, don't overdo this one or you will lose the effectiveness. But don't just assume: just be reverential. At least once in awhile. Give credit where it is due. If you want God's protective hand, then share the fact that you're asking for it.

Number 6. Serve, serve, serve. Why? Because the Lord expects it. Even Dear Abby used to advise people to do one good thing for at least one person every day. If they found out you did it for them, that didn't count. She may have just been a good citizen, but serving is so very much like Jesus that we need to follow His lead.

There you have it. Three more. Again, I'll give you time to perform at least one before my final entry on being a sweet aroma to God. Try to smell better to someone else in the next few days. If you smell better to them, then it's likely you're also giving off that aroma to God.

WHAT'S THAT SMELL?

First in a three-part entry. And it's all about smell. How we must emanate. How we, as Christians need to give off that aroma that is pleasing to the Lord. It can and will make a difference in our world. There are 10 steps, as I see it.

1. Pepper our language. "What a beautiful sunset! God's creation is magnificent!" And it is. So let's celebrate it, and, of course, give Him the credit as Creator.

Also, don't gloss over. Don't omit. "I was out of town last weekend." Why not take the opportunity to give God the glory? "I wasn't here because I was attending a Desiring God Conference in Minneapolis, and it was great."

2. Speak about church with fervor. When you're asked, "What are you doing this weekend?" Don't answer, "Nuthin'." Answer, "Well, Sunday at church our pastor is doing a series of sermons on what he wants to ask the new President. The church is decorated with bunting, like we're hosting one of the debates. Want to come with me?" Even if you get a negative response about attending, you've had a chance to witness and invite someone to church. Sometimes that's all that's needed.

3. Bless your food when eating in public. Well, not just then. Always. But when people notice you blessing your food, you're giving off a good aroma. Many times I'll notice others blessing their food, and many times I'll stop by their table on our way out and tell them I noticed they blessed their food, and thank them for honoring God. And yes, sometimes, I've gotten some funny looks, but it makes me feel better. Not to get the funny looks, but to share in my beliefs.

Try just one before my next entry. I may just be on to something here.

THE FRAGRANCE FOR CHRIST

We pretty much know what death smells like. There's no need to paint that with description. But what about life? What does life with Jesus smell like? And what do we smell like to Christ?

2 Corinthians 2:16 tells us we are the fragrance of life. But what aroma do we give off?

In this passage, Paul used the Roman ceremony called The Triumph to explain it to the Corinthians. The ceremony was held to honor the victorious Roman General. On the parade route, the Roman official would show off his spoils, his conquests, his treasures he brought home from war. Including prisoners they had captured. Incense was burned as part of the ceremony. Along with the fragrance of crushed flowers spread out under the horses' hooves. Those aromas were powerful. Sweet. As they filled the city air.

Not to the captives being literally paraded through the streets. To them it was the smell of defeat, slavery, and death.

To one, the fragrance of life. Life eternal, Paul continues in application, the ultimate glorification in Christ. To the other, the smell of death. Eternal separation caused by a lack of faith.

Whether we know it or not, we give off a fragrance. Is ours similar to a burning candle? Or is it more like burning microwave popcorn? Life or death? Glory or damnation?

THE SOMBRARO GALAXY TAKEN FROM THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE

So what else do I know about this? That God created it. Not the picture, one of His creations did. The whole galaxy!

That's all I really know. But we are to live by faith. My faith leads me to believe that God created it all.

In fact we are to point out the beauty in nature when we observe God's creation. It just may point an unbeliever to God. I mean who can look at a sunrise, the stars, the intricately designed butterfly, a newborn and not think of God? Well, apparently some. So it's up to us to give God the glory, and make sure others see it. Even if we don't say God created it.

That is, we do part of the work and allow the Holy Spirit to do the rest. That's the only way one comes to God anyway. But I don't see any harm in pointing out "just another beautiful work of God in that sunset tonight. Look at those colors!"

Last night our Small Group began The Truth Project. Because of some technical problems we had to skip to Lesson Two where Dale Tackett points out a Carl Sagan quote, "The cosmos--that's all there is, that's all there ever was or will be." Well, no Carl. Not if you have a religious bone in your body. I heard a pastor recently say that it takes more faith in something not to believe in God. Faith that it (the cosmos, I guess) just happened, and everything turned out so perfectly formed.

Our Small Group leader pointed out that science has become our god in the post modern world today. And that's sad. To worship the creation and not the Creator.