My Message from 12/17/06

[mavsluva]

(FYI: I write these messages for entertainment purposes. I share these messages with the youth community at my church based upon information provided in the bible. My goal is to provide some insight and entertainment to those who wish to read it. I am fully aware that not everyone will agree with what I've written, and I accept that. But please, leave this for what it's offered to be and that's nothing more than a story for which I wrote for kids.)

Message Theme: How Does Your "Scale" Read?

A man appears before Gabriel just outside of the Pearly Gates just after his life on this side of the grave comes to an end. The man approaches Gabriel and the dialogue between the two of them goes as follows:

Gabriel: "Each of the good deeds that you performed on Earth is worth a specific value of points. You need 100 points to get into heaven. So lets begin."
Man: "Well, I was quite the saint on planet Earth, so this test should be a cake walk. Lets see….I was a loyal husband to my wife for 45 years."
Gabriel: "Very good. You now have 5 points."
Man: "Hmmm, let see. I organized a fundraiser event that benefited a charity for underprivileged children when I was 35 years old."
Gabriel: "A good deed that is. That's worth 2 points so your grand total is now 7 points."
Man: "I tithed 10% of my gross income at the church that I was a member of for 30 solid years."
Gabriel: "Another very good deed. That's worth an additional 2 points so your new grand total is now 9 points."
Man: (The man is now beginning to become a bit nervous as he thought his good deeds were more valuable than what the points that are being delegated to him are worth) "I raised two children under extreme supervision of the Lord's word."
Gabriel: "That is a very good deed and it's worth 1 point. Your new grand total is now 10 points. Please continue."
Man: (The man is now beginning to panic) "Oh man! There's no way that I can come up with enough good deeds that I've performed to accumulate 100 points! Only the Lord can save me now!"
Gabriel: "That's worth 100 points. Please enjoy your stay in Heaven."

How many of us think that our eternal lives will be dictated by our good deeds that we perform on this side of the grave? That used to be my thought process for me personally. I used to think that if the scale of my good deeds outweighed the scale of my bad deeds, then I was guaranteed an eternal life in heaven. But how do I define the standards of how my scale reads? You see, we as humans tend to grade our scales based upon people that are viewed as being worse offenders than we currently are. How many times have you ever said, "Well, I often do things that I'm not proud of, but at least I haven't killed someone!"? I've said that on several different occasions myself.

You know, doing good deeds are what we are called upon to do in our bodies on this side of the grave. And when we do good deeds, we tend to want to pound our chests and welcome recognition for those good deeds. But what about those times that we do NOT do the things that we are called upon to do? How about those times when we sin, knowing that we're acting in a way that nourishes our minds and bodies in a selfish way? You see, if God were to gauge us based upon a scale, then a snowball would have a better chance of survival in hell than we would in being granted access into heaven. Our deeds do not save us. Jesus saves us. And Jesus saves ALL! Not only does Jesus save us from our sin, though. Jesus saves us from something, FOR something. How many times have you gone through your belongings and you've come across something that you don't really need, but you still chose to save it? We keep this personal possession because we obviously have a purpose for keeping it. Just as Jesus has a purpose for saving you.

Grace and Peace,
Mavsluva

[goodcents]

These messages are a good addition each Monday

[*Narkissos*]

Thanks for posting bro... especially the bit about 'greater and lesser sins': comparing our misdeeds to those we deem greater than our own to absolve ourselves.



Great post.

[goodcents]

Do you write down your sermens or do you kind of know what you want to say and let it flow?

[SMAN12b]

Great Post, THANKS hope it doesn't get locked on you again!!!!!

[mavsluva]

I pretty much write it out in an attempt to build the foundation of my message. What I actually post on here is the short version of what I present, though. My teaching approach is to tie as much daily life experiences into my bible studies so that my audience can better relate to the material that I present.

[ecivon]

If religious piety is what it takes to make people treat other people with dignity and respect then that is a good thing. What would be a better path would be for people to elevate their humanity to a higher level without any need to attach strings to it, such as claiming that they do it for religiousity, or piety. I believe in a higher being, but why do we have to use that as justification for being better, or enlightened humans? We should be that way regardless. Why do we need crutches, or justification?

Peace to you Mavsluva, nice post.

[*Narkissos*]

Great Post, THANKS hope it doesn't get locked on you again!!!!!

It was only brought to my attention today that the other(s) was/were locked.

Mavs.. if it gets locked unjustly..hit me with a PM

Nark

[SMAN12b]

Thanks Nark !!

[Hackamaniac]

Mav..I would come to a sermon like yours..The way you do yours makes me interested..Most of my ministers made me want to fall asleep..

[goodcents]

Great Post, THANKS hope it doesn't get locked on you again!!!!!

Who would want to lock one of his threads?

[*Narkissos*]

^^can't say... but they do want to.

[mavsluva]

While I do appreciate your positive appraisal, do understand that I am by no means great, nor do I think that I'm great. It's the material that I share that is great.

[Hackamaniac]

While I do appreciate your positive appraisal, do understand that I am by no means great, nor do I think that I'm great. It's the material that I share that is great.

U are a very humble man..I really respect you as a person...Not saying you are great but you are inspirational..

[big L 17]

that is very motavational i am glad you are still posting them up

[goodcents]

^^can't say... but they do want to.

*Goodcents doesn't send nark his "special" package now* jk

[C_Bino]

Keep them comin Mavs. You are the man. Im gonna hit you up with a PM as soon as I get back from campus.

[Carlos_E]

*Thread closed. Please contact ~Admin~ with questions why it's closed.*

[*Narkissos*]

^^I didn't get that PM... so until i'm otherwise 'informed' this thread is re-opened.

Let Admin close it if it warrants closing...

I see it contravening none of AR's rules nor policies.

Narkissos

[BajanBastard]

^^I didn't get that PM... so until i'm otherwise 'informed' this thread is re-opened.

Let Admin close it if it warrants closing...

I see it contravening none of AR's rules nor policies.

Narkissos

You just got 5 heaven points. You now have -573 points.

[C_Bino]

^^I didn't get that PM... so until i'm otherwise 'informed' this thread is re-opened.

Let Admin close it if it warrants closing...

I see it contravening none of AR's rules nor policies.

Narkissos

I was in the same boat as you. Want to keep his threads open but asked what Brians view was on this and he has never told us anything directly. Apprently Brian informed ~Admin~ that he wants all religious threads closed.

I would like to hear what Brian says about this, because Mavs always has good intentions and I dnot see why we should be at the point where we cant even allow this on the open forum. Would be sad.

[Hackamaniac]

@ narks heaven points..

[cfiler]

Double post

[cfiler]

You just got 5 heaven points. You now have -573 points.

[Carlos_E]

^^I didn't get that PM... so until i'm otherwise 'informed' this thread is re-opened.

Let Admin close it if it warrants closing...

I see it contravening none of AR's rules nor policies.

Narkissos

You got the PM now.

[*Narkissos*]

^^ Well i'll apologise on the behalf of the bros that deem Mavs a contributive member.

Mavs... i sincerely apologise that i cannot assist your threads' autonomy

Thanks for your continual contribution to the spiritual upliftment of the board... even if some were not receptive to it.

I hope the administrative decision will not affect your continued patronage here.

Narkissos

[*Narkissos*]

You just got 5 heaven points. You now have -573 points.

lmao.. bastard