I call BS!

There's nothing like a good tall tale. The taller the better. You've got to love sitting there tipping back beers as an old-timer talks about the 4 ton fish he once caught. Or the lady sipping martinis and talking about how she used to be on Broadway. You know they're lying and they may or may not know that you know. Who cares? The more unbelievable the story, the more fun.

This guy is full of it

When it comes to God, the more extravagant the stories and the promises, the better. This is because God doesn't BS. The implication is that whatever God promises, God delivers. No matter how ridiculous it seems. And God loves to make promises.

Take the book of Joel, for example. The whole book is about a plague of locusts coming on Israel. And yet in the middle of it, God can't resist but make a ton of promises. For example, God promises that all of the damage from the locusts will be repaired. God promises, twice, that the people "will never be shamed." That's pretty good. The best of all, is that God promises that "everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." This basically means that there is nothing to worry about and death can't touch us. A most triumphant promise!

"We're saved!"

God makes sweet promises like this because God has a covenant going with Israel. A covenant is like a contract but better. It's an understanding. And unlike a contract, if one person breaks it, it doesn't go away. It's a promise that lasts forever. 

When the great apostle Paul is reaching the end of his life, he remembers this promise. Covenants are sealed with a sacrifice. Paul is about to sacrifice, and God has just sacrificed Jesus.The covenant is signed, sealed, and Paul is delivered. He has no fear and, in fact, looks forward to meeting God.

The secret to this comfort, however, is that Paul actually believes God. Unlike the tall tales and empty guarantees of folks at the bar, God delivers and Paul knows it. But it's dang hard to believe God. 

When I was working at a Church Summer camp, there was a little boy who was asking questions about the Bible. A middle-aged Church member was telling him "God made the whole world and the whole sky. And God made you!" This boy was not having it. "God made everything!?" he said incredulously "You a liar liar pants on fire!"

The guy was not lying, God really did make everything, including us. But I sympathize with the kid: God's claims and God's promises seem too good to be true. In our normal lives, if we see an advertisement promising us eternal blessing and unconditional love (which they always seem to do, amiright?) we have to be skeptical. But we don't have to be skeptical about God's promises. The fish really is that big. Wait... maybe THAT'S how they fed the 5,000.

It's fall, time for the obligatory seasonal drink.

I Can't De-Cider

I can't decider whether I like this better cold or warm. Right now I'm leaning toward warm.

Ingredients: 8 oz. apple cider, ~1/6 shot triple sec, 3/4 shot cinnamon whiskey, 1 oz. brandy

Heat the cider on the stove. Fill a shot glass about 1/5 of the way with triple sec and the rest of the way with cinnamon whiskey (this is quite a nice shot by itself if you're into that). When the cider is hot, pour in the mixed shot. Then add about 1 oz. of brandy. You need the brandy to cut the sweetness and add some nice flavor, but don't use too much.