The Number 85 (The State of the World part 1)

“Picking the lesser of two evils is still picking evil”

It’s been a good while since my last blog…(like YEARS).  I’d like to blame it on a myriad of things (divorce, moving five times, other writing endeavors, and just a plain lack of follow through. I have at least 12 OTHER postings in a some form of completion; but in the end I can only do what I can.  Firsthand insight into my personality generally means I do them as I want/am compelled to.

I had made it my point of intention to stay silent publically about the results of the 2016 election.  It was better that way for me.  It doesn’t mean that I didn't address it…because I did…quite candidly.  I’ve even written a few posts about in in my blog: http://ourlightshines.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-toast-to-bad-taste-part-1_18.html , and here: http://ourlightshines.blogspot.com/2012/11/he-reigns-alone.html   also here:  http://ourlightshines.blogspot.com/2012/09/dropping-anchor-pt-2-to-whom-this-may.html  here: http://ourlightshines.blogspot.com/2012/09/dropping-anchor-pt-1-of-2-you-are-not.html  here: http://ourlightshines.blogspot.com/2012/09/feeding-machine.html   It was also, a semi constant undercurrent in the Bible study class that I taught and with friends whom I went back and forth with on it.  Most conversations were of like mind and constructive…a few in particular sadly highlighted the premise of this entry (and the other ones to follow).

It was cloudy the day that Donald Trump won the presidency…I think it rather fit the mood of things.  There was a feeling of dread in the air for many but there was also chilling celebration.  A scary portion of America woke up to the reality that they “won.”  There was elation in the fact that "their" America was coming back.  It was a barely contained giddiness that gloated in the face of President Obama. Mixed in with the white supremacists,  birthers, Conservatives, Republicans, and those in Mainstream America who were still struggling with the fact that Barack Obama was President was a group of people whose vote was a betrayal to the faith. They are called Evangelical Christians...and 85% of them voted for Donald Trump.  85% of the people who  worship the Savior that died for ALL PEOPLE voted for a candidate who ascended to the highest political office by disparaging, belittling, threatening, and dismissing everyone who was not white.

85% of people who proudly call themselves believers...

I want this figure to sink in…because for me…as a man of God…as a Pastor…as a Believer…that number…that 8 and the 5 followed by a percentage sign speaks volumes about the state of the Church.  That number should be ZERO.  The Church collectively should have shed ties with Trump the moment he began attacking God’s people (which for the uninformed is EVERYONE).  Trump wasn’t just going at people who had no ties to the faith: the unsaved, the Muslims, and the “undesirables.”  The platform of Trump unabashedly made targets out of the aforementioned people…but also the people that sit next to Evangelicals in the pews of worship.  Yet 85% of Evangelicals still cast their lots for Donald Trump.  They boldly and proudly hopped on the “Trump Train” and smiled giddily as their conductor pulled into the terminal stations of divisiveness and bigotry. 

85% of people who call me a brother in Christ.....

The 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump divided people into three distinct groups:

1) People who picked up on Trump’s bigotry because they agreed with it.

2) Targets of Trump’s bigotry who were alarmed that in 2016 such rhetoric could be allowed by a man who was campaigning to be the president of everyone.

3) People who either missed and/or flat out ignored/dismissed the bigotry to further their own interests…85% of Evangelicals who voted for Trump fall in this category.

85% of people who worship in church service next to me.....

85% of these same people disparaged President Obama.  They didn’t pray for him as Paul extols us to do for our leaders.  They questioned his faith, they questioned his citizenship, they challenged his “right” to be their President, and they basically cast false accusations on him.  They said he was a dictator, a communist, that he was making the country “weak” with a so-called apology tour. 

This same 85% however had no problems with a man who has been married three times.  A man, whose wife has questionable (READ: unanswered) citizenship status.  85% of Evangelicals had no problem with Trump saying TWO Corinthians as opposed to SECOND Corinthians.  85% of Evangelicals dismissed Trump bragging about grabbing women by the p_ssy (yet they will clutch the crosses around their neck and berate me for saying it).  85% of Evangelicals…voted in the flesh and ignored the Spirit.

85% of the people I have preached in front of, taught in class and led in Bible study...

There is a reason why so many people are leery of the Church.  Actually there are REASONS (and they will continue to be the foundation of my next few blogs).  The True Church has been replaced by this Christian/Republican hybrid that champions nothing Christ calls us to hold paramount.

85% of the people I go to seminary with....

A pastor acquaintance told me he voted for Trump because Trump championed a biblical issue for him (sanctity of life) and that he was the lesser of two evils.  Listen:  voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.  “But we HAVE to vote!!” is the retort I heard…but do we really?  Should we have voted in this election when neither candidate exemplified biblical ideals?

I say wholeheartedly NO.  A vote is wasted when the options are fraught with peril on either side.

The New Testament gives believers keen insight in how we are to walk in this world.  Paul informs us in Romans 12: 2  "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think."

85% of Evangelicals did the opposite...they voted for a man who is the antithesis of everything we are to stand for as Children of God.  85% of Evangelicals sadly missed how supporting such a person affects our ability to witness.  That this is part of why the faith look hypocritical to the very people we need to reach when we preach the love of Christ.  Yet 85% of Evangelicals gave solidarity to a man... who played loose and fast with bigotry, lewd behavior/words, and personified everything that the faith is not.

85%...and we are just at the beginning.

to be continued.....

Landscaping the Heart (Watch for Weeds)

I will confess that I do not have a green thumb.  Truth be told the concept of gardening and lawn care excite me about as much as football.   And then I moved to Arizona.   In the sort time I have been here there are three things I have learned in regards to weeds:

1- People take their landscaping (and that of their neighbors) very seriously
2- Weeds are unsightly growths that eclipse the beauty of a landscaped yard
3- Weeds require constant and prompt maintenance

And so I have pulled out my work gloves and taken to weeding.  While I still don't like it, I understand the necessity of the task and the visual benefits that come from dedicated yard maintenance.

Like our yards, our hearts also need constant weeding.  We live in a world that works overtime to assail us with many different distractions that allow weeds to take root in our heart.  The music we listen to,  the things we read, the shows we watch provide fertile ground for weeds prosper.

In our personal lives, the weeds of anger, hurt, apathy, depression, and rejection can choke the beauty of our heart and become so overgrown that nothing positive can get in.   Like our gardens we must constantly and consistently be on the lookout for weeds growing in our hearts.

In Matthew 13:1-9, Jesus gives us the parable of the sower.  In the parable a sower was spreading seeds out on his land.  I want us to take special focus on verse 13:7

"Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants."

The seeds that were scattered amongst the thorns were choked out by the weeds. The message is simple, if we allow weeds to remain in our hearts they will choke all the joy and peace God wants to grant us!

When we accept Christ in our lives, His grace clears all the weeds in our hearts.  Our sins are plucked out by an expert gardener and the landscape of our heart looks pristine and neat.  But as we continue to walk in this world...slowly but surely weeds will take root and sprout.  The rejection we get from loved ones regarding our new faith, the anger we experience when we are hurt,  the pain and misery of the world become weeds that can choke out Christ. 

We must be constant gardeners of our hearts...forever vigilant for the appearance of weeds and dedicated to "heart maintenance."  Heart maintenance involves:

Not allowing our hearts to be a fertile ground for weeds- What we watch, say, think, and surround ourselves with prepares the soil of our heart for a future harvest.  What we plant there makes a big difference!!  Seek to plant joy, peace, and forgiveness in your heart and not let the world plant anger, frustration, apathy, hatred, or other negative emotions.

Make weeding a habitual routine- In my yard I have learned that on the few days I slack off on weeding, when I go back, it is almost like I never weeded to begin with.  The longer I wait, the taller and fuller the weeds get and the deeper the roots go.  The weeds in our hearts are the same.  The longer we neglect them, the deeper they become embedded and  harder to remove.  Be aware of any weeds that grow and pull them immediately!

Make sure your heart is landscaped for beauty and not allowed to be choked with weeds.  Next we will look at ways that can enhance your landscape and other ways that mar its appearance.

In His name....

The Virtue of Patience

One of the best words that could be used to sum up the pace of life would be hectic.  For many of us we exist in a mixed state of always moving and never ceasing.  We crave constant motion and yearn for instant gratification.  Society has molded us this way.  Restaurants boast at being able to seat and serve customers quickly.  Some advertise having meals "hot and ready" in a certain amount of time or the meal is free.  We loathe being stuck behind a Sunday driver in traffic and we will lean on our car horns to remind the person that it is in fact, Wednesday.  We drift from channel to channel looking for some stimuli that will hold our attention for more than a few minutes.  We are also addicted to 24 hour news channels that give us tidbits of information in fast and easy bites.  This allows us to feel informed about what is going on in the world despite the fact that such nuggets of news are often incomplete and potentially biased.  Gone are the days of enjoying the scenery, recognizing that good meals take time to prepare, and having a fully developed discourse on a subject that allows one to hear researched facts as opposed to quick opinions.

Our biggest hit regarding patience however is in the arena of personal problems.  While we don't mind good times hanging around, when it comes to the presence of problems we want them resolved and gone as soon as possible.

This mentality can cause us to miss deep blessing in our lives because we are often in such a rush to put a problem behind us that we miss the lessons and character growth potential that only problems allow us to experience.

While there are some pastors who promise that when one becomes a believer the "right job, right person, right financial breakthrough" are forgone results; this belief sets a new believer up for an unrealistic outcome.  God never promises that all troubles will disappear.  God does promise that He will be with us during our troubles. The more we seek God in times of trouble the more we see that it is in trouble that we learn to trust God and His word!  More often than not it is when we face problems that we seek God.  Sadly, God often has to use problems just to get our attention!!

The more we walk with God the more we begin to see that problems are not to be rushed through...there are very important things we can learn when we are immersed in trouble.  God often uses trouble to:

Reveal character issues we need to address (Romans 5:3-4):   We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  It is a hard thing to admit but more often than not, the root cause of many problems we have fall squarely on us.  It could be something we said/did not say or something we did/did not do.  Sadly it is always easier to find fault with the other person and absolve ourselves of any guilt.  This is magnified when we rush through our problems.  We often think that when THEY get THEIR act together everything will be fine. Reflecting on a conflict can help us see our faults in creating an issue and work to correct them.  Problems are the furnaces that forge our character! They are not there to allow us to heap blame on everybody...they are there to help us become better people so that we do not repeat those behaviors.

Test our faith and faithfulness (Deuteronomy 8:2): ² Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.  Many times we find ourselves in situation after situation because we insist on doing things our way instead of God's way.  We have more faith in our way of doing things instead of having faith in God's way of doing things.  The Israelites faced the same situation where their lack of faith caused them to wander for 40 years before they could enter the Promised Land and this was after being on the cusp of it AND being delivered from bondage.  When someone hurts us often the first thing we want to do is hurt them back.  If justice seems to be absent  (or not coming fast enough) we will gleefully seek to mete out justice on our own.  This will only make things worse!  God wants us to trust Him and let Him handle things.  We need to have faith that nothing escapes God and He always delivers justice at the perfect time.  Problems help us look outside ourselves and upwards to God!  Problems test our faith to see if we will trust God instead of ourselves.  It is a sobering lesson to learn that we will only make a problem bigger when we try to handle it ourselves.  Only God can make a problem a blessing when we let Him handle it. 

God is preparing us for greater things.  It is often hard to see any positives in times of trouble, but that is only because we look at them as a step backwards instead of a step upwards.  Had Moses not fled Egypt under the stain of murder he would not have been able to encounter God's presence and learn he was to deliver his people from bondage.  Had David not been forced to flee from Saul and depend on the charity of the people, his reliance on God may have stagnated, and David would not have been the king he became.  Had God not blinded Paul he would have continued on to Damascus for his grisly work, instead he became the apostle of the Gospel to the Gentiles. When we are comfortable we don't move!  God cannot use us if we are too comfortable in our status quo.  Problems get our attention and open us up to hear God and seek His will in our lives.  When God shakes up your life it is because He has something in store for you.

Do you have a problem?  Don't rush through it.  Allow God to carry you through.  Give up your will and your way.  Submit to God and seek what He wants you to learn.  Pray for guidance and respond with the goal of growing into the new person God is calling you to be.  Problems are a wilderness that have purpose and will eventually pass.  Always remember that any wilderness we enter is a wilderness we will exit!  Decide to be patient through problems and not seek a swift resolution.  Choose to be patient and seek God to find out what He is trying to tell you.

In His spirit and Guidance- 3 Jun 2013

A Toast to Bad Taste (part 1)

"Obama hails from chicago whose zipcode is 60606 (do you see the three sixes ?)"
"He (Barack Obama) is the one. That is, the world dictator mentioned in the bible."

"Sometimes I'll have an ill feeling about something, as in the re-election of Barack Hussein Obama. I did some research and found that Im not alone. I believe that Obama may be the 3rd., anti-christ. I am not biased, and voted for him, however lately getting a very bad feeling about his re-election, should it occur. If you count all the letters in his name in adds up to 18. Divide the 3 names, 3/18 and you get 666."

I have watched the History Channel's The Bible with tepid interest.  As a student of the Word I knew I would look at it with expectations of it being a wonderful evangelical instrument and a method in which to bring people to know what God has done for them.  Sadly, I have been bothered by the biblical inaccuracies, Hollywood standards, and the fallacious ethnic portrayals that I now find the event largely unwatchable on the whole.

Last night's episode allowed us to get our first look at Satan...and in doing so opened up a door that will distract from the message of Christ.  I will not accuse anyone of intentionally allowing for the resemblance of Satan to our sitting president, but the gauntlet has been cast down ever since Glenn Beck fired off his first tweet last night.

And this is a problem...

Despite losing the 2012 election and finding itself farther on the fringes...the political platform that feels it is the party of the Bible is infected with a vitriol that incites bigoted hatred and baseless accusations of "lazy people" taking from "hard working people" and the president only winning because he promised "lazy people" "free stuff" for their votes.

Caustic talk that should be kept private has leaked out into the news media and supporters of such bile Facebook...and any backlash is felt to be an affront to "freedom" and "truth" .

It is telling that in practicing such behavior those who do this are ignorant to the irony that it is okay that THEY can say whatever THEY want in the name of "freedom" but when someone else is not in agreement and uses their own freedom to retort...problems arise.

The issue many miss is that freedom of speech (the ability to say whatever we want to say, when we want to say it, to whoever we want to say it to) should take a backseat to responsible speech (the understanding that the words I say have power and can either hurt or heal the listener and thus I should think about what I say before I say it). This should be especially relevant to those of us who call ourselves believers.  Paul encouraged believers in Ephesians 4:29 "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."

The Republican Party and its supporters (who profess to want to uphold the Bible) are sadly not operating in this attitude of grace and encouragement.

This returns us to the picture above...a Satan who looks disturbingly like President Obama.  One of the things that has seemed to be a consistent spectre around the President is that some over eager believers (and Republicans,Tea Partyers, and those upset about the way of things) hold that he is the Antichrist (thus the acceptance of this representation of Satan is not looked at as an insult but an "I knew it" moment).  But here is the truth of the matter....Scripture is VERY clear about where the Antichrist will arise, and what will make up his 10 kingdom empire (to be covered in part 2).

A student of the Word can rest assured that Barack Obama is not the Antichrist.  A scholar of the Bible can also lament and disagree with the direction this country/world is going...but let it be for reasons that line up with the Bible and not political ideology.

Grace and blessings on your path
18 Mar 2013

4given

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.

C.S. Lewis

Each and every one of us have have been wronged at some point in our lives.  Some of us were hurt by words.  Others by physical abuse.  For certain people it was a selfish and/or careless actions that shattered our trust.  It may have been our parents, friends, coworkers, even our spouses.  This pain from the hurt created a shell we now wear.  It fuels an anger that we stoke every time we relive the offense and our thirst for justice.

This has it origins in a vengeance fueled world that advocates eliciting justice for every slight, slander, and violation.   As a society we are immersed in a culture that rewards those who seek vengeance on wrong doing.  Movies celebrate and glorify it.  Music advocates the glee gained from making a wrong doer suffer as they come back and plead for forgiveness.  Books outline devious plots where the slighted gain the upper hand and make a person pay.  So it should come as no surprise that forgiveness has taken a backseat to vengeance in our psyche.  For many of us the concept of forgiveness is a very bitter pill to swallow. Often we will profess that others have no idea what was done to us and how badly we were hurt. We will justify our bitterness by declaring that outsiders are ignorant to the offense and the line it crossed and what it cost us. As a consequence we imagine scenarios where someone gets their brutal comeuppance and we wait for the perfect moment to strike.  Our hearts become hardened and we focus on the past.

The Bible offers a far better solution.  We are to reject vengeance and forgive!  Below are some important facts about forgiveness:

The Bible tells us the vengeance belongs to God.  It can be hard to forgive because we are waiting on the perfect time to strike and get payback.  When we seek vengeance we often make things worse.  A slight to us become a slight to someone else.  This means we have to strike back again and the process repeats.  Eventually whoever started the whole exchange is lost to time as vengenace begets vengeance.  God has proven Himself to be the best vehicle for justice.  He has promised to take care of those who are abused.  God knows the perfect time, measure, and avenue in which to exact justice.  We must trust in Him and know that He will always right wrongs.

Forgiving frees us of a burden that weighs us down. Many people fear this because they align forgiveness with forgetting and pretending that the slight never happened or saying that whatever was done to us was "okay." This is not the case. By forgiving we let go of the hurt we are holding in our hearts. As we release the pain it fades from our lives and allows us to move forward.

When we forgive we show that we are the bigger person.  Often we wait for others to make the first move and become frustrated when others don't.  Many people are incapable of seeing beyond their point of view.  Perhaps they feel slighted by you.  Making the first move can often get the ball rolling towards reconciliation.  Forgiving others also give people a clean slate and a chance to redeem themselves. 

Forgiving opens us up to God's blessing.  When we seek vengeance our hearts become hardened and deaf to God.  Forgiving softens the callouses that form inside us and allow us to be receptive to the voice of God.  Forgiving becomes easier and we are able to feel lighter and liberated the more we do it and the more God moves through us.

Forgiveness allows us to move towards the future instead of looking at the past. One sobering fact that many people miss when they hold on to slights is that what has happened has happened and cannot be changed.  When we refuse to forgive we essentially place ourselves in suspended animation as we continue to focus on the slight.  Nothing that is in the present matters because all energy is turned towards remembering and regretting what happened.  People who do not forgive miss out of happiness, love, healing, and closure because they constantly reopen the wounds of the past and live in it everyday.  We can never change what happened to us...but we can allow God to not let it define us in the present and help us move forward.

Forgiving people are more pleasant to be around! There is nothing more depressing than being in the vicinity of someone who is obsessed with something that happened in the past.  Their focus is on the event, their intent is to get payback, their victimization, and they often strive to get others on their side.  Forgiving people on the other hand are looking forward instead of backwards.  They see beauty and peace and spread it to those around them. Forgiving people rise above while those who yearn for vengeance dwell below!

We were forgiven ourselves.  The most important thing forgiving people are aware of is that they themselves were forgiven by Christ.  Christ took on human form, suffered, and died to give us reconciliation with God.  We did not deserve this forgiveness. We were all guilty of unforgivable sin that separated us from God.  Yet God made the first move, He did not wait for us.  In His goodness and love He gave us the greatest gift so that we could know Him.  Christ did that for each and every one of us.  In that light how can we withhold forgiveness from others?

Is there something or someone in your life that you should forgive.  It doesn't matter if they deserve it...they may very well not deserve it.  But Christ calls on us to give it anyway.  Do you need to forgive yourself?  For a mistake? For something you said, did, or did not do? The Bible tells us the God can make us as clean as freshly fallen snow when he give our pains to God (Isaiah 1:18).  He can make us new creatures separate from what we were.  Instead of sadness and regret we are filled with a joy that only comes from knowing we are loved and forgiven in God's eyes.  What we did, who we were no longer matters.  Is that something you want?  Are you tired of holding on to the hurts that were done to you?  Are you saddened by something you have done? Decide today to lay your burdens down and pick up an attitude of forgiveness. Choose to turn over everything to God and let Him guide your life.   As He remolds you, watch your days become brighter and your life richer.

Sincerely with the Grace of God
25 Jan 2012

Resolutions

                   

                      A church is a hospital for sinners, not a club for saints.




As we enter into the New Year; all across the world people are making resolutions.  They wish to leave something behind in 2012 and start something new in 2013.  Often this revolves around fitness, stopping and bad habit and starting a good one, or making some sort of life decision.  Something about a new year gives us a motivation to start things we lack the deeper we get into a year.

There is nothing wrong with this...wanting to make changes to the physical and/or mental is something to be encouraged and supported.

But what about the inside?  What about the spiritual resolution?

A very anti Christian person was asked one day is he knew where sinners go. The man scoffed because he was sure he would hear the same thing he had always heard when people discussed his status as a nonbeliever.  He was sure that he would be lectured that sinners go to hell.  Imagine his surprise when he was informed that sinners go to church.

As a seminary student (and minister) it is a sad state to see so many people feel that church is a place that you have to be "good" or "perfect" to attend.  It hurts to know that there are countless people who will make a resolution to better themselves on the outside and to neglect to better their spirits. They will continue to stay away from church because many places of worship have set up a perception that only "perfect" people go to church.

This could not be further from the truth! 1st Samuel 16:7 tells us that God is not impressed with our appearance...what he does care about is us!  Each and every one of us are sinners...and as sinners we go to church.  It is only when we are forgiven are we able to go to heaven.  This forgiveness comes from Christ.  Nothing we can ever do will make us good enough for the gift that Christ gave us.  But the wonderful thing is that He died for us  and gave it to us anyway. All we have to do is accept it!  Jesus loves us whether we are employed or unemployed, skinny or overweight, sober or addicted, married or divorced, with children or without.  We don't have to impress Him.  God pursues us with a love that is marvelous and uplifting. Comforting and caring and unique for our circumstances and personalities.

But to know this we must first know Him.  And the best place to get to know Him is in His Word and in the church.  The Word of God is the only book that speaks to us as we dig deeper into it.  C.S. Lewis writes; "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."  It is the Bible in which God offers His comfort, guidance, teaching, and correction.

Each and every person in the church pew is getting this same lesson...even if they act like they are not.  If you have decided to stay out of the church for some reason why not let 2013 be the year you enter back into it?  Make a resolution to know God, to understand that He loves you and wants what is best for you.  Let you New Year resolution led you to the solution to all that is chaotic in life: Jesus Christ.  Resolve to learn God's Word, understand His plan, and accept His salvation.  Let 2013 be the year you really change and made an impact in the world for God.

Grace and blessings on your path in 2013!

In a World of Thorns

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead,^[b]and Lord, you heard me!" Jonah 2:2

One of the biggest misconceptions I had once I became a believer was that my problems would automatically be resolved.  I truly expected that in the span of mere moments when I gave  my life to Christ that He would fix the mess I made.  Needless to say this did not happen and I spent a period of confusion and frustration figuring out why I was still immersed in the trails of life.

I am sure I am not the only one who has fallen into this trap.  Many of us have wondered if God has forgotten us in the midst of our trails.  This is partly due to our viewing of God as a magic "genie" who is here to fix our problems when we want them fixed and a prevalence of televangelists who promise that a "great job, miraculous healing, wonderful marriage, and financial gains" are just around the corner when one becomes a believer.  While it is true that these life changing events can occur; they are at the discretion and timing of God.

We are not promised happiness in this life.  It is no secret that this world can be a ugly place.  Murders, rapes, lies, war all sicken and sadden us about the human condition. Many deny God because they proclaim that if He was so good why would He allow such wickedness to occur.  The answer is straight forward.  God never promised paradise on Earth while man is ruling it.  The main reason is that is we were constantly happy here we would not want to go to heaven!  Heaven is where we are promised rest from out worries and a eternal fellowship with Christ. 

It is strange that we want God to fix our troubles when it is we who have caused them ourselves.  The fact that we miss is that God uses our troubles to refine and shape us just as a metal worker uses fire to refine metal.  God expects us to grow as we endure trouble (James 1:2-4).  Our troubles are designed to draw us closer to God.

As believers we must never forget that no matter the situation God is always with us (Romans 8:31-39) and our suffering will end in glory (2nd Corinthians 4:17-18).  It is in this knowledge that we find joy.  The internal spark that lifts our spirits and cannot be taken away by what goes on in the world.  Far to many people seek happiness and often this happiness is tied to the end of their trials.  God did not mean this for us.  We must understand that many times our suffering helps us comfort others (2nd Corinthians 1:3-7) and they help us develop patience (Romans 5:1-5).

So what are you dealing with?  Financial worries?  Family/marital stressors? Health problems?  Depression?  Know you are not alone.  Always remember that God loves us right where we are.  We do not have to be "perfect" before we can approach Him.  Jesus died for us when we were yet sinners.  He took the penalty we rightly deserved on Himself (Romans 8:1-2).  You are never alone.  There are always two footprints in the sand of your life: yours and God's.  There will seem like times there is only one...but do not fret!!  For it is during these time that God is carrying you.

in His name

He Reigns Alone

Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; He directs it to whatever ends He chooses.  Proverbs 21:1


Today we all head to the polls an cast our votes for who will lead us for the next four years. In a just 24 hours people will either be elated that their candidate won or dejected because the outcome they wanted did not come to pass.

It is my prayer that those of us who hold  Christ as the center of our lives do not forget that Jesus is bigger than the Republican and Democrat (or any other) Party.  God puts whomever He chooses in power and as believers we are to respect His choices...even if we do not agree with them.

As believers we are more than just Democrats, Republicans, Libertarian, or Independents. We belong to the greatest party that has ever existed: The Lion of Judah Party. The only qualification to be a member is that one be filled with the Holy Spirit. It doesn't matter where you came from, how you look, how much money you make, or any earthly label. As members of the Lion of Judah Party are you going to stand on the truth of the Word of God that seeks to love and heal or divisive party politics that can turn believer against believer? 

In 1st Peter 5:5; Peter encourages Christians to clothe themselves with humility.  Humility has become an alien practice in today's "me first" world and in our political dogma.  For many life is about getting ahead at any cost (and if it is done in a political way we like so much the better). In this election many lamented "the lost/blind/ignorant" who just did not get "it" regarding the state of affairs of the country and thus deserved to be written off.   2012 will probably go down as one of the dirtiest years of "me first" posturing...especially in the scope of our presidential candidates, the direction of our country and the Christians who have picked sides. 

Many Christians have become the exact opposite of what Peter instructed.  I will confess that it has broken my heart to see so many believers more invested in political jargon and concern regarding advancing "their candidate" as opposed to the Great Commission. We have become opinionated, divisive, and close minded and in doing so, we sully the glorious message of Jesus Christ.  Some have claimed that they are the party of the Bible yet practice behaviors that run counter to the road Jesus walked.  Others hold that  truth is relative to the individual and have compromised fundamental elements of the Bible in the name of votes.  We have taken on an attitude that said either you are with us or you are against us...and if you are against us we consider you less than us.  This is unfortunate and a handicap for the Kingdom. 

But the question stands...what is humility and does Peter want us to invest in this priceless attitude? 

In Matthew 5:5 Jesus says "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (NKJV).  Meekness and humility have common ground in being gentle and lowly.  In meekness and humility we draw people to us as opposed to pushing them away.  Before I go further I want to get this out of the way: meek people are not weak people. 

Meekness is strength controlled and power contained.  When we have humility we are enveloped in the same attitude.  Real strength is not found in external, boisterous, and opinionated power.  True power is in being clothed in humility and putting others ahead of us. Humility is allowing yourself to be God-controlled as opposed to seeking to dominate in various external circumstances.  Meekness/humility offers some observable benefits which I have listed below

There is less stress in humility/meekness...that is because the stress of life is passed on to the one who is really in control; God.

People who embrace meekness/humility are more pleasant to be around.

Meek/humble people make better decisions in life because they do not subscribe to the "me first" way of thinking.

Meek/humble people are better balanced, no matter what life throw at them; they are settled in life.

Meek/humble people are pro-active as opposed to re-active.

Meek/humble people are more useful to God because they have yielded to His sovereign control.

In humility/meekness we can support even the presidential candidate we did not vote for.  We can see the good as opposed to the imagined evils.  What God has elected to happen has becomes greater than what we wanted to happen. 

Paul writes in Romans 13:1-5  that we are to obey the government because God has put it there.  He has placed whom He wants to rule in power and as believers we are to pray for godly wisdom for our leaders.  Conspiracy theories and hateful language (no matter where it comes from) are not congruent with Christianity and the charge of loving everyone that we have been given. 

No matter what we will wake up tomorrow and find out who will lead us.  We will either be pleased or not...and that is okay.  But if we are disappointed we must swallow that feeling and seek to support the will of God.  God knows what He is doing and He really does not need our help!  We must seek to pull together not tear apart.  We must decide which party will hold our hearts:  The eternal goodness and humility of the Lion of Judah Party or the fallible parties of man?

I Surrender

In war when one side wishes to cease hostilities they put down their weapons, exit their defensive positions and approach their opponent and surrender.  The most telling part of this act is the raising of both hands in the air to show that they were not armed and they no longer hold any items in which to resist.  They put themselves at the mercy of the enemy forces as they essentially say "I don't want to fight any more."

A surrender is an act the ends hostilities and reconciles a conflict.  In war it works fairly well (although I did learn when I was in Afghanistan on had to very careful about surrendering insurgents because they often surrendered to create openings for attack) and can usher in peace.

Surrendering is God falls in the same practice.  Whether we wish to admit it or not...each day we are engaged in active hostilities against God.  We know His laws/commands yet we ignore them.  We break His heart by doing what feels "good"or "right" to us.  We deny God, we cut Him out of society, and are now more concerned with not offending the offensive as opposed to living by God's word.  We are at war in our souls and despite the chaos it causes we diligently fight on.

This war of attrition will have only one loser...us; yet pride and the imagined idea that we can somehow defeat God pushes us forward.  What is interesting is that even as we fight God, in His eternal grace and love He patiently seeks to draw us to Him.  Sometimes this pursuit is a quiet whisper and other times it is an overt action designed to get our attention.

In the book of Jonah we can see how God gave Jonah explicit instruction on what Jonah was to do.  Instead of following this command to head to Nineveh and prophesy, Jonah hopped on a ship and headed for Tarshish.  It took a brutal storm, being tossed overboard by the fearful crew, and three days in the belly of a fish for Jonah see that not only is it not smart to dodge God but one is also better off just surrendering.

Many of us are like Jonah.  We know God has something meant for us yet we fight to go our own way.  God is a gentleman and He will never force His way into our lives but He will allow us to experience the consequences of our rebellion and use the humility that follows to get us where He wants us to be.

To avoid such actions we must surrender before things go that far.  Like soldiers we must lay down our arms, raise our hands, and come out from our defensive positions.  For a person wishing to leave this sinful world behind and live for God, surrendering is both a willful acceptance and yielding to the dominating force of God and His will.

In this surrender we lay ourselves aside (our pride, our "knowledge", our faults, and our fears) and we invite God to rule our lives.  James 4:7-10 reminds us to humble ourselves, to draw close to God, and purify our hearts.  We must weep for our wrong doings and feel sorrow and  deep grief.  When we bow down (surrender) before God and admit our dependence on Him, He will lift us up and give us honor.

Surrendering to God is the greatest move we can make in seeking to get a handle on our lives.  It is only when we lower ourselves that God can raise us up. 

What are you holding on to?  What are you defending?  Nothing is worth defending that it keeps you from God.  Raise you hands and approach Him and He can make things better than they were.  When dealing with God; surrender does not mean defeat.  Surrendering to God makes us victorious in this world and in the kingdom to come.  If you are weary of fighting, tired or struggling and exhausted from defiance...now is the time to surrender to the power of the cross.  When we surrender to God we are never the same!

in His holy name---16 Oct 2012

The Flame in All of Us pt 3: Hollow Theory

The person who allows God to conquer their soul is mightier than the person who conquers kingdoms.

For those that do not know; prior to becoming a Christian I have floated from considering myself a Muslim, an atheist, and finally agnostic.  I share this because I want it to be clear that what I say is not out of ignorance or "misunderstanding."  I was "there" for quite a long time...but I thank GOD that He is real and changed my life.  I am in awe that I mattered, that He loves us all and He wants us to all know Him.  It is my travail that so many people choose to ignore this in a push to go their own way. 

Also to clear up any potential confusion I when am speaking about God I am speaking about the God of Abraham, Isaac,and Jacob. I am speaking of God as He revealed Himself in the Old and New Testament of the Bible.  I am not speaking of Allah, Buddha, or any other human made god/deity that people attempt to proclaim.

Many people chose to deny the the reality of a real God  for the most frivolous reason....pride.  I have the pleasure of being close acquaintances with a few people who profess unbelief in God and the statements they make regarding why they do not believe back up this fact.  The proclamation that there is no God is rationalized by the "evidence" regarding the brutality of humanity in the throes of religion (also being religious does not mean one has a relationship with God), the bigotry of Christianity regarding same sex behavior, and the ignorant statements of political party members whose words are more in lockstep with a political belief than the true spirit of Christ.  People also seek to deny God because they feel that He is not active in their lives.  They miss the fact that God blesses them daily with employment, loving people, health, and relative safety.  These people insist that God must show Himself "big" for them to believe while they remain ignorant of the little things He does daily.

As I noted in an earlier blog the fact that in our deepest core we understand right from wrong and that it is universal and not unique to the individual highlights the fact that God gave this feeling to us.  God has revealed Himself to us in the creation of this world, in making us in His image, and sending His Son to give us salvation.  In spite of this many in the world today actively choose not to accept a relationship with or a belief in God.

For the atheist the idea that they are not masters of their own destiny is unpalatable.  The notion that the very moral center that screams when they are wronged comes from heaven and not humanity puzzles them.  The belief that apart from God man is doomed to sin and despair is alien.  The idea they do embrace is that there is no God and we are better off without Him...and that theory is hollow.

To say that God does not exist...out of all the things that DO exist in illogical and self-refuting.  I mean, who can make such a claim?  For one to proclaim such a belief would mean that the person supporting this platform must have complete and exhaustive knowledge of EVERYTHING.  Ironically the only being who could make such a proclamation is God...the very being the atheist attempts to deny.

The fact that atheists also miss is that when one allows God into their lives they are free.  Worry, doubt, fear, sadness are cast aside and joy (even in the throes of pain) takes over.  Jesus told His followers that all who are burdened should give their cares to Him and He will give them rest and when we take Jesus' yoke we find rest for our souls because His burden is easy and His yoke is light  (Matthew 11:28-30).  No other faith/lack of faith can make the same offer.  I found that life was even more stressful in my unbelief because I had to ( well try to to be exact) handle everything...and God knows I was ill equipped to do it.  I suffered and nearly lost many things.

The hardest thing I had to do was to submit.  The easiest thing I ever had to do was let God take control of my life and lead me where He wanted me to go after I submitted.  God wants what is best for us.  He wants to show us how He can use us to impact the world for His glory.  When we deny God, we deny someone else the chance to change based on what God has done in our lives.  Sometimes a person with a relationship with God is the only Bible a nonbeliever will read.  Atheism is not the answer...God is.

In Matthew 24:3 Jesus was asked by the disciples, "what will the sign of your coming and the close(end) of the age."  Jesus' answers in what is called the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1-49), speaks on the mass falling away of the people from the faith.  The deceit by false prophets (which the church will endure as well) was foretold over 1500 years ago.  The unbelief of today was prophesied by Jesus before He died and rose.  Understand that unbelief is not a personal choice...God decreed it would happen as a sign of His return.

Mankind is incapable of living righteous on its own accord.  One only needs to see where Christianity has NOT exerted itself to see the fruits of wickedness ripened.  When man is master of his own destiny he falls.  The closer a person walks with God the more they are blessed.  The farther they stray the more calamity befalls them.  An examination of society today bears the truth to this.  School shootings, violence in the home/workplace, rising divorce rates are just a few examples of the bitter harvest being reaped because as a society we have sown seeds that do not contain God.

To the atheist; a golden society does not begin when we cut God out of our lives...its glorious foundation is in God.  Jesus gave us two great commandments in Matthew 22:39-40.  We are to love God with all our hearts, souls, and mind.  We are also to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

This is the true core of the Word of God.  When we follow these two commandments we contribute to a society that follows the instruction of God (which are for our protection not punishment) and we establish a lifestyle of consideration and humility.  Think about that...if people treated others the way they wanted to be treated....there would be less family discord, murders, hatred, and bigotry.

The atheist misses this.  The atheist is immersed in their way and their beliefs with no insight regarding the consequences that such thoughts bring in.  As a former atheist, I pray the closed hearts become opened and the power and grace of God shines in.  Only God can change and bring about the peace that nonbelievers seek in so many other temporary ways.  Never forgot while an atheist may not believe in God...it does not mean that God does not believe in them.

till He comes....11 Oct 2012

Dropping Anchor pt 2: To Whom this May Concern

Last week was a whirlwind of activity so I am posting this a bit later than I would have liked.  Below is the second half of my radio appearance.  Before I we delve into I wish to stress again that I am NOT a Democrat....I am also NOT a Republican (nor am I Independent, Libertarian, or whatever else people in a democratic system consider themselves...one day I will share but it really is not important).  So without further delay:

There is one thing we need to get out in the open and be honest about before we go any further.  I have noticed a lack of discussion on this topic as opposed to 2008 when a presidential candidate was grilled meticilously about his faith.  When this topic is bought up; there is a concerted effort to make it seem like it is just a different denomination and its adherents are just like us...this is a complete and utter lie. Mitt Romey will talk about many things...he will talk about Obama, what his plans are for the country (generally) but he will not talk about his faith except in the most generic terms. So it is with this in mind that I set out to be correct (as opposed to politically correct) and state this conclusion:

Mormons are not Christians. Mitt Romney is a Mormon.  Mitt Romney is not a Christian.

Mormons are not a denomination.  Mormonism is not an alternate faith practice  in which its followers believe the same things Christians do but have different ways of doing things.  Mormons are not our "brothers and sisters" in faith they are a separate and distinct entity that live outside the scope of Christianity.  It is a sad sense of irony the party that claims to be the champions of the Bible are endorsing a candidate that does not support the Bible.

Mormons are extra-biblical.  Much of their teaching is based on the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.  The Mormanism platform runs counter to what the Bible teaches and I offer a small sample below:

Mormons believe in the concept of a celestial marriage (that a man and woman will remain married in heaven once they are "sealed" and as long as the obey God's commands) and site Matthew 16:19 and 18:18 as grounds for this.  However in Matthew 22:23-30 when asked by the Sadducees about the marriage in heaven; Jesus scolded them and informed them that man and women would not marry in heaven.  Simply put they (man and wife) are like angels when they are in heaven and the marriage instution as we know it on Earth does not exist (22:29-30).

Mormons believe that the Bible is incomplete and contains errors (thus the additional extra-biblical books). In Revelations 22:18-21 John warns that "...if anyone adds to them (the words of the Bible), God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." (ESV)  Obviously, Mormons are in clear violation of these inspired words.  The book of Revelations closed the Bible.  One must ask why a person would look at a closed book and feel the need to add more.  The next logical question would be to wonder that IF a person felt "inspired" to add more WHO was it that inspired them to add what they did?  This question dovetails nicely into my last point.

In 2nd Timothy 3:16-17, Paul reminds us that "All Scripture is breathed out (inspired) by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."  The word of the Bible are meant to uplift and bring in positive change in the lives of all who hear the Gospel.  It is inclusive to all peoples/cultures/backgrounds.  Mormonism is exclusive.  Up until the late 1970s (1978 to be exact) Black men were not allowed to preach.  While this practice was overturned (no specific reason was given but the fear of possible discrimination lawsuits may have helped matters more than any "revelation" adherents claim happened); Mormonism is immersed in a legacy of bigotry...something counter to the Bible.  For example up until 1977 most Black people were not permitted to participate in many ordinances in the temple (thus Black people could not earn a celestial marriage and thus remain married in heaven and they missed many privileges enjoyed by their white Mormon counterparts.  This also meant that Blacks would not be able to be in the full light of God's glory (unmarried whites would suffer the same fate) and thus be regulated to a "ministering servant."  

In 1954 Apostle Mark E. Petersen told BYU students:

"If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter the celestial kingdom. He will go there as a servant, but he will get a celestial resurrection."

Apostle George F. Richards in a talk at General Conference similarly taught:

 "[t]he Negro is an unfortunate man. He has been given a black skin. But that is as nothing compared with that greater handicap that he is not permitted to receive the Priesthood and the ordinances of the temple, necessary to prepare men and women to enter into and enjoy a fullness of glory in the celestial kingdom."

While Mormons have sought to shed much of these misbehaviors; on the most basic level, inherant rumblings of bigotry still remain the seed of Cain are marked by black/darker skin...thus the darker one is the more "sinful" they are and the lighter one is the more "godly" they are.  Like much of what Mormons (specifically) believe there is no Biblical evidence to justify such beliefs...yet this has not stopped Mormons from still holding them as doctrinal truth.

This brings us back to Mitt Romney and the 47% comment...I firmly believe that people who were in the demographic persuasions that Romney was addressing (minorities, poor, disenfranchised) knew EXACTLY who he was talking about.  I am not surprised...his religious beliefs are the foundation of his statements and the reason why he is not resonating with the 47% (which underscores why he doesn't care about their vote).  What saddens me if that the Republican hijacking of the Christian faith and the endorsement of a person who is not Christian handicaps the Great Commission.  It lumps Christians in with those who are divisive, bigoted, and.....wrong.  As Christians we are associated with people who not only do not even believe what we believe...they also say things that run counter to the salvation we are charged with spreading. 

1st Peter 2:12 tells us to; "Keep our conduct among the Gentile honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." (ESV)  We are to live lives that counter any criticism we will receive from unbelievers.  It should be our actions and our words that erode any attempted slights against our faith.  People will still talk...and that's okay because the life we lead as we are God controlled negates their slander.

To my fellow believers who are Republican: I implore you to look at what is going on around you.  Examine what the political machine has done to the perfect message we proclaim.  The political monster has hardened hearts and closed minds towards the grace and hope the Gospel holds.  Your presidential candidate is not Christian and he is speaking from a belief system that is divisive, hateful, and not rooted in any true biblical context. Continuing the way you all are will push people away as opposed to drawing them closer.

To non believers reading this:  The Republican party in general and Mitt Romney in particular does not speak for the Christian faith.  The party of the right cannot claim ownership nor contain the wonderful perfect truth of the Gospel.  The Word of God will continue to survive even when the conservative now turns to then.  Do not let the words/deeds or certain men and women who claim our faith discourage you from it.  A true Christian is peaceful, they are humble and meek, they understand that they are sinners saved by grace.  This allows us to extend a hand to anyone.  We have wonderful news to share...Good News.  It is a news that says God loves you no matter who or what you are...it doesn't matter what you have done.  God doesn't care who you vote for or if you are a "lazy entitled victim."  God loves you because you are you.  God loves you so much that He does not want you to hurt or remain where you are.  Only He can bring true change.  No presidential candidate can do all that He can (God can make promises AND keep them!!).  Both candidates will find that the possible things they promise to do will be impossible to accomplish.  Only God can make the impossible become possible!!

In His mighty name.....
24 Sept 2012

Dropping Anchor pt 1 of 2: You are not Welcome Here

One of the main themes of the Bible is that believers should love their neighbors- Timothy Keller Generous Justice

Disclaimer #1: Yesterday I had another radio appearance.  As I had noted before I have made great efforts to stay away from the political fray and observe.  By chance I turned the news on yesterday morning just as they were talking about the recent 47% gaffe that Mitt Romney made. This stayed with me and as it turned out for good reason because it was the topic of discussion on Pastor West's show.  What follows is the main premise of my on air discussion. For the record I did not invent this quote to malign Mitt Romney or because I harbor a secret dislike for him...I merely commented on what he said.  For those who have yet to hear/read the quote it is posted above.

Disclaimer #2:  My strong reaction to Romney's statement has nothing to do with my dislike of his political party (or him for that matter)...it also has little to do with my personal opinions on the matter as a voter. I am bothered in a biblical sense because the Right claims to be the party of my faith but behavior such as this shows otherwise.

In Mark 10:17-25 Jesus was approached by a man asking what he should do to get eternal life. Jesus gave the man a few qualifications which the man excitedly stated he met. Then Jesus told him he had to sell all that he had and give the money to the poor. At that the man balked and walked away. Jesus later observed that it is very hard for those who trust in riches to enter heaven...even going as far as to say it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich person entering the Kingdom of God.  It comes as no shock that in 2012 we are still facing the same issue regarding the rich.

By defining 47% of the country as "lazy victims seeking handouts"  Mitt Romney has for me; further proved my point that the Republican party does not embrace the ideal of Christianity.  The Right worships at the alter of capitalism and self serving behaviors.

This is worrisome on many levels...the public perception of Christianity is intertwined with Republicans.  It becomes a stumbling block for the faith.  The very people Jesus sought to reach: the downtrodden, the social outcasts, the destitute, the poor, are maligned because social justice is not a Republican platform....monetary advancement (and the protection of those that have it to safeguard their finances) is.  The people the Great Commission tasked us to reach flee at the sight of us and scoff at our message...because it has been hijacked by a political party.

Christ spent a great deal of time discussing the issue of money...in Luke 12:48 He stated that "For to whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (NKJV)  In taking time to look at this verse one can see that this is not an embrace of the word spoken by a presidential candidate.  Christ utilized many teaching moments to stress that His followers store up their treasures in heaven as opposed to earth.  This is not to say that one cannot be successful.  But one must never forget WHO is responsible for that success and we owe everything we are and do to Him.

When Jesus fed the 5000 (and the 4000) he did not charge for the food in Matt 14 and 15.  He did not call those who lacked food lazy or entitled. He provided for their needs physically and spiritually.

Jesus told listeners not to store up treasures on earth in Matt 6:19

Christ came to show us that the way up is DOWN.   If we want happiness and success it is not to be measured by the scales of this world.  The Beatitudes highlight this.

Starting in Matthew 5, the Beatitudes show us how to find God's favor.  This is the favor that results in a true, deep residing happiness as one acknowledges the warmth of God's approval.  It is the ray of sunshine as God smiles on life; a resounding peace, contentment when grace and mercy wash over a soul.

This is not found in a political party.  It is not found in posting "facts" to show that one candidate is better fit to run the country than the other (in actuality only under Jesus will there be a perfect kingdom...man is not fit to rule).  The Beatitudes  run counter to what Mitt Romney and the Republican party support.

In Matthew 5:3 Jesus says "Blessed are the poor in spirit..."  Jesus was talking about pride...to be happy we must reject the stain of pride.  Looking at the 47% statement I see a cancerous growth of pride in that statement.  It stated "those people are not worth caring about."  Prideful people are:
Self-focused- most of their energy is spent thinking of themselves
Self secured-invested in protecting their egos, world, words, possessions no matter the cost
Self-righteous-blame others for problems in their own lives and refuse to apologize for their errors

Matthew 5:6  say "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness..." again we see the them of poverty Jesus uses to help show the complete dependency we must have on Him for happiness.  A hungry and thirst person is desperate for assistance.  They are not lazy, nor victims, or waiting for a handout, they should not be written off.  They are people that God wants and those who are blessed to help out on this earth are called to assist not malign.

God wants us to care about everyone!  To let go of pride we have to embrace spiritual poverty.  We have to hunger and thirst (yearn strongly to the point that we would die without it) for care and concern for our fellow man.

This is not a description of our presidential candidate...and I firmly believe that it comes down to a simple fact that has been glossed over by the media and ignored by those professing to support him.

to be continued