Surfing channels tonight, I see Extreme Engineering, Extreme Logging, Extreme Cagefighting, Extreme Makeover, Extreme Trains (?), Extreme Bikerides, Extreme Police Pursuits, and Extreme Tennis. I can't wait to see what's on tomorrow.
The world's problem today must be ignorance, because if they understood that staying on the 'straight and narrow path' was a harrowing ride, they'd LOVE Extreme Christianity!
Wait, maybe that is the problem with the church, too. We have abandoned the adventure of soul-winning and life-changing for safety and comfort. Not all bodies, of course, but the comparison to Laodicea is starting to look eerily familiar.
Let's finish strong, not 'barely'.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sticks and Stones
Num 22:10-12
(10) And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab has sent to me,
(11) saying, Behold, a people has come out of Egypt which covers the eye of the earth. Now come, curse them for me; perhaps I will be able to overcome it and drive it out.
(12) And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for it is blessed.
Has it ever occurred to us that apart from God, we are susceptible to the curses of others? Is that important? As Bro. Stan mentioned Saturday evening, our words carry reality with them, but that goes for the ungodly as well. I've seen grown men weep because their mothers or grandmothers pronounced a CURSE upon them as a child. They fought the proclamation of those words every day of their adolescence and into their adult lives until by the grace of God, the curse was broken. This sounds like hocus-pocus, I know.
At some point in your life, someone is going to get TICKED OFF at you, and they will knowingly or unknowingly pronounce a curse over you. Who has your back? When God says YOU'RE MINE AND YOU'RE BLESSED, then it really doesn't matter what the enemy wants to do. But if you don't have the blood of Christ over your life and over your family, you are nothing more than a soft target to the devil.
Maybe you realize you've been living under a curse. Examine your concordance about 'blessings' and 'curses'. They are real. The blood of a perfect Savior is the only thing that can break a curse. If you have more questions about this stuff, ask. Or better yet, let Numbers chapter 22 soak in. Sticks and stones can do much more than break your bones. Speak life.
(10) And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab has sent to me,
(11) saying, Behold, a people has come out of Egypt which covers the eye of the earth. Now come, curse them for me; perhaps I will be able to overcome it and drive it out.
(12) And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for it is blessed.
Has it ever occurred to us that apart from God, we are susceptible to the curses of others? Is that important? As Bro. Stan mentioned Saturday evening, our words carry reality with them, but that goes for the ungodly as well. I've seen grown men weep because their mothers or grandmothers pronounced a CURSE upon them as a child. They fought the proclamation of those words every day of their adolescence and into their adult lives until by the grace of God, the curse was broken. This sounds like hocus-pocus, I know.
At some point in your life, someone is going to get TICKED OFF at you, and they will knowingly or unknowingly pronounce a curse over you. Who has your back? When God says YOU'RE MINE AND YOU'RE BLESSED, then it really doesn't matter what the enemy wants to do. But if you don't have the blood of Christ over your life and over your family, you are nothing more than a soft target to the devil.
Maybe you realize you've been living under a curse. Examine your concordance about 'blessings' and 'curses'. They are real. The blood of a perfect Savior is the only thing that can break a curse. If you have more questions about this stuff, ask. Or better yet, let Numbers chapter 22 soak in. Sticks and stones can do much more than break your bones. Speak life.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Focus
After reading Brian's post below, it's a not-so-gentle reminder that it's time to get serious. I still remember Brother Yun's (forgive me if I misspelled his name) facial expression when he visited CPH this last year. It was a look of disbelief upon a congregation that largely didn't get it. We weren't focused on anything much more than getting home to lunch.
Faith without works is dead, according to James. So to stay focused, we should always be looking for a way to keep our faith 'in motion'. Encourage someone. Build someone up. A wonderful lady I work with brought my family dinner tonight. She cooked it herself - it was 'excellent'. It blessed us. We've had many friends do that for us since the twins came along. Bless you all!
If you say you'll pray for someone, don't fail to do it. Do something for God that is out of your norm - maybe beyond your comfort zone.
Change the way your worship. Take it to the next level, whatever that might mean for you.
Give more. Stretch yourself spiritually. If you're comfortable, chances are the devil is leaving you alone because you aren't hurting him one bit.
Preach to someone who needs preaching to - I preach to myself with this blog...
Love someone who needs loving. Tough love does count - call someone out on something, but beware the timber in your own eye. Oh yeah, get rid of that, too.
Take a stand at work.
Take a stand at home.
Take a stand at church.
Realize... religion and politics MUST mix if you're a follower of Christ. If you don't vote your faith, you really don't have any.
Pray without ceasing.
Read your bible more and someone's opinion about scripture less, including mine.
Jesus has WON. Realize it. In Revelation 19, there is this HUGE celebration in heaven. Then we all suit up and go to Armageddon. We should be living life joyously now, because the battle is won before the end has come!
Be still and know that HE is God. IT'S about Him. It's ABOUT Him. It's about HIM.
Faith without works is dead, according to James. So to stay focused, we should always be looking for a way to keep our faith 'in motion'. Encourage someone. Build someone up. A wonderful lady I work with brought my family dinner tonight. She cooked it herself - it was 'excellent'. It blessed us. We've had many friends do that for us since the twins came along. Bless you all!
If you say you'll pray for someone, don't fail to do it. Do something for God that is out of your norm - maybe beyond your comfort zone.
Change the way your worship. Take it to the next level, whatever that might mean for you.
Give more. Stretch yourself spiritually. If you're comfortable, chances are the devil is leaving you alone because you aren't hurting him one bit.
Preach to someone who needs preaching to - I preach to myself with this blog...
Love someone who needs loving. Tough love does count - call someone out on something, but beware the timber in your own eye. Oh yeah, get rid of that, too.
Take a stand at work.
Take a stand at home.
Take a stand at church.
Realize... religion and politics MUST mix if you're a follower of Christ. If you don't vote your faith, you really don't have any.
Pray without ceasing.
Read your bible more and someone's opinion about scripture less, including mine.
Jesus has WON. Realize it. In Revelation 19, there is this HUGE celebration in heaven. Then we all suit up and go to Armageddon. We should be living life joyously now, because the battle is won before the end has come!
Be still and know that HE is God. IT'S about Him. It's ABOUT Him. It's about HIM.
"If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you."
Once again, from the news pages:
The Times reports: Hindu Groups in India Offering Rewards to Kill Christians
Extremist Hindu groups offered money, food and alcohol to mobs to kill Christians and destroy their homes, according to Christian aid workers in the eastern India state of Orissa.
Jesus told us plainly that we faced at least the possibility of persecution. Many of us can thank God for His protection that we are not facing persecution. However, we have many brothers and sisters in Christ that are facing persecution today not unlike what the Master faced 2,000 years ago. These brothers and sisters have taken the "Great Commission" to heart and are taking the good news of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ into the very heart of countries hostile to the gospel.
"The going price to kill a pastor is $250," said Faiz Rahman, the chairman of Good News India.
A spokesman for the All-India Christian Council said: “People are being offered rewards to kill, and to destroy churches and Christian properties. They are being offered foreign liquor, chicken, mutton and weapons. They are given petrol and kerosene.”
Ram Madhav, a spokesman for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the largest hardline Hindu group, denied the claims. “The accusation is absolutely false,” he said.
Orissa has suffered a series of murders and arson attacks in recent months, with at least 67 Christians killed, according to the Roman Catholic Church. Several thousand homes have been razed and hundreds of places of worship destroyed, and crops are now wasting in the fields.
Despite the denial of the validity of the story by the RSS in the article, this sort of persecution is not unheard of. Some of the stories, like this one, even make it to prominent news sources, but you might only find them in short news briefs hidden away on a back page. Missionaries have faced persecution in spreading the gospel for thousands of years.
The nationals in these countries that receive Christ face even more dire persecution from forced "re-conversion", to torture, to death itself for them and even their families.
You may recall the article from October 2005 of 4 young Christian girls in Indonesia, aged 15 to 17, were attacked by 5 men weilding machetes while on their way to school one morning. Only one of the 15 year old girls survived the attack because she was able to escape when she fell down a ravine after being seriously wounded by a failed beheading attempt. The other girls were slain and their bagged heads thrown onto the steps of a church.
There is a book that I recommend that gives a glimpse into the struggles our Christian brothers and sisters face in areas of the world. The book is "Secret Believers" by Brother Andrew. Their names and origins have been changed for their protection, but their lives are telling the stories that they and many others live out. These people faced, and continue to face, the very things this news article addresses.
Those of us who thank God that we are not persecuted must not ignore the afflictions and hardships these brothers and sisters are faced with. Let us support them by whatever means that may be available to us, but particularly in our prayers.
There are various websites that cover news and events of persecutions of Christians around the world, some are listed below:
** http://www.secretbelievers.org/ **
http://www.persecution.com/
http://www.christianpersecution.info/
The Times reports: Hindu Groups in India Offering Rewards to Kill Christians
Extremist Hindu groups offered money, food and alcohol to mobs to kill Christians and destroy their homes, according to Christian aid workers in the eastern India state of Orissa.
Jesus told us plainly that we faced at least the possibility of persecution. Many of us can thank God for His protection that we are not facing persecution. However, we have many brothers and sisters in Christ that are facing persecution today not unlike what the Master faced 2,000 years ago. These brothers and sisters have taken the "Great Commission" to heart and are taking the good news of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ into the very heart of countries hostile to the gospel.
"The going price to kill a pastor is $250," said Faiz Rahman, the chairman of Good News India.
A spokesman for the All-India Christian Council said: “People are being offered rewards to kill, and to destroy churches and Christian properties. They are being offered foreign liquor, chicken, mutton and weapons. They are given petrol and kerosene.”
Ram Madhav, a spokesman for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the largest hardline Hindu group, denied the claims. “The accusation is absolutely false,” he said.
Orissa has suffered a series of murders and arson attacks in recent months, with at least 67 Christians killed, according to the Roman Catholic Church. Several thousand homes have been razed and hundreds of places of worship destroyed, and crops are now wasting in the fields.
Despite the denial of the validity of the story by the RSS in the article, this sort of persecution is not unheard of. Some of the stories, like this one, even make it to prominent news sources, but you might only find them in short news briefs hidden away on a back page. Missionaries have faced persecution in spreading the gospel for thousands of years.
The nationals in these countries that receive Christ face even more dire persecution from forced "re-conversion", to torture, to death itself for them and even their families.
You may recall the article from October 2005 of 4 young Christian girls in Indonesia, aged 15 to 17, were attacked by 5 men weilding machetes while on their way to school one morning. Only one of the 15 year old girls survived the attack because she was able to escape when she fell down a ravine after being seriously wounded by a failed beheading attempt. The other girls were slain and their bagged heads thrown onto the steps of a church.
There is a book that I recommend that gives a glimpse into the struggles our Christian brothers and sisters face in areas of the world. The book is "Secret Believers" by Brother Andrew. Their names and origins have been changed for their protection, but their lives are telling the stories that they and many others live out. These people faced, and continue to face, the very things this news article addresses.
Those of us who thank God that we are not persecuted must not ignore the afflictions and hardships these brothers and sisters are faced with. Let us support them by whatever means that may be available to us, but particularly in our prayers.
There are various websites that cover news and events of persecutions of Christians around the world, some are listed below:
** http://www.secretbelievers.org/ **
http://www.persecution.com/
http://www.christianpersecution.info/
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Real Reality
It's easy to get bogged down, isn't it? With life... with stuff... with our schedules. Even religion gets in the way. We have to do this for the church... or that play, or that outreach, or that charity. Satan can bog us down with religion, too, and we wind up being the ones needing the outreach.
It makes it hard, sometimes, to determine what is real. A couple of passages come to mind - both different.
Mar 5:2-4
(2) And He coming out from the boat, immediately out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit met Him,
(3) who had his abode among the tombs; and no one was able to bind him, not even with chains.
(4) Because he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn by him, and the fetters had been shattered. And no one was able to subdue him.
In this case, here is a man with a SPIRITUAL issue. Everyone has tried to solve 'his' problem with physical things, ie. fetters and chains. It didn't work out too well for them. Jesus delivered the man by His authority in the Spirit.
Act 3:2-7
(2) And a certain man, being lame from his mother's womb, was being carried, whom day by day they put at the door of the temple, being called Beautiful, to ask alms from those going into the temple;
(3) who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked alms.
(4) And with John, looking intently toward him, Peter said, Look to us!
(5) And he paid heed to them, expecting to receive something from them.
(6) But Peter said, There is no silver and gold to me, but what I have, this I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk!
(7) And taking him by the right hand, he raised him up. And immediately his feet and ankle-bones were made firm.
Now in this instance, the man's problem wasn't spiritual, it was physical. Once again, the problem was solved by Peter's authority in the Spirit.
In both cases, the spiritual and the physical, the SPIRIT is the answer. The Spirit trumps both. The Spirit is the real reality. That's why we are to live in the Spirit, and walk by Faith, not by sight.
It makes it hard, sometimes, to determine what is real. A couple of passages come to mind - both different.
Mar 5:2-4
(2) And He coming out from the boat, immediately out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit met Him,
(3) who had his abode among the tombs; and no one was able to bind him, not even with chains.
(4) Because he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn by him, and the fetters had been shattered. And no one was able to subdue him.
In this case, here is a man with a SPIRITUAL issue. Everyone has tried to solve 'his' problem with physical things, ie. fetters and chains. It didn't work out too well for them. Jesus delivered the man by His authority in the Spirit.
Act 3:2-7
(2) And a certain man, being lame from his mother's womb, was being carried, whom day by day they put at the door of the temple, being called Beautiful, to ask alms from those going into the temple;
(3) who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked alms.
(4) And with John, looking intently toward him, Peter said, Look to us!
(5) And he paid heed to them, expecting to receive something from them.
(6) But Peter said, There is no silver and gold to me, but what I have, this I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk!
(7) And taking him by the right hand, he raised him up. And immediately his feet and ankle-bones were made firm.
Now in this instance, the man's problem wasn't spiritual, it was physical. Once again, the problem was solved by Peter's authority in the Spirit.
In both cases, the spiritual and the physical, the SPIRIT is the answer. The Spirit trumps both. The Spirit is the real reality. That's why we are to live in the Spirit, and walk by Faith, not by sight.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
War Is Not The Answer
I saw this bumper sticker the other day... "War Is Not The Answer".
Rev 19:11
(11) And I saw Heaven being opened. And, behold! A white horse, and He sitting on it having been called Faithful and True. And He judges and wars in righteousness.
Sometimes, war IS the answer.
Don't be a pinhead.
Rev 19:11
(11) And I saw Heaven being opened. And, behold! A white horse, and He sitting on it having been called Faithful and True. And He judges and wars in righteousness.
Sometimes, war IS the answer.
Don't be a pinhead.
Monday, November 17, 2008
I was at the concession stand... what happened?
Saturday night was so powerful. Stan didn't speak long, but he didn't need to. He brought out a point that really needs to be 'bumped', so to speak. In the geeky world of computers and message boards, when you want to revisit a topic, you just 'bump' it and it moves back to the top of the discussion list. I'm bumping this.
Stan was trying to put into perspective the power that God really wants to use in our midst, but we do not permit Him to do it. We quench the Holy Spirit.
Mar 6:5
(5) And He could do no work of power there, except He performed healing on a few infirm ones, laying on His hands.
Okay... so ALL HE DID was a few healings... cured Nancy of terminal cancer, removed the tumor from Ed, and totally reversed that compound fracture that Bill experienced at work on Friday. That's all. THAT'S ALL. The rest really couldn't be helped because they couldn't get over their 'familiarity' with Jesus.
You can't tell me that if we witnessed even ONE of these miracles that we wouldn't have the greatest revival we've ever seen in one of our church services (Stan mentioned this, too). We've missed it. We've been at the concession stand and we've missed the game.
I don't really know what to add to this. I can't claim I've seen as much as God intends to show me. Quite the opposite - I've been out of touch most of my life. I'm not anymore going to claim I know how Jesus looks, feels, and operates just because He's done it 'like that' once or twice in the past. He does what He wants, when He wants, how He wants, and the minute we try to box Him into operating this way or that... we've limited His work in OUR life. Tragic. This life is hard enough, why make it more difficult by denying the power of God? That's like being an underwater welder by trade and intentionally cutting 3/4 of your air, just because you can survive it. Are we afraid of being deceived? Know that He will never do anything contrary to His word. Beyond that, LETS WATCH AND SEE WHAT HE CAN DO!
Stan was trying to put into perspective the power that God really wants to use in our midst, but we do not permit Him to do it. We quench the Holy Spirit.
Mar 6:5
(5) And He could do no work of power there, except He performed healing on a few infirm ones, laying on His hands.
Okay... so ALL HE DID was a few healings... cured Nancy of terminal cancer, removed the tumor from Ed, and totally reversed that compound fracture that Bill experienced at work on Friday. That's all. THAT'S ALL. The rest really couldn't be helped because they couldn't get over their 'familiarity' with Jesus.
You can't tell me that if we witnessed even ONE of these miracles that we wouldn't have the greatest revival we've ever seen in one of our church services (Stan mentioned this, too). We've missed it. We've been at the concession stand and we've missed the game.
I don't really know what to add to this. I can't claim I've seen as much as God intends to show me. Quite the opposite - I've been out of touch most of my life. I'm not anymore going to claim I know how Jesus looks, feels, and operates just because He's done it 'like that' once or twice in the past. He does what He wants, when He wants, how He wants, and the minute we try to box Him into operating this way or that... we've limited His work in OUR life. Tragic. This life is hard enough, why make it more difficult by denying the power of God? That's like being an underwater welder by trade and intentionally cutting 3/4 of your air, just because you can survive it. Are we afraid of being deceived? Know that He will never do anything contrary to His word. Beyond that, LETS WATCH AND SEE WHAT HE CAN DO!
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Fight to Stay Burning
Have you ever noticed the spiritual dry seasons in your life? Dry... without rain... without a flood of anything except monotany. For me, the dry times are periods when new revelation just doesn't come. I don't know if it's me or the Teacher that slacks off during these times, but I often wonder about the purpose.
It's during these times when temptations seem the most fierce. Or perhaps the bad news seems especially bad. Depression always seems right around the corner.
It's a yoke. How do you break it?
Understand that there are times when the Teacher tests us - and He remains silent while we take the test. That helps, some. Knowing is half the battle, right?
Other times... I don't think it's the Teacher... I think it's me. What's got me so tied up that I'm not focusing? Life. Don't listen to the enemy... he lies.
Eat the bread of the Word, and after a while, your neck will swell and the yoke breaks. Hold out for it - be patient. Often the first rain after a dry spell is a really gully-washer. That is becoming more and more the case as I get older. If I wait for it... it comes in FLOODS. Rejuvenation. Fresh air.. nooma... mannah.
It's during these times when temptations seem the most fierce. Or perhaps the bad news seems especially bad. Depression always seems right around the corner.
It's a yoke. How do you break it?
Understand that there are times when the Teacher tests us - and He remains silent while we take the test. That helps, some. Knowing is half the battle, right?
Other times... I don't think it's the Teacher... I think it's me. What's got me so tied up that I'm not focusing? Life. Don't listen to the enemy... he lies.
Eat the bread of the Word, and after a while, your neck will swell and the yoke breaks. Hold out for it - be patient. Often the first rain after a dry spell is a really gully-washer. That is becoming more and more the case as I get older. If I wait for it... it comes in FLOODS. Rejuvenation. Fresh air.. nooma... mannah.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Mountains
I love the mountains. I guess I got that from my dad. I go from time to time and my favorite thing is to get off-road and go as high as I can. Last night I was browsing real estate in the San Juan mountains in Colorado. I found a nice little place - 3140 acres... 77,000 heated square feet for a measly 88 million dollars. I'm considering it but I don't want to overextend right now, with the price of diapers and all.
You see, the mountains have this wild flair to them. There is something untouchable about them. Wild, dangerous, beautiful, untouchable, high, inaccessible... these terms all make the mountains attractive to me.
The terms fit God, do they not? He is accessible, but like the mountains, there aren't many ways to access Him. In fact, Jesus said... "I'm the way."
You see, the mountains have this wild flair to them. There is something untouchable about them. Wild, dangerous, beautiful, untouchable, high, inaccessible... these terms all make the mountains attractive to me.
The terms fit God, do they not? He is accessible, but like the mountains, there aren't many ways to access Him. In fact, Jesus said... "I'm the way."
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Everything 'devoted'
God told the sons of Aaron in Numbers 18:14 that everything 'devoted' in Israel belonged to them.
The ESV says "Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours."
The GW (God's Word) translation says, "Anything in Israel claimed by the LORD is yours."
In Luke 15, when the wayward son returned to his father, the elder son became angry at the attention given to his sibling. The father turned to him and said:
Luk 15:31
(31) But he said to him, Child, you are always with me, and all of my things are yours.
Now, God also said this about the son's of Aaron:
Num 18:20
(20) And Jehovah said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.
So we should ask ourselves the question. Do we want the land or do we want God? Do we want the stuff or do we want a relationship? I think that it's possible to be a saved child of God and never go any further than that. Someday, when rewards are passed out, we'll realize that we've won heaven. But is it heaven we want, or is it Him?
The ESV says "Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours."
The GW (God's Word) translation says, "Anything in Israel claimed by the LORD is yours."
In Luke 15, when the wayward son returned to his father, the elder son became angry at the attention given to his sibling. The father turned to him and said:
Luk 15:31
(31) But he said to him, Child, you are always with me, and all of my things are yours.
Now, God also said this about the son's of Aaron:
Num 18:20
(20) And Jehovah said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.
So we should ask ourselves the question. Do we want the land or do we want God? Do we want the stuff or do we want a relationship? I think that it's possible to be a saved child of God and never go any further than that. Someday, when rewards are passed out, we'll realize that we've won heaven. But is it heaven we want, or is it Him?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Land for Peace
I read on the headlines to the left that Benjamin Netanyahu is once again up for re-election early in 2009. Ever since he was prime minister the first time, some 15 years ago, I have felt he had a crucial part to play in the end-time scenario. He's a purist. He's intensely popular, and intensely unpopular, and tremendously smart. His party is known as 'hawkish'. He's a favorite of mine, and here's why. His idea of discussing the split of Jerusalem goes something like this... first, put this pistol in your mouth, pull the trigger, then we'll talk. He understands one thing - there's no such thing as land for peace.
Let me cast some light on a spiritual truth here that is being played out in the physical. Your body, too, wants land for peace. If you eat one more donut, you'll be happy. If you cheat just this one time on your spouse... you'll be fulfilled and no harm will be done. If you just eat this fruit, Adam, then you'll be just like God! It's land - ground you give up - for peace. It's a lie. It has always been a lie, and it will always be a lie.
As followers of Jesus, we have to stop giving up OUR land for peace. God told Israel - this is MY land - and I'm giving it to you. It is NOT yours to give away, because you and it belong to ME! Get it? We belong to Him, too. We were bought and paid for with a PRICE, and it was such a great price that we cannot even bear to watch a depiction of it in a movie. If that is the case, can we draw enough strength to live today in a worthy way?
Let me cast some light on a spiritual truth here that is being played out in the physical. Your body, too, wants land for peace. If you eat one more donut, you'll be happy. If you cheat just this one time on your spouse... you'll be fulfilled and no harm will be done. If you just eat this fruit, Adam, then you'll be just like God! It's land - ground you give up - for peace. It's a lie. It has always been a lie, and it will always be a lie.
As followers of Jesus, we have to stop giving up OUR land for peace. God told Israel - this is MY land - and I'm giving it to you. It is NOT yours to give away, because you and it belong to ME! Get it? We belong to Him, too. We were bought and paid for with a PRICE, and it was such a great price that we cannot even bear to watch a depiction of it in a movie. If that is the case, can we draw enough strength to live today in a worthy way?
Monday, November 10, 2008
Monks brawl at Christian holy site in Jerusalem
That's what the headline reads in the article currently posted at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27639792/
Quoting the article:
The brawling began during a procession of Armenian clergymen commemorating the 4th-century discovery of the cross believed to have been used to crucify Jesus.
The Greeks objected to the march without one of their monks present, fearing that otherwise, the procession would subvert their own claim to the Edicule — the ancient structure built on what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus — and give the Armenians a claim to the site.
The Armenians refused, and when they tried to march the Greek Orthodox monks blocked their way, sparking the brawl.
The author wrote in other portions of the article:
Turf fights common among Christian sects
Six Christian sects divide control of the ancient church. They regularly fight over turf and influence, and Israeli police are occasionally forced to intervene.
. . .
A ladder placed on a ledge over the entrance sometime in the 19th century has remained there ever since because of a dispute over who has the authority to take it down.
What a horrible and detestable way for Christians to behave! This sort of behavior destroys one's testimony. This sort of behavior is what the World sees and says, "See? Christians are hippocrites! Christianity is a sham!"
Christianity is a message of love. That message was ultimately displaced in God showing His love for mankind by sending Jesus to pay our sin debt by dying on the cross. His resurrection from death secured the right of those who trust in Him to have eternal life.
How many times do we read Jesus' own words "love one another", "be kind one to another", "by your love with they know you are My disciples", "love your enemies", "blessed are the peacemakers", and even "bless those who curse you, and do good to those who persecute you"? Jesus' own words as He hung dying on the cross were of love when He asked the Father to forgive those crucifying Him.
Paul counsels us in Romans 12, as it depends on us, to be at peace with all men. He further advises in Galatians 6 to do good to all men, especially fellow Christians. And again, in Philippians 1, he tells us to conduct our lives in a manner worth of the gospel of Christ.
Unfortuantely, this kind of infighting is not exclusive to these groups. It isn't even limited to different denominations. It even happens within a single church body. People getting too wrapped up in the worldly and ignoring or neglecting the spiritual. Soon, it is reduced to a primal mentality of greed and powermongering. The mess becomes more important than the message. See how even taking a ladder down from a ledge has become an issue among these men for over 100 years!
Clearly, these men are more concerned with things of Christ rather than the words of Christ.
Paying attention to the words of Christ:
"Store not up your treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal, but store up your treasures in heaven where neither moth and rust destroy, nor thieves break in and steal. For where you treasures are stored, there your heart is also."
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall never pass away."
That's what the headline reads in the article currently posted at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27639792/
Quoting the article:
The brawling began during a procession of Armenian clergymen commemorating the 4th-century discovery of the cross believed to have been used to crucify Jesus.
The Greeks objected to the march without one of their monks present, fearing that otherwise, the procession would subvert their own claim to the Edicule — the ancient structure built on what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus — and give the Armenians a claim to the site.
The Armenians refused, and when they tried to march the Greek Orthodox monks blocked their way, sparking the brawl.
The author wrote in other portions of the article:
Turf fights common among Christian sects
Six Christian sects divide control of the ancient church. They regularly fight over turf and influence, and Israeli police are occasionally forced to intervene.
. . .
A ladder placed on a ledge over the entrance sometime in the 19th century has remained there ever since because of a dispute over who has the authority to take it down.
What a horrible and detestable way for Christians to behave! This sort of behavior destroys one's testimony. This sort of behavior is what the World sees and says, "See? Christians are hippocrites! Christianity is a sham!"
Christianity is a message of love. That message was ultimately displaced in God showing His love for mankind by sending Jesus to pay our sin debt by dying on the cross. His resurrection from death secured the right of those who trust in Him to have eternal life.
How many times do we read Jesus' own words "love one another", "be kind one to another", "by your love with they know you are My disciples", "love your enemies", "blessed are the peacemakers", and even "bless those who curse you, and do good to those who persecute you"? Jesus' own words as He hung dying on the cross were of love when He asked the Father to forgive those crucifying Him.
Paul counsels us in Romans 12, as it depends on us, to be at peace with all men. He further advises in Galatians 6 to do good to all men, especially fellow Christians. And again, in Philippians 1, he tells us to conduct our lives in a manner worth of the gospel of Christ.
Unfortuantely, this kind of infighting is not exclusive to these groups. It isn't even limited to different denominations. It even happens within a single church body. People getting too wrapped up in the worldly and ignoring or neglecting the spiritual. Soon, it is reduced to a primal mentality of greed and powermongering. The mess becomes more important than the message. See how even taking a ladder down from a ledge has become an issue among these men for over 100 years!
Clearly, these men are more concerned with things of Christ rather than the words of Christ.
Paying attention to the words of Christ:
"Store not up your treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal, but store up your treasures in heaven where neither moth and rust destroy, nor thieves break in and steal. For where you treasures are stored, there your heart is also."
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall never pass away."
Details
- Exo 26:9 -- (9) And you shall join the five curtains separately, and the six curtains separately. And you shall double the six curtains before the front of the tabernacle.
- Jos 6:4 -- (4) And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. And on the seventh day you shall go around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the rams' horns.
- Jon 4:6 -- (6) And Jehovah God appointed a plant, and it came up over Jonah to be shade over his head, in order to deliver him from his misery. And Jonah rejoiced over the plant with great joy.
- Joh 21:6 -- (6) And He said to them, Cast the net into the right side of the boat and you will find.
If you're like me, then you tend to sweat the details. If I could just get past this staff meeting... or, if I could just kick this cold. Maybe this sounds more like it: when will I find the time to get the oil changed?
Do we pray about the details? Do we ask God to take care of the minuscule? Unfortunately, we tend to ask God to work His miracles by making general, blanket requests. "God, just help the day to go well!" That's okay, as most of the time He does help our day to go well. But it's also interesting to note that the little details that nag us do not go away.
Pray in detail. Don't let laziness come into play, either. Sometimes those blanket requests are out of sheer laziness - or we're in a hurry to get back to the TV. No wonder it is so easy to live a spiritually 'blah' existence. We should never be in a hurry to exit the presence of the King. (Read Esther)
For today, may the God of the universe show you that He is willing and able to take care of all the 'petty' details of your life!
Friday, November 07, 2008
Living in the Spirit
Last night my wife and I read Psalm 22. That is a Davidic psalm about the turmoil in his own heart, but it directly prophesied the death of Messiah. As we were reading, my wife asked if David was writing about his own trials, or of the trials of Christ.
Great question. Both.
David was living in the Spirit and Power of God during that time of his life. The words he penned were anointed truth from God, but were also personal truth that was gritty and gnarly and filled with anguish. God's Truth - was also his Truth. He lived in the Spirit.
If you are living in the Spirit, do you know that you are living in God's truth as well as in your truth? My spirit is sickened... as is God's. My spirit is full of joy, as is God's. My spirit knows that my trials are temporary, just as God's Spirit testifies - even through scripture.
If you live in the Spirit, you are part of something MUCH bigger than you. Seek God. Immerse yourself in His word. Pray. Allow Him to chisel out the foundations of the strongholds that have been built by the enemy in your life. Also know this - God's Spirit prevails and takes total victory in the end. Endure and your own spirit will experience no less.
Great question. Both.
David was living in the Spirit and Power of God during that time of his life. The words he penned were anointed truth from God, but were also personal truth that was gritty and gnarly and filled with anguish. God's Truth - was also his Truth. He lived in the Spirit.
If you are living in the Spirit, do you know that you are living in God's truth as well as in your truth? My spirit is sickened... as is God's. My spirit is full of joy, as is God's. My spirit knows that my trials are temporary, just as God's Spirit testifies - even through scripture.
If you live in the Spirit, you are part of something MUCH bigger than you. Seek God. Immerse yourself in His word. Pray. Allow Him to chisel out the foundations of the strongholds that have been built by the enemy in your life. Also know this - God's Spirit prevails and takes total victory in the end. Endure and your own spirit will experience no less.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
There is nothing new
If you will notice one of the headlines to the left, it says:
For Israel, it is an absolute must to bond its interests to the White House's foreign policy for the security sake.
It makes sense, does it not? After all, America is still arguably the most powerful nation in the world and certainly one of Israel's only 'friends'. It only makes sense to align oneself with the policies of your protector. That is not a new philosophy.
In 2 Kings 15:19, an Assyrian named Tiglath-Pileser III came to attack Israel. Menahem, the king of Israel, decided it was time to align. He plundered his own people (primarily the rich) and gave it to TP3, thus buying him off. There really isn't that much more written about Menahem, except that 'he did evil in the sight of the Lord'.
Whenever we lean unto our own strength and understanding, we are doing 'evil' in the sight of God. He wants us to realize we cannot do it without Him, and it just might be that He will prove it to us if we force Him. Promised Land Living is allowing God to drive out the giants from before us. Then and only then can we rest assured that we are secure when we sleep at night.
Align with God - let the world run from before you.
For Israel, it is an absolute must to bond its interests to the White House's foreign policy for the security sake.
It makes sense, does it not? After all, America is still arguably the most powerful nation in the world and certainly one of Israel's only 'friends'. It only makes sense to align oneself with the policies of your protector. That is not a new philosophy.
In 2 Kings 15:19, an Assyrian named Tiglath-Pileser III came to attack Israel. Menahem, the king of Israel, decided it was time to align. He plundered his own people (primarily the rich) and gave it to TP3, thus buying him off. There really isn't that much more written about Menahem, except that 'he did evil in the sight of the Lord'.
Whenever we lean unto our own strength and understanding, we are doing 'evil' in the sight of God. He wants us to realize we cannot do it without Him, and it just might be that He will prove it to us if we force Him. Promised Land Living is allowing God to drive out the giants from before us. Then and only then can we rest assured that we are secure when we sleep at night.
Align with God - let the world run from before you.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Optimism
Obama has won. It will be an interesting ride over these next four years. We, as a nation, have little idea as to what we have bought into. It very much reminds me of God's conversation with Samuel over giving HIS people a king. In effect, God said, "They have no idea what they're asking for."
The news from all over the world was optimistic, as there are few people who believed McCain would be that much of a change from the hated 'Bush regime'. The world is happy with our choice. The world is HAPPY with our choice.
The interview with this one particular Iranian was insightful.
Seyyid Hossein, 30, a teacher, said: "Obama's victory could improve things because he has his head on his shoulders. But I believe the regime doesn't want better relations with the US. It wants to have a big enemy to frighten people and maintain its rule."
Hmmm.... truth from Mr. Hossein? The regime doesn't want better relations? Do American citizens realize this? Do American citizens realize that there can be no land for peace in Israel? Do Americans realize that shutting down factories and growing corn for fuel are not going to clean the air in a God-hating nation? Do Americans realize that peace cannot come to a land soiled by the blood of our unborn?
No, we don't get it, and reading our scriptures we realize... we won't get it, either. It's time to reach out and love others as Jesus did. Jesus did not convert Jerusalem, for Jerusalem burned 40 years after Jesus died. But He did show us a way, that although narrow, led to LIFE.
The news from all over the world was optimistic, as there are few people who believed McCain would be that much of a change from the hated 'Bush regime'. The world is happy with our choice. The world is HAPPY with our choice.
The interview with this one particular Iranian was insightful.
Seyyid Hossein, 30, a teacher, said: "Obama's victory could improve things because he has his head on his shoulders. But I believe the regime doesn't want better relations with the US. It wants to have a big enemy to frighten people and maintain its rule."
Hmmm.... truth from Mr. Hossein? The regime doesn't want better relations? Do American citizens realize this? Do American citizens realize that there can be no land for peace in Israel? Do Americans realize that shutting down factories and growing corn for fuel are not going to clean the air in a God-hating nation? Do Americans realize that peace cannot come to a land soiled by the blood of our unborn?
No, we don't get it, and reading our scriptures we realize... we won't get it, either. It's time to reach out and love others as Jesus did. Jesus did not convert Jerusalem, for Jerusalem burned 40 years after Jesus died. But He did show us a way, that although narrow, led to LIFE.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
The Divine Signature
The ultimate find in scripture, for me, is PROOF that God's word cannot be a mere result of men writing in some kind of 'spiritual stupor', as the world would have us believe. Our scripture is God-breathed - unattainable by man unless He gives it to us. We did not make this up! Here's an example I ran across last night.
The Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the bible, I believe. 176 verses divided by 22 groups (one for each Hebrew letter) of 8 verses. If you use e-sword, flip it over to the Hebrew and take a gander. The first letter of each line corresponds to that Hebrew letter for that group. I'd paste in an example but the blog would freak out over Hebrew characters.
The book of Revelation, on the other hand, is composed of 22 chapters - one for each Hebrew letter represented in Psalm 119. Since Revelation ch4 is one of my favorites, because it contains the 'rapture' verse... I decided to test a hunch. Let's look at a verse from Revelation ch4 and Psalm 119 in the 4th group of 8 verses:
Rev 4:1
(1) After these things I saw. And behold, a door being opened in Heaven! And I heard the first voice as a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you what needs to happen after these things.
Psa 119:28
(28) My soul drops with grief; Lift me up according to Your Word.
This is going to turn into quite a study. We do serve a God of coincidences.
The Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the bible, I believe. 176 verses divided by 22 groups (one for each Hebrew letter) of 8 verses. If you use e-sword, flip it over to the Hebrew and take a gander. The first letter of each line corresponds to that Hebrew letter for that group. I'd paste in an example but the blog would freak out over Hebrew characters.
The book of Revelation, on the other hand, is composed of 22 chapters - one for each Hebrew letter represented in Psalm 119. Since Revelation ch4 is one of my favorites, because it contains the 'rapture' verse... I decided to test a hunch. Let's look at a verse from Revelation ch4 and Psalm 119 in the 4th group of 8 verses:
Rev 4:1
(1) After these things I saw. And behold, a door being opened in Heaven! And I heard the first voice as a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you what needs to happen after these things.
Psa 119:28
(28) My soul drops with grief; Lift me up according to Your Word.
This is going to turn into quite a study. We do serve a God of coincidences.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Identify the Swine
Mat 7:6-9
(6) Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls before the pigs, that they should not trample them with their feet, and turning they charge you.
(7) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
(8) For each one that asks receives, and the one that seeks finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened.
(9) Or what man of you is there, if his son should ask a loaf of him, will he give him a stone?
I'd love to take this passage and work backwards today. We had a Men's Encounter this weekend. Men's Encounters are not typical. There is no 'normal' encounter with God. There is no standard on earth by which to measure one of these... so I'll begin by saying that this encounter was way more than expected. This was my third. There were so many men there that were 'asking for bread', 'seeking', and 'knocking'. I dare-say they all found.
For many of these guys, they went home to families that were fed-up with them. They returned to spouses that looked at them cross-eyed and said, 'yeah right.' These are necessary steps to take. We screw up, we take our lumps. But we can't just share our experiences with just anyone. The scripture says that after they trample over your pearls, they will turn on YOU. This is a viscious, unbelieving world, and it's getting worse, not better.
Some people love to eat. For these, there is NOTHING like being hungry! For those who do not like to eat, hunger is an annoyance. Hunger is an anticipatory feeling when you know that there is food available. It's a feeling of despair when we realize there is no food. Spirtually speaking, there is no difference. I'm hungry in anticipation of what the Lord will provide for me to consume. I invite everyone to pray that the Lord would make you hungry! He has the ability to feed you - turning stones to bread if need be.
(6) Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls before the pigs, that they should not trample them with their feet, and turning they charge you.
(7) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
(8) For each one that asks receives, and the one that seeks finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened.
(9) Or what man of you is there, if his son should ask a loaf of him, will he give him a stone?
I'd love to take this passage and work backwards today. We had a Men's Encounter this weekend. Men's Encounters are not typical. There is no 'normal' encounter with God. There is no standard on earth by which to measure one of these... so I'll begin by saying that this encounter was way more than expected. This was my third. There were so many men there that were 'asking for bread', 'seeking', and 'knocking'. I dare-say they all found.
For many of these guys, they went home to families that were fed-up with them. They returned to spouses that looked at them cross-eyed and said, 'yeah right.' These are necessary steps to take. We screw up, we take our lumps. But we can't just share our experiences with just anyone. The scripture says that after they trample over your pearls, they will turn on YOU. This is a viscious, unbelieving world, and it's getting worse, not better.
Some people love to eat. For these, there is NOTHING like being hungry! For those who do not like to eat, hunger is an annoyance. Hunger is an anticipatory feeling when you know that there is food available. It's a feeling of despair when we realize there is no food. Spirtually speaking, there is no difference. I'm hungry in anticipation of what the Lord will provide for me to consume. I invite everyone to pray that the Lord would make you hungry! He has the ability to feed you - turning stones to bread if need be.
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