Given the fact that it is an election year again, I have decided that it is high time to raise my voice in support of my candidate and here on this very blog promote the candidate I endorse. Yes, it is true that the caucuses have already taken place here in the Gem State but that is besides the point... In my world I am pretty sure that it is far from too late to write in the one person I think will be able to do the job better than any other. So without further delay, my endorsement for President of the United States of America, please join me in supporting him, the only one in this entire universe that will be able to singlehandedly beat back the forces of socialism, the only one who can restore our illustrious Constitution, the only one who can beat President Barak Obama in the upcoming election, ladies and gentlemen put your hands together and cast your votes for (drum roll, please)...............................ME!!!
That is exactly correct, you heard it here, I am endorsing myself as the only true conservative in the race for President. Yes, I know what you are thinking- "But you haven't even filed, and it is past the filing date" Absolutely correct! But I here from some good sources(namely the voices in my head) that I will be selected at the brokered (or should we say broken?) convention. What's that, you ask? I have raised no money at all for any kind of campaign? Right-O my friend! I don't need to because I just KNOW it will work out to my favor! Oh, I see... you doubt my candidacy... I only have one thing to say: Um, ok, I have a few things actually: You obviously hate liberty. You obviously aren't a conservative. You obviously are too conservative. You have been brainwashed. You don't pay enough attention to the news or voices of reason. You just want another Obama for President. You just want Obama to win. You just want a radical to run and there is no way someone that radical can beat Obama. Ummm... hey, where's Perry?
Ok enough with the sarcasm and on to seriousness. This past election cycle I think has been quite brutal. Though what I just typed may have been pure and utter silliness, the truth is that has been a lot of the things that people have been yelling back and forth at each other. I think it a bit on the sad side, really. As Idaho embraced our first caucus, I spent the evening avoiding people for the sake of avoiding such petty infighting... and I think I can honestly say that is just a tragedy.
It is tragic when Christians have to avoid each other for the sake of avoiding conversations where we have disagreements. On the political realm, it should be as simple as "I have my candidate, you have yours, and that's o.k." But instead it descends into this madness over who's horse is more purebred than the other. Can I just say that, no matter who your candidate is, if the thought of your brothers and sisters in Christ having the audacity to vote for someone else sends you into fits of hyperventalation- if you feel as though your arteries are going to burst because "Brother Joe and Sister Ann are voting for THAT man?!" then I suggest you step back, take a deep breath, and get your heart right with God.
Now I know that some of you may be thinking that you can't believe I just said that. but let's be real for a minute people. IT'S AN ELECTION!!! And while I agree that freedom and liberty are wonderful blessings, and it is honorable to fight for them, we HAVE to remember that our duty as a Christian is NOT first and foremost the preservation of freedom! If it were, then my friends there is a whole Country of Chinese Christians that are living in sin!!! But they are not! Why? Because our first and foremost duty is TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO ALL NATIONS- NOT to take freedom to all nations. NOT to preserve freedom in our nation. And especially NOT to fight with our brothers and sisters in Christ because YOU have decided in all your wisdom that their candidate is trash.
Remember, at the end of the day, the preservation of freedom is only a temporal thing. Their importance ends when we pass from this life. Our investment in them counts for little in the eternal scheme of things. What is important is working together to reach the billions of lost people on this planet!
in closing, it is a question we all as Christians must ask ourselves: Do we have a greater zeal for Christ than for our political candidate? Would those around us know that our allegiance to the Gospel is more important to us than our allegiance to a campaign? Do we live like we have freedom and liberty that can never be taken away- because we have that freedom and liberty in Christ- or do we live in irrational fear, always looking over our shoulder, waiting for that day when the government steals it all away?
And even if the government did come and take away our temporal freedoms- tell me this- what makes us any better than our brothers and sisters in other nations who have NO temporal freedoms? What makes us better than our Lord Jesus who WILLINGLY gave up His rights and freedom for the sake of the cross, for the spiritual and eternal freedom of others?
I pray that we will ALL wake up and come to the point where our rights, freedoms, liberties are no where near as important as working for the eternal freedom of the lost... When faced with it, will we be willing to sacrifice our rights for the salvation of others? May God stir our heart so that it is so! Because only when we, as the Body of Christ, put to death our desire for our temporal rights- only then will we have a prayer for saving our Country and seeing revival sweep the land...
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Moses Ablaze: Giving Excuses to the Burning Bush
Often times, deep down inside we realize that God is not necessarily safe. Following Him is not lollipops and daisies. While it may be true that He is our shelter, protection, refuge… He does not call us to follow Him down a safe looking path. We may not always say it; but it is there in the back of our minds. He is the God who calls us down the rocky narrow path. He is the God who calls us all to follow Him. He is the God who says that He did not come to bring peace, but a sword. No; God isn’t safe- He is a consuming fire!
In the words of C.S. Lewis- He’s not safe; but He is good.
It is the Good part that we are so attracted to. We like the idea of a god who leaves us be to live our lives, and then when we are in trouble- just like a genie in a bottle- he pops out to grant our undying wishes. He coddles and consoles us, tells us all we want to hear, never asks anything from us and never has us do anything uncomfortable.
But as I said, that is not who the REAL God is. And we, in our heart, know that.
So sometimes when we come face to face with God- when we hear His call- our response to protect our insanity of comfort and contentment, is to respond with the “I can’t” excuse.
Moses is a perfect example of this.
God appears to Moses in a burning bush. He calls Moses to a very big task- to free the Israelites from slavery; to free them from the cruel hand of the task master.
Note: God does not ASK Moses to go. He TELLS Moses he will go. We must understand something: As with Moses, God doesn’t ask. He commands. Then either we choose to obey or we choose to disobey. Period.
But Moses is comfortable where he is at. He is content. Why should he put aside his life to go run off on some crazy adventure? Who talks to a bush anyway? So Moses does what most of us are so good at doing: He turns to the “I can’t” excuse. But not just once- four times he tells God “I can’t”. Let us examine them.
Excuse #1: “I can’t because You have the wrong guy”
In Exodus Moses says “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?” He is essentially telling God that He doesn’t know what He is doing by sending Moses, because obviously God has the wrong guy- who am I to go? Often we see things that need to be done. We see all around us a world hurting, a world in pain. But when we feel compelled to do something about it, how often do we say to ourselves- I’d love to do it, but who am I that I should go? I really am not the right person for the job. I hope God calls someone to step forward soon to make a difference- but I know that it isn’t me!!!
But how does God respond to Moses? In verse 12, he says “Certainly I will be with thee!” As long as we go with God, in obedience to God, then we ARE the right person for the job! We don’t need to worry about what WE think about ourselves! God is with us, all we need to do is be obedient!
Excuse #2: “ I can’t because I am not knowledgeable enough”
Moses told God basicly, whoa wait a second I don’t even know Your name. What am I suppose to tell them when they ask me who You are? What am I supposed to say? DID YOU THINK OF THAT GOD? Did You think about the idea that they might ask me something that I just can’t answer?
Often we say “I would love to do something- to tell people about Jesus, but I can’t because hey- I don’t know enough. I mean what if they ask me about the trinity? Or predestination? Or what if they ask for a detail by detail explanation of eschatology? I just don’t have the answers!!!”
God’s answer to Moses, and to us: “I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel
Excuse 3: “I can’t because They will not believe me”
In exodus 4:1 Moses says “But, behold, they will not believe me…” Well, after all, it is not like he was in a famous movie… he wasn’t the top news anchorman of the day… He wasn’t rated Egypt
How often do we keep our mouth shut saying this? I can’t because no one will believe me so there is no sense in wasting my time. I would love to, but they don’t know me, they don’t know that I am a pretty honest guy. I have no established reputation with them. No instead we need to pray that Angelina Jolie gets saved, or Derek Jeter: because everyone knows them and will listen to them.
God’s answer is to show him through miraculous signs that it is not up to him- or us- to convince other people of what we are saying. Our task is to take the Gospel to all nations, to stand for what is right, to stand for Jesus- God is the one who will take care of the convincing. Then it is their choice whether they believe or not.
Excuse 4- “I can’t because God did you forget that I have a speech impediment?”
Sometimes God will give us a task and our response to him is the same- I can’t because… You gave me this disability, or that disability… But do we forget that it is God who created us? Do we really believe that God is stupid or forgetful?
God’s answer to Moses and us: It is I who created you, I am fully aware of everything about you and yes- I STILL want you to do it!
When God calls us to a task we must put to death the excuse machine- put to death the “I can’t” man that dwells inside of us. Train ourselves for the race, and run it hard- run to win. Moses finally got it; he finally submitted to God, and when he did- God used him in a way that changed the world.
I ask you this in closing- are you content with half-living a dead life, with false contentment, false comfort? Are you ready to step away from self reliance, from disobedience, from bad attitudes, from the “I can’t” syndrome? There is a world of hurting people in desperate need of a hero- a saviour.
The funny thing is, that while God is the Saviour, He already has some people in mind to take the message of hope to the lost people… And it’s you and I! And we can talk all day about what you want to do in life, about if you want to be a rock star or a scientist, or a politician or an astronaught or a sports star or somebody famous but understand that NONE OF THAT is as important and relevant in your life as this: Are you going to do the task that GOD has given you? Are YOU going to take the Gospel to all the world, whether it be as a missionary in the jungles of Africa or as a salesman on a car lot pointing those you work with to Christ?
You have a choice to make- you can continue to live like the cowardly version of Moses; you can keep running from God, or you can put down the things keeping you from a closer walk with Him. You can try to keep following that “safe” god who doesn’t really exist- continuing to thank him for the good things and being satisfied in asking and asking and asking for blessings- or you can really get to know who God is. You can stay in the confines of your safe zone with God, only to find out in the end that your idea of Him was totally messed up- or you can allow Him to take you on the adventure of a lifetime. You can try and find satisfaction in living to exist- or you can rock the world around you, making real change in broken lives by choosing to exist to live!
The time has been given to you… Now what will you do with it?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
When Calvin Met the Arminians at Subway
Sitting here in Subway, I cannot help but think about the reality that eons ago it was predetermined that I would be sitting here in this Subway, typing away on my laptop… The fact that every detail was predestined, even down to the Dr. Pepper I am sipping on, and the muscle cramp starting to form in my leg, given to me by a very uncomfortable wooden chair that was predestined to be made, sold, and placed in this very Subway… The two men sitting across the restaurant from me, munching their sandwiches, obviously have no idea that their visit was pre-planned; the man asking for Provolone cheese on his deli delight just doesn’t get that he is not really choosing to have it- it is just an involuntary part of the course of his life, a life that he makes no real decisions but instead is carefully guided, step by step, by the hand of God.
On the flip side, I cannot help but think about the reality that eons ago God decided that He would not interfere, not one iota(as my parents would say), in the path of my life that has landed me at this Subway, typing away on my laptop… The fact that every detail is completely of my choosing, completely a result of my own hand, especially down to the Dr. pepper I am sipping on because I chose on my own to fill my cup from the fountain; even the muscle cramp starting to form in my leg is completely from my own will, because I decided that I would sit in this wooden chair that has been strategically placed before me as yet one more option in the whole cosmic scheme of things… The two men munching their sandwiches across the restaurant from me are not here by Divine appointment, but rather complete coincidence, sitting here completely as the result of a spur of the moment decision they made with no outside help… And the man with the cheese? He will have it on his deli delight if he wants it and NO ONE will take that right from him!
OK, OK… So those are both extreme examples of the never ending debate of calvanism, arminianism, and all the junk that falls somewhere in the middle… I must admit, that most people on both sides are not nearly as, shall we say, fanatical as I have just portrayed them to be… But then, that isn’t exactly my point in what I am about to say anyway.
Here is the deal; while I may have overdramatized the thought processes of those who boil down their theology to the name of some Biblical scholarly scholar from “eons” ago(or as I would state, some dead guy), I did not overdramatize the fact that there is a clear distinction, a clear difference, between them. Now I am not talking about the kind of difference that leads one man to choose coke and another pepsi; but rather, it is a distinction that too many times leads to division.
Understand, I have been thinking on this subject for a little over a year now. I have friends who, as the old saying goes, are on both sides of the aisle. And as I have thought about this very fascinating discussion of whether or not God predestines people to Heaven and Hell, I have also been observing the people who ascribe to both sides of the coin(myself included). I watch how they behave, how they live out their faith, and their attitude towards those who believe differently on this subject. NOW wait a minute- before any of my friends get upset with me- no, I wasn’t just observing you. I was also taking notes on so many others I know, and reviewing notes from people I have known in my past.
I have also read on the subject, even plodding through my Biblical commentaries written by Mr. John Calvin, as well as some of his other writings. Even more importantly, I have read the scriptures… After all, what better place to find out about a subject than from the Word right?
And I have come to my conclusion… Which is the point of my musing on this subject tonight… I think that the best way to explain my thoughts on this is to take you back one more time to Subway, looking at the scene from what I believe may be Christ’s perspective(based on what I have read in the Bible)…
Sitting here in Subway, I am stunned at the thought that a stinking wretch like me could be in the presence of God even here, as I type away on my laptop. It is made possible only and completely because of never ending Grace and Mercy shown to me by the love of Christ, and His sacrifice. The Dr. Pepper I am sipping on reminds me of His provision(even if it is unhealthy); the cramp that is starting to form in my leg reminds me of the hope that one day I will be in a place where there will be no more pain and sorrow. The two men munching on their sandwiches remind me of the fact that He cares enough to provide for their needs whether they know Him or not, and a reminder that He has commanded us to take the Gospel to every creature- the Gospel that the Creator of the universe wants to break bread with even them, if they would believe on the Gospel and be saved… The man choosing provolone for his sandwich? What decisions has he made that brought him to this point in his life? What pain and sorrow, what guilt and brokenness does he carry, and who- if anyone- has offered him the One thing that will cause him to never hunger again- the entrance to a land flowing with milk and honey?
In short, I guess what I am saying is that while it is an interesting discussion, and that we should be getting in scripture and asking God for wisdom on this- and all doctrine; we must NOT in the process loose sight of the goal! God did not say to take our understanding of doctrines and theologies to all the world- rather, He commanded that we take the GOSPEL to all nations. The Gospel is much simpler than the doctrine of predestination, I think. It is simply this- that we are born sinners, hopelessly lost, enemies of God, worthy of His wrath, on a path for eternal damnation with no chance of reconciliation to God- except for this; that God showed his love for us in this, that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us- That He so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him- that whoever confesses with their mouth Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead- shall be saved!
Now in case you are wondering why I am addressing this- because too often we let this doctrine divide us. A Body united, so it goes… but too often we are a Body divided. I guess you could say I wonder how much more of an impact we Christians could have if we concentrated on working together to spread the Gospel instead of fighting each other! Let’s get something straight- not one single person has been or ever will be saved because they believed in Calvanism; not one soul has been rescued from the fires of hell because they chose to believe in Arminianism; and no one has experienced the saving Grace of God by experiencing an adherence to the middle ground…
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Condoms, Catholics, and the Right To Free Birth Control
And so it begins... What I believe to be an event that could be a turning point in American history. An event that, if not stopped, could be the very sign of what is to come... A sign of treachery, of difficulty, of seperating the wheat from the tares. Though at first glance, it wouldn't appear that way... But let's gaze into the looking glass and see what exactly I am referring to...
Why, could it be? Ah, yes... I am referring to that cheshire grin from dear president Barry Hussein... And his administration's recent health care mandate. You know, that one existing in the small words of Kathleen Sebelius, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. It was from her mouth that the machine uttered the order that from now on, EVERY employer must provide insurance for their employees that covers birth control, and abortificients. Of course in keeping everyone's feelings and beliefs in mind the machine issued... Oh, where is it... The number of waivers they issued was... Oh... I guess none... But that's ok, because the religous exception is right here in the third... Oh, wait... No, there is no religous exceptions after all! huh... Interesting...
Interesting because of the fact that the very first to take notice of this were all the Catholic churches and their many non-profit organizations they run. And why? Because birth control and abortificients in any and all forms, in their belief and doctrinal teachings, is sin. So this means... that they will either violate their conscience, or conform to Barry Hussein and his regime.
Now before I get any further, I understand that different people have different views on birth control- and I am not debating either side of that debate today. But rather, it is important to understand that this is NOT about whether birth control is right or wrong. In all honesty, though it is veiled as being a measure to "support women's rights", I would dare say that it has nothing to do with women either. Actually, I hate to say it, but the women's rights groups are very much being used like a prostitute by a pimp... But I digress.
Before I give you my analysis I must also mention that, yes, after much public outrage, Obama did come out with a "compromise" of sorts... He stated that, by his order, "Religious organizations won't have to pay for these services, and no religious institution will have to provide these services directly." Key word: DIRECTLY. Take note of that. Keep in mind, also, that in his order, he mandated that ALL insurance companies will be REQUIRED to offer and provide birth control and abortificients to ALL women at NO charge. Yes, you read that correctly. He told PRIVATE business that they MUST provide a service at NO charge, even though it WILL cost said insurance company to fulfil their new "obligation".
But that's ok, cause they are, after all, a part of the 1%...
Right?
Here's the deal... First off, NO WHERE in the Constitution is the government granted the power to tell ANY business that they MUST provide ANY service for free. It is called private business for a reason. Last I checked, the only government officials who actually believe that they have this kind of power are people like, Hugo Chavez... the Chinese... Joseph Stalin... And other charming, yet witty, COMMUNISTS. What Obama has done, without any congressional approval mind you (which is also a Constitutional violation), is a blatant attack on business- and a classic example of redistribution of wealth.
But it is deeper than that. Notice that he said that little word, "directly"? Understand that when a company has cost going out, they will find a way to bring in funds to cover the cost. That is because it is their job. Their job is to profit. If they are losing profit, they are failing at their job. So the question becomes- how do they recapture those lost dollars? You guessed it- by raising the premiums on all those religous folk who were just told they would not be "directly" paying for birth control... Because they will, in truth, be paying for it INdirectly. which last time I checked, was STILL a violation of their beliefs.
Of course, then there is the whole matter of religous insurance companies... I am not sure how the Catholics provide insurance for their priests, so I can only draw from the example of the Southern Baptist organization. They hire a religous insurance group that is set up for the sole purpose of providing insurance specifically for Southern Baptist preachers and all of the faith based employees and missionaries that fall under their umbrella. This means that this mandate requires all baptists everywhere to violate their conscience on abortificients by forcing a religous organization to provide them for free. As I said I am unsure how Catholics handle the insurance question, but one must assume the possibility that their system is set up in similar fashion.
Understand, this is a calculated attack on religous freedom. How hard would it be to allow religous orgainzations to provide insurance information to all potential employees outlining what they do and don't provide before they are hired? This way if they don't like something, they can choose to work elsewhere! There is also that grand option of the person who really feels they need contraception to make a trip to their local Planned Parenthood and get birth control handed to them for free... Or, and I say this cautiosly, the idea that maybe the person "could PAY" for their own condoms!!! Oh, but why would we in this entitlement society require that?
Get this: If this is allowed to stand, we will look back and see this as just the starting point for religous persecution by the federal government. Remember it never starts out big- it's just the small stuff that we feel we can compromise on that they focus on first. No matter our theology, church or creed, we must stand in one voice against this- even if you personally have no problems with contraceptions. Because it is not about if condoms are right or wrong- it's about whether or not the government can require you to go against your religous belief- it's about whether or not the first ammendment matters... If we fail to stand with those who think condoms are sinful now, well- eventually we will be wishing there were people left to stand with us on the religous beliefs that we hold dear...
Why, could it be? Ah, yes... I am referring to that cheshire grin from dear president Barry Hussein... And his administration's recent health care mandate. You know, that one existing in the small words of Kathleen Sebelius, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. It was from her mouth that the machine uttered the order that from now on, EVERY employer must provide insurance for their employees that covers birth control, and abortificients. Of course in keeping everyone's feelings and beliefs in mind the machine issued... Oh, where is it... The number of waivers they issued was... Oh... I guess none... But that's ok, because the religous exception is right here in the third... Oh, wait... No, there is no religous exceptions after all! huh... Interesting...
Interesting because of the fact that the very first to take notice of this were all the Catholic churches and their many non-profit organizations they run. And why? Because birth control and abortificients in any and all forms, in their belief and doctrinal teachings, is sin. So this means... that they will either violate their conscience, or conform to Barry Hussein and his regime.
Now before I get any further, I understand that different people have different views on birth control- and I am not debating either side of that debate today. But rather, it is important to understand that this is NOT about whether birth control is right or wrong. In all honesty, though it is veiled as being a measure to "support women's rights", I would dare say that it has nothing to do with women either. Actually, I hate to say it, but the women's rights groups are very much being used like a prostitute by a pimp... But I digress.
Before I give you my analysis I must also mention that, yes, after much public outrage, Obama did come out with a "compromise" of sorts... He stated that, by his order, "Religious organizations won't have to pay for these services, and no religious institution will have to provide these services directly." Key word: DIRECTLY. Take note of that. Keep in mind, also, that in his order, he mandated that ALL insurance companies will be REQUIRED to offer and provide birth control and abortificients to ALL women at NO charge. Yes, you read that correctly. He told PRIVATE business that they MUST provide a service at NO charge, even though it WILL cost said insurance company to fulfil their new "obligation".
But that's ok, cause they are, after all, a part of the 1%...
Right?
Here's the deal... First off, NO WHERE in the Constitution is the government granted the power to tell ANY business that they MUST provide ANY service for free. It is called private business for a reason. Last I checked, the only government officials who actually believe that they have this kind of power are people like, Hugo Chavez... the Chinese... Joseph Stalin... And other charming, yet witty, COMMUNISTS. What Obama has done, without any congressional approval mind you (which is also a Constitutional violation), is a blatant attack on business- and a classic example of redistribution of wealth.
But it is deeper than that. Notice that he said that little word, "directly"? Understand that when a company has cost going out, they will find a way to bring in funds to cover the cost. That is because it is their job. Their job is to profit. If they are losing profit, they are failing at their job. So the question becomes- how do they recapture those lost dollars? You guessed it- by raising the premiums on all those religous folk who were just told they would not be "directly" paying for birth control... Because they will, in truth, be paying for it INdirectly. which last time I checked, was STILL a violation of their beliefs.
Of course, then there is the whole matter of religous insurance companies... I am not sure how the Catholics provide insurance for their priests, so I can only draw from the example of the Southern Baptist organization. They hire a religous insurance group that is set up for the sole purpose of providing insurance specifically for Southern Baptist preachers and all of the faith based employees and missionaries that fall under their umbrella. This means that this mandate requires all baptists everywhere to violate their conscience on abortificients by forcing a religous organization to provide them for free. As I said I am unsure how Catholics handle the insurance question, but one must assume the possibility that their system is set up in similar fashion.
Understand, this is a calculated attack on religous freedom. How hard would it be to allow religous orgainzations to provide insurance information to all potential employees outlining what they do and don't provide before they are hired? This way if they don't like something, they can choose to work elsewhere! There is also that grand option of the person who really feels they need contraception to make a trip to their local Planned Parenthood and get birth control handed to them for free... Or, and I say this cautiosly, the idea that maybe the person "could PAY" for their own condoms!!! Oh, but why would we in this entitlement society require that?
Get this: If this is allowed to stand, we will look back and see this as just the starting point for religous persecution by the federal government. Remember it never starts out big- it's just the small stuff that we feel we can compromise on that they focus on first. No matter our theology, church or creed, we must stand in one voice against this- even if you personally have no problems with contraceptions. Because it is not about if condoms are right or wrong- it's about whether or not the government can require you to go against your religous belief- it's about whether or not the first ammendment matters... If we fail to stand with those who think condoms are sinful now, well- eventually we will be wishing there were people left to stand with us on the religous beliefs that we hold dear...
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Jesus Skips America On His Way To Africa...
I have a simple question: why it is that when missionaries go overseas they see a huge response to the Gospel while here at home the response to the Gospel is limited? I have had this question on my mind a lot lately, as I hear missionaries report things such as the fact that there are more chinese people being born again than being born in China(despite the fact that Christianity is virtually banned by the government there); or that missionaries who find their feet on African soil are greeted with people almost begging to hear the Good News; or that in Islamic-controlled arabian nations not only is mission work winning people to Christ but even the dreams of the citizens of these countries have them seeking Jesus. The only way I can comprehend it is like saying going to some of these foreign nations is like going to a bulk food store when it comes to people putting their faith in Jesus; yet here at home, if a church has 10 converts in a month it is said that "The Holy Spirit is at work in that church"...
And I am left to wonder, why the difference? Why do people run to hear the Gospel in one place, and shy away from it in another? Is it possible that it is all about the Holy Spirit moving? What I mean is, is it that God is just choosing NOT to move here in America? Or is there something more, some deeper reason for it?
I must admit, I am no theologian. I have no degree in Bible scholarly-scholarship thinking. But I have a theory. I wonder if part of it is in how we evangelize. Let me explain by first asking a question: When we send missionaries to Africa, what is their strategy for reaching the lost? Answer: They hand out personal testimonies of how Jesus radicaly changed their life. When we send missionaries to Thailand, or South America- how do they treat each encounter with the people around them? Like potential divine appointments, a non-coincidental crossing of paths in which to share the Good News of Jesus. When we send missionaries to China, how do they treat the Bible? Like it is a treasure that is worth risking their life for! I think I can sum it up this way: when missionaries trod on foreign soil, their lives are radicly changed into a resemblance more along the lines of what we would envision the apostles to have been like.
But... what about here, in America? How do we as Christians evangelize in our own country, the land that is supposed to be a shining city on a hill, a Christian nation? Well? How DO we evangelize here?
...
I know- we do good works. we mow our neighbor's lawn. We help that single mother to her car with her groceries. We walk granny across the street. We do many wonderful things of the like. And on occasion, if we are feeling bold, we invite them in a hurried- almost hushed- breath, "Would you like to go to church with me?" Of course, we are careful to whom we issue the invite, as they might be offended and then not want any more of our "good works", which in turn would deny them of the priveledge of seeing us live out the Gospel...
NOW BEFORE YOU GET MAD... I am in no way saying that there is not a time or place for that type of evangelism. I do believe that with some people, they will only be reached through relational evangelism. I get that. Jesus was the one, after all, who said that when we as believers do good works, they will glorify God in heaven. But here is where I differ from much common thinking: This has been the strategy for reaching America for a long time, and it isn't working. As I said, I am not condemning the practice, but rather I am saying that all too often we allow that to replace ALL forms of evangelism here on the homefront. I say this in all realization that way too often I am very guilty of this too. But if this is the only evangelism that the Body of Christ, as a whole, practices- then it is no wonder there are so few people turning to Jesus.
But what is the importance of being so bold about the Gospel? Let me pose to you a thought... I saw a poll recently that suggested that 80% of Americans consider themselves Christians. Why do you think this nation is as messed up as it is if so many Americans believe they are Christians? The obvious answer is, because most Americans are not TRUE Christians. If they were, then obviously they would be living radicly different than they are and it would reflect in our culture. But you see, that poses a whole new question that must be answered: WHY then do so many people claim to be something they are not? Once again, I pose a theory: I believe it is because most Americans don't have a clue what it means to be a Christian, because I believe that most Americans have never actually heard the Gospel in it's full, unadulterated content! Oh sure, we have Christian bumper stickers and billboards and t-shirts and televangelists they might catch a bit of as they channel surf... BUT have they actually HEARD the Gospel? Have people actually sat down and explained to them WHY they need a Saviour? Or has Christianity been reduced to just a tagline in our culture?
Now perhaps you can see where I am going with this... If we only rely on the "do good works" philosophy of evangelism, then who sits down to tell them WHY we do good works? There is no one to explain WHY we are mowing their lawn or carrying their groceries! (I say this in general; yes, I do know some people are doing this, but I mean the Body of Christ as a whole- and sadly must include myself in this!) Look, the reality is that if we don't ever share the Gospel then we can't very much expect them to hear it. If we never explain to them that they are a sinner in need of a Savior, then we can't very much expect them to repent of their sins.
Now I know what some of you may be thinking: BUT we live in America, and everyone's heart is hardened here. There is no hope. The culture is getting worse and God is only working in other Countries. O.K. To that I will counter your point with this: Has God said there is no hope for America? have you had some divine revelation that you would like to share with the class about how God told you to just give up and go home?
I didn't think so...
There is an interesting account in Scripture found in Luke 5:1-9 in which Jesus happens across some fishermen. They had just pulled in from an all-night fishing trip in which they caught nothing. Jesus asked them to take Him out on their boat, and after some teaching he asked them to cast out their fishing nets. The men, who were professionals in their trade, offered to Jesus that they had already fished there all night with no results, so obviously nothing was there. But they did it anyway, I would dare say possibly with some reluctance. I know that I would be thinking- listen up, buddy, you are a good teacher and all but this is crazy! But what happened? Luke tells us that they caught 2 boatfuls of fish, so much so that the boats were sinking!
I share this Scripture for a reason. I think too often we say, in a matter of terms, that there are no fish left in America. We have been out all night casting our good works nets. we have labored with our conservatism and social justice nets. We have drug the depths with our Christian clothing lines. All good things- but we keep coming up empty. So when we feel that prodding of the Spirit our first response is, "I am the professional here, and I am telling you this is a waste of time". But is it really a waste of time? Is it true that we are left with only a few "fishes" here and there?
Or is it only a waste of time if we are not doing it with the power of the Holy Spirit, as He leads us to do it?
Well, my thoughts went on longer than I intended, so I am going to sum this up now with these closing thoughts...
We will never see the Holy Spirit move in America if we don't look for the Holy Spirit to guide us. Paul writes that we are to walk in the Spirit- Galatians 5:16. If we walk in the Spirit that does not mean take a few steps and then leave Him behind. But rather walk in His guidance. We will never see the Holy Spirit move in America if we don't actually take the gifts God has given and use them to reach the lost; to share with them our testimony, to sit with them and explain the Gospel instead of leaving them with crumbs of it and expect them to change.
My challenge to you- and me- is simply to ponder on this for a bit: What would happen if we actually evangelized America the way we evangelize other nations, and in the SAME breath that we share the Gospel we proclaim in faith and actually believe that God will move in our land?
And I am left to wonder, why the difference? Why do people run to hear the Gospel in one place, and shy away from it in another? Is it possible that it is all about the Holy Spirit moving? What I mean is, is it that God is just choosing NOT to move here in America? Or is there something more, some deeper reason for it?
I must admit, I am no theologian. I have no degree in Bible scholarly-scholarship thinking. But I have a theory. I wonder if part of it is in how we evangelize. Let me explain by first asking a question: When we send missionaries to Africa, what is their strategy for reaching the lost? Answer: They hand out personal testimonies of how Jesus radicaly changed their life. When we send missionaries to Thailand, or South America- how do they treat each encounter with the people around them? Like potential divine appointments, a non-coincidental crossing of paths in which to share the Good News of Jesus. When we send missionaries to China, how do they treat the Bible? Like it is a treasure that is worth risking their life for! I think I can sum it up this way: when missionaries trod on foreign soil, their lives are radicly changed into a resemblance more along the lines of what we would envision the apostles to have been like.
But... what about here, in America? How do we as Christians evangelize in our own country, the land that is supposed to be a shining city on a hill, a Christian nation? Well? How DO we evangelize here?
...
I know- we do good works. we mow our neighbor's lawn. We help that single mother to her car with her groceries. We walk granny across the street. We do many wonderful things of the like. And on occasion, if we are feeling bold, we invite them in a hurried- almost hushed- breath, "Would you like to go to church with me?" Of course, we are careful to whom we issue the invite, as they might be offended and then not want any more of our "good works", which in turn would deny them of the priveledge of seeing us live out the Gospel...
NOW BEFORE YOU GET MAD... I am in no way saying that there is not a time or place for that type of evangelism. I do believe that with some people, they will only be reached through relational evangelism. I get that. Jesus was the one, after all, who said that when we as believers do good works, they will glorify God in heaven. But here is where I differ from much common thinking: This has been the strategy for reaching America for a long time, and it isn't working. As I said, I am not condemning the practice, but rather I am saying that all too often we allow that to replace ALL forms of evangelism here on the homefront. I say this in all realization that way too often I am very guilty of this too. But if this is the only evangelism that the Body of Christ, as a whole, practices- then it is no wonder there are so few people turning to Jesus.
But what is the importance of being so bold about the Gospel? Let me pose to you a thought... I saw a poll recently that suggested that 80% of Americans consider themselves Christians. Why do you think this nation is as messed up as it is if so many Americans believe they are Christians? The obvious answer is, because most Americans are not TRUE Christians. If they were, then obviously they would be living radicly different than they are and it would reflect in our culture. But you see, that poses a whole new question that must be answered: WHY then do so many people claim to be something they are not? Once again, I pose a theory: I believe it is because most Americans don't have a clue what it means to be a Christian, because I believe that most Americans have never actually heard the Gospel in it's full, unadulterated content! Oh sure, we have Christian bumper stickers and billboards and t-shirts and televangelists they might catch a bit of as they channel surf... BUT have they actually HEARD the Gospel? Have people actually sat down and explained to them WHY they need a Saviour? Or has Christianity been reduced to just a tagline in our culture?
Now perhaps you can see where I am going with this... If we only rely on the "do good works" philosophy of evangelism, then who sits down to tell them WHY we do good works? There is no one to explain WHY we are mowing their lawn or carrying their groceries! (I say this in general; yes, I do know some people are doing this, but I mean the Body of Christ as a whole- and sadly must include myself in this!) Look, the reality is that if we don't ever share the Gospel then we can't very much expect them to hear it. If we never explain to them that they are a sinner in need of a Savior, then we can't very much expect them to repent of their sins.
Now I know what some of you may be thinking: BUT we live in America, and everyone's heart is hardened here. There is no hope. The culture is getting worse and God is only working in other Countries. O.K. To that I will counter your point with this: Has God said there is no hope for America? have you had some divine revelation that you would like to share with the class about how God told you to just give up and go home?
I didn't think so...
There is an interesting account in Scripture found in Luke 5:1-9 in which Jesus happens across some fishermen. They had just pulled in from an all-night fishing trip in which they caught nothing. Jesus asked them to take Him out on their boat, and after some teaching he asked them to cast out their fishing nets. The men, who were professionals in their trade, offered to Jesus that they had already fished there all night with no results, so obviously nothing was there. But they did it anyway, I would dare say possibly with some reluctance. I know that I would be thinking- listen up, buddy, you are a good teacher and all but this is crazy! But what happened? Luke tells us that they caught 2 boatfuls of fish, so much so that the boats were sinking!
I share this Scripture for a reason. I think too often we say, in a matter of terms, that there are no fish left in America. We have been out all night casting our good works nets. we have labored with our conservatism and social justice nets. We have drug the depths with our Christian clothing lines. All good things- but we keep coming up empty. So when we feel that prodding of the Spirit our first response is, "I am the professional here, and I am telling you this is a waste of time". But is it really a waste of time? Is it true that we are left with only a few "fishes" here and there?
Or is it only a waste of time if we are not doing it with the power of the Holy Spirit, as He leads us to do it?
Well, my thoughts went on longer than I intended, so I am going to sum this up now with these closing thoughts...
We will never see the Holy Spirit move in America if we don't look for the Holy Spirit to guide us. Paul writes that we are to walk in the Spirit- Galatians 5:16. If we walk in the Spirit that does not mean take a few steps and then leave Him behind. But rather walk in His guidance. We will never see the Holy Spirit move in America if we don't actually take the gifts God has given and use them to reach the lost; to share with them our testimony, to sit with them and explain the Gospel instead of leaving them with crumbs of it and expect them to change.
My challenge to you- and me- is simply to ponder on this for a bit: What would happen if we actually evangelized America the way we evangelize other nations, and in the SAME breath that we share the Gospel we proclaim in faith and actually believe that God will move in our land?
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Who needs choice? Beat Komen into Submission!
For years I have heard Planned Parenthood preach about "a woman's right to choose". That message is intertwined in every word of every line that proceeds from their filthy lips. They strive to appear to look like the good slave owner, the one that treats their subserviants "nice". It's all about the women, they say...
But wait! there is, shall we say, some small fine print in the bloody contract that Margaret Sanger and her legion have forced upon American women... And that fine print says the following: It's all about the women, all about their right to privacy, and their right to choose- AS LONG AS they fall in line and stay where they belong: at the feet of their master, Planned Parenthood. If you DARE try to turn from the "goodness" offered in the palm of their hand, if you DARE question their motives, if you DARE to say "no thanks"- then literrally, all hell will be unleashed upon you; you will be attacked, maligned, slandered, kicked while you are down, dragged through the mud and beaten until you are brought back into submission to their will. Because really, it's NOT your choice or your rights they are concerned with. Oh, no not at all! It's their pocketbook they are concerned with, and every slave that tries to escape their hold costs them. And they don't like that.
Case in point: Susan G. Komen Foundation. For years, the Komen people have been "racing for the cure", raising money and using funds from people hoping to help save a life to give grants to that murderous giant Planned Parenthood. Oh, Komen and their "runners" were good little slaves to the abortion machine... Never questioning PP's motives, coming to their aid, promising they had good intentions, and like an idiot claiming the world is flat, denying the very blatant fact that abortion causes breast cancer.
That is, until... People have recently become curious about Planned Parenthood's true motives. People have been questioning what really hides behind that wicked smile of theirs... And like the wizard from Oz, as the curtain has been drawn back more and more, what was thought to be is appearing less and less so... Oh, but if only it could be a frightened little man exposed instead of the hideous, flesh eating monster that we are finding.
Which brings us back to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. For years, they have "raced for the cure", rasining money for a hopeful cure to the cancer as well as raising awareness. For years, the facts have stared us in the face like an inconvenient truth that abortion will greatly increase a woman's chances for having breast cancer. For years Komen has donated grant money, funding Planned Parenthood, who was "supposedly" using the money to perform mammograms. But something interesting happened this past year that threatened to change all that...
Planned Parenthood has been on the receiving end of several expose's... Everything from how they handle "pimps" with underage prostitutes, to charges of race-based abortion, to covering up for pedophiles, to the one that really hit home for Komen: the fact that they just don't do mammograms. Yes, Planned Parenthood was taking that money from Komen and using it to refer women who came in looking for breast cancer screening to another clinic, because as one employee said, "we just don't do that here." So, yes- for all you past and present racers- you have been paying your dues to run so that some of that money could line the pockets of the babykillers, just so they could hand women a phone number they could have just as easily gotten from the internet or the phone book...
With all this being said, and a new VP at the Komen foundation, they made the brave new decision to cut ties with Planned Parenthood. They determined instead that they should give that money to organizations that specialized in mammograms and breast cancer screening. So they quietly, under the radar, let PP know about the upcoming changes. With one phone call they let their master know that they wanted freedom, that they intended to leave the chains behind.
Unfortunately for them, that just was unnacceptable. You see, the funny thing about slave owners- once they get used to having their slave around, they want to keep them; they don't like the idea of them having freedom. Planned Parenthood felt the same about Komen. So there was only one option: to beat the slave into submission before they could escape.
It was Planned Parenthood, NOT Komen, who alerted the media. It was Planned Parenthood, not Komen, who sent out mass e-mails and phone calls to their donors, sponsors and friends. It was Planned Parenthood who unleashed a barrage of hate from celebrities and politicians alike. And after a week of non-stop beatings from every side, Komen has seemed to cave under the pressure. It seems as though the slave has come pleading back for her chains.
It is ironic, how Planned Parenthood claims they are for women's choice... But when their little slave Susan made a choice they didn't like, suddenly a different tune came from them. The pretty white smile has been pulled back to reveal their fangs dripping with blood... Beware the monster; Beware the cruel hand that holds the whip; for this is the true face of Planned Parenthood.
But wait! there is, shall we say, some small fine print in the bloody contract that Margaret Sanger and her legion have forced upon American women... And that fine print says the following: It's all about the women, all about their right to privacy, and their right to choose- AS LONG AS they fall in line and stay where they belong: at the feet of their master, Planned Parenthood. If you DARE try to turn from the "goodness" offered in the palm of their hand, if you DARE question their motives, if you DARE to say "no thanks"- then literrally, all hell will be unleashed upon you; you will be attacked, maligned, slandered, kicked while you are down, dragged through the mud and beaten until you are brought back into submission to their will. Because really, it's NOT your choice or your rights they are concerned with. Oh, no not at all! It's their pocketbook they are concerned with, and every slave that tries to escape their hold costs them. And they don't like that.
Case in point: Susan G. Komen Foundation. For years, the Komen people have been "racing for the cure", raising money and using funds from people hoping to help save a life to give grants to that murderous giant Planned Parenthood. Oh, Komen and their "runners" were good little slaves to the abortion machine... Never questioning PP's motives, coming to their aid, promising they had good intentions, and like an idiot claiming the world is flat, denying the very blatant fact that abortion causes breast cancer.
That is, until... People have recently become curious about Planned Parenthood's true motives. People have been questioning what really hides behind that wicked smile of theirs... And like the wizard from Oz, as the curtain has been drawn back more and more, what was thought to be is appearing less and less so... Oh, but if only it could be a frightened little man exposed instead of the hideous, flesh eating monster that we are finding.
Which brings us back to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. For years, they have "raced for the cure", rasining money for a hopeful cure to the cancer as well as raising awareness. For years, the facts have stared us in the face like an inconvenient truth that abortion will greatly increase a woman's chances for having breast cancer. For years Komen has donated grant money, funding Planned Parenthood, who was "supposedly" using the money to perform mammograms. But something interesting happened this past year that threatened to change all that...
Planned Parenthood has been on the receiving end of several expose's... Everything from how they handle "pimps" with underage prostitutes, to charges of race-based abortion, to covering up for pedophiles, to the one that really hit home for Komen: the fact that they just don't do mammograms. Yes, Planned Parenthood was taking that money from Komen and using it to refer women who came in looking for breast cancer screening to another clinic, because as one employee said, "we just don't do that here." So, yes- for all you past and present racers- you have been paying your dues to run so that some of that money could line the pockets of the babykillers, just so they could hand women a phone number they could have just as easily gotten from the internet or the phone book...
With all this being said, and a new VP at the Komen foundation, they made the brave new decision to cut ties with Planned Parenthood. They determined instead that they should give that money to organizations that specialized in mammograms and breast cancer screening. So they quietly, under the radar, let PP know about the upcoming changes. With one phone call they let their master know that they wanted freedom, that they intended to leave the chains behind.
Unfortunately for them, that just was unnacceptable. You see, the funny thing about slave owners- once they get used to having their slave around, they want to keep them; they don't like the idea of them having freedom. Planned Parenthood felt the same about Komen. So there was only one option: to beat the slave into submission before they could escape.
It was Planned Parenthood, NOT Komen, who alerted the media. It was Planned Parenthood, not Komen, who sent out mass e-mails and phone calls to their donors, sponsors and friends. It was Planned Parenthood who unleashed a barrage of hate from celebrities and politicians alike. And after a week of non-stop beatings from every side, Komen has seemed to cave under the pressure. It seems as though the slave has come pleading back for her chains.
It is ironic, how Planned Parenthood claims they are for women's choice... But when their little slave Susan made a choice they didn't like, suddenly a different tune came from them. The pretty white smile has been pulled back to reveal their fangs dripping with blood... Beware the monster; Beware the cruel hand that holds the whip; for this is the true face of Planned Parenthood.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Truth, Advertising, and False Imagery of the Word
I couldn't help but notice the ad. It was an anti-diabetes ad that featured a man, overweight and missing a leg, sitting in a chair with a pair of crutches in the background. "Portions have grown; so has type 2 diabetes, which can lead to amputations" the ad boldly proclaims. Image+message= powerful; thought-provoking; and a stirring of the emotions.
My first thought, however, was not of diabetes, but rather an empathy for the man in the ad. How terrible, I thought... The emotional pain that man must feel...
That is, of course, until I read an interesting article in the news. You see, while the ad's claim about diabetes and what it can do may be true, apparently the picture is quite deceptive... Enter one Cleo Berry, a man who not only does not have diabetes but ironically, has all of his limbs instead of a pair of crutches. Mr. Berry was quite shocked and upset when he discovered the altered imagery to promote a government sponsored message of cutting down portion sizes- including, mind you, the portion size of the man in the picture.
Of course, this put my mind into thinking; and the question that I pondered was simply this: Does truth in advertising matter? Do we, as a society, and as individuals, care if the whole message is accurate and true? I ask this in light of Mr. Berry's situation. While it may be true that diabetes can, indeed, lead to the loss of an appendage- I cannot help but wonder just how likely it is! Is it possible that this is the result only in extreme and untreated cases? Or is this really something that requires more of my concern? After all, if it is such a pressing issue one would think it would be quite easy to find a one-legged man to pose for a good cause, wouldn't it be?
Now I must confess that I am NO expert in this disease, I will state for the record that I think truth does matter when communicating a message. And with that I speak now to the church on this issue. (I would speak to the government, but the cynic in me says there is no hope for anything truthful to come from them)
How often do we, as a church, misrepresent the Gospel? How often do we take a single image and promote it as if it were the regular example of things? I have known so many people that have gone on and on about how "if you would just turn to Jesus you will have..." ending that with a variety of different claims, from the promise of ALWAYS feeling loved, ALWAYS feeling happy, to the promise that God wants you to be prosperous in all things, and if you pray enough you will have that new car you think you deserve.
We throw up on the screen pictures of people with plastic smiles and say, "See? They are SO happy because they luuv Jesus!" Or we show the video footage of some random guy (usually an overpaid actor) leaping up from a wheelchair as his "faith" makes him "whole"... And in the meantime, people have their "come to Jesus" moment as a result of what they see. And then the next morning, when the spiritual high has worn off and they are left feeling the same as before, they start to question- why? And too often the answer we give them is, "well you just didn't have enough faith"... And so they walk away from the church, convinced it is all just a scam, just more false advertising and false hope.
Why is it so hard for us to be truthful? Why is it that we just cannot seem to utter the reality that though we may be born again, we are still human? We still have our struggles. We still have life experiences that bring us pain. Sometimes we still deal with loneliness, with heartache, with despair. Why? Because we are HUMAN. Because we live life. Because sometimes things don't always go the way we would like them to. Does this mean we are abandoned? No. God promises that He will walk with us the whole way, that He will shelter us from the storm- but He never promised that the path would be a smooth sailing highway, or that when the storm comes we won't get wet...
I think people would be more interested in hearing and seeing reality from us, as opposed to the plastic smiles we offer up. I think people would be more interested in the healing message of the Gospel we speak of, if they actually knew that we too had been through times in life when we needed to cry out to Him for healing. I think some may even be a bit more receptive to our proclaimation of their need for salvation if we would let them see the truth that we also needed God to save us...
Perhaps it is time we start communicating truth in all we say, instead of adding false imagery to the Word of God...
My first thought, however, was not of diabetes, but rather an empathy for the man in the ad. How terrible, I thought... The emotional pain that man must feel...
That is, of course, until I read an interesting article in the news. You see, while the ad's claim about diabetes and what it can do may be true, apparently the picture is quite deceptive... Enter one Cleo Berry, a man who not only does not have diabetes but ironically, has all of his limbs instead of a pair of crutches. Mr. Berry was quite shocked and upset when he discovered the altered imagery to promote a government sponsored message of cutting down portion sizes- including, mind you, the portion size of the man in the picture.
Of course, this put my mind into thinking; and the question that I pondered was simply this: Does truth in advertising matter? Do we, as a society, and as individuals, care if the whole message is accurate and true? I ask this in light of Mr. Berry's situation. While it may be true that diabetes can, indeed, lead to the loss of an appendage- I cannot help but wonder just how likely it is! Is it possible that this is the result only in extreme and untreated cases? Or is this really something that requires more of my concern? After all, if it is such a pressing issue one would think it would be quite easy to find a one-legged man to pose for a good cause, wouldn't it be?
Now I must confess that I am NO expert in this disease, I will state for the record that I think truth does matter when communicating a message. And with that I speak now to the church on this issue. (I would speak to the government, but the cynic in me says there is no hope for anything truthful to come from them)
How often do we, as a church, misrepresent the Gospel? How often do we take a single image and promote it as if it were the regular example of things? I have known so many people that have gone on and on about how "if you would just turn to Jesus you will have..." ending that with a variety of different claims, from the promise of ALWAYS feeling loved, ALWAYS feeling happy, to the promise that God wants you to be prosperous in all things, and if you pray enough you will have that new car you think you deserve.
We throw up on the screen pictures of people with plastic smiles and say, "See? They are SO happy because they luuv Jesus!" Or we show the video footage of some random guy (usually an overpaid actor) leaping up from a wheelchair as his "faith" makes him "whole"... And in the meantime, people have their "come to Jesus" moment as a result of what they see. And then the next morning, when the spiritual high has worn off and they are left feeling the same as before, they start to question- why? And too often the answer we give them is, "well you just didn't have enough faith"... And so they walk away from the church, convinced it is all just a scam, just more false advertising and false hope.
Why is it so hard for us to be truthful? Why is it that we just cannot seem to utter the reality that though we may be born again, we are still human? We still have our struggles. We still have life experiences that bring us pain. Sometimes we still deal with loneliness, with heartache, with despair. Why? Because we are HUMAN. Because we live life. Because sometimes things don't always go the way we would like them to. Does this mean we are abandoned? No. God promises that He will walk with us the whole way, that He will shelter us from the storm- but He never promised that the path would be a smooth sailing highway, or that when the storm comes we won't get wet...
I think people would be more interested in hearing and seeing reality from us, as opposed to the plastic smiles we offer up. I think people would be more interested in the healing message of the Gospel we speak of, if they actually knew that we too had been through times in life when we needed to cry out to Him for healing. I think some may even be a bit more receptive to our proclaimation of their need for salvation if we would let them see the truth that we also needed God to save us...
Perhaps it is time we start communicating truth in all we say, instead of adding false imagery to the Word of God...
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