Thursday, November 8, 2007

The Senate has done what?


This article inspired this blog post:

Senate Inquiry into Christian Ministries

I must say that as a Pastor I am a bit concerned. I am the first to concede that this "prosperity doctrine" goes (in my opinion) beyond scripture. I believe that God can (and does) bless his people, but he has not assured any believer that he or she would live a life of lavish or even comfort. Conversely, Jesus told us that foxes have holes and birds have nests but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. He also assured us that if this was what he would face how much more we, who follow him. There are people out there who tell you to "name it and claim it; believe it and receive it." they also tell you to "decree" this and that. However, I have found this no place in scripture. Call me crazy, but this reduces God to our Jeanie in the bottle who we can just make do what we want (as long as we give to him, of course). Does the bible tell us that we should give to God, yes. Do I give to God, yes. But God does not owe me a single red cent! Again, I know that God can and does provide for his children, but he is also no less just or good when he doesn't provide and to say anything that suggests he is makes a statement that is extra-biblical at best and heretical at worst.

With that said, I do NOT think that it is the job of a Senatorial Committee to step in and demand accountability. It is the job of the local church to hold accountable their leaders. Too many of the people who are on the list, have gone too far and live too lavish a lifestyle. Nevertheless the government needs to remain separate. It is a slippery slope on which this committee has embarked and we must not allow it to happen unchecked. I agree that oversight is needed (specifically with the ones in questions) I disagree from whom that oversight is coming.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Trust God; He is our Comforter!

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together* for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love
31
 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us.
  35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?36 (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep."*)37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
  38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,* neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.


 

2 Corinthians 1:4

4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.


 

2 Corinthians 4:8

 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
  11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
  13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, "I believed in God, so I spoke."*14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus,* will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God's grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
  16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are* being renewed every day.17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Philippians 4:13

13 For I can do everything through Christ,* who gives me strength.14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Air Soft

So...I had an interesting experience on Friday night. I played air soft with my middle school youth.
It was a really exhilarating experience. There I was shooting and dodging and diving. We had a great time. I wondered numerous times that day, "What are the neighbors thinking of their newest neighbors?" We played for SO long. I know that we played past 10 pm. As I write that and pause and think about the implication of 10pm being late...I digress. Needless to say there was lots of bonding with my middle schoolers, albeit at the expense of my knee and back...lol

A great time was had and now I get to think of some fun things to do with my high school youth!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Darfur

This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not opress the widow or the fatherless. the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other." Zecharia 7:9-10



"The righreous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern."Proverbs 29:7



In light of these verses I have been challenged to think about what this means to me as a believer as well as a Pastor to show compassion and care for the poor. It is certainly something that was on the radar of Jesus. I wonder if we spend so much time as believers pointing out what is wrong in the world that we forget that we are the hands and feet. To those of us whom God has made known his glorious riches it is Christ in us who is the hope of Glory. It simply is not enough to sit back and criticize. We must become active members who administer true justice. As those who have received the hope of God it is our responsibility to act when we see an injustice.The horrific genocide in Darfur is injustice. Those who are righteous should pour our efforts into bringing an end to this tragedy. We are quick to rally when someone tells us of the mass murder of babies via abortion (as well we should). You will also find us Evangelicals rallying when there is a threat of Gay Marriage or Gay Rights but in large part we have been silent on this tragedy in Darfur. Many consider this another "bleeding heart liberal" cause. We have a mandate from scripture to respond. This must not continue. There are things that we can do.



so." Let's end this tragedy; it will honor God.


I encourage you to get involved. Get informed and become active.


Visit the links below:





These are just a few sites that you can visit. Please make a cry about this injustice.


Remember that every child or person who dies from this state sponsored genocide is a beloved of God. He gave His son who freely gave His life for them. If we don't raise our voice who will? Paraphrasing Dr. King, "Silence is a way of agreeing with something without saying