Rebirth
Greg’s back at it. See you there.
A New Year’s Resolution?
Resolutions are a weird thing to me. I’m not sure if they are ‘biblical’. And yet I presently find myself strangely pulled to make some life changes concerning diet and certain habits and well….diet. It’s that whole end of the year, beginning of the new thing that seems to happen every year.
Have you had success with resolutions? If so, would you share it with us?
g
P.S. Sorry for the blog drought. I hereby resolve…..
The Coffee Revolt
In opening up our Grindhouse Cafe and generally adjusting the way we do things in the new place, we decided to eliminate the free-will donation coffee that we have offered for years. It just made sense to me on a number of levels. I like tying up loose ends.
“People won’t miss it.” I thought. “A few might struggle not having their Folgers available, but they’ll adjust.” I said to myself.
Boy, was I wrong! Shortly after the news of ‘No Folgers for you’ was out, they were outside of the church with pitchforks and lanterns and clubs demanding the Coffee Nazi’s hide.
OK, so I am exaggerating…..but being the wise and prudent man that I am (and not wanting to take a beating if I don’t have to), I caved to the demands of the revolting villagers. Those jonesing for Folgers will get their fix this weekend and subsequent weekends until the Lord returns. Now, drop those pitchforks…..g
The Boy Becomes a Man
Danny Braga has more than a little prophet edge in him. While he was our youth pastor here at LCF, he would not infrequently breath out fire and brimstone in his messages to the kids. But last night I listened to a man full of grace and compassion as he ministered the Word of the Lord to a bunch of grieving folks. Danny gave a beautiful message from John 11.
Last night I saw the boy become a man…..and I the teacher became the student. God bless you, Danny. I am really proud of you in the Lord!
g
Hurt So Good….
I have been gently and lovingly rebuked numerous times in the past few weeks….A brother came up to me after a Sunday Morning service recently and pointed out that a vehicle that belonged to me was parked in the handicapped parking space by the front door of the church. He told me that his precious mom (who has a very hard time walking) had to walk from a much more distant parking place because someone who is not handicapped chose to take up a handicapped parking space. Though I didn’t personally park there, someone in my family did. I felt terrible.
On another occasion….A dear brother asked me if everything was OK. You know, the ‘Are you alright’ kind of question. I said, ‘Ya, I’m fine. Why do you ask?’. He proceeded to tell me that he listened to a Podcast of one of my sermons and said it sounded suspiciously similar to a message he had heard from someone else. He then gently and lovingly told me that he loved me, respected me and was worried about me. He was raised up under my ministry. I proceeded to admit that though this wasn’t normal, I have on occasion leaned heavily upon other’s outlines and material in presenting a sermon. I again felt terrible. I felt ashamed.
Later, when I was alone with God, I fell to my knees and repented of my laziness and insecurity. I promised the Lord that I would never again lean upon another’s man’s work in that way. God has given me a voice. I want to be who God created me to be.
It took courage for these people to confront me. I respect them all the more for it……..
Are you a person who cares enough to give correction? Are you a person who loves Jesus enough to receive correction? It hurts so good…..g
Sects
I am currently perusing the Song of Solomon for this Sunday Night’s sermon on Biblical love-making. I am struck by the liberty and joy of both the husband and the wife in their physical relationship. I am also impacted the clarity of the Word of God concerning these issues. And yet, God’s people have always struggled in this area. Perhaps it’s partially due to humanity’s radical abuse of God’s good gift and some bad teaching over the ages by some notable Christians:
Augustine: “Intercourse isn’t evil, but the lust and pleasure is”
Roman Catholic Church: “Intercourse is only for procreation. Otherwise it is sinful.”
Luther: “Intercourse is never without sin.”
I look forward to teaching through this vital issue and bringing the clarity of God’s Word to bear upon the subject. I think it will be liberating for many–offensive to a few. Pray for me…..g
Just Another Nice Vampire Family….
Pam and I have been hearing a lot about a movie called ‘Twilight’. We were told by our kids it was based on yet another book series that has sold bagillions of copies. So we took out a loan and went and saw it (just kidding-we had been given some ‘cinema bucks’ as a gift…). Twilight is a movie about conflicted vampires and a conflicted human girl. It seems that there are certain species of vampires that hold their bloodlust in check and refuse to eat humans because of moral conviction. So the dreamy vampire son of good and decent vampire doctor falls in love with a sweet teenage girl. They fall deeply in love and the tension of movie is realized in his refusing to bite her though she desperately wants him to.
I couldn’t help but see something of a metaphor of the Christian life (I tend to do that in everything). There is in us a lurking propensity to do evil that must be held in check…..
All that to say this–anyone see any good movies lately? Tell us about it….g
Strange Bedfellows?
This past week and a half has been very interesting in our nation. Along with the economic crisis and the Lakers finally losing a game (I was at Staple Center when it happened-bummer!), there was a nation-wide protest of California’s Proposition 8. Prop 8 was an initiative that defined marriage as between a man and a woman only. It passed. The following is from an Associated Press article…….
“Protests following the vote on Proposition 8 in California, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, have sometimes been angry and even violent, and demonstrators have targeted faiths that supported the ban, including the Mormon church.
Balliett said supporters in 300 cities in the U.S. and other countries were holding marches, and she estimated 1 million people would participate, based on responses at the Web sites her group set up.
“We need to show the world when one thing happens to one of us, it happens to all of us,” she said.
The protests were widely reported to be peaceful, and the mood in Boston was generally upbeat, with attendees dancing to the song “Respect.” Signs cast the fight for gay marriage as the new civil rights movement, including one that read “Gay is the new black.”
But anger over the ban and its backers was evident at the protests.
One sign in Chicago, where several thousand people gathered, read: “Catholic Fascists Stay Out of Politics.”
“I just found out that my state doesn’t really think I’m a person,” said Rose Aplustill, 21, a Boston University student from Los Osos, Calif., who was one of thousands at the Boston rally.
In San Francisco, demonstrators took shots at some religious groups that supported the ban, including a sign aimed at the Mormon church and its abandoned practice of polygamy that read: “You have three wives; I want one husband.” (end quote)
Mormons, Catholics, Protestants and Muslims have been vocal in their opposition to gay marriage and homosexuality in general. Strange bedfellows indeed.
My question is this: As Christ-followers, what should be our response to the present cultural tide that keeps pushing for the acceptance of homosexuality as normative? What should the Church do? I’ve recently heard some people who identify themselves as Christians argue for an acceptance homosexuality. They take the genetic predisposition angle and explain away the various passages of Scripture condemning the practice. Even Ray Boltz (the guy who sang ‘Thank You for giving to the Lord, I am alive because you gave..’), came out of the closet, left his wife and kids for a male lover. I have my own thoughts, but I’d like to hear yours.
peace, g
Obama-Nation?
Below is the rant of a guy named Dutch Sheets. He is a pastor and a ‘renewal preacher’. His remarks reflect the feelings of many in the body of Christ. Not mine……
“I feel certain that many in my stream of the Church want astatement from me concerning Tuesday’s presidential election. I will be frank in my remarks but I do not, however, intend to vent anger or
attack anyone. I have read several statements from friends and
colleagues I respect very much.
Their thoughts are well stated and, for the most part, insightful.
None of them, however, seem to want to say some things that I believe
need to be said. I do not claim infallibility or to have the final
word, but my convictions run deep and I believe I bear a God-given
responsibility to share them.
Was This God’s Will?
Was what happened Tuesday God’s will? I am quite confident it
was not. America was offered a very clear choice between moving
further toward protecting the unborn or further away; between a
Supreme Court that would move toward honoring God, life and morality
or away from it. The stakes couldn’t have been higher nor the cost
greater. As a nation we put on blinders concerning Barak Obama’s
background, associations, beliefs and practices, and set these causes
back years, possibly decades.
And in doing so we took another step away from God and His plans
for America, and another step toward judgment.
Judgment Will Increase
This is not a fire and brimstone warning from an angry,
legalistic preacher. In fact, I feel more sadness and grief than
anything else.
Perhaps I feel what Jesus felt as He wept for Jerusalem while
announcing its judgment. I am not hoping for judgment; I am saying it
is inevitable. I don’t know where the unbiblical belief comes from
that says a nation can live any way it pleases, can reject God and His
ways-even mock Him-and not receive His judgments. Nor do I know when
the belief came that it is always mean-spirited or judgmental to warn
of these things. To the contrary, I believe it is our responsibility.
In warning of judgment, I am not suggesting that God is going to
intentially and directly hurt people. Much judgment is simply the
absence of God’s protection and provision, caused by a rejection of
His laws and ways. We have been experiencing some forms of judgment
in America for years, but God in His incredible patience and mercy has
kept us from the level we’ve deserved. I believe this will change to
a degree and judgment will now
increase:
* For those in the Church who aligned themselves with
pro-abortion forces, I believe judgment will result.
* For leaders in the Body of Christ who refused to take a
stand for fear of losing people, money, and tax-exempt status-I
believe there will be a degree of judgment.
* For those, both within the Church and without, who voted
money over morality-a potential raise or better health insurance over
the life of a baby-there will be judgment. (The irony is that this
decision to base one’s vote on the hopes of a better economy won’t
produce the hoped for result anyway. The scriptures teach that it is
righteousness which exalts a nation and that the nation is blessed
whose God is the Lord.)
I have heard the argument that God cares as much about
social justice issues (such as poverty and racism) as He does
abortion, making a vote for Obama OK. I certainly believe God puts a
very high priority on caring for the poor and I, too, have wanted to
see equality demonstrated through a “minority” president. But to
equate having a better income or the desire for a first black
president, regardless of his positions on abortion and morality, to
the issue of killing 50 million babies is not justice-it is a gross
distortion of justice and great deception. I fear that we have been
desensitized to this issue of abortion. I believe it kills babies and
takes innocent life. I also believe it is blood sacrifice that
empowers demons. Let’s not forget this in our noble attempts to be
kind and conciliatory.
For African Americans I can easily see how it could bring
healing to have a first black president, just as it would be for
Native Americans to achieve this or for women if a woman were elected
president. Again, I have wanted to see justice in this way. I am
only saddened that the price for this healing ended up being Barak
Obama, a man that will set the cause of life and, most-likely, our
God-given destiny as a nation back so drastically. (I also realize
there are some who interpret any criticism of Obama as racism. Racism
is so NOT what I am about nor what I live, that I will not even
dignify any such accusations with a response.)
What Can We Expect?
What are some of the judgments we can expect on our nation from
this election?
* More economic woes
* More violence in an already violent nation
* Disease and death (satan, who is responsible for these
things will have greater inroads to our nation.)
* Natural disasters (weather-tornadoes, hurricanes, floods,
drought; fires; earthquakes; etc.)
* Terrorism (they will fear us much less now)
* War, perhaps on our own soil
* Judgments relating to the Court. The stacking of the Supreme
Court against the sanctity of life and God’s influence on America will
occur, which will in turn cause the shedding of more innocent blood,
more rejection of God’s laws and the stealing from us of our godly
heritage-all of which will perpetuate a cycle of even more judgment.
How Did This Happen?
I’ve been asked if this could have been averted had there
been more prayer. I’m not sure. I believe there was a remnant of
Christians fervently praying over these elections-I don’t think there
was anything more they could have done. Others, obviously, should have
done more. The complacency and lack of discernment concerning our
real condition in America-especially by the Church-is both appalling
and horrifying. America is in serious trouble and it seems no one
wants to say it. Fewer still are willing to do anything to change it.
Though I understand our reasons, we must be careful in
our attempts to placate our feelings and calm our fears through
religious phrases like “God is still on the throne” or “God has a
plan”. He was on His throne 35 years and 50 million babies ago. And
He had a plan back then. The problem is, it was us. I understand our
reasons for waving high the banner of God’s sovereignty at times like
these-it gives us hope. I will wave it, as well.
But please be careful with this. Too much emphasis on God’s
sovereignty and we’re worthless; too little and we’re hopeless. Maybe
we should say, “we lost a critical battle but God will give us
strategy to win the war.” Then find the strategy.
But still yet, since God is usually willing to work
through a remnant, I thought we had enough prayer. Obviously, God
decided otherwise. There comes a time when He will not forgive or
bless the majority based on the prayers or actions of only a few.
America rejected God and asked for a king; I believe we now have our
Saul (see 1 Samuel 8:5-7
)-a man who does not have God’s heart for
America but his own. Like Israel in scripture, our nation believes it
can turn from God and still be blessed. In His mercy and justice He
will show us otherwise.
Like many, believing I had many promises and confirmations
that God would “grace” us with a pro-life president in this election,
I failed to consider strongly enough that all promises-even
scripture-are conditional 99.9% of the time. Though I never prophesied
or made guarantees that McCain-Palin would win, failing to factor this
principle in strongly enough no doubt caused me to share my optimism
with others inappropriately. If this caused any harm or confusion, I
apologize.
Has the fact that my prayers weren’t answered shaken my
faith? No. I’m a little confused and discouraged. I’m also somewhat
angry at the nation in general and much of the Church. Mostly I’m
grieving over the nation and what this will cost us. I am not,
however, angry with God and do not question His justice. And it is not
true that we wasted our time, energy and money in our efforts anymore
than it is a waste when we share the gospel with people who don’t get
saved. We must keep in the forefront of our thinking the fact that
ultimately we are doing this for Him and that He will reward us for
our faithfulness. And who knows, perhaps He will store up all those
prayers for the next battle (Revelation 5:8, 8:3-5).
A friend and fellow warrior said it well,
“We did ‘give it our all.’ I know the Lord was pleased with
that. A coach wants to know one thing at the end of a heartbreaking
sports loss: ‘Did you leave it all on the field?’ (your passion, your
commitment, your strength, your courage, etc.) I know that we ‘left it
all on the field.’ We didn’t hold anything back until the game ended.
Tragically, it ended in defeat. We will rise for another day because
Jesus is worthy.”
Where Do We Go from Here?
Does this election outcome shake my faith that we can see
a great awakening and ultimately reformation in America? Absolutely
not (and it strengthens my resolve). We will simply get there through
greater pain and loss. Even my passion to see the Supreme Court shift
is not from a presupposition that there can be no spiritual awakening
without it. It is simply due to my deep conviction that their
decisions bring so much death, destruction, curses and judgment to
America; and because our full destiny as a nation is unquestionably
linked to their decisions. So, yes, we will get an awakening and
reformation; but the reality is that this reformation of the nation
will reform the Supreme Court (and government, in general), not
vice-versa. My faith has never been in people or a political party;
my faith is in the God who works through them.
I’ve been asked if my feelings about Sarah Palin have
changed. They have not. I believe she is an Esther, a Deborah, with a
huge mantle from God for reformation. God has a great destiny for her
related to this nation if she chooses to continue down this path.
So, in conclusion, we must re-group as an apostolic, praying
church and advance. We must maintain an immovable faith in God, His
plans for America and His mercy. And we must move beyond simply
asking God for a spiritual awakening and ask Him for strategy to
produce reformation, as well. I, for one, am just getting started!”
For God and this great nation,
Dutch Sheets
What a small God this guy serves. What say you?……g
Feelings…nothing more than feelings?
This was sent to me by our resident kingdom-thinking, trouble-maker, Jake S. and is reposted with his permission: “….In the last few weeks, I have been looking at my life and all the amazing blessings that I have; an amazing wife, a beautiful little girl, a little baby on the way, a studio opening soon, killer friends, a job I like, ect..ect… Yet with all my riches that come from the very hand of God, I notice the lack of intimacy w/ Christ. The more people I talk to, it seems like a theme, we are enjoying the blessings, but also wanting to enjoy Christ. One thing that I run into a lot that messes me up; I think I would say the word is God’s primary way of communicating to us, but I am easily distracted from the word by this idea that since Christ is risen, shouldn’t I be able to hear his voice. Often when I here people, such as yourself, speak of the intimacy they enjoy with Christ, I find myself green w/ jealously….”
Jake’s honesty is a little disarming. Should we be able to hear Christ’s voice experientally/in the moment? Should we/do we walk with a sensitivity to His leading/unction? Do we sometimes doubt God’s very existence-let alone His leading? Be warned, this is a conversation that requires great candor and sensitivity. Thanks, Jake for yours….
peace, g