So this morning, i am getting messages from my TweetDeck. There is some activity, so i go and check it out and there are some absolutely obscene random comments from some guy to his peeps. DOH!
I blocked that because i don't need to have that kind of obscenity flooding my eyes and mind. BUT here is the question, God has called us to be salt and light. No question there...just fact! But how do we keep ourselves separate and make a difference? I almost didn't write the question because of how much of a simpleton i sounded like, but give it some time in your mind. It is not as easy as it sounds.
Another thing that makes this less than simple is that many of us have a past. Past mistakes, past sins, past patterns, and even past addictions. It is not good for some to get involved, because though they mean well and want to stand for God, it is in those times that they fall again.
Just thinking outloud. We ARE to make a difference, but we need to make sure we don't compromise along the way or even fall in the process.
I'm out!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Passionate killing
It happened again. People who are passionate about a point of view compromising and confusing the very point they are passionate about.
Dr. George Tiller was gunned down in church, of all places. Dr. Tiller is best known as the late term abortion doctor. It is also thought that he broke laws in doing so. But to kill him. WOW! That defeats the very thing you are upset with him for - killing babies. I realize he is not innocent and that those babies are, but that is not the way we operate in a civilized environment.
Now there are several issues at play here, I realize. It appeared that his church condoned it, based on things said from a congregant and the fact that he was serving as an usher when he was shot. Pastors need to wake up and stand up. What kind of difference could this pastor have made if he would have help him more accountable or possibly even taught the word (and I am making an assumption here based on what we can see that the pastor was not doing either of those things).
It also seemed that he was allowed some place of leadership even being one who compromised what the Bible teaches. I realize that being an usher is a place of service, but in many larger churches, those places of service are held by deacons or other leaders.
Where do you draw the line? His wife was in the choir. If there is such a compromise of the truth, do you stop all family from serving until there is change and repentance? Probably needs to happen.
BUT - for someone to decide to be judge, jury, and executioner is completely wrong and sinful. He was trying to make a point and in the process, compromised and confused the very point he was trying to make - LIFE!
God help us be your people. Standing for you in a strong, clear way.
Dr. George Tiller was gunned down in church, of all places. Dr. Tiller is best known as the late term abortion doctor. It is also thought that he broke laws in doing so. But to kill him. WOW! That defeats the very thing you are upset with him for - killing babies. I realize he is not innocent and that those babies are, but that is not the way we operate in a civilized environment.
Now there are several issues at play here, I realize. It appeared that his church condoned it, based on things said from a congregant and the fact that he was serving as an usher when he was shot. Pastors need to wake up and stand up. What kind of difference could this pastor have made if he would have help him more accountable or possibly even taught the word (and I am making an assumption here based on what we can see that the pastor was not doing either of those things).
It also seemed that he was allowed some place of leadership even being one who compromised what the Bible teaches. I realize that being an usher is a place of service, but in many larger churches, those places of service are held by deacons or other leaders.
Where do you draw the line? His wife was in the choir. If there is such a compromise of the truth, do you stop all family from serving until there is change and repentance? Probably needs to happen.
BUT - for someone to decide to be judge, jury, and executioner is completely wrong and sinful. He was trying to make a point and in the process, compromised and confused the very point he was trying to make - LIFE!
God help us be your people. Standing for you in a strong, clear way.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I can't beleive they did that...
It has been a while since I have gotten on this site...i am so bad. :)
Alright, so have you been let down lately? Hurts...doesn't it?
I was talking to someone recently about that. They have experienced so many let downs in the recent past but they seemed to be in control of it all until the last one. The last letdown released all of the previous letdowns in a way that brought them all out like they were fresh. It was a very painful time.
I have also experience hurt and what you might classify betrayal...at least out and out lies. Here is one that is kind of funny now...for my birthday one year, a friend gave me three golf lessons with a local pro (who was also a member of our church). I called to set up a lesson. Mid-way through the lesson, i was talking to my golf pro and mentioned how nice this was for my friend to do this for me. BLANK LOOK from the pro. I asked, "did he call you and set these lessons up?" The answer "NO." Awkward moment! Let downs. Sometimes they are embarrassing...sometimes PAINFUL!!!
It the past few years, they have been more painful. More like betrayal...lies of many shapes and forms. There were a few times that it brought feelings to the surface that sent me into my shell to hide from it all.
As I processed, I think the Holy Spirit was reminding me that I have let many down in life, too. I remember promises that I have made to people that I dropped the ball on.
I was reminded of three things - easy enough to write but difficult to carry out...
1...God is ALWAYS there and will NEVER make promises and drop the ball. He will never leave me or forsake me. God will not disappoint.
This is not cliche...it is real. Someone that is going to read this is saying, God didn't do something I needed Him to do for me last week or last month. Really?! Or is it He didn't answer you the way YOU wanted Him to? He is always there and always answers in the way that is best...for you AND so His name is magnified.
2...Make it your desire to faithful to all. Someone will still say you let them down somewhere along the way. But when you say you will do something, do it. When you say you will be somewhere, be there. Be faithful and responsible in your relationships.
3...WHEN people let you down - release it as soon as you know you are holding on to it. Sometimes this is instant and sometimes it takes some time to realize that it has been dormant in your heart. Let God have it. Say, "God,I need you to take this. I don't want to hold on to this. I don't want this to eat at me."
Let downs happen. Nothing we can do about it. What we CAN do is choose a different way to deal with it.
Alright, so have you been let down lately? Hurts...doesn't it?
I was talking to someone recently about that. They have experienced so many let downs in the recent past but they seemed to be in control of it all until the last one. The last letdown released all of the previous letdowns in a way that brought them all out like they were fresh. It was a very painful time.
I have also experience hurt and what you might classify betrayal...at least out and out lies. Here is one that is kind of funny now...for my birthday one year, a friend gave me three golf lessons with a local pro (who was also a member of our church). I called to set up a lesson. Mid-way through the lesson, i was talking to my golf pro and mentioned how nice this was for my friend to do this for me. BLANK LOOK from the pro. I asked, "did he call you and set these lessons up?" The answer "NO." Awkward moment! Let downs. Sometimes they are embarrassing...sometimes PAINFUL!!!
It the past few years, they have been more painful. More like betrayal...lies of many shapes and forms. There were a few times that it brought feelings to the surface that sent me into my shell to hide from it all.
As I processed, I think the Holy Spirit was reminding me that I have let many down in life, too. I remember promises that I have made to people that I dropped the ball on.
I was reminded of three things - easy enough to write but difficult to carry out...
1...God is ALWAYS there and will NEVER make promises and drop the ball. He will never leave me or forsake me. God will not disappoint.
This is not cliche...it is real. Someone that is going to read this is saying, God didn't do something I needed Him to do for me last week or last month. Really?! Or is it He didn't answer you the way YOU wanted Him to? He is always there and always answers in the way that is best...for you AND so His name is magnified.
2...Make it your desire to faithful to all. Someone will still say you let them down somewhere along the way. But when you say you will do something, do it. When you say you will be somewhere, be there. Be faithful and responsible in your relationships.
3...WHEN people let you down - release it as soon as you know you are holding on to it. Sometimes this is instant and sometimes it takes some time to realize that it has been dormant in your heart. Let God have it. Say, "God,I need you to take this. I don't want to hold on to this. I don't want this to eat at me."
Let downs happen. Nothing we can do about it. What we CAN do is choose a different way to deal with it.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Wide Acceptance or Herecy?
This week I heard something that stirred some deep feelings in me.
I got an email from someone that had a link to a Billy Graham interview. In that interview Billy Graham said there were numerous ways to God. He said, people will go to heaven "if they know Christ, or love Christ, whether they are conscience of it or not." WHAT!?!?!?! How can someone know or love someone...anyone uncousciously? He also said that some people will "find themselves in heaven and not really know the name of Jesus." He also says those people will realize they need something that they don't have and they turn to "the only light they have." Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 11:14 that Satan disguises himself as an "angel of light."
Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
This is herecy. In looking a little further, we see Mr. Graham has held this view at least since the 1960s.
I am troubled by this. It angered me when I saw this and looked into what he said. I know that God is on His throne and calling people to salvation, but the Bible also tell us in Acts...
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Here are links to this if you want to hear it for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axxlXy6bLH0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gtR8rp4ozw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC2WPR7q4pU&feature=related (the first video may have been removed. You can hear the transcript quoted here.)
FINALLY, this is just a reminder that we need to stand firm as we share Jesus with the world whether we do it on the weekends from some pulpit or in our everyday lives as we talk to people. There is ONE WAY to the Father and that is through faith in Jesus.
I got an email from someone that had a link to a Billy Graham interview. In that interview Billy Graham said there were numerous ways to God. He said, people will go to heaven "if they know Christ, or love Christ, whether they are conscience of it or not." WHAT!?!?!?! How can someone know or love someone...anyone uncousciously? He also said that some people will "find themselves in heaven and not really know the name of Jesus." He also says those people will realize they need something that they don't have and they turn to "the only light they have." Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 11:14 that Satan disguises himself as an "angel of light."
Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
This is herecy. In looking a little further, we see Mr. Graham has held this view at least since the 1960s.
I am troubled by this. It angered me when I saw this and looked into what he said. I know that God is on His throne and calling people to salvation, but the Bible also tell us in Acts...
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Here are links to this if you want to hear it for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axxlXy6bLH0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gtR8rp4ozw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC2WPR7q4pU&feature=related (the first video may have been removed. You can hear the transcript quoted here.)
FINALLY, this is just a reminder that we need to stand firm as we share Jesus with the world whether we do it on the weekends from some pulpit or in our everyday lives as we talk to people. There is ONE WAY to the Father and that is through faith in Jesus.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
I Will Not Be Moved
This is my new favorite song. I put this video together for a teaching I was doing at Journey Church in Lithia, FL on "perseverance." I hope you like it...but even if you don't...I hope you get the message.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Song - Will Not Be Moved
CD - Relentless
Artist - Natalie Grant
To Be or Not To Be
Nathaniel and Danielle were in a operetta called H.M. S. Pinafore this past weekend. Never heard of it before? Join the club. I had never, but now I can't seem to get it out of my head.
The kids did so awesome. It does not surprise me that Danielle would, she has dug this kind of stuff for a while. This is like her 4th play/musical. BUT my 14 year old son. It was amazing to see him on stage. He has always enjoyed sports and other activities, but he did so well.
My 12 year old son enjoyed it, too. He said he might like to try out for the next one. The next one is Aladdin.
Danielle studying the Playbill (no, that not the script - are you kidding me?)
The kids did so awesome. It does not surprise me that Danielle would, she has dug this kind of stuff for a while. This is like her 4th play/musical. BUT my 14 year old son. It was amazing to see him on stage. He has always enjoyed sports and other activities, but he did so well.
My 12 year old son enjoyed it, too. He said he might like to try out for the next one. The next one is Aladdin.
Danielle studying the Playbill (no, that not the script - are you kidding me?)
Nathaniel is the one in the Seffner Baseball shirt (surprise).
Full dress rehearsal the day before 1st show.
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