It's interesting how fast I got a comment on this post...and anonymous. The comment was right on and I loved it. This person without knowing me (I assume) and without knowing much about me made a judgement. I thought it would good to respond in a new post instead of just in the comments section for this one. Here is the comment he/she left:
I stumbled on your blog through Google. I was searching for stories from people about their call to ministry and your blog entry from 2007 came up. Very interesting and uplifting. After I read that, I clicked the Home link to read your most current entry and found this. Wow! I read some more entries looking for clues to explain what may have happned to justify such a bitter and spiteful entry, and the only thing I could find was an entry where you said something to this effect, "...at Sardis, I was the preacher I always wanted." Perhaps you should've tried to be the preacher Sardis needed instead. Sad.
Well....1st bitter and spiteful are pretty harsh words. Hard truth would have been better. If I describe you as a middle age woman with long hair and brown eyes I would be telling the truth. If I described you as a pew warmer that jumps in when she finds time and one day said "I think I can preach a good sermon too"...maybe that's truth also. I don't think I know you. It's just an illustration.
Many of my blog entries are thoughts I want to put down, maybe something another person will glean some insight into, maybe something they have no idea about but helps me to put it down. You read a few sermons and then some of my postings after leaving Sardis. Unfortunately it's not everything. However, just maybe it's a good picture. One thing about my blog entries...many of them are written as thoughts come to me. Sometimes I flesh them out and sometimes I don't.
I was the pastor at Sardis I always wanted. One who followed God instead of pandering to man. One who preached the Word instead of watered it down. One who sought the approval of God in everything I did.
And the most interesting thing....I was the pastor Sardis needed. That's the great thing about God. He worked it out perfectly. For 10 years this church had a pastor that just came to preach and leave. Then they got a good student pastor for 3 years that didn't push too hard but showed the congregation they had to work in the church also. Then they got me. I was the change/transistion pastor (if you accept a call to ministry you will read about him). I showed the church there is more than Sunday morning worship. And I stretched them...a lot. The pastor before me gave his entire salary back to the church because he had a pension from another career. I couldn't do that for sure. Neither could anyone coming after me.
Probably the last thing to tell you. Out of 40-50 people in worship on Sunday morning, it was half a dozen that were my antagonists. You have to read posts like mine to know what to expect. Also, read Antagonist in The Church. When you get behind the scenes, you see what really happens.
Oh...BTW...yes I was hurt. It took a year to get over it. There are still times my blood pressure goes up. However, since leaving I've been in two great churches. The year at Sardis was the best year and worst year I have had. My call hasn't changed. But the way I see my realtionship to God and to his church has evolved into something greater. I look forward to 2009 and the wonderful experiences it will bring in the Kingdom.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
What I learned from being a pastor (and other thoughts)
Brandy and I talk about maturity and experience. The older we get, the more experience we get and (sometimes) the more mature we get. Mature can mean many things so don't read too much into that word. I was having some thoughts on what I learned while I was a pastor and some other things in the past.
You see, when you go from warming the pews and maybe a Sunday school class or small group to actually working behind the scenes, you see a very different process and procedure than what you are used to. Here are some thoughts:
* People love change until it's their pet project. Try to cancel some beloved children group that Ms Mary has been doing for years even though the kids are tired of it and no one really enjoys it and boy there will be an uproar.
Another one on that subject is music. At Sardis for one month a year they did the Cokesbury hymnal. These were songs that very few people knew, liked, or cared about. Outside the church walls there was grumbling, but inside everyone was glad to "remember and sing those old songs". And don't ever consider unplugging the organ. (BTW...when is the last time you heard an organ playing on the radio?).
* If it's something people have no history with, they will be against it until the end. At one church we were at, a small group of people wanted to start a contemporary service. 95% of church growth in the UMC came from contemporary services. People who worshipped in them loved them (and didn't sleep). I was tasked with leading this small group. The 1st question asked was "where will the money go that is collected at this service?" Blank dumbfounded look from me. uuummm church service in the the church, maybe the money goes to the church.
Oh and that part about being against it until the end....that is true (in most cases) even if they can come around and see the true possibilities of God moving in the change. They cannot lose face and change their mind.
* Long term far-sighted projects are a LOT less popular than quick turnaround ideas. At Sardis they have this empty lot next to the church. It's a complete waste of space and not being used but owned by the church. It steeply slopes and you can't do anything with it in the current situation. Since there were some people who wanted to build a gym on that site in the future, I recommended that when a builder or the county has fill dirt they will give to us, to get it and level out that land so it will be ready for the building in the future. You would have thought I suggested we put up "welcome to the dump" signs. I got remarks of "people will start throwing trash in our lot if we do this." No idea what they were talking about. Never brought it up again. The current pastor is bringing up building again though. Good luck.
* People like to have their own ideas instead of being told what needs to be done. This is one I should have know from the beginning at Sardis. It's part of managing people and getting progress moving. At one board meeting I came up with a long list of physical projects that needed to be done on the property to make it more attractive and what newcomers would see when coming in. Well I was just ATTACKING these people directly. This was their sacred church.
Here is the funny part. About a month later, that list (that disappeared after the meeting) started getting worked on by the people in the church.
* Generations are stubborn. I say generations because all the generations are stubborn. The baby boomers at my last church (not all old people) were fixed in thier worship style and didn't want to change. Next younger crowd wanted change to more contemporary but control trumps desire.
* Perception is everything. When Sardis heard I was a young pastor, the talk automatically went around that "this pastor will focus on youth". This could not have been farther from the truth.
Another one that I heard thru the grapevine was "we can train this young pastor how we want him". I actually had one guy (so many other labels I can place on him) tell me the church was there to train me. There was no co-learning. There was no relationship.
* The building is the church. At Sardis the 100 yr old building was the church. Without that building, they would not have known what to do. And please don't make changes at the building. I did a trial ballon suggestion that our church would stand out and look glorious if we outlined it in white lights of Christmas. I was actually told that would be too commercial. Forget being a "light" on the hill. Someone once said the best thing that could happen to the church would be for us to not have a building and be nomads. I will never say who told me that, but unfortunately they were exactly right.
I'm sure I will come up with more soon and have to add to this list. I will as they come up.
You see, when you go from warming the pews and maybe a Sunday school class or small group to actually working behind the scenes, you see a very different process and procedure than what you are used to. Here are some thoughts:
* People love change until it's their pet project. Try to cancel some beloved children group that Ms Mary has been doing for years even though the kids are tired of it and no one really enjoys it and boy there will be an uproar.
Another one on that subject is music. At Sardis for one month a year they did the Cokesbury hymnal. These were songs that very few people knew, liked, or cared about. Outside the church walls there was grumbling, but inside everyone was glad to "remember and sing those old songs". And don't ever consider unplugging the organ. (BTW...when is the last time you heard an organ playing on the radio?).
* If it's something people have no history with, they will be against it until the end. At one church we were at, a small group of people wanted to start a contemporary service. 95% of church growth in the UMC came from contemporary services. People who worshipped in them loved them (and didn't sleep). I was tasked with leading this small group. The 1st question asked was "where will the money go that is collected at this service?" Blank dumbfounded look from me. uuummm church service in the the church, maybe the money goes to the church.
Oh and that part about being against it until the end....that is true (in most cases) even if they can come around and see the true possibilities of God moving in the change. They cannot lose face and change their mind.
* Long term far-sighted projects are a LOT less popular than quick turnaround ideas. At Sardis they have this empty lot next to the church. It's a complete waste of space and not being used but owned by the church. It steeply slopes and you can't do anything with it in the current situation. Since there were some people who wanted to build a gym on that site in the future, I recommended that when a builder or the county has fill dirt they will give to us, to get it and level out that land so it will be ready for the building in the future. You would have thought I suggested we put up "welcome to the dump" signs. I got remarks of "people will start throwing trash in our lot if we do this." No idea what they were talking about. Never brought it up again. The current pastor is bringing up building again though. Good luck.
* People like to have their own ideas instead of being told what needs to be done. This is one I should have know from the beginning at Sardis. It's part of managing people and getting progress moving. At one board meeting I came up with a long list of physical projects that needed to be done on the property to make it more attractive and what newcomers would see when coming in. Well I was just ATTACKING these people directly. This was their sacred church.
Here is the funny part. About a month later, that list (that disappeared after the meeting) started getting worked on by the people in the church.
* Generations are stubborn. I say generations because all the generations are stubborn. The baby boomers at my last church (not all old people) were fixed in thier worship style and didn't want to change. Next younger crowd wanted change to more contemporary but control trumps desire.
* Perception is everything. When Sardis heard I was a young pastor, the talk automatically went around that "this pastor will focus on youth". This could not have been farther from the truth.
Another one that I heard thru the grapevine was "we can train this young pastor how we want him". I actually had one guy (so many other labels I can place on him) tell me the church was there to train me. There was no co-learning. There was no relationship.
* The building is the church. At Sardis the 100 yr old building was the church. Without that building, they would not have known what to do. And please don't make changes at the building. I did a trial ballon suggestion that our church would stand out and look glorious if we outlined it in white lights of Christmas. I was actually told that would be too commercial. Forget being a "light" on the hill. Someone once said the best thing that could happen to the church would be for us to not have a building and be nomads. I will never say who told me that, but unfortunately they were exactly right.
I'm sure I will come up with more soon and have to add to this list. I will as they come up.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Books I'm reading
I just finished reading Malcolm Gladwell's book Blink! Great book and fast read. I would highly recommend it to anyone. He gives a laymen's understanding of how we make decisions within the first 2 seconds.
The book I'm reading now is Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell. It's an economics book for the everyday person. No graphs or charts. Just good information in 'normal people terminology'. In the first chapter, Sowell is talking about a price-coordinated economy and how scarce resources determine what you buy and how much you pay. The definiition of economics is "the study of the use of resources that have alternative uses." This one paragraph really hit me so I thought I would post it (from page 15):
The book I'm reading now is Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell. It's an economics book for the everyday person. No graphs or charts. Just good information in 'normal people terminology'. In the first chapter, Sowell is talking about a price-coordinated economy and how scarce resources determine what you buy and how much you pay. The definiition of economics is "the study of the use of resources that have alternative uses." This one paragraph really hit me so I thought I would post it (from page 15):
In a price-coordinated economy, emplyees and creditors insist on being paid,
regardless of whether the managers and owners have made mistakes. This means
that businesses can make only so many mistakes for so long before they have to
either stop or get stopped - whether by an inability to get the labor and
supplies they need or by bankruptcy. In a feudal economy or a socialist economy,
leaders can continue to make the same mistakes indefinitely. The consequences
are paid by others in the form of a standard of living lower than it would be if
there were greater efficiency in the use of scarce resources.
He goes on to give examples of the former Soviet Union and other countries that were socialist or communist and have moved to a freer economy (or vice-versa). It interesting because today I was reading another website mouseprint.org today. It's a consumer website devoted to helping you keep from getting screwed. The link takes you to a particular post about Circuit City which just filed bankruptcy. Their line in the post is great..."I guess when you are in bankruptcy you can’t count on suppliers to fulfill orders for advertised items when the retailer already owes them a ton of money. " It's so true in a free economy. Makes you rethink all the bailouts we have had in the past two months huh.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Galatians....Salvation thru faith alone
Galatians is a great book to read to get a better understanding of “salvation is thru faith alone” and not thru works. In the letter, Paul is addressing a community of believers he founded. It looks like he was going thru the area, fell sick, they took care of him, and he ministered to their souls (4:12-20). Apparently some “Jewish Christians” have come to the Galatian community after Paul. They have denounced Paul as an apostle, and they have said that Paul is right that Jesus is the messiah but to be a son of Abraham and be saved, you must be circumcised. Besides the truth of salvation by faith alone, this book is also a good study for the argument of free will or election. There are others that can go better into that argument, but it can be made here also.
Let me start with the free will/election problem. To do this we have to go all the way back to the beginning of humans. In the beginning there was Adam and Eve. They were in paradise, everything was provided for them, and their biggest challenge is whether to eat carrots or potatoes today (yes I know there probably were not bananas or potatoes there, but it really doesn’t matter for this story). Eve is out one day doing her Eve-like thing and the snake comes up and deceives her. Where was Adam? He was right beside her. He didn’t stop Eve from eating the apple. He even took it from her to eat of it. I wonder if he started singing the song by Dierks Bentley after that. What Was I Thinking.
Why did God not come in and stop them from eating the fruit? Or why didn’t God tell Adam the day before “Hey Adam…tomorrow the serpent is going to be talking to your girl and is going to start messing with her mind. You need to be there to pull her to the side and tell her what’s going on.” But God didn’t. Why?
I’m actually jumping ahead in the Galatians study to chapter 3 but that’s ok. You see, God knew what was going to happen. He knew Eve and Adam would fail. But he didn’t tell them because if he did, their acceptance and our acceptance of his love and grace would not be genuine and authentic. You see, I don’t think anyone can make a good decision unless they have all the facts and know both sides. All of history thru Abraham and Moses, from the Law to grace of Jesus had to happen so we could make an informed decision (see Galatians 3:19-4:31). The Law was added when Moses was around to show us what has happened (that is, what we have done wrong), and what was to come. The Law was our guardian (Chapter 4) to keep us in line until we became mature enough to understand the end game. The gift (salvation) was given by God to Abraham and to his offspring Jesus. We became heirs Abraham and we get the benefit of that inheritance by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. By accepting the truth of Jesus (instead of looking for circumcision) you receive the Spirit and become children of the true Jerusalem (Heaven) from above.
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Throughout this book, Paul has to assert he is an apostle just like the other 12. He was called by God, shown the truth, and given a commission to go and share the Word with gentiles. He jumps right in the face of the Galatian believers right off the bat….”You are confused and want to follow a perverted gospel….anyone that gives you a different gospel than the one we gave you will be accursed (and he says that twice to make sure they got it)”. Paul was an apostle because of authority of JC and God the Father (1:1-3); he was made an apostle by the revelation of JC (1:11-12); he was an apostle because God set him apart from birth.
This last one is significant. Remember what I wrote at the beginning of this post. We cannot fully accept the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ unless we know the whole story (where is Paul Harvey when I need him). So Paul, who is a very zealous Pharisee, probably knew the Law inside and out, persecuted the church because THEY were perverting the word of God. He knew where he came from. He knew the past. The present is his salvation thru Jesus Christ. And the future (or where he is going) is his journey to perfection and eventually heaven because of the faith of Jesus Christ and his acceptance of Jesus.
That jumps us up to chapter 2 starting at vs 15. Jews and Gentiles are both saved by faith. The question we can ask ourselves, is it faith in Jesus or faith of Jesus. It’s a subtle difference but one that is important. The funny thing is it can be both at once. Here is what I mean. I believe it is the faith OF Jesus that saves us. Our belief in Jesus as our Lord and savior makes us heirs of the promise. In addition to that, it is Jesus’ faith (in us, in the truth, in himself, in God the father) that gives us this promise. So in 2:15-21 Paul says we are justified by the faith of Jesus and not works because no one can be justified by works. And I now live in the flesh (and all the sinning and crap that comes with that) but I live knowing that I am justified by faith of the Son of God.
Here is the kicker for the of/in debate. Paul asks in vs 17, if we are saved (justified) and still sin, isn’t Jesus a servant of sin. To put it another way, if we are justified by the faith of Jesus, and we are found to be sinners, isn’t Jesus just a peddler of sin then? If he is so perfect, and it’s his faith that justifies us, doesn’t that mean it’s him that put the sin in us? The answer is a resounding NO. The Law showed me my sin, I am still a sinner, but Christ is perfect and it is his perfection and faith that allows me to have salvation even though I am a sinner. My sinning crappy terrible self has died to the Law and now because of that I don’t live. Christ lives within me and he carries me thru the pain and suffering of sin. The life I live now in this flesh (this is vs 20) I live because of the faith of Jesus. The Law exposes my sin to me and to the world, but that doesn’t give me justification. And with the Law exposing my sin (and proving me a sinner), that doesn’t invalidate the grace given to me because if the Law did justify me, Christ would have died for nothing.
Galatians 3:12…you either live by faith or you live to your works. 3:10 shows us that if you are a follower of the Law and don’t obey the Law fully, you are cursed (lost). You must choose either the Law or faith, and it can’t be both. If you close the Law you are lost because no-one can follow every single law. Choose faith and you are righteous (saved). If you have faith and are righteous you are a descendent of Abraham (3:7). Decedents of Abraham get his blessing of redemption. Christ died and was hung on a tree and he absorbed the curse that comes with the Law so we are FREE TO CHOOSE TO RECEIVE the promise of the Spirit. Starting at 3:15, the inheritance we get comes thru the promise made to Abraham down to Jesus. The promise comes to Abraham and to us because of faith.
So to finish out chapter 3 and go into chapter 4, let’s ask the question “what is the purpose of the law?” So far we have downgraded the law to some backwoods hillbilly that has not moved thru evolution yet. Paul’s purpose is to show that the Law had a temporary role that ended with the appearance of Christ. It was never intended to give life or to justify; otherwise, there would have been no need for Christ to die for our sins. (from my study bible notes) Vs 21…is the law opposed to the promises of God? Remember the promises are faith and righteousness and salvation. Before faith came (that is before Jesus came around) we were imprisoned under the law. Basically since we know right from wrong and we fail to do right every time, we break the law all the time. If we break the law we cannot be saved. By breaking the law all the time, we cannot be saved ever under the law. Vs 25…but now Christ has come into the picture. Faith has come and in that faith those of us who believe Jesus and trust him to be our Lord and savior are now children of God thru that faith. To show we are heirs to the promise, we get baptized. Baptism is our sign of holy adoption into the family of believers so instead of a blood family of people with similar dna, we are a spiritual family, part of Abraham’s offspring, and heirs in the promise. Since we become a member of the family, we receive the Spirit into our lives.
The Spirit is our possessor or keeper and he is here to show us the way. That’s what Paul gets into in chapter 4. We were minors not knowing the truth and probably not able to handle the truth. So the Law was put into place to keep us in line. God sent his son Jesus to be born under this law that keeps us down, he fulfills the law perfectly, and dies to the law so we can be adopted as heirs to the promise outside the law.
Starting at 4:8, Paul talks about elemental spirits. At first I thought he might mean false prophets or false teachers (kind of like Benny Hinn today). But in Hellenistic view, there were demonic elements that worked within the individual and cosmos (think astrology) to control human destiny. Magic, prayers, rituals (observing special days and years in 4:10) and laws were used to keep them at bay. Paul says that the Galatians are circumcising themselves as a way to be protected from the elements (even angels). To finish up chapter 4, Paul gives an allegory of Hagar and Sarah. In the end he is saying we must reject trying to please God by relying on the Law.
Live by the Spirit, Paul says in 5:16. Gratifying the flesh is against the Spirit. Here is what the Jews would say and what unbelievers would say…..”we have the Law. That tells us what to, when to do it, and as long as we follow the recipe prescribed out before us, we have it made.” The Jews say that because that’s the way it’s always been and that’s what they were taught from birth. The unbeliever says that they want something concrete in their life to make it. Unbelievers want to go to heaven also (most do). These people do want to have steps for what they can do get salvation. We are a society of independent people. So the question they ask is what can I do to be saved? The answer they get back is “do this and this and this and be circumcised and you made it”.
But Paul says to live by the Spirit. In vs 18 if you are living by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. What that means is you still do right but you don’t try to get your salvation by following the law. Paul says in vvs 13-15 that thru love you must become slaves to one another and the WHOLE law is summed up in the single commandment of “love your neighbor as yourself.”
But if you are not led by the Spirit, you are searching out to do works of the flesh. Here are some things you will do (vs 19-21) fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, and carousing. I love the way The Message paraphrase bible puts this: 19 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; 20 trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; 21 the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community.
He then contrasts those works of the flesh with the fruits of the Spirit. Mmmm fruit. Sweet, natural, healthy. There is no law against these things. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Message puts it this way: 22 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, 23 not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Therefore we do not compare ourselves with others, don’t envy what others have. We are guided by the Spirit and everything connected with the ways of the flesh above are killed off (or crucified).
Then starting in chapter 6, Paul says something interesting. “If anyone has transgressed (read that as backsliding, sinning, failing, falling, or in other words not acting in a way that shows you to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’) then you who are Spirit-filled must love them back to health. Take care that you are not tempted. I like that line. For example, you who have turned your back from drugs and have are now free…don’t go down and hang around your old dealer and addict friends to see how they are doing. If you on the other hand fall back into that lifestyle, your Christian friends should come along side you and lift you up to health again.
Bear one another’s burdens because that’s what Christ did. I will dig deeper in that in one minute. Help others, but you must test your own work. Work as if you are working for God and not for men. So those who can’t, will have help and those that can will help on top of doing a good job with their own work. So back to Christ. Christ in his perfect life/death/resurrection showed that his love fulfilled the Law. He gave himself up for others by embracing the love commandment.
When I began this post, I stated that yes Galatians is a book showing salvation is by faith alone. In Paul’s closing (and in mine), his focus is on circumcision. He states it right…”Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything. But a new creation is everything”. Reference that to 2 Corinthians 5:17. Before the Spirit you were doing the works of the flesh. Now after the Spirit (no mention of circumcision here) you are exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit. And then a reference back to the “Jerusalem from above” he says as for those who follow this rule…those who are believers, love their neighbors as themselves, and exhibit the fruits of the Spirit….peace be upon you, mercy upon you, and upon the true Israel.
One last mention of his authority, Paul says that he bears the marks of Jesus branded on his body. That could be the persecution he received as a believer from unbelievers and Jews. Here is him saying, “I am an apostle. I imitate Jesus and you can imitate me”. So no one should make trouble for me. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Let me start with the free will/election problem. To do this we have to go all the way back to the beginning of humans. In the beginning there was Adam and Eve. They were in paradise, everything was provided for them, and their biggest challenge is whether to eat carrots or potatoes today (yes I know there probably were not bananas or potatoes there, but it really doesn’t matter for this story). Eve is out one day doing her Eve-like thing and the snake comes up and deceives her. Where was Adam? He was right beside her. He didn’t stop Eve from eating the apple. He even took it from her to eat of it. I wonder if he started singing the song by Dierks Bentley after that. What Was I Thinking.
Why did God not come in and stop them from eating the fruit? Or why didn’t God tell Adam the day before “Hey Adam…tomorrow the serpent is going to be talking to your girl and is going to start messing with her mind. You need to be there to pull her to the side and tell her what’s going on.” But God didn’t. Why?
I’m actually jumping ahead in the Galatians study to chapter 3 but that’s ok. You see, God knew what was going to happen. He knew Eve and Adam would fail. But he didn’t tell them because if he did, their acceptance and our acceptance of his love and grace would not be genuine and authentic. You see, I don’t think anyone can make a good decision unless they have all the facts and know both sides. All of history thru Abraham and Moses, from the Law to grace of Jesus had to happen so we could make an informed decision (see Galatians 3:19-4:31). The Law was added when Moses was around to show us what has happened (that is, what we have done wrong), and what was to come. The Law was our guardian (Chapter 4) to keep us in line until we became mature enough to understand the end game. The gift (salvation) was given by God to Abraham and to his offspring Jesus. We became heirs Abraham and we get the benefit of that inheritance by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. By accepting the truth of Jesus (instead of looking for circumcision) you receive the Spirit and become children of the true Jerusalem (Heaven) from above.
****************************************
Throughout this book, Paul has to assert he is an apostle just like the other 12. He was called by God, shown the truth, and given a commission to go and share the Word with gentiles. He jumps right in the face of the Galatian believers right off the bat….”You are confused and want to follow a perverted gospel….anyone that gives you a different gospel than the one we gave you will be accursed (and he says that twice to make sure they got it)”. Paul was an apostle because of authority of JC and God the Father (1:1-3); he was made an apostle by the revelation of JC (1:11-12); he was an apostle because God set him apart from birth.
This last one is significant. Remember what I wrote at the beginning of this post. We cannot fully accept the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ unless we know the whole story (where is Paul Harvey when I need him). So Paul, who is a very zealous Pharisee, probably knew the Law inside and out, persecuted the church because THEY were perverting the word of God. He knew where he came from. He knew the past. The present is his salvation thru Jesus Christ. And the future (or where he is going) is his journey to perfection and eventually heaven because of the faith of Jesus Christ and his acceptance of Jesus.
That jumps us up to chapter 2 starting at vs 15. Jews and Gentiles are both saved by faith. The question we can ask ourselves, is it faith in Jesus or faith of Jesus. It’s a subtle difference but one that is important. The funny thing is it can be both at once. Here is what I mean. I believe it is the faith OF Jesus that saves us. Our belief in Jesus as our Lord and savior makes us heirs of the promise. In addition to that, it is Jesus’ faith (in us, in the truth, in himself, in God the father) that gives us this promise. So in 2:15-21 Paul says we are justified by the faith of Jesus and not works because no one can be justified by works. And I now live in the flesh (and all the sinning and crap that comes with that) but I live knowing that I am justified by faith of the Son of God.
Here is the kicker for the of/in debate. Paul asks in vs 17, if we are saved (justified) and still sin, isn’t Jesus a servant of sin. To put it another way, if we are justified by the faith of Jesus, and we are found to be sinners, isn’t Jesus just a peddler of sin then? If he is so perfect, and it’s his faith that justifies us, doesn’t that mean it’s him that put the sin in us? The answer is a resounding NO. The Law showed me my sin, I am still a sinner, but Christ is perfect and it is his perfection and faith that allows me to have salvation even though I am a sinner. My sinning crappy terrible self has died to the Law and now because of that I don’t live. Christ lives within me and he carries me thru the pain and suffering of sin. The life I live now in this flesh (this is vs 20) I live because of the faith of Jesus. The Law exposes my sin to me and to the world, but that doesn’t give me justification. And with the Law exposing my sin (and proving me a sinner), that doesn’t invalidate the grace given to me because if the Law did justify me, Christ would have died for nothing.
Galatians 3:12…you either live by faith or you live to your works. 3:10 shows us that if you are a follower of the Law and don’t obey the Law fully, you are cursed (lost). You must choose either the Law or faith, and it can’t be both. If you close the Law you are lost because no-one can follow every single law. Choose faith and you are righteous (saved). If you have faith and are righteous you are a descendent of Abraham (3:7). Decedents of Abraham get his blessing of redemption. Christ died and was hung on a tree and he absorbed the curse that comes with the Law so we are FREE TO CHOOSE TO RECEIVE the promise of the Spirit. Starting at 3:15, the inheritance we get comes thru the promise made to Abraham down to Jesus. The promise comes to Abraham and to us because of faith.
So to finish out chapter 3 and go into chapter 4, let’s ask the question “what is the purpose of the law?” So far we have downgraded the law to some backwoods hillbilly that has not moved thru evolution yet. Paul’s purpose is to show that the Law had a temporary role that ended with the appearance of Christ. It was never intended to give life or to justify; otherwise, there would have been no need for Christ to die for our sins. (from my study bible notes) Vs 21…is the law opposed to the promises of God? Remember the promises are faith and righteousness and salvation. Before faith came (that is before Jesus came around) we were imprisoned under the law. Basically since we know right from wrong and we fail to do right every time, we break the law all the time. If we break the law we cannot be saved. By breaking the law all the time, we cannot be saved ever under the law. Vs 25…but now Christ has come into the picture. Faith has come and in that faith those of us who believe Jesus and trust him to be our Lord and savior are now children of God thru that faith. To show we are heirs to the promise, we get baptized. Baptism is our sign of holy adoption into the family of believers so instead of a blood family of people with similar dna, we are a spiritual family, part of Abraham’s offspring, and heirs in the promise. Since we become a member of the family, we receive the Spirit into our lives.
The Spirit is our possessor or keeper and he is here to show us the way. That’s what Paul gets into in chapter 4. We were minors not knowing the truth and probably not able to handle the truth. So the Law was put into place to keep us in line. God sent his son Jesus to be born under this law that keeps us down, he fulfills the law perfectly, and dies to the law so we can be adopted as heirs to the promise outside the law.
Starting at 4:8, Paul talks about elemental spirits. At first I thought he might mean false prophets or false teachers (kind of like Benny Hinn today). But in Hellenistic view, there were demonic elements that worked within the individual and cosmos (think astrology) to control human destiny. Magic, prayers, rituals (observing special days and years in 4:10) and laws were used to keep them at bay. Paul says that the Galatians are circumcising themselves as a way to be protected from the elements (even angels). To finish up chapter 4, Paul gives an allegory of Hagar and Sarah. In the end he is saying we must reject trying to please God by relying on the Law.
Live by the Spirit, Paul says in 5:16. Gratifying the flesh is against the Spirit. Here is what the Jews would say and what unbelievers would say…..”we have the Law. That tells us what to, when to do it, and as long as we follow the recipe prescribed out before us, we have it made.” The Jews say that because that’s the way it’s always been and that’s what they were taught from birth. The unbeliever says that they want something concrete in their life to make it. Unbelievers want to go to heaven also (most do). These people do want to have steps for what they can do get salvation. We are a society of independent people. So the question they ask is what can I do to be saved? The answer they get back is “do this and this and this and be circumcised and you made it”.
But Paul says to live by the Spirit. In vs 18 if you are living by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. What that means is you still do right but you don’t try to get your salvation by following the law. Paul says in vvs 13-15 that thru love you must become slaves to one another and the WHOLE law is summed up in the single commandment of “love your neighbor as yourself.”
But if you are not led by the Spirit, you are searching out to do works of the flesh. Here are some things you will do (vs 19-21) fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, and carousing. I love the way The Message paraphrase bible puts this: 19 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; 20 trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; 21 the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community.
He then contrasts those works of the flesh with the fruits of the Spirit. Mmmm fruit. Sweet, natural, healthy. There is no law against these things. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Message puts it this way: 22 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, 23 not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Therefore we do not compare ourselves with others, don’t envy what others have. We are guided by the Spirit and everything connected with the ways of the flesh above are killed off (or crucified).
Then starting in chapter 6, Paul says something interesting. “If anyone has transgressed (read that as backsliding, sinning, failing, falling, or in other words not acting in a way that shows you to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’) then you who are Spirit-filled must love them back to health. Take care that you are not tempted. I like that line. For example, you who have turned your back from drugs and have are now free…don’t go down and hang around your old dealer and addict friends to see how they are doing. If you on the other hand fall back into that lifestyle, your Christian friends should come along side you and lift you up to health again.
Bear one another’s burdens because that’s what Christ did. I will dig deeper in that in one minute. Help others, but you must test your own work. Work as if you are working for God and not for men. So those who can’t, will have help and those that can will help on top of doing a good job with their own work. So back to Christ. Christ in his perfect life/death/resurrection showed that his love fulfilled the Law. He gave himself up for others by embracing the love commandment.
When I began this post, I stated that yes Galatians is a book showing salvation is by faith alone. In Paul’s closing (and in mine), his focus is on circumcision. He states it right…”Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything. But a new creation is everything”. Reference that to 2 Corinthians 5:17. Before the Spirit you were doing the works of the flesh. Now after the Spirit (no mention of circumcision here) you are exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit. And then a reference back to the “Jerusalem from above” he says as for those who follow this rule…those who are believers, love their neighbors as themselves, and exhibit the fruits of the Spirit….peace be upon you, mercy upon you, and upon the true Israel.
One last mention of his authority, Paul says that he bears the marks of Jesus branded on his body. That could be the persecution he received as a believer from unbelievers and Jews. Here is him saying, “I am an apostle. I imitate Jesus and you can imitate me”. So no one should make trouble for me. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
sex and preaching
Ed young @ Fellowship Church of Dallas is doing a series of sermons about sex. He has tasked his married congregation couples to have sex EVERY DAY for seven days. Check out http://www.edyoung.com/. Now I love the fact that he has the 'cahonies' to do a sermon like this. The bible is a love story. And it gives us a prescription of what marriage and in that marriage what sex should look like.
What is sad is how unbelievers don't understand what a biblical marriage looks like. Check out this CNN video (LINK). She tells Ed "well it's rape if a man tells his wife that his pastor said they have to have sex." It's thinking like this that made people misinterpret the word "submit". I'm sure the CNN rep will not watch the sermon, but I pray she will so she can understand exactly what God is looking for in marriage and sex.
What is sad is how unbelievers don't understand what a biblical marriage looks like. Check out this CNN video (LINK). She tells Ed "well it's rape if a man tells his wife that his pastor said they have to have sex." It's thinking like this that made people misinterpret the word "submit". I'm sure the CNN rep will not watch the sermon, but I pray she will so she can understand exactly what God is looking for in marriage and sex.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Our Tax System Explained: Bar Stool Economics
Our Tax System Explained: Bar Stool Economics
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.' Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers?
How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!''Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I got' 'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!''Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.Professor of EconomicsUniversity of Georgia
For those who understand, no explanation is needed.For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.' Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers?
How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!''Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I got' 'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!''Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.Professor of EconomicsUniversity of Georgia
For those who understand, no explanation is needed.For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
What is love in marriage?
In Rescued by the Cross by Ken Freeman, he says that the main issues in marriage are problems in communication, sex, or money. AND if there is a problem in one, it will flow over and affect the other two. I ask "what is love?" not because love will always fix a relationship (everyone sing with me..."all we need is love, love, love"). I as "what is love?" because so many people want to define love by their standards. The problem with that is the world's standards constantly change with the wind.
So let's look at it from God's viewpoint. 1 Corinthians 13 is the 1st place many people will go to see love... Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. (The Message)
I remember "Everybody Loves Raymond where Raymond recorded everything his wife said that he didn't agree with. Then when everything went wrong he played it back to her to make a point. He was right. The problem was he didn't need to be right. Somestime you need to be quiet. Love Isn't always "me first" and doesn't keep score of sins of others. Have you ever been around someone who remembers when you failed? You ask them to do something, they don't do it exactly how you wanted, and you make sure and tell them how they failed you.
Love Always looks for the best, never looks back, and keeps going to the end. If you always look for the best in the person you love, you will not look for their faults. Their gifts will rise to the top. Brandy has a strong gift of discernment. She can look at other people thru God's eyeglasses it seems at times and knows what's in their hearts. Love never looks back. In other words, you don't keep bringing up things the other person has done in the past. Love keeps going until the end. If you have done everything before this, then you will keep going until the end. Love has no temporary option as long as you feel like it. Love is for eternity.
At the end of Genesis 2, God made Eve...the beauty. Therefore a man leaves his mother and father and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. There is no "other person". They are one. Therefore, decisions are made together. Life is lived together. Their desire is to always be together.
Have you ever heard the phrase "Don't go to sleep angry"? Read Provers 15:17 "Better a breadcrust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate". Wow what a statement. If you are down to nothing in your life and the only thing you have to eat is simple breadcrumbs, you should share that in love.
Read the whole book of Song of Solomon. This is a love story between Solomon (the wisest person in the OT) and his new bride. It's a very detailed sexy letter. Sex is ok to say. It doesn't hurt. I promise. Solomon says he will make love to his wife until the day breaks and the shadows flee...that's all night long.
The Greek language has 3 words for love. eros, philia, and agape. Agape is active, determined, and a gracious interest in anothers true welfare, not deterred even by hatred, not limited by results (what do I get out of this), does not retaliate, seeks no reward, and is not censorious. It is based on the nature of God. Philia based love is brotherly love. Yeah Philadelphia. It is about warm affection or being a friend. Eros is the hot passionate devotion. This includes the romatic or physical type love. Agape is what we find in 1 Corinthians. It is the same love from God to his people. Agape is the "foundation for all committed relationships, in marriage, friendship, church, and family. Agape is the reason Jesus laid down his life for our sins.
So what do you take away from all this? How does this affect you? Well....do you have the kind of love you should for your spouse? Is the foundation there? Your relationship is based on the rock of Jesus and the love he has shown to us. Your life together is not a short term project to see how it goes. Marriage has a foundation of agape love with the house built on top of it. I said before that problems in marriage are on communication, sex, or money. Eros is the passionate sex and that can be a problem. If you communication does not have that love foundation, it will be the problem. And if you have a love of money (or problem with money), that will be your problem. Who you love is who you will focus on. Your spouse is your focus and your devotion. Love him or her.
So let's look at it from God's viewpoint. 1 Corinthians 13 is the 1st place many people will go to see love... Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. (The Message)
I remember "Everybody Loves Raymond where Raymond recorded everything his wife said that he didn't agree with. Then when everything went wrong he played it back to her to make a point. He was right. The problem was he didn't need to be right. Somestime you need to be quiet. Love Isn't always "me first" and doesn't keep score of sins of others. Have you ever been around someone who remembers when you failed? You ask them to do something, they don't do it exactly how you wanted, and you make sure and tell them how they failed you.
Love Always looks for the best, never looks back, and keeps going to the end. If you always look for the best in the person you love, you will not look for their faults. Their gifts will rise to the top. Brandy has a strong gift of discernment. She can look at other people thru God's eyeglasses it seems at times and knows what's in their hearts. Love never looks back. In other words, you don't keep bringing up things the other person has done in the past. Love keeps going until the end. If you have done everything before this, then you will keep going until the end. Love has no temporary option as long as you feel like it. Love is for eternity.
At the end of Genesis 2, God made Eve...the beauty. Therefore a man leaves his mother and father and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. There is no "other person". They are one. Therefore, decisions are made together. Life is lived together. Their desire is to always be together.
Have you ever heard the phrase "Don't go to sleep angry"? Read Provers 15:17 "Better a breadcrust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate". Wow what a statement. If you are down to nothing in your life and the only thing you have to eat is simple breadcrumbs, you should share that in love.
Read the whole book of Song of Solomon. This is a love story between Solomon (the wisest person in the OT) and his new bride. It's a very detailed sexy letter. Sex is ok to say. It doesn't hurt. I promise. Solomon says he will make love to his wife until the day breaks and the shadows flee...that's all night long.
The Greek language has 3 words for love. eros, philia, and agape. Agape is active, determined, and a gracious interest in anothers true welfare, not deterred even by hatred, not limited by results (what do I get out of this), does not retaliate, seeks no reward, and is not censorious. It is based on the nature of God. Philia based love is brotherly love. Yeah Philadelphia. It is about warm affection or being a friend. Eros is the hot passionate devotion. This includes the romatic or physical type love. Agape is what we find in 1 Corinthians. It is the same love from God to his people. Agape is the "foundation for all committed relationships, in marriage, friendship, church, and family. Agape is the reason Jesus laid down his life for our sins.
So what do you take away from all this? How does this affect you? Well....do you have the kind of love you should for your spouse? Is the foundation there? Your relationship is based on the rock of Jesus and the love he has shown to us. Your life together is not a short term project to see how it goes. Marriage has a foundation of agape love with the house built on top of it. I said before that problems in marriage are on communication, sex, or money. Eros is the passionate sex and that can be a problem. If you communication does not have that love foundation, it will be the problem. And if you have a love of money (or problem with money), that will be your problem. Who you love is who you will focus on. Your spouse is your focus and your devotion. Love him or her.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Church planting
What does a church planter look like? It's interesting to read different ideas on church planting. From a house church to store front, buying an old church, starting something in a coffee shop-book store-etc. Most people don't know that many churches start in a house (or garage). Just a small group of similar minded folks wanting to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Maybe to start a church you just need a Big Ego. Check out the story from the United Methodists Reporter paper. A portion of the story is below:
Maybe to start a church you just need a Big Ego. Check out the story from the United Methodists Reporter paper. A portion of the story is below:
When searching for pastors to start new congregations, conventional wisdom is perhaps best kicked to the curb. According to a Congregational Development Think Tank convened by United Methodist church leaders, the best candidates for church planters are people who are perceived as troublemakers, egotistical, nonconformist and don’t like to spend time in their offices. ..........The church planter must be an entrepreneurial pastor who is creative and has a passion for reaching out to the unchurched, think tank participants agreed. They must also be “out-of-the box” thinkers who are passionate, creative and high-energy personalities.
Pretty cool idea huh. It breaks the mold of what many church type people believe. I especially like the part of LAY PEOPLE starting the church. Read the story and see what you believe. Have a blessed day.
-Pastor Sean
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The New Church
I've been thinking more seminary and church and the people and how it all relates. People have been asking me when I am going to go back to school (when I pay down or off my student loans). People ask when I will become a pastor again (when God leads me there). I know we will never go back to the Methodist church.
I've been Methodist most all my Christian life. I had never really experienced anything different. When people ask me why I was Methodist over another denomination or non-denomination, I would give them the analogy of Albertson's Grocery. Albertson's makes almost all there stores look exactly the same. The reason is no matter where you are in the country, you can go into any Albertsons and know exactly where everything is. I've always been Methodist because the church has over 100 years of history I can look back on and know what they believe and why they believe it.
I think in some ways that history has hurt the Methodist church also. Many in the church are so stuck on honoring/keeping the past, they can't see themselves letting the church go into the future. In our last church, the organ player's mom taught him how to play so "there will always be an organ player at the church". Raise your hand if you listen to organ music outside the church. Is it on top 40 radio? Even Jadon Lavik who recorded a bunch of old hymns like Come thou Fount did it with modern instruments.
A good friend of mine has said that I should start a church. He is all for jumping in with me. We have a name for it and everything. I've thought about starting a new church....maybe even one online. Everytime I think about starting a B&M church, I think about people from That Church. The church would be great if people didn't screw it up so much :o). Every move we have made in the past 2 years has been a good move. From Sardis (great biblical name for a church), to Crossroads Bible (good church), to now Hillside Community. When I was a pastor, I was the pastor I've always wanted. Now Pete is definitely the pastor I want.
But what about starting a new church. What would it look like? If we are all priest, why shouldn't we all preach? Have you ever sat in church and thought "I could definately preach. Most people have. I have said more than once, most people have 1 good sermon in them. Unfortunately most don't stop at that 1 :o).
But seriously, I could start my online church. On the front page a top 10 list (thanks to Letterman) of what we believe and why we believe it. 1. Lost people matter to God. 2. Christians should grow. 3. The only way to God is faith in Jesus Christ. 4. We teach from the bible ....etc, etc.
Send me a video of your teaching and a transcript of it. I will upload it to youtube or one of the other sites, tag it, post it on the church site with the transcript (because I HATE sites with video and no transcript expecially news sites). We will have new postings up front, but just like any web 2.0 site the community will Amen the sermons that are the best and those will float to the top (think of Digg.com). the site will have a little overhead for the hosting and such, but with no B&M cost, these will be minimum.
Donations after cost will be sent to missionaries, non-profit groups, etc. The site has a large enough congregation, people can post needing help in a specific area (porch building, house painting, electricity paying, etc), people in that area can help out. Don't know a good church in North Dallas? another visitor does. Wondering how to get involved with the homeless in Memphis? Another visitor in California has been doing it for years and will tell you what to do to get started.
Now church has stopped being one-way communication of the pastor preaching, to the community worshiping. Did you ever want to respond to the pastor after a sermon. You can do that at this church as long as you do it with gentleness and respect.
When I was preaching, I taught transformation and movement. The Word of God will transform your life. If you are not transformed you are not growing. and movement in that you need to get off your butt and go out into the world. We are not in the world but of the world. That is, your home is in another place. Your heart is yearning for that place. But God has you hear right now to do his work and will. You can't lock yourselves behind church doors and tell everyone they have to come to you.
Last week the preacher asked how many of those flyers for churches have you gotten saying "come visit us, we are nice. we are a family church". How many did you visit? But if you see a church DOING for others (not just their own) then would you go visit them and see what they are all about?
What do you think? Should we (the web community) start a church?? I'll let you wear whatever you want to church.
I've been Methodist most all my Christian life. I had never really experienced anything different. When people ask me why I was Methodist over another denomination or non-denomination, I would give them the analogy of Albertson's Grocery. Albertson's makes almost all there stores look exactly the same. The reason is no matter where you are in the country, you can go into any Albertsons and know exactly where everything is. I've always been Methodist because the church has over 100 years of history I can look back on and know what they believe and why they believe it.
I think in some ways that history has hurt the Methodist church also. Many in the church are so stuck on honoring/keeping the past, they can't see themselves letting the church go into the future. In our last church, the organ player's mom taught him how to play so "there will always be an organ player at the church". Raise your hand if you listen to organ music outside the church. Is it on top 40 radio? Even Jadon Lavik who recorded a bunch of old hymns like Come thou Fount did it with modern instruments.
A good friend of mine has said that I should start a church. He is all for jumping in with me. We have a name for it and everything. I've thought about starting a new church....maybe even one online. Everytime I think about starting a B&M church, I think about people from That Church. The church would be great if people didn't screw it up so much :o). Every move we have made in the past 2 years has been a good move. From Sardis (great biblical name for a church), to Crossroads Bible (good church), to now Hillside Community. When I was a pastor, I was the pastor I've always wanted. Now Pete is definitely the pastor I want.
But what about starting a new church. What would it look like? If we are all priest, why shouldn't we all preach? Have you ever sat in church and thought "I could definately preach. Most people have. I have said more than once, most people have 1 good sermon in them. Unfortunately most don't stop at that 1 :o).
But seriously, I could start my online church. On the front page a top 10 list (thanks to Letterman) of what we believe and why we believe it. 1. Lost people matter to God. 2. Christians should grow. 3. The only way to God is faith in Jesus Christ. 4. We teach from the bible ....etc, etc.
Send me a video of your teaching and a transcript of it. I will upload it to youtube or one of the other sites, tag it, post it on the church site with the transcript (because I HATE sites with video and no transcript expecially news sites). We will have new postings up front, but just like any web 2.0 site the community will Amen the sermons that are the best and those will float to the top (think of Digg.com). the site will have a little overhead for the hosting and such, but with no B&M cost, these will be minimum.
Donations after cost will be sent to missionaries, non-profit groups, etc. The site has a large enough congregation, people can post needing help in a specific area (porch building, house painting, electricity paying, etc), people in that area can help out. Don't know a good church in North Dallas? another visitor does. Wondering how to get involved with the homeless in Memphis? Another visitor in California has been doing it for years and will tell you what to do to get started.
Now church has stopped being one-way communication of the pastor preaching, to the community worshiping. Did you ever want to respond to the pastor after a sermon. You can do that at this church as long as you do it with gentleness and respect.
When I was preaching, I taught transformation and movement. The Word of God will transform your life. If you are not transformed you are not growing. and movement in that you need to get off your butt and go out into the world. We are not in the world but of the world. That is, your home is in another place. Your heart is yearning for that place. But God has you hear right now to do his work and will. You can't lock yourselves behind church doors and tell everyone they have to come to you.
Last week the preacher asked how many of those flyers for churches have you gotten saying "come visit us, we are nice. we are a family church". How many did you visit? But if you see a church DOING for others (not just their own) then would you go visit them and see what they are all about?
What do you think? Should we (the web community) start a church?? I'll let you wear whatever you want to church.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
What is Sex?
sex
What is sex? What is sex in the Christian context? I heard a radio show on the seminars for Song of Solomon ministries. From what I heard it sounds like a great conference. The book in the bible is a very erotic book, but actually blessed by God (see chapter 5). That got me to thinking about sex in life today. Most men think about sex pretty much every minute of every day. Most women don't. Men are very visual (thank you Victoria's Secret and Fredericks of Hollywood) and physical. Most women are very emotional. A couple can sit down and watch a somewhat romantic movie or a drama with a scene of some sort of lovemaking and the woman can be turned on. The man isn't. But the wife gets into any kind of lingerie and the husband will be turned on. If the wife will physically touch her man throughout the day, he will be turned on. I think the turned on part is knowing his wife is wanting to be intimate. Most men want sex more than their wives (I say most, not all). Most women don't think they are sexy. How do you take all of this, wrap it in a neat little marriage box, and make everyone's fantasy and dreams come true? Where is the plane to fantasy island when you need it?The first thing is communication. Good communication will keep most problems from happening. Did you know that if you tell your husband how you like to be touched during intimate times, he will touch you like that? Did you know that if you tell your wife you would like her to wear lingerie she will? If you have a fantasy or something new you want to try, you have to tell your spouse. And if you don't like the way they do something, you have to tell them. Personal space and time is definately needed away from your spouse. When Brandy I got married, every other weekend we would separate. She would go see her mom or family or I would go to my family's. The time away was a renewing time, and when we came back together it was the best of times. There was an email going around a few years ago; the truth about men. one of the items said "if you have to ask if it makes your butt big, your butt is just big." The last one was "yes I know I have to sleep on the couch because of this list, but men like that. it's like camping." Remember women, men love you for who you are. Whether you are big or small and in which parts of your body. We love you. Just love us back.
What is sex? What is sex in the Christian context? I heard a radio show on the seminars for Song of Solomon ministries. From what I heard it sounds like a great conference. The book in the bible is a very erotic book, but actually blessed by God (see chapter 5). That got me to thinking about sex in life today. Most men think about sex pretty much every minute of every day. Most women don't. Men are very visual (thank you Victoria's Secret and Fredericks of Hollywood) and physical. Most women are very emotional. A couple can sit down and watch a somewhat romantic movie or a drama with a scene of some sort of lovemaking and the woman can be turned on. The man isn't. But the wife gets into any kind of lingerie and the husband will be turned on. If the wife will physically touch her man throughout the day, he will be turned on. I think the turned on part is knowing his wife is wanting to be intimate. Most men want sex more than their wives (I say most, not all). Most women don't think they are sexy. How do you take all of this, wrap it in a neat little marriage box, and make everyone's fantasy and dreams come true? Where is the plane to fantasy island when you need it?The first thing is communication. Good communication will keep most problems from happening. Did you know that if you tell your husband how you like to be touched during intimate times, he will touch you like that? Did you know that if you tell your wife you would like her to wear lingerie she will? If you have a fantasy or something new you want to try, you have to tell your spouse. And if you don't like the way they do something, you have to tell them. Personal space and time is definately needed away from your spouse. When Brandy I got married, every other weekend we would separate. She would go see her mom or family or I would go to my family's. The time away was a renewing time, and when we came back together it was the best of times. There was an email going around a few years ago; the truth about men. one of the items said "if you have to ask if it makes your butt big, your butt is just big." The last one was "yes I know I have to sleep on the couch because of this list, but men like that. it's like camping." Remember women, men love you for who you are. Whether you are big or small and in which parts of your body. We love you. Just love us back.
Friday, March 21, 2008
God has blessed us
It's the little things that matter. At least that's what my grandma or mother (or someone) used to tell me when I was a kid. We are completely broke right now. What's new. but driving to work on Saturday last week, I won tickets to Six Flags and a Jeremey Camp concert on the radio. I think I have to ride the roller coasters by myself. God is good-all the time.
The good is it's the three of us going. The bad is it's just the three of us going. Julia asked 3-4 girls she knows if they wanted to go and no.... I really wish she had a good friend. I hope when we move we find one for her. she has acquantances. That's all well and good, but no one she can call. I thought one of the kids from our minichurch group was going to be a good fit. I'm still not sure. Pray that Julia (and Brandy both) find a good friend soon.
On another note, we watched License To Wed with Robin Williams last night. Hilarious movie. I recommend it to anyone especially married or about to get married couples. In the movie, the priest makes the couple take his marriage course. With everything that happens, he basically makes them get into a big fight and break up. That way they can see if marriage is really what they want.
I was talking to another pastor one day. In one of his pre-marriage counciling sessions he had an emergency and had to leave. On the spur of the moment, the last thing he said was "now think about this....look at the other person and realize marriage is long term and you will be with this person in 50 years." He said they broke off the marriage. They realized it was not a good idea. Since then he has used that line every time.
After the movie, Brandy and I started thinking about the time together before we got married. I can't remember much. just little snippets. I think that's the way it's supposed to be. If you focus on the past and can't move to the future together, you will will be strangled by it and not be able to move on together.
Don't let the past hurt your future life together. The time together is precious just like the time we have with God. Make the most of it. And always ride the roller coasters :o).
The good is it's the three of us going. The bad is it's just the three of us going. Julia asked 3-4 girls she knows if they wanted to go and no.... I really wish she had a good friend. I hope when we move we find one for her. she has acquantances. That's all well and good, but no one she can call. I thought one of the kids from our minichurch group was going to be a good fit. I'm still not sure. Pray that Julia (and Brandy both) find a good friend soon.
On another note, we watched License To Wed with Robin Williams last night. Hilarious movie. I recommend it to anyone especially married or about to get married couples. In the movie, the priest makes the couple take his marriage course. With everything that happens, he basically makes them get into a big fight and break up. That way they can see if marriage is really what they want.
I was talking to another pastor one day. In one of his pre-marriage counciling sessions he had an emergency and had to leave. On the spur of the moment, the last thing he said was "now think about this....look at the other person and realize marriage is long term and you will be with this person in 50 years." He said they broke off the marriage. They realized it was not a good idea. Since then he has used that line every time.
After the movie, Brandy and I started thinking about the time together before we got married. I can't remember much. just little snippets. I think that's the way it's supposed to be. If you focus on the past and can't move to the future together, you will will be strangled by it and not be able to move on together.
Don't let the past hurt your future life together. The time together is precious just like the time we have with God. Make the most of it. And always ride the roller coasters :o).
Monday, January 14, 2008
New Years Resolution and Prayer
What was your New Years Resolution this year??
At Sprint, they asked employees what their NYR were. Here are some of them: "This year I resolve to finish school, lose weight, and spend more time with my family and friends."
" I resolve to keep my house cleaner and more organized."
"To have clarity of mind and sound judgement in all decision making."
"To stay in better shape, and stop being such a nice guy." -Hopefully that last one was just mistyped.
I don't make NYR. I try to be better today than I was yesterday. Each day I live my life. But what do NYR acrually do? Well, maybe they get you focused. I will focus on my weight-exercise-family-friends-house-chores. Everything I didn't do last year as well as I wanted, I can "recommit" myself to doing this new year. When I started working at Dell so many years ago, I was skinny (so was Brandy). 6 years later when I changed jobs I was 60 lbs heavier. That's 10 lbs a year I gained by working at a desk job. During the 6 months I worked at Schwan's I lost a little over 10 lbs and gained some muscle. Now that I work at Sprint behind a desk, I'm going to have to commit myself to being more active. That could easily be a resolution, and I'll tell you why in just a little bit.
Why do so many people not fulfill their resolutions? Do you think the person at the top will keep her house cleaner? Do you think that other one will be in better shape? The best question to ask is what do their (and mine and yours) resolutions mean? What does a "cleaner house" than last year look like and what does "better shape" look like? I think that's why many people break their resolutions. Their is no substance to the resolutions; no definite goal (or end game) that can be quantified. Resolutions are so many times general, non-commital....pretty much useless. They make you feel good in the beginning, but nothing happens after the first few days or weeks. Sounds like "carbon offsets" that are popular right now. I'll keep driving my SUV and living in my 5000 sq ft house, etc, etc but to make everything all better I will buy some carbon-offets to make the world a better place.
I think prayer can be like resolutions for many people. If I say a prayer like Miss America gives a speach, I'll have done my duty and can go on to the next thing on my list.
OK.....if our prayers are quantity and not quality, what should they be like? We can look at scripture for the answer on this one.
Genesis 25:21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Old Testament specific prayers that are answered by God. Isaac prayed his wife would become pregnant and she did. Esra's people fasted and prayed and he answered. In the Psalms you can hear the emotion and passion in their prayers.
Ps 54:2 Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.
Ps 55:1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;
Ps 61:1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
People have said that the written word is powerful. When you talk, your words go out and may or maynot be heard again. When you write it down, it is permanent. But when you pray, your prayers go to the heart of God immediately. There is no middle man, no naughty or nice list that God reads later. Your prayers go straight to God.
No priviledge is greater than being able to call God "father" and knowing it is true. he is the greatest father and is available to talk to you at any time. As Alistair Begg has said "A prayerless Christian is a contradiction in that if our life is under the control of Christ's Spirit, we pray to the Father with delightful confidence."
How can we pray? Ther have been a few acrostic created to help us be more effective pray-ers. Not more effective in that God listens to them more, but more effective in that we don't get into a rut where prayer is just repetition of a few words and no substance behind them.
ACTS prayer
A-adoration
C-confession
T-thanksgiving
S-supplication (intercession)
Adoration is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We give everything in praising God and telling Him how we feel.
Confession - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. confession gives us a chance to air out the things that are blocking the path between you and God.
Thanksgiving is thanking God. We are constantly blessed by God in all we have and are able to do. IN these times we need to give him thanks.
Supplication is asking God for our needs and the needs of others. It seems like we get here first many times. "God I need this or that. " The time of praying for others is not where we make God do things, but it allows us to be a part of the blessing he gives to others.
ACTS is not the only way to pray, and if you missed one letter, your prayer does not get thrown aside. You should have no worries for that. Paul said to "pray without ceasing".
Maybe we should pray as Jesus taught us to pray. He said that we must come to God like little children.
"Our Father in heaven" -- We need to always acknowledge first and foremost who we are talking to. He (God) is our heavenly Father. We address Him with respect just as we should address our earthly father with respect. He is the only true God who created all things in this universe, including ourselves. He loves us and we need to show our love for Him.
"Hallowed be your name" -- We must see Him as being holy, sanctified, consecrated; worthy of praise, honor and glory!
"Your kingdom come" - We acknowledge His coming kingdom. We pray that Christ will soon return and establish His earthly kingdom where we will reign with Him for eternity.
"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" -- We need to be praying for His will to be done in our lives, so that we might bring glory to Him here on earth as He is also glorified in heaven. We need to do things His way, instead of selfishly doing our own things to satisfy our own desires. "Give us today our daily bread" -- We should ask our Father each day to provide for our needs, just as He promised in His Holy Word. His Word says that we don't have, because we don't ask. Of course, we must first know God through His Son, our personal Lord and Savior. If we don't know Christ, God won't acknowledge this request for daily provision.
"Forgive us our debts (or transgressions) as we also have forgiven our debtors (transgressors)" -- This speaks about forgiveness among our associates, neighbors, friends, family and loved ones. Any and all persons in our lives that we come in contact with in social or business situations are included as well. If we can't forgive others, how can we expect our heavenly Father to forgive us?
"Lead us not into temptation" -- We need to ask our heavenly Father to help us recognize every evil thing, every temptation before us. We need help to stay focused on our Father and see the evil that we might fall into, for what it is really is, a trap set by Satan to bring us down to his level.
"But deliver us from the evil one" -- Help us, dear Father, to steer clear of that liar and deceiver. Let us see clearly the path that you want each of us to walk. By the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, may we never stray from your will and way...
Lord's Prayer - A Glorious EndingSome commentators believe that the end of the Lord's Prayer - "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever" - was added by someone other than the original writer. Whether that's true or not, this last phrase simply emphasizes more praise and glory to God the Father - so it's absolutely biblical… a glorious ending to a model prayer to God!
At Sprint, they asked employees what their NYR were. Here are some of them: "This year I resolve to finish school, lose weight, and spend more time with my family and friends."
" I resolve to keep my house cleaner and more organized."
"To have clarity of mind and sound judgement in all decision making."
"To stay in better shape, and stop being such a nice guy." -Hopefully that last one was just mistyped.
I don't make NYR. I try to be better today than I was yesterday. Each day I live my life. But what do NYR acrually do? Well, maybe they get you focused. I will focus on my weight-exercise-family-friends-house-chores. Everything I didn't do last year as well as I wanted, I can "recommit" myself to doing this new year. When I started working at Dell so many years ago, I was skinny (so was Brandy). 6 years later when I changed jobs I was 60 lbs heavier. That's 10 lbs a year I gained by working at a desk job. During the 6 months I worked at Schwan's I lost a little over 10 lbs and gained some muscle. Now that I work at Sprint behind a desk, I'm going to have to commit myself to being more active. That could easily be a resolution, and I'll tell you why in just a little bit.
Why do so many people not fulfill their resolutions? Do you think the person at the top will keep her house cleaner? Do you think that other one will be in better shape? The best question to ask is what do their (and mine and yours) resolutions mean? What does a "cleaner house" than last year look like and what does "better shape" look like? I think that's why many people break their resolutions. Their is no substance to the resolutions; no definite goal (or end game) that can be quantified. Resolutions are so many times general, non-commital....pretty much useless. They make you feel good in the beginning, but nothing happens after the first few days or weeks. Sounds like "carbon offsets" that are popular right now. I'll keep driving my SUV and living in my 5000 sq ft house, etc, etc but to make everything all better I will buy some carbon-offets to make the world a better place.
I think prayer can be like resolutions for many people. If I say a prayer like Miss America gives a speach, I'll have done my duty and can go on to the next thing on my list.
OK.....if our prayers are quantity and not quality, what should they be like? We can look at scripture for the answer on this one.
Genesis 25:21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Old Testament specific prayers that are answered by God. Isaac prayed his wife would become pregnant and she did. Esra's people fasted and prayed and he answered. In the Psalms you can hear the emotion and passion in their prayers.
Ps 54:2 Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.
Ps 55:1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;
Ps 61:1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
People have said that the written word is powerful. When you talk, your words go out and may or maynot be heard again. When you write it down, it is permanent. But when you pray, your prayers go to the heart of God immediately. There is no middle man, no naughty or nice list that God reads later. Your prayers go straight to God.
No priviledge is greater than being able to call God "father" and knowing it is true. he is the greatest father and is available to talk to you at any time. As Alistair Begg has said "A prayerless Christian is a contradiction in that if our life is under the control of Christ's Spirit, we pray to the Father with delightful confidence."
How can we pray? Ther have been a few acrostic created to help us be more effective pray-ers. Not more effective in that God listens to them more, but more effective in that we don't get into a rut where prayer is just repetition of a few words and no substance behind them.
ACTS prayer
A-adoration
C-confession
T-thanksgiving
S-supplication (intercession)
Adoration is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We give everything in praising God and telling Him how we feel.
Confession - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. confession gives us a chance to air out the things that are blocking the path between you and God.
Thanksgiving is thanking God. We are constantly blessed by God in all we have and are able to do. IN these times we need to give him thanks.
Supplication is asking God for our needs and the needs of others. It seems like we get here first many times. "God I need this or that. " The time of praying for others is not where we make God do things, but it allows us to be a part of the blessing he gives to others.
ACTS is not the only way to pray, and if you missed one letter, your prayer does not get thrown aside. You should have no worries for that. Paul said to "pray without ceasing".
Maybe we should pray as Jesus taught us to pray. He said that we must come to God like little children.
"Our Father in heaven" -- We need to always acknowledge first and foremost who we are talking to. He (God) is our heavenly Father. We address Him with respect just as we should address our earthly father with respect. He is the only true God who created all things in this universe, including ourselves. He loves us and we need to show our love for Him.
"Hallowed be your name" -- We must see Him as being holy, sanctified, consecrated; worthy of praise, honor and glory!
"Your kingdom come" - We acknowledge His coming kingdom. We pray that Christ will soon return and establish His earthly kingdom where we will reign with Him for eternity.
"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" -- We need to be praying for His will to be done in our lives, so that we might bring glory to Him here on earth as He is also glorified in heaven. We need to do things His way, instead of selfishly doing our own things to satisfy our own desires. "Give us today our daily bread" -- We should ask our Father each day to provide for our needs, just as He promised in His Holy Word. His Word says that we don't have, because we don't ask. Of course, we must first know God through His Son, our personal Lord and Savior. If we don't know Christ, God won't acknowledge this request for daily provision.
"Forgive us our debts (or transgressions) as we also have forgiven our debtors (transgressors)" -- This speaks about forgiveness among our associates, neighbors, friends, family and loved ones. Any and all persons in our lives that we come in contact with in social or business situations are included as well. If we can't forgive others, how can we expect our heavenly Father to forgive us?
"Lead us not into temptation" -- We need to ask our heavenly Father to help us recognize every evil thing, every temptation before us. We need help to stay focused on our Father and see the evil that we might fall into, for what it is really is, a trap set by Satan to bring us down to his level.
"But deliver us from the evil one" -- Help us, dear Father, to steer clear of that liar and deceiver. Let us see clearly the path that you want each of us to walk. By the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, may we never stray from your will and way...
Lord's Prayer - A Glorious EndingSome commentators believe that the end of the Lord's Prayer - "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever" - was added by someone other than the original writer. Whether that's true or not, this last phrase simply emphasizes more praise and glory to God the Father - so it's absolutely biblical… a glorious ending to a model prayer to God!
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