The Message of a Picture

 

As a child, I remember visiting my grandparent’s house quite often.  Their house always felt peaceful and “strong”.  That may sound like a strange word to use when describing a home, but that is what I felt.  I felt strength in that place.  

My grandparents had taken down a wall that separated the living room and a bedroom to enlarge the living area.  We had a very big family, and this helped to accommodate more people, especially during the holidays when everyone would gather for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.  In the portion of that large area that had once been the bedroom, there were several old pictures.  One particular picture always seemed to draw my attention, and whenever I would visit, I would eventually make my way to that picture and study it.  It was a picture of Jesus, standing outside beside a door that would open to a house or building of some kind.  It was nighttime in the picture, and Jesus’ hand was raised as if He were about to knock.  It was a beautiful picture to me and always made me feel joy.  

I’ve often thought about that picture throughout the years, the message it conveyed to me, and why I always felt so drawn to it.  There stood Jesus patiently with a look of peace on His face.  He has traveled with intention to this particular home and this particular door.  He is there with purpose.  No sign of worry or stress on His face.  He has simply come seeking entry, a visit perhaps, and is about to gently let those dwelling in the home know that He is there and would like to come in.  He has nothing with him, no bundles or bags.  Only Himself.  His life, His heart, His presence.  It is all that is needed.

In the back of my mind, I always wondered if the people inside would open the door.  The picture doesn’t reveal that.  Just His obvious intention to seek entry.  The decision to allow Jesus inside belongs to those living in the house.  I’ve also often wondered, how many times would Jesus knock before leaving if the door isn’t opened?  Once, five times, who can say?  

Only Jesus knows the answer to that question. 

Unhappy Mirrors and Clanging Cymbals

My mirror has been a bit unhappy with me lately.

I don't know about you, but I'm so incredibly glad elections in this country are over...at least for now.  As I reflect over this past month, I must admit, I'm a bit ashamed by some if not most of what I posted on one of my most beloved idols, "ye olde" social media.

Unfortunately like many of you, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me this election cycle, and I related my opinions in a less than loving way.  My men's group kicked this topic around a bit yesterday.  So, how does one go about engaging others that you feel are truly off base in a way that doesn't lead to arguing and pointless banter?

We all are very passionate about what we believe, but when our conversations become nothing more than an attempt to win a debate, we immediately give up the high ground of sharing truth in love.  Yes, it can be complicated, but what if we approached every post or comment with a strong desire to share God's love without seeking "the win", and inevitably coming off as a know-it-all jerk face?  Yeah, I'm talking to myself here, but maybe you can identify.

 The world continues to slip down into the cesspool of moral relativism, and will likely continue that trend.  Now more than ever, Believers must stand for God's heart and do all we can to live out His life in the midst of the chaos, but that witness, must begin, end, and be bathed betwixt and between with love.  For the Lord has told us, "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be known as a "clanging cymbal".

We've been called to reach this broken world for Christ.  The question is how does that happen?  I've been at this for a while, and I've watched God rescue souls in ways that often surprised me, but never did that happen apart from His love being expressed.  Indeed, "it is His kindness that leads us to repentance".

Remember, people living in darkness always see His truth as foolishness.  We can fuss, fight, banter, and maybe even win a grand debate with our keen intellectual prowess, but only love wins the heart.

May the Lord help me to remember that, and maybe that dang mirror will get off my back for a change!

I Took the Bait

I took the bait.

I think most of us believe Satan’s primary mode of attack is going after us in those areas in which we struggle the most.  Of course, we all have certain sins that seem to plague us.  Lust, greed, anger, the list is extensive, and every Believer certainly struggles with something.  And while I do believe our enemy does stalk us, waiting for an opportunity to trip us up in those weak areas, I’m beginning to realize the snake is far more cunning than we realize.  Indeed, he is an opportunist, and will certainly work with whatever foothold he can in his effort to steal from, kill, and destroy God’s beloved children.

For quite some time now, I’ve been convinced that it is my civic responsibility to fight hard as a voice for conservative values in this country.  Of course, “the fight” if you can call it that, generally consists of an endless litany of hard-nosed Facebook posts cast forth from the comfort of my easy chair.  I guess that’s how the common folk do battle in the world today for the most part.  All in an attempt to capture “the win” for “our side”.  The problem with this as you already know is that important aspects of communication such as context and tone are difficult to discern with a Facebook post.  Often times, what we say may be taken in a number of ways, and in fact, may be the complete opposite of our intended message.  Then again, there are times where these posts of ours are taken exactly as we intend others to take them, even when we know it might hurt someone, we tend to brush it off.  After all, it’s just “a post” stating our “oh so valuable” insights and opinions.  The problem with all of this is that we all know we would rarely if ever converse face to face with anyone the way we boldly do sitting behind our keyboards.  And that is the rub!  We now live in a world where “posting” our thoughts with no sense of responsibility for our words has almost completely replaced the discretion we would normally utilize with face to face conversation.

I can see him now.  Satan dropping “bread crumbs” along our path.  Yes indeed, we get online and we see those crumbs/posts and somehow become enamored by them.  Our focus moves from Jesus to those delicate little tidbits of opinion and propaganda.  And so we follow them, crumb after crumb.  It starts out with a comment, and often times quickly moves to a heated debate, an all-in attempt to “win” the argument at all costs!  Crumb after crumb, we gobble them up quickly until all of the sudden we say that which should not have been said.  We hit that “post” button, and then, ever so softly, we hear the faint sound of a glee filled chuckle.  The chuckle of the enemy who just smiles and rejoices at how easily he can manipulate the children of God.  If he can divide, he can certainly conquer.  You’d think we would not fall for his baiting schemes.  You’d think we’d learn our lesson at some point, but rarely do we.  After all, it’s just a simple “post”.

The reality is, that’s pretty much how Satan works in every situation in which he is involved in a fail or a fall.  He’s got a pocket full of “bread crumbs”, and he knows our “flavor” of choice.  All eyes on the trail of crumbs, only to suddenly look up and wonder, “How in the world did we end up here?”
I’m tired of it.  Tired of taking “the bait”.  I think we all are, and yet what to do?

How do we stop taking “the bait”?

Entire books have been written on the subject.  “Five easy steps”, “Ten easy steps”, and so forth.  And yet, the answer to our dilemma remains the same today as it did with the saints of old.

Jesus.

The more we press into the King, the more He can lavish His love on us, and thus, we are transformed into people who look less for bread crumbs, and more for His presence and great love.  When we are satisfied with the only one who can satisfy, the power, His power to keep us focused on truth will dull our appetite for the stale crumbs of our enemy.

With that, I say this:  I am not suggesting trying harder to avoid controversy/arguments.  I know all too well that “trying” equates to temporary victory at best, but generally ends in defeat.  Trusting in who Christ is in us, and in what He has already accomplished for us is the ONLY path to victory.

I took the bait.  I posted my version of the truth for the sake of winning, and ended up empty and frustrated.  Truth will always be truth, but truth used to chalk up “the win” for “my side” is nothing more than vile hatred disguised as brotherly love.  And for my contribution to the social media cesspool of ideas…I am indeed quite sorry!

Bottom line:

Galatians 5:13 – “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

Post all you want, but before you do, make sure you’re not munching on a mouthful of bread crumbs.

Lazy Teachers, Lazy Parents, and Farming for the Lord!

Throughout the years, I’ve talked with a lot of people about living for the Lord apart from going to a church place, and one question always seems to come up.  “Yeah, but what about your kids?  Don’t they need church?”  It’s a fair question.  After all, how will children ever learn about God, right?

Well, in this post I hope to address that valid concern.

As with most of my musings, I’d like to preface this with a simple statement that bears repeating.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Going to a church place is not wrong.

If you enjoy going and find life, please keep going!  Most of the time, people read what I write and become stuck on this idea that I am slamming going to a church place.  I am not.  I’m simply sharing thoughts that I feel folks should consider in the grand scheme of what it means to follow Jesus, especially for those outside the walls of church buildings.

So with that in mind, read on if you care to.

As some of you may already know, I have served on staff as a youth/worship leader at several church places.  These positions kept me quite busy and unfortunately, I often neglected my duties as dad to my own four kids, especially when it came to their spiritual development.  Still, I wasn’t too concerned.  After all, we had “children’s programs” at church, and I could trust that my children were receiving the spiritual nourishment they needed…or could I?

It was on a ride home from Sunday morning services when my trust in allowing my fellow church place goers to pour good things into my children, came to an abrupt end.

Driving down the road, my wife and I began to question my oldest children about what they had learned in “children’s church” that day.  My oldest son responded, “Oh, we just planted another seed”.  “Another seed?” My wife replied.  “Honey what do you mean another seed?”  My son Will paused a moment, and then in a very matter of fact voice shared, “You know that story about the sower and the seeds.  We just did it again.”

At this point, the obvious question came into my mind.  I responded, “So son, how many times have you planted seeds at church?”  “Uh, we do it every week.  I think this is the fourth time.”

My wife and I just looked at each other with that, “What the heck did I just hear” face.

After a bit of probing, it turned out that indeed, my children had become little farmers for the Lord!  Over the course of the month, they had planted a whole crop’s worth of seeds, and the harvest was gonna be huge!  You see, every week the “children’s church team” rotated leaders, and every week they were responsible for “the lesson”.  Fortunately for these unprepared leaders who were showing up empty handed on Sunday mornings, there were plenty of seeds, cups, and dirt left over from the last “leader's” lesson.  So guess what kiddos?  Today, we’re gonna plant a few more seeds and share the exact same story you’ve heard for the past few weeks.

I felt a terrible sense of shame wash over me.  Yes, I could blame these lazy people for shirking their responsibility, but honestly, this was on me.  As head of our home, wasn’t it my responsibility to ensure that my children were growing spiritually?  Indeed it was, and I knew things needed to change.

If you’re a parent, God wants you to know He has entrusted YOU with the responsibility of raising up your children in the faith.  Are there great children’s programs out there with amazing people leading those programs?  Absolutely!  Has God charged them with the task of ensuring your child grows up with a solid Christian worldview and a mature faith in Jesus?  Absolutely not!  Sorry parent, but that’s your job!  In fact, I would challenge you to find anything in the bible that would suggest that is not the case.

I’m not saying these programs can’t be an asset to your child’s spiritual growth, but to allow them to be the sole source of what children learn about the faith is quite reckless and completely irresponsible.

The truth of the matter is most parents know little about the people teaching their children at church, and even less about what is being taught or how it is being presented.

Question:  If your child came home from school sharing that the teacher had taught the exact same lesson for the past month, wouldn’t you be a bit concerned?  Sure you would!  Yet, for some reason we rarely question what is going into the hearts and minds of our kids attending these programs that churches provide.  Again, I’m not saying all programs are bad.  What I am saying here is that we as parents must take up the mantle of responsibility God Himself has given us as THE spiritual shepherds of our children.  To do less is to abandon our kids to whims of who your church has deemed suitable to instruct your child.  And as we know, most of the time finding teachers in church boils down to, “Who can we get to do this job for us?”  Not the greatest way to go about raising up the next generation in the faith.

Bottom line:  Parents are called by God to bring up their own kids in the faith.  We alone are called carry the responsibility of ensuring our children learn, grow and mature.

Yes, there are seeds that need planting, but maybe it’s time we pushed up our sleeves and assumed responsibility for our own fields!

Do Not Forsake Assembling...On Pews?

Special thanks to Wayne Jacobson's blog "www.lifestream.org" for helping me to put together what I was struggling with on my own.

Question:  Should Hebrews 10:25 be used to demand that Believers go to what many people call “church”?

Short answer:  Nope!  Longer answer:  Keep reading.

Hebrews 10:25 New King James Version (NKJV)
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

What is this verse really saying?

My opinion merged with Wayne's thoughts:

Believers gathering together for worship can be an important part of our life together, but in my view, the relationships we maintain throughout the week are far more important and in most cases, far more genuine.  It is my opinion this verse in Hebrews is speaking of how we assemble our lives together in relationships that support and encourage one another.  Considering these early Believers had no concept of what modern church gatherings would eventually morph into, it is highly unlikely the writer is speaking of how/when we would meet.

Also consider these thoughts:

Early Christians did not go to church, they were the church; they did not attend "church services", they impacted their culture as the people of God. They assembled not as the end goal, but as a way to equip themselves to be the people God intended them to be and do the work God intended them to do.

There’s nothing in the New Testament stating or commanding us to join in a formal “get your best church clothes on” service on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night.

There is ZERO precedent for this thing we call a “service” found anywhere in the New Testament.  Nowhere in the New Testament is there “Sunday school” followed by a “Call to Worship” followed by singing/standing up and sitting down several times for various reasons/listening to one guy give a monologue/more singing/whatever else is thrown in for good measure, (altar call, etc.)

In fact, this is completely contrary to 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 which states,

“Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
 No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say.  But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.
 Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.  Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.”

So how does sitting on pews side by side facing a guy on an elevated stage qualify as a great way to “exhort one another”?  When you gather with friends for dinner, do you sit that way?  When you go out for coffee to share time with friends, do you sit that way?  Nope!  You sit that way in classrooms and concerts.  The focus is on the show up front, not each other.  Some might say, “Well we’re learning from the speaker.”  Maybe you are picking up tidbits from the guy up front, but if you’re confused or have a question, can you stop the show to inquire of the guy speaking?  You could, but you’d be considered rude and disruptive.  So, when a student has a question in class, is it rude or disruptive for them to raise their hand and inquire of the teacher?  Goodness no!  That’s the way it’s supposed to work!  In fact, any teacher that never allows their students to ask questions would be considered a fairly crappy teacher!

So what constitutes that Hebrews 10:25 has been fulfilled if going to church is the standard?  Is Sunday morning enough, or must I attend Sunday night and Wednesdays to be considered in alignment with those who say this scripture is fulfilled by church service attendance?  How much “attendance” is enough?  Also, how many people need to be together to ensure we’ve properly “gathered”?  5, 10, 15, 100, 200?  What’s the number?  Jesus said, “If two or three are gathered together in my name, I will be in their midst.”

If this is true, how can a church service be “the way” we fulfill Hebrews 10:25?  If there’s only two of us, it’s going to be a busy morning for us come Sunday.  Somebody’s going to have to lead the worship, teach Sunday school, take up the offering, hand out bulletins, greet people (of course, there's only two), preach the sermon, etc.  Not to mention all the other jobs like running the sound, adjusting the lights, serving Communion, etc.  Can you imagine two folks running around a room trying to make sure they are properly fulfilling all that mess?  I surely cannot, but would love to see it!  It would be hilarious!

The reality is, there are thousands and thousands of people who go “to church” every week, sit on pews, do all the stuff, and never ever experience anything that would even remotely feel or look like what God indeed calls us to in Hebrews 10:25.  That being exhortation.  Which in its most basic form simply means to encourage one another.  And the last time I checked, encouragement can take on many forms, but often is best received from dear souls that we can look at eye to eye/heart to heart, and know they truly care for us.  Who knows?  Maybe our Lord actually knew what He was talking about when He spoke of gathering with two or three other folks.

Bottom line: If you feel true heart to heart exhortation sitting on the pew, by all means keep doing what you're doing.  It's not wrong.  Just don’t assume your standard of what you feel works for you is "God's way" of doing things.  It may work fine for you, but for many, it is an empty pursuit and completely devoid of life.

Again, before you leave me a "snarky" comment, please know I’m not saying going to a church is bad, wrong, or a waste of time for SOME people, but if you push the idea that going to a local church service is “the way" to fulfill what’s being shared in Hebrews 10:25, you are unfortunately quite incorrect and likely quite religious.

What the Heck Did I Just Do?

Are you an "Evangelical"? In a recent article, Christianity Today provided four defining characteristics to help you to know. Today I’d like to focus on the second defining characteristic.  Number two states:

"It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior."

Based on that one, I might be in trouble!

Truthfully, that one scares me a bit, but not in the way you'd expect. I am not afraid to tell anyone about Jesus. That's actually pretty easy...and often completely ineffective and in my view, mostly pointless in today's post-Christian culture.

When I was a "church guy”, one of the things we were often challenged to do was to “share” our faith. That basically meant, get out there and ask people, "If you died today, where would you spend eternity?" This was followed up with a bit of "You're a sinner", "You're going die and go to Hell", and finished with, "Now, pray this prayer and ask Jesus into your heart so you won't split Hell wide open"...and it NEVER really produced any real fruit.

Oh yeah, I had a few "lucky"souls pray that prayer, but looking back, I wonder what in the world were we really doing? Honestly, I have to believe anyone we "reached for Jesus" had to be left with a large dose of "What the heck did I just do?"

So, what do you think?  Is that really what it means to “encourage non-Christians” with the Gospel?  I just don’t think that was ever our Lord’s plan.

It all reminds me of some kind of twisted arranged marriage.  “Okay my daughter, we’ve decided we know what’s best for you, so here’s the boy you’re going to spend the rest of your life with.  The wedding is Saturday…congrats!"

I’m just not convinced that’s a recipe for life-long marital bliss.  Where’s the romance?

Indeed, I’d say the same thing of our approach to “winning” people to Jesus…what about the romance?

I don’t care how many or few steps your particular method of evangelism uses, if there’s no romance, there’s no love!  No love…no relationship…no relationship…NO ANYTHING!

At the end of the day, what does it really mean to be a child of God?  For me it means knowing Him, and better yet, knowing that He knows me!  Sure, I’m a card carrying “get out of Hell free” club member, but that’s NOT what holds me steady when life turns upside down and inside out.  Only His love can do that, and if all people ever experience is a cold, “Here’s Jesus, now pray to Him so you don’t burn in Hell” presentation, they will completely miss the heart of the Gospel!

Isn’t it about time we quit “encouraging non-Christians to trust Jesus as their Savior”, and instead started sharing with them His unfathomable grace and love?

Friends, the world is gagging on the "religion" of Christianity, and they’re weary of our loveless, “chalk up another one for Jesus” approach.

Bottom line:  True evangelism starts with love, ends with love, and always shares the joy of knowing the one who loves the unlovable.

So, am I an “evangelical”?  I guess that would depend on who you’re asking, Christianity Today…or Jesus.

What about you?

Eating Mud Pies with Mr. Hyde!

Disclaimer: I am a man on a journey, a journey to walk with the King who called me to be His child, and I often lose my way. You may disagree with some or all of what I'm about to share, but that's okay. I am where I am, but...

So are you


I have no doubt; every Christian on the planet, including me, deeply desires to do the "right thing". We thirst to be the "good guys" of this world, lights shining in a dark place! In fact, it's in our reborn DNA to be holy and faithful, and yet, we all fail each and every day. Yes, the old "dirt skirt" aka. flesh is always working overtime to drag us through the mud of life, and more often than not, we are quite glad to oblige!

I have ministered to crowds of people with a genuine heart on Sunday, and then like some kind of twisted "Jekyll and Hyde", turned around and sinned my heart out on Monday. I know, that was very "hypocritical" of me, and indeed, this up and down, back and forth courtship with sin continues to drive me completely insane! Why? Why am I so easily swayed by certain sins? Why can't I just break free?

Ever been there? I'm figuring your answer is yes.

For years, I listened to sincere brothers stand behind pulpits challenging me and others to "rise up" and "defeat sin". "Do not sin!" Seems so obvious and simple sitting there in the pew, but once you're out the front door, it can be a bit "challenging".

I'm going to say something here a bit controversial, but I really believe it's true.

Honestly, I just don't think being "sinless" this side of Heaven is possible for us. I do believe we are fully accepted/forgiven, but sin is of this world, and for now we are stuck here in bodies that crave the stuff. If you disagree, I would challenge you to find someone other than our Lord that has ever lived a sinless life. Of course, you will not, and therefore I must assume I am correct. Still, does that mean we are doomed to be enslaved to our sin nature? I don't think so.

As I've searched the scriptures for a "fix", a final solution to defeat this thing called "sin" in my life, I have found only this to be true: The closer I get to Jesus, the less I sin. The less I sin, the happier I am. In fact, I have found when I am truly focusing on my Savior, I rarely even consider sin. I do still fail, but I'm able to move on quickly in light of His grace and strength.

No, I did not quote a scripture there, but there are plenty in the Book that will back those statements up.

I say all that to say this: I know sin is terrible. I hate it, and I'm certainly not condoning it in any way, BUT I know Christ Jesus has set us free from its power over us. We sin, but He is always there to set us aright with grace and mercy. Of course, we absolutely do not deserve it, but that's what makes Him so incredible! In fact, I just don't think Jesus is keeping score in regards to our failures, but I believe He hurts to see His kids struggle, and wants us free.

Can we sin less? Yes indeed! Like I said, focusing on Jesus makes that possible, but the key (at least for me) is that when we do fail, we know we will still be accepted and loved, and can walk in the freedom of knowing He does not condemn us. I know...makes no sense to me either.

Is that a free pass to sin? Well, in a way, we are completely free to sin, but if you are a believer, you know it will only bring torment, denying you of any peace or happiness. So yeah, we can eat the mud pies all we want, but they will never taste good!

Bottom line (at least for me this morning): When I sin (and I do all the time), I must continue to cling to the one who clings to me knowing I am loved and cared for despite my failings. My guilt and shame demands that I run and hide. Jesus beckons me to come to Him, and I know that is the only place of healing.

So will I sin today? Unfortunately, I think it is likely. The question is, then what? My only answer to you and to myself...put down that mud pie, and run to Jesus!

Outside

Down the Rabbit Hole

If you find grammatical errors, do not point them out lest you become cursed with "the fever"...and DIE!  

You have been warned!

“So Ken, you still serving the Devil and laying out of church?”

Well, I haven’t exactly joined the dark side or anything, but yeah, I’m still kicking it with the slackers.

In fact, it’s been almost five years since I walked away from the institution many call “church” and believe it or not, I feel fine.  Still it hasn’t been all roses and sunshine, not by a long shot!  In fact, there have been more than a few moments that I felt as if I had somehow really screwed up!

Honestly, when I first made the decision to “walk away” I was scared, really scared.  I definitely remember feeling a little like Alice in Wonderland.  “Down the rabbit hole” I went, into the unknown with a heck of a lot more questions than answers.

The first year was pretty easy, I spent a lot of time searching for a better way, of “doing church”.  After all, it only made since (at least to me) that God obviously had brought me out of the chaos in order to find a fix.  Yes, I would somehow chart a new course for God’s children, I would find a “magical” new way of doing things, and this time…it would work splendidly!  I read books, listened to endless “on the edge” podcasts, and prayed spectacular prayers in which I assured God I knew exactly what I was doing.  All of this only to end up with a boat load of frustration and anger.  Back to square one and back down the rabbit hole I slid!

Yes, feel free to laugh, because despite my grandiose visions of grandeur, “fixing” church was obviously not God’s plan for me. 

Round 2

When I finally came to terms with the fact that God was probably not calling me to be a new and improved version of Moses, I decided maybe my calling was to wickedly bash and with a little luck, destroy the institution of church.  If I couldn’t fix the mess, I would work hard to indoctrinate others with my “church sucks and here’s why” message.  “Oh Yes”, I thought.  That would do nicely.  DESTROY church!  What a fantastic idea! (sarcasm).  Of course, we all know how edifying to one’s soul it can be when bitterness and slander are allowed to saturate the human heart…(more sarcasm).  Oh yes indeed…more pain…more sorrow.  By the way, before you pick up the nearest stone to let me have it for this treachery, consider this:  Wounded people sometimes do crazy stuff in an attempt to ease their pain.  Just a thought.

Don’t die of surprise here, but I soon found out that few people if any actually gave a rip about my “let’s burn all the churches” message, and for the most part, I was nothing more than a sad annoyance to be pitied and disregarded. 

Many of my former “church friends” declared me “bitter” and “backslidden”.  I was branded a turncoat traitor by some and a blasphemous heretic by others.  All in all, it was a really good time for me (again…sarcasm).  At the end of my little stint as the Devil’s wingman, I again found myself full of hurt, anger, and confusion.  Truly I was ready to throw in the towel with this God who claimed to love me, and yet for some unknown reason, decided to drop me off in the desert without a drop to drink.  I was tired.  I was weary, and I was worn out with this messy thing called Christianity…and before I knew what was happening, I felt that old familiar feeling, back to my old digs.  You guessed it…”the rabbit hole”…joy!

So there I sat, and sat, and sat some more.  I’m not quite sure when it hit me, but at some point I started to consider this question:  What if God, the God who made me, the God who knows me better than I know myself, what if this God who called me to be His kid knows what He’s doing, and actually wants me in “the rabbit hole”.  Maybe like Martha, I needed to slow down a minute and just….b-r-e-a-t-h-e.

Now I’m not going to lie here.  It’s not like the sun broke through the clouds or anything and angels began to sing, but slowly, I started to get it…at least a little.

Today, I have come to terms (well...at least most days) with the whole idea that God is in charge and He alone plots our course in this life.  Sometimes we’re walking on the mountain top, sometimes we’re “chillin” in a “rabbit hole”.  Either way, “Daddy God” (religious people get ticked when you talk about God that way) always gets to decide when and where we’ll stop the car to pee and there’s not a whole lot a kid can do from the backseat….but that’s okay.  “Just enjoy the ride son”, oh yes, I can hear Him say it even now.

My focus?  Folks, I’m just trying to relax in the greater joy of simply trusting that the Father has a plan and I don’t have to understand it.  Of course I do get frustrated at times, but more and more I am beginning to accept the idea that being clueless is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if the one calling the shots likes you a lot.

With that, I wanted to share 5 quick insights with you regarding what one can expect if and when God calls you out into the wild lands of the unknown (aka. walking away from church).

1.        If you quit going to “church”, the Church will probably not get it.  In fact, some may accuse you of many wonderful things such as being overcome with anger, bitterness, or just wanting a free pass to sin your little heart out.  Everything you say will be refuted, so do not waste your time trying to explain your position…they won’t get it…but that’s okay.  Your Father does.  All that matters is that you are sure God has called you out, and if that’s so, you can rest in the knowledge that He has a plan for you.  So, let ‘em talk all they want!  Like Abraham, sometimes you just have to follow God into the unknown regardless of the naysayers!

2.       Once you leave, do not expect to get a lot of phone calls or letters of encouragement.  Bottom line:  You left, you obviously have problems, and nobody has time to fool with…a fool, or at the very least a heretic.  “Get your crap together, repent, and then you can come back!”  Otherwise, prepare to snuggle up with Mr. Lonely for a while you dirty, dirty sinner.  Sound bad?  Not so much.  The good news is that God will lead you to people who will really love and care for you regardless of where you may be in your journey.  That may take a little time, but that’s okay.  Besides, those folks you used to warm pews with probably never really liked you much anyway, so no worries!

3.       Don’t freak out if things get really, really quiet.  The fact of the matter is this; the process of “dechurchification” (my term…and I love it!) can take quite a while.  It might feel incredibly strange to all of the sudden have zero to do, but God knows what He’s doing.  One of the problems with the whole “let’s stay busy for the glory of God” spill is that it leaves you with little time to just sit, soak, and listen.  If you have spent any time at all in the old “church spin cycle”, you know, run till you die, it will likely take the Holy Spirit some time to untangle the mess.  So, learn to chill out and know that God is working amidst the silence!

4.       This one is a tough, especially if you’ve been hurt by “church” and or “church” people.  DO NOT HIT BACK!  I know, many of you may view this very posting as kind of a shot across the church bow, but honestly it’s not.  The reason you likely see it that way is you are seeing it from a different perspective than those who have chosen to step away from what you view as being super awesome, i.e., church.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of the programs, committees, meetings, counsels, boards, services, and other nonsense that goes on in some “churches”, but those of “the Church” that choose to engage in this stuff are still family, and we gotta love the family.  So, if they say you’re a nut…or worse, don’t hit back.  If God called you out and you know that deep in your heart, that is enough.  If there’s any “tail whippin” to be done (Yep...I’m Southern), He can handle it.  Again, let ‘em talk!

5.         I could go one, but I’ll stop with this.  If God has indeed called you to leave “church”, you’ll likely feel some degree of fear, so remember this.  If the God of the universe who made you, me, and every tree (hey…that rhymes!) was capable of calling you into a relationship with Him when you were a lost jerk head, He is more than capable to sustain a vibrant and living relationship with you regardless of where you are on the journey.  Bottom line:  He will not abandon you, nor do you have to fear losing even a smidgen of His love and grace just because you are now traveling a different path.  There were times I feared that very much.  “What if all this is indeed just me being difficult?”  “What if I lose my way?”  Questions like that assaulted my mind for a long time, but then I realized He is faithful.  If He said it, He will do it.  If He spoke it, He will bring it to pass.  At the end of the day friend, this journey, your journey, is really His journey.  Do not be afraid.  The one who called you is your Father and He knows the way…

Even if that takes you…“down the rabbit hole”.

Turn or Burn You Dirty Sinner!

If you want to keep a guy from jumping off a bridge, please don’t try to stop him by just telling him it will hurt if he jumps.  Also, I doubt saying, “Go ahead and jump, but you’ll die a HORRIBLE death sucker” is going to help much either!  In other words, stating the obvious, especially in a rather mean spirited manner isn’t much of a deterrent to a desperate soul who is likely just seeking help.  Wouldn’t it make more sense to convince the jumper of all the incredible reasons he has to live?  Speak life…not death!

I’m not going to drone on and on about the subject I have chosen to speak on today, but know this:  Jesus loves people and expects His kids to show love to others.  I do not recall the Lord ever saying,

“Do all you can to shame those sorry, dirty sinners into repentance.  If that doesn’t work, just scare the bejeebers out of them with some mean-spirited clichés slapped across your church signs”

Two times this week, I’ve driven by local Dalton churches that somehow decided it was a great idea to share the following message on their sign:

“How do you like your eternity?  Smoking or non-smoking?”

Honestly, I felt like throwing up! Are you kidding me?  I find it to be incredibly nauseating knowing that any group of believers would stoop to that level of manipulation and so mindlessly paint such a villainous picture of “the Church” and Christianity.

I can hear people now, “Yeah Ken, but that’s true!  If they don’t turn…they’re gonna burn!”

I will not deny it.  That is true, BUT good grief people, is that the “good news” message of the Gospel Jesus called us all to share?

“Hey guys, listen up.  I’ve got some good news for you.  If you don’t turn from your rotten sin, you’re going to Hell and will burn forever!”

THAT…is NOT good news.  THAT, is only part of the story, and NOT the best part at all!   

The problem with the “Hell’s waiting for you sucker” message conveyed on these signs is it only speaks of the end result of dying in one’s sin, and NOTHING of God’s grace, love, or His amazing remedy for our sin condition through His son.  Not only that, it absolutely gives off a “We Christians are good, but you suck” attitude.

Jesus came to set the captives free!  His coming was nothing less than a rescue mission put into motion by a merciful Father that wants no one to perish!  In fact, let’s just look at one of the fundamental scriptures used throughout history in conveying the “good news” of the Gospel to the world.

Jesus said it this way in the book of John, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

Now THAT is good news!  Thank God indeed that Jesus didn’t approach the lost with the same insensitivity that we do!  Read the book folks!  The lost loved the guy!  He was awesome and they wanted to be around him!  These sinners knew He cared.  They felt a genuine sense of love and compassion emanating from him and THAT SINCERITY OPENS DOORS EVERY TIME!

And what about our, “Hey buddy, go ahead and jump cause no one cares” message?

All I can say is this:

One day we will all give an account for our words, attitudes, and actions.  My fear is that many of us will be shocked to find out much of what we considered to be “evangelistic” was in reality nothing more than. . . .

Pride

Discipleship: Hey, How The Heck Does This Thing Work?

A man wanders off into the desert and soon becomes lost.  For days, he travels in the direction he is sure will lead him back home.  Unfortunately, each additional step only brings about the certainty that he is hopelessly lost with no clue of how to escape his dilemma. 

The outlook is grim.  No water, no food, no shelter, and no idea what to do next.  A terrible sense of despair begins to consume the man as he realizes without help, he will likely succumb to this harsh environment in the not too distant future.

Just when all hope seems to be lost, a figure appears in the distance.  The figure is walking in his direction.  Could it be?  Are his eyes playing tricks on him?  Eventually the person makes his way to the man and announces he has come to help.  Overjoyed, the man grabs hold of the ragged figure and hugs him tight.  Finally, rescue has come.  Soon the man will be home with his family again.

“So, which way do we go to get out of this horrible desert”, the man asks. 

The stranger replies, “Oh no dear friend, you must discover that for yourself”.

The man, now very confused responds, “But, I thought you were here to help?”

“Oh I am, indeed help is what I bring”.  Slowly the stranger pulls out a small bag.  “Inside this bag is a machine that will give you everything you need to survive in this desert.” 

“But why can’t I just follow you out of this desert?” The man replies. 

“Oh, I have no time for such things.  I must be on my way.  More lost souls, more machines to give out”.  The stranger hands the man the bag and before he can utter a single word in objection, the stranger disappears.

“Well, at least I have this wondrous machine” declares the man.  Slowly he pulls the strange looking device from the bag.  Immediately he realizes he has no clue how the machine works.  The man peers into the bag, but to his dismay, it is empty.  No instructions, no guide, nothing.

For several hours, the man works feverishly, trying to discern how the machine functions.  He pushes buttons, turns levers, and flips switches.  Over and over again, the man tries every possible idea he can think of, but to no avail.  Frustrated and completely defeated, the man throws the machine to the ground and cries out in a loud voice, “WHY?  WHY EVEN BOTHER GIVING ME THIS GIFT IF I CAN’T GET IT TO WORK?  WHY?”

Days turn into weeks, and weeks become months. 

In time, a ragged figure appears in the desert.  And there by a pile of sand worn bones he finds…a machine. 

“Pitiful fool, if only had used the machine”.  The stranger quietly walks away wondering how many others failed to use his miraculous gift.

Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"

Teach and man to fish and he’ll eat a lifetime.  Give the man a pole, tackle, and then walk away.

He’ll likely starve...or something like that.

Want to Teach? Hope You Have Big Feet!

If you’re a teacher, you’ll get this.  If you’re the parent of a student, you need to know the facts. 

Question:  If you moved to another country as a young child, and did not speak the language, what chance would you have of passing a standardized test in that country, even if you could understand the basics of that language?  You sit in class all year, the teacher works hard to help you, but he/she has a room full of students that must be taught "the standards".  You're intelligent, you do your best to pay attention, but the language barrier is just overwhelming and as you’d probably expect, you fail.

 

Surprised?  Of course not.  Not many educated adults could achieve success in this type of setting.

 

Now, pretend you are teacher here in America.  Let's say you have several students in your class that struggle with English.  Most can get by conversationally, but all struggle with context and meaning at some level.  Even though these barriers exist, these students are expected to achieve the same level of success as your native English speaking students using the exact same writing and content standards.  If they do not, you dear teacher have somehow failed.  Your "scores" prove your failure and may be used to make "decisions" regarding you and your school.  Not only did you fail, your school risks being judged as not being "adequate". 

Now slip back into the shoes of a child that does not completely grasp the language being used to instruct students in class.  Do you deem it to be reasonable or fair that you are being held to the exact same standards and expectations as your classmates? 

Do you believe your teacher is somehow to blame because you did not achieve success? 

Is it possible for a teacher with 30 students to overcome the hurdles of broken homes, poverty, language barriers, special needs, and still somehow ensure each and every student is able to meet "standards" that are one size fits all?  No problem…if you’re Jesus.  I’m afraid the rest of us have feet that are far too small to fill those enormous shoes!

Bottom line:  I am an educated man.  I "get" most things presented to me, but if you put me in a classroom  where everything is being presented in French, Spanish, German, or any language other than English, I can guarantee you I would fail miserably regardless of what the teacher does to help me. 

Houston, we have a problem.  It is not a local problem, nor can it be “fixed” at the local level.  If it was, you can bet we could and would fix it.  The problem finds its root at the state and more importantly federal level.  Our educational system in this country is wounded and bleeding and the Feds are handing out Band-Aids to deal with cut arteries.  The state takes the Band-Aids because they want the goodies that come with the Band-Aids, you know money.  And what about local school systems you ask? Ah yes, well they are handed the Band-Aids (with less and less of "the money") and told "make this work and by the way, good luck"!

I've illustrated only one of the many challenges local school systems and educators face in this country.  A country where legislators are hell bent on standardizing every aspect of our educational system under a national umbrella that is held in the iron tight grip of…the federal government.  Surprise, Surprise!

Over the next few weeks, I will be addressing the results of what this nationalistic approach to education is doing “to” and “for” the students of this country.

So, hang on tight…it’s going to be a bumpy ride!  

Top 10 Good Things Obama Has Done For This Country

1.     ..................................never mind.

Question: Should I listen to Joel Osteen? Better Question: Should I Listen to You?

A friend of mine recently posted a comment about his change of heart regarding the validity of the ministry of Joel Osteen. I have to say that find it fascinating even amazing that so many believers are so very enamored with the words of men. Honestly, there are occasions in which I do enjoy messages from various “professional guys” who teach and preach from the bible, but I have come to recognize they are only men. Are their words inspired? Do they indeed speak on behalf of God? Maybe…maybe not.


Here is my response to my friend (plus a wee bit more):

At the end of the day, all men who choose to speak publically on behalf of God are just normal people. They are no better or worse than the average Joe believer working 9 to 5. They may exhibit great eloquence when speaking or seem to somehow be "elevated" spiritually, but they are only men. The greatest men I have ever known or had the pleasure of receiving wisdom from were common men. Not pastors, not evangelists, not "professional ministers" of any shape or form. They were all just average guys who all shared one common trait...humility. True humility. The kind of humility that caused them to pause before declaring anything on behalf of our Lord.

I’d take the time to name them, but you’d likely have no clue who they are. The list includes an accountant, a business man, a mill worker, and a sharecropper. Some would be considered more “successful” than others in the eyes of this world, but all had one thing in common, serious humility. In fact, most had no clue they were being used by God to shape my life. Yes some were successful, most not so much, yet to me, they were all giants.

If you think about it, Jesus was an average Joe. If fact, most of the folks around him missed out on much of what he had to say because he wasn’t a “somebody”. You often find the Pharisees and teachers of the law asking, “Who is this fellow?” Why? Jesus wasn’t a “big name” at the time. He was just Jesus, the carpenter’s son.

Can’t you hear the people? “Yeah he says good stuff and even seems to have power, but he’s just a normal guy, a carpenter. Who cares what a carpenter has to say? The “big name religious guys” say we need to crucify him…better stick with them. After all, we know they speak for God”.

Be careful who you give an ear to, but also be willing to recognize that all men have potential for good and bad. I'd dare say that most men, regardless of their “position” in this life, would not want you prowling around in the closets of their lives. You might not like what you find, but of course, we all have our own "closets" don't we?

So, should anyone listen to Joel Osteen? Well, if you care to, why not? I figure he’s no worse or better than the other guys that choose to speak.

Still, we might do well to remember what Elijah came to understand. God generally speaks in a still, small voice.

Anything beyond that might just be noise.



PS – If you saw this as some type of attack against “professional ministers”, you are likely one of the many who are mindlessly enamored with said individuals.

AND, you missed the point of this post…entirely!

Praying For God’s Help? Remember This Equation: Jesus - You = More Than Enough

Disclaimer:  Before you read this, please know that I am on a journey.  I have not arrived, nor have I fully grasped all that I’m about to share.  Honestly, this is all new territory for this “seasoned” child of God…and it’s scary.  If you somehow perceive from my ramblings that I feel as if I’ve “figured” it all out…figure again!  The following is simply my own reflections about what I feel God is trying to teach me.  If it somehow encourages or helps you…bondiggity!

 Lately, I’ve been reading a devotional by Steve McVey called “The Grace Walk”.  So far, it has really been great!  Yesterday, Steve talked about how Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises in each and every situation we face in life.  He writes,

“You don’t have to “make” anything happen. You don’t have an end to hold up.  So, just rest in what He has done and give a loud and hearty “Amen!” to Jesus.  That and that alone is what brings the highest glory to God.”

He goes on to talk about how legalism tells us we must “do our part” to get our prayers answered, but in God’s economy, we have no “part” in the matter.  Every promise we seek to be fulfilled and every answered prayer is found in the sufficiency of Christ and what He did for us on the cross.

I’ve been a Christian for over 20 years.  I’ve heard hundreds (probably thousands) of messages, read books, prayed prayers, but this message of grace plus nothing has really never gotten through my thick skull…or my frail heart.

This is especially evident when trials come.  Each and every time I immediately begin to search out where I’m “missing it”.  Somehow, somewhere along the way, my sin must have tipped the scale and God now has to step in with discipline and straighten my fanny out.  In other words, when bad things happen in life, it is a sure sign I have failed God and now He must kick my rear…in love.  This is usually followed by an endless succession of prayers of repentance.  If confession and repentance doesn’t seem to “fix” the problem, I then begin the process of begging God to show me where I went wrong and what “I” must do to make Him “okay” with me again.  Like I said, if you’re going through a rough patch it must certainly mean you did, said, or thought something that didn’t quit jive with God and it’s off to the woodshed until you learn your lesson.  By the way, it’s true that our sin can lead to “icky” consequences and there are times God will discipline, but many times it’s just life being lived out in a sick and broken world.

There are so many problems with the kind of thinking that believes we must fix ourselves and our problems, yet I ALWAYS play that game…ALWAYS!  Let’s look at some of the flaws of that kind of mindset.

1.     When the “fix” finally comes (answered prayer the way I want it), I never know which of my prayers did the trick.  I’m glad the mess is over, but I’m clueless how “I” broke through to God.

2.     If I can fix the problem, I must be able to control God or at the very least there must be some magical way for us to get what we want from Him.  Of course, I never really know what that is.

3.     This thinking negates much of what the New Testament teaches us about our position in Christ and God’s sovereignty over every aspect of our existence.  I cause all my bad stuff to happen and I must find a way to get God to fix it.  (Problem:  Not in the bible)

4.     If I must play a role in fixing the bad stuff, then I’m part of the solution.  In essence, it’s on me to “flip the switch” to “get the lights back on”.

I could go on, but you can probably think of greater flaws than I’m listing here. 

The idea that Jesus accomplished everything on the cross is huge.  The fact that we have NO and I mean NO, ZERO, NOTTA part to play in any of this, our ONLY role is to receive is even more mind-boggling.  He does EVERYTHING because Jesus has done everything.  We receive…end of story.  This my friends, is a big pill to swallow and goes against every bit of pride within me.  I say pride; because it is my pride that causes me to actually believe I must somehow help or motivate God.  Which by the way…is ridiculous!

Please get what I’m saying here.  I’m not saying that this means every prayer works out the way we think it should, or even every promise is a done deal.  I am saying I don’t have to “try” to “make” something happen here.  It’s ALL in His hands and it’s ALL because of Christ.  You and I can add nothing.

I was thinking about Steve’s line that says, “That and that alone is what brings Him the highest glory”.  For me, it means that embracing Jesus as the only basis for answered prayer means that I bring Him glory by seeing Jesus as my one and only hope.  No plan B whatsoever.  My effort plays no part.  If it does (my effort), I have found a formula for manipulating God…and IT WORKED, and that means I “helped” God.  Well, we know very well scripture teaches us that we cannot help ourselves and we certainly could never help God do anything, nor would He allow it.  He alone gets the glory and it will not be shared with little specks of dust riding through the universe on a big speck of dust.

The good news is this:  He loves each and every little speck, so much in fact that He was willing to die for us.  This also means that great love He has for me is what “fixes” the bad stuff.  Again, not my performance or lack thereof, just Jesus. 

So what’s the big lesson in this for you Ken?  Well, I think it is that while I am called to pray, and those prayers matter to God, I can rest in the sufficiency of Christ and trust that He is enough.  I don’t have to talk God into anything when Christ has paid for everything.  The pressure's off!  I have no clue how anything will work out, but I can quit looking for the right "God button" to push.  That means I can go back to enjoying Jesus and quit trying to "fix" problems.  My problems became His on the cross. 

The bible says in Psalm 34, “Many are the troubles of the righteous man, but the Lord delivers him from them all”.  Jesus said we would have trouble in this world, but “take heart, I have overcome this word”.  Notice He said “I”…not you…or me for that matter.

So what now?  What about all the “poop” (my special word for trouble) happening in your life Ken?  Well, all I know is this:  I will pray, but I will not pray thinking I’ve got to motivate God somehow to help me.  Jesus has opened every door and I can rest in that.  Every prayer has been heard and God knows, cares, and is always listening.  His motivation is and will always be His own love for me through Jesus…and that is more than anything I could ever bring to the table. 

Will my problems be “fixed”?  Good question.  All I know is that it is in His hands.  I cannot “make” anything happen.  Jesus has done it all.  My hope is in Him and Him alone.

No plan B.

 

Save the World…Be the Parent

Dear parent, you have the right to control every single aspect of your child's life. You get to call the shots, because you pay the bills.

You have the right to tan your kid's rear when they talk to you like a dog and act like a fool. You deserve respect....and you pay the bills.

You have the right to check your kid's cell phone, iPod, tablet, computer, or any other electronic device they use in life any time you choose. These items are privileges. They are wants, not needs. If they whine about "their rights" and "their privacy" cordially remind them of their position within the family structure and take their junk. Next time, they'll think twice before objecting to your "rude intrusion". Remember, you can because you bought their stuff and you...pay the bills.

At the end of the day, your child relies on you for every single thing in life. You have the right to say no to anything and everything. Contrary to popular opinion, they don't get a vote and they do not possess the wisdom to live the way they choose, or make their own decisions. So, feel free to say no as often as you like because you....pay the bills.

Most of the time, kids act like idiots because we allow it and put up with their stupidity. It does not take long for them to realize you are a sucker and will let them act like an idiot. Like I said, they're not wise, but they're not dumb! By the way, notice I said "act" like idiots. They can choose, but you must "guide" that decision.

We need to lose this sad idea that our job in this life is to keep our kids happy and smiling. It is not. First and foremost, your job is to be your child's parent, not their buddy. Love your kids. Love them with every fiber of your being and make sure they know it, but if you're playing "the sucker", toughen up. Will they like it? Heck no! They'll kick, scream, whine, and fight you every step of the way, but somewhere down the line, they'll likely thank you.

Folks, we have enough worthless, lazy people in the world that really believe the world owes them something. It does not, and most of them.....do not pay the bills!

Want to save the world from the prevailing freeloader mentality that permeates much of American society? Be the parent!

It’s Personal, it’s Intimate, and it’s Messy!

 

I recently read a blog posting from a pastor I know sharing his burden for the lost. In his post, he implores his congregation to bring anyone and everyone to church on Sunday with the hope that they might hear the Gospel and be saved.

Nothing wrong with that.

Still, I would like to play devil's advocate for just a moment and present a few thoughts.

Let's say you do indeed bring your co-workers, friends, and neighbors to attend services with you Sunday morning. At some point, they hear a strong presentation of the Gospel, leave their seat, and make their way to the front. Here, they are encouraged by the pastor or a counselor to pray a simple prayer and receive the free gift of salvation from the heart of a loving God.

Nothing wrong with that….BUT

What happens then?

At the end of the service, that man or woman will eventually make their way home and immediately begin to wonder, "What the heck just happened?"

Now, here's my point. IF there are folks ready to step up and begin the process of discipleship in that person's life, that question gets answered.

But…does that happen?

Many times, this new convert is encouraged to join a class at church and possibly seek out a small group….if they're lucky.

Unfortunately, more times than not, they are left to figure out what this Christianity thing is all about…all alone. The result is a person who feels as though they were duped into something that felt right in the moment, but now just seems very confusing. At this point, the person is left with two choices: Jump in and hope that somewhere down the line things will come together, or simply walk away.

Before you disagree, or dare I say become "offended", consider this:

A few years back, the Southern Baptist Convention cited a huge number of baptisms for that particular year, sadly they said little about the fact that statistics showed that almost the same number of folks had left the church that same year or were considered missing in action.

Question: Are we truly impacting this world for Christ if we're losing as many as we gain?

So, what's the problem?

Well, I believe it is the abominable failure of the body of Christ to make disciples. Yeah we're great at introductions, but not so impressive when it comes to walking this thing out with someone.

Please know that I do not consider attending church with others discipleship, nor should you.

I could say a lot about what it means to disciple someone, but I think the Bible does a better job. By the way it's no great mystery. Just pick up the book and read what Paul has to say about the subject, or watch Jesus in action. I would cite the following verse from 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8:

We proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing MOTHER tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

 

Like I stated earlier, we tend to be great at introductions, but "imparting…our own lives"…not so much.

At the end of the day, I really believe we would rather just place blind trust in our programs and services and hope they will somehow get the job done.

Unfortunately, this will never do. Discipleship is personal, intimate, messy, and time-consuming. It requires far more than any slick program or well written Sunday school literature could ever hope to provide. It requires flesh and blood interaction…and lots of it.

Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and make "disciples" not just converts.

Consider this: If I told you I would like to take your for a ride in my plane, would you strap in if you found out my training consisted of a one hour introductory class on the basics of flight? I don't think so...unless you're a nut! And yet, we seem more than content to send folks out into a sin-rotten world with no more than a quick "Hey dude, you're going to Hell" message and a quick prayer.

In the end, I really believe this does far more harm to that soul and an unbelieving world than any of us truly realize.

So my dear pastor, please preach the gospel. The world needs to hear it. BUT, do not forget that babies need a lot of care. Leave them to fend for themselves, and you'll end up with a lot of dead bodies on your hands.

And yes, there's certainly something wrong with that!

 

 

Three Reasons America is in Desperate TROUBLE

WARNING: The following will not encourage you!

If I told you my family and I increased our debt load over $700,000 every single minute, would you say things were "looking up" for me? I'm guessing you'd have to go with the reply of "no". If that's the case, why in the world do I keep hearing all this silly talk about "economic recovery" and statements like "things are starting to look up"? Folks, I hate to be "Debbie Downer" here, but this whole "I think things are looking up in this country" idea is just ridiculous!

With that, I'd like to share three simple reasons why I believe America is in desperate trouble. By the way, I could list far more!

First, until that debt clock reverses direction, things are NOT looking up. I may be going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing you'd be hard pressed to find any economist or financial adviser worth his/her salt that would give a thumbs up to a "spend more than you have" approach to life. Sooner or later, regardless of who you are, that mindset will land you in deep trouble. Bottom line: America continues to borrow money and we have no way to pay it back.

Second, there has to be a reckoning day for a country that persists in printing worthless money. Here's a fun fact for you: On average, America prints around 35 million notes each and every day with a face value of approximately $750 million. And what grand item of value do we have to back up that daily addition of paper and ink? You guessed it! NOTHING! Check behind door number one, two, and three and you'll find nothing more than a boat load of empty D.C. promises! What about gold you say? Oh dear friend, that ship was abandoned long ago.

Dr. Mike Walden, North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, puts it this way:

"Of course, it used to be that you could cash in, so to speak, your cash - your dollars - for gold, but that's been long gone. Now there is a legal stipulation that dollars and coins printed by the U.S. government must be accepted as payment. But I think the real reason that the merchants that you talk about take your paper money, the real reason they do that, is simply trust. They trust that everyone else will take that paper as payment. So when they turn around and buy something, that person that they are buying from is going to take that paper money."

You see, it really is all just a sad game we play. I promise to accept your worthless piece of paper, if you'll accept mine. But keep this little tidbit in mind, printing money will always, at some magical point bring about an ugly little condition economists have termed as "inflation"! And what happens when a country is up to its eyebrows in debt, yet still continues to wildly print greenbacks? It likely bypasses inflation very quickly and moves straight to its even more enjoyable big brother known as "hyperinflation". You know, where your $20 is actually only worth $2.50, and the price of necessities such as gas and food move beyond your ability to purchase. Fun, Fun, Fun!

And finally, last but not least, let's not forget that you and I have a seemingly clueless president that continues to bless us with helpful "initiatives" grown in the fertile soil of stupidity such as Obamacare. Also, we have the good fortune of enduring a worthless, do nothing congress that refuses to work together to bring about even the slightest bit of change.

All in all, a recipe of disaster!

Friends, a train can't stop on a dime, and unfortunately this train we're all riding on is nearing a cliff and no one knows or apparently cares where the brake is. In the end, this whole idea that America is on the rebound is nothing more than a pleasant placebo we all continue to down in an effort to avoid the truth. That being, this country is big trouble, and still the train chugs happily along.

I wonder how many rounds of "kumbaya" we can get in before the lights go out.

God Hears, God Cares, and God Provides

I need to brag on Jesus! If you're praying about something and waiting on God is wearing you out, read this! 

As some of you know, we had to deal with mold issues in our upstairs bathroom just as our wonderful summer got started. Long story short, after having the mold removed, the bathroom gutted, and then restored, we were down for a little over $3,000. That might not seem like much to some folks, but to us it might as well  have been $30,000.

Needless to say, the summer has been "less than exciting". Most teachers lust after the blessed "summer break". Honestly, you look forward to it all year! I am no different. I had big plans and was REALLY looking forward to enjoying some adventures with my family. Of course, adventures take money and that little plan of mine changed with the mold. So how have we spent the summer? Well we have pretty much sat in our home, prayed, sat some more, and prayed some more...all summer long. Have I whined? Yes! Have I complained? Yes! Has God been teaching me incredible things? Without a doubt!

Yesterday, my heart was really broken and I was praying ever so fervently (that means hard…I think) about life, and just stuff. I have been really down about being so financially "twisted" with no clue how to "untwist", but yesterday was more about the reality of where I am currently with Jesus. I wasn't really praying about finances so much, just my heart in relation to His. It was during this time of prayer that the Lord reminded me of a scripture found in Joel 2. Here's what I read (it's kind of long…but you need to read it all):

Joel Chapter 2

A Call to Repentance
¹² That is why the Lord says,
"Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
¹³ Don't tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead."
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish.
¹⁴ Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve,
sending you a blessing instead of this curse.
Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine
to the Lord your God as before.
¹⁵ Blow the ram's horn in Jerusalem!
Announce a time of fasting;
call the people together
for a solemn meeting.
¹⁶ Gather all the people—
the elders, the children, and even the babies.
Call the bridegroom from his quarters
and the bride from her private room.
¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister in the Lord's presence,
stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar.
Let them pray, "Spare your people, Lord!
Don't let your special possession become an object of mockery.
Don't let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say,
'Has the God of Israel left them?'"

The Lord's Promise of Restoration

¹⁸ Then the Lord will pity his people
and jealously guard the honor of his land.
¹⁹ The Lord will reply,
"Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil,
enough to satisfy your needs.
You will no longer be an object of mockery
among the surrounding nations.
²⁰ I will drive away these armies from the north.
I will send them into the parched wastelands.
Those in the front will be driven into the Dead Sea,
and those at the rear into the Mediterranean.^[c]
The stench of their rotting bodies will rise over the land."
Surely the Lord has done great things!
²¹ Don't be afraid, my people.
Be glad now and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things.
²² Don't be afraid, you animals of the field,
for the wilderness pastures will soon be green.
The trees will again be filled with fruit;
fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more.
²³ Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem!
Rejoice in the Lord your God!
For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness.
Once more the autumn rains will come,
as well as the rains of spring.
²⁴ The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain,
and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.
²⁵ The Lord says, "I will give you back what you lost
to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,
the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.^[d]
It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.
²⁶ Once again you will have all the food you want,
and you will praise the Lord your God,
who does these miracles for you.
Never again will my people be disgraced.
²⁷ Then you will know that I am among my people Israel,
that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other.
Never again will my people be disgraced.



The words in these verses were so encouraging. Even when we think it is too late for us, the Lord continues to offer hope and restoration. We are NEVER too far gone or beyond redemption. Our Father is a God of restoration, mercy, and kindness.

Now for some big time bragging!

I woke up this morning and noticed I had a text from a friend with whom I work. It said, "Check your email. What a blessing!"

Now normally this particular person is brimming with sarcasm. So, I was figuring I would experience something "unpleasant"! What I read almost knocked me off my feet!

I opened my email, and found that I had received message from Whitfield County Schools…my employer. I'll spare you all that was shared, but somehow, someway, my employer made the decision to go ahead and pay us an "extra" check that would normally be issued after we retire. This was apparently done to benefit new employees. When I started my job, I was told I would have to go without a check for a couple of months due to this provision. Now out of nowhere, they reverse it. Regardless of the "why", this was HUGE news for my family, especially considering that my wife is also an employee of the county. Essentially, we will have double our normal income in the month of August which is almost exactly double what this whole mold mess costs us! Not only did God restore that lost income, He doubled it! Can you say, HUGE blessing? Yes sir I can!

This is so incredible to me! Yes, the money will be amazing and will certainly get us back on track, but honestly that's not the main reason I'm rejoicing. I'm rejoicing because somehow, someway, the Lord of the entire universe moved on the hearts and minds of the folks that employee me to change a policy that's been in place for years…just to bless and care for my family! The God who I continually doubt, whine to, get angry at, sin against, and in general fail miserably, still adores me so much He was willing to step into an impossible situation, despite all my garbage, and help!

Now you may say, "Ken you're crazy!" "That's just a coincidence! God didn't do that just for little old you!"

Maybe, maybe not. In the end, all I know or care about is He is there… and He cares about me. That's worth more than every penny in every bank!

So, why in the world would God move Heaven and Earth for just one family? I'll answer that with a another question: Why would God ever think to send His only son to die for a planet full of rebellious, sin-rotten people who didn't give a rip about Him?

Love. It's all about love! The overwhelming love of a Father who cares desperately for His own creation and will do anything to show Himself strong on their behalf.

It was love that caused Him to send His child to live, die, and rise again to redeem us, and it is that same immeasurable love that ushers each and every blessing into our lives. God is first and foremost a Father, and like any good father, there are no limits to what He will do to take care of His own!

So there you have it!

I once heard a guy say, "Hard situations create the perfect conditions for miracles. Impossible situations create the perfect conditions for mighty miracles".

Friends, I put this one together quick, but I hope it has encouraged you. I do not know what you are praying, hoping, and waiting on God for, but know this; He knows…and He cares!

Peace and blessings to you my friends!