Last week I mentioned that one of my friends is involved in an activity which is common to the distraction of the Christian by evil and almost always ends with the Christian being mislead and ultimately defeated by that same evil. The activity is Spiritual Warfare and how Christians get mislead is by seeing demons behind every yowling cat or flickering leaf. Seeing evil becomes their focus - not the Sovereignty of God nor the Deity of Jesus - which we are told to concentrate on.
My dear sister Becka went to a Christian missions training camp back in the early 1980's, she was going to serve in the underground church in Albania. She called me up so excited one night because she was learning about Spiritual Warfare and shared all. Now, I had never heard of such a thing, but I knew what she shared was in direct opposition to what the Bible tells us: flee from evil! This group was trying to hunt down Satan and make his efforts harder by turning people to God. My Bible tells me that Satan is an Angel and as such much more powerful than man. It would presume upon God to think He would back us up in attacking Satan, when we are told to flee from him in the first place! Hmmmmmmm ...
As for Becka, well she was ultimately defeated seeing demons behind the steering wheel of every car which got in her way on the freeway! She had taken her eyes off of God and literally was overcome by evil to such an extent that I was forced with her sister to institutionalize her and she is not "normal" to this day! So, I am leery of anyone whom tells me of their success in Spiritual Warfare, I have seen the Christian casualties and those whom are truly successful have nothing to brag about because they know the cost at which it came.
Unfortunately, for a few years, against my will, I was dragged into Spiritual Warfare. I do not care for it, I made all attempts to remain in-line Scripturally and I have to admit that there were some mighty odd encounters during that time frame which laid a very vivid foundation in me that evil is real, Satan is real and you had darn well better be drenched in Jesus blood if you expect to come out with your body, mind and soul intact!
I bang my drum against Western Theology and what America has done to destroy the Christian faith from the inside - corrupt Biblical teachers in its seminaries, publication of books for whom trees should have never died, all creating a shrinking Church because of the irrelevance of the Church today in the lives of the unbeliever (which includes most in a church service these days!). And if the Church is irrelevant, so are your testimony and witness - because the Church has nothing to offer a lost world other than promises of materialism any longer or open acceptance of your sin. Yeah, let us openly celebrate sin in the Church!
This is called the Spirit of Adultery.
The Church has left God and is following another doctrine, another god, another lover. The vast majority of what is Christendom today will not fare well before God come judgment day I fear.
Anyone out there think they can turn an adulterous Church around? Me either, but I can and do pray for God to raise up a revival - i just do not see it happening though and I worry as to why. Is there no one gift of evangelism any longer? Is the Holy Spirit no longer moving amongst us?
There are lots of "spirits" out there. But the Bible covers what I just talked about - a corrupt people overcome by adultery to a false god (and boy do we have false gods by the handfuls these days!). In fact it would seem that most of the Ten Commandments seem to have at their heart spirits or what we can call demons.
God is concerned about Himself and His relationship to us. (idolatry)
God is concerned that we appropriately respect His image He has built into each of us. (murder, adultery, theft)
God is concerned when our focus is wrong. (pride, jealousy, envy, greed, coveting)
God is concerned that we respect marriage. (adultery)
God is concerned that we respect our bodies in purity of mind, thought and deed. (adultery)
God is concerned that we respect what is our neighbors. (adultery, theft, false testimony, coveting)
So you seeing the trend here? What are the biggies of sin before God, all can have compelling, driving spiritual forces behind them! But, you are not just suddenly afflicted out of the blue! No you actually have to ask them for their help in dragging you down, which they will do willingly - fortunately, rare is the person whom would do this willingly!
Take lying. I have known world class liars, they had NO ability not to lie, they were compelled to lie and could not understand why they always lied. It was not until I became involved in a war against evil that I suddenly understood a few things:
My father was not a liar because he lied.
My father lied because he was a liar.
The spirit which drove him was one of lies, he never recognized this because he could not understand.
He had invited that spirit to help him lie because he wanted to lie and was willing to play evil's game.
In the end he never could see because he was blinded by this spirit.
And not being a Christian, could never have free himself (or be freed) from it.
Substitute your sin of choice in here and see how it reads out:
I was not an idolator became I was proud.
I was proud in my spirit because I was an idolator.
In being proud or participating willing in sin, I set myself up for oppression by evil, in this case pride. (idolatry)
(I have to use past tense here because that was shattered in my life in January. And the one person I wish whom could understand and see this ... well I fear is past tense was well. In fact, there is so little left of old me any longer ... )
What is important to understand here is that spiritual oppression, or possession, is the direct result of willingly falling into sin. My fall was when my church turned on me and fired me as a pastor because I believed in the Holy Spirit (I refused to say the Holy Spirit was no longer active in the believer's life), my bride left me for my best friend, my friends at church abandoned me because I was in sin to had been disfellowshipped and my father believing me to be in idiot ordered me home and told me I was marrying a girl from the House of Burgundy! No, sorry no lurid tales of sin here, I was in flat out rebellion to God because He had stripped me of everything. I hated God.
And I had lots of future problems thanks to that period of "Good Bye to God".
I had to learn that there are consequences for every act of rebellion. Nothing in my life did not affect those I cared for or whom surrounded me. Sin always comes at a cost and one of them was my opening myself up to spiritual oppression.
So what to do? You are suffering in this life trapped by a spirit of "---". And not only are you not unaware of it but you have been lied to by Western Theology that you are strong enough to stand up to the very spirit which is oppressing you. You probably have no idea if you are opposed or even what it is unless you can see yourself objectively. And when you can, well, you need some Christian friends to help overcome this.
Your friends help, you are "freed", now what?
You had better be darn sure that you are now in right standing with God.
You had better be darn sure you renounce any and every sin you have ever thought of or committed, and confessed all!
You had better have someone in place to be held accountable by!
These are not trivial matters, nor to be taken lightly.
I could write so much more, this is just the basics of a world that is not well defined for us and so much garbage you can read comes from the superstitions within the Roman Catholic Church, the corrupt Western Church and Hollywood.
Stay away from sin, if you can.
If you fall back into sin, you set yourself up for failure right off the bat.
Run if you are opposed.
Stand strong if you have to face the demonic world.
Understand that you have No authority or power over the spiritual world, only Jesus does.
Remember, demonic fate was sealed long ago.
Showing posts with label Satan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Satan. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
The World Versus The Christian
Philippians 4:8
Finally,
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
You and I live in a world controlled by Satan. We are surrounded by evil, longing to rub off
on us the stain of this world. A world
dedicated to bringing each of us down – compromising our witness, destroying our
families, destroying our lives – if at all possible! No part of us is immune to the constant
attack, our spirit, emotions, mind and body are all targeted and all too
willing for our defenses to be worn down.
If we are going to spend time surrounded by Satan’s world,
eventually the questionable things of this world are going to rob us of the
power meant for a Christian life meant to be lived as as witness to a lost world. The reason we have no power is that we spend
our time in the world, filling up on the things of this world – our minds and
emotions, answering the siren's call of sin. If
you are like most, you wonder why you have no power in your life to stand up to
distraction, no power not to sin, no power to live apart from the world.
When we study the history of the early church, and its
impact upon a God-less Roman world, you have to stand amazed at the almost
complete lack of impact Christians have today upon an even less God-less
world than 2,000 years ago! "Christians" are taken in by every
new doctrine to come along, no matter how far it leads away from the God they
claim to know but can not find. "Christians"
no longer have the ability to discern right from wrong, truth from error, much
less, to be able to "discern the spirits".
One explanation is the almost complete ignorance Christian’s
have of the Bible. We know about the
Bible but not the Bible’s actual contents!
Further, some know their Bible but possess no understanding of what the Bible
actual says. Then to return to the
concept of our lack of power, we must know our Bible, we must understand our
Bible, we must be able to apply our Bible in our day to day lives. Else, the world will be as the world current is!
The Bible, the Word of God, is meant to be our spiritual food. The only way to grow spiritually is to spend
time in the Bible. It is this Word which
reveals Jesus to us. We need to see Him and His life reflected in the mirror of the Bible. We need to have the
reality of Him in our daily lives. And,
to do that is to behold the glory of God.
Contemplation of whom Jesus is, is where power is to be
found. We need to leave behind the
troubles and lure of this world, digging deep into our Bible where we can
contemplate, worship and praise Him.
(with apologies to J.
Vernon McGee, from whom the idea for this post was “borrowed” as this fits in with what
follows)
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Ramblings
I wrote Monday's post on Friday night and my!, wasn't I just a bundle of joy?!?!?!?!?!?!
James, even though we have only known him a few years, was one of those contagious people you just love to be around. For Dutchman and me, we had know his wife from our old lives, so there was that connection as well. Surprisingly, he was apparently well known amongst many of those at the show this weekend. He worked in sheet rock (or something like that, I never actually knew!), so many at the show were discussing him and his surprising death. The tales were all different as to how he died or was found, like 90% of all dead bodies - at home, laying on the bathroom floor was reality.
For as hard as James' death has hit me, it has been a source of major upset to Swede - whose brother and aunt both died unexpectedly last year. I have been gently prodding him to help the widow by telling her what she needs to do, whom she needs to talk to, etc. It is not as if any of us, other than him, have had to deal with a death recently!
My aunt handled Franz's affairs when he died last year and father died in now many years ago. So, I have forgotten much.
And this has been a pile driver on Dutchman's emotions. It has completely deflated him. James was over a decade younger than us and everyone has the flu up here it seems. His death is just about as poor a timing as anyone could have proposed. Death never seems to be very convenient. Yet, I remain convinced that it is always correctly timed on the big-guy's watch. That timing just remains a question though. Why now? Oh to know the mind of God!
His wife is still in shock. Their finances were iffy as it was, now she will be losing their home as she does not make enough, which means the boat, the cars, etc. are going to be history, and I would add the daughter is going to go insane - 16, dad dead, yup she is going to end up being hunted around here by every predator in the area.
... Sigh ...
And Satan played my mind so well. Just random incidents, percolating through my mind, making me draw some conclusions which were not right, and my mind went - tweak! One day they may draw out to what my mind concluded but at least for now all is well.
And by "all is well", that is to say that the environment I live under is growing worse - albeit - not as concluding as I had thought. Kris still going to be around for a little while longer ... But, I guess ... well ... walking to Argentina is still a valid option. And I will admit the only reason I stay is because God seems to want to use me again to help another - like a dangling carrot. And I know that if it is what He wants, then I need to do it - 'cause if I do not do it willingly - it can be made to be harder on any of us! We will still do his determinative will ...
... Sigh ...
The antique show was ... um ... pretty horrible. Sales were slow, the weather just awful, attendance way down. Conversely, when selling is bad, shopping is always good! I scored some interesting pieces for my collection of American Indian artifacts: three small Navajo rugs, not in great shape as they were used. A deer antler for a project I have in mind. A piece of Belleek in a pattern I have never seen before. And four old butcher fleshing knives. Yeah, I think I am going to have to take down an elk this fall.
Guessing this will be the first year where that will be true. In 30 years of hunting only a rabbit has been killed by accident and a grouse - whom I had to shoot in self defense (don't ask, it is too embarrassing! But, it was Dutchman's fault!). I like to live and let live, as I have never HAD to envision hunting as anything more than a chance to sit around a fire, eat beans, swap tall tales (facts supported by poor evidence ...) and enjoy guy time. Oh we have had plenty of animals through the years, usually we found them abandoned and dead or dying. Waste not, want not! I really have no use for "hunters" whom do not track down their prey after shooting them. Oh, and then there was that horrible hunt up in Canada where Dutchman shot an antique Corvair van, which had been parked behind a tree and then camo draped all over it! Well, we were easily 10 miles from the nearest road we knew of! So, just saying we might need to add a car to the list of the dead was well. (Honestly, had it not of been so traumatic on Dutchman, at the time I might have died of laughter!) That was one EXPENSIVE hunt!
James, even though we have only known him a few years, was one of those contagious people you just love to be around. For Dutchman and me, we had know his wife from our old lives, so there was that connection as well. Surprisingly, he was apparently well known amongst many of those at the show this weekend. He worked in sheet rock (or something like that, I never actually knew!), so many at the show were discussing him and his surprising death. The tales were all different as to how he died or was found, like 90% of all dead bodies - at home, laying on the bathroom floor was reality.
For as hard as James' death has hit me, it has been a source of major upset to Swede - whose brother and aunt both died unexpectedly last year. I have been gently prodding him to help the widow by telling her what she needs to do, whom she needs to talk to, etc. It is not as if any of us, other than him, have had to deal with a death recently!
My aunt handled Franz's affairs when he died last year and father died in now many years ago. So, I have forgotten much.
And this has been a pile driver on Dutchman's emotions. It has completely deflated him. James was over a decade younger than us and everyone has the flu up here it seems. His death is just about as poor a timing as anyone could have proposed. Death never seems to be very convenient. Yet, I remain convinced that it is always correctly timed on the big-guy's watch. That timing just remains a question though. Why now? Oh to know the mind of God!
His wife is still in shock. Their finances were iffy as it was, now she will be losing their home as she does not make enough, which means the boat, the cars, etc. are going to be history, and I would add the daughter is going to go insane - 16, dad dead, yup she is going to end up being hunted around here by every predator in the area.
... Sigh ...
And Satan played my mind so well. Just random incidents, percolating through my mind, making me draw some conclusions which were not right, and my mind went - tweak! One day they may draw out to what my mind concluded but at least for now all is well.
And by "all is well", that is to say that the environment I live under is growing worse - albeit - not as concluding as I had thought. Kris still going to be around for a little while longer ... But, I guess ... well ... walking to Argentina is still a valid option. And I will admit the only reason I stay is because God seems to want to use me again to help another - like a dangling carrot. And I know that if it is what He wants, then I need to do it - 'cause if I do not do it willingly - it can be made to be harder on any of us! We will still do his determinative will ...
... Sigh ...
The antique show was ... um ... pretty horrible. Sales were slow, the weather just awful, attendance way down. Conversely, when selling is bad, shopping is always good! I scored some interesting pieces for my collection of American Indian artifacts: three small Navajo rugs, not in great shape as they were used. A deer antler for a project I have in mind. A piece of Belleek in a pattern I have never seen before. And four old butcher fleshing knives. Yeah, I think I am going to have to take down an elk this fall.
Guessing this will be the first year where that will be true. In 30 years of hunting only a rabbit has been killed by accident and a grouse - whom I had to shoot in self defense (don't ask, it is too embarrassing! But, it was Dutchman's fault!). I like to live and let live, as I have never HAD to envision hunting as anything more than a chance to sit around a fire, eat beans, swap tall tales (facts supported by poor evidence ...) and enjoy guy time. Oh we have had plenty of animals through the years, usually we found them abandoned and dead or dying. Waste not, want not! I really have no use for "hunters" whom do not track down their prey after shooting them. Oh, and then there was that horrible hunt up in Canada where Dutchman shot an antique Corvair van, which had been parked behind a tree and then camo draped all over it! Well, we were easily 10 miles from the nearest road we knew of! So, just saying we might need to add a car to the list of the dead was well. (Honestly, had it not of been so traumatic on Dutchman, at the time I might have died of laughter!) That was one EXPENSIVE hunt!
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Shadow of Evil
Quietly, in the background of my life, I have been trying to figure a problem out. The problem is, the answer I keep coming to, is in direct opposition to something I know for fact.
People, anyone, you, me, your momma will during course of our lifetimes have problems or make decisions which will affect others around us. How are we as onlookers to deal with these times?
First off, there are problems, Problems and then there are PROBLEMS! So from normal to abnormal, is how they are arranged.
Everyone has normal problems - our own stupidity causing harm and to perhaps an inconvenient proportion of others around us as well.
Problems are more difficult because something has gone wrong inside of the person and we are now dealing with prayer and spiritual damage control.
PROBLEMS, well, yeah - we are talking plain and simple demonic activity. Somewhere, somehow, the person fell off of the spiritual bandwagon and the demons have been rejoicing ever since. Everyone is damaged in the resulting carnage!
You might remember that one my flippant interview questions I did on my birthday last week, I listed one of my natural talents as getting to the bottom of the causes for problems in my friends' lives. It is also one of the greatest separators of my friends and I - no one likes having what only they know, no one else could possibly know, known - especially by me. And then, have me address this with them. Sigh ...
So, a family with PROBLEMS. By what right would demons dare to attack this family? Well, God could have said, "Hey Satan! You did quite a number on Job. Wanna have a go at another family?" But, I do not think so.
Demons could be picking off the family members individually, but again doubtful. Not a big enough exposure to give Satan the praise he seeks in disqualifying God and His power on Earth. Satan likes vulnerable targets with lots of public exposure! Not you or me.
So, we are going to think parents here. Something went wrong with the parents, during the twenty years I was mostly away. And that sort of makes me angry!
Both parents are currently quite insane if you ask me. Nothing makes any sense, it is random, it is irrational - it is all of the things demonic activity is based off of - except for the smoking gun of sin. And that is the hard one. If it was based on sin, it would be public, it would be discrediting other Christians. Instead just this drumbeat of insanity destroying a family quietly in the dark.
I have been praying concerning this quite some time - with no direction, answer or hints. Until tonight.
My heart was again broken from what I heard, no rational person would do, would say, or could have ... ever. We are discussing hate here, which is not one of the gifts of the Spirit. So, now we have a direct observation of salt water claiming to come from a fresh water spring. Ain't, gonna happen!
And my mind wandered back to a stand-off between the father and I forty years ago. What he did is not so important as that my reaction was quite violent. He was going to die, make no mistake here, that old Kris had driven hundreds of miles to offer him a chance to change or to die. It was that simple. He chose wisely and did turn his life 180 degrees around. And he held that course for decades. Then something happened, somewhere, somehow, sin had regained control!
When I look at prejudice, hatred, judgement - all the "classic" adjectives used to describe an American Christian, we are no longer talking God in control. These three are in fact the root cause for the problems in his life, they go back to happenings in his life long ago, now boiling over due to resentment of others and his own physical condition as well as sinful nature.
And here is where I have been praying for knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
I now know, I now understand, but I have no wisdom as how to precede! In fact I really need Miss Manners to contact me, if she even still reads this blog! Wisest person I have ever encountered and this is Kris' SOS to you out there ... !
So, mitigating damage inside of the family I can nibble at the edges of and pray for changed hearts.
Praying for wisdom and God's words in addressing this with him, if I can ever get him alone because I think I know - but dear God I hope not!
And if you would join me in prayer, this is a badly damaged family of 6 and honestly, they are in need of a major God intervention ...
I truly believe God has His hand of judgement on them, trying to call them back and most seem obvious.
People, anyone, you, me, your momma will during course of our lifetimes have problems or make decisions which will affect others around us. How are we as onlookers to deal with these times?
First off, there are problems, Problems and then there are PROBLEMS! So from normal to abnormal, is how they are arranged.
Everyone has normal problems - our own stupidity causing harm and to perhaps an inconvenient proportion of others around us as well.
Problems are more difficult because something has gone wrong inside of the person and we are now dealing with prayer and spiritual damage control.
PROBLEMS, well, yeah - we are talking plain and simple demonic activity. Somewhere, somehow, the person fell off of the spiritual bandwagon and the demons have been rejoicing ever since. Everyone is damaged in the resulting carnage!
You might remember that one my flippant interview questions I did on my birthday last week, I listed one of my natural talents as getting to the bottom of the causes for problems in my friends' lives. It is also one of the greatest separators of my friends and I - no one likes having what only they know, no one else could possibly know, known - especially by me. And then, have me address this with them. Sigh ...
So, a family with PROBLEMS. By what right would demons dare to attack this family? Well, God could have said, "Hey Satan! You did quite a number on Job. Wanna have a go at another family?" But, I do not think so.
Demons could be picking off the family members individually, but again doubtful. Not a big enough exposure to give Satan the praise he seeks in disqualifying God and His power on Earth. Satan likes vulnerable targets with lots of public exposure! Not you or me.
So, we are going to think parents here. Something went wrong with the parents, during the twenty years I was mostly away. And that sort of makes me angry!
Both parents are currently quite insane if you ask me. Nothing makes any sense, it is random, it is irrational - it is all of the things demonic activity is based off of - except for the smoking gun of sin. And that is the hard one. If it was based on sin, it would be public, it would be discrediting other Christians. Instead just this drumbeat of insanity destroying a family quietly in the dark.
I have been praying concerning this quite some time - with no direction, answer or hints. Until tonight.
My heart was again broken from what I heard, no rational person would do, would say, or could have ... ever. We are discussing hate here, which is not one of the gifts of the Spirit. So, now we have a direct observation of salt water claiming to come from a fresh water spring. Ain't, gonna happen!
And my mind wandered back to a stand-off between the father and I forty years ago. What he did is not so important as that my reaction was quite violent. He was going to die, make no mistake here, that old Kris had driven hundreds of miles to offer him a chance to change or to die. It was that simple. He chose wisely and did turn his life 180 degrees around. And he held that course for decades. Then something happened, somewhere, somehow, sin had regained control!
When I look at prejudice, hatred, judgement - all the "classic" adjectives used to describe an American Christian, we are no longer talking God in control. These three are in fact the root cause for the problems in his life, they go back to happenings in his life long ago, now boiling over due to resentment of others and his own physical condition as well as sinful nature.
And here is where I have been praying for knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
I now know, I now understand, but I have no wisdom as how to precede! In fact I really need Miss Manners to contact me, if she even still reads this blog! Wisest person I have ever encountered and this is Kris' SOS to you out there ... !
So, mitigating damage inside of the family I can nibble at the edges of and pray for changed hearts.
Praying for wisdom and God's words in addressing this with him, if I can ever get him alone because I think I know - but dear God I hope not!
And if you would join me in prayer, this is a badly damaged family of 6 and honestly, they are in need of a major God intervention ...
I truly believe God has His hand of judgement on them, trying to call them back and most seem obvious.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
To Stand in Faith
Satan had a hay day with me on the first, a very hard day.
It was klutz day from beginning to end.
I was upset for my in my spirit, I guessed at something I would have no way to know.
I was injured because this weighed upon me and distracted me.
Car after car I touched, died.
Finally, I almost had one ready again for the road - when the screws and then the screwdriver - simply disappeared. And I do mean disappeared, "poof"!
I stopped. I realized Satan was beating on me again - we had left the realm of reality ...
He had hit me last night and though it hurt, I could try and shrug it off.
And each hour of the first got harder and harder.
Finally, I could no longer shrug off the elephant in my brain, spirit and emotions.
And I caught myself.
I realized that under my old nature, faith was quite simple - God will do what God will do - I will follow.
Under my new nature of last year, faith is not so simple. God will do what God will do - I will bleed and/or follow.
I stopped and put down my flashlight - it was no use in finding my lost screwdriver - it was gone.
I realized that I can be the natural man and go with what I "know".
Or I can stand in faith upon what is not obvious at all, but what I have been "told" in direct opposition to all knowledge and common sense.
God never called me to stand where it is convenient or safe.
He never promised anything to me.
He did however call me to be and to do what He commands.
No matter how illogical it all appears.
No matter how badly my new nature is damaged.
No matter whatever the fallout.
I can cut and run.
I can stand and burn.
Sorry Satan, I choose to stand.
And yes, I do fully understand that cost.
I only worry that others may be scorched, whom lack all understanding.
It was klutz day from beginning to end.
I was upset for my in my spirit, I guessed at something I would have no way to know.
I was injured because this weighed upon me and distracted me.
Car after car I touched, died.
Finally, I almost had one ready again for the road - when the screws and then the screwdriver - simply disappeared. And I do mean disappeared, "poof"!
I stopped. I realized Satan was beating on me again - we had left the realm of reality ...
He had hit me last night and though it hurt, I could try and shrug it off.
And each hour of the first got harder and harder.
Finally, I could no longer shrug off the elephant in my brain, spirit and emotions.
And I caught myself.
I realized that under my old nature, faith was quite simple - God will do what God will do - I will follow.
Under my new nature of last year, faith is not so simple. God will do what God will do - I will bleed and/or follow.
I stopped and put down my flashlight - it was no use in finding my lost screwdriver - it was gone.
I realized that I can be the natural man and go with what I "know".
Or I can stand in faith upon what is not obvious at all, but what I have been "told" in direct opposition to all knowledge and common sense.
God never called me to stand where it is convenient or safe.
He never promised anything to me.
He did however call me to be and to do what He commands.
No matter how illogical it all appears.
No matter how badly my new nature is damaged.
No matter whatever the fallout.
I can cut and run.
I can stand and burn.
Sorry Satan, I choose to stand.
And yes, I do fully understand that cost.
I only worry that others may be scorched, whom lack all understanding.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Public Pressure
Pick an animal I do not like to eat.
Pick something I would not hunt.
Pick a TV "star" I have never heard of.
Pick a TV show I have never heard of.
Pick an author I have never heard of.
Pick a Christian being slapped around and now I have heard of him!
Yeah, Phil Robertson, of apparently Duck Commander fame has suddenly made the news!
Apparently Phil never heard of Jimmy Carter and his destruction at the hands of Playboy Magazine. Sure you can be a Christian but when you expect fair treatment at the hands of the world - you are dreaming.
So, Phil commented that with LGBT agenda we are discussing sexual sin - surprise! the Bible says the same thing! Sexual sin is sin, sin is judged by God, suprise! the world does not believe they deserve judged. So, A&E called him on this and now he is without a show as A&E's horror at offending between 2 and 6% of the population is greater than offending the Christian majority in this nation.
Oh wait, I forgot, it is okay to trashed Christians because they are powerless.
Well, I do not have cable, so I do not have A&E even as an option. But, just to pass on a point - I have boycotted Disney since they opened their arms to the gay community and locked out Christians once a year. They are not willing to have a Christian day ... So, discriminate against me - why should I use your products? But, the weakness of the Christians in this country do not allow them to boycott what their children demand. And consider China whom enslaves Christians to work in factories making junk to ship to America! I refuse to buy China anything, even if it is the only item available - I will then revert to buying used rather than new, if it means starving China of my dollars!
Should American Christians ever wake up to discover their spine and the power of public opinion/pressure - entities such as Disney would rapidly be starved, as would Sony and Tri-Star all of whom have made anti-Christian statements. Kiss off most of the TV - imagine Nelson rates now in the 2-3% as a high because Christians are willing to no long put up with their messages. Conversely, supporting companies which support Christian causes, even if only by not banning Salvation Army bell ringers, would put Kroeger in the lead over their rather God-less competition (Target, K-Mart, Wal-Mart). Imagine such a new world. Sure haters would go out of their minds but then again, they can go to France and enjoy all they seek to make America into.
As just a well documented example of what a boycott can due:
I was in Hawaii one time and the police came up with the bright idea of issuing parking tickets to all rentals cars, even if they were parked correctly. The $25 ticket was nothing compared to the $600 just to return to Hawaii to appear in court to fight the ticket! So, I told them the situation, provide photographs of my correctly parked car, ticket displayed on the windshield and they told me to pay up or have a bench warrant issued. Okay, so I told all of my friends, all of my friends friends, co-workers, anyone I heard mention going to Hawaii and at the end of one year I had amassed $1.3m in losses to Hawaiian tourist industry and airlines. And I wrote and told them so. Second year was better $2.3m in moneys which did not reach their shores and I told them again. This continued for 5 years. I how had amassed over $50m in funds which were redirected to other tourist destinations. I got a letter of apology from the state's Lt. Governor. Never got my $25 back but they were able to observe these bright ideas can hurt them - if someone is willing to make their behavior public and hold them accountable.
You have power as a Christian. Don't be stupid - use it wisely and effectively. You too can have the ability to starve public corporations and movements into submission just by refusing to use them or to fight them publicly. Remember evil hates the light of truth and will flee from it, but you have to have the determination to take a stand.
For me, I am not an A&E customer so little I can do there. But, I can go out and buy one of Robertson's books at Costco this weekend - maybe a present for Dutchman or Swede for next week? You can also fight by supporting the person being attacked too!
Pick something I would not hunt.
Pick a TV "star" I have never heard of.
Pick a TV show I have never heard of.
Pick an author I have never heard of.
Pick a Christian being slapped around and now I have heard of him!
Yeah, Phil Robertson, of apparently Duck Commander fame has suddenly made the news!
Apparently Phil never heard of Jimmy Carter and his destruction at the hands of Playboy Magazine. Sure you can be a Christian but when you expect fair treatment at the hands of the world - you are dreaming.
So, Phil commented that with LGBT agenda we are discussing sexual sin - surprise! the Bible says the same thing! Sexual sin is sin, sin is judged by God, suprise! the world does not believe they deserve judged. So, A&E called him on this and now he is without a show as A&E's horror at offending between 2 and 6% of the population is greater than offending the Christian majority in this nation.
Oh wait, I forgot, it is okay to trashed Christians because they are powerless.
Well, I do not have cable, so I do not have A&E even as an option. But, just to pass on a point - I have boycotted Disney since they opened their arms to the gay community and locked out Christians once a year. They are not willing to have a Christian day ... So, discriminate against me - why should I use your products? But, the weakness of the Christians in this country do not allow them to boycott what their children demand. And consider China whom enslaves Christians to work in factories making junk to ship to America! I refuse to buy China anything, even if it is the only item available - I will then revert to buying used rather than new, if it means starving China of my dollars!
Should American Christians ever wake up to discover their spine and the power of public opinion/pressure - entities such as Disney would rapidly be starved, as would Sony and Tri-Star all of whom have made anti-Christian statements. Kiss off most of the TV - imagine Nelson rates now in the 2-3% as a high because Christians are willing to no long put up with their messages. Conversely, supporting companies which support Christian causes, even if only by not banning Salvation Army bell ringers, would put Kroeger in the lead over their rather God-less competition (Target, K-Mart, Wal-Mart). Imagine such a new world. Sure haters would go out of their minds but then again, they can go to France and enjoy all they seek to make America into.
As just a well documented example of what a boycott can due:
I was in Hawaii one time and the police came up with the bright idea of issuing parking tickets to all rentals cars, even if they were parked correctly. The $25 ticket was nothing compared to the $600 just to return to Hawaii to appear in court to fight the ticket! So, I told them the situation, provide photographs of my correctly parked car, ticket displayed on the windshield and they told me to pay up or have a bench warrant issued. Okay, so I told all of my friends, all of my friends friends, co-workers, anyone I heard mention going to Hawaii and at the end of one year I had amassed $1.3m in losses to Hawaiian tourist industry and airlines. And I wrote and told them so. Second year was better $2.3m in moneys which did not reach their shores and I told them again. This continued for 5 years. I how had amassed over $50m in funds which were redirected to other tourist destinations. I got a letter of apology from the state's Lt. Governor. Never got my $25 back but they were able to observe these bright ideas can hurt them - if someone is willing to make their behavior public and hold them accountable.
You have power as a Christian. Don't be stupid - use it wisely and effectively. You too can have the ability to starve public corporations and movements into submission just by refusing to use them or to fight them publicly. Remember evil hates the light of truth and will flee from it, but you have to have the determination to take a stand.
For me, I am not an A&E customer so little I can do there. But, I can go out and buy one of Robertson's books at Costco this weekend - maybe a present for Dutchman or Swede for next week? You can also fight by supporting the person being attacked too!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Almost Human
Youngest daughter wanted to watch the premier episode of a new science fiction TV show, Almost Human, and I thought, what the heck and watched it with her.
I liked Sunday's episode. No idea where the series is going to go, but since it is TV is it only a matter of time before it turns into a soap opera...
Monday -
So, it was a two part premier, the second one being tonight. It had about 10 minutes of story sort of like Bones or NCIS in content and the rest was just an excuse to have a lingerie fashion show, while discussing the sex trade of the future.
Really? That is the best their writers could come up with? Surely they had months if not a year to work through the premier episodes and "they" went with a bunch of model wanna-be's in underwear?
Really?
Given that start off, I predict this show will be wildly successful, winning all kinds of awards.
And one more reason Kris does not watch much more than the weather forecasts.
Sigh.
I liked Sunday's episode. No idea where the series is going to go, but since it is TV is it only a matter of time before it turns into a soap opera...
Monday -
So, it was a two part premier, the second one being tonight. It had about 10 minutes of story sort of like Bones or NCIS in content and the rest was just an excuse to have a lingerie fashion show, while discussing the sex trade of the future.
Really? That is the best their writers could come up with? Surely they had months if not a year to work through the premier episodes and "they" went with a bunch of model wanna-be's in underwear?
Really?
Given that start off, I predict this show will be wildly successful, winning all kinds of awards.
And one more reason Kris does not watch much more than the weather forecasts.
Sigh.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Where Is God?
“Night, is a book by Elie Wiesel about his experience in the German
concentration camps. “One day,” writes Wiesel, “as we returned from
work, we saw three gallows… The SS [guards] seemed more preoccupied,
more worried, than usual. To hang a child in front of thousands of
onlookers was not a small matter. The head of the camp read the verdict.
All eyes were on the child. He was pale, almost calm, but he was biting
his lips as he stood in the shadow of the gallows… ‘Where is merciful
God, where is He?’ someone behind me was asking. At the signal, the
three chairs were tipped over… Then came the march past the victims. The
two men were no longer alive… The child, too light, was still
breathing… And so he remained for more than half an hour, lingering
between life and death… Behind me, I heard the same man asking: ‘For
God’s sake, where is God?’ And from within me, I heard a voice answer;
‘Where is He? This is where – hanging here from this gallows…'
Where is God when a child is shot in Newtown or hung in Auschwitz or killed in an American drone air strike or for that matter dies of cancer? I don’t know. There is no answer.
Talk of God giving humans free will and thus allowing us to face the consequences of our choices solves nothing. If the creator could intervene personally when it came to the magic tricks in the Bible like making the sun stand still for a day in a battle, he could have done something about that child gasping out his young life. He didn’t. Theology that tries to paper this horrible fact over with explanations about why there is evil is nothing but nervous blather.
But I take comfort in the fact that sometimes a person of immense courage follows Christ to a cross. Such acts point to a God that had the empathy to share our fate. Sometimes one person’s example gives me hope that following Christ might be the path that leads us out of the hell we’ve made, even if I’ll never know why we’re here in the first place, let alone why God didn’t just make things simpler, better, faster rather than taking the slow path of gradual ethical evolution."
***
If you are Christian, if you deal regularly with the unchurched, sometimes even the churched, you will hear the wail and the anger - because there is no God, because no fair God would allow ...
And how do you answer them?
When I think of my late friend Peter, telling of me of the nun Maria's plight in a Magadan death gulag ...
When I think of the 6.5 million Jews, the 7.5 million Christians executed by my father's Reich ...
When I think of Lenin and his 19 million executions to purify the land ...
When I think of the 30 million Stalin in his paranoia executed ...
When I think of Mao Tse Tung and his 32 million deaths ...
Or Pol Pot ...
Or Rwanda ...
Or Ruby Ridge, Idaho ...
Or Waco, Texas ...
Or the assassination of John F Kennedy ...
Or a record setting typhoon ...
Where is God when the millions, or even the one is crying out in their death rattle?
Where is God in the storm, the waves, the tides, the mass deaths by nature?
How can a fair God ...
And that is the rub, God is not "fair". If he was you would already be dead, as would I.
God is a "just" God, he does what is right, not what is fair.
When we see with human eyes, we are looking for fairness.
When we see with God's eyes, we are looking for justice.
And when we are judging God, we are judging by human standards, not God's standards.
Where is God? Allowing man to trash and destroy His creation, even human life. He has already provided the only standard of measure for life - the ability to stand with Him but acknowledging His son's sacrifice, at human hands.
Where is God in the storm or other natural disaster? Perhaps judging a perverse culture, perhaps destroying false witnesses, perhaps testing the faith of His people, perhaps calling His people home because it is time.
We are not smart enough to know. I can look at a culture dedicated to sexual vice and know God will call them to judgement. I can look at authorities whom are ruthless or corrupt and know that God is going to call them to account for their deeds. I do not know when, I do not know how, but anyone can read Jeremiah or Isaiah in the Bible and see that God has a standard and He was willing to use it even against His own people - to their own destruction! How much more so for a just God, to do the same to _____ (fill in the blank).
We are the creation, not the creator, we can not judge how He uses us, when he uses, where he will use us - we just have to be willing to be used, ready to be used and expect to be used. The problems arise when we say, "Well, God would never work that way!" Really? Maybe you need to study your Bible a little more closely before you side with Western (American) Culture's beliefs about God.
The real God does not cause sin, that does not mean He can not use it to His advantage. The real God does have control of everything and is more than willing to turn Satan loose upon a world unable to recognize much less fight against it without the Holy Spirit's intervention.
Everyday, in the world around you, in your daily life, God is there, God is working. Can you see Him? Can you see His handiwork? Can you show others?
But, if you are not a Christian, well, there is no requirement that God does anything in your life or around you, other than to continually offer you the chance to make your peace with Him - through you acceptance of His son's death as the payment for your doing things your way and not His. And then you get to be held accountable for having followed teachers of the truth ... (hint, we are surrounded by those quite willing to lie to us and mislead us!)
So where is God right now? Calling the hurting, the desperate to look to Him and not theirselves for the answer to their problems. Calling you to account - right now, right here ...
That does not mean you are saved from death or punishment, but it does mean there is a better way from what you knew on this Earth.
Where is God when a child is shot in Newtown or hung in Auschwitz or killed in an American drone air strike or for that matter dies of cancer? I don’t know. There is no answer.
Talk of God giving humans free will and thus allowing us to face the consequences of our choices solves nothing. If the creator could intervene personally when it came to the magic tricks in the Bible like making the sun stand still for a day in a battle, he could have done something about that child gasping out his young life. He didn’t. Theology that tries to paper this horrible fact over with explanations about why there is evil is nothing but nervous blather.
But I take comfort in the fact that sometimes a person of immense courage follows Christ to a cross. Such acts point to a God that had the empathy to share our fate. Sometimes one person’s example gives me hope that following Christ might be the path that leads us out of the hell we’ve made, even if I’ll never know why we’re here in the first place, let alone why God didn’t just make things simpler, better, faster rather than taking the slow path of gradual ethical evolution."
***
If you are Christian, if you deal regularly with the unchurched, sometimes even the churched, you will hear the wail and the anger - because there is no God, because no fair God would allow ...
And how do you answer them?
When I think of my late friend Peter, telling of me of the nun Maria's plight in a Magadan death gulag ...
When I think of the 6.5 million Jews, the 7.5 million Christians executed by my father's Reich ...
When I think of Lenin and his 19 million executions to purify the land ...
When I think of the 30 million Stalin in his paranoia executed ...
When I think of Mao Tse Tung and his 32 million deaths ...
Or Pol Pot ...
Or Rwanda ...
Or Ruby Ridge, Idaho ...
Or Waco, Texas ...
Or the assassination of John F Kennedy ...
Or a record setting typhoon ...
Where is God when the millions, or even the one is crying out in their death rattle?
Where is God in the storm, the waves, the tides, the mass deaths by nature?
How can a fair God ...
And that is the rub, God is not "fair". If he was you would already be dead, as would I.
God is a "just" God, he does what is right, not what is fair.
When we see with human eyes, we are looking for fairness.
When we see with God's eyes, we are looking for justice.
And when we are judging God, we are judging by human standards, not God's standards.
Where is God? Allowing man to trash and destroy His creation, even human life. He has already provided the only standard of measure for life - the ability to stand with Him but acknowledging His son's sacrifice, at human hands.
Where is God in the storm or other natural disaster? Perhaps judging a perverse culture, perhaps destroying false witnesses, perhaps testing the faith of His people, perhaps calling His people home because it is time.
We are not smart enough to know. I can look at a culture dedicated to sexual vice and know God will call them to judgement. I can look at authorities whom are ruthless or corrupt and know that God is going to call them to account for their deeds. I do not know when, I do not know how, but anyone can read Jeremiah or Isaiah in the Bible and see that God has a standard and He was willing to use it even against His own people - to their own destruction! How much more so for a just God, to do the same to _____ (fill in the blank).
We are the creation, not the creator, we can not judge how He uses us, when he uses, where he will use us - we just have to be willing to be used, ready to be used and expect to be used. The problems arise when we say, "Well, God would never work that way!" Really? Maybe you need to study your Bible a little more closely before you side with Western (American) Culture's beliefs about God.
The real God does not cause sin, that does not mean He can not use it to His advantage. The real God does have control of everything and is more than willing to turn Satan loose upon a world unable to recognize much less fight against it without the Holy Spirit's intervention.
Everyday, in the world around you, in your daily life, God is there, God is working. Can you see Him? Can you see His handiwork? Can you show others?
But, if you are not a Christian, well, there is no requirement that God does anything in your life or around you, other than to continually offer you the chance to make your peace with Him - through you acceptance of His son's death as the payment for your doing things your way and not His. And then you get to be held accountable for having followed teachers of the truth ... (hint, we are surrounded by those quite willing to lie to us and mislead us!)
So where is God right now? Calling the hurting, the desperate to look to Him and not theirselves for the answer to their problems. Calling you to account - right now, right here ...
That does not mean you are saved from death or punishment, but it does mean there is a better way from what you knew on this Earth.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Critic's Choice
Ralph Connors, a missionary minister to the Canadian Rocky Mountain region, told the tale of how a pastor was called to a small church to replace the suddenly vanished pastor.
His first week there he observed that the men of the community would snag logs in the river and then use them for firewood, lumber or even haul to a mill some distance away, after judicious trimming. And he thought, "How convenient." And preached on the bounty of God's gifts. The congregation added hearty "Amen's".
The second week, he observed that it was the choicest woods being hauled to mill, which sort of made sense but there were so many, he had to wonder. And he preached on the abundance of God's blessing and the need to remember the tithe. The congregation added hearty "Amen's".
The third week, he observed that many of the logs hauled out of the river had been cut by hand. Where were they coming from? Who could afford to lose so much lumber? And he preached on the evils of coveting another man's property. The congregation added hearty "Amen's".
The fourth week he took a trip upstream one night and observed the men of his congregation pushing logs out of the mill pond's supply and out into the river. And he preached on the Hell fire awaiting those whom covet, steal and lie!
A new minister arrived the next week to replace the suddenly departed pastor.
Connors' point was practical and to the point: tell me about God and no one will have a problem, tell me about sin and no one will have a problem again, but tell me about my sin and we suddenly have a problem.
********************
This idea carries forward into the realm of sermons, lessons, events, books, etc:
So, what I am leading to? Some of my posts are all too real and of value, some to encourage you to do what is right, and yeah, some fun ones too.
But, the lowest read of all of my postings are those which will are of actual value!
With you, my reader base, there are currently 795 possible readers for any given post.
The ones I think of as most valuable will garner 4 reads immediately and perhaps 20 across all time!
The ones I put the least stock in - into the thousands - across years of reading!
Satan, Evil, is real and very much alive and I am constantly amazed at its ability to draw my returning readers from the truth. Just as in Connor's day, 100 years ago, no one wants to hear they have something they need to do. Actually, even in Jesus' day, the rich young ruler was no more happy to hear what he still needed to do something as well.
Interesting ...
His first week there he observed that the men of the community would snag logs in the river and then use them for firewood, lumber or even haul to a mill some distance away, after judicious trimming. And he thought, "How convenient." And preached on the bounty of God's gifts. The congregation added hearty "Amen's".
The second week, he observed that it was the choicest woods being hauled to mill, which sort of made sense but there were so many, he had to wonder. And he preached on the abundance of God's blessing and the need to remember the tithe. The congregation added hearty "Amen's".
The third week, he observed that many of the logs hauled out of the river had been cut by hand. Where were they coming from? Who could afford to lose so much lumber? And he preached on the evils of coveting another man's property. The congregation added hearty "Amen's".
The fourth week he took a trip upstream one night and observed the men of his congregation pushing logs out of the mill pond's supply and out into the river. And he preached on the Hell fire awaiting those whom covet, steal and lie!
A new minister arrived the next week to replace the suddenly departed pastor.
Connors' point was practical and to the point: tell me about God and no one will have a problem, tell me about sin and no one will have a problem again, but tell me about my sin and we suddenly have a problem.
********************
This idea carries forward into the realm of sermons, lessons, events, books, etc:
- Provide a great sermon or lesson on the Holy Spirit or the reality of God - no one will come.
- Provide the meaningless drivel of seeing how Revelation is today - everyone will come.
- Had a solid presentation on real spiritual warfare and see the lowest numbers ever.
- Promise to have a chills and thrills presentation on evil or demons - everyone will come!
- He really does not want you to know that he really is real!
- He really does not want you to know that you are empowered have victory,.
- He really likes it best when you, as a Christian, manage to just stay asleep.
So, what I am leading to? Some of my posts are all too real and of value, some to encourage you to do what is right, and yeah, some fun ones too.
But, the lowest read of all of my postings are those which will are of actual value!
With you, my reader base, there are currently 795 possible readers for any given post.
The ones I think of as most valuable will garner 4 reads immediately and perhaps 20 across all time!
The ones I put the least stock in - into the thousands - across years of reading!
Satan, Evil, is real and very much alive and I am constantly amazed at its ability to draw my returning readers from the truth. Just as in Connor's day, 100 years ago, no one wants to hear they have something they need to do. Actually, even in Jesus' day, the rich young ruler was no more happy to hear what he still needed to do something as well.
Interesting ...
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Now Is The Time, Part II
A week ago I wrote on the importance of making your peace with God as quickly as possible - the pain it saves you is enormous. Of course, until you get there, you probably will not even see that there is another way...
Thinking this time on 1 Timothy 4:1-5
It is interesting to think that 2,000 years ago, the early Christian Church, "The Way", was being challenged by false doctrines taught those whom believed they had authority! If you remember from 1 Timothy 1, Paul has written to Timothy to encourage him to stay in Ephesus and continue to correct the doctrine of the Church there!
So, I look at the Church today; false doctrines abound in almost all churches! Some because of long held tradition, others because they believe they have been given a "special Gospel" or revelation. Just think on all of the minor issues churches fight over and willingly separate over!
Looking back at this passage we can see that Paul warns of the Church being impacted by:
This is a serious problem within the Church. No believer wakes up one day and thinks, "Wow, today is a great day to embrace the doctrine of demons!". Yet, it happens and unfortunately quite often. Not far from where I live was a large flourishing Christian Church, Community Chapel and Bible Training Center, back in the 1980's. A decade later I was to meet dozen of victims of this church - their lives destroyed by rearranged marriages, via corrections the pastor was told to perform, sexual abuse, money laundering, etc all brought the church down once the molestation of teenage girls was learned by the State police. Yeah, it was quite the Christian witness in the Seattle area. I wonder how many were permanently left with a "no way" answer to anything Christian because of the abuses of this church. And they started out very normal.
But, somewhere along the way, the pastors started being influenced by a new doctrine, one which gave them power, then money and finally enslavement of the once faithful. It was little matter to lure them into sin, they had left God behind long before.
And that bulletted list above became the actual ministry of that church! Talk about deju vous Paul! From Timothy to real life in just five verse!
So, your church think certain foods are forbidden? Paul disagrees. Your church believe in Celestial Unions, causing open sex, dissolved marriages, underage acts with the pastoral staff? Uhm, Paul disagrees. The pastors are liars, seem to never understand condemnation of the Holy Spirit, everything has an excuse - but not a real reason? Get out of that church now!
And to a certain extent we too are guilty. God created goodness and set it around us - we trashed His creation! The food which were good are by and large genetically modified anymore. Nature has been replace by man's arrogance thinking he can do a better job - but to what end I wonder?
Something to consider, something to think about, something perhaps to cause you to correct the local body you are in .....
Thinking this time on 1 Timothy 4:1-5
It is interesting to think that 2,000 years ago, the early Christian Church, "The Way", was being challenged by false doctrines taught those whom believed they had authority! If you remember from 1 Timothy 1, Paul has written to Timothy to encourage him to stay in Ephesus and continue to correct the doctrine of the Church there!
So, I look at the Church today; false doctrines abound in almost all churches! Some because of long held tradition, others because they believe they have been given a "special Gospel" or revelation. Just think on all of the minor issues churches fight over and willingly separate over!
Looking back at this passage we can see that Paul warns of the Church being impacted by:
- Loss of Faith
- Deceiving Spirits
- Teachings of Demons
- Hypocritical Liars
- No Conscience
- Forbidding Marriage
- Forbidding certain foods
This is a serious problem within the Church. No believer wakes up one day and thinks, "Wow, today is a great day to embrace the doctrine of demons!". Yet, it happens and unfortunately quite often. Not far from where I live was a large flourishing Christian Church, Community Chapel and Bible Training Center, back in the 1980's. A decade later I was to meet dozen of victims of this church - their lives destroyed by rearranged marriages, via corrections the pastor was told to perform, sexual abuse, money laundering, etc all brought the church down once the molestation of teenage girls was learned by the State police. Yeah, it was quite the Christian witness in the Seattle area. I wonder how many were permanently left with a "no way" answer to anything Christian because of the abuses of this church. And they started out very normal.
But, somewhere along the way, the pastors started being influenced by a new doctrine, one which gave them power, then money and finally enslavement of the once faithful. It was little matter to lure them into sin, they had left God behind long before.
And that bulletted list above became the actual ministry of that church! Talk about deju vous Paul! From Timothy to real life in just five verse!
So, your church think certain foods are forbidden? Paul disagrees. Your church believe in Celestial Unions, causing open sex, dissolved marriages, underage acts with the pastoral staff? Uhm, Paul disagrees. The pastors are liars, seem to never understand condemnation of the Holy Spirit, everything has an excuse - but not a real reason? Get out of that church now!
And to a certain extent we too are guilty. God created goodness and set it around us - we trashed His creation! The food which were good are by and large genetically modified anymore. Nature has been replace by man's arrogance thinking he can do a better job - but to what end I wonder?
Something to consider, something to think about, something perhaps to cause you to correct the local body you are in .....
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Contrast of The Way vs Religion
Here in the 21st century we have so badly slaughtered the definition of Christianity that I had to be creative with my title. Christianity today has become religion, so I have opted for the original term used to define Christians: The Way.
God had a plan: set apart a people, descendents of one man, to be The witness to the world of whom He is. They created a religion, forgot about Him, and became no better than the Gentiles whom surrounded them in the world. So, God, using the symbolism of a grape vine, grafted in the Gentile peoples, on to His original vine, to let them grow - for an allotted period of time. I imagine for them to become apostate as well. Welcome to the 21st century "Christian" church.
The apostasy, which has corrupted the body of our faith is no different than the same apostasy which corrupted the Jew. So, I have gone with the idea of Man's Religion, rather than saying Christianity or 21st Century, etc. What was once true of the Jew is now true of today's "Christian". Hope you enjoy the following table:
So, I think you can now see what it is I have been working through in my mind for quite sometime - man's insistence of doing things his way, always triumphs in the short term over God and His desires for us. I have tried to make this as flexible as possible to show both the failure of the Jew as well as the Christian alike in the area of faith, because there actually is only one faith - belief in God, or by default in yourself. No two ways about it. And I think you can see how what I condemn as the Western Church or American Theology, etc is solidly in the right hand corner. Sure, there are lots of reasons and excuses, but each one moves the would be believer further and further away from the God they set out to know.
What is an honest person to do? Well, you are not going to run out and find a real Christian church to join, but you might start to really live your faith and through example perhaps impact your Church and its pastor to come back to God. No, it will not be through nagging or political fighting within the Church, it will only be through your personal leadership and example to all of those around you that you will make a difference.
I dare say that should you believe you have a God-ly assembly you have found, Satan will be banging them for all they are worth. He does not need an honest church or an honest believer to deal with, he needs the church neutralized and quieted so that his plans may proceed.
We are the victors.
We each possess what is required to overcome Satan.
We each are neutralized through pragmatism to not recognize our victory.
And the Christian Church, local and worldwide shows this.
God had a plan: set apart a people, descendents of one man, to be The witness to the world of whom He is. They created a religion, forgot about Him, and became no better than the Gentiles whom surrounded them in the world. So, God, using the symbolism of a grape vine, grafted in the Gentile peoples, on to His original vine, to let them grow - for an allotted period of time. I imagine for them to become apostate as well. Welcome to the 21st century "Christian" church.
The apostasy, which has corrupted the body of our faith is no different than the same apostasy which corrupted the Jew. So, I have gone with the idea of Man's Religion, rather than saying Christianity or 21st Century, etc. What was once true of the Jew is now true of today's "Christian". Hope you enjoy the following table:
The Way
|
Man’s Religion
|
Qualified by Scripture:
|
Qualified by man’s credentials.
Approved of by:
Follows tradition to gain respect of man.
|
Qualified by Serving
|
Qualified by “good” teaching
|
Teaches Scripture
|
Teaches denomination or religious traditions
|
Agreement amongst leadership
|
Exercises veto power
|
All men participate in leadership
|
Meetings held for others to attend
|
Transparent to all
|
Dichotomy of public vs private life
|
Accessible to all
|
Community vetted for meetings
|
Responsible to God and congregation
|
Responsible to eldership hierarchy or no one
|
Disciples and motivates followers in Scripture
|
Wields power over others
|
Humility and meekness
|
Seeks approval of man
|
Seeks the kingdom of God
|
Seeks support ($$$) to finance vision
|
Makes disciples
|
Increases membership size
Makes “friends” outside of ministry for support
|
Lifts up truth
|
Lifts up tradition
|
Offers freedom from sin
|
Offers solution to cope with sin
|
Identity is in God
|
Identity is in denomination or institution
|
All are created for God’s purpose
|
We are better than “them”
|
Glories in the Kingdom of God
|
Seeks large buildings and gatherings
|
Leads by God’s spirit
|
Majority rule in leadership
|
Waits on God
|
Exercises pragmatism
|
So, I think you can now see what it is I have been working through in my mind for quite sometime - man's insistence of doing things his way, always triumphs in the short term over God and His desires for us. I have tried to make this as flexible as possible to show both the failure of the Jew as well as the Christian alike in the area of faith, because there actually is only one faith - belief in God, or by default in yourself. No two ways about it. And I think you can see how what I condemn as the Western Church or American Theology, etc is solidly in the right hand corner. Sure, there are lots of reasons and excuses, but each one moves the would be believer further and further away from the God they set out to know.
What is an honest person to do? Well, you are not going to run out and find a real Christian church to join, but you might start to really live your faith and through example perhaps impact your Church and its pastor to come back to God. No, it will not be through nagging or political fighting within the Church, it will only be through your personal leadership and example to all of those around you that you will make a difference.
I dare say that should you believe you have a God-ly assembly you have found, Satan will be banging them for all they are worth. He does not need an honest church or an honest believer to deal with, he needs the church neutralized and quieted so that his plans may proceed.
We are the victors.
We each possess what is required to overcome Satan.
We each are neutralized through pragmatism to not recognize our victory.
And the Christian Church, local and worldwide shows this.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Of Faith, Obedience and Silence
For the past several days my mind has been revolving around an enigma, very strange things going on in my private life, things which certainly point to an ongoing attack by evil, a limited source for it to have originated from and yet God's call for my obedience.
For weeks now, I have been getting emails to my private account of an evil nature. Yeah, I have my public account which is tied to this blog, however, I have a private address known only to my family members. However, even at that, I get no emails from anyone in my family, we talk via phone and FaceBook constantly. It has really only been used by my estranged daughter and niece. So, as I said, limited resource to have disclosed my email address from, if that had happened at all. Yesterday, I thought I would end this stupidity from whomever it was sending those daily multiple emails and ran down their IP address - they originated from where estranged daughter had an interest in serving as a missionary to and she has several "friends" there. Okay, that is weird and yeah, I could see her getting one of her friends to do this so as to prove I am the evil she now believes. Sorry, but I am not whom you think I am. Yesterday, I blocked that IP address because things got weirder.
Yeah, yesterday came with an invite to have a new friend on FaceBook, complete with photos. It could have been someone else, whom looks a great deal like my daughter (NOT!), but just to be wise as a serpent, I hacked the originating IP address of that FaceBook account. Interestingly, this one came from where daughter had served as a missionary many years ago to and to cinch it, there were already had two of her friends on there whom I remembered when we shared FB accounts with one another. So, yeah this one was either her friends being cruel to her or flat out from her trying to snare me.
Now, what are the odds? Two flat out evil offers, both originating from places she was associated with. Both I believe to prove I was the kind of person she believes me to be.
I turned down the friendship offer and the account disappeared from FaceBook almost instantly. Interestingly, it proves I was right, it was evil attempting to lure me, else why would it disappear when it failed to snare me? And should my daughter actually be innocent of this, then again I must remind her that photographs taken during moments of great intoxication, are forever. And really, my private email address, I would appreciate remaining private, just as I have honored your privacy but not "stalking" you, it is reasonable to expect the same.
So I have thought on this weirdness and am reminded of Zachariah - okay only in my mind is this obvious ... :
You might remember Luke 1:5-25 and 57-80.
Zachariah was told what God was going to do, but he chose to disbelieve. So, for his disbelief, his voice was silenced until John (Jesus' cousin) was born. His silence became a sign for the truth of what he had been told. And EVERYONE knew it!
So there are three ways of looking at this and learning from it:
1. When you are being silenced, you need to examine why and correct where your faith in God has gone wrong.
2. When God is being silent in your life you need to read, meditate and pray to know the source of the silence.
3. When you are being obedient and have been silenced, you have to continue to be obedient to what God has told you.
So my family, my ex-friends, my church, my pastors and my estrange daughter all firmly stand on the first option for me. And like the stubborn German I am, I stand solidly that I am of the third classification - only remaining friends agree with me on that one, but then they actually bothered to know me and look at the evidence before deciding not to condemn me. I can only stand in place in obedience, even if at least 120 times this year I would have rather grabbed my cane and started walking to Argentina! But, then that would have proven I was guilty to all! Except to daughter, for she knows what that reference means.
Verses 66-77 are so beautiful! Here Zachariah has been silenced and now can speak and agrees that the son's name will be John (probably a bit of a scandal since it was not a family name).
Zachariah did not expect a miracle, did not believe one possible when he was told there would be one and so God had to smack him upside the head to get his attention long enough to understand he was in for a miracle!
So, in like manner, even though my daughter has run away, does her best to attack me as she is able, I stand firm because God told me to. I pray daily for her because God told me to. I expect her to return because God said she would. I will remain obedient because I am that stubborn old German. It is called faith, it is called obedience, it is called for in the silence of my life in being able to bring her to where she is supposed to be.
But do not believe this does not bring its frustrations, as my poor Niece can affirm, the lure to run away is there but unlike Jonah, I already know I can not hide from the face of God, do not want to get swallowed until I learn my lesson, etc. So, I stand, taking the rebuke from all, daily, in my face hatred for what I have not done but been accused of. I will pay whatever the cost required for my daughter to return - in my innocence, because it is all I have. From my perspective, if my family is reduced to only the size of my niece and estranged daughter, so be it. It does not mean I do not love my family, for I do, but it does mean being obedient to God means more.
And poor Zachariah, he too learned a lesson and he stood and he waited, when he did not have to, and was mightily blessed for it.
For weeks now, I have been getting emails to my private account of an evil nature. Yeah, I have my public account which is tied to this blog, however, I have a private address known only to my family members. However, even at that, I get no emails from anyone in my family, we talk via phone and FaceBook constantly. It has really only been used by my estranged daughter and niece. So, as I said, limited resource to have disclosed my email address from, if that had happened at all. Yesterday, I thought I would end this stupidity from whomever it was sending those daily multiple emails and ran down their IP address - they originated from where estranged daughter had an interest in serving as a missionary to and she has several "friends" there. Okay, that is weird and yeah, I could see her getting one of her friends to do this so as to prove I am the evil she now believes. Sorry, but I am not whom you think I am. Yesterday, I blocked that IP address because things got weirder.
Yeah, yesterday came with an invite to have a new friend on FaceBook, complete with photos. It could have been someone else, whom looks a great deal like my daughter (NOT!), but just to be wise as a serpent, I hacked the originating IP address of that FaceBook account. Interestingly, this one came from where daughter had served as a missionary many years ago to and to cinch it, there were already had two of her friends on there whom I remembered when we shared FB accounts with one another. So, yeah this one was either her friends being cruel to her or flat out from her trying to snare me.
Now, what are the odds? Two flat out evil offers, both originating from places she was associated with. Both I believe to prove I was the kind of person she believes me to be.
I turned down the friendship offer and the account disappeared from FaceBook almost instantly. Interestingly, it proves I was right, it was evil attempting to lure me, else why would it disappear when it failed to snare me? And should my daughter actually be innocent of this, then again I must remind her that photographs taken during moments of great intoxication, are forever. And really, my private email address, I would appreciate remaining private, just as I have honored your privacy but not "stalking" you, it is reasonable to expect the same.
So I have thought on this weirdness and am reminded of Zachariah - okay only in my mind is this obvious ... :
You might remember Luke 1:5-25 and 57-80.
Zachariah was told what God was going to do, but he chose to disbelieve. So, for his disbelief, his voice was silenced until John (Jesus' cousin) was born. His silence became a sign for the truth of what he had been told. And EVERYONE knew it!
So there are three ways of looking at this and learning from it:
1. When you are being silenced, you need to examine why and correct where your faith in God has gone wrong.
2. When God is being silent in your life you need to read, meditate and pray to know the source of the silence.
3. When you are being obedient and have been silenced, you have to continue to be obedient to what God has told you.
So my family, my ex-friends, my church, my pastors and my estrange daughter all firmly stand on the first option for me. And like the stubborn German I am, I stand solidly that I am of the third classification - only remaining friends agree with me on that one, but then they actually bothered to know me and look at the evidence before deciding not to condemn me. I can only stand in place in obedience, even if at least 120 times this year I would have rather grabbed my cane and started walking to Argentina! But, then that would have proven I was guilty to all! Except to daughter, for she knows what that reference means.
Verses 66-77 are so beautiful! Here Zachariah has been silenced and now can speak and agrees that the son's name will be John (probably a bit of a scandal since it was not a family name).
Zachariah did not expect a miracle, did not believe one possible when he was told there would be one and so God had to smack him upside the head to get his attention long enough to understand he was in for a miracle!
So, in like manner, even though my daughter has run away, does her best to attack me as she is able, I stand firm because God told me to. I pray daily for her because God told me to. I expect her to return because God said she would. I will remain obedient because I am that stubborn old German. It is called faith, it is called obedience, it is called for in the silence of my life in being able to bring her to where she is supposed to be.
But do not believe this does not bring its frustrations, as my poor Niece can affirm, the lure to run away is there but unlike Jonah, I already know I can not hide from the face of God, do not want to get swallowed until I learn my lesson, etc. So, I stand, taking the rebuke from all, daily, in my face hatred for what I have not done but been accused of. I will pay whatever the cost required for my daughter to return - in my innocence, because it is all I have. From my perspective, if my family is reduced to only the size of my niece and estranged daughter, so be it. It does not mean I do not love my family, for I do, but it does mean being obedient to God means more.
And poor Zachariah, he too learned a lesson and he stood and he waited, when he did not have to, and was mightily blessed for it.
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