How did we ever get to a place where we are at in society discussing the virtues of whether or not Marriage is this or Marriage is that? Are we so daft as to believe that we can upend thousands of years of human history to re-define what a marriage relationship is? While I won't answer that question outright, I can see that we didn't get here overnight as there has been a very subversive attempt at re-defining marriage into a secular institution, Enter the "partner."
We have all seen what has taken place over the last several years as corporations, political entities, clubs, advertisers, writers, reporters, bloggers and even religious organizations have supplanted the word "spouse" or "husband" and "wife" for "partner." The insidiousness of this replacement is such that it relegates the idea of marriage to a legal partnership. The law has been doing this for many years due to our inadequacy to truly deal with marriage relationships that results in the over abundance of divorce. In a divorced situation you have legal parameters that treat everything as if you were in a partnership. Thus reducing the institution of marriage to a business deal and here's where the decline begins. The reality is we can all identify with a business deal, a contract of "you do this and i'll do that," but can we truly identify with the institution of marriage, hence "the two shall become one flesh."
You see God's view was always that those entering into a marriage covenant (stronger than a contract) were now inseparable and to be viewed as a single entity. The physical makeup of a man and woman notwithstanding, this has been pilfered by secular interests to simply be a partnership, 50/50, and yet God's idea was 100/100 to the point that together "we own everything and together we lose everything." Marriage in God's mind is an all or nothing deal, "all of me and I don't require anything of you." We failed to get that somehow and now we have secular society trying to dictate what should be included as a marriage relationship by this very basis, partnership, not covenant. How did we get here? We bought into this idea of partnership a long time ago. The church itself sees divorce rates that mirror the secular environment which means we only saw it as a partnership. We weren't on guard, we weren't honoring the sanctity of an institution that we now so desperately need to protect.
Nonetheless, whatever might come of the decisions of the courts, the states and our nation over the next several years, Marriage will never be a secular thing, though a law might say it is, it will always and forever be a God given institution that can never be re-defined for those who worship and serve the one who created male and female. He created them to be a perfect union of His image and nothing and no one can take that away.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
My Heart Cries
"My Heart Cries" is a beautiful worship song on Covenant Churches Heaven on Earth worship album that I would recommend everyone to download. It's content should be the cry of every professing Christian on earth, More of Jesus. In fact we all see that in essence we should desire to get closer and closer to Jesus, yet a question that proceeds from my thoughts tonight is this, do we really know how to get close to Jesus?
For me, I learned in Sunday School and children's church many years ago that when I pray and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior He comes to live on the inside of me. In fact this is what we teach and over and over again there are those that accept this as truth and ask Jesus to live on the inside of them. To come in and clean house and make a dwelling place for His Spirit. After all Paul said that we are "Temples of the Holy Spirit." A place for His presence to dwell. Kind of a funny thought if you were to envision little temples with feet running around everywhere. But seriously though, do we want to get close to Jesus or are we just saying that because it sounds good and religious? What if it meant getting closer to those around us? After all if Jesus really does dwell in them, wouldn't relationships with His people matter a whole lot more than we give them credit for? Or are we too quick to dismiss this one or that one because they didn't do something we liked or said something we didn't agree with? Maybe we just need to pray a little longer in our prayer closet to know Jesus more? Or maybe Jesus is saying get up, get out and get in touch with me inside of someone else!
The sad fact is that too many people are distancing themselves by claiming the church is full of bigoted people and I reject christianity becuase of its followers and claim to still follow Jesus, yet the reality is the closer you get to Jesus, the closer you must get to His followers. "I don't like the organized structure or I don't like the control, they ask for my money, they this, they that, they, they, they" Have you stopped to wonder about yourself in all of the they? Or take it one step further, have you ever stopped to wonder about Him in they? Let's even go further, have we stopped to look at Him in those who we don't agree with? If the Bible says that we are made in His image, shouldn't we be able to see Him through the acts that people perform and the dumb decisions made? After all I am more than positive that those of us who have accepted Him have made just as many mistakes with Him living in us as we made without Him living in us. But the reality exists that we still bear His image, whether we are atheist, agnostic, pentecostal, catholic, muslim, buddhist, etc......there is no denying that the closer we get to Jesus the closer we must get to His people. And boy is it messy.
Ask yourself today just how close you are to Him, truly close.
For me, I learned in Sunday School and children's church many years ago that when I pray and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior He comes to live on the inside of me. In fact this is what we teach and over and over again there are those that accept this as truth and ask Jesus to live on the inside of them. To come in and clean house and make a dwelling place for His Spirit. After all Paul said that we are "Temples of the Holy Spirit." A place for His presence to dwell. Kind of a funny thought if you were to envision little temples with feet running around everywhere. But seriously though, do we want to get close to Jesus or are we just saying that because it sounds good and religious? What if it meant getting closer to those around us? After all if Jesus really does dwell in them, wouldn't relationships with His people matter a whole lot more than we give them credit for? Or are we too quick to dismiss this one or that one because they didn't do something we liked or said something we didn't agree with? Maybe we just need to pray a little longer in our prayer closet to know Jesus more? Or maybe Jesus is saying get up, get out and get in touch with me inside of someone else!
The sad fact is that too many people are distancing themselves by claiming the church is full of bigoted people and I reject christianity becuase of its followers and claim to still follow Jesus, yet the reality is the closer you get to Jesus, the closer you must get to His followers. "I don't like the organized structure or I don't like the control, they ask for my money, they this, they that, they, they, they" Have you stopped to wonder about yourself in all of the they? Or take it one step further, have you ever stopped to wonder about Him in they? Let's even go further, have we stopped to look at Him in those who we don't agree with? If the Bible says that we are made in His image, shouldn't we be able to see Him through the acts that people perform and the dumb decisions made? After all I am more than positive that those of us who have accepted Him have made just as many mistakes with Him living in us as we made without Him living in us. But the reality exists that we still bear His image, whether we are atheist, agnostic, pentecostal, catholic, muslim, buddhist, etc......there is no denying that the closer we get to Jesus the closer we must get to His people. And boy is it messy.
Ask yourself today just how close you are to Him, truly close.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Summer Heat
I jumped in the car and the temperature outside read 87. Rain was on the horizon and I headed home. As I stopped at the store to pick up a few things, a scant 15 miles away, the temperature read 76. Coming back outside it was noticeably different and the rain had started, so I climbed back in my car and continued on home, it was then I began to watch as the temperature gauge begain falling, 70, 68, 67, 65, 63.....in 15 miles and about 15 minutes the temperature had gone from 87 to 63. Refreshing rain and coolness that took away the oppressive heat of summer only took a few minutes to come and change the atmosphere where we lived and worked.
This is how the Spirit moves, in a moment He moves in and brings us a cool breeze of refreshing in the midst of our atmosphere when things are hot and heavy. He brings the rain. There's no greater time than now to experience the rain of the Spirit, in a country that is heavy with debt, disease, environmental catastrophes, political upheaval and employment woes, we need the rain.
Lord Let it rain!
This is how the Spirit moves, in a moment He moves in and brings us a cool breeze of refreshing in the midst of our atmosphere when things are hot and heavy. He brings the rain. There's no greater time than now to experience the rain of the Spirit, in a country that is heavy with debt, disease, environmental catastrophes, political upheaval and employment woes, we need the rain.
Lord Let it rain!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Halftime Ain't for Relaxing
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of listening to my friend Tony Brock, Pastor of Hope and Life Fellowship in Atlanta talk about halftime. The premise was that we were at the halfway point of the year and God was going to do even greater things during this latter half. A great word for a great season we are launching into and of course being a pastor myself I had to take his topic and work it out for us here in Castle Rock! Little did I know what would await us.
God gave me a word, which you can find here. The basic premise though was that Halftime is for re-committing to the win. The reality is that during halftime not only are you figuring out your strategy to get the win, but the enemy on the other side is as well. We came out of halftime with a huge win by breaking an attendance barrier, graduating our largest membership class and baptising our largest number in any service!
We followed that up with a second largest service the following week, but at a cost. The enemy is a liar and let me tell you he has not given us a moment to second guess the reality of what God is doing in our fellowship. He has let loose a volley and is picking away at the chinks in the armor of our family where he can. My response is not here, not now and no way!
In the middle of the summer sting we realize that now is not the time to cower in fear, to separate from the family or to run from the enemy. We stand our ground, we put on our armor and we move forward and advance toward the goal.
We followed that up with a second largest service the following week, but at a cost. The enemy is a liar and let me tell you he has not given us a moment to second guess the reality of what God is doing in our fellowship. He has let loose a volley and is picking away at the chinks in the armor of our family where he can. My response is not here, not now and no way!
In the middle of the summer sting we realize that now is not the time to cower in fear, to separate from the family or to run from the enemy. We stand our ground, we put on our armor and we move forward and advance toward the goal.
Friday, May 14, 2010
RIP Lincoln, you truly were a best friend
14 years ago on President’s day my then fiancé and I walked out of the gym on the campus of SAGU and ran into a young lady giving away the cutest little jet black puppy. She had picked him up from the pound but couldn’t keep him because her apartment didn’t allow dogs (go figure that one???) Of course my beautiful bride to be couldn’t resist petting and cuddling him and let’s just say with her womanly ways convinced this old stick in the mud to take him home. This became our first “child.” Yes I know we weren’t married yet, but we adopted anyway and somehow managed!
It wasn’t long before we settled on the name Lincoln in honor of it being president’s day and he just looked like a Lincoln type of dog. He was a lab/chow mix or maybe shepherd? We never quite knew the right mix or breed, but whatever it was he was intelligent, scared of fireworks, thunderstorms and vacuums and only took about 2-3 weeks to potty train. I had many dogs growing up in south Louisiana, but never any that made it 2 or 3 years because of snakes and other wildlife, as well as just plain getting rid of them because they were crazy! I remember this one dog we brought home from Colorado one summer wouldn’t stay in the fence. He figured out how to climb. I would sit and watch him get all the way up that fence, jump down and be right there waiting to put him right back in. Of course it didn’t take him long to do it all over again, with the same result. Talk about tenacity!
This little guy Lincoln was different though. Special in all sorts of ways! “Lincoln get the phone,” my wife taught him that one when she was pregnant with our first son. He figured it out in a few short commands and would proudly grab the phone and trot it over to her. It didn’t take long for that to transition to “Lincoln get me the remote……;-)” (what man can resist?) He also became my wife’s bedmate while I was away at work and she was laboring away with morning sickness. Because of it he would often try to sleep with us in the bed, but I wouldn’t allow it, I’m not the cuddly type. But he was always there. After Keaton was born he wouldn’t even sleep upstairs, he slept in the hallway right outside of Keaton’s door from then on. Our kids have only known life with Lincoln. Through all of the ear pulls, toy beatings, backyard confinements (when the next baby came), garage confinements while he was shedding, he protected and loved his kids. Never scratched, growled at, rough housed with or even pretended to bite one of them. Me however, he would wrestle like there was no tomorrow and could knock me down without much thought. He only barked when he sensed something threatening. Never made a sound otherwise and he always wanted to get to know every dog he ever met or saw and often went galloping after them scaring the pants off of the folks who were walking those poor little things…..imagine a 90 pound dog running at top speed towards you! Of course all he ever did was come to a screeching halt, sniff around, say hi and then mozy on back. The poor thing wouldn’t hurt a fly. To top it off he was so deathly afraid of fireworks and thunderstorms he climbed our backyard fence and for some reason thought it was better in our neighbor’s yard, so he climbed into hers. Then of course there’s the trying to chew through screen doors. Ours was fiberglass, my father in laws was metal, he destroyed the metal one (sorry Dave!).
Speaking of destruction, that reminds me of when as a newly married couple in our second apartment we returned from church one night to find it destroyed…..couch messed on, chewed cushions, chewed wedding sign in book, carpet pulled up from one corner of the living to the next, he spent a week on the patio. Of course in his disciplined state he decided to let his disingenuous state be known by chewing the door frame off, literally, about 4 feet of it. He was stubborn in a “I am my own boss” sort of way and he liked to prove it every once in a while, mostly by just wandering, all around the neighborhood. We might all be able to imagine how that went over with neighborhood HOA police ;-)
I guess the Marley and me moments could keep going, like me and Lincoln driving to Colorado from Dallas in a moving truck. One of our first camping trips on the south platte, he wanted to take a swim, got stuck in a strong current and pushed up against a tree hanging over the water. Poor thing, after I pulled him out by his collar I don’t think he ever went swimming again! The memories can’t go on forever though, so suffice it to say that you will be missed.
To my faithful friend, Lincoln, RIP
It wasn’t long before we settled on the name Lincoln in honor of it being president’s day and he just looked like a Lincoln type of dog. He was a lab/chow mix or maybe shepherd? We never quite knew the right mix or breed, but whatever it was he was intelligent, scared of fireworks, thunderstorms and vacuums and only took about 2-3 weeks to potty train. I had many dogs growing up in south Louisiana, but never any that made it 2 or 3 years because of snakes and other wildlife, as well as just plain getting rid of them because they were crazy! I remember this one dog we brought home from Colorado one summer wouldn’t stay in the fence. He figured out how to climb. I would sit and watch him get all the way up that fence, jump down and be right there waiting to put him right back in. Of course it didn’t take him long to do it all over again, with the same result. Talk about tenacity!
This little guy Lincoln was different though. Special in all sorts of ways! “Lincoln get the phone,” my wife taught him that one when she was pregnant with our first son. He figured it out in a few short commands and would proudly grab the phone and trot it over to her. It didn’t take long for that to transition to “Lincoln get me the remote……;-)” (what man can resist?) He also became my wife’s bedmate while I was away at work and she was laboring away with morning sickness. Because of it he would often try to sleep with us in the bed, but I wouldn’t allow it, I’m not the cuddly type. But he was always there. After Keaton was born he wouldn’t even sleep upstairs, he slept in the hallway right outside of Keaton’s door from then on. Our kids have only known life with Lincoln. Through all of the ear pulls, toy beatings, backyard confinements (when the next baby came), garage confinements while he was shedding, he protected and loved his kids. Never scratched, growled at, rough housed with or even pretended to bite one of them. Me however, he would wrestle like there was no tomorrow and could knock me down without much thought. He only barked when he sensed something threatening. Never made a sound otherwise and he always wanted to get to know every dog he ever met or saw and often went galloping after them scaring the pants off of the folks who were walking those poor little things…..imagine a 90 pound dog running at top speed towards you! Of course all he ever did was come to a screeching halt, sniff around, say hi and then mozy on back. The poor thing wouldn’t hurt a fly. To top it off he was so deathly afraid of fireworks and thunderstorms he climbed our backyard fence and for some reason thought it was better in our neighbor’s yard, so he climbed into hers. Then of course there’s the trying to chew through screen doors. Ours was fiberglass, my father in laws was metal, he destroyed the metal one (sorry Dave!).
Speaking of destruction, that reminds me of when as a newly married couple in our second apartment we returned from church one night to find it destroyed…..couch messed on, chewed cushions, chewed wedding sign in book, carpet pulled up from one corner of the living to the next, he spent a week on the patio. Of course in his disciplined state he decided to let his disingenuous state be known by chewing the door frame off, literally, about 4 feet of it. He was stubborn in a “I am my own boss” sort of way and he liked to prove it every once in a while, mostly by just wandering, all around the neighborhood. We might all be able to imagine how that went over with neighborhood HOA police ;-)
I guess the Marley and me moments could keep going, like me and Lincoln driving to Colorado from Dallas in a moving truck. One of our first camping trips on the south platte, he wanted to take a swim, got stuck in a strong current and pushed up against a tree hanging over the water. Poor thing, after I pulled him out by his collar I don’t think he ever went swimming again! The memories can’t go on forever though, so suffice it to say that you will be missed.
To my faithful friend, Lincoln, RIP
Thursday, May 6, 2010
National Day of Prayer
Today as we celebrate America’s 59th Recognized National Day of Prayer, we would be remiss not to understand the underpinnings of what this day holds in virtue of its past roots in the founding of this nation. Many have sought to deny the history of how integrated prayer and specifically Christianity is to the founding of this nation and the ongoing success of our nation. Over 200 hundred years ago on April 15, 1775, 14 months prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock penned these words to set aside a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer (which can be echoed even now):
“In circumstances as dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgments, …at the same time all confidence must be withheld from the means we use; and reposed only on that God rules in the armies of Heaven, and without His whole blessing, the best human counsels are but foolishness… Resolved; …Thursday the 11th of May…to humble themselves before God under the heavy judgments felt and feared, to confess the sins that have deserved them, to implore the Forgiveness of all our transgressions, and a spirit of repentance and reformation …and a Blessing on the … Union of the American Colonies in Defense of their Rights [for which hitherto we desire to thank Almighty God]…That the people of Great Britain and their rulers may have their eyes opened to discern the things that shall make for the peace of the nation…for the redress of America’s many grievances, the restoration of all her invaded liberties, and their security to the latest generations.”
To recognize the correlation of when this day of prayer was proclaimed, we can see that when this day was set aside by President Harry Truman 59 years ago it was done so not based on any other precedence but historical accuracy in regards to the wishes, desires and love of Christ that those responsible for the birth of our freedoms held. Lest anyone think that I misspoke and said Christ and not “god” as in the plurality of other religions, understand that it was the same John Hancock and also John Adams that declared with unanimity that “We recognize no sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus.” It was also this same John Adams that proclaimed:
“The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
So on this nationally recognized, government sanctioned day that we humble ourselves and lift up a prayer to God, not a god, but The God proclaimed in the Bible, who sent His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for us to have communion with, we will pray that this nation will rise above all nations. Not for the purpose of power and rule, but for the express purpose of protecting the innocent, improving the lives of men and providing justice for millions around the world who have no justice and no freedom. And we stand with Benjamin Franklin in declaring that;
“God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787
May God Bless this nation, may our leaders be given wisdom from biblical precedent and lead with righteousness to protect our lives, our liberties and our pursuit of happiness, not with moral inequity, but righteous rule. Give our President the mind of Christ and may his counsel be Godly counsel. Give our congress a repentant heart and humility to defend the principles of freedoms while protecting our liberties through righteous legislation. May our courts be places of Justice and not deference to the depravity of man as they defend and uphold the true intent, context and meaning of the Constitution as written with intentionality to reflect biblical ideals. Let the media be purged of fractious divisions and fear mongering. Let the financial climate of our nation be healed from greed that has gripped our markets and let the people once again honor corporate America for the many benefits that they bring us in our daily lives. May the Christian liberties that we have been honored with since the founding of this nation not be halted, harassed and hailed anymore as a bigoted, racist, intolerant religion, but one that loves unconditionally, serves prolifically and honors the sanctity of life above all else as that which reflects the very life and character of God Almighty. Silence the factions within our ranks that seek only to divide and cause hatred and loathing for the things of God and let the righteous rise with the Spirit of power to:
“preach good news to the poor; bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, open the prison to those who are bound; proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the vengeance of our God; comfort those that mourn; to give them beauty for ashes, gladness for mourning; a spirit of praise for despair; ……so that God might be Glorified, (then) they can rebuild….., restore….. and renew…… what has been devastated for generations!” (Isaiah 61:1-4)
God Bless America!
Pastor John Rodrigue
May 6, 2010
“In circumstances as dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgments, …at the same time all confidence must be withheld from the means we use; and reposed only on that God rules in the armies of Heaven, and without His whole blessing, the best human counsels are but foolishness… Resolved; …Thursday the 11th of May…to humble themselves before God under the heavy judgments felt and feared, to confess the sins that have deserved them, to implore the Forgiveness of all our transgressions, and a spirit of repentance and reformation …and a Blessing on the … Union of the American Colonies in Defense of their Rights [for which hitherto we desire to thank Almighty God]…That the people of Great Britain and their rulers may have their eyes opened to discern the things that shall make for the peace of the nation…for the redress of America’s many grievances, the restoration of all her invaded liberties, and their security to the latest generations.”
To recognize the correlation of when this day of prayer was proclaimed, we can see that when this day was set aside by President Harry Truman 59 years ago it was done so not based on any other precedence but historical accuracy in regards to the wishes, desires and love of Christ that those responsible for the birth of our freedoms held. Lest anyone think that I misspoke and said Christ and not “god” as in the plurality of other religions, understand that it was the same John Hancock and also John Adams that declared with unanimity that “We recognize no sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus.” It was also this same John Adams that proclaimed:
“The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
So on this nationally recognized, government sanctioned day that we humble ourselves and lift up a prayer to God, not a god, but The God proclaimed in the Bible, who sent His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for us to have communion with, we will pray that this nation will rise above all nations. Not for the purpose of power and rule, but for the express purpose of protecting the innocent, improving the lives of men and providing justice for millions around the world who have no justice and no freedom. And we stand with Benjamin Franklin in declaring that;
“God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787
May God Bless this nation, may our leaders be given wisdom from biblical precedent and lead with righteousness to protect our lives, our liberties and our pursuit of happiness, not with moral inequity, but righteous rule. Give our President the mind of Christ and may his counsel be Godly counsel. Give our congress a repentant heart and humility to defend the principles of freedoms while protecting our liberties through righteous legislation. May our courts be places of Justice and not deference to the depravity of man as they defend and uphold the true intent, context and meaning of the Constitution as written with intentionality to reflect biblical ideals. Let the media be purged of fractious divisions and fear mongering. Let the financial climate of our nation be healed from greed that has gripped our markets and let the people once again honor corporate America for the many benefits that they bring us in our daily lives. May the Christian liberties that we have been honored with since the founding of this nation not be halted, harassed and hailed anymore as a bigoted, racist, intolerant religion, but one that loves unconditionally, serves prolifically and honors the sanctity of life above all else as that which reflects the very life and character of God Almighty. Silence the factions within our ranks that seek only to divide and cause hatred and loathing for the things of God and let the righteous rise with the Spirit of power to:
“preach good news to the poor; bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, open the prison to those who are bound; proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the vengeance of our God; comfort those that mourn; to give them beauty for ashes, gladness for mourning; a spirit of praise for despair; ……so that God might be Glorified, (then) they can rebuild….., restore….. and renew…… what has been devastated for generations!” (Isaiah 61:1-4)
God Bless America!
Pastor John Rodrigue
May 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
It's A Sin to Pray
No not literally, unless of course you break the law to do it. Of course as someone who understands spiritual reality, God's law trumps the national law anyway, so no its not a sin, to a Christian. Unfortunately to a growing minority in this country it is a sin though. It is a sin to ask for help, for guidance, for wisdom and for grace. Sounds kinda ridiculous doesn't it? Since when can asking for help be so bad? After all that is what one of the main tenets of prayer is.
Take the Lord's prayer for instance, "give us, forgive us, lead us not, deliver us." Lots of "us" in that prayer isn't there? Short to be sure, but powerful because it relied on God as the giver and not ourselves. This then bears weight with the intent of prayer, to keep ourselves humble in the eyes of God and to make sure that we understand we are not within ourselves able to have all the answers for life. Of course this offends many within our culture who decry any religious intonation within government circles at all in our country as noted in this recent article on NPR. But the thing that irks me is the total loss of the rationale behind prayer in the first place. The one thing that atheists tend to have in common, pride.
Too much pride to simply ask for help. To realize that we don't have all the answers to life and can't do it all for ourselves is akin to blasphemy for them. So what is so wrong with a government that can humbly ask for providence to guide them? To me this is the basic building block of any great government, humility. And of course the basic tenet to any great person as well. So fight prayer in the courts, fight it in the media, put your best boxing gloves on, but in reality all you are doing is throwing punches into thin air because humility beats pride any day.
National Day of Prayer Rules! Keep it Sanctioned in Government and Keep it national, public and humble. And for those who seek to thwart any understanding that Judeo-Christian values were deeply embedded in our nation, take a tour of Washington D.C. and tell me what you See!
Take the Lord's prayer for instance, "give us, forgive us, lead us not, deliver us." Lots of "us" in that prayer isn't there? Short to be sure, but powerful because it relied on God as the giver and not ourselves. This then bears weight with the intent of prayer, to keep ourselves humble in the eyes of God and to make sure that we understand we are not within ourselves able to have all the answers for life. Of course this offends many within our culture who decry any religious intonation within government circles at all in our country as noted in this recent article on NPR. But the thing that irks me is the total loss of the rationale behind prayer in the first place. The one thing that atheists tend to have in common, pride.
Too much pride to simply ask for help. To realize that we don't have all the answers to life and can't do it all for ourselves is akin to blasphemy for them. So what is so wrong with a government that can humbly ask for providence to guide them? To me this is the basic building block of any great government, humility. And of course the basic tenet to any great person as well. So fight prayer in the courts, fight it in the media, put your best boxing gloves on, but in reality all you are doing is throwing punches into thin air because humility beats pride any day.
National Day of Prayer Rules! Keep it Sanctioned in Government and Keep it national, public and humble. And for those who seek to thwart any understanding that Judeo-Christian values were deeply embedded in our nation, take a tour of Washington D.C. and tell me what you See!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Benefits of Resistance
My kids scrambled to get bibles this morning to take to school and I enjoyed listening to my 9 year old read the account of creation on his own volition and with excitement. I might have to rewind a bit and explain. Yesterday in his class they covered some views on evolution and mentioned that some believe we came from Adam and eve. To which my son and his friend without coaching defended the biblical account of creation. This makes a father proud! And it enlightened me to the idea that the resistance that we face in schools and society openly embracing and accepting the account of creation actually does us some good. My point to all this is that if there wouldn't have been some resistance or couching of other "opinions" my kids wouldn't have been scrambling to read Genesis on their own and wanting to find out the truth of what they believe. Have you ever tried to get one of your kids to do something because it was good for them? I didn't have to force them to find out, the fire that was in them was stoked because of this resistance and it brought out the best in them.
May it last and burn even brighter!
May it last and burn even brighter!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saints!!!!!!
Yea Baby! the Saints are in the Superbowl and it is unbelievable! In all my years (definitely not as long as most)I never thought I would see this happen. In fact I can remember my dad always telling me that my grandfather said they would never go to the Superbowl unless they got saved when the franchise first started. Hence the name "Saints." Now I don't know the condition of anyone's salvation, but to the degree that some figures on that team have impacted a city and a region, I have to tell you that it sure looks like some of these guys are on the right side of salvation. They are not just football players who blab off at the mouth and who show boat, they are a class act. Playing through some of the worst adversity that any team could have experienced and coming back to get to the Superbowl is stellar and speaks in itself.
Does God truly care about football? In and of itself, no I don't believe He does. However, does he care about those who do play being successful at what they do and shining a light of hope to the rest of the world in their success? Yes He does. In fact I read an editorial some time ago about religion in pro sports and I have to tell you it was a horrible read. It spoke of Tim Tebow and his faith and how it shouldn't be displayed on the field simply because religion doesn't belong in sports. How ludicrous. Why? Because you can't separate the individual from his faith and if you can't do that, then you can't separate religion from what that individual is a part of. In fact to do so would mean that the government then stipulates what you can and cannot believe because Christianity is about people bringing their faith to the public square and influencing others to live a life of Godliness and love and in that giving people hope. To separate the two would invariably nullify the core of our religious belief. You can't do it and neither can you do it in sports. God belongs on the field, in the locker room and in the hearts of minds of those who serve Him in whatever capacity they find themselves.
GO Saints (of all kinds!)
Does God truly care about football? In and of itself, no I don't believe He does. However, does he care about those who do play being successful at what they do and shining a light of hope to the rest of the world in their success? Yes He does. In fact I read an editorial some time ago about religion in pro sports and I have to tell you it was a horrible read. It spoke of Tim Tebow and his faith and how it shouldn't be displayed on the field simply because religion doesn't belong in sports. How ludicrous. Why? Because you can't separate the individual from his faith and if you can't do that, then you can't separate religion from what that individual is a part of. In fact to do so would mean that the government then stipulates what you can and cannot believe because Christianity is about people bringing their faith to the public square and influencing others to live a life of Godliness and love and in that giving people hope. To separate the two would invariably nullify the core of our religious belief. You can't do it and neither can you do it in sports. God belongs on the field, in the locker room and in the hearts of minds of those who serve Him in whatever capacity they find themselves.
GO Saints (of all kinds!)
Sunday, January 24, 2010
21 days!
The 21st day and people all over this nation have been fasting and praying. We are about to see what happens when the people of God are bound by the Spirit of God toward a common purpose and goal. I believe that we have already seen God's sovereign hand at work during these last 21 days throughout not only our nation, but our world. Excitement has permeated the atmosphere of our lives and an expectation of the power of God more than ever before and He will show up in miraculous ways here in this nation because of a people that refuse to allow our nation to go the route of nations before us. Founded on the principle of worshipping the creator of Heaven and earth existing in the person of Jesus Christ, we will continue to be the blessed nation that He has called and the blessing that we have been and will be to the nations of the world. The Church will rise up in these days and will be the Church that Jesus has called us to be.
So Let's Celebrate!
So Let's Celebrate!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
One year old bday parties, wow it has been awhile! I can remember when these bday parties were like almost every weekend. Parents hangin out and the kids runnin Around and screaming their lungs out. Of course you always had the helicopter parents and then the disengaged that let every one else watch their kids. If you are one of those parents still having those bday parties enjoy them. Your kids grow up so fast that it's hard to imagine that it passes so quickly. Kids are the lifeblood of our society and they need to be enjoyed and nurtured. Now back tothe party, FYI it's hilarious to see my 9 year old boy carrying around a pink and green gift box......
Friday, January 22, 2010
Slavery Dead? No
That age old institution probably older than prostitution is still alive and thriving. In an article posted by ABC news traffickers, not uncommon to Haiti, are now aggressively moving into action to kidnap children following that countries devastating earthquake. It has been heart warming to watch the outpouring of support from all over the world that has occurred during this time for this tiny island nation, but how sad it is that those who would take advantage of fellow human beings would spend just as much energy and resources springing into action to enslave a child. According to human trafficking statistics over 1 million children per year are enslaved in the commercial sex trade and this doesn't include the numbers of women that are enslaved in this trade as well. Church we have a job to do and we need to get involved in stopping this modern day tragedy.
Too read up and find out more about this blight on our society ck out this blog and some of these organizations and the video below.
John
Safe Horizon
World Hope
Barnaba Institute
Children of the Night
Too read up and find out more about this blight on our society ck out this blog and some of these organizations and the video below.
John
Safe Horizon
World Hope
Barnaba Institute
Children of the Night
Thursday, January 21, 2010
As The Tide Turns
Reading the story of Jacob’s life is one of fascinating intrigue filled with twists and turns that often leaves someone scratching their head trying to figure out who this guy is. I mean for all of his issues, God still chose him. A liar, a cheat, a coward and just an all around loser, by religious standards. But a few key events took place that changed his destiny.
An encounter with God when he ran from his brother Esau. An encounter with God when he was on his way back to his brother Esau. Anyone else notice a pattern here? The biggest obstacle in our lives that can deter us from our destiny is often the thing that we are running from and then what we have to run back to face that will change us. God blessed him when he was at his father in law, Laban’s, house. Of course there was a little mischief on his part, but some would call it good business sense….I like the latter….and he became prosperous and gave all the glory to God. Then he feels it is time to leave because God is leading him home, back to where Esau was. He had to face his failures, his lies and his problems he left behind. The reality was though that God had already paved the way for him. So on the way he meets God face to face and he is so sick of who he is that he demands a blessing. He was already rich so I would entertain that he wasn’t asking for material blessing. I believe he was asking for a blessing of renewal in his relationships. They were all so messed up. Can you imagine marrying sisters and having the infighting he did???? And then he ducked out on his father in law and didn’t even tell him he was moving. Ran from his mother and father’s house, man sounds like a soap opera! But God changes his nature as he wrestled with him and it is recognized by the name change from Jacob to Israel and the rest….Esau loves him and welcomes him and then several years later or Genesis 36, Esau moves out of the land of promise and it is Israel’s to have. God always makes a way, but are you running away from your promise right now or back to your promise regardless of the issues you know you have to face?
An encounter with God when he ran from his brother Esau. An encounter with God when he was on his way back to his brother Esau. Anyone else notice a pattern here? The biggest obstacle in our lives that can deter us from our destiny is often the thing that we are running from and then what we have to run back to face that will change us. God blessed him when he was at his father in law, Laban’s, house. Of course there was a little mischief on his part, but some would call it good business sense….I like the latter….and he became prosperous and gave all the glory to God. Then he feels it is time to leave because God is leading him home, back to where Esau was. He had to face his failures, his lies and his problems he left behind. The reality was though that God had already paved the way for him. So on the way he meets God face to face and he is so sick of who he is that he demands a blessing. He was already rich so I would entertain that he wasn’t asking for material blessing. I believe he was asking for a blessing of renewal in his relationships. They were all so messed up. Can you imagine marrying sisters and having the infighting he did???? And then he ducked out on his father in law and didn’t even tell him he was moving. Ran from his mother and father’s house, man sounds like a soap opera! But God changes his nature as he wrestled with him and it is recognized by the name change from Jacob to Israel and the rest….Esau loves him and welcomes him and then several years later or Genesis 36, Esau moves out of the land of promise and it is Israel’s to have. God always makes a way, but are you running away from your promise right now or back to your promise regardless of the issues you know you have to face?
Our Biggest Battle
The biggest Battle in your life is not when external circumstances confront you, but when you confront internal desires and try to overcome them. In short Our biggest enemy is ourself. That’s why I believe fasting and prayer is a common component of any mature Christians faith. Why choose “mature Christian” and not just “Christian?” Because there are tons of folks who claim christianity as their religion, but have never adopted a lifestlye of fasting and prayer. I have such high regard and esteem for those who can often go on 40 day fasts and I’m not talking about just fasting meat or maybe media, but all solid food.
We often want the spiritual authority and wisdom of some of these faithful leaders in our lives, but we often fail to see the price they pay for that authority and wisdom. The sacrifices might not seem big on the outside, they might be financially stable and in the upper middle class and not seem to struggle for physical lack, but if you get behind the scenes, you see struggles of self discipline and rigorous spiritual disciplines that are intense. One of my leaders that I admire responded once to a question; “breakfast, I can’t eat breakfast until I’ve spent time with Father.” He doesn’t eat at all until he has spent time with Jesus in prayer that day. What he has done is placed such a priority on Jesus that all else pales in comparison. He denies himself personal satisfaction until he has met with Jesus. There might be an emergency or last minute plans that get interrupted etc, but that rumbling in his gut reminds him that he missed his prayer.
How much more could we be to the world if we would get this type of tenacity in prayer and time with Father? Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him. That’s what fasting and prayer is all about and that’s what every Christian is called to do.
Keep it up….Keep the faith
We often want the spiritual authority and wisdom of some of these faithful leaders in our lives, but we often fail to see the price they pay for that authority and wisdom. The sacrifices might not seem big on the outside, they might be financially stable and in the upper middle class and not seem to struggle for physical lack, but if you get behind the scenes, you see struggles of self discipline and rigorous spiritual disciplines that are intense. One of my leaders that I admire responded once to a question; “breakfast, I can’t eat breakfast until I’ve spent time with Father.” He doesn’t eat at all until he has spent time with Jesus in prayer that day. What he has done is placed such a priority on Jesus that all else pales in comparison. He denies himself personal satisfaction until he has met with Jesus. There might be an emergency or last minute plans that get interrupted etc, but that rumbling in his gut reminds him that he missed his prayer.
How much more could we be to the world if we would get this type of tenacity in prayer and time with Father? Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him. That’s what fasting and prayer is all about and that’s what every Christian is called to do.
Keep it up….Keep the faith
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