Godly Thoughts On Environmentalism

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

If God gave mankind the responsibility to rule, that is manage, the Earth, why aren't we leading the charge for environmentalism? Why are we not demanding corporations set aside their desire for profits and make them accountable for managing the resources they use? Instead, we look at the ungodly who are doing so and protest their ungodliness, all the while letting them take over our God given responsibility.

The New Age movement is worshiping the Earth. And, we point and say “evil”, but refuse to fulfill the original call placed upon man in the Garden of Eden. Why? The only reason I have ever heard is that we must not worship the creation, only the Creator. This is right and proper. However, we are called to love more than serve. When you truly love someone, you do the things that make them happy. And, you do it, not because you have to do them, Instead, you do those things to see the one you love smile.

If we really love God, why are we not doing more things that make Him smile? He asked to manage and care for His creation. Why are we not demanding this, along with caring for the unborn, the poor, abandoned, neglected?

Perhaps Paul wrote more prophetically than anyone previously thought when he said:

Romans 8:19-21. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

When will we bring a smile to our Lord and Saviors face by doing what makes Him, and all creation, happy?

The REAL Man-made God!

I had a really interesting…and frightening…thought today. But, have you ever considered how government is becoming like a god?

Let’s think about this for a minute. When things went wrong, people used to cry out to their deity of choice for relief. Who do we cry out to now? The government! Most religions have some clause where you give some percentage of your income to them to placate the anger of your particular deity. So what do we have now? The IRS! Most religions go to great lengths to keep you from finding out about other religions. So, what do we have? Separation church and state…where you can’t discuss other things or have government funding if whatever you does so! And, let’s not forget that every religion has all kinds of rules for proper behavior to keep your deity happy…or at least less mad at you. Dare we even discuss the size and complexity of legal code coming out of Washington (or whatever other world capital) these days? We can even carry out the Biblical analogy and say we have our own Pharisees and Saducees (feuding sects, a.k.a. Republicans and Democrats). This religion even has it’s own mouthpiece to declare it’s worthiness and greatness! Enter Mainstream media (MSM). And, finally, like all relgions, it wants to be incontrol of everything. So…we get nationalization of business and industry!

I tell you, it’s a religious monopoly! Government is forcing us all into religious service! It shuts down or marginalizes other religious views, defines proper behavior and activity, and demands out obeisance by threatening to not meet our needs. If that isn’t a man-made god, I don’t know what is.

11/9 Morning Report

(...be warned...today I just felt like going on a rant...I've been nice for too long...)

It’s really sad that all the MSM can do is recognize how bad some things are. You would think, somewhere along the way, they would recognize successes. Like the report 3 days ago that IED deaths are down. Some estimates say by about 50%! What does the media report? There was this NY Times article that proclaimed 2007 deadliest year for troops. It is a true statement. However, the Times blames the increase on the surge. Ground commanders say the surge has worked, to a degree. Some independent journalists are saying there has been a significant change among Iraqis that is making a difference. Michael Yon has done a good job of pointing fingers in all directions during the conflict. He was among the first to see a civil war brewing. Now, he reports that various local insurgent groups are joining the government, and American forces, to get rid of al-Qaeda. A month ago, he said something profound in his dispatch Hunting al-Qaeda:

Their end goal still includes getting us ushered out the door: something they are clear about. This means we have further common interests; we want to walk out that door just as fervently, but we don’t want to watch the house full of kids burn down behind us when we leave. Neither do they.

The question for our nation will be did we run away and let the house burn down, or did we make every effort to do right by the Iraqi people? Given the changing political winds in Washington, I suspect that will prove to be THE question that defines the next Administration and the Congress.

(…by the way, if you re not reading Michael Yon, you should be…)


Speaking of things the Liberals should have to answer for: Illegal Immigration. More specifically, they should answer for refusing to control it. 23 were found working at O’Hare Airport. Many in sensitive areas. And, yet, Liberals decry any attempt to control the problem. The claim of discrimination is absurdly placed as an overarching concern, when in fact, it really isn’t the issue in the first place. Certainly, it appears from time to time. And, it should be dealt with accordingly. However, the issue is ILLEGAL immigrants. And, frankly, I don’t see why the one is discriminating against the other.


But, then of course, they would also have to respond to the latest moves of the Liberal darling Hugo Chavez. Portrayed as the benign, loving dictator of Venezuela, his supporters re apparently pretty violent, killing two after the anti-Chavez rally the other day. Funny thing…I didn’t catch much about it in the MSM. Nor do I hear any cries of dictitorialism for his moves to consolidate and perpetuate power. But, here in the US, the Liberals are going after various conservative icons again. With their return to power, they are back after televangelists. Do I believe they live extravagantly? Yeah, they probably do. But, who said they have live in poverty? And where do you draw the line? And…more importantly…why is the line more sharply drawn for Christians and preachers than other groups?

(…now there is a question Liberals should have to answer…think they ever will?...)


And, for those that want to use Yahoo to help our troops, Any Soldier now has a Yahoo toolbar available. When you use it, it helps keep that site alive. They exist because people give to the site, as well as the troops. Do what you can. They are more than worth it.

11/7 Morning Report

In Georgia, a man was arrested, charged, jailed and convicted by a municipal judge for distributing religious pamphlets. Supposedly, he violated the city’s “parade law” by not getting permission to pass out tracts. In August, the charges were dropped—after the case got to Superior Court. Well, now the issue is in Federal Court in hopes of gaining a preliminary injunction.

Baumann spent two days in jail for violating the parade ordinance. ADF (Alliance Defense Fund) attorneys have since asked for the preliminary injunction, which would allow Baumann and others to share their faith in public without having to gain permission from government authorities.

Maybe I’m just naïve, but freedom of religious expression is a constitutional right. It is the responsibility of the Federal Government, since the constitution gives this power to the Feds, to protect religious freedoms—Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, whatever. So, can anyone tell me why I think the Feds will duck this issue?


In another “public safety” item (…this one really is…) Mattel recalled more toys. These toys were made in Mexico. Small parts could break off and create a choking hazard. And, so far, there is only one reported case of a problem in the UK. Meanwhile, Mattel is facing a liable suit from China after the company announced that 85% of those August recalls were caused by a company design problem—not Chinese manufacturers.


Meanwhile, in Iraq, some Shi’ite groups are seeking the same autonomies as the Kurds. For some, that type of government is proving successful. Al-Najaf, for example, is beginning to thrive due to religious pilgrimages, and using the money through local power building. But, that same religious power could create problems among various Islamic groups. The discussion of federalism is a hot issue. Sunnis claim it will lead to an unequal sharing of oil wealth. It will be interesting to see where this goes in the end.

(…personally, I think there will be either separate states, or autonomous regions…your thoughts?...)


And, contrary to the voices of the media, people are returning to Iraq.

"As a result of the improvement of the security situation in the capital Baghdad the total number of Iraqis returning from outside through Iraqi border exit points during October reached 46,030," Baghdad security spokesman Brigadier-General Qassim Moussawi told a news conference.

With civilian deaths for October the lowest in over a year, some are giving credit to the success of the Surge. While not commenting on the figures, because they had not seen them yet, even the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says the numbers of returning Iraqis has been increasing.

(…let’s see what the cut-and-run crowd does with this…)

11/6 Morning Report

Rugrats and Power Rangers may really be bad TV for children. A recent study showed possible links between violent content and attention lapses. It links these problems to children as much under 3 who watch this type of content. And, the problems can show up as much as 5 years later.

(…and ADD is a biological disease?...right?...what do you want to bet no link is substantiated…)


In related news, Oregon voters will decide on a state funded child healthcare expansion.

"If Oregon votes in the affirmative for this, it will be a shot in the arm," said U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Portland. "It will be harder for some people to ignore what the public sentiment is. Maybe they can ignore the polls, but this would be a signal victory."

As a liberal state, Oregon’s vote could add pressure for a national program, despite recent Presidential vetoes. The proposal would be funded by an increased cigarette tax, which has prompted a $12 million campaign against the tax by Phillip Morris. I am left wondering, on the other hand, what happens when everyone quits smoking? How do you fund these things then? Where will the money come from? Isn’t it interesting that you never hear about those things?

(…I can see an eventual budget shortfall…can you?...)


Meanwhile, more ministries are coming under government scrutiny. A Senate panel is demanding records be delivered within one month. At issue is whether ministry leaders use their tax-exempt status to live lavish lifestyles. I would counter with the question: who said they should live in poverty? Executives of major corporations as big as some ministries get larger salaries. Why shouldn’t these men and women? My second question is why is the Senate doing this? Admittedly there are tax implications. But…seriously…the Senate? The IRS has their own courts for issues such as these.

(…I think the government may be making a move to get more money from the church…which is really kind of dumb…if you give to a church for the tax deduction, I wonder if you are even giving it to God in the first place…)


And, finally, the National ID plan has hit a bunch of snags. Resitsance is ciming from several quarters, now.

One reason is the price tag, estimated at $14.6 billion. Congress has so far appropriated only $40 million and twice this summer voted against additional funding.

This is on top of conservative resistance because of invasion of privacy concerns. And (…are you sitting down?...) event the ACLU has come out against the program, claiming is too watered down to accomplish anything.

(…yeah, I know…they would still go for it…but take the support where you can find it…eh?...)

The Jesus Painting

(...Christian or not...you have to admit this man's work is creative...It was posted about a year ago, but I am encouraged every time I watch it...if you are a Christian, I hope this stirs your faith, as it does mine...)

The Pastor's Ass

The rural pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won. The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race again, and It won again.

The local paper read: PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT.

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the pastor not to enter the donkey in another race.

The next day, the local paper headline read: BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS.

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey. The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent.

The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day: NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.

The bishop fainted . He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she sold it to a farmer for $10.

The next day the paper read: NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild.

The next day the headlines read: NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE.

The bishop was buried the next day.
........................................................

(...the moral of the story is....being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery...and even shorten your life. So be yourself and enjoy life...

Stop worrying about everyone else's ass and you'll be a lot happier and live longer!...)

05/06 Morning Report

Oh, my God! Hell is freezing over! The NY Times reports that liberal professors are changing their views on gun controlThe Liberals have said for years that the Second Amendment does not cover the individual right to have guns—only for state militias to be armed. Well, there are now several liberal professors who are changing their minds. And, their views are beginning to change a judiciary opinions. Professor Levinson, at the University of Texas said:

If only as a matter of consistency, Professor Levinson continued, liberals who favor expansive interpretations of other amendments in the Bill of Rights, like those protecting free speech and the rights of criminal defendants, should also embrace a broad reading of the Second Amendment. And just as the First Amendment’s protection of the right to free speech is not absolute, the professors say, the Second Amendment’s protection of the right to keep and bear arms may be limited by the government, though only for good reason.

Of course, the Times, being staffed by liberals, also did it’s best to undercut the potential of these changes by further stating:

The individual rights view is far from universally accepted. “The overwhelming weight of scholarly opinion supports the near-unanimous view of the federal courts that the constitutional right to be armed is linked to an organized militia,” said Dennis A. Henigan, director of the legal action project of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “The exceptions attract attention precisely because they are so rare and unexpected.”

Scholars who agree with gun opponents and support the collective rights view say the professors on the other side may have been motivated more by a desire to be provocative than by simple intellectual honesty.

It took two decades for the idea to break loose that the individual has gun rights as liberally interpreted as free speech (aka pornography publishers). I wonder what the next two decades will hold in this arena.
(…well…it just goes to show that wonders never cease…)

Meanwhile ABC seems to have discovered that Evangelical Christians are ”suddenly” supporting adoption. Well, I admit it is becoming more main stream. However, adoption has been advocated nationally by many ministries over the years. In fact, on thing Christians were known for in ancient Rome was taking in homeless, abandoned and orphaned children. My suspicion, though I cannot prove it, is more of the moderate (…yes, read that liberal…) elements of the church are re-discovering how important this action is. Here is what I believe: If you claim to be a Christian, and you do not take personal action to help those in need (…yes, read that mean not letting the government or church leadership take responsibility for doing everything…), then you are a hypocrite. Your personal action may take the form of writing soldiers to let them know they are not forgotten. It may take the form of adopting orphans. It could take many different forms. But, it must be a personal action—not something another party does for you. It’s time the Church began being the Church, again.

Meanwhile, in Iraq, an al-Qaeda video declares the Democrats recent withdrawal proposal is proof of America’s defeat. Is anyone really surprised by that? Critics of the liberal cry for departure dates have said this claim would be made. And, the liberals have denied it would be an issue. The fact that the video played the race card—using video from the 1960s to claim US racism—is really pathetic. Sure, there are still problems among different races in America—and it isn’t just between whites and other races (aka the Asian/Hispanic turf wars in many West Coast cities). But, at least there are efforts being made to work through those issues. Why don’t we compare apples to apples, for just a moment. Can someone show me similar efforts being made by al-Qaeda? Iran? Hamas? In fact, al-Qaeda seems to have been behind the suicide bomb aimed at Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi. They also warned Sunnis not to cooperate or work with Shiites. Their brand of racism (aka religionism) is much more destructive, not to mention bloodier, than what we see here.
(…do I really need to go on…)

Finally, there was more sad news reported in the Dallas Morning News.

HOUSTON – A 19-year-old soldier from a Houston suburb died this week in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said Friday.

Pfc. Joseph G. Harris, of Sugar Land, died Thursday. His death is under investigation, officials said.

Harris was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Pfc. Harris, at our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

04/18 Morning Report

The “partial birth abortion” ban has been up held. And, I have to admit I am excited to see that type of ruling come from SCOTUS. Of course, the liberals are all lining up with the usual rhetoric. It’s “amazing” how the media all use the same quotes from liberal sources, don’t you think? The BBC, MSNBC, and the New York Times (paraphrasing), all used the same quotes like:

Ginsberg says: "In candour, the Partial Birth Abortion Act and the court's defence of it cannot be understood as anything other than an effort to chip away at a right declared again and again by this court - and with increasing comprehension of its centrality to women's lives," she said.

"This ruling flies in the face of 30 years of Supreme Court precedent and the best interest of women's health and safety," said Eve Gartner of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

No real surprises in their rhetoric. Many liberals are still very much in denial of the life of a “fetus”…uumm…baby…sorry got caught up that ridiculous PC stuff.

But, the important question is what is going to change? In other words, will this ruling really make a difference? Before you get mad at me for that thought, give it some serious consideration. You should also probably go read this. According to Mark Crutcher, president of Life Dynamics:

"We need to temper our excitement over something like this by the fact that this ban won't save one single baby," the pro-lifer cautions. "Every baby that would have been killed with a partial-birth abortion or a D&X, whichever you want to call it, will simply be killed with a D&E or hysterotomy or some other abortion method.”

That is a chilling perspective from someone on the Pro-Life side of things. Despite the legal victory, and the possibility it may signal a change, Clutcher’s peek behind the curtain indicates there isn’t may not be much real dispelling of the darkness, yet.
(...hearts have to change, not just laws...and, so far, we are the same self-centered culture we were before the ruling...)


Meanwhile, still on the subject of “not what it seems”, there was this BBC report that Ethanol cars may not be healthier. Can I be surprised? If I use an ethanol mixture then my gas mileage goes WAY down. Should I be surprised that it has other health problems?

A computer model set up to simulate air quality in 2020 found that in some areas ozone levels would increase if all cars were run on bioethanol.

Of course, this is just a continuation of the same statements made back in January of 2006.

(…ranks up there with Al Gore’s electric bill…doesn’t it…a little hypocrisy…mix in good PR…say…sounds like what the left says about Bush…doesn’t it?...hhhmmmm...)

What Do You Preach?

For my final post of 2006, and my first post for 2007, I thought I would share some thoughts from a friend of mine. First, I’ll give you a little more background on him. He was my pastor while living and working in a street shelter. He was my boss while working in a Cajun restaurant. I have lived in his home while searching for an apartment. And, he stood as a groomsman at my wedding.

His article is aimed at Christians. But, you know what? Everyone has a purpose in this life. What we do with it, and how we live it out, is up to us. We are all preachers of something. We can proclaim fault and point fingers—which is nothing more always looking at the past. Or we can proclaim what could be and point the way to a better future. It is our choice.

Which way are you pointing?

Preachers: Worth or Worthless?
Larry R Taylor
Dec 4, 2006
§ We are not entertainers
§ We are not politicians
§ We are not businessmen
§ We are not educators
§ We are preachers!

Romans 10:14 " How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:15 " And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

I have lost track of the number of times I have heard people misquote Saint Francis recently; "Preach the gospel at all times—when necessary use words." Like most religious traditions of men, it sounds good at first. The only problem with this well meaning and high sounding quote is that it promotes a totally unbiblical view of preaching. Scripture commands that we preach the gospel. (Mk. 16:15) The "foolishness" of preaching is the means God ordained to save the lost. (1 Cor. 1:21). Preaching is the method chosen to correct false teaching and heresy. (2 Tim. 4:2) Preaching is the conduit for imparting the wisdom of God in contrast to the teachings of men. (Col. 1:28) Proclamation of the word of God produces faith. (Rom. 10:17) The preaching of the word releases signs, wonders and miracles. (Mk. 16:20) The word "preach" by definition means that we speak words.

Why the trendy attack on the act of preaching? I believe that the ambivalence toward preaching is due primarily to feelings that have developed towards preachers. Those that occupy the pulpits (TV monitors) of America have left many feeling manipulated, ripped off and used. I would like to suggest that it is not preaching with which we have the real problem. Our problem is with those who have failed our expectations as preachers.

I suppose everyone has anomalies in their family history that helps to shape their thinking and behavior. Mine is no exception. On one side of the family tree preachers were held in the highest regard. My great grandfather was the pastor of First Baptist Church Groveton, Texas for over 32 years. His daughter (my grandmother) was the organist at the same church for over 30 years and her husband a deacon. Pastors were treated with respect and admiration. On the other side I had a several uncles and cousins that felt, or at least expressed feelings, that seemed to indicate that preachers were a specialized group of leeches on society worthy only of the highest contempt.

Here was my dilemma. As a young boy who felt "the call to ministry" at 8 years old, I had to agree with both sides. The pastors that my uncles were personally exposed to and acquainted with seemed to qualify for that position primarily by not being qualified for any other position. Whenever they got in debt, or had a business failure, or lost a job these particular backwoods country pastors would always "go back to preach'n". Sometimes they even quit drinking and chasing women.

It seems to me that at this juncture of Church history that we are faced with similar conflicting views on the role of preachers in general and pastors to be more specific. Some are crying for the overthrow of the current pastoral system based on the behavior of those who have embarrassed themselves and the people they serve with acts of immorality and the "unforgivable sin" of modern secular thinkers: hypocrisy. At the other extreme are groups elevating the pastor to near god status through "touch not the anointed" teachings and honoring their leaders by giving them titles of royalty (Your Highness, Your Majesty, etc. My thinking is this, if they really wanted to honor their spiritual leaders they would call them what they are- Pastor, Prophet, Evangelist, Teacher, Apostle-not by giving them degrading titles of earthly royalty. To be a King or Prince or Queen would, in my estimation, be a step down.)

I have nothing against world rulers, or entertainers or businessmen or educators. My point is simply this—to be called to preach the gospel is not a shameful condition. To be identified as a preacher is not a reproach, but an honor. Biblically there is no alternative in the body of Christ but to make room for the men and women of God who have been called and sent to minister the good news.

Before you hastily hit reply and send me a corrective email, let me be the first to acknowledge that all Christians have been called to preach the good news. All believers have the capability of prophesying and ministering in the anointing of God. However, at the same time, I hope that you can recognize that there are clearly those in the New Testament Church who were called to be given wholly to the ministry of the Word and derive their primary source of income from that ministry. (1Corinthians 9:14 "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.")

In this season of shifting paradigms, apostolic reformation, new wineskins and structural innovations, we should be careful not to throw out the biblical baby with the dirty bathwater of exposed carnality and immorality. Rather than adopt a world system model from which to derive our identity, we should instead boldly stand up and be the real thing: Preachers of the Gospel.

You can find Larry at Go In Ministries.

Have a blessed New Year! See you in 2007.

Merry Christmas

Like many bloggers, I’ll be taking Christmas off. So, instead of the usual Morning Report, I thought I would share some links to people’s Christmas stories, memories, thoughts and expectations.

JR shared an timeless tale at A Keyboard And A .45
The denizens of Castle Argghhh had a story, too.
There was a wonderful photo Op of Santa in Iraq from BLACKFIVE
RWA had his Thoughts From The Heart of Dixie
Gazer posted this at Gazing at the Flag
(…be sure to take the Reindeer Quiz…by the way, I’m a Blitzen…see my previous post…)
LilFeathers2000 posted this thoughtful rhyme at This That And Froghair 2.
Andi spoke up from Andi’s World
And, Taco Bell sent a Sandgram

And, finally, here is my Christmas memory.

Back in 1988, I was living in a street shelter, in Lufkin, Texas, doing day labor jobs, trying to get back on me feet. A couple weeks before Christmas, three of us got a week long job clearing brush on some land. We got to stay in a cabin there. We did have to cut our own wood to keep the fire going and be able to cook, though. The first day, I unpacked groceries and got the stove/heater going, while the other two went to gather wood. I finished before they got back and started playing around on my guitar—wondering what Christmas really means to me. I started singing, and, much to my surprise, out came the answer.

To remember what Christmas really is, I simply let my mind wander back to that cabin in East Texas. You see, in reality, Christmas comes every day.
(...the lyrics for the song is in the comments...sorry, I couldn't get the audio file to load right...)

It’s really amazing how simple things become when you have nothing—or at least not much. It’s also much easier to know what you really believe. Since that week in the brush, I’ve gotten married. We now have four children. We’ve struggled through some pretty tough medical situations. And, now, I’m launching out into a second career. With all that, it would be easy to get caught up in the rush, bustle and commercialism of Christmas. Instead, I remember. I hope you have a memory that helps keep you focused on the real meaning of Christmas.

I hope your holidays are wonderful. I hope your Christmas is awesome. And, I hope your new year is blessed beyond belief. But, most of all, I pray that the grace and peace of the Lord, Jesus Christ, is always increasing in your hearts and lives through the knowledge of Him.

Mercy Has Not Triumphed

America is, in my opinion, a very religious nation. The problem is, our religions are anger and blame. We are a nation so eaten up with anger due to fault finding, we have forgotten what it is to have mercy or to forgive. Calling us a Christian nation without those two factors in play is laughable—it is also a lie. And, I think we Christians actually created the problem.

The church has been fervently praying for righteousness and justice to be established in the land. And, in fact, they have—just not the way we expected. You see, without the Spirit of God, all righteousness and justice do is find fault and apply punishment. Judgment and righteousness, of themselves, are not kind or compassionate.

Righteousness, without the Spirit of God, only finds fault, not solutions. And, we as a nation are VERY good at finding fault. Just look through the political ads and it is patently obvious we are not listening to each other—just picking the other guys statements apart and remembering everyone of their failures.

Justice, without the Spirit of God, only blames and seeks to punish. One look at the mountain of litigations in our court system will tell you we are VERY good at blaming and seeking punishment, Even the two main political parties just point fingers and say, “Yeah, but look what you did!”

Justice and righteousness, without the Spirit of God, are only interested in the keeping of the rules. It has now reached the point where no one can back down on anything. Backing down implies failure, which also makes room for shame and blame from others.. And, simply put, I think we fear the stigma of shame. And, shame is the result of judgment without love.

And, we the church, created the problem. We made serving God all about proper behavior and keeping rules. It was supposed to be about doing and being because we love and enjoy God. I don’t love my wife by keeping rules. I keep rules because I love my wife. If all we are going to do is find fault and apply punishment, no one is going to recognize love. We will be too busy finding fault.

Now, I am not suggesting that evil should go unpunished. But, Biblically speaking, the point of punishment is not the destruction of the offending party. It is restoration. Unfortunately, over the centuries since Constantine, large portions of the church have been on a quest for power, control and recognition. Power control and recognition are built by shaming and blaming others. It’s no wonder so many see the church as evil. We have learned the lessons of the world—how to build walls and divide through shame and accusation. We, the church, are no better than American politicians. We merely point fingers and say, “Yeah, but look what you did.” The difference? We don’t just leave it with “You’re second rate.” We go even farther and say “You are unworthy.”

We have forgotten some of the most important words from The Bible:

”I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

If we Christians want to see a difference, we need to pray for mercy, and forgiveness—as well as righteousness and judgment. And, if we are going to pray for that, then we will get it. After all, we received the righteousness and justice we asked for didn’t we?

So, guess what? I think any change is up to us. Are we going to be so focused on fault and punishment that we forget mercy and forgiveness? Or, will we choose to lay down our “God given rights” for the sake of others?

Well?

(...stay tuned for more on this subject...)

A Lawyer Goes To Heaven

A lawyer died and went to meet God in heaven. On top that seeming impossibility, this man did something else unbelievable. He managed to take a bar of gold with him!

Standing in line, waiting his turn to be examined, he starts to get nervous. He noticed a man off to one side. Looking around nervously, he shuffles over to the man.

“Can I help you,” the man asked helpfully.

“Um…uummm” he says uncertainly. “I-I’ve got a problem. I need to talk with some one in authority.”

The other man’s eyebrows rose. “My name is Peter,” he replied seriously. “I’ve got a little clout around here. I have to admit, this is pretty unusual. What kind of problem are we talking about?”

The lawyer looked around again. With a shaky hand he reaches into his coat.

“I-I-I managed to bring something with me.”

“Really!” Peter’s eyebrows rose up even higher. “That’s quite an accomplishment. What did you bring?”

“Well…This,” the lawyer said, and pulled out the gold bar.

“What? Just pavement?”

*************

We have a skewed view of what really matters—Christians and non-Christians alike.

Sure, the Bible says the streets of heaven will be paved with gold. I’ve even heard it said that statement is the psychological expression of poor Christians’ wish for a better after life.

However. let’s put that in a different perspective. Is pavement really something to be desired? Sought after? Not really. Pavement is something to be used to get us from here to there in this life. It’s a tool. And, really, money is no different than pavement.

Money is a very useful thing. We may have a lot of money in this life. We may not. Biblically speaking, we must handle it faithfully in this life. But, in the eternal perspective, it isn’t supposed to be the driving desire of our hearts. When it is, money effectively becomes god.

So, is pavement god in your life?

A Thought...

I’ve been watching all the liberal stuff in politics, the media and in business for a while. I recognized some time ago that what we are seeing is the continued progression of the social movements in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The principal villains of old were the robber barons. They controlled the money, and they controlled the church to a great extent. And, we need to remember that they were the conservatives of the day.

Today, I read chuck Pierce’s Elijah List posting from October 25. If you haven’t read it, you can find it here. Now, before I go much farther, the natural mind would probably read all the times he mentions revolution and think Chuck is advocating armed violence and so forth. Not the case. What Chuck is referring to is a revolution in the spirit. It will be a time when Christians actually act like and be Christians—instead of whatever it is many of us act like. But, the main point of Chuck’s posting is a call for Christians to cry out for that revolution to break forth.

In response to Chuck’s call, I felt like the Lord was speaking something to my heart. It goes something like this:

Prepare for a hard battle. The people often referred to as the Left have endured much to get where they are. Endurance reveals strength. Socail reforms and change have progressed for over a hundred years, through many trials. Much of that journey has been fueled by—and focused against--blindness, arrogance and greed in the church. This has given many a jaundiced view of Christians and the Church.

To begin the move back, we must heal the wounds AND repent of the lies that keep us in those life patterns. It begins with prayer. It continues with a common repentance. It grows stronger with a coming together in a common purpose and identity. We cannot be Democrat or Republican. We must be the people of God—choosing Him and His ways above all else.

What Is Worship?

In a nutshell, worship is drawing close to God. But, in the Bible, Psalm 18:11-13 tells us that His throne--that is, His Presence--is surrounded by storms and darkness. And, I've been wondering about that for several years. What is it about God and His throne that He is surrounded by dark clouds, rain, lightning and thunder? One day, as I was thinking about this, it occurred to me that the storms and darkness are merely our recognition of the sin and iniquity in our own hearts.

It's actually something of a Catch-22 situation. The only way to deal with our sin is to come to His presence and receive His grace. Now, the closer we get to God, the more we become aware of His perfection. But, the closer we get, the more aware we become of our sin, or just simply our imperfections. The more we see ourselves as imperfect and sinful, the less we want to be near God because it reveals how ugly and dark our hearts are. And, the more we focus on our sin and imperfection, the more we believe we are not acceptable to Him. Many times we internalize that to mean He despises us, or that we are not good enough to be near Him, yet. Many other times, we externalize that perception and set-up rules and expectations of what makes someone acceptable to God.

The bottom line is that, really, the only thing that really keeps anyone--sinner and saint alike--away from God is our perception of our sinfulness. And, of course, the devil does everything in His power to magnify that perception, by keeping us focused on those imperfections, habits and sins.

But, God's perception of our sin is totally different. I like what Psalm 18 says just before it describes the storm around the Throne of God, though. It says God parted the heavens and came down. It also says that the darkness is under His feet. It is good to remember that. Jesus has conquered the darkness through death, burial and resurrection. Through His obedience to the Father, Jesus paid the price to remove ALL anger God feels towards us. And, in Him we are above it as well. The only way to get through the darkness is to remember that we are totally dependent on Him.

So often, our refusal to enter His presence is because we are convinced we must deal with something in order to be worthy, or able, or ready--or whatever word we would use--to enter His presence. The fact is, when we do that, all we are doing is trying to earn our way into His presence. And, when we pass this off on others, through religious rules and expectations, we are putting ourselves in God's place by defining what makes someone acceptable to God.

Jesus died so that by simply surrendering to Him, we have full and unrestricted access to the God the Father. Acknowledging our need of His forgiveness, by surrendering to His authority, is the only way into His presence. It truly is the only way for the storm to be calmed. Anything else is a religious exercise, attempting to earn what has already freely given to us through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Religion And Family

Having had a running discussion about my "religion" when I first posted (see this, and the comments,) I thought I would share a little more about me at this juncture. Specifically, I thought I going to go over my religious background.

I am a Christian, but I was not raised in church. We didn't attend church while I was growing up. I do seem to remember attending an some small church--Episcopal, I think(?)--for a year or two as a kid. But, that was about it. I came to meet and know Jesus at the late age of 27. On a side note, I heard somewhere that studies have shown, in America, if you have not become a Christian by the age of 18-20, you probably won't.

My parents are not Christian. They don't attend church, except for some special event my children are in if they are in town. And, they get pretty uncomfortable when I say anything publicly about my faith--doesn't really matter what it is either, except for jokes. I think they have bought into the lie that religion must be a private thing. I do not believe there is any such thing, nor can there be, as a private religion. I think whatever you really believe--the Gospel, Koran, Witchcraft, Darwinism, whatever--will always express itself in your life through your words and actions--simply because it has a direct influence on every decision you make.

Speaking of witchcraft, my oldest daughter is a Wiccan—specifically Celtic Druid. As far as I know, she and her mother are practicing witches. Yes, I do mean spell-casting and so on type witches. I even learned a little from her mother back when we were together. Not much, though. We weren't together very long, because I was a selfish fool in those days. I also spent a lot of time back then studying the practices of Tarot Cards, Astrology and Palm Reading. I became somewhere between poor and miserable at it all. And, like anything else you don't keep in practice on, I have forgotten nearly all that I learned back then. I never hooked up with a mentor, or got started at practicing that stuff. I was right on the verge of doing so, and I don't know why I didn't. But, after experiencing Christ, I am glad I didn't. All that stuff has become nothing more than a pale second best.

I should probably touch on my education at this point. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I have been to ministry school and to college. Ministry school was a one year program of practical ministry. Basically, it was pastors who came in to discuss a particular issue and how they dealt with it. Afterwards, they went back to their churches. It was interesting. I learned a lot about listening to God, and people. College was Business Administration, specializing in Operations Management, which I’m still trying to find time to continue. Up until about a year ago, I was working in warehouse operations, specifically in special projects. I would probably still be doing that except for a back injury at home, and then an elbow injury at work a year and half later. I took a clue, and went looking for other work. So, now I am a stockbroker. My biggest struggle with the new job? Adjusting to being stationary at a desk all day long. I REALLY miss being able to move around and do things during the work day.

But, work is a subject for another time….

What's In A Name?

Shakespeare said, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." He is, at best, partially right, and, at worst, totally wrong. Mention Al Anbar Province to a US Marine, and you will get an entirely different reaction than if you mention it to an Iraqi national. Mention Cacun to a vacationer, and you will get an entirely different reation than if you talk about Six Flags. George Carlin once said, "Names have emotional value." He's right. Romanticized nonsense sounds wonderful, and makes our hearts flutter, but it really doesn't much real meaning for us. The truth is our emotions dictate how we feel about things based on our experiences. Experience creates emotional value. Emotional value decides how sweet that rose smells--because of the name.

So, how about the question: what is the emotional value of YOUR name? That will depend on people's experiences with you. If you have been aloof towards others, then your name probably won't have much positive emotional value. And, there are lots of different ways this aloofness can be perceived. Is all you talk about yourself? Do you keep yourself distant, emotionally or physically? Do you spend your time only seeking after your pleasure or desires? You do not have to physically hurt someone to create negative emotional value. Ignorance can do that without any other effort being made. In my case, growing up, I had the bad habit of getting so absorbed reading a book, I was oblivious when friends came over to visit and play.

And that leads to the next question: what is the emotional value of the name of Jesus? That will depend on the experiences you have had with Him, or more often with His people--the church. We Christians are supposed to be a reflection of Him. We're not--or at least not much of one. Some of that has to do with how we were raised. For example, if we were raised by over-acheiving parents, we will probably view our Christian life in terms of our successes, or possessions. The problem is that leaves us focused on performance instead of Christ. And, we become like what we focus on. Worse, we judge others by those perceptions and expectations. I promise you, when we do that, we are not giving off a reflection of Jesus. We are, instead, reflecting the non-Christian world around us. I think I can safely say that does not create any positive emotional value in the name of Jesus.

So, as Christians, what are we focused on--as individuals and congregations? I have to admit I don't like looking at what some areas of my life have become since I became a Christian. These areas haven't improved--and in a few instances, seem worse (or maybe I just see them more clearly). But, without exception, I can say every one of those areas is a place where I am focused on me, the expectations of others, or...well... anything other than Jesus. Maturity as a Christian is not based on how successful you are or are not in business, or finances, or parenting, or relationships. It is based solely on how much like Christ you are letting Him make you.

So, how focused on Him are you? I found a simple way to determine where I am on that journey. I simply ask myself two questions. First, do I do the Biblical things Jesus did because I want to, or because its expected of me? And, second, do I do them because it pleases my heavenly Father, or because it appeases Him enough that He's not mad at me anymore? The first question tells me how much I am looking to people for approval. The second question tells me how much I really love and trust my God.

So, when I say the word Christian, what is the emotional value of that word for you? It may surprise you to find the answer to that question has more to do with you, and your expectations, than it does God. Now, when I say the name Jesus...?