Their Goal? Control the "People"

Check it out for yourself. If you can hear this and see what is going on around you and STILL call yourself a Democrat, then you need to have your head examined.

Debunking a Myth

Today I received a phone call from someone asking me to point them to the scripture that says, "God will not put more on you than you can handle." We all have said it... we preachers have used it.
But there is a problem... It's not in the Bible!

Some of you are probably recoiling right now, thinking, "Pastor D has done flipped his lid!" But it's myth busting day here on the Dawg Howse. There simply is no scripture found within the Word of God that says that "God will not put more on you than you can handle."
Again, we've heard it all our lives.... we've said it... but it is not there.

So, what does the Bible say?
The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13, where it says "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]."

Let's look at that again from the New Living Translation: "But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it."

There is an incredibly strong truth in this passage, that God will not allow Satan to bring temptation, (the seduction to sin) into our lives that is just too much for us to resist it. What it says that when we are tempted to sin, God always has a way of escape for us! That's powerful! But it does not say that we won't have problems that are too big for us. This misconception leaves many questioning why they are not able to handle their problems. They have been given a false understanding because someone taught them that God would never put more on them than they can handle... so they are easy prey for the accuser (Satan) to come in telling them that either (1) they are less of a Christian than they ought to be, or (2) God is not a God of His Word.

The truth is, that as I read the Bible, I find time after time after time that God allowed his people to walk into pressure filled situations that was just too much for them to handle... ON THEIR OWN.
Before you label me a heretic, consider the story of Elijah, the great prophet of God who spoke the word that it would not rain until he said so... and it did not rain. The same man who had a showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and on foot, out ran the horse drawn chariots. We find this same mighty man of God just a day later laying under a broom tree, depressed and asking the Lord to just take his life. He could not take any more. Pay particular attention to 1 Kings 19:7 where it says: "The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” (Read... it is too much for you to handle!) My point is, there are times when God does allow more trouble in our lives that we can handle or bear alone. We have got to understand that there is a reason and a purpose for this. When we are embattled with trials and pressure that are too big for us to handle on our own, then we realize that we have nowhere else to go than to the Lord. We come to the realization that there is only one answer, and that is to put our hope and trust in Christ alone.

Paul addressed this well in 2 Corinthians chapter 1:6-11 (NLT)
"Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety."

Notice that he said that they were "overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure" but then he offers the answer... "But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned only to rely on God..." Paul acknowledges that God allowed him to walk through a time of peril and trouble so great that he could not bear it alone, which caused him to turn his full focus on the power and ability of God... which allowed God to work out his perfect will in the situation.

If you are being pushed, weighted down and challenged to the end of your rope and you feel you cannot do handle it anymore... PLEASE stop believing that you can! You can't.. not alone anyway.
Jesus said that apart from him we can do nothing. Let that sink in. Nothing!

We must come to the place where we realize that it is futile for us to try anything in this life without trusting completely in the power of God to help us.
Do you realize that God knows that we are weak, but he has made himself available to us if we will only humble ourselves and call out to him and trust Him to do and bring about what is best for us?

Remember that song we sang as children?
Jesus loves me! this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak but He is strong.

Sometimes, It's More Important to Listen

I spent some time today going through a couple of different neighborhoods to invite people to church or leave an invitation if they were not home. By far and away most people were not home, but I did get to meet a few people and left about 200 invitations on the doors of those not home. I had a couple of short conversations with people but there was one conversation that I had with an elderly man that is still lingering with me some 6 hours after I left his home. Ironically, this man has been a faithful member of a church in town for more than 45 years, so there was no effort to even invite him to our church. This meeting was about something else altogether. I tell my people in my church to be on the alert for what I call "God's set ups." I believe this meeting with this man was more than a chance encounter, but it was one of those divine appointments.

As I came down the opposite side of the street, I saw this man carrying out his trash, and I knew immediately that I was going to be talking to this man. I just did not understand the direction that conversation would take. Some 15-20 minutes or more after I first saw him, I was working my way back up his side of the street and as I was 2 houses down from his house, I saw him again as he carried out his recycling bin, so I hurried up so that I might catch him while he was outside. I made a casual comment about the weather being so nice and then I asked him if he attended a church anywhere. He told me that he did, and I told him that I was just out in his neighborhood inviting those who had no church to come to Harvest Church. He asked me about our church and after a little conversation he began to tell me about his faith and how he loved his church... then he said, "but it is killing me now." I won't go into details so as to not indicate the church in anyway, but he shared how there was a tremendous conflict within his church that had ripped the church apart and could possibly end up with lawsuits being filed over the actions of certain people. He was just crushed as he spoke of his church, and while I really needed to be moving on to get home to make dinner, it was obvious that this man needed a pastor at that moment. I stayed with him for around an hour allowing him to share some of his heart, his pain and the desire he had to see unity restored in his church. This man had lost all faith and confidence in the pastor of his church and had been part of the group that had left and is temporarily meeting in another church with a Bishop from Peoria who comes 2-3 times a month trying to hold things together until the messy situation is cleared up.

There was a rather funny but powerful moment in our conversation. He said to me that a minister ought to be able to relate to his people, rather than Lord over them and be so far above them. He looked at me and said, "I'd like to be able to talk to my priest like I am talking to you. Wouldn't it be wonderful if a minister could just be down to earth like you?" I could not hold back the laughter and I told him, "Maybe I should have introduced myself better. I am Bishop Darrell Garrett" (that title was very important in this context) and I handed him one of my cards. Tears welled up in his eyes and he was speechless for what seemed like minutes, but I am sure it was only a few seconds. He said, "Bishop, forgive me, I'd have never talked to you this way if I had known." I told him that was precisely why I seldom identified myself as a Bishop or even Pastor when meeting someone. I said, "We've had the opportunity to go somewhere that we could have never gone had you known." Long story short, we continued to talk for another 25 minutes after that, and I believe the Holy Spirit did give me a few words that helped and encouraged him, but more than anything else, I was there to listen. Sometimes it really is not about what we have to say, it is about being willing to listen.

Will this man ever come to my church? I really doubt that will ever happen. But who cares? We talk so often about being "one body." Today, I was able to minister to my brother, and it was not about trying to build my own church. That is an awesome feeling, and I feel privileged that the Lord sent me by on this mission today.

Church Announcements

Sometimes you just need a laugh...

The "Right Way" To Leave a Church

After someone recently left my church, letting other members know they are going but never letting me know and leaving me to find out from a member who received a letter telling them that they were leaving, I decided to post an article from "Ministry Best Practices." There are times to leave a church, but there is a right way and a wrong way to leave. Sadly, more times than not, people go dragging as many others with them as they can and leaving a mess to clean up.
I won't comment further, rather I will let this article speak for itself.

How to Leave Your Church and Do It Well.
If you are a pastor, then you understand the feelings when someone or a family leaves your church. Even though you may do everything you can to close the "backdoor", it is inevitable that people are going to leave your church.

So how do you encourage people to leave "well", if they are already determined to leave?

Below are a couple of great thoughts on how to leave well. (I have posted Jolley's thoughts in full)

PUTTING ASUNDER: SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW TO QUIT YOUR CHURCH
by REED JOLLEY

After ten great years, it’s time for our family to leave this church. She said this over a cup of coffee and with a hint of tears in her eyes. She wanted me to know that their family’s sojourn with Santa Barbara Community Church had been a pleasant one, that they had grown in their faith, and that they would miss the people. She wanted to express her gratitude and let me know why they needed to leave….

It’s fairly easy to find a book or an article that tells you how to choose and join a church. Eugene Peterson, for example, writes in one of his books that it’s a good idea to choose the church that is the smallest and closest to your home. On the other hand, Ted Haggard says somewhere that we should ask where God seems to be moving and then get as near to that place as possible. Fair enough. But what about leaving a church? American evangelicals shuffle all too often from church to church, following the movements and fancies of the moment, but that’s not what I’m addressing here. I’m talking about when there are legitimate reasons for leaving a local body of believers.

First, however, let me say that our loyalty to our church should be stronger than our attraction to the better praise band down the street or to the in-depth preacher who just took a job at the church on the corner. Leaving a church should feel like leaving a marriage. It should hurt because we have lived our lives with a group of people, and now we are leaving. But, again, there are legitimate reasons to leave. Doctrinal considerations or the specific needs of our children are, for instance, two valid reasons for leaving a church. When a church is moving in a direction that an individual or a family feels is contrary to God’s Word, that is another prudent reason for making a change.

But how should one leave? The usual method is to slither out the back door with the hope that no one notices. Over the years I’ve had numerous conversations with people who have left Santa Barbara Community Church, conversations that are sometimes embarrassing and sometimes hurtful. Haven’t seen you in a while, I say as we pass on State Street. Is everything okay? Then I learn that this person has moved to another church for whatever reason. I’m quick to try to relieve the embarrassment. Assuming this person has moved to a good church, I say something like Well, may God bless you and keep you. . . That’s a great church, and I’m sure it will be better with you in it. We’re all on the same team in the Body of Christ. We’ll miss you.

But these conversations—while cordial and sincere—are hurtful because they happen accidentally. A serendipitous encounter at the grocery store should not be the moment to announce that three months ago you left your church. When I have these encounters, I find myself thinking as a pastor, I’ve prayed for this person and invested my life in this family. I performed his wedding and dedicated his baby. Besides, aren’t we members of the same church universal? How could he and his family leave without so much as a good-bye?

So how do we leave a church? I offer the following suggestions:

First, leave deliberately. Don’t slither or slide. Don’t wander hither and yonder. When it’s time to go, go—and then go become an integral part of another good, Bible-believing, Christ-saturated church. The New Testament knows nothing of individual believers taking a little from here and sampling a little from over there. The biblical doctrine of the church describes a body of believers deeply committed to Christ and to one another.

Second, go graciously. Has your theology changed to the extent that you need to join a different church? Have the needs of your family or your work schedule compelled you to make a move? Fine. Move, but move graciously. Resist the temptation to concentrate on the warts and blemishes of the church you are leaving. (You’ll find, soon enough, that your new church has a few of these too!) It is important that you leave your church graciously and join your new church graciously. Eugene Peterson writes:

Every time I move to a new community, I find a church close by and join it—committing myself to worship and work with that company of God's people. I've never been anything other than disappointed. Everyone turns out to be biblical, through and through: murmurers, complainers, the faithless, the inconstant, those plagued with doubt and riddled with sin, boring moralizers, glamorous secularizers. Every once in a while a shaft of blazing beauty seems to break out of nowhere and illuminate these companies, and then I see what my sin-dulled eyes had missed: Word of God-shaped, Holy Spirit-created lives of sacrificial humility, incredible courage, heroic virtue, holy praise, joyful suffering, constant prayer, persevering obedience.

Third, go thankfully. I write as a man who has been a pastor of the same church for almost three decades. During these years many people have left our church (some of them because of me). To be honest, some of the people who have left I don’t miss much. And others I miss sorely. But I always appreciate the one who takes the trouble to say good-bye.

Embarrassing or awkward as it may be, have an exit interview with one of the leaders, elders, or pastors of the church you are leaving. Explain the reasons for your departure, express your gratitude for their hard work, and commit yourself to praying for the church with which you will no longer be associated. These exit interviews are rare, but they are sweet. Pastors care about people. So when someone comes to me, shares where God seems to be leading her, and gives thanks for her season of involvement at SBCC, I beam with joy. Pastors are not running a business and trying to get more customers. Pastors are shepherds of a flock. On our good days we are not jealous of our sheep; we have their best interests at heart. Still, it is rarely easy to hear someone say, I gotta go. . . In fact, it always hurts. But the pain is softened when we learn that he or she is going to settle in a godly congregation of Christ-exalting believers. After all, we’re on the same team working for the same purposes.

Church membership and church involvement are serious undertakings. When we meet Christ, we are saved into the church. The Bible speaks of our being members of one another (Romans 12:4-5). We are joined together in Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16). We eat from one loaf and drink from one cup (Ephesians 4:4-5). We are to carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). We might even find ourselves selling our property in order to meet another’s needs (Acts 4:32ff.). We are to be a forgiving community (Colossians 3:13) that is deeply in love with one another (John 13:34). The church is a precious gift to God’s people. Christ died to bring the church into being (Ephesians 5:25)! The church is the mantelpiece of God, the display of God’s splendor before the angels (Ephesians 3:10)! So let us take care that we cherish the organism that Christ suffered to create—and may God bless his church!

On Capitol Hill

This is a great portrayal of what it was like on Capitol Hill this weekend.

Regarding: "Mom, I Caught A Troll!"

I just received a phone call from my mother in-law, who lives in Paducah, KY and who also never uses the Internet, so she has not been aware of the troll story.
She began to tell me "a true story" that someone down there had told in someone else down there. This woman, who has a child with down's syndrome told the exact same story, and that her son had caught him a troll and put him into the closet and she had come home from work and found him there, only this time it was a Jehovah's Witness. This story has run rampant, literally around the world this week. On my blog I have the ability to see how many readers I have, how they arrived to my site and usually what city they are in. In the past 4 days I have had more than 6,000 unique hits on my blog, literally around the world, all searching for the story of the troll in the closet. It is almost laughable, but truthfully it saddens me at how many people would lie and use their mentally challenged children in such a lie just to get a laugh. How crude is that? Maybe I am alone in this, but it really makes me hurt for these individuals who are mentally challenged and their own families use them in a lie so that others will laugh at them.

The Un-United States of America?

If you've been watching the news and keeping up with world events, you know that Greece is exploding with rioting and violence over the economic woes of that country. The people have just had it. Spain is right on the brink of an economic melt down as well... and I believe our nation teeters right there with them. In my opinion, this health care bill which allows the government to take over not only health care but also all student loans, could be the catalyst to push this country to protests and rioting at a level not seen since the 60's. In fact, I think the protests will be more wide spread than the protests of the 60's. It could in fact push this nation to the breaking point and we see a dividing of the United States as state after state tries to Secede from the Union. Don't laugh, I really believe it could come to that, AND I even believe it could come to another war within this country as the government tries to prevent States from Seceding. Yes, I am serious.

People have often asked me the questions where the United States was Biblically in end-time events. Could it be that the United States will cease to exist? I'm not saying this is how it will be, only that it could be. I am just wondering out loud. I do believe we will see rioting in the streets and cities on fire. I do believe we are getting ready to walk into a dark period of our nations history. And more than ever, I believe that we are on the brink of the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Just Answer the Question Mr. Gibbs

I wish more of the media reporters who put on the press like Savannah Guthrie from NBC. It's time these people be made to answer the questions that the American people want answered. Robert Gibbs looks like he is looking for a door to escape during this question and answer session.

California Town Clamping Down on Home Bible Study

Two days ago I posted of an Arizona town that passed a bill to make home Bible studies illegal. I said then to watch for this more and more. New is out tonight of a town in California that for the second time in six months is making attempts to at least control Bible studies, by making people obtain a permit allowing them have a home Bible Study. If they do not have a permit, the will be forced to stop meeting. This same scenario was played out in San Diego last year, however the city eventually backed down. It seems that Southern California is the trial battle ground as this has taken place in several towns. This is the first time the order to obtain a permit was insisted upon. So the question I have is; are they going to make people obtain permits to have a Tupperware party? A Home Interior party? A neighborhood pool party? You and I both know that the answer to that question is a resounding "NO!" This is a blatant attack on Christianity, and it is only going to get worse!
Get ready.

The Lengths God Will Go To

Do you know how much God loves you? There is nothing that he would not do to show you his love. He sent his only son, Jesus, because he loves you. You've probably heard this song before as a "love song" but now give a listen to it in the context it was written in... the ultimate love song!

Is THIS Transparency?

Anybody remember when Barack Obama pledged to run the most open and transparent government in history? If you happen to have a fuzzy memory, you can go to the White House website and read for your self what President Obama has to say about and open and transparent government. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/transparencyandopengovernment/ We've all heard the re-runs of his numerous promises to have the health care debates televised on CSPAN. Sounded good... but it just did not happen. No wonder with the shady backroom deals that have come to light. Now comes the news released today that is just staggering. The record now shows that for the first fiscal year of Obama's Presidency, there were 17 government agencies that refused to release information by claiming legal exemptions a record 466,872 times. That is an increase of nearly 50 percent over the previous year (George W. Bushes final year in office.)
Something is direly wrong with this picture. Has anyone noticed how many times Mr. Obama says one thing, but when the facts come out, the opposite is true? Where I come from, that is called lying. It seems that just maybe Congressman Joe Wilson's outburst last September was on the mark after all.

Arizona Town Bans Home Bible Study

I think we are just beginning to see things like this, but it will become more and more common in these last days. Keep your eyes on this one.

From an AP story:

Monday , March 15, 2010

GILBERT, Ariz. —

The national Alliance Defense Fund says a town code that bars religious assemblies in private homes in the Arizona community of Gilbert is unconstitutional.

The Oasis of Truth church began meeting at Pastor Joe Sutherland's house in November and rotated homes several times a week for Bible study and fellowship.

A Gilbert code compliance officer hit the church with a violation notice after seeing a sign near a road advertising a Sunday service.

A zoning administrator told the church that Bible studies, church leadership meetings and fellowship activities are not permitted in private homes.

The Alliance Defense Fund's Doug Napier says no neighbors complained.

The Scottsdale-based group has filed an appeal with the town of Gilbert, contending its code violates the U.S. Constitution.

"Mom, I Caught a Troll"

From the "hard to believe file": The following is an actual *true story. My brother in-law had told me this story on the phone this weekend, and today I received an email from my sister telling the story. Amber in this story is my niece.
I present to you, the email.
* Since posting this earlier today, it has come to my attention that Amber's friend may have told a bit of a lie on this one, as there is a story originating in Sweden about a year ago that something very similar happened. It may not have been true that it happened with her friend, but apparently it did happen somewhere.


This is a true story.

One of Amber's friends recently was switched to an evening supervisory management job at Wal-Mart. Her main concern was that she is a single mom of a mentally challenged 20-year-old son who would be home alone while she worked. Her boss understandingly said she could carry her cell phone because the young man would need to call her as he prepared his evening meal, got ready for bed, if he had questions, etc.

Night before last she got an excited call from the youth, "Mom, I caught a troll!"

"A troll," she replied, knowing how much he enjoyed movies about them. "That's great. Just put it in the closet and I'll look at it when I get home."
The boy said he would.

The mother arrived home to find her son had not gone to bed. All his bedroom furniture was piled against his bedroom closet door.

"He kept hollering to let him out," explained the young man.

The mother rushed to the closet and she and her son un-piled the furniture. She slowly opened the door to discover a "little person" dressed in a suit and tie and carrying a briefcase sitting in the floor of the closet.

"I'm a magazine salesman working my way through college," he explained. I was going door-to-door in your apartment building, and accidentally left my cell phone in my car. When I came to your door, your son seemed so happy to see me. Then he grabbed me under arm and carried me into your apartment."

The mother asked if he had yelled, and he said he did at first. Then he realized the more he yelled, the more furniture the boy piled in front of the door.

"You can't get out, Troll, until my mother gets home to see you."

With that the "troll" sat down to wait. He had been in the closet 7 hours. The wonderful little person did not press charges because he knew the young man did not mean any harm.

Spring Forward!

It's that time again! Remember to set your clocks forward one hour tonight!

Land of the Free? part 2

There is so much I could say, but for part 2 of this series, I will let the videos speak for themselves. It will take 21 minutes of your time, but I challenge you to watch these videos!
America had better wake up... and fast!

5 Rules For Life

Got this from a friend and wanted to pass it on.

1.) Think big.
We are capable of far greater accomplishments than we realize. Had I known as a much younger man what I could have been or accomplished in this lifetime, I would have worked even harder and dreamed even bigger. Shoot for the stars, if you fall short you'll still finish beyond your wildest expectations!

2.) Play hard.
If it's worth doing, it's worth your best efforts. I was never the fastest, strongest, quickest, biggest, smartest or most talented. But I always made the first team in sports and succeeded in business because I played harder than those around me and put my guts into every play, every effort, and every challenge I took on.

3.) Be true to your heart.
It's a hollow victory if you know in your heart you didn't play by the rules. Winning at any cost isn't winning anything - it will come back to haunt you. Be true to your heart, play by the rules, never compromise your values or your ethics - you will not only succeed, you'll sleep at night and revel in the satisfaction and happiness of having done it the right way.

4.) Never give up.
Sumner Redstone said it best - "Success is not built on success. It's built on failure. It's built on frustration. Sometimes its built on catastrophe." Nobody always gets it right the first time or succeeds immediately. Everything in the universe must balance out. There are only so many "no's" until the "yes's" start to follow. Failure is your friend because if you keep pushing, success is just around the corner. The winner in most endeavors is the person who just won't give up - no matter what!

5.) Whether you think you can or you think you can't...you're right.
Nothing in the real world materializes until you've thought about it first! You create your own reality in this existence by having seen and thought about it in your mind's eye before it ever comes into being. Negative self talk will only give you negative results. Treat that little man or woman inside as the strong, smart, kind, successful being he or she truly is. Create those positive images and positive feelings of having already achieved your goal, and it will come to pass.

Uh... yeah.

Land of the Free?

The last words to the American National Anthem say:
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Make no mistake about it, one of the key things that has caused people to flock to and envy America for more than 200 years is the freedoms which we have guaranteed to us as a people in the U.S. Constitution. People have fled their homelands to get to America where they can experience freedom, often arriving with nothing more than a dream for their future. These freedoms and the right to pursue our dream has made this country great. The combined fulfillment of these dreams has caused Americans and America to prosper and become the envy of the world. But something has been and is happening to America that is putting us into bondage and may lead to the collapse of America as we know it. In fact, it just may be too late to get off of this slippery slope.

I recall in my mind a conversation that I was involved in about 11 years ago. The year was 1999, and I was sitting on a backyard patio in Berlin, Germany having coffee with four generations of a German family. This happened to be on the former East German side of the Berlin Wall. I was particularly enthralled with the opportunity to talk with the older folks who had lived through the Hitler regime, the communist years and the tearing down of the Berlin wall and the re-unification of Germany. I sat for hours listening to them tell their stories. But then an elderly woman looked sternly at me and said, "America is next. You people are headed down the same road that we went down and you are losing your freedoms." She went on to talk about the socialist dream and how wonderful it sounded at the time, but how that before they (the German people) realized what had happened, they had lost almost all freedoms. She spoke of how charismatic Adolf Hitler was, and how intelligent he was, and how the people hung on every word he said. She said that in the beginning, he made good on his promises, and as people began to prosper, they followed him without question. Then she began to talk about how that socialism seemed to make everyone equal for a time, but after awhile people began to realize that they need not be motivated anymore, because the government would take care of them. She said that the more the people learned to depend on the government, the lazier and less productive the people became, and with each step of government provision, they removed a piece of their freedom. Several in that family told me that now (in 1999) even though the Berlin Wall was down there was still a great division among the people of Berlin. As they told it, the people from the former East Berlin expected the same wages and benefits that the people of West Berlin enjoyed. One of the men said, "they do not feel they need to earn it, they feel they are entitled to it." This man was very motivated and had begun his own business after the wall came down, and his business had become very successful. He said, "Do you know what is sad? Almost every employee I have with me now is from the West side. They have energy and determination to succeed. The East German's just want a check." They told me that American's were becoming soft and lazy, with an entitlement mentality. The grandfather told me that the more that American's relied on their government, the more lazy they would become and the more they would be ready to embrace socialism.

Here we are... 11 years later, and I look at the nation in which I live and I see the prophetic words of these German people unfolding before my eyes. In our local paper online, I was reading an article this morning where a man stood behind Jim Bunning holding up the bill to extend unemployment benefits by asking, "how are we going to pay for this?" (By the way, I agree with Senator Bunning and wish more of our politicians would ask this question!) Many of the people commenting to that article were screaming out that "We are entitled to this! The government MUST pay us!" Why? Why is it the governments job to pay someone? Do we understand that the "government" is not paying anyone... our tax dollars are! Who is going to pay for this? We are! Take a good look at this health care bill. More than TWO TRILLION dollars! (Let that sink in.) Who is going to pay for this? Certainly not those on the welfare rolls. This bill says all Americans MUST purchase insurance. (There goes your freedom!) If you don't, you will be fined or imprisoned. (Woops , there goes your freedom!) Payroll taxes will be increased. (There goes more of your money, and your freedom to choose where your money goes).

I could write a book on this, but let me quickly suggest to you where your freedoms are disappearing. Think you have the freedom of privacy? If you are reading this online right now, you are being tracked by the government. If you have a cell phone, Big Brother knows where you are at any given moment because of the GPS installed in your phone. This week, right here in Illinois there is debate going on in the Illinois Senate to begin installing cameras on traffic signals across our state. The argument is "traffic safety and regulation" but every one of these cameras will be linked to a central computer with facial recognition capabilities. In other words, you and I are being spied on at all times. Our phone conversations are monitored. Make a withdraw of "your" money from the bank of a certain amount and automatically the bank notifies the government of your actions. Use a credit card, debit card or link card and every purchase you make is easily tracked. And speaking of "your" money... work 40 hours and take a look at your paycheck and tell me how much of "your" money has been taken from you? Did you have any choice in that? Do you have any control over the government taking the money that you worked hard for, and giving it to the person on the other side of town that has made the choice to have 2 or 3 kids and lay at home on the couch eating cupcakes watching cable tv, talking on their cellphone, taking their kids to the ER, buying their groceries with a LINK card.... all paid for by you and I. Now ask yourself, why would that person want to go get a job? Why does the young person want to go to school and get a job? Why should they when they can do nothing and get it free?

I think you might be getting the idea. The words of my German friends are unfolding right before our eyes folks. Are we really all that free today? I wonder where we will be in another 11 years?

Will We Be Ready Next Time?

I've only shared this with a (very) few people around me, but for several months now I have felt something in my spirit so powerfully that I have no doubt about it whatsoever. Up until now, I have never felt a release from God to speak of it in a public forum; but today, I have felt a release to share it. I know some will call me a fanatic, some will call me crazy, but I feel I must obey the Lord, and he and I together are big enough to deal with that. I just know I have to speak it. Those that will receive it, then receive it.

There is not a lot of distinct detail in what I have seen/felt, but what I have seen is that in the near future there is coming a cataclysmic event on American soil that will shake America to it's core. I don't know if this event is a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, only that it will be huge, resulting in massive destruction and the death toll will be large. When this event takes place, people will cry out to God and the masses will return to churches across America. What I feel God has been saying to me is that the last time (9-11) the church was caught unprepared and was not able to effectively communicate the gospel to those that came. God is calling the church to ready herself, to be prepared to help turn a nation back to Jehovah God. I believe that this event will lead to the greatest revival ever to sweep North America, but many churches will be caught unprepared.

Will you ready yourself? Will you ready your church?
Will we be ready when God needs us?

So You Wanna Be a Rock Star

The following is an article written by the late Keith Green that I wanted to share today. The message is just as relevant today, some 30 years after he first wrote it, as it was it was the day he penned it. by Keith Green For as long as he could remember, the late Keith Green's greatest dream was to be amusical success. After he gave his life to Jesus, however, he felt the need to surrender those aspirations. Ironically, when sometime later he sensed God was directing him to pick these abilities back up, his music soared straight to the top of the contemporary Christian charts. The following message was birthed out of his personal struggle to strike a balance between music and missions, humility and fame. Today, so many people ask me if I can tell them how they can start or enter into a music ministry. At concerts I get countless questions about this, and I also get lots of letters and even some long-distance phone calls from many people who feel they are only "called" into the music "ministry" One day I began to ask myself why so few have ever asked me how to become a missionary, or even a local street preacher, or how to disciple a new believer. It seems everyone would prefer the "bright lights" of what they think a music ministry would be, rather than the mud and obscurity of the mission field, or the streets of the ghetto, or even the true spiritual sweetness of just being a nobody whom the Lord uses mightily in small "everyday" ways. Are You Willing? My answer to their question is almost always the same. "Are you willing to never play music again? Are you willing to be a nothing? Are you willing to go anywhere and do anything for Christ? Are you willing to stay right where you are and let the Lord do great things through you, though no one may seem to notice at all?" They all seem to answer each of these questions with a quick "yes!" But I really doubt if they know what their answer entails. Star Struck My dearest family in Jesus...why are we so star struck? Why do we idolize Christian singers and speakers? We go from glorifying musicians in the world, to glorifying Christian musicians. It's all idolatry! Can't you see that? It's true that there are many men and women of God who are greatly anointed to call down the Spirit of God on His people and the unsaved. But Satan is getting a great victory as we seem to worship these ministers on tapes and records, and clamor to get their autographs in churches and concert halls from coast to coast. Can't you see that you are hurting these ministers? They try desperately to tell you that they don't deserve to be praised, and because of this you squeal with delight and praise them all the more. You're smothering them, making it almost impossible for them to see that it's really Jesus. They keep telling themselves that, but you keep telling them it's really them, crushing their humility and grieving the Spirit that is trying to keep their eyes on Jesus. Ultimately, what we idolize we ourselves desire to become, sometimes with our whole heart. So a lot of people who want to become just like their favorite Gospel singer or minister, seek after it with the same fervor that the Lord demands we seek after Him! And again, we insult the Spirit of Grace and try to make a place for ourselves, rather than a place for Jesus. A Thankless Job How come no one idolizes or praises the missionaries who give up everything and live in poverty, endangering their lives and families with every danger that the "American dream" has almost completely eliminated? How come no one lifts up and exalts the ghetto and prison ministers who can never take up an offering, because if they did they would either laugh or cry at what they'd receive? How come? Because (1) we're taught from very early on that comfort is our goal and security… and (2) that we should always seek for a lot of people to like us. Who lives less comfortably and has had less friends and supporters than the selfless missionaries who have suffered untimely, premature deaths trying to conquer souls and nations for the whole glory of God? Do you really believe we're living in the very last times? Then why do you spend more money on Gospel records and concerts than you give to organizations that feed the poor, or to missionaries out in the field? There are ministries all over the world where "penniless" people are being saved and transformed. They are broken people who have promise and qualities, but just need someone to bring them God's light during the times when their lives seem so completely hopeless. I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having performed one concert, if my music, and more importantly, my life has not provoked you into Godly jealousy (Romans 11:11) or to sell out more completely to Jesus! Quit trying to make "gods" out of music ministers, and quit desiring to become like them. The Lord commands you, "Deny yourself take up your cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). My piano is not my cross, it is my tool. I'd never play it again if God would show me a more effective tool in my life for proclaiming His Gospel.[God gives us each our own unique tools. But we may never use them if we become more interested in someone else's. Seek God, ask Him for His plan for ministry (true, God glorifying ministry) in your life.] Conclusion To finish, let me say that the only music minister to whom the Lord will say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant," is the one whose life proves what their lyrics are saying, and to whom music is the least important part of their life. Glorifying the only worthy One has to be a minister's most important goal! Let's all repent of the idolatry in our hearts and our desires for a comfortable, rewarding life when, really, the Bible tells us we are just passing through as strangers and pilgrims in this world (Hebrews 11:13), for our reward is in heaven. Let's not forget that our due service to the Lord is "... not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake"(Phil. 1:29). Amen. Let us die graciously together and endure to the end like brave soldiers who give their lives, without hesitation, for our noble and glorious King of Light.