Hey... God is For You!

Just wanted to tell someone today that God is FOR you, not against you!

I'd Laugh If It Were Not So Sad

I knew it was only a matter of time... and now it has happened. The Democrats have pointed the finger, blaming the Bush administration for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Nancy Pelosi today said it was Bush's fault for not having the correct oversight over the situation, so it is their fault. She said that Bush and the oil companies had a "cozy" relationship. Funny, but it seem to me that the record reflects a pretty cozy relationship between British Petrolium and Obama... so cozy in fact that Obama was recipient of more dollars from BP than any other member of the government. (See the story here) Those who live in glass houses Ms. Pelosi!
Also, correct me if I am wrong, but we were 16 months into the Obama administration when this tragedy took place. I think it is time Mr. Obama man up and take full responsibility for this. Oh, don't tell me he has. He said the words... but his actions speak otherwise. If he really is shouldering the responsibility, then he needs to tell Pelosi to shut her mouth. I could be mistaken, as I've not taken time to research this, but it seems to me that I heard that this very platform that has the leak was in fact inspected shortly before this leak, which puts the full brunt of this onto this administration.

Here's the actual news story for anyone who wants to read it:

Pelosi blames Bush administration for BP oil spill.

By: Joel S. Gehrke Jr.
Special to the Examiner
05/29/10 7:38 AM EDT

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., blamed the Bush administration for any lack of oversight leading up to the Gulf oil spill. The Obama administration, on the other hand, is blameless.

From Talk Radio News Service:

“Many of the people appointed in the Bush administration are still burrowed in the agencies that are supposed to oversee the [oil] industry,” Pelosi said when asked if Democrats could have prevented or mitigated the crisis by keeping a closer watch on the industry.

Added the Speaker, “the cozy relationships between the Bush administration’s agency leadership and the industry is clear…I’ve heard no complaints from my members about the way the president has handled it,” Pelosi stated.

On Friday, the Washington Examiner requested that Speaker Pelosi’s office release the list of Bush appointees to whom she was referring. We’ll let you know when we hear back.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/pelosi-blames-bush-administration-for-bp-oil-spill-95175304.html#ixzz0pNGTfVvl

Prophecy From 1968

I came across this prophecy a few days ago, and I've not been able to erase it from my mind ever since. I've done a little digging and the source of this prophecy is very credible and reliable. In fact, Revival Times in London has a brief interview with Dr. Minos which you can find here. Read this carefully. Pass it on to others. When you read it, keep in mind that this was given in Norway in 1968, at a time when these things which are common today were unheard of, but the accuracy of her words is remarkable. Judge for yourself.

********

An old woman of 90 from Valdres in Norway had a vision from God in 1968. The evangelist Emanuel Minos had meetings (services) where she lived. He had the opportunity to meet her, and she told him what she had seen. He wrote it down, but thought it to be so unintelligible that he put it in a drawer. Now, almost 30 years later, he understands he has to share the vision with others.

The woman from Valdres was a very alert, reliable, awake and credible Christian, with a good reputation among all who knew her. This is what she saw:

"I saw the time just before the coming of Jesus and the outbreak of the Third World War. I saw the events with my natural eyes. I saw the world like a kind of a globe and saw Europe, land by land. I saw Scandinavia. I saw Norway. I saw certain things that would take place just before the return of Jesus, and just before the last calamity happens, a calamity the likes of which we have never before experienced.

She mentioned four waves:

1. "First before Jesus comes and before the Third World War breaks out there will be a ‘détente’ like we have never had before. There will be peace between the super powers in the east and the west, and there will be a long peace. (Remember, that this was in 1968 when the cold war was at its highest. E. Minos) In this period of peace there will be disarmament in many countries, also in Norway and we are not prepared when it (the war) comes. The Third World War will begin in a way no one would have anticipated - and from an unexpected place.

2. "A lukewarmness without parallel will take hold of the Christians, a falling away from true, living Christianity. Christians will not be open for penetrating preaching. They will not, like in earlier times, want to hear of sin and grace, law and gospel, repentance and restoration. There will come a substitute instead: prosperity (happiness) Christianity.

"The important thing will be to have success, to be something; to have material things, things that God never promised us in this way. Churches and prayer houses will be emptier and emptier. Instead of the preaching we have been used to for generations -like, to take your cross up and follow Jesus, - entertainment, art and culture will invade the churches where there should have been gatherings for repentance and revival. This will increase markedly just before the return of Jesus.

3. "There will be a moral disintegration that old Norway has never experienced the likes of. People will live together like married without being married. (I do not believe the concept ‘co-habitor’? existed in 1968 - E. Minos.) Much uncleanness before marriage, and much infidelity in marriage will become the natural (the common), and it will be justified from every angle. It will even enter Christian circles and we pet it - even sin against nature. Just before Jesus return there will be TV- programs like we have never experienced. (TV had just arrived in Norway in 1968. E. Minos)

"TV will be filled with such horrible violence that it teaches people to murder and destroy each other, and it will be unsafe in our streets. People will copy what they see. There will not be only one ‘station’ on TV, it will be filled with ‘stations.’ (She did not know the word ‘channel’ which we use today. Therefore she called them stations. E. Minos.) TV will be just like the radio where we have many ‘stations,’ and it will be filled with violence. People will use it for entertainment. We will see terrible scenes of murder and destruction one of the other, and this will spread in society. Sex scenes will also be shown on the screen, the most intimate things that takes place in a marriage." (I protested and said, we have a paragraph that forbids this kind of thing. E. Minos.) There the old woman said: "It will happen, and you will see it. All we have had before will be broken down, and the most indecent things will pass before our eyes."

4. "People from poor countries will stream to Europe. (In 1968 there was no such thing as immigration. E. Minos.) They will also come to Scandinavia - and Norway. There will be so many of them that people will begin to dislike them and become hard with them. They will be treated like the Jews before the Second World War. Then the full measure of our sins will have been reached (I protested at the issue of immigration. I did not understand it at the time. E. Minos.)

The tears streamed from the old woman’s eyes down her cheeks. "I will not see it, but you will. Then suddenly, Jesus will come and the Third World War breaks out. It will be a short war." (She saw it in the vision.)

"All that I have seen of war before is only child’s play compared to this one, and it will be ended with a nuclear atom bomb. The air will be so polluted that one cannot draw one’s breath. It will cover several continents, America, Japan, Australia and the wealthy nations. The water will be ruined (contaminated?). We can no longer till the soil. The result will be that only a remnant will remain. The remnant in the wealthy countries will try to flee to the poor countries, but they will be as hard on us as we were on them.

"I am so glad that I will not see it, but when the time draws near, you must take courage and tell this. I have received it from God, and nothing of it goes against what the Bible tells.

"The one who has his sin forgiven and has Jesus as Savior and Lord, is safe."

Todd Bentley and the "Finance Angel"

I have spoke of this a couple of times and someone asked me for evidence of what I claimed Todd Bentley said. I'll give you more than "evidence", I'll give you the man saying on video, so you can see and hear him say it for yourself. Watch the video and he speaks of an angelic encounter with Heaven's Angel of Finance. He speaks of Bob Jones having an encounter with an Angel called the International Banker. The fact that he is hanging with Bob Jones ought to cause you to run! You may recall that in his big revival in Florida, Bentley constantly referred to having encounters with "Emma", also an angel. Listen, I believe in angels and believe we can have encounters with them, but this guy is loony. Can anyone show me or prove to me why Heaven would need an angel of finance or a banker angel? Get real!

I called him a nut and a heretic and dangerous when he was preaching his big revival in Florida, and we all saw what came out of that. Now he is back, and he and Rick Joyner are presenting something that is absolutely NOT in the Bible. Listen to it so you hear it for yourself, then RUN from ANYTHING this man says. I said it a few years ago and I will repeat it again concerning Bentley or anyone else presenting/preaching or teaching anything that is not Biblical. I don't care how much you see miracles, signs and wonders... false teaching is false teaching and it is damnable. To eat any of it is equivalent to allowing someone to make you a cake and tell you that they put a tablespoon of poison in that cake somewhere. The poison is only in one part of the cake and the rest of the cake is normal. It looks good, smells good and to taste the frosting, it tastes good. Are you going to eat that cake and take your chances that you get the poison? If you do, you are a fool.
Bentley preaches/teaches poison. Are you going to eat his teaching?

Obama to Impose Palestinian State On Israel

I totally missed this when it came out in the news... probably because it was NOT on the mainline news. (I know, we are all surprised by the fact the the mainline networks would cater to the Obama administration.) Here's the gist of the secret, behind the scenes agreement. Obama has given Israel until until the end of the year to concede to a Palestinian State. If Israel does not agree, Obama has agreed to hand the matter over to an "International Peace Conference" and the decision of that conference will be imposed on Israel. We all know that if this happens, Israel will come out on the short end of the stick, and it will lead to war. Once again folks, I say, keep your eyes toward the eastern skies. Jesus' return is closer than you think.

Here is the news story, posted May 5 on Signsofthelastdays.com: http://tinyurl.com/325t32c

I Still Get Amazed

I've been writing this blog for going on 5 years and I am still amazed and humbled to see that people from all over the world read my thoughts. When I started writing, it was really more of a release for me, and I did not give it any thought about others peaking into my head. The map above shows where people have read from in the past week. The larger the dot, the more readers in that area. I think one of the coolest things is that I can tell someone in Europe or Australia about Jesus without ever leaving my couch.

How Do We Define Success?

I was just reading a story on Fox Sports website about how the man on the right, Jamie Moyer is about to take ownership of a record that no one would really want.

The record?

He will be known as the pitcher who gave up the most home runs during his career. At this moment, he has given up 501 home runs, just 4 shy of the all time record. Sounds like a dubious record that smacks of failure, doesn't it? But is that really what this says of Jamie Moyer? I don't think so. To me, it points to a marvelously successful career of this man. Consider what that record indicates. This man has been good enough that despite giving up more than 500 home runs in his career, the Phillies are still willing to keep him around, and in fact pay him 6.5 million of dollars to pitch for them! Consider that at the age of 47 he is still playing the game and winning games. Pretty amazing to me. And consider this: The man who currently holds the record, Robin Roberts was considered one of the best in baseball in his era and is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, as are the men who hold the number 3, 4 and 5 spots... Ferguson Jenkins, Phil Neikro and Don Sutton. Mr. Moyer is in good company, if I do say so myself!

As I was reading the article and thinking about the company he keeps, I recognized this fact, all 5 of these men all had long careers, all of them pitching into their 40's. Only one of them (Moyer) has pitched on teams that would be considered "great" teams. While each of them may have had one or two years where they really seemed to excel, the fact is, that for most of their careers, they were not "superstars" but rather were steady and consistent over the long haul.

That last fact really jumps out at me and got me to thinking about how we define success. Sadly, more times than not, we define success by what "wows" us... often times a flash in the pan. I've been a huge baseball fan since I was a small child, and I've seen some guys burst on the scene and take the attention of the baseball world by storm, only to just as quickly fade away. Guys like Mark "The Bird" Fidrych who burst on the scene in 1976, winning rookie of the year while pitching for the Detroit Tigers and winning 19 games, despite not even pitching an entire season. He was dubbed "great", "superstar" and so on, but when he retired just 4 years later he had only won 10 more major league games in his career. Bud Smith burst onto the scene midway through the 2001 season as a Saint Louis Cardinal going on to win 6 games with one of those games being a no-hitter. He was labeled the next superstar and was a key component in a huge trade between the Cardinals and the Phillies. But Smith won only one more game in his career before quitting the game. I could go on and on with such examples. But the point I'm making is that success should not be judged on a moment, or a season, but rather, by looking at the long haul. Would you rather have a spectacular game or season, or a steady career where you've been consistent for 2 decades? I'll take the later.

Now, I've said all this to bring us face to face with a glaring problem that we have in the Body of Christ. We are quick to elevate people to "superstar" status because they can preach a great revival, or they start a church that explodes with growth and so on. I've been around long enough that I've seen it way too many times. And so many times, (not always, but many) I've seen that person's ministry blow up. Men and women are flashy, successful (by man's standard) and they are thrust in front of the camera, they write books and make the circuit riding the wave. The problem is that way too often, when it all is said and done, we see preachers having affairs, using drugs, homosexual activity, and other scandals surface in their ministry. I've seen guys start churches and in a very short period of time they have that church running 300, 500 or more, only to see that church in bankruptcy 2 or 3 years later. Again, how do we define success? Is it bursting onto the scene to the cheers and applause only to fade away or fall, or is success found in the man or woman who spends a lifetime as pastor in a small town making strong disciples within his church of 30, 50 or 80? I have to say, some of my heroes are men whose names may never be known by the vast majority of people. My father is one of them. He spent years pioneering churches across Missouri and Iowa, and once that church was established he moved on to another town to do the same. Some would call him a failure because he never pastored a large church. I call him my hero. And there are hundreds like him. There are men I know here in Illinois who have spent more than 20 years at the same church, and the churches are not large by any stretch of the imagination, but they have some of the most dedicated, loyal Christians and church members that you will ever meet. They know the Word of God because they've been taught and instructed in the way of righteousness. Again, I cannot speak for anyone else, but I would call these men a success long before I'd call a "superstar" on TBN a success. Money and fame does not equate necessarily equate to success, nor does it exclude success. My point is don't get caught up in the hype and hoopla of a moment or a move... keep your eye on the big picture. Success to me is not a flash in the pan or a big event... it is the steady, consistent walk that matters.

What Have You Packed?

OK... it's after 2:00 A.M. and I cannot sleep, so I figured I'd get up and write a bit of what has been running through my mind while while desperately trying to catch a few zzz's. Last evening my wife and I were talking about where we wanted to take our vacation. We kicked around a few ideas, but were not able to decide just yet. After she went to bed, I got to thinking of places we've been on previous trips and kind of took a stroll down memory lane of some of our vacations. I was thinking about a trip to Galveston a few years ago when we took my niece and her kids with us, and in my mind I recalled as we were getting ready to fly home, my nieces son had purchased a baby shark in a jar and they were not going to allow it on the plane. Through a lot of juggling and re-packing and all, we finally managed to get the thing packed and it made the trip back with us. I said all this to get to where my mind wound up tonight... I got to thinking about packing for trips or vacation.

Whenever we go on a trip and we are driving, Ashley tries to take half the house. She will take 10-15 DVD's to watch on the drive, pillows, a blanket, snacks, and God only knows what all she has in the bags surrounding her, piled up behind her seat, in the floorboard and anywhere else she can stuff something. The van is far more crowded than it need be, and most of it belongs to her. I was thinking about this as well, and I got to thinking about how we should pack for a trip. When you go on a trip, you should pack only the stuff you think you will need. It would be pretty stupid to pack winter coats, mittens and scarf if we head out to Arizona this summer as we are considering. It would be even more silly to load up our television set to take with us as well. And we sure would not want to pack a months worth of clothes for a 7 day trip. No, we need only pack what we will need, and nothing more. Now let's compare this to this journey of life in which we are striving to become closer to God as we walk with Christ. How many of us pack up and carry a lot more baggage than we need. God tells us not to take any baggage with us. OK, you're scratching your head and saying, "Pastor D, where does it say that?" Consider Matthew 11:28 " Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." What is he saying? In essence he is telling us to lay down what is burdening us and find rest in him and we dump the baggage. And in 1 Peter 5:7 it says "Cast all your cares (anxiety, worry, stress... your baggage) on God for he cares for you." Before I head back upstairs and try to get a few hours sleep, let me give you a solid piece of advice.... before going any further in this journey of life, why don't you try giving all the excess "stuff" that you don't need to God. Leave all the baggage with Him. I promise you, He will be more than glad to take the load from you.

Peace out!

Christian Nation or Not?

President Barack Obama said in Turkey : "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."

I found this very interesting.
Do you know the Preamble for your state?


Alabama 1901, Preamble
We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution...

Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land...

Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...

California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...

Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...

Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut , acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.

Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshiping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences...

Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...

Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...

Hawaii 1959, Preamble We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution...

Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings...

Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors...

Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government...

Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the St ate of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution...

Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution...

Kentucky 1891, Preamble.. We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties...

Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy...

Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction...

Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction...

Michigan 1908, Preamble.. We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution...

Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings...

Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work...

Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . Establish this Constitution...

Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ...

Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom. Establish this Constitution...

Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience...

New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors...

New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty...

New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings...

North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...

North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...

Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common...

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this...

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences...

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance...

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...

South Carolina , 1778, Preamble We, the people of the State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution...

South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties ...

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI..III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...

Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas , acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God...

Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution...

Vermont 1777, Preamble Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ...

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other.

Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

West Virginia 1872, Preamble Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility...

Wyoming 1890, Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution...


After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, Obama, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!!

How Will America React?

Events are certainly lining up to point to a Middle East war this summer, and so far, America seems to be turning a deaf ear to it all. How much of this have you seen on the news? Pay attention folks! It's all unfolding right before our eyes... if we are watching. Jesus' return is close at hand!

Matthew 24:3-13a

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, [Messiah] and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Head's Up America!

Whether you are a Glenn Beck fan or not, I challenge you to watch these videos to see how the present administration of Barack Obama and the liberal machine is weaseling into our churches and is seeking to take over the church, just as they have the auto industry and others. Signs of the times folks... signs of the times!






Part 2




Part 3




Part 4

What If I Stumble?

It's a question those of us who are called "Christians" must confront and deal with in our lives. Then again, I don't think some ever really consider it. The news today was filled with the terrible story of Indiana Representative Mark Souder resigning after it was revealed he had been in an extra-marital affair. That's bad enough, but this man identifies himself as a Christian and has fought for Christian values. The "anti-Christian" folks are having a hay day with this. Every time a Christian fails or falls, it is blown up bigger than life for all the world to see and mock. That's the way that Satan works. You seldom see a good story in the media about what Christian's are doing. In fact, just today on the news they did a story about how FEMA refused to shoot video in Mississippi last month of a faith based group cleaning up after a tornado, unless they took off their shirts that identified them as working with the Salvation Army. The group agreed and the shirts they had under them were shirts from their church. They made them change them again. They did not want to show anything promoting a faith based group. The media and even the government is doing all it can to paint Christians in a negative light and refuse to show anything positive. But let a Christian stumble or fall, and it is huge! We have to safeguard ourselves and strive for excellence in our walk with God. Integrity is more important within the Body of Christ now than ever before, because our failures will be magnified.

I was reminded of this song earlier today while thinking about all this and preparing for my Bible Study on Walking the Walk We Talk.

It's from years ago, but still a great song.

Health Care: So, Where's the Reform?

We (as a nation) have heard the rhetoric, the bait was taken and now the health care bill is law. Many want the law repealed, but those who supported and those who pushed for this "reform" continue to say, "give it a chance." I have family members who were and are strong proponents of this law, believing that it would help them out by cutting their high health insurance costs. They happen to be in a high risk category and the cost of insurance is extremely high. I can see where their hopeful expectations were coming from, but I still never supported this law. Now the information is beginning to trickle out about this "NEW, IMPROVED" health care we are supposed to get here in America.... and guess what? Those who are high risk, paying higher premiums because they are high risk... they will still be classified as high risk and still be paying those higher premiums! I am SO surprised by this information! (read the sarcasm folks)

There is an AP news story that came out of Chicago this weekend that speaks to this (story linked at end of this blog) and basically here is the gist of what is happening. If you already have insurance and are paying those high costs, you must continue to pay them. For those who have no insurance and have not had any insurance for at least 6 months, they will be eligible later this summer to apply for a new pool of high risk insurance that will be substantially lower priced and subsidized by Federal dollars. But again, it is only for those who have not had insurance. Those who do have it... you're just out of luck. One of those who supported Obama's health care promises is quoted in the AP article and she feels she has been treated unfairly. "Julie Kramer, 53, is feeling a bit cheated. She’s paid high premiums — about $700 a month — for nearly seven years into Illinois’ high-risk pool.

“It feels very unfair. It goes against the spirit of what health care reform was supposed to be,” said Kramer, a self-employed writer and owner of Full Moon Marketing Communications in Vernon Hills. “This does seem like a low blow.”

President Obama and the law makers lied to those of you who supported this sweeping change... and you bought it hook line and sinker. You have nothing coming... and you never did.

Time to repeal this piece of trash law!

http://www.galesburg.com/news/news_state/x968919938/High-risk-patients-may-be-stuck-paying-high-rates

Where Do I Sign Up For This Job?

Everyone knows that the education system in Illinois is in dire straights. Teachers jobs are being cut in districts across the state. I understand that many other states are in the same kind of mess. I just read on the Fox News site that the United States Education Department is asking for "another" 23 billion dollars to help save jobs. I emphasize "another" because I guess I was not paying attention, because in the so called stimulus bill last year, they gave the education department (get this) $100 Billion dollars. They are actually boasting that the stimulus money saved "roughly" 300,000 jobs.

OK... I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but as soon as I saw those numbers, red flags jumped out at me, alarms started going off in my brain... something was not right here. So, I pulled up my trusty calculator on my computer to make sure my muddled brain was doing the math correctly, and sure enough, if they saved 300,000 jobs with $100 billion, then that means each job is worth $333,333 dollars!

It gets worse.

The Education Depart is asking for $26 Billion now and say they can save 300,0000 jobs. Now wait a minute. Last year it took $100 Billion to save 300,000 jobs but this year they can save the same number of jobs for roughly one fourth the amount of money? So where did the other $74 Billion go last year? Me thinks I smell a rat! Someone is skimming off huge a huge pay day. This stimulus fraud that was played on the American people has been one of the greatest rip offs in history. Meanwhile, teachers by the thousands are losing their jobs. Something is BAD wrong with this picture.

What Is Worship and Why Do We Do It?

OK, this is a long one, because this is actually two posts from April 2006 combined together as one. I hope you will take time to read it. It really is some good stuff... even if I do say so myself.

Yeah, I’m back there on worship again. I just can’t seem to get away from this for long. It seems to me that 90% or more of the church world (I purposely do not use the term “Body of Christ” here) thinks that worship is what we do when the music starts at church. For others, it may include when the music starts at home, or where ever they may be. The point is, they think worship is what we do when the music plays. While this is (can be) worship, it is only a small part of worship.

I have been wrestling with these questions: “What is worship?” and “What is the purpose of worship?” While I certainly do not have all of the answers, I do recognize first of all that the purpose of our worship is to glorify, honor, praise, exalt, and please God. To accomplish this, I am convinced that our worship must show our adoration and loyalty to God. Those two words are critical to understand, and I am really afraid that most of those who attend church really have no clue to the concept of adoration and loyalty to Christ. One cannot really “worship” God if they are not totally devoted and steadfastly committed to Him. Another word for loyalty is faithful. How many can really say they are “faithful” to coming to church as often as they can. Statements like these reveal the truthfulness of where our heart’s desire lies: “Sorry I missed church Pastor, but we had a family cookout.” “I would have been there Sunday, but it was such a pretty day, and I had so much yard work to do.” Need I go on? I didn’t think so. The truth is, when you are committed, faithful and loyal, your first priority is toward Christ, and serving him, and you will make the effort to schedule your life in such a way that other “things” do not pre-empt the time of worship. Period. End of story. We don’t call in to work and say, “Sorry, I would like to be there today, but I have yard work to do” (or a family dinner, or what ever). You would not have a job very long! Why? They EXPECT loyalty and faithfulness from you as an employee to be there when you are scheduled; and if you are not, then they will find someone who is! The truth is, we make excuses and try to justify ourselves with “God understands my heart” statements. The fact is, He DOES understand our heart, and he sees that many people say they love Him and go through the motions of “worship” when it is convenient, but their lives tell a different story.

James 4:6, 10 tells us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up". Our worship to God is a very humble and reverent action. Part of humility is laying our own wants and desires down and expending ourselves to meet His desire. What is His desire? For us to worship Him.

Jesus says in John 4:23-24, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." It doesn’t say we can worship God anyway we want and when we want, but we "must worship Him in spirit and in truth". The word "must" makes it absolute. There is no room for negotiation. There is no other way we can worship God and be acceptable to Him. The word "must", according to Webster, expresses "an obligation, a requirement, a necessity, a certainty, and something that must be done". When "must" is used it means that it is not optional. Here the word "must" is expressing that in spirit and in truth is the only way to acceptably worship God.

In the last post I talked about the concept of adoration and loyalty to God. I want to go on now to what Jesus might have been talking about in John 4:23-24, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

Again, it doesn’t say we can worship God anyway we want and when we want, but we "must worship Him in spirit and in truth". The word "must" makes it absolute. The word "must", according to Webster, expresses "an obligation, a requirement, a necessity, a certainty, and something that must be done". When "must" is used it means that it is not optional. Here the word "must" is expressing that in spirit and in truth is the only way to acceptably worship God.

So, if we must worship Him in spirit and in truth, what is it then that Jesus is referring to? It is evident that God seeks true worshippers, and He identifies them as those who "worship Him in spirit and in truth". Worshipping God in spirit means that it must be done from the heart (or spirit). Worshipping God in truth means that it must be done according as God has specified in the Bible. Worshipping God in spirit and in truth is a serious matter which must not be taken lightly. If we have any regard for our own souls, we will want to make sure we are worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

Since God is the object of our worship, He and He alone has the right to determine how we are to worship Him.

We read in Jeremiah 10:23, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." It should be obvious to us, yet we seem to struggle with this concept, but we are not granted the option of directing our own ways in religion. God is the One who we look to for guidance and direction in our lives. Our very best in worship is due God and is prescribed by Him in the Bible. The worship God has prescribed is the only way we can be pleasing to Him in this life and finally attain everlasting life with Him in eternity. Sadly, worship is so very neglected by most Christians, yet our worship is of the greatest importance. Worship is a time when we pay deep, sincere, awesome respect, love, and fear (reverence) to the one who created us.
Acts 17:24-25 says, "God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives life, breath, and all things."
God is the one who holds our eternal destiny in His hands.
Philippians 2:12 tells us to, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
Our salvation is a very serious matter and will not happen by accident. Remember here, we are not talking about when we are "born again". Our spirits are born again when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and invite Him into our lives. Our spirits are "saved" at that moment, but our soul (our minds) need to be renewed. The salvation Paul is referring to here is not our experience of being born again. That work was accomplished on Calvary and we cannot work that out. It is accept Christ or not. But we must work it out "with fear and trembling" the salvation of our minds. We must work to renew our minds. I contend to you that what we do to "work out" our salvation in a very large part depends on whether our worship is pleasing to God or not. Again, worship is not just what we do in the worship time in church, but how we live out our lives from day to day. The ultimate question is, "Is my life giving glory and honor to Christ from day to day?" We must learn to live from the spirit (heart) side of us, rather than letting our minds rule the day. You cannot worship God with purity from the mind. Your "self" will get in the way. Worship must come from the spirit, that part of us that was created to be in fellowship and communion with the Lord. We can connect with God, spirit to Spirit, and we must be led by the spirit, not the mind.

Worship should cause us to reflect on the majesty and graciousness of God. God does not have to have our worship, but we must worship Him to please Him.
Our singing, praying, studying His word, giving, and communion are designed by God to bring us closer to Him and to cause us to think more like He thinks, thus becoming more like Him.
Our worship not only honors and magnifies God, but it is also for our own edification and strength. Worship helps us develop a God-like and Christ-like character.
We become like the one we admire and worship. When we worship God we tend to value what God values and gradually take on the characteristics and qualities of God. (But never to His level.)
s Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ." How do we take on the mind of Christ? In Romans 12:2 we read, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." We renew our mind as we study and meditate on God’s word and worship Him.
When we worship God we develop such traits as forgiveness, tenderness, justice, mercy, righteousness, purity, kindness, and love. There is an old saying that says, "Imitation is the highest form of flattery." How do you think God takes it when He sees His children taking on his characteristics? I submit to you... we worship God by becoming more and more like Him.

Cut the Sugar!

Word of advice to these parents: "Cut out the sugar!" lol

The Ghetto Church

There are those in the community where I live and pastor who have dubbed Harvest Church as the "ghetto church." They mock us because we don't have the newest, fanciest building to worship in, and even go so far as to criticize our church by saying things like, "they'll let anybody attend there." There are those who criticized us because we have ex-convicts in the church (hello... I'm one myself!), people who have come from the streets and known drug addicts, and so on.

When I first heard the term "Ghetto Church" I was offended, but the more I have thought on it, I wear the title of Pastor of the Ghetto Church with joy and gladness! Face it, Harvest Church is a household of faith made up of misfits. Does that term conjure up a mental image of societies outcasts and those that are down on their luck? Those who have walked through hell in their life-time? Well, guess what, that is us! Yes, we have former drug addicts (and a few who still use) and we have those who have been to jail, those who come from broken homes and those with life stories that would read like a movie on the Lifetime network. We are in fact largely made up of those who are outcasts and forgotten... the misfits if you will.

But you know what? I believe that is exactly who Jesus came for! Jesus said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do." In the eyes of society and the religious, we may be misfits, but in God’s eyes we are not so badly fitted at all. We are people who have found meaning and purpose in our lives through Jesus Christ.

I was sitting and thinking about all this today and I was reminded of the old animated movie "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" where there was a place called the Island of Misfit Toys. These toys were made all screwy, and did not work quite the way the other toys did. There was one toy on that Island that always stood out to me. It was the doll with no name, who seemed on the outside to have nothing wrong with her, still nobody wanted her because she had no name.

How many have ended up on the "Island of Misfits" because they had no real sense of identity?

At Harvest Church, we have a whole lot of people like that. They may not have been "on the streets" or drug addicts or have all the tats or piercings or war stories... but they were wandering aimlessly in life with no sense of identity until they found Jesus Christ and Harvest Church.

Take me for example. Yeah, my life got pretty messed up and I took the wrong path that led me down the road of drugs and booze, crime and prison. But much of my life could be summed up in the fact that I was always a "misfit." Convention has just never suited me at all. I was never one to just "go with the flow." Crud, I dont just march to my own drummer … I do my own drumming and then march to that beat! Well, actually I don't march... I dance because I dont like to march. To march means conforming to what everyone else does, and I just don't do that well.

I don't know, but I have to think that maybe that's why God called me the way He did. I mean, someone has to be able to get into those really weird places, and be able to talk to people of the more strange sort. I can do that!

The fact is that God really had to work on me and do a work in me to really open my heart to receive from Him first. I think this was the hardest thing for me. I had to overcome the sense and feeling that I did not deserve His love and mercy. OK, let's be honest, most people feel they dont deserve anything because of what they have done... or not done... or what they are... or are not. For me personally, the biggest obsticle that I had to overcome has been in finding the confidence that I could receive. I mean, I heard the Word... and I wanted to believe. But I felt that I did not deserve it, and if I did receive forgiveness I'd just screw it all up and blow it. That's what I always did in life, right? So, why should this "walk with God thing" be any different? I just knew is was a matter of time before I screwed it up. And truthfully, there were plenty of those deeply religious folks standing around just waiting for me to blow it, and they'd tell me that they were watching and waiting for the "real" Darrell to show up again.

Well, I've tried this walk with God thing, and I've found that God can help me... and even when I do blow it and mess it up and miss the mark... God is so much bigger than me! And He is faithful to forgive me of my sin if I will just confess it to Him. This faith walk, this journey has been such an exciting adventure and more and more I am discovering that He wants me to be blessed more than I want to be blessed! People dont get that part about God. But I find it easy to understand, not being of the ‘normal Christian’ sort. God is King, and Lord, no doubt about it... but He is not hard to talk to at all!

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that no one in Harvest Church seems to fit according to religious and social norms... but im finding that to be a tremendous asset.

If you are in the Galesburg area, I invite you to come check out the "Ghetto Church."

The Great Con Job

I had an interesting phone call today from someone who called "looking for advice" but really wanted to argue. They were talking about how sad, lonely and miserable they feel and wanted to know how to get past the guilt and shame they feel. As I began telling them about the love, mercy and forgiveness I'd found in Jesus, they began verbally sparing with me about how Christians were weak, needed a crutch and so on. I let him go on for a bit and finally asked, "If you think that we are weak, need a crutch, can't deal with the real world (and so on, feeding his own words back at him) then why did you call a pastor of a Christian church for advice?" He responded how he had seen me around and noticed a peace about me that made him curious. He added that he had asked someone about me and they told him that I had a pretty messed up life "before he found religion." He wanted to know how I turned my life around and found peace with my past. Again, I began telling him about Jesus and he became quite agitated with me. I told him that if he really wanted to know, then he needed to let go of all his left wing, anti-Christian rhetoric and actually listen to what I was sharing, because it was in Jesus that I had found freedom, peace and forgiveness.

He cussed me out and hung up.

Since that phone call, I've just been sitting here thinking about our conversation, and I'd laugh if it were not so sad. It's like a man looking at stove on fire and the fire is spreading to the kitchen, and all the while someone trying to give a fire extinguisher, and he refuses it, saying, "I heard those things don't work." His house will burn down while he stands and watches because he is unwilling to try what others tell him will work. That is a snap shot of so many in this world. They've been told Christianity will not work... and even when staring the evidence that it does work in the face, they will hold onto what they've been told. Satan is pretty smart. He has convinced the blinded masses that we (the Christians) are the weak ones; that we are idiots, that we don't have a life... and they stand and watch their lives spiral out of control, laughing at those who have found peace. Pretty smooth con job he's pulled off there.

After talking with this man today I was reading my Bible and this is what I came across that wraps up my conversation with the man. I hope he some how finds his way to this blog. If not him, maybe someone else will be helped by it.

It is found in Psalm 32:

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is out of sight!

Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lrod has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.

Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.

My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.

I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord."

And you forgave me! My guilt is gone!

Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.

For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.

You surround me with songs of victory.

Who Moved My Cheese... Again!

After receiving a message from someone who read a blog entry of mine from almost 4 years ago, I decided to re-visit that blog and update it. This is even more relevant in my church today than it was in September 2006.

I felt compelled this morning to pick up and re-read (for the ump-teenth time) a wonderful little book called "Who Moved My Cheese?" written by Spencer Johnson.
In this book Johnson spins a parable about how we deal with change. The four characters in his story, pictured above the right, are Hem, Haw, Sniff and Scurry. It is a delightful little tale that uses "cheese" to represent what makes us happy in life, which is represented by a maze.
The story is about how characters are faced with changes that come unexpectantly and how they cope with these changes. It weaves a great lesson for us all.
If you have never read the book, may I recommend you pick a copy up or go to the library and check it out.

I believe the Holy Spirit directed me back to this book this morning. The fact is, we all must contend with and deal with change. It is inevitable. Life is continually in a state of flux and if you don't go with the changes, you will be left behind and stagnate or die right where you are. This is true in every area of our life, including our churches. I know change is not always easy. Let's be honest, sometimes it is... and sometimes change is difficult, even scary. For some, they resist change so strongly and are so unyielding in their resolve not to change that without realizing it, they make even bigger changes in their life by trying not to change! For example, someone who does not like the changes in their church, so they pick up and leave that church to go to another. Hello? You don't like change, so you change churches?It would be funny if it were not so sad. Change is necessary. Without change, things...churches.. people die.

A few years ago the Lord gave me a vision of the river. (Read about it here) I have spoken of the River several times in the past, and although I've not spoke of it recently, I still believe God is taking us on that journey. The point is, rivers flow. Try to dam up a river and it will only work for a little while. You may hold it back for a little while, but eventually it will change it's course, or it will back up and over flow with a giant crash... but the river is going to flow!

The church where I pastor is going through a tremendous change right now. It began a dramatic shifting and changing last August and has been a rather violent shaking ever since. We are going through change, and I am convinced that this change is is not one done by human design. Looking back over the last year I can see God's hand all over it. We have seen several leave the church. Some who had been with us a couple of years pulled up stakes and left in mass. A few others trickled out afterward. Then just recently some who have been a part of this church for many, many years left without saying a word. The funny thing is, none of them have left in anger, but rather they just felt it was time to walk in a different direction. Sadly, the shifting has had some left some casualties as some have not only left our church but have turned their back on God completely.

Like I said, change is going to happen. Looking out over the church the past couple of weeks I have to admit that I hardly recognize this church as the one I came to pastor almost six years ago. The faces have changed. The "make up" of the church has changed. The worship style and fervency has changed. Yet, through all the change, we are the same church, pursuing the same God. Just this past week I sat in the home of one of the "old-timers" and she listed off who left since I have been here, and questioned why they would leave their church. That reminded me of the time I originally wrote this blog and an encounter with a person back then that was very similar. That person also listed the people who had left and recited the reasons she had heard that they left the church. That person had said to me, "I don't want all this change. I want our people back. I want things the way they were before you came." I'd almost swear I heard them say... "Who Moved My Cheese?"

I'm not writing this in a defense of myself, no need to. Suffice it to say... change is necessary... change must happen, and if you do not change and go with the flow, you will be left behind or die where you are. And as Spencer Johnson points out in his book... change does not just happen once, but it happens again and again and again; and we have got to be ready to change when change is necessary and adapt to that change quickly.

The fact is, that for what ever reason, the church world is always extremely slow to change, and therefore we are lagging way behind the society we live in, and we have become increasingly irrelavant to the world we live in.
The dictionary defines irrelavant as: "Not relevant; not applicable or pertinent; not bearing upon or serving to support."
Let's be brutally honest; How much of our church activities are not applicable or pertinant to the lives of those in our community? The questions that we should be asking ourselves are: "What are we doing that has any bearing on lives in our community outside our own four walls? Are we doing anything that would cause those in our community to have a curiousity, a hunger or a desire to check out what is going on in our church?"

Those are tough questions that we must begin to ask.

Truthfully, much of what we do in church is like going through the maze again and again "looking for the cheese" where it has always been.
We know it worked before, so let's do it again.

We did this with the Ladies Ministries 10 years ago... let's do it again!

We did this with the youth group before... let's try that again!

And over and over and over again we want to go back to what is comfortable, what once worked... But the cheese has been moved.
God is doing a new thing in a vastly different culture than what most of us grew up in, and we have to adapt... or be left behind or die!

Yes, it worked... it was wonderful... and we have great memories... but we cannot go back. When you go backward, you stop progressing.

I have wonderful memories from my childhood and flannel graph boards in Sunday school. It was amazing that you could stick Zacchaeus in a tree and he stayed there! Or Jesus walking on water or being lifted in the air. To us in 1966 that was amazing stuff... but to the kids of 2010 that is lame! They are used to computer technology and digital video. Use flannel graph to this generation and you have lost them in a heartbeat. The cheese has been moved!

There was a time when you could throw up a tent, begin to play music and crowds gathered to the tent revival. Today, they have no need to go to a tent. They can turn on the television set at any time, 24/7 and there in their living room they can have the finest entertainment (face it, to the sinner, it is entertainment) and preaching from around the globe. The cheese has been moved and we must change the way we do things!

Spencer suggests in his book that we smell the cheese often so that we know when it is getting old. Much of what we have been doing is out of habit, and frankly, it is going after old cheese. God is doing a fresh new thing in the land, and we must change our course and go after it! If we don't, we will be left behind and die where we are.