The Separation of Church and State Myth

I get blasted with this regularly, but much more so in recent weeks for my promoting Herman Cain for President, and my outspoken statements against our current President. Today, I literally had more than two dozen messages sent to me railing about how I was violating the "separation of Church and State" laws, with almost all of these messages hurling insults and profane statements about myself and my family.  One has to wonder, do any of these people understand that they show their own ignorance of the Constitution and the Law of the Land? More so, do they comprehend that when they resort to insults and profanity, it just further proves they do not have an intelligent argument, so they resort to what they know. I'm convinced that people of low intelligence give that fact away by resorting to using profane language and insults because they cannot put together a sound defense of their position, so they try to bully their way through a conversation.

There is so much said about the separation of church and state in the times we live in. Even uninformed or clueless news anchors and talk show hosts will try to use this argument. However, there is absolutely nothing in the United States Constitution that uses this phrase, or anything remotely like it. What you will find is that the First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”  Uninformed people, or those who know the truth but want to twist it in an attempt to sway the opinion of others... usually those who hate religion, often twist the meaning of the first Amendment. They pervert this amendment, and will use it to say that the church should stay completely out of politics. But with a simple reading and the understanding of that of a third grader it is clear that the Amendment says nothing that restricts religion or the church from involvement government. Rather, it's intended purpose is to restrict “Congress” not the church. It also frees those who believe in their religion to exercise their religion as they see fit. It means that all Americans are free to worship however, whomever, whatever and whenever we want... and it also frees those who choose not to worship. It says that the government will not infringe upon our rights to exercise our religious beliefs, or unbelief's. That's it. End of story.

One of our founding fathers of our country, James Madison, expressed his understanding of the Amendment with this statement: “The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established.” He makes it perfectly clear that the Amendment is simply forbidding a national religion, but he also cautions that the Amendment shall not abridge anyone of his civil rights because he holds to a particular religious belief. We see many trying to hinder the civil rights of those with religious convictions. They cry foul when someone with deep conviction speaks his mind politically. This is what all these people have been trying to do to me. I've had people here in the town where I live tell me that a minister cannot speak on anything politically. In fact, last year I had a  couple with whom I had been friends with for 28 years become so enraged that I would not remain silent politically, that they ended our friendship and we have not spoken in more than a year. People have been deceived and do not understand the law of the land.

There is  another reference about government and religion found in Article VI, Section 3: “[No] religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”  What this means, quite simply, is that anyone, no matter what they believe, can be a government official. This means an atheist can... as can a Muslim, a Christian, a Buddhist, or one who practices any other religion. So, what is implied is that even a minister can sit in a public office. But if you notice, the moment someone in the clergy runs for office, or even the clergy’s spouse, people declare it wrong and claim there is a separation of church and state. The fact of the matter is that it is  unconstitutional to try to restrict the clergy (or any other Christian) from influencing government. Guess what? Clergy are citizens too! Everyone, regardless of race, sexual preference or religion has a right to be involved in government. In fact, many of the founders of this nation had theological degrees. Why is it that we do not mind lawyers running for office, but not ministers? Who do you trust more? How far has our country fallen when they think clergy cannot be public officials!?

In and effort to control the church, the IRS set guidelines for what the clergy can or cannot do in order to maintain the church’s tax exempt status. Basically a pastor can do anything, including telling people how to vote on specific issues, except using the pulpit during the religious service to endorse a “person” for office.  Understand, a minister can endorse anyone, including through the media or public speaking... but it must be done outside the pulpit during a religious service.  He can hold a meeting in the church, for the purpose of a political rally, but it cannot be a part of the regular worship service. 

I have always attempted to follow these guidelines, even though I personally think the guidelines are unconstitutional. There is a major law firm which protects religious liberties that is hoping the IRS tries to revoke a church of its tax exempt status if it endorses candidates. They are at the wings waiting for such a case so it can be brought before the US Supreme Court because they are confident that the Court will side with the rights of pastors to say or endorse whoever they want at any time. However, the IRS has been reluctant to take on such a case thus far. It is my opinion that they would prefer to allow fear to rule the pulpits than to once and for all remove the fear when the Supreme Courts rules in favor of religious liberties. 

Christians... Pastors...  do not be afraid to speak up and speak out for the truth. Will there be ramifications if you do? Yes, it is possible. But do not cave in to fear. We are not called to be cowards but to be fearless. May we all be bold and speak the truth in love to a society and a government that have lost its way.The next time someone says to you, "Separation of Church and State", ask them to show that to you in the Constitution and then educate them as to what the Constitution does say.

We need God in America again today!

Don't Take Your Health for Granted!

By now, pretty well everyone knows the health issues I've had recently. Let's face it, it's been rough this whole year! The issues I've been facing for the last 4 or 5 weeks have just sucked the life right out of me, with very little energy, requiring me to work at a snails pace, and for short bursts at a time, resting and then going at it again. Even in the "good" spurts, it is anything but good. What I would give right now for just one day of feeling good! 

Now, I'm not writing to whine or to try to make people feel sorry for me. No, I'm just not like that. I'm a realist. This is my fault, and no one shares the blame. Even this issue of the blood loss, it appears that it may be caused by the Effient, a drug that I've been taking since April because of my stent. I can sit and blame the Effient... but the reality is, if I had eaten right and exercised the way I should have, then I would not have been laying on a table with a clogged artery requiring a stent to be placed in me. Right?
I had a pretty bad night last night, with a lot of digestive issues and just not able to sleep. I'll admit, I got pretty "self-focused" and had myself a good pity party about 3:30 - 4:00 this morning. Then I shook myself and told myself, "You are not going there! No pity! You can beat this!"  And I began thinking about what I just mentioned, that it is my own fault that I've been forced to take a drug that while designed to save my life, has the potential to take it. That's my fault, not the drug company's.  I did this to myself. And I can reverse this. One step at a time, as I get the issue at hand dealt with, but then it is time for some real life changes. Not dropping 15 pounds and gaining 7 back... but a transformation where 25 pounds is gone forever. It's time to not just take a leisurely stroll when I want to enjoy the day... it is time to start a real exercise program where the fat and sagging muscles are dealt with, and my heart muscle is strengthened. It's time to change my eating habits and gain some discipline in that area of my life. I know... it will be difficult. I know my mind will make excuses... but it's time. I've taken life and my health for granted for too long. Now, when it is failing me... I'm ticked off... but I only have myself to blame. 

My daughter is home from college and yesterday she went to see a friend who just had a baby. She posted a picture of her holding that baby... and I thought to myself, "Self, if you don't get your act together, you will never live to see your baby have babies of her own." 
It's time for some changes. 
I don't like it. 
I'm not looking forward to it!
But it is time.

I wrote this, so that I just might give someone else a wake up call. Don't wait.
Don't take your health for granted.  It can happen in the blink of an eye with no warning. 
Last week I stood my the side of a man who has felt well until just a couple of weeks ago. He scheduled some tests which led to surgery... and the surgeon opened him up and simply closed him back and told him that he has less than a month to live.
You and I just don't know. 
We can take that knowledge and live a carefree, thoughtless attitude like I pretty much did, until the year 2011 unleashed its fury on me. This year has been the roughest of my life, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
But as we wind out 2011, I am working out the plan... 
Change is on it's way, as soon as the doctor gives me the OK to begin.

I hope you'll join me and that 2012 changes your life and mine for the better!

I Don't THINK So!

Watch this video of what this woman discovered when she came out of the bathroom.  She seems a little too calm if you ask me. I know the reaction in my house would have been different! lol

11/21 Health Update

Everyone is calling and messaging again, which lets me know I've not done a good job at letting everyone know where I am health wise. Since my last update, I did in fact start losing blood again, quite heavily. When this happened, I realized that every time I started back on one of my heart meds, I began bleeding in about 3 days. So I began doing some research, and low and behold, I discovered that this medicine has had a lot of people report intestinal bleeding and many who developed cancer. The drug has only been out a couple of years, so the jury is still out on it. I also learned that it causes some people to have an elevated heart rate (something I had been having trouble with) and several other problems that I was periodically having. I decided that I was not taking this medicine any more... period. The problem is... this medication is to help prevent my blood from clotting in or around the stent that was placed near my heart last April. So, I went to my doctor and explained my situation. When I laid out the evidence of symptomatic problems I was having and then showed him the clinical studies online, he agreed that I could not go back on this med. He called my cardiologist and I will begin a new drug is just a couple of days to see if my body can tolerate this one. If I still have bleeding problems, then I will need to do a test where I swallow a camera and they can watch it go through my system to see if they can detect where the bleeding is coming from. 

For now, I've not had any bleeding since the middle of last week, and I am feeling a bit stronger, although I have a bad cold. Still pretty tired, and have to stop to rest pretty regularly. It is frustrating me to no end. Also, my doctor advised me to stay away from hospitals, nursing homes and anyone who is sick, as my immune system is really low at this point. OK... remember... I'm sitting in the doctor's office... full of sick people, hacking and coughing as he tells me this. Too late! I'm just hoping this other medication will work and this ordeal will be over with as soon as my hemoglobin can build back up... which, I am told, will take 6-8 weeks.

 Prayers are appreciated!!!

God is NOT Double Minded

I don't even know where to begin with this one, other that to say that I get weary of hearing people blame God for their instability. Let's be clear, James tells us that a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways. It is immaturity and a lack of solid foundation in a person's life that causes them to vary from week to week, even day to day with where they are and what they are to going to do. There is no focus, because the focus is on self, rather than on God and His Kingdom. When a person proclaims that they've heard from God and they are going after what God has laid upon their heart with reckless abandon... only to a few weeks later they are off that "word from God" to a new one, and pursuing something different, then I know that this person has not heard from God. And this happens with so many people with such regularity, that one would be forced to wonder if God has a clue what He is doing? 
God is not double minded, nor does he waver. When God says, "This is the direction"  then He means, "this is the direction."  When God says "sit still" then He means "sit still."  When God says "occupy" he means to occupy.  I think part of the problem is, many have no idea what "occupy" means. We've been witness to the whole "Occupy" protests in this nation for weeks on end now, and these protests actually give a good insight to some of the problems we see in the church. The protesters have labeled themselves as the "Occupy" movement.... but do not understand the depth of the meaning of "Occupy." 
To occupy means so much more than to sit and take up space, or to act with no accountability while waiting.  Our job is called our occupation. It is what we do. In essence, it is who we are. When Jesus told us to occupy until he comes... he did not mean for us to sit idly by, blowing in the wind... it meant we are to carry on the Father's business!  Let's be honest... few are doing this!  And that, my friends, is the problem.  
And yet another aspect of what leads to the instability and wavering is that so many want to reach the top rung of the ladder without working their way up. Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of these, "you have to pay your dues" type people. God can and will elevate who he desires to. But the one He is going to elevate is the one whom has been faithful in the things put in their trust! But so many miss this, and they want to become a leader, before they have learned to follow!  I believe the Word to be true in that we reap what we sow. If we sow instability, we will reap instability.


Over the years I have had literally dozens of people blow into the church, full of ideas and ready to lead... but they never want to follow, and when you don't place them immediately into places of leadership, they blow over to the next pasture. Guys do this when they pastor as well, jumping from church to church and wondering why they are not seeing results. They fail to understand that leadership is so much more about what you do day in and day out than what you say when you hold the microphone. People hear you... but more importantly, they watch you. What you say is completely negated if you do not walk out what you say with your mouth. They lose all confidence in the one who is big on talk but weak on follow through. Sadly, rather than this type person seeing that they are the problem, they will sit around and point fingers and accuse others of not being what they ought to be. The problem is that people will not follow someone until they know they are not going to quit on them. Until they see persistence and dedication in a person, they will not follow.  Even John the Baptist wanted to know of Jesus, if he was the one or should they look for another. As a result, this type "leader" will bounce from place to place, idea to idea, and they will never be successful in any sense, nor find any peace within, until they deal with self, and learn the Biblical context of submission and following. One can never follow as long as they are looking at the next field.

 Again... I am tired of hearing God blamed for "changing his mind."  I'm tired of hearing God's people blamed for not wanting to follow someone who is unstable. It is not God who is wavering or double minded. That narrows the field quite a bit, doesn't it?

Health Update

I've had a lot of phone calls, text messages, Facebook messages and emails, all asking how I am doing physically. I started trying to answer them all, but it is going to take forever, so I decided I'd write one blog on this and hopefully everyone will see it and it will answer most, if not all of the questions. If not, if you'll message me, I'll try to get back to you.

I did have my scopes done on Thursday, and they found nothing. No bleeding, no sign of where I have been bleeding. Nothing.  It was explained that when they do the scopes, they do not go into the small intestine, so it is very possible the bleeding was occurring there. The good news is, it appears that the bleeding finally stopped earlier this week. We are just hoping it does not start up again. The bad news is, my hemoglobin is still pretty low, meaning my red blood cell count is low, which makes me low on oxygen. This leaves me very tired with little energy. It seems I have about 4 or 5 good hours in me per day right now, then I need a nap. I'm on medication to help make sure I don't start bleeding again, along with iron pills to try to boost my blood. A negative here is that I absolutely had to get back on my heart medication, which thins my blood and makes me much more prone to bleed easy. Kind of a catch 22. I'm just going to have to monitor it and if I show signs of bleeding again, get to the doctor.

As I said, my hemoglobin is low. For a man of my size, anything under 13 on the hemoglobin count is considered low. I was at 10.6 Thursday. My doctor says it will take 6-9 weeks to build my blood up again. I'm going to try to boost that quicker by making sure I eat the right foods, but I can only do so much and the rest is up to my body to respond. As long as I do respond and rebuild the red cell count, I should be just fine. If I do not start responding, then there is obviously something else going on in my body that destroys the red blood cells and we will have to run more tests. I'm just believing that we are not going to reach that place.

Thank you everyone for your love and concern. I will try to keep you posted.

Funny How Things Stick In Your Mind

A few minutes ago I was on Facebook and and a friend who lives in the Eastern time zone posted something about the date, November 11... and when I read that date, I instantly recalled that the car accident that radically changed my life took place on November 11, 1988. It's not really something I want to remember... but like flipping a switch, as soon as I saw that date written on the screen, I not only recalled that this was the anniversary of the accident... I remembered every detail. Because of stupid kid who was out celebrating his 19th birthday by drinking himself into a stupor, I live each and every day of my life in pain. My migraine headaches began as a result of that accident. The damage in my right hand and wrist, my back troubles and neck troubles... all began on November 11, 1988.  The reason the car is pictured is because that's what I was driving, except mine was silver and black. Ironically, just the day before the accident my wife and I had decided we were going to stop driving the Charger and put it away because they had decided to stop making them and ours was the final year of production. Sadly, the car was worthless after the accident.  

I really do find it odd that your mind can put pieces of information together and re-tell the story so quickly with such subtle reminders.

My Two Pet Peeves in Worshp

My Two Pet Peeves in Worship 

 

by Steven Furtick

Steven Furtick has two pet peeves: Pastors who don't engage in worship, and worship musicians who don't engage with the Word.

I recently tweeted the following about a problem that exists in a lot of churches:
2 pet peeves: 1) Pastors who don’t engage in worship 2) Worship musicians who don’t engage with the Word.
It seemed to resonate with a lot of people, and I wanted to elaborate on it a little because I think these are two big roadblocks for taking your church to a whole new level in worship.

1) Pastors who don’t engage in worship.
Pastors, you’re the primary worship leaders at your churches. And that’s even if you don’t have a lick of musical talent and your voice would offend people if they heard it.
Your church is never going to go further in worship than you’re going to lead it. 
And what you need to understand is that you set the tone not only with the Word but also by your example. Your worship before God is preaching a sermon on the greatness of God long before you ever open up your mouth to speak about God. And it’s a sermon people listen to and apply to their own worship. Immediately.
But this goes beyond your leadership. You will never graduate past your need to worship God. You’ve been called to preach, but you were created to worship. 
There isn’t an advanced level of Christianity where you no longer have to engage with God in passionate praise.
So don’t let your mind become so occupied with what you’re called to do—preach—that you lose sight of what you have been created to do—worship.


2) Worship musicians who don’t engage with the Word.
This is ultimately an honor issue. Yes, honoring your pastor is part of it. He’s been preparing for this all week, and one of the best ways you can support him is by actively responding to the Word.
But really, this is about honoring the Word of God. Just like your pastor, before you’re a musician, you’re a worshiper. And there is no such thing as true worship divorced from God’s Word.
The Word gives us a God worth worshiping. A God worth leading others to worship. And the intensity of your own personal worship and your effectiveness in leading others in theirs is directly related to your engagement with it.

So whether you’re preaching or playing music this weekend, choose to fully engage. Pastors, put your notes down and worship the God you’ve been studying about all week. Worship musicians, catch your breath for a minute, and then pick up your Bible, a pen, and press into the God who is the source of your creativity and talent.

And then watch as the worship in your church is taken to a whole new level.

Is It the End of an Era?

For the past 11 years, Cardinal nation (for that matter, all of the baseball world) has been treated to watching perhaps the best baseball player in history re-write the record books. Albert Pujols, from the time he came to the big leagues in only his second year of organized baseball has simply been amazing to watch. His numbers are so good that if he retired today, at the age of 31, he is a lock for the Hall of Fame. If he stays healthy, there is no telling what this guy is going to do. As a Cardinal's fan, I am hoping that the continues to do his thing wearing the birds on the bat across his chest. I'm hoping... but I'm not counting on it.

As of Sunday morning, Pujols, for the first time in his professional career is without a contract and is a free agent. The Cardinals have exclusive rights to talk contract with him right now... but the door will fly wide open when the clock strikes midnight tonight. Something tells me that what we are about to see will no doubt border on insanity. I would not be surprised to see numbers thrown at Pujols that will approach, if not even exceed $30,000,000 a year. Folks, that's just down right crazy!  If you break that down to an average of 600 at bats per year, he would be earning $50,000 per at bat! Take it a step further, and say he gets 200 hits per season (something he has only done once in his career, so this is a flawed number) that averages out to paying Albert $150,000 for every hit he gets. Pretty nuts, wouldn't you agree? I think it is time that baseball owners and players alike come back to reality. Best in the game or not, no one is worth that kind of money. No one. 

I really hope that when Spring training rolls around in February, we see Albert Pujols in a Cardinals uniform... but NOT if he demands that kind of money. That would literally tie up nearly one fourth of the entire Cardinals payroll for one player. If we can lock him in at a lower salary, awesome! Let's do it! But if the negotiations get higher than that, it's time to say thanks for the memories, shake hands and sign 3 to 4 other players and move on. It's sad... but this is reality.