I'm Easily Amused

Since I operate on a dial up connection I don't often go on You Tube. 

 

But I heard this, It amused me greatly.  It's worth the look and fun. 

 

The Helsinki Complaint Choir. 

 

IF you like it send it on. 

 

You think you got troubles?  You got Nuttin!

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATXV3DzKv68&mode=related&search=

Not for the Religious at Heart

There is a Church in St. Louis who goes where sinners go and who reaches people those of us in "Mainline" religious circles don't have a chance at.

Now, if you are religious, do NOT read this. It will offend and screw up your precious theology.

If you are just a simple Christian hoping to reach the lost, what does this mean?

I'm just saying........................

The Religion of Atheists

Tomorrow Friday will be the release of the Holy Writ. The Pentateuch of the atheist community. This gospel of the devil will have this proclamation in it somewhere:

• You have sinned and by your sin been the cause of global wrath.
• There are other sinners in the world who have not yet heard the bad news.
• You must repent.
• You must do penance by changing your lifestyle and giving power over to the priests of the church of atheism.
• If you do not, even worse things will be wrought upon you, your children and your children’s children even to the 3rd an 4th generations.
• Only by sacrifice will this sin be expiated.

And the TV evangelists of this satanic scheme will ply your hearts with images of people and other living beings suffering because of your sin.

Guilt, You must feel guilt. You are the one who did this.

Then a savior will arise. They will be politicians and scientists who will pronounce the penance you must pay.

What sin did you commit according to these false prophets?

YOU, YOU EVIL SINNER caused global warming.

And NOW YOU MU$T $PAY$.

Give up your rights, give over your way of life, give up your money, give up everything for the cause of the religion of atheism.

MOTHER EARTH

You think I am kidding? You wait. And, if you are a scientist who doesn’t accept this or tries to preach against it you are poo pooed and denigrated as a pagan.

Let me set the record straight. THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING.

That’s not big news. It’s been changing cyclically for millions of years. For the last 10,000 reliably. Long before there were cars and industrial pollution there was climate change. Radical climate change. Yet things always cycled. Hotter Colder.

We have been in a long temperate period. It was bound to change. It is. It will. It may surprise you, we may be just a few years away from another global ice age. So don't put away those winter parkas just yet.

But, here’s the truth, you didn’t cause it, you can’t change it. If every human on earth was eliminated (that means killed) and nature was allowed to take its course without nasty old humans walking around the climate would change, up down up down.

Who you gonna blame then? I just wonder how far away we are from sacrificing virgins to appease the earth gods to save us from climate change. Not as far as you think.

I remember chick tracts of 30 years ago with a tribulation scenario. The new global religion was one of ecology and earth worship. I thought it was a little far fetched. Not any more.

Here are a few questions for the doubters among you.

There was a little ice age that took place during the 1300-1600s. The ice was so bad that in Norway and Sweden they stood at the edge of the glaciers that were encroaching on their land and prayed to God that they would stop.

But, without cars or industrial pollution the climate warmed back up and has stayed temperate since. What caused this several degree climate change that thawed all the glaciers. HMMM?

The Tang dynasty in China was doing fine for over 300 years. Enjoying good life, good crops, good prosperity. Then the weather changed, in 907AD the revolt took place and there was no more. That wasn’t caused by any humans.

Or how about the Mayans. They prospered well. Built huge cities. Wealthy cities. The peak was about 800AD. Then about the same time as the Tang Dynasty collapsed so did the Mayans. The Early 900s. Why, every 208 years there was a cycle of sun intensity changes that caused the world to warm and dry up.

It did in the Tang dynasty. It did for the Mayans. It probably will for us.

But we are mobile. We have trains, planes and automobiles. We can move to where it’s more temperate. There will be disruption. Mankind will survive unless he refuses to adapt. I plan to adapt. So should you.

There will be politicians and dictators using these negative changes to accumulate power. They are evil in their intent. This whole scare is about power and getting in your pocketbook.

They are manipulating people led down this primrose path into believing that you, we, I had any effect on the climate of the earth. What arrogance to think we have any effect whatsoever.

Don’t believe them. It’s all lies and manipulation. This may well be the platform from which the anti-Christ will arise. What's even worse some Christian leaders have bought this lie. No discernment.

It is interesting to look over the atheists of celebrity who are on this list. Ask yourself this question, for a large part, do these people support abortion on demand, oppose the war, are for more government in your and my life and are supporters of the global warming conspiracy? I submit being an atheist lends itself to views of populism and looking for acceptance from others. Atheism is a lonely place to be. You need others to accept you since you have no God who loves you and gives himself for you.

Since atheists have no God they worship the earth.

How Sad. She doesn't care a whit for them.

Look Out for that Light Pole -----CLANK!

I had a close friend who was rendered blind in his later years. I would walk with him sometimes. He was self sufficient and independent to a fault. I could see, he couldn't. Sometimes the only way for him to discover what I said was true was to smash headlong into the thing that could harm him.

After he became aware of the limitations he became more ready to listen. It took a few bloody noses first.

We are all like that a little. The proverb says:

A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered. Proverbs 22:3

Sometimes as a Prophet I must tell people of something that's on the horizon that will harm them. Like my friend they insist on going their own way. All I can do is wait for the CLANK.

But, I take the Holy Orders written by the apostle Paul to the Romans seriously. IF we all could get this single chapter of Romans in our spirit we would all live in harmony, unity, with passion towards Jesus. But we don't. We are like my blind friend. We are like sheep all going our own way. It's a pity.

I will continue to prophecy and warn. Not everyone will Heed. Some will. That's enough.

Romans 12 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

Living Sacrifice
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head" 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Remember, this is about the Church, a Church with backbiting, egos, persecuters, elitists, vengeful, prideful and particularly proud of whatever they do in the Church. This was the makeup of the Church in Rome. Sounds a little like the Church you attend doesn't it?

The problem is ALL are needed. All are essential. If we think we have a corner on this market we kid ourselves. The truth is not in us.

Unity is only achieved when Romans 12 is embraced and engaged.

If you find that Church I want to join too. Some goals are set high enough we may never reach them on this side of the veil.

Sign of the Apocalypse

We lived in Germany for a few years in the early 90s. Thought seriously about moving there permanently. We loved much about the country. Being German helps.

One of the things which was quaint and yet elegantly wonderful was the whole shopping hours thing.

Stores were open from 7-Noon and then from 2-5. Not all, many. Small shops mostly.
Big chain stores were open till 8 pm a couple nites per week. Mostly till 6 otherwise. Saturday hours were till 2PM. Sundays you couldn’t buy milk but you could buy beer and gasoline.

I liked it. I liked the fact that Sunday was set aside. A day of rest. Sabbath.

Most Germans didn’t engage the concept by going to Church but they did take the day off.

It made Sunday a wonderful day for families in parks.

But now according to the news that is all going to end. Instead of rest they will do what we do in American. SHOP. This is the end of civilization as we knew it.

If they made me King (and you must hope they don’t) I would change the laws in the good old USA to a true Sabbath. The church’s competition isn’t Satan, Isn’t other Churches, it’s SHOPPING and Sports.

So, Make me King and here’s what I will impose the first week.

• All stores close at 6PM Saturday and do not open again until 8AM Monday.
• All Bars close at Midnight. No liquor sold on Sundays.
• All Liquor sales close at Midnight and never on Sundays.
• TV goes off the air at Midnight Saturday and doesn’t come on until 1PM Sunday.
• No professional Sports on Sunday at all: baseball, football, basketball, nothing. 6 days shall you play….on the seventh you shall rest.
• No Children’s organized sports EVER on Sunday
• The only think you will be able to buy is Gasoline.

You might think of others.

Now, I’m not so naïve to think that folks will FLOCK to the churches because of this Gene-Law. I do think that those who use other diversions to NOT go to church will at least have an opportunity.

There was something said once about “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy (set apart, different, special)”. It didn’t say anything about going to Church. It just said that there should be a day set aside of rest and refreshing. Sabbath.

When we decided to abandon these principles I would REINSTATE our country was impoverished for it. You see, all the principles I listed above were observed and accepted in 1957. 50 years ago. He didn’t leave us, we left him. As a country we are poorer for it all.

Why don’t we take back the Sabbath?

Evangelism - Persistence and Patience

Give up on him! That's what the devil wants us to do. The Spirit of God would say, wait, stay steady, have patience.

Most of the people I have led to Jesus didn't respond and come the first time I probed to see if they were ready. Usually it took a crisis, a situation, a change, a special touch of the Holy Ghost to cause them to come to him.

We can see that in scripture. The jailer of Peter and Silas wasn't looking for Jesus. Not, that is, until the earthquake came. Read about it HERE.

Some people who are distant from God particularly in the Church need a fresh prod of the Spirit of God to get them off dead center. They are walking in the delusion of "Just Fine" regarding their relationship to God.

I experienced that on the most personal level possible. In 1981 after having been saved and born again a three years earlier I went thru a difficult time with my wife. We had attended a good Lutheran church. The one we had been married in. She was head of women's ministries with 900 women. I was involved teaching 6th grade and was superintendent of the Sunday school with 500 kids.

Life seemed normal, settled, "Just Fine". We did our normal little Sunday thing. We paid our tithe. We did what most of American Christians did, we put in our time. Of course both of us being Do-ers we found ourselves doing.

Then it happened. I was saved, seeking, hungry and starving in the Church. I sought out a friend of mine who was walking where I wanted to walk. He sold cars for a living. At his ministry I received a supernatural touch from God. The baptism of the Holy Ghost. The fullness of the Spirit. The overflow of Jesus in my Life. Personal Pentecost. The infilling until it came back out of my mouth as evidence and I spoke with other tongues. It changed me radically and eternally. That single experience broke the last straw of nominalism in my life.

I was turned on to Jesus. Huge. Irreversibly. Forever.

This caused difficulty in our marriage. We had come thru hard times recently. This didn't help. What’s worse, is I came to realize that for me to grow spiritually I had to leave the Lutheran Church we were attending. I was starving to death. There were other issues. This was an ALC church with fuzzy doctrine on Homosexuals and Abortion. I didn't want to go where they seemed to be headed. There were also a fair number of people attending this church who believed in Transcendental Meditation and Reincarnation. The Pastors were good men but weak. They didn't take on the HARD issues. It was a big church, several thousand people, and rather than purpose driven they were sadly checkbook driven. The checkbook driven church is an impotent church. If a church ever fears losing a member who tithes well it is saying to God, “I rely more on that man’s tithe than I do on your capacity to provide”. I was fired up in a house of fire extinguishers.

It almost ended our marriage. She went to the Lutheran Church and I went to a Spirit-Formed church. She liked the change she saw in me. I became more and more changed into the image of Jesus. The tension was she loved her spiritual comfort zone. She had been raised in the Lutheran Church like I had and it just seemed right. Not that it made much difference in her life. It hadn't in mine. This went on for 3 years. She would get angry. There were times when the pain was great. I wanted to have peace but not at the price of my intimacy with Jesus.

The temptation (even advice) was to capitulate and compromise just a little. Here was the truth; I was coming to the place where my love for Jesus exceeded my love for Peggy. She was number 2 in my life. If I had to make a choice she had to know where she would end up.

I was at wits end and then a man by the name of Chuck Rutherford gave me a prophetic word. He said, “I see the day coming when your wife will exceed you in passion for Jesus”. That word quickened in my spirit. I knew it was true. I knew that if I would just stay steady, not back down, not give in, that day would come.

Today it’s true. Peggy exceeds me in so many ways spiritually It’s hard to explain.

Here’s the rub. Some people would say, "you should have gone to church with her and waited for her to change". I would have died spiritually. I was young in these things and not ready to do that then. I loved her. I showed that love to her in many ways. But I never let my love for her or the pain between us compromise what Jesus called me to do. I still don’t. She doesn’t.

That’s the struggle of evangelism and spiritual leadership. Unless you have set your face like flint toward Him you will fail. If you look to circumstances, if you look to people you will fail. Anything less than sold out passion for Jesus without any consideration for anything else is the call of God in this hour.

If you have a friend, a loved one, a wife, a husband, a child who is not where they ought to be spiritually, Take it from one who risked it all for the cause of Christ. He’s worth it. Stay steady. Don’t back down. When the pressure comes turn up the heat. Run to Him, not from Him. It’s only under pressure that you know who you are in Jesus. Do you return to empty words and tradition as a hiding place or do you press into him harder and with more determination? I could have gone back to that nice Lutheran church with the nice people and lived out my life in spiritual mediocrity. I’m glad I didn’t. It was the light of Jesus in my life that drew her, and the same light that gives me access to lead others to him.

The day will come Jesus said when he will bring a sword. It will divide families, even husbands and wives. But the covenant is strong and if the wife in the family will follow the spiritual leadership of her husband in a scriptural way the unity will occur because they both seek God with all their heart. There is still some difficulty between me and other members of my family.

When persecution comes the decisions I have made in the past will make the ones I must make in the future easier. Pressures and persecution will seem trivial when compared to the Glory of Jesus. Even if I lose my life I will not deny Him.

What is most important in your witness, evangelistic work is passion. There is not light without fire. Following comfort zone course attracts no one. There is something that draws people when you sold out and abandoned? If you want to win the lost and lukewarm in your life you must do it by dogged pursuit of the Glory of God and his Son JESUS.

People flock to Caribbean Islands to bask in the light and heat of the Sun. People flock to those who radiate the light and heat of the SON.

Persistence and Patience win the day in winning the lost. Never Ever Ever Back Down! Let your light so shine before men.............

Just Do It - Get Over Your Old Religious Bad Self

This morning over coffee Peggy read to me from one of the devotionals she uses. It was timely and encouraging. There has been discussion and controversy recently among a local fellowship of believers regarding healing. This debate has been going on a long time, religion versus Jesus, this wasn't invented in the 20th century, the temple rulers picked this fight centuries ago (they still do). What Follows is from Faith to Faith by KCM ministries.

And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. –(Luke 13:14)

Religion is dangerous. Religion would rather debate about healing than see somebody healed. Religion would rather argue about deliverance than see somebody set free.

You can see an example of that in Luke 13. Jesus healed a woman who had been bowed over for 18 years. Think of it, a dear old woman--a daughter of Abraham Jesus called her--set free after being bound by the devil for nearly two decades. You'd think the temple rulers would have been rejoicing at what Jesus had done. But, no! They were angry because He'd done it on the wrong day.

Do you know what's worse? Those very same religious leaders who criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath could have ministered healing to that woman themselves on any of the other six days of the week if they'd cared enough to do it.

That's why Jesus was so indignant with them. They had the same covenant of Abraham as Jesus. But their religion had kept that woman bound instead of setting her free. It always does.

Remember that next time someone tries to get you sidetracked into a religious debate about healing or deliverance. If someone needs to be delivered from a demon, just do it! Don't get all hung up on theological questions about where the demon is.

"Is it in his body? Or his brain? Or his spirit? Or his pocket?" While you're arguing about questions like that, the demon will be driving the poor guy up the wall.

The question isn't, "Where is the demon?" The question is, "Why haven't we gotten this man delivered? He's our blood brother in the Name of Jesus and he ought to be free!"

Once you start asking that question, you won't care whether that demon is inside or outside, hovering over or sitting under. All you'll care about is getting that person free!

That's the difference between religion and the love of God. Religion argues. Love acts. Choose love today.

Prayer with a Pencil

Among the Magazines we get in our home is Guideposts. It's the publication Norman Vincent Peal founded. I think it's a gift from Peggy's Mom.

I like it. It's always got at least one redeeming article or thought. So, I glean it. There was a little piece in this months Guideposts written by John Sherrill in the Pass It On section.

If you don't know who John Sherrill is, he wrote the book, "They Speak with Other Tongues". It was a Christian Best Seller years ago. It helped non-charismatics come to some understanding of the reality experienced by those of us who are.

John Sherrill who is fairly old now, who used to be the editor of Guideposts and is now called a "Roving Editor" was talking about his time spent in the waiting room of the hospital.

What impressed me was this passage from his article:

I used to pray silently for the other patients waiting with me, but I could never stay focused.

Now I "Pray with a Pencil". I write my concerns and questions directly to God. Then I write what I believe I hear in reply. I get so involved in our intimate conversations that time flied by.

My prescription: Bring along a notepad -- and a pencil -- to your next appointment.

I began doing this 6 years ago and it changed my prayer life. I get words of encouragement, clarity, answers, insights and just plain spiritual food all by myself in the quiet time.

I recommend it. Inquire of the Lord, write it down, look at it, pray in tongues if you can for a while and then, write what you hear.

It will astound you. It does me, constantly.

Golden Boy Leaders

Growing up in North Dakota and attending Ellendale Public School I really can't relate to the whole boarding school environment. I know it happens, but I don't really understand it.

Nonetheless, when I read this LONG LONG article sent to me by a man with whom I went to School, Chuck Comstock, about political stuff I was grabbed by this excerpt of who were considered leaders in the Boarding School of the writer's day.

We all heard leadership intoned again and again at chapel, assembly, commencement, and building dedications. Wearing our school blazers and ties, sitting on folding metal chairs and listening to the headmaster (“Chief Yellow Finger” we called him, because his hands were stained from the cigarettes he smoked incessantly), we knew what leadership really meant. It had nothing to do with leading, much less with taking risks, and not at all with acting ethically. A leader was just a boy with an unusual talent for submission. A boy could win the top perch as a prefect and become an official leader just because he was preternaturally preppy or could throw a football with a tight spiral. Not even the most golden among us was capable of actual leadership.

What hit me was the part I have highlighted in RED. Leaders as people with unusual talents for submission. And the last line was most telling. And the line about taking risks (in Blue)? Just read the post a couple below this one.

Life doesn't change much when we become adults. Conformity and submission are heralded as desired leadership qualities. Fitting in matters more than forming futures. We have had Presidents like that, we have had Governors like that, and many directors of corporations fit this pattern.

It's sad when Boarding School Standards of Leadership haunt us all the days of our lives. Go along to get along. It's also shallow and immature.

If you think back to your school days, what ever happened to those "Leaders" the 8th grade English Teacher encouraged us to all emulate.

Not where that teacher thought he would end up at this stage of life I'll bet.

That's a real story.

I'll not tell it here. Some of you would know him. Some of you DO know him.

Friends Blogologically

One think I love about blogging is the good people you meet. I have met several blogwise. Some I will never see face to face on this side of the veil. I'm OK with that. A few I have met. I consider them all friends in a blogological way. I won't list them all. Most are on my blogroll. I add them as they prove out.

If we were at a party and one of my friends was there and I thought you should meet him I would introduce you. I would want to share the wealth of my friendship.

This is that.

I have only become aware of a fairly new blogger who's writings I find stimulating and refreshing. His name is Aaron Telian. He lives in Oakhurst CA. He is a young man. Late 20s or early 30s. He reads RonMac's Blessed Econonmist Blog and comments. I followed him back to his blog and liked what I saw.

I suggest to anyone who wants a good read and a fresh approach to life to take a peek at his blog. It's here.

You, Meet Aaron - Aaron, meet You.

Be sure to read his latest post on Childrens Books. It's great.

You're Welcome.

Know the NO-MAN

No I didn’t miss a letter. Not SNOWMAN, NO-MAN. I mean it intentionally. I’m talking about the person who always says NO, or not now, or “we’ll see” anything less than yes towards a fresher vision. The person who is always cautious, always negative, always naysaying, always looking for the proven way, always looking for others to take a chance before he or she will move out and take a position.

I’ll be blunt. I have zero respect for those kinds of people. I won’t mention any names, I had a coworker 20 years ago who’s only contribution or lack of it to the corporation I was vested to operate was telling me I shouldn’t do this or that, or that what I was about to do wouldn’t work, or that the strategy I was engaged in he had tried before and it failed and a hundred other things he naysaid to make himself look smart.

Meanwhile in 30 months I helped turned that company around from losing $50,000 a month to earning that much per month. He had had his chance for years before that. His timidity and fear was a straightjacket he put on the organization. Years after I left the firm he became CEO, the job I had left. He lasted less than 2 years and left in defeat. Fear and NO is a lousy way to lead.

Helen Keller, who was born deaf, dumb and blind said this, “Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

When’s the last time you heard anyone in politics, corporate leadership (public corporations) or journalism say anything close to that? We live in a culture of cowards. It’s even invaded the church. Courage is rare.

The leader who holds back everyone with his can’t do attitude does so because he is guarding himself against anything going wrong. Cowardice is perceived as a safe harbor against blame, ownership of a difficult situation and sometimes against having to do actual work.

In a former post I quoted Jared Sandberg when he wrote of this syndrome. He wrote that the NO-MAN or NO-WOMAN may be caught up in his or he sense of superiority. He would LIKE others to believe he is a perfectionist and thinks a YES would be relaxing his authority. Teresa Amabile, a professor of Business Administration at Harvard says negative feedback and holding off on things until they die is in fact that leaders use when they feel intellectually insecure.

Her study shows that some workers perceive criticisms as smarter than praise. Perpetual critics may be views as smarter than the approvers even when the circumstances and facts prove out otherwise. Some people who are born followers, she says, are hardwired to pay more attention to criticism and negative stimuli.

When I taught Dale Carnegie the FIRST rule of motivation was, Don’t Criticize, Condemn or Complain. Any fool can criticize, be negative and naysaying; and most fools are.

Naysayers deflate motivation and bring progress and productivity to a grinding halt in order to protect their egos. When management consultants do an evaluation of a corporation, they say that behind every NO is a scardy-cat.

Saying YES to anything takes risk. Risk takes Courage. Saying no requires no effort at all; even a child can do it.

The first word most infants learn is ___________. You knew that.

If I hit a nerve and you said OUCH, it’s time to grow up.