IF everyone likes you it's bad news or nobody ever kicks a dead dog

My friend Bob asked me about Luke 6:26. 

 

How terrible it will be for you when everyone says nice things about you, because that's the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets!" NIV

 

I must be a true prophet of God because this is not my experience.  I'm despised by many.

 

In a broader sense, if everyone says good things about a person and that person elicits no controversy they probably are inert in society.

 

I have often said that you lean a lot about a person by whom they are offended and who they offend.

 

I have for instance a hard time with Uber Liberals.  Bob is one but it's not personal with him.  It's the idea that they spend money and effort on meaningless things and have no capacity to do good.  Lots of energy on phony global warming caused by humans, carbon footprints, CO2 emissions, and Gay Marriage.

 

Meanwhile the world is going to hell in a hand basket.

 

I am not upset that George Bush gets lambasted.  I think they are unfair but not unexpected.  His role is not to be liked but to be right.  In that he has succeeded.

 

The universal adulation of Barak Obama worries me.  It says much about an undiscerning generation who speaks well of false prophets.

 

So, I guess getting beat up is normal and reinforces the prophetic in it's authenticity.

 

I have to be a little careful here.  I love a prophet that only says good things to me.  Sometimes that's not possible.  Sometimes I need to hear the truth about my situation.  Not everything is going to turn out perfect everytime except in a Romans 8:28 way.  Things can be redeemed but often they don't turn out the way I wish they would.  I love the people that tell me they will but I worry about it.

 

Look at what the Prophet David Wilkerson wrote.  Not that cheery.   Have a nice day if you survive is what it says.  It's hard being a prophet everyone loves.  It means you're probably not one.

Getting over Iowa

Peggy and I are off to a wedding in Lincoln.  One of her Nephews.

 

The big question was and is getting there and then all the way back. 

 

The highways are blocked, flooded or washed out.

 

Big floods.

 

Global warming strikes again.

 

So we are going cross country.  I have mapped out a route that minimizes crossing any rivers that will be flowing over any bridges or washing them away.

 

I'm sure I'm the only one who figured this out and there will be no truckers on the road.

 

HA.

 

See you Monday.

 

 

 

Measure for Measure

That's the name of a Shakespeare Play. I've seen it. Good Stuff. Dramatic ending.

BUT, Bob asked me to clarify the Luke 6:26 passage in a comment

Rather than take it on I will allow someone else who has done the work in Parallel gospel to clarify if for me.

I didn't use the Matthew 7 passage because of it's brevity. But, in clarity it is better, if you treat other people like small change, they will treat you the same way. If you are unwilling to recognize the gift of God in Others, don't be shocked if they fail to see your great and mighty anointing.

Treat others as you would want to be treated or as Jesus clearly says in Matthew 7:

1. Judge not, that you may not be judged. 2. For with what judgment you judge you shall be judged, and with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you again.

I think that's pretty clear. I'm hoping my misled young leader (not from ILLINOIS) will get this message. Start paying attention. You are going to end up in deep weeds.

Barak Obama Pesonified

21 Ways Women can meet MEN

Always in the business of trying to help the "Other" gender connect.

Here is the Dating Diva's guide to 21 ways Women can meet men.

You're Welcome.

Meeting Venus

That was the title of a little known movie about the Wagner Opera Tannhauser. Good stuff but the idea that you meet people you hope to meet and it comes up short is not an unusual one.

The Blogosphere is a bit like that.

I have had the opportunity to meet and have a beverage with a few people that are blog friends.

The distance between expectation and perceived reality is huge.

One man dreaded meeting with me, we had been at odds on several issues and got along famously when we met in person.

Another when we met we had little to say to each other.

I am always cautious. I have spoken on the phone with people with whom I correspond. Frankly I'm better with a keyboard sometimes than I am in person.

Oh, I can get up and speak but I need to think about what I'm about to say a little.

So, I hope someday to meet many of the people in the Blogosphere I have not yet met. Some I wish I hadn't. One man who will go nameless I had an image of who he was and he turned out to be much much less.

I still respect him but I find that many times mystery is better than reality.

Jesus is the only one who stuns us when we come face to face with him. Everyone else has the potential to disappoint.

The Inconvenient Gospel

A commenter in a prior post asks where in the Bible is it that Jesus says that however you sow, you reap, however you treat others is how it will come back to you.

I cautioned the person who I addressed that to. The teachings of Jesus are awfully inconvenient sometimes. This is one of those times.

However you deal with others is how they will deal with you. No man is to be a doormat but is to shake the dust off their feet and move on. It is God who's retribution in measuring out the same measure you give to others to you.

It's all inconvenient. Jesus hard teachings are sometimes the most important to pay attention to.

Luke 6

31And as you would like and desire that men would do to you, do exactly so to them.

32If you [merely] love those who love you, what ^[s]quality of credit and thanks is that to you? For even ^[t]the [very] sinners love their lovers (those who love them).

33And if you are kind and good and do favors to and benefit those who are kind and good and do favors to and benefit you, what ^[u]quality of credit and thanks is that to you? For even ^[v]the preeminently sinful do the same.

34And if you lend money ^[w]at interest to those from whom you hope to receive, what ^[x]quality of credit and thanks is that to you? Even notorious sinners lend money ^[y]at interest to sinners, so as to recover as much again.

35But love your enemies and be kind and do good [doing favors ^[z]so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but ^[aa]considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one; and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense, and abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked.

36So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these].

37Judge not [neither pronouncing judgment nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and ^[ab]release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and ^[ac]released.

38Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour ^[ad]into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.

39He further told them ^[ae]a proverb: Can a blind [man] guide and direct a blind [man]? Will they not both stumble into a ditch or a ^[af]hole in the ground?

40A pupil is not superior to his teacher, but everyone [when he is] completely trained (readjusted, restored, set to rights, and perfected) will be like his teacher.

I say again to the person to whom this is addressed, BE very very careful. You are in the balance. Don't be found wanting.

in the same measure

I have people I work with and minister with.  Some are very good to work with.  Others are so full of themselves they try to make it seem like I should be tickled pink to talk to them.

 

Still others are respectful, honoring and really good folks. 

 

Here's a tip folks.  If you disrespect and dishonor me or my giftedness I will return the same to you pressed down, shaken together and running over. 

That's the biblical thing to do.

 

Be very careful.

 

Yes this post is written to one person who is pretty well pleased with what a good and faithful servant he is.

 

He's not except in his own eyes. This is a rebuke and he will know who he is.

 

Hey guy, here's a clue, Honor given will equal Honor received.  Disdain goes both ways. Be very careful.

We've Got the Best Dad in the Whole World for Fathers Day

FATHER'S DAY IS COMING THIS WEEKEND. I watch the Lakeland Revival most every night at least in part on God TV. God is moving big there. It's going now nearly 70 days and growing. And, better it's breaking out all over the place. This looks exactly like the vision God gave me in 1996. Here it is 12 years later. Now if we can just get this release of the Spirit of God in the Fox Valley.

I have several friend who have gone to visit the revival in Lakeland. So far I have not seen fit to go. I didn't go to Pensacola or Toronto. I still enjoyed the move of God that came from that. I am thinking this is what I need to do this time. To Go. I want to be part of this. These are my people. This is who I am - this is what I do. This are the people of God I most identify with spiritually.

A couple weeks ago Rick Pino did this song. WE HAVE THE BEST DAD IN THE WHOLE WORLD..

The following week in the Church in Berwyn there was a word given of reassurance of the destiny of God being active in the members lives. Some were having personal struggles. I decided to lead this song acapella. The place erupted. This is a truth in song that is so real and so foundational that it takes people out of their comfort zone and gives them a glimpse of the Love of the Father. People were set free and went home singing the song of the best dad in the whole world.

This weekend is fathers day. If you are a pastor or a worship leader, I suggest you consider doing this in your church. If I had been in my home church this weekend I would have suggested doing this song. Look at the people enjoying the Glory of God. Why rob them of this joy?

How can anyone not enjoy this kind of freedom in worship? I hear Rick is coming to Chicagoland in the fall. I would drive to be part of this. Old, young, any age will enjoy and benefit from this kind of release of uninhibited worship.

I love the fact that he is so radical in appearance that offends the religious spirits living among us. That's what is needed. Drive those old smelly demons out. Then we can have Church.

People I would Like to Meet

I'm not a celebrity watcher. I really don't care.  But there are people I see who I think I would find interesting, even if they didn't find me interesting.

 

Angela Merkle - Germany  She seems like a very bright very competent person with humanity written all over her.  I would find her fascinating.

 

Rick Joyner - He is a Sr Spiritual Leader I would like to meet and speak with even briefly.  A rare gift to us all.

 

Carly Fiorina - She has fallen and risen and fallen again.  If McCain had gonads he would make her VP.  She's smart and takes good risks.  Old grey suits sabotaged her.

 

Maria Bartaroma - For lots of reasons.  Smart, Pretty, Insightful and lives in an amazing atmosphere.

 

Pope Benedict - I only touched one pope.  Pope John in 1966.  Benedict may be the last great Pope.  At least that's the prophecy.  I would like to meet him. 

 

There aren't many politicians I would go across the street to meet.  Certainly few entertainers.  And news people, almost none.  Spiritual leaders I know only a few that matter to me.  I find most of them weak. 

 

So, the list is short.  If you care, who would you like to meet if you could?

 

 

 

 

A visit from God

Last night I had a long series of tangible and memorable dreams and encounters with a personage of God.  I knew this personage to be the Spirit of God.  Not so much by how He looked but by His persona and Spirit of Love.

 

During the long conversation He gave me reassurances, He told me of things to come, He shared with me about a person I am concerned with and He reassured me once again how much the Father Loves me. 

 

I woke about 5AM.  Too early for me normally but I was refreshed and whole.

 

I normally have my stone roll away about 7ish.  It was a great sense of being that came from that encounter.  I was ready to roll.

 

I wish I could have that kind of visitation more often.  Many nights I have the opposite kind of Dreams.  Disturbing. 

 

When this kind of thing happens it's all grace.

 

Rick Joyner says there are four kinds of grace.

 

1. Common Grace
2. Special Grace
3. Saving Grace
4. Great Grace

 

I have experienced great grace.  TYJ   (Hat tip to Ben)

 

Water Power

Yesterday Lake Delton disappeared.  Yep.  Gone Away.  Down river. 

 

Lake Delton is the lake that the Wisconsin Dells is built around.  The water shows etc all happened on Lake Delton.  Lots of people live around what is now a large mud hole.  Because Lake Delton, and impoundment, a dam with water behind it, just disappeared.  The dam broke. 

 

Water is a powerful force.  Once it starts it is hard to stop.  The finger in the dike is an unlikely help. 

 

This means that much of the recreation surrounding the Dells is gone.

 

WOW. 

 

Sometimes mother nature and the power of water just changes everything.  I suspect that there are other old impoundments around the country that have aged and will cause people to discover the power of water.

 

On an associated note, in Southern Indiana they have had nearly 14 inches of rain.  It's all flooded out.  Whole towns under water.  Worst in history.

 

I remember the Floods of 1975 in Fargo.  I drove thru water on I-29 in June a foot deep with fish swimming along side the car on the interstate.  That was something.

 

Water is a powerful force.

 

Make it So won't Necessarily

You remember Captain Pickard's famous line.  Someone would come up with a problem, and then a solution, Pickard would say, "Make it so" and they did.  That works really well on Star Trek. 

 

He must have been working with a different class of people than I do sometimes.  

 

In my world, saying make it so is followed by:

• What do you want me to do first boss
• How am I supposed to do this
• I don't have enough (Fill in your own blank beginning with time, money, a tractor, help, dirt, whatever will keep them from working)
• I supposed to go on break now
• It's lunch time
• Who's going to help me
• I have to take a phone call (they are all broke but all have a cell phone)
• You're killing me boss

 

And if I walk away for 10 minutes I find them all keeping the topside of some chair or other sitting utensil warm with their rear ends.  On the one fellow on the crew who is a Mexican who assures me after a hard days work, "Gene, I really like to work, I do".  He's a good man, but sometimes he figures out ways to diddle away time that torments me.  I know I push hard, that's my nature.  But.......  The paychecks all clear the bank I think.

 

It's always been such, but I do envy the Captain.  I would love to say "Make it so" and they would.

Dorkyness

I guess I'm just old, there are three things I believe are really dorky.

 

ONE - Guys my age and lets say Physique who wear the spandex colored bike clothes and the silly little helmet on fancy bike.  Hey, pal, Dorky.

 

TWO - People who walk around and talk in front of you with that Bluetooth thingy in their ear.  Cyborg dorkiness.

 

THREE - People who come to church and wear their cell phone as a fashion accessory on their belt in a conspicuous position.  Who they gonna get a call from, GOD?  Dorky

 

OK, I've offended most everyone and have exhibited my age. 

 

I guess that's dorky too.