I am NOT an expert on everything. Don't pretend to be.
I am experienced in many things. That doesn't make me an expert. Except where I am.
But on the areas of expertise I don't expect deference, I do expect that people might be open to a suggestion. I try hard not to wear my expertise on my sleeve.
I note a disturbing trend. People who do NOT know what they are doing deciding they know better even when they don't. They will not take counsel. They will not hear another view.
The Bible says there is wisdom in the counsel of many. Then it depends upon whom you depend for counsel. If everyone agrees with you most of them are useless. Redundant. You need voices that will nudge from the sides and keep you on the path.
It seems like everyone is an "Expert" today. On Science Friday on NPR they talked of this.
How Junk Science interferes with real science. I think it's worse than that. People who don't know what they are doing plow ahead and never ask anyone except the guy working for eight bucks an hour at Home Depot. You can do it, we can help. No they can't.
This is all faux expertise.
I bring this up, yesterday I was with a nurseryman and advised that he would be better off taking the pots off before he planted the plants in the mulch. Never mind that I have much of a Masters in Horticulture and Botany, never mind that I have been in the industry for decades, his comment to me was, "That's just YOUR opinion".
To be clear, this is not some world beater. The is a man who is bankrupt, failed in business, been unable to make anything work, completely lost in more ways than one, this is the man who told me, "That's just YOUR opinion". OK. I'll let you fall over the edge once again.
Wisdom is in the Counsel of many. If you take NO counsel you have NO wisdom.
And make sure you are getting counsel from someone capable of counsel. If they are experts, they aren't giving opinion. That would be expertise.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
It's time to stop calling the opposition LOYAL - They are NOT
I asked a small group of friends to digitally sign a pledge of decency. I also posted the same request on a blog at Say Anything. A pledge of being an honorable Citizen of this great country. A pledge that would result in less vilification of our President whomever he or perhaps ultimately SHE will be. I said I would sign it. That, as a good friend of mine said, I will awaken November 5th 2008 to serve the KING.
Directly or indirectly I asked perhaps 30 various Obama Supporters to sign this pledge digitally:
How many Left Wing Obama Supporters would be willing to honorable and enter into a covenant of patriotism do you think. I was shocked.
NOT ONE. Zip. Nada.
I was serious. I had hopes of a few. NOPE.
I knew there were some that would not.
Then a comment on the public inquiry on this was made by a wise correspondent regarding this letting me know that Honor in Patriotism is not the left's core behavior.
I'm Surprised but not Shocked. There's Gambling going on? I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you.
A covenant like Marriage requires that both sides agree. I said I do. If they don't I can't.
That's why Last Best responded to the lack of commitment as follows:
Directly or indirectly I asked perhaps 30 various Obama Supporters to sign this pledge digitally:
No matter who becomes our next President, I will honor that person as the President of the USA. I will hold them in the proper esteem. I may not agree with the individual all the time. I may find myself at odds with the next president of the USA’s policies. But that person is MY president and as such I will not engage in the kind of rancor represented by the opposition during the last 8 years best described as Bush Derangement Syndrome. I will hold my tongue and while vigorously debating policy, will refrain from personal attacks, calling the person an idiot or other such degrading language as has been so vociferously mounted from the left against President Bush. In a few months the New President will take the oath of office and will be sworn in. We have a fresh start. I therefore Pledge to you that I will respect the President and in the event of a tragedy if it should happen I will respect without ridicule the person who will then become President during the next four years.I was quite clear that this did not preclude the capacity to ridicule. This did mean that the level of Rancor we have seen from the left in the last four years needs to dial back. And some from the right.
How many Left Wing Obama Supporters would be willing to honorable and enter into a covenant of patriotism do you think. I was shocked.
NOT ONE. Zip. Nada.
I was serious. I had hopes of a few. NOPE.
I knew there were some that would not.
Then a comment on the public inquiry on this was made by a wise correspondent regarding this letting me know that Honor in Patriotism is not the left's core behavior.
Gene,
Well, by now,given the response to your post, it should be pretty obvious these are not honorable opponents, respectful of a common heritage of decency. They are shrill, adolescent thugs for whom winning, no matter what the method or the consequences, trumps all else. They are small-minded, self-absorbed, entitlement junkies who will use any means imaginable to destroy those who oppose them and all the power of the government to steal what they can from their more industrious, more more productive fellow citizens… all in the name of “fairness” and “justice.” The only sacrifices that concern them are those they can force on the rest of us. Those who have gone before, who strove and sacrificed to give them the opportunities and the wherewithal, who made this country the greatest in history, are all but irrelevant to this vanguard of instant gratification revolutionaries.
They lie with an ease and dexterity that at times seems genetically programmed, and they are masters of vocabulary, even if they have no fluency with the mechanics of actual accomplishment. They are intemperate, impatient, and largely incapable of the reasoned exchange of ideas that marks normal political discourse. They have as much contempt for traditional liberals as they do conservatives, or anyone else who abides by the “rules” of an orderly, open, republican society. They are the product of an education based on the “revolutionary” precepts of Bill Ayers and his neo-Marxist fellow travelers, and because of that they regard all attempts at civility, reason, and respect as weaknesses to be exploited in their lust for power and other people’s wealth.
In another age, your call for honor and respect would be unnecessary, and largely redundant. With contemporary “progressives” however, your plea is pointless. Like Che Guevara, one of their revolutionary heroes, all they understand is the systematic application of sustained force.
There is little you have ever written with which I would disagree, but our shared religious precepts aside, this is not the moment to turn the other cheek. We have a legacy of opportunity handed down to us,… one which we are obliged to pass on to our children, and perhaps someday, our grandchildren.
These “progressives” are not misguided children as we might wish to think of them. They are vile ideologues who will destroy this country with their witless fervor and willful ignorance, and bankrupt and ultimately enslave all of us in the process.
From Bat.
I'm Surprised but not Shocked. There's Gambling going on? I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you.
A covenant like Marriage requires that both sides agree. I said I do. If they don't I can't.
That's why Last Best responded to the lack of commitment as follows:
Right now, in theaters everywhere, is a Hollywood movie about our president called “W”....It’s about the 200th film outta Hollywood during the last 8 yrs. that spits on our president.
MoveOn.org and Daily Kos have spent years saying every vile thing that can be imagined ‘bout our president.
MSM has attacked our president from all sides since 2000, with anti-Bush slanted news coverage so much the norm that it’s rarely even mentioned anymore. This treatment continues to this day.
And now, with what you assume will be a Obama win, ya wanna play nice?
I pledge eternal hostility to the anti-American forces within our nation that openly disdain our soldiers as they fight for US and sneers at our president as Commander In Chief as he leads US in 2 wars against an enemy that would happily slit the throat of any American they could get their hands on.
I further pledge to write, speak, vote and support any moral and legal opposition to a foreign policy of appeasement and a socialist domestic economic policy of wealth redistribution that are being promoted by Obama and the radically anti-American Democrat Party.
I guess, it's business as usual. And we are doing political business with less than honorable people.
This is a sad state of affairs in a sad country.
The Hope of the ENTIRE WORLD
I'll bet you think that reference is about Jesus, right?
NOPE
Not according to Louis Farrakhan, the man who believes all Jews are dogs and that the only pure people are the Black Muslims and that White People are descendants of the Devil.
Yes, Obama repudiated this. That makes no difference. What do you think for a second makes the difference if he does or does not. To people who are lost and want hope, what do you think makes them tick? Blindness.
You can't be a liberal and have your eyes open. You lurch ahead on blind faith. And that's what this election is all about. Blindness and faith in a false hope.
WHAT'S WORSE IS OBAMA IS NOW BELIEVING HIS OWN PRESS RELEASES:
Obama says if people will elect him
HE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD!
He is such a doofus.
NOPE
Not according to Louis Farrakhan, the man who believes all Jews are dogs and that the only pure people are the Black Muslims and that White People are descendants of the Devil.
Yes, Obama repudiated this. That makes no difference. What do you think for a second makes the difference if he does or does not. To people who are lost and want hope, what do you think makes them tick? Blindness.
You can't be a liberal and have your eyes open. You lurch ahead on blind faith. And that's what this election is all about. Blindness and faith in a false hope.
WHAT'S WORSE IS OBAMA IS NOW BELIEVING HIS OWN PRESS RELEASES:
Obama says if people will elect him
HE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD!
He is such a doofus.
Obama Vote = a Molotov Cocktail
Hat Tip Shoe Mart
My epiphany: A vote for a liberal is based on emotion, made only because of anger, lust, envy, or hero-worship. It can’t possibly be based on logic, wisdom, or a “pro/con” list.
The epiphany’s follow-up: A vote for a liberal is like tossing a Molotov cocktail: something cast without any real consideration of the consequences that will inevitably cause considerable damage.
My epiphany: A vote for a liberal is based on emotion, made only because of anger, lust, envy, or hero-worship. It can’t possibly be based on logic, wisdom, or a “pro/con” list.
The epiphany’s follow-up: A vote for a liberal is like tossing a Molotov cocktail: something cast without any real consideration of the consequences that will inevitably cause considerable damage.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Mohammad never existed, he's a fictional character
I have bad news for followers of Islam:
The stories in the writings of the times and life of Mohammad are fiction. He never lived or walked the earth. He is an imaginary figure.
The those writings are pure fantasy. Even the supposed grave of his is filled with the dead man's bones of some impostor that was placed there a hundred years after his death.
The story of his life and deeds are all fictional.
Even the writings of the Koran are phony and written by others, not Mohammad.
There is no proof anywhere other than some books that he ever existed. He's a fraud. People that follow his religion are following a cruel fairy tale.
Now to my Muslim Brothers, please read on:
I know better. I just wanted to point out the fallacy of people who believe the very things I just said regarding Mohammad about Jesus. Even Followers of Mohammad believe in Jesus. In fact, the grave Mohammad is buried in has an empty tomb next to it that is supposed to be occupied by Jesus someday.
I would say to anyone who doesn't believe Jesus ever walked the earth to ask themselves, How does anyone believe Mohammad walked the earth. The evidence is the same. Precisely.
People lived, died, fought, were martyred who knew him, Both of them. Why would you die for a fraud? How dumb can you be and still breath.
Jesus Lived and Died. The only difference between Jesus and Mohammad is Jesus is STILL ALIVE and is LORD OF ALL.
Mohammad is dead and will stand before Jesus someday as he sits on the throne in Heaven.
So will we all.
The stories in the writings of the times and life of Mohammad are fiction. He never lived or walked the earth. He is an imaginary figure.
The those writings are pure fantasy. Even the supposed grave of his is filled with the dead man's bones of some impostor that was placed there a hundred years after his death.
The story of his life and deeds are all fictional.
Even the writings of the Koran are phony and written by others, not Mohammad.
There is no proof anywhere other than some books that he ever existed. He's a fraud. People that follow his religion are following a cruel fairy tale.
Now to my Muslim Brothers, please read on:
I know better. I just wanted to point out the fallacy of people who believe the very things I just said regarding Mohammad about Jesus. Even Followers of Mohammad believe in Jesus. In fact, the grave Mohammad is buried in has an empty tomb next to it that is supposed to be occupied by Jesus someday.
I would say to anyone who doesn't believe Jesus ever walked the earth to ask themselves, How does anyone believe Mohammad walked the earth. The evidence is the same. Precisely.
People lived, died, fought, were martyred who knew him, Both of them. Why would you die for a fraud? How dumb can you be and still breath.
Jesus Lived and Died. The only difference between Jesus and Mohammad is Jesus is STILL ALIVE and is LORD OF ALL.
Mohammad is dead and will stand before Jesus someday as he sits on the throne in Heaven.
So will we all.
What's Wrong with this Picture?
I was on the road yesterday. I drove to Iowa. Dubuque area. At 4PM I bought Gasoline. The picture of the BP station sign is here. Regular Gas, 2.79. Then I drove back to St. Charles.
I stopped at the BP station in St Charles when I got home. Saw this sign below. Same day. A hundred miles and one state. Pay no attention to the date on the bottom of the picture. My camera is misset. Same company. Same Gasoline. Probably same tanker. Why? Taxes? Maybe 20 cents. NOPE, they charge these crazy prices in Chicagoland for Gasoline for one reason ONLY - BECAUSE THEY CAN.
THIS PICTURE IS ALL WRONG! Impeach the whole darn state's leadership. Crooks the LOT of them.
I stopped at the BP station in St Charles when I got home. Saw this sign below. Same day. A hundred miles and one state. Pay no attention to the date on the bottom of the picture. My camera is misset. Same company. Same Gasoline. Probably same tanker. Why? Taxes? Maybe 20 cents. NOPE, they charge these crazy prices in Chicagoland for Gasoline for one reason ONLY - BECAUSE THEY CAN.
THIS PICTURE IS ALL WRONG! Impeach the whole darn state's leadership. Crooks the LOT of them.
The God Trump
Walking in ministry, many times I hear people say, "God told me to do this or that, or God has instructed me to take this action". " I must do this thing, because it's God's will".
OK, I get that. I don't even doubt you. That's between you and God. Who am I to say?
But, please, don't expect me to necessarily comport my behavior to yours because you heard from God in some area. If God told you to move to Africa and he didn't mention it to me, you go on ahead without me. If I hear anything different for me I'll let you know.
People have done some pretty bizarre things because they thought God told them to. Mostly he didn't. They just thought so.
What really is interesting when someone comes to me and says, " God told me to pack up and move to Africa, what do you think?"
You have to think that one over for a second. God told you. Now you ask Mr Gene? What's up with that? If God told you and you are certain, then I guess you have to do it. Asking me if I agree with God or not is a losing proposition for me. And, I'm not going to try to talk you out of or into anything. I'll be good counsel until you pull out the God Trump.
If you however say, I believe I may be hearing the tug of God on me in this area and would like you to pray with me, I'm up with that. We'll pray.
Where most people use the God Trump is when they come into conflict with leadership. If I'm leading a church and you come to me and tell me God has told you to do something and it doesn't conform with the vision I have for that Church given me by God, one of us is wrong. In this case, that would be YOU. If what you have been given by God is out of line with the vision God gave me, then that will result in DIVISION. Two visions.
If however you come to me with something God has given you and it meshes with the Vision God has given me, then by all means, let's do it. You and I have heard the voice of the Master in unison. If it isn't in line with the Vision God gave me, I don't care how much you think you heard the voice of God, I don't care if he gave it to you in triplicate notarized by himself, we aren't doing it unless I hear it and reform my vision. If God has called you to this, then you should go do it. Just don't try to do it in the House of Sheep over which I have responsibility.
Playing the GOD TRUMP won't sway me. It's all about order. I'm big on order. Do what God has called you to do as long as we stay in unity, but if we're not and you feel somehow I've missed it, then you have a decision to make regarding your further participation in our fellowship.
Make it. Don't bother with the God trump card. It won't work.
OK, I get that. I don't even doubt you. That's between you and God. Who am I to say?
But, please, don't expect me to necessarily comport my behavior to yours because you heard from God in some area. If God told you to move to Africa and he didn't mention it to me, you go on ahead without me. If I hear anything different for me I'll let you know.
People have done some pretty bizarre things because they thought God told them to. Mostly he didn't. They just thought so.
What really is interesting when someone comes to me and says, " God told me to pack up and move to Africa, what do you think?"
You have to think that one over for a second. God told you. Now you ask Mr Gene? What's up with that? If God told you and you are certain, then I guess you have to do it. Asking me if I agree with God or not is a losing proposition for me. And, I'm not going to try to talk you out of or into anything. I'll be good counsel until you pull out the God Trump.
If you however say, I believe I may be hearing the tug of God on me in this area and would like you to pray with me, I'm up with that. We'll pray.
Where most people use the God Trump is when they come into conflict with leadership. If I'm leading a church and you come to me and tell me God has told you to do something and it doesn't conform with the vision I have for that Church given me by God, one of us is wrong. In this case, that would be YOU. If what you have been given by God is out of line with the vision God gave me, then that will result in DIVISION. Two visions.
If however you come to me with something God has given you and it meshes with the Vision God has given me, then by all means, let's do it. You and I have heard the voice of the Master in unison. If it isn't in line with the Vision God gave me, I don't care how much you think you heard the voice of God, I don't care if he gave it to you in triplicate notarized by himself, we aren't doing it unless I hear it and reform my vision. If God has called you to this, then you should go do it. Just don't try to do it in the House of Sheep over which I have responsibility.
Playing the GOD TRUMP won't sway me. It's all about order. I'm big on order. Do what God has called you to do as long as we stay in unity, but if we're not and you feel somehow I've missed it, then you have a decision to make regarding your further participation in our fellowship.
Make it. Don't bother with the God trump card. It won't work.
Double Bottom Market
I know that's a technical term in the market. This is not about that. This is about what happens when sentiment changes.
It's changing. This happened today.
My best friend who has some extra money in a bank account decided after many years out of the market except thru mutual funds, he decided to open a trading account. He went to the local ScottTrade office. They took his money.
He traded. Bought some stock he feels like is at the bottom of it's market value.
After making his transaction he visited with the manager of the local office. He opined that business must be pretty bad right now. NOPE said the office manager. Never better.
He said that in a normal week they open 15 new accounts. They are opening 35 a week right now. He said that in a normal day in the past "Bull Market" that they did perhaps 400 trades in a good day. They are now doing over 700 per day.
People are coming in with money in hand and buying stocks. It makes me wonder. Maybe we are seeing the decline of the hedge fund guys, the mutual fund traders, the professionals and the emergence of people who just believe America will get better and are willing to take positions on their own without benefit of counsel.
I think this will auger very well in the long run. It might be time to get the mega traders out and put the people back in. I don't know.
It seems encouraging to me.
It's changing. This happened today.
My best friend who has some extra money in a bank account decided after many years out of the market except thru mutual funds, he decided to open a trading account. He went to the local ScottTrade office. They took his money.
He traded. Bought some stock he feels like is at the bottom of it's market value.
After making his transaction he visited with the manager of the local office. He opined that business must be pretty bad right now. NOPE said the office manager. Never better.
He said that in a normal week they open 15 new accounts. They are opening 35 a week right now. He said that in a normal day in the past "Bull Market" that they did perhaps 400 trades in a good day. They are now doing over 700 per day.
People are coming in with money in hand and buying stocks. It makes me wonder. Maybe we are seeing the decline of the hedge fund guys, the mutual fund traders, the professionals and the emergence of people who just believe America will get better and are willing to take positions on their own without benefit of counsel.
I think this will auger very well in the long run. It might be time to get the mega traders out and put the people back in. I don't know.
It seems encouraging to me.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
A Pastor's View on Sexual Purity for People in Ministry
Sexual Purity in Ministry
October 15th, 2008 by Carl Thomas.At times, it seems that God puts His finger on something and then everywhere you look you see it. In the last couple of weeks I have seen God pointing out sexual purity among ministers. You hear lots of ministers talk about purity in the singles but God seems to be challenging the ministers directly.
John Piper summed up Jesus’ thoughts in Matthew 5:28-29 by stating
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
If you don’t fight lust you won’t go to heaven.
Pretty sobering thought.
Perry Noble has a post today that is titled, Hey Pastors, Keep It in Your Pants. In it, he pleads with pastors to deal with their lust issues now instead of after their ministry is destroyed. While the post is a little crass, here is a great excerpt
Pastors…I am NOT a legalist…except for this subject! We simply CANNOT allow the enemy to steal our calling, kill God’s work and destroy our families simply because we began thinking between our legs and not between our ears!
My advice…take RADICAL steps. Make a committment to NEVER be alone with a woman! EVER…under ANY circumstances. Form a relationship with a godly man whom you trust and talk about your struggles…every single one of them. Pastors–we’ve GOT to stop trying to impress others with how “godly we are!” HONESTY paves the way to INTIMACY with GOD…and the reason a lot of pastors don’t feel a connection with the ALMIGHTY is because they are too busy trying to “connect” with a willing woman…BUT denying that they have the desire to do so!!!
Hey Perry, how do you really feel?
My wife recently reminded me that there is an attractive quality about the preacher with the microphone. I am no model, but the anointing is beautiful and attracts people. I have a bunch of folks in my little ministry that came from a church that fell apart after it was found out that the pastor was having relations with several women. What a shame. I am asking God to search my heart and purify me. But it can’t stop there.
Pastors I have a challenge for you. Ask your wife if she is ucomfortable with any of your relationships. Ask your leaders if they think there are any blind spots in your relationships with women. Let God, the devil, and everyone in between know that you are not going to be lulled to sleep in this issue. Then don’t be offended when you get honest answers you were not ready for. Thank the Lord you found out while you can still deal with it.
Too Fast - Too Far - Too Much Already
As a trader of stocks and commodities for the last 30 years and having worked in the commodity markets CME and CBOT in downtown Chicago in data and analysis of trends, I see one I don't like.
Crude Oil dropping too fast, too far and without reason. I railed against high prices when everyone was talking about 200 crude in July. I laughed at them. Said again and again there were no fundamentals in the market to hold at that price.
Now it's the opposite. Dollar weakness, low demand, weak economy, Gold stronger, production stable, the fundamentals demand a higher price than this.
I don't like it. Perhaps it's just an overreaction. Think about it, if you were nervous about your money and wanted to park it with low risk wouldn't OIL be a good place to go if it's relatively low?
Why does it continue to drift lower? I am going to get the charts out and see if I can find out why. It broke thru some support it shouldn't have. Markets shouldn't break rules.
I'll let you know. There is a disturbance in the force.
Crude Oil dropping too fast, too far and without reason. I railed against high prices when everyone was talking about 200 crude in July. I laughed at them. Said again and again there were no fundamentals in the market to hold at that price.
Now it's the opposite. Dollar weakness, low demand, weak economy, Gold stronger, production stable, the fundamentals demand a higher price than this.
I don't like it. Perhaps it's just an overreaction. Think about it, if you were nervous about your money and wanted to park it with low risk wouldn't OIL be a good place to go if it's relatively low?
Why does it continue to drift lower? I am going to get the charts out and see if I can find out why. It broke thru some support it shouldn't have. Markets shouldn't break rules.
I'll let you know. There is a disturbance in the force.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
This is an INSULT FREE ZONE and I intend to keep it that way
I began to moderate comments some time back. I'm glad I did. The number of just plain idiotic insults is beyond belief. From supposed Christians. Most of which I question I'll even see in Heaven. Of course I could be surprised. I doubt it.
It causes me to ask:
That's all there is to that. If you write a stupid comment, I will most likely delete it.
On the other hand if it has a fragment of rational inquiry or addition it will be posted. The rest,
FLUSH!
It causes me to ask:
- Why read this blog
- Why bother to comment if you know it won't pass
- You can't hurt my feelings, I am really thick skinned
- So, if you don't like it, stay away
That's all there is to that. If you write a stupid comment, I will most likely delete it.
On the other hand if it has a fragment of rational inquiry or addition it will be posted. The rest,
FLUSH!
Gehazi's Price is TOO HIGH
There's a story in the Bible, Old Testament. Gehazi is a servant of Elisha. He's not mentioned much. Three times in Second Kings.
Once when he is sent to minister healing to the Shulamite woman at the death of a promised son. 2 Kings 4:27-31
In the story it appears that something is missing in Gehazi's spiritual life. He does not complete the task that Elisha gives him. The boy stays dead until Elisha intervenes.
The more telling story is the time when Naaman comes to Elisha for healing. After some consternation Naaman is healed. You can read this great story here: 2 Kings 5. It's a great story. Naaman is insulted that he doesn't get curb service, but after being healed wants to pay. Elisha will take nothing for his gift. It wasn't his to sell.
Then, after Naaman leaves, Gehazi takes out after him. Chases him down and asks for a donation. Naaman is happy to give. He came prepared to give. He gives.
Gehazi feels like he has skinned the fat calf. Goes back to Elisha. Elisha quizzes his servant, Gehazi on what is going on. Gehazi doesn't exactly LIE, he just adjusts the truth a bit.
Elisha says to Gehazi that what left Naaman will now settle on you. We don't hear again from Gehazi until Chapter 8. He somehow seems to be restored and is asked by the King to share all the great deeds of Elisha. Elisha is still alive it appears. Gehazi seems to be somehow relieved of the curse of Leprosy.
There is a point to the whole story. First, sometimes the only one who can accomplish the will of God in a thing is a called man, an apostle, a prophet. The sent servant can, but he must have the same mantle. Gehazi didn't.
In the second story, living off the overflow of another's gift will only cause you pain and suffering. That's what Gehazi experienced. He was trying to benefit, to profit from the prophet.
In the third story in Chapter 8 it appears as though Gehazi got it. Perhaps that's why he was healed.
The message for today is you cannot borrow an anointing. It must be your own. If you try to profit from it you will bring curses back on yourself. God is very clear that he will not share his glory with any man.
And last, you can be restored to the kings court IF you give glory and honor where it is due.
It's a price being a servant of the Most High God. He will not share his glory, he expects you to walk in full authority and he will bring you to heights if you honor Him alone.
That's true even of Gifted men and women of God. God has no grandkids. He expects each to be who they are in him. If we try to ride coat tails we fail.
Find good men and women of God and serve them without glory to yourself and you will never be cursed. As soon as you try to profit from it you will fail.
Once when he is sent to minister healing to the Shulamite woman at the death of a promised son. 2 Kings 4:27-31
In the story it appears that something is missing in Gehazi's spiritual life. He does not complete the task that Elisha gives him. The boy stays dead until Elisha intervenes.
The more telling story is the time when Naaman comes to Elisha for healing. After some consternation Naaman is healed. You can read this great story here: 2 Kings 5. It's a great story. Naaman is insulted that he doesn't get curb service, but after being healed wants to pay. Elisha will take nothing for his gift. It wasn't his to sell.
Then, after Naaman leaves, Gehazi takes out after him. Chases him down and asks for a donation. Naaman is happy to give. He came prepared to give. He gives.
Gehazi feels like he has skinned the fat calf. Goes back to Elisha. Elisha quizzes his servant, Gehazi on what is going on. Gehazi doesn't exactly LIE, he just adjusts the truth a bit.
Elisha says to Gehazi that what left Naaman will now settle on you. We don't hear again from Gehazi until Chapter 8. He somehow seems to be restored and is asked by the King to share all the great deeds of Elisha. Elisha is still alive it appears. Gehazi seems to be somehow relieved of the curse of Leprosy.
There is a point to the whole story. First, sometimes the only one who can accomplish the will of God in a thing is a called man, an apostle, a prophet. The sent servant can, but he must have the same mantle. Gehazi didn't.
In the second story, living off the overflow of another's gift will only cause you pain and suffering. That's what Gehazi experienced. He was trying to benefit, to profit from the prophet.
In the third story in Chapter 8 it appears as though Gehazi got it. Perhaps that's why he was healed.
The message for today is you cannot borrow an anointing. It must be your own. If you try to profit from it you will bring curses back on yourself. God is very clear that he will not share his glory with any man.
And last, you can be restored to the kings court IF you give glory and honor where it is due.
It's a price being a servant of the Most High God. He will not share his glory, he expects you to walk in full authority and he will bring you to heights if you honor Him alone.
That's true even of Gifted men and women of God. God has no grandkids. He expects each to be who they are in him. If we try to ride coat tails we fail.
Find good men and women of God and serve them without glory to yourself and you will never be cursed. As soon as you try to profit from it you will fail.
Hot Stuff - Sorta
You Are Hot Sauce |
 You are the life of any party, because you're so good at bringing people out of their shell. You have a knack for helping people happily embrace their true selves. You are ambitious, driven, and fearless. You love taking risks. Your taste in food is 100% adventurous. You're up for sampling any exotic cuisine or someone's kitchen experiments. You live for trying new things, and you get sick of eating the same food (even if it's very delicious). |
Obama's Economic Plan - Stupid in More Way's than You can Count, He can't
Liberals have always been bad at economics. That's why they are liberals.
A week ago Barack Hussein Obama called together his best and brightest economic advisers and told them he wanted to have a plan on his desk to announce some broad wide sweeping inspirational economic plan.
He did. Yikes!
If that's what we are going to get for Obamanomics in the future we better all learn to eat dog food.
This is just an example of what the Obama plans for America are. Worse, his supporters are so unschooled in economics they actually believe this. These people are the same folks who brought us the economic collapse of the last year. The same people who helped drive up the price of Oil. The same people who destroyed Fannie and Freddie. The same people who now have ushered in uber socialism in America.
Using debt to solve a debt problem.
I won't even try to outline the stupidity of the proposals Obama is making. They are beyond belief in their level of ignorance. Steve Forbes shakes his head.
If Obama becomes president kiss the country you loved goodbye and prepare to enter hell. Like Dante - Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.
A week ago Barack Hussein Obama called together his best and brightest economic advisers and told them he wanted to have a plan on his desk to announce some broad wide sweeping inspirational economic plan.
He did. Yikes!
If that's what we are going to get for Obamanomics in the future we better all learn to eat dog food.
This is just an example of what the Obama plans for America are. Worse, his supporters are so unschooled in economics they actually believe this. These people are the same folks who brought us the economic collapse of the last year. The same people who helped drive up the price of Oil. The same people who destroyed Fannie and Freddie. The same people who now have ushered in uber socialism in America.
Using debt to solve a debt problem.
I won't even try to outline the stupidity of the proposals Obama is making. They are beyond belief in their level of ignorance. Steve Forbes shakes his head.
If Obama becomes president kiss the country you loved goodbye and prepare to enter hell. Like Dante - Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.
Voting Against Their Interest
Last night I went to the Opera. Pearl Fishers by Bizet. Great music.
Lousy story.
BUT,
The number of people who were wearing Obama buttons during the intermissions. I didn't see one McCain button.
A couple thoughts. Being an opera goer is not cheap. It costs for a box seat several hundred dollars for ONE NIGHT. I don't have a box seat but that gives you an idea.
People who attend must have made, inherited or married money to be part of this extravaganza. It costs. So, voting for Obama is voting against your self interest if you have money. I understand a poverty driven vote. Free money.
I don't get this. My suspicion is it's a white guilt driven vote. A vote of I have so much, and it's not fair. Particularly if a person inherited or married it. I can't imagine a person who actually created wealth by owning a business voting for Obama. Most don't.
Yet, in my neighborhood no one I know (except my neighbor across the street who's an old union guy) admits to voting for Obama. I see Obama signs but they are like a sore thumb in sticking out in Kane County. In fact other than a few old friends, almost no one I know is voting Obama this year. No one.
I live in a very different world from the folks who are Obama supporters. I suspect they would see my world as strange too. That's what made last night so weird.
Yes there have been a few McCain signs but for the most part they are torn down or destroyed by the left wing brownshirts. I suspect that is why we didn't see any McCain buttons last night.
The McCain voters are there. They just don't want to be treated like McCain supporters were treated in New York. What is really informative is that the number of PhD's per square mile in the area thru which these marchers marched is higher than anywhere in the USA. Yet see how the Hateful, narrow minded bigoted, "enlightened" liberals verbally attack. There is something inversely proportional it appears in academia when it comes to politics. The higher the degree the more liberal and intolerant you are required to be.
What is most interesting to me is how Obama is all about peace and love and change. His supporters are all about intimidation, anger, vilification, crudity and generally downright fascist techniques. What bothers me most about all this is the police state Marxist world we are all being marched into by this group of thugs.
They are deranged. Even Howard Stern has Finlay come out and said that Obama supporters have no idea what they are for or against. This is all brainless cult following.
I will blog against the Thugocracy until they silence free speech on my blog as I imagine talk radio continue until under the guise of the fairness doctrine it will be outlawed before.
Free speech is lost forever if Obama wins.
Welcome the socialist thugocracy of Obama. Formerly known as the USA.
Lousy story.
BUT,
The number of people who were wearing Obama buttons during the intermissions. I didn't see one McCain button.
A couple thoughts. Being an opera goer is not cheap. It costs for a box seat several hundred dollars for ONE NIGHT. I don't have a box seat but that gives you an idea.
People who attend must have made, inherited or married money to be part of this extravaganza. It costs. So, voting for Obama is voting against your self interest if you have money. I understand a poverty driven vote. Free money.
I don't get this. My suspicion is it's a white guilt driven vote. A vote of I have so much, and it's not fair. Particularly if a person inherited or married it. I can't imagine a person who actually created wealth by owning a business voting for Obama. Most don't.
Yet, in my neighborhood no one I know (except my neighbor across the street who's an old union guy) admits to voting for Obama. I see Obama signs but they are like a sore thumb in sticking out in Kane County. In fact other than a few old friends, almost no one I know is voting Obama this year. No one.
I live in a very different world from the folks who are Obama supporters. I suspect they would see my world as strange too. That's what made last night so weird.
Yes there have been a few McCain signs but for the most part they are torn down or destroyed by the left wing brownshirts. I suspect that is why we didn't see any McCain buttons last night.
The McCain voters are there. They just don't want to be treated like McCain supporters were treated in New York. What is really informative is that the number of PhD's per square mile in the area thru which these marchers marched is higher than anywhere in the USA. Yet see how the Hateful, narrow minded bigoted, "enlightened" liberals verbally attack. There is something inversely proportional it appears in academia when it comes to politics. The higher the degree the more liberal and intolerant you are required to be.
What is most interesting to me is how Obama is all about peace and love and change. His supporters are all about intimidation, anger, vilification, crudity and generally downright fascist techniques. What bothers me most about all this is the police state Marxist world we are all being marched into by this group of thugs.
They are deranged. Even Howard Stern has Finlay come out and said that Obama supporters have no idea what they are for or against. This is all brainless cult following.
I will blog against the Thugocracy until they silence free speech on my blog as I imagine talk radio continue until under the guise of the fairness doctrine it will be outlawed before.
Free speech is lost forever if Obama wins.
Welcome the socialist thugocracy of Obama. Formerly known as the USA.
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Power of Transparency
Last night in Church Pastor Marla spoke of the difficulty that she and her husband have had in business. She spoke on Righteousness, what it means, what it looks like how it manifests in her life.
I won't outline it here. It was excellent.
It was transparent. It was open. Unassuming. Real. Painful.
In my life I have had a few mentor relationships that have carried me thru difficult times. After I was saved I developed a deep enduring relationship with Pastor Dan. Till the day he died. I was close to Pastor Schmidgall, till the day he died. To this day I watch the extended family of Pastor Don Lyon and watch them live life in Jesus.
All of these great men of God in my life have had one thing in common. Pain. They never hid it. They never pretended to be something other than what they were.
The transparency they showed didn't make me think less of them, it let me see the life of faith walked out every day. A pattern for me to follow.
In the IPHC fellowship is Ron Carpenter Jr. A large church. I watch him on TV when I can. He is as transparent as anyone I have ever seen. If I lived near him I would attend his church. His transparency attracts me.
When I was training to become a Pastor (a failed attempt, I am NOT a Pastor, I am a Prophet) one of the admonitions given in literature and in counsel was to remain nontransparent. Be careful what you share with people. They will judge you for your weakness. Some of that is true. The ability to mark who can hurt you is important. Paul the Apostle said we should mark them. But, for me, the transparency,the tears, the joys, the failure, the victory, the gains, the losses and YET Jesus is Lord in all of that gives me great assurance. Even as I was called up to the Platform to share a word, I did so in tears. Pain. And the people received assurance of the goodness of God. A word given in tears destroys pretense.
Peggy reminded me that we are that transparent life lived out in front of others. That we are the ones who by our lives say "follow me as I follow Jesus". That people watch us and are modeling their lives by what they see us say and do. How we live our lives.
Part of me wants to say no. Part of me wants to say I'm not worthy. Don't follow me, My life isn't that together.
Then I look at Pastor Dan, Pastor Schmidgall, Pastor Lyon, Pastor Marla and many other good men and women of God I admire and with confidence can say to those to watch my life as I have watched their living epistle:
FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW JESUS.
And I will be transparent. It's hard. But it's essential. People are watching.
I won't outline it here. It was excellent.
It was transparent. It was open. Unassuming. Real. Painful.
In my life I have had a few mentor relationships that have carried me thru difficult times. After I was saved I developed a deep enduring relationship with Pastor Dan. Till the day he died. I was close to Pastor Schmidgall, till the day he died. To this day I watch the extended family of Pastor Don Lyon and watch them live life in Jesus.
All of these great men of God in my life have had one thing in common. Pain. They never hid it. They never pretended to be something other than what they were.
The transparency they showed didn't make me think less of them, it let me see the life of faith walked out every day. A pattern for me to follow.
In the IPHC fellowship is Ron Carpenter Jr. A large church. I watch him on TV when I can. He is as transparent as anyone I have ever seen. If I lived near him I would attend his church. His transparency attracts me.
When I was training to become a Pastor (a failed attempt, I am NOT a Pastor, I am a Prophet) one of the admonitions given in literature and in counsel was to remain nontransparent. Be careful what you share with people. They will judge you for your weakness. Some of that is true. The ability to mark who can hurt you is important. Paul the Apostle said we should mark them. But, for me, the transparency,the tears, the joys, the failure, the victory, the gains, the losses and YET Jesus is Lord in all of that gives me great assurance. Even as I was called up to the Platform to share a word, I did so in tears. Pain. And the people received assurance of the goodness of God. A word given in tears destroys pretense.
Peggy reminded me that we are that transparent life lived out in front of others. That we are the ones who by our lives say "follow me as I follow Jesus". That people watch us and are modeling their lives by what they see us say and do. How we live our lives.
Part of me wants to say no. Part of me wants to say I'm not worthy. Don't follow me, My life isn't that together.
Then I look at Pastor Dan, Pastor Schmidgall, Pastor Lyon, Pastor Marla and many other good men and women of God I admire and with confidence can say to those to watch my life as I have watched their living epistle:
FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW JESUS.
And I will be transparent. It's hard. But it's essential. People are watching.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
When Church People LIE
I lifted this from Carl Thomas who lifted it from Perry Noble. It's pretty good and if you are a Pastor or Church Leader you will get this:::
One of the lessons I’ve learned while being in the ministry for the past 17 years is sometimes what people say isn’t exactly true…things such as…
(WARNING…you will probably only like this post if you are a pastor or a staff member of a church!)
What They Say: “I’m looking for a church that preaches the Word!”
What They Mean: “I’m looking for a church that preaches MY view of the Word. I think the BLANK translation should be used…I think BLANK should be talked about a lot while BLANK should be ignored. And if you ever stop preaching my view of the Word I will leave and tell others that you don’t preach the Word!”
What They Say: “Lot’s of people have been coming to me and saying they don’t like is…”
What They Mean: “I basically only have three friends…and all of them think exactly like me. The other night we were enjoying a time of self righteousness because, after all, we are right about everything…and were also slandering you (in the form of prayer requests) and thought it would be wise to approach you with our pet peeve. We’ve actually talked to no one else about this but said “lots” because we wanted to validate our dysfunction.”
What They Say: “I’m leaving the church.”
What They Mean: “Beg me to stay. If you will just ask me I will share with you several ways you can compromise God’s vision that He’s given you, thus becoming nothing more than a people pleasing pastor who is more interested in popularity than obedience. If you don’t bow to my demands I will remind you that I tithe and that the church needs my money, reducing you to a mere preaching whore…one who is paid for a service for the pleasure of another person.”
What They Say: “I want a church that is more focused on discipleship.”
What They Mean: “I want a church where everyone knows me and how important I am! I don’t want to reach people who are different from me, be it economic class or race or even musical preference. I already know WAY more than I do…but I somehow equate spirituality with knowledge rather than application and I rather enjoy feeling intellectually superior to those who don’t know as much as me.”
What They Say: “Don’t take this personally…but…”
What They Mean: “I am about to lower the BOOM on you…but you can’t get angry because I told you not to take it personally. Even though you have dedicated your life to this and pretty much invest every ounce of energy you have to this cause…and I think about it once or twice a week…you need to receive my attacks, even when they are personal…and you cannot retaliate because, remember, it’s not personal.”
OKAY, that was fun! I typed it all with a smile. Trust me…I’m not mad or frustrated with anyone…I just thought a pastor or two MIGHT get a smile out of this. 
This is just me, but in my years in ministry I have heard all of this. So have you. I guess we are just supposed to smile and take it. I don't want to. BUT, let them go. They are only there to torment you.
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