Education and Learning can lead to being Puffed up and Condescending

I was condescended to by a man I admire. He could have done better, but didn't. My feelings aren't hurt, but my opinion of him suffered. That's a pity.

I was seeking God over this issue and he pointed me to a verse we know well:

1 Corinthians 8; 1B-3 We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the man who loves God is known by God.

Father said, Knowledge, Learning, Education leads to Pride and Pride leads to a feeling of superiority, Superiority (being Puffed up) leads to condescension. Learning is good, but not everyone can handle knowledge well.

He didn't.

PS: I had someone who read this say: PHD = Permanently Head Damaged! It's just like wealth....The Gift has to come by grace and can only be maintained by the same. AMEN

One Market Guy's View on how Shaky the Economy Really is

The Prophets are warning. And secular economists are warning.

This economic "recovery" is getting really shaky. Be warned.

Read what an Uber Bear is saying.

What Apostacy Looks and Sounds like

In responses to John Piper's comments regarding the tornado in Minneapolis that tore the steeple off the church next to the convention that voted in favor of ordaining Homosexual pastors there is this response. I will just say this: if you want to see what itching ears looks like, if you want to see the face of the apostate whore church, this is that. It all seems so reasonable, so humane, so filled with love and understanding. It in reality is faithless relativism. Very sad stuff. Read it and weep. The ELCA will cease to exist as we know it today within ten years. I don't even have to be a prophet to say that. Hat Tip Dennis

I rarely take to writing to directly confront one of my "colleagues" in ministry, however, when something is written and presented that is completely off-the-charts ridiculous, I simply have to respond. I will do my best to do so in love and respect, which, it seems, my dear brother, Rev. Piper, has decided is no longer necessary.

First let me get this out of the way up front for some of you who will take offense to my taking offense at John's article. I honestly have no problem with Rev. Piper expressing his opinions concerning "homosexuality." It is a free country, and I believe in an open table of discourse. So, my response will confront John where I disagree with him, and I believe I am free to offer my opinions too.

However, what I really mean to address is his perpetuation of the ridiculous notion that God is, or would, or has ever, actually enacted vengeance upon humankind via weather, or disease, or war, or famine, etc.

Now, let me beat some of you to it... I am fully aware that the Bible has several examples of what ancients perceived as being God's retribution on humankind. Sodom, Noah, Babel, Egypt, and more. I really don't care to get into specific debate as to whether these were actual historic events, or, if they were, whether God actually caused them, or whether they were enacted for the purposes for which the ancients supposed they were. Such debate is fun, and can be informative, but, since said events cannot be proven to have actually occurred, and since, even if we could prove so, there is no way to prove that the events were caused by God, the debate ends at pure fun and speculation, or at least it does if parties in the debate are able to debate in love and respect.

What I would like to encourage, however, is that we keep in mind that all ancient cultures viewed catastrophic events in this way. Since they had no scientific knowledge of how the universe worked, they were doing their best to make sense of tragic events. Since such events were obviously from some source far greater and more powerful than themselves ancients could only make sense of them in other-worldly terms, as being from "the gods," or in the case of early Judaism, Islam and Christianity, from God. To the Greeks, Zeus, the mightiest of the gods, was the thrower of lightning, and did so to enact retribution upon humans or upon other gods with whom he was dissatisfied. Oddly, many Christians still today, perhaps somewhat "tongue-in-cheek," but still with some fear, speak of God potentially striking someone with lightning for some perceived offense. This ancient fear is still deeply embedded within our psychological selves, even though we know, scientifically, this is not probable, or even likely.

So, when I read in Rev. Piper's blog the assertion that God in effect sent a tornado to Minneapolis, MN, and caused it to settle at or near the meeting place of the National Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, in order to warn them of God's impending dissatisfaction with many in that denomination who were considering a "Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality,” I was horrified, to say the least! Piper's indication is that God's wrath was only a tornado away from wiping out all participants who might dare to vote that actively gay clergy should be ordained and allowed to serve freely in the ELCA, and that God actually caused a tornado to appear to deliver that precise warning!

Rev. Piper, I truly and honestly love you as a dear brother in Jesus Christ, and I have personally been blessed many times in the past by your writing and speaking. However, I fear that in this, quite literally silly, proclamation, you have overstepped and done great damage to your otherwise fruitful ministry in Christ. I have to counter-proclaim: this message of yours did not come from the Lord. You are out of line, and out of step, and I pray you, repent.

It is one thing to offer your best understanding of scripture perceived to deal with homosexuality, even if it differs from mine. But, to make such a bold and unwise and hateful and unjust proclamation is quite another thing altogether!

I will not address items #2 and #3 on your list, other than to simply say, I respectfully disagree. These are as of yet unsettled debates that will continue for yet some time and need not be rehashed here.

In item #1, you fail to provide reference to the particular version you quote: "nor men who practice homosexuality..." I would simply follow with this, given your demonstration of extreme fundamentalism and preference for a literal interpretation: if you hold to a literal interpretation, if this english translation is even accurate to begin with, then you must say that this applies to men only. So, apparently, women who practice homosexuality are not excluded from the Kingdom of God. Lesbians everywhere thank you for this inclusion.

In item #4, to suggest that this question asked under the breath by Jesus' disciples is somehow proof that every wind, of any type, including tornados, are caused, summoned, and directed by Jesus is quite simply ludicrous! I honestly find it downright weird that you said something like this.

In item #5, are you suggesting that Jesus' answer here indicates that He, or our Triune God, caused the tower of Siloam to fall and kill the 18 persons for some perceived offense? And that further, because Jesus did so, He also does so with all such calamities which befall humankind? Surely not, sir! The scripture in no way makes any such claim, nor does Jesus in His response. The only point I hear Jesus making is that we can never know when such calamities may occur and therefore we should all be prepared for the end of our earthly lives. I hear, implied in Jesus' response, the notion of God's allowance of natural, or otherwise, calamitous events to occur usually without God's intervention either in causation or in prevention.

Finally, in item #6, my dear brother, I can only respond with, WOW! REALLY? It is this statement/conclusion of yours that I must insist that you repent of! We can agree to disagree given our different interpretations of scripture. I may be wrong on these. I don't believe I am, but I could be. But, you could be wrong. However, as to whether God sent this tornado as a warning, let's be clear... you are absolutely wrong in this respect. There is simply no scriptural or scientific evidence that you can call upon that will support such a ridiculous suggestion! This is quite simply Falwellian fear-mongering at it's most destructive. Are you the new Jerry Falwell, my dear brother? Please say it isn't so.

You fail to mention in your blog that this same tornado also touched down in a neighborhood to the south in Minneapolis, causing great damage to homes. Did God also cause this same tornado to do this damage? If so, what do you think was the sin of the people who lived in those homes? Or, what was God trying to warn them about? Now, I'll give you this: if, in the coming days, we find that the persons who lived in those homes damaged to the south of the convention center were actually the persons who were voting pro-gay in the convention of the ELCA, I'll stand corrected and happily admit my error.

In God's Love and Grace,
Rev. Gregory M. McCaw
08-20-2009

Why I am NOT sad that Cash for Clunkers is ending

I stopped in at the Dodge dealer in our town, one that Obama hasn’t yet liquidated. They must have voted Democrat. Anyway, I pulled up to talk to the service manager, my O2 sensor was on the fritz and replacing it cured the backfire and bad acceleration.

While I was there I noticed this pickup sitting out front. An S-10. Red. With nice tires, no rust and a very nice fiberglass topper on it.

Guess what, it’s a clunker. CLUNKER? I know many who would love to have such a fine unit. But, Obamamotors needs the business I guess.

It’s headed for the bone yard. That’s my 98 Dodge pickup sitting behind it with 150,000 miles on it, it turned over today, and not fancy. But it’s a good old truck an does the job for me.

How many really good vehicles have been sacrificed on the altar of Cash for Clunkers.

One last question, where did the two billion go that the congress and Obama signed? Are they going to dribble it away on stupid stuff?

I wonder. At least that stupidity is over.

I have known of and heard of many many Miracles like this one

In the book of Acts this narrative: Acts 19:11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

Anyone who DOESN'T believe in Miracles is Unrealistic.

From: TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
08-21-2009

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" (1 Cor. 1:25).

Frank is a businessman who was flying overseas a few years ago. He had just completed a long trip and settled into his seat for a quiet return trip when the man next to him began to start up a conversation. Frank politely conversed with the man hoping it would be a brief conversation so he could rest. However, as time went on, the man began to ask more and more questions. Strangely, he seemed to be "looking for something" by the nature of his questions. Finally, the conversation turned to family and the subject of babies came up. Frank confided in the man that his daughter had been seeking to become pregnant for years without success.

The man turned to Frank and said, "That's it! I knew there was something the Lord wanted me to press in on with you, but until you said that, I was searching and searching." Frank did not even realize the man was a believer until that moment. "This may sound strange to you but God has given me a strange kind of gift to help barren women become pregnant. Whenever I pray for women, they get pregnant. May I ask you to do something rather unusual?" Frank continued to listen before committing to anything.

"I would like us to pray over this handkerchief. When you get back to your daughter I would like you to lay this handkerchief on your daughters belly and pray over it." Frank was a bit taken back by the thought, but he had seen more unusual things than this in his international travels.

Frank returned to the states and a short time later arranged a time for his daughter and her husband to come by the house. Frank felt very awkward, as he knew his son-in-law would think this was foolishness. Nevertheless, Frank proceeded to explain what had happened and they laid the handkerchief on his daughter's belly and prayed.

A few weeks passed and Frank received a phone call from his daughter. "Dad, you will never guess what has happened. I am pregnant!" she exclaimed.

The World is getting Colder and Colder... Global Warming is a Hoax

You will find this interesting. In case anyone believes in Global Warming, you will want to read this. It's all bogus.

The Hand of God comes and Removes the Cross from an ELCA Lutheran Church

I don't think it's hyperbole to say what I have said in the headline. I'll let you read the raw story from John Piper.

This is very prophetic.

Texting while driving is personal with me....I lost a nephew...18

Watch this gruesome disturbing video and then go ahead and text while driving. Cell phones are not much better.

REVOLUTIONARY CONFUSION

The Lord impressed upon me about five months ago, before these town hall meetings the potential for civil unrest, He likened it to the revolutionary war. The unrest He said was going to be motivated by what appeared to be a righteous cause but the antagonism was going to come from the self righteous. The analogy He used was the analogy from the revolutionary war of the "shot heard around the world."

I was impressed with the fact that to this day no one knows who fired the first shot. The events are confused, the motivations skewed and distorted. I was told the very self righteousness in those events cloaked the underlying motivations, the real events, hid the first shot fired.

Because of the injustice in our government the issues that would be normally apparent to the general populace are becoming more and more grey - more and more confused, heated, reactionary.

Service is the key. To serve and protect.

When greed sets precedence instead of service, the middle pillar of any Government is skewed - perception is confused. What was obvious, "self evident" like helping an old lady across the street - treating your brother fairly, takes back stage to more expedient "concerns" - thus the confusion that leads to frenzy - the ability to plan, the ability to ajudicate is lost.

I think a sign of this erosion is utter confusion, a darkened understanding - morals are hidden, obscured so people can justify a base instinct that is devoid of light.

My posting policy on comments - a reminder

I accidentally posted a couple comments today by hitting the wrong button. They were and from this corespondent are always mean spirited, nasty, demeaning and condescending.

SO, for the most part they don't pass or get published.

What's the point?

If you don't like what I wrote, I'll hear it, but if you are just trying to put words to a spirit of bitterness I won't be an enabler.

So, it's not about your comment, it's about the spirit behind it.

Please, don't hurt yourself anymore by trying to be any nastier than normal. It's like taking poison and hoping the other person will get sick and die.

Never works.

How Government Spending Hurts us ALL

Persistance doesn't ALWAYS pay

I don't think I'm going to like this much

Democrats, realizing the success of the President’s “Cash For Clunkers” rebate program, have revamped a major portion of their National Health Care Plan.

President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Sen. Reed are expected to make this major announcement at a joint news conference later this week. I have obtained an advanced copy of the proposal which is named….

“CASH FOR CODGERS” And It Works Like This…

Couples wishing to access health care funds in order to pay for the delivery of a child will be required to turn in one old person. The amount the government grants them will be fixed according to a sliding scale. Older and more prescription dependent ‘codgers’ will garner the highest amounts.

Special “Bonuses” will be paid for those submitting codgers in targeted groups, such as smokers, alcohol drinkers, persons 10 pounds over their government prescribed weight, and any member of the Republican Party.

Smaller bonuses will be given for ‘codgers’ who consume beef, soda, fried foods, potato chips, lattes, whole milk, dairy products, bacon, Brussels sprouts, or Girl Scout Cookies.

All ‘codgers’ will be rendered totally useless via toxic injection. This will insure that they are not secretly resold or their body parts harvested to keep other ‘codgers’ in repair./quote]

Maybe this will be a part of the new plan?

From Neil Bortz

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
— Abraham Lincoln

Lee Grady: Don’t Block the Flow of the Holy Ghost

We often pray for more of the Holy Spirit's anointing. But if God gives you His power, will you actually use it?

A few years ago the Lord challenged me about my level of spiritual hunger. He showed me that even though I had stood in many prayer lines and repeatedly sung the words, "Lord, I want more of You," I wasn't as passionate for Him as I thought I was.

In 1999 my church sponsored a conference on the Holy Spirit. At the close of one service I was lying on the floor near the altar asking God for another touch of His power. Several other people were kneeling at the communion rail and praying quietly for each other.

"If we truly want to be empowered we must offer God an unqualified yes. We must crucify every no."

Suddenly I began to have a vision. In my mind I could see a large pipeline, at least eight feet in diameter. I was looking at it from the inside, and I could see a shallow stream of golden liquid flowing at the bottom. The oil in the giant pipe was only a few inches deep.

I began a conversation with the Lord.

"What are You showing me?" I asked.

"This is the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life," He answered.

It was not an encouraging picture; it was pitiful! The capacity of the pipeline was huge—enough to convey tons of oil. Yet only a trickle was evident.

Then I noticed something else: Several large valves were lined up along the sides of the pipeline, and each of them was shut.

I wanted to ask the Lord why there was so little oil in my life. Instead I asked: "What are those valves, and why are they closed?"

His answer stunned me. "Those represent the times when you said no. Why should I increase the level of anointing if you aren't available to use it?"

The words stung. When had I said no to God? I was overcome with emotion and began to repent. I recalled different excuses I had made and limitations I had placed on how He could use me.

I had told Him that I didn't want to be in front of crowds because I wasn't a good speaker. I had told Him that if I couldn't preach like T.D. Jakes does, then I didn't want to speak at all. I had told Him that I didn't want to address certain issues or go certain places. I had placed so many cumbersome conditions on my obedience.

After a while I began to see something else in my spirit. It was a huge crowd of African men, assembled as if they were in a large arena. And I saw myself preaching to them.

Nobody had ever asked me to minister in Africa, but I knew at that moment I needed to surrender my will. All I could think to say was the prayer of Isaiah: "Here am I, Lord, send me." (Isa. 6:8). I told God I would go anywhere and say anything He asked. I laid my insecurities, fears and inhibitions on the altar.

Three years later I stood at a pulpit inside a sports arena in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. As I addressed a crowd of 8,000 pastors who had assembled there for a training conference, I remembered seeing their faces in that vision. And I realized that God had opened a new valve in my life that day in 1999. Because I had said yes, He had increased the flow of His oil so that it could reach thousands.

Many of us have a habit of asking for more of God's power and anointing. But what do we use it for? He doesn't send it just to make us feel good.

We love to go to the altar for a touch from God. We love the goose bumps, the shaking, the emotion of the moment. We love to fall on the floor and experience one filling after another. But I am afraid some of us are soaking up the anointing but not giving it away. Our charismatic experience has become inward and selfish. We get up off the floor and live like we want to.

Pentecost is not a party. If we truly want to be empowered we must offer God an unqualified yes. We must crucify every no. We must become a conduit to reach others; not a reservoir with no outlet.

Search your own heart today and see if there are any closed valves in your pipeline. As you surrender them, the locked channels will open and His oil will flow out to a world that craves to know He is real.

I want to be this man... No I don't...

There was a type of antihero in old movies. Scoundrels. Nasty. Mean sometimes. But amazing. Still are in Mad Men. Seen it. Too close to the bone for me.

In my memory sometimes I wonder.

Women love bad boys.... I never was really really bad....or good.

Pastor/Leaders are Vulnerable

From Blessed Economist

A pastor can only provide protection that is as good as his own. Modern Christians do not realise that the pastors/leaders they trust are extremely vulnerable to spiritual attack themselves, so they cannot provide strong protection.

Having one person as leader of a church is spiritually dangerous. Spiritual authority and protection comes through submission to authority. If one man leads a church, all the church members submit to him. This gives the pastor/leader tremendous authority, but leaves vulnerable to satanic attack and deception. In most situations where Christian groups have gone haywire, they were led by one person.

True protection comes when a group of elders all submit to each other. Each elder is accountable to the others and protected by his submission. The members of the Church are then protected by submitting to their elders.

Protection comes through submission to people close enough to see the first signs of deception or sin. For most pastor/leaders, this will not come from within their church. Their people look up to them, so most pastor/leaders have no one close enough to see their frailties and bold enough to challenge them before they make a serious mistake. Many people will disagree with a pastor/leader’s decisions, but very few will challenge a pastor/leader’s hidden sins. Those who do challenge have usually lost their credibility. There are very few people who can speak the truth to their pastor/leader in a pure spirit.

Some pastor/leaders attempt to establish spiritual protection by linking with other pastors, either in their own denomination or in the same city. This is good, but it does not provide full protection. Their commitment to their people means that they will not be able to get really close to another pastor/leader. The other pastors will not be close enough to see if any spiritual vulnerability is coming to the surface. To get an early warning of something going wrong, a person must see the pastor/leader when he is relaxed with his guard down. There are very few pastor/leaders who are secure enough, to allow a fellow pastor or church leader close enough to see into their soul.

A Good Man... and a Good Deed

The mayor of Milwaukee WI tried to intervene in a situation where a man was beating a woman.

It was a difficult deal. The mayor was beat up pretty badly and lost two front teeth.

Yet, I admire his heroic action.

It's all too rare.

Well done sir.

TOP TEN INDICATORS THAT YOUR EMPLOYER HAS CHANGED TO THE NEW HEALTHCARE PLAN

(10) Your annual breast exam is done at Hooters.
(9) Directions to your doctor’s office include “Take a left when you enter the trailer park.”
(8) The tongue depressors taste faintly of Fudgesicles.
(7) The only proctologist in the plan is “Gus” from Roto-Rooter.
(6) The only item listed under Preventive Care Coverage is “an apple a day…”
(5) Your primary care physician is wearing the pants you gave to Goodwill last month.
(4) “The patient is responsible for 200% of out-of-network charges,” is not a typographical error.
(3) The only expense covered 100% is “embalming.”
(2) Your Prozac comes in different colors with little M’s on them.
AND THE NUMBER ONE SIGN YOU’VE JOINED THE NEW HEALTHCARE PLAN
(1) You ask for Viagra and they give you a Popsicle stick and Duct Tape._._,_._

Got this by email from a friend

The Lakeland Revival in a Rearview Mirror

On August 6 of last year Todd Bentley left the Lakeland Revival. Much water under the bridge since then. I am thankful for the Revival. The world is a better place for it. I just wanted to say it publicly. Pastor Stephen Strader took a chance. ... A big chance. God rewarded. He's a rewarder. I sure would love to hear of Miracles that are manifesting still.

Which Countries in the World have Universal Healthcare?

Countries in blue have some type of universal health care. Countries in green are currently attempting to implement some type of universal health care. Orange countries have universal health coverage provided by United States war funding. Source. Click to enlarge.

Afghanistan*, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq*, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom

I wonder if God's best is a Pastor gift as leader of a church... Probaly NOT

I don't want to mess up your theology, but the Ascension gift of Pastor was Never designed to be the leader of a Church.

There is much to say about that, but you can read a pretty good exposition on this here.

I hope you do. Pastor is too much a specific gifting to be used in leading a Church.

Never Better

We were able to meet with some friends from Calvary Church today. Long long ago, far far away.

They are all much older than when I saw them last oh, say ten year ago or so.

And we haven't aged a bit.

How are you. The question again and again.

Never Better.

Not really true, but not far from true. I haven't felt this good physically in very long time. I have been working outdoors in the nursery every day for at least 4-6 hours.

I have a great tan. And I feel great.

I carried thousands of pounds, fifty pounds at a time yesterday.

I'm not even as achy as I used to be.

Never better.

OF course it's not really true that I've never been better, but I'm not complaining.