The Essence of Evangelism – Greater Light

We have so far explored the question of what evangelism is or isn’t. We have asked the question of how does one know that an evangelist is doing what he is called to do.

Now, it’s time to get down to brass tacks. What does true versus false evangelism look like?

I have a few biblical foundational verses for you. First let's just be radical for a moment and see what JESUS says about who he wants to concentrate on:

• Matthew 19:14 - But Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them: for to such as these belongs the kingdom of heaven.
• Mark 10:14 - But when Jesus saw it, he was very displeased, and said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them: for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
• Luke 18:16 - But Jesus called them to him, and said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them: for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
• Matthew 21:16 - And said to him, Do you hear what these say? And Jesus said to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouths of children and nursing infants you have brought perfect praise?
• Matthew 18:5 - And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receives me.
• Mark 9:37 - Whoever shall receive one child such as this in my name, receives me: and whoever shall receive me, does not receive me, but him who sent me.
• Luke 9:48 - And said to them, Whoever shall receive this child in my name receives me: and whoever shall receive me receives him who sent me: for he who is least among you, that one shall be great.
• Matthew 18:6 - But whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him that a great millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.
• Mark 9:42 - And whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
• Matthew 18:10 - Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I say to you, That in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
• Matthew 18:14 - In the same way, it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
• Matthew 18:3 - And said, Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted, and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 18:4 - Therefore, whoever shall humble himself as this little child, he is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
• Mark 10:15 - Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter it at all.
• Luke 18:17 - Truly I say to you, Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall by no means enter it.

Evangelism is best exercised and most effective when the children are reached young. The world ,the flesh and the devil are doing all they can to evangelize the little ones via the media, advertising, public school and music. The church owes nothing less than all it can give in effort toward bringing little children to Jesus. I won’t rehearse all the statistics about a child coming to Jesus, or Bible passages about raising up a child etc. I will say this, that unless the passion of a Church and of a Christian is any less than working hard and harder to see to it little children get grounded and sealed at the earliest age possible everything else we do as Christians is doubly difficult, expensive and mostly ineffective.

Then, once we have done what we can till the child is 10-13 years old, we must do what we can to disciple them, ground them, fire them for Jesus, see them filled with the Holy Spirit. We must do everything possible to see to it the great commission takes place in the lives of these young ones the Devil is trying to strip away from Jesus.

By the time that child grows to 18 or 20 years old the pattern of the next several years of that child’s life is set, for good or bad; Toward or away from Jesus.

They go away to College or work, get married, try to fit in, party down, and find it hard to become the man or woman of God they hoped to become. Unless they go off into this battle with the full armor of God they will go naked and are beaten in the battle.

True evangelism must focus primarily on the young. When I see the budget of a ministry I have a measurement I make, unless the bulk of the ministry money is being spent for children and youth, it’s wasted. Sorry to be blunt, it’s the truth. I think you knew that. It’s just not popular.

I have become close personal friends with some powerful men of God who led great Churches. Every one in reflecting on what has happened in the years previous has at one time or another said, "I wish we had invested more in youth and Children than we did". I never ever have heard ONE say, "I regret what we spent on Children and Youth. It was a waste of time and money".

After adulthood reaching people for Jesus is a losing crap game at best. Oh a few come in but the bulk of the people coming to Jesus are people coming back who were once discipled as children. So in reality, we are reclaiming the evangelistic efforts expended years before.

I have worked Billy Graham crusades. The bulk of the responders are moderate backsliders looking for fresh assurance of salvation.

That means, in a world of pagans, sinners, atheists, agnostics, and just plain passive unbelievers not practicing any faith, real conversions from that point are few and far between. Sadly this means that the bulk of money spent on trying to reach the lost in adulthood is a waste of time, energy and money. I’m not saying give up. I am saying, in resource allocation this is a new perspective. Reaching the lost is a one on one exercise in adult evangelism. More on that later.

There is one opportunity, when a couple has children and that couple was raised in some form of Christianity (early evangelism paying back again), there is a guilt complex that causes them to seek a little Christianity for the kids. If they come and bring the kids to church and Sunday school MAYBE they might stick. One can only hope.

Otherwise, the idea that an unchurched couple are going to come to church just because OK, Because of, of, of, WHAT? To join Club Jesus? Not too likely.

There is only ONE reason that anyone comes to Jesus as an adult. I'm talking about someone who doesn’t know Him now. They come because someone they knew personally was lost and destroyed, came to faith in Jesus, life got better, the light went on and the person watching all this said to themselves, “I would like to have what they have”. When they saw this light come on in the other person’s life they said, “I want what he has”.

Hence the question, “how many evangelists does it take to change a light bulb”. Answer, “Only one, but the light bulb must WANT to be changed and the wattage the Evangelist is offering must always be brighter”. If you have a working but dim lighted bulb, why would you put another in just as dim, or dimmer? You would always want to see things more clearly, more light, more wattage.

Men are like moths, given a choice they are drawn to the light. Conversion as the result of proper evangelism is always showing the light you have and then leading people to want more. Evangelism is showing the light:

“I have made you a light to the nations, a means of salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 26:17-18)

Jesus tells us to take the light in us and place it on a tabletop, “so that those entering the room can see” (Luke 11:33) Like a city on the mountaintop, shining like a beacon light at sea, leading people to the safe harbor, Jesus Christ.

In the heavenly Jerusalem, where “there will be no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God gave it light and the light was the Lamb and the nations shall walk by that light” (Revelation 21:23).

“Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Do you know what hope means? It means I’m going to have a great tomorrow. I am walking in greater light. I have HOPE. LIGHT!

Isaiah 9:2 will come to pass as we let the light shine out of us: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. And on those who live in the shadow of death, light has shined.”

We are light bearers. Light is the essence of true evangelism for reaching adults. We know how to do this for little children. They are open, hungry and ready. We can almost not do it wrong. But with adults it is infinitely more difficult; we must let our light so shine before men that when they see the Good Works God does thru us they will Glorify HIM.

Church Hopping is off limits for both hoppers and church outreach efforts. Much of what we call evangelism is nothing more than borrowing sheep till they get frustrated and move on to another pasture. I believe Christians must commit to a body they can treat as a ministry and exercise the gift God put in them until they are no longer able to do so. That excercise will cease only with death and darkness on the part of the person or on the part of the Church. The only reason for anyone to ever leave a Church that has died or gone dark is for more light. Greater Light must always be the goal. The only reason to leave a dark and sinful life is for more light, greater light. The Church of 2007 must meet the culture with relevance. That's what this series is all about. Things are about to change, I'm preparing you.

Tomorrow: Shining the Light - a HOW-TO Primer

Now for a Brief Commercial

Mostly this blog is about stuff I'm thinking about, things I am getting insight into, things that impress or annoy me, and just generalized whining about things.

Some is serious, some is very very serious. Some is an attempt at bad humor.

Some is meant to just allow me to air an opinion. Not EVERYTHING I write carries with it some divine or otherwise inspiration. Most of it does not. When it does, I'll tell you.

I am in the middle of a thesis on evangelism. I haven't given up, I'm just not quite ready to post the next section. Still writing. I'll post it soon.

So it's in this vein (Not inspired, irritated) that I want to respond to a common news story that wanders across the pages of the newspapers of our minds:

"Most young people today get their news from fake news casters like John Stewart and Colbert".

I don't watch either, I'm not hip. But I have tuned into both from time to time. I don't find them all that amusing. I don't think much of the gravity of the world a topic for a knee slap. "ooooo that 9-11, wasn't that a hoot, how bout those towers coming down, WOW, what a laugh". Mostly in my opinion these two clowns are just clowns. Clowns are clowns. Like a class clown.

But to you weak minded sycophants who watch them, they are the funny boys who were class clowns in high school. You wanted to be in. You wanted to be hip. Being out of sync with the latest jokester was a place that no hopeful up and coming preppie wanted to be. SO, you laughed. You didn't always think it funny when they made fun of the little blind girl, or the kid that walked kinda funny from polio; that was funny wasn't it, when the class clown imitated her limp.

So, you went along. You laughed on cue. You were "IN".

Nothing's changed. Now you are older, maybe much older and you still laugh at the class clowns. Pretending it's just humor. Never mind that they are creating a mindless acceptance that nothing is funny except they say it is and nothing is serious ever.

So, if you are one who watches these two class clowns making a humor living on the misfortune of others, especially if you consider yourself a Christian, I have the right and responsibility to ask you, Who are you really following?

Try reading a newspaper. Try looking at some objective news sources who don't live from skewing the very values and freedoms that allow you to look at these two stunted 40 somethings acting like pimply faced 13 year olds.

They are bad for your spirit, bad for your brain and bad for your adulthood.

The Net Result of Evangelism

In order to get a grip on evangelism in a Biblical fashion we need to frame what the net results of evangelism are.

We know or at least think we know what the net results of an effective Apostle, Prophet, Teacher and Pastor is. For a teacher would be well grounded and prepared disciples; pastor would be secure and nurtured disciples, prophet would be commissioned and encouraged disciples, apostle would be placed and well ordered disciples all in the fellowship of believers.

So, with all that in mind, what are the net results of an evangelist?

I did a study of all the evangelized people in the Bible. I was looking for commonality. I was looking for scriptural basis from where we can get a glimpse of what an evangelists net results are.

Surprising, or perhaps not so surprising, there are not a huge number. Oh, people were added to the Church daily in the New Testament. But few real conversions are identified such that we can sort thru and develop some truths.

Of the ones that are, here are a few threads:

They were all seeking. The evangelist’s effort was to answer the questions they were asking.
Nicodemous, the Woman at the Well, The Greeks seeking Jesus, The Rich Young Ruler, The 3000, The Jailer, Cornelius.

There were lots of failed evangelical attempts. Felix, Festus, Agrippa, Paul at Athens, the mob at Ephesus, even Jesus in Nazareth.

Jesus even appeared bodily to over 500 people after resurrection. A pretty big deal I'd say. But in the upper room there were only 120 on the day of Pentecost. What happened to the 380? Golf game?

From those three postulates here are 3 conclusions:

1. Evangelizing takes place only after inquiry. If a person isn't asking the question your answer is useless. The questions usually come on the heels of a personal crisis of some kind. Much of what we think of as evangelism is answering questions people aren't asking.
2. Attempted evangelistic persuasion without the calling of the Holy Ghost is useless effort. In fact it will only cause a riot or ridicule.
3. Information, even supernatural information like a person rising from the dead isn't enough to make disciples. Hunger must be stirred and fed.

I have read carefully all 3 biblical references to evangelism I have cross referenced that to include any reference of which there are 4, to any kind of worker in the Gospel. I have read the whole book of Second Timothy over and over again to get a glimpse into what evangelism really is and what we should or shouldn't expect from evangelism.

I know that in the Greek there is an equivalency of evangelism to missionary preaching. I'm probably not going overseas anytime soon. Likely neither are you. So how does that work? Unless we look at our mission field as within 10 yards, the distance of a first down, our neighbors, our friends, our associates we miss the point.

If I am doing the work of an evangelist what should be the net result? If I'm a hole digger, I did a hole, I do the work of a hole digger, I get a hole, and a pile of dirt. If I'm an evangelist what result should be expected of me to wear that ministry office appellation?

To say conversions are the net result of evangelism is not accurate. To say that decisions for Jesus are net results may be missing the point. Both are part but there is more. A clue. Conversions and decisions are measurable results but for the most part superficial and short lived. I know how it is. So do you. You have had many conversions and decisions who fell off the radar screen completely. So have I.

I think as I have really tried to dig down very deep I have found only ONE passage that in my opinion really grasps the heart of evangelism.

Here's the backdrop to the story:
Jerusalem, about 30 AD, just before Passover.
It takes place just after The Palm Sunday Hosanna’s. The story of Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead is on everyone’s lips. Judas has now decided to betray Jesus. The Sanhedrin leadership is plotting on how to get rid of this pesky Galilean.

Some Greeks have come to town to be part of the Passover Celebration. If they were really from Greece or were simply Gentiles they ask Phillip for an audience with Jesus.

Jesus, not being rude decides to tell the disciples what was about to happen and to start to instruct them in genuine evangelism.

From John, Chapter 12, Verses 20-50 New Living Translation:

Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to attend the Passover paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, "Sir, we want to meet Jesus." Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.
Jesus replied, "The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil. Unless it dies it will be alone-a single seed. But its death will produce many new kernels-a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them. Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, `Father, save me from what lies ahead'? But that is the very reason why I came! Father, bring glory to your name."

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, "I have already brought it glory, and I will do it again." When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.
Then Jesus told them, "The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time of judgment for the world has come, when the prince of this world* will be cast out. And when I am lifted up on the cross,* I will draw everyone to myself." He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

"Die?" asked the crowd. "We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. Why are you saying the Son of Man will die? Who is this Son of Man you are talking about?"

Jesus replied, "My light will shine out for you just a little while longer. Walk in it while you can, so you will not stumble when the darkness falls. If you walk in the darkness, you cannot see where you are going. Believe in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light." After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them. But despite all the miraculous signs he had done, most of the people did not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

"Lord, who has believed our message?
To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power?" Isaiah 53:1

But the people couldn't believe, for as Isaiah also said,


"The Lord has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts-
so their eyes cannot see,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them." Isaiah 6:10

Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he made this prediction, because he was given a vision of the Messiah's glory. Many people, including some of the Jewish leaders, believed in him. But they wouldn't admit it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

Jesus shouted to the crowds, "If you trust me, you are really trusting God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the darkness. If anyone hears me and doesn't obey me, I am not his judge-for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged at the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me gave me his own instructions as to what I should say. And I know his instructions lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say!"

Now, if we take Jesus at his word, if we see how he just a few days before his brutal death on the Cross stripped naked uses his time to instruct, he gives us clear instruction on what and how to get the desired net results in evangelism.

Tomorrow, How many Evangelists does it take to change a light bulb?

Evangilism - Getting it WRONG

In a conversation with my son Tim who is a better theologian than I am, the topic was, "what is or is NOT evangelism". This is on my mind right now. I am coming to the conclusion that the western Church by and large is a waste of time and energy. Unless the western Church starts getting things right it will decay into oblivion.

This is important because I am rethinking the ministry gift of evangelism that lies within the 5 fold of Ephesians 4. I have come to a deeper understanding of what the Apostle, Prophet, Teacher and Pastor are. I know they are in that order. I just don't know what the Evangelist does or is supposed to be doing.

That does NOT make the evangelist least in importance but there must be something to evangelize within. The Apostle and Prophet manifest the vision and order of the Church and the Teacher instructs and corrects the saints for the work of the ministry. The Pastor heals and encourages the Saints to move out.

What then is the role and the function of the evangelist? How does it work? How does one know if they are doing the work of the evangelist? What should be the benchmarks of an evangelist?

I have known many who were proclaimed by themselves and others to be evangelists. I don't know if very many of them really are or ever were .

What evangelism is NOT:

• Inviting people to a meeting, to church, small group, bible study while good things to do is not evangelism.
• Giving people a book or tract is not evangelism although many people have come to Jesus by a book or tract.
• Speaking in front of a large group of Africans as you see regularly on TV while having the net effect of creating an evangelistic environment is not evangelism.
• Having a TV program with passionate guests and a 1-800 number at the bottom of the screen to call a prayer partner while having the capacity to be a way people come to Jesus is not actually evangelism.
• Introducing people to the Pastor is not evangelism. He might help. It's just not evangelism.

In fact before I tell you what evangelism is, I submit that as I have queried several people, read books, and did research on the subject, I have come to the sad conclusion, almost no one really understands or engages overtly in real evangelism.

Oh, conversions happen. But they are scattergun. Lots of fire, smoke, noise and buckshot. 99% misses the mark. But now and then even a blind sow finds an acorn. A person is converted. Angels rejoice in heaven. Christians get excited and try to create a scattergun evangelism program. They spend lots of time and energy attempting to replicate what worked by accident once.

This is NOT evangelism. This is busy, ineffective and badly executed. Most of what we spend in money and effort in evangelism is lost.

As a caveat. I have been part of some HUGE evangelistic efforts around the nation and internationally. Worked the altar. Prayed with sinners. Took names, got cards.

Here's the truth. Out of 100 heartfelt decisions for Jesus we retained 3 after 1 year. We did the math. We did the research. What a waste. It would have been better for the 97 to have never attended this crusade. They have hardened their hearts further and will be doubly difficult to reach in the future. I won't participate in these things any more.

Most "Evangelists" would tell us that pitiful result is the church's fault, that the discipleship efforts were wrong. That the follow-up stunk. That we weren't loving enough. That we didn't assimilate them enough.

Bunk!

The reality is, they weren't ever evangelized. Oh, they prayed a sinners prayer, asked Jesus into their heart after having HELL scared out of them. They just weren't evangelized.

So, here is the question, What is the net result of evangelism? What should be the fruit of evangelism?

It's not as simple as it seems and it's not what you think. I am going to use a pretty scary source for my argument. Ready for this?

The Bible.

Whoa.

More tomorrow.

The Lion with a Toothache

A few years ago I had my one and only root canal.

 

It was a terrible experience.

 

I won't blame the dentist.  I do know that it has never been right.

 

I have another tooth which was also impacted.  I refused to allow him to do a root canal.

 

Instead I had him cap the tooth.

 

That has been also two years.

 

Now, the "Dead" root canal tooth is giving me fits.  That wasn't supposed to happen. 

 

The tooth that I unadvisedly had capped even though there was infected raw nerve showing is just fine.

 

I think there is less about dentistry than dentists know.

 

Time to rethink the root canal.

 

I have a suspicion that a root canal is basically to make a boat payment for most dentists and less necessary than they make us poor guppies all believe.

 

If I sound cranky, I am, I have a toothache that I was promised I would never have again. 

Pass the Salt

1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take another look.

11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

And always remember....when life hands you Lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me over!

Good friends are like stars........ You don't always see them, But you know they are always there.

"Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway"

I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I'm here than a whole truck load when I'm gone.

I just got one of those forwarded emails we all get from an Old Friend of Mine, Phil Duchscher. I was feeling sorry for myself tonite. After praying for a long time to what seemed to be a brass heaven I called my brother and complained to him about how I feel like I'm on the shelf, not making a difference, not doing what I'm called to do and ready to make some changes if nothing happens. Then I get this. Phil, I needed this, thanks. I seldom post these Email things except God knew I needed encouragement and this was his way of doing so.

So, he heard me. My Brother and God.

I’ve Seen This Movie Before

Nevada, 1880 The town, Rockton.

People in Rockton are living in fear and oppression from Black Bart the outlaw and his gang.

Black Bart is a villain; he keeps the town in fear. He kills an occasional citizen to maintain “Order”. Bart’s gang takes what they want when they want to. The citizens of Rockton have learned to live under this reign of terror. They hate it but there is an order to it. No other outlaws dare invade Bart’s fiefdom. The devil they know is better than the devil they don’t know. People live, grow up, go to church, have businesses but by and large only by the permission of the outlaw Bart. Oh, in private they wish Bart would go away, that he would drop dead but no one dares take him on.

A new governor of the state of Nevada decides that we will not have these corrupt fiefdoms anymore. He appoints a State Marshall to go to Rockton and take control of the situation. If the state of Nevada is ever going to become the peaceful state the Governor believes it is destined to be the town of Rockton must be recovered from the thugdom of Black Bart.

The Marshall, Buck White (the color of his hat) shows up in Rockton, the sheriff of the town tells Buck that they don’t need his help. Things are fine as they are. Go away. The Sheriff is Sheriff because Bart put him there and keeps him there. Sheriff Spite tries to have Marshall White Killed.

Marshall White figures it all out and jails Sheriff Spite. Bart doesn’t take this lying down. He sends several of his thugs to get rid of Marshall White. But Marshall White is capable. He has deputized a couple of the locals, and he brought with him two effective gunfighters to help him. Black Bart doesn’t easily displace Marshall White. He does inflict casualties. The two men he brought with him from Reno are gunned down one by one.

In retaliation for Marshall White’s efforts Black Bart burns down the livery stable, shoots up the saloon, and scares heck out of the citizens of Rockton.

Then the big showdown comes. Black Bart announces that he will be coming to Rockton to take his town back. Without Marshall White’s two gunfighters the situation looks grim.

The showdown is going to be at high noon. Dickey the storeowner tells the Marshall that he should leave town, that Bart is going to kill him like he did the two gunfighters. Ted the undertaker says nothing is going to turn out OK and life was better before Marshall White came to town. The saloon keeper Harry and his barmaid Nancy tell Marshall White they wish he had never come to Rockton. “Look at all the destruction and the men that have died because of the governor’s plan and the Marshall’s arrival”. In fact the local newspaper publisher, Christopher takes up a petition to be sent to the governor to have Marshall White recalled to Reno.

Marshall White appeals to the townsfolk to support him. Just have a gun and shoot from behind the closed doors. Fear keeps the townsfolk from being brave or even taking action to defend themselves.

Just before high noon Reverend Patrick from the Church picks up a rifle and takes a stand in the steeple of the Church. Old Joe who was rejected by the cowardly townsfolk hides behind a water tank with just a pistol. And the deputies emboldened by the support of just a few of the citizens of Rockton are lifted in spirit. They decide to fight rather than run.

Noon comes, Black Bart and the Gang ride into town. All is quiet for a bit. Marshall White steps out onto main street, his guns still holstered. He tells Black Bart to leave and never come back again or else.

Black Bart leans back in a huge guffaw and says “or else what”? He makes ridicule of Marshall White. The townspeople all cower and say to each other, “he should have got out when he could, he’s doomed”.

Suddenly Bart and his men go for their guns. Gunfire erupts all up and down Main Street. Black Bart is killed immediately by a deadeye shot from Marshall White. His men are confused. They begin shooting randomly. Several die. The rest flee Rockton with haste. One of the deputies is wounded, Joe is grazed by a bullet, but the Marshall is victorious.

Then, the townsfolk come out, self-congratulating each other on the great victory. They knew it all along. They just KNEW the Marshall would do it.

Marshall White mounts his horse and announces he is leaving, Bart’s Gang being destroyed his job is done. The townspeople say, “Wait, what if his Gang comes back?” Marshall White says, “you have my deputies and now it’s up to you to maintain peace”. “Elect an honest and effective sheriff and back him up. Your security from here on out is up to you”.

With a tug on the bridle, he gives his pony a poke and off they go into the sunset.

That’s exactly what President Bush announced he is about to do.

The townsfolk of Iraq are going to have to take up the battle. We aren’t sticking around forever.

Now if we could just get some of the cowards and traitors from our country to stop hiding their heads in the sand we might have a chance.

The Cast of Characters:

• Black Bart and His Gang – The Islamofacists in Iraq
• The Governor - President Bush
• Marshall White – Our Armed Forces in Iraq
• Sheriff Spite – Saddam’s Army before
• Dickey the Cowardly Storeowner - Dick Durbin
• Ted the nay saying Undertaker – Ted Kennedy
• Harry and Nancy who run the Saloon – Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi
• Christopher the Seditionist Newspaperman – Chris Matthews
• Reverend Patrick - The Religious Right
  
• Old Joe – Joe Lieberman
• The Deputies – The Iraqi Security Forces

Let’s hope the story ends like in the Westerns.

You TOO can be a Prophet, IF.........

It has been a puzzle to me why so many people struggle with the gift of prophecy with doubt, fear and treat the Office of the Prophet with such disdain or deference. Prophecy and the Prophet is the most badly understood of all the giftedness. Yet, Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 14:5 says, I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. NIV

If he meant what he said then we have missed the mark. In that vein I want to offer a primer that any serious child of God who desires to prophesy or wants to be enabled in that gift can pursue.

Prophecy is a gift which is activated the same way you were able to first speak in tongues. It was by faith, you stepped out, it was clumsy, it became less clumsy, then free flowing and rewarding. It became a way God used you in prayer, intercession and a way you are built up in faith. In the same way, stepping out in the prophetic requires the same obedience and faith you used at the beginning. There are some requirements, there are some boundaries.

There are proofs of the prophetic that I use in delivering the Word God gives me. This is a gift and an office God wants to release more believers in. Here are the core guidelines I observe as I Prophesy:

• Usually whatever comes is surprising and not my own voice. (Usually it starts with a picture I describe)
• It always ends up agreeing with the Bible.
• It points people to Jesus and his purposes for them in encouragment and comfort.
  
• It has the effect of preparing believers for God’s hand to move.
• Should I avail myself of Prophecy, what if it’s not perfectly accurate? I Trust God to reveal himself more than the Devil to Deceive me.
• It takes Faith to receive from God. Faith is a substance. I physically take hold of it.

No one knows all, not even Karnak the Magnificent who used to appear on Johnny Carson. On the other hand, if I were some Psychic quoted by Weekly World News with 80% accuracy I’d be a front-page story. But because it has “Jesus” attached to the word there is an immediate discounting. The Bible says about modern prophecy, “we see thru a glass dimly” and "we know in part, we prophesy in part". At best it’s still nebulous, at worst is complexly obscure. Less obscure than Psychics. More encouraging. Faith Building.

Sometimes, I hear the voice in my head of my own prejudice or desire and not the voice of God. It’s sometimes easy to let my personal ideas interfere with what I’m actually hearing. But when reviewing what I have written down I will see my own voice and recognize it for what it is. That doesn’t make the cut.

What qualifies Gene Redlin or anyone who claims to speak for God as a Prophet? We qualify because we prophesy, continuously, accurately, Biblically. Others have to judge. Over time the gift and eventually the office is recognized and embraced by others.

I and others who carry the Prophetic gift or even office are as human, flawed and stupid as the next person down the street. If you knew me personally you would question rightly what in the world makes me qualified? I wear no halo. I have no degree in “Prophecy”. I sin. I get angry. I could commit all of the 7 deadly sins to one level or another. I wish I didn't but I know my heart.

So did ALL the other men and women called to be prophets or prophetesses in the Bible old and New Testament. They were all flawed and even sometimes even stupid human beings. Just like me. Just like you. I won’t give a review but if you are interested your local bookstore will have a book you can buy on the prophet’s lives. Weird stuff. Walking around naked, Laying on one side, Eating cakes cooked over human excrement, shaving or not shaving, spending time in pits, hiding in caves, depressed, marrying whores, wearing animal skins, sitting like a statue when your wife dies, pretty weird stuff. And always being hated, stoned. killed and despised. Not an appealing job description. It has to be a calling. Even today.

Here’s the rub. ANYONE CAN DO THIS. ANYONE. Everyone SHOULD. Most won’t. The average Christian won’t or can't give up lesser pleasures to pay the price he must to be a vessel used of God in prophecy.

If you are willing to be used, He is looking for willing vessels of Clay to use. Anyone can qualify IF they prepare themselves and are willing to pay the price. I have taught very nominal believers to do some of this at a rudimentary level. There are requirements.

First, you must put your human understanding in your back pocket. Reasoning will stop the flow. God is the rewarder of those who Diligently seek Him. You must believe. You must be willing to move and have faith; not in understanding, questioning or unbelief. This is the single biggest stopper. We have been conditioned to be safe, to be reasonable, to understand. Who said anything about safe?

Second, you must KNOW Jesus. Not know about Him, Know Him. Born again, follower, hard after His heart. Possessed and obsessed with HIM.

Third, you must accept the reality of all the Gifts of the Spirit and the ministry offices or ascension gifts. One of which is the Gift and then the Ministry of Prophet. How can you receive as a gift what you doubt exists?

Fourth, you must KNOW the word of God cold. That way you become familiar with what God's voice sounds like. Just like I can tell a note written by a friend of mine without his signature because it sounds like him. How can you sort out and accurately identify what is or isn’t God without this effective screen of the Spirit? Here's the danger, the denominational church has drifted into apostacy in this area because they believe that just knowing the Bible is enough to release the Gifts of God. So we have well educated impotent powerless churches. This has to change.

Fifth, you must be filled with the Holy Spirit and it must overflow from you. Yes, that includes speaking in tongues. It’s best to spend some time praying in tongues before you begin. Half hour is good, hour better. I will submit to you that if a person is Not Fully Immersed in the Holy Ghost they cannot do this. If they aren’t practicing the flow of the Spirit they can’t enter into and flow in this gift. Praying in tongues is the gateway to the gift of Prophecy and to all other spiritual gifts.

Sixth, you must set aside time to hear from God. Take pad and paper, shut everything off around you, don’t read, don’t listen to music, just listen. NO MULTITASKING! Wait. If you get nothing, don’t be discouraged, there’s always tomorrow. Patience is virtue. It takes the whole month of December for me to get the Word for the next year. If I seek God for another person it will usually take several weeks.

Seventh, when something comes, start writing without judging what you write. I ended up with 35 pages of hand written notes regarding 2007 before I began transcribing them. I did not go back until it came time to compile. This is how I record what I am hearing. I hear something, start to write and stop when I hear no more. Transcribe it without human edit. Screen out what is YOU. You will be astounded by the accuracy and precision of the word as it is given.

Eighth, Inquire of God by writing down your inquiry regarding an issue or a person. Place that inquiry before your eyes, pray in tounges until you get a release. Sometimes you will get an answer, sometimes not. Only those things you inquired of will be answered. I don’t prophesy on some things because I don’t want to pay the price to inquire and it doesn’t fit what God wants to accomplish. Remember, this is a gift I that I do only by the grace of God. I will not abuse it. It’s too valuable. So don’t ask me who is going to win in the 5th race at Pimlico in May.

Ninth, Not everything about everything will be prophesied. It’s different all the time. Just because God speaks about a certain issue today may mean he won’t “Update” that Prophecy again. Prophecy usually is targeted toward things that are on people’s hearts. God uses it most to allay fear and instill faith. Last year it was Bird Flu. This year it’s something else.

Tenth, don’t be thin skinned. Write down and transcribe what you are told to, it’s not about you. Even if people poke fun and discount what you have written, you are safe. Besides after you have done this for several years in a row with a high degree of accuracy you begin to have more and more confidence. Those who throw stones miss.

What’s interesting to me is looking at the 10 areas above which include waiting, hearing, praying, knowing his word, seeking God and being full of the Holy Ghost with all the manifestations was a normative operation after Pentecost and after the outpouring of the Spirit in the early 1900s. We as believers have begun a slippery slope drift away from the purity of faith and it’s disciplines that allow all believers to hear and prophesy as was intended. Teaching and preaching has replaced the prophetic in most churches today. People hear about God, but they don't Hear GOD. A Form of Godliness, no power.

People in most churches don’t accept prophecy. They don’t embrace it. They fear it. I understand that with the unbeliever. BUT, It is dangerous for a believer to discount prophecy as some crackpot activity. The proper approach is to say, HMMMM that’s interesting and just ponder it in your heart like Mary did. For the unbeliever, nothing you or anyone could say or do will change their mind or help them understand. They are blinded by the devil and lost. They rely on human understanding and reason, which is a dangerous place. When a “Christian” does the same thing they have been blinded by tradition and fear as well.

You may have read the Prophecy I posted, you may understand it, and you may not. You may disagree with it. You may find it all silly. To a believer this is a serious endevor that must be paid attention to.

Many highly noted prophets are less specific and less accurate than lesser-known prophets. They have a reputation to preserve. That makes them cautious and conservative. I’m OK with that. I don’t have a TV show. I’m neither cautious nor conservative. I want to hear from the famous prophets. But I also want to hear from the “common” prophet without a platform but who really hears from God. I find the lesser prophets who are specific and more accurate than the notable sometimes more helpful. God will deal with the hearts of those who have become timid. A timid prophet is an oxymoron. God will use even a donkey to get his word out if they back off and make it palatable. That is a word to me, I have backed off sometimes. My fear in backing off is that God will stop using me. I teach the Word of God because I must. I know that if I go inactive in this area God will withdraw the gift. If I back off prophesing because I fear rebuke God will withdraw that from me too. Worse, like Samson I may not even KNOW that the gift has left. That's why I try very hard to keep myself in places where the gift flows.

The Devil HATES prophets, Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they killed the prophets, Ultimately even HIM. Why should any prophet think he or she would get any better treatment at the hands of the Enemy today?

2007 will be an interesting year. I could show you where to read all the headlines in advance. But that would take all the fun out of it. Some of us won’t be too surprised when God does what he has said he will do. God does nothing unless he tells his prophets first. Then there’s the proof of the two or three witnesses which is in a previous post.

But then, you can hear God for yourself IF you just pay the price. It’s not Rocket Science. As the apostle Paul says: So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:39-40 NLT

Luther on Hearing From God Directly

Over 475 years ago Martin Luther came to the realization that the Holy Ghost inspired pattern of Christianity had been established at Pentecost. He recognized that the church he served in had drifted, was in deep weeds and needed changing. I think if he were here today he would set us straight. We have drifted again.

The problem in Luther’s time was the priesthood and all the ministry offices were professional positions that could only be held and operated by those who had jumped thru the proper ecclesial hoops. They took advantage of the people. The Priests were held nearly above God.

That’s not what God had intended. He wanted to speak directly to each and every person individually and not thru a spokesman. He wanted every man to hear his voice. Look at what he says in Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.

But because of Sin, because of fear, because of the noise and thunder and trumpets they trembled. So in Exodus 20: 18-19. And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

God honored their request. that was the last time He spoke to them directly, to the people as a whole. From then on he used Priests and Prophets as mediators between them and Him.

Looking at those two sections of Scripture, it is clear that in the beginning it was God’s clear intention to have every believer a kingdom of priests with direct access to God’s voice.

That all changed after Pentecost. The confusion set at the tower of Babel was resolved thru the gift of tongues. The silence of God’s voice to his people was restored thru the gifts of the Spirit. That was his intent. But the Church of today has said, "We don't want to hear from God directly" "You tell us what he says" is the cry of people in congregations. They are unwilling to hear from God directly. Or if they do they reject the voice of God. Even when a pure word is given they deny the gift blaspheming the giver which is the Holy Spirit.

All this despite the fact that the word of God is clear on this:

1 Peter 2: 5, 9 We are a kingdom of Priests, a holy people, a royal priesthood. (Yes even a Prophet)
Rev 1:5-6 Jesus has made us to be Kings and Priests Also in Rev 5:10

We are now priests because the veil has been removed and can come boldly to the Throne of Grace Heb 4:16. We no longer need a priest to intercede for us because we have ONE mediator, Jesus 1 Timothy 2:5.

Even the Prophet Jeremiah saw this day: Jeremiah 31:31-34. His law in our minds and hearts in a new covenant. We won’t need to have others tell us, we will know from least to greatest. We will all know him .

Martin Luther Taught the Doctrine of the Priesthood of all Believers and the Doctrine of Private Judgment.

This didn’t make Luther popular with those who tried to show that they had special ecclisiastical priveledge. It led to the showdown at the diet of Worms. It became messy. Uncontrolled. Denominational Splits. Even War.

The fundamental and evangelical world embraces the priesthood of believers as long as it doesn’t involve that "priesthood hearing from God" stuff. The bad news for much of the modern church is that a Priest is a Prophet and a Prophet is a Priest in the Pentecostal age. These Latter Days prophesied by Joel.

The Catholic Church gets this one right. They stayed with scripture and proclaim that as we become like Jesus we become Prophet, Priest and King. This is something more evangelical groups have lost focus of.

They love that fact that Luther took the structured and ritualistic world that was Catholicism of that day and turned it upside down. It almost got Luther killed.

Today’s church has restored much of the evil Luther spoke against. Even in the Churches that bear his name, structure and ritual misled by empowered professionals is a corrupting influence on the Church of Jesus and is a stench in His nostrils.

Luther was right. What he fought for needs to be restored. Priesthood of ALL believers.

Tomorrow: You were meant for Full Priesthood, anyone can do it, It’s not Rocket Science, BUT You must be willing to pay the price.

PROPHECY - 100% Accurate is 100% Wrong

I Prophesy because I’m a Prophet, I’m a Prophet because I Prophesy. If you take any ministry office and plug in the words Pastor, Teacher, Evangelist, Apostle you will find that the equation works. I Teach because I’m a teacher, I’m a teacher because I teach. Barry Kolb leads apostolically because he’s an apostle; he’s an apostle as demonstrated by his apostolic leadership. A Pastor and Evangelist does the same.

If a teacher gifted, anointed and of the Holy Spirit sometimes teaches something that is perhaps not all agreed to by other teachers, he isn’t threatened with stoning. If an Apostle leads from courage but sometimes makes a bonehead move it doesn’t disqualify him from his office as an apostle. If a Pastor loses one of the sheep because they become rebellious or if he misses nurturing one he is not less of a Pastor, and if an Evangelist after giving it all he knows to give is rejected by his target subject, he isn’t questioned by the rest of the giftedness as to his office’s validity.

But, not so with Prophets. We are expected to get it right all the time every time. The problem is that’s not scriptural. Not in the New Testament 5 fold ministry expressions of today.

Of course, people who oppose and question prophecy will immediately start to talk of digging up some stones to throw. All that based on a badly understood passage of scripture Deut 8:8-22. That passage says if a prophet is wrong he must be stoned to death. That WAS true.

That passage was given because before Pentecost there were very few Prophets of God on the earth at any one time. Scripturally there may have been only a half dozen at any one time. With bursts to 15 or 20. Seldom more. There were false prophets. People who claimed to speak for God or gods. Those were the ones who must live under threat of death. The Holy Spirit only came on a few people from time to time in the Old Testament. So there was no capacity for discernment by those who were followers of Jehovah. Prophets Had to be 100% accurate all the time.

Most prophets before Pentecost were prophets to leaders, in particular kings. They claimed that what they said was the very words of God, precisely as God said them. Exodus 4:12, Jeremiah 1:9 and Numbers 22:38 are examples of the claims of the prophetic voice in the Old Covenant.

After Pentecost everything changed. A lot. First of all it was assumed that all believers everywhere would have the Spirit of the Living God living strong in them so that when the prophet spoke the others could do as Paul mandates in 1 Corinthians 14:29; Hear and Judge what is said. Not like today where only a third of those claiming to be part of the Body of Christ are living in the fullness of the Spirit of God. They do not operate in the gift of discernment because they have rejected the fullness. Oh, they judge, but they judge incorrectly or too harshly or become despisers of prophecy 1 Thess 5:19-21. That is the state of the Church today. Weak judging people operating in their own understanding without the fullness of the Holy Ghost empowering their life. What is sad is they will all say Yes and Amen to the idea that we are to: Trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. What they really mean is Trust the Lord some, try to understand and explain things thru reason and what I don’t understand I will reject. They trust the devils ability to deceive them more than they trust God ability to reveal himself to them.

We are in full-blown Pentecost. The Spirit of God has been poured out. Sons and Daughters prophesy. Young and old, visions and dreams. Sure there are errors. That’s why the discernment of the Spirit counts.

If you had the fullness of the Spirit in full operation in your life it wouldn’t be so mysterious. This life should, no MUST be normative in the Church of Jesus for tomorrow.

There is a curse leveled on Churches and Spiritual leaders who blaspheme what the Holy Ghost meant for them in this part of the 5 fold. Don’t be among them. This is too serious to play games with.

Tomorrow: Martin Luther taught on these gifts and got it right. So should you.

Birthday

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to youuuuuuu.

Happy Birthday TOOOOOO YOU.

Jan 8

Religion of Peace, My Posterior! KORAN 101

In case there is just a few deluded folks out there who still believe that Islam as a religion is harmless, that they teach what the Bible does, that we should accept and embrace all things Islam, YOU NEED AN EDUCATION!

If you will just click on this link you will learn more than you can imagine in 2 minutes or less. Then, I want you to come back and tell me that I'm all wet, Islam is full of really fun loving people who just want to do the right thing.

You could lose your head for believing that.

Men Who Loathe Sex - How Civilization Ends

I have posted an article which was published in today's Chicago Sun Times. I guess it's OK, but, it's pretty graphic. You can read the whole thing HERE.

Excerpts of the article:

Welcome to the new breed of healthy young men who rate sex way beneath their other appetites. In this brave new world, girls are a pain, a disappointment, and rather dangerous to the soul. Self-preserving boys would rather be satisfied with a brew and bit of beef than an erotic tide of reckless passion.

There are lots of guys today who have sexually retreated, or soured on the mating game altogether, and you don't have to search out "Miller Time" or Taco Bell to find them.

My chief indictment at present, the one we can prove, is Pharmaceutical Abuse. Many of America's favorite medicines depress the libido, and ironically, the most notorious ones are used to treat depression. Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and all the rest have made a lot of people feel "happy" at the expense of feeling horny.

I find the spectacle of men's declining sexual self-interest disturbing. I never would have guessed that this would be the threat I'd be confronting thirty years after the modern gender liberation movement began. I'm an advocate for men being sexually sensitive and discriminating, but what I see in the erotic arena is mostly men who feel disconnected from their bodies, from the "dating game," and who feel terribly pessimistic that anything is going to change.

I know from those I spend time with in Marriage Counsel that this is a problem. It has become too much work to do the deed for some men. They don't want to fight the battle any more. The pleasure derived from a beer, a burger and a ball game has become a substitute for being a marriage partner in every way. And there are other things which I won't go into here.

Sufficient to say, if this trend continues we will have neutered men, desperate women, childless and lonely.

How did we get here? What happened? I would appreciate an opinion. I think we have deep trouble.

PS: I did not link directly to the article which first appeared in Huffington Post this summer. The comments were very direct and graphic. If you insist on reading them let Google be your guide.

What Other Prophetic Voices are Saying

I am publishing several links from several prophetic people around the USA. I have looked at their prophetic utterances and compared them with what the Lord gave me for 2007.

I suggest if you have time to read them all. They are published independent of each other, no consultation goes on, they all try to publish on or about the last day of the year or the first of the next. All of these people get these words after seeking God for a revelation.

I know some of this can seem strange to my more denominational friends. But, the Prophetic has been raised up for just such a time. It's about your immediate future, you need to hear what the Spirit Says if you have ears to hear.

Here are the words you need to look at (Many compiled from the Elijah List):
Ken Copeland's Mailer Came yesterday. He published this prophecy from November of 06.
Pat Robertson's recent much lambasted Prophecy
Katie Walters.
Jill Austin
Matt Sorger
Danny Steyne
Wes and Stacey Campbell
Patricia King
Rick Joyner
Steve Schultz
Bob Craine
Kim Clement
Lee Grady

And one from a Secular Analyst

Here are the Key Points I read over and over again as I ponder what is being said:

• God is moving in new and larger ways than ever before
• His people will be covered with peace in trouble
• Trouble, big trouble, perhaps terror, something catastrophic, bigger than 9-11 is coming.
• Fear will cause men's hearts to fail. Only Faith will prevail in trouble.
• The Church and organized religion as we knew it is dead and gone.
• Only that which matters and is relevant will survive in these times.
• God's best is still ahead of us, and his finest hours are about to be shown in the body of Christ

All in all, wonderful Glorious Peace in the center of the storm.

Come Lord Jesus

Come to Chicago

I have several YOUNG people who read this blog. I want to invite them to visit Chicago.

They don't have to stay with Uncle Gene. There is a fine Hostel in Chicago.

It's right in the center of Downtown, near all the Art Museums and everything, and a wonderful place to stay.

All for less than $40 per night.

Visiting Chicago is cheap. And, no matter what form of Public Transport you decide to take, Both airports have trains that go right by the Hostel. And the Amtrak comes right into the center of town 4 blocks from the Hostel.

This is just like the program many European cities have. I'm happy to be living in such a hospitible place. Chicago is fun, interesting and just a great place to visit.

Come on in. The waters fine.

Accepting the Sinner, Hating the SIN

I was in an interesting discussion with my sister over Christmas. It was about some friends of hers. The argument was in spite of the fact that the people were social deviants; these people were the nicest people she knew; they aren't at all as you would imagine them. They are contributing members of society who are just misunderstood, persecuted, and unhappy because of it. They go to Church, fall in love, pay their taxes, work hard, and celebrate Christmas, the whole catastrophe. What is worse the deviance they exhibit they can't help, they were born that way. So for that reason, in spite of the fact they are aberrant in society we should accept and even embrace them in all their deviance. That was the core of her argument.

But, lets expand that just a tad. I like to extend argument to illustrated it’s lack of soundness.

I know of a really nice man who worked in a church who was considered a really decent person. One little social sin he had, he tortured and murdered people. You would know him as the BTK killer.

Or that nice man who played a clown in all the children's homes around Chicago some years ago. Everyone agreed he was a good man, a decent man, a giving man, One little problem, one day they found his house stinking of decaying human flesh and found the bodies of 33 People he had murdered. You might know him as John Wayne Gacy.

Or how about a great humble Christian who loved every one. Every day went to Church, was good in every way, looked up to, trusted by all those around him; except he sexually molested little boys. That person was a composite of several Catholic Priests.

Or that family man the press can't say enough good about. He loved his kids, he took care of them, they are all set for life and those that knew him said he was a caring and loving man. It's just that he murdered a hundred thousand people. Saddam Hussein.

What about one of the most charming and kind man many say they ever met in Florida. He dated some of the most beautiful women. Everyone who knew him said he was the most mannerly person you would ever want to meet. In fact he was real husband material to some Moms. . Nice enough but before he was executed murdered 25 women. You might remember Ted Bundy

I had an embezzler work for me once. He was our parts man, Scott. He was a family man, kept a nice home, mowed his lawn, went to church, invited us over to dinner, it's just that he had this little problem of stealing $80,000 from the company.

Every person who goes postal is always a surprise to their neighbors. Some are even eagle scouts. They are just decent misunderstood people with a problem. They go nuts. Out of control.

Even religious people, people of faith fall off the edge of the earth. Think about the guy who killed those little girls in Lancaster PA in the schoolhouse. Nice man, went to church, hard worker, quiet, family man. Before he committed suicide called his wife and said goodbye. No one ever suspected a thing. It's just he had a hidden sin he couldn't deal with.

Or those from my branch in the woods, Ted Haggard, Jimmy Swaggart, men of God, men who preach, men who have everything to offer the world who are good family men who are religious married fathers who have a problem with Whores male and female.

Even Politicians live lives of sin. Representative Tom Foley comes to mind. I'll bet he hated the fact that he was trapped and couldn't get out.

A guy who worked for me is in prison for killing his wife and girlfriend. He was a good guy, hard worker; fun, loved his kids, but he had this uncontrolled violent streak. He just couldn't leave it all alone. He was angery and his anger controlled him until it landed him in prison for the rest of his life. Gary and I knew each other well. He was a great guy. Just uncontrollably violent.

Then there was Skip. A wonderful guy, Christian, when he got out of Jail I invited him to live with me. But, he just couldn't stay away from getting involved with the wrong people. He ended up raping a woman (which is what he was in jail for the time before). Skip probably won't be out again soon. Skip was born with a desire for violent sex. No self control.

On MSNBC they have this sting program, they go online as a horny teenage girl and men show up to have sex. They are videotaped and arrested. These men for the most part are teachers, pastors, bank execs, truck drivers, many married. They are all humiliated. But, the alledged little girl wanted sex, these devients were naturally drawn to respond. What could be more NORMAL than that? They were out of control. That's what.

None of these people listed above were happy in their sin, aberrance, antisocial behavior or deviance. All wish they didn't have to live like that. All felt like they were born this way. All feel like they can't help it. All feel like if someone would only understand. They all feel like if only they could stop they would be happy. They feel out of control.

Sin causes us to be unhappy. Tortured and tempted we foist our behavior on others in society. OR we excuse ourselves by saying we come from a long line of kleptomaniacs. So, it’s normal for us.

They would to a person tell you they were born with these tendencies. I believe them. I was born with some odd tendencies that if I acted on would land me in jail or get me killed.

So, when I hear the argument that Homosexuals are born that way, that I should understand them, that they should be accepted, that the desires they carry isn't their fault I wonder how many of those I have listed above would say the same thing?

Believe me, I know several homosexuals. Some are good friends. They are unsettled. They wish they didn't have to live like this. They feel trapped by the sin tendencies in their lives.

Here's the difference. Homosexuals I know who have learned to control the urges live decent happy lives. If they give into them uncontrolled they live in total despair. Multiple partners. Disease. Rejection by society and each other. The lie is that they can find fulfillment in committed relationships. They never really do. That's why I'm against Gay marriage. It codifies and culturally endorses aberrant behavior.

Like the murderer the pedophile, the embezzler, the torturer, the rapist, the violent, the whoremonger, they were all born with these tendencies, the issue is, can they or do they control them? We have punishment for people who violate most laws against humanity like above. Why are we supposed to stuff cultural and even biblical condemnation of homosexual behavior because people are “Born that Way”. We are all born deviant in one area or another. We just must learn to control and deal with it. That’s called being an adult.

So should homosexuals. Control it or face social consequence. You should see the Gay Pride Parade held each year in Chicago. It’s the “look I have my penis out” parade. It’s so over the top and disgusting I shouldn’t be forced to watch (I don’t) or even have it in my community to deaden our sensitivity to this deviance. I don’t want to be forced to accept them any more than the social deviance I listed at the beginning of this piece.

I suspect some people will throw up the Levitical restrains (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13) about this and use it as a Bible Bullet against me. They will say that I base my homophobe beliefs soley on these passages in Leviticus. It’s not true. If I ONLY used the New Testament I have enough warning against this aberrant behavior to justify my position. I won't do a Bible study for you, but if you were interested, I would point you to the Book of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Hebrews, and Revelation. You will find enough here to keep you busy for a while.

What’s the solution? As Archie Bunker said to Edith often, STIFLE! And as a Christian what’s the solution? I know people who have overcome this demon of homosex and found happiness. Jesus is the answer. I will love them, not accept the sin, Heck I still love the murderer and the rapist I know in prison. I just don’t want them back out walking the streets unless they get right with God and under control.

So, now that you know the truth, are you still in favor of Gay Marriage? I know I probably didn’t change any minds. I just wish they would all keep it in their pants and go back in the closet. I shouldn’t have to see this mess. Neither should my Grandkids. When I was a teenager of perhaps 16 and heard that there was such a thing as homosexuality I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine one man doing that to another.

Couldn’t we put some shock potential back into our culture?

Come on there - STIFLE!

Shutting the Door

I have a friend who is an expert in herbaceous perennial native plants. He knows so much more than I do about them. When I express an opinion or viewpoint about the application or culture of those plants he gives me a strained smile of tolerance.

I have 2 college degrees. One in Botany. One in Horticulture. 4 year university, not a two year community college. He has none. He does have experience. I defer to him because although I learned stuff 40 years ago in university I am rustier now than I wish I were about herbaceous perennials.

On the other hand HE went to Sunday school as a kid. Once he became an adult 45 years ago he quit church. But, he seems to have no difficulty in telling me all about his "opine" on all things spiritual. How I'm right or wrong on this or that theology. How I'm blinded or not in this or that area.

I'm supposed to take him seriously. In fact, I get lots of this. I just was engaged in a couple conversations with some people on another blogsite. People who's only real knowledge of the Bible is what they read someone say in an article or on TV. And I'm supposed to take them seriously or as any kind of competent argument whatsoever.

Sorry folks. Won't fly. If you haven't paid the price to know what the heck you're talking about, if you haven't studied verse by verse the word of God, if you haven't had the experience of knowing it and Him then your opinion which you value so much is just so much bull poop.

I have decided that as of this day I will no longer entertain conversation which is of a nature of you're right and I'm wrong. He isn't going to be convinced and I certainly am not. I am more and more convinced that what we consider to be evangelism is just argumentation. The only one that can call someone in is the Holy Spirit. If they don't come in that motivation you or I are not going to talk them thru reason into faith.

So, consider that door closed my friend. Want to talk herbaceous perennials, I'm all for it. Your opinions on things Spiritual are spurious and like Paul at Athens, pretty much a waste of time and energy.

Prophecy for the Year 2007

A little explanation first, read the whole thing or you will miss it.

Prologue: Ministry as a Teacher:
Several years ago I became aware that God was using me in a new way as a minister. I had always been a competent teacher of the Word of God. Even when I wasn’t saved, I taught in the Lutheran Church we attended. Some of that came from my public speaking experience and training. I knew how to turn a phrase in front of a group, how to use language to instruct and inspire. It wasn’t anointed, it was just good teaching.

As a public speaker I was paid to do this. At one time I considered a career change to become a professional speaker on the circuit. I did a fair bit of it but didn't develop it as I might have. I knew that the key to doing it well was a "Have Speech will Travel" portfolio. Then promoting myself with that speech, having an agent and taking bookings. It works. I knew several people who did this. Even to this day I have a few champions that will plug me in here and there. But, for now my public speaker portfolio and booking is light. It’s as it should be.

On the other hand, I have always taught the word of God. I like teaching. I like it because concepts and precepts that matter to me and to God are being passed on to another generation.

People I taught in Sunday school classes years ago pay me the high complement of saying, "I use your stuff in my preaching" or "Your words come from my mouth all the time". That is a high complement. It's better than having them say, "You are/were the best Sunday School teacher I ever had". I would rather see a sermon on someone well discipled than hear one.

I am going to recommit myself to teaching again. It's what I do best. It's an area of rich anointing for me. God has placed this in me and not using the gift is wasting them.

Ministry as a Prophet:
So, what about this Prophet thing? Why do I, should I or would I identify myself a Prophet? Let me explain. This is a badly understood area and as a teacher I need to do a little teaching.

Recently a man I know described me as, "A self declared prophet". I puzzled over that description of the Gift of God placed in me. Is anyone a self-declared anything? Or are they defined with or without declaration by what they do and the fruit they produce? Is an apple tree one because someone hangs a tag on it declaring it an apple tree or because it produces apples? In fact some trees sold as apple trees turn out to be pear or peach trees because of poor labeling.

The same is true with ministry gifts. If I teach under an anointing over and above what I am able otherwise to do I demonstrate a gift of teaching. So if I am a teacher because I teach well or as I have the ministry gift of teaching am I self-declaring? Or am I, as the apostle Paul did, just declaring what God has already demonstrated by fruit. He declared himself an Apostle based on his acts of apostleship. Few argued with him.

The same thing is true regarding the ministry office of the Prophet. I am a Prophet not because I call myself a Prophet but because I prophesy with fruit. I operate consistently and with better accuracy than I could ever do in the flesh when I operate in the ministry gift. That is the office of prophet. Of course, just as in the ministry gift of Teaching which has been confirmed by many, and by people with the ministry gift of Prophecy years ago. It is not a gift that comes and goes, it is a gift that I carry by the grace of God. That reality carries me forward to prophecy with boldness. I am simply a Gift box of the gift God has placed in me. To deny or dismiss the office he has commissioned me for defames his ministry gifts. I have assurance of the gift because the gift flows without trying, other prophetic people recognize it in me, and I see the fruit of the gift in operation. Someone would have to kill me to silence it. The same is true of the Gift of Teaching. It will take a bullet to stop me from here on out.

Evidence of the Office of Prophet
If one can dismiss the office of Prophet in others how can any ministry gift stand? On the other hand if I did NOT prophecy or if I were consistently wrong because I didn’t hear from God I would be a false prophet and not a true carrier of the office of Prophet. It is only by fruit I judge the gift I carry.

As a Prophet God gives me insight into situations supernaturally, insight into people, insight into circumstances that is beyond my ability to know or see in the natural. Sometimes it is frightening. I offer what I see to others with fear and trepidation.

The part that is the best in operating in the gift are the personal encouragements and visions God gives me for others. Amazing things come from my mouth far beyond my human understanding. That is a manifestation of the Gift and Ministry Office of the Prophet.

I too am suspicious of people who self-title themselves in ministry gifts they may not manifest, carry or those they may or may not be. There are fewer bishops, prophets and apostles on the planet than have the business cards or titles on the door declaring themselves to be such.

On the other hand there are more Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists than carry the Business card to claim it. Part of the job of a prophet is to let them know they carry the gift of evangelist, pastor, teacher, prophet or apostle. I don’t believe that without the anointing of the prophet that any ministry gift is as valid. Those ministry gifts should be identified carefully and commissioned. Just as God sent Samuel to Anoint David for Kingship, he sends Prophets to do the same today.

How do I know I am called an empowered to teach the word of god as a Teacher? Because he uses me as one. How do I know God has called and empowered me to be a Prophet? Because he uses me as one. I have not demonstrated Evangelistic giftings or Pastoral giftings, and I don't know what to think about myself regarding the apostolic. What realm would I be an apostle over? How does God use me? An apostle is a king over the part of THE kingdom deeded him by Jesus who is King of Kings.

The Prophet Carries a Burden:
There are parts of being a prophet that are difficult. Many people HATE prophets. They despise them. They wish they would go away. Throughout history Prophets have been rejected, persecuted, stoned, killed, made fun of, or thrown into a pit. Sometimes the calling for a prophet is a reluctant calling as it was for Jonah.

This is for certain, the devil’s main goal is to silence the prophetic voice. That’s why Paul warned in his epistle, “Do not Despise Prophecy”, and in another place, “I wish above all that you prophesy”. The angel in the book of Revelation said, “The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy”. If you take that to its logical extension, if you despise, reject, or silence the prophetic you silence the voice of Jesus. People, particularly those who are in ministry who have something to hide are the most anti-prophetic. They don’t want the truth about who they really are discovered. If Jesus himself showed up bodily they would try to hide from him. That’s what it says in the book of Revelation. They looked for caves and rocks to hide them.

Why I do This.
I offer this detailed explanation with the full knowledge that most people who read this will not comprehend what it means. That’s OK. I only want you to be aware of what God is saying, warning and encouraging for 2007. I want you to treat it as a sign and a wonder. If it makes you wonder that’s a sign.

Therefore, I am publishing what God has revealed for 2007. It's a hard word. It's one I would just as soon NOT bring. I wish it were all goodness and joy. It's not for some who will read this. To those who are overcomers this is great news. To the rest this will be a disturbing vision. Unfortunately I know it's true. Just as the prophecy for 2006 turned out to have over an 80% accuracy (the other 20% was my flesh or when I misheard from God), I believe what God has revealed for 2007.

I am NOT going to publish it on this blog. Below is a link to the Word of the Lord for 2007. You will have to intentionally go to it. I am going to tell you what God says. That's what Prophets do. What you do with it is your choice.

Read the whole Word for 2007 HERE. Read the circumstances under which the word was given for 2006 last January, and read the Word for 2006 in review (link above). You can then get an understanding and confidence for what is about to happen.

God never does anything unless he tells his prophets first. The Prophets job is to say what God said.

I just did.