SHOUT TO THE LORD!

Put Some Punctuation in Your Praise!

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 02:26 PM EDT J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Facing a difficult situation? You need to release the shout of the Lord.

According to the rules of proper grammar, exclamation marks should be used rarely, and only when conveying extreme emotion. I'm sure you agree there is nothing more annoying than an article or e-mail FILLED WITH ALL CAPS AND PROFUSE EXCLAMATIONS!!! An overuse of such punctuation is the journalistic equivalent of screaming in a public library.

Yet exclamation marks do appear in the Bible, especially in the Psalms. Apparently there are times in our spiritual lives when extreme emotion and pumped-up volume are necessary.

"Shouting is an act of faith that can break the power of fear, doubt, heaviness and grief. When the devil has turned up the volume of his clamorous attacks, we must retaliate by lifting our voices in raucous praise.""

The Message version of the Bible is particularly known for its liberal use of exclamation marks. It paraphrases Psalm 47:1 this way: "Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs!" Psalm 95:1 is rendered like this: "Come, let's shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let's march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns!" More noisy emotion is packed into Psalm 98:4: "Shout your praises to God, everybody! Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!"

King David used this kind of lung power. Even when he was alone with God, in what he called "the secret place," he was noisy. He wrote: "I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy" (Psalm 27:6, NASB). His worship experience was hardly sophisticated or subdued. It was downright boisterous.

This past weekend I spoke to a group of pastors and missionaries at a prayer retreat in the mountains of East Tennessee. Some of these leaders came to the gathering with heavy hearts. Some were spiritually weary; others were downright depressed. So I was not surprised when the Lord directed me to teach on the topic of the shout of the Lord.

I shared with my friends three biblical reasons why we need to lift our voices and break the silence with extravagant praise.

1. Shouting awakens us to God's ability and supreme authority. Sometimes it is simply not enough to pray quietly. Our soul must be stirred. We must forcefully declare what we believe with passionate conviction. Shouting is an act of faith that can break the power of fear, doubt, heaviness and grief. When the devil has turned up the volume of his clamorous attacks, we must retaliate by lifting our voices in raucous praise.

I spend a lot of time in ethnic churches, and I've noticed that my African-American, Hispanic, Brazilian and Indian friends are quite comfortable with a high decibel level in their worship. Some white Christians think this is just a cultural preference. But I wonder if we have allowed our more reserved nature to stand in the way of a biblical principle. The Bible does not just tell certain ethnic groups to shout.

In the church I grew up in, we worshiped with our hands at our sides, and we usually held hymnals. We sang wonderful songs, but I missed out on the full impact of praise because I was never taught that the Bible also calls us to raise our hands, clap, bow, shout and dance in worship.

Some Christians are just too sophisticated for exuberant praise. It embarrasses them. They assume shouting to God is something that uneducated, backwoods Pentecostals do while they roll in sawdust. Yet those same Pentecostals are simply emulating David, Isaiah, Jeremiah and a whole host of saints who set aside their pride and self-consciousness in order to praise God with total abandon.

2. Shouting releases spiritual victory. We all know the walls of Jericho didn't collapse until the people of God "shouted with a great shout" (see Joshua 6:20). That familiar story tells us that unrestrained praise has a direct effect on the enemy's work. When directed by the Holy Spirit, the shout of the Lord is the nuclear blast that dismantles demonic resistance.

If you have been staring at an immovable wall of depressing circumstances, it may be time to declare with all your might that God is bigger than your problems. Remember what happened in the Philippian jail. Paul's situation was bleak and his feet were bound with stocks, but when he and Silas praised God the ground shook, the doors flung open and every chain in the prison broke (see Acts 16:22-26). Shouting God's praises will have that kind of impact on the locks and chains around you.

3. Shouting brings fruitfulness and expansion. Isaiah declared: "Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; for the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman" (Isa. 54:1). This verse tells us that the shout of the Lord can release a long awaited promise.

When I was in the Smoky Mountains last weekend I encouraged my friends to write down on a sheet of paper the promises God had made to them. Some were praying about financial issues; others were trusting the Lord to work in the heart of a family member; others were believing for the publishing of a book or the growth of a church. I asked everyone to stand on their slips of paper. Then Sam, a worship leader from Virginia, led us in a spontaneous time of singing and shouting.

That might sound like a silly exercise, but we could sense walls crashing around us that evening. Shouting to the Lord puts circumstances in the right perspective. We saw how big God is, and how little our problems are. Childlike faith was ignited and many promises came to the point of delivery. Praise can trigger birth pangs!

If you have felt stuck in a place of spiritual dryness, if your ministry seems barren, or if you feel the devil has backed you into a corner, don't get comfortable in that place of despair. YOU NEED TO SHOUT!

Go in your prayer closet and forget who can hear you through the door! When you are driving your car, put on some praise music and shout during your commute! And when you are in church, forget about what everyone else thinks and be a noisy fool for Christ! Even if you feel as if you have been conquered, raise your voice in triumph and LET OUT A SHOUT OF VICTORY!

J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma. You can find him on Twitter at leegrady. He encourages you to forward this article to a friend who might be discouraged.

If this was in the USA we would have bulldozed the whole works

This photo essay of Normandy and surrounds right after the invasion in 1944 and the same site today says a lot about the French and their dedication to preservation rather than tear down and build over.

I guess I come down on the side of restoration and renovation rather than raze and rebuild.

They did a great job. I wish we could learn to keep some of the charm we have.

The Kennedy Funeral and Mixed up Christianity

I didn't watch much. Some. Little. I think the mixture of Politics, Accolades, Religiosity, Catholicism and new age all dogs go to heaven kind of stuff was more than I could stand.

I was reminded of this in reading Os Hillman's caution against a diluted mixed faith system. We have this in spades in the American Church. It's not a good thing.

Os Hillman:

"Then they said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt'" (Ex 32:4).

Moses had gone up onto Mount Sinai to meet with God and receive the Ten Commandments. He left his brother Aaron in charge. Aaron had been mentored by his brother Moses. However, we learn that Aaron still has vestiges of Egypt residing in him. He had not had a complete conversion from the ways of Egypt to the ways of God. His leadership was not strong enough to thwart a rebellion in the camp and he allowed the people, and even encouraged the people, to make an idol of gold. Later, he tried to justify his actions by saying the idol was a God of Israel.

Today we see such mixture in the body of Christ. We promote guaranteed prosperity without the cross. We call adversity a sign of a lack of faith. We promote New Age philosophies mixed with the scriptures and call it a new freedom in Christ. This is only mixture. It is an abomination to the Lord.

And because Aaron has mixture in his own life, he was unable to be truthful to Moses when confronted with his actions. "He said to Aaron, 'What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?' So I told them, 'Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.' Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!'" (Ex 32:21-24).

Did you notice Aaron's explanation? Out came this calf! - all by itself. Aaron attempted to deceive Moses. Aaron failed to fulfill his role as a strong, Godly leader. He allowed "mixture" to have power over the people of God.

Pray that you will be faithful to the Word of God and not allow new philosophies to distort its ageless truths.

A lot of friends - lots of people knew him - But he wasn't KNOWN

I was at a funeral recently. The place was packed. The deceased had a lot of friends. A lot of people knew him. Liked him. Loved him. It was a big deal.

I had to think the BIGGER DEAL is what happened on the other side of the veil. Did he have a Friend in Jesus? More important, was HE known by Him? I know he was loved by him.

Did he hear, depart from me, I never knew you?

It was nice for his family that he had this big funeral, I just wish he had been ready to step over and come face to face with the God who knit him together from his mothers womb.

I don't think he was ready at any level. And that is sadder than any funeral.

A Message to the Church in America.... You MUST Hear This!

I cannot express how important this. You must hear what the Spirit is Saying RIGHT NOW.

Warning, it's long, Larry Randolf, the Prophet is from Tennessee and you will be shaken. God is faithful. And JUST.

Did Obama go to the School of Machiavelli?

Machiavelli advises the prince:

"From it a noteworthy lesson may be drawn: princes should delegate unpopular duties to others while dispensing all favors directly themselves. I say again that a prince must respect the nobility, but avoid the hatred of the common people." Chapter 19, pg. 67

Sound like anyone you know in Government today? If you read this whole discourse from Machiavelli you see the Obama game Plan.

It occurs to me that if you read this analysis of Machiavelli you will see what I mean.

An excerpt:

“The first king is a strong warrior, his successors rule by wisdom and justice more than might and valor perfects it. Heredity turns it into tyranny. Tyranny provokes a revolt by nobles who form an aristocracy. Heredity makes corruption and leads to oligarchy. Revolt of people leads to democracy. Freedom leads to license. A strong man takes control” (Coby 24).

Top 10 Most Religious States

Top 10 Most Religious States


Top 10 Most Religious States
by Human Events (more by this author)
Posted 08/05/2009 ET


This list is based on responses to a Gallup Poll that asked a cross-section of Americans if religion is an “important part” of their lives.

1. Mississippi 85%

2. Alabama 82%

3. South Carolina 80%

4. Tennessee 79%

5. Louisiana 78%

6. Arkansas 78%

7. Georgia 76%

8. North Carolina 76%

9. Oklahoma 75%

10. Kentucky & Texas (tie) 74%

Top 10 Least Religious States

Top 10 Least Religious States by Human Events (more by this author) Posted 09/01/2009 ET This list is based on responses to a Gallup Poll that asked a cross-section of Americans if religion is an “important part” of their lives. Read the “Most Religious” Top 10 List here. 1. Vermont 42% 2. New Hampshire 46% 3. Maine 48% 4. Massachusetts 48% 5. Alaska 51% 6. Washington 52% 7. Oregon 53% 8. Rhode Island 53% 9. Nevada 54% 10. Connecticut 55% HUMAN EVENTS is the news source President Reagan called his "favorite newspaper" and we still hold high the Reaganesque principles of free enterprise, limited government and, above all, a staunch, unwavering defense of American freedom. Advertise | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions Copyright © 2009 HUMAN EVENTS. All Rights Reserved.

Sometimes Satan can sound SOOO reasonable

Sometimes the calm voice of reason is the voice of the enemy. Be careful of itching ear smooth words when you hear them. The word of GOD is like a two edged sword, cutting apart even the bone from the marrow. Knowing the difference is all the difference in the world. Remember, calm smooth melodic words are used to rock children to sleep. Wake up!

Contending for the Promises of God for YOU

The following message is the most recent posted on Barbara Yoder's new blog, which you can find at barbarayoderblog.com. The original title of the word is "We Are Contending."

We are in a season of contending. We must contend past the deception that has tried to mislead us. Deception blinds us from seeing what the real issue is, and hope deferred feeds deception. It feeds the faithless, half-empty-glass syndrome. I believe we are coming out of a season in which hope deferred seemed to abound.

Deception is part of the resistance that we have to overcome. It causes us to think, There are all kinds of reasons I can't break through this: "God doesn't care." "It's too hard." "I can't do it." "What did I do wrong?"

Deception tells us, "God hasn't come through before, so why would He now? And if He cares so much, why have things been so difficult during this season—and why has it hung around for two years? Why did God let this or that happen? He must not care." On and on the voice speaks.

But it is not the voice.

There is perhaps more resistance to break through in this season than we've experienced in our lifetimes. We are facing new powers, new principalities. We are facing at a beginning level demonic structures similar to those that resist believers in Africa and India daily.

God is building our faith. He has allowed this level of opposition to break us into a new level of faith. What is it that has overcome the world? Even our faith (see 1 John 5:4). So our faith is being developed to an all-new level in this hour. It is becoming a faith that will stand and break through because it believes God's promises (see v. 5).

The Israelites overcame through faith and patience. Patience isn't lying back on the couch and taking it easy. The word "patience" in the Greek is hupomone. Patience allows us to see something through to the end, to hang on to what God has promised and see it through to fulfillment. It is a stance such as a bulldog would take—one that causes us to sink our teeth into the promise and hold on until it is ours (see Heb 6:9-12).

Press past the resistance. Resistance is the sense that you are not getting anywhere in your praying. It tells you it is too hard to break through. Resistance feels as if you are going up against a thick, solid granite wall that won't give.

But God!

Keep praying until you get through that resistance. Then pray to receive the fullness of what God is saying and what He longs to do.

Pressing into revelation is essential in this hour if we are to break into all the things God has been promising—the miraculous, wealth transfer, the harvest, a new level of the deliverance mantle and so on. There is an awakening waiting on the other side of breakthrough.

It is a time to pray in tongues as never before, "building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20, NKJV). Praying in tongues not only opens a window of revelation; it also builds bold faith. Let God lead you in your praying in tongues. Pray radically; pray through. The other side of the resistance is amazing, powerful, glorious! It is the breaking out of heaven all around us!

Come on, you can do it! Pray all the way through. And if you can't get there by yourself, grab one of your friends who knows how to pray and together take courage, be bold and go for it. The resistance can be so daunting we can't get through it by ourselves. Go today, grab someone and pray, pray, pray—get to the other side.

We are in a war for the new to break out, and a war is comprised of many battles. You will have to pray not just once or twice but many times until the war is won. Each prayer time represents a battle. We will battle until we win the war.

"And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith" (1 John 5:4).

About the author: Barbara J. Yoder is the founder and senior pastor of Shekinah Christian Church (shekinahchurch.org) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is known for her cutting-edge apostolic and prophetic breakthrough ministry.

Children and Young People are NOT Jr Members of the church, They are not Sub Christians, They are your Brothers and Sisters.

I often when talking to my son refer to him as Brother. He is now my brother and my son.

It's time for the Church to Recognize and Embrace this fact:

As I saw all the young people sitting around their living room, I realized something. Some of these boys and girls are followers of Jesus Christ… they are Christians. This means that these boys and girls are my brothers and sisters in Christ. They are part of the church. They are not half-brothers and half-sisters… they are not sub-members of the church. They are as much a part of the church as I am. (Yes, organizationally, these boys and girls and adults are part of many different church organizations. But, relationally, we are all part of the same church.)

This is very important for me, for other adults, and for the boys and girls to realize. As children of God, the boys and girls have been indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and they have been gifted by God to serve others and to build up the church. In fact, if we agree with Paul and if it is necessary for the whole church to work together in order for the church to grow (Eph 4:16), then it is necessary for these boys and girls to function as God has gifted them in order for the church to grow.

Every believer is indispensable for the growth of the church. Every believer. This includes young believers.

Even if you quit the sin, there can be continuing consequence

None of us are immune from making poor choices in our lives. David made a number of seemingly minor choices that snowballed into an avalanche of suffering, shame and tragedy. It started when he chose to stay at home in Jerusalem instead of going out to lead his troops into battle, as was his duty. David had too much time on his hands, which ultimately led to him committing adultery with Bathsheba and trying to cover up that sin with murder.

So God sent the prophet Nathan to tell King David a story: "There were two men in a town, one rich, one poor. The rich man had many sheep and cattle. The poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he raised like one of the family. The ewe lamb shared the man's food, drank from his cup, and slept in his arms. One day, when the rich man had a guest to entertain, he didn't want to slaughter any of his own sheep or cattle, so he took the poor man's lamb, killed it, and prepared it as a feast for his guest."

David responded: "The rich man deserves death!" he said. "He must pay the man four times the value of the lamb, because he did an unjust thing and had no compassion!"

Then Nathan turned to King David and said, "You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in His eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own!'" To his credit, David confessed and repented of his sins, and God forgave him.

God's forgiveness restores the broken relationship between Himself and sinner, but forgiveness can't make everything exactly as it was. Sin has consequences that forgiveness cannot change. David had consequences he had to live with for the rest of his life.

The Stages of Grief Regarding the Economy

We have gone thru a great deal with the collapse of the economy. This seems to be a time when people have lived in denial of how rough it will get.

I was reminded of the stages of Grief and how most people who are struggling in these times are somewhere in one of these stages.

I have walked this long enough to tell you I am now in acceptance and new joy. It's going to be hard, but it's going to be OK.

Think about the cycle and where you might be. If you are in ministry, where some of your people might be. This loss we have experienced in the last year is as real and as painful as anything we have endured for decades.

Five Stages Of Grief

1. Denial and Isolation.
   At first, we tend to deny the loss has taken place, and may withdraw from our usual social contacts. This stage may last a few moments, or longer.
2. Anger.
   The grieving person may then be furious at the person who inflicted the hurt (even if she's dead), or at the world, for letting it happen. He may be angry with himself for letting the event take place, even if, realistically, nothing could have stopped it.
3. Bargaining.
   Now the grieving person may make bargains with God, asking, "If I do this, will you take away the loss?"
4. Depression.
   The person feels numb, although anger and sadness may remain underneath.
5. Acceptance.
   This is when the anger, sadness and mourning have tapered off. The person simply accepts the reality of the loss.

Christianity UNPLUGGED

A Christian believer needs a church, just as a candle needs a candlestick, a tree needs soil, and an electric light bulb needs a socket. Without a candlestick, a candle cannot stand; without soil, a tree cannot grow; without a socket, an electric bul...b cannot shine. Neither can you. Without fellowship, a Christian can neither stand, nor grow, nor shine. There is no such thing as "solo-Christian" Reinhard Bonnke

John Paul Jackson Prophesys the Perfect Storm

Very difficult days are ahead. If you want to have a glimpse, you will want to read this disturbing word from John Paul Jackson. I have seen him and heard him often. I won't endorse this, but I will make it available. The world is on the brink of something. Maybe it's this:

FIVE ELEMENTS OF THE BREWING PERFECT STORM As in the movie The Perfect Storm, the storm I see coming to the United States is a combination of more than one element, and when the elements unite, the storm becomes exponentially more dangerous. However, unlike the movie, this storm is not just a storm of merging weather patterns. This storm is worse; it involves five different elements: religion, politics, economics, war and geo-physical events.

The whole prophecy is too long to copy here. I'll let you go to the link. You have been warned.

Here is an interview where he talks about this prophecy. It's worth watching.

There is REAL Terror in the Country

I don't think it is hyperbole to say that in certain segments of society there is a fear, anger and even terror of our government, the government of Barack Obama.

This is no longer about right left. This is not about Republican Democrat. This is REAL TERROR.

The problem I have with all this is part of me wants to reject it. Ignore it. Hope it's not real. Not hear it. Another part of me thinks it just may be.

If this total collapse of our government and our country takes place as Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh are talking about, there will be armed rebellion. This can't be good. The ones who are most terrified are the ones who are armed, dangerous and believe this stuff.

I honestly don't know where I come down on this. Most of me does NOT want to believe that we have a fascist dictator in the White House and in Congress. Some of me does.

You can read a far out but rational exposition of all this at WND. Part of that is Rush Limbaugh saying:

It is terribly upsetting and disconcerting, and I wish I didn't think it and I wish I didn't have to say it. But there's no way to sugarcoat it. This is not politics as usual. This is not left versus right. This is not Republican versus Democrat. This is statism, totalitarianism versus freedom. And if these people are allowed to go where they want to go unchecked, then some people, a lot of people – I don't think half the country, but close – will wake up one day and find, "My God, what the hell happened?" Because this is not what they voted for. They had no intention of this. They thought they were getting something entirely different and it is a responsibility that we all have being honest and earnest to inform people of what these possibilities are because they are very real.

This is in response to Glen Beck's concerns:

If you watch what could only be called the administration's organ – anything involved with GE or NBC – you've got [GE CEO] Jeffrey Immelt on the board of the Federal Reserve, you have him in the Oval Office consulting not only on health care , but the financial situation, and they are an organ.

If you watch MSNBC, I contend that you will see the future because they are laying the ground for a horrible event ... anything from the right, there's some awful event and I fear this government, this administration has so much framework already prepared, that they will seize power overnight before anybody even gives it a second thought.

Now when you have Rush Limbaugh trying to ameliorate Glen Beck's fears about the government, that is quite a show. You can watch it here:

Steve Scott is looking for a Church

Steve is a blog friend of mine. I enjoy his posts. We have even talked on the phone.

He recently left the church he had been attending. He is now in a church shopping mode.

Here are some of his desireds and absolutes. They are interesting. I have a church for him except for the membership and the contributions from the congregation thing.

It needs to be a Christian church. It should hold to the Apostle's Creed. It should hold to the true gospel, and yeah, general conformity to those "three marks of a true church" I have heard a lot about over time. One, preaching of the true gospel, administration of the sacraments (baptism and Lord's Supper) and church discipline. Love for one another in the church, although not a mark of a true church in Reformed theology (huh?), should be there. Do these people actually love one another on a regular basis? These are absolute essentials.

Now for strong preferences. All members of all families are in the Sunday meeting regardless of age. Extreme cases of screaming infants or toddlers can make use of a crying room, etc., but families should feel free and unhindered - and actually encouraged! - in training their children in the church meeting. When everybody's kids are there, the background noise is easily ignored and preaching and praying can be heard. When no other kids are there, one child that makes even a peep is the target of wrath of others. I would also like a church of 50-75 people, maybe growing up to 100 before splitting into smaller groups. Pastors/elders should be leaders who lead by example, not by making rules or overlording the sheep. Every baptized Christian who assembles there is counted as a formal member just because they assemble there. Children should also be welcome.

Other preferences. Real bread and real wine in communion. A fellowship meal should be included every week, with the Lord's Supper being part of that meal. I also would prefer a participatory meeting, where everybody uses their gifts (or at least has the opportunity) for the edification of others, and not just a spectator church where the professional types do all the work. I would prefer the church not be a non-profit corporation nor registered with the state as a 501(c)(3). At least some hymns should be sung a capella. Allowing or serving of alcoholic beverages at church meetings or meals should not be shunned or discouraged.

Doctrine Devaluation

John Armstrong is a Friend who I find can cut to the core of Issues. What is posted below is from His Blog. Pastor Phil Ressler has been teaching a series called "The Core". We need to figure out what we really believe. I'm tired of the constant devaluation of the core doctrines of the faith. John's post is a call to STOP. I say amen.

The Present Devaluation of Christian Doctrine

Christian doctrine has been devalued for the last one hundred plus years. Liberal teachers continue to devalue it by inverting the relationship between Scripture and secular thought. They allow secular insights to interpret the Scripture. Evangelicals devalue doctrine by treating it as something that has little or nothing to do with living faithfully. ("It is not practical and only divides us anyway!") I have heard evangelicals say, most of my life, "Doctrine divides us but love unites us!"

A good example of this devaluing process, at least on the liberal side, is what we presently see happening regarding sexual ethics. The seventh commandment is quite clear. If you read what Christians teachers have said about this commandment since the first century the response would have been very, very consistent. But now, less than one decade into the twenty-first century, there is a huge debate about same-sex marriage. There really shouldn’t even be a debate. This debate can only thrive in a context where the role of Scripture has been inverted.

The real problem in this modern debate is that we have lost our way with regard to the clarity of Holy Scripture and the Christian tradition. The authentic Christian belief—still sustained by Roman Catholic, Orthodox and confessional Protestants—is that Holy Scripture is in essence God testifying to himself via human witnesses and God-breathed writers. (There is wide room here for differing views of how to define inspiration.) This belief that Scripture is God-breathed is basic, fundamental. Without it we can make no sense of Christianity. If the words of Scripture are not written revelation then we can know nothing of God’s truth revealed to us in Jesus Christ. We are cast adrift to interpret the Bible as we see fit in each age. (This is not to deny that we can rethink how we understand certain things in Scripture. It does mean that we cannot remake the commandments of God to fit into our modern ethical practice.)

The sum and substance of the church’s doctrine is found in the gospel itself. Our creator has become our redeemer through the incarnate Christ. But evangelicals have reduced this gospel to a few propositions; e.g., all have sinned, Jesus died and rose for sinners, believe on Jesus and you will be saved. This makes a valid point but the gospel includes much, much more. I would say, with many Christians down through the ages, that the Apostles’ Creed is a basic summary of the gospel. “The gospel,” says J. I. Packer, “is the full declaration of this gracious saving plan that God is fulfilling in and for his spoiled world, plus the full demonstration of the proper response—faith in Christ and repentance, good works, and love both Godward and manward, with gratitude and joyful hope.”

Intimately bound up with the gospel of Christ is the doctrine of the Trinity. The gospel saves us because, as J. I. Packer rightly notes: “the one tripersonal God, our God, operates as a team, all three persons within the divine unity working together in full conjunction with each other to carry through a single, huge, mind-blowing plan: namely, to establish a multi-billion strong community of redeemed human beings, each one an enormously complex entity in creational terms, within a fully reconstructed cosmos, with Jesus Christ the mediator at its center for all eternity.” I love those words: "a single, huge, mind-blowing plan."

The Anglican Prayer Book leads the worshiper to ask that God deliver us “from all false doctrine, heresy and schism.” Note all three: False doctrine, heresy and schism. They are uniquely related and we separate them to our own peril. Some Christians are concerned about false doctrine and heresy and care not at all about schism. The doctrine that establishes us in unity is the gospel and this gospel is intimately related to the Trinity. Without this framework Jesus is reduced to a cool plan of personal salvation. We cannot afford such reductionism since it will lead us further and further away from the doctrine of grace. Both liberals and evangelicals need this gospel and it will cost them something to make sure they regain it.

The Wonder of the Dance

Is it just me, or is dance becoming bigger and bigger. Think of the recent wedding dancers.

This dance performance in Antwerp Belgium with dancers that were rehearsed only twice.

It's all so wonderful. Enjoy the whole thing.

I hope this scares the HELL out of you... it did me

What is Church Unity anyway?? Where do you draw the line?

Since all this recent mess in the ELCA I have been thinking a lot about the line. I think there is a line somewhere. Who do you keep unity and fellowship with and who do you not?

Make that line too close and you become closed off from the whole of the Christian community. Jesus talked about that in John 15.

Make that line too far away and you begin ordaining homosexuals.

My brothers and sisters with whom I can have full fellowship are those who can confess the apostles creed, and believe it, who hold Jesus up as the Christ, true God.

That would leave out Jehovah's witness and Mormons I think. Certainly Satan worshipers and Unitarians. Maybe my litmus test isn't complete. But, there IS a litmus test.

So, the question is this.... HOW do we apply it? Do we just accept everyone who puts a cross on their building as a brother? One of our local taverns has a cross on it. Lit up. And I'm not sure they are filled with my brothers. Some..maybe.

I would have to hold to the admonition of scripture that a person in open rebellion of SIN to the truths of the Word of God (yes I will have to say as I see them) would have to be considered a "So Called Brother" and must be treated as such.

This is personal for me.

I just know there is a line, and where we decide to draw it matters.

An interview with the Devil... really pretty funny and insightful

When our ability outruns our God

From Os Hillman:

"If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here" (Exodus 33:15).

One of the great dangers in Christian service is to move from a presence-based work to operate purely on our natural skill. Once we become established in something, the daily maintenance can lead us into complacency until a crisis arises that forces us back to our knees to appeal to the Lord for His presence to return.

Things were going well for Moses as he led the people out of Egypt. God was calling him to Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God, to receive the Ten Commandments. While he was there, the people fell away from the Lord by returning to the ways of Egypt by building and worshipping a golden calf under Aaron's watch.

This revealed that the spiritual foundation of the people and the leadership of Aaron had not been grounded enough for the leader to have an extended absence. God's presence had left the people. If you are in management, you must know the condition of your team to know how long you can be away from hands-on leadership.

When Moses came back and saw what had happened, he recognized the solution as well. Having God's presence return was the only way they could proceed and have success. "How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Ex 33:16).

Moses also realized a weakness in his own ability to lead. He pleaded God to mentor him: "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you."

Is the presence of God in your current activities? Are the people you lead mature in their faith that allows you to be off site? Ask for God's help on both counts.

Faith is God's Gift to us at Birth...

Faith is from God, His gift to us at birth, like sight or hearing. It is a faculty or a hand, by which we reach out, and take what God has for us. If we destroy the faculty, or let that hand wither, then we can take nothing. We are guilty losers. The world conditions us. We go out in the morning, work all day, and come in at night, read the newspaper, watch television, and in all that time, how much have we been exposed to what will encourage faith in God? Usually nothing whatsoever – not a single word. On the contrary, we have been almost immersed in a sea of doubt and sin. The world is a vast brainwashing establishment to destroy faith in God. It maims us spiritually; it amputates our hand of faith. We are ‘civilized’ out of the simple nature God gave us.

A word of warning here: Faith is not a subject, like gardening or photography, just for those interested. We either believe or perish. Faith is a universal human obligation and responsibility. This is set out in the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:12. All guests were provided with a wedding garment, meaning faith. One man came, apparently thinking that he could dress better than anybody else, wearing his own, possibly self-made, clothes. He was thrown out.

The standard dress in the Kingdom of God is faith. ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God.’ This one individual had come to the feast proud and superior, not wearing the garments of God-given faith. The Kingdom of God is not a meritocracy. Entry permits, visas and passports are issued to the believing alone. Academic qualifications are irrelevant. Heaven will not be monopolized by theological graduates, nor by people who have ‘never robbed a bank’, but only by people displaying the simple badge of faith. Do you go along with that? Please let me know. REINHARD BONNKE.

Why does this seem heavy handed, ominous and unreported by a sheep media?

Obama appoints a guy to some post. That's not important. This guy is a radical from Obama's community organizing mould. This guy decides to go after and defame a radio and TV talk show host. He intimidates commerce. Like the mafia would.

Now, he is outed for what he really is, a thug.

Why isn't anyone in the media even talking about this kind of gangsterism? How does Obama get away with this? What is really going on here. How come it seems so much like early Nazi Germany? Do we even have an independent media anymore?

You can read this story and decide for yourself:

Here's Part.

Glenn Beck goes after Color of Change co-founder Van Jones

August 24, 2009 | 3:41 pm

Glenn Beck used his popular Fox News show this afternoon to attack the background of Van Jones, a White House environmental advisor who co-founded an African American political advocacy group that organized an advertising boycott of his program.

During his 2 p.m. PDT show, Beck did not address the boycott spearheaded by Color of Change to protest the talk show host’s remark last month that he believes President Obama is “a racist.”

Instead, he spent a large share of his program suggesting that Jones, who co-founded Color of Change in 2005, is a radical. Jones now serves as a special advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

During a six-minute biographical profile, set to ominous music, Beck said Jones was twice arrested for political protests and has described himself as a "rowdy black nationalist." The talk show host cast the piece as part of a broader examination of Obama's "czars," special advisers to the president who "don't answer to anybody."

"Why is it that such a committed revolutionary has made it so high into the Obama administration as one of his chief advisers?" Beck asked.

Read the whole thing.

Has Medical Science Shoved the will of God Aside?

I have given this a great deal of thought. I'm more pro life then you can imagine. I won't even kill a spider without reason... BUT-

Medical care has advanced a great deal in the last twenty years. People can be kept functional at least in bodily function in ways that were never considered thirty years ago. The Terry Schivo case demonstrates that.

I have friends who have a child who was born without a functional brain. The mother has made a career of taking care of this boy who is now close to 15 years old. Medicaid pays her about sixty thousand a year to keep him alive. He is functionally totally incapable of taking care of himself.

In Chicago there is a hospital in Hinsdale dedicated to keeping alive people on ventilators and electronic stimulation of the heart. They will never emerge alive. They would have been long since dead thirty years ago.

Every day children are born with profound physical problems. Only extraordinary measures saves them. I was at a restaurant recently and a boy about 20 was wheeled in. He was apparently profoundly disabled. His head tilted back, his mouth open. He was not there to eat, it was just an outing. They wheeled him in, ate, and wheeled him out. It was obvious he had no idea where he was or why.

I have two uncles in nursing homes right now. Both in their 90s. I know that for one, he doesn’t even know where he is. Alzheimer’s. Yet, when there was a medical crisis recently he was rushed by ambulance to the hospital and spent several days there at Medicare expense.

He would not have made it thirty years ago. I also have several people I know with downs syndrome children. They are wonderful loving people. So are their adult Downs children.

I don’t know the solution to this. I don’t want to let Obama and his death panels deal with this. BUT, there must be some way we can be humane but not insane. Some of what we call mercy, isn’t.

When my own brother was no longer doing well with severe complications from diabetes, the Doctor told him, you won’t leave here alive, but you might live for a year or two, he made the decision to from that moment on to forgo food, medicine and water. It still took a couple weeks. He died bravely and on his own volition.

I have no solutions. I just wanted to ask the question. Even if we CAN extend life, or at least a life form, should we?

I think this is a good thing, looking at the comments, not everyone does

Joyner Launches Initiative to Bring 'Profound Change'

Thursday, 20 August 2009 04:57 PM EDT Adrienne S. Gaines

MorningStar Ministries founder Rick Joyner has convened some 300 ministry leaders to help launch an organization aimed at mobilizing Christians to bring "profound changes to the political, financial and spiritual landscapes of the world."

The new initiative is being formed this week during the Summit, a leaders-only conference that began today at Joyner's Heritage International Ministries in Fort Mill, S.C., and runs through Saturday.

The burgeoning organization is designed to unite Christians and is not intended to be another conservative political movement, Joyner wrote in a July prophetic bulletin announcing the Summit.

"Our devotion is to wake up the sleeping church in America to seek the kingdom first, and God's righteousness, believing that when this happens we will become the salt and light we are called to be," Joyner wrote. "By this we will have the impact that we should in government and every one of the seven realms of power and influence over man."

The Summit will be broadcast on God TV beginning tonight at 11 p.m., Eastern. Speakers include former Brownsville Revival leader John Kilpatrick, now pastor of Church of His Presence in Daphne, Ala.

The conference comes on the heels of a series of invitation-only meetings Joyner has hosted with church leaders seeking to address political, spiritual and economic "crises."

In recent months, Joyner has been outspoken in his opposition to President Obama's health reform bill, saying the plan would lead to euthanasia and government rationing of health care.

In late June, MorningStar Ministries was one of more than two dozen conservative Christian groups that helped launch the Freedom Federation, which today issued a statement opposing health care that funds abortion and "treats life as a cost-benefit commodity."

But Joyner said the two organizations are distinctly separate. Details about the new initiative are being developed this week, but Joyner said the organization is intended to "mobilize and support" ministries seeking to "face and overcome the major crises and strongholds of our times."

In addition to forming the new organization, Joyner said Summit participants will address "some of the critical issues of our times as well as the incredible opportunities that face the church to be salt and light."

"With unity there is a multiplication of authority," he said, "and I believe this is going to be our most important church mobilization conference ever."

Paul might have written this to ELCA churches in North Dakota

If Paul was writing to the Church Today, particularly those who in communion with the ELCA. He would say this:

1 Corinthians 5:8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.

9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

(OR REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THEM?)

2 Corinthians 6:14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.
18 And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”

Those who are members of the ELCA or are in communion with them need to hear what Paul the Apostle says and hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying. Unity, at what price?

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.