Reasons for war

On this Memorial Day Weekend this seems appropriate. I'm so proud of our young men and women fighting this historic, nobel and prophetic fight. This was written by a patriot in Wisconsin. I can only say Amen and Amen.


By Mervin Farmer
Appleton, Wis.

I should have written this letter two years ago, but I didn’t. I’m doing it now.

It seems that Cindy Sheehan, whose son died in Iraq, and others opposed to the war are unable to decide for themselves why we have invaded Iraq.

Here are some reasons for them to consider:

1. Sept. 11, 2001. After Pearl Harbor, we attacked Japan. So whom do we go after this time-no one?
2. Worldwide terrorism. The 2004 National Geographic has documented 28 terrorist groups, with Al Qaeda, the deadliest, operating in 68 countries worldwide.
3. Prevention of future terrorist bases in Afghanistan and Iraq.
4. *A way to demonstrate to the rest of the world that we mean business and need its help.
5. A way to point out to countries that harbor and abet terrorists that they are no friends of ours and will be treated accordingly.
6. The removal of a power-hungry, madman dictator who could, and would, be a potential danger to world peace.
7. The setting-up, it is hoped, of a democracy in Iraq, to demonstrate to the people of the Middle East that freedom is possible for everyone.
8. The prevention of Iraq from invading Saudi Arabia and controlling the Saudi oil fields.
9. A way to enable the Iraqi oil money to go to the people of Iraq, instead of to Saddam Hussein and his nefarious projects.
10. Israel. Need I say why?
11. The removal of military bases from Saudi Arabia to Iraq. These bases in Saudi Arabia were a major sore spot to the Muslim terrorists.
12. Any other reasons are secret and classified. The American people cannot be privy to confidential information that would compromise our ability to protect our country and our lives. Telling our enemy everything we know could very well tell them how we came to know it.

Twelve reasons why we went to war and nothing about weapons of mass destruction. Really!

A Really Funny Read

My Friend Jack Sunday posted this. It's hillarious.

His son sent it to him.

If you are a Republican or a Democrat there's something here for everyone.

Solar Indigestion

30 years ago I was stricken with serious sunstroke. Up till then I was Mr. Mo Sun. I spent the day on a Brazilian beach without protection of any kind.

By the end of the day I was one sick puppy.

Ever since then when it gets really hot and I'm in the sun all day I get queasy. Today was such a day. No hat. Dumb.

I'll pay tomorrow.

Some people don't know when to come in out of the rain, I don't know when to come in out of the sun.

How Much is that Doggie in the Window - If you have to ask you can't afford it

We dropped into the pet shop tonite. Waiting for our take out Barbecue to be done.

Looked at the dogs. The sign said the cute puppy was called a Pappion. The sign said, $600 OFF. That means this is a marked down dog. FROM WHAT??

So I asked. Regular Price is $1399. For a dog.

The world has gone nuts.

I guess when I got Skipper for nothing I got the bargain of the century.

Laws of Large Numbers and Frog Kissing

Last Saturday night a fellow minister with the IPHC had his first meeting of his new Church Plant.  E-4 International Church.  It was a classic case of an implementation of the Law of Large Numbers according to a Pastor Dr. Barry Kolb.  I had heard about this but never quite as succinctly as this.

 

What the Church Plant had done is electronically contacted 40,000

people and asked them to respond to a short questionnaire. 

 

According to Barry, that 40,000 should have yielded 400 yes responses and 40 actual attendees. 

 

Turns out, that was pretty darn close. We had 300 who said yes.  120 who said they would come and about 30 who showed.

 

Then last night in a conversation with a friend about how hard it is for young people to meet someone (we're both not real young anymore, both married which means we did meet someone and that therefore makes us experts) the discussion actually came down to the same thing.  If you are going to find enough frogs to kiss, (you gotta kiss a lot of frogs if you want to find a prince) you have (watch me mix this metaphor here) to fish in a bigger pond.

 

To put it another way, if frogs are your objective in prince seeking you should avoid spending much time in the desert even if you dearly love the desert.  This is doubly important if you are looking for a particular type of prince which must meet a list of non negotiables.  Can't be this, must be that.

 

When we had the Church in Geneva honestly we had great worship, good preaching (even when I preached), good fellowship and lots of couples.  Singles who showed up enjoyed what was going on but didn't last long.  They were hunting for frogs.  We didn't have frogs.  They ended up the road at the big seeker church in town or way up the road at the mother seeker church.  Mass quantities of frogs. 

 

Theology be danged, where do you keep the frogs?

Non-Negotiables = Values

I recieved an email from a friend who was talking about a George Will collumn and was chiming in that people who are "Values Voters" are narrow and don't get it. This was part of her comment to me. That I had a

.....responsibility to understand others' ideas or reach common ground or compromise.

Really??

It's this part of your comment that demonstrates the lack of values. I have values. I won't outline them here. I don't think there is a question of for the most part what they are. You can probably tell me. That means I represent a clear set of beliefs and principles which you understand immediately. You may not agree, but you know where I stand. Values.

I have flown enough to know you have to have a good compass to get where I want to go. And good maps. And a clear idea of what the weather will be along the way so adjustments can be made enroute to get where I want to go.

Trying to compromise or reach common ground without a compass or a map or ignoring the weather means I will miss the mark or crash.

People who value peace more than justice (As in the word to justify, make straight, correct to a predetermined course, like adjust) are always conflicted, easily led, confused and in the end unsure of themselves. Oh and I think George Will is full of horsepucky.

Values Voters is obvious shorthand for people who see things as less gray and more black and white than do you. It's the whole idea where I am more OK if I am open-minded. There are lots of things I am NOT open-minded on. I have no intention of being open-minded on: Life (as oppoosed to killing children by abortion), Marriage and Family (as opposed to blatant homosexuality/gay marriage) and The Kingdom of God (as opposed to secular humanism and anti religious fervor). I have a aversion to open-mindedness when it comes to trying to decrease the capacity to reason. You see, when you have no position from which to reason other than open-mindedness you drift into mindlessness. That's why so much of the left's vacuous arguments about so many things are so astoundingly stupid sounding to those of us who are part of Will's shorthand.

If I am a Values Voter (I guess it fits so you have to convict not acquit) I will vote what I believe as opposed to the popular mainstream media pap bought without thinking by so much of the left and open-minded people.

My advice is: develop a strong compass of beliefs whatever you conceive them to be. Defend them. Live in them. Focus on them. Make them Non-Negotiable.

Most of what I hear from the left is Bush is an idiot, and other such. We're against everything. That's not values. That is just being contrary. If the left ever became refocused on what they believe as opposed to what they are against they might have a chance. They have no values (other than being against everything) ergo they can't be values voters.

So, ask yourself, what are the uncompromising values from which I will give no ground (common or otherwise). Live in those non-negotiable and you might become a values voter. Till then you are off course, no map, compass is broken, and there's a thunderstorm in your way.

That's a recipe for disaster.

Read this for a person with sound values regarding the War. She represents what a real values voter is. When discourse reaches this level I have hope. If you read the comments (and there are many) you will quickly see which side is reasoned and which side is just against everything.

Tell me what you are FOR, then stick to it. Don't just tell me what you are against.

In the end, you do have values. If I wanted to plant, buckthorn at Garfield would you be willing to compromise and reach common ground about it? See, you do have values. Just not in all areas.

Our values are different. We don't have to agree to be friends. We certainly won't agree on some. I have no interest in areas I hold dear to compromise at all. Nor do you.

If someone comes to you with an agenda that includes values you "Value" you will vote for them. In that you are a values voter. Values you Truly Value aren't open to compromise and common ground.

Get it?

Praise the Lord and Pass the Karaoke

Karaoke music in the church has been a topic of recent discussion. Turns out, this is a larger phenomena than I had realized.

How it works. A guy stands up in front of the congregation, guitar in hand, starts singing and suddenly a 40 piece orchestra and choir chimes in. It sounds great, but the visuals are missing. Technology will change that too. Holographics. You’ve seen Star Trek Next Gen right. It’s only a matter of time.

Do you really even need the guy standing up in front of the congregation? Nope. There is a karaoke hymn-leading machine that is being used in England. Oh, It’ll be here soon if it’s not already. I have been in some church services where the pianist, organ or whatever was so awful that “Fly Me to the Moon” on Karaoke would have been more spiritual. Bet you have too.

Now for you really traditionalist thinkers to whom this all seems so “out there”; Remember synthesizers, electronic pianos? I remember when in the late 70's First Lutheran in Fargo got one. There were people who were pretty sure that the wire from the back of that “machine” was plugged directly into the pits of Hades.

When I got saved and moved into charismatic worship the guitars were all acoustic. Fewer devils in that I guess. Then someone brought a Fender Telecaster. Yikes. Satan showed up for sure. Those were in the days when we were burning our rock records because they had satanic messages on them when you played them backwards. (Insert joke about what happens when you play a country western record backwards here). Then drums, then well, you know. It’s gone “Downhill” since. I love it.

So, get used to it. It will be better than Martha on the pump organ. I had a great time with a young man who is a worship leader in a church in Missouri last Friday night. He talked at length about the “Band in a Box”. How James Taylor uses this technology interspersed with the real people. They walk on and off but are still there. How that technology will change worship leading for years to come. He’s right you know.

Technology. It’s all the rage. Of course for those of you in ministry who read this, don’t get too comfortable. Why not Karaoke prayer or Karaoke sermons. I mean think of the money we could save.

From the article:

Even so, clergy might want to be forewarned: Among the Hymnal Plus' many talents is the ability to lead a congregation in prayer and in recorded sermons via an electronic voice box.

Ah yes, I can see it all now, it’s 2010. Sunday Morning. Mom, Dad and the kids all put on their IPOD’s and get down together in virtual worship. No getting dressed up for church, no $5 per gallon gas wasted. It’ll be so efficient. Or maybe Holodeck Worship. How long before you can find yourself at Crystal Cathedral in the front row holographically, or Lakewood, or Bishop Jakes Potters House.

Boogie down and never leave your couch.

I’ve always said that ministry would be much easier if we didn’t have to deal with people. (for those of you who are humorless, that’s a joke man).

Maybe we don’t if it all becomes virtual and electronic.

Is that better?

HMMM.

The Joy of ...... WORK

Bet you thought I was going to say SEX. 

 

No, there's also the Joy of WORK.

 

I took several personality tests back in my Dale Carnegie days.  There was this need or desire to know who I was or am.  One of the things that came from the test was I have a need, maybe need isn't enough, a motivation to see concrete results in whatever I do.  I cannot long be happy doing unproductive (in my eyes) things.

 

The way it was described, I am happiest when I'm digging a hole because I can see the hole AND I can also see the dirt piled next to the hole.  Before and after.  Action and result.  I don't do well where there are no results.  This is probably why as a corporate executive I didn't get on as well as some.  Turn me loose, give me a desired end to get to, I'm unstoppable and passionate.  Create inert-dom (meetings to have meetings and conference calls and memos, and reviews and and and) I am like a caged tiger.  Stop already.  Let's do something.  I am results oriented to a fault.  I don't play well with others.

 

Yesterday I worked outside for much of the day.  It was wonderful.  I'm so sore.  I got so much done.  I put a new chain on my 25 year old Sears chainsaw and cut everything I could find.  There's more to come.  A standing dead tree is an abomination unto the Lord.  I will bring justice and the strong arm of God.

 

I always go thru a metamorphosis every spring.  I'm a lardo all winter long.  Then spring.  Lift tug push pull tear dig rip haul.  I'm so sore at the end of the day I virtually can't walk.  It feels wonderful.  Every muscle pains me.  I lose huge amounts of weight and get in shape again.  It feels so good.  I have a friend who has is a hiker and as a result she has lost a great deal of weight.  She would understand this pain and pleasure.

 

I have tried working out in a gym in winter.  There's no pile of dirt.  I don't make the connection with that machine or treadmill and work.  I know technically it's "work" but I don't know emotionally.  When I work I must have purpose. I wish I could stay in shape in a gym.  I wish I could but unless they have a hole needing digging or filling I'm not going to sign up.  Tried it, didn't like it.

 

I could blame this on my Germanic heritage "Arbeit macht frei".  Or as when I worked for the Fischer's in Germany "Arbeit Arbeit Arbeit".  That was the mission statement for the corporation.  Or as a nurseryman in Tennessee puts it, It's on the letterhead of his nursery, Workie Workie Workie.

 

Two things from all this.  I feel bad for a younger generation some of whom do not know the joy of pure work.  Pleasure of accomplishment.  Joy of the pain that goes with it.  Wonder of the response of the human body to effort.  We have robbed them of the dopamine rush that comes from really hard work.  That is a pity.

 

The second.  I know the day will come (and this is scriptural) when no man can work.  I am 61.  I want to work till I'm 75 if I can.  If my body allowed, to 85.  Retirement is a 4 letter word.  Actually 10 but you know what I mean.  I remember my brother John who loved to garden.  When he could no longer go out and work because of disease it ripped his soul.  I Know relatives of mine who at a cellular level need to be physically busy to have any fullness of life.  There is a supernatural effect from work that causes us to keep our perspective clear.

 

I could go on, there would be no result in that.  Gotta go.  I have work to do.

 

 

 

 

 

Abortion Casualties in the US

Abortion proponents deny they actually kill children.   That everything is for the good of all.  That abortion drugs are safe.  That legal abortions are better because they are done in clinics. They talk in terms of rights.  Well, last rites are all that is left for a 6 pound 4 ounce baby killed last week.

 

Another botched abortion.  At least before Roe V Wade you had to seek out the hit man on your baby.  They lived in back alleys and were hard to find.  Fewer babies were killed then.  They didn't have websites and were advertised in magazines.

 

Abortions providers are, write this down now, in it for the money. Period.  Nothing they do is caring or altruistic.  Think about what happens in an abortion.  If you are a provider and you kill 50 or 60 babies do you become 1. More Caring or 2. Hardened and Cynical.  The same people who rail against the killing in Iraq by both sides quietly accept this without a peep.  Hypocrisy??

 

If this mother had just brought this baby into the world (I didn't say to term, it was already to term) there would have been hundreds, maybe thousand of parents ready and willing to adopt that child instead of going to Asia or Romania to find one.

 

Summit Healthcare Abortion Sevices shiny corporate persona lives under the 73 legalized murder ruling allowances.  It buys nice cars and homes for legalized terminators.  The website shows caring doctors, concerned pregnant women and happy post abortion testimonials.  This is the abomination of calling good evil and evil good.

 

A few exerpts from the story:

 

That happened when a member of the staff gave a woman in her third trimester of pregnancy the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug.

 

It resulted in a botched abortion and the woman later delivered a 6-pound, 4-ounce stillborn child at a hospital.

 

According to the suspension order LifeNews.com obtained, the woman had a "critical and dangerously high" blood pressure reading of 182/129.

"That in and of itself would have demanded immediate medical attention," Williamson said. Instead, the staff went ahead with the abortion.

Summit is the abortion business that employed Malachy Dehenre, who lost his medical license in both Alabama and Mississippi because of botched abortions.

 

This is all thanks to a supreme court supremely out of touch and a gutless congress that won't tackle this issue out of fear.  I only can hope and pray that abortion is outlawed nationwide again in my lifetime.  This travesty has to stop.

 

 

 

 

Marcia Mason in Euripides

Last night Peggy and I went downtown to the upper level of the Shakespeare Theater in Chicago. Very intimate. Probably 75 people in the whole thing. We saw Hecuba.

I’m not going to bore you with the plot. That’s what Wikepeida is for. Sufficient to say this is a story about the end of the Trojan wars, slavery, sacrifice, death. Helen of Troy, Brad Pitt’s butt.

Not really anything related to the dumb movie TROY. Actually Hecuba is pretty gory and depressing stuff. Oh, and, Mr. Euripides, I got the not so hidden meanings. Thank you.

So I’m waxing all eloquent about reading Euripides other great work to my wife, Oedipus Rex. Impressing my gir you know. Except, Euripides didn’t write Oedipus Rex. He wrote an Oedipus play. But not the Rex. That was Sophocles; Which I did read in High School I think.

But, apparently Euripides is pretty rich source material for plagiarists. I guess that was OK in Greekdom. Electra was a Euripides story. An opera came from that. I’ve seen it. Don’t remember it. Must have been boring or I was tired.

All in all Hecuba was wrenching. Marsha Mason was OK. But we have tremendously talented classical actors and actresses in Chicagoland. She had a hard time standing above the others. Nothing taken away from her, but her lead in this play had more to do with star value and less with her ability.

I guess Ms Mason is married to Neil Simon. She was in Goodbye Girl. She has a book. She’s from New York City. I guess we second citiers (actually we are third after LA) are supposed to be impressed. I wasn’t.

There probably won’t be a movie made from this play. Unlike in Shakespeare stuff, there was 0 comic relief. We like to chuckle a little once in a while. At least I like to.

Syttende Mai

I almost missed it.  Syttende Mai.  I am part Norwegian.  Growing up the Scandahoovian part of my family celebrated Norwegian Independence day.  17th of May.  Today.  So we just got home from the theater and I ate some Lefse.

 

I don't have to turn in my heritage just yet.

 

Almost blew it.

 

Our Very Popular President

I confess. I am an unrepentant social conservative. I like George Bush. For lots of reasons but mostly that I trust him to do the right thing. Turns out I am not in the minority. Among social conservatives (Anti-Abortion, Anti Gay Marriage Etc) my beloved President has a 95% approval rating.

Since I mostly only hang out with other Social Conservatives I am always amazed that the polls of Bush’s popularity are so low. Turns out his popularity is huge (among people I hang out with).

This is not a Christian thing. Several people I know are very socially conservative and not believers in Jesus. Big Deal? I don’t know. But I do know, social conservatives are very committed and they vote. That gives me hope for fall 2006. I think no matter what they say about the war and spying and all, when the crunch comes Americans are basically socially conservative. So, don’t lose hope.

This all comes from an Economist Article (Not Complementary to Bush at all) it concedes the support he does have:

Besides, most social conservatives still like Mr Bush. He enjoys approval ratings of more than 95% among Republicans; he also enjoys something that his father never had: trust. Mr Weyrich, the man who invented the “moral majority”, thinks that Mr Bush's record on social issues is even better than the sainted Ronald Reagan's. This trust is there largely because Mr Bush has fought harder on the other big social issue, abortion.

Mr Bush has done other righteous things. His judicial nominations have included several evangelical Christians, such as Charles Pickering and Claude Allen, a leading advocate of abstinence-education.

Mr Bush is better placed than anybody else in his party to manage the religious right. But some spouses are not amenable to even the most enlightened management. The Republican Party currently looks like an extraordinary electoral machine. But it would be foolish to forget that the party is an amalgam of lots of different groups—and that one of the most important of these groups, the social conservatives, has a mind and a will of its own.

On the other hand, we have shot ourselves in the foot before. I will not allow by my anger or threat to not vote to potentially elect any pro gay pro-abortion liberals. I’ll hold my nose and vote for the right.

My guess is so will others when the time comes.

Music in the Church

Peggy and I spent much of the weekend with a man and his wife who were here as candidates for the position of Music Worship Arts director at our Church.

I have no purpose in spending any time on him since there are people who read this who attend and that wouldn’t be fair. I was exhausted spiritually Monday from the experience. For lots of reasons. My antenna was up all the time. No downtime. That’s hard work. But I got what I needed.

It did give me a chance to reflect on the place music has in the prophetic environment of a Church. I will admit, to me worship is best exemplified in a strong back beat, good lead guitar and a Hammond B-3 Organ. A little wild dance is good too. I’m not a traditionalist in this area.

But this article really said what I have felt in my heart. I found it because of a conversation I was having about changes in Churches with a nice man by the name of Justin. He was/is struggling with modern inroads to the modern Church. My thought was, you must speak the language of the culture. Paul said that, “In order to reach them I must be all things to all people”. (Gene’s Living Translation)

If that includes a Starbucks in the Lobby, Downloads to people’s IPODS, wearing Hawaiian Shirts, and nice buildings, let’s do it. What we were doing wasn’t working very well. This might. If not, it’ won’t work long.

From the article mentioned above:

In 2 Kings 3:13-15, the kings of Israel, Judah and Edom were preparing to go to war against Moab. They heard that Elisha was closely connected with God, and sent for him.

The prophet first addressed the king of Israel:
“What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”

And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician.”

Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.

Elisha calls for a musician. The text doesn’t say why, but it does say that, “When the musician played the hand of the Lord came upon him.” Was it just a mood setting moment? I think there is something more to it.

In 1 Samuel 10:5-6, Saul was given instructions from Samuel:
“After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.”

Notice it says that the prophets are carrying musical instruments. It doesn’t say whether they are prophesying with their voices or with their instruments, but they were obviously musicians.

After David became king, there is an account in 1 Chronicles 25: 1, 2 where musicians are separated for the service of prophecy:

“Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was:

Take note of the reference to, “who should prophecy,” and, “skilled men” (men is generic and does not eliminate women) in verse 1 and “who prophesied according to the order of the king,” in verse 2. Harps, stringed instruments and cymbals used in David’s time could just as well in our day be guitar, bass and drums.

From these accounts, I believe that God uses music as prophecy. The definition of the Hebrew word used for prophecy in the Strong’s Concordance is: to speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse). God is pleased when we play music, even if we don’t acknowledge it as a gift from Him.

God’s pleasure returns to me in the form of divine inspiration that can be used to speak hidden words to the soul of anyone who has ears to hear. If you have a personal relationship with God through Jesus, His Son and Messiah, ask Him to speak through your music every time you play. When people talk to you afterwards about how your music moved them, it is a perfect time to introduce them to the Creator of all music and show them how their future can be changed by God’s love. This is prophecy.

I think of times in a worship service where there have been 5 or 10 minute drum solos. Not exactly “A mighty Fortress”. But God used some of those times to reveal something about him and his nature to help me get over my bad self and more hidden in him.

Not all music in the church is prophecy, some is performance. It depends on who’s bringing it. Skill isn’t everything either. The anointing of God can be on a person who brings a song and it can bring you to your knees.

I loved the movie The Apostle. In one scene an old black gentleman plays a trumpet solo. It’s not very good. But God is in it. I would rather hear that then some slick rehearsed “Presentation” without the power of God behind it.

Evenso, Come Lord Jesus.

Why I have decided not to see Da Movie Vinci

Talk about a full-blown hype machine. There’s going to be Da Vinci Code Toothbrushes soon, DaVinci Code Vitamins, DaVinci Code Underwear for kids. This is not star wars people.

I have decided to forgo attending this movie, paying my 8 bucks and being irritated. I can do that at home.

WHY?

1. I don’t want to support the people who made this movie or wrote this book. They’ll get along fine without my encouragement to make more
2. I don’t attend showings of most horror movies and I spend little time in XXX rated emporiums. DaVinci code to me is no better than this.
3. My brain is full of things I wish it weren’t. Killings, murders, wars, anger, fear, images that I want to push the delete button on. I don’t need to add to the list of images I am dealing with.
4. I know it’s only a movie, but so were movies during the 3rd Reich accusing Jews of destroying the world and propagating the belief that the white Aryan race was superior to all. Only a movie but filled with lies, half-truths and outright accusations. DaVinci code is that. Lies, half-truths and fiction passed as reality. Junk food (maybe poison) for the gullible soul.
5. I know that in many ways I am a sum total as a human being of every thought I think, every book I read, every movie I see, every experience I have, and every person I know. When I ask myself if this adds or subtracts to the person I wish to become, this subtracts.

I have friends who have suggested that to be able to defend or debate the truth and fiction of the DaVinci code I need to see the movie and read the book. Really? I didn’t see people who have no belief in God running to see the Passion (Mel Gibson’s movie) because they wanted to be able to defend and debate. I’ll make a deal with all the open-minded people out there. We’ll go together. I’ll go see the DaVinci Code with you right after you go see the Passion of the Christ with me. I made that offer with Moore’s Fahrenheit 9-11. No takers. So much for open-mindedness.

This is not a fair argument. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll have my opinions based on impressions I have about the heresy and evil intents resident in the DaVinci Code and you go right ahead and have your erroneous opinions about the Evil and banality of an unconditional belief in a Living God. I mean you’ve never read the book either and you have opinions based on what others say about the Bible. I am allowed to have opinions based on what I have heard and read that others say about the Code.

If you will read the Bible, I’ll read the DaVinci Code. Tit for tat.

Any takers? I didn’t think so.

Open-minded? HA!

Mothers

What do I know of mothers? I had one.  I wouldn't be here if I didn't.  I guess we all did.  Even Jesus.  There was pain in our arrival.  The pain was forgotten with the joy that came.  But I was capable of providing pain even later on.

 

Then the verb, "to Mother".  I was mothered by birth and then mothered by choice.  My mom died when I was 13 (as did my dad).  Truck accident.  Duluth Minnesota.

 

So I was mothered by choice.  Mothered without the joy of childbirth but I managed to provide pain later.  I am grateful the pain didn't sever the relationship. This note can't express what that really means. 

 

I have a pastor friend who was raised by a relative.  There is a tentativeness of the inability to describe your feelings that goes with honoring the mother chosen by fate and duty to provide a home and a life to one without one. 

 

I'm thankful for his and I'm thankful for mine.  So, first to Ruth.  Mom.  Mother.  She is my Aunt.  She is my mom.  I don't know how to make that work.  It's always been complicated. I want to say Blessed Mothers Day.  You are one.  A blessing.  You chose.  That's beyond the call of duty.

 

There's another Mother.  My wife.  Mother of my two boys.  I am in awe of her.  Sometimes I'm mothered.  She's my best cheerleader.  She believes in me when I hardly do sometimes.  She loves me when I don't feel loveable.  That's being a mother.

 

So, to siblings Sue, Carol, Barb, Mary, Marla.  Mothers all.  This is your day.  We of the son persuasion cannot understand the meaning of being a mother.  I guess it's supposed to be that way. 

 

So the best I can do is say Thank You, Thanks for bringing life into the earth.  Thanks for being the mother God created you to be. 

 

I have tattooed you on my heart.  MOM with an arrow thru it.  It's invisible to the naked eye but when you see me you see the tattoo of the love you shared.  Every man, every son, every daughter has that tattoo. 

 

It's permanent. 

 

 

 

A New Dark Age Conspiracy of the Left

Nuclear Powerplants were stopped after 3 mile Island in Pennsylvania. This accident caused a near miss and created fear among many about nuclear power. Despite saner voices the left wing environmentalists prevailed and we no longer have nuclear being built.

Now 30 years later we are facing a global warming problem. I don't believe it's man made, at worst man aggravated nothing more.

The largest increase in temperature has been in the last 20 or so years. The halting of further nuclear power plants and the building of fossil fuel power plants in stead (most of the hydroelectric was built out years ago) has happened in the last 20 years.

Coal plants and natural gas power plants produce huge amounts of nasty gasses that make life potentially awful according to some.

If global warming is worse since we stopped using nuclear power as a percentage of our energy generation is there a cause and effect?

99% of our power generation nationwide comes from Coal, Natural Gas, Nuclear and Hydroelectric.

Despite all the falderal only 1% comes from "Alternative" sources. So put up lots more of those wind generators, solar panels and who knows what. You might get it down to 98%.

As of today, thank God, power companies have plans to build another 30 nuclear plants. Of course the usual suspects are out protesting. They don't want global warming allegedly produced by coal and natural gas power plants and there isn't any more land to flood and dam. Nuclear is a non-greenhouse gas producing power generator. No one has ever died in a nuclear accident in the USA. Ever. I know there are storage of waste issues. The left has stopped that too. NIMBY folks stopped it. Well, it's time to call a spade a spade.

This debate and stasis parallels the idea that the same people that are pro abortion-pro choice are also save the whales, baby seals, condors and old growth forest types. They are against fur coats and using animals to test things that might kill people. So in the tee shirts in their closet are anti everything tees. They're not for anything. They have no solutions. They just hate everything. They hate our way of life.

Don't ever ever let these people come to power. They will destroy the world we live in. You will live in the dark, freezing and immobilized because there will be no fuel for your car. (They are also against drilling holes in the ground because of the Alaskan caribou on the tundra).

Maybe that's the real conspiracy; A new dark age of the left.

Eterrnal Student - There but for the Grace of God Go I

I loved College. The 60's. Fun. Even some education. If I could have afforded the vilification, damage to my liver and money for tuition I would have stayed. But I didn't. I went on, got married and made a life. I was a piker next to Johnny Lechner. I didn't make the grade as an eternal student.

This guy did. He has been in college 12 years now. Wants to make it 13. His picture is there. He's a nice looking fellow of 29. I think he needs a wife. He's quite a guy. Even has a blog of his slackdom. He writes in February how he dropped his cell phone in the toilet after a night of partying and then had to dry it out in the food dryer.

"I'm suppose to be, like, Johnny College, and I haven't studied abroad," he said.

The epiphany sent Lechner into such a tailspin that Monday he called the registrar's office and backed out of graduation. He now says he will return to UW-Whitewater for an unprecedented 13th year as an undergraduate, spending about one third of it abroad.

Lechner has completed 265 college credits, about 130 more than needed to graduate. He pays double tuition - the so-called "slacker tax" - for lingering far beyond the requirements of any degree program. Had he graduated Saturday, he would have earned a liberal studies degree in education, communications, theater, health and women's studies.

It all sounds fun except when at my age you come to realize he just invested half his life in wine women song and Budweiser. That's an investment I'm wondering about. Wondering. Still wondering. 40 years ago my refrain would have been:

"Hey Johnny, Where's the Party?"

Radio Geek

I'm a radio geek.  I have been all my life.  Grew up with it.  Didn't have TV till I was 11.  By then AM radio was my life.  Heck later in life I started and ran a radio network.  I created the first application for the license for frequency 107.9 in Fargo.  So radio is a big deal to me.

 

My wife and kids used to tease me.  If I made a purchase it was usually for a new radio, Bible or gun.  I mean, can you ever get enough of any of these.  You can't shoot the same Gun all day long, now can you?  I probably own a dozen of each right now.  And I'm thinking of buying a new one.

 

We have pretty good radio in the Chicagoland Metro area.  I listen all night.  Partially because I suffer from insomnia if I don't.  Eric Zorn, a columnist from Chicago recently blogged on this and now has written a column about people who can only sleep with talk radio on. I am one of those.  I try to listen and then fall asleep.  Usually it's Coast to Coast with George Nory.  Banal enough stuff but just interesting enough to fall asleep to.  Good radio.  Read Eric's whole thing.  I have tried to use music but I end up listening to it.  If I am going to sleep it has to be talk.  Not loud upsetting talk.  Just talk. 

 

You will have to be an online subscriber to the Tribune (it's free) to read this, but trust me, it's worth it and they won't send you a bunch of crap.  Plus how are you going to keep up with the Cubbies without this.  So, sign up.

 

The other  radio article was about an eclectic radio station in Arizona.  How this guy just plays music he likes.  How his mix has attracted listeners far and wide.  How people love the format. 

 

I love that kind of format.  Personal and eclectic. We all do.  Look at Howard Stern.  Look at Rush Limbaugh.  Not matter which one, they talk about what interests them and we listen if we are in tune with them.  If not we switch.  They have soul.  That's radio.

 

So, here's the question, if stations like the Arizona station get such rabidly loyal listeners, if Limbaugh and Stern get such rabidly loyal listeners, and might I say in the eclectic, Jack Sunday and Sandy get rabidly loyal listeners, why in heaven's name (or the other place) would the suits at conglomerates make a concerted effort to rip the soul out of radio by programming the mindless playlists they do.  We have every format on the planet in the 40 radio stations I can get.  Half are programmed from Mars.  I know these people are from Mars because they have no idea what humans like.  Bonneville, Integrity, Clear Channel.  They're all here.  Dummies.

 

I wish someone would walk into the suits at these conglomerates and say, do you want to know why no one listens??  We play crap.

 

Let ONE person with a specific musical taste play what THEY like no matter what.  That's radio. 

 

I remember in the early 70's some late nite Jock on KQWB FM played In a Gadda da Vida all night long straight thru (the long version).  I don't remember his name, he was controversial and brash and loud but Dang, he played good music.  You had to listen because he played songs before anyone else even knew it was coming.  Cutting edge.

 

I know there is all kinds of eclectic music available by internet.  I know I can go to the antichrist store (Wal-Mart) and buy a cheap FM retransmitter to pick it up on any radio in the house.  I may do that.

 

But, wouldn't it be really wonderful if free broadcast radio actually regained a soul and allowed music programming to reflect the views of the host alone, not some playlist created in San Francisco for Oklahoma City.  We do this with Talk Radio and it works.  Get a clue you big radio owners.  You are asleep.  Internet and Satellite will eat your lunch if you don't.

 

But I will fall asleep tonite late night  with WGN, WLS, WTAN, WKTC.   Life is still ok.

 

I'm Supposed to Join a 12 Step Program

I have liberal friends (honest). I sent a couple a review of Ann Coulter’s (of fine legs fame) new book: Godless – The Church of Liberalism.

I got back a response from one of them which made me laugh. It’s clever. He wants me to join a 12 step program to recover from being a rightwing nut conservative. It follows:

Twelve Steps
1. Admit I am powerless over my wing nut thoughts—that my life has become unmanageable.
2. I believe that liberal thought and actual open-minded intellectual discourse will restore my sanity.
3. Make a decision to turn my life over to the care of any liberal who will lead me in the path of righteousness and enlightenment.
4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself and move beyond my wing nut mentality..
5. Admit to all, to myself and at least a dozen Republicans the exact nature of my sins, wrongs and foolish thoughts.
6. Identify and destroy all my unending defects of character and commune with John McCain and Jimmy Carter allowing their superior intellect and ethics to penetrate my wall of arrogance..
7. Humbly asked the creator to remove my infinite shortcomings and fix my condescending personality. .
8. Make a list of all liberals I have belittled, admit the error of my ways and be willing to make amends to them all.
9. Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continue to take personal inventory and when I do wrong recognize it and admit it.
11. Seek through prayer and meditation to improve my conscious contact with all liberals, make a good faith effort to listen and understand them, praying for the real knowledge I never took the time to learn and the power to finally understand tolerance, ethical conduct and the spirit of actually caring about others..
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, I will try to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in my every day contact with Reality Based Bob and his very intelligent friends and hopefully continue it on to other people who now realize that Bush is incompetent and a real whack job..

I’m not sure I’ll join, but you go ahead without me.

Disappointment in St. Charles

The other day my wife was grocery shopping at our favorite store. Aldi.

I have written about Aldi before. But one of the ways they keep prices in line is they don't take credit cards. They take Debit and Cash. That's it.

Oh and they take the card things that are the new food stamps.

Even though we shop at Fresh Market and other high priced places we really like Aldi best.

So, she is standing in line to pay. Two people ahead of her had a stack of groceries and not knowing the policy,tried to pay with a credit card. NO GO. She had very little cash and no debit card. So, she apologized and told the cashier that she would have to put all the product back.

Just then the woman behind her said, don't worry about it, "I'll pay for your groceries" and she did. And she said, "Welcome to the community". What disappointed my wife was this, She wanted to do this and didn't move fast enough.

That's the kind of community we live in. That's the kind of people we live among. I have seen this kind of thing more than once. That's why I have such high hopes for this area and the Church Jesus wants to birth here. Most of these people have good hearts. They are generous not because they are prosperous, they are prosperous because they are generous. In the secular economy Biblical principles operate just as well as in the Christian world.

Proverbs 11:25 The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered.

I have lived all over the world and never seen anyplace like this. Peggy and I have been placed here to do what he wants for such a time as this.

Ann-o-my-Heart Strikes Again

In case you were wondering what to buy someone for an early Christmas present, consider buying Ann Coulters new book. I found the review below most enlightening.

If you consider yourself a liberal, WARNING WARNING WARNING do not read any further. If you are a conservative read and enjoy. Ann doesn't make many friends but she sure nails it.


America's most beloved and most despised commentator goes for the jugular like never before in her new book, "Godless: The Church of Liberalism."

This is not Ann Coulter's fence-mending mission with her enemies.

In her new book Coulter shows how liberal hostility to traditional religion stems from the fact that liberalism is itself a religion – a godless one. And, she reveals, thanks to the liberals who dominate the courts, the government bureaucracies, the schools and the media, liberalism is now the established religion in America.

Though liberalism rejects the idea of God and reviles people of faith, it bears all the attributes of a religion itself. In "Godless," she throws open the doors of the Church of Liberalism, showing us:

• · its sacraments (abortion)
• · its holy writ (Roe v. Wade)
• · its martyrs (from Soviet spy Alger Hiss to cop-killer Mumia Abu Jamal)
• · its clergy (public school teachers)
• · its churches (government schools, where prayer is prohibited but condoms are free)
• · its doctrine of infallibility (as manifest in the "absolute moral authority" of spokesmen from Cindy Sheehan to Max Cleland)
• · and its cosmology (in which mankind is an inconsequential accident)

Then, of course, there's the liberal creation myth: Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

For liberals, evolution is the touchstone that separates the enlightened from the benighted. But Coulter neatly reverses the pretense that liberals are rationalists guided by the ideals of free inquiry and the scientific method. She exposes the essential truth about Darwinian evolution that liberals refuse to confront: It is bogus science.
Writing with a keen appreciation for genuine science, Coulter reveals that the so-called "gaps" in the theory of evolution are all there is – Darwinism is nothing but a gap. After 150 years of dedicated searching into the fossil record, evolution's proponents have failed utterly to substantiate its claims. And a long line of supposed evidence, from the infamous Piltdown Man to the "evolving" peppered moths of England, has been exposed as hoaxes. Still, liberals treat those who question evolution as religious heretics and prohibit students from hearing about real science when it contradicts Darwinism. And these are the people who say they want to keep faith out of the classroom?

Liberals' absolute devotion to Darwinism, Coulter shows, has nothing to do with evolution's scientific validity and everything to do with its refusal to admit the possibility of God as a guiding force. They will brook no challenges to the official religion.

Why Students from North and South Dakota do better

Statistically academic achievement is much higher among Dakota students than among school age children resident in Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis or New York City.

There has been huge money spent to rectify this ill. The cost to educate the students is half in the Dakotas from what it is in major metropolitan areas.

There must be a logical explanation. I am the master of conspiracy theories. Therefore I believe I have figured it out.

Comtrails – Chemtrails.

You know what they are. They are the streaks that populate the sky during the day leaving a footprint of where airliners have flown. They have been blamed for pollution, changing the weather patterns and littering the formerly clear blue skies. They have been given credit for holding off global warming.

But the real conspiracy is that these chemtrails are filled with mind altering drugs. I heard this precise allegation on an overnight talk show, Coast to Coast. So it must be true. Our kids breath the air salted with these chemical cocktails and it suppresses the ability of the mind to learn. There is more air traffic in the major cities mentioned above therefore more of the evil mind numbing chemicals in the air. The Dakotas have far less air traffic ergo far fewer comtrails. The mind numbing is going on and kids are still dumbed down but to a far lesser degree.

You know it’s not as good as when we were kids. It must be the chemtrails. Otherwise we would have to point the finger at a failing public school system, teachers and administrators who only care about themselves and their pocketbook over the children’s education. That’ll never do.

So, it has to be the Chemtrails - Comtrails. Right?

A Eulogy for Robert Redlin

A couple weeks ago an Uncle of mine died. Not unusual anymore. I'm gettin older, they're changing worlds. I sent flowers. I also sent a eulogy I wrote. I faxed it to the pastor. One of the Great Grandchildren read it.

I got a call yesterday from my cousin (His daughter). She expressed appreciation. Her comment was, that was really touching, you should be a writer. Without thinking I said, I am a writer. Which brought me to think, what is a writer? I have come to the conclusion: A writer is one who writes. There are good and bad writers. But if you consistently write you hone your art and become a writer. When I started this blog a couple years ago I was counseled by a veteran blogger to write every day. She gave me several other tips. I am thankful.

I am also thankful that somehow God gave me the gift of written gab. I appreciate the ability to create and transmit thoughts and ideas. I'm thankful that others appreciate it. I am always happy to be able to give a gift of thoughtful writing when I can. I'm thankful to those of you who read this blog and comment from time to time and who tolerate my writing, sometimes even appreciating. I'll take a chance. Thanks to regular readers, Karma, Jack, Doug, Steve, Sue, Adam, Keith, Scott, Dixie, Ruth, Jim, Todd, Barry, Rick, Dan, Curt, Ken, and probably a dozen or more I missed. I will try hard to not write without thinking of you, what you have to endure and not being too insulting. That is difficult sometimes. I'm so irascible.

One note on the Eulogy below, Uncle Robby lived in Carpenters Home in Lakeland Fl. Carl Straders church. Now being used by Church Without Walls Randy and Paula White. Rodney Howard Browne lives near there. He operated out of this church for many years. Carl is a friend of mine tacitly. I got to know him in Fargo at a men's retreat. We spent a good deal of time during which he shared his vision for Carpenters Home with me.

Isn't it funny how what goes around comes around. Uncle Robby lived and died in Carpenters Home.

You never know what an investment of money in a vision will pay in fruit later on.




April 25, 2006

Reflections on the life of my Uncle Robert (Bob) Redlin

He was my father'’s brother. That counts for a lot. But he was also my friend in many ways. If an uncle can also be a friend he was.

He was faithful to write when he could. He sent me clippings often of events taking place at a church we both were aware of. An Assembly of God Church Carpenters Church Lakeland Florida.

I tried to respond in kind. He always made the effort to stay in touch. I appreciate that about him.

I recall as a kid, family reunions at his farm north of Watertown with the big silo in the yard. Baseball games. Bob and his brothers loved baseball. Those of us not "of age"” would be allowed to bat. He umped. I was terrible. I would get several more than I deserved strikes because of alleged "“ticks"” that only he heard. I suspected he was giving me a break.

Sometimes I visited one of my favorite cousins, Bob Jr in Watertown. We managed to get into trouble enough but Uncle Bob (Robby we called him) would scold and then forgive.

Gathering for his 90th birthday last fall in Wisconsin was the last time I saw him. It was a warm and wonderful day. I will treasure that always. Memories are great. The reality of it all was better.

So to a man who loved his family, his politics, and his Jesus, I say goodbye.
Maybe better said, see you soon. There are so many more goodbyes than hellos these days. That'’s why I treasure the hellos so much.

My condolences to my cousins Bob and Roberta and my congratulations to Uncle Robby for a life well lived. Jesus, would you give him an extra strike? I heard a tick, didn'’t you?

Does Grieving Have a Gender?

I was reminded of the loss (Death) of our last two pets, Skipper the Dog and Ebner the cat. Family and friends who remember the 18 years of Skipper always include something akin to this phrase, “that was the ugliest dog I ever saw”. He was no beauty pageant winner. But he was Skip and he was my dog.

Eb I rescued from a burlap sack that was going to be tossed in the water by a neighbor who had too many cats and Eb just didn’t fit. I traded him for a bushel of corn. Eb was always thankful. He loved something called the running game. Sometimes when he was feeling frisky he would run as fast as he could and then jump on a towel and slide across the floor. He also taught us to speak cat. I wrote on that once. But he loved however cats love. We had him 20 years.

When they died (10 years apart) I grieved.

I still do.

Which brings me to my point. I think grieving contains a gender differential. Maybe because women are aware of the creation of life they are allowed to carry they see life as sunrise and sunset different from men. Men don’t experience sunrise so sunsets seems so wrenching.

I have friends who read this blog (yes it’s about you) who lost a young adult son a few years ago. Watching them grieve and deal with this (can anyone really deal with it) causes me to believe that men grieve more deeply and permanently than women do. Not better. Just deeper. Maybe actually worse. We (I include myself here) don’t ever really get over it.

Men put on a big bravado show. Men are bold and brash. Men’s hearts break deeply and heal slowly. Women don’t do this. They seem to have a good sob, put things away and move on.

Like King David in the Bible after burying the love child of him and Bathsheba took a shower changed clothes and went back to work. I will tell you that’s not normal. Maybe because Nathan the prophet had told him this would happen he had prepared himself.

This all comes to me because of a moving account of a fellow blogger’s account of having a long time pet cat put to sleep. What struck me was the depth of comment from one of the men who called himself old timer. I know what he’s saying. If you are a man, so do you.

Men don’t do well with personal loss. Women lose husbands and life goes on sometimes for 30 years. Men lose wives and like Johnny Cash are gone in a few months.

I don’t know what that means. I don’t know why it is. It just is.

They Think We are STUPID

The Main Stream Media must think we are stupid. We plebians out here are supposed to believe the spin the liberal media is giving Patrick Kennedy regarding his 3AM crash.

As an expert at being stupid late at night. I know the signs.

So did you. Here is the police report. PK was loaded.

I just wonder how the MSM would have dealt with this if it were Rumsfeld or Rove. Look at how they leapt all over Cheney in his hunting accident accusing him of being loaded. And they constently trot out GWBush's drinking past. Don't wait up for anyone to say anything about the Liberal's Royal Family.

The only comment was that people should be more careful taking ambien. Poopycock. (I spelled it the way I wanted to).

NO, be more careful who you believe in the MSM. They Lie and Spin. Nothing they say is true. It's 1984 in the MSM. Truth is a lie, Lies are the truth.

Prophetic Objectivity or Subjectivity

As a person who operates in the Gift of Prophecy I am often asked, how do you know if something is prophetic in it’s meaning? I mean, if a bird hits my windshield when I’m driving down the interstate does that mean anything? If I hear a person quote a scripture and it hits me hard is that prophetic? If I read the book of revelation and get nothing from it am I missing something?

There are two major categories of prophetic revelation:

Subjective Prophetic
The Spirit of God can and does often allow us to see meaning in events, circumstance, relationships, happenstance and seemingly random experiences. You will note I said the Spirit of God reveals these. So, the meaning of these things must come from a revelation by the Spirit within you. Of course, if you don’t have the Spirit of the Living God in you these events will just happen and you will miss the meaning if they had any. I have often said that I see Jesus in everything. Show me a rock, sing me a song, grow me a tree and I can make a parable or a prophetic meaning from it. Does the rock in and of itself carry a message? Not to many. But to some. It’s the Jesus living in me that carries and releases the message. It’s like a TV. An empty cardboard box receives the same signals that a TV set receives. It just can’t interpret them because the box is empty of what it needs to process the signal. On the other hand a TV set can “see” the signal and provide a vision of what the signal carries. Nothing inside means nothing received. Of course some people have the TV innards so to speak but refuse to turn it on or to fine tune the antenna for better reception. Sometimes they find themselves in a place where there is interference or bad reception. Garbage in garbage out.

Objective Prophetic
This is an utterance from God by a prophetic voice. That voice often is in the Bible. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Jeremiah, Joel, Hosea, Daniel, Revelation. These all contain the objective prophetic utterances of God. No matter how you decide to deal with them, they will be fulfilled with or without your interpretation. You can choose to get in line with the objective prophetic movement of time or be run over by it. So knowing and being on guard for the prophetic triggers in life helps us all operate in more confidence.

The same is with modern prophets. They hear a word or words from God. They provide it to whoever will listen. They say, “Thus saith the Lord”. Or the Lord has told me thus and so. You can both hear and judge what they say or you can poo poo it and decide to let life’s semi trucks run you over.

Both the subjective and the objective require the same thing; a living breathing discerning Holy Ghost Spirit inside. Then like the TV set, it must be turned on, tuned in, and without outside interference.

What amazes me is how people miss it. I guess I have been walking in this so long I don’t get not getting it. I have learned to trust the prophetic voices around me. I have learned to trust the voice of God when he speaks. I have learned to see the signs and times like the sons of Issachar.

I’ve not yet arrived; I probably won’t on this side of the veil. But I can walk in confidence knowing that no matter what, God is speaking loudly and clearly if I’ll just see and hear prophetically both the subjective and objective.

It makes life so much easier and less stressful.

Is Prayer a Waste of TIme? Sometimes!

Pray hard.  That’s a bumper sticker I see around.  I agree with it.  There has been a prayer movement in the Church which I endorse and support.  Today is the national day of prayer.  So we will hear a lot about praying on Christian radio and TV. 

 

There is a problem.  Not all prayer is effective prayer.  Much energy spent on prayer is wasted and empty.  It’s not that prayer is wrong but much of what the church calls prayer today is idle words, powerless petitions and hopeless pleas.  God’s not mad at us but he does want us to understand him and how we come to him.  He’s the one who said, come let’s reason together.

 

Here are the sorts of prayers that will be prayed today without much result:

 

1. Prayer without faith
2. Prayer of convention and rote
3. Prayer without fervency
4. Prayer without trust or belief
5. Prayer instead of action
6. Prayer instead of authority
7. Prayer without specificity
8. Prayer subject to circumstances

For clarity, the above are prayers prayed by the saints.  The unbeliever who prays a prayer of repentance is always heard.  Unfortunately the prayer of the unbeliever who prays without repentance is ignored or worse deceived into believing he or she is heard.  A brand new Christian will often pray without knowing what or how to pray.  God’s grace is extraordinary for the new believer.  But as we become mature we are required to go deeper and further.  Soon the Father expects us to grow in faith and grace and pray with effectiveness.  When we were babies our worldly fathers loved our baby talk and fumbling ways.  That’s not nearly as cute on an 18 year old, and even more painful for a 30 year old.  So, believer learn to pray with effectiveness.  Stop praying so much.  Pray less better.  More words does not make better prayer.  I told some Pastor friends once, "the church prays too much".  You would have thought I killed their dog.  But many churches spend far too much time in meaningless empty prayer and zero time in the throne room.

 

I won’t try to teach all there is to know about prayer but in the interest of time and space I offer you these comments about each of the 8 categories above.

 

1. Prayer without faith.  What?  But we do it all the time.  We pray but we don’t really believe what we are saying.  We hope and pray but mostly hope.  If you can’t truly believe it is Gods will and Gods plan for what you are praying stop.  You are taking the name of God in vain.

2. Prayer of convention and rote.  Here is a sacred cow that needs slaying.  Most written prayers, most planned prayers, most books of prayer are ineffective.  Inspirational yes.  Gives you words to say, a spiritual vocabulary; OK.  Worth reading, of course.  But not for prayer.  Any prayer that is prayed which allows you to walk thru without thinking or faith is a waste of time.  This can even mean the Lords Prayer.  The Lords Prayer CAN be prayed with effect but usually isn’t. 

3. Prayer without fervency.  Fervency doesn’t mean volume.  It means passion, belief, desire, fire, faith.  It means if it’s not answered you are surprised even shocked.  That’s fervency.

4. Prayer without trust or belief.  We pray for things and people and don’t believe for a second anything is going to happen.  This is most prayer for the sick (which I don’t believe in) in the church today.  It is prayer for the sake of  prayer.  I do something even if it’s wrong or ineffective and hope it counts.  It doesn’t.

5. Prayer instead of action.  I met John Ashcroft Sr.  Senator/Secretary John Ashcroft of Missouri’s father.  He once said: You are a part of the answer to every prayer you pray.  If you aren’t willing to be involved in the answer, don’t pray.  IF we just enforced this, most empty prayers would be silenced.  If you pray for someone’s provision, for someone’s wholeness in some way you. if you need to do something you must do it.  Put another way, if you have a conflict with a neighbor and you don’t go to him or her to correct it but rather just pray about it, you are wasting time.

6. Prayer instead of authority.  Sometimes we pray when the answer is already given.  This is particularly true for salvation and healing.  Mostly those things should be confessed or commanded.  You have been given the authority.  Stop praying.  Command.  A few days ago I was in a business situation of difficulty.  A semi truck had been stopped in Iowa by the police with my product on it.  I started to pray.  I heard the Lord say, Stop praying.  Speak to that mountain.  So I did.  I stood up, pointed west and commanded the truck to move, commanded the police to let them go.  Without any more phone calls, the mountain moved, the truck was released and things were resolved.  Jesus never said, pray that the mountain be removed, he said, speak to the mountain.  We too often pray when we should speak with the authority we already have.

7. Prayer without specificity.  This is too common. We pray a scattergun prayer.  Bless them Lord.  We have no idea what to pray, we just pray a general prayer.  Sometimes we tell the Lord to read someone’s mind.  “Lord you know all about this, do whatever it is you are supposed to do”.  What?  What about asking, seeking and knocking?  If you don’t know what you are praying for then why pray?

8. Prayer subject to circumstances.  This is a tough one.  We pray like this, “Now Lord, you know how our bills haven’t been paid, and I’m out of work, and we need money, and there’s no hope and and and.”  Prayer must be prayed in spite of circumstance.  Pray the prayer that says I believe that even though it is not, I pray as though it already was.  Have confidence in God.

 

 In the end, there is one catagory of prayer that is always heard and helps us in the infirmities which otherwise might force us to pray like the examples above.  That is the prayer of the Spirit.  Praying in Tongues. Mark 16:17 The Spirit of God takes our tongue and prays a prayer that is not understood except by him.  It takes a prayer of our heart and connects it by the Spirit directly to God.  We don’t know how to pray but he helps us in out infirmities by groanings and utterances we cannot understand.  Rom 8:26.    So many times when I no longer knew what or how to pray I began to pray in an unknown tongue focusing my mind on the situation. 1 Corinthians 14:2-4.  Sometimes that goes an hour.  Sometimes only a few minutes.  Ephesians 6:18.  But in the  end I know that a breakthrough has come and I stop.  Going on would be vain repetition.    It’s a free gift and will help you pray with effectiveness and faith.   I have it on good authority that the Apostle Paul recommends it.  1 Corinthians 14:5. 

 

Thank God on this day of Prayer for the gift of Praying in the Holy Ghost.  Jude 19-21.

 

Getting Unstuck and out of the RUT

Many, maybe most people I know find themselves stuck in one place or another in their lives.

“If only” is the way it sounds. Or, if when. It’s all about hoping for something that has not yet happened. A tomorrow that may not come. It’s how we are living in the future and missing the glory of the present.

Someday is the operative word. Journey. Growing. Developing.
Those are all words which tell us we are stuck. They sound positive enough but they in fact intimate a not yet which is hoped for. This is living in a never never land of someday which never arrives.

How does this happen and how do we get out of it? How can we stop living for tomorrow and start living today.

Abraham Maslow in the 1940’s developed a chart describing a hierarchy of needs. It looks something like this:
I say something like because there is one added component, that is the spiritual. So instead of the original 5 levels, there are 6.

Let’s see how this can help us live all life has to offer. Each need must be satisfied before the next need can be accessed. Reaching for self-actualization and spiritual fulfillment is the goal. But there are several things that must be fulfilled first. Unless the lower goal is fulfilled the higher cannot be.

Level 1. Body needs=I want to live today. This says, I must survive. I must make it today. I must not die. I must be OK for a while. If a person has a gun to his head he thinks in these terms. People on the battlefield live at this level. I must eat. I must duck. The drowning person seeking his next breath is at this basic level.

Level 2. Security needs=I want to live tomorrow. This is shelter, a little money. Maybe some food. Some level of provision. Once I want to live today is satisfied then living the next and the next and the next month and the next year become important. But, if I am threatened with my life, I fall to level one immediately. I can’t move up the pyramid unless the lower levels are covered. Children look hard for this.

Level 3. Social Needs=I want to belong. This is wanting to belong to a family, a group, a club, a bowling team, a company, a church, something that gives me a sense of connectedness. I want to be loved. Acceptance. This is why we have last names. This is why we marry. This is why we are alumnus of our schools. This is why sometimes we live in community or cities. We have a need to belong. But if my security is threatened this becomes less important. If my survival is in jeopardy this couldn’t matter less.

Level 4. Ego Needs=I want to be respected. This is where we want to feel like others admire or respect us and what we are or can do. We need to feel self-respect and respect from those who we are close to. Demeaning robs us of our ability to operate at this level. We want to feel like we can do what we want to do. We develop a healthy pride. That we are able, capable and autonomous to accomplish whatever we want to. We want to make the decisions in our lives. This is and can be a great place to be but it requires so much feedback from others to validate us. This trap can cause us to be stuck in a role of trying to please others to gain respect when the opposite is often the real generation of respect. We want to be loved but we want to be respected. Many wives love their husbands at a level 3 but don’t respect them at a level 4 and therefore rob them of the capacity to grow into the person they hoped they would marry. They become the destroyer of the person they hoped their mate would become.

Level 5. Self-Actualization=I want to contribute to the world; I want to count for something. This is having, knowing and operating on your purpose in life. This requires a fulfillment that sometimes is anonymous. If you are looking for accolades for you actions you haven’t left level 4 yet. Here’s where you realize you have tremendous potential to change the world for good and you try. Even if you fail you try. Who knows. Your growth is not in what you can do but in who you have become. You give because you know that the joy is in the giving not in the glory that goes with it. You are confident in your ability to do what you feel your purpose on the earth is and was meant to be. You have a sense that this is why you were born and why you get up and put your pants on every day. You are doing what you were created to do. You operate on your own volition because you want to. No one has to urge you to do more or better. You just do. Critical people don’t bother you much. At this level your personality is so healthy and solid that your purpose and mission in life trumps everything else anyone can think of.

Level 6. Spiritual=I know there’s so much more. This is seeking after God with a hunger and thirst that will not be quenched except by more of him. This is living in the fullness every day. Never getting enough, but getting all that you can possibly contain for that day. Never satisfied but always satisfied. God wants us to live here and be fulfilled all the way down.

The paradox of all of this is that as you move up the scale the other things take care of themselves.

So, what does this have to do with stuckness?

Most of us live lower in the pyramid than God intended because we buy the lies of the devil. He traps us into not moving up.

Level 1 lie. You’re gonna die. Health fears. Crime fears. Food fears. The devil traps us by making us believe we may not make it tomorrow. So we are stuck at level 1.

Level 2 lie. You are not gonna make it. You’ll go broke. You’ll lose your house. You’ll live under a bridge. You are one paycheck away from bankruptcy. All of these are lies but people that came thru the great depression went to their graves with money in the bank and never having accessed what God had provide for them and their families because of a stuck ness in fear. What’s worse is this can be so obsessing with many people, this is not love of money, it’s fear. This can become so obsessing that people never really come into the joy of the next 3 levels.

Level 3 lie. Nobody loves you. Not even your family. You are living alone with others. You will never become anyone because you are unlovable. The only reason you are still with the friends and relatives you have is because they have to love you. Nobody at work likes you either. Or at church. They all hate you and talk about you.

Level 4 lie. You are a loser. People laugh at you behind your back. You never finish anything. If it wasn’t for others you’d be nothing. You are a fake. You are low and don’t deserve whatever you have.

Level 5 lie. Nothing you are doing counts for anything so give up. You are on the wrong track. You have wasted your life. You should have given up and retired a long time ago. In fact retire now. The world is better off without you.

Level 6 lie. There is no God. Someone made it all up. You should just stick to making money and forget about spiritual things. Money is all that counts.

Of course you recognize that each of those lies are lies. But the ones at the base that we hear stop us from moving and activating the ones at the top.

If you are stuck lower in life than God created you to be, ask yourself, what lie am I hearing that is causing me to be stuck. What am I waiting for.

The reality is you aren’t going to die soon, you are safe for a long time, you are loved by friends and family much more than you can possibly imagine, you are honored and respected by those around you even if they don’t tell you all the time, you are able to make a difference in the world and God loves you more than you can possibly imagine.

Step out, take your place. Do what you were created to do for your God and for mankind.
Our worries about future security can keep us from being faithful to the Kingdom today. (Matthew 6:19-34)
In the text the theme is unmistakable.

• v. 25 Do not worry about your life…
• v. 27 Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?
• v. 28 Why do you worry about clothing…?
• v. 31 Therefore do not worry.

Live today.
Jesus said that.