Musings of an Old Pastor

THE OLD IS OUT THE NEW IS IN

2010-02-02T06:02:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 10 (The Message)
1 The old plan was only a hint of the good things in the new plan. Since that old “law plan” wasn’t complete in itself, it couldn’t complete those who followed it. No matter how many sacrifices were offered year after year, they never added up to a complete solution.
2 If they had, the worshipers would have gone merrily on their way, no longer dragged down by their sins.
3 But instead of removing awareness of sin, when those animal sacrifices were repeated over and over they actually heightened awareness and guilt.
4 The plain fact is that bull and goat blood can’t get rid of sin.
5 That is what is meant by this prophecy, put in the mouth of Christ: You don’t want sacrifices and offerings year after year; you’ve prepared a body for me for a sacrifice.
6 It’s not fragrance and smoke from the altar that whet your appetite.
7 So I said, “I’m here to do it your way, O God, the way it’s described in your Book.”
8 When he said, “You don’t want sacrifices and offerings,” he was referring to practices according to the old plan.
9 When he added, “I’m here to do it your way,” he set aside the first in order to enact the new plan—
10 God’s way—by which we are made fit for God by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.
11 Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem.
12 As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God
13 and waited for his enemies to cave in.
14 It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process.
15 The Holy Spirit confirms this:
16 This new plan I’m making with Israel isn’t going to be written on paper, isn’t going to be chiseled in stone; This time “I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts.”
17 He concludes, I’ll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.
18 Once sins are taken care of for good, there’s no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them.
19 So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.
22 So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out.
23 Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.
24 Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out,
25 not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
26 If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice
27 and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be!
28 If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death,
29 what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit?
30 This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing” and “God will judge his people.”
31 Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me.
32 Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times!
33 Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends.
34 If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back.
35 So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing!
36 But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.
37 It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute.
38 But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy.
39 But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.

[1]
[1] Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002

Heaven Our Hope

2010-01-21T07:55:00.000-08:00

Please read this passage from the Message Bible from 2 Cor. 5:1-14. It expresses clearly why heaven will be worth it all!

2 Corinthians 5:1-13 (The Message)
1 For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not hand-made—
2 and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies!
5 The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.
6 That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead.
7 It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.
8 Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.
9 But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions.
10 Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.
11 That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It’s no light thing to know that we’ll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That’s why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care.
12 We’re not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we’re on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are.
13 If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you.

[1]
[1] Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002

The Next Chapter

2009-11-29T14:15:00.000-08:00

Officially as of 11-18-2009, I am retired! What does the next chapter of my young life hold? Right now, we are traveling in the South (Texas etc) and catching up with friends and relatives. I will have more to say later about this new chapter in our life.

Blessings to you and yours this Lord's day!

Your Business Is Life

2009-10-30T05:40:00.000-07:00

Luke 9:43-62 (The Message)
43 They all shook their heads in wonder, astonished at God’s greatness, God’s majestic greatness. While they continued to stand around exclaiming over all the things he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples,
44 “Treasure and ponder each of these next words: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into human hands.”
45 They didn’t get what he was saying. It was like he was speaking a foreign language and they couldn’t make heads or tails of it. But they were embarrassed to ask him what he meant.
46 They started arguing over which of them would be most famous.
47 When Jesus realized how much this mattered to them, he brought a child to his side.
48 “Whoever accepts this child as if the child were me, accepts me,” he said. “And whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference.”
49 John spoke up, “Master, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t of our group.”
50 Jesus said, “Don’t stop him. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally.”
51 When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem.
52 He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality.
53 But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality.
54 When the disciples James and John learned of it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate them?”
55 Jesus turned on them: “Of course not!”
56 And they traveled on to another village.
57 On the road someone asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.
58 Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.” Jesus said to another, “Follow me.”
59 He said, “Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father’s funeral.”
60 Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s kingdom!”
61 Then another said, “I’m ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.”
62 Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”

[1]
[1] Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002

Why Does a Church Need Multi-Generations?

2009-08-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

Milbre and I had a day off yesterday and took the opportunity to visit a church in Seattle we had heard so much about. We visited Mars Hill Church at the Ballard Campus. Lead Pastor Mark Driscoll was on vacation. Pastor "Bill" was the speaker. We were both struck by the enormous crowd of young people! Hundreds of twenty-somethings. What a testatment to this local church reaching this younger generation. The only anomally was there were almost no older people. I noticed only 4 or 5 couples (out of hundreds) that I would consider "Middle-Age".

Pastor Bill brought a great message on living the Christ life. I observed the youth in that service were totally immersed in the message. The service began at 11:15 AM. There were two worship choruses with up-beat music. Pastor began his message at 11:30 and wrapped up at 12:15PM. I thought that was a good balance--weighted to the Word.

After service, Milbre and I discussed the service and agreed that it was a terrific outreach--but where were the older people? It is my belief that church should represent and include all generatons. The elders need the younger set and the younger set need the influence of elders in their life. This is not criticsm, but a question of what happens if you do church with only your generation? Is this the trend? I know of a church in Phoenix AZ that has only 55 and older.

If you have thoughts or comments on this trend, please let me know. I believe that everyone needs Jesus Christ and no one should be left behind.

A Teachable Spirit

2009-08-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

1 Samuel 26:8-11 (NIV)

8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won’t strike him twice.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?
10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

Abishai couched his comment in spiritual language:

“Today, God has delivered your enemy into your hand…”

I call this spiritual manipulation. Manipulating the Scriptures for a desired result. I think that is a danger we all must be careful of. That’s how cults are formed and false doctrines begin.

Abishai could withstand and accept correction. He had a teachable spirit. It is a requirement of those who would be serious followers of Christ.

Beware the Christian who thinks they have an inside track on spirituality and knowledge from God. Sometimes, in an effort to find acceptance, I have watched some as they tried to establish themselves as “the” spokesperson that God wants to use.

If God has told you something or directed you, then that word can stand challenge or correction from leadership. I am a little wary of those who constantly say, “God told me this, God told me that, I know what God wants.” Sometimes, God will speak to us for our own needs—not to show the world how spiritual and how close to God we are—or to set the church straight.

No one stands alone and no one person has a patent on the Word of Knowledge or the prophetic Word. God sets these gifts in the church “as He wills.” The gifts are not necessarily resident in the person—they are resident in the Body—the Church.

Denny points out that “every heresy has its beginning in the heart of an unteachable believer.” Because God anoints them for a special purpose, spiritual pride can enter their heart and they feel they have ownership of that gift in the Body.

The Abishai anointing is willing to receive teaching and correction.

A teachable spirit inhabits those who walk in humility and Godliness. As Paul admonished Timothy, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them.” He seems to indicate that it can mean the difference between being saved and reaching others as well.

King Saul in the Old Testament is an example of an unteachable spirit. It started long before our story in this book. It started when he was a young king and began to feel the power of his position. The first indication was when he became impatient and disobedient and stepped into the role of Priest and offered the sacrifice. On top of that, when he fought against the Amalakites, God told him to destroy them all—every living thing. Pride taught him that he knew better—so he spared the best of the flock and also King Agag. This led to Samuel’s challenge: “Does God delight as much in burnt offerings and sacrifice as much as he does in obedience?”

If Saul had possessed a teachable spirit he would not have found himself in this predicament of being told “Your kingdom will not continue.” “To obey is better than sacrifice and to listen is better than the fat of rams.”

THE PEOPLE WHO BOTHERED TO REACH OUT TO GOD

2009-08-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 65:1-10 (The Message)
1 “I’ve made myself available to those who haven’t bothered to ask. I’m here, ready to be found by those who haven’t bothered to look. I kept saying ‘I’m here, I’m right here’ to a nation that ignored me.
2 I reached out day after day to a people who turned their backs on me, People who make wrong turns, who insist on doing things their own way.
3 They get on my nerves, are rude to my face day after day, Make up their own kitchen religion, a potluck religious stew.
4 They spend the night in tombs to get messages from the dead, Eat forbidden foods and drink a witch’s brew of potions and charms.
5 They say, ‘Keep your distance. Don’t touch me. I’m holier than thou.’ These people gag me. I can’t stand their stench.
6 Look at this! Their sins are all written out— I have the list before me. I’m not putting up with this any longer. I’ll pay them the wages
7 They have coming for their sins. And for the sins of their parents lumped in, a bonus.” God says so. “Because they’ve practiced their blasphemous worship, mocking me at their hillside shrines, I’ll let loose the consequences and pay them in full for their actions.”
8 God’s Message: “But just as one bad apple doesn’t ruin the whole bushel, there are still plenty of good apples left. So I’ll preserve those in Israel who obey me. I won’t destroy the whole nation.
9 I’ll bring out my true children from Jacob and the heirs of my mountains from Judah. My chosen will inherit the land, my servants will move in.
10 The lush valley of Sharon in the west will be a pasture for flocks, And in the east, the valley of Achor, a place for herds to graze. These will be for the people who bothered to reach out to me, who wanted me in their lives, who actually bothered to look for me.

Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002

A LIFE OF GOD-WORSHIP

2009-07-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7 "The Message" by Eugene Peterson

“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

“Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!

“You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

PRAY WITH SIMPLICITY

2009-07-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

From "The Message" by Eugene Peterson

Matthew 5-7

“And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
“When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well.

THE WORLD IS NOT A STAGE

2009-07-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

("The Message" by Eugene Peterson)

Matthew 6

6 “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding.

“When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.

FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

2009-07-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

(From "The Message" by Eugene Peterson)

COMPLETING GOD’S LAW

“Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.

“Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

MURDER

“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
“Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine.

ADULTERY AND DIVORCE

“You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’ But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt.

“Let’s not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here’s what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.
“Remember the Scripture that says, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights’? Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal.’ Please, no more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you’re responsible for making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress, you’re automatically an adulterer yourself. You can’t use legal cover to mask a moral failure.

EMPTY PROMISES

“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

SALT AND LIGHT

2009-07-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

(From the Message Bible by Eugene Peterson)

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

YOU'RE BLESSED

2009-07-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

(Excerpted from Eugene Peterson's Paraphrase "The Message" Bible)

Matthew 5 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘carefull,’ you find yourselves cared for.
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
“Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

(3) HOW DOES CALVARY TEMPLE FIT INTO GOD’S PLAN?

2009-07-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

(This is the third post of a message on the 80th Anniversary of Calvary Temple, now known as Northwest Family Church)

If we will follow Him, our future is brighter than our past!

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, then I will hear from heaven.”

God wants to bless us with exponential growth! But he wants it to come from winning new people to Christ!

Some of us came out of untenable situations in churches to a place of healing and restoration in the place. Calvary Temple is unique in that respect.

It is time for us to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” He wants to grow us, not just numerically, but spiritually as well!

It is time to move beyond issues over which we have no control and not give Satan a place where he can sow discord and malcontent.

God’s will is to use this place as a “saving station.” We need a revival of such proportions that a place of sinfulness such as the casino would have to close—and we would need their building. Only God can do that—but He can do it!

CONCLUSION:

Eighty years of colorful history. As we move into the fourth or fifth generation of our existence, what kind of history is this generation going to write? Should Jesus come in this generation (and He could!), will we be found watching and waiting? Will we be found doing the “Father’s business?”—Winning souls for His kingdom. “For God so loved Auburn that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life.”

My belief is that if we are doing what God has called us to do, we will not give Satan a place in our life. We will be so consumed in prayer and obedience to God’s will, that much of what is thrown at us will bounce off the shield of faith.

I want to see revival where the blind see, cancers are healed, the deaf hear, but most of all, where a lost, dying generation can find hope, peace and restoration.

If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, you can make that choice today. You can be a part of what God is going to do.

(2) WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

2009-07-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

a. The genius of the body of Christ and the importance of relationships within it.

Understanding this genius, we begin to grasp the importance of the role of membership fidelity in maturing and prospering the church.

b. A building?

“Here’s the church and there’s the steeple, open it up and there’s the people.”

More than perception, rooted in our culture is the idea that the church is a building. “I’m going to church”. We call the building where we worship “the church”.

c. “The people”?

A second common perception is that the church is the people who gather. This is closer to Biblical reality—but what people?

Many view the church as a social club. They join the church in the same way they join a country club, Kiwanis, or Rotary. This view downplays the significance of the church’s importance in a person’s life. It is only there to provide status, programming and services such as weddings and funerals.

Changing churches, then, has to do with keeping up with the Joneses or upholding ethnic and cultural norms rather than being a part of a living reality.

d. A denomination?

Which is the true Christian church, the building or the people—or is it a denomination that holds the right to the title “the church’?

e. The Biblical Model

In the New Testament the term is ekklesia (church or assembly) literally “the called-out ones” It appears 111 times. 73 times it is referring to the gathering of people, but never does it refer to a building.

It is a gathering of God’s people which Ephesians calls the church or the “Body of Christ.” Those that have been born again into a “new and living hope.”

The church as a congregation is first pictured in the Book of Acts 2:42-47 where it tells us that those who responded to Peter’s message of repentance were filled with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and gathered together, meeting from house to house and followed the apostle’s teaching, had fellowship and prayer.
Paul describes the “Body” in Corinthians comparing it to the human body, with the Head of the Body, being Christ. I Cor. 12 14, 18, 25 describes that body has having many different parts and God has “arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”

(1) CALVARY TEMPLE AT EIGHTY

2009-07-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

(A REFLECTIVE LOOK AT OUR MISSION)

(A Three-Part Blog)

(Observe the title of this post was the former name of our church in Auburn. We are now known as Northwest Family Church. This was a message I preached during a transition period in 2003.)

The history of this local assembly runs deep and is very colorful. From humble beginnings in storefronts and various gathering places until the building we are in which was built in the l970’s.

When this congregation was formed in 1923, Ruth Stewart was seven years of age and her little brother, Arthur, was around 5 years of age. He’s the one we call “Doc.”

As a congregation, we have witnessed many changes in our history. Some have been welcome, some not so welcome. Our growth has been consistent and solid, with some variations over the years. Our pulpit has hosted many shepherds-pastors. Each has contributed to who and what we are as a body of Christian believers.

Where do we go from here? Where will our future growth come from? Are we destined to join other movements and churches, which refused to honestly examine their purpose and mission and to adjust their methods for growth?

In the church world, at large, there is a huge paradigm-shift in philosophy, in doctrine. In many metropolitan cities, expansive, mega-churches have sprouted with 15—even 20, 000 attendees. One such church has two Saturday evening worship services and five Sunday worship services, each one filled to capacity.

When I was a teenager in the 50’s, the largest Pentecostal churches were around 200 in attendance. In my lifetime, I have witnessed an explosion of growth in many, non-traditional, non-denominational churches. It is common for many of our Assembly of God churches to have 2-3000 in attendance.

God has placed Calvary Temple in this exciting period of history. We will either adapt or catch a vision for what God wants to do, or we could fade off into oblivion like many denominational churches. Go into many of the major cities of the East and Northeast. There you will see great edifices, which no longer have services and have been closed or taken over by aggressive, evangelistic churches that are reaching communities that, have long been abandoned by other churches.

1. TAKING A LOOK AT GROWTH

In the past;

Our church has witnessed remarkable growth in attendance in the 14 years that Milbre and I have attended here.Some stayed, others exited out the back door.

There are different measures of growth.

Transfer growth

For Pastors and church leaders, numerical growth is a powerfully, intoxicating justification. It can impair sound judgment and make you vulnerable to just about anything that will help you achieve your success.

Author, William Chadwick, has written a book entitled, “Stealing Sheep, the church’s hidden problems with transfer growth”

He relates the time as a child, he stole a penny piece of bubble gum and after being caught, his mother made him pay restitution by finding bottles he could redeem and pay the store for the gum. He said the next time he stole; he was an Ordained Christian minister. His treasure was no longer penny bubblegum, but was “sheep”, active members of the body of Christ in another congregation that were the objects of his attention.

Some were spiritually fat sheep, so well fed that they hated the same old meals that had brought them health and prosperity thus far. They were in search of some new and exciting dimension in church life, an unidentified something more. Usually bored, these gross underachievers were not often praised and could be easily enticed to transfer their membership by the promise of a new, fulfilling and invigorating experience.

Others were thin, starving animals—members of a church whose pastor preached the same old message every week and offered no spiritual food to the congregation. They were easily wooed away by offers to address the most basic of spiritual needs.

Then there were the black sheep: consummate malcontents who were always testing and challenging pastoral decisions, points of theology or any other topic that could elicit controversy. Perpetually ready to escape form their current shepherd, they lived lives of seeking, church hopping and wanderlust.

Last, there were the dumb sheep, the easily influenced that simply followed the flock. Many were mesmerized by the opinions and actions of others. He goes on to say that these, never really having an opinion of their own, they sought security in keeping in line with the latest trends of the majority. They would leave their church, just because others were doing so.

Changing Values

Our culture’s influence on the church has generally been underestimated. No longer are many people loyal to the church of their historic roots. He points out that, for many, the church has changed from a place where one serves to where one seeks services. The important question they ask, “Does this church meet our needs?” Needs can be confused with wants, and wants can be subjective. This can lead us to a continuous cycle to church shopping.

The chapter ends with the sad news after years of tremendous growth of this sort, the foundations of his church began to crack, when those same folks continued their quest for the “perfect” church. And they witnessed a dramatic drop in their attendance. It was a depressing and an awakening experience.

Growth from within

Planned, calculated growth that comes from birth of new Christians in the local assembly that are trained to reproduce themselves in others is God’s plan! He wants us to be evangelistic, passionate about Missions and passionate about this city where he has planted this church.

To understand this concept, I want to first address the question in the next post—“What Is The Church?”.

Facebook Musings

2009-06-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

One of the wonders of technology was the creation of the social networking web site--Facebook. I recently decided I should try my hand at this since the "Mission" of Northwest Family Church is "Connecting people to Jesus and each other". Much to my amazement is that I have been connected to friends I have not seen or heard from in 35 years!. What a wonderful blessing it has been to reconnect to friends that I attended College with, Pastored, and many others. Just to see their faces and read their postings brings back a flood of memories from many years ago.

We recently completed ten years of service at Northwest Family Church and I have learned that God's Grace is all-sufficient! These have been some of my richest years of ministry and I have been privileged to serve them with my friend and partner of almost 50 years, my wife, Milbre.

Friends are important. They form a network of fellowship and prayer partners that will enable us to stand firm and faithful to the work of God. I love all my friends and I am thankful for what each of you has contributed to my life.

2009-05-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

First, I want to thank you for your prayers and many cards and good wishes during my time off for surgery. On March 31st, I had a total knee replacement in my right knee. I thank the Lord that God blessed me with a very good physician—Dr. Robert Winquist at the Swedish Orthopedic Institute in Seattle. God also blessed me with a very supportive helper,my wife, Milbre, who has gone above and beyond to see me through this. I also want to thank Larry Martin for his support in doing a superb job with Seniors Alive Bible Study and teaching the bible Class on Sunday’s.

I am happy to report that my rehab has gone very well and on April 22, I was able to leave the walker and use a cane. I returned to my Bible class Sunday, April 26th and to our Word of Life Fellowship on Wednesday, April 29th.

I heard good reports of the outing to Sumner this past week to the Windmill Nursery and lunch at Dixie’s. In the month of May, we plan to car-pool to the Weyerhaeuser Gardens in Federal Way, on May 27th, and follow up with lunch at the Old Country Buffett. We will not have a bible Study that day. I hope you will plan to meet us there. The Rhode’s should be in full bloom.

Looking forward to the month of June, mark your calendars for June 24th. That is the date for our annual Seniors Picnic at Game Farm Park. We will meet at 11:00 am, lunch at noon and games following.

The Miracle of Modern Medicine

2009-03-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

It is fascinating to see the knowledge that God has given man and I plan to be a recipient of that knowledge this next week. For a young man of 70, it has become necessary to have a total knee replacement for my right knee. These joints wear out--in this case "arthritis" has taken its toll and there is nothing left but bone on bone. My reaction when the first doctor told me that I needed a knee replacement was I wanted a second opinion. After 2-3 weeks and the second doctor telling me the same thing, the pain in my knee helped me decide that it was time to have this done.

Swedish Orthopedic Institute in Seattle has a tremendous reputation and I feel very blessed to have Dr Robert Winquist to be the surgeon to do this for me. The pre-planning of the hospital in preparing the patient for surgery is outstanding. It takes away the anxiety and questions that one might have.

While I have been less than prolific in my blogging, out of necessity, I will not be posting for a few weeks.

Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

SEASONS OF LIFE

2009-03-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (NIV)
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

Just as there are seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter to the weather and surroundings, there are seasons of our lives. We each experience most of them.

"A time to be born" –

In the spring of our lives, we are young and needful of teaching. Our parents teach us in ways that build our character, the "WHO" we are part of us. We derive from them our moral ethics and codes. Our teachers at school also build upon this character by building upon our abilities in different subjects throughout our years in school. The more we study, the more we learn in which ability we are stronger.

"A time to plant" –

In the summer of our lives, we go about using what we have learned in the spring of our lives. We get out of school/college; get a job in which we can demonstrate our talents. We get married and raise a family. Some of us are farmers - we "plant" food to harvest to be sold to the rest of the nations.

"A time to uproot" - Harvest times comes in the autumn of life. We draw on the resources we have 'planted', just as we harvest the vegetables from our garden to be put up for "another day". The American Dictionary gives one of it's definitions for “uproot or “pluck (KJV) as "Resourceful courage and daring in the face of difficulties; spirit."

"A time to die" –

To each of us, there comes a time in our lives, when material things no longer matter. We have reached the end of the road - the path that leads to eternal life. The destination of your soul depends on how you have lived during the 'spring, summer, and autumn'. You want to be found faithful, "hold fast (our) profession" (Hebrews 4:14), because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has gone before us to prepare a place in the heavens! The Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 15:31 "I die daily". He died to self and gave himself to God.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

My prayer is that you have made preparation for your eternal destiny! In the troubled times we find ourselves in, many have struggled, saved, planned and looked forward to the autumn of their lives when they could retire with a decent living only to find that greed and avarice in the financial centers of our country (Wall Street) has wiped out their retirement portfolios and they now face an uncertain financial future. Many are forced to delay their retirement for years, if ever and are back in the employment lines.

My heart goes out to those who find themselves in such predicaments. It is a lesson we all must learn, that we cannot put our trust in the material things of this world. Our only hope is Trust in God! Know Him! In doing so, we will find a peace that all the money in the world cannot buy.

"Threescore and Ten"

2009-01-25T16:38:00.000-08:00

As I look back over the past year, there are many blessings to be thankful for. True, there have been heartaches and pain, but through it all God was there with us.

Is it just me? Or does it seem that time goes faster the older we get? This January, I hit my threescore and ten! It doesn’t quite seem possible that I have been around this world for 70 years. Yet, you may have passed that milestone several years ago and are still going strong.

That encourages me!

Hear what Scripture has to say about this:

Psalm 90:10 (NIV)
10 The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

I look forward to this new year with anticipation that we are one year closer to the coming of Jesus Christ for His church. As a believer, reach out with enthusiasm to those who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and lead them to Him.

I wish each of you a blessed and prosperous New Year!

The Birth of Messiah

2008-12-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

It is the season for which the Christian rejoices in and understands the significance of the story of Jesus and His birth. While many around us lose their focus in a blizzard of grafitti and commercialism, we rejoice and recount the old story again! Without this birth, we have no reason to exist. Read once again the story as the Gospel of Luke tells it.

Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

If you have never met this Christ, then I hope and pray you will come to know Him. His life, death and resurrection provides for you a means of salvation. You need only to ask Him to forgive you of your sins, receive Him into your heart as Lord and Savior and He will save you!

Again, a scripture that explains the way to salvation so simply:

Romans 10:8-11 (NIV)
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

2008-12-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

Milbre and I just returned from a three week vacation in Texas and Louisiana. Because Air-fares are so expensive, we decided to drive this year and take our two dogs, Bentley and Vickers with us. Driving in the high-country in Winter can be interesting to say the least. Hey! This is a great country! The fun and excitement of driving is wonderful.

One of the pleasant by-products of this trip was the price of gasoline. Every fill up was under $2.00 per gallon. The lowest was $1.43 per gallon in Evanston, Wyoming! Go figure!

One of the anomalies I noticed on this trip was the proliferation of Windmill farms used for energy. Across many States were these huge windmills--hundreds of them turning in the wind, producing electricity. I read one article in Texas that companies were sending out individuals to ranchers and farmers across the country, buying up rights to their land for windmill use. It reminds me of the gold rush days or the early days in the discovery of oil, when similar actions were taken. There is some myth as to how much these windmills will provide. I listened to an energy panel on TV today that discussed these issues. Stephen Moore said that to produce enough electricity to light up Manhattan, it would take a land area the size of the entire State of Connecticut.

The wide expanse of Texas, the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, all speak to the beauty of this land called "America". I am glad to be an American! God bless this great country and bring us close to Him.

Hear what the Scripture challenges us to do:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Lord, send an Awakening to America once more!

Give It a Rest

2008-11-11T18:20:00.000-08:00

This blog will go silent for a few weeks while we migrate south with the Canadian geese to visit our children and grandchildren for Thanksgiving. Here's hoping that you enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. Whatever is within your means, do something good for someone this Thanksgiving.

Blessings!

Don Howard

Cal Thomas Has It Right!

2008-11-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

For Christians, this opinion piece by Cal Thomas this week describes plainly what the Christian's attitude and response should be to the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.

Religious Right, May it Rest in Peace

Cal Thomas • Tribune Media Services • November 6, 2008

When Barack Obama takes the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2009, he will do so in the 30th anniversary year of the founding of the so-called Religious Right. Born in 1979 and mid-wifed by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, the Religious Right was a reincarnation of previous religious-social movements that sought moral improvement through legislation and court rulings. Those earlier movements -- from abolition to Prohibition -- had mixed results. Social movements that relied mainly on political power to enforce a conservative moral code weren't anywhere near as successful as those that focused on changing hearts.

The four religious revivals, from the First Great Awakening in the 1730s and 1740s to the Fourth Great Awakening in the late 1960s and early '70s, which touched America and instantly transformed millions of Americans (and American culture as a result), are testimony to that.

Thirty years of trying to use government to stop abortion, preserve opposite-sex marriage, improve television and movie content and transform culture into the conservative Evangelical image has failed. The question now becomes: should conservative Christians redouble their efforts, contributing more millions to radio and TV preachers and activists, or would they be wise to try something else?

I opt for trying something else.

Does the secular left, when it holds power, persuade conservatives to live by their standards? Of course they do not. Why, then, would conservative Evangelicals expect people who do not share their worldview and view of God to accept their beliefs when they control government?

Too many conservative Evangelicals mistake political power for influence. What is the answer, then, for conservative Evangelicals who are rightly concerned about the corrosion of culture, the indifference to the value of human life and the living arrangements of same- and opposite-sex couples?

It is contained in the life and commands of Jesus of Nazareth. Suppose millions of conservative Evangelicals followed the admonition of Jesus to "love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison and care for widows and orphans," not as ends, as so many liberals do by using government, but as a means of demonstrating God's love for the whole person in order that people might seek him?

Such a strategy could be more "transformational" than electing a new president. But in order to succeed, it would not be led by charismatic figures, who would raise lots of money, be interviewed on talk shows, author books and make gobs of money. Scripture teaches that God's power (if that is what conservative Evangelicals want and not their puny attempts at grabbing earthly power) is made perfect in weakness. He speaks of the tiny mustard seed, the seemingly worthless widow's mite, of taking the last place at the table and the humbling of one's self, the washing of feet and similar acts and attitudes; the still, small voice. How did conservative Evangelicals miss this?

Evangelicals are at a junction. They can take the path that will lead them to more futility and ineffective attempts to reform culture through government, or they can embrace the far more powerful methods outlined by the One they claim to follow.

They will get no credit, but they will see results.

An Election 2008 Prophecy

2008-11-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

I submit for your consideration this prophetic message given by Pastor Steve Foss on Oct 25, 2008.

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2008, 12:49 PM

A Prophetic Warning from Pastor Steve Foss.

I am writing to you today an urgent message concerning the coming American election. God has released me to share with you a powerful prophecy He gave me eight years ago. I have shared this prophecy in a number of public meetings, but I have never published it for all our friends and partners.

In January of 2000 God gave me an incredible insight into what was about to happen in the coming elections in America over the next decade.

I am not using this e-mail to tell you, who are citizens of America, who to vote for. However, you need to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying. Never in my 22 years of ministry have I seen such a spirit of delusion released upon our country.
In January of 2000, while the Republican nomination for president was far from being decided, God spoke to me that George W. Bush would be the president of the United States. He told me it would be the hardest fought election in American history. I'm sure we can all remember the incredible battle that took place in Florida. He told me that President Bush would be elected to two terms. He told me that during Bush's term there would be a season of unprecedented economic prosperity.

Now despite what the media has said, the economic wealth created during the last eight years was unprecedented. I know the media and one of the political parties has been trying to paint the last eight years as the worst economic time in American history, but it is absolutely untrue. If you look at the wealth created, there were more millionaires created in the last eight years than any time in history. Multitudes of people were able to sell real estate before the housing market collapse, and received incredible transfers of wealth. I could spend hours showing documentation of the wealth created, but suffice it to say, the evidence is there.
God then said to me, "At the end of President Bush's second term there would be an economic collapse." As everyone in the world knows, we have just faced the greatest economic threat since 1929 and the Great Depression. I will speak a little more about the present economic situation a little later in this message.

Every detail that God gave me has come to pass exactly as He said. Now there is one more important thing that God spoke to me. This is the purpose and the reason I am writing this e-mail today. God spoke to me that after George W Bush, America would elect its most ungodly president ever. I'm going to say that again. God spoke to me that after George W. Bush, America would elect its most ungodly president ever.
As of the writing of this e-mail we are now less than two weeks away from voting for our next president. At this time the polls are strongly showing that the Democratic nominee for president will easily win the White House.

Now in 2006 I began to ask the Lord, "Is that guaranteed to happen in 2008?" He spoke to me very clearly and gave me the key words to what I believe holds this election in the balance right now. He gave me these key words that can forever change what is about to happen in America.
He said, "It depends on the Christians."

I am not going to endorse a candidate, nor am I telling anyone who to vote for. I am simply sharing what God has shown me.

I had a vision earlier this year. I saw Barack Obama in this vision. He was speaking to a large crowd and being broadcast on television. He was speaking incredible words of unity, peace, and bringing all sides together; the words were elegant, the words were comforting, and the words were inspiring.

But while he was speaking I saw all a powerful spirit of violence coming out of his spirit feeding into the spirits of those that were hearing him. That spirit of violence was directed at anybody who opposed what he was saying. Those who heard his words and received it had the spirit of violence being implanted inside of them. It was a rage like I have not seen before.

It was the rage that would be unleashed against those who oppose and stand in the way of Barack Obama's agenda. We are already seeing the beginnings of this spirit manifested here in America. The vicious attacks against Sarah Palin have been unlike anything we have ever seen before. The sheer hate for this woman from people who knew nothing about her, and who claim to stand up and protect the little people, and women, has been shocking.

We now see it with Joe the plumber. These people who are under the influence of this demon spirit of rage desire to completely destroy this man because he dared to question Barack Obama. In fact it wasn't just the question; it was because Barack Obama revealed his true agenda that Joe the plumber became a threat. So the supporters of Barack Obama who had been fed and affected by the spirit of violence went into full swing to destroy a fellow citizen; the very kind of person that Barack Obama has been speaking about in his eloquent speeches, saying how he is the only candidate fighting for them.

I want to put this deep in your spirit. I am speaking as a prophet. The words I'm about to tell you are "thus saith the Lord". If Barack Obama is elected, the attacks against free speech, against those who believe differently than he does, and the systematic use of the government and laws to silence the voice of fundamental Christians will be unlike anything ever seen in this nation before.

I have talked to many Christians, including pastors, not only here in the United States but around the world, who strongly support Barack Obama. Many of them are angry with the Republicans, and understandably so. Others are inspired by the thought of electing America's first African American president, while others believe Barack Obama to be a Christian who is very concerned with the poor and needy. I am not going to address any of the many concerns about Barack Obama and his form of Christianity. I am only speaking the words of thus saith the Lord, and you have to decide what you're going to do with it.

But I want to remind you, every word God has spoken to me over the last eight years and every word which I have prophesied about the American government and the elections has come to pass.

God does not give this prophecy to scare us, but to prepare us.
God said that the 2008 election is in the hands of the Christians. Just like when God spoke to Jonah about the judgment coming to Nineveh, when the Ninevites repented God withheld judgment; the same can happen in this election. Even though God spoke that America would elect its most ungodly president, He has given us the ability to stay this judgment.

Now you may be asking, "Are you saying that Barack Obama, if elected, would be America's most ungodly president ever." Yes!

Now I'm not telling you who to vote for. Some people want an ungodly president. That's their choice. I have watched throughout the world, Christians support political leaders who are blatantly ungodly. So again, this is the people's choice.
I believe if the Christians will pray, repent, and hear the voice of God, a miracle can happen on Election Day. This nation lies in the hands of the Christians. Will we humble ourselves before God and pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done? Or will we allow our emotions, our feelings, our angers, our greed, our race, the opinions of the media, our fears, to dictate to us and affect who we vote for? If you allow these things to affect you, whether you vote for Republican or Democrat, you are not being led by the Spirit.

We must spend time in deep intercessory prayer and cry out for God's mercy upon America. For all our friends who are not in the United States, if Christianity comes under the assaults that it would under a government controlled by Barack Obama and the Liberal Democrats, it will have horrible negative effects on the Gospel throughout the world.

All truth is parallel. People say when America catches a cold, the world suffers a flu. This present financial crisis is proof of that. When America is moral and bows its knee to God, it has incredible positive spiritual impact around the world. However, we have seen over the last several decades, when America becomes more immoral that too affects the world.

We need all the Christians around the world to pray for revival to come to America, and for God to have mercy and spare us from this judgment.
Finally, a brief word about the financial crisis. This is not the end time financial crisis. It is very serious, and it is shaking the foundations of the world's economic system. But we will come out of this, and there will be a time again of incredible wealth creation. However, the cracks in the financial system will not be healed. The door has been opened and the way is being made for a one world government system to overtake the world's economics.

The world will falsely look at this situation and say that when the governments individually, and with some unified coordination, jumped in to rescue the world, that it prevented a worldwide depression. In the future, when the true end time financial collapse takes place, it will be very easy for the nations of the world and the peoples of those nations to allow a new worldwide governing body to come to the rescue. Understand that everything that is happening has a significant spiritual purpose.

So don't panic by what you see happening today, but take this as a spiritual warning from God. Prepare yourself. Get out of debt. Hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in regards to how you handle money. Let God position you to handle the future complete economic collapse and the overtaking of the world's economic system.

Please pray for America. May God have mercy on us all.

Your friend,
Steve Foss
Steve Foss Ministries
P.O. Box 1592
Keller, TX 76244
817-898-0440

The Stakes Couldn't Be Higher

Let us hear this call to prayer for America!

The Case for Jerusalem

2008-10-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

“The Great City”

An important rule to remember is that the Bible is the best interpreter of Scripture.

One of the simplest, yet strongest clues that Jerusalem is to be understood as the harlot of Babylon is that John seems to give the answer away directly to the observant reader in a couple of key places in Revelation.

Ø At the end of chapter 17, the interpreting angel tells John the identity of the adulterous woman explicitly: “The woman whom you saw is the great city which has dominion over the kings of the earth” This phrase “the great city” seems to be set forth with the assumption that the reader knows what city that would be, and the phrase is tossed around several more times in this passage.

o Moreover, the phrase appears to be used quite exclusively in the book of Revelation. Outside of this passage, in which it occurs many times, all of which clearly refer to Babylon, the phrase only appears twice in the rest of this twenty-two-chapter book.

Ø The first, and most important occurrence of the designation “the great city” is in 11:8, which reads, “And [the two witnesses’] bodies will lie in the street of the great city which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified”

o First, it is all but indisputable that “the great city” as identified here is Jerusalem, “where also their Lord was crucified.”

o Secondly, the writer also sets a precedent for using metaphorical names for Jerusalem, specifically names of Israel’s ancient enemies. This tells us two things: we should not be surprised if he does it again, and Jerusalem is being painted in a very negative light in Revelation.

o A similar occurrence of the phrase “the great city” is found in 16:19, where again we have a vital clue to the identity of the harlot who appears later.

o The verse reads, “And the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell”

o As several commentators have recognized, the splitting of the city into three parts seems to echo Ezek 5:1–5 in which God has the prophet divide his hair into three parts as a depiction of coming judgment upon a city, specifically, the desolation of Jerusalem, which will occur in thirds.

o Taking together the precedent of Rev 11:8, the contrast with the cities of the nations/Gentiles, and the background of Ezek 5, we have very compelling reasons to think 16:9, like 11:8, may be referring to Jerusalem as “the great city.”

Ø If Jerusalem is not the harlot, it is worth asking at this point why John, who uses the phrase “the great city” so colorfully in chapters 17 and 18 has been so uncareful as to let it slip at two other places in the book, both of which would likely lead one to see Jerusalem as God’s enemy, if not Babylon itself

From looking at these Scripture, it is my understanding that this is referring to an Apostate Religious, Economic, Political system that has existed since before Jesus was on earth. They were His most vociferous opponents. It does not refer to those orthodox Jews who live by the Word of God and practice its precepts daily. They are the one's who are looking for Messiah!

Hear what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 9.

Romans 9:6-8 (NIV)
6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”
8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.

[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Jerusalem is Mystery Babylon?

2008-10-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

This is not an Anti-Semitic rant. When I refer to Jerusalem, I am referring to a system that has political/economic/spiritual ramifications that Jesus Himself had to deal with when He was upon the earth. I ask the reader to follow the next few posts on this subject and, using the Scriptures, make an informed judgment as to the validity of the argument.

The case for identifying Jerusalem as the intended reference for the harlot image in Revelation proceeds on several fronts. Some are related to internal evidence throughout the Apocalypse; others involve the background of the rest of Scripture and general thematic emphases of biblical prophecy. But when taken together, I am persuaded that these lines of argument point in one primary direction, as we will see in the following evaluation of the evidence.

Babylon Imagery in Jewish Sources

One of the chief reasons many have contended that Babylon represents Rome in the Apocalypse is the widely recognized fact that a number of Jewish sources use this device to critique Rome. Certainly this is not uncommon, and it is understandable that many commentators find this compelling. Moreover, this argument presupposes the understanding that these Jewish writers used such imagery in light of the destruction of the temple, an act first executed by historical Babylon, and later recapitulated by the Romans.

A second difficulty with the Jerusalem view for some is the lofty language used by the author of Revelation to describe the city of Babylon, especially in 17:18 which reveals the identity of the harlot as “the great city which has dominion over the kings of the earth” From a sheer political standpoint, this seems very persuasive.

The City on Seven Hills

Jerusalem was known long before Rome as the city of Seven Mountains/hills

Rev 17:9: And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

1. Mt. Gareb, 2. Mt. Acra, 3. Mt. Goath 4. Mt. Bezetha, 5. Mt. Zion, 6. Mt. Ophel, 7. Mt. Moriah.

Revelation more naturally evokes the image of Jerusalem as the city seated on seven mountains in 17:9 than Rome. The view that Babylon is a cipher for Jerusalem in the Apocalypse cannot then be dismissed on the basis of this common objection; not only can it be defended that the evidence of 17:9 can fit Jerusalem, there are strong reasons to believe that it in fact does most properly fit Jerusalem.

More posts to follow on this subject:

"THAT GREAT CITY"

2008-09-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

In a previous post,, I referred you to Revelation chapter 18. I now refer you to a portion of that scripture as follows:

Revelation 18:21-24 (NIV)
21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world’s great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth.”

[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

The best interpreter of Scripture is Scripture. In order to discover which "Great City" he was speaking of, I refer you to the first, and most important occurrence of the designation “the great city” is in Rev. 11:8, which reads, “And [the two witnesses’] bodies will lie in the street of the great city which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified”

And then, from the Old Testament Prophet, Jeremiah, there are these remarkable prophecies concerning Jerusalem that are echoed in the Book of Revelation chapter 18. Please note:

Jeremiah 7:34 (NIV)
34 I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate.

Jeremiah 16:9 (NIV)
9 For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in this place.

Jeremiah 25:10 (NIV)
10 I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp.

[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

There is no doubt that these Scriptures refer to "That Great City" as being Jerusalem. I believe it is the "system" that will be destroyed, not God's chosen people, the Jews.

My earnest belief is that God is pointing to the ultimate destruction of an apostate system...not the Jewish nation, but perhaps a political-economic system that is Anti-Christ.

That Great City--Baylon Has Fallen!

2008-09-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

I ask you to read this 18th chapter of Revelation. Somehow, it relates to the witness of what we see happening before our eyes in the capital markets of the world. Is this a world-wide system that is going to fall? I urge each to prepare your heart for tough days ahead. Jesus is coming soon! The signs are all around.

Revelation 18 (NIV)
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.
2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.
3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup.
7 Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.’
8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.
10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “ ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!’
11 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more—
12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;
13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.
14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’
15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn
16 and cry out: “ ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!
17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’ “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off.
18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’
19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: “ ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.’ ”
21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world’s great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth.”

The Man Who Never Was

2008-09-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

This op-ed speaks to the questions I have in my mind for the man who would be President of the United States and bring much change, but I still do not know the specifics of that change or much about who he is.

Obama Remains Unknown

Tony Blankley

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

OP-ED:

The mainstream media have gone over the line and are now straight out propagandists for the Obama campaign. While they have been liberal and blinkered in their worldview for decades, in 2007-08 for the first time, the major media are consciously covering for one candidate for president and consciously knifing the other. This is no longer journalism — it is simply propaganda. (The American left-wing version of the Volkischer Beobachter cannot be far behind.) And as a result, we are less than seven weeks away from possibly electing a president who has not been thoroughly and even half way honestly presented to the country by our watchdogs — the press.

The image of Barack Obama that the press has presented is not a fair approximation of the real man. They have consciously ignored whole years in his life, and showed a lack of curiosity about such gaps that bespeaks a lack of journalistic instinct. Thus, the public image of Mr. Obama is of a "Man who never was." I take that phrase from a 1956 movie about a real life WWII British intelligence operation to trick the Germans into thinking the Allies were going to invade Greece, rather than Italy, in 1943. Operation "Mincemeat" involved the acquisition of a human corpse dressed as a Maj. William Martin, R.M. and put into the sea near Spain. Attached to the corpse was a brief-case containing fake letters suggesting that the Allied attack would be against Sardinia and Greece.

To make the operation credible, British intelligence created a fictional life for the corpse — a letter from a lover, tickets to a London theater, all the details of a life — but not the actual life of the dead young man whose corpse was being used. So, too, the man the media has presented to the nation as Mr. Obama is not the real man.

The mainstream media ruthlessly and endlessly repeats any McCain gaffes, while ignoring Obama gaffes. You have to go to weird little Internet sites to see all the stammering and stuttering that Mr. Obama needs before getting out a sentence fragment or two. But all you see on the networks is an eventual one or two clear sentences from Mr. Obama. Nor do you see Mr. Obama's ludicrous gaffe that Iran is a tiny country and no threat to us. Nor his 57 American states gaffe. Nor his forgetting, if he ever knew, that Russia has a veto in the United Nations. Nor his whining and puerile "come on" when he is being challenged. This is the kind of editing one would expect from Goebbels' disciples, not Cronkite's.

More appalling, NBC's "Saturday Night Live" suggested that Gov. Sarah Palin's husband had sex with his own daughters. That scene was written with the assistance of Al Franken, Democratic Party candidate for Senate in Minnesota. Talk about incest.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets supporters before his speech in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina on September 21, 2008. (UPI Photo/Nell Redmond)

But worse than all the unfair and distorted reporting and image projecting, is the shocking gaps in Mr. Obama's life that are not reported at all. The major media simply has not reported on Mr. Obama's two years at Columbia University in New York, where, among other things, he lived a mere quarter mile from former terrorist Bill Ayers— after which they both ended up as neighbors and associates in Chicago. Mr. Obama denies more than a passing relationship with Mr. Ayers. Should the media be curious? In only two weeks the media has focused on all the colleges Mrs. Palin has attended, her husband's driving habits 20 years ago and the close criticism of Mrs. Palin's mayoral political opponents. But in two years they haven't bothered to see how close Mr. Obama was with the terrorist Ayers.

Nor have the media paid any serious attention to Mr. Obama's rise in Chicago politics — how did honest Obama rise in the famously sordid Chicago political machine with the full support of Boss Daley? Despite the great — and unflattering details on Mr. Obama's Chicago years presented in David Freddoso's new book, the mainstream media continues to ignore both the facts and the book. It took a British publication, the Economist, to give Mr. Freddoso's book a review with fair comment.

The public image of Mr. Obama as an idealistic, post-race, post-partisan, well-spoken and honest young man with the wisdom and courage befitting a great national leader is a confection spun by a willing conspiracy of Mr. Obama, his publicist David Axelrod and most of the senior editors, producers and reporters of the national media.

Perhaps that is why the National Journal's respected correspondent Stuart Taylor has written that "the media can no longer be trusted to provide accurate and fair campaign reporting and analysis." That conspiracy has not only photo-shopped out all of Mr. Obama's imperfections (and dirtied up his opponent Mr. McCain's image), but it has put most of his questionable history down the memory hole.

The public will be voting based on the idealized image of the man who never was. If he wins, however, we will be governed by the sunken, cynical man Mr. Obama really is. One can only hope that the senior journalists will be judged as harshly for their professional misconduct as Wall Street's leaders currently are for their failings.

Tony Blankley is a syndicated columnist.

Why Obama Will Lose

2008-09-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

I found this op-ed piece very insightful. I offer it for you to read

David Deming
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND September 24, 2008 11:01 pm

— When Benjamin Franklin was dispatched to France as ambassador of the United States in 1776, he won the hearts of the French through his authenticity. Rather than take on an affected and phony continental style, Franklin eschewed the powdered wig of the European gentleman and donned the fur cap of an American frontiersman. Original genius and polymath, Franklin understood that the French would see through any false pretension but respect an authenticity that sprang from an unpretentious and naive love of country.

What a contrast there is between Franklin and Barack Obama. Obama is a Harvard lawyer who is a mile wide and an inch deep. He is only the latest in a long line of shallow elites that consider it stylish and intellectual to despise their own culture and heritage.

Nothing exemplifies Obama’s antipathy for American culture better than his statement that Americans “cling to” religion and guns out of frustration or bitterness. We only can suppose that Obama regards religion or firearms as aberrations that need to be eradicated.

Of course, both guns and religion are essential aspects of American culture. The United States was founded by people seeking religious freedom. Does the word “Pilgrim” ring a bell with anyone? Our freedom and the right to self-government were won by farmers with guns.

The American Revolution started when the British marched to Concord with the intention of confiscating colonial arms. Both the right to “keep and bear arms,” and the right to “free exercise” of religion are enshrined in the Bill of Rights. We have come a long way when the presidential nominee of a major political party regards the exercise of fundamental rights as a mental aberration.

When Obama refers to “my Muslim faith,” the verbal gaffe resonates as a Freudian slip because of Obama’s thinly veiled hatred for this country’s unique culture and institutions. Obama sat for 20 years in a church where the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr preached “goddamn America.” He only resigned from the congregation when it became politically expedient to do so. When earlier this year, Michelle Obama said “for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country,” can we conclude that her husband disagrees? Is it not remarkable that Michelle Obama can be so small-minded as to find nothing in the history of the United States that merits her admiration but the personal success of her husband?

What is Barack Obama for? His campaign motto is “change.” But even a 6-year-old child understands that “change” can be either good or bad. Lacking specifics, the invocation of “change” as policy is completely empty. As we witness Obama’s minions mindlessly endorse the meaningless maxim of “change,” it only can call to mind the barnyard animals in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” chanting “four legs good, two legs bad!”

The choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate has been devastating for the Obama campaign precisely because she is everything Obama is not. Palin is not ashamed of her culture or country. She is not embarrassed by being an American, but naively embraces her birthright. Unassisted by affirmative action, Palin has risen to national prominence on the basis of her character, intelligence and natural gifts. In a word, she has guts. This is a woman who is proud of her country, not because it has granted her personal success, but because she respects what America stands for: freedom, opportunity, and individualism.

Obama is a vapid demagogue, a hollow man that despises American culture. He is ill-suited to be president of the United States. As the weeks pass, more Americans will come to this realization and elect McCain/Palin in a landslide.

DAVID DEMING is an associate professor of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oklahoma, but his opinions do not necessarily represent those of the university.

What Time Is It?

2008-09-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

Is it my age? Or is time really going by as fast as it seems? We are only three months away from saying goodbye to 2008.

This month promises to go down as one for the history books. The enormous financial crisis in the heart of our financial system has shaken our leaders and nation to our core. As I write this little note, our leaders of the Congress are attempting to devise a plan to bailout the banks and brokerage houses on Wall Street. They tell us we have to do this or else the entire financial system will collapse. Even then, there is no guarantee that this will fix the problem, even after they spend up to one trillion dollars of taxpayer money!

I have read numerous articles that this is the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression when the stock market crashed in 1929.

Why do I mention this to you? I urge you, first of all, to pray for our nation, our leaders and for the election of a new President, in a little over 30 days from now. Then I want to remind you that it is very critical for you to vote. If you are not registered, you still have time. Aside from that, I would lay in store extra food and other supplies where it is possible, since we could be in for some real tough times ahead.

These things all point to the soon coming of the Lord Jesus for His church! The most important preparation you can make is be ready for His coming.

As the Scripture reads "It is high-time to awake out of sleep and shake off the works of darkness..."

A Woman Of Faith for Vice-President?

2008-09-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

I watched with interest, last night, (along with over 37 million others), the speech of Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. She is the chosen candidate for Vice-President on the Republican ticket. After watching the main-stream media attempt to destroy her, even before she had a chance to be introduced to America, I was curious how this woman would do. She stunned the nation with a marvelous performance and confounded her critics, leaving them stammering for words to say. Her speech was intense, emotional and very moving. I had tears in my eyes several times as she spoke of her family, her country and her vision. I had felt that this woman was a Christian, but had not read anything of her faith, therefore, I was delighted to receive the following e-mail about her.

This is an excerpt from the Alaska Assembly of God newsletter:

"The opening night banquet of the 2008 Alaska District Council was honored to have Governor Sarah Palin address the delegates and guests. Governor Palin spoke of her appreciation for the Assemblies of God and requested that the Council pray for both her and the State of Alaska.

Superintendent Ted Boatsman, who was Palin's junior high pastor at Wasilla Assembly of God, along with Pastor Mike Rose of Juneau Christian Center, where Palin presently attends church when in Juneau, laid hands on the Governor and led the Council in prayer.

Palin, who was elected Governor in 2007, is Alaska's youngest governor and the first female governor of the state. She just recently gave birth to her fifth child, Trig. Palin spoke of the faith challenge she faced when learning that Trig would be a Downs Syndrome child. However, she and her husband, Todd, believe that every child is a gift of God, deserving of life, and that God was asking them to accept His will for their lives. The Alaska District Council believes that the State of Alaska is blessed to have a woman of faith and courage as Governor."

I encourage people of faith everywhere to hold our nation up in prayer. Pray for this Christian woman who has been nominated as the Republican Vice Presidential Candidate. Pray for God's protection on her and the others who are running for office. I know Satan is mad because we now have a "Pro-Life" ticket for President!

"A STORM IS COMING"

2008-09-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

I followed with interest the development and progress of Hurricane Gustav as it formed down in the Caribbean and made its way up "Hurricane Alley" into the Gulf of Mexico. Even as I write this post, Gustav has moved inland and is pounding Baton Rouge. Mercifully, at this point, it seems New Orleans has been spared the terrible devastation that they suffered three years ago during Katrina. We watch and pray as our oldest son and his wife live in Alexandria, Louisiana, and will receive some wind and much rain as the storm moves northwest.

These moments bring back lots of memories from my growing up years in the Houston-Galveston, Texas area. I remember having to evacuate to shelters during numerous storms which are a natural part of the Gulf Coast. Milbre and I were married in September, 1960, and lived in Texas City, Texas, in September of 1961, when one of the worst storms to hit the Gulf Coast came ashore. It was Hurricane Carla. If you Google it, you will find many stories relating to the devastation of that storm. We had evacuated to my wife's home in De Ridder, LA., to wait for the storm to pass. It was at least a week before I was able to get back in to check on our property. We had damage from flooding, but the house was standing. Many others were not so fortunate. Block after block of devastation and despair are still vivid pictures in my mind of the power of nature. There were other storms over the years, But none greater than Carla.

Say a prayer today for those who are being affected by this storm.

Eighty Five and Counting

2008-08-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was an incredible celebration at Northwest Family Church where I serve as a staff pastor. We trace the founding of our congregation back to 1923, when a small group of people began meeting in the Truitt Building in downtown Auburn, and formed what was called the "Auburn Interdenominational Mission". Through a succession of pastors and change of locations over the years we emerged as Calvary Temple Assembly of God in 1961 and a new facility was built on the present site at 3535 Auburn Way South. While it has been added on to and renovated a number of times since then, we still worship in this building. In October, 1989, my wife and I began attending Calvary Temple, which was then pastored by Dr. Wayde Goodall. He was a key individual who came into my life at a crucial time and helped me to find my bearings and realize that life was not over at 50! When he resigned in 1993, Jim Filbeck became the Senior Pastor and under his leadership, the church witnessed remarkable growth, numerically and financially. I was asked to join the pastoral staff in February, 1999. While I had been a senior pastor for 19 years, I had not been in active ministry for the past 15 years. I thought I was finished, but God had other plans. I joined the Staff as Pastor of Community and have served to this present time. Three major functions of my portfolio deal with Pastoral Care, Bible Teaching and leading our large Senior Community. What a great group of saints God has brought into Milbre's and my life.

Yesterday was a highly charged emotional time as we fondly remembered many old friends who came back to join the celebration. Many spoke to the past, but Darrel J Johnsen, a former staff pastor, spoke that "Our best days are yet to come"!

Under the capable and wise leadership of our present senior pastor, Dr Warren Bullock, we have witnessed healing, growth and stability in all areas of the church.

A link to our church web-site: www.nwfamilychurch.com

Heaven's Gain

2008-07-15T16:12:00.000-07:00

It seems that lately Heaven has been winning. A great saint, Ruth E. Stewart, went home to her eternal reward on July 11th. Ruth was born on January 7, 1916 at the home of John and Mary Stewart, as she recounted in her story--"In the year of the big snow." She was saved at the age of seven years old at an evangelistic meeting held at the Auburn Fraternity Hall. She was baptized in water at Lake Meridian by Pastor Percy Wills and was filled with the Holy Spirit Baptism at the age of 14 years. Her entire life was devoted to serving the Lord, playing the piano for congregational singing, music director, choir leader. She was an avid athlete, and excelled in skiing, tennis, softball and swimming. One summer, she climbed to Camp Muir on Mt Rainer at the 10,000 feet level. She also excelled in education, was a straight "A" student all four years of high school and was Valedictorian of her class. She was an Alumni of the University of Washington, majoring in music and piano. She retired from Public Education after many years of teaching music. She spent her final years at Parkside Assisted Living in Auburn and faithful to the end, she played the piano for the church services there each Sunday. At the the age of 92 years, she took her final retirement and is now at rest in the presence of the Lord! She was a charter member of Northwest Family Church (formerly Calvary Temple) in Auburn, Washington, for 85 years. We shall miss her!

"I'm Gonna Tell Jesus On You"

2008-07-04T10:06:00.001-07:00

We laid to rest this past week, a great spiritual man--an elder, a godly man who was revered and admired by all in our congregation, Wellington (Bill Canniff). His way of letting you know he was praying for you was the heading of this post. Following is the message that was given at his memorial service. I thought it would be good for all to see.

THE LIFE BEYOND (6-23-08)

Today is a day of sadness for us but rejoicing in Heaven because Heaven will never be the same again because it has Bill Canniff as one of its residents. Bill loved the Lord. He loved God’s Word. If you had seen Bill a year ago, he would tell you.”I’m going to make it to a 100.” However, in the last few months, I am sure he became aware that God was planning an earlier homecoming in heaven for him. He had turned 97 this past May.

When I saw him last week in the hospital, I knew he was suffering; he didn’t want to eat, so I encouraged him that if the Lord reached out to take his hand, reach out and take it—it was O.K.! We had a little talk about that and he seemed comforted. Little did I know how close his departure would be. Later that afternoon, they took him back to No Auburn Rehab, put him in his bed and came back to check on him in a few minutes, and he had gone home to glory!

And so today, as we reflect on his life, so many memories come flooding in of this outstanding Christian man. How gracious he was in the care of his late wife, Harriet, as she grew older and unable to care for herself, Bill was by her side to the end. I remember the celebration of their 60^th? Wedding anniversary down in the Fireside room. I remember many visits and chats with Bill and Harriet and then for the last few years, just Bill.

Some of the following information, I quote from the article on the church web site on “Bill Canniff Day” declared by our Mayor, Pete Lewis about a year ago.

“Those of us who attend Northwest Family Church and know Wellington “Bill” Canniff feel blessed to have him as part of our faith family. Turning 96 in May, Bill is the oldest member of our church. But if you refer to Bill as a “good, old friend,” you might get corrected. While he is a friend to many, Bill often reminds people that there is “none good” but God.

Also, very few of us know the “old” Bill Canniff. The old Bill was a smoking, swearing, cantankerous, quick to anger, hard living alcoholic. He was a very unhappy Navy veteran and railroad man with the Burlington-Northern line who made those around him pretty unhappy, too.

But in the 1960’s a small prayer group placed Bill in their intercessory bull’s eye. Bill’s late wife, Harriet, along with Phyllis Anderson, Claire Dray, Mildred Utz, and Maxine Helser began to pray for Bill. They also focused on Maxine’s husband, Fred, believing that these two men and others would find Christ. They were unrelenting before the Throne of Grace.

Bill was gloriously saved. Almost immediately his personality and personal habits changed. The old Bill died and the new Bill became an asset to the city of Auburn and our church. That’s why we say most don’t know the “old Bill.”

Over the years Bill has been a leader in bringing about positive changes in the lives of men and boys. From its earliest days he helped to solidify a national scouting program we call Royal Rangers. Our church’s outpost was one of the first in Washington, and Bill was its guiding light.”

(And saved he was! A radical transformation that has left a strong imprint on our church congregation.)

Bill has been a spiritual leader and a man we have trusted to keep us in his prayers. Hundreds have heard him say, “I’m gonna tell Jesus on you,” which is his way of assuring you of his prayers. For more than a quarter century we have looked to him as a member of our elder board. He has demonstrated godly support to our pastors and given wise counsel to our church in spiritual matters. His strength and wisdom have come from his close walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Life Beyond

Revelation 14:13

¹³Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

Introduction

A. The Bible teaches that life does not end at the grave.

The eternal spirit and image of God within us cannot be destroyed by the death of the body.

John must have had this truth in mind when he wrote: (Rev. 14:13) "I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."

B. Obviously, this is a view of death from the other side.

Viewed from our vantage point, death appears to be dreadful, defeating, and devastating.

But from God's vantage point, it is altogether different.

He calls the dead, "blessed".

That word literally means "happy", "to be congratulated", "fortunate".

Far from being pitied, God tells us that those who die with faith in the Lord are to be envied.

Why is this? Because from now on, they rest from their labors and their deeds follow them.

C. John Milton saw this when he described death as, "the golden key that opens the palace of eternity."

He saw it as the doorway into the marvelous life beyond.

Because it is an entrance into eternal life, it becomes a blessed and fortunate experience for God's people.

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions and I go to prepare a place for you that where I am there you may be also.”…John 14:1

Death then, for God's people, such as Bill Canniff is the doorway to rest, to rewards, and to the resurrection.

Transition: 1st, we see that death is:

1. THE DOORWAY TO REST

A. John says that death is the doorway to rest from our labors.

The word "labor" describes a wearing out from work, a wearisome toil.

It suggests to us that life is often hard.

It can be full of difficulties, disappointments, and disease.

In the play Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, Uncle Ben says to Willie Loman:
"Life is a jungle, Willy, be hard. Some go into the jungle and find diamonds. Others get caught by tigers. Life is a jungle, Willy. Be hard."

We all encounter those moments when life is like a jungle—full of terrors, struggles, sickness, and pain.

And it is easy to grow weary of the struggle and long for rest and relief.

B. Death is the doorway into that rest for God's people.

For the Christian,

There are times when a sick man needs to die like a tired man needs to sleep.

There comes a time when we need to lay down our burden and to be at rest.

C. The word "rest" that appears here is a beautiful word.

It means to be at ease, to be refreshed.

It suggests an end to the toils and tribulations of life.

This is what Jesus promised to us when He said, (Matt.11:28-30) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

In this world of trouble, we can know rest.

D. But there is a greater and more complete rest for us when we go to be with the Lord.

It is the rest of heaven and the presence of God.

And those, such as Bill who have laid their burden down and entered into it are to be congratulated--they are truly fortunate.

Transition: Death is not only the doorway to rest but also the:

2. DOORWAY TO REWARD

Johns says here in Rev. 14, "their deeds will follow them."

A. We are all making a record on earth.

We carry the record of our life with us into eternity.

By the lives that we live, by the words that we say, and the deeds that we do, we are laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

Jesus said if we give a cup of cold water to a little child because we are His disciple, we will in no way lose our reward (Matt. 10:42).

B. The Bible tells us that God will not forget our works and labor of love which we have done in His name as we minister to others (Heb. 6:10).

All of these things are a part of our permanent record that we shall carry into eternity.

C. At the death of his mother, John J. McAller said, "I found a friend's thought apt and consoling: 'You can't weep for people who have left more in life than they have taken out.'"

D. We all leave something in this life.

Our influence or our testimony, good or bad, remains long after we are gone.

But while we leave something behind, we also take our record with us.

Our works follow us.

They accompany us to the very judgment of God.

E. Don't misunderstand the judgment.

The purpose of the judgment is not to determine our destiny.

We determine that here and now by our relationship to Jesus Christ.

It is only as we believe and trust in Him that we will have eternal life and dwell in heaven with Him.

Bill Canniff chose to follow Jesus while still in this life and because of that decision he now resides with Him forever.

If we have lived faithfully and served our Lord lovingly like Bill, then death becomes the doorway to our reward.

And those who have gone to a good reward are blessed, indeed.

Transition: Death is not only a doorway to rest and reward but also a:

3. DOORWAY TO RESURRECTION

A. While the resurrection is not mentioned in this verse, it is affirmed in (1 Cor. 15:20-22)

²⁰But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²²For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

B. The Bible teaches more than the immortality or the survival of the spirit of man.

It also teaches the resurrection of the body.

Those who die in Christ go immediately to be with the Lord.

And when Christ returns the body that has died will come to life again.

It will be a new and glorious resurrection body and will be like the resurrected body of Christ.

As His body was recognizable, so our friend and loved one will be recognizable also. “We will know, even as we are known.”

As His body transcended the limitations of time and space, so our body will not be subject to the limitations of this life.

As His body was no longer subject to disease and decay, so our body will be an immortal body.

It will live forever.

C. Jesus shared this with Martha in her hour of sorrow.

John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

And again He declared in (John 14:19) Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

D. This is death from God's point of view.

But I remind you that this resurrected life does not belong to all people.

It is only a promise to people, like Bill who die in the Lord.

It is only as we commit ourselves to Jesus Christ and follow Him as Lord and Savior that death can be a blessed experience for us.

E. When we have Christ as our Savior, death becomes a blessed experience.

It becomes the doorway to rest, reward, and resurrection.

It becomes the entrance into eternal life.

An unknown poet expressed this truth so beautifully when he wrote:

The stars shine on the earth,
And the stars shine on the sea
The stars shine on the face of God,
And the stars shine down on me.
The stars shall shine for a thousand years,
For a thousand years and a day,
But my Christ and I shall still live,
When the stars have faded away.

Let us pray!

Our Father, and our God:
You are the One who breaks our bondage to sin and death.
You are the One who provides us our eternal home--the house of many mansions.
You are the One who gives us the peace that is everlasting, beyond death, and that this world can neither give nor take away.
You are the One who turns our sorrow into celebration, our sadness into joy, our loss into confidence.
And we thank You, and give You the praise, the honor, and the glory.
Thanks be to You, God our Father, for giving us the victory, the life that is abundant and eternal: through Jesus Christ, our crucified, risen, and living Lord--now and forever.

And now Lord, we ask you to be with this family, these friends. May they find comfort in knowing that Bill Canniff had settled his eternal destiny long ago. Be with them, now, in the coming weeks and months.

In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Obama's Extended Religious Family

2008-06-25T18:09:00.000-07:00

This was published today in the Times of India. So, not only is Senator Obama a "Christian", he believes in the idol god, Hanuman. This is quite a revealing piece.

India Times of India

Obama to get Hanuman Idol

24 Jun 2008, 1819 hrs IST,PTI

NEW DELHI: With Democrat senator Barack Obama busy in the run-up to the US presidential polls, a group of well-wishers in the capital have decided to send him a symbol of his lucky charm, Lord Hanuman, to help him emerge victorious.

Obama's representative Carolyn Sauvage-Mar on Tuesday received a gold-plated two-feet-high idol which she will pass it on to the Obama after it is sanctified.

The idol is being presented to Obama as he is reported to be a Lord Hanuman devotee and carries with him a locket of the monkey god along with other good luck charms.

An hour-long prayer meeting to sanctify the idol was earlier organised at Sankat Mochan Dham and by Congress leader Brijmohan Bhama, Balmiki Samaj and the temple's priests.

"Obama has deep faith in Lord Hanuman and that is why we are presenting an idol of Hanuman to him," said Bhama.

Accepting the souvenir, Sauvage-Mar, who is chairperson of Democrats Abroad-India, said, "Obama has extended his thanks for the support."

However, questions on Obama's religious beliefs elicited just a smile from Sauvage-Mar, apparently to avoid controversy back home where the Democrat senator is pitted against the Republican Party's John McCain in the Presidential polls.

The idol will be kept at the temple for 11 more days and then sent to US.

"We will perform the prayers for 11 days and then hand the idol to Carolyn who will send it to Obama," said the temple priest.

OBAMANIA

2008-06-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

I received the following article in an e-mail this week and thought I would share it with you. It posits some interesting thoughts.

Ken Blackwell - Columnist for the New York Sun

It's an amazing time to be alive in America . We're in a year of firsts in this presidential election: the first viable woman candidate; the first viable African-American candidate; and, a candidate who is the first front-running freedom fighter over 70. The next president of America will be a first.

We won't truly be in an election of firsts, however, until we judge every candidate by where they stand. We won't arrive where we should be until we no longer talk about skin color or gender. Now that Barack Obama steps to the front of the Democratic field, we need to stop talking about his race, and start talking about his policies and his politics.

The reality is this: Though the Democrats will not have a nominee until August, unless Hillary Clinton drops out, Mr. Obama is now the frontrunner, and its time America takes a closer and deeper look at him. Some pundits are calling him the next John F. Kennedy. He's not. He's the next George McGovern. And it's time people learned the facts.

Because the truth is that Mr. Obama is the single most liberal senator in the entire U.S. Senate. He is more liberal than Ted Kennedy, Bernie Sanders, or Mrs. Clinton. Never in my life have I seen a presidential frontrunner whose rhetoric is so far removed from his record. Walter Mondale promised to raise our taxes, and he lost. George McGovern promised military weakness, and he lost. Michael Dukakis promised a liberal domestic agenda, and he lost. Yet Mr. Obama is promising all those things, and he's not behind in the polls. Why? Because the press has dealt with him as if he were in a beauty pageant.. Mr. Obama talks about getting past party, getting past red and blue, to lead the United States of America. But let's look at the more defined strokes of who he is underneath this superficial 'beauty.'

Start with national security, since the president's most important duties are as commander-in-chief. Over the summer, Mr. Obama talked about invading Pakistan, a nation armed with nuclear weapons; meeting without preconditions with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who vows to destroy Israel and create another Holocaust; and Kim Jong II, who is murdering and starving his people, but emphasized that the nuclear option was off the table against terrorists - something no president has ever taken off the table since we created nuclear weapons in the 1940s. Even Democrats who have worked in national security condemned all of those remarks. Mr. Obama is a foreign-policy novice who would put our national security at risk.

Next, consider economic policy. For all its faults, our health care system is the strongest in the world. And free trade agreements, created by Bill Clinton as well as President Bush, have made more goods more affordable so that even people of modest means can live a life that no one imagined a generation ago. Yet Mr. Obama promises to raise taxes on 'the rich.' How to fix Social Security? Raise taxes. How to fix Medicare? Raise taxes. Prescription drugs? Raise taxes. Free college? Raise taxes. Socialize medicine? Raise taxes. His solution to everything is to have government take it over. Big Brother on steroids, funded by your paycheck.

Finally, look at the social issues. Mr. Obama had the audacity to open a stadium rally by saying, 'All praise and glory to God!' but says that Christian leaders speaking for life and marriage have 'hijacked' - hijacked - Christianity. He is pro-partial birth abortion, and promises to appoint Supreme Court justices who will rule any restriction on it unconstitutional. He espouses the abortion views of Margaret Sanger, one of the early advocates of racial cleansing. His spiritual leaders endorse homosexual marriage, and he is moving in that direction. In Illinois, he refused to vote against a statewide ban - ban - on all handguns in the state. These are radical left, Hollywood, and San Francis co values, not Middle America values.

The real Mr. Obama is an easy target for the general election. Mrs. Clinton is a far tougher opponent. But Mr. Obama could win if people don't start looking behind his veneer and flowery speeches. His vision of 'bringing America together' means saying that those who disagree with his agenda for America are hijackers or warmongers. Uniting the country means adopting his liberal agenda and abandoning any conflicting beliefs.

But right now everyone is talking about how eloquent of a speaker he is and - yes - they're talking about his race. Those should never be the factors on which we base our choice for president. Mr. Obama's radical agenda sets him far outside the American mainstream, to the left of Mrs. Clinton.

It's time to talk about the real Barack Obama. In an election of firsts, let's first make sure we elect the person who is qualified to be our president in a nuclear age during a global civilization war.

FORGIVENESS—THE BOND OF FELLOWSHIP

2008-05-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Matt 6:14-15

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins

Someone said that the word forgive is the most beautiful word in any language. I think we could agree, for included in the word are the concepts of faith, hope, and love. By forgiveness, the tragedy of sin is cancelled, guilt is removed and broken fellowship is restored. Forgiveness is faith in action, hope in restoration and love in reconciliation.

Without forgiveness we would all be trapped in our own sins:
(Rom 7:24 NIV) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

The theme of redemption is woven with the thread of forgiveness, and it is through God’s act of forgiving that our fellowship with Him is restored and our torn relationship with fellow believers is mended. We were not born with a forgiving nature, but we do have an innate divine capacity to forgive and receive forgiveness. The poet wrote: “to err is human; to forgive is divine…”

Forgiveness defined: “To give up the wish to punish or get even with; not having hard feelings at or toward others…it means to pardon another, to release him from the punishment he should receive for his wrongdoing…it means to cancel the debt that a person owes.”

FORGIVENESS RESTORES FELLOWSHIP

Fellowship with God

Fellowship with others

Part Two: The University at Calvary

2008-05-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

If you choose Calvary, understand that it is one of choice!

Hear what Jesus had to say:

Matt 16:24-26
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

And again, He said it was one of choice;

John 7:37-39
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Matt 11:28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

What does it cost to go to Calvary?

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Give up the world
Deny yourself
Take up your cross
Follow Jesus in everything
Allow Him to be Lord of your life.

What courses would we study at the University of Calvary?

I MUST LEARN TO SURRENDER MY WILL

Heb 5:7-9
7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered . 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

Our Example is at Gethsemane

Matt 26:36-39
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Jesus went a little further. That is the University Experience. It requires dedication—the surrender of your will. When I think I have mastered this course, my flesh rises up and I have to look back to "the Crucified One"...I must go back to Calvary and surrender my will!

AT CALVARY, I LEARN THAT OTHERS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN I

Luke 23:27-28
27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.

Selfishness cannot live at Calvary

Self Pity Must die.

When Peter told Jesus "Pity thyself Lord." Jesus said, "Get behind me Satan..." “Feel sorry for yourself” --Calvary teaches me what it means to give all for someone else—how to give myself for others—The example at Calvary will teach this lesson like no other place.

I WILL LEARN TO LOVE, EVEN WHEN I AM HATED

1 Cor 13:1-8
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35).

This is the true Test of Spirituality. When He grades us, he tests us by this word...What greater example of love than the Love God gave to us at Calvary. It is the 'agape` love—the love that gives all. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

When I think I have passed the course, I fail, and must get a fresh vision of Calvary.

I WILL LEARN FORGIVENESS EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO REPENTANCE

How many times do I forgive?

Matt 18:21-22
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The true meaning of forgiveness.

No one has escaped the snare of sin. Only by the act of Divine forgiveness can we be cleansed and restored to a state of innocence. While we were still sinners, Christ died on the cross for our sins and opened the door of forgiveness and reconciliation to God. His love still draws sinners to an altar of repentance so that He may pardon them. Without forgiveness we would all be trapped in our sins:It literally means that I, being wronged, assume the obligation of someone else's wrong, expecting no payment in return, accepting the premise as if I were the guilty one. And that my friend is exactly what Jesus did for us at Calvary—He took our place!

Forgiveness defined: “To give up the wish to punish or get even with; Not having hard feelings at or toward others…It means to pardon another, To release him from the punishment he should receive for his wrongdoing…It means to cancel the debt that a person owes.”
There is a terrible price to pay when we harbor unforgiveness in our heart. We pay the price in physical and emotional trauma. It doesn’t cause the one who committed the wrong any pain.

God is the source of forgiveness—Calvary is the price of forgiveness..

Look at this place called Calvary—Golgotha! A place of suffering and humiliation—where they spit on Him, slapped Him, beat Him. This reveals to us the awfulness of sin and its tragic consequences—what it cost to obtain forgiveness.

I MUST LEARN TO DIE, EVEN THOUGH I AM INNOCENT

John 12:24-25
24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

But if it dies—it produces many seeds The lesson taught here is that by giving our life, we will save it.

Gal 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I invite you to consider Calvary again today. Capture the spirit of that place of suffering. It is the greatest example of love ever shown to man.

If you go to this University at Calvary:

You will go because—

1. You choose to go

2. Understand that it will cost you something—there is a price to pay—not in dollars and cents, but in giving up your claim to yourself and allowing Him to become Lord of your life.

3. It is at Calvary that I learn to be what God wants me to be. It is where I learn the lessons of Christian living—love, forgiveness, compassion, denial of self, and many other lessons.

THE UNIVERSITY AT CALVARY

2008-05-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

Luke 23:33-35 (NKJV)
33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

Hebrews 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Our entire life is a learning process. As a newborn baby comes into this world, he immediately begins to learn. All that is going on around him, the parents and other siblings are learning experiences. As long as the child lives, he never ceases to learn. There is pre-school, kindergarten, and grade school. We all recognize the obvious—every child needs the experience of schooling—whether public, private or home schooling.

This is the time of year when we honor our graduates—those who are graduating from High School and those who are graduating from University. It is decision day— "What am I going to do with my life?"

When we become a Christian, we are “born again”. The Bible calls the newborn Christian a "babe in Christ.” As in the natural birth, so in the spiritual birth—there should be continual growth and progress.

In our early walk with Christ, we learn from the sincere 'milk of the word" as we grow in Christ, we are expected to leave elementary education and move into higher education. Listen to how the Book of Hebrews states it:

Heb 6:1-3

6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3 And God permitting, we will do so.

I call this, the University Experience!

The University is different than grade school. I will point out a few obvious differences.

1. There is a cost involved

a. You have to pay tuition.

b. Many parents provide for this by saving when their children are young and when the time comes, there are funds available for this purpose.

2. No one forces you to go—it becomes one of choice. —If you want a degree.

a. There are elective courses

b. And there are required courses

3. It is considered Higher Education.

4. The subjects taught are found nowhere else.

I want to introduce every Christian to the University at Calvary!

Tomorrow—Part Two: Calvary—A Choice

"Southern Gospel"

2008-05-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last few days nursing a late winter-early spring cold. I often tell people who are experiencing sudden illness that the Psalmist wrote, "He maketh me to lie down". There's only one way you can look when lying down and that is up! Sometimes God can use these moments in our lives to cause us to stop and reflect on Him. So the last few days of rest have given me those moments. I finally gave in and asked a good friend to teach my Bible Class on Sunday. After church, we were able to celebrate Mother's Day at home--I grilled steaks and it was an enjoyable meal and afternoon while my wife and I played games and enjoyed the blessings of a quiet Sunday afternoon.
About a year and one-half ago, we purchased a Chevy HHR which my wife mostly drives. It has an XM Satellite radio. Recently I discovered channel 34 which is all Southern Gospel 24/7. So Sunday afternoon, Mother's day we drove to Dairy Queen, purchased hot-fudge sundaes and drove around listening to "Southern Gospel". It is the music I grew up with and still enjoy.

National Seniors Day

2008-04-29T15:43:00.000-07:00

Sunday, May 4th, is National Seniors Sunday. I hope you will take time to honor those in your church or circle of influence that are elders. Too often we write older folks off as 'senile'; out of touch'; and other bigoted terms that do disrespect to older folks.

God thought enough that He declared in his Word the following:

Psalm 92:12-14 (NIV)
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,

[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

So, honor your elders. Even the business community is discovering a wealth of experience that is available to them from the retired senior population and many companies now have aggressive hiring efforts to recruit from this vast resource. If you have not yet reached those golden years, just remember, you will be there should the Lord allow you length of days on the earth.

“We Aren’t Home Yet”

2008-04-25T16:41:00.000-07:00

Dr. W.A. Criswell told about the faithful missionary couple who returned to the United States on the same ship that brought Teddy Roosevelt home from a safari in Africa. Many reporters and photographers were on the dock, waiting to see Roosevelt and interview him and take pictures; but nobody was on hand to welcome home the veteran missionaries who had spent their lives serving Christ in Africa.

That evening, in their modest hotel room, the couple reviewed their arrival in New York City; and the husband was somewhat bitter.

“It isn’t fair,” he said to his wife. “Mr. Roosevelt comes home from a hunting trip, and the whole country is out to meet him. We get home after years of service, and nobody was there to greet us.”

But his wife had the right answer: “Honey, we aren’t home yet.”

So my fellow believers, when you get discouraged because it seems to so hard to live in this world…so much heartache, anxiety over finances, so many problems to deal with—it can seem almost overwhelming. Be encouraged! We’re not home yet!

As an old Gospel song goes:

“This World is not my home; I’m just a passing through,
My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me, from heaven’s open door;
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore”