SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY

NEW BLOG LINK!

2006-08-10T14:35:00.000-05:00

Bye Bye Blogger

2006-07-15T08:27:00.000-05:00

My track record with blog locations has not been that good. My first had a lot of traffic, was easy to work with, had a lot of support; it was just ideal! Then came the notice that they were no longer going to offer blog service and said I could transfer all my information to this new pay site, only 8.95 per month. It looked the same, worked the same, had the same amount of help and was supposed to be a different company - NOT! Just a bait and switch - I hate that! Blogger was next. The support was the pits, but it seemed to work well. It was used by many of the blogers I read, so I switched to Blogger. Hey, it was free, why not. That was in November of 2005. If I was more familiar with HTML language, and more computer savvy in general, I would probably stick with Blogger through their growing pains, but that is not my temperament, so I am off to my new site at Blog.com. I have archive links on the new site to material here, in the event you would want to go back and get a past post or look for information. Blog.com is fairly easy to work with, the lay out and side columns are much easier to change and add to. It can be easily upgraded and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to do so. All in all I think it will work fine - for now. (-: So don’t forget to change your bookmarks or do what ever you do to keep up with your favorite locations. OH, I almost forgot! Here is the Link: Rabboni Hope to see you there!

Words of Wisdom from the Corporate World...Not!

2006-07-13T13:14:00.000-05:00

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow is not looking good either. I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by. Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue. Needing someone is like needing a parachute. If he isn't there the first time, chances are you won't be needing him again. On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the escape key. Don't be irreplaceable -- if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted. After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before. If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit, and remove all evidence that you tried. No use being a fool about it. You are always doing something marginal when the boss drops by your desk. If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done. When you don't know what to do, walk fast, carry a clipboard, and look worried.

No Commentary Needed

2006-07-12T10:20:00.000-05:00

There are some quotes that don’t need commentary, just meditation. This is one of those quotes. “When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit, when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes a heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion – its message becomes meaningless.” (Abraham Joshua Heschel, God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, NY, 1983, pp. 3). Dual Post at: Rabboni

The Least Of These

2006-07-11T19:00:00.000-05:00

I posted the following song on my blog a year ago. Apart of being incarnational is often caring for those we would consider "The Least Of These" That is the title of Michael Wallace's song. I’ve Seen Innocent Eyes Cry Innocent Tears They did not deserve their hunger They did not earn their fears I’ve seen single mothers Struggle to leave the past Trying to balance children With jobs that will never last And I’ve seen their hope disappear And I’ve seen their eyes filled with fear But I’ve walked right by With my hands in my pockets And my head down to the ground Cuz they don’t’ look like I do And they don’t talk like I do And they don’t act like I do They sure don’t smell like I do You see I have not done unto the least of these And so I have not done unto you I’ve seen prostitution Spilled out into the streets They’re willing to sell their bodies For anything to eat I’ve seen an alcoholic Fall down upon his face No better than this self-righteous Christian In the freedom of God’s Grace And I’ve seen their hope disappear And I’ve seen their eyes filled with fear But I’ve walked right by With my hands in my pockets And my head down to the ground Cuz they don’t’ look like I do And they don’t act like I do And they don’t talk like I do They sure as hell don’t smell like I do You see I have not done unto the least of these And so I have not done unto you (Dual Post can also be found at: Rabboni

I Never Watch Soccer...

2006-07-10T14:13:00.000-05:00

I never watch Soccer. That is until yesterday when I tuned in to the final match of The World Cup, just in time to see the infamous head butt. What a dirty shot! I am glad France lost. There I said it and now I will go back to never watching Scocer. Mike Cope shared some lessons learned from watching Soccer with his sons yesterday. 1. Reports of religion being out of favor in Europe are incorrect. It’s just that soccer is the religion. 2. Remember what you learned in kindergarten: no head-butting. Especially if a billion people are watching. It’s considered rude. 3. A 2-hour game can come down to about an inch — that must be about how much lower the ball hit on the crossbar early in the game for France (when it came down across the line as a goal) than it did in the shootout (when it come down on the line). 4. When watching the World Cup Final with teenage boys who actually play soccer and love soccer, do not try to make insightful comments. You only look like an idiot who ought to stick to coaching baseball. ********************************************* Patrick Meads post from Friday the 7th is a must read. Here is just a short burb from one of his best yet! "We sit in worship with people who look like us, who like the things we like, and with whom we are comfortable. Outside are single mothers, rockers, slackers, addicts, the divorced, the slaves of consumerism, gray minions of corporate America, skateboarders and.... you get the idea. None of them will ever feel comfortable with our ways or in our buildings. In those rare instances in which they want to be a part of us, we force them to become us first! They have to be more like us, agree with our preferences, and behave themselves.... then and only then are they allowed access to the Kingdom.That's not okay with me." Read the rest, it is excellent.

Lifting Holy Hands

2006-07-08T12:52:00.000-05:00

Back in April I did a post dealing with posture in prayer. One thing I didn’t touch on in that article was lifting hands in prayer. I had never seen anyone from our tribe pray with lifted hand(s) until recently. (Maybe its because I always keep my eyes closed) Now before I go any further let me say that I know that the posture of the heart is what is important to God. But I can’t help but wonder why it has never been a practice within my tribe? We are the folks that preach loud and long to , "Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent." Well the Bible isn’t silent on this one. Take a look... "I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands." (Ps. 63:4) "I call to you, O Lord, everyday; I spread out my hands to you." (Ps. 88:9) "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord." (Ps. 134:2) "Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, ’Amen! Amen!’" (Neh. 8:6) "Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens." (Lam. 3:41 KJV) "I fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God and prayed." (Ezra 9:5-6) "Solomon knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven." (2 Chron. 6:13) "As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword ... Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, ’For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord.’" (Ex. 17:11-16) "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer." (1Tim. 2:8) "Everyday," David says in Psalm 88:9, "I call to you and spread out my hands to you." Note the following from Buddy Owen in an article adapted from his book, "The Way Of The Worshiper" "Look at your hands. They aren’t going to hurt you; just look at them for a moment. Magnificent aren’t they? Who gave us our hands? God gave them to us. What do we do with our hands? Well, we work with our hands. We feed ourselves with our hands. We play with our hands. We give gifts and receive gifts with our hands. We show affection with our hands. We also fight with our hands. We sin with our hands. Why are we so hesitant to worship God with our hands? Lifting our hands to God is a biblical posture of prayer. It is another physical demonstration of a spiritual truth. Just as we bow our hearts when we bow our knees, so we lift our hearts when we lift our hands (Lam. 3:41). By kneeling before God and lifting our hands to him, we are presenting our bodies to God as a spiritual act of worship. " When we lift our hands with palms open it is a physical display of openness. As with kneeling in prayer, lifting our hands is simply another posture of devotion, humility and worship.

Considering A Move

2006-07-07T11:09:00.000-05:00

I have been having a lot of problems with Blogger of late. I thought it was my old computer at home, but I have a top of the line one at the office and am having the same problems. I have been looking for a new Blog home with upgrade potential for the future. I have started a new Blog there and for the next few weeks will be doing dual posting to give the new site a test, and see how things go with Blogger. I hate to change again, been there and done that, but will see how it goes. Fell free to check out the new site and let me know what you think. Rabboni...which is to say Master.

Worship Renewal

2006-07-07T09:33:00.000-05:00

I can’t pinpoint the day or the month or even the year when it happened, but I am so glad it did. That time when worship went from being about me to being about Him. The obligation to worship was instilled in me as a child. We were at church at least three times a week and more if there were special services. I began leading singing when I was a teenager and remember being praised for my talent. I enjoyed singing. I have always loved four part harmony done well. But back then it was more about me than it was about Him. Many in my tribe today decry the changes in types of songs we sing, the hand clapping, raising hands in worship. It is interesting that the same types of things were said when the songs used by many today were introduced many years ago. I believe that worship should be expressed in the language of the century in which you live. When worship becomes mundane and ritual, it is no longer about Him, it is about us. The Apostle John opens the book of Revelation with his introduction to a message he has from the Lord for the seven churches of Asia. While he was an Apostle, and could have introduced himself that way, he simple refers to himself as the bond-servant of Jesus, your brother and fellow-partaker in the tribulation and the kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus. (Rev. 1:1,9) John opens the book telling of a past encounter with Christ. He describes the image of Jesus in such majestic language. John is awe struck! “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man.” (Rev. 1:17a) Think about that reaction with me for a moment. This is John, the favorite disciple of Jesus. John didn’t run away as the others did. John was at the foot of the cross with Mary. This is the John to whom Jesus commits the future care of His mother. This is the John who walked and served this same Jesus for well over half a century. If anyone knew Jesus and had a close, close relationship with Him, it was John. Yet, when he sees Jesus he falls lifeless before Him. When worship becomes stale as week old bread, or fizzles as an unfinished can of coke. When we can sing from memory and never think about the meaning behind the words or the One to whom they are directed. This is not worship, it is ritual and God despises ritual. “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalms 51:16,17) God had commanded those sacrifices to be offered, but the heart of the people was not being brought with their sacrifices. May we never become so “familiar” with God that we fail to honor and worship Him. When we are in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day may our vision of The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit always cause us to fall before Him, our audience of ONE. John did and so should we.

This Will Tell Your Age Part II

2006-07-06T15:58:00.000-05:00

If you missed, "This Will Tell Your Age Part I, just click here. Remember "Continental kits?" They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car look as cool as a Lincoln Continental. When did we quit calling them "emergency brakes?" At some point "parking brake" became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with "emergency brake." I'm sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the accelerator the "foot feed." Didn't you ever wait at the street for your daddy to come home, so you could ride the "running board" up to the house? Here's a phrase I heard all the time in my youth but never anymore, "store-bought." Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days. But once it was bragging material to have a store-bought dress or a store-bought bag of candy. "Coast to coast" is a phrase that once held all sorts of excitement and now means almost nothing. Now we take the term "world wide" for granted. This floors me. On a smaller scale, "wall-to-wall" was once a magical term in our homes. In the '50s, everyone covered his or her hardwood floors with, wall-to-wall carpeting. WOW! Today, everyone replaces their wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors . When's the last time you heard the quaint phrase "in a family way?" It's hard to imagine that the word "pregnant" was once considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical for use in polite company. So we had all that talk about "stork visits" and "being in a family way" or simply "expecting." Apparently "brassiere" is a word no longer in usage. I said it the other day and my daughter cracked up. I guess it's just "bra" now, "unmentionables" probably wouldn't be understood at all back then. I always loved going to the "picture show," but I considered "movie" an affectation. Most of these words go back to the '50s, but here's a pure '60's word I came across the other day, "rat fink." Ooh, what a nasty put-down! Here's a word I miss - "percolator." That was just a fun word to say. And what was it replaced with? "Coffee Maker." How dull. Mr. Coffee, I blame you for this. I miss those made-up marketing words that were meant to sound so modern & now sound so retro. Words like "DynaFlow" &"Electrolux." Or “Introducing the 1963 Admiral TV, now with "SpectraVision!” Just food for thought - Was there a telethon that wiped out lumbago? Nobody complains about that anymore. Maybe that's what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening their kids with castor oil anymore. Some words aren't gone, but are definitely on the endangered list. The one that grieves me the most is "supper." Now everybody says "dinner." Save a great word. Invite someone to supper and discuss fender skirts.

Vive La Revolution!

2006-07-05T12:47:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking about the cost of being a revolutionary. Two hundred and thirty years ago the signers of the Declaration of Independence put it all on the line. They put at risk their finances, possessions, their families and their own lives. But they were not the first. Those first followers of the Master - Rabbi - Jesus also laid it all on the line. They walked away from professions, money and family. Both groups were taking a stand for freedom, the first political, the second spiritual. It takes a revolutionary spirit to stand against legalism and the chains it seeks to bind us with. But a few have and they have breathed a new spirit into the dieing body of my tribe. It takes a revolutionary spirit to put all you have at risk to reach a people group you don’t know and that doesn’t know you. But a few are doing it here in this country and abroad. Revolution is first a vision, then a declaration and then a movement. It starts by planting the flag of the Kingdom of Heaven in our own hearts. The church in Rochester Michigan is a part of the revolution. Here is the last couple paragraphs of Patrick Mead’s blog Monday July 3rd. “At Rochester, we are determined to join Him in revolution again. While maintaining our building as a worship, teaching, and service center, we have three other prongs of approach to Jesus' dream. Charitable works is one of them and this church runs several efforts on a daily basis, some of which have garnered national attention. Next comes the launching of people into communities (as mentioned previously), giving them our blessing and backup as they reach out to Goths, rockers, the homeless, addicts, and various prisoners of suburbia. Fourth, we are sending out teams of sixty to one hundred to start congregations in target communities. All of these works are small group based and they aren't your usual small groups. Forgive me, but most small groups are merely an alternative to checking the "Sunday night" box on our righteousness ticket or a fun way to stay close to people we see every Sunday morning. Our small groups are evangelistic and service oriented (and are getting more so). Jesus launched a revolution. We've decided to rebel with him. Wanna come along? Vive la revolution!” The status quo just won’t get it done, never has, never will. It takes a revolution to bring about change. Sign me up!

HAPPY 4TH.

2006-07-04T18:58:00.000-05:00

HOPE EACH AND EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL 4TH. OF JULY

Incarnational

2006-07-03T13:58:00.000-05:00

In 1969 I made the first of a number of trips to Ghana West Africa. We would go for 4 to 6 seeks at a time, preach on the streets and teach Bible classes in their schools. It was not the ideal way to do mission work, but the Lord blessed those efforts. I am so glad that our Father didn’t approach his mission to provide a Savior in the same way. Jesus didn’t just come on short trips to visit and share, He became one of us. That transformation was so complete that He was known as, Jesus of Nazareth. He was apart of community. “Thought he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to, instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being”, Phil. 2:6. This verse is the definition of John 1:14, “So the Word became human and made his home among us.” Literally it says he “pitched his tent among us”. When we speak of the incarnation we normally speak of how it enabled Jesus to be the offering for our sin. He truly did in a body of flesh what we in our bodies cannot do, and that is live a sinless life. But another dynamic of His becoming one of us was that it gave Him the ability to relate to our weaknesses and gave us the ability to relate to Him as a human being. (Heb. 2:14ff). In my post on Friday I stated that we may have to make some radical changes if we are ever going to reach our world with the Good News. One of those changes I believe will be in the way we seek to reach certain target groups. If we reach out to these groups as I first did mission work, we may meet with some success, but it will be limited. Until someone is willing to make a “Christ like sacrifice” and be willing to lay aside their privileged status, and become one of them, I fear they will never be able to relate. This is how we become incarnational with the Gospel. Jesus’ ability to relate to us was a direct result of his life experience. Our ability to relate to Him was dependent upon that as well. I was reading this morning about a couple in Great Britain that has chosen to hang out at a local Pub a few evening a week in order to reach others with the Gospel. Our first thought might be that, “well that is not the kind of place you would expect to find a Christian couple”, and that my friends is the problem. That is also what surprised the religious folks of Jesus’ day. Sharing the Good News is not about a class you take, a campaign you go on to preach to the lost, it is about a Christ like life style lived among those you want to reach. It is about being able to relate, us to them, them to us. It is all about relationships.

What Is It?

2006-07-01T12:53:00.000-05:00

OK, here is one more from the "What Is It" category. These were very popular for a short period of time during my teen years. Can you guess what they are?

We May Have To Make Some Radical Changes.

2006-06-30T17:48:00.000-05:00

It is hard, if not impossible to be objective looking at something from within. Some how you have to back away, put some distance between you and what you are looking at, remove your experience tinted glasses and take a long hard look. That is what I have been trying to do for the past few years in looking at the church that I have been apart of for most of my life. I have also been looking at the greater religious world of which we are a part. The image I have of the church I read about in the New Testament and the image I have of the one I am apart of are quite different. I fully realize that they are separated by 2000 years of history, and the way certain principles were expressed then would be quite different today. That is as it should be. The image difference is not so much a doctrinal one, as in what we believe compared to what they believed, but it is a difference of how they went about doing what they were instructed to do. So much of what we do today is institutionally based; it revolves around what takes place at the “church building”. We worry and fret over getting our services just right, not to short, not to long. Keep things moving, don’t get bogged down. We do all of this because we want to “attract” people to us. Our programs are for the most part attractional, designed to get people to come to us. Our approach is get them to visit, influence them and somewhere down the road, hope to reach them for the Lord. It is a “Field Of Dreams” mentality, “If you build it they will come”. And have we ever built it. We have spent billions of dollars in wonderful facilities that we use a few hours each week. All of this and yet no generation since theirs has accomplished what they did. One other thing that concerns me is that we seem to have developed a separatist mentality. It is US against THEM. Some of this is due not so much to what we are against, but how we have conveyed that message. It has come across almost as an elitist attitude and not one of personal conviction as the result of a relationship with Jesus. We have not only isolated ourselves, but we have insulated ourselves against the world. We can retreat to the safety of our buildings to do our spiritual things and then when finished we rush home to the security of our homes. When I read my New Testament, I see a people on the go. They learned that from Jesus. He was constantly in and out of the lives of people that He came in contact with on a daily basis. Jesus then commissioned His disciple to “Go”, literally “as you go”, preach the Good News. It became a part of who they were, not just something they did in response to a command. Jesus used metaphors of salt, light and leaven to describe what His followers would “BE”. The New Testament letters seem to urge them to live among those who did not know God in such as way as to not get in the way of what God was trying to do. Jesus said we are to be, “a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden”. Another picture of what we are to BE. The sacrificial giving of the early chapters of the Book of Acts shows that there was urgency in what they were about. Something valuable was at stake. They were on a mission for God. I fear we are so steeped in our attractional approach to being the church that it will require a radical new direction to really be to our world what they were to their world. We are going to have to “move back into” the world, and rub shoulders with them. We need to let them see that we are real people with real personal needs and problems. We need to let them see that we don’t have all the answers, that we are on a journey ourselves. While we don’t have to participate in their sin we must find grounds on which to relate. We are going to have to let them SEE the difference that Jesus makes in our lives. Radical new direction may mean not looking at all like the church of today with its comfortable buildings and programs. It may be a store front in a not so nice section of town where people are free to come and go as they are. A simple place to gather, talk and relate. Or it may look like a nice lounge with media center, a simple gathering place with entertainment live and otherwise. I don’t know, but I do know we are going to have to be creative to reach the world in which we live. What we are doing is not working in a significant enough way to reach the world. So, what do you think?

This Will Tell Your Age

2006-06-29T13:05:00.000-05:00

Do you know what the items above are? If you get all three chances are you are close to my age.

How You Begin Determines How You End.

2006-06-28T10:32:00.000-05:00

Our tribe is apart of the Restoration Movement whose beginnings are attributed to Thomas and Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone, among others, who had major rolls in setting us on the Restoration path. Over one hundred and fifty years have now passed. Some would claim that success was reached in the 50’s and 60’s and today seek desperately to hold on to ground claimed then for now and forever. The major accomplishments lauded by this segment of my tribe are mainly in the area of doctrines about worship, church structure and how to become a Christian. Many others in my tribe are in what I would call a state of evolution. I am apart of that segment. We are taking a new look at where we are and where we are going. Some of us are becoming more contemporary, that is as contemporary as the groups we are apart of will allow us to become. For example some congregations are beginning to allow instrumental music, but that is still a very small number in comparison to the whole. In contemporary services there is a new emotional expression that has not been apart of our heritage. Clapping of hands, hands raised in praise and movement to the music are fresh expressions of our involvement in what is happening. With that said, please allow me to think out loud with you for a minute or two. This is off the top of my head, extemporaneous if you please, so this is not in concrete, but I offer it for your consideration and comment. It appears to me that in our attempt to “restore” New Testament Christianity we started in the wrong place. I believe that doctrine is vitally important, but I am not sure that is the best place to have started. The emphasis, as I see it, at the heart of the words of Jesus was to change our hearts. He sought to change us from the inside out. That process was in turn designed for each of us to become agents of change in our world. Jesus called us “Salt” that when mingled with the world changes what it touches, “Light” that reflects Him to the world, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. The attention drawn to us by so living was to cause Him to be exalted and lifted up. Here is an example of what I am talking about. Among our tribe we have quarreled and divided over the “way” in which we take care of orphans and widows. We differed over the “doctrine” and then both sides did little or nothing to really make an impact on the orphans and widows among us. Note, I didn’t say we didn’t do anything; we just had very little impact on the problem as a whole. Much of the benevolence that we do is corporate in style and not individual. We give our money into a community pot and it is doled out as needs arise, and the givers seldom ever see the impact of their gift. The same could be said of how we deal with the sick. Paid staff visits the sick in hospitals and we track the progress through printed media on how they are doing. To use the vernacular of the day, the difference is institutional or missional. One says let the church do it and I will put my check in the plate, the other sees response to needs as individual – neighbor to neighbor. I realize that doctrine is involved in how we lovingly respond to others, but I just wonder, if we had started in a different place would we have ended up in a different place doctrinally. What do you think?

Worth Sharing

2006-06-27T14:15:00.000-05:00

Loneliness: In the movie The Hiding Place, one scene portrays Corrie Ten Boom telling the Lord she wants him to use her in whatever way he pleases, even if it means in obscurity. Soon after that, she is taken prisoner by the Nazis, along with her father, from whom she is separated. Her father dies in the death camp, and then she is forcibly removed from her beloved sister. The Nazis shove Corrie into a cold, damp cell in Germany. As the scene closes, she is lying in a corner, shivering. And with tear-filled eyes she whispers to the Lord, "But God, I didn't know I would have to be alone." (Rick Ezell, One-Minute Uplift) Life observations from little ones: STEVEN (3) hugged and kissed his Mom goodnight, saying: "I love you so much, that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window." BRITTANY (4) had an earache and wanted a painkiller. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a childproof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Shocked, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's me?" SUSAN (4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. "Please don't give me this juice again," she said. "It makes my teeth cough." DIANA (4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: "So, how much do I cost?" MARC (4) was carefully observing a young couple hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: "Why is he whispering in her mouth?" CLINTON (5) was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, "I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in?" JAMES (4) was listening to a Bible story. After his dad read: "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt," James asked: "What happened to the flea?" TAMMY (4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for awhile and then asked, "Why doesn't your skin fit your face?

"What Can Wash Away My Sins"?

2006-06-26T14:47:00.000-05:00

I know that some of what I write here from time to time might cause you to think that I have a problem with “my tribe” as I lovingly call them, but the reality is that I love “my tribe” and am grateful for much of what I was taught that has brought me to where I am today. One of the issues that cause us to stand out from most of the rest of the religious world is our teaching on Baptism. While I readily admit that some of our number sound like they believe in baptismal regeneration, I have never believed that, and our tribe does not believe that either. Those who would accuse us of teaching baptismal regeneration believe that we believe that baptism is a work of merit that in some way earns us salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth. “What can wash away our sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus”. I believe those words with every fiber of my being. While reading Ben Overby’s blog today concerning grace and trust he made a powerful statement. “Some of us want to suppose that because of God's grace, we do nothing. The truth, however, is that because of God's grace we earn nothing. Grace is a gift ready to be taken by those who trust!” While Ben was not speaking of Baptism, the principle applies. Our response to Him in Baptism is an action of trust, not merit. Paul after spending three days in prayer, and obvious repentance, was told by Aninas, “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” Acts 22:16. Baptism is a plea of trust that results in the washing away of sins. In baptism we are asking –calling on His name – to be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. This same principle is seen in another often misunderstood verse from I Peter 3:21, “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” How does baptism save? (Holy Spirit’s Words, not mine). Baptism is an appeal to God for guilt removal that is made possible by the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead and became our substitute. It is high time for folks to get over this “water salvation issue”. I don’t know anyone who believes that there is salvation in water apart from the Blood of Jesus. The Catholics are often accused of this, but I am not sure they believe it either. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

The Year Is 1867

2006-06-25T15:33:00.000-05:00

The year is 1867. Our country is in recovery from the Civil War; Nebraska is admitted to the union as the 37th. state; Alaska is purchased from Alexander II of Russia for 7.2 million dollars (about 2 cents and acre); Laura Ingalls Wilder of "Little House On The Prairie" Fame is born; and a new Church of Christ begins in Rutherford County TN. I preached there this morning to an audience of about 20 people striving desperately to hold on for dear life. They had almost reach 60 in number when there was a fuss. The preacher left and a few went with him. The song leader was next to leave and a few left with him Now they are trying to start over again. They are located in the middle of now where, the nearest city of any size is 15 miles away. The white frame building sits at a Y intersection with paved parking lot, a hung steeple reaching to the sky and not another building in site. What makes this even more sad is there is a thriving congregation only 2 miles away. Why is it so hard for us to let things go. This little group is on life support and no one is willing to pull the plug. I lost my very special canine friend recently. He could hardly get up and down, he had lost his appetite, and was just worn out. The humane thing for me to have done would have been to him put down. I knew the right thing to do, but I simply could not bring myself to do it. I looked out at his pen one morning and he was lifeless. It was over. I was relieved. I had such similar thoughts this morning. It is not my decision and I am glad. They have hung on for almost 140 years. Who am I to say that that is long enough. I have an opinion about what should happen, but that is all that it is, an opinion. God will decided, and I am glad.

A Smell Of Death In The Air

2006-06-23T19:14:00.000-05:00

Leann from the Madison church called me on Thursday. A lady from a small congregation between Lebanon and Murfressboro, TN had called. There preacher left and they need someone to fill in. I said I would help on a limited basis and called the lady. Here is what I learned. They are less than fifty in number. Only two men left and one of them is the song leader. She said they wanted to keep the church there alive, but just not sure how long they can go on. Have you ever stood beside the bed of someone who was about to take their last breath? There is a smell of death in the air. I smelled it again on Thursday while on the phone. This time it was a rural congregation and not a person. I have comforted families many times before and after the death of a loved one, but what do you say to a church that is on its death bed? I don’t want to sound all doom and gloom, but reality is what it is. This situation is becoming more and more frequent. (See yesterdays post for some of the reasons.) I will be preaching for them this Sunday. It won't be a funeral lesson, but that lesson is not far away.

Words, Words, Words

2006-06-22T11:47:00.000-05:00

I work in the outdoor lighted sign industry. The signs that we sell are not only state of the art in quality, they are very innovative with a strong emphasis on graphics to help the motoring public see the nature of a business in pictures, not just words. On the left is a Before and After picture of a business we helped. (Stay with me, there is a spiritual lesson ahead.) Most of the signs you see today are just words, words, words. They are seldom noticed, much less read. The idea behind words on signs goes back to the horse and buggy days. When you went into business you “hung out your shingle”. Most of the people who saw your sign were either walking along window shopping, or they were moving slow in their buggy or that new fangled horseless carriage. You could put allot of words on the sign and there would still be time to read it. Ok, fast forward two hundred or so years to present day. Businesses are still using the same “type” of signage today. The world has moved into the twenty-first century, but much of the signage of today, especially for independent business, is still trying to communicate as they did in the horse and buggy days, words, words, words. This type of signage is totally useless today given the speed limits and the fact that people hardly walk and shop anymore. That is where my company comes in. Graphics and visuals is where it is at because it only takes to seconds to communicate what your business is about with our signs. My tribe’s roots are in the Restoration Movement. A movement to point people back to the basics of New Testament Christianity. But our journey got, as Ronnie Millsap sang, “stuck in the 50’s”. Much of what was tradition back then, is considered as sacred today. Gospel Meetings, Sunday Night Services, and the type of hymns we sing, just to mention a few. My tribe fears change. We are told that change is bad and sinful. In fact the new catch phrase for the old term “liberal” is now “change agent”. There is a subtle message behind a fear of change. We fear change because we believe in our heart of hearts that we have arrived at the final destination and our job now is to hold the line against change. It is an arrogant message! It points a bony finger at others and says, “We are the standard, we have arrived, conform to our standard or no admittance!” So as with most business signs today, people pass us by. They aren’t ignoring us; they just don’t know we are there. Businesses continue to use words, words, words, and my tribe continues to hold those “Gospel Meetings”. Business continue to go belly up at the rate of 90% in the first five years, much of it due to a lack of effective signage, and we continue to sing songs that were popular when the King James Bible was translated. And our numbers continue to shrink, and more and more churches are closing their doors each year. Cultural change is nothing more than “becoming all things to all men” as Paul said. Yes there are some things that should not change, and this post is not about them. The change I am talking about is the change that allows us to relate and speak to the world in which we live. I am talking about communication. I don’t care how loud and long you tell your message, or how correct it may be, if it is not understood by those who hear it, your efforts are useless. The reality is, change or die! Businesses continue to pour thousands of dollars into useless signs. Churches continue to use outdated methods the same way. The outcome for both will be the same, unless we are willing to adapt and change.

A True Gentle-man And Servant Of The Lord

2006-06-21T14:15:00.000-05:00

A week ago today Fred Bare departed this life and went home to be with the Lord that he had served for so many years. During my first full time work in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania back in the early 70’s I had the honor of appointing Fred as one of the first two elders for the church in Glen Rock. He and Irene were substitute grand parents for our children, and a tower of strength to Barb and me in our first preaching ministry. Fred was married to Irene for almost 59 years. He was a builder by trade and loved to play volley ball. Originally from Piney Flats, TN, Fred moved with his father Dewey to Glen Rock, and they with a few other families began to meet as the church of Christ in Glen Rock. Fred was retired and he and Irene split their time between Florida and Pennsylvania. He only recently learned of his cancer and it took only a matter of weeks to take his life. Our love and prayers are with Irene and the children left behind. We rejoice that he is now with the Lord that he loved and served for so many years.

On The Lite-er Side

2006-06-21T11:22:00.000-05:00

Think you are having a bad day? Just remember, it could be worse..... 1. The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later, in full view, a killer whale ate them both. 2. A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen, shaking frantically with what looked like a wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current she whacked him with a handy plank of wood by the back door, breaking his arm in two places. Until that moment he had been happily listening to his Walkman. 3. Two animal rights protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn Germany. Suddenly the pigs, all two thousand of them, escaped through a broken fence and stampeded, trampling the two hapless protesters to death. And finally... 4. Iraqi terrorist, Khay Rahnajet, didn't pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with "return to sender" stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb he opened it and was blown to bits.

Ben and Kim's Final Service At Ft. Benning

2006-06-20T15:26:00.000-05:00

Ben Overby is blessed to be married to Kim. They are the adoring parents of JT and Alex. The Overby's live in Hamilton, Georgia. Ben's a native of Greenbrier, Tennessee. Kim's a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland. By the grace of God, Ben is privileged to tell the story of God's love to trainees at Ft. Benning each Sunday...That is until last Sunday. Please take a moment to read his words about their final service... Please keep this talented couple in your prayers. They are looking for the new work the Lord has for them.

Unity

2006-06-19T13:23:00.000-05:00

In a Peanuts comic strip, Lucy tells Linus “I finally figured out how to prove to everyone that my religion is right.” Linus asks, “How do you do that?” “It’s simple,” says Lucy, “I hit ‘em over the head with my lunch box!” Regardless of appearances, a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. Lucy reminds me of a fellow I heard about one time. He was stranded all alone on a desert island for years before he was finally rescued. His rescuers asked him what the three structures were that he had built on the island. Three buildings seemed perplexing for just one man. He said one was his house, one was his church, and one was where he used to go to church before he got his feelings hurt! I am convinced that unity is a matter of attitude, not perfect agreement. Are there two human beings that agree 100% on every thing? Surely the most legalist among us would agree that a definition of 100% agreement will never fly. The attitude of which I speak was illustrated so beautifully by two famous preachers of the 18th Century Evangelical Revival, John Wesley and George Whitefield. Sadly having been great friends at Oxford, they fell out over the Armenian/Calvinist debate. There was quite a bit of animosity between their followers. Once one of Whitefield’s followers said to him, "We won’t see John Wesley in the heaven, will we?" To which Whitefield humbly replied, "Yes, you’re right, we won’t see him in heaven. He will be so close to the Throne of God and we will be so far away, that we won’t be able to see him!" What a great attitude Whitefield had. Despite profoundly disagreeing with Wesley, Whitefield recognized John Wesley as being a man of God. Indeed the respect for the other was so great that when Whitefield died in the United States, John Wesley preached at George Whitefield’s memorial service in London. While neither man changed their position, they had the wisdom to respect the study and honest search for truth of the other. That is the “attitude” of unity of which I speak.

Father's Day and The Father Who Really Knows What Is Best

2006-06-19T12:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a wonderful Father’s Day. My son Allen picked up the tab at the Blue Star Chinese Restaurant, one of my favorite places to eat, and my daughter Joyce bought me two DVDs, “Through Gates of Splendor” and “End of the Spear”, just released this past week. She knows how much the story behind both of them mean to me. Most of all on this Father’s day I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who allowed His Son to give his life for us. When we talk about the death of Jesus on the Cross so much of what we say has to do with salvation, or His death for our forgiveness and rightly so. But His purpose in His death was much more than forgiveness. His goal in our forgiveness was our transformation from futile existence to one full of purpose and meaning. A large segment of people who believe in Jesus as the savior today see the cross as one dimensional. They see it as bringing salvation, something they could not do for themselves, but nothing more. God seeks to change not only our eternity; He wants to change our here and now. He wants to change us into the image of His Son. “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.” Rom. 8:29 LNT. Rob Bell said, “If we only have a legal-transaction understanding of salvation in which we are forgiven of our sins so we can go to heaven, then salvation essentially becomes a ticket to somewhere else. In this understanding, eternity is something that kicks in when we die”, “Velvet Elvis” pg 108. The message from scripture is not only how to be saved, but how to live. He is the ONE Father that always knows what is best.

It Was Thirty Years Ago

2006-06-17T11:55:00.000-05:00

Thirty years seem like such a long time ago. Gerald Ford was president and Jimmy Carter is elected to replace him. The US celebrates its bicentennial, marking the 200th anniversary of its independence. George W. Bush is arrested and fined for driving under the influence of alcohol. Cincinnati Reds won the World Series. Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars. Charlie's Angels and The Muppet Show premiere. And last by far from least, my dad went home to be with the Lord on June 20th - Father’s Day - 1976. Tomorrow will be the 30th. Father’s Day without him. The picture is a four generation picture - I am the little guy (-: From left to right, Miles William Hodges, Great Grand Father. Marion Ollie Hodges, Grand Father. Thomas Lee Hodges, Sr., Father. HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

When I Get Where I am Going

2006-06-16T14:20:00.000-05:00

I think that I have mentioned before that I sing with a group from Madison for funerals. We sang for one today. We sang old favorites like, "Amazing Grace" and "I'll Fly Away". But today the service opened with a recording of the Brad Paisley song, "When I Get Where I Am Going". The lyrics touched me so that I thought I would share them with you for my post today. When I get where I'm going On the far side of the sky The first thing that I'm gonna do Is spread my wings and fly I'm gonna land beside a lion And run my fingers through his mane Or I might find out what it's like To ride a drop of rain [Chorus] Yeah when I get where I'm going There'll be only happy tears I will shed the sins and struggles I have carried all these years And I'll leave my heart wide open I will love and have no fear Yeah when I get where I'm going Don't cry for me down here I'm gonna walk with my grand daddy And he'll match me step for step And I'll tell him how I missed him Every minute since he left Then I'll hug his neck So much pain and so much darkness In this world we stumble through All these questions I can't answer So much work to do But when I get where I'm going And I see my maker's face I'll stand forever in the light Of his amazing grace Yeah when I get where I'm going There'll be only happy tears

Which Character Are You?

2006-06-15T15:36:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite movies is "The Princess Bride" So I just had to do this: Which Princess Bride Character are You? this quiz was made by mysti

Rejoicing With The Angels

2006-06-15T13:15:00.000-05:00

My oldest grand daughter, Emily, obeyed the gospel last night. I can remember holding her for the first time when she was just weeks old. She was the first grand child, so that experience will always be special, but not as special as last night. I have baptized a lot of people through the years, but last night will always stand out among them all. Paul didn't remember all those he baptized, off the top of his head, and I can relate to that, but I will never forget last night. Emily begins the fourth generation of Christians on my Dad's side of the family, and the fifth on my Mom's side. She has been talking to us about this decision for about a year now. She has given it a lot of thought. I know she is young and has a lot of life ahead of her -- a lot to learn and deal with, but she is off to a great start. Oh, for those who read my post from yesterday--he was there too, and I am glad.

Who Is On Your Prayer List?

2006-06-14T11:38:00.000-05:00

Who is on your prayer list? As I think back over my list the majority are family, friends and members at Madison that are facing health challenges. There is only one person on my list that does not fit into the groups that I just mentioned. Jesus never told me to pray for my Mom while she was with us, nor did He tell me to pray for my kids, even though I do daily, but he did tell me to pray for this guy. "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Matt. 5:44 NASV. He did not hurt me directly, but through my daughter. Some times those are the worse kinds of hurt, those done to your loved ones. The sad thing is that he continues to try from time to time to bring more hurt and pain through his words and actions. While it can be the hardest part of my prayer time, it is often the best. You see each time I pray for him I am reminded of my own sinful and rebellious heart. I am reminded that while I was an enemy of my Lord He died for me anyway. The world’s response to those who hurt us is revenge, hatred and anger. Jesus says, pray for them and forgive them. Freedom from hatred and anger is the wonderful gift of forgiveness. “The word forgive in the Greek language actually means “to send away”. People hurt us and harm us, and we end up caring around these debts they owe us wherever we go. To forgive is to refuse to carry those debts anymore.” Rob Bell, “Velvet Elvis” pg.60. Those burdens can mount up and become unbearable. Not only are we left with the pain of the original hurt, but now the pain is compounded as we smolder under the burden of anger and frustration. We are never more like Jesus than when we forgive. We were covered by His words from Calvary, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" Luke 23:34 NASV. Forgiveness does not remove the responsibility of the one who hurt us, but it removes the burden it put on us and “sends it away.” Many of those on my prayer list are dealing with Cancer. Cancer can fill your life with pain and eventually cut it short. So can un-forgiveness.

"...anything else is just commentary."

2006-06-13T10:47:00.000-05:00

The goal of my tribe, if I have understood it through the years, was to restore the New Testament Church of the first century in our century. While we accepted that there were some cultural issues that were for them and not us, for the most part the goal, as I understand it, was to have a First Century Church in our day. While this may be a worthy goal in some ways, I think we need to rethink it. Rob Bell in “Velvet Evis” makes a valid point. “The point in the book of Acts isn’t the early church. The point is the God who is at work in and through the early church to change the world. When we take the Bible seriously, we are taking God seriously. We believe that the same God who was at work then is at work now. The same God in the same kinds of ways. The goal is not to be a “New Testament church”. That makes the New Testament church the authority. The authority is God who is acting in and through those people at that time and now these people at this time. “ The book of Acts is just the first chapter, so to speak, in God’s story of what He did, and what He continues to do in the church. God continues today to work through His Body, the Church, as He has done down through the centuries. I know to some that I sound like a heretic when I say that, but if we could but step out of our inherited pattern theology for a moment, and see that the Bible is simply a record of God at work in the lives of His people at that time. We are reading their mail. What they did is not nearly as important as why they did it. Their actions were the result of their relationship with the Father. Their goal was to be like Him and to accomplish His will, not to establish some institution to be duplicated century after century. Not only was the restoration of the New Testament Church of the first century a goal, some from our tribe even believed that they accomplished the mission! All others interpretations of scripture are now judged right or wrong by their own. To them and others of a similar mind set I simply say, “The Bible is the inspired word of God and anything else is just commentary.”

"End Of The Spear" Debuts Tomorrow

2006-06-12T13:43:00.000-05:00

The is such a powerful movie. If you didn't see it when it was in theaters back in January, or even if you did, the DVD will be available tomorrow -- buy it and share it. The sacrifice of these men and their families is a story that NEEDS to be told. Here is the announcment: Worlds collide and tragedy strikes as a missionary group journeys to the heart of the Amazon jungle in search of the Waodani, a tribe of fierce warriors on the brink of extinction due to revenge killings. When five of the missionary men are speared to death by tribesmen, their families are left husbandless and fatherless. Undeterred by their tremendous loss and spurred on by hope, the families decide to remain in Ecuador, and risk living among the Waodani. But the effects of that first encounter have yet to subside: A young boy, struggling to unlock the secret of his father’s death, must learn to accept a tragedy he cannot change in this powerful true story of sacrifice, courage, and reconciliation. Available on DVD from Fox Home Entertainment starting tomorrow (June 13), End Of The Spear takes viewers deep into the heart of darkness to discover that faith and forgiveness can transcend the senseless acts of violence that stand in the way of cultural understanding. Use this powerful true story of forgiveness and reconciliation for ministry, outreach, or simply to share with your friends and neighbors. Go to your local video retailer, or visit the following links to purchase End Of The Spear DVD's tomorrow: bestbuy.com , walmart.com or amazon.com ! Share the story that has touched the hearts of thousands around the world! DVD Special Features:The End Of The Spear DVD features both widescreen and full screen versions of the film, and is presented in English Dolby Surround 5.1 with English and Spanish subtitles.

The Death of Zarqawi and Legalism

2006-06-10T13:42:00.000-05:00

The two things mentioned in the title of this post really have nothing to do with each other. Zarqawi is dead, and I am glad. I hope that doesn't sound unchristian to you. I was going to write this eloquent post about it, and then I read Patrick Mead's post for today, and well, he said it better than I would have so, have a look. Legalism is not dead, but I wish it was. Apparently a legalist took an anonymous pot shot at Jeff Garrett and his response in his post for Friday the 9th. of June was so simple and too the point. Jeff is a recovering alcoholic, a minister, and a wonderful Christian. I love his attitude, and again his comments are so much better than mine would have been, so take a look. You know, now that I look back, as I close these thoughts, maybe there is a common thread that binds the Zarqawis and legalist of our day. An absence of Love.

Times Change

2006-06-09T13:56:00.000-05:00

“Times change. God doesn’t, but times do.” “Velvet Elvis” by Rob Bell. I am sure that Rob is not the first person to say that, but when I read it this morning it really struck me as profound. Barb and I preached in Pennsylvania for over 20 years. Where we lived was not that far from the Amish farms of Lancaster County. I was always amazed at how a people could maintain the “simple” lifestyle in the midst of one of the fastest growing counties in the State. Commercial and residential development all around them, and yet they were still in the horse and buggy days – literally. What struck me today was how much my tribe is like the Amish. We have not been as consistent as they. We have done a little picking and choosing when it comes to what we hang on too and what we leave behind, but in many ways we are a lot like them. Some how we have to deal with the mentality, that change is bad. The far right of my tribe, for lack of a better term, is throwing around the term, “change agents”. To them that is a bad thing. And yet, our movement was birthed by change agents by the name of Campbell, Stone, and others. Back then change was good, but now somehow it is bad. While their’s was a movement “back” to Biblical principals, ours is a movement toward application, in real ways, in real life – 21st. Century Life. If we are learning and growing we will always be in a state of change. When you think you have arrived you become stagnant and eventually you die. One of our Shepherds last Lord’s Day during communion made the comment that if someone from the first century church were to come into our assemblies during the Lord’s Supper they would not have a clue as to what we were doing. That is true, and at the same time, there is nothing wrong with that. But don’t we need to follow their example? Yes, very much so, in principle. We need to love, give, care, show compassion, preach the Gospel, etc., with the same heart and devotion they did. We need to allow the Gospel to change us and do for us what it did for them. We need to become change agents like they were change agents to our Century.

Blogger On The Fritz

2006-06-08T21:15:00.000-05:00

Blogger has been having a lot of problems in the last two days. So instead of a post today here are a two more links to pictures of Family Day 2006 at Valley View Camp. Amber Stacy's site and Todd Hibbs site. It was a wonderful day of fun and fellowship.

What If?

2006-06-08T08:14:00.000-05:00

What if, in stead of a blueprint for every facet of the church, the Bible was a book of Holy principles? What if what we read about the church and its actions was simply a group of Christians living out those principles as they applied to their world? What if God expects us to live and look like Christians of the 21st Century instead of Christians of the 1st Century? Here are three quotes I just picked up from another blog. This is my next book purchase. Read them and let them sink in – this is food for thought! "We can no longer afford our historical sentimentality, even addiction, to the past. Christendom is not the biblical mode of the church. It was/is merely one way in which the church has conceived of itself. In enshrining it as the sole form of the church, we have made it into an idol that has captivated our imaginations and enslaved us to a historical-cultural expression of the church. We have not answered the challenges of our time precisely because we refuse to let go of the idol. This must change! ….It will require that we adopt something that looks far more like the early church in terms of its conception of the church (ecclesiology) and its core task in the world (missiology)." - page 15 "How much of the traditional church's energy go into adjusting their programs and their public meetings to cater to an unseen constituency? If we get our seating, our parking, our children's program, our preaching, and our music right, they will come. ….The missional church recognizes that it does not hold a place of honor in its host community and that its missional imperative compels it to move out from itself into that host community as salt and light." - page 19 "All the tinkering with the existing model of church that's going on will not save the day. Simply making minor adjustments like replacing pews with more comfortable seating, or singing contemporary pop songs instead of hymns will not reverse the fundamental decline in the fortunes of the Western church… Or think of the church as a VCR. If you have newer DVDs, you can't play them on your old VCR - you need an entirely different device." - pg 35 “The Shaping of Things to Come “ by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch. Do you think that this just might be one the reasons that no group since the first century has preached the Gospel to their world?

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

2006-06-06T15:33:00.000-05:00

Well today is the day everybody has been dreading – 06/06/06. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia the fear of the number 666. It is mid afternoon and as far as I know the sky isn’t falling. The job that I am now doing for my company has me quoting prices for our sales people and running credit applications for approval. Today I had a classic approval number for today. Our approval code has my initials followed by today’s date, then the Fico score and an A for approval or a D for decline. This is the code on the last one I ran about an hour ago. You won’t believe it! LH-060606-666-A. Can you believe that? Am I worried? Not at all. I just think the Lord has a wonderful since of humor. I shared this with the other reps I work with and there were all kind of OOOHs and Awwws. One regional manager wanted to know if it was one of his guys. Not sure why he was so concerned. When it all shakes out I am not worried. I read the last chapter of the last book and we win.

What A Weekend!

2006-06-05T15:02:00.000-05:00

What a great weekend! Saturday was Family Reunion time. It was so great to see all of my blood relatives. The food and the fellowship were excellent! Sunday began with a great Bible Class, followed by a wonderful combined worship service and then we all went to Valley View Camp for the 2006 Family Day. I don’t know how many were their but I would venture a guess that there were well over 1300 if not more. The food tent was filled to overflowing on to the basketball court. Kiddy pools, two of those huge blow up thingies for kids, face painting, dunk tanks, paddle boats, three legged sack races, pie throwing and eating contests…whewww! The entertainment lived up to our reputation of being, Music City USA. Roger Ferguson’s Mercy Beat Band, later joined by Jonas, of “Uncle Phil’s Diner” Fame, and boy can he play a Sax. By the way Roger has a new CD out. Check out his site. Bluegrass Gospel highlighted by Keith Lancaster, playing guitar, and Eric Bright on the Madelyn. Anthony Lancaster, Keith and Sharon Lancaster’s son played the keyboard and sang for a set. The entertainment was closed by “Through A Glass” Christian Rock band led by Jeremiah Barnes, son of Phil and Kim Barnes, Madison’s Minster. As we were leaving we ran into my niece Sonja and Lavern Vivio (better known as U-turn-Lavern, traffic reporter for WLAC 1510 Radio in Nashville), who at the top of their lungs sang Happy Birthday to me. Now that was a trip in and of it self. If you would like to see pictures from the day I have some posted and a few more to come. Just click here! Both of these events were held at Valley View Camp. Valley View Christian Camp is owned and operated by the Madison Church of Christ. The camp is located in the center of 66 acres of rolling Tennessee hills, just 35 minutes north of Nashville Tennessee and 3 miles off Interstate 65. What a blessing this purchase has been to this church and others churches in our area.

Does Yahoo Know All???

2006-06-05T09:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my birthday. The praise team has a Yahoo Group set up that automaticly sends out Happy Birthday messages on everyone's birthday. Here is the message as it appeared on the Yahoo site. Lee Hodges Birthday Sunday June 4, 2006 All Day This event repeats every year, until Wednesday June 10, 2009 That last line made me ask, "Does Yahoo know something I don't"??? (-:

Soapes Reunion 2006 Today

2006-06-03T09:21:00.000-05:00

Reunions are a blast. Most families don't have them any more. The only time, other than reunions, you get to see a large number of your relatives at once is at a funeral. Reunions are allot more fun! My mother's maiden name was Soapes, so the reunion today is from her clan. Edgar and Orpha (Stone) Soapes had six children. Four are still living and will more than likely be at the reunion today. My Grand father used to say he performed a miracle when he married my grand mother. He turned Stone in to Soap-es. We called my grand parents Pop and Sissy. My grandmother never wanted to be called grand--anything, so she tried to get all the grand children to call her sister. The closest the first grand children ever got to saying sister was sissy, and that stuck. The clan is aging. One of my aunts, three of my cousins and myself all turned 60 last year. Won't be long until we are the leaders of the clan. It will be a fun day. Reunions kinda give you a hint at what it will be like for the BIG Reunion one day when we are all with the Lord. Boy, is that ever going to be something!

Are There Limits to Religious Toleration?

2006-06-02T08:38:00.000-05:00

While the following article is a little long for this blog, it is well worth it. By Gary DeMar 6/01/2006 Nearly every social commentator appeals to the conservative Christian community to be tolerant of other religious traditions. After all, we live in a religiously pluralistic society. The assumption is that religion is a benign choice, little different from picking one car model over another. Therefore all religious traditions should be tolerated and accepted as valid expressions of faith. Of course, in terms of the religious pluralism paradigm, I have blasphemed. I have insulted today’s pantheon of gods and goddesses, whoever or whatever they might be. The gods, in addition to being crazy, will also be angry with me because I dare to proclaim without reservation that all religions except biblical Christianity are false, no matter how well intentioned. Jesus made it clear that there is one God, and He does not share His glory with another. All those who claim to be gods or goddesses are usurpers who have no more a spark of divinity than does a block of wood (Isa. 40:20). We have to return to less halcyon days to understand what the fuss is all about. How would today’s religious pluralists have responded to Montezuma and the religious beliefs of the Aztecs? Can you imagine Montezuma appealing to Cortez based on pluralist ideals?: “Can’t we all just get along?” While Cortez’s arrival caused Montezuma fear and dread, it gave hope to many of the Indian tribes who suffered under Aztec rule. The Aztecs had raided neighboring tribes for years, capturing thousands of victims for human sacrifice, a central part of Aztec religion. Cortez and his men were horrified at the Aztec’s slaughter of countless human lives. Aztec temples were stacked with human skulls. So when they made their way toward the Aztec capital, local tribesmen who feared and hated Montezuma followed after the conquerors urging them to attack without mercy. When Cortez spotted the center of religious worship, the sacrificial pyramid, he made his way up the hundred and fourteen steps with some of his best soldiers following close behind. Montezuma was at the top waiting for him. What Cortez and his battle-hardened men saw there shocked them like nothing they had ever seen before. Montezuma had just sacrificed some boys to keep the gods happy, and there was blood everywhere. Bernal Diaz, an eyewitness, describes the scene: “All the walls . . . were so splashed and encrusted with blood that they were black, the floor was the same and the whole place stank vilely. . . . The walls were so clotted with blood and the soil so bathed with it that in the slaughterhouses of Spain there is not such another stench.”1 Cortez left the blood-drenched temple to compose himself in the fresh air. Speaking to Montezuma through an interpreter, Cortez told the Aztec leader that he could not understand how such a wise ruler could believe in these pagan gods. They were not gods, Cortez admonished him, but rather devils. Montezuma was outraged. “We consider our gods to be good. They give us health and rains and good harvests and victories in war.” Of course, the gods were not good to the thousands of victims sacrificed every year. As the Spaniards climbed down the temple pyramid and made their way through the city, they saw more unspeakable horrors. They passed rooms where the bodies of sacrificial victims were being prepared for feasts. They saw racks that held more than a hundred thousand human skulls. Aztec society was built on blood, the blood of thousands of helpless victims. This senseless slaughter had to end, and Cortez believed that he was called by God to accomplish the task. Cortez vowed to rid Mexico of paganism. He preached the gospel to the tribes throughout Mexico. People who knew that they could become human sacrifices to false gods were amazed to hear that the God who made the world had sacrificed Himself for them, shedding His blood for their salvation. But Cortez did more than preach. He toppled the idols and burned their temples. The first pagan temple to go was the one in the center of Tenochtitlan. The idols were removed and the priests were forced to scrub the bloodstained walls clean and whitewash them with lime water. So much for religious toleration and pluralism. Attempts by historical revisionists to paint the Aztecs as peaceful natives who dwelled in the splendor of an unspoiled Eden is a gross corruption of the historical record. In ancient Mexico, human sacrifice was an offering to the gods of people’s most precious possession, their blood. The custom that most startled the Spaniards, ritual cannibalism, was in fact the attainment of a spiritual idea: It was a true communion.2 Aztec priests threw their victims down on a sacrificial stone, opened the chest with a flint knife, and pulled out the still beating heart, which was then burned in a stone urn. “Each year thousands of Aztecs had their hearts cut out of their living bodies and offered to the Sun god, who was also3 their god of war. Thousands more were burned alive, skinned, and drowned as offerings to other gods.” How would today’s historical revisionist explain the daily bloodletting? I can just see it now. “The Aztecs were a highly advanced culture, especially in the area of medicine. Open heart surgery was practiced on a regular basis. Rarely if ever did a patient live, but it was the courage of the Aztecs to attempt the impossible that set them apart from their Spanish rivals.” Like the Aztecs, the Inca Indians had a culture steeped in blood. Yet, we’re told that the “Inca were never that bloodthirsty. When they needed a special favor from the gods, hundreds were sacrificed.” Hundreds, thousands, what’s a few sacrificial victims between religious pluralists? We need to be more tolerant of their beliefs since the Incas were not malicious when they sacrificed their victims. Actually, the priests were doing them a favor. Terrible as human sacrifice seems to us, we should remember that the Inca thought it necessary to their well-being. Sacrificial victims were not being punished for any crime; they were being rewarded for their beauty. The killing was done as painlessly as possible and without anger or hatred. Being sacrificed was, indeed, an honor that guaranteed eternal life with the gods and thus a “favor.”4 The above was written in the spirit of pluralism and toleration of everyone’s religion, even ones that encouraged digging out your heart with a flint knife. If you’re one of the most favored, you might be drugged with coca (to ease the pain), dressed in fine clothes, and strangled with a rope before they tear your palpitating heart from your chest. Certainly the Catholic Conquistadors had their faults. Even so, their exploits, both religious and military, nearly eradicated ritual human sacrifice from Central and South America. It was Cortez’s repudiation of religious pluralism that liberated those tribes who suffered under the Aztec’s bloody religion. William A. Hamilton, who formerly taught Western civilization at Nebraska Wesleyan University, offers a much needed antidote to the misguided efforts of today’s multiculturalists: The point is not to put down pre-Columbian culture. But before the politically correct multiculturists assign Columbus to the ash heap of history, let us not dismiss the conquistadors as less civilized than the natives they encountered. They ended massive ritual human sacrifice.5 1. Quoted in Albert Marrin, Aztecs and Spaniards: Cortes and the Conquest of Mexico (New York: Atheneum, 1986), 111. 2. Serge Gruzinski, The Aztecs: Rise and Fall of an Empire, trans. Paul G. Bahn (New York: Harry N. Abrams, [1987] 1992), 49. 3. Albert Marrin, Inca and Spaniard: Pizarro and the Conquest of Mexico (New York: Atheneum, 1989), 34. 4. Marrin, Inca and Spaniard, 34–35. 5. William A. Hamilton, “The conquistadors were not all bad,” USA Today (October 8, 1992), 15A. Gary DeMar is president of American Vision and the author of more than 20 books. His latest is Myths, Lies, and Half Truths.

Putting The Go Back In The Gospel

2006-06-01T16:16:00.000-05:00

I got to Prayer and Praise early last evening and was sitting in the lobby reading and going over a lesson I am working on. The sky turned dark and we had one heck of a thunder storm on top of us. As the rain started to pour a couple pushing a grocery cart from Kroger came running under the drive thru. The wind was blowing so badly that they pushed their cart into the lobby and sat down beside me. Body odor was quite strong from walking in the sweltering heat and now drench by the shower. I struck up a conversation and we began to chat. They were not married. They found the basket in our parking lot. Her dad died at 49 and mine at 48. She said she used to attend here at Madison, though I really doubt it...maybe as a child. She apologized for smelling like smoke. She wants to quite but it is so hard. The guy with her is here boy friend. Amazing how people open up when someone shows an interest in listening to them. As we were talking I thought about my last post here. Nice cars were pulling up and people dressed casually, but nice, were coming in. Some gave us a glance and then that quick turn away, like “I wasn’t expecting to see that”. They were not being rude; it was just a knee jerk reaction to an unfamiliar situation. We don’t know how to react because of our lack of exposure to people that are different from ourselves. Jesus never said go into all the world and build church buildings and invite people that are like us to worship. He said, “Go into the entire world, (literally, as you go…) It was a commission to “every” creature – every person of every ethnic group. Somehow we lost the “go” of the Gospel, and we are surprised when someone from “out there” shows up, especially without an invitation. The rain finally stopped and the couple went on their way. Barb came in as they were leaving and the lady said, “I bet that is your wife”. I ask her how she knew. She said, "you look alike." “You know they say the longer you live together the more you look alike". Then she said, “You love each other very much; I can see it in your eyes.” I just hope she could also see the love of Jesus for her in our eyes.

Reaching A Diverse World

2006-05-30T15:53:00.000-05:00

The church where we worship is a fairly large congregation of people. No mega church by any means, but around 2000. Churches have personalities and for that reason they attract people that fit those personalities. For example bikers with tattoos all over there bodies would be welcome, but we would be uncomfortable and so would they. Not because of prejudice, but because of a lack of familiarity. That being the case, how could a church like Madison reach out to those that don’t fit their personality? IMHO they have to specialize. Here is what I mean. They need to start satellite ministries off site. This may involve renting a store front or some type of suitable gathering place in a specific area where the surroundings will feel comfortable to those they are trying to reach. This could be done in multiple locations, led by Christians with a heart for a particular segment of society. These groups could start as a cell group, or a coffee house, a place for teens to hang out; any number of creative ways could be used. This could be followed up with special outings that serve as opportunities to blend these groups from time to time. The church of the 21st. Century is going to have to be creative. To reach a diverse world, diversity is required. Same ole, same ole just won’t get it. We have been waiting for them to come to us for as long as I can remember, and they are not coming. So, what do you think? How can we reach a diverse world of lost folks?

"The Proof Is In The Puddin"

2006-05-29T09:12:00.000-05:00

According to a recent Gallop poll 80% of Americans believe Jesus is the Son of God. That on the surface I would say is pretty great news! These type of statistics are often a basis for thinking that we are a Christian nation. Yet when we go a little deeper and look at lifestyles and choices that are made in this country, we see a vast difference between our profession and our practice. Take our speech for an example. The same mouth that professes Jesus to be the Son of God, can in a split second, turn the air blue with language that is from the pit of Hell itself. This type of speech is only a symptom of a heart problem. Jesus said, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matt. 12:34b-37) Belief in Jesus as the Son of God, that does not result in a change of heart and lifestyle, is only intellectual acknowledgment. The real test of faith comes when we are confronted with not only who He claimed to be, but with what He said we were to become. Soren Kierkegaard once said, "The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes, it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament." What could we become and what could we accomplish if we simply took Him at His Word? What if we not only believed that He was the Son of God, but believed that what He said we should do and become was of utmost importance. What if we simply allowed ourselves to be changed into the image of Jesus. That is what believing Jesus to be the Son of God is all about. I heard people of my generation say often, "The proof is in the puddin." That is also what John the Apostle said, "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (I John 2:3-6). That is strong language, because we are dealing with matters of eternity here. You see, faith that does not change your heart of hearts is really not faith at all.

MySpace.com

2006-05-27T15:17:00.000-05:00

One point five Billion hits, that is Billion with a capitol B. Fifty Six million users. Those are recent stats for MySpace.com. Local news reports estimated that of these fifty six million users there may be as many as one million predators among them. Recent news specials, like Dateline, have pointed out the danger to many young people from these predators, and warn against communicating with strangers on line and listing too much personal information. So why am I setting up a web page and blog with the millions on MySpace.com? The same reason Jesus ate and spent time with the lost of His day. What a great mission field! I believe in the midst of all that is wrong with MySpace there is an opportunity. I am sure that God is at work there as He is in the rest of the world. I am not excited about the fact that I don’t have control over the advertising on my site. (That is not as much a problem with the blog, and that is really where my emphasis will be.) I am not real comfortable with some of the things you see from time to time just browsing around, but that would not be allot different in our world if we were hanging out with sinners. So pray for this venture! Ask God to bless this attempt to sharing Jesus with folks that have not come to know Him as Lord. And if you would like to take a peek, click here. Feel free to share enlightening comments there too, just remember we are trying to reach folks that don’t have a background in scripture.

Somebody Stole My Howdy Doody!

2006-05-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

Somebody stole my Howdy Doody! Yep, they told me it was just lost with all the other things in a crate of household goods that were shipping to Germany back in 1973, but I am convinced somebody stole my Howdy Doody! It was just like the one on the “Howdy Doody” show. It was a real Marionette. I was only about eight or nine when my aunt bought it at a toy store in Madison, Tennessee. Of all the things we lost in the crate, that Marionette is what I remembered. Childhood memories are strong. Young minds are so very impressionable. I don’t know why, but that memory came flooding back today and it got me to thinking about other things and people that I remembered from my early childhood. I remembered the lady from “Ding Dong School” ringing that bell first thing in the morning as the program came on air. Then there was Kukla, Fran and Ollie. That Gator with only one big tooth. Who could forget Captain Kangaroo and his side kick Mr. Greenjeans. And of course that waskilly little hand puppet rabbit that was always playing tricks on him. Woody Woodpecker was one of my favorite cartoons. We have a huge red headed wood pecker on our place that I see at least once a week. I always think of Woody when I see him. When I don’t see him, you can hear him banging away on some tree near us. My first crush was on Annette Funicello from the Mickey Mouse Club. She spoke so personally to me (and millions of other little boys) through that show. What are some of your childhood memories?

2006-05-25T13:00:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple pictures from the Praise Team Banquet I wrote about a while back. This is the Red team that I sing with from time to time. Left to right: Lee, Barb, Kathy, Rob

Dancing Before The Lord

2006-05-24T14:22:00.000-05:00

I was flipping channels on Sunday Morning before Barb and I left for worship. My tribe has only a few television programs and I happened across one. It was the closing moments of the program and the picture was of a congregation singing. They were all dressed in their “Sunday Best”, with books held high, but still not looking at the leader. No smiles, a very solemn look on each face. As I reflected on that scene, it struck me that that picture was someone’s idea of what worship should look like. That is how they thought people should act in worship. My next thought was, how sad, how very very sad. Where did we get these kinds of ideas? They did not come from Scripture. Maybe some of it comes from the time when we thought it was “wrong” for men to weep, or when children were to be “seen and not heard”—who knows, but this mind set did not come from God! When David brought up the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, we are told that he, “danced before the Lord with all his might” (2 Sam. 6:12-14). “To those who did not understand the redemption brought by this God, David’s actions no doubt seemed odd. Yet for those of us who have even greater reason than David did to rejoice and dance before the Lord, worship ought to be the very character of our lives.” Philip Kenneson, “Life On The Vine”. Take a moment and read the following scripture, I Peter 1:3-9. Did you hear that? "filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy" If you can read that and not be excited you are in a coma! (Sorry, that may be an overstatement) It could simply be that our lack of excitement is really a lack of understanding of what God has done for us in Christ. If understanding that doesn’t light your fire, as my old daddy used to say, your wood's wet”. In case you are wondering, I am not advocating dancing before the Lord. But let me quickly add, for those who always look for a "thus saith the Lord". There you go!

2006-05-23T13:03:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I posted a comment from Patrick Meads blog about a couple that was upset with their church. Kyle Meador wrote a follow-up article based on that one that is a must read! Here is the link. He has hit the nail squarely on the head IMHO.

To Whom Much Is Given....

2006-05-23T12:32:00.000-05:00

I believe that God wants to use all of his children to accomplish His will and purpose on the earth. So you say, “Tell me something new.” Let me explain. God’s blessings to us are not just for our benefit. While He has promised to take care of all of His children and meet their needs, it is obvious that some are being blessed with more than others. If I understand the “law” of blessings, the more we are blessed with, the more we are responsible for those blessings and how we use them. While stewardship applies to more than just dollars and cents, it seems easier to see its application when we talk about money. I mentioned in an earlier post that I am reading, “Life On The Vine”, by Philip Denneson. Here is a quote that addresses the question, “Why does God bless the “way” He does. “If all God cared about, for example, was that people were fed, then presumably God might have chosen to distribute resources more equitably. But God also cares deeply about the way people get fed. To see why this might be the case, entertain the following thought-experiment. Imagine that you are going away for the weekend and you need to provide for your five children in your absence. You could, if all you cared about was that they were provided for, give each of them a large box of breakfast cereal and instruct each to take care of him or herself in your absence. But you could also make one of the children the steward of the cereal. With instructions to make sure that all were provided for, knowing that this would require the children to learn to interact with each other in ways that would be unnecessary in the fend-for-yourself strategy.” “What if God has entrusted to some of us much more than we need, not as a sign of God’s favor or as a “blessing” to be hoarded, but as a call to reach out to those in need that they might be provided for by the One who loves them most? It may be that too many of us have taken the large box of cereal, written a check for 10 percent of its volume to the church and then gone off to enjoy one heck of a big breakfast. Surely this is not stewardship.” What was it that Jesus said? “To whom much is given, much is required”? I think that is what He said—right?

In Case You Didn't Know...Heeee's Back!

2006-05-20T15:43:00.000-05:00

The Charlotte Observer/September 17, 2003 By Ken Garfield On "The New Jim Bakker Show," the TV evangelist sits beside his perky wife, pleads for money, occasionally cries and closes the show with "God loves you. He really does." Having watched three hours' worth of this fare, the only differences I could see between the new Jim Bakker show and the old Jim Bakker show are as follows: He has less hair. He sits beside second wife Lori instead of first wife Tammy Faye. He isn't selling time shares. And the strange electricity that made the old show part of modern American religious lore is gone. Let me save you the trouble of finding a cable TV station airing Bakker's new venture. Bakker and his second wife, Lori, have been taping the show from noon to 1 p.m. weekdays at a restaurant in the country music mecca of Branson, Mo. As in his glory days in Fort Mill, S.C., he draws a studio audience of mostly older folks, including one fan from Missouri who told Bakker she used to watch the old PTL show religiously. "It was my life," she told him on the air. In one of the three tapes his office sent me, Bakker announced that friends had gotten him back on TV because he didn't have money to do it himself. In all three shows, he pleaded for support by selling different levels of partnerships. Donate $100 a month, for example, and you can join the World Changers Club. A $50 donation gets you into The Jubilee Club. "We really need to hear from folks this week," Bakker said, noting that he doesn't want to raise money on the air but they're at a turning point and couldn't 10 people in each city where the show airs pledge just $25 a month? Charlotte, N.C., lawyer Harold Bender, who represented Bakker at his 1989 trial, said that as far as he knows, Bakker can go on TV and raise money - even after spending five years in prison for defrauding followers out of $158 million. On the air, Bakker promotes his autobiography, "I Was Wrong," and offers hardback copies free to those who make a pledge. On the first of the three shows I sat through, he also promoted another book - the work of a law professor he said read through the entire transcript of his trial. Bakker called the book a miracle: Its title is "Jim Bakker: Miscarriage of Justice?" I worked nights at The Charlotte Observer in the mid-1980s, and would rush home to watch Jim and Tammy transfix the audience with their preaching, singing, crying and charisma. I watched and understood why millions of Christians found fun and hope in this once-in-a-lifetime venture that ultimately fell to sex and greed. Now I watch Jim and Lori preaching, giggling, crying and begging for someone, anyone, to send them a check and keep them on the air - and I just want the show to end. (Pictures not apart of the original article)

Wish I Had Thought To Say That

2006-05-19T12:22:00.000-05:00

From the "Wish I had thought to say that" department. "A couple was furious with our church. We had gone to see what happened to them after someone noticed they'd been gone from our worship assembly for some time. "We aren't coming back," the husband said. "That is an unloving, cold church that claims to care about people but doesn't." I asked him on what basis he made that judgment and he replied, "We were gone four weeks from that church before anyone there even noticed. What kind of church doesn't even notice something like that?" I replied, "What kind of person are you, that you could be gone for four weeks and the no one in the church could tell?" They were shocked by this 'attack' so I pressed on. "What work suffered because you stopped your ministry? What mission work ground to a halt because you withdrew your funding, prayers and support? Could it be -- just imagine with me a moment -- could it be that you never really were a part of the church? Could that be why your departure was unnoticed?" Read the entire post here.

Will This Guy Ever Learn?

2006-05-19T09:06:00.000-05:00

Well he is at it again. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The Rev. Pat Robertson says God has told him that storms and possibly a tsunami will hit America's coastline this year. The founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network has told viewers of "The 700 Club" that the revelations came to him during his annual personal prayer retreat in January. "If I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms," Robertson said May 8. Read the rest of the article here. If I heard the Lord right! Is Pat hard of hearing or just leaving himself an out? I am beginning to believe that this guy has one of two problems. One, he has a screw loose. Or two, he is much smarter than we all give him credit. All he has to do is open mouth - insert foot - and the media ( and me) jump all over it. Maybe that is a clue. I will have to think about that one. What do you think?

Definitions For Parents

2006-05-18T11:26:00.000-05:00

Given that last Sunday was Mother's Day and Father's Day is around the corner, it seems appropriate to offer these definitions used by experienced parents: AMNESIA: condition that enables a woman who has gone through labor to have kids again. DEFENSE: what you'd better have around the yard if you're going to let the children play outside. DROOLING: how teething babies wash their chins. DUMB WAITER: one who asks if the kids would care to order dessert. FEEDBACK: the inevitable result when a baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots. FULL NAME: what you call your child when you're mad at him. GRANDPARENTS: the people who think your children are perfect even though they're sure you're not raising them right. HEARSAY: what toddlers do when anyone mutters a bad word. INDEPENDENT: how we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say. LOOK OUT!: what it's too late for your child to do by the time you scream it. OWWW: the first word spoken by children with older siblings. PRENATAL: when your life was still somewhat your own. PUDDLE: a small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes. SHOW OFF: a child who is more talented than yours. STERILIZE: what you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it. STOREROOM: the distance required between the supermarket aisles so that children in shopping carts can't quite reach anything. TEMPER TANTRUMS: what you should keep to a minimum so as to not upset the children. TOP BUNK: where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies. TWO-MINUTE WARNING: when the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises. WHOOPS: an exclamation that translates roughly into "get a mop."

Being True To Our Testimony

2006-05-18T10:24:00.000-05:00

Consistency of lifestyle with our testimony is critical to influencing our world for Christ. A second challenge is to maintain our testimony while not being directed by the culture in which we live. I am presently reading Philip D. Denneson’s “Life On The Vine”. His opening chapter deals with the often unseen and subtle influence of culture and how it affects the way we not only understand scripture, but put our own values into practice. It is a great read and I would highly recommend it. Here is a quote “Developing skills of discernment must become a high priority for the contemporary church, because for good or ill, our day-to-day practices and activities cultivate the character of our lives. Too often we are pledging allegiance to Christ with our lips while engaging in practices that cultivate a quite different set of loyalties, dispositions and convictions. The predictable result is that we keep on insisting that we are fig trees, yet we bear many of the outward attributes of stinging nettle. Is it any wonder that people looking for figs go elsewhere.?” Page 29

"Knowing You'll Be There, Makes It Easy Too Go Home"

2006-05-15T14:59:00.000-05:00

I wanted to write this before Mother’s Day, but there just didn’t seem to be time. Mom will be gone four years this coming July. The peace I feel today is because of the assurance I have that she went to be with the Lord. It would be pure selfishness to wish here back here on this old earth. Mom died of brain cancer. Her death came a year after the diagnosis. All of her children and many of her grand children were with her during the last days and hours of her life. We all were able to spend alone time with her and tell her what was on our hearts. Many have to face the death of a loved one without warning. We are thankful we knew she was dieing. Mom could only speak barely above a whisper. She had had surgery on her vocal cords a number of years ago and I actually forgot what her voice sounded like before the surgery. Soft or loud, it mattered not – it was mom’s voice. In my younger days mom was very firm and could even be hard at times, but the years mellowed her like fine wine. Her life was hard after my dad died at the young age of forty-eight. There was little or no insurance money, so she had to go back to work after being out of the work force for a long time. It was hard, very hard, but she did it. She did marry again, and while there were many good things about her second mate, there were many things that were not. She never talked to us about it, but we knew all was not well. Toward the end, she talked a lot about seeing our dad again. We buried her beside dad and know it was a great reunion when she got home. No one can ever take the place of your mom. You only get one and no one will ever be able to fill her shoes. I am so thankful for my mom. I never questioned her love for me. I miss her quite rough whisper when she would say, “I love you”. I also miss that sparkle in her eyes when she would say it too. The words of a Gaither Vocal Band song come to mind as I think of Mom on this Mother’s Day. “Knowing You’ll Be There, Makes It Easy Too Go Home.”

Praise Team Appreication Dinner

2006-05-13T10:39:00.000-05:00

Madison’s Praise Team appreciation dinner was last night. Spouses of Praise Team members were invited, so Barb and I enjoyed a night out together. Something we don’t do near enough.We presently have three different teams, one for Sunday morning worship, one for Life Builders Adult Bible Class, and one for Pray and Praise on Wednesday evening. I sing with the Life Builders class group. It was not only a wonderful night of food and fellowship, but the entertainment was simply over the top! Greg Wilson of Greg Wilson Ministries presented his "Hats" drama. "Hats" is a one-man play written, produced, and acted by Greg Wilson. Greg gave us a glimpse into the minds of nine different personalities that we run into from time to time in our world; Worry Wart, Red Neck, Junk Yard Guy, Grandpa, Cameron (4 yr. old), 911 Dad, Drunkaholic, Church Lady, Homeless Guy. One minute we were doubled over in laughter and the next our hearts were brought to tears. More than anything else Greg made us think. I was reminded again of what a powerful teaching tool drama is, if it is done well. Today’s media saturated society needs the type of teaching that grabs them by the throat and heart, and won’t let them go. Dry, boring, monotone sermons do not communicate with today's world. But on other hand the power of a story can grab you and not let you go. Stories were used so powerfully by Jesus, and I saw the power of story again last evening. The evening came to an end in song. One of them led by our brother Ray Wison. Ray is a story himself of God’s amazing grace. Just a few months ago he was diagnosed with a serious form of cancer. He is cancer free today. Ray led us in "How Great Thou Art" in his own special way. I couldn’t help but think, as the halls were filled with blended voices, of how wonderful Heaven will be. There we won’t have to stop and go home - we will be home! 1 Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us give a joyous shout to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving. Let us sing him psalms of praise. 3 For the LORD is a great God, the great King above all gods. 4 He owns the depths of the earth, and even the mightiest mountains are his. 5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. 6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, 7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the sheep under his care. Psalm 95:1-7 NLT

Epitaphs

2006-05-12T07:25:00.000-05:00

Epitaphs are not as popular as they once were. Here is Ben Franklin's epitaph. The body of B. Franklin, Printer (Like the Cover of an Old Book Its Contents torn Out And Stript of its Lettering and Gilding) Lies Here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be Lost; For it will (as he Believ'd) Appear once More In a New and More Elegant Edition Revised and Corrected By the Author.- the epitaph of young Benjamin Franklin What would your epitaph be? Here is your chance to see it before you leave this old earth. Click here!

New Travel Woes

2006-05-10T07:16:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in a comment to an earlier post that I have been in training for a new office position at my company. While this has taken me off the road traveling all over the US, it has put me back into the morning rush. I had forgotten what a pain it was to fight that morning traffic. Here are some thoughts for those in the same boat. * Freeway congestion is getting so bad, you can change a tire without losing your place in line. * All across the country rush hour traffic is bumper to bumper. The next thing they'll be selling is anti-perspirant to put under your car's fenders. * Traffic is always heavy in both directions. There are just as many people trying to get to whatever you're trying to get away from. * You have mixed feelings when you see an opening in rush hour traffic. You're glad for the opening, but you wonder who died. * It's useless to print roadmaps anymore. You just get on the highway and go wherever the other cars take you. * The only way to get home from work on time is to take the day off... even then, you're cutting it close. * Traffic is so bad nowadays, a pedestrian is someone in a hurry. * You can sit on the highways forever. In fact, some places have little exit ramps where you can pull over and make a car payment. * During rush hour the only way you can change lanes is to buy the car driving next to you. Honk Honk! Until next time (-:

I Grew Up In A Segregated World--Racially and Spiritually

2006-05-06T13:38:00.000-05:00

My early childhood was in a segregated world. I remember the marches for equality. I remember George Wallace’s stand against the integration of schools. I remember the riots of the mid 60’s. I remember men like Martin Luther King. I remember when he was shot. I worked at a 5 & 10 cent store in Springfield, Tennessee in my early teen years. While there I developed a friendship with Jimmy. Jimmy was black. Traditionally on Friday nights a group of us got together and went skating, or did something together. I remember the Friday we invited Jimmy to go with us. There were five of us in the car when we stopped at a hamburger place in Goodlettsville. As we all piled out of the car, Jimmy handed me a couple dollars and told me what he wanted. He was staying in the car. I will never forget the anger that ran over me at that moment. The very idea that Jimmy could not be served and eat with us just was not right! With that as a back drop, let me say that my tribe has always prided themselves in being a people of the Book. The Book being the Bible. They could, and many still will today, set you straight in a heart beat if they don’t agree with you. My uncle preached for a church in Alabama back then. I remember him saying that during all the turmoil of the 60’s there was always an Elder stationed at the entrance to the church building in case blacks were to show up so they could direct them to the black church in town. They were not welcomed and would not be allowed to worship with the white congregation. These are the same people who prided themselves as being a people of the Book. I am so glad that attitude is about gone. So why bring it up again? I think it is a picture of how our focus can cloud or cause us to miss altogether the purposes that God has for us. Leonard Allen in "The Cruciform Church: Becoming a Cross-Shaped People In A Secular World" said, "The church of Jesus Christ will be identified most clearly by the character of its people. The church is not primarily an association of people who know and defend the basic teachings of the Christian faith, people who pride themselves on knowing precisely what one must believe. Rather, the church is God’s new creation, a people who have Christ formed in them, who walk by the Spirit and crucify the flesh." Page 174. The Bible is so much more than a book of rules. If that is all we see, then the result will be a people who are changed in various degrees on the outside, but who’s hearts can still hate and be prejudice. Can you imagine a shepherd of God’s flock being posted to turn away people of color from worship? If the Bible is only a book of rules and facts, yes I can. Leonard Allen continues, "This separation between doctrine and life has created a narrow and stunted measure of orthodoxy. A church can be "sound" while excluding black people from its midst. A church can be doctrinally correct while virtually ignoring the poor and hungry living down the street. Christians may pride themselves on their soundness in the faith while hoarding their money or vilifying their brother or brutalizing their family or splitting churches. People may argue endlessly about the proper way to care for orphans while largely failing to care for orphans. " Ibid., p.174. Is this not the message of I Corinthians 13? Read it again! V:13-14:1a "Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. Let love be your highest goal! NLT

Random Friday

2006-05-05T09:27:00.001-05:00

You may have seen him recently in "Outback" restaurant commercials, but did you know that Alice Cooper is now a believer? Yep, the same Alice! "I used to celebrate moral decay, the decadence of it," he admitted in the KNAC.com interview. "I can look back on what I did then and what I'm doing now and they're two different things. But at the time I was the poster boy for moral decay, you know. So yeah, I've got a lot to be forgiven for ... out of ignorance, I thought I was doing the right thing. I was totally in agreement that every guy should sleep with every girl and drink as much as they can. I don't believe that now. I don't believe in it, because I see how destructive it is." Check out the rest of the article here! ------------------------------------ Mother's day is just around the corner. If you are looking for gift ideas you might be inspired by these kids: Angie, 8 years old, wrote: "Dear Mother, I’m going to make dinner for you on Mother’s Day. It’s going to be a surprise. P.S. I hope you like pizza & popcorn." Robert wrote: "I got you a turtle for Mother’s Day. I hope you like the turtle better than the snake I got you last year." Eileen wrote: "Dear Mother, I wish Mother’s Day wasn’t always on Sunday. It would be better if it were on Monday so we wouldn’t have to go to school." Little Diane wrote: "I hope you like the flowers I got you for Mother’s Day. I picked them myself when Mr. Smith wasn’t looking." And how about this one from Carol? "Dear Mother, Here are two aspirins. Have a happy Mother’s Day!" --------------------------------- Ben Overby works in a ministry with soldiers at Ft. Benning, GA. I just received a report of the work there from over the last four months. Here is a link to the report. The Gospel is changing lives here! ---------------------------------- If you would like to see pictures of the Ladies in my life and our grandchildren, here is a link to Mother's Day pics taken recently at Madison. ---------------------------------- We have a busy weekend and week ahead of us. I start training for a new job position on Monday so I am not sure how all this will effect my ability to blog. Time will tell.

What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas?

2006-05-03T09:51:00.000-05:00

Have you seen the commercials for Las Vegas? I am talking about the ones for the city, not the television program. There is a variety, but the main thrust of them all is that you can go to Vegas, assume a fictitious identity, be who you want to be , and here is the catch phrase for each one, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. While the problems of Las Vegas are far removed from those of Sodom and Gomorrah, what they have in common is their attitude toward their sinful lifestyle and reputation. A boastful pride and arrogance. Totally unashamed. But it is not only a problem in Vegas, it is a national problem. I grew up in a "Leave It To Beaver" world. That world also had it liars, adulterers, drunks and more. The difference was, we were not "proud" of their actions. Those who promote television programs like Las Vegas, Desperate Housewives, etc. tell us that they are only portraying reality - the way the world really is. But what they don’t tell you is that they are also, in the process of portraying reality, encouraging an acceptance of the reality as the normal form of behavior. I will be the first to admit that "Leave It To Beaver" was not a portrayal of reality. I never saw my dad or any other man in my world, sit down to dinner in his suit and tie. But the difference between the two types of programs is in the lifestyle they encourage. Programs of my early days encouraged moral, responsible behavior. Programs that do that today are few and far between. Remember the frog in the kettle? I know it is an old, old illustration, but it is a true picture of our world. Slowly the temperature is increased until the frog finds himself in boiling water. Because the degree of change in temperature was so slight he never knew what was happening. We don’t either! A little here and a little there and you wake up one morning and find yourself saying, "I can’t believe they said that - did that - on TV! Soon there is no more "shock and awe". It makes you wonder just how far we are willing to go in this downward direction. If we have come this far in a little less than 60 years, what will the next 60 hold? We have been so desensitized that there is not much we see today that will make us blush. The age of innocence is long gone. "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"? Not really, it comes home with you. Your character is changed and molded by your actions and thoughts. "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"? Not really, "So the LORD told Abraham, "I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are extremely evil, and that everything they do is wicked." Gen. 18:20 NLT. Heaven knows.

The Dead Sea

2006-05-02T13:17:00.000-05:00

The Dead Sea is called dead for a number of good reasons. Nothing lives in it. It contains some of the saltiest water on the face of the earth, almost six times saltier than the ocean. It continually receives waters, mainly from the Jordan river, but the only way water leaves is through evaporation. The Dead Sea is a "Taker", but gives nothing out in return. The Gospel was "Good News" to those first Christians. The message was that sins could be forgiven, never to be remembered by God any more. A once for all blood sacrifice had been made and when trust was placed in the one whose blood was shed, eternal life awaited in the future and an abundant life could be found here on earth today. That is not just Good News, that is Great News. Over two thousand years has passed and the message is not being shared in the same enthusiastic way that it was then. In fact, it could be said that those who have this powerful message have become a lot like the Dead Sea. They have taken in the message, appropriated to their personal sinful lives, but the Good News went no further. John Piper said, "God is calling us to be conduits of his grace, not cul-de-sacs," Let the Nations Be Glad! (2nd edition, Baker, 2003, page 102) Men and woman are no less lost today than then. In fact the need is even greater today if we consider the ratio of those who know the message to those who do not. Our church buildings have become great store houses of the Good News. The Message is "there" and if we want it, we have to go "there" to get it. Much like the Dead Sea, to get water out of it you have to take it. There are not many outlets to allow the Good News to flow freely. Jesus said we were to be the "salt of the earth" But salt is useless if it is just gathering in the "Dead Sea", never to touch the world. Maybe I am making to much out of the illustration - maybe not. You be the judge. What do you think?

W.A.T.S. "We Are The Sermon"

2006-05-01T13:57:00.000-05:00

The plea for unity left us by the Lord has gone woefully unfulfilled, I believe in part ,because of our emphasis on unity of belief . Our plea has not been really unity, but uniformity. For this reason we have made the words of Jesus mean something that is unattainable. I believe that there is another dimension to what Jesus said that goes beyond a statement of belief. The following article shows a "unity" in doing what God said to "do". Unity of actions speak so much louder than our words and maybe, just maybe, might be "a" key in finding the fulfillment of the challenge of Jesus. Read the article below and let me know what you think! Four congregations send workers to fix up homes By Jerry Daniel Reed / reedj@reporternews.com May 1, 2006 Hundreds of volunteer ministers put feet to their faith on Sunday. Hands and arms, too. ''These people are definitely being the hands and feet of Jesus,'' said Becca Gonzalez, whose home got some updated upkeep Sunday afternoon. Willing workers from four Abilene churches fanned out to fix what needed fixing at dozens of homes Sunday during the second WATS Day, the acronym standing for ''We Are The Sermon.'' Southern Hills Church of Christ, Westgate Church of Christ, Pioneer Drive Baptist Church and Wylie Baptist Church provided labor. The Sunday workers did a variety of home repair and maintenance work, from mowing lawns and trimming shrubbery, painting walls and patching roofs, repairing machines such as lawn mowers, and gathering and hauling away accumulated clutter. ''It is not a day of (church) services,'' said Mark Viertel, a Southern Hills Church of Christ elder who served as foreman at the Gonzalez place in south central Abilene. ''Whether they're churched or unchurched, it doesn't matter.'' Gonzalez, the single mother of a university student and a high school student, is a member of Southern Hills, but some other beneficiaries weren't. ''We have members of our congregation who weren't members before we did this project,'' Viertel said. The sermon in sweat affects more than just the providers and recipients of the work, Viertel said. Curious neighbors gazing over fences, and distant church congregations trolling the Internet have also tuned into the sermon, he said. Churches in San Antonio, Pennsylvania and California have looked at imitating the Abilene ministry, which is fine with Viertel. ''We haven't trademarked the name ''We Are The Sermon,'' he said. ''We are very happy for somebody to use it.'' In similar vein, Southern Hills borrowed the ''Brotherly Gloves'' name for its year-round service program from its fellow congregation, the Highland Church of Christ, Viertel said. Copyright 2006, Abilene Reporter News. All Rights Reserved.

Honor For The Fallen

2006-04-28T10:35:00.000-05:00

I received the following in an email this morning and wanted to share it with you. The article and the pictures that follow (they are related in topic but not the same event) speak for themselves. Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we'd boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (and was seated across from me), and inquired if he was heading home. "No," he responded. "Heading out?" I asked. "No. I'm escorting a soldier home." "Going to pick him up?" "No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him home to his family." The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he did know them after so many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, "Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do." Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of theUnited States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door [so as to] allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign." Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American. So here's a public thank-you to our military for doing what you do so we can live the way we do. Stuart Margel, Washington, D.C.

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."

Be Faithful Even If It Means Death

2006-04-27T12:28:00.000-05:00

Who or what would you be willing to die for? Family? Friends? Your country? Anything else? Is there a cause you champion and support that would be worthy of your death? One of the seven churches addressed by Jesus in the Book of Revelation is the church in Smyrna. This group of Christians was suffering and had lost allot as a result of their decision to follow Jesus. The future doesn't look that bright either, Jesus says there is more suffering to come. Prison for some, maybe even death. "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." Rev. 2:10 NIV When we experience suffering we are seldom given insight as to why, how long and the outcome, but that is not the case here. Jesus spells out the what, the how long, and the why of the suffering this church was about to experience. Maybe we can see an answer to our own questions in the answers given to them. Prison, beatings even to the point of death - Why? - "to test you." You see the test doesn't come at judgment. We are in the middle of the test today and every day. You just get the results at judgment. But maybe the greater lesson here is that Jesus uses Satan to strengthen His Church! What Satan uses to destroy us, God uses to build us. How long would they have to endure this? - "ten days". The number ten is a number signifying completeness. In other words the length would be no longer than necessary for the test to serve its purpose. It would not be beyond their ability to deal with. God is in control here - don't forget that. What would be the result of passing the test or faithfulness? Faithfulness will bring a crown of life. It may come as a result of the suffering, it may come at the end of the journey when the suffering is a distant memory, but come it will. You have the word of God on it! Even when to all who look on we appear to have lost all, we win. Be faithful, EVEN to the point of death. Folks, this is serious business that we are about. If you doubt that, just ask those Christian in Smyrna.

Posture Optional

2006-04-26T09:19:00.000-05:00

I am guessing that it has been a while since you have seen someone kneel in prayer during a church service - unless you are Catholic. I grew up in a small congregations and their were a couple men that I remember kneeling when they prayed. One of them was brother Billingsley. He was in his late 70’s and when called on to pray (very spontaneous, no prior warning) you could hear him making his way to one knee on those hard wood floors between creaky old wood pews. Though the building was small, it was still hard to hear the prayer, but no one complained. Everyone respected brother Billingsley's walk with the Lord. It was not an uncommon site back then to see men go to their knee(s) in prayer. A while back we were given that option during prayer and I moved from my seat to kneel while we were led in prayer. When I took my seat again beside my grand son Lukas he ask me, "Papa, what were you doing?" After I explained that I was praying, I reflected on how much we have lost in not continuing the tradition of kneeling to pray. The Bible is filled with examples of people kneeling or prostrating themselves before the Lord in prayer. And yet today it has become odd and even weird to see. I know that the important posture takes place in the heart. I know that you don’t "have" to kneel to prayer. I led prayer at Madison Sunday and gave permission for it to be "posture optional." Our seating is not conducive to allow allot of people to kneel, but when the opportunity is given, there are always folks from all over the building that will kneel. When you picture people from the scripture praying, what posture do you see? Sometimes it is stated, other times not, but for the most part I see them either kneeling or prostrated before God. These are postures of respect, submission, awe and humility. As I reflect back on my grand son’s question above, I also see them as postures that teach those qualities by example. I tend to think that one day when we see Jesus and the Father face to face, it will not be "posture optional". In the presence of Holiness I will fall down and get just as close to the ground as possible. "In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshipped". Rev. 5:12-14 NIV

Yearn For The Vast And Endless Sea

2006-04-25T15:39:00.000-05:00

"If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." Fred Peatross. People tend to be idealistic and are driven by a vision. Maybe some where in those two statements is the key to understanding why so few in the Body do little more than show up from time to time at a worship service. Some of it has to do with an incomplete understanding of what God has done for us. Some of it has to do with motivation. But I think that maybe, just maybe, the real key is that those who lead us have not taught us to "yearn for the vast and endless sea". We have not been led to see the dream of God. We have not been taught the inner joy and motivation of a human heart committed totally to the cause of the one willing to die on a Cross rather than disappoint His Father. We have been taught what we "ought" to do. We have sometimes been challenged. We have been preached to and chided for our lack of devotion and love for the Lord. We have been made to feel guilty and unworthy . We have often been exhorted to gather wood, divide the work and go to work, but seldom have we been taught of yearn for the vast and endless sea. The creator of the Universe is at work in our world and He bids us join Him. Wow! That is so amazing.

Pictures From Saturday's "Uncle Phil's Diner."

2006-04-24T12:13:00.000-05:00

Amber Stacey is a professional photographer that worships at Madison. She has pictures from Saturday evening's performance of "Uncle Phil's Diner" posted on her website. Take a look! Link now works, sorry about that.

Sunday Reflections

2006-04-23T17:45:00.000-05:00

Our normal attendance at Madison is around 1800 to 2000 each week. Last Sunday’s attendance was over 3200. No doubt many were there for the Passion Drama, because it was Easter, and as guests of our members. Uncle Phil’s Diner has almost sold out. There are two remaining performances this coming Friday and Saturday. Last Friday and Saturday were sold out and both evenings an extra table was added to accommodate those who had not purchased tickets in advance. Why am I tell you this? Well, I am proud of this group of God’s people. Both the Passion Drama and Uncle Phil’s Diner were designed to tell the Gospel story and reach out to those who do not know the one who has changed our lives and our forever. We watched Jonas Weathers do a wonderful portrayal of Jesus in the Passion last Sunday, and on Friday night we watched him wail on a Sax and sing 50’s hits like the professional musician* he is. What a contrast!. Let me ask you a question. Could you invasion Jesus playing a Sax and enjoying Himself in a rock and roll band? For some folks that would be a stretch, but for those who really understand His mission - a piece of cake. The humanity of Jesus could be seen in more than his physical make up, it was seen in the places He went and the pure enjoyment He brought to those He touched. The increase in attendance last Sunday means that a lot of people were touched with the heart and soul of what we are about, that are not normally being reached. Many visitors have also seen Christians having fun, laughing and going a little nuts at Uncle Phil’s Diner. Both views of Jesus and His followers are important. Barb invited one of her co-workers to Friday’s Uncle Phil’s program. T, I will call her, would not have accepted an invitation to a church service or a Bible study. She had a blast and loved the performance. She had to take a cigarette break, and she also had one lit as soon as she could get outside when the program was over, but she went on and on thanking both of us for inviting her to come. I am so proud of this family I am apart of. Oh, we are not perfect for sure. We still have so far to go to be where we need to be, but we are moving in the right direction. The next big step in faith is when we become willing to not just ask them to come to us, but when we, like Jesus, are willing to go the them. "Holy Father make us more like Jesus. Give us hearts that long to go where You would go and touch those You would touch, that they might know Your Son like we do." * Jonas with a member of Louise Mandrell’s band.

Random Thoughts For A Friday

2006-04-21T13:52:00.000-05:00

The Christian Chronicle says were are number one. Americans who give their religious affiliation as "Church of Christ" are more likely than any other group to attend weekly worship services, a new Gallup Poll reports. Sixty-eight percent of Church of Christ members interviewed by Gallup said they attend worship services at least once a week or almost every week, according to a poll released April 14. The analysis is based on an aggregate of more than 11,000 Gallup Poll interviews between 2002 and 2005, including 123 identified with the Church of Christ. Pollsters did not ask respondents to specify whether the churches were a cappella or instrumental. Denominations on the list included: Mormons - 67 percent Pentecostal - 65 percent Southern Baptist - 60 percent Catholic - 45 percent Methodist - 44 percent Presbyterian - 44 percent Lutheran - 43 percent Episcopal - 32 percent For more information, see poll.gallup.com I am still trying to figure our how I fell about that??? Well at least we beat the Mormons (-: ------------------------------- For a bit of a new twist to the story of the Rich Young Ruler check out Real Live Preacher. It is an excellent post. ------------------------------- Opening night (tonight) of "Uncle Phil's Diner" is sold out and tickets for the remaining performances are about gone. Break a leg you guys! -------------------------------- Keith Brenton's post today, "Things I Suspect About Worship" is excellent. -------------------------------- Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. God Bless!

Some Pictures Are Worth More Than A Thousand Words

2006-04-21T12:01:00.000-05:00

The Church Has Left The Building - I Wish!

2006-04-20T14:49:00.000-05:00

"The church of Christ is not supposed to be a group of harmless, irrelevant, mind-your-own-business worshippers who gather once a week, tucked away from anything public, just to practice their form of religion. ... Nothing could be more unbiblical. The purpose behind this satanically inspired dogma is to keep the Church from being the Church - the ekklesia." - Dutch Sheets, Authority in Prayer: Praying with Power and Purpose. And let me add, that kind of thinking smells like smoke and is from the pit of Hell, to borrow a phrase from Steve Brown. Salt is useless in the shaker. I know that is not an original thought, but it needs to be repeated until we live it. The absence of light is darkness. That too is obvious and we need to be reminded. If these illustrations are so known and obvious, why are they not practiced more by the Body of Christ? Amazing and wonderful things happen when Salt and Light Christians touch their world. Thomas Stewart is finding that out in his world. People are hurting for meaning for something that is real. People want a place of acceptance not judgment. Acceptance is not agreement. Will we ever learn that? We can quote John 3:16, but what about John 3:17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him."NASB Why was Jesus always with sinners? He was here to save not judge. Yes I know He will be the Judge of all, but don’t get side tracked and miss the beauty of the passage. Jesus was WITH sinners to SAVE sinners! Some of us can be so dignified we are petrified. We have spend so much time with each other we are terrified at the thought of an encounter with someone from the world. I think that part of our lack of motivation is that we have become so comfortable with our relationship with Christ, that we have forgotten what it was like to be lost. Do you remember how you felt when you realized that you were lost, and that if you died with out the Lord there was no hope? "He that believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36 NASB "Father help us remember what it was like to be a people without hope. Let us remember also how we felt when we were brought out of that watery grave and raise to walk in newness of life. And then send us back into that world to be Jesus to those who don’t know Him."

What Do You Remember??

2006-04-19T12:42:00.000-05:00

My sister-in-law, Linda Allen, was manning the ticket sales table for "Uncle Phil’s Diner" at church on Sunday. She is playing one of the lead roles as Phil’s mom. That is her bent over in the poster with the top of her head showing. One of her better poses I might add (sorry Linda, I couldn’t help myself). While we were talking she mentioned that she was the only one in the drama that really remembered the 50’s. That got me to thinking. What do you remember about the 50’s? If you were in a later generation what have you heard, seen or been told that causes you to think warmly about that period? I’ll start. Poodle skirts, greasy hair, jeans with cuffs and no holes, drag racing, fender skirts and cheap gas. Now its your turn. Hey! Don’t forget if you need help with tickets, give me a shout. Times and dates of performances are on the poster. Click on it to enlarge if you need too - all you "older" readers. (-:

Enriching Every Sphere

2006-04-18T14:49:00.000-05:00

"Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures; yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratories they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth. - Henry G. Bosch SOURCE: "Enriching Every Sphere" by Henry G. Bosch from Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations Signs of The Times, Assurance Publishers

The Heart Of A Child

2006-04-17T15:13:00.000-05:00

(PLEASE READ PREVIOUS POST FIRST) The responses to the Passion Play at yesterdays services have been coming in all day long to our E-mail Group. Of the many I just have to share two that are such a testimony to how important yesterdays program was. The first is from Kathy Wells and her observations from the back of the auditorium, and the second is Keith Hall's in his own words. Since there was NO place to sit (praise God), I stood in the back of the auditorium watching the drama and observed a little boy who was no more than two years old watching the drama with his parents from the very back row. When Jonas (played Christ) came out with the "blood" on him, the little boy kept pointing and loudly declaring "Oh no! Oh No!" Then when Sherri (mother of Jesus) called out to God to "Take me!" the little boy yelled "Take her - take her! "When Roger (Angel) announced He was alive and Sherri and Leanne (Mary M.) began to cry out "He's alive!" the little boy yelled "He's alive!" and hugged his mamma's neck. The entire time, the boy's parents kept looking at each other with the biggest smiles. These people were visitors because I noticed the Burgundy visitor bag sitting next to their belongings. Can you imagine the impact that had on the parents? They likely went to their Easter dinner and told all their relatives about their son's reaction. And the grandparents will certainly do their fair share to keep the word of mouth going. I thought this was so wonderful. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see these folks again. From Keith Hall, Wow! What an Easter Service!! Usually I sit in the back, or even in another room, and do my small technical part during the productions/worship services and I don't allow myself to really become "attached" to what is going on. This is really a defense mechanism that kicks in so that I will stay on task and others may worship, or observe, without distractions. There are times, however, that I do participate in worship as I sing along to the songs and I do get to hear the wonderful Phil-isms twice each Sunday morning. I must admit that Sunday morning (Easter) I found myself in deep reflection and my eyes began to well up with tears as Jesus was taken off the cross and He was placed on the ground next to Mary. For a brief moment I quit"working" as I found it hard to believe that Jesus died for me. I sighed, returned to my task, and was thankful for that brief encountered that my wonderful Madison family allowed me to experience. WOW. Thank you Jesus for your unexplainable love! Thank you Father for the ultimate sacrifice for me! Thank you my beloved Madison family for the experience! God bless you ALL!

Small Vs Large

2006-04-17T12:58:00.000-05:00

For most of my Christian life I have been apart of small congregations. I grew up in one, my first full time work was a small one. When we moved to Germany, there were only about 35 or 40 of us meeting in a store front. We moved to Hanover, PA in 1980 to begin a congregation with just three other families. So being apart of the Madison church has really been a new experience for us. This past Sunday was one of those days when you realize certain blessings of a large congregation. Jim and Barbie Lanier along with the talented direction of Mark Carver, and a host of volunteer performers put on one of the finest drama presentations of the Passion of Christ that I have seen. The drama opened with two guys going on a fishing trip, one a committed Christian and one because of the untimely death of his son on a mission trip, had lost his faith. As they discussed life and talked about the Passion of Christ the lights moved from one side of the stage to the other telling both stories. The story continued to unfold until the point of Jesus being crucified. The pounding of the nails echoed through out the building. When he was raised on the cross, tastefully done I might add, there were not many dry eyes in the crowd. The performance reached its peak when Jesus came out of the tomb to the song, "He’s Alive". The overflow crowd broke into applause in joy over remembering once again the triumphal resurrection of the Lord. When services were over my oldest grand daughter looked up at me and said, "Papa, I cried." I replied, "I did too." All of my grand children were there, and I am so glad. I am not suggesting that you have to have a big production to be able to appreciate the resurrection of the Lord. But I think it is important to be as creative as you can when telling the old, old story. Easter Sunday is often the only time in the course of the year that some people will even bother to attend a church service. That makes it all the more important to make those age old events even more real. I remember a time when Easter Sunday was a time when preachers would often take cheap shots at those who showed up but were not regular in attendance. May God forgive us! Rather than berating, we need to be lifting up the Lord, and allowing His sacrifice and its power to be presented in all its glory to touch the hearts of men, women and children everywhere. So regardless of the size of the congregation, lets be sure we tell the story in a BIG way.

Egg Hunt at Valley View Camp

2006-04-15T15:48:00.000-05:00

The Lord has blessed Barb and me with five wonderful grand children. This is Irisa at the egg hunt today. She is the last one in birth order and Allen and Jennifer's youngest.

(Picture taken by Todd Hibbs)

Sunday's Coming

2006-04-14T15:19:00.000-05:00

I sing at funerals. Maybe I should say I sing with a group from Madison for funerals. That’s better. Our number varies from six to sometimes like today we had fourteen. Usually we are in the back, and don’t see the faces of the mourners. Today was different. They had us in a room off to the side and as folks left they marched right in front of where we were. There were tears, the loss of a loved one just rips at your gut. Fortunately the deceased was a Christian, and there is hope. But oh it still hurts. As you know today is Good Friday. We remember that Jesus, the one who died on a cross to destroy deaths pain and death itself, was in His tomb on Good Friday. (I kinda think it was Good Thursday, but we will leave that for another time.) We celebrate today because we know the end of the story - Sunday is coming. Those first disciples were not celebrating. They were filled with fear, disillusionment and depression. Their world had come crashing down around them and the one who had come to mean so very much to them was now dead. I thought of those early disciples today as the mourners passed by. But I also thought, it will be OK, Sunday is coming. I can’t wait for Sunday. I know, every Sunday is special, but well this Sunday tops them all. Jim and Barbie have put together another wonderful passion play. The singing will be awesome. The prayers will be filled with power. Also this is the one Sunday all year when there is no Cannan’s Land & Covenant Cove (children’s worship). My grandchildren will be there with us to see the story told again. I love to peek at their faces and watch their expressions. Yep, I can’t wait. Sunday's coming and it is so filled with HOPE!

AMAZING ART

2006-04-13T16:04:00.000-05:00

Julian Beever is an English artist who's famous for his art on the pavement of England, France, Germany, USA, Australia and Belgium. Beever gives to his drawings an amazing 3D illusion.

UNCLE PHIL'S DINER

2006-04-12T12:20:00.000-05:00

This is going to be a hoot! It is Madison's first Dinner Theater. The lead will be played by our Senior Minister Phil Barnes. Barb's Sister-In-Law will play Phil's mom. So if you are in the area or are going to be in the area during the four nights the play will be running get a ticket soon, they are going fast. If you need help with tickets, give me a shout. Dates and ticket information are on the poster to the left, or above depending on how this prints out.

How Is Your Glass?

2006-04-12T12:14:00.000-05:00

How do you view the glass? Half full or half empty. The past few weeks have been filled with attacks on long held beliefs, statements filled with sensationalism and hyperbole. "Jesus Didn't Walk on Water, Judas Was a Hero, Evolution 'Proved,' Prayer Doesn't Work …" to mention just a few - thanks Angie for the link. It would be easy to join the "Chicken Little" crowd and run through the street proclaiming that the sky is falling, or Armageddon is upon us, but as I mentioned in yesterdays post, there is a great deal of reason for hope if we are prepared. Could this be a sign that the powers of evil are frantic, that maybe things are changing and the unseen battle has swung to the side of the Christians? Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Do we remember that just when everything looked the blackest, Jesus walked out of that tomb. Depressed and dejected by the events of Calvary, look at those disciples back in their fishing boat. Depression had set in and they returned to what they knew. Why? Why would they do that? They we looking at events and had not understood the Word of the Lord. I have a feeling that we can be allot like them from time to time. This is not the time to go underground and deepen our isolation. It is a time to Shine!

A Time For Christians To Shine

2006-04-11T10:19:00.000-05:00

"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.", Johm 8:44 NASB God had told the first family " You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die", Gen. 3:3a. The devil said, "You surely shall not die!" Gen. 3:3b. From Nietzsche's assertion that 'God is Dead' during my early days, to Brown’s, ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and Michael Baigent, ‘The Jesus Papers', the lies continue. It is not my assertion that these men are the Devil incarnate, but simply that they are influenced to be his mouth piece. When you couple the general lack of Bible knowledge in our world today with writings that speak of highly questionable texts as authoritative, you have a mixture designed to cause doubt and disbelief. While it is highly unlikely that the books by Brown and Baigent will have a significant impact on the conservatives of Christianity, it will surely cause questions in the minds of others. I really belief that this is our time as Christians to shine. It is a time for open discussion with our non-believing friends and relatives. These books and the up coming movie have put the subject in the media on ever hand. Therefore it is easy to start a conversation with just the words, "What do you think about....?" We don’t need to be fearful, they don’t know the scripture! We surely don’t need to treat it flippantly, and just brush it aside as a non-issue. It is not a non-issue with them. There is also another opportunity on a personal level for those of us who grew up never questioning these things. It is our opportunity to question for ourselves and be convinced, not on the basis of a faith we inherited, but one tried and proven on a personal level. It is easy at times like this, when these claim are thrown in our face and flaunted by the media before us as if they have some validity, to over react and retaliate. But when calm heads prevail, by those who have looked at the evidence and come to faith, what lies before us is opportunity! These are the days when Peters words ring even more true and relevant, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence", I Peter 3:15 NASB. Get the commitment right. Give a defense of HOPE. And do it with a respectful spirit.

"UP From The Grave He Arose" ?

2006-04-10T14:13:00.000-05:00

A few years ago, a letter appeared in the national news that was sent to a deceased person by the Indiana Department of Social Services. It read as follows: "Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances." Well, except for an occasional Lazarus, there haven’t been too many who have seen a change in those circumstances! I got a chuckle when I read that letter. We know what we want to say, but sometimes in our haste or a lack of knowledge, it just doesn’t come out right. Growing up in the church there was one song we sang allot before communion and always sang on Easter. Bass singers loved it. Can you guess what it was? Yep, "Up From The Grave He Arose". Our heritage, for the most part, has been to put the dead in the ground. But we know today that Jesus and many in the first century, were put in tombs that where holes in the side of a hill. Sure does ruin a good song, but at the same time it helps us understand, "rolling the stone away". I would never want to take anything away from the death of Jesus on the Cross, but without a resurrection, His death would have been just that, another death on a cross. A Moslem said to a Christian, "We Moslems have one thing you Christians do not have. When we go to Medina (Saudi Arabia), we find a coffin and know that that Mohammed lived because his body is in it. But when, you Christians go to Jerusalem, you find nothing but an empty tomb." "Thank you!" exclaimed the Christian. "What you say is absolutely true, and that makes the eternal difference. The reason we find an empty tomb is because we serve a risen Christ." The most beautiful words in scripture to me are, "He is not here, for He has risen" Matt. 28:6a. From that point on, nothing would ever be the same.

Gospel Of Judas Part II

2006-04-10T08:32:00.000-05:00

Edward Fudge in his April 10th. "Grace Email" shared the following comments about the Gospel of Judas special on National Geographic. "I have viewed the two-hour television special aired on Sunday night, April 9, 2006 on the National Geographic Channel and have read the actual translation of this apocryphal Gospel at http://www.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/national/judastxt.pdf . (Thanks to my friend and gracEmail subscriber Dr. Hans Rollmann, Professor of Religious Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland, for the URL cite. I do not know how long the text will be available here.) Having now seen the program and having read the “Gospel of Judas” itself, both of which confirmed the previous gracEmail, I add the following observations in this quick update. National Geographic certainly knows how to tantalize an audience even though its titillation is sometimes misleading. In discussing the “Gospel of Judas” found in an Egyptian cave in the late 1970’s, the TV special teasingly asked whether the manuscript was “real” or “fake,” fi nally assuring viewers that this “Gospel” had indeed been “authenticated.” Many viewers likely took these proclamations as assurances that the “Gospel of Judas” was written by the Apostle of that name, or even that the Gnostic doctrine this “Gospel” was written to promote was really true. In fact, the “authentication” talked about meant only that radiocarbon dating placed the manuscript’s origin at about A.D. 300, give or take 50 years. In other words, the “Gospel of Judas” is not a recently-forged fraud. But that is almost unimportant when we know that it was instead an ancient fraud, according to the church father Irenaeus, who wrote about A.D. 180. Unless I blinked and missed it, National Geographic’s television special never even mentioned the fact, also known from Irenaeus, that the “Gospel of Judas” was used by a group known as Cainites who claimed spiritual lineage from Cain, Esau, Korah and the inhabitants of Sodom. At the surface level, the television special seemed to focus on this apocryphal Gospel’s potential to rehabilitate Judas’ reputation as a Satan-driven scoundrel – a characterization that has indeed been misused by some professing Christians as an excuse for anti-Semitism (which is always inexcusable). In fact, even the New Testament Gospels eschew a one-dimensional view of Judas since they report that he returned the betrayal money to those who had hired him and then committed suicide – two incidents which some Christians have seen as evidence of deep remorse and perhaps even of genuine repentance. Further, Judas inadvertently served the divine purpose according to the apostolic preaching recorded in Acts, even though he remained personally culpable for his actions. Be that as it may, the presentation of Judas the man is only window-dressing in this newly-discovered “Gospel.” The manuscript’s real point – and the main reason orthodox Christians reject it (aside from the fact that it is a fraudulent work to begin with) – is its promotion of Gnosticism, a worldview contrary to the biblical understanding of reality on almost every fundamental point. This is apparently a minor detail to many postmodern scholars, for whom all ideas are equally valid and all groups claiming to be “Christian” are legitimate spokespersons of Jesus Christ. Those of us who remain committed to Scripture as divinely-authoritative and who therefore oppose whatever essentially contradicts its core teachings need to realize that we are increasingly out of step with the spirit of the age. It is not unimaginable that the day may come even in America – as it did for the apostolic church of the first three centuries and as it has today in many other parts of the world – when we must choose between personal comfort and security on the one hand and faithfulness to Christ on the other. If that happens, may we – like Irenaeus and Polycarp and John – stand firm whatever the cost.

VIOLENT WEATHER YESTERDAY

2006-04-08T06:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday will be forever etched in the minds of those of us who live in Middle Tennessee. A total of 13 tornadoes ripped across the state leaving destruction in their wake. Eleven dead and numerous injured at last account. (More Pictures) At one time there were tornados to the north and south of where I live. I watched the news coverage and during a rare break between storms made a bee line for my son's home where all my grand children had been gathered. Other family members were in safe locations when the main touch downs occurred. Not since the "big" tornado of 1998 have we seen so much destruction up close and personal. Normally you see pictures of trailer homes destroyed during a weather out break like this. One twister touched down in a Gallatin subdivision destroying to the foundation numerous 250-300 thousand dollar brick homes. The newly constructed Metro Baptist Church just off of I-65 in Goodlettsville had severe damage to the sanctuary, but the rear of the building that housed 30+ day care students was spared. Since we moved back to Tennessee about eight years ago, it has been a little strange. It is like "tornado alley" moved to the east a few hundred miles. This year is beginning like six of the last eight years have been.

The Gospel Of Judas

2006-04-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

The news media is all aglow with reports of the newly discovered Gospel of Judas. Good Morning America’s report used words like, "compelling", "remarkable". Could it be that Judas was really working with Jesus to bring about his death? Could it be that Judas was really not a bad guy after all? Well that seems to be the message of the gospel Of Judas. Does it seem a bit bias to you how Biblical critics take a negative disbelieving approach to the New Testament, while at the same time jump up and down in glee over findings that seem to discredit it. (I guess that is why they are called critics) The discovery is of ONE fragmented copy of the gospel of Judas. There are over 4000 manuscripts and 13,000 fragments of portions of The New Testament. Noted Biblical scholar F.F. Bruce said, "The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if The New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be as beyond all doubt." Josh McDowell, was not a believer when he began to look at the scripture. "After trying to shatter the historicity and validity of the Scripture, I came to the conclusion that they are historically trustworthy. If one discards the Bible as being unreliable, then he must discard almost all literature of antiquity. One problem I constantly face is the desire on the part of many to apply one standard or test to secular literature and other to the Bible. One needs to apply the same test, whether the literature under investigation is secular or religious. Having done this, I believe one can hold the Scriptures in his hand and say, 'The Bible is trustworthy, and historically reliable.’ " Like the Gnostic gospels, the gospel of Judas is just another fictional writing from the same time period.

The Bible’s critics would love nothing more than to water down the message of scripture until it becomes nothing more than an "I am OK - Your OK" bed time story book. Today's critics are not the first and they won’t be the last. I don’t remember when I first heard the following poem, but it is as true today and then. Last eve I paused before a blacksmith’s door and heard the anvil ring the vespers chime.

And looking in, I saw old hammers on the floor, Worn by the beating years of time.

"How many anvils have you had," said I,"To wear and batter all these hammers so?"

"Just one," said he, then with a twinkle in his eyes, "The anvil wears the hammers out you know."

And so I thought, the anvil of God’s word, For ages skeptic blows have beat upon.

Yet though the noise of falling blows was heard The anvil is unharmed—the hammers gone!

Source unknown

Here I Am Lord, I'm Your Vessel!

2006-04-06T13:44:00.000-05:00

Bob Russell is the Senior Minister for the 18,000 member Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Before Bob preaches, if he feels that he has been distracted or is not in the right fram of mind he has a text written in his Bible that he turns to and reads. "O god, don’t let the pulpit call me to the sermon...let the sermon call me to the pulpit. Before I break the bread of life, Lord, break me! Wash from heart and lip the iniquity there...I want to preach, yes hemorrhage, under the divine anointing, God, strip me of all pride, all cleverness, all showmanship, and salesmanship. Deliver me from reliance on suaveness, education, academics, personality, notes, canned quips, and celestial clichés. Let me speak with the humility of Moses, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Paul, the power of Peter, and the authority of Christ. Lord, make my preaching clear, not clever; passionate, not pitiful; urgent, not, usual"; meaty, not murky. May it comfort the disturbed, disturb the comfortable, warn the sinner, mature the saint, give hope to the discouraged, and ready for heaven the whole audience. Let self be abased, Christ be exalted, the cross be central, and the plea be with passion. May my eyes never be dry. Just now, Lord, take me out of myself, usurp anything I’ve planned to say when it’s in the way of your message. Here I am Lord, I’m your vessel! Amen."

Lighten Up!

2006-04-04T13:15:00.000-05:00

Even highly-trained medical professionals sometimes get in a hurry whenfiling their reports. The results: The baby was delivered, the cord clamped and cut, and handed to the pediatrician, who breathed and cried immediately. The skin was moist and dry. The patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of gas and crashed. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy. Patient was alert and unresponsive. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room. The patient lives at home with his mother, father, and pet turtle, who is presently enrolled in day care three times a week. She is numb from her toes down.

AND FINALLY

An Australian nudist found what he thought was a deadly funnel web spider's hole, and he decided to deal with it, according to an April 3 Reuters story. So the 56-year-old man poured gasoline down the hole, then lit a match to try to kill the "offending arachnid." When the gas fumes exploded, the man was left with burns over 18 percent of his body, primarily the upper leg and buttocks area, according to medical technicians who treated him. Medical officials said the man's "lack of clothing probably contributed to the extent of his burns."

Back To Touchstone Fellowship

2006-04-03T14:45:00.000-05:00

Barb and I enjoyed being at Touchstone Fellowship again on Sunday. As I mentioned in an earlier post, this congregation is looking for a minister. This week was a bit different in that I not only preached, but the Bible Class time was a question and answer session to give the congregation an opportunity to ask us any questions they had on their hearts. If this had been twenty years ago, this would not have been something I would have looked forward to. I can only imagine the questions that would have been ask back then. They asked about church growth, would they be allowed to do a lot of the work? (I am thinking, have I died and gone to heaven?) One teenager ask how I would deal with the teens as an individual or group if I felt they were doing something wrong. Great questions from all that were present. They are planning to wrap up their search and interviews in the very near future and we should know something be for to long. From there we went to our Care Group. Great food and fellowship, and a super way to cap off a very long, be very rewarding day. In our devotional time we looked at the 51st. Psalm. David had been confronted by Nathan the prophet after his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband that David had arranged. If you have ever wondered why God would call David a man after His own heart, this is a good place to see the heart of David First of all David realized that his sin involved more than Bathsheba and Uriah, it was against God Himself. (V:4). Second he pleads not only for the forgiveness of his sin, but he asked God to not remove His presence from him. (V:11) David spend allot of time in the presence of God. That fellowship had been broken by this sin, and David knew it and longed to have it back. Thirdly David also realized the true intent and purpose behind the sacrifices God requires. (V17) Something was to take place in a persons heart when he brings a sacrifice before God. ] David’s sin was real to him, just as real as God Himself . His repentance and remorse are genuine and his desire to change was as well. I love the Psalms. Sometime I pray them to the Father. David speaks the thoughts that are in my heart from time to time. So I just pray his Psalm. What a wonderful, great, powerful and awesome God we serve. "I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Psa. 9:1NIV

Some Thoughts Shared With A Dear Friend

2006-04-01T15:12:00.000-06:00

During the mid 70's I was a Bible teacher at the International School of Evangelism in Pontiac, Michigan. Of all the things I have ever done in my life, that was a special highlight. I recently fowarded a copy of Mike Cope's Blog articles concerning the B.I.B.L.E. to the student and staff of ISE. I was a bit surprised by the concern expressed about the articles that I thought were not only powerful, but very right on. There have been a few email exchanges, and because it has been a number of years since I have had contact with these guys, one of my responses gave a bit of an over view of my journey with the Lord that has brought me to where I am today. Because many of you don't know me I thought I might share this one email with you as well. The email I am responding to had referring to our being "written up" a number of time while at the school. Yes we were a little rebellious then too. Also the comment about my hair has to do with the lack there of on the head of the person to whom I am writing. (-: How well I remember the "witch hunters" . Funny, I can't remember what they were writing us up for come to think about it. Had to be our teaching on Grace. I too am thankful that that mind set is not as powerful today as it was then. Memphis is still a seed bed for negative, but for the most part they are gone. During our time in Hanover Barb and I were really sheltered to a great extent from what was happening in the greater brotherhood. I used to dream that the church would change for the positive as I saw it, but never thought I would see it in my life time. When we moved back to Tennessee I was blown away with the changes I saw. Rubel had in deed passed not only you, he was past me as well. But for the most part what I saw was very positive. The Church wasn't afraid to talk about the Holy Spirit, Grace was a regular open discussion. For the most part they had caught up with me (<: Word only, works salvation had been replaced with a more balanced view of scriptures. At the same time I had for years wrestled with how to view guys like Chuck Swindoll, Rick Warren etc. I didn't agree with all they said, but boy they were really on track in so many ways. People were coming to love and serve Jesus through them, many time with a deeper commitment than I had seen in the church. It didn't cause me to question what I believed or to even consider changing just because of them. But what it did was make me face the fact that God may be at work in areas that I didn't expect to find Him working. And I guess that is the key, I do believe that He is working through these men, as well as the Mike Copes and Rick Achleys. I have to also come to believe that even when I don't agree with these guys, that doesn't mean they aren't accepted by God in their journey to serve and please Him just like I am with all my faults and short comings. I just decided that I am going to love and open my arms to anyone who loves Jesus. (Same goes to those who don't, just in a little different way.) If I get a chance to study with them and share what I believe, I will, if I don't we will continue our journey together. I haven't changed how I feel on most doctrinal topics, but I am trying to have the same open mind that I want them to have. I guess I am trying to say that my list of things that would cause me to draw a line of fellowship has gotten a lot shorter as my VERY THICK AND BEAUTIFUL HAIR has gotten gray. (I still remember the beard you grew to take attention away from you missing hair piece) Sorry, I just could not resist. One thing that has changed in a significant way is my view of unity. What I used to preach and think we should achieve was really not unity, it was uniformity. We have never been united as members of the church of Christ, so I don't know what would be appealing to the denominational world to cause them to want to join with us. IMHP the reason it hasn't worked is that we have been starting from a false premise. Our "blueprint" theology has caused us to splinter over and over again, and it continues today for the same reason. It is also called "pattern" theology. I know God gave a blueprint to Noah, I can read it. I know God gave a blueprint, so to speak, for the Temple, I can read it. I have yet to read the blueprint for the church or for worship for that matter. What I do see and read is what they did as it applied to their time and culture. I see the New Testament more as a preliminary drawing, not a blueprint. Blueprints are final! But they are also very detailed and I have never seen that detail. I guess the biggest change has come from within. For a lot of years I was on a quest for knowledge of the Scripture. While I still continue that quest, and will until the day I die, my greater quest is now for a deep and abiding relationship with the Father. I agree with A.W. Tozer, "The sacred page is not meant to be the end, but only the means toward the end, which is knowing God Himself." Well this got a lot longer than I intended. To all of you, Barb and I send our love. Each one of you have touched our lives in very special ways, and we thank God for you. When you talk about those that didn't make the trip, be kind (-: By His Grace,

Just In Case You Are Having A Bad Day - It Could Be Worse!

2006-03-31T14:44:00.000-06:00

HELL? Yes!

2006-03-30T13:00:00.000-06:00

Hell has never been a popular topic. Some how we have difficulty reconciling a gracious God and eternal flames. Yet often the seriousness of a problem can be seen in the solution required to deal with the problem. If Hell was not a reality, the Cross would seem like over kill. Even if we believe in Hell, the majority of us don’t picture many people going their. No problem seeing Hitler in Hell. Sadam deserves it in my book, but where there is life there is hope even for him. The truants of history, those who slaughter the innocent, those that commit heinous crimes, yep Hell is the place for them. But Jesus taught that the road to Hell was a WIDE road and the NARROW road went to heaven, (Matt. 7:13-14). You see it is not the quantity of sin nor the quality of sin that causes us to deserve Hell, it is SIN, even one little one, (Rom. 3:10). Along with our disbelief of judgment for the masses has also come a tolerance of other religions that do not believe in Christ as the central and only hope for eternity. (John 14:6). "With increased religious diversity has come an increased emphasis on toleration. In a U.S. News & World Report/PBS poll, 71 percent, including 70 percent of Christians, said Christians should be tolerant of people of other faiths and leave them alone. Only 22 percent (24 percent of them Christians) thought it was a Christian's duty to convert people of other faiths." - (James P. Eckman, The Truth About Worldviews). Well that answers the question of why there is so little being done in the area of Evangelism. I know my tribe spent way to much time in years past trying to "scare" people into the baptistery. My concern is that the backlash to that over emphasis will be a denial of the reality that each person will face at their death. If Hell is not a reality for the lost, then there is no urgency to our message. "The thing that really kills our outreach is our lack of real conviction that when someone steps into eternity, he either goes to Heaven or Hell." -( Quoted by Anne Graham Lotz in the March/April edition of Outreach magazine.) If we continue down this road of walking on egg shells about the lostness of our world our appeal for Christians to be evangelistic might sound something like this, "Let’s pretend that you are someone who might be willing, in theory, at some point, possibly, to consider maybe doing something that, while not "evangelism"-type evangelism, still could be in some way construed as a sort of sharing of hope. Kind of. (Taken from "A Shy Person’s Guide to the Practice of Evangelism" by Steven C. Bonsey. ) Soon the great commission will simply become the great suggestion. OK that is the problem, how about a little hope? Lets try this. As you go through your daily walk with the Father look into the eyes of each person you encounter and see them as He does. If you see evidence that He might be working in a persons life, join Him. Let Him use you! See a need, fill it. Hear a question, do your best to answer it honestly and not like a Bible Scholar. Someone hurting, offer to pray for then right then and there. Listen and listen and listen. Nobody listens today, be a listener. Touch if it is appropriate. Just a light touch to a shoulder a hand can mean so much. This evangelism thing is not nearly as difficult as we have often made it out to be. Most of the time it is just being or making a friend and then watching for God to open a heart for Him to enter.

Putting The "GO" back in the Gospel

2006-03-28T15:53:00.000-06:00

"I simply argue that the Cross be raised again at the center of the market place as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a Cathedral between two candles, but on a Cross between two thieves; on the town garbage heap; on a crossroads so cosmopolitan that they had to write his title in Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek; at the kind of place where cynics talk smut and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble. Because that is where he died and that is what he died about. And that is where churchmen should be and what churchmen should be about" Scottish theologian George McLeod (1895–1991) Some way and some how, preaching and preachers have to get out of the pulpit. In the same way, those filling pews must rise from their isolation. The power of the ministry of Jesus was His contact with the people He was seeking to touch with His message. I am not going to bash the "seeker" services that are very popular today. I think they have a place in the over all scheme of things. I am not going to bash the time preachers spend in sermon and lesson preparation, it is valuable and needed. I know we live in a busy world and our kids are involved in all sort of activities. But if we are ever to reach the lost in today's world, we are going to have to take the gospel back to the streets, back to where the lost live. Our "come and get it" approach to teaching and preaching today is falling far short of our mission. In a couple weeks we will again be reminded of His death, burial and resurrection in special ways as Easter approaches. There will be dramas that will explore the Passion and stories related to it. We will be reminded again of the awful cost of our salvation. People will show up for that special Sunday that will not be seen again at least until Christmas, but more than likely next Easter. The vast majority of our neighbors will not do anything differently. It will be just another Sunday to them. If they ever come to know Him, we are going to have to take the message to them, they are not coming to us. Oh, we will tell the story to a few who show up once a year, but the vast majority of the lost will stay that way unless we start doing something differently. In the weeks ahead as you hide your eggs, eat loads of those chocolate bunnies and tell stories of the Easter Bunny to all those little ones, don’t forget WHY He came, and WHY He died, and Why He Rose Again.

Kennedy Space Center Eagles

2006-03-27T13:25:00.000-06:00

KSC has quite a few pairs of nesting Bald Eagles. The most famous is a pair that return every year to nest in a pine tree just off Kennedy Parkway North (SR3) about halfway between the VAB and Kennedy Parkway West (SR 405).Every year our photography contractor is employed to mount cameras in the tree before their arrival to try and film them raising their eaglets. Some of the cameras are motion activated and others are remotely activated by personnel usually sitting in a van hundreds of yards away. These are some of their most recent photographs.

Love At Work - Madison Youth In New Orleans

2006-03-26T19:57:00.000-06:00

My four boys and I just returned from our spring break. We were looking for something different we could do since their dad was unable to take the time off from work and that opportunity was presented to us a few weeks ago. We spent the last 6 days with The Hilltop Rescue Mission, mucking out houses in the St. Bernard Parrish of Louisiana. The Parrish sits beside Lake Pontchartrain and was one of the areas devastated when the levees broke. FEMA has had 8500 volunteers succeed in mucking out 200 homes. Hilltop Rescue has had 2500 volunteers and has succeeded in mucking out 1800 homes. The St. Bernard Parrish alone had 36,000 homes affected by the flood waters. The need is desperate. So many look at the inefficiency of FEMA and begin to rant as rave and to who is to blame for the lack of progress in these areas. It is not the fault of this president or the one before but of a system that we as Americans have asked for as we looked to the state and federal government to meet our needs. Needs that if not met to the fullest extent of our expectations and our twisted idea of our rights and what is fair cause us to run the courts for just compensation. A system that is forced to cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’ a thousand times before moving forward. Progress is made at a snails pace if progress is made at all. This was a fact that hit me between the eyes while our group worked on Mrs. Gloria’s home in New Orleans. Mrs. Gloria, a widow, is 75 years old. Her only daughter lives in China her only son is still debilitated from cancer and under a doctor’s order not to enter the home. Mucking out her home was such an honor. We were able to find many treasures she thought lost forever including her china covered in mud but unbroken and were able to give her some closer to the home she has lived in for over 30 years. She is unable to enter the home without the aid of a walker. A couch blocked the front entrance and a dryer blocked the back door. The refrigerator had tipped over and lay on its side blocking the entrance to the kitchen. The back yard was blocked with two trees that were uprooted during the flood so the home had remained as it was after the flood until we went in on Monday morning. Mucking a house requires emptying out the contents. Everything must go. Every article no matter how bad the smell! The refrigerators often overturned are the worse. The contents, long spoiled and mixed with the water from the flood, seep through the seal of the door with every movement the appliance makes as it is up-righted and wheeled out of the home. Once the contents of the home are removed the building materials are removed as well. Sheet rock, flooring, cabinets, sinks, and toilets, everything down to the wall studs. The process of mucking out a home can take a day or two but in the case of Mrs. Gloria’s home we spent four days working on the full process due to the two massive trees that had fallen in the back yard. During the entire process our group was watched and photographed by FEMA security guards that sat directly across the street from the property. It was frustrating I believe, even to them, that their hands were tied in so many ways. Nothing could be done without the proper paperwork. Bathroom facilities are a precious commodity in any of these areas and even a simple request for our group to use of their bathrooms was denied because we had to have proper authorization from the proper channels before we could set foot on FEMA controlled property. A clear and simple example of why we are witnessing such a vivid lack of inefficiency in New Orleans. FEMA is the product of a government system we created. Its inefficiency did not happen overnight but over much time. We can not fix this problem today or tomorrow it will take time. Nothing will recover the wasted money or resources poured into the areas along the gulf coast that have been so terribly devastated. Now is not the time to debate the cause or affix blame. It is the time to find the time to get the job done. We freely open up our check books when what they really need is for us to roll up our sleeves. Remember the numbers and who is getting the job done – FEMA has used 8500 volunteers to muck out 200 homes – Hilltop rescue has used 2500 volunteer to muck out 1800 homes – in the St. Bernard Parrish alone 36,000 homes were wiped out by flood waters. Hilltop Rescue needs you to volunteer your time. They provide food and lodging. All you need to do is sign up, up date your tetanus shot and bring a good pair of steel shanked mud boots. It is the easiest thing and the hardest thing you will ever do. Not every home owner is as gracious and appreciative as Mrs. Gloria but all are in need. Help the Gulf Coast find a way to move on to what ever lies ahead. So many questions remain as to the future of the communities wiped out by the flood waters but at the very least help these families find some fragment of hope, closure or whatever they need to find the peace that left them as the flood waters swept through their lives. Hilltop Rescue has a website that can tell you more _www.hilltoprescue.org_ (http://www.hilltoprescue.org/) - our groups activities and the activities of the group that relieved us and are currently in the area can be viewed at _www.madisonstudentministry.com_ (http://www.madisonstudentministry.com/) scroll down the page for daily blogs from week one and two of the Louisiana trip. Picture links are included. Don’t miss the photographs from our last day of week one. We toured the area along the levy where the first breaks occurred. We had heard of a shrimp boat in a subdivision but didn’t really believe it until we saw it for ourselves. Sincerely, LaVern Vivio U-Turn LaVern Clear Channel Nashville, Tn

Mixed Thoughts

2006-03-25T08:49:00.000-06:00

Our hearts go out to the Winkler family in the death of Matthew. I, along with you, keep asking the question, Why? We may never know. Matthew's grandfather, Wendell Winkler passed away back in October ending a long battle with cancer. Dan Winkler, Matthew's father, and his family are now dealing with death from a different perspective. I will never forget the words of my grand father at the death of one of his son-in-laws, " Parents should not have to bury their children." Grief has now touch this family from two directions. One expected, the other not even imaginable.

Of course the children have lost the most of all. "Father, hold these little ones so very close in the days ahead. Be to them the father they lost and the mother they need, but can not have."

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I found another blog worth taking a look at. Greg Stevenson is now bloging. I don't know Greg but especially appreciated his post of March 24th. Take a look!

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I have been invited back to Touchstone Fellowship to preach again on April 2nd. I am really looking forward to worshipping with these folks again.

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Here is a great article in the area of outreach. Check out the link to Lion's Voice while you are their.

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"Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us, we have to see it as something done by us." - John Stott

QUESTION FOR THOUGHT

2006-03-23T14:45:00.000-06:00

What "Word" pictures did Jesus use to describe what being His disciple would be like?