“CALL NO MAN YOUR FATHER ON EARTH, FOR YOU HAVE ON FATHER, WHO IS IN HEAVEN” MATTHEW 23:9
Recently, I have become, once again very sensitive to the brutish behavior of many spiritual leaders; pastors who manipulate and brow-beat and twist arms politically in order to carry our “their vision”.
I have myself been guilty of being far too authoritative in the past in some instances and so while examining the excesses of the institutional church and while changing the whole method of the way we experience worship; I have also been considering the relevance and even the correctness of using the term “pastor”.
This verse has been used in argument against using that word or any other to denote spiritual authority over others, but after careful study I believe like so much of our spiritual walk the “righteousness” of a situation is not the matter of practice as it is a matter of the heart. Heart-motive is far more important to God than whether or not we use a particular word or series of words.
The word in question is “father”. Is the root word for father the same as the root word for pastor? No, it is not. The Greek word here is patēr, which means father, while the root word for pastor is poimēn which literally means shepherd. The danger is not a word of designation for the spiritual leader; the danger is when the man of God sees himself as something “more” than those he leads. The sharp divide between clergy and laity is man-driven, not God-originated. We have perverted the role of pastor to elevate us, whereas God’s intent is that such a calling is servanthood; “To Minister” means “to serve”.
If we accept that this Scripture is not addressing the term Pastor, then let us consider what Jesus is saying; should we address spiritual leaders as “father”? A casual reading of the words of Jesus would suggest not, but if we are to take this verse literally, than we must also understand it would be wrong for any child to address their male parent as father either for it is the same Greek Word. Common sense tells us that Jesus wasn’t forbidding this type of use of the word "father." A careful study of Scripture shows that Job says of himself, "I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know" (Job 29:16). Elisha cries, "My father, my father!" to Elijah as the latter is carried up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kgs. 2:12) In Acts 7:2, Stephen refers to "our father Abraham," and in Romans 9:10, Paul speaks of "our father Isaac." He also refers to himself as being a father to the churches as well as being Timothy’s spiritual father.
Jesus refers to himself as Teacher, but looks at His words; a careful examination of the context of Matthew 23 shows that Jesus didn’t intend for his words here to be understood literally. The whole passage reads, "But you are not to be called ‘rabbi,’ for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called ‘masters,’ for you have one master, the Christ" (Matt. 23:8–10). I believe He was using hyperbole (exaggeration to make a point) to show the scribes and Pharisees how sinful and proud they were for not looking humbly to God as the source of all authority and fatherhood and teaching, and instead setting themselves up as the ultimate authorities, father figures, and teachers. Christ used hyperbole often, for example when he declared, "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell" (Matt. 5:29, cf. 18:9; Mark 9:47). Christ certainly did not intend this to be applied literally, for otherwise all Christians would be blind amputees! (cf. 1 John 1:8; 1 Tim. 1:15). We are all subject to "the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16).
It would be an easy “religious” matter if we are to merely avoid particular words; it’s much more difficult to allow the Holy Spirit to check the attitudes of our hearts. Man will almost always opt out for religious regulation over the reality and rigor of relationship.
I may or may not refer to myself as Pastor or even Brother at times in order to keep my own motives in check, and you need not feel the obligation to address me as such either; however when you do, I would hope it is not to elevate me, but to acknowledge my desire to walk with you, as we grow together in God. Amen!!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Bette J. Kingrey
KINGREY (TULLER) Bette J. Kingrey, passed away in her sleep, September 20, 2009. Wife of the late Wm. E. Kingrey. (Hilda L. and Walter H. Tuller parents). Survived by Janet (sister) and Jack R. Atkinson of Phoenix, Jodi (niece) and Terry Wisenant, Merrilee (daughter) and Steven R. Goodrich, Wm. A. Kingrey (son), Stephanie, Sofia (great- granddaughter) and Wm. J. Kingrey (grandson), Ben A. Kingrey (grandson), Zach Kingrey (great-grandson). Charter member of New Hope Community Fellowship Church. Memorial service Saturday at Genoa Baptist Church, (3C Hwy.) at 11 a.m. Pastor Gary Holman officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations to Kid's n' Kamp or New Hope Community Fellowship Church. Arrangements by HILL FUNERAL HOME, Westerville.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Where Is Your Focus
Our focus should not be so much on what others, including God; can do for us, but rather, through God; what we can do for others. Nothing is free except the Love of God. He gives it to us freely; our love given back to Him will cost us everything. However,what joy comes becoming whom we created to be.wever, what joy comes from becoming whom you were created to be.
Narcissism has invaded our theology, our worship and our expectations of God. Our worship is filled with expressions of I, Me, Mine. How Great Thou Art is recognized only through the goggles of His benefits to me. The Houses of Worship, which God does not expect us to erect, are designed for our comfort, our convenience and our glory, although most often we protest, “To God be the Glory!” How is He glorified in shrines built to ourselves?
We are to look outward; reach beyond and never sit down. We are to look beyond our desires; reach beyond our comfort and never rest in what God has already accomplished, even it is through us; there is always the remainder of this day to serve God.
Christ first command to those who would be His Disciples; “Deny yourselves” remains the most relevant. Certainly the greatest Command is for you and I to love God with all that we are and our neighbors as ourselves, but such love cannot exist in a heart that has not first been stripped clean of self-love.
Again, I will say, Our focus should not be so much on what others, including God; can do for us, but rather, through God; what we can do for others. Nothing is free except the Love of God. He gives it to us freely; our love given back to Him will cost us everything. However,what joy comes becoming whom we created to be.wever, what joy comes from becoming whom you were created to be.
Narcissism has invaded our theology, our worship and our expectations of God. Our worship is filled with expressions of I, Me, Mine. How Great Thou Art is recognized only through the goggles of His benefits to me. The Houses of Worship, which God does not expect us to erect, are designed for our comfort, our convenience and our glory, although most often we protest, “To God be the Glory!” How is He glorified in shrines built to ourselves?
We are to look outward; reach beyond and never sit down. We are to look beyond our desires; reach beyond our comfort and never rest in what God has already accomplished, even it is through us; there is always the remainder of this day to serve God.
Christ first command to those who would be His Disciples; “Deny yourselves” remains the most relevant. Certainly the greatest Command is for you and I to love God with all that we are and our neighbors as ourselves, but such love cannot exist in a heart that has not first been stripped clean of self-love.
Again, I will say, Our focus should not be so much on what others, including God; can do for us, but rather, through God; what we can do for others. Nothing is free except the Love of God. He gives it to us freely; our love given back to Him will cost us everything. However,what joy comes becoming whom we created to be.wever, what joy comes from becoming whom you were created to be.
Monday, September 21, 2009
RIP Bette
Dear Family and Friends,
It is with heavy heart that I must share with you that another good friend and Charter Member of New Hope Community Fellowship has passed away. Yesterday afternoon at 1:30pm our dear sister Bette Kingrey died. At 1:00pm she was sleeping peacefully and when her daughter checked her at 1:30pm she was gone. I arrived within minutes to find Bette; eyes and mouth closed, looking as though she was fast asleep; a fitting departure of a lady of such dignity.
When we visited last week, her one question to me was "What is taking the Lord SO long?" She follwed her question with a typical Bette statement, "I just don't understand it!". When I kissed her goodbye, I had no idea it would be for the last time.
Bette was instrumental in encouraging the formation of our church and she was faithful to the end. She was often frustrated by the fact that soem had left us and told EVERYBODY, "I can't attend anymore, but New Hope is my church!" She routinely said, "I love all you people down there"; I never figured out why she always said "down there", but it makes me smile thinking about her.
Tammy has known Bette all her life and in fact grew-up in the same house that Bette did. I have known Bette and her family for around 25 years, 10 of which she has been a charted member of our church.
While we are sorry to see Bette go, We rejoice that she has joined so many who have gone before her. Thirty-five from our church alone are there to greet her, not to mention her sweet mother Hilda, her husband and so many friends. I know she is in a better place,but she will also always be a part of who I am. I am blessed to have known her. I will let you all know when the Memorial Service is scheduled as soon as we know.
Sincerely, Brother Gary
It is with heavy heart that I must share with you that another good friend and Charter Member of New Hope Community Fellowship has passed away. Yesterday afternoon at 1:30pm our dear sister Bette Kingrey died. At 1:00pm she was sleeping peacefully and when her daughter checked her at 1:30pm she was gone. I arrived within minutes to find Bette; eyes and mouth closed, looking as though she was fast asleep; a fitting departure of a lady of such dignity.
When we visited last week, her one question to me was "What is taking the Lord SO long?" She follwed her question with a typical Bette statement, "I just don't understand it!". When I kissed her goodbye, I had no idea it would be for the last time.
Bette was instrumental in encouraging the formation of our church and she was faithful to the end. She was often frustrated by the fact that soem had left us and told EVERYBODY, "I can't attend anymore, but New Hope is my church!" She routinely said, "I love all you people down there"; I never figured out why she always said "down there", but it makes me smile thinking about her.
Tammy has known Bette all her life and in fact grew-up in the same house that Bette did. I have known Bette and her family for around 25 years, 10 of which she has been a charted member of our church.
While we are sorry to see Bette go, We rejoice that she has joined so many who have gone before her. Thirty-five from our church alone are there to greet her, not to mention her sweet mother Hilda, her husband and so many friends. I know she is in a better place,but she will also always be a part of who I am. I am blessed to have known her. I will let you all know when the Memorial Service is scheduled as soon as we know.
Sincerely, Brother Gary
Monday, September 14, 2009
IS OBAMA THE ANTI-CHRIST?
“AND MANY FALSE PROPHETS SHALL RISE, AND SHALL DECEIVE MANY.” MATTHEW 24:11
I have been asked several times if I believe Barrack Obama is the Anti-Christ. I will be honest to say, I doubt that he is THE anti-Christ; I believe he is an anti-Christ; a false prophet, if you will, who will deceive many.
He comes making promises he cannot keep; using money he does not have; taking what is not his and giving it away; all the while he smiles and tells us that he knows better than we, what we have need of. What we need is less Government and less taxation so that you and I can care for our own and freely give to help others in need.
Bible Teacher Bob Mumford once said, “You cannot legislate love!” Men cannot be forced to treat one another the way they should by creating new laws. In the same manner forced charity is not charity at all; it’s thievery. I quit believing in Robin Hood a long time ago. When I was a child I thought as a child, when I became a man I put away childish things. Robin Hood did not only steal from the rich and give to the poor, he also lived well off the spoils; that in short is big government; “We will take from you who do work in order to supply the needs of everyone including those who are here illegally and those who do not work”, but Congress lives well off of the taxes they take from you and me. They have a lifetime of salary and healthcare that they do not pay for because of the working man and women; no wonder they relate so well to those who will not earn their own way, they are one in the same.
Last week Senator Joe Wilson shouted out “You Lie!” as the President was lying to the nation. Joe Wilson is the only person in that room who told the truth. Was his outburst inappropriate? Yes, just as it was inappropriate for the whole democratic side of Congress to openly boo President Bush whenever he was trying to speak in the same Senate Chambers. However, the very point Wilson proclaimed to be a lie, has since been exposed as a lie and one wonders if anyone would have bothered to question the truth of the statement had he remained silent in the assembly, rather than be censored, by the Senate, he ought to be thanked by the American people.
America; wake-up! NOTHING IS FREE. Whenever you are promised something for nothing there is always a bigger price tag attached to it somewhere that somebody is going to pay. “AND MANY FALSE PROPHETS SHALL RISE, AND SHALL DECEIVE MANY.” We are seeing only one. Amen!
I have been asked several times if I believe Barrack Obama is the Anti-Christ. I will be honest to say, I doubt that he is THE anti-Christ; I believe he is an anti-Christ; a false prophet, if you will, who will deceive many.
He comes making promises he cannot keep; using money he does not have; taking what is not his and giving it away; all the while he smiles and tells us that he knows better than we, what we have need of. What we need is less Government and less taxation so that you and I can care for our own and freely give to help others in need.
Bible Teacher Bob Mumford once said, “You cannot legislate love!” Men cannot be forced to treat one another the way they should by creating new laws. In the same manner forced charity is not charity at all; it’s thievery. I quit believing in Robin Hood a long time ago. When I was a child I thought as a child, when I became a man I put away childish things. Robin Hood did not only steal from the rich and give to the poor, he also lived well off the spoils; that in short is big government; “We will take from you who do work in order to supply the needs of everyone including those who are here illegally and those who do not work”, but Congress lives well off of the taxes they take from you and me. They have a lifetime of salary and healthcare that they do not pay for because of the working man and women; no wonder they relate so well to those who will not earn their own way, they are one in the same.
Last week Senator Joe Wilson shouted out “You Lie!” as the President was lying to the nation. Joe Wilson is the only person in that room who told the truth. Was his outburst inappropriate? Yes, just as it was inappropriate for the whole democratic side of Congress to openly boo President Bush whenever he was trying to speak in the same Senate Chambers. However, the very point Wilson proclaimed to be a lie, has since been exposed as a lie and one wonders if anyone would have bothered to question the truth of the statement had he remained silent in the assembly, rather than be censored, by the Senate, he ought to be thanked by the American people.
America; wake-up! NOTHING IS FREE. Whenever you are promised something for nothing there is always a bigger price tag attached to it somewhere that somebody is going to pay. “AND MANY FALSE PROPHETS SHALL RISE, AND SHALL DECEIVE MANY.” We are seeing only one. Amen!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal
We must be determined to forgive and diligent to never forget. The truth is when great hurt occurs forgetting may seem as impossible as forgiving; in the case of such tragedies as 9/11, we must never forget, but in all tragedies we must be willing to forgive.
We must not forget that there stands an enemy ready to defeat us if we let our guard down. An enemy who believes there eternal salvation is tied to our obliteration, an enemy who mistakenly believes they have “nothing to lose” and “paradise to gain.” We must never forget the innocent lives taken, lives which would be taken again, if the enemy were given the opportunity. We must never forget that 9/11 was an unprovoked act of war; a war that exists yet to be won either from without or within. We must forget that the absence of violence does not indicate peace; there are attacks in the planning and battles yet to be fought.
We must however, as in all occurrences of hurt also choose to actively forgive. The act of unforgiveness is paramount to one drinking poison in hopes that his enemy will die. Unforgiveness is a dark cancer that eats its host from the inside out. Forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgiveness is not vindication. Forgiveness is letting go of another person’s throat, stepping out of the way and allowing a just and good God to do what is right. Forgiveness is first for the forgiver; love heals, hate destroys. Forgiveness doesn’t lessen the wrong of the offender; it does remove the weight of the offense it from your soul and the gruesomeness of the tragedy from your mind.
So today we remember and vow to stay vigilant. However we vow to stay strong through the righteousness of our own lives and hearts. We remember innocent lives taken; honor heroes taken; we pray for the dark twisted souls who could commit such an act. We vow never to forget. We choose to forgive. And by God’s grace we will continue to stand as one Nation under God. Amen!
We must not forget that there stands an enemy ready to defeat us if we let our guard down. An enemy who believes there eternal salvation is tied to our obliteration, an enemy who mistakenly believes they have “nothing to lose” and “paradise to gain.” We must never forget the innocent lives taken, lives which would be taken again, if the enemy were given the opportunity. We must never forget that 9/11 was an unprovoked act of war; a war that exists yet to be won either from without or within. We must forget that the absence of violence does not indicate peace; there are attacks in the planning and battles yet to be fought.
We must however, as in all occurrences of hurt also choose to actively forgive. The act of unforgiveness is paramount to one drinking poison in hopes that his enemy will die. Unforgiveness is a dark cancer that eats its host from the inside out. Forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgiveness is not vindication. Forgiveness is letting go of another person’s throat, stepping out of the way and allowing a just and good God to do what is right. Forgiveness is first for the forgiver; love heals, hate destroys. Forgiveness doesn’t lessen the wrong of the offender; it does remove the weight of the offense it from your soul and the gruesomeness of the tragedy from your mind.
So today we remember and vow to stay vigilant. However we vow to stay strong through the righteousness of our own lives and hearts. We remember innocent lives taken; honor heroes taken; we pray for the dark twisted souls who could commit such an act. We vow never to forget. We choose to forgive. And by God’s grace we will continue to stand as one Nation under God. Amen!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
THE CHURCH SLEEPS ON
“AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH, O ARM OF THE LORD; AWAKE AS IN THE ACIENT DAYS” ISAIAH 51:9
It may sound flippant or even humorous to question; has the Lord’s arm fallen asleep? When you consider that the “Redeemed” are the Lord’s body, then it is very elementary to understand, that it is “WE” who have gone dead on God, not that God is in anyway restricted within Himself.
The Holy Spirit speaks through the Prophet Isaiah saying, “AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH, O ARM OF THE LORD; AWAKE AS IN THE ACIENT DAYS” yet I’m afraid the Church sleeps on.
Around us men hunger and thirst and are destroyed by sin; yet the Church sleeps on, Children lie homeless in our cities and run half naked and drug-crazed through abandoned apartments; yet the Church sleeps. We continue to build shopping mall structures of gold and glass to preserve and protect the saints as though the crop of the Lord is not already spoiled, the dying world longs for hope; yet the Church sleeps on.
Our corporate churches are run by men and women with credentials which rival those of the best CEOs in the nation as certainly they must as our houses of worship have become complexes of business. We sleepwalk through our days imagining; dreaming, that somehow we are making a difference while the Evening News tells a different story. As the lost agonize as though in childbirth in the hells of their own destruction; we recline in comfort, take satisfaction in our meetings and our classes and refuse to look beyond the stain-glass as the sanctuary; we don’t want to be disturbed, we may not be able to sleep, but we needn’t worry; for the Church sleeps on.
Our small groups and our little churches are exclusive to those who think and feel and act and look like they do; they convince themselves that all people are welcome however they feel threatened if their little core embraces anyone new; the message is alive; yet the Church sleeps on.
Do not be deceived; this message is for you and me for we are the church; the prophets see our heads nodding and he knows they do no nod out of agreement, but out of our own weariness. He sees that the Church sleeps on and so he cries out through the ages with a loud clarion call, “AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH, O ARM OF THE LORD; AWAKE AS IN THE ACIENT DAYS” and the Saints of Heaven echo AMEN!
It may sound flippant or even humorous to question; has the Lord’s arm fallen asleep? When you consider that the “Redeemed” are the Lord’s body, then it is very elementary to understand, that it is “WE” who have gone dead on God, not that God is in anyway restricted within Himself.
The Holy Spirit speaks through the Prophet Isaiah saying, “AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH, O ARM OF THE LORD; AWAKE AS IN THE ACIENT DAYS” yet I’m afraid the Church sleeps on.
Around us men hunger and thirst and are destroyed by sin; yet the Church sleeps on, Children lie homeless in our cities and run half naked and drug-crazed through abandoned apartments; yet the Church sleeps. We continue to build shopping mall structures of gold and glass to preserve and protect the saints as though the crop of the Lord is not already spoiled, the dying world longs for hope; yet the Church sleeps on.
Our corporate churches are run by men and women with credentials which rival those of the best CEOs in the nation as certainly they must as our houses of worship have become complexes of business. We sleepwalk through our days imagining; dreaming, that somehow we are making a difference while the Evening News tells a different story. As the lost agonize as though in childbirth in the hells of their own destruction; we recline in comfort, take satisfaction in our meetings and our classes and refuse to look beyond the stain-glass as the sanctuary; we don’t want to be disturbed, we may not be able to sleep, but we needn’t worry; for the Church sleeps on.
Our small groups and our little churches are exclusive to those who think and feel and act and look like they do; they convince themselves that all people are welcome however they feel threatened if their little core embraces anyone new; the message is alive; yet the Church sleeps on.
Do not be deceived; this message is for you and me for we are the church; the prophets see our heads nodding and he knows they do no nod out of agreement, but out of our own weariness. He sees that the Church sleeps on and so he cries out through the ages with a loud clarion call, “AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH, O ARM OF THE LORD; AWAKE AS IN THE ACIENT DAYS” and the Saints of Heaven echo AMEN!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
THE RIVER OF GOD
“AND HE SHOWED ME A PURE RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE, CLEAR AS CRYSTAL, PROCEEDING OUT OF THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB.” REVELATIONS 22:1
There is hope for a dry and thirsty land. There is hope for the parched and dying. In the arid places where demons dwell; in the dry places where hope shrivels and visions die; there is a silent echo, a whisper of a spring which flows from deep below. A distant bubbling can be heard; refreshment not yet seen, but desperately needed.
Soon the bubbling will become a passing and a passing a torrent and a torrent a stream and the stream a mighty river clean and pure and straight from the heart of God to all who are thirsty and barren and lost.
Where do we find this river? By what path will it empty into this hostile land? The trickle begins in you for you hold within you the throne of God; the bubbling is deep within me for the Lamb of God lives within me; through the crags and the outcroppings of our embattled hearts come the hope of mankind; for the Kingdom of God lives within all who have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. Just as great valleys are shaped by the rushing torrents of rivers in the wilderness, so our hearts are shaped as well as small seeping becomes a trickle and the trickle become a stream and the stream becomes a creek and the creek becomes the mighty rushing river of God, which flows through us to bring life not only to ourselves but to others around us.
The river runs pure for its source is pure. This river flows clean for the Son of God has cleansed us from all our iniquities and shame. This river brings live for it teems with the life of God. God’s breath bubbles from deep with in it to give life to all who will breathe. “AND HE SHOWED ME A PURE RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE, CLEAR AS CRYSTAL, PROCEEDING OUT OF THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB.” AMEN!
There is hope for a dry and thirsty land. There is hope for the parched and dying. In the arid places where demons dwell; in the dry places where hope shrivels and visions die; there is a silent echo, a whisper of a spring which flows from deep below. A distant bubbling can be heard; refreshment not yet seen, but desperately needed.
Soon the bubbling will become a passing and a passing a torrent and a torrent a stream and the stream a mighty river clean and pure and straight from the heart of God to all who are thirsty and barren and lost.
Where do we find this river? By what path will it empty into this hostile land? The trickle begins in you for you hold within you the throne of God; the bubbling is deep within me for the Lamb of God lives within me; through the crags and the outcroppings of our embattled hearts come the hope of mankind; for the Kingdom of God lives within all who have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. Just as great valleys are shaped by the rushing torrents of rivers in the wilderness, so our hearts are shaped as well as small seeping becomes a trickle and the trickle become a stream and the stream becomes a creek and the creek becomes the mighty rushing river of God, which flows through us to bring life not only to ourselves but to others around us.
The river runs pure for its source is pure. This river flows clean for the Son of God has cleansed us from all our iniquities and shame. This river brings live for it teems with the life of God. God’s breath bubbles from deep with in it to give life to all who will breathe. “AND HE SHOWED ME A PURE RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE, CLEAR AS CRYSTAL, PROCEEDING OUT OF THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB.” AMEN!
Friday, September 4, 2009
BAD BOYS, BAD BOYS, WHAT CHA GONNA DO?
“WHEN A CRIME IS NOT PUNISHED, PEOPLE FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DO WRONG.” Ecclesiastes 8:11
There is no greater proof of this truth than the condition of our current society. Laws mean little and punishment means less. When a criminal is told that he is being sentenced to ten years; he begins calculating hat he will only do two. What would happen if a ten year sentence was actually a full ten-year sentence? What would happen if that 10 year sentence was of hard labor?
I do not understand how it is unjust to make people work hard in prison, if they are not willing to work hard and resort to crime within society. Hard labor is considered cruel; I consider crime cruel. How many sad stories have been told of countless innocent lives destroyed by repeat defenders who were out of prison early? How many of those offenders were out early because of heir “good behavior” within the controlled environment of prison? I never had trouble behaving with when my parents were in the same room either. It was always when I was left to my own resources that I broke the rules.
I once had a thirteen year old boy stand toe to toe with me and say, “If I killed you right now, they wouldn’t touch me because I’m too young! And even if they arrest me, by law, I can only be held until I am 18, then I’ll be released and you’ll still be dead. “WHEN A CRIME IS NOT PUNISHED, PEOPLE FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DO WRONG.”
Parents make the same mistake with their children; by trying to be loving and merciful they sabotage their own authority and household rules. “If you do hat ONE more time . . .” should never be in a parent’s vocabulary. I you know they disobeyed, they know they disobeyed. Delayed obedience is disobedience and punishment that is lessened isn’t punishment at all.
Think carefully what wise Solomon is saying, “WHEN A CRIME IS NOT PUNISHED, PEOPLE FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DO WRONG.”AMEN!VISIT OUR WEBSITE; http://www.newhopecommunityfellowship.com N.H.C.F. Touching Hearts - Changing Lives
There is no greater proof of this truth than the condition of our current society. Laws mean little and punishment means less. When a criminal is told that he is being sentenced to ten years; he begins calculating hat he will only do two. What would happen if a ten year sentence was actually a full ten-year sentence? What would happen if that 10 year sentence was of hard labor?
I do not understand how it is unjust to make people work hard in prison, if they are not willing to work hard and resort to crime within society. Hard labor is considered cruel; I consider crime cruel. How many sad stories have been told of countless innocent lives destroyed by repeat defenders who were out of prison early? How many of those offenders were out early because of heir “good behavior” within the controlled environment of prison? I never had trouble behaving with when my parents were in the same room either. It was always when I was left to my own resources that I broke the rules.
I once had a thirteen year old boy stand toe to toe with me and say, “If I killed you right now, they wouldn’t touch me because I’m too young! And even if they arrest me, by law, I can only be held until I am 18, then I’ll be released and you’ll still be dead. “WHEN A CRIME IS NOT PUNISHED, PEOPLE FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DO WRONG.”
Parents make the same mistake with their children; by trying to be loving and merciful they sabotage their own authority and household rules. “If you do hat ONE more time . . .” should never be in a parent’s vocabulary. I you know they disobeyed, they know they disobeyed. Delayed obedience is disobedience and punishment that is lessened isn’t punishment at all.
Think carefully what wise Solomon is saying, “WHEN A CRIME IS NOT PUNISHED, PEOPLE FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DO WRONG.”AMEN!VISIT OUR WEBSITE; http://www.newhopecommunityfellowship.com N.H.C.F. Touching Hearts - Changing Lives
Thursday, September 3, 2009
IF ONLY - GOD!
I remember thinking when I was a boy in church, “if only everybody could hear a good sermon, then everybody would get saved!” But “good” preachers are preaching "good sermons" everywhere; you can see them on TV, hear them on radio and there’s a church on nearly every street corner, but sin still abounds and the world keeps getting darker all the time.
I remember as a teenager going to a concert of Christian rockers and thinking, if only we could get this music out to the world; get more than 25 people to a concert, then everybody would have to get saved the world couldn’t resist it!" And the “Christian music industry grew and went world-wide and became a multi-million dollar business and the world did hear and yet sin still abounds and the world keeps getting darker.
“If only The Beatles or Dylan would get saved, then the whole world would listen!” or so I thought; Bob did get saved and the man dubbed “the voice of his generation” was silenced as live audiences jeered him and radio stations refused to play his “Christian” songs and sin abounded and the world kept getting darker.
Christian Radio, Christian Television, Christian Books and Christian Bookstores filled with music and books and trinkets became another over-priced industry, and we thought surely “just getting the Good News out to the masses, people will hear and get saved and some did, but in large we have done more damage than good to the cause of Christ by creating an irrelevant subculture that pushes those who have yet to meet Christ yet further away and sin still abounds and the world keeps getting darker.
“The answer is ‘Worship’! If we say, “Come as you are”, make the sermons relevant and the music contemporary and sinners comfortable, then they will come and hear and be saved”, and some have come, but when has being comfortable in sin ever compelled a man to repentance? So sin still abounds and the world keeps getting darker.
After thirty years of being in the “Healing Movement”, the “Born Again Movement”, the “Jesus Movement”, he “Charismatic Movement”, the “Discipleship Movement”, the “Worship Movement” with a helping of the “Inner Healing", 'Prosperity", and the' Toronto Movements" on the side, I decided to just love God and people and let God have all the rest.
At times, this too has seemed to fail. I have been abused in my life, as a young man I was raped; but I have never been as abused as I have been abused, by the “church “and by “Christians”. The rape was nothing compared to the spiritual and emotional rape that has been perpetrated on me by more than one “Pastor”. Most of us come from dysfunctional families, but until you survive a spiritually abusive church, you have no idea what dysfunction means.
We say, “if we can only love them enough, then they will no longer hurt and they will love us in return and we can keep sin at bay and turn back the darkness", yet Jesus willingly stretched out His arms and allowed men he loved to crucify Him; fully aware that even the ultimate act of love would not be received by all.
Church family, movements of men come and go with various degrees of success or failure, but the greatest commandment is that we love God with all that we are and love others as much as we love ourselves and in spite of our best and often misguided efforts, the efforts of man will never save the world; sin still abounds and the world continues to grow keeps darker and it will until the One who is Love, Life and light makes Himself known.
I remember as a teenager going to a concert of Christian rockers and thinking, if only we could get this music out to the world; get more than 25 people to a concert, then everybody would have to get saved the world couldn’t resist it!" And the “Christian music industry grew and went world-wide and became a multi-million dollar business and the world did hear and yet sin still abounds and the world keeps getting darker.
“If only The Beatles or Dylan would get saved, then the whole world would listen!” or so I thought; Bob did get saved and the man dubbed “the voice of his generation” was silenced as live audiences jeered him and radio stations refused to play his “Christian” songs and sin abounded and the world kept getting darker.
Christian Radio, Christian Television, Christian Books and Christian Bookstores filled with music and books and trinkets became another over-priced industry, and we thought surely “just getting the Good News out to the masses, people will hear and get saved and some did, but in large we have done more damage than good to the cause of Christ by creating an irrelevant subculture that pushes those who have yet to meet Christ yet further away and sin still abounds and the world keeps getting darker.
“The answer is ‘Worship’! If we say, “Come as you are”, make the sermons relevant and the music contemporary and sinners comfortable, then they will come and hear and be saved”, and some have come, but when has being comfortable in sin ever compelled a man to repentance? So sin still abounds and the world keeps getting darker.
After thirty years of being in the “Healing Movement”, the “Born Again Movement”, the “Jesus Movement”, he “Charismatic Movement”, the “Discipleship Movement”, the “Worship Movement” with a helping of the “Inner Healing", 'Prosperity", and the' Toronto Movements" on the side, I decided to just love God and people and let God have all the rest.
At times, this too has seemed to fail. I have been abused in my life, as a young man I was raped; but I have never been as abused as I have been abused, by the “church “and by “Christians”. The rape was nothing compared to the spiritual and emotional rape that has been perpetrated on me by more than one “Pastor”. Most of us come from dysfunctional families, but until you survive a spiritually abusive church, you have no idea what dysfunction means.
We say, “if we can only love them enough, then they will no longer hurt and they will love us in return and we can keep sin at bay and turn back the darkness", yet Jesus willingly stretched out His arms and allowed men he loved to crucify Him; fully aware that even the ultimate act of love would not be received by all.
Church family, movements of men come and go with various degrees of success or failure, but the greatest commandment is that we love God with all that we are and love others as much as we love ourselves and in spite of our best and often misguided efforts, the efforts of man will never save the world; sin still abounds and the world continues to grow keeps darker and it will until the One who is Love, Life and light makes Himself known.
IN HIM
“THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS MADE ME, AND THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY GIVES ME LIFE.” JOB 33:4
Before I was conceived into this life I was already in communion with Him who creates and calls us all. As the rain is happy to return to the ocean waters of her birth so the spirit of man rejoices to be reabsorbed into that from which he comes.
A great insatiable hunger stalks us each one until we find reunion with God; the Holy Spirit waits as an eager guide outside the heart’s door to show us the way; Christ has washed clean our path by His very blood and the Father awaits His prodigal children to find their way home. The journey begins long before air fills our lungs and continues after we cease upon this plane of life.
Whether God is amazed or amused at our aimless wanderings, I do not know; I do know He is ever present to lead us and unite with us. How pointless is most of what we fill our time with; how little we do for God or His Children; we have so little time for anyone once we are finished serving ourselves. At worse we never give God a thought, at best, most will squeeze out an hour or so a week to go though the motion of worshipping Him in a way that is most foreign to the God who calls us. Many never consider that life and worship are to be more.
Saddled by the pagan traditions of religion we must strive before we realize that there is anything more. Still the Holy Spirit waits to breathe life into us; the life we are suffocating to know. “IN GOD, I LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE MY BEING”; as a fish absorbs and is absorbed in the water of life through which he moves, so I must absorb, be absorbed and move in His presence. What a pitiful substitute is the religion of man for a living relationship with God. How pale are routine are the obligatory gatherings of “church” when compared with the refreshing reunion of a family who loves God.
“THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS MADE ME, AND THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY GIVES ME LIFE.” Amen!
Before I was conceived into this life I was already in communion with Him who creates and calls us all. As the rain is happy to return to the ocean waters of her birth so the spirit of man rejoices to be reabsorbed into that from which he comes.
A great insatiable hunger stalks us each one until we find reunion with God; the Holy Spirit waits as an eager guide outside the heart’s door to show us the way; Christ has washed clean our path by His very blood and the Father awaits His prodigal children to find their way home. The journey begins long before air fills our lungs and continues after we cease upon this plane of life.
Whether God is amazed or amused at our aimless wanderings, I do not know; I do know He is ever present to lead us and unite with us. How pointless is most of what we fill our time with; how little we do for God or His Children; we have so little time for anyone once we are finished serving ourselves. At worse we never give God a thought, at best, most will squeeze out an hour or so a week to go though the motion of worshipping Him in a way that is most foreign to the God who calls us. Many never consider that life and worship are to be more.
Saddled by the pagan traditions of religion we must strive before we realize that there is anything more. Still the Holy Spirit waits to breathe life into us; the life we are suffocating to know. “IN GOD, I LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE MY BEING”; as a fish absorbs and is absorbed in the water of life through which he moves, so I must absorb, be absorbed and move in His presence. What a pitiful substitute is the religion of man for a living relationship with God. How pale are routine are the obligatory gatherings of “church” when compared with the refreshing reunion of a family who loves God.
“THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS MADE ME, AND THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY GIVES ME LIFE.” Amen!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
He Could HAve Built The Healing Church Of Jesus
“NOW WHEN HE SAW THE CROWDS, HE WENT UP ON A MOUNTAINSIDE AND SAT DOWN. HIS DISCIPLES CAME TO HIM, AND HE BEGAN TEACHING THEM SAYING,” MATTHEW 5:1-2
Apparently Jesus missed the “Church-Growth” Seminar. He had been praying for the sick and people were getting well and multitudes were gathering and instead of playing to the crowds, He left them.
Some translations are even clearer, but because Jesus saw crowds gathering, he fled them to teach the twelve. He began teaching THEM (the twelve) saying . . .” Why is this so important? Because it flies in the face of everything the traditional “church” holds dear; bigger is better, more equals success; the business church model is alive and well.
The popular mantra says, “If it is healthy, it will grow”, but by what standard? What is healthy growth? Is healthy growth a hundred Luke-warm believers and two on-fire disciples or 11 men who are on their way to becoming on-fire ready – to-lay-down-my-life friends of Jesus?
Many “church experts” today would instruct Jesus to capitalize upon His notoriety; exploit His success. Multitudes desired to follow His ministry, He could have built the “Healing Church of Jesus” on the spot; He didn’t. He didn’t even receive an offering. He could have spent weeks during the healing campaign to advertise His upcoming Sermon on the Mount. He could have preached this Kingdom Message to the multitudes as many paintings erroneously imply, but instead He left the crowds behind to instruct His closest companions and thereby impart Himself into 12 lives. The cynic might say, “Well that was Jesus’ mission!”
And I would then ask, “Should it not then also be our mission as well? Didn’t Jesus say that He had come and to seek and to save the lost? Weren’t there more “lost” in the multitude than in the twelve, Judas aside?
Jesus did “ministry” all wrong by our standards; even the prophet Isaiah indicates that His physical features would not make Him noticeable, “HE HAD NO BEAUTY OR MAJESTY TO ATTRACT US TO HIM, NOTHING IN HIS APPEARANCE THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM.” ISAIAH 53:2 The fact that Judas has to identify Him with a kiss indicates that His appearance wasn’t different from the other Jewish men. Jesus didn’t promote His face, His Name or His ministry; He simply fulfilled it. When given multitudes, he fled them to invest in twelve.
May God help us as we strive to serve Him. Amen!
Apparently Jesus missed the “Church-Growth” Seminar. He had been praying for the sick and people were getting well and multitudes were gathering and instead of playing to the crowds, He left them.
Some translations are even clearer, but because Jesus saw crowds gathering, he fled them to teach the twelve. He began teaching THEM (the twelve) saying . . .” Why is this so important? Because it flies in the face of everything the traditional “church” holds dear; bigger is better, more equals success; the business church model is alive and well.
The popular mantra says, “If it is healthy, it will grow”, but by what standard? What is healthy growth? Is healthy growth a hundred Luke-warm believers and two on-fire disciples or 11 men who are on their way to becoming on-fire ready – to-lay-down-my-life friends of Jesus?
Many “church experts” today would instruct Jesus to capitalize upon His notoriety; exploit His success. Multitudes desired to follow His ministry, He could have built the “Healing Church of Jesus” on the spot; He didn’t. He didn’t even receive an offering. He could have spent weeks during the healing campaign to advertise His upcoming Sermon on the Mount. He could have preached this Kingdom Message to the multitudes as many paintings erroneously imply, but instead He left the crowds behind to instruct His closest companions and thereby impart Himself into 12 lives. The cynic might say, “Well that was Jesus’ mission!”
And I would then ask, “Should it not then also be our mission as well? Didn’t Jesus say that He had come and to seek and to save the lost? Weren’t there more “lost” in the multitude than in the twelve, Judas aside?
Jesus did “ministry” all wrong by our standards; even the prophet Isaiah indicates that His physical features would not make Him noticeable, “HE HAD NO BEAUTY OR MAJESTY TO ATTRACT US TO HIM, NOTHING IN HIS APPEARANCE THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM.” ISAIAH 53:2 The fact that Judas has to identify Him with a kiss indicates that His appearance wasn’t different from the other Jewish men. Jesus didn’t promote His face, His Name or His ministry; He simply fulfilled it. When given multitudes, he fled them to invest in twelve.
May God help us as we strive to serve Him. Amen!
PRAYER NEEDS
Family,
My friend of nearly 30 years; Charles Weigand George & Tim's father) is in very serious condition physically. He is in the hospitel in Kentucky. He fell a couple weeks ago and hit his head. He refused to seek treatment. He was sleeping alot and getting weaker when he started experiencing paralysis. Last Sunday the family got him to the hospital near where he lives and they flew him by helicopter to Lexington Hospital for emergency surgery for a brain bleed. As of Tuesday he had some paralysis still when he was rushed back into surgery because of further bleeding. I have not heard of any further news as of today. Prayer for Charles, his wife; Dottie and all the kids.
I also just got this not from Donna Williams;
Mark is back at OSU east hospital,
His infection is back.
He is in isolation.
Please keep him in prayer!
Love & Hugs, Donna
She gave me a phone number and asked me to call him and I did. I am not sharing it atthis time because he has a serious migraine and is too sick to talk, so please pray that God deliver Mark from this Mersa Infection - it is VERY serious at this point for Mark.
Your Brother in Christ,
Gary
My friend of nearly 30 years; Charles Weigand George & Tim's father) is in very serious condition physically. He is in the hospitel in Kentucky. He fell a couple weeks ago and hit his head. He refused to seek treatment. He was sleeping alot and getting weaker when he started experiencing paralysis. Last Sunday the family got him to the hospital near where he lives and they flew him by helicopter to Lexington Hospital for emergency surgery for a brain bleed. As of Tuesday he had some paralysis still when he was rushed back into surgery because of further bleeding. I have not heard of any further news as of today. Prayer for Charles, his wife; Dottie and all the kids.
I also just got this not from Donna Williams;
Mark is back at OSU east hospital,
His infection is back.
He is in isolation.
Please keep him in prayer!
Love & Hugs, Donna
She gave me a phone number and asked me to call him and I did. I am not sharing it atthis time because he has a serious migraine and is too sick to talk, so please pray that God deliver Mark from this Mersa Infection - it is VERY serious at this point for Mark.
Your Brother in Christ,
Gary
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
TIME TO RETHINK CHURCH
I once believed that a different church on every corner reflected the need for differing forms of worship according to the various personalities of people. I have come to realize that there is such division within the body of Christ, for no nobler reason that our inability to get along with one another.
The eye believes that the foot and the hand and the mouth and the head all ought to look and function just as he, the eye functions. The mouth cannot understand why the toe will not carry the same passion for speaking or tasting as he, so rather than try to function with the toe to accomplish a united vision; the mouth begins his “mouths only” church.
The metaphor for the church that dominates the New Testament is “family”, however if the Body of Christ of today is a family it is certainly the most dysfunctional family the world has ever known. This family is far from the one that is quipped to welcome the unchurched into the church family.
The American ideal of what the church is to be is far from what Jesus ever described; Hal Miller says, “UNFORTUNATELY, THE METAPHOR THAT DOMINATES MOST OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY DOESN’T HELP US MUCH; WE USUALLY ENVISION THE CHURCH AS A COPORATION. THE PASTOR IS THE CEO, THERE ARE COMMITTEES AND BOARDS. EVANGELISM IS THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BY WHICH WE MAKE OUR PRODUCT, AND SALES CAN BE CHARTED, AND FORECAST. OF COURSE, THIS MANUFACTURING PROCESS GOES ON IN A GROWTH ECONOMY SO THAT ANY COPORATION-CHURCH WHOSE ANNUAL SALES FIGURES AREN’T UP FROM LAST YEAR’S IS IN TROUBLE. AMERICANS ARE QUITE SINGLE-MINDED IN THEIR CAPACITY TO THE COPORATION METAPHOR, AND IT ISN’T EVEN BIBLICAL.”
In reinstating Peter, Jesus did not say, “Do you love me? Go to church!” He said, “PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME? FEED MY SHEEP, CARE FOR MY LAMBS; in so many words, “BE THE CHURCH!” One cannot separate the call of God for one’s life from the call of God for Community. Community is not just fellowship and fellowship is not just eating at Stan’s Restaurant together with other Christians. Gilbert Bileziken says, “COMMUNITY IS DEEPLY GROUNDED IN THE NAME OF GOD. IT FLOWS FROM WHO GOD IS. BECAUSE HEIS COMMUNITY, HE CREATES COMMUNITY. IT IS HIS GIFT OF HIMSELF TO HUMANS. THEREFORE, THE MAKING OF COMMUNITY MAY NOT BE REGARDED AS OPTIONAL FOR CHRISTIANS. IT IS A COMPELLING AND IRREVOCABLE NECESSITY, A BINDING DIVINE MANDATE FOR ALL BELIEVERS AT ALL TIMES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR HUMANS TO REJECT GOD’S COMMISION FOR THEM TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND TO BE IN COMMUNITY. BUT THIS MAY HAPPEN ONLY AT THE COST OF FORSAKING THE CREATOR OF COMMUNITY AND BETRAYING HIS IMAGE IN US; THIS COST IS ENORMOUS, SINCE HIS IMAGE IN US IS THE ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTE THAT DEFINES HUMANITY.”
There is no struggle within the community of the Godhead of the Trinity; Jesus does not resent the Holy Spirit for having separate desires or function, God the Father doesn’t resent that God the Son walked among us, in skin as one of us and He hasn’t; no, God is community. Community accepts, receives believes and supports.
How do you define church?
The eye believes that the foot and the hand and the mouth and the head all ought to look and function just as he, the eye functions. The mouth cannot understand why the toe will not carry the same passion for speaking or tasting as he, so rather than try to function with the toe to accomplish a united vision; the mouth begins his “mouths only” church.
The metaphor for the church that dominates the New Testament is “family”, however if the Body of Christ of today is a family it is certainly the most dysfunctional family the world has ever known. This family is far from the one that is quipped to welcome the unchurched into the church family.
The American ideal of what the church is to be is far from what Jesus ever described; Hal Miller says, “UNFORTUNATELY, THE METAPHOR THAT DOMINATES MOST OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY DOESN’T HELP US MUCH; WE USUALLY ENVISION THE CHURCH AS A COPORATION. THE PASTOR IS THE CEO, THERE ARE COMMITTEES AND BOARDS. EVANGELISM IS THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BY WHICH WE MAKE OUR PRODUCT, AND SALES CAN BE CHARTED, AND FORECAST. OF COURSE, THIS MANUFACTURING PROCESS GOES ON IN A GROWTH ECONOMY SO THAT ANY COPORATION-CHURCH WHOSE ANNUAL SALES FIGURES AREN’T UP FROM LAST YEAR’S IS IN TROUBLE. AMERICANS ARE QUITE SINGLE-MINDED IN THEIR CAPACITY TO THE COPORATION METAPHOR, AND IT ISN’T EVEN BIBLICAL.”
In reinstating Peter, Jesus did not say, “Do you love me? Go to church!” He said, “PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME? FEED MY SHEEP, CARE FOR MY LAMBS; in so many words, “BE THE CHURCH!” One cannot separate the call of God for one’s life from the call of God for Community. Community is not just fellowship and fellowship is not just eating at Stan’s Restaurant together with other Christians. Gilbert Bileziken says, “COMMUNITY IS DEEPLY GROUNDED IN THE NAME OF GOD. IT FLOWS FROM WHO GOD IS. BECAUSE HEIS COMMUNITY, HE CREATES COMMUNITY. IT IS HIS GIFT OF HIMSELF TO HUMANS. THEREFORE, THE MAKING OF COMMUNITY MAY NOT BE REGARDED AS OPTIONAL FOR CHRISTIANS. IT IS A COMPELLING AND IRREVOCABLE NECESSITY, A BINDING DIVINE MANDATE FOR ALL BELIEVERS AT ALL TIMES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR HUMANS TO REJECT GOD’S COMMISION FOR THEM TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND TO BE IN COMMUNITY. BUT THIS MAY HAPPEN ONLY AT THE COST OF FORSAKING THE CREATOR OF COMMUNITY AND BETRAYING HIS IMAGE IN US; THIS COST IS ENORMOUS, SINCE HIS IMAGE IN US IS THE ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTE THAT DEFINES HUMANITY.”
There is no struggle within the community of the Godhead of the Trinity; Jesus does not resent the Holy Spirit for having separate desires or function, God the Father doesn’t resent that God the Son walked among us, in skin as one of us and He hasn’t; no, God is community. Community accepts, receives believes and supports.
How do you define church?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)