I know I'm about to get into hot water but here it goes.
While listening to the radio today, I heard that 100 pastors in our country have signed off to lose the tax exempt status for their church by directing their church members to vote for particular political candidates. This practice violates federal laws governing non-profit organizations. Since this issue has, however never been tested in a court of law, these pastors believe they are not in danger. Their belief is that the IRS would not want to litigate against a church.
Recently, I received a news article from World Net Daily. In the article entitled, Pastors Taken to Task for Political Apathy, Rick Scarborough, a former Southern Baptist pastor and now the president of a group called Vision America said this, "What we have in America is a preacher problem." Mr. Scarborough castigated pastors and especially large church pastors for political complacency. He said, "The problem with us Christians today is that we're so afraid of offending our little ears that we've dug holes and buried our heads in them," he said. "The holes that the 'gays' came out of, the church went in, and it's not going to change until the church comes out." Mr. Scarborough finished his speech by saying, "If the church doesn't awaken now, if the tea party and everybody involved doesn't understand that God is at the heart of it all, then we lose".
Now understand that what I am about to write is my opinion. I believe that we definitely have a preacher problem in America. I am one of them. But the problem is not in political complacency but in prayer complacency. It is my opinion that we don't need a church that is politically active as much as we need a church that is active in prayer. But in our intellectual, Western mind ruled by rational, scientific logic, we fail to understand the role Satan and his demons are playing in this drama. We fail to realize that angels are at our disposal to assist in this conflict. But we would rather attend a political rally than a prayer meeting because that makes more sense to us. We would think nothing of spending hours soliciting votes for a candidate or arguing the merit of one form of government over another but to think of spending two hours in prayer boggles our minds.
We need a move of God in America. To hell with the tax exempt status. We need the Holy Spirit to awaken us, to rekindle the flame not for national patriotism but for our allegiance to Christ and the Kingdom of God. I love my country of birth. I am blessed to be an American. I honor and pray for those who defend our freedom. But the nation that will be sustained until the coming of Christ is the Holy Nation, the church. And it is that nation that must do business with God on bended knee. If only pastors, (me included) would take seriously 2 Chronicles 7:14 and equip the priesthood of believers to invest serious time and energy in their closet of prayer.
OK, I've ranted enough. I know there are those that will take me to task on what I've said but believe me, it won't be the first time and hopefully not the last. "Iron does sharpen iron".
The last three words that Mr. Scarborough uses I disagree with adamantly. "...then we lose."
Mr. Scarborough, I have read the book many times and each time, I close the book with a certainty in my heart. "We win!" Praise be to our King.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
24
A few years ago, my brother asked me if I watched the TV show "24". I'm one of those guys who refuses to pay for TV so I surf on three channels, those I get with my roof antenna. I said, "No". My brother was aghast. He told me I was the most out of touch person on God's green earth. My life went on as I blew him off.
This summer, a friend of mine asked me the same question but rather than mock my cheap, no cable TV policy, he asked me if we would like to watch season one of "24" on DVD. I accepted his offer to loan me the series not knowing what I was getting myself into. After two episodes, we were addicted. During our vacation this summer one rainy day, we started watching "24" at 10 a.m. and watched one episode after another about counter terrorism until 3 a.m. the next morning. I crawled out of my man cave looking like I had been in a "Sleep Deprivation Study".
I will spare you detail but "24" but it is about the life of a government agent, Jack Baur who works for CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit). Each season is composed of 24 episodes, each episode is an hour in real time of Jack's life. In my opinion, the show is absolutely captivating. Anyhow, I'm not trying to sell you on the show as much as I've realized that the main theme of the show is trust or the lack thereof. There is not a character on the show that trusts anyone. And every time someone decides to trust, they pay dearly. Everyone is looking over their shoulder and can't give up their hand. And yet countless times you hear statements like, "You have to trust me." "Don't you trust me?" "I wish you would trust me".
Anne Jackson asked on her blog, “What is one thing you feel you can’t say in church?” She was overwhelmed by hundreds of repressed responses, like, “I’m not sure I believe in hell;” or, “I’m addicted to porn and I can’t tell anyone, not even my pastor—I’m afraid he would ask me to leave the church;” or, “My marriage isn’t working, but I am a pastor—who can I turn to?” or, “After my divorce, nobody called me; it broke my heart … again;” or, “My brother is gay and a Christian. I don’t feel I can talk about it in church.” Those anonymous admissions were the inspiration for Jackson’s just-released book, “Permission to Speak Freely".
Who do we trust with the secrets hidden in the deep inner recesses of our lives? How many of us have people that we could spill our guts and they would stand with us? Could the neurotic nature of our society stem from not being able to trust? Maybe the most direct way I can ask this question would be, "Who do you trust?"
I'd love to hear from you.
This summer, a friend of mine asked me the same question but rather than mock my cheap, no cable TV policy, he asked me if we would like to watch season one of "24" on DVD. I accepted his offer to loan me the series not knowing what I was getting myself into. After two episodes, we were addicted. During our vacation this summer one rainy day, we started watching "24" at 10 a.m. and watched one episode after another about counter terrorism until 3 a.m. the next morning. I crawled out of my man cave looking like I had been in a "Sleep Deprivation Study".
I will spare you detail but "24" but it is about the life of a government agent, Jack Baur who works for CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit). Each season is composed of 24 episodes, each episode is an hour in real time of Jack's life. In my opinion, the show is absolutely captivating. Anyhow, I'm not trying to sell you on the show as much as I've realized that the main theme of the show is trust or the lack thereof. There is not a character on the show that trusts anyone. And every time someone decides to trust, they pay dearly. Everyone is looking over their shoulder and can't give up their hand. And yet countless times you hear statements like, "You have to trust me." "Don't you trust me?" "I wish you would trust me".
Anne Jackson asked on her blog, “What is one thing you feel you can’t say in church?” She was overwhelmed by hundreds of repressed responses, like, “I’m not sure I believe in hell;” or, “I’m addicted to porn and I can’t tell anyone, not even my pastor—I’m afraid he would ask me to leave the church;” or, “My marriage isn’t working, but I am a pastor—who can I turn to?” or, “After my divorce, nobody called me; it broke my heart … again;” or, “My brother is gay and a Christian. I don’t feel I can talk about it in church.” Those anonymous admissions were the inspiration for Jackson’s just-released book, “Permission to Speak Freely".
Who do we trust with the secrets hidden in the deep inner recesses of our lives? How many of us have people that we could spill our guts and they would stand with us? Could the neurotic nature of our society stem from not being able to trust? Maybe the most direct way I can ask this question would be, "Who do you trust?"
I'd love to hear from you.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Ragbrai: A Taste of God's Kingdom
In February of this year, a friend called and invited me to join him in attending the Super Bowl in Miami, Florida. This was one of those "once in a life time" experiences and even though the wrong team won (in my opinion), the fact that I was there in Shark Stadium watching the Colts play the Saints was mind blowing.
Last Friday, I had another one of those surreal experiences.... sort of. My son, Josh has been after me to join him in Ragbrai. He and his father-in-law (one of my dearest friends) have been riding across Iowa on a bicycle for the past five years. Josh and Scott have continued to hound me and I finally broke. However, I didn't fully dive in. I agreed to ride one "leg", from Waterloo to Manchester.
In June, I got out my blue Diamond Back cross-trainer bike and logged about 50 miles on the beautiful Cedar Valley bike trails in preparation for the 62 mile ride to Manchester. Not enough prep but I was pumped. Our ride began at 8 a.m. My youngest son, Arnold, agreed to go with us and baby sit me along the way.
Our ride started in a torrential downpour of rain. As lightening flashed and the thunder roared, we began our journey toward our first stop in Gilbertville. By the time we arrived, we were soaked and forced to stop and wait out the rain. Of course, we had to knock down some biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos and home made pie.
The rain began to let up a bit and so we forged on. We got to Brandon and though the rain had stopped, I was pulling on my biking shorts, you know, the ones with the stitched padding in the backside. Scott, my close friend took one look at me and asked, "Are you wearing underwear under your biking shorts?" "Ya", I said, "Aren't you suppose to?" Scott handed me a tube of cream that read "Butt-butter" and pointed toward the cornfield. I walked, head hanging down, into the cornfield, took one article of no longer needed apparel off and I hung it on a corn stalk, I then smeared about a half cup of butter on my behind, put my bike shorts back on and came back a bit more ready for the last 40 miles of our trip. By that time, Arnold had spotted pork chops roasting on the open fire so we ate again, washing it all down with a couple of bottles of Gatorade.
Back on the road to Quasqueton, the "lunch stop town". We pulled in to Quaskey at about 4 p.m. ready to eat lunch. We had Blue Sky ice cream (to die for) and another couple bottles of Gatorade.
Now understand, there is a certain etiquette when riding Ragbrai. All along the way, Josh had been teaching me the Ragbrai lingo. "Biker off" was what you were to yell when you were going to pull over and stop. "Biker on" was yelled as you pulled back onto the road. "Car up" was the call when a vehicle was coming toward you. "Car back" was called when a vehicle was coming up behind you. My favorite was "rumble" announcing to riders there were rumble strips on the highway that could potentially throw a rider off his bike. Every bit of lingo was somehow connected with care for the other riders. Everyone was looking out for everyone else. You could hear people calling out to each other all along the way.
We fought a head wind the last 40 miles and by the time we got to Manchester, it was 8 p.m. We stuck together the entire way. I was exhausted and yet felt fulfilled. Not so much that I had ridden 62 miles on a bike but that I had experienced something very similar the Kingdom of God. People intently watching out for their "brothers and sisters" on the same journey.
It made me think of this Bible verse; Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
I can say I had fun and will do it again. But the thing that is etched in my mind is how dangerously safe I felt on my journey. Not that I was competent as a rider but that my fellow Ragbrai'ers were watching out for me.
Last Friday, I had another one of those surreal experiences.... sort of. My son, Josh has been after me to join him in Ragbrai. He and his father-in-law (one of my dearest friends) have been riding across Iowa on a bicycle for the past five years. Josh and Scott have continued to hound me and I finally broke. However, I didn't fully dive in. I agreed to ride one "leg", from Waterloo to Manchester.
In June, I got out my blue Diamond Back cross-trainer bike and logged about 50 miles on the beautiful Cedar Valley bike trails in preparation for the 62 mile ride to Manchester. Not enough prep but I was pumped. Our ride began at 8 a.m. My youngest son, Arnold, agreed to go with us and baby sit me along the way.
Our ride started in a torrential downpour of rain. As lightening flashed and the thunder roared, we began our journey toward our first stop in Gilbertville. By the time we arrived, we were soaked and forced to stop and wait out the rain. Of course, we had to knock down some biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos and home made pie.
The rain began to let up a bit and so we forged on. We got to Brandon and though the rain had stopped, I was pulling on my biking shorts, you know, the ones with the stitched padding in the backside. Scott, my close friend took one look at me and asked, "Are you wearing underwear under your biking shorts?" "Ya", I said, "Aren't you suppose to?" Scott handed me a tube of cream that read "Butt-butter" and pointed toward the cornfield. I walked, head hanging down, into the cornfield, took one article of no longer needed apparel off and I hung it on a corn stalk, I then smeared about a half cup of butter on my behind, put my bike shorts back on and came back a bit more ready for the last 40 miles of our trip. By that time, Arnold had spotted pork chops roasting on the open fire so we ate again, washing it all down with a couple of bottles of Gatorade.
Back on the road to Quasqueton, the "lunch stop town". We pulled in to Quaskey at about 4 p.m. ready to eat lunch. We had Blue Sky ice cream (to die for) and another couple bottles of Gatorade.
Now understand, there is a certain etiquette when riding Ragbrai. All along the way, Josh had been teaching me the Ragbrai lingo. "Biker off" was what you were to yell when you were going to pull over and stop. "Biker on" was yelled as you pulled back onto the road. "Car up" was the call when a vehicle was coming toward you. "Car back" was called when a vehicle was coming up behind you. My favorite was "rumble" announcing to riders there were rumble strips on the highway that could potentially throw a rider off his bike. Every bit of lingo was somehow connected with care for the other riders. Everyone was looking out for everyone else. You could hear people calling out to each other all along the way.
We fought a head wind the last 40 miles and by the time we got to Manchester, it was 8 p.m. We stuck together the entire way. I was exhausted and yet felt fulfilled. Not so much that I had ridden 62 miles on a bike but that I had experienced something very similar the Kingdom of God. People intently watching out for their "brothers and sisters" on the same journey.
It made me think of this Bible verse; Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
I can say I had fun and will do it again. But the thing that is etched in my mind is how dangerously safe I felt on my journey. Not that I was competent as a rider but that my fellow Ragbrai'ers were watching out for me.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
What is the church for?
I'm going to try to stir the pot a bit by asking a question. What is the church of Jesus for?
The latest study shows that 94% of all church goers believe the church is for them. They expect service. Good preaching and teaching, good music, good facilities, good care for them and their children. Nine in every 10 people believe the church is another institution to help meet their own personal and family needs.
But what does Jesus say in Matthew 16:18. I'll let you look that one up. If I'm reading this verse correctly, as far as Jesus Christ, the King of the church is concerned, He created the church to attack the gates of hell.
Why then do the vast majority of church-goers in America attend church like Olympic Ice Skating or Gymnastic judges with scorecards in hand, scoring everything from quality and quantity of preaching, to music volume, style to the bathroom conditions.
John Wimber, the founding pastor of the Vineyard Church Movement once asked a provocative question. He mused, "When does God get what He wants?"
Thoughts? I look forward to hearing from you.
Dan
The latest study shows that 94% of all church goers believe the church is for them. They expect service. Good preaching and teaching, good music, good facilities, good care for them and their children. Nine in every 10 people believe the church is another institution to help meet their own personal and family needs.
But what does Jesus say in Matthew 16:18. I'll let you look that one up. If I'm reading this verse correctly, as far as Jesus Christ, the King of the church is concerned, He created the church to attack the gates of hell.
Why then do the vast majority of church-goers in America attend church like Olympic Ice Skating or Gymnastic judges with scorecards in hand, scoring everything from quality and quantity of preaching, to music volume, style to the bathroom conditions.
John Wimber, the founding pastor of the Vineyard Church Movement once asked a provocative question. He mused, "When does God get what He wants?"
Thoughts? I look forward to hearing from you.
Dan
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Oh How He Loves Us
Sorry for being in hibernation for too many weeks on my blog.
However, as a result of an experience I had last night, I wanted to visit with you about GRACE.
Theologians define grace in different ways. "Unmerited favor" is the classic definition. Others have proposed the acrostic, God's Resources At Christ's Expense. Some say grace is getting what you do not deserve and mercy is not getting what you do deserve.
All these definitions have merit and value but the definition I have always held to, the one I have used to teach grace and seems truest to the scripture is as follows: "The empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, enabling the believer to become all that God wants him to become and to do all that God calls him to do".
Last night we sat in an Iowa City hospital with Dave and Steph Ricketts as they said good bye to their son Ben. Twenty-two months old Ben had gotten tangled in curtain chord at home, some of the chord had gotten wrapped around his neck and Ben ended up on a ventilator in the Iowa City Hospitals. It was a tragic accident and a parent's worst nightmare. Please continue to pray for Dave, Steph and their family.
In the early evening yesterday, Ben was taken off the ventilator. Due to fluids on his lungs, Ben struggled to breath on his own. And this is where the grace comes in.
Dave, Ben's dad lifted Ben out of his hospital bed and held him in his lap, draped his little body with a green blanket and caressed this precious boy, carrying on a sweet conversation. I didn't hear everything because it was a private conversation between father and son. But what I could hear, Dave assured Ben of his and his mom's love for him and the loss they felt. As he stroked Ben's forehead, he talked to Ben about God's great love for him and that unless Father decided otherwise, that Ben would be face to face with Jesus soon.
And then Dave asked for his computer. I thought he was going to drop someone an email or get on Facebook and write another wonderful entry in his log. But instead, he went to I-tunes and selected a few key songs and he began to worship. The first song he played was one he said he and Ben had both worshiped to.
Oh How He Loves Us
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us so
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And the heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…
He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
John Mark Mcmillan
Here is a Dad and Mom, sitting in a hospital room, watching their beautiful son breath his last and they are worshiping. What enables people to do such a things? GRACE!
The powerful presence of the Holy Spirit who enables we as followers of Jesus to become all God wants us to become and to do all God has called us to do. Oh how He loves us.
However, as a result of an experience I had last night, I wanted to visit with you about GRACE.
Theologians define grace in different ways. "Unmerited favor" is the classic definition. Others have proposed the acrostic, God's Resources At Christ's Expense. Some say grace is getting what you do not deserve and mercy is not getting what you do deserve.
All these definitions have merit and value but the definition I have always held to, the one I have used to teach grace and seems truest to the scripture is as follows: "The empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, enabling the believer to become all that God wants him to become and to do all that God calls him to do".
Last night we sat in an Iowa City hospital with Dave and Steph Ricketts as they said good bye to their son Ben. Twenty-two months old Ben had gotten tangled in curtain chord at home, some of the chord had gotten wrapped around his neck and Ben ended up on a ventilator in the Iowa City Hospitals. It was a tragic accident and a parent's worst nightmare. Please continue to pray for Dave, Steph and their family.
In the early evening yesterday, Ben was taken off the ventilator. Due to fluids on his lungs, Ben struggled to breath on his own. And this is where the grace comes in.
Dave, Ben's dad lifted Ben out of his hospital bed and held him in his lap, draped his little body with a green blanket and caressed this precious boy, carrying on a sweet conversation. I didn't hear everything because it was a private conversation between father and son. But what I could hear, Dave assured Ben of his and his mom's love for him and the loss they felt. As he stroked Ben's forehead, he talked to Ben about God's great love for him and that unless Father decided otherwise, that Ben would be face to face with Jesus soon.
And then Dave asked for his computer. I thought he was going to drop someone an email or get on Facebook and write another wonderful entry in his log. But instead, he went to I-tunes and selected a few key songs and he began to worship. The first song he played was one he said he and Ben had both worshiped to.
Oh How He Loves Us
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us so
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And the heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…
He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
John Mark Mcmillan
Here is a Dad and Mom, sitting in a hospital room, watching their beautiful son breath his last and they are worshiping. What enables people to do such a things? GRACE!
The powerful presence of the Holy Spirit who enables we as followers of Jesus to become all God wants us to become and to do all God has called us to do. Oh how He loves us.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Prophetic Worship
Our oldest son Josh, a creative and thoughtful graphic designer has a real, honest and contagious love for God. Not only is he artistically gifted, he plays the "heck" out of a guitar and loves to break into new expressions of worship. I think leading worship might be his most powerful gift.
This past weekend, while teaching through Paul's letter to the Galatians, I used a quote by Don Williams about the nature of true Christianity. Don says, it's all about "Unzipping (your heart), God jumps in and you zip back up". In simple terms, Don is describing the Holy Spirit entering into a person through faith and making His home in the life of a new believer.
On Saturday morning, hours before I was g0ing to teach this message, Josh sent me the lyrics of a new song he is learning. Here are the words to that song.
This past weekend, while teaching through Paul's letter to the Galatians, I used a quote by Don Williams about the nature of true Christianity. Don says, it's all about "Unzipping (your heart), God jumps in and you zip back up". In simple terms, Don is describing the Holy Spirit entering into a person through faith and making His home in the life of a new believer.
On Saturday morning, hours before I was g0ing to teach this message, Josh sent me the lyrics of a new song he is learning. Here are the words to that song.
Peel back our ribs again and stand inside of our chest
We just wanna' love you, We just wanna' love you
Peel back the veil of time
And let us see You with our naked eyes
We just wanna' love you, We just wanna' love you, Yeah
Skeleton bones stand at the sound
Of eternity on the lips of the found
And gravestones roll to the rhythm of the sound of You
Skeleton bones stand at the sound
Of eternity on the lips of the found
So separate those doors and let the son of resurrection in
Oh let us adore the Son of Glory drenched in love
Open up your gates before him, Crown Him, stand Him up
We want your blood to flow inside our body
We want your wind inside our lungs
We just wanna' love you, We just wanna' love you
Growing up in a traditional church, we sang songs with lyrics,
"I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today..."
When my wife and I first came into the fullness of the Holy Spirit
in the late '70's, the songs we were singing were songs like,
"More love, more power, more of You in our lives".
The Holy Spirit is breathing into this young generation of
Jesus followers a much more raw, aggressive and desperate
language as they appeal to God for new life.
They don't just want "more",they want God to
"Peel back their ribs".
I believe this kind of gut wrenching cry is prophetic
and God's response will be powerful.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Action in Waiting
My wife and I are reading a book together. It is entitled Action in Waiting by Christoph Blumhardt (1842-1919). A friend of mine told me years ago that if I wanted to be challenged to live a life for Christ, he advised me to "read the dead guys". The forward of this book is challenging enough. It begins by saying:
A prominent pastor of our day concludes one of his books with these words: "I'm enjoying God these days. He answers my prayers, He empowers me. He gives me insights from his Word. He guides my life. He gives me loving relationships. He has wonderful things in store for me." "I", "my", "me", "me", "me". Is this what the kingdom of God which has come in Christ is about? God catering to and pampering individual Christians? Is God's rule centered on "me" and "mine"?
This challenges and stirs my thinking as does the entire book. It makes me wonder if I'm reading my Bible with the correct set of lenses. Man do I love God. He never quits challenging my heart. Oh that I can come to love him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.
A prominent pastor of our day concludes one of his books with these words: "I'm enjoying God these days. He answers my prayers, He empowers me. He gives me insights from his Word. He guides my life. He gives me loving relationships. He has wonderful things in store for me." "I", "my", "me", "me", "me". Is this what the kingdom of God which has come in Christ is about? God catering to and pampering individual Christians? Is God's rule centered on "me" and "mine"?
This challenges and stirs my thinking as does the entire book. It makes me wonder if I'm reading my Bible with the correct set of lenses. Man do I love God. He never quits challenging my heart. Oh that I can come to love him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.
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