WE WERE NOT READY!

This has been an interesting week -- here in Atlanta, Georgia!  We have been "frozen" in for the past three days.  Inches of snow came Sunday night....then ice ... and more ice.....

Now I'm very familiar with this scenario -- having just spent the past four years in Chicago - this is not strange.  I just don't remember not being able to get out --  the roads in Chicago were quickly opened -- even the side streets.  I know, I know ... this doesn't happen very often in the deep South -- but, it does happen!!

My point -- WE WERE NOT READY!   When I say WE, I'm talking about the vast majority of the people, and especially the Department of Transportation.  They just do NOT have enough plows and salt trucks.  The weather forecasters on every TV station in the city were ALL telling us --- it's coming --- it's going to be BIG!

The biggest complaint the officials are saying now, "it came earlier than expected" --- fact is, the TV people said initially it would start at 10 p.m. Sunday night -- and it started around 8 p.m. (where I live in the suburbs) --- so, two hours early!  So.......

This all reminds me today of the Scriptural warning concerning the second return of our Lord Jesus Christ --- people WILL be taken by surprise  (ever wondered why? -- since we've heard about it coming for almost 2,000 years).  The point is -- people just don't listen anymore!  They don't pay attention anymore!  That's the problem.

The time to get ready is NOT at the last moment!  The time to get ready is when the first warning is given.

Well, if you haven't paid attention -- if you haven't heard --- JESUS IS COMING SOON --- WHEN I SAY SOON -- I MEAN SOON!

Get ready NOW!  Get your house in order NOW!  It's getting late --- I believe 2011 could be the 11th hour warning.

I PROMISE!

We live in a day when talk is cheap!  By that I mean, people say more than they do.  The old adage is still true, "your actions speak so loudly that I can't hear what you are saying".  Call it frustration ... call it concern...call it anything you like.  I think it is high time for ALL of us to revisit our words.....It's time to make a resolution to KEEP YOUR PROMISES in 2011!

Remember when your parents told you -- "Your word is your bond"?  Well, it is!   Zig Ziglar said, "If your word is no good, you are no good!"  Sounds harsh?  Not at all.  I think Zig is right.  And it's not just the politicians who are doing this....in my opinion, the politicians have always done this....promises, promises.....then you vote, and they suddenly have amnesia!  Well, now, it seems to have invaded the church world.  How many of us tell people, "I'll pray for you" -- then we never do?  How many of us tell people, "I'll call you"....then never do?  I even know preachers and pastors who do the same.  Honestly, I repent... when I was a Pastor, I made promises that now I realize I did not fulfill.  Well .... it's a new day.... a new year.  It's time to PUT UP or SHUT UP!



I read a blog from Shannon Pollent, Fargo Women's Relationship Advice Examiner... she said:

"The words, “I promise,” are uttered by us without understanding the magnitude of their significance. A promise is an oath; it is a vow. It is not meant to be given lightly. It is not meant to be broken. To say “I promise” is to state that you will do something, not that you might or that you hope to, but that you will. No excuses. No matter what."

Sounds like the Scriptural admonition found in Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 (New Living Translation)

"As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. ² Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few."

I love the way The Message puts Ecclesiastes 5:4-5  "When you tell God you'll do something, do it—now.

God takes no pleasure in foolish gabble. Vow it, then do it"


 
 
The year, let's resolve to keep our word.  Don't promise what you can't do. Keep your word!  Pray for that person .... return that phone call ... actually do what you say.  GOD is watching and is waiting for ALL of us to keep our promises we have made to HIM, as well!

 

GIVE UP & GO OVER!

As we begin another year, it's time for every body to "seek first the Kingdom of God" -- now more than ever before.  Many Christians and entire churches are "fasting" the first 21 days of this year.  I applaud this, and so does God!  Fact is, God has already told us that if we would simply "give up", then we would "go over"

Give up food, or a portion of the food we usually eat -- give up time -- give up TV -- give up......whatever takes the most of your time --- and give God a chance to talk to you -- pray!  YES, God is still talking -- the question is, are we listening?  If we give up -- then we can "go over" --- go over the top in victory in our lives personally this year -- go over the top in finances  (who wouldn't want that?) -- go over the top in our businesses -- go over the top in our relationships (family, friends, church) -- and go over the top in obedience to His perfect plan for our lives.

If you've never been on any type fast before, I encourage you to purchase a copy of Pastor Jentezen Franklin's book (pictured above) - and he practically will lead you into this spiritual discipline.  You will be the beneficiary of multiplied blessings in your life this year --- IF, you will "Give up and then go over"!

Blessings are coming your way in 2011 !!

PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF KENYA

Yesterday, the New York Times reported that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is seeking to indict several high-ranking Kenyan politicians, "including the finance minister and a former national police chief,"  "for crimes against humanity," stemming from the Kenyan election crisis of 2007 and 2008.

If you recall, after the Presidential election in late 2007, there was such violence in the nation of Kenya that over 1,000 people were killed.  The United Nations had to step in and broker a peace and unity deal between the two rivals, Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga.  In the brokered deal, Kibaki is President and Odinga is Prime Minister.

During the violence back in 2007-2008, an extremely sad event happened when people were hiding for safety in an Assemblies of God Church, when tribal violence led parties to set the church on fire.  People died and many were injured (mostly women and children). This was an extremely tense time in this nation. 

The reason why I am blogging about this today, is to ask for prayer that violence will NOT erupt again, when the summons are issued from The Hague for these politicians to give account of their actions. The Times article quoted John Githongo, a former anti-corruption official, as saying, "Kenya is now a volatile country. The politics are bubbling. A lot of change is happening at the same time. Anything is possible."

The International Center for Christian Leadership (ICCL) is heavily involved in Kenya, conducting outdoor miracle crusades and Schools of Ministry for the native church leaders.  We (as you my remember I am the Director of ICCL's Schools of Ministry) have helped to drill wells for clean water, and are involved in a number of other humanitarian projects as well.  We need a peaceful Kenya.

Pray for the church of Kenya - for the peace of Kenya - for justice to be done for those who sponsored and committed violence back in 2007-2008.

[Note: all the photos used in this blog were taken back during the crisis of 2007-2008]

OUT OF THE CLOSET!

BEHIND THE PULPIT: OUT OF THE CLOSET!

BISHOP JIMMY SWILLEY OF CONYERS, GA

Once again the church world has to deal with another "closet" moment in the pulpit.  Jimmy Swilley, pastor of a large mega-church, called "Church in the Now", has publicly told his people and the world that he is a 'gay man'.  He claims that "timing is everything", and that he chose this time due to the recent rash of suicides among young gay men who were "bullied".  

Cynthia Tucker, Pulitzer Prize winner of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, wrote, "In an era of unprincipled politicians, lying preachers, and swindling CEOs, Jim Swilley stands out as a man of courage and principle, living genuine Christian values.  He's the pastor of a Conyers church, and he's come out as a gay man."  Re-read that line.....I have underlined the words....let it sink in what she is saying....what the "world" is saying today.

"Church in the Now"

I watched the entire video of this man's confession before his mid-week crowd.  Though not surprised, I was seriously offended by the manner is which he used the Scriptures.  He openly suggested that the Bible is fallible.  He didn't say that a 'translation' was fallible, but the Bible is....  Okay, if I believe that, then in what can I trust?

He openly stated that when it comes to relationships, you cannot trust the Apostle Paul.  He was referring to the first chapter in the Book of Romans, where the Word says, "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another." (Romans 1:24 NIV)  He smirked at the Old Testament Scriptures indicating that those passages in Leviticus do not apply today. To me, this "man of the cloth" failed the test of Hermeneutics which says that the principles in both Old and New Testaments override the 'culture' of that day.

I would agree there are verses in the Bible that were given for a particular time - but, I also know that they are given "for our examples".  In other words, there are principles that are valid and unchanging. 

This principle is throughout the entire Bible - that homosexuality is a sin......not an orientation....not a life-style alone ..... a sin against God who made us "male and female". We all believe that God loves sinners.....but God loves us too much to leave us the way He finds us.  We all need HIS forgiveness and His ability to change our lives to fit His plan for our lives.

So, we are now faced with another challenge.  Do we interpret the Bible to fit our lifestyle?  Can we interpret Scripture so subjectively to approve the way we think?  At what point do we let God speak from Himself, for all time? 

I choose to let God speak for Himself.  I choose to change my way of thinking to fit the Bible. I choose to accept Paul's teachings as "inspired by the  Spirit", and not his opinions.  Only in one passage did Paul suggest that it was his opinion.....and that wasn't in Romans 1.






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SET FREE !!

We have witnessed this week, what many in the media are declaring a "miracle".  Millions of us have watched as 33 miners from Chile were one-by-one brought to the surface of the earth, from a depth of 1/2 mile, where they have been entombed for 69 days.  It's been a media frenzy - a reality-TV spectacle - the President of Chile hugging each miner - "live" TV coverage both 1/2 mile in the earth, and on top as each man was reunited with family and friends.

Many in the media have said that this coverage is "welcome relief" from all the hard, cold, bad news of the day.  I would have to agree!  The 24-hour-a-day cable news channels did just that --- gave us around the clock "live" coverage, since the first miner was lifted to safety, in his space-age capsule, wearing his special green suit......kind of reminds us of the space journeys we've grown up to watch.

I've heard comments this week that these men have been "born again" -- one of the miners actually said that there was a contest between the Devil and God -- and God won!  Esteban Rojas (the 18th miner to resurface) actually knelt to pray in front of the whole world.

Before we get overcome by the euphoria -- I wonder if anyone realizes that there are 15 million humans who are alcohol-abusing or alcohol-dependent in this land.  Have we forgotten the 1.5 million babies that are aborted each year in his country -- that's 1.5 million mothers hurting too.  What about the report from the Mayo Clinic that 19.5 million people, over the age of 12, are using illegal drugs, with 19,000 deaths occurring due to drug addiction. 

While we will never forget this "fall classic" -- the televised rescue of 33 Chilean miners.  Please do not forget the millions of people, who are entombed in a darkness far worse than a cave or a mine -- but are bound by alcohol, drugs, and are imprisoned by grief, guilt, and sin.

Jesus Christ took his cross up to Golgotha's hill for every one of us ..... not just Americans... everyone in the world.  He died that day -- there were no TV cameras and a cheering crowd.  To most, he lost that day.  BUT, three days later, he arose from death and the grave, to give us the freedom and liberty that only a personal relationship with God can bring.  All any one of us has to do is to "believe" and "receive".

Are you still trapped in a cold, dark world of sin?  There's a rescue plan in place for you.  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you can be saved" -- TODAY!  Right now!

Head and Heart Issues

SCANDALS OF THE PULPIT.

Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

      

A familiar face .... a man of power and might.... a prominent pastor and leader in the charismatic church world .... now another scandal .... another media frenzy .... four young former church members have filed lawsuits, accusing their pastor of 'abusing his power' to lure them ... to abuse them....  I was sitting in the overflow section a few weeks ago at this man's church (the crowd was so large), numbering in the thousands, when he said to the congregation and the world, "I am not the man" that the TV and media was making him out to be.

The Sanctuary of New Birth Missionary Baptist.

Oh, how I hope so.... how I pray that there is no truth to any of the charges ... that this man will be vindicated.  We don't need another scandal!  On that same Sunday, the local newspaper listed all the recent "fallen preachers".  How sad.

I'm reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah, when in the first chapter of his sermon he quotes "the Lord has spoken" -- the accusation can be summarized in the fifth verse:  "...the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint."

Two problems:  Head and Heart.  Isn't that the problem in the church world today?  We have HEAD problems.  We are so enamored by the 'popularity' contest in the church.  Who has the best suit? Who has the best car? Which preacher has the bigger crowd?  Which one has the biggest TV audience?  We are guilty of worshipping IDOLS!  We've made our pastors idols.  Where's the humility of Jesus?  We have elevated men to the status of 'gods'.  And from this lofty position, they will ALL fall!  The old adage is true:  "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"  Remember this:  JESUS CHRIST IS THE HEAD (THE ONLY HEAD) OF THE CHURCH!  It's time to re-focus our attention to our Lord. 

We have also HEART problems.  We've become "faint".  Our affections are not on Jesus as they should be.  We are trying to get rich -- trying to be successful -- trying to have significance in this world -- at the expense of our love for God.  Jesus summarized all the Law and the Prophets, when he said there are really only 2 commandments:  1. Love God, and 2. Love your Neighbor.  Our hearts become 'faint' and we stumble when we get our affections on other things, other than HIM.

Head and Heart.  That's the problem.  The solution?  The same solution as always -- Jesus Christ has the cure for our sickness.  God forgive us!  God save us!  God help us, NOW !

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