Community Life of Disciples

Key Scriptures for Disciples of Christ

Key Scriptures should define key elements to a healthy spiritual life.

Matthew 22:36-40; The Greatest Commandment

Matthew 25:31-46; The Least of These Warning

Matthew 28:18-20; The Great Commandment

Christ Centered Community Life Image

Worship in mind and soul takes place through meditation, prayer, and corporate worship.

Worship in heart takes place by recognizing God’s love for us which causes us to adore Him.  Jesus has wooed us to Him by His love for us.

Worship in strength seems to be accomplished by our works of righteousness.  Plus, in my mind it should also be accomplished in our commitment to the Lord when we do not feel like remaining committed.

Loving our neighbors occurs when we realize that the DNA of God is in them since He created us in His own Image.  We are told to be imitators of Christ.  Loving those who do not love us is also part of that strength in the first commandment.

These 2 commandments set Jesus Christ up as King in the world that we live in today.

We feed the mind, soul, and heart through discipleship.  This is accomplished by learning God’s Word together or one on one.

Worship and discipleship are vehicles that the Holy Spirit uses to transform us.  We are in the process of becoming more like Christ.

Fellowship with each other helps us to learn to love our neighbor; it is the proving ground.  Paul’s letters were written to the churches about how to get along with each other.  Remember, Paul said that we are to submit to each other in unity.  This deals with strength and heart.

The author of Hebrews conveyed the importance of continuing to meet together in worship and fellowship even though these people were being persecuted; much different than being teased.

James called righteous works, or service, real religion; another proving ground.  If we are being transformed in worship and discipleship, then we are rooted in the good spring.  Therefore, good works flows from us without faking them.  They are now natural to us.  This is also back to strength again.

Jesus simply told to evangelize; another proving ground.  We love Him and others and this now becomes the natural thing to do.

I made the pieces of the pie bigger in the areas of corporate worship and discipleship because these pieces feed the other 3 pieces.  Focus on the other 3 pieces without these 2 is idolatry.

Secret to successful ministry

Well, I am not really a success.  So the title of this article might be considered debatable at best.  Yet, I do realize that there is a missing element with many teachers, directors, and pastors.   Too many leaders seem as if they are not desperate for those they are trying to reach to know Jesus Christ as Savior.  As a ministry leader you must be desperate for people to live a victorious Christian life.  At the same time, you need to be desperate for others to come to Christ.  

Too many seem satisfied with their ministry as it is.  Ministry requires work from those who are concerned about people not having a relationship with Christ.  Seeking up to date and relevant resources is part of the work that is required for successful ministry. 

Desperation is what motivates people to keep pursuing goals.  Desperation motivates us to keep trying even if it seems there is no hope for success.  Satisfaction is the enemy of motivation.

I believe that if we could become desperate for those we minster to we would begin to see a move of God.  We would see God working through us to save and draw close to Him those that He seeks.  The secret to success is being desperate for God’s success in the lives of non-believers and believers who need to move closer to Him.

Missing the Point

I just can’t get away from the frustration that I feel when I see or hear about churches arguing over a style of music, dress, and focus.  It really makes me feel tired.  I understand that these are serious issues in the church today.  Yet, these seem to side track us too.   

There are groups of younger people feel that they could reach more people for Christ if their churches would change their Sunday morning program to a modern music format.  In contrast, groups of older people believe that the church should not change and that the modern music is not of God.  They reason that the church must not change so that people will recognize that the church is unchanging just like God.  They also reason that their style of music is sacred and should not be tampered with.   

Some groups dress casual and others dress formal for church service.  Some pastors believe that dress can be a barrier for people to attend their church.  Both believe that the way the other side dresses will run people off.  In my opinion, these groups that worry about these issues have spent their entire lives in church.  Both want to leave something of themselves in the church.   

Most of the time these groups grew up in church rebelling against what was established beforehand.  Each generation fights the other.  Each sees where the other generation has faltered in some way.  Each side uses Scripture from the letters that Paul wrote to different churches to justify why they believe what they believe.  What is unique about Paul’s letters is that he stressed the importance of unity and submitting to one another within the Church.  He even, in a few letters, dealt with how each generation was supposed to treat the other.  Are we missing the point? 

I asked the pastor I was saved under if he remembered when I came to the church for the first time.  I reminded him that I did not grow up in church.  My point was that I did not have any traditions that were following me through life to worry about.  I reminded him that when I came to Christ I did not say to him, “Hey, I will accept Jesus as my Savior if you wear a certain type of clothing.” I also did not say to him that I would get out of my Lazy Boy chair and come to church if they would assure me that they would play the right style of music.  He confirmed that these were not issues that I struggled with in the beginning. 

People! Listen to me!  There are not any people who are lost sitting in their homes tonight saying to themselves, “If the church would play my style of music, I would get saved.”  Or, “If the pastors would dress like I think they should would get saved.”  The only thing that  I was interested in was finding salvation.  The only Person I wanted to meet, was not the cool pastor who thinks that the Church is not doing enough to save the starving children, but I wanted to meet Jesus.   

Yes, I do care about the starving children and other injustices.  My point is that we Christians focus on the wrong things too much.  Don’t you think the devil loves our disunity over trivial issues?  My point is that we need to keep the focus on Jesus instead of on the non-essentials. 

When it is all said and done; I think the problem is that we just want to look like what we think a real Christian looks like.  We want to impress people with our huge compassion for the things that matter to the world.  We want to show people how intelligent we are by connecting the Word of God to the issues today.  We want to be the new, and improved, church.  Or, we want to be the church that did not change so that we can look super spiritual.  God’s point is, “When will His people get the point of Scripture and simply be the Church?”  In other words, when will we learn that we can find Jesus when we choose to look? 

I am not hindered by the style of clothing that I, or anyone else, wears.  I am able to enjoy all music that points me to Christ.  Why?  Because I know that I was lost, but now I am found.  I know what fate I avoided because of my desire to let Christ love me and save me which caused me to want to live for Him.  That is the point.

Does God use you?

It is a simple question really.  Does God use you?  In my years of being a Christian, 14 years now, I have met all sorts of people who asked questions about why God had not done anything big with them like He did with those in the Bible. 

I have also met Christians who were jealous of other Christians when they saw amazing things happening in someones life.  They felt that God did not helped them to make a difference.  Then there are those who attend churches that do not seem to be making a difference in anything.  These people are continually looking for a place where it is happening.  This sounds fair, right?  Yet, it is likely that it is not happening because these people are looking for a way for it to happen without faith. 

Consider a large church.  They have many resources like people and money.  These churches can almost do what they need to do without faith.  Yet, God is always at work with His servants.  What I mean is that although we desire to make a difference, He still uses our service to teach us about having faith in Him.  This is how He reveals Himself to us in new ways. 

It is often that we believe that we know Christ in an intimate way.  Yet, we have not seen Him move mountains for us.  This is what happens in churches where it doesn’t seem like anything is happening.  But this is the school of faith for that local body. 

You may ask how then do we know that God is trying to use us?  This is another question that I get asked sometimes.  The answer is in the condition of your heart.  This is the key.  I say this because there are a lot of people who just want to go out and get busy for Jesus.  That is fine, but if you want the Spirit to be part of it, it should be something that burdens you; not something that looks like what you should do because you are a Christian. 

Here is what I have noticed about Moses recently.  He was a rescuer at heart.  In his own way, he was driven to action to rescue a Hebrew slave being beaten by an Egyptian taskmaster.  In his own way, Moses decided to simply kill the Egyptian.  It seemed like a rescue to him. And it was; sort of.  As a matter of fact, I believe that Moses went home and felt good that he did such a noble thing.  After all, what was happening to his people was wrong. 

After fleeing to Midian because Moses was wanted for murder he bumped into shepherd girls watering their sheep.  I want to pause and say that Moses was awesome.  He not only found God, later, in the desert, but he also found a wife too.  Not many can go into a desert find those two things.  Kudos to Moses.  Anyway, these shepherd women were being bullied by men.  Moses jumped in and rescued them too.  Do you see what is going on in his heart?  He already had a desire/burden to rescue people from injustices.  He was frustrated enough about what he saw to do something about it. 

Finally, God, who had been watching all that was taking place, took a person who had a general desire/burden to rescue, and gave Moses a special burden/call to be used by God to rescue Moses and God’s people.  So God called Moses to be used on His mission instead of Moses being on his personal mission. 

The answer to the question, does God use you?  involves what burden is in your heart?  If you are moved to action already about rescuing someone, God will use you.  Those who desire to be missional must understand that missional is not a glamorous fad to say you are a part of.  Instead, it is a calling for God’s people to be burdened enough to action.  Then God who sees all will give His special call so that we can be used by Him. 

Those churches who are not seeing anything happen might be able to trace their problems to unburdened hearts that do not desire to rescue the lost from going to Hell.  Missional is about rescuing people from a terrible eternal fate and from bondage in this life.  Until we get some Moses’ who will stand up and do something about what is not right, like people missing Heaven because they have not met Jesus, God won’t use any “Christians” until He sees a genuine desire in the heart.

Thoughts about Doctrine

I shared several weeks ago that we took a survey at our church to see what topics people wanted to hear in a sermon series.  One of the topics was “What is the difference between Wesleyans and Baptists?”  What should be made clear is that both denominations believe that Jesus Christ is the Way to Heaven.  There is no other salvation for humanity. 

I have also pointed out in the past that many people, especially in a Baptist culture, do not understand who The Wesleyans are.  As a result, this becomes a barrier to church growth for us.  This is unfortunate.  Since Wesleyans and Baptists are Christians; a.k.a brothers and sisters in Christ.  Now, this is important!  We are all Christ followers first!  Doctrine is man’s poor attempt to explain God.  However, for some reason doctrine, which is supposed to help us understand God, has become a divider. 

It has become a divider because there are too many clergy and laymen who insist that you beleive exactly as they do.  Here is some damage that this has done and both sides are guilty. 

• People leave a Bible teaching church to attend a church that teaches doctrine over Christ. 
• People do not join a church even though The Holy Spirit has placed a desire in their hearts to join.  Instead these people will go somewhere else because they will say they are their self-chosen denomination first instead of simply being a follower.   
• When new Christians are touched by Christ they cannot help but share with family and friends about it.  As a result, those family and friends who attend churches end up preaching what they want these “Babes in Christ” to believe instead of allowing The Holy Spirit to use the Word.  People, if someone has an experience with Christ at a church there is a good chance that God is using that church.  So there is no need to deliver them from that church especially if God is using that church to make disciples.  In my opinion, those who insist on interjecting doctrine upon a new Christian are likely shirking their responsibilities of evangelizing those who are lost.   
• I have seen sheep tampered with who are growing to become more like Christ over how they were baptized and whether or not they did it fast enough.  Listen, I know there are those who say that baptism is the moment of salvation.  That is fine, I happen to believe that you can go down a dry sinner and come up a wet sinner. 

Those were real situations that in my opinion are silly.

Here are two issues that seem to really divide Wesleyans and Baptists.

First, the issue of security.  Wesleyans beleive that since God has given us free will that we can choose to reject Christ and fall away.  On the other hand, Baptists believe that although God has given us free will that there is nothing we can do to lose our salvation.  Here is what is ironic; when we witness someone who lives a life of sin after a confession of faith Wesleyans will say that they have forfeited his or her salvation.  Baptists will say that that person who confessed Christ were never saved.  This is silly to have a divide over this.  What difference does it make if that person lost his salvation or was never saved?  They are still lost!  And both denominations agree on that. 

Finally, there is division over whether or not we must continue to sin.  Wesleyans say that by God’s grace and our surrender to Christ that we can be Sanctified.  In other words, God can change our hearts so that we can finally be delivered from sin.  This means that we can desire not to sin.  If a mistake is made, like going 60 mph in 55 mph speed zone, because we were not paying attention, while it is wrong  it is a mistake only.  We did not intend to willfully disobey God.  Baptists would say that we cannot be changed until we get to Heaven.  I can’t bend on this because this is why I need a Savior now.  I need to be delivered from sin now.  This does not mean that I will never sin again, but it means that I do not have to be bound to sin now.  This is Good News!

So here we are.  The last time I checked, God has worked through both traditions and continues to do so.  Those of you who insist on tampering with God’s children for the purpose of taking from one church to add to your own, Stop it!  Why?  You are dividing Christ.  Christ is the only loser in this debate.  Besides, the Bible says that The Holy Spirit calls and leads His people to a local Body of Christ.  This means that you may be placing yourself against God and His work. 

Jesus said that those who are not against us are for us.  This was after some of the disciples saw others, besides them, baptizing in the Name of Christ.  Sounds very familiar doesn’t it.

Sunday Recap

We are in the middle of our series “Survey Says . . .”  As I think I have mentioned earlier, we handed out a list of topics that the church was able to vote on so that they could hear a sermon about it.  Last week was The Difference Between Wesleyans and Baptists.  That sermon was a very hard topic to preach.  I think that it should have been a topic for Sunday school; but not everyone will come to Sunday school.  So it seems that the pulpit has had to take on some of the Sunday school responsibilities of teaching.  I think that is good in some ways, but I am still a supporter of Sunday school.  So here is last Sundays recap.

• The topic was Why don’t I get along with others.  The sermon was Harmony with Others.
• The main point in the message was that our relationship with others reflects the health of our relationship with Jesus Christ. 
• Scripture was Ephesians 4:15-32; yet, all of Ephesians 4 and The Sermon on the Mount give direction on this topic. 
• The first point was change brings harmony.  In other words, we must dies to ourselves so that we can truly repent.  Repent means to be sorry enough to make a 180 degree change.  Paul said “Put off the old man.”  Change from who we were before we met Jesus Christ.  That old person was influenced by the way the world sees things.  As Christians we know that the world is against Jesus Christ.  So we cannot please God by allowing ourselves to be influence by a fallen world.  We must die to that way of life.  If we allow ourselves to be influenced by the world, then there will always be conflicts between us and others. 
• The second point was that we must sacrifice for harmony.  In the world, when there is a conflict between us and others, and if we are not able to find peace, someone will suggest that we sacrifice for the sake of peace.  Yet, when the world suggests that we sacrifice this means that we compromise.  So that type of sacrifice is out of the question.  Paul points out in Romans that we are to present our “bodies as living sacrifices to God.”  This is not a compromise that says, “Okay God, to have peace with You, I will give You this much of Me.”  Instead, sacrifice in Paul’s mind was that we give ALL OF OURSELVES to Christ.  This is “putting on the new man.”  This is how we allow Christ to change that worldly influence in us so that the Holy Spirit can dwell in us which means that He will guide us in what is right and wrong.  This is where most Christians fall short in their relationship with Christ, which reflects poor relationships with others.
• Some commentary that I gave was that there should be a time in our walk with the Lord that we know that we have died to ourselves.  After this, there should be an experience that demonstrates that we are full of the Spirit.  I don’t mean spiritual gifts, but spiritual fruit.  Before our church can, as our mission statement says, “Transform our community and world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” we must be full of the Spirit.  Everything that we do flows from this central point.  We cannot care for others until we are surrendered to Christ and transformed ourselves by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• The last point was the Paul showed the way to harmony by giving direction about what a Christian life should like after “putting off and putting on.”  After being transformed by Christ, on the inside, we will desire not to do sinful things against our neighbor.  As a matter of fact, other people can do things that would anger others, but because of the love in our hearts for others, we will not want to do wrong to them when they do us wrong. 
• We discussed Holiness, a.k.a Sanctification, in our Sunday night Wesleyan Men’s group.  I shared what my experience was as well as failures since my experience. 
• The Wesleyan Women went to a lady’s house who has recently become a shut-in, hopefully not for long, and this is what I think it means to be part of a Christian community.  I endorse this.  We don’t have to always be at our church for a Sunday night service.  We should be in each others homes. 
• We had 41 in attendance for our AM service. 
• 31 for Sunday school.
• 31 for Sunday night. 
• Could these numbers indicate our relationship with Christ as a church?  We minister to approx. 70 different people.  And these people all come on different Sundays but we never get over 55 in attendance.  And, it was 74 degrees Sunday, very suspicious looking.  I have to say, I was tempted to call in sick :).

The bottom-line is that we are in tough times as a nation.  It is imperative that each Christian be sold-out completely to Jesus Christ.  This means that He is first all of the time.  Every comes after Him.  It is time to quit being luke warm.  He will spit us out of His mouth if we remain this way.

Say What?

I watched the President at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning.  I don’t know how serious he will take people who are praying for him.  Nevertheless, I still I believe that it is important for Christians to pray for their leaders.  God really can persuade our President to what is right. 

Here is a a link for the White House press release.  Below the President outlined areas that The Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will focus on:

It will be one voice among several in the administration that will look at how we support women and children, address teenage pregnancy, and reduce the need for abortion.

The Office will strive to support fathers who stand by their families, which involves working to get young men off the streets and into well-paying jobs, and encouraging responsible fatherhood.

The first problem that I have, and you knew that I must have one, is the wording of this press release.  It is tiring that our elected officials and those who are pro-choice continue to refer to abortion as a “need.”  This is what always makes me sigh and groan, “SAY WHAT?”  With all of the government programs that are available to help unwed mothers, and couples who are married, I don’t see how there is a need.  Instead, it is exactly what those in the pro-choice movement fight for, a choice. 

What is the goal for addressing teenage pregnancy?  I can hear it now.  “Okay girls, planned parenthood would like to demonstrate to you proper procedures for protecting yourselves.  Since you obviously must know that we don’t believe that you could actually abstain from sex.”  I know that I am sounding sarcastic.  However, I am tired of how our country does not believe in our children and teens.  We insist on labeling them and telling them that they do not have any self-control.  Therefore, do what feels good since it is not wrong because you can’t help it.  In other words, the generations who were before you were just better than you.   By the way, let me throw this in, in most cases teenagers do not even have to inform their parents that they are going to have an abortion.  “SAY WHAT?”

How are we going to teach young fathers to stand by their families?  What have they been taught for since Roe v. Wade?  I’ll tell you, they have been shown how to flee responsibility.  Yeah, a “well-paying job” will keep someone from shirking their responsibility.  Sure.  Listen, responsibility is only develop by teaching responsibility instead of how to get out of it.  This usually starts with a sober mind, and by seeing people model responsibility.  Yet, when responsibility is erased because someone doesn’t feel like fulfilling it, then most people will always take the easy rode. 

Those of you who really are people of faith here is what we need to take away from this.  I hope this office will be able to “reduce the ‘need’ for abortion.”  I would be crazy not to hope for something.  This is why it is important that you and I are praying for President and other leaders.  Nevertheless, I want to remind you that even though abortion is legal, you and I have the responsibility to share Christ with others.  Beware of putting your hope in Jay Sekulow.  He is a good man in a good fight.  But only Christ and His Church working together and guided by The Holy Spirit able to really fight the battle. 

We need to move from being irritated about abortion to brokenhearted about it.  Are you really praying for your President?  Say what?

Sunday Recap

• Yesterday there were approximately 51 in attendance.  Some are sick and have various health problems.  So this is not bad. 
• Sunday school only had 31 people.  I just want to remind everyone, again, that this is the best time to learn.  Or, be in a small group.
• We started our series “Survey Says . . .”  Pastor Jon and I handed out a ballot with several different topics to choose from about what everyone would like to learn about on Sunday morning.  The winning topics are, What is the difference between Baptists and Wesleyans.  Why don’t I get along with other people.  Heaven and Hell.  And, What does it mean to be a Covenant Member of The Wesleyan Church.
• The first topic that I tackeled yesterday was the difference between Baptists and Wesleyans.  Here are 3 doctrinal differences between both. 

1) The Church.  Baptist churches are autonoumous.  They are able to govern themselves and can establish each churches core beliefs.  There is not one church over another.  These local churches are led by the church board and pastor.  The pastor cannot be a woman.  However, women are recognized as having gifts for ministries besides pastoring churches.  This information was according to the Southern Baptist Convention.  I compared other Baptist churches associated with the SBC and found that they are not all alike.  Some beliefs listed on the SBC web site were listed while others were excluded.  Wesleyans are a denomination.  In other words, we submit to governing authority.  We also believe that women can be pastors.  Both sides have their Scriptures so keep that in mind.  This includes government at the local, district, and general levels.  Each Wesleyan church has the same doctrine without variation; at least on paper.  Wesleyans also see The Church as including those who in Heaven.  I think that is awesome.  I may share thoughts about this later, but consider how special it is to take Communion with this in mind. 

2) Regeneration, also known as “The New Birth” is a looked at differently by Baptists and Wesleyans.  Regeneration, according to the wording on the SBC web page, seems to suggest that new birth precedes faith and repentance.  There are some Scriptures that support both views.  The Baptists use John 3:3, and Wesleyans use John 1:12-13.  There more for both sides but I will not list them here. 

3) Salvation includes, for the SBC,  regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification this is in the broadest sense.  Wesleyans include justification, regeneration, adoption, and witness of the Spirit.   

4) Wesleyans have one distinctive doctrine.  We beleive in Sanctification as a second work of grace.  This is the work by which the Holy Spirit cleanses inbred sin.  In other words, God changes our desire to sin, so that we desire not to sin.  The Baptists believe that this occurs all at once, likely because of how they see the Regeneration process.  We have Scripture for this second work of grace.  I will post links at the bottom of this post. 

5) Baptists have another distinctive, and more popular I might add, doctrine.  They believe in Eternal Security.  This simply means that you can never lose your salvation.  The Wesleyans disagree with this and believe that each individual, because of choice and neglect, can fall into sin and be in danger without repentance. 

These are what I beleive the major differences between the 2 camps.  Therefore, in my opinion, I don’t see these issues as the great dividers that they many people seem to make them to be.  Elmer Towns once said that extremists on both sides are dangerous.  I agree with him.  So if you are struggling to decide between Wesleyan or Baptist, then I say find that church that is truly serving Jesus Christ by caring for others and giving.  Whether or not it is Baptist or Wesleyan is not really a big difference.  I think both sides would agree that it is important to seek salvation from Jesus Christ and truly live for Him. 

I am a Wesleyan pastor who is at ease with somebody in my family going to a Baptist church.  On the other hand, I would be uneasy if they attended a church, Baptist or Wesleyan, that continually preached doctrine instead of proper exegesis of the Holy Bible. 

The Wesleyan Church beliefs

The Southern Baptist Convention beliefs

A site that compares the 2

• We had our Saturday hot dog community dinner this week.  We had some who do not attend our church come.  But that is not why it was a success.  It was a success because our Wesleyan Men went out and invited most of the people who live close by to come and gave them a paper with our church name on it.  This paper will let them know that we are not hiding from the community.  We are here and want to establish a relationship with them.  It will take time. 
• The dinner is one way that we are turning around as a church.  Because this was a lay driven ministry.  This means that the people in our church are becoming less satisfied to just attend church.  They are desiring to be the hands and feet of Christ.  The culture within our church is changing!
• The treasurer gave me a total of the tithes that were brought in for the month of January.  We were down about $250 a week.  I preached about tithing in January twice.  Either it is an oversight by some.  Or, it people are withholding because they are upset, or because of the economy.  If you are a Christian listen for a second, God is going to test your faith in this economy period.  If you withhold because of being upset with a pastor or a church, beware.  God takes that as you disobeying Him.  Some have questioned me about where tithing is in the NT.  Well, long story short, Jesus said give “All that you have.”  So, tithing is one way that we keep Christ first in our lives. 
• The key to tithing is this; if you are giving to a church, remember it is not you that keeps the church going.  God supplies the needs of the church; and yours too.  Giving is designed to help your faith.  It is a biblical command.  So obey God.   

I think that we are on the right track as a church.  So continue to look for good things.  God bless.

Sunday Recap

• We had 48 in attendance for the AM service.  This number should be better. 
• Finished up our last installment of the Epiphany/Incarnational Living series.  Sermon title The 21st Century Church Model.  Scriptures were John 1:14, John 20:21, and John 17:14-16.  Points, influenced by Alan Hirsch and J. Michael Walters, The Church becomes the Flesh of Jesus Christ, The Church is sent to the community and world, and The Church is the Model for the community.  I closed the sermon by making the point that the American Church must quit abandoning poverty stricken communities and bloom where they are planted.  This is how we live Incarnationally to reveal Jesus Christ.
• Sunday school was down with 33 in attendance.  I know many people think it is outdated.  Yet, I still beleive that it is likely the most important part of the Sunday worship experience.  You can find accountability, challenge, fellowship, and minister to the burdens of others in this arm of church education.  Besides, most already have Sundays marked out on their calendars.  By attending Sunday school, you do not have to mark another night out for small groups.  Either way, if you are not in Sunday school or a small group, then you are not growing in the Lord as you should be.  Both groups provide accountability.
• We had a ReFocus meeting in place of the PM worship service.  ReFocus is designed to help our church to set the goal of being missional to our community and world.  We have been forced to look honestly at what we are doing to be “sent” to those who are lost.  I think there is a mixed bag of opinions about ReFocus at our church.  We will see how this pans out. 
• Things I have overheard at our church lately, “Things are getting better.”  “We need to do more to help our community.”  “We need to minister to people who are hurting.”  “We need to be on mission for Christ.”  These comments are beginning to be joined by action with the words.  As a result, we are planning a hot dog dinner with music to develop a relationship with our neighbors and an open door to them.   Hopefully, this will lead into some salvations.
• Pastor Jon did another good job with the power point presentation with my sermon.  I wish I could show you all. 
• Our nursery is still working great and contributing a great deal to our attendance increase over the past couple of months. 
• Our mid-week service was great!  Everything went smoothly.  We are now offering a small group for adults on Wednesday nights.  This seems to be going well.  It was a good night last Wednesday. 

We are getting ready to preach on topics voted on by our congregation this month so we will see how that goes.  First out of the gate is the differance between Wesleyans and Baptists.  Oh, boy!  Pray for us.

The Journey toward Anything goes

Well, I am still rooting for my new President.  Yet, I wonder why some of the first issues like abortion and homosexuality were on his agenda of his first week in office.  We have two huge dilemmas that must be dealt with like terrorism and the economy.  Yet, President Obama, knowing that our tax money has been flowing freely from the government to save those industries and financial organizations from failure, has issued an executive order to reinstate funding to foreign countries who want to pursue aborting children. 

Let’s think about this for a second.  We don’t really know how we are able to give out billions of dollars to companies who have not managed themselves appropriately.  Basically, it seems as though we have an unlimited supply of tax money to give out.  Well, I think that most of us would agree that we can’t give out tax money hand over fist.  Yet, we are going to take money, that should be held onto to replace those monies given out, that should be saved back for real needs like energy, defense, and the economy, we are going to give money out for other countries to abort babies. 

Here is an nonreligious reason why that is wrong.  Our country is clearly against abortion, according to many statistics.  But our country is in agreement to spend money to fix the energy crisis. 

According to CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux, Obama said, “It is time we end the politicization of this issue.”  I am sorry this issue is more than politics, it is about the way our government manipulates the lines of morality.  This seems to be one of the first, or the next, steps toward an anything goes America. 

Here are some questions that we, the United States, are going to have to wrestle with.

• Why is abortion so important?  I am sorry, most people are able to have some self-control and can avoid getting pregnant by many different ways. It is as if we want to be able to make choices without any consequences. Yet, there are consequences.  Many Christians and non-Christians said one of the reasons to vote for Obama was that he was going to take care of the poor.  If that is true, then there are ways that many women can take care of their babies with federal help. 
• Why must homosexuals have legal marriage?  They are still practicing their lifestyles.  Further, nobody that I know of is standing in their way to live together.  If it is over benefits, then the good news is that there are already benefits available to those who can’t get any through the government.  Or, both partners can get a job that provides these benefits.  Plus, wills can be made so that if one should pass away, the other person can receive what was left behind.   

 I can’t help but think that there were bigger issues to deal with this week that did not involve splitting the country.  I have seen several other blogs this week that demonize many Christian beliefs.  I have seen many different reasons why people argue for President Obams to order these things.  But, these things are those that should not have been high on the President’s agenda while we are fighting 2 wars, in the middle of a recession, in the middle of an energy crisis, and struggling to do what is appropriate with prisoners who are likely dangerous terrorists. 

One final word to many Christian brothers and sisters.  You and I are still called to stand up for what God accepts as right.  Yes, the poor are important.  But so are unborn children.  If you are willing to ignore such anti-God decisions so that your 401k is saved, then shame on you.  We have been called to refute an anything goes attitude that the world seeks.