Put a Cork in It!
With
all due respect, Senator McCain, your lecturing of your Senate
colleagues was unseemly at best, and arrogant at worst. Like Tom Dewey,
you led your party down the road to defeat. Now you presume to lecture
your colleagues on the fact that we lost and need to roll over and play
dead when it comes to appointments and policies that are detrimental to
our nation!
You have absolutely no claim to leadership of the
Republican Party. It is the Party of Ronald Reagan, not John McCain and
Nelson Rockefeller.
You were an accidental nominee who generally
sounded more like a Democrat than a Republican. You were for the bail
out and didn’t mind criticizing the free market (of which it is apparent
you have little or no understanding). You were wrong on everything
from conservative judges to so-called Global Warming to amnesty for
illegal aliens to drilling in Alaska, and that’s just the short list.
Your
defeat would have been even more crushing if you had not selected
Governor Palin. The selection of Sarah Palin turned out to be the one
shining moment of your campaign and without the wind she put in your
sails, the Obama electoral landslide, and the loss of Republicans at all
levels, would have been even greater.
I have two pieces of advice if you hope to have any following whatsoever. Sit down. Shut up.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Congratulations & Best Wishes
Congratulations & Best Wishes
Congratulations and best wishes to President Barack Obama. Your election is truly an historic event. It is a great testament to our nation—a nation where equal opportunity under the law is not just a goal, but a proven reality. You are now the leader of our nation and of the free world. That means many things.
As Commander-in-Chief, you are to protect the security and sovereignty of our nation. To the world, you are the keeper of the torch of freedom and opportunity. As President, you set the standards for personal conduct and morality.
You are living proof of the fact that any American, regardless of race, ethnicity, or background, can go as far as their skills and God’s blessings take them. You have a wife and two delightful children that project everything that is good about our nation.
And, yes, you enter the White House with many challenges—war, a tenuous economy, and a nation with distinct moral and political divisions.
Yet you have many outstanding role models within your own party, and from your adopted model, Abraham Lincoln. Consider these sound principles from—
Thomas Jefferson, who would encourage you to be wary of big, expansive government, which is the greatest threat to individual freedom. Surely Mr. Jefferson would be thrilled with your election, yet strongly caution you to suppress the human inclination to expand the control of government over the lives of our citizens. Jefferson understood that in order to maintain individual freedom, government must stay out of the lives of its citizens, letting them succeed and fail on their own merit.
Andrew Jackson had great trust in the American people and provided a great, positive vision for the future. He saw the United States as the greatest nation on the face of the earth and that vision propelled the nation to new heights.
Abraham Lincoln sought, as you do, to be the great unifier, yet he was reviled in his own time. He had great patience and great perseverance and he had a strong reliance on God as he sought to bring equal opportunity to all Americans. Like Jefferson, he understood that government can only work toward equal opportunity, not guarantee equal outcomes if its people are to remain free.
From Franklin Roosevelt, follow his example of being resolute in war with America’s enemies. Don’t falter, or give in to any opposition to taking the war on terrorism to complete and clear victory.
Harry Truman loved the United States and always did what he thought to be right. He accepted the fact that when it came to the Presidency, “the buck stops here.” You can set the model for personal responsibility for all politicians and for all Americans.
John F. Kennedy knew that you can never create prosperity by taking money out of the hands of the American people. His famous saying that “a rising tide lifts all boats” has proven to be one of the most accurate economic explanations of all times. He might have said, “You can’t tax your way into prosperity.” Fair and low taxes lead to economic success. There is no other way and JFK knew that.
Finally, I want to commend you on not only having Pastor Rick Warren provide your invocation, but also urge you to bring Pastor Warren close to you. Make him the “Billy Graham” of your White House. Count on him to provide a moral compass in times of challenge.
I firmly believe that if you will follow the positive examples of the successful Democratic Presidents noted above and fix your moral compass, yours will be a successful administration. I wish you God Speed.
Congratulations and best wishes to President Barack Obama. Your election is truly an historic event. It is a great testament to our nation—a nation where equal opportunity under the law is not just a goal, but a proven reality. You are now the leader of our nation and of the free world. That means many things.
As Commander-in-Chief, you are to protect the security and sovereignty of our nation. To the world, you are the keeper of the torch of freedom and opportunity. As President, you set the standards for personal conduct and morality.
You are living proof of the fact that any American, regardless of race, ethnicity, or background, can go as far as their skills and God’s blessings take them. You have a wife and two delightful children that project everything that is good about our nation.
And, yes, you enter the White House with many challenges—war, a tenuous economy, and a nation with distinct moral and political divisions.
Yet you have many outstanding role models within your own party, and from your adopted model, Abraham Lincoln. Consider these sound principles from—
Thomas Jefferson, who would encourage you to be wary of big, expansive government, which is the greatest threat to individual freedom. Surely Mr. Jefferson would be thrilled with your election, yet strongly caution you to suppress the human inclination to expand the control of government over the lives of our citizens. Jefferson understood that in order to maintain individual freedom, government must stay out of the lives of its citizens, letting them succeed and fail on their own merit.
Andrew Jackson had great trust in the American people and provided a great, positive vision for the future. He saw the United States as the greatest nation on the face of the earth and that vision propelled the nation to new heights.
Abraham Lincoln sought, as you do, to be the great unifier, yet he was reviled in his own time. He had great patience and great perseverance and he had a strong reliance on God as he sought to bring equal opportunity to all Americans. Like Jefferson, he understood that government can only work toward equal opportunity, not guarantee equal outcomes if its people are to remain free.
From Franklin Roosevelt, follow his example of being resolute in war with America’s enemies. Don’t falter, or give in to any opposition to taking the war on terrorism to complete and clear victory.
Harry Truman loved the United States and always did what he thought to be right. He accepted the fact that when it came to the Presidency, “the buck stops here.” You can set the model for personal responsibility for all politicians and for all Americans.
John F. Kennedy knew that you can never create prosperity by taking money out of the hands of the American people. His famous saying that “a rising tide lifts all boats” has proven to be one of the most accurate economic explanations of all times. He might have said, “You can’t tax your way into prosperity.” Fair and low taxes lead to economic success. There is no other way and JFK knew that.
Finally, I want to commend you on not only having Pastor Rick Warren provide your invocation, but also urge you to bring Pastor Warren close to you. Make him the “Billy Graham” of your White House. Count on him to provide a moral compass in times of challenge.
I firmly believe that if you will follow the positive examples of the successful Democratic Presidents noted above and fix your moral compass, yours will be a successful administration. I wish you God Speed.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Parting Words
Parting Words
Parting words are generally important words. When parents send a child off to college, their final words are filled with the main thing—get enough sleep, eat right, attend classes, and study hard. When people die, and they have the time and the mental clarity to do so, they share the most important thing they have learned with those they are leaving behind. All the fluff and nonessential things fall to the side. This is the last chance to provide positive influence to their loved ones, the last chance to impart wisdom which will keep their children on the right track. Parting words are limited to the main thing. They are worth listening to, worth following.
Jesus, before He ascended into Heaven, said some parting words that are important. He had finished three years of instructing His disciples and leading by example. He had fulfilled His role as Savior of the world—led a perfect, sinless life, surrendered His life on the cross, and then rose triumphant from the grave. His time on this earth was coming to an end. It was time for His parting words.
What did He say? There were many important things He could have said. He could have said, “Study the Scripture each day,” but He didn’t. That would have been a very important command. He could have said, “Build big, beautiful churches in which to worship Me.” He didn’t say that either. He could have said, “Build schools to educate your children, and universities to turn out Christian scholars.” But, He didn’t say that either.
No, Jesus got down to the primary thing, the main thing, the most important thing. In Acts 1:8, He said just this:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
There was no mistaking Jesus’ intent. His disciples (that includes all believers) have one primary reason for existence, one primary responsibility in life—to serve as witnesses for Jesus among our acquaintances, in our town, in our state, in our nation, and throughout the world. This is our role as individuals and it is to be the primary responsibility of the Christian Church. There is no confusion, no ambiguity. Our individual goal and the goal of the church, is to witness to the truth of Jesus and to share the Good News everywhere.
There are lots of good things we can do and lots of good things the Church can do, but the main thing, the primary thing is Jesus’ charge to be His witnesses wherever we go.
It makes me consider how I live my life. It also makes me take a look at my own church. Does it have its priorities straight? Is it focused on Jesus’ priority, sharing the Good News?
Is it exercising good stewardship with the finite funds it has available to it? When I look at my church budget, is it clear that the main thing is the main thing? Are all the programs of my church aligned toward the main thing? If I look at my church’s expenditures from a cost/impact perspective will I see that we are exercising good stewardship?
Is my church, is your church, taking Jesus’ parting words to heart? Do Jesus’ parting words focus and align your programs for maximum effectiveness in serving as His witness to the world? Perhaps we should all do a cost/impact analysis of our projects and programs to see if they are aligned with Jesus’ parting words. His parting words are His most important advice to you and me and to His church.
Parting words are generally important words. When parents send a child off to college, their final words are filled with the main thing—get enough sleep, eat right, attend classes, and study hard. When people die, and they have the time and the mental clarity to do so, they share the most important thing they have learned with those they are leaving behind. All the fluff and nonessential things fall to the side. This is the last chance to provide positive influence to their loved ones, the last chance to impart wisdom which will keep their children on the right track. Parting words are limited to the main thing. They are worth listening to, worth following.
Jesus, before He ascended into Heaven, said some parting words that are important. He had finished three years of instructing His disciples and leading by example. He had fulfilled His role as Savior of the world—led a perfect, sinless life, surrendered His life on the cross, and then rose triumphant from the grave. His time on this earth was coming to an end. It was time for His parting words.
What did He say? There were many important things He could have said. He could have said, “Study the Scripture each day,” but He didn’t. That would have been a very important command. He could have said, “Build big, beautiful churches in which to worship Me.” He didn’t say that either. He could have said, “Build schools to educate your children, and universities to turn out Christian scholars.” But, He didn’t say that either.
No, Jesus got down to the primary thing, the main thing, the most important thing. In Acts 1:8, He said just this:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
There was no mistaking Jesus’ intent. His disciples (that includes all believers) have one primary reason for existence, one primary responsibility in life—to serve as witnesses for Jesus among our acquaintances, in our town, in our state, in our nation, and throughout the world. This is our role as individuals and it is to be the primary responsibility of the Christian Church. There is no confusion, no ambiguity. Our individual goal and the goal of the church, is to witness to the truth of Jesus and to share the Good News everywhere.
There are lots of good things we can do and lots of good things the Church can do, but the main thing, the primary thing is Jesus’ charge to be His witnesses wherever we go.
It makes me consider how I live my life. It also makes me take a look at my own church. Does it have its priorities straight? Is it focused on Jesus’ priority, sharing the Good News?
Is it exercising good stewardship with the finite funds it has available to it? When I look at my church budget, is it clear that the main thing is the main thing? Are all the programs of my church aligned toward the main thing? If I look at my church’s expenditures from a cost/impact perspective will I see that we are exercising good stewardship?
Is my church, is your church, taking Jesus’ parting words to heart? Do Jesus’ parting words focus and align your programs for maximum effectiveness in serving as His witness to the world? Perhaps we should all do a cost/impact analysis of our projects and programs to see if they are aligned with Jesus’ parting words. His parting words are His most important advice to you and me and to His church.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Recap of 2008 Forecasts and Bold 2009 Predictions
Recap of 2008 Forecasts and Bold 2009 Predictions
Well,
how did I do with my 2008 forecasts? My batting average was about .429
which is not quite enough to get my multi-million dollar contract
renewed (I wish!). I was right that Hillary would not be elected
President, that the Yankees would not win the World Series, and that
continued progress would be made in Iraq.
I
was way off-base on a number of other prognostications—wrong on the US
staying out of a recession (little did I know that our economy was being
undermined by politicians forcing bad credit risks on our lending
institutions), wrong on Osama Bin Laden meeting his maker, wrong on Ford
& GM being resurgent (might have happened without the $4/gallon gas
which killed their profitable SUV business), wrong on Katie Couric
being gone from CBS.
Regardless,
it’s clear that no one should fly to Las Vegas to place any bets on my
forecasts. But they were fun to make anyway. So here it goes again…
1. Fairness Doctrine Reprise.
The Democrats will not re-institute the Fairness Doctrine through the
front door or the back, in spite of the desire of the more fringe
members of Congress and their efforts to do so.
2. Iraq. The Obama Administration will not pull all our troops out of Iraq.
3. Osama Bin Laden. Maybe he’s already dead. Who knows? Prediction: His current status will remain the same in 2009.
4. New York Yankees. Yes, they will make it to the World Series in 2009.
5. Washington Redskins. After a long drought, they will make it back to the NFL playoffs in 2009.
6. Chicago Cubs. They will not make it into the MLB playoffs in 2009.
7. Katie Couric. Gone, gone, gone! This time I can’t be wrong.
8. Cuba. The US will recognize Cuba.
9. Economy.
Although the news media will say encouraging things about Obama
policies and stoke the fires for an economic resurgence, the economy
will stall and roaring “Jimmy Carter” inflation will return.
10. Spiritual Resurgence. There will be signs of a spiritual resurgence with a positive impact on serious moral problems that confront our nation.
You
have been advised—don’t bet on anything I have included in my
forecast. Here’s one more piece of advice—don’t put you faith in rulers
or princes or presidents, put it in the Lord who rules heaven and
earth! That will guarantee you a wonderful, peace-filled 2009,
regardless of the problems you face.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Most of us have very fond memories of the Christmas season—families that arrived from far away, snow storms, decorating the Christmas Tree, Christmas eve services, caroling, baking, presents, and so much more.
The reason for Christmas is, of course, the birth of Jesus, God’s only son. Imagine God coming to earth from heaven. Who would want to leave perfection and come to this world full of problems and troubles? But God did come. Jesus was born as a baby to a virgin. Humans may scoff and say that is impossible. Yes, it is impossible for humans, but then again Jesus was also God. And, all we have to know is that God makes the rules—rules like gravity, and magnetic attraction, and mathematics, etc. So he doesn’t have to abide by his own rules.
But just coming to earth wasn’t that important. It’s what Jesus did after he got here that counts. Boy does it count! Without Jesus you and I would have no chance, no hope of salvation. None. Zip. Nada.
Jesus came to that little town in Bethlehem for one purpose, to fulfill the prophecy of the scriptures that a baby would be born in Bethlehem of Judah who would save his people from their sins.
Jesus was the long (thousands of years) promised Messiah. The same one promised to Adam and Eve when they were driven out of the Garden of Eden. The same one promised to Abraham and Sarah. The same one promised to King David. The same one foretold by countless Old Testament prophets. He was (and is) the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.
We celebrate Christmas with great joy and great enthusiasm because God fulfilled his promise (as he fulfills all promises) to send a Savior. Jesus lived that perfect life we couldn’t live, and then gave himself up on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. And best of all, he rose triumphant from the grave, giving us total and complete assurance that we too will live again if we but trust in him.
I wish you a very joyous Christmas celebration and a wonderful, happy, and peace filled New Year rich with God’s blessings.
Most of us have very fond memories of the Christmas season—families that arrived from far away, snow storms, decorating the Christmas Tree, Christmas eve services, caroling, baking, presents, and so much more.
The reason for Christmas is, of course, the birth of Jesus, God’s only son. Imagine God coming to earth from heaven. Who would want to leave perfection and come to this world full of problems and troubles? But God did come. Jesus was born as a baby to a virgin. Humans may scoff and say that is impossible. Yes, it is impossible for humans, but then again Jesus was also God. And, all we have to know is that God makes the rules—rules like gravity, and magnetic attraction, and mathematics, etc. So he doesn’t have to abide by his own rules.
But just coming to earth wasn’t that important. It’s what Jesus did after he got here that counts. Boy does it count! Without Jesus you and I would have no chance, no hope of salvation. None. Zip. Nada.
Jesus came to that little town in Bethlehem for one purpose, to fulfill the prophecy of the scriptures that a baby would be born in Bethlehem of Judah who would save his people from their sins.
Jesus was the long (thousands of years) promised Messiah. The same one promised to Adam and Eve when they were driven out of the Garden of Eden. The same one promised to Abraham and Sarah. The same one promised to King David. The same one foretold by countless Old Testament prophets. He was (and is) the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.
We celebrate Christmas with great joy and great enthusiasm because God fulfilled his promise (as he fulfills all promises) to send a Savior. Jesus lived that perfect life we couldn’t live, and then gave himself up on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. And best of all, he rose triumphant from the grave, giving us total and complete assurance that we too will live again if we but trust in him.
I wish you a very joyous Christmas celebration and a wonderful, happy, and peace filled New Year rich with God’s blessings.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Essential Church?
Essential Church?
I just finished reading Essential Church? by Thom and Sam Rainer III (2008, B&H Publishing Group), which deals with young people, 18 to 22, leaving the church. While this book primarily targets pastors and other church workers, it is valuable reading material for lay men and women who are active in church leadership. I not only read Essential Church, but also underlined it extensively because I viewed it as a working reference.
Thom Rainer (the father) has written many books on the health of the church and I have read several of them and always have found them to be logical, practical, and biblical in their approach. I was especially interested in Essential Church because I know a number of young people who were very active in their churches and could clearly articulate their faith, but left the church. The fact is that some 70% of those between the ages of 18 and 22 drop out of church. This troubles me, and it troubles many Christians.
Why is it that people, especially young people, are leaving the church? That is exactly what the Rainers explore in Essential Church and their conclusion is that many young people of today no long find the church essential to their life. They just don’t see a reason to continue going to church. Lots of reasons are given by those who leave the church, but essentially it boils down to their conclusion that going to church is just not essential to their life.
With that information in hand, Thom and Sam examine churches that are not suffering this tremendous back-door outflow to determine if there is anything in common with these churches. While they do not find a formula for stemming the outgoing tide, they do find these churches have four general principles in common, regardless of the denomination, size, or geographic location. These principles are:
Simplify. Each of these churches has simplified their structure and process for making disciples. That does not mean they have made it easier to become a member, but they have crystallized their discipleship process. Incidentally, repeated references are made in the book to Simple Church, another book by Thom Rainer that preceded Essential Church. It’s next on my reading list.
Deepen. These churches provide strong biblical teaching and preaching. In other words, these churches don’t compromise the Word. In fact, these churches have a strong commitment to biblical truth and to quality teaching and preaching.
Expect. They all expect a lot from their members. You can’t be a casual member of any of these churches. If you join one of these churches you are expected to not only attend regularly, but also participate in meaningful projects and programs.
Multiply. There is a strong outward focus in each of these churches, expecting and encouraging their members to reach others with the Gospel. These churches expect members to “stretch” beyond their comfort zone, participating in evangelism efforts and even going on foreign mission trips. They want their members to take ownership of the church and make it essential to their lives.
It’s not a formula, it’s an understanding that gimmicks are not the solution, Bible-based approaches and teachings are. Thom and Sam stress repeatedly that there is no cookie-cutter approach. Each church is different and must understand their community as well as their mission in order to become an essential church to the young people of today.
By utilizing these general principles and developing their own, unique approach, each one of these churches has stopped the outflow. They have made it easy to understand their mission and their process, while providing strong and faithful Bible instruction. In addition, they expect much from their members (including those who are 18 to 22 and beyond), and they are outwardly focused. Of course, while this is easy to understand, it is not necessarily easy to execute.
While these four principles provide the framework around which the book is built, there are many nuggets that deserve attention. Things like creating a simple, understandable mission, then aligning all of your various Church projects and programs with your mission. Or making sure your church offers strong, great preaching. This study and the one upon which Thom’s previous book, Effective Evangelistic Churches, was written, reach the same conclusion about preaching—it must be strong, powerful, and Bible-based.
There’s lots more in Essential Church worth reading. Thom and Sam Ranier have provided valuable assistance to church leaders who seek to keep young people in their church. It’s my hope that this book will be widely read.
I just finished reading Essential Church? by Thom and Sam Rainer III (2008, B&H Publishing Group), which deals with young people, 18 to 22, leaving the church. While this book primarily targets pastors and other church workers, it is valuable reading material for lay men and women who are active in church leadership. I not only read Essential Church, but also underlined it extensively because I viewed it as a working reference.
Thom Rainer (the father) has written many books on the health of the church and I have read several of them and always have found them to be logical, practical, and biblical in their approach. I was especially interested in Essential Church because I know a number of young people who were very active in their churches and could clearly articulate their faith, but left the church. The fact is that some 70% of those between the ages of 18 and 22 drop out of church. This troubles me, and it troubles many Christians.
Why is it that people, especially young people, are leaving the church? That is exactly what the Rainers explore in Essential Church and their conclusion is that many young people of today no long find the church essential to their life. They just don’t see a reason to continue going to church. Lots of reasons are given by those who leave the church, but essentially it boils down to their conclusion that going to church is just not essential to their life.
With that information in hand, Thom and Sam examine churches that are not suffering this tremendous back-door outflow to determine if there is anything in common with these churches. While they do not find a formula for stemming the outgoing tide, they do find these churches have four general principles in common, regardless of the denomination, size, or geographic location. These principles are:
Simplify. Each of these churches has simplified their structure and process for making disciples. That does not mean they have made it easier to become a member, but they have crystallized their discipleship process. Incidentally, repeated references are made in the book to Simple Church, another book by Thom Rainer that preceded Essential Church. It’s next on my reading list.
Deepen. These churches provide strong biblical teaching and preaching. In other words, these churches don’t compromise the Word. In fact, these churches have a strong commitment to biblical truth and to quality teaching and preaching.
Expect. They all expect a lot from their members. You can’t be a casual member of any of these churches. If you join one of these churches you are expected to not only attend regularly, but also participate in meaningful projects and programs.
Multiply. There is a strong outward focus in each of these churches, expecting and encouraging their members to reach others with the Gospel. These churches expect members to “stretch” beyond their comfort zone, participating in evangelism efforts and even going on foreign mission trips. They want their members to take ownership of the church and make it essential to their lives.
It’s not a formula, it’s an understanding that gimmicks are not the solution, Bible-based approaches and teachings are. Thom and Sam stress repeatedly that there is no cookie-cutter approach. Each church is different and must understand their community as well as their mission in order to become an essential church to the young people of today.
By utilizing these general principles and developing their own, unique approach, each one of these churches has stopped the outflow. They have made it easy to understand their mission and their process, while providing strong and faithful Bible instruction. In addition, they expect much from their members (including those who are 18 to 22 and beyond), and they are outwardly focused. Of course, while this is easy to understand, it is not necessarily easy to execute.
While these four principles provide the framework around which the book is built, there are many nuggets that deserve attention. Things like creating a simple, understandable mission, then aligning all of your various Church projects and programs with your mission. Or making sure your church offers strong, great preaching. This study and the one upon which Thom’s previous book, Effective Evangelistic Churches, was written, reach the same conclusion about preaching—it must be strong, powerful, and Bible-based.
There’s lots more in Essential Church worth reading. Thom and Sam Ranier have provided valuable assistance to church leaders who seek to keep young people in their church. It’s my hope that this book will be widely read.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
A Designer God
A Designer God
Women love designer clothes, men like well-tailored good fitting suits, and many people apparently seek a designer God. Just like telling the tailor to “take a little off here” and “add a little here,” we want God to be of our design. After all, we know what’s right and wrong and we don’t need God to tell us what’s right and wrong.
That has been the error of man (and woman) from the beginning of time—we seek to be gods and goddesses. We are not content to have a loving God who gave His own Son up for our sins, we want to be, and we demand to be God! It’s silly, but we all do it. We want to make the rules, not God. We want to be on top, not God. We want to decide for ourselves, not God.
Why are there so many religions in the world? Quite simply, man seeks to be God, to define God. He wants to choose what’s right and what’s wrong, and to decide how to get to heaven, or even if there is a heaven.
So we reject God. But we do it in a subtle way. Someone may ask me what I think about some moral issue such as lying, or jealousy or hatred or murder or adultery or the like. Who am I to say what is right or wrong? Am I God? It doesn’t matter what I think about abortion or adultery or lying or hatred. It just doesn’t matter. Whether I think something is good or bad is not relevant. What God says is the only thing that matters.
The other evening Kathi and I watched a show on television that certainly promoted a designer God. A man had a sex transplant, abandoned his wife and son, and is now a pastor with Bible in hand “preaching” to his flock a politically correct message of right and wrong according his own notions. Like giving directions to a tailor, he has decided that his Bible should have “a little taken out here” and “a little added in here.”
God is God. Who are we to sit in judgment of the great “I am”? Are we all-powerful? God is. Do we fill the universe? God does. Can we listen to and answer prayers from all around the globe at one time? God can. Are we perfect? God is.
You can’t have it both ways. Either there is a God or there is no God. And by His very definition, God does not conform to human standards. He is above nature. His dimensions and power and authority are not defined by man. He is God.
There are no designer Gods. There are false gods and then there is God.
Jesus wasn’t just a good teacher. If you believe that, then you also must believe that Jesus was a liar. After all, He proclaimed himself as God. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20). You can’t have all authority in heaven and earth and be an ordinary human.
How could Jesus be born of a virgin? Ridiculous! How could Jesus walk on water? Preposterous! How could Jesus turn water into wine? Impossible! How could Jesus live a perfect life? Absurd!
Yes, all this is ridiculous, preposterous, impossible and absurd if you are a simple human. It could only be true if Jesus is God.
The Bible is given to us as a special privilege. Through the Bible we hear directly from God. We are blessed to know exactly what God says and thinks and what He wants us to do. How do we get to heaven? God tells us in a straightforward, unequivocal way in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.” Is there any other way to get to heaven? Not so, according to Jesus. Listen to what He says in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
If you want to believe in another god or no god, that’s your choice. But please, let’s not distort what the Bible says. His words and teachings are clear. You have a right to reject the Bible as false, but when you pick and choose and turn God into a designer God who meets your preconceptions and has your values, he is no longer the God of the Bible.
Undoubtedly God’s teachings are hard teachings. That’s exactly what His hand-picked disciples said in John 6:60. We don’t want to believe God. We want a designer God. One who thinks the way we do. But it doesn’t work that way. That, indeed, is a hard teaching, but one that is meant for our good.
Women love designer clothes, men like well-tailored good fitting suits, and many people apparently seek a designer God. Just like telling the tailor to “take a little off here” and “add a little here,” we want God to be of our design. After all, we know what’s right and wrong and we don’t need God to tell us what’s right and wrong.
That has been the error of man (and woman) from the beginning of time—we seek to be gods and goddesses. We are not content to have a loving God who gave His own Son up for our sins, we want to be, and we demand to be God! It’s silly, but we all do it. We want to make the rules, not God. We want to be on top, not God. We want to decide for ourselves, not God.
Why are there so many religions in the world? Quite simply, man seeks to be God, to define God. He wants to choose what’s right and what’s wrong, and to decide how to get to heaven, or even if there is a heaven.
So we reject God. But we do it in a subtle way. Someone may ask me what I think about some moral issue such as lying, or jealousy or hatred or murder or adultery or the like. Who am I to say what is right or wrong? Am I God? It doesn’t matter what I think about abortion or adultery or lying or hatred. It just doesn’t matter. Whether I think something is good or bad is not relevant. What God says is the only thing that matters.
The other evening Kathi and I watched a show on television that certainly promoted a designer God. A man had a sex transplant, abandoned his wife and son, and is now a pastor with Bible in hand “preaching” to his flock a politically correct message of right and wrong according his own notions. Like giving directions to a tailor, he has decided that his Bible should have “a little taken out here” and “a little added in here.”
God is God. Who are we to sit in judgment of the great “I am”? Are we all-powerful? God is. Do we fill the universe? God does. Can we listen to and answer prayers from all around the globe at one time? God can. Are we perfect? God is.
You can’t have it both ways. Either there is a God or there is no God. And by His very definition, God does not conform to human standards. He is above nature. His dimensions and power and authority are not defined by man. He is God.
There are no designer Gods. There are false gods and then there is God.
Jesus wasn’t just a good teacher. If you believe that, then you also must believe that Jesus was a liar. After all, He proclaimed himself as God. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20). You can’t have all authority in heaven and earth and be an ordinary human.
How could Jesus be born of a virgin? Ridiculous! How could Jesus walk on water? Preposterous! How could Jesus turn water into wine? Impossible! How could Jesus live a perfect life? Absurd!
Yes, all this is ridiculous, preposterous, impossible and absurd if you are a simple human. It could only be true if Jesus is God.
The Bible is given to us as a special privilege. Through the Bible we hear directly from God. We are blessed to know exactly what God says and thinks and what He wants us to do. How do we get to heaven? God tells us in a straightforward, unequivocal way in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.” Is there any other way to get to heaven? Not so, according to Jesus. Listen to what He says in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
If you want to believe in another god or no god, that’s your choice. But please, let’s not distort what the Bible says. His words and teachings are clear. You have a right to reject the Bible as false, but when you pick and choose and turn God into a designer God who meets your preconceptions and has your values, he is no longer the God of the Bible.
Undoubtedly God’s teachings are hard teachings. That’s exactly what His hand-picked disciples said in John 6:60. We don’t want to believe God. We want a designer God. One who thinks the way we do. But it doesn’t work that way. That, indeed, is a hard teaching, but one that is meant for our good.
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