Natural People Don't Get It

 "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1Cor. 2:14

There will be people sitting in church this morning who just don't get it. There will be pastors preaching this morning who also don't get it. Why? Because they live in the natural world not the spiritual world. They seem to be Sadducees, who do not believe in spirits or angels or anything supernatural. For these people God can only work one miracle and that involves saving them from sin.

Another thing about people who live in the natural world is they have no dominion over sin. They cuss, they drink alcohol, they do things that any believing person would not do and they do not understand what is wrong with it. The Bible plainly tells us that they think that what we believe is foolishness.

My prayer for these people is that the Lord would baptize them in the Holy Ghost so that what is simple to me becomes obvious to them.

Truth is a mystery received by revelation. It is not just knowledge learned by studying.

This Light Affliction

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2Cor. 4:17

Thursday evening I went to the ER thinking that I might be having a heart attack. I felt terrible. But the doctor in the ER, after running some tests, ruled out a heart attack. I was discharged and sent home.

Looking back, though it was bad at the time, God helped me and I am grateful to be in good health again.

I go see my regular doctor Monday morning as a follow up.

The Little Foxes

"Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines," Song 2:15

As we grow older we continue to change. We think that we are the same, but we are not. We think that we will never grow old, but we will. Most changes happen gradually. It is not like falling off of a cliff and plummeting down. Like the text, it is the little foxes, the little adjustments, the little differences that bring on dramatic changes.

One of the big changes that happens to all of us as we age is the loss of strength and reserve capacity. We find it harder to do what we used to find easy to do. We do not bounce back as quickly from injury or illness. We beat ourselves up for being lazy. We injure ourselves trying to beat the rap. We play mental gymnastics trying to convince ourselves and others that we are still able to do everything.  

This gradual decline does not mean that life is over. It just means that we have to adjust our lives to respect those changes.  Spend time in a hospital and see how that changes your life. Visit the ER and look at all of the terrible conditions that people find themselves in, including you.

I know that life must be lived to the end. That does not mean that you must live pedal to the metal up until you keel over dead. Adapting to changing circumstances is a part to life that we know we must do but we find it hard to put into practice.

Little changes produce big results in many areas of life. So why are we surprised when little changes slow us down at the end of life?

Peace or Fear

 "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth," Luke 21:26

I have noticed something that seems to be emerging in the modern world. People are terrified of illness and viruses, but they refuse to be vaccinated. They are more afraid of the vaccine than Ebola or hantavirus. They fear the vaccine more than the measles or the flu. They were terrified of covid, but they will not get a covid vaccine.

I do not know all that people are afraid of. But this is something that baffles me. The anti-vaccers have convinced people that vaccines are evil and that it is a plot to hurt them. Diseases that were eradicated have made a resurgence. People with compromised immune systems are terrified of everything.

Notice that it is the fear and the expectation that causes trouble in the text. People are terrified at the prospect or the possibility of getting sick. On top of this people do not trust doctors. They look to Google rather than a medical professional. And now ChatGPT is god who has all the answers.

When my wife was sick pastor Mitchell told us to do what the doctor tells us to do. We did. I get vaccinated with no ill effects.

There is an answer to fear. It is found in Christ.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

Maybe it's time to go back to church. Maybe it's time to trust your doctors.

Sermon Thoughts

 I can tell when  sermon sticks to the outline, and when it goes off into the arena of inspiration.

Pastor, we are glad you have pastor friends. We don't and perhaps never will.

Evidently God can only work twice in life. To save you, and to send you out to pastor. 

Preaching is part theology, and part art. There is a skill in preaching that can be learned.

Pastor Mitchell, we are told, used to practice preaching. We could tell.

Sometimes I hear the voice of God in a sermon. Often I don't.

An unprepared preacher feels threatened by a fact checking audience.

I regularly come home from church and remind myself that what I learned is still true.

I am surprised by how off track the Evangelical movement has led us.

That's all for now.

My Thoughts

 It's a poor workman who blames his tools. It's like a person who trips glaring at the sidewalk. I wonder if we can say that it is a poor pastor who blames his church. We could be more if you would do more. We could do more if you would give more. God would move more if you would pray more. We would grow more if y'all would witness more.

The size of a local church is directly linked to the ability of the pastor. This is an inescapable fact. God will not give you more people than you can effectively minister to. Blame must begin by looking in a mirror, not by glaring at the pews.

If you want more, you set the example and you give more or pray more or serve more. Or else you can set the example by being content and happy to be here. Like I am.

Don't mistake being born on third base as the same as hitting a triple.

A Blessed Hope, Or Woe Is Me

 Last night we had a band of thunderstorms move through our area. The weather people made it sound dangerous. There were warnings issued. But the storms moved through and this morning my rain gauge only had a small amount of water in it. No tornadoes were recorded. The sky was falling until it didn't.

We hear dire warnings on a regular basis. The world is much worse than it has ever been. Surely the end is near. I half expect someone to stand on a busy street corner holding a sign saying the end is near. 

I have lived long enough to put warnings into perspective. I have read enough history to know that we have lived through much worse times then this. And this gives me peace when society around me is losing their minds in fear.

The Bible talks about the return of Christ. 

"looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and savior Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13

Have you ever heard a sermon in this verse? The blessed hope instead of doom and gloom.

Forever Young?

 This is important information to help us grow old in our faith.

Winning in life is not always being young and fit. It is not never getting old or infirm. It is being able to live and to remain independent as long as possible. We do not even think about these things when we are young. It is most of what we think about as we get older.

1. Mobility. Can you get out of bed in the morning? Can you get out of a chair unaided?

2. Do you recover from physical setbacks? Are you physically resilient?

3. Can you managing your meds, your pharmacy, and take the meds your doctors recommend?

4. Are you still socially connected? Or are you continually isolated?

5. Are you still curious about life? Are you still mentally engaged?

6. Can you adapt to changing circumstances? Life is about changes. Can you adapt to changes?

7. Do you still have a sense of humor? Can you still laugh?

I think that as we age in our Fellowship we will need to take charge of our own well being and do what is best for us on our own. We will get no support from the pulpit.  It is a fool who thinks that the goal of life is to be forever young. It is still he who endures to the end who will be saved in the end.

He's A Miracle Working God Today!

 I have noticed something happening in our Fellowship. I doesn't seem on the surface to be a big deal. But I wonder if it is more important than we understand. There seems to be a trend to take the supernatural out of the Bible. We seem to be trying to explain the signs and wonders in the Bible through a naturalist lens.

Manna did not grow on a bush or a tree. Manna was angel's food that appeared every morning by a miracle. Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan river on dry ground. That was a miracle. The ram caught in the thicket was not there until God stopped Abraham from killing his son. It appeared at just the right time.

One reason for this drift from the supernatural work of God is partly our naturalist education system. We think that science can explain everything.  And also as we grow and prosper we find that we have no need for miracles. We have all that we need. And finally, if we have asked for God to intervene and nothing has happened we change our theology to reflect our experience.

An evangelist was once asked what do you do if you pray for someone and they don't get healed. He replied; I say, bring me the next one.

Let me share a thought with you about divine healing. There is a time when miracle healing happens. There comes a time when that sick person needs support and care to survive. Those are two different prayers.

God's nature does not change to suit our experience. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is a miracle working God. Don't let your unbelief rob you of a miracle.

The Narcissist Next Door

 We seem to live in a narcissistic age. We see everywhere people who exhibit an inflated sense of self importance. They think that they are superior to everyone and that they deserve to be respected. They are self exalting, which is another word for pride.

We also live in an age where empathy is in short supply. I am no longer a conservative because they consider me to be a parasite because of Social Security and Medicare. They think that poverty is a moral issue and therefore do nothing to help their needy neighbors. Or their employees.

Narcissism may be important to run a business or a government. But it disqualifies you from the kingdom of God. God delights to share His glory with His people, but He will not share His glory with a proud, selfish man or woman. You can run a corporation, but you are unworthy to clean the restrooms at our church.

Pride always goes before destruction. Just because they get away with it today does not guarantee that they will get away with it tomorrow. Payday with God is not always Friday, but God always pays in full.

So if you think that you deserve to be honored watch out. God keeps good books.

Another Day Is Done

I was born again on December the 8th, 1973 in Prescott Arizona. I grew up a reorganized Latter Day Saint. I grew up in a stable two parent home for 15 years. By the time Jesus saved me I needed to be saved. I am still clothed and in my right mind today.

Extra-Biblical books can shed some additional light on the scriptures. But there is nothing to compare to just the Bible. God still speaks today.

Pastors think that by emphasizing soul winning that it will inspire us to witness more. I think they think that revival isn't just a moving of the Holy Spirit, but it really does depend on us witnessing and praying more.

I have old friends that I have known for a long time. I have new friends here and now. They are both vital to my well being. 

In the past I got rid of all of my study books. I have since then gotten replacements. I still study often.

My wife of 40 years died in 2021. People ask me if I miss her. I don't. And I never once asked God why.

I almost eliminated this blog. I used to have other blogs. They serve a purpose. They do not last forever.

Friday Thoughts

 "So he said, I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" Gen. 3:10-11

As I was studying I had a thought. Adam and Eve were not naked in the Garden of Eden.  I cannot explain this except to say that they were more like the angels in the beginning. When they sinned that light and that glory was lost immediately and they were left uncovered. In trying to be like God, they lost the very thing that made them in God's image and likeness. The Devil stole from them what they already had by offering them something that he could not give. 

When they realized that they were naked they sewed fig leave to make clothing. So it was that their feeble attempt at covering themselves paled in the light of what they had lost. When God made them clothes He made them of skin. We assume that these were animal skins, but the Bible doesn't say. God shows that He prefers animal covering rather than plant based clothing. Cain and Able knew this. Cain was a rebel.

One more thought. As Adam and Eve were in the Garden, so we shall be in the resurrection. In Christ we regain everything that Adam and Eve lost.

Final thought. Adam and Eve no doubt grieved after being expelled from the Garden. But grieving does not last forever and they moved on in life. They learned to live and thrive where they were. They had more children. And they are in Paradise today waiting with the others who have gone before us.

The Blessing That Flows Down

 I pray for my pastor. He carries a lot of weight. I also have noticed that he wears his heart on his sleeve. It is not hard to see when he is upset or bothered by something. But I appreciate his ministry to us and his insight into the scriptures. His job is not an easy one and so I ask God to give him wisdom and strength.

The blessing that flows down through headship is a real thing. The anointing oil that flowed down from Aaron's head to his feet signifies how God moves through headship. His words carry the weight of a man who has his own walk with the Lord.

Whether your church is 40 or 400 or 4000 people, it all mostly depends on the man in the pulpit on Sunday morning. Our vision begins in our pastor's heart. He sets the tone of the whole church. Disciples will copy his mannerisms. His influence and impact is far greater than he is on his own.

This church really is the work of God and not just a work of human ingenuity. I am grateful to be a part of it.

Buy The Truth

I know, and you do too, that You Tube is a terrible place to learn theology.  Everyone is an expert, and no one knows anything. All you get are crazy AI generated ideas based on God knows what. One red flag is when you find a theologian who spend more time talking about what the author meant and his context in his world. What was going on around him that he saw truth in this perspective. In claiming to be wise they reveal themselves as fools.

Let's reaffirm what the Bible has to say about this.

"holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2Pet.1:21

The Bible contains God's word. It is God's self-revelation of Himself. It is not the writings of men compiled into one volume. It is in truth the word of God. 

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 2Tim.3:16

The task of every person  is to read and understand the Bible. To pay the price for truth.

"Buy the truth and do not sell it" Prov.23:23

When you hear a sermon that moves you to action or when you get revelation from scripture, you are dealing with men who have paid a price to understand truth.

I find that familiarity breeds contempt. When you get bored with the Bible you begin to look for new ideas. You try to understand the person who God used to speak rather than God and His word. The Bible is not about Moses or David or Paul. It's about God.

The secret to staying on track is gratitude. Being grateful for the Bible as it is. Being grateful to God for what He has done. Gratitude is the antidote to boredom.

God Is Alive And Active

Dr. Michael Heiser wrote a book called The Unseen Realm. In it he makes the argument for a new way of putting the supernatural back into the Bible. He advocates for letting God be God in the pages of Scripture. 

Unfortunately, he does not seem to put the supernatural back into the Christian life. He never talks about divine healing or the gifts of the Spirit. He does not advocate speaking in tongues. There is no deliverance from demonic oppression in the real world. It is good that Dr. Heiser puts God back in the pages of the Bible. But the youngest member of our church is more aware of the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit than the wisest theologian.

To many God the Holy Spirit is a doctrine that they adhere to but not a real active working presence in the world today.

All must be born again. All can speak in tongues. We can see the sick healed and the adicted delivered. We can extract miracle money from unexpected sources. God is present and active, an ever present help in time of need. He is not just a doctrine.

The Missing Crisis

 Some declare that we have a population crisis world-wide. We are not having enough children to replace ourselves. This is a strange argument. One thing that population experts never talk about is marriage. If people are not getting married then it is obvious why they are not having children. But marriage is God's idea so they act like it doesn't matter to avoid giving God any credit. One other issue is how there are things that only happen on paper or in the lab that never happen or work in the real world. It is never as dire or as dark as some experts would have us believe.

As a local church we stand for truth and for light in a world darkened by sin. We give the world an example of how to live. We provide a place where needy people can connect with a God who is accessible. We are a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We are a light and a beacon to a lost world. We show how to be selfless and giving and married.

Do not be discouraged by experts who live in a bubble of probability with no connection to the real world.

Speaking of marriage. We need our children to leave the lies of feminism and get married and start families. University is no substitute for a nuclear family. My biggest regret in life is only having two children. Now that I am older I wish we had had more.

Changing Seats

 I dreamed an interesting dream. I dreamt that I was at a conference in Prescott. Pastor Mitchell was leading the service. It was a full house with people in every seat. Before the service officially began pastor Mitchell came to the pulpit and made an interesting announcement.

I want everyone sitting in the front row to trade places with the people sitting on the back row. Then I want everyone on the left side to trade places with the people on the right side. It took a while to happen but finally everyone was sitting in their new place.

What was interesting to me was how some people were happy and excited to trade places, but others were sullen and morose. People get so attached to their seat. Woe to any visitor who dares to sit in their place.

Would a pastor actually have people change seats like this? I have seen it and you probably have too.

"Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Mat.13:58

When we focus more on where we sit than on why we're there we run the risk of not seeing God work among us.

Anyway, it was just a dream.

Sunday Night Musings

 We had a young man preach for us tonight. He is from here, but not our church. Pastor met him overseas and felt inspired to have him come preach for us. He did a good job. He is another guy who went overseas directly with no pastoral experience. He is doing a good job where he is.

I see a trend in that if I am going to get anything our of a church service, I will have to learn to get something from a younger man. The pool of seasoned pastors is getting thinner by the year.

Evidently sending a couple overseas right off is a trend to watch.

I hope that this young man inspired some of our young men who seem hesitant to announce themselves as interested in getting sent out.

We do not need more information or even education. We need men who have their own personal relationship with God and who are inspired to do something great for God.

Pray that we will have a great Boot Camp. It is less boot camp and it is becoming more like conference camp for teenagers.

I am grateful that I was mentioned in Prescott tonight. I fell so insignificant sometimes. To think that pastor Greg would mention Kathy and I was humbling.

Thank you all for visiting.

The Bible Is Not A Science Book

 One reason why it is nearly impossible to examine the bible using scientific methods is that the Bible is not a science book. Unlike a story which flows from beginning to climax and ultimately to conclusion, the Bible jumps around in time and does not always follow to a logical conclusion. Every verse is important, but sometimes it is hard to connect them together.

What do Young Earth, Gap Theory, and Day/Age creationists all have in common? They all believe that in the beginning God created everything out of nothing. And they are all rabid anti-evolutionists. Being against something that you do not understand does not make you spiritual or smart.

There were Nephilim before and after the Flood. If the flood was to destroy evil people, how did these creatures survive? Nephilim are the offspring of angelic sex with human women. A local rather than a world-wide flood would make this possible. Nephilim were very smart as well as very big. A few could have survived a regional flood event.

Evolution is anathema to Bible believing Christians. But it does explain some things that the Bible does not explain at all.

The earth in Genesis 1:2 was shapeless and empty. What was it? A watery mass, A sphere of liquid water in frozen outer space? The Bible is not a science book at all. 

One day hopefully we will understand all the mysteries of the Biblical narrative. 

Religious But Not Born Again?

 I have two friends who call themselves Christians and both of them really struggle with their faith. One is always concerned about losing his faith so that he works hard to please the Lord with his good works. The other is so confused and full of ridiculous questions as to be tiresome to listen to. I have rest in my faith. I was born again in 1973. The power of a changed life is still with me to this very day. I do not struggle to understand. I do not waste time trying to intellectually understand it all. I do not feel compelled to work so that God will be impressed enough to let me in. Neither am I presumptuous thinking that I can live how I choose and that Heaven will be awaiting me anyway.

The Christian faith is a hard road to walk on if you are doing it all by human will and human strength. The finished work of Christ is enough. If anyone is in Christ they are new creations. Born again means something. Maybe my friends are very religious but have never been born again.

Focus

 I noticed that one of our pastors was not in church so when I saw him again I asked where he had been. He told me that he had been preaching and he told me where he had been. I asked him how it went and he told me how many people got saved. That was the wrong answer. When our focus is on nickels, noise, and numbers we count success the wrong way. If no one had gotten saved would the gust speaking role have been a failure?

We are focused on evangelism like a laser beam.  But while souls saved is important to some, it is not as important to others. People have fears and worries and things that concern them, and soul winning is not on that list. They are wondering what to do if things do not improve. They wonder if their usefulness to God is over. They wonder how long will this go on.

I am grateful for souls saved. I am glad that the Lord still loves me. Better days are coming!

Science is Dumb

 What is gravity? What is light? Where did we come from? These are unanswerable questions that scientists have come up with ways to explain even though they do not understand it.  The problem is the mystery of God. God said let there be light and there was light. The Bible never tells us about gravity. Adam is where we all come from. Faith takes God at His word. Science comes up with crazy ideas to explain the natural world. All honest science leads to God. It is dishonest to say that Newton or Einstein are smarter than God.

Light has no mass and doesn't move. Gravity is not the unseen hand pulling things. These are fundamental forces of nature that God put in place to make everything work for our benefit.

Science is practiced by those who do not like to retain God in there knowledge. We know what God does to people like that.

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things that are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness;" Rom.1:28-29

This is why the first word of the Gospel is repent.

True Worship

 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24

One reason why modern worship music is so distasteful to me sometimes is that is is neither in spirit or in truth. It seems to be mostly emotional music that strives to stir people's emotions in church. That music can touch us emotionally is well understood. All music, whether classical or pop or country works because it touches people in the seat of their emotions.

I want to go out on a limb right here. If you do not speak in tongues, how can you worship in the Spirit? God is Spirit and we worship God in the Spirit. Just saying.

Worshiping in truth simply means it is Bible based. Not romantic based. Not ChatGPT generated. I hate singing romantic love songs to Jesus. So I don't sing those songs. I can worship in spirit and in truth and feel nothing.

Just as the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets, so the spirit of the song is subject to the songwriters. If you are not saved and if you have never been born again and if you are not Spirit filled why do you think that you can write worship music?

I wonder what the Father would say about this so-called worship music that we sing in church. He is still seeking those who worship Him His way.

Be Not Deceived

"And I saw one of his heads as though it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshipped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and he was given authority to continue for forty two months." Rev.13:3-5

You may wonder how AI and the virtual world could play out in Bible prophecy. He is an example in which AI could easily pull off this stunt. The beast raised from the dead causing the whole world to marvel. And to worship. They will admire the beast and the dragon.

Note that there is a time limit on the beast's ability to speak. 42 months. During this time the beast speaks great things.

Our faith is the only defense against the onslaught of demonic AI power. Only those not in the Lamb's book of life will worship this blasphemer.

Note that people will worship both the fake image and the creator of that image. It matters who you worship.

Be not deceived by the wonders of high tech. 

 

Clearing Off My Desk

 Pastor shook my hand twice yesterday. It doesn't take much to keep me happy.

Brothers may be decent shade tree mechanics. But I hired professionals when I really need to get my vehicle fixed right.

The world around us has changed. We have not changed. On one hand we stay true to our faith. On the other hand we stand out as odd to the rest of society.

Visitors come to one of our services dressed casually. We wear our Sunday best every service. I used to think that people who dressed up for work might not want to dress up for church. No no one dresses up for anything. Except their wedding.

I see groups of girls talking at church. I see groups of guys talking at church. Unless they are engaged I rarely see couples talking at church.

We have bake sales to raise money for our boot camp. I make cookies for the bake sales. I have cookies in the freezer now. I do not have to make cookies this week.

The word for today is Psalm 37:25.

"I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread."

God bless all of you faithful people who visit my blog.

Life After Motherhood

 Pastor talked about mothers this morning. He focused on young mothers or mothers of young children. I wonder if the benefits of motherhood are so short lived that once we are grown we tend to forget. Mothers of young children are just starting out in life. Grandmothers have memories but little else. They spend a lot of time reminiscing about days past when being a mother mattered.

How can grandma find importance in life? I think that she needs to find it outside of her family. Find a place to serve others. Find a way to help others. Use what you learned to instruct others who have no mother to call on. Do something that gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. But rocking the cradle only lasts a short time. Then what?

God Restores

 "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God." Joel 2:25-26

God has promised to restore to us things that we have lost. Even though we lost them because of our own doing and even though we lost something because God sent His great army against us. In this verse God promises to restore years, and the good that those lost years would have produced.

Another thing that God promises to restore is joy.

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation..." Psalm 51:12

The Christian life is to be a life of joy unspeakable and the praise that joy produces.

Another thing God restores is what the Bible calls twice as much.

"And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." Job 42:10

God restored Job's health and wealth and family. There is hope that God can restore to us double what we have lost too.

God At Work

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Rom.8:28

First, all things are working. God is not idle even when we seem to be idle. He is always at work. AI and robots are not the only things that never stop or take a break. God never sleeps and He is always working.

Second, it's all about love. We love God because He first loved us. Our relationship with God is not just rules and laws. It's familial love that unites us with our heavenly Father.

Third, It's all about His work, not our ideas or plans. His kingdom, His plans, His will being done by us here on earth. Those who do God's will can rest assured that God will see them through.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2Cor. 4:17

Once again there is God at work. God is always working to take care of those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Even when I don't see it, He's working. Even when I don't feel it, He's working.

Enduring, Not Running

 "Old people don't get healthy. Old people die." So says the prophet Charles Barkley. We live in a world where until the day that we die we think that we can be healthier or fitter, or stronger. We diet and exercise like it makes a difference. The only way we stop trying is when a health crisis happens and then we are forced to stop. We cannot just say, enough of this, and stop as an act of your will.

Churches and their pastors always think, and often say, that there is a second wave of revival coming. That God will pour out His Spirit on us again. That we will once again see masses of new converts and signs and wonders in every service. And most pastors will not stop until they are dead or incapacitated.

Revival is exciting when it happens. Talk of revival when you are old is annoying. Some people mistake rattle or noise for revival. If our only concern is for the world outside our building we will not even try to minister to those inside the building. We seem to have adopted the seeker sensitive mandate which didn't work for most and doesn't work for the long run.

"But he who endure to the end shall be saved." Matt.24:13  Not he who runs across the finish line.

Ted Turner Knows Now

 Ted Turner has died. One thing that you will not hear talked about in remembering him is that he is a backslider. Like many people, he used a crisis in life as an excuse to turn his back on Christ in bitterness of soul.

I'm sure this was not on the top of Mr. Turner's mind through life. But he did live in the Bible belt so I am also sure that he was reminded from time to time of his need of a savior.

Well, old Mr. Turner knows now. Unfortunately now it is too late to do anything to correct that omission.

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement." Heb.9:27

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" Mark 8:36

Your reasons for forsaking the faith of your fathers may make perfect sense to you in the moment. But those excuses will sound hollow and empty when you stand before Christ.

It Makes Me Wonder

 There are laws put in place by God that govern how life is lived on planet Earth. These laws set limits on what we can do and on how far we can go. For example, two plus two always equals four no matter where you live or when you live. We call it supernatural when God steps outside the natural laws to do things that otherwise are impossible.

The sun belt states are bumping up against the lack of water that low taxes and cheap land cannot solve. What worked for many years is starting to not work today. Cities and states are desperately trying to change their course of action before it is too late.

Inter stellar space travel is impossible because of the basic laws of physics. The universe is too big and the environment in space is too hostile for us to travel to distant galaxies. Travel at the speed of light is impossible. The laws of physics put a limit on space and time. No amount of engineering can overcome the limits of physics.

But there is always the God factor. God is not limited in space or time by the laws of physics. He travels between time and place like light. Instantaneously. The rapture will happen in the blink of an eye. One moment here, the next moment there. Giving unlocks resources much beyond what we give. Divine healing heals illness that doctors cannot heal. We call these divine interventions miracles.

Sometimes I wonder if churches are governed by unknown laws too. There seem to be limits on size and influence. We spend a lot of time and money just maintaining the body of Christ. You think that your pastor is busy and unavailable now, what if your church was two or three time bigger than it currently is now. It makes me wonder.

A Supernatural World

 I am amazed by how much we know from the Bible and take for granted that stumps some experts and theologians. Much of the church world are Sadducees.

"Jesus answered and said unto them, ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." Mat. 22:29

"The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection..." Mat.22:23

The Sadducees were natural minded. They did not believe in anything supernatural. I know people in my church now who are like that. The do not believe in angels or demons or speaking in tongues. They have a head knowledge and they often believe that science trumps faith.

I wonder how much of our theological underpinning is based on faulty understanding? We have no problem believing that sinners can be saved. But we do not do any of the things that ought to accompany faith.

"And these signs shall follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ...they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mk.16:17-18

Let God be true, and every man a liar.

A Lesson On Predestination

 "Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard?" 1Sam 23:11

Theologians discuss free will as it pertains to predestination. Do things happen in life according to God's predetermined plan? The answer is not always. God knows the end from the beginning, but He only knows the possibilities of what could happen. Foreknowledge is not predestination.

In our text David asks God two questions. Will Saul come here to kill me? Will these men hand me over to Saul if he comes? God told David yes, Saul will come and yes, the men will turn you over to Saul. But in the end, David escapes, Saul calls off the attack, and the local men did nothing. God knew the possibilities, but He did not orchestrate the outcome.

Did God plan for Adam and Eve to fail? No, God knew what could happen and God made plans for the possibilities of what could happen. But at any time Eve could have told the serpent no or Adam could have taken dominion over the serpent. God will not violate man's will.

So the lesson is that there are times when God steps in to make sure things happen a certain way. But most of the time God lets us do what we do to see if we will serve Him or not. 

One more thought. God does change His mind. He never changes, but He does change His mind.

Truth Made Light

 "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven golden lampstands which you saw are the seven churches." Rev.1:20

Pastor Mitchell taught us that based on this verse, truth is made light through the church. Here are some thoughts on this idea.

First, I see the personal touch. Jesus himself gave the understanding of this vision to John. It was not an angel. Jesus identified himself to John and talked with him.

Next I see a great responsibility. It is not only the pastor of a local church but also the local church that must show forth the light of truth and revelation. While the pastor is the angel, the lampstand is the people.

Finally, these words are for local, specific churches. This is not just a vision for the universal church of all time. This truth is actually revealed in a local church. This is why being connected by attendance and tithing is so important. It is important for the pastor to preach the Word. It is important for the people to live that Word out before a watching world.

Imitation Worship

 "...For they think that they will be heard for their many words." Mat.6:7b

There has come to my mind an understanding of why modern church music bothers me. It all became clear when I felt drawn to this verse. Jesus told them not to use vain repetitions when they pray like the heathen do. So Jesus said that we are not to mimic or copy the worship and prayer of the unsaved world.

Modern church music is written by unsaved people, meant to copy the entertainment world, and it goes on and on and on and on.

Let me make it clear for you who are ignorant of the Bible. This is not about the structure or arrangement of songs. It has to do with the repetitive nature along with the weak lyrics. We sing the same thing over and over. Like God will be impressed if we sing something ad nauseum. And it has to do with the corny love songs like a man would sing to a woman. And it has to do with treating worship as a show.

"...you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corner of the streets, that they may be seen by men." Mat. 6:5

The worship wars may be over. But those who worship must worship in Spirit and in truth; not in repetition and entertainment.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Where Did Cain Get His Wife? Silly Question.

"Then God blessed them, and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it." Gen.1:28a

It seems silly to think that Adam and Eve, who lived over 900 years, only had three children. Cain, Abel, and Seth.

"After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters." Gen.5:4

Listen, Adam and Eve had many children, but only through Seth is the line to Christ preserved. Cain had many children, Seth had many children. And so on. And there are vast periods of time between events in the Bible. From Cain to Seth was about 100 years. You can have a lot of children in 100 years.

This is another reason why the Bible is no good as a science book. It only covers things that point to Christ.

And BTW, by the time Cain left and got married, there were plenty of offspring to populate the area. They were all related, but not close enough to cause problems.

We get into trouble trying to fit a big God into our small world view.

Bill Coolidge RIP

 I heard that Bill Coolidge has died. He was a disciple in pastor Mitchell's church. He was a pastor in our Fellowship. He joined the rebels in 1990 and he dropped off of my radar then. I had not heard anything about Bill until today when I heard that he had died last week.

Bill was never a good friend of mine. Bill was never a pastoral friend of mine. Bill is revered by those he pastored. No one mentioning pastor Bill even mentioned pastor Mitchell or the Prescott church.

This is a common thread among those who left. They never mention Prescott or pastor Mitchell. It's like they tore those pages out of their book and never bring it up. And yet the Prescott rebels all find each other and are as thick as thieves. Prescott is the only thing they have in common and pastor Mitchell is the reason any of them were pastoring. They give him and us zero credit.

You think you can leave and it doesn't matter but it does. This has given me a reason to reminisce about someone who I knew before he was famous. 

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Random Thoughts

Here are a couple of things that I have been studying lately. These are not make or break things. These are not earth shaking things. But these are things that help me put to rest theological questions for which there are no clear Biblical answers.

1. Angels do not have wings. They are not in Heaven floating around like children. They are beings who do God's will and who minister to God's people. 

2. The serpent that tempted Eve was not a snake. The judgement was not to slither on the ground. I have written about this before previously.

3. Wayman Mitchel was unique. A certain man for a certain time. No one will ever take his place. 

4. The gap theory between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 explains a lot and ties up a lot of loose ends.

5. The Bible is a book detailing the coming of Christ. From beginning to end.

Making Room

"A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men." Prov. 18:16

In June of 1977 my wife and I were launched from Prescott to take over the church in Chandler, AZ. Thus began our almost 20 year venture in trying to be a pastor. This finally ended in 1994 when we gave up and moved back to Prescott.

If a man's gift makes room for him then are we to understand that the lack of room means there is no gift?

There comes a point when more praying and more fasting and more outreach and more study do not change the outcome and you have to face facts as they are. 

The good news is that all things work for good and enduring to the end is still important.