Last night was a truly special experience for me here in Melbourne. I attended a dinner with Pst Yudah and his wife Anna at the home of two sisters, one 96 years old and the other 88. They have lived together for well over 60 years. The elder sister had been married (her husband is with the Lord now) and has raised 3 sons. The younger sister had chosen not to marry and had assisted her elder sister in raising the 3 boys. They now have numerous grandchildren.
They attend Melbourne Praise Center and have attended it long before it became Melbourne Praise Center, when it was simply known as the local congregation of one of the Churches of Christ, which it still is.
It was amazing listening to the stories of their adventures. They even went "caravaning" in Europe for 18 months back in the 70's! The wisdom and the sweet spirit was refreshing to me. But I heard the sadness in their voices and saw it in their eyes when they spoke of the spiritual condition of Australia. I'm sure that elderly Christians in America, Canada or in European countries feel much the same way. They kept talking about how they are praying for their nation, praying for their city, praying for their grandchildren and more... They talked about how appreciative they are that God brought this predominantly Indonesian congregation together with theirs. They are so grateful and they love their Indonesian Pastor and Church mates.
We partook of the Lord's Supper and had a time of prayer at the end of the evening. Pst Yudah and Anna have been visiting them regularly because they haven't been able to come to service for some time due to frail health. I wish that more Pastors and lay people would have the kind of committment that I see in Pst Yudah and Anna to be there not only for the current generation, but to still be there for the Saints who are continuing to pray in their later years as we fight for the advancement of the Kingdom of God together!
The Church is not only an army. It is a family. A beautiful family of brothers, sisters, kids, grandkids, grandpa's and grandma's. United in Christ with one Father. Let us cherish this blessed family and not let our love fail or grow faint.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
SHOUT!!
I've been thinking much about shouting because I'll be speaking for a camp this coming weekend in Melbourne, Australia with the title, "SHOUT." The camp will be on Phillip Island and it's a bit cold here right now, the reverse of weather in the USA but it's great for me because I hardly ever get to experience the cold, living in Manila. I'm excited!!! (you can check out the location at www.visitphillipisland.com)
It's a big subject and I will be conducting four sessions, but I want to share a little with you on this blog today...
We shout for many reasons, much the same as people shouted in the Bible. For joy, for battle, for victory, to attract attention, to warn, to proclaim the coming of someone important, etc. But it is people who shout. God doesn't shout. God thunders, roars, rumbles and more but He doesn't shout. And we don't have to shout at God to get His attention as the pagans do (see 1 Kings 18:27). God is always ready to hear even the faintest whisper of a prayer! But we shout to Him anyway out of sheer excitement and in gratitude! Our shouting to Him in praise and in adoration actually draws the attention of others so that they might join us in great acclaim. If you know me, I'm all for making a loud noise in praise to God! Mostly to try and get people out of a religious disposition during a worship service...
And so we shout! We shout to you, at you and for you today! We shout towards mankind in order to warn them that they must come out of darkness and into the light before it is too late! We shout that we have good news! Healing is here, miracles are here, deliverence is here, salvation is here, Jesus is here!!! We shout because you don't have to live this way anymore... because there is freedom, liberty and hope in Jesus! We shout and we will not be silent!!!
We shout because you don't have to be lonely anymore! We shout because you don't need to be bored anymore! We shout because God has a great plan for you... an army with a purpose to join! We shout because we care... because we love you and because Jesus loves you!
Will you shout? Will you join your voice with ours and shout towards everyone you know, proclaiming that there is hope, freedom and life eternal available to them? Will you live your life outloud for Him? Will you shout to the Lord in victory and with thanksgiving?
Come let us sing for joy together, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation!
It's a big subject and I will be conducting four sessions, but I want to share a little with you on this blog today...
We shout for many reasons, much the same as people shouted in the Bible. For joy, for battle, for victory, to attract attention, to warn, to proclaim the coming of someone important, etc. But it is people who shout. God doesn't shout. God thunders, roars, rumbles and more but He doesn't shout. And we don't have to shout at God to get His attention as the pagans do (see 1 Kings 18:27). God is always ready to hear even the faintest whisper of a prayer! But we shout to Him anyway out of sheer excitement and in gratitude! Our shouting to Him in praise and in adoration actually draws the attention of others so that they might join us in great acclaim. If you know me, I'm all for making a loud noise in praise to God! Mostly to try and get people out of a religious disposition during a worship service...
And so we shout! We shout to you, at you and for you today! We shout towards mankind in order to warn them that they must come out of darkness and into the light before it is too late! We shout that we have good news! Healing is here, miracles are here, deliverence is here, salvation is here, Jesus is here!!! We shout because you don't have to live this way anymore... because there is freedom, liberty and hope in Jesus! We shout and we will not be silent!!!
We shout because you don't have to be lonely anymore! We shout because you don't need to be bored anymore! We shout because God has a great plan for you... an army with a purpose to join! We shout because we care... because we love you and because Jesus loves you!
Will you shout? Will you join your voice with ours and shout towards everyone you know, proclaiming that there is hope, freedom and life eternal available to them? Will you live your life outloud for Him? Will you shout to the Lord in victory and with thanksgiving?
Come let us sing for joy together, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
JUDGMENT: Pressed Down, Shaken Together and Running Over..
Do you remember the catchy old Ron Kenoly song? "Give, it will come back to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and, running over..." It got our feet tappin' and our wallets open every time we sang it before we passed the offering basket around. (I'm talkin' the 80's guys, for those of you youngsters who have no idea what I'm talking about) After all, who doesn't want finances coming back to you, using the same measure in which you used to give, but pressed down, shaken together and running over into your lap!
But the primary context of the scripture used for this song is not correct. The principle is fine to apply to taking an offering, because it is the principle of sowing and reaping which has to do with giving and receiving financial blessings. But personally, I'm a stickler when it comes to using scripture in context. In other words, I won't use that scripture or allow my worship team to sing that song when it comes to taking an offering. (On a side note to be discussed further down, even though I don't allow it in my Church, I don't judge others who do it in their Churches because it is not heresy. I'll even give when the basket comes around.)
Why not, you ask? Because the primary principle in the scripture is too important for us to understand to use it in any other way. It refers firstly to judgment.
Let's take a look:
Luke 6:36-38 (NIV)
"Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Okay so giving is there. But giving what? Judgment, condemnation, mercy and forgiveness. Examples both to the positive and to the negative. Can we apply this to finances? Yes. But I recommend that you please find a different verse to use that is in primary context.
This is interesting though. Many times I have wondered, what is the open window? How is the enemy getting in, either to my life or to the life of the person I'm trying to help. We blame the devil and everything else, when the answer often is simply that we have been merciless or judgmental to someone else and now God is pouring it back into our laps, using the same measurement that we gave it with, only pressed down, shaken together and running over. If you judged someone a little bit, you are getting much more right back in your face. Not from the enemy, but from God.
Whoa! Remember some other scriptures that speak of pride? The idea is that God is with the humble, but He is the enemy of the proud. Jesus said He judges no one. Paul said not to judge, to wait until the end which is when Christ returns. Yet we do it all the time and we think we are under a generational curse or something when the cause of it all is simpler than that. It is condescending, condemning, gossipy, competitive judgement of other people.
It could be as simple as making fun of somebodies accent, economic status, car, home, education or mannerisms.
Or it could be something more, shall we say "religious." Scientists tell us that we are made mostly of water. But I believe we are made mostly of opinions. When someone believes differently than we do, we often judge.
I'm not talking about the non-negotiables. We all know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and that nobody can enter into eternity with the Father except through Him. People who don't trust Jesus for their salvation exclusively, are not heading for heaven, but rather, they are heading for eternal destruction and it has nothing to do with how good or how bad they are.
What I am talking about are the legalistic things. Do you judge someone who drinks? I hope not! Should you drink? I don't. I don't think it's wise, but I'm not going to be more strict with others than what the Bible is. The Bible says not to get drunk. It doesn't say you can't drink. What about wearing a bikini? Do you think someone who wears a bikini is going to make it to heaven or not? Hey don't laugh. I just had this conversation with someone the other day. Seriously. Being a Pastor has it's moments. The Bible says to be modest. Is there such a thing as a modest bikini? I have personally seen many two piece women's swim suits that are more modest than many of the one piece suits I have seen. The thing is that we can all be very legalistic and religious in our thinking. What about tattoo's, movies, going to bowling alley's (my Grandmother would roll over in her grave!), etc. etc. etc.
I was in a country in Eastern Europe and the prevailing thought in the Church is this. If you wear gold jewelry, you are in the same category as a prostitute. If you wear silver jewelry, you are saved, but barely. If you don't wear jewelry at all, except maybe a wooden carving of the cross, you are a solid and strong believer in Christ. Wow! They also think that youth should not jump during worship because it's demonic.
I'm not trying to define or defend what is right or what is wrong when it comes to styles. I went to a Christian school as a kid that didn't allow us to part our hair in the middle because that was "worldy." My goodness! They also didn't let us listen to the Christian Rock Band "Petra" because they were Spirit filled and some of the folks thought that the Holy Spirit stopped working on the earth generations ago. They thought we were delusional or possessed. :-)
For those of us who have chosen to do some things that others have not and you believe that you are right before God, go ahead. But just remember that you are supposed to choose to not dress in a way that offends others and you aren't supposed to drink your mojito around people who would be offended, no matter how silly it is that they would be so torn up about it.
But for those of us who struggle with judging others, a group that often includes me. Let us take ahold of the Word of God, stop blaming the devil for our disasters and realize that when we judge, we receive judgment and we are simply reaping what we have sown. Our lives will immediately improve if we allow the Lord to change our attitudes and put our words into check.
Don't judge, or you will be judged.
But the primary context of the scripture used for this song is not correct. The principle is fine to apply to taking an offering, because it is the principle of sowing and reaping which has to do with giving and receiving financial blessings. But personally, I'm a stickler when it comes to using scripture in context. In other words, I won't use that scripture or allow my worship team to sing that song when it comes to taking an offering. (On a side note to be discussed further down, even though I don't allow it in my Church, I don't judge others who do it in their Churches because it is not heresy. I'll even give when the basket comes around.)
Why not, you ask? Because the primary principle in the scripture is too important for us to understand to use it in any other way. It refers firstly to judgment.
Let's take a look:
Luke 6:36-38 (NIV)
"Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Okay so giving is there. But giving what? Judgment, condemnation, mercy and forgiveness. Examples both to the positive and to the negative. Can we apply this to finances? Yes. But I recommend that you please find a different verse to use that is in primary context.
This is interesting though. Many times I have wondered, what is the open window? How is the enemy getting in, either to my life or to the life of the person I'm trying to help. We blame the devil and everything else, when the answer often is simply that we have been merciless or judgmental to someone else and now God is pouring it back into our laps, using the same measurement that we gave it with, only pressed down, shaken together and running over. If you judged someone a little bit, you are getting much more right back in your face. Not from the enemy, but from God.
Whoa! Remember some other scriptures that speak of pride? The idea is that God is with the humble, but He is the enemy of the proud. Jesus said He judges no one. Paul said not to judge, to wait until the end which is when Christ returns. Yet we do it all the time and we think we are under a generational curse or something when the cause of it all is simpler than that. It is condescending, condemning, gossipy, competitive judgement of other people.
It could be as simple as making fun of somebodies accent, economic status, car, home, education or mannerisms.
Or it could be something more, shall we say "religious." Scientists tell us that we are made mostly of water. But I believe we are made mostly of opinions. When someone believes differently than we do, we often judge.
I'm not talking about the non-negotiables. We all know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and that nobody can enter into eternity with the Father except through Him. People who don't trust Jesus for their salvation exclusively, are not heading for heaven, but rather, they are heading for eternal destruction and it has nothing to do with how good or how bad they are.
What I am talking about are the legalistic things. Do you judge someone who drinks? I hope not! Should you drink? I don't. I don't think it's wise, but I'm not going to be more strict with others than what the Bible is. The Bible says not to get drunk. It doesn't say you can't drink. What about wearing a bikini? Do you think someone who wears a bikini is going to make it to heaven or not? Hey don't laugh. I just had this conversation with someone the other day. Seriously. Being a Pastor has it's moments. The Bible says to be modest. Is there such a thing as a modest bikini? I have personally seen many two piece women's swim suits that are more modest than many of the one piece suits I have seen. The thing is that we can all be very legalistic and religious in our thinking. What about tattoo's, movies, going to bowling alley's (my Grandmother would roll over in her grave!), etc. etc. etc.
I was in a country in Eastern Europe and the prevailing thought in the Church is this. If you wear gold jewelry, you are in the same category as a prostitute. If you wear silver jewelry, you are saved, but barely. If you don't wear jewelry at all, except maybe a wooden carving of the cross, you are a solid and strong believer in Christ. Wow! They also think that youth should not jump during worship because it's demonic.
I'm not trying to define or defend what is right or what is wrong when it comes to styles. I went to a Christian school as a kid that didn't allow us to part our hair in the middle because that was "worldy." My goodness! They also didn't let us listen to the Christian Rock Band "Petra" because they were Spirit filled and some of the folks thought that the Holy Spirit stopped working on the earth generations ago. They thought we were delusional or possessed. :-)
For those of us who have chosen to do some things that others have not and you believe that you are right before God, go ahead. But just remember that you are supposed to choose to not dress in a way that offends others and you aren't supposed to drink your mojito around people who would be offended, no matter how silly it is that they would be so torn up about it.
But for those of us who struggle with judging others, a group that often includes me. Let us take ahold of the Word of God, stop blaming the devil for our disasters and realize that when we judge, we receive judgment and we are simply reaping what we have sown. Our lives will immediately improve if we allow the Lord to change our attitudes and put our words into check.
Don't judge, or you will be judged.
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