Sunday, October 31, 2010
Change The World?
Is it possible to change the world? Such a daunting task? Seemingly impossible? Tough questions with easy answers. Yes. Yes. Yes. However a challenge is a challenge. That seems to be where I am in life. Think about it - there are many people who have changed the world. In some cases maybe challenged the world. But the world is in constant change and that is the challenge.
Eric Hoffer said, "The learners will inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists." Think about that for awhile. Those that continue to learn can make a difference, can change the world. I am in a constant mode of learning. Others spend so much of their time trying to tell you what they know or trying to just get an opportunity for someone to listen to them. I've found I learn more with the two ears I have than speaking what I think I know with the one mouth God gave me.
I think I've found the answer on how to change the world. BE what God intended for you to BE. SEE what GOD wants you to see. Listen to the world around you. DO what God (alone) asks YOU to DO. And last but not least (taking from the famous speech of Winston Churchill) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!!! Most people give up just short of their greatness. Most people cave when the hill seems to hard to climb. Most people start fast and quit before the end. With God most things are possible. NO!! With God ALL things are possible. Who will join me? Together - we can and we will make a difference and we will change this world. If WE don't do this, WHO WILL, Someone Else?
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The Church of America
The Church of America has lost sight of God, because we have started worshipping preference, music, tradition, architecture, politics, platforms, money, people and programs. The Church model that I've read about is far from this!
Jesus' came (Luke 19;10) "To seek and to save what was lost." If Jesus walked into your church would He be pleased with what He sees or condemn us because we are more focused on what we would prefer to hear or see? All the while the world around us is dying.
There are politicians who want us to believer that the government knows what's best for all. They want us to believer that they will take care of us but all they can really do is just re-arrange things. And if it is an election year-then the truth just somehow gets lost in the....campaign. But (Courageous Leadership, Bill Hybels) "They can't change a human heart. They can't heal a wounded soul. They can't turn hatred to love. They can't bring about repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation or peace. They can't get to the core problem."
Do the actions of the government concern people? You bet. I receive forwarded email after email about what so and so is doing now, or what so and so is going to do. Most of what is forwarded are all out lies, half truths and speculation. But pay attention here - "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!" Does anyone ever do anything about it? No. But forward this to everyone you know. In our day we have people teach riot and rebellion in the name of Christ! They would have us believe that the Christian thing to do is to disobey the law, rebel against authority and permit every man to do what is right in his own eyes. My source is not the government. My source is in the Word of God. Philippians 4:19, Psalms 27:1 and Hebrews 12:2. What would happen if we, the CHURCH, were the CHANGE that we so vigorously fight for our elected officials to be? What would happen if the church (members) quit forwarding half truths and lies (because they don't even take the time to find out what they are forwarding) (inadvertently endorsing as truth) and started to "seek and save what was lost?" Forward this to everyone you know.
mike
Jesus' came (Luke 19;10) "To seek and to save what was lost." If Jesus walked into your church would He be pleased with what He sees or condemn us because we are more focused on what we would prefer to hear or see? All the while the world around us is dying.
There are politicians who want us to believer that the government knows what's best for all. They want us to believer that they will take care of us but all they can really do is just re-arrange things. And if it is an election year-then the truth just somehow gets lost in the....campaign. But (Courageous Leadership, Bill Hybels) "They can't change a human heart. They can't heal a wounded soul. They can't turn hatred to love. They can't bring about repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation or peace. They can't get to the core problem."
Do the actions of the government concern people? You bet. I receive forwarded email after email about what so and so is doing now, or what so and so is going to do. Most of what is forwarded are all out lies, half truths and speculation. But pay attention here - "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!" Does anyone ever do anything about it? No. But forward this to everyone you know. In our day we have people teach riot and rebellion in the name of Christ! They would have us believe that the Christian thing to do is to disobey the law, rebel against authority and permit every man to do what is right in his own eyes. My source is not the government. My source is in the Word of God. Philippians 4:19, Psalms 27:1 and Hebrews 12:2. What would happen if we, the CHURCH, were the CHANGE that we so vigorously fight for our elected officials to be? What would happen if the church (members) quit forwarding half truths and lies (because they don't even take the time to find out what they are forwarding) (inadvertently endorsing as truth) and started to "seek and save what was lost?" Forward this to everyone you know.
mike
Monday, October 25, 2010
Commit
Has America lost her Moral Compass? Definitely. And the only one to blame is the Church. Why, you ask? Because the Church of America has lost sight of God. We've started worshipping music, tradition, architecture, politics, money, people, programs and the list goes on and on.
Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost." Jesus was concerned about one thing, THE LOST. Until we decide to Commit to the Cause of Christ the Church will continue to be ineffective. Granted, I'm talking about the church as a whole. There are individual churches who are really doing ministry and outreach to this lost and dying world. In our day we teach riot and rebellion in Jesus name! They would have us believe the Christian thing to do is disobey the law, rebel against authority and permit every man to do that which is right in his own eyes.
Bill Hybels writes in his book "Courageous Leadership," There is nothing like the church when it's working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addiction, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. Whatever the capacity for human suffering the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness."
If we were to truly represent the Savior we worship to everyone that we know, the church could not contain the people that would come to be in the presence of the One who sets the captive free. It's time for the Church of America to Commit. My friend Randy Ayres said, "God did not call us to DO church, He called us to BE the church. To get off the ground and launched into the real purpose of the church we must Commit to God. I'm ready for that, are you?
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