Raising Questions

John 16:13  13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

I have always been a person who learns by asking questions. At times questions have been my best friends, because they are faithful to me in getting the answers. Sometimes questions can be uncomfortable and if the question is too honest and probing it can produce a response that is a lie. That is what seems to be happening today in government. We are asking some penetrating questions that are holding some people in government accountable to actions that are not in keeping with good honest government.  Tapping into phone records of news agencies, using the IRS to harass conservative groups, and not protecting a US ambassador in a hostile country, seems to be reminiscent of a government that is run by a dictator.  Asking questions might raise some issues that will give the American people an opportunity to think, and perhaps might put this country back on a track that will not give government the kind of power and size that it has become. I have found that by asking spiritual questions can determine the heart of a matter.  Questions about belief, purpose, existence, values, and principles.  Questions can lead you to understand a persons world view based upon the values they uphold.  Character issues can also be determined by asking the right questions.

I have asked questions to Christian leaders who were taken back and offended by the boldness of the question. For example, I asked an Executive at a Christian organization once how his spiritual life was going, and he was shocked that I would ask that question.  I was not nosy, but wanted to spark a conversation on how does a high ranking Christian leader stay focused upon the Lord, and not only on the business of doing ministry.  I think that is a good and fair question. It is a question every Christian leader should ask as they head out to do ministry each day.  "Did I get my morning perspective from the news or from Gods Word?"  "Have I kept my life growing in the character of God, more than any other goal in life?"  You see asking some good penetrating questions to yourself first, keeps you honest as you ask them to others. Most often, the person who is most deceived about you, is yourself. We fool ourselves into thinking we are okay, and all others are the problem.  That is the problem in Washington DC right now, because no one is willing to be honest and ask the questions that will reveal the truth. 

Truth raising questions are the hardest to ask, but reveal the most. Questions like,

Am I a jealous envious person?  

Do I use my spiritual life as a gauge against others?  

Do I judge people only to make myself feel good?  

Do i keep records of wrongs committed against me?  

Do I know my faults, and willing to admit to my short comings?  

Am I really the person that is presented everyday to others?  

Is there a dark side to my life that I have never shared?

As you can see honesty can be brutal, but if dealt with openly and honestly it can be the best way to clean house and get rid of character issues that hold you back.

Try it today, ask yourself the tough questions. Pretend you are being interviewed by the Senate investigating some corruption in government and ask the probing questions about yourself to get at the truth.

It will be fun, grin. 

John 8:32  32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Keeping it honest and truthful...K

When Disaster Strikes Our Children

Have you ever wondered who controls the weather?  Does God?  

Mark 4:39  39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. I think the disciples of Jesus were surprised when the weather obeyed Him.  So, can we say that God controls the weather?  Is that a fair statement? So when disaster happens like it has in Oklahoma, should we blame God for the deaths of those 20 children and all the damage?  After all, since He controls the weather, and He created the weather patterns, so shouldn't He be blamed for that tornado?  Now most people would argue that God had nothing to do with it, because He is a good God. Most Christians would say that God created nature, but nature is independent from God, and has its own agenda based upon the science of how warm and cold air meet to create these monster storms. But if God is a good God, and He has control over the storms as indicated in the verse above, then why did He allow so many innocent children to die in this storm?  This is a hard question to answer, and why so many of us leave it alone.   I do spend more time these days  asking God for mercy.  As I look at all the disasters like Sandy Hook Elementary, and this Oklahoma disaster where so many children died, you have to wonder is God a good God? What can really be accomplished by the death of so many innocent children? What is the point here?  Where are the disciples when you need them to wake up Jesus to claim the winds and speak peace to the roaring waves?   38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Of course His immediate response was to calm the winds, but it was not without a lesson, notice what He said, 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”   He didn't say, "Everything will be okay, I will take care of it." Instead He used a potential disaster to make a point about having faith in God when things are disastrous. In the same way, when Jesus was talking about those who experienced disaster unto death, He used the incident to speak to the living about life and death issues.   4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?  5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Why God doesn't prevent all disasters from killing innocent children is beyond my pay grade, but what we do know is that He is always speaking to us through them.  Just as in the case of those who died in Siloam, death is a really for all humans, regardless of when it happens.  Disasters remind us of our finality and vulnerability to our surroundings, yet the greater message Jesus was telling His disciples was to live in repentance before God, so if death were to occur in a sudden swoop of a tornado, you will be ready to meet your God. Are you living in a repentant state of heart and mind.  The scenes from Oklahoma are heart breaking, but they are a good reminders we are but dust in the hand of an almighty creator. Keeping it honest and truthful...K

Has Christianity Changed?

Matthew 9:35  And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. Matthew 10:5-7 Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,  6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  7And proclaim as you go, saying,  The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. I love reading about Jesus doing the kind of ministry that is described in these verses. He is so proactive when it comes to the suffering and the pain experienced in this life. Unfortunately, we see less and less of this kind of Christianity today, and I wonder why?  Does this kind of Christianity no longer exist in the main stream faith community, and if not, why not?  There has been a profound shift over the last decade or two in the Western Church, to shift Christianity away from the sensational to more of a counseling ministry.  This counseling ministry helps people realize their potential, and addresses issues that may prevent people from reaching the goal of a fulfilled life.  Now, I do believe there is a place for this kind of counseling ministry, because people need to be re-parented in this things of common sense living. They even need a spiritual perspective, because many of us were not raised with any kind of Biblical instruction on how to live out our lives for God. However, much of what we read about the early church is not modeled in today's church either in practice or in thought.  In fact, the scriptures, teach more on a supernatural experience with God, with signs and wonders, than it does with practical things. As you read the various accounts of the ministry life of Jesus, he was teaching about the Kingdom of God, and demonstrating it's power.  The Book of Acts tells us stories about how this early Christianity got started, and was demonstrative in application. From Pentecost with the signs of tongues, to the healing of the sick, and casting out of demons, there was a lot of activity that seems foreign to most of our churches today. So what do you make of it?  Any ideas?  I was talking with a pastor from Ghana Africa, and he was saying that in his country, people have to rely on God for any kind of medical help or assistance.  They just don't have the professional assistance of clinics, and hospitals like we do in the West to address the issues of sickness and disease.  Now, that may be a part of it, but I think there is another aspect to it as well.  In the last days, there is a spirit of lawlessness that will prevail on earth, and it is this lawlessness that contributes to an emphasis of human control and remedy. Now, you have to understand that when I use the word lawlessness, it is not a lack of respect for the laws of the land, but it defines a denial of the laws of God.  In other words, lawlessness is a turning away from God, His word and His commandments. Most of the time we apply this term to the ungodly, worldly people who ignore faith and it's message, but can it be applied to the church? Remember, lawlessness is a sign we are in the last days, and it can be applied to the church. Churches can be wayward from God just like the unbeliever, because they have chosen to altar the Word of God and the application of faith.  I have been praying for sometime now, and asking the question, why is Christianity so weak on demonstrating the supernatural?  Have we allowed the culture of unbelief to water down our hope for believing God for the miracles we need?  Satan has been hard at work at gutting the supernatural from Christianity, because he knows that it is the demonstration of the supernatural that can influence people to believe in God.  Diminishing the supernatural in Christianity is defining lawlessness at it's core, because a powerful application of what the opening verses suggest could usher in revival across our land. Keeping it honest and truthful...K http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVeXy7mPL0M

The Assurance of Our Hope

I love the assurance we have in Christ, there is nothing better than to get up each day, fill my lungs with air and exhale a thank you to God.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to live out another day, and to look forward to knowing that nothing in my day can destroy the assurance I have grown to know that God is in control.  That is the bottom line, no matter what kind of issue I may gripe about in this blog, I know that God has everything figured out and I know He watches over His own.  

I woke up this morning thinking about how corrupt our government has become, it seems like everyday there are more lies about cover-ups, immoral laws being passed, and a total disregard for the what is right and wrong. Then I realized that most governments are corrupt. Probably all of them, because they are run my humans who are tempted and succumb to the money, power, and prestige that high positions in government afford.  In Deuteronomy 17 it speaks about how the king must be careful about power, because it will corrupt character.

16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’  17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. These three can easily become a curse to those in power. Military might and the compromises it takes to acquire this power was forbidden.  Also forbidden was the taking of many wives and the pursuit of excessive wealth.  These three might, morals, and money are always the issues behind fallen politicians, clergy, or business executives.  I am amazed at how many politicians have either been cited for tax evasion, having affairs, or guilty of mishandling their powerful jobs in government, and it is treated like it's just another day in the neighborhood.  Getting use to corruption has not been a part of our American system. Or, at least we give a strong appearance that it is not tolerated, but it still goes on, and when perpetrators are caught there is always an excuse that is given releasing them from accountability.  Power can do that too.  So, I am thankful that even in the mist of a corrupt world, I know that God has everything under control. I know that there is coming a day when all things will be exposed, nothing will be hidden, and everything will be made right.  There will be no more hiding behind excuses or cover-up's, all will be exposed and judged.  I know that God is merciful, gracious, kind and long suffering, so I know He will be fair and just. I know that my assurance lays in the one who has the ultimate power in this universe and His righteous judgment will one day prevail over all the earth.  That is how I can get up everyday in the midst of all the corrupt things going on around me and know my hope is stronger, brighter, and more powerful than those who are in control of this world. The reason is because God is in control.  Keeping it honest and truthful...K John 16:33 33I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart;  I have overcome the world.”

When A Culture Forgets God

This is sickening. Twice now, in a matter of as many weeks, we've seen the very people charged with protecting victims of sexual assault being charged as perpetrators," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said. "It's an astonishing reminder that the Pentagon has both a major problem on its hands and a tremendous amount of work to do to assure victims -- who already only report a small fraction of sexual assaults -- that they are changing the culture around these heinous crimes.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/15/soldier-in-sexual-assault-prevention-office-accused-abuse/#ixzz2TMAK82WL

We read more and more about our culture spinning out of control because it has no fear of God, or understanding of the ramifications of an immoral society. Recently for example, Minnesota become the 12th State to pass a same sex law and it was signed into law yesterday by Governor Dayton.

The ramifications of this law will not only be harmful to society in the long run, it will cost the State more tax payer money to support this law. For example, the homosexual community has a high rate of partners, and since gays can marry, there will be a higher demand on the divorce courts to handle their cases. Note these statistics:

28% of homosexual men had more than 1000 partners:  "Bell and Weinberg reported evidence of widespread sexual compulsion among homosexual men. 83% of the homosexual men surveyed estimated they had had sex with 50 or more partners in their lifetime, 43% estimated they had sex with 500 or more partners; 28% with 1,000 or more partners. Bell and Weinberg p 308." 

What about adoption proceedings?  Will it now be easier for a gay couple to adopt a child?  As a state, we have said that the gay lifestyle is a choice, but what about a child that is adopted into a gay couple's home, what choice will that child have?  In terms of freedom of speech, if you are an evangelical pastor/leader you will no longer be able to speak against gay marriage, because gay marriage is now legal in the State of Minnesota, it will be considered a hate crime to do so. This is the next equal rights clause that will be passed to insure there will be no discrimination against gay marriage. 

In recent conversations with missionaries from China and Ghana, I asked if the issue of gay marriage had hit their countries, and the answer was it had, but it was the pressure from the America that was driving the issue in their countries.  Pressure from this country, but not from within their own borders, interesting that we export our immoral views.  This gay marriage issue is evil and is not be supported by any Biblical mandate.  Furthermore, any state or nation that pass laws to allow it will only reap the whirlwind of their actions.  

Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. There is nothing in scripture that supports the homosexual lifestyle, it condemns it every time it is mentioned. You can not violate God by ignoring Him, without suffering the consequences of your actions.  It is not my business to condemn anyone, I don't have the power, authority, or the right to condemn another person, or their actions.  However, God does, and my job is to only warn, remind, and promote what He has said about these issues and remind people that God said that the last days prior to His return would be days of lawlessness.  In other words, "days of ignoring God's laws."  There is only one we need to fear and obey in this world, and our society has chosen to ignore Him. Luke 12:4-5  4“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.  5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Keeping it honest and truthful....K