Currently Reading Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism By Ann Coulter see related

Hypocrites?

Just had this random thought.  You know how many times the lost/unsaved world says things like, "Well, I am not going to church because of all those hypocrites! They say one thing and do something completely opposite." 

I was working out at the gym yesterday...going on my last breath of 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer.  This HUGE fat lady (bigger than Mandesa!) gets on the one next to me and starts making the machine groan loader than I was!  I thought lady you better stay on here continuously for the next three years.  (Horrible I know...but I did think it.)  Then I thought, "At least she is in here trying."  But that is how it is at fitness centers.  There are people who are in shape...on their way to being in shape...and just some plain out of shape people that are TRYING to live their lives healthier.

So, why don't we look at Christians who are "backslidden" who do come to church that same way?  Why don't we say, "well the best place for you is right here in church."  Why do we forget that the church is the place for those of us who ARE messed up?  Which by the way is ALL of us! The fittest person in the gym and THE most out of shape person at a gym-they both need the GYM...they don't look at each other and say what are you doing here?  They are simply at the gym to at least try to improve their own health.  And really that is the way it should be at church.  We should be there to get our spiritual butts in shape! (And to show others who are new how to use the equipment!)

I think this is why we would never say, "well if this gym isn't working for that fat lady over there...it must not work!"  But it has nothing to do with the gym and everything to do with the lifestyle of the person.  Need I say more?  I am sure this word picture will end up in a sermon someday.

Currently Reading The Question of Freemasonry and the Founding Fathers By David Barton see related

Being negative of others is so easy...

Mark 9:38-42 (NIV)
³⁸ "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."
³⁹ "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,
⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us.
⁴¹ I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
⁴² "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

The new rage in Christianity seems to be finding fault in other people's ministries.  A friend of mine from another state was railing on and on about a mutual  "big name" preacher friend of ours and everything that he had read recently about him and how his "theology is messed up."  I asked him, "when was the last time you quit reading about what others are at least trying and attempting to do for God and went out and did something yourself?"  He was stunned.  I was harsh...I admit it.  Basically, I went on to say that, "It is easy to criticize and be negative about other people's sermons, music, ministry, how they sing, or the clothes they wear...as a matter of fact some people think that being critical is a gift from God." 

The problem is Jesus evidently didn't have a problem with other people doing things in his name...even if they weren't apart of His group!  Not once in the history of the church does God seem to bless PERFECT doctrine...as a matter of fact many times in our church history GOD blessed in spite of horrible doctrines and atrocities that we have done in HIS name! Some of our worst moments in our church history was BECAUSE we were trying to uphold our perfect doctrines! What an awesome God to even put up with our human silliness and games.

If we would put all of that energy of finger pointing and fault finding into just giving a cup of cold water in Jesus name, what difference the world would see in us. So I pray that God would continue to use the Ron Phillip's, the Rick Warren's, the Jack Hayford's, the John Maxwell's, the Bill Hybel's, the Johnny Hunt's, Phil Hoskin's, and even Joyce Meyers and many many others.  I pray for many, many more men and women that would at least attempt SOMETHING for the Kingdom. Even if it is as small and mundane as giving a drink of water to someone. At least that is something POSITIVE for the kingdom.

(Richard steps off of his soapbox, and walks slowly away down the street.)

Currently Listening Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1992 Canadian Cast) By Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice The Song of the King see related

"I am sorry...you have 6 months to live..."

Maybe because another one of my brothers has terminal brain cancer that I am thinking this way:

What if you were told today that you only had six months to live?  What would you do?  More importantly what you do differently the next six months?  I know Tim McGraw had the song "Live Like You Were Dying"...and it is a good challenge.

I turn 42 this summer.  (The exact age that Elvis died! lol ) There was a time in my life when I thought I could do EVERYTHING, but I was very young, energetic and naive. There is a Chinese saying, "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving some things undone!" I am picking and choosing more wisely the things I will do now better than I ever have.

My Dad used to tell me that, "You can have anything you want, but you can't have everything you want." I never really understood what he was saying...but I think I am starting too. So, those thoughts come flooding my mind.  When I contemplate, what if I had only 6 months to live? How would I spend my time?  Where would I go? What would I do? Because I can do anything I want...just not everything.

I wonder sometimes why we don't live our lives in those 6 month intervals.  Then at the end of that six months God or the doctor says, well you have another six months...how will you live those?

Time management is an oxymoron.  It cannot be managed. You cannot save time, lose time, turn back time, or have more time tomorrow than you do today. Time is unemotional, uncontrolled, and unencumbered. It moves forward regardless of circumstances and in the game of life, time creates a level playing field for everyone.

Jim Croce wrote a song that said, "If I could save time in a bottle..."

I think I would want to continue to lead worship.  Maybe travel a couple of places and make some memories with my family and friends. I don't know that I would do a lot of things different...but I would cherish people. Maybe I should go get started on that...

Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Currently Listening Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis By Elvis Presley see related

WOW

This past week with my friend Brady Weldon was more than I could have ever expected.  His last sermon on the last night of revival was gut wrenching and yet encouraging at the same time!  In a world of post modernism and stool sitting, cappachinno sipping, preachers...Brady is a throw back to the revivalists of old, yet with the post modern message of sacrifice and counting the cost of REAL Christianity.  Incredible.

I don't think New Harmony will ever be the same!  I hope anyway. It was good to see the youth group worshipping and back in the altar again!  Wow, what a site to see our young 5th and 6th graders praying for each other and Crying OUT to Jesus!

Philippians 1:28-30 (NLT)
²⁸ Don't be intimidated by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.
²⁹ For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. ³⁰ We are in this fight together. You have seen me suffer for him in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of this great struggle.

What a powerful passage of scripture!

On a much, much lighter note:  I have been selected by the Ozark Actors Theatre to be a part of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this summer in Rolla.  It will play for 2 weeks and the main parts are proffessional actors/singers from St. Louis.  So, yeah, kind of nervous and excited about that.  I will be playing the role of Pharaoh (who thinks he is Elvis!) It should be interesting to say the least...especially the outfit I will probably have to wear! Oh boy! Oh well, it should be completely different from anything I have done in a while and a good break for me this summer. (July 20-30)

Currently Listening Lifesong By Casting Crowns Praise YOU in the Storm see related

What's In A Name?

Wow, the controversy of New Harmony taking Baptist out of the name continues to swirl!  My goodness, I knew that there would be SOME people who just didn't get it...but never did I dream that sooo many people would be upset, concerned and confused.  And what is really interesting, is that just like everything else in the church world...they talk to EVERYONE about it except the people who might be able to give them some answers.  So, I thought just for my sake and others that I would print just some of the reasons here in a public forum so that it might help squash some of the rumors.

First of all...having the NAME Baptist on your church doesn't MAke you a Baptist church anymore than being in McDonald's makes you a BIG MAC.  The NAME doesn't mean anything either way. I have been to churches that had BAPTIST on the name out front...but doctrinally...they definitely were NOT.

Our church leadership started moving away from "advertising" the name Baptist several years ago, simply because we were not ADVERTISING for or trying to GET other Baptists to come to our church.  On the contrary we were trying to reach lost or unchurched people.  And MANY times just the name Baptist...turns people away...because they have had a bad experience in a Baptist church or have been to a DEAD worship service in one and decided that wasn't for them...so we wanted to try to distinguish ourselves.

And in reality if someone (a Family, or whatever) was really looking for a TYPICAL Baptist church...and they saw the name Baptist in our name, and decided to come...they would probably be very disappointed, because New Harmony is not like "typical" Baptist churches.  Our worship is contemporary, and "charismatic"...our governmental structure is different.  The way we do church is different...everything about our church would not appeal to someone looking for a typical Baptist church.

And bottom line, New Harmony has not change one bit in their theology.  And last I checked that is the main thing anyway.  What you believe about God's word.  I asked one guy. "what makes you a Baptist?"  The only response he could come up with is, "Well the eternal security of the believer." That was it.  That is all he had.  Wow.

Thank goodness Southern Baptists are NOT a denomination.  In other words there is not some hierarchy sitting somewhere telling the other SBC churches what to believe and how to DO church.  SBC's churches can be completely and totally different.  And still pool their $$$ together to do mission work that is much bigger than one church could do alone.  And last time I checked, that is what an SBC church is..."a group of churches, of like beliefs, convening together for the purpose of MISSIONS." Not a bunch of churches criticizing each other over SEVEN letters in the alphabet that spell BAPTIST.

Ignorance frustrates me.  My alma mater Southwest Baptist University, used to be known as Southwest Baptist COLLEGE.  In 1980 they changed their name to SBU...why?  So, they could reach a broader scope of people.  There used to be 2 Town and Country Supermarkets in Salem...now there is not...it is known as Country MART...why?  Because they wanted to be a bigger/better, different store...and reach more consumers.  Go figure...the world has it figured out.  The church continues to wallow in their ignorance.

Enough...I am done venting!