Part II of this post is coming soon! Stay tuned!

Gimme a Break! Christianity is NOT Boring! Part I

I'm always puzzled when I hear people...people who follow Christ...and people who do not follow Christ, say, "Christianity is boring."  Really?!?!

I guess if your version of following Christ puts you in a recliner, flipping channels...hey, and even landing on Christian channels like TBN or EWTN...if that's your version of following Christ, than yea...I can see why you might think Christianity is boring.  But, is that where Jesus is leading you?  Is that what you see Dad (our heavenly Father) doing?

Jesus said, as recorded in John 5:19, that He only does what He sees Dad doing.  In other words, Dad is always doing something...and Jesus lived life, by first discovering what Dad was doing around Him, and then He chose to agree with...enter into...do that.  What is Dad doing around you?  What do you see Dad doing right now?

So, five courageous people from the church I pastor, RiverRock Christian Fellowship, and I, headed down south on I-295 in two vehicles from Augusta to Portland...to the Glickman Family Library on the campus of University of Southern Maine.  There, on the seventh floor, would be a gathering of pro-choice men and women, to view a movie, "The Abortion Diaries," with a discussion following.  The event was sponsored by Planned Parenthood and Family Planning Association.  The discussion would be framed and facilitated by pro-choice USM professor of Gender and Women's Studies, Nancy Gish.  In the room were two pro-choice legislators, at least one pro-choice professor, the Northern New England Director of Planned Parenthood, the Director of the Family Planning Association of Maine, the grassroots director for Planned Parenthood, and several other leaders in the pro-choice movement, as well as college students, and various other pro-choice advocates.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppnne/roe-anniversary-31315.htm

It's important to note...to arrive at this place...the abortion discussion...we (the six of us) did NOT ask, "What would Jesus do?"...no, I believe that's a question that religious people ask...it's a question about guessing what Jesus might do in this same kind of situation, based on Christian principles and looking at the gospels historically...and, in my opinion, that's what religious people do...

Instead we asked, "Dad, what ARE You doing?" which is a question that someone asks when they have a real, authentic relationship with Dad (our heavenly Father).  It is a question that someone asks when they believe that Father will show His sons and daughters what He's doing because He loves them, and because He wants us to come into agreement with what He's doing, rather than have His sons and daughters try and drag Him into what they are doing.

To the six of us, Dad was clearly driving the more than 1 hour from our warm, comfortable living rooms, down to the library, taking the elevator up to the seventh floor and entering into the discussion.  We went down not to engage the enemy, but to enter into what Dad was doing...and shine the light.

From the room where the event was held, I posted to Facebook from my blackberry phone, "in the devil's playground..."  Surely, some may have read that post and thought I was calling Planned Parenthood or pro-choice people, the Devil.  But, nothing could be further from the truth.  Flesh and blood are not the enemy of Christians...followers of Christ.  Scripture makes that really clear.  No...Satan and his demonic principalities, powers and dominions...those are our enemies.  Now, certainly, in their blindness, Planned Parenthood and pro-choice people have come into agreement with the Devil and his strategy to destroy human life, which is created in the image of the very God he hates.  Yes, they've come into agreement with the enemy, but they are NOT the enemy.  And, the strategy to help them break their agreement with the enemy looks like Jesus interactions with the adulterous woman, and NOT the man who shoots an abortion doctor.

Check out the next post for more on what Dad did...

Personal Growth

Recently, I've felt drawn by the Holy Spirit to spend some time each day reading a book on leadership.  Typically, I'll read one chapter, set the book aside, and then listen to the Master Teacher...Rabbi Holy Spirit.  It's been pretty cool how God has taken leadership concepts I've just read about and given me greater understanding by expanding, explaining, or unpacking them.  Plus, He's been showing me how I can make practical application that will benefit me and my local church.

The first book I read was Christian Leadership I by Dr. Leon van Rooyen.

The second book was Christian Leadership II by Dr. Leon van Rooyen.

Gaining an understanding of the leadership concepts in these first two books has been very, very helpful to me.  As I've read each book, it's been like having my very own, top-notch, personal mentor sit with me and help me navigate through some very basic, foundational concepts.  Because the material in both books is so practical, I've already begun applying this stuff to my personal life, as well as adjusting the way that I pastor my local congregation.  I'm already seeing some very encouraging results.  I get a sense that I'll be revisiting these two books in the future on a regular basis.

Now, the third book I'm reading is entitled Master-planning by Bobb Biehl.  Bob is the director and founder of Bobb Biehl Leadership Academny.  He's been credited by Bill Bright, Josh McDowell, R.C. Sproul and a host of other significant leaders in bringing breakthroughs to their leadership capacity and their ministry's effectiveness.

I've ordered a copy for each elder, and as I wait for the books to come in, I've been getting a head start on reading the first few chapters.  My plan is to lead the elders through the reading and completion of each of the assignments.  We'll complete the exercises together and as a result, I anticipate each of the elders to gain a greater sense of ownership in RiverRock's ministry.

When we've completed each of Bobb Biehl's assignments in the book, we'll have: (1) articulated very clearly the vision and purpose for our church, (2) identified the 3-7 major ministry focuses that will step us forward toward vision manifestation, (3) established an organizational structure that fits and supports the vision, (4) set immediate/short-term/mid-term/long-term goals, and (5) established a tracking system of accountability for our objectives.

Now, that may bore you to death, but this is the very thing that excites me about ministry.  I get excited about it because it mean we'll be making significant progress in clarifying RiverRock's vision/focus and establish a leadership structure that greatly reduce frustration and encourage growth.  In addition, by illuminating RiverRock's vision and purpose, the day-to-day, seemingly mundane tasks become important and enjoyable!

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How to Read, Examine, and Understand the Bible VI

Having gone this far, I should take time to ensure you know just how crooked and arrogant it is to try and superimpose your own interpretation upon God's Word, the Bible.  To read and examine God's Word with the intention of making it teach what you want it to teach, is to align your will with the devil's will. 

Satan was created by God, as an angel to worship God.  God named him Lucifer and he led heaven's angels in adoration of the Lord.  The Bible describes Lucifer as a beautifully adorned angel.  At some point, Lucifer made the horrific decision of being so enamored with himself that he led a rebellion against God.  He became jealous of the attention given to God and preferred to receive the adoration of heaven for himself.  One third of the angels of heaven followed Lucifer in the rebellion.  God judged them for their arrogant rebellion and cast them down to earth, hence they are called "fallen angels," having fallen from heaven to earth.  Lucifer's name was changed to Satan.  The New Testament frequently refers to fallen angels as demons.

There's a significant passage in the New Testament that immediately follows Jesus' 40 day fast.  The passage is significant for many reasons but in the context of today's brief teaching, these Scriptures illuminate Satan's pride and self-centered nature for us all to see.

During Jesus' journey in the wilderness, He encounters the Devil and He is tested by him three times.  In the second test, Satan uses a very wicked, yet wily technique.  Read the following passage and see if you can detect what the Devil tries to do...

5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU';
and
'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP,
SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'"

7 Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'"  Matt 4:5-7  NASU

Do you see?  Satan quoted Scripture, not only out of context, but purposefully with the intent of making God's Word say what he wanted it to say, to advance his own agenda.  The Bible teaches us that Satan is wicked, deceitful, self-centered and arrogant.  It is of the highest order of arrogance to try and twist God's word around to agree with your personal agenda, rather than discover what His Word has to say about God's agenda.  Do not go down this well-worn path.  Much of the New Testament is devoted to confronting the erroneous teaching of false apostles and false teachers who tried to make God's Word fit their agenda.  Paul says such men are "accursed" and "condemned" (Gal 1:8,9).

Be careful not to fall prey to the temptation of twisting and turning God's Word around to back your agenda.  It is far better to simply discover God's intention and interpretation of His own Word.  The Lord had an understanding, a specific will and a plan in mind when He spoke the Word, and we are best served by discovering what He had in mind.  Remember, what's on God's mind is very much accessible to those who know the Lord, and listen to the Holy Spirit...

...the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God... 1 Cor 2:11-12  NASU

Until the next post...be blessed!

How to Read, Examine, and Understand the Bible V

Well, at this point, we are ready for Principle #2.  Principle #2 is "Use Simple Observation to Determine What is Present."  This begins with the simple...read, reread, and re-reread.  Again (from Principle #1), as you are reading, have an ear open to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  You will be amazed by what you gain in understanding by simply "camping out" in a passage in this way.

This kind of reading is very much like meditating.  The Biblical discipline of meditation is the least appreciated, most underutilized, but possibly the most important of all the disciplines encouraged in Scripture.  Biblical meditation is far different from the unfruitful discipline practiced by the middle eastern religions.  Rather than "emptying your mind," Biblical meditation is the practice of allowing your heart and mind to be filled by "chewing on" or "pondering on" God, His works, or a passage or a verse, much like a cow chews on its' cud.  A cow chews on the grass, swallows it, partially digests it, brings it up to the mouth and chews again on it...and repeats this action several times.  It's the necessary process for the cow to successfully digest food. 

The Hebrew word that is translated into meditation throughout the Old Testament refers to a second concept, as well.  One concept that this Hebrew word refers to is this process of chewing, but the second concept is one of muttering words under one's breath.  You'll see the connection between the mouth and meditation more clearly in the following passage...

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night..."  Josh 1:8  NASU

So, for all those who've been chided for talking to themselves...now, you've got a far better use of those moving lips, and far more rewarding.  Consider the attractive benefit guaranteed in the promise declared by God, at the end of the above Scripture...

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."  Josh 1:8  NASU

In my next post, I'll discuss the principle of "simple observation" a bit more...so, be sure and stay tuned to check it out!

How to Read, Examine and Understand the Bible IV

Again, just as a reminder, as we delve deeper into this...the rest of these principles on growing in "How to Read, Examine and Understand the Bible" are simply to assist us in hearing the Holy Spirit as we read God's Word, which is our first and foundational principle.

The rest of the principles address the "how to's" of Apostle Paul's fatherly exhortation to his spiritual son and protege, Timothy...

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."  2 Tim 2:15  NASU

Now, this exhortation is a clear instruction to Timothy that skimming over God's word is insufficient.  In fact, Paul relentlessly presses the point of a labor-intensive approach towards the word of God.  You cannot read this verse and come away persuaded that a lackadaisical effort of perusing the Bible will suffice.  Paul uses terms like "diligent...approved...a workman...accurately handling" to describe his expectation of his son, Timothy, in regards to examining the Scriptures.  By listening in to Paul's fatherly counsel, we should be getting a sense that the Holy Spirit is leading us to take a painstaking approach to God's word, as well.  Let me ask you...is this how you are approaching the word of God?

The word of God is clear...diligent people will prosper (Prov 10:4), rule (Prov 12:24), have an abundance (Prov 13:4), and have an advantage (Prov 21:5).  The opposite of diligence is laziness.  Scripture says that the lazy will be poor (Prov 10:4; Prov 21:5), be enslaved (Prov 12:24), and receive nothing (Prov 13:4).

Let us be children of the King...a people who prosper, rule, have an abundance, and have the advantage.  Let us be a diligent people...ambassadors of a diligent Kingdom...diligent in our workman-like attitude towards examining the Word of God.  The Spirit of God is already working this in you (Philippians 2:13)...it's as simple as surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit in your inner man.

Do you have a question about life?  Do you wonder how to parent or relate with your spouse?  Would you like to know how to handle the finances that God has blessed you with?  Would you like favor with your neighbors or a promotion at work?  How about, would you like to know who God is and who you are?  All these answers, and more, are found in the Bible.  Life-changing, destiny-changing, world-changing wisdom is deep in God's word.  It's just sitting there waiting to be mined.  It simply takes someone who will listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as he digs, and digs, and digs until the treasures of God's wisdom are found.