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Let’s get political – part 3

Today I wrap up this series by telling you why your vote matters. There are millions (maybe billions) of people who wish they had a say in their government. The privilege to vote came at a high price as thousands of men and women gave their lives for this freedom. To cop out and just not vote is to dishonor that sacrifice.

Don’t just go and throw your vote away because you do not know what is going on. Educate yourself. Pray hard. Find out where the candidates stand on the issues that affect you. If you call yourself a Christ follower, you must set the Bible at the center of your decision. Then go stand in a very long line and vote.

Stop whining and complaining about the election. If we allow the horrible campaign tactics of the candidates to jade us, we all lose. Whatever you do, don’t stay home from the polls. Take your faith in God and His Word with you as you vote. Act like a true believer when standing in line. Hold your head up. Put that sticker on your shirt and proudly let people know that you exercised your right to vote.

Don’t belittle others who do not vote the same as you. An open dialogue is healthy. Tearing each other down makes us no better than the candidates. Not talking about our views isolates us.

I encourage leaders to lead by example. How will the people who follow you know where you are going unless you tell them.God put you in a place of leadership for times like this.

Once you have voted, why not come back here and tell us all who you voted for and why.

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Let’s get political – part 2

This week, we are taking a Biblical look at the political decision process. Allow me to touch on a few points that have guided me in this process.

There are many, many issues facing our country today and all of them are valid. I want to have more money, smaller government, better healthcare, stronger military and on and on. But, there are a few issues that I believe are non-negotiable when it comes to a Biblically based answer.

Today, I will only address one issue. Why? Because I cannot let the other issues outweigh this one. I wish I could be a multiple issue voter. But, this one is too big to ignore.

ABORTION

I believe this is an issue that is so huge that we can not let it pass. Every day, thousands of babies are murdered in the United States. It feels better to say pro-choice or a woman’s right to choose. But, something is wrong when a teenage girl can have the government finance the murdering of the baby in her womb without her parents knowing and you can go to prison and pay a stiff fine for disturbing sea turtle eggs. What does it matter if the eggs aren’t real anyway? Isn’t it a double homicide if you kill a mother and her unborn child?

Now, I know that even with a Republican, pro-life President in office for the last eight years has not overturn Roe v. Wade. I am not convinced that electing a pro-life President this term will even change it. But, I must try. If I give up and risk the lives of another 5,000,000+ babies that will die*. I cannot vote for a President who opposes righteous legislation to save the lives of the unborn.

Psalms 106 talks about the Israelites sacrificing their children to idols. You may be saying that this is different. But, I would argue that the majority of abortions are a result of sin and the need for convenience. I encourage you to read this article from John Piper.

Before you vote, take a look at the two resources below, read your Bible, pray really hard and then GO VOTE!

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Let’s get political – part 1

I know. I know. I promised to write about the election this week and I have been a huge slacker. Things have been so nuts that I haven’t done early voting yet either. But, I will.

Today, I want to lay some ground work for my posts over the next few days by sharing a video with you. This come from Ed Young at Fellowship Church. So, take the next 36 minutes and 29 seconds to watch.

Prepared over the next few days to be either encouraged, challenged and/or offended. I will write about how I am applying the truth of scripture to my voting decision. I am still deciding whether or not to blog the name of the candidate I am voting for. If you want to know, ask me in person. But, it probably will not be hard to tell after this week is over.

Here is my question to you. How have you reconciled your candidates platform with the Bible?

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Wisdom from a father in the faith

Let me start by saying how much I love our church. Today, we welcomed Pastor Syvelle and Lovie Phillips from Evangel Bible Translators. Pastor Syvelle serves Dad and me as one of three non-resident elders. Lovie leads God Loves Kids, a ministry that sponsors children in orphanages in Africa and India. I have personally been to one of her orphanages in Uganda and personally vouch for the success they are having.

Pastor Syvelle brought a message as a loving father figure. His text was simply,

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. – Proverbs 27:5

Yeah, not quite the message you expect to hear from a missionary looking for a big offering. That’s why I love Pastor Syvelle. His message was filled with grace and compassion. But, it did not gloss over the truth. I love that about him. You can listen to the message this week on our website or on the podcast. It should be up by the end of the day on Tuesday.

After church, we all went to lunch and I asked Pastor what he would change about the last 60+ years of ministry. He said,

“I would have honored Lovie more in the early days of our ministry.”

and

“I would’ve handled issues with staff faster.”

You can’t put a price on counsel like that. So, to all of my fellow pastors, I pose this question – How are you honoring your spouse in ministry?

Go ahead, share with us.

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So, what do I believe about Holy Spirit? (long post alert)

After the last two days, you may wonder what I believe about Holy Spirit? So, let me try to clear up any confusion. Warning: rambling thoughts ahead.

• I believe Holy Spirit was sent by God at Jesus’ request to equip us for the work of the ministry. (John 16)
• I believe in the baptism of Holy Spirit and the gift of speaking in tongues. (Acts 2:3-4)
• I believe that the outward sign of speaking in tongues is not THE only definitive sign of Holy Spirit directing your life. (1 Corinthians 13)
• I believe that if you can speak in tongues but find yourself acting as God’s judge for others, you might need to re-evaluate. Paul said that was just noise.
• I believe that God still speaks prophetically today. But, I’m pretty sure He doesn’t speak in King James English. (I don’t have a scripture for that one… maybe 1 Sarcasms 3:16)
• I believe that if God speaks prophetically to you or your church, it should be life changing. How many “prophecies” do you actually remember? I can remember quite a few, but not all. I desire to hear God speak to us in a way that changes our lives.
• I believe more needs to be done to help people know how to hear His voice.
• I believe that God still heals people today. If I’m sick, I want someone to believe with me for healing. Why? Because Holy Spirit reminds me that Jesus took stripes on His back so I could be healed.

Is there more about what I believe? Absolutely, I could blog for days about it. But let me just tell you on a personal level what my relationship with Holy Spirit is like.

Every day, I pray in my private prayer language that I received when I was baptized in Holy Spirit. There are times when I just do not know what to pray. It’s in those times that I desperately need Holy Spirit to pray through me to the Father. I have seen God miraculously heal members of my family. I’ve also seen family and friends struggle with unresolved health issues. I’ll ask God about that when I get to Heaven. For now, I keep remembering that He healed Noah earlier this year. There were others present who witnessed it happen. Even though I have had many people falsely prophesy to/about me, I cannot discount that there have been numerous times I could not explain away how accurately God used someone to direct my life prophetically. But, I learned from my dad to pray this prayer,

“God, please do not send the prophet as the first line to tell me what You can speak directly to me. Send the prophet to confirm what I hear You saying. As You speak, I will listen. I will not harden my heart. I am listening.”

I leave you with this thought. Paul did not write 1 Corinthians in chapter form. It was one letter. When you read it that way, the scripture below takes on a whole new meaning… a more accurate meaning.

And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And now I will show you the most excellent way.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1st Corinthians 12:28-20; 13:1-13

What does your relationship with Holy Spirit look like?

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