“I think we should pay attention to the Occupy Wall Street protests.

If you’ve been watching the news reports of these protests, you know that their demands are all over the map, and few people are taking them seriously. That is a mistake.

These protestors are being dismissed, chided and mocked by political conservatives. A very popular financial advisor challenged them to get a job and get rich in order to join the ranks of those they are protesting against… as if getting rich will make greed decrease. Really?

I think all of this is the wrong approach.

Their choice of government over God reveals a dangerous fissure growing in our nation. And Christians need to respond appropriately.

A broad demographic but relatively small base of our population is in the streets chanting in favor of placing government in control of matters that have historically been dealt with in the realm of personal responsibility based upon a strong adherence to Judeo Christian values. Who would have ever thought that in the land of the brave and the home of the free, with nearly 75% of the population identifying themselves as Christians, citizens would rally in favor of an agenda so flawed.

I’ve been taking note of the reasons given for the protests, and I think they boil down to three general complaints. Let’s look at each issue in turn.

First, they are bothered by greed. According to the demands of the protestors, the greedy corporations and individuals (the so-called “1 percenters”) need to give more of their wealth in taxes to fund government programs for the benefit of everybody else (the “99 percenters”). Sounds fair (to them), until you examine where this philosophy will ultimately lead us.”

The full read is here: http://blog.crown.org/

As we have had contractors and other personnel here to assess damage and make repairs several have made comments that they remember a time when nobody would dare break into a church building. It just wasn’t done. I’m guessing it’s the whole “honor among thieves” sort of thing.

This was not the first time that our local church has been broken into. It’s happened in the past, not only to us, but to most of the area churches. One of the questions I have been asking myself is, “Why?”

Some obvious answers initially come to my mind. Most church buildings are easy targets. They probably have no or limited security. Often church properties are in areas that don’t have many close neighbors to see what is going on. Church properties often are very trusting and as a result don’t always take money (large or small amounts) and deposit it right away. Some buildings have doors or entrance points that are little more than flimsy barriers to a would be intruder and don’t really offer protection.

I wonder if one of the reasons that churches were not often broken into “back in the day” is that they really did not have anything to take. One could say that times are different and back 20 or more years ago there were not computers, video game consoles and flat panel screens that mock those who don’t have such items.

It’s not out of the ordinary these days for a church building to be full of up-to-date multimedia equipment. That being the case, one can certainly see where a young criminal might believe that if there are such items as X-boxes, flat panels, laptops, etc, that there might even been cash lying around. If there is no money, at least there are the aforementioned items that are not securely in place.

It’s Good Friday. The day we remember the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ. On Sunday morning we will gather together to celebrate and remember that not even death would have victory over God’s plan and Jesus rose from the grave.

Before I write any further, I must say that our church building contains (and in a few instances contained) game consoles, computers and other multi-media items. With that confession out, I wonder if perhaps we have done too good of job gathering and calling people into our buildings with all of our technology and not with our message that Jesus died for our sins and that He rose again.

I wonder if perhaps people see church buildings as soft targets that contain great equipment instead of gathering spots to celebrate Jesus Christ. I don’t want to make it sound like I am against using technology, (after all this is a blog written from my laptop, in my office using a wireless keyboard, mouse and flat panel monitor. In my defense however, as the intruders went through my office they left my computer – I must say the Staples commercial took on a whole new meaning for me.)

Again, I am not against technology, but I have begun wondering, at what point does the medium begin to overshadow the message? At what point do we risk people wanting our technology more than our Savior? Is it possible that without meaning too, we impress people with what we have and can do from a “worldly” perspective and not impress them with what is done in us from a spiritual perspective?

It’s Easter weekend. Jesus broke free from death and the grave. He broke out. Perhaps we have been attracting too much attention and gaining to much popularity through our medium and our not message.

The disciples and later the world became amazed by the empty grave – there was no one and nothing there! Perhaps we have put too many things into our buildings and ministries and thus have made the empty tomb not so impressive.

What do you think?

Shows and/or stories about seemingly normal people getting superhuman powers are often popular. What guy has not tried to use the force to move an object or employ a Jedi mind trick on someone. Now, I’m sure we all have our list of powers that we wish we had. Perhaps we share them or keep them tucked away in our minds, or even on our prayers lists.

Hollywood is often creating such characters or story lines. There was the T.V. shows like Heroes, No Ordinary Family, etc.. Zach’s choice of powers were as follows: Invincibility, Invisibility and the ability to walk through walls. All very noble super powers I must say. Good choices, although, I always thought flying would be cool too, but perhaps he thought that was over the top.

I asked him, why do you want to have the power of invisibility? His answer, “So I can eat brownies and nobody catch me.”

What super powers have you ever wished you had – and why? Maybe you still are wishing for them! Just curious, so let me know if you don’t mind being a little transparent .

As I stated earlier, I have always wanted to fly because I don’t like flying in airplanes. I have also thought that super strength would be cool too, if for nothing else so I could show off!

Our perspective on something entails how we look at a particular object, our angle.  After Jesus had his encounter with the women at the well (John 4:1-26) he speaks to his disciples about their perspective of the world around them (John 4:27-38).

He challenges them to view the world, that is, the people around them, not from their (the disciples) perspective, but from God’s perspective.  Our perspective, how we view people, situations, etc, comes naturally.  Our perspective seems right, because it’s how we are viewing things.  God sees more and He calls us to see more too.

We all need to be challenged with the perspective we view people from.  Sometimes we simply believe all we need to do is change our perception of an individual – but our perceptions can’t really change until we seem them differently.

We have taken this approach to missions and the world around us.  We want to see the world differently.  Not through our lenses, but through Gods’.  Here is a video that we created to challenge our perspective on the world and people around us.

The fact of the matter is that we all need to have our perspective challenged and changed by God’s view about so many things, not simply mission, but missions is a good start.

How is God challenging your perspective?

Feel free to ask your friends or even strangers to leave a comment.  There is not a right or wrong answer and I’m not looking for something specific.  All comments made have to be approved by me before they appear in the comments section.  Approval is not based on whether I agree with you or not, but the “appropriateness” of the comment made.

Hopefully we can get some good participation.  Let’s hear (or read) them!

Often we hear about how the tithe or the giving of 10% of our income.  Additionally, we hear about giving to missions, building funds, and various other things.  Those topics and others are very important and have their places.  However, the focus yesterday was not so much about what God calls us to give away, but how to protect what we have, how to protect the 90%.  Specifically, the instruction or the warning, to avoid debt.

We have been duped into thinking that debt is okay.  We have been told that we will always have debt and it’s best just to learn how to manage it or control it.  The thing is, debt is not to be controlled, scripture says it’s to be avoided.  Saying that we should learn to live with debt by controlling it is almost like saying we don’t have to avoid sin, just control when we do it.

Proverbs tells us in chapter 22:7 – “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave to the lender.”  When we find ourselves in debt, it really is a bondage or slavery situation.  Debt will prevent us from doing we want to do and even prevent us from being able to do what God wants us to do.  Debt will dictate what we can do or can’t do.

We are told that for certain things we will always have debt.  You can’t buy a house without going into debt.  You can’t buy a car without going into debt.  You can’t have this or that, etc., etc., etc.  We have been convinced somehow that what was written in Proverbs and in much of scripture about debt is no longer true.  That somehow we aren’t slaves when we are in debt.  The truth of the matter is that we don’t want to wait until we have enough money saved to purchase those things without taking on debt.

The allure of going into debt has somehow become acceptable.  The allure of being $100,000.00 or $200,000.00 or $300,000.00 or more in debt for a home is acceptable because it shows we have arrived.  How is that being in debt shows arrival?  The allure of driving a car that puts us $20,000.00, $30,000.00 $50,000.00 or more in debt somehow shows that we have made it.  We have made it alright, and the “it” is a big hole of debt, and we drive that debt around with pride.

We somehow have started thinking that being a slave to a lender is not only acceptable but have almost made it a goal in life.  We somehow have come to believe that we are not really slaves.

Jesus, in speaking about the danger that money can have in our lives, said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

It becomes interesting when we couple the words in Proverbs 22:7 and the words in Matthew 6:24 together.  It would seem that when we allow ourselves to go into debt we begin to avail ourselves to another master, something that Jesus said we can’t do and remain 100% committed to God.

I am not saying that debt causes us to lose our salvation.  But it certainly does compromise our ability to live in 100% devotion and commitment to God.   For example, we will say that if God calls us to move around the world, we would. However, we just can’t simply pick up and leave without selling our homes, or cars, or perhaps other things because we actually don’t own them.  We are paying for them, the debt or the payments have our first commitment.   We then might say, as we struggle to sell our homes or cars that God will make a way.  We will have our friends and families pray for the sales.  I am not saying that this is not what should happen, but….

Let’s describe a different scenario.  We have our homes, our cars and other things and God calls us around the world.  However, in this scenario, we chose to not to go into debt with those purchases.  We actually paid for them.  We actually bought them.  We really own them.  So, we can still sell our homes, our cars or whatever else, but we are not dependent on them to be obedient to God.  If they don’t sell for 6 months or 6 years, it is not a huge deal, because we are not a ‘”slave” to the finance or mortgage company, we own them, and if God calls us to abandon them, we actually can.

In the second scenario we can have obedience without obstacle.  Our devotion is not dependent on God striking down our other master(s).  Now, I want to express here that God does often move in ways where things do sell and we are released, but perhaps that is better expressed as God’s grace in our lives over the situation we have found ourselves in, rather than His approval about our indebtedness.

So, what do we do?  If we are in debt, what can be done?  When we give our lives over to Jesus we don’t automatically become perfect, but we allow the Holy Spirit to mold and shape us and convict and correct us.  We grow and mature along the way.  We make mistakes and repent and move on.  Scripture tells us that we certainly don’t have permission to sin, but if we do, we have forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (1 John 2:1-2).

In a similar way Scripture tells us what do should we find ourselves in debt.  Again, in Proverbs  6:1-5, we read:

¹ My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
   if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
² you have been trapped by what you said,
   ensnared by the words of your mouth.
³ So do this, my son, to free yourself,
   since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—
   and give your neighbor no rest!
⁴ Allow no sleep to your eyes,
   no slumber to your eyelids.
⁵ Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
   like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

Paul, in Romans 13:6-8 tells us:

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…”

Scripture tells to avoid debt and if we have it, pay it off.  In fact the Proverb is very specific to tell us to get rid of the debt as quickly as possible.  We are encouraged to not even let sleep hold us back in getting rid of it.  We are told to be like a gazelle or a bird fleeing for their very life.

It’s one thing to simply say, get out of debt and another to do it.  Often we get in debt because we simply don’t know how to handle money because we were never taught how to do so.  Other times, our debt hole is so big that we don’t know where to start.  I am not a financial expert.  Thank God, we don’t need to be financial experts to simply commit to only purchase things with cash. We don’t have to be experts to live within our means. We don’t need to be experts to write down our income and expenses and make a plan on where every penny goes.  It’s not rocket science, but it is discipline. 

There are financial experts who can help us create the most proper and quickest way to get out of debt.  As I said on Sunday, we are starting another round of Financial Peace University classes by Dave Ramsey.  My wife and I have been fleeing like a gazelle and bird for a little bit of time time now.  We won’t stop until we are totally free.  Dave’s teachings and resources have been huge in helping us.

I can’t recommend enough going through this class.  I want to be totally free from the trappings of debt.  I want those around me to be totally free from the trappings of debt.  If you are in debt of any kind and you don’t have a working plan to get out of debt, take a look at Financial Peace University or something similar.  Get help.  Run away from debt like a gazelle running for it’s life.

There is one last thing that being debt free enables us to do.  When we don’t have debt to worry about, I believe that we can experience what Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians 9:7.  He tells us we should give what we have decided to give in our hearts and enjoy doing so because God loves a cheerful giver.  The easiest way that I can think of being a cheerful giver is when we can give without worry and have total trust in God.  Without debt, there is cheer in giving because there is no worry.  In addition to having no worry, there is a total trust in God’s provision because we have chosen to live according to God’s plan for our money.  There is always joy and provision in doing things God’s way.

As followers of Christ, Paul reminds us that the only debt we should have is the debt of love.  What debt do you have?  If you have financial debts, what are your plans to flee?  Should you desire, I encourage you to leave your thoughts, comments or questions below.

I have been thinking a lot about how often I don’t update, and it does bother me (evidently it does not bother me a huge amount).  I get so inspired by a thought or something and think, hey, that would make a good post.  When I get to my computer, I have forgotten what just a few hours ago had me so inspired.

I even enjoy writing.  I keep a prayer journal.  I even keep a journal that I will give to my kids someday.  Maybe I am simply over committed to writing.  I don’t know.

Then the thought enters my mind that nobody actually reads this anyway, so the only one who “misses” it, is me.   However, providing that there still might be one or two people who still check in on this, I am going to employ a new method for blogging (…and I don’t mean having someone else write it).  I am going to blog a little more regarding some of the messages or topics that are shared on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights.  Additionally, I will simply just post some entries with a purpose to bring a little smile, a laugh, or just a sunbeam of joy into your day.  Some entries that are just for fun.

So, here begins yet another attempt to get into a better routine with blogging.   No deeper meaning, just a bit of fun and perhaps some provoking of thoughts.  Who knows, maybe I will even get a chance to post something else today, (although, I would count on it!).

Have a good day!

I dropped it off and proceeded to walk home. I had been working my message for tomorrows service and I wanted some time to not only go over the message, but some time for the message to go over me.

I don’t want to go over the message here, as the point of this blog is the walk and the thoughts of the Scripture going through my mind and heart.

Something happens when we allow our thoughts to go over and over Scripture.  As one who has the privilege of speaking on a weekly basis I often take time to do this for the sake of preparing a message. However, I want to encourage all of us, whether we are speaking or not, to take time throughout each day and week to go over in our hearts and minds what we have been reading in our Bibles. Not because we have to prepare some passages of Scripture for a message, but so the passages of Scripture can prepare us to be a message to those around us.

Deuteronomy 6:7 tells us the following regarding the word of God and how He speaks to us:  “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

The Word of God is meant to be talked about and thought over. Go for a walkabout or just a sit-around, but take the time to listen to the voice of the Spirit speak to you about what you’re reading in Gods Word.

There is so much to learn from our thoughts and hearts being burried and engaged in the Bible.

It was a good time.  However, what made it good was not the food or the games, but the individuals that built relationship with one another.

What makes Central Assembly of God special are the people.  We are a group of people who have a vision statement that states “Make Known God’s FAME.”  Facilitating genuine relationships.  Advancing the message of Jesus Christ.  Making a difference in all that we do.  Empowerment through the Holy Spirit.

Last night our focus was about facilitating genuine relationships with each other.  We gathered together to laugh.  We gathered together to share stories.  We gathered together to eat.  We gathered together to become stronger as a group of people by investing in each other through spending time together.

So, what’s the point of this blog entry?  Nothing more than a simple expression of love and appreciation for the groups of people that make up Central Assembly of God .   It is an honor to have genuine relationship with each of you.  Together, we will make Known God’s FAME in Mt. Pleasant and the surrounding communities.

I took care of the detectors (removed the batteries) and got back into bed and now my mind won’t slow down. I keep thinking about different things.  I’m tired, but I can’t sleep.

I want to simply close my eyes and enter into a dream of Inception like quality, but instead I’m typing away on my phone and writing this blog because I can’t.  Frustrating.

I have had a lot on mind and right now it all seems to be begging for my attention. I just can’t settle down.  I hate it when that happens. I just want to go to sleep as I have to be up in a few hours.

This has been an emotionally draining week and perhaps that has something to do with my current state of insomnia. However, one would think that if I expended so much during the week that I would relish the weekend. Often the weekend does not bring a slowing down of the things in my mind and heart, rather it speeds them up.

I start thinking of the message that I am speaking on Sunday morning. That leads to the thoughts about how so many different people are going through so many different things in their lives and does the message I have been working help bring them closer to the solution of Jesus Christ?

My mind goes over the different interactions and exchanges that I have had with people during the past week and all the different emotions and feelings that have been associated with those exchanges.

I think about all the challenges that we face as a church family. How those challenges impact real people whom I love and care deeply about. I think about how all of us as individuals and all of us as a corporate body respond to and follow Jesus Christ.

Often, and tonight is one of those nights, I wonder if God is wanting me to change course with my message. That alone sets my mind running a 1000 miles an hour and in as many different directions.

I lay awake and think about my kids and wife and our lives and how we make it day to day or week to week or year to year.  I think about providing (emotionally, physically, spiritually, financially, etc) for my 3 kids future that is years away and their future that is tomorrow.

I think about doing exactly what God wants me to do and how often its not what I want to do or it’s not how I want to do it.  I think, I think, I think and I think about so many different things.  All I want to do is sleep.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…” (NIV).  I can keep myself awake with thoughts about all the people and expectations and situations and everything else, but right now I just want some rest.  So in my mind with a thought process that seems to resemble more a race day than a rest day, I need to again decide that Jesus is the answer and rest in him.

I’m awake and I want to sleep. He is alive and has provided me with a rest from the things of this world. My thoughts or worries will not help me. In fact he said in Matthew 6:31-34 “…So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’ [32] For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIV)

As much as my mind wants to stay awake and focus on a lot things right now, I need to focus on Jesus and get some rest right now. What have you been focusing on or worrying about?  Are you ready for a good nights sleep or some rest from some heavy burdens. Jesus gives rest.

Good night.