A Dark Cloud

As I sat just outside his office in the waiting area, I could sense a change in the direction of his discussion. My mother had been talking with him about life in general and some about the church. He looked at the desk now empty for the day as the secretary had left for home. It was his next few sentences that made me squirm in my seat and made me want to cover my ears for not wanting to hear what was coming.

“It’s like there’s a dark cloud over the place when she’s here,” he said. He was talking about the church’s secretary. He was the church’s pastor. I don’t know how many times I had heard him praise her to her face when she was in the office telling her she was doing a great job and was an encouragement. To my mother’s and my face, he told of firing her and looking for a new secretary. He went on to explain how when his aunt filled in for a week, she would even dust and vacuum his office – why wouldn’t his real secretary do that, he pondered out loud.

This week I began to think about that again. How could someone pretend in front of so many people. How could he just blatantly bad-mouth members of his congregation, Christians dedicated to the Lord. I don’t know if he’s still pastor there or not but with the immorality and unbiblical behavior I personally saw of him many times, I would guess he is not.

That dark cloud I believe has enveloped over the United States like a bad storm waiting to strike anyone it can. This one week alone, we witnessed a horrible event at Virginia Tech, the anniversaries of the Columbine High School shooting and the Oklahoma City bombing, a hostage taken at NASA and killed along with a suicide, and schools and buildings evacuated because of bomb threats.

Satan is beginning to run this country and Christians are letting him! We’re going along with his guises of how things could be done. We’re witnessing worship services being watered down with songs filled with meaningless diatribe, pastors watering down their sermons or going so long the people lose interest. Deacons and trustees of churches caring more about numbers in pews and the latest and greatest building designs than they do about people’s hearts, and pastors who care more about how much money a person makes than what their dedication is to the church.

We as Christians need to turn from our wicked ways and turn back to God and God alone. We need to ask for forgiveness or our nation is going to fall deaf from hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ! The Bible clearly says that any nation who wants to return to the power of God must first have those who are followers of God confess, repent, and forgive. Until that time, what we saw this week may only get worse.

I pray that it does not. I pray that we will begin to truly see the examples we’re giving the world of Christianity. Let’s begin to remove those dark clouds over the churches of America so we can begin to see the sun once again shine through. Let’s look to Jesus Christ!

In His Grip!

Happy Easter!!

In a world full of sin and bad news, there's one story that brings hope and joy. Jesus Christ rose from the dead to save you and me from this world of sin and to take us home to heaven one day.

Let's celebrate this victory over evil and rejoice in the love that God has for each of us.

Happy Easter!

Thank You Roger!

My favorite pianist and one of my heroes, Roger Bennett, left this earth Saturday morning for his true home in heaven after a decade-plus long battle with leukemia. I watched the funeral live online as songs were sung, stories told, and tears shed.

I first heard Roger play with the Cathedral Quartet when I was about three years old. I was hooked on Southern Gospel music from that day on. I wanted to sing in a gospel quartet and I wanted to play the piano just like Roger. I would listen to him play a line and work hard at getting it to sound just like he played it. When I decided to get a refresher course and took some piano lessons again in high school, the first lesson I had I brought in the sheet music to Roger’s arrangement of “Goodbye, World Goodbye” and told my instructor that I want to learn this song. I’ve played that arrangement all across the Southwest now proud to be playing a song that Roger played. His piano skills were still far superior to mine but I’m practicing hard and will continue to learn from Roger as I become better at my piano playing.

As I said, Roger was diagnosed with leukemia about 12 years ago. From the start, he wasn’t about to shy away from telling the stories that went along with treatments including the highs and lows. He wrote some of the most powerful songs during these years of his life. I followed every update reading his weblog daily. I prayed just like thousands of others around the world for him. He was one of the most optimistic people I knew and His faith was strong. Truthfully, when I had days that were not exactly great, I would remember Roger and how if he could go through his hard times trusting God, so can I. He really is a hero to me. After chemotherapy, radiation, three bone-marrow transplants, dialysis, and other medications, his body was just too weak to continue. He went home peacefully at age 48 and though I’m sad to no longer have this mentor, pianist, singer, humorist, and songwriter around, I thank God that he is home, free from pain and cancer and hospitals.

Roger, thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for the laughter and tears. Thank you for helping me truly see how we are always in God’s grip! Thank you for the songs. Thank you for your time with the Cathedrals and Legacy Five. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me after the concerts you performed at. Most of all, thank you for loving Jesus and sharing His message so freely. As the song you loved to sing says, “At the ultimate healing, you are home free!”

I'm Dreaming Of A...

...White Christmas! Well, white January! Did you see the reports on television over the weekend? Snow in the Phoenix area! It rarely happens but this past weekend, it did. Golf courses were covered, front yards turned into a white winterland.

Now If God can make it snow in the middle of the desert (the same desert that gets to 115 degrees every summer), think what He can do with your life if you let Him. What an exciting thought. The Bible says that our sins can be washed as white as snow (Psalm 51:7). Once we're that white and found clean and holy in God's eyes, He can rain down (uh, I mean - snow down) blessings even in the dry desert-like times of our lives. Let Him do this great work in you today!

Link to more pictures of snow in the Phoenix, Arizona area

In His Grip!

Nathan

Is It Getting Cold?

Have you been outside this week? It’s cold out there! The wind is blowing through the cold air and everyone here in the Phoenix area is wearing long pants and at least one jacket. I saw on the news that we even had ice on the roads here in the Valley of the Sun!

I’ve been watching the national news seeing frigid temperatures and ice storms in the Midwest. It’s amazing how cold can affect lives. There were even ice and power outages in Oklahoma City over the weekend. Just two years ago I traveled through that city in August and it was over 100 degrees with about 160 percent humidity.

Let’s remember to pray for all those affected across the country with these freezing temperatures. I believe that prayer can see dramatic changes even in those lives where the people don’t even know they are being prayed for.

One final note – I once again learned this weekend after about a year or two what a fireplace looked like!

Keep warm!!

Merry Christmas!!

The first to see Jesus here on earth were animals. Those lonely barn animals didn’t know the excitement they would witness that night. The very creator who saw them into the world was now with them in the world. Next came the angels. With them a new star that shown down from above the manger. As they directed the shepherds along that grassy path into town, the lowest of the working-class made their way to see not just a tiny baby, but God Himself. Wise men entered the scene at some point refusing not to see this new King. They brought gifts knowing that they were about to see the Glorious Impossible.

And today, you and I can see this nativity scene through the words God has given in the Bible. We can imagine what the scene must have looked like as the angels were singing “Glory to God in the highest!” We can see the visitors bowing down before a baby boy not quite understanding the impact that this child would have on the world but still in awe of what was taking place.

We can sing “Glory to God in the highest” along with the angels. We can bow before His throne thanking God for this gift of eternity that He granted to us. And unlike our friends who were in the stable, we can see the end. We see that Jesus grew up, performed miracles, died a cruel death, rose from that real death, and now resides in heaven preparing a place for those who believe in Him. Jesus said that those who have not seen but who believe are blessed. Friends, we are blessed! Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

From all of us at Maack Ministries, we wish you the greatest Merry Christmas!

One Year Ago

It was one year ago today that I began writing this thing called a BLOG. It's been a lot of fun writing and I hope you have enjoyed reading the posts.

I looked back at all the posts this last week and noticed there were only 27 of them. I know there's a lot more to living life than 27 topics! So, I'm going to try and cover every single topic this next year...well, maybe not. I'd like to be able to live life a little while writing about it!

Many of the postings this last year were about accountability for Christian leaders in our churches and also for Christians serving in different places such as work, school, church, or an organization. It's very important that we live life biblically in front of people and in secret. I'll have a few more posts about accountability this coming year.

I'll also be writing some fun things. I know you'll enjoy this coming year and I'm looking forward to continue reading the many comments that come in. Keep them coming!

Until next time, keep praying and reading God's Word!

In His Grip!

Near and Nearer

Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from Your law. Yet You are near, O Lord, and all Your commands are true.

Psalm 119:150-151

The psalmist doesn't claim that God makes probelm people disappear. He merely points out that while they are near, so is God. Big problems gain a different perspective when we remember the nearness of a bigger God.

Are You Playing Games?

An interesting question, don’t you think? Not too long ago I received a voicemail from a man who claimed to be a Christian and who thought he was living in a way pleasing to God. He was a leader in his church. The voicemail began with the phrase (paraphrasing), “It appears that you’re playing games with me.” I knew it had to be a lie because the only games I was playing at the time were Solitaire and FreeCell on my computer. The message went on with threats and more nonsense. I have it stored in my media archives right now ready to make available to the public sometime.

A few weeks ago I was playing a game with some friends (don’t panic! Just a board game) and got to thinking about that message. How a person who obviously had no idea what he was talking about would start making accusations and threats with no facts, no evidence, no anything. To me, it showed a lack of spiritual maturity that needed to be worked on in his life. As I began to think more about that, I got to thinking about all of the people who call themselves Christians but in fact, do not live as a Christian should.

Which brings me back to the title question, Are you playing games? A more detailed question would be, Are you playing games with God?

You see, in today’s society, a church-going born-again Christian can get away with a lot. You can use profane language, you can smoke (even on a church campus), you can make threats toward people, you can even say you’re a Christian but go the opposite direction on your morals and values as made popular today. As you do these things (known as sins), you use excuses to yourself that make what you’re doing against God and others just fine.

But God knows everything and He won’t let you get away with anything. Do you remember Psalm 139? It’s one of the best chapters in the Bible revealing how intimate God knows you and me. For a Christian who follows God’s Word, it’s one of the greatest comforts we’re given. To one who is adapting God’s Word to their sinful actions, it’s a nightmare. Part of the chapter reads, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” Guess what, no where! The Bible here even says that God knows what we’re going to say before we even say it! This means that God knows when you’re playing games with Him before you even do it.

The lesson here is simple. Stop playing games in life. Live how the Bible says to live. Love how the Bible says to love. David (Old Testament) several times in His life played games with God, sinned, and regretted it. However, God knew that David was seeking Him and He heard David repent and admit his failings and sins toward God and man. Because of this, God even called David a man after His own heart.

Isn’t that what we should be striving for? A person after God’s own heart? Start today. Forget the talking the talk – it’s cheap. Begin walking the walk, weekly, daily, every minute whether awake or asleep.

When you begin doing this, your guilt will be erased, the excuses you make trying to fit the Bible into your thinking will melt away, and one day when you see Jesus face to face, you’ll hear the words we all long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

In His Grip!

Remembering 9/11

Five years ago today, everything changed. I had set the alarm on my television to wake me up for college and the first images I saw were a plane hitting the World Trade Center. Not being very awake, I thought it was a commercial for some new movie. I quickly realized that it was much more than a movie; it was real life in its worst form. Not much later, I watched as both towers fell on themselves and 3,000 plus people died because of terrorists. Our country was now at war.

I remember getting out of the car at college and making the long walk to the classroom looking up into the sky and not seeing a single plane pass by. Our instructor cancelled class that day and I went into the school library where I saw the news on their televisions. Another student passed by me who had not heard what had happened. I tried to explain to him but it was hard to get the words out.

I watched the news almost constantly for weeks after that. Everything had changed. Television, the airports, people going to churches, the Congress all standing together singing “God Bless America.”

A sign was draped over a nearby building days after the attack in New York that read “We Will Never Forget.” And I haven’t. I’ll never forget the planes crashing into the towers, watching as they crumbled to the ground, seeing people running in blackness to get away from the huge wall of dust, hearing that the Pentagon had been hit, and later finding out that heroes (the first of the War of Terror) had crashed a plane into the ground in Pennsylvania.

I was walking outside after church a few years ago and a lady stopped me to speak. She said that she had purchased one of my CD’s at a concert I had done and she and her husband were driving across the country back to Arizona on September 11, 2001. They had seen the pictures and heard the stories and were deeply hit by the reports as we all were. She said they put in one of my CD’s and listened to the songs for encouragement that day to know we still serve a heavenly Father who is watching over us and taking care of us. She was in tears as she related how the music helped them through the long journey back home.

You see, my ministry is not about me. It’s not even about this blog or the website or the music. It’s about serving a Savior that we can all turn to in our best days and worst. It’s about encouragement for the hurting soul and joy for worshiping the Lord.

I don’t care if you’re a Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Pentecostal, or some other denomination. What matters is that you know that you’ve asked Jesus Christ into your heart and life and that you are living life through Him and His Word, the Bible.

No one knows when we’re going to die. But I have heard the statistics show that one out of every one person now dies! Let 9/11 be a reminder to give your entire life over to Christ; not to a church or a group or pastor, but to the only One who knows when you’ll be leaving this earth for the eternal portion of your life.

If you’re not sure if you’ve called upon Jesus’ name to be saved or you want to know more, I encourage you to go the link below and to get saved. It will the best decision you will ever make. The only ETERNAL decision. And remember that those who are born-again Christians are always

In His Grip!

How To Get Saved - www.maackministries.com/saved.php

An Ugly Church

I was on my way home traveling down the freeway and noticed what had to be the ugliest church I have ever seen. It was mostly brick and looked like it had a brick wall around the parking lot. The color of everything had a bright orange-mustard color to it which could easily make a person sick. There was a steeple on top of a tall part of the church that obviously did not belong there. It was some archaic looking pole that was barely noticeable. Actually, I heard someone else that I know doesn’t go to church actually say about this building that it is “disrespectful” to God.

Whoever chose the color and the steeple obviously had no idea what they were doing. I’m guessing the person who gave the “yes” on the bright orange-mustard was color-blind.

I write this not just to criticize the outside of a building but to show the lack of respect some churches and their leadership have for God and Christianity today. No reasonable person who saw the paint job would stop and check out the church. This look with the awful color and mini steeple represents the lack of interest the church has in its people, services, professionalism, and the worship of the Lord. If they care that little for the outside look, they will care even less for what they do as a church and the amount of love they have for one another.

Remember that as Christians, we are constantly being looked at by the world and they are always looking to point out a fault or mistake. Who we are on the inside is very important. It’s what God says He looks at. What we are on the outside is a representation of how we live and conduct ourselves as Christians. If we show ourselves as ugly with parts of our lives (or buildings) obviously not fitting in with the overall theme, we can easily point people away from Jesus instead of leading souls to Christ and ultimately to heaven. May all the glory go to God!

In His Grip!

For The Glory Of God

As I sat week after week in the middle on the left side of the church and listened to Pastor M.C. speak, I could sense there was something amiss. Many times I would hear the words of a bitter man who gave up his multi-level dream house and a very large income to come be a pastor of a tiny church in Phoenix. He would go on and on about how much money he was making between him and his current wife; how he was known to so many and had power and friends in high places.

In private he would speak of the couple who attended the church, a banker and his wife, and how they had tons of money and wished they would give more to the church. He discussed what other pastors in the community were making for income. He wondered aloud how much better his life would be if certain people at the church would leave and not come back.

One Sunday he began telling of what he had done while preaching the Wednesday before. He became excited telling how he jumped over the front-row pew as he was preaching. Walking back and forth, pounding on the pulpit and shouting were his trademarks.

As I read through the book “It’s Not About Me” by Max Lucado, my mind went back to those days and to this pastor. As the months went on, it became obvious that this man was in it for himself. Everything he did was to reflect on who he was and what he did even taking credit for many things he had no part in.

Lucado points out that the way we live our lives is a reflection on God. Nothing we do here on earth is for you or for me. It’s all for the glory of God. Constantly talking about the large size of a house or how much money someone brings in is pointing people to a person. Wondering aloud how his life would be better is pointing back at the person. Jumping over pews, pounding on a pulpit, or constantly moving distracts people from what the message should be about.

As we live our lives, whether in front of people on a stage or waiting in line to buy groceries, let’s remember that people are watching us and we should be reflecting the glory of God just as if we are a mirror. As John the Baptist said, we are to become less and God is to become greater.

In His Grip!

Happy Independence Day!

As I look out my window, I see a neighborhood of houses, trees, plants, rocks and grass. Towering over all is a mountain with storm clouds just above it in the distant horizon. I can hear people laughing and birds chirping. And all of this is just a small speck of this great land we call the United States of America.

Last year, I had the opportunity to travel around part of the United States and witnessed so many different landscapes. A person could travel from a hot, dry desert into a forest filled with trees reaching hundreds of feet in the air. The next mile could leave you in the middle of the country or riding along side rolling hills. Just the land is spectacular. Then add the animals spotted along the way, old and new buildings, skyscrapers and memorials. I don’t believe there has been a land so blessed by God since the early days of the Israelites.

Earlier today I watch my television as the space shuttle Discovery took off into space, astronauts viewing what few humans will ever see. The world, our country, in full view. A perfect launch from our perspective. The news reported that the shuttle was traveling over five miles every second. Kind of makes the race car drivers seem slow!

In the afternoon, reports starting pouring in that North Korea had launched over five missiles to test them for reasons I don’t even want to think about. It would be a scary story except that our military is fully prepared for any strike against us. We have the best and largest volunteer military in the world. Many have lost their lives defending the lives of others and our nation.

America has fought good fights. We fought for freedom and independence in the late 1700s allowing each person to have the freedom of religion and speech we cherish today. In the 1800s we fought each other family against family to free the slaves and to unite us once again. In the 1900s we fought Germany to overthrow an evil man and his army and to protect the world against his invasion. We fought against Vietnam and Iraq to ensure safety for those in other lands. In the 21st century, we took on the Taliban and terrorist organizations. We fought against Saddam and his troops to free the thousands of persecuted and tortured and to spread the idea of freedom we hold so strongly.

Tonight, many families will gather outside to enjoy the bright sights and loud explosions of fireworks. Not just a great show after dark, but a symbol and reminder of what we have been through. A fun way to gather Americans together as a united front to show the world that we love our freedom, we love our independence, we love the United States.

Americans have a lot to be thankful for. God has blessed us in so many ways. As Christians, let’s remember to thank Him for allowing us the privilege of living in this country and for the price Christ paid to purchase our freedom from the bondage of sin. Our lives are great below and our inheritance awaits us in heaven. Glory, glory, hallelujah…His truth is marching on!


In His Grip!

Comic Humor

Servant/Abusive Leader

Malcolm Webber, writer for the Leadership Letter, recently described the personal characteristics that differentiate between a true servant leader and an abusive leader. Below are some of the thoughts he wrote.

SERVANT LEADERS
Servant leaders are secure in Christ. Consequently, their focus is not themselves but others. These leaders exercise power in constructive ways to serve others. They are more concerned about genuinely contributing to the welfare of their followers than they are about promoting their own dominance, status or prestige. Servant leaders follow biblical principles of truth. Through their example of high moral standards, they develop the moral principles, standards and conduct of their followers. These leaders are realistic in appraising their own abilities and limitations. They learn from criticism rather than being fearful of it, welcoming both positive and negative feedback. They are open to advice, seek accountability, and are willing to have their initial judgments challenged.

Servant leaders are secure in Christ and so do not need the praises of men. Instead, they deliberately avoid the trappings of success, choosing to stay little in their own eyes. Moreover, their followers who have been strengthened in their capacities for responsible thought and initiative, provide critical input to their leader – balancing encouragement with reality (in contrast to the flattery that the abusive leader surrounds himself with) – which may keep him from straying down the wrong path.


ABUSIVE LEADERS
Abusive leaders are insecure. Because of their insecurity, their agendas revolve around themselves. They are characterized by self-absorption, self-protection and self-interest. Abusive leaders exercise power in dominant and authoritarian ways to serve their own interests, to manipulate others for their own purposes and to win at all costs. Although they know how to mouth the right religious slogans related to servanthood, in reality they are preoccupied with "looking out for number one." They use power for personal gain and exercise it in a dominant and controlling manner. The life of the organization revolves around them – not their visions but their persons.

Abusive leaders follow standards if they satisfy their immediate self-interests. They are skilled at managing an impression that what they are doing conforms to what others consider "the right thing to do." They are often excellent communicators and are able to manipulate others to support their personal agendas. Abusive leaders, however, have an inflated sense of their own importance, thrive on attention and admiration from others and shun contrary opinions. They attract and gravitate towards followers who are loyal, affectionate and uncritical. They seek to create loyal supporters and eliminate all dissenters. They are unwilling to have their strategies questioned and expect and even demand that their decisions be accepted without question. Moreover, they will avoid genuine accountability, feeling personally threatened by it.

When an abusive leader succeeds in some organizational endeavor, he is often further confirmed in his central abusive tendencies by the accolades that accompany his accomplishments. If he believes the praises heaped on him, he will be further seduced by delusions of greatness. Each time the admiring crowd shouts its approval of him, the leader’s façade of invincibility is strengthened. There is a mutually-reassuring intoxication as the followers are mesmerized by the leader’s success and the leader is mesmerized by the enraptured adoration of his followers. Image management replaces active, meaningful leadership of the organization.


Below are comparisons of the two types of leaders based on their characteristics.

SERVANT - Secure in Christ.

ABUSIVE - Personally insecure.

SERVANT - Is considerate and concerned for others.
ABUSIVE - Is concerned primarily with himself.

SERVANT - Studies the stress that others are under to help alleviate it if possible.
ABUSIVE - Constantly elicits sympathy for himself over his own stress and hardships.

SERVANT - Willing to discuss his decisions and the reasons for them, unless circumstances do not allow.
ABUSIVE - Interprets questions as personal criticism or disloyalty.

SERVANT - Tries to work with the initially uncooperative, seeing their positive potential.
ABUSIVE - Quickly discards individuals who he perceives will not embrace his vision or conform to his agenda.

SERVANT - Trusting toward people; thinks the best.
ABUSIVE - Suspicious toward people, sometimes to the point of paranoia.

SERVANT - Vulnerability is power.
ABUSIVE - Knowledge is power.

SERVANT - Communicates freely and openly.
ABUSIVE - Withholds or conceals information when it does not suit his purposes.

SERVANT - Responds to problems with prayer and investigation.
ABUSIVE - Responds to problems with anger and accusation.

SERVANT - Responds to failure by taking personal responsibility.
ABUSIVE - Responds to failure by blaming others.

SERVANT - Knows he must earn the support of his followers.
ABUSIVE - Demands unchallenged support.

SERVANT - Welcomes appropriate accountability.
ABUSIVE - Threatened by any attempts at real accountability.

I (Nathan) have read many stories from members of churches and people in leadership positions that have sad stories of leaders being abusive and not servants. It seems to be turning into an epidemic around this country. With abusive leadership, churches may grow but Christians will not. When the example is bad, so too will be the followers.

I was in a church with an abusive pastor which led to wrong decisions, boards going against what the church constitution said and border-line unconstitutional activity. The people became so mesmerized by the pastor that they began doing what was wrong without any thought to it. It was a sad thing. I got out before it got to the point it is now. More and more people thinking and leaving the church.

I as a Christian music leader, always try to lift up others instead of myself. I like to use the talents people have instead of bragging on what I can bring. My leadership is never about money, fame, or power. I want everything and everyone to focus on Jesus Christ and what He has done for us!

If you are a pastor, deacon, trustee, or other leader in a church, school, or any other business, please read through this blog post again and the chart and work on the abusive areas you have used.

We need to have servant leaders, not abusive leaders!

Flag Day 2006

Below is a photo of the United States flag that was seen by Francis Scott Key in 1814 as he wrote our country's national anthem The Star-Spangled Banner. The flag is now located in the Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington, D.C.

Read the words of our Pledge of Allegiance on this Flag Day:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,

And to the Republic for which it stands:

One Nation under God, indivisible,

With Liberty and Justice for all.

Prayer Tip

“We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand” (Isa. 64:8).

This week, practice the prayer of pliability. Instead of focusing on what you want God to do for you, focus on allowing Him to shape your desires until they match His. Accept each situation in your life as His hand shaping your thoughts, character, and longings.

6-6-06

Hey Everyone!

If you hadn't heard yet, today is 6-6-06. The number 666 is the number of the Beast or the Antichrist as seen in the book of Revelation. But, do we need to be concerned about today having those numbers in it? Nope, unless you attend the church I used to attend (inside joke)! The date doesn't mean a thing. So, since the day is just like any other, I've put some trivia below to entertain for the day. Enjoy!


PHOBIA OF THE DAY
Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia - fear of the numbers 666.


WORDS TO KNOW
probity \PRO-buh-tee\, noun:
Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness.

perceive \p&r-'sEv\,verb:
To become aware of directly through any of the senses, especially sight or hearing.

pleonasm \PLEE-uh-naz-uhm\, noun:
The use of more words than are necessary to express an idea.


RESTAURANT TO VISIT

Old Chicago - pizza, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, dessert
www.oldchicago.com


BOOK TO READ
Are We Living In The End Times? - book explains the end times prophesy


THE LOST BIBLE
A cowboy lost his Bible while he was mending fences out on the range.Three weeks later, a cow walked up to him carrying the Bible in its mouth.The cowboy couldn't believe his eyes. He took the precious book out of the cow's mouth, raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, "It's a miracle!""Not really," said the cow. "Your name is written inside the cover."


STEEPLE
I was watching a television program the other day. One of the main actors was with a group of younger children showing them the old hand game with the church steeple and the people. Unfortunately, she got the hands locked together backwards so when she went through the game, it came out:

Here's the steeple - where's all the people!?

Moral: A steeple doesn't make a church...people who love the Lord and accept Him as their Savior make the church.

Being Blind

Being blind physically is a handicap. Being blind spiritually is a death sentence. Christians today are being spiritually blinded like never before. The source of the blindness can come from school, work, the media, and even church. But one thing is the same in every situation: the blindness occurs because of a false biblical teaching. The Bible says in 1 John 2:18, “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.”

Sadly, in the last year I have heard many stories of how people have been blinded by those they thought were God-fearing and people-loving Christians. When we could be close to a world-wide revival, there are those who choose instead to attack. I believe it’s true that the church suffers more from the inside than from the outside world. I’ve seen churches grow in numbers but God is not present because of the blindness that has fallen on the congregation.

Look at what 2 Timothy 3:1-5 says about the days I believe we are now living in:

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power…

I know people who have called themselves born-again Christians for decades involved in many of the above activities without a second thought. Worse than that, I know pastors leading churches right now that have fallen into the traps of these sins.

I am not an expert on spiritual blindness but I have personally seen and have even experienced it myself. Only by the power of God was I able to see the truth and walk away from the ungodliness. I received a letter one time after I had stated a case for wrong actions by a pastor. This person was the wife of a deacon in the church. She said she did not care what her pastor did or said as long as he didn’t preach heresy on Sundays. It was an interesting statement because she was hardly in church to hear him preach on Sundays. I have a pretty good feeling that God wouldn’t really like that. He made it clear in Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” It sounds like God means business about living completely for Him, not just on Sundays! Another deacon knew that the pastor was doing wrong things but didn’t care because people were coming to the church and there was money in the offering plates.

This is what spiritual blindness can do. It can take a person who may have been living a godly life and turn them completely against the Truth. It takes just one phrase to cause blindness.

There is another person who preached each Sunday in a church. Every Sunday at the end of the service he would tell people how much he loved them. Everyone in the auditorium smiled and knew that their pastor was an honest, true Christian man that they could turn to in a moment’s notice. Unfortunately, the story isn’t that rosy. You see, the man would then complain every possible complaint he had about the people of the church, the building, the low income and more during the week! From what I heard, there was not a day that went by without him complaining about his congregation. So much for the love. 1 Timothy 1:5-11 is paraphrased this way in the Message:

The whole point of what we're urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into cul-de-sacs of gossip. They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven't the remotest idea of what they're holding forth with such imposing eloquence. It's true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. It's obvious, isn't it, that the law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever! They are contemptuous of this great Message I've been put in charge of by this great God.

Spiritual blindness causes people to do things that they would never approve of in the right state-of-mind. Lies are said, gossip is spread, hate mail is sent, threatening voicemails are left. The truth is rejected. This blindness is never meant to lead you to Jesus Christ, it is always meant to lead you away from Him.

Finally, if someone knows the truth, knows things are wrong at a church or Christian organization and continues supporting and endorsing this place, they are living in sin. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:33-34: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” These people are just as bad as those doing the blinding because they are supporting the unbiblical action.

So, why do I write about this subject? It’s because it is something that is happening today, right now, possibly even to you without you realizing it. Satan is so good at what he does to get us off the straight and narrow path to God that sometimes we don’t even see it until it’s too late. I know this: it’s not something you want to mess around with. If you feel that spiritual blinding is going on, take a look again in 2 Timothy 3:5-7 at what we are to do, “And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives…always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” If you know someone who has been blinded and left you hurt, use the words of Jesus Himself while hanging on the cross for your sins in Luke 23:34, "Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.'”

Let’s be diligent to stay true to the Christ who set us free by dieing on that cross, living again, and taking away our sins. Make this prayer found in the Psalms become personal to you as you live according to God’s Word:

No one who trusts in You will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You. – Psalm 25:3-5

In The Game

Tonight I had the opportunity to go the Arizona Diamondback’s game at Chase Field. The first thing you notice at the ballpark is that there are many distractions. Advertisements everywhere, lit signs that show scores, players photos and stats, announcements, salesmen yelling “cotton candy-lemonade!”, and the list goes on and on and on. It’s almost hard to remember that there’s a baseball game happening down on the field.

And then. . .you look up and just a few rows across from you, a foul ball comes screaming up ready to take revenge on the distracted mind that has been in charge. That foul ball will wake you up!

It’s a great life reminder to get our heads back in the game. There may be many distractions we face but we need to keep our eyes on the prize. Just remember the following two verses:

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 (NKJV)

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)