Good encouragement for pastors and others fighting for the faith!

I hope it encourages and inspires you as it did me!

"Man up preachers"

Email, Facebook and the decline of biblical/corporate prayer!

I am not sure other churches are experiencing an increasing dependence on cyberspace sharing/access to people's prayer needs or if they are seeing a decline in attendance at corporate prayer times, but the issues is worth some consideration.

In my church we have recently decided to stop sending out prayer requests, through our official church email, which mention people who have asked to be removed from our church role. It makes much sense that we would honor people's desires to not be associated with the church in an official capacity, by not continuing to mention them in our official church communications. Of course we encourage people to share requests and pray for all people as they feel led personally.

Much to my surprise, some people were outraged by this, especially a few who had asked to be removed form the role in previous years. They had several concerns including: suggesting it means we don't believe in prayer, thinking it may hurt our image in the community and believing it may prevent a person from getting what they want from God, because they did not get enough numbers of people praying for them.

Of course these objections are full of bad theology including the reality that "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). So it is not necessary that we get many people on board to have God's best done for us. God listens to each of us for Christ's sake, if we have been reconciled to God in Christ!

Further we can consider Paul's advice to Timothy in 1 Tim. 5:23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. (NKJV)

Paul never suggests that God will always heal when asked and does not suggest Timothy needs to get more people praying for his frequent illnesses.

This makes sense when you consider Paul's own experience -

2 Cor. 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NKJV)

God's word does not say all who pray will be healed or getting more people to pray will necessarily move God's hand! Assuming God is doing what is best for Paul, Timothy and us, even when He says no to our prayers, do we really want to get many people to pray in hopes He will do something else? Paul got God's best in learning to depend on God, even while his prayer request met with a firm no!

Further, when we consider how many of the prayer requests we send out have to do with health needs, and the scriptures clearly tell the sick they should do as we read in -

James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (NKJV) This is not a prohibition against sharing prayer requests about illnesses, but while one has become an absolute demand of church goers (email/facebook prayer request sharing), the biblical practice outlined in God's word has become almost unheard of! If someone becomes dependent on email/facebook prayer request sharing, are they likely to be confronted about sin, salvation and their need to obey God as they find comfort in Him, even if they are still sick?

OK, but this off-theology of prayer is only part of the problem I see here. The bigger issue is how dependent we have become on cyberspace for communicating prayer needs and how lax we are at attending in person corporate prayer times. Is it easier to communicate by email and facebook? Yes, but what about coming together to share our needs and call out to the Lord for His guidance and the power to carry out His will -

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (NKJV)

I would love to see the place where we pray shaken by God, but even more important, I would love to see the people of God coming together in person, to pray for God's power, to go into the world (in cyberspace and in person), sharing the word of God boldly!

What do I see? An incredible amount of emphasis on physical needs and our desire for healing, especially in cyberspace, while corporate prayer times, spiritual needs and people's eternal destinies seem to get very little attention.

What will you do?

You could get mad, or you could come and pray with the body of Christ in person, and expect God to use and change us, for His purposes and glory!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

A truth to meditate on and find peace!

We may spend much time asking why things are the way they are. We may believe God is totally sovereign, but still spend time trying to figure out how specific things going on in the world could ever serve His purposes.

The fact that these things are hard to nail down should not surprise us -

Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. (NKJV)

Much more important than figuring out the why of everything God does, is simply believing He is wise, He is powerful and He loves us for Christ's sake! Then we can answer the question Abraham asked -

Gen. 18:25b "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (NKJV)

And to this we can answer 100% yes and Amen!

This is a source of great peace and comfort to me in a world which seems so out of control.

To Him be the Glory!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Something Christians and Mormons do have in common!

This is an article about a recent speech made by Dr. Al Mohler to Mormons at BYU. He does a fantastic job of pointing out the main error in Mormon theology (not seeking justification by faith in Christ alone), but at the same time makes a great point regarding our agreements on many cultural issues. Regarding these differences and those things we have in common Mohler said this: "I do not believe that we are going to heaven together, but I do believe we may go to jail together."

Please take time to read the article and be blessed!

A good testimony touching on a timely subject!

This is a testimony of a life radically changed by the gospel - Sermon Audio

I hope it gives both hope and insight!

A truly motivational video!

I saw this video posted on Alpha and Omega Ministries and as a graduate of a Southern Baptist Seminary, I found it to be a real blessing. I also think it can be very inspirational if you have ever found yourself called to help bring change to a Christian institution and all the odds seemed against you.

Truth from Gene Simmons?

I saw this on wretchedradio and had to repost it -

Have I missed something politically?

All I hear from politicians and the media is - "we need to raise the debt ceiling quickly", "we will loose our good credit rating if we don't raise the debt ceiling now" and "we are doomed if we don't raise the debt ceiling straight away!"

I may be simple, but if we have to keep borrowing more money to meet our existing debts, why would anyone give us a good credit rating, and aren't we doomed as a nation financially if this need to borrow more and more does not change?

I hear complaints that one party makes an issue of raisng the debt ceiling every year. I have a proposal, cut the budgeted expenses for next year, by the amount they are having to borrow this year, and next year there will be no reason to raise the debt ceiling!

“will continue to suffer permanent, severe and irreparable harm and injury"

What is this quote referring to?

Maybe -

Victims of ongoing violent abuse?

Those living without food, shelter or clothing?

Military prisoners at Guantanamo Bay?

People who are being exposed to extremely violent or sexually graphic images?

No, not any of these things.

Prepare yourself for shock and awe!

It describes the harm that will be done to visitors and students at a school in Ohio if they catch a glimpse of a depiction of Jesus in a display of famous historical figures!

The ACLU and the Freedom from Religion Foundation used these words in their law suit against the school which now has to remove the picture (after 60 years on display) and they must pay a fine of $95,000 as well.

Here is a link to an article with more details from Fox News.

Does Biblical Christianity Support Socialism?

This is a good discussion of the issue: Generations Radio