Tis' the Season Filled With Folly!

Well, it is just thirty days until Christmas! It is a time filled with joy, celebration and personal reflection....for some!

I fear, however, that Christmas, for millions, has become a season with more 'folly' than 'jolly' associated with it.

Folly is defined as, "the state or quality of being foolish; lack of understanding.
A costly and foolish undertaking; unwise investment or expenditure."

I find, increasingly, that the Christmas season is filled with foolish behavior on the part of people who have little or no true understanding of what the season is all about! It has become a season in which we spend money that ought not to be spent; circulate from one 'party' to another, drinking ourselves into oblivion; and do our best to outdo all others in the neighborhood with decorations, inside and out! We do these things, I suspect, in order to feel good about ourselves and the superficial lives we lead throughout the year.

We have come to battle each other in the aisles of the 'merchant cathedrals' to buy gifts, with little understanding that WE have actually been 'bought' by the ideas and false notions of a society that cares nothing of what is truly important, uplifting and encouraging in life. Indeed, "the state or quality of being foolish; lack of understanding.
A costly and foolish undertaking; unwise investment or expenditure." The Folly of the Season!

We invest our time in the pursuit of an ever increasing and elusive 'happiness' that rarely comes our way unless priorities are established and understanding is appropriated for ourselves.

I do not, however, wish to paint with an overly broad stroke here. There are some who understand the supreme significance of the birth of that man/God we know as Jesus, the Christ. For these good folks, the season is what it ought to be....a simple celebration which calls attention to the greatest story of love ever expressed. We celebrate the Man who has provided for us in eternity..... if we make the effort to get things right!

For Heaven's Sake!

The Holidays will soon be here,
we gather family, draw them near.
The warmth of fellowship so sweet,
we feel our inner self complete.

For family, friends and others dear,
bring joy and peace this time of year.
We sense our roots, as ne'er before,
and realize that love is sure.

We think of those who've passed our way,
with knowledge of the coming day,
"We'll meet again!", the Word declares,
Then lose forever, all our cares.

So as the Holidays draw near,
enjoy your family, and good cheer.
Give of yourself, more memories make,
With others share, for Heaven's sake!

Gary Laws Copyright 2012 © Gary D. Laws All Rights Reserved

Service With a Smile

Sixteen years ago, Susan and I were appointed to The Salvation Army in Carthage, Missouri. We were told it would be a tough appointment. The Corps had no money. Our first Sunday, all three soldiers were in attendance for Morning Worship. The building was a very old Civil War era stone structure that was originally a barn for livestock and was pretty much falling apart. You dare not venture into the very dark lower level where the cows were once kept. Cobwebs everywhere.

The Salvation Army did not have any program going except Sunday Services and we wondered to ourselves, "What in the world would we do?" Sharing this with our friends, Doug and Linda Yeck, they suggested we start a Soup kitchen but I wondered who would pay for it and who would help? Would anybody come?

The next week we sent out a press release to the local media announcing that we would do this starting the next week. Doug and Linda took a weeks vacation and came to help us get i

t off the ground. My daughter, Cheryl, wanted to help and drove out all the way from New York. After the news appeared in the local paper, people came to donate the much needed funds. When my daughter arrived she ventured into the 'catacombs' on the lower level and started the cleaning up process, then painting the walls. Doug helped paint the very uneven concrete floor and we put new lights in.

On Monday morning we decided to serve Spaghetti as that was an easy meal. Hours before lunch, community volunteers began to arrive. We donned our Salvation Army aprons and a smile and greeted what was to be a full house for lunch.

The patrons were the unsightly of the community, some would say. You know them, the ones few others pay any attention to. They were not dressed very well and many were in need of some instruction in personal hygiene. They all had one thing in common, however, they each were hungry and needed a friend!

Many of the community volunteers were in it for the long haul. Some of them are friends of ours to this day, especially Danette and Rod. Wonderful people. The Soup Kitchen continues to this day (the last I heard) even though we have long since moved on from Southwest, Missouri.

Well, whats the point of all this reminiscing? It is this: The best days of our lives were those days spent in service to those who needed a friend and a meal. People who needed to know that God loved them and we did too. This Thanksgiving, many thousands will be gathering at a local Salvation Army, and many other churches, to experience a meal and a smile. Give them a call. Maybe you can help

The Sunday Morning Express

Well, Sunday morning has arrived and there is so much to do. We must make breakfast for the family, lay their clothes out, get the children cleaned up, do their hair, check their nails, make a few phone calls and several other tasks, if all is to go well throughout the day. If you have a leadership position you may need to review your Sunday School lesson, your sermon or otherwise make certain that you are prepared. Perhaps there are people to be picked up for church or donuts for the fellowship hour to be bought!

Sunday morning, for many, has turned out to be the busiest day of the week and it seems that when we arrive at church we are already exhausted! Yet, the day has just begun!

Many years ago there was a very popular song by Simon and Garfunkel, the first two lines of which say,

"Slow down you move to fast,
you've got to make the morning last."

I am wondering if there is something in these words that we might benefit from. To often our Sunday preparations have turned into what I will call, 'The Sunday Morning Express'! To much to do and so little time to do it! Rush, rush, rush! When we finally arrive at church, we are hardly in a frame of mind that allows us to truly worship.

If this is what your Sunday mornings look like, perhaps you may be asking, "Is there anything I can do to make it better, easier?" Yes, there is! With a little planning and forethought, Sunday mornings can be a time that includes spiritual preparation that might just transform you worship experience.

Take time to do a little planning. We plan for everything else in life....why not plan ahead of time what our morning will be like! This may include giving the children their bath's on Saturday night and setting their clothes out, also. Checking your leadership materials on the days leading up to Sunday so that they are ready might be helpful. Try making your phone calls the day before or getting your gas for the day on Saturday.

Begin your Sunday with a quiet time, a devotional or perhaps put some Christian music on the radio that will calm your spirit. Take time to plan how your day will begin and 'slow down', thinking on those things that are really important. Sunday is the day we have set aside to honor, worship and commune with the Most High. You will need to start your day in a way that will enable you to make the most of the worship experience.

With a little planning, it can be done!

The Coming Storm

Few events cause the uncertainty or anxiety associated with a coming storm. As I write this, Hurricane Sandy has blasted itself across Cuba and the Bahamas leaving 21 dead in it's wake. It is expected to turn north towards the United States East Coast threatening the great cities of New York and Boston. Of course we have come to learn that, no matter how great the city, powerful storms leave their mark of destruction, especially when little or no preparations are made to withstand them. This is true as it regards other storms of life, also.

Everyone knows what it is like to face difficult days in their personal relationships or personal finances. Occasionally, we must face ill health or the death of a loved one or friend. At times, the storm clouds gather and threaten even the the most powerful among us. Trials and tribulations are no respecter of persons.

The results of such storms are even more damaging when people fail to adequately prepare for them. Many are taught, from their earliest years, to prepare 'for a rainy day'. One principle pertaining to our financial health, is to 'maximize our income while minimizing our expenses'! With the development of our personal relationships, we are taught to invest in and nurture them, so as to achieve success! However, we also learn that there are few guarantees in life.

There is one story in the Bible that comes to mind as I write on this subject:

"And evening having come, He said to them on that day, Let us pass over to the other side. And when they had sent away the crowd, they took Him with them as He was in the boat. And there were also other little boats with Him. And there arose a windstorm, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was now full. And He was in the stern of the boat, asleep on a headrest. And they awakened Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we perish? And He awakened and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said to them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" Mark 4:35-40 MKJV If we are to prepare for the storms that come our way, it would be a good thing to remember just who it is that has the power to quell the storm!

Placing our life in the powerful and loving hands of Jesus Christ will help us survive the storm! This does not mean that storms will not come our way, it simply means that we depend upon the One who has the ultimate power to enable us in the storms midst.

Whatever difficulties you may be facing, learn to take them to the Lord in prayer....always listening for His direction and calming voice. No, there is no guarantee that troubles will not come your way. But, when they do, you do not have to face them alone or in your own strength. God is 'in the boat' with you, and He will stretch out His hand and quell the raging waters when you place your life in His hands.

The most encouraging words found in the above quoted scripture are, I believe, " And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." This calm can be yours if you seek Him out and accept His provision for you, today!  GDL

SMALL TOWN CHURCHES

I was born and raised in a big city in upstate New York. It was a great place to live. Since those days I have lived in Chicago, St. Louis and a handful of other big cities. However, most of my ministry years have been spent in the rural Midwest; Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. When it was time to retire, my wife and I returned to New York although now we live on the edge of a very small village northeast of Syracuse, New York on the shores of Oneida Lake. What a joy it is to experience small town living, this time by choice. Often I find myself worshiping at a small United Methodist Church just a few blocks from our retirement community. The church is led by a Pastor who is always cheerful in spirit and, although she is slight in physical stature, she possesses a giant spirit of caring. It can also be said that she is a powerhouse in the pulpit! Her sermons are delivered with a strength that one would associate with a Pastor of a large Metropolitan Church. The sermons are well prepared and very well delivered. They are meaningful. The people are friendly and each Sunday I have attended, almost everyone greeted me and made me feel very welcome. There is an atmosphere that is very much a part of the small town character that surrounds this little country church. I plan on attending as often as circumstances allow. My point in sharing this is to underscore the importance of Christians of every stripe to reach out and welcome those who grace their presence. Sharing the love of God with others always comes easiest when that very love is resident in our lives. You may be a small church but God will do great things with you and your fellow Christians if you but take the time to welcome everyone into your fellowship and demonstrate, personally, the love of Christ.

Reformer or Performer?

I heard a minister on TV this morning refer to himself as an Inspirational Performance Artist. At first I was offended by such a characterization. The vast majority of ministers I have worked with and alongside through the years have been honorable servants of God who always had the best interests of their charges in mind. Yet, I would suppose that, for some, this is an apt description! How sad. To be seen in the context of a 'performer' rather than a 'reformer' can hardly be seen as a holy thing. Preacher....which title best describes what you do?

The Jericho Principle

In a recent sermon, I preached on the subject of what I call, the Jericho Principles. According to scripture, Joshua, at the battle of Jericho, had a plan. That plan was given by God. God expected the plan to be carried out to the letter and it was the 'foot soldiers' that would accomplish it's implementation. With that being done successfully, God would deliver the victory! We need to realize that all Christians are God's foot soldiers. He has given us a plan and objective for our lives and for the the effective propagation of the Gospel message. It is essential that His plan for creation and it's salvation be carried out and, with that done, God will deliver the Victory. Do you see yourself as God's 'foot soldier'? I pray that you do.

Pulpits or Pews?

I think the Pastor's responsibility is NOT to fill the pews, but to fill the pulpit! It is the congregants responsibility to fill the pews! Just my opinion, of course.

Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy

Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy

How often have you wished you had more time for the important things, like family and reflection? Bookstore shelves bulge with materials that tell you how to organize your life, but many of the sources miss an important aspect of time management.

There is a lot of talk in the US about posting the Ten Commandments in schools and government buildings. Few would argue against adhering to the instructions forbidding murder or stealing. Keeping these laws of God surely would bring a blessing to everyone. But in the debate one commandment is almost always forgotten. In fact its relevance is often debated even among those who promote keeping the Ten Commandments.

This makes the biblical introduction to the fourth commandment all the more potent. “Remember the Sabbath Day….”! It’s as if   this commandment is the easiest for humans to trivialize or overlook   ignore entirely.

The Fourth Commandment states; “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God….” Ex 20:8-10

Physical , emotional and spiritual rest are human needs. To ignore these is to sow the seeds of anxiety, illness, lethargy and depression.

Imagine a day devoted to rest and worship-no business calls, no painting the house, no lawn chores to attend to. Imagine a day with extra time to share with your family, without the deadlines and pressing appointments of the rest of the week. Even television shows with intense sound tracks and graphic scenes can leave our minds and even bodies exhausted. Imagine a day when you can shut out the noise, the violence, the preoccupation with making money…..and experience peace.

Jesus says, “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” A little time later in the same account he  explains, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” The Sabbath is a time to experience rest for the body and mind and renew our relationship with God and His Son.

For some it may be daunting to think of spiritual rest dedicated to reflection on our need for God and to think about what is important in life. Sometimes it is easier to fill each waking moment with career, house, car or entertainment than to deal with our own nature. It’s easier , that is, until the results in broken relationships, emotional breakdown, and spiritual emptiness take their toll.

The Sabbath, that is, the Lord’s Day, isn’t intended to be a day of idleness. It is a time to gather with other Christians for worship. It is a time to reconnect with family and friends. It is a day for physical, emotional and spiritual renewal. Plan it carefully!

Heavenward!

Heavenward

I believe, above, there is a land,
Far from the toils of life.
A place where love and peace does reign,
No tears, no quarrels, no strife!

A place that has been set aside,
for saints and sinners too.
Who've had their sins forgiven by,
The One whose life is true.

It is eternal, lasting, real,
Where Christ has built our home.
In mansions fair, we will abide,
No more to wildly roam.

Tis' heaven, this place that Christ does live,
and we shall live with Him.
For all eternity we'll sing,
Our praises to our King!

This all is very real, you know,
Were it not so He'd tell.
His promises are true, for you,
for me in Heav'n we'll dwell.

What Glory waits, what light doth shine,
upon the holy hill,
where God doth sit, His arms outstretched,
for this, His blood did spill!

Copyright 2012 © Gary D. Laws All Rights Reserved

The Trumpet Sound's Today!

The Trumpet Sound's Today!

When Jesus came, so long ago,
His mercy to bestow.
The world rejected love so great,
Just why, it's hard to know.

A battle cry would soon be heard.
The devil and his throng,
Would fight for souls , destroy at will,
Men's lives, men's hearts, men's soul.

The call from Christ now we have heard,
The battle is now ours.
For every precious soul from fear,
Delivered from life's scars.

Will you, will I, go to the front
this battle to enjoin?
Our weapon, love, will win the day.
He will our hearts annoint!

So onward, soldiers, to the fight
Our Captain leads the way.
His saving message on our flag,
The trumpet sounds, today!

Copyright © 2012 Gary D. Laws All Rights Reserved

Salvation Song

1) Twas' on the cross that Jesus died,
To make the sinner clean.
He's given robes of glorious white,

The crimson stains unseen.

Chorus

Salvation chorus, sing it loud.
The saints, on high, to hear.
Salvation Song, Salvation Throng,
Tis' music to His ear!

2) Our names found blazon'ed on His hands,
As hanging on the tree,
His sufferings paid the price for all,
We'll live eternally.

3) Now, "How's your heart?", the Savior asks,
"I soon will call the roll."
And those forgiven will I give,
New life, new heart, new home!

Gary D. Laws © 2012 All Rights Reserved

Our Work Has Just Begun!

Our Work Has Just Begun!
Gary D. Laws

1) O, wondrous mercy, boundless grace,
that brings us through the darkest place.

It heals our wounds while sins erase;
Remembered nevermore!

Chorus

Praise God, Praise God!
The Father, Spirit, Son.
Praise God! Praise God!
Our work has just begun!

2) Though life can be most challenging,
Our deepest pain to Him we bring;
Our sorrows, grief, now gone the sting,
Set free by Christ the King!

3) Now it is ours to serve mankind,
By sharing grace, transforming minds.
And letting all who hear our voice,
See Christ who died for them.

4) They to the Mercy Seat will come,
There meet with Jesus, God's own Son.
No longer fight, the battle's won,
God's Spirit deep within!

5) What joy, our message, hope and peace,
Now brings to those who've been released,
Their sin and sinning now has ceased,
Now living for the Lord!

copyright 2012 Gary D. Laws All Rights Reserved

Are They Being Truly Welcomed?

While visiting Spurgeon's Church in London, England, I was impressed with how intent the parishioners were to welcome newcomers. With my daughter and son in law, I entered the church on Sunday evening and was immediately engaged in conversation by a South African couple who had recently moved to the UK. They talked with us about a variety of subjects, asked about life in America, what brought us to Metropolitan Baptist, etc. They could have just smiled, shook our hands and been on to someone else. Rather, they were genuinely interested in us and made us feel right at home and quite welcomed.

Carry this thought with you to church this morning and take some time to make someone feel that they have come to the right place!

A New and Welcome Challenge

The Church experience is many things to many people. For Pastors it is, of course, unique. For the better part of the last 32 years, Church has not only been an experience, it has been a ecclesiastical responsibility. Through the week it involved sermon study and research along with much prayerful consideration. When other tasks would impose themselves there was the occasional 'Saturday Night Special'! Then there was planning the service, choosing the music and other elements of the the worship service.

When Sunday morning would arrive it meant picking people up who did not have transportation, greeting the faithful, always with an upbeat demeanor even when the spirit was down and the body was tired. Always feeling the need to 'perform' so as to make certain all were happy and had a meaningful time.

Since entering retirement and bidding farewell to those daily and weekly responsibilities, Church has taken on a new form and meaning. A new challe

nge, if you will. Now I am learning to be content sitting in the congregation, listening to the sermons of others and often critiquing them as the words are offered.

Mostly, it is now an experience within which I must learn, once again, how to worship! Now, you may think this sounds strange coming from a former cleric, yet it is a very real challenge.

Now I must prepare for the Sunday Worship experience in a much different way. I am free to concentrate the whole of my time on preparing MY heart and MY mind for this new role.

How nice it is to blend in. No more superiors to please. No more performance standards to meet, except as it regards the performance of my heart and mind. Only occasional sermons to prepare, as I have opportunity.

Now I have the time to concentrate the whole of my being on heart readiness and spirit submission to the One who has provided, and continues to provide, the needs of my soul! GDL

CP OPINION

Thursday, Aug 30, 2012

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Why Does God Allow Hurricanes?

By Jerry Newcombe , CP Guest Contributor August 29, 2012|10:06 am 

The shortest sermon I ever heard was delivered whimsically. 

On a Sunday night, many years ago, an associate pastor of a popular mega-church got up to preach.
He said that the topic of his sermon was, "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?" Then
he said, "The answer to that question is very simple: There are no good people." Then he pivoted
and began to walk away. A half minute later, he returned to the pulpit and delivered his actual message.
I don't remember a word of what followed, but I've never forgotten his humorous prelude. 

With Hurricane Isaac causing some havoc and threatening a lot more (as of this writing, it seems to
be following the path of Katrina), we remember again the problem of reconciling a good God with
suffering. 

Some politicians have weighed in on the hurricane, tying it into the Republican Convention in Tampa.
On August 24, US Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL), told WLS radio in Chicago, "Well, it means that
the gods are favoring Democrats. Not that we wish any kind of difficulty in terms of the weather." The
next day, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm tweeted, "R convention delay due to Isaac: I
guess God has ways to shut the whole thing down." When it looked like the GOP convention was
going to be spared and New Orleans might be hit, actor Samuel L. Jackson tweeted in a profanity-laced
message on Monday that it was "unfair." And an actress tweeted a message, also with swearing,
regretting that Isaac wasn't going to wash away the pro-lifers, et al, into the ocean. 

All politics aside, how could a good God allow hurricanes or other forms of natural disasters? This is a
core question that keeps resurfacing. Presumably, it is part of what keeps some from believing the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. There's only so much you can say in this type of forum. But here are a few
observations I make, as a student of the Bible and as a student of history. 

1) Ultimately, we don't know why God allows these things. His ways are not our ways. The whole
book of Job deals with the issue of Job's suffering-why did God allow it? Throughout the book,
Job's "friends" or "comforters" insist he must be guilty of secret sin; otherwise he wouldn't be going
through all this pain. Job maintains his integrity throughout the ordeal, but does question God's justice
 in all this. At the end of the book, God rebukes Job's comforters. But He also asks Job many pointed
questions, such as, "Where were you when I created the heavens and the earth?" Over and over,
for four chapters, God puts Job in his place. He also says words to this effect: Will you condemn Me
to justify yourself? That's precisely what many do today.

 2) We live in a fallen world. Fallen because of humanity's sin. Bad stuff happens to everyone. So
does good stuff. Someone once said, "The real question isn't, 'Why do bad things happen to good
people? But, why do good things happen to bad people?'" In any event, hurricanes are a reminder
that things are not right between us and the Creator. Jesus said the rain falls on the just and the
unjust. Despite the hurricane, or anything bad that may come our way, faith can provide comfort.
Even in the midst of the storm, God can help. It's reported that minutes before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
was shot on that hotel balcony in Memphis in 1968, he was requesting the hymn, "Precious Lord,
Take my Hand," to be sung at that night's meeting. The words are instructive: "Precious Lord, take
my hand. Lead me on; let me stand. I am tired; I am weak; I am worn. Through the storm, through
the night, lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home." Come what may,
even a hurricane, faith in the Lord produces endurance, even in very difficult circumstances. As is
often said, "There are no atheists in foxholes." 

3) Christ experienced suffering on the cross for the sake of our salvation. To paraphrase the late
Dr. D. James Kennedy, Jesus experienced the hurricane of God's wrath when He died for sinners.
So in Jesus, the God of the universe experienced things even worse than a hurricane, so that He
might secure our salvation. We are blessed to know that Christ will never leave or forsake us during
our time of suffering. 

4) Believers can bring glory to God's Name through the storm. And when the storms are over, we
can provide needed help. Frankly, millions of faithful Christians rise to the occasion, storm after
storm. Even an atheist marveled at this. When Hurricane Katrina hit, skeptic Roy Hattersley wrote
an editorial for the UK Guardian (9/11/05), in which he said of the groups providing post-hurricane relief:
"Notable by their absence are teams from rationalist societies, free thinkers' clubs and atheists'
associations-the sort of people who not only scoff at religion's intellectual absurdity but also regard
it as a positive force for evil." He added, "… faith comes with a packet of moral imperatives that,
while they do not condition the attitude of all believers, influence enough of them to make them
morally superior to atheists like me." I appreciate his honesty. A hurricane might be a wake-up
call from on high, and when (and if) it comes, I hope you'll join all those of good will who will do
what they can to improve the circumstances for those hurt and needy. 

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/why-does-god-allow-hurricanes-80769/#liLb8bmMitRL4XAZ.99

What, Me Worry?

Christians are called to live in both the temporal and spiritual worlds simultaneously. In the temporal world, we scurry about doing our best to influence outcomes. However, in the spiritual world we must come to accept that outcomes are predetermined. In the temporal we worry ourselves, sometimes beyond measure. In the spiritual, we have peace that comes from knowing that God will prevail! GDL

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 New International Version (©1984)

Take note that He says, "I HAVE overcome, not WILL overcome! It has already been accomplished! GDL

A Bag Of Tools

By:  R. L. Sharpe

Isn't it strange That princes and kings,

And clowns that caper In sawdust rings,

 And common people Like you and me

Are builders for eternity?

Each is given a bag of tools,

A shapeless mass, A book of rules;

And each must make - Ere life is flown -

A stumbling block  Or a steppingstone.

One Simple Way!

I think that all of the Church Growth Seminars ever held or books written on the subject can be summed up in one old Salvation Army Chorus (no longer sung, sadly);

If to Christ our only King
Men redeemed we strive to bring,
Just one way this may be done—

We must win them one by one.

Refrain

So you bring the one next to you,
And I’ll bring the one next to me;
In all kinds of weather, we’ll all work together,
And see what can be done.
If you’ll bring the one next to you,
And I bring the one next to me,
In no time at all we’ll have them all,
So win them, win them, one by one.

Side by side we stand each day,
Saved are we, but lost are they;
They will come if we but dare
Speak a word backed up by prayer.

Refrain

Only cowards dare refuse,
Dare this gift of God misuse;
Ere some friend goes to his grave,
Speak a word his soul to save.

Refrain

Not for hope of great reward
Turn men’s hearts unto the Lord;
Just to see a saved man smile
Makes the effort well worthwhile.

A Waste of Time?

Time Management, Leadership, Church Growth, Life Skills, Financial Management, Motivational Seminars, and on the list goes. We have been attending such gatherings (some of us for decades) and yet little changes! Still the experts keep coming, keep taking our money, raising our hopes, providing the same old information, albeit wrapped in new, clever terminology! Providing our 'professionals' with a glimpse into a, heretofore, allusive world. 

And then there are the endless books on these subjects and more, all with a carefully designed nomenclature intended to capture your imagination (and wealth) and set you on the path toward a personal and professional Nirvana! 

I have a message for church leaders, management leaders and others seeking to motivate your hirelings.....stop hiring these modern day 'Pied Pipers' and start doing YOUR job! You are the leader people are looking toward for advice, counsel, an example, and you are the one whose experience, theoretically, should be sufficient to move others to great heights! If you are not up to the task, then step aside and make room for a real leader! GDL

FAITH

‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’?: ATHEISTS TARGET HIGH SCHOOL COACH FOR ALLOWING CHURCHES TO FEED FOOTBALL PLAYERS

• Posted on August 23, 2012 at 10:46am by  Billy Hallowell
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Ridgeland High School Panthers Football Logo (Photo Credit: Facebook)

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist activist group based in Madison, Wisconsin,is taking a football coach to task, claiming that he violated the First Amendment by allowing local churches to prepare meals for team members. The organization sent a letter to Walker County Schools in LaFayette, Georgia, demanding that officials immediately investigate Mark Mariakis, the Ridgeland High School coach.

While the atheists want an examination into alleged pre-game foods that churches purportedly prepared for the players, the FFRF also addressed claims that Coach Mariakis prayed with the football players, used Bible verses in motivational speeches and on team shirts and took part on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a faith-based organization.

According to the FFRF, a local individual complained about the food that the teens are given on game days. The group also said that a minister typically delivers remarks to the players that focus upon Christianity as well — another violation that has the activists fired up.

“Taking public school football teams to church, even for a meal, is unconstitutional,” FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel wrote in a letter to the district. “This program is an egregious violation of the Establishment Clause and must cease immediately.”

Team members praying (Photo Credit: Facebook)

Walker County school officials released a statement claiming that they received the letter and are reviewing its claims. Richie White, youth director at Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church, one of the houses of worship that provides meals to the team, voiced his surprise over the FFRF’s complaint.

“It would be interesting to see what part of the Constitution we violated by simply offering a meal to fellow Americans. These are kis from our area that we do love and we do care about,” White explained.

“We as Christians don’t force our religion on anyone,” he added.

As is typically the case with FFRF scenarios, the individual complaining about the practice is currently remaining anonymous. While it may be a parent, it could very well be a student who finds him or herself uncomfortable with church involvement with the team.

The team’s official Facebook page doesn’t mention the FFRF directly (although an article about the controversy was shared with the teams fans), but on Wednesday, an image of the team praying and a separate post reading, “Yes we pray. Who doesn’t? We aren’t afraid to show that we love God!,” was published.

(H/T: FOX News Radio)

Five Chaplains Lose Jobs for Praying in Jesus Name

RICHMOND, Virginia, Sept. 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is defending why his administration forced the sudden resignation of five Virginia State Police Chaplains because they prayed publicly "in Jesus' name." Police Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty single-handedly created then enforced a strict "non-sectarian" prayer policy at all public gatherings, censoring and excluding Christian prayers, then accepted the resignation of five chaplains who refused to deny Jesus or violate their conscience by watering down their prayers. House Republican Leader Morgan Griffith and Delegate Charles W. Carrico, (R-Grayson) both issued public statements defending the chaplains, questioning Governor Kaine's role in terminating the chaplains, and vowing to introduce legislation protecting police chaplains' right to pray according to their own conscience. Defending Flaherty's persecution of Christian Chaplains, Governor Kaine pretended he himself was being persecuted, saying through his spokesman: "It is disappointing that Del. Griffith would make such a political attack on Gov. Kaine about his faith."Former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, who was also fired in 2007 for praying "in Jesus name" in uniform (but won the victory in the U.S. Congress for other military chaplains), weighed in: "Governor Kaine campaigned like a Christian to get our votes. But now, instead of governing like a Christian, or respecting his own chaplains' First Amendment rights, his administration forced the resignation of five police chaplains, simply because they prayed publicly 'in Jesus' name.' These five chaplains lost their jobs for honoring Christ. They're heroes of the faith, because they refused to deny Jesus when ordered to by the Kaine administration. If they contact me, they will be honored through my web-site: www.PrayInJesusName.org. And now Governor Kaine pretends he's the martyr, because we question why his administration forced them to resign for praying to Jesus? He's still got a job, they don't. Governor Kaine isn't the martyr, he's the persecutor." Citizens are urged to call Governor Kaine's office at 804-786-2211, to insist the chaplains be reinstated and the policy reversed, and also email him through his web-site: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfmChaplain Klingenschmitt is available for interviews at 719-360-5132 cell orchaplaingate@yahoo.com

Why Christian Fail to Grow

AUGUST 26, 2010 

Why Christians Fail to Grow
By Frank King

In the book of Hebrews, the writer brings up an interesting church problem: “For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:12, KJV). First, the writer is not talking to new converts, but he is talking to Christians who have been in the faith long enough that by now they should be serving as teachers in the church.

Secondly, not only did these believers fail to grow, but also they had actually regressed spiritually. They needed to be taught AGAIN, the basic doctrines of Christianity! Though God inspired the writer to pen the above verse over 1900 years ago, the problem is just as real today.

Let me quickly share with you several reasons why our failure to grow as Christians is a problem. The first one has to do with the will of God for us. He wants us to become like His Son. God is actively working in our lives to finish the good work that He has begun in us. He has no desire to stop until we attain unto the fullness of Christ so that as Christ was in the world so shall we be.

The second reason has to do with our service to God. If we fail to grow, we limit what He can accomplish through us. Of course, there are many things He can use us to do even when we are babes in Christ, but there are many things that only mature Christians can effectively do. A case in point is the verse quoted above. This portion of the epistle was specifically aimed at those members of the local church who by virtue of their time in Christ should now be teachers. Their failure to grow, however, made that impossible.

Thirdly, in a local church where Christians fail to grow, excessive carnality can be the result. Paul the apostle wrote to the church of Corinth regarding this selfsame problem (see 1 Corinthians 3). He said the evidence of their carnality was reflected in the envying, strife and divisions among them. It is certainly true that people who are spiritually mature handle conflict in more Christlike manners than immature and carnal-minded Christians do. A pastor whose church is plagued with carnality will feel the burden of the increased disharmony.

I could on and on listing the problems with Christians failing to grow. But a more important question is, what is the solution? How do Christians who have been babes way too long stem the tide and put themselves on the road to maturity? In the book of Hebrews, two verses down from the verse I quoted above, here is what the Bible gives for an answer: “Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14, NIV). In other words, the key to spiritual maturity is to constantly use or put into practicethe truths that we are exposed to.

There is no groundbreaking revelation in that verse, but we know it’s right. The bottom line is that Christianity is not simply a religion, but more importantly, it is a way of life. We must live it each day. In doing so, we exercise our spiritual senses, thereby learning to discern good from evil. This dynamic is fundamental to Christian growth. Those who fail to do this will not experience significant spiritual growth.

Frank King is a former church pastor. He is currently an evangelist. Frank is also the author of two books, Indiscreetly Yours and Steps to the Victorious Walk. Website: http://www.efrankking.com. Blog:http://wwwefrankking.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Mississippi Church Sues Town Over Being Banned From Plaza

Miss. Church Sues Town Over Being Banned From Plaza
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/miss-church-sues-town-over-being-banned-from-plaza-79840/#2Ethlm3Yx3cPUVoc.99

By Michael Gryboski , Christian Post Reporter

August 11, 2012|8:40 am

A small congregation in Mississippi not allowed to set up its church in a town square is bringing a suit against the town to federal court.

Opulent Life Church's suit against Holly Springs over its zoning ordinances was brought before a three judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, where justices heard arguments on Wednesday.

Opulent Life is being represented in part by the Texas-based Liberty Institute. Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty, told The Christian Post that there are two ordinances at issue in the suit.

"One requires churches to get 60 percent approval from all neighbors within a quarter mile of the property in order to exist anywhere in the city limits," said Sasser.

"The other one completely excludes churches from the town square but allows museums, art galleries, and libraries."

Opulent Life Church is a congregation of around 18 members that belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention. Its head pastor is Telsa DeBerry, who is the nephew of Holly Springs' mayor, Andre DeBerry.

In September 2011, town officials rejected a request from Opulent Life to lease a building at the town square, arguing that the space was needed for businesses and shops instead. In response, Opulent Life filed a suit against Holly Springs in January. The federal judge ruled in favor of the town, leading the church to appeal to the Fifth Circuit panel.

Since the January suit was filed, Opulent Life has garnered the support of the United States Department of Justice, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief against Holly Springs. "The ordinance imposes special requirements on churches which are unlike any imposed on similar uses – no other use requires approval by neighbors, the Mayor, or the Board of Aldermen," read the amicus brief filed by the DOJ. "The provisions are particularly troubling because they would allow neighbors or officials to exclude any religious community from virtually any part of the city and for any reason, even if the motive is bias against the group's religious affiliation or racial identity."

Regarding the issue of providing space for businesses and shops, Sasser told CP that the zoning ordinances should not interfere with religious expression and assembly. "First, the city's inclusion of libraries, museums, and art galleries as nonprofit uses but excluding churches is a violation of the law," said Sasser. "Second, churches are vital parts of the community that contribute to the spiritual and economic growth of their towns."

Andre Deberry, mayor of Holly Springs, Miss., did not return a request for comment by press time.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/miss-church-sues-town-over-being-banned-from-plaza-79840/#2Ethlm3Yx3cPUVoc.99

Report Highlights Consistent Pattern of Hostility Toward Christians in US

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By Paul Stanley , Christian Post Reporter

August 22, 2012|2:23 pm

A new 140-page report released by the Family Research Council and Liberty Institute reveals a pattern of hostility toward Christians and Christianity in the U.S. The report was released earlier this week and includes over 600 incidents over a 10-year period.

The attacks range from rulings from the judiciary branch to an elementary school student who was physically lifted from his seat and reprimanded for praying before eating his lunch. Yet another example shows a Christian couple was fired as apartment complex managers and forced to move because a painting with a Christian reference was displayed in their office.

Other examples cited in the report include:

• A federal judge threatened "incarceration" to a high school valedictorian unless she removed references to Jesus from her graduation speech.

• City officials prohibited senior citizens from praying over their meals, listening to religious messages or singing gospel songs at a senior activities center.

• Following U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' policies, a federal government official sought to censor a pastor's prayer, eliminating references to Jesus, during a Memorial Day ceremony honoring veterans at a national cemetery.

• A public university's law school banned a Christian organization because it required its officers to adhere to a statement of faith that the university disagreed with.

• The U.S. Department of Justice argued before the Supreme Court that the federal government can tell churches and synagogues which pastors and rabbis it can hire and fire.

• Through the Affordable Care Act ("ObamaCare"), the federal government is forcing religious organizations to provide insurance for birth control and abortion inducing drugs in direct violation of their religious beliefs.

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs banned the mention of God from veterans' funerals, overriding the wishes of the deceased's families.

• A federal judge held that prayers before a state House of Representatives could be to Allah but not to Jesus.

"America today would be unrecognizable to our Founders. Our First Liberty is facing a relentless onslaught from well-funded and aggressive groups and individuals who are using the courts, Congress, and the vast federal bureaucracy to suppress and limit religious freedom," said Kelly Shackelford, president of Liberty Institute. "This radicalized minority is driven by an anti-religious ideology that is turning the First Amendment upside down."

Both organizations presented the findings of the report during a joint press conference in Tampa, Fla., on Monday prior to the Republican Party Convention platform committee to raise that awareness.

The Liberty Institute further pointed out that religious liberty is "facing a relentless onslaught from well-funded and aggressive groups" that are using whatever means available to suppress or attack religious freedom.

FRC's Tony Perkins added, "As dark as this survey is, there is much light. The secularists' agenda only advances when those who love liberty are apathetic. Let this be a call to stand for religious liberty in the United States."

The full report can be viewed here.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/report-highlights-consistent-pattern-of-hostility-toward-christians-in-us-80408/#MzSv8LyxPWHkYmjp.99

The American Bible Challenge

 
Premieres August 23, 2012 and will air Thursdays at 8 pm ET/PT

Comedian and author Jeff Foxworthy hosts this studio-based game in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible.  Utilizing current as well as historical references, questions will be drawn from the rich, dense narrative found in the world's best-selling book.  The contestants will share their compelling back-stories and each team will be playing for a charity. 

The American Bible Challenge

Premieres August 23, 2012 and will air Thursdays at 8 pm ET/PT

Comedian and author Jeff Foxworthy hosts this studio-based game in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible.  Utilizing current as well as historical references, questions will be drawn from the rich, dense narrative found in the world's best-selling book.  The contestants will share their compelling back-stories and each team will be playing for a charity. 

5 Reasons Why God Calls Us to Wait

By Paul Tripp , CP Guest Columnist

August 16, 2012|8:32 am

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/5-reasons-why-god-calls-us-to-wait-80079/#v7opTIHyWmDMSLzG.99

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In ministry you will be both called to wait and also find waiting personally and corporately difficult. So it is important to recognize that there are lots of good reasons why waiting is not merely inescapable but necessary and helpful. Here are a few of those reasons.

Because We Live in a Fallen World

We are called to wait because the broken condition of the world makes everything we do harder. Nothing in this life or in your ministry really functions as originally intended. Something changed when sin entered the world, and in rebuking Adam, God summarized that change: "cursed is the ground . . . through painful toil you will eat of it. . . . It will produce thorns and thistles for you. . . . By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food" (Genesis 3:17-19). Sin brought friction and trouble and pain and sweat and a thousand other "thorn and thistle" complications to absolutely every aspect of life. We find ourselves waiting because everything in a fallen world is more laborious and entangled than it really ought to be.

Sin also put greed and fear and arrogance and jealousy and self-worship into the souls of all who live this thorn-and-thistle life. We must wait because, by being selfish, impatient, competitive, driven, anxious, and angry, we make life and ministry harder for one another in an endless variety of ways. This is why the seemingly easy leadership conversation becomes the full-blown conflict, why the once-sweet ministry relationship gets stained with hurt and acrimony, and why the church at times sadly functions as a tool of personal power rather than an instrument of worship and redemption.

Processes and people are all affected – everything and everyone has been damaged by the Fall. We must wait, because in a world that is broken, everything we do is harder and more complicated than it was ever meant to be.

Because God Is Sovereign

We must wait because we are not writing our own personal and ministry stories. Life does not work the way we want it to, in the time we want it to. You and I do not live in the center of the universe. That place is forever occupied by God and God alone. Our individual stories and the stories of our churches are part of the great origin-to-destiny story that he alone authors. Waiting becomes immediately easier when you realize God is sovereign (and you are not) and when you further reflect on the reality that he is the ultimate source of everything that is wise, loving, and good.
Waiting, therefore, is not a sign that your world is out of control. Rather, it is a sign that your world is under the wise and infinitely attentive control of a God of fathomless wisdom and boundless love. This means you can rest as you wait, not because you like to wait, but because you trust the One who is calling you to wait.

Because God Is a God of Grace

Waiting is one of God's most powerful tools of grace. It's important to realize in your ministry that God doesn't just give us grace for the wait. The wait itself is a gift of grace. You see, waiting is not only about what you will receive at the end of the wait. Waiting is about what you will become as you wait.

In calling us to wait, God is even rescuing those of us in ministry from our bondage to our own plan, our own wisdom, our own power, our own control. In calling us to wait, God is freeing us from the claustrophobic confines of our own little kingdoms of one and drawing us into a greater allegiance to his kingdom of glory and grace. Waiting is more than being patient as situations and other people change. Waiting is about understanding that you and I desperately need to change, and that waiting is a powerful tool of personal change. God is using the grace of waiting to change us at the causal core of our personhood: the heart. Now, in ministry, that's a good thing!

So We Can Minister to Others

Waiting is central to any ministry activity. If you are truly committed to being part of what God is doing in the lives of others, you will be willing to wait. Personal heart and life change is seldom a sudden event. Usually it is a process. You and I do not determine when and how the winds of the Spirit will blow, and people do not often become what they need to become overnight.

This means that in ministry we are called to have the same conversation again and again. We are called to pick that person up after each failure, to be willing to forgive and forbear, to remind him or her once more of God's presence and grace, and to be willing to have our lives slowed down and complicated in the process. People of grace and love are always people who are willing to wait.

For the Increase of God's Glory

Finally, we are called to wait because everything in life and ministry exists not for our comfort and ease but for God's glory. The whole redemptive story is written for one purpose and one purpose alone: the glory of the king.

Waiting is hard for us because we tie our hearts to other glories. We so often are tempted to live and minister for the glory of human acceptance, of personal achievement, of power and position, of possessions and places, and of comfort and pleasure. So when God's glory requires that these things be withheld from us – things we look to for identity, meaning, and purpose – we find waiting a grueling, burdensome experience.

Waiting means surrendering your glory. Waiting means submitting to his glory. Waiting means understanding that you were given life and breath for the glory of another. Waiting gives you opportunity to forsake the delusion of your own glory and rest in the God of awesome glory. Only when you do that will you find what you seek, and what you were meant to have: lasting identity, meaning, purpose, and peace in Christ. In this way waiting is much more than a burden for you to bear; it is a precious gift for you to receive with joy.

Paul David Tripp is the president of Paul Tripp Ministries, a nonprofit organization that is "connecting the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life." Paul is also a professor of pastoral life and care at Redeemer Seminary in Dallas (TX) and the executive director of the Center for Pastoral Life and Care in Fort Worth (TX). Paul has written many books on Christian living that are read and distributed internationally. His newest book, "Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry" will be released in the fall. For more information about Paul and his ministry, visit www.paultripp.com.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/5-reasons-why-god-calls-us-to-wait-80079/#v7opTIHyWmDMSLzG.99