Council of Bishop's Silence in Their Own Words

A report on racism includes this quote by one of the United Methodist Bishops, Wisconsin Bishop Linda Lee, a member of the council’s Task Force on Racism, said it was urgent that the Council of Bishops call for greater compassion in human relations because of intensifying rhetoric and violence against racial, ethnic and religious minorities around the globe.

“At this moment in history in the U.S. and elsewhere, our silence is a statement,” she said. “So if we don’t make a statement in writing, it could be seen as complicit with what is happening. . . . We will have lost an opportunity to speak to our churches at a moment when they need to have an idea what we believe.”
She is right of course that silence can speak as loudly as the things we actually say. For instance the silence of the Council of Bishops on Churches, Annual Conferecnes and Jurisdictions that keep fighting the Church's established position on homosexuality speaks volumes in and of itself. When churches and annual conferences with active and retired clergy and bishops practice civil disobedience and say that they plan on conducting weddings in or outside of the walls of the church they are violating the heart of our Book of Discipline and our connection. When individual Bishops have spoken out on the issue they have sent mixed messages that when combined with their overall silence on the issue at hand throughout the connection it becomes clear that the Council of Bishops is more of one mind on this than we want to believe and their oneness and "gentlmens agreement" not to criticize or discipline one another speaks to many of us reminding us that in this matter the Council of Bishops has chosen to forfeit it's spiritual leadership. They cannot lead us into a unifying experience for the 2012 General Conference because they are in the words of the Book of James "double minded and unstable in all their ways." There are a growing number of United Methodists who no longer look to the Council of Bishops, the Churches Agencies and Boards to speak for or represent us. There is a growing United Methodist "Tea Party" happening and the Holy Spirit is on the move to reform and revive not from the United Methodist "super structures" but from the local Church. What we now need is even one or two Bishops with the heart and grit to take a stand and rise up from within the Council of Bishops. Come on Bishops, there has to be a couple of you willing to rock the boat and be a dissenting voice that speaks a "God Word" into the debate. We are waiting and long to be led or we will write you all off as not the leaders we had counted on. So go ahead and speak out on racism...you should. But if you are silent when it counts on the other you may as well not bother on racism either.

Lessons from the NFL...Dropped Passes and Missed Opportunities

Well the Buffalo Bills almost beat the Pittsburg Steelers this last weekend. But then the receiver dropped the "easy" pass that would have won it. He was crushed and the game was lost. Later that day the young receiver "tweeted" on the internet communicating his disappointment that God had let him down and wondered "why?". The news people who heard about his "tweet" wondered about his putting his doubt out there like that. I must confess, I too struggle with his "tweet" and his choice to put his faith out there like this at such a vulnerable moment like feeling crushed because "his prayers had not been answered like he had wanted". He had "foreseen" and envisioned a different outcome. He had seen victory in the game as he confidently ran down the field, as he lifted his hands to catch the pass...a "sure thing" and easy for such Christian athlete like him. Did God let him down? Following the tweet in which he questions God passionately in which he said "really", I can picture God saying "Really? You are putting this out there for all to see, as if I had failed you? After all, you dropped the pass. I gave you the skill and the ability to catch it and you didn't and now you are blaming me? Really?" "You are willing to blow your Christian testimony as well as the game? Why couldn't you have just praised me. I understand your frustration. I get frustrated too...it's tough to watch your spiritual children being given so much, so many gifts and just blow it time after time. I give you such easy passes and tasks to accomplish and you just keep blowing it. Still I love you. Practice more on focusing on the ball. Work harder. Trust me and don't base your faith on whether a game is lost or won. Don't make the game or your victories and losses in such an idol. I love you and have a bigger plan for you than you can imagine. If you can't handle the game and keep it in proper perspective, maybe you should quit and live your life for me in a different way..." - signed,God. It is an interesting thought and imagining. What do our games really mean to God? How disappointed does God get when we drop a pass? How disappointed does God get when we publically "diss" Him, in a "tweet" or on Facebook, on a text over the phone or with our mouth? After all we just used the computer "code" language for the profanity and didn't actually say it. We say we are Christians and I think that this Christmas season it is time we start living, talking, tweeting, texting, and Facebooking like it. Just a thought after watching some football this weekend. I hope the young man has other opportunities to catch passes that win big games. But mostly I pray that when the opportunity comes to be a good witness for the King of Kings he takes it and doesn't let his emotion carry him away to say things that matter and hurt the cause of Christ. And perhaps more appropriate for all of us "non-NFL types" I pray that I can be faithful when I have these opportunities to praise Him and give thanks in all things. Blessings in the House. "Come On, Man, Somebody Praise Him."

The Disenfranchisement of the Military Voter

So let me get this straight; New York and the Chicago area can't get absentee balloting right for military voters? It seems to me that if the White House were going to sue someone...say a state or city that this would be a good time. It is not just inconvenient...it is a national disgrace to see this happening. If the Department of Justice cannot get this right...perhaps they should cease to exist for they serve no great purpose if they cannot protect the vote of the military voters. But perhaps the White House and Democrats do not like how military people have tended to vote, so it is inconvenient at best for them. In any event it seems to me, having served 29 1/2 years in the Army that the military has been what has allowed valid voting to take place from the beginning, so this must be made right. The last couple of presidential elections there was much talk about the disenfranchisement of ethnic and minority vote. People are enraged if the poor cannot vote. Systems are put into place to make sure that people are not disenfranchised. ACORN and similar community organizers exist to get out the vote. But, who is really watching out for our great military people and their right to vote and have it count? Sure it is hard to make sure that they get a chance because they are frequently put into situations like overseas deployments that put their lives at risk protecting our freedoms. I know we have the technology to make this happen. We just don't seem to have the will nor the backbone. But somebody should stand up and make some noise about this and protest vigorously. Those who cannot make this happen should be replaced and lose their jobs whether they are politicians or beaurocrats. If the Department of Justice needs shaken up because they can't seem to get their act together over the Black Panther voter scandal and disenfranchisement of white voters then perhaps the person to take the fall should be at the top of that, Mr. Holder. Eliminate anyone who cannot figure this out and make it right...simple. Or it should be. We trust our military NCOs and Officers to lead our soldiers in combat...trust them as vote monitors and send back the tallys with accompanying information through electronic means to whatever state, city or municipality. It could be validated and used as provisional ballots at the vary least until the accompanying hard ballot arrived. Make it happen, we can and should do this. It is rediculous that thousands of military ballots are not counted each election cycle and we talk about it but do nothing about it. I am SICK AND TIRED of it. I guarantee you that if Mr. Obama thought that most of these votes were going to democrats that there would be hell to pay and they would find a way for the Justice Department to get really involved instead of the lame efforts that they have made so far. Go ahead, Mr. President, make my day....make the military ballots all count throughtout this great land. Stop the Disenfranchisement of American Military voters now.

Bill Maher Mocks Christians and Those Who Believe

It should come as no surprise to those who have ever listened to what "passes for intelligence" from Bill Maher's mouth that he mocks our God and our Christ. He speaks as faith being a conscious suspending of rational processes to believe. He could not be further from the truth, either about God, Christ or his bogus definition of faith and belief. These days, people like Bill Maher, qualify as the intellectual elite of our times. But they are neither elite nor intellectually sound. They suspend belief for rational processes and thus deny a large part of the image of God that was placed in them in creation. By mocking what he clearly does not understand, he shows the smallness and deadness of his spirit. I do not hate or hope that Mr. Maher goes to hell. I would not wish this on anyone...I do pray that he could come to a spirit of repentance and hear the call of God for his own life. I pray that he has not blasphemed the Holy Spirit in such a way as to be beyond grace. But those who mock must be careful because he could come to a place where he couldn't see a blessing or a call from God were it to happen right in front of his face. In C.S. Lewis final book of the Chronicles of Narnia, there is a scene in which some dwarfs refused to believe in Aslan had him right in front of them speaking to them and they could not perceive it. They were beyond grace because of their own insistence and mocking that the Great Aslan did not exist and could not deliver. They were wrong and so is Bill Maher and his ilk of unbelieving scoffers. We should not be surprised because the scripture tells us that in the last days there would come scoffers and mockers. This is just another witness from God that the end times are upon us. Come quickly Lord Jesus. And every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord...and that includes you, Mr. Bill Maher. By the way I am not really sure that Bill Maher really exists. He is spiritually dead and in need of resurrection. Hopefully he can find grace and forgiveness for leading many astray. He is a false prophet and people should both understand that and understand his threat.

Jesus Seminar Marks 25 Year Anniversary

The Jesus Seminar marks it's 25th anniversary this year. This "group of scholars" decided that Jesus only actually said 18% of what the New Testament ascribes to him. They color coded his words and determined that some things were most likely added on later by others with an agenda. But what agenda did the "Jesus Seminar" have...get people talking about the historical Jesus...but if Jesus only said 18% of what the scriptures have him saying then we don't have the scriptures at all just a careful myth and hoax...and that is not what we have. These "scholars" have undermined the faith and are heretics who should not maintain clergy credentials if any of them have credentials. How a denomination allows heretics to continue in their midst without trying them for heresy is beyond me...but then again how some United Methodists are not tried for heresy as bishops and as clergy and as lay people is beyond me. It is not okay to believe just anything and all things are not just equal. There is truth and there is error. All scripture is God breathed and not open to the whims of man in its writing. So I say on their 25th anniversary that some of us conservative clergy got together and voted to figure out if the lives of these scholars has amounted to anything for the good of the kingdom and it has been determined that the "scholars" have been deemed and voted on as irrelevant for this current church age..."blah, blah, blah...did someone say something about Jesus...not anything that someone with wisdom or spiritual ears might listen to." These scholars need to repent and turn to God so that they not fall into eternal wrath and damnation for leading people astray. They are false teachers and dried springs that promise water but cannot deliver. The scriptures warned about false teachers and deceivers and in the dictionary one might find under the word "heresy" see Jesus Seminar. They are a modern parable and byword for liberal, progressive rot spiritually and the church is poorer for their presence. So there are some of us who do not celebrate in any way a 25th anniversary of such heretics. This anniversary is to be "celebrated with a "Woe unto this generation." from God.

Islam...not our Brothers and Sisters

Some people seem to think that islamic people are somehow our Abrahamic brothers and sisters...perhaps because that is what the Moslem community says whan it is convenient. But they are not truly our brothers and sisters. Fellow Christians are brothers and sisters but not people from another religion as if they were going to heaven or something. Before people jump on me, consider that the Jesus that the Islamic world believe in as prophet is not the man or the divine Son of God as He presented Himself to be...so clearly the islamic faith falls into the category of the book of Galatians that talks about as another gospel. It is clearly not enough to say that Jesus is a prophet. Futhermore, the way that the moslems treat and act towards Jews and Israel shows that they are not brothers and sisters of Judaism...not even deeply conflicted brothers and sisters. Islam perverts the gospel and our Christ. They are neither our friends nor our brothers and sisters but they are effective persecuters and deceivers. They believe that if they die in jihad that they will receive some large number of virgins in heaven...good deal for the virgins, huh? They mistreat women and their rights in this life and want to eternally gratify themselves with virgins in the next...unfortunately many a jihadist has awakened in hell and has sadly seen that the promise of islam does not deliver...perhaps that was ninety nine virgin demons...or 99 year old virgins...such irony that islamic folks have been deceived to believe that their eternal reward in the next life is eternal pleasure...is that what our scriptures tell us? I think not. By the way, what is the eternal reward for the faithful islamic woman? When I spent some time in Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar I met some very nice islamic people. Some of them were extremely faithful. And some of them were just extreme. But none of them had a saving faith in Jesus Christ or in our God. Their god, allah is not the same as our God. When you study out the character and nature of our God and theirs you cannot accurately conclude that the two are one and the same even if they say that the two are the same. What is in a name for God? Our scriptures make it clear that God's nature and character are revealed in His Name...God's actions and revealed behavior since the beginning of time also show clearly that Yahweh and allah are not the same. What the Koran tells islamic people that allah requires for salvation are not the same as Christians have been taught. There are certainly many good things about the teachings of islam, but that is not the same as saying that the 1.5 billion islamic people are our brothers and sisters or that we share anything in common in our faith that is saving and eternal. Pray for islamic people...yes. Love them...yes. Care about them...yes. Be a good neighbor...yes. Let them build a mosque at ground zero...no. Tell them about Jesus...yes. Live under their sharia laws...certainly not. Expect them to blend into our culture and adapt...yes. Understand that a central belief of theirs is to lie and practice deception in the name of furthering islam...yes. Understand that liberal and progressive politicians consistently give islam a pass and advantage where Christianity is denied or blocked by them...yes. Islamic people as brothers and sisters...not in this life or in the next unless they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior and acknowledge him as much more than a prophet...the very Son of God and divine...nothing else will get you into heaven...not submission and not good works and not even their warlike jihad will do. We must see the islamists among us accurately and know what their strategies and desires are. Islamists are not friends of America nor of Christians...there is no common struggle nor mission that we share unless it is limited and one that we mutually agree upon. Once we gather ourselves and understand the islamists among us and throughout the World then we can know how to deal with them as believers and as Americans. We must be wise and careful. They seek to take over Europe politically and they also have eyes on America as well. The whole world is in their sights. Christians could learn something from them on keeping their eyes on the mission...but with the strategy and heart of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ideological Purity vs Political Pragmatism

With the Tea Party win in Delaware we are told by some that the Republicans will surely lose in November(insert tears here)because the good folks of Delaware chose a conservative over a person who has been a part of the establishment as a moderate Republican (read that RINO...republican in name only). The good folks of Delaware spoke and expressed their will...get over it. Go home, Mr. Castle, go home sad...but go home. If you weren't a strong enough candidate to win the primary you are not the right candidate to run in the November election. First of all let me say I hope that they are wrong. The RINOs have helped the democrats undermine America for some time. If we cannot count on their votes when it counts...then can we even count on them at all? What we don't need are more Republicans who will continue business as usual in Washington. What we are hoping and praying for is a ground swell of American people, republicans, independents and yes even democrats who will rise up for America to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. It is Constitution Day and sadly it needs defended more today than any time in recent history. Obama and his progressive, marxist buddies are doing America harm. It will take some time to reverse that harm. The recent article that talked about Obama continuing and honoring the dream of his Kenyan father as an anti-colonialist may be on to something. We are past where finding out that Obama is or isn't an American citizen or not is going to change much. We pray ardently for Obama to be a single term President or less. Those who would give amnesty to illegal immigrants are just looking for a constituency to vote for and keep them in office. Americans must stand up against this and vote RINOs and Democrats out. There is a spiritual parallel in this ideological purity versus political pragmatism and it is found in the idolatry of tolerance as a primary value that says that the Church should adjust it's position on morality and sexual purityin order to grow the church. Being conservative is not some sin or thing to be ashamed of. No...we don't need to adjust our beliefs and compromise...change and adapt strategies yes but core principles...no. That is not growing the Church. Even as the Tea Party is holding the political parties to accountability so the people called United Methodist should hold our clergy, bishops, agrencies, and even lay people accountable...either they believe and obey the Word or they should not be supported nor allowed to continue. This is a call going out to seek the Lord, whole heartedly...with our all. To humble ourselves, pray, repent, turn from our wicked ways and then the Lord will hear from heaven and heal the land. The land, America, needs healed. The Church needs healed. The world needs healed. Ideological purity as they say is important...there is a litmus test for those entering the kingdom of heaven. And there should be a litnmus test in politics...not so much over moral things but over whther the vision and direction the politican is willing to take leads to a better America and a sustainable America. Our current path, economically is not sustainable. We cannot afford to have unemployment so high. We cannot afford the level of social engineering and programs that we have. We cannot afford to re-distribute wealth. I am not for protecting the wealthy but class warfare has got to stop...we cannot sustain it. And thankfully there is finally coming a time when politicians will face a litmus test...what are you doing for America and the people. Now is not the time for class welfare and a redistribution of wealth. Now is the time for people to seek God and ask some hard questions about what is good for the long-term for America. Rise up people, take back politics and take back the Church... ideological purity...yes...compromise spiritually and morally...no.

Steven Hawking Says Science Makes God Unnecessary

Steven Hawking has always been known as a brilliant man. Lately he has been speaking out on religion in ways that makes it clear that he is not a fan of God. God is irrelevant and unneccessary to him. The scriptures tell us that the fool has said in their heart that there is no God. He also said the other day that if man did not find a way to colonize the universe that we would all be in danger of extinction. When "smart people" reject God, they do so at their own peril. It is a dangerous thing to discount the One True God. When smart people begin making such statements they make it so that people begin to wonder about many of the other things they may say...even if those things may have value and be otherwise true. Just because Hawking is very wrong on this and other things does not mean that everything else they say is wrong or bogus. But I will say this, when supposed smart people with a large number of degrees behind their name speak out against God it makes me wonder about their mind, their perception but mostly about the darkness that has filled their heart. The scripture tells us that Satan blinds the hearts of men. Hawking has a blinded heart. And even though he doesn't believe in God; God believes in him. And perhaps for right now that is more important than what Hawking does or does not believe. Hawking is wrong on this and many other things. We mere mortals give celebrities and the intellectual elites way too much credit and credence to what they say and believe. Hawking is presenting alternative truth claims that are at odds with what the scripture teaches and both can not be true. I will pray for Steven Hawking and I will learn some truths from him but I will be careful about where I get my "truth" because the intellectual elites of our nation are failing us and the university that trains our teachers by giving the Steven Hawkings of this world too much of a voice. Steven Hawking says that science has "made god unnecessary"...perhaps that is true when one thinks of the little "g" god but the big "G" God as creator of the universe will have the last word on this and in the end if Steven Hawking does not give his life to Christ it will be Steven Hawking who is found "unnecessary." Sadly this will be true for billions who reject God. Do not make the same intellectual and faith mistake that Hawking has made. Discover that God is the most necessary "element" in all the universe.

Obama the Communist...Marxist

So many people get upset and proclaim that Obama is not a marxist or communist...just a liberal democrat. That is possible but it begs certain questions...if he is not a marxist then why did his parents spend so much effort exposing him to marxists when he was growing up. Why did he surround himself with marxists, leftists and other marxist extremists when in college and afterwards? Why was he drawn to black liberation theology and the church that he became a member of? Here's another good question, if the democratic party is not closely alligned with the marxist party why do the marxists of America, the formal parties and organizations, all allign themselves with the same causes, policies and candidates that are democratic? This falls under the heading if it quacks like a duck, hangs out with ducks, and tastes like a duck...it is a duck. The socialist organizations of America count Obama as either an ally or someone that they can count on or support consistently. The liberal, leftist, progressive agenda alligns itself with communists and their ideology. Obama has used and continues to use the leftist, marxist handbook for radicals. Obama quacks like a duck. Now, has he ever formally joined the party, perhaps not, because that would not serve his purposes. He is just content for them to join themselves to him. The leftists, marxists of illegal immigration movement, the marxists among the labor unions, the marxists, radicals of the 60s and 70s, the marxists from the Communist Party of the USA, all support and want the most radical form of Obama's agenda. He hangs out with ducks. Now I am not totally for guilt by association but the scriptures tell us to beware that bad company corrupts good morals. And if you don't start out very good to begin with, bad company can really play havoc with your life. When you look at a number of the "czars" and advisors that Obama has positioned and empowered within Acorn and other organizations you will find "ducks", I mean marxists.
Now I am not one to paint with a broad brush and just assume that all democrats are now marxists because that would clearly not be the case. But the case is that the marxists have co-opted the democratic party and have heavily infiltrated, with, dollars, dogma, and influence. Quack, Quack. So the question for good, Christian, democrats must be; How can you stay within such an organization unless you share its values? The answer isn't to just become Republicans and buy into their values; but perhaps they are not the party that you once thought either. You could go independent and help influence from the middle. You could take your party back, ala a Tea Party movement. Or you can just scratch your head and try and figure out what just happened to my America, to my party? But you cannot just do nothing and then say that you are not responsible. Glen Beck's rally this weekend sought to call Democrats, Republicans and Independents to restore America and it's values. Something is up and it is the Spirit of Anti-Christ. You cannot be a marxist and a Christian. The two are anti-thetical. Marxists have been against and have persecuted Christians since their beginning. Dressing themselves up in the feathers of a duck or of a good democrat will not change either their charachter or their nature. Step back a minute and consider what the democratic party has done in the last 18 plus months. They are making America something very different from what it began as or what any of us might recognize. Let me ask you, where has marxism succeeded and actually made for the ideal society? Nowhere is the answer. Don't just take my word for it. Look at who Obama has consistently surrounded himself with. Look at who he put on his Christmas tree as a decoration...answer...Chairman Mao. Look at his policies...marxist. Look at the degree to which he wants to regulate America...Marxist. Look at marxist political websites and see for yourself who they support and endorse. You will find democratic candidates everywhere. Why? Quack, Quack. Do something about it. Pray, Speak Out, Act out. Leave the Democratic Party or take it back.

Another Blown Opportunity, Mr. President...It's Easter

So, let me get this straight…President Obama takes the time in his “Easter Message” to link with Jews, Muslims, Hindu’s and others…speaking to our common humanity. Let me presume enough to tell the President something. If you are making a statement on or about one of our great high holy days, leave the other religions out of it. If you want to use an announcement on one of their holy days as an opportunity to speak about the brotherhood of mankind then fine but when making proclamations about one of our days, stick to the facts and the awesome things of what our faith is all about. Or perhaps you don’t know much about our faith, Mr. President if you do have faith it might have been great to give a testimony about what the Easter Resurrection event has meant in your life…has it meant anything in your life? Are you a real Christian? Is there any evidence from what you say or do that the Resurrection has meant anything to you? Actually, I might ask these same questions of any of us who claim Christ. But I ask these questions of the President, because he has made a big deal politically to align himself and self-identify as a Christ –follower and a church member. But is this really true of this sith-lord like chameleon who blows right past opportunities to share his faith and glorify God to make himself look good as he increases the role of government and seeks to make the government into a big golden calf, idol. Christians need to pray, turn from wicked ways, and humble themselves and seek God. We need to be God’s resurrection, Easter witnesses who proclaim loudly…He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed! When we acknowledge Him before the media and before the whole human race…when we self identify…I am a Christ follower (and begin to live like it) then the world will be forced to take a fresh look at the Christ and, hopefully, choose life. God tells us that He places before us today a blessing and a curse…acknowledge Him boldly and freely. It is Christ’s resurrection that separates our Christian religion from every other religion. We are different and we make no excuses for that. We have a resurrected Lord and none of the other faiths have that. The President might have done that and been that good witness, but he didn’t. Will you do that today? Be a God acknowledger today…don’t be a God denier. To be a God denier is to operate in the spirit of the anti-christ. Hear the words of Scripture…if you deny me before men, I will deny you…those are God’s words. The hope of the world is not to be found in a common humanity as the President so frequently says; it is to be found in the Resurrected Christ…He is the Hope of the world. Preach Christ Crucified and Resurrected today. Be Easter, Resurrection witnesses. Blessings from the Resurrection Zone.

UM Council of Bishops - Silence is Deafening

In the last few days the Dumbarton UM Church in Washington, DC proudly proclaimed that they would conduct gay marriages since the local law had recently been changed to allow such marriages. This is the latest in a series of challenges to our connectional system where active and retired pastors in New England, in California, and now in Washington DC (there may be others) have publicly announced their intention. On a number of occasions these pastors have gone through with the wedding ceremonies. And yes, the local bishops dutifully said that such actions would force them to investigate and take potential action according to the discipline. The Book of Discipline for United Methodists clearly states that such civil disobedience is a chargeable offense that can result in the loss of clergy credentials. But, NO, these acts of civil disobedience, where clergy have gone through with their promise to conduct the weddings, have not met with church trials. Some of the clergy thought that they might duck the provisions of the Book of Discipline by conducting the ceremonies off-site from the church itself. The BOD doesn't say that location is the key to make this a chargeable offense. So my question is this...the Council of Bishops is very quick to speak out on all kinds of things in the political and spiritual realm as actions of justice ministries like gambling, the war, health care, and others. But where is their voice now when United Methodists need to hear a loud, "Thus Saith the Lord?" Perhaps many of them aren't sure what God says about such things or perhaps they don't like what God has clearly said on the issue of gays and gay lifestyle. The Lord has clearly spoken and so have United Methodists over several General Conference sessions (even if the margins were not large...General Conference United Methodists did speak). The Judicial Council has spoken clearly as well. United Methodists have spoken and have set a standard for chargable offenses that says that clergy who conduct such marriages, active or retired should expect to have to surrender their clergy credentials for the United Methodist Church and should not expect to get to pastor a UM Congregation. But the Council of Bishops is sadly and not unexpectedly silent. You see there is some kind of unspoken rule of not challenging or questioning fellow Bishops on how to discipline their annual conference. Perhaps it is a mutual protection society or just mutual respect. But mutual respect should not stop a large number of Bishops from quickly speaking up and calling for swift action against civil disobedience that surely threatens the connection that is United Methodism. Perhaps they do not actually believe that such actions threaten the connection because they are hoping that the sheer number of such stories will cause a change in the policy itself...in the Book of Discipline itslef. But just as the Democrats have misread the Tea Party phenomenon, so the Council of Bishops has misjudged what this will ultimately mean. Annual Conferences are without excuse and cannot ignore the Book of Discipline even if they disregard the Scripture itself. If individual Bishops cannot find the backbone or will to conduct church trials, no matter how many they may have to conduct (or how expensive it would be to conduct that large a number), then they should resign and hand over their leadership to those who will uphold the Book of Discipline (or at least recuse themselves from the trial). If the elders of such annual conferences will not uphold the Book of Discipline and try and convict their peers then perhaps they too should recuse themselves or resign). And if the United Methodist Council of Bishops cannot or will not speak out on such matters maybe they should just be silent and not speak out on anything because they will have forfeited their God given authority over the Church that they swore in the ordination vows to uphold the law of the Church. I have spoken to Bishop Ough on such matters over the last two years and begged him to speak out to other Bishops as a moderate voice. Perhaps he is not such a moderate voice. He speaks out against gambling. I beg him to speak out now and give the Council of Bishops the focus on this matter that it needs. United Methodists all around the world are watching. General Conference needs to forefully address such civil disobedience as well as the lack of willingness of the presiding Bishops to conduct Church discipline. The Anglican/Episcopal Church has gone down this path and it has meant much hurt. If the Council of Bishops is to be the body of Spiritual Leaders that they have been set apart to be then they must speak out now...soon. We have an ethical dilemma and some are seeking to redefine whata an ethical clergy person or Bishop should do. There is only one choice. Speak out and try and convict those who break our Discipline.

Haitian Voodoo Priests Complain

There was an article online about the Chief priest of Voodoo complaining about Christians and trying to get people to be more understanding of their worship practices. This man was complaining about being misunderstood. They worship one God. They believe in many of the same things as the Roman Catholic Church. But they cast spells, call on spirits to bless and curse people, and practice elements of African animistic religion as a part of their historic belief system. In the article different "voodoo priests" and "preistesses" talked about invoking different spirits to accomplish good things. Some of them admitted that there were those who also practice dark arts as well. The article went on to say that some voodoo prophets had foretold the earthquake as a judgment from their god a few months earlier. These arguments parallel the arguments of Wiccans and Druids in our own western culture. A "neo-pagan" stone circle was recently erected at the Air Force Academy in Colorado to provide a "worship space" for wiccans, druids, and other neo-pagan peoples. These people and groups want us to believe that these beliefs are just a variation on a theme and that they just worship a god who is different than that of the Christian but also could as easily be the same god under a different name...so why the offense. Their credo of in so far as you harm no one do as you will is a restatement of no harm no foul...to each his own. Can't we all just be friends and respect each others beliefs?
Well, no all things and belief systems are not the same. And just because a people or group says that they are worshipping the one god does not make it the same as our Christian God anymore than allah is the same as our God. The difference is in what each person believes about who Jesus Christ is and whether they accept him as Lord and Savior. Do they see themselves as sinners in need of a savior or as pretty good people doing the best that they can? What we believe about Jesus and how we view and practice obedience to the scripture as God's truth and authority for our lives is the difference between faith and saving faith. So when the early voodoo practicioners made their prayer to their god (as differentiated from the white man's christian god)and made sacrifices and offerings as a part of a bargain they were really making a bargain with the devil. That is a part of the unfortunate truth, that when one is not dealing with the One Real and True God (the Great I Am) in prayer and in worship then (no matter what or who you call him) you are really dealing with the devil as the ultimate father of lies and deceit. You might call this god or goddess, allah, buddah, vishnu (or one of a million other hindu gods), thor, diana, cupid, baal, asherah, or a host of other names that have been worshipped. But from the Christian Scriptural perspective you are worshipping an idol and the power behind all of these little "g" gods is satan or the devil. So when wiccans say they are not devil worshippers really they can really believe this. The fact that they believe that they are not and say that they are not devil worshippers is not really important or valid spiritually from a Christian prespective. The haitian voodoo high priest can really believe that everybody should just understand and adjust...that their worship is just as legitimate. After all haven't they also been "good catholics" all these years as well? The fact that they added catholic beliefs to fit in with the Roman Catholic church but then held on to their animistic african religion meant that they were not really in tune with orthodox catholic beliefs at all. We cannot have it all and just a little of this religion and a little of that. They do have a right to worship and believe any of these things because God has given us all free will. But God gives us that "right" and the end result is death, hell and a burning lake in final judgment for those who choose poorly and fail to turn to Him. God does have mercy and He does understand our hearts. What is in a name? The Bible says that there is power in a name and that God is a jealous God not willing to share His power and glory with an idol. All others are idols including allah...even if billions believe. God has shown mercy by coming to earth as Jesus, our Emmanuel; He died on the cross and was raised from the dead so that all of these people who worship false idols can be saved. True believers need to reach out in compassion and in love, preaching the real good news of the Gospel. We need to pray for these Haitian voodoo preists and priestesses (as well as the neo-pagans who got the stone circle erected at the Air Force Academy); that their hearts and minds would be opened from the lie that they have believed. Their minds are clouded by the father of lies, the devil. And we are called by God to share the Good News about Jesus, not so that they can add Jesus to their list of gods but so they can accept Him and Him alone...nothing else will do.

Supreme Court Decision on Campaign Finance

Well, The Supreme Court did it, they made a decision that irritated President Obama because he sees allowing Corporations to give to political issues and candidates as bad for America. But perhaps their decision is just a case of what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. By limiting corporations from giving, President Obama says that this limits special interest money from tainting politics and politicians. That is pretty funny because he allows and rejoices in the influence of organized labors and unions in the political process and uses their thugs to his personal advantage. This decision just levels the playing field and allows both unions and corporations to participate more evenly. It does not allow the election process to be bought. By allowing these donations it will partly counterbalance other union efforts.Let me just ask this simple question...if corporations giving into the political process taints things and opens the doors for corruption then how does using organized labor, their dollars, their organization and their message differ? Organized labor and unions, as they exist today, are not just a bunch of individuals speaking out with freedom of speech. Labor Unions are organizations and are just the opposite side of the same coin of corporations. Labor is about big money. If one is to purify politics from outside influence then one would have to eliminate the political influence of unions/labor, PACs, the AARP, the NRA, organizations, other lobbyists, and things like Newspaper endorsements. All of these groups seek influence and the ability to pressure politicians into certain favorable decisions as well as to get particular candidates elected.
Now that the Supreme Court has made this "historic decision" there are those calling on Congress to change the law to limit corporations again. But perhaps most importantly maybe this decision will move the congress to clarify and place proper limits in a number of places...but that would just be wishful thinking as if congress would do something right that would step away from the politics of power and influence to a "we the people" place. If these politicians are really after a political process free from corruption then they should include legislation that limits the power and ability of other groups as well to influence the process, but they should also place mandatory term limits upon politicians because it has become increasingly clear that the longer a politician is in office the more their concerns are around getting re-elected and retaining their "precious power". But I suspect that they are not really interested in taking the the influence or corruption out of politics.
The reach and influence of a growing labor movement are not really in America's best interest. When you look at the sweetheart deals being given to labor in place after place you can see that they have a political agenda that is different from that of their constituents...they have become a corporation interested in their own best interests and power. There was a time when labor unions were helpful in our nation...now they just stand in the way of firing incompetent people and they enrich the labor boss as CEO. Perhaps it is time for light to shine into the darkness and the Supreme Court decision makes for a good conversation starter. Obama's bed has gotten rather crowded with special interests and "community organization groups" like ACORN and he has allowed so much influence and promised so much that his judgment is clouded (if it was ever clear).
So what should believers do? Read, become informed, know the players and the influencers and determine not to lie down with serpents. The Bible tells us to beware of being unequally yoked. Hold your politicians accountable for who they are, who they associate with, as well as how they vote. Beware of politicians with little or no background of success. Ask questions. Seek God. Read the Bible. Know the issues and what is at stake. Pray. Humble yourself and Seek God. Turn from any wicked way. And ask God to heal the land.

Pat Robertson Reflections...Bad Form Pat, Bad Form...

I have been doing some reflection on both what Pat Robertson said about judgment in Haiti as well as the reactions to his words and timing. I believe Pat Robertson is a true man of God and perhaps even a prophet in our times. God has done amazing things through Pat and his ministry. Operation Blessing has helped millions of people, including in Haiti. I would be surprised if Operation Blessing and Pat's ministries weren't already planning a great outreach in Haiti to minister during this disaster. Pat Robertson spoke a truth about a deal that Haitians made long ago with the devil to break free from slavery. The Haitians made that deal long ago and have been reaping the consequences ever since. Sometimes natural disasters have been a form of judgment throughout Biblical history. Generally, they are just natural disasters with bad things happening to the righteous and to the wicked as a "natural" consequence of the fall of the human race in sin. Pat also used the occcasion of Katrina to speak a word about New Orleans...wondering outloud whether the wickedness of New Orleans had helped bring about this devastation. One can wonder...there has always been great wickedness in that city. It is also true that a part of the judgment upon New Orleans was a natural consequence of having and keeping a major city at below sea level so that a tidal surge of any consequence would bring flood and disaster. People build in flood plains, on fault lines, on cliffs and on mountain sides and then wonder why bad things happen...did God do this to punish them for building there...no but God did not stop the disaster either and the consequences are made worse because of the free will of the human race choosing to build in such locations. Pat also spoke out about a possible national judgment at 9/11. That is entirely possible....God does judge nations, communities, families as well as individuals.
At issue with Pat Robertson's observations and pronouncements (even more than their content) is the timing of such pronouncements. The possibility that non-believers would be turned off by his pronouncements to the Good News is always a possibility. But let me clear here...Jeremiah and Ezekial were not listened to either. People (believers and non-believers) were not happy with the timing or words of the early Biblical prophets. The timing on Pat's words could be better served and received (although many would still call him off-base) if they had been a bit later on. Some would consider his words those of a quack religionist, regardless. Most people believe that now is the time for compassion and outreach to Haiti not words of judgment. Satan wants to use this disaster for evil and God wants to use this natural disaster to turn people by the millions to serve and worship Him. God wants His words spoken into this situation...healing words, holiness words, words of peace, but also words of warning. A greater disaster will fall on those in Haiti should they not turn to God in this terrible time. A greater disaster awaits those who merely reject Pat Robertson's words as those of a failing old man who has lost his edge. There is truth in His words but now is not necessarily the time for these specific words. But remember, Pat has been preaching about the judgment to come for those who are outside of faith for decades...not as a threat or in a mean spirit but in the spirit of one who genuinely wants millions to come to Christ. He is a man who has believed for decades that those outside of faith face an eternity in hell. An earthquake is not the greatest disaster...going to hell is. He does not merely wait for tragedies to happen to speak a Word from the Lord. He preaches the same way all through the week. He seeks to call the lost into a personal relationship with God. He consistently preaches, apart from any disaster, that those who make deals with the devil will always have bad consequences. We hear about these pronouncements now because most people don't regularly listen to brother, Pat. He sees himself as called by God to be a watchman on the wall, calling all of us to see in this and other disasters those sinful patterns in our own lives, families, communities, states, and nations that may set us up for disaster and natural consequences and the even greater disaster of a life separated from God. That is the heart of Pat Robertson...I have seen it.
We as fellow believers wish he would not make it harder on us by speaking these words, seemingly out of season. Before we cast a stone at Pat Robertson, maybe we should look at the Old Testament Prophets and see how they were treated when they spoke a thus saith the Lord in the midst of national and natural disasters. The modern world always struggles with the prophet because it doesn't want to hear a, "Thus saith the Lord." Look at Pat's heart and his words when there is not a disaster...they are consistent...he doesn't want people to experience hell nor the greatest natural and supernatural disaster of all...separation from God because of the choices we make as individuals, families, communities, states, countries and the world. Woe, Woe to us if we only look at the timing of his words and not the actual words and urge people that the time is urgent...people are perishing and going to hell in Haiti, in New Orleans, in New York, and in Toledo, Ohio because they reject God.
Now there is the separate issue as to whether God still does judgment in this way. Consider this, friends, in the Book of Revelation, the Bible reminds us that 1/4 of the earth will perish in a single natural/supernatural disaster of judgment before Christ returns triumphant. That is over 1.5 billion dead in a single event or cataclysmic disaster. That will be far, far worse than Haiti or the tsunami in Indonesia a few years ago. The world does not want to believe that a loving God would still work in that ancient and archaic manner any more but the Bible tells us a different story. Peter tells us that since the world will melt away in a fiery storm, what kind of people ought we to be and how should we then live. This is not popular preaching these days but it is Biblical preaching.
So as Captain Hook said to Peter Pan in the movie, Bad form, Peter...bad form...so we may say to Pat Robertson that his timing was not good or how we would do it...but maybe God was also speaking through Pat an uncomfortable truth about an even greater disaster...one that Pat had been preaching about for decades and now looks bad because we do not see it in the bigger context.
I am not willing to cast a stone at Pat Roberston on this one. But I am praying that millions of people around the world would look at "natural disasters" and seek God and turn from their wicked ways, humbling themselves and praying so that God would heal the land. Haiti could use such a healing and so could we. God wants to work in this but so does Satan. Let's not let Satan win on this one. Let's rise up as believers, seek the Lord, proclain His Word faithfully, and seek to turn a dying world to God who has a better way. May God have mercy on us...we all deserve judgment but while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God is rich in mercy...but it also says that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. We know these things as believers...but now is the time to rise up and pitch in to do a "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven thing" for the people of Haiti...for the people of the world ...for God's sake.

Happy New Year...What Will You Make of It?

Well, it is already the 12th of January. I was not sure how the early part of the month would go with the one year anniversary of our daughter, Dawn's death from CML last January 8th. It certainly helped to be together as a family unit with Steven in from Hawaii and Matthew and Kristen in from MO. A number of people reached out to us specifically on that day and others thought about us and prayed for us but didn't want to disturb us. Calls, letters, flowers, texts and facebook messages all played their part in making it easier for us to deal with our loss. Thank you for being there with and for us. I am so thankful for the grace of God in my life and in the life of my family. Each of us had a hard time, together and alone. Busyness helps in some ways. It also keeps us apart from caring for each other as we might. Psalm 90 tells us to get a heart of wisdom in dealing with time. I wish I could tell you that I am always wise with my time. I sometimes fail to say things or do things to make it easier on people that I care about and love. I think that there will be time...there is always another time isn't there? But there are times when that is not true. I know that as a pastor, as a father and as a man. Proverbs 3:5,6 tells us to, Trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding, in all our ways acknowledge him and he will make our path straight.
As we face this New Year, each of us needs to gain that heart of wisdom by trusting in the Lord. We can help make this a great year by seeking God and his kingdom first...by trusting in him with our WHOLE hearts...our WHOLE being. Losing our daughter helped me to re-evaluate and take another look at my life and how I do as a God seeker and people lover. We can approach this new year passively as victims of what it might bring us or we can step into it as people who have discovered the secret of living in the now, God moment...as people determined to praise our God, who alone is worthy of praise.
I pray that this year will bring you a great year of "Thy Kingdom Come...Thy Will be done...moments" (and I don't mean our kingdom or will be done but God's). I want to be more wise and more present in the God moment...I want to be faithful. God help me and you too. Blessings in the House.