The Gospel According to Alice in Wonderland

Alright there is no presentation of the Gospel in the Disney movie, but anyone that has ever watched the cartoon version as an adult can recognize some hidden messages, paradoxes, and allegories - especially allegory.

David Jeremiah had a radio spot where he discussed the Cheshire Cat. You know that creepy, decieving, but mysteriously wise (or perhaps not) cat with huge eyes that meets Alice in the forest:



Isn't the cats message true here? That we all know we need to get somewhere, but most generally don't know where that "somewhere" is, so in essence, it doesn't matter what road you choose. Popular opinions say that all roads lead to the same place. Some say all religions are the same, inherintly. Some say all religions have the same message. Only the Christian religion preaches love, boasts a savior, and claims atonement for sin. I dare anyone who reads this to provide me with these provisions in any other religion or theological viewpoint.

Accordingly, Jesus Christ was the only one to claim that he was the Son of God, and that he alone could forgive sins. Islam preaches Jesus as a mere profit, Buddhism says he was wise, and there are over 20,000 gods in other religions. But Jesus is the only person in history to claim "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one can come to the father except through me" (John 14:6), even among all three Abrahamic religions. 

There are many signs in the world pointing down many paths.   

"Do It Yourself Religion"

I really cant say it better than this, by Chuck Colson, guest writer for CP:

 

We often hear that most people in the United States believe in God, and if you trust the opinion polls, they do.

However, when you dig down a little bit, you’ll find this good news isn’t so good after all. According to a new book by George Barna entitled Futurecast, America is filled with people who are do-it-yourselfers when it comes to religion - either making up God as they go along or dropping traditional beliefs and practices, like going to church. Barna tells USA Today, “People say, ‘I believe in God. I believe the Bible is a good book. And then I believe whatever I want.’”

Indeed, Barna says only seven percent of those he surveyed say they believe in seven essential Christian doctrines, as listed in the National Association of Evangelicals’ Statement of Faith.

Barna’s Futurecast tracks changes from 1991 to 2011. It finds that those who say they haven’t been to church in the past six months, except for special occasions like weddings or funerals, jumped from 24 percent two decades ago to 37 percent today. That’s an increase of over 50 percent in the nation’s “unchurched.”

No wonder that Lifeway Research, in a new survey of 900 Protestant pastors, found that 62 percent say that the importance of being identified with a denomination will decline among believers over the next decade.

This buffet-style religion isn’t confined to the church. USA Today quotes Nadine Epstein of the Jewish magazine Moment as saying, that most Jewish people when asked if there can be Judaism without God say yes! Epstein adds, “You pick and choose the part of the religion that makes sense to you.”


Okay, folks, we are experiencing a religious smorgasbord. Indeed, Barna says with just a hint of hyperbole that America may become a nation of “310 million people with 310 million religions.”
Friends, if we believe in the Truth - not to mention in the future of the Church - this can’t go on. We Christians must get back to biblical basics, to “the faith delivered once for all to the saints.”

Don’t get me wrong: I believe in religious freedom and diversity. But I’m talking to Christians today. While we need to exhibit grace to our brothers and sisters in the many debatable matters of doctrine, we’ve got to stand rock-solid and shoulder to shoulder on the essentials.

No Lone Ranger Christians! We learn and practice these in the company of other believers, that is, in the Church. We worship together, we minister together. That’s why I wrote The Faith, a powerful manifesto of the great, central truths of Christianity that have sustained believers through the centuries. The Faith is a good place to go to refresh yourself - or learn for the first time - the doctrines on which every true Christian ought to agree.

But our primary goal in religion is not simply to get the doctrines right - as important as that is. It is to know the Lord Jesus Christ - but know Him as He is, not as we imagine Him to be. As my friend Stan Guthrie writes in his excellent book, All That Jesus Asks, “Jesus, unlike the religious action figures sold at Wal-Mart, is not infinitely bendable, able to assume whatever postmodern pose we give him.”

Marriage is worth $10 a month

"I'm not sure God gave us marriage to make us happy, but to make us Holy." and "My marriage is worth ten dollars a month."

I absolutely love Focus on the Family, and their radio broadcast. Today they had guest Jill Savage talk about they incredible things God revealed about her marriage. Such topics like Marriage v. Children: which comes first? What if someone changes? What then? "I've got to change my husband (or wife)."

Focus has a huge impact. They recently had to cut 45 employees cause they did not have the funds to cover wages. They still employ +650, but that is still a 6% loss. I would give now, but literally, my wife and I are maxed out, and actually spend more than we take in, like many families. Luckily, I get promoted in January, and get a raise then, and in October (for something unrelated), so I am going to give it back to God and commit to sending a check to Focus on the Family each month. If you want to do the same thing click this sentence. I know each of you has a budget, and priorities, but if you can spare, please donate. Imagine if Focus didn't exist any longer. Even if it is a small amount, please give. Here is the message:

Top 100 Largest and Fastest-Growing Churches

Outreach magazine recently published the "100 Largest and Fastest-Growing Churches in America." If you know me at all you know that am incredibly analytical with verbiage and language and words and blah blah, yadah yadah... This though, the measure of success from sheer numbers, is a just flattery and senseless statistics. Dare I say, any pastor that measures his success by his attendance has another thing coming. And the measurements here are by attendance and not membership. But let me be fair, too, and say that some of these churches are respectable institutions and their success stems from a rich and fruitful ministry. For example, #32 is James MacDonald's Harvest Bible Chapel - a ministry I get to listen to each day; a fantastic truth filled preacher who delivers with boldness. But #1 is Joel Osteen. I will not sit here and slam him too hard, but any sensible vessel of the Holy Spirit can see the incompleteness of the Gospel in his ministry - and it's really a false Gospel - the "Prosperity Gospel."

I am not willing to look up even most of these, but I don't have to to know that most people want to hear an easy way to heaven; and many churches have traded in apologetics for apostasy, shifting their definitions and "requirements" of salvation, sin, sacraments, and more. Follow the $$$. Confession: in Alaska I served at the most attended church; in Omaha I serve at a very high attendance church. I was extremely skeptical about my current church too, and investigated over a couple rounds of golf with church leadership to make sure they were the real deal - a tactic I suggest for all of you looking for a church. Annoyingly, in Alaska I bothered, offered prayer, and did whatever necessary to make sure my pastor and elders were in the right spot. BUT!!! It was not measured by me, but by the Bible: Titus, Thessalonians, and the Book of Acts and more have specific attributes for leadership.

Okay okay! Back to the subject :)   Outreach magazine's website clarifies their recognition of the importance of small churches - and how large churches should adapt to their outlined six qualities. I liked that. However, the latest issue of their magazine listing the 100 largest only a testament to the popularity of doing what's popular, and not always correct; like #4 Willow Creek separating ties with Exodus International. 

A suggestion you ask? What would be better? What would be better than a comprehensive list of the nation's 100 Most Wonderful Churches? With different areas of servitude: Most prayerful, most compassionate, most impact in missions, most truthful, most bold, most humble, powerfully transformed lives. Opposite of my suggestion, most of the "Largest Churches" are where they are (large) for separate reasons. They would be broken into such subjects: best band, loudest music/silentest crowd (just invented a word), most projectors, best sound system, most fake smoke on stage, most synthetic worship experience, most income, most sales in Barnes and Noble, best coffee shop. See what I'm saying? Do not take offense to the criteria I just listed, as many fine churches have coffee bars, bands, smoke, and such. that's not my point.

Point is, this is a terrible way to display success. Outreach is out-of-bounds on this issue. They give pages and pages of advise from pastors of these mega-churches, as if a church needs an increase in attendance. Ah, I've said enough, the poor horse is dead. Listen; faith without works is dead.

Live a life worthy of no recognition from the masses. Do your good deeds in secret. Love others without expectation of reward. Forgive without gratitude. Boast in the Lord. Carry your cross.    

Why We Remember 9/11

Why do we "remember 9/11?" Did you ever think of that question? Really, why? Don't each of us have a different reason? I didn't know anyone killed in the WTC, I wasn't in the military at the time, I didn't live anywhere near NYC. To be completely honest, and this is something I haven't heard anyone say since: I didn't even know what the "World Trade Center" was when I was 15 years old. I knew the buildings as the "Twin Towers." So for a while that morning, I was like "whats the big deal" until I turned on the TV. The Pentagon was a building I did know of very well.

But, back to my question. Why do we remember? Is is because we mourn for those lost? Is it cause it instigated a multi-location war? Do we remember cause it was an attack on the US? Do we remember cause it was an attack on each one of us personally? Do we remember cause we were so unprepared and shocked? Or do we remember simply cause we can't forget? I think of Israel, a country that has survived how many attacks week in and week out? Or genocide ravaged countries like Sudan, Burma, DR of Congo, and several others. Then I think how blessed I am. And we throw the word "blessed" around like it's another thing.

I digress. We reap the benefits of a country that was founded on Godly principals, and patriarch-like faith in the God of the Hebrews, and character, and a clear understanding that Jesus is the only way. Those things are now long gone, and we can only hope and pray anymore that those would come back in full. I think we all remember 9/11 cause it changed all of us. This country is so unrecognizable it is disgusting to me.

We don't value human life - we value sensitivity. We don't value God, we value liberal accommodation. We don't value religion, we value "you have to be happy in your own way." We don't value Jesus, most think he was a "good guy." We don't value the Church, they are "too judgmental." We don't value accountability, we value singularity in our actions. We put more value on money than we do on deeds. We like trends more than we like a legacy. We enjoy watching actors on TV and movies more than we like actually being something worth being. We elect corrupt leaders cause we ourselves are corrupt. And it goes on and on and on.

I willingly wore the uniform of my country and am damn proud of it. But this country cannot look to the past and just remember, we have to look at that which has bee pulled over our eyes as "correct" and "good" and "nice." I say: QUIT BEING NICE! Be bold! Be Jesus. Be a frigging heretic for God, for Jesus, and look to the one who did everything right - rather than a society build on lies. (I'm seriously ranting). But seriously, look to your God and tell him thank you for all the blessing. And do that every morning.

We think "if God is good, then why doesn't he do something about it?" He did. Check out the crucifixion and check out Thomas poking the holed scars Jesus bears for eternity to save us from this nightmare we call Earth. Get up, get off the couch, get in a humble position, right now, and thank your Lord for his protection over you. He loves you dearly and have given you how many chances to see his face? Do it, and carry your cross.

9/11 Prayer

This from CP:

Pastor: 9/11 Ceremony a 'Prayer' Event Despite Absence of Religious Leaders

• (Photo: REUTERS/Jim Young)
  A woman visits a mural established in the memory of those who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, around the perimeter of the construction site in New York, September 10, 2011. National and city leaders will commemorate on Sunday the ten-year anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001 with a ceremony unveiling a memorial and museum.

 

Steve Stone, founding pastor of the Tennessee-based Heartsong Church, which lets Muslims borrow its sanctuary for worship when the Memphis Islamic Center was under construction last year, commented on the exclusion of religion from the 9/11 service when he was in New York City on Friday to participate in an evangelical press conference about the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
While many religious leaders, including Christians, have protested Bloomberg’s decision to keep religion out of the civil ceremony, Stone told The Christian Post he is actually glad that no religious speakers were invited to speak at the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center terrorist attack.
“We’ll be one people and there’s no way to cut God and prayer out,” said Stone. “The whole event will be a prayer.”
On Friday, Bloomberg took to the radio airwaves to defend his move to keep the 9/11 memorial service prayer-free, saying to allow religious leaders to speak at the event would be tantamount to government forcing religion “down people’s throats.”
He added that “there are plenty of opportunities for people to have their religious ceremonies” outside of the Sept. 11 service to be held at the 9/11 new memorial and museum Sunday.


Stone also weighed in on the controversy surrounding the World Trade Center Cross, saying that he believes some are being too sensitive about the usage of the symbol in the museum.
The cross made up of two-steel beams found amid the rubble of the World Trade Center was recently put on display at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum after spending five years outside a Catholic church near ground zero. The New Jersey-based American Atheists has filed a lawsuit demanding the WTC cross’ removal from the museum.
“I think the cross was already there, not anything anyone made,” Stone told CP. “For some it’s a cross; for others it’s not. People see Jesus in toast. I think everybody needs to get over being hypersensitive about religious matters.”

Another great Focus on the Family Broadcast

Once again, a fantastic Focus on the Family radio show today. They interview a survivor from the collapse of the WTC ten years ago. Hard to even believe its been that long. I remember thinking to myself how different things would be, and they sure are. Enjoy.

My Sentiments Exactly

Here's some lyrics i just heard, and a video:



Sometimes I think about the cross that He endured
Laying down His life unselfishly
And how His suffering means I can rest assured
In His saving grace
Oh when He took our place

Chorus:
He took the scars, felt the pain
Suffered loss so we could gain
This precious life, precious love that we are feeling
He took our sin and the fall
Left His hope here for us all Jesus took the scars
And left us with the healing
Left us with the healing

There is no brokenness that we could ever bring
That would ever be too much for Him to bear
Mistakes and failures don’t mean a thing
Anymore That’s what He was dying for…

(Chorus)

Bridge:
There was beauty in the tragedy
In His death we found new birth
It was unrelenting love
For every soul on the earth

Christians Live in Cloud of Fear in Zanzibar

This, from the Christian Post; count your blessings

Christians Live in Cloud of Fear in Zanzibar, Tanzania

 

NAIROBI, Kenya – On Tanzania’s semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, Christians live in a climate of fear. It’s a place where a young man flees the island to escape death threats from his Muslim family, and a Christian who accidentally burned pages of the Quran opts for jail by entering a guilty plea rather than face certain death from a furious mob.

Yusuf Abdalla, 23, fled to Moshi, mainland Tanzania, after his family threatened to kill him in June. Having converted to Christianity in October 2010 after hearing the gospel on the radio, he was enrolled at a vocational school in Zanzibar city to learn tailoring when his family found out in March that he had left Islam.

The beating he then received from family members left him with injuries to his head, hand and torso, as well as a serious mouth wound and substantial loss of blood, said an area pastor who requested anonymity.
“The family then took back the tailoring machine which they had bought him,” the pastor said. “They also vowed not to support his training.”
As soon as he had recovered enough to leave, Abdalla found refuge on the premises of the pastor’s church before staying at his home on May 5. Within two months, reports had reached Abdalla’s family that he was staying at the pastor’s house, and on June 10 they threatened to kill him, the pastor said.
The church arranged for his escape to Moshi.

Another convert from Islam, Juma Suleiman of Chake-Chake on the neighboring island of Pemba, is also facing death threats. Suleiman became a Christian just two months ago when Tanzania Assemblies of God pastor Yohana Mfundo preached to him while he was in prison, Mfundo said.
Suleiman was released a little over two weeks ago, and family members have already threatened to kill him. He is now in hiding and plans to flee the island.
The Safety of Jail

In Kiembesamaki, near Zanzibar city’s airport, area pastors said 28-year-old Ramadhan Hunda Tuma earlier this year opted for jail by entering a plea of guilty to charges that he burned the Quran, rather than face an enraged mob calling for his death.

More than 50 Muslims had packed into the courtroom to hear the judge’s Feb. 21 ruling on Tuma, whose landlady had ordered him to burn his trash after evicting him because he had converted to Christianity; he was not aware that among the trash was a small copy of the Quran used by beginning students in madrassas (Islamic schools), area pastors said.
“Outside the courtroom, there was a mob baying for his blood in case he was set free,” said Pastor Leonard Massasa of the Evangelical Assemblies of God-Tanzania. “One lady from church overheard them say, ‘If he is going to be released, then we will kill him.’”

Tuma, member of a church of another denomination in Zanzibar city, accidentally burned part of the Quran.

“Due to the conditions prevailing then, Tuma pleaded guilty because he feared for his life,” said another pastor, who requested anonymity. “He chose to go to jail rather than to be released only to be killed.”
Arriving home from a Sunday church service, Tuma found the wealthy landlady furious to learn that he had converted to Christianity; she had thrown all his belongings out of the house. She ordered him to leave, the pastor said. Tuma burned the trash under the supervision of his landlady, who reported him to a sheikh in a nearby mosque. A raucous crowd of Muslims showed up to kill him before police arrived and took him to the police station, the pastor said.
The church is caring for Tuma’s young family – his wife, 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter, the pastor added.

District Magistrate Khamis Ali Simai of Mwanakwerekwe, Zanzibar, sentenced Tuma to 18 months for “disrespecting a religious faith” and six months for “threatening public peace,” though both terms are to run simultaneously, according to International Quran News Agency (IQNA). Simai ruled that Tuma’s burning of the Quran on Nov. 16, 2010 angered the Muslim community, thereby jeopardizing public peace, according to IQNA.

The judge said the punishment was to serve as warning to other would-be offenders, IQNA reported.
Prosecutors led by Raya Issa Mselem said they were not satisfied with the ruling and intended to appeal for a harsher sentence; Mselem said a stiffer penalty would better deter others who would be tempted to commit similar offenses, according to IQNA.
Tuma, who represented himself and was put under tight police protection, pleaded for leniency on grounds that he was the sole breadwinner for his family and that he was suffering from a stomach ailment.
Dangerous Cafés
In Pemba, it has become extremely risky for churches to have their documents typed or printed in cybercafés, sources said, as shop personnel are saving copies that they take to Muslim sheikhs in order to disclose Christian activities.
Their findings are announced in mosques, the pastors said.
“They have announced in their mosques that no Muslim should sell land to infidels,” said pastor Yohana Makulanya of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
The Muslim majority oppresses religious minorities in more subtle ways. Schools teach only Islamic studies, not Christianity, and any student stating that Jesus is Lord will not receive a grade, the pastors said.
“Sometimes our children are forced to change their Christian names to Muslim names so as to be considered for employment,” said the Rev. Apolinali Mapendo Musaki, a Catholic priest.
At times churches are deprived of piped water.
“Here in Wete, we rely on rainwater – no piped water is supplied to us,” said the Rev. Stephen Kamwendo of the Anglican Church.
The church leaders said many Christians have been forcefully converted to Islam, including four from the Catholic Church and six from the Seventh-day Adventist church.

Growing From God's Word

4 May 08 - wow, long time ago as a Shaun far, far away

Growing from Gods Word

Matthew 4:4 “People need more than bread for their lives; you must live on every word of God.”

            If growth is the evidence of life, and in Gods word we must grow, there must be guidelines and a means of growth in scripture. In Hebrews 5:12 we see that as we grow in Christ we become preachers, just as in the Great and Last Commissions! We are to teach each other and help outsiders understand better as well. Our won personal growth will not stop thought as we must Read AND Study God’s word.

1.                  I MUST ACCEPT GODS WORD AS AUTHORITY

As we accept the Bible as the only means for Truth in our lives, we will grow with it, and it will grow in us; powerful! We will depend more on it instead of other things like: Culture in Exodus 23:2, Tradition in Mark 7:8, Reason in Proverbs 16:25, and Emotions in Judges 21:25.   

Not saying that any of these examples are bad, they are healthy and wholesome but they must not be trusted alone, or without fulfillment in scripture.

           

“Every part if scripture is God-breathed and is useful in one way or another – exposing us the truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live Gods way. Through the Word we are shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

God’s word is useful in so many ways and this verse names the more useful of those. God’s word will literally protect you in the face of Satan – take the temptation of Christ for example: Jesus bounced back with scripture each time.

Try to remember the “cow metaphor.” A cow will chew up its food and they swallow it. It will have nothing to eat for quite some time, and then it will be caught chewing again.  This is because the cow actually regurgitates the meal for better nourishment.  How awesome – we should do the same thing. Once we think we are done with a verse or a passage, come back to it again later, your mind will be fresh and you can see another aspect or flavor of it the next time around.

Here is a checklist of things to consider with scripture reading and study:

Sin to confess?                                                Error to avoid?

Promise to claim?                                            Truth to believe?

Attitude to change?                                        Something to thank God for?

Command to obey?                                         Example to follow?

Prayer to pray?                                                Commitment to make?

White House Spiritual Advisor

What do you guys think about this? Makes me sick. But as a great friend says, its a constant reminder that sin pervades the world.

WH Spiritual Adviser: Mayor's Decision to Forbid Prayer at 9/11 Ceremony Un-American

The decision by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg to exclude any prayers from clergy at ground zero in the upcoming 10th anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 attacks is being categorized as un-American by an evangelical leader and spiritual adviser to President Obama.

Pastor Joel C. Hunter, who also serves as an executive board member for both global and national evangelical associations, said Christians should speak out or protest the decision because the importance of faith in the United States is being neglected.

Bloomberg stirred much controversy recently when he stated, "Everybody would like to participate, and the bottom line is everybody cannot participate. There isn't room. There isn't time. And in some cases, it's just not appropriate."
Hunter told The Christian Post, “The problem with this is, because of his singular decision, this ceremony isn’t really going to be representative of America. It’s going to be exclusionary, secularist only, and we are one of the most religious countries in the world. So, the bottom line is, this is not how we were founded. This is not who we are.”
The pastor of Northland church continued, “This is a national time of mourning and healing. I think it is particularly offensive to explicitly exclude any religious expression.”
Hunter said the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an “event that changed the face and the countenance of our nation.” He said he is hoping the 10th-anniversary memorial service will be a time when everyone comes together.

“Our faith is at the heart of our identity,” he said. “I think that Christians should speak out and give some sort of reasonable protest because I do think that, in moments like this, it's especially important to include the perspective of faith, and this is a national day. This is something all of us are involved in and the separation of church and state does not equal expunging all religion from public square activities.That just simply is not what it means.”

Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion & Democracy, also disagrees with Bloomberg's decision, citing a recent Barna Group study that shows that 61 percent of New York-area residents agree strongly that religious faith is very important to them.

"In a city where the most residents in recent memory now cite religious faith as strongly important, New York is tone-deaf to exclude all religion when remembering the slaughter of over 3,000 innocents,” said Tooley in a statement released by IRD Thursday. "To exclude clergy even at a memorial service implies that religion is not welcome in the public square, even in mourning.”
Tooley added, "From presidential inaugurals to opening Congress, to countless civic events routinely in every community across America, clergy and prayers have been a regular part of public life for years. The exclusion of both clergy and prayers is deeply at odds with America's robust religious life and even with the beliefs of most New Yorkers.”
Hunter told CP that he has recently talked with members of the White House's faith-based initiative advisory committee, which confirmed that President Obama will be giving a speech from the Washington National Cathedral the evening of the 9/11 commemoration.
Although he said he has not seen the president’s comments planned for the evening, Hunter believes that the “setting alone” shows that Obama will be including a faith perspective.


From: Christian Post