The Philippic Pastor

New Thing

2011-01-06T11:27:00.001-08:00

I'm trying something new. Let me know what you think.

Coolio

2010-05-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

This video is awesome! Tell me what you think!

The Reason The Church Exists

2010-04-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

“It is easy to think that the Church has a lot of different objects – education, buildings, missions, holding services…[But] the Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them into little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose. It says in the Bible that the whole universe was made for Christ and that everything is to be gathered together in Him.” - C.S. Lewis "Mere Christianity"

The Future of Publishing

2010-03-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

I'm not a Luddite, even though many people my age are. I've been using a computer for personal study, sermon writing, accounting etc... since 1988. Most of my peers at the time didn't even know what I was doing and some thought it was "all of the devil". So when I tell you that I'm worried about this generation of young adults not reading and learning I get it that times have changed. Traditional books are not the only form of reading one is able to access nowadays. Yet, even the new forms of communication are not interesting or insightful. Part of the problem is the publishing industry. They are churning out books (and music for that matter) that have little or no real content. No wonder people don't read books! I stumbled across this YouTube video that gives a unique perespective on what I'm talking about.

U.B.U.

2010-02-19T16:05:00.001-08:00

Check it yo:

Eight in 10 English men 'will be too fat by 2020'

2010-02-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

It's no secret to those who know me that I have an affinity for all things English, especially the good people of that nation. For years, my British friends have poked fun at us rotund Americans! Well, now the calories are swerving across the pond! Take a look at this snippet from Breitbart:

Eight out of 10 men and nearly seven out of 10 women in England will be too fat by 2020, according to new data released Wednesday.

Researchers said that while recent research showed obesity among children levelling off, instances among adults show no sign of doing the same.

Some 41 percent of men aged 20 to 65 will be obese by 2020, with 40 percent overweight, according to the figures from the National Heart Forum, based on data from the Health Survey for England. That makes a total of 81 percent.

Quotable Quote

2010-02-11T13:50:00.001-08:00

"Theology is only effective to the degree that it deepens our faith, strengthens our convictions and directs our lifestyles. If these don't occur in our study of God all we have is knowledge that "puffeth up"." T.L. Watson

Followers and Learners 101

2010-02-05T07:53:00.000-08:00

Christians are followers and learners of Jesus and the Bible. Look at this Bible verse:

John 8:32 Jesus said to them, "You are truly my disciples if you live as I tell you to, (The Living Bible)

Jesus is telling us 3 things here:

1. Be the Man...”you ARE...”
It doesn’t matter what program you try, church you attend or new idea you pursue if you don't internalize and personalize. You, (yeah you), must “live it out”. Jesus expects us to live as Christians at home, work and school. It also means we must be ever learning!Are you living as a follower of Christ? Does you lifestyle reflect the values of Christ and the Bible? What have you learned today?

2. Set the tone...”live as I tell you to”
You’ve heard the statement “Attitude is everything”. A true statement but so is “Atmosphere is everything”. Dictionary .com defines atmosphere like this: a surrounding or pervading mood, environment, or influence. What is the mood or environment of your mind / life? Who and what are your greatest influences? The answer determines who or what you are following and learning from.

3. Follow Through...”continue in my word”
Check out this King James verse: John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; KJV

Talk is not enough! Starting is not enough! We must live out and finish this Christian life.

Consider Others (Better than yourselves)

2010-01-31T17:55:00.001-08:00

A verse that has always seemed difficult obey is :

Philippians 2:3 "...but in humility consider others better than yourselves NIV

Most people, including myself, are naturally inclined to take care of themselves before they care for others. So I need some help to obey this verse. Do you? John Maxwell gives some good advice with something he calls the "30 Second Rule":

"I've developed a simple rule in relationships to help me shift away from a selfish vantage point. Within the first 30 seconds of a conversation, I say something encouraging to the other person. Giving out compliments focuses me on the value of the other person and prevents me from being self-absorbed."

Maxwell goes on to say that we should give people the Triple A Treatment:

1. Attention
2. Affirmation
3. Appreciation

When I follow this it helps me to put others first. What tricks have you learned in helping you to esteem others?

Blackberry Faith

2010-01-30T08:29:00.000-08:00

President Obama has been in office for a year and still hasn't found a church to attend even though he claims to be a commited Christian. The president's "Faith and Neighborhood Initiatives" director, Joshua DuBois sends him a devotional every morning on his Blackberry and this is how he starts his day. Do you think this is sufficient to maintain a faith that can sustain you as POTUS (President of the United States)?

Straight Talk

2010-01-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

I'm doing a series of short, simple sermons, every Tuesday night on "Straight Talk About Being A Christian". The gap between what Christian believe and how they actually live their lives is too wide. So I decided to make it plain those who will listen. Straight Talk. What areas do you feel that us Christian believe in but don't live out?

Quick Update

2009-10-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on the Pastor's Appreciation dinner hosted by the people from our church. If you're short on time here's the quick version: It was great! Details you say? Well, we arrived and the doors of the sanctuary were closed with two casual but smartly dressed ushers were waiting to greet us. They opened the doors and sanctuary was filled with our church people (and quite a number who don't attend often)! We were seated by one of our older, very encouraging couples, the wife went through breast cancer and surgery with the best attitude I've ever seen from someone whose endured something this tough.. After being seated were served out choice of Chinese or Mexican food. An unusual combo for sure but they are our favorites! Some kids from the church put on a skit that was really touching. It was great to have all our people there. It made me remember why we do what we do. God bless our church!

The Responsbility of a Pastor

2009-10-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

Someone from our church put an invitation on my front door this morning inviting my wife and I to a Pastor's Appreciation Dinner! As of this writing we haven't attended yet so I can't tell you how it turned out, but I'm sure we will enjoy it. It did spur my thinking about the role and responsibility of a pastor. Most pastors do not choose to be pastors, the calling chooses them. Only after accepting such a challenge do we start to realize the gravity of our position.

Look at the word pastor, only translated once in the New Testament as pastor: It is literally the same Greek word that is translated in the English word “shepherd”. The Enhanced Strongs Lexicon defines a shepherd as “committing themselves to the care and control of the herd”. I'm sure my church doesn't like being a called a "herd", I do feel the analogy applies.

The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were: 1) to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep; 2) to defend the sheep from attackers; 3) to heal the wounded and sick sheep; 4) to find and save lost or trapped sheep; 5) to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.

In World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to base or carrier by flying along side him to maintain visual contact.

So as I ponder my calling, I pledge to honor God with my service and ask His guidance for the future and forgiveness for my shortcomings.

When All Men Speak Well Of You...

2009-09-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

I like this! Tell me what you think of Francis:

4 Things Pastors Wish There Congregations Knew

2009-08-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

I read these in article by a respected church consultant. I thought they were worth sharing with you. Tell me what you think:

Please don’t ask me to do something or respond to something right before I preach. After spending hours preparing for and praying about this sermon, I am focused. Please don’t criticize me right now. Let it wait a day. Please don’t ask me to make any announcements. And please ask someone else to get toilet tissue for the restroom.

Please don’t criticize me until you have prayed and thought through your criticism. Do you know I receive three or four criticisms a week? That’s around 200 a year. Those verbal jabs take their toll on me. I know I make mistakes and I’m not above criticisms. But please be prayerful before you’re critical.

Please don’t expect me to be everywhere. Many people in our church have a priority about where I should be: meetings, dinners, church events, hospital visits, home visits, and many more. The problem is that everyone has a different priority. And sometimes church members forget that I have my own family. Please understand my limitations on being in so many places.

Please don’t treat my family members like church employees. My family already lives in a glass house. The expectations on them are already high. My wife and children will be faithful to the ministries of the congregation, but they have activities outside the church. Please don’t tell me that they should be every place I am at the church.

Dreams or Dreamer?

2009-07-31T13:16:00.000-07:00

I used to think of myself as a person that had dreams for the future. I still have dreams but far fewer. Want to know why? It takes a lot of work for a dream to become a realization. It's impossible for me (or anyone else) to actually see my dreams come to pass because of the personal effort required. I would simply be a Dreamer instead of an "accomplisher" with dreams. For all of you that have dreams, by all means continue having them. But realize this: All dreams require work. Hard work. Too many dreams are lying dead on the highway of completion because the dreamer failed to harness this truth. What dreams are you working hard at?

From Great To Mediocrity

2009-07-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

I read an article by a former pastor who is now a church consultant / statistician. He states in his article that years ago he wrote about some great churches. As he looks at some of those churches today he sees mediocrity. Oh, how I loathe that word! Yet, when I look at areas in my life and ministry that word can be an accurate description. So, how did theses churches go from greatness to mediocrity? He sums it up in three words. Hubris - Denial - Nostalgia. Yikes! How easy it is to fall into these traps! How's your life and ministry? Do these terms describe you and yours?

More Haiku

2009-07-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

Life Has Big Problems
God Has All Of My Answers
I Must Listen More

Heavenly Haiku

2009-06-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

I am the pastor
Declaring Though Downtrodden
Called by God

Prop. 8 Upheld

2009-05-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

Good news: Prop. 8 upheld. Bad news: 18,000 Same sex marriages stand as valid. I have more to say on this subject, but I'm going to see if the anti-Prop. 8 side "floods the streets" (AKA vandalize churches, tie up traffic, hinder business etc...) as I heard on NPR radio today before I speak Philippic-ly. Especially since most of the hits I get on this blog are from West Hollywood. What do you all think?

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the moms/mums for all you do. Especially those who had to raise two boys like my mom did. This video is funny (slightly irreverent)and even though it is not me and my brother, it could've been!

Free Roxana

2009-04-27T07:14:00.000-07:00

Warning: Political rant ahead. We, the United States of America, have a journalist who was unfairly convicted dying in an Iranian prison cell. During his campaign President Obama made a campaign promise that he would "dialogue" with our enemies. After the recent Latin American summit its obvious he intends to fulfill his promise. Back to Iran (one of our enemies Mr. President), here have an American who is dying. Shouldn't we be exercising diplomacy or maybe, God forbid, authority) NOW with Iran, instead of smoozing it up with the lunatic from Venezuela? For more info, go to: www.freeroxana.net

UPDATE: Roxana's been freed! I think it was the power of this blog that made it happen.

Miss California

2009-04-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

A young pastor friend of mine thought I should post about this so here goes. Miss California is feeling the heat. Heat over what you say? Her bikini was too revealing? she was a "No Talent Tessie"? No...it seems she was asked a question concerning same-sex marriage to which she stated her opinion (she thought marriage should be between a man and woman). Fair enough. Not according to the flaming (yes, I said flaming) Perez Hilton! Mr. Hilton stated that he was "shocked" (shocked at traditional marriage, we're in trouble folks) at her answer. He also said her answer cost her the crown! He also called her a "b****". Later on he said: "I was thinking the c-word and I didn't say it,". I've never watched a beauty pageant so I don't know what they are usually like., But doesn't it seem a little absurd to even ask these types of questions?

Pastor's Wives

2009-03-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

One of the rules of preaching is: Don't use your family as illustrations. I've failed miserably! I've talked about each of my kids most embarrassing moments. I even showed a home video of when they were small (doing some really embarrassing things!) at a Leadership Conference with hundreds in attendance. So when I saw this YouTube video on Pastor's Wives, I figured it was only fair to post it!

Failure

2009-03-11T17:22:00.001-07:00

I'm not a big fan of touting my failures. But, I do know that without failure there can be no success. I like this video by Michael Jordan:

Another Big Day Begins

2009-03-05T06:52:00.000-08:00

We'll see if government in the United States of America is actually "by the people, for the people".

Boring Blog?

2009-02-16T17:21:00.000-08:00

Hi folks, I've been posting for more than a year now. When I created the blog I chose a standard template. Is it time fore a makeover or do you like the look? Or just don't care? Please let me know your feelings. Thank you!

Leaders Lead

2009-02-04T18:20:00.000-08:00

These were the words spoken to me by a spiritual leader many years ago. Since that time I've had to assume more leadership roles than I anticipated. Some of them because I've been called to them, but others simply because there was a huge void in the leadership of the organization / situation. This has caused me to think about the view of leadership held by many in our day. Modern people expect their leaders to be:

Intelligent
Good physical appearance i.e. handsome or beautiful
Articulate
Charismatic

While all of the above are helpful in leadership roles they cannot be the core of any leader. These qualities simply will not see the leader through difficult times. Let's take some real world examples: A President is elected and then the economy turns bad, his or her's cabinet members are inept, the media smells blood and has a field day at the expense of this leader. What is the President left with? Only his moral compass to guide him in the right direction. If he's immoral at the center of his heart, what type of decisions do you think he will make? (Think of that next time you're in the voting booth!)

Another example: A pastor of a church has decent growth and then some problems start to occur, people start grumbling, backbiting and eventually start to leave his church. Finances dwindle and then they are forced to leave their beautiful building and start holding church services in a rented hall. What is the leader left with? Can his speaking ability help him? My point is when you are stripped bare and nothing else is left leaders only have their convictions, morals, character and integrity. These are the traits if a true leader. I wonder how many leaders have been chosen because of their outward qualities and yet were sadly lacking on the inside. I think, as a nation, as the Church, we should return to the most important ideals of leadership.

The Life Of A Christian

2009-02-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

As a Christian pastor, I'm intrigued by the response of people toward Jesus Christ. The majority of people upon hearing about Christ feel uncomfortable. Without going into too much Biblical doctrine, it's supposed to be that way. But far more interesting is the perspective of those who come to accept Him. Many, maybe even most, after accepting Christ simply become enamored with the changed life that Christ gives. Their main focus is how Christ has and can change their life. They now have new reasons for living, new friends, no more drug abuse or alcohol use, go from a life of crime to being a productive member in society, etc... There is nothing wrong with this in and of itself. But the Christian is called to so much more! Jesus called His original disciples to "be with Him" (Mark 3:14). The beginning and ending point of being a Christian is to "be with Him". Why are so many "healing the sick, raising the dead, and preaching the gospel" and yet are not "being with Him"? For many it seems getting cleaned up, having a family, getting a job, stop drinking, obtaining ministry is the be all and end all of the Christian life. I think we should spend more time with Him.

Mr. Brown

2009-01-07T06:46:00.000-08:00

Jerry Brown former Governor of California and ex-boyfriend of pop sing Linda Ronstadt now attorney general for the State of California is trying to argue against Prop 8 in strange way. Read about here. It looks like this battle could get to the State Supreme Court as early as March.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T08:28:00.000-08:00

The older I get the more I realize that life doesn't get "better and better" as some say. Some years have more trials and tribulations than others that's for sure. But there is One who is constant, Jesus Christ. Even when it seems as if He isn't there or even real, He shows Himself to us and we know our future is bright. That is what Christmas is. God came through for us. Many call Christmas the "Advent". It means the Coming. No matter what situation you're going through, around or over, He is coming because He already came! Merry Christmas

The Pick is Rick

2008-12-20T08:13:00.000-08:00

Well, well, well, how things seem to turn around, change, twist, and spin in the modern world of politics mixed with religion. President-elect Obama has chosen none other than Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback church in Lake Forest, CA to lead the invocation at the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama (oh yes, it is NOW ok to use his middle name, unlike during the campaign when it was huge no-no). Warren and Obama actually disagree on two key points of belief, Warren is pro-life and pro-traditional marriage Obama is not. The Obama transitional team is saying his choice of Pastor Rick shows his willingness to be inclusive of all people. Well, check back with me in about a year and we'll see if that actually holds true. A really interesting side-point is that the gay community is livid over this choice! Read what Joe Solomonese, leader of the Human Rights Campaign (deceptive name, should be Gay Special Rights Campaign)wrote in a letter to President-elect Obama: "We feel a deep level if disrespect when one of the architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the level of prominence and pulpit of your historic nomination." Hmmm, so much for "tolerance" on the part of same sex crowd. It seems tolerance only applies when dealing with same sex marriage, homosexuality and teaching children about an "alternative lifestyle" in public schools. This seems especially true when you consider that Obama has tapped Methodist minister Joseph Lowery, a supporter of same sex marriage and gay special rights, to deliver the benediction. As to this fury of the gay community over the choice of Rick Warren to lead the opening prayer on January 20th, I feel a little bit of joy especially after the shenanigans they pulled when Proposition 8 passed.

Bodily Excercise

2008-11-23T19:58:00.000-08:00

I was reminded of this verse when I read this article:

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." 1 Timothy 4:8

On A Lighter Note

2008-11-17T20:20:00.000-08:00

As I've stated before my blogging is very eclectic. But, with the current events it seems my postings have been on the heavier, more serious side. So here's something a little funnier. It's a skit on homeschooling. I'm the proud father of 3 home school graduates so I can relate to it.. Check this out:

Great Quote

2008-11-16T16:37:00.000-08:00

I'm inspired by great quotes. Here's one of my favorites by the Church of England Bishop of Worcester Hugh Latimer in the year 1555 the night before he was to be executed for heresy (for questioning the Catholic church). The Mayor of Oxford, whom Latimer trusted, offered to keep him company throughout the night, but the reformer refused his kindness, saying: "No, tonight I shall sleep as soundly as ever I did. Tomorrow my breakfast may be somewhat sharp, but my supper will be most sweet." He meant of course his execution would be painful but it would bring him into the presence of his Lord and Savior. As he was being executed next to Nicholas Ridley, the Bishop of Rochester, he said these words: "Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out." Oh God, Give us men, with the heart of Bishop Latimer. Oh God, let me be that man.

Religious Harmony?

2008-11-15T10:18:00.000-08:00

With the looming economic collapse, wars and rumors of more wars there is a renewed interest in the "End Times". Here is an interesting article. Is it a precursor of things to come? Let me know what you think.

What Happened To Tolerance?

2008-11-13T14:35:00.000-08:00

The homosexaul community loves to preach "tolerance". Take a look at this demonstration in Palm Springs that turned ugly. Notice how the styrofoam cross is ripped from the this woman's hands and then stomped on. Tolerance, ha!

Broken Campaign Promises

2008-11-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

Every voter who follows up on promises made by candidates during campaigns know how frustrating it is when the candidate gets elected and then breaks the promise! Here's one promise I hope gets broken:

L.A. County Supervisors Back Prop 8 Challenge

2008-11-12T16:20:00.001-08:00

Is it just me or does it seem like our governmental leaders are going nuts? The LA County Board of Supervisors, the ones who represent all the people, the ones who were elected to uphold the will of the people, are now backing a Prop 8 challenge. Gloria Molina, says that the passage of this measure "saddened and angered her on many levels." Zev Yarolslavsky said: “It’s very important for the County of Los Angeles to be at the table on this,” he said. “It doesn’t hurt anybody. It doesn’t adversely affect anybody else.” Mr. Supervisor, you would do well to visit www.protectmarriage.com and read up on just how much it affects and hurts "everybody" else. The only people gay marriage helps is the radical homosexual activists and their agenda. It must be said that Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who did not vote on this, said that he could not support a challenge. Supervisor Don Knabeleft as the vote was being taken, hmmm.....

Time To Terminate the Terminator

2008-11-11T13:57:00.001-08:00

It was a few years ago that we the voters of California recalled then Governor, Gray Davis. I was shocked to hear that Arnold Schwarzenegger was running in the recall election. I was even more shocked when he won. I thought Tom McClintok would've made a better choice but the voters thought differently. After Schwarzenegger was elected I thought we should give him a chance, after all, he had an "R" after his name. It didn't take to too long for him to show his true colors as a closet liberal, at least in social issues. The only thing he did positively for families was veto the legislation pushed through by homosexual Democrat Mark Leno allowing same sex marriage. Now it appears, he has changed his mind even on that. All the while allowing, even endorsing, more and more special rights and benefits for homosexuals that were once reserved for traditional marriages. Ok, let's get off the social issues. Gov. Arnold always has identified himself as a fiscal conservative, but it seems the state is sliding further into debt. So, really what benefit is he to the great State of California? I can't see any, can you? For those readers who pray, please pray we get a Governor with morals, leadership skills and some common sense.

Prop 8 Backers: Backbones Needed

2008-11-09T21:39:00.000-08:00

During this time of protest it easy for those Prop 8 supporters to forget a few important facts. First off, the measure passed! We should take a breath and be thankful that we’ve gotten this far. If we listen to the homosexual community we are small minority of bigoted religionists trying to force our antiquated views on the masses. The upheaval in the camp of those who seek to redefine marriage is primarily due to sour grapes. They’re angry they spent so much money, issued so much false propaganda and the electorate didn’t buy it. Secondly, remember we’re not alone. Several states had gay marriage ban bills and they all passed. As a matter of fact, according to Jonah Goldberg of the National Review, “…gay marriage bans have ultimately passed in all 30 of the states in which they were on the ballot.” This isn’t just a California phenomenon it is nation-wide (with a couple of exceptions) agreement among Americans that traditional marriage should remain intact. Many of these people who are crying foul after losing on November 4th are citing that our Constitution protects “minorities” from the majority. Often cited are the Jim Crow laws (laws that violated the civil rights of Black Americans) of the South that had strong support among the people yet were declared unconstitutional by the courts. My first thought is, how offensive to those who struggled for the basic civil rights for Americans of African descent! We have no choice in the choosing of our race, but we certainly have choices in choosing our sexuality (unfortunately even this fact is up for grabs according to the same sex marriage crowd). Also, Jim Crow laws were not nation-wide. They were confined, primarily to a region of the country. This movement against same sex marriage is coming from all sectors of the country, even here in California where liberal and progressive are our first and last names. As they used to say here in the inner cities of California: “Hold Your Mug”.

Rule of Law

2008-11-07T10:08:00.000-08:00

Did anyone see the news coverage of the protests by homosexuals and their supporters in West L.A. and Hollywood last night? I was amazed at the way they were allowed to walk down the middle of the street from the afternoon until late at night (at least until the 11:00pm news covered them). The reason I bring this up is I've tried to get permits for way smaller protests and the rules were always if you impede traffic you will be arrested, keep moving etc... And then it takes like 30 days minimum to get the permits! How did these people pull it off? Are government officials waving the rules for these people? Are the afraid or sympathetic? Throw in the fact they were protesting a new law that was passed, not by legislators, but but a majority vote of the people of the Sate of California. If anyone has any insight on how they were able to get away with this please let me know.

Proposition 8

2008-11-06T09:35:00.000-08:00

All Californians who believe in marriage are rejoicing over the passage of Proposition 8. But the joy may be short-lived. Less than 12 hours after the polls closed, even before political commentators projected Prop 8 as a winner, the lawsuits from the radical homosexual community were filed. It's a sad that we need a state constitutional amendment to preserve marriage in the first place. But when you're forced into a corner, by those who insist on the putrefaction of America, what can you do?

Now, what about these new lawsuits? The California Supreme Court overthrew the will of the people this summer (remember Prop 22?), the question is will they be so brazen as to do it again? Is this still America where government is "for the people, by the people"? Not according to the California Supreme Court. President-elect Obama said in his victory speech that this is the country where "all things are possible". I guess this is true except when it comes to the people of California passing a law without judicial interference. Let see what happens. What are your thoughts?

Learning from Illness

2008-08-13T17:13:00.000-07:00

My blog is very eclectic. So I wanted to post about being ill. For the first time I can remember I was very ill on my birthday. Not fun. But, God somehow seems to speak, even while sick. C.S. Lewis said: "God whispers in our pleasures...but shouts in our pain." I remember years ago being set back physically (I'm a fairly healthy guy) and it was there that I truly learned compassion for those in pain. Being a pastor I always tried to feel what those in agony felt, especially while I was praying for them. But after that experience, when I pray for those in pain, I feel them instantly. So, what did God speak while on my present day sick bed? Slow down. Too simple for you? Sorry, I'm a simple guy.

Prayer is prayer – NOT!

2008-08-01T07:21:00.001-07:00

I've found that exact terms have different definitions by different people. Prayer is one those terms. To many people prayer is a dry, often boring, mostly quiet affair in which results are measured by the inner reward gained by those doing the praying. I have to tell you that Biblical prayer, especially prayer made Christians recorded in the Book of Acts was nothing like what I described in the previous sentence. Biblical prayer produced tangible results! Bodies were healed, lives were changed, needs were met by those who prayed. So what gives? Shouldn't we expect to see similar results with our modern prayers? After all, as the Bible describes God "changes not". Could it be we're not praying like the people of the Bible did? I'm not advocating a formula as some do, but rather the intensity and passion of fruit bearing people of prayer. Some points of consideration concerning prayer:

It's mostly vocal – Sure, there's room for praying in your mind or a soft voice, but the Old and New Testaments often describe prayer as "crying out" before the Lord.

It's from the heart – Hannah is one example, she couldn't even find the words because she was pouring her heart out before God.

It's fairly specific – I say fairly because wide prayers are acceptable, but many people never ask God what for what they want. Nor do they thank Him exactly for what He's done.

It has to be prayed in faith – James says to the "double minded" person: Don't even think God is going to answer (my paraphrase, sorry!).

So, not all prayer is real prayer and that's the reason "prayer" is not answered. Thanks for reading.

Coming Out

2008-07-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

No, not that kind of coming out! I’m coming out of blogger's hibernation. Thanks for the push my young friend. I will need little encouragement to know you're with me. Please leave a comment or two to get the old writing juices flowing once again. Blessings from the Holy One to you all.

Should I Be A Huckabee?

2008-01-25T07:30:00.000-08:00

As a Christian pastor you'd think I would immediately vote for the pastor who's running for President: Mike Huckabee. Well, it doesn't seem to be that easy. On the moral issues, Mitt Romney has the same platform. But, he's a Mormon whose religious doctrine I disagree with. Should this matter? I've voted for many people who's religious beliefs were different than mine. What complicates this decision further is Romney seems to be a better political manager than Huckabee, stronger on immigration (my opinion of course) and better communicator (if that matters much). But, if we were side by side in church, Governor Huckabee and I would be singing the same hymns, we're brothers. Governor Romney and I are not. But should being a Christian be the litmus test for getting my vote this year?

It would be great if some would weigh in with their opinions in the comments section

Christian Madness!

2008-01-23T18:20:00.000-08:00

La Shawn Barber has posted an article about Christian parents suing to stop the distribution of Bibles in schools! They believe that religious beliefs should be taught in the home, not the school.

Read all about here.

I Have A Dream!

2008-01-22T12:46:00.001-08:00

It looks like former President Clinton had a dream or two at a service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King.

Bill Clinton at Harlem Church

Little Foxes Can Become Big Wolves

2008-01-22T10:18:00.001-08:00

Song of Solomon 2:15

Catch for us the foxes,

the little foxes

that ruin the vineyards,

our vineyards that are in bloom.

Have you noticed how it is never the big issues that spoil something? Big fights in marriages and churches start with little disagreements. Wars can even start over small issues. Take the War of the Oaken Bucket:

This war started over a stolen bucket. A group of soldiers from Modena invaded Bologna to steal a brown oak bucket. Bologna became angry and went to war with Modena to take back their bucket and restore their pride. The two cities fought for 12 years and thousands of lives were lost. Modena won the war; the people of Bologna never got their bucket back.

I believe "little foxes" have invaded the lives of many good people. The problem is they have not remained little; they've escalated into huge problems. They are ruining the quality of life of those involved.

How do we get rid of these foxes? First, identify that these "foxes" are the start of the problem. Solomon stated it was these foxes that were ruining an otherwise fruitful vineyard. 2^nd, realize that removing the foxes takes more than just yourself. Again Solomon wrote: "Catch for us the foxes…" God can help you in removing the little fire starters that lead to big raging infernos.

Thinking!

2008-01-22T07:21:00.001-08:00

What a wonderfully liberating ability God has given us! The ability to THINK! Dictionary.com defines it this way: "to have a conscious mind; to some extent of reasoning, remembering experiences, making rational decisions, etc…

I can use my mind to plan the future, to contemplate God, to envision dreams coming to pass or finding solutions to problems. As I've gotten a little older, I love the fact that I can "think" about the memories of experiences long ago and recall the bad ones to avoid present pitfalls. A person who uses their mind has unlimited possibilities. If you think about it (sorry for the pun) every invention, program or lifestyle started with a thought. People, especially Christians, should exercise their minds. They should use their thought process to further the Gospel of Christ. Our minds can be a weapon against the enemy. It is sad when leaders, secular or religious, condemn free thought. Why would they do that? For the most part, it is fear. They fear that their leadership will somehow become undermined. That someone may not go with their program. But on the other hand, what if we unleashed the minds of people? What new creativity can be brought to dead and lifeless programs! The advancement of the leader's vision can accelerate!

The time has come exercise our brains, sharpen our thinking skills, and open our world up to new possibilities!

New Teen Project!

2008-01-21T10:30:00.001-08:00

Check out our new teen project:

Heart To Heart Launch!

2008-01-11T17:26:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody, check out Gracie's new career! Seriously though, she did great job on this.

Church E.Fresh

2008-01-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

I love the New Year season! It's full of vision, endless possibilities and freshness. Last but not least, you get to leave the "old" behind. Don't get me wrong, the past holds innumerable good memories, lessons and spiritual landmarks for us. But just as God instructed Moses: "Tell the people to go forward"! Stop your busy mind for a few seconds, ask yourself this question: "What direction, in my life, do I have to go in order to see my dreams come to pass?" Well, there you have it.You've answered you own question.

I'm not making resolutions this year, but I am setting goals. I'm trying to "freshen up" what I'm already doing by the setting of these spiritual watermarks. Making goals is easy, achieving them is not. Here are some questions that I've asked myself in order to accomplish what's in my heart:

1. What are my goals? Set the goal and be specific.

General goals with no way to quantify the results are never achieved.

2. How will I accomplish my goals?

This gives you a start at a road map to an end. Answering this question in writing help my goal setting to become more than a wish list.

3. What obstacles will I encounter in trying to achieve my goals?

Everyone knows that accomplishing something is never easy, there'll be obstacles. Anticipating them in advance helps in overcoming them to your desired end.

Oh, by the way, the title of this post comes from a Rapper (pre hip-hop) named Doug E. Fresh. If you don't know who he is you are either very old or very young or simply out of the loop! (J/K)

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas season is upon us. For our family this has been a good one. All of us are together and unified. I realise that for many in this country and around the world are in not-so-good circumstances. Multiplied thousands are in dire straights. Christmas gives us the hope that there is a brighter day, that is found in the next life. To quote the Bible: 1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
I'm truly sorrowful for those who do not have this hope.

Maybe this Christmas, we should stop worrying so much about whether or not the sales clerk says: "Merry Christmas" or Happy Holidays" and begin doing all that is in our power to reach those who are truly lost without Christ.

Have a Blessed Christmas.

Stirred, NOT Shaken!

2007-11-28T18:33:00.001-08:00

I’ve been renewed in my desire to study and know God’s Word! What you say? Shouldn’t a pastor already have such a great desire? Well, Let me clarify, I’m preparing to teach a class on “Knowing Your Bible” at the New Harvest Center for Biblical Education and I am stirred at the potential for GREAT growth! Our text book is a simple one: How to Study the Bible for Yourself by Tim LaHaye. The book is refreshing because the concepts are simple, yet so profound and bursting with possibilities for spiritual success. In this 10 week course I believe many of our students can and will achieve spiritual heights that that they’ve yet to tread upon. If you are interested in enrolling for the traditional or online class go to newharvestoneighty.com (By the way, that's not me to the left!)

Have Maine School Leaders Lost Their Mind?

2007-11-09T13:12:00.001-08:00

School Board Votes To Offer Birth Control Pill At Middle School

I live, work and minister in an inner city environment in California. So I understand the problems that plaque our young people and the schools they attend. But, think of this: Let's give birth control pills to young teens and expect them to act responsibly? Come on. Will this actually help the 14 yr. old who is sexually active? Is there a strong possibility that this will actually hurt them? If they are are sexually active at this age, do you think they will "responsible" enough to use the contraception properly? Please, America, let's think reasonably. We will never conquer the mountains of problems we face with this kind of solution making.

Hard Day's Night

2007-11-06T07:26:00.000-08:00

Are young people in Western societies viewing hard work with disdain?

It seems to me that many are running from the ethic of hard work. The Bible teaches that "whatever you do, work at it with all you heart..." Yet, many if not most people I meet seem to do the opposite. Part of the blame must be laid upon the media. Television viewers are consistently hit with infomercials, standard commercial that emphasize getting a lot for little investment. No where does this concern me more than with those who labor in Christian ministry. Please read the following excerpt written by C.H. Spurgeon:

No one living knows the toil and care I have to bear....I have to look after the Orphanage, have charge of a church with four thousand members, sometimes there are marriages and burials to be undertaken, there is the weekly sermon to be revised, The Sword and the Trowel to be edited, and besides all that, a weekly average of five hundred letters to be answered. This, however, is only half my duty, for there are innumerable churches established by friends, with the affairs of which I am closely connected, to say nothing of the cases of difficulty which are constantly being referred to me.

Have we become so decadent that we no longer care about the work that we have been entrusted with? Or maybe lack of motivation is at the root. Is there nothing to inspire us to "reach for the stars", key word being "reach"? You can hardly find a young American, especially in our inner cities (where I live and work), that will push themselves to achieve. Yet our fellow planet dwellers in countries like India, China, Korea and many others in Africa will work day and night to achieve success. Is this the beginning of the end of the American super power?

I think it is time to get back to working with all our heart at the daily tasks, as well as the professions that we have been so greatly blessed with.

Comments welcome.

School's Out Forever

2007-11-02T19:59:00.001-07:00

SB777 and AB 394 means we should remove our children from public schools in CA.

We've home schooled our 3 children. Our curriculum was School of Tomorrow. Why am I telling you this information? Because the time has come for those who are tired of the homosexual "agenda" to remove their children from the public school system in California. SB777 requires that homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality be taught as acceptable forms of behavior. There is no opt out for parents that disagree.

My Childhood Dream

2007-11-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

In October 2007 a dream came true. I was able to ride on the Goodyear Airship. I used to call it the blimp but I have now been corrected. When I was a kid my Dad would get excited whenever it would pass over our area. I've always wanted to ride in it. Now I've done it! The average person really can't ride on the airship. Only Goodyear's best customers, dignitaries and air traffic controllers. My son is the latter. He works at the city owned Torrance airport and the airship flies over his air space so all the controllers in his tower were given 2 tickets. I'm glad he selected me. The ride was great! It was smooth and relatively quiet. We were able to fly over the Harbor Area of Los Angeles, San Pedro, Torrance and Carson. The pilot was quite knowledgable of the area, he was able to point out numerous points of interest that we would never have known. We also were able to see our church, it was a strange sight from the air. Thanks Tommy for thinking of your Dad! Oh, by the way, I'm the one on the right!

Gay Straight Alliance Leader Resigns Over Pornography Allegations

2007-11-02T14:32:00.001-07:00

Gay Straight Alliance Leader Resigns Over Pornography Allegations

Why is there no reference to this in the mainstream media? If this were a youth pastor or leader of a Christian club the outcry would be world-wide.

First Posting

2007-11-02T13:35:00.000-07:00

Here's my initial stab at personal blogging. I have a secret fantasy at writing but as of yet have not entered into it. Mostly because of procrastination, but an element of fear of failure is also involved. If you read this please leave a comment of encouragement, challenge or the age old tool of the "flame"!

Ta.