Contradictory Behavior

As a pastor I have seen a lot of contradictory behavior, like someone stealing a Bible from the church. Yeah, I know, that isn't just a cliche, it really has and does (once in awhile) happen. My real hope for anyone who does that is that they actually end up reading it, at least until they get to Exodus 20:15, and then just ask for a Bible which we would gladly give to anyone who asks. Speaking of contradictory behavior, I actually read a news item recently reported by Scripps News Service that took place in St. Lucie, Flordia. A person who was employed as a Weight Watchers Demonstrator (how do you demonstrate that?) was caught shoplifting cupcakes at the local grocery store. How embarassing to make headlines with that! I wonder if they lost their job? I wonder what their excuse might have been?

These things of course are contradictory behaviors, like getting the Diet Coke with your Big Mac and Super Sized french fries. I wonder how many times I am guilty of contradictory behavior? (That's OK, you don't have to tell me.) One thing we do know for sure, is that as Christians we are always under observation for contradictory behavior. Just respond to someone in anything less than a completely patient way and pow, you get nailed as a Hypocrite. Hypocrite is the name for someone who practices contrary behavior frequently.

It's so easy to act contrary to our message, isn't it? Someone just today was telling me about an incident of road rage they got caught in the middle of. Even though they weren't the one driving on the shoulder of the road and making rude gestures, their blood was pumping hard and they were feeling both fear and anger at the same time. Responding correctly sometimes is really tough.

That is why it is a necessity for us to walk in the Spirit all the time. Be Spirit controlled. Be Spirit led. The Bible promises us that if we "Walk in the Spirit", that we "shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)." So, if you love Jesus, alow Him to help you keep from acting out any contradictory behavior. It may keep you out of the headlines.

Men's Do Something!!

This past Saturday, our Men's Ministry sponsored another Do Something! activity day. Dennis Merkes and Ray Schemanski hosted a King Salmon Derby. We had the best weather - sun, warm, blue skies, good food - brauts and hot links on the grill, lots of boats and equipment and about 20 guys ready to fish. The fishing was great! The catching was a little on the slow side. Tommy Brister hooked a large fish but had to release it. Near the end of the day, Aaron Broyles hooked and landed the derby winning King Salmon on Ray Schemanski's boat. It was great to have a winner after such a long day fishing on the river!

It was a great day, another great Men's Do Something event and everyone had a lot of fun. For a little live video action of the lunch break.

A Preacher's Day Off

I have made a commitment to post to this blog at least once a week to keep it current and worth coming back to. I am a little later than usual as my summer (like yours) really heated up this past week with activity. This past Monday, I had the great privilege to spend the day fishing for halibut with two other Assemblies of God pastors. Pastor Mike Rose from Juneau and Pastor Greg Newell from Homer. What a day the Lord gave us! I have to admit the seas were a little choppy in the morning, by noon, the sun had burned throught the fog and it was warm and calm. Fishing for halibut in t-shirts is a fine thing to do on a day off! I was blessed with two really nice fish, one a "30 pounder" and one in the 60 pound class. It was a great day in several respects, the weather was wonderful as I have already mentioned, we were able to reach our limit of fish easily and with nice sized fish, and most of all, the chance to fellowship with two other preachers who are also great friends is a rare occasion indeed.

Michael Jackson

As perhaps a billion people (media estimate) will watch the memorial service for Michael Jackson today, I wonder how many of them, Christians included will believe he is in heaven. I have not said a lot about this but I have heard much around town, on the television and in conversations.

First of all, let me say that I am not God, I am not the judge of the living or the dead. However, it is my place to warn all that I can to know that there is a heaven, and there is a hell. Sincere faith in Christ for the forgiveness of our sin is the ONLY way to salvation, everything else does not avail us whatsoever when it comes to salvation. This is what we know for sure because the Bible makes this very clear to us.

Unfortunately, many people assume that God thinks and feels the same way we do. That God makes decisions based upon His like or dislike of things or people the way we do. So, if we happen to like Michael Jackson for some reason, well then God must also and since we like him, he must be eligible for heaven. News flash: it doesn't work that way.

We don't go to heaven by majority rule. We can't gain entrance to heaven by the title, "King of Pop". We don't go to heaven by being a nice person. We will not be granted entrance to heaven by doing good things, selling millions of records or being tolerant of every lifestyle or being "cool".

A lot of people want to take charge of God's heaven and become the one who gives permission to enter or not. Do not be deceived, God isn't giving anyone the right to decide who enters His heaven or not, including me. He alone will be the judge and the one who makes the laws we must abide by to enter. So, if you think I have said that Michael Jackson is going to hell, read this again carefully, I haven't said that. If you ask what I think will happen to him, I might say that most of the external evidence I have seen would lead me to believe that Michael Jackson was not a believer in Jesus as his personal savior. I am not God, I do not get to say if Michael makes it or not, I do not see Michael's heart as God does. Despite all of the visual evidence to the contrary, if Michael knew Jesus as his savior and Lord, then I am sure he will be in heaven. However, if he did not, there is not any amount of talent or popularity that can make up for the most important relationship of all.

God is "... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) So, the path to heaven was as open to Michael Jackson as it is to anyone else, just like the rest of mankind, we must choose it. I hope that he did. I am glad I have. I hope you do too.

Deadlines

Recently I published an article in the Peninsula Clarion about the power of a deadline. I can get writer's (or preacher's) block and have difficulty finding a subject. But as the deadline draws near, from somewhere within comes creativity, ideas or divine help to meet that deadline. I am not talking about procrastination, that's another topic!

The problem for deadline oriented people is when there is no deadline. Things that are important often don't come with a specific deadline. Like telling your wife or husband or children that you love them. No deadline, great importance. Or having that talk about forgiveness with someone who has wronged you. Or making your peace with God.

Yesterday, two well known celebrities ended their earthly journeys, Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Both dying before their time, both wealthy and popular people. Their deadline for life was the same day. I pray they had met that deadline with their eternity certain by having Jesus as their savior. Someone on my Facebook page remarked, "The King of Pop meets the King of Kings!" Wow, I hope the King of Pop was prepared for that introduction.

Speaking of deadlines, when will we share with our neighbor about their need of Jesus? Hopefully we will do it before their deadline with eternity comes due.

Independence Day

I have in my electronic files an essay concerning the signers of the Declaration of Independence. It is a brief history of their fates following the signing of that foundational document of our country. You may not have ever read their histories, much like the fate of the Lord's disciples, once their moment in history is fulfilled, they quickly fade from view. I did not author this essay but share it with you for some depth of perspecitve concerning this "holiday".

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Have you ever wondered who the men who signed the Declaration of Independence were? What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and plantation owners; they were all men of means and well educated. They signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that if captured, their penalty for signing would be death. By signing, they pledged their lives, their personal fortunes, and their honor to this cause of America becoming a land of freedom and liberty. Have you ever wondered what happened to these 56 men who signed? Five signers were arrested by the British, sentenced as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in combat while serving in the Continental Army; another had two sons who became prisoners of war. Nine fought and died from combat wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his trading ships attacked and sunk by the British Navy. He had to sell his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. Thomas McKeam was so hunted by the British that he was forced to move his family constantly. He served in the Continental Congress without pay while his family was kept in hiding. Eventually his possessions were confiscated, and he became penniless. Soldiers sacked and looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr., reported that the British General Cornwallis had taken over his family’s home for his headquarters. He urged General George Washington to fire upon it with artillery. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home razed and properties destroyed. His wife was imprisoned and died within a short time from the appalling conditions of the British prison. John Hart and his 13 children were driven from their home while his wife lay dying as British soldiers attempted to capture them. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. His fields and his gristmill were laid waste. A few weeks after returning home, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Common were such stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These men were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken gentlemen of means and education. They had wealth and security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." Their sacrifice and service gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books do not tell much about what happened to individual people in the Revolutionary War. It wasn't just about fighting the British, we were British subjects at the time. We were fighting our own countrymen and government! Some take our liberties for granted because we didn’t pay, we didn’t sacrifice, we were not deprived. Their pain, sacrifice and deprivations were their gift to us. Their service bought us the freedoms we so enjoy, even if we are ignorant of the struggle that provided them. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember freedom is never free! It's time we get the word out that patriotism is not a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and civic parades. God bless America!

Men's Do Something!!

One of the things that I really enjoy in the summer months with our men's ministry are the "Do Something!" activities that occur throughout the summer. We had our first one this past Saturday evening at the Bennings. What a blast! We took advantage of the location with the Benning's back yard about 100 feet above the beach on a steep bluff with Cook Inlet lapping at the bottom. We teed up our golf balls and drove them off the top of the bluff as far (or not) out into the water as we could. Pastor Ryan took top honors for longest drive with his brand new 460cc Taylormade driver.

A unique activity of the evening was testing out the slings that the Peru Team brought back from their mission trip. When I say "sling" that is the David-and-Goliath vareity. Yes, the kind that you swing wildly around and let go of one side and send the stone flying....somewhere. Actually, it wasn't nearly as difficult as we anticipated. We felt pretty good about the fact that no windows got broken, no one was sent to the hospital and (most) the stones acually went where they were supposed to go at least in the general direction that was intended. That was actually pretty impressive. A 'bulls-eye" was made down on the beach with the 4-wheeler which we all started slinging stones at. All I can say is that I can assure you that we will have no Philistine invasion anytime soon with our slinging skills.

Then of course, we had good eats on the grill with lots of good fellowship and friendship shared as well.

We will have more Do Something! nights through the summer, I encourage all of our men to come on out and have a great time. You never know what we will be doing but it is always fun and usually unique. Stay tuned for the next event!