Thanksgiving 2008

I traveled to my brother’s for the weekend and while that in itself is no big deal it was a huge deal for me.  He has done two tours in Afghanistan since I saw him last.  His tours to Afghanistan are real tours.   He does not sit in a town and tell people what to do, he is out getting rid of terrorists.  He loves his job.  If he died doing it I would not be mad at anyone because he chose this job and does it because it is what he wants to do.  What made this trip special was that I got to talk to my brother about Christ.

For many years he was agnostic at least or just to intellectual at best.  He left the church at 17 or 18 like many young people do.  He used every excuse not to listen to the gospel.  He knew every argument to block what he thought was a crutch for the week minded.  My grandmother prayed for him relentlessly until her death.  I have prayed for him since I have returned to the church.  Finally he heard the call of Christ to return to Him and he heeded that call.

I didn’t get into details about his conversion experience but I could see the change in his face.  He and his family are attending a bible teaching church and his growth is amazing.  If he does have to go back to Afghanistan and he does get killed doing his job I will be sad but I know that he will be in Heaven saving me a spot, and for that I am Thankful.

Urban Exile: Re-discovering Justice? | Out of Ur | Conversations for Ministry Leaders

I receive a weekly newsletter from Leadership Journal and I usually just go through the main articles then file it in my leadership folder for future reference.  Today I scrolled through it and decided to go to their blog called Out of UR.  David Swanson has written a very good article about the new move toward a social justice in our conservative churches.

About four years ago we had a guy come to our church to help us discover our mission and try to figure out how to reach our community.  During one of these session I pointed out that our church does no mission work either in our neighborhood or abroad.  I was met with a resounding what are you talking about our this and we that.  So I knew we were going to get no where.  Yes we give about 13% of our budget to missions but we do no missional work what so ever.  But I digress

This article points out what I was trying to tell our congregation 4 years ago.  We need to see the hurting and get involved.  Unlike the social gospel movement in more liberal churches we are equipped to share the gospel when we do these missional projects.  My point is that we need to get involved.  Read the article I think you will like it.

Urban Exile: Re-discovering Justice? | Out of Ur | Conversations for Ministry Leaders.

Been Thinking About » Messianics, Law, and Grace

Mart De Haan gives a great look at Paul and without saying it, legalism.  He shows how Paul looked at the law as a mirror of ourselves not as something to be lived up to.

He never denied that the law of Moses tells the truth about us. He just used the law like a doctor uses diagnostic tests. Not as a cure, but to show what’s wrong.

Been Thinking About » Messianics, Law, and Grace.

It Is The Start of a New Era In America

If you know anything about me you know I did not support President Elect Obama in the election.  However I want to echo Senator McCain’s pledge to support him in his presidency.  Coming from a military background I understand what the cohesiveness of supporting the Commander-in-Chief.  I served under President Clinton and did not agree with many of his decisions. I supported him anyway.  We can not all live the Rush Limbaugh disdain for those who do not agree with us.  We don’t get paid to be that way and Rush does.  We have to live with those around us and as Christians we are called to love not hate.  We need to voice our disagreement when bill are passed on abortion or marriage. We don’t need to hat and let our emotions drive us when we speak on these subjects.

God is sovereign in all this.  There is a reason that our President will be Barak Obama.  Remember that.  No matter if Oprah believes that positive thinking put him in place.  God has a reason for him to be there.  Romans 13 says it this way:

1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Pray for all of our elected officials.  Pray for our country. Pray for our world.  Serve where you can.

Steve

Another great blog post with perspective on how we should really look at this election.

Prophetic vs. Political: Thoughts on the Day After Obama’s Election

Presidential Prayer Team: so you can pray for the president

Election Day 2008

I am not going to tell you who to vote for or how to vote (at least not on this blog).  However I am going to encourage you to pray for the all the people that are elected.  If you read my post on The Last Best Hope of Man on Earth you will understand why I say that.  We are Christians living in a world that is not.  When we show hate toward a man or woman most of us don’t know,  we are not following the mandate to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Whether it is Obama or McCain Palin or Biden we need to offer up Godly heartfelt prayers for that person.  Remember to pray for you school board, your city government, and state government.  You can not hate people you are praying for.  We also need to love our neighbors that voted for the other side.  We do not need anymore barriers than we already have.  Our mandate is love because it is not a sin to disagree.

Steve