Book Review

I have been in ministry in one capacity or another during the past 18 years. Often, people have recommended books to me that are said to be “life changing” revelation. In many cases, disappointment is all that I get from many Christian authors. However, this book is not like that. Gary Wood uses a principle in his writing that many would do well to follow when writing about biblical principles. Isaiah 28:9-10 says, “ whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept , precept upon precept ; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” KJV

That’s what you get from “The Sixth Day Rapture, The Shabua Principle” Line upon line, scripture after scripture of understanding that is truly life changing. If you are hungry to know what the Bible actually says about the End Times and the rapture of the Church, this is the book you must read. This book will challenge many people’s understanding regarding the return of Christ for His church. And for those who are willing to yield to the truth of scripture, “that day” will not take you unaware. To order "The Sixth Day Rapture, The Shabua Principle" go to
www.sixthdayrapture.com

Fellowship is Required!

It's been a couple of months since my last entry. It's amazing how time can get away from us. God help us to value it more purposefully.

I am convinced that true Christian Fellowship provides the opportunity to prove where our hearts are when it comes to the faith. God has purposed that His people become a body, fitly framed together that grows into a habitation of God's Spirit.
The "Body of Christ" must come to the realization, that God wants a people who clearly demonstrate genuine love and concern for one another. One of the signs of the "end times" is that the love of many would grow cold. Unfortunately, we see this coming to pass in our culture. Sadly, this spirit has also crepted into the lives of those who call themselves believers.

There will be many believers who will stand in judgment and hear Christ say, "depart from me you workers of iniquity, I NEVER KNEW YOU" Why is that? False Conversions.
There are many church going, tithe paying people who have never have had a born again experience. Jesus was quick to tell Nicodemus that believing that he was the Christ would not give one a place in God's eternal kingdom. When Nicodemus called Jesus the Son of God because of his witness to the miracles, what did Jesus say?
He said, unless one is born again, one could not see the kingdom of God.

When we are able to love one another, forgive one another, forbear with one another, prefer one another, pray for, encourage, and rebuke, we will know that the new birth has happened in our lives. Fellowship causes us to engage one another in different ways. How else will we know that we are growing and maturing in Christ until we are put to the test through relationships with other believers. How we treat one another in good times and in difficult times will be the measure of our faith. Jesus said that all men will know that you are my disciples by the love that you have for one another.

Fellowship is required!

A Community of Believers

The New Testament church has always been organism, and was never meant to be an organization. It did not grow because of Alter calls, but through altered lives. Peter did not call them to say the 'sinners' prayer, instead they asked, what do I need to do to become part of Jesus. The people had a thirst to join something living, powerful and transformational. This thirst came from the preaching and teaching of the gospel. The church is a community of believers who are alive by the calling of Jesus Christ.

Church communities are grown, not built. They are grown by the transforming power of God’s word not powerful feelings. The community of the believers is far more than a club, because being part of a community of faith has deep value to the individual.

Belonging is the fabric of people’s lives instead of the fruit of their fun. The hardest part in growing an authentic community of believers is building a sharing culture, where people realize that Jesus is constantly doing significant work in each one of our lives. The acts of sharing and serving are the life blood of a community of believers, and everyone has a vital role to play. People will often exhibit different levels of engagement at different times:

(1) Bystander: The bystander appears to only take. Maybe where they are now in their lives they do not have enough time, or feel that they have no valuable knowledge to contribute. Maybe they do not feel welcome or do not understand the community culture.

(2) Someone who gives Feedback: these people add to the community, the danger is that people who are not seeking spiritual transformation may use open sharing, or such community opportunities as a forum for malice or grievances. But even this challenge allows everyone to respond in a Christ like manner, and to model appropriate response to difficult situations. When people do give feedback some people will just correct or complain and some people will add richly, but all are necessary whether they are people who feel safe and jump in, or need some encouragement.

(3) Some people join the community: Here people want what the community has and are willing to pay the price of engagement to become part of something significant, these people want to taste and see what is good. They may join formally, or informally. Where people put their attention, time and money is an indication of where their heart is. Some people may have a light level of engagement in terms of attending Life Group meetings or other social gatherings. Some people will join existing ministries, some may be willing to shape ministries and others start them from scratch.

In this context of community there needs to be community leadership, such as pastors/shepherds. These leaders need to control and define the environment, but never the people. The environment should be a dynamic place, a place of spiritual power where people have the opportunity for spiritual growth. It is important for the pastors to model what they teach, and not teach something they do not do.

Members of a community of faith, are disciples of Christ, with the Holy Spirit as the glue. Our yardstick is simple lives transformed by the good news of the Gospel, and the Christ of the living God glorified!

Being A Leader!

Being a leader or an example is not an easy burden. If it was, more people would be doing it. To be in a position, in which people are looking to you, carries joy as well as pain. As a pastor, you see and hear things about people, that can be very disappointing. People in whom you place trust, sometimes, misuse that trust and betray it. I find myself wondering how people would feel if I were to treat them like they treat me. It is sad when other believers do not realize that the "golden rule" is a biblically based life principle that must be followed in order to be faithful to God's word.

"Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you" is a scripture found in the bible(Luke 6:31). In addition, "love thy neighbor as thyself" and "love one another, as I have loved you" are commandments from Christ Jesus. Hence, it would be true to say that the "golden rule" IS a good rule to live by.

As a leader, it is necessary, and required that we put up with the failings of others. Paul made this clear in Romans 15:1-3 when he wrote, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."

God is glorified in all Christian leaders who demonstrate patience and grace when people fall short of Godly character. We must remember that we are who we are by God's grace, and we do what we do by God's grace.

Where did the time go?

I can't believe its been over a month since my last entry. Time is slipping past us very quickly. I don't think we value time as we should. Many people complain about not having enough time. I think we have more than we think, we just don't use is wisely in many cases. God help to make the most of our time.

I am convinced that one of the tools that the enemy of our souls has as a weapon is the busyness of life. We are always doing something, listening or watching something, or going someplace. We rarely have time to sit and meditate on God's goodness and mercy. I believe this is a spiritual discipline that is just as important as prayer and fasting. I think we need to "be still and know the He is God." Be still and know that He is faithful. Consider all the wonders of His hands. We need to stand in amazement that God has called us into a relationship with Himself.

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

We often question why tragedy befalls people we know. We really find ourselves wondering why bad things happen to good people, especially when they profess a love for Christ.

I believe the following is a perspective that is biblically sound.

God, in his infinite wisdom, knows what it takes to bring each of His own into a right kind of mindset. Often times when cancer strikes, an unexpected death, or other life changing events, we find ourselves remembering those things in life that are truly important. If you are honest with yourself, it will always involve people.

I spoke at the funeral of a dear friend, family member and pastor, William Kaber. I shared in the message a scripture which reads as follows:

“It is better to go to a house of mourning, than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2 (NIV)

This was a sobering truth that reminds us that life is short and precious. When we fail to see what is important on our own, God has a way of refocusing us to what is important.

Remember the four lepers of Samaria? The city was being starved to death under siege from Syria, and these four were stuck outside the gate between the city and the Syrian army.

They deliberated, If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die. (2 Kings 7:4)

The question wasn’t whether or not they'd die. That was the obvious that their leprosy helped them recognize. The issue, then, was simply when and where: Next week in the city? Tomorrow at the gate? Or today at the hands of our enemies?

They concluded that their enemies could do nothing more to them than what nature had already assigned. And, unlike their city and their skin, their enemies might even show them mercy. For them, the most frightful prospect was actually the wisest, most fruitful way to go.

In this case Leprosy made life a lot simpler. Being terminally ill, facing the death of a loved one, or other life changing events, often cultivates the clarity of mind that enables people to approach things that are good for them.

I believe that this is one reason why bad things happen to good people? Remember, all good things come from God. What we say is a bad thing, God sees as good.

A Superficial Gospel

Is it possible that modern popular Christianity is preaching a superficial Gospel in the 21st Century? If you look carefully at the history of the people of Israel many times the “popular” majority of priests and prophets turned from preaching the truth before the people and became profane in their speech and their own lives. In Jeremiah’s time, we see this recorded in the scriptures: “For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.”

What dismay to see almost all of the spiritual leaders of Israel speaking lies in the name of the Lord. Is this happening again? Is it possible that in our modern day evangelical circles there are many that are not preaching a true Biblical Gospel? True Christianity is never popular Christianity! True Christianity is accepted by few and rejected by many. True Christianity is abhorrence to the flesh, the devil and the world. True Christianity is a Cross! Death to self! Crucifixion to the world! What many are wanting to hear is an easy salvation and Gospel that does not hurt us or crucifies us. We want a Gospel that is catered to man and his interests.

Jeremiah wrote this when a entire nation was embracing a false gospel: “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their own means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” What shock should we experience if we realize that a false Gospel abounds and overflows in our evangelical Churches.

Could it be possible that just as in the days of Amos the prophet, today it is the same as was prophesied: “Behold, the days come with the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.”

Are people seeking out Churches were true biblical doctrine is preached? Are they seeking churches in which the conviction of the Spirit of God, the burden of lost sinners, the judgment of God is being preached? How rare it is to find such a Church where there is not just a feel-good message that warms the backslidden soul. How rare it is to find a church that is truly preparing the people for their reunion with Christ whether it is by the grave or when we are gathered together on the day of Christ’s return.