A Lot of Hurt

We live in a world that lives for pleasure yet dwells in depression.  1 out of every 10 Americans are now on anti-depressants, yet we live in a nation with more ways to make one's self happy than any other nation on earth.  There were nearly 40,000 suicides last year in this country.  People live in darkness and depression fighting their own thoughts and emotions until getting to a place of exhaustion and depletion.  Sadly, this is not just occurring in the lost world, but in God's churches as well.
HURT.  It's a terrible word.  The word means "mental pain, offense, grieving; to injure, to cause pain."  For many, this is life.  If it isn't the mental pain, it is the physical (or at least the belief one is in physical pain).  The United States makes up only 4.6 percent of the world's population, but consumes 80 percent of its opioids -- and 99 percent of the world's hydrocodone, the opiate that is in Vicodin.  Why the usage? Because they HURT.  
In the Bible, demonic forces are always bringing hurt upon people.  For example, consider thedemoniac in Luke 4:33-35: 

"And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.  And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not."

Also, Mark 5 speaks of the demoniac of gadara who "always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones."   HURT.  Crying and cutting himself was the result of a great demonic presence.

Our nation has not only a sin problem, but a demonic mastery.  We truly, as no other time in this nation's history, deal with "spiritual wickedness in high places."  Those lost without Christ in this world stand no hope in overcoming the hurt without the power of the liberating Gospel.

Sadly, many Christians deal with demonic hurt as well.  A believer in Christ cannot be demonically possessed, but can be demonically oppressed, depressed, obsessed.  Before salvation, we were of our father the Devil who held possession of our life.  At salvation, the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13) indwells us, and never more can Satan hold possession of our life!  Satan then seeks oppression, depression, and obsession.  Satan can attack from without in your life to bring oppression through circumstances, temptations, and the past.  Once he is allowed place in your life, he then will bring a depression and darkness into the life.  Doubt will fill the mind of the depressed.  Soon, by the believer giving place to the devil, that believer can be demonically obsessed.  The HURTing will separate themselves from all they love, their church, their faith, and will soon lose even the ability to stop the wrong thoughts from overwhelming them.  They are demonically obsessed.  (Eph. 4:27 "Neither give place to the devil." Rom. 7:18 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." )

The Lord wants to come into your body and take up residence with your spirit. (1 Cor. 6:13-20; Rom. 8:9, 14-16).  The Lord desires us to have His joy and His joy remain in us (Jn 15:11).  We are instructed repeatedly in the New Testament to "Rejoice in the Lord!"  In the Bible, God always desires to keep his children FROM HURT (Daniel 3:25 "He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt..."  Daniel 6:21-22 "Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me...")
David, because of his yielding himself to temptation, had become filled with sorrow and obsession.  In Psalm 51 we read that he felt dirty (vs. 2), his failure was ever before him (vs. 3), he felt cast away from God's presence (vs. 10), and wanted to have restored "THE JOY OF THY SALVATION."
Satan cannot have the soul of the believer, but should he take from them their joy, he takes from them their power to make a difference in someone else's life.  A believer robbed of joy becomes HURT and then all his life's focus and efforts are upon himself. The Devil is a thief.
Consider John 10:10

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:"-This is Satan.

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."-This is our Lord!!

So, how do we take back this ground yielded to Satan and get back our joy?  Consider three passages:
1. Daniel 6:  In this passage, Daniel was under attack, was hated, and lived in a land that was not his home.  Yet, he had, in vs. 3, "an excellent spirit."  If anyone had reason to HURT, Daniel did.  But rather, he had an excellent spirit.  How?  The answer is in verse 10, "...he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times  a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."  He talked to God and praised Him three times a day!
2. Psalm 119:161-168:  The author was being persecuted (161) and lied about (163)-he was under attack.  Yet, he had (165) "great peace" and was not HURT.  How?  "I rejoice at thy word...thy law do I love...seven times a day do I praise thee."  He focused on God's Word and held it dear.  When one is under demonic attack, his mind and feelings will lie to him and all he can trust is God's Word.  Then, he praised the Lord 7 times a day.  The more intense the battle, the more often we must praise the Lord.  Why praise the Lord?  We are thanking Him for all the ways He blesses us.  Then we must answer this question, "why does He keep blessing me?"  The only answer we have is "He loves me!" The more we realize He loves us, the more we love Him.  The more we love Him, the more we "keep His commandments" and His joy remains in us (Jude 21). This is why Peter instructs believers in his first epistle that when they are in "heaviness through manifold temptations," to "gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according tot he former lusts in your ignorance, but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation."  The mind will begin to deceive you when in  you are HURTing.  Cling to His Word and Praise Him.
3. Colossians 1:13-14:  These verses are powerful verses in God's Word.  Revelation 12:11 reads, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony..."  They 2 keys to victory over "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" are Salvation and our testimony.  You must be saved to overcome.  Second, the believer overcomes by the Word of their testimony.  This is where these verses in Colossians come in.  I believe that if every believer takes the time to praise God at least three times a day (keep a written journal to look over at times to affirm God's love to your mind) and when under attack audibly give these verses as their testimony, the HURT will leave their lives.   Read aloud these verses:

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"

Glory be to the Lamb!!!  I am saved!  I am delivered from the power of darkness!  I am in the kingdom of His dear Son!  I am redeemed by the precious blood!  My sins are forgiven!!

Believer, you do not have to live in hurt.  No matter the past, no matter the temptation, no matter what your mind tells you, God's Word is true and it says I am delivered!
This is not just a sermon I put together, it was my life.  I spent two long years in HURT.  God graciously showed me how to have victory and I believe God allows these times:

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.-2 Cor 1:4

So many HURTing seemingly everywhere.  My friends, take it from me, God doesn't want you HURTing, and He will take it all away if we will take the time to lean on Him, see His love, love His Word, praise His name.  The HURT can be removed!

Modern Day Pharisee

As I read through modern Christian periodicals, books, tweets, Facebook posts, blogs, and more, I keep coming upon a term that I think needs expounded on.  The term I keep reading of is "Modern Day Pharisee."

Sounds serious doesn't it?  Take that you....you...you whoever that stands for.  Modern Day Pharisee?  What is a modern day pharisee and what do they do?  Now, before the thousands who read this blog start hammering away at definitions of a modern day pharisee, I think it is best to stick with our rule of thumb....WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

I suppose the best way to begin to study this is by defining what a past day pharisee was.  The "law of first mention" takes us to Matthew 3:7-8:

"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:"

So a Pharisee was one who was not saved.  They had never repented and were not ready for the wrath to come.  I suppose then a modern day Pharisee would have to be someone who is not saved.

A pharisee was also someone who was very righteous in their works.  Matthew 5:20 reads,

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter ingot he kingdom of heaven."

Apparently, they were very righteous acting (not enough to work their way into heaven-no one can do that) but they were very righteous acting.  They did things like tithe (Matthew 23:23), pray (Luke 18:11),  fast (Matt. 9:14), and was sure to look good on the outside (Matthew 23).  And you know what? The Lord never rebuked them for doing these things.  His rebuke was not that their works were wrong, but rather:

"...within they are full of extortion and excess.....within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

The past day Pharisee was a lost man.  A religious, but lost man.  They loved being seen by men, they lied, they converted others to lies....they were lost, but knew a lot about the Truth.  

Now, we come to 2014 and read all about the "modern day pharisee."  So, they must be referring to people who know the truth but are lost and need to repent and be saved, right?  

Let's examine.  Here is a comment from Facebook from an Independent Fundamental Baptist describing the modern day Pharisee:

"To hit the nail on the head it generally seems to be those who are 'most' separated.  The outside of the platter is clean type.  Ironically it is modern day Pharisee as it gets."

So, the modern day Pharisee is one who is most separated?  I don't understand.  I would if it would have been added, "but the inside of the cup is filthy and needs to be cleansed, but that isn't there.  Then you read of others who always associate the modern day pharisee with those who have standards in music and dress, strong doctrine, church discipline, proper church polity, and separation from things in the world that Scripture teaches are wrong.

Now did the past day Pharisees pay attention to details in strict standards, Bible, discipline, polity, and separation?  Yes, but those things were never rebuked by our Lord.  Matter of the fact, He says, "these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."  Again, they were rebuked because inwardly they were lost and all the rituals in the world profit nothing without a personal experience with Christ; but after a personal experience with Christ, these same things can share light to a very dark world.

Take circumcision for example.  Some Jews were thinking that their circumcision was "what it was all about,"  Paul rebuked them in Romans 2 saying:

"For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.....But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

Let me conclude....I get it.  I know what everyone is trying to say.  There are some who are so full of themselves and proud of themselves that they forget what it is all about, souls.  But it seems that the only people using the term "Modern Day Pharisees" are other believers who have lower standards of those they accuse trying to appease their conscience by casting stones at others.  The ones accusing others of being a MDP are not trying to help a brother, but tear one down.  The ones accusing others of being a MDP usually are the ones who in their heart know they are not right with God in a matter and just because another brother will not tell them they are "OK" or condone their unbiblical life, they feel the need to tear them down and destroy them.

Wait a second, the past day pharisee couldn't stand the righteousness the Lord lived and tried to tear Him down and destroy Him to cover their inward wickedness...maybe the modern day pharisee is the ones accusing others.....maybe....think about it.

 

Balanced

Webster's 1828 defines Balance as: "an impartial state of the mind, in deliberating; or a just estimate of the reasons and arguments on

both sides of a question, which gives to each its due weight, or force and importance."

I've been doing a lot of thinking on balance as pertaining to the ministry and being a pastor.  I've learned a lot and am trying to keep learning a lot.  Growing up in the ministry as I have has allowed me many unique opportunities to watch first hand the ministry....people.  I've learned there are many different types of people.  I've learned there are many different types of pastors.  I've learned there are many different types of stands about everything.  

I've also learned just how many "camps" there are in just the Independent Baptist arena centered around these different stands.  There is one group that says "dress however you want" who is opposed by the "high standards and nothing else" crowd.  There is the "repentance means change of mind" crowd opposed by the "repentance is a work that must be accomplished before salvation crowd."  There is "be loyal to and obey your pastor or else" crowd opposed by the "the pastor is just one of the guys" crowd.  There is the "music better come from the Pirate guy" crowd opposed by the  "Legacy Five is performing at our church" crowd.  Then there are the following: "We use a screen and no song books/those liberal churches using a screen," "Nonessentials don't divide/everything is essential," "mission boards/no mission boards," "you need a little righteous indignation/all anger is wrong," "pre,post, a",  "open, close, closed," and the list goes on and on.  Area churches keep their distance from me because they "have heard" what I believe, but not many have ever ask.

I've watched men change over the years.  I hear of others today.  I read about pastors and their wives who I've had speak at my church just a few years ago now tearing down what they preached was right at this church.  So what is the balance?  With all these voices, what is right?

I've tested the waters with some different camps since becoming pastor.  I've been with the fundamental crowd, BAPTIST crowd, Bob Jones crowd, Southern Gospel crowd, sacred music crowd, Baptist are the only ones going to Heaven crowd, and have been contacted by the ecumenical crowd too.  I've hung around Ruckmanites, Hyles worshippers, John R. Rice groupies, Sword, Revival Fires, Fairhaven, Heartland, and West Coast.  I've had Pastor Brandenburg, Ev. Ted Alexander, Missionary David Cloud, Pastor Jeff Fugate, Pastor Mike Allison and Kenny Baldwin at my church.  I've been removed from mailing lists, put on black list, made fun of by the fundamentalist and hated and scorned by What Fundies Like.

All the while wondering, "where do I fit in and with who?"  You know what?  I gave that up a while ago.  I really don't care.  I've learned this, all that matters is the Bible.  I don't follow a certain man, camp, or philosophy. 2 Peter 3:17-18 reads, 

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen."

You know what God wants?  He wants us to steadfast and growing in the Lord. He wants us to beware of lies and crowds that are in error because He is coming back soon!  The Lord wants us to be balanced.   The picture above says it all.  Stand upon the Rock!  Take Truth and lay it out and just stand upon it.

They Say Dogs Don't Go To Heaven; But Mine Did.

In September, of 2006, my dad called and told me about a man in his church in Kansas that had some chocolate Lab puppies available if I was interested.  I certainly was interested!  I immediately reserved me a puppy and in just a few weeks was holding in my arms the cutest little brown lab you had ever laid your eyes on.

Seeing how he was a chocolate lab, I thought of the perfect name for him-Snickers!  Snickers was a little puppy, but had huge paws.  It was obvious to see that Snickers would grow up to be a pretty big dog, and that he certainly did.

Our children immediately also fell in love with Snickers.  They enjoyed playing with him, giving him snacks, and watching him play with whatever toy he could get his teeth around.  Snickers pretty much lived inside and easily became just part of the family.  At Christmas time, we all would hang our stockings, and was sure to hang Snicker's as well.  He had his own hat, ornament, and loved candy canes.   Snicker's was always sure to find a delicious bone every Christmas morning in his stocking.  He would take it and want to go outside with it and enjoy it all alone (I think he was afraid we would take it from him).

 Snickers loved playing at the dog park in our town.  He would look so much forward to running in the field and jumping in the pond and trying to catch the bull frogs.  I am not sure what he would have done if he would have caught one.

Snickers grew to be quite a large dog.  At his last last vet appointment, he weighed in at 115 lbs.  Snickers was not overweight, just a very strong dog.  Our neighbor called him "roids" because he accused him of being on steroids.  Once our son was walking Snickers and Snickers saw a cat.  He chased that cat four doors down, dragging our 100 lb. son behind him on the leash.

Snickers loved so much sitting outside and watching the birds.  He never chased them, just sat there in the sun watching the day go by.  Each night, after the kids went to bed, Snickers would come inside and eat and sit with me.  Before we got our new couch, Snickers would sit on the couch with me.  In the winter, I loved it so much as he was  the greatest electric blanket a guy could ever have.

We both enjoyed a late night snack, except my how Snicker's would drool.  It was actually disturbing what a drooler he was.  My wife wasn't real fond of this part of Snickers.  Any time she would sit and eat a snack at night, there he would be.  He never begged or whined, just sat there watching and hoping she would give in.  He may have gotten more if he could have controlled that drooling of his.  She was rather disgusted at it and many times excused him to his house.


Snickers "house" was the garage.  We had divided our garage into two sections with a wall.  The first part was a family room, and the second part was Snicker's house.  It had some totes, our freezer, some clothes, and his big comfy pillow he slept on.  He actually looked forward to going there at nights.  When he was real tired, he would beg to go and get excited when you got up to take him.  He probably was so excited though because every night I gave him an extra treat as he went to his house.  My how this dog loved cheese and bacon strips.

Snickers enjoyed life at our house.  He was, about as much as a Burke as you can be.  He loved family, he loved to eat, he loved being around people, he adored children, he loved being loved.  Each night, after he ate dinner, he would (like a cat) just go back in forth in front of you.  He expected you to raise your legs so he could run under them scratching his back.  He would do this all night if you let him.  He was a morning dog.  As you would approach his door to let him in in the morning, you could always hear that "T-rex" like tail beating the walls inside.  He was always happy!  That tail would always wag, and if it hit you, you knew it.  He grew up and was getting older, but I think he always thought he was a kid.  He just loved being around you.

Snickers also was a perfect Burke because he like making people happy and would take any aggravation you sent his way.  Our children when they were younger would grab his ears, tail, and try to ride him.  He would just sit there looking at me with a "you can stop them now" look on his face, but not one time in 6+ years did Snickers ever growl, snap, or even look angry at anyone.  He could take a lot and just keep loving.

As a pastor, there are some days when there are a lot of burdens on you.  The last 6 years have seen many burdens shared by me with this dog.  He was my friend.  Every time I needed to talk, he would sit and listen.  It is as if he knew I needed an ear and would lay his head down and just listen.  I always joked with him after these "sessions" telling him, "Can't you tell me you understand how 'ruff' it is?"  He never did, just listened and when I was done, would get up and wag that ginormous tail of his, as if to say, "It's over, lets go on."

Snickers even enjoyed watching a good t.v. show as long as you were petting him all the while.   In a nut shell, he was the perfect dog for me.  He was my friend and companion.

The day after Thanksgiving, 2013, something was wrong with my dog.  I went to let him out that Friday morning, and no tail was beating the wall.  I opened the door and he slowly got up and made his way to the door.  I had put some left over Thanksgiving meat in his bowl, but he just walked right by and headed towards the back door.  His tail weighed down, his eyes were heavy, and his strength weak.  I ask him what was wrong and his tail wagged a bit, but nothing like it should.  I took him outside and let him soak in a little sun, but something was wrong.  He just lied there.  I went into his house to get his water bowl and there was vomit on the ground.  My dog was sick.  I hoped within myself that he ate something bad and a day outside in the sun would make things better.  We went on over to my parents house and I came back home around 5 p.m. to check on him.  He was no better, maybe even worse.  I decided to take him to the vet hospital.  Maybe he had a virus or something a little medication could take care.  He slowly got into the car and sat staring out the back window as I drove.  He usually on car rides would pant and go from window to window, but this time it was different.

When we arrived at the vet hospital, the good doctors took great care of Snickers.  They took his vitals and came and shared with me that they needed to take some x-rays.  The x-rays showed a bowel obstruction and it was bad.  Snickers needed surgery.  He was very sick.  The problem was, I didn't have the money required to have the surgery.  I tried to think of ways to get the money, but it just wasn't there.  I told the doctor, I was going to have to put Snickers down.  The kind doctor understood and said to wait a minute and I could spend a last few moments with Snickers.  As I waited for them to bring Snickers to me, I couldn't believe this was happening.  It all happened so quickly, it was like a bad dream.  Then there was a knock at the door, and a young man brought Snickers in and shut the door.  Snickers came up to me with his tail wagging best he could.  I held his head in my hands and looked him right in the eyes.  I thanked him for being the best dog in the world.  I thanked him for always being so kind and gentle with my children.  I thanked him for the times he barked to let us know people were around the house.  I thanked him for listening to me all those times I needed him too.  I told him he was the greatest dog I had ever met, kissed his nose, and walked out of the room.  As much as I tried to "be a man," I couldn't help but cry.  I cried because I knew that about 10 miles away from me were my children and wife crying, I cried because I knew Snickers didn't understand what was happening, and I cried for myself because I was hurting.  

I signed the papers and was told that they would come and get me when the procedure was over.  They said it would take about 20 minutes.  Forty-five minutes passed and finally they asked to see me in a room.  I waited for the doctor to come in.  The room was so still and silent. My mind was flooded with memories of my dog.  I heard a knock at the door and the good doctor came in.  She had an awkward look on her face.  She said, "This is an awkward conversation in some ways.  I have an option to give you.  As we prepared Snickers for the procedure, he is just such a good dog, he won all of our hearts.  Another doctor here at the Care Center recently had her chocolate lab pass away.  She has been heart broken, and we thought of her while preparing Snickers.  I took the liberty to call her and let her know about Snickers.  She has offered to perform the surgery and pay for all medical expenses; but you would have to sign over ownership to her.  If he makes it through the surgery, she will take him home and care for him and give him all that he needs."

What a roller coaster of emotions I went through.  I stood there stunned.  I wanted to take Snickers home!  But, I couldn't, and I definitely wanted Snickers to live.  I agreed and signed over the papers.  I got in my car and headed home.  I had to explain all of this to my children. What a night it had been.  I put my hand in my coat pocket and felt his big blue collar and leash.  It was a hard night.

When I got home, all I wanted to do was see Snickers waiting for me there in the living room; but he wouldn't be.  I walked in and my wife met me with a hug and kiss on the cheek.  The children sat silent not sure what to say.  I sat down and my four year old daughter walked over to me.  She was trying to be strong for her daddy.  She said, "Snickers is in Heaven daddy," but she was at her end being strong.  She laid her head on my chest and wept.  That broke the dam of tears everyone was trying to hold.  After a good cry session, I shared the story with everyone what had happened.  We then bowed our heads and thanked God for the years He gave us with Snickers.  We thanked God that He had made a way for Snickers to have his surgery.  We thanked God for being so kind.  The kids went off to bed and I sat there thinking about what I had just prayed.  God truly had been amazing in this all.  The vet we were taking Snickers too wasn't able to see us and sent us to the Care Center.  It just so happened that at that one vet hospital, a doctor had just recently lost her chocolate lab.  I sat and thought, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." (Ps. 37:23).  The Lord had directed my steps that night.  Did the Lord really care about all of this?  Of course He did!  He cares about me.  If He knows when a hair falls from my head, He definitely knew how bad I was hurting and the loss I was going through!  If He cares about a worthless sparrow that falls to the ground (Luke 12:6), He cares about a chocolate lab that has protected, played, and pleased this home of ours.  God had worked all of this out.  But, why?

Maybe this doctor needed Snickers more than we did.  There are a lot of possibilities.  I laid my head on my pillow that night and thought on this more.  You know, Snickers was a good dog-the best in my opinion; but Snickers was going to die.  There was nothing I could do about it, the price was too great.   But, there was one person who could do something.  That doctor was able to not only pay the price, but to do the work required.  Snicker's life would be saved.  But now Snickers would go to live with this good doctor. Well, of course Snickers would.  The good doctor had paid the price and made the sacrifice, Snickers should not only be hers reasonably, but also willingly.  Then my mind thought on this, what better home could a dog have?  Snickers was pampered with us at our house, but he hasn't seen anything yet.  Those words came back to me: "she will take him home and care for him and give him all that he needs."  Snickers was going to dog Heaven.  It still hurts, but it is comforting to know where Snickers is at.

Obviously, what a picture this is of what our Lord has done for us.  We can be a good person-the best person, but still we are going to die (Rom. 6:23) and deserve the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15).  Our good works cannot save us (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).  But there is One who can save us!  This Great Physician is Jesus.  Not only could He do the work, but He made the sacrifice.  He came to this earth and took our place.  He went to the cross and died for our sins (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8).  He took all of our sins and placed them upon Himself (2 Cor. 5:21).  He was buried, but three days later rose again! All we must do is see ourselves as the sinners we are, see Jesus as the only way we can be saved, and believe on Him! (Rom. 10:9).  The Lord has promised to those that are saved, that He has a place prepared for us called Heaven (John 14:1-3).  This land is described as being one of utmost beauty where we will never hurt or need again.  We will go home someday to live with the One who paid the price and made the sacrifice so we could be saved.

While I know that dogs do not have souls and will not spend an eternity in either Heaven or Hell, we as people will.  We must be prepared for that day.  Has there been a day in your life when you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? (Acts 16:31).

I will miss my dog Snickers, but I am comforted knowing he is in a place where he will be taken care of and can run and  play and enjoy life.  They say Dogs Don't go to Heaven; but mine sure did.

Back in the Cold Saddle Again! Black Friday...err...Thursday Night!

After taking a year off, Chrystal and I  went out again to fight the elements, crowds, and impulse purchase temptations.   A wonderful night once more!

Our trip always starts in the morning of Thanksgiving as we peruse through all the adds (even though we have seen them all on the internet already) and then call each other and make an itinerary.  This year was no exception.  After some debate, we decided to start our evening at Kohls for their 8:00 opening.  We both agree on this-no store should be open until at least Midnight of Friday.  This Thanksgiving Day sale, open at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. stuff is for the birds (get it?  Turkey? Birds?...).  We both did not want to cut short family time with the in laws, so we met at 6:30-6:45 ish at Kohls.

This year we were joined in our adventures by Miss Jerrica Wilson.  She was a great slave...I mean, friend to spend the evening with us.  She did a wonderful job pushing our carts, bagging our products....Just kidding!  She was a joy to be with last night.

Due to iPad update difficulties at my in laws, I was running a little late.  When I arrived at Kohls, I found in the front of the line Chrystal and Jerrica.  They were the second in line!  I asked how long she had been there, and she and the people around her all said they had gotten there around 4 p.m.  I asked Chrystal why as I thought we were meeting at 6:30.  She said she was just bored. (I found out an hour later that they had gotten there around 6:20 and Chrystal had convinced all the people around her to lie to me.  I then told them how Chrystal had someone lie for her last year on Black Friday and they ended up getting arrested-so that wasn't real true either).

After talking to the people around us, they instantly fell in love with Chrystal, who was continuing to offer to place the teen age girl in her arm pit if she was too cold.  I also learned that Chrystal had been signing autographs, as she had convinced the young ladies behind us that she was an actress.  Only Chrystal could do such a thing while wearing a Frisch's Big Boy Beanie!

Finally, the doors opened! Being in front, we quickly found the few products we were looking for (special thanks to Chrystal and Jerrica for helping with a double special gift).  We then cashed out using our patented process of one of us standing in line while the other shops.  Kohls was a huge success and we were out by 8:40!

After catching up with Ricky and Rachel, we learned Walmart had been pretty much pillaged, so the three of us decided to go to Target.   Of course, they had opened much earlier, and we were able to just walk right in.   While there was no line to get in-WOW was there a line to get out!  I immediately got into the check out line which was weaved through aisles through 4 different departments.  While Chrystal and Jerrica shopped, I stood in line.  As I went through the refrigerated section of groceries standing in line, I remembered my wife needed eggs to make deviled eggs today.  So, I grabbed a dozen eggs.  Bad mistake.  No less than 30 people laughed as they asked me why in the world I was standing in line this long to buy a dozen eggs.  No explanation could overcome the sight, so I went with it.

The ladies returned, and I was given a chance to shop a little (I bought a meat thermometer for the turkey I currently am watching Stacey cook).  Finally, we made it to the check out.  Jerrica and Chrystal went and got a soda from the refreshment section and we gathered our items and left; but not before I told the police man that Jerrica had stolen the soda without paying.  Jerrica had some explaining to do!

The only other item Chrystal was really after was at Gamestop.  They would open at midnight.  We drove by at 10:30 and no one was there but three very hairy, zit covered, young lads.  So, we thought we would run into Meijer and walk around.  While there, I did my best to convince Chrystal to buy a Soda Maker Machine.  You see, since a young boy, I have had much enjoyment convincing Chrystal to spend her money.  It is a hobby of sorts.  We went into Meijer just to stay warm.  While I could not convince her to buy the soda machine, she did leave with a box of Liddies (as seen on TV), two board games, a Mr. Tea accessory, and a few other insignificant items that cost $100.  Brother success!  After walking through Meijer for about 30 minutes (me with a hidden whoopee cushion walking behind Chrystal), we finally exited towards the car.  There, I convinced Chrystal and Jerrica to pose for this picture with the Meijer sign behind them (and to their unawares, directly below a handicap sign-lol).  Meijer was a success!

We then headed towards Gamestop.  Amazingly, this was the most fun of the night.  Upon our return at about 11:15, we found there to be about 20 people in line.  It was freezing outside, so the three of us sat in our car, in the warmth, and watched the line slowly grow.  Every few minutes we debated getting in line, but the car was so warm and we were having so much fun.  How were we having fun? Well, for one, Chrystal and I decided, being parked right in front of the line, to take two people in line and watch their actions and guess the words they were saying.  What a riot!  People had to go to the bathroom, there was a ghost (a man with a white sheet completely over him), people were fighting, flirting, and...well...it was fun.  We sorta got into so much and were laughing so much, the car began to shake a little (Chrystal and I blame this on Jerrica sitting in the back seat).  Two ladies (who we had just assigned the words of arguing over a daughter at home) began to notice and giving us the "evil eye."  The line kept growing and by now there were nearly 100 people in line.    The items Chrystal was going after were not at all "Big ticket items" and her main one could be found across the street for just a few more dollars at Meijer, so she decided the cold weather wasn't worth it.

We then took a picture of the afore mentioned ladies (they were not happy) and pulled out.  We made it to the side of the building when Chrystal changed her mind and we parked.  We joined the line about 11:40, now about 150 people back.
Yes, we were there when there were only 2 or 3 in line!  After a small confrontation with some potty mouth young men, we settled in.  We had a great time!  We shared memories, we sang a little, we FROZE TO DEATH!

Chrystal then put her hoodie back on, and we got quite the laugh as I reminded her that in that coat she looked just like a turtle (see picture below).  The man behind us agreed and we all got a kick out of Chrystal and I (my hoodie now pulled over my heard) singing "Teenage Obese Ninja Turles!"  An employee came out passing out tickets for the items.  When Chrystal asked if she needed a ticket for her item, the man chuckled (as did everyone in line) and said "I think you will be able to get those pretty easy.  After a chilling hour wait, we finally got to go in.

Upon walking it, let's just say that there were many young men in the store who obviously hadn't showered in a while and who obviously had a lot of baked beans for Thanksgiving.  Truly, I haven't smelled something that hideous in a long time.  Chrystal got her items and we stood in line the next hour hearing more about "recons, assassins, madden, war crafts, mine crafts, fast cars, and calls of duty" than I ever wanted to in my entire life.  Ironic how not one in that store could even carry the weight of a real gun, take one hit in a contact sport, or even drive a manual transmission car...but I digress.

We finally made it out of the stink hole and headed towards the car.  Was it our most memorable trip?  Probably not.  There were not punches, no ambulances, no riots; but it was good to be back in that cold saddle again.

I don't go to buy much (I enjoy getting Chrystal to spend her money); but I love going.  Jerrica didn't buy one item all night, so I gave here a tide to go I had purchased at Target for $.74 (great deal).  In Jerrica's words, "It was just fun to be here."  Agreed!  In this world of covetousness, anger, division, and sadness, it is just good to stand around a soda maker machine with people you love and laugh at tea bag holders.  To me, it is what the holidays are about.  Not sales, not crowds, not sports-but family and friends and memories.  And the best part is, it is not over.  I now will go to my parent's house with my beautiful wife and children, and join my parents and sisters and their families and enjoy that yummy looking turkey my wife just got out of the oven.  We will eat, play games, laugh, and share jokes and memories.  I love this weekend.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Church Plant in Bullhead City, Arizona

The following is written by Brother Steven Harris. Bro. Harris was born in Ippy, Central African Republic, on October 19, 1964. His parents were missionaries to the Central African Republic. In 1989 Brother Steven Harris and his family went to the field of New Zealand as missionaries . They returned from the field of New Zealand in March of 1991, because their daughter Bethany was terminally ill with a brain tumor. She passed away in April, 1991. On the day Bethany died they were informed that New Zealand had revoked their visa. (His complete testimony can be read on the Mohave Baptist Church homepage). 

"Thus began our search for God’s direction and our next step of missionary service. Knowing that the field is the world we were open to the wherever of God’s leadership. We earnestly prayed and specifically considered Africa, Wales, Russia, Australia as well as many other countries of opportunity and need. I was asked by a pastor friend if I had ever considered church planting in the U.S. That is where God started it all. I could not get away from that question. God was leading me west. I began to look for towns and cities that had no independent Baptist churches. At the end of January of 1993, God made His will know that the town of Bullhead City, Arizona was where He was leading and by February 5th we arrived.

"I immediately began door knocking on every door beginning at the Colorado River and California border and working north. In my very first week of door knocking I met two families that would eventually become charter members of the Mohave Baptist Church although it took them quite a few more years to begin attending services. At first it was my hope to hold services in our house there in the valley but no visitors ever came. On Sunday, May 2nd, 1993, we began hold services at 5287 Highway 95, Fort Mohave, Arizona. Still no one came, but we started and continued with Sunday school at 9.30 Am, Morning service at 10:30 AM, Evening service at 5:00 PM, and our mid-week service at 7:00 PM on Thursday. 

"Although soul winning was an almost daily activity, it wasn’t until the winter of 1994 that God began to increase our number. By our first CHRISTmas party in December of 1994 we saw an average attendance of thirty-five to forty. Our attendance included the Berry Family, the Ortiz family, the Riley family, the Shipman family, the Weaver family and a few more names that elude me at this time. By March of 1995 everyone of those families had moved out of state and we began again. Possibly one of the hardest moments of ministry in my life up to that time. By that time, my soul winning door to door had reached well up into the city of Bullhead City. The question that begged to be asked was, “Okay, so I came, I have knocked on almost every door in town. Almost everyone has heard and had their opportunity. No one is interested. God, can I leave?” The answer was no and I wasn't at all happy with the answer. 

"In February of 1996, we had our first Evangelistic Meeting with the help of the youth group from Anchor Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a group of men led by Pastor Ed Bragg of Lafayette Bible Baptist Church of Baldwin, Missouri. Bill Kinman was contacted and I was able to go by his house and lead him to the Lord. Just down the street one of the men had spoken with Henry Angon and he had made a profession of faith. God had begun to lay the seed that would lead to the salvation of others surrounding those lives. Others that are still a very real part of Mohave Baptist Church. Through that meeting and those souls saved God encouraged my heart and changed my attitude and I happily stayed to see God do great things at Mohave Baptist Church. 

"It was 2003, it had become obvious that God had established His work in the Mohave Baptist Church. I was still a missionary and the work was still a mission. It was time to organize as an autonomous work. We had a sufficient number of members to be autonomous; we had enough experience as a work to be autonomous. The question then became was it God’s will for the only “pastor” the work had ever know to be the pastor or was God’s will and calling in my life to continue as a missionary. It had been ten years since I had come to the Bullhead City area and I had become a pastor.  On Sunday, May 4th, 2003, forty people signed the charter membership of Mohave Baptist Church. Mohave Baptist Church was now it’s own autonomous church. 

"On Sunday, November 23rd, I resigned as the pastor and Gary Johnson became pastor of Mohave Baptist Church." 

The church is now growing and continuing its work for the Lord under the leadership of Pastor Don Randall Jr. 

Somebody Ought-a Shout!!!...or should they?

While I have grown up in church, I had never really been in a "Shouting" church.  My first experience with a "shouting" church was going to a Baptist church my grandfather was singing at in Dayton, Ohio.  They "shouted the house down" during those songs!  I was about 13 at the time, and really enjoyed it a lot.  Since then, I've been in a few other shouting churches and sat in a few camp meetings where the shouting continually roars from the saints gathered there.

What's a shouting church?  Now this is an unofficial Travis Burke definition; but by shouting church or shouting service I am referring to a service that is filled with raised voices urging on the singers or preacher with "Amen," "Praise God," "Hallelujah", "Preach it!", "Go On!", That's Right!", "Park There a while!", etc.  I've heard a lot in my years at church, some very humorous.

Now, let me say, I love preaching!  I will "Amen" and "That's Right" any preacher who is preaching the Truth!  I will raise my voice in a service and "Amen" the Truth that is being proclaimed from the Word of God.  Why do I do this?  Well, in the Scriptures, when the Truth was being proclaimed, the people were expected to vocally say "Amen", which means "so be it!" (Num. 5:22, Deut. 27:15-19, and Psalm 106:48).   I Corinthians 14 teaches on tongues speaking.  One warning to the church then when one was praying in tongues is (vs. 16) "Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at they giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?"   It was expected that others in the New Testament church, respond to Truth with an audible "Amen."

But, most who read this, will understand that an "audible amen" is not what I am writing about when I write about "Camp Meeting style" or "the shouting the house down church."  At the mention of these, many will picture a red faced preacher and a couple of people standing up and pointing at him shouting "That's Right Preacher!" while others are walking on a pew, while others are standing there clapping, while others are raising both hands shouting "Hallelujah!" (and the majority of these are ladies).  Someone then takes a jog around the place and everybody starts getting goose bumps at all the emotions being shared in the place.

Is this wrong?  A while back, I quit asking the question "is this wrong?" and replaced it with "what does the Bible say?"  We could look at Psalm 132:9, "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness: and let thy saints shout for joy."  The mention of the priests has to put this in context to Old Testament Israelite worship.  Technically, shouting is never mentioned in context to worship in the New Testament church, though singing and saying Amen is (Col 3:16, 1 Cor. 14:16).  But does this make it wrong?  The Bible never commands us NOT to shout.

The Bible talks a lot about shouting.  The Bible recognizes two major causes for shouting. When Joshua and Moses returned to the camp in Exodus 32, Joshua thought he heard a noise of war in the camp (v.17-18). However, Moses told him that is was rather the noise of them that sing that he heard. That is, instead of shouts of war, they were hearing shouts of joy. But this passage shows us something else as well. Not only are there two main reasons for shouting, there are also a good side and a bad side to each kind of shout. In Exodus 32:18
, Moses declared, "It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome." Here we see that a shout of war may come from the victors or from the conquered. But the passage also shows us that shouts of joy can be good or bad. Here, the people were shouting because they had just turned from God and were worshipping false gods. Their joy was certainly misplaced.

So, I come to this observation.  Is it wrong to shout? No.  Is it right to shout?  No.  Since it is not commanded in the New Testament to shout in worship, one cannot and is unjust in deciding another saint is "not spiritual" or "dead" for not shouting.  It was usually a spontaneous expression of joy and praise for an extraordinary blessing of God. It came at times of unusual blessing; such as, the completion of the temple foundation, the coming of fire from heaven, or the moving of the ark to Jerusalem. It was never an everyday experience.  Shouting was an expression of something else. It was never to be the goal of the saints. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case in certain churches today. The people come to church seeking the emotional release of a great time of shouting. This is not scriptural and runs against the working of the Holy Spirit in believers.  Many times, the volume and "need to shout" is felt most by women in the church, challenging the command in 1 Cor. 14:35.  Still, Luke 19:37 reads, "And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen."  Jesus commends them for doing so.

I will conclude with an example of my point.  In 1 Samuel 4, the Israelites were about to face defeat.  Eli had already been told that his sons would die and Israel be defeated for the great sins of the land.  The Israelites decided to go get God after first being defeated, and they went and fetched the Ark of the Covenant.  They then went to battle and (vs. 5) "all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again."  The heathen Philistines heard the shout and thought "they were getting spiritual and God was come down among them," and now they would be defeated.  They were wrong.  There was a whole lot of shouting and a whole lot of God talk, but God wasn't in it at all.  Eli's sons died, the Ark was taken, and God's people destroyed.  

Many who are in to the "shouting or it's dead" philosophy love the emotions and feelings, but doctrinally are not as sound.  I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but I ask you to consider the practice of shouting. Is it the practice of the most spiritual? Do those who do it most live the closest to God when they leave the church? Do the churches that shout the most have the most spiritual congregations? Do they have the most pure doctrine? We would do well to consider the motivation that lies behind much of the shouting that is done today.

When I was fresh out of college, I attended a Camp Meeting as a young preacher and experienced this for the first time.  There was a long time of singing and people were shouting and hollering and running aisles.  Then Pastor Don Green of Michigan stood up to preach and read, "There is none righteous, no not one."  No one shouted.  No one "Amened".  He said, as only he could, "You all shout when some lady tears up and sings about trials, but you can't amen the Truth of God's Word?  It was all in the flesh?"   It made me think....I hope this does you.

I am not saying it is wrong, but I am not saying it is required.  Those who love it most, require it from all to be spiritual.  Do I hear a Amen?!