Thank God for Rick Warren

Just saw the dateline interview with Rick Warren. I am so pleased that we have this man as a national figure. It is about time that those of us that believe in Jesus get the black eye to start to heal. I read on Fox news about Ted Haggard and I pray that he has repented for his sins. But his acts were just not good because people trusted in him. Rick Warren Just like Billy Graham have not ever had scandal around them. I believe we as Christians have to rethink the way things we have been doing. What a role model Rick is for those that name Christ as Lord and savior.

 

Prayer:

Lord thank you for Rick please give him humility, wisdom, and strength. I ask that Rick’s actions will make everyone think of how they follow you Lord. Give Barack and Rick safety while they attempt to do what is right. Most of all that your will be done. Thank you Jesus.

Can we be Tolerant?

Thank you for this decision. I have attended Rick Warren’s church. He is a real man of God. Now it makes me step back and ask the question with how that Gay agenda is now so hostile. These are people not but 20 years ago were asking for tolerance and they have changed the definition of the word. I have to accept their life style as it is ok with God and that I have to affirm them in it. This is not Tolerance. It is called the bully on the play ground. I feel as if all the want is revenge for years that they did not have a voice. Now that they have a voice they are doing exactly what they say they do not want done to them. Here are the real definitions of tolerance.

These are the Definitions:

1. Acceptance of differing views:
   the acceptance of the differing views of other people, e.g. in religious or political matters, and fairness toward the people who hold these different views
   

• Here you go now because I hold a view that I do not want to practice these kinds of acts I am told I am a bigot and intolerant. But as I see it there is not FAIRNESS at all towards my views. I get told no all the time about issues that I believe in but I do not go out and start riot NO. I deal with in an adult way with reason and thinking not brute force. This was the problems with the way Christians dealt with thing before. It was a very LONG time ago to. So I say get over it move oin with life.
  

1. Tolerating of somebody or something: the act of putting up with somebody or something irritating or otherwise unpleasant
   

• I think that all of us that are human do this on a daily basis. We have to put up with someone doing things we do not like. Or like I have said before telling us no. all of us answer to someone else in our lives. I believe the fundamental problem is that we all want to be someone of importance. Not all of us can be movie stars and get want we want. We all no matter who we are live having to tolerate irritating or unpleasant things, people, and their ideas. We have to find a middle ground.
  

 

Why do I have to believe that this life style is right?

I do not want any person that lives as a LGBT American any harm. I would be classified as a right wing conservative JESUS FREAK. I know that I cannot push anyone to believe what I believe. If you have studied the Christian faith you would know that it is the Spirit of God the HOLY SPIRIT that changes a man’s mind. Each of us has choices to make each day of how we want to live, and we are the ones that are responsible for those choices. This division has to stop if it does not we are going to devour each other. I feel that because I believe in the Holy Bible and believe that being Gay is not pleasing to The God of the bible JESUS that I may get hurt by one of these people. It is because they have become so hostile wanting to push the issue of marriage.

 

Why can they not say thank you?

It is just like any selfish and self-center human and that means anyone around the world? When is it going to be enough? I just want the same thing they want the FREEDOM to live how I want. This is what our great country was founded on the desire for freedom. The men and women that came here were leaving the GREAT tyranny of Great Britain. Do we even remember our history? Then why are we destroying what these great people gave us. I know that many people sneer at those that first came over here. Well ok but, think of this if they did not come over you would not be here. You would be in England or Africa or who knows where you would not be here and neither would I.

There has to be a point in all who live in this country take a long hard look at their lives and ask this question, “How does my life affect other people?”
Because, we have to understand if you love your family no matter whom you are what kind of world are we going to give the next generation? I don’t care who you are you have to make this self-examination at how you affect the world and place you live. Do you try and make the place where you live a better place and a safer place to live. These are the base and foundational questions that have to be asked if the change that we all want is going to happen. The President-Elect can do it you have to. You cannot count on anyone but you to try and make the changes and for those of us that believe in Jesus and the bible it is our God that helps us to change.

There was a movie “Pay it forward.” This is the concept we need to have. As we go into 2009 ask yourself is there one thing a week I can do to help or put a smile on a complete strangers face. I think if we start with this it could grow and get us out looking so much at our own selfish wants. Like I have said, “I want no harm to come to those who live a Gay life style.” But enough is enough.

Shawn Thornton

Thinking of Why We Follow Jesus?

Thinking of why we serve Jesus?

I know that we are told at church to get involved and get into a small group. This is all well and good so far as the leaders in the church have something going. Now I know that there a lot of good churches that are doing a lot of good work throughout the USA. I want to pose this question. What would you do if all of it went away tomorrow? What I am asking is if all your Christian props were kicked away would you still follow Jesus? What would you go and do if the Sunday programs were not there anymore? I know that a majority of our pastors across America are weighted down with jobs they were never designed to do. They are not the only ones called to work in the ministry. We are because we are the Royal Priesthood.

1 Peter 2:9-12

9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. NASU

 

This means we are called to tell other of what Christ is doing in our lives/ we are the ones that have the responsibility to read the word of God and know how to discern both good and evil like it talks about is Hebrews.

 

Heb 5:8-6:3

8 Though a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.

9 After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

10 and He was declared by God a high priest “in the order of Melchizedek.”

The Problem of Immaturity 11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have become slow to understand. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of God’s revelation. You need milk, not solid food.

13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. Warning against Regression 6 Therefore, leaving the elementary message about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, 2 teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And we will do this if God permits.(from The Apologetics Study Bible, Copyright © 2007 by Holman Bible Publishers. All Rights Reserved.)

 

    It is time that we all ask ourselves,” What can I do for Christ?” The other question is, “What can I do for my church?” Not what can my church do for me! We hear all day long the news another person putting in an insanity plea. This is that they did not know they were doing the wrong thing. They were depressed or whatever else. If you want to cure the ills of some depression “GO HELP ANOTHER PERSON!” Stop looking so hard at what you do not have but what you have that you can give away.

 

    They were called Christians first in Antioch why, because they looked like Christ. If you desire to really look like a Christian then read your bible and find out what Christ did. We have to stop looking to the worlds CEO model of how to run the church and look to the Jesus model to run the church. It does not work just because the worlds models looks somewhat like the bibles model and we have to stop thinking that we can just put a spiritual twist to this CEO model. In spite of our terrible sovereignty God still saves people today.

 

    My last thought, on the day of Pentecost Peter preached and 3000 got save with 120 disciples there. Today we have congregations with 5000 people and only get 120 saved a year. Numbers may not be totally accurate but I hope you get the idea of what I am saying. This Christmas season be a Christian go out and help someone that is in need and get out of yourself. This will start to show the world that Jesus is alive and not a person that a bunch of hypocrites and liars follow. They are people that tell the truth help people in need and are generally good people. Step out and serve your God and see what He will do.

 

Shawn Thornton

Hard to Work With!

In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley It is really a good thing to remember that when we harden our heart’s that no one wins and we are still miserable. This is right where Satan wants us is in disobedience to God. But make the better choice allow the Holy Spirit move on your heart.

December 5, 2008 Brokenness: The Protest The Life Principles Bible Jonah 1 The children’s story about Jonah and the whale presents the prophet in a rather rosy light: After three days in the fish’s belly, he relents and goes merrily on to Nineveh. End of story. The Bible narrative has the same components (storm, big fish, repentant Ninevites) but a totally different context. From the moment Jonah chose to flee till the end of the book, his heart was in rebellion against God. The inhabitants of Nineveh were Assyrians, a people known for their aggression and cruelty. Since they were the sworn enemies of Israel, Jonah had good reason to despise them. However, God loved the Ninevites and desired their repentance. The challenging task of ministering to them carried an additional purpose: breaking Jonah’s unloving spirit–an attitude so strong that he preferred to die rather than see the enemy saved (Jonah 4:3). God longed to mold the prophet’s character to reflect His own–He wanted a willing, loving servant, but Jonah resisted at every turn. Pride and hatred drove him ever deeper into rebellion. Note that while he agreed to go to Nineveh, he didn’t repent (Jonah 2:9). The Lord wasn’t fooled; He knew Jonah’s heart remained hard. So as the Ninevites rejoiced over deliverance, their minister stewed in his bitterness. Emotional and mental anguish were high prices to pay for resistance. What keeps you from serving the Lord fully? You probably already know the area of your life He is trying to break. The process is painful, but it’s done for your good and His glory. Give in to Him. FEATURED RESOURCE       This Bible combines the wisdom of Scripture with the principles that guide Dr. Charles Stanley’s life and empower his ministry. Order your copy.     To see more resources from In Touch Ministries, please visit us at www.intouch.org or go directly to our bookstore at In Touch Ministries.     Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2008 All Rights Reserved.