Spiritual Warfare Renewed

I’m addicted.  I’ll admit it.  I’ve watched the Band of Brothers DVD set so many times my wife can quote some of the lines.  I constantly find myself in awe of some of the things that the men of Easy Company, 506^th Regiment, 101^st Airborne in World War II endured in order to accomplish their mission. 

 

Watching the interviews at the end of the video, I almost can feel the dedication that those men had to their country and the cause that they were fighting for.  My grandfather was in the Pacific during this time.  His letters home never showed any questioning of the integrity of “the cause.”  Yes, he missed his family, but he never questioned why he was doing what he was doing.  Were there struggles along the way?  Sure. 
Guadalcanal,
Okinawa, sickness, poor living conditions, bad food, you name it. 

 

He kept on pressing on… 

 

Our lives may not be in danger the way those brave men and women’s were, but our souls are right smack in the middle of the hardest fought conflict of the ages. 

 

As we get ready for a new year, let’s renew our dedication to the One who leads us in the spiritual war we live each and every day. 

‘Tis the Season

Over commercialized holiday.  A pagan ritual that should not be recognized by the church.  Mythical celebration by first century Christians set in time to coincide with the winter solstice and therefore avoid detection.  I think I have heard every reason in the world not to celebrate this holiday.  Some members of the churches that I’ve grown up in have almost become hostile in their reaction to other family’s buying CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.  What next?

 

This world is hurting.  This world is in dire need of a savior.  In a recent movie about a “man of steel,” the hero is quoted as saying “I hear the world crying out for a savior.”  I agree.  Just look outside of our walls of the church (For that matter, look INSIDE the walls of our church).  Watch the news every night.  Sit inside city, county, and state offices of social services.  People are in desperate need of a savior. 

That savior is Jesus Christ.  When he became flesh, the Gospel story here on Earth began.  The day he rose from the dead, the triumph over Satan’s plan of death was complete.  His life is our example.  His death should be ours.  His resurrection is our salvation.  Why NOT celebrate his birth if it brings others into contact with Him.  My argument: Just don’t stop with the manger.  Finish the rest of the story. 

Was Jesus born on Christmas?  Lots of arguments for and against.  The Jewish calendar marks the 6^th month (as mentioned in Luke) as falling somewhere in August or September.  Some people refer to the sheep grazing on the hills while the angels proclaimed his birth as an indication that it was more like March or April.  One thing and one thing only matters:

 

Jesus, the incarnation of the living God, had arrived. 

Soul Searching and Fire Insurance

This week we’ll end our series of “Share the Well,” a set of lessons aimed at reshaping our idea of evangelism. 

I have to admit, though, that this series has been on the bottom of my concerns over the last few weeks.  My little family has gone through some pretty huge incidents over the past month and a half, and I’m still feeling (will always feel?) their effects.   However, I’ve re-examined my relationship with God and determined that I am being shaped for something special. 

Work has been a challenge.  Vocational Ministry is not as easy as it seemed to be when I was in full-time ministry.  Our church finalized it’s budget for 07, and I became disgusted with the amount of money that is being set aside for paying a full-time pulpit minister.  Maybe I’m jaded.  I just don’t think that a 30-something M.Div minister with 15 years of experience and 2.4 kids (I’m exaggerating, I know) can demand a 65K salary.  Two-thirds of the body does not make that kind of money.  I don’t want him to be in the poor house, but we need to get the “mush” out from between our minister’s ears to realize that there is a differernce between MINISTRY VALUE, and MARKET VALUE. 

So Richland Hills is going instrumental, eh?  I pray that a “unified eldership” has God’s Will at it’s center.  As a dear friend of mine said, “there might be a bunch of “unified elderships” that are left out of heaven.”  Jesus knew what he was doing when he prayed for unity in John 17.  We need all the help we can get.