Been Busy…

I know all(3) loyal readers might be wondering why I haven’t posted.  I am currently building a pergola for a client.  Probably won’t be posting until earlier next week.

Making a Monkey of Ourselves

I am far from an expert on Science, but I frequently enjoy reading and hearing about evidence of creation.  Certainly we don’t need science to prop up our faith.  When a scientist says they believe in God, it shouldn’t give you more faith in God, but more faith in science.

 ”Let God be true and every man a liar” - Rom 3:4

How I See It…..

I had a chance yesterday morning to go-to the Chamber of Commerce here in our town to hear about our community drug problem.  They of course pounded the floor with staggering statistic’s of the rapid increase in alcohol abuse, meth labs being resurrected through out the county, the tons of marijuana that is now being grown in harvested out of our National Forest and that Eastern Kentucky is now the Oxycontin capital of the world.

After the meeting, I went to the drug rehabilitation center.  The floor was opened for open discussion and as usual, the subject at hand become the topic of “why I used drugs.”  The answers and statements made were predictable, the solutions that they have been given were predictable….it’s the same old stuff.  It’s the same problems with the same answers.  Years have passed, the problems have only increased and become more complex, the 12 step programs and psychological bullcrap solutions have remained the same.  Despite all this, I have a feeling of optimism. 

I mean, I AM going to die one day, leave this place and leave it all behind.  While that helps, that is not the answer nor is it the soure of my optimism. This is the abject, embarrassing, vain solution that unfortunately many Christians flaunt.  I mean heck, whats the point in saving a world that is going to hell anyway ?  This attitude is why only 33% of the world claim Christianity as their core belief.  It’s not just about you or me….Christ did not come to just save you and your family.  He did not come to just save poor people, sick people or the privileged.  He did not come to just save America or the town which you reside.  God Bless America certainly…but God has blessed America so that we can be a blessing.  Not so we can sit in our corner of the word, evolving into some spiritual utopia why the rest of the world goes to hell.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand.  I believe our system for solving the drug problem simply doesn’t answer the reason WHY they turn to drugs.  The focus has been put so much on how to keep people from doing drugs as opposed to WHY are they doing drugs.  The most common responses to this I have heard are “life is more fun with drugs…things become more interesting,” or “drugs made life more risky and edgy, it gave me significance.”  They are basically saying they want to not lead a dull life, to have some spark or thrill in their day.  Be viewed as being risky therefore in some way, admirable.

The things they are seeking IS natural. God made us have a craving for these things.  The problem is, we need to be doing what our creator designed us for and not the worlds solution to fill this vacuum within us.  We need to fill a righteous call, not the endless pit of self-endulgance that by nature we have in us.  Look at Acts 20:24 -

“I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. “

We read here that Paul indeed found something. He had found something so valuable, so edgy, so filling that he was willing to risk or lay down his life for.  People seeking worldly things are trying to fill this, especially drug users.  Drug abuse is an attempt to gain the purpose, edge, prestige that a righteous cause, a cause you are created for will fill.  Drugs is a temporary fix for a lifetime of desire.  God gave Paul a purpose that gave him a desire to put himself in danger, it made him daring, edgy and thrilling.  Just read about his life and the purpose he lived for.  It’s what we all desire, it’s the answer to the drug problem in my community, yours and all the people searching for something.

Yesterday as I experienced the abject failure of a secular way of thinking concerning this subject and others.  As I see the result of a God ignoring society, as the numbers continue to climb; our need for Jesus Christ is greater than ever.  His answers, his purpose is the only way we are going improve our current state of being in our own lives, our family/friends and society as a whole.

Prosperity Gospel

“When was the last time any American, African, Asian ever said Jesus is all-satisfying because you drove a BMW?” - John Piper

I love this clip of this sermon and believe it certainly illustrates truth, truth of the current state of much of Americans feel good gospel.  Much of what we hear from our pulpits are a candy coated version of the Gospel.  Much of my time over the last 5 years, well over half of it was based on what many will call the “health and wealth” message.  I have also spent much time studying the far end of the spectrum.  I believe I am closer than ever and find great satisfaction in a common, middle ground between the two. 

I believe that if a person takes a “vow of poverty” as I have heard it, and use it to reach some higher state of piety because of it, you are no different than the person who feels a foreign car is the greatest witness of Gods blessing and work in your life. Both are the far extreme and both are based on material objects. 

To have nice things is NOT materialism….materialism is an attempt to use tangible objects to replace spiritual blessings, in my opinion.  So with that thought, used with wrong motives…..a beat up old Buick can be just as deceiving to one as a shiny new BMW.  Make sense ?

I don’t believe John Piper was trying to portray this thought in his sermon, I just think it is vital for people to find a middle ground, not that we should accept false doctrine, but that we base our theology on sound doctrine and not on extremes.  It really is all based on what your heart is set on….material objects or Jesus Christ. 

Third Day Concert - You should come !

So April 6th will be here before we know it and I am really excited.  Know why ? Because Erin and I will be going to the Third Day concert at Cedarville University in Ohio.  Third Day is a band that has for sure grown on me, since for the most part, I really didn’t have much of a taste for Christian music until I would say the last 3-4 years.  I now find that anytime we are in the car, especially on a long trip, a few of their cds are a must.

If for some reason you haven’t ever heard them, go over to their site and have a listen.  We are trying to round up a group to go…hopefully we will gather up enough people to rent a van and make a road trip of it! 

The Mowing Mailman

 

 I just wanted to post a story from December 07 that I found interesting.  You can read the article here.

Todays Class

As I mentioned in the previous post, today was my first day helping with the class at the drug rehab center.  What an eye opening two hours this was for me.  As I walked in, the “lounge” area was full of people.  Not just any people, some people I knew.  I saw so many familar faces in the community. Even a few I went to school with, some of them just liked I remembered them, some sadly, not so much. 

I really can’t wait until the next class Tuesday.   I guess I went in with the attitude that everybody there could have helped themselves better.  This attitude that these peoples problems was brought on by themselves….which is true, but that isn’t the the whole story.  Today I got to hear the whole story. 

I am taken back and humbled by many of them and hope that I can continue to assist and be a witness.  My heart goes out to these people, kids just out of high school facing possibly serious years in prison.  To hear them tell their story with so much regret and confusion how their life got this way.  They seemed to all have a few things in common…regret, fear for the future and hungry for something new.  A desire to start over and do something different.  Sadly it’s only until people have literally lost everything, they realize that they can do something different.

Some of the situations seemed so complex, some peoples stories go back so far it would take a real pseudo-intellectual to sort through it all and figure everything out.  Thankfully, there is no need.  The solution really is simple.  It doesn’t matter what your past is or whatever problems you currently have, it’s as simple as repentance before God and coming to Him with a willing heart.  We must accept our failures and accept what Jesus Christ did for us at Calvary.  Accept our imperfection and his perfection. We then can begin to repair our lives by developing a relationship with God by digging into his word. 

It’s amazing how when we just read his word, how he reveals himself and shows us who we really are; and that is forgiven and loved by truly a great and merciful God.   You don’t have to have a degree or some great education to understand the Bible and what God says.  Just open your Bible and ask God to reveal himself to you. He will, I promise.  The same God of creation, as big as he is, does truly want to have a personal relationship with you.  This was a concept that I spent years trying to grasp, but it is true.  I have experienced it despite everything I have done to screw it up. 

So if you don’t have this relationship, maybe you don’t have a drug problem or any great problems facing you in the near future, but we are still sinners.  That’s a price that neither of us can afford to pay.  It’s the biggest problem that you and I have ever and will have, but thankfully one we have an answer for and that is Jesus Christ.

Drug Rehab and Sick People

So tomorrow is my first day visiting the local drug rehabilitation center, no; not for myself.  You see, I have been invited to work along side our pastor and assist in a small counseling class.  This is something I am very excited and proud to take part of, though my contributions are small.  Not really sure what exactly will be required of me, I just know I am going to show up eager to listen and hopefully be a witness to somebody.

Also, I was able to do some hospital visitation today along with our pastor.  This was certainly a learning experience for me, as I have never really done much “visitation.”  I did learn today that in order to gain access to virtually any area of the hospital and get free parking, you just say “clergy.”  Try it, it works.   All joking aside, it was a great experience and I can’t wait to do it again.  To be able to observe people and pray with family members and patients; to be able to feel the peace of God as you pray with these people in a time of need is always so cool.  Not to mention some of the conversations you can have with complete strangers in a waiting room.  What a great atmosphere to just be a witness. 

Also had a pretty good cup of coffee from the coffeeshop in the hospital.