I was listening to Kay Arthur this week, going through a study in Philippians... she did one session on this verse:
Philippians 3:2
Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision....
Paul is refering not to those outside of the church, but actually to "evil workers" within the church! Those who have "crept in" as Jude describes them. Evil workers? In the Church??? You say, "how can this be?" Unfortunately, it is rampant in the church today. There are many. These are people who profess Jesus Christ as Lord, but in their hearts they do not believe. Secretly they introduce destructive heresies into the church and cause others to stumble.
The order of the day is DISCERNMENT, and the only way to be able to discern is to know what the Word of God (the Bible) says for yourself. I'm not advocating that we be suspicious of every person in the church, but we must be aware of the fact that not everyone who professes Christ is truly a brother or sister in the Lord. Our best defense against this covert type of attack is to be armed with TRUTH. (Ephesians 6:10-17)
Here's a link to the lesson in Philippians if you are interested...
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Precept/archives.asp?bcd=6/25/2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Beware the Pragmatists !!! (*UPDATE*)
The Church we are attending here is in between Pastors so we are having different men from without and within preach each Sunday. This week we had an older Preacher from Oklahoma. He began his Sermon by stating that in seminary he was taught how to "Preach people the Bible". He paused, then continued... "Today I am going to preach the Bible to people".
See the difference?
So often today pastors and church staffs focus on moving people through the doors and not the proclaiming of the Gospel resulting in shallow topical Sunday morning series like (and I kid you not) "Desperate Household's" and "Summer Blockbusters: Come see what this Summer's hottest movies can teach you".
As if Jesus needed a boost from Jack Sparrow and Bruce Willis !!!
*more insanity in the world of "topical" churched....
"The Gospel according to The Police" ... http://www.oakhillschurch.net/component/option,com_magazine/Itemid,22/
it's important to note that Sting, the bassist and creative force behind the band is an avid follower of the work of Aleister
Crowley ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley ) But that's no reason to keep a student of the occults band out
of you're teaching series now is it ?
"The Gospel According to Shrek" ...
http://www.mooreschapel.org/pastor/audio_sermons/The-Gospel-According-To-Shrek.html
Nothing like a flatulant green ogre to bring out the Gospel message !!!
"The Gospel according to Spiderman"
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,678640,00.html
"God on Film" (movies, movies, movies)
http://theconnectionchurch.org/gof/show.html
see the promo....
http://theconnectionchurch.org/gof/about.html .....HAVE A BLAST !!!
What if a church titled a new series after an morally bankrupt pop song? Too late, it's already here...
titled... "Bringing Sexy back" http://www.cornerstonechandler.com/
What depths will the Church go to to make people like our Savior... It's looking like a limbo contest!
See the difference?
So often today pastors and church staffs focus on moving people through the doors and not the proclaiming of the Gospel resulting in shallow topical Sunday morning series like (and I kid you not) "Desperate Household's" and "Summer Blockbusters: Come see what this Summer's hottest movies can teach you".
As if Jesus needed a boost from Jack Sparrow and Bruce Willis !!!
*more insanity in the world of "topical" churched....
"The Gospel according to The Police" ... http://www.oakhillschurch.net/component/option,com_magazine/Itemid,22/
it's important to note that Sting, the bassist and creative force behind the band is an avid follower of the work of Aleister
Crowley ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley ) But that's no reason to keep a student of the occults band out
of you're teaching series now is it ?
"The Gospel According to Shrek" ...
http://www.mooreschapel.org/pastor/audio_sermons/The-Gospel-According-To-Shrek.html
Nothing like a flatulant green ogre to bring out the Gospel message !!!
"The Gospel according to Spiderman"
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,678640,00.html
"God on Film" (movies, movies, movies)
http://theconnectionchurch.org/gof/show.html
see the promo....
http://theconnectionchurch.org/gof/about.html .....HAVE A BLAST !!!
What if a church titled a new series after an morally bankrupt pop song? Too late, it's already here...
titled... "Bringing Sexy back" http://www.cornerstonechandler.com/
What depths will the Church go to to make people like our Savior... It's looking like a limbo contest!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
"Simple Church" or another Smoke Screen?
Came across an excellent article by Paul Procter this morning on yet the latest trend in the Church industry. I wonder why Jesus decided to make disciples instead of forming a team of analysts? That Jesus, if only he had a Willow Creek, Saddleback, Granger or a Catalyst conference to attend and shmoozemingle... we'd actually have a wide road instead of this stodgy narrow one.
Paul Proctor
August 8, 2007
NewsWithViews.com
Well, it seems the mad scientists of the church growth movement have once again emerged from the laboratory of the living dead with yet another chia pet project for the jaded masses. The latest concoction they've come up with is something called "Simple Church."
Apparently, after a decade or so of injecting the "body of Christ" with every conceivable church growth hormone known to man, church leaders have determined that, in light of the plummeting numbers, it is now time to go cold turkey and ditch all of that junk we were sold and told we had to have to succeed in the 90s and try something new.
I wonder if any of them are offering refunds on their old books, programs, DVDs and conferences? And, what do we do with all of our Plexiglas podiums, disco balls, food courts and state of the art worship venues we went millions of dollars in debt for? Is Bono still in vogue and do we get to keep those big screens and sound systems for future concerts, videos and games or are they on the chopping block as well? Maybe they could rent them out to finance this new venture.
Is it possible that our debt-heavy economy has finally forced some of today's over-indulgent mega-churches into corporate downsizing for the sake of survival and they're just calling it "Simple Church" in an effort to save face? Or could it be that so many customers, I mean Christians, have been lost to bibles-only home churches that the Southern Baptist Convention had to make its play for that market with a few Simple Church products and services in order to snag the strays and keep them coming to the CGM trough?
Whatever the case, Lifeway Christian Resource's employee communications editor, Kelly Davis Shrout, who evidently prefers to go by the name "Kelly Davis," authored an article last year about a book her boss co-wrote with Eric Geiger on the subject of Simple Church. Lifeway is the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention and Thom S. Rainer is its president and CEO. The June 5th 2006 piece titled, Rainer, Geiger Offer Simple Concept Of Discipleship In New B&H Book, began this way:
Look at Apple's iPod or Google's Web site. Consider Southwest Airlines or Papa John's Pizza. What do these successful companies have in common?
A commitment to simplicity.
Simplicity is in. Complexity is out. So contend Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger in their new book, Simple Church, released June 1 ['06] by B&H Publishing Group.
Funny how ecclesiastical fashions change with the seasons, isn't it? - Swinging to and fro above the brethren like the Sword of Damocles. And what should we make of churches that chase the world here and there like the paparazzi pursuing Paris Hilton to capture and copy every cute, cunning and controversial pose?
Why follow the Living Word of God when corporations we've come to love and trust like Apple, Google, Southwest Airlines and Papa John's Pizza know the way to the Promised Land of Simple Success?
The Lifeway article continued with this:
A new revolution toward simplicity has impacted how individuals respond to information. And the movement toward simplicity also affects how churches minister to their congregations, according to the authors.
Based on thorough research and 400 case studies, Rainer and Geiger provide evidence that church leaders who have designed a simple biblical process to make disciples are effectively advancing the movement of the gospel. "Simple churches are making a big impact," they write.
In light of the corporate templates already cited, one can only imagine what LifeWay's idea of "biblical" might be. Are we to assume that this puff piece Mrs. Shrout put together for her boss's book is about an effort to "make disciples" for Jesus Christ? If so, why then is our Lord never mentioned in the article?
Maybe a better question would be: Whom are they endeavoring to make disciples for? - Because what I'm seeing exalted in her comments again and again is not a Person, but a process. And, frankly, there's so much ambiguity in the piece about that 4-step process, (clarity, movement, alignment and focus) it's hard to make any real sense of it, which is ironic considering the book is about simplifying.
Moreover, when did Jesus ever commission us to design and promote a process that advances "the movement of the gospel?" - and what exactly does that phrase mean anyway?
Were we not called to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ - to simply preach and teach the Word of God - serve one another in love and humility - proclaim the good news by obediently following the Holy Spirit's leading, like the Apostle Paul - sacrificing ourselves even unto death for the cause of Christ regardless of the "impact" or "movement" we may or may not see with our envious eyes?
Mrs. Shrout goes on to write:
Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Geiger, executive pastor of Christ Fellowship in Miami, offer church leaders the ethos behind designing a simple process of discipleship.
"The concept of simple church is not the latest fad or methodology," said Rainer. "It is a philosophy of ministry that causes churches to focus on those ministries that really matter."
Yes, of course - if it were just "the latest fad or methodology," it would be viewed as cheap, temporal and of little or no eternal value, wouldn't it? But instead, Mr. Rainer calls it a "philosophy."
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." - Colossians 2:8
Wouldn't that include the rudiments of the business world?
So, what ever happened to focusing on Jesus Christ and His Word? If our focus is to instead be on "ministries that really matter," just who determines which ministries really matter, LifeWay's president and CEO or his co-author, Eric Geiger, one the "coaches" for hire at simplechurch.org, aka, Ministry Advantage?
If you go to their website you will see some of the same infamous names we've come to know and avoid over the years - like Willow Creek Association's chairman of the board, Bill Hybels and The Leadership Network's own founder and chairman, Bob Buford - both church growth kingpins who, along with others listed, heartily endorse the Simple Church concept and Ministry Advantage.
On the Ministry Advantage website you'll find such unbiblical practices and principals promoted as "personality and behavioral assessments" and how to reach your "maximum redemptive potential," not to mention those eye-catching charts and grafts over in their Rai$ing Re$ource$ section.
It should also be noted that under the subtitle "Origins and Influences," Wikipedia, the Internet encyclopedia, describes Simple Church this way:
Sociologically speaking, simple church could be seen as a subset of Emerging church[8] (although many in the simple church movement would not see themselves as part of emerging church[9]), a phenomenon rising from the conversation between Christianity and the culture and worldview of postmodernism. Many in the emerging church movement would consider simple church to be represented in expressions such as house church and unique gatherings like Church in a pub.
If Simple Church is indeed a subset of the Emerging Church, which many view as an offshoot of the church growth movement, then it only further validates the contention of some that they all come from the same unbiblical origin, and though often appearing to be unrelated, are ultimately heading in the same heretical direction.
Near the end of Mrs. Shrout's LifeWay article, she quotes Eric Geiger as saying:
"This book is not about how we as pastors make our lives easier…it's about designing a process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth so their lives are transformed."
But, what process can men possibly design to replace the work of the Holy Spirit? And just how can a church "transform lives" by imitating Papa John's Pizza? Does the Word of God instruct us to be transformed by the principles and processes of the business world? On the contrary:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:2
Whatever you might think of the Simple Church concept, this Lifeway article by Mrs. Shrout says nothing about preaching Christ crucified or feeding the Lord's sheep, but only promotes another book, program and process designed by men who are focused on Results & Relationships rather than repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
In my opinion, what we have here is not regeneration, but only regurgitation.
"As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." - Proverbs 26:11
Paul Proctor
August 8, 2007
NewsWithViews.com
Well, it seems the mad scientists of the church growth movement have once again emerged from the laboratory of the living dead with yet another chia pet project for the jaded masses. The latest concoction they've come up with is something called "Simple Church."
Apparently, after a decade or so of injecting the "body of Christ" with every conceivable church growth hormone known to man, church leaders have determined that, in light of the plummeting numbers, it is now time to go cold turkey and ditch all of that junk we were sold and told we had to have to succeed in the 90s and try something new.
I wonder if any of them are offering refunds on their old books, programs, DVDs and conferences? And, what do we do with all of our Plexiglas podiums, disco balls, food courts and state of the art worship venues we went millions of dollars in debt for? Is Bono still in vogue and do we get to keep those big screens and sound systems for future concerts, videos and games or are they on the chopping block as well? Maybe they could rent them out to finance this new venture.
Is it possible that our debt-heavy economy has finally forced some of today's over-indulgent mega-churches into corporate downsizing for the sake of survival and they're just calling it "Simple Church" in an effort to save face? Or could it be that so many customers, I mean Christians, have been lost to bibles-only home churches that the Southern Baptist Convention had to make its play for that market with a few Simple Church products and services in order to snag the strays and keep them coming to the CGM trough?
Whatever the case, Lifeway Christian Resource's employee communications editor, Kelly Davis Shrout, who evidently prefers to go by the name "Kelly Davis," authored an article last year about a book her boss co-wrote with Eric Geiger on the subject of Simple Church. Lifeway is the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention and Thom S. Rainer is its president and CEO. The June 5th 2006 piece titled, Rainer, Geiger Offer Simple Concept Of Discipleship In New B&H Book, began this way:
Look at Apple's iPod or Google's Web site. Consider Southwest Airlines or Papa John's Pizza. What do these successful companies have in common?
A commitment to simplicity.
Simplicity is in. Complexity is out. So contend Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger in their new book, Simple Church, released June 1 ['06] by B&H Publishing Group.
Funny how ecclesiastical fashions change with the seasons, isn't it? - Swinging to and fro above the brethren like the Sword of Damocles. And what should we make of churches that chase the world here and there like the paparazzi pursuing Paris Hilton to capture and copy every cute, cunning and controversial pose?
Why follow the Living Word of God when corporations we've come to love and trust like Apple, Google, Southwest Airlines and Papa John's Pizza know the way to the Promised Land of Simple Success?
The Lifeway article continued with this:
A new revolution toward simplicity has impacted how individuals respond to information. And the movement toward simplicity also affects how churches minister to their congregations, according to the authors.
Based on thorough research and 400 case studies, Rainer and Geiger provide evidence that church leaders who have designed a simple biblical process to make disciples are effectively advancing the movement of the gospel. "Simple churches are making a big impact," they write.
In light of the corporate templates already cited, one can only imagine what LifeWay's idea of "biblical" might be. Are we to assume that this puff piece Mrs. Shrout put together for her boss's book is about an effort to "make disciples" for Jesus Christ? If so, why then is our Lord never mentioned in the article?
Maybe a better question would be: Whom are they endeavoring to make disciples for? - Because what I'm seeing exalted in her comments again and again is not a Person, but a process. And, frankly, there's so much ambiguity in the piece about that 4-step process, (clarity, movement, alignment and focus) it's hard to make any real sense of it, which is ironic considering the book is about simplifying.
Moreover, when did Jesus ever commission us to design and promote a process that advances "the movement of the gospel?" - and what exactly does that phrase mean anyway?
Were we not called to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ - to simply preach and teach the Word of God - serve one another in love and humility - proclaim the good news by obediently following the Holy Spirit's leading, like the Apostle Paul - sacrificing ourselves even unto death for the cause of Christ regardless of the "impact" or "movement" we may or may not see with our envious eyes?
Mrs. Shrout goes on to write:
Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Geiger, executive pastor of Christ Fellowship in Miami, offer church leaders the ethos behind designing a simple process of discipleship.
"The concept of simple church is not the latest fad or methodology," said Rainer. "It is a philosophy of ministry that causes churches to focus on those ministries that really matter."
Yes, of course - if it were just "the latest fad or methodology," it would be viewed as cheap, temporal and of little or no eternal value, wouldn't it? But instead, Mr. Rainer calls it a "philosophy."
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." - Colossians 2:8
Wouldn't that include the rudiments of the business world?
So, what ever happened to focusing on Jesus Christ and His Word? If our focus is to instead be on "ministries that really matter," just who determines which ministries really matter, LifeWay's president and CEO or his co-author, Eric Geiger, one the "coaches" for hire at simplechurch.org, aka, Ministry Advantage?
If you go to their website you will see some of the same infamous names we've come to know and avoid over the years - like Willow Creek Association's chairman of the board, Bill Hybels and The Leadership Network's own founder and chairman, Bob Buford - both church growth kingpins who, along with others listed, heartily endorse the Simple Church concept and Ministry Advantage.
On the Ministry Advantage website you'll find such unbiblical practices and principals promoted as "personality and behavioral assessments" and how to reach your "maximum redemptive potential," not to mention those eye-catching charts and grafts over in their Rai$ing Re$ource$ section.
It should also be noted that under the subtitle "Origins and Influences," Wikipedia, the Internet encyclopedia, describes Simple Church this way:
Sociologically speaking, simple church could be seen as a subset of Emerging church[8] (although many in the simple church movement would not see themselves as part of emerging church[9]), a phenomenon rising from the conversation between Christianity and the culture and worldview of postmodernism. Many in the emerging church movement would consider simple church to be represented in expressions such as house church and unique gatherings like Church in a pub.
If Simple Church is indeed a subset of the Emerging Church, which many view as an offshoot of the church growth movement, then it only further validates the contention of some that they all come from the same unbiblical origin, and though often appearing to be unrelated, are ultimately heading in the same heretical direction.
Near the end of Mrs. Shrout's LifeWay article, she quotes Eric Geiger as saying:
"This book is not about how we as pastors make our lives easier…it's about designing a process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth so their lives are transformed."
But, what process can men possibly design to replace the work of the Holy Spirit? And just how can a church "transform lives" by imitating Papa John's Pizza? Does the Word of God instruct us to be transformed by the principles and processes of the business world? On the contrary:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:2
Whatever you might think of the Simple Church concept, this Lifeway article by Mrs. Shrout says nothing about preaching Christ crucified or feeding the Lord's sheep, but only promotes another book, program and process designed by men who are focused on Results & Relationships rather than repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
In my opinion, what we have here is not regeneration, but only regurgitation.
"As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." - Proverbs 26:11
Saturday, August 4, 2007
"Say Hello to my little friend !!!"
This brown Tarantula is apparently the guardian and custodian of our Fruitless Mulberry tree in the front yard. He lives in the PVC pipe that runs down into the root mass for watering. I would say that he is approaching 4 inches in diameter. We will see how long this photo stays up as Amber is not only afraid of spiders but even photos of Spiders.... go figure!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
MacArthur addresses relativism....
Video is strange in the opening moment... you were warned!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAgeQjdqA58&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAgeQjdqA58&mode=related&search=
True Love Warns
(from SliceofLaodicea.com)
"It’s time that we were reminded of love’s desire to warn. Those who reject God’s clear commands in the Scriptures, but who still want to be considered Christians, like to paint vivid images of those who believe the Word as unloving bigots. Let’s expose that dangerous mythology for what it is.
If someone is going off a cliff, the most loving thing in the world is to warn them. Only the callous would call out, “we love you, we really, really love you. It’s okay that you’re going off a cliff if that’s what you think is best!” It’s the one who truly loves who will cry out with the loudest voice, “Watch out! There’s danger ahead. Eternal danger. Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy and the false church who don’t care for your soul! Jesus saves. Run to Him and find safety!”
That is our heart’s cry today for every person trapped in the slavery of sin, whatever that sin may be. Why do we call out in love? Because once we were running off that cliff, too, and God’s grace saved us from an eternity in hell."
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save!
***********************************
Jude 1:20-23
20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
"It’s time that we were reminded of love’s desire to warn. Those who reject God’s clear commands in the Scriptures, but who still want to be considered Christians, like to paint vivid images of those who believe the Word as unloving bigots. Let’s expose that dangerous mythology for what it is.
If someone is going off a cliff, the most loving thing in the world is to warn them. Only the callous would call out, “we love you, we really, really love you. It’s okay that you’re going off a cliff if that’s what you think is best!” It’s the one who truly loves who will cry out with the loudest voice, “Watch out! There’s danger ahead. Eternal danger. Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy and the false church who don’t care for your soul! Jesus saves. Run to Him and find safety!”
That is our heart’s cry today for every person trapped in the slavery of sin, whatever that sin may be. Why do we call out in love? Because once we were running off that cliff, too, and God’s grace saved us from an eternity in hell."
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save!
***********************************
Jude 1:20-23
20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
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