Cut and Paste

For today’s elementary school kids, “cut and paste” means something totally different than when most of us grew up. In fact, I do a whole lot more “cut and paste” today than I did in elementary school.  Today, I use the buttons on the computer, no more sticky glue that make the paper wrinkle when you glue it down.  Glue, white out, carbon paper, steno machines and bound encyclopedias are a thing of the past.  I am sure plagiarism is much more prevalent today because it s so easy and “everybody does it”. 

Did you know that one of the principal authors of the Declaration of Independence was a “cut and paster”.   Thomas Jefferson was the original cut and paster.   He made up his own “bible” by cutting and pasting sections from various Bibles.  He excluded any sections containing supernatural aspects and what he perceived as misinterpretations that had been added by the “Four Evangelists.  Many people think Jefferson was a Christian and maybe he considered himself to be a Christian, but his writings tell us something different.  Jefferson, in fact was a deist. His "bible" is just proof of his deist philosophy.

Using a razor, Jefferson carefully cut and pasted selected verses from the gospels in chronological order to create a single narrative.  He excluded any references to angels, genealogy, prophecy, the divinity of Jesus including the resurrection.  He did however include reference to heaven, hell and the devil.  He admired the ethics and morality of Jesus but never saw Him as God.  If you are interested, the entire “Jefferson bible” is available for viewing at Smithsonian National Museum website. 

http://americanhistory.si.edu/JeffersonBible/the-book/

Why do I bring this up?  Because this was prophesied by Paul in his letter to Timothy:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”

Now, it is easy for us to see this occurring with other people; but surely we would never be guilty of this, or would we.  Do we want to be challenged in our faith or do we want to be told that we are OK?   Jefferson did not try to hide the fact that he denied the divinity of Jesus.  He thought he was a great moral teacher, but not God.  He denied the supernatural.  Most Christians would never be dumb enough to deny the supernatural; but, do we act like we believe it.  Are we guilty of being "spiritual" cut and pasters.  Do we have the “form of godliness” or do we practice true Godliness.  Are we so busy “doing” church, while ignoring the power of God?  Is that why we have so many programs in our churches?  Is that why there is never enough money to do every program because we are doing it in our own strength?  If we really believed in prayer, why do we spend so little time in prayer in our churches and our homes?  Jesus and his disciples met the needs of the people supernaturally.  There is never recorded anytime when Jesus sent someone away when they were in need.  He fed them when they were hungry and healed them when there were sick. 

He gave them this charge:

“What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands.

³“On your way! But be careful—this is hazardous work. You’re like lambs in a wolf pack.

⁴“Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage.

“Don’t loiter and make small talk with everyone you meet along the way.

⁵“When you enter a home, greet the family, ‘Peace.’

⁶If your greeting is received, then it’s a good place to stay. But if it’s not received, take it back and get out. Don’t impose yourself.

⁷“Stay at one home, taking your meals there, for a worker deserves three square meals. Don’t move from house to house, looking for the best cook in town.

⁸“When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you,

⁹heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, ‘God’s kingdom is right on your doorstep!’ Luke 10:2-9,  The Message

The supernatural was the standard operational mode in the New Testament church.  We are told by Mark that "they (disciples) went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.?

Did the Jesus Christ, "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever", change?  Did the early church need the supernatural and we don't?  


OR


Are we preaching a different gospel?  Remember these signs follow only those who believe?

"these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."  Mark 16:17-18

Bottom of the 11th, Down by a run, 2 out, 2 strikes

That was the situation the Detroit Tigers found themselves in last Sunday afternoon.  If you are not a baseball fan, that does not mean much; but if you are, you know it is all about over.  Well if you are a Tiger fan, you know that Alex Avila hit a walk off homer.  Total elation!

Now yesterday was a different situation.  The Tigers’ ace pitcher, Verlander took a 1 hitter into the 9^th inner and ending up losing 2-4.  Total downer!

Well, having experienced these two extremes, I got to thinking about Sunday morning, that first Easter morning!  The women at the empty tomb went from totally depressed to total confusion to total elation.  The range of emotion that they and the disciples experienced that day must have been unbelievable. 

BUT,

This could not compare with what was going on in hell.  When Satan and his demons saw Jesus, God’s Son, the very Son that Satan had tempted in the desert, die they must have been elated.  He was gone, done, not just game over; but the life and death struggle was over.  They had finally won.  If hell was ever going to have a party, this would have been the time.

BUT,

Sunday morning came.  God raised His Son to life.  Satan and his cohorts were totally defeated!   Can you imagine the anger, the fear, the frustration in hell that Sunday morning.   Can you imagine the joy, the excitement, the exhilaration in heaven when they saw Jesus arise.  Jesus said: “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” 

In Revelations 18.  Heaven is instructed to rejoice over the final fall of Babylon, “the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit”.

”Rejoice over her (Babylon), thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. ²¹And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.”

There is nothing in scripture that would lead us to believe that the angels in heaven know the future, so I think that when Satan and 1/3 of the angels rebelled, the other angels were saddened.  I don’t know if they knew that Jesus was going to arise from the grave that Sunday morning; but, I think not.  Can you imagine what they must have been feeling.

NOW,

Getting back to us, you and me, are we more excited about a walk off home run on an Easter Sunday afternoon or Victory over death, hell and the grave.  One is a game.  The other is life or death, eternal life or eternal death.  The walk off home run is long forgotten especially after a 9^th inning loss, 3 days later.  I have to plead guilty.  I enjoyed the Easter Sunday service but I got more excited when I saw the walk off home run.  Lord, please forgive me!

“GREEN” Muscle Car

OXYMORON: A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear side by side.

Finally a muscle car for the “political correct”, the “socially aware”, the “tree huggers: the TESLA Roadster.  It is an all electric battery vehicle.  It will go 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds.  It has “zero” emissions.  Cost: $109,000.  It “looks” like it could be a muscle car.  It has the speed to be a muscle car;

BUT,

It does not rumble. It hums!  “Zero” noise pollution!  Does it get any better?

Problem!  Never let the battery run dead!  Don’t drive it to the airport and park it for a month even if you park it in the budget lot.  Battery dead, no problem, call AAA, get it jumped.  NOT!!!

It will cost $40,000 to get it started if battery dies.  YUP!  If battery dies you have a $109,000 brick.  The entire battery must be replaced which cost a mere $40,000. 

The Tesla is a symbol of today’s church, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Timothy 3:5

Does this sound like the conditions Paul describes in his letter to the Romans.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator”

Paul tells them that creation reveals the “attributes of God”, “His eternal power”’ but instead of worshiping and glorifying God they worshiped the “creature rather than the creator”.

How many “programs” did the New Testament church have?  NONE!  They had only a mission! 

“they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”  Mark 16:20

Does this sound or look like today’s church? 

Jesus never was, never is, and never will be an easter bunny.  Jesus never was, never is, and never will be politically correct.  Today, many people went to church, who never go except for Easter, Christmas, to be married or buried.  Did they meet the real Jesus today?  Did they meet the Jesus that everyone will one day have to answer to?  The Jesus of Revelatons:

11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
        KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelations 20:11-16

Muscle Cars

How many of you grew up in the era of “Muscle cars”, the days when gas was cheap?.  In 1962, gas cost 32 cents per gallon.  The base price of a 1966 SS 396 Chevelle was $2776.  In the summer of 1966, I worked as a construction laborer, putting in 11 hours a day making $6.00 per hour.  A McDonald hamburger cost 15 cents.  I was dating Linda who was 16 at the time and I had just turned 19.  That fall I bought a black Chevelle, not a SS, and not with a 396, just a 327.  It did have 3 on the floor and bucket seats which were optional at the time. 

Today, gas is $4.00 per gallon.  A McDonald hamburger cost 89 cents and a SS Camaro cost about $40,000.  A construction laborer makes around $14.00 per hour, if he can find a job.

A 1967 Camaro SS would do 0-60 mph in 7.9 sec and a quarter mile in 15.2 sec.  A 2011 Camaro  SS will do 0-60 in 4.8 sec and a quarter mile in 13 seconds. 

That’s a muscle car.  Can you imagine having one and never driving it on the expressway, never going over 35mph?  I can’t!  But, then I will never own one either.

But you know what, as Christians we have access to something, actually someone, much more powerful than any muscle car. 

AND

We act like we are driving one of those little “Smart” cars.  I call them dumb cars.

Paul tells the Ephesians that he does not stop praying that:

“the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, ¹⁸your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, ¹⁹oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!

²⁰All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, ²¹in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. ²²He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. ²³The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”  The Message, Ephesians 1: 17-23

Paul prays constantly that they will grasp what it means to be the body of Christ, to be doing the work of Christ, to be engaging in the spiritual warfare Christ is calling us to.  Unless or until we grasp what we have at our disposal, we will never be able to do the work to which we are called.  We are driving a spiritual muscle car!

WE NEED TO START ACTING LIKE IT!

Happy Ground Hog’s Day

April Fool!

Many of you have seen the movie “Ground Hog Day”.  For those who have not and for those who have; but have forgotten, because of “senioritis”, I include a brief summary, courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day

Self-centered and sour TV meteorologist Phil Connors (Bill Murray), news producer Rita (Andy MacDowell) and cameraman Larry (Chris Elliott) from fictional Pittsburgh television station WPBH-TV9 travel to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities with Punxsutawney Phil. Having grown tired of this assignment, Phil grudgingly gives his report and attempts to return to Pittsburgh when a blizzard shuts down the roads. Phil and his team are forced to return to Punxsutawney and stay in town overnight.

Phil wakes up to find that he is reliving February 2. The day plays out exactly as it did before, with no one else aware of the time loop, and only Phil aware of past events. At first he is confused, but, when the phenomenon continues on subsequent days, he decides to take advantage of the situation with no fear of long-term consequences: he learns secrets from the town's residents, seduces women, steals money, drives recklessly, and gets thrown in jail. However, his attempts to get closer to Rita repeatedly fail.

Eventually, Phil becomes despondent and tries more and more drastically to end the time loop; he gives ridiculous and offensive reports on the festival, abuses residents, eventually kidnaps Punxsutawney Phil and, after a police chase, drives into a quarry, evidently killing both himself and the groundhog. However, Phil wakes up and finds that nothing has changed; further attempts at suicide are just as fruitless as he continues to find himself awaking at six o'clock on the morning of February 2 with the clock radio on his nightstand playing "I Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher, as on each previous day. Phil then goes through each of the seven deadly sins as the days repeat.

When Phil explains the situation to Rita, she suggests that he should take advantage of it to improve himself. Inspired, Phil endeavors to try to learn more about Rita, building upon his knowledge of her and the town each day. He begins to use his by-now vast experience of the day to help as many people around town as possible. He uses the time to learn, among other things, to play piano, ice sculpt and speak French.

Eventually, Phil is able to befriend almost everyone he meets during the day, using his experiences to save lives, help townspeople, and to get closer to Rita. He fixes car tires and people's backs, saves several townspeople from certain death, and crafts a report on the Groundhog Day celebration so eloquent that all the other stations turn their microphones to him. That evening, Phil and Rita attend the town's Groundhog Day party, where the two of them dance while all the townspeople whom Phil did tasks for that day line up to thank him. The party holds a bachelor auction, and bids for Phil grow higher until Rita, amazed by his selflessness, declares her winning bid. Outside, Phil presents Rita with a lifelike bust made of snow and they kiss. It is true love, and it conquers all: Phil is surprised as snow begins to fall, which is a departure from his recollection of the day's events. They retire together to Phil's room, and he wakes the next morning to find the time loop is broken; it is now February 3 and Rita is still with him. Phil is jubilant. He looks out the window and sees that everything's empty. After they go outside into the freshly-fallen snow, Phil lifts Rita over the gate as if over the threshold into a whole new life, and floats the idea of the two of them living on in Punxsutawney.

Sadly this is the tale of the spiritual journey of most people alive today and those who have ever lived.  In fact it is a Biblical fact that as time goes on, it will become more the norm.

Paul tells Timothy:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ⁶For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁷Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

The world’s knowledge base grows daily and with the internet, it is widely available. The quest for knowledge is the lifeblood of today’s secular humanist.  It has invaded our “christian” churches.  I put quotation marks around the word “Christian” and intentionally did not capitalize it because I do not think that many are “Christian” or have anything in common with Christ.  It is even sadder that it has also invaded the “Christian” churches.  It is sad but expected and prophesied.  That does not mean that it should be accepted.  The apostasy of Israel was predicted and prophesied; but God always wanted them to repent.  God still wants men to turn to him.  One of the reasons that God removes His blessings from societies and individuals, is to bring them to repentance.

Many people know about God.  Fewer know God.  Boston, Harvard, Duke and Yale are considered top universities in the field of theology.  You will learn a lot about God there but I fear that you have a better chance getting to know God sitting on your back porch than sitting in one of their classrooms.  I fear that the same can be said for many of today’s churches. 

Even the demons know about God and they fear Him; but they will never be saved because they will never accept Him as Lord.

The last blog dealt with God spitting out the Laodicean church  because they were lukewarm.  The church Paul describes in 2 Timothy is the lukewarm church.  It is the church that has lost it’s saltiness described by Jesus in Matthew 5:

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”

How useful am I?  How useful are you?  Are we worth more to God, dead or alive? (see previous blog)