Spooky Spiritual People

One of the greatest joys of my job is meeting God's people every day at the Listener Cafe'. Today, I had the mindblowing opportunity of discovering Stephen Sjogren, author of the coined phrase "servant evangelism." He has written many books on the idea of using demonstrated kindness to win souls. Stephen has worked this principle in winning countless men and women for the Lord abroad. Something he said really resonated in me.

"There are spooky spiritual people, I think. And there are non-spooky spiritual people who are fairly level-headed."

On hearing this, I had to ask myself, "Which one am I?" I would like to think I am fairly level-headed but that would require obeying common sense, right? How many times have I seen someone in the store who looked like they were in pain or having a miserable time of it... only to walk away muttering, "Jesus, touch and heal that dear person"? To a bystander, a person muttering under their breath would certainly appear spooky! The non-spooky approach would be to offer help and a kind word of prayer... that's a level-headed Christian in action.

Such conviction gripped me after my conversation with Stephen! I remembered James wrote, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:16-17 NIV)

Thanks to Stephen who woke me up from my spookiness and leveled my head a bit. I make a public resolution to make a break from Spooky Spiritual Christianity that makes no difference. Are there any other Ex-Spookies who are willing to join me?

Sources http://www.kindness.com/

They Said What?

The Beatles have garnered much attention recently since Paul McCartney's divorce settlement this week and the use of the Beatles' songbook on the highly watched American Idol show. No one will argue the point that the Beatles were one of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music. But imagine the pomposity of John Lennon to make a statement like this!

""Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now." -John Lennon, March 4, 1966

This kind of grandiosity is characteristic of the pop culture icons our society worships. Here are few more prideful prompts from other pretentious preeners.

"In this world, I call the shots and I think I know best." - Mariah Carey

"I've outdone anyone you can name -- Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Strauss. Irving Berlin, he wrote 1,001 tunes. I wrote 5,500." -James Brown

"I am the most well-known homosexual in the world."- Elton John

"I won't be happy until I'm as famous as God." - Madonna

Psalm 10:4 says, The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts." All the star power of our pop culture princes and princesses combined is more the glow of a birthday cake candle in comparison to the Bright and Morning Star, Jesus. He forever remains the only true Superstar!

Source AOL.com Shockingly Cocky Quotes 3/21/08

Radio Communion

As Pastor Sharon and I prepared for our on-air communion service, the presence of the Lord filled the studio. Before we ever turned the microphones on, we worshipped and meditated on scriptures. Tears flowed as we read through many prayer requests and letters from He's Alive Radio listeners and friends.

The compassion of the Lord is a powerful thing. As I read over names of those dealing with addictions, diabetes, tumors, cancers, arthritis, debt, loss, divorce, barrenness, obesity, blindness, numbness, all manor of pains and diseases... overwhelming emotion swept over my spirit. In Matthew 14:14 we read, "And Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and healed their sick."

Our unbelieving generation often asks, "Where are the healings, today? Why don't we see the miracles that Jesus saw in His day?"

Miracles still happen. Healings happen every day! The missing ingredient is the compassion of Christ. When's the last time you looked at someone and was moved with compassion toward them? The healing gift flows out of a holy spirit-based compassion, not out of a soulish pity. What is your need, today? He has compassion for you. I want to pray for you, right now.

"Heavenly Father, release your healing anointing in my friend's life. I bind and cancel whatever attack the enemy has perpetrated against them. They are loosed from the bands of sickness, poverty, shame and darkness. They are released to experience your joy and restoration today, in Jesus name, Amen!"

The New List of Deadly Sins?

Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us there are seven things God hates… “a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren.” In recent days, the Vatican has produced a revised list of sins that men should abhor. What additions make the list?

1. Thou shall not pollute the Earth
2. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation
3. Taking or dealing drugs
4. Excessive accumulation of wealth by a few
5. Pedophilia

The Catholic church is grappling (as we all are) with taking a unified position on these social hot-button issues. As our world is modernizing, so is sin... and the church feels the pressure to react.

How then should we respond to the growing darkness of our present age? The answer lies in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. When we make the don’ts our focus, we lose sight of the Kingdom. As Jesus said over and over again, “Blessed are they that…do.” The best way to abstain from darkness is to turn on the light.

Sources Reuters: Vatican Lists New Sins 3/10/08

Summons Courage!

What do you stand to lose today? Are you in the fight for your marriage, job, children, faith, friendships, or sanity of mind? We're all fighting for something. God spoke to me this morning that it was time to summons courage, but there are two kinds.

In John's account of the Garden of Gethsemane in chapter 18, we see two kinds of courage exemplified in Peter and in Jesus. Peter's courage was based on the fear of losing Jesus to chief priests and pharisees. Peter had emotionally and financially invested everything he had in following Jesus. Losing Jesus would mean losing everything. In this fear based courage, Peter sliced the ear off the servant Malchus who came to assist in the arrest. Later in the same chapter, this flawed kind of courage ultimately led Peter to betray the One he most loved.

Jesus summonsed courage from another place... a heart of love that was willing to engage death for the potential of resurrection. Love based courage is willing to engage the death of a dream. It does not fear the loss of the temporal or circumstantial to gain the eternal.

This morning in prayer our intercessory prayer leader, Lisa Butler, encouraged us to go ahead and lay it on all on the line. Jesus laid everything on the line that Friday night in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter tried to hold on to it all. So, friend, summons the kind of courage that can only come from love. After all, Sunday's on the way!

Pondering Palm Sunday

Most people will wake up Sunday morning, get dressed for church and arrive only to be surprised that it is Palm Sunday. Whether it be due to the unusual earliness of the season or our cram-packed schedules, Palm Sunday will catch most of us by as much surprise as it did Jerusalem that fateful week of Jesus' entry. Jerusalem was normally a bustling city that would miss a minor kafuffle just like a semi-truck rolling over a twig. But the shouting and praises ushering in Jesus was a major disruption of the norm... enough of a disruption, to demand the attention of both the religious and civil governments ruling the city.

This Palm Sunday may seem like just any other Sunday to you - but it's not. Make His praise glorious this Sunday... honor the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! It's an opportunity to usher in the presence of the Lord with such jubilant praise, the it demands the attention of whatever is ruling your life.

Melissa Flores