Celebrating Freedom part 2

The following is content I received in an email from a buddy. I don't aggree with what Jay Leno seems to say about alot of things political. However, I think that he is right on with this one. I can only assume that he wrote this, I have no proof. But the thoughts that came from this are very true, and very applicable. So whether he did or didn't write this, the thoughts in here are very challenging to think about.


Jay Leno on President Bush (Surprising):

Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see... As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark. The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'' A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week? B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year? E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either. H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital. I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings. K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers. M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like OJ. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane! Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' Jay Leno

Celebrating Freedom Part 1

This weekend is the celibration of the birth of the greatest nation on earth. I have normally been only posting once weekly. That is all I been able to allocate time wise. This weekend I will be bringing a seires of three blog post pointing out different ideas and points to the topic of freedom, our nation, and the Christian's role in our country.

Why is this the greatest nation on earth? Because we have freedoms that many other nations can not ever enjoy. Many people will never even ever know. I praise God that he has blessed us with freedom. We have the freedom to choose what we want to do profesionaly, where we want to live, where are children go to school. He have the opprotunity for our children to even go to school. We have the right to approve or disapprove our government, and it's officals. We have the right to speak out to their decisions that we do or do not aggree with. We have the right to our oppinions and the right to think that others' oppinions are erronious. We have the right to protest the war on terror. We have the right to think that we are in a fight that is not ours, that we are fighting a fight for oil. We have the right to think that our president went in to Iraq unjudiciously, and carelessly.

But remember this, these liberties, the abillity to have the freedom of thought, without reguard to retrabution for these thoughts come with a price. They come with the price ticket that many are not willing to pay for. They are not willing to take up arms and fight the Talliban or any other extreamists. It is easy to say that this is not our war when you are not on the front lines. You are not in the trenches fighting the very evil that costed over 3000 men, women, and childrens lives on a horrific day on 11 Sep. I heard a quote from my pastor the other day that said: "Freedom is not doing want to do, but what we ought to do"

We need to stand united behind our troops and let the price of freedom be paid for in vain. Remeber this, the opinions we have, were paid for by someone else.

A God Who Brings Us Through The Storm

10The thief comes only to steal and(A) kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly

John 10:10 ESV

Have you ever noticed that when God wants to work through you, it seems that the enemy comes at you with force. It seems that when you are making headway in your spiritual journey, that adversity comes and to knock you down. Satan does not want us to succeed! He would like nothing more than to let us fall, to steal our joy, and to render us ineffective. But isn't our God great! He not only defeats Satan, but He brings life. He not only brings life but brings it more abundantly. Take comfort friend in knowing that even though we struggle for a while, joy comes in the morning. Know that all things are filtered through the hand of God.

13Consider(A) the work of God: (B) who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14(C) In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other,(D) so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 ESV

God has created both, both are in His plan. Nothing takes God by surprise. Satan doesn't act and then forcing God to react. Everything is planed out! Even though trials come, and they are attacks from Satan, he has to go to God and ask for permission. Know this, God allows circumstances to occur in our life, but he ultimately restores us, He brings us through. We can't on our own, but must check our reliance on Him. Just look at Job. He will ultimately bring us through the storms of life.

Don't Let The Cat Get Your Tongue

In trying to keep posts up every few days, I have found my self being distracted more. I pray for better time managment on my part, and less distrations on the perimeter.



In reading this week, I came across James 3.

1(A) Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For(B) we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says,(C) he is a perfect man,(D) able also to bridle his whole body. 3If we put(E) bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet(F) it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6And(G) the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members,(H) staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell.[b] 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil,(I) full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people(J) who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,[c] these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

This is one of the greatest charges that James gives us in my oppinion. How are we to praise God if we cut down our fellow bothers and sisters. I have developed a sharp toungue in my life. I can be witty at times but like a small spark, I have set off forest fires. Words can divide or unite. Most wars are started not by acts of violence or aggression but with words. They are like arrows. Once they are released, they can not be taken back. They are gone landing where they were aimed.

How often do we share this duplicity of mind like Paul talks about to say that we sing and praise God on Sunday morning, we may pray before we eat, we may even be responsible to teach the body of Christ, but we revert back to the old way of speaking.

I realize that non of us are perfect. But we have to stive for a singleness of mind. James makes it clear: 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,[c] these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

I pray we the members of the body of Christ would continue to "die to our old self." And that we would purposefully watch our words as to not let the 'old man' have dominion over our words.

Our Jerichos

Joshua 6

The Fall of Jericho

1Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2And the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him."

-ESV

What must it have been for a people to listen the God speak through one man to say that you are going to take siege of a fortressed city not by force, but by faith. This was it this was the promise land! The Nation of Israel was promised this land from the git go after leaving Egypt some 40 years+. But they were not to take it like they have other cities. They were an army that was out armed, out maned, and out matched, by human standards. They were a people wandering in the desert without a home, like nomads. They were the underdogs by our standards but they had God on their side.

They could now take the land. But wait, they had to do it Gods way. They had to march around the city for six days, just marching once a day. It was the seventh day they had to march seven times, and on the last march of the last day they let out a monstrous war-cry.

What take away can we learn? God has promised us many blessings though his Word.

Matthew 7:11

11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!-ESV

We have to have the faith and obedience to wait for His timing and do it His way. So many times we want to skip to the end and not go through the process. What would have happened to the Israelites if they had not waited for Joshua's command? They would have more than likely be taken capture, enslaved (again) or worse: killed off/scatter through the utter most parts of the Earth.

Don't rob God of blessing you by not being patient to follow His will.

Our Childrens Gatekeepers

As you can see from my bio, that I am a dad of three boys. Ben is the oldest, he is almost 6, then Josh who is 3, and then comes Isaiah who is 18mo. All three are at very different stages developementally and physically. Ben just finished Kindergarden, Josh has just entered into potty training, and Isaiah: everything so is cool and new to him. My point is that even though all three are at different ages and stages, they are oh so impressionable.

My Pastor Sunday, preached on parenting. One of the key points in his message was Deut. 5: , "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and strength..." It is one of the most, if not the most important job or task of a parent to instill this into your children.

What is very disturbing about today's culture is the amount of filth that we allow through the ear gates and eye gates of our children. Case in point, we were recently out with some family, and the boys were watching TV. A certain citcom was on involving two boys who were strictly told not to go see a specific movie. The show depicts one boy saying to his brother that "mom said not to go see this movie" The response of the other boy was "well mom is not here." (DANGER #1). He cooerses the other boy into giving in (DANGER #2). When confronted by their mother later, they did what everyone does once they sin, lie to cover (DANGER #3). You may say that well it's ok, they got caught in the end and learned a lesson. True but not before teaching their young audience (our children) a lesson first. Kids see this a fun and exciting, as entertainment. The sad thing is some adults do too.

How can we take on the charge of Deut 5 if we are not going to be our childrens gatekeeper? Satan comes to steel, kill, and destroy; and we are letting him, by letting him in to our homes though TV, music, books, the freinds that our children associate with. He has all sorts of methods of attack. Am I suggesting we lock our kids away to keep them safe? Certainly not, but we need lock away the vices that creep in "unsuspectedly" into our homes. We need to stop being our childrens "freind who won't dicipline them," and be a parent. Am I my childerns friend? You bet, you ask my two oldest boys who their buddy is, and they will tell you. Why? Because I love them, and even though I may not let them do what they want when they want and they get diciplined from time to time, I am not an oger.

Do I have all the answers, am I the best parent? Absolutly not! I have a been doing this for 5 years and 11 months and 1 week. Friend, I have made many mistakes. But what I do know is that if we as Christians sit idle and do nothing, Satan will rip the hearts and minds of our dear loved ones right out of our hands. This leaving us wondering what happened to our little Jonnies, and our little Suzzies.

My Dad, who passed away exactly 3 years ago in May, had a philosphy that now I finally understand: "I would rather you hate me now and love me later, than love me now and hate me later." My dad was my best freind, and when he went to be with our Lord, it was very hard. I loved him all of my life, but he diciplined me when I needed it, encouraged me when I needed it, and loved me all the time.

Friends understand this, we live in a post modern culture. The pop culture is what is fuling the fire that is consuming our youn people. We can put the fire out before it is too late!

A Beginning

This is it, the beginning. You are asking, the beginning of what?

This blog is in answer to what I feel is a calling. Some may ask, can one be called to blog? The answer is yes! Before there was youth ministry, there had to be someone called to be a youth pastor. Before choir directors, children's pastors, prison chaplains, and the list goes on, there had to be some who were called. This is simply a new platform for God to reach His people with His purposes.

Posts for this blog are just as the title bar states: Godly posts for a post modern world. Some ask, what is a "post modern world?" Most briefly, “postmodern” describes a current trend within our culture that began in the late 20th century that is relativistic in its thinking concerning truth and knowledge. 1 This is where truth is relative. We pervert what IS truth to what we FEEL is truth. We then enter the very slippery slope of a water down Gospel, and a loss of any resemblance of an absolute.

Our culture needs to get out of this mindset, and the Church needs to grow a backbone and not be afraid to stand up for the Cause of Christ. The Church has to be willing to stand for the very one who stands in intercession for us to the Father for a culture to change. So many times I have found myself saying: "This is what I feel that the bible is saying" or "This is what I think this means." Instead we should be seeking from God, what He has to say about His Word. After all, He wrote it. 1 Tim 3:4 says that all scripture is God breathed or inspired. This means that it came from Him. Who are we to put our spin on it!?

Am I the one to "take on the world" with this charge? I don't know, I don't think so, but hey, maybe. I just feel led to share the inspirations that God has laid on my heart.

What truths have you given way on to say: "well that may be for me, but that but not for everyone"?

Please stay tuned for other posts on this blog as well as other blog ideas that develope.

Please feel free to leave comments/suggestions.

1. Micheal Patton: "Representing Christ to a Postmodern World"