My Simple Point of View

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7:21-23

Your name on a church role, going to church or even calling yourself a Christian doesn’t make you any more a Christian than you standing on the runway at Phoenix International with your arms out wide makes you an airplane!

Satan has Continue Reading »

If you didn’t know our web site has been up and down (down mostly) for the last couple of day. Our web hosting company is having major issues. So please be patient as they work through the problems.

God Bless

12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

Definitions
Unity: A whole or totality as combining all its parts into one; the state or fact of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole.

Uniformity: The state or quality of being uniform; overall sameness; something uniform (in other words duplicated, boring,
predictable, unoriginal)

Is the desire of the church to make people uniform or to be unified?

–Pause-Ponder-Process–

It is startling to hear how many people see the church as a place of uniformity, a big-brother process plant conforming people to their liking. Does this really surprise you? Is the church sending a clear message? I have visited more churches with worship standards far exceeding the “friendly–come and discover God” platform that they profess.

Too often the church turns its nose up at those that walk through their hallowed doors. They are quick to make assumptions based on the outer appearance and mannerism: Levi’s, flip flops, tattoos, hair styles & colors or piercings. Are we saying we do not want them or that they wont want to be a part of our fellowship?

If we are all using the bible to establish clear definitive guidelines, why are Continue Reading »

I’ve found it. It’s playing at Harkins Scottsdale.

An alarming quote to consider…

It Is easier to kill an organization that it is to change it!

Tom Peters
The Circle of Innovation

We live in a world that is rapidly accelerating while the church declines. Look at the declining numbers, change is necessary. Don’t cling to rituals, cling to Christ.

Here’s a thought…

Hezekiah trusted the Lord and the Lord was with him (well pleased). Even after purposely destroying the ancient bronze snake that Moses crafted to protect the Israelites as they traveled back in the day. The question that must be asked, why did Hezekiah destroy the bronze snake and why did that please God? If you look at 2 Kings 1-7, the answer is as plain as your noise. The people began worshiping it (created an idol). They had taken something that was needed and useful in it’s time (for a season) and kept it in a place of great honor, even after it’s usefulness (purpose) ran out.

I wonder how many things we’ve done that with today? Order of service, choir robs, hymn books, steeples, King James only, altar calls, buildings, dress codes, church distinctives & constitutions. Hmmmmmm how many?

Remove those things (idols) that have or are trying to come between you and God. Better yet, remove those things that are keeping others from knowing God. Something’s just need to be put to sleep, no matter how wonderful they once were.

Rambling on…

Religion is the cause for world wars and Christianity is the cause for reflection on ones self, with a result of internal battles. What? Religion is something a group of people choose to agree upon and basically follow self inflicted traditions and practices and Christianity is a personal, more specifically individual reflection of ones self. To be a Christian you must look at your dark side and deepest corners of your inner person. Realizing that you are a sinner worthy of only death! Unknown

While some Americans eye new televisions and tanks of gas, some Triad groups hope recipients of economic stimulus checks will use their extra cash more generously.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if people gave at least some of that money back to something good?” said Heather DeDona, a member of Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church.

The church asked its members to Complete Story

So do you think it’s wrong to ask for all or part of it? What I will say is this, the church needs to learn how to be a good steward also! People would be less reluctant to give if they understood how the money was being used to glorify God. And if you can’t explain it, maybe your not.

Thanks Brad & Amy

Ok everyone, I’m alive and kicking. Ricky and Henry haven’t kidnapped me as one of you implied in a recent email, but thanks for being concerned. I’ve just been consumed with the details of some very, very exciting news for our church. And in the process I’ve gotten a little depressed, if you recall I spoke vaguely about it Sunday. So relax the details are consuming and the enemy surly doesn’t want us to win (he should have read the last chapter of the good book). I’m getting close to being able to share with all of you so stay tuned. All I can say right now is that it is really, really exciting.