The gospel of disappointment
Maybe it's just me, but I find it very difficult to find Christian T.V. that is not centered on the subject of "Me"! It seems that when you hear this kind of message it would be very easy to believe that the center of the Gospel is really about me and my prosperity. Now days you can pay money and get everything from special anointed water to personal prophecies. If you pledge $1,ooo to certain ministries you will unlock the secrets to riches and fame. The goal of the Gospel seems to be my happiness.
I don't mean to be unsanctified but it's a crock! This kind of programming, I can't call it preaching so I'll just call it telemarketing, whether on the T.V or in the pulpit is a false gospel. It leads to disappointment and some might even mistake it for the voice of God. Don't get me wrong, the longer I walk with God the more I realize just how much He cares about every detail of my life. He more than anyone is for me and my well being. However, He is looking to the end result of all my endeavors. It has been stated many times but is still very true today: "God is more interested in the journey than the destination". He is more interested in my attitude and behavior during the wait than my attitude when the prize is achieved. Psa. 106:15 says, He gave them the desires of their heart but sent leanness into their souls". We must be very careful how we approach God. There are times when having the Lord give us "what we want" can be tragic.
Let's back away from the table of "our desires" and ask God for an appetite for his will.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psa. 51:10
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Moby Dick or Shamu?
When I think of Moby Dick vs. Shamu I think of the difference between the natural and the natural that has been altered by man. Moby Dick, in the fictional story by Herman Melville, tells of a wild, adventurous creature untamed by man. Shamu was the first Killer Whale to live over 13 months in captivity and lived a life limited to entertaining people from a tank. This life of Shamu and a Nation's love for the whale says a lot about our National pysche. We have, in many ways, become more interested in appearances than actual reality. While we may think Shamu lives a wonderful life, no one has ever asked the opinion of Shamu.
Now I turn to the church. The church is supposed to live a free, unhindered life of following the Lord. The church is to be a people dedicated to swimming in the waters of the freedom of redemption with a passion for bringing the lost and bound into a place of freedom that only Jesus can bring. The church of the New Testament had this Spirit-controlled primitive temperament and even a little wildness about it. It was unpredictable to man, although under the control of the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts displays an activated church going throughout society winning the lost and bringing them to a place of learning to swim the wonderful waters of the Kingdom of God. They never knew what would lie around the next corner. Today much of the Church looks more like Shamu than Moby Dick. It has been captured and has become satisfied with simply living in the tank and performing. It often seems unaware of the world outside. We were never intended to live in the bondage of programs and methods. As leaders our job is to train and equip our people to swim with the currents of the Holy Spirit and learn to relate to and win the lost. Once a person swims with whales in the wild, Sea World won't be very impressive.
When I think of Moby Dick vs. Shamu I think of the difference between the natural and the natural that has been altered by man. Moby Dick, in the fictional story by Herman Melville, tells of a wild, adventurous creature untamed by man. Shamu was the first Killer Whale to live over 13 months in captivity and lived a life limited to entertaining people from a tank. This life of Shamu and a Nation's love for the whale says a lot about our National pysche. We have, in many ways, become more interested in appearances than actual reality. While we may think Shamu lives a wonderful life, no one has ever asked the opinion of Shamu.
Now I turn to the church. The church is supposed to live a free, unhindered life of following the Lord. The church is to be a people dedicated to swimming in the waters of the freedom of redemption with a passion for bringing the lost and bound into a place of freedom that only Jesus can bring. The church of the New Testament had this Spirit-controlled primitive temperament and even a little wildness about it. It was unpredictable to man, although under the control of the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts displays an activated church going throughout society winning the lost and bringing them to a place of learning to swim the wonderful waters of the Kingdom of God. They never knew what would lie around the next corner. Today much of the Church looks more like Shamu than Moby Dick. It has been captured and has become satisfied with simply living in the tank and performing. It often seems unaware of the world outside. We were never intended to live in the bondage of programs and methods. As leaders our job is to train and equip our people to swim with the currents of the Holy Spirit and learn to relate to and win the lost. Once a person swims with whales in the wild, Sea World won't be very impressive.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Tiffany Joiner Update:
Everywhere I travel the first question people usually ask is, "how is Tiffany"? I have tried not to overload you with reports but it has been awhile now and many are continuing to ask. I thought I would write an update as a blog entry this week.
First, some who may not know(I still find a few who aren't aware), my daughter Tiffany fell from her balcony at her apartment in Dubai in December of 2008. The fall shattered a vertebrae in her back, damaging her spinal cord and leaving her with a diagnosis of paraplegia. The official definition of paraplegia is "paralysis characterized by motor or sensory loss in the lower limbs and trunk." Although much healing has taken place, she is left with some paralysis from the waist down. Since then she has gone through several months of rehab in Dubai, California and most recently Spain. In December she developed an infection in the toes on one foot that became so serious that amputation was a possibility. That meant she had to stop all therapy and go to bed taking strong antibiotics for about 6 weeks. While the infection was treated successfully, the result was a loss of mobility that had been gained during the 6 weeks of bed rest. Not only did she lose mobility, her feet and toes became twisted. She was once again forced to return to the wheelchair.
She underwent surgery on both feet on May 19 in Miami to cut and extend the Achilles tendons on both feet to allow them to once again stand flat on the floor. They also performed a "flap" procedure on the right foot to force the foot to turn back inward to a forward facing direction. The toes on the right foot were also turning outward and pins were inserted to correct that as well. Today she returned to the surgeon. The bandages were removed, stitches removed and her right foot was put in a cast and her left in a hard boot. The cast will be on for 4 weeks after which therapy will resume. The situation has been difficult at every turn but now she faces having to start all over again with therapy in order to get back where she was a year ago.
Tiffany's attitude has been extraordinary! I am very proud of how she has handled this ordeal. As a matter of prayer, please continue to pray for great grace upon her life. Pray for healing to flow to the feet. Of course, we need a creative miracle for the spinal cord. Spinal cords don't heal or mend themselves as other parts of the body so that is why I say "a creative miracle".
All of you have been "family" to us in every way through this last year and a half. God has been so faithful to meet every need and beyond. Thank you. His grace is sufficient.
Everywhere I travel the first question people usually ask is, "how is Tiffany"? I have tried not to overload you with reports but it has been awhile now and many are continuing to ask. I thought I would write an update as a blog entry this week.
First, some who may not know(I still find a few who aren't aware), my daughter Tiffany fell from her balcony at her apartment in Dubai in December of 2008. The fall shattered a vertebrae in her back, damaging her spinal cord and leaving her with a diagnosis of paraplegia. The official definition of paraplegia is "paralysis characterized by motor or sensory loss in the lower limbs and trunk." Although much healing has taken place, she is left with some paralysis from the waist down. Since then she has gone through several months of rehab in Dubai, California and most recently Spain. In December she developed an infection in the toes on one foot that became so serious that amputation was a possibility. That meant she had to stop all therapy and go to bed taking strong antibiotics for about 6 weeks. While the infection was treated successfully, the result was a loss of mobility that had been gained during the 6 weeks of bed rest. Not only did she lose mobility, her feet and toes became twisted. She was once again forced to return to the wheelchair.
She underwent surgery on both feet on May 19 in Miami to cut and extend the Achilles tendons on both feet to allow them to once again stand flat on the floor. They also performed a "flap" procedure on the right foot to force the foot to turn back inward to a forward facing direction. The toes on the right foot were also turning outward and pins were inserted to correct that as well. Today she returned to the surgeon. The bandages were removed, stitches removed and her right foot was put in a cast and her left in a hard boot. The cast will be on for 4 weeks after which therapy will resume. The situation has been difficult at every turn but now she faces having to start all over again with therapy in order to get back where she was a year ago.
Tiffany's attitude has been extraordinary! I am very proud of how she has handled this ordeal. As a matter of prayer, please continue to pray for great grace upon her life. Pray for healing to flow to the feet. Of course, we need a creative miracle for the spinal cord. Spinal cords don't heal or mend themselves as other parts of the body so that is why I say "a creative miracle".
All of you have been "family" to us in every way through this last year and a half. God has been so faithful to meet every need and beyond. Thank you. His grace is sufficient.
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