Christians and democracy

Tomorrow is election day. I plan on voting along with other Americans for the person I think is the best candidate for President and for other offices in our government. I have already made my decision and I doubt it will change before I go to the polls tomorrow. I hope that each of you will go to the polls and vote. But this post is not really about voting, although that is an important aspect of life in America. What I want to write about is how the church has become so entangled with the state. No I do not believe in a "wall" between the two, but I do have a problem with the current state of mind of many in the church. The problem is how we in the church have not fulfilled our responsibility to follow the great commission. What I mean is that we can not expect to legislate morality or ideals, but we need to help change the hearts of people. If we as the church would work to win the lost, and disciple those we win, then this would be a very different country. If we, the church, were about the kings business, instead of worrying about legislation, we would not need the legislation. God would rule in the hearts of men and America would be a different nation. So please vote, but also share Christ with someone you know.

Election 2008

It's hard to believe that in is just a little more than two weeks
we will be electing the next President of the United States. Not only that but if I remember correctly the entire Congress, that's House and Senate, are up for election this year. Needless to say this is an important election. I like you am concerned over the economy, my parents lived through the Great Depression, and I don't want to go there. I am concerned about our troops and our national security. Like you, I am also concerned about the environment, and how we have failed to really be good stewards of what God has blessed us with. But who do you vote for? That is the question! To be perfectly honest there are things about each candidate that I like. But then there are also things about each candidate that I don't like. So again I ask, "Who do you vote for?"

Well this is not an endorsement for either side. It is a plea for each of us to take time to really pray and seek God in this situation. Ask him who it is that we should put into office. I don't mean a sentence here or there in a prayer, but intense, heartfelt seeking after the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the voting booth. This is an important election, I know you hear it each election year, but I do believe that this election will shape our country for years, if not decades into the future. So I ask you to pray and not to vote because you have always voted for one party or the other. Don't vote for the best speaker, or the war hero, or the tax break guy, or the taxer, vote for the person that God leads you to vote for. That is all I ask, and I think that is what God is asking of us as well.

100 Years

This past Sunday the Church of the Nazarene celebrated the 100th Anniversary of its founding. While I know there are many who oppose denominations and separation, I was excited to participate. I do believe that there are things about denominations that have been detrimental, but that is not what I want to discuss here. I want to express here why I am a Nazarene and why I am excited that the Church of the Nazarene exists.

The thing that makes the Nazarene's different from most other churches is their teaching of holiness and sanctification. I grew up in a different theological tradition and I always struggled with the idea of holiness and sin. On the one hand I was taught that I should be holy because God was holy. Then on the other hand I was taught that I would sin everyday. I was taught that I was covered by the blood, and so when God saw me he saw the blood, not my sin. The idea of being changed and a new person, was taught but if I sinned how could I be considered a new person. All of these questions battled within me. Now the Nazarene's teach that you can be a new creation in Christ and that you don't have to live with sin in your life. The Holy Spirit can give you the power to overcome sin and not have to sin.

When I found the Church of the Nazarene, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. All of my questions were answered, and it all made sense. I am excited that the Church of the Nazarene exist and I pray that God will continue to bless it and help it grow to give this hope to others.

Family Time

We have always had dinner together as a family, except on rare occasions. Since I have had to take a job working in the evenings, we only get to have dinner together 2 or 3 times a week. It has been very strange for all of us, but it has made us appreciate the time we do have together. In a funny way it makes me wonder if God is trying to teach us to appreciate each other more. Yesterday I was thinking about how sometimes in the past I have taken my time together with my family for granted. Maybe in a strange sort of way I am learning to appreciate the limited amount of time I have with my family.

Secular -vs- Sacred

As a Christian I have compartmentalized my life sometimes into two different parts. The sacred and the secular. But is that really what life is supposed to be. Isn't our whole life supposed to be sacred. Or dedicated to the sacred. Well as some of you know I recently began working at a national pharmacy chain since losing my ministry position. Some of the things we sell I don't use and I am concerned about those who do. We sell cigarettes, beer, wine and liquor. Some of the people show the signs of abuse and you wonder what are the needing in their lives? Well, I am not able to witness to them, but I do pray for them. I learned the practice of breath prayers during my studies and I practice that each time I sell some of these things. A breath prayer is a brief prayer that can be said basically in the time it takes to take a breath. I simple pray that God will show his love to this person and help them with whatever is affecting them in life. At times I even continue to pray after they leave, because I sensed a deep need in their life. No, I am not some super spiritual guy, but I have discovered a way to minister in my current situation. I do pray that God will show his grace to those who are suffering from some pain or hurt. Those who live without the hope of Christ. I hope that this experience is teaching me that my whole life is sacred and I need to know that my whole life should be one of ministry.