The Danger of Keeping Secrets

"We are as sick in the soul as the secrets we keep." –Paul Young, Author of The Shack

Recently, I heard Paul Young speak and he shared the above statement. I couldn't get away from this thought which I believe is true. In my 27 years of pastoral ministry, I have known people that have buried some secrets deep in their inward parts. On the outside they try to seem very normal to everyone and many try to convince themselves that their okay. But the soul is unhealthy, yes even sick. And there is only one remedy according to God's Word...confession.

You got to get the secrets out. It might almost kill you but you got to get them out. God is saying “I have been here the entire time. Nothing will separate me from you! Nothing will separate me from my love.”

Wholeness starts with believing and then confession. Paul by the Holy Spirit wrote "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:8-10

What are we to believe and confess? The word of God. Believe and speak God's word about those secrets. Get the secrets out. The Bible says for us to confess our faults one to another. God has been there the whole time. He loves you and wants you to release the inner secrets to him so He can bring healing and wholeness to you.

Can I offer a antithesis to Paul Young's statement, "We are as sick in the soul as the secrets we keep?" I believe our soul prospers as we believe and confess the truth. Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth [that you know] shall make you free." John 8:32

-Pastor Randy

Monday Morning Funnies

Three preachers were driving down the road when they missed a turn and went into the ditch. As they pulled themselves together, a drunk pulled up and asked if they were all right.
"Oh, yes, Jesus is with us," one replied.
The drunk thought that over for a minute. "Well, you'd better let him get in with me, you're going to kill him!"

________________________________

Report from the Pastor Search Committee:

We do not have a happy report to give. We have not been able to find a
suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect.
Thank you for your suggestions. We have followed up on each one with
interviews or by calling at least three references. The following is our
confidential report.

ADAM: Good man but has problems with his wife. One reference told us how he
and his wife enjoyed walking nude in the woods.
NOAH: Former pastorate of 120 years with no converts. Prone to unrealistic
building projects.

JOSEPH: A big thinker, but a braggart; believes in dream interpreting and
has a prison record.
MOSES: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator; even stutters at times.
Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly in business meetings. Some say he
left an earlier church over a murder charge.

DEBORAH: One word --- Female.
DAVID: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he
had with his neighbor's wife.

SOLOMON: Great preacher, but serious woman problem.
ELIJAH: Prone to depression; collapses under pressure.
HOSEA: A tender and loving pastor, but our people could never handle his
wife's occupation.

JONAH: Told us he was swallowed up by a great fish. He said the fish later
spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.
AMOS: Too much of a country hick. Backward and unpolished. With some
seminary training, he might have promise; but he has a hang-up against
wealthy people.

JOHN: Says he is a Baptist, but doesn't dress like one. May be too
Pentecostal. Tends to lift both hands in the air to worship when he gets
excited. You know we limit to one hand. Sleeps in the outdoors, has a weird
diet, and provokes denominational leaders.
PETER: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper, even said to have cursed. He's a
loose cannon.

PAUL: Powerful CEO type and fascinating preacher. However, he's short on
tact, unforgiving with young ministers, harsh, and has been known to preach
all night.
TIMOTHY: Too young.

JESUS: Has had popular times, but once when his church grew to 5000, He
managed to offend them all; and his church dwindled down to twelve people.
Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he is single.
JUDAS: His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good
connections. Knows how to handle money. We're inviting him to preach this
Sunday in view of a call.

_________________________________


Struggling to make ends meet on a first-call salary, the pastor was livid when he confronted his wife with the receipt for a $250 dress she had bought. "How could you do this?!"
"I was outside the store looking at the dress in the window, and then I found myself trying it on," she explained. "It was like Satan was whispering in my ear, 'You look fabulous in that dress. Buy it!'" "Well," the pastor replied, "You know how I deal with that kind of temptation. I say, 'Get behind me, Satan!'" "I did," replied his wife, "but then he said, 'It looks fabulous from back here, too!'"

_______________________________

A preacher said to a farmer, "Do you belong to the Christian family?" "No." said he, "they live two farms down."

"No, I mean are you lost?" "No, I've been here thirty years."

"I mean are you ready for Judgment Day?"

"When is it?" "It could be today or tomorrow."

"Well, when you find out for sure when it is, you let me know. My wife will probably want to go both days!"

____________________________________


Thats all! Make it a great week! Hope to meet you here tomorrow.

-Pastor Randy

Sunday Wrap Up

It was a happy 88th Anniversary today at Kings Point. Ron and Christy Thomas and their daughters, Natalie, and Hillary were back with us today on homecoming. They are a beautiful family. Ron did a powerful job preaching God's message to us this morning. It looked great seeing all those families at the altar praying together. Good crowd this morning. I think we are beginning to get most of our people back from the summer exodus.

Next weekend is the men's God Encounter weekend. I am really excited about the men that are coming this fall. All the guys I know that are coming are very serious about having an encounter with God Almighty. That's really what we want...not just men who want to "do God for a weekend" but men who come seeking a "life-changing weekend" with Abba, Father.

The dinner today was a nice time of fellowship. After just a little while at home, we headed to Princeton Pike for a service featuring In Stereo and a message from Tom Madden, the Church of God Int'l Youth Director. It was a wonderful time of worship with several different churches coming together for a conclusion to the Princeton Pike's Youth Weekend.

Well, have a great week everyone!

-Pastor Randy

Some Staturday Insights

It's a little late but I'm getting it in before I go to bed tonight. It has been a long day. Rarely, do I get a Saturday to do yard work but I had no choice today. I still had a lot of clean up to do from the winds last week. Thankfully, I think I got caught up today even though I have more to do Monday in trying to get ready for the winter.

Debbie Kilburn came home from the hospital today. She is still in a great deal of pain and ask for us to pray that the pain subside. She also ask her church body to pray for peace and that the Lord give her the strength and grace "carry her cross."

Tomorrow is homecoming Sunday. When I was growing up in the church homecoming Sunday was a big day. The service, the dinner, and the fellowship was something to look forward too. I hope you will allow your kids to experience all of that tomorrow. Please come prepared to join us at Little Miami for the dinner at around 1 pm. Bring a covered dish and the church will provide the chicken. Take some time and get to know some people that you may not know very well. Show yourself friendly to everyone. Too many friends is something that you cannot have.

We are encouraging everyone that will to go with us tomorrow night to Princeton Pike. They will have special singing along with special guest speaker, Tom Madden. It will be a great service. It's an opportunity to join with another church and worship together! I hope you will go!

Come on, let's worship God like crazy tomorrow!

-Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown - "God is Still King of the Floods"

Hello everyone! Check out the article below. I concur. We need to get our financial and our spiritual house in order...now! Churches need to get theirs in order as well. What's going on on Wall Street will effect main street and then will be visiting your street and mine. Are we ready?

-Pastor Randy

GOD IS STILL KING of THE FLOODS
-by David Wilkerson (Sep 15).

The Psalmist writes, "The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods
have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves" (Psalm 93:3).
The floods represent the rising waters of afflictions, the overwhelming
crises that are coming on the earth affecting multitudes. This is
the flood of unemployment, housing nightmares, ever-growing
financial difficulties. We now face a great flood of fear and confusion
about what to do to survive the storm.

It tears my heart to have a single mother stop me on the street
weeping, "Pastor, what am I going to do? I lost my job, and I may
lose my apartment. I have nothing to live on. Where will I go?"
Top-level executives are being laid off with no warning. Workers
tell me they see bosses crying at their desks, asking, "What will
I do? I'm broke. What about my mortgage? I have no benefits."

Some terrible things are happening, even to some of the godliest
believers. I ask God, "Lord, what do I tell them? They are in the
flood." I know these saintly people pray and read God's Word.
Indeed, they have learned to trust the Lord. But now their faith is
being tested to the limit. I get calls from some who are soon to
lose everything. I can't just give these people a pep talk and a
few Scriptures and ask them to cheer up. I am not suffering the
way they are. I still get paid, and I am not in danger of losing my
home.

I ask you, please, hear my heart as I say this: The time is not far
away before we all will be deeply affected by the economic flood
coming to the whole world. Great trials are ahead for all of us who
deeply love the Lord. Here is what I am led to do by the Holy Spirit.
I ask it of my family, all of whom work with the church body. I urge
you to pray to see if the Lord is leading you to do the same: No
more buying of luxuries. Cut all spending except absolute
necessities. Sell every unneeded item. Turn it to cash and give it
to ministries to the poor and needy. Downsize as much as possible.
Be willing to let it all come to this: "Having food and raiment
[covering], let us be therewith content" (1 Timothy 6:8).

Build up your faith by reminding the Lord daily of his promises:
"The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for
ever" (Psalm 29:10). "In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me
never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness" (Psalm 31:1).

In Christ,

David Wilkerson

God is Rewarding our Prayer & Fasting

Thank you so much to the KP family for your prayers regarding those that have been seriously ill recently. I received an e-mail from our missionary, Arlene Miller, this week. Presently, she is doing well enough physically to be leaving for Chile in a couple of weeks. All of her medical tests have come back with good reports except for the Vitamin D deficiency. She is slowly gaining weight and feeling better. She still needs our prayers however for wellness in her body as she travels to Chili.

She has young missionaries there in training waiting for her. These missionaries are also trying to raise budgets so they go to the field. Arlene will be working with these missionaries as well as teaching in the Church of God bible school in Chili.

Please continue to remember Debbie Kilburn in your prayers. She maybe coming home Saturday if her pain eases. As of today she is in a great deal of pain, please continue to pray and fast for her. Also, remember Mike as well as the entire family. Mike lost a good friend this week, Larry Christenberry, to cancer and he needs our prayers.

Finally, remember Phyllis Titus as well. She came through a successful surgery Tuesday. Remember her husband Bob as you pray and their family.

There are many others that are fighting sickness and disease. Remember Jewell Brandenburg, Carole Clark, Grace Davis, David Moore, and others that I know I can't remember at the present.

I took two days this week and took care of my dad while my mom got away and rested. Lets remember one another in prayer, especially those in our congregation who care for their love ones. God certainly does give us the ability to love them with the love of Christ.

-Pastor Randy

Operation Compassion is in Full Swing

The Church of God has one of the greatest relief ministries in America called "Operation Compassion." Recently, KP sent an offering to help relief efforts in the southwest part of the country. Below, I have provided a brief follow-up on how Operation Compassion is ministering to the victims of Hurrican Ike. If you can send an offering...any kind of offering...it will make a great difference!
___________________________

Ike’s five hundred mile diameter provided more than enough energy and power to leave much of the Texas Gulf coast a wasteland. However, within hours after Ike hit, Operation Compassion had volunteers and two semis of food and water on the ground preparing for a massive relief effort. Many survivors went to City Hall to find assistance with basic food and water. Because of the destruction, city hall was unprepared for the onslaught of survivors. As Operation Compassion showed up, we were greeted with appreciation and gratitude.

Our volunteers starting distributing food and water and twelve hours later, at 2:30 a.m., we had finished our first distribution to 1,500 cars containing multiple families. By 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, the line of cars was more than three miles long. When our second distribution concluded on Tuesday afternoon, thirty-six hours following Ike’s landfall, Operation Compassion had distributed food and water to 5,000 multi-family cars.

On Wednesday, Operation Compassion opened a second distribution site located at the Spirit of Light Church in Pasadena, TX pastured by Greg Casto. Volunteers, chaplains, God’s Pit Crew along with their heavy equipment were preparing for distribution, clean up and repair. We have a box truck that will serve as a roving distribution point, supplying churches in various communities. This type of distribution assists families that are unable to come to a central location.

Operation Compassion has delivered and distributed fourteen semis of products and supplies to the survivors of Ike. Currently there are an additional ten semis en route. By Saturday, one week after Ike made landfall, Operation Compassion will have delivered twenty-four semis to the Houston-Galveston area.

In addition to Operation Compassion, God’s Pit Crew has arrived on scene to assist residents remove trees and debris. In addition, GPC will assist residents with roof and minor repairs to help make their homes livable. GPC is a volunteer group that gives of their time, talent and resources to help storm survivors pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

Also, assisting is the Church of God Chaplains. They are a special group of men and women trained in disaster counseling. They will be on site to listen to the horrific stories that each of these survivors will tell. Each survivor has gone through a terribly traumatic experience and will need a friendly ear to share their unique stories.

With the destruction along the Gulf Coast, many have forgotten the damage and loss of life in the Caribbean. Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic were all hit hard by the storms. Haiti was probably hit the hardest suffering damage from four of the tropical systems in the Atlantic. Hundreds are dead, thousands are without homes and countless are struggling to find food and water for survival. In fact, it has been reported that there is no longer any bottled water on the island unless it is shipped.

Currently, Operation Compassion has sent fifty semis of disaster relief goods, including bottled water and food. There are sixty-two semis en route, including ten semis of food, thirty semis of assorted beverages and twenty-two semis of tents that will house 160,000 people (40,000 tents). These products were given specifically for overseas distribution through our disaster network.

Operation Compassion needs your help to continue this massive disaster relief effort across the Caribbean and in the United States. Please help us help them! Give today!

Please send your donations to or contact:

Operation Compassion
David Lorency, President
Tim Burdashaw, International Operations Coordinator
Lisa Boen, International Logistics Coordinator

114 Stuart Road, NE Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 Office
423.728.3958 Fax
www.operationcompassion.org

Me? I go to church...

I pulled this out of my "illustrations/stories" file. I don't know who authored it, but it's pretty right on. Jeremiah prophesied something very similiar below. What's the message here...read it, you will figure it out!

Jer 7:3-4, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.
Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, [are] these."


In 1973 The Supreme Court said it was ok to kill unborn babies. Since then, we have killed more than the entire population of Canada. And it continues. A woman's choice? Half of those who have died in their mothers' wombs have been women. They didn't have a choice. It is called abortion.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home.
That's what Christians do now.

First, it was in dingy, dirty theaters. Then, convenience stores. Then, grocery stores. Then on television. Now it is in the homes of millions via the Internet. It is called pornography.
Me, I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home.
That's what Christians do now.

They call it no-fault. Why should we blame anyone when something so terrible happens. Haven't they already suffered enough? Half of the marriages in America end this way. The children suffered. The family broke down. It is called divorce.
Me, I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home.
That's what Christians do now.

At one time it was a perversion. We kept it secret. We secured help and hope for those who practiced it. Now it is praised. We have parades celebrating it, and elected officials give it their blessing. Now it is endowed with special privileges and protected by special laws. Even some Christian leaders and denominations praise it. It is called homosexuality.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home.
That's what Christians do now.

It used to be an embarrassment. A shame. Now a third of all births are to mothers who aren't married. Two-thirds of all African-American children are born into a home without a father. The state usually pays the tab. That is why we pay our taxes, so that government can take the place of parents. After all, government bureaucrats know much better how to raise children than parents do. It is called illegitimacy.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home.
That's what Christians do now.

At one time it was wrong. But then the state decided to legalize it, promote it and tax it. It has ripped apart families and destroyed lives. But just look at all the money the state has raised. No longer do we have to teach our children to study and work hard. Now we teach them they can get something for nothing. We spend millions encouraging people to join the fun and excitement. Just look at the big sums that people are winning. They will never have to work again!
It is called gambling.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home.
That's what Christians do now.

Not long ago, Christians were the good guys. But now any positive image of Christians in movies or on TV is gone. We are now depicted as the bad guys - greedy, narrow-minded hypocrites. The teacher can't have a Bible on her desk, but can have Playboy. We don't have Christmas and Easter holidays - just winter and spring break. We can't pray in school, but can use foul language. It's called being tolerant.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home.
That's what Christians do now.

Yes, all these things came to pass within 30 years. Where were the Christians?
Why, they were in church. All these things are for someone else to deal with. Times have changed. Involvement has been replaced with apathy.
But don't blame me. I didn't do anything. I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.

Monday Funnies

As you know I try to make Mondays a little lighter than most the other days. The greatest challenge in the Ballard household this fall has been teaching Annette the game of football. She drove me a little nuts with lots of questions the first couple games but she is grasping a better understanding of the game each week now. She still hasn't quite got the 4th down and punting thing, but she has learned "the higher you sit in the bleachers, the easier it is to follow the ball."

Anyway, she sent me this joke last week that I thought I would share it with you. I think she was proud that someone actually knew less than her about football. Of course, I have heard it a thousand times, but I played along anyway. No offense to blonds everywhere.

Make it a great week! -Pastor Randy


FOOTBALL AND THE BLONDE.....
>
> Out of all the blonde jokes, this one has to be the best!
>
> Football FINALLY makes sense..........
>
> A guy took his blonde girlfriend to her first football
> game. They had great seats right behind their team's
> bench. After the game, he asked her how she liked the
> experience.
>
> 'Oh, I really liked it,' she replied,
> but I just couldn't understand why they were killing each
> other over 25 cents.'
>
> Dumbfounded, her date asked, 'What do you mean?'
>
> 'Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then
> for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was:
> 'Get the quarterback! Get the quarterback!' I'm
> like...Helloooooo? It's only 25 cents!!!!

Sunday Wrap Up

What an awesome service we had this morning! Everything from the very beginning was just powerful. I experienced an unusual liberty and a greater anointing than usual as I ministered God's Word this morning. For you that couldn't be there, I preached on the things the Bible says will happen during the Great Tribulation period and the Rapture that will precede them. If you couldn't make it, I encourage you to listen to it when we put it on the 'sermon downloads.'

As you know, we had special prayer for Debbie Kilburn this morning. I appreciate all of you that stood committing yourself to pray and fast this week for Debbie's healing and their family. I heard today that Debbie had a really good day and possibly has turned a corner since Saturday morning. But please lets not let up on the prayer and fasting! "Isaiah 58:8 "Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side."

Tonight's service was great was well as we focused on "See You at the Pole" this Wednesday. I really appreciate all the youth that came tonight. We have some great kids who really loved God and are courageous in their faith. Please keep them in your prayers.

Thanks to everyone who ate at Wendy's today and supported our youth ministries. Remember next Sunday is our 88th anniversary. Again, we will have Gospel Sounds and Ron Thomas in the morning service. Bring a covered dish to Little Miami High School after service.

Have a great week!

-Pastor Randy

Some Saturday Thoughts

It doesn't get too much worse than the above blasphemous cartoon. Can you imagine this cartoonist criticizing a Muslim, a Buddhist, or even a Jew in such a blasphemous manner? Do you think he would get away with it? Absolutely, no way. He would be fired instantly and probably wouldn't work for another paper in the country. It seems to be open season on Christians, especially Pentecostals or Charismatics.

Nonetheless, I'm not complaining. The bible says "Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:10-16

As you probably know, the word "blessed" means happy, fulfilled, and prosperous. Remember that, when you see more of this kind of blasphemy in the media and it becomes more and more prominent in our culture. I am sure in the years ahead it will only grow worse...so I guess that means AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE GOING TO BE BLESSED A LOT!

Worship like crazy tomorrow! Give God your very best!

-Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown

Hello everyone! I trust you are fine today and anxious for the weekend. Most of us are still recovering from last weekend's winds. I drove over to Kettering yesterday and couldn't believe how many stoplights along 48 are still not working. Trees and limbs are down everywhere. We still have families in our church that are a part of of the 100,000 plus that are still without power. Lets keep these families in our prayers!

Please continue to remember Mike and Debbie Kilburn in your prayers. I visited with them yesterday and they desperately need the body of Christ interceding for them in their battle right now. Also, lets continue to pray for Phyllis Titus, Arlene Miller, Grace Davis, Mark Worley, and Jewell Brandenburg. Teresa Johnson's parents in North Carolina are going through a tough time and we need to pray for them as well.

I hope you are excited about your worship this weekend. I know that God is going to met with us in a special way in both services this Sunday. Please come expecting to give and receive. If you do that, you will leave His presence changed!

See ya!

-Pastor Randy

Once the Church is Gone...Look Out!!!

2 Thessalonians 2:4-8, "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:"

The verses above are making reference to the Antichrist or who the Apostle Paul earlier calls the "son of perdition." Yesterday, I looked at verses 1-3 which Paul wrote about a deception and a falling away that will come before the Antichrist makes his appearance. Undoubtedly, this is where we are at on God's prophetic calendar at the present...we stand on the brink of the appearance of the Antichrist. However, in v. 7, the Apostle speaks of something standing in the way from the Wicked (One) being revealed. What is that or He that is standing in the way?

It is my strong belief that it is the Holy Spirit working in today's church that is keeping the Antichrist at bay today. Once the church is taken out of the way as Paul puts it, the Antichrist will begin to exercise his authority and power on the earth.

How will the church be taken out of the way? The Apostle describes the "taking out of the way" which we call "the rapture" in I Thessalonians 4:15-17, "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Once the church is out of the way, darkness in every sense will prevail on the earth. Once the meat looses its saltiness or savor, mankind will "stink it up" pretty quick led by the big Stinker himself - the Antichrist. Will the Holy Spirit be gone also? The answer is "no." He will continue to be present on the earth but the church, the body of Christ, will not be present for Him to work in and through. The church dispensation age ends at the rapture. The redemptive light of Christ then will begin to shine upon Israel and the Jews scattered throughout the earth. The book of Revelation teaches us that 144,000 Jewish preachers will go forth preaching that Jesus is the Messiah throughout the world. Millions of Jews will come to Christ before Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth. Yes, the Antichrist will turn on the Jews, but God will rescue them.

All of this in the book of Revelation and other places throughout God's Word. I encourage you to study it so you can know what is and will be happening in the future. Jesus is coming! Are you ready?

-Pastor Randy

The Present Deception and Apostasy in America

2Th 2:1-3 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"

The Apostle Paul in writing to the church at Thessalonica believed that the Lord's return to earth was imminent even in his day. He reminds believers here of the hope of the coming of Christ. But as He does so, He warns them not to let any man deceive them and then goes on to say that the day of Christ's return will be prefaced by two things: 1) a great falling away (apostasy), and 2), and the revelation of the Antichrist (called here "the son of perdition").

Undoubtedly, we are living in a time of great deception. I am not just referring to religious deception, but a great deception is taking place in the mainstream of our culture today. If you listen to most people they do not think for themselves. Often, they are repeating the opinions or mainstream philosophies of the media (television, books, Internet, radio, music, etc.). These deceptive beliefs and philosophies of man soon war and crowd out the little truth (God's Word) that they might hear today. If we don't act on truth or be "doers" of the truth we hear, the bible tells us in the book of Hebrews that we "are hearers only" and that it leads to being deceived.

The modern deception of many in our culture is sadly leading to "a falling away" of believers adhering to sound doctrine and holy living. The evidence is everywhere around us. All throughout our country today church attendance is down. Most believers attend church one time a week where 25 years ago the average was well over two times per week. The average church attender gives less and less of their income today to their church and to missions. The average Christian family in evangelical churches only attend church 28 of the 52 weekends of the year in the America now. As far as doctrine, recently a study was published that shockingly showed that out of the most conservative Christians in America (the Evangelical movement) over 70 per cent believe that salvation is not through Jesus Christ alone...that there are other ways to be saved.

The church in America has not seen a great awakening or nationwide revival since the middle part of the 19th century to the early part of the 20th century. Since after the depression of the 1930's humanism and secularism have been growing at alarming rates in America feeding the "falling away" or apostasy in Christianity that we see today.

How will it end? The scripture tells us - the introduction to the world and the short rule of the man called the Antichrist.

Tomorrow, I will write more about this charismatic leader that will soon charm the entire world and tell you the one thing that is keeping him from making his appearance right now.

-Pastor Randy

Could the Conversion to the "Amero" Be Closer Than We Think?

The chances are good that most of are regular readers of this blog do not have access to the Internet for awhile. We still have hundreds of thousands of homes without electricity in the Cincinnati area due to 75 mile-an-hour hurricane force winds that moved through Sunday afternoon. Immediately after the storm the news reported that nearly one million homes were without power which set a record they said. Schools for most everyone are are out again today and there are still many businesses that are closed due to no electricity. There are gas lines at most gas stations that have gas as people are filling up for fear of a gas shortage. Trees are down everywhere...you can't buy a chainsaw anywhere. Here at the church, we had some roof damage due to the wind and a few trees uprooted. However, all in all we are doing pretty well compared to what the people in Texas and Louisiana are going through.

I really appreciate the KP church for giving liberally in our offering Sunday morning to the hurricane victims in the south. Little did we know that a few hours later we would experience just a little of what they have experienced. Lets keep them in our prayers.

On top of the inconvenience that we have here, one more big bank went under and AIG at the present is close to bankruptcy. Not to be a doomsayer but just being a realist...the U.S. is facing an economic crisis like we have never seen in our lifetime that will soon effect our way of life. You wonder how we are going to get out of this? I also wonder if there is not already a plan in place put together by government leaders that saw this coming a long time ago.

Undoubtedly, a part of the answer that you will be hearing about in the future is the conversion to the Amero. I have taught about this in some of my messages at KP but there is just too much information out there to ignore it. There is a website called amerocurrecncy.com that explains why the conversion to the Amero will happen and how it came about. I would encourage you to read the following and educate yourself on what is happening in our world. Of course, the Bible tells us where all this is headed and it looks like it is right here upon us. I have always said that one day when it comes down to it people taking the Mark of the Beast will do it gladly. People in our country worship their comfortable lifestyles and will do anything to maintain it. Of course, I think scriptures point to the rapture taking place before that happens. I encourage you to "watch and pray!" Be ready for we do not know the hour when Christ will come.

2Thessalonians 2:3-8 "Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:"

Amero Currency: One Union Under God? With Liberty?

This site is intended to make United States citizens aware of the advancement of the agenda to launch the nations of North America, including the U.S., into a continental union similar to the European Union.

The international work-in-progress, named the "Security and Prosperity Partnership Of North America (SPP)," has a broad scope. The program goal, according to a release by the White House Office of the Press Secretary, is "To enhance the competitive position of North American industries in the global marketplace and to provide greater economic opportunity for all of our societies, while maintaining high
standards of health and safety for our people, the United States, Mexico, and Canada will work together, and in consultation with stakeholders, to:

Improve Productivity
Reduce the Costs of Trade
Enhance the Quality of Life

Initially, these goals sound reasonable. However, upon inspection and understanding of the background of the movement, it becomes clear that, once fully implemented, the newly formed organization will usurp authority of the U.S., and redistribute power and wealth among the three North American nations.

The brain trusts behind the philosophies that laid the groundwork for the program, in its current and future forms, elaborate a broader view of economics and "sovereignty" that also redistribute economic and legislative powers.

According to the web site of the U.S. Senate, Robert Pastor--a former U.S. National Security Council director--discussing the SPP, testified:
NAFTA has failed to create a partnership because North American governments have not changed the way they deal with one another. Dual bilateralism, driven by U.S. power, continue to govern and irritate. Adding a third party to bilateral disputes vastly increases the chance that rules, not power,will resolve problems.

This trilateral approach should be institutionalized in a new North American Advisory Council. Unlike the sprawling and intrusive European Commission, the Commission or Council should be lean, independent, and advisory, composed of 15 distinguished individuals, 5 from each nation. Its principal purpose should be to prepare a North American agenda for leaders to consider at biannual summits and to monitor the implementation of the resulting agreements. It should be an
advisor to the three leaders but also a public voice and symbol of North America. It should evaluate ways to facilitate economic integration, producing specific proposals on continental issues such as harmonizing environmental and labor standards and forging a competition policy.

The U.S. Congress should also merge the U.S.-Mexican and U.S.-Canadian interparliamentary groups into a single “North American Parliamentary Group.”
Pastor goes further, suggesting (As the SPP defines) less emphasis on national border security:
"At the same time, our Task Force recommends that all three governments define and defend a continental perimeter."

He also goes so far as to define:
"The North American Council should develop an integrated continental plan for transportation and infrastructure that includes new North American highways and high-speed rail corridors. The United States and Canada should each develop national standards on weight, safety, and configuration of trucking and then negotiate with Mexico to establish a single set of standards."

Concluding his "Testimony Invited by the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee," Pastor states:
"The time has come for us to define a true North American Community. Our security and prosperity depend on it."

Some Saturday Insights

What a great time of prayer the men cell leaders had this morning. God has raised up some strong, spiritual male leaders at Kings Point. Besides our men cell leaders: Gerry Chess, Tim Johnson, Ken Brumfield, Frank Jones, and myself; we have several men who do a great job leading children and youth cells or Sunday School classes...Dakota Manning, Doug Taulbee, Tim Orr, Dave Dayton, and Jon Dayton. We also have faithful men who serve on our Pastor's Council such as Amos Money, Don Allen, Danny Flinders, and Mike Amburgy. We have other men who are active serving in the church but have chosen to prepare themselves even more by going through our School of Discovery (cell and leadership training) such as Chris McBeath, Jacob (Israel) Ross, Jeff Brumfield, and Brian Griffin. We also have John Bauer who leads our rescue mission ministry and Bob Dooley who assists John as well as other men who come and serve at the mission. James Garrett leads our senior adult ministry and has recently began a jail and prison ministry. Mark Bauer works in our bread ministry and serves in many other capacities especially through the winter months. We also have men who serve as ushers and greeters and who help in so many other ways.

In a day when men often are very passive and do not take an active role at home or in the church, God has blessed Kings Point with a group of great men who love God, their families, and their church. Please pray for our men leaders. Pray for our church and pray that God send even more laborers to work in His harvest.

See you in the morning!

-Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown

Well, the end of the work week has once again arrived. Congratulations, you made it! I hope you can get a little rest this weekend, have some time with your family, and some worship time with your God.

Come expecting a great time Sunday. I am really looking forward to our services Sunday. I believe God has given me a word from Him for both services. I encourage you to come ready to worship.

Please remember Debbie Kilburn in your prayers and her family. They are going through a tough time right now. Debbbie just recently learned she has to stay in the hospital for another week. Debbie really needs her church family to stand in the gap for her now.

Well, I'm making this a short one. I still have much to do tonight. See ya!

-Pastor Randy

Why We Do God Encounter Weekends

This is a quesiton that I hear from time to time. We have been holding encounter weekends now twice a year for five years. We have seen God heal, set free, save, put marriages back together, do miracles, and fill people with the power of the Holy Spirit. We have seen many people leave an encounter and never be the same.

We have seen them called into a ministry...some called to "preach the gospel." We have church groups come and those same people go back and revival break out in their churches...this happens a lot! We have seen people come planning on taking their life and leave filled with hope. We have seen people delivered of drugs, alcohol, sexual perversion, abusive behavior, and occultic practices. We have seen pastors come...lots of them...and forgive people that have hurt them and leave saying that "the encounter saved their ministry." We have witnessed pastors' wives come discouraged and ready to give up, but leave refreshed, renewed, and permanently changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. We have seen people come bitter and angry, and leave repentant and filled with peace and joy. We have seen as many as 50 to 75 people at a time receive the power of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. We have baptized hundreds after encounters in water.

We have many of our encounter participants go back to their local church and go through nine months of training to begin small group ministries. Through these small group ministries believers do evangelism and discipleship and often see people in their small groups begin small groups that evangelize and disciple. We have had several churches come and we were honored to train them in how to do encounters and how to start small group ministries in their churches. These churches now are doing the same with other churches.

Have you heard enough? This is why we hold God encounter weekends. Yes, there lots of work. Yes, we are have received criticism by some who think anything outside of a traditional worship service is not of God. Yes, encounter leaders are targeted by demonic attacks as well as our church body. But five years later we are still standing and its been worth it all!

-Pastor

Another Example of Why You Christians Must Excercise Discernment Today

Corina forwarded the following note from David Brickner out to several people including me. I thought it was important enough to put in today's blog. Jews for Jesus is a powerful ministry that Kings Point supports and gives too. It was in the spring of 2007 they last ministered in our church. Again, as I have been preaching and teaching lately, CHRISTIANS MUST EXERCISE DISCERNMENT TODAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE. Where does discernment come from? Hebrews 5:14 tell us "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

-Pastor Randy

A note from David Brickner by David Brickner
September 9, 2008

Last month I had the privilege of speaking at a large church in the small town of Wasilla, Alaska. At the time, few people outside of Alaska had heard of Wasilla; now almost everyone in America knows that it is the hometown of Sarah Palin, John McCain's Vice Presidential running mate. She not only grew up in Wasilla; she served as its mayor before being elected governor of Alaska. The Palins now attend the church where I spoke; in fact, during the second service the entire family stood before the congregation as their newborn son was dedicated to the Lord.

My message that morning from Matthew 23: 37-39, titled, "The Jerusalem Dilemma," made reference to sin and judgment, and the need for all people, both Jews or Gentiles, to repent and seek forgiveness through Y'shua. I pointed to the many conflicts and tragedies that we hear about daily on the news, as evidence that the whole world is suffering the effects of sin and stands under God's judgment; that we all need the grace and forgiveness of God found only in Christ. These are no more or less than basic tenets of the Christian faith. Then I spoke of God's great love for Israel and for the world, and shared the encouraging news of how many Israelis are now open to hearing about Jesus.

Once Mrs. Palin's candidacy as vice-president was announced, my message became a matter of sudden public interest. A blogger on Politico.com quickly tore a small portion of the message out of context and twisted my words into something ugly and hurtful:

"Brickner also described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God's 'judgment of unbelief' of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity."

That is not what I said and it is certainly not my belief.

However, this misinterpretation of my beliefs became fodder for the media's reporting. Scores of news reports online, in print and on TV have repeated Politico's fabrication as fact without further scrutiny, sometimes even furthering the distortion. Typical of this was political pundit Rachel Maddow, as she criticized Sarah Palin in an exchange with Chris Matthews. The following was taken from NBC's national coverage of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

Maddow: Jews for Jesus founder [was] speaking at her church while she was there two weeks ago making incredibly, incredibly out of line comments about Israel and Jewish people. Saying that's why Israel was subject to terrorist attacks. It was God's judgment for not believing in Christ.
Matthews: What's the source?
Maddow: Politico.com

Some reports have even mistaken me for Sarah Palin's pastor, further comparing me to Jeremiah Wright who was Barak Obama's pastor. Last Saturday yet another story has come out in "The New York Times." As a result, I was interviewed by MSNBC News the following day.

I recognize that I am not the real target of this scrutiny; Sarah Palin is. By the time you read this, the whole story may have blown over for me and for Jews for Jesus, with the media moving on in search of other issues that might color people's view of all four presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Nevertheless, here are a couple of my reflections on the events of the past few days.

First, it is amazing how ready people are to believe a false report. Numerous friends and colleagues wrote to ask me if these reports were true. I'm sure it never would have occurred to them to think I would think or say such things if they had not seen them in print. How much quicker will strangers be to assume the views attributed to me were truthful? This experience has confirmed the old adage: you can't always believe what you read in the press.

I am certainly grateful for the institution of free speech and a free press. Jews for Jesus has relied on those freedoms as we proclaim the gospel. But freedom of speech can also be abused with deathly cruelty. For example, Raymond Donovan, President Ronald Reagan's first Secretary of Labor, was the victim of a long campaign of rumors and innuendo, which led to criminal prosecution. After incurring legal bills in excess of a million dollars, Donovan was acquitted of all charges. When he emerged from the courtroom, reporters swarmed around him vying for his comment. In response, Donovan posed the poignant question, "Where do I go to get my reputation back?"

Proverbs 18:21 tells us, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." How true! Words that roll off this two-ounce slab of muscle and mucous membrane have an inordinate capacity to affect lives. Consider for example, the speeches of Nazi miscreant Adolf Hitler, contrasted with those of statesman Winston Churchill, during the Second World War. Both were eloquent orators. Hitler, on one side of the Channel, used his words to lead a nation into devilish crimes against humanity. Winston Churchill, on the other side of the Channel, used his rhetorical skill to lead a nation to the highest and most noble sacrifice, to England's credit in her finest hour.

We need to be discerning about what we listen to and what we are quick to believe. The Talmud asks, "Why do human fingers resemble pegs?" and then answers, "So that if one hears something unseemly, one can plug one's fingers in one's ears" (Ketuvot 5b).

We need to be especially discerning when it comes to negative or critical remarks, because those are the ones that people love to repeat. Bertrand Russell once dryly observed that no one ever gossips about another's secret virtues.

Second, I am grateful that God can use almost anything to further His work and to get out the gospel. Case in point: the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) is a wire service for the Jewish print world, much like the Associated Press is for secular publications. The JTA released an article titled, "McCain team: Palin rejects views of church's Jews for Jesus speaker" in which they repeated the distortions of my views. However, they also provided a link to my entire sermon, both the transcript and the audio version. Anyone who chooses to check the source by reading or listening to this message is going to hear the Good News.

I will never avoid the subject of sin and its consequences, but my message says more about God's love in Christ than it does about judgment. Here is one brief excerpt:

"And so all of the controversy that we see swirling in Jerusalem is really a mirror that the world looks into to see the controversy within. The Jerusalem Dilemma is the Wasilla Dilemma; it's the dilemma of the human heart. And so it's important for us to notice Jesus' response to this unbelief, this rejection.

"'How often I've longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.' And Jesus says 'Come under My wings, O Jerusalem. There's a place of grace that I want to establish for you in spite of your unbelief.'

"And so committed was Jesus to that place of grace that not many days after He said this, He stretched out His arms on a cruel cross and shed His blood to pay the penalty for your sin and for mine. But because of who He is—because He is the Messiah, the Anointed One of God—death could not hold Him, and the grave could not keep Him, and He rose again from the grave. And now that same resurrection power of God is available to be applied to the lives of all those who trust Him, in Jerusalem and around the world. That is the answer to the Jerusalem Dilemma, the dilemma of unbelief—the mercy and grace of God, this place of grace that whosoever will may come under and find God's forgiveness."

You can read or listen to the entire message at our website if you like. Please pray that many people, especially unbelievers, will do so. May this be God's way of getting His gospel message out far beyond Wasilla!

Just Some Tuesday Thoughts

My day started off with cell this morning at Bob Evans. We had a great time in the Word and my pancakes were delicious. From there I moved on to our staff meeting at the church. We met and discussed lots of church stuff and then went to the sanctuary for a powerful time of prayer. KP is blessed with a staff of prayer warriors. I really enjoy our times of prayer together!

I went to visit Debbie Kilburn this afternoon. Carlos and Doris Profitt were there visiting as well. They are two of our many seniors that are really good at visiting the sick in our church. We too had a wonderful time of fellowship and prayer. Please keep praying for the Kilburn family.

Annette, Gabe, and I actually had an evening home tonight which is very rare this time of the year. Gabe and I played some playstation II soccer before he went to bed. I actually won a game by score of 3-1. He wins 99% of the time and most the time I don't even score. But I guess I had the skill tonight.

As most of you know, McCain and Palin were in Lebanon today. I heard there was a great crowd to see them. Of course, it was all over the national news tonight. I am really praying for Serah Palin. She is a pentecostal girl with a solid Christian faith. I am wondering if she isn't a modern day Esther that God is raising up in these last days. We sure need a move of God as a nation. I don't think it is coming about by revival services sweeping from church to church. I sincerely believe that if we as God's people pray and fast, God will save our nation from self-destruction. But please lets pray for our government officials and all the presidential candidates.

1Ti 2:1-3 "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour

-Pastor Randy

Monday Funnies

You have probably seen these before, but they are good even a second time. Make it a great week! -Pastor Randy

Q: How many charismatics does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Ten...One to change the bulb and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness!

Q: How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. God has predestined when the light will be on. Calvinists do not change light bulbs. They simply read the instructions and pray the light bulb will be the one that has been chosen to be changed.

Q: How many TV evangelists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One. But the light might go out if you don't mail your donation today!

Q: How many liberal Lutheran theologians does it take to change a light bulb?
A: At least 10, because they need to debate whether the light bulb exists. If they agree upon the bulb's existence, they might refrain from changing it to avoid alienating those who use other forms of light.

Q: How many independent fundamentalist Christians does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Only one. Any more might result in too much cooperation.

Q: How many Catholics does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. They prefer candles!

Sunday Wrap Up

It was another great Sunday of worship! James Garrett and I started out early this ministering at the Warren Country Correctional Institute. What a great time of worship we experienced. Chaplain Turner, a precious little fireball of a lady, does a wonderful job pastoring hundreds of men there at the Center. We were blessed to be able to go and worship and fellowship with these men.

Then, of course, our worship service at Kings Point was super! Followed by a wonderful time of fellowship at our picnic. I went to the hospital to be with the Kilburn family, but made it back in time to enjoy the last hour of the picnic. I want to thank Arley and Marcia Jett for once again making their home available to us. What a beautiful place they have along with their wonderful hospitality made for a great day of fun and fellowship. Mark Bauer and Mike Amburgy won the cornhole tournament this year. Congratulations!

Please remember Debbie Kilburn, Mike, and the children. They need our prayers right now. We love them and are believeing God for Debbie's complete healing!

Make it a great week!

-Pastor

Some Saturday Insights

Hello everyone! I had a trying today yesterday physically and wasn't able to do the "Friday Countdown." The men prayed for me this morning without really knowing what was going on. I am believing God for healing and to take pain away. Thank you for your prayers also.

Our men will be registering men for the fall encounter tomorrow. I want to encourage men to go. Some of you haven't been in awhile and some of you have never attended. Some of you are struggling right now in your faith and you really need a weekend with God. I hope to see you there.

Tomorrow morning at 8 am I will be preaching to around 100 men at the Lebanon Correctional Center. I appreciate Brother James Garrett for giving me this opportunity. Please join me in prayer for this service.

I trust you are looking forward to worship tomorrow. I encourage you KPers to come ready to be and receive a blessing from the Father. I have been fasting today and I am expecting a great move of God tomorrow in our service. Rememeber, our picnic at the Jett's residence will follow our service. Of course, we will have great food, fellowship, and lots of fun. THe weather is suppose to be ideal. We will be drawing for teams for the cornhole tournament immediately following the dinner at the picnic. Bring lots of food and drinks, some comfortable clothes, and a Christlike spirit. It ought to be a great day!

-Pastor Randy

Whose Report Will You Believe? (A Testimony)

Will you believe the Lord's report...God's Word? Or, will you believe the report of another? We used to sing a chorus called "Whose Report Will You Believe?"

Today, I visited with Debbie Kilburn in the hospital. Last night she called me after an exploratory surgery and shared with me the result of the procedure. It was not good. Without getting into it, it was a very negative report, full of fear and death. However, Debbie did not react in fear but in faith. After I hung up the phone, I shared with Annette the result of the report that was given to Debbie, but I also shared with Annette how Debbie was still full of faith and trust in the Lord's report.

When I went to visit her today, I was greeted with something I did not expect. Debbie shared with me that her Oncologist after tucking in her child for bed decided she needed to come back to the hospital and talk to Debbie. So at around 12:00 midnight, she walked into Debbie's room and shared with her that she thought Debbie would be fine. She assured her that they did not see any tumors and she expected her to be okay. Now that was the report of the Lord that Debbie had held on too and was expecting to hear all along.

Please remember Debbie, Mike, and their family in your prayers. They are not out of the woods, yet. However, once again they have learned not to believe the report of the enemy. Keep believing, keep trusting, keep persevering in faith and hold on to the report of the Lord. It will be manifested..."and ye shall have it" saith the Lord.

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them]."

-Pastor

Activating Courage and Conviction in Today's Youth

The follow article is taken from an excerpt in my book "The Culture Crafters."

The Bible (Daniel 3) tells of a Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar, who once built an image of gold that was 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. He then made it law that whenever the music would begin, everyone in his kingdom would have to bow to this golden image. Shortly, after the decree went into effect, there were certain Chaldeans (Babylonians) who noticed that some of the Jewish young men who worked as government administrators were not bowing down to the golden image. Immediately these young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were reported to the King (Daniel 3:12).

King Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. Nebuchadnezzar then said to them “…is it true that you refuse to worship my god and to bow down to the gold statue I have set up?”
Before they could answer, the King reminded them of the consequences of their disobedience…they would be thrown into a blazing, fiery furnace. He then added, “Do you think there is any god that can save you?”

Even though the three young men had proven their loyalty to the King, they weren’t about to be intimidated or induced into worshipping an idol god. They replied, “If the God whom we serve is able to save us from the blazing furnace and from your power, then he will. But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty may be sure that we will not worship your god, and we will not bow down to the gold statue that you have set up."

Obviously, when Nebuchadnezzar heard their response, he lost it. The Good News Bible translation in Daniel 3:19 reads, he was so mad “…his face turned red with anger.” The only thing hotter than Nebuchadnezzar was the furnace that he had heated seven times hotter than normal. He then commanded the strongest soldiers in his army to take Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to throw them bound and fully dressed into the blaze of fire. The bible says the fire was so hot it burned to death the guards that threw them in.

The End, right? Wrong. What happened next horrified the King. He couldn’t believe his own eyes when he looked into the furnace. He said to his counselors, “Did we not throw three men bound into the middle of the fire?” The counselors agreed that it was three. “Behold!,” said Nebuchadnezzar, “I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and there is no harm among them. And the form of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

Certainly, Nebuchadnezzar had never seen the Son of God before. But to him, the fourth person in the fire looked like a son of a supernatural god or angel. He then moved closer to the fiery furnace and called out to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “…servants of the Most High God, come forth and come here.” The bible says the three Hebrew men came out from the middle of the fire unburned, with not even the scent of fire on them.

What was Nebuchadnezzar’s response? He had seen all he needed to see. He immediately sent out a new law throughout his kingdom. “…if anyone of any nation, race, or language speaks disrespectfully of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he is to be torn limb from limb, and his house is to be made a pile of ruins. There is no other god who can rescue like this."

To Bow or Not to Bow
Like Babylon’s Nebuchadnezzar, every culture has its image crafters. The devil operates through magnification and imagery. He deceives by magnifying things, ideas, or personalities to appear greater than what they really are. He has practiced this kind of deception from the very beginning when he said, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14). In John 8:44, Jesus calls Satan the father of all lies.

Kimberly Daniels in “Clean House – Strong House” says “Imagery is the production of mental images or sounds through erroneous perception arising from misrepresentation; closely related to hallucination, which is mental wondering…Imagery is only real if we receive it to be so. Jesus really has all power, and Satan has to operate with a counterfeit authority. The devil has been stripped of all power.”

Human beings since the beginning have created god-like images and desired that others would bow down to their image. Thankfully, in America we have never been forced by law to pay homage or give worship to other’s images. On the other hand, such laws are not needed when popular culture voluntarily bows before its adored icons.

Admittedly, the majority of the western church have neither discerned nor defied modern day image crafters. Instead, most Christians have blended in quite well, picking and choosing our battles carefully, usually dependent on whether or not it serves our best interests. In fact, for many contemporary Christians our rationale and response to the dilemma faced by the three Hebrew young men would probably be similar to the following:

Response A. "It depends on what you’re going through at the particular time you hear the music. If things are going well, you don’t bow. If the devil’s giving you a hard time and you decide to bow, don’t worry about it because God will forgive you and take you back any way."
Response B. "Whether or not we bow when the music is played depends on whom you are with at that given time. If it’s another Christian or a minister friend, then you bow as long as they bow. If you are in the company of an unbeliever, then it’s not necessary that you bow. You know, I don’t want to make a scene or make feel uncomfortable."
Response C. [a combination of A and B] "It depends on the situation or how I’m feeling. Sometimes, I bow and sometimes I don’t. It just depends!"

Yet, there’s a larger segment of the modern church today that doesn’t even think twice about not bowing. They have become used to the swearing, the sex, the violence, and the subtle or even obvious anti-Christian messages. It doesn’t bother them anymore. Sadly, they no longer “…preserve sound judgment and discernment…” as we are warned to do in Proverbs 3:21.

Unquestionably, the greatest challenge that faces the Western church today is teaching and training our children in how to engage popular culture without bowing to it’s images. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego met the challenge in spite of living in a pagan country. Is it possible for our children to do the same? Absolutely, but there are some basic Christian values practiced by these four Hebrew boys that must be modeled, taught, and accentuated by parents today. I will share these over the next few days. See ya back tomorrow!

The American Obsession

Just a little editorial here today. I am still recovering from Friday's oral surgery. But I wanted to share some thoughts with you about America's obsession with itself.

I am amazed at how self-centered the American media is. Most Americans don't have a clue of what is happening in the world today because the American media is obsessed with politics, sports, Hollywood, personalities, etc.

For instance, what is going on in Russia, China, Europe, and in the Middle East right now is impacting our present and will influence our future more so than most of what the media reports on a daily basis [this is not my opinion...read your bible]. We live in a global world that does not center around the U.S. anymore. The world has changed and in many ways it is moving on without us.

For example, if you could visit world-class cities outside the U.S., you would be amazed at the modern technology that is being used in many of the cities. Many of these cities in various countries are far more advanced than cities in the U.S. Many people in other countries don't spend their time coveting life in America anymore. They take great pride in their own culture with lifestyles they enjoy.

Is there anything wrong with the American media being obsessed with its own American culture? Not entirely, but as Christians we must have a general understanding of what is going on around the world in order to be able to discern the times and the seasons that we live in. The assault on Sept 11th, 2001, by Islamic Terrorists wouldn't have taken us by surprise if we would have just opened our eyes in the 90's and acknowledged the words and deeds of Islamic radicals toward our country. Nevertheless, our media and our government leaders were too caught up with the country's artificial prosperity to take seriously Islamic threats of hate and even bombings at the World Trade Center in the 90's.

My fear is our present self-absorbtion with ourselves will once again cause us to be blindsided in the future. But there is still time to wake up, shake ourselves, and see what is going on around us.

-Pastor Randy