Friday Countdown

Its been a great day! It's late and I should have written this this morning. But with Prayer Conference, the Tools Conference, and preparing for Sunday worship services...I'm fortunate to get it in now. But I hope that you have had a good day and you are ready for the weekend. We have a lot going on at the church this weekend begining with Prayer Conference tonight and the kids annual rock-a-thon.

Annette's father is staying with us this weekend. He and wife live in Tennessee near Pigeon Forge. They get up a few times a year and we are always glad to have them.

Please prayerfully approach this coming Sunday's worship services. Come hungry and thirsty. That is always the key to receiving from God. Even if you don't feel like worshipping, thats when you need to even press in more so. God God your best. He won't let you down!

Well, I;m going to bed. Have a great Saturday!

-Pastor

What Has Happened to our Country? #4 "A Weak, Prayerless Church"

Really, where you to start when it comes to answering the question "What Has Happened to our Country?" I have pointed so far to the decline of the family which undoubtedly is BIG. Secondly, I wrote about pluralism or "our worship of many gods" in America. Yesterday, I talked about the rise of individualism and I tried to describe how it is effecting our nation in many ways. These are all powerful contributors and these along with other factors are causing America to cease to be a great nation. But let me give you another one that maybe the greatest factor of them all.

#4 - A Weak, Prayerless Christian Church

Believe me, I am doing everything to see that this changes. But it's true, a weak church leads to a weak nation. As the church (God's people) in a nation goes, so goes the nation. Why is that? Because the church traditionally sets the standard for the nation's morals, ethics. Some today would say the government does that. But the founding fathers didn't believe that. Their moral convictions came from the preaching and teaching of the bible in their Christian churches. Those men took those Christian convictions and made them a part of America's founding principles written into our most basic foundational documents. In reality, the principles of God's Word through men who read and studied the bible has powerfully influenced our nation for nearly the first two hundred years.

But for nearly one hundred years now in America, there has not been a national revival in America. The last one at Azusa Street in Los Angeles was a part of a move of God that birthed the Pentecostal movement in the United States and was a major force in launching missionary efforts throughout the world. But over the last one hundred years the American church seemingly has taken a beating from humanism and lately, secularism in America. America's educational system especially, followed by the powerful influence of the media has become preachers and teachers for humanism and secularism without realizing it. Meanwhile, the church became more and more isolated and disconnected especially in the intellectual circles of our nation. In the infant years of our nation, our colleges and schools read and taught Judeo-Christian principles and they became mainstream in intellectual thought. Over the last fifty plus years, humanism as been the religion of the intellectuals and it has shaped and formed America's thoughts and philosophies now for two generations.

How does a weak, prayerless Christian Church change? 2 Chronicles 7:14, 15 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer [that is made] in this place."

Notice, what I put in bold. We, the church, must HUMBLE OURSELVES, PRAY AND SEEK GOD'S FACE (NOT JUST HIS HANDS OR WHAT GOD WILL DO FOR US), AND REPENT OF OUR WICKEDNESS. God says this is the beginning and then He will hear, forgive, heal. It's not too late! But it's 11:59 pm in America and we must pray like it...now!

-Pastor Randy

What's Happened to Our Country? (continued from last week's posts)

Continued from last week...more facts that help answer the question "What Has Happened to Our country?"

#3 - The Rise of Individualism in America

Individualism according to wikipedia.org is a moral, political, or social outlook that stresses independence, self-reliance and individual liberty. The tendency for a person to act without reference to others, particularly in matters of style, fashion or mode of thought.

I know that there are many people under thirty who might think that the American culture has always been characterized by individualism. But that's no so. Something has happened to our country in the last thirty plus years that has caused us to be more concerned about self then others. Maybe we should have saw this coming in the 70's when the best-selling paperback of the decade was "Looking out for Number One" and you could say that we as a people have been doing just that since that time. The consequences of such a rise in individualism has been a sexual revolution that has left us with a teenage sex crisis unlike we have never seen before; and with a cultural acceptance of adultery, homosexuality, pornography of all kinds, and sex education in our schools as early as kindergarten.

Individualism has also contributed to the millions of children that have been aborted since the 70's as well as the increase of divorce in America, corporate greed, drug addiction and alcoholism, and on and on. When self is exalted above everyone and everything else, its tentacles are endless and it's reach is limitless.

Not only do you see Individualism's influence in our culture but you also see it's hold on institutions that have traditionally countered pop culture, the greatest of which is the American church. Thankfully, I believe that there is still a segment of today's American church that still opposes individualism with the teaching and preaching of a true gospel message that focuses on self-denial (in Christ) rather than self-adulation. I also think the foundational tenets of the American military is basically opposed to the ideas of individualism as well. So there is still some hope for the present. But these few institutions influence a minority of people compared to the majority masses that are indoctrinated with Individualism daily by the media (TV, music, movies, etc.), the education systems, and the government. In reality, they are winning the day and changing a nation that was once a people given to self-sacrifice into a people looking for self-gratification.

-Pastor Randy

Why Every Believer Should Be Connected

Sunday evening we had a few wonderful testimonies from individuals that talked about the importance of discipleship. And that happens as people began to make connections with one another in the body of Christ. I'm not speaking of just getting to know a fellow believer, but connecting is knowing God, relating to God, sharing God, growing in God, and serving God. As we do this within the framework of the body of Christ, discipleship results.

Our fast-moving lives have wreaked havoc on our relationships. We don’t feel nearly as connected to each other as people did a generation ago. These days we can close our electronic garage door and step into our house without even greeting our neighbors.

Yet we were created for relationship. In fact the first thing God said was, “It’s not good for man to be alone.” God said that humans were not made for isolation. We were made for connection. Why? We were created in the image of God. The Bible says God is love. And to love, you’ve got to have somebody to love.

The Bible says that that being spiritually connected means:
• We’re built like a building. “In Christ you are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God” (Ephesians 2:22 NRSV). We are meant to fit together like bricks in a new building. It’s essential that the parts of a building fit together. You aren’t safe otherwise because there’s no support. Likewise, those who aren’t connected to a church family in any meaningful way have no support. Life is tough. We all need the support of people who care about us. Your church can provide that for the aimless multitude in your community.
• We’re joined in a body. “Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s Body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others” (Romans 12: 4-5 TLB). What Jesus Christ did when he was here in his physical body, he wants to do today through the church. We are the body of Christ on Earth. We are his hands. We are his feet. All of us have to play our part. Being part of the body of Christ means we are a part of something bigger than ourselves, and if we don’t play our specific part, the mission of the church is impacted.
• We’re born into a family. “I want you to know how people who are members of God’s family must live. God’s family is the church…” (1 Timothy 3:15 GW). This is my favorite metaphor for the church. It doesn’t take any explanation. Most people think that Christianity is a belief system. There are beliefs in Christianity, but it’s so much more. Christianity is a belong system. The Bible says we were born again into God’s family when we became a follower of Jesus. It also says that we’ve been adopted into God’s family. Both are great metaphors for what it should mean to be a part of the church.

Because those of us who follow Christ are part of God’s family, we should accept one another and love one another. Now let me be very clear here. We don’t approve of everyone’s behavior. That’s not love. If someone is doing something hurtful, approval is the opposite of love. But we must accept and love one another. Your family hasn’t always approved of everything you’ve done, but – I hope – they’ve loved you anyway. That’s a picture of the church that your congregation needs to see.

• We’re attached to a vine. “Live in me, and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me”(John 15:4 GW). Being connected isn’t just a horizontal issue. It’s a vertical one as well. Your congregation needs to be connected to God himself. Jesus says when we are connected to him it’s like being attached to a vine. Fruit not connected to a vine dies. It’s that simple. Our congregation can have all the interpersonal relationships possible, but if we are not connecting to God, we will not have the life that God wants us to have.

Paul continues Jesus’ metaphor when he talks about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. When we’re connected to the True Vine, there will be certain spiritual fruit in our lives – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. If you’re connected with God, those fruit will characterize your life. And that’s the kind of connection we all want.

Connection is a major focus of Kings point. We are making every effort to connect people based on the five biblical purposes of knowing God, relating to God, growing in God, serving God, and sharing God.

-Pastor Randy

Sunday Wrap Up

Hello everyone! Sorry, I have missed a few days here. I have been fighting this aggravating cold and cough - between that and preparing for five teaching & preaching sessions for this weekend...I just haven't got around to doing it.

Today was another great day of worship! We were little down this morning in worship attendance. A lot of our older folks didn't get out due to the snowy weather. But it was a good service. Tonight's I thought was even better. Great worship, testimonies, and the preaching of God' Word.

The ladies restroom renovation should be completed this week. It will be really nice. Again, special thanks to Roy, Dale, Eddie, Gerry, Wilma, and April.

The ladies had a wonderful pajama, p----, p------. I don't remember what the other two p words were. They had nearly one hundred women show up for a night of fellowship, fun, and worship.

Well, I'm really tired. Sundays really take it out of me. I guess I am not as young as I used to be. Everyone have a great week!

-Pastor Randy

Whats happened to Our Country?

Sorry, I didn't do this earlier today. My cold is back so I kind of laid low today. But I want to continue tonight on the topic of "Whats Happened to our Country?" Last night, I stated that one of the greatest reasons we are in the mess that we are in is due to the deterioration of the family. And I wrote about how the lack of true fathers has contributed greatly to this decline. Tonight, lets look at another fact that has greatly effected our country...and this one definitely goes against the mainstream, even some of you Christians.

#2 Pluralism...the worship of many gods.

That's right! We have become a nation of not just one God, but many gods. Our founding fathers never meant for America to become a nation where there is freedom to worship whatever god you wanted to worship. They broke away from the church of England so they could worship freely the one and true God. Especially in the last fifty years, we have become a nation of religious idolatry which God warns Israel against relentlessly in the Old Testament. Islam has become one of the fastest growing religions in America. Buddhism and other eastern religions have also grown rapidly in the U.S. over the last few decades. The New Age religion may have the most influence in America today with Oprah Winfrey leading the way even though she doesn't consider herself a New Ager. Then, there are cults such as Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Church of Christ Scientist, and others that have deceived many Americans as well as occult groups. When you add all these groups together, they easily influence millions of Americans pointing them to other gods that are not the one true God of the Bible.

"What's so dangerous about living in a nation with many gods? Just as long as I have freedom to worship as a Christian, I don't mine." Unfortunately, this is the attitude of a lot of Christians today. However, the Bible says idolatry becomes a snare to people which leads to the destruction of a nation. Also, Islamic fundamentalists as well as other religions are not content just "having a piece of the cake" in America. Islam wants all of it. When they come into a nation, they want to conquer it if the people choose not to convert. Once pluralism gets a stronghold on a country, the death certificate is about to be signed. Hey, if you don't believe me, read the Bible. God hates idol worship. The Bible says He is a jealous God. You would be too if you created or gave life to beings and they chose not to acknowledge you and make up others to take your place. That's what idolatry is. We refuse to acknowledge the one true God and make up others to take his place.

More tomorrow!

-Pastor Randy

What's happened to our Country?

Tonight, I just felt like doing a little blogging from my heart. I may write some things that are not politically correct but these things need to be said. A lot of Americans are feeling like me right now. Our heads are spinning. It's hard to sit by and watch our country dissolve before our very eyes. I really don't think its a republican-democrat thing. I'm not going to blame George Bush, President Obama, the media, or even the government. I think we have pointed fingers at one another long enough. I think it is past time that we are brutally honest with ourselves and face up to the following painful facts. And they are painful. They are painful for me to admit as a Christian, as a Christian leader, and as an American.

1. The deterioration of the American traditional family is the single most destructive force in our country.

I see this every day. It is so sad. Right now in the news we are hearing a lot about the poverty conditions of the people that live in Appalachia. But what we don't see is the rampant drug use, the alarming alcoholism, the high teenage pregnancy, divorce, and the incest in the Appalachian culture. All of this leads to a lack of education, an increase in single-parent families, jail and prison sentences, a high rate of sexually transmitted disease, high unemployment, abuse, and greater poverty. And this is not just the case in Appalachia, but it is true in many other parts of our country. We have the same family problems in America's cities as well as in it's suburbs and rural communities.

One of the greatest causes of the breakdown of the American family today is the lack of "true fathers" in our homes. When I speak of a "true father" I am talking about men that have some integrity about them. Men that provide to the best of their ability for their families. Men who love their wives and their children sacrificially and are constantly putting them first. Men that can be trusted to do the right thing when no one is looking. Men who are not afraid to show some leadership and exercise their God-given authority with the love of God working within them. When these kinds of men function within the framework of a family good things happen. God blesses his wife, his children, his finances, his church, his business, his community, and eventually his nation. I am not just speaking of good, moral men; but I am speaking of righteous men...men that are right with Almighty God. Proverbs 14:34 says, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to many people."

Did you read the last part of that verse. "Sin is a repoach to many people." In other words, sin is the blame, and brings shame and disgrace upon many people. Either a nation is exalted by the righteous hearts of it's people or disgraced and shamed by the sins of it's people.

America our sins have caught up with us. Whether we are too proud to admit it or not, our sins are shaming us bfore the entire world. We have a great history and a proud past. But the world is no longer judging us by our history or our great feats of the past. Joel 11:17 reads, "Give not thine heritage to reproach." Sadly, this is what is happpening to our once great nation. May God have mercy upon us!

More facts tomorrow.

-Pastor Randy