Bring On The Barbarians!!

I am reading a little book by Erwin McManus, called "The Barbarian Way." It is a fascinating book about cutting edge worship and spirituality in our postmodern time. I find it exciting and yet very convicting. He talks a great deal about how tame and domesticated our faith has become as Christians and I think he is dead on! "The overwhelming number of us who declare Jesus as Lord have become domesticated, or if you will civilized. We have lost the passion and power of that raw, untamed, and primal faith.

He says that he believes Jesus is being lost in a religion that bears his name. People are being turned off because Christianity has become docile, civilized, safe, self-satisfying, This is a Barbarian life style of laying down our life for Christ! It is a call to love God with all of our heart, mind and strength. It is a call to a path of adventure and mystery and to battle for the souls and hearts of a lost world. McManus says, "We have forgotten that there is a kingdom of darkness stealing the hopes and dreams and souls of a humanity without God. It is time to unleash the barbarian revolt."

Where is God calling us to be part of His Revolt?

Rev.Rich

SURVEY FINDS THAT 70 PERCENT OF AMERICANS BELONGING TO A CHURCH FEEL MANY RELIGIONS CAN LEAD TO ETERNAL LIFE

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life conducted the study. Among the more surprising numbers were that 57% of evangelical church attendees said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional biblical teaching. We have discussed many issues on this blog that should be informed by biblical witness and Spirit-filled thinking. This one stands alone! The uniqueness of Jesus Christ and God’s redemptive act of love revealed in the cross for all of creation is the heart of the biblical message. Jesus Christ is the Gospel. When Philip asked Jesus to “show us the Father,” Jesus response was both unique and exclusive. “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Any one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’” Jesus’ declaration to Thomas was absolute. “I am the way and truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Now why have I chosen to bet my life on this exclusive worldview?

• n no other religion or ideology can I see more clearly the complete face of God. There is a moral integrity that is revealed in Jesus that stands heads above any other. The great Hindu leader Gandhi took much of the moral directives for his movement from the Sermon on the Mount. A Buddhist friend of mine told me that she became a Buddhist because compassion is one of the highest ideals. Jesus is compassion incarnate!
• Jesus is grace incarnate. Many religions understand law and the consequences for the violator. All of us carry some kind of baggage from our inner sense of brokenness. As Jesus said to the woman caught in the act of adultery, “I do not condemn you. Go and live above your brokenness!” He also empowers us to do so.
• Jesus is God’s offer of inclusive reconciliation regardless of race, gender, nationality, and political or cultural ideologies. Jesus transcends all cultures. He is truly the universal savior who transcends any one particular culture or ideology. For example, Hindu religion is encapsulated in Indian culture and Islam is encapsulated in Middle Eastern culture but the movement of Jesus becomes incarnate and distinctive in every culture.
• Jesus values the poor and disfranchised and calls his followers to go into the entire world and proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God through practical and sacrificial works of service. In other words the good news of the gospel is not just about getting people into heaven but the intentions and resources of heaven into the world.
• Jesus as “The Way” does not give any human being the right to judge or determine who gets in or who is out. God alone is judge and the ultimate One who makes those calls!

In God's Grace,

RevRichard

I Just Can't Wait!

Jesus said, "I have eagerly awaited celebrating this Passover with all of you."

Those are the words of Jesus in the gospel of Luke, just before what we call the Last Supper. Jesus knew that beyond this happy and sad time with his disciples lay unbearable suffering and shame at the cross. Unjust beating, a kangaroo court process before Pilate and the Jewish religious leaders, and ultimately death on a Roman cross. So why would Jesus say these words this way? How could anyone be eager to experience all that lay before Jesus.

When I think of eagerly awaiting something, I think about what it was like to be a young boy the week before Christmas. You know what that was like, excitement and anxiety all blended together in to a recipe of Holiday and family joy! Packages to shake and size up, lights and ornaments on the tree and around the house, sweets and other scrumptious foods appearing to tempt and treat each person around. That to me is eagerly awaiting something! And that with all the pain and horror is how Jesus beheld what lay in and beyond that passover feast that is like no other ever in human history.

He eagerly awaited it and still does when we come to the table of communion with Him, because he desires fellowship and intimacy with you and me that much. Even at such an amazing cost He wants to set with us and get to hear and experience the depths of our hopes and dreams, our pain and sins, everything that makes us who and what we are; His brothers and sisters.

It makes me wonder, how much I desire to spend intimate, alone time with him in close fellowship? How much pain do I cause him when I get too busy, or preoccupied with my stuff to set down with him and just be? That is really what the cross is all about, not just salvation but transformation! Something Mr. Wesley called Sanctification!
O Lord Help me to eagerly desire to just "Be" with you!

Yours in Him,
RevRichard

Could It Be Magic?

I just read an amazing story about a United Methodist Church Music director who has won a contest to become the first 'Chief Magic Official' of Disney's magic kingdoms in the United States.
He won out over almost 2000 other persons to become this giver of wonders.

Justin Muchoney says he has had a life long love affair with disney. "The Disney 'magic'––like our faith––can be shared with people in an incredible number of ways, both large and small," he adds. "Each day I strive to understand that everyone I encounter may be in need of a warm smile, a friendly handshake or an ear to listen. Even people I have never met before and may never see again deserve to be treated with the same warmth and respect as my closest friends."

In an e-mail to friends after a recent Anaheim trip to Disney Land, he wrote: "I am constantly reminded about the power of one person to make a positive difference in the life of another. I have the chance to work with and be around some of the most passionate and creative people I’ve ever met, and on each visit, I see them go out of their way to place someone else’s needs above their own or go above and beyond the call of duty to bring a smile to someone’s face.

"This is the magic that I hoped to witness and, in each instance, I realize that it doesn’t have to be contained to a Disney park," he wrote. "Please remember that you have the power to make someone’s day. Today, tomorrow, or all week––why pass up the opportunity to make a difference in the world?"

What an interesting way to get to witness for Jesus! In fact Justin's boss and Pastor at Ingomar United Methodist Church, in Seven Fields, Pa. says he has been able to connect the magic of "When You Wish Upon a Star" with the "Star of Wonder." Rev. Tracy Cox says, "He has the ability to inspire people to reach for their dreams. He connects real life and the magic – and he truly believes that God is the true changer of lives."

Justin's vision is this, "Our churches, based on our belief in Christ, should be places where people see optimism, hope and endless possibilities. Once you’ve seen someone accept Christ, you know that there are no limits on what they can accomplish in life!"

So how about it? When was the last time the magic of our faith touched you? When was the last time the wonder of it all simply spilled out of your heart to someone around you? May be we all need to be part time, "Chief Magic Officials!"

In Magic and Wonder!

Rev Richard (Rick)

AMERICA = FREEDOM

A PRAYER FOR AMERICA

DEAR LORD,

We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a
sleepy eye and think, What a horrible dream.

But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes
did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was
no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.

There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)

We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn't.

And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and now we plead, Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.

Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.

And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.

Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here on that Tuesday, you saw there on that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the ash fell on our children, the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity
was pierced.

And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.

But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.

We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Disaster has done what discussion could not. Doctrinal fences have fallen. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity.

And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.

Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.

And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you've used her to heal a hurting world.

Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

Through Christ, Amen.

As written by Max Lucado for America Prays, a national prayer vigil held Saturday, September 14, 2001.
Permission to copy not only granted but encouraged.