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Confused (non)Christians – Obama and the Political Spirit

I think America is seeing the culmination of the political agenda taking over much of the church.

The President is declared not saved and should be disregarded as a man because of his liberal politics. Some ministers have even stated that Christians should rally for his demise.

Meanwhile, a politically conservative Mormon held a political rally at the nation’s capital this past weekend and the Christians lined up to “reclaim America.”  Reclaim America for what?  Moroni?  One can only imagine the prayer vigil in Salt Lake City during the event.

I find it amazing that people can attack their political leader, who is a Christian, and still think that they are Christians.  Wake up folks.  This is the plan of the devil.  Jesus said you would know His people by the love they show one another.  Not their political registration.

Do you hate President Obama’s politics?  Shout it from the rooftop.  Support his opponents.  Call Congress.  Campaign in the next election.  All these things are your right as Americans and your duty to your conscience.

But to say that Jesus did not save him even though he has testified to his conversion and baptism?  That’s sin.  To say Jesus hates him?  That’s blasphemy.

Repent.

Baptism This Sunday

I am getting super excited about the baptism this Sunday at The Mission.  Baptism is way more than “an outward sign of and inward work.”  If it were just a sign the bible would not say to “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins”  or “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

I believe that baptism is more of a sacrament then an ordinance.  An ordinance is an act proscribed by men.  A sacrament is a rite in which God is uniquely active.

When we baptize people at The Mission, we do it because the Bible tells us to, AND because we see God actively involved in the process.  Time and again we see people delivered, transformed, and baptized in the Holy Ghost in water baptism.

If you are recently received Jesus as your Savior, or rededicated your life to Jesus, stop everything and sign up for this Sunday’s baptism here.  Spend the rest of this week consecrating yourself, believing that Jesus is going to perform a miracle in your life in the waters.  Invite your friends and family to come to The Mission this Sunday and witness this event.

This will surly be a life changing event for you if you come in faith.

Christmas in August

I am pretty excited about Christmas in August tomorrow. This is an end of Summer celebration happening at Mission Kids.  There are going to be bounce houses, snow cones, dancing bears, and lots of other things (dancing bears not included).

If you have been looking for a special occasion to invite some folks with kids to The Mission, this is your event.

Why It Is Difficult Working With Sergio

Sometimes it is hard to work with people. As Christians, we need to be able to work with all kinds of people and this need does not end simply because you are in a ministry setting. Take Sergio, The Mission’s worship leader and Director of Creative Arts. We get along well enough, but that does not mean we always work well together. Sometimes I get nothing done because of him.

Here is one example of why.  I asked him to make an intro for our baptism teaching.  Sergio made me this:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I laughed so hard I got nothing done the rest of the day.

Preach the Word

I finished up our Timothy series this week with Paul’s instruction on how to avoid spiritual pitfalls, preach the Word.  All throughout his first letter to Timothy Paul warns him of false teachers, false doctrine, self-appointed leaders, destructive heresies, and the likes.  In his second letter he picks up where he left off in the first, again lashing out at crazy doctrines and teachings that do nothing but tickle the imagination.

Finally in the fourth chapter of his second letter Paul gives Timothy the formula to combat spiritual goofiness:

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

A myth is an invented story.  I hear a bunch of stuff preached as revelation that is nothing more than invented stories.  People are prideful and want to feel that they have revelation that nobody else has. This is born from beneath and not from heaven.  The enemy is more than happy to fan the flames of self importance.  Clearly it is not God bringing “teachers to suit their own passions.”

Paul knew that Timothy would be tempted to follow suit so he laid the truth bare.  People will turn from the truth, preach it anyway.  Even if does not make you a superstar.  Even if it does not make you rich.  Even if people leave your ministry to follow after their own false teachers and super apostles.  Preach the Word.

So you eat pop tarts in heaven with Adam?  Great.  Preach the Word.  You walk through walls and heal the sick?  Great. Preach the Word.  You are so special that God gives you secrets that you can’t tell because we are not spiritual enough but you elude to them all the time just so we know how spiritual God thinks you are?  Wonderful.  Preach the Word.

By the Holy Ghost Paul saw through the smoke screen of manipulation and pride and declared that folks who presented themselves as leaders just so they can get rich or to overcome their insecurities were not to be trusted.  He taught that people who build their ministry on invented stories were not to be received.  He taught that the Church would be built up in truth by the preaching of the Word.

At The Mission, folks experience all kinds of things that are not in Scripture.  Supernatural experiences are completely biblical.  Some things are purely a wonder.  But trying to become rich and famous from your intimacy with God is spiritual prostitution and we won’t have it.  Preach the Word.

When the Anointing Drops

It does not make a difference to me one way or the other if people fall when I pray for them.  It is not a goal of mine.  If you fall, I might kneel beside you and keep praying.  I may feel like I am done praying for you while you are still standing.

When I was young in ministry I fell into the trap of thinking that people falling was some sort of validation of my anointing.  I never pushed people down or anything like that but I certainly did pray till they fell.

Today I teach that the only thing that falling means is that you are no longer standing.  period.

But let me tell you, there is something completely awesome when God touches someone and there is nobody touching them.  In the last couple months during altar calls people have had the Holy Ghost fall on them and in turn fall to the ground without regard for their safety.

Yesterday I had an altar call for people who felt that God was doing something in them in regards to evangelism.  When they got to the altar I told the ministry team not to lay hands because I saw the Holy Ghost wanted to do something all on His own.  Then, out of nowhere, people began to drop.  Not everyone.  Not even half.  But enough people were overcome by the Spirit of God that I knew it was a sovereign moment.

I love the anointing that comes upon a minsters life.  But I love even greater that Jesus is able to minister all by Himself without my help.  He truly is a living God.

Calling All Evangelists

I got a word burning in my spirit for tomorrow.  As I pray and seek the Lord in preparation I feel such an unction I know it is the word of the Lord.

Tomorrow we are going to lay hands on all the evangelists for the work in the harvest field.  Set yourself apart tonight and seek the Lord, then come to The Mission expecting God to do something great in your life tomorrow.

My Ongoing Frustrations with Church Community Builder

For those who have followed this blog, you know that I had been looking for a decent church management software solution and in the end went with Church Community Builder.  Time and again I feel like that was not the best decision.  And for all the reviews that I read online, here are some of the key things I wish I had known before I bought.

As much as it pains me to say this, I am now going to look and see what it would take to switch to another ChMS. I know there would be a hefty fee but I am not sure if I can justify throwing good money after bad.

If your church wants folks to be able to look at stuff online, CCB might be great.  If you want to do anything with that information then it might not be the best solution.

update 8/26/2010: I have since updated my processes.  I am now able to generate a csv file that I do a mailmerge through Word to do my mailings.  I honestly don’t know how hard it is to incorporate an online document editor so I don’t hold this against the software.  Though you would think it could incorporate Word like Quick Books can do.

Now, as far as the pathetic email editor. . . I currently export all email addressed and import it to Vertical Response to do my mailings.  Again, not the simplest process but it works.

“All I Need” Live, Original Worship at The Mission Delray

Sergio and the worship team leading worship at The Mission, a Spirit-filled, multi-cultural church in Delray Beach, Florida.

In the middle, Pastor Carl Thomas came up and encouraged the crowd a little.

Someone took a video and we decided to clean up the audio a little and upload it.

J’Son Love Like This: My Current Jam

J’Son Love Like This: My Current Jam

Buy it here You can get the mp3 download of the whole album for $8.  Well worth it because the whole album is good.