Regarding Preaching

Sunday is about preaching the Word of God without compromise and leading believers into a time of worship. We are not seeker-sensitive…we don’t pull out all of the stops for guests. Sunday wasn’t Scripturally meant for them…it was mainly intended for the believer. Don’t get me wrong…we know that guests come to Compass Point on Sundays…and we want them to feel welcomed. We have greeters, Starbucks coffee and decent signage. We explain what each element of the service is so we don’t throw people off. However, when the preaching begins…that’s where “guest friendly” stops. Other church planters always ask me how we keep reaching people that are so far from God…it’s because we couldn’t give a rip about coddling them. People far from God…that venture into Compass Point…are already being engaged by the Holy Spirit. They aren’t looking for budget plans for their finances, their purpose in life or how to have better sex…they are looking for a Savior. If they want “self help” fluff they can get a Tony Robbins video or buy a “Marriage For Dummies” book at Barnes & Noble. If they come to Compass Point…it’s because they want to hear the Word of God…unfiltered. My job on Sunday is not to baby sit consumers…my job is to confront sin…for believers and unbelievers…through the uncompromised preaching of God’s Word.

- Chris Elrod (from his blog, Chris Elrod Dot Com)

An Interesting Thought

Here is a thought that I overheard today:

It is an interesting thing about Jesus: there were folks who hated Him and folks who loved Him. The folks who loved Him most were the worldly folks - the sinners. I think that our society is ready for a gospel that loves people. That doesn't mean that it hides the truth from them - just the opposite - but perhaps it is one that earns the right to share that truth first by building relationship.

- JED

A New Name...

Whether you realize it or not, God is bringing people into your life on a regular basis to see if you will rename them. From the random encounter, to the friend who pours out his (or her) heart to you, these may well be divine appointments. Yet, this is more than a great privilege; it is also an awesome responsibility.

Paul clearly delineates the awesomeness of our responsibility in Romans 10:14c: “And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

If you do not speak to the people whom God is bringing to you, how will they ever hear the Gospel? As you take a moment to ponder this great opportunity, let the words of John 20:21b-22a settle into your spirit: “'As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that he breathed on them...”

Can you feel your Master’s gentle breath? Can you hear His loving voice? He is not only sending people to you; He is sending you.

Jim Laffoon @ Our Daily Blog

James 2:26

I suppose that it is a little tacky to quote yourself in a blog, but oh well, sometimes you write something that you just don't think that you can improve upon. Not to say that the following quote from my post called The Least Of These is Pulitzer Prize winning stuff, but it really communicates what I want to say in this forum as we are heading towards the big Christmas parties that we have scheduled.

I was talking with my good friend Bruce after the service and we were both feeling kind of low and worn out. We've both been taking a little time in the Lord's crucible lately, and I confessed to him how dry I had been feeling this past week - lonely for the Lord's presence. (Isn't it funny how being lonely for the Lord will often disguise itself as loneliness for other company? But I digress.) He suggested that it was perhaps the enemy's attack. We talked for a little bit longer and in the course of that discussion decided that we should do some servant evangelism together soon. (See Steve Sjogren's book Conspiracy Of Kindness.) As we left the church we passed a car broken down in the middle of the road. I stopped to ask if the guy driving needed help, and he could only answer me in Spanish. I went to park the car and looked up and there was Bruce! He was stopping to help too.

Now you need to understand, I am utterly NOT mechanical. I know next to NOTHING about what is going on under the hood of a car - especially if it isn't doing what it is supposed to be doing. However, Bruce is VERY mechanical. We helped the fellow to get his car out of the road and then Bruce went to work on the car. I used the little Spanish I knew to talk to Carlos and before you knew it Bruce had the car running again! We didn't say a word to Carlos about God or Jesus - I probably could have if I had been in practice - but as we went on our way I felt like I had just touched the Lord's fellowship for the first time in the past seven days. Is it possible that we met the Lord broken down on the road? Matthew 25:40 would seem to indicate that we did.

Perhaps God let me get dry and hungry for His presence so that I would sense it so clearly when I encountered it with Carlos this afternoon. If so, may He not let me forget to seek His presence even amongst "the least of these."

This encounter this past Sunday has stayed with me over the past couple of days. I am hungry to do a Servant Evangelism project between now and Christmas.

I actually have one in mind - not nearly as ambitious as the roofing project we did! I was thinking about contacting one (or several) stores at the mall and finding out when their busiest projected time will be one weekend. Then I will ask permission for a group of us to station ourselves around at the exit area cash registers and offer to assist customers with large packages to their cars. It is simple and inexpensive and will give us opportunities to talk with these folks while we are waiting for someone to serve and while we are serving!

What do you think? We would only go for an hour - two at the most. I believe the impact would be tremendous! All I need now is some volunteers. The two dates that I have in mind are the 8th or the 15th, but we could do it later too. I am leaning towards the 15th to give me a little time to promote the outing and to do all the planning. Please respond in the comments if you would be willing to help.

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25:31-40

Got A Light?

I recently heard the telling of a pastor who went to Salem, MA for a two week window during Halloween. Over 400,000 witches from around the world descended upon Salem within that two week window and 400 of them came to know the Lord as Saviour because he was simply willing to go and be a light in the darkness. He went on to say that one particular witch he encountered asked him many questions, but oddly never looked at him. When he made mention of this, she said the light that came out of him was too bright for her to look upon! (emphasis mine) GLORY! The Spirit within me leaps as I type this! That is what John 12:46 is all about! Oh that the world would SEE Jesus coming forth from our very beings --- impacting a lost and perverted world!
- Deborah @ Thoughts Along The Way

Isn't that AWESOME? I have been totally challenged and encouraged by this post. In another place she wrote:

I, along with my children, have started to experience something new when we are out. As I shared in an earlier post, I am (used) to people stopping me to talk when out and about because I sing worship songs as I go about my day. But, twice already this week I have been stopped in my silence and it has thrilled my soul! My sincere prayer is that this is happening all over in and through the lives of my brothers and sisters --- that the Spirit of the living God is moving among the people!

I hate to admit that it has been a while since I have had this happen to me, but I hope that it will again - and soon, too!

How are you doing? Is your light so shining before men that they praise your Father in Heaven?

As we serve our neighbors, friends, and family in the power of the Spirit of God, our light will begin to shine ever brighter. We will experience His joy and His glory as we seek to show it to the dark world all around us. Friends, it isn't a time for fear, but a time for boldness! Let's put our lamps up on a stand where all can see them. I am reminded of the words of an old hymn:

Brightly beams Our Father's mercy
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

© 1947 Lorenz Publishing Company (a div. of the Lorenz Corporation)
Charles Francis Lane | Philip Paul Bliss

Are You A Well?

God wants to do more than give you a drink from His well of life. He wants to make you into a well of living water, so others will be able to drink from your life.

Sadly, most of the church has emphasized getting a drink far more than becoming a well. This is part of the reason that many Christians have no real interest in the Kingdom of God beyond the satisfaction of their own needs.

…If this is your attitude, God wants to deal with your heart today. He wants to deal with you because the people around you are desperate for a well. (emphasis mine)

You must not continue to think that some anointed evangelist or incredible pastor is going to be used by God to touch all of your friends. In most cases, your friends will want to take their first spiritual drink from a trusted source, and whether you like it or not, the water they desire the most is probably the life they see flowing out of you.


- Jim Laffoon @ Our Daily Blog

Happenings

Please note that there are some changes this week and with our holiday plans!

This week, in lieu of the usual Oasis Diner we will be caravaning over to the Carangelos' home in Mooresville for their decorating party in preparation for the first annual Carangelo Christmas Party. Please note that the time is from 3:30-7:30 instead of the usual 5:30-7:00.

Coming up next Sunday is the annual joint Thanksgiving service between Back Creek Presbyterian, New Hope Presbyterian, and StillWaters. The service is at 6:30 PM at Back Creek Presbyterian. There will be a fellowship afterwards. Please bring finger foods. Click HERE for a map and directions from Kidsports.

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the Kirkers are sponsoring their decorating party. The time is from 3:30 - 7:30. Dinner will be provided.

Finally, the big events, yes, EVENTS on December 2. You already know about the Kirkers' drop in party from 4:30-7:30, but the Carangelos have moved their party to the December 2 as well from 5:30-7:30. Please mark your calendars!

It is an exciting time in the life of our church. Please be praying for the success of these events and for our neighbors' hearts to be open to the gospel. Even if you can't host a party this season, be praying about ways that you can serve your neighbors and show them God's love in a very practical and tangible way as we enter the holidays.

Good Ingredients, Good Flavor

There must be someone out there that actually eats Fruit Cake. The Claxton family is banking on it. I do not eat fruit cake. Never did, never will. (Why do those colorful little morsels embedded in the batter taste so skanky? Really, is that fruit? Was it grown near a nuclear test site?) But I digress.

The recipes I most appreciate are those which combine the foods and flavors I enjoy. Therefore, it stands to reason that the most important element of the process for creating dishes that tantalize the taste buds is selecting the proper ingredients. Fresh, ripe, natural and organic are modifiers which I like to see on my produce, grains, meats and such. Although the procedures for combining the various ingredients for each recipe will vary, there tend to be tried-and-true methods for assuring a satisfying outcome for both the palate and the ego, and the special touch which often makes or breaks the final product is the experience of the baker, chef or cook.

Church planting -- or "church" in general, for that matter -- seems to require that a diverse list of ingredients to be brought into proximity under just the right conditions, for the proper amount of time, and with exactly the correct amount of light and heat -- let simmer.

Wrong.

Church planting is entirely the responsibility and exercise of the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ. Despite the common tendency to suspect that human beings are tasked with the job of gathering the right people with the right gifts and blending them all together in just the right place often enough, it is foolishness to imagine that the outcome could ever be a pleasing aroma in the nostrils of our Lord. He builds His Church. He selects the ingredients. He places them together under all the right circumstances. He, alone, is Creator of the outcome.

Our Part.

We are some of the ingredients our Lord selects and employs to create the special flavor and after-taste He desires to be introduced into and linger in the community around us. How "tasty" are we as a congregation? What flavor do we put on the crowded faith-plate of Salisbury and its environs? What is the after-taste which most commonly remains following our interaction with our neighbors?

Is our presence in the community around us characterized by:

Freshness? Do we speak, act, and invest ourselves in ways that are understood by the culture around us today? Are we observed to involve ourselves in activities which do not require the Cleaver family's approval? (have we moved beyond 1950s American Christianity?)

Ripeness? Do we appear to be knowledgeable and also mature in our understanding of the truth which we profess? Are we perceived as folks who have a message worth considering? Do others sense that we are at a place in our own personal and corporate growth that is enviable?

Organics? Do we rely for impact upon our relationships with people we already know and are situated near, or do we only seem to be interested in people "out there?" Is our approach to multiplying the Gospel's reach reliant upon a seminar, or common ground?

Naturalness? Do we make impressions on our neighbors as folks who have integrated Truth from God into our daily lives (including conflict resolution, forgiveness, confession, rejoicing, dealing with adversity, celebrating, and etc), or does our message about spiritual things seem detached from the rest of our "real" lives?

You tell me.
How am I doing in your estimation... how an I as a leader among the folks at StillWaters living my life in your eyes? How are you doing in your own eyes? Let's talk. I mean it, let's get together and talk about our influence and how we might improve the ways in which we project our beliefs to the community at large. We can do it in a group setting, we can do it one-on-one, we can do it soon or later. But, let's do it. Talk to me.

And, if it were up to me and my grocery choices, future generations of the Claxton family will be on welfare. "Ain't buyin' it!" (However, I HAVE heard of some novel applications for uneaten fruitcake . . . the mind boggles!)

Give thanks even when you are truly unhappy and the world will wonder how and why you can.

Tell the same message to everyone and the world will believe that you sincerely mean what you say.

Help those who cannot help you in return and the world will think that you are generous and kind.

Do all the above and God will smile for His own reasons. So will you as you lay your head on your pillow daily.

Shalom,
Cameron
Unashamed

How Badly Do We Want It?

Our church is in a state of transition. For months we have been busy putting in foundations - building relationships with each other, bringing key players onboard, learning what it takes to make things run, getting people in the right positions, and developing a church personality. It is pretty safe to say that our foundations have been laid in and are pretty solid. Now begins the work of becoming significant in the life of our community.

The big problem with significance is that it involves actually getting outside of our little safe havens and our comfort zones into the real world of our community. To be significant, we have to be willing to get up next to people and develop enough relationship with them to earn their trust. That is both scary and messy. It is scary because we have to be willing to put down our masks and "stand naked on the battlefield" so to speak. We have to be real about our shortcomings and our trials and risk the judgment of our neighbors. We have to be willing to let our lives be interrupted by the needs of others.

It is messy because as we are able to be vulnerable in front of our neighbors they will find it easier to be vulnerable with us. It is in that vulnerablility that true ministry begins to happen. As their masks come off we discover that their lives are as messy or messier than ours. We discover brokenness, and loss, and need right in our own neighboorhood.

I am reminded of a testimony shared by Scott several months ago about his time in China. He talked about how one of his evenings was interrupted by a neighbor who had gotten drunk and locked himself out of his apartment. Scott was able to help the neighbor out and as a result a lasting dialogue has been continued between the two of them - a dialogue that has allowed Scott to effectively share the gospel with this man.

The October 20 post at Our Daily Blog really seemed appropriate to our situation. here is an excerpt:

...as much as Jesus desired to minister to His own people, He was compelled by His Father to bring the Gospel to these others (the Gedarenes) who were hurting and broken.

No matter where you are today, God will call you to go to the "other side." Just as He led His own disciples, Jesus will bring you into the lives of needy, wounded people.

No matter how different they are from you, or how much you abhor their lifestyle, they are part of the reason Jesus put you in this world. If you are unwilling to follow Jesus into these darkened places, you will miss the joy of the harvest He has intended for your life.

- Jim Laffoon @ Our Daily Blog

So the question that we really have to ask ourselves is, "How badly do we want it?" How badly do we want to be an agent of change to Salisbury, NC? Are we willing to overcome our fear, our inconvenience, our insecurity and our prejudices and offer our lives as a sacrifice to God to be part of His solution to the hurting people in our community? I pray to God that we will.

God please give us the grace that we will need to overcome ourselves and go wherever You send us. Fill us with belief in who You have told us that You are. Cause our hearts to abound in love for You. And cause our lives to overflow with that love to our neighbors - even the unpleasant ones. Forgive us for our fear and unbelief and self-righteousness. Cause us to be pleasing to You. Amen.

Quote of The Day

People all around us are dry and parched -- craving to be "rained" on by His presence. The Lord blesses us with daily opportunities to join Him in "raining on people" the truth of His existence. He so deeply wants us to pass on the joy, peace, love, etc. we find only in Him to those people who don't even have a clue what it is that they are missing!

-Deborah @ Thoughts Along The Way

Coming Soon To A Neighborhood Near You...

Stillwaters' first Christmas party of the season has been scheduled for December 2 at the Kirkers' in Windmill Ridge. As details become available and needs are made known we'll be reporting on it here.

The rest of the church was challenged to schedule their very own Neighborhood Christmas party. Different families will host the events in their homes and other church members will supply food, help in making preparations, help in staffing, and help cleaning up. Cool, huh?

Initial sign ups were this morning, but I haven't seen the list yet. As we have information about additional parties, you'll be able to find the details here.

Please be praying for each party and for each host. Please pray that the parties will be well attended and that there will be opportunities to share God's love and grace with our neighbors. Most importantly pray for our neighbors. We want to make it hard for our neighbors to go to hell. As we show them God's love in practical and fun ways we'll do just that.

It's going to be a great holiday season!

(A shameless plug for the Stillwaters' Jazz Band: if you need the SJB for your holiday entertaining, please let Justin know! Book now ahead of the Christmas rush!)

MORE (10/8/07)

The Carangelo family has entered the fray! Their neighborhood party will be on December 15th. Mark your calendars! More details as they become available.

Global Cooling . . it's a comin'

"Christians are to be in the world like ice-cubes that never melt - always a means of grace that transforms the world in which we live. In Christ, we break away from the security of our ideas, programs, and traditions like an iceberg breaking away from the frozen caps. We are sent by being caught up in the current of Christ's life. In His current we are free to ebb, flow, and go where He goes. As we float along together, propelled by the wind of the Spirit, Christ touches others through us for God's glory. With contact, everything He touches changes, and contrary to the ways of the world, even some frozen hearts are melted and others made harder. (There is no middle ground) The change is either towards or further away from the Savior and whether the change is temporal or eternal, there must be contact. " rc

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from
the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father,
he will testify about me. And you also must testify,
for you have been with me from the beginning."
John 15:26-27

Stillwaters Jazz Band

This is Justin Dickson from Jonathan's church... long time listener, first time caller. Anyway he asked me to write on this blog about the jazz band we have started. So here is the story.

About two months ago, our pastor hosted a sort of "family meeting" with we who attend the church regularly. He spoke on a few subjects, but the one that caught my attention was our role in the surrounding community. He asked questions to the effect of, "what are we really doing to help the people out there we don't know?" and "if we ceased to exist as a church next week, how much would the community of Salisbury really be affected?"

For some reason these questions stayed with me for the remainder of the day (I blame the Holy Spirit), and my wife and I discussed them afterward. I am an introvert by nature and the idea of helping out at a soup kitchen or something like that really bothers me... and yet I felt like I needed to do something to make a difference and do some ministry out there in Salisbury.

Now a few weeks earlier, we played a song or two in our church worship band with a sort of New Orleans jazz feel to them. We really enjoyed playing like that together and thought it would be fun to do it again some time. Personally, I have always loved playing traditional jazz and blues more than any other kind of music.

So eventually I had the idea to put together a small jazz band for the purposes of music ministry. The idea is not necessarily to preach from a soap box and ask for an alter call in the middle of every performance, but rather to show the Gospel to strangers by giving our time and talents to them for free. The hope is that people will turn their heads when they see a group of people give up their Saturday afternoon to come play fun music for the sick and lonely in retirement homes, hospitals, etc.

I hope the conversation comes up at least once every time we perform.
"So you're not getting paid for this?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"We don't really want to do it for money."
(blank, confused facial expression)
"This is just our way of showing that someone out there is thinking about you and cares. We're based out of Stillwaters church in Salisbury and we thought you might enjoy a little music today. That's all."

After four years of being a camp counselor at a Christian summer camp, I've learned that most people don't want to hear about the Romans Road or what is going to happen when they die if they don't get down and pray right now. Most people just need an honest hug, about 10 minutes of our time, and for us to just shut up and listen to them. They don't want a tract or a clever slogan on a church marquee, they want help and understanding as they deal with their dying little sister or divorced parents. They need to be honestly loved from someone who doesn't have an agenda or a pre-written script full of cliches.

They need to be loved the way that Jesus loved the poor and needy people he encountered. He didn't throw theology and a list of church membership requirements at them; he immediately diagnosed each individual's greatest needs (spiritually or physically) and met those needs through selfless acts of love and miracles. This is ministry, and it will never lose its power.

I hope ministry is exactly what we accomplish with our music. We have been blessed with enough talent and time to make it happen. We already have a good sound together, we're having a lot of fun in practice, and I hope to start getting out into the community in November. There are four of us right now: myself on trumpet, my wife on piano, Jonathan on guitar, and Gillon Jones on bass guitar. Gillon was a senior at South Rowan last year and played bass in the school jazz band for me, and he is now starting his career in the ministry. I hope you get the chance to meet him soon.

I will close with the verse from 1Peter that really explains the heart of this whole thing.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10

Why The Name "Conspiracy Of Kindness"?

So, perhaps you are wondering about this unusual name, "Conspiracy of Kindness." What does it mean? Why did you pick this for the name of the blog for Stillwaters church?

Well, there are a couple of different reasons. I had originally thought to name the blog Philadelphia, after the church mentioned in the book Revelation, because the name "city of brotherly love" matched the mission that our church has identified here in Salisbury. I also liked the message that Jesus gave to the church at Philadelphia. However, and not unexpectedly, the address that would have contained simply "Philadelphia" was already taken.

As I was pondering another name that would convey what we believe that we are supposed to be doing, I thought of Steve Sjogren's book Conspiracy of Kindness. Here is a picture of the book with a link to Amazon:


I don't remember where I discovered this book, but when I read it, I was totally captivated by a church's plan to show the love of Jesus to Cincinnati, OH with no strings attached. They were going to follow their plan with no hidden agendas. If no one came to their church it was OK. If they didn't see anyone get saved as a result of their outreach that was OK too. They were going to intentionally continue to share the love of Jesus with the people of Cincinnati in practical ways regardless of the outcome.

They call it "Servant Evangelism" because their modus operandi is to do practical things to let people know that Jesus loves them. The first project that they came up with was to go door to door in downtown Cincinnati and offer to wash the businesses' toilets for free "to show them God's love in a practical way." The effect was electric. Not everyone would allow them to serve them, but it sure got people talking.

As they expanded their program, not everyone got saved. Not everyone came to their church. But because they had been laboring, many people (even some that they hadn't served) DID get saved. Many people DID come to their church (although many of them had never been served by them.) And the city of Cincinnati became a much friendlier place.

Ever since I have read this book, I have been convinced that its methodologies are worth emulating. What better way to be relevant to the society in which we live? What better way to help people understand who Jesus is and what He is about than by trading words for action?

The beauty of Servant Evangelism is that it doesn't require a head full of theology to be effective. Even the newest believer can be involved in it. Even the most shy can be a servant evangelist. Oftentimes, the people that are being served don't even know that something has been done for them until long after the person serving them has left, but the effectiveness is not lessened one iota by the lack of direct contact.

There is also a serendipitous benefit that derives to the one doing the Servant Evangelism: their courage and boldness to actually talk to others about the gospel is increased.

So, in the near future you will be hearing about plans for Stillwaters to "Show God's love in a practical way." One is in the works right now. Start thinking of ways to serve your neighbors. How would you like to be served? What would make your day if someone did it for you out of the blue? With a little planning, a little work, and a little money we will see our city transformed by the love of Jesus demonstrated through our hands.

To Ponder For Sunday...

"Although the church is obviously an instrument of salvation, many Christians refuse to see it as anything beyond that. Tragically, this view of church life has produced a generation of Christians who are more interested in escaping from the world than transforming the world."

- Jim Laffoon @ Our Daily Blog

Quote of the Day

I cannot count the times the enemy has questioned my ability to see an unbeliever converted or a struggling Christian transformed. Personally, I love it when he asks me this particular question, because conversion and transformation have nothing to do with my ability and everything to do with God’s ability.

In fact, I have found that reminding the devil of God’s power incenses him more than almost anything else. When he whispers to me, “Do you really think that person will ever change?”

I whisper back, with a smile on my face, “There is no human that my God cannot change.” That’s right; whether a person’s life has been shattered by substance abuse, immorality, violent crime, or some terrible emotional wound, God is well able to make them live again.

- Jim Laffoon
Our Daily Blog
Ridiculed, Posted for September 12, 2007

Well Done Good And Faithful Servant

I don't know how I missed it. I have been on conservative news websites every day and yet somehow I missed the news of the death of Dr. D. James Kennedy. The first that I heard of it was Sunday morning at church. I am not quite sure how it happened. How could a man of his stature die and I not know about it at all? Well I may have missed the news here, but I can assure you of one thing - nobody in Heaven missed it when Dr. Kennedy showed up for his welcome home party.

I have never been able to follow Dr. Kennedy avidly. I'm more of a music guy in the car and I don't watch a lot of religious programming. However, I have always enjoyed the times that I was able to hear or watch his teaching. He always struck me as a man of great intelligence, piety, and integrity.

The list of his accomplishments is long and distinguished, and I have heard numbers bandied about that the evangelism tool that he developed, Evangelism Explosion (a.k.a EE) is responsible for over 5 MILLION conversions to Christianity. I can't even begin to imagine having that kind of impact on the world and it not being the front story of every newspaper, news site, blog, and newscast.

I found a very good interview with a co-worker of Dr. Kennedy's that sheds some light on this man of God.

The Homegoing of Dr. D. James Kennedy
By Paul Edwards
Sunday, September 9, 2007


Welcome home, Dr. Kennedy. You sure left some big shoes to fill.

Do Christians Belong In Politics?

I suppose Christians down through the ages have asked the question, "Do Christians belong in politics?" The question seems reasonable considering the negative press that constantly seems to surround politicians. What Christian would want to enter that coliseum of intrigue, compromise, partisanship, corruption, and strife? In many ways I'd sooner face the lions! Why would anyone want to endure the frustration that must go along with being forced to work with people who have entered the public arena to serve themselves instead of serve their country - in addition to having to contend with a media that is openly hostile to anyone who is willing to take a moral stand?

Let me answer the first question with another. Where are Christians needed the most? - In the places where God is least glorified.

There are certainly precedents in the Bible. How many men with Daniel's integrity were found in Babylon? Not many. We know of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. By the time of the story of the lion's den, it would seem that there was only one. How many godly leaders did it take to bring about a great revival in post-exile Israel? Nehemiah stood alone as the personality that God could use to cause a stiff-necked and rebellious group of people to walk in step with His Word. How about Joseph who used the gifts that God gave him to save a whole region from starvation? Esther was raised up to become Queen so that through her the Jews could be saved from Haman's hatred. Think about the reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah. All of these leaders impacted their countries through their faith and position POLITICALLY.

We owe much to the great Christian statesmen throughout our history. Where would we be without men like George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, John Quincy Adams, and Daniel Webster? These men were critical in setting the tone and foundation upon which our country's greatness rests.

Ken Connor has written a very good article entitled Evangelicals Must Stay The Course that addresses a lot of the reasons that Christians do belong in politics and why we mustn't shrink back from the political arena simply because so many politicians have been shown to be scoundrels.

One of the concerns that Mr. Connor addresses is the American Church's quickness to grow discouraged with the failures of the government and especially the Republican party. There have been real reasons to be disappointed with the performance of both recently. However, we must not become discouraged just because the Republicans haven't been able to turn our country around. That isn't their job. It's God's and it is ours. Expecting the Republicans to do it is putting our faith in men rather than putting our faith in God, and doing that is just asking to be disappointed.

We are foolish to expect lost people to exhibit godly character when they are placed in office. For it to happen is certainly the exception rather than the rule. Sadly, proven character is far less common in the American church than it should be. Yet there is no other religion on earth besides Christianity that can honestly claim to literally change lives and overcome man's natural propensity to sin. Who better, then, than Christians to govern? And, as Mr. Connor so aptly points out - we are called to be salt and light. The only way to influence the culture is to be involved in it. Salt doesn't season the stew if it stays in the shaker. We cannot merely sit by and pray. As the apostle James said, faith needs action to be real faith.

Thus, we must support those who are called to enter that ministry (And, yes, the Bible does call it a ministry.) We have to encourage them, and pray for them, and hold them accountable, and even, yes, even invest our money and time into helping them get elected. We have to educate ourselves about who the candidates are. We have to learn what they stand for. And we have to pay attention to make sure that they do what they said. We have to vote.

But our responsibility goes beyond that. We have to be actively working as agents of change in our sphere of influence. Are we working to make it hard for our friends, neighbors, co-workers, enemies, etc. to go to hell? I am so guilty in this! I know that I am not a gifted evangelist, but if you've got something good, don't you tell others about it? As far as actions go, we can achieve no greater impact in our nation than by demonstrating the love of Jesus to everyone we encounter. This is where the rubber meets the road. If I really want to see change, I have to stop being selfish and love my neighbor at least as much as I love myself.

However, action isn't the only necessity. Prayer is critical as well if we are to see a turn about in the moral direction of this country. I think that if there is any weakness in Mr. Connor's article it is that he seems to dismiss prayer as some impotent thing. If so, he couldn't be more wrong. I could write a million letters to Congress. I could petition and picket and phone every lawmaker on Capitol Hill, but if God isn't moved you can rest assured that Congress won't be moved either. Prayer works. I have no idea why, but for some reason God wants to involve us in the process of change. I know no better way to change something than to earnestly pray about it - especially with another believer.

As far as I can tell from my reading, no revival has ever begun without prayer. Even at Pentecost, the disciples had devoted themselves to prayer for weeks in anticipation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

So what about my neighbor? Can I make him come to Christ? No, but I can intercede on his behalf to God. I can help clear up the atmosphere around him so that he can better hear God's call to be saved. Perhaps by my prayers, I can pull down the strongholds that hold him captive so that he can be truly free.

Who will be a better neighbor? One who is bound in his woundedness and addiction, or one who has experienced the joy of being made right with God? Wouldn't more neighbors like the second one make for a better city, a better state, a better nation, and a better world?

If you are like me, by now you are already disgusted with the circus of a campaign that is underway. The election is over a year away and the politicians have been campaigning for it ever since President Bush's re-election. This is not a time to give up in disgust. We have over a year to seek God's face and His favor for the coming election. We have time to pray (and, dare I suggest, fast) that godly people will be elected, and we have time to pray for discernment for whom we should vote. Still, there is no time to lose. Are we going to listen to the media and concede our country to those who would destroy it, or will we fight to take it back and re-establish it on the sure foundation of faith in Christ Jesus?

That choice and that authority are in our hands.

Testify!

How my heart rejoiced in my newness of spiritual life, even though my body was suffering so terribly from the physical beatings and lack of food! But suddenly I discovered that God had given me new spiritual eyes and that when I looked at the enemy officers and guards who had starved and beaten my companions and me so cruelly, I found my bitter hatred for them changed to loving pity.

I realized that these people did not know anything about my Savior and that if Christ is not in a heart, it is natural to be cruel. I read in my Bible that while those who crucified Jesus had beaten Him and spit upon Him before He was nailed to the cross, on the cross He tenderly prayed in His moment of excruciating suffering, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

And now, from the depths of my heart, I too prayed for God to forgive my torturers, and I determined by the aid of Christ to do my best to acquaint these people with the message of salvation that they might become as other believing Christians.

- Jacob Daniel DeShazer (American POW of the Japanese during WWII)