Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from January, 2016

Worship on the Wane

Worship is on the wane. It is in decline and its power is diminishing. There was a time when worship in a service was geared towards congregants seeking Christ's face, and harmonizing their voices in an offering of thanksgiving, repentance, soulful prayer, and more. Now worship is more akin to contemporary Christian music bands gettin g up on the stage and preforming a concert. The result is not a intimate experience with God in an assembly, and instead worship of the worship team. Suddenly all the Worship Teams want to be the next Steven Curtis Chapman , Michael W. Smith , Chris Tomlin , Hillsong , Third Day, Casting Crowns ,  Franseca Battistili, Mandisa, Rebecca St. James , and more. Those who earnestly want to worship their Creator and Savior are left unsatisfied, and blocked by those who claim to be the ones who usher people into God's Inner courts. Worship music is changing, it is on the wane and moving away from Scriptural lyrics, from easy ro remember courses, and ...

The Move to High Churches: Why People are Flocking to Liturgical Churches

There are many articles on the Internet that are examining the major migration of believers from Evangelical, Pentecostal, Charismatic churches to the High Churches of Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and more. High Churches is a jargon for any church that conducts a mass style service with liturgies, clergy in robes, Communion (Eucharist), and formalized worship. But why are people returning to a more Medieval to Post-Reformation/Renaissance format? What is compelling people to leave in droves the Evangelical and Pentecostal circles? The answer if four fold. I. Community Despite that many Protestant Evangelical and Pentecostal churches call themselves "community churches" and "assemblies," there is no sense of community. Members in these churches feel more like supporters of political candidate known as the Pastor, cheering for them every Sunday, and to even get to know people, members or visitors have to find "cell" groups, an...

Carly Fiorina is Still in the Fight

The Polls in politics have been predominately wrong. The polls in 2008 said Hilary Clinton would win the presidency, and instead Pres. Barak Obama won. The Polls are to pull people to vote for those who create the polls. The polls only pool 1,000 individuals in cities with 700,000 to 20 Million. People often change their disposition on candidates before they even vote. All eyes are on Iowa as they prepare to caucus, and then attention will turn to New Hampshire, and South Carolina. The race is not over, Donald Trump is not triumphant, nor is Ted Cruz going to cruise to victory. The Media is trying to convince people that Republican nomination is between Trump and Cruz, but Rubio is rising, Ben Carson is burgeoning, and Carly Fiorina is not forgotten, she did smashingly well in the Undercard Debate on FOX News last night. It is any one's election at this point. My support is still behind Carly Fiorina, who is taking the challenge of Life to heart. Carly is part of March for ...

Crucisphobia: Fear of the Cross

There is a phobia spreading across churches. This phobia is "crucisphobia" (Jeffrey Gassler, 1/28/2016, 6:10pm). Crucisphobia is a fear and phobia of the cross. Many churches today avoid the image of the crucifixion, and instead appear more like warehouses and coffee shops than sanctuaries. Beyond the building, many Christians, particularly Evangelicals are avoiding the cross. An association has been made that those who wear crosses or crucifixes, are Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Church, and in particular clergy of the High Liturgical churches. But I want to bring something up to my Evangelical and modern brothers and sisters, " But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven ," (Matthew 10:33), " Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels ," (Luke 9:25), and " But whoever disowns me before others w...

Are You Fully Commited?

The question of the times for all saints is, "are you fully commited?" Are you commited to love, serve, and put your sole trust, hope, and strength in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit? On this question is staked your mortal life and eternal life. For Christ says, "I wish you were hot or cold, the lukwarn I spit out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16). God does not want half-hearted followers, but people who will say, "I am all in," I will "deny myself, pick up my cross, and follow you." (Matthew 16:24). There are many examples in Bible of men and women who put God before everything, before relationships, comforts, opportunites, and every good thing of the earth. The most radical example was Abraham. Here is a man that upon hearing God's voice and command: left his home in Ur (), left his father's household (Genesis 12:1), left other gods her served for the One Truth God (), took his Wife Sarah and went to Canaan, a wildern...

The Sacrifices

Reading the Old Testament, a believer can become rather upset over the old system of sacrifice. The idea of slaughtering sheep, specifically unblemished lambs, oxen, bulls, and pigeons can make us squimish. Unsettling thoughts can begin to seep into the head, "How could God kill innocent animals? Why does he need a blood sacrifice? Was not sacrifices pagan?" It can be confusing, but then maybe not. The real reasons for the Temple sacrifices are trifold. The first and most settling is that the animals sacrificed were eaten by priests, "The Levitical priests--indeed, the whole tribe of Levi--are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the LORD, for that is their inheritance." (Deuteronomy 18:1). The Tribe of Levi got their sole sustenance from the sacrifices offered unto the Lord. So that meat was not simply thrown into braziers and spoiled, it was stored and fed God's people. The second reason for t...

Tithing versus Giving

Step into any church, and chances are you've heard Malachi, "Test me on this, give and see if I won't open the storehouses of heaven." Tithing or giving your ten percent is 'tenet' of most churches, and organizations. Pastors and ministers drill into congregants the concept of paying your tithe, and the promise of treasure, manna, and storehouses trumpets from their tongues. But what does the Bible really say about tithing? Is it for today, or was it an Old Testament practice that went out of vogue as the writers of Hebrews expresses, "The Old Covenant is obsolete, and fastling diseappearing." (). The Bible talks uses two terms, tithing and giving. One is featured in Old Testament, and the Covenant of the Law, the other is found in New Testgament and the  Covenant of Grace. Let us begin with the famous Malachi verse, " Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty...

That Woman is America's Best Hope

I have been following the Presidential debates and come to know as best as anyone can the candidates in both the Republic and Democratic parties. Running for the office of President on Democratic Party is Hilary Cliton, and Bernie Sanders. Running for President in the Republican Party is Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Ran Paul, Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson, Kris Kristy, Jim Gilmore, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, and John Kasich. The Republic debate has become riveting with Trump being triumphant, Cruz trying to cut down Trump Tower, Rubio trying to really convince people of Cruz's inconsistencies, Kristy pointing out the obvious that policy, social issues, and the problems of country should be discussed, and more. What is shame is the Republic Party once again has failed. The Republic Party has chosen to place its bet on probably Ted Cruz, but flirting with Donald Trump, when we need Carly Fiorina. The Democratic Party maybe full of liberals, and Marxist-Comm...

The Challenge of Our Age

In every age there is a challenge to be met. In the time of Wilberforce it was the Slave Trade, in the time of World War II it was The Nazis and their Third Riech. In each age a great evil rises that we must contend with, and ultimately conquer. Our fight in this generation is not against Aids, it is not to break the power of Poverty, nor is it to establish Equality. Our fight is for the rights, and life of the unborn. Abortion is the sinister force stealing the breath, and blood of babes across the nation. We shall be asked on the day of Judgement, "what did you do?" We are living in the age of Rachael's mourning, " In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted, because they are no more ." (Matthew 2:18). Rachael is crying out for her children that have been put to the sword, put to scalpel blade. The spirit of Abortion has long been on the prowel to consume the next ...

How Christ Changed the Condition of Women Forever

It is important to know that prior to Christ Jesus, woman had be subjugated and was basically a slave. Woman had fallen from being "The help mate of Man, and Bone of His bone, His equal" (Genesis 2:18, Genesis 2:23) to possession. In the time of Jesus women were property and holy men like Rabbis and priests would walk on the other side of the street if they saw women. Women were forced to cover their heads in public, much in way Muslim women still do today. For woman there was no future except to be wife, mother, and in special cases a queen or tradeswomen. The rest were prostitutes, whores, and slaves who had to earn their pay through abominable ways. But then a Man came, The Son of Man who would change their lives forever. Jesus Christ changed woman's role forever. It is written that at a well, Jesus spoke to Samaritan Woman. Before I relate the account, lets get some facts. The woman was no righteous according to religious elite, she had married so many times that...