Author: Pastor Glen

The VIBE

Pastor Glen Family

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My favorite scene in the movie, “Dumb and Dumber” starring Jim Carrey as Lloyd , is when he and Harry arrive at the fund raiser in the bar of a luxury hotel, and Lloyd says that he is going to, Hang out at the bare and put out the vibe.”  It is a hilarious scene for a number of reasons.  Those of us who nerd out on the psychology of the scene take the fun out of it, because  we focus on the irony of self awareness  above the irony of  humor.  Nutshelling, Lloyd thinks he is attracting women but he is actually repulsing everyone. In a room full of intelligent, well dressed, and wealthy people, Lloyd is the opposite of everyone else (except for Harry) in the room.  His attempt to put out the vibe of attracting a young beautiful socialite  is an absurd delusion and it is his own lack of self awareness that not only undermines this attempt,  but makes him impervious to the fact  his efforts are completely futile.  Now isn’t that hilarious?  

The question posed is, “Do vibes matter.”  And the answer is a resounding YES, vibes matter.  Let us break down what particular vibes we are talking about.  First of all is body language.  Most people have a subconscious filter that will define a person’s attitude, their honesty, true feelings, self esteem etc by body language.   We receive vibes from the position of a person’s arms, legs, movement and especially facial expression.  These are all vibes.  Like I said most people have a subconscious  filter to interpret these vibes in order to give more context to the situation.  There are also those who make it a conscious effort to study body language for the purposes of a much more in depth knowledge all the way down to what we call microexpressions. The mouth may be saying one thing and the body language telling a different story altogether.  The weight of truth falls to the body language vibe.    

    Secondly, voice pitch, volume, inflection and timber.  For fun you can say the words, “I Love You,” 3 or 4 different ways and that is the overwhelming evidence that vibes are for real and they are important and also powerful.  For your own little experiment, in a conversation of three or more, watch the body language and listen for the timber  of the voice of the dominant and watch and listen as others around you mimic both body movement and voice inflections to match that of the domininent in the room.  For even more fun, make a conscious effort to do the exact opposite of the dominant movement and speech, you will actually feel awkward.  

So this poses another question, the one we really want answered; that question, “Is there such a thing as a spiritual vibe.  I claim certainty by default.  As a believer traipsing this planet while simultaneously walking in the spiritual kingdom of God, to me the walk is by spiritual vibe.  He, the Holy Spirit is the vibe showing us left, right, up, down, right, wrong, etc.  The actual term in Greek for spirit finds its root in pneuma, which in English is wind.  You may have heard the study of the Holy Spirit is Pneumatology.  Literally translated that would mean, the study of wind.  Wind you can not see, but you can feel.  Wind can be powerful or it can be comforting and consoling. Indginous to my personal walk with God, I refer to the “Vibe” as my Spiritual Spidey Sense.  My construct is not only experience, but truth from the Word.  John  14:17 says, “the Spirit (WIND) of truth.  The world cannot accept him.  The person who follows the pattern of the world, can not receive the wind from God.  They do not feel it, from God or another believer.  My spiritual spidey sense (what you guys call vib)  lets me know most of the time if me and another person are sharing the same experience of not only the presence of the wind but also the direction of it.    There is a harmony about it.  A spiritual connection by sensing and following the same supernatural weather system..   Those with gifts of leadership and teaching are also spiritual meteorologists.  They can sense the direction and reception of truth.  Jesus introduced this functional aspect to our faith when he told the guys in John 14:26 the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father is sending in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.   The advocate cnd be an intercessor, interpreter, public speaker, paraclete, or called to one’s aid.  That is the VIbe, that is the spiritual spidey sense.  Without any doubt the “counseling wind” is our assimilation to God’s kingdom.  This stair steps to the question we really want answered about the “Vibe.”  That question, do believers get spiritual vibes from God that are about others or a situation.  The answer to that is theologically sound, Yeppers.  The Bible prescribes not only physical and mental actions in obedience, but also things we are to do in the Spirit. 1 John 4:1 Do not believe every spirit but test them.  John 3 that which is born of spirit is spirit. 

Ephesians 4:3-6  Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. All of 1 Cor. 12…ex.v12  Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

The Vibe from God and others is a for real thing.  

There is so much more to this subject as you follow the breadcrumbs back through the teachings of the early church. For now I hope this encourages you to dig deeper to understand our place in the kingdom. There are dangers of heart and spirit having a little scuffle over people and situations, go with the spirit because the vibe your heart will give you is a deceitful little gremlin.  

“God said to me.”

Pastor Glen Church , , , ,

Say what?  She showed me her grocery list.  Written in pencil I could see peanut butter, oil, cheerios etc.  A typical list of about 20 items.  You could see the gray streaks of erase marks where items were deleted completely and others were substituted items.  With timbre of doubt, “So you pray over your grocery list, and God tells you what to purchase and what not to?” I asked.  Her response was, “Absolutely!”

God does speak to believers, but what do we mean by that?

I never intend to judge what a believer may receive from God, but sometimes I wonder if what they are saying is what I am hearing.   We have heard it from our pastors, friends, and so many others, “Well God told me or God said to me.”  Would it not be fun, for us to create a small group and pose the question, “Can you give me a play by play, maybe an actual breakdown of what exactly happened when you heard God speak?” Because I know when God said, “Let there be light, and there was light,” a gaseous giant a 1,000,000 earths could fit inside, was formed in a void of nothing that is currently systematically using nuclear fusion to convert hydrogen to helium at light speed producing heat up to 15,000,000 degrees Celsius.  So, I have got to know what this same God said to you! 

I have no doubt I am guilty at some time or another that I have said something along those lines, “I asked God and he said…”  And some may get the impression that a beam of light from heaven came to earth, lightning struck, the angel Gabriel puts his hand on my back, and a loud audible Morgan Freeman sounding voice says to me, “Yes, my son, choose the Chalupa Box, it’s a better deal than the #2.”  And one may ask, “Why can’t I hear God like that?” 

Sometimes I am like Kevin Malone.

I have never heard an audible voice of God, but I will at times default to my Christian cliché collection and play the “God spoke to me,” card.  No doubt my “well you know what I mean” sound byte could very likely not be known to the listener.  This listener might assume that a loud voice connected via spiritual blue tooth gave me clear and concise instructions about my situation. No doubt God does communicate to us, move us, clarify to us, counsel us, drive us, push us, persuade us…SPEAKS to us, but what does that look like, sound like, feel like?  I had a similar question posed to me this week.  “Should a believer be scared when he or she spends time with the Lord and does not hear from Him?”

Simple answer: NOPE.

The best way to know what God is saying is to go back to what He said. What I mean by that is God will never ever move you, tell you, instruct you to do, say, be anything that contradicts the truth of scripture.  The number one way to know what God is saying is to know the Word.  The Word of God is Jesus come to earth.  So we could not only hear from God but to see him, touch him, smell him, and listen to him.   This is how you get to know Him.  You will begin hearing more from God when you speak about him from the context of a lifelong friend in contrast to a third person description or story about Him. 

The best way to know what God is saying is to go back to what He said.

START HERE:  A suggestion: 

1. Go to place where you most likely will not be disturbed.   That can be a public place, as long as you put both earbuds in. 

2.  Listen to one of your favorite worship songs.  Then answer these two questions.

          a.  Why is that one of my favorites

          b.  Who is God in this song. 

          c. BibleGateway a scripture that has to do with the “Who God is” in the song.  Does the song mention that that God is sufficient to meet your needs? The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot. (Psalm 16:5, NASB)

Is God giving his strength to the believer in this song? The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.(Psalm 28:7, NASB)

Sincerity does not equate to Maturity

To be clear, I am just suggesting the above as one way out of many to spend some time getting to know God.   Get to know HIM!  God’s “communique” with us is rarely a crazy out of left field surprise.  Most of the time we already kinda, sorta, know what he is saying, and it’s our time with him in the word and worship that what we thought is now confirmed.  You cannot expect an intimate conversation from a surface relationship with God.  Therefore always be leery of the that guy who tells you all the things God tells them, yet their passion for Bible study and preaching of the word is almost nil.  They may be emotional…but that does not equate to spiritual.   As you get to know God, he can be that kind friend that you can ride 45 minutes with and neither has to say a thing.  You can find the joy of being with God, you don’t always have to be taking short hand on his new directives that will guide you through your next 10 years of life experiences.  God’s interest in you is much more in the NOW than the LATER anyway.  You don’t have to worry about taking a wrong turn, because if Google maps can reroute you, certainly God can too. 

Don’t pressure yourself to try to find the right sequence or string of alone time events for God to react like when Aladdin rubbed the magic lamp.  There is no pressure on you to perform, but rather conform (Rom 12:1-2)  to the truth of who he is and then and only then will you “hear him.” 

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Surrender

Pastor Glen Family

pastor Glen Moore

Fill in the blank:

1.  When with my main circle of friends I am the ________________.  (Examples: shot caller, comedian, laid back one, quiet one, center of attention, most difficult, spender, most reserved, most vocal, one invited last, one invited first, peace maker etc.)

2.  In my family I am the __________. (problem person, peace maker, follower, leader, bossy one, ignored one, star or bright spot, black sheep, irresponsible one, responsible one, dependable one, authority, sensitive one, angry one etc.)

3.  Overall I think of myself as _____________. (loyal, haunted, fearful, dangerous, friendly, smart, funny, sarcastic, responsible, generous, angry, hungry, suspicious, dependable, a go getter, a follower, misunderstood, the fixer, a nobody, a somebody, a somebody but currently unrecognized, burdened, sad, a diamond in the rough etc.)

My Identity

If you took time to choose an adjective to describe yourself in each blank, then maybe you see that your role or identity is different depending on the situation.  Did you have any that were opposites?  I wonder do you like what you put in the blanks or did you sense a “spurt” of discomfort or dread with each answer you gave.  You play a role in each situation and that roll often becomes our identity. Your identity then can become a perpetual expectation.  And that expectation can be internal, external or both.  Do you sometimes feel like you “multi-identity disorder?” (I made that word up, not a part of the DSM) 

What would you say if I told you that the Bible has some truth about your roles and expectations?  What would you say if I told you, YOU CAN BE FREE FROM THE IDENTITY CRISIS?

Go with me on this little journey.  Don’t judge, but this is about Judas.  You are not Judas in that  you would betray God for money, then again maybe you would and that would suck for you.  Moving on, don’t just “identify” Judas as the great betrayer, but rather seek to understand why he did what he did.  It is clear that Judas betrayed Jesus, and it is important to believe the Bible when it portrays that as SIN.  It was sin, sinful, hurtful, disobedient, wrong, bad, ugly and a lot more.  In no way am I justifying Judas’ betrayal nor am I tolerating his actions, but I do want to try to understand.  For even Judas himself has an identity all through the scriptures.

From the get go, Mark chapter 3 or the first mention of Judas in book of John tags he guy as the “one who would betray Jesus.”  If this were a movie the first time you see Judas he would be the one all in black with an evil look on his face, a smurky grin and an all around sinister look. The BAD guy!  Talk about your identity crisis, Judas had one.  I believe Judas knew what he was doing was evil.  I believe that Judas knew he was betraying Jesus because Judas wanted money.  He wanted money because of how it made him feel, the security if gave him, and he valued it more than he valued loyalty.  But I want to understand, why? We all know the “What” he did?  It’s the why that perplexes us, and yet it’s in the why that we can find the truth about Surrendering Our Identity to Christ and being FREE for our own identity crisis. 

To reiterate, this is not about you betraying Jesus or not betraying him, it’s a close look at roll, expectations, and finding your identity in Christ by surrendering to him. 

Quick Time Line from Scripture: (A little Context)

Mark Chapter 3 NIV

13” Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve…and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”(always the tag line)

John 12:5-6 ESV

Judas asked, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

(same story in Matthew 26… the Bible says)

And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

You know the rest of the story. 

Judas’ first label was given to him at birth.  Judas means “TO PRAISE!” A name derived from the tribe of Judah.  Jesus is the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” since we are talking about identity’s.  In Judas’ circle of friends he was the responsible trustworthy guy who handled the books.  He had a specific roll to play and an expectation.  Like YOU and ME he also knew how he was expected to act,   what he was expected to do, and what he was expected to say.  He also knew that there were expectations of motive.  Notice what the Bible says about “the one who is to praise.”

Identity

1. His circle of friends Identity: “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 

Does this response resonate with you? Judas knew what was expected for him to say.   Not that you are evil or ill willed, but rather…DO YOU SAY AND DO THINGS BECAUSE IT IS YOUR IDENTITY?  Are your words and actions governed by a label or by the roll you play?  Think about it.  It does not have to be that way.  You can be free from your multi-faceted freaky freeway of canned response and action due to your TAG.  Would you consider surrendering your tag line to Jesus?  Would you entertain the thought of surrendering your roll in your circle of friends to Jesus?  Can you sense the freedom of surrendering your identity to Jesus and only be one person in him instead of trying to measure up in rolls to others.  Those rolls will ALWAYS lead to defeat, because you can’t fulfill them.

2.   Self-Identify of Judas:  He was the one most deserving.  “he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”  Judas would NOT say “I am a thief.”  Judas would say, “I deserve more, because I do more.” Judas would say, “I am entitled to extra because I am extra.”  Judas would see himself as a little smarter, a little better, and more deserving.  The one named “to praise” identifies himself as a great person because he 1. Testifies that Jesus is Lord 2. Reclassifies himself above others 3. Justifies his selfish motives and actions.  4. Disqualifies his own sin. 5. Diversifies his opportunities and portfolio. 5  Gratifies himself in two ways, pleasing others and pleasing himself. 

With that said, you may be saying oh no!..He, Judas (to praise), exemplifies me!  That’s me.  I am that kind of person.  A person who is a different person given the situation.  I say what I am expected to say, because if I don’t I won’t be heard.   I do what I am expected to do because if I don’t I will disappoint.  I justify my sinful actions and attitudes because I surmise I will never live up to my own or others expectations.  “MY IDENTITY IS IN WHO I FEEL I HAVE TO BE RATHER THAN WHO I WANT BE?”  Surrender!  Surrender!   

Judas came to a cross roads.  Are you there?  It’s often over looked in the scriptures.  Maybe it’s always been over looked or maybe I am just crazy.  (I won’t be cringe by saying cra-cra )  Take a look at Matthew.  Jesus is sending out the 12 as a test run for after his departure.   Chapter 10: 9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra clothes.”  JUDAS JUST LOST HIS IDENITY.  Judas lost his job. He no longer had his main responsibility.   His roll not only changed but was dissolved.  Gone, no need for a treasurer.  No need for someone to keep up with the money because there is not and won’t be any.  His Identity is stripped away and all he has left is the real Judas.  The vulnerable Judas.  The broken, selfish, pitiful man that leaned into his identity way too much and now he is revealed.  And then Jesus calls him out…”the one.” 

Surrender your life to Jesus.  Lay down the identities.  Let Jesus change you from the inside out to become complete and whole in him instead of the multifaceted multi-faced personality on demand.  Why?  Because that’s not real.  So yeah, if you lay it down you may have to face some of your demons, and yes others may not get it.  So what?  You may just want out!  Out of the ways of the world.  To be true to God and to yourself.  To mature and grow as a believer.  To have the relationship with God that actually works.  Freedom comes through surrender in the context of the believer.  You will be whole therefore you will feel whole.  You will be content and you will feel content.  You will be one person and feel satisfied.  Yes this can be you.  Surrendered to the one who gave his life for you. 

One

Pastor Glen Family

You all know someone who just doesn’t seem quite right. Some say may “they have a screw loose,” “elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top,” or “not the sharpest tool in the shed.” It’s funny how we communicate such things to try to say this person seems to be missing something that the majority has. These labels do not necessarily mean lack of intelligence. Many times we can’t quite put our finger on it, but we know something is lacking.Now to turn that around a bit; do you every think of yourself in this way? Do you ever think that you seem to have a lot but something is still missing, something is not quite right? Do you find yourself comparing yourself to others in the worship service your hands are up and their hands are up and you think “Am I doing this right?” Do you open an eye during prayer and see some other person doing the same and you half nod one another in a silent agreement that neither of you have arrived at the point the majority seems to be.

You are not alone. That doesn’t solve your mystery but it is a fact. What is it that you lack that causes you to worry instead of worship, to be preoccupied during preaching or instagramming at the invitation? What is the one thing you lack?

Jesus ran across a young hipster just like that. He had disposable income, he had high position in the family business, and was young man of scruples and morality. But he, like many of us, knew there had to be more. From the outside he seemed to be lacking in nothing, but he felt he was missing something. So he found Jesus who seemed to be one of those that had a lot of followers with a screw loose or disciples who were not the sharpest tool in the shed. He asked Jesus, ” What do I need to do to have a life that lasts forever?” His confidence and position aloud him the boast of being a person who is good and moral. He was likable dude who treated people right and was respected and admired by friends and family.

Jesus said you only lack ONE thing. Wow! Only one? The last thing on the list to have it all! How much does it cost? How much time will it take? Just one thing Jesus? Do tell?

Give up everything and you will have the ONE thing you lack. Well that’s not gonna work. What? That’s crazy! Addition by subtraction? Sell off the the things I own then give that money to the poor? Nope. Have a nice day.

What’s the point? Do you see it? Do you see the irony? Do you see the hypocrisy? Rich Young Ruler means he had money he did not make and position he did not earn. Yet this young man felt it was his right to keep all these things as his instead of giving it away to someone who “did not make it or earn it.” In this story I would love to say that I identify with Jesus or that I take the perspective of the disciples, yet I must confess I am the entitled selfish spoiled brat.What’s mine is mine Jesus! My money, my family, my time, my emotions, my thoughts, my friends, my career-I earned it !

I wonder if God has ever said, “Did ya now?” Not in so many words, but I do have to be reminded by my Father that nothing I have is mine and every breath I have is borrowed. I am a manager not an owner. He is the owner! He is the creator! And daily I have to surrender what I believe to be my rights to his will. I have no rights God reminds me. That the day I accepted his broken and spilled out Son as my savior that I relinquished my rights that I never had in the first place.

It’s not yours! You didn’t earn it! Your rights can not be violated if you don’t have any in the first place. Eternal life came with the highest price that you nor I had to pay. Jesus loves us and wants everything for us. But we have to surrender everything to him, the irony is that nothing we think we have is ours in the first place.

Do you identify with this guy? What will your response be? Will you walk away and lack or surrender everything to Jesus and have it all? One thing you lack.

Anchor of Hope

Image Pastor Glen Church, Family

The hope that I have is a left alone tether. Below the surface I am a witness to the dropping of the anchor. Beneath the waters I view the disturbance of the giant stones plunge, I hear the indigenous sound of underwater mayhem as the ancient anchor makes its way to the bottom, and the oceans must give room for this space and weight. Striking the bottom a billow of water dust giving up its place for the salvation of what is up above. Clearly now the remnants of the ocean bottom have settled into their new location while the anchor presupposes what was their bed. The tether to the anchor stretches to straight and the anchor settles in…the long rope moves but stays straight because the anchor holds and unaltered by my witness.
The hull of the boat above me, the anchor below me and I take account of the relationship between the two. The boat moves the anchor does not. The boat sways and turns and the anchor is steady. The boat is being tossed by waves and wind that I cannot see from here, the evidence is clear that something is going on up there. The anchor, it seems, doesn’t change with the wind in waves. The anchor I notice is the same regardless of the surface. The anchor is steadfast in the calm and the storm.
Only beneath the surface can I see the anchor clearly. Beholding to the murk and rock. It doesn’t strain, it doesn’t move, it seems to be indifferent to conditions above either calm or calamity. So beneath the water I trust the anchor. I hear the sounds of same. Same is the water at these depths regardless of the waves above. Now that I have seen and heard the anchor in action and it can only be describes as…..STILL. Still still.
The sailor in that boat, is he scared of the storm? Is he crying out for help? Is he flashing through his journeys history denoting what brought him to this place and denouncing his own will to live? Oh If he could see what I see, Stillness…If he could hear what I hear….Still. My voice cannot carry from the depths regardless of my screams of “The Anchor is Steady!! The Anchor is secure!” “You are not holding to the Anchor…The Anchor is holding you!” He can’t hear me, he can’t see me. My witness is mine, his witness is his. I appreciate him weathering the storm and I do not discount the fear and trembling cracks of thunder and bright whites of flashing streaks. But the anchor will save him, the anchor will secure him. The anchor is his unrealized hope.
waterYOU HAVE HOPE! Your storm is no match for Jesus. This hope is not a maybe or could be hope. It is a sure thing because Jesus does not change. The storm will probably continue then eventually fade. You may change, but the anchor will not. The tether will not snap in two though you be broken. Cry to God in the storm, behold his strength. Confess your lack of faith in the rain, and be warmed. Close your eyes to the blinding lighting strikes around you and see hope in the dark. The storm does what a storm does but you are not alone. That ominous sound of crashing white capped waves may knock you to your knees but the tether is tight and the anchor does not have to flex nor recoil to handle the strain. You are Ok Be still. Be comforted.
Hebrews 6:19 WE HAVE this HOPE as an ANCHOR for our Soul-Firm and Secure.
~Pastor Glen
Way Church.

Underdogs

Pastor Glen sermon

Most people root for the underdog.  The under dog is the person who for all intents and purposes is sorely disadvantaged in one or more ways.  Attributes associated with the underdog are weak, small, short, poor, misunderstood, underrated, unpopular, dorky, timid, nerdy and the list goes on. image It is this person we want to “win” to “succeed” to “slay the giant.”  Unexpected victory for multiple reasons appeals to the majority.  I wonder if thats because most people align their self with the  weak, small, short etc?  Do most identify with the underdog because they share the same characteristics of the “least likely?”  If you are like me, the answer would seem to be “no”. I do not think most people generalize themselves  as the “loser sort.”  So if its not the “unlikely” victory our the “unexpected” outcome of the weak  defeating the strong or the unpopular surpassing the popular, what is it that we identify with.  Before I answer that, lets look at some well known examples of the “underdog” coming out on top.

The movie Rocky is the first that comes to mind.  Sylvester Stalone played a poor husband and father in Philadelphia who makes it all the the way to the top to be a professional boxer.  All the odds were stacked against him, and he becomes the champ.  The theme of all the Rocky movies is that the “the heart” is almost a supernatural force that thrust this underdog to victory.  How about the Karate Kid?  Here is a kid who learns karate from a loony Mr. Miyagi by “painting the fence” and “waxing the car.” Again the theme of “heart” plus the secret “crane” move results in Daniel being carried on the shoulders of his team through the Dojo with chants, tears, and shouts of victory.  

Of course the Biblical account of David and Goliath.  Popular even in secular circles is the story of a small, young shepherd boy with the release of a stone from a hand made sling crushes skull fragments into the frontal lobe of a giant layered with the finest armor and carrying the most up to date weapons of war.  With a thud the giants body creates a low lying dust cloud as his corpse collapses like a tall building to the ground.  The young shepherd boy uses the lifeless giants sword to separate vertebrae and flesh and carries the head so everyone can see that the victory was complete.  This launches the young shepherd into history and a victory for his people.

ud2Let’s try a little different perspective. For what it is worth, it could be said that Goliath brought a knife to a gun fight and lost.  I am sure Goliath was the most imposing of all the philistines.  He was huge and freakishly tall. Added was what might have been 100 extra pounds of armor.  He had an assistant carrying his shield.  He demanded David come to him and fight like a man.  Unlike the movies, a true slinger rarely makes more than one rotation with his sling and projectile. Its the release thats so important.  The correct whip like release breaks the sound barrier and can send a smooth stone at more than 100mph with deadly accuracy.  David was used to facing danger alone.  Earlier in the story David made the claim that in order to defend one defenseless sheep.  He pulled the lamb from the lions mouth, and holding the lion by beard, beat him to death with his bare hands. I only bring these things up to allow for a broader perspective not necessarily a different one.  

Now…back to the original question, why we love the underdog.  How do we identify with him or her?  I don’t think its because of weakness or being a self identified loser.  I think we love the underdog because we believe he “DESERVES” the victory.  I think its the pride of life that we all share that allows us to identify with the person who deserves the victory more than the other.  Every one of us have felt at some time or another that we deserved better than what we received.  How many times have we considered our motives more pure, our ways more heart felt and yet the spoils of victory goes to the other.  It’s not fair and we want fairness from our own perspective.  This is why we tend to be underdog material.  Its why we cheer for unnoticed when they are noticed.  We want to believe the same can happen to us.  We want to believe that we can win, come out on top, find victory because we deserve it.  

David was the underdog and Goliath was the anticipated victor.  No one else would fight him.  Not only did a life hang in the balance but the lives of all Israel. The perpetual promise land vision lasts until this day. Even more important than that, God had a plan to fulfill his will for the redemption of people.  That plan was for Jesus to come.  The plan was that he would come through the line of David.  For that to happen God wanted David to be king.  For David to be king He had Samual anoint him.  God used king Saul’s spiral of insanity to get David’s foot in the door as a musician for royalty.   God used a lunch delivery to get David to witness the front line of battle.  God used the voice of the giant philistine to cause David’s anger to burn so that David would offer his services to take care of this “Giant” problem.  And he did.  

The underdog won not because he deserved it, but because this particular underdog was a part of God’s much larger plan.  If the plan required David to die, he would have died.  (ex. Martyrdom of Stephen)
But he won the victory, not because he was better, not because he had more heart or better motive.  It was God’s plan, and it so happens David had been chosen to be a part of that plan.  And David CHOSE to be a part of God’s plan as well.  

The point?  Simply, God has a plan and a will.  We have the privilege of being a part of that plan.  As a part of that plan we accept our position.  We have a victorious life as believers not because of what we have done, but because what HE has done.  

There is HOPE for Those Who Self HARM

Pastor Glen Family

Many years ago I was leading a mission trip at a location where many people were seeking healing from God for a number of reasons. Addictions, abuse, those with criminal intent, and generally young people who were at the end of their rope and needed help. We were not suppose to ask questions such as “what are you in for” or “what problem brought you here?” That would be stupid. But, we were told that if one of the residence opens up to you on their own thats ok.
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Sitting at one of the picnic dinner tables for 8 one of the residence began to talk to me. She was at one of the end seats which signified that she had leveled up in the program there. It was very noticeable that both her arms and legs had thin lines of symmetrical scarring. She was a cutter for sure, and I was trying to be so cool by not drawing attention to the permanent lines of not so distant pain. But her eyes took my focus down and to the rightm, straightening her arm at her side, “You wondering where my scars are from?” She confidently asked. She knew. She absolutely knew. One thing about the ostracized and outcast, they often have an acute sense of the genuineness of others and little patience for artificial generalities. Like many others there, this new life experience was out of desperation and a last resort for help. I am not exactly sure where this young lady was in her process, but it was evident she had healed to a place to be able speak openly about her pain that could only be displaced in short moments of sadistic controlled euphoria. She spoke to me about her abuse and abuser, I articulated my way around the conversation not to get into the specifics, because I knew that was not my place nor my place to give counsel, but rather to empathize and validate her past and present pain and struggles.

This week that experience came rushing back into my brain, because on two separate occasions I have crossed paths with two young ladies, both of whom were at two different points of sell, “Thanks come again,” situations. Only one day apart I caught a glimpse of the same thin scar tissue self inflicted lines of quiet desperation. My response, “Thank you,” turning and walking away with my bag or box of self indulgence. It wasn’t the time or place but I so wanted to hear the story. To understand why a young lady with so many years ahead, would on purpose pull a pair of scissors or kitchen knife across their own forearm and find comfort. What pain was/is so bad that on purpose injury gives sense of relief. I never discount what what pain, guilt, and depression will do to people.

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Of course being a lead pastor I immediately did two things. I looked up statistics and scripture. Its what I do. I don’t know…its just what I do. Statistically 10% of young ladies 16 year old girls and younger cut, and 6% of boys do the same. I have no idea of the validity or the margin of error of these numbers.

My thumbs then typed g-a-d-e-r-e-n-e-d-e-m-o-n-i-a-c in my safari search engine. Mark 5 on bible gateway.com gives me the detailed story for my research. There was an outcast vagabond who literally lived on the fringe of society amongst tombs housing the dead in a field of pigs. Thats right, he did not fit in anywhere. This guy would not be shackled by anyone, yet he would cut him self with rocks. He would break chains that were intended to support the “Tarasoff Law” of not being a harm to himself of others. As far as the story goes, this guy broke through his shackles with the intention of only hurting himself. People called him demon possessed and the Bible agrees. That does not mean that all cutters are demon possessed. But self destruction and induced pain are of the satanic phylum. Any time that we substitute the truth for a lie, that is evil and self destructive.

God values every person. This truth is supported in Mark chapter 5. Jesus travels through a storm to a non welcoming land, into a pig pastor where the stench of death is prominent because there are also tombs where skeletal remains reside. All this for one person who no one seemed to care about.

If you cut…self harm in anyway, first of all you are not crazy. And there are a lot more like you. You are probably depressed at times and have a lot of anxiety. Wether your situation is self induced or external circumstances, I can be confident that Jesus values you. His desire is to have a relationship with you. How does that work? Just like any good friend. You talk to him and others who know him. He can bring the healing. He may not remove the scars for he himself still bears his. But he he can take the pain. Ask him for help.

Fair?

Pastor Glen Church

If we could get passed the issue of “fairness” our understanding of the character of God would be revealed with cleaner lines, and a clearer understanding of his ways. Ambiguity is not part of the divine direction equation from God’s end, but our accusatory nature lends itself to excusing our lack of induction by alleging the God of Truth for whatever reason has camouflaged his intentions and desires. Like the first time a patient with dilated eyes squinting out from the optometrists office with a virgin prescription that has diagnostically proven that everything 150 feet ahead is not blurry! It’s hard to accept the 20/50 diagnosis the first time, but after a while we appreciate the clarity of distance more than the humbling fact that we are somehow inept.

God’s will and ways are crystal clear, its our lenses that make it blurry. Like the warping of the cornea, over a period of time God’s clear instructions can become more blurred without our noticing. The reason? ITS NOT FAIR! Yes, the same exclamation given from the arm crossed pouty lipped 10 year old’s dashed hopes of a candy bar before dinner, is the exact same rationale we use when God does not see it OUR way. And if God can not see it our way, then we certainly cant see it his ways. The 10 year old does not ask for a meeting to discuss nutrition or parental authority, but rather contends that he wants a candy bar and the parent is abating and abetting the chocolate snack from its appropriate place, “Me,” the child assumes. The chocolate bar is there, it wood taste good, the parent can reach it, but mom refuses to hand it over. The child assumes he wants the bar, deserves the bar, and needs the bar. He understands that the parent doesn’t want them to have it, he may even to logically understand why, BUT refuses to accept it. The notion of merit far outweighs the rationale of denial. A ten year old does not need to be taught pride, its an all inclusive part of the heart beat and firing of synapse package. Untitled 4
Pride states emphatically that I should be able to have what I want when I want it and I will be happier when I have it because I deserve it. Juxtaposed is the opposite, OBEDIENCE. Obedience to God is doing what God says to do, when he says to do it, with a humble good attitude. Our flesh (pride) by nature is apposed to the holiness of God, therefore our inclination is to accuse the creator of abuse of authority and playing hide and seek with anything that we tend to disagree with or are not comfortable with. This cross examination is not audible but rather based on the prosecutorial subconscious evidence that states emphatically that I deserve happiness, comfort, and non-disruption.
Coming full circle, “Its not fair!” I would like to state that after years of study, a well rounded post education, and life experience, GOD IS NOT FAIR! He never considered it, he never intended it, and it has no place in our relationship to the Master. God is holy which means he is separate from us. Isaiah 6 says He is Holy, Holy, Holy. Translated loosely God is Holy, Holier, and the Holiest. He is separate from us in every way. He is all good and there is nothing good in us, there is no where we can agree. There is no compromise available. Jesus is the one who has turned the tables on God’s behalf. Not yours nor mine. I know that sounds like “Crazy Talk,” but its not.
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God has allowed relationship simply because it is his desire and that desire has nothing to do with your value to the world, your abilities to help others or your intentions to do right. You and I are flawed. We are broken. What we were originally intended for was lost 1000’s of years ago as sweet savory juices dripped from the chin of naked naive hopelessly devoted one of a kind beauty as she made the hand off to her consenting partner and he experienced the same. Our citizenship is that to the borough of sin. We were born into it, we had no control over it and we cant change it. Our sinful nature can not be fixed, repaired, denied nor vindicated no more than you can choose what city you were born in.

Jesus said I am THE WAY THE TRUTH and THE LIFE…No one comes to the Father but by me. And its that simple. Only in faith and obedience can one have a relationship with God. There is only one truth for eternity and it is Jesus. There can only be one truth by definition. If there is no conviction there is no Jesus. If you do not have a relationship with Jesus you will be in torment for eternity. If you can look out mainly for #1 and only dabble in doing good for others, you don’t have it. Jesus in your life changes you. The Holy Spirit is a relentless counselor that will eventually yell louder and louder to force you to hear, but you have to choose to understand. He will pursue, persuade and poke. If you are not growing and maturing, more than likely you simply have no relationship. The majority of the human race through the ages will not experience heaven. Narrow is the gate and broad is the path to destruction.
“That’s not fair?” Fairness is irrelevant. Its like trying to play monopoly with UNO Cards. We have to come to the understanding we do not deserve anything and everyone isn’t promised everything. God is large and in charge and you are not.

truth and evil

Pastor Glen Church, Church Leadership, Family, sermon

i would like to encourage you, if you walk in obedience, you will face evil.  evil is not like most think as the faceless dark hooded and mysterious.  the fruit of the spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  one might think that evil then would be the opposite, but it is not.  Its an imitation of the above.  its a non organic substitute that masks itself.  Its a facade.  Those of a discerning spirit who walk with the lord see it.  the carnal mind simply does not, but over time intelligence alone will eventually reveal truth.  evil hates the truth, becausethe truth exposes evil.  evil does not want you to know the truth, because if you know the truth then you see evil for the ugly that it is.  therefore, evil must be flexible and ever changing because the truth stands alone and can not change.  evil will skirt, evil will lie,   evil is cunning and sneaky, but when exposed will become hostile with malice.  After that all of the sudden a calm.  behind the calm is a strecorderorm…the calm is the facade of the fruit, and the storm is that which rages closely behind the mask.

the trials that the book of james speaks of are just that.  evil is nothing more than man being man.  the godless being normal.  selfish arrogant money power- being liked -where every smile is self serving, every handshake a simple act of self indulgence and every act of giving has the expectation of a receiving.

agape love is impossible, therefore evil can not forgive. it can not forgive because evil is so bloated that the smallest offense is also the greatest offense for evil declares self all above all, therefore any offense can only be an accolade or trophy displayed as a reward for not forgiving.  for evil, forgiveness = humility and humility to evil is weakness.  so to hang on to even the most minor of an offense, is a show of strenth like the free climber using three fingers to pull himself to safety.

evil will have joy in the trial but only because they are the trial to someone else.  its a loathsome self defeating act, yet the need for power and the win supersede even the notion of common sense and basic dignity.  joy comes in a grimmise of pinning the aponent down for the count.  its the epitome of narcisim for less of anyone else means more of self.  its the flesh in a vaccum.

the peace evil portrays is that of the sin of man, its not a peace like that of the holy spirit that illuminates the truth of God’s sovereignty, but rather the peace the flesh has in complete apathy.  indifference to pain and suffering caused to others or the potential there of.  evil thinks about the now, and is spiritually obtuse.  evil makes the mind secondary to the heart.  for evil can not accept its own fate.  for evil sees nothing wrong with itself, other than the truth seems to cause some serious hurdles.

kindness is out of the story that can be told later, or the expectation of a return. its a word that  expects a word, its giving for the purpose of owing, its masked even to self as an investment, of self preservation, simply its the pride of life.  the life that that believes its deserving of good and what is fair.  when really its the self concern like a child crying over not getting candy.

 patience is hard for evil pretend, because evil gets in a hurry.  if evil does not expedite the truth will win.  and losing for evil is personal and represents lack of power.  therefore evil will always advance past patience. for evil only trusts self and due to evils preoccupation with “me” is so bold that evil can’t realize that evil can not even trust itself.

like the psychopath or sociopath, goodness and kindness  observed and mimiced traits that evil will demonstrate as a defense and a place to hide.  evil will use these external behaviors like a soldier uses camouflage in hopes that the truth will pass by and evil be noticed.   evil is a coward to the truth.  thats why it rants, hates, is angry, is lieing, and desires for others the same.  the serpant was the most cunning of all creatures convincing man to have he deserved.  the heart is the most  deceptive thing, and evil relies on the heart.  goodness and kindness make a temporary shadow for evil, until the truth shines like the sun.

evil wants what it wants.  evil can not be faithful to God, a spouse, a friend, even a foe.  evil justifies the opposite of each relatioship in a selve serving pattern that is never black and white but a constant gray, smoke screen, and an inflated ego that justifies all acts of infidelity on self and more often than not displace the same shortcoming towords the truth.  lack of faithfulness is that which most turn a head or keep opinions to self.  the reason being the descent man, not necesarily even godly man, relaizes the potential damage unfaithfulness exposed to the truth has a sequential devestating effect.  evil will wish, insinuate, lie, and accuse its enemy of the most repulsed of sins, because evil is guily even more but feels no guilt nor remorse.  evil is so unfaithful that it does not even for a second consider the irreputable damage to the innoncent, for they know not innocence.  evil will blame what it knows it is guilty of.  yet with out feelings of guilt.  evil is unfaithful on purpose, because being unfaithful is the pinnacle of power.  evil can not even be faithful to a foe, for if the foe can be of benefit to evil for a time, evil will carefully slide the mask of companionship for the time it takes to receive and have a need met.

like the hunter that has killed thousands , the mortician who has painted a thousand faces, evil can sing a sweet lullaby  like a munchausen syndrome by proxy mother  rocks her poisened baby to eternal sleep.  gentleness is evil’s calm in the comfort in the place its most comfortable, the power over a life.  its a satisfaction over the conquered which needed no conquering.  where the innocent perish evil will thrive.  that which would cause the Godly to fall prostrate before a holy God is the same that gives evil a quiet calm, because evil is the winner.

evil wants to isolate.  evil must be in the dark.  evil can only have self control in its victims isolation.  for only in isolation can evil form what seems to be special friendship when in reality its yet another human shield when the bullets of truth fire across the battlefield   as the light of truth exposes evil, evil will cast blame beyond itself to those it has pre-isolated in order to cast the blame to another or others.  evil is a coward.  evil will demand itself as the only voice.  evil demands allegience to no other.  evil has the expecation of complete loyalty to the grave, and if not ….evil will turn on that person like a fastball coming in contact with the  precision swing of a professional batter.

have you stared evil in the face?  have you sat across the table?  if you have and have flet intimidated or scared….ask yourself….are you on the side of truth?  not if truth is on your side, for truth takes no side nor is it a side.  evil will attack the truth from every angle…and refer to different sides, when in reality evil is the only side, the truth does not have a side, it simply exists and can not be moved.  evil is loud, the truth is quiet, evil will find strength in numbers, the truth only needs its self, evil will change the story from this  to that, truth needs no extra words, evil will pound its fists, quiver its chin, redden its  face and hurl sharpened daggers of insult and lies……………and the truth….well …….the truth…..just laughs and laughs and laughs…..what else is there at that point?  EVIL? WHATEVER.

 

The Depraved Mind

Pastor Glen Family , ,

I graduated from Garden Webb University, Boiling Springs NC.  While eating one day, with a new student, his chair was bumped from behind.  Jokingly he said, “Watch out are you blind?”  The guy who bumped is chair said, “Well yes I am.”  The two shared apologies, for the student apparently was unaware of the deaf and blind population at our school.  The new student felt very apologetic for his rash comment, but the two worked it out and became friends.

Do you find yourself watching the news on tv or your computer and saying things like, “How can people be so stupid?”  Or, “Don’t they see how wrong that is.”   Well I have also.  There are two particular “News Worthy” issues that are in the mainstream now that do make me angry.  One being the undercover planned parenthood videos and the other that has to to with the Ashley Madison Hack.  Both of these issues I find disturbing yet for different reasons.  I will write about the Ashely Madison deal in my next blog.

Planned Parenthood:  The TRUTH about planned parenthood is that they are federally funded abortion clinics.  They call it Planned Parenthood and the left thinking politicians call it “Women’s Health.”  But in reality it is a place the public can go when they don’t want their baby and our federal government will pay to have that baby killed and removed.  This has been going on forever.  So there is no news there.  The shock has come with the revelation that these clinics are now selling everything from the whole baby to amputated body parts and internal organs.  They hide behind that it’s, “Not for profit.”  The videos are graphic and horrific.  They speak of a baby’s heart beating when it is removed.  As a Christian I find this sickening.

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The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not [d]agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he [e]has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that [f]godliness is a means of gain.

The depravity of the human mind deteriorates more with each passing generation.  Like my beginning analogy, at first I am angry then I have to realize these people are blind to the truth.  Abortion is murder.  Abortion stops life.  Abortion takes something that is living and kills him or her.

Lets take a look at this from a scientific point of view.  If I am a pragmatic non supernatural believing scientist i more than likely have to believe in the BIG BANG.  I would say LIFE started from a single cell that eventually, through natural selection, became what we know today as life.  Then that same scientist can say well life does not begin at conception.  That scientist might say, life only begins after a person is born and takes his or her first breath.   To the Christian it is VERY EASY to see that these two notions are in direct opposition to rational thinking.  It is crystal clear how contradictory these two ideas are.  If life began as one cell and we can call that life, then how can you say that a fetus is not living.  It is already become many cells and are growing.

If you are a believer, this makes complete sense to you.  I am completly convinced that the non believer can not make that intellectual connection.  The depraved mind is not only immune to spiritual things, it is also obtuse toward basic rational thinking.   I am not even talking about right and wrong here.  I am not not talking about philosophical or moral differences of opinion.  I am saying on a scientific level if you can say life started as a single cell how can you say an unborn baby is not a life?  Life means living.  It is that simple, but the world is blind to it.

1.How would you define the depraved mind?

2.  As a believer do you find yourself angry or sympathetic towards those who are blind to the truth?

3.  Going Deeper…What does all this have to do with personal responsibility?