I've hesitated from saying much publicly about something that is "political" in nature, because I know the risk I take in expressing my strong opinions on controversial topics. But you know what, I can't stand being silent anymore, and I hope no matter what you may think of the current health care discussion (yea, nay, don't care, other), you'll hear me out.
Let me go back to a couple of other moments and places in history. England was a society in which slavery was seen as an issue that divided the Church, and the mid-1800's in America, where the same issue ripped our country into a dividing war. There are different types of evil. One type is what you can call 'institutionalized', meaning that it has made its way into the systems of society. And unfortunately, the economy is the primary driving force behind most institutionalized evil. To be clear, slavery, both in England and America was institutionalized evil in both societies. But because of financial factors, it divided many well-meaning Christians. Sadly, many Christ-followers turned their heads to the evil of the basic human right of freedom.
I thank God that some people were willing to put their reputations on the line and stand up against something that was morally wrong and yet legally "right." These people didn't settle in and accept this evil as something we have to live with, they stood up for what was right, and usually at great expense.
Today, it frustrates me to no end to hear believers (and many I have great respect for) merely dismiss moral issues that are conveyed in our society to be political and therefore because of its association with politics and politicians have nothing to do with the issue. Worse yet, are believers that simply accept evil as something that will exist until they leave this world or the end of all things when God makes all things right. But wait...weren't we called to bring healing and the Kingdom of God to this world...not retreat or settle for injustice, especially for the 'least of these'? About a year and a half ago, I spoke to a nationally known ministry leader that was surprised that I had any hope that abortion would one day be overturned in the US. I could tell he thought I was naive to even think this way.
But overturning institutionalized evil isn't unprecedented, as we see from our two examples in America and England on the issue of slavery.
Thank God that in the past many brave men and women didn't settle for slavery being legally right and yet morally wrong. Yes, there are many believers engaged in the process on important issues today, but unfortunately they may not represent the best of us. (on both sides)
What happened yesterday with the passage of the health care bill was morally wrong, not necessarily because of it's supposed connection to a more 'socialistic' approach to the medical care, but because it is most likely may be the biggest proponent of expanded abortion on demand than anything since Roe Vs. Wade. (yes, when you know the details of the bill, that really is the truth)
From judging him on his record, our most pro-abortion executive in history has absolutely no intention of limiting the death of innocent babies. In fact, he is fulfilling his campaign promises to expand abortion rights to unprecedented levels.
No matter what you think of the health care debate, at least agree with me that this bill will contribute to our moral decline simply because of abortion issue and the lives it will destroy.
God give us the courage and clarity as followers of Jesus to stand up against the institutionalized evil of abortion, no matter what political party we may affiliate with.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
speaking at Kentwood Community to MS students last night
Wow, how cool it was to be back on stage at our student center at KCC last night speaking to middle school students. They are such a blast, so much energy in the room I love it.
I was able to do what has become my 'regular' teaching on Nehemiah 1 and the comparison of the wall of Jerusalem to schools today. I love watching students wheels turning when they realize that for many of them they are so used to being surrounded by the brokenness of the environment of their school that they've become numb to it. I literally see the revelation of the Holy Spirit on their faces when we begin to discover that the biggest challenge to schools being healed isn't what we typically think of...drugs, gangs, violence, racism, etc.
I believe according to the principle from Scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that the BIGGEST CHALLENGE SCHOOLS FACE IS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WHO DO NOTHING. I'm asking God to raise up a generation of students who will repent for this attitude of blame towards those who are lost and need the Answer instead of realizing that THEY ARE THE SOLUTION!
What's amazing is that students from literally all over the country are responding to this message and hearing God's voice of challenge to do something, that something being prayer! From California to New England, north to south students are going for it.
Last night, when it came time for the commitment, once again the students came through. I asked them to commit to showing up 1x a week for prayer at their school and stand signifying that they would. When it came time for the decision, almost every student stood up. Now I realize some may have stood out of pressure, or out of emotion. But I have to tell you, most students stood without hesitation when it came time, which tells me many of them are serious about.
There was buzz afterwards with students and there has been on Facebook already since last night.
Pray for these students at KCC.
What a privilege to be involved with this work of God from students at my church!
I was able to do what has become my 'regular' teaching on Nehemiah 1 and the comparison of the wall of Jerusalem to schools today. I love watching students wheels turning when they realize that for many of them they are so used to being surrounded by the brokenness of the environment of their school that they've become numb to it. I literally see the revelation of the Holy Spirit on their faces when we begin to discover that the biggest challenge to schools being healed isn't what we typically think of...drugs, gangs, violence, racism, etc.
I believe according to the principle from Scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that the BIGGEST CHALLENGE SCHOOLS FACE IS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WHO DO NOTHING. I'm asking God to raise up a generation of students who will repent for this attitude of blame towards those who are lost and need the Answer instead of realizing that THEY ARE THE SOLUTION!
What's amazing is that students from literally all over the country are responding to this message and hearing God's voice of challenge to do something, that something being prayer! From California to New England, north to south students are going for it.
Last night, when it came time for the commitment, once again the students came through. I asked them to commit to showing up 1x a week for prayer at their school and stand signifying that they would. When it came time for the decision, almost every student stood up. Now I realize some may have stood out of pressure, or out of emotion. But I have to tell you, most students stood without hesitation when it came time, which tells me many of them are serious about.
There was buzz afterwards with students and there has been on Facebook already since last night.
Pray for these students at KCC.
What a privilege to be involved with this work of God from students at my church!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The latest
A lot has happened since we last met here. Life is coming so fast right now that it's hard to remember to sit down and post all that's going on.
On the CYC front...
There are actually too many things to list that have happened, but here are a few highlights.
See You At The Pole and CYC are talking, which is a real good thing. I connected with the national FCA office recently, and they are considering promoting CYC to their network, which would be huge.
Moms In Touch, an organization I connected with while I was in CA, recently promoted CYC to all their state coordinators, and someone passed on an email that went out to their network that promoted CYC. This isn't a small network, they have thousands and thousands of chapters just in the US alone.
I'm currently working on trying to connect CYC with a handful of music festivals this summer before we try and hit all 60 of them next summer of '11.
On the NTS Camp front...
We had our last face to face meeting before this summer in Chicago at our new 'north' site for NTS. There were 15 of us there and there was some serious energy in the room as we talked about this June.
We've added several new churches to the mix, which we are excited about.
Poetice is trying to swing bringing our friend Richmann from Zambia with an orphan choir that will help us in worship a few times each week to celebrate changed lives through Reach4Life.
We celebrate our 10 year anniversary this year of NTS, some cool stuff on tap for that too.
On the Never The Same (non profit) front...
We are working on several funding strategies...keep praying for this. Lots of ideas, not enough time and focus to do them all.
We continue to move forward in partnering with Grey Matter Group, a marketing firm that has a heart for what we are doing.
I'll post this again, but I am wanting to bring together a group of people, particularly passionate about CYC together for a 1x a month prayer time on Saturday nights for an hour of prayer.
Here are the dates:
march 20, april 24, may 15.
I'll remind you later. For those on Facebook, keep an eye open for an invite.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
-"21" 2011 tour/promotion for CYC
-2010 summer internships for CYC
-funding options
-camp planning
-possible west coast NTS Camp for 2011
HOW YOU CAN PRAY:
-funding, we are almost out
-continued partnership with See You At The Pole
-protection for the Eckart family, spiritually and physically
On the CYC front...
There are actually too many things to list that have happened, but here are a few highlights.
See You At The Pole and CYC are talking, which is a real good thing. I connected with the national FCA office recently, and they are considering promoting CYC to their network, which would be huge.
Moms In Touch, an organization I connected with while I was in CA, recently promoted CYC to all their state coordinators, and someone passed on an email that went out to their network that promoted CYC. This isn't a small network, they have thousands and thousands of chapters just in the US alone.
I'm currently working on trying to connect CYC with a handful of music festivals this summer before we try and hit all 60 of them next summer of '11.
On the NTS Camp front...
We had our last face to face meeting before this summer in Chicago at our new 'north' site for NTS. There were 15 of us there and there was some serious energy in the room as we talked about this June.
We've added several new churches to the mix, which we are excited about.
Poetice is trying to swing bringing our friend Richmann from Zambia with an orphan choir that will help us in worship a few times each week to celebrate changed lives through Reach4Life.
We celebrate our 10 year anniversary this year of NTS, some cool stuff on tap for that too.
On the Never The Same (non profit) front...
We are working on several funding strategies...keep praying for this. Lots of ideas, not enough time and focus to do them all.
We continue to move forward in partnering with Grey Matter Group, a marketing firm that has a heart for what we are doing.
I'll post this again, but I am wanting to bring together a group of people, particularly passionate about CYC together for a 1x a month prayer time on Saturday nights for an hour of prayer.
Here are the dates:
march 20, april 24, may 15.
I'll remind you later. For those on Facebook, keep an eye open for an invite.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
-"21" 2011 tour/promotion for CYC
-2010 summer internships for CYC
-funding options
-camp planning
-possible west coast NTS Camp for 2011
HOW YOU CAN PRAY:
-funding, we are almost out
-continued partnership with See You At The Pole
-protection for the Eckart family, spiritually and physically
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