(Thanks to Recovering Pharisee for tuning me in to this CNN article.)

And so the 53-year-old accountant from the Tampa, Florida, area pledged $500 a year to Joyce Meyer, the evangelist whose frank talk about recovering from childhood sexual abuse was so inspirational. She wrote checks to flamboyant faith healer Benny Hinn and a local preacher-made-good, Paula White.

Only the blessings didn’t come… [more]

I can  only sum this up by paraphrasing my pastor last weekend: “It is not about giving in order to get.  God wasn’t getting excited because we were discovering the revelation of ‘getting’.”

I don’t know if this worldwide but it has been a long long while since I have heard prosperity preached.  I go to a lot of churches and I listen and watch a lot of sermons and I just don’t hear it much anymore.  Even in Durban, South Africa, I went to a service at a megachurch (seats 500+, multiple campuses) and that pastor was super-extra-over-cautious careful with his words when he had to speak about wealth and riches.  I felt that he truly loved his flock and was careful to raise them in the right way.

When I first started writing this post, I thought it was just about pastors taking the Lord’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7).  But in thinking about that church in Durban, I suddenly realized it really is about the love you have for your congregation.  You love your congregation so much that you are willing to put the burden of responsibility of their spiritual growth upon your shoulders.  When your faith is in Jesus, then that burden is light (Matthew 11:30).

That is a very beautiful thought.

In Daniel 10:13, an angel of God was held up by a prince over the kingdom of Persia while Daniel was fasting. The angel could not get through until he had assistance by Michael, an archangel. In Daniel 10:20 the same messenger angel to Daniel mentions that he has to go back and fight “the prince of Persia” but “the prince of Greece” as well. If Satan is indeed “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), why wouldn’t there be a “prince of America”?

Just a thought.

As we come upon the upcoming election year, be mindful of the fact that the way we live, the way we act and the way we love all others transcends what nation, community or family you live in or what political party you subscribe to. In other words, being a Republican or Conservative does not make a Christian or vice-versa.

Did the Republican party do any favors to us believers or did they try to appease us in order to get our vote? Is it because we have a Republicans in power is what makes this a Godly nation? (The last eight years would have undoubtedly answer these questions.)

This is not a call to vote Democrat or non Republican. This is a simple call to think.

Thank God for His kingdom and His righteousness that surely transcends man-made government and economic systems.

In the New York Times article, “A Nation of Christians Is Not a Christian Nation“, Jon Meacham said it best:

“The kingdom Jesus preached was radical. Not only are nations irrelevant, but families are, too: he instructs those who would be his disciples to give up all they have and all those they know to follow him.”

Should we pray for our nation to be a Godly nation or…
Matthew 6:9-10 (NKJV) In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

How do we know when it gets here?
Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV) Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Finally got all of my ministry and ministry-like bookmarks in order:

From the archives of Out Of Ur (of Leadership magazine):

October 18, 2007
Willow Creek Repents?

Why the most influential church in America now says “We made a mistake.”

Few would disagree that Willow Creek Community Church has been one of the most influential churches in America over the last thirty years. Willow, through its association, has promoted a vision of church that is big, programmatic, and comprehensive. This vision has been heavily influenced by the methods of secular business. James Twitchell, in his new book Shopping for God, reports that outside Bill Hybels’ office hangs a poster that says: “What is our business? Who is our customer? What does the customer consider value?” Directly or indirectly, this philosophy of ministry—church should be a big box with programs for people at every level of spiritual maturity to consume and engage—has impacted every evangelical church in the country.

So what happens when leaders of Willow Creek stand up and say, “We made a mistake”?

Take time to read the comments.

A few people are getting on soapboxes and high horses and shouting, “Told ya so!” Truth be told, even a year ago, I would have been just like that. I think I am pretty sure I would have uttered the folllowing phrases, “Which friggin’ idiot thought up of the Seeker concept in churches? How in the world do you deemphasize the Word of God in church? How can you stand on the pulpit and NOT challenge those who attend your church?”

I remember when I thought I knew it all and I knew what living in Christ was all about. Ah, the memories. Those were good times. (Your Sarcastic-O-Meter should be spiking right about now

While the comments on the post have long since been closed (sorry for spoiling it), I couldn’t help to comment on the article now.

The only thing that popped in my mind is this: Willow Creek and their clones have the numbers. Sheer numbers. What if Hybel and Co. stuck to their admission, looked at their numbers and simply said, “We have the numbers. God willingly, let us take our flock and show them what the heart of the Father truly is. Let us teach our flock what it means to love others as God loved us. Let us equip them to make them disciples.”

What about not just the churchgoers of all things WC? What about any big seeker friendly megachurch? What about any of those evangelists on television with the millions of viewers?

What if the those leaders simply shifted gears out of first into fifth, burned up all the nitro and raced to feed the flock in order to ignite the same passions that Christ had for reaching the lost and caring for the poor, weak, widow and the orphan?

What if the churchgoers stopped for just a moment, get out of the rut of cracking their Bibles just on Sundays and started to serve their “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria”, and to the end of the earth and showing the love of God through their acts for all humans because God loved them so much? What all the seeker and newbies turned all of their attention to the kingdom of God and his righteousness?

Naïve as I might be, there is always hope if we can glorify His name.

Truth be told, it is just wishful thinking on my part. I have no idea what God has in store for the North American church. But if the repentance from the leadership of Willow Creek Community Church is true, then I am excited beyond all measure.

I truly hope you and yours are having a very Merry Christmas.

• Playing: The same Miranda who previously offered a book recommendation recommended the Lego Star Wars game for my son since my son plays it every chance he gets when goes to the older kids class. He popped the game into the console and played with no needed instructions. What was really cool is that two people can play at the same time. This is the first console game I have bought that allowed for multiplayer. It is a bonus since I get to play it with my son!
• Singing: I am in the final days in physically and mentally preparing for this upcoming fast at the beginning of next year. Since I was originally led to do 30 days, I am do some reading on how to do it properly. I went over in my head what to pray for and what to study over those 30 days. I suddenly then realized it is not asking God for this, that or the third. It was simply to worship and praise His name. Anything less that does not give God all the glory is not even worth my time or the effort. I work up the morning and drove 30 minutes on the nearly deserted highways of Dallas and Fort Worth. I began to sing “Bring The Rain” by MercyMe and so much joy filled my soul that I was smiling, laughing and crying while singing. I have never experienced anything like that.
• Thinking: That might have been a private moment but, meh. I have never been a private person so why start now?