A New Blog

Hey Everyone,
I will be leaving this post up for quite a while so everyone gets a chance to relocate. I am moving my blogging to wordpress. I like the look and how I can use my own website to host it (although I'm still learning how to do that). Anyway, if you want to keep up with me go to pastorl5.wordpress.com.

Peace, Love, and Soul

Two Important Questions

Earlier this week, my mind got attacked with two compelling questions; the first has to do with politics and the second, religion. In order to gain perspectives on this, I asked two of my friends who have passions in these particular areas. Below is the exact conversations I had with these two, I welcome your thoughts in response to these questions, but I also have to say that I agree with these perspectives.

This first one asks the questions of our lack of focus as Christians when it comes to national concerns:

At 6:37 AM, PastorL5 said...

Adam,
Sorry I didn't email this question but I couldn't find your regular email address. With that said, I have had a question on my mind ever since your blog on helping third world countries. This is truly an admirable mission, and one that will be rewarded by God, but here is my question. Why do you think we put such an emphasis on helping foreign poverty when there is plenty of poverty in America. Doesn't it seem like that only time we offer help to those at home is when there is a major disaster? I believe churches need to be involved in more than just international missions. I believe that there should be a focus on community, nation, and international. We do a great job on the community and international but yet completely forget about those around the country that could use some financial assistance and even a hug. Just a thought, was wondering what your response to this was. This has nothing to do with you personally, by the way, but you are the one person I thought of that could give me a decent answer.

At 9:04 AM, Adam said...

Well, it really shouldn't be an either/or proposition. We should be the hands and feet of Jesus in our own backyard as well as the world around us.

Acts 1:8 - you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

I don't think Jesus meant to just proclaim His word in those places, that we are to be "little christs", following his example. To be concerned what he was concerned about.

I agree that there are some serious problems in the U.S., and I would never say that we should ignore those problems. Hopefully we can all be his hands and feet no matter where he calls us to, whether it be to our own country, our own state, our own city, or the world.

Back to the Blog: I have to say that I agree with Adam's viewpoint, but I do still think that there is a majority of Christians who have focused on the international concerns without even considering those of their own nation. We have to have a multi-focused heart that cares for all people not just certain types of people. On the other hand, we can sometimes concentrate too much on the national and local side than on the international side. Again, having an equal focus is key.

Now on to the second question that plagued my mind. This one specifically deals with the so-called "duty" of American Christians to vote for somebody just because they are Christian. Here's the conversation:

PastorL5:
Aaron, Hey! How are you doing? I really hope things are going well for you at CCU and Echo. I am writing to ask you your opinion on the issues of voting. How much should I weigh religious beliefs in the voting of a candidate? Should I, for instance, vote for Mike Huckabee because he is a Christian and not because he is a good leader? Am I not allowed, Biblically, to vote for Obama because he may or may not be Islamic? In my mind there should be nothing wrong with voting for the leader of this country because he is a good leader. Ethically or Biblically is there something wrong with this? I do care about things like abortion and creationism and all those other things, but even with a "Christian" Candidate those things will not be abolished. So why should I vote for someone just because he is a follower of Christ? Shouldn't his leader capabilities be counted? What are your thoughts to this? Peace, Love, and Soul Larry


Here is what Aaron had to say in Response:

Hi Larry: I hope your ministry is doing well. Echo is going great and teaching full time is a blessing. I have no universal or normative principle to offer you on voting neither really does scripture. I think you are free to vote your conscience on this. For me, the most important thing I consider in a candidate is not what is his or her's views on specific issues such as abortion or gay marriage or even public education. But I am concerned with is what is their overall theory of government. I want to know their political philosophy. I personally am a free market, libertarian and so I am looking for someone who believes that more government is not the answer to our problems. I also want a president who understands that government is a necessary evil! I also want a president who understands the original intent of the constitution and understands the principle of liberty. Remember the principle of liberty? I believe that most of the candidates in our current campaign all believe in big government, military intervention and social welfare. I am opposed to all those and therefore I am opposed to most of the candidates on both sides. --aaron

I have to agree with Aaron on this point. There is no requirement within the Scripture that requires us to vote for a particular candidate because of religious beliefs. By the way, in case you are wondering, I have not decided as to who I want to win the candidacies on either side (although I have a strong opinion of who I don't want to win the Democratic side). With that said I will weigh the options heavily and decide within my own criteria as to who I should be voting for.
Well that's it, let me know what you think.

A Generation of Underdogs

We all love to vote for the underdog, and that is exactly why most of us voted for the New York Giants to win SuperBowl XLII. As I mentioned on a friend's blog, this will be remembered as the greatest SuberBowl of all time, not because of the great plays (although there were many), but because of the great implications behind the game. Think about it: A team has the chance to do something that only one other team has done (but with more wins) and every one expected it to happen. The funny thing was from the pre-game to the post-game all the announcers and analysts could do was sing the praises of the New England Patriots and especially Tom Brady. This was not a boring game, but a great game with lots of excitement. I have to say that I will remember this game for the rest of my life and it will be one of the things that I share with my grandkids if I ever get the pleasure of having some. Congrats Eli, you deserve it.

The Benefits of Friendships

Over the last six months, Heather and I have been trying to find some friends that we can become close to. We have found that it is important for us to have some outside contacts who we can hang with, get to know, and share our lives with.
I originally thought that if I were to keep in contact with my friends in Cincinnati that I would be able to fulfill that need in my life. While it is a blessing to keep in contact with those people whom I love very much, it just makes me miss them just the more. I need to be physically around people in order for me to become close to them. I have to be honest, it stinks to know that I am no longer as close to my friends as I used to be when I lived in Cincinnati. I really do miss them, and I hope that as time goes on I would be able to change those relationships and restore them once again.

But that's not what I wanted to talk about...

It seems that over the last few weeks God has been answering Heather's and My request to bring in people who want to become close friends. This is the first ministry where both Heather and I have had friends together. Usually, it was me who had close relationships and Heather who was stuck with the kids. This Sunday, we will be having a Super-Bowl party with 10 of our friends, and we couldn't be happier.
You see, when we ask for something God delivers because He understands our needs and wants to bless us completely. God knew that Heather and I longed for physical friendships and has filled that desire.
If you are one of my friends from Cincy, let me say that this does not fill the hole that is created within my heart from not being back home. However, moving to Minnesota has taught me the importance of physical relationships in the life of a human. We need relationships more than we need to live, because a life without friends is a life that I don't want. That is exactly why Jesus calls us His friend if we truly love Him. Friendships are vital in my life and I am thankful that God is supplying that need.

Mormons are Regular People Too

That's Right, and now we have the proof! Thanks to Adam for posting this on his blog, that's where I got it. Funny stuff!

Redefined

My church is going through a new Sermon Series entitled Discipleship and it has been going really well. Throughout this series I have been taking a very serious look at my own heart; am I practicing what I preach? As I think and pray about where I am I can't help but to think of how much work we all have to do to be a Disciple of Jesus.
When I think of a Disciple, I think of someone who lives up to the name of Christian (or Christ-like). If I am looking within my self to see if I have the heart of a Disciple, then I must look at the heart of Christ first. Do I care about the same things that Christ cared about while He was here and still cares about in Heaven? Do I have the same passions as He does? Do I share the same love for all people that He had for me? These are the things that we must be concentrating on in order to truly become a Disciple of Christ.
It is my goal this year to Redefine myself as a Christian, to come to the place where I can share the same cares, passion, and love that Christ has. I know that I am not perfect, and no one is, but with the help of the Holy Spirit I can make this a reality in my life.
As a side note, I want to share that I am starting to feel more comfortable in the role that I need to be playing at this church. I feel as if things are starting to make sense to me, that I am really starting to make some progress in my own life and the life of those within this body. I covet all of your prayers as we continue to make strives for God's Kingdom.

Peace, Love, and Soul

The Thing I Wish for the Most

Today I was sampling a video series for our youth ministry and listened to a message by David Nasser. David really spoke to my heart about the passion of ministry, and as I listened to him today all I could think of was: I want to be able to communicate God's Word like he does. This isn't a put down on my preaching, but he is a whole lot better than I am.
The funny thing is that I have had these thoughts a lot through my 6 years of ministry. There has always been one person that I have listened to that has grasped my heart and gave it a desire to sound like that person. I want to be able to change lives through my messages, I want to be able to speak God's Word in such a way that brings people to their knees in prayer. I want God to use me so powerfully that His Kingdom would be embraced by His children, old and new. I have the passion, I have the desire, but what am I missing? What do I do to become the preacher that God wants me to be? How do I begin to minister to the lost in such a way that when I die God will look at me and say, "Well done good and faithful servant!"
I guess all I can do is pray and wait.

Peace, Love, and Soul
Larry