The Real Problem with Halloween

It's a day given to dressing up in odd costumes and going door to door to ask for candy while threatening a trick. People have lined up on both sides of the aisle on this issue. Is it a pagan observation with demonic underpinnings, or is it just harmless fun for the family?

I won't get into the demons, ghost, and bloody carnage whether real or imagined. The real problem as I see it is, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ALL THAT LEFTOVER CANDY?! There it sits in that bowl just whispering for you to indulge. And let's face it, you bought all of this candy for kids who were coming to your door, but did you really? Last year only a couple of dozen kids rang your bell. And this year you bought a dozen bags of your favorite candy.

It is the ultimate treason. Self-betrayal. It is the beginning of the feeding binge called "the holidays." It starts with candy, builds steam leading up to Thanksgiving and we all know that baked goods have become the "gift du jour" of the Christmas season. It is what will ultimately cost you hundreds of dollars at the beginning of the new year for a membership at the health club.

You can pontificate all you want about the ins and outs of Halloween. But I've pulled the mask off of this insidious enemy. Halloween is evil because it starts the fat cycle. And once the fat cycle begins it never really ends. It spirals out of control until you give in and start justifying that allowing kids to trick or treat is not a Christian issue at all.

Being a Christian is Easy . . .

. . . but so many people make it difficult. It begins with a decision to accept the grace of God by faith. You confess and repent of your sins, believe that Jesus' sacrifice was enough to pay the price for your sins, and commit to living your life for the glory of God as the Spirit of God enables you.

Too many Christians make a project out of it. They don't read the scriptures, they don't pray, they rarely attend church and they don't look for opportunities to share their faith. After their confession of faith, they go on living their lives the way they were prior to their confession and then wonder why they are unhappy and living on all levels of defeat.

Becoming a Christian results from making a decision. Being a Christian is all about continuing to make decisions one at a time. The Bible says don't get drunk, so you make a decision not to. It tells you to love one another, so you look for opportunities to show your love. You simply make decisions to do what the Bible tells you to do.

Often I am asked to enter into a counseling relationship. I usually reply, "What is troubling you?" When I am told the problem, I then ask a second question. "What does the Bible say about that?" If the person knows, then I just encourage them to do what the Bible says. If they don't know, I will meet with them, walk them through what the Bible says, and then ask them to do it. It's really that easy. Say yes to God and no to sin.

I know there are many out there who think that the only way you can overcome your problems is to talk to an expert. But at $100 dollars for a 50 minute session, most of can't afford to get over our problems at that price. We often get discouraged and believe that our situation is hopeless. But that just isn't true.

Let me encourage you to follow my simple instruction. 1. Define your problem. 2. Find out what the Bible says about it. 3. Do it. I will give you a guarantee that most of your life's situations will improve by following that simple formula.

Michael J. Fox and Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Many of us were visibly moved ,and somewhat shaken, when we saw the images of Michael J. Fox's political commerical asking voters to support politicians who advocate federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Michael J. Fox suffers from Parkinsons. I sympathize for him. I came across this article that states the case simply, Michael J. Fox is wrong.

He is not wrong about wanting to find a cure. He is not wrong about wanting to end suffering. He's not wrong about the government getting involved in funding research. What he is wrong about is the using of the most basic element of human life to fulfill those purposes. The battle for life has always hinged on trying to define what life is. Does it become viable at some point because it can live outside the womb, or is it life the moment it is conceived? People are divided on this issue, but often are unable to articulate why they hold the view they espouse.

I agree with the author. Something deep inside most us whispers that human life begins at conception. Potential life is an unfertilized egg and unengaged sperm, but once those two get together, life begins. It is undeniable that there are spontaneous "abortions' of pregnancies. Fertilized eggs and the female womb seem to know instinctively, in most cases, when to abort an untenable fetus. But to make that decision arbitrarily, once that fertilized egg has been planted, is to violate the standard course of nature as designed by God. From that point on we should do everything possible to preserve that life and not view it as potential parts for research.

Worship Encounter Last Night (10/29)

Our worship team, choir, soloists, and musicians led us in a wonderful evening of worship last night. We call it "Worship Encounter" and its only reason for being it to enter into the presence of God uninhibited with nothing else on the agenda. Under the capable leadership of Beth our Worship, Music and Arts Minister, we were treated to a great combination of songs, soloists, choir and visual enhancements. What a great blend of talent and hunger for God. The assembled congregation easily followed the lead into the presence of the Lord.

The evening was further accentuated by the visit of a group from one of our sister churches on the Northside. Pastor Wayne and the good folks at Church of the Full Gospel entered freely into worship. It did not seem that they felt uncomfortable at all being out of their usual element. What a great bunch of fellow worshipers and brothers and sisters. Thank you all for coming.

Worship Encounter is scheduled for the 5th Sunday of those months that have 5 Sundays. It happens 4 times a year. We are looking for ways to include more of our sister churches and likeminded worshipers. God is blessed by unity in His church coming together to lift up the name of Jesus.

I'm already looking forward to the next Worship Encounter.

A Whole Other Way to Ask the Question, What Would Jesus Do?

The definition of parody is to take a truth, cloak it in humor, without diluting the message. Here is a great example of parody. If you all you want to do is laugh, you don't get it. If all you want to do is cry or get angry, then you don't get it as well. Good parody makes you want to do both.

Grace or Justice?

Murderer Danny Harold Rolling was executed by lethal injection in Florida yesterday. You can read about the details here. When asked if he had any final words, he sang a hymn extolling the virtues of God. The question of the day is, Did he receive grace or justice?

Rolling was accused of killing 5 college students in 1990, a heinous crime by anyone's standards. At least 5 families were deprived of their loved ones and dozens of friends and family members mourn the loss as well. How does God deal with a person who has committed such atrocities? Does God's grace extend to a multiple murderer? Where is justice for the families of the murdered if Rolling is given the gift of eternal life with God for confessing his sins and responding to the offer of salvation? I'll attempt to answer these questions briefly and then I'll invite your comments.

Sin separates us from God's love and the wages of sin is death. Having committed murder, Rolling was eligible for the full punishment for his sins. The Bible also says that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins." (1 John 1:8,9) If Rolling confessed his sin, God extended his forgiveness. Justice for the families of Rollings victims was meted out through his execution. The Scripture reminds us that, "whoever kills a man must be put to death." (Lev 24:21) Rolling paid for his sin and justice was satisfied through the death penalty.

It is a hard concept for us to comprehend, that a 5 time murderer could actually be in heaven, but that is the nature of grace. God offers us what we don't deserve through faith in Jesus' sacrifice having paid the price for our sins. Your sin may not be of the same kind as Rolling's, but "all have sinned and fall short of God's glorious ideal." (Rom 3:23) That grace is offered to and extended to whoever confesses their sin and puts their trust in Christ.

May God provide comfort to the victim's families and may God have mercy on Rolling's soul.

Are you looking for work?

Pay attention to these guidelines the next time you prepare for an interview. It's funny to think that some of these scenarios are actually true, but sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

I can think of few things that are more stressful than a job interview. Maybe a visit to a dentist would be about the only thing I consider more stressfull.

Where Should My College-Age Child Go to College?

What would you do if you found out your college tuition was funding the formation of a "Pagan Student Alliance" at your local university? If you think this isn't possible, check out this story. Secular universities pride themselves in affirming and encouraging diversity. Have you wondered where this quest for diversity ends?

Secular universities espouse the notion that all ideas are of equal value and should be explored. As a result, young impressionable minds are exposed to ideologies, worldviews and philosophies that are often dangerous. Christian parents should prepare their children for what to expect if they choose to send them to a state run school. Most parents don't even think of this as they tend to focus their energies on giving their children what they want and what they can afford. While it is true that parents should explore whether the major their children want to be trained in is offered and staffed by qualified professors, the underlying philosphy of the school and the campus environment must be also be researched with equal diligence.

I encourage parents to consider sending their children to a quality Christian College or University. While the cost seems higher in dollar and cents, the price they pay for settling for a state school may be greater. Many Christian colleges have student aid packages that rival, and often beat ,what a secular school can offer. The class size in Christian colleges are smaller, therefore affording the student more individualized attention. Christian college professors are every bit as qualified to teach their subjects and often do it at a lower salary simply because they want to teach in a better environment than that which is offered by a more "presitigious" state university.

Most Christian colleges require that all their professors sign a statement of faith and practice their faith as a visible sign of their commitment to Jesus. Christian colleges explore alternative worldviews and philosophies, but from a Christian and biblical framework. Christian professors reinforce the faith of their students while at the same time teaching them to ask the tough questions of faith. This is a far better alternative to prepare young people for "real" life.

I don't wan't my money used to subsidize an environment that encourages "communism, paganism, materialism anarchism, and other isms that confuse impressionable minds. The purpose of a college education is to equip not deconstruct. I would want my children's college professors to complement where I have diligently laid a foundation. I would want my children to come out, after 4 years of education and tens of thousands of invested dollars, stronger disciples of Jesus than when they went in.

Are Any of These Your Reasons?

Yet another poll has come out stating what has become an obvious yet painful truth, Americans don't read their Bibles. There are a number of reasons given. All seem to be a sheer veneer for the truth. There are simple antidotes for each of these excuses and yet they persist.

As a pastor I am amazed at how many people don't bring their Bibles to church. We claim to believe that "the Bible is our all sufficient rule for faith and practice" yet we consult it but rarely. We have substituted "book studies" and call them Bible studies, but very little actual Bible content is found in these studies. Is it no wonder that we show so little progress in righting our culture when we don't know how to think biblically. I wonder, will we ever become a Bible people again? I hope so. There is a lot at stake.

Decision Making, God's Way

“Research by George Barna shows that fewer than 10 percent of churchgoing Christians make important life decisions based on God’s Word and seeking his will! In other words, more than 90 percent decide on the basis of their own intelligence, peer opinion, whim or fancy. They marry people and move to new cities without so much as a ten-minute prayer. Yet every Sunday they sit in church pews singing songs like “Where he leads me, I will follow.” (Jim Cymbala, Fresh Faith, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 1999)

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Prov. 14:12 NIV)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov 3:5,6 NIV)

It was just plain common sense! It seemed like the right thing to do! I’m doing my best! All have been uttered by someone you know (maybe you) in the midst of trying to recover from a near catastrophe. What went wrong?
There are a number of Biblical principles that need to be engaged whenever we make decisions. Failure to do so may result in disaster, even when we mean well. One of those principles is . . . the principle of the deceitful heart. We trust that because our hearts seem pure that our decision will be pure. But our hearts are deceitful as the prophet Jeremiah reminds us. Bad motives creep in unaware. We move to a different job that promises us higher wages believing that we will be able to support the work of God with a stronger offering, only to upgrade our lifestyle to swallow up our gain. Or perhaps you did it to escape a “horrible boss” only to find out that she was “horrible” because you rarely showed up on time, or did sloppy work. When we trust our hearts, we set ourselves up for potential failure.
Another principle is . . . the principle of leaning on our own understanding. Most of us use a particular method of reasoning when we are in the process of making a decision. The Bible reminds us that we are to seek the wisdom of counselors before we make a decision. Our own understanding is much too subjective to be trusted.
Trusting in the Lord means taking the time to plan ahead prayerfully. Our planning includes; learning from other’s successes and failures, seeking Godly wisdom from mature believers, consulting the Scriptures in precept and principle, prayerfully seeking the Spirit’s wisdom and gathering facts objectively. It is God’s prescribed method to insure your safety. You won’t want to do it any other way.

Preaching Against Sin

I believe what the Bible says about all of us. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) I also believe that "the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23a) And that "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ." (Romans 6:23b).

From time to time one of our congregants will ask me why I don't preach on a particular topic such as abortion, homosexuality, divorce etc. My response is simple. Anytime you focus on a particular category of sin as described in the Bible, you create an environment of judgmentalism. People love to pick their pet sins. They often fail to understand that all sin is equal in God's eyes. My sin may not be your sin, but all sin keeps us from having fellowship with God.

It is true that there may be sins that have greater ramifications socially. If I divorce my wife, it affects her, me, our children, our friends, my credibility as a minister etc. If I steal something, unless I get caught, it affects few people. If a young woman gets pregnant out of wedlock, it affects her future for at least 18-20 years. But in God's sight all of these sins are equal.

So I preach and teach against sin in general. Most of us don't have to be reminded about our sins. If we spend any time at all in reading Scripture our sins are glaringly laid out before us. I prefer instead to let the Bible speak to our specific sins while reminding my audience that it's not as much about the sin as much as it is about God's willingness to forgive us and equip us to overcome sin.

That's the message of hope in the Gospel, not that we are lost, which we are, but that God sent his Son to find us and reconcile us to himself. Sin is real. It is deadly, It separates us from God. It makes a mess out of our lives. Redemption through the blood of Christ is available. Eternal life can be yours and so can abundant life.

Transparency from Behind the Pulpit

In the past few years, many pastors have chosen to bare their souls from behind the pulpit. Prior to this development, the clergy kept their personal lives out of the public square. All of the efforts to communicate the gospel were spent on interpreting scripture and finding relevant illustrations by which to encourage the congregation to make application in their lives. In an effort to connect with the congregation, some pastors began to share personal struggles, concerns and issue. For the most part this has been well received, although there are some congregants who prefer that ministers keep their personal lives to themselves.

How do you feel about this issue? Do you agree, or disagree with ministers sharing their private matters from a pulpit? What would you like to know about your pastor and what venue would you like to find this information out?

Changing the World, One Person at a Time

Most of us look at the problems of the world and just throw our hands up in despair. Not this guy. He decided that he could do something to impact people's lives in an extraordinary way. Who would have thought that loaning money to very poor people could prove to be so life-changing? This story serves as a reminder that we have to be creative about helping the poor and not just assume that a government or Christian charitable handout is the only way.

I would encourage you to do a little research on microloans and invest a few dollars to help someone escape poverty. One of our missionaries in Cambodia is doing just that. For a relatively small investment he helps a villager purchase a sewing machine to start a business. The results have been astonishing. In a short time these families are not only supporting themselves, but often putting other villagers to work as well.

If you are interested in helping a Cambodian family get jump started, just let us know and we can help direct some of your blessing to others . "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."

Musings from Todays Sunday Services

We had good services today. The worship was good and the response to the preaching of the word of God was a blessing. God is calling us to pray for a new, fresh wind of the Spirit and His people are catching on. Our monthly prayer meeting is seeing an increase in attendance, but more importantly, a greater passion for intercession and asking God to manifest Himself in our midst.

I am looking forward to our Worship Encounter next Sunday evening (10/29). A service dedicated to worshiping and glorifying God through worship in song always pumps me up. I am anticipating an increase in answered prayer, souls being won to Jesus, and the people of God deepening their commitment to Christ. Great days are ahead for our church and I'm praising the Lord for his promises and blessings.

Whatever Happened to the Veggie Tales Guy?

For those of you who have small children and loved the Veggie Tales, check out this story to find out how Phil Vischer the creator of the Tales, views what has happened to the the company. Bob the Tomato and Larry the cucumber will never be the same. It was a fun ride while it lasted.

A Solution for Rob and Wendi Whiner?

I read this and smiled. You see there is nothing more disappointing and discouraging in ministry than having to deal with people who whine, complain and gossip. I'm not talking about genuinely important issues that need attention to make a church better, but the incessant whining about things that don't really matter. You may say, "Yeah, but apparently it matters to that individual." But, there are ways to get your concerns across without resorting to whining, gossip and complaining.

In our church, the best way to get a concern addressed is to call a Deacon, Elder or Pastor. Our leadership team is committed to dealing with any real need that comes our way. We meet monthly to discuss the state of our church, make decisions that need to be made and address issues that have come to our attention. Between meetings, we call or email each other as the need arises. For the most part it works well. Trusting the Holy Spirit to give us the tools we need is always a challenge of faith, but our leaders do a good job of discerning God's direction.

Let's hope we don't ever have to resort to handing out wrist bands :)

A New Minority that Needs Protection

Although not quite yet an endangered species, marriage is in more trouble than we thought. There are now less married people than single people and unmarried people living together. Most of the young people I meet today still talk about wanting to eventually get married, but it seems most are taking longer than ever and many opt out of marriage for a trial run at living together.

Some studies have shown that people who live together before marriage have a higher incidence of divorce than people who haven't. Is marriage in the U.S. going the way of many European countries? What about the children coming out of those relationships? How can we more effectively communicate the truths of Scripture to a generation that seems to be bent on ignoring laying the fundamental foundation for an orderly society?

Looking Forward to the Next Election

Are you sick and tired of politics? Are you thinking of sitting out this election? Read this brief essay by Marvin Olasky to see why it is important for you exercise the wonderful privilege of freedom. There is always a lot at stake in every election. You may not see eye to eye with any politician about every or any issue, but you should vote for the one who most closely agrees with your convictions and principles. I agree with Olasky. Sitting out is not an option. Go out and vote!

Do You Like Your Job

When I was younger I wanted to be a professional baseball player. The idea of facing the best players in the world and traveling to all of the greatest ballparks every built was quite a dream. Many of us fantasize of having the perfect job. You know, the kind that pays you real well to do something you like. What about seeing or hearing about someone who has the best job in the world and saying, "I'd like to try my hand at that." Well, sometimes all isn't as it appears. Check out these cushy jobs.

Do you like your current job? Do you dream about doing something different than what you currently do? If so, why do you think that job would be better than the one you have now?

What Worldview do you live by?

I found this interesting worldview quiz. It charts your worldview on a graph and helps you compare your worldview on an interesting scale from the Pope to Carl Sagan. Your worldview shapes the way you make life decisions. Most of us have an identifiable worldview but often don't really know how it compares to others.

Why not take the quiz and comment here on how you feel about your findings?

First Real Post: Speaking in Tongues

The Southern Baptist Convention has taken a strong stance. You can read about it here. It seems that they weren't content with forbidding their missionaries to pray in tongues in private, now they are prohibiting any endorsement on any level.

It's not unusual for a denomination to label something as "unscriptural" or even heretical. That's why denominations get started. There is a disagreement over the interpretation or practice of something in scripture, and if it gets too contentious a split may occur. Although the SBC took its stance a long time ago, recent developments have made it necessary for them to put this issue back on the table. More and more Christians are practicing what used to be considered, Pentecostal practices. In many evangelical , non-pentecostal churches you are hearing upbeat, non-hymnal music, lifting of hands, praying for the sick, and in some cases, speaking in tongues and interpretation. God is moving beyond the charismatic, Pentecostal boundaries and pouring out his Spirit on all flesh.

Interestingly, although there is a spreading of Pentecostal, charismatic type practices in non-pentecostal churches, the practice of some of these distinctives is disappearing or at least rare, in many traditional Pentecostal, full-gospel churches.

Many have chosen to challenge the standard Pentecostal doctrine that speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of being baptized in the Spirit. My feeling is that God's word will not be denied. If his witness wanes in one group, he'll raise up another group to be faithful to his Word.

Are you a full-gospel Christian? Do you speak in tongues? Have you done so recently, or given a word during a gathering of the church? Do you believe that speaking in tongues is the intial physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? If so, why? If not, why? I'd like to hear from you on this one.

I'm Back on the Web

Greetings to you who have wondered where I went. I took a hiatus from blogging for several reasons. I wanted to distance my blog from the church I pastor so as not to confuse my postings with "official" church belief and practice. Not that I am in disagreement with anything we practice or believe, but I wanted to insure that anything I post is clearly understood as my personal musings.

I also wanted the blog to have a different identity, thus the choosing of the new name. Jawbone of a Pastor stems from my reading of the story of Samson when he slew 300 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. If God can use the jawbone of a donkey to destroy his enemies, maybe he can use the jawbone of this donkey to fight some of his battles as well.

If you want to comment on any of the posts, just keep it civil. I will delete vulgarity, name calling and contentious comments. You don't have to agree with anything that is posted, but be civil in your detractions and rebuttals.

I'll try to post something everyday. If you have a topic that you would like me to address or a question that I can help answer, please feel free to email me at rivera93342@juno.com. That is my personal email, again, disassociated from my ministry email address.

I'm hoping this blog will encourage healthy discussion of important topics in the news and the church. Welcome aboard. Let's get rolling!