A Better Way to Debate our Schisms

Secular vs Sacred.
Choruses vs Hymns.
KJV vs NIV vs MSG vs...
Attractional vs Missional.
Oneness vs Trinity.
Cessationists vs Charismatics.
Pre-trib vs Mid-trib vs Post-Trib vs Millennialists.

We do have our schisms, don't we?

I am refreshed by Tim Steven's approach to a recent interrogator.

Rather than defend himself, he invited others to answer the question, stating there will be no arguing back-and-forth, just answers.

Want to join in? Click here.

To Be Remarkable, Improve on Strengths

Here's snippet #3 of my article 7 Ways to be Remarkable from the January 2008 issue of Pentecostal Messenger:

3. Improve on Strengths

I am a half-way decent musician, having played piano and bass over 20 years. I also know a little about roofing, having worked on several roofing projects. But I am a better musician than I am a roofer because I spend much more time working on my music.

If I did things the other way around, instead of "knowing a little" about roofing, I might become a half-way decent roofer. I would then be half-way decent at both roofing and music, but not remarkable in either. I prefer instead to work on music, so that I might move from "half-way decent" to "downright awesome" or "flat-out remarkable."

Jacks-of-all-trades do not attract attention, but virtuosos get invited for private performances with presidents. Common laborers risk lay-offs continually, while top performers not only keep their jobs but also make better money. I think when Jesus promised "life more abundantly," he was saying that Christians should abound in everything they do. They should be found among the best scholars, musicians, and athletes. They should be like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah whom the king found "ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." That's remarkable, and it will only happen when you commit to improve on things you're already good at.

Note: If you don't already receive Pentecostal Messenger and you'd like to, the Pentecostal Church of God is offering free subscriptions for the remaining 2008 issues. For details, go to www.pcg.org.

Video Log of a Pastor's Workday

Ever wonder what pastors do all day? Here's a video clip one pastor made to answer that question:



Thank you, Monday Morning Insight, for sharing this!

To Be Remarkable, Pray Remarkably

Here's snippet #2 of my article 7 Ways to be Remarkable from the January 2008 issue of Pentecostal Messenger:

2. Pray Remarkably

Older saints tell how they used to pray past midnight and not leave the alter until they saw the Holy Ghost move. They tell about seeing the Shekinah Glory and literal tongues of fire, about hearing the Holy Ghost rush in like a tornado.

I hear today of Korean pastors who pray all night every Saturday for Sunday's sermon, and I hear of Africans who go into the bush for days at a time to pray and fast. Their prayers result in miracles, healings, and masses of people getting saved.

Remarkable prayers bring remarkable results.

Note: If you don't already receive Pentecostal Messenger and you'd like to, the Pentecostal Church of God is offering free subscriptions for the remaining 2008 issues. For details, go to www.pcg.org.

Cool Rendition of 12 Days of Christmas

I know Christmas 2007 is over with, but perhaps this will still be around 11 months from now...



Thank you, Mark Winters, for sharing this on your blog.

To Be Remarkable, Prophesy Genuine Prophecies

Here's a snippet of my article 7 Ways to be Remarkable from the January 2008 issue of Pentecostal Messenger:

1. Prophesy Genuine Prophecies

Genuine prophecy is always remarkable. Paul wrote of unbelievers falling down on their face, worshiping God, and knowing that God is in the church, all because of prophecy that exposes the secrets of their hearts. (See 1 Cor 14:24-25). Remarkable!

Compare that to the common God's-going-to-bless-you "prophecies" that excite Christians, but rarely affect sinners. We need prophecies that bring sinners to the alter - genuine words from God that bring remarkable responses. We must desire to prophesy, covet to prophesy, and despise not prophesyings (1 Cor 14:1, 39; 1 Thess. 5:20).

Note: If you don't already receive Pentecostal Messenger and you'd like to, the Pentecostal Church of God is offering free subscriptions for the remaining 2008 issues. For details, go to www.pcg.org.

Over the Top Drummer Boy

When I was a kid, I think I wore out the Little Drummer Boy track on one of my mom's Christmas LPs. It was my favorite song back then, but 30+ years have passed, and I've heard too many versions of the same old Rum-pa-pa-pum.

Then I find a RagaMuffinSoul blog entry hyping a version they were doing at Buckhead, based on a version LifeChurch had done a year earlier.

Wow!

I like the song all over again.

Check it out on RagaMuffinSoul.

(I wanted to embed it myself, but Blogger won't let me embed javascript in Blog bodies).

What if Burger King Ditched the Whopper?

I enjoyed the following, even laughed out loud once or twice:

Did you see how people reacted? Did you see the disbelief, the anger?

Did you understand their reaction? After all, what is a Burger King without a Whopper? (Even though I don't eat Whoppers, I can empathize with those that do.)

We see the same stuff in church sometimes.

People think:

• What is worship without hymns, or song books, or ...?
  
• What is Sunday School without prayer requests, or flannel graphs, or ...?
• What is church without stained glass, a pipe organ, or back-breaking wooden pews?

Is it OK for them to think that way? Sure! Why wouldn't it be? If it's OK to be disturbed over a Whopper, it should be OK for other things, even church stuff.

This doesn't mean church leaders have to pander to every attendee's whim, but leaders should respect, even understand, their emotions.

A Quote on Knowing Your Calling

In those times when we stumble for our footing in the awful swellings of the Jordan, and the Evil One whispers in our ear, "Why did you ever decide to be a preacher anyway?" the right answer can only be, "Cause I was called, you fool!"

-- Dr. Timothy George

ACTS Prayer Method

If you have trouble knowing what to pray, or how to pray, may I suggest the ACTS method? ACTS stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

Adoration. Start your prayer by worshiping God. Praise Him for who He is. Recognize Him as holy, almighty, gracious...

Confession. Admit sins you've committed since the last time you prayed. Ask God for forgiveness. Also confess sins of omission -- opportunities for good that you neglected.

Thanksgiving. Thank God for previous answers to prayers and for His continuing goodness.

Supplication. Plead with God both for others and for yourself.