But I’m Also a FUN-D-MENTALIST: part1

 

1)  I specialize in the first syllable… FUN. I have yet read any Scripture that tells me to be a sour pickle or joyless.

2)  Thank-You for having an OPINION about my haircut, shoes, earring, tattoos, drinking a beer or a bourbon, preaching in a hoodie, or if I’m “acting” my age. I intend to be made in the image of Christ and not another you. Without Scripture I am not obligated to serve your opinions.

3)  America is great, don’t get me wrong, but nowhere in scripture am I called to build a Christian Nation… Jesus calls us to be a part of the Church He is building. America has never been a “Christian” nation. A Religious nation, Yes. Christian??? If you know of any US government document that acknowledges Jesus Christ as LORD then I will change my stance.

The Declaration of Independence claims … governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed… Read Isaiah 40 to see how unchristian this is. Conservative American Christians who disdain secular humanism embrace their core value!

Many  Conservative American Bible believing churches have turned America into a pagan idol upon their alters to God.

Just look at your US flag upon your alter. Is it to the right of the speaker and the “Christian” flag to the left?

Do the church leaders validate that position by the US Flag Code or through Scripture?

Go back to Isaiah 40 and other places in your Bible… Is there anything that should be place in a more prominent position than Christ upon His alter in His church?

I didn’t think so. But conservative churches in America claim Christ’s subservience to America on a continual basis.

Conservative American Christians have no room to talk about God getting kicked out of schools, and government while they push Christ to the side upon their own alters in order to uplift the American government. Very Ezekiel 23:20 of us.

4)  Conservatism is great, but The Kingdom of God is not a Democracy and Jesus is not a Capitalist. Conservative policies will not save America!

5)  TEENS: Enthusiasm DOES NOT EQUAL Worship… and NO you haven’t come up with anything new or more special than those who came before you. You would all do well to quit your bitchin’  about the old hymns until you get your theology and church history straight. Fanny Crosby could teach you all a valuable lesson in how to live a Truly Spiritual life. That old person across the church from you would be valuable in teaching you how to get through times when your enthusiasm will not penetrate. Your age group may be the driving force in our culture, but inside the church you are to learn from and serve the older generation… get over yourselves, you do not have the knowledge and experience to claim wisdom or leadership.

6) OLDER PEOPLE: Abraham was 75 years old when God asked him to leave everything he knew to go to a place he wouldn’t know until God told him to stop. And yet you think it’s more spiritual to stay in the same old same old that you have always done. Get off your Sunday Only butts… church is 24/7. The younger generations are spoiled and selfish. That’s because we’ve learned well from you. The younger generation are theologically inept and ignorant because most of you have spent little time teaching the Fundamentals and have spent your time specializing in creating a church in your image… Grumpy, frumpy, dopey, and lazy, concerned more about style than substance.Thank-You for creating the church of Laodicea!

 

… More to come

 

Soli Deo Gloria,

Douglas Lee Sr

I am a Fundamentalist:

‎

1) I believe the Bible is a sacred, correct, valuable message to mankind…

‎2) I believe that this message is to be listened to and acted upon me first…

‎3) I trust that there is one God in three persons, Father, Son , and Spirit. NO I don’t understand all details about this & NO I don’t care to hear debates from people who got a “C” in Geometry.

4) I believe God created the world in six literal days. I believe scientist don’t even agree with each other about important details, and in fact have changed their own minds as new information comes available.

5) I believe that all of mankind is born sin-filled.

6) I believe that the only solution to our sin-filled state is through the work of Jesus Christ (God incarnate) in his death, burial and resurrection.

‎7) I believe that this sole solution is given in love through grace and mercy alone.

‎8) I believe that Christ does return soon… at a time that no one knows and in a way that is still debated by Theologians.

‎9) Those that are Christ’s will spend eternity (a state of bearing no time) in full relationship… and those who are not Christ’s will spend eternity in complete separation from him.

Nevaeh Violet Ripp

Spiritual Conclusion: Wal-Mart is…

a Spiritual testing site.

When you can walk through the entire superstore without the desire to have something (herein known as products, employees and/or other shoppers) THEN you can be assured that you are Spiritually Mature!

 

IMHO,

Douglas Lee

Proverbs 31–The Church of Noble Character

‎ A wife of noble character who can find?
‎She is worth far more than rubies.

Proverbs 31:10

     It was one of those late night cyber-sessions…

     A lady explaining to me that she thought the Bible, God and Paul were women haters. This is what she got from her father, a man I knew and respected (and disagreed with on more than one occasion).

 

     I guess I understand, to some degree why women may feel that way. It seems to be the approach that the male-centric leadership of the church has taken over the millenniums.

     What I don’t understand is: Are we reading the same Bible?

     Because I seriously cannot find in Scripture a bad attitude about women.

      Someone will  mention that the Bible says that women are to be “SILENT” in church.

     In context that means to not be disruptive and argumentative. It does not mean that they are never to say words or share. (or preach but that is for a different argument)

      And by the way ladies, and gentlemen, that is nothing men aren’t expected to follow either. Just check out Titus 3:9-11 and others.

 

    Jesus’ greatest love and treasure is the Church aka The Bride of Christ.

     In Epesians 5 we learn that he came to wash and sanctify his bride to present her to himself without spot or blemish. His love for his bride was such that he gave up his own life for her (and as an aside: in Philippians 2 it says that he emptied himself of his heavenly authority too).

     It goes on to say that this picture of Christ and his Church is to be represented in our marriage.

     Why would Christ want women to represent his greatest love if he doesn’t like them in the first place?

     As a baseball fan (Cubs & Mariners) that would be like asking me to love the Yankees as the emblem of everything bright and beautiful about baseball. Not gonna happen!

 

    But on to Proverbs 31.

     I get in trouble for saying this, but, it is a good point:

All women are beautiful… until they open their mouths!”

     When some women open their mouths we find out that there is no beauty on the inside. This came to mind back when I was watching Johnny Carson. There was an extremely gorgeous actress on. Everything was fine until she opened her mouth. Because the second she started to speak it was very apparent that she was thoughtless and crude.

     “Beauty IS skin deep” I thought.

     Most Americans search for churches like we date. Outward appearances.

     Is She pretty? Is she popular? does she like the same music and the same styles?

     

     Most church planting is seemingly based upon the same notions. What do people want in a church? How can we attract attention? Are we doing what is in style?

     What should a church look like on the outward appearance (as in all beauty) is, I believe, up to the beholder.

     But what should be her characteristics? You know the inside beauty, that shines forth in a loveliness from the heart rather than the skin.

     Now onto Proverbs 31:10-31

     The qualities of a good wife are also the qualities of a good church. The Church of Nobel Character is found in this chapter.

1. Virtue over wealth. v.10
2. Works for gain not left overs v.11
3. Seeks Christ’s happiness v.12
4. Works with Willing Hands v.13
5. Thinks and acts globally v.14
6. Prepares for the needs v.15
7. Has a plan v.16
8. Desires to do more v.17
9. There when needed v.18
10. Reaches out to those in need v.20
11. Is prepared for emergencies v.21-22
12. Makes Christ known in the community v.23
13. Provides for herself v.24
14. Is not afraid of the future v.25
15. Speaks with Kindness and wisdom v.26
16. Ain’t lazy v.27
17. People are Blessed to be there v.28
18. People look to the church first v.29
19. Reverence for GOD v.30

     My wife has most of these qualities. She, as well as many women that I know, are wonderful models to pattern a church after.

     God, Scripture and Paul love women and the Church, and so do I.

     Our job is to love them that their true beauty shines forth.

At 49 I Am Proud to be Known as:

OK, 49^th birthday is over.

 

Not that I really care. I have been telling people that I’m 50 for over a year now.  Close enough, anyway.

 

But, birthdays are a good time for reflection. Why not spend some time taking an account of who I am.

 

Trina and I was were treated to lunch today because the Owner/Waitress thanked us for being good tippers… That, I thought, was a good place to start.

 

At 49 I am proud to be known as:

 

1) Generous. It is nice to walk into restaurants and having servers be happy to serve you because they know that we are generous tippers. It is a bit Self-Serving I admit. Years ago while working in restaurants I noticed how wait staff acted towards different diners and figured good tips lead to very good service. Somewhere along the line I also figured that I ain’t taking anything with me when I go, and God can replenish what is given in generosity.

 

2) Willing to Take On the Difficult. There is nothing new that anyone can call me. Nothing that they can take away that will kill me. Very few fears that I am totally unwilling to face. I have lost big time with that too. But, I have lost because I have tried what few others have been willing to do. Anyone can accomplish the simple. I would rather fail reaching the difficult, than to be smugly victorious in the easy.

 

3) Integrity. Still have it. I will not say that it has never faltered, because it has. But, I do have a set of principals that will, at times, annoy those around me. Ministry is often doing that which you know is right even though everyone will not understand. I have lost some peoples respect for standing up for what I believe. That is nothing in comparison for losing someone’s respect for violating your integrity.

4) Good Cook. I am not very artistic when it comes to music and arts. But there are places where my creative side can shine through. Cooking is one such place. It brings a lot of pleasure to know that people enjoy my cooking; that they see in my dishes my desire to make things a pleasure to their senses.

5) Humor. It is nice to know that people feel like they can be themselves around me. Part of that is due to my weird sense of humor. I have allowed myself to not take the world or myself to serious.

There are some things that I surely need to work on. I will work on those for the next blog post.

But, all in all, I am pretty happy with who I am… NOT perfect, by any means but neither am I a complete failure.

 

It is reasonable and, I think, fairly objective to me to say that in some small way I have mattered to the people around me and have given as much as I have taken from life.

 

That is to be to the praise of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

If not for His Cross, the Father’s Love and the Spirit’s Power… I would not be here today.

Moving Along

Well, I hope that I am getting back to writing on a consistant basis. We have been on a different track lately.

Family changes are still changed, and will continue to change.
We are pretty much moved into the Fanton’s domicile.

Jobs are being searched out. It is difficult finding employment that will fit our visitation schedule & Sundays off.

“How am I doing”? That’s the question that gets asked alot. It usually comes with an expectation that the answer is something along the line as “horrible”, “sad”, “angry”.

I can honestly say that I do not feel any of these things, except for a few limited moments.

It seems to bother most that I am not falling apart about my lifes situation.
They never ask why, but I am now going to answer them anyways:

The overriding feeling I have is PREPARED.

Why do I feel this way?

1) I accept full responsibility for this situation. I AM NOT A VICTIM! This is not accidental, but a process of several people’s bad choices in the past. Our bad choices, and actions, have led to this point. Please note that I didn’t claim all fault, just responsiblity. I am not to blame for others actions. I should not be held guilty for their mistakes. But, I am responsible as the husband and father for my family. The buck must stop somewhere… I am holding the buck, not as a martyr but as a son. Hebrews 12:7 tells us that God disciplines us as sons. I accept this as a time that my Father is proving my sonship. While I don’t like the punishment I love knowing that Father claims me his Son.

2) My way is NOT hidden and my cause is NOT disregarded by the Lord as Isaiah 40:27 points out. He who has control over all things and knows every object by name is dealng with the with the situation. That knowledge leads to verse 29 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak”.

3) I have given the Lord all my anxiety. 1 Peter 5:6-7 assures us that as we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand and give him our anxiety he will lift us up and show us his care for us.

In the roughest of times it is essential to know that I am being blessed by my heavenly Father beyond all measure… I am prepared for all possible things.

The Lord of the Universe is my strength and who I will place my trust.

The Imperfect Man For the Job

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”  “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”  He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”  The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

John 21:15-19

Peter was the imperfect man for the job.

He was annoying in his impetuousness. Acting, and speaking, without thinking was his specialty.

Talking about speaking… he wasn’t very good at that either.

Thoroughly untrained in what Jesus had wanted him for.

 

And yet Jesus, AKA THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, wanted him and the other 10 to do something that most would not consider even if they were well trained… Start the Church.

 

It probably was little comfort that he told Peter about the way he would die for doing his job for Jesus. Interesting enough it was in the same method that Peter had so spontaneously insisted that he was ready for just weeks before.

He watched the others run away and then he denied Christ, not once but three times.

Was Peter great material to start from? Well, maybe… NOT!

 

That may be why Jesus gave him just a short list of to dos:

1)   Feed his lambs.

2)   Tend his flock.

3)   Feed his sheep.

4)   Follow Me.

 

College educated Apostles weren’t coming for a few years when Jesus tagged Saul outside of Damascus.

Under educated Galilean fishermen needed simple lists.

 

Feed the Lambs; take care of the young one’s basic needs. Give them Spiritual nutrients.

I could say something about how our children are being sickened and poisoned by the diet that the average American family “lives” on.

The same could be said about their Spiritual diet too.

Peter was told to feed them. Give them what would have them grow strong and healthy

 

Tend the Flock; Guide, lead, rule, defend the whole flock. It sounds unfair but sheep are not best left to their own devices. This is either the 4 legged or 2-legged kind. Get them to maturity… take them through the courses let them see how to be productive adults with goals and visions so they may be able to reproduce.

 

Feed the Flock; adults with bad diets are unhealthy and die too young. Adults need to follow the diet that got them mature in the first place. While they broaden the palettes make sure they still follow the basics.

 

Follow Christ instead of everybody else.

Peter turned to look at John, worried about what his role was.

Christ told Peter to get his focus back on Him.

No matter what John thought, said or did, Peter was to follow Christ.

 

Peter was commissioned to build the Church of God, the Bride of Christ. This couldn’t be based upon what the world saw in Peter or what Peter saw in others.

 

Our commission is the same… Feed – Tend – Follow – Reproduce.

If we are doing these things then we are like Peter…

The imperfect man, or woman, for the job!

Is This Making You Loose Your Faith?

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:  These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars–I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.  I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:7-13

I have never been able to read this letter without thinking of Rocky. You know the movie?

Simple outline of the movie:

Rocky is a lowlife bum in Philly. He’s a cheap boxer and leg breaker for the mob… in short a nobody.

He gets an opportunity to fight the Champion of the World for the title.

Rocky figures, at first, it’s a nice paycheck. Then He starts training his heart out thinking this is his one shot.

Night before the fight he comes to the realization that it doesn’t matter if he wins. Everyone will say that it was just a lucky shot.

Rocky realizes that a lucky knockout punch isn’t a victory for him.

He comes to see that what he needs to know for himself; the very heart of his soul needs to know if he and endure the fight.

He wants to know that he can take anything that life and the champ can throw at him.

His victory is in going the distance. No one had before. If he did, he would know that it wasn’t luck. A bum falls in the early rounds. A fighter takes it to the final bell.

Rocky takes the fight to the distance, looses the decision, and takes the victory in what matters in life.

This is important in a church or a Christian’s life.

We all like to dream of that knockout punch, making it big.

Wouldn’t be nice to be the next mega church, or pastor who’s on the radio and book covers.

Wouldn’t be nice to instantly have money and fame, relaxing in the easy life.

I know that I have no lucky punches in me.

Whatever those grand dreams that I had growing up are not going to happen.

I am not going to knock anyone out.

Christ tells us to go the distance… “endure patiently”.

His promise is that those who do have a crown that no one can take away.

Those who endure are the pillars of his temple.

Those who claimed that God didn’t love them because they didn’t win in the earthly terms will have to admit that Christ loved them deeply, and will see Christ’s identification written on them.

The life in the boxing ring will be followed by eternity in heaven.

I thought about this passage again this evening as a police officer was questioning me about things that have been happening in my family.

It’s been a proverbial fight lately; one in which more punches have landed on my life and soul then ever.

He remarked at the end of our conversation that these kinds of things he has seen people of faith lose it or get stronger. “Is this making you lose your faith, or is it bringing you closer?”

My answer to him “My faith is still strong, it is something I will not lose.”

I may not win this round, but I will not quit the fight.

In enduring I will find He who gave me victory.

The Humility I Seek

… Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Nowhere in Scripture do we ever see the Lord command, “Be weak and pathetic”. If you know of a verse that tells us to curl up and die please pass me the memo.

The LORD gave Joshua a mighty big task. Conquer the Promised Land; vanquishing those who inhabit it. While he was at that he was to lead the people who wouldn’t listen to Moses, or God, for the last 40 years.

The typical modern church pastor/elder manage to change “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged” to:

Please be weak and flimsy, be terrified of people and circumstances so you will be discouraged when they don’t listen and follow…

Why do church sheep bite and stray?

Leaders are scared to death of people’s opinions.

The last clause turns out to be for them:

… Their opinions, your god, will follow after you no matter where you go.

We can be a pathetic bunch of losers because, quite frankly, we don’t have the courage to stand up to the sheep and call it “Shepherding”.

Psalms 23 tells us that the Lord’s shepherding calls for a rod and a staff… yet we give them to the sheep.

Leaders tend to excuse it by claiming that they are being “humble”. By which they mean “passive and mild”.

I have a serious concern for this definition of humble.

Humility in leadership should not be used to allow others to gain and inflict their arrogance on others. Nor should it ever be allowed as an alibi for doing what the crowd wants instead of the Lord’s will.

There needs to be disagreement f this is what we think it means to be humble.

I do in fact believe that God as called me to humility. James 4:10 says so.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.      James 4:10

Joshua and James do not contradict.

The reason for Joshua to be strong, courageous and not terrified or discouraged was because God, himself, was going to be with him wherever he went.

He had been commissioned and trained for the job AND he was never out of God’s sight.

The war was at hand. Someone passive and mild would not win it. Victory required someone with courage and strength, towards both the enemy but to the people of God.

Joshua was humble because he knew that he could stand up and battle forth because his power was in being in the presence of the Almighty.

That’s the kind of humility I seek.

A humility that give strength and courage in the Lord’s work.