The Christian Tom Cruise's of the World

Yesterday I was talking about how manic and crazy Cruise is. If you missed his strange ramblings, (Click HERE) for the YouTube video.

OK, you know the saying "When you point a finger, three are pointing back."

As I considered that, I knew right away that some Christians in the circles I run in are very similar to Tom Cruise... I have sounded Tom Cruise crazy before. (Let me explain)

In the video above, Tom is very passionate. His ferver is almost disturbing. Kind of scary!

Christian's can sometimes be so passionate about their message their behavior is somewhat disturbing to the innocent bystander who is suddenly "Bible Blasted"

Another thing Tom does is use special Scientology lingo. Jargon like "SP's" and "KSW" I have NO CLUE what he is talking about without the information in the side bar of the video.

Christians do the same thing! We use big words that people have no clue what we are talking about. Special terms are fine if you are in a setting where people understand and commonly use the terms. If you are sharing with an average person, use words and terms anyone can understand.

Finally, I noticed Tom talking about how he has the answers and the world needs to hear the message he has to share. Oh, please Tom! Share your almighty secrets with us!!!!

Wait! Christians talk the same way! I considered how arrogant he sounded and I understand why people think WE sound arrogant. We claim to see while we call the listener blind. We claim to have understanding while saying people are blind, dead, deaf and dumb.

OH, how much we think of ourselves! I understand why people see us that way!

If you talked to me 9 years ago I would have said "When sharing your faith, please... I don't really want to hear about your personal faith and what God has done in your life or a church's teachings or the doctrines of men or councils."

Filled with love, be a friend and share "The Bible says..."

What the BIBLE says has changed my life!

Don't worry, the BIBLE is authoritative and doesn't need you. Sorry to say it that way.

God is sovereign and doesn't need YOU and ME!

So why do we share? Because we are commanded to. Because we can't help ourselves!

My concern is are you sharing Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins through the sharing of Scripture? Or are you sharing the Gospel according to you?

Know your Bible, cling to your Bible and share the Bible.

Who are we that God should save us from our sins?! Be humble and thankful and share with love and gratitude not pride and arrogance. Talk up to people as if they are above you not talk down to people as if they are below you.

The Holy Spirit will do His work. You just be humble and faithful to Christ and His Word.

(I say these things to myself. If they are any benefit to you I am glad.)

Leave any thoughts or comments. I want to work through this for myself and not miss anything. Feel free to question me or challenge me. I have no high horse to come down from.

State of the Nation 2

Dr Ken Ham from the Creation Museum
(http://answersingenesis.org )

Who is a Christian?

Q:  I would like a way to tell if someone is a Christian, but at the same time I don’t want to “judge” them.  Is there a way I can tell?

A:  Well I would just point you to the answer that Christ gave in Matthew chapter 7.

Mat 7:16
"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn {bushes} nor figs from thistles, are they?

Mat 7:17
"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

Mat 7:18
"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

Mat 7:19
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Mat 7:20
"So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Mat 7:21
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven {will enter.}

Mat 7:22
"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

Mat 7:23
"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Mat 7:24
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Mat 7:25
"And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and {yet} it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Mat 7:26
"Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

Mat 7:27
"The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."

Mat 7:28
When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;

 

Obviously we all fail at times, but look at the pattern of their life and speech.  What a man lives is what he really believes in his heart.

More importantly I use this verse to examine myself.  Look at Matthew 7:23  is that you?  Do you practice sin as a pattern of life?  OR do you need to turn from sin and submit to Jesus as the LORD of your life?  That’s right!  He is to be the MASTER of your life! 

Time to crawl off that throne in your heart and seat Christ on it where He belongs.

The GOODNESS of God!

A Few Sick Kids to Pray For

Purnima, Nasar, Mohidden, Sravan, Naik and Chinni are all part of Emma’s School in India and are sick.  Please pray for them just as we pray for our own kids.

It is hard to support a school by ourselves, but it is SO important because Muslim children are coming to Christ there.  They are getting a free education and love and care and they pray for us all EVERY DAY!  Under the banner that bears Emma’s name.  We really need to help them more.

If you can offer any small help to them, please let me know.  Even $10 a month for a year is a HUGE help to them.

They don’t ask me for money but I know the need and see the need.

Just prayerfully consider it and please pray for these kids over the next week or so.

Thank you!

The True Secret Behind Your Professional Success… God!

Now if you hate all things Biblical, I'm sure this will probably be the last time you read the blog, but I hope not.  If you believe in God, then I will show you how He is the key to all your personal and professional fulfillment.  He is not a genie in a bottle, He is the Holy and Sovereign ruler of the universe.  A proper understanding of God will give you a proper understanding of the world, of yourself and Bilical standards of doing business will make you successful.
I want to use the word "success" cautiously.  Many confuse "success" with "wealth".  Let's use the word "fulfilled" or "happy".  There are many people who are not in the Millionaire's Club who are perfectly happy where they are.  You have to define success for yourself.
Next, your personal life and professional life is between you and God.  How many people tell you that you can't do it.  There are doubters, and nay-sayers...negative people who hate your hopeful and positive outlook on life.  Maybe you are your own worst enemy, undermining your own success.  Well here's the key to fixing all of that.
It's the Lord Jesus Christ.  Once you see yourself for who you really are, a sinner and you are brutally honest with yourself and God about your short comings, then you can begin moving towards success...make that "fulfillment".
It starts with forgiveness.  Knowing Christ died to pay your sin debt (death and hell) you can now know that GOD has forgiven you and you stand clean and forgiven.  Next you can learn to forgive yourself for where you fall short.  Understand your strengths and weaknesses.  Play to your strengths and build a team of people around you whose strengths make up for your weaknesses.
I think this simple foundation of Christ and living a forgiven and upright life before the Lord is everything.  First all peace and joy is found in this.  Next the motivation behind why you go to work and do what you do changes.  How you measure "success" changes.  The principles that a Christian lives by is simply not only living right, but also doing business right.  So naturally when you are honest and transparent with people, you gain their trust.  Give them a generous deal and they will come back....not only that they will tell their friends.  When you  make a mistake, you will make it right with your customers.  When they get in your face, you are calm and kind and treat them right.  When they cool down, they will remember how you treated them well.
Unbelievers often mistake Christians as pushovers.  We are not.  Don't mistake kindness for weakness.  In fact I think a true Believer works harder, longer with better results.  Their motives are right.
I'm not saying we don't blow it sometimes and lose focus.  What I'm saying is you must first trust God for everything.  Thank God for everything He gives you.  Look to Him and His Word for help.  More trust in Him and less trust in yourself.
Simple fact, if you are unhappy and life is a mess, odds are you have created it whether you realize it or not.
The heart leads the mind and the mind leads the body.... your body leads your business.  If the heart is not right you are doomed from the start.
I'm not saying the most evil person can't get ahead in life.  He or she can.  For what though?  What does it profit you if you gain the whole world and lose your soul.  They will never find "fulfillment"  There will always be the same hole in their life as there was before wealth.  Their problems and who they are as a person will only be amplified with wealth.  Just look at the stories of lottery winners.  They just became an amplified version of themselves.
So if God is over all and creator of all, shouldn't we seek Him first?  If you are looking for wisdom, shouldn't you seek Godly wisdom first?  I can only speak for myself, but it was a huge turning point in my life and career.
Put down the marketing book, pick up the Bible and start there.  I'll walk you through the other stuff along the way.  Life's a journey, let's live it the best we can.

Power, Structure, World History and the Church

Since I have been spending quite a bit of time the last several weeks studying the history of the problems in the Middle East I have noticed some very interesting patterns.

First imagine a land that has suddenly lost it’s government, structure, laws, police, military… etc.  In your mind you can imagine that land in any part of the world you like, doesn’t matter.

In this void where people are free to do anything, live anyway they like.. what happens?  The people cry out for structure and laws and there is always at least one greedy group hungry for power.

I find it interesting where people of religion jump in ready to impose their religion in this void of structure and laws. (It’s not always people of religion grabbing for power obviously…)

This is what happened when Rome fell.  Who had the birth records, marriage records, who had rules of right and wrong and “enforced” them?  The “Roman” church became very powerful and actually filled the role of government.

How many things do you see in the heart of man revealed in the desire for rules and structure and the people who are more than willing to grab for that power.  Just something to noodle on.