Immanuel

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name, 'Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

To my mind, there is one word that sums up the entire Bible.
Immanuel.
God with us.

If it is suddenly so significant that God is with us, then that implies that there was a time when God and humanity were separated, and then there was a reunion. This is the essence of the Bible message.

The Bible teaches that in the beginning God and humanity were in union and communion, but that the creature rebelled, and a terrible chasm appeared in the spiritual and moral universe. A chasm that man was neither capable nor fit to bridge. God was seen as distant and angry. And so God could have let the matter stand. However, God, had other ideas. He decided to do what man could not - He bridged the gap Himself. Rather than waiting for humanity to maybe someday become good enough or capable enough to come to Him, He came to humanity.

Not contented to merely come to us, He became one of us, experiencing the whole of the human experience. No on can thrust an accusing finger in the face of God, and proclaim, "You don't know what I'm going through!" He's been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt with His sweat, blood, and tears.

See Him as a Baby lying in a manger. See Him as a Man without a bed or a roof over His head. "Foxes have holes," said Jesus, "and the birds of the air of have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head." That's God with us enduring poverty.

See Him leaning in fatigue against the well of Sychar. See Him retreating into the wilderness for a break. That's God with us experiencing weariness and weakness.

Listen as they mock Him for a mad man, listen as they criticize Him for healing on the Sabbath Day, and hear Him referred to with sneers and knowing smirks. That's God with us bearing scorn and ridicule.

See Him growing up in a Jewish ghetto, and called a Nazarene, which was little more than a racial slur. That's God with us suffering the bitterness of racism and the injustice of the class system.

See Him weeping at Lazarus' grave. Divinty weeps at the grave of humanity! Oh, behold, the Man of Sorrows! That's God with us grieving and mourning.

See Him at the wedding of Cana, feasting with friends (and enemies, too!), and holding little children on His knee. That's God with us, partaking of our joys as well as our pain.

See Him in Gethsemane. Sweat and blood flow mingled down. That's God with us facing the terror of the unknown and the fear of death.

See Him sold for thirty pieces of silver, betrayed by a kiss, forsaken by His disciples, and denied by His best friend, Peter. That's God with us suffering abandonment, rejection, and betrayal.

See Him before Caiphas and Pilate. See Him mocked, beaten, lashed, spit upon, and His beard plucked out. Watch as He staggers beneath His cross. Hear the ring of the hammer and the groans of agony. That's God with us insulted, abused, bearing unimaginable pain, and utterly helpless.

See as He breathes His last, and His head falls to His chest. That's God with us dying.

Such a panorama is breath-taking, and it should be more than enough. But God is a generous and extravagant God. The job of Immanuel was not done until humanity could get to God.

He came to be Immanuel so He could take destroy, once and for all, the thing that had separated humanity and God in the first place: sin. When sin is removed, God and humanity can once again join in union and communion. When sin is removed, God by His Holy Spirit comes to live with us - then we can truly call Him Immanuel, God with us. He is no longer distant and angry; instead He is with us through every action of our life to protect, defend, enlighten, and comfort us. Through every moment of every day, He is with us. No wonder they call Him Immanuel!

And when our life comes to a close, and we stand before the judgement bar of a thrice holy God, Immanuel is there acting as our lawyer. Because our sins have been forgiven for His dear sake, we shall be acquitted. Then we shall really know the full meaning of His name. For when the Book of Life is closed, He will be with us and in us, and we with Him and in Him forever.
Immanuel, our precious Immanuel.

Merry Christmas, everybody!
Pastor Chelle

Catching up on Culture

Last blog, I alluded to the fact that I was raised without TV. We still don't have a TV in our home; at least in the sense where we can actually watch channels. So, whenever I get the chance to really watch TV, I take advantage of it. It's my way of getting a crash course in culture. I got one such opportunity to catch up on culture during my recent trip to Indianapolis..., and I'm still in recovery.


In fact, I've been left speechless. In all likelihood, this will be a very short blog as a result. All I can say is that it's going to be a very long time before I get over the profligacy, the decadence, the violence, the indecency, the vulgarity, the vapidness, the profanity, and the irreverence of what I witnessed in my motel room. I came away sick at heart - grieved to my inmost being.


I have no harsh words, at this point for those in show business, but I wondered... still wonder... is there no one in the world of Hollywood, is there no one in the ranks of talk show personalities, is there no one in the dressing rooms of showbiz that is tired of the shallowness and petty dramas of celebrity squabbles? Is no one weary of the endless parade of corruption and degradation of morals that so cheapens the worth of humanity? Much of what I saw folks would say is mere show, but I am left to ponder how much the showmen/women have bought into the show?


Now, I know why the prophet Jeremiah once poetically and poignantly lamented, "Oh, that my eyes were rivers of water to weep for the wound ... of my people!" Oh, that I could weep for the emptiness of our culture! Or as the prophet Isaiah said, "Judgement is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the streets, and equity cannot enter."


You see, above all else, what I witnessed was an absence of truth. Everybody is doing what is right in their own eyes - a sure recipe for disaster, and then we wonder why our world is so chaotic and wretched. It was no accident, that as I flipped wide-eyed through the channels, I saw hedonism on one hand and violence on the other. Just like a ship without a compass, without a rudder, we are drifting, and we are sure to make shipwreck on the shores of time. Whenever truth departs, tragedy fills the remaining void. It is a tried and true formula.


So, if you are reading this blog, and you find you have a heartache, and an inner emptiness that is not satisfied with typical Hollywood fare and the Beverly Hills lifestyle, if you find you are lost and drifting like a ship without a compass, I'm happy to proclaim to you that there is help, there is hope - there is a compass you can rely on to give direction to your life: His name is Jesus. He is the Way, the TRUTH, and the life. He is the Way for those who are lost, He is the Truth for those who are searching, and He is the Life for those who can't find satisfaction in a palatial house, all the toys, and mutiple relationships. He is what Hollywood... and the world... needs now more than ever.


'Til next time,
Pastor Chelle

Damnable Heresies & Pernicious Ways

Growing up without TV has some huge advantages. One of those advantages was being tele-evangelist free for all my formative years. I only recall seeing the odd one from time to time whenever we happened to stay at a motel where there was a TV readily available. It wasn't until I was in my early to mid twenties before I really sat down and watched a tele-evangelist in action.

I wasn't impressed.

There's one big-name dude (who shall remain an un-named dude in this blog) that has been making a lot of waves. I actually know a woman who was healed of cancer at one of his crusades, and so, naturally, I became curious to learn more about him. I checked him out on youtube. The bottom nearly fell out of my stomach. I've never been so embarrassed to be a Christian in all my life! It was all foolishness and money grubbing. Now I know why atheists say Christians are delusional; after a performance like that we deserve it! What still mystifies me is how on earth so many thousands of people are attracted to that person's "ministry." All I can say about my friend who was healed, is that, in all likelihood, it was her faith and not the shenanigans of said "faith healer" that brought about the miracle. (There's more to be said on this point, but it will keep.)

What has this got to do with stars and celebrities, you ask? Well, simply put, there's been some who have made very scorching comments about tele-evangelists. One well-known figure, commenting on the frequency with which these religious stars claim God spoke to them, said, "If God was going to come down and talk to somebody, it wouldn't be somebody with a fleet of Cadillacs." Another referred to "that B-s- preaching." All of this is like a sword through the heart for me. If money-grabbing, blow-dried, posturing tele-evangelists are the only examples of a Christian that these artists know, then I want to endeavor to set the record straight.

First of all, let me say to anybody out there reading this, if you think classic tele-evangelism is what Christianity is all about, let me hasten to assure you that that is far from the truth. There are many, many in the world of faith who view such behavior with horror and shame... such as myself. If a crate of apples stinks, it doesn't always mean that all the apples in the crate are rotten. One or two will do the job nicely.

Secondly, I would like to point out that God hates the money-grabbing as much as you do. Christian author, Max Lucado, put it this way, "Mark it down, religious hucksters poke the fires of Divine wrath." Amen, brother. Remember, it was the money changers Jesus drove from the temple with a small whip, and it was the tables of the money changers that He turned over in His fury with the corruption of the religious system of His day. And His hatred of bilking people in the name of God has not abated.

When I first became a Christian I will never forget my amazement when I read Second Peter chapter two. I never knew such a passage existed in the Bible. You see, I knew enough about tele-evangelists before I was a Christian to have taken a scunner at them myself; so when I read the first three verses of that chapter, I was all agog. I would like to share them here with various and sundry thoughts, in hopes that I might clear God's name in this matter.

Verse 1: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (secretly/subtly) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

St. Peter is reminding the relatively new Christian community that there have always been false prophets - those who talk glib in the name of God, those who love gold more than they love the God they profess to represent. He is warning them that the new Christian era will be no different. He's also sounding the alarm that their teaching will be subtle - sneaky, if you please - as preposterous at is my seem, they will deny even the Lord Jesus Himself - His true teachings, His person, and what He truly stood for - and they will seem to get away with it. But it will only seem that way. Destruction will come... swiftly. There are those that will take exception to the word swiftly, since many tele-evangelists and "false prophets" seem to have a long and prosperous "ministry," but from the perspective of eternity, even a lifetime is short, and the destruction that follows upon its heels comes surely and swiftly.

Verse 2: And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.


If ever anything was timely and bang on target that verse is. Many shall follow, huh? Just do a video search on some big-named evangelist, and you'll see the definition of many. Pernicious ways means, causing injury, destructive, or causing injury by insidiously undermining or weakening. I don't need to tell you how destructive the teachings of false prophets have been to the cause of Christ, how insidiously the testimony of God's people has been weakened and undermined by the greed and absurd behavior of those same false prophets, or how "turned off" the unbelieving world has been by the followers of those infamous individuals. Truly the "way of truth" has been "evil spoken of."


Verse 3: And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:


There's more to that verse, but that will suffice for the moment. When people say "religion is all about money" they aren't far off the mark, at least with regards to false religion. With unerring precision, God puts His finger upon the motivation on these false prophets - greed, materialism, the love of money, filthy lucre. Like it or lump it, that is the plain, ugly truth - it is all about the money. Without attempting to soften the facts, God calls their message exactly what it is: feigned words - false show. I saw a tele-evangelist pull a snake out of the back of some poor arthiritis sufferer. Or, rather, he told us/his audience that he pulled it out, and, like blind sheep, we believed him, and whooped it up, praising God for such a demonstration of His power. Poppycock. And, boy, with their feigned words do they make merchandise out the poor, gullible, souls that they suck in! "Oh, send, me a dollar, and God will give you a hundred!" "Sow a seed, brother" - translation: write me a cheque. Bah.

I have been rather blunt on this blog, but I think the topic calls for it. It's high time Christians call a spade a spade. I just hope that this little soap box rant has cleared the air a bit. You don't like the outrageous behavior carried on in the name of God? Well, you are in good company. God has a mighty poor opinion of it, too. Unless that behavior is repented of, God has made it clear that it will end in no less than damnation.

So if you've been using tele-evangelists as an excuse not to be a Christian, please reconsider and give the real deal a chance. I promise you will never regret it... not now, not for eternity.

With love,
Pastor Chelle

Someone to Care

If I had two wishes one would be that I would have the ability to change people's hearts - soften the stubborn, to make the wicked love righteousness, to make the sinner love God - or rather, to be able to be used of God to bring about that change. My second wish would be that I would be able to help people experience God's love for them.

I have experienced God's love in extraordinary ways. Because of those sacred moments, I know in my heart of hearts that it is the love of God that the world needs above all else. Once someone gets a taste of God's glorious love, they will never be the same. There is nothing like it in the world or out of it. It is a love like no other: it surpasses the tenderest love of a mother for her child, and it far exceeds the exquisite bond lovers share. The love of God is enough to melt the hardest heart and put spine into the greatest weakling. It gives worth to those who feel worthless and hope to those who have forgotten what hope is. God's love brings comfort when all other comforters have failed. God's love is the answer when there is no answer to be found. Or as someone once said:

"Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry,

Nor could the scroll contain the whole

Though stretched from sky to sky."

(Significantly, the above verse was found etched into the wall of an insane asylum cell - obviously somebody was an inmate wrongfully.)

Yet, even the sublimest poetry falls far short of expressing the riches of God's love. As the pithy, little saying goes, "It is better felt than 'tellt.'" The past week has been a special week for me - I have sensed God's tender love and care for me in a vivid and profound way. And though I revel in the wonder of it, I know that everyone can experience what I've experienced, and, in hopes that it will help or encourage someone, I would like to share the thoughts of my heart.

There is an old gospel song that says,

"Someone to care, Someone to share,

All your troubles like no other can do;

He'll come down from the skies,

And brush the tears from your eyes -

Your His child, and He cares for you."

Have you ever been lonely in a crowd? Have you ever wished someone would just take the time of day to be a friend without prompting? Have you ever wondered if anyone cares, or are you alone in a universe that could care less? Well, I'm glad to tell you, that there is Someone who cares.

He not only cares, but He understands better than anyone ever could. The little things that others might think you are silly to care about are not beyond or beneath His notice. He is the keeper of both the stars and sparrows. When no one else understands, He does. He not only understands, but He weeps when you weep. What hurts you hurts Him a hundred times more. He shares your sorrow and He bares your sorrow, but He doesn't stop there - He'll carry not only your burden, but you, too. Oh, yes, there's Someone Who cares, and there's Someone Who shares all your troubles like no other can do.

And He does come down from the skies to brush the tears from your eyes. Oh, not in the physical sense, of course, but the presence of God does come to us in our time of sorrow in a very real way, and there are no words for the glory and the mystery of it. Like a father picks up his child who has scraped up a knee, and gentle wipes away the tears and whispers, "Don't cry, Daddy loves you," just so it is with God. And there's nothing pansy, sappy, or silly about it. Rather, it's what the heart of every person, regardless of age, craves. It's a love that is as cozy as a quilt on a winter's day, and bracing as a blast of wind across the ocean.

Above all, you are His child and He cares for you. Do you know what delight and love a good parent has in their child? Do you know that gush of love you feel sometimes clear out of the blue when you just happen to glance at your child? They may be raggamuffins, but you love them, oh, bless you, how you love them just because they are your child. They are more precious to you than the stars of Heaven. That's the love God carrys for you in His heart -He loves you "just because." You matter to Heaven. He'd forfeit the stars and the planets just for you. He'd divest Himself of His splendour and walk through the worst hell had to offer - you're His child, and He cares for you.

God grant that you may know how truly God cares for you.

The love of God be with you,

Pastor Chelle

The Hypocrite Cop-out

How many of you readers have heard someone say, "I wouldn't be a Christian because there are so many hypocrites in the church!"

I've heard it frequently in my short 31 years, and, truth to be told, I made the same declaration numerous times myself before I surrendered to a life of faith. So, how do you respond to that time-honored statement? Are you thrown for a loop, or do you have a clever comeback? (Incidentally, if you do have a clever comeback, I'd like to hear it - drop me a line in the comment box.)

I've noticed that the stars and celebrities are among those who express that sentiment or a very similar one. The band that I've been featuring in the Daily Prayer Request, AC/DC, has been among those who have taken pot shots at Christian hypocrites, and I'm going to take this opportunity to answer them as if they were actually reading what I have to say (fat chance!).

"You are right - there are hypocrites in the church - perhaps even lots of them - perhaps the biggest majority of professing Christians are hypocrites. After all, Jesus said there were few who actually found the straight and narrow. The Bible even tells us there are hypocrites in the church. But you know what? The world is full of hypocrites, too, not just the church. In fact, I'd like to suggest there are more hypocrites at rock concerts than in church - hypocrites that will pump their fists and scream your praises one minute and run you down the next - I know, I've heard them for myself.

"You don't like hypocrites? Small blame to you: neither does God. Jesus spent an entire chapter in Matthew denouncing them, and assured us that hypocrites are going to hell. In fact, I would like to suggest that there is nothing like a hypocrite to infuriate God... unless it is someone who takes advantage of the weak, and/or wounds the innocent.

"But tell me something: how do you know what a hypocrite is? Hmmm? Well, let me tell you how you know - you know what a hypocrite is because somewhere out there is the real thing whereby you can tell the phony from the genuine. And if there is a real deal, isn't it a bit hypocritical to use the excuse that a hypocrite keeps you from being the real thing yourself? Why don't you become a Christian and show the world what the real thing is? The world needs more of the real thing... desperately. Since when do you allow the presence of counterfeit bills in the world to prevent you from becoming a millionaire?"

I urge all my readers to lay aside the hypocrite cop-out, search your heart, and be such a blazing hot Christian, that even the faintest whiff of hypocrisy will be burned away.
God bless us all... and AC/DC, too.
Pastor Chelle

Three, Big Fat Assumptions pt 3

Now for the last of those three, big fat assumptions. And I do believe it is the biggest and fattest of the three. The atheist or humanist assumes that God cannot reveal Himself personally to an individual. This goes beyond both having the moral law written on the conscience or knowing basic Biblical facts. Yet, if I may say so, if there is a God, particularly One like the Christians claim, then it is indeed a big stretch to assume that He doesn't reveal Himself to people. This is the weakest argument in Charles Templeton's hypothesis.

There are so many stories to corroborate the fact that God does reveal Himself, that I scarcely know where to begin. But there are two that stand out foremost in my mind. One of which I will tell, one of which I will let technology tell for me.

The first tale is about a man named Jimmy, a coal miner in Yorkshire. Now, I grant you that Yorkshire isn't exactly pagan, nor or the Yorkshire folk ignorant heathen, but just the same it does make an interesting point. During my teens, I had a marvelous pastor, Pastor Brian, himself a Yorkshireman. Pastor Brian had a friend, who I will call Tommy for the simple reason I have forgotten the dear man's name, though I saw Tommy on two separate occasions and heard him tell this story with my own ears. I must go on record to say that both Pastor Brian and Tommy are still alive, if you really would like to verify this story, and I assure you, furthermore, that these fine men are anything but flakes..., or liars.

Tommy was a coal miner before he too joined his friend, Brian, as a pastor. He became a Christian as a teenager, and was full of zeal to tell people all about the wonderful Jesus he had found. Of course, most of the people whom Tommy knew were his coal mining workmates. He began to witness to all of them with great enthusiasm, including his boss, Jim. Jim wasn't impressed. And Jim, who was a rough, hard-living, hard-drinking man, promptly proceeded to mock and belittle Tommy every chance he got. In fact, he made Tommy's life downright miserable. Naturally, Tommy being young in the faith didn't always have a brilliant, theological come-back for Jim's smart remarks.

Finally, one day, when Jim was being particularly difficult, Tommy, as a last resort, said to Jim, "Jim, if you just knew how much Jesus loves you!"

To his amazement, tears came to Jim's eyes, "I know, Tommy, I know."

"How do you know?!" was Tommy's shocked response.

And Jim told Tommy how, when he had been a teenager himself, he had become very ill. So ill, in fact, that all the village biddies (old women) had gathered at the cottage with Jim's mother and were waiting for Jim to snuff it. (pronounced "snoof" it, in good, broad Yorkshire) When Jim was at his lowest point, Jesus came and stood at the foot of Jim's bed.

"And He loved me so much, Tommy," Jim said, with tears rolling down his cheeks, "I've never forgotten it."

Jesus healed Jim then and there, and Jim walked out of his room fit as fiddle to the consternation of the old biddies who were waiting for him to snuff it. I'm also happy to say that Tommy did have the incredible privilege of leading Jim back the Jesus he had left behind.

What strikes me as singular about that story is who would ever suspect that old rascal of a coal miner would have had such an experience? Certainly not Charles Templeton or his ilk.

You may recall that in the first of these three installments, I mentioned that Mr. Templeton had theorized that if you were born in an Arabic country it was likely that you would be a Muslim, and that a Muslim can't be blamed for what he is because of his culture. Very well. But don't assume that Jesus doesn't reveal Himself to Muslims. In fact, some have speculated, and not without good reason, that Muslims might be providing the most converts to Christianity. Wikiislam has actually stated that the number of converts from Islam to Christianity is so high and so large and so frequent that it is impossible to tabulate proper statistics. What is more curious about this phenomenon is that it is guesstimated that roughly 90% of these conversions are the direct result of dreams and visions of Jesus. A perusal of the 'net will turn up dozens of these stories. I strongly urge you to check out youtube for just such testimonies. To conclude this series of blogs, I am going to leave you with two links to the amazing, wonderful and glorious story of an Iranian man named Afshin. I trust it will bless you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYgLFm0CQGQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBMZDO22sfs

'Til next time. Peace out.
Pastor Chelle

Three big, fat assumptions pt 2

Following up my last blog (hopefully, this installment won't be as lengthy as the last one I inflicted on my long-suffering audience), the second assumption people make is that the "heathen" are ignorant of Biblical truth. Now, let me make a point of distinguishing between knowledge of right and wrong and Biblical truth; by Biblical truth I mean basic Biblical facts and knowledge about God, Jesus, etc.

It is a very natural assumption to think that those living in desolate places without any contact with Christian civilization would be totally unaware of what the Bible teaches. However, it is an assumption, and one that has proven to be astonishingly wrong. Missionaries can tell you just how very wrong it is.

One such missionary is a gentleman named Jim Stanley, a missionary to an obscure African tribe called the Busaris (I doubt that is the correct spelling - I need to brush up on my obscure African dialects, I guess). Here were "ignorant heathens" at their best. When Mr. Stanley arrived in Africa, he didn't know quite where to begin teaching the Busaris about God and the Bible. So, he decided the best route of action was to discover what they did know, and he asked them out right what they knew about God. To which the chief replied, "We know three things. First, He exists. Second, He is going to judge us someday. Third, we are afraid of Him."

Now, how could they possibly know that God was going to judge them someday? The bare fact that God may exist was not just logical grounds to conclude that that God was going to judge them. So, the question remains, how did they know such a profound and fundamental Biblical fact?

This idea of judgement occurs with astonishing regularity among the heathen. Another case in point is the Ecuadorian Auca Indians or Waodani tribe made famous by the martyrdom of five men who attempted to reach them in 1956. The Waodani are animists, but they do believe that when they die, they will walk the trail to the afterlife where they will meet the Great Boa, or obe, and, if their deeds are such on earth as to make them strong, they will be able to jump the Great Boa and enter into the afterlife. While the Bible teaches nothing about a Great Boa, still it is fascinating to once again see the belief of future judgement so imbedded into a culture that should be ignorant of it.

But the story that takes the cake, is the story of the Yanomamo (Venezuelan rainforest) shaman talking with a Christian missionary. I believe the missionary's name is Gary Dawson, and this story is available for listening at this site:

http://radiotime.com/program/p_39957/Focus_On_The_Family.aspx

(You'll find the story under the title "Finding the One True God 2" I highly, highly recommend listening to part 1, also.)

For those of you who don't have the time to listen to the story at the above link, let me tell you as best as I can. One day Gary went to a village where no white man had ever been. As he approached the village, the chanting of the village shaman ceased abruptly. Gary didn't think too much of the incident at the time. However, the next day while talking to the old shaman, he got the surprise of his life. When he attempted to tell the shaman about God, the shaman told Gary he already knew about Him. The shaman's spirits had told him about God, but that He was their enemy. And then the shaman proceeded to tell Gary about the place where God lived, and to describe the angels/being who lived in His presence. He said that he had seen afar off the land where God lived, where there was a river that flowed through that land which was for healing. The shaman then went on to tell Gary that the reason the chanting had ceased so abruptly when Gary had first arrived was that the shaman's spirits were afraid of Gary's God, and that they wanted to know when Gary was leaving so they could come back.

!!!

(Only exclamation points will express my sentiments!)

Anything more to be said on this point would be superfluous. If such a story doesn't prove that the ignorant heathen aren't so ignorant after all, I don't know what does. I rest my case.

'Til next time,
Pastor Chelle

Three Big, Fat Assumptions

You know as well as I do, that assumptions are dangerous. At least, I hope you do. It is an interesting fact that so many people's attitudes and opinions about the Christian faith and the God of the faith are based on assumptions. In the next blog or two... or three... or four..., 8-) I want to point out some assumptions, big, fat assumptions, on a certain subject, that, in spite of their size, often get overlooked.

Back when I first became a Christian, I picked up Charles Templeton's book, Farewell to God. Templeton made a comment in that book, I've never forgotten. At first, it troubled me; I was young in my faith, and not as adept in apologetics now. (Though I hasten to add that I am no Lewis or Zacharias yet, either!) But as the years have rolled by, as my relationship with God has strengthened, as I've studied, and as I've gained experience, Templeton's comment doesn't trouble me any more.

One of his reasons for kissing God goodbye, so to speak, was that he believed Christianity was culturally conditioned. "If," said he, "you were raised in the Middle East, chances are you would be a Muslim." Being born in North America made it likely that you would be a Christian. And furthermore, because faith was largely dependent on where one was born, so your knowledge of God/faith would be limited to your culture. In other words, if God damned people to hell because the they didn't believe in Jesus, He was a very unjust God for damning people for what they could not help - what they couldn't/didn't know, and, therefore, the Christian faith was not valid.

Now, that is a very convoluted way of explaining Mr. Templeton's very smooth and concise arguments ( I told you I wasn't Lewis or Zacharias!), but that is the gist of it. That way of thinking shook my world, all the more so, because I was aware enough to have wondered the same thing myself. Assuming Christianity and our understanding of it is valid, have you ever wondered just how it will be when the "ignorant heathen" stand before God to be judged of their sins? Is it fair for God to send them to hell merely because they are ignorant? It's the sort of issue that causes a strong knee-jerk reaction, doesn't it?

What I didn't see when I was a new, teenage Christian was the huge assumptions in this line of reasoning. In fact, there are so many assumptions, that I'm not sure where to begin. One assumption, both Christians and atheists have made over the years is that God does send all the "heathen" to hell. The Christians have made the assumption through flawed reasoning, and the atheist has reached the assumption through prejudice and ignorance - assuming that the flawed reasoning of many Christians is an accurate representation of Christian doctrine. (More assumptions!) But there are three bigger, fatter assumptions the atheist makes who subscribes to Templeton's reasoning.

The first is that they assume the heathen are ignorant of right and wrong, particularly what God has defined as right and wrong. In this they could not be more mistaken. The Bible says in Romans chapter 2, that God has written His law on the hearts of all humanity, and that people do/know by nature/instinct what is right and wrong without direct revelation - revelation such as what the Jews experienced at Mt. Sinai when the Ten Commandments was given. And the evidence that God has indeed written His law on our hearts is the presence of our conscience - that thing that accuses us or excuses us, that thing that so inconveniently pricks when we are all set to have "fun", that thing that we spend our lifetime trying to soothe and salve.

The best way to explain what the Bible teaches about this subject, is the classic illustration of two children playing ball. Let's say it's a brother and sister named Janie and Tommy. At some point, Janie and Tommy decide to play ball together using Janie's ball. Everything goes fine for a few tosses, until suddenly Janie decides to hang on to the ball rather than throw it back. Immediately there is a row.

Tommy sets up the howling first, "Throw it back, Janie!"

"No,"says Janie, clutching her ball tightly, "It's my ball!"

"But you agreed we would play together!" retorts Tommy, "And you should keep your promise!"

"Who says?" scowls Janie, and clutches her ball tighter."

I'll leave to your imagination how that little scenario ends; however, I think anyone with kids has a pretty good idea what the outcome will be.


What happens in situations like that points to the fact, that even very young kids appeal to a universal scheme of right and wrong, and know how to accuse each other and excuse themselves when they find themselves in the position to do so. I've heard people say that kids do things like that because of cultural conditioning and evolution, but I have to say as kindly as I know how that I think that is nothing more than a cop-out to deny what is clear evidence of a moral law beyond ourselves written by a Lawgiver upon our heart. It always cracks me up how atheists and their ilk go to such lengths to prove there is no such thing as a moral law written into our natures, and then go out and argue frantically and furiously that Christians have no business imposing their beliefs on others. I've always wanted to retort like Janie, "Says who?" If there is no right and wrong, only what culture says or evolution has taught us, what right have you got to tell me that it is wrong to impose my beliefs on somebody else, unless there is a higher law which teaches us mutual respect?

I recently preached on this subject at my church, and I would like to give you the illustration I gave to my congregation to make the point that the ignorant heathen are not ignorant of God's right and wrong, and that their conscience bear witness to it. It is the story of a man named Don Richardson, author of the book Peace Child. A graduate of Prairie Bible Institute in Alberta, Don and his wife became missionaries to the cannibals of Western New Guinea. The cannibals' culture is something else. Fancy living in a culture where betrayal is a virtue! For the cannibals it was a "big deal" to make friends with somebody from a neighboring village, make all kinds of promises about what the relationship offered, such as the promise of free trade between the two villages, and then when the friendship was well cemented, turn around and eat them. Lovely. (Incidentally, I discovered from reading that book that mac'n'cheese looks like brains; just a little tidbit you might find interesting.) To the cannibal, Judas Ischariot was a hero. Talk of a missionary's worst nightmare. But as warped and twisted as a cannibal's thinking might be, there is a point, where even their conscience kicks into gear, and they sue for peace with each other, a cessation of betrayals and eating one another. And when two villages/tribes decide to make peace, they have a ritual called the "peace child;" in the ritual, they agree to make peace, and, the token given as proof that they have made peace, is to exchange children or babies, so that each village has a representative of the other living in it. The peace stands as long as the peace child lives. If that peace treaty is betrayed and the child is eaten, it is the ultimate transgression. Even in a culture so darkened, there is no words for the monstrosity of such a crime.

And in that illustration we see how the supposedly ignorant heathen know there is a higher law, and they appeal to it. Their conscience accuses them and excuses them. God has not left Himself without a witness. In the end, God will judge them for how they responded when their own conscience pricked them, and He will be perfectly justified to do so.

Mr. Templeton was wrong. The heathen are not so ignorant, and God is not unjust to judge a cannibal for eating a defenceless baby offered to him in good faith. As the Bible puts it, they are without excuse.

Part 2 to follow soon when we'll discuss the next big, fat assumption. 'Til then, God bless.
Pastor Chelle

My Brother's Keeper

There's something on my mind that I'm not entirely sure how to express... though, as per usual, I shall have a go at it, even if it's a "rum go," to borrow a phrase from my British friends. My ruminations of late have been on the subject of what is our responsibility toward those upon whom our culture bestows the title star or celebrity. Or, rather, how are we to relate to the them.
Naturally, I am thinking -and writing - from a devout Christian's perspective.

There are times I just roll my eyes in exasperation when I hear what those professing to be my fellow Christians say and do with regards to the stars. There seems to be two ditches into which we regularly fall: one, mindless idolization, or, two, mindless vilification.

We tumble into the first ditch when we give ourselves up to entertaining ourselves freely with the wares that the various artists provide us. Sometimes I am hard pressed to restrain myself from speaking unadvisedly when I witness some of the movies Christians watch and the music to which they listen, and frequently watch and listen seemingly without critical, intelligent reasoning. I think I've heard every argument about why Christians have the liberty to watch and listen to whatever they want, but those arguments are getting a bit thin... and foolish. I'm not going to go into the whole theological nine yards about why we shouldn't watch movies or listen to music full of cussing, that glorify sinful practices, and/or mock Christian practice. Maybe someday I will, but not now. What I would like to ask, however, is this: do the various musicians and actors, who do not share our faith, ever get weary or annoyed with Christians who entertain themselves with what the artists themselves know to be totally against all that we profess to believe? Do they get fed up with our hypocrisy?

The sight of Christians wallowing in the ditch of mindless vilification nearly gives me apoplexy. Back in the mid nineties, a gospel group published a song that was little more than a rant about all the things that were wrong with America. I admit that at the time I thought it had merit, though down inside it made me decidedly uncomfortable. As I've matured as a Christian, I've discovered why it made me feel the way it did. It was the simple fact that the punkers, musicians, politicians, and actors that they took to task in that song were people - people, who no matter what sins they may have been guilty of committing, still had a basic need for love. You see, there is one thing that we seem to forget in the midst of all our ranting and raving about the great sins of stars: these people can hear what is being said, sung and written about them (one artist made the comment that he didn't know what was with people - "Don't they know I can read [what's being said about me]?"), and, whether we like to think it or not, they know if we truly care about them or not - they aren't fooled by our words... like we seem to be. It's all well and good to say that we love the sinner, but hate the sin. However, I would like to suggest that if the sensational sins of the sinner get more of your attention than the need of the sinner, then you have fallen into the ditch of mindless vilification.

The depth to which we have wallowed in these ditches is revealed when the various stars die. The recent passing of Michael Jackson gave us a good example of it. For my part, I was heartbroken for the loss of this man - not because he was an idol of mine - but because death is a serious matter and should be cause for grief. When a soul - any soul - is plunged into eternity, it should sober us. But when a star, a pop icon, dies, we react like nincompoops. Either we join with the world, and grieve without reason, bowing at their coffins as if they were the shrines of the brightest deities, or we behave like unsanctified jackasses.

I have heard statements about the eternal destiny of Michael Jackson from those professing high religion that have made my cheeks burn with mortification. One gentleman waxed eloquent stating that Michael was dancing with Lucifer and firecrackers - in a very public situation with non-believers to witness the statement, no less. Oh, for shame! For shame! For shame! Whatever happened to Christian charity and a heart that breaks with love for the sinner? This question is not a commentary on the eternal destiny of the late pope icon, but, let me ask, if God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, what right have you shooting your mouth off in such a fashion? We are called to judge righteous judgement, yes, but we are forbidden to enter into the kind of judgement that would decide someone's eternal fate, as clearly as we are forbidden to commit murder, lie or steal. Chew on that thought for awhile, and I hope you have a good appetite for it. We let fly with our mouth, and then we have the audacity to wonder why the world has no use for the Christian. As my dear, old Grandmother used to say, "you can't pull up the sinner over the back of a hypocritical Christian." Amen. And don't even think to suggest that the anti-Christian sentiment that is flooding the world is merely a sign of the times. Christians hang themselves, and then blame the devil and the world at large.

It's at a time like this, when I have to ask, do Christians really care about celebrities? Or are we so wrapped up in our self-righteousness that we never give them a second thought? Do we ever really truly take the time to pray for them? And I mean pray for them - pray for them so that we will have no personal regret when they die? Or are we too caught up in our worship of them to be concerned for their soul? Do we really want them - in good "Christian-ese" - to get saved and have the change of life they so desperately need? Or would that leave us without an idol to adore? Do we care? Or in the words of another, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

'Til next blog, God be with us all,
Pastor Chelle

O.B.D pt 3

The alehouse erupted with laughter at the sight of O.B.D. drenched in beer, blinking, shaking droplets from his face, and wiping the stinking stuff from his mouth and chin.

His tormentor laughed along with the crowd, "Don't it smell good, daddy? Ain't beer got a lovely smell to it? You silly, old fool! Why didn't you take it inside [of you] instead of out? Come here, I'll give you another drop. I'll stand you one. You shan't have the shilling, but you shall have the beer."

"I don't want it," O.B.D replied doggedly.

Only someone who has fought with alcohol addiction can understand what a miracle it was for him not to "fall off the wagon" under such intense pressure. The smell of booze alone is enough to set an alcoholic's throat on fire with thirst; to have it on the lips is sheer torture. But such was the magnitude of the miracle that God's grace had wrought in O.B.D. At this juncture, the rest of the lads in the ale house took pity on O.B.D. When they saw his quiet firmness, they "took up a subscription" (collection) for him, and he left the place with his pockets full of money. He also left it a hero.

In the years that followed, O.B.D remained firm, never once touching a drop of liquor. He was a marvel to all that knew him. He saved up enough money so that he was able to go into business for himself. His wife and son joined the Salvation Army, but, unfortunately, due to the physical damage the booze had done to him, O.B.D. was never able to work in the Army. But, in spite of not being able to work full time for his beloved Army, he was still able to reach out to his old associates just by his living example of how God could transform the life of even such as he had been. They knew what he had been, they knew what he had become, and they knew it was God that had made the change. During O.B.D's lifetime in that neighborhood, all the barroom atheists' arguments simply melted away. Every debate ended when some bloke would ask, "Well, what about O.B.D?"

And so we are posed with the same question, "What about O.B.D?" Someone left a comment on my blog asking me if I thought O.B.D's story was relevant to today. Indeed I do. While I chose this story because of it's dramatic nature, the fact is that O.B.D. is only one of many, many people who have been set free instantaneously from addiction by the power of God. My old youth leader was one of those people - a drug pusher and an addict - he's squeaky clean without a craving to this day, and it's been aprx. 20 years since the miracle. Talking with mission workers, they have told me how alcoholics have staggered into the mission and up to the altar where they found that the same God who set O.B.D free could set them free, too - in many cases, while they prayed they became completely sober, even to having the smell of booze vanish from them. Other names come to mind, such as Nicky Cruz, Reginald Arvizu, a.k.a, Fieldy, Brian "Head" Welch, etc., etc.

The question that will be asked naturally is how does one go about tapping into this incredible, transforming power. The answer is both straightforward and complex. On one hand the answer is what it has always been: repentance and faith toward God. On the other hand, that answer is the most profound in the world - a lifetime worth of blogs couldn't plumb its depths. It is also to be wondered that if this power is available, why do so few experience it?

Why, indeed? There are a lot of issues connected to this topic, but I can only comment on the aspects with which I'm most familiar. Working as an inner city pastor, addiction sufferers make up the largest percentage of my small "congregation." I have discovered two facts when counselling these dear folks. Invariably, it is either one, or the other, or both of these facts which are the rock they stumble upon when they ask for help.

1: They are not determined to find God. O.B.D. you may recall said he was "determined" to find God. We live in a world that has become very apathetic toward God, largely due to the fact that we don't really have a healthy fear/respect for Him. We do not fear eternity without Him enough to seek Him until we find Him. God has promised that we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. If you cannot find him, you can be certain it is not He Who has failed to keep His side of the bargain. It is a weird, but terrible fact, that addicts may hate their addiction, but they do not hate it as much as they love it, as someone has so wisely stated.

2: They are not willing to fully surrender their life to God. If you want God to fix your broken toy, you must give Him all the pieces. You see, the addict is not merely an addict: he is a sinner, and, in his life, he has other sins beside his addiction - what's more, his addiction is almost always a result of sin... wanton rebellion against God. When we treat the addict as if he only has a sickness, we fall short of the mark. Sick he may be, and sick he is indeed, but his will and the bad choices he makes willfully cannot be left out of the reckoning. (As one alcoholic told me, "I didn't fall off the wagon, I dove off.") An addict, as pitiful as they may be, still has to reach a place where they are willing to live by God's rules in every aspect of their life, not just with regards to booze and dope. The reason for this is that sin in any form separates us from God, and when we are separated from Him, His power is not able to operate in our lives. Therefore, only those who totally surrender their entire sin problem to God can experience freedom from the power of addiction.

As I write this, my mind strays to an article I read recently about addiction amongst the stars and celebrities, and my heart is filled with pity and compassion. The God of O.B.D hasn't changed. What He did for O.B.D, He'll do for anybody. Why not give Him the chance?

Blessings,
Pastor Chelle

O.B.D. 2

In its day, the Salvation Army, or the Sally Ann, as it is affectionately called, has reached countless people with the message of the gospel, and has had the satisfaction of seeing many people experience complete life and soul transformation as a result of their efforts. One of those people was a man known as the Puncher, a notorious prize fighter (bare knuckle) and drunk.


It was the Puncher's idea to have revival meetings in London's East Side - he and other men equally infamous, but now redeemed, decided to have a parade with themselves as the spectacle to lure in the crowds. Since they had been so well-known in their past lives of debauchery, they knew people would take the bait if for no other reason then burning curiosity. You needn't think this was an easy thing for any of them to do. They feared the threat of the mob, and for the safety of their families (in the early days of the Salvation Army, it was as common to take a brick to the head as to see a penitent kneel at the drumhead).


But as the Puncher said, "God has done a lot for us, we oughten't to mind doing a bit for Him."


So, they did it - they paraded through the worst streets of the East Side. The parade drew a crowd to the meeting hall, and in that crowd was O.B.D. and his wife, who had actually already been invited to the meeting by the Angel Adjutant. At the service, those former toughs all gave their testimonies - testimonies of their sinful past lives and how God had miraculously changed them. One of those toughs was a man simply known as Joe, the Criminal, a hardened thief of the first order.


When the service was over, the altar, or penitent form, was crowded with seekers. O.B.D. and his wife were among them. The Angel Adjutant went over to him as he knelt there weeping. All he could say through his tears was, "Oh, I want to be like Joe!"


And he got his prayer answered. He later told the Angel Adjutant, "While I was listening to Joe, thinking of what he's been, and seeing what he's become, all of a sudden it took me that I'd find God and get Him to make me like Joe. It took me like that. I just felt, all of a sudden, determined to find God. Determined! And," he continued, "while I was kneeling, while I was praying, I felt the Spirit of God come upon me. I said, 'Oh, God, make me like Joe!' and while I prayed, I felt the spirit come upon me. I knew I could become like Joe. I know I'm saved."


He was quite emphatic. But, the Adjutant, knowing his condition, how saturated his body was with booze, feared for the stability of his salvation. She was very anxious for him to get work other than the work he did delivering papers to the local pubs and taverns. O.B.D.'s wife, who had also gotten saved that night, was also concerned for her husband. O.B.D, however, proved decidedly stubborn.


"I don't want anything else," he told them, "I must show them that I am converted."


And show them he did. In the weeks ahead, O.B.D stuck to his guns, and whenever the Adjutant asked him if he felt the least bit tempted, he would simply reply, "The appetite has gone."


One Saturday afternoon, O.B.D went to deliver his papers to a very crowded ale-house. One of his old drinking buddies saw him and exclaimed, "Hullo, God strike me dead, if this isn't Old Born Drunk! Come here, daddy; I'll stand you a pot. We'll wet the Salvation Army!" When the pot of ale was brought, he shoved it toward O.B.D., "Here, drink you old----!"
O.B.D shook his head.
"Come, drink it, like a man! What's a pot to you? Gallons is your mark. Drink it!"
"No."
"Look here, daddy; you're poor aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Got the missus and the kid to feed?"
"Yes."
"A bob'd make a lot of difference to you, wouldn't it? See here, daddy; I'll give you a bob straight, I will - ah, honor bright - if you'll drink this pot. Smell it. Smell it, old ----. Ain't it good? Come along, drink it and earn a bob.
"Not me."
"You won't?"
"No."
"Not for a bob?"
"Not for a thousands."
"You mean it?"
"Yes."
"Then have it outside," and with that the mocker threw the whole pot of beer into O.B.D's face.

To be continued...
(Don't you just love me? ;-D )

O.B.D.

His name was O.B.D. He had no other name. He lived and died with that name. Old Born Drunk.

In the next blog to two, I would like to share with you the remarkable, true story of Old Born Drunk, a story that appears in a classic book titled, Twice Born Men. It was authored by Harold Begbie; published in 1909. The purpose of the book was to showcase twelve men whose lives had been radically transformed by God's power during the early days of the Salvation Army. My purpose for sharing it on this blog is to offer hope to those artists, celebrities and stars who are struggling with addiction. In some ways, the stars of Hollywood will have nothing in common with O.B.D, but if anybody, regardless of social status, is struggling with addiction, this story will assure them no matter how bad their problem is, there is hope and help in God.

A couple words before we start: in order to avoid garnering glory for any one individual other than God, the entirety of the book Twice Born Men was written using only nom de plums, monikers, and titles of affection. Old Born Drunk was the only exception, because, as I understand it, he had already passed away before the book was published. Secondly, I am rewriting the story in my own words since the original is written in very archaic vocabulary.

Now, let us begin.

General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, had a motto: "Go for sinners, and go for the worst." In keeping with the spirit of that directive, a twenty-four year old girl went to work in London's notorious East Side. Because of her faithful and loving work with the lowest of the low, she became known as the Angel Adjutant. One day someone brought to her attention the man known as O.B.D, and suggested maybe she should try her hand at helping him. She agreed to the suggestion. However, when she actually met O.B.D, she seriously wondered if anything could be done for him.

O.B.D. lived up to his name. He had literally been born drunk. His parents had been hopeless alcoholics, and had taught him to drink from infancy. Perhaps he had what we would term in our society as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and there is a possibility he was partially brain dead, for he had a stupefied, soulless stare that never entirely left him all his days. He stunk beyond description, and his body was misshapen and short. His eyes were horribly swollen to mere slits.

But the Angel Adjutant was a game little lass, and she befriended O.B.D, though she never could be sure if he understood a thing she was saying to him. Finally, one day she made him understand that she wanted to visit his home, and he gave her his address.

To her utter amazement, she discovered that he was not only married, but had a son. More amazingly still was that neither his wife nor his son were alcoholics, though his wife did seem to have some issues - whether mentally or emotionally is undetermined. They lived in unspeakable squallor in a small, one roomed "house" that they rented for seven shillings a week. The room was filled with cats, guinea pigs, dogs, doves, and rabbits - their son's pets, even though he was not at home to enjoy them. In some miraculous way, they had contrived to find and keep him in a good "situation."

Through the kind and patient perseverence of the Angel Adjutant, O.B.D. and his wife began to come to service at the Salvation Army corp, but nothing seemed to be making any impression or to be having any effect on them. Both O.B.D and his wife were convinced that there was no hope for O.B.D, that he could not live without booze. Even the Angel Adjutant's fellow officers in the corp really wondered if perhaps O.B.D. and his wife were beyond help.

But that was before the revival meetings came to London's East side....

To be continued.

Is Your Heart Giving You Eye Problems?

I have lost track of how many artists and celebrities have made reference to the Biblical story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. When they do reference it, it isn't in a very positive manner; it is as if the destruction of those two infamous cities is at once the ultimate example of the injustice of the God of the Bible, and an excuse from personal moral responsibility because said God is so unjust.

For a long while, whenever I heard or read such references, I found myself almost writhing in frustration to see God so misrepresented and misunderstood, and more than a bit exasperated with such juvenile reasoning on the part of those artists and celebrities. (Yes, I said juvenile.) I still find myself frustrated and exasperated, but it has taught me a couple things that I am profoundly grateful to have learned.

First of all, I have learned that the old adage, "Those who criticize the Bible most, often know the least about it," is astonishingly true. Reflecting on such statements, I am convinced that a lot of those artists and celebrities really don't know the whole story of Sodom and Gomorrah, and that comforts me because there is hope that, if they really did come to know the true facts about the Bible, including the whole story surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah, maybe they would have a change of heart toward the God they frequently seem to reject out of hand. Secondly, it has also taught me that much, if not all, of peoples' rejection/disbelief of God stems from an attitude of self-will - in other words, they have a heart problem that is affecting their vision: they cannot, or do not, or will not see God aright because of a basic attitude of rebellion. Understanding this fact has made me less shy about standing up for what I believe: why should I run like a scared rabbit from a bad attitude?

There are several things I'd like to point out to those who think such stories as Sodom and Gomorrah are proof positive that the Christian faith is invalid and its God is self-contradictory.

1: God did not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah merely because of what He classified as sexual deviancy. Read Genesis 18 & 19, and you will see that God did not destroy those cities because of the presence of evil, but because of the absence of good. For ten righteous persons, Sodom would have been spared.

2: Doesn't God have the right to get "fed up" with human depravity? As humans, we get upset all the time at each other for our cruel and thoughtless behavior, and we aren't even holy as He is holy. At some point, in order for God to be truly a holy God of love, He's going to have say, "Enough!"

3: Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the reason the story of Sodom and Gomorrah upsets you is because you know down deep in your heart that, if God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, He's going to have to judge you someday?

4: If you are not repulsed by what occurred that night so long ago in ancient Sodom on Lot's doorstep, you have a "heart problem." It's like the analogy of those who suffer from malnutrition: give them straight liquid iron, and they won't taste a thing, give a properly nourished person the same thing, and they will nearly puke. If you find yourself attracted to or excusing what should disturb and repulse you, you have a problem. Don't make that problem worse by rejecting the counsel of truth. Let your conscience prick for once - it will do you good.

5: Last of all, I want to give God a fair shake. The same God that has been so vilified as an unjust monster, has said and done some wonderful things - things that make me sure He only shows His wrathful side when He has no other choice. Listen to these beautiful verses from the Old Testament (the portion of the Bible that people love to hate the most):

"The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27 "

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." Isaiah 44:22


"With everlasting kindness I will have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." Isaiah 54:8

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.... And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11,13

The list could go on and on.
(I use the King James Bible because of the beauty of the old English.)

So, I ask you, how's your heart? Is it causing problems with your vision?

Blessings,
Pastor Chelle

The Quest

The first interview of Mick Jagger that I ever heard left an indelible impression on my mind. It was a phone-in show, and one fan asked Mick, since he had already achieved and attained so much, what else did he want out of life? Mick fumbled for a response before replying a bit cynically, "The moon?"

Now, I am not about to speculate on Mick Jagger's state of mind, whether he be jaded, self-satisfied, or otherwise, but his answer is cause to pause and reflect. How must the great icons and celebrities really feel in the unknown, inner recesses of their heart? When you reach the top, when you have so much money the subject bores you, when you have accumulated all the toys, when you are pop icon, when you have people hanging on breathlessly to your every word, when you can have all the sex you want with anybody you want, when you can have more booze and dope than your body can stand, what else is left? Where are you going to get your next big high? What do you do for thrills and chills? And most importantly, where do you find daily satisfaction and contentment?

Reading People Weekly, and other stargazers, I am left to ponder just how many of those people reported upon are completely jaded. How many of them have reached the top and found out that it is horribly dissatisfying? How many of them are mashing and crashing from one thing to the next hoping to find something, anything, to fill their inner void? Or, worse, how many have accepted their inner emptiness as chronic and incurable?

Well, there is a cure for the incurable. It is God. Himself. No one or nothing else will suffice.

(I know, I know, you just knew that was coming.)

God, the Infinite, the Eternal, the Transcendent, is the One Who puts the joy in living and keeps it there. By His very nature, He is the Perpetual Novelty when you have experienced everything life has to offer. He is the source, the fountainhead of joy. That is why we are told to make Him the ultimate quest in life, and not pleasure itself. Chasing the tributaries of a river usually only leads to a quagmire. Just so with life: make life, or any one facet of life, your pursuit, and you will most certainly end up in a stinking, miserable bog. But if you make it your goal to possess the source of life and pleasure, you'll find that your joy will never fade nor will the supply run dry.

That's all well and good, you say, but just how does one go about possessing God? The answer to that is found in verse 11 of Psalm 16, "Thou wilt show me the path of life, "said King David, "In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forever more." That phrase "at thy right hand" refers to being in right standing or right relationship, in a place of favor. Therefore we conclude that we come into possession of perpetual novelty when we stand in right relationship with God - when our sins are forgiven and when we are living the way He has prescribed for His creation. (Hey, after all, He is God - He does have the right to make the rules, doesn't He?) It makes a lot of sense if you think about it. How could we possibly think to disregard the blueprint of the Master Architect and still have a sound building? You may as well cut a river off from it's source and expect it to keep running.

Oh, you reply, perhaps with a condescending smile, that is just so typically Christian..., and you haven't even proved that God exists or that He is the Master Architect of life. Point taken; I plan to discuss that in the future, but for now, let me leave you with this thought about the above formula for joy:

It works.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good." Do you always have to prove the pudding exists, or that it's a good pudding before you taste it?

If you haven't already, I hope you'll make God your quest.
Pastor Chelle

To Whom It May Concern

Writing this first entry feels remarkably like stepping off a cliff. I have no idea if this blog will "go" anywhere, and I strongly suspect that many people will see me as precious more than a crack-pot. Yet for all that, I must try - I must try to reach out to the people for whom I have been concerned about for so many years.

I'm talking about those people whom our culture honors as stars and celebrities.

There is hardly a day goes by but what I pray for those of you who make up the world of stardom. It's a little weird praying for people you don't know, but I can't help it. I read about your lives in books and slick magazines - magazines that I can't be sure if a 1/4 of what is printed in them is true - and my heart breaks. Your lives seem so chaotic and empty, in spite of all the wealth and fame that you have attained. With great interest I follow you through your chaotic, empty, glamorous lives, and then so often I read the news of your untimely deaths, and my heart breaks again.

So, this blog is my attempt to reach you before I read of any more untimely deaths...,or any deaths timely or otherwise. Chances are that you folk, whom I hope will read this blog , never will read it or know that it exists. If you do read it, chances are you will roll your eyes at it, and dismiss me as another star-obsessed nut job. I assure you I am not crazy or star-obsessed. I am doing what I'm doing because of something I have learned: there is no one in this life without a need. Some people's needs are greater than other's, and some people are more aware of their needs more than other's, but everyone I have ever met has a fundamental neediness. And that fundamental neediness does not fade with material success - if anything, material success only exacerbates the problem.

I just finished reading Nikki Sixx's The Heroine Diaries, and it confirmed everything I've been thinking. It also convinced me that it isn't enough to talk with my friends about my concern for you, or to merely pray (though I am a strong believer in the power of prayer). I must give action to my care and concern for you. Writing seems to be the only action I can take, and so here I am.
In the days ahead, I will be pouring out my heart-felt thoughts on various theological and philosophical issues, along with a good dose of hope and comfort to those who are hurting and lonely behind their haute couture and the doors of their beautiful mansions.

But for now, I just want you to know someone cares and someone is praying for you. And if you are unknown to me, you are not unknown to God. As cliched as it may sound in your ears: Jesus loves you. All the hypocrites in the world and all the bad publicity and poor representation He has received down through the years cannot change that one fact. To those who have been wounded or neglected by those professing to be Christians, please accept my humblest and sincerest apologies.

A couple more items before I sign off. I am disabling/hiding the comment panel for my blog entries. I am not afraid of being questioned or starting a discussion, but, if this blog becomes what I hope, I don't want the distraction of people pretending to be Brad Pitt, Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Aniston, Ozzy Osbourne, Nikki Sixx, Courtney Love, Angelina Jolie, Rhianna, and who knows who else. I also debated putting my picture to this blog or filling out my profile to any extent, because this blog isn't about me. In the end, I decided, somewhat reluctantly, that I want to be as open as I can - I don't want people saying I'm afraid to own what I write.

Last of all, if you believe in this blog, please subscribe and forward it to your friends, asking them to forward it to their friends. Maybe, just maybe, it will wind up where I am praying and wishing it will. If not, perhaps it will touch the heart of one of us "regular joes." If I can help somebody, anybody, in this life, then my life will have been worthwhile.
God be with you until the next blog.
Pastor Chelle