Reading through 2 Timothy yesterday and was hit with two thoughts.

In 2 Timothy 3 Paul describes some characteristics of godless people and two jumped off the page at me.  It is something I see way too often around me and often times in me.

The first one is found in verse 5…its people “who have a form of Godliness but deny its power.”  They may go to church read their bible and even pray…but their life doesn’t look as if the power of the living God is alive in them.  This one scares me because I see this so often in myself.  I try know the right things, and believe the right things, and even try and do the right things…but sometimes I wonder my life puts on display the power of God that is alive in me.

The second one is found in verse 7…”always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”

This one is HUGE in church world right now.  With the proliferation of blogs and twitter, magazines and newsletters, books and DVDs, TV sermons and small groups…the fact that you can go online right now and hear/watch sermons from almost any pulpit in America and many from around the world…we have the capacity to learn more scriptural knowledge than ever before.  But the question is…does knowing more translate to being more like Christ?

Paul says these people are “always learning…” always reading, listening, participating…but “they never acknowledge the truth.”  The may learn it but it doesn’t change them.

As James put it…”do not merely listen to the word (always learning) and so deceive yourselves (thinking learning something is enough) Do what it says (acknowledge the truth by putting it into practice.)

If you aren’t putting it into practice you are deceiving yourself.

Do you have a form of Godliness but live powerless?

Are you someone who is always looking for the next great teaching, lesson, sermon, book, blog, tweet, but never seem to be transform by them?

These are two of the many things Paul said to Timothy in 2 Tim. 3 that stood out to me.  Which ones stand out to you?

Ran across this video of some girls outside of a Lady GAGA concert.  They are a part of the Westboro baptist church and have made this parody of her song “Poker Face”

I Peter 3:15 says, “but in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope tha tyou have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Do you think the actions of these girls fulfills this commandment?

How would you have responded?

What would you have done instead?

This weekend we finished up a series on 1 Peter.  Throughout the letter Peter is talking to Christians undergoing great persecution …simply because they are followers of Jesus.  For most of us this doesn’t translate very well.  No doubt we go through hard times and difficult situations, but rarely are they solely tied to the fact that we are followers of Jesus.  But today I was reminded again that we are the exception.

Blasphemy accused Christian brothers shot dead in Faisalabad

Faisalabad: July 19, 2010. (PCP) Muslim extremists shot dead Rahid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel in broad daylight in front of hundreds of people in district courts compound in Faisalabad today.
There were rumors and reports on July 18, 2010, that both of Christian brothers are free to go home from Civil Lines Police Station Faisalabad where they were detained on July 4, 2010, under blasphemy charges on complaint of one Muslim businessman of Railway Bazar because police told friends of Rashid and Sajjid that there is no proof found against them which may extend their detention.
Today, investigation officer Mohammad Hussian produced Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel before Judge in District Courts where he testified that police have investigated allegations leveled against them but found no proof that they may be charged under blasphemy.
Police investigating officer Mohammad Hussian told court that complainant Mohammad Khuram Shehzad lodged FIR alleging Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel producing a handwritten leaflet which he stressed is defiling Prophet Mohammad but police have report of Handwriting expert that pamphlet handwriting presented by Mohammad Khuram not match with handwriting of accused Christian brothers. Police further submitted that they have nothing to investigate against them and find no proof to remand them in custody.
The court ordered to send Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel to Judicial custody till next date to issue further orders.
As there were rumors that Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel are found innocent and will be released, the extremists Muslims reached in District Courts Faisalabad and were waiting for them to come out of court house.
As Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel were walking towards district courts custody cell with police, the unidentified gunmen opened fire and Rashid Emmanuel felt on ground.
Sajjid Emmanuel stepped to safe his brother but gunmen shot him down too. When police tried to fire back on gunmen, they also came under attack and Inspector Mohammad Hussain felt down on ground.
In minutes, masked gunmen fled from scene, till medical aid reach, Rashid Emmanuel died on spot while Sajjid Emmanuel and police officer were rushed to hospital, where they were pronounced dead till our posting this sad incident.
The leaders of Christian Lawyers Foundation CLF, Rao Naveed Zafar Bhatti Advocate reported that adequate security was not in district court which made easy for killers to fled from scene.
Pastor Rashid Emmanuel was 32 years of age and running a Ministry while his brother Sajjid Emmanuel was helping him in Lords word.
.According to PCP reports, a blasphemy case was registered on 1st July, 2010, under section 295- C PPC, against Rashid Emanuel and Sajid Emanuel of 30 years of age who were residents of Street No.5 Daud Nagar, Faisalabad, Pakistan and arrested by police on July 4, 2010.
Muhammad Khuram Shezad merchant of Railway Bazar, Faisalabad, had complained that his servant told him that both Christian accused were distributing pamphlets in open bazar which is desecrating Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and their numbers are under the writing of the Pamphlet. He went to PS and told fabricated story to police to charge 2 Christian young men under blasphemy.
The Muslims took out a procession on July 10, 2010, when they burnt tires and pelted stones on Catholic Church Warispura Faisalabad. The mob threatened that if these brothers are not executed according to Muslim law, the mob will exact revenge not only on them, but the entire Christian community.
Mr. Khalid Gill, Chairman Christian Lawyers Foundation CLF, have strongly condemned target killing of Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel.
Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC have condemned brutal daylight murder of Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel and termed it heinous crime against humanity.
Nazir Bhatti urged Punjab government to adopt necessary security measure of Christians and arrest killers to punish under law.
“We demand government and President of Pakistan to repeal blasphemy law by executive order to end genocide of Christians in Pakistan pretext to blasphemy law and other discriminatory laws” said Nazir Bhatti

If you are in ministry it will make you laugh.  But honestly its a little sad.   Is this the formula?  What do you think the church should look like?

Saw this on a friends blog…came from BeDeviant.com..

“Sunday’s Coming” Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Just recently I heard someone speaking about the abundance of pastors who are falling by the wayside due to burning out…due to stress, blowing up…due to moral failure, or giving in…because the just can’t deal with it anymore.

Sadly, for most pastors, their last day is not a good day.

I am thinking about this today because I just spent the morning with a Pastor who is ending well.
As many of you know Dr. Rodgers is retiring (sort of) at the end of this month.

I met Dr. Rodgers for the first time while interviewing for the Lead Pastor position here at PCC nearly 2 years ago.  From our first interactions with him, my wife and had, were blown away.  Here are just a few of the things I have learned about Dr. Rodgers over the past two years.
•    His humble heart and kind spirit have a way of making everyone feel important in his presence.
•    His unassuming demeanor masks the reality that he is often the wisest man in the room.  But he is.
•    He is more than willing to set aside what is best for him for what is best for the Kingdom.
•    He has the gift of encouragement.  I have never of him speak poorly of anyone.
•    His integrity is impeccable.  He is the same whenever and wherever you see him.
•    His marriage of 60+ years just might make it…
•    He heart is so bent toward helping people…he has a really hard time saying no.
•    His knowledge of scripture is so vast, I can only marvel at his depth of insight.
•    He has opinions about everything…but you would never know it.  Because unless you ask he will keep them to himself.

This list could go on for pages.

But let me wrap this up by saying this:  for the last 2 years it has been my great privilege to work alongside Dr. Rodgers.  I can only image some of the thoughts he must have been thinking, as an experienced Pastor of 60 years, watching me take my first swing in a Lead Pastor position.  But I can honestly say he has been a source of strength and encouragement for me since day one.  And for that I am eternally grateful.

Dr. Rodgers, Thank you.  Thank you for your lifelong contributions to the Kingdom.  Thank you for modeling how to love your bride while serving the bride of Christ.  Thank you for not giving up on the church when things got tough.  Thank you for your leadership that has changed the lives of thousands…literally all over the world.  Thank you for your kind words, heartfelt prayers, and humble heart.  Thank you most of all for showing me what it means to end well.

You are Loved.

Had some people asked to share this from my sermon a few weeks ago about heaven…so here it is…

So what is heaven going to be like?

I don’t think you have to go further than then Garden of Eden to find out.

If you lay the first couple chapters of your Bible next to the last couple chapters of your Bible…look at what you find…

Genesis                                                                                   Revelation

God made Heaven and Earth (1:1)           New Heaven New Earth (21:1)

God made light (1:3)                                   God gives light (22:5)

Two great lights (1:16)                               The light of God and the Lamb (21:23)

It was very good (1:31)                              There is nothing impure (21:27)

Tree of Life (2:9)                                        Tree of Life (22:2)

A river (2:10)                                               Crystal clear river (22:1-2)

Gold in the land (2:11-12)                          Pure Gold (21:18, 21)

God was there (3:8)                                    God is there (21:3)

The story of God is the story of Paradise lost and Paradise restored again.

Again check out the contrast…

Genesis                                                                    Revelation

Serpent deceived them (3:13)                 Devil cast into lake of Fire (20:10)

Forced to hide from God (3:8)                See Gods face (22:4)

God increases pain (3:16)                         no more pain (21:4)

Cursed is the Ground (3:17)                    no more curse (22:3)

Death enters (3:19)                                   Death exits (21:4)

Keep from tree of Life (3:24)                 Access to tree of life restored (22:13)

Adapted from Kenny Boles study:  Heaven:  What a Wonderful Place.  College Press

I have come to realize I don’t think the phrase “losing salvation” is accurate.

That is how one question for this weekend was asked…”can a person lose their salvation?”

When asked that way I think from now on I am going to have to answer no.  I don’t think a person can lose salvation.

Because losing something implies it’s misplaced.  “Where are my keys?”  “Has anyone seen my wallet?”  “Where did I put that paper…it was right here a moment ago?”

I don’t think that concept applies to salvation.  No one is to be checking their pockets and digging through their purse looking for their salvation saying to themselves…”where did it go…it was right here?”

That just isn’t Biblical.

2 Peter 2:20-21…says this:

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

The people spoken of here had escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,  but got entangled and overcome by it again.  Peter says it would have been better had they never known the way of righteousness. Than to have known it and…here is the big finally…TURNED THEIR BACKS on it.

They didn’t lose it.  They knew exactly where it was…it was in Jesus.  They didn’t lose it.  They walked away from it.  They didn’t misplace it.  They made a choice that they no longer wanted it.

So…do I think people can lose their salvation…NO.  Do I think people can of their own free will turn their back and walk away from it….YES.  As Peter says…when they do…it will be worse off for them at the end then it was at the beginning.

He is three…if he can do it so can you!

Everyone knows what has happened in Haiti this week.  The question is what are you going to do with what you know.

I John 3: 17-18 says this….

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? ¹⁸Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Because of this…Sunday Jan. 16 we will be providing an opportunity for people to donate at both services at Prescott Christian church.

All donations will be forwarded to Samaritans Purse who have been responding t this crisis since the beginning.  You can check out the video below to hear from Franklin Graham, the president of Samaritans purse about what they are doing with the donated funds.

Please come prepared to offer hope to these brothers and sisters this Sunday.

This is the view out my office windows today.

hard to get any work done…who wants to look at a computer when you can look at this?