Blog "The Ministry of Questions" ?

Have you ever answered someone's question only to have them ask you another?
You feel like no matter how constructive or instructive your answer is, all it does for that individual is raise more questions.

Are questions bad?
Lord no! (As we say in N.C.)
You can learn a lot by the questions you ask. Questions are the catalyst for knowledge. Einstein's quest to answer his questions, led him to knowledge that has changed this planet. There are some questions that beg an answer. Questions are not and should not be viewed as evil or taboo.

With that being said let's look at 1 Timothy 1:3-4.
Paul instructs Timmy to instruct some in the Church to "Preach no other Doctrine". That is a stand alone Bible study in itself right there.
Then he says, "give no heed to fables", or opinions, lies, personal views and endless genealogies.
He says all that is going to do to your spirit is "Minister Questions".
All that is going to do is fill you full of questions, or another interpretation is "Fill you with doubt".
Let's take a rule from Paul's playbook here and be careful "what" and "who" we entertain. They may have a ministry, but what ministry is it?

Like how I ended with a question?

Have a blessed day!

"Music, Singing, Plowing and Preaching"

Music, Singing, Plowing and Preaching

There are a few things in this world that, while they are great all by themselves, they are always better “with” something. Ice cream, while fantastic alone, is just better with some chocolate syrup, strawberries or a host of other toppings. Toast isn't really a breakfast item until it has some butter and jelly on it. Any man can tell you that until you add the tie to the suit you are just business casual. A good Church service is just better with some good Music.

Music is not just a Cultural Church additive. It is not a denominational fad, neither is it a generational mandate. Music is not just culturally relevant but it is Biblically relevant. We sing because the Word of God says they sang, we play instruments because they played instruments, we dance and shout because they did those same things in the Bible. We believe that Music plays an important role in our Churches because of the emphasis the Word of God puts on it. Psalms 100:2 says “Serve the Lord with Gladness: come before his presence with singing.”
So whenever we come into the House of the Lord, music and singing are in order.


In my opinion music is one of the most powerful elements on the Planet today. I believe the reason it has so much power is because of it’s origin. Music was not made on earth it was made in the Heavens, by God. That means that music is one of the only elements in the earth that was not made in the Earth. It is a 100% spiritual element that can not be separated from its original design and its original design was to function in Worship. (Enter Lucifer) I would Love to keep him out of this conversation but if you are going to talk about music you really can’t. Lucifer was the original Worship leader and He blew it, but I believe that once he was in the Earth that he “Intentionally” perverted music so the Church would be afraid to utilize it at it’s full potential. I believe though that the Church is waking up to the power that music can have to “assist” in a Church service.

I use the word “assist” because after years as a Praise and Worship leader I believe that while Music is important to having “Good Church” it is not the most important. If our Church services were compared to a car, the Music would not be the Engine, it would be the tires and the Preached Word of God would be the Engine. Both are important but the Power comes from the Engine, however the tires get the engine into places it would have otherwise never been able to go.
When Music and the Word work in "Harmony" it can  penetrate even the Hardest of hearts and break the toughest of yokes.
When Some say “Well we don’t need all this music to have good Church” it’s like saying “I’ll take this car but you can keep the tires, I won’t need them” .
While it may sound trivial, it takes more than one ingredient to make a good cake and it takes more than one to have a good church service.

Jumping, dancing, singing, shouting, running and clapping are all Biblical “Good Church” activities. If you don’t believe it read Psalms. If the world can do it for a basketball game, a Band or a performer why can’t we do it for Jesus! If every High School team has a Band don’t you think Jesus should have a Band too! The thing that gets me sometimes is when people say “well I don’t Praise or Worship like that, it’s not my personality, I Praise/Worship my own way”. That reminds me of a Bible character, his name was Cain. Cain said “I’ll do it my way” and God was not pleased with his sacrifice. Praise and Worship isn’t up for negotiations on "how"! the Bible has many references to "how" we need to Praise and Worship.
Luke 6:23 tells us to “leap for Joy”. Psalms 47:1 directs us to “Clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with a voice of triumph”.
Psalms 150 gives us twelve different reasons and ways to Praise Him. Including, but not limited to, dancing, with cymbals, with the stringed instruments and the trumpet.

I don’t believe that all of this is trivial or just going through the motions. I believe that it is in His perfect design and all of it is preparing us for the Word of God. Jeremiah and Hosea both instruct us to break up our Fallow ground and seek the Lord. Then Hosea tells us in 10:11-12 that “Judah (praise) shall plow, and Jacob shall break up his clods”.
What I am trying to say is your praise is your plow to break up the ground and prepare it for the Word of the Lord. The Music, the singing, the dancing, leaping, running and clapping is not just about hype and hoopla, but it is about preparing the place for God’s Word to fall on plowed ground, take hold and change us forever.



Hope this made sense. God Bless!

"Battlefield Vertigo"

I served in the Military (Army)
From 2000-2006.
I spent one year of that time in Iraq with a combat unit. My thoughts about the war in Iraq? That is a very simple question for which I have a very complex answer. I will not bore you with that here. Ask me later.
:)

During my training we learned about a condition that was affecting combat soldiers on the battlefield. They deemed it "Battlefield Vertigo".
This condition commonly would happen in a fire fight where the soldier would get confused and disoriented. In turn he would wind up firing on his own team, causing what we called, "Friendly fire casualties".
The most important thing to remember in a fire fight is where the rest of your team is.

This translates to the Church on so many levels I don't have room or time to cover them all!
We are on a "Spiritual Battlefield"
And how many of us have been injured by someone we thought was on our side? Who have we injured for that matter?
That may be the real question to ask.
How many good people have fallen to "friendly fire"?
Eph6:12
We wrestle NOT against flesh and Blood.
I think it would do us all good to remember where our "team" is.

God help us "as a movement" to overcome "Battlefield Vertigo".

Ex-Atheist on Outreach?

Today's outreach at the Pentecostals of Fort Worth (POFW) was amazing. Good results and a great time with God's people. Reaching out to those who are In need, those that are lost and those that are hurting.

Watch what Luke recalls Jesus saying in a Parable.
Luke 14:21-23 (KJV)
So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. [22] And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. [23] And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

It is God's will that his house be full!!
Outreach is the "Will of God".
How will they know unless we compel them?

The cool thing about outreach today here in Ft Worth was, Jesse Johnson.
Jesse grew up as an Atheist. His Brother-inlaw, Kevin Baker, brought him to church two weeks ago, Jesse received the Holy Ghost and was Baptized in Jesus Name!
Jesse is now in a Bible study with Pastor Watts and loving his new-found life as a saint of the most high God!
His second weekend as a Born again Believer? Spent inviting others to discover this great treasure he has found!
To God be the Glory!!

Have a blessed day!

Scared of my Dad

Proverbs 7:1 says "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge"
I see how that works now that I am older and a "little" more mature.
When I was a boy I loved my Dad, now that love didn't keep me from being a knuckle head though! (mischievous smile)
Really what kept me out of trouble was, I was scared of my Dad. I was afraid of what he would do to me if he found out about my disobedience.
Now mind you he wasn't a child abuser by no means!! However he did not "spare the rod"! "Prov13:24" (stills makes me cringe)
My Father did his correction out of love though. He was teaching me discipline and restraint.
Now that I am older, that "fear" has turned into a deep respect and un-wavering love for the man I am proud to call "Dad".

Our relationship with God is very similar. Many of us love God. However, that love isn't enough to keep us out of "trouble". Mostly, it is the Fear of the consequences of disobedience. Just like my earthly Father, God's correction is out of love. "Rev3:19" The more we grow in him and mature in him that "fear", that began our "knowledge", will grow into deep reverence and Love. Also, it will keep us out of "unnecessary trouble".

Have a blessed day!