GOD'S BEEN GOOD (Sung by Legacy Five, I believe written by Tim Parton)
Verse 1
Lately I've been looking back, along this winding road
To the old familiar markers of the mercies I have known
I know it may sound simple but it's more than a cliche
There's no better way to tell you, than to say
Chorus
God's been good in my life
I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night
And though I've had my share of hard times, I wouldn't change them if I could
'Cause through it all, God's been good
Verse 2
Times replay and I can see that I've cried some bitter tears
But I felt His arms around me, as I faced my greatest fears
You see I've had more gains than losses and I've known more joy than hurt
As His grace rolled down upon me undeserved
Bridge
For God has been my Father, my Savior and my Friend
His love was my beginning, and His love will be my end
I could spend forever trying to tell you everything He is
But the best that I can say it is this
Chorus
God's been good in my life
I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night
And though I've had my share of hard times, I wouldn't change them if I could
'Cause through it all, God's been good
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Conflict Response
There was something I would like to share in a book I read some time ago, The Peacemaker by Ken Sande. It was about conflict respones. He has a chart in a half circle. One end has escape respones (peace faking), the middle has conciliation responses (peace making), the end has attack responses (peace breaking). I would like to share his thoughts through some quotes on the escape response.
"Escape Response...people tend to use these responses when they are more interested in avoiding a conflict than in resolving it....is common within the church because many Christians believe that all conflict is wrong or dangerous...they will do one of three things to escape from conflict.
1. Denial-pretend the conflict doesn't exist...brings temporay relief
2. Flight-run away...may be a legitimate response when it is impossible to resolve
3. Suicide"
(End of quote)
In any relationship there are small, no big deal, differences that each party can overlook. Like squeezing the toothpaste tube in the middle. It may need some patience to deal with how the other person does things but it doesn't have to be discussed every time. Then there are major differences or offences that can't be ignored. They need to be discussed and worked out. If a person steals from you, commits adultry, abuses you. You can't just use an escape response and pretend like the problem is not there just so you can get along and have peace because it is a fake peace. And if one person is not willing to stop the adultery, stealing, or abuse after you talk about it and talk about it, it is time for the receiving person to say I will not accept your abuse any more and until you can stop doing this and say you're sorry(which is what repentance is) I will not accept the abuse anymore.
In my past church experience, the denial escape response has been used and used until it is worn out. Many wouldn't dare admit they had sin in their life because they were supposed to be holy so you didn't dare admit anything was wrong because they professed to be a holy people, separate and better than any other church and the only ones going to heaven and it was a fake peace.
I spent many years under a ministry who would never admit they were wrong. It was always the "people" meaning the congregation that were the cause of any failure. For years we patiently worked and would have peaceful meetings with discussions when we knew that there was conflict that needed worked out. But these meetings never bore any fruit of the conflict working out. These things compounded over the years until the whole church was full of infection. And then there were multiple splits.
Jesus and Paul were not backward about telling people to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, the "religious, holy people of their day." Here are some Biblical examples.
KJV
Mt 16:6
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
Mt 16:11
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
Mt 16:12
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
Mk 8:15
15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
Lk 12:1
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
1Co 5:6
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
1Co 5:7
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
1Co 5:8
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
Gal 5:9
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
New people can come into a congregation like that not knowing the infection that is there because there are still members that are using the escape reponse to conflict and will love them right into the congregation. New people get saved because because of the gospel, not because of a healthy congregation. The leaven is still there and years down the road history is repeated.
An example: A doctor can discover a small cancer in a person, leave the cancer there, sew him up, and the outside wound heal beautifully. The doctor and some people may know it is there but they choose the escape response and a fake peace. New people may see that person, not know there is cancer growing inside the person and see nothing but health on the outside. One or a few people may try to tell others we've got to get the cancer out but nobody will listen. Meanwhile the cancer is growing and eventually becomes a major problem and then death.
Isaiah (as well as other prophets) was sent to warn Israel of their condition:
Isaiah 1:5-6 "the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."
One of the books I have on my book shelf is "How to recover from churches that abuse". There are churches that have "cult like symptoms". One of those symptoms is a ministry who can do no wrong and with people following them no matter what goes on. There is fear put on the congregation that this place is the only place you can go and still get to heaven.
It is difficult for me to conclude this post. I, like Paul confessed in a letter to the church, was chief among sinners. And I don't have all the answers. But I will stand on what God has shown me to do and trust Him for what I have no answer for.
"Escape Response...people tend to use these responses when they are more interested in avoiding a conflict than in resolving it....is common within the church because many Christians believe that all conflict is wrong or dangerous...they will do one of three things to escape from conflict.
1. Denial-pretend the conflict doesn't exist...brings temporay relief
2. Flight-run away...may be a legitimate response when it is impossible to resolve
3. Suicide"
(End of quote)
In any relationship there are small, no big deal, differences that each party can overlook. Like squeezing the toothpaste tube in the middle. It may need some patience to deal with how the other person does things but it doesn't have to be discussed every time. Then there are major differences or offences that can't be ignored. They need to be discussed and worked out. If a person steals from you, commits adultry, abuses you. You can't just use an escape response and pretend like the problem is not there just so you can get along and have peace because it is a fake peace. And if one person is not willing to stop the adultery, stealing, or abuse after you talk about it and talk about it, it is time for the receiving person to say I will not accept your abuse any more and until you can stop doing this and say you're sorry(which is what repentance is) I will not accept the abuse anymore.
In my past church experience, the denial escape response has been used and used until it is worn out. Many wouldn't dare admit they had sin in their life because they were supposed to be holy so you didn't dare admit anything was wrong because they professed to be a holy people, separate and better than any other church and the only ones going to heaven and it was a fake peace.
I spent many years under a ministry who would never admit they were wrong. It was always the "people" meaning the congregation that were the cause of any failure. For years we patiently worked and would have peaceful meetings with discussions when we knew that there was conflict that needed worked out. But these meetings never bore any fruit of the conflict working out. These things compounded over the years until the whole church was full of infection. And then there were multiple splits.
Jesus and Paul were not backward about telling people to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, the "religious, holy people of their day." Here are some Biblical examples.
KJV
Mt 16:6
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
Mt 16:11
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
Mt 16:12
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
Mk 8:15
15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
Lk 12:1
1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
1Co 5:6
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
1Co 5:7
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
1Co 5:8
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
KJV
Gal 5:9
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
New people can come into a congregation like that not knowing the infection that is there because there are still members that are using the escape reponse to conflict and will love them right into the congregation. New people get saved because because of the gospel, not because of a healthy congregation. The leaven is still there and years down the road history is repeated.
An example: A doctor can discover a small cancer in a person, leave the cancer there, sew him up, and the outside wound heal beautifully. The doctor and some people may know it is there but they choose the escape response and a fake peace. New people may see that person, not know there is cancer growing inside the person and see nothing but health on the outside. One or a few people may try to tell others we've got to get the cancer out but nobody will listen. Meanwhile the cancer is growing and eventually becomes a major problem and then death.
Isaiah (as well as other prophets) was sent to warn Israel of their condition:
Isaiah 1:5-6 "the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."
One of the books I have on my book shelf is "How to recover from churches that abuse". There are churches that have "cult like symptoms". One of those symptoms is a ministry who can do no wrong and with people following them no matter what goes on. There is fear put on the congregation that this place is the only place you can go and still get to heaven.
It is difficult for me to conclude this post. I, like Paul confessed in a letter to the church, was chief among sinners. And I don't have all the answers. But I will stand on what God has shown me to do and trust Him for what I have no answer for.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Abortion
Some facts presented in church yesterday:
3500 people were killed on 9-11 when the planes were hi-jacked and crashed.
4000 babies were killed on 9-12 and every day thereafter.
Help us all to not get used the dark and the silent holocaust that is going on everyday.
3500 people were killed on 9-11 when the planes were hi-jacked and crashed.
4000 babies were killed on 9-12 and every day thereafter.
Help us all to not get used the dark and the silent holocaust that is going on everyday.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Trials give us experience so we can help others
In every trial of my life God has reminded me that once I "grow" through it I will be able to use the experience to help somebody else who is going through the same thing. God doesn't always keep me involved in the same thing day after day. God knows how much we can bear and when we need to drop things for a while and when we need to pick them up again. I have been guilty of being the "Levite who passed on the other side of the road when someone was bruised and cast aside" as in the story of the Good Samaritan. Since I have been on the receiving end of that same experience God has given me opportunity after opportunity of fellowshipping and reaching out to those who are in the same position. God knows that there are long periods of time when I lay these issues aside. He gives me a breath of fresh air away from it. Then there are times when I come face to face with someone who is still hurting. We share our stories and my indignation is brought to the surface again with what has gone on... and we rejoice in the freedom God has given us to walk in ways that he has shown us.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
I started this post the other day, saved it as a draft to come back to and add to.
Some of the Pharisees were interested in what Jesus had to say and believed on Him. Have you ever heard of a secret disciple? These same Pharisees would not stand up to other Pharisees and say Jesus was right. They would not take a real stand for Jesus. Why? Because they would be persecuted by their own peers, cast out of the temple, scorned. They wanted to believe but not pay the price of believing.
We have the same thing today. There are those who will be friends to those who have been cut off but they will not stand up for them before their church peers. They will not take a real stand for what is right.
Then there are those who will pal with those that have cut people off but not confront them with the wrong they have done. Just try to get along without talking about the things that are wrong. We humans can be so weak. You see if we just keep everything smooth on the top and not take any real stands then we can keep everything real peaceful. But the dirt is still there under the rug where it was swept, thinking nobody would see it or be hurt by it. But people are hurt by it. People have been spiritually lost because of it.
Doesn't Jesus say if you offend a little one woe unto you, it would be better for a millstone to be around your neck?
God is looking for these things to be cleared up, the sin admitted. It is not wrong to admit sin and confess and ask forgivenss. It is wrong to ignore the sin or excuse it or act like it never happened.
Reformed Sheology, there is a link on my blog, had a good lesson the other day. It was about forgiveness. Reading it is better than I can say it and I encourage you to read it. But it talked about offering forgiveness, but if the other person doesn't repent, the fellowship is broken. You can stay in that relationship and be treated the same way they treated you before. You're a slave to them to accept however they want to treat you just so that you can be their friend. If you take a stand and confront them with the issue you risk their anger, their defensiveness and their absence of having anything to do with you. But it is necessary and it is time to move on to what else or who else God leads you to if the other person doesn't want to repent and quit treating you the same old way. We can be friends with everybody in the world if we want to be like a chameleon and blend in with whoever we are with.
God's forgiveness is freely offered, but if you don't repent, you don't receive the forgiveness. The Corinthians thought they were super spiritual because they were willing to get along with everyone with sin in their midst. They thought they were just being forgiving by letting the problem exist and not confronting or taking a stand.
Like I said a few days ago, if we can rejoice that we have it so good while people are spiritually dying along the wayside that have been pushed and trampled, we need the Revelation 3 salve for our eyes.
Some of the Pharisees were interested in what Jesus had to say and believed on Him. Have you ever heard of a secret disciple? These same Pharisees would not stand up to other Pharisees and say Jesus was right. They would not take a real stand for Jesus. Why? Because they would be persecuted by their own peers, cast out of the temple, scorned. They wanted to believe but not pay the price of believing.
We have the same thing today. There are those who will be friends to those who have been cut off but they will not stand up for them before their church peers. They will not take a real stand for what is right.
Then there are those who will pal with those that have cut people off but not confront them with the wrong they have done. Just try to get along without talking about the things that are wrong. We humans can be so weak. You see if we just keep everything smooth on the top and not take any real stands then we can keep everything real peaceful. But the dirt is still there under the rug where it was swept, thinking nobody would see it or be hurt by it. But people are hurt by it. People have been spiritually lost because of it.
Doesn't Jesus say if you offend a little one woe unto you, it would be better for a millstone to be around your neck?
God is looking for these things to be cleared up, the sin admitted. It is not wrong to admit sin and confess and ask forgivenss. It is wrong to ignore the sin or excuse it or act like it never happened.
Reformed Sheology, there is a link on my blog, had a good lesson the other day. It was about forgiveness. Reading it is better than I can say it and I encourage you to read it. But it talked about offering forgiveness, but if the other person doesn't repent, the fellowship is broken. You can stay in that relationship and be treated the same way they treated you before. You're a slave to them to accept however they want to treat you just so that you can be their friend. If you take a stand and confront them with the issue you risk their anger, their defensiveness and their absence of having anything to do with you. But it is necessary and it is time to move on to what else or who else God leads you to if the other person doesn't want to repent and quit treating you the same old way. We can be friends with everybody in the world if we want to be like a chameleon and blend in with whoever we are with.
God's forgiveness is freely offered, but if you don't repent, you don't receive the forgiveness. The Corinthians thought they were super spiritual because they were willing to get along with everyone with sin in their midst. They thought they were just being forgiving by letting the problem exist and not confronting or taking a stand.
Like I said a few days ago, if we can rejoice that we have it so good while people are spiritually dying along the wayside that have been pushed and trampled, we need the Revelation 3 salve for our eyes.
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