Maybe the Church Needs a Tea-Party

 

 

 

Do you, as I do, wonder why we are just hearing about Agenda 21 and how Obama is turning the United States over to the United Nations? I suspect the Tea-Party.

The term Sustainable Development was first introduced to the world in the 1987 (25 years ago) and was first offered as official UN policy in 1992 (20 years ago) at the Earth Summit.

More than 178 nations adopted Agenda 21 as official policy at the Earth Summit. President George H.W. Bush signed the document for the United States. In signing, each nation pledge to adopt the goals of Agenda 21. In 1995 (17 years ago), President Bill Clinton, in compliance with Agenda 21, signed Executive Order #12858 to create the President's Council on Sustainable Development in order to "harmonize" US environmental policy with UN directives as outlined in Agenda 21. Clinton didn't even go through congress but no complaints? The Executive Order directed all agencies of the Federal Government to work with state and local community governments in a joint effort "reinvent" government using the guidelines outlined in Agenda 21. No reporting by the media and no complaining by Republicans? As a result, Sustainable Development is now emerging as government policy in every town, county and state in the nation. Clinton is more responsible than Obama.

Warnings concerning the fact that the path the world is on is not sustainable have been ignored since the 1950s. Unsustainable and across borders means a higher authority has to be involved to work out compromises. Our way of life is not sustainable. We cannot blame it on Obama. He did not cause the mess. Fair chance republicans and their unfettered support of corporations allowed those corporations to pollute and destroy the environment leaving the taxpayers to clean up their mess. Time to stop pointing fingers and work together and that will require compromises and that is something the Tea-Party cannot do. That makes them part of the problem.

People do not like being told what they are doing will lead to mutual destruction. Like the church. What the church is doing is not working, it is unsustainable. Things have to change. Church people don't like that. Maybe the church needs a Tea-Party movement.

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

"It is enough the people know there was an election. Those who cast the vote decide nothing, those who count the vote decide everything."  

 

---Joseph Stalin

Freedom Brings Destruction

 

Freedom of individuals leads to destruction. Here is why: Picture a pasture---a commons---on which all herdsmen are free to graze their herds. Such an arrangement works reasonably satisfactorily for centuries because tribal wars, poaching, and disease keep the numbers of both man and beast well below the carrying capacity of the land. But during an era of peace and prosperity the herds multiply, the inherent logic of the commons generates tragedy. Each herdsman acting rationally in his own self-interest will add to his herd. He alone will profit from an additional animal, whereas the environmental impact will be shared by all. What's one more cow? Overgrazed, grass eventually gives way to dust. Each man is locked into a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit. In a world that is limited, freedom in a commons brings ruin too all.

 

There are resources we share with each other and with the world, air and water being examples and so the tragedy of the commons still obtains. It explains the depletion of fisheries and aquifers. It explains the pollution of skies and seas. Technology may delay the tragedy---by increasing crop yields or fuel efficiency---but so long as the human population continues to grow it cannot in the long run avert it.  Which do we want more environmental health or economic growth. Long term we cannot have both. In a world that is limited, freedom in a commons brings ruin too all.

Does God Protect Christians and Turn His Back on Whales?

While Christians believe mankind's sin has brought pain and suffering into the world, they believe they are immune, if only they pray for safety and protection.

 

Christians delude themselves when they believe God will help them.

 

Places in the oceans are named "Garbage Patches" where for thousands of miles you can see items thought to have been disposed of correctly float. Televisions, shoes, toothpaste tubes, refrigerators, fishing nets and on and on. Consider what happens to a juvenile humpback with a loop of netting snared around its fin: A the whale grows. the nylon line will carve through flesh and bone until the animal dies---slowly, painfully---from its infected wounds. With animals that are entangled, you can see the weight loss, their bones coming through. When you see animals that have been entangled for a long time there are parasites.

 

If God will not protect the whale, and innocent member of his creation, how egotistical are Christians to believe God will protect them, as members of the human species that has generally rejected him?

Joseph Had What He Needed Inside Himself

Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers at the age of seveneen. Can you imagine how easy it would have been for him to languish in self-pity as a servent of Potiphar, to focuse on the weaknesses of his brothers and his captors and on all he didn't have? But Joseph was proactive. He worked on be on what he could do.Within a short period of time, he was running Potiphar's household. He was in charge of all that Potiphar had because the trust was so high.

 

Then the day when Joseph was caught in a difficult situation and refused to compromise his integrity. As a result he was imprisoned for thirteen years. But again he was proactive. He worked on the inner circle, on being instead of having, and soon he was running the prison and eventually the entire nation of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh.

 

It would have been much easier to blame other people, conditioning, or conditions for his situation. But Joseph was responsible to control his life and to powerfully influence his circumstances by working on be on what he was.

 

Jospeh didn't need God to do what he did and neither do we.

God Not Involved

Christians thank God for their "blessings" including jobs, houses, health, etc. If God is responsible then for one who is unemployed, homeless, or sick to ask "Why?" is a logical response since apparenly God has selected them to not bless. Christians need to understand God is not blessing them.  

Beliefs that make us feel comfortable.

 

While Jesus is all about others, his followers, for the most part, are all about themselves.

 

While the bible may be true our understanding of the contents may not be. At some point we have to decide if we are going to believe what people say the bible says or even what we read it to say or our observations and our experiences.

 

My observations and experiences tell me God does not heal anyone, he does not protect anyone, he does not send visitors to GSMCOC, he does not provide ready recollections. In general he is not involved in his creation today as he was during OT times and not involved with his church today as he was during the 1^st century.

 

We pray for safety. Are we so self absorbed that we believe God will protect us, but not protect the innocent of the world or his kingdom? He will protect us but permit a little girl or boy to be raped, abused, killed? He will protect us but permit kittens to be used as baseballs by some perverted boys? He will protect us but let Christians throughout the world be murdered, raped, tortured?

 

We believe God provides us with things necessary for life such as food, clothing, shelter while at the same time Christians world wide starve to death and die because they have no access to clean water? We thank him for food but I do not recollect ever hearing a prayer of thanksgiving for air. We have food not because of God's benevolence but despite his efforts. Remember how as mankinds punishment God made it more difficult to grow food?

Send or Go

 

Sunday night following Gary's presentation where he seemed to be suggesting congregations should become more involved in mission work either domestic or foreign Al immediately shot him down when he clarified that sending is as good as going and put the focus on himself and his magical experiences.

 

Al has said that before as he must because he is not going anywhere. He would be a perfect self-supporting missionary. He could practice is profession and missionary on the side without having to spend anytime studying. But he prefers to be a local keynote speaker and fund raiser.

 

When Jesus told his eleven apostles to "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." Did they have a choice to go or send? Of course not, Jesus wanted them to go. We become confused when we believe Jesus was speaking to us and that the authors of the books and letter were thinking of us. The Bible was written for us but not to us. The Bible tells us what Jesus did and said and to whom he said it and he was not speaking to us by proxy. We do not have to go anywhere. We can if we like but Jesus did not tell us to go.   

 

If we can change "go" to "send" we can change "immerse" to "sprinkle or pour" when Jesus said to his apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

 

We believe because we want to believe; we believe what we want to believe; we believe what makes us comfortable.  

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

 "How much is enough? and How do I know what I want?"  

 

---Henry David Thoreau, 1854

Cost Rico Presentation

Gary,

If this is not the email you prefer let me know.

Great presentation tonight. . . . .and points.

In his book "Walden" published in 1854, Henry David Thoreau poses two intensely practical questions that must come to dominate our thinking if we're to make necessary changes: How much is enough? and How do I know what I want?

In the advanced consumer society in which we live, How much is enough? is...the most deeply subversive question you can pose. We've been carefully trained to know that the answer is always: More.... I know it is subversive because I have posed it to various Christians and the reaction has generally been quite harsh.

Our culture has corrupted us as individuals as well as the church. Look at us, individually and as the church we are deep in debt.  Over $70,000 of the congregation's annual mortgage payment is allocated to sitting idle. In his book Balance in the chapter Overbuilt Underused, Ira North said if you drive by a million dollar building on Monday morning at 11 o'clock and it is empty that congregation is in trouble. I believed him when he said it and I believe  him now and I believe we are.

 Notice the invitation song this evening? "Living below in this old sinful world, hardly a comfort can afford. . . . We see ourselves as requiring assistance not providing assistance. We are victims.

Again, great presentation and excellent suggestions  I believe how we respond is critical with our individual eternal destination in the balance.

 

 

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

  "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face"  

 

---Mike Tyson

Abilene Paradox

Many years ago when I was in school I took a series of psychology courses. One of the experiments we studied was how individuals function differently in groups than they function as individuals.

 

Individuals were placed in a room under the guise of completing a job application. Smoke was introduced through the vents. Without exception the individuals left the room and reported the smoke to the person who brought them into the room.

 

At another time different people were placed in a room in groups also under the guise of completing a job application. Smoke was again introduced into the room. In the majority of situations no one reported the smoke. Researchers concluded when the individuals in a group saw the smoke, they looked at the other individuals and since the others were doing nothing it was interpreted as not a problem.

 

On a hot afternoon in Coleman, Texas, the story goes; a family is comfortably playing dominoes on a porch, until the father-in-law suggests they take a trip to Abilene, fifty-three miles north, for dinner. The wife says, "Sounds like a great idea." The husband, despite having reservations because the drive is long and hot, thinks that his preferences must be out of step with the group and says, "Sounds good to me. I just hope your mother wants to go." The mother-in-law then says, of course I want to go. I haven't been to Abilene in a long time." The drive is hot, dusty and long. When they arrive at the cafeteria, the food is bad. They arrive back home four hours later, exhausted. One of them dishonestly says, "It was a great trip, wasn't it?"

 

The mother-in-law says that, actually, she would rather have stayed home, but went along since the other three were so enthusiastic." The husband says, "I didn't want to go. I only went to satisfy the rest of you." The wife says, "I just went along to keep you happy. I would have to be crazy to want to go out in the heat like that." The father-in-law says that he only suggested it because he thought the others might be bored.

 

The group sits back, perplexed that they together decided to take a trip which none of them wanted. They each would have preferred to sit comfortably, but did not admit to it when they still had time to enjoy the afternoon.

 

This is a benign but dramatic illustration of the consequences of groupthink. Every member of the group agreed to do something they didn't want to do because they thought the others were committed to doing it. The result was that no one came away happy.

We, the men of GSMCOC, have shown we cannot discuss sensitive personnel issues. Until we are able, groupthink will rule.

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

  "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face"  

 

---Mike Tyson

Fodder for Small Group Study

Individual Christians are isolated. First, congregations are isolated from other congregations, each being autonomous. If there is association between congregations it is limited and is due to the leadership of each thinking alike. (When we all think alike, someone is not thinking).

Second, Christians are isolated within each congregation. Christians apparently believe the bible is best studied alone. That is presuming there is study. Research shows the majority of Christians spend little time in study and even less reading the bible.  

 

Third, for many congregations the preacher is the primary source from which the members receive instruction in the bible. This limits those Christians to one individual's understanding and ideas. Lecture is the vehicle for conveying information but not for teaching.

 

Isolated Christians reject challenges to what they believe; anything that threatens their level of comfort.      

 

If I were to tell you our understanding of Heaven and Hell is erroneous my guess is you would disagree. If I were to tell you our understanding of what Paul said about women is not correct, my guess is you would disagree. If I were to tell you instrumental music is irrelevant you would most likely disagree. If I were to tell what we do on Sunday has nothing to do with worship you would disagree and if I said Paul told us what worship is and Hebrews tells us what purpose the assemblies serve and that they are separate you would disagree. If I were to tell you the Bible was written for us but not to us, my guess is you would disagree. If I were to tell you much of what Jesus said to his disciples/apostles does not include us you would disagree. If I were to tell you Satan has no more influence on us today than the influence Michael and Gabriel have you would disagree.

 

Those just might be fodder for a small group study.

 

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

  "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face"  

 

---Mike Tyson

Give What is Needed

James 2:15-17   

    If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

What is the difference between saying "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving the things needed and saying "I am praying for you", without giving the things needed?

 

Peter had no cash but he gave what he had.

 

Acts 3:6   

    But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" 

 

Anything less than was is needed is not enough. The question is "What is needed?" not "What can I afford? 

Parts of the Bible Christians Believe But Are Not True

Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin, yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith?  "Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

When we look around at Christians and children dieing because they have no food, no water, no shelter we know what we say Jesus said is not true so what did he really say and what did he mean?

Parts of the Bible Christians Do Not Believe

What is retirement if not treasure?

 

 "Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

Christians lay up treasure, for a time they will not have to work, while the world around them is suffering.

No doubting

 

 

It is evident God does not answer prayers for physical. When have you experienced or observed God restoring a severed limb; an individual with stage 4 cancer that does not respond to chemotherapy? Of course he apparently does very well with the flu, sprained ankles, broken arms, cancers that are often cured. If God heals he is very selective. Luke tells the story of a woman who had been suffering for twelve years:

 

Luke 8:43-56

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.  She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!" But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me." And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

   

Unless James is referring only to praying for wisdom anyone who asks God for something is required to expect not hope, not sure that God can but expected.

 

James 1:5-8   

    If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 

Could it be that God does not answer prayers due to out lack of expecting, our lack of faith? When was the last time you asked God and expected not hoped, not sure that God can but expected?

 

 

 

Maasai

 

The Maasai originated in Ethiopia sometime during the seventeenth century. During the nineteenth century the Maasai began a southern migration attacking and absorbing other tribes along the way in order to gain more land for cattle-grazing.

 

Cattle are an integral part of Maasai life. So much so that cattle are treated with the same respect accorded to family members, and in most cases, they are used as currency.

 

In the "The African Paradox" there is this story told by Kasi Koonyi of how the Maasai became herdsmen with cattle. "In the beginning, when there was only forest, Ngai (God) gave us bushmen to hunt for us. But then the animals moved away, too far to be hunted. The Maasai prayed to Ngai to give us an animal that wouldn't move away, and He said 'Wait seven days.'"

 

Koonyi takes a hide strap and holds one end of it skyward, to demonstrate a ramp sweeping down to Earth. "cattle came down from heaven, and everyone said, 'Look at that! Our God is so kind; he sent us such a beautiful beast. It has milk, beautiful horns, and different colors. Not like the wildebeest or buffalo, with only one color.'"

 

The Maasai claim all the cattle are meant for them, and kick the bushmen out of their bomas (pastures).  When the bushmen ask Ngai (God) for their own cattle to feed themselves, He refused, but offered them the bow and arrow. "That's why they still hunt in the forests instead of herding like we Maasai."

 

Koonyi explains the Maasai figured out how to burn trees to create savannas for their herds (apparently without Ngai's help); the fires also smoke out malarial mosquitoes. "When humans were mere hunter-gatherers, we weren't much different from any other animal. Then we were chosen by God to become pastoralists, with divine dominion over the best animals, and our blessings grew."

 

The Maasai have faith; atheists have faith; we have faith; a strong conviction. Without Bible support how is the Christian's faith different than theirs?

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

  " The great obstacle to progress is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge"  

 

---Daniel Boorstin

Dreaming or Hallucinating?

The other night at Cracker Barrel Rick mentioned he will be repeating his "Dreaming about Heaven" class. At the Book of the Month meeting a few nights ago I mentioned no-one wants God; Muslims are looking forward to their 72 virgins; Christians are looking forward to their mansions, streets of gold, gates of pearl; seeing friends and family ;others have their interests. Why do Christians want to go to Heaven?

If we could have everything about Heaven — forgiveness, fellowship, absence of sin and pain and death, etc. — but God is not there, would we still want to go there?

What are Christians looking for and hoping for in Heaven? Is it the rest of Heaven? Is it to be free from troubles and tribulations? Is it the peace of Heaven? Is it the joy of Heaven? Is it associating with family and friends? Did Jesus die just to give us a better place to live? All those things are to be found there but that is not the thing to look forward to in Heaven. It is the face of God; to stand in the very presence of God.

What else is there to dream about?  

Before we dream about Heaven we might want to cogitate upon what we really believe. We may not practice philosophical universalism we do practice functional universalism. If everyone in Pigeon Forge not associated with GSMCOC is going to Hell shouldn't we be doing something?   Before we dream about Heaven we just might want see if the Bible supports our view of us being there. Are we sheep or goats?

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

"Except for a small amount that's been incinerated every bit of plastic manufactured in the world for the last 50 years or so still remains. It's somewhere in the environment."  

 

---Dr. Anthony Andrady