Category: emPulse
Our Weekly Mind-bender
Rut
Ditch your evangelism
-get a life
The first step is learning to listen. The first step in bringing people to faith in Christ is to get to know them. BUT before that, we need to understand how they see us. One of the ways we can do this is to is to ask them.
So today, start by asking.
- What do you enjoy the most about your life?
- What is the most fun thing you’ve ever done?
- Tell me about your childhood. What was it like growing up?
- What has been your experience with Christianity, good and bad?
- Describe your beliefs now. What does your faith offer you that you believe Christianity does not?
- If you could change one thing about Christianity what would it be?
- If someone could do something that would really cared about and loved you, what would that be?
Will you be able to just listen? Will you try to argue them into belief?
Do your best to simply listen.
Gary
I love Charlie Sheen
My love for Charlie Sheen
Sometimes I think our whole world has gone crazy. Throughout my life I have loved so many people—both men and women. I dated at least 26 women before I married my wife. Since then I’ve loved at least that many more. And the men? Really? I’ve lost count. My wife, Starr, is absolutely OK with all of it. Of course, none of my relationships involved sex. But I still loved intently.
Charlie has loved so many women it’s out of control. He’s been out of control, in control, then out again, then in again, so many times. It’s unimaginable.
Yet he’s the one who gets condemned and told, “You got what you deserved.” “You reap what you sow.”
Here is a man who has just been told he has the HIV virus and the first thing that comes to people’s minds is he deserves it. Incredible!
Let me ask you, do you want to get what you deserve? I certainly don’t. A lot of my Christian friends ask me if I’m looking forward to heaven. I tell them that I’ll be damn lucky (Calvinisticly speaking) to squeak in by a side door. I deserve to have my ass fried in hell for all eternity. But God has never played fair with me…, or you, or Charlie.
Cut the guy a little slack! He doesn’t deserve this.
For what it’s worth,
Gary
Crippling Fear
How many of us live with a gnawing fear of failure? Some of us are claustrophobic (fear of small spaces); others have acrophobia (fear of heights). Then, of course, there’s always snakes, in-laws, falling, and computers. I coined a phobia once—Christophobia! Fear of Christians.
The list of Phobia’s goes on ad infinitum. Too many of us pile one fear upon another, compounding the depth and extent of a once simple fear, now, a muddled mess of fears.
As the horde of our fears combine, they produce in us a reaction— an invisible shield of protection. This is a wall we put up to guard against further “attacks,” whether real or imagined, from the world outside. Unfortunately, over time, our inner walls start to crumble, and we find ourselves less protected than we once supposed. This breakdown of our protective barriers can lead to further fear, a crippling fear.
It is no simple matter to deal with crippling fear, let alone to overcome it. If not addressed it can eventually overwhelm you and take your life. This is a serious, irrational illness.
It is said that perfect love casts out fear. [1 John 4:18] Short of God’s love for us I haven’t found much perfect love on this planet. Truthfully, sometimes even God’s love for us doesn’t drive out the fear that we grasp. But maybe that’s the problem—we really don’t want to let go of our fear. Somehow it has melded with the deepest part of our core and integrated into our identity. So now, it holds us.
Thus are we drawn into a war within ourselves; and it will not be an easy war to fight. Crippling fear knows just when and where to attack at every turn.
You will need help. Here are some simple tools I have used in my own fight with fear.
1. Anger. [Yelling at God.]
2. Prayer. [Listening to God.]
3. Music.
4. Scripture. Lots of it.
5. One incredible friend (ok…, more than one).
6. Counselors (again, more than one).
7. Medication.
8. Letting go of things I cannot change.
9. Listing my fears.
10. Single Malt Scotch (with that one good friend).
I don’t know if my list has been helpful: you may need to write your own. Whatever you do, DO NOT let this damn fear consume your life!
For what it’s worth,
Gary
Why Culture Matters – Q Ideas http://ow.
Why Culture Matters – Q Ideas http://ow.ly/Sx2XM One of the most important endeavours any of us will ever undertake is to IDENTIFY our personal cultural-context as well as the cultural-context of the person with whom we are engaged in discussion. PLEASE watch Tim Keller as he aptly defines the sources and delineations of CULTURE. Picture yourself, and your culture, in the grand mix he sets forth. Gary
So many TV evangelists look sleek, polis
So many TV evangelists look sleek, polished, smooth. This LUTHERAN Pastor had become a Christian late in life and now devotes her life in Denver to preaching the Gospel to those the world finds weird.
How far would you go to identify with the people God loves? http://ow.ly/SwRJE
– http://ow.ly/StIsQ When generational p
– http://ow.ly/StIsQ
When generational profiles change between gen-x and gen-z we will complete a 75 cycle in history. From post WW-2 thru beatnik, rock rebellion through Vietnam & two Middle East wars and September 11, the Dynamic of Change (thank you Marshall) is truly at an almost vertical rise.
Want to know what’s trending, where our culture is going? Ask your 16 year old. Seriously. And walk into their world whenever you can. Gary
Davis v Davis
Unless you live in cave in the Canadian wilderness you have probably caught whim of a Legal vs. Christian faith confrontation in Kentucky. The case revolved around Kim Davis’, Rowan County Clerk, refusal to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples, a ruling recently handed down to lower courts by our U.S. Supreme Court.
Kim’s justification is that the mandate violated her conscience and civil liberties as a born-again Christian. In other words, her freedom of speech and right to dissent were being denied.
In another case, Charee Stanley (47), a recent convert to Islam, was recently suspended by ExpressJet for refusing to serve alcohol to passengers as it violated her religious beliefs. Other flight attendants simply volunteered to take up that part of the job. No problem!?! Except for one Flight Attendant who filed a complaint against her. Thus, the 12 month suspension for Charee.
Are these two cases the same? Similar? Totally different issues?
A perspective. First, I am a Davis— Dr. Gary Davis, to be exact. Second, I also am a practicing Christian. I even teach Christians how to express our faith in ways that make sense to normal people. Most people have NO IDEA who genuine Christians are. They think we are ALL like Kim Davis. I am not like Kim Davis. We may share the same Biblical faith, but that is where it ends.
At the risk of being accused of tooting my own horn, allow me to record a recent texting incident between myself and a friend (not a Christian) that I interviewed for my next book, THE WHISKEY CHRONICLES: what normal people think of Christians. He initiated this conversation—
TD: Just 2 words, “Kim Davis?” Thoughts?
GD: Kim Davis?
TD: Kentucky “Christian” city clerk.
GD: Oh, her. One word, JERK!
TD: Hahaaaaahaa. What do normal people think of Christians? Probably Kim Davis! It’s unfortunate. But I think of Gary Davis…, a real Christian. Time to get that book going.
GD: You are an amazing Encourager, TD! Writing. Writing. Videoing. NEED more Bourbon to finish book.
TD: Hahaaaahaaa. I’ll be right over with a barrel.
Question: Who did more to further the cause of Christ? Davis…, or Davis? Who would draw more people TO Christ? Who would polarize people more?
I’m sorry, Kim; but what were you thinking!?! I am sorry I referred to you as a jerk in my text; it was more of an emotional reactionary response than a reasoned one. Please forgive me.
I live in New England where under 1% of the total population attends church (except Boston; 7%). That’s not genuine Christians, who believe the Bible and attempt to follow its teachings; that percentage is even less. America is NOT a Christian nation; never has been, never should be. We ARE a nation that promotes religious freedom…, within our communities, and in the workplace. Kim believes she upheld her faith by denying marriage licenses to same sex couples. I believe she violated both her job mandate and Scripture’s mandate to be subject to the Bible’s teachings and with government ordinances—
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
~ Romans 13:1-5 (NIV Bible)
Seriously, Kim Davis, although I support your right to dissent, your shape of Christianity just did more to embarrass the name of Christ in our society than to draw people to Him. But you are not alone; too many Bible believing Christians still insist ondefending the faith against this world rather than befriending the people who live in it. Christians are not a bad lot if you can push past our oft offensive antics.
Question: So what can we do to resolve our differences? What can we do live in community with one another.
Comments & criticisms welcome.
…for what it’s worth,
Gary
http://bit.ly/1XI2hxD It does not surpri
http://bit.ly/1XI2hxD It does not surprise me that 400 pastors & Christian leaders resigned from their positions after Ashley Madison released the names of those who were subscribers to their sex/affair website. 400 seems low.
We live in a culture that is permeated with SEX. Selling industrial auto wrenches held by a girl in a bikini just seems weird. Very. What’s the line? SEX SELLS. A friend of mine recently told his wife that she might feel better if she dressed a little more sexy. Yes, he was a pastor. Really!?! Another pastor confidentially admitted that his wife was having an affair with the chairman of his churches Elder Board.
Personal integrity seems to have been supplanted by personal gratification. I NEED this, we tell ourselves, as if that makes it OK. REALLY!
Maybe we all need to reconsider what we mean by the word commitment.
Clueless Christianity 