Is God Dead?

This was the question asked by the front cover of times magazine, April 08, 1966. 

"Is God dead? It is a question that tantalizes both believers, who perhaps secretly fear that he is, and atheists, who possibly suspect that the answer is no." This is how the opening paragraph of times magazine read. 

The question posed to me, if an outsider looks at modern Christianity would they find evidence that God is not dead? As I Spent time in prayer asking God to show me what message to bring to His church, I felt God whisper to my heart, "Am I dead?" Afterwords I began to ponder the fact that if God truly is alive than how does our life and tradition reflect the truth of His existence. Is God dead to me, to us, to our tradition? Do I reflect the image of a living God? Or do I broadcast my own dead nature?

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Is our God dead?

Than why do we dress and act as if it were a funeral? 

Why do we walk around with half hunched shoulders and faces filled with gloom?

Where is your Prince of peace? Oh where is your God of love? 

I have searched the faces of many and I find no divine reflection.

I searched many a church and have found few filled with heartfelt praise.

Is your God Dead?

Has your devotion turned to duty?

Does a fire still burn within or have our souls been filled with ashes?

Have our lamps run out of oil or has the supplier ceased production?

Is our God Dead?

When did church become a dread?

If in your religion you find no satisfaction,

it is not God who is dead, instead it's your tradition.

If God is not dead than I must be.

Searching For Refuge In a Perilous World

Take a moment to listen to this song by Kari Jobe while you read. God used this song to help my family through a rough season.

Searching For Refuge

1 Samuel 22:1-5

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9 O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.

10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing

11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalms 34:8-18 (NASB)

Is there anywhere we can find safety? Is there any relief from the relenting attacks of life? There are certain points in life that it seems that we can't get anything right. There are moments in my life that are not easy at all. At times my heart can be the most unsteady of all. At times I wish life could easier. Why is it that I can succeed at all the things that don't matter, but when it comes to the most important things in my life I struggle so much. Often times when I look at my life from the outside it seems to be all neat yet I know that on the inside it can be so messy. I find the man whom I strive to be is not the man that I am. Sometimes it just hurts so much when I see that my heart is so unsteady. For I must find refuge in the arms of my God and Saviour. At times I feel much like David, a wounded refugee fleeing frantically to find refuge. Let us examine together the beauty of God's refuge offered to those who search for it.

In this instalment of the saga of smelly shepherd boy from Bethlehem, we find David now living as a refugee. Our hero is now living cutoff from his nation and king who he saved coutless times. He is now a wanted man, exiled searching for refuge. The beloved hero of Isreal is consideredto be an outlaw and a rebel. It was during these times that God begin to mld david into the great leader and the "man after his heart" David would become. There are several pictures that are important for us to see here in this story.

I. The Portayal Of Salvation 1 Samuel 22:1-2

1. It is a uniqe contrast between the Cave of Adullam and the shelter of the cross.
   The cave like salvation in Christ provides:
   1. shelter, protection, and cover from all outside forces.
   2. rest and comfort from a long journey.
      1. Just as the cool shade, and water provides rest for the body
      2. the cross provides rivers of living water for the weary soul.
   3. a starting point for a new journey
2. David's "motley crew" illistrates those who flee to Christ for refuge.
   1. The Types of people that flee to Christ
      1. People in distress (confined, disabled)
      2. People in debt (because of sin)
      3. People unhappy with thier life
      4. People who were burdened down
   2. The outgrowth of those people
      1. They are despised and few
         1. "You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. Mark 13:13 (NASB)
         2. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matt 7:14 (NASB)
      2. The "kingdom belongs to them" Matthew 5:3-12

II. The Necessity Of The Wilderness 1 Samuel 22:3-6

1. Wandering through the wildreness teaches us to trust in God rather than man.
1. We can see David faith beginning to regain strength
2. David takes the counsel of the phrophet gad to leave the fortress and go into the forest.
3. If it were me I would have trouble leaving the shelter of the cave and running into the open of the forest.
2. Wandering in the wilderness strengthens your resolve to live for the Lord.
1. This is not the first time God has taken some one through the wilderness.
2. The shadows prove that there is sunshine.
3. 12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 (NASB)

So I call to you today, do you have pain? Do you have scars, and shame from past regrets? Does your life seem to not go the way that is easy? Can you relate with my struggle to balance the good and the broken? Are you loaded down by the weight of your struggles? I know I find it hard to put my faith into practice in the deepest recesses of my heart. Deep down I have pain I have scars I need someone to steady my restless heart. Let us call this morning upon the calmer of our storms, the healer of our scars, and the God who can steady our restless hearts. Come find refuge in the arms of the Lord your God. For the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and they are safe. Are you in need a safe place to land? Jesus is calling to us all today, 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls.30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 (NASB) Will you come fall into his arms and let him heal your busted heart?

When Is It Okay To Kill Babies?

Seriously at what point are you alright killing a baby?

the popular arguments are:

"When someone cannot take care of the baby"

"When the baby is a result of something bad"

"When the baby is not convenient"

"When the mother doesn't want to take care of a child"

If a mother made this statements as a defense for killing her 3 moth old she would be looked at as a monster. If a mother makes the same statements about her baby 3 months after conception she would be considered justified? Why?

More babies have died since Barack Obama took office in 2008 alone than Jews that died in the holocaust.

Since Roe v. Wade over 500 Million babies have because of utter selfishness.

The holocaust and abortions were both supported by the population of their countries. Abortion like the holocaust is legal and "justified" by the government. 

Was Hitler a good man?

If you were given a gun and were able to shot Hitler before the deadly holocaust would you take him out? 

If you had the knowledge of how Hitler would live his life and you were his mothers doctor befor

e she gave birth would you have killed him?

If you were present during the brutal live burials of millions of Jews and an officer held a gun to your head and said bury them would you do it?

Would you shoot them if you were told to do it? 

Would you take a life to save your own?

DO YOU VALUE HUMAN LIFE?

When is it alright to kill a baby? 

Is it right to allow someone to murder because it is there CHOICE?

The Holocaust was legal in Germany, but know one says, "you can't judge him, he was doing what he felt was right, it was his CHOICE"

Just because it is legal for women to kill babies doesn't make it right!

Real Health Care Reform

So I got to thinking about Health Care Reform.

Our president has been pushing this ridiculous health care bill that requires religious groups to purchase free abortions/birth control for female employees. This violates religious freedom and is a train wreck for the economy. I got to thinking about the dangers of our welfare system and how that only in american can a person be rewarded for lazy, irresponsible behavior. So here is what I think real health care reform should look like. Tell me what you think.

1. Remove all federal funds for payment of out-of-wedlock births.
   This means putting guidelines on medicaid that would place the financial burden of payment upon the father/ mother, or parents of the mother. this alone would save roughly 10-15 billion annually
2. No federal funding for birth control
   If the federal government discontinued funding for birth control and abortions it would put the burden of responsibility back on the parents to take responsibility for there own actions. 
3. Treat medical coverage as a long term loan not a hand out
   If people looked at federal assistance as a long term loan rather than a free handout it would great change the approach to receiving it.Not all programs should be this way but certainly payment for welfare to out of wedlock/teen moms.
4. Federally funded abstinence programs.
   This would greatly reduce the cost of health care, std risk, and other financial and social factors.
   

These adjustments alone would save in the neighborhood of $1 trillion dollars annually. In addition to producing more fiscally responsible citizens. 

Here are the facts:

Current trends indicate that by the year 2015… one of every two American babies will be born to a single mother, and illegitimacy will surpass divorce as the main cause of fatherlessness.” Jennifer Marshall, Sanctioning Illegitimacy: Our National Character is at Stake, Family Research Council. 3/28/97

• Nearly 40% of all births in the United States were to unmarried women in 2007. In 1980, that rate was only 18.4%. Stephanie J. Ventura, “Changing Patterns of Nonmarital Childbearing in the United States.” National Center for Health Statistics, May 2009.
• In 2007, there were 1,714,643 births to unmarried women, an increase of 26% since 2002. Ventura, “Changing Patterns of Nonmarital Childbearing in the United States.” National Center for Health Statistics. May 2009.
• Almost half (48%) of all nonmarital first births are to teen parents. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, “Why it Matters: Teen Pregnancy, Out-of-Wedlock Births, Healthy Relationships and Marriage.” 2006.
• Two years after the birth of an unplanned child, about one third of mothers living with the father have ended the relationship, compared to only 7% of married mothers. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. “Briefly…Unplanned Pregnancy Among 20-Somethings: The Full Story.” May 2008.

Welfare

• In 2004, teen childbearing in Tennessee cost taxpayers at least $181 million. Between 1991 and 2004, this cost totalled $3.3 billion. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. “By the Numbers: The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing in Tennessee.” November 2006. 
• Nationally, the healthcare costs alone to the children of teen mothers (Medicaid and SCHIP) is nearly $2 billion each year. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. “Why it Matters: Teen Pregnancy and Other Health Issues.” 2006
• In the United States, about 72% of births to teen mothers are financed by Medicaid. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. “Why it Matters: Teen Pregnancy and Other Health Issues.” 2006
• 53 percent of the cost of AFDC, food stamps, and Medicaid is attributed to households begun by teen births. Kathleen Sylvester, “Preventable Calamity: Rolling Back Teen Pregnancy,” Progressive Policy Institute Policy Report, No. 22 Nov. 1994
• It is estimated that illegitimate births cost taxpayers $2.2 billion in welfare and food stamps each year. Rebecca Maynard, Kids Having Kids
• 80 percent of teenage mothers end up in poverty and reliant on welfare. Maynard, Kids Having Kids
• Approximately 30 percent of all welfare recipients start because they have an out-of-wedlock birth. Michael Tanner, CATO Congressional Testimony, March 9, 1995
• Half of unwed teen mothers go on welfare within a year of the child’s birth. Within five years 77 percent of these mothers are still on welfare. Michael Tanner, CATO Congressional Testimony, March 9, 1995
• More than 75% of unmarried teen mothers began receiving welfare support within five years of the birth of their first child. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Preganancy. “Why it Matters: Teen Pregnancy, Poverty, and Income Disparity.” 2006.
• More than half of all mothers on welfare had their first child as a teenager. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Preganancy. “Why it Matters: Teen Pregnancy, Poverty, and Income Disparity.” 2006.
• 84% of the health care costs for infants of mothers aged 18-19 are provided through public programs. 75% of the health care costs for preschool-aged children of mothers younger than 18 are provided through public programs. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. “Why it Matters: Teen Pregnancy and Other Health Issues.” 2006.

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_contraceptive_serv.html

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/births.htm

http://firstthings.org/page/research/out-of-wedlock-pregnancy-fact-sheet

In Whom Do You Trust

In Whom Do You Trust

Proverbs 3:5-7
1 Samuel 18-21

Today there are a number of groups that seek to remove the phrase, "In God we trust" from every symbol of the American culture. They see to remove the mark of Christianity from every area, past present or future, from the American way of life. It is our god-given responsibility to take a firm stand for those values which we hold near and dear. I want to encourage every Christian of voting age to get out and vote. did you know that if every evangelical got out to vote this year I voted together on the issues that it would sway the results by a margin of 15-20%. The evangelical voting bloc could easily make up more than 15million. Seeing how in 2010 only 90 million total got out to vote we can make a profound impact.
I know it's not a popular topic for a pastor to get political. I know I'm treading on dangerous water. I challenge you to ask yourself, who would Jesus vote for? Would it not violate your Christian values to vote for a arrogant, baby slaying, anti-Christian individual for any public office? I care little if they offer all kinds of change, and seem to have a good economic plan, if there morals are wrong than they will certainly not get my vote. Watch carefully who you chose to vote for because the choices they make if elected by your vote our the choice that you enabled them to make. As Christians we must not, nor shall we allow such vial practices to take place such as the violation of religious freedom by a health care law which requires churches and other Christian groups to purchase abortions that violate their beliefs. Our current president has even gone as far to say that churches must not decrement between male or female when considering a candidate for a pastoral role. I urge you rise up and remove those from offices which seek only to bring further shame to our nation. According to a recent poll 65 percent of democrats support gay marriage while less than 25% of republicans support it.
The question is in the midst of this uncertain world we live in, In whom do you trust?

Will you place your trust in man, yourself or in God. He is the one who will never disappoint.

Let us take a look this morning the people in whom David placed his trust...

I. David Trust In the Lord 1 Samuel 18

1. By Popularity vv. 18:1-11
   1. The way in which we respond to praise and alkaloids reveals our character.
   2. The same praise that seemingly humbled avid infuriated King Saul.
   3. Luke 6:26 (NASB) "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.
   4. Prov 27:21 (NASB) The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, and each is tested by the praise accorded him.
2. Through unfulfilled dreams vv. 18:12-16
   1. Commitment through demotion
      1. verse 5 tells us that avid was the head of Saul's personal bodyguards, but now we see that he has been demoted to only being over 1,000 men.
      2. Yet this did not change David! Even when he was treated unfairly and lost the dream job of a lifetime he maintained humility, and integrity.
      3. It only strengthened David in the eyes of the people and with God.
   2. Humility through disappointment
      1. Saul promised David his daughter Merab Lit. "compensation, or substitute." in a similar way as Laban who used trickery against Jacob.
      2. Later Saul took back this promise and gave her to another man. Yet David didn't respond the same way I would have. David remained humble through disappointment. I would have given him a piece of my mind and taken all my buddies to get her back.

II. David Trusts in Man 1 Samuel 19

Here we see David's faith in the lord begin to weaken. He turns from trusting in God to fight His battles to trusting in man's provision.

1. David trusts in Jonathan (vv. 1-10)
   1. Rather than trusting God to change the heart of Saul he devised a scheme with Jonathan to ensure his temporary safety.
      1. Words mean little where there has been no heart change.
      2. often times we as Christians settle for hearing the right words spoken. Be it when a lost person accepts Christ or when commitments are made.
   2. Words of the mouth mean little if not reinforced by the thoughts of the heart.
2. David Trusts in Michal (vv. 11-17)
   1. Michal who loved David dearly was offered to David not out of a benevolent heart but as a snare to him.
      1. Here we see that she was not a snare at all rather she was a lifesaver unto David.
   2. Yet the question that lurks in my mind is, what was a idol doing in their bedroom. How had David allowed a symbol of idolatry creep into his bedroom/
      1. David now relies on Michal to fabricate a lie in order for him to run. Could David not have stood up to the king as unto the giant?
3. David Trust In Samuel (vv. 18-24)
   1. This was a wise move on David's part.
   2. In our times of distress we would be wise to take the example of David ad run to a strong spiritual counselor.
      1. Samuel defeated Saul not with weapons, words, household idols, or lies. Samuel relied upon the Spirit Of God to fight this battle.
      2. David and us would do well to learn from this course of action.

III. David Trust in Himself 1 Samuel 20-21

1. David Trusts in His Wit (chap. 20)
   1. David and Jonathan made an oath and together fabricated a lie to tell the king. However clever it may have been it was a lie none the less.
   2. As a result of this lie Jonathan was nearly killed.
   3. Yet I do not know that I would have had the boldness to stand before the man who has tried to kill me multiple times.
   4. To cover ourself is our knee-jerk reaction. How much better it would have been for these two to have prayed together rather than device a lie
2. David lied to Ahimelech the priest (21:1-9)
   1. David may have had the best of intentions running to the temple
      1. yet good motives don't justify a lie.
      2. David claimed to be on business for the king
   2. Because of his lie it resulted in the death of hundreds of men women and children.
      1. How have our dishonest actions effected those around us?
3. David fled to the Enemy
   1. David has now reached a all time low in his faith. Because he was so fearful of man he fell into a snare. one that could have been the end of him
   2. David now was camping with the very enemy whom he had destroyed time and time again. Yet in order to be allowed safety he had to pretend to be a madman.
   3. "Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive"

How sad it is to see how quickly we as people of faith can become people griped by fear and unbelief. Anytime we get short sided, in a hurry, trust people, and trust in our own plans rather than trust in God before long everything will fall to pieces around us. When we walk out from underneath God's umbrella of grace and provision we open ourself up to numerous unforeseen consequences. I urge you all to walk in God's grace daily, there are some of you who may have not lived honestly with some people. There are certain individuals who aren't in church today because of dishonest relationships in the past. If you have offended someone seek out reconciliation. Trust in God's provision don't wait until they come to you go to them.

Will you trust in God alone today?