What's all this hoopla about that is going on in the church?

Interestingly enough, I hardly remember a word of most sermons I hear. Last Sunday, however, Bonnie and I were fortunate to attend Northplace Church in Sachse, Texas and listen to a masterpiece by Pastor Bryan Jarrett. He and Chuck Swindoll in my books are the best. Naturally, being Pentecostal I tilt towards Bryan; although, both in my opinion are two of God’s great gifts to the church.

Now, I don’t want to pick on anyone, but hey, isn’t it nice to hear someone break the bread of life and feed you from God’s holy word?

God forgive us for allowing our pastors, yes, our pastors—not all, but far too many—to lapse into the entertainment and feel good mode which they add to what little charisma they have and pass it off as preaching. Preaching is all about the good news that Jesus died, rose from the dead, and is coming back to receive a spotless bride. Now, I know that sounds old fashioned, but pray tell me can you envision one of the Apostles of Christ every preaching a feel good sermon based on the latest book that they have just read?

The problem with this craze—that is, these charisma driven motivational sermons that lay out the current me generation “how-to-become-successful” fad in 10 Easy Steps is that they work! Yeah, you read that right. They work. They succeed in making people even more of a bunch of narcissists than they were previously. Nothing like appealing to ones self-centeredness to draw a crowd.

I can just hear someone say, “All right, now that you have got that off your chest, Jim, what’s the point?”

The point is simple. Church services in many of our churches have morphed into little more than a pep rally crowd pumped up by a team of cheerleaders (aka, worship leaders) jumping around to the drum beat of a marching band. May God forgive us.

And the results?

Well, the results are that this crazy stuff is contagious. It spreads. Oceans know no distance. Mission fields are created everywhere it spreads, too. Because, I am convinced, that just a whole lot of these otherwise fine people eventually lose out on God. I say this because there is absolutely no substitute for His Spirit to fill the void in our life and shallow sermons and whipped up emotions will not satisfy a thirsty soul. Only God can do that.

Friends, we need to pray for a real revival. That’s for sure. 

En agape Christou,

A really funny thing happened to me on the way to Heaven!

One Man's Opinion by Jim Roane, Ph.D. Dear friends and faithful supporters: Yes, I am 75 and still love cartoons. Friends, if you have not discovered it, humor is the spice of life. Early in my career as a minister I decided that I would play the part and be a really serious, somewhat stern character—play the role, you might say.    Well, that didn't last long before humor got in the way. Since those nascent days as a want-to-be success, I have since learned that people (including Jesus) prefer you as you are. It takes all types. There is a difference however in cracking up at a cartoon or laughing at a clean joke than treating life in general as one big joke.   Even more dangerous, I believe is when we become immune as it were to the awfulness around us. As for instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), since 1973, roughly 50 million legal induced abortions have been performed in the United States.    Hitler or Stalin had nothing on us! Perhaps, the Ayatollah Khomeini was right when he called us “the Great Satan.” I reference him, not because of his authenticity, but because even the devil can see that we are absolutely corrupt as a nation. That is not to say that I do not love America. I do. But, it precisely because I do love my country that I must speak out.   And, friends, speaking out ain’t funny. It’s tough business.   Calling a spade a spade is a must as a preacher. Otherwise, we are simply hired hands doing the work of the ministry. Professionals at best, religious hacks at our worst. Ministry, true ministry, calls for action. Confrontation. Holy righteousness, as it were.   Now, there is much that is good about America. Our freedom, for instance. Freedom, however, without responsibility is chaos. I think of the recent riots by pot-smokers in Colorado. They had the freedom to smoke the stuff because of a new law but shirked the responsibility of civility. Makes me to want to take a new look at Paul’s admonition to Timothy when he wrote: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy....false accusers....fierce, despisers of them that are good....traitors....lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God....ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of Truth".( II Tim. 3:1-7)      Hey, if that is not America, what is?   Now, the really sad part is that the United States is not the only culprit. Mankind in general stands condemned before God. Lethargic, compromising Christians as well as outright heathen jihadist riding on the backs of the black horses of death and destruction, all stand in judgment.   Agree? Then, we must do something about it.   The Great Commission has not expired. It is still in force. Our mission is not accomplished. We still have work to do. And, do it, we will; but it requires team work. You must pull your load as well as I must pull mine. Together we can, we must get it done.   Right now, Bonnie and I are preparing to return to Southern Asia, and have also put Russia on our calendar. So, I am asking you to make this a matter of deep, sincere prayer. We need prayer for strength for the journey, wisdom in where and when to go, and, of course the finances to make all of this possible. I must say, however, that when we pray the finances all fall into place.   Thanks once again for the opportunity to minister abroad, and may God comfort you all along your Christian journey. En agape Christou,

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America: love it, or hate it?

Dear friends and faithful supporters:

Yes, I am 75 and still love cartoons. Friends, if you have not discovered it, humor is the spice of life. Early in my career as a minister I decided that I would play the part and be a really serious, somewhat stern character—play the role, you might say.

Well, that didn't last long before humor got in the way. Since those nascent days as a want-to-be success, I have since learned that people (including Jesus) prefer you as you are. It takes all types.

There is a difference however in cracking up at a cartoon or laughing at a clean joke than treating life in general as one big joke.

Even more dangerous, I believe is when we become immune as it were to the awfulness around us. As for instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), since 1973, roughly 50 million legal induced abortions have been performed in the United States.

Hitler or Stalin had nothing on us! Perhaps, the Ayatollah Khomeini was right when he called us “the Great Satan.” I reference him, not because of his authenticity, but because even the devil can see that we are absolutely corrupt as a nation. That is not to say that I do not love America. I do. But, it precisely because I do love my country that I must speak out.

And, friends, speaking out ain’t funny. It’s tough business.
 

Calling a spade a spade is a must as a preacher. Otherwise, we are simply hired hands doing the work of the ministry. Professionals at best, religious hacks at our worst. Ministry, true ministry, calls for action. Confrontation. Holy righteousness, as it were.

Now, there is much that is good about America. Our freedom, for instance. Freedom, however, without responsibility is chaos. I think of the recent riots by pot-smokers in Colorado. They had the freedom to smoke the stuff because of a new law but shirked the responsibility of civility. Makes me to want to take a new look at Paul’s admonition to Timothy when he wrote:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy....false accusers....fierce, despisers of them that are good....traitors....lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God....ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of Truth".( II Tim. 3:1-7)  

Hey, if that is not America, what is?

Now, the really sad part is that the United States is not the only culprit. Mankind in general stands condemned before God. Lethargic, compromising Christians as well as outright heathen jihadist riding on the backs of the black horses of death and destruction, all stand in judgment.

Agree? Then, we must do something about it.

The Great Commission has not expired. It is still in force. Our mission is not accomplished. We still have work to do. And, do it, we will; but it requires team work. You must pull your load as well as I must pull mine. Together we can, we must get it done.

Right now, Bonnie and I are preparing to return to Southern Asia, and have also put Russia on our calendar. So, I am asking you to make this a matter of deep, sincere prayer. We need prayer for strength for the journey, wisdom in where and when to go, and, of course the finances to make all of this possible. I must say, however, that when we pray the finances all fall into place.

Thanks once again for the opportunity to minister abroad, and may God comfort you all along your Christian journey.

En agape Christou,