Poor Pitiful Men: The Martyr Complex of the American Husband | The Current Conscience

Poor Pitiful Men: The Martyr Complex of the American Husband | The Current Conscience

March 2012 Bloggie: It's Patrick's Island

Well, me lads and lades it’s that time of year again; March brings to mind the admiration I have for Saint Patrick, himself I do. I am still trying to read through my copy of the Celtic (not Seltic, its Keltic) way of Evangelism by George Hunter. It is a wonderful book that I am slowly digesting. Hunter states that in a post Christian world like we live in today that Celtic Christianity is the way to win the souls of today’s people. I tend to agree with him. I think we have seen the day of big revivals. People will be won today in a one on one experience. Each of us must hear the same call Patrick did to win the world by winning individuals to Christ.

You many not know this but Patrick was a real person not just some green suited little person. He was born in England, captured by slave traders when a boy, and sold into bonds in Ancient Ireland. He spent his time watching sheep there (what is it about sheep and God experiences?) where he truly had a spiritual transformation. God directed him home and he gave his life to God and the Ministry. Strangely he couldn’t shake the call of God to go back to his former land of slavery and witness the message of salvation his former masters. He organized missions that included someone to proclaim the gospel, others to live out the gospel and relate to the local population, and artisans who would help the music and art loving heathen Irish accept the love of God. This was different than anyone else had done it before which accounts for why the Irish were still without the hope of Christ. The Roman Catholic missionaries worked on the rulers, got them to convert to Catholicism and then proclaim that all their people had made the same decision. So you had a lot of people who didn’t have any type of personal relationship with Christ. Patrick saw his call to win the common people and work his way up to the rulers after the kingdom had converted. Generations after Patrick his missionaries were doing the same thing, moving into an area, loving people, working along side people and through the process of spiritual osmosis winning those people to a personal faith in Christ Jesus.

Of course the Adversary doesn’t like such things. He had the Church in Rome come into conflict with the Celtic Church. Eventually through working in the politics of Earthly kingdoms they put the Kee-bosh on the missionary efforts of Celts. Such an effort has born fruit in the empty cathedrals of Europe today. People will turn away from just ritual if it doesn’t create relationship.

However, Celtic Christianity didn’t die out. It just went back home to places like Iona and Irish Monasteries who continued to copy bibles and other books. This work of Celtic priest keeps ancient knowledge from passing away. It also helped give birth to the Reformation a few hundred years later that helped take the gospel around the globe.

So when we go to our neighbor, Dallas life, NYC, or anywhere with the good news of Jesus we are helping complete Patrick’s mission. God has called all of us to “Go ye therefore”

I grew up in a weird home, no this isn’t a blog about one of my brothers strange exploits, its all about the construction crew I call my Mom and Dad. You see they were real weird people.

Mom loved Daddy and Dad loved Mom. They would hug each other from time to time. They would support each other on decisions. No “go ask your mother” from Dad when we asked to go to a friends. He’d say, “Let me ask your mother”. He treats her like a queen. She would look at something at a store and he would say “why don’t you go ahead and get it?” because he knew she would want it later and he’d have to get out in the car and get it. She always cooked his favorite foods, ironed his clothes just the way he liked them, and stood by him through several heart “procedures”

What’s even weirder is they like each other. They traveled to Hawaii, the Caribbean and all over the Branson together. He made sure she had a good birthday last year with his boys help. She made sure he made it through his first few weeks of life shaking retirement.

What’s an even weirder thing? They love and like their 3 boys. I didn’t grow up in a home with abuse; I grew up in a home of love. I didn’t have parents who lived one way at church and another at home. They set the example. We were a fun, relaxed, loving, Christ honoring family. Don’t read that being stuffy or legalistic. Our friends wanted to come to our home because it was safe, secure, limit setting, caring. Jesus was seen and experienced in our home.

The more I work in the ministry the more I realize that isn’t the standard these days. I don’t know that it ever was the standard. Mom and Dad both grew up in families that were less than perfect. They both have all kinds of people to blame if they want to be nut bars. However, they chose to go against the trend of their youth. Love was a verb in our home. The Love that they still have for each other is because they love Jesus and honor him. Thank you Mom and Dad, you built more than a house, a home, you built me.

One Step at A Time

Ok, it’s been since August since I blogged. Where does the time go? I dunno. Does anyone really read blogs? I think it’s an old thing like e-mail. I was talking to my Jr. High Bible Study group the other day and asked them about e-mail. They said only “old” people do those, I am old. We are doing a unit on Social Media, talking with them about Txt and Face book. Can you express your Christianity on such changing media? I think so. I will have to old man blog about that soon.

The purpose of this blog is to encourage anyone who read it from NIBC to keep the faith this year. What a great church we have. The Testimonies on Sundays continue to support that fact that God has put us on this Hill for a reason. The many ministries local, citywide, national and international continue to show God that we have a mind to work in his kingdom.

The offering plates are going to struggle in an economy that just isn’t going to rebound no matter who gets the nod this November. However, friends, if we are faithful - God will provide. The key is our faithfulness to his call for NIBC. We have a Church that is built for this economy. I wouldn’t be able to get as much done with out our faithful volunteer ministry leadership and workers. It seems each time we hear God’s call he broadcast that call to many of us. This isn’t a church run by a group; it’s a church working together to row the boat in the right direction. Thank you so much for your love for this church.

The source he uses to provide financially is our faithful obedient stewardship/managing of the funds he gives us. Some my say “they’re always in my pocket up there at the church”. We’ll remember what I have told you, Jesus spoke of salvation/kingdom first and money second. I seem to recall him saying something about where your heart is there will your treasure be, but I could have just imagined that while I was asleep in one of my seminary classes. To fund the kingdom work takes managing our time, talent, treasure. I would be changing the message of the New Testament if I told you anything different. Those of you who know me from these last 93/4 years know that I don’t change the word of God to suit anyone. Remember, Beloved, that we are in this together. Our first call is to the kingdom work and that involves funding it with all we have not just 10%. I have seen your heart so far these last few months. Like those who rebuilt Jerusalem with Nehemiah “you have a heart for the work”. Let’s continue to be a place of strong and true Bible teaching/learning/living. God has so much in store for us in the years to come. My focus verse for this year is Revelation 3:8, where Jesus writes to the Church at Philadelphia,” I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close.” The door is open because he is keeping it open, may he continue to find us faithful.

can you tell me how to get.....

So today I read on the ole’ face book that there is a petition circulated to have Burt and Ernie come out of the closet since they are to some obviously homosexual partners. They need to have a wedding on Sesame Street to show kids that being gay is an acceptable lifestyle. Well I consulted none other than TMZ, that great bastion of Entertainment Knowledge and they state on their website the following.

Sesame Street has finally responded to age-old rumors that Bert and Ernie are gay -- claiming the infamous room-sharing man-puppet odd couple are JUST FRIENDS ... and have no sexual orientation whatsoever.

A petition emerged online this week, urging the creators of Sesame Street to marry the two puppets -- but the Sesame Workshop just posted a message on its Facebook account, writing, "Bert and Ernie are best friends."

The statement continues, "They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves."

"Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics ... they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

In my opinion, while I can still say this in an ultimate tolerant society, this is completely stupid, and no I don’t regret using the word stupid. I also want you to know that I am not the least big politically correct, big surprise eh? The leftist are always trying to push their socialist political agenda and their perverse moral agenda on us. They work hard at pushing this agenda on kids. I also recently read an article stating that several Disney channel stars were obviously gay. The attack has been moved from the courts to kid’s television. To pervert a generation is to make that generation accept the alteration when they get older. The same thing happens on shows like Degrasi where main characters are homosexual. Many of the youth I have spoken too over the last few years see no problem with Homosexuality. Their ethic base is formed by media not by scripture. Also, these are Christian Church going kids who give me these reactions. Where have we gone wrong?

The GLBT crowd has done their work well. Where they are leading us is obviously of satanic origin. The issue has been at work from ancient times among the Greeks, Romans, and others. Down through time the problem is that for these people, sex is not only an urge it is the goal of life. Like most addictions you need a new kick of perversion for the next hit to have any power. They have opened themselves to the perversion and it spirals them downward. They cannot see any innocence, no real friendship, nothing that does not bare the stain of their perversion, and yes according to the Bible it is a perversion and a sin see Romans 2. Many would see something showing up in the relationship of even Jesus and John the Apostle. There is no room for love only love that involves sexual relationship.

We live in a day of darkness. Men today deal with the fear of how they will be perceived and have locked themselves behind unfeeling walls. Wives suffer and Children suffer because the male in their family dare not express his feelings lest he be considered effeminate. I see a real need for our church and for other churches to work to develop in Men the ability to express themselves and grow into the men God wants them to be.

Is Jesus coming back on May 21?

Just to let those who have been watching to much Royal Wedding coverage or the Mavs stomping the Lakers (Lackers), I wanted to let you know that Jesus isn't coming to Earth on May 21st. For one thing we have a church work day on that day and really need to get some things done. Another issue is that Harold Camping says that is the day. You may remember Harold Camping for his prediction that Jesus was coming in 1994.I guess Jesus broke down somewhere between here and Heaven and couldn't get a ride. Or maybe he just didn't want to come to earth during the Clinton Administration. Harold Camping preachers that all churches are wrong because the Holy Spirit has left the modern day church. I guess he and the Holy Spirit have coffee at Starbucks on Monday mornings or something. Maybe he gets secret messages via his Dish Satellite size ears, I dunno. All I know is what the book says Jesus Himself in Mark 13:32, look it up for yourself beloved. Jesus (you know the guy coming back) also says alot about dudes trying to say when he is coming in Mark 13:21-22. Of course that stuff is in the Bible and you have to believe the Bible to belive that stuff. Seems like we all want Ear itchers these days instead of the book itself. I heard one guy asking about all the money Harold is getting from those who follow him. The caller into Camping's radio show asked if he was going to give it all back. I guess he was on a cell phone in a tunnel cause they cut him off. Oh well, whenever Jesus does come back the Hale Hacienda is ready to go, this $5 gas is killing us. Smile Beloved God has great plans for you.