I was watching a video about abortion featured on someone's Facebook account and I got to thinking- How many believers (or people in general) actually think its ok to kill a human life? I have been amused by the number of televisions shows and commercials devoted to the 'salvation' of animals that are in need, lately. Does anyone find it interesting that some of the same people that are willing to kill unborn children are the same ones pushing for animal rights and throwing money towards groups whose sole purpose is to save animals?
Lets make it personal- Are you willing to spend money to save an animal, but are unwilling to spend money to save a child? Or, are you willing to spend money to save an animal, but are unwilling to face the ramifications of having sex as a married (maybe) couple, so you instead use birth control?
I'm not condemning birth control, I'm condemning the thought behind it. -Ill have a better life if I have less children- more money, more stuff, better cars, etc. So ill just have as much sex as I want and forget about one of the purposes behind sex- children.
God's Word says the following:
1. Children are a gift from God.
2. Children are a heritage from the Lord.
3. Children are a blessing from God.
4. Children are a crown to the aged.
5. A full quiver is a blessing from God.
Have you stopped to think lately where your priorities are? What is the reason behind why you live the way you do? Why have you decided to have so few children?
Am I pushing for everyone to have families with 5 kids or more? Not even close.
I am asking you to evaluate why you have chosen to live the way you do, and to repent if need be. If you can afford children, consider the blessings they bring!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Baby and the Bathwater
Recently (today) a new book come out in the "realm" of christianity. Rob Bell authored a book called Love Wins. Truth of the matter...Rob Bell loses.
I was watching some of the recorded live interview from last night at the release party in NYC and he has some very interesting things to say about heaven, hell, and Jesus. Rob has always been a little edgy, most definitely post-modern/seeker friendly/emergent, and had some questionable statements in his books, videos, and sermons. But when does one begin to wonder what someone believes when they are asked time and time again the clear questions and they muddy up the water with their responses. It would appear that no matter what questions Rob Bell is asked, he always has to re-clarify what he thinks certain terms mean (which is helpful, but every time?) and then go on about how we have go it all wrong and "what if...".
Have a look yourself at the video from last night and see what I mean....
http://www.livestream.com/lovewins/video?clipId=pla_9997e760-b88d-4294-91a8-142e5ed1c619&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb
This is just a reminder that most often there are still some points, and I stress some, about a persons thoughts and beliefs that are worth understanding and thinking about. Rob Bell does church in a completely different way than I would, and he says things (or doesn't say things) that i would never (would) say.
We can still learn from Rob Bell. Only difference is that now he is in the "unbeliever/little-antichrist/false teacher" category in my mind instead of the "almost lost it" category.
Be discerning and don't be afraid to declare the truth with clarity and certainty. But don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
I was watching some of the recorded live interview from last night at the release party in NYC and he has some very interesting things to say about heaven, hell, and Jesus. Rob has always been a little edgy, most definitely post-modern/seeker friendly/emergent, and had some questionable statements in his books, videos, and sermons. But when does one begin to wonder what someone believes when they are asked time and time again the clear questions and they muddy up the water with their responses. It would appear that no matter what questions Rob Bell is asked, he always has to re-clarify what he thinks certain terms mean (which is helpful, but every time?) and then go on about how we have go it all wrong and "what if...".
Have a look yourself at the video from last night and see what I mean....
http://www.livestream.com/lovewins/video?clipId=pla_9997e760-b88d-4294-91a8-142e5ed1c619&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb
This is just a reminder that most often there are still some points, and I stress some, about a persons thoughts and beliefs that are worth understanding and thinking about. Rob Bell does church in a completely different way than I would, and he says things (or doesn't say things) that i would never (would) say.
We can still learn from Rob Bell. Only difference is that now he is in the "unbeliever/little-antichrist/false teacher" category in my mind instead of the "almost lost it" category.
Be discerning and don't be afraid to declare the truth with clarity and certainty. But don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Time is not on my side......
Its not too often that I have to wait for something that I want, desire, or need. I am pretty good at working things out to get what I want. Be that a car, a gun, some food, or any number of other items. But lately, I have been struggling with desiring a few items that are so far beyond my grasp that I have nothing to do but wait on God to provide some guidance- "No, Michael", or "Wait, Michael", or "Wait longer, Michael". This has been tough for me.
My patience is wearing thin and the true Michael Porto is beginning to rear his ugly head. I am not a patient guy and I become sour quickly when I do not get what I want.
If you would ask me how I'm doing this morning, you might receive a completely different answer than you would if you asked me how I'm doing tonight, maybe even this afternoon. I have been on a roller coaster (emotionally) for the past few weeks and from the looks of things, the path ahead looks to be full of corkscrews and loops.
I seem to have lost my identity in the move. So much of what I used to be and how I used to define myself has been removed, replaced, or put on hold. I cant fire my guns (thanks Mass, for your ridiculously strict gun laws), I cant hunt, no motorcycle, no cornfields, no familiar intersections, different grocery stores, no more A.E products (sadness), no Halo (ruined my disk), no more late nights (I think I'm getting old), no running on trails (do they even exist where we live?), no more familiar faces, no family visits (actual or in-law), no more good beef, different newscasters, different streets, different people, different attitudes, different way of life, different words, different culture, and a different life.
It is strange always being in learning mode. Whenever I'm around people here, it seems that I always put myself in a learning mode- trying to find out as much as I can about them so that I get to know them. Rarely am I able to sit down and let go- only when I'm around the Libsta, and even then we usually have so much to talk about and digest and discuss and thing about. There is little time to relax and take a break from all the newness.
When I do find time, it is difficult to fill it with something normal. We don't live in a permanent place yet, so all of my possessions that are not needed are put away in storage. In other words, if I want to do something that is quasi-hobbyish, I cant. I find myself playing a lot of pointless games on my phone just to waste time because I cant think of anything else to do/ don't have the time to invest in it/ don't have the resources. I long for a trip to Hy-Vee for some chinese food. Or a trip over to Patrick's house for cribbage, pasta, and good company. I miss going over to the Noteboom's and just letting all my worries and cares disappear for a few hours as I spend time around people that I know love me despite my shortcomings.
Amidst all this though, I do have hope.
I have hope that this life is not all there is. I have hope that this life and its trials will end. I have hope that there is something greater than the way I am living. I have hope that my worries will be gone. I have hope that my needs will be fulfilled. I have hope that I am cared for and loved by one greater than all. I have hope that He hears my cries and knows my pain. I have hope that when I die, the worst will be over.
I have hope in Jesus Christ, his life, his death, and his resurrection. I have hope in his promises. I have hope in his Word.
So if you ask my how I'm doing and my response is not "better than I deserve", slap me upside the head and tell me to put my eyes on the cross and not on my petty troubles.
All that said, I could really go for some corn-fed, Iowa beef, some A.E. 2% chocolate milk, and some time spent obliterating several clay pigeons.
Thank God (literally and truthfully) that time is not on my side......
My patience is wearing thin and the true Michael Porto is beginning to rear his ugly head. I am not a patient guy and I become sour quickly when I do not get what I want.
If you would ask me how I'm doing this morning, you might receive a completely different answer than you would if you asked me how I'm doing tonight, maybe even this afternoon. I have been on a roller coaster (emotionally) for the past few weeks and from the looks of things, the path ahead looks to be full of corkscrews and loops.
I seem to have lost my identity in the move. So much of what I used to be and how I used to define myself has been removed, replaced, or put on hold. I cant fire my guns (thanks Mass, for your ridiculously strict gun laws), I cant hunt, no motorcycle, no cornfields, no familiar intersections, different grocery stores, no more A.E products (sadness), no Halo (ruined my disk), no more late nights (I think I'm getting old), no running on trails (do they even exist where we live?), no more familiar faces, no family visits (actual or in-law), no more good beef, different newscasters, different streets, different people, different attitudes, different way of life, different words, different culture, and a different life.
It is strange always being in learning mode. Whenever I'm around people here, it seems that I always put myself in a learning mode- trying to find out as much as I can about them so that I get to know them. Rarely am I able to sit down and let go- only when I'm around the Libsta, and even then we usually have so much to talk about and digest and discuss and thing about. There is little time to relax and take a break from all the newness.
When I do find time, it is difficult to fill it with something normal. We don't live in a permanent place yet, so all of my possessions that are not needed are put away in storage. In other words, if I want to do something that is quasi-hobbyish, I cant. I find myself playing a lot of pointless games on my phone just to waste time because I cant think of anything else to do/ don't have the time to invest in it/ don't have the resources. I long for a trip to Hy-Vee for some chinese food. Or a trip over to Patrick's house for cribbage, pasta, and good company. I miss going over to the Noteboom's and just letting all my worries and cares disappear for a few hours as I spend time around people that I know love me despite my shortcomings.
Amidst all this though, I do have hope.
I have hope that this life is not all there is. I have hope that this life and its trials will end. I have hope that there is something greater than the way I am living. I have hope that my worries will be gone. I have hope that my needs will be fulfilled. I have hope that I am cared for and loved by one greater than all. I have hope that He hears my cries and knows my pain. I have hope that when I die, the worst will be over.
I have hope in Jesus Christ, his life, his death, and his resurrection. I have hope in his promises. I have hope in his Word.
So if you ask my how I'm doing and my response is not "better than I deserve", slap me upside the head and tell me to put my eyes on the cross and not on my petty troubles.
All that said, I could really go for some corn-fed, Iowa beef, some A.E. 2% chocolate milk, and some time spent obliterating several clay pigeons.
Thank God (literally and truthfully) that time is not on my side......
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Snow
Have you ever looked outside and seen so much snow that you think you cant take any more? Consider this- the landscape covered in snow is like Christ's blood covering the sins of an individual. Fall ends, and the land becomes a little dark and brown- then the snow falls and everything is covered in a blanket of snow and is pristine looking and bright. Much like the life of a person before Christ. Dark, covered in junk and then his sacrifice is applied and the individual looks clean and pristine.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Vlog for the day
This ended up sounding a little self-focused, but I wanted to share that so much had changed since the move and since breaking my daily habits. I still struggle every day with putting Michael Porto to the side and taking up my cross- several times each day. But since the move I am finding that it is much easier to deny myself because my prayer time, devotional time, Word time, and other like time things have increased.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Big Move
I have been asked by a few people (really just a few) to share my thoughts and experiences as a new youth pastor in the ministry. I think I might enjoy doing that, so I have decided to try to keep up a fairly regular blog. If you look at my posting past you will see that that aspect of blogging has been a little difficult for me (as I'm sure it is with most people). But I believe that I had better start somewhere at the beginning.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Ok, that might be a little too early in the beginning. Five years ago I felt the call to become a pastor, specifically a youth pastor. I enrolled in Bible college and graduated 4 years later- bringing the total to 8 years of undergrad work. (Lots of people go to college for 8 years and they aren't all doctors.) I began the search for a church around this time in 2010. I sent my resume out and waited for God to lead us somewhere. We heard back from a few churches and had one in particular that took some interest in us. We visited them in April. Things fell through and then we didn't hear anything from another church for another 3 months. People had told us that churches move slowly and we were ready to wait, but we were just about to have a baby and we really wanted Libby to stay home. Instead, I became the stay at home parent and Libby went back to work.
We heard from a church that had contacted us during the summer again in September and they wanted us tome come out and visit them. So we booked a flight and Libby, Naomi, and I flew out to MA to visit the church. We had a wonderful time visiting and were asked to come out again to be presented to the congregation as a candidate for the position. The congregation voted on us that weekend, we accepted the position, and in 5 weeks I was driving across the country with my brother-in-law in the other car. (Libby and Naomi flew out for the sake of time and sanity).
I'd like to focus on that drive for the rest of the post. My brother-in-law and I had always had a little bit of a problem getting along. I'm not sure if it was my constant jokes, my putting down the brand of vehicles he drove, my arrogant behavior, my judging, or some other personality flaw that got in the way. But I never felt all that happy to be around him. God, through Libby and a few very important others, encouraged me to change my behavior and demeanor. Around this time, my brother-in-law really caught on fire for God. There were things about him that used to bother me that seemed to fade away. He was prayerful and loving and kind. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't as though he wasn't this way before he caught on fire- he was. But when God broke down the walls I had erected, it became significantly easier for me to see the good in him that was Christ working in his life. I was always looking for the bad and I always found it. (I even saw it when it wasn't there!) Just like me and him (my brother-in-law) all of us are evil. There isn't a redeeming thing about us. Then in steps Jesus and changes people to be more like Him. I was always looking for the bad and because all people are bad, I was continually finding it. Spend any amount of time around a believer and you will observe wrong and sin- its a fact of life. But what is most important is what happens to that wrong and sin.
Back to the story.
I needed some way to transport both of my vehicles to MA, while still having Libby and Naomi fly out. My brother-in-law volunteered. After all the times I had picked on him, joked harshly with him, judged him wrongly, and second guessed his motives, he jumped wright in and volunteered to spend 22 hours with me in a car. He already travels quite a bit for his work and here he was, willing to spend more time away from his family to serve Christ on my behalf. I was blown away.
I have tried to convey my thanks to him. I hope he is aware of it.
Christ working in people to make them more like Him is a beautiful thing. It is unbelievable. There is no reason that my brother-in-law should have volunteered to help out aside from some personal gain. But where is the personal gain in this? Nowhere. I believe that he did this because the Spirit of God allowed him to see past my faults and wrongs and love Christ in me and love me because he (my brother-in-law was first loved by Christ.
Romans 5:8- But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2 Corinthians 5:19- Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Ephesians 5:2- And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
God is awesome!
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Ok, that might be a little too early in the beginning. Five years ago I felt the call to become a pastor, specifically a youth pastor. I enrolled in Bible college and graduated 4 years later- bringing the total to 8 years of undergrad work. (Lots of people go to college for 8 years and they aren't all doctors.) I began the search for a church around this time in 2010. I sent my resume out and waited for God to lead us somewhere. We heard back from a few churches and had one in particular that took some interest in us. We visited them in April. Things fell through and then we didn't hear anything from another church for another 3 months. People had told us that churches move slowly and we were ready to wait, but we were just about to have a baby and we really wanted Libby to stay home. Instead, I became the stay at home parent and Libby went back to work.
We heard from a church that had contacted us during the summer again in September and they wanted us tome come out and visit them. So we booked a flight and Libby, Naomi, and I flew out to MA to visit the church. We had a wonderful time visiting and were asked to come out again to be presented to the congregation as a candidate for the position. The congregation voted on us that weekend, we accepted the position, and in 5 weeks I was driving across the country with my brother-in-law in the other car. (Libby and Naomi flew out for the sake of time and sanity).
I'd like to focus on that drive for the rest of the post. My brother-in-law and I had always had a little bit of a problem getting along. I'm not sure if it was my constant jokes, my putting down the brand of vehicles he drove, my arrogant behavior, my judging, or some other personality flaw that got in the way. But I never felt all that happy to be around him. God, through Libby and a few very important others, encouraged me to change my behavior and demeanor. Around this time, my brother-in-law really caught on fire for God. There were things about him that used to bother me that seemed to fade away. He was prayerful and loving and kind. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't as though he wasn't this way before he caught on fire- he was. But when God broke down the walls I had erected, it became significantly easier for me to see the good in him that was Christ working in his life. I was always looking for the bad and I always found it. (I even saw it when it wasn't there!) Just like me and him (my brother-in-law) all of us are evil. There isn't a redeeming thing about us. Then in steps Jesus and changes people to be more like Him. I was always looking for the bad and because all people are bad, I was continually finding it. Spend any amount of time around a believer and you will observe wrong and sin- its a fact of life. But what is most important is what happens to that wrong and sin.
Back to the story.
I needed some way to transport both of my vehicles to MA, while still having Libby and Naomi fly out. My brother-in-law volunteered. After all the times I had picked on him, joked harshly with him, judged him wrongly, and second guessed his motives, he jumped wright in and volunteered to spend 22 hours with me in a car. He already travels quite a bit for his work and here he was, willing to spend more time away from his family to serve Christ on my behalf. I was blown away.
I have tried to convey my thanks to him. I hope he is aware of it.
Christ working in people to make them more like Him is a beautiful thing. It is unbelievable. There is no reason that my brother-in-law should have volunteered to help out aside from some personal gain. But where is the personal gain in this? Nowhere. I believe that he did this because the Spirit of God allowed him to see past my faults and wrongs and love Christ in me and love me because he (my brother-in-law was first loved by Christ.
Romans 5:8- But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2 Corinthians 5:19- Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Ephesians 5:2- And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
God is awesome!
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