“Perspectives” Day 4 – Featuring AmyJo Ferguson

“Holiness and Tomatoes”

Reverend Wiley advised me not to divorce him

For the sake of the children,

And Judge Somers advised him the same.

So we stuck to the end of the path.

But two of the children thought he was right,

And two of the children thought I was right.

And the two who sided with him blamed me,

And the two who sided with me blamed him,

And they grieved for the one they sided with.

And all were torn with the guilt of judging,

And tortured in soul because they could not admire

Equally him and me.

Now every gardener knows that plants grown in cellars

Or under stones are twisted and yellow and weak.

And no mother would let her baby suck

Diseased milk from her breast.

Yet preachers and judges advise the raising of souls

Where there is no sunlight, but only twilight,

No warmth, but only dampness and cold—

Preachers and judges!

From Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters

Once we lived in darkness. I once accidently grew some tomato plants in darkness. They were supposed to have a nice sunny window, but before they sprouted, I stashed them under the entertainment center to hide the dirt from some visiting guests. I remembered them a few weeks later.

They came out not looking so pretty. They were crooked, yellowish and weak. Edgar Lee Masters in Spoon River Anthology writes about people who are similarly twisted because they had been raised in “twilight” instead of sunlight and without warmness, “only darkness and cold.” In some way that it is the human condition: we have been born into a world which is sick with sin. The light of God to us in this condition is best described as “twilight” rather than sunlight. We turn out crooked and weak.

Romans 3:9-18 (NIV)
⁹What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.
¹⁰As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;
¹¹there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
¹²All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
¹³“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
¹⁴“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
¹⁵“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶ruin and misery mark their ways,
¹⁷and the way of peace they do not know.”
¹⁸“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Into this condition, shines the light of Jesus Christ. When I brought these tomato plants into the light and began to care for them, the change was remarkable. They turned their leaves upward. They began to green. Through initial sanctification, salvation, we are plunged into the light of Jesus Christ. Our sins are cleansed and the change in us is dramatic, YET, it is still evident that we are still plants raised in darkness.

Even though my tomato plants were now living in the light, I had to prop them up with small sticks and string. In the life of a Christian, initial sanctification can and does bring a wondrous change to our lives; however, in some ways the sin problem is still quite problematic. There is still a pull to remain crooked to grow as we grew before we knew the light. As William Booth writes, “I remark that in the early stages of Christian experience this deliverance is only partial. That is, although the soul is delivered from the domination and power of sin, and is no longer the slave of sin, still there are the remains of the carnal mind as roots of bitterness left in the heart, which, springing up, trouble the soul, often lead it into sin, and which, if not continually fought against and kept under, grow up, attain their old power, and bring the soul again into bondage” (The Privilege of All Believers 9).

At some point, I had to take radical steps with my tomato plants or they might not give me any tomatoes at all. They needed to be completely transplanted into good fertilized soil. Most of their crooked, weak stem had to be buried in this new soil which allowed completely new and perfectly aligned growth to occur.

Romans 6:20-22 (KJV)
²⁰For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
²¹What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
²²But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

This is like entire sanctification. When we consecrate our lives to God and he faithfully takes us and transplants us completely into his grace. Romans 12:1 (NIV) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.” Like the tomato plants that now grow in perfect alignment to the sun, our lives grow in alignment with God’s Son.

Entire sanctification is the door through which holiness (the acts of entire sanctification) enters into our lives. Through entire sanctification, we dedicate our all to God and in turn, God miraculously heals the crippling effects of sin in our lives. He straightens us out, in order for us to bear fruit for him.

May 1, 2014 1

“Perspectives – Day 3” Featuring Sean Wise (Lieutenant) “Transparency”

Transparency

April 30, 2014 1

“Perspectives” Day 2 – Featuring Dennis Strissel (Colonel) “Clipping Toe Nails”

Opinion–8-ed
(A series of eight installments)
Number four – Clipping Toe-Nails

“Lieutenant, can you clip my toe-nails?” I couldn’t remember the toe-nail clipping class at the CFOT, so I thought the request a tad unusual. Elmer was in his mid-eighties and, for the most part, bed-ridden. He had been a long-time Salvationist and his wife still attended the church meetings without him. In fact, our very first Christmas dinner together as a married couple was with Elmer and Mabel, huddled around a very small kitchen table sharing fried rabbit together. Some things you just never forget…
“Lieutenant, can you clip my toe-nails?” I heard the words again and they kind-a woke me out of my contemplation of the request. It wasn’t a matter if I could or not…it was a matter if I wanted to or not. Do you understand my dilemma? I smiled at Elmer, grabbed his big old German foot and commenced to clipping. As I dodged the clippings flying off his toes, the thought crossed my mind that I never expected that the list of my service to the Lord would include clipping toe-nails.
For those readers still with me and not running to the bathroom sick to their tummies, my journey, and it might as well be yours too, is full of things we never thought we’d be asked to do as a service to others, as unto the Lord.
“Hey Lord, can you call me through a burning bush like you did for Moses? Can you cause a great revival of mean, God-hating people like you did for Jonah? Can I be of service to you and kill a giant like David did?”
Now those acts of service sound like great projects and worthy of a servant of the Most High God. However, I have discovered that service looks more like dishing up a plate of spaghetti for the homeless, reading a book to the first grade class, putting away tables and folding chairs for the officer or pastor, and, you guessed it, clipping the toe-nails of an elderly person. It’s not so much about the MIGHTY things as it is about the MUNDANE.
Do you remember the story Jesus told about the ruler, leaving ten servants in charge of the kingdom while he went away? He entrusted them with varying amounts of money and even though the money was small, he complemented and rewarded them upon his return.

Luke 19:15-19

15 “When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.
16 “The first said, ‘Master, I doubled your money.’
17 “He said, ‘Good servant! Great work! Because you’ve been trustworthy in this small job, I’m making you governor of ten towns.’
18 “The second said, ‘Master, I made a fifty percent profit on your money.’
19 “He said, ‘I’m putting you in charge of five towns.’
THE MESSAGE.
They were faithful in the mundane (small job) and were found faithful and rewarded for that faithfulness. Why? Because service is not so much about making the supreme sacrifice as it is about making a personal investment in someone or something else.
Gordon B. Hinkley said “Though my work may be menial, though my contribution may be small, I can perform it with dignity and offer it with unselfishness. My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others…. The goodness of the world in which we live is the accumulated goodness of many small and seemingly inconsequential acts.” (http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/service?page=1).

Stop looking and longing for the service show-stoppers and the roof-raisers and concentrate on the everyday, little areas where you can lift the lives of the few by your personal investment in their lives, while honoring the Lord with yours…even if it means clipping toe-nails.
Dennis L.R. Strissel

April 29, 2014 2

Perspectives Day 1 Featuring John Mowers (Major) -” A Testimony From a Jar of Clay”

A Testimony from a Jar of Clay

“You have pulmonary sarcoidosis.” The doctor said it like I should know what that meant. He then asked me if I’d ever heard of sarcoidosis. I replied “only on TV” – that it is always the wrong diagnosis on the popular television drama, House, M.D.

What it meant was that the chronic shortness of breath that I had been experiencing had a cause, and I would have to begin taking a strong steroid medication to control it and prevent the spread to other organs. I recall how anxious I began to feel. Nobody told me that the medication itself would heighten my sense of anxiety or that coming off the medication would induce feelings of depression. But I made it through the 15 months or so of treatment, although I put on 40 pounds of extra weight. I felt well enough to ask to return to corps work for the last four years of my officership. I’d been stationed at Training Colleges for 11 years and I wanted to pastor a corps again. So we were transferred to a corps in crisis. I plunged into the pastoral care and preaching and administration that mark a large corps totally confident that we were where God wanted us to be. Just to be safe I found a new doctor in the new city and started regular checkups. Soon I was feeling the familiar shortness of breath and asked for some tests to be run.

Less than two years after my original diagnosis, a new doctor confirmed that the sarcoidosis was indeed worse and announced that the disease had progressed to stage four – meaning unlikely to respond to treatment. “What can we do, doc?” I asked hopefully. He shrugged and opined that I would be too old, too fat, and ineligible for a lung transplant due to the complicating pulmonary arterial hypertension I’d developed. I began having to use oxygen at night and then for the exertion of strenuous activity. Within three months strenuous activity included showering and tying my shoes.

As a corps officer, preaching had been one of my passions. I had to give up a lot of direct programming because I couldn’t keep up with the kids. I had to give up playing in the Corps Band, and sometimes singing with Songsters. But my preaching had been unaffected. Somehow, each Sunday, God gave me the strength to preach the message I’d developed and crafted. Until the Sunday after Easter.

All morning long I struggled; I couldn’t catch my breath. Usually I put the oxygen tank aside to preach but I knew I couldn’t do so that morning. So I swallowed my pride and informed the congregation that I would be preaching with the cannula hose attached to a portable oxygen tank. Then I made a joke that the noises from the valve make sounds like Darth Vader breaths.

Somehow I got through that message and people seemed to have been helped and blessed. As I reflected on what God may have been saying to me on that Sunday, the fourth chapter of 2^nd Corinthians came to mind and I read again verse 7:

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

I guess I would have a right to be embarrassed if I failed to deliver the powerful message I’d crafted — if that message had been from me. But God had laid the issues on my heart. He had inspired the scripture I was expositing. If power happens to leak out during the sermon, it is his power, his choice. I am a vessel – a clay pot.

Paul goes on in verse 16:

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

My outer man had seen better days. The wasting away had begun in earnest. This disease took away my freedom, my natural powers, my dignity. What I needed was the inner renewal because I seemed to be more prone to lose heart. I mourned my losses and sometimes was depressed. I felt so selfish – me, me, my, my, I.

But God gives the blessing of seeing his power at work in the words he has inspired me to preach. My sermons seemed to help people. I preached in Spanish at a Hispanic corps, and two seekers made their way to the altar. As I reflected on that morning, I recalled what Paul heard from the Lord when he begged for his “thorn” to be removed (also in 2^nd Corinthians):

⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me… For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV)

I couldn’t boast about my weaknesses yet. I needed some more grace for that. But I experienced from time to time the soothing of renewal of my inner being (2 Cor. 2:16). It wasn’t a magic bullet that killed my doubt and depression with a single shot.

The future seemed to be certain for me – irreversible lung damage and an early “promotion to glory.” Ironically like an episode of House MD, further testing revealed that the disease wasn’t sarcoidosis, rather a fibrosis disease within the lungs, and there was no cure. We had to retire early. We moved to Texas so that when I died, Nancy would be with our daughter, Jennifer. We attend the Dallas Temple Corps where I was able to help with the Hispanic Ministry teaching the Spanish Sunday School class.

My new doctor in Texas surprised me when he urged me to consider a transplant. Remember that the Michigan doctor had told me I was ineligible for a lung transplant, but this hospital used different criteria. I was approved for transplant in January, 2014, and received a bilateral (double) lung transplant two weeks later.

My recovery has been amazing. I don’t need supplemental oxygen. I can speak without shortness of breath. I can sing again.

I take medications that suppress my immune system and leave me open to infection, flu, and colds, all very dangerous when one has a compromised immune system. Nothing is certain. My body may yet reject the transplanted lungs. There is no guarantee that I’ll be able to continuing preaching and teaching.

But I am convinced of this — that God uses jars of clay – the power is his, not mine. He decides when and how it comes out. And I am so grateful for God’s great grace.

Major John Mowers

April 6, 2014

The Colony, TX, USA.

April 28, 2014 3

Click the blue link to listen:

“Walking with a Stranger”

Sermon Podcast – “Walking With a Stranger”
Date: April 27th, 2014 At The Brainerd Lakes Salvation Army Corps.
Also available for free download via itunes/podcasts/brainerdcorps

Luke 24:13-35 (NIV) 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

“Walking with a Stranger”

April 27, 2014 0

A Little RobBellion…a Jesus Show or Sell-out?

I’m open minded…and hopeful.
Recently, famous preacher, thinker and author Rob Bell announced via numerous social media sites that he would be beginning a new television show. Relevant Magazine reported it here: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/tags/rob-bell. Rob’s new television show will be called simply “the Rob Bell Show”…interesting. He’s also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealrobbell

Again I’m open minded, but images like these pop into my head when I think of “Christian” television shows:

Anybody else?

I don’t want to prejudge something before it happens. I don’t want to think the worst, but I physically shiver when I think of the likes of Jimmy Baker and the “golden” throned TBN channel…I seriously hope that his show doesn’t go THAT way.

on the other hand…

I really hope Rob Bell’s new show doesn’t become a Universalist show where everything is embraced as truth. That notion to me is also troubling.

Again, I don’t want to prejudge the new show before seeing it, but I have to wonder were Rob Bell’s critics right? Has he sold out?

I have been seriously challenged by his books (yes I’ve actually read them). Some of Rob Bell’s critics even rushed to write books to challenge His book “Love Wins” before they had even read it or even before it even hit the bookshelves in stores. His book was more about asking tough questions like ‘does God’s grace actually extend far beyond our human grace and our understanding?‘ and less about dispelling doctrinal and bible truths. Rob Bell asked more questions than he did present some “heretical theology” like some had assumed of him and that of his teachings.

Still I wonder about this whole tv show thing.
I wonder if the lure of courting fame has taken its toll.
I wonder about a lot of things.

Unlike many of the critics of Rob Bell, I’ve been truly challenged by him.
I have found him to be honest and refreshing.
I have found him to be a break from the old fashioned traditional molds of what the “Christian Teacher” should look like.

Was he just a trend?
or was he for real?

I guess time will tell. Like I said at the beginning I am keeping an open mind. I’m hopeful.
After all, the Christian church has certainly had its fair share of sell-outs, wanna-be’s and phonies.

My only fear in all of this is that if this doesn’t pan out and his television show is all Universalist wishywashy mumbo-jumbo …how many people will it lead astray?

Again…for now, I’m hopeful and waiting with an open mind.

April 25, 2014 0

TOUGH QUESTION: Do you REALLY know your Enemy?

Matthew 5:43-45 …“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.…”

April 24, 2014 0

TV Review of CW’s “The 100”

I’m a sucker for Science Fiction television shows. If you’re anything like me then perhaps you have your DVR set to record many offerings within this genre too. I’m still upset after all these years that they canceled Firefly

I digress:

The new television show “The 100” follows a group of young people (It’s like Peter Pan’s “Lost Boys” meets “Lord of the Flies”) who apparently were all imprisoned for being rebellious while on Earth’s final hope, the space station, which has been orbiting Earth for nearly a hundred years.

Earth nearly destroyed itself through nuclear war and those who survived on the Space station currently don’t even know if Earth is able to sustain life yet. So they send the prisoners…oh here’s one more catch – the Space Station is quickly degrading and running out of oxygen. The population on the Space station has outgrown the original design of sustaining life.

back to the prisoners –

They are sent to earth in a space pod (wow they can fit a hundred people in that thing? that must be cramped!) and each of the 100 has been given a vital signs life tracker on their wrist.

The adventure begins and the world isn’t as empty as they once suspected. There are others living on the ground that ironically the 100 pod-people label “grounders” (how original).

Long review short –
There is suspense. The directors and creators of the show ensure that you are clinging to your seat and take nothing for granted because ANYTHING could happen. Sure, it’s a teen/young adult catered audience…most actors look like aeropostale or abercrombe and fitch models…but death and betrayal permeate the plot like a pair of stinky gym socks in a locker-room.

Society and Culture:

For me, one the underlying themes of this show is that anarchy reigns within the 100 although there are a few trying to keep the order and peace. Some have their own selfish agendas, some are power hungry, and some are just psychopathic killers…this really bodes well for us on post-apocalyptic Earth! Another message – don’t trust a bunch of teenagers and young adults with an important mission to go to Earth in the hopes of saving the human race. As a matter of fact don’t trust ANY of these (or many) of these “criminals”.

It is rather telling that the Adults in Space also have ulterior motives, plots lead to real curve balls and just when you think you figured out where the writer is taking the story you get kicked to the curb.

Conclusion:

If you like a little drama/soap opera with a Science-fiction flair then perhaps you’ll like this show. One word of caution though, the writers seem intent of killing off numerous characters as the episodes continue so don’t get too invested in many of the sub-characters because anything could happen. It’s a roller-coaster sort of ride, there is some adult themes from time to time so parents please be advised!

My grade – I give it a

But what do I know, I’m just a Sci-fi Junkie who is still bitter Firefly was canceled.
let me know what YOU think, respond below with your comments. I’m interested in your television recommendations and thoughts.

April 24, 2014 0

Beware of the Relapse

“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” –2 Corinthians 11:3

Christ-follower beware!

Salvation
is freely available…BUT

It
can
be

We have
this thing
called

Free Will
allows us to
choose It allows us to
live beneath God’s

Here is
a
Truth:
A Relapse

into

is a very
real
Danger!

It begins in our Hearts
&
Minds.

A Saint (that’s You & Me)
is still

to the
trappings

Don’t
be
swept
away
by it’s lure
and its
sultry voice.

Stand Firm…
Meditate
on

Do Not
become Prideful
and think for
one second You are
Invulnerable!

Spiritual
Relapse
is very
real!

so….

Just
more of this
Pastor’s

April 24, 2014 0

Reasons why I dislike waiting on God…but…

“Wait on the Lord…and He shall strengthen your heart.” (Psalm 27:14)

The Reasons I dislike waiting on God:

1. I am impatient.

I am not the most patient man. My children know this. I must temper this very often when things are not done now. We live in a fast paced society, it is “fast-food” driven. We even have slogans from these “fast-food” establishments that back that claim up like “have it your way”.

When it comes to waiting on God I am not patient. I often want Him to answer me now. I want instant responses and yet I know He doesn’t work like that.

2. Waiting on God reminds me of how powerless I truly am.
Besides impatience, this waiting reminds me that I live in a temporal body and ultimately I can do nothing in this body to save my self from some certainties in life. Death, sickness (in some regards), Taxes, laws of our world. I am powerless and yet I must wait with that knowledge in mind. Perhaps you can relate to me when I say that I am stubborn…are you? In my stubbornness I, at times, refuse to admit that I cannot do something. I must do the impossible. I must becomes Superman and superdad, and superpastor…but when I am forced to slow down; when I am forced to wait on God I am reminded of just how powerless I truly am.

3. Waiting on God humbles me…it’s a matter of pride.
I just mentioned how stubborn I can be. To ask for help from God and then having to wait for an answer can be a serious blow to my pride. I’m just putting it out there…I can admit that pride is ~~sometimes~~ often a bane of mine. I am proud of what I can do. Proud of what I can accomplish. I am proud that I am self-sufficient…and then BAM, I am knocked to my knees again. Circumstances sometimes do not go my way, things I had planned don’t pan out, and I am humbled by the outcome. Can you relate? I sure hope so. Please tell me I’m not alone in this human failing. I dislike this waiting, at times, because it means I have much more to surrender in terms of my pride to God.

BUT…

This isn’t a bad thing.
When I have to discipline my children, it’s not because I hate them or want to harm them, it is because I love them deeply and I want them to grow and make better decisions next time.

This is sometimes why I find God will at times take His time in answering me. He wants me to make better decisions. He wants me to depend more on Him. He wants me to tear down the fortresses of pride that I have erected and are now keeping me from Him. The waiting isn’t because He is withholding His love from me…no, the waiting is because He loves me so much He wants me to be willing to surrender completely. I dislike it severely at times (honestly It’s sometimes a “hate” thing), yet I know He loves me so much that He will not forget me. He will not forsake me.

FOR YOU AND FOR ME:

Truth: waiting sucks! There I said it.
But in the waiting on God the discipline of surrender and humility can further shape us. In the waiting we can also learn to trust Him more. In this waiting we can learn to love Him and discover how much He loves us.

-Just another thing for us to ponder.

April 23, 2014 1

“Perspectives” Day 4 – Featuring AmyJo Ferguson

“Perspectives – Day 3” Featuring Sean Wise (Lieutenant) “Transparency”

Transparency

“Perspectives” Day 2 – Featuring Dennis Strissel (Colonel) “Clipping Toe Nails”

Perspectives Day 1 Featuring John Mowers (Major) -” A Testimony From a Jar of Clay”

“Walking with a Stranger”

A Little RobBellion…a Jesus Show or Sell-out?

TOUGH QUESTION: Do you REALLY know your Enemy?

TV Review of CW’s “The 100”

Beware of the Relapse

Reasons why I dislike waiting on God…but…

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