“Different times for different People” As I read about how professional describe the past, I would like you to get a little glimpse of how I see the past this fourth of July Week end. God is good, He does not need any help from us, to establish the truth. Hebrews 13:8 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. I hope that as you read this web site, your getting to know me and all my mistakes, or maybe lack of understanding, for those that have not had the experiences I’ve had. As I tell everyone in the Jails, or prisons you are ok, I am ok and what we have to do is make sure it stays that way, by correcting one another, not kicking one another. The Lord is still the answer for all our needs. I am one of many Builders born from 1927-1945 which was a time of great stress caused by the dust bowl, depression, and Second World War. People knew what it was to sacrifice in order to get ahead. It took a lot of discipline to stay ahead of depressions of the day. I went to School with baby boomers, those born from 1946 to 1964 as I graduated in 1955. These were times of great difficulty even attending High School at White Swan, WA. We had initiations for Future Farmers and Letterman’s Clubs, which were outlawed in the 60’s. Freshman who began Future Farmers of America had to go through an initiation for Green Hands, which included coming to the High School Gym and before you entered, the upper class men blindfolded you. Then one of the upper class men would lead you in and help you go through the maze of objects, like jumping over broken class they were breaking and you could hear it. They lead you up an incline and said; now when we tell you to jump, jump as hard as you can, may-be you will clear the glass. We gave it our best and jumped over. Then they would lead us to the rope that went to the top of the gym roof, expecting you to climb to the top. As you started to climb, some one would give you an electrical shock from a cattle prod; used to make cattle do what you wanted them too. It hurt, but you took it like a man and climbed until they could not reach you, as you went to the top. Then you were lead to cow that had iron tites, that was connected to a coil from a model-t, you would start to milk, all of a sudden you got a shock and the upper classman would laugh. Then lead you over to a table you laid on, where they had you loosen your belt and pull your pants down, so they could brand you with this brand. You smelt flesh and when they branded you, it was with hot ice, you felt like you were branded for life. There were other things we did, that I will not talk about. Now another initiation was for lettermen in sports, which some freshmen lettered, I did not letter till a sophomore in High School. Lettermen were able to care paddles during School, to help in controlling behavior in School, so it was a privilege to be a letterman. Again you meet at the gym and you stripped naked and the upper class lettermen had you all running up the seating area, back down onto the gym floor, around and around you ran, while the upperclassmen/ lettermen spanked you on the seat. If you made some one mad and swore at them, the next time around they would spank you even harder. So people did not swear, but took the punishment and had very red seats, some even blisters. Now this was all done in fun, but you can imagine the pain. Then when they felt like we could not run any longer, they had us do sprints up and down the basketball court for a long time. Then they said, the fastest gets to go take a shower first. I was the fastest, so started into the shower down stairs, as I went down the stair way and around the corner, a blast of water from a fire hose hit me. I thought I was going to die, I turn purple like I was frozen. Then they blind folded me and took me to the toilet bowl, where they had put wieners and marshmallows, telling us to take one out and eat it. You again can imagine many throwing up. When they took the blind fold off, it relived you to know you made it. Now that was all suppose to make us men, reminding us of the initiation our parents went through getting out west. Now you had the right to initiate others in the same way, or worse, that was the way of the Builders, but soon people became to cruel and it was stopped by the baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964. Then we have the Baby Busters or flower children born in 1965 to 1983 peace lovers, V people. They were followed by the X generation born from 1984 to 2002 they are also known as the Mosaics according to George Barna Research Group. Now today we see the Buster getting rid of past traditions and bringing in new freedoms, or contemporary methods, in music and more readable Bibles, like the Messenger. They are experimenting with new communication methods, image is now important as the attention span is declining. Drama, dance, movies, video DVD’s are used to illustrate Bible Passages. We have a term called multi media, which uses power point to enhance the presentations and makes listening easier. We never know what to expect next. The Artistic ness in music gives the ability to bring popular figures up close, bigger than life on the screens. It’s taking lots of money to keep up with the movie industry; sound has to be the latest DOBY sound. The environment has to be created, not only by sound, but lighting and seating is many times changed, to make people feel more comfortable, like being at the theater in a live performance. We went from dirt floors, to wood, wood to linoleum. Linoleum to carpet and carpet to cement, change for the better I do not know? The perspective about the Church and the ministry is different than the past. Now we are trying our best to make room for people to visit before and after Church. This requires change in entry areas to give it a friendly feeling, and selling of food and drinks, allowing developing of relationship. Couples are dealing with domestic violence and divorce so the Church is trying to deal with restraining orders, at the same time create a friendly atmosphere. We all of a sudden have become seeker sensitive driven, theologically conservative, rather than fundamentalist. Could this be the reason for divorce running rampart in the Church, for we are breeding conservatives from the pulpits of many of our Churches? The emphasis is now on leadership, administrating, or management with the ability to motivate people around their vision, or objective! What is pasturing, shepherding? This needs to be answered, or we turn to counseling programs in the Church. Many pastors today have to have someone come in to help in raising funds for new facilities, and teach evangelism methods. The emphasis is now on less traditional seminary education and getting the right from the Church taught programs, rather than supporting the traditional academic college of education. They are sent off to pastor another Church, or plant a church in another area. By staying within the guide lines of the mothering Church. So why attend a seminary when you can have the same opportunity without the effort? God does great and mighty things Right? Another area that affects younger Pastors today is our culture, or societies lose morals. Youth today are influenced as they have always been by music, magazines, X box, I pods, Cell Phones, MTV, TV, Digital computers and political statements, from high profile people. Societies are not built around the Church as in the past, the Church is built around societies standards and it’s causing a lot of confusion within the homes of America and the world. Society is questing where is the Church? Families, children and youth are all important and it is most interesting to see where we spent the most of our time. Where does spiritual growth, discipleship, and Bible Studies take place? Is it teaching, preaching, worship and evangelism that is the mark of the Church? When one area is more important than the other, it’s like having to heads. We can’t cut and paste, what ever we want to, we can’t tinker with the substance of ministry, and it remains the same as the beginning of time. God has given the Church in the beginning of time music, choirs, pianos, organs and what do we cut out and paste? The Church needs to see the value of balance and not completely rid it’s self of the other instruments. What is worship? Is many times misunderstood, isn’t it taking all we have and using it for the glory of God and don’t we have a lot today to give to the Lord. Let’s not hid what God has blessed in the past, but lets, let it become a force that will melt and mold us, into the likeness of God. What are we looking for in a Church? Is it not a place to worship, give of our time for service to the social status of our community, being Gods hands extended, to meet the needs of crises in our areas. Growing together, through prayer and testimony in our activities, as we become prevalent in our communities that are hurting. Is the Church ministering grace were ever we go and what ever we say and do? Is the Church relevant? Yes! In what ways: Ministering to the total family, making sure everyone is growing in their relationship to God and to one another regardless of age. Then as people grow in knowledge and understanding they become wise, applying what they have learned in a common sense way, as they leave the Church and seek another when in college, or where ever they move. It’s my Church, for the Church has empowered me for service and I can, because the Church is helping by supporting our ministry, what ever that is and where ever that might be. Lord help us, to not be deceived by the new look, but let’s focus upon the cross and we will be able to see victory after victory. 2 Timothy 3: 13 to 17 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. I hope it is not different times for different people, but different people, (God Like People), for different times. |