What I Think About It

Where Have All The Men Gone?

June 23, 2009 · Leave a Comment

rosie1Pete Seeger wrote the song, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”  The lyrics in the song continue to say, “long time passing” and “when will they ever learn?”  I feel like singing that song today and changing the lyrics to, “Where have all the men gone? Long time passing. When will they ever learn?”  We are living in a time where the women have been forced to step to the front because men have either quit taking their rightful spot as leaders or have acquiesced to stronger women. Where have all the men gone?

When I look at churches and even my own church, the ratio of women to men is right at the average of the survey; six women to every four men.  Can you grasp that?  For every 10 people who attend church services on Sunday morning, four of them are men.   It is irony to know that a man who selected 12 other men to help Him start Christianity has now developed into a feminist organization. Where have all the men gone?

Most men in the church, as a whole, would rather not hear that statistic.  They want to know that the men are still strong and doing well.  Well, sad to tell you, that is not the case.   I, for one, am grateful for every man and boy in my church.  I tell them so.  They, I’m sure like most men in church today, do their best at whatever they put their hands too.  Where have all the men gone?

I even heard a startling report that the majority of the protesters in Iran are women.  Women are forced to come to the forefront and do what men are expected to do but have abandoned their posts.  Where have all the men gone?

Now I’m not naïve enough to think that all this stuff about men is all their fault.  I know there are some women who would just rather the men stay at home and let them do all the leadership responsibility.  However, I think I would be safe to say that this attitude would be the opinion of the minority.

Is this how we’re going to end this world?  Is this where the future of the world is heading?  I don’t know.  But what I do hope is that men would come out of the dugout, pick up a bat and step up to the plate.  While I know it’s comfortable in the dugout with the bench, water and the shade, it’s time to play ball.  Where have all the men gone?

That’s what I think about it.

DTW – www.exaltationchurch.com

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God is the Truth Maker and we are the truth takers

June 1, 2009 · Leave a Comment

I love the fact that I have no progiving_receivingblem in believing God and His word.  I mean, what else is there that works so great to make and cause me to have a great life and to live a great life? When everything else around me is either failing or crumbling, I know for a fact that the Great Truth Maker is giving me insight to how I should believe, how I should act, what I should say and what I should expect.  That makes me a truth taker.

I take what He says at face value regardless of the ‘opinion’ mill out there or the nay-sayers who don’t want to believe the Truth Maker!

That’s the awesomeness of knowing God and knowing He has my best interest at heart.  Because of that, whatever He says about me–I’m going to receive as truth and not as His opinion of me.  What He says is so much better for me than anything I know of in life.

I’ve been around those who want to give me their opinion but that and 3.99 will get me my favorite coffee drink at Starbucks; caramel macchiato latte.  I’ve learned to listen to what God has to say and have fared so much better in life because of it.

I want to be a winner and not a loser.  I want to be a victor and not a victim.  I want to be successful and not a failure.  I can be all things through Christ who strengthens me.

So, it’s my choice, and I chose to be a truth taker.  I listen to the Truth Maker.  He’s making a lot of Truth and will always make a lot.

That’s what I think about it.

Timothy – www.exaltationchurch.com

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The Label Says Cotton Blend But I know Better!

May 15, 2009 · Leave a Comment

cotton_labelI come from a background of textiles.  Yes, Gaston County, North Carolina was my hometown area, and our bread and butter were textiles.  I didn’t know anything else for 18 years.  My dad and mom worked in it all their lives.  It was nothing for me to see my dad covered in lint from the top of his head to the tops of his shoes.  The fragrant smell of cloth, yarn, cotton and material dye permeated our clothes, our house and our town.

Even now, I find myself buying a new garment and putting it up to my nose to get a nostalgic smell and memory of my childhood days. I know that someone has just used the label to sell me a cheap product.

I overheard a conversation recently with some pastors and one pastor’s comment was that he makes sure that they are “Christians” before he marries them.  I interjected into the conversation.  I explained how that it is a sad commentary, as there are non-Christians who have better marriages than Christians a lot of the time.

Just because someone wears the label “Christian” it doesn’t always mean what we think it means.  However, many choose to use that label to be accepted by others, to gain favor in business relationships or even to gain a position or favor swinging the pendulum to their side.

When folks wear the label and don’t measure up to the standards of what Christ meant–it sadly devalues the entire family of believers.  So what do we do about it?  We continue to show others what it means to be 100% Christian and not a blend of good and evil.  Even Jesus said that there would be tares among the wheat.  Tares look like wheat until maturation at harvest time.  The wheat bows over with the golden top.  However, the tares stand upright and proud.

Interesting that wheat bows while tares pridefully do not.  Yes, there are people who look like, smell like, act like and even wear the label of Christian that live among us.  In actuality, they are just not Christians.  Jesus said at harvest time, he would take care of them.

Remember, it might say it on the label, but it doesn’t mean it is the read deal.

That’s what I think about it.

DTW-www.exaltationchurch.com

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Looking For Love In All the Wrong Places!

May 12, 2009 · 2 Comments

pi-exhibitWaylon Jennings sang a song called “Looking For Love In All the Wrong Places” and the chorus says…

I was looking for love in all the wrong places

Looking for love in too many faces

Searching your eyes, looking for traces

Of what.. I’m dreaming of…

Hopin’ to find a friend and a lover

God bless the day I discover

Another heart, lookin’ for love

There are so many people everyday in our lives that are looking for love.  They are looking for it in so many places.  Sure, I could name a few where they are looking for it and not finding it.  Places like the local bar, clubs, social organizations, match a mate services and even church.  People, by nature, want to be loved.  People, by creation, need to be loved.  So who is going to love them, and how are we going to show that love?

We have opportunities everyday to show people agape.  The Emmaus organization is founded upon the principle that God’s agape is all around us.  We just need to receive it by faith and release the overflow to others.  If you’ve ever gone on an Emmaus weekend you understand and comprehend the overwhelming agape that is given to a pilgrim.  By the time the weekend is over, the pilgrim has been blessed by a weekend filled with acts of servitude and gifts of love.

It’s a great weekend, believe me.

However, we need to look for giving love in all the right places.  We ought to everyday wake up with the attitude that we’re going to serve people all day long.  When someone comes to your mind, you ought to ask yourself, “How can I show that person love today?”  What is it that we can do or say that will convince that person that we truly agape them? How can I show the agape of God to others that will persuade them to be a believer of God through the teachings of Jesus Christ?”

Our acts of agape can go so much further than the “niceties” of the world.  Jesus taught us how to agape others and showing us the agape of the Father.  When others see our love for them, they will see God in us.  Isn’t that the way Jesus taught it?

Imagine living in a world where you were served by everyone?  What would that be like?  A place where you could do nothing for yourself because everyone wanted the chance to do things for you?  Nice, huh?  See, that’s what we need to in order to show people that they have been looking for love in all the wrong places.  Now, show them that they can look for love in the right place.  That place is found in you.

When you get the napkins at the restaurant get several and give them to your friends.  When you get your coke refilled, offer to refill your friends.  When you get coffee, see if someone else wants coffee.  When you want something think of others as well.

I want to go to a church like that.  As I hit the parking lot, I’m overwhelmed with love.  Maybe it’s just me, but I’d love that.

That’s what I think about it.

DTW – www.exaltationchurch.com

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Does Agape Ever Come Under Fire?

April 28, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Agape is a powerful tool and weapon. love3 While that may sound like an oxymoron, it really isn’t. So you ask the question, “How can love be a tool and a weapon?”

Jesus said that if our enemies were harsh and mean that our reaction to them should mirror that which they have done, but to “heap coals of fire on their heads.” What is this fire that He speaks of? It is the fire of Agape.

When you feel like your Agape is being tried and tested by those who would frustrate you to no end or get on your last nerve, remember that Agape cannot really be tested. It was examined, tested and tried on the cross, and it cannot be tested anymore. It has God’s seal of approval all over it.

Jesus said, “I have overcome the world and you will too because of the agape that I have and have instilled in you.” God said that His agape is shed or poured out into our hearts. That means that we have the DNA of agape in our bodies as a result of Jesus’ act of agape on the cross. Jesus said that the ultimate act of agape was that a man lay down his life for a friend. So if that is the ultimate, what are the simpler acts of agape before that? Anything good you do in agape for anyone is great. Be happy and encouraged by that!

You might think that someone is testing your agape by frustrating you or overwhelming you with their personalities or nuances. Nope. You can’t test something that has already been tested, tried and proven. What is happening to you is that the maturity level of agape is being tried. How much have you matured in agape?

Do people, circumstances and situations still cause you anxiety and frustration? Do you find yourself still dealing with jealously, aggravation and envy? If so, you have a whole lot more to learn and a lot more to grow in agape. However, don’t be dismayed at your progress. Agape is a growing process. It is one of those “line upon line, precept upon precept” things that the Holy Spirit teaches us in our maturity.

There will be a time when anxieties are a thing of the past. You will encounter life without frustration. You will joy in others delights and, in fact, you will be able to encourage them instead of being envious and jealous. Your life will be full of faith and creative ideas based upon the fact that you agape the one who created you, everything about you, everything that causes you joy and happiness, and He agapes you so much that He will delight in you as well.

Jesus’ prayer was to let it be done on earth as it is in heaven. Heaven is full of agape. Heaven is full of people who have equality in love. No one agapes one over the other. Agape is not judgmental, nor does it practice prejudice. Let’s begin to share that atmosphere of agape here on earth.

That’s what I think about it.

DTW-www.exaltationchurch.comeclogo13

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