The 3 Crosses Blog

Politics and Prayer

2012-02-08T16:47:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has already been another month. Oh well, for the few of you who follow this, perhaps a rare post is preferred anyway! I have been thinking about several things lately. But what is uppermost in my mind is this: Are we too satisfied, and if not, what are we dissatisfied about? What I mean is this. There are a lot of things happening in our culture right now - things which we all know breaks the heart of God. But it seems to me that we can settle for being upset about cultural change without realizing that the only answer to all of this is a radical new great awakening in our country. As long as we focus on the external, cultural aspects, we will do two things. First, we will try to change outward behavior rather than inward character - the very definition of Pharisaism. And friends, I do not want to be a Pharisee! Jesus had more to say condemning them than any other group in his day. And that is because of the second thing such a focus leads to - we end up seeing what others are doing wrong and miss entirely what is wrong in our own hearts. We all know the statistics - divorces are at least as common in the church as outside and perhaps even abortions. Pre-marital sex, gossip, the list goes on and on. What we truly need to to see both ourselves and this world as God sees it, and to admit that the only answer is to be found on our knees, not at the ballot box. Is it time to stop screaming and start praying? Well, I don't know about the first part, but I know we must get on our knees now! Trying to change our society from the outside in will only result in anger and perhaps, eventually, persecution. Allowing God to change us - starting with me and the church - from the inside out will result in revival in the church and a great awakening without. Those of you who know me well know just how political I am and can be. I can't promise that I will stop being that way. But I do know I need to pray more and speak less! So pray for me. And pray for our country.

Pastor Ken

What the Bible says about sex

2012-01-03T15:00:00.001-08:00

I was going to blog about something else this week, but I found this article on FoxNews.com too interesting. What do you think about it? http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/03/what-bible-really-says-about-sex/?test=faces.

Pastor Ken

"If you only knew..."

2011-12-22T15:44:00.000-08:00

This post represents a new commitment to posting at least once a week. Mostly, I will be posting observations from some of my teaching. Today I had one of those moments that frightens and makes Pastors mad. I had a student at the University where I teach submit not one, but two papers which were plagiarized word for word. When I called him on it and reminded him that doing so was grounds for expulsion from the University, he told me about how hard his life had been lately and asking for another chance. Now, I am going to give him another chance, but the idea that having a hard time somehow justifies us cheating and stealing, for that is what plagiarism is, just floors me! The truth is that we can all do what is right when there is no cost or bother to doing so. But our character is shown when we do what is right when it isn't easy. We're all sinners? Of course! But Christians are sinners saved by grace who are called to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to grow the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. So many times I have told my congregation that it isn't obedience when you want to do it - only when you don't want to. Of course times can be tough. But if we are not going to let the power of God change our lives, what is the point?

Pastor Ken

A long time

2011-06-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a long time since I posted anything to this blog. But, in the immortal words from Independence Day "I'm baack!" I was thinking about a set of articles in Christianity Today on the historicity of Adam and Eve and the implications for Christianity of recent genetic evidence that suggests that there cannot have been just a single set of parents for the human race. Now, I must confess, I don't understand all the genetics involved. But, as Francis Collins is one of those involved, I have no reason to doubt that this reflects the most recent scholarship on the subject. I am not prepared to comment on whether I believe it all to be true, though I remember just how many times the "assured findings" of science have turned out to be false. At this point, my only request is that we hold this conversation about the implications, biblically and otherwise, in a civil manner and not question the salvation of those with whom we might disagree. Regardless of what happens, I know that the very human condition we all share of being sinners with no means of saving ourselves, is still curable by the applied blood of Jesus Christ! I am content to follow the discussion, even enter in once in a while, and continue to trust Jesus until that day in glory when we will all be able to laugh at some of the things we thought were so important!

Pastor Ken

PS - Go to Christianity Today for a more complete coverage of the actual discussion.

What Love Demands

2010-12-27T15:51:00.000-08:00

It is two days after Christmas. I have had a great time with my family, and now it is time to get back to work - and that means thinking! All during this holiday season a thought has been going through my mind. Or perhaps I should say, a question. Christmas reminds us that the central principle of Christianity is love - Love for God and for our fellow human. We all remember that Jesus told us that the first and greatest commandment is to love God completely, and our neighbor as ourselves. Doing that is difficult in just about every situation, but it is very problematic in the political arena. An example came on Christmas day when someone in my family asked me what I thought about a sticky political question (yes, we do talk politics, even at Christmas). As I tried to formulate an answer I found myself reflecting on what I would say based on my love for others. Should I say that a particular action should be forbidden because it is inherently harmful and sinful, and preventing people from sinning is a loving act, or should I say that we should give others freedom, even when that freedom leads to sin, because that is what God has done to us? I honestly do not have the answer right now. But I am thinking. What do you think?

Pastor Ken

2010-12-17T09:32:00.000-08:00

Another month! But I really don't want to write anything unless I have something to say that might be worth hearing. Of course, by that standard, maybe, . . . . Oh well. Today, I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! This is such a great time of year. For those of us who are believers, we get all the best. First, there is the family aspect of it. I love all the time we get to spend with family. We will celebrate with my brothers and sister on January 1st. It is always fun and interesting when the 20 or so of us get together (including children and, now, grandchild). We will celebrate with Cheri's side of the family on Christmas Day. Again, there will be around 20 of us and the day will be filled with love, laughter and music. And, best of all, we will have time with our own children for several days surrounding Christmas. I could go on and on. Family is a great part of Christmas for all of us. May your family time be as fun and meaningful as ours!

Then there is the whole wonder, which we will rediscover this year with our grandson. This is the first Christmas where he will have some understanding of the gift part. We expect a lot of wrapping paper and joy as he opens gift after gift - more than he will likely be able to play with! I know Cheri and I have already put back several things we got to give at his birthday in January, just because we bought so much!

But the best part, of course, is the realization all over again of just what Christmas means. It never gets old to me to reflect again on what God was doing that first Christmas. It is popular in philosophical circles to assert that God is so far above us that we cannot hope to really know anything about Him at all. And, to a certain extent, this is surely true. How could I, finite as I am, hope to know much of anything about God? But Christmas changed all that. Because that is when God began the process of making himself known to us - of accommodating himself to our sphere. Everything I need to know about God I learn in Jesus. He is God in the flesh. And while there is more to God than can be seen in Jesus, there is no less. That He would be willing to take on humanity is mind-boggling. This Christmas I want to learn again just what that means and who He is. It is the best gift of all!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Pastor Ken

With Thanksgiving

2010-11-17T18:33:00.000-08:00

It is now just about a week until Thanksgiving - that uniquely American holiday. And it reminds me of a scripture: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Phil. 4:6, NIV). It is but one of the many verses where we are told to give thanks to God. But this one is in the context of prayer requests. And I remember some of the discussions I have heard about just what this means. Do we thank God for what has happened? But if we have needs, doesn't that imply that God my have actually caused the need? And, would God do that? On the other hand, should we thank God that we can take our needs to Him? But does that mean that we don't trust that God may have had a reason for the need we are now presenting? After many decades of ministry experience, I think I may finally have the answer: Just say "thank you, Lord." We do not have to understand everything. I suspect that much of what we think we do understand we are probably wrong about, anyway. So just say, "Thanks!" God will figure out the rest. Because the truth is, I am thankful. For everything. Especially for the privilege of taking my needs to God and knowing that He listens and, yes, answers my prayers. Have a good Thanksgiving! Eat some turkey for me!

Pastor Ken

Confession

2010-10-27T17:12:00.001-07:00

Yes, I have a confession. I have not written anything for this blog for over a month because . . . I forgot my password! I would blame age, but I am not willing to admit yet that I am getting older. Though the other day when I went to the golf course they were offering a senior card which would save 40% every time I played. I took it. Unfortunately, senior is quite a bit older in golf than it is in racquetball. I remember a few (well, OK, many) years ago when I saw that they were having a seniors tournament for those over 35. Ah well . . . .

So what am I thinking right now? Well, the election is coming up. That's it. Vote!

Pastor Ken

A long time

2010-09-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

Boy, has it been a long time since I wrote for this blog. It has also been a busy time. I want to just admit up front that I carry a lot of doubts around. Not the least of these doubts is the doubt I have from time to time that I am really serving God as He would have me to. This doubt comes primarily from the fact that my congregation is so small and, at least from all practical perspectives, on a collision course with death. Over five years ago we began to have regular prayer meetings asking God to enlarge His kingdom through West Valley Christian Center. Now, I knew what that should have looked like. We would begin to grow as a church, preferably by reaching non-believers, and it would be a steady increase in attendance, offerings and ministry opportunities. Instead I was asked to help an Assyrian Pastor start a church. Then, just over two years ago I was asked to help an Iranian-Armenian pastor start at church. Between those we were approached by a group wanting to start a Spanish speaking church. Then, just over a year ago, I was asked to help a small group to deal with a pretty ugly church split and perhaps help them to begin a new church. All told, those groups now number around 500 people, many of whom are new believers.

This morning one of the churches approached me to say that they were going to be moving to another location. This is a good thing since most of their people come from that other location. But that meant that a part of what seemed to be an answer to our prayers was leaving. That was OK. But wouldn't you know it, within an hour I got a call from another group that wants to plant a new church wondering if we would be willing to partner with them in the process. And yet another group waits in the wings as well.

What does this have to do with my doubt? I have found that my doubts about my effectiveness for the Kingdom is closely associated with the realization that I will never pastor one of those high profile megachurches. And let's face it - that is the definition of success in the American Evangelical Church. But God is showing me that He defines success in completely different terms. I am not saying that pastoring a megachurch is not success. It may well be. But it is the faithfulness that leads to whatever we are doing that constitutes the success. I do not know what God has for my future. I only know that I must be faithful. I trust that what we are doing is a result of faithfulness. But more importantly, I know I must always come back to God and ask Him to examine my heart and show me if I am doing something to be "successful" in His eyes or in the eyes of my peers. The first is the only one that counts.

Pastor Ken

What Am I Missing Here?

2010-09-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

Today's news from both the US and UK contains an article quoting Stephen Hawking as saying that there is no need for a god to have made the universe because the laws of physics, specifically gravity, would create the big bang anyway. What I don't understand is where the laws of physics and gravity came from. My reading of people like Dr. John Polkinghorne is that it is the laws themselves, and particularly gravity, which shows the necessity of an intelligent designer for the universe, as there is no need to any of the various laws to be what they are. It seems to me that science is great at telling us what happened after the start, but not what caused the start itself. I realize that some say that positing a God just pushes the question of why there is anything rather than nothing to the question of why there is a God rather than why there is a universe, but the difference is that the universe is obviously a contingent existence, which does demand the "how" and "why" question, while God need not necessarily be contingent. So I guess I don't understand Hawking's point. Put most crudely, "where did gravity come from? And since gravity is the attractive force between masses, where did the masses that gravity acted upon come from? What am I missing here?"

Pastor Ken

Feelings

2010-08-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

In one of my most recent blogs I talked about the intimations of mortality that I had as a result of my recent surgery to remove my gall bladder. You go to sleep no knowing if you will wake up. Now, just two weeks later, after having my staples removed (yes they are just what they sound like!), I am feeling so well that I have the exact opposite feeling - I feel, as the Word says, "as though I could run through a troop!" I am healthy, strong, and even able to golf again, and all after two weeks. I have recovered in a bout half to a third of the time they doctors expected. But this feeling of almost invincibility is every bit as wrong as the feelings of mortality earlier. In fact, it is even less realistic. I will leave this world some day. My strength will eventually wane and I may find myself completely at the mercy of others. I know - "that's life." That is just the point. This life contains many illusions - most of them in our own minds. The only antidote is to find out from someone without this tendency to kid ourselves what reality is like. Fortunately, there is someone just like that. Jesus. He had no illusions. I must come closer to Him. I must let Him inform my mind, and hopefully, eventually, my feelings. Because that is the only reality.

Pastor Ken

Help Me Here

2010-08-18T16:55:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about the "culture wars." The most obvious incidence right now is the debate over Proposition 8 in California. What are we who believe that God has lovingly revealed the best possible way to live life to do? This is an especially important question for parents and grandparents. For those who are not parents, I can say from personal experience as well as from observation that becoming a parent radically - and I mean radically - changes you and what you consider important in life. Becoming a grandparent just ups the ante all the more. And when you do become a parent, and then a grandparent, the culture wars take on a very personal note. My belief that God has given humanity free will, and the least I can do is allow my fellow human to exercise that as they see fit, so long as they are not hurting another, comes up against the very real desire to see my children and grandchildren raised in a society that encourages all the right things and discourages all the wrong things. I would not want my daughter to get an abortion unless her life was in danger. I would feel much more confident that it would not happen, and that she would share my value, if society also said that she ought not to. You get my point. And yet, as a believer, I know that just sounding judgmental is a very poor way to get a hearing for the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ. None of us likes being told we are a sinner. And, truth be told, that is not so much my job anyway. I have found that the Holy Spirit does a more than adequate job of convicting of sin without my help. But what about our prophetic responsibility? I am currently reading a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who is one who can truly be called a modern day prophet. But make no mistake, almost everyone in Nazi Germany thought he was completely wrong, as well as some even in the "Confessing Church." And yet, he was right, even though he did not live to see himself vindicated. Do I stand for a prophetic proclamation in the culture wars? Or do I advise withdrawing and just living a loving, godly life? It is easy to say, "make sure you are called to be a prophet," but, I frankly don't trust someone who is convinced they have that call. it is usually only obvious in retrospect. All of this is a bit rambling, but what I am saying is, let's talk about it! What do you think? Withdrawal into the Christian ghetto? In-your-face opposition that maddens everyone and runs the risk of persecution? What is God calling us to do? Let me know what you think.

Pastor Ken

A Reminder of Mortality

2010-08-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

As I sit at my computer it is a day less than a week since I had my gall bladder removed. Now, first, let me say that this is a relatively simple and straight-forward procedure. In fact, they were able to remove my laparoscopically, so I experienced minimal pain and am healing at a remarkable rate - even faster than the best case scenario as outlined by the doctors and medical documentation suggested. But all of that was in the future when I entered the surgical suite last Tuesday. I knew that I had been under a general anesthetic before and had tolerated it well, so there was little reason to expect anything untoward to happen. But it was a more immediate than normal reminder that we are not nearly so much in control of our own lives as we like to think. So, morbid as it might have seemed, I told my wife that I would not have traded anything for the more than 36 years we have had together, and that I wanted her to tell our kids, if anything should happen, that I loved each and everyone of them. I wanted her to tell them that I went into surgery fully confident that I was in God's hands and that, regardless of what happened, I knew that I was in not just good hands, but God's hands. That doesn't mean that I thought that the surgeon couldn't make a mistake, even one that could result in a premature entrance to God's presence, but that, regardless of what the surgeon did, I was certain of my eternal destination. And that is a good feeling!

Pastor Ken

The Walker Decision

2010-08-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

It has been almost a week now since Judge Walker handed down his decision overturning Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California. I have read the entire decision and find many aspects of it troubling - enough to fill several pages. Much of his reasoning is fallacious. Some it reflects either a lack of knowledge regarding, or a willful ignoring of history. And some of it suggest the likely next steps that the secularists will be taking to further marginalize religious people as a prelude to what I believe will be a future persecution of all religions in general and Christianity in particular. The last sentence sounds alarmist, and I have been counseled by some not to make it, but I believe that it is coming and the church must get ready for it now. Let me review a few of the above things I said.

In finding of fact #42, Judge Walker said:
Same-sex love and intimacy are well-documented in human history. The concept of an identity based on object desire; that is, whether an individual desires a relationship with someone of the opposite sex (heterosexual), same sex (homosexual) or either sex (bisexual), developed in the late nineteenth century.

Of course this is not true. If it were then we should expect not to see persons identified as homosexuals in texts prior to the late nineteenth century. But, of course, the identification of persons as homosexual is as old as human writing. How could religious texts, almost all of which date to centuries if not millennia prior the late nineteenth century, have expressly condemned such behavior otherwise? Indeed, homosexual individuals have typically had pejorative epithets directed towards them in most cultures - something which I do not approve, but which shows that such individuals were perceived of as being identified with their sexual behavior.

Finding #46 states: Individuals do not generally choose their sexual orientation. No credible evidence supports a finding that an individual may, through conscious decision, therapeutic intervention or any other method, change his or her sexual orientation.

If this were true, then we would expect to find relatively stable percentages of individuals being gay across cultures and historical periods. But this is not true. Ancient Sparta had an extremely high incidence of bisexual behavior due to their approval of it and the organization of their society. There have been segments of other societies where homosexuality has been more prevalent due to its acceptance or promotion. This shows that such behavior is at least partially caused by the attitudes of society rather than just inborn characteristics.

Finding # 77 states: Religious beliefs that gay and lesbian relationships are sinful or inferior to heterosexual relationships harm gays and lesbians.

This is the opening salvo. Already there are countries where pastors who preached from texts in the Bible that say that God is opposed to homosexual relations have been accused, convicted, and sentenced for "hate speech." This is a "finding of fact" by the judge. It provides the legal rational for labeling all sorts of religious beliefs "hateful" because someone claims to have been harmed by such beliefs.

There are many other such "findings of fact" that I could mention, and I am available to discuss or can send to anyone some of those others. But let me close with one of the "findings of law:" individuals’ moral views are an insufficient basis upon which to enact a legislative classification.

Do you understand what the judge is saying here? Any law which is based on moral views has an "insufficient basis" and can therefore be ruled unconstitutional. That would certainly apply to laws which prohibit public nudity or public intercourse. It might even apply to such moral views as those that would suggest that murder is immoral. Indeed, those who claim that you "can't legislate morality," are usually saying that you can't legislate any morality that they disagree with, but that we should continue to legislate morality which they do agree with!

Lastly, the judge said: The evidence shows conclusively that moral and religious views form the only basis for a belief that same-sex couples are different from opposite-sex couples.

This one statement means that secularism has now been privileged as the only acceptable basis for laws. Morals and religion are no longer allowed to be the basis for laws - and if a judge determines that you voted because of your religious beliefs, your vote does not count!

Friends, I point all of these out because I believe that they represent a grave error and threat to the freedoms of our country. When the majority decision in a duly constituted election can be overturned because it was based on religious or moral values, then we are only a short time away from the decision by those who have seized power based solely on the basis that they are not moral or religious to begin persecuting the moral and religious. Is this alarmist? Only if you don't find it alarming.

My next blog will probably address what I believe the church should be doing in all of this. I am in earnest prayer about our response. Is it time for the church to retreat behind its ghetto walls? We have certainly been guilty of hypocrisy in a magnitude that has undermined our moral credibility. Just one example: the divorce rate amongst born-again Christians is higher than amongst agnostics and atheists. We claim to value God's law and moral relationships, yet we are the worst offenders at violating parts of God's law. Does it mean that God's law should be ignored? Of course not. But it does undermine our attempts to ask society to uphold them if we do not. I am sure that will make many mad as well, so by this time I should have just about everyone mad at me!

Let me close by saying that I really do love gays. I know that seems impossible when so many in our society think that to love someone you must approve of all that they do. But as every parent knows, love is not based on the actions of another individual. Gays are no more guilty of sin than anyone else, for, as the Apostle Paul himself said, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Pastor Ken

2010-08-04T16:25:00.000-07:00

So the decision has been handed down. Another judge has decided that the people do not have the right to do what they have said they want to do. And, I must confess, I actually do believe that there is a higher source of right and wrong which must inform even our right to decide what we want to do, let alone do it. For those of you who are completely lost right now, I am referring to the decision today to declare unconstitutional a constitutional amendment passed in California outlawing same-sex marriage. You may recall that this is the second time that the people of the state of California have voted to restrict marriage to a man and an woman. The first time they were told that it was unconstitutional, so the second time they made it a constitutional amendment. Now it appears, even this may not be enough. The reason? The judge decided that marriage is a civil right. Civil rights are generally considered to be those rights guaranteed by the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments of the constitution, including the right to enter into contracts and to equal protection under the law. Now, if this is a correct definition, and it seems as good as any to me, then the only way I can see that marriage would fall into this category is either to construe marriage as a contract, or to make it a question of equal protection. But be careful! Because if marriage is nothing more than a contract, then civil unions would qualify, and they are already legal in California. But further, if marriage is nothing more than an contract, then people will, indeed must, be allowed to enter into any marriage contract they desire, including multiple marriages. Now I know that many think this won't happen, but it already does in many societies. Some already think this ought to be allowed. The real problem here, though, is the question of where these "rights" come from. Our founders recognized that one could not assert rights based on personal desire. And they certainly disagreed with the idea that one only has the rights granted by the government. The only justification or source they could find to assert rights not granted by the government, but not based on personal desire, was when those rights were firmly grounded in "nature's God." Now, perhaps there are many who are comfortable with equating God's will with their own feelings. I am not. I know the heart of man too well. Without a revelation, there is no way that anyone can claim to know God's will and expect anyone else to agree with them. We must have an external source we can all go to. Historically, that source has been the Bible in our country. Our founders, and even Supreme Court Justices had no problem with this until the last few generations. This is one more example of how our country has set itself adrift on a sea of relativism. That may be exactly what the majority wants. If they do, then it will happen. But we who know the one true God and trust in His Son and His Word know better. And we must insist on living according to that revelation. In the end we cannot stop same-sex marriage, or multiple marriage, or any other number of things forbidden by God's Word from being adopted by our society. But we must insist on following God's will in our own lives and communities. But don't be surprised if sometime in the not so distant future the insistence on doing so results in penalties. That has not only been the way of the world for most of history, but still is in major parts of the world today. Our freedom from persecution in the US has been a welcome respite from the norm in human history. We ought not to be surprised if it is coming to an end.

Pastor Ken

Called Out

2010-07-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

So I have been called out about my blog yesterday. I was told by someone whom I love and respect (No, not my wife!) that the important point in the story (you can see it at: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/07/28/court-university-expel-student-opposes-homosexuality/ ) is not that the courts and school insisted on the student having different morals, but that she had refused to counsel homosexual students, which she was required to do in compliance with ACA ethics code. First, let me say that I still maintain that, as Christians, we need to know going in what will be required of us in a job and, if we cannot abide by those rules, not take the job or position rather than take the job and then refuse to do what we were told we would have to up front. And I definitely see the point made that to refuse to counsel someone because of their sexual orientation is wrong. My question in this case (and I don't have enough information at this point to know the answer) is whether she would have been required to affirm the lifestyle of the gay students she would have been counseling. Would that be analogous to requiring a counselor to affirm the correctness of a decision to seek an abortion and help the person not to feel guilty as they do so? Now this question itself probably betrays a lack of understanding of the counseling profession as it stands today. So it may be that my comments on this issue are uninformed, and, as such, out of place. If so, I apologize. And I certainly do not want to be perceived as being opposed to psychology, psychiatry or counseling - I refer people to counselors and firmly believe in the place of both godly and psychological counseling. Both have their place and the Christian should avail her or himself of them as necessary, just as we would any other professional. But the overall warning I sounded yesterday I stand by. While it may be that this case was narrowly decided, i.e. that she violated her agreement to counsel any and all, I do believe that in the popular mind this is more a matter of gay rights and the continued insistence that society must agree that the gay lifestyle is as moral as any other, and that Christians may be increasingly marginalized if we refuse to agree with the changing moral standards of our society. That is not surprising. My point yesterday was that Christians may find there is a financial cost to adhering to our beliefs. Are we willing to pay it? There is so much more I could say - and probably will. But that is enough for now. God bless!

Pastor Ken

Are you ready?

2010-07-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

Today a story hit the wires about a Christian student who was expelled from Graduate school in Psychology for not changing her belief that homosexuality is wrong. And so it begins. I can hear the reasoning now: "We in the psychology community know what is right. Christians are wrong (and wrong-headed) and must be prevented from counseling if they insist on letting their beliefs influence that counseling. It is a matter of protecting the integrity of our profession." Wait until that same reasoning is used in medicine (abortion is a right and anyone personally opposed must be barred from practicing medicine), in the law (same argument, among others), police work (when we tell you to break up a church meeting, you must do it), and the list goes on. What do we do about it? Well, of course, the ballot box is still available, at least for now. But we must also prepare ourselves. The main reason Christianity was superseded by Islam was not so much the threat of death, since that was usually not a problem, but the threat of higher taxes! We must decide in advance whether we will choose Christ or our comfort. We may find ourselves second-class citizens if we insist on living out our beliefs. Be warned!

Pastor Ken

What a vacation!

2010-07-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

So I have been on vacation for the past week or so. During that time, in addition to driving to San Francisco twice to see my Son and Daughter-in-law, I have also been hospitalized. We did not know what was wrong at first, but eventually it was determined that I have a (quite large) gallstone. They say that gall and kidney stones are the closest thing men feel to delivering a baby. If that is true, then I owe a big apology to my wife! Since being hospitalized, I have had two more attacks. So here I wait for my HMO to decide that they are willing to sit down and talk about surgery, which is the only remediation available. About the only thing I can say is it makes me appreciate the immediate access we have to our Father in heaven - no lines, no bureaucracies, no waiting. In the meantime, I trust I will be back to this blog again soon. God bless!

Pastor Ken

To not decide is to decide

2010-07-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

This morning I read an opinion piece by Joseph Bottum in First Things, the journal put out by Evangelicals and Catholics Together. That, by the way, is a journal I would definitely recommend for any thinking person. You don't have to agree with everything to benefit from the thinking you will do when you read it. In the piece he made the statement that to decide to be neutral - to not make a decision - on abortion, is to make a decision. As long as the US allows children to be killed in their mothers' wombs, they will be killed. To want it all to just go away, and for us to stop talking about it is to decide that you want the killing to continue. In this way it is much like slavery before the civil war - there were many who wanted first the Whigs, and then the Republicans to just stop talking about it. But, of course, that would have meant that people would have been continued to be enslaved. It might be that we will have to do more than just talk about it, but not even talking about it is to decide that the killing will continue.

Pastor Ken

Earthquake!

2010-07-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we experienced yet another earthquake in SoCal. And it just reminded me that earthquakes are a mixed thing. On the one hand, they mean we live on a living planet. There are many scientists who believe that life could not have arisen if not for earthquakes (among many other things). And yet they create havoc with we puny humans. And, they are one of the signs of the end of the age, and as such are pretty scary. I guess all I can say is it makes me glad I have trusted Christ for my eternity so that, while I must admit that I am not volunteering to leave this life immediately, I am not worried about what will happen when I do. Just another reason to Praise the Lord!

Pastor Ken

One Reason I am a Christian

2010-07-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

The other day I ran across an article on the "new agnositicism" that I found both thoughtful and thought provoking. If you are interested, you can read it at: http://www.slate.com/id/2258484/ I appreciate the honesty of the author. And, I agree with his characterizations of the "new atheists." I have long contended that atheism is a type of religious belief, at least as defined by the atheists themselves. Basically, to be an atheist in the strictest sense, one who have to have omniscience in order to claim absolute knowledge that there is no God. Agnosticism only claims to have inadequate knowledge to claim that there is a God. The underlying assumption of the article referenced above, "An Agnostic Manifesto" by Ron Rosenbaum, is that there is no scientific, positivistic evidence for the existence of God, and therefore, while one can claim to believe that there is one, it is an "irrational" belief, sometimes referred to as "blind faith." Let me begin by saying that I agree that I have not found enough scientific, positivistic evidence to prove beyond doubt that there is a God. Nor do I expect that this will ever be possible. But that is because scientific, positivistic (s/p) inquiry begins with a set of assumptions which would rule out the possibility of finding any such evidence. For you see, s/p inquiry only deals with this universe. Since this universe is subject to the second law of thermodynamics, and since it is subject to the laws of causation, then the Christian God cannot possibly be a part of this universe. I am not saying that He sould not be able to insert Himself into this universe at any point He might desire, but to be a part of this universe would make Him a finite being with a definite beginning and a certain end. And, since I do believe that Thomas Aquinas has shown logically that an uncaused cause is an absolute necessity for this universe, then God must be that uncaused cause and must exist outside of this universe. So where does that leave us? How does that qualify as a reason why I am a Christian? Just this: It means that if we are to have any knowledge of God at all, it will have to be as a result of His taking the initiative and making Himself known. We will not and cannot discover proof of His existence on our own. But as an historian, I find credible proof that a man known as Jesus of Nazareth, also called the Christ, did indeed live some two thousand years ago and that, after being crucified on a Roman cross, rose from the dead. I also accept the s/p evidence for that being impossible. Dead people do not come back to life again. So if Jesus did, then there must have been some kind of intervention from outside this universe. And, given that Jesus predicted that he would indeed raise from the dead, then I have adequate reason to accept the other things he said, including that there is a God, who was the one who would raise him from the dead, and that this God loved fallen humanity so much that He sent Jesus to provide us with a way of transcending not only our own sinfulness, but the limitations of this universe. I have chosen, therefore, to trust him with my life. I have found that the instructions he gave to his disciples and which were written down and preserved for me provide the best possible foundation not only for the life to come, but for this life also. Having entrusted my life to this God, I have experienced a quality of life and an experience of that God that serves to reinforce my faith. And that is one reason why I am a Christian.

Pastor Ken

Limited freedom of expression

2010-06-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

Today the Supreme court ruled that the Hastings School of Law at the University of California could require a Christian organization (the Christian Legal Society) to open leadership to individuals who do not agree with their statement of faith. In this case, it was the requirement that all members must not violate the sexual commands of the Bible, but it could have been anything else. There is still much to be litigated on this case, and it will most likely go back to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, but the precedent is frightening. Shall gay groups be required to allow anti-gays in leadership of their groups? Shall a local chapter of the NAACP be required to allow a bigot to stand for office? Shall an Muslim group be required to allow an atheist to lead it? Or is the University of California only going to impose this restriction on Christian groups? Even the Supreme Court questioned that last thing. We will see what happens in the years to come, because it will probably take that long before a final decision is reached. But in the meantime, be careful, because Constitutional protections only extend to non-public activities and institutions. With the federal government getting involved in healthcare, can it be long before we will be told that we may not pray for the sick in a hospital? Don't laugh - it might not be far away!

Pastor Ken

God First

2010-06-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

So I have been on vacation for the past week (hence the long break between posts). As always, there was a pile of "stuff" waiting for me when I got back into the office. It reminded me that life goes on in our absence. And that is a good thing to remember. Life goes on, and we are not necessary for it to happen or be important. It is so easy to only think of life in terms of ourselves. But I am reminded of the school motto at Azusa Pacific University, which my daughter attended: God First. Lord, help me live my life making You first.

Pastor Ken

Faith a Dividing Line

2010-06-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

A new survey by the Barna Group was released today on Americans' attitudes towards abortion. As expected, the vast majority of Americans favor a middle ground, being opposed to both abortion with no restrictions and the outright banning of abortion in all circumstances. Most Americans think that there are some cases where it should be allowed. But the one statistic that jumped out at me was the faith divide. 78% of evangelical Christians thought that there should be at least some restrictions on abortion, while 72% of atheists and agnostics thought there should be no restrictions. That doesn't surprise me. If you do not think or are not sure that there is a God, then human life, while marginally more important that animal life, is still a part of the continuum. But if you believe that there is a God and that He has placed humanity in a special relationship with Him (in His image), then you cannot justify the indiscriminate killing of humans, especially not for convenience. None of this is very surprising. But what it does do is give the lie to the idea that religion is not necessary for morality. Yes, it is true that even atheists and agnostics are somewhat moral. But their morality is defined by themselves - they disagree with people of faith on other moral attitudes, choosing to redefine what constitutes morality. This is an example of just that. Killing a child before it is born is not immoral to some, and is to others, and it is their faith that determines that moral stand. Given the trajectory of our society, this is a very worrying idea.

Pastor Ken

Natural Theology

2010-06-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

There were two articles in this morning's LA Times that caught my eye. Well, other than the articles on the Lakers and Dodgers and Sparks - but those are another story. The two articles were on the Claremont School of Theology and the review of a book entitled, God is Not One. They were widely separated, but each informed the other in ways that most probably missed. First the article on the Claremont School of Theology. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is approved to train clergy for them. They recently announced that they intend on offering clerical studies - studies designed to created clergy - for Buddhists and Jews. You can imagine the firestorm that is coming. When asked how they could justify it, the President said that we live in a pluralistic world and must learn how to get along and even cooperate. Now, from one perspective, that not only sounds OK, but holds a great deal of promise. From another perspective it is positively deranged. And the perspective that makes all the difference is called naturalism. And that brings me to the second article, in which the author argues that the world's 8 major religions really do not agree on their basics. I won't repeat all he said, but one of his main points is that each of them considers the plight of humanity differently (referred to as Anthropology in Theology) as well as the solution (typically referred to as Soteriology). And yet the politically correct way of looking at things is to say that all religions desire the same thing, at least in this world. So it occurred to me that what we have here is the result of the modern project and the naturalism that is so ubiquitous in our society. Science has been so successful because it has focused on the natural processes of the world and ignored any possible supernatural ones. That has made it very robust and effective in the natural realm. And if you only look at religion or theology from the natural realm - what is the effect of religion in this life and this world, then mashing all the world's religions together around their commonalities makes sense. But once you decide that the main point of any religion is to deal with the eternal and supernatural, then the differences are just too great and cannot be bridged. Perhaps for some the natural approach is sufficient. It certainly seems to be for Claremont School of Theology. But I can't shake one verse from the New Testament: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That kingdom overlaps this mortal life, but is primarily about eternal life. I, for one, cannot reconcile being a Biblical Christian with natural theology.

Pastor Ken

People Used to be Weird!

2010-06-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

I am working on a class on Monasticism for a church history intensive at Kings College and Seminary. First, let me say what a joy and honor it is to teach those who are training for ministry. It is a noble - and difficult - calling. One cannot study Monasticism without talking about two of the first, and, to modern ears, weirdest monks - St. Anthony and St. Simon the Stylite. Anthony was weird enough - he lived alone in the bottom of a well for decades and only ate the simplest of fare. But Simon - now there was one weird puppy. He lived for 36 years on the top of a pillar, which was increased in height from nine to fifty feet. Now that sounds just plain - well, weird - to me. What is the point of living on the top of a pillar? And yet, to the people of his day he was a saint who was widely sought out for his advice and prayers. Now we could just chalk it all up to the credulity of the ancients. And yet, I can't help but wonder - what is it that we believe and accept that will be chalked up to our credulity? Or, will people in the future see something even worse - a people so incredulous that we couldn't see what is clear about God and His work to those who live in the future? Of course, I am a child of my generation, so I probably have no idea. But I wonder.

Pastor Ken

Science - Its problem and value

2010-06-03T10:48:00.001-07:00

What is not to like about modern science? It has given us everything from medical technology to the X-box. There is no doubt that our world could not support the sheer number of people on the planet without the considerable aid of science. So what could be a problem with science? Just this - by refusing to consider "purpose," what Aristotelian and Thomist philosophy refers to as "final causes," it has truncated our view of reality. The modern project, of which science as currently understood is the pinnacle, not only refuses to ask questions of purpose or final cause, but insists that such questions are invalid. By defining "success" as the increase of human happiness in this world and life, it has done an admirable job of increasing happiness in this life. But by denying the possibility of God and eternal life, it has rule out of bounds the discussion of either subject. But what if there is a God? And what if science, by its exclusive attention to this life only, is unable to tell us anything about God or eternity? And what if we refuse to consider other sources of knowledge than science? Will we find out only too late that God was there all along trying to get our attention so we could know and fulfill the qualifications of eternal life in His presence? Just a question.

Pastor Ken

Business as usual

2010-06-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

I just finished talking to a businessman who is having fits with a client who claims to be a Christian, but refuses to honor signed contracts and, as he put it, looks at contracts, once signed, as "the beginning of negotiations." The excuse? They are of a different culture. Now I know that cultures differ - and in fact, I celebrate many of those cultural differences. And, I am very aware not only that there are problems inherent in our own culture, but that I may not even be aware of some of the worst, since I have been raised in this culture. But that is why we need an outside standard against which to compare and correct all cultures. I continue to maintain that there is an absolute standard of right and wrong and that the best expression of that standard is to be found in the Bible. It is the Bible that teaches us to let our yes be yes and our no be no - in other words to mean what we say and honor what we say. I fully expect all of us to be judged by the content of God's revelation, regardless of our cultural background. My prayer is primarily that God will show me those things that I do and say that conflict with that revelation and to help me to not make excuses because of my culture or upbringing.

Pastor Ken

Pentecost in Glendale

2010-05-26T17:18:00.000-07:00

Has it really been two weeks since I last posted? And does anybody really care? I must confess, I am never sure that there is enough stuff worth saying to post a blog like this on an ongoing basis. But here I am again, nonetheless! This morning I was talking with the pastor of our Iranian-Armenian congregation. He shared with me that this past Sunday, which was Pentecost, they started with over 250 people in a building that only seats 180, and then, when he began to pray for people, the word got out and people kept coming until 11:30 PM that night to be prayed for, eventually having between 400 and 500 people come and stand in line, some for over an hour, to be prayed for. There is a real hunger in the human heart to know God and be touched by Him. It is possible to harden our hearts to this sense, but it is there from the earliest age. Perhaps that is why the Bible pleads with us to not harden our hearts. God wants to meet with us so much more than we are interested in meeting with Him. Don't wait!

6 Catholics and 3 Jews

2010-05-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

That is the headline I just saw. It is the essence of an article I read in the LA Times this morning. It reflects continuing articles on Fox News and CNN. Everyone is so up in arms because there will be no Protestants on the Supreme Court. Can I just say - I don't care! I know we live in an age when everyone thinks they are or ought to be part of a protected class. But it seems to me that we have taken this way too far. It seems to me that the only qualifications that need to be considered are those relating to judicial abilities and philosophy. But it highlights another thing happening in our society now, and in the Christian church and culture in particular. I am referring to the tendency to perceive slights as evidence of persecution. Now, I honestly do not think that there is any slight or persecution intended in the fact that there might not be any Protestants on the Supreme Court for awhile. But let us say for the moment that there was What should we do about it? Frankly, this is where I need to understand my Bible. Because Jesus told us to fully expect that we would be persecuted for His name's sake. And when we are, we are to "turn the other cheek." If we ever get to the point where Christians are excluded from parts of our political and cultural world just because we are Christians, then we need to not be surprised, and redouble our efforts to live a life that testifies that God still loves not only us, but those persecuting us as well. In the meantime, let's not look for trouble where there isn't any.

Pastor Ken

Reminding myself

2010-05-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

As I write this I have just finished perusing the Alumni magazine for my undergraduate college, Oral Roberts University. Like all Alumni magazines, it includes stories of the many exploits of various graduates. ORU has had more than its share of graduates who have made a significant difference in various fields and places in the world. And when I say field, I not only mean field of endeavor, but also field in the world, as there are ORU graduates in almost every country of the world. After reading about so many successes, it is easy to feel like one has been, well, let's just say less than a success. It is a feeling that almost everyone is familiar with, particularly at "mid-life." So we need to remind ourselves that God's standard for success is not the same as the world's. God's is measured in what the Bible calls "faithfulness." Have we done what God called us to do? Now that may sound like an easier standard, but it is not. There are many of us who realize what no one else does about our callings and our failings. So what I am trying to say today is not for us all feel better even though we have not been as successful as others in the eyes of the world. Rather I call each of us to seek God anew for His calling and His favor.

Pastor Ken

That Pesky Rule of Law

2010-05-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

In recent years there has been a growing consensus that the first thing that is absolutely necessary for a livable society that truly honors everyone is "the rule of law." Basically this means that the laws of the land are applied equally to everyone, regardless of station, income or crime. Not that the penalties are equal for every crime, but that all crimes are pursued equally vigorously. This is, of course, a principle that we say we unswervingly support in the US. It is certainly in keeping with the revelation of God as contained in the Bible. There we learn that God loves all equally and judges all equally. But today I heard on the radio that many of our highest public officials are saying that a US citizen accused of a crime should not be afforded the normal constitutional rights normally afforded a US citizen. In this case it is person accused of setting the car bomb in New York's Times Square. Now this crime could have been truly horrendous. And there is no doubt in my mind that, if they have actually found the right person, he should be convicted and incarcerated for a long time. But to not Mirandize him? Perhaps we should not even hold a trial?! I understand that anger and fear that an attempt like this raises. But we are either for the rule of law or we are not. If we decide that some crimes or some national origins or some religions mean that a person is not entitled to the same rights as everyone else - well how long until it is decided that Christians or Blonds or Caucasians are the real threat and that security demands that these people not be afforded constitutional rights? One of the greatest of our Founders chose to defend the most hated men in the American colonies when John Adams defended the alleged perpetrators of the "Boston Massacre." God, give us more John Adamses and fewer members of the mob!

Pastor Ken

2010-05-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

I just read yesterday that 41% of babies born in the US are born to unwed mothers. I can hardly express how depressed that makes me for those children. I do not minimize the number of bad marriages or other family problems, but the chances for a child to thrive and do well decrease markedly when they are not in an intact family with a father and a mother who love them and are there for them. I am not talking about opinion here, that is just a fact. The fastest growing group in terms of poverty are single parent families. The problems associated with being born to a single mother are legion. And yet we are afraid to say that some things are right or better. They are nonetheless. I wish I could say I have a quick and ready answer. I don't. But I can pray that God will send a revival to America that will change not only our values, but our hearts. Will you pray with me?

Pastor Ken

New Churches

2010-04-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

As I write this I am sitting in a "bootcamp" for new church planters - I am acting as a coach. My job is to get them to dig deeper and ask more questions. What impresses me is their dedication to expanding the kingdom. We have the message of life and over 2/3s of SoCal either hasn't heard or hasn't understood it. How awesome to hear the vision of these who are committing themselves to taking that message and helping them to refine that vision and plan for ways to bring it to fruition. It is a truly humbling experience.

Pastor Ken

Trust God

2010-04-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

I must confess that I have a hard time blogging when I don't think I have anything to say that even I, let alone anyone else, would like to hear or read. So here it has been 5 days again. There are so few things that seem important enough to put out there in print (or electrons, as the case may be). So here is my blog for the day: Trust God! Everything else falls into place and into perspective when you do. I have tried to live by that principle for over 39 years now and have found that when I do is when things are best. Is that a coincidence? Perhaps, but I find the coincidences come more often when I do it, so I will keep trusting God. Have a great day.

Pastor Ken

Still relevant after 100 years

2010-04-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

It was 100 years ago today that Former President Theodore Roosevelt said the following at the Sorbonne in Paris:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deed could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Go out and dare great things for God!

Pastor Ken

Death and Anger

2010-04-21T10:55:00.001-07:00

This past Sunday we had as guests in our church a couple who have served as missionaries in Haiti since 1965. They had been to Haiti twice since the earthquake in January. As you can imagine, they had harrowing stories of death and survival, as well as updates on the ongoing relief effort. But what impressed me the most was their report about the reactions of the survivors to surviving when so many of them had lost loved ones. In their experience, virtually every person they talked to, even when they had lost children or spouses or other family and friends not only did not express any anger towards God, but expressed thanks for having been spared and a new commitment to determining the reason God had spared them and fulfill His purposes in their lives. And that just blew me away. Probably the most common reaction I have run across here in the States is anger at God for allowing this earthquake and for so many to have been killed. Indeed, it is further proof for many that there is no God, since they could not imagine how a loving God would allow so many innocent people to die in such a horrible way. So how is it that so many Haitians react with renewed faith and commitment, especially when they are the ones who are really suffering?

It occurs to me that one big reason may be a more realistic view of life on the part of the Haitians than we have. As we have grown more comfortable and lived longer we seem to have adopted the attitude that we deserve a long and comfortable life. But the Haitians seem to think that all of us are going to die anyway, and that the extension of life, especially in tragic circumstances brings a responsibility to God and one's fellow human to serve them. Now, I must confess, I understand emotionally the American response much better than the Haitian one. But when I think about it, the Haitians are much closer to the truth. If there is a tragedy in death, then it is death itself which is the tragedy. And that is indeed what the Bible says - man was never intended to die, and the offer of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ. So it is the extension of life which is the blessing, not the cutting short of life which is a greater tragedy. Now I know that there are questions of the means of death, but we all know that many times the greater pain is suffered by one who survives and faces multiple surgeries, etc. I don't think this small blog answers or even acknowledges all the questions or objections, but I find myself convicted by the response of my Haitian brothers and sisters. Perhaps I should be trying to determine why God has allowed me to live so long and fulfill that purpose. Just a thought.

Pastor Ken

Finding Meaning

2010-04-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

So many of us are looking for purpose or meaning in life. Dietrich Bonhoeffer perhaps said it best in his Letters and Papers from Prison (p. 207): In these turbulent times we repeatedly lose sight of what really makes life worth living We think that, because this or that person is living, it makes sense for us to live too. But the truth is that if this earth was good enough for the man Jesus Christ, if such a man as Jesus lived, then, and only then, has life a meaning for us. If Jesus had not lived, then our life would be meaningless, in spite of all the other people whom we know and honor and love. Perhaps we now sometimes forget the meaning and purpose of our profession. But is not this the simplest way of putting it? The unbiblical notion of "meaning" is indeed only a translation of what the Bible calls "promise."

Without Jesus - without the promise of meaning found in a living God who loves and cares for and forgives us, life is at best a cruel joke - an absurdity into which we try, in vain, to inject real meaning. But the resurrected Son of God gives life true meaning, and we find our own meaningfulness only in Him.

Pastor Ken

Tax Day

2010-04-15T12:26:00.000-07:00

I am not sure there is anyone who likes, let alone loves Tax Day. In the musical 1776 John Adams is upbraided by a fellow delegate to the Continental Congress for thinking his taxes are too high. The other delegate says, "well, so are mine!" I heard on the radio today that around half of all Americans think that taxes are basically fair - and that 47% of Americans pay no income tax! I guess it is easy to think it is fair if you don't pay! And yet, taxes are a necessary part of life. We expect so much of our government, and it all must be paid for somehow. And in a Republic where we all have representation, we have no one to blame but ourselves if our taxes are too high. But is there a Christian response to tax day? Actually, yes there is. We all remember the story of Jesus telling Peter to go get a fish from the lake and finding a roman coin in the mouth. Jesus told Peter - and by extension all of us - that we have a responsibility to render to our government what our government requires. And this in an Empire where the common person had not say so in who was to govern or what the laws would be! Now, I confess, I wouldn't mind finding enough to pay my taxes for the year in the mouth of a fish - or dog or any other animal. But until then, I will keep on paying my taxes. Of course, I will keep on complaining, too. That is only American!

Pastor Ken

Waiting for Understanding

2010-04-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

It has been a little more than a week since Easter. For most of us today, that means that summer and vacations are just around the corner. But for the first disciples, it was a time of intense learning and unlearning. First, they were unlearning everything they knew about - well just about everything. They were unlearning everything they thought they knew about the Messiah. Jesus was obviously not going to establish a secular Jewish kingdom after defeating the Romans. They were unlearning what they thought they knew about their own futures. It was clear that they were not going to sit on thrones at Jesus' side in that new kingdom that was not coming, but they were wondering whether that meant they were going to go back to their old jobs. In fact, several tried, until Jesus went to Galilee, and called them back to following Him again. But most of all, they were unlearning everything they thought they knew about life itself - death was obviously not the final word. Jesus had come back to life again after a horrendous death - and could do things no sane person would ever expect to be able to do, like walk through walls! Little did they know that in just a few weeks Jesus would literally disappear before their eyes as He rose into heaven. The disciples were unlearning quite a lot. But it was necessary in order for them to start learning some things - things like the nature of God's kingdom and of human life. So many times we find ourselves in a similar situation - in the middle of the painful process of unlearning and not yet knowing what will take its place. But hang in there. God is not done with you yet, and we can't even imagine what the end is going to look like!

Pastor Ken

I Want It Now!

2010-04-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

As I sit here this morning I am waiting for my phone to complete downloading a page from the internet. I started almost an hour and 20 minutes ago. Now, admittedly, that really is too long, and this problem has been getting worse, so there is probably a problem with my phone. But I first began to notice it when a page took perhaps 5 seconds instead of the usual 1 or 2. And that got me to thinking about this instant age we live in. I am not the first to notice that contemporary Americans are not particularly patient - we have instant everything, including instant news (which often turns out to be false). But I got to thinking about how we are expecting the same thing in our spiritual lives. We want God to do for us what we have asked immediately, or, if that's not possible, then quickly. And yet it is James who encourages us to add to our list of virtues "patience." There is something about learning to wait that develops our character. It trains us for those times when something just can't happen immediately or quickly. Of course, I am more than happy to learn spiritual patience, it is just all this other stuff, right? I wish we could compartmentalize our lives that way. But God made us whole, and what happens in one part of our lives inevitably affects another. So as I continue to wait for tha webpage to download, perhaps I should thank God for the chance to learn a little more patience - who knows when I may need that discipline? In the meantime, I need to get to the Sprint store and get a new phone - one that works faster!

Pastor Ken

New methods with an old message

2010-04-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

The SoCal District of the Assemblies of God has a new Superintendent - the first new one in 22 years. Most everybody is expecting big changes. And I am sure that, in some areas, they are correct. But I am looking forward to the things that will remain the same. I expect that the Bible will still be God's Word, infallible and our only rule of faith and conduct. I expect that We will still preach Jesus Christ, crucified, dead, buried and raised from the dead. I expect that we will still preach that Jesus baptizes in the Holy Spirit all who seek that baptism and signifies that reception with the gift of speaking in tongues as the Spirit enables. I expect that Jesus will come back again within my lifetime. That last one may sound strange, but it is undoubtedly true, because, even if he does not return physically to this earth before I die, he will be awaiting me when I take my last breath. And, I believe that, in the meantime, God will continue to love me, guide me, heal me when I need it, and go before me into areas that I am not even aware are awaiting me in this life. I look forward to cooperating with our new Superintendent as new methods are explored and used to increase the kingdom of God, and as we try to find effective ways to tell the 16 million people in Southern California who do not yet have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that God loves them so much that He sent His only son to die on their behalf. New methods with an old message - that is a powerful combination!

Pastor Ken

Leadership matters

2010-04-04T22:01:00.000-07:00

This morning begins our Annual District Council. This year, for the first time in over 20 years, we will be electing a new Superintendent. On the one hand, I am not sure that God is nearly as concerned as we are about how we choose our leaders. On the other hand, it is more important that we sometimes realize just who is chosen. I am not talking about talents or abilities, though those things are important. But far and away what is important in all leadership, and especially leadership in the church, is character. I heard someone once say that, once elected, we really have no idea what is going to happen to derail or turn us away from our plans. It is character that will determine how we react when that happens. God calls each of us to learn that He really does care and offers to guide us in the middle of all this "mess" we call life. My prayer for this council is that God will speak to us and enable us to elect the person who will listen carefully and follow closely the God who cares and speaks.

Pastor Ken

The In-Between Time

2010-04-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

So it's Saturday. Yesterday was Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. Tomorrow is Sunday - the day He rose from the dead. But what is today? It is the in-between time. That time between when the worst we could imagine has happened and God's answer. Have you ever noticed how much of life is spent "in-between?" Sometimes it is in-between the bad and God's answer. Sometimes it is in-between the promise and the fulfillment. There are so many times in life where we are just waiting in-between. Now, I do not fault the disciples for their seeming inability to understand Jesus' words predicting his death and resurrection. When God tells us something completely outside of our frame of reference, we struggle with it. But today we all live after the greatest miracle in the history of humanity - the resurrection. I still may not understand how God is going to take what is happening in my life and use it for my good and His glory, but if He could raise Jesus from the dead, I can at least believe that it is true. So, as we live "in-between," let's trust the God is still working things out for us. Don't give up, even when the worst has happened. God's power is waiting to be seen!

Pastor Ken

April Fool?

2010-04-01T13:24:00.001-07:00

Growing up I always loved April Fool's day. Of course, playing a trick on someone else was more fun than having one played on me, but even the latter was OK - it was fun! This year April Fool's day is just days apart from Easter, and that got me to thinking. There are so many who would like for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to be some kind of a joke played by the early church on us and on themselves. As a believer who has not only been regenerated, but filled with the Holy Spirit, I have personal, experiential knowledge of the truth of Easter. But there are always those who say, "What if you are wrong? What if you are just deluding yourself?" Without agreeing that this is true, it is still a question that deserves an answer. What if I am deluding myself? First, I would ask, what if you are deluding yourself that the resurrection, the single most attested event in the ancient world, didn't happen? If I am willing to at least entertain the possibility that I am wrong are others who claim the resurrection didn't happen also willing to do so? Because if we will both do that, we will both have to admit this one truth: If I am wrong, I will never know it. If death is truly the cessation of existence, then when I die I will be no more and will not know that I was wrong to believe the overwhelming testimony of history that Jesus Christ did raise from the dead. But if you are wrong, you will know that you were - and the Bible says that will be too late. Now, putting one's faith in Jesus Christ ought not to be done strictly as an insurance policy. But the consequences are so enormous that it certainly is true that I should examine the evidence as closely and thoroughly as possible. I have done so, from every angle I can think of or imagine. I read books by atheists as well as believers, and every one in between. The stakes are too high to put it off. I am convinced that a fair hearing, entered into with a simultaneous request for God - if there is a God - to reveal Himself in Jesus Christ, will result in a growing faith. In the meantime, let me proclaim with all that I have, "The Lord is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!"

Pastor Ken

Coincidence or Provision?

2010-03-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, when I got home, my wife and I were discussing our financial condition. We were wondering how we were going to pay all the bills, what with the Mortgage due and her car needing a new catalytic converter. Oh, yeah, and we thought we might like to eat too! I know that there are many who are in the same situation every day. But we have lived by one principle in our financial lives: do what God says with our finances (that starts with tithing) and then trust Him to take care of us. Well, yesterday, it happened again. Just having finished commiserating with each other and deciding we had not idea what to do, I went out and got the mail. Lo and behold, our tax refund was there. Now that is not surprising, since we did our taxes about six weeks ago or so. But what was amazing was that the IRS found a deduction I had not used and gave us a substantial additional refund based on that. That's right, the IRS gave us more money than we asked for! Now, I know that it could never be conclusively proven that this was more than a simple coincidence that we received a refund with a lot more money than we expected on the same day that we were discussing how we were going to pay our bills. But these kinds of coincidences just keep happening! My wife and I can honestly say that all our needs have been met. Are these recurring coincidences just that or are they provision from the hand of God? I'll let you decide.

Pastor Ken

Head to heart

2010-03-29T13:52:00.001-07:00

When I was a new Christian I remember people saying that the longest 12 inches in the world is the distance from the head to the heart. They meant that it is one thing to have an intellectual knowledge of God and another to have placed one's complete trust in Jesus Christ as one's savior and Lord. Now, that is clearly true, though I would dispute those who would claim that the former are not God's children - I think I will just leave in God's hands who has trusted and who hasn't. But recently I have been reflecting again on that saying and realizing that it is also true about one's experience of God on an ongoing basis. I do believe that it is possible to have some sort of relationship with God even when that is primarily through our intellect. But since we are holistic creatures I have found that emotional engagement is in many cases even more important. The problem is that in our culture we think we have no control over emotions and they are either there or they are not. But I have found that emotions follow actions quite regularly. For example, I find it very difficult to not feel that wonderful emotion called "love" when I am consistently trying to do things for my wife - things that express love in traditional terms, like hugging, kissing, cooking dinner, helping in the yard, taking her flowers, etc. I have found the same with God. When I reflect on the words of the songs of praise I sing, raise my hands in praise, tell others of the great things God has done for me, I find that my emotions begin to rise as well. I say all this because this week has to be the easiest time of the year to do those things and renew our experience of God. So this week, I encourage you to praise our wonderful risen Savior and tell others what He has done for you. The Lord is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Pastor Ken

Humility

2010-03-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

I don't know if some people are naturally humble. If there are some like that, I know I am not one of them. For me, humility is something I have to learn. What brings all this up is that my second reader just finished my dissertation and is requiring additional research and rewriting. After passing with my first reader, who is one of the acknowledged deans of Church Historiography, I foolishly thought I would now be passed by the second and third readers too. Of course, we all know what happens when you assume, so here I am doing more research and getting ready to find out what I did wrong and what I need to do to fix it. I know, however, that God is in control of my life and that I have been working hard, so I trust that this, too, is in His will. I am humbled, but I am also rejoicing in knowing that my God works in all things for my good and His glory. What could be better than that?

Pastor Ken

Healthcare redux

2010-03-22T10:58:00.001-07:00

Well, last night the house passed the senate version of healthcare reform. Supposedly the pro-life Democrats got the assurances they wanted that federal money would not be used for abortions. I must admit that I am seriously conflicted about this. I am staunchly pro-life - I am virtually a single issue voter when it comes to protecting the lives of the yet-to-be-born. And yet, to be pro-life must surely also mean that we want those who are already born, regardless of age, to have access to healthcare. I don't mean those who refuse to get it, or even necessarily those who want society and government to take responsibility for all their actions. But it is true that there are millions in our country who could not get healthcare at any price because of the policies of Insurance companies. I remember when my Father-in-law's health insurance company went bankrupt just after he had suffered a heart attack. Having had a heart attack, no other insurance company would let him have a policy, no matter what he was willing to pay. Since that time (over 20 years ago) I have met countless numbers of people who wanted healthcare, were willing to pay for it, but could not get it. So I definitely believed that we needed some kind of reform. Having said that, our country will answer both before the bar of history as well as the bar of God's justice for our willingness to allow tens of millions of children to be killed just because they were not wanted. We must take our stand everywhere we can until this holocaust is stopped. I don't know if this bill does that or not. I guess time will tell. And I don't know if it will do all the other things it will promise. Being a human invention, it will surely have unintended consequences. We will all be watching. What do you think?

Pastor Ken

Good news

2010-03-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

So the other day I talked about the city in Arizona that tried to ban home Bible studies. Turns out that this was the result of an interpretation by enforcement officers, and not the intention of the city council, who observed that such an attempt would be "clearly unconstitutional." So, by next week at this time, they intend to have rescinded the entire law. For more information you can read Fox News' take on the whole thing at: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/17/arizona-town-rescind-controversial-religious-ban/?test=latestnews

Nice to know we can still have Bible studies!

Pastor Ken

Are we that frightening?

2010-03-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

Once again a city in the US has decided that having Bible Studies in private homes is a violation of zoning laws. This time it is Gilbert, AZ. I say again because cities have been trying to do this for over 30 years now. I trust that Gilbert will be no more successful than other cities have been. But it makes me wonder - what are they so afraid of? Oh, I know, they try to couch it in terms of parking, but if they were going to be consistent, then they would have to prohibit parties and even family gatherings. I know that having the family over to my house means at least 16 or 17 people and four or five cars at least - more than a normal home Bible study. I can't help but think that this really relates to being "church unfriendly." Churches are the single most opposed development in LA county - more than bars and strip clubs! What is everyone afraid of? I don't know. But this is one area where we have to just keep doing it - home Bible studies. Or so it seems to me.

Pastor Ken

Know what you believe

2010-03-13T11:26:00.000-08:00

In Romans 6:17-18 we are told that while we were once slaves to sin, we now can be slaves to righteousness if we will obey the pattern of doctrine we have received. In that one passage are a couple of concepts that are preeminently Christian, but which many of us don't like. The first is that it seems to be saying that our natural state is to be a slave - the only choice is whether to be a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness. Interestingly, that reflects a concept of freedom that is not only ancient, but is the one upon which our country was founded. These days we seem to think that to be free is to be able to do anything we want, as long as it doesn't hurt someone else, or at least not without their permission. But our founders, along with all the ancients, understood freedom as being free to do what is right, not what we want. But what is right? That is where the second part of our scripture comes in - for the Christian, what is right is the "pattern of doctrine," the teaching of the Bible as historically understood by God's people, the church. That the Bible contains a pattern of doctrine is not in dispute. But whether we know it or not is another question. We cannot obey what we do not know - that is why Mormon missionaries like to go to places where Christian missionaries have just successfully planted churches, but the people do not yet know what the Bible teaches. They use the same language, but define the terms differently. New believers who have no teaching don't know the difference. Unfortunately, neither to some older believers in the US - because we would rather be "inspired" than taught. But if what Paul is saying here is true, then the primary responsibility we have as Christians is to learn the doctrine delivered by the Apostles and passed on to us. Only then can we obey it. But we cannot obey a teaching that we have not learned. So learn! Go to the old sources and find out what the Bible is saying. Then live it! We will live as slaves one way or the other. I prefer to be a slave to righteousness. How about you?

Pastor Ken

More Health Care

2010-03-11T09:46:00.000-08:00

The debate goes on over proposed health care reform. Now it appears that it will not pass. Already I am hearing from some that the fault lies with those who oppose abortion on demand who are holding health care reform "hostage" to their extreme views. As one who thinks that our present health care system is broken, let me just say that I completely disagree with this characterization. Quite simply, there was a small group of Democratic Representatives in the US House of Representatives who let it be known early on that they would not vote for any reform that allowed Federal money to be used, either directly or indirectly, to pay for abortions. When you consider abortion murder, you really can do no other. It would be tantamount to allowing Federal money to be used to kill the elderly or the handicapped because someone had decided that they were less than human, or of no further use to society, or even just plain inconvenient - still the major cause for abortions in the US. Though Pelosi is an extremist on the side of unlimited abortions, she understood that the bill had no hope unless an amendment put forward by Rep. Stupak was adopted. Once it was, the bill passed. It then went to the Senate. And though they knew that the bill had no chance unless the Stupak language was included, they passed their version of the bill without the language. And that is where we stand. Did some Senators overplay their hand? Probably - I don't think they really thought that they would lose the Senate seat previously held by Ted Kennedy. But now they are trying to rewrite history by portraying those Democrats who have let their principle stand be known from the very beginning as "obstructionists" who value their "extreme" view more than the health care of some 31 million Americans. To those "obstructionists," I say - "keep obstructing." The lives of the unborn are not negotiable. Or so it seems to me.

Pastor Ken

The Result of Faith

2010-03-09T09:57:00.000-08:00

I want to celebrate one of the most important results of my faith - and one that can make the difference for so many of us. I still remember the night when God's Spirit had confronted me with the fact of my sin and the direction my life was going. I remember that moment of withdrawal when God's Spirit took a step back and let me decide whether I would trust that the sacrifice Jesus made would suffice to forgive my sin and give me a new kind of life. It is pretty obvious that I chose Jesus. But the result of that faith - a faith that God Himself had given me, but that I had to choose to invest in Him - is that I am now aware of His presence in my life every day. I am working on my message for this Sunday, which looks at the question the Psalmist asked when he considered the vastness of the universe - "what is man that you are mindful of him?" I understand those who claim that the vastness of this universe argues against God caring about humanity, let alone an individual person like me. That is a very powerful emotional reaction. But that is all it is - an emotional reaction. I cannot explain why God should or would care about anyone, let alone me, let alone be present with me. But that does not change the fact that He is. My awareness is not proof of God's existence or that the Bible is God's revelation of Himself to humanity. But my trust of Him has allowed me to know these things. Does that constitute a "leap of faith?" Perhaps. I do believe that there is adequate proof for the existence of God and for the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Those two things, I believe, provide an adequate starting place for trusting God. But the best part - personal knowledge of His presence - that comes after I have chosen to trust. I can only suggest that others try it as well. I am not saying that everyone who trusts God's love in Jesus Christ will always be aware of His presence. That is not how God has chosen to make it work. But there are times when I am overwhelmed with the sweetness of His presence. And that is worth more than I can say! As the old commercial used to say, "Try it, you'll like it!"

Pastor Ken

Families

2010-03-06T21:04:00.000-08:00

Today (Saturday) my family celebrated all of the winter/spring birthdays. All told we had four generations where every married couple was still married to their original spouses, never having had a divorce. In total we had 15 people present. There were no fights, and one of the highlights was when we all gathered around the piano with great-grandma playing and everyone else singing hymns and gospel songs. While it wasn't heaven, it might have been the closest we can come in this life. I say all of this because of the reason for it all - our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who has made it all possible. To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Pastor Ken

2010-03-01T20:26:00.000-08:00

As I write this blog, I am sitting in a classroom at Kings Seminary and College sitting in on a class taught by my good friend, Dr. Mike Gregg. He is teaching New Testament Survey to a classroom filled with future ministers in the church of Jesus Christ. Tonight they are discussing the gospel of John, and it is exciting to listen to the many questions they have and observations they make about the gospel. A new generation is training to teach, lead and serve the church. The future is in good hands! It has been true throughout history that every generation has thought that the next generation is dissolute and that the future is in trouble in their hands. And yet, God continues to find those in every generation that He will use to further His kingdom. Praise God for those who answer the call. The kingdom does not depend on our ability, only on our faithfulness. Just a few thoughts suggested by this class tonight.

Pastor Ken

More on women in ministry

2010-02-24T16:01:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I talked about the passage in 1 Corinthians 11. But another seemingly less ambiguous passage occurs in 1 Timothy 2:9-15, specifically the part where Paul says, "I do not allow a woman to teach or have authority over a man, she must be silent." Now, there are those who use the same argument here - that it is really husband and wife, not man and woman. But there is an even more important thing we need to know here. Once again, we must go back to the original Greek. This passage can be translated either "I do not allow," or "I am not allowing." The difference is between a commandment meant for all times and places and a comment on a current practice that does not necessarily have any long-term or wide-spread application. The reason I believe that the latter is Paul's intention is twofold. First, there was a "new teaching" that was just becoming popular in the area around Ephesus that taught that rather than sinning, Eve, by eating the fruit, brought special knowledge into the world, which knowledge only women could communicate to men. I believe that this is the teaching Paul had in mind here and explains a temporary ban on women in the pulpit. The reason I believe this is that he justifies his statement by saying that Eve actually did sin, and was actually deceived by the evil one. And secondly, Paul himself, in Romans 16 greets and commends several women in ministry positions. Romans was written just before 1 Timothy and sheds light on Paul's normal attitude towards women in ministry, and it was positive. He had nothing negative to say to the Romans about these women in ministry; rather he commended them.

What is most interesting is the most Christian movements have been open to women in ministry in the early years when there was a lot of pioneering of churches going on, but when the movement becomes more stable and ministry positions pay better, it is common for women to be banned from those positions. But in Christ there is no male and female. It is a distinction without a difference in ministry.

Pastor Ken

Women Pastors

2010-02-23T13:03:00.000-08:00

Just the other day I was sitting with a Pastor who, not knowing that I had been so outspoken on the subject, asked me what I thought about women having places of leadership in the church. When I told him that I had sponsored the original motion to invite women to serve on our Presbytery and Executive Presbytery in the Southern California District of the Assemblies of God, he proceeded to tell me that God intended for women to submit to men, and this was not consistent with women in leadership. I could not get a word in edge-wise in the ensuing conversation, but I eventually asked him to send my his scriptures that he thought forbade women from places of leadership in the church. His first was 1 Corinthians 11:3-10. The key verse is where Paul says that man is the head of woman, and that women needed to have their heads covered in church when they prophesied or prayed. I won't go into all the details, but as I pointed out to him, the Greek for man and woman in this passage can also be translated husband and wife. Which word is always determined by context. And in this context, the head covering is the key to understanding what Paul meant. Because the head covering was a sign of marriage in the ancient world. So, when Paul told women to wear head coverings in this passage, he was only addressing wives - since unmarried women would not wear a head covering. Since Paul is talking to wives and husbands in this part of the passage, it would be inconsistent for him to have been referring to the more general "women" in the same passage.

There were other things he brought up as well, but the point is that all of us want to think that there are others who are not as worthy as we are in some area. But that is not what God says. As Paul himself said, in Christ, "there is not slave or free, Greek or Barbarian, male and female." We are all equal in his sight! In fact, what we are actually called to do is serve each other as Christ served and died for us. So let's all go out and serve someone today!

Pastor Ken

2010-02-20T15:59:00.000-08:00

Oh, my, it has been another five days. But during those five days I have been privileged to be a small part of some important things in the kingdom of God, including taking the next steps to plant two new churches in the Los Angeles area - one an outreach to Armenian-Iranians and the other an outreach to Assyrian-Iranians. Hopefully within about three months both of these groups will become full-fledged church plants and receive a gift of $40,000 each from the Assemblies of God. Praise the Lord! As well, we have begun the process of turning over a ministry that has been responsible for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to send Romanian missionaries to various parts of the world to a partnership between the National Pentecostal Union in Romania and a fellowship of North American Pentecostal churches here in the US and Canada. Though it is sad to see American churches beginning to pull back in the area of missions, God is not stymied. And, as other countries and peoples take up the challenge, they will get the blessing that previously belonged to us. "His Truth is marching on!"

Pastor Ken

2010-02-15T20:18:00.000-08:00

Today I met with Pastors George and Shamuel, the pastors of our Armenian and Assyrian outreaches respectively, to begin the process of planting full-fledged churches out of their groups. To say it was exciting would be a vast understatement. On Pentecost Sunday we expect to launch both churches. We have been working with Pastor Shamuel and the Assyrian group for five years now and Pastor George and the Armenian group for about a year and a half. Both have made significant inroads in their communities and we expect both to be come full-fledged, vibrant churches in their own rights eventually. I count it a singular honor to have been allowed by God to have a small part in helping them, by providing oversight and counsel, along with bookkeeping and insurance in these extended periods of planning and start-up. Both of them are from Iran and came to the US as religious refugees, as have most of their core groups. Stay tuned for more about these two soon-to-be churches as they seek to transform first their communities here in the US and, through them, the nation of Iran itself.

Pastor Ken

A Week?

2010-02-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

Wow, it has been a week since I posted. That is just plain embarrassing. So what have I been doing this past week? It was exactly a week ago that I received my dissertation back from my advisor with some requested changes. So, this past week I have been doing the changes while trying to juggle the rest of my responsibilities. But, as I sit here at 3:00 PM I can say that I have now finished all the changes, printed out two copies of my dissertation and taken them to Fuller Seminary for my advisor and my second reader to have - and hopefully pass. If so, then I have but one more reader to look at it, and I will be done! Hallelujah! In the meantime. life goes on. I guess the important thing is to not let the important things distract us from the everyday things - because we live our lives everyday. So, enjoy today, and everyday!

Pastor Ken

A Different Prespective

2010-02-03T17:09:00.000-08:00

I noticed that Avatar has been nominated for 9 Academy Awards. And I know that many have expressed their concern about the movie for its "anti-human bias." I find that interesting for a couple of reasons. First, I find it interesting because, so far, we don't know of any other fully sentient species in the Universe except Homo Sapiens. We're it! So what does it mean to be "anti-human?" But even more importantly, it misses the point of Science Fiction anyway - to help us see ourselves from a different perspective. It is so hard to get outside of ourselves and see ourselves as others see us. By making the "aliens" the good guys, it allows us to see ourselves in a different light. And I have never thought that was a bad thing.

Pastor Ken

Discipline

2010-02-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

Now there is a word that few of us like. In the past couple of weeks I have begun to try to learn to speak Persian (Farsi). I say "begun" because I have found that it is easy to decide not to work on it right now. I have every intention and desire to learn to speak the language. I know that I will enjoy having done so. I even look forward to working on it - later. But right now? That requires discipline. And, of course, the root of discipline is the same as that of disciple. Am I saying that learning Persian is a discipleship matter? Well, actually, for me, it might be. But that is not the point. The deeper question is whether we must be disciplined in order to be saved. Like how I jumped from one subject to another? But often that is exactly what we do. So let me set the record straight. The most disciplined person in the world can still be lost. And the least can still be saved. But that isn't the question either, is it? The question is whether discipline is necessary to my salvation. And the answer to that is, do I really want Christ as Lord or not? The truth is that I began this long walk with the Lord 39 years ago. Whether I learn Persian or not is not going to determine my eternal location. On the other hand, if I begin to systematically disobey my Lord, then how can I claim Him as my Lord? And obedience requires discipline. So, not disciplining myself to learn Persian will mean I am lost? No! But that really isn't the point. I never should have jumped to that question in the first place. Salvation is a daily walk with the Lord. And that means being disciplined right now, as I contemplate what to do with my time. I do not want to see how little I can obey the Lord and still make it to heaven. I want to see how close to heaven I can live right now. And that just might require some discipline. It isn't a one to one relationship - I am not saying that learning Persian is heaven! Of course, I am not saying it isn't. What I am saying is that I want to live every moment for the Lord and in His presence. For now, that means being disciplined enough to work on my Persian. Strange? Probably, but welcome to the Christian life!

Pastor Ken

2010-01-29T09:48:00.000-08:00

I was reading from Dietrich Bonhoeffer last night and was struck by something he said. Basically he said that Christians should not be surprised by injustice directed towards Christians. Usually we react with anger and want to "show them." Instead, he suggests that we remember that we have the favor of God and that, while we were still God's enemies, He died for us. Perhaps more importantly, He also died for those who are mistreating us. How can we hold a grudge against or seek to "show" these who mistreat us? We were warned by Jesus to expect that the world would mistreat us - they did Him - and we have God's guarantee of eternity with Him. "Turning the other cheek" is a small price to pay for serving Him and helping others to see His love. Sounds good to me!

Pastor Ken

Give it a rest!

2010-01-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

There is so much to do! How many times have we said that? And it is true. There is much to do in this world and in this life. Now, some people try to make us feel that much of what we are trying to do is unimportant. Perhaps that is true on occasion, but I am not so sure that overall it is true. Of course, much of what we do will not be remembered in eternity, but then, I am not even sure what I ate a week ago, let alone for my whole life, yet I am glad that I did! And it is no less important to have done so for having been forgotten. And yet.... It is also true that we need to rest from time to time - in fact, if God is to be trusted, then one day out of seven. Now, I confess that I have not been as good at doing this in the past several years as I had been for the thirty or so before that. Pastoring a church and pursuing a doctorate managed to take up almost all of my time. I suspect that better planning might have given me more "down time." All I can say is that, having lived with a regular, weekly day off and without, the former is much superior. I highly recommend it. If it means some important things don't get done - then they don't get done. I suspect that it is much like tithing - I do better with 90% of my money with God's blessing than 100% without. The same is true of my time - I do better six days a week than working seven, because that is how God made me. As the old commercial used to say, "try it, you'll like it!"

Pastor Ken

Just two days left

2010-01-25T08:50:00.000-08:00

We are down to the last two days of Renewal and Revival services with Rev. Nick Farone. His simple messages of trust in God have been encouraging and well received. I have know Nick for over 20 years now and have watched him "up close and personal," and know that his walk matches his talk. His ministry to children on the streets of Bastrop, LA and in churches all over the US has made a difference in thousands of lives. If you are in the area, I encourage you to come on out tonight and tomorrow night for these last two services. In the meantime, back to normal blogging in a couple of days! God bless, everyone!

Pastor Ken

Happy Birthday Cameron!

2010-01-23T10:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my grandson's first birthday. Today we will have the party. And I have been reminded of the person who said, "If I had known that grandchildren were this much fun, I would have started with them instead of children!" Our little (well, actually he is big - the size of a two year old!) grandson is such a joy. And, we live just minutes away, so we can go over quickly whenever invited or needed (no, we don't go over whenever we want - one prefers to be wanted rather than tolerated!). It is a joy, and one that I would not trade for anything. So, happy birthday, Cameron!

Pastor Ken

No jobs

2010-01-22T12:55:00.000-08:00

The December job figures were just released, and once again California lost jobs - 39,000 last month alone. The jobless rate remained at 12.4%, so that means that several tens of thousands of people must have just given up looking for work to make up for those newly unemployed. What are we going to do? Well, I'll leave the public policy suggestions and decisions to those with more knowledge in that are than me. But I do know this - our God can be trusted when we trust Him and do what He has told us to do. That doesn't necessarily mean that every Christian will have a job, even when others do not. God does not seem to work that way. I suspect that it is because if it could be statistically proven that Christians are employed at a greater rate than others, some would accuse us of favoritism and others might decide to follow the Lord just for the job. So how does this work? Well, it may be that some will have divine intervention on the job front. But most of us will just have to be our brother's (and sister's) keepers and look out for and help each other. That used to be how the church did it anyway. So maybe today we should all look for how we can help a brother or sister in the Lord who is in need. "By this shall all men know you are my disciples - if you love each other." - Jesus

Pastor Ken

Can't we all just get along?

2010-01-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

Well the votes have been counted and Scott Brown has been elected as the new Senator from Massachusetts. What it will mean for healthcare and the rest of President Obama's agenda only time will tell. But what I take out of all of it is that we will probably never all agree on what needs to be done, let alone how to do it. The tragedy of recent politics has been the demonization of opposition. Even on the most serious of so-called "social issues" like abortion most people agree on their desire for the best for people. They just disagree on what constitutes the best. After all, if you do not believe that unborn children are humans (a stand I frankly do not understand), then you would not want to see someone having to carry a child that is not yet human. It would be a choice. What I am saying is that we can continue to disagree - I, for one will not surrender on abortion unless someone can give me definitive proof that an unborn child is not a human being, something which will be quite difficult in light of scripture - but I do not have to assume the worst about the motivations of those who oppose me. The election of Scott Brown shows that people are seldom as monolithic as some politicians want to believe. Fortunately, in the US, the politicians have to keep going back to the voters. There is nothing like a jolt of reality to upset our applecarts!

Pastor Ken

The Basis of Trust

2010-01-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

The death toll in Haiti just keeps rising. It now stands at over 200,000. And it will undoubtedly go much higher. Why? Why did God allow all this. A few days ago I wrote that most of the tragedy is human-made. And I stand by that. But that doesn't mean that I don't understand those who, if they don't blame God, at least question just what He is doing. So how do I handle it? It sounds simple, but I trust. But it isn't a blind trust. It is a trust based on the firm foundation of what God has done. I know that I have said this before, but it all begins with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That it occurred I am sure. I have talked before of what that means about everything else that Jesus said. But, from the other perspective, it also means that God's love for me, and indeed for all humanity, is unbounded. And so I trust. I trust that when I don't understand, that the God who created all this and died for me will do, and indeed has done, what is right. And one more thing - He has told me that I am my brother's keeper, and so I will do all I can to help. I will help Haiti and as many others as I can. I need to be reminded of all this from time to time.

Pastor Ken

I Have a Dream

2010-01-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

When I was in High School Speech and Debate, my category in Speech was Oratorical Interpretation. Basically that meant that we chose a speech from history and then delivered it in a way that would elicit a response in our own time. Now, I chose an unknown speech from an unknown senator in the 1890s, and did pretty well with it. But by far the most popular speech to deliver - usually two or more in a round of eight to ten speakers - was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's "I Have a Dream." Now, there were some speeches that I got tired of hearing after just the first delivery. But not "I Have a Dream." It was by far the best expression of the American Dream I have ever heard. I know that Dr. King was a flawed man. And I know that many used those flaws in an attempt to marginalize him. But on this day I want to celebrate one of the greatest Americans of the 20th century. Dr. King was taken from us much too early. But I shudder to think what would have happened to our country without his influence. And yes, I do expect to meet him in the Kingdom of God.

Pastor Ken

The Best Answer

2010-01-15T10:22:00.000-08:00

This morning I was reading the review of the new movie "The Book of Eli," starring Denzel Washington. Most of the review was pretty straightforward, but one statement really stood out to me. The reviewer asked if anyone really wants Christianity to survive the apocalypse. Now, leaving aside the fact that this reviewer would never have asked that about Islam or any other religion, the rhetorical question itself reveals the kind of disdain with which Christianity is held in many circles today. Now I know that many who read this blog (both of you!) are as tired as I am about Christianity being treated this way by many of the so called "cultural elite." But what do we do about it? Frankly, I think we ignore it. We don't comment on it. Instead, we ask God to help us to live lives that will convict those who continue to reject God's free offer of salvation in Jesus Christ. To the extent that this disdain is brought on by actions and attitudes on our part that are unworthy of our God and Savior, we must repent and live differently. To the extent that they represent the inevitable opposition God's plan will always raise, we just keep going on and leave it all in God's hands. But we don't strike back. We don't picket or sue or do any of the other things that might "show them" that "they can't treat us this way." Why? Don't we have our rights? Well, frankly, no, we don't. Jesus warned us that we would be opposed in this world. In the Bible we are told to make sure that we are not suffering for our own wrongdoing, and if we are not, then to suffer such treatment in silence, even turning "the other cheek" if necessary. Besides, when I talk to the pastors of our Armenian and Assyrian congregations, I am humbled by the persecution they suffered and yet continued to serve both God and their fellow people - even those who persecuted them. Let's live lives of such godliness that those who oppose us are ashamed for having done so.

Pastor Ken

A Man Made Disaster

2010-01-14T09:44:00.000-08:00

The earthquake that hit Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere is a growing tragedy. Current reports estimate at least 100,000 dead, possibly more. This is a tragedy of the first order. And perhaps the worst part of all is that most of the tragedy is of human making. In this morning's LA Times an article said that the tragedy was the result of a three things: tectonics, population and poor building standards. How do these three things add up to a man made tragedy? Well, first, let's understand that plate tectonics, while a cause of the earthquake, are not really a cause of the tragedy. Modern science tells us that it is the dynamic nature of our planet, as reflected by tectonics, that makes it a place suitable for life. The fact is that earthquakes are as old as humanity (older actually, but what came before didn't affect us). Earthquakes are known happenings. And, in today's world, we know how to minimize death and destruction from earthquakes. What has made the situation in Haiti so tragic is that there are so many people crammed into such a small place that is filled with buildings not built to standards designed to protect people in an earthquake. And this is directly traceable to the graft and corruption that constitute the nature of Haitian politics and culture. It is the heart of man which is desperately wicked, not the heart of the earth. I cry for and with the people of Haiti. Something must be done both today and tomorrow to alleviate their suffering and prevent such a tragedy from happening again. What can be done? Well, today, we need to give to organizations that are providing immediate assistance to those affected. To that end I recommend an organization which will get 100% of what you give to those in need: Convoy of Hope. You can give online and immediately by going to their website: http://www.convoyofhope.org/ . As for tomorrow, it is only by changing the hearts of people that a better society can be built. That is why we support the work of missionaries in Haiti and around the world who are bringing the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ to every nation - including Haiti. So give to Convoy of Hope. And give to support missionaries. Together we can prevent such a great tragedy from happening again.

Pastor Ken

Nick is back!

2010-01-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

I am excited about services we have coming up beginning on January 24 and going through Tuesday night the 26th with Nick Farone. Nick is a former actor who quit at the height of his career when God called him into the ministry. Since then he has been evangelizing and has founded a ministry to street kids in Bastrop, Louisiana, a town that cares little for the kids who run the streets and receive little or not education, and sometimes little or no food. Nick has built a youth center and led many to the Lord as well as helping them to realize that God loves them and has more for them than just repeating the patterns they grew up with. Nick brings an inspiring message of faith in song and word. Those of you who know me know that I seldom bring outside speakers in. But Nick has a special message and a special ministry, and I cannot imagine missing even one of the services. I hope you won't either if you are in the area.

Pastor Ken

Pray for me!

2010-01-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

This morning I received my copy of Rosetta Stone software for Persian (Farsi), levels 1,2&3. As I write this I am loading the software on my computer and will soon begin my first lesson. Since we have a department of the church that reaches out to Armenian-Iranians and one that reaches out to Assyrian-Iranians, and since I am lazy and only want to have to learn one language rather than two in order to be able to speak to them, as well as preach and teach in services, I have decided to learn Persian, which is common to both groups. On the one hand, I have learned six languages in my lifetime. On the other hand, I don't even fully remember all of them and I only read the others, except for English. So this promises to be interesting. Hence, the title of this blog - Pray for me!

Pastor Ken

Prayer request

2010-01-11T06:45:00.001-08:00

I am in Phoenix this morning with a couple that has been trying for almost two years now to plant a church in this southeastern suburb of one of America's fastest growing cities. They are throwing in the towel. There are a lot of reasons why this plant did not work. But what I want to do today is to ask you to pray for all those across the nation that are trying to plant churches in their communities. It is one of the hardest jobs there is, kind of like trying to start a new business, but not having any access to funds, since no bank will loan for a church start-up. This couple has worked long, hard hours for literally no pay, and all in order to reach people who do not yet know the good news of God's love in Christ. So pray for those across our nation who are trying to do the same thing. God bless!

Pastor Ken

Keeping it clean

2010-01-08T09:50:00.000-08:00

While I was looking at this screen just now I noticed that there were quite a few spots on the screen. They weren't large and they hardly showed up when I was looking at what was on the screen instead of the screen itself. But I had recently run across a post on a Mac billboard that said that a certain product was great at cleaning the MacBook White - a real need when you have a white computer. I bought the product and it works great. But cleaning my computer just now reminded me of the much more important task of cleaning up our lives. It occurred to me that there are quite a few parallels between my computer and my life. First, the computer is white - which is what the Lord said He has done to my life - made it whiter than snow. Consequently "dirt" - in this case sin - is going to show up pretty quickly. When I look past my life to what is happening in it, it is easy to ignore the dirt. But most important of all is that I need the right product to clean it. In this case, the Bible says that the blood of Christ is what it takes to make me clean. I apply the blood by asking for forgiveness, renewing my trust in Christ and asking for His Holy Spirit to take over my life. And you know what? When I do it is like my mother used to say when she made me clean up as a little child - "doesn't that feel better?" Yes, mother it did - and it does!

Pastor Ken

What is Salvation?

2010-01-07T10:03:00.000-08:00

We have begun a new Bible Study series on Wednesday nights here at West Valley Christian Center on the four fundamentals of our movement - Salvation, The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Healing and the Second Coming. Last night we took our first look at salvation. And one of the questions that arose was just constituted salvation. It is an interesting question, since most religions disagree on the answer. Perhaps the two which are furthest apart are the two which many people think are the closest - Christianity and Buddhism. The simple answer regarding the difference is that Christianity teaches that salvation is being saved from the effects of our past sins, the power of sin over our present lives and the deliverance from the eternal effects of sin by allowing us to spend eternity with God. Buddhism, on the other hand, seems to teach that salvation is the deliverance from existence itself, with the individual coming back through multiple lives to work off all the bad things they did in the past so that they can cease coming back and at the same time cease to exist. At the heart of this difference is a difference of opinion regarding the value of life itself. I am not qualified to make extensive comments on Buddhism, but it seems pretty clear that any religion which teaches that the ultimate goal is to cease existing must believe that life itself is more of a burden than a blessing. But Christianity teaches us that life is so valuable, especially human life, that God was willing to come and die for us so that we could have life with Him forever - life is the ultimate good! Now, just because I like one concept over the other doesn't mean it is the correct one. The truth of Christianity is best seen in the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, thus proving the truth of all else he said as well. But I am glad to know that there is a personal God who gave me life and wants to have me with Him for all eternity, and who respects and treasures my individuality enough to allow me to keep that individuality throughout eternity. Add to that the fact that He paid the price for my salvation, and I can only sit in awe of what He has done and praise Him for it - forever!

Pastor Ken

Getting it all done

2010-01-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

I have been in a hiatus for the past month from my ongoing Ph.D. work since I submitted my dissertation. And, I really thought that I would find myself with more time than I have been having for the past several years. Silly idea! With the start of the new year I have been deluged with new projects, and the total time required seems to have increased over what I previously had. You would think that approaching the age of 55 I would finally have learned how to prioritize and get the most important things done first. Alas, that is a talent that seems more elusive in practice than it is in theory. I suspect that this is also true of many other things in our lives as well. It is amazing how easy some things are in theory. I guess that is what life is - it is messy and chaotic and never as easy in fact as it is in theory. What do I do about it? I ask God for wisdom and trust that He knows what really needs to be done. I don't mean that I sit and pray for hours (or even minutes, or even at all) before each task. But I do pray for God's help and guidance everyday and I do trust Him to give me what I need. I would like to think that everything is being done exactly as He intends - but I would have to be perfect for that to happen. So, I just keep muddling along and trusting that God will take what I offer and use it for His glory and kingdom. And if that's not very satisfying sometimes - well, welcome to real life!

Pastor Ken

The Great Healthcare Debate

2010-01-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

Oh no, am I about to enter into the great debate that started today on reconciling the healthcare bill in congress? And I going to say that the Bible either does or does not support some version of the likely bill? Well, no. Rather I want to ask a question. Do you think that healthcare should be a function of personal wealth? Should the quality of healthcare we receive be a function of how much money we have? If you think so, then I challenge you to either show how the Bible teaches that, or that the Bible is silent on our responsibility to each other when it comes to health. And if you don't think so, then I challenge you to show how the Bible speaks to your opinion. If you think that the Bible does teach us that healthcare is something everyone deserves regardless of financial situation, then you must decide what you think is the best way to accomplish that. If you think the Bible teaches that healthcare ought to be reserved for the wealthy, well . . . . And if you think the Bible is silent on the subject, then you should probably sit back and enjoy the political fireworks! What do I think? Well, what do you think I think?

Pastor Ken

A New Year's Resolution

2010-01-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

I was listening to a local radio station the other day and they were playing different people's new year's resolutions. What I found most interesting was that every one of them was something like, "I hope this is a better year financially," or "I want peace in the world." Of course, neither of those is a resolution. They might be good wishes. I certainly would like to see a better year financially and peace around the world would be great. But to idly wish for something is not the same thing as deciding to do something. A new year's resolution is a decision to do something. That is why, when I go the gym this afternoon, it will have more people in it that it probably will any other day of the year - people have resolved to do something about their health. So what have I resolved to do this year? Well, I won't bore you with all the things I would like to do. But there is one that stands out. It sounds like something a pastor would say only in order to preach a message or guilt others into doing something. And I want neither of those. But of everything that I can think of that I want to do this year, far and away the greatest desire I have is to know God better. You see, it is so easy to just keep going along in life and only deal with things as they come along. So, of course I will spend time with my grandson and my wife and my children. I will try to pastor the church God has given me to the very best of my ability - which includes relying on God's help. But it is so easy to get busy with all that stuff and just not take time to get closer to God. I don't want to just do all that stuff this year. I want to get to know God better than I ever have. Fortunately, history is filled with great Christians who have had the same desire and have succeeded. They have left for us a record of their own journeys. And they always seem to include some of the same things. Usually it involves spending time away from all the hustle and bustle of the world and getting alone with God. It involves spending more time reading the Bible. And it involves spending more time with others who are also seeking to know God better. Does that sound like just so much of the same thing? Well, I guess it is. But then, when I drive to the office everyday, I take the same road that I have and that others have and still do. The reason we all take the same road is that it will actually get us where we want to go. I guess I could take a new way. But I am not sure what that way is, and I certainly would take a lot longer to get there. so I guess I will just stay on the old paths. I know where they lead.

Pastor Ken

A New Year

2010-01-01T10:45:00.000-08:00

Well, it is here - 2010. It is a new year, and with it comes hope for a better year for many. 2009 was certainly a tough year for some, especially in the financial area. If you have had a tough year financially, my prayer for you is that God will richly bless you as you remain faithful to Him. As John put it, "may you prosper even as your soul prospers." Have a terrific 2010, everyone!

Pastor Ken

Moral tools

2009-12-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

I got a link today for a talk on an interesting subject. It was so interesting, that I first want to give you the web address, and then attach my observations that I wrote back to the one who sent the link. I hope you find it as interesting as I did. The address is:

http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind.html

My comments were as follows. I would love to hear yours.

Fascinating. I think, however, that he starts to late in the process and then comes back only at the end, and without direction or even foundation. I maintain that the starting place has to be truth. The five axes are certainly valid, but they are, to my mind, tools. I think that he is actually saying this to some extent. But unless the tools have good information to work with, they will not lead to correct conclusions. BTW, I think he betrays himself at the end by only noting Eastern religions, which I find morally ambiguous. I understand that the axes seem to be foundational, but are not. For example, what constitutes real harm must be informed by the real nature of the universe and life. Christianity posits that there is more to life than what appears to us - that our life in this universe is less than a preface to the real story. As such, real harm is measured in terms of how it affects that eternal part of our existence which lies primarily outside of this universe. Eastern religions, on the other hand, teach that we continually reenter this universe, and that this is the bane of our existence, and that, indeed, existence itself is the problem. Therefore our goal is to cease to exist. Which is true, or if another is, will determine what we do with these tools. I really enjoyed the talk, and I do believe that the questions which both lead to and arise out of these kinds of things are the most important things we will think about and act on in this life. I might add that, if this pitifully short existence is all there is, most of what he is talking about is of limited, and ultimately of no, real value.

Milestone?

2009-12-30T09:41:00.001-08:00

So I just noticed that yesterday was my 100 post on this blog. I know that after 100 episodes, a TV series is likely to go into syndication - and that is where the real money is. So I wonder. . . . Nah! Instead, let me be as generic as possible and just wish everyone a happy new year!

Pastor Ken

Good editorial

2009-12-29T10:39:00.000-08:00

While reading my LA Times this morning I came across this editorial. It was so good I thought I would post the link. Let me know what you think.

Pastor Ken

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg29-2009dec29,0,4550777.column

Three Quarters of a Century

2009-12-28T08:59:00.000-08:00

Today is my mother-in-law's 75 birthday. In May my father turned 75 and earlier this month my mother did the same. Next month my father-in-law will also turn 75. Of course, being in my mid fifties, my perspective on reaching three quarters of a century has dramatically changed. I now realize how quickly it comes - something I never would have believed even 20 years ago. And it reminds me once again of how short and how long life is. Short - well, that is obvious. As we age we find ourselves saying the same thing everyone else did who was "old" when we were young - "It sure goes by quickly." And, as I have said before, if this is all there is to life, then it is not only short, it is also pointless. If there were no God, then length wouldn't matter, as there would be no purpose to life anyway. But, of course, there is a God - a God who sent His Son to show us the way to eternal life. And that means that the shortness of this life is but an illusion. It is an important illusion, because it is the decisions we make in this earthly portion of our existence that determines the locale of the rest of our lives. Since the trajectory of our lives does not change after a certain point, it is good that the time spent making the decisions that determine that trajectory is relatively short before we pass off of this scene and leave it to others who are still making that decision. But the truth is that life is not short - only this portion of it is. And I, for one, want to make sure that this short portion of my life eternal with my Father is one that not only makes sure that I will spend the rest with Him, but that I do all I can to help as many others as possible to do the same. That starts with my family and continues in ever widening circles to all that I come into contact with. And that, ultimately, is what gives my life meaning.

Pastor Ken

Christmas and Family

2009-12-26T14:48:00.000-08:00

It is a tradition in the West to associate Christmas with family. For those of us who sense that most of society has forgotten that Christmas is all about Christ, we sometimes neglect to mention family, or much of anything else because we want to stress the importance of Christ. But, as I sit at my sisters house in Oceanside, having celebrated Christmas with our children and grandson, and then gone to Lake Arrowhead to celebrate Christmas with my wife's side of the family and now look forward to my side here in Oceanside, I must confess that the time spent with my family is the best. For many, this is the only time all year that I will see them. For others, it will be a great dynamic as we all get together. For example, both sides of our family are very political, and political discussions are always the order of the day. With my wife's side of our family, I am the liberal. With my side I am the conservative. And the discussions are always lively. But they are fun! As is the eating, talking, and everything else. So, yes, Christmas is all about Christ. But, since the family was God's idea, it is appropriate that it also be about family. After all, family is the second greatest gift God has given us after His Son. So enjoy Christmas - and family!

Pastor Ken

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T10:03:00.000-08:00

There really isn't anything new to say about Christmas. But I do like something my wife put on the refrigerator. It simply says: "Jesus is the reason for the . . . well, for everything!" As CS Lewis remarked, even when you don't understand something completely, when it makes everything else make more sense, you know it is true. So thank you, God, for making sense of the world by sending your Son. And Merry Christmas, everyone!

Pastor Ken

Making a Difference

2009-12-22T10:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the funeral for Oral Roberts. Having graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1976 (yes, I know how old that makes me!), I had an opportunity to see him from a much closer perspective than most. So I appreciated the honesty of his children as they shared that he wasn't perfect and wasn't always there for them. They talked about how driven he was. There is no doubt that Oral was not perfect. He may have pushed too much in some of his projects. But he tried to obey God whenever he felt God was telling him to do something. And the results were stupendous, and will probably only be appreciated by future historians. He founded the first Pentecostal University. He was instrumental in founding the Full Gospel Businessmen. He preached to hundreds of millions around the world. He had the top rated religious program in the country. He was not afraid to preach Christ wherever he went. So often we find that being close to those we have admired from afar leads to a lessened respect for them. The opposite was true of Oral. The more I saw of him, the more I respected him. Just one story from my time at the University: One night at work, I and several of the other waiters at the restaurant who were ORU students were concerned because one of the busboys who was from ORU, and who was always on time, was not there. It was about a half hour after he was supposed to get there. When he did arrive, he told us that he had been running on the indoor track about two hours earlier when he tripped and fell and broke his ankle so bad that the bones were actually puncturing the skin. Oral happened to be running at the same time, and he came over and laid hands on our friend. He had gone to the school nurse to have it looked at, but he knew that immediately he had been healed. After all, he could no longer see the broken bones and he could once again walk. He was late because the nurse had to verify. But he had been healed right there! I don't know if I was more amazed that Oral had prayed for him and he had been healed, or that Oral was on the track running and took the time to check out what had happened. God truly worked through Oral. May I obey God's voice as completely as Oral did!

Pastor Ken

Pagan Symbols

2009-12-21T10:21:00.000-08:00

Every year at Christmas a slew of articles and sermons come out on why we Christians should eschew Christmas trees and even the date of Christmas itself. We are told that the date of Christmas probably has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus, but rather was selected to coincide with the "Saturnalia," a pagan holiday of gift giving in honor of the Roman god, Saturn. And, that is true. Jesus was probably born in the Spring, not the dead of winter. We are also told that Christmas trees are derived from pagan worship in ancient Germany. Again, probably true. And yet I will celebrate Christmas on December 25 and have had my Christmas tree up in my house for weeks now. Why? Because while it may be true that the origins of the date for Christmas and the practice of erecting a tree may be in pagan celebrations, they don't mean that to me and never have. Nor have they ever carried that meaning for anyone that I have ever known, or anyone they have ever known. For centuries the date of Christmas has been associated with the birth of Christ. And for more than a century the Christmas tree has only been associated with Christmas and the birth of Christ. As one pastor I once worked with said, "God honors what we honor." And I honor Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world on December 25 (among other days) and erect my Christmas tree as a part of that celebration. And God receives it as such. To be honest, I don't care if there are others who do not think that I am honoring God by celebrating Christmas. God knows that I am. And I do it for Him and for my family, not for others. "And that's the way it is!"

Pastor Ken

Real Christmas

2009-12-19T19:43:00.000-08:00

Today the Tinseltoons, a group of Dickensian Carolers from our church sang at the annual "visit from Santa" and toy giveaway held by the Devonshire Station of the LAPD at their new youth center in Northridge. Also there was one of our sister churches, Hope Church of Northridge. Along with a lot of other volunteers, we gave away and made Christmas fun for hundreds of children who might not otherwise have gotten anything for Christmas. And that is appropriate for a time of year that is important only because of the gift of love given by God on that first Christmas. If you haven't found a place to volunteer to help others this Christmas, there is still time. Find a place and just do it. If you're too busy - do it anyway. You might find a new holiday tradition to take the place of others you wish you could give up anyway! Merry Christmas!

Pastor Ken

A Good Funeral?

2009-12-18T14:39:00.000-08:00

I just got in from a funeral at the Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood for a sister of a congregation member. And it was a good funeral. I know that to a naturalist that can sound like a contradiction in terms. How can the death of someone - what a naturalist would have to consider a complete cessation of existence - be good? Now, I know that not every naturalist considers death a bad thing, but, frankly, it is only young naturalists for the most part that I have found who feel that way. Something in us not only wants to live forever, but senses the injustice of sentience without eternal life. But of course, that is why a Christian funeral can be a good thing. We know that the God who created all that there is has not only promised us eternal life, but made good on that promise by sending His own Son to guarantee it. "To as many as received him (the Son), He gave the authority to become the children of God." Notice that we are not all children of God. By birth we are creatures of God, but we only become children by being adopted into God's family - a decision we make when we receive Christ. Audrey had done just that. And she had lived as a part of God's family faithfully for decades. So, in the midst of the pain of separation, there was joy in her "homegoing." Because, as we have all been reminded time and again, home is where our family is. Audrey is with her Father and the rest of her family at home. The rest of us who want to go there too are still on our way. It was a good funeral!

Pastor Ken

Angels, Shepherds and Wise Men, pt. 4

2009-12-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

So, since I have talked about Angels, Shepherds and Wise Men already, how can there be a part 4? Well. it is just that I was thinking that there was someone else who knew what was going on - Herod. But Herod was someone who did not care who was behind this new child - God or whoever. He only saw a threat. And that is indeed how some of us act and think. And, rightly so. The coming of God's Son means that we are without excuse. God has shown us that we are responsible for our own actions and that the only way out of eternal separation from Him is by putting our trust in Christ and obeying Him. Herod knew that his position was threatened by this new child. So is ours. But in the end, CS Lewis is right: there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who say to God, "not my will, but thine be done," and those to whom God will say, "not my will, but thine be done." We can choose the way of Herod and insist on our own will if we so desire. "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"

Pastor Ken

Angels, Shepherds and Wise Men, pt. 3

2009-12-16T12:03:00.000-08:00

Another group who were invited to the incarnation of the Son of God were the Magi - traditionally referred to as "Wise men." What is most interesting about this group is that they were, quite simply, astrologers. Now we all know that there is no truth to Astrology. The Stars and Planets have no control over the direction of our lives by their place in the sky. And yet, God used the "false knowledge" of these astrologers to let them know that the King of the Jews had been born. How could God do that? Doesn't He care about truth? Of course, the answer is yes, He does care about truth. But He also knows everything about us, and I suspect that if He had to wait until we got it all right, He would never be able to communicate with us. So, with the Magi, as with us, He spoke to them in terms they would understand - and He did communicate truth to them through this false methodology - the King of the Jews was born! And notice their reaction. Being wealthy, they brought expensive gifts. That is appropriate. I would note, by the way, that almost every American is wealthy by historical standards. Their gifts speak much more loudly to what we ought to do. And then, they did something that the other two groups did - they bore witness of what God had done. Perhaps their example is the most instructive of all for us today. Gifts to God and a witness to others. Not a bad plan for Christmas.

Pastor Ken

Angels, Shepherds and Wise Men, pt. 2

2009-12-15T13:19:00.000-08:00

The Shepherds represent another kind of person invited to be a part of that first Christmas. They were the lowest of the low in that society. Shepherding was "non-skilled" labor. It required little intelligence or education. It was usually reserved for the youngest member of the family. And yet, this is one of only two groups to whom God chose to reveal what was happening that night. And the key word is: reveal. You see, we humans can no nothing objective about God except what He chooses to reveal to us. Just look at all the religions in the world. They are in contradiction to each other because, while we know there is a God, we do not know enough about God to say anything with certainty about Him. That is why He had to reveal Himself to us. That evening He used angels to reveal the start of the more complete revelation that would be given in Jesus Christ. And the shepherds reacted as we all must. First, they praised God, even though they didn't understand all of the implications of what was happening, and what they thought they did understand was wrong. After all, they were looking for an earthly king and Jesus was nothing of the sort. But they praised God, as should we, even, and especially, when we don't understand. Then, they went to learn more about what God was doing. And lastly, they went and told others. Praise, learning and witness - three pretty good reactions at Christmas, don't you think?

Pastor Ken

Angels, Shepherds and Wise Men, pt. 1

2009-12-14T10:05:00.000-08:00

So I was thinking about three or four responses to the coming of God's Son. The first was by the Angels. On the one hand, Jesus' coming did not directly affect them - Jesus came to save humanity. On the other hand, they knew what was happening. They knew just who Jesus was and just what was about to happen. Their reaction? To praise God and to tell someone who did not know what was going on. Now that is not a bad model for us. After all, we now know what was going on that first Christmas day. God was sending His Son into the world so that the world, through Him, might be saved. That is glorious news! So, in the midst of a busy Christmas season, let's not forget to praise God for what He has done. And then, there are many who still do not know what it was all about. Around us are those who think it is all about Santa and gifts and family. None of those is bad, but they are not enough. So let's look for opportunities to tell those who do not know in a way that isn't designed to offend (if offense is going to be taken, I want it to be offense at the gospel and not at the way the gospel was presented or by whom). There is one difference between me and the angels. They were objective bystanders - Jesus coming was not designed to save them. But I am not. I am one of those who needed salvation, and who received it. Glory to God in the Highest! And on earth, peace to those on whom His favor rests!

Pastor Ken

Forgiveness

2009-12-12T09:17:00.000-08:00

One of the hardest, yet important things that Jesus tells us to do is to forgive others. I was reminded again yesterday of just how hard that can be when my wife and I went to see the new movie, "Invictus." At one point Mandela tells one of the other characters that, in order for the country to survive, they must learn to forgive. Later on, one of the characters asks himself, having visited Robin Island, how someone forgives those who have imprisoned him for 27 years, as Mandela did his captors. It is impossible to overestimate the value of forgiveness. And this is primarily because not forgiving seldom hurts the one we will not forgive, but always enslaves those of us who won't forgive. Perhaps that is why Jesus places such emphasis on it. We all know that Jesus told us that God will not forgive those who will not forgive others. Could it be that the reason He will not do it is because we would not accept it? Have we made ourselves the kind of people for whom forgiveness is unworkable when we refuse to forgive others? I know it can be hard to forgive others. But what Jesus says is that it is even harder when we don't.

Pastor Ken

Addictions, Pt. 2

2009-12-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I talked about original sin and how the Tiger Woods tragedy illustrates this for us all. I was talking to a woman who attends an S-Anon meeting at our church and she said that, given her husband's problems with sexual addiction, she understood a little better how Tiger could do what he seems to have done. That got me thinking about an article I read in "First Things" last month. It talks about gambling addiction, and it is well worth your time. It can be found at: http://www.firstthings.com/article/2009/10/gambling-with-lives All of this reminds me of a notepad that my wife has on our refrigerator. It says: "Jesus is the reason for - - - well, everything!" A good word for this day and this season. God bless you!

Pastor Ken

On Infidelity

2009-12-10T11:12:00.000-08:00

We are currently in the midst of watching the meltdown of a marriage. I am speaking, of course, of Tiger Woods and his wife Elin. To say that we are watching a tragedy unfold is a vast understatement. I am not interested on commenting on his "transgressions" in particular, but rather to observe that he is but the latest example of a problem that we all face. It is not popular in our modern American society to talk about original sin. We would all like to think that there is something inherently wrong in: a) Tiger's upbringing, b) Tiger's celebrity status, c) Some unknown aspect of his relationship to Elin, or d) all of the above. Now, I am not privy to the details of any of the above. But it seems to me that underlying all of it is the simple fact that we humans have an inborn sin nature - a natural tendency to do things that we know are wrong before we do them, yet we do them anyway. It is a tendency observed at the earliest of ages, and one that does not go away by itself. How mean is it, then, that God holds us responsible for the things we do wrong when it is born into all of us. But of course, that misses the entire point of Christmas. Of course God knows we have this tendency, this irresistible tendency to do things we know are wrong. But that is why He sent Jesus in the first place. Jesus shows us that it is possible for a human to live without sin, but that it can only be true of someone who is actually God's child. So, the Bible tells us that God offers to adopt us into His family by causing us to be "born again" by the power of His Holy Spirit. The bottom line is this: without the power of God in our lives, we are all doomed to live a life of slavery to some aspect of our sin nature. But God can, and will, overcome that in our lives if we will let Him. How's that for a Christmas gift?

Pastor Ken

Healthcare and Abortion

2009-12-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

I usually shy away from political commentary on this blog. I have had suggestions to start another with that kind of thing. And I do not want to suggest that there is a "Christian" stand on the overall healthcare debate. I can see both sides of the debate and find myself able to persuasively on both sides. But that assumes that I do not address one subject - abortion. The other day one lawmaker compared the Republicans who oppose federal healthcare to those who opposed overturning slavery before the Civil War. Now, leaving aside the fact that it was the Democrats who opposed overturning slavery at that time, the comparison is specious. Healthcare is not about defining who is and who is not a human being. But abortion is! Those who support abortion on demand have defined "fetuses" as less than human, just like the southerners had defined African Americans as less than human. So for me, the real comparison to slavery is for those who support abortion on demand. And because I support the right of all innocent human life, I can not support any healthcare bill that allows for abortions to be paid for with federal money in any form, even if supposedly it is the "non-federal" dollars that are paying for it. The simple fact is that if a person was not able to afford healthcare without federal dollars, then if the policy they have covers abortion services on demand, then federal dollars are paying for the murder of an innocent human life. Unless and until the Senate includes the amendment the house has adopted that forbids any policy using federal dollars from paying for an elective abortion at all, then I must respectfully, but firmly, oppose that healthcare package. And, since no one in congress cares what I think, I am praying for the National Council of Catholic Bishops to be successful in pushing this. Political? I don't think so. This is moral! This is about Human rights.

Pastor Ken