Featured Blog Posts - Kingdom Cryer2024-03-29T02:03:06Zhttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?promoted=1&xn_auth=noSelf-Actualization or Fulfilling Your Destinytag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2012-02-25:3023356:BlogPost:75132012-02-25T21:30:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73518068?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73518068?profile=RESIZE_320x320" style="padding: 5px;" width="200"></img></a> These concepts, self-actualization and finding and fulfilling our destiny, are not out of necessity juxtaposed, but for the purpose of illustrating the point of this writing, they are. We all desire 'to be' and many of us desire to be all that we can be. There are two paths to greatness, both potential satisfying, each leading to a different place. There is the…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73518068?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="200" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73518068?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200" style="padding: 5px;" class="align-left"/></a> These concepts, self-actualization and finding and fulfilling our destiny, are not out of necessity juxtaposed, but for the purpose of illustrating the point of this writing, they are. We all desire 'to be' and many of us desire to be all that we can be. There are two paths to greatness, both potential satisfying, each leading to a different place. There is the actualization of our self - meaning rising to the highest level that we can attain. How high? To many, that is like asking 'How much money is enough?', the answer always being "More..." </p>
<p> Browsing the titles of books in many libraries will show us the need, the desire, indeed the compulsion to actualizing the full potential, to rise to the top, to the very pinnacle of success and maybe even to go beyond that pinnacle - rising higher than any man has risen before. What will come of this type of success? It can bring satisfaction; an intense satisfaction in ones own accomplishments: The glory of self-fulfillment and honor from mankind. This reward calls people, skilled, talented people to higher and higher success... </p>
<p><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17942">13</sup> You said in your heart, <br/> “I will ascend to the heavens; <br/> I will raise my throne <br/> above the stars of God; <br/> I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, (Isa. 13: 14) </p>
<p> In other words, I will be first before all the other talented and skilled people. And, who will set on my right or my left? If I am inclined to philanthropy, perhaps I will give others a 'leg up'; if I am inclined to narcissism, it will be me, just me sharing the throne with no one.</p>
<p> When success is scoped and defined with actualizing myself, the godless element is shown at the very pinnacle of greatness: </p>
<p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17943">4</sup> I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; <br/> I will make myself like the Most High.” </p>
<p> This desire to be exalted to the 'top' is the desire to be like God, taking His place, becoming number ONE.</p>
<p> This desire is in the heart of man and it is a call in the depth of many souls - the full actualization of self.</p>
<p></p>
<p> Juxtapose this with God's intent. He has a purpose for you, for me. Jesus said that he came, not to do his will but to do the will of him who sent him. And, Jesus fulfilled God's purpose, He fulfilled the role God laid out for him to do. He was a servant; his success was not gratuitous; it is the success of his serving to the utmost, paying the full and final cost. He wove for all time into the fabric of life and knowledge - the path to life is sacrifice. His will; not mine. </p>
<p> We are each created for a purpose; fulfilling that purpose IS life. How we fulfill that purpose is our opportunity to grasp the real or grasp at 'fools gold'; if we fulfill it by fulfilling the destiny that God has planned for us; serving, loving and living in and for him we will find life and our reward will be sweet and eternal. If we fullfill our purposes by 'ascending the ladder of success' under our own steam, demonstrating our own greatness, in the end we will find...</p>
<p></p>
<p>But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, </p>
<p> to the depths of the pit.</p>
<p>Those who see you stare at you, <br/> they ponder your fate: <br/> “Is this the man who shook the earth <br/> and made kingdoms tremble (Isa. 14: 15, 16)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, we each have the power of choice. To chose to to find and fulfill our destiny, the things that God designed us to accomplish OR to dedicate our lives to actualizing ourselves.</p>
<p>Choose wisely my friends.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11px;"><br/></span></p>Seeing the Foundations of the Kingdomtag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2011-06-12:3023356:BlogPost:27072011-06-12T18:43:07.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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<p>In extending the Kingdom...</p>
<p> What is the Mission? </p>
<p> How do we fulfill the mission?</p>
<p> What skills do we need?</p>
<p> How do we join together to build?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>How do we overcome the current problems...</p>
<p> The body of Christ is divided... Is the Lord coming back for a bride or for a harem?</p>
<p> The average believer does…</p>
<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73518161?profile=original"><img width="308" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73518161?profile=original" class="align-left"/></a><br />
<p>In extending the Kingdom...</p>
<p> What is the Mission? </p>
<p> How do we fulfill the mission?</p>
<p> What skills do we need?</p>
<p> How do we join together to build?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>How do we overcome the current problems...</p>
<p> The body of Christ is divided... Is the Lord coming back for a bride or for a harem?</p>
<p> The average believer does not share his/her faith... </p>
<p> "If" the average believer leads someone to Christ, they don't know how to 'teach them all things Jesus commanded". Isn't the great commission the 'thing' we are supposed to fulfil? </p>
<p> The average church spends most of its money on its own people and own programs. Isn't there - somewhere- the concept that the tithe is supposed to be for a storehouse for needs?</p>
<p> The average Christian is getting divorced at the same rate as the unbeliever. Isn't the marrige supposed to be a picture of Christ and his bride?</p>
<p> The average Christian family has rebellious children who engage in drugs and immorality. </p>
<p> The average Christian couple is not able to lead their children to Christ - of the youngest generation, only 4% -let me write that FOUR PERCENT- profess to be Bible believing Christians. Aren't we supposed to be, as Christians - the family of God, yet we aren't even living out Christ within the walls of our own homes?</p>
<p> The average approach to government promotes godlessness and dishonors godliness. Politicians are closely scrutinized to see if their faith impacts 'the rest' of their lives. The assumption that most people make, if it does –this is ‘bad’.</p>
<p> The average public school polices Christian influence to carefully manage and in many cases ban it and bring in sex education and 'diversity' education that should make our skin crawl.</p>
<p> Christians divide over race and creed without recognizing the body or go off the rails in the other direction and unite with unbelievers in an effort to promote unity.</p>
<p> Need I go on?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Church, this is our fruit - we have NOT raised a godly standard, the world is overtaking the church - not vice versa. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> I submit that the root problem is this - we do not have an understanding of the Kingdom and our place in it. </p>
<p> That needs to change.</p>
<p> Scripture says we act out of our hearts, thoughts and visions. If we cannot SEE the Kingdom, we cannot live the Kingdom. </p>
<p> The following power point illustrates a key foundation stone of the Kingdom. It also shows the way to handle the issues above.</p>
<p> Please review and comment. </p>
<p> May God bless you!</p>
<p> Here is the link to the power point presentation. The concepts in the 20 pages of the presentation lay the understanding for a new way to look at the Kingdom. </p>
<p> <a href="http://bit.ly/ChurchCore">http://bit.ly/ChurchCore</a></p>
<p> </p>To Tell the Truth...tag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2011-03-13:3023356:BlogPost:22052011-03-13T18:31:36.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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<p> </p>
<p>We live in an odd era. </p>
<p>Post Modern philosophy tells us that the realities that we talk about are not founded in truth, but depend on the view of the people discussing them. On this and similar philosophy grows a relativistic worldview where most anything is, OK as long as we agree to it. It is popularized by the saying, “It is true for you but not true for…</p>
<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73518153?profile=original"><img width="200" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73518153?profile=RESIZE_320x320" class="align-left"/></a><br />
<p> </p>
<p>We live in an odd era. </p>
<p>Post Modern philosophy tells us that the realities that we talk about are not founded in truth, but depend on the view of the people discussing them. On this and similar philosophy grows a relativistic worldview where most anything is, OK as long as we agree to it. It is popularized by the saying, “It is true for you but not true for me.”</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernism">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernism</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>These world views attack our basic Christian assumption about life and reality – that there IS truth and that we can know what is true. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was meditating on this situation and it dawned on me that ‘the church’ has played a part in this movement away from truth. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>My background is relating to churches in the big picture and in the micro picture. Here is what I have noticed. In business, we have to tell each other the truth. Why? Because if we don’t tell ourselves the truth, we will go out of business. Most things done in business, if done well, have a large ‘reality check’ component to them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In churches, this doesn’t happen. The pastor might preach really weak sermons… is there a mechanism to help him understand where he needs to improve? No. I always thought this was rather odd since one of the key reasons people select one church over another is the sermons that are preached.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The average person sitting in the pew may not have any deep understanding of God. They may not understand the relationship between the New Testament and the Old Testament. They may not understand how Christ ‘fits in’. And, most importantly, they may never have come to the cross – they may never have seen Christ upon the cross dying for their sins. And, even if they have come to the cross in their own lives, they may not know how to share this knowledge with others. While all of these things may be the case, week after week we gather and no one ever ‘figures this out’ and makes a plan on what to do about it. I thought that, too, was odd.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then I started to listen to the songs we sing. We have so many great songs with declarations of the triumph of God in our lives. Yikes. I look around and see lots of people who are stuck in a time warp. Not growing in God. Not growing in personal holiness. Not growing in their connections to each other.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Let’s go on to a little ‘fruit inspection’. Are we reproducing – adding new believers to our congregations? No. Nope. Nada. As a matter of fact, all indications are that ‘the church’ is in decline in the United States. This isn’t a little problem. We are in serious decline. We could become Europe! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now, do believers sit down and take a good hard look at the facts and address them? Usually they do not. As a matter of fact, I can’t tell you how many services I have attended where, when we leave the whole congregation on a spiritual ‘high’ – “We are overcomers!” But, nothing changes. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I fear that some time ago we have learned to not tell the truth. …to each other. …to the congregation. Could it be that our children see the gap: reality as we ‘SAY’ it and reality as it is actually lived out in front of their very eyes? Could it be that the roots of these postmodern truth denying philosophies are starting with us, the People of God?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We ought to learn how to tell the truth. And we ought to learn to be a people of God who know how to see reality, with all its challenges and truly overcome. Our mission, should we accept it – given to us by Christ – is to extend the Kingdom. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>In so many ways, the enemy has come in like a flood. The enemy has a foot hold in our lives: </p>
<ul>
<li>Our personal lives: Too many Christians find that they would NOT want to reproduce their life in others because their life is not Christ’s life.</li>
<li>Our marriages: Christians are getting divorces in nearly the same proportion as the unbelievers. For shame! The model of Christianity is Christ and his Bride. Our marriages are NOT modeling this! </li>
<li>Our families: Ravaged by divorce and un-forgiveness, growing up in a world where there is not real understanding of how to get hold of and apply truth, our families are weak and ineffective. We know this because we are losing most of our young people. They are not Christ followers!</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>We could go on and on. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The point is this, when the enemy comes in like a flood, God raises a Standard. He IS calling forth a new Kingdom People. People who will both tell the truth and, when the truth is bad, people who will LEARN to overcome and advance the Kingdom! Over the years I have seen many ‘waves’ wash across the people of God. God sends them for renewal and restoration. This is the next wave… </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://kingdominsight.ning.com/forum/topics/a-new-kingdom-people">http://kingdominsight.ning.com/forum/topics/a-new-kingdom-people</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Church is not in the New Testament - Reflections of the Ecclesiatag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2010-03-14:3023356:BlogPost:14242010-03-14T14:30:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73518117?profile=original"></img></p>
<p>1. Running the Human Race or Running on the Rodent Wheel?</p>
<p>Maybe you have never heard this, but I have.</p>
<p>People say, “Is this all there is to the Kingdom – going to church, being good. If I have an opportunity, sharing my faith…” Of course, we know there are the ‘special ones’ - those that have ‘callings’ and ‘ministries,’ then there is the rest of us. We work, maybe at home, maybe in an office, factory, shop or store. We have families,…</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73518117?profile=original"/></p>
<p>1. Running the Human Race or Running on the Rodent Wheel?</p>
<p>Maybe you have never heard this, but I have.</p>
<p>People say, “Is this all there is to the Kingdom – going to church, being good. If I have an opportunity, sharing my faith…” Of course, we know there are the ‘special ones’ - those that have ‘callings’ and ‘ministries,’ then there is the rest of us. We work, maybe at home, maybe in an office, factory, shop or store. We have families, t-ball, soccer, never enough time for everything and usually just barely enough money! We watch American Idol and gather with family for Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>Somehow we feel like we are walking on a treadmill, going nowhere fast. We’re frustrated at the way things are going. We all have ideas on how to ‘fix things’. But, interestingly – in this land of democracy, government of the people, by the people and for the people – we don’t feel we have a voice. Of course, maybe everything is really like a big factory. If we just do our bit, everything will get done, pretty much as well as it can. We hear stories about people who make a difference. We admire them. But we are not them. We hope something changes but we also have those creeping cynical thoughts…</p>
<p><br/>2. The Whole Meal Deal</p>
<p>French fries are not the whole meal!</p>
<p>We really get it when it comes to fast food. The Whole Meal Deal has a burger, fries AND a drink. All for one low price, of course. However, we don’t expect that to be the way things are with our LIVES. We live fragmented lives. There is our family life. We see them a little in the evening and, if we are lucky, a lot on the weekend. Then there is the church ‘family’. Family is in quotes because we know that sitting in a pew looking at the bald head in front of us and shaking hands politely on the way out doesn’t make a family. But, hey? Maybe in this case, honesty IS NOT the best policy. <wink, wink>. Then there is work. Time for another hat! Business is, after all, business. Don’t mix business and family, business and friends, business and politics.</p>
<p>Yes! We understand the rules – keep our opinions on politics out of our church; if we want to keep our friends ONLY discuss the political views we all share. And, keep religion out of everything – it certainly has no place at work, no place in politics, no place in our schools. We know the place – if we are really committed, let’s pray a ceremonial prayer over a family dinner. Nice. Safe. Compartmentalized.</p>
<p>Everything has a place and everything in its place. That IS the American way.</p>
<p>We’re doing it. We are good at it.</p>
<p>But, why do we feel so disconnected?</p>
<p><br/>3. Log Jam - In search of the key log</p>
<p>In the old days, men would cut logs from the forest. These would be floated in the river to the mill. It all went well until there was a log jam. Nothing moved until a skilled lumberjack came in and found the key log. When the key log was removed, like magic – the jam broke up and the logs moved down the stream properly.</p>
<p>Now, there may or there may not be a key log. People seem to suspect a key log. You can tell this when they say things like, “The problem with the church is such and such. …we’re not praying enough. …Christians today aren’t really committed to Christ. “ Etc.</p>
<p>Now, I see problems, the ones above, others, actually a never ending stream of problems and issues. I think I see the ‘key log’, too. And, yes, I will tell you what I think, why do you think I am writing this, anyway? Here it is: I don’t think we have a clear picture of what Jesus expected us to build. Many of us assume that Jesus planned for us to build churches; now some people are starting to say build the “kingdom” instead of “churches”.</p>
<p>What is the word we translate ‘church’? It is ecclesia. In my opinion, the ‘key log’ is this: We don’t know what an ecclesia is, what it supposed to do and how it is supposed to do it. We have a nice ‘religious’ system in Christianity, but do we have ecclesia? I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but that 501C-3 organization on the street corner, BY LAW, CANNOT be the ecclesia. A part, to be sure… but not the whole meal deal.</p>
<p><br/>4. Building a Court House in the middle of a jungle village?</p>
<p>Imagine – two hundred years ago, we receive a letter from someone asking us for advice on how to set up government for their community. We jot down a note telling them to build a Court House where people can gather to hear and solve their local civic issues. Off the letter goes. What we didn’t think about is this – the letter was from a village in the heart of the jungle. It was written by a well meaning missionary. Would building a nice two story brick building actually put in place the local governance that they needed? I doubt it. Governance is more than just a building.</p>
<p>Now, run the clock backwards a couple thousand years. Jesus talked about the ecclesia, his ecclesia. The early believers ‘got it’ and right away they began building lovely chapels on street corners. Right? Well, not really…</p>
<p><br/>5. Putting the world into a bottle</p>
<p></p>
<p>If you could, would it be a good idea?</p>
<p>Imagine, if you had the power… for fun… you put the earth in a bottle, a very, very large bottle. How would that work out? Let me guess… it would cause some problems. My guess, not just a few little things would go wrong; really big things would happen – big things, bad things. Well, at least that is probably not going to happen. It could ruin the natural order.</p>
<p>There is this thing that Jesus came to establish. His Kingdom. He is the King. He is putting things under his rule, his domain, his Kingdom. Of course, the Jews were wondering if he was going to establish a Kingdom like the Kings of old. The Jewish covenant people lived in a theocracy. A King, ruling under God, conquered lands and set up his rule over the land, the citizens and the foreigners. So, naturally the Jews wondered if Jesus was going to be the King, imposing his rule over the land, the citizens and the foreigners.</p>
<p>Well, Jesus did establish the Kingdom. And, he is the King. However, it is not a natural kingdom, a kingdom of this world, it is a spiritual Kingdom. You don’t enter his Kingdom because someone, at the point of the sword takes over the land and its inhabitants. This Kingdom has NO foreigners in it. Anyone who would try to insist that the non-believer live by Biblical principles is in for an immediate surprise.</p>
<p>“Do such and such”</p>
<p>“Why?”</p>
<p>“Because the Jesus is the King. He is in charge. This is what he wants. Haven’t you heard of ‘What Would Jesus Do? This is it.”</p>
<p>Laugh out loud. “What? Are you kidding? Hmmm… are you serious? You are? Are you crazy? Jesus is not MY king. I don’t live by what he says. I am my own boss. Got it?”</p>
<p>Citizenship is usually reserved for people born into it. The Kingdom is no different. We are born into the Kingdom when we recognize and pledge to the King. As with other kingdoms, split allegiance is frowned upon. Jesus is pretty picky regarding this. “My way or the highway” would be a good paraphrase of numerous things He voiced: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Light. No man comes to the Father but by me.” So narrow. We can be part of the Kingdom. Or not.</p>
<p>If we are part, Jesus is in us and the Kingdom is within us; the others are outsiders, outside of the ecclesia.</p>
<p>Here is a key issue: We do not have an equivalent English word to use to translate the Greek word ‘ecclesia’.</p>
<p>So, we use the word, ‘the church’ which has come to have a common definition when we think of the ‘local church.’ And, what is that? First of all, we KNOW that ministries are NOT the ‘local church’.</p>
<p>Churches have services in designated, public locations.</p>
<p>Churches invite the general public to attend Church Services.</p>
<p>Church Services are held weekly and focus on the Ministry of the Word and Worship, in the sense of singing and praying.</p>
<p><br/>6. The King’s rule is LAW. What part of his GOVERNMENT don’t you understand?</p>
<p>It is any wonder we don’t understand ecclesia. First, do we really ‘get it’ regarding a king? I don’t know about you, I hear little about kings in this day and age except in fairy tales. I know of NO modern, good, benevolent King with a nice Kingdom that people are dying to join. Actually, when I hear of modern ‘kings’, I think of the word ‘dictator’ with associated adjectives such as ‘evil’ and ‘oppressive’. So, we are already starting on the wrong foot.</p>
<p>Now, when we think government, we are at least comfortable with that concept. We elect officials and they represent us in Congress, the Senate or City Hall according to fair (?), just (?) and non-religious laws. Of course, we are now on the second wrong foot. I don’t know about you, but when you take out both of my feet I am pretty much at a stand still and not going anywhere.</p>
<p>And that is just where the church is today, at a stand still. Wait, we are actually walking backwards! We’re losing members, influence and strength. The key log that I am trying to help you see is this. We don’t understand the ecclesia, so we build buildings on street corners that cannot even BE the ecclesia.</p>
<p>Well, what is it? What is the ecclesia?</p>
<p>The government.</p>
<p>You are kidding, right?</p>
<p>Yes, you read right.</p>
<p>The ecclesia is the government of the Kingdom.</p>
<p>How do we know this is so?</p>
<p>History – just try a quick Google search. Type in “Ancient History Ecclesia.” Then read. This is not difficult. But, I can’t guarantee you it won’t be painful. This is what you will find.</p>
<p>At the time of Jesus, there were lots of city states that were ruled by, get this: the ecclesia. The male citizens would be ‘called out’ to come together to manage the city in a democratic way. The ecclesia was a form of government of the people by the people. These assemblies looked after social and civic things, all of the common things that you expect the government to handle.</p>
<p>Did the Christians, ‘get it’ – that they were supposed to establish Kingdom government? Yes!</p>
<p>They handled social welfare issues. Check Acts for the first accounts. They took care of their people, widows, orphans, distributing food. The scripture says that there wasn’t a needy person among them. They handled their own civic issues. It would be a shame to take their issues before unbelievers! And, by law they should have taken their cases to the Roman magistrates.. think about that one.</p>
<p>The early believers created spiritual city-states, Kingdom governance right in their midst. Think on this – the Church of Galatia, the Church of Thessalonica, etc. Plus, the believers introduced ‘scandalous’ practices! Everyone KNEW that slaves couldn’t be part of the ecclesia; they were, well, property. And, everyone KNEW that woman couldn’t be part of the ecclesia – they should be at home, pregnant, barefoot and UNEDUCATED. Who WERE these Christians? Woman were part of the ecclesia, and slaves. SCANDALOUS!</p>
<p><br/>7. Land ahoy!</p>
<p>The Jews had responsibility for the land, the citizen and the foreigner. God was at the top; his rule extended through the Land of Promise.</p>
<p>We don’t have a place, or land, the Kingdom is within us. And so, naturally, we don’t pay any attention to the world around us. We don’t pay attention to our cities, our towns, our neighborhoods or our neighbors. We let the state handle social welfare issues. We let the state handle education and civic issues. We let the state do it all. Why? Maybe it is because we’re spiritual. Everything is evil – right? Making money is evil – but, giving money is good. Politics are evil; lets include baseball, playing cards, hanging out with friends. We’re even against high heels and narrow ties. How is that working out for us?</p>
<p>And, how is that working out for our neighbors and our neighborhoods? If we check out Jesus on this subject, he said to make disciplined followers where we live, that would be Judea; then to move out beyond our neighborhoods, that would be Jerusalem, and out an out until we impact nations! Talk about Kingdom government responsibility! We live on the LAND, here, now. Yes, we are citizens of heaven living here – His ‘occupied terriority’ should be among us and reflect in every dimension of Kingdom society and culture.</p>
<p><br/>8. The tail is wagging the dog</p>
<p>In these modern, ‘progressive’ times; we believers simply don’t ‘get it’. Some are confused thinking we will impose Kingdom rule on the unbeliever. Others are confused thinking that meeting on Sunday morning for prayer, praise and the ministry of the word is “IT”. Many are just beginning to pay attention to the word ‘Kingdom’ and think it might be a good idea, but have no idea what it might actually mean.</p>
<p>God’s wisdom should be shown to everyone through his ecclesia.</p>
<p>Now, the following is REAL COMPLICATED. So, read carefully.</p>
<p>Do you suppose, if we learn how to use God’s wisdom to govern ourselves, to provide for our families, to create a strong KINGDOM economy, to handle –in RIGHTEOUSNESS – our civil disputes, to properly EDUCATE our children in all facets of citizenship- to be good Kingdom Kids, to read/write and work effectively for a living, to take care of our NEEDY, to take responsibility for the good of our local neighborhoods and communities, etc.. Do you suppose, do you just suppose that if we DID it and DID it well that we would be salt and light to a dying world?</p>
<p>Perhaps we would say, “This is what we do. Try it. It works. Oh, and doing things this way is not OUR idea. It is God’s wisdom.” Imagine –the ecclesia taking responsibility and doing what needs to be done – demonstrating God’s wisdom. This is Kingdom governance. It may be ‘novel’ to our ears. But when Jesus left things to the early believers, they did it.</p>
<p>Is anyone interested in being part of the HEAD or are we content being the TAIL?</p>
<p><br/>9. DemonNations ..er ..er DenomiNations ..er ..er DeoNations</p>
<p>If you are going to do anything, you need to get organized. The more complex the task or project, the more important it is to get organizing. Now, we have organized ‘the church’ as non-profit, 501c-3 institutions. That isn’t TERRIBLE, most churches don’t have a charter of being the ecclesia – providing Kingdom governance for the spiritual city-state in their town. Think on this: the Ecclesia of Ephesus, the Ecclesia of Corinth, the Ecclesia of Philadelphia. Ok, this is where we are at right now. We have churches. We gather, we worship. We have a starting place; we can take some next steps.</p>
<p>Or can we? Organizing to do things better is ALWAYS good. Organizing BECAUSE we ARE better, or because we THINK we are better, is well, let’s be honest, not so good. The enemy is so repetitive. Divide and conquer is a favorite past time. Look around at churches in YOUR community. If they are fragmented, competitive and proud, you have one option: Repent. The early believers got sick and died because they didn’t recognize the Lord’s body in the Lord’s Supper. How do you think WE will fare if we don’t recognize the LORD in his body across our community?</p>
<p><br/>While I am on the topic of not recognizing the body, I would like to make a personal, definitive call to cease a dividing practice we have.</p>
<p>You know there are ‘real’ lawyers and people who do legal things, we call them para-legals.</p>
<p>There are ‘real’ medical people and people who do medical things, we call them para-medics.</p>
<p>There are ‘real’ churches and then there are people who do ministry things, we call them para-churches.</p>
<p>If you remember anything tomorrow when you wake up after reading this, this is it. It is ILLEGAL for the 501-c3 non-profit organization to be ALL that the ecclesia is called to be. So, the next time you or someone around you is tempted to tell you that a ministry is not the church, just remind them that the local church is not the ecclesia, either. Even, I’d say. Let’s quit with the ‘name calling’. Let’s quit with the divisions. Let’s quit ‘playing church’ and get down to being the ecclesia.</p>
<p><br/>10. Measuring the speed of darkness</p>
<p>Maybe you see it, maybe you don’t. I see it. We have a problem. A big problem. We’re building local churches; that isn’t bad. We’re not building the ecclesia, that is bad. We’re building ministries. We’re disjointed, divided and not effective. The enemy has limited power… but he can deceive and divide! It is time for us to not be children in our thinking. The goal is that children grow, become adults and take responsibility. We, the believers, need to take responsibility for building the Kingdom among us.</p>
<p>It is time to say “NO” to division. It is time to grow in our function. It is time to learn how to be the ecclesia.</p>
<p><br/>11. A good start?</p>
<p>How about this… Call out believers in your region to discuss together how to be the ecclesia. And, do it in a scandalous way. Include the women. Include the slaves. Oops, guess that doesn’t apply. Well, this might be more difficult – mix up the ‘clergy’ with the ‘laity’. You may be the last to get the news, but we are ALL called to be Kings and Priests. We are all called to ministry and service. Yes, that is right. All. Called. To THE ministry. Got it? Good.</p>
<p>Discuss how to take responsibility for the spiritual city-state that actually exists across your region. Discuss and then do it. Simple!</p>
<p>One more thing – honor those who have Kingdom responsibility, Pastors, Sunday School leaders, ministry founders, those who serve in the marketplace, in the factory and in the home. We ARE the body and we all have value; God gives us all a place to serve.</p>
<p><br/>12. Kingdom Nation Seekers, apply here</p>
<p>Blessings are funny things. You sometimes have to be something to get a certain blessing. If you want the blessing of marriage, you need to have a spouse. If you want the blessing of kids, you need to have children. The emergence of the ecclesias (ecclesiae is the proper way to write, but no one would ‘get it’). If the ecclesias begin to carry out their responsibility, to be spiritual city states, it predicts something. In other words, just as we have ‘spiritualized’ our governance responsibilities, we have spiritualized what God meant when he said that Abraham would be the father of many nations, he was talking about n-a-t-i-o-n-s that actually exist, and do Kingdom government in all the areas you have been reading about.</p>
<p><br/>The first of such a nation is emerging: Upadaria.</p>
<p>This word pronounced Upa (youpah) Daria (dare-ee-ah).</p>
<p>More on that, later.<br/></p>In search of common unity... community.tag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-12-20:3023356:BlogPost:13062009-12-20T20:00:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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We are prone to ‘religion’. We need to face it. Religion can quickly morph into meaningless and repetitive rituals – devoid of a genuine encounter with God and our brothers and sisters. Consider communion, reliving the death of Christ and celebrating the life we have in him. There was one body, one loaf broken so that we can all participate. The Lord’s Supper is not just about celebrating what was in the past, it is also about recognizing what is here…
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We are prone to ‘religion’. We need to face it. Religion can quickly morph into meaningless and repetitive rituals – devoid of a genuine encounter with God and our brothers and sisters. Consider communion, reliving the death of Christ and celebrating the life we have in him. There was one body, one loaf broken so that we can all participate. The Lord’s Supper is not just about celebrating what was in the past, it is also about recognizing what is here today. The one body of Christ is still here. His body is you, me, it is all of us who are part of Him. Each of us different, unique and yet all the same, part of his body.<br />
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Do we celebrate Christ’s body that God has given to us? Think of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Just as the Lord’s Supper is a gift from God to us, we, the members of his body, are a gift to each other.<br />
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If I am seriously impaired and meet another - it is readily perceived. Do those on the outside see a whole and healthy body or one that is fragmented with limitations? Too often we do not join with one another – living our lives together, serving Christ together, sharing our time, energy and resources. Why don’t we join? It is often because we perceived the cost to join to be greater than the benefits. Yet, what is the cost of not joining? A disjointed body cannot function properly. And, for many on the ‘outside’, the only body of Christ they might see is the one in our midst.<br />
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Joining together is a type of communion: common union. Having common union with God is often readily understood as vital; having common union, communion/community with others can be overlooked or marginalized. When we don’t unite, we are just snacking on a wafer rather than sharing communion, the common union that he provides. Yet, it is difficult. Uniting with God allows us fellowship with him in perfect love, faithfulness and security. Uniting with others is never easy. They are as lacking as I am. And I do have shortfalls. You do as well. So, uniting is difficult.<br />
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Our Genesis Community is on one hand a foundational community for a Christian nation, yet on the other hand it is just another Kingdom Community in our region. In our Genesis Community we are learning the practice and principles of authentic community. I would like to report that I have been able to share years of experience and insight to help this occur. This is not the case. As difficulties have emerged – I and the others are learning to do what many have never done before: to participate in building authentic community. I thank God that he has brought into our midst Bill Collier, who has gone far down this road before us. It was just last Tuesday that he facilitated a watershed gathering.<br />
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What Bill showed us was both simple and profound. Whereas I know how to create rules, he showed us how to adopt and live by a standard. Whereas, I know how to enlist people to work, he helped us understand how to unite to serve each other. We entered a disparate group of people; we emerged a community with the identity of a household committed to pursuing the common good for each other and the overall community. Our walk with Christ, individually and corporately, has been strengthened. The fruit of love, grace and mercy have begun to flow from one to another in amazing and unexpected ways.<br />
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This experience, for most of us, was unlike any we have had before. It was communion: common union in a household with each other and God. Individuals from our household and connected to this Genesis Community are committing to develop resources that will help share the principles that allowed us to begin to engage in a new and deeper dimension of Kingdom Community. I will let you know when and where the resources are available!<br />
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(Note! If you respond to this thread, you will get an alert when I write about the resources!!!)<br />
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God bless you as you serve Him and each other in authentic community: common unity!Blooming and failing love. To answer our heart cry…tag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-11-14:3023356:BlogPost:11022009-11-14T20:30:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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I am one of those people who seem to have a lot of experiences in life. The really good ones have been incredible. The less than good ones have been incredibly bad.<br />
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In the early years of being a Christian, I had some ‘friend’ challenges. Actually, at one point I took stock of those whom I loved and trusted. I felt that most of my close friends, in some way – many in significant ways, had betrayed me. I was in crisis. I was angry and hurt. To deal…
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I am one of those people who seem to have a lot of experiences in life. The really good ones have been incredible. The less than good ones have been incredibly bad.<br />
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In the early years of being a Christian, I had some ‘friend’ challenges. Actually, at one point I took stock of those whom I loved and trusted. I felt that most of my close friends, in some way – many in significant ways, had betrayed me. I was in crisis. I was angry and hurt. To deal with things, there seemed to be some simple choices. I could do what I observed many around me do. I could become hard, jaded and cynical. Or, I could choose a different path, a path of obedience: to love regardless of the cost. I saw the two paths clearly. The hardened path would provide some shelter but choosing to not close off myself off would certainly guarantee more heartache.<br />
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As believers, our job is clear. It is to love people. We love others not because God will punish us. That idea reminds me of the saying, “The firings will continue until moral improves!” Forced, mechanical actions are hardly what we could call love. As believers, we don’t love people because they love us – often they don’t! And we don’t love others because we will ‘get’ something in return – there are no guarantees. Actually, for the most part, there is little true ‘love’ in our hearts for people who don’t love us. Then something incredible happens – God loves us and pours His into us – that love overflows to others! That is real love!<br />
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Unlike the earlier and difficult era of life, I now experience love from so many other believes. When I look at each person who is pouring out love to me, I do not put them on a pedestal, but realize that God is loving me through them! I am surrounded by Christian friends who love me!!! I am overwhelmed by their acts of love and service. It is like looking in a mirror – to the extent that there was pain in the past, to that extent there is joy today. Ahhh… life is full of surprises!<br />
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I realize that the love I receive from them is really God’s love flowing through them. He brought us together for His purpose, to work together on his plan – to work corporately. He spoke to many separately about parts of a puzzle that fit together in amazing and unexpected ways. That is a whole story, certainly worth telling, but beyond the scope of this writing. God’s love is flowing back and forth through a whole community of people. I have never experienced anything like it before. It’s like electricity: tingly, mildly shocking, unexpected and glorious.<br />
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But my heart is protected like never before. Why? When you get more than one person together – some things are guaranteed. You will be hurt. You will hurt others. I dropped the ball early last week – I hurt someone. That hurt was my fault. The grace and forgiveness that restored things came from Him. And, then the other day, I was the receiver of a great deal of unpleasantness. It was the ability to look at things clearly… this is Truth, and to take responsibility for the things done wrong and then wash them away with forgiveness… this is Grace that allowed complete restoration. Truth and Grace are at work - they are the glue that holds us together! Grace and Truth are the same things that keep us in proper, loving relationship with God.<br />
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Do you know that the word community has the root concept of common union, communion? Perhaps this is the deepest need of our human hearts – to have a common union with others and with God. It is in authentic, godly community that this cry is answered. It is answered in ways that for many years I only imagined. Now I experience the reality. I am deeply grateful.<br />
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Friends, I see His face in you! <a href="http://bit.ly/iBB0">http://bit.ly/iBB0</a>If we do not UNITE - will we SURVIVE?tag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-05-23:3023356:BlogPost:6022009-05-23T22:00:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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My time these days is spent with a team of national and international leaders. We have a plan. We are sick of the downward spiral that is taking place in our nation and it is time for action. We have agreed that we believe the ROOT problem is that Christians have lost their ability to impact the nation.<br />
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Don't let anyone kid you - we were founded as a CHRISTIAN nation.<br />
Did you know that in 1892 the United States Supreme Court made an exhaustive study…
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My time these days is spent with a team of national and international leaders. We have a plan. We are sick of the downward spiral that is taking place in our nation and it is time for action. We have agreed that we believe the ROOT problem is that Christians have lost their ability to impact the nation.<br />
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Don't let anyone kid you - we were founded as a CHRISTIAN nation.<br />
Did you know that in 1892 the United States Supreme Court made an exhaustive study of the supposed connection between Christianity and the government of the United States. After reviewing hundreds of volumes of historical documents, the Court asserted, "These references add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterance that this is a religious people... a Christian nation." Likewise in 1931 Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland reviewed the 1892 decision in reference to another case and reiterated that Americans are a "Christian people."<br />
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The values conservatives want, that most of us want, are rooted in our Judeo-Christian values. It was those values that gave us freedom. And people are trying to take those values away and lock us out.<br />
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Our plan is simple and three fold. I cannot emphasize enough… this plan can allow a voice for ALL who want to positively impact our nation – it give us a greater forum for our voices and a forum to make activities like Tea Parties visible so that people can be part.<br />
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It is a community by community initiative. That means we are focusing on one community to start. The team is so energized about this that the leaders are re-arranging their lives to spend days to months to be on site to implement the plan.<br />
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The three parts are this…<br />
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1) Make ministry visible so that Pastors and Christian leaders in a community can work together.<br />
The Foundational Design Team believes that we have all we need to get the job done… but we are not united and we don’t help with common initiatives. Building a united Ministry Wall is the solution! The Ministry Wall will be built by people finding how to work together collaboratively and it will be visible as an actual ‘wall’ and via the web. See the Ministry Wall <a href="http://tiny.cc/MinistryVisible786">HERE</a>.<br />
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2) Town Meetings. In many places and in many ways the voices of we, the people, are ‘locked out.’ Our initiative calls for the establishment of regular Town Meetings comprised of community leaders to talk collaboratively about issues: Civic, Education, Christian, Media, Health, etc. To see details, check out <a href="http://tiny.cc/TownMeeting">THIS</a>.<br />
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3) Multiply across the nation. We have to start with a focus region. Here is the information on the kickoff. The plan is to go from the Endless Mountains of north central, PA, to other cities such as Phoenix and Kansas City. See details on the kickoff <a href="http://tiny.cc/JuneKickoff">HERE</a>.<br />
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Why am I bothering to tell you all of these things?<br />
Well, let me ask you a question, WILL WE SURVIVE if we do NOT UNITE?The Restoration of All Things - A Simple Starttag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-04-02:3023356:BlogPost:3812009-04-02T14:30:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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Ok, I could have called this post: Kingdom Transformational Model for Communities. But, who would have read it? Got ya!<br />
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So, this the goal: To see the Restoration of All Things. We need a simple and effective start.<br />
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My friend Bill has boiled things down to an essence. He said, and I fully agree, that we live in three dimensions:<br />
Church<br />
Community<br />
Country.<br />
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But, sadly, these dimensions barely touch. At some point, Christian life and Community life took…
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Ok, I could have called this post: Kingdom Transformational Model for Communities. But, who would have read it? Got ya!<br />
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So, this the goal: To see the Restoration of All Things. We need a simple and effective start.<br />
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My friend Bill has boiled things down to an essence. He said, and I fully agree, that we live in three dimensions:<br />
Church<br />
Community<br />
Country.<br />
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But, sadly, these dimensions barely touch. At some point, Christian life and Community life took different paths. And, at some point our faith was jettisoned from Country: Government and Politics. We're supposed to be salt and light: making disciplined followers of all nations, starting here, teaching people to love God and love their neigbor. This kingdom impact is for us and also for our Community and our Country ~ then on to the rest of the Nations. So, how is this working out for our Country? It's not. Turn on the news - you won't hear much about a Kingdom impact across our land. You won't hear about it because it is not happening. Choas has been multiplying: in our families, communities, in politics, in economics. The destroyer is walking our land almost unchallenged. The news is telling us about it, every day and in every way. We need to see the Restoration of All Things in our crumbling society.<br />
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Now, let's think this through. God has alway had the same plan, that his widsom and influence come from his body, the Church.<br />
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So, what is the Simple Start?<br />
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First we need to understand what the church is and is not. The church is not you. The church is not me. The church is 'us' - joined and knit together. And, the church has a 'core unit'. A core unit is the unit that has everything it needs to function. A congregation does not usually have everything it needs to function. I have some excellent powerpoints to explain this <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/secret/qxtDIkVDC7zlEg">HERE</a> and <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/secret/yn0MyDtYaQvVbe">HERE</a>.<br />
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In the scripture we see the church referred to again and again: The Church in Ephasus, The Church in Corinth. I am going to ask you to do something that is hard to do... we need to picture something that we don't see... Oh, it something we say we 'believe' but it is NOT something that we 'do'... I want you to picture the Church coming together in communities across our naton to advance His Kingdom.<br />
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This is what we need to picture: The Core Unit, the Church in the Community, coming together and impacting the 3 diminsions above:<br />
Church<br />
Community<br />
Country<br />
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It is so different than what we see today, it is hard to get our head around it. But, it is really quite simple. Working together, with God's GRACE and WISDOM (which He HAS PROMISED TO GIVE US!) we can see His Kingdom advance. We can see The Restoration of All Things in our churches, our communities and in our country.<br />
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How do we do it? Well, let's do what the early church did... They devoted themselves to Prayer, Fellowship, the Breaking of Bread and the Apostles teaching. I wrote an nice description of this <a href="http://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profiles/blogs/they-devoted-themselves-to">HERE</a>.<br />
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To some extent, currently we pray, we fellowship and we break bread. But, as the Church in the Community, we need to work on the 'apostles teaching' part. The apostle teaches us about starting new works and strengthing the foundation of existing works. This function works best if we also hear from those who have a keen sense of what God's saying right now; They understand to some extent what God's intentions are - where the cloud is moving, the prophetic if you will.<br />
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We can't work together on what we can't see.<br />
So - this is the simplicity of it all...<br />
One, we come together, the Church in the Community.<br />
Two, we make make ministry visible. I call this "Mapping the Ministry Stream."<br />
Three, we do it. From understanding where we are now and what God intends- we step forward and do it.<br />
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A simple start.<br />
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And, what we are doing in the Endless Mountains. More information here...They devoted themselves to...tag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-03-29:3023356:BlogPost:3412009-03-29T17:00:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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<b>The early Christians devoted themselves to<br />
Apostle's teaching<br />
Breaking of Bread<br />
Fellowship<br />
Prayer</b><br />
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Ok... they went to church, heard great sermons and had a pot luck dinner afterward. Right?<br />
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Maybe. Maybe they did more than that!<br />
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<b>Apostles's teaching.</b><br />
Way back then, the apostles were there among the people and they taught the people. Great. And, we have many of their words written down, so we can continue to review these words every week…
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<b>The early Christians devoted themselves to<br />
Apostle's teaching<br />
Breaking of Bread<br />
Fellowship<br />
Prayer</b><br />
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Ok... they went to church, heard great sermons and had a pot luck dinner afterward. Right?<br />
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Maybe. Maybe they did more than that!<br />
<br />
<b>Apostles's teaching.</b><br />
Way back then, the apostles were there among the people and they taught the people. Great. And, we have many of their words written down, so we can continue to review these words every week when we meet collectively. That way and through daily Bible reading and meditation, we, too will be devoting ourselves to the Apostle's teachings.<br />
Now, let's dig a little deeper. The apostles were 'sent out' to enlarge the Kingdom. They planted new works. They improved existing works. Then, they sent others out. If we are going to listen to this type of teaching ~apostle's teaching~ we are going to be listening to people who challenge us to go out, plant new works and who challenge us to labor in new works. If we respond to this type of teaching, we're going to do it. This is what extends the Kingdom beyond the status quo... continually being sent out to do ministry. Every one of us has a ministry - a special work that God calls us to do. God wants to enlarge our ministry. We need to be stirred by the apolstle's teaching to actually do it ~~ to be sent out to take responibility for and to do the ministry (service) that God has prepared us for!<br />
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<b>Breaking of Bread.</b><br />
Hmmm... maybe they were hung up on having communion all the time?<br />
Well, probably not.<br />
Breaking bread is eating together. And, when they ate together - they set aside a solemn moment where they used the cup (what they were drinking) and the bread (the bread they were eating) to remember Jesus together. We, of course, have turned this into a rite. While there is nothing wrong with sharing communinion when we congregate, if we only celebrate then, I think we miss something. By just celebrating communion in our 'services', we miss the opportunity to declare Christ to those friends and family who gather with us for meals. We often wonder how to share Christ with them. How about at the next family gathering we celebrate communion and ask them to participate if they have come to the point where communion is REAL in their life... the place where they have appropriated Christ's sacrifice for their sins.<br />
And, let's not forget to gather and eat with other believers. Life can be too busy. It can push shared family meals and meals with the other members of the body out of our lives. Let's guard against this and break bread together.<br />
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<b>Fellowship.</b><br />
God himself is a community: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He made us in his image... We are not complete unless we are in community with him and in community with each other. The early church DEVOTED itself to fellowship. Do you know that surveys say that the average American can name only THREE people who they feel really care about them and their welfare. That includes spouses, parents, children, friends and members of their church. This is a national crisis. We wonder why civilation around us is unraveling -- it is because relationships have unraveled. There is only one cure - just as they did, we need to devote ourselves to following Christ. We must devote ourselves to being involved with others ~~ to really care for them, to spend time with them, know them, understand them, serve them and love them.<br />
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<b>Prayer</b><br />
Prayer... We can think of prayer and worship as an event. And, if we are not careful, that is just how it works out - prayer and worship become an event that happens on Sunday morning. But, God wants prayer and worship to be a lifestyle. Every day. We should pray and worship in our hearts, prayer 'closets' (which might just be our car on the drive in to work!) and at all times. When we gather with other believers, we have the opportunity to gather in His name as well. If we gather in His name, Jesus shows up. He is part of the gathering. While He is there, we need to take the time to talk to him - together. Whatever we bind in heaven will be bound in earth; whatever we ask according to his will, He will do. God moves us to prayer and then He moves. When we gather, let's not gather just for fun and enjoying one another's company. Let's invite Jesus to also be in our midst and also make our requests and thanksgiving known to Him.<br />
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The early church gathered for the Apostles' teaching, for the breaking of bread, for fellowship and prayer. Let us likewise devote ourselves to all of these things!!!<br />
Amen!The Nehemiah Manifestotag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-03-21:3023356:BlogPost:1282009-03-21T20:30:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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Nehemiah heard about the state of the beloved city - the walls were broken down and the gates destroyed by fire.<br />
Do we see our current state of affairs? The walls are crumbling and fire is devouring our gates. Darkness is beginning to cover our land, our cities, our communities and our nation. Thick darkness.<br />
We ought to be completely reconciled to God through the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We ought to be ambassadors of reconciliation…
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Nehemiah heard about the state of the beloved city - the walls were broken down and the gates destroyed by fire.<br />
Do we see our current state of affairs? The walls are crumbling and fire is devouring our gates. Darkness is beginning to cover our land, our cities, our communities and our nation. Thick darkness.<br />
We ought to be completely reconciled to God through the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We ought to be ambassadors of reconciliation to a world that is growing in hostility toward God, the Good News of Jesus Christ and His righteousness.<br />
We ought to be making skilled followers who can reproduce other skilled followers. We ought to be making disciples at home and extending to all nations... baptizing them and teaching them all things that Christ has commanded. We ought to be seeing God's Kingdom advance - impacting every area of our lives, city, community and nation!<br />
We are not.<br />
<br />
Nehemiah heard about the state of the beloved city; he repented. He wept and fasted for days.<br />
We ought to be repenting for all that separates us from God.<br />
We ought to be mourning the state of many in the Kingdom: Self-satisfied. Complacent. Unrighteous. We ought to mourn over the the state of our city, our community and the state of our nation.<br />
We ought to be weeping and fasting.<br />
<br />
Nehemiah presented his grief to the King asking, in utter humility, if he could work to restore the walls of the beloved city.<br />
We ought to be presenting our grief to the King. We ought to, in humility, offer to the King ourselves and our service for The Great Work of restoring our city and our nation.<br />
We ought to be requesting from the King both resources and His support to rebuild.<br />
<br />
Nehemiah received favor and help from the King.<br />
Our King has likewise promised His favor and support to extend His Kingdom: the multiplying of people submitted to his Lordship and His tangible influence in our lives, our laws, our government, and the lives of all around us.<br />
<br />
Nehemiah quietly examined the state of the walls. He understood what it would take to rebuild. He planned the work to build the walls and restore the gates.<br />
The walls of truth are crumbling around us.<br />
The gates that hold back immorality are being destroyed.<br />
Ungodliness of all types is multiplying.<br />
Social and family order are eroding.<br />
<br />
Culture is changing before our very eyes, from familiar to foreign.<br />
We ought to be missionaries learning to be effective in these strange and foreign cultures.<br />
We ought to be able to respond to the new opportunities for service as society decays around us.<br />
We ought to be lights set on a hill.<br />
We ought to be salt in everything we touch.<br />
We ought to be a real help in this time of growing need.<br />
We ought to be providing both services to gather for worship AND service to the multiplying real needs around us.<br />
Are we examining the walls? Are we understanding what it will take to rebuild?<br />
<br />
Are we planning The Great Work of rebuilding the walls and restoring the gates of our community and nation?<br />
<br />
Nehemiah called the people to labor. Each worked, according to his skill, on his section of the wall.<br />
We ought to be calling each and every person under His Lordship to sanctify and prepare themselves for The Great Work.<br />
We ought to call them to cease serving themselves and to labor for the King in The Great Work.<br />
We ought to be placing people, according to their skill, to do their part in rebuilding.<br />
<br />
And so, they joined for The Great Work of rebuilding the wall.<br />
We ought to realize that some are building their own walls and gates without regard to the walls and gates of His Kingdom Too many labor to establish their own kingdoms.<br />
We ought to realize that the body of Christ is not joined together for The Great Work. We ought to realize that we are not training and releasing workers to their tasks of rebuilding city, community and nation.<br />
We ought to realize that the rebuilding cannot happen without skilled workers.<br />
We ought to do whatever is necessary to build our skills.<br />
We ought to join together and commit to The Great Work of rebuilding<br />
<br />
We the undersigned commit to making disciples at home, extending to our nation and then to all nations... baptizing them and teaching them all things that Christ commanded. We commit to tangible service, in the name of Christ. We commit...<br />
To see, in truth, the current state of affairs.<br />
To weep and fast.<br />
To create a plan for The Great Work of rebuilding the walls and restoring the gates.<br />
To join together for The Great Work.<br />
To engage all to apply their time and skills for The Great Work.<br />
To work with skill and understanding, keeping fellowship in humility, guarding ourselves from opposers and keeping our camp holy.<br />
<br />
We agree to join together for The Great Work of rebuilding our city, our community, extending the Kingdom of God throughout our nation and then to the world.5 x 7 Model. Is the local church the core unit of the body of Christ?tag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-03-21:3023356:BlogPost:1222009-03-21T18:30:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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Having accurate mental 'models' is crucial to good functionality.<br />
<br />
There was a time when my company sold lots of computers. Technical support for those computers was sometimes very interesting. I remember a day when a lady called to say she wanted a new coffee cup holder. "Can you explain what you mean?" the technical support person asked. "Well, you know," the lady said, "when you push the one button a coffee cup holder slides out... Well, mine broke…
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Having accurate mental 'models' is crucial to good functionality.<br />
<br />
There was a time when my company sold lots of computers. Technical support for those computers was sometimes very interesting. I remember a day when a lady called to say she wanted a new coffee cup holder. "Can you explain what you mean?" the technical support person asked. "Well, you know," the lady said, "when you push the one button a coffee cup holder slides out... Well, mine broke off. I need a new one." The lady had a mental picture of what that 'slidy thing' was for. And it worked. For a while. Of course, it didn't work as well as it was designed to work when you put a CD into it. :-)<br />
<br />
Similarly, I'm not sure about you, but I have always heard that the 'core unit' of the body of Christ is the local church.<br />
<br />
But, is that accurate? How does this view impact our functionality as the body of Christ? This powerpoint presentation explores these questions in detail...<br />
<br />
See the presentation <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/secret/qxtDIkVDC7zlEg">HERE...</a>We are seeing the change: from the Church Era to the Kingdom Era. God doesn't look at the past as a guide post for the future. He sees and creates the future..tag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-03-21:3023356:BlogPost:1272009-03-21T19:55:16.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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<br />
When we want to understand how God does things, we look at the past. And, we can learn many things about His power and character. We can see what he did in history and the lives of people.<br />
<br />
One thing we can't do by looking at the past is know what God intends to do in the future. He designs the future to be what he wants it to be... He is lining up all things for His return. He will return for a church without spot or wrinkle. Though, we might want…
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<br />
When we want to understand how God does things, we look at the past. And, we can learn many things about His power and character. We can see what he did in history and the lives of people.<br />
<br />
One thing we can't do by looking at the past is know what God intends to do in the future. He designs the future to be what he wants it to be... He is lining up all things for His return. He will return for a church without spot or wrinkle. Though, we might want God to support our program, He wants us to get with his program.<br />
<br />
This powerpoint presentation talks a change that is moving us from the Church Era to the Kingdom Era...<br />
See it <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/secret/yn0MyDtYaQvVbe">HERE...</a>Christian Nation within our Nation objection... "The national problems are not religious in nature." And I said...tag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-03-21:3023356:BlogPost:1022009-03-21T14:20:21.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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Juanita<br />
Would you exclude me from this movement for not being a Christian. I am a military retiree and a patriot, who is disgusted with the direction of my country. We probably share many of the same morals and values. However, I am not a Christian and therefore would like to know if I would be excluded. This struggle is about America, constitutionality, values, and patriotism, it is not a religious struggle. We need to bring every like minded…
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Juanita<br />
Would you exclude me from this movement for not being a Christian. I am a military retiree and a patriot, who is disgusted with the direction of my country. We probably share many of the same morals and values. However, I am not a Christian and therefore would like to know if I would be excluded. This struggle is about America, constitutionality, values, and patriotism, it is not a religious struggle. We need to bring every like minded individual, regardless of religious preference into the fold, or hence we FAIL. Trust me when I say there are many people in this country as disgusted as you are who do not share your religious beliefs. We need every last one of them IMHO. I would be interested in your response.<br />
<br />
Rob,<br />
<br />
Thanks for your good question and well thought out post.<br />
<br />
I'd like to give my perspective and I understand that you may very much disagree with it. That is the wonderful thing about America. We don't need to agree. The founding fathers mirrored something that is very visible in the New Testament - that people do have a choice in what they believe - that is embedded into the fabric of our nation!<br />
<br />
In the other thread I proposed that it may be time for Christians to emerge as a Christian nation. Note, not a Christian 'state'. A nation is virtual, to some extent; a state is geographical to some extent. A Christian nation would be made up of many Christian Communities. As 'subjects' of a Christian nation working in Christian communities, we would recognize one another and work to help one another --- trading with one another and supporting one another. We would try to make our communities as self sufficient as possible. The communities would also try to help and support those on the ‘outside’; after all, that is the reason, as Christians, we are here – to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Also, our communities would be 'safe harbors' and support those 'outside.' People saw this during the time of the holocaust. Christians risked their lives to save the lives of the Jews. Others, who weren't Christians did this as well - I don't want to leave that out!<br />
<br />
You said that in your opinion, this isn’t a religious struggle. I respectfully disagree. It is a struggle of ideals. Although any individual can be an exception, on the macro level, ideals, morals and values are born out of our religion. Now, I am using religion in the broadest sense of the word. Religion is what we worship. Everyone ‘worships’ something – something is at the center of everyone’s world – that is what they worship. We can worship many things. Note – once certain core ‘principles’ are in place – there is an ideological outworking of those key principles. If the following precepts are accepted, then the extensions I outline will also likely happen. (Note, as I said above, any individual can be an exception… I’m talking at the macro level: Action almost always follows ideology. Ideology is mirrored by our core beliefs & what we worship.)<br />
<br />
If the following precepts are in place (and I believe that these ARE the precepts of a growing percent of our population)…<br />
Precept #1 – There is not a God who will hold us accountable for our actions.<br />
Precept #2 – The goal of being ‘here’ is to live our lives as best as we can.<br />
Precept #3 - People are basically good and life is about growing into better people and making this a better place to live.<br />
<br />
…This is what you get by extending these precepts…<br />
Earth…<br />
The earth is ours. (Contrast with Christian belief/the earth is God’s and we are here as stewards and caretakers.)<br />
The enemy of the earth is man.<br />
Therefore, we must protect the earth from man even if it ‘costs’ man.<br />
This is a summary regarding this view of earth: The earth becomes the thing above all else. This is a type of worship & it often extends to ‘living things.’ Hug a tree, save the seals and become vegetatrians.<br />
<br />
People.<br />
People that are sentient need to be respected. Those who are not are burdens to be ‘dealt with’.<br />
This precept extents into abortion, genetic engineering, stem cell research, euthanasia, birth control of ‘undesirables.’ (Has anyone ASKED why minorities are ‘targeted’ by Planned Parenthood?) After all, we are only animals. Certainly those of us who are ‘aware’ need to be respected, but if we’re not ‘aware’, well, we’re not of any ‘intrinsic’ value.<br />
<br />
Add Earth and People together. You have people who go ‘crazy’ with animal rights and tree hugging.. ...vegetarians that don’t have a problem with abortion.<br />
<br />
Precept: People are good and we just need to work to make this a better place to live. If we see people as basically ‘good’, then it is easy to ‘see’ that organizing people to be responsible take care of all the ‘other people’ is the best ‘way.’ Socialism and communism are normal and logical extensions of this type of thinking. Contrast this with Christian suppositions: Man reflects God because we are created in his image. This means that intrinsically humans, all humans have value! Man is also prone to do wrong things. This propensity is hard wired and needs to be considered in everything, especially in how we govern. This frame of reference is one of the reasons that the constitution is so careful to balance the powers. We know what will happen if there aren’t checks and balances.<br />
<br />
Good and Evil.<br />
Without God’s moral standard, you are free to develop your own moral standard. You said above that your moral standard might be similar to mine. Probably. However, it doesn’t have to be. Without God, you are free to choose your own moral standard.<br />
Without God, people tend to choose the following standard. Not always, but it easily emerges because it is the ‘path of least resistance’ and fits with the precepts above.<br />
Good: What is easy, pleasurable and convenient. If it’s not ‘visible’, it might not really be wrong or, maybe it’s not wrong for me.<br />
Bad: What deprives people, is difficult and doesn’t treat people the same, i.e. isn’t ‘fair’<br />
<br />
As Christians…<br />
Good: What harmonizes with God’s law, regardless of the personal cost to me.<br />
Pleasure doesn’t have anything to do with ‘good’; but amazingly – when we make the right choices it leads to joyful and fulfilled lives.<br />
Difficulty is to be embraced as the path that will develop character.<br />
We understand that even if what we do isn’t ‘visible on the surface’, God will hold us accountable. So, the end doesn’t justify the means and secret ‘sins’ are wrong.<br />
Bad: What is easy, pleasurable and convenient (to a large extent)<br />
Not allowing people to reap the consequences of their choices and behavior. If people make poor economic choices - ‘teach’ them how to make better ones, don’t just give handouts. If people make good choices and prosper, don’t penalize them by taking from them and giving to those who are making poor choice. We see this as unfair. Those with the precepts above see people who think this way as selfish and unfair.<br />
<br />
I think you can see where I am going with this. I personally believe that because the churches that you see today have grown up in a “Christian nation” that the people have forgotten how to make much of an impact in the world around us. I think that if we would regain our identity and take the responsibility to be involved, working for the good of our fellow man, our community and our nation – it would have a MOST positive impact on our overall society. And, though many will very much disagree, IMHO - this is the only thing that will 'turn the tide'.<br />
<br />
Those on the far ‘left’ as many on this site are observing have a DIFFERENT standard. Without God, anyone can have any standard they want and you or I don’t have the right to impose ‘our standard’ on someone else. Can my cat tell my dog how to live? If we’re a pack of animals, we just need to live and let live.<br />
Without God, we’ll just have to see where ‘lawlessness’ takes our nation.Keeping the fruit of Evangelismtag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-03-10:3023356:BlogPost:302009-03-10T01:00:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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<br />
So, I was working on finding the path to get from here to the future God wants for me...<br />
<br />
Jerry, Jerry Hartman, is here for a couple days. We are discussing visitor retention. His visitor retention program is working unbelievably well! I am amazed at how well!!! Good for those churches that are part of the program.<br />
<br />
Now we talk about advancing the Kingdom across the region. In the plan is to send out evanglists. They will preach the good news across…
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<br />
So, I was working on finding the path to get from here to the future God wants for me...<br />
<br />
Jerry, Jerry Hartman, is here for a couple days. We are discussing visitor retention. His visitor retention program is working unbelievably well! I am amazed at how well!!! Good for those churches that are part of the program.<br />
<br />
Now we talk about advancing the Kingdom across the region. In the plan is to send out evanglists. They will preach the good news across the region. The natural outcome will be people being stirred. And challenged to be in church. And so, those who may not have darkened the door for many years will step through that door. But, in our region, not just one door, doors across the region.<br />
<br />
That is a problem. We know it is a problem. A pastor who lives right down the road from us told us this... he did an experiment. He visited almost every church in our region. He said that he was not welcomed. Not once, not a couple of times, but time after time. What this means...<br />
<br />
If we aren't deliberate in equipping churches, our harvest will die on the vine. People will walk into church, not have a good experience, walk out and be done with it.<br />
<br />
We can't have this. This cannot be part of our plan.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Soooo... options...<br />
<br />
What should the expectations be? ...that the churches be expected to learn how to be effective in visitor retention. Simple. And, if they learn together there will be the added and necessary component of community. Learning in community, from and with each other. What could be better?<br />
<br />
Street preachers... need to be supported by churches. Churches who are are actively building skills in visitor retention. These will be the churches who grow as the harvest comes in.The Decline and Fall of a Nationtag:kingdomcryer.ning.com,2009-02-15:3023356:BlogPost:412009-02-15T00:00:00.000ZJuanitahttps://kingdomcryer.ning.com/profile/Juanita
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All Nations go through 5 progressive cycles<br />
<br />
Freedom and Birth<br />
Growth<br />
Complacency<br />
Oppression<br />
Tyranny<br />
<br />
The cycle repeats.<br />
<br />
Now lets look a little closer at these cycles and our country.<br />
<br />
Freedom and Birth.<br />
It is no mystery that the birth of our country was heralded with promise. The revisionists may tell a different story, but many Christians saw this as the opportunity to form a nation with godly principles and values.<br />
<br />
Growth<br />
A nation has never…
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All Nations go through 5 progressive cycles<br />
<br />
Freedom and Birth<br />
Growth<br />
Complacency<br />
Oppression<br />
Tyranny<br />
<br />
The cycle repeats.<br />
<br />
Now lets look a little closer at these cycles and our country.<br />
<br />
Freedom and Birth.<br />
It is no mystery that the birth of our country was heralded with promise. The revisionists may tell a different story, but many Christians saw this as the opportunity to form a nation with godly principles and values.<br />
<br />
Growth<br />
A nation has never emerged that grew like ours. We were great and we were good. In 1892 the United States Supreme Court made an exhaustive study of the supposed connection between Christianity and the government of the United States. After reviewing hundreds of historical documents, the Court asserted, “These references…add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a religious people… a Christian nation.” Likewise in 1931 Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland reviewed the 1892 decision in reference to another case and reiterated that Americans are a “Christian people.” (reference available, just ask.)<br />
So the world saw something that had never been seen before – an emergent country shaped by many people who sought to honor God. We flourished.<br />
<br />
Complacency<br />
Over time, every nation and organization ages. Even Jesus mentioned this – to paraphrase what he said, “Don’t try to accommodate new growth with old organizations. You need new organizations for new growth.” (reference available, just ask)<br />
So, the complacency we have experienced as Americans is what all nations experience.<br />
<br />
Oppression<br />
In complacency, things run down hill. There is not strong leadership moving us in a positive direction. We become inwardly focused, obsessed with ourselves, obsessed with feeling good and living for the moment. In all nations, this occurs as the nation ages. And, people choose the path of least resistance. This obsession with ‘feeling good’ allows leaders to emerge that speak not to a ‘higher calling’ but speak to giving us what we want. Giving people what they want without an equal exchange of value is not a good foundation. It is a cracked foundation that will not work in the long term. The type of leadership that advocates taking care of the masses without an equal contribution establishes a weak and ineffective government. This type of government speeds the down hill decline.<br />
This type of leadership generates something else. Those who understood the original purpose of the nation see that the nation has moved off center and begin to exert their leadership influence. But, because their mission is in conflict with the official leadership, this further fragments the nation. Again, the down hill slide moves into higher gear. A nation divided against itself cannot stand.<br />
<br />
Tyranny<br />
The fruit of the government that caters to providing for the masses without an equal exchange of value begins to emerge. An economy based on government spending is economic disaster. Economic activity sags, decays and slows down. There are fewer and fewer buyers for services and goods. Reduction of workers accelerates. Average earning decreases. Fear reigns and even more people emerge saying, “Wrong turn! Go this way!” The conflict between the power holders and the rest widen. The power holders take a tighter grip to control things, they invent ways to gain more power and to stay in power. Tyranny reigns. Tyranny spurs rebellion which spurs more tyranny.<br />
<br />
So, is there a solution for this decay?<br />
I’d say a solid maybe.<br />
I think the solution has to do with 2 things…<br />
First… do you know what people group is the richest people group in the United States? The Amish. Why, because they trade with each other FIRST before they trade outside of their community. Their money ‘turns’ ten times inside of their community before it goes ‘outside.’<br />
One of the next richest people groups are the Jewish people. They tend to turn their money 7 times in their communities before it goes outside.<br />
<br />
Second.. regarding what Jesus said… We need new and better ways to organize.<br />
<br />
My conclusion…<br />
I think this is the time for Christians to form deliberate communities. What I am saying is this. We need to…<br />
Recognize each other and link together.<br />
Trade with each other.<br />
Prefer each other.<br />
Support each other.<br />
And begin to learn how to effectively meet the needs of those inside our Christian communities and those outside of our Christian communities.<br />
<br />
Somehow this thought that “Christian” and “Government” are two worlds that should spin in separate universes has emerged. Nothing could be farther from the truth.<br />
We are supposed to be wise enough (and organized enough) to settle our own disputes.<br />
We are supposed to hold people accountable for wrong behavior.<br />
We’re supposed to help those who are working and to not help those who are lazy and refuse to do honest work.<br />
We’re supposed to take care of those in need and to share what we have, not by compulsion or force but by with mission, purpose and love.<br />
These are self-government principles that we need to rethink. We need a new definition and organization of Christian community.<br />
<br />
These are tough days for many, but also days that could see the birth of something new, a more visible expression of the Kingdom of God.