Friday, July 29, 2005

To Believe and Confess Jesus is not enough

I am in a discussion with a good friend who is a fulfilled Jew. His comments were of interest to me. This is only a portion of his statement.


Shalom,

It doesn't take a "believer" to say that they know Y'SHUA!Mat 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?Mar 1:24 Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.Mar 1:34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.Luk 4:34 Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, [thou] Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.Luk 4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking [them] suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.Confessing the name of Y'SHUA is not enough for as you can see even the demons know who HE is!Knowing HIM is not enough. The demons recognize HIS voice. They know HIM well enough for they were once in Heaven with HIM.Doing miracles is not enough nor does "DOING" alone prove you to be HIS child, for there will come a time when even a "False Prophet" will "DO" such things.Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

For you to be saved when the dead in CHRIST are raised and when the final trumpet sounds there must be the combination of these aspects. You must first accept and confess Y'SHUA as your SAVIOR! Is HE your SAVIOR? If not, then call upon HIS name to save your SPIRIT! Accept the price to redeem you that HE has paid, please?

Pastor Eric Aschendorf

My response:

Once again, I approach things from a bit of a different view. Ha-ha!

Often people I encounter claim to have had an experience of "going forward" to receive the "forgiveness of Jesus". As I talk to them I realize they have never really accepted Jesus Himself. Some claim they are not yet clean enough, or that they have never heard that Jesus gave them His Eternal Life to live through them.

There is a passage in Philippians 2 that states:

12. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13. For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Many focus on the first part. Of working out YOUR salvation with fear and trembling….

But miss the most important part …. For it is GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL and act according to HIS PURPOSE. Emphasis of course is mine.

It is God’s work He is doing through us…. We submit our will and receive His will.

I see we are literally “dead in our sins” and resurrected spiritually alive in Christ. This is a shadow of sort (a reality also) that points to the Last Resurrection we call our Blessed Hope.

Too many spend their life double minded, thinking they still have a free will, even though they gave that up for God’s will. They carry the corpse of their former self around and live shallow stinking dead Christian lives…. Often suffering for no reason other than they have not allowed themselves to be dead.

Don’t get me wrong; I do believe we still sin. For we are not perfect, but that is God’s job not ours…. To be perfect. Ours right now is to be the imperfect creature in need of a Savior. Paul states in Romans 7:

17. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

Yes, we have a corrupted body of flesh. It has desires and impulses and we fall for these all the time. Yet, we are in the spirit alive. The Seed of Christ is planted in our hearts and is driving out the work of the devil. (1 John 3:9)

Many of these things seem so simple. Yet, if one only receives the forgiveness without receiving the Eternal Life, one has only received half the Gospel.

Forgiveness is the gate to salvation…. Jesus was the sin sacrifice for our salvation. He called Himself the gate for His sheep to enter…. (John 10: 17)

But often many equate forgiveness = salvation… forgiveness was once for all (Romans 6:10,Hebrewss 7:27, Hebrews 9:12)

Jesus said, at the cross “forgive them Father for they know not what they do!” They all were forgiven, yet not all were saved. I see that is the issue. Some have received the forgiveness and never received the Forgiver!

For it is good to be forgiven, yet it is better to be a Beloved.

Of the Called Out Ones who Gather at Billings MT.
Blessings,
Pastor Carlos

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

What is Emergent?

What is emergent?

Iggy:

I've done some looking into the Emergent Church movement and do appreciate the desire of this movement to put a charge into the institutionalizing of Christianity. It does seem that doctrinal issues are not as crucial in the New Reformation (as you say) as it was in the "First" Reformation of the 1500s. The conversation seems to be based on unity based upon fellowship rather than doctrinal stances. Am I correct in this? Just trying to understand.

In Christ,

Matt

My response:

close...
It is hard to understand because it looks like a movement, yet, it is not. Though there is now
talk about it actually becoming one.
It crosses all denominations. It makes it inclusive as opposed to exclusive.
It is allowing as you said the openness of conversation, as opposed to setting
lines in the sand.
It is about following Christ, and not man's teaching or an institution.
It is the seeking of the REAL.... It is the de-institutionalizing of the Church.
It is greater than the original Reformation as it is about deconstructing and
re-examining all things. To even be open to that ability.

I would say it is more:
organic than mechanical
conversation vs. direction
less vs. more
people vs. profit


It is being relevant in an age that views Christianity as irrelevant.

It is to me seeing the Church not as an institution but literally the Body of Christ.
If one looks at the word church in the Bible, it is broken down into two parts;

"the called out ones/those that gather".

So to me it is the called out ones who gather at Billings.

This gives the "church" a pulse, life and it becomes more organic and no longer an institution,
(When has a building ever hugged anyone). Even to say the church is the people still loses out that that it is more than the people but the Body of the Risen Savior. It means that we become One with Christ not just a denomination of "people" who rally under a man's teaching. But those that literally become One with The One, as Jesus prayed in John 17.

I have become more aware of how much we add to the Gospel, by our culture, our own bias,
and backgrounds. We can personalize our faith but to add these things actually diminishes the works of Christ, like adding works to Grace.

Blessings,
iggy

Monday, July 25, 2005

Papa Murphy's Concerned About You



Papa Murphy's Concerned


I found this extremely funny!
Papa Murphy's is a "you bake" pizza place. You go, and they make it, then you drive home and
cook it yourself. It is supposed to be a bit cheaper then delivery. Though I think I might argue that point.

Here is the thing. We have to drive to get the pizza from these guys and they are telling us we could, most certainly can get in a car accident while doing it! But we will get a free pizza voucher if we go and check out this insurance agent.

I really fought the idea of calling them and saying, "I am convinced! I will no longer drive to Papa Murphy's and pick up my pizza. I was not aware of how dangerous that really is, so from now on I will only have my pizza delivered."

They do not even see they are sending a double message in this advertisement.

Now, how many Churches do the same thing? They sing "just as you are", then teach everyone in the congregation that God won't hear them if they sin, or that they are being punished for not repenting, or that they must "do these things" to maintain or grow in their faith. I read that it is God who make things grow. That desire should come from within to want to know Jesus in a personal way.

As the Body of Christ we must be aware of these things. As seekers may call us one day and say, "You have convinced me, there is no God. For you say God is love, and yet I never saw it from you".

Just some thoughts.
blessings,
iggy

Friday, July 22, 2005

Ciana DeMay Shelton


Introducing Ciana DeMay Shelton Posted by Picasa

She was born at 2:59 PM, Thursday July 21.

weighing in at 7 lbs 6 ounces
19.5 inches long

Thanks for all you prayers and love.

Blessed,
iggy

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Feeling Better... But still have a nasty cough.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me about my case of pneumonia. It seems to be now just an annoying cough. I do think I will be able to be present when my daughter is born.

If TES goes into labor today, which we hope, we will be off to the hospital. If not, she will be induced tomorrow, if there is an available bed in the birthing unit.

Again, thanks for all your prayers.

Blessings,
iggy

Friday, July 15, 2005

The Exchanged Life

Some of you may have check out the link to the teachings of Irenaeus I have on this page.
My theology took on a grand transition after reading His teachings. I see as Irenaeus who was a disciple of the Polycarp and the Apostle John taught one must subject his free will unto God. I see this as the exchange of wills from ours to Gods. This is the exchanged life or as scripture calls it, becoming a new creation.

I see a common saying as a bit unscriptural... yet as I am not a legalist (at least I pray ha-ha) I don’t make too much out of it. We often hear the phrase, "I gave my life to the Lord", when in reality we had no life.... as all that dwelt in us before Christ was death. We should say, "I gave my death to the Lord, and He gave me His eternal life." In fact Christ Jesus gave Himself for He is Life itself.

I see the real issue in Christianity today is the equation of forgiveness = salvation. When in the scripture all are forgiven, yet it does not say all are saved. When Jesus yelled, "Father, forgive them they know not what they do". I see all at the cross forgiven; yet I would never say all present at the cross were saved.

What this leads to is many receiving only half the Gospel that leads to Life.

Many go forward, not to receive Christ Jesus, but to receive forgiveness. This forgiveness is already granted by way of the cross. The only way of salvation is Jesus for He is salvation.

I see many people being deceived that they are saved, when in reality they only have acknowledged that God forgave them and have not received the power unto salvation, or the Life of Christ.

Now some may call this the indwelling of the Holy Spirit... and I agree... for without the Holy Spirit indwelling us we do not have the power to be saved. This power can only come from God Who is our only salvation, and our hope of glory.

Blessings,
iggy

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Pneumonia?

Here it is 100+ degrees and I get pneumonia. It started out with a high fever and a trip to the emergency room.
Please pray as it is possible that I am contagious. The last thing TES needs (or Fischer) is pneumonia while she is giving birth.
Also, pray I get over this before she goes into labor.


blessings,

iggy

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Find the Real by Alter Bridge

Find The Real
Stuck in the middle I burrow inside
Back to the cradle
Away from the burdens of all my crimes
Before it’s fatal
My past has found me the truth’s come out
All is remembered
With no place to fall but straight down
I must surrender
Well it seems I’ve
Finally thought of everything
I wanna love
I wanna feel
Find peace
Find the real
There’s a face I put on all my life
The face of an angel
But I look in the mirror only to find
The face of a stranger
And with all I’ve taken I hunger for more
Cause I’m selfish
And all I’m left with is a crown of thorns
And I’m helpless
Well it seems I’ve
Finally thought of everything
I wanna love
I wanna feel
Find peace
Find the real
I’ll trade these lies for something right
I’ll kill what hurts with something pure
I will be redeemed so I can breathe again
Well it seems I’ve
Finally thought of everything
I wanna love
I wanna feel
Find peace
Find the real
Well it seems I’ve
Finally thought of everything
I wanna love
I wanna feel
Find peace
Find the real

Thoughts on sin and the fall

This was my response to some great questions Rick on his blog Caffeinated Adventures is asking.

The conversation is around sin.

Rick,
Great questions! I am not attempting to answer the question per se, but share my journey.
All I can say in my journey sin is not right vs. Wrong thinking.... Sin is a state of being of believing we can on our own, know right from wrong and good from evil.


In Christ we are return to the "good" that all creation was, a return to innocence, as before the fall.
We fell from a state of Grace to a works mentality of seeking to find for our selves, right and wrong.

When we took upon our self to be the judge of good and evil as you stated I agree we chose to be as God.

I think this is what is wrong with most of modern thinking. They focus on right wrong, being fixated on the very thing that is our fallen state. So it seems that is the big struggle.

I see it as returning to total dependence on God the Father as Jesus Himself walked. Jesus did what was good and that was His focus, the result, righteousness satisfied. A bit of a dichotomy, yet that is as God is sometimes.

Blessings,
iggy