Christianity is of the Devil!!!!

Christianity is of the Devil!!!!!


I am currently talking to an 84 year old man who believes this…. Yet he is a believer in Christ. I was at first taken aback when he said, “Christianity is of the Devil. You can’t be a 'Christian' and follow Christ".
First I want to say is that I don’t agree….

Yet I had to pause for a thought…..

This is what he is saying….even if he does not fully understand this.

Many claim to be Christian…. I would say most people in America, though fewer and fewer would, if asked, say, “I am a Christian.” Then they would say, “I am basically good, I mean I haven’t killed anyone or anything.”

I often think to myself, “If God’s standard is that we don’t kill someone, then you are doing great, but what kind of standard is that?” I mean…. I am “good” if I don’t kill.
Jesus said, “If you have anger in your heart against another person, you have committed murder in your heart.” !!!!!!!! (Rom 3:23, Matthew 5)

I have killed many on the freeway!

Yet, we do these things every day… kill, adultery, and on and on.

My 84-year-old friend was raised in a Christian home…. He went to church; he sang hymns he was baptized. Yet, he was taught to HATE “that Holy Roller Church” and it’s people.

(1 John 2:11)

WHY?

Because they did not believe exactly as his parents and their church did.
(Mark 7)

He is a storyteller…. I don’t have space to share the stories. I will have to just say he is re-living his life and is writing a book about how God was reaching out to him and how he hardened his heart…. And surrendered to Satan.

He never missed church!
(Matthew 5:20)

I understand what he is really saying…. We can deceive ourselves and do all the time.
We need Jesus, not religion, not just doctrine, but JESUS.
Don’t get me wrong, we need to study doctrine and make sure we are on the right path.
Yet, if our doctrine is keeping people out or the Kingdom, then maybe we need to recheck our doctrine…. We may be making them twice as fit for HELL as our self. (Matthew 23: 25)



Jesus never came to start a Religion!
He came to bring us the Kingdom of God!
(Matthew 5:20)

I agree…. I am sure He never intended His Body, the Church, to be a religion…. I believe if He is the Head…. And We are His Body…. WE were meant to be a living organism that would reach out to the world, as the Father did…. When He sent His SON.
(Romans 12)


Christianity as a Religion is as good and EVIL as any Religion…. So we must make sure that we practice True Religion…. To care for widows and orphans and Fatherless children. (James 1)

Literally and metaphorically….
For without Jesus, we are ALL FATHERLESS CHILDREN!

Don’t let your religion get in the way of your faith in Christ… practice your faith and work out your great and wonderful salvation!

Blessings,

iggy

This Kid is Amazing

This kid is amazing…
He attacks life with total abandon…
He wonders at the smallest things…
All things are new to him…

Wouldn’t it be great to have that again?

2 Corinthians 5: 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Blessings,
iggy





What Blue Eyes

Baby Girl (Ciana) 

Fischer 

HOLY POOP!

There are some great thoughts on JP's Blog today. I tend to write some of my better stuff on other people's blogs. Today I decided to respond here.
I got baby fever. I have a one year old boy, Fischer and another little girl on the way. So.... as a father I had this thought....
When Jesus was a baby someone had to change His diapers....Right? He was a baby...So there was poop. I am not meaning to be blasphemous... God became a man. God, the creator of all things.... became a man. Just like one of us! Believe me I have met some "spiritual" people... Some good and some bad. But, this is the equalizer of all mankind... A trip to the toitee.
Jesus, was the example for us. He not only ministered to the lepers... but touched them. He then made them clean by His touch, so he remained clean Himself. Now, we are His Body... We are His hands and feet. We are to go and touch those that no one wants... The ones just like you and me.
Getting back to poop. Have you ever thought of the ministry of diaper changing... Not just at your church, but the actual job itself.To have a child so helpless that someone needs to care enough to clean up the filth the baby had created. I see God doing that to me everyday... Often without my even knowing it. That is His Grace. He reaches out to us and cleanse us from the poop we create in our life. I know I get tired of diaper duty. It seems to never end, but I will do it because I love my child. We are the children of God... How much more does He love us?

If you think this post stunk I apologize...
blessed,
iggy

What is on your clip board?

OK, I admit I rarely have an original thought. I actually am stealing this idea from Rick S.

What is on your clip board? You know when you cut and paste.... Go to comments and leave your last saved clip board.

Blessings,
iggy

Jack Chick expands his empire

When I was young I was drawn to Jack Chick... His art was pretty good as far as the comics offered by Christians of the day...
I later found him quite offensive as he was sure the Pope was the anti Christ and Catholics where heading to hell. His portrayal of the gay community seemed also a "little" overboard.
But this floored me...
You have to read the article to see what I mean!

Tired of Post-Modernism...Lets Move On To Post-Post-Modernism

I was doing the random blog and the first on I came upon was one called Big Easy his opening sentence floored me...

"Cultural theorists may think we're in the age of "post-post-modernism," but our theologians are still simply contending with the impacts of Descartes, Copernicus, Darwin, and Freud. The most profound impact of modernity is that we can no longer base the authority of our religious testaments on history; our myths and our Gods are refuted by scientific reality. We lose our absolutes, and the sense of certainty they afforded us.

Considering the ramification of not doing anything as we enter and begin the journey of this post modern age...We miss out on reaching a culture who has lost faith in trivial things that do not matter.
This is exciting as we must understand that this means trivial and superficial is not the "cool" but is "on the out".
As one puts his finger on the pulse of culture around us... We see people seeking something... "The Real".
As a post modern Christian I see this as a real opportunity to introduce the ones who do not Know Jesus... The Real Jesus.
Modernity has gone it's full road... The world has out grown moderns view of God and religion. But, no one can outgrow the Living God and His Son our Messiah.
If we believe that Jesus is Real... Then we have no fear in sharing this with others. Especially those who seek the Real.
It is as if those of postmodern age...Or as this thinker stated, the "post-post-modern age", have become like children again in their attempt to see things in a new light...New experience as to see things as Real.
We must move forward...Not just think "attack Darwin and evolution" or other modern Demigods...who have failed on their own to answer life's Real questions.
Jesus tells us "Do not fear for I am with you always".
Do we believe this?

iggy

He Is Risen!

He Is Risen

1 Corinthians 15:12. But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (NIV)

And all I can say is Amen!


Happy resurrection Day!
Here is a Max Lucado presentation... in the words of late comedian Chris Farley..."It is awesome".
Blessed,
iggy

Things that bother me about Terri's case

This case is so disturbing on many different levels...
1. I do not want the gov't to get involved in a tough enough decision as letting a loved one die.
2. Courts should not have the right to give the death sentence to an innocent.
3. Even if a hint of the possibility of an allegation of abuse and contributing to Terri's condition was caused by her husband the court should step in to investigate "that". Mean while leaving in the tube. This would show more respect for Terri if these allegations are remotely true.
4. Removing a feeding tube is not the same as removing a breathing machine or removing dialysis or any other "life support.
5. When my stepfather in-law was dying of cancer (starvation because he could no longer take any matter in) we were allowed to give comfort and put a wet sponge to his lips and tongue to relieve some of the pain...The morphine did the rest. Terri's is being denied this comfort as she "humanely starves to death".
6. Get a living will at the very least...A medical power of attorney is better...(I think that is what it is called).
7. If there is no real statement from the person (Terri) then who ever is willing to take care of the person should be able to...As in the family.
8. Who is to judge when a life has "quality of living" many handicapped people have more severe issues that Terri yet are allowed to live...For now.
9. I have seen animals treated and put to death more humanely than what we are witnessing here with Terri.
10. I see this as a huge change of values in America... I see this as leading toward something very sinister... I recently published a post on my other blog Baby Shelton update about fetal testing to find out if our baby might have down syndrome...We decided to not have the tests as we would love her anyway. It is sad to think some parents choose other wise and that we even have a choose. (I know this testing can scan for many other problems... But even those do not mean we have a right or privilege to take a life... Even if yet unborn. If we allow this case to set precedent that we can kill someone if they are deemed not as fit as the rest of us...Well, I can see the rise of Nazism in America.... ( our daughter seems to be healthy).
11. With at least 2 sworn affidavits saying Mike (Terri's husband... Using that term perversely) saying he has called her a "bitch" and "when is she going to die?" even possible injecting her with insulin to cause her to go into shock...
12. Even though I see it should never had to involve Congress... But it did and they said to have a "new trial" why did a Fed Judge refuse to do this... I see this as contempt of congress.
13. We must realize that Judges are to view "the Law" which as someone said in this case..."Those who think law is the answer to our problems need to face the reality that law is a crude and blunt instrument." I agree. As with the "Law of Moses" that we as Christians are no longer under as we are under Christ and the Higher Law of Love, there is no mercy under the Law.
14. Terri Schiavo wasn't dying until she was denied food and water by court order. If a parent or pet owner locked their child or pet in a room without food and water, is that letting her die? Do you think a court would accept that as a defense?
15. If Terri has been in a persistent vegetative state since 1990. Why is she been known to respond to her parents and sit up and even swallow jello? When has her brain activity ceased?
16. If we depend on the legal system to create law... We the people will lose our freedoms. We need to diligently guard ourselves... So get that living will!
17. IF YOU DENY ANY ONE FOOD OR WATER THEY WILL DIE... So why can't the family at least give her water? This is murder! Not letting her die...With dignity!
18. We being a so called "Christian" nation...(I don't agree with that we are a Christian Nation) should never even be having this discussion...
19. Mike (Terri's husband...Again using that term loosely) gave up his "right as husband when he shacked up with his new "common law" wife and had two kids with her... I am not judging him for moving on... Just "hanging on" without considering Terri's families position.
iggy

Another Quiz ....I find my self Quaking...

OK,
My new friend "the token Catholic" Hugo, had this quiz link.... I did it and this was my results.
I do not think that the quiz truly represented my beliefs though.. As Question 12 I did not agree with any of the choices.
It is fun though.
Here is the thing I agree with #2. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (92%) and am intrigued by #1 Orthodox Quaker (100%) ... Would I be disqualified if i support the war on terrorism and would fight for my country? In many ways I am a pacifist, yet, I do not think I am pure enough to be a quaker.
but #3?
I do not hold that Saturday is "the" day of worship
nor do I agree with much of their doctrine. Maybe I am influenced by these Seventh day Bible books they sold my mom and I read when I was young.
#4. Eastern Orthodox (83%) I agree as It is a more mystical approach in belief... But still too legalistic for me.
#5. Roman Catholic (83%) I am called by my "anti-Catholic" friends...(using the term loosely) that I am a "Catholic lover".
#6. I do seem to have a bit of a "liberal" bent at times (cuz I love Catholics?)hahaha.
#7. Orthodox Judaism (56%) Maybe Messianic Jew... But I doubt that is orthodox.
#8. Liberal Quakers (55%) Again with the Quakers? I may need to look into this more.
#9 - 27 HUH? I was accused of being a Unitarian...But they had no clue what they were talking about.

Here are the results.

1. Orthodox Quaker (100%)
2. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (92%)
3. Seventh Day Adventist (86%)
4. Eastern Orthodox (83%)
5. Roman Catholic (83%)
6. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (70%)
7. Orthodox Judaism (56%)
8. Liberal Quakers (55%)
9. Islam (54%)
10. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (52%)
11. Unitarian Universalism (51%)
12. Hinduism (49%)
13. Bahá'í Faith (44%)
14. Mahayana Buddhism (43%)
15. Theravada Buddhism (42%)
16. Jainism (41%)
17. Sikhism (41%)
18. Jehovah's Witness (37%)
19. Reform Judaism (37%)
20. Neo-Pagan (35%)
21. New Age (34%)
22. Secular Humanism (27%)
23. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (24%)
24. Taoism (23%)
25. Nontheist (21%)
26. Scientology (20%)
27. New Thought (17%)

This is the top ten the second time I took it... it made a little more sense.
But still that Quaker thing?

1.
Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (100%)
2.
Orthodox Quaker (93%)
3.
Eastern Orthodox (87%)
4.
Roman Catholic (87%)
5.
Seventh Day Adventist (82%)
6.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (68%)
7.
Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (66%)
8.
Islam (64%)
9.
Orthodox Judaism (64%)
10.
Bahá'í Faith (51%)



Try it... maybe you will be surprised also! Or confused...
Blessed
iggy

Jesus, the King and Sacrifice...or the bull of the lord

Sacrifice... that is what Easter or as I would rather call resurrection Day is about.
I have always heard of how Jesus was the Lamb of God... even the teaching of the "scapegoat"...either being a reference to Jesus or Azuzal being the devil...cast out to the desert with laying of hands tranfering the sins of the people onto the Scapegoat.
But, I have never heard anyone explain why the sacrifice of the bull or ox was so important...if you read it is refered in the sacrificial system as the big sacrifice...a sign of prosperity and wealth...
But, I began thinking and searching around and found one link that refered to this sacrifice. It brought out something that caught my eye... God being like and Ox as God's Word uses an ox to represent strong, patient, enduring and uncomplaining service. An ox was known for strength... often able to go on in it's work for hours of intense hard labor...and if not watched could literally work itself to death. Jesus was like the Ox...He went on to do His Father's work... until death.
We are to trust the finished work of Jesus on the cross...we can't add to it or make it any more perfect than it is and was...
In this sense Jesus was the Bull of the Lord...the great sacrifice...the highest of all sacrifices. Have a blessed Resurrection Day.
Blessed,
iggy

Values in relation to community

Disclaimer:
This is part of another comment section on JP's Blog.... I guess I am feeling lazy today and this is the most inspired thinking I can muster.

We have great freedom in Christ... but not all things are beneficial. The main point is do we accept those who do not fit our idea of the "Christian" or do we cram them into “our” image of Christ.
I believe when one is in Christ, one has the Holy Spirit to guide them... but also God wants us to have fellowship with one another.
In Emerging thought we call this community. Each community must find its "values". In some community it may be important that we learn to approach "middle class peoples" in some the homeless. One friend calls his "People" his "tribe”. Issues of the early churches varied with every church... not all had the same problems...Galatians battled legalism while Corinth well battle a too permissive Grace. (A man amongst you brags about sleeping with his father’s wife?!...Slight paraphrase).
I was in a service last Sunday where the pastor was trying to explain that we live by principles... not rules... I tapped my wife on the shoulder and she turned and said what I was thinking... "Don’t we live by the life of Christ?"
From the outsider looking in principles and rules are the same thing... there is no difference.
We as a church must learn to understand our culture and reach out to it... embrace the "seekers" and bring them into community.
Kristin brought up music. Great example.
If one is reaching out to the death metal culture... then we need to understand it. The difference is that though I can't relate to that "style", others might, and reach those yet to find Christ. I know many who do not enjoy Miles Davis as I do. My wife always asks... "Can we listen to something else?" I always say, "He's a jazz giant". In other words she would not relate to that part of the "Jazz" community.
The idea is to accept the people and bring them into community that leads to developing values of that community that in turn can reach out and reach more people of the culture around us.
To many churches have isolated themselves from culture and wonder why no one enters their doors. One church in Billings thinks that their church growth program is to keep the church from growing.... literally! I think without realizing it many churches do this or send the signal to their community this message.
I find it interesting that Jesus was condemned for sitting with people the religious people would not accept. Jesus said it was the sick that need the Doctor…not the well. The issue is that we are all sick.
In some ways we have gotten too attached to the idea of how we “do church” here in America. I was told I did not have a church because I had too few members… and meet at a coffee shop. Yet, I recall sitting in a church that had about 6 people sitting in the pews and thinking that these people had nothing to do with each other outside of church and seemed to be content with their “religious duty” of attending church.
The idea of community is the development of the people in the fellowship. In other words growth. Will mistakes be made on the way? You betcha! (as we say in Montana).
That is all a part of growth.
Blessed,
iggy

Blogger Friends and Heavy Discussions

Blogging has been one of those milestone events in my life...boy that sounds sad in a way.What I mean is it has opened up the world in a new way. I have made friends, maybe a few enemies (not that I know any) and have had some of the most interesting discussions I have had in years.
The most current ones:
Homosexuality: with the token Catholic...Hugo
Baptism: with JP a member of the Church of Christ
Postmodernism: more discussion with JP
Discussion with Kristen...(man she is one sharp cookie) Should women wear a head covering read her blog Heads and Hair
These are all good reads...no, not just because I am in the conversation...
Here is the most touching one...from my neice in California. A poem to the newest edition of Sheltons to be born in July we call Baby Girl, (until we have a name): Chrissy
Blessed,
iggy

It's a Girl!

A little girl... or as the ultrasound tech said...we have a "hamburger" and not a "turtle"...(just think a little bit about it).
We are excited... we admit we were thinking "boy" yet we never thought "not a girl" if you know what I mean.
Now, we are in a serious search for a girls name. May is a family name as my grandmother and mother had it as a middle name. I guess that is a given.
Seda
Calica
Rainy
Carly

I will be adding some more as we go.
Blessings,
iggy
(you can read more about this adventure on BabySheltonupdate (the sequel)

Head leaves KORN for Christ!

Head Leaves Korn For Christ!
Wow!
Sometimes news hits you with ton of bricks...
Now I was not a big Korn fan...but I must say besides soundgarden the downtuned sound was taken to an all new level with Korn. I remember listening to them for the first time...though I can't remember the song's name the topic was the singers molestation as a child...you could hear real pain as he screamed as in a primal scream therapy...I remember they did not play that song live as it had such an effect on him.
Now Brian "Head" Welch one of the guitarists has professed Christ and was baptized in the Jordan river... he also has quit the group.
Now, will this be the Bob Dylan of this generation? Will the Church burn him out like they did Dylan? I pray not. All in all though...God is good!
blessings,
iggy
Story here

A minister's lament

A MINISTER'S LAMENT
I used to call in people's homes, to talk with them and pray but now I've no time left to call; I have to be away Attending meetings here and there, as loyal preachers must;How else can one keep up to date, when programs are discussed?
The phone bell rang the other day. A tearful voice said, "Please, could you find time to see my dad? He's sick and ill at ease."I could not call that afternoon. I had a conference on,where specialists in pastoral work discussed things pro and con.
The next day proved too late to call. The poor old man was dead. His folks were peeved and sent for Reverend Doctor Brown instead;(Though why they'd turn to him in need I cannot comprehend;No conference on pastoral work he ever did attend.)
My youth work here has all but died, though Doctor Brown's is fair;For while I run to institutes, my young folks worship there.You'd think my church would boom and grow; but strange to say 'tis not;For while I go to conferences, my church work goes to pot.
They stress evangelistic work, which every church should do;They plan a lot of institutes to take our deacons to. These "New Life" conferences tell us how lost souls from sin to pry; They only trouble is that now we've no time left to try.
Perhaps we've made a big mistake, as some profess to see. Perhaps most church work has become a vast bureaucracy. Perhaps our time would best be spent among the needy mob. Perhaps God's kingdom profits most by staying on the job.
Author unknown


Be blessed,
iggy

Faith like a river

If faith is like the dead sea; it is dead because all things flow to it yet is refuses to give of itself so others may live. I want a river of living water as my faith, flowing, causing turbulence when needed, peacefully flowing at times...I want to live..... abundantly.

Blessings,

iggy

The never ending argument

Many of my friends argue over "OSAS" once saved always saved, or losing ones salvation... I think this is wrong thinking. Here is my perspective is shared with them. These are mostly modern thinking pastors.

Gentlemen,
I believe the issue is not a one time confession, but spiritual growth... I see it as "no growth - no seed was truly planted"... Anyone can say I believe... demons believe, but they do not receive new life. They do not have their old nature crucified with Christ.
Action and growth...
To me one can still be very foul in the human sense yet receive Christ and struggle with sin that is still with in... but to just say..."I believe in Jesus and He forgave me", then go and not grow...something is wrong somewhere.
Faith without action...or growth (works) is dead. I think we have too many who are "osas" who are sitters in the pews on Sunday and forget God all week but "feel" secure about it.. This is also the problem of those who believe they can lose their salvation. Funny it is never "I can", but "you can", very judgmental. I have seen many that live as they want all week and just go get saved again every Sunday.... again something is wrong...they refuse to grow.
If we stop worrying about salvation... and think of it as not a destination or line in the sand we can concentrate on growth. If one grows, the natural thing is salvation.
I see salvation as a journey without end. To me salvation is growth...
A simple view is this.
A stream of conversion that moves and pours into a river of redemption and grows as it pours into the ocean of salvation that is Gods Love that has no end. As we grow and enter into Gods love we have the journey continue for there is no way one can find the ending of Gods love.

Blessed,
iggy

For the Good of the World

For the Good of the World

As I have finished reading Brian D. McLaren’s book, The Church on the other side,
I was struck by Chapter 2.
I know I have been blinded too often of the effect we have, not just at our immediate
World around us, but even more as we have this blindness multiplied 1000’s of times over…meaning all Christians going blindly about missing what effect they have on others around them.
To me it is no wonder the Church - who should be an earthly reflection of Christ – is viewed as the enemy or even something evil to the world. We are a bit like the time of the Roman Church as it viewed itself a political Nation, flexing it's muscle, except now we are an “economic power”. Yet, with all this so called “economic power” we still miss the greater power, or lack it…in reaching the world with the message of the Kingdom of God.
When our individual actions show no love on the peripherals (me included) we have individuals whose lives are not touched but in fact tossed out – because of our sin (Blind Modernism). Yet, to see that individual actions impact collectively on a national and global level we must first see the devistations of not just individuals, but also of nations.
Personally, I have yet to discover the ramifications of all this. But it does bring to my mind a thought...
Have we in our focus on individual worship and freedoms lost sight of the “Universal Church”, even worse lost sight of the Kingdom of God?
So many Churches are programmed to say they are “the” Church”.
As one friend of mine pointed out as an example, the word “Baptist”. The definition of Baptist has for the most part lost it’s meaning to most people thus lost it’s impact.
You have Free Will Baptists, Calvinist Baptists, Liberal, Fundamentalist and on and on. Yet, many hang on to the title "Baptist" as if it were their savior. Just as “Bible believing” used to say “Bible centered teaching” now seems to say “ How we read and interpret the Bible is right here” implying “and no where else”.
As we cling to the many outdated and outmoded or “programmed” thinking often the world gets more confused and thus blurs what being a Church or worse being a Christian really means.
We must be willing to lose some of the “old baggage” of the old world church so we can move onto and into the new paradigm.
We need to decide what is more important, our little kingdoms or the Kingdom of God. What is more important to “get them to church”? or to receive more of God’s Children into the Kingdom.
It has become my prayer we lose the baggage we have created. The “us against them” mentality and focus on what makes and defines us as “Christians” Then those who once we would never fellowship would be brothers and Christ would be center of His Kingdom as we let our kingdoms fall.
Blessings,
iggy