THE FESTIVAL OF POTS

My friends establishing and maintaining a close personal relationship with Jesus should be central to our spiritual life and ministry. We may be satisfied that we are seeking a deeper understanding of the Word of God, a life of good works, and even service, but it is essential also that we go beyond these levels of spiritual desires and recognize that the only foundation upon which our knowledge of the Word can stand is on the personal relationship that we maintain with the LORD. And for this to happen my friend we must allow God to bring (this is always His intention) us into a place of great unity with Him. In such a place that the truth of the word of God can grip our heart to where we are convinced, we truly believe what is written and what God has spoken. I am convinced most Christians are not convinced God’s word is true. They have a mental and emotional assent to this truth, but in their heart it has not really taken hold of them. My friend we must be really convinced to what God has written and spoke to us. The more convinced we are to this the more we will be able to stand and withstand (there is a big difference) problems, troubles, situations, and circumstances that come our way. You know many people think God looks at the relationship we have when He looks at our ability to keep relationship, but I am not so sure about that. It is easy to keep a relationship with someone who you like and who likes you, but now to keep a relationship (even if it is one sided in your heart) with someone who does not like you now that is a different story all together. I think God looks at the relationships we have lost over the years to whether or not we have the ability to keep relationship. God is not really too concerned about the relationships we have, but make no mistake my friend God is really concerned about the relationship we have allowed to slip though our fingers and heart. At the heart of these lost relationships is a lack of relationship with the LORD and lack of desire for the truth. In the Psalms David writes, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” (Psalms 133:1-3) Please know this place of unity is not found in the “precious ointment” that ran down on Aaron’s beard nor is it found in the dew of mount Hermon, but “there” the LORD commands the blessing, “even life for evermore.” “There” is the place of unity with God and with man. Did you know you cannot be in unity with God and not with man? John tells us, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20) I wonder why we think we can get away with loving God and not our brothers and sisters? Now the “unity” (or “oneness” as translated all throughout the Bible) we are after is not the unity that brings two churches together to have prayer breakfast or special service, but the same unity that Jesus had with the Father. Unity with the Father will always will cost us something. In the real LORD’s prayer (only prayer recorded where Jesus actually prayed) we read, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:21-23) Did you get that? Unity not to do something for God, but unity to become something in God. We in unity (in relationship) with God as Jesus was one (in unity in relationship with the Father) with the family so we can be one with our brothers and sisters. So you see no unity with the Father we will not be in unity with our brothers and sisters. I wonder how effective the Church globally would be if it was in unity with the Father as Jesus was in unity with the Father? The whole cannot be greater than the sum of its parts, thus the Church globally cannot be greater than the collection of individuals that make up the Church. What a prayer for 2014. What a prayer for ourselves. Now the truth aspect is even more chilling. Truth has always been at the heart of our salvation and walk with the LORD. Oh we often want only to be loved and called lovely, but that can never happen unless we walk in the truth of God’s word. Even Pilate knew this. The question of what is truth is nothing new even Jesus’ judge and jury asked, “Pilate saith unto him (Jesus), What is truth? . . . . ” (John 18:38). Today we like to mask the truth with religion, skilled and educated speaking, and our good works, but these good intentions of ours will never be enough if our words do not match Jesus’ reply back to Pilate, “my words are truth.” Some years ago I had an experience that has ever stuck with me. I attended a meeting in which the speaker gave an excellent word. I have know him for over 30 years, traveled to many countries in ministry with him, I love him very much still today, he has a mystical, deep anointing in teaching that few in the world can rival, yet there was something missing. As I left I said, "Lord, what is wrong? He was a great speaker with a good word. You know how much I love him and look to him." Then the Lord brought something to my mind that John Wright Follette had said, “there is a difference between having truth itself deposited within our heart and made a part of our life and simply reflecting truth that has come from another person or ministry.” This floored me. From that point on my goal was not to reflect truth, but to allow the Holy Spirit to deposit the truth God has for me into my life. Not the truth for others, but the truth God has for my life. Not all truth is for all people at the same time. There is some truth that we can handle now and there is some truth we are not able to handle. Someday if we grow in the grace and knowledge of the LORD the Holy Spirit will be able to make more truth apart of us, but until then we must be content with only the truth that is convenient and purposed for our lives. A big mistake we often make is to sacrifice truth for things. We know truth when we hear it there is no mistake it hits us in the stomach and bends us to our knees, but it seems we are willing to give the truth up for things that bring; peace, happiness, even things that bring what we call blessings into our lives. Some Christians say anything that brings harmony into our family is what God wants, well that my friend is not the truth. We must never sacrifice truth for peace and harmony (even love) if so then our relationships will not be built on God’s word. When we sacrifice the truth of God’s word for harmony and peace we then are rejecting the word of God for the people. How can they be saved unless they hear? Paul told the Church at Ephesus, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16) All that we do for God must be in obedience with a pure motive from love and a desire to see others “grow up into him in all things.” If not then it is a selfish and self-centered motive where we want to manipulate others. My friend I believe manipulation is the greatest sin of the 21 Century church and is the ruin of most marriages in the world. Our goal should be, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth.” On my last trip I had the good pleasure to see how this would look. When Michael Simonowich and I were in Bulgaria Rossi, Pastor Niki’s wife and Marcho took us to Silver Lake Village. What a wonderful time we had. The day was a joyous celebration of remembrance when all the people of Bulgaria had to eat was beans and they ate them from ceramic pots so every year the people in the villages around Silistra keep this tradition by holding “The Festival of the Pots.” The goals were two-fold; one eat as much good food as possible and two the food had to be judged by categories; i.e. breads, beans, soups, salads, meats, deserts you have the picture. Also judged was the best village singing group (six groups took the stage), best home-made wine, and of course best beer. It was a very pleasant time of food, family, and festivity. While the different village groups were singing (and in the in-between times) some of the older folks started dancing in a circular direction while holding hands. Now here is what I thought was amazing. To enter the group in motion no words of request were needed, no discussion, no dispute all one had to do was step up to the circle to make their intention known and then touch the hands of the people you desire to join between. It was amazing as the person who wanted to join the dance touched the hands of the two people they rolled over and opened their hands in harmony, in unison as the joining person stepped into the circle without missing a beat. They were “fitly joined together” without words. It was a totally seamless process no words were spoken no debate, no dispute only fluency in motion as the person became one with the other dancers. I know to some this does not sound like much, but to see it happen, well it was amazing. After watching this process a few times I thought this is the way it is to be with Christians. We are to be in such harmony and unity whereby a seamless process of coming together should happen in our lives, but sadly this is not the case in most situations. Sadly there is great debate, there is great discussion, even confusion and strife, there often is little harmony when Christians come together. It seems everyone has something different in mind. Paul told the Church at Corinth, “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation.” (1 Corinthians 14:26) I do not believe this is the way the LORD has arranged things for His Body I think it is more like the dancers at the Festival of the Pots. Dare to step up to the circle and try to get in?

A MEDITATION ON CHRISTMAS

When I meditate on this time of the year and what we call the Christmas (word not found in the KJV of the Bible) season I must conclude this is the most divisive time of the year just ahead of Easter. I wonder why these two holidays divide so many people in the world. Now I will tell you from the start Karen and I do not celebrate Christmas how can we the word is not in the KJV Bible, but we do celebrate the birth of our precious LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. As Christianity began to spread many were alarmed by the continuing celebration of pagan customs among their converts. We even see this throughout the New Testament Church as Paul constantly battled against pagan and cultural traditions from taking root in the young Church. At first the Church forbade this kind of celebration. But it was to no avail. Bible historians claim that the Christmas celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also to the Persians (Babylonian Chaldeans) whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. Oddly enough it was during this period the three Wise Men (also Magi) (Matthew 2:1) learned of the Star of Bethlehem by reading the prophecies of Daniel the Great Magi (Daniel 1:1-7). Sadly this religious deception continues today, even though the faces and names has been changed the spirit and intent has not. We Christians seem to be good at making up things to satisfy our flesh for fulfillment. Now as I said Karen and I do celebrate the birth of Christ, there is a huge difference. As we watch the news we cannot believe all of the fighting to keep Christ in Christmas. Where in the Bible did Jesus ask us to remember His birth? Now I can find plenty of Scriptures in the Bible where Jesus has asked us to remember His death, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26) Who wants to remember Jesus’ death when we can remember His birth? Yet few Christians really remember His death (Romans 6:3) while they go crazy in remembering His birth. I wonder why? Yes there is a wonderful story about the birth of Jesus in the Bible, but where are we commanded to make His birth an annual holiday like we in American have made: Independence, Veterans, or Valentine Day even Halloween? And when you merge religious with traditions and customs you have an unbeatable national money maker. Is not Jesus’ birth much more? Yes my friend I am afraid we have gotten off track and the merchants of the day (and for 100s of years) have capitalized on our selfish greed (maybe only in America, but I think not) and great presumption. The same way Hollywood has recently discovered the untapped market for Christian movies. I find it really strange how many Christians today would rather go to a movie then to Church to hear about Jesus. I wonder why? It is not about fighting to keep Christ in Christmas or even about a baby in the manger. You know we really like seeing baby Jesus in the manger, but you know my friend Jesus is not a baby any more, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34) Today Jesus is not a defenseless baby in the manger He is our victorious King of kings, Lord of lords, and some day soon He is coming back to earth not as a baby, but as a judge (to kick butt) and rule (to set righteousness in order) in the earth. Something else we are puzzled about is why Christians want to beat up on the Atheist in Washington State who put a sign beside a manger display in the Capitol building. I thought we were to witness to them and tell them about Jesus? There is not much of a Christian witness when we shake our fist and gnash our teeth at someone over a wooden display. How can this sign destroy the eternal timeless message of our precious savior Jesus Christ? It cannot and will not. Has the love of God been displaced by Christians wanting their traditional religious symbols? I too can speak for God and sadly I must say yes. Jesus did not come so that we could decorate our trees and yard with gold and silver balls or blinking lights. Jesus did not come so Christians could deck the halls with a blow up Santa Claus and reindeer on their roofs and lawn. What do we do with these verses? “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not.” (Jeremiah 10:2-4) Maybe we should ignore them or maybe the Holy Spirit made a mistake? I think God is very clear in what He is saying, but we continue in the lie with Christmas trees (a German custom) out from our American tradition (now transported to the world) and because we do not want to offend family members. Just look at the Christmas trees in churches today? What do we do with these verses? The answer will be what we do with Jesus. Never forget the Gospel message of Christ is very offensive and at times even divisive to the non-believers, but truth is truth. Either we will stand for truth or compromise for the lie for the sake of peace on earth. The truth is Jesus did not come so we could have songs to sing at our annual Christmas musicals. It is amazing how old Christmas recordings from people long ago come back to life every Christmas. Jesus did not come so we could run ourselves to death, buying presents for people, while going further into debt. It is no wonder support in America for missionaries and humanitarian programs dwindle to almost to nothing this season of the year. I am afraid the true character and nature of man comes out during Christmas. We even plug in a written list to a jolly fat man in a red suit that drives a sleigh of reindeer around the world in one night to make sure we get want we what for Christmas. Why do we think we should get a present on some one else’s birthday? Our selfishness and self-centered nature really comes shining through. Oh Lord please forgive us for the indulgence of our wrong attitudes, greed, and lust. Jesus did not come to give us a Christmas season to feed our passions. The Bible is very clear why Jesus came. Jesus tells us in His own words, “The thief (not the devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus came so that we “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” not to get a bunch of Christmas presents to satisfy our flesh. Jesus came so that we might (our choice not His) have the life of God dwelling within our heart and lives. The creative eternal life of God moving in us and out from us to the world. Also in John Jesus tells us, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) Jesus came so that we might have life eternal (one part of salvation) which is knowing His Father (and ours), so that we too could “know the only true God” as Jesus did. So we too could know the sublime unity of knowing God as Jesus did. I would think that would be worth far more than anything we can buy each other. Did you know, Jesus (even though the Prince of Peace) did not come into the world to bring peace as many of the major denominations and religions of the world tell us. Religious deception always leads us away from Christ into the traditional religious worship of the customs of man (like Christmas and Easter) and into a good works salvation thinking. Oh no Jesus Himself said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance (Strong’s #1639 to cut into two parts, cleave asunder, sever) against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39) Jesus has come to cut our hearts out of the world with His word, the sword. Jesus has “come to set man at variance against” or sever every relationship where we love someone or something more than Him. Jesus came so that we could take up our cross (not Jesus’) and follow Him. Jesus came so we could lose our life so that we could then find our life in Him. We know and are persuaded if we lose our life for His sake we shall find it. We also know many of our friends will disagree (we hope and pray this is not the case) with this article, but that is okay getting the truth of the Gospel message out is more important than our friends getting offended at us. If they get offended at us over this article we know they probably are not our friends anyway. We have learned this truth the hard way. Please do not allow yourself to be deceived (your choice) by any pastor or person that says, “it is not a Heaven or Hell issue or it does not really matter” oh really? This thinking my friend is just spiritually wrong and a very subtle form of deception that has been carried on for 100s maybe 1,000s of years by the religious denominations and merchants both working hand-n-hand to get customers. Sadly at the heart of why we focus on the Christmas story and baby Jesus in the manger is so we do not have to deal with a risen Savior. How much more religious can we (like the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17)) who could not totally sell out be than to bow down and worship the Christmas story and the sweet little baby Jesus in the manger? This satisfies our religious flesh and helps to ease our guilt and feeling of disobedience from rejecting God’s word to us. Who wants to allow God to deal and judge in their hearts exposing areas where we must allow Him to work? It is much easier singing another song about Christmas as we buy presents for our family or even as we buy a present for some poor people who live down the street who we neglect the rest of the year. It is far less painful to go to every church musical and spend all we have than for God to be able to show us who we really are. Who wants to allow God free rein in our heart and lives to conform us into the image (icon) and character of Jesus Christ? Very few people do and the rest continue in this traditional religious lie year after year. I think I will end with a very sobering word; if you need a traditional religious holiday to know God sadly my friend your heart is very far from Him and you will never come to know Him. Let us turn our hearts away from the religious traditions of Christmas and allow God to bring the truth of His character and nature to us. It is our choice whether we desire presents on Christmas morning or the knowledge of God, we cannot have both. Written by David Stahl