Haggard on Opera

Last night before I fell asleep I watched Opera. This is a rare occurrence not only because I am too manly to watch Opera but because her message that she puts out is sending an amazing amount of people out to indulge or partake in books and other material that the New Age movement is putting out. This cult is dangerous to everyone. If you want more proof I will write about it later, sorry though Opera, not everyone has their "own" Jesus that will get them to a better place...and you should stop saying that. What I wanted to bring into the light though was this... Ted was a very popular preacher/evangelist in Colorado that got caught not only buying drugs but meeting up and paying a male hooker. Haggard lied many times about the issues and did not want it to come out but obviously it came out. The male prostitute that had done the "business" transactions with Ted came forward and brought out the entire story and up until late Haggard has lived a life reaping what he had sewn. The life that Haggard had on the pedestal was obviously taken right from under him as he was forced to resign from the huge mega church he was at and then he was asked to move out of the state of Colorado by the church as well....He moved and tried to find life outside of ministry for what he said was the first time he had really done. Then the church took away some of those bans and he was aloud to come back and live in the house that he had when he was doing ministry. I explain all of that to get to this. What are we supposed to do as a church to a person in this situation. I actually think that in Haggard's situation that the right things were done by the church. The church today usually does not do much in form of church discipline. In this case they got it right. When you see Haggard and his explanations for his homosexual tendencies, you see someone that I believe has felt a huge remorse and felt like crap about what he did, but however he did not explain everything so well as to what God has done and the repentance part of it. He said how sorry he was to the church and to his family for the state of his actions but his defense or lack of for his tendencies and fighting Oprah on the "That's just who you are" comments showed that maybe he hasn't gotten the full picture. So back to the question...what do we do in circumstances like this? The church must discipline those especially leaders that are living in sin. However when you do that and repentance has come and they completely deny the life of sin they were in the church should take them back. In what form or fashion? I am not sure. It does not mean necessarily that they should be thrown back into the same position, but if God puts them into ministry again they should be held accountable. If someone would have held Haggard accountable and talked to him before hand would this even have happened? I don't know. Church discipline should however take place...but forgiveness after true repentance should be out there in the way that Christ did for us all.

Here is the first part of the Oprah show...



pt. 2


pt. 3


pt.4


pt. 5

computers

OK! Sometimes I hate computers. I have been having issues with mine lately. I tried to put up a blog earlier but my internet is slow. This problem is actually caused by something else. Does anyone know if low memory could have a play in it? Anyways, check back tomorrow for a post.

--Brad

Tis So Sweet...

Yes...Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. Wow! Today's service was so amazing at church that I cried like a little girl. ok...so here is a link that is a must to listen to if able....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksdwKRVLiNw

Today that song was sung by the Rush Creek choir (back ground) and Crystal Evans took the solo part. AHHHHHmazing. Crystal sang it way better than any other version I have ever heard and it left me with nothing but the realization of how sweet Christ is and that no matter what has happened He has control. With the turmoil in my life the past half year or whatever I saw a little differently today. I had trust in Jesus to begin with but it was like a great letting go party for me today. It was awesome because I threw it out and said God I know you are able...I know that you can do it...you take hold of this ship and drive it. What else is sweeter? I do not know of anything. One thing about it...I thought about the lyrics in the part saying "My God will work it for my good again, I know that He will see me through it all, If I trust in God again." Here is the deal...He can work it for my good again, but I don't want my good. God take over and make it glorious in your sight....because what I want is never as good as what you have for me. Here are the full lyrics.


When life seems cruel
And so unfair
With each new day it seems a greater problem's waiting there
For each step forward I take
Seems I get pushed two steps behind
Don’t think I’m going to make it sometimes
Don’t think my nerves can take it this time
As I’m about to call it quits a solution comes to mind
Why not trust God again?
I know that He can do it
If I pray again, believe again
My God will work it for my good again
I know that He will see me through it all
If I trust in God again.

Is there a mountain standing in your way
Is there a loved one you’re worried about today
Is there a blessing you desire that seems intangible
Instead of giving up the fight
Cling to faith with all your might
The One who’s seen you through before is still able
(He's still able.)

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at his word
Why not trust

Chorus
Why not trust God again
I know that he can do it
If I pray again, believe again
My God will work it for my good again
I know that He will see me through it all
If I trust in God again.

I will, I will, I will trust in God again ( repeat )

Friend??? What???

I was thinking alot about the term friend and what it means. I think that sometimes it is a term that loses its shine because it is thrown around so easily like the words love and Christian. In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary the definition of friend is this...
1. one attached to another by affection or esteem
2. one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3. a favored companion

The other definitions do not ring to the definition matching this blog, however if you take a look at the 3 definitions given here....you will notice that a friend is someone that is favored, that you like, have affection for, or wanted to align yourself with. Now with that I say that those definitions are only part of the realization of what a true friend is. John 15 quotes a famous scripture that everyone (alot, sorry just being a little sarcastic) knows "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." However besides that one verse if you go to the rest of the chapter it is talking about the relationship between Jesus and His disciples and it paints the perfect picture of the way we should be. If we are friends with those things of the world we will never be friends with the things of Jesus. If you hate Jesus you hate God also. However if you find Jesus a favored companion, if you are attracted to Him with affection in which you want to follow Him, and if you are part of the same believing class as the disciples you will realize what true friendship is as well. Friendship is a bond between people or God or even other things in this world that is not easily broken. It is something you don't want to give up. Something that you would lay your life down for. You are not merely just an acquaintance of it or know about it/or them. You don't just hang out with it/or them. Friendship is in the end worth your own life for the sake of another person, God, or thing. So why are we so loose with the word? Why do we say we are friends with someone so quickly. We may be fond of someone or may be ok with being around them, but can we call them our friend? I don't know its your decision....I am just pondering. There are people that I would give my life for right now and for God I would find it worth losing my life.....so I can say that I am undecided but friendship is a huge thing. Don't be quick to call everyone a friend....

The 44th President

Wow. I don't know how many folks watched the inaugeration but it is amazing to see. It proves that in some ways the nation is moving forward and it is exciting to see that maybe something can come of this. I believe that though Obama represents things that I don't agree with God placed him in power for a reason. God is in control of this ship so we must pray for our new leader and for God's guidance. Pray for revival in America because at the rate we are going we are seperating from God at an alarming rate. Lord be with the US as a nation and move our eyes to your throne. Use whatever and whomever you may to show us your face....

So....

Here is something someone showed me at the school that is pretty insane and cool. I have yet to just jump out of a plane and parachute down much less jump off of a cliff and fly at 100 mph along the edge of mountains. Watch this and see if you like it. Anyone up for sky diving in the future??? Maybe we can get that going later...until then here is a clip of craziness...


wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

A Retreat for Jesus...Yay

I will not blog for the next 2 days most likely because I will be pitching a tent. Hopefully as a result of this I will gain a better relationship with Jesus.....If you make a point to look at anything in todays blog please look at the last video. The video has been posted a long time ago on my blog...but I watched it again tonight and God spoke to me. I hope you enjoy.

Pitching Tents


One more just random video....oh my gosh....this is amazingly funny to me for some reason....



and here is the most important.