Coke Commercial

You no doubt have seen the Coke Zero commerical where the "Coke officials" are meeting with a lawyer exploring the possibility of suing the Coke Zero people - the commercial is followed by a moronic ditty - 'da da da-da da da'.

I don't know why, but it is striking me particularly funny today. Here's the commercial script:

Marketing 1: "Do we have a case? I'd like to sue Coke Zero for taste infringement."

Lawyer: "For what?"

Marketing 2: "We want to sue them back to the Stone Age to send a message that they can't mess with the flagship brand."

Lawyer: "It's the same company. It's like suing yourself."

Marketing 1: "Yeah, but they're on a different part of the floor."

It's Not Just What We Say - It's How We Say It

From "Jesus - The Message of Pentecost" by Randy Hurst.

"Many Christians believe that if they know the right words, offer the right arguments and are persuasive enough, they will be effective witnesses. But reaching people for Christ involves more than just saying the right things. The right words should not be shared with a wrong attitude, such as a proud, judgmental or condemning spirit. A contradiction between what we say and how we say it sends mixed signals that hinder the effectiveness of our message."

Opening Day Here I Come!

For the first time in my 41 years of Cincinnati Red 'fanhood', I am attending opening day at Great American Ballpark next Monday afternoon!

I and a good friend will be seated in section 419 (decent seats - the yellow section closest to home plate on the 3rd base line) dressed in red and black cheering for the Red legs.

Seven Spheres Of Influence?

When you hear the term "seven spheres of influence", or "seven mountains" or "seven gates" - in relation to the church or the Kingdom of God - this should be a red warning flag. This is a remix of the "Latter Rain" Dominionism theology movement.

The Assemblies of God has come out strongly against this movement in the past (1949 General Council) - However today you are likely to hear this packaged as some sort of good sounding plan for Christians to change the world and you might even hear the scripture in which Jesus prayed: "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done..." used as justification for the dogma that follows.

Jesus clearly taught that the "Kingdom of God" is not found structures, governments, or in controlling spheres of influence - but rather the Kingdom is a spiritual thing - it is found in the hearts of men, women, boys and girls who surrender themselves to Jesus Christ.

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; ^21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21.

Jesus even responded to Pilate on this topic of the "kingdom":

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” John 18:36.

As stated on the Herescope Blog:

"Make no mistake - this heresy promotes the idea of an evolving Kingdom of God, which is ever expanding in power and authority and dominion -- on earth! This isn't just about the spread of the Gospel message. It is about building structures, influencing spheres, and changing nations, and prescribing and enforcing the Gospel (as they define it). In this evolutionary kingdom worldview, the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross is deemed incomplete. Perhaps it isn't always said that way, but the role of the Church on earth is greatly expanded from its basic mission to spread the Truth of the Gospel. Dominionism teaches that the Church in this present age must spread its "influence" by taking over the institutions of this world.... A core tenet teaches that the Church can't go it alone with only the Gospel message. The Church must take over the spheres of society and enlist the State in this effort to transform/reform the nations of the world."

In his book refuting Dominionism entitled, Come Out Of Her My People, Paul Shirk states:

Revelation 2:26, 27 includes a promise to overcomers that they will rule the nations with a rod of iron, even as Christ has received this privilege from His Father. This is a promise that finds fulfillment after the end; that is, the end of the time as we presently know it. There is no such promise granted to believers in this age, that if they overcome they will rule the nations with a rod of iron. It is a promise that finds fulfillment when Christ Himself comes to rule the nations of this world as recorded in Revelation 19:15. Our reign over nations of this world is concurrent with Christ's rule and not with man's rule. The rule of Christ over the nations in a literal sense occurs at His physical reappearing, and at this time all those who have suffered with Him shall also reign with Him. (pp. 200-201).

Jesus, in the many times He described the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven always described a heart relationship with Him. We must never forget that we are in the business of reclaiming hearts and lives for the Kingdom of God - not man made structures.

Muslims Trusting Christ In Mass Numbers

A very exciting report from Chuck Colson about Muslims coming to Christ.

Read the story HERE.

What Is Pentecostal?

Great article from my friend Tim Enloe:

"Pentecostal." What in the world does that word mean?

"The general, street-level understanding of "Pentecostal" can mean anything from toothless Appalachian snake-handlers to traditional Evangelicals with energetic worship music in their Sunday services. Vipers to verve--that's a broad spectrum."

Read the rest HERE.

Listening To The Language Of The Bible

In my recent sermon study, one of my sources of study has been Lois Tverberg and Bruce Okkema's book Listening To The Language Of The Bible.

This book does a great job of giving the reader a better understanding of Biblical Hebrew words and concepts by examining the context of the Jewish culture they were written in.

I'd highly recommend this book as either a supplement to your daily devotion, or as great introduction into deepening your understanding of Biblical words and customs.

Arguing Or Contending?

More great stuff from Anton Bosch:

"Sometimes I think that many people who get into apologetic type ministries do so simply because they love an argument. Even if that was not what got them into this kind of work, it seems to be what motivates them. Many just love the excitement of the scrap, and they get their kicks out of proving how right they are and how wrong others are. I know a few who will disagree with anything one says – just to pick an argument. (If you are irritated by this article, you may well be one of these.) Others enjoy the fact that engaging in debate makes them feel intellectual, while others just must have the last word.

Concerning potential teachers James says: “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh” (James 3:10-12)."

Apologetic's Run Amok

This from pastor, teacher and author Anton Bosch, from his series of must read articles, Contending Contentiously:

"Let me be very clear on this: No one who is not involved in a local church (no matter how small), and who does not regularly teach the Truth, has the right to teach against error! There is no mention of a fault-finding, or critical ministry in the Bible."

1 In 4 US Teen Girls Has A STD

"He who sows iniquity (sin), will reap sorrow..." Proverbs 22:8.

(By now you've no doubt heard the report that 1 in 4 U.S. teen girls has a sexually transmitted disease. This was the first report of its kind for this age group and a sad shocker. The solutions to this problem that will be bandied about will not fix the problem, because the heart of the problem will not be addressed. Don't get me started on why teaching "safe sex" doesn't, won't and hasn't worked.

Thinking we can vaccinate our daughters against sexual promiscuity and STD's is frankly an embarrassing admission by Christians of the ineptitude of being able to either live and/or pass on Biblical standards to our children.

Teaching abstinence is flawed because the teeth of the message of abstinence has been removed - namely God and His Word. Abstinence taught without providing to students the 'Who' and the 'why' behind it leaves little more than an empty shell. George Washington correctly observed over 200 years ago that, "It is impossible to have morality without God and the Bible."

This problem, as well as most others in our society, has its roots firmly planted in the spiritual and Biblical decline of our nation. It's time for the church to lead the way with repentance, and a renewed vigor and passion for teaching, training and raising Godly kids in an ungodly society.)

"At least in in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease, or more than 3 million teens, according to the first study of its kind in this age group..."

Read the rest HERE.

Cymbala's Prayer Summit Statements

"Today, preaching has become an entertainment form,” he later said. “Playing to the crowd is the lowest thing [a preacher] can do. That’s why I don’t watch much Christian TV." Jim Cymbala

Read more from the Prayer Summit HERE.

Interesting Review Of Rob Bell's "The God's Aren't Angry" Tour

"But it was here, during Rob's statements on Hebrews, that his message began to concern me. As Rob repeatedly emphasized that through the sacrifice of Jesus God has reconciled and made peace with all things, I began to see that Rob wasn't going to talk about a foundational biblical truth that runs from Genesis 3 straight through to the end of the Bible, the biblical truth which makes the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross both necessary and amazing, the biblical truth that makes the good news of the gospel so good: Sin."


Read the entire review HERE.