Orange County House of Prayer: Kingschyld

Polling Data

2012-01-03T00:00:00-05:00

I am not a real big fan of polls. It’s too easy to twist the numbers around. To make it mean something that it may not mean or not tell the whole truth. Four out of five dentists recommend toothpaste X. The first thing we say is, "WOW! That must be great toothpaste." Maybe we should be asking why that fifth dentist didn't like it. Here's another one, Pro-life, Pro-choice? That’s an easy answer for a Christian, right? I am a Christian so this is a slam-dunk answer right? My answer is… PRO-CHOICE. Now before you get into an uproar and start firing off e-mails to my pastor asking what kind of messages he's preaching at his church. Vowing to never read anything I write again, or simply calling me names that you will have to repent for later. Let me prove my opening statement. If I am simply asked question, "Am I pro-life or pro-choice?” my answer is pro-choice. This question is basically a yes or no question. Just what the pollsters ask and run off to ‘crunch the numbers’, spin the data to fit the need (the headline reads, “There are pro-choice Christians”). But the deeper question is not asked. Why? Why did Jeff say he is a Christian and he is pro-choice? I believe a woman has the right to chose whether she carries her baby to term or not. God gave her freewill who am I to take that away from her? Now here is the twist in polling data. Why you will mostly see questions asked as yes or no, or A vs. B. It makes it easier to spin. If the question goes a little deeper the answer is different. I am pro-choice for the reason stated above BUT I believe she should carry the baby to term and then decide to keep the baby or give it up. Making me PRO-LIFE. So let me ask a question. “Are you a Christian?” Now let me ask the deeper question that needs to be asked, "What has Jesus done in your life"? The answer will tell the whole story.

Kingschyld

The Walk

2011-11-09T00:00:00-05:00

This past Sunday (as of this posting) God prompted me to take a prayer walk to church. I wish there was more time and enough space to tell of all of the things that happened leading up to taking that first step Sunday morning, but it is enough to say that God is in control and things went as He ordered them. The walk from where I started to the front door of the church is two and a half miles. Now that may sound like a lot to some of you or nothing at all to others but I am NOT a walker. I don’t go for walks for something to do; so two and a half miles is more of a walk than I like. But God set the course and I was going to be obedient and follow it. So I started out. To make a long walk a short story there were four cars that stopped that day all were people from my church checking to see if I was all right and if I needed a ride. I assured them I was fine and that there was a purpose for my walking. For the better part of the walk I prayed as the Holy Spirit lead me to, and sang songs of praise. But as I got further into my walk I started to get the aches and pains that an old fat boy like me gets (told you I’m not a walker). But with God’s purpose in my heart and with His praises on my lips, I pressed on toward the goal that God had set. Just when the cramps and shin splints got to their worst two things happened. First, I topped the last hill and could see to church about a hundred yards ahead. Second, what would be the last person to offer me a ride pulled up to check on me. I tell you it was very tempting, to be so close to where I wanted to be; knowing that I was going to be in pain longer if I continued to walk, or I could just get into the car and start to ease the pain right then. After all didn’t I walk almost all of the way? Wasn’t this a fellow believer in the Lord that was offering to help me to ease my burden? No I couldn’t. He didn’t say, "You start out like I told you to and if something easier comes along you take it, that’s OK by me." No it was plain, He had a plan, He had set it in motion, and wanted me to follow it. So I said, "No thank you," to the offer and took my next step on my walk. It was then that God revealed one of the purposes for having me make that walk. He told me that like the walk I had just taken, my walk with Him was not always going to be something that I liked to do and that I was also going to suffer some pains while walking with Him. That while brothers and sisters would want to help me get to where I’m going, their help wasn’t always what I needed, and I needed to rely on Him. He will be the one who would set things in order and give me what I need to finish my walk with Him. You know as I finished that last hundred or so yards I noticed something. While the pain wasn’t gone it was bearable and I could feel a smile creep across my face. But most importantly was what I felt in my heart. I could feel the joy of the Lord. There is a verse of Scripture that has been buzzing around in my head these past few weeks and Sunday morning it really came to life. Psalm 81:10, "I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." I was filled that day. I don’t know maybe I’ll start walking more; it might just help me with my Walk.

Kingschyld

Trend or Witnessing

2011-10-27T00:00:00-05:00

Here's something to think about. In American somewhere between 75-80% of the people claim to be a Christian, when asked what their religious preference is (the numbers may vary depending on when you read this posting and whose poll you read). That means between 75 and 80 people out of a 100 profess a faith in Jesus Christ. Now I don’t know about you and where you live and those that you hang out with but I find no proof that of the hundred people that I am surrounded by at any given moment that as many as 75 are Christians. So ask yourself this question, “Does my reposting a challenge, on some social networking web site, saying that I am a Christian prove I am one?” I assume that by answering this challenge in the first place you were trying to make a statement of faith, even be a witness for Christ. But did you??? Are you boldly witnessing for Christ or are you simply a copycat? How much of a challenge is there in this kind of response, no thinking is required. Maybe the act of witnessing can be done this simply. But to just repost a statement allows you to make a claim with very little proof to back it up. All you have really proven is that you know how, copy, paste, and repost. The question that needs to be asked, the one you need to answer is, "What has Jesus done in your life and what are you doing for the Kingdom"? Then by your answers the world can tell who you are.

Unspoken

2011-03-03T00:00:00-05:00

I love the game of baseball. It might be that because I played it for a lot of years when I was younger I understand how this “boring” game is played. Baseball is a game that is rich in traditions, from opening day ceremonies, to the first pitch of a game, the crack of the bat (at least those that still use wood. I not to fond of the ping of the metal ones), rally caps when your team is behind, and the seventh inning stretch for that much needed bathroom break and to restock on the fine cuisine that can only be found at the ballpark, these are some of the better known ones. One of the rarest of the traditions involves what happens as no-hitter is going on. A no-hitter is when a pitcher pitches a complete game that the other team does not get any hits or scores any runs. The tradition that goes along with this event is that no body associated with the team talks about it once it is discovered that it is going on. No one on the team speaks of it happening especially to the pitcher that is pitching it; radio and TV announcers that are calling the game for that team doesn’t make any mention of it. The fans in the stands won’t even breathe a word of it, even those who are at home that are listening to the radio or TV people not talk about it won’t talk about it in fear of jinxing a perfect game. Sounds kind of silly doesn’t it? But we do something very similar in our churches today. Think about it for a moment. Give up? Alright let me put it to you this way; you are walking down the street and a person walks up and ask you to tell them about your church, what is your answer? Most of you (and I am not pointing fingers because I have done it too) would answer like this, “Oh I go to (blank church). It is associated with (blank denomination). It’s located on (blank street). We run about (blank number of people) each Sunday morning.” You then might go on to tell about what Sunday school classes are offered, about the new building project, and maybe even how much offering is taken up on a weekly bases. But what are we not telling of??? God and the work He is doing here in our churches today. Is it because we don’t want to seem like we are bragging? Do we fear God will punish us like He did King David when he took the census to see how well things were going? Are we fearful we will squelch the Spirit if we talk about how God is moving, jinx it if you will? What is it that keeps us from talking about the wonderful things He is doing in people’s lives to day? I am more than happy to hear how well a church is growing in the physical sense but I want to know of the victories being won. I want to hear about the drug addict who was doing anything and everything to get her next fix until Jesus came into her life and saved her. To hear about the couple whose marriage was almost over because of his unfaithfulness, aided by his use of pornography. I want to hear how the Holy Ghost convicted him of his lust and now the couple has begun marriage counseling and are reconciling. How a hard hearted racist was changed when God gave him a heart of love and compassion. These are the thing I want to hear when I ask someone about their church. These are the things that the world needs to hear. Tell them of the altars that are flood by those seeking the face of God; of the lives being changed, the victories being won all by the power of God’s love and mercy. The church has many great and rich traditions itself and not talking about God’s perfect love, as baseball team does not talk about a perfect game, should not be one of them. When those few perfect games happen in baseball many pitchers in post game interviews say, “I just wished somebody would have talked to me during the game. Let me know what was going on.” Maybe we should do the same, just let people know what God is doing on in our churches today.

In His Majesty’s Service

Kingschyld

Always Open

2011-02-18T00:00:00-05:00

I am the kind of person who likes different kinds of puzzles. Not the kind of puzzles that you lay out on the dining room table and put together but the ones that tease the brain. Crossword puzzles and Sudoku and logic puzzles; stuff that gets your creative juices flowing. I also like to ponder the imponderables. You know things like; which came first the chicken or the egg? What is the sound of one hand clapping? If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it does it make a sound? If a man is talking and there is not a woman around to hear him is he still wrong? Can God make an object so big that even He can’t lift it? In a church what is that empty space between the front row of chairs and the front of the pulpit and what is it used for? Now before everyone thinks I am a complete nut I know the answer to that last question but I had to ask it. I have been in many churches over the years and it’s the same almost everywhere I go. No matter how big the church building is or how many people there are in congregation that is the emptiest spot in the church. What’s up with that??? You could compare the modern church to the Templein Jerusalemduring ancient times; there are different areas with different things happening. The courtyards are where people would meet and greet each other. This is also the place were temple business was conducted. Today it is similar only we do this from the parking lot to the back of the sanctuary. We meet and greet each other, get our bulletin and offering envelope for the day’s service then send our kids off to their Sunday school classes, and one more run to bathroom in case the pastor is long winded this morning. The Sanctuary could be likened to the Holy Placein the temple. This is where all of the rites and rituals are performed to God. We sing, we worship, we give our offerings, and we pray to God. So I guess that would make that big empty space that I talked about earlier the Holy of Holies. Now I know you are thinking he is definitely off his rocker. I am really??? Think about it. In the Templethe Holy of Holies was the place were God was said to dwell here on earth, the place were He met His people. This was a place so sacred that man only entered it once a year to offer a sacrifice and to atone. I’m sorry; I see a lot of that going on in this present age. When we realize we need God in our lives we come into this area around the altar, we make our sacrifices, we atone for our sins and out we go. Many of us run into this area, this most Holy of places, one time. Once we are out we look back and once again see it as the Holy of Holies, a place we can never step foot again. That would be true if the comparison ended here but it doesn’t. Because a very special event took place a couple of thousand years ago. Jesus Christ died on a cross. He died on that cross so we could have direct access to God the Father. When Jesus cried out “It is finished” the curtain in the Templethat separated the Holy from the Holy of Holies was torn in two. The barrier that separated man from God was no more. Just as there was no longer a curtain to keep man out of the Holy of Holies there is no barrier to keep you, my brothers and sisters, from coming down to the front of your church and seek God. Yes the most acceptable time to come down is when you are invited down; when an “altar call” is made, but it just as acceptable to come to the front during praise and worship, or when the pastor is in the pulpit giving the message that God has given him. I would like to believe that most pastors, at least those who are in tune with the Holy Spirit, will know when a person needs to be at the altar; and that they will welcome you to take a place there and seek out God. I do the morning announcements at my church and I would love it if someone would come to the altar seeking God’s face while I was telling about the next pot luck lunch. So like I said earlier, that place at the front of the church, I know what it is and what it is for. Now so do you. And remember, it’s always open.

In His Majesty’s Service

Kingschyld

Singing My Prayers

2011-02-10T00:00:00-05:00

This past Sunday I was sitting home when this feeling came over me. I was feeling kind of …well I don’t know quite how to describe it. Maybe feeling is not the right word it’s more of a stirring or churning in my spirit. Usually when I feel this way it is the Holy Ghost prompting me to do something, it’s like a call to action, but I could not figure out what I was being called to do. I tried writing a blog, most of the time when I am writing a blog the words just seem to flow, but not this time. So I opened up my picture files to see if anything in there stirred me to do some sort of art project. Nothing! I ran through my mind to see if there was anything I could be doing for the up coming Trunk or Treat. Nope! So in three tries I had zip, zero, nadda! So I sat back and searched my heart and mind to see if there was someone or something that I needed to be praying for. Still nothing would make this uneasiness that I was experiencing go away. So I did to only thing I felt I left to do. I played Solitaire on the computer. I know it does not sound like a very spiritual answer to the problem but it helps me to focus my ADD mind when I need to. And taking a cue from the Bible I thought I would put on some music to soothe my spirit just in case it was a troubling spirit that was giving me the once over (think King Saul). So I fired up the Revival Praise music tracks from my list, clicked on a game, and sat back to see if I could work through this problem I seemed to be having. God did not make me wait long. As soon as the first note was played tears begin to run down my face and a thought ran through my brain. I was listening to my prayers. There on that CD was my prayers. You see over the past couple of years I have gone to the altar many times during praise and worship and when altar call is given at the end of a service to pray. And many of those times I would find myself singing the song that was playing at the time and would rebuke myself, I was there to pray not to be singing, and would go back to the prayer I was trying to offer up often only to hear myself singing again. I knew in the back of my head that I was praying these choruses and verses wanting what they said but I guess that I never gave them the full weight that one would give an honest to goodness from the heart prayer. But I was wrong. As I kept listening and mulling over the idea that I was praying these songs another thought came to my mind. Not only was I listening to my prayers I was listening to my ANSWERED prayers. Many of the song we sing in my church talk about having a closer walk with God and asking Him to reveal Himself to us in greater ways. And as I continued listened to the music He showed me how He has been doing both in my life. How He has been answering the prayers that I have been singing these past couple of years. So I had a good 45 minute cry singing praises, worshipping, and praying to Him. So I finally found out what the stirring in my spirit was that day. God did not want me to do something. He just wanted to show me something. That wonderful things can happen when I sing my prayers.

In His Majesty’s Service

Kingschyld

P.S. I would like to dedicate this and say THANK YOU to the past and current members of the Revival Praise worship team whose ministry help leads us to the Throne Room of God every week.

Breathe Easy

2011-02-04T00:00:00-05:00

Alright everybody is looking a little tense today so we are going to take a few moments to just stop what we are doing and take a breath. Ok everyone, breathe in… now let it out, good. Let’s do that again. Breathe in…out…in…out. Now STOP! Don’t take another breath in! I want you to hold your breath for a few seconds and I want you to think on what I am about to say. There are some of you right now that are feeling really down, depressed, worthless. You don’t know why you bother to go on with this life. You have been without a job for a while. You have cut your budget back so far that you only have the necessities, but you even struggle to meet those needs with what little income you have. The relationship with some of your family members is strained to the point of breaking. You have personal demons that you fight on a daily bases. You could be thinking right now that if I did not take my next breath and dropped dead on this spot, “Who would care?” Ok breathe, because there is someone who does care, someone that cares when no one else does. Allow me to tell you about Him. He cares so much that He got to know you before you were born (Jeremiah 1:5). He cares so much He created something wonderful and glorious, then created you up to have dominion over it all (Genesis 1:26). He cares so much that He knows of the littlest things that go on, but you are still the center of His attention (Matthew 10:29-31). He cares so much that He had to show His love for you in a very special way (John 3:16-17). Yeah things in your life may be tough and you may not think there is anyone around that cares, but breathe easy He does!

In His Majesty’s Service

Kingschyld

Witnessing Its Not So Hard pt5

2011-01-22T00:00:00-05:00

Let’s talk about verbal witnessing. I stated before that a new believer is told that “they need to tell others of what Jesus has done in their life” and that is a fact they need to. Once again look at Matthew 10:32-33“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven”. But… Again many of us when we first came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ had those good intentioned folks beat into us that we must tell EVERYONE we run into about Jesus. And this has the potential to set us up for failure. So now you may be asking the question, “How do I witness for Jesus without telling my life story and what He has done for me or telling someone they are going to hell in a hand basket if they don’t change their ways”. Let me repeat, let the Holy Ghost lead you in how to witness. But here’s what I think the secret to that question is come a little closer, I just want this to be between us. How about just saying, “HI! Good to see you. How are you today?” And this, this here is the secret part, MEANING IT. Yes let your greeting be real and heartfelt. There are few things worst in the world than someone asking you how are you doing and not even 1) listening or 2) caring about the answer, like it’s just something that they have to do to be polite. I mentioned witnessing to the cashier at the checkout line. What can you say to her that witnesses the love of Jesus without sounding like someone that is being chased by men in white coats with butterfly nets? How about, “Thank you. Have a nice day”? That should be as good a place to start as any. Yeah it sounds more like good manners but maybe that is what she needs to hear right then. Better yet how about when she screws up giving back your change you don’t tell her how much of a hurry you’re in and question if she had trouble passing her math classes. Try telling her that you understand. We all have one of those days. Now let’s touch on what I believe is the biggest stumbling block in a person’s Christian witness (at least anyone over 16). That’s right Road Rage! There is a story I heard once of a guy that pulls up to a red light and the guy behind him beeps his horn. The first man looks up and sees that the light is still red and ignores the dude honking behind him. But the second man hits the horn again. The first guy looks up and the light is still red so he turns in his seat and shoots a dirty look at the second guy. For a third time the second guy honks his horn. Once again the first guy looks up still it’s a red light. “That’s it,” says the first guy, “I am going to find out what this dude’s trouble is.” So he gets out of his car points at the light and cuts loose a string of profanities and all but climbs in the car with the second guy. “What is your problem the light is still red why are you honking?” The second man answers, “I was just doing what your bumper sticker said.” Looking back to his car the first man sees the bumper sticker he put on his car that reads, “HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS!” Yeah that is an old joke but not to far from the truth when it comes to how Christian act when it comes to road rage. I had a person pull out in front of me one day and did not make a great effort to get up to speed, seriously causing me to use more brake than I wanted to so as not to rear end them. Not only did they not seem to be in a hurry to go the speed limit but was more worried about how their hair looked and proceeded to comb it while looking in the rearview mirror and while doing so almost ran up on a curb. That’s two accidents in about 10 seconds. Needless to say my blood is boiling and I wanted to give this person a piece of my mind. As we pulled up to the stop sign and they are turning right and I am going left so this allowed me to pull up along side of them. So what do you think I did next? I rolled down my window and glared at them, and the wheels of my mind start to turn, thinking of all kinds of nasty things to say to them. But as the words were forming on the tip of my tongue the Holy Spirit asked me, “What kind of witnessing was I about to do”? So they drove away without my firing one verbal shot. I went home after this incident and thought, “Man, I hate being called by God to be His witness in this community. I don’t get to tell people what I think”. But you know what? I don’t hate it, and I do get to tell them what I know. God love’s them. Yes, being His witness in this community means giving up what I want to say and do. But truthfully what is the reward in that. A fat lip, a punch in the nose, cussed out? That’s what my will being done gets. No not my will but His will, and His will is that I go into Paoli, Orleans, and Valley, to the utter most parts of Orange County and be His witness. And that is what He is calling each and every one of you to do also. He wants you to go into the high-ways and by-ways and compel them to come to Him, into the jails and on the street corners and compel them to come to Him, into the big box stores and the local mom and pop diner and compel them to come to Him, into every home you go to, both the one you live in and the ones you visit and compel them to come to Him. How do you compel them? By being a witness. By being His witness. He wants you to live a life that is a witness to Him. So you see witnessing should not be such a scary word to us. It IS something we do everyday and with everyone we meet.

Witnessing Its Not So Hard pt4

2011-01-14T00:00:00-05:00

When we are identified as a Christian we are placed on display for all to see. Everything we say and do is open to the public. Here in Orange County, Indiana there are roughly 20,000 people. Short of some wildly huge speaking engagement I would say less than 5% (roughly a 1,000) of those people will ever hear me speak either directly to them or over hear me when I am talking to some one else. But I would say at least 10% will see me, whether it’s in a store, getting a 44 at the gas station, walking down the street, or driving in my car. (Sorry I need to do a legal disclaimer, individual results may vary). So doing the math which one do you think is more important to be a good witness at? The best answer is both because once I slip doing either I have done a great deal of damage, and the chances are good that not only have I damaged my own witness but that of others as well. I have heard a ton of good things about this body, in this community. But I have also got some negative feed back. But these not so good reports were not because of something this body failed to do, but because of one or two people who attended here were being poor witnesses. Guilt by association you might say. The only thing that I know that travels faster than the speed of light is gossip and the news of failure. But that is a topic for another time. The bottom line is we will witness to more people in our lives just going about our daily business, by just being us, then we will by going door to door or standing on a street corner. If you have any doubts about the results of being watched here’s an example. Look at anyone who has children, look at how the child acts or reacts during certain situations. If I was a betting man I would bet that child’s behavior is very similar to the way the parent reacts in the same situation. Most times the parent will say “I NEVER taught you to act that way.” But you know what they did, they witnessed a life style to their child and the child watched and learned. Family members, friends, neighbors, the world as a whole (especially the unsaved) watches our every move to see if we are who we say we are. John 13:35, Jesus told His disciples, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” I believe that this wasn’t just the verbal pronouncement of loving one another that convinced people that they were disciples. This was some out in the open act, a life style, which people could watch and learn from.

Witnessing Its Not So Hard pt3

2011-01-03T00:00:00-05:00

In John 14:19the disciple Philip ask to see the Father (God), to which Jesus replied, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father”. John 13:15 Jesus washes the feet of those that He ate the Passover meal with and talks about how He has just set an example for the disciples to follow. So it is safe to say that Jesus set examples. He lived what He spoke, or as we say today He walked the walk and talked the talk, LIFE STYLE EVANGELISM. This my friends is witnessing at its simplest form. But it is a form that many will pooh-pooh because it is not BOLD or in your face, because it does not cause the unbeliever to repent on the spot. Now when my parents got out a belt, or switch, or some other butt spanking item I repented of my wrong doings real fast, “Oh Please Momma, I am sorry I won’t do it again!” But I also learned to hide when I saw them make any motion that looked like it was leading up to a butt whooping. So when a person who is intent on witnessing hits the streets with a coffee table bible under his arm and serious, “some one is coming to Jesus today”, look in their eyes, sinners are going make themselves as scarce as deer are during gun season. When I was attending college at ISU in Terre Hautethere were a couple street corner evangelists that came to campus from time to time. They stood right out in front of the bookstore on a bench and yelled. To this day I could not tell you what they were yelling. For one I gave them a wide berth and made sure I did not have any business to conduct at the bookstore when they were there. Second they were yelling. You see the street corner preacher would start to speak and in the crowd some smart mouth would shout at the evangelist whether to get a rise out of him or to show off I am not sure, but this would cause the crowd to stir and the evangelist would talk louder. The louder he got the louder the big mouth and the crowd got and soon enough it was nothing more than a yelling match. I am sure that sidewalk pastor was saying something about, sin… damnation…hell…but I also like to think he was telling of God… love… Jesus… redemption. But they were yelling and whatever the message was, it was LOST in all of the yelling. There was a person there that could have really used that message. But he would have to wait another four to five years. It took that long before someone would again give me that message and not be yelling it. Let me clarify something here I do believe there is a need for bold in your face witnessing; it has a time and a place. Matters of life and death, imminent moral and legal issues require a no nonsense approach. As in all things, let the Holy Ghost lead you in this type of witnessing. With that being said let’s get to the type of witnessing we all can do.

Witnessing Its Not So Hard pt2

2010-12-21T00:00:00-05:00

When a person kneels before God and confesses their sins and ask Jesus Christ into their lives they get up from the altar and ask those around them, “What am I suppose to do next”? And someone will quote to them Matthew 10:32-33, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven”. So as the eager new babe in Christ starts to run out the door to go and tell of what just happened to them when someone grabs them by the wrist and says, “Wait there’s more.” They are given a formula on how to witness. And it is this formula, I believe makes the act of witnessing HARDER than it needs be, especially to those new to the faith. It will scare many from ever being effective witnesses and some will fall a way from the faith because of the difficulties this places on them, more on that later. The new Christian is told to become an effective witness, “Thou shall know your Bible from cover to cover.” You must be able to answer any questions that some heathen, pagan, cultist, backslider may ask you, citing chapter and verse AND this is to be done out of the King James Version”. The new believer is also told, “Thou must witness everyday”. So if you’re slouching around on a Saturday afternoon watching the game. You know what? You best be calling someone, anyone, even if you just pick someone’s name randomly out of the phone book and tell them how they can score a touchdown in life by accepting Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. And then to top it all off the babe in Christ is told, “Thou must witness to EVERYONE thou sees”. So when the store clerk gives you your change you’re to say to her, “Jesus has made a change in my life I know He can do the same for you.” Or when you go to your favorite convenient store to buy a 44 (now for those of you who don’t know a 44 is not a handgun it is the size of a very large soft drink) you quote John 4:13-14, to the person next to you, “Jesus said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of living water springing up to everlasting life.”

And the cherry on top of all of this is if you do not see someone come to Christ as a result of your witness. YOU HAVE FAILED!!! Failed! Failed! Failed! You’re not an effective witness. This is why many will not witness. THIS is why some will fall away from the faith. No one wants to be a failure. Are you starting to see why I say there are some good intentioned people who are making this too hard??? These are some of the reasons why I have had such a hard time going out and witnessing to others. Despite my I don’t give a crap attitude and persona, I am afraid to fail. See I love and care for Jesus to much. I don’t want to screw up and make Him look bad. I don’t want to do something that will give the church a bad name, His church or this church. So I am inclined sit and do nothing. But sitting and doing nothing is not an option. Matthew 10:32-33 and Revelation 12:11 speak of taking action. So we are back to if Jesus says it’s an important thing to do it must be a REALLY important thing to do. We need to be witnessing.

Witnessing Its Not So Hard.

2010-12-09T00:00:00-05:00

This past Sunday (as of this writing) I had the privilege of standing in the pulpit of my church and giving the message. This week’s blog and for the next several weeks I will be posting the notes from that message. This is something new for me, not only standing in the pulpit but also posting a series blog. So hang in there with me; some weeks might be longer or shorter than I normally write but I needed to do this so as to make sure I did not stop in mid thought. I hope you are as blessed by reading this as I was both writing it and being able to give it in front of my church family.

Imagine you are sitting quietly in a room all by yourself. You are so intent on the book your reading or TV program that you are watching that you don’t notice the creaking of the floor boards. A shadow crosses just at the edge of your vision; you turn your head to see if anyone is around. Not seeing anyone you go back to what you were doing. Just as you get settled and relaxed someone jump out and yells, BOO! What was it like afterwards? Was your heart racing, your mouth dry; did you have sweaty palms? You might have even fainted. Now imagine it’s a Sunday morning, you‘re in church; you are enjoying the praise and worship, raising your hands, and you are settling in to the flow of the service when all the sudden the pastor jumps up and yells, “WITNESSING!” I guess many of you would have the same reaction that you had when you were at home and someone yelled Boo, although some of you would have claimed not to have fainted but was merely slain in the Spirit. I have found if you say witnessing to most Christians it is like saying “BOO!” anyone else. It scares the daylights out of them.

If I was to ask for a show of hands of those who like to witness my guess not many hands would go up, and mine would stay right here in my lap. I definitely would not be doing the Arnold Horseshack response. As a mater of fact I would go out of my way to sit on them so as to be counted. I would try to do what I did in school when the teacher would ask for volunteers? I would raise my hand just high enough to claim that it was up but not enough to be noticed. Or I would use the scratch my head with my thumb with the rest of my fingers extended approach. Maybe even use the old raise one finger ploy. Some of you are laughing; used those yourself did you? I fully believe we are to speak out, to witness, about Jesus Christ, but I have troubles doing so. And when I felt God call me to step up and take a more active part in the outreach ministries of this church I had to ask God if He knew what He was doing? How can I get involved in outreach ministries when witnessing is one of the last things on earth I want to do? What am I to do? The Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47, Acts 1:6 tells the disciples of Jesus (US) to go out into the world and witness. Revelation 12:11, “And they (believers) over came him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their TESTIMONY.” They witnessed. There it is in black and white and red I am to be a witness for Jesus Christ. So if Jesus says it’s an important thing to do it must be a REALLY important thing to do. But the question still remains, “Why are so many of us reluctant to witness?” The believe biggest reason that I and so many others are scared to witness is that some good intentioned church folks have made the act of witnessing into something much harder than it needs to be.

Here's Your Sign

2010-10-14T00:00:00-05:00

Back in the late 80’s I was a delivery driver for a home health care company. Most days of the week I did my deliveries in the Indianapolisarea, where by in large the streets are well marked. But on the days I was not in Indy I was out driving in the farm county between the corn and soybean fields. I have stated before, that until recently, I have always lived in a city or in a suburban area so trying to navigate my way amongst cow pastures and grain silos was new to me. And this challenge was made even more difficult by the lack of street signs or recognizable addresses on mail boxes. This was back in the day when many counties were still using the old way of addressing houses using box numbers and rural route numbers, not the house and street numbers that are used today. And for you young’ns wondering why I didn’t use Google earth or Mapquest asks your mom or dad what life was like back then. Can we say playing Pong on an Atari? Now back to our story. New houses added to my route were a real pain. I could waste a lot of time trying find one because of not having a sign to show me the way (kids let’s not even start in on why I just didn’t call them on my cell phone). There were times of shear panic as I was driving around trying to figure out where I was. Looking for anything to give me some idea where I was at and where I needed to be. Most times I found my destination because I would find some small sign that pointed the way. Now you may be asking where is this story going. Well, let me bring it up to present day. I was talking with a man the other day who attends a different church than I do and interprets the Bible little differently than I do. One of the differences we talked about was the length of a man’s hair. To bring everyone up to speed my hair is quite long, has been for many years. He asked me without any tone of condemnation, “Why do you let your hair grow so long?” I gave my pat answer ‘Because I can. Plus I still have a bit of a rebellious streak in me.’ We talked a little bit more in depth about it, said our good byes, and then went our separate ways. But I went away thinking I never really did give him a good answer. I went home that night and really put some serious thought into his question. Now I have always been a person that likes to live a little outside the box, maybe not so much outside it but likes to have a big box to play in. And my appearance is a part of where I am in that big box. I like my hair long, I have pierced ears. I would have more tattoos I could afford them. While I like nice clothes I am much more comfortable in old ratty stuff. Which is all fine but why am I like this? Then God revealed to me the real reason I am the way I am is because He uses me this way. I am the signpost that people are looking for when there are out there in the middle of nowhere. Lost, scared, and in a panic the Holy Ghost shows them me then I show them the Son who in turns shows them the Way to the Father. Now for all you ‘clean cut’ people out there who are reading this and think I am saying that God doesn’t use you that is not what I am saying at all. You folks are the ones He uses like the street signs in the cities. You are easy to find and make it easy for others to find the Way. For most people, based on appearances, I do not look like a Christian. At least not like the ones they are use to seeing on TV. I look more like the ones that need Jesus. But that’s ok it give me a chance to have fellowship with a fellow believer, talk about my Lord and Savior, and helps me to learn how to be a better signpost leading to Him.

In His Majesty’s Service

Kingschyld

Use It or...

2010-07-21T00:00:00-05:00

Several years ago an opportunity for my wife and I to buy a house in Southern Indiana presented itself. So we did a reverse Clampetts and "moved away from there" from the city to the country. Now for the most part I have always lived in the suburbs or in a city, never in a small town let alone in a rural area. I learned quickly that fishing and hunting are a big thing to do in these parts. The fishing was no problem. I already had a tackle box and a couple of poles. Despite living in the land of tract housing and parking lots it's not hard to find a place to wet a line. But shooting squirrels in a city park will get you arrested really quick. So when I moved down here I had nothing in the line of hunting gear. No tree stands, no scent blocking soaps to wash me or my clothing (which I had none), no guns or archery equipment. I found clothing can be bought from the local big box store pretty cheap. The idea of hunting from the ground really didn't bother me. All of the other odds and ends pieces gear that I wanted and/or needed I would get as I could. I have served in the military and have had the chance to shoot several different types and styles of firearms. Even fired a few guns before that as a kid. So I was pretty comfortable with the idea of using a gun to hunt with and even had a family member that I could borrow one from. Now the lack of archery equipment did not bother me much. I have never been anywhere near a bow and arrow aside from the ones that had the little rubber suction cups on the ends. I didn't know enough about that part of hunting to care much for it. And between the start up cost of getting all of that equipment and the time that needs to be put into practicing, I thinking it's for not me. Over the years I have really enjoyed my time out in the woods. I have been out with my sons and my son-in-law several times. I have even been out with a couple of my daughters. But I think I enjoy being out there by myself the most. I have had some good years. My first time ever to go out deer hunting I shot a spikebuck. I have heard the big bucks grunt, which is something I have only heard on TV before. I have even bagged a bunch of squirrels over the years (makes up for all those ones that I couldn't shoot at the parks). But as the years have gone by my view on archery hunting changed. I started to really want to give it a go. Besides the fact that I might be able to bag a couple of more deer, it just give my more time to enjoy God's great out doors. The stumbling block was still the start up cost of buying what I needed. I made mention of my desire to learn bow hunting and the problem that I was running into a couple of times to some friends, and nothing more was ever said on the subject. As a matter of fact I had for the most part given up on the idea, at least for that year because bow season was only a couple of months away. One night after a Sunday night youth service I went to my pick-up truck and found a large object in the cab. It was a bow case! Opening the case I found a beautiful compound bow and all of the gear that I needed to get started. I also found a small note. "Today this was given to me and now I am giving it to you. Signed God (the Father) I love you." Now I could end this story here and leave you with warm fuzzy feelings and shouting to God for His goodness. I could tell you of the bow hunts that I have been on for the last three years. The deer that I have harvested using this bow. The blessing that this gift has been. I wish I could. The story of this honest-to-goodness gift from God does not end here. No, it goes on. It goes on to tell of a dust covered bow case that is sitting in my room. Take a second and re-read that last line. This wonderful gift is sitting under my desk in a corner of a room gathering dust, and has done so pretty much ever since I got it. Now don't get me wrong when I first got it I showed it to several people and told the story of how God gave me this gift and praised His name as I told it again and again. And each time I was done telling the story it went back to into the corner to gather more dust. I have even tried to pawn it once when I was needing money. Then other day when I had stretched out my legs and kicked the case for the hundredth time I really got to thinking about what people do with the gift(s) that God has blessed them with. I wonder how many others do like I did? They take what God has given them, put it away somewhere and don't use it. It just sits somewhere out of sight. We have many different reasons for us to hide our gifts. Is it a stagefright like fear? Maybe you don't use your gift because of something painful you suffered in the past? Could pride be getting in the way? Or maybe, like me with my compound bow, just plain laziness? Friends we all have been given gifts by God the Father. He has given each and everyone of us something that we can use for His glory. They may not be the ones we "see" at church every week. They might be something that only you and God know about. The freshly baked cookies and time shared with an elderly neighbor. The oil change that you do for the wife whose husband is overseas. Seeing to the needs of a child that is not even yours. The ones that show His love through your hands. Do you need to be dusting off the gift God has blessed you with? I think it's time that I do.

In His Majesty's Service
Kingschyld

Anger Management

2010-07-14T00:00:00-05:00

I like Chinese food. I like egg rolls and the chicken and beef on a stick. Oh and pork or shrimp fried rice. OK, ok, I need to stop here I am making myself hungry and maybe some of you too. I don't need you running out to get food before I even get to the meat (pun intended) of my blog today. Traditionally, for us Americans, at the end of a good Chinese meal there comes the ever popular fortune cookie. Now personally I like the cookie. Sure it is a little short and taste but I like it all the same. But I think the most fun is that little slip of paper that is somehow is magically placed inside the cookie. Now for those of you who have watched one of those cable shows that explains how this is done; don't write in the comment section telling me. I still have a little of my innerchild left and HE doesn't want to know! No! What I want to know is what words of great universal wisdom is written on that tiny, tiny slip of paper. Something like, "At the end of the road your are traveling on is your destination", or "If you look up you will see that which is over your head". Hey, you know what I think I could get a job writting for these things! But here is my favorite one, "Be angry and sin not". Now that you have just spit your morning coffee all over your computer screen let me explain this one as you are cleaning up the mess. Yes, I know that this is Scripture, the very Word of God and I have every intension to treat it as such. But admit it if you got this on that little slip of paper out of your fortune cookie you would blow it off as nonsense. You would be asking yourself how could you "Be angry and not sin?" I know I would and even knowing that this this verse is found in Psalm 4:4 and again in Ephesians 4:26 I still have a hard time getting my little pea brain wrapped around this idea. I admit I have anger issuses. Have most of my adult life. The sin my anger caused was not so much in my actions but in my words. From sly putdowns to out and out foulmouth name calling. But even when I could gain control of my anger enough and could find the proper words to use there still was a sinful aspect to them. They were harsh and more importantly UNLOVING. The best analogy I can use is I was trying to fix a wrist watch with a sledgehammer instead of using jeweler's tools. Well this has been the trend until recently when one day God used a blog I was writing to show me something. My last blog, 'Good For What Ails You', was birthed out of anger. I had got some very disturbing news about some Christian people I know and proceeded to get up on my high horse and began banging out my thoughts and feeling on the matter. I was going to tell the internet world what I thought of people like that and I was taking no prisoners. But as I got further into my typing the thing that usually happens, happened. The Holy Spirit began to do some editing of what I was typing. As I would go back and re-read the last few lines that I had just typed He would ask if I meant to say that or maybe it would be better if I said it this way. By the time I was done with the blog and read it over again I found that what I wanted to say was said. But more importantly it was how God wanted it to be said, and there was much more love in the words than what I had intended to use. So this is a long way to tell a short story. You CAN be angry and not sin. But this can not be done in your own strength. You must willing to let God have your anger and then let Him use it in such a way that He sees fit to accomplish what He needs to be done.

In His Majesty's Service
Kingschyld

Good For What Ails You

2010-07-07T00:00:00-05:00

Church folk are people like any other people. We have our ups and downs like everyone else. We are not immune to the woes of this world. Because of this we can be a pretty "sickly" looking bunch. People go to church and see others who look and act a lot like them and have no desire to seek treatment for their worldly ailments. Some may say,"Why bother? They look as messed up as I do." To many times a church body will be judged on first appearences. Now some of that look is from those that have just come in seeking the medicine that will start them on the road to recovery. Other have just had their first few doses and still look a little green around the gills, as it were. Any reasonable person would not judge how good a job a hospital is doing just based on walking through the doors of the ER and seeing all of the sick and wounded laying there. No they would go to the upper floors of the hospital and see the patients there. They would go check and see if patients were receiving the proper care and treatment. Are they given medications in a timely manner and at proper dosages? Are the therapy sessions helping the patient regain the use of an arm or a leg? Did the surgery succeed in getting rid of the cancer? Even as the patient endures hardships to get better, to be functional again, is the staff supportive and caring? Just as this is how a hospital should be judged, we should hope our churches are also judged by the same standard. Not by a quick glance through the doors but by a long hard look at what is going on in the upper room. Now the really tough question is...What does our upper room look like? Are those that are sick and hurting in spirit receive the treatment that is needed to make them well and whole again? Are we giving teaching in a timely manner and at a proper dose? Are we giving counseling session to help regain the use of lives seemly torn apart and lost? Are we praying so that the cancer of sin is removed from one that is in its grip? Even as a person is strugling and suffering hardships to be functional again are we supportive and caring? Most of all are we LOVING? I started all of this saying, church folk are people like any other people. But we are not just like other people. We are special. Not saying we are better than anyone else, just different. We can do what even the greatest of hospital can not even dream of doing.We can offer the answer that is the cure to all the worldly ailments; Jesus Christ and Him curcified.

In HIs Majesty's Service
Kingschyld
1 John 3:1

Who Are You Praying For?

2010-05-06T00:00:00-05:00

So today is the National Day of Prayer (as of the writing)? If you watch the news tonight I am sure there will be some 'Fluff piece' on what people prayed for today. Surf the web, especially the social networks, MySpace, FaceBook, etc... and you will read about people praying for this country, this administration, and the troops. They are praying for friends, family members, and love ones. A great many prayers will bombard the Gates of Heaven today. And I am sure there is a good reason behind everyone that is offered up. But I have a question. One I had to ask of myself before I even thought of asking you. WHO are you praying for? Or let me ask it this way, WHO are you NOT praying for? OK, I see the wheels turning in your mind. The letter carrier? The cashier at the big box store? Maybe it's...Oh I know, I know it's the guy that helped me change my flat tire when it was pouring down rain last week. While all of these are good guesses and they to deserve and need your prayers these are not the WHO that am asking about. Who then, who??? Well let me give you a little hint. It is found in Luke 6:28 " bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you". The dictionary defines the word spite as 'petty ill will or hatred with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart'. The word malice can be substituted. I don't think this is about the guy that cut you off in traffic, or the kid at the fastfood place that couldn't seem to get your order right or give you correct change. This is about people who PURPOSEFULLY mean to wrong you, to cause you harm. God through Jesus Christ gave us people to add to our prayer list. We are to get down on our knees and pray for the addicts, abusers, liars, thieves, adulters, and.... You know who they are. The ones that have hurt you so much. The ones you have so often called fire down upon there heads for all of the pain and suffering you have been through because of them. He said we are to bless and PRAY for them. Could it be that by doing this act, in obedience to God, that a healing can take place in our lives? Seems to me as good as any place to start. So on this National Day of Prayer let us seek God, to seek His will. As we pray for all of those around us I think we can take one minute and be a little selfish. Offer up one prayer for ourselves. One prayer to ask God WHO he wants us to pray for.

In His Majesty's Service
~Kingschyld~
1 John 3:1

Things Just Got Better

2010-05-02T00:00:00-05:00

I wrote in my last blog, "Church is Where the Heart Is", that something didn't feel right about having church in our new location. I wondered if not having it in a permanent location (a place that we could call our own) was not giving me trouble. Then God showed me that having or not having a building to call a church was not the issue. That so long as Jesus was in the heart of a believer that place was were the church was. PTL! But, in the two weeks since I wrote that blog I have gone to two more Sunday morning services and sad to say I STILL had the feeling that something was not quite right. I frimly believe everything that I wrote in that blog, but I could not shake the feeling of something being wrong. Why was I feeling this way? What else had changed that was troubling my spirit so much that I was coming away feeling less than fulfilled after service? I sat down after last Sunday's service again wondering, pondering, and praying why? Was there something wrong with me, something in my walk that was blocking me from receiving what I was getting before? I couldn't come up with anything. So then, besides the new location, what was different? Then God laid Hebrews 10:24-25 on my heart. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching". What? What do you mean God? I have only missed one Sunday morning service in nearly a year ( see blog Mirror, mirror). What do You mean forsake not the assembling with others? I am here every Sunday morning! I am here setting up before service. I am participating during service. I then help in tearing down and packing the trailer after the service. I am here doing the ministry that You called me to do. I AM AT CHURCH! I HAVE ASSEMBLED! Then it hit me. I was missing the biggest things this Scripture said to do. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works... exhorting one another". I was so busy doing, I wasn't FELLOWINGSHIPPING! Sure I was saying Hi to people, even hugging on some. But I was not loving on them as I had in the old building. Seeing how thier week went. How thier kids were doing. Not taking time to talk to them in depth. Telling them how important they are to me. How glad I am that they are in my life! I wasn't doing anything wrong, but I wasn't doing it all. I was letting the hustle and bustle get in the way of being about my Father's business. So this Sunday morning I made the effort to stop being so busy and took more than the two seconds it takes to say hi, and fellowshipped with my church family. You know what? I walked away from this morning's service without that nagging feeling that something was missing. My dear friends and family I do not believe that we should consider this Scripture fulfilled just because we meet on Sunday morning, Sunday night, midweek, or some other time. Unless we do ALL of what it says we are just assembling for the sake of saying I went to church today.

In His Majesty's Service
~Kingschyld~

Church is Where the Heart Is

2010-04-12T00:00:00-05:00

I have been struggling with my church attendence lately. For the past two weeks I have not gone to church. Yes, I have been attending service but I do not feel as if I have been to church. The move out of the old building and using the school has messed me up I think. I walk into an empty room, help set things up, we have service, and when it's all over we pack it all up and leave an empty room. I am left thinking we have pack God into the trailer with the rest of the equipment or we have left Him there in that empty room. I am having a hard time wraping my head around that. I am not a traditional thinker but I guess I am not as radical as I thought I was. Not having a full time building for church is messing with me. I am waking up on Monday morning trying to remember if I went to church the day before or not. In all of my years of going to church, I have always gone to a church for Sunday morning service. Even when my family was one of the first families to be in a starter church we met in a church building. I have been to many special occasion services. Sun rise services, been to retreats on Sunday mornings and several other places but I always knew that I would be going back to my church home the next time there was a service. Now my church home is an elementary school lunch room. Something does not feel right about this. I have racked my brain trying figure out what is wrong. But as I sit here and think about the last two Sunday services one thought keeps coming to my mind. I DID FEEL THE PRESENCE OF GOD. I know that God was moving through me during praise and worship. God was in the specials that were done, I felt the Holy Spirit ministering. And the messages were annointed be because they stirred my spirit. GOD WAS IN THE HOUSE. In His house. Not the Orange County House of Pray house, even though He ministers there. But in His Holy Temple...ME. Yeah, I like the traditional four walls we call the the church but how much cooler is it that we, His children, are the church. You or I can have church anytime or place we choose. We are not bound to a location or a day to worship our God and Father. We do not have to wait for the building to open to be able to pour out ourselves to Him. We can open the altar of our heart and speak to ABBA, Father at any time. So while I would like to see you at church this coming Sunday, or at least hope you are attending the church of you choice, I am comforted by the fact that if you have made Jesus Chirst the Lord of your life that you will be having church no matter what.

In His Majesty's Service
~Kingschyld~

Speech Inpediment

2010-04-08T00:00:00-05:00

How many of you remember the '70s TV show "Happy Days"? It was a show that was set in the 1950s and dealt with a small circle of family and friends. For the most part a very likable bunch of characters. Nerds, jocks, honeys, class clowns, and adults that tried to be understanding and caring. But I dare to say if you ask anyone who has ever seen the show, and even a few that may not have, to say the name the first character that comes to mind they will answer be...Arthur Fonzarelli aka Fonzie or The Fonz. Most likely one of the coolest character to ever grace a TV screen. The Fonz was many things to many people in his TV reality. Ladies man, mechanic, best friend, defender of the less fortunate, etc... He was in his own way very articulate. Even though his vocabulary at times was nothing more then the phrase "Aaay" or even just a snap of his fingers you knew what he was saying. But what some of you may not remember was that even with all of his coolness Fonzie had a speech inpediment. Arthur Fonzarelli had a very difficult time saying he was wrong. Everytime he had to do so it was like his tounge was stuck to the roof of his mouth. Now you might be wonder why I bring all of this up on this weeks blog? Well I had a similar thing happen to me this past week. No I did not have trouble admitting that I was wrong about something. No it was another word that stuck in my mouth. My youngest son has just been paroled from prison, and I have attended his last two meetings with his parole officer. Well what can I say about his PO? And PO is what this guy has done to me. I know deep down he is doing his job but the way he does it just rubs me ALL the wrong ways. I came home after this last meeting madder than I can ever remember being in my whole life (BC days included). After several hours of trying to blow off the anger I finally went to bed for the night. As I laid there I knew I needed to pray over this situation. So I started out by telling God I was sorry for blowing my cool like I did, and that I was WRONG to do so ( see I can admit it. LOL). And for my son to find favor in the eyes of his PO. And next I said," I wanted to forgjwd;klghe". No that is not a typo that was what it was like for me to say I wanted to forgive the PO. All the sudden I had the speech inpediment. I couldn't forgive someone for the wrong they had done me. I tried a couple of times to get the word out of my mouth, but it would not come out. The pain that I was feeling was just to great. As of this writing I am still very hurt by the event of that meeting but God has brought this to mind. Luke 23:34, Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” This was said from The Cross. How much pain, how hurt was Jesus when He spoke these words. As a follower of Jesus Christ I am called to be like Him. So how can I not forgive a man who hurt me with words when Christ ask God to forgive those that not only hurt Him with words but with actions to gruesome to describe.
Father God, first of all I am sorry that I have fallen short of Your calling. I am sorry I thought ill of one of Your creations. Please forgive me. God I forgive this man for the pain that he has caused me and my family. I ask that you pour out Your love on him, bless him with knowledge and wisdom as he goes about a very difficult job.

In HIs Majesty's Service
~Kingschyld~