Well, the only way I know how to begin this post is just by starting where this began. Also, just so you know I'm not going to change the names to protect the gulty/innocent.
So today I was at work, and for thos of you who don't know, I work at Family Christian Stores, its a chain of stores that sell "christian" products. I put that in quotes and didn't capitolize because I'm not sure how an item can have a personal faith) So here I am, working at my Christian store, trying to do my job (for once) I was standing behind the counter and a guy about 15 feet infront of of the counter, is walking along next to this girl and he's waving me over, so I walk over and say "whats up?" he then proceds to tell me the tale of the century:
You see that girl rigt there?" he asks pointing to this young lady carring a plastic bag hurrying out the front door of my store. I acnowledged that I did infact see this young woman, and he says, "Well she is from the Unitarian Universalist church, as a 'missionry' from Russia, here for the year, and she is selling crystals in your store." "Well", I said, "What do you want me to do about it, she's gone now." His responded, "Well I just though you should know what she was doing and I had her leave the store", he tells me, acting so proud of himself, with his chest all puffed out. Again I look at him, thinking this guy is just the dumbest thing to crawl the face of the earth, soon realized that he was the most vial son of a bitch that ever breathed. "What did you say to her?" I inquired. He puffes out his chest even more (I previously didn't know that he was able to do so) basking in pride and self lust he responds, "I asked her if she knew what 'Get Lost!' meant, and she told me she did. So I said to her, 'Then you need to get out of this store because your working for Satan'" I was awstruck by this man, I wanted to punch him in the face right then, but restraining I asked, "Do you really think that as the best way to handle that situation?" His response was, "And who are you to tell me how to talk to someone!" Yeah, he was rather LOUD when saying that. So, for my perspective on the situation is this; this girl is here from another country, doesn't know Jesus, and comes into a CHRISTIAN store, he first encounter with an "american christian" is a rude, judgemental, damning, bastard who doesn't deseve life. So I was (and still am) pissed out of my mind, I clenched my fist, feeling every muscel in my body grow tence, then I swung, mut at the last second stoped myself and made it look like i was reaching up to fix my hair. I wanted to cause him great pain, the kind of pain he is causing he to face by not sharing the love of Christ with her.
If I ever meet that man agian, I'm going to tell him who I am, what he did, and punch him in his face. I'm not kidding, I will do it, and if you are with me, hold me accountable, please. Its been well over 4 hours and I'm still shaking with anger, for that man, and absolute heartbreak for that young lady. I teared up twice since writing this. I walked around the parking lot a couple of time looking for that girl, deperatly wanting to tell her that not all people who claim to be Christian act like people who deseve hell. That there those of us, who love the lost, who's eart absolutly breaks for them. Its killing me right now, want nothing mor in this world, than to find this girl.
Here is what I want YOU to do if YOU see her. Call me and tell me where she is, call me day or night. I know I'm taking a bt of a rist byp utting my number on the internet, but I have got to find her. Here is my number: (304) 893-7970
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
complacency in the Kingdom
As of late I have been thinking about the current things going on in our society and especially in the Church. There is this dangerous trend picking up pace in the Church that has been going on for several years now. I'll be 20 at the end of this summer, and I can safely say that it has been going on for at least 2 decades now, but I will venture to say it has been happening since 33 A.D. The Church is getting stagnant and lame. Now when I say "Church" I don't mean your own personal congregation, I mean the Body of Christ. I mean that the Body of Christ is getting stagnate and lame. If you happen to be one of those dumb people in the world who does not know that the word "lame" has two meanings I'll tell you. Other than meaning dumb or pathetic, it also means unable to move or walk. (Go tell your parents you learned something new today!) So when I say that the Body of Christ, or the Church is lame, I do mean that in a literal fashion. The Church is no longer moving, we just can't walk anymore.
We just can't reach out a helping hand anymore.
We just can't love the broken hearted.
We just can't hug the hopeless.
We just can't feed the starving.
We can't do anything.
Rev 3:15-19 "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent."
The Church has no longer taken it upon themselves to cloth the naked, and in doing so we have even forgotten how to cloth ourselves. Its the same with those who are starving, we are now starving. We have to start all over, we have bandage our wounds and cure our disease before we can help anybody else. Were a lukewarm people who do nothing but complain about the state of the world and do nothing to change it, most of the time we don't even take the time to pray about such changes that need to be made.
The trend that has been going on for centuries is that we are letting the culture effect the church, instead of trying to effect the culture. To ring the nations to Christ we DO NOT need to engage the culture, but the drastically change the culture. We don't need to make ourselves like those who do not know the Lord, but to disciple all nations in the Love, and Grace, and Mercy, and Justice, and Sovereign nature of God.
Here is a little explanation that brought all this on...
I'm the intern youth pastor at a small Baptist church about a half an hour away from my home and I've been there a few Sunday's now, just long enough to start getting to know these kids. Then like a punch in the gut, softball starts up, and nobody comes to Sunday school, at all. There was not a single teenage in the whole building aside from myself. Now its not a large youth group, perhaps 10 teen in total, but I would have been happy to see 5. Nobody was there. So here is the kicker, I don't have a Sunday school class to teach. The pastor notices...he can't help but notice its a small church, I'm in his office, I'm not across the hall teaching, there aren't any teenagers. It was obvious. On a side note, his sermon that morning was titled "Do We Really Care?" I enjoyed it, in an ironic sort of way. After the service one of the deacons and I were speaking with each other about what we can do to change this particular situation, and the pastor walks though the door, so we got his input, and told him why we were not overjoyed. He informed us the he was not over joyed. So we decided to address the issue at the business meeting, and left it that. Later that night I arrive at the church for the Sunday night youth meeting, yet again, softball is still more important that Jesus. I waited around in the classroom for 20 minutes, walked out of the church, and waited outside for another 20, and when nobody showed up 40 minutes late I left. Needles to say, I was not a happy camper.
So, back to this trend that has been infecting the Church since its beginnings. The culture is engaging the Church, changing the Church, making it this complacent pile of meat, and we are just not doing anything about it.
I'm not like most people. I read a lot of books, and watch the news constantly, I love talk radio, and I'm always listening to music. I am not like most people, in that, I will not complain about an issue and do nothing about it, I will give no call to action, and I will remain living with that problem like an irritating plank in my eye.
So, what is the Church to do?
Recently I picked up the new album by the Christian metal band Sleeping Giant, and the first song on their album is called "Gang Signs". Its about the state of the world we are living in, and it really just kind of strikes a nerve with me: "Our history's bathed in blood but lets become the copycat culture war - As this Sunday school mind takes the place of the kingdom - And I'm done with this abomination - Desolation - Vultures, vultures circling - And the world will morn as we flee "
We don't need to engage the culture, we need to make war with the culture, and become the culture. But really scares me is the second line in there about the Sunday School mind taking place in the Kingdom, and how it is an abomination. I really don't think I understood what the "Sunday School Mind" was until last Sunday. The Sunday School Mind is that of people who don't want to be involved with church, but only at a very superficial level.
So, what is the Church to do?
I'm waiting for you to come of with an answer. I think I already have mine, I think I'm crazy enough that I believe that I will work.
I say screw the culture and repent. Who in this culture repents anymore. One more thing before I get onto my whole what do we do to fix this crap bit. I want to tell you why I don't think we need to engage the culture.
I do not think we need to engage the culture because Jesus did not engage the culture. At least not in the ways the church is now. We don't need to be more like the culture, Jesus was nothing like the freaking culture at the time. Sure he hing out with sinners, but its not even so much that he sought them out to spend time with them, they sought Him out. But why? Because He was righteous, He love perfectly, and He rebuked those who were legalistic bastards. He called out those who need not be called out, but he rarely rebuked the sinner, why? Because they sought Him out, broken, humble, and repentant.
Sure, we need to walk into the culture (Be in the world but not of the world) and scream at the top of our lungs that we love rigorousness, and hate sin. That we will no longer stand for a world full of crap, and we will learn to walk again. It will be slow at first, but I believe that we will put one foot in front of the other, faster and faster, until we are running a good race. We will lift our fist in the air, let out a blood curling scream and fight the good fight, and it will be a fight to behold.
Revelation 3:19 says to "be zealous and repent". That's our starting point, that's what we are going to use to propel ourselves into another great revolution.
We just can't reach out a helping hand anymore.
We just can't love the broken hearted.
We just can't hug the hopeless.
We just can't feed the starving.
We can't do anything.
Rev 3:15-19 "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent."
The Church has no longer taken it upon themselves to cloth the naked, and in doing so we have even forgotten how to cloth ourselves. Its the same with those who are starving, we are now starving. We have to start all over, we have bandage our wounds and cure our disease before we can help anybody else. Were a lukewarm people who do nothing but complain about the state of the world and do nothing to change it, most of the time we don't even take the time to pray about such changes that need to be made.
The trend that has been going on for centuries is that we are letting the culture effect the church, instead of trying to effect the culture. To ring the nations to Christ we DO NOT need to engage the culture, but the drastically change the culture. We don't need to make ourselves like those who do not know the Lord, but to disciple all nations in the Love, and Grace, and Mercy, and Justice, and Sovereign nature of God.
Here is a little explanation that brought all this on...
I'm the intern youth pastor at a small Baptist church about a half an hour away from my home and I've been there a few Sunday's now, just long enough to start getting to know these kids. Then like a punch in the gut, softball starts up, and nobody comes to Sunday school, at all. There was not a single teenage in the whole building aside from myself. Now its not a large youth group, perhaps 10 teen in total, but I would have been happy to see 5. Nobody was there. So here is the kicker, I don't have a Sunday school class to teach. The pastor notices...he can't help but notice its a small church, I'm in his office, I'm not across the hall teaching, there aren't any teenagers. It was obvious. On a side note, his sermon that morning was titled "Do We Really Care?" I enjoyed it, in an ironic sort of way. After the service one of the deacons and I were speaking with each other about what we can do to change this particular situation, and the pastor walks though the door, so we got his input, and told him why we were not overjoyed. He informed us the he was not over joyed. So we decided to address the issue at the business meeting, and left it that. Later that night I arrive at the church for the Sunday night youth meeting, yet again, softball is still more important that Jesus. I waited around in the classroom for 20 minutes, walked out of the church, and waited outside for another 20, and when nobody showed up 40 minutes late I left. Needles to say, I was not a happy camper.
So, back to this trend that has been infecting the Church since its beginnings. The culture is engaging the Church, changing the Church, making it this complacent pile of meat, and we are just not doing anything about it.
I'm not like most people. I read a lot of books, and watch the news constantly, I love talk radio, and I'm always listening to music. I am not like most people, in that, I will not complain about an issue and do nothing about it, I will give no call to action, and I will remain living with that problem like an irritating plank in my eye.
So, what is the Church to do?
Recently I picked up the new album by the Christian metal band Sleeping Giant, and the first song on their album is called "Gang Signs". Its about the state of the world we are living in, and it really just kind of strikes a nerve with me: "Our history's bathed in blood but lets become the copycat culture war - As this Sunday school mind takes the place of the kingdom - And I'm done with this abomination - Desolation - Vultures, vultures circling - And the world will morn as we flee "
We don't need to engage the culture, we need to make war with the culture, and become the culture. But really scares me is the second line in there about the Sunday School mind taking place in the Kingdom, and how it is an abomination. I really don't think I understood what the "Sunday School Mind" was until last Sunday. The Sunday School Mind is that of people who don't want to be involved with church, but only at a very superficial level.
So, what is the Church to do?
I'm waiting for you to come of with an answer. I think I already have mine, I think I'm crazy enough that I believe that I will work.
I say screw the culture and repent. Who in this culture repents anymore. One more thing before I get onto my whole what do we do to fix this crap bit. I want to tell you why I don't think we need to engage the culture.
I do not think we need to engage the culture because Jesus did not engage the culture. At least not in the ways the church is now. We don't need to be more like the culture, Jesus was nothing like the freaking culture at the time. Sure he hing out with sinners, but its not even so much that he sought them out to spend time with them, they sought Him out. But why? Because He was righteous, He love perfectly, and He rebuked those who were legalistic bastards. He called out those who need not be called out, but he rarely rebuked the sinner, why? Because they sought Him out, broken, humble, and repentant.
Sure, we need to walk into the culture (Be in the world but not of the world) and scream at the top of our lungs that we love rigorousness, and hate sin. That we will no longer stand for a world full of crap, and we will learn to walk again. It will be slow at first, but I believe that we will put one foot in front of the other, faster and faster, until we are running a good race. We will lift our fist in the air, let out a blood curling scream and fight the good fight, and it will be a fight to behold.
Revelation 3:19 says to "be zealous and repent". That's our starting point, that's what we are going to use to propel ourselves into another great revolution.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
With worry comes prayer
So lately I've been thinking about a lot of things I could write about here, however with is recent turn of events I know exactly what should, and be written about here right now.
My dad came in my room about 30 minutes ago and told me that my grandma was sick and that my mom was going up there to check one her and might spend the night if she had too. So I was a bit worried but not too much. The about 15 minutes later my dad came in my room and told me that they were taking her to the emergency room. She was straining and heard something pop in her head and has been throwing up since. That seems like a big deal to me. So I've been praying, and I sent a mass text message out to my friends asking for them to pray for her and within just moments i had about 15 or so messages saying they would, or had all ready started. One of the best things in the world is knowing that you've got Christian friends who will pray for a woman they have never met, just because you ask them to. I just pray that my mammaw recovers and all is well. Also if your reading this, and you could pray for her too, that would mean the world to me also. Thanks so much.
My dad came in my room about 30 minutes ago and told me that my grandma was sick and that my mom was going up there to check one her and might spend the night if she had too. So I was a bit worried but not too much. The about 15 minutes later my dad came in my room and told me that they were taking her to the emergency room. She was straining and heard something pop in her head and has been throwing up since. That seems like a big deal to me. So I've been praying, and I sent a mass text message out to my friends asking for them to pray for her and within just moments i had about 15 or so messages saying they would, or had all ready started. One of the best things in the world is knowing that you've got Christian friends who will pray for a woman they have never met, just because you ask them to. I just pray that my mammaw recovers and all is well. Also if your reading this, and you could pray for her too, that would mean the world to me also. Thanks so much.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
An Introduction To My Life!
This being my first post I think it appropriate to introduce myself and talk about some of the stuff that has been going on in my life.
My name is Wade Baker and I'm in my second semester as a freshman at Ohio Valley University and I'm majoring in Bible/Ministry. I am currently a Member of the United Methodist Church, and am an adult leader in the youth group in Williamstown. I feel that God has put a calling on my life to be in full time ministry. Whether or not that will involve pulpit ministry remains to be seen.
During the summer I normally go to Camp Cowen, a Baptist Church Camp and have been attending every summer since 6th grade. This past summer I was there for 3 weeks, and one of the weeks I was a councilor for the very fist time. I had an absolute blast with the kids and learned a lot about my self, including, the fact that I apparently have a very good "daddy voice". (A kid we being a jerk to another kid and I kindly explained to him that what he was doing was wrong, and be blew me off, so I raised the tone of my voice a bit and he tried to defend his actions, i then raised my voice some more when he refused to apologize to the other child and would not heed my instructions of going somewhere else to play. So i yelled at him hardcore until he cried. It was a good time.)
That basically catches you up on the major aspects of my life, and if you couldn't tell, my life revolves around church stuff.
This weekend, the 27-28 of March the youth group at my church is doing 30 Hour Famine. In case you are unaware of what that is, let me explain: We go 30 hours without eating, from 8:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. the next day. We also raise money for world Vision in an effort to sponsor children through that organization.
I've done this 30 hour fast in the past, and each time I've learned something about myself, the first time i found out that i could go 30 hours with out eating, the second, i found out i had a mean right hook, the fourth I realized that if you loose your voice entirely and can only whisper life sucks, and when the time comes to break the fast, your throat huts so much you don;t even want to eat. This last time I got something spiritual out of it, I grew in my faith I learned how to boldly share my faith.
This time I don't feel that 30 hours is enough, i want to spend some real time focusing my time on Christ, through prayer and study. So I'm going to be fasting for 3 days, kind of a daunting task, and just thinking about it makes me more hungry, because I haven't eaten since 11:00 this morning and it is now almost 5:00 in the evening. So my tummy is growling and I want to eat. I'm not going to, but i sure want to.
I have to go into work tonight, on my first day of my fast, so i hope that my hunger doesn't get in the way of my job, but i don't think it will be an issue. Oh, and by the way, because I'm not a very big person, only weighing 115lbs my mother is freaking out. We'll see how this goes!
My name is Wade Baker and I'm in my second semester as a freshman at Ohio Valley University and I'm majoring in Bible/Ministry. I am currently a Member of the United Methodist Church, and am an adult leader in the youth group in Williamstown. I feel that God has put a calling on my life to be in full time ministry. Whether or not that will involve pulpit ministry remains to be seen.
During the summer I normally go to Camp Cowen, a Baptist Church Camp and have been attending every summer since 6th grade. This past summer I was there for 3 weeks, and one of the weeks I was a councilor for the very fist time. I had an absolute blast with the kids and learned a lot about my self, including, the fact that I apparently have a very good "daddy voice". (A kid we being a jerk to another kid and I kindly explained to him that what he was doing was wrong, and be blew me off, so I raised the tone of my voice a bit and he tried to defend his actions, i then raised my voice some more when he refused to apologize to the other child and would not heed my instructions of going somewhere else to play. So i yelled at him hardcore until he cried. It was a good time.)
That basically catches you up on the major aspects of my life, and if you couldn't tell, my life revolves around church stuff.
This weekend, the 27-28 of March the youth group at my church is doing 30 Hour Famine. In case you are unaware of what that is, let me explain: We go 30 hours without eating, from 8:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. the next day. We also raise money for world Vision in an effort to sponsor children through that organization.
I've done this 30 hour fast in the past, and each time I've learned something about myself, the first time i found out that i could go 30 hours with out eating, the second, i found out i had a mean right hook, the fourth I realized that if you loose your voice entirely and can only whisper life sucks, and when the time comes to break the fast, your throat huts so much you don;t even want to eat. This last time I got something spiritual out of it, I grew in my faith I learned how to boldly share my faith.
This time I don't feel that 30 hours is enough, i want to spend some real time focusing my time on Christ, through prayer and study. So I'm going to be fasting for 3 days, kind of a daunting task, and just thinking about it makes me more hungry, because I haven't eaten since 11:00 this morning and it is now almost 5:00 in the evening. So my tummy is growling and I want to eat. I'm not going to, but i sure want to.
I have to go into work tonight, on my first day of my fast, so i hope that my hunger doesn't get in the way of my job, but i don't think it will be an issue. Oh, and by the way, because I'm not a very big person, only weighing 115lbs my mother is freaking out. We'll see how this goes!
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