Mea Culpa

Mea Culpa

I have been doing a lot of writing just not here. I am picking up again. Do page all the way down and read the two posts about healing.  

On April 19, 2015 I was doing some work at a church client. I was in the copy room picking up printouts from the network printer.  The church bulletins were stacked on the counter. I read a verse that was printed. Suddenly a chronic right ear pain was gone. I went back to the computer and then realized that my arthritis was gone. I had not been taking anything for either ailment nor had I sought medical help. Note the date of April 19, 2015. Neither condition has returned and I do not expect either to return. 

David Sneed

He Is There All the Time

I love that song "He Was There All the Time."

Jesus made us many promises. He will not force us to apply them or even to call on Him. He just waits patiently.

The Bible tells us to "cast all our cares upon Him." If we do that he will accept them. He will not just take them. If we want to keep them we can do so.

He is there and waiting.

David Sneed

Why is Religious Affiliation Shrinking?

According to a new report from Pew Research (www.pewforum.org/unaffiliated/nones-on-the-rise.aspx), one fifth of the general public and one third of adults under 30 have no religious affiliation. A variety of reasons are given.

I know something about the issue because I am one of the religious unaffiliated. I do have a religious background while growing up and as an adult. Now I am not a part of organized religion though my faith is stronger than it has ever been.

My reason for being unaffiliated is that I have not been able to find a church that can consistently present and live its fundamentals. Those churches may be there. I'm sure they are. I just can't find one. I'm not looking for saints. I'm looking for teaching that is black and white. Over the years I have seen many humorous quotes about the subject. "You say the church has too many hypocrites? Come on in. There's room for one more." Or "The church is a hospital for sinners." It goes beyond that.

I went to one church in New Hampshire. I had my Bible with me. After the service I noticed that the pastor would not speak to me. Based on things he said in his sermon I suspect he did not much care for the Bible. "Are you a student?" a lady asked me. "I see you have a Bible." "I guess you could call me that" was my response. Church members and pastors not believing their own doctrine is important. It is not a matter of perfection. Not even aiming for perfection is.

Generally I think that as a society we are moving into more authenticity. It is not just due to generational replacement. Many baby-boomers like me are feeling the same way. Don't give me a sermon telling me why the Bible is not true. And if your doctrine is that everyone who is not a member of your church is going to Hell then have the guts to say so. I may not agree but will respect you for taking a real stand.

The report says that the unaffiliated are more likely to become Democrats and to embrace liberal attitudes on abortion and gay marriage. Those may be the ones that never had a religious affiliation.

The report goes on to say that there is a view that the unaffiliated are secular. Maybe it's the other way around. Maybe the churches are secular.

The gospel message is about Jesus, crucified and resurrected. As Paul pointed out, if that  story is not true then nothing else matters. It disturbs me when that message is not first and foremost. The gospel is about Jesus. It is not about me. It is not about my choices on election day. It is not about abortion or gay marriage. The gospel message is not about how I now entitled to a Bugatti Vayron. The gospel should encourage the lost to accept salvation and to tell others.  It is about the finished work of Christ on the Cross.

If I want to hear a prosperity message I'll go to Forbes or Fast Company or Inc to learn how to do it. I don't want to hear it from someone who has never held a real job or owned a business. If I want to hear about Divine Healing I don't want to hear it from someone with health insurance. And if I want to learn about horses the teacher better know how to ride. There is SOME truth to the adage "those that can do, those that can't teach."

The report indicates that the trend is for more people to become unaffiliated and that there is no longer a stigma to that. There is some fear that we are headed in the same direction as Europe where church attendance has had a major decline. Fortunately many of the churches there are state-funded with religion taxes and with indirect funding. When in London I have attended St Paul's and Westminster Abbey. At both churches only a handful of people are present on Sunday. Ironically I find that the preachers do seem to believe what they preach.

The only thing new in the report is that the number of Protestants is now below 50%.

David Sneed

Faith Summary

In the province of the mind, what one believes to be true either is true or becomes true.

From a fortune cookie.

What to Forget

There are two things we should learn to forget.

1. The good we have done to others.

2. The evil others have done to us. 

Priorities

It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven't lost the things that money can't buy.

George Horace Latimer

The Fellowship of the Silver Star

I received an Easter card from Commissioner Carolyn Knagge and Major Mariam Rudd of the Salvation Army Fellowship of the Silver Star. Cheri and I are members because our son Joshua is a Salvation Army officer.

The card reads:

"Alleluia! He is Risen! Mark 16:6

Jesus conquered death once, for all, so that we might live as God's deeply loved, forgiven children, full of hope and joy. 

Jesus rose, and we, too shall rise from death to be with him forever. "

The original purpose of the Order of the Silver Star was to provide a means whereby The Salvation Army could recognize and honor each mother (by natural birth or legal adoption) whose son or daughter was commissioned as an officer in The Salvation Army.

In 2001, the name was changed to the Fellowship of the Silver Star to reflect significant sociological realities in society and to affirm the importance of the family.  The Fellowship was expanded to include both parents or a designated spiritual parent of the newly commissioned officer.  This inclusiveness emphasizes the linking of families of commissioned officers to The Salvation Army, providing support as well as fresh evangelistic and pastoral opportunities.

Membership will continue to be family based, but where the cadet does not have parents or step-parents, he or she will propose another close relative or spiritual parent to become a member of the Fellowship of the Silver Star.

Communities are important and the Fellowship of the Silver Star is a good example of an intentional community. 

David Sneed