When Sheep Beat Up The Shepherd

(This is a follow up to the post: "When Shepherds Beat Up The Sheep" -> click here.)

They are in the line of fire. They are on Normandy Beach pinned down. The heavy guns are trained on them. They won't come out alive. They are not meant to. (A professor in college told us: "Don't go in the ministry unless you're ready to die.")

And the very ones who are meant to be fighting alongside the Pastor (shepherd) have turned against him. (Huh?)

Here's how it happens. The devil says, "He's preaching too long." And the sheep start thinking and saying it. The devil says, "He's spending your tithe on luxury." And the sheep start thinking and saying it. The devil says, "You were in this church before him. What does he know?" And the sheep start thinking and saying it. On and on it goes. Minds muddied, hearts turned against the Pastor (shepherd).

And so what if he preaches too long (just to speak to the first issue)? You fool. (Yeah, I said it. In Christian love, of course.) You fool. (There. I said it again. It's kind of like a slap to wake someone out of a stupor.) So what? You've fallen for the devil's lie. Can you not see far enough beyond yourself to the person who's in church for the first time, he is sitting in the far back row and God planned that overtime in the sermon (that you have a problem with because it's making you late for lunch) to be the very five minutes of preaching that's going to save him from hell and give him hope when he was about to end it all.

Whose side are you on anyway?

Carried by God's Word - Part 2

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you." (Colossians 3:16) I recently called on the Twitter community to help me with a blog post idea I had. I asked friends and followers to send me their favorite Bible verses. I also wanted the reason behind the ones they chose. My purpose was to spotlight God's Word, but as I'm writing this today I'm finding that it's much more than that ~ it's a declaration of the Scriptures' power to affect people's lives. (Hebrews 4:12) With all my heart I believe there's a Bible verse (or two?) here for you. (It's just the way God works.) We, believers, call it our "life verse." That's when a person selects a verse in the Bible (and/or passage) and calls it their own because of it's meaning to them. They carry it around (in their head and heart) and it "carries them" back. Maybe you could use a little "carrying," too? You've come to the right place. May the Word of Christ impact you as it does us...

More Scriptures from Your Friends on Twitter:
(Click HERE for Part 1)

(13) Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strenghens me. (from @JanB4U)

(14) 1 Timothy 4:7. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. (from @BlancaV)

Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Reminds me of my priority.

(15) Isaiah 40:3. A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God." (from @growwithlaura)

It's part of my life purpose and inspires me to persevere through challenges and continue to help others along the way.

(16) Colossians 3:23. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. (from @FastJon23)

I know that every time I commit whatever I'm doing and work as if it is truly for the Lord, He blesses abundantly!

(17) Proverbs 27:17. (NIV) As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (from @guysandmarriage)

Always reminds me to teach and be taught.

(18) 2 Corinthians 12:9. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (from @flipster48)

Meant a lot to me during 8 days in ICU. I was so weak I couldn't lift my head. God gave me strength to persevere.

(19) Psalm 103:1-5. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. (from @JCsRG)

Those are some fantastic benefits! Who wouldn't want them?

(20) Philippians 3:9. (NLT) I no longer count on my own goodness or ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. (from @ThinkOnItDevos)

(21) Hebrews 13:8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (from @blastofheaven)

(22) 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you." (from @aaronpotratz)

We all have weaknesses that God uses to make us depend on Him and to make us strong in Christ. What love!

(23) Matthew 5:16. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (from @spreadingJOY)

I want to shine brightly for HIM!! I want my light to be seen as a reflection of Him that loves us unconditionally.

(24) Lamentations 3:22-23. (KJV) It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (from @aheartforgod)

A prophet spoke these verses over me. They have been a comfort more than once (to one of a melancholy and Elijah-like temperament).

(25) Revelation 22:13. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (from @Arquecy)

I've put it on the back window of many vehicles I've owned. That verse packs a lot of meaning. (Our life story starts and ends with Jesus!)

(Disclaimer: The author of this blog does not necessarily condone or condemn the Twitter sites represented here.)

Carried by God's Word - Part 1

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you." (Colossians 3:16) I recently called on the Twitter community to help me with a blog post idea I had. I asked friends and followers to send me their favorite Bible verses. I also wanted the reason behind the ones they chose. My purpose was to spotlight God's Word, but as I'm writing this today I'm finding that it's much more than that ~ it's a declaration of the Scriptures' power to affect people's lives. (Hebrews 4:12) With all my heart I believe there's a Bible verse (or two?) here for you. (It's just the way God works.) We, believers, call it our "life verse." That's when a person selects a verse in the Bible (and/or passage) and calls it their own because of it's meaning to them. They carry it around (in their head and heart) and it "carries them" back. Maybe you could use a little "carrying," too? You've come to the right place. May the Word of Christ impact you as it does us...

Scriptures from Your Friends on Twitter:
(Click HERE for Part 2)

(1) John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (from @prophetesstli)

(2) Isaiah 1:18. "Come now, andlet us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool." (from @GodsSunflower)

Love the reference to our sins being white as snow. I love the snow and it's a cool verse. :)

(3) Ephesians 2:8-9. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (from @FaithMadeAlive)

*My favorite verse: Eph 2:8-9 - *..by grace alone through faith alone in CHRIST alone...not of works...nothing man can do..!*

(4) Ephesians 2:10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (from @mcProdigal)

(5) Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (from @BibleCat)

(6) 1 John 5:14-15. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. (from @evangml)

Why? Because it informs me that my Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. I love talking to God!

(7) John 11:35. Jesus wept. (from @TrainPhreak)

He's just like us! He gets sad too!

(8) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (from @lasttrumpetlvng)

The rapture of the church. Verse 18 is particularly good: Encourage one another with these words.

(9) Hebrews 4:16. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (from @kristinamhansen)

Often I'm tempted to be "independent" but this tells me to RUN to God. Kills any thought of self reliance.

(10) 2 Thessalonians 3:10. (NIV) For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (from @bellapatriot)

(11) Song of Solomon 2:14. (KJV) O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rocks, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. (from @GodsLittle_Rose)

The longing in Solomon's voice for the need to hear and see the face to feel comfort from the one he loves. This is the reason why. This is my favorite scripture, as it touches ones soul to the very core..poetic...

(12) Acts 26:18. "To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me." (from @accesssonora)

Bob, you are an evangelist through and through! May we all have your heart for the lost. ;D

(Disclaimer: The author of this blog does not necessarily condone or condemn the Twitter sites represented here.)

When Shepherds Beat Up The Sheep

Have you ever been injured in church? I'm not talking about tripping on the steps or getting a splinter from the pew (we don't use those anymore, but it fits). Rather, I'm talking about when the Pastor (shepherd) starts (quote) "throwing blows" from the pulpit.

Here's how it happens. The Pastor is upset over something. (He's human. That might be a revelation to some of you.) He carries his "upset" into church. He gets up to preach. He starts speaking. Everything seems normal up until - whammo! You don't know what hit ya. (And it wasn't the Holy Spirit that fell.) It came out of no where, left field, from over the rainbow. A cold cock (with words). POW! And you're on the ground (figuratively speaking). You're down for the count. 8, 9, 10. You're out! (Where am I?)

And when somebody says, "I'm not trying to make you feel guilty," it's because they are, they know they are and they know it's wrong. But I digress.

Now it would be one thing if none of us ever beat up (with what came out of our mouth) another person in our lifetime. (Romans 3:10) Then we'd be free to condemn, hold a grudge against, poo poo a minister who treated us wrong. Right? (I always like to do that.)

It's not that I'm condoning what took place. It's not that I'm minimizing your hurt. I'm just reminding you of Jesus' words: "'I do not say to you, [forgive] up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven'" (Matthew 18:22) and "'For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.'" (Matthew 6:14-15)

Could it be there's a Pastor (shepherd) you need to show mercy to? (And if you're a Pastor reading this, maybe you need to confess your sin to your people/sheep?)