A Brother ~ My Brother! An Answer to Prayer!
FINALLY! A NATIONAL LEADER! A Man of God, Ken Hutcherson, the senior pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, Washington. Pastor Hutcherson is a beautiful black man in my view, for he is a courageous man of God, but not just because he is black, but that he has godly conviction as a black man. This is God’s beauty – the feet of those who preach good news! No doubt Pastor Hutcherson will take a lot hits (verbal abuse) over speaking the truth with the “One New Now” interviews. However I have no doubt that he will stand strong on the truth, boldly proclaiming, because Jesus Christ is his God and king. I am rejoicing today! FINALLY one my brothers in Christ who is boldly speaking the truth! A godly black conservative leader who is not afraid of the back lash or the “black lash” of the politically correct leftist elite. I am so grateful for Pastor Hutcherson’s interviews; this brought tears to my eyes as I read the articles and then again when I called Antioch Bible Church to express my gratefulness! I am sure that Pastor Hutcherson is not the only leader who is speaking up, however he just happens to be one who is speaking up loud enough to be heard nationally.
(See links to the articles below).
My heart was sincerely grieved over hearing the election exiting statistical poll data; 95% of black America voting for Barack Hussein Obama for President, which includes the black church in America. It is conclusive that this was based upon the fact of Obama’s skin color. Many Christians, white, black or otherwise voted for the “change” because they were frustrated with the war in Iraq and the economy; but they did not consider the actual facts of the stated Obama goals during the campaign that were actually anti-Christian. I found that grievous, since church percentages should have been more politically conservative no matter what a persons race. The numbers of 52 to 48 percent should have been the norm in the Church as was the entire election. I tried to remind people of the Obama campaign promises. I was told not to worry Barack Obama will govern more from the center. I didn’t believe it and said so, but I did hope so; unfortunately to no avail as Barack Obama became our 44th President.
Since the election and on the very day of the inauguration I have been praying for God to raise up black Christian leaders to speak the truth. President Obama was clear at his inauguration that he wanted to “remake America” and on the same day he posted the Gay Agenda on the White House Web Site. (However recently the White House staff re-worked the web page “Support for the LGBT” and is now condensed with less details. It is not quite as boldly pro-LGBT as it was. However there is more to read on the White House by searching you can see for yourself.) President Obama hasn’t changed his radically left desires to “remake America.” His desire to remake America includes barbaric practices of partial-birth abortion, Hate Crimes Legislation, and a Presidential Proclamation making June 2009 LGBT Gay Pride Month for America. I am in agreement with Pastor Hutcherson, I look for the moral compass of a leader when voting. Clearly if a man or woman cannot see the barbarianism of partial-birth abortion, they should not be a leader. If they cannot clearly see abortion as murder how can they have the clarity of character and conscience to lead our country? They can easily violate the other 10 Commandments of God if they are willing to promote partial-birth abortion. This CHANGE and “remaking America” direction also has built-in plans to stifle the voices of ex-gays. This is especially exasperating for me as a man who left homosexuality 27 years ago. This propagation of Hate Crimes legislation has what I believe the potential to lead to a culture war on traditional family value ministries and the church at large.
I have asked, “Where are my black brothers and black pastors who are equally appalled?” Sincerely I prayed that T.D. Jakes would repent. I have asked the Father, “please raise up godly black leaders!” You will not find many white leaders in the church asking out loud. It’s too politically incorrect. They would face condemnation of being racist, divisive and bigoted. I have asked where are the men who truly love God above the color of a man’s skin? I thought we were so much further along in racial reconciliation in the church at large including the black church. I was naive. I was appalled at T.D. Jakes and other major leaders in the black church of America who were unwilling to stand ground on Biblical principles in their voting rather than glorying skin color and/or a man’s race. Please don’t misunderstand me here. It is exciting that America has voted for a black man for President. This does prove we have made strides in overcoming racism. I can honestly relate to some of the prejudice. I was called awful names growing up. (I apologize now for the words in this next sentence, but imagine hearing them almost every day for 2 years.) I had one bully who for 2 years in junior-high school screaming at me almost every day within the hearing of my peers “Black – you sissy faggot, you queer, your nothing but a nigger faggot.” It was so painful, shameful and damaging to my identity. It was also terrifying to be followed home and beat with the name calling. Perhaps you can see, I am not insensitive. I can truly relate to these terrible words. My heart has been broken. I love black people, especially my brothers in Christ, but most powerfully I am in love with my granddaughter who is half white and half black, a gift from God. You see, I am not insensitive, I just desire truth and righteousness.
I am so grateful to God and I thank God for Pastor Hutcherson who is speaking the truth boldly in these articles to call for repentance of black leaders standing with our President when he is propagating anti-Christian policies. I am so thankful for the call to come back to character and godly living rather than merely standing with a person based upon skin color or because he is charismatic or loved by the media. I have been so grieved over the racism I perceive in the black church of America who voted for Barack Obama, kicking Jesus’ teachings aside and the leaving the Scripture behind simply for the affirmation of having a black man in the White House. Pastor Hutcherson set things clear in these interviews. He is an answer to prayer. If you feel the same way, I encourage you to write, call or email Antioch Bible Church and let Pastor Hutcherson know that you are standing with him, and then make sure you pray for him, his family and church. I am sincerely praying for revival in America, and then doing something about it by speaking out; as is Pastor Hutcherson. Will you join us by praying, and then influencing by talking to people about truth and The Gospel?
Read Pastor Hutcherson’s Interviews with Jim Brown at One News Now:
Pastor: Obama has no ‘black experience’ to speak of
‘No truth’ in Obama’s speech before homosexuals
Related Article: Obama hopes to persuade all Americans to accept homosexuality
Mean-spirited emails over Carrie Prejean post
I have received some very interesting emails about my previous post.
Let me clarify again; I am not trying to communicate that Carrie Prejean is to be compared to the godliness of an Esther or that her sacrifice of giving up the Miss USA crown is the same level of sacrifice as Ether’s submission to an evil king. This post should be read in context with Pastor McPherson’s message and Carrie’s behind the scene testimony.
This blog post went up because I merely find it amusing and interesting how this issue – (A Biblical Standard of Holiness) was brought to National attention; it took a 21 year old “beauty queen” persecuted by a gay activist – Prez Hilton, a silent Donald Trump, and the gay sympathizing Ms. USA judge panel bias. Another reason for this post was the amusing and sad part of this whole account; that this wasn’t brought to National attention by the CHURCH or godly men.
I find it interesting that I received emails from hateful gay blog bullies and religious folks who are unwilling to come out of the shadows to actually talk to me and reveal their identities but are content to spew their hate and religious talk.
I close with this thought. My original post was not an endorsement of Carrie Prejean’s past behavior of taking photos half nude or even being a beauty queen. However it is about a mere observation of a 21 year old, growing adult, willing to come full circle and surrender a pageant title to her faith in God and her personal belief that marriage is between one man and one woman. This took a lot of courage, and unfortunately it is more courage than many pastors. I am still waiting on the pastors who are unwilling to speak out against this new President’s pro-gay agenda; the very pastors that endorsed Obama and voted for him as President; as this President has set this country into a new level of homosexual acceptance. Sadly it seems there has been more courage displayed in this “beauty-queen” than most “Christian” men in the Church who are unwilling to take a public STAND about these social issues of our day.
However Pastor McPherson gave us very good reminder that we are to STAND!
Overcome Evil by Doing Good
Today at my church home, Bridgeway, our pastoral leader, Alex Absalom shared a message on being a Person of Peace bringing influence into our world. The Lord used this message as a reminder of His mandate on those who wish us harm. We overcome evil by doing good. Pastor Alex didn’t share this particular verses found in Romans 12:20-21. His message was the “Definition of a Person of Peace” and his text was Mark 5, and Acts 10 a look at Cornelius’ life. You can listen to this message by downloading it from the Bridgeway Church web site or iTunes, key search “Bridgeway Church Podcasts” and there you will find several excellent messages.
Pastor Alex’s message: “Definition of a Person of Peace” was: 1) shows Receptivity – (be friendly and outgoing, make a way), 2) has a good Reputation – (being relational to influence the surrounding community) and 3) having Referrals – (a life of peace will manifest a testimony by where people in your community will see real help, lives changed, God’s grace & mercy poured out, answers to prayer and the miracles of God). Anyone living in the context of these three R’s will have no problem with evangelism.
Pastor Alex then brought the challenge! How do we make a difference in these economic challenging and chaotic times? What sacrifices are we willing to make as individuals and in our church community? Good question!
He challenged us to make a difference in sacrifice by asking us to consider prayerfully more soul-searching questions: What preferences are we willing to lay down? What desires need to become secondary to others? What fears do we need to overcome about certain individuals, like people who are sworn faithful to fundamental Islamic beliefs? What expectations must we lay down, and what should our expectations be?
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My Personal Challenge
I was personally challenged by the Holy Spirit to look at the fruit of kindness. I immediately thought of the verse about overcoming evil by doing good (Romans 12:20-21) and being kind even when certain individuals and groups of people are hell bent to make your life miserable. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not communicating a boundary-less existence, on the contrary, overcoming evil is to have godly boundaries, but with a gentle meek and kind heart. Those who know me well, know that I am a very direct prophetic choleric personality type and do not back down from a conflict. Conflict doesn’t scary me, I can even create it to bring a healthier relationship if I believe it is helpful.
However, I am excited about the grace of God today being poured out to overcome evil by doing good through His love. This takes asking the Lord about where people are from His perspective. Perspective can be everything. If we can see the deception and brokenness from God’s perspective and what the possible outcome of where a person will end eternally, the heart can be graced into Christ-like compassion and kindness. Attitude is 90% of the victory, as God gives us the victory by faith (or attitude) in Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 John 5:4-5) & (1 Cor. 15:57). I thank God for ministering to my heart with His grace and challenge today. May HIS perfect Ways found in the Holy Scriptures, HIS Truth and HIS Life be yours!
Hey Jude!
A Warning from the Word of God, from the book of Jude:
A Warning to those who are unfaithful; who engage in all forms of sexually immorality and homosexuality.
This is also a Scriptural warning to those who are rebellious to God’s Holy Word, and who scoff and mock at the Scriptures, and it is a warning to those who are greedy for gain and the selfishly ambitious.
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Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the precious salvation we all share from Jesus Christ our Lord. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his people who are called holy. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ by their way of living life.
So I want to remind you and warn you, though you already know these things if you have studied the Word of God, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later He destroyed those who did not remain faithful. This is a sober warning for anyone who names Jesus Christ as Lord. The commandment is clear, “Thou shall not take the Lord’s name in vain.” Saying that Jesus Christ is your Lord and then living ungodly. And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because their arrogance blinded them and taking them into sexual perversions of every kind.
In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. Those who believe it is justifiable to live according to their own desires will bring judgment down upon themselves. What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money — greediness brings deception and death. And like Korah with rebellious hearts they perish in their rebellion.
When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. Be careful with those who you have fellowship with least they turn you away from following the Lord Jesus Christ. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.
Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their own desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.
But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives, never allowing yourself to compromise, but be all the more diligent as you see the day drawing closer to the end.
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
