Is it Really Body Art? To Ink Up or Not?

A number of years ago my son Jason asked if he could get a tattoo. Rather than be shocked by his request I was cool and said why didn’t he wait a few years until he was older and if he still wanted one I would get one with him. ‘What did I just say,’ I said silently to myself?

I thought back to the church plant in Scotland I was involved in many years ago, I would watch in amazement as young people would come out of tattoo parlors sporting (showing off) tattoos glowing with vibrant colors! Did they not realize that they would eventually turn a 'darkened black/green not so pretty mark' on their bodies?

In fact, in Bible College, I remember one student who got some of his tattoos removed but not without considerable pain and scaring. Of course, that was before the advent of laser that has now found a new use (according to the ads) among those who don’t want their tattoos anymore.

A pastor friend called me this year and wondered what I thought of staff people having tattoos? Of course I now actually have some that do. I tried to give him some pointers, not sure I helped.

A couple of weeks ago three children’s workers returned to the lodge sporting what looked like actual tattoos, one of them on the calf and the other two had theirs in the small of their backs. They asked me if I was shocked. ‘Of course not,’ I said. Of course I was wondering if the mountain air and altitude had gotten to them and if I was next. (They were henna tattoos that faded off over a brief time) Whew!

And now many are asking about the tattoos of Todd Bentley and the Lakeland Healing revival. Does and can God use an inked body for His glory?

So it is obvious that Christians are now getting tattoos. Many are going through the doors of ‘questionable tattoo parlors’ and allowing others to put their hands on their bodies and ink them. Google this issue, and you’ll see opinions varying from “Go for it!” to “You’ll go to hell for it.” Many Christians as well as Pastors are grappling with the tattoo question.

I have been studying this issue (as any pastor should) having read countless articles, have had numerous discussions (or were they heated debates?) and I have arrived at a peace in my mind about it. I will attempt to put forth some ideas and will give references if I have them or can remember them.

Next post- What does the Bible say about tattoos?

Also, at the end of this series I will tell you whether or not my son and I got tattoos!

Wear Yourself Out!

Ex 18:17-18 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. NIV

I have run 5 marathons and I am acquainted with hitting the wall. I’ve known first hand the cramping and exhaustion that often occurs. I have experienced the complete physical depletion!

You can imagine my surprise that over the past few months I have arrived at a point of physical depletion – all without running any marathons!

It all started with a few Saturdays on a project at home where I literally exhausted my body. Plus add to that the fact of God moving at the Vine and my praying upwards of an hour for people on numerous Sundays. Then add a trip out of town, stress of meetings, and sleepless nights. What does all this spell- exhaustion!

I hit the wall physically! I wore myself out in spite of knowing Jethro’s counsel to Moses!

An upper respiratory infection running for 4 weeks! Fungus infection in my throat! My immune system compromised! That is the price I am paying for not pacing myself. As a response to all this, my Doctor, my wife, and son put into affect an intervention. I have been confined to my house for rest since Thursday. No work, no tennis; just rest----

I am feeling somewhat better and I hope to preach Sunday- on Ex 18:17-18!

Thanks for praying.

Bridge to Hawaii or Understanding Women?

A man was walking along a California beach and stumbled across an old lamp. He picked it up and rubbed it and out popped a genie.

The genie said, "OK, OK. You released me from the lamp, blah blah blah. This is the fourth time this month and I'm getting a little sick of these wishes so you can forget about getting three. You only get one wish!"

The man sat and thought about it for a while. Finally, he said, "I've always wanted to go to Hawaii but I'm scared to fly and I get very seasick. Could you build me a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over there to visit?"

The genie laughed loudly and said, "That's impossible. Think of the monumental logistics! How would the supports ever reach the bottom of the Pacific? Think of all the concrete! Think of all the steel! No, think of another wish."

The man said OK, sat back down and tried to think of a really good wish.

Finally, he said, "I've been married and divorced four times. My wives always said that I don't care and that I'm insensitive. So, I wish that I could understand women. I want to know how they feel inside. I want to know what they're thinking when they give me the silent treatment. I want to know why they're crying and know what they really want when they say 'nothing'. Most of all, I want to know how to make them truly happy."

The genie said, "You want that bridge two lanes or four?"

Who's My Neighbor?

A 91-year-old woman who had crawled under her car to look for her keys ended up stuck beneath an axle for two days until her mail carrier noticed letters piling up, police said.

Betty Borowski, of the Milwaukee suburb of Greendale, was found Tuesday and remained in a hospital in critical intensive care Friday, her niece Nancy DiMarco said. The hospital would not give an update on her condition Saturday.

Borowski, who lives alone, became stuck June 29 while looking for her keys; her head apparently got pinned by the axle, Greendale Police Chief Rob Dams said.

"She was pretty well wedged in there," Dams said. "It looks like she crawled under headfirst."

Borowski's mail carrier noticed Tuesday that the previous day's mail was still in her mailbox, police said. He rang the doorbell and then asked a neighbor whether he had seen Borowski lately. He hadn't, so they called police.

Firefighters lifted the car with a jack and removed Borowski, who was dehydrated and confused.

It turned out her keys were in the car door.

Borowski appears to be recovering, DiMarco said, but may have suffered a minor heart attack while under the vehicle.

"If it wasn't for people seeing a situation and following through ... who knows?" she said. "She wouldn't have made it about one more day."

Would you have noticed?

MAJOR CHANGE HAPPENING IN MY LIFE

While at the Liberty Fellowship conference this week the presbytery met at the conference. A major change is occurring for me at this time, but let me say straight up that IT DOES NOT INVOLVE MY LEAVING VINE FELLOWSHIP NOR RESIGNING AS PASTOR. Let me give you the details as expressed in a letter sent to LF members by our former Executive Director Jim Darnell (with me in pic):

At our Liberty Fellowship Summer Family Conference at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina I resigned as Executive Director of Liberty Fellowship. I will turn 67years old at the end of August and feel the Lord changing our ministry…

I could not make these changes if Pastor David Kerr had not been willing to become our new Executive Director. God has always been faithful to provide the point man leadership for this Fellowship. When Brother Bill Stamp stepped back from the office of president after many years of service, Danny Tice stepped up to the plate. When Danny resigned God persuaded me to do it for three years. Now the Lord is bringing David into this responsibility.

David Kerr is a man of real character and anointing. He is a good man and a creative leader. I trust him fully. He will do a great job.

What will be my future relationship to the Fellowship? I will continue to be a faithful member attending district meetings and the summer conferences, but not as a presbyter. Beth and I love Liberty Fellowship. I will also continue to oversee those in the fellowship that I have been pastor to for many years. Also, since David Kerr is pastor of a church he will not be able to fulfill all the traveling responsibilities of the Liberty Executive Director. He has asked me to be his traveling arm of the ministry. When he can’t go do a new church building dedication, a local church Bible conference, or a church leadership training session, etc… I will go for him. I made this personal commitment to David and the presbytery.

May God continue to bless you, your family, your ministry and Liberty Fellowship. It has been my honor to serve you. Jim Darnell.

So, there you have it! I have been Administrative Director of LF for a number of years. I assumed the responsibilities of Executive Director this past week. Tammy Barch will be Executive Assistant and carry many of the responsibilities that I previously had. Therefore we need your prayers and God’s grace and abilities to faithfully perform our duties as we continue to serve both Vine Fellowship and Liberty Fellowship!

News from the NC Mountains-

We are into our third day of Liberty Fellowship Annual Family Conference. It has been awesome! There are not many organizations that attempt a 'Family Conference' anymore because of the logistics, cost, and the hassle of setting up children's and youth ministries to run concurrent to the adult meetings. LF has successfully done this every year since it's beginnings! It really is a conference for the whole family ministering to the whole family.

Mike Cavanaugh is our speaker for this conference. He had flight problems on Monday and was not able to make the first meeting. So, I ended up preaching the first service- God was faithful and showed up and touched the hearts of many people.

Tuesday is always a 'family play day' and families are encouraged to do something together. We had a golf tournament, tennis, white water rafting, kayaking, shopping, eating---- great time had by all.

Mike's main theme Tuesday night was training the next generation. Challenging to us as a fellowship and the changes that are taking place with us right now.

I am up early- 4:15am - planning for the presbytery breakfast mtg, the general meeting, a LF business meeting with all the members, and then my seminar this afternoon on 'How to Handle Rejection in Ministry!' Appreciate your prayers.

And yes, I still remember that tomorrow is my 37th Wedding Anniversary to the most wonderful wife, mother, woman of God that I know on the face of this earth- I love you, Debi!

Liberty Fellowship - 37th Wedding Anniversary!

Debi and I left IMMEDIATELY (notice my stressing immediately) after service Sunday to catch a 1:15PM flight to Atlanta, GA. We were on our way to Liberty Fellowship’s annual summer conference in Lake Junaluska, NC. We rented a car (reserved economy - they upgraded us to a convertible no additional charge - we must look like convertible people!) and drove the 3½ hours through the beautiful NC Mountains including the Great Smokey Mountains. This is familiar territory to us having grown up in Bristol VA/TN.

The presbytery will be meeting during this time and it is a very important meeting. I can’t say much now but will share with you soon why I am asking you to pray for me and God’s wisdom. I know I can count on you.

1 Tim 3:2(TLB)For a pastor must be a good man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must have only one wife, and he must be hard working and thoughtful, orderly, and full of good deeds. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must be a good Bible teacher.

Please notice the above emphasis on ‘one wife.’ Debi and I will celebrate our 37th Wedding Anniversary while there on July 3rd. I am delighted that I can live with the ‘wife of my youth’ and that we have maintained a great healthy and heavenly marriage all these years. She is a complete joy to me and one that I don’t take for granted. God has used her to help mold and shape me into the man that I am today. I esteem her highly for the Lord’s sake. Debi, I love you and thank you for loving me and forbearing with me all these years. May God grant us many more to come!

We finish our Presbytery meeting on Friday morning and we will drive back to Atlanta staying the night and then flying back to Arlington on Saturday. I will be in the pulpit next Sunday.

In light of this week being July 4th, I want you to know that Jesus Christ has set us free and free indeed. We are to die to sin and live to and for Him. We are no longer under condemnation. You can't get any cleaner but you can go deeper!

Dietary Issues?!?

A doctor was addressing a large audience.

"Red meat is bad for you," he told the audience.

"Soft drinks corrode your stomach lining."

"Chinese food is loaded with MSG."

"High fat diets are disastrous."

"No one knows the long-term effect of germs in our drinking water," said the doctor.

"But one food is the most dangerous of all and I bet every one of you has eaten it at least once. Can anyone tell me which food causes the most problems for years after you eat it?"

An old man in the front row raised his hand and softly asked, "Is it wedding cake?"

I know, wives are going to dislike me, but such is life! Besides it is funny and can go both ways!

F.T.U.C.C.U.S.A.

Great humorous commentary on the church goer and his wants!

Update- Pastor Phillip Miles Released!

This is an update on a previous post.

From the church website:

Monday, June 23, 2008

Pastor Phillip Miles is being released! The court of appeals deliberated for 10 minutes after arguments were made and reduced his sentence and ordered his immediate release from prison. We hope to have Pastor Miles home in the next several days. Thanks to all for your prayers and support.

My House Will be His House! Pt 3-

3. He had a plan for his family. Being priest of the family is not enough. The Godly father must also have a plan for the spiritual life of his loved ones. Joshua said, “…we will serve the Lord.”

A father must strive with God’s help for family unity. When Joshua spoke his voice rang with the sound of unity: “me and my house.” There was togetherness. And I believe that the reason that unity was there was due to his Godly character, his example. His faith was genuine, authentic and as a result his family said, in essence, “Whatever you say, dad, we will agree.

Joshua was determined at least to establish a spiritual oasis with his family. In such an oasis, spiritual giants are grown.

The family will usually follow the parent, especially the father. Someone has said, “A boy loves his mother, but will follow his father."

There is a touching story about a humble, consecrated pastor whose young son had become very ill. After the boy had undergone an exhaustive series of tests, the father was told the shocking news that his son had a terminal illness. The youngster had accepted Christ as his Savior, so the minister knew that death would usher him into Glory; but he wondered how to inform one in the bloom of youth that he soon would die. After earnestly seeking the direction of the Holy Spirit, he went with a heavy heart through the hospital ward to the boy’s bedside.

First he read a passage of Scripture and had a time of prayer with his dear child. Then he gently told him that the doctors could promise him only a few more days to live. "Are you afraid to meet Jesus, my boy?" asked his devout father. Blinking away a few tears, the little fellow said bravely, "No, not if He’s like you, Dad!"

Dad's, let's strive to be the best!

My House will be His House! Pt 2-

Continuing with my Father's Day 2008 message on Joshua.

2. He was Priest in his home. He acknowledged his responsibility for the spiritual life of his family. He spoke for his family; he declared their intent.

-A priest cannot function unless he is in close contact with God.

-According to the Bible, the family was designed to be the basic educational unit (Deut. 6:6-9; 11:18; Eph.6:4). It is the father’s duty, then, to make sure his children know how to be saved and how to walk in the ways of the Lord.

-The greatest thing a father can pass on to his children is the love of God. We all know that love begets love. In chapter 3, verse 11, Joshua urges Israel to make love of God their special aim. If we would give love we must first receive it. And if we are to pass it on to our children and grandchildren, we must first absorb it and then demonstrate it.

There is this story of a little fellow, frightened by lightning and thunder, who called out one dark night, "Daddy, come. I’m scared." "Son," the father said, "God loves you and he’ll take care of you." "I know God loves me," the boy replied. "But right now I want somebody who has skin on." As I have lived my life in front of my family, I have endeavored to be this above all else - God’s love with skin on.

-As priest of the home, the Godly father is also a man of prayer. He goes to God often on behalf of his family, asking for wisdom and courage for himself, and protection for his wife and children. Job is an example: “Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ This was Job’s regular custom” (Job 1:5).

Part 3 will follow tomorrow.

My House will be His House! Pt 1-

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:14-15

On Father’s Day 2008 I turned to the final chapter of Joshua. You all are familiar with the quote I used. Joshua was 110 years old, served Moses for 40 years, and now had been leading the children of Israel in the promise land for 25 years. His task is done. The land has been conquered, divided up and given as inheritance to the tribes to settle and prosper in.

Joshua was a great leader for the nation of Israel. But he was also a great leader for his family! I noted 3 things that he did as a father:

1. He was the leader in his home! He was the leader of his household. He did not abdicate that nor lord it over his family. He was a man of courage, integrity, and conviction. Joshua knew that a nation was only as strong as its Fathers. Joshua knew that the father holds in his power the security of today and the potential of tomorrow.

If as fathers we choose to ignore the God-given responsibility we have been given, we unknowingly are sowing seeds of wickedness that is destined to confront us. A.B. Simpson called this the “wickedness of weakness” when we men refuse to fulfill our place as the leader of our household. Yet I have seen this abdication time and time again of fathers.

I have spent my years here at the Vine encouraging men to be the leaders in their home. I can’t make men be that- but there is this ‘wickedness of weakness’ I have watched time and again as strong willed women have led their family out of the Vine and other churches followed by their husbands saying “Yes, dear.” These men acquiesced without one ounce of backbone to stand up to their wives and be the leader of the home that makes those kind of decisions!

God, please let men be men and fulfill their destiny you have for them!

Parts 2 & 3 to follow with other 2 things that Joshua was as a Father.

Keeping Your Monitor Screen Clean-

We clean the outside our our monitor screen and this pug cleans the inside for us!