2008 March archive at Chris McCool

Archive for March, 2008

Mar

Who Are You Praying For?

By Chris 0 Comments

Categories: Faith

I hate when people tell me their praying for me – I know “so why I’m I writing about praying for others?” The problem doesn’t lie with the person but with me – I don’t believe them. So I struggle to make sure no one can ever question me. In college a professor once taught me that if you feel the need to pray for someone (or tell them you will), just stop and pray with them at that moment. Easier said then done, right?

Recently, the gospels screamed at me about who am I praying for? It’s a great question – who has God given me that I should be praying for (John 17.9)? I’m not one of those people who look for evil and enemy under every rock, but I do believe there are forces that oppose the gospel and those carrying it. I think that Satan (yes I believe in the horned devil) looks for ways to influence the gospel message negatively.

Take for example Luke 22.3-6 where “Satan entered into Judas…to betray Him to them in the absence of a crowd.” Judas was one of the disciples, the enter circle of Jesus, and a big threat. Scripture foretold the event but that doesn’t make it better. I wonder if prayer could have made a difference.

But the difference was made for Peter. In Luke 22.31-32, Jesus says, “Peter! Satan demanded to have you, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers (my paraphrase).” Those are powerful words. Three points:

Who are you praying for that is facing temptation? Someone was praying for Peter when he was facing temptation. The ESV version says Satan was sifting Peter like wheat. Satan was getting down to what was really there and Jesus knew and prayed.
Expect the best, accept the good. Jesus knew Peter would reject him, prayed from him in the temptation, and anticipated him to turn back around. Jesus told Peter when he overcomes to strengthen his fellow disciples. He knew he would be strong for it.
Pray that you don’t fall into temptation. Luke 22.40, Jesus told his disciples (i.e. Peter) to “pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Moments later Jesus would be betrayed by Judas with a kiss.

God has given every believer someone to pray for, someone facing huge decisions. As a believer we should expect the best of those we pray for and accepted the good. If they fail we don’t doubt them or our prayers. Scripture is full of men who were sifted by Satan and good came out of it. I hope someone is praying for me. But as Jesus called his disciples to pray for themselves, I too am praying that I don’t enter into temptation.

Who are you praying for?

Mar

New Type of Church

By Chris 0 Comments

Categories: Faith

Journeys have a mystic and magic that words can’t explain. I’ve been on my own journey for years to find what I’m meant to do. Find who I really am. What matters and what am I willing to do about it? During this passage I have found (Bible) scripture to be helpful. I’ve been reading more than normal – more often. Along the path I have found scriptures that jumped at me about the type of place I want to belong. Where I hope my journey leads. One of those scriptures has been Ezekiel 34. If you’ve read very much of this prophet you find yourself flooded with images and impending judgment – but its here my heart was touched. Let me explain.

Without posting the entire chapter (I would encourage you to read it), I want to highlight one specific image – the prophecy of Christ. Jesus in the gospels didn’t invent the imagery of shepherd and sheep. God introduced this metaphor in Ezekiel. However, maybe you remember when Jesus asked His listeners would a shepherd leave his flock to found the one lost? Regardless if you know the story, Jesus evoked this prophecy in Ezekiel in the mind of any good Jewish boy.

Ezekiel 34 God is proclaiming doom on the leaders of Israel (God’s people) because they put themselves first and neglected the people. God wanted to know why they didn’t care for people first and themselves second (v.2)? They neglected the sick, injured, and lost – leading His people to sin. You can sense the anger of God that His sheep are scattered and no one out looking for them.

In verse 10 God says “I’m coming down on the shepherds and taking my sheep back. They’re fired as shepherds of my sheep. No more shepherds who just feed themselves! I’ll rescue my sheep from their greed. They’re not going to feed off my sheep any longer! (The Message). That makes me want to cry…no more oppressing my people, I’m taking them back! If you’re a shepherd you’re running for the exits, if you’re a sheep you’re found. God says (v.11-16) that His going to search for them scattered aboard and “bring them back to their home country…I’ll go after the lost, I’ll collect the strays, I’ll doctor the injured, and I’ll build up the weak ones and oversee the strong ones so they’re not exploited.”

So where does Jesus come into all this? Well, God says He will appoint one shepherd over them all – His servant David. “He’ll feed them. He’ll be their shepherd. And I, God, will be their God. My servant David will be their prince (v. 23-24). Jesus is the one who fulfilled this prophecy. He is the Good Shepherd…the root of David. I love how it ends, “You are my dear flock, the flock of my pasture, my human flock, And I am your God (v.31).”

All the imagery of this chapter shaped my philosophy of a church. A church that keeps a covenant of peace, who banishes those who would bring harm and not safety, a church that causes blessing (v.25-26). An environment that develops fruit, a foundation (ground) that produces life – a church people feel content and safe to explore God. And in that search for God they’ll realize that He is God when He breaks them out of their slavery (sin) and rescues them from their sin obsession (v.27).

A people of grace – Graceland People – that will not allow any person or leader to exploit and ransack the journey we all engage. People who are apart of such a church will live safe and sound, fearless and free with knowledge that this rediscovered place is truly “their home country.” There’s something about finding home, a place that is rich, lavished with growth -no more living half-starved, no longer taunted by the past (v.28-29)

We have left the old country of sin behind…we entered into the new country of grace – a new life in a new land (Romans 6.3; MSG)

Mar

Barack Obama?

By Chris 2 Comments

Categories: Politics

As a youth, I remember listening to the complaints of the moral ineptitude of Bill Clinton. How could the man disgrace the oval office? Were the Democrats waging a culture war against all things decent in American society? Was this type of personal misconduct the future of the nation? Eight years ago, we cast our vote in a red sea of frustration hoping that a message would be sent to Washington that change was needed. My family is Reagan Republican who seeks to restore the gleam in the country’s then shady eye.

Like most children, when I reached voting age, my parent’s opinion greatly shaped my view of the world. In 2000, I cast my vote for George W. Bush, believing in the humble, compassionate conservatism that would follow Clinton’s economic success while adding a little ethical decency to Capitol Hill. The rest of my Southern Pentecostal family also leaned to the right.

Six years later and horrified at the current state of both the nation and the world, my family is looking left. The fear that George W. used to win back the presidency has begun to scare us in the opposite direction. Yes, the world is a scary place, but the Republicans have been behind the wheel for the past six years. Why should we stay on a course whose direction is headed over a cliff? Slowly, but steadily, I have begun to cherish the civil rights that our country was built. I believe everyone should be treated equal, eliminating poverty is central, fighting global warming is crucial, health care for everyone is inevitable, and I finally support withdrawing troops from Iraq (I believe that the United States should be a model of democracy and not secret torture).

The fog of the Bush presidency is beginning to lift and as our eyes clear, and the majority of the nation begins to look at the facts, we are slowly beginning to see leaders who tell the truth. I actually favored John Edwards before he suspend his campaign for the Presidency. It’s the first time I felt confident about a Democrat. I know all the reasons why Conservative Christians don’t feel as confident – but none of them make sense to me. I believe marriage is between one man and one woman for a lifetime, however I seek a safer world for gays and lesbians. I support life but desire to see equal legislation for the oppressed as there is for the issue of abortion. The crisis of poverty in America (the world for that matter) is a greater problem. No matter the issue I don’t feel the best approach is laws to ban anyone’s freedom – we become slaves to those laws and as a Christian believer I champion freedom.

So where do I stand? I don’t trust McCain because I don’t desire war and he has left me wanting. Barack Obama feels like a leader. A possible glimmer of hope restored seems to be coming back with the wisdom and reason of leaders like Senator Obama. He stands apart from Senator Clinton, who is currently engaged in a desperate campaign to tarnish Barack Obama as a “roll of the dice” who won’t know what to do when that 3am phone call rings in the White House. Does this fear tactic sound familiar? It should, as it is what our country has been experiencing for almost a decade. Clinton may say that she represents change, but her campaign is proof that she will offer more of the same.

But like many of my friends I don’t know if I can support Barack Obama? The jest of it is I don’t know why? He preaches change – I like change, want change. He shares many of the views of J. Edwards and they could become running mates soon. But I still snub the thought of voting for Obama. I think it’s the message of “Hope”? I believe in hope but not in myself or my government. We have to be careful of this human experiment with government and legislation – it has proven to be a fiasco. Various societies and cultures have tried everything from democracy, republicanism, monarchies, dictatorships, socialism, capitalism, communism, to isolationism-all to no avail. None of these have offered any hope for mankind’s survival. The insufficiency and failure of human civilizations and their “hopes” serve only to highlight the fact that mankind is incapable of perfecting government and solving the plagues that come from our inherited sin nature. Because of our failure as a civilization, we cry out for help; but there is only one source of help that can offer true hope-Jesus Christ. Jesus was born into the world for this very purpose.

So I continue to watch and ask the question – can Obama deliver change? His delivered enough messages of hope and should continue. So I linger in the shadow of the crowds in “hope” of the moment when I believe he can carry out true change.

Mar