Casting Stones With Sin

I logged onto Facebook this morning and happened to glance at some vaguely interesting news that apparantly Ellen Degeneres was a guest judge on American Idol. I love Simon Cowell but that news didn't really bother me. It was a comment below that did and went something like this;

"Ellen DeGeneres is a SEXUAL PERVERT".

The individual went on to comment on how her surname seemed appropriate because she is indeed "degenerate". To be fair the person did finish by saying; "Having said that there for the grace of God go I". Well I found that the only amusing thing in the comment. The person leaving the comment was male. So it truly would be unfortunate if he became a lesbian and must, I guess, be attributed to God's grace that he does not.

A few caveats. I don't know this person (and don't have much of a desire to). This person (I am guessing) is probably a Christian but I don't know that. I am guessing that this comment is aimed at DeGeneres' sexual orientation but I don't know that.

But as you may guess by now - this comment upset me. To put it mildly. Once again the Christians are putting sexual orientation on a pedestal and seeing it as "the" worst sin. If this individual leaving this comment is a man then I would hazard a guess at some point he has lusted after a woman who is not his wife (or a man maybe ....). Therefore if we are consistent with the teaching of Jesus, he has committed adultery in his heart and certainly should be considering dealing with his sin by plucking his eyes out.

So why he is really any better than DeGeneres'? Why are any of us better than DeGeneres'? Why does her sexuality in this person's view disqualify her from a secular TV show? I would hazard a guess that the other American Idol judges just may partake in sexual practices that probably also would qualify as "perverted" or "deviant" in his eyes - such as sex outside of marriage? Or is it really homosexuality that fits the criteria?

I love Jesus Christ so much.

When a prostitute was dragged to Jesus to be condemned (and I wonder if this person would be included in that crowd doing the dragging) His response was classic. He did not defend the woman's sin. He did not throw a stone and sign her death warrant (as the Law demanded). He started simply writing in the sand and when He did finally say something, it was this;

"He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

C H Spurgeon in a wonderful sermon on the Song of Solomon said this;

"The peril of self complacency increases in precisely the same ratio as the zeal of proselytising. When counselling others, you think yourself wise. When warning others, you feel yourself safe. When judging others, you suppose yourself above suspicion".

Ellen DeGeneres may indeed be "dead in her trespasses and sin" - but a comment like this really isn't going to make her wonder about her need for a gospel of grace. It's high time we all started listening to the words of Jesus Christ and dropping our stones where we found them and going home.

Men and Women of Influence!

This has been an interesting blog post in coming. It started when I was puffing away on the treadmill wishing that the 50 minute mark would come quickly! I was watching the National Television Awards on the television and they gave an award to Simon Cowell got an award for his services to television. I actually found it quite inspiring and found myself wondering as I sweated what qualities he possesses to get to where he did. So that started my brain whirring.

Then today I was in Waterstones (ironically looking at self-help books ... more on that later as to why I've brought Joel Osteen's "Become a Better You"!!) and I happened to notice a small booklet called: "Power List 2008 - 100 Most Influential Black People UK". Out of interest I flipped through it and noticed that two pastors are included in the list - one of which is Matthew Ashimolowo - the senior pastor at the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in London. Agree or disagree with his theology, his methods - the fact remains that in a largely secular UK society, a panel of judges decided that he should be included on that list.

I wondered when the list of the 100 Most Influential People comes out - will there be any white pastors included on it? Please don't read anything into that other than what it reads. God is moving mightily among the black churches in the United Kingdom and I LOVE that! I love it when God's moving anywhere. I'm not so sure about other churches - certainly to be included in any lists of influence in the nation. Maybe I stand to be corrected.

It's interesting that my last couple of posts have been about "words". I've thought about the word; "Frustration" and I have thought about "Perspective". And here's the word "Influence". What does it mean?

"... the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command ... the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways".

It's interesting. The men and women I've mentioned - Simon Cowell and Matthew Ashimolowo among others - have come to places of influence and I guess I always assumed they got there through sheer gut and determination. This definition seems to suggest that there is an element of attaining that place by almost accident! Those of us who are Christians and believe in a supernatural God who manifests in time and space can believe differently - that God positions His men and women down throughout the ages to be in places of influence.

Why are you bothering discussing all this, Dan - you may ask? Because my vision - my dream - my heart's desire - is that Jesus Christ should be made famous around the world. From Hong Kong to San Fransisco. From the North Pole to the South Pole. From London to Cape Town. In every town! In every city! In every nation! You get the idea ...

I'm tired of my God being dished! I walked through the religious section in Waterstones and frankly was pretty horrified. As you will see from the photo - the titles of the books aren't very faith inspiring! And I am sick of it. I want church pastors, apostles, prophets and evangelists to start dominating the lists of the 100 Most Influential People. I read that Bishop T D Jakes has the ear of President George Bush. And quite right too! Church leaders should be having the ears of leaders of nations and giving proper advice. That's influence!

Now I may have caused some shock by mentioning that I've brought Joel Osteen's "Become a Better You". I know Osteen is widely condemned by the evangelical front. To be honest I haven't really bothered to find out why. I wanted to read his book for myself. The reason I brought it was because I've made no secret of the fact that I'm really struggling with depression at the moment and some self-harm. There are a multitude of books out there in the "self-help" section that seem very cozy and cuddly. The evangelical choice of books seem remarkably quiet on mental health. But books like Joel Osteen and T D Jakes seem to be different. They are full of vision, passion, hope and destiny! And that's what I need to read right now. I am sure I will post some comments later!

That was an aside to this post. Influence ... I think on reflection it's something that God will give to those who are hungry and who are ready and who are committed for His glory alone. Who's interests are far above themselves and their own personal gain and fulfilment. Who's goals are more than winning awards for their own hard work or for speaking on conference platforms and receiving the applause of men - but who's single-minded focus (a reason I love Rob Rufus so much) is the glory and manifest Presence of God alone sweeping the globe.

That's what I want! Anyone join me?

When You Believe ...

It's interesting how a kind of secular song and a secular TV personality have both been used by God to speak to me in the last couple of days! I've been taking the concept of God speaking through dreams a lot more seriously since I listened to Kylie and Ryan Rufus's excellent sermon; "Unlocking Your Ability To Hear God Through Dreams". So the night before last I had quite an odd dream but I have been thinking about it and feel God was trying to say something through it. Here's what I saw;

"I was standing in the background to basically what was the talent show; "Britain's Got Talent" and Simon Cowell was of course on the judging panel. Only I could only see Simon there. Suddenly a little baby appeared that I knew without a doubt was his son! Simon Cowell seemed as amazed as everyone else in the room and it seemed that it was some sort of miracle. So everyone was scrambling for their phones to try and video whatever this baby was going to do but I suddenly had my phone out and was recording".

So a couple of things came to my mind and I read Jim Goll's book which had some useful insights. I think I saw Simon Cowell as representative of God. This isn't particularly a good thing because it suggests that despite months of listening to Rob's teaching on grace I still see God as a kind of "judge" who needs to be impressed with me! But the baby seems to represent the new move of God - the new atmosphere that God is bringing into the earth at this hour. Lakeland in Florida and the Glory Encounters Conference are just two examples of this. I am seeing miracles and signs and wonders that I NEVER thought I would before!

And what I felt God say was that the calling He has on me at the moment is to record what I see. As C H Spurgeon put it; "Write down what you see". I don't know why. I would much prefer to be moving in signs and wonders and miracles but as Kaye Beyer said - be faithful in what you are doing and God will provide a ministry for you. So to the best of my ability I will go on watching eagerly what happens in Hong Kong and in Florida and in Canada and in London and in Brighton and I will write down what I see.

The second thing that happened was that I was debating with myself how best to transcribe Rob's sermon from last Sunday; "Invading the Impossible - Part 14 - Condemning Condemnation". The first 40 minutes virtually of the sermon are him reading out testimonies from people over the world and I didn't intend to bother transcribing it. I was just going to type out the last ten minutes or so of Rob teaching on "Condemnation" - because it truly was masterful. However I was driving to work last night and this song came on my IPOD quite randomly;



And all the hurt and disappointment began to flow through me as I drove that I have yet to see miracles and signs and wonders and the heavy manifest Presence of God break out here in Birmingham where I live. Do I have to spend my life travelling to places like Hong Kong or Florida? Why can't there be a portal of glory HERE?! I felt God apply this song so gently and fatherly and tenderly to my spirit. KEEP believing! KEEP looking! KEEP hungry! KEEP trusting! KEEP longing! It's coming!

So I guess I dedicate this song to those of you who are like me. You're not seeing the full blast of glory yet! The gold dust and the angel feathers and the gems and all the sorts of wonderful things that I am hearing about in these testimonies that Rob was reading. And I knew without a shadow of doubt that I should type the whole sermon out in it's entirety. Yes it's not Rob preaching - but these testimonies are faith-building and they are reminding us of what can be! And what will be! I dread - I utterly dread - coming to a point where I adapt my theology to cessationism simply because "I'm not seeing it". So it will be coming soon .... here!

THIS is why I'm a Paediatric Nurse!!

Wow ... sorry this has got absolutely nothing to do with my usual blogging other than to wonder at the glory of God's creation. I didn't watch the "Britain's Got Talent" tv show but I heard about Connie - the six year old girl - who wowed the audience. Tonight was the first time I have seen the clip on You-Tube and I have no shame in confessing that I had floods of tears running down my face! What an extraordinary gift! What an extraordinary girl! I so pray that she doesn't get snatched up and tarnished by the world of commerce. Enjoy ...



And here she is in the final.