Please, Adopt a Terrorist. . .

You can find many things on the internet; information to support or deny most any claim. Oft times we use it for our own advantages to cry out from out tiny blogs and tell the world how we feel. Once in awhile you can find a little gem, and for me, today is one of those days. One of my friends mentioned a site that let you adopt a terrorist — for prayer! Man, it blew me away. Oft times I pray for the situation in the Middle East, the safety of our troops and the salvation of the Muslims and other terrorists. This site allows you the opportunity to put a name on that prayer.

So, today I have adopted my first terrorist. I am not sure how the international community will handle this, and what lines I may be crossing religiously, but since I don’t need his permission or do I have to feed and clothe the guy, the process was pretty easy. The site lets you scroll through the profiles of terrorists and you can post a prayer for them.

My terrorist is Abd al-Aziz Awda. He kind of reminded me of Paul, so I will pray for him in that direction: That God would knock him off his horse that we would lead many to the cross. Here’s his profile:

Role: Palestinian Islamic Jihad Religious Leader

Status: At-Large

Bio: Born December 20, 1950, in the Gaza Strip next to the world’s largest Palestinian refugee camp, Awda (aka Sheik Odeh) co-founded the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in the 1970s as a branch

of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. He studied Arab and Islamic studies at a university in Cairo, and has grown to become known as the PIJ’s spiritual leader. Presumed to be operating from the PIJ’s current headquarters near Damascus, Awda orchestrates bombings, murders, extortions, and money laundering.

Now, go take a minute and adopt your own. We need to be praying for their salvation, and God’s mercy on them.

- mooney

Homosexual Ads: Pushing a product or an agenda?

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I am a Christian; if this is your first time, now you know. Today I opened my Inbox to find an email with an Ad for Heinz Deli Mayo. (The email is from the AFA which I subscribe to.) The email was titled: Heinz ad pushes gay marriage and family, features homosexual kissing. You can watch the ad if you like:

I can’t help but ask myself the question, “What is the purpose of this ad? Is Heinz pushing a product, or an agenda?” To answer this question, I also had to ask, “Would this have the same impact if it were made with a hetro couple?” The only conclusion is that they are making a public statement in their support for the gay family. (You can read how I feel about this lifestyle in a previous post)

Whether you support homosexuality as a corporation or not, I guess that is for the Board and stockholders to vote on. Some people will boycott Heinz, myself NOT included, and email them about how outrageous it is to show this on TV. But let’s face it, we live in a world of diverse opinion and moral belief. It’s going to happen. Heinz has since pulled the ad, but I think with a little more discretion, they could have gotten their point across and kept the commercial in circulation. I think had they clipped the kiss at the end, everyone would have gotten the idea.

Is this where advertising is going? Will the next decade be consumed with political and moral statements made with a quick reference to the product? I don’t think so, but if companies continue in this, my advise is to use a little more discretion. Homosexuals don’t like being told they are wrong any more than Christians like being told they are. So in the name of the “tolerance” that the liberal media seems to glorify as their position, try to be a little more tolerant of those who believe opposite your view. Don’t throw kissing men in my face, and I’ll try not to throw a Bible in yours.

- mooney

Florida Outouring, A Healing Revival in America. Go get Some!

In case you are not aware, a healing revival has hit the American shore via a small church in Lakeland, Florida. It started April 2 when evangelist Todd Bentley of FreshFire ministries came to speak at a revival meeting. Sixty-eight days later the revival is still going and had to move to a tent that seats 8,000 plus. CBS has a great article on it. Also they have set up their own website at http://floridaoutpouring.com/

Beth and I have been watching most nights on God TV at my in-laws or online. Wow. They have seen healing of blindness, deafness, cancer, crushed bones, skin disease and many others I cannot recall. There have also been 20 accounts of people being prayed for and raised from the dead. I love it. I know many are skeptical of what is going on, and I believe discernment is necessary, but what are your thoughts?

Here is a clip if you haven’t seen any of it.

Help! I’m lost!

This Sunday, I was listening to the preacher, and he was talking through the first few chapters in Genesis. When he got to the part about Adam and Eve eating the fruit, he told a quick story. I have heard it before. This version was of an older farm hand named Moses who was chopping out a tree stump. The ranch owner walked by while Moses was complaining that all his hard work was Adam’s fault. “If he’d of just stayed away from that tree, we’d all have been better off.”

At this, the ranch owner relieved him of all his duties. “You can do anything you like on the ranch. Every room is open to you and all I have is yours. Only one thing, there is a box on the mantle, don’t open it.”

Moses lived the high life for a while, but eventually the thought of this box started to creep into his mind. After some time, Moses eventually could not restrain himself any longer and he opened it. Inside lay a note that read, “Get back to work Moses. You’re no better than he was.”

It’s a good story with a great point. It got me thinking about something that has been running through my mind for quite some time.

Why do people, myself included, have such a problem taking responsibility for our lives? Old Moses was blaming Adam for his troubles, when deep inside, he was dealing with the same root issues as. It’s almost like a majority of Christianity believes we lost something when Adam took a bite of the forbidden fruit. I just can’t see it. You could go on about position, relationship, fellowship, etcetera, and how it all changed, but I don’t believe we lost anything. We couldn’t have, because to lose something, you first have to possess it.

I believe that it is God who lost out in the deal. We are his creation, and through no fault of His own, we have broken ties with Him. There is another story, a parable of Jesus, that relates what happened very well; the prodigal son. If you are not familiar with it, you can read the details in Luke 15.

Basically, a son asks his father for his inheritance so that he can make his own way with it. He gets a place in the city and parties it up until his money is gone. His friends all turn on him and the only job he can find is cleaning after pigs. He decides that he will go home and be a servant at his dad’s house. While he is on the road to his dad’s house, still a ways off, his dad sees him coming down the road. The father runs to him and embraces him. His son was home.

I have heard many different interpretations of this, and some great sermons bringing out different points. The main point, mentioned twice in the story, is that the son was lost, but now is found: was dead but is now alive. It was not at any part of the story about the son losing something. He never had anything of himself. The money and the freedom to spend it came from his father. The son was irresponsible with the gift he was given, but never was it his loss, it was the fathers. And it was not the father’s fault that the inheritance was lost.

Yes, as a result of Adam taking the great gift he was given and casting it aside for his own satisfaction, we are all now lost sons, but we have not lost anything. My troubles are the product of my own decisions, not Adam’s. The responsibility lies solely with me. One day when I stand before God, I will not be able to say, “Sorry I was a lying, blaspheming, adulterous murder. It was Adam’s fault for eating the fruit.” He would just look at me, and convict me with my own words. I am what I am because I choose to be so. My life is the result of my own decisions: good or bad.

The Father longs for our relationship with Him to be restored; he wants us to come home. The great thing about returning home is that something deep inside already knows the way. So many times I have said the words, “God come to me,” all the while He is saying, “Just come home, I am waiting.” The right of passage has been secured through His son Jesus, and when we do finally come to the end of our own selfish ambitions to make the decision to return to Him, He embraces us with the words, “My son was lost, but now is found: was dead but is now alive.”

peace,

- mooney

Human Evolution Has Reached Its Peak - Part 2

Well, where do I start? First, let me say that the last post was mostly satirical. The purpose of it was to see what some people might say about a possible end to evolution in humans (if we are even evolving). I thought I might get a few different types of replies, but apparently only a few people of the many who read this post left a comment.

I am not a scientist and have no degrees even remotely connected to the sciences, origin of the species, or the human genome; but I do have the power of observation and a love of finding the truth. Maybe what I say next will just prove my ignorance even further.

It is odd to me to think that if one accepts evolution as the process by which man is the result of millions, possibly billions of years of changing from a single celled organism into what we are today, that they think we cannot move on to some other type or variety other than what we are today. I mean, at some point in the process, all species branched out from their parent in some fashion. From fish to crawler, from gills to lungs, from walking to flying, at some point a major change would have had to take place and survived. My point in brining up the story of young Lakshmi Tatma was to ask the question, would social prejudice and scientific or moral process interfere with further evolution in humans if it meant us taking on a new form?

I believe, as is evident, that Lakshmi’s extra limbs are a mutation, and doctors are correct to remove them if she chooses. However, those who believe in evolution have to stop and ask the question, “Are we stopping further evolution because her limbs are not socially acceptable?” And if the answer to this question is yes, would that elimination of the next evolutionary step be considered survival of the fittest, or survival of the moral and scientific majority?

The fact that this question (no matter how legitimate) can be asked is evidence that there is a difference between man and animal. Since there is this difference, that we can contemplate things outside of our own needs, or discuss the relevance of a moral code or origin of life, I ask what made the difference? Is it a change in our genetic coding, or was it programmed to be that way from the beginning? If we were made with a distinct, intentional, intelligent design, was it for a purpose?

I believe in the six day creation of the world and life, as laid out in Genesis, so I answer those questions with God (Jehovah), programmed to be that way from the beginning, and yes.

- chris mooney

Human Evolution Has Reached Its Peak

It’s a pretty bold statement, I know, but human evolution (if there were such a thing) has reached its peak. We can no longer change into anything else or add improved functionality to our existing form. We will forever walk on two legs, with two arms, eyes, ears, a nose, and a mouth. Pretty boring huh? How did I come to this conclusion? Observation on human pride. We simply will not allow it to happen.

In a recent article in The Telegraph, it was reported that an eight-limbed girl in India had the extra peripheral appendages removed, a surgery that took thirty doctors almost forty hours to complete.

My question is, was this a deformity, or possibly the next step in human evolution? I would have to agree with the second option here.

This looks to me like an attempt at the human genome trying to create a more productive homosapien. With a couple extra arms, imagine how productive we could be? I could work with one keyboard while writing a novel on a separate one. Or imagine what it could mean for manufacturers with assembly line workers. They could cut their workforce while increasing production. A hair stylist could work on multiple clients and a surgeon could hold the clamp while making the incision. Accountants could count beans and rice at the same time.

Unfortunately for the rest of us, a group of surgeons destroyed this link to the next human super-species. The doctors came up with an awful sounding diagnosis, stating that the extra limbs were the result of a “headless parasitic twin.” Poor Lakshmi Tatma, denied greatness because scientist and possibly government were afraid this new breed of humans would take over as the dominant species of future generations.

What new discoveries and accomplishments could have been made by these new eight-limbed humans? The world will never know. We’re too afraid of anything different than our “norm” to allow another evolutionary step to occur. And on a side note, this is why Indian doctors are better than most American doctors: they have much cooler stuff to work on (maybe it’s because a billion people live there).

Later,

- chris mooney

Don’t Be So Heavenly Minded That You’re No Earthly Good?

I grew up in Assemblies of God and Pentecostal churches and also attended Baptist church for several years. In each of those denominations I have heard countless warnings of this, “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good. The way it was portrayed to me was as a caution to not be so caught up in church “stuff” that I miss doing what God wanted me to do in life. Somehow this made sense to me. I could see that spending all my time in Bible study and prayer could cause me to stay in my little Jesus bubble and cut me off from contact with the world that Jesus commanded that we share the good news with.

Over the past several years, I have to disagree with this mentality; that it is possible to be too heavenly minded that I would be no earthly good. What changed my mind? I can think of no more heavenly minded individual that walked this planet than Jesus Christ. Last I checked, He changed the course of history and was able to minister to most he came in contact with. Whether it was healing, or freedom from the bondage of sin that He gave people, there was no doubt where His passion originated from.

It came from keeping His eyes continually on the Father and only doing what He was instructed to do . See, He was so in tune with heaven, that He could not help but be “earthy good,” because the heart of God is for all mankind to be saved.

Maybe it’s that our definition of “heavenly minded” is incorrect. We (Christendom) have woven into this term the idea that being heavenly minded is praying and studying 24/7, going to Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and whatever other night church programs or retreats that we can handle. Instead we should follow the example of the One who we claim to emulate.

Christ’s idea of “heavenly minded” is having intimate relationship with God. Only when this relationship is established can He put something deep inside us that we cannot stop. As we surrender our will to His, our nature becomes in sync with His heart in that it becomes our desire that none should perish. So this deep groaning in our heart calls us out to minister to the needs of the world. Whether it be providing food, money, a helping hand, or simply an ear to listen, our nature has to be one of a willing servant to those in need.

Recently Americn Idol has started using their popularity as a platform to raise money for many different charitable endeavors. They call it Idol Gives Back. It brought to mind Matthew 25, where Jesus is giving a picture of Judgement Day. Some religious people are sent to hell with the words, “I never knew you,” while others were invited to join God in heaven. The difference? <em>”For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. . . I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”</em>

So I ask myself, who is being more heavenly minded?

On (My)Human Nature

When I think of of who I am, and what I’ve done in my life ,whether good or bad, I am reminded of the words, “what is man that You [God] are mindful of him [me].” With all of my imperfections and, at times, outright rebellion, the Creator of all that is and will be has chosen me to help carry His message of love, faith, and hope. It’s humbling.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about my real human nature. As I was reading the account of the crucifiction, being Easter and all, and something new stood out to me. Our nature is not to want a Savior, but to [try to] be our own.

Check it. Jesus is on the cross. People, including the chief priests and elders, all around were yelling at him, ” ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!’ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ‘

Here is man, in all his “glory”, yelling at the Savior to save Himself. Why were they yelling this? Because they were projecting on him what they would do. If they were in his position with all that power, they would save themselves. Here is prideful man, instead of pleading, “What can we do to be saved?” they can only resort to their nature and think in terms of temporal physical survival instead of their eternal spiritual wellbeing.

This man, who some said was the Messiah, come to free Israel and crush their enemies, with all power to remove Himself and call down a legion of angels to fight on his behalf, chose to humble Himself and give His life in place of ours. That is His nature: love.

That is what I long for, more of him, and less of me.

Well, some words to think on,

- mooney