The Prosperity Gospel
http://www.vimeo.com/7196941This is why I hate those who preach the prosperity gospel.
These so-called evangelists, such as Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and T.D. Jakes, are preaching a false gospel. The result? Thousands are being misled and they are choosing to think that prosperity, wealth, and money is the Savior.
This is what American Christianity has done.
This makes me sick.
Whoever said that the evidence of faith is wealth, health, and prosperity. Even Jesus came as a poor servant! Why would the gospel be about wealth if Jesus lived directly opposed to what Prosperity Pastors preach!
Hopefully I'm not coming off too hard, but I hate seeing people spit on the message of the gospel.
From the Top
Tonight, I went to the NC State Fair. While there, I ate one of the finest things on this side of heaven, a Fried Milky Way. It was heavenly. And I don't just throw that word around. That candy bar was incredible.
But as I went through the pictures that were taken, I found one that I thought was pretty cool, because of it's meaning for people like you and me.
You see, too many times, we are all too often distracted and ultimately discouraged by temporary things, and these things may even be good things, like:
wanting to make good grades in school, desiring success in our career, wanting to make money to provide for ourselves and our families, reading a lot of Christian books in order to grow in our faith, and countless others.
But what were to happen if, for one day,
or
one hour.
or
one minute.
Stopped everything.
And regained perspective on life. What if we were to be lifted to a new level with a fresh perspective? What if we draw ourselves out of our ordinary lives? What will we see? What will you see?
Take a new perspective once in a while. Step out of the busy, and possibly good, life you lead. Look at life through the eyes of God and see what happens. You may be surprised at what God has done. And at what He's doing.
As Reality Sets In
As reality sets in, I realized that I have am blessed beyond what I can count.
It took place at the corner of an intersection. All day today, I had been living in luxury compared to the rest of the world.
I went to lunch today at the mall, and had the option of what to eat, unlike many, who don't have the option of what to eat, much less food to eat.
I went to see a movie, which many, especially in these tough times, can't even get around to doing because of finances. 
I used my iPhone to access facebook and twitter, and then reality set in. At the corner of the intersection was a woman who had a sign with her, which was written along the lines of,
I am homeless, and I have three children. Please help me by donating whatever you can.
Well, I didn't have any money, only a credit card, so I prayed for her and then drove off.
Too many times, we (and I speak to myself in the same sense) tend to look to much at something so appealing to the eyes, so appealing to our body, that we miss what is really going on in life.
I don't want to come down hard on anyone, because I am so guilty of this all the time, but take time today to notice the little things in life. And appreciate the great things that you are given. It may be your last day here on earth. You never know! So, hopefully for you, reality has set in, and there is something larger out there for you. Remember, in your busy life, that you have purpose, and pray to God that you can have the faith it takes to accomplish much for the Kingdom.
I Hate Walls
(This is a guest post by Adam Herod of Merge Worship. Adam is a husband, dad, Christ follower, worship Pastor in Raleigh, NC and one who enjoy's writing songs and learning from others.)
The title of this post won't be a shock to those who know me. I'm not a fan of walls, rules, consequences (for me...big believer in them for others), concrete and stiff mattresses. The only things I really like being impenetrable are my house, car and the airplane I'm flying in.
*DISCLAIMER* I'm very thankful for the heritage that I've been given and the passion I was trained in to study scripture, believe in a God who is close to us and to treasure His truth and presence.
With that said, I grew up in a denomination that, at the time, was pretty rigid. Don't wear jewelry. Don't wear wedding rings. Don't wear shorts. Don't. Don't. Don't. In some ways I think we could have played Tesla's "Signs" in a worship service and people would've been into it.
At my first church job I had a 16 year old ask me in all seriousness; "Baptists aren't going to heaven, right?". (Don't worry @EdStetzer I told him you guys were golden. Like Ed ever reads this thing:-) I was like WHAT?!?!? I think that kind of upbringing had something to do with my disdain for concrete.
Don't get me wrong. I believe in absolute truth. I believe Jesus is the only way anyone gets to know God and gain eternal life. I'm not talking about walls of divine truth or clear guidelines for holy living.
I hate the walls we make. Walls of denomination. Walls of worship styles. Walls of race. Walls of "if everyone else was just more like me". And here's why...
I went to a conference that was filled with hardcore reformed speakers and attended widely by students at a local Southern Baptist Seminary. I would not consider myself reformed, didn't go to seminary and am a charismatic believer. But I learned a TON! I was inspired by the commitment to the Word, to Jesus and to His Church. I had God reveal things in my heart that needed to be repented of and I had my dedication to His purposes strengthened. I know friends that would not have gone because of the walls they've erected in their hearts.
I'm in no way saying "don't belong to a denomination" or "don't ascribe to a certain stream of theology". Don't get it twisted. I get that we all have a place of deep belonging, but I also understand that there is a greater Body beyond the one I meet with on a weekly basis. And here's the real deal. I believe God is HUGE. Bigger than our walls. So broad that our walls can't contain Him and by hemming ourselves in we diminish a full picture of who He is.
I'm not saying embrace every teaching under the sun, but I am saying embrace every brother and sister. The reason I hate walls is because I believe my particular outlook on life, minuscule understanding of God and personal worship preferences can't contain the whole of the greatness of our God and that other people, with other viewpoints can help me see Him more clearly. I'm on a lifelong pursuit to know Him in "the fellowship of His sufferings and the power of His resurrection" and I believe that pursuit shouldn't be restricted by walls that He didn't put up.
How can you reach beyond your own walls and learn from someone else?