Help, The Anointing Has Lifted and I Can’t Make It To My Limo!

Note: This is a very rough draft of one chapter of a book I am writing called "For Real, Being Real in an Unreal Church". It is, like the rest of the book, unfinished. I wanted to post this because this is what is going on in my head right now.


Shortly after we were saved, after the glory cloud lifted and we started seeing that even though they were in church, people were still people; we had the chance to see the inner workings of a real life, not too sure how biblical, pastor search committee. During this time we saw a variety of “preachers” come to audition. It was during this time that I realized that a majority of preachers and pastors are full of themselves, especially the self proclaimed bishops, evangelists prophets.

After one such “audition” the prospective pastor, an over the top spitting, screaming towel carrying man o’God called the worship team to play during the altar call. Somewhere between then and the mad rush to Applebee’s this guy ducked out the side door into the office across the hall. As we, the guardians of truth and all that is holy, known as the search committee filed into the office we saw this guy with head in hands looking as if he ran a marathon. When asked how he was his rely was, “The anointing really takes it out of me.” Being a new Christian at the tome, I didn’t read too much into it. But his words stuck with me.

From Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary one form of anointing “was also an act of hospitality (Luke 7:38, 46). It was the custom of the Jews in like manner to anoint themselves with oil, as a means of refreshing or invigorating their bodies (Deut. 28:40; Ruth 3:3; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 104:15, etc.). This custom is continued among the Arabians to the present day. (emphasis mine)


As I look back I realized that this guy was more about his power, and not too much about God. If this man were truly anointed he would have the energy to do what God set before him. I’m pretty sure that hiding from the people after service was not part of God’s plan for this man.

I read an article from J. Lee Grady recently titled Reality Check: The Case For Relational Christianity. The following is an excerpt from that article.


A friend in Alabama recently told me about a preacher who came to his city in unusual style. The man arrived at a church in a limousine and was whisked into a private waiting room behind the stage area. The evangelist gave specific instructions to leave his limousine's engine running (I guess he wasn't concerned about rising gas prices) so that the temperature inside his car would remain constant.

This evangelist then preached to a waiting crowd, took up his own offering and retired to the waiting room for some refreshments. Then he left the church with his entourage without even speaking to the host pastor.
Reality Check: The Case for Relational Christianity June 23, 2009


It was the combination of my encounter with the anointed pastor and J. Lee Grady’s article that gave me the title, and got me to thinking (again) about the absurd heights we place church leaders.

We have created a cult of personality within the church. We have taken 1 Samuel 26:9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?” (New King James Version) and let charlatans and wolves into our churches, all the while living in fear that hail the size of VW Bugs and lightning will hit us if we dare question anything, cause you know there is that part in the bible where David had the chance to kill Saul, but didn’t, so somehow that applies to the new covenant. (There is also 1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15 that really have no connection to today’s modern church) This gives these leaders carte blanche to do whatever they please without any fear of real consequence in this life.

Another thing that happens to these untouchables is sad and regrettably avoidable if there were such a thing as accountability, and that's sin. A result of placing these people into these elevated celebrity status is that they are left alone, to their own devices and eventually end up in some sort of sin that shocks us and makes us recoil in disbelief saying, “But aren’t they God’s anointed?”

We have heard countless stories of pastors having marriage problems, infidelity issues, porn addiction, runaway children, etc. These issues, and countless others have kept leaders isolated felling like they can’t tell anyone they are human and they need help because, after all, aren’t they God’s anointed?

We need, as J. Lee Grady puts it, a reality check

I Got Internet For Now

We have been blessed with an old eMac and decided to hook it up to the internet for giggles. The operating system is ancient. I am looking for an upgrade, a free one. For now we have internet.

I Blog Sometimes..

Once upon a time there was a little man who had a computer. This little man would write inane words that were formed into sentences and paragraphs. Usually it involved a collection of words designed to steal away little bits of irretrievible time.-boy that's ten minutes I'll never get back-
One day the little man's computer died and he was forced to post from his phone. That was fun at first, but it lost it's techie newness quicker than a puppy pooping on the carpet.
So, this little man is once again posting with his thumbs, marvelous invention those thumbs. However, the size of the phone keypad and cumbersome thumbs make posting a chore.
Please help the little man by praying he gets a computer soon. If this continues much longer he may suffer from Uma Thurman thumbs, being able to hitch hike and pull out plunbs, but unable to post anything of substance with a Palm Centro keypad.

I Have Jacked Up My Blog.....

Somehow, I don't know how, I have jacked up my blog. This possibly happened while trying to work on my template with my phone .

I will have access to a computer soon and will be able to remedy this jacked up mess.

later

Yup, we are moving......

Real short post here.

Yes, we are moving. We are moving back to Kansas City. The job prospects in rural Wisconsin are nil, so we must move. I have a couple of leads in Kansas City and hope to start as soon as we get there. It looks as if we will be there by the 26th.

We are sad to be leaving the people in Wisconsin, but at the same time we are excited about the move. Our short time here has been a blessing to us. We have met some wonderful people here and we are blessed to know them. Know that everyone is in our prayers.

So, until we get settled...

Blessings,

Chuck

New Update Posted.....

February update posted at www.familyofscott.blogspot.com.

Blessings,
Chuck

Pray for the President, Pray for LIFE

I am writing this as I sit in my bed and our new President, Barack Obama is dancing the night away. He has a busy day tomorrow, busier than mine. Maybe he can cat nap.

Early on in the campaign I made one thing clear: I was not going to vote for Barack Obama. It was not for any other reason except one. Abortion. Funny thing though, the only reason I voted for McCain was his pro-life stance. What we were faced with this last election was a lesser of two evils. That said, only God gives leaders their authority. Wrap your head around that one.

On many levels this campaign, election and now Presidency has caused many feelings to arise within me. I am overjoyed that we are seeing the monumental milestone of our first African American president. From all of the news coverage it would appear that most people from my generation thought that the likelihood of an African American president in our lifetime was possible, but probably not really going to happen. This may be the only highlight of this new presidency. It’s still too early to tell.

I am sad that these last eight years of work to end abortion can be wiped away in the stroke of an executive pen. It is my prayer that our new president would hear the voice of God and changes his mind before he signs away the lives of millions of the unborn, sparking the first of many God directed policies that will change our nation and the world.

The people spoke and the democratic republic worked. And God gave the people what they asked for. So now is not the time to whine and cry, but to petition God for a change of heart on the issue of abortion for our new president. We need to pray for our president.

This last eight years we have heard Romans 13:1-7 used in connection with George Bush. It was almost a prideful thing to do. It seemed easy for right wing evangelicals to pray for the guy they voted for. How soon we forgot the last time we had a democratic president.

It seems so long ago, but I was saved during the Clinton years. In the churches I attended in those early years I heard a lot of bashing of Bill Clinton with a quick prayer tagged on only because we had to. I can’t remember many, if any prayer meetings for Bill Clinton during that time. If you do that’s great. If you participated, that’s even better. I’m just saying I don’t remember too much respect for the office, much less for Bill Clinton.

We as Christians dropped the ball.

That said, I am challenging all Christians to pray for our new president. This time around we need to be on our faces earnestly praying for Barack Obama. First pray for his safety and that of his family as well. He has a huge burden upon him. Second, pray that he hears the voice of God. Third, and most important, pray that he would have a change of heart in regards to abortion.

Since the election I have had a couple of friends tell me of the prayer burden God has placed on their hearts for Barack Obama. I have felt the same as well, and feel compelled to encourage our churches here to do the same.

Friends, now more than ever, we need to pray. We are at a crossroads. On one hand we can do nothing and in doing so, choose death. On the other hand we can do something, and in doing so, choose LIFE.

We need to pray for not only our leaders, but for our country as well. Never has this prayer seemed more poignant.

Jesus I plead Your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America.

-Amen-

Support This Ministry

Ok, I have wrestled with Blogger and Blogger has won. I wanted to post this very picture to my blog and have it link to The Zoe Foundation. The best I could do was the generic link you see to the right. I will have to rest some and then get onto a strict html diet, and come back to whoop up on this here blog.

Sorry Randy.

If you are thinking about adoption and are living a lifestyle of prayer and fasting I encourage you to check this out. If you have a million dollars or any dollars that you would like to donate to this ministry by all means check it out. I can tell you that this ministry is good soil to sow into. These guys are the real deal and their family are near and dear to many people including the Scott Family.

Stuff That Makes Me Smile.....

This morning was a bit of a rush. As I was getting the kids ready for school Chastity called me from work (she works overnights at an assisted living home for the elderly twice a week) to tell me that she would be working over because her relief called in. No problem, super dad takes the kiddos to school, and waits for Chastity to call for pick up. -I am the taxi driver, sans mohawk, and army jacket-

I pick Chastity up from work and I notice she has a huge grin on her face and she obviosly has something very funny to tell me. Aprrently the other girl that works days has a bit of a foul mouth. This girl, in her lack of language skills has taken the easy route and uses only a few colorful adjetives, and nouns (one of three or four words used as adjetives and nouns). So, in her morning talk with my wife the subject my occupation comes up, where Chastity answers, "He's a pastor."

Chastity said the girl turned white and started to apologize for her "potty mouth".

Chastity told her not to worry, that she had heard worse. -I can attest to that one. And I'll let you in on a little secret, before she was saved she had a mouth that would make old men cry and sailors blush.- The look on the girls face was priceless, according to Chastity.

It remindes me of a post I read the other day. I can't remember the author of the post, so if it is you let me know and I will give you the proper credit and edit it if I butcher it here.

This pastor was eating out with a few other pastors. A couple of tables over a man was throwing four letter words around for everyone to hear. All the other pastors were getting offended, but not this guy (the author of the post)When asked by his peers why he seemed ok with the cussing diner his answer was, "I am not offended by cussing. In fact, when I hear it I get excited because it is coming from a person who more than likely doesn't know Jesus. It's an opportunity. "

It's all how you look at it. Is the glass half empty, or half full?

That girl had absolutly no idea that she was talking to a representitive of the Most High God, when she initially talked to my wife. Now she does, and the opportunities are endless.

It makes me smile....

Things Get Busy Sometimes....

Hey everybody. I just wanted to drop a quick post to assure you that we are indeed alive and well...and busy.

We have been hit hard with snow and subzero temps. In the last two days I have had to jump James' truck twice. He is in need of a battery bad. Especially in the colder weather. If yopu would like to help a brother out you can click his name and that should direct you to his site where you can donate via paypal.

Next week we are going to iron out details for our third church plant in southern Wisconsin. There are about twenty families on board, James is going to scope out an old church building, a Catholic church no less, next week. Things are moving fast, and we can use your prayers.

I have been working on my book this last few days and I am excited to see it finally come about. I hope to be done by the beginning of summer. This all depends on how much more work I will have with all three churches. We'll see.

Well, that's all for now. There is a lot more to cover but I havn't the time to go into it. I hope to put more out soon and even a preview of the first chapter.

Blessings to all!

Meekness Part Deux- My Not So Final Thoughts..

Meekness is obedience to the will of God. I have yet to find those exact words in the bible, however the life of Christ was the example given to us. In Jesus’ life we see what perfect obedience and meekness looks like. He is our example.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 1Peter 2:21 (NKJV)

While on earth, Jesus lived His life in the will of God. Most of us would say something like, “Of course He did. He was the Son of God!” and in some way denying that Jesus was human also and not subject to the same temptations as everyone else. This is, of course, not the case.

When we look at the example Jesus gave while fasting in the wilderness we see a picture of meekness, and obedience and weakness.

Satan didn’t come to Jesus at the start of this fast, when Jesus was full of physical strength. No, like the coward he is, Satan came to Jesus when he had fasted for forty days, and was physically weak. (See Matthew 4:1-11) In His weakness Jesus was obedient to God and used the word of God to fight back. It was in meekness that Jesus restrained from doing what Satan was trying to get him to do. (Turn rocks into bread, throw Himself down, and worship Satan for a little bit of false power) We know that Jesus had command of angels and could have called on them anytime, but he did not. In being meek, Jesus was being obedient to the will of God. Giving us a perfect example of how to live.

Here we see that meekness is indeed strength under control. God does this with us.

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4 (NKJV)

I am going out on a limb here and will probably see a surge of well meaning emails for what I am about to write. Being the Boy Scout that I am, I am prepared.

In recent years we have seen an increase of natural disasters all over the world. Some would argue that this is judgment for our increasing disobedience towards God. Others go to the other extreme to try and prove that God doesn’t exist or doesn’t care about us. The common question with these people is, “Where is God?” or “How can a loving God allow this to happen?”

Interestingly enough, we fail to realize that God, is in control, does in fact love us and in His love for us shows great restraint. Therefore, our question should not be, “ How can a loving God allow this to happen?” and should be, “ Why didn’t God unleash all His power on us?”

You see, the God who set everything into motion, placed all the stars in the sky, the planets in their place and holds everything in His hands, showed restraint, out of loving kindness towards us.

Do I think that these natural disasters are judgments? Yes, in that they are wake up calls to repent for our disobedience. With that said, I also believe that it is a perfect opportunity for us to live out our lives in obedience and meekness, thinking of others before ourselves and ministering to the needs of those affected by these natural disasters. God’s love, motives and plans are multi faceted.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

In God’s meekness we are spared what we deserve. We too can learn that same nature, and as a result show the love of God.

I know that I have but skimmed the surface of meekness. In addition to posting this on my blog I have also posted this on my Myspace page, Facebook and on the Facebook group, Campaign For Real Preaching. I encourage everyone to get into the discussion. If you would like to join the Facebook group you will first have to have a Facebook account. Once you do then shoot me an email at: chuckscot@gmail.com with your name and I will send you an invite via Facebook. Once set up you will be able to discuss this and other topics, as well as post your own articles and links to others as well as video.

Get involved, preach the truth, make a difference.

Blessings,

Chuck