S.O.S.?

Blog Action Day 2009—Climate Change/Global Warming

I am looking at the subject of climate change/global warming as a fact. However I am not in agreement with most who are of the opinion that the warming is a result of something taking place in the atmosphere.

It has been well documented that the planet is getting warmer but the rub is it’s cause. As a follower of Jesus Christ I put considerable stock in the validity of scripture. I do not place it on the pedestal of equality with God but scripture has proven it’s self to hold the answers to many of life's mysteries.

I base my belief on scripture. First of all from most Christians perspective Heaven is up and hell is down. And I submit the scripture agrees with those conclusions. With that in mind, I am to the opinion that the warming is taking place from the earths core rather than some ozone failure or whatever the other atmosphere augments may be.

The first mention of “hell” in scripture is very clear as to its affect on the planet. I present:   Deuteronomy 32:22 “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.”

As more and more evil prevails on earth the place of eternal punishment has to be getting bigger to accommodate those who choose it as their eternal destination. On that note I give you:  Isaiah 5:14 “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure:”

Therefore I have come to this conclusion: as hell, a place of fire, enlarges it’s self it must produce more heat and thus climate change/global warming.

The solution is end evil and allow good to reign on the earth. To do that one must, Love God and his fellow man. If that could happen, perhaps, an angry God would be satisfied and hell would have to shut it’s mouth.

By the way this will happen on the New Earth. What is sad is it will be viewed from two opposite perspectives, from the New Earth sent down from heaven by God Himself or this earth which will be a ball of fire tumbling and falling through space for all eternity. This will be the ultimate climate change/global warming.

One is life with God the other is described as the second death, life without God. Choices, choices, choices. Receive the gift of God…eternal life, reject the gift of God…eternal death. There is more at stake than our planet. We are being given an object lesson from which to learn and choose.

Babu Lonnie

Think About This

I am convinced the only way to receive eternal life is for the Holy Spirit to come and live in you. But I have discovered that there are people who are following Jesus to the best of their knowledge but do not have eternal life.

We discussed this Sunday in our gathering. There is an account given of twelvedisciple of Jesus who had been following His teaching and lifestyle for about twenty years before they were, what we today call born again.

These men had been baptized unto Johns baptism, which was a baptism of repentance. The word for repentance means to change the mind or way of thinking. So their MIND was changed about who Jesus was and they believed. The word believe is taken from the same Greek word as "faith", which means to be convinced of a truth. So their mind had been changed and the were convinced of the coming one John proclaimed and went about their lives telling others of Jesus.

But there was a problem. The same problem a large portion of what we call the church is dealing with today. Finally someone shows up to add the rest of the story. It was Paul and the story I'm talking about is found in Acts 19:1-7. Paul asks a very important question in verse 2. He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? There response, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.  

We who have a traditional pentecostal background have made this what we called a second definite work of grace or the baptism in the Holy Ghost. I submit to you for your consideration that this is the intimate relationship of receiving new life when the Holy Ghost draws, comes in and grants eternal life. You may ask what about the tongue and prophecy mentioned here. I am so glad you noticed that. When you become the house God lives in rather than one that only has advertisements of Him on the outside you will receive a tongue that will give powerful witness to the advertising we've been trying to do and we will be able to speak under divine inspiration.

Just because you've had  change of mind don't mean you've had a change of heart. Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? Now you've heard!!! 

Babu Lonnie 

How Sad

I come from a "pentecostal" background but I do not agree with a majority of those who claim to be pentecostal. Mainly because they don't really know what the pentecostal experience they allude to actually is. They only know what they have been taught by their particular branch of Christianity and miss what scripture and the voice of God says. 

I heard a local "Christian" radio talk show this morning claim there are six hundred million Pentecostals around the world today. I cannot imagine how God feels about that. He took the original 120 Pentecostals and shook the world. It appears to me that we aren't making much of an impact with those 600,000,000 powerful witnesses. Something must be wrong.

The divisiveness in the body of Christ and especially the "Pentecostals" is ciphering off what little power we actually have retained. It is in unity that God manifests Himself and that plan has not changed. Because of the divided state of the body of Christ we are grasping at spiritual straws to compensate for our lack of "witness" unto Him. We have developed schemes and scams, hype and "spiritual manifestations" to bring in the crowds to pay mortgages, salaries and utilities. We are in a protecting our own kingdom mode instead of promoting the kingdom of God.

We "pentecostal" have become the leaders of the movement that is leading people somewhere God may not be. We need to stop trying to lead and start lifting up Jesus and allow Him to draw all men unto himself. 600,000,000??? How Sad!!!

Just Thinkin,

Babu Lonnie

I'm Losing

I am discovering little by little that I'm becoming one of the biggest losers on the planet. And my losses seemed to be the result of my radical view of being a follower of Jesus. For the first time in my life I am at the point of giving all to be the true follower of Jesus. I mean giving all, Not just talking about it or being willing to sacrifice all that I have and all that I am but actually being the sacrifice that God has invited me to be. 

I am convinced I can no longer compromise what I know God is speaking to me. It is a simple message that very few, especially Americans, want to hear. Here's the message..."Come out from among them and be ye separate says the Lord". We have become so ingrained and entrenched with them that it has become difficult to tell us from them. We have surrounded ourselves with the comfort and safety of them and forget why we are on earth. If you are a follower of Jesus and have forgotten why you're here let me remind you. We are here to present a new kingdom that is different from any of the kingdoms of this world. A new style of living life, a new system of power, a new mode of operation and the display of new life.

It all sounds good on paper, and that is where most of us have left being a follower of Jesus, but it is another thing to actually live the life. It will cost you everything. Are you and I really ready to lose it all in order to gain everything?

THE KINGDOM OF GOD...HELP WANTED: full time work only, all part time help positions have already been filled.

Babu Lonnie

Forgive Me Father For I Have Missed The Mark

Perhaps I have missed "the message" of Christianity. The message that must be shared is The Kingdom of God is at hand. I have been taught that all I am about is the message of life after death when in fact He offers life now. It is available for my choosing. I spent over thirty years of my life getting people ready for death when I should have been teaching them to live. Dying seems to take care of it's self but this living thing is another story altogether.

I have seemingly perverted the life that He offers now into some fantasy land that is similar toThe Wizard of Oz. I have been trying to fix up and change what is of the kingdoms of the world and forget we are about displaying NEW. Let me explain...christians spend billions in currency and hours of prayer for the healing and pampering of their bodies when we are guaranteed NEW bodies. We are being told we aren't what God wants us to be if we are not raising the dead, when we are guaranteed a NEW life after this one is done. We kill ourselves and others trying to gain when we are guaranteed more than enough if we display a NEW system of giving all. We are so concerned and consumed with the ecology and politics of this earth when we are guaranteed a NEW earth where His Kingdom will reign forever.

All this NEWNESS is to be displayed by us here and now by lifting Him up in sickness and in health, in riches and poverty, in perilous times and good times, in political agreement and disagreement and even death.

The Kingdom of God is opposed to the kingdoms of this world, I am not here to fix things...I am here to present NEW. An entirely NEW system of operation that will boggle the minds of those who see His Kingdom in action through me. The Kingdom of God has only one boundary, the flesh that houses God.

Takin off the bandages and letting God in,

Babu Lonnie

Is something wrong?

If Sunday is supposed to be our day of rest, why am I always so tired at the end of the day?

Me, Babu Lonnie

Just thinkin.....

What we know, is it truth?

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. This is one of the most quoted verses by the modern American church. We have spread the gospel of this verse around the world. It is unfortunate that this is the major message we have proclaimed.

We have made this verse to actually say what we want it to mean. Our translation of that verse says to those who hear, And we know that GOOD is working out from all the things that are happeningin our lives, well to those of us who are saying we are His special people who know His purpose.

We have preached a gospel that leads people to believe that everything that happens in our lives will produce good that we can see right now and that just isn't true. Thing are working for good. For good is a lot different from is good.

We've made the good a right now experience and have not given a true picture of that 28th verse of Romans chapter 8. You must read the verses preceding this verse like Romans 8:24 For we are saved (this is not eternal life, this is being protected, provided for here and now) by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. I am discovering that most of the good that has resulted from the things in my life I didn't see while they were being worked out by the Spirit. Had I believed this verse the way we have interpreted it I would have given up and not seen the same results as I worked and waited through the things working in my life. 

I don't have to have it now, I can wait till the Spirit of God is finished working the things together for an eventual outcome that can be called good. I know it will happen because I love God, I've responded to His call, know His voice and know His purpose for my life. You'll need to do the same for yourself.

I am working to come into the secret place of "unconditional love", hope to meet you there.

Babu Lonnie 

Let HIM Out...

The subject we have been given is life and there are test involved. I am experiencing some test like I have never experienced before. I hope it is because I am advancing in His Kingdom and the further IN Him you go the greater the tests.

I think I have found the very heart of God and that is what I'm being tested on. Anyone who knows me can testify to the fact that over the last several months one subject has occupied more of my conversation, mind and life in general than anything else. The subject is loving like God loves us. Loving "unconditionally"!!! Some are telling me it is just a goal to shoot for, others say it is impossible and then there is me, my view and none of theirs seem to match up on this apparently controversial subject.

We know Jesus did it, well actually the God that housed the flesh called Jesus did it. But wait isn't that same God that housed that flesh called Jesus the same God that is housed by the flesh of...(you fill in your name if you are a true follower of Christ). So then it appears the only thing that hinders God from being God and displaying that "unconditional love" is the house that He lives in!!!

I am having a very difficult time subduing the flesh and moving it aside in order that God, in His pure form (LOVE) be released from the place I have imprisoned Him in my life. I have Him secured away as my savior, in some areas I've given Him a place as Lord but a place for that display of "unconditional love" well it just hasn't been made available yet. It's not that I don't wish it was evident, it's just that It will truly cost me everything to see Him revealed. 

Most of us are willing to give "almost" everything but it's maybe just that one thing that is preventing His release in my life. I am probably the only one on the planet who feel this way. Pray that the one thing or things will continue to be revealed to me so that I can have the option of whether or not to lay them aside and let Him out so that people will see Him and not that thing or things that stand between them and God.

From the heart of a follower of Jesus, I'm really trying to let Him be seen...but stuff just keeps getting in the way. Mostly me, and that's a big pile of stuff.

Babu Lonnie 

A Big Question

Man do I ever have questions!!! Not about the usual religious stuff. I'm not concerned or questioning things like heaven and hell, rapture...if and when, eternal life, security of the believer, gifts, or angels. But I do question our perception of conversion. I have come to understand that eternal life is instantaneous but conversion is a lifelong process.

Let me try an explain using me as the example. I know that I received and applied the price Jesus paid (His perfect shed blood) to cleanse me from all sin and unrighteousness. The moment I did that I was Born Again. My spirit which had laid dead from the transgression of Adam was brought to life by the life in Jesus's blood. But this converting or changing of the rest of me is tough. I say that because after 30 plus years of new life I am discovering simple truths that require change. These truths seem like things I should have already known.

The truth I am growing into is the truth of love. We as followers of Jesus say we love but do we really? This is the biggest question right now in my life. I am telling people I love them when I am not sufficiently loving my wife, according to scripture. What is scary to me is I don't know how to love by bible standards because It's never been really taught by those who taught me. Plus why ask when you think you already know? Also when the spirit of God would try and speak to me on the subject of love, I would simply over ride or over rule His input by my limited knowledge or the traditional views I had been taught.

But now I am at a crossroad. Loving unconditionally doesn't seem to be an option but the mandate. Unconditional love is something most of us only talk about. Until I can do it, I am going to try and refrain from speaking the biggest lie ever told by repeating the religious and social mantra..."I Love You".

Final question. Are we willing to give ourselves as Christ gave Himself for us, not only our personal brides but for all those who are even given invitation to be His bride? That would be that "who so ever will"  group.

It's hard and I can't do it so I have determined I must unleash the God that lives in me who does not contain love He is love.

Forgive me for just talking about and not walking in love all these years, perhaps that's why He calls us His children. There you have it, it appears I learned to talk before I could walk.

No question...Jesus love me,

Babu Lonnie 

What's the difference?

I am sure you've heard the phrase "what's the difference" from time to time relating to various subjects. It is a sad commentary on those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ if that question has to ever be asked regarding what separates us from this world and it's system of operation. I am sad to say that the difference should be obvious. Unfortunately our distinctive has blurred or just faded into our cultures and there is no apparent major differences.

I am troubled that we aren't even the blind leading the blind into a ditch anymore. We have become the bland leading the bland that just continues in our rut. What do you mean Babu? Glad you asked. It is hard to tell any difference in the meetings of "church" and any social gathering. Both use the latest technology with sound, lighting, video and computer generated presentations, the best speakers money can buy, state of the art buildings, top of the line entertainment. The major difference I personally witnessed was in a large rented secular venue that this large para church group, shielding it's participants from undue influence took the extra time and expense to cover up the beer signs. Helped me I know.

Even the messages proclaimed. Both are promoting prosperity, wellness and authority. So I guess there is no wonder folks are asking the big question...what's the difference. Come to think about it from an honest point of view to the human eye the difference is not that apparent.

But there is a difference and it should be blatantly visible for all to see. The difference is the unconditional love of God in us and through His followers. We should not be promoting prosperity but sacrifice, not our wellness but the wellness of others and not having authority over our fellowman but living a life of Godly submission and servant hood. All will see, all will know there is a difference. The difference, sit down, hold on here it is...another Kingdom, the Kingdom of God where love rules.

Babu Lonnie