Don't trick or treat without the right costume....

Get ready for some laughter on this day of Halloween!

Humorist Jeanne Robertson offers savvy Halloween costume advice from firsthand experience as a 6'2" thirteen year-old 7th grader.









ALSO - DON'T FORGET:

An early reminder to prepare this Saturday evening .... Time Change Sunday.

Just an early reminder of the event taking place this coming Sunday early in the morning.  In fact, you should make preparation for the event on Saturday evening.

Tonight at NRN - Prayer Encounter...

Tonight we launch a new schedule for the remainder of 2014 for our weekly Prayer Encounter.  We are adding the Wednesday Night suppers beginning at 5:30 pm.  

Is Left Behind Movie’s Rapture Biblical?

Is the rapture biblical?

If the vote were taken in the pews of evangelical churches this Sunday, I’m guessing the majority vote would be a resounding “yes.”

So to be honest right up front, I’m in the minority, which for many, brands me a heretic. But before you gather wood to burn me at the stake of your judgment, may I explain?

There is a single text in all of scripture that seems to depict the popularized idea of a rapture.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

— 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NRSV)

At face value, this sounds like the Left Behind book series, which has now been made into a major motion picture: rapture movie. Jesus returns on the clouds, the dead in Christ rise and float into the air to meet him, then the still-alive believers are snatched up (raptured) to meet him in the air, and we all leave this old world behind.

At this point, the narrative usually jumps over to 2 Peter 3:7-10 that says the earth has been “reserved for fire” and “the elements are dissolved with fire.” In other words, as we float away, the earth and all who are left on it will be burned to a crisp. And we go somewhere else called Heaven and live happily ever after. And the majority said, “Amen!”

But what if …?

In Paul’s day, the Roman army established rituals of war. When a victory had been secured, the enemy conquered, and the spoils of war captured, the general would orchestrate a triumphal entry to his city of origin – a homecoming parade of sorts. Runners raced ahead of the approaching army and announced the return of the conquering king. The dignitaries of the city would go out to meet the king and march ahead of him on his re-entry into the city. Trumpets would herald the coming. This grand parade became a re-coronation of the victorious king. In the Roman understanding, he was blessed by the gods.

Paul borrows this well-known image of the return of the conquering king to write about the return of Jesus to earth. The question that prompts 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is, “What happens to our deceased brothers and sisters who have died before the return of Christ?” Paul views them as the dignitaries who are raised first and go out to meet King Jesus and usher him back to the earth. Christ descends from heaven because that is where we saw him go when he ascended to the right hand of the throne of God following his resurrection. Then the rest of us join the parade and we are all together again (the dead and the living who are in Christ)—here on earth, which now becomes one with heaven.

The idea of this text is not escaping the earth but celebrating the final victory of Christ as King of all creation, and heaven and earth made one with no veil separating them anymore. God is reclaiming his creation.

·         The Lord’s Prayer gets answered; the kingdom comes, and God’s will is done on earth even as it is done in heaven.

·         Revelation 21:1-6 happens; the New Jerusalem comes down, God makes his home among mortals, and everything is made new.

·         Romans 8:18-25 happens; the earth, which currently groans for redemption, is set free from its bondage to decay and shares in the same glory as our resurrected bodies.

·         Philippians 1:6 happens; God finishes what God started in the resurrection of Jesus.

·         Philippians 2:9-11 happens; Jesus is exalted, every knee bows and every tongue confesses him as Lord – in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

·         Second Peter 3:7-10 happens; fire, the cleansing/revealing power of God, fully reveals evil for what it is and purges the earth of its presence.

·         First Thessalonians 4:13-18 happens; Christ returns victoriously, the dead are raised, and all the people of God are together again.

We “non-rapture” folk may be in the minority, but I really like our understanding of God’s future. In the words of 1 Thessalonians 4:18, I am “encouraged by these words.”

Source:  Dan Boone Blog 

OORAH! Sound off on Marines singing ‘There’s no God like Jehovah!’

On Sept. 15, a woman named Merrie Pardee Baldwin posted the video on Facebook, where it had been shared nearly 400,000 times at the time of this report. Baldwin wrote, “Participatory worship. I love how excited the men get to sing this song & the camaraderie.”  Soon after I posted this on my Facebook page with many comments. 

A video of U.S. Marines singing, dancing and worshiping God at Camp Pendleton in California is going viral on Facebook, prompting retired Lt. Col. Allen West to revel in the display he says will “drive the secular humanists INSANE.”

In the video a crowd of Marines sings “Days of Elijah,” a Christian worship song, while raising their hands in the air and shouting, “Oorah!” The troops were attending a Christian worship service at the military base in San Diego County, California.

Some of the lyrics include:

These are the days of Elijah

Declaring the word of the Lord, yeah

And these are the days of Your servant, Moses

Righteousness being restored

These are the days of great trials

Of famine and darkness and sword

Still we are the voice in the desert crying

Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

Reflection from my message today at NRN - Breaking the Spirit of Asherah

Today was an emotional day for me at church today.  I preached a message that I am confident was God's will for me to share - however I know I reminded people of hurts and disappointments in life.
I hope the final points brought encouragement and joy to their spirits. Here are my reflections:

The ancient god of pleasure, Asherah, has invaded our ranks! The spirit behind the historic god has persuaded us that sexual purity is an outdated and foolish idea that should be replaced with the mentality of “If it feels good, do it!”  

Embracing God’s truth about sexuality and its beautiful place in the lives of his people, within the context of His parameters, will break the lying spirit of Asherah. 

Culture is changing – God does not change….

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?                                                                                      1 Corinthians 1:18-20 

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.                                       1 Corinthians 1:25 

      If It Feels Good…

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of    his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.                                                                                            1 John 2:15-17

The Big Three

 MAMMON – god of POSSESSIONS. 

 BAAL – god of POWER.  

  ASHERAH  – god of  PLEASURE .  

They knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools…As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie.                                                                                      Romans 1:21-25 NLT

3 examples of the lie:

 An   ANIMALISTIC  action.    

 A    RECREATIONAL  activity.    

 An  ISOLATED  event.  

Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman? For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.                                         Proverbs 5:15-23 NLT

             Breaking the Spirit of Asherah                      

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”                                                                                               Jeremiah 6:16

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body?  For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.”                                                                                    1 Corinthians 6:15-17

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor  God with your body.                                                                                               1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Honor GOD WITH YOUR BODY .

Here are my 3 take a ways to help us:

 

1.  REPENT .

Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.                                2 Corinthians 6:17-18

2.  RECEIVE  forgiveness.

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.                                      Isaiah 1:18

3.  REORDER  your life.

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.                                                                                     2 Corinthians 7:1

Giving up something now for something better later

 isn't a SACRIFICE .          It’s an INVESTMENT.

Preparing for Worship on October 26 2014 - Rated PG-13

As we prepare our hearts for worship this coming Sunday at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene,  I am continuing in the teaching series which I have stated is one of the most important series I have ever preaching in my 40 years of pastoral ministry! I continue to hear feedback each week following a sermon in this series.  Last Sunday I returned home following church with a sense of exhaustion.

 I kept my iPhone in my pocket last Sunday on "airplane mode" not to disrupt the worship and discovered through my fit-bit app that I walked over a mile during my presentation time!

I received an encouraging text on Sunday afternoon that read: "Hey Pastor Rick. I wanted to tell you that was a great sermon today and I'm looking forward to the remaining 3 in the series. Keep on preaching with that passion and fire you showed today! Hope you have a great week."

Get ready for a great time of worship and preaching from the Word of God tomorrow at NRN!

We begin with a countdown to draw our attention to the Lord - then the music starts and we sing together:



Following a welcome and invocation we continuing in our worship through song to the Lord:




And now we sing loud - a great hymn of our faith:




Now, we pause to encounter God in prayer...

It is now time to hear about the opportunities to serve the Lord in ministry and to meet together for fellowship and growing in the our relationship with the Lord.  As we present our tithes and offerings unto God - let us join with the worship team to sing a declaration of faith to the Lord!




Prepare you hearts for the preaching of God's Word: 

We ask that all children 12 years and younger enjoy the excellent Children's ministries at our church today. Pastor Rick's message is rated PG-13.
Rated PG-13 - Not for the content of his words but for the passages of Scripture he will be reading.
Some people have the idea that God and Christians today are against sex.  This is a lie of our culture. Sex is good and is God's idea.  On Sunday Pastor Rick will share God's perspective of sex in contrast to the worlds perspective of sex. 


The ancient god of pleasure, Asherah, has invaded our ranks! The spirit behind the historic god has persuaded us that sexual purity is an outdated and foolish idea that should be replaced with the mentality of “If it feels good, do it!” 

 Embracing God’s truth about sexuality and its beautiful place in the lives of his people, within the context of His parameters, will break the lying spirit of Asherah.

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”                                                                                                                                      2 Corinthians 7:1