A God School

I wanted to take a moment to brag on my 11 yr old son, Nick. He was given an assignment at his school to write a paragraph about what he thought a God school is. It almost brought tears to my eyes when I read it for the first time. It is full of passion and zeal and goals that I never in a million years would have thought of when I was a kid. I wanted to share it because I love the glimpse on how his minds works and what his ‘normal’ is. You rock Nick!

“A God School”
My school, Bethel Christian School, is a God school. A regular Christian school has things like healing, worshipping, prayer, etc, but a God school is a whole new experience. It has flagging, fire tunnels, people being drunk in the spirit, and even boys who would feel safe to dance. Now a fully fledged God school is the best thing that can happen to a school, especially a public one. It would have people being raised from the dead. It would have a Godlike atmosphere on campus, and people would have spiritual eyes; the whole enchilada. A God school usually has Christians, or at least people becoming Christians. My school is a church! How cool is that? It’s not a boring church like the kind where you just stand still, and sing hymns all the time. No way! Our church preaches with energy, we worship with enthusiasm. Even baptizing is a glorious experience. The testimonies make you want to praise God even more! So if you’re not a Christian or if you want a God school just ask God to come. Or come to bethel sometime; I bet you’ll love it!

Jon

A Nautical Analogy

When I graduated from high school I was given a gift from my parents to honor my accomplishment. They gave me a charm that was in the shape of a compass. I quickly attached it to a chain and wore it as a necklace. This gift not only means a lot to me because it was given to me by my parents, but because I value the symbol of the compass. The concept of a journey and guiding with true direction is what appeals to me. This relates so clearly to our walk with God. There is a verse I commonly tie to my compass and that verse is PROVERBS 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight.” God is our true North and the Bible is our compass.

This past August I said good-bye to a close friend of mine as he set off to sail around the Atlantic on a reputable sea worthy ship. To encourage him on his journey I removed my compass from around my neck and entrusted it to him to bring back safely. It was logical to me that around his neck during this time was where my compass belonged.

Cody is currently on the last leg of his three month trip sailing the salty sea. He began this journey aboard the Picton Castle in Norway. The ship is 180 feet long and 100 feet high, with a crew of 30 plus and 19 sails. They have sailed to England, Germany, France, Portugal, and Spain. He has seen castles, dolphins, cathedrals, and more water than some of us could dream of. Spending countless hours with the crew Cody has learned about topsails, Clews, bowsprits, and royals.

As I wait for my compass to return in about two weeks, I continue to pray for my friend’s safe return and am pondering constantly the words spoken by our pastor this past Sunday. He was referring to fellowship and described it so simply. “Fellowship is kind of like a bunch of fellows on a ship.” He went on talking about how the daily happenings of a crew’s life on a ship in such close proximity to one another with limited places to hide. I have tasted the blessings that come from the gift of fellowship and the positive impact that can make on a man’s life. (J.O.C. and etc.) I look forward to having fellowship with my friends, that I have not seen for a few months, some time soon. I continue to seek this and understand what healthy, God-centered fellowship looks like I need this and you do too.

If you are interested in reading and seeing some amazing pictures from Cody’s blog, maybe in hopes of making the fellowship analogy a little more clear, the web site is http://codyslettenproject.com/news.html

Election Post Mortem

I was disappointed on election night to say the least. As I have said in the past, I was not a huge McCain fan but am scared about the social and cultural implications of an Obama presidency with large Democrat majorities in Congress. I have already written about some of the specific things I am worried about and there will no doubt be many radical left-wing groups looking for payback from Obama for helping him get elected. I expect we will start hearing more about their "wish lists" in the next few months. Just wait, it will come.

It took me a few days but now I am over the election night losses and am thinking about the future. In the economic sense, the American people got what they wanted and now the Democrats will have total control and must deliver or will suffer the consequences. Socially, they will have the power to influence our culture in many ways for years to come, especially if new Supreme Court justices are chosen. I fear we will move in the wrong direction, especially in protcting the unborn and the traditional definition of marriage.

It is hard for me, as someone who cares deeply about these issues and the future of our country, to remember that this world is only temporary and we should be focusing on eternal things. That is not to say that we should not be passionate about these issues, but we must be careful not to have more passion for them than we do for Christ and his kingdom. We should also not let adverse outcomes shake our faith. God is sovereign and in control of all. He has a plan. He allows leaders to rise and fall. What we think is an awful outcome may be part of His perfect plan to advance His kingdom.

I think Pastor John Piper sums it up well in this video. Watch and enjoy.

Until Next Time,
The Counselor

Bill “Willy” Corley (1918 – 2008)

Last night at 11:00, November 3, 2008, my sweet grandfather, Bill Corley, passed away. It is hard to know what to say about a man who has been a living hero of mine since I can remember. I know I am fortunate to even have memories of a grandfather, let alone one I have had in my life for 40 years.

Grandpa was born in Hollis, Oklahoma, in 1918. He had 3 sisters and 4 brothers and his father, Ezra, was a farmer. The stories my grandpa told me when I was a young about his childhood are the type of true American tales that movies are made of. I could sit for hours and listen to him talk about all the funny things that happened on the farm between him and his brothers. He was a gifted guitar player and singer and would often play for us which we really enjoyed and greatly miss (check out www.youtube.com/user/AZCorleys). He was a true fisherman and I think that was when he was the most content. I say that knowing though that this was a man that never seemed anything but content. He always had a smile on his face and was always whistling a tune. I never once saw my grandpa angry.

Like many of his generation, my grandpa served in the military in World War II while my Grandma was back in the states. He wrote my Grandma frequently, many times in poems and many times in letters that had codes in them so she would know where he was at. After the war he went to school on the GI Bill and again, like many, moved out west where he started a family, drove an ice cream truck for awhile, bought a small home and started a church. He became a school teacher and then a vice principal and retired from teaching in the early 1980s. He truly had an American life and was part of what I believe was the greatest generation.

There is so much more I would like to share with you about him but I just want to give you a brief picture of this great man and try to honor his memory in some small way.

I know as Christians that we don’t deserve what God has given us in our salvation. But I have no doubt that he is now home with God enjoying his heavenly gift. I don’t know exactly what happens to us when we die and I don’t know if Grandpa can have a conversation with God right now. But, if he can, I want God to tell him that I could never tell him enough how much I loved him. I could never tell him enough that he was and is my hero. I can never thank him enough for teaching my father about Jesus and being an example for him, for me, and for my entire family on how a Christian man should love and live. There is no telling the number of people my grandpa has influenced in his live, my guess would be in the thousands. I do know that his impression on me has shaped who I am and has shown me how to love my children, how to love my wife, and how to love my God.

Grandpa, I will miss you greatly. I know you are complete now and I rejoice that you are with Grandma again after so many years here without her. I rejoice that you are home with God. I look forward to the day when I can see you again and quietly listen to the stories of your youth, see your smile, and hear you whistle a tune in heaven. I will think of you whenever I see my boys smile.

Monte

Crime and Punishment...and Cookies

I spent a couple of hours on Saturday making my world famous chocolate chip cookies. Okay, maybe not world famous but they are pretty good. Actually, there is no big secret to how I make them. Just add ½ cup more of flour than It calls for, an extra teaspoon of vanilla extract, and extra chocolate chips. And oh yeah, don’t bake them for too long, only about 10 minutes max, Probably not the coolest thing for a guy to be putting a recipe on a men’s blog but oh well…I digress…

The reason I was making the cookies is for a friend of ours that found out about a prison ministry that takes cookies to prisoners down in Florence. Seemed like a cool thing to do and a chance that the Gospel be shared through a simple act of kindness. I’m embarrassed to say though that as I was making the cookies, I started thinking about what kind of crime did the person commit that was going to be eating these cookies? Whose life did they ruin? Who did they cause physical and emotional pain? Were there children involved? Basically, it was really negative thinking that I should not have been doing.

I mentioned what I was thinking to my wife and she wisely said, “Kind of like the crimes we have committed against God?” Ouch. She was absolutely right. How many times have I committed a crime against God and how many times has He forgiven me? I can’t even count the times. I’ve taken the “3 Strike” rule to new levels with God. Here I am offering a few cookies to a criminal when God has given eternal salvation and happiness to a criminal who is just as guilty. I’m blessed to have a wife that reminds me to get some perspective on these kinds of things. What an amazing God we serve that forgives our crimes again and again and on top of that, rewards us beyond what we can imagine.

Peace,
Monte

The Vote

I had the opportunity to talk with my father about the upcoming election tonight. I have to say that my dad is not a worrier, but the sound of his voice spoke volumes. We are about to elect a president that will have an impact far greater than his 4 or 8 years in office. We are electing a president who, just in Supreme Court nominations alone, will impact this country for the next 40 years.

As a Christian, I am finding it more and more difficult to understand how other Christians can vote for Obama with a clear conscience. This is not a stab at his fiscal policy, lack of experience or any of the other problems "conservatives" have with Obama. His associations with men like Rev. Wright, Rashid Khalidi, Bill Ayers have to make you pause. I do not understand how someone can believe Obama did not know the beliefs of a man he was friends with for 20 years. Even if this relationship was a coincidence, the other associations he has with people who hate America must be taken into account. Character matters.

During the Q & A at Saddleback church, Obama was asked when human rights for babies begins. He answered that question by saying, "whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question is 'above my pay-grade.'" With all due respect, how can the leader of the free world say that answering any question is "above my pay-grade?" At another rally, he went on to say that he would teach his daughters good morals, but if they made a mistake he would not want his "daughters to be punished with a baby." There are so many references in Scripture that speak to God knowing us in the womb. Life is valuable. God sent His Son to die for us that we may have life. A baby is not punishment, a baby is a gift from God.

Brothers and Sisters, when you vote for President this week, bring your faith into the voting booth with you. While I am concerned with fiscal policy, Supreme Court appointments, and many other things each candidate represents; I am first concerned with electing the man who will most often be in line with Biblical principles. Remember also, that no matter the outcome, God is in control. He wills things for His purpose and we can rest in that.

The Call

I’ve been watching “The Call - San Diego” today. It has been amazing. Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego filled with people fasting, praying, and worshipping. While its purpose was to pray in righteous laws and people in this election season, the first couple hours has hardly mentioned that. I’ve been amazed as the leaders have spent hours leading the people in all kinds of repentance. Evangelicals repenting to Catholics for the way they have treated them at times and asking for forgiveness. Whites repenting to blacks for the way they have treated them asking for forgiveness. Pastors repenting for the death they have introduced into their families through pornography asking for forgiveness. The leaders are repenting for the broken covenants of divorce that is epidemic throughout the church. The founder, Lou Engle, says we the church have no right and no authority to demand the government to have righteous laws unless we the church can own our own brokenness and repent and change from our own wicked ways. It is pretty awesome; a modern day walking out of 2 Chronicles 7:14:

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

I’m excited to see how this proceeds and finishes, as well as the fruit of this historic moment.