A Prophetic Truth

Writing from a Jail cell in 1963 Martin Luther King penned these words in response to Clergymen who were critical of his activities to bring freedom to America. While I want to post the letter as a whole, I prefer to write on a specific part of that letter that I believe to be coming true at this moment in time. To read the letter in its entirety go to
http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Here is part of what he wrote....

There was a time when the church was very powerful--in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators."' But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an arch defender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent--and often even vocal--sanction of things as they are.


But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.

Martin Luther King ~ From a Jail cell in Birmingham Alabama 16 April 1963


I wrote much in response to this truth then erased it. I'm tired of the use of meaningless words in the face of such honest ones. Blog them if you want, Face book them if you want, I choose to do something about it.

Never thought I would say this but...............

......there are some things we can all learn from a hairdresser.

Kallie Linder from http://blessed-is-me.blogspot.com without knowing it nailed what real ministry is like. Go to her site to read her take but I am going to steal a few things to encourage you in ministry.

 Being good at cutting and coloring hair doesn't make you a good hairdresser.
.....and Being good at ministry doesn't make you a good Minister.

You also need good communication skills, a listening ear, a drive to exceed the standard and the ability to sometimes perform miracles. You have to want to be and do better than the license (ordination) you receive.

It's harder than it looks.
....Ministry is harder than it looks.

Formulating, working haircuts out in your head, removing box black hair color that a client tells you they've only done "once" and it "washed out", lies.. don't lie to your hairdresser and black hair color NEVER NOT EVER washes out.

 

Counseling, Cleaning up lives, and constant lies. Don't lie to your Pastor even if Jesus can wash your black sins away.

 

It's emotional

If you're lucky enough to have clients come back to your chair year after year you become attached.

You become friends.

A bond of love is formed.

You walk through different seasons of life from graduation, marriage, life, death and everything in between.

You become part of each others dash

Moments have taken my breath away as I've watch what once was just a little girl become a wife.

Tears have streamed down my face when learning of a dear clients death.

I've shaved women's heads bald, tears pouring out of them, as they prepare for the battle for their life.

I had no idea this would be part of it.

 

I could not describe it better.

 

It's rewarding

We have a gift and it can be used to help people be their best selves.

We have the ability to make cloudy days shine bright.

 

Yep

 

It isn't flexible

I know everyone thinks it is. It isn't It's true I make my own schedule, but it is still a job and in order to make money I must work real hours.

I am serious about this work thing even though it is a really super fun job.

This has in turn made me a scheduling freak.

 

Ministry is 24/7/365 and rest is required.

 

Working for yourself in someone else's salon isn't the same as owning your own salon.

I've always worked in lease salons which means I worked for myself.

This is a much easier way of doing things because you just worry about your own business.

Now that I am an owner of a salon I have taken on the task of worrying about my own behind the chair business as well as the business of the 7 other very talented women.

These are women whom I love and cherish.

I am never not working.

I am constantly thinking of how we can do better and be more efficient.

How I can help the other girls be successful too.

I research what is up and coming, trending, marketing, new methods, old methods.

You name it I am trying to learn about it.

By the way.. just because it is an "old" method doesn't mean it's not good!

Running business doesn't come easy to me and I don't love that part of it.

Wow I wish all church members felt this passionate about church ownership.

 

There are some things I don't love about our industry (ministry)

 

Like why some hairdressers (Churches) feel they need to bash other salons (Churches) or salon professionals (Ministers). Not only is this highly unprofessional, it isn't a reflection of the person you are bashing it is a reflection of yourself.

 

Imagine if we all worked together!

What if we shared what we knew instead of being a braggart?

What if we were brave enough to ask other hairdressers (Christians) for advice and not just the ones we know that live out of town?

What if salon owners (Churches) could get together and share ideas of what works and what isn't working?

What if we could do all that without fear of being looked down upon?!

The possibilities are endless

Because here is the deal we are all still different and bring different things to our clients.

Even in our small town there IS enough business for everyone.

 

TOGETHER we could rid the world of black box dye (Sin) and over processed blond hair! (Religious fakes)

 

I think we have the power to change the image of how

 hairdressers (Christians) are thought to be catty gossips'

The power lies within us.

 

Thank you Kallie for reminding us that we are in the people business and serving THEM is what we are called to do. I know that is what you were thinking. Lol

 

Blessed is Me to have you a part of our life.

 

I'm Done and Happier for it

In case you’re wondering why I haven’t been blogging lately is because I have been involved with this friend of mine. He’s the nicest guy I’ve ever known. He’s compassionate and caring and is the truest friend I have. He so believes in his mission in life and is confident in the direction its going. Just an amazing guy. If you met him you would love him.  

But he’s got this wife that seems to rub everybody wrong. Sometimes she can be just great, but other times, she can be this judgmental, negative person. It’s like she’s always fighting with others. I’m not the only one who sees it. So many of His other friends see it and he has lost many because of her. They just can’t do it, they love Him, they do but they just can’t stand her. And I don’t know why he doesn’t see it, why he doesn’t step up and defend himself. Because she is tearing him down. Because of her, people don’t even want to get to know him.

I guess Love is Blind.

I would hope by now that you’ve figured out that I’m not talking about an earthly friend but a heavenly one. Jesus and his bride, the Church. And the reason I haven’t been blogging lately is simple, I’m tired of reading negative stuff about her. I’m weary of the complaints from people about her. Even this week someone from newLife told another that she was dying. And I have read numerous articles on why we should change her and even how to do it.

Could you imagine if you were the Bride of Christ and thousands of blogs were set up to tear you down and talk about how to change you? A Chorus of Critics claiming knowledge about you and clearly teaching the world how messed up you are and they know the way to make you prettier or you'll die.

Some people believe that they are creating a record but its nothing but a record of your complaints and arrogance. So it’s made me not want to have an online presence. I just stopped reading your stuff. I just stopped listening to your complaints. And I don’t want to be your Friend.

She’s not your Bride, She’s not your wife. If you don’t have anything good to say about her shut up, she is not yours. And don’t go telling me you love Him and don’t like her. Cause you can’t separate the two.

So for a while, I’m going to stay away from the critics and hang with her. I’m going to hang with my Life Group. I’m going to Encounter God and pray with her. I’m going to celebrate His resurrection with her on Sunday. This last Sunday because of her, three souls trusted Christ as their savior, two new Christians were baptized, and more are to come. They Love him and her and I love them.

And if I ever start blogging again, it will be to honor my friend’s wife who has done so much for me and this world. And you can say it, Love is Blind

See you in Church

Pastor Andy Roberts

Headline: Harleys Cause Cancer

I think.
Its the only Explanation.Yesterday I performed a memorial for one of my best friends who died of cancer at 50 and he rode a Harley. In a strange coincidence, today I am doing a wedding for the daughter of one of my best friends who died several years ago from cancer in his mid fifties, and he rode a Harley.

The only connection I can make is it must be the bikes. There must be something about freedom, clean air, and loud pipes that takes the best friends I have, too early.

Or................
Maybe its the bugs, yea the bugs are conspiring to kill us through their carrying of cancer and then upon impact at high speeds imparting that cancer through our faces.

Maybe the cancer comes through the air, just random cancer cells floating aimlessly that enter our body's through our leather. Yes maybe its revenge from all of the cows that have died to cover our bodies with protective equipment.

Or maybe its a conspiracy by Harley Davidson themselves and that low loud sound actually awakens normally quiet cells in our bodies and makes them go bad. Why would they do that? so that there would be more bikes sold as the old riders die off.

Or maybe its me. No that would be stupid. No maybe being friends with me causes Harley riders to develop cancer.

Or maybe its just that cancer sucks and it has nothing to do with Harley riders being a little crazy and friends of mine.

Yea, its just that Cancer Sucks and both of these amazing men just died too early and happened to be my friends.

Yea, that's it, Cancer Sucks but Jesus Saves and because of Jesus I'll see both of them again one day. So I'll keep riding as its not Harley's Fault.

The Means can be very Mean

For a period of time, I was a Christian who held tightly to What a believer believed and How that believer believed. Hard Doctrine and Holy Direction was what I clung too. Christianity was more about being RIGHT with my view of a Christian than being right with God. (these two often got confused). In fact the Method or Means of the faith was more important than the men.

Jesus taught about this in Luke chapter 7. He was invited into the home of a Pharisee and was given a place at the mans table. But a woman of the city, a sinner heard Jesus was there, she entered into this mans home and began to pour out love on Jesus. To which the Pharisee began to judge not only the woman but the Lord himself.

So Jesus asks this question about who would love more, a person forgiven of much or a person forgiven of little. Simon supposed that it would be the person who had the larger debt. And He was right.

Jesus then turned to the woman and speaking to Simon still and begins to explain the difference between this point. The woman who needed much forgiveness Loved Jesus much, but Simon who loved Jesus little didn't need much forgiveness.

Great truth. Simple truth. But not the truth that I think is the most important truth.

Jesus then forgives the woman of her sins that were great, but all the Pharisee’s were concerned with was the means of forgiveness. Who is Jesus to do this?

They were not concerned with the Woman who needed forgiveness; they were concerned with the way she was forgiven. Their Hard Doctrine and Holy Direction did not provide for Supernatural Forgiveness. Their View of the Faith did not fit in with the Values of the Father. Rather than Rejoice over what ever means or methods this woman came to know forgiveness, they Judged and ridiculed how it was done.

The Apostle Paul spoke to this point in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 summarizing it by saying 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (ESV) ²² To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
²³ I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

That by all means or different methods I might save some. I was asked yesterday why our church doesn’t have more doctors or lawyers and my thought was, because they don't think that they need as much forgiveness as the adulteresses and the drunkards and the addicts do. And I no longer fish for the full, but the Hungry.

 

Distance makes the Heart (of the Christian) more Fake not Fonder

I know that this sounds strange, but as I was crawling out of my comfortable bed and into my nice warm shower and then putting on my nice clean clothes the thought (from the Lord or not) came to me of how good most of us live. I have a place to lay my head every night, a way to feel clean every day, and a way to stay warm and comfortable. Every Day. I have eaten a semi healthy breakfast after sleeping 6 1/2 hours uninterrupted and not been bothered by people needed help.

And I thought of my wife. She is getting about two hours a sleep a night on the floor of a hospital waiting room, using wipes to stay clean, wearing the same clothes every day, eating a banana, and surrounded by suffering people from the moment she is awake to the moment she gets a little rest.

and Today...................
I will do ministry to comfortable people
She will be ministering to comfort people

I will speak to suburban kids whose parents can afford Christian school
She will speak to suffering kids whose parents can't afford medical care

I will celebrate our daughters 25th Birthday
She will celebrate a successful lung transplant

I will gather to play Christianity with spoiled saints
She will gather to pray with soiled aints.

I am the Pastor of a Church with Critics
She is a Missionary to the Critical Care

I am concerned with how much of a pain people will be
She is concerned with the pain of her family

Tonight I will climb back in my comfortable bed, she will fight for a space on the floor

Not sure how I am feeling about all of this

Thank you for getting into my business

Last night at encounter I was minding my own business. Literally my mind was heavy on my own business. and then he comes by with a note...About My Business

How did he know about my business? Who told him what I was thinking? I was talking to God. We alone were having a deep discussion. I don't think it showed on my face and I know I never said a word to any mortal man.

But that was part of what makes encounter so awesome. Sometimes the encounter with God comes through an encounter with a friend. Someone who is open to the voice of God and cares enough to share the word of God with you. My business became his business because he was about my fathers business. I love having friends like that.

Proverbs 17:17 (ESV) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.