No Appetite for "The Hunger Games"

THE HUNGER GAMES: "In this tale of 24 teenagers forced to kill each other, readers follow a number of gruesome, bloody and otherwise disturbing scenes." ~ "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Php 4:8)

The first quotes I heard about the author, Suzanne Collins, of this trilogy were that she first conceived the idea for the book while channel surfing the TV. She took elements of youth violence and elements of "American Idolatry" type of games and came up with the idea for her book. My problem with these books are the inordinate focus on brutality and violence. I do trust God to feed me His Holy Word that delves into the reality of some horrific violence at times, but it is one thing to receive these stories from a Righteous God and quite another thing to entrust one's mind to be feed brutality from fallen man. I still believe Phil. 4:8 needs to govern our approach to any man made production.

Literary History repeats itself here to a degree: Remember William Golding's classic, "Lord of the Flies" (I had to read this book in Mrs. Freeman's English class at Alliance Christian High School). Basic storyline: The kids are stranded on an island. In time, their sinful natures emerge with a passion, and they start hunting and killing each other. Entertaining? Yes. Interesting? Yes. Edifying, profitable? I don't believe so...

Logically, this command in Phil. 4:8 has to be prohibitive or the exhortation makes no sense at all. The exhortation is to choose to think on profitable things RATHER THAN dwelling on the details of evil. Listen to Romans 16:19 - "but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil." Prov. 4:23 "Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life."

It is true that non-fiction life such as in Anne Frank and Corrie Ten Boone, we see reality, as the Bible also recounts reality.  We must be realists and definitely face the reality of evil and definitely not hibernate from the world nor "scrub clean" harsh realities that need to be remembered such as the Holocaust, for example (there are those who deny the Holocaust). However, my concern is the morbid interest that we all tend to have in regards to the nitty-gritty details of sinful human nature. I am not trying to be a kill-joy to those who love good literature, but I am simply concerned by the prolific stream of harmful literature that is being penned by godless men and women, and the church is gobbling it up like cotton-candy with very little discernment!  Unbelievable!  Personal note: I recounted to my wife the details of several news stories from CNN the other day. Her wise reply to me was, "Is it really profitable for you to be so educated on all the details of such sinful behavior?" I had no good answer for her...only a heart that repented before a Holy God and then recommitted to  "guard my heart" more carefully in a world that feasts on the details of sin.

King David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit says it all in Psalm 101:2-4: 
"I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil."

Fellow Evangelists, this blog is for you.  You are called to a life set apart for God to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.  I challenge you to step up to the sumptuous table of God's Word and likewise to step away from all that is vile and worthless.  The day is coming when God will provoke 144,000 Jewish Evangelists to live this way.

Listen to Rev 14:1-5:
"Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. (2) And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, (3) and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. (4) It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, (5) and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless."

What do you collect?

During my ministry years of “globe-trotting” around the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East, I was invited by a long-time friend and supporter to visit his large architectural firm.  His firm was located in the southeastern part of the USA in an upscale office building.  My good friend (who is also the owner and CEO of the firm) gave me a tour of the entire enterprise that day.  During the tour, he introduced me to all of his staff.  As we walked around from office to office, and from cubical to cubical, I met quite a few of his employees.  He always introduced me as “a missionary who travels prolifically into many countries around the world.”  This generated some very interesting conversations with each new person that I met. 

Toward the end of the tour, I arrived at the office of a middle-aged man who shook my hand and listened to my friend introduce me as a “world traveler”.  This gentleman smiled as he shared with me his own passion for world travel.  He shared with me some of the countries where he himself had visited.  Then, he started showing me some of his collections from the various countries where he had travelled.  He had a menagerie of various knick-knacks from all over the world.  Then, he leaned back in his office chair, looked me in the eye and said, "So, from all of your travels, what do you collect?"  I truly felt like I was listening to my own self speak as I blurted out without the slightest hesitation: "Lost souls!  I collect lost souls!" 

I rejoiced to hear myself say this because I knew that my time spent “hanging out with Jesus” was the only reason that this was in my heart of hearts.  When Jesus Christ is our Mentor, He changes our worldview, our value system and our mission in life.  I am ashamed to confess to you that I could write many more short stories that reveal how often my heart strays from Christ and pursues “soul diminishing success” of this world.  I too have many empty and hallow collections of the stuff of life gathering dust in the closet of my heart just like so many other Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve.  But, praise be to God, my Friend, Jesus Christ, is relentless in pursuing my heart and changing my value system “so that He might have first place in everything” (Colossians 1:18). 

Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”.  There is no higher calling than pursuing the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of God is built brick-by-brick of the precious materials of formerly lost souls who are now found.  It is the love of Christ that is the mortar that holds these bricks together forever in His Kingdom. 

Dear friend, what do you collect?  Wood, hay and straw, or gold, silver and precious gems – lost souls for the Master!  Here is my challenge to you and me:  let's you and I press onward toward being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to this “perverse and sinful generation” in order to gather in those lost souls that Jesus has already destined to be a part of his precious international collection.  Men and women, boys and girls from every tongue, tribe, people and nation to the glory of God through Christ!    

A Bible, a Basketball and a Loving Heart

This is a historical-fiction, short-story written by Rob Brannon.  This story is based on the true story told by Dr. Naismith of his invention of basketball and his interaction with one of his young men, Frank Mahan, who first played his game invention that fateful day of December 21, 1891 at the Springfield, Massechussats YMCA. :

Hello!  Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Frank Mahan, and I lived in Springfield, Massachusetts back in 1891.  I grew up in North Carolina, but then moved to Massachusetts as a teenager.  One day I decided to join the PE class at the local YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) in Springfield.  In the summer time, this PE class was really fun.  We played Football, Rugby and Soccer for many fun-filled hours.  It was great!  However, as winter arrived here in the northeast, it got too cold to play the outdoor sports and since there were no indoor sports back then, the PE class at the YMCA got really boring! 

Our PE teacher that winter at the YMCA was a very interesting young man named, James Naismith.  Like me, he did not grow up in Springfield, Massachusetts.  He was originally from Canada.  However, he moved to Springfield to help kids like me learn "clean living through sports" at the YMCA.  You see, Mr. Naismith  was not only a college trained PE teacher, but he was also a Presbyterian minister.  I found Jim Naismith easy to talk with. He looked like the highly moral—but in no sense stuffy—man that he was. His blue eyes were kind, with crinkles at the corners. He had a heavy mustache, which looked prickly. His head was a bit square, as was his stocky, straight body. He had cauliflower ears, squashed from much boxing.  He was a strong, tough man that would sometimes show up to class with a couple of shiners (black-eyes) that he earned from a rough game of football.³  I rather liked Mr. Naismith and respected him, but I tried not to let anyone know it because I had to protect my rowdy, “tough guy” image.  My peers looked up to me as a ring-leader in our boisterous class of neighborhood ruffians who made up this YMCA PE class.

Rumor had it that Mr. Naismith had been challenged by his boss to invent an indoor game for kids to play in the winter.  It didn't take long to discover that the rumor was true.  Mr. Naismith kept experimenting on our PE class with several goofy and unworkable games based on bits and pieces of Rugby, Football, Soccer and Lacrosse.  It was a miserable joke being a guinea-pig for his game ideas!

Then one day it happened!  The unexpected, the miraculous!  Let me take you with me on that fateful day in the world of sports history:  On that cold winter day, I was the first young man to arrive in the gym.  I was smiling as I thought of the kid that I had just popped with my rolled up towel in the locker room.  However, as I looked around the gym that day, my smile fell off my face as fast as it had come.  I looked around that gym, and I saw the signs of another silly sports-experiment being planned for my PE class by Mr. Naismith.  There on the walls hung two peach-baskets nailed onto the balcony too high to reach.  When I looked at Mr. Naismith, I knew that my conclusions were correct.  He looked uncharacteristically nervous and insecure.  Yes, he was trying again to sell us on one of his foolish little game ideas.  So, I said to him sarcastically, “Huh! Another new game!”¹

He looked down at his feet when I said this, as if I had just broken his fragile confidence with my statement.  I felt a strange pleasure in causing him pain, but at the same time, I felt upset for hurting him.  After all, he really was a nice guy that seemed to care more about us boys than even his ambition to invent a game.  After an awkward pause, he looked up and stared at me directly in the eyes and smiled as he tacked the 13 rules of his game onto the bulletin board in front of me.  Soon the whole class arrived.  With renewed confidence, Mr. Naismith somehow mustered the courage to explain his game.

As for the game rules, they were weird!   Really weird!  He read us these 13 silly little rules about how to play a game where you throw a ball into a couple of old peach-baskets nailed to the wall!  Ha!  Not me!  I am not going to play this idiotic game!  But, then I reluctantly decided to give-it-a-go because there was no other games to play indoors on that winter day.

With a sparkle in his eyes, Mr. Naismith threw the ball into the air as I tried to tap it to my team.  For the next 2 hours we learned this “peach-basket ball game”, and we all became instantly mesmerized by the amazing dynamics of the game.  The challenge for each team was to throw a soccer ball from player-to-player in order to ultimately score a point by arching the ball into one of the peach-baskets nailed to the wall. 

To my great surprise, I loved the game!  I didn't want to stop playing!  There was only 5 seconds left in our final game.  I yelled for the ball.  They passed me the ball.  I stood at half-court and shot the ball at the basket just before Mr. Naismith blew his whistle signaling the end of the game.  The ball arched high into the air.  All eyes watched with excitement as the ball dropped into the peach-basket for a dramatic last-second winning shot!  And the rest of the story is history.  I was now deeply in love with this exciting new game invention! 

As we played this new game, week-after-week, hundreds of people from the community would come to watch us play!  It became the craze of the town.  I hate to confess it, but I stole Mr. Naismith's 13 original rules that he had tacked to the bulletin board in the gym.  I thought that these original rules would be a great souvenir to have as game was becoming so famous.  However, my love for Mr. Naismith, and his brilliant new sports invention drove me to return the stolen rules to him.  He was so relieved to have his souvenir-rules back, and he thanked me instead of rebuking me.  Caught up in the emotion of the moment, I declared to him: “Mr. Naismith, you should name your new game: “Naismith Ball”!  However, he laughed and smiled at me as he humbly said, “No, I believe that name would kill any game!”  His cunning, yet humble comment reminded me of why I liked him so much.  Then all of a sudden, out-of-the-blue came the realization that this game had a basket and a ball as the core equipment of the game.  “Eureka!”  I blurted out.  “Mr. Naismith, I know what you should name your new game!  You should call it: “Basket Ball!” As you know, James Naismith really liked my suggestion of the name: “Basketball” and to this day that is what the sport is called. 

So, there is my story of how basketball was invented, named and how a creative young preacher/PE teacher changed my life by pouring his love into my life through a sport that the world now calls, “Basketball!” 

___________________________

References: 

1.   Naismith, James, Basketball: Its Origin and Development (The University of Nebraska Press, 1996) pages 53-55.

2.   Wikipedia, James Naismith, May 19, 2011.

3.   Naismith, Grace, Sports Illustrated, article: “Father Basketball”, January 31, 1955; from the www.sportsillustrated.com vault.

WARNING: Beware of Rob Bell's Book: "Love Wins" !!

As an Evangelist, converted to Christ out of false teaching, I want to send my fellow Evangelists a very strong warning to compare Rob Bell's book "Love Wins"  to Scripture! Rob Bell is innovating and recycling false teachings about God, Christ, Salvation, Heaven, Hell, etc...  These are all doctrines that are essential to orthodox evangelism.  Beware, Beloved! 

It is very alarming to me (mind boggling) how so many good people are seduced into following false teaching when the book is creative and well written (e.g. "The Shack" on the Trinity).

Beloved, check out this link:

http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/03/23/panel-discussion-rob-bell-and-love-wins/

"Form Up!" by Pastor Rick Oglesby

The elevator hissed open. I strode in, turned around and leaned against the back wall looking forward. The car filled, all of us standing in a tight circle, unusually facing in. The door sucked closed and locked in that thick fog of uneasy quietness. Everyone steadily looked at no one. Someone cleared their throat as the car jerked upward.

I’ve always had a bold streak.  I’ve always disliked quiet, compartmentalized elevator rides. So I went proactive and fulfilled a long restrained desire. “Thank you for coming today ladies and gentlemen. You’re probably wondering why I called this meeting…” Laughter shattered the heavy eighth floor silence as the place rocked like a U2 concert!

Igniting a conversation can launch a relationship – perhaps one that will lead the way to salvation. But you don’t have to take an elevator – here are some simple questions that you can use to kick-start a conversation. They’re called the FORM. Nearly everyone likes to talk about themselves, so ask them open ended questions about their…

·         Family:   Tell me about your kids. Where do you guys live? How is it?

·         Occupation:   What business are you in? What challenges do you face?

·         Recreation:   What do you do to relax? How’d you get into that?

·         Money:   How’s real estate in your area? What’s your local economy doing?

As my kids grew up, we trained them to FORM others to help them get on in the world and to lay a cornerstone for redemptive relationships.  They would select a person in the room, go stick out their little hand,  shake and jump in.  When they returned, we’d review their experience.  Today they can meet and greet anyone.

Practice “FORM” when you’re in line at McDonald’s.  Try it at the Target check out. Why not introduce FORM to your small group or class?  Model it, have someone else do it, then explain it.  Train your group to FORM, then evaluate,  celebrate and improve.

Imagine your congregation trained to FORM.  What incredible opportunities for witness would occur. How much more welcome visitors would feel.  Self-confidence about connecting with others would rise.

Family, Occupation, Recreation and Money – the threads with which we weave life can tie great knots of connection with people who need Christ.  FORM UP!

by Pastor Rick Oglesby

Pastor in Wellington, Alabama

"Prayer as a Mighty Weapon of Spiritual Warfare" by Rev. Lee Whitworth

In II Corinthians 4, we are told that there is a spiritual element to the lost man remaining lost, even when presented with the Gospel message. The god of this world blinds his mind, so that the light won't get into his heart.

The good news is, in the next few verses, God does sovereignly shine the light of  truth into the hearts of individuals, and they are marvelously converted.

That whole "light shining into the heart thing" comes from the mouth of the preacher (Rom. 10). So, obviously, the people of God bear responsibility to share the good news with the lost man.

There is an essential step that precedes that telling:  PRAYER!

So, I suggest we carpet bomb our culture with prayer. Here's a tactic we're using in our church.

We are in a Mormon community. In our town and surrounding communities, there are 83 Mormon congregations called Wards. We have put the locations of these congregations on cards and distributed them to our church people, with the instruction to pray regularly and tenaciously for these wards. Our people are going to these wards, walking around, even kneeling, praying that the bishops and their people would 'accidentally' open their Bibles and be grabbed by a verse that won't let them escape.

What if every Bible-teaching church in every city would spend time praying for the lost church congregations in their community? Mormons, church of Rome, Jehovah's Witness, Hari Krishna's, liberal churches. God, who is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think, hears these prayers, and I believe could rock our world if we cry out for his help.

Rev. Lee Whitworth

BMW Utah Pastor 

The Lost Poem...Found!

My wife's grandfather, Floyd Mefferd, died in 1993.  We was a godly man and a humble servant of Christ.  His heart had known great joys and great tragedy during his long pilgrimage here of earth.   Through it all, He kept his focus on Jesus Christ, His Savior and His Master.  The good works of godly men will forever follow them as a testament to the glory of Jesus Christ who alone is good.

Last week, Floyd's son, Rev. Lynn E. Mefferd, was sorting through some of the belongings that Floyd left behind, and he came across this precious poem handwritten by Floyd.  Floyd died over 17 years ago, yet his evangelist heart still speaks to us today through this lost poem.  Dear Fellow Evangelist, may your life and works one day leave a similar legacy...a legacy of a heart that beats for the salvation of lost souls:

What Will I Do?

By Floyd Mefferd

What will I do with Jesus?

This is the Question that came to me.

What will I do with Jesus?

He who died to set men free.

He brought the way of salvation,

To us who were born in sin.

To all comes the sweet invitation,

“Come unto Me and I’ll make you clean.”

I said to myself, “I’ll wait awhile,

I’m sure there’s plenty of time.

How can I bother with self denial,

While my life is still in its prime?

Christ answered in words Oh so tender,

“Dear one, you don’t understand;

Greater life to you I will render,

If you’ll let Me take hold of your hand.”

Then I bowed myself before Him,

Acknowledging my sin and shame.

Now former things grew strangely dim,

As into my heart He came.

How wonderful now to share God’s love,

With others along life’s way,

Bringing showers of blessings from heaven above,

If they too only trust and obey.

How about you dear friend of mine,

Have you found this wonderful peace?

Jesus invites you to come and find,

Real life, that will ever increase.

Surrender your will to His will today,

For His way is by far the best;

Just trust in the Christ of Calvary,

Who will give you sweet peace and rest.