by Caleb Moore | Dec 14, 2017
I recently wrote in a past blog of my desire to avoid the rat race of Christmas this year. Not only have I failed, I failed miserably. I have more Christmas parties and more activities this year than I can recall ever having. But these functions alone are not enough to make me a failure. No, the real reason I wanted to have a slower pace is so that I could focus more on God, and that is where my real failure lies.
I am a pastor and a church planter. I recently took a job as the teaching pastor at a newer church plant in Catoosa, Okla. It’s a great church with wonderful elders who help take some of the stress and work off of my shoulders.
I also have two little boys at home who have enough energy to power half of Manhattan. I want to move to be closer to my new job, so I am trying to get my house ready to put on the market as well as find a new home or even land to build a house on. So between starting a new job, trying to move to a new town, find land, build a house and give my wife and kids valuable time, I am also trying to finish a book I have been writing. And I’m trying to get this all done before Christmas, which ranks as one of the dumbest things I have ever tried to do.
Yes, it’s busy, and busyness isn’t always the problem. The problem is I am trying to make these things happen on my own accord. All of the things I am trying to accomplish seem very tangible and obtainable, which is also were the trouble lies. We function like atheists when we try to force godly results through mere human effort. When the things we are trying to do can be done by our hands alone, we tend to leave God out of the picture. As Christians, we are called to remember that no amount of human effort can guarantee godly results.
When we have several large tasks coexisting at the same time, we can be overtaken by a narrow focus and the overwhelming drive to just get things done. When this happens, other things seem to fall by the wayside.
For me, I fall into the trap of believing that these were things I should do on my own. I failed to take these plans and lay them at the feet of God and allow everything to work out in their own time. I was in a hurry and God wasn’t, so I took it upon myself to just keep moving ahead. I imagined myself as a steam engine courageously chugging up the mountain, when in reality, I was a dung beetle rolling a big pile of excrement. At those moments, I am a Christian pastor who is living like an atheist.
For me, stress and frustration are always the result whenever I try to move beyond what God is doing at the moment. I’m in a hurry but have no real idea as to where I am trying to go. I want peace and security and success, but these are not things that can be built with our hands. I, personally, must remember that the things I am ambitiously driven toward are not found in material things. They are, in fact, longings of the soul that only God can fulfill.
by Caleb Moore | Nov 7, 2017
I am not a big fan of this time of year. This time is supposed to be full of family events, holiday dinners and Christmas shopping, but let’s be honest, it’s exhausting.
Between decorating the house, attending family and church events and shopping for the perfect present, it feels like the holiday season is just too busy and way too expensive. What makes it even worse is that my wife totally disagrees with me.
Halloween was barely over before she started planning Thanksgiving and Christmas events for us as a family. I’m not sure where she gets the energy but I’m guessing the mountain of empty coffee cups in the trash with “pumpkin spice” written on the side is a good place to start.
And then as a pastor there is the yearly conversation about whether or not we are taking Christ out of Christmas. Call me a Scrooge but I think we, as a culture, did that a long time ago. It’s up to us as individuals to decide if we celebrate by going into debt buying presents or if we make this a time of reflecting on the birth of Christ.
I believe there is a great way to prepare our hearts for the holiday season and to keep us from getting caught up in the mad rush of the season. It begins by taking a Sabbath rest once a week. If your life is too busy now to take a Sabbath, how do you expect to be able to slow down and focus on Christ during a busy holiday season? It needs to already be apart of your weekly rhythm.
The Sabbath rest was given as a reminder that we are more that what we produce. The nation of Israel had spent a long time as slaves whose self worth depended upon whether or not they were producing enough to justify their existence. If a slave grew old or was injured and could no longer produce, they were simply executed.
If you do this long enough you truly begin to believe you only have worth as a human if you are productive. God commanded his people to rest and produce nothing as a reminder that their value came from God, not what they could do.
We still have this slave mentality. Many of us don’t know how to just truly rest; we have to be doing something productive. Trust me, I feel great after I accomplish something. I can even rest better if the house is clean or a project gets completed. And with two small kids at home, there is always something that needs to be done, but I need to teach my children that there is a time where it is actually good to produce nothing because God loves them not because of what they can do but because of who He is.
So this year, I am going to do my best to skip Christmas, at least the kind of Christmas that has made so many of us grow weary. I want the holiday season to be a time of rest and a time to reflect on all the ways God has shown His goodness. I know the Sabbath is no longer required for believers, but its principles can still help free us from our slave mentalities.
by Christi Roselle | Oct 17, 2017
The woman had been kidnapped with her husband. Her child had been killed by her captors. She was repeatedly raped by her captors. She bore children while in captivity.
For years, she was trapped in a country in which women were not allowed to be educated or even receive medical treatment except under the supervision of a male guardian.
On Sunday, Oct. 15, a group of women dressed as handmaids from Margaret Atwood’s book “The Handmaid’s Tale” marched in protest of H.R. 36 AKA the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” Exactly what is “The Handmaid’s Tale” (THT) about to illicit such dramatic posturing publicly?
Set in futuristic Gilead, a theocracy created by Christian militants who overthrow the United States government via assassinations of the three governing branches and destruction of the Constitution, THT lays out a dystopian society in which fertile females are called “Handmaids” and placed into homes of Commanders and their infertile wives. Human procreation is under threat biologically due to radioactivity and pollution, so reproduction is an absolute imperative for the continued existence of our species.
Even though the book portrays their necessity of existence as precious, the handmaids are treated as slaves. Their clothing, speech and movement are controlled by a spy network known as “Eyes” who are willing to punish and/or put to death any handmaiden who does not obey.
Women are also seen as second class citizens, restricted from reading or even counting money. Their currency they must use to do the household shopping is given in wooden “coins” that depict the product desired to prevent the necessity of thought brought by complex transactions.
THT attempts to use Scripture to support its premises, however completely out of context. In fact, the concept of the handmaid is derived from Gen. 30:1-3, the story of Rachel and how her jealousy of her sister’s ability to give their husband, Jacob, sons. Rachel has her maidservant, Bilhah, lay with Jacob in Rachel’s stead to bear him a child for Rachel’s sake.
Conception in Gilead is to occur via The Ceremony, which opens with scriptural reading in front of the members of the household. Then the Commander, his wife and the handmaid are to engage in a sterile act of procreation, but really it is a rape of the handmaid.
Women do not need the right to kill their child, who is wholly dependent upon them, to be empowered. Women are the biologically and biblically chosen to be the keepers of the most innocent, a blessing I personally cherish.
How the book applies to H.R. 36 is extremely vague and unclear. The book doesn’t mention much about abortion. Conception is difficult and rare in the world of THT. The world Atwood creates in THT would make abortion a taboo by all humans, including the handmaids.
No, H.R. 36 is not proof of a potential patriarchy or theocracy in America. The bill does not use Scripture. It in no way removes a woman’s autonomy over her body.
Women do not need the right to kill their child, who is wholly dependent upon them, to be empowered. Women are the biologically and biblically chosen to be the keepers of the most innocent, a blessing I personally cherish.
Margaret Atwood is gifted with her use of words, but not so much with her understanding of philosophy or Christianity. Neither does she recognize that there are places in this world that more closely resemble Gilead than America.
Joshua Boyle and Caitlan Coleman were able to return to Canada this week. Caitlan is the woman whose story seems to be straight out of a fictional book. Their Gilead was real.
by Caleb Gordon | Oct 2, 2017
“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt. 5:28).
Last week Hugh Hefner died. I have watched in amazement as people of all walks of life have been talking about how amazing this man was and wishing him well in the afterlife and so on and so forth.
I have been impacted by Hugh. I’m a guy. I’ve seen a Playboy magazine or two in my day. The average age a young boy sees his first pornographic image is 8 years old. That is a legacy that Hugh has left. This breaks my heart.
Men and boys cannot get those images out of their heads. Once these images are burned into our brains they are there on a permanent basis. Men are visual in nature. Once we see these images, our imaginations begin to run wild.
What happens as a man dive headlong into this cesspool of images, a transformation begins in his brain. He begins to see women differently. Rather than viewing women as God’s creation of beauty and as an actual human being, we see them as a commodity. This destroys relationships.
- Pornography is one of the biggest destroyers of marriages in our country.
- Pornography is the number one reason human trafficking happens.
- Pornography is one of the biggest causes of affairs.
- Pornography sets an unrealistic expectation in a marriage bedroom.
These are just a few of the horrible things that porn causes. The thing that is even more disturbing is the number of people who are calling this man amazing, kind and a living legend. He was a depraved lost man who exploited and objectified women.
We should NOT be celebrating him. We should not be celebrating the fact that he helped promote one of the most sinister activities in all of human history. We should be mindful of how wicked the world is and how quickly we can get snared by this toilet water. It might quench a few thirsts, but it will make you sick and could eventually “kill” you. We need to be mindful of how sticky the web of sin can be, and we need to run from sin as if it’s a deadly disease because that’s exactly what it is.
That we are celebrating this man is a massive glowing neon sign that our world is depraved to the core and is in desperate need of redemption.
by Ryan Smith | Sep 29, 2017
“O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave?”
The question is stated, and the victory implicit in the anthem of the United States of America. It is a rhetorical question that demands a defiant YES! Our flag does still wave over one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all….right?
We rightly celebrate the flag, but over what kind of nation does it yet wave?
It still waves proudly over one of the nation’s most prominent landscapes – the arena of Sports. Yet on these hallowed fields, many are seeking to amplify their voices as those who question the state of liberty and justice for all.
Regardless of where you stand (or kneel) on this issue, the conclusion is the same: something is broken.
We may still be one nation. We may still be under God. But we are divided.
To be honest with you, I don’t want to write this article. Every voice in my mind and conscience swirls with derision. Don’t enter this minefield. No one needs another voice in this discussion. There’s nothing you can say that won’t get you trampled.
All of those things are likely true.
Yet what is also true is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the beauty of brothers dwelling in unity (Ps. 133:1). It is true that sometimes what is most beneficial is not an argument, but compassion. It is true that sometimes the greatest answer to the most violent of questions is simply, “I don’t know.”
A blog post can’t heal the divide in this country. I can’t aim to adequately represent any side of the argument in a way that will comfort, heal or bring clarity to a discussion far beyond my grasp. While I don’t believe I can adequately answer the question of “Would Jesus Take A Knee?” I do simply want to add a few words as a brother in Christ to those in the church and a brother in humanity to all of my countrymen over whom our flag still waves.
To whom it may concern, I just want you to know…
My heart hurts, and my spirit is cast down. I don’t know how to help.
My heart mourns because of the wicked and vile belief that the color of one’s skin is any indicator of a person’s worth, humanity or significance in the sight of God and man. I weep with so many mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers who live with both the loss of dear life and fear that theirs hangs in a balance – with those who ask, what is it all for? I hate sin and how the Enemy rejoices in the playground of confusion, mistrust, pride and Scriptural abuse.
My ears ache from the shouting.
I sympathize with those who feel they have no country – those who no longer feel a protection of sorts from an idealized notion that broken men can create a secure world – those who now wonder what is behind every set of eyes that meet theirs. I want to speak gentleness to the wildest of storms, knowing my words are incomplete, and any bandage I can offer is too insignificant for the wound.
I sympathize with those who desire a greater country. One where blood spilled is not done so in vain and where protection of others is a virtue to be honored. I want to speak gratitude and thanksgiving and give honor to those to whom it is due. I want a world where heroes still exist.
With the Psalmist, I cry, “How long, Lord?!” Jesus, come soon. Restore your creation. Let your Kingdom reign where there is no more war between brothers.
My hands long to extend to those who feel they are not heard. I want to give mercy to those who would respond harshly out of past experience or those who hurt in a way that they must keep everyone at arm’s length because they feel no one can be trusted. I want to embrace you, but I don’t know how.
I want to examine myself as well as the dark corners of my own heart. O that all of us would examine not just the devils on the other side but the voices in our own ears, the sin in our own hearts, the admission that not only do we live in a world of sinful people, but that we are sinful people ourselves.
My voice recognizes its inadequacy and misplacement in a discussion of such personal magnitude. I don’t want to cry out, “Peace! Peace!” when there is no peace. But I do want peace.
There are no words I can give that will help. There is no salve from my soul big enough to save, unite or adequately call with any authority for understanding. There is no knee I can kneel, no chorus I can join and no hand I can adequately place over a heart to stop the bleeding.
The answer to all of this is found in Jesus and the Gospel. That I know. Only Christ can heal these wounds. For those who mourn and whatever you mourn for, I commend to you, in whatever fear, in whatever pain, in whatever desire, that Jesus is greater. We the people hurt not because of a creed, but because of broad and destructive manifestations of sin. Our only hope is in the blood of Christ.
We hurt. I hate it. I feel it. I don’t know what to do. I commend to you nothing but Christ. One day he will make all things new. He will set all things free.
That banner still waves. We still want to be free. We still want to be brave.
But we still hurt.
by Caleb Moore | Sep 28, 2017
When I was a senior in high school I was kicked out of church. I wasn’t excommunicated for any egregious sin or for teaching false theology. No, I was told that I asked too many questions.
My questions were not silly or meant to cause conflict, I was genuinely curious. I was old enough to drive myself to church which, in my family, meant that I was also old enough to decide if I wanted to go to Sunday school or not. My parents encouraged me to find my own faith in God instead of relying solely on theirs.
Even with the very tempting option of sleeping another hour, I still went to Sunday School because I had lots of questions. I wanted to know why God allowed evil, why good people often died too young, how science and religion worked together; it seemed that there was no end to the questions I had swirling around my young mind.
However, every Sunday, I would arrive early for Sunday School, and the teacher would spend 15-20 minutes conversing about NASCAR or his job with the other adult volunteers before saying a quick prayer and then dismissing us to our smaller group sessions. I made attempts to interrupt, wanting to ask just one of my questions about life and faith, yet each time the teacher would gesture for me to put my hand down and continue conversing with the other adults.
In a moment of frustration I blurted out loudly, “I don’t think God cares about your dumb NASCAR, and neither do we!”
Later that evening the teacher called and recommended that I not return until I could learn to behave. I might not have been the ideal student, but I did really want to learn and grow in my faith. I was tired of the same stories being retaught every year. I was tired of my school being more intentional at answering questions than my church. There was a war in the culture for the hearts of the youth, and the church seemed to be late to the battlefield.
Disillusioned, I church-shopped until I found a youth pastor who took me under his wing. While I was on a mission trip, I got word that my new mentor had taken his own life. He had gone to the garage with a gun in one hand and a Bible in the other. It was soon revealed that he had made some poor decisions that would have cost him his job and possibly his family, so he took his life instead of dealing with the pain.
I can still remember how I felt when I got that news, because, for me, that was the day I decided God was not real.
It would take years before I came back around. God did a lot of work in repairing the wounds I felt as a young man. Thankfully, the Spirit of God is stronger than any mistake or pain we might receive or cause. I eventually entered into the ministry with the desire to answer as many questions as possible and to be the kind of teacher I had so desperately needed.
All of us who make up the Body of Christ have two biblically mandated responsibilities. We are to teach those who are younger than us, and we are to strive to live holy and honest lives, so that our words will not be disqualified by our actions.
We always complain about the faults and shortcomings of the current generation, but perhaps our time is better spent pouring God’s truth into their lives. Kids don’t need more fun youth activities; they need the full scope of God’s love and truth.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).