Bellingham Gay Pride Parade

So, yesterday my wife and I decided to go out for breakfast after church. We went to Arlys's on Cornwall Ave in downtown. As we were leaving I noticed several gay pride flags and it became clear there was going to be some kind of event on Cornwall. As we were driving down Cornwall towards home we saw two men, one on each side of the street, holding signs saying things like: "Homo sex is learned deviant sin" and "Repent Perverts".

Normally, I just keep driving.

However, as I was driving I wondered, what church are they representing (Certainly not the same Jesus is the head of). So I turned around and parked. At this point my wife said: "Oh boy, this will be interesting. I'm going into the quilt shop." I figured, I'm a nice guy, I'll introduce myself as Pastor Man of Many Thoughts and we'll have a brief but friendly conversation about what church he attends and that will be that. I won't try to convince him that I don't think this is the best way to evangelize the gay and lesbian community and I won't ask him to meet for coffee later. Short and sweet.

WRONG.

Here is an outline of the conversation:

MMT: Hello there.
Angry Man Holding Sign (AMHS): Hello.
MMT: I'm Pastor MMT.
AMHS: I'm AMHS, I'm so glad you came out! I sent emails but you are the first Pastor to come out and join us.
MMT: I won't be joining you. I just wanted to know what church you are representing, if you are.
AMHS: (Questioning look)
MMT: I don't agree with your method of evangalism.
AMHS: You know what you are? You are ashamed of the Gospel! I represent the Church of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. You my friend are a panty waste preacher and need to be rebuked left and right!
MMT: I am very familiar with the Gospel and indeed none of the signs you are holding are a representation of the Gospel. Jesus dined with sinners, he did not hold signs condeming them. He also said we should be concerned with the plank in our eye before we worry about the speck in our brothers. Of that, I am not ashamed. Look, I didn't come over here to argue with you. I just wanted to know what church you are from. Will you not tell me that?
AMHS: We are from Fairhaven Believers Fellowship.

At this point I thanked him and wished him luck. All the while he is pointing at me and calling me some rather imaginative names. Truthfully, I had to look up panty waste. It's as bad as it sounds.

I've blogged about this before but, more than ever I think the church can no longer afford to be silent in the face of this kind of distortion of the Gospel.

My question to you is what do we do?

The Bellingham Herald reports that over 200 people walked in that parade. Those 200 people now think that Christianity is about hate and fear.

Why is the Fairhaven Believer's Fellowship not holding their hate signs in front of bars on the weekends? How about the court house during the week? Remember in Romans it says we need to obey the laws of the land. How about all you can eat bufett restaurants? Or how about any businesses that are open on Sunday's?

I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

Blessings,

MMT

Area 51 Ministries

It's official folks. Northwest Community Church and St. Brendan's Anglican Church have formed a joint Youth Group under the name Area 51 Ministry. We should have our kickoff meeting some time in the next 2-3 weeks. This is exciting! This partnership seemed a natural fit as both churches will be renting the same location and serving the same community.

I love seeing the Body of Christ work together, I think it makes Jesus smile.

We'll be planning things out in the next week or so and then I will have more info for you guys but, in the mean time, pray that God continue to give us guidance and continues to affirm this new partnership.

Blessings,

MMT

"Barack Obama is an Enemy of God" - Bill Keller

Once again another prominent Christian leader is making people think God is a nerdy kid with a magnifying glass zapping people who aren't Republican.

A friend of mine sent me this video. I watched it. Then I got a little angry. Now I am over it.

Still, I would like to share with you what I think. Mainly, because that is the point of this blog.

For the record, I am neither a Republican or Democrat. Also, I can say with confidence that God is neither a Democrat or Republican. In this video Keller has the following issues with Obama:

• Obama says there are more than one path that leads to God. I don't know the context in which Obama made these statements but I do know this, he is running for president and not to be my pastor. Should I be concerned that he may struggle with issues of faith? There are millions upon millions of people who have accepted Christ as their Savior and don't know what to do about other religions. I am not worried about the fact that Obama might have the same struggles the rest of us have. You mean he is human? Give me a break. Please.
• Obama supports a woman's right to choose. Again, he is running for president and not my pastor. I have said this before and I will say it again: I believe abortion to be a sin. Just like all the other sins. I do not believe it to be a "special" sin, as there is no Biblical basis for that belief. I'm tired of Christian leaders making these out to be special sins, as I see no value to the Kingdom. All Keller is doing is alienating people and pushing them further from Christ.
• Obama supports gay marriage. Again, yes I believe homosexuality is a sin. Just like all the other sins. I do not believe it to be a "special" sin, as there is no Biblical basis for that belief. I'm tired of Christian leaders making these out to be special sins, as I see no value to the Kingdom. All Keller is doing is alienating people and pushing them further from Christ.
• Obama supports giving some Israeli land to the Palestinians. So do some Israelis. I think he made this an issue so that he could fill space on the video.

I love how he characterized "Liberal Christians" as people who were concerned for the environment, poverty, healthcare, and education.

Because we all know that Jesus doesn't care about those things.

MMT

Vacation...where are you?

I am running out of steam...seriously. Planning for Northwest Community Church is going full steam ahead and things are really coming together smoothly. I however, am exhausted. Mary and I have vacation coming up at the end of this month and I know that will be a replenishing time for us both. Spiritually, emotionally, and physically it will be great.

17 days and counting...

For the 4.25 of you that read this blog, say prayer that I can get through the next 17 days giving God my A game.

Some exciting NCC news: We are in the process of formalizing a joint youth group with St. Brendan's Anglican Church. More details as they come but for now it looks entirely possible that we will launch June 25th. This is EXCITING!

I love that God has continued to give us ways to minister in the neighborhood long before Northwest Community Church actually has its first Sunday meeting.

Hope you all are doing well.

MMT

Weekend Come to a Close

We did church at Bellingham Health & Rehabilitation Services today and it was the best it has been so far. People are really starting to get to know us and we them. Nothing lights up a senior's face like being able to call them by name and ask them about something they were doing or feeling the last time you talked with them.

Anyway, it was great. We had about 12 people in attendance with about 6 singing to the worship songs and listening to the message.

This week brings the potential of working out the details of a joint youth group ministry between NCC and St. Brendan's Anglican Church. Seems a natural fit since they rent the same building we do for their church.

More about that as details are worked out.

The last two nights of working at the train station have been pretty exciting (Not necessarily in a good way) as I have dealt with a man so drunk he could not walk, vomiting profusely, then picked up by his wife and two kids. My heart sank when I saw the kids come up to him, probably only 11 and 9 years old respectively. I pray for this man and his family. That they can work to help him with his drinking problem and that it doesn't scar his kids.

Then Saturday I had a guy (sober I think) who said he invented a particle nebulizer (don't ask, I don't know) and that he could talk telepathically to lizards and crows. The crows wanted him to take the mark of the beast. The lizards worked for Lucifer. He can only talk to them when he is "at a river in Salem, Oregon" and "just outside Jacksonville, Florida".

I pray he...well I'm not sure actually. I'll pray that God do what God does best.

That's all for tonight folks. Hope your weekend was great.

MMT