The Sandy Foundation Shaken

     330 Years Ago, on October 28-29, 1682 William Penn landed in New Castle, Delaware.  This historic moment in history laid a foundation for a democratic republic which would later become the United States of America.  Penn's "Seed Of A Nation" was based on recipocal liberty. During the late seventeenth century, when Protestants persecuted Catholics, Catholics persecuted Protestants, and both persecuted Quakers and Jews, Penn established an American sanctuary which protected freedom of conscience. Almost everywhere else, colonists stole land from the Indians, but Penn traveled unarmed among the Indians and negotiated peaceful purchases. He insisted that women deserved equal rights with men. He gave Pennsylvania a written constitution which limited the power of government, provided a humane penal code, and guaranteed many fundamental liberties.  Penn is often referred to as  the architect behind our "frame of government," "our american justice system - trial by jury," and those "religious freedoms" we enjoy as Americans.  In fact, Penn was the only person who made major contributions to liberty in both the New World and the Old World.

      330 years later, a major hurricane named, "Sandy" hit the very locations Penn landed and where his charters extended.  The name "Sandy" means "defender of humanity."  It's extremely prophetic that this major storm was named "Sandy."  One of Penn's greatest and most controversial phamplets, written from his time in the tower of London, was entitled, "The Sandy Foundation Shaken."  Most people do not remember that New Jersey, which was hardest hit by the storm, was owned by William Penn before he was granted Pennsylvania by King Charles II. As early as 1660 George Fox and the Quakers had sought for over a decade a colony in America where they could practice their religion freely.  When a dispute over land holdings in West New Jersey (then a separate colony from East New Jersey) between John Fenwick and Edward Billinge arose, the Quakers (preferring to settle their differences among themselves) had Penn settle the dispute in England. In 1672, He wrote the "Concessions and Agreements" charter for a group of Quaker colonists who were settling in the newly acquired New Jersey. Among its provisions were the right to trial by jury, the freedom from arbitrary imprisonment for debt, and edict against capital punishment. Penn also strongly argued for religious freedom, writing "no Men. . . hath Power or authority to rule over Men's Consciences in Religious matters." This document has been called "the first clear statement in American history of the supremacy of the fundamental law [universal rights] over any statutes that might be enacted."  The New Jersey project was a success.  The colony reported having fertile land, ample game and being stocked with goods.  However, there wasn’t enough room for everyone from England, Germany, Scotland and Holland (places where Penn and his fellow Quakers had been spreading Quakerism).  Penn then looked to the Crown for land west of the Delaware River.

      There are some very interesting scriptures that apply to this historic moment we're in.  In Matthew 7:25-26 it says, "And the rain descended and the floods came and the wind blew, and they rushed against the house and it did not fall, for its foundation was laid on solid rock. everyone who hears these my words, but does not practice them, will be likened to the foolish man who built his house on sand."  The unfortuante thing is that our nation has departed from Penn's "Holy Experiment." His experiment faltered. Religious differences spawned political factionalism. In the Legislature, the Quaker party held the upper hand and resisted sharing power. Quakers themselves split into rival factions. Penn's trusted associates mismanaged funds. Penn was thrown into debtors' prison. He suffered two strokes, lost his memory and died penniless in 1718.  Although his vision for his colony only lasted for 80 years, Penn's real contribution was his honorable treatment of the first nations people - the Leni-lenopi tribe.  His treaties were honored during his lifetime... only to be broken by his own sons.  Those violations and acts of covenant breaking affect us to this day.  
     On Oct. 28-29, 2012  Hurricane "Sandy" came up the Atlantic and turned left into the Delaware Bay.  It came with 50 mph winds, affected 50 million people in the mid-atlantic and northeast, it did 50 billion dollars in damage, and killed 50 people.  50 is known as a Jubilee.  Hurricane Sandy caused Wall Street to shut down.  Recently, this past year my dear friend, Chuck Pierce,  prophesied that Atlantic City would go under water!  In Basking Ridge, New Jersey on June 8, 2012. “God is going to give us power over the next storm in this area. There will be a storm on the coast, and the Lord says I am going to give you power. You are going to see My power working. Now I am here to say again, New Jersey, Newark, Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, Hartford area in CT and all the way to Yale – God is going to move in an unprecedented way – now get ready! The power of God has come into the atmosphere. This power is going to surprise you in a way that you have not been surprised. Some of you are saying how does this affect me? Well, some of you are going to wake up in the Presence of the Lord, and He is going to say I am waiting for you. He’s going to stand there and you are going to be arrested by HIS SPIRIT. God’s people are coming under a supernatural power and favor in this region.”  
     On the 50th year after the founding of Pennsylvania, The Liberty Bell, was presented in honor of William Penn.  Lev. 25:10 "Proclaim liberty throughout the land..." is inscribed on the top of the Bell. The revision of Penn’s Fourth Frame of Government in Pennsylvania was named the Charter of Privileges and was celebrated on its fiftieth anniversary in 1751.   50 represents Jubilee.  It appears that we are coming into a time of Jubilee where God himself is pressing the reset button on our nation!  As I wrote these words God spoke to me the following prophetic word...

Hear the word of The Lord! My people are called to be a people 

who hear and listen to my voice. My voice is not found in the majority. 

My voice is not found in what is popular... Nor in the voice of the many 

who share in the same opinion. My voice is the still small voice 

and there will you find the almighty. By the sword you shall fight 

but you shall fight from a broken place... I will be your defense. 

The Sandy Foundation is Shaken!

THERE ARE FIRES IN THE SANDS OF NEW JERSEY...

THIS IS A MAJOR PROPHETIC SIGN!

Don't Find Yourself On The Wrong Side Of History!

      Isaiah 43:18-19 "Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."   So, this passage was written in a time when the first temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonian military.  During this period, the southern tribes had been confident that as long as they had the temple God was on their side. However, God had other plans.  In Acts 17:24 The Apostle Paul proclaimed that "God does not dwell in temples made of human hands."  So then why were the southern tribes so hell bent in rebuilding a second temple when God's plan was to incarnate himself in a human body?  Why are so many people still obsessed with buildings and institutions as being "symbols" of stability?   This passage from Isaiah 43 explains to us that people have difficulty forgetting the past and have hard times embracing cultural shifts.  

     In our most recent presidential discussions the focus has been on Jobs.  Most of the time, the republican side has been emphasizing that we need to reclaim "Manufacturing" from China and India.  Unfortunately, because America has been an industrial country in the past it has not fully grasped the idea that the new technologies of the future are not going to sustain a industrial base.  We are now moving to a "knowledge based economy."  A Knowledge based economy is a kind of economy based solely on the production, distribution and the use of knowledge. In short, it means that the most important thing in the coming economy model will be knowledge and skills, not the material products.  So why then is there so much emphasis on going backward to an economy based on the industrial revolution?  In short, it's because with changes as drastic as this thousands of workers are no longer needed to build products of the past.  The democratic emphasis has focused on the new economy and the jobs associated with it.  Did you know With a nationwide unemployment rate of 8.1%, many Americans are having a hard time finding work. Despite this, 3.8 million jobs in the U.S. remain unfilled?  Why? Because there is no one qualified or skilled enough with the tools necessary for these new economy jobs.  Job training is necessary.  But there are those who want to return to the age before the Internet.  They want their printing press jobs, their real estate jobs, their car salesman jobs back. But, what do I need a middle man for anymore when I can go online and purchase the items from anywhere in the world without their help.  These jobs are obsolete.  In the future, teaching jobs will shift because of holograms.  Pastoral care will be more about facilitation rather being mediators and gatekeepers of truth.  There are no gatekeepers.  Anyone can be a photographer.  Anyone can start their on newsblog.  Anyone can produce programming, create their own stories and post them on YouTube at low-costs.  What do I need all those former reporters of news for when i can catch a news-worthy story on my IPhone for?  So what are we going back to?  Why are we wanting to return to the former days?  You can't take  it back and move the culture to the golden age of the 1950's.  So what does this all mean?

        There is no economic fix.  The economy is obsolete as we've known it.  Their are new rules, new jobs, new leadership models, new structures to be built based on flat-lateral team driven organizations.  Telephone poles must be removed.  Cell phone towers will be replaced by telstar and new infrastructures will become important to build and sustain our new economy in the global market place.  Modernism demands conformity. Post-modernism demands diversity.  The 20th century led to world wars and the building of the modern industrial complex. However, the 21st century will force nation-states to break up and interdependent regional areas to produce products together.  As the scriptures say, "weapons will be beaten into plow-shares" maybe in our time, in our generation.  So when we want to cling to the "Good old days" - may I ask when were those good ole days in America?  When slavery was recognized?  When race riots took place in Chicago?  When thousands of Native Americans were dispossed and displaced?  There were no good old days!   Our best days are ahead.  So you need to be concerned... wherever you live and in whatever cultural background your from... to make sure your life is focused on the future- not the past.  You need to choose leaders who are moving us forward not backwards and serve organizations which assist in bringing understanding, tolerance, civility, and transformation toward the future in education, business, church-life, arts, media, government, and life-care. And if you sense you are called to be in anyone of these areas of work you need to get the education.  But make sure your educators have an eye on the future and not the past.  Otherwise, you may find yourself on the wrong side of history!

WOW, NOTHING BUT WEAKNESS!

    Conquering negative emotions can be a challenge especially when you go through difficult moments in life.  In Phil. 3:18-19 explains that negative emotions can destroy our faith life.  So I often, try to find ways to encourage myself when I'm down emotionally.  I'm usually a very optimistic person, full of faith, and very attune to hearing the Lord on so many levels as I pray.  But, lately due to the grief and loss of my dearest family members I find my self second guessing, feeling depressed, feeling a little out of touch and fighting to distinguish God's voice in the midst of dark emotional states.  I've never had to deal with this before.

    What's even more difficult is to do my regular pastoral duties and visit with families only to learn that many of them are struggling with the same things or worse. As a result, I wonder if the Body Of Christ is under spiritual attack. The other day I went to visit with a family in our church and learned of some extreme things they've been going through.  What was strange as I left their house was I left their house encouraged and realized my problems seemed small in comparison to theirs. During my visit I found that as I encouraged them I found myself encouraging myself right out of a really bad emotional state that morning.  It's all too weird for me these days.  But God calls us all out of our negative places!

     I Samuel 30:6 says, "David encouraged himself in the Lord."  In this passage, David and all his men found their families had been kidnapped and all their stuff taken away.  All of his men were bitter about the situation.  As a result, David found himself in a place of discouragement.  When you let negative emotions get the best of you - you have to make a decision to get better or be bitter.  David made a decision.  But, how did he get into a positive place of faith again?  First he called his priest! Wow, what a thought.  He then asked Abiathar to bring him a priestly garment.  Why?  Because David understood the most important step to get out of self-pity, loathing, and negativity was to get before the Lord and seek direction directly from him.  God answers prayer.

    When I was in my mid-twenties, my grandmother asked me if I stilled prayed for my father to come to Christ (My father was an atheist).  I said, "No."  I had lost all faith for him and was discouraged about it so I ceased to pray about it.  I loved self-pity... it's a great negative emotion!  If you're going to have one.  She rebuked me, "Michael, you should never stop praying for him!"  "God answers prayer."  "I'm not going to die until he comes to the Lord."  Wow.  He did and she lived till she was 92.  God answered her prayers and mine too.  He doesn't forget the ones you prayed in the past. Lol.

      When David prayed he asked the Lord three things: (1) Shall I pursue the raiding party? (2) Will I catch them? and (3) finally, he asks "Will I be able to overtake them?"  These are the three things we need to consider when faced with negative emotions.  When injustice is done, you have the choice to go after justice or let it go.  It takes a great deal of discernment especially when in Micah 6:8 it asks "What does the Lord require of us?"  First thing out the gate - "to do justice."  What does justice look like in your situation?  Secondly, when faced with an injustice, in our day and age it could lead to court... and then you have to prove your case.  Here's right where I live right now.  I am involved in a court case.  My lawyer threatened to quit our  court case because he doesn't think we have enough money to finish.  I can't get mad at him since I recognize He doesn't have enough time and resources because of his own case management load... and our case is big.  So he gets discouraged and wants to quit.  Our side can win this.  We have the evidence.  We have the witnesses but can we really catch them?  Is it really worth going through all the hassle only to lose a case because the other side can outsmart you.  So David asked can we catch up to them?  Justice too often seems far away. Proverbs 29:6 states, "In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare,  and the just shall praise and rejoice."   Eventually, when you pursue justice, you end up in a place of gratitude and thankfulness.  David's final question to the Lord had to do with strength.  Do I have enough emotional strength to overcome this?  I love this place. It's a great place to get to.  Nothing but weakness.  II Cor. 12:9 says, "Christ strength is made PERFECT in our weakness."  Go figure.

      When I am weak he is strong.  How so... well the battle we all face are not ours.  It belongs to the Lord.  Without a battle we would not have a testimony.  But, when you're in that battle and sorely tested you don't think you can make it through and it doesn't seem God is listening or even cares.  Recently, someone reminded me that when I was a kid and had a test in school... the teacher was present but was silent behind the desk until the test was over.  When we turned our test papers in... our real question was one of seeking approval. How'd I do.

     Well, many times I believe God is present - especially in our weakness; sitting in his chair waiting for us to finish what we need to do or waiting for us to get over ourselves.  Tests are nothing more than checking our progress.  So what does God say to David?  Go for it!  You can overcome this. You can recover from anything that tries to steal you future.  The Apostle Paul said it this way, (2 Cor. 11:25) "Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? 30If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands."  Even death itself, Paul considered a victory.  One day, during my mom's final weeks she got up in bed and said, Mike, I don't want to die!"  I said, "Mom, why would you want to stay. You've been complaining my whole life how you missed your mother. Why stick around here when you can go be with her?"  I understand her loss because I lost her.  But the promise I have is that I will be with her again one day in heaven too!

      So if your feeling weak emotionally, want to lay down in a box of kitty litter and throw it all over yourself, why not turn choose to begin the turn around?  Shake off those negative emotions that destroys you faith life. Get in the presence of God and ask him how David's three questions apply to your situation and see what he will answer.  I'm just glad to know, Christ's strength is made perfect in my weakness - and boy He must be strong in me right now! Thank you Jesus for helping all of us get through tough times.  As Robert Schuller Sr. said, "Tough times never last, tough minded people do!  Remember I'm praying for you too...

It's Wall Street Not Sesame Street!

Talk about incompetence.  Recently, our church has been engaged in a legal battle against a predatory lending company which has ravaged several churches over our region of the country.  This story is just another Maddoff story that has bilked churches out of millions of dollars, brought down two major banks, stolen minister retirement funds and has 14 people and 4 different companies involved in the criminal activity and subsequent cover up.  How we ever uncovered this mess is still an act of God to me.  However, this case has given me real insight to major corrupt financial structures built in our country's economic and legal systems.  You can blame the President, you can blame the House or Senate, but the real criminals are the banks and Wall St. who have yet been brought to justice.  Our country is in a crisis.  It not only needs prayer but we need Godly leadership.  Our problem in the Christian Community is that we have failed to educate and raise up young people with the educational background, tools and resources needed to enter into the financial field to fix this mess. All the American Church World has done is raised up more crooks like Maddoff rather than bring about Godly change in the workplace. Why?  Because our churches have spent years teaching escapism, short cuts, and church politics all the while when they should have been engaged in becoming salt and light within our culture.  You can preach all you want on purpose, power, dominionism, and the seven mountains and lead millions into delusion if you want. But without educating and raising up a generation who can compete in the global market place- all this preaching is a joke.  Try pastoring a church in this legal and business environment and then tell me how well we're doing as a nation. However, not to worry it's all catching up and will create a major leadership shift in our world because of incompetence.  Here's why...

       Ezekiel 34 explains "The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy to these shepherds. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: How horrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of only themselves. Shouldn’t shepherds take care of the sheep? ³ You eat the best parts of the sheep, dress in the wool, and butcher the finest sheep. Yet, you don’t take care of the sheep. ⁴ You have not strengthened those that were weak, healed those that were sick, or bandaged those that were injured. You have not brought back those that strayed away or ow looked for those that were lost. You have ruled them harshly and violently. ⁵ So they were scattered because there was no shepherd. When they were scattered, they became food for every wild animal."  God has called Leaders to Lead... this means to equip the body thoroughly for service. But how can you do that if you haven't gotten the equipping you needed to do your job?  Can't ask someone else to do what you're unwilling to do yourself!

           Here's what the American Church has been producing.  According to several major news outlets, The SEC has filed legal complaints against Ephren Taylor of running a fraud through his company, City Capital Corp. with a ponzi schemes targeting churches like New Birth Baptist Church in Atlanta and Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. The SEC alleges that Taylor told people he invested in economically disadvantaged businesses such as laundromats, but he was actually spending the money on marketing himself and his wife’s singing career.  South Florida's Liberty City Church of Christ was a victim to his scheme and lost $100,000 in investments from church members."  

         A former usher of a Mercer Island church pleaded guilty, recently, to securities fraud for stealing more than $3 million from church members and others, according to the King County, WA. Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Stephen J. Klos, 86, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of securities fraud for running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded elderly victims, the prosecutor’s office said today. Prosecutors say Klos and another man, Robert Justice, paid later investors in the scheme with money from new clients, pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars along the way. The scheme, according to the state Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), dated to 2004 when Klos began soliciting investments from members of his gym as well as members of the Mercer Island Covenant Church, where Klos served as an usher. The Securities Division of DFI began its investigation in 2007. The charges, filed in April 2011, arose from losses suffered by 10 people, although charging documents indicate Klos took money from at least 23 families.  Klos had been barred from securities and financial dealings in 1992 for running another Ponzi scheme that raised more than $3.4 million, according to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) records. No criminal charges were filed in the case, although SEC records indicate he had to pay back more than $380,000.

         Huffington Post reported a few days ago, "After years of etching their name into gospel music history, the Winans' family legacy has taken a slight detour with allegations surfacing that Michael Winans Jr. has been involved in a Ponzi scheme.  CBS Detroit reports that Michael Winans Jr. pleaded guilty on Wednesday to federal charges that he defrauded more than 1,000 investors out of $8 million in crude oil bonds over the course of 30 years. According to a press statement obtained by the local news affiliate, Winans promoted the fraudulent investment operation as if the Winans Foundation Trust were investing in Saudi Arabian oil bonds."  And the list goes on.  Why are people scammed?  Because our churches are being led into incompetency... within the clergy, legal and justice systems, and especially the financial sector. We need quality, competent, educated leadership to avert this stuff.

        We need people to be discipled in their faith and teach them how to apply it in every field of life. We need to teach thieves to stop stealing! (See Eph. 4)  The world is groaning for Christian integrity.   Do you know what a derivative is?  Do you understand the principles underlying capitolism?  Is it biblical?  Most don't know or care.  Banks are no longer banks - they're stores where you are led to purchase products at $35. a pop. Bank bailouts were supposed to be followed by financial reform to limit the banks’ destructive power. Instead, bailed-out banks are bigger than ever and have resisted reforms to limit their size and complexity.  Why?  Because banks are still doing "Speculative Banking."  They are interested in enriching themselves and their investors which is why churches are getting scammed and people everywhere are finding their personal economy threatened.  The bank failure is coming.  It's going to cost all of us and it could have been stopped if we were not blinded by our own moral incompetence.

It's Always Too Soon To Quit!

In the Apostle's Letter to Timothy he writes: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."  Getting there was another thing!  In 2 Corinthians 11:25 He explains how he got there. "Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep."  So, according to the way I read the Apostle Paul's words, working toward a finished life doesn't necessarily mean the road toward your destination is going to be easy.  Life has a few twists and turns along the way.  Keeping your faith in tact is probably the major key to surviving a ship wreck or two.

       Over the last few years, I have had a few challenges of my own.  On Feb. 3, 2010 my mother died of small cell lung cancer (Never having smoked a day in her life).   She was one of my major supporters.  That same year, my only nephew, Jake Veir was tragically killed in a head on collision by a young girl texting one of her friends.  Then on July 9th, 2011 my father passed away in Fort Myers, Florida leaving me the responsibility of caring for his 85 year old German wife.  All the while, I have been in an intense "Lawsuit" against a predatory mortgage company with our ministry, stood close to a dear ministry friend who's wife ran off with another man, sold a home our family loved but could no longer afford, and coping with major mood swings of grief and depression - and still pastoring a church.  And you know what it's all good!  

My Mother, Ruth L. Berry
May 11, 1935-Feb. 3, 2012

       I haven't been beaten with rods, been ship wrecked  on the Chesapeake Bay, or stoned yet.  Just a few verbal abuses, stealing ideas, and thrown under a bus or two but no stones yet.   To the right you will see my mom holding on to what was my last Christmas gift to her six weeks before her death and she loved it!   We Berry's are very motivated in faith and have always fought to have a positive view of life and the future.  Bishop Fulton J Sheen in his renowned book, Peace Of Soul, wrote: "People would be in a less unhappy state if they realized that conflict, struggle, effort are inescapable in Adam's progeny."

       Job 23:10 gives us a great promise of hope when going through difficult times. "When He has tired me, I shall come forth as gold!"  Galatians 6:9 is a great promise of faith: "Be not weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap... IF WE FAINT NOT."   Too often, we are tempted to throw in the towel (so to speak), and quit.  My dear friend, Australian Entrepreneur, Peter Daniels, once asked, "What is the cost of a vision?"  It's not money.  Never is.  Money always follows vision. Mark 8:36-37 Jesus asked, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own life? What should a person give in exchange for life?  The real cost of a vision is pain!  Disappointments, rejections, self-inflicted problems, broken promises, and low return on investments were not what you expected. And the rewards, were they worth the risks?  It is very normal and HUMAN to get disappointed.  It's okay to be bummed out... However, succumbing to negative thinking and negative people is a luxury that none of us can afford.  Dr. Robert Schuller once said, in his book, "Don't throw away your tomorrows:"  "Never make an irreversible negative decision in a down time!"  Recently, I've been thinking... "You know what?  I've done a lot of good over the last 20 years of my life, made some really good decisions that have brought thousands to Christ... I just wonder, with all the great knowledge I have gained and life experiences I now have, what damage could I possibly do to the kingdom of darkness with the next 20 years of my life?"  

"Face Your Fears.  Confront Your challenges with a 

stubborn, positive attitude!"  - Dr. Robert Schuller

       One of my favorite authors, Norman Vincent Peale, in his book, "You Can If You Think You Can," wrote, "When you have a problem, one that is especially difficult and baffling, perhaps terribly discouraging, there is one basic principle to apply and keep on applying, it is simply this -never quit.  To give up is to invite complete defeat And not only in connection with the matter at hand. Giving up contributes to an ultimate defeat of personality."  The Apostle Paul, always in the face of difficulty because of his vision wrote in Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  Our journey to finished may not take the exact road we expected to go on but God does ensure everything will work together for our good.  In other words, learning lessons is what failures are- or should be - all about!  Sometimes when we are chasing a dream without taking steps to avoid the twin nightmares of over-estimating our own abilities and leaning too much upon the wrong people can be the very reason God allows us to get ship wrecked.  Out of all such experiences, lessons can be learned.  However, If there is one thing I'm learning about life, it is this: "If you keep making the same mistakes, you will never graduate, because you have not learned your lessons properly."  II Timothy 2:15 exhorts us to, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  Rightly dividing the truth, to me, does not mean becoming a great bible expositor, rather it means 'when faced with difficult times, STUDY what the contributing factors were to my bad decisions, learning the lessons from failures or obstacles I face, to enable me to live in (truth vs. delusion) reality. These foundations provide the insights necessary rectify our weaknesses and poor decision making processes. But always remember, Christ strength is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9).  Peter Daniels in his book, "How To Reach Your Life Goals," wrote, "Don't let failures crush you- remember, failures are lessons. Document your lessons into life-principles to prevent their recurrence!"

       So in light of my own writing today, I want to share with you what I believe God has called me to do over the next fifteen years in Annapolis, Maryland.  I would like to invoke all of you reading my posts today to pray for me to accomplish this and finish well... and come visit Annapolis someday and see how we are progressing in finishing what my wife, myself and others have pioneered here.  Our vision is to finish building a Quaker Renewal Center which will tell the history of Annapolis, which will continually call for God's people to fulfill Isaiah 58:12 "Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell."  

       We will build a center that includes:  a new meeting house,  a new friends center called 'Harris House' in honor of Quaker missionary Elizabeth Harris, and a beautiful chapel in the woods, called "Fox Chapel" (Named after George Fox, founder of Quakerism) designed by renowned architect, Maurice Jennings.  This center will be rooted in the past and provide guidance into our great future as a nation.  It will be home to the (noted Quaker Historian) Ken Carroll Memorial Library, become a place that remembers the tragedy of Annapolis' slave trading history and call for the end of slavery world wide in our time, and be a ministry dedicated to healing and reconciliation - that values reciprocal liberty as defined by William Penn, who often visited Maryland while establishing his "Holy Experiment" in Pennsylvania with the help with Maryland friends - like my family "The Berry's of Maryland."  This is my vision! Let's pray for your God giving calling... share it with me!  For the scriptures says, Habakkuk 2:2 "Write the vision. Make it clear on tablets so that anyone can read it quickly."

       Just remember, Businesses can be rebuilt, broken bodies can be healed, nothing is final as it seems. Any chain can be broken and any captive can be set free! Even  damaged reputations can be resurrected and financial security can be regained.  There is an abundance of evidence in every city, every town of someone who has overcome the challenges they faced when working toward their finished line!  

Robert Half once said,

“When faced with a mountain, I will not quit! I will keep striving until I climb over,

                                                                                    find a pass through, tunnel underneath or 

                                                                                 simply stay and turn the mountain into a

                                                                               gold mine, with God's help.”

What To do About Anger!

      Ask yourself, "How would the quality of your life improve if you used your anger in safe, acceptable ways?"   Anger is an emotion – neither right nor wrong in itself. There is no morality to feelings. Anger can arise from grieving, feeling misunderstood, having a values conflict in relationship, or negoiating your way through a relationship. You can learn positive things to do with your anger!   It's important to try to understand what prompted the feeling.  

Anger is one emotion that people use to respond to threat, stresses or loss. It can be a real threat, stress or loss or a means that we use to make up in our mind. To be human is to be angry some of the time. It is important not to make anger bad. Anger like a hammer can be a tool for destruction or to build something. Anger is a necessary part of being a human being.  

There are many people who try to repress anger because they think that anger is somehow wrong. As a result, We spend a lot of time trying to deal with our anger. We repress it. We channel it. We sublimate it. We let it roll over us. We dream and fantasize about it. We feel ashamed of it, and we talk to friends and psychotherapists about it. But we do not pray it. We do not bring our anger to God, at least not enough. Christians in particular have a hard time bringing anger into their prayer life. They will pull out the whole range of scriptures to defend that anger is inappropiate, like:

Colossians 3:8 - But now  you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Colossians 3:21 - Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 - Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Ephesians 4:26 - In your anger do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry

Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Hebrews 10:30 - For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

James 1:19,20 - My dear brothers, take note of this.  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Psalm 30:5 - For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 37:8 - Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil.

Psalm 145:8 - The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Romans 12: 19-21 - Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.  On the contrary:  "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Nehemiah 9:17 - They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them.  They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery.  But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.  Therefore you did not desert them.

Matthew 5:22 - "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.  Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin.  But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

Proverbs 14:17 - A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.

Proverbs 15:1-  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:18 - A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

Proverbs 16:32 - Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 19:11 - A man's wisdom gives him patience, it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 21:19 - Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

Proverbs 22:24-25 -  Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.

Proverbs 27:4 - Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy.

Proverbs 29:22 - An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

    Each of these texts are presented by some as the basis of shutting down an important emotion and to stuff or repress the anger because it is seen as ungodly behavior.  Lets not be confused.  One Third Of the Book Of Psalms is devoted to venting anger.  As we look at the Book of Psalms, we see that anger is an integral part of the prayer life of the psalmist. Anger is a recurring theme -- all kinds of anger: personal, national, political, and even anger toward God. In fact, the anger in the psalms is so strong that it often takes the form of rage. Rage expressed, not repressed. Rage prayed, not excluded from the divine-human relationship. This is a mode of prayer that needs to be revitalized.

   Psalm 109 is a psalm that expresses personal anger.  Psalm 83 is another type of expression of national anger.  Psalm 44 is an expression of anger at God.  In fact, Anger and rage are inseparably a part of us. One who has experienced no anger, no rage, is not human. Such a person has no deep investment in life, no love to protect, no vulnerability. Anger and rage are integral to human being.  There is so much anger in the world. There is the personal anger we feel for someone who has taken advantage of us, who has cheated us, or abused us. There is the national anger we feel for those who have attacked our nation and endangered our people. There is the political anger we feel against those private and public institutions which have exploited us, or ignored or neglected us. And there is the anger we feel toward God Who has mistreated us or, in neglect, has allowed others to mistreat us.

It Is What We Do With Our Anger That Is Important.

• We can use anger to lash out at others and intimidate them.
• We can turn it inward and beat ourselves up.
• We can use it to speak out with firmness increase our self esteem.
• We can use it to correct a situation that is wrong.

All great social movements had their beginning in someone feeling angry. Anger is a powerful tool for social change on a personal and societal level. We can use our anger as a tool for change. When we use anger in a positive way, self esteem increases.Anger is a coping mechanism for dealing with some event that threatens our body, property, self esteem, values of what we hold near and dear or when we don t get our way.

      One cannot always be angry and full of rage, for anger does indeed distract and distort. It can disconnect us from life, as easily as it connects us to life. However, the proper prayer life includes moments of deep anger, as well as times of tranquility and serenity. It includes moments of rage, as well as times of reflection and meditation; moments of sadness, as well as times of joy and praise; moments of depression, as well as times of gratitude and exultation; "To dwell in the house of the Lord forever" together with "For how long, oh Lord, for how long shall the wicked rejoice"; "Every breath shall praise God" together with "Oh God, make them as tumbleweed, as straw before the wind." Psalms, precisely because they flow from the sheer variety of human life, contain the whole range of human emotions, feelings, and awarenesses -- all of them brought before God, all of them incorporated into a full and vital prayer life. One simply alternates, bringing first this and then that feeling before God, turning first this and then that emotion into prayer.

My wife's favorite bible verse is Isaiah 30:15.  It most assuredly is a prescription to help us in times of anger:   "This is what the Almighty LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: You can be saved by returning to me. You can have rest. You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting me."

The important thing we all need to learn about being human is that we need to get the anger out, forgive the trespasses, and learn from the conflicts we all face.  

    

       

The Modernist War Against Post-Modern Culture!

     C.S.Lewis was a remarkably effective evangelist to the culture of his day, and Mere Christianity in particular still helps many come to Christian faith. Yet western culture has changed greatly since Britain in the first half of the twentieth century, not least in the ongoing shift from modernism to post-modernism.  Modernism concerns itself on "Questions" vs. "Mystery."  It is hierarchical in organizational nature, Darwinist in practice, and keeps the world divided between the haves and the have- nots. During the 20th-century British Christian imaginative writers who also happened to be scholars of the Middle Ages. G K Chesterton, C S Lewis, Charles Williams, J R R Tolkien, and Dorothy L Sayers faced the many tentacles of modernity with a sense of alarm deepening into cultural embattlement. And they sought in medieval faith and culture antidotes to modern malaise's.  

       Modernism began in the 1890s and lasted till about 1945. Postmodernism began after the Second World War, especially after 1968. Modernism was based on using rational, logical means to gain knowledge while postmodernism denied the application of logical thinking. Rather, the thinking during the postmodern era was based on unscientific, irrational thought process, as a reaction to modernism. A hierarchical and organized and determinate nature of knowledge characterized modernism. But postmodernism was based on an anarchical, non-totalized and indeterminate state of knowledge. Modernist approach was objective, theoretical and analytical while the postmodernism approach was based on subjectivity. It lacked the analytical nature and thoughts were rhetorical and completely based on belief. The fundamental difference between modernism and postmodernism is that modernist thinking is about the search of an abstract truth of life while postmodernist thinkers believe that there is no universal truth, abstract or otherwise.

       Modernism attempts to construct a coherent world-view whereas postmodernism attempts to remove the difference between high and low. Modernist thinking asserts that mankind progresses by using science and reason while postmodernist thinking believes that progress is the only way to justify the European domination on culture. Modernist thinking believes in learning from past experiences and trusts the texts that narrate the past. On the other hand postmodernist thinking defies any truth in the text narrating the past and renders it of no use in the present times. Modernist historians have a faith in depth. They believe in going deep into a subject to fully analyze it. This is not the case with postmodernist thinkers. They believe in going by the superficial appearances, they believe in playing on surfaces and show no concern towards the depth of subjects. Modernism considers the original works as authentic while postmodernist thinkers base their views on hyper-reality; they get highly influenced by things propagated through media.

       During the modernist era, art and literary works were considered as unique creations of the artists. People were serious about the purpose of producing art and literary works. These works were believed to bear a deep meaning, novels and books predominated society. During the postmodernist era, with the onset of computers, media and advancements in technology, television and computers became dominant in society. Art and literary works began to be copied and preserved by the means of digital media. People no longer believed in art and literary works bearing one unique meaning; they rather believed in deriving their own meanings from pieces of art and literature. Interactive media and Internet led to distribution of knowledge. Music like Mozart, Beethoven, which was appreciated during modernism became less popular in the postmodern era. World music, Djs and remixes characterized postmodernism. The architectural forms that were popular during modernism were replaced by a mix of different architectural styles in the postmodern times.

     Since the emergence of post-modernity, decentralization, participatory culture, and egalitarianism has threatened modernity's hold on the culture as well as the church.  This has erupted into a cultural war where demands of colonialism vs. incarnational theology collide and Modern Leaders gripping hold on the emerging church is facing death.  The aging leaders of the twentieth century are fighting a losing battle to an emergent leaderless culture. 

     Just as "modernity" was the problem in Lewis' time so is it become the major problem in our time.  This is the Ancient-future where the pre-modern and post-modern cultures will intersect giving the church a new opportunity to be on the right side of history vs. being on needs of the right for more political political power.  I believe God has given us a great generation of deconstructionist who are being used to tear down the colonialism and imperialist views of the modern Church.  Those in power still have not understood they are not God's anointed... Jesus is. Popes, Bishops, and churches seeking to weld political power will become a thing of the past as heirarchy is deconstructed... and Jesus will become Lord of his church once again.

     Noted apologist, Ray Steadman, wrote: "Read the Scripture: Mark 10:32-52

Jesus called them together and said, You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you (Mark 10:42-43a).

Jesus sees the cross waiting for Him. James and John see thrones waiting for them. And what do the other ten see? They see James and John! They are angry and upset at them. Why? Because they got to Jesus first. Obviously they wanted the same things that James and John did and were angry only because James and John beat them to it. This is often the explanation for our anger, is it not? We are so often upset because somebody thought of it before we did.

But notice how Jesus sets aside all this business of politicking and maneuvering and asking for special privileges. That is the way the world works, but it is not to be part of the kingdom of God. In the kingdom—the church, if you like—there is not to be struggling and striving for position and honor. Paul brings this out so beautifully in his development of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12, where he says that because we have gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit and a ministry opened to us by the Lord Jesus and power granted to us by the heavenly Father, we do not need to be in competition with anybody.

This is what our Lord wants to set before His disciples, so He gathers them together and patiently says, Now, fellows, sit down. I want to say something to you. You've looked at the Gentiles. Have you noticed that when they exercise authority, it is always over somebody else? They measure their power by how many are under them. That is the mark of their authority. It is still true today. That is the way people do things, the way they judge their success. And although it produces all kinds of rivalry, competition, skulduggery, politicking, conniving, maneuvering, manipulating, and trying to undercut everybody else, nevertheless, you cannot blame people for that, because that is all they know.

The key is in these words: Not so with you. The church is not to be set up as a hierarchy of power. There is no chain of command in the church of Jesus Christ. Jesus had already said to these disciples, You have only one Master and you are all brothers (Matthew 23:8). Every apostle is careful to remind us of the danger of lording it over one another, the problems that arise when those in positions of authority think they have the right to tell others what to do or how to act or what to think or how to behave, believing they have the right to make decisions that others must follow. This is not true in the church. Paul is careful to say to the Corinthians, Not that we lord it over your faith (2 Corinthians 1:24). That is, You can do what you want. You stand before God, responsible to Him, not to me. But he is also faithful to point out what it is they need to do and to warn them of the results that may follow if they do not want to do it. But no one is ever to be commanded to do something by another person in the church. Only the Lord commands.

Thank You, Lord, that You are my Master, and You've made me a significant part of Your church.

Life Application: How do the leadership principles Jesus teaches equip his disciples to live counter-culturally? How does a true follower cope with political & personal power struggles?