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Who, me be Holy? Leviticus 11:45

I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy
Who can be holy? Can it be the eastern philosopher on the mountaintop, or maybe the Benedictine Monk in the monastery of Monte Cassino, or the Guru Padmasambhava? Might just be K'ung Fu Tzu or the Swami Vivekananda?

So many people today have fallen for, and into the mystical trap of “Spirituality”, Mysticism and Kabbalah, not just the Hollywood crowd but also your neighbors and every day “Joe six-pack

But how would we define "holy"? is Holiness only for the mystic? I think not, therefore be holy, because I am holy it is not on our laurels that we rest but upon the finished work of Jesus, it is His Holiness and not our works or our delving into areas of hip pop culture that we will find holiness. We will only search in vein.

Leviticus 19-20 begins with the admonition you shall be holy. Then it continues laying out laws, rules, and injunctions about “loving thy neighbor”, don’t take revenge, and stay clear of the occult. Clearly telling us to be holy but warning us not to get caught up in “otherworldliness” and all kinds of things that would not necessarily be associated with becoming really spiritual.

The journey to holiness is not some supernatural, hidden search for nirvana but practical and available to us. Holiness can be found more in the day-to-day things we do or don’t do than in incantations and metaphysics. Seeking the Holy Spirit in our daily walk, spending time in the Word, Prayer these are the things that will lead us to holiness. You don’t need a guru, swami, monk, and séances, incense or, flowing robes, just a real living connection to Jesus, feed by our daily contact with him.

So when all is said and done, the Bible is telling us to be “set apart” from the distractions of the mystical around us. Whether it was the Egyptians and Canaanites of Old Testament or the hedonists and sensualists of today, the Bible is the same. Holiness is “a work of gradual development” {Romans 6:13} As a Christian we must be different. It doesn’t matter what the rest of the world is doing. We are a people apart. {Numbers 23:9}
From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations

My intent is not to make light of holy men and miracle workers. Mother Theresa did more for the sick and poor than most of us ever will, the Catholic church does more for the unborn than most Christian churches. But before we run to faith healers or send up the incense or send away for a swatch of cloth from the hip Televangelist, perhaps we first should consult the Logos, seek His will and remember what John had to say In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word [Logos] was with God, and the Word [Logos] was God."

Uncle Tone

Counting down the days

I dont know what is better, a fall day in Vermont with friends
I miss like crazy or a fall day on the
couch watching football. While I ponder it, pass me the remote

Only days away from football season,
Uncle Tone

Churches think big by thinking small

 I found this an interesting read, I started to pull out many of the good points 
and realized I cut and pasted most of the story. so here is the link.
The one that I noticed most of all was New England and the Pacific North West
have a lot in common.

Let those who can.....do

I read a great post last night and it really got me thinking, I have come across many great men and women in the “real world” work force that could run circles around many of us Christian “leaders”. I know this could sound like Pastor bashing but it is not. Pastors are for the most part well suited for leading churches in the day-to-day operation of churches on spiritual issues but when it comes to the business side of the church operation and interaction with the community I have seen some short comings that could well be addressed by people who have been in the work force and have an understanding of how to interact with the secular community.

I often feel my thirty years in business, my thirty years of marriage, my thirty years of raising a family; my inability to go to a “formal “ Bible college or seminary has put me in a lesser position to be able to pastor a church. It has come to me over the last year or two that I am so much more qualified to Pastor a church because of my experience than some that have gone from high school to college to seminary to the pastorate with no life experience. Again, this not a slam but an observation. That I think this Barna research backs up my thought .I post this as a personal reminder that as I grow and develop His ministry that I have the sensitivity and strength to understand that I have many, much more qualified people around me that can deal with issues in which I am poorly qualified to handle, I hope I am not so macho that I can not let other more qualified people step up to the plate and take charge.

“Don't attack the culture. Don't shut down from it. Don't be afraid to learn from people outside of the church”. Thanks Michael, great post

Tone

Never would have guessed it

Shock rocker Alice Cooper's Christian nonprofit, the Solid Rock Foundation, is building a 20,000-square-foot facility — a recreation center — for teens in Phoenix, Ariz., according to Agape Press. The foundation was started 11 years ago by Cooper and a pastor at his church to provide a free haven for at-risk kids. The building, christened The Rock, is to open early next year at Grand Canyon University, a private Christian college where 58-year-old Cooper has funded scholarships for years. The Rock will include a recording studio, indoor basketball courts, a rock climbing wall, coffee house, game room and a concert hall.

Cooper says, "We're not going to beat them over the head with a Bible, but we're certainly going to be available to tell them that that's available to them."

Church in a Box

I have been reading many of my fellow church planter blogs to pick up ideas that I can use. I have been thrilled at the offers of help and guidance that has come my way from many people across the U.S. I must admit I read many of the posts with a bit of jealousy thinking how cool it would be to have a 12 foot trailer packed ful o' goodies but then I remember how blessed I am for the many families I get to serve at the beach. One of the cool things that I have for my Sunday service is, my Church in a Box. As I read of all the expense that goes into making Sunday services work and all of the set up and tear down time that is involved with many of my planter friends I count myself lucky not to have that problem quite yet.

I look forward to the day when my Church in the Box takes hours to assemble and dismantle, but for now my little rubbermaid rolling cathedral is like the Vatican to me.

Thanks to all of you for your ideas and support

Uncle Tone