Pastor's Circle - Steve Blakemore

Steve Blakemore is the Professor of Philosophy at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, and the pastor of Wesley Chapel He joined the Pastor's Circle to talk about the new year. Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

2012 is the end of the world?

According to the people who have studied this thing, 2012 is when the Mayan calendar predicted the end of time.

How should we as pastors talk to our congregations about the Second Coming?

First of all, I think we need to talk about the Second Coming to people in very serious terms, but in hopeful terms, and in responsible terms.

What I mean by that is this: quite often, people take the Second Coming and make it an escapist doctrine: the world's just going to keep getting worse, and we just have to hang on until Jesus comes.

In Biblical terms, the Second Coming was always a hope, a hope that Jesus was going to come and bring his Kingdom.

And because we teach that hope, we have to say to our congregations that anything that is not of the coming Kingdom is not going to matter.

Why would we invest our lives in things that don't matter? Let's be about things that are of the Kingdom, rather than things that will perish.

What's your take on New Year's resolutions?

When I was younger, I was much bigger into trying to make New Year's resolutions, until I realized that I was an abject failure at keeping them.

Resolutions are about people realizing that time is passing in their lives. Even in very ancient cultures, people look at the beginning of the year as a time to look at beginning life anew.

There's something about marking the passing of time that can be sobering to us. In that sense, there's some helpfulness in taking a serious look at our lives in view of who God is calling us to be.

I think it does have some benefit. Accountability could probably help us there, though.

How important is it to reflect on the past year?

In the book of Deuteronomy, it is all about remembering the law of the Lord. Remembering what God has done is the inspiration for laying down a new trajectory in life.

What cultural challenges will the Church face in 2012?

One of the things that most concerns me right now is the potential for a divide among Christians in regard to how we should relate to the political field.

One of the great challenges we're going to have to face is probably how we're going to think about the Church's relationship to the State.

How do we think about politics? What do we do when we find a Christian, a true believer who believes in big government? Or when a big government Christian finds someone who doesn't agree with him?

I think this new election year that we're facing is going to be a real time of potential division for Christians. That's the kind of cultural thing that worries me.

Pastor's Circle - Albert Haase

Father Albert Haase, a Franciscan priest, joined the Pastor's Circle to discuss the "challenge of Christmas". Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

What are your reflections on Christmas this year?

Let me tell you something about Christmas. We often talk about how the feast has become commercialized. 

But I think there is something much more important that many of us miss. I like to talk about having an "adult Christ" at Christmas. 

We have turned our celebration of Christmas day into a celebration for children. But Christmas really has an adult challenge.

In the Roman Catholic tradition, we always celebrate the feast day of St. Stephen, the first martyr, the day after Christmas.

I think what that says to us is this: this Babe also comes with a great responsibility. If we're going to accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we have to be willing to die for that. The cross always shadows the crib.

The Christmas celebration is wonderful, but let's never forget that it also requires us to take a hard stand for the God that we have in our lives.

In Nigeria, for instance, Christians were killed for celebrating Christmas.

Also in Pakistan, where two Christian churches on Christmas Eve were attacked by Hindus. In America, we are so insulated from this kind of having our faith put at risk.

So much of American culture is Christian, we've really lost the counter-cultural edge of Christianity.

So what does it mean for us to take a stand?

No matter where anyone is in the world, we all experience injustices. In our homes, businesses, we see people treated with disrespect rather than dignity.

So you and I might not risk our lives by walking in the doors of the church on Sunday morning, but we still have a stand to take when we walk into the office.

You and I disavow Jesus Christ every time we turn a blind eye to an injustice that we clearly see.

Injustice was at Jesus' birth too, with the slaughter of the innocents.

I think that's really interesting. Herod hears about the birth of this newborn king, and he is so threatened that he has all the two-year-old boys slaughtered around the vicinity of Bethlehem.

You and I don't slaughter children, but how many times have I slaughtered the reputations of other people because my little power base was being threatened?

Christianity is meant to be a religion of life. There is no other way around it. But we as Christians often find it "inconvenient" to stand up for that.

Pastor's Circle - Jim Garlow

Dr. Jim Garlow pastors at Skyline Church in San Diego, CA. He also serves as the chairman of Renewing American Leadership, and is the author of a number of books. 

He joined the Pastor's Circle to talk about using buildings for discipleship. Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

You build your facilities with the intention of discipleship. Tell us about that.

We build our building with a great symbolism. Out in front will be a sidewalk called the Heritage Walk.

On the tiles will be the names of the top 300 leaders in Christian history. I can use it as a teaching device so that we can help the people understand the level of sacrifice that came before them.

Right out beside that is a playground with a sidewalk and the books of the Bible, in a hopscotch pattern.

As you walk on this heritage sidewalk is a fountain that we call the "Revelation Fountain", based on Revelation 4. It's also a baptismal font.

The fountain is loaded with symbolism, all based around Revelation chapter 4. All this is done to draw people's hearts in. All this is designed for beaming strong, theological messages.

Do you include contemporary leaders in your Heritage Walk?

I do. It starts actually with the figures of the Old and New Testaments. The trinitary revelation is built into it. Then it goes through church history.

Of the three hundred leaders on there, 290 of them are deceased. But there are 10 that are still living; Billy Graham, for instance, is on there.

Who are a few more of those leaders?

Jim Elliot, for example, never made it to his 30th birthday. He was included on there just by virtue of the impact he had by his death.

There are other names; Orange Scott was one who fought hard to free the slaves. He didn't live past 37.

You don't have to live long to have a huge impact.

Pastor's Circle - Daniel Simmons

Dr. Daniel Simmons serves as the senior pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. He joined the Pastor's Circle to discuss the characters in the Christmas story. Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his segment.

Why did God choose the people he did for the Christmas story?

I think there are several reasons. Joseph and Mary are chosen because they are in the lineage of David.

But when you're talking about Simeon, or Zechariah, they were chosen because of their faithfulness to God.

When Simeon prayed to God that he would "see" that day, I think God honored that because of his dedication.

How important is that dedication in our lives?

I always say to my congregation that God will not choose people who are not doing anything, who have not proven themselves in some other way.

Obedience is critical. The idea of Christ being Lord and speaking to us, and that radical obedience. When God comes in, it's not a democracy.

How can we hear from God in the way that Joseph or Mary did?

First of all, we have to believe that he does speak. And secondly, we have to spend some time in his Word. We have to develop that ability to hear him.

Find those places in the Bible where God surprised people, and ask God to show us how he can do it in our lives.

Pastor's Circle - Gil McKee

Gil McKee, Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa, joined the Pastor's Circle today to discuss giving at Christmas. Here are the "CliffsNotes" of his segment.

What is a new insight God has given you into Christmas this year?

That's easy, and I'm glad you asked. Most people listening are aware of what we went through in April with the tornado.

I think what God has done in our church through that has been amazing. I've seen my church give and give and roll their sleeves up and work and work.

Even at Christmas, I'm seeing my church question what we really need.

Where do you see giving in the Christmas story?

Obviously, just go to the gift of God. For God so loved the world that he gave. This is about giving. God's love for us was so great that he gave the most valuable gift he could give.

And then of course, there are those who came presenting gifts to the Christ Child, but I think the whole theme of the story is God's Gift.

If I want to love as God loves, then I'm not caught up in getting; I'm caught up in giving. I think God has just reminded us of that in a very graphic way this year.

How do you keep that attitude stoked throughout the year?

I think you hit the nail on the head. One of the responsibilities pastors have is to keep that vision in front of people. For me, it just has to be a day-by-day, week-by-week thing.

I think for us, God is just birthing some new ideas and visions for our church family of how we can be a part of that ongoing ministry.

Why do we tend to become "takers"?

I think none of us are immune to the culture around us. Unfortunately, I think some of it has crept into the church.

In the church movement back in the 70s and 80s, there was an emphasis on meeting needs. Unfortunately, it became meeting the needs of those in the church.

You know as well as I do that there are many people out there who come to church only to have their needs met. We've got an entire mindset that we are going to have to work hard to change.

In many ways, we've become no different in our mindset than those outside the church.

Why is that so easy to get away from?

Most of us, when we think about ministry and our church time, spend the vast majority of our time inside the walls of the church.

Jesus did the exact opposite. He spent the vast majority of his time outside of the walls of the synagogues.

I think the good news is that there is a renewal and a revival of that vision. I think that churches realize that they have strayed a little bit from that vision.

We have to remember, it is still the Lord's church. He will do anything in us, to us, through us to get us back inside his will.

Pastor's Circle - Jerry Horner

Jerry Horner has been a university professor and administrator since 1962. He currently functions as the Executive Director of New Creation Ministries. He joined the Pastor's Circle to talk about the Virgin Birth. .Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

Is the Virgin Birth important?

Absolutely. In the birth of Jesus, the chain of cause and effect was broken.

The Apostle Paul builds heavily on this. In his letter to the Romans, he gave a contrast between the old humanity, headed by Adam, and the new humanity, headed by Jesus Christ.

By birth, we are under the old humanity, characterized by sin and death. But Jesus Christ is the new Adam. He is the beginning of a new humanity. And without the Virgin Birth, that is not possible.

Christian belief builds heavily on such doctrines.

How important is it that we believe in it?

That is the key. If a person said he doesn't believe in the Virgin Birth, I would not question his salvation, but I would question his view of Scripture. 

The entirety of Christian doctrine rests on the veracity and reliability of the Bible.

If one part of Scripture is suspect, what about the rest of it? If I'm at liberty to cut out one part out of the Bible, why not any other part?

If I'm a judge of Scripture, Scripture is no judge of me. It comes down to submission to the Word of God.

What is one major part of the Christmas narrative that we miss?

I don't think that we can get away from the all-encompassing love of God. The Christmas Story is a love story. I think John 3:16 is the greatest commentary on the Christmas Story. What more could God give?

Pastor's Circle - Bert Harper

Bert Harper, chairman of the board and Director of Family Life and Pastoral Ministries of American Family Association, joined The Matt Friedeman Show today to talk about the decline of marriage and how we can bring revival. Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

There's a poll that says marriage is declining. Thoughts?

I saw the same article, and I remembered the push a few years ago by a certain denomination to say that we need to marry earlier.

Marriage is looked down upon in our society. The church is partly to blame. But I would say that the marriage rate in the church is significantly higher than in society.

What are the effects of cohabitation and fatherlessness on society?

The black community in  America has already experienced this trainwreck, with so much of their male population in prison because of fatherless homes.

You have close to 85% of the black population being raised in single-parent homes. If we continue to go down this road, it's going to be a disaster.

The direction that we go determines everything. God's looking for us to go in the right direction. Marriage and family is the right way to go.

How can America have a "turnaround"?

We've got to turn to God. The Bible says "repent." I know it's an old-fashioned term, but we've got to bring it back.

Let the Word of God speak. If we can let it do that, the Word has promised that it will go forth and do what it is supposed to do. It works in a home, it works in a church, it works in a community, and it works in a nation.

How can a pastor invite revival?

Demonstrate it. The thing that hurts me is how many pastors are falling into moral failure.

My wife and I are doing marriage conferences for pastors. Because if we preach one thing and do another, then it falls on deaf ears. This generation can spot hypocrisy.

And then live it. When they see Christ in you, I believe the message will ring true.

Pastor's Circle - Darryl Starnes

Darryl Starnes serves as a bishop for the AME Zion Church. He came on The Matt Friedeman Show to share his insights into the Christmas story. Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

What is the most surprising insight into the Christmas story?

Well, you know this subject is so exhausted. But one of the surprising things is the unlikely links in the chain of Christ's genealogy.

You find a woman who acted like a prostitute, by the name of Tamar. You find another woman, Rahab, who was a prostitute. You find a Moabite, Ruth. And then you find a woman who committed adultery, Bathsheba.

It shows me that God can use people who the world would never expect to bring his good news.

What do we learn from the shepherds?

It is so clear that the Lord is here and he is bringing God to everybody. God is with all of us.

Often the elite feel like the best things in life are for them, and those who are not elite feel like it's not for them. But the good news is for the poor.

God chooses a few people and he brings the good news to everybody.

What about Joseph?

Often overlooked. Can you imagine the faith that he had to have, and that Mary had to have?

To know that the angel told her she was going to have a baby and the Holy Spirit was going to get her with child; how do you explain that to Joseph?

But even before the angel came to him, he was going to handle it in a way that was not harmful or hurtful.

This shows us that once we know God, he may use us to do things that we never imagined were possible.

Think about the importance of timing in this story. Had Joseph not left Bethlehem when he was told to leave, can you imagine what would have happened?

This is why we must do what the Lord says, do it on time, and do it the way he tells us to do it.

Are we too often, like Herod, intimidated by Jesus?

It was not only Herod who was in an uproar, but Scripture says it was also all of Jerusalem.

I think there is a part in all of us that does not want to bow our knee to the Lord and Creator, Jesus Christ. All of us remember when we refused to do so.

But all of us who have bowed our knee know that it was the best thing we have ever done. He brings love, he brings joy, he brings peace, and our only regret is that we did not do it earlier.

Why are we reluctant to surrender to Christ?

I believe we are afraid that we will miss out on things that we love to do and love to be. But we are not aware that "no good thing will he withhold from us".

The truth is the best thing we will ever do is let him in, because he saves us from ourselves.

Pastor's Circle - Bryan Loritts

Bryan Loritts, pastor of Fellowship Memphis, joined the Pastor's Circle to discuss his newest book, A Cross-Shaped Gospel. Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

Tell us about the idea behind A Cross-Shaped Gospel.

I use the image of the cross to depict the point that the Gospel is supposed to develop on two planes.   

The vertical beam of the cross is the most important. It is rooted in the ground; the horizontal beam can't stand without it.

The vertical beam represents forgiveness of sins and our relationship with God.   

The horizontal beam rests upon the vertical.  This represents our reconciliation with other people.  

Because we are reconciled with God we can be reconciled with other people.

You have a different take on George Whitfield. Tell us about that.

 I was shocked to find out about this man who was a great evangelist. I believe he loved Jesus, but he was influential in causing slavery to be legalized in Georgia.   

Every generation has its blind spots. In Whitefield's day it was slavery. In our day it is materialism.

The example of Whitfield demonstrates the fact that Christians can often separate the vertical aspect of the Gospel from the horizontal. 

While Whitfield was one of the few in his day who would preach to slaves, he did not do anything to use his influence to alleviate the social condition of those slaves.  

He had made the Gospel into something that was entirely "spiritual" or vertical.

Why do we compartmentalize the Gospel like that?

Our church is currently renting a facility and each week we have to set up everything for service. Afterward we have to move all of our things out again.  

We have a very large, very heavy cross that sits upon the platform.  We were discussing how we could streamline the process of moving each week and someone brought up the idea of building a lighter cross.  

It really hit me then that, spiritually speaking, we all  want a cross that is light and convenient that doesn't cause a problem.  We don't like to be made uncomfortable.  

You mention generational sins, materialism, abortion.

I wholeheartedly agree, abortion is a major civil rights issue. This is not a political issue, it is a kingdom of God issue.  We need to find ways to be involved. 

I think racism does continue though.  It is not just institutional, but it is an issue of the heart.  

While the civil rights movement was successful in changing laws, it could not change hearts.   

Every ethnic group has its problem of racism.  We need to lean on the grace of God.  Our identity is in Christ and Christ alone.

You state that discomfort is an essential part of being a Christian. Could you explain that?

Jesus says take up your cross and follow.  The cross is uncomfortable.  The Gospel calls us to disadvantage ourselves for the sake of others. 

Jesus, in the Incarnation, humbles himself in the form of the servant - he models for us a life of discomfort.  

The disciples for the most part died uncomfortably.  Discomfort is the recipe for growth.  

Pastor's Circle - Jeffrey Klick

Jeffrey Klick is the senior pastor of Hope Family Fellowship in Kansas City. He joined the Pastor's Circle to discuss what a young woman should look for in a husband. Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his segment.

What are the three things a young woman should look for in a husband?

As always, if the relationship with the Lord is not the primary thing in a young man's life, you shouldn't be getting involved with him.

Marriage is not always a bed of roses; it's not always a smooth, easy time. Two people merging their lives together can be pretty rough, and you have to have a foundation on which to build.

If we don't build on a good foundation, as Jesus said, the house is going to crash.

Most people are attracted to one another physically, and that's okay. God made it that way. But as the years go on, what you're left with is not the appearance. It's whatever maturity that man has.

So he second thing I tell my daughters is look for a guy who is teachable. If he's already arrogant and conceited and not humble at this point, he's just going to get more arrogant and conceited and not humble.

The third thing to ask is whether the man you're looking at is a kind man. Proverbs 19:22 says that what is desired in a man is kindness.

If you marry a kind man, he will be kind to you for the rest of your life. If you marry a harsh man, he's going to be harsh. If he's harsh or mean, you're not going to have a good life together

How important is his financial situation?

It depends on several factors. What people put up as standards aren't necessarily biblical.

His relationship with God, his humility, his kindness; those kind of issues are much more important to me than how much he has in the bank.

What about communication?

Extremely important. You hit on two of the biggest issues of failed marriages.

If you're able to talk, and I believe this goes back to your relationship with the Lord, then you will be able to work through the problems that are there.

There are going to be hurt feelings and things that are said the wrong way, and you have to know how to work it out.

To read more on this topic, see Jeffrey Klick's blog post here.

Pastor's Circle - Joseph Parker

Joseph Parker, Pastor of Trinity AME Church and Director of Outreach and Intercession at AFA, talks about witnessing at Christmastime.

Are there appropriate ways to witness for Christ during Advent?

This time of the year is a great time for us to take advantage of, because people are open. 

There are so many opportunities for God to use us.

The Holy Spirit can use us to do all kinds of witnessing during this time of year. 

Whether it's seed-planting or watering the seeds, we should be pointing people to Jesus.

Is the stress a big factor in our lack of witnessing/

It really is. As in the story of Mary and Martha, we're busy because we choose to be busy. We do what we want to do.

One of the things I think of is on knowhim.afr.net, which is basically for people to be saved or grow in their faith.

But one of the things we've put on there recently is a challenge to people to read through all of the Christmas narratives several times during this month. 

You will learn all kinds of things about Christmas that you didn't know.

Why is it important to do it multiple times?

That creates the classroom that the Holy Spirit wants us to have in our lives so he can teach us.

Not only is this a wonderful story to read at Christmas, it's a wonderful story to teach us about all kinds of issues.

Do you think the stress makes people more or less receptive to the gospel?

I believe they are more receptive. That's why I think it's important for us to emphasize that Christmas is about Christ. Those are seeds that the Holy Spirit will use.

I believe people have a much greater openness to the gospel at Christmas.

How do you encourage your churchgoers to prepare for Christmas?

Going back to what we just mentioned, I really push for them to read through all the Christmas narratives.

Don't just read it once, read it several times. The Holy Spirit will help you dig more and more out of it.

Is it more important to just read it or to meditate on it?

I'm of the opinion that both are important, although taking time is more productive.

God's word is God's word. There's value in reading it once. But there's greater value reading it two and three and four times.

I really like to encourage people to set reading goals.

Does it help to pray for wisdom in reading the Bible?

It does. It's always wise for us to pray the prayer specifically. Just before you read, pray every time. But also take time to think through what you're reading.

In the Gospel of Luke, Luke is writing from the standpoint of a doctor. He deals with pregnancy significantly.

In Matthew, for example, the powerful thing about Joseph is his fatherhood. God doesn't have to send a thousand angels to protect Jesus; he has a man who will listen to him and do what he says. That's what every father is called to do.

Pastor's Circle - Dan Boone

Dan Boone, president of Trevecca Nazarene University, joined the Pastor's Circle to talk about his testimony and the moments of grace that run throughout. Here are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

Tell us about your testimony.

I grew up in a Christian home that was so profoundly Christlike that my earliest memories are of family altars with three kids on their knees.

I was probably 5 or 6 when I made a public trip to an altar and asked Christ to forgive me of my sins.

I think everyone's journey in God probably has other key moments. I was 12 or 13 once, at a youth camp, and I remember this deep sense of God telling me that he wanted me to do something for him.

Although I didn't know what it was yet, I remember being at the altar committing my life to whatever he wanted for me.

When I was a sophomore in college, like most sophomore kids, I was discovering my freedom from home and starting to start my own path. The Lord really dealt with me about the discipline I was establishing in my life.

And I remember playing tug-of-war with God over that. I remember kneeling beside a bunk bed and settling with God that he would be Lord of my life. Something happened in that moment.

It was the shift of the magnetic needle in my life, from my will to God's will. From that day, the lordship issue was sealed. He saved me, he is saving me today, and he will continue to save me.

Are there more of those moments in your life?

In trying to view life as a relationship with God, I often use the picture of trying to get from Nashville to the West Coast.

There are many roads that will get you there, but they all have to go west. And God is standing at the fork of all of those roads, pointing you to where you need to go.

Sometimes I think we do the gospel disservice when we define theology as the front edge of the gospel. The front edge of the gospel has always been testimony.

We are to be out there telling this story. We are to tell what God did in our own lives.

Pastor's Circle - Bill Ury

Dr. Bill Ury is Professor of Systematic Theology at Wesley Biblical Seminary and hosts the Hour of Holiness on AFR on Sunday mornings. He joined the Pastor's Circle to discuss the importance of forgiveness in our lives. Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

Why is forgiveness controversial?

When it really comes back to is resentment. We want to get back at people; we don't want them to get away with whatever they did to us.

But Jesus is clear: if you're going to hold that stuff in your heart, you can't be forgiven.

So I began to look at Matthew 18, the story about the man who was forgiven and yet would not forgive.

Jesus said this was a pretty big deal. At some level, every one of us is accountable to have a willingness to let the other person go from whatever you're holding against them.

Every aspect of forgiveness is a process. You may not be able to completely forgive all at once, but you have to be willing to start the process.

At its base, forgiveness is bearing. You bear with the other person's sinfulness in your heart. That's what Jesus did when he died for us.

And then, probably the hardest of all, is the willingness to begin the relationship again. It may not be an intimate friendship, but just to put the other person ahead of yourself in every aspect.

All of this is a window for how we see God and for how he involves himself in our world.

Is it harder to accept forgiveness, or to ask for it?

In the story, what I get from Matthew 18 is that it's more difficult to receive it. The guy can't comprehend what God has done for him. He never allows it to permeate his life. If you can't receive, you can't give.

People will hurt you in life. It's going to happen. You've just got to keep receiving that grace in your life.

Pastor's Circle - Johnnie Moore

Rev. Johnnie Moore serves at Liberty University as Vice President and Campus Pastor. He joined the Pastor's Circle do talk about the "healthy soul". Here are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview. 

 

Does life get easier when you're a Christian?

No, it doesn't. A lot of times we think that if we get our lives right and start going to church, we've made a peace treaty with God. But the greatest miracle is that of endurance.

Sometimes, the greatest miracles from God aren't the ones that make life easier; they're the ones that teach you something more about God.

As you grow in a relationship with Jesus, you get stronger. Your fellowship with God starts influencing your relationship with God.

You're going to get better at dealing with temptations in life. James tells us that the trying of our faith produces all kinds of things. And they're all good.

How should we cope when bad things happen?

You have two choices: you can run to God, or you can run away from God.

We know what the right choice is, but sometimes when the storm is all around you, it's hard to see that.

I think it's very important to prepare for the trials before they come. Knowing Jesus today will prepare you for tomorrow.

What are some steps we can take to be prepared?

First, you've got to get your perspective right early.

You need to put the right stuff into your life.

And lastly, you have to have the attitude that you are not going to quit.

If you don't believe you have what it takes, you're not making a statement about yourself; you're making a statement about God.

I remember that famous quote by Winston Churchill, who said that success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.

This is a man whose career almost failed multiple times, but who saved the entire world because he didn't give up. If Winston Churchill had that kind of hope, imagine the kind of hope we should have.

Pastor's Circle - Todd Hudnall

Todd Hudnall is the pastor of Radiant Church in Colorado Springs, CO. He joined the Pastor's Circle to discuss the "storms of life". Here are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

What kind of storms are we talking about?

One of the things that really struck me was when we talked about the source of our storms.

The tendency of so many people when storms come is to assume that God sent them, when so many storms that come into our lives really had nothing to do with God.

Ultimately, He allowed it, but many of them are self-imposed storms. It's more a matter of sowing and reaping than God's judgment on us.

I got a lot of feedback about how people really didn't put that together, that they're the source of the storms.

Give us some examples.

I think that the Bible lays that out when it says, "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life..." People choose not to do that.

They get involved in sexual relationships out of marriage, and when there's an unexpected pregnancy, or a sexually transmitted disease, they blame God.

They don't spend time with their children or nurture them, and when their kids rebel, they blame God.

We treat our bodies disrespectfully, and then when our health fails, we blame God.

People want to blame somebody, and God's an easy target.

I think a lot of it is more sloppiness than outright rebellion.

I think there's no doubt about that. If God would zap us every time we stepped out of line, I think we would stay inside the lines a lot more.

But his grace and mercy make us feel like we can get away with more.

And sloppiness is hard to recover from.

I think the Bible talks about that, when it talks about God "handing us over."

I think those are the most terrifying Scriptures in the Bible. There comes a place where you just can't get back.

How can you get out of your storm?

One of the passages I used was Acts 27, where Paul was in an actual storm. You need to "drop anchors" in your life before the storms come.

In Matthew 7, where Jesus talks about the two men who built their houses on the sand and the rock, both of the men have storms. It's all about how you prepared.