Casting Crowns on “searching for the hope that’s tucked away in me and you…”
Monthly Archives: January 2013
John Piper’s Pastoral Experience with Exorcism
In the following video John Piper recounts his experience with what appears to be an exorcism. His approach to the demon possessed person is interesting in that it was not through prayer. Watch how he recounts this amazing story!
Evangelism at the End of Life
What are the odds that someone who has rejected Christ their entire life will be quickened by the Holy Spirit to accept Him in the last few weeks or days of their life when the finality of death becomes evident?
The honest answer is I do not know, but I do know that God works in mysterious ways for the conversion of the sinner. Here is an example from my own experience.
During my Critical Care clerkship in med school I had the opportunity to observe an extremely puzzling sight. In an ICU full of critically ill, sedated, intubated, ventilated, continuous-dialysis patients, I came across a patient in his 60’s who was fully awake and coherent. He was sitting up with an oxygen mask on his face, a stark contrast when compared to the other patients.
Great was my shock when I heard the team talking about placing this man on comfort care to ease his respiratory difficulties stemming from his weak heart.
It turns out he was suffering from end-stage heart failure and was a “frequent-flier” in that particular ICU. He was not a heart transplant candidate, so his life was spent in the hospital with frequent decompensations and ICU admissions. His heart failure was so severe that getting out of bed and walking was out of the question.
That day, after a conference with him, we agreed to place him in a comfort care suite aimed at relieving his “air-hunger” and allowing the disease to take its course.
My immediate concern was whether this man came to know Christ or not. I knew that in a matter of days or sooner he will die.
I found the opportunity to speak to him privately that day.
“What do you think will happen to you when you get comfortable and pass away?” I asked.
“I don’t know” he said.
When I pressed him on the concept of life after death he labored to say that he believes he will go to heaven because he was a “good person” and because he was born Catholic. It became clear that he was not a born-again Christian.
I now was faced with a critical decision.
Should I evangelize him in this coherent but vulnerable emotional and physical state? Should I tell him about salvation by grace through faith in Jesus?
I probably could have gotten in trouble if caught “taking advantage” of a dying man and sharing my faith, but I decided to give him a synopsis of the Gospel. I did not know too much theology back then… but I presented the depravity of man as best I could, and told him how Jesus was the only solution as a substitutionary atonement for his sins.
He confessed he believed in Jesus.
Unaware of the problems of “decision theology” back then, I did what I saw Greg Laurie do at the Harvest Crusades when I used to attend as a kid. I had him recite the sinner’s prayer after me and told him to thank God for saving him.
I had to cut our meeting short because my pager which had been silent the whole day rang three times in three minutes. I told him to pray to God and thank him for Jesus, and I will visit him in the upcoming days to talk to him.
The next time I went to see him, he had passed away.
Was my approach the correct one? Did I take advantage of a vulnerable person to get a “decision” out of him?
I think ultimately we are responsible to spread the good news no matter what the circumstance. However, we are not responsible to worry about the work of conversion of the Holy Spirit. God can and will save souls if He so desires, even at the end of life after a lifetime of sin and depravity. Our duty is to preach the message of salvation because it is “the Son of Man [who] came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
End-of-Life Comfort Care is not Euthanasia
Euthanasia or physician induced suicide is drastically different from comfort care in the final days or weeks of someone’s life.
Here are some clarifications:
Euthanasia – the intentional physician induced killing of a person for his/her alleged benefit. The physician ensures that the act is not “botched,” and is typically done by physician or nurse-administered lethal injection. This is currently legal in a some countries but it is illegal in all the States in the Union.
Physician aid in Dying (PAD) or assisted suicide – here the physician prescribes the lethal injection while the patient self-administers it. Some form of this practice is legal in Oregon, Washington and Montana.
End-of-Life Comfort Care or Hospice Care – the palliation or alleviation of symptoms at the end of life for terminally ill patients. The physical goal here is to treat pain and respiratory distress using narcotics which ease the dying process. Emotional and spiritual care are typically a part of hospice as well.
I have made the argument (here) that euthanasia (and suicide assisted in any way) is a crime against God because we do not have the right to give or take life. But it is important to realize that comfort care given to a patient who has arrived in the final stages of illness is NOT an assisted suicide. Comfort care is a compassionate act aimed at making physical and emotional pain manageable in the last few hours to weeks of life.
What about administering narcotics like morphine or fentanyl to patients with end-stage illness? Doesn’t that directly lead to the patient’s demise?
The answer is NO. They help ease the patient’s passing, and they are not meant to actually kill him. The disease pathology ultimately causes the patient’s demise.
As pneumonia or airway complications are usually the final road to passing in many terminally ill patients, the narcotics used in comfort care also help in alleviating the respiratory distress that can become a problem in the last day or two of life.
Anyone who watched a loved one pass away from terminal illness can probably attest that comfort care is almost a polar opposite to euthanasia.
Our God is a God of love, mercy and compassion. His children must demonstrate and practice these communicable attributes we have received from Him. Compassionate care for terminally ill is in line with these godly attributes. I do not think it is a stretch to apply this verse to the goal of comfort care at the end of our patients’ lives:
“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Cor 1:3-4
Euthanasia is not the Answer in Affliction
Deaf Belgian brothers Marc and Eddy Verbessem underwent doctor assisted suicide at age 45 after they were told they were going to be blind as a result of a progressive eye disease called glaucoma.
Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002 and the number of cases has risen every year since. In 2011, 1,133 were granted the right to die, of which 86 percent were at least 60 years old and 72 percent suffering from cancer.
What makes this case even more appalling to Christians who value the life that our Creator put in us, is that it was approved under the requirement of “unbearable pain.” The news that blindness would be the end-stage of their illness in the future was described as too much to bear.
The brothers enjoyed a cup of coffee together, and reportedly had a rich conversation right before they received the lethal injection. These are important details to note because they show that the brothers were not depressed, in fact they had fought to earn the right to die for much of the previous two years!
Where is the hope, the joy, the expectation of salvation that is associated with life? The one who came into this world to kill and destroy, the ancient serpent who initiated the fall of man has blinded them into believing that death is the answer. There is nothing more untrue than that.
The life we have been given is not our own, and born-again Christians understand this fundamental truth. Our life and even our bodies are not our own.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 that “… your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own.” What right do we have to kill our body?
Even our life is not our own. Again Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:15 that “those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.”
Romans 8 names the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of life. And it is by the Holy Spirit that life is continually sustained: “If it were [God’s] intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.” Job 34:14-15
These are just a few of the reasons why we believe that euthanasia is a sin against God. He alone in His manifold wisdom and purpose can give and take life as He pleases.
These two brothers made a sane, calculated decision in their actions.
By taking their life into their own hands they made themselves the gods of their life, and they sacrificed their life unto themselves, like the Canaanites sacrificed their own to Molech. This was their final deed… their final idolatrous act of self-worship.
We know that death by suicide or euthanasia is not the answer when difficulties arise in this fallen world. Jesus is the ultimate solution because only He can restore hope in affliction and eternal life after our passing.
image: lifesitenews.com
Digging for Oil in the Mesopotamian: Update from Narcis Popovici (1)
Many of the readers of this blog know how Narcis Popovici, a Romanian-American from Chicago answered the call of the Lord and moved to a country hostile to Christians in order to extend the Kingdom of God there. Along with his wife and children, and another family they have left EVERYTHING behind without plans to return to the United States. I have personally received permission to publish this message and use his name, while maintaining the other names and their location private due to security reasons. It is an honor to be able to support Narcis and his team in this endeavor.
Dedicate this year to God
Like many of you, we felt it right to consecrate the first part of this year for seeking the Lord’s face with fasting and prayer. I can’t emphasize how beneficial seasons of fasting have been to our family. We don’t feel like this is some kind of feat of Christian strength, more like a natural expression of recognized weakness without His moment by moment Spirit quickening in our lives. A fresh re-prioritizing of the primary place of His nourishing word and breath in our lives. The more we begin to taste of His world, the less of a pull our world will have upon us.
Whether that be the spirit of this age, pride, fear, discouragement, or a thousand other God-hostile forces of flesh and darkness. Our prayer to God is for “the word of His mouth” for this year, and the grace and faithfulness necessary to walk it out, both for us and for you. For His abundant “presence” in our lives to be the chief center of all we are, and the “anointing” of His Spirit to break every demon yoke seeking the distortion of His glory and destruction of His creation.
The most precious natural resources in our world are usually hidden, in the soil of the earth, underwater or buried deep in mountains. But those who will bore them out find great reward. God often reveals aspects of Himself and His Kingdom in nature and we believe this is one of them, those who dig will find! Please click the video link on the left, just under our family picture for a short video on what we believe concerning the lay of the land and a word of encouragement from the Lord.
Phase One: In Motion
This first month has been a wild one. I wish the angels would do some of this practical stuff for us, but in the meantime you gotta do what you gotta do :-). If you were wondering, YES, things here run a lot slower and disorganized than they do in the west. So here’s the good news, a month and a half in and we are; about fully furnished and settled here in our home. Just purchased a large SUV to cart around the team and some of you who will be visiting (prophesying).
Officially got our residency, 7 months approved because it was our first time and that should be extended by 1 year increments once it expires. We will be starting language classes this week and have had the opportunity of seeing God heal and deliver on a couple of different occasions during this last month. We are still seeking the Lord for a location for our base and working towards establishing relationships with some here locally that might partner with us in the work at hand. […] and I might start doing some traveling perhaps in the spring, we are seeking the Lord for His continued leadership on all we do.
Family Life
We hope that your Christmas was blessed and that you were able to celebrate our Lords birth with family and friends. Our Christmas was blessed, despite not being with so many of our family and friends back home. We also celebrated […] 8th birthday just a couple of days ago! Family is so important! One of the things God has consistently emphasized in our lives and ministry is the value of family. God is a family man, and spirituality must look like the divine presence, word and order of God worked into our everyday family life.
If we haven’t connected with you in a while, please forgive us. With so much going on, we’re trying our best to give attention to the needs at hand. However, as time permits, you can connect with us via Skype, facetime, phone, Facebook or email. We’d love to hear from you. Thank you for your continued prayers and support, we are indebted to your love and faithfulness to God and to us!
With Love
Religious Intolerance in America
We have arrived here no matter how tolerant we claim to be as a nation.
The first amendment to the US Constitution states:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
In light of pastor Louie Giglio’s force-out from giving the benediction at Obama’s second inauguration because he holds (or held) to orthodox biblical teaching like millions of Americans do, I ask, what happened to our intrinsic constitutional right to hold differing religious beliefs and opinions?
Why is Giglio who holds (or held 15 years ago) the belief that homosexuality is sin being forced from the public square?
This has nothing to do with separation of Church and State. They are separate entities and we do not dispute that, therefore that argument goes out the window. This has to do with the fact that many Christians view alternative life styles as sin based on Scripture.
The very people who preach tolerance to conservative Christians are the ones guilty of intolerance now.
Obama needs to stand up to his left-wing supporters and outline the fact that the Constitution’s vision is one of pluralism. They ask us to “coexist” on bumper stickers, and now we ask the same.
But I am afraid this situation developed because of truth. A commentator called me mr. Truth probably because I hold tight to Biblical truth. Truth does one of two things: it either convicts the sinner toward repentance or it hardens him/her. In the case of gay activists it is obviously the latter.
They have gone as far as twisting Scripture to declassify homosexual relationships as sin. I believe that deep down, nature is revealing to them the sinful aspect of such relations, and they are trying to gain the approval of Christians who hold to historical and correct interpretation of the Bible, as if such approval would make things right.
As born-again Christians led by the Holy Spirit are become a shrinking minority in the US, it is imperative that our constitutional rights are preserved and we are not forced out of the public square. But it probably is too late for that. Endorsing biblical views on sin and depravity got us labeled as bigots, even though we do not try to force our views on anyone. It is a matter of personal faith, and we evangelize to those who are willing to listen.
So I ask again, who are the intolerant ones if not the ‘activists of tolerance’ who led to a forced withdrawal by Giglio?
Worship the Great I AM
Glory to the Lord Most High
King of Power and Light
Angels sing as Heaven bows
Earth resounds their song
Worthy worthy, Jesus is worthy
Praise to the Son of Man
Glory and Honor crown You forever
Worship the Great I Am
Alleluia, Alleluia
Glory to the Prince of Life
Sacred Son of God
Risen to glory, vowed His returning
Christ shall come again
Glory to the promised One
Holy Spirit of God
Pour out upon us power from heaven
Fill us with Your love
___________________________________________________
Very nice lyrics. Nice melody. Beautiful instrumentation. One question… Why do they turn the lights off and fill the stage with orange light during worship?
Less Americans Believe Alternative Life Styles are a Sin
In just 14 months there was 7 point drop in the percent of Americans who believe that homosexuality is a sin from 44% to 37%.
LifeWay Research conducted these studies, and their president commented that the country is rapidly shifting position on this issue, partly due to president Obama’s “evolving” view on gay marriage.
“There is little doubt that the President’s evolution on homosexuality probably impacted the evolution of cultural values. This is a real and substantive shift, surprisingly large for a one-year time frame – though this was hardly a normal year on this issue’
These findings are revealed in the wake of pastor Louie Giglio’s withdrawal from the presidential inauguration prayer. The White House has already announced that Giglio will be replaced by a pro-gay pastor as a means to not alienate anyone.
Christians believers who hold to the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible will now be a rapidly shrinking minority in the US.
I am writing this to warn the body of Christ of our status in modern society. Even though the Constitution gives us the right to believe the Bible as it is written, without taking Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6, and many other pages out, we will be labeled as bigots, anti-social retros, and obstacles to progress.
Will this lead to religious persecution? I believe yes. Especially if Congress working with this Administration takes up “hate-speech” legislation which will prevent preaching from church pulpits from the above mentioned Bible passages.
At this point I do not envision pastors being put in jail for preaching against homosexuality. But there is a real possibility of other legal methods being used to curtail religious freedom and free speech if such legislation is used. Canada has already experimented with “hate-speech” legislation, and pastors there have confessed they are being pressured to not expose anti-sin views from the pulpit.
The world is changing. Views are evolving. A constant and confusing flux of public opinion is inundating us everyday.
Despite this we must remain anchored in the Word of God. Anchored in Truth.
Louie Giglio Withdraws from the Inauguration and… the Gay Debate
In another half-meant attempt to extend an “olive branch” to evangelicals, Obama asked Passion City Church pastor Louie Giglio to give the prayer at his 2nd inauguration as a reward for Giglio’s social work to end modern slavery.
After initially accepting with enthusiasm, the pastor released this somewhat apologetic and confusing statement:
“Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration. Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.”
He was referring to a sermon from what he wants to make it seem like a long, long time ago, when he used to preach against the sin of homosexuality.
He now wants to withdraw from the spotlight. A reasonable conclusion is that he does not wish to defend or debate the biblical truth he once proclaimed in the public square.
On one of the hottest issues threatening to split churches and spread false teaching, Giglio, one of the most recognizable faces of the American Christianity, wishes to remain silent.
Historic Christianity demonstrates that men of God have not been silent on issues of sin. Jesus Himself did not withdraw from the debate on sexual immorality in Matthew 19. Paul did not shy away from labeling homosexual relations as unnatural and idolatrous in Romans 1. Peter was bold in addressing immorality and false teaching in 2 Peter 2.
Even Rick Warren did not withdraw himself from the debate, he actually craves it making the rounds an all the popular talk shows exposing a lukewarm position on the nature of homosexual relations.
Why is Louie Giglio backing down? Why won’t he deliver a firm inaugural Christian prayer to God in the name of Jesus (not in the name of Islamic prophet Isa like Rick Warren did in his inaugural prayer) and let the storm rage around him?
I love the Casting Crowns song lyrics which highlight the storm around us:
And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
This was the opportunity of a life time for Giglio to stand up for God and for biblical truth in front of an audience of hundreds of millions, and he blew it! It would have been an eternal testimony… I am so disappointed…
Delight in Truth 