Articles from March 2016

Sen. David Long’s Uneasy Relationship with the Truth

Current Events
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image Sen. David Long Facebook Post

The picture accompanying this blog post is a snap shot from Indiana State Senator David Long’s (GOP) campaign Facebook page. As you may notice, Senator Long is calling into question the integrity of his opponents with regards to his involvement in the recent SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) debates revolving around SB100/344. His claim is that he is a champion of religious liberty and he never considered the codification of a transgender “bathroom” bill. As I understand, media ads are being run in his district touting such claims. It leaves the impression that his opponents are simply making things up or lying about his record.

I do not wish to think too highly of myself, but I am one of those opponents who has been vocal in this debate and through the media. I am also a pastor who takes exception to my integrity being questioned no matter how veiled or unintended it may be. An accusation towards a person whose livelihood and credibility revolves around integrity deserves a response. So, I will start with this…

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FIVE (5) Steps in Stopping a Pro-Life Civil War

Cultural Reformation
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image Stopping the Civil War

The GOP is learning a hard lesson this election cycle (at least we hope they learn). You cannot make campaign promises and claim you are the natural home for conservatives, evangelicals, and constitutionalists; and then retreat to the halls of government and forget the goals you were sent to accomplish. This election cycle demonstrates there is a full blown civil war brewing in the ranks of the GOP because it’s leaders are not responding to the grassroots frustration. Political job security and tenure are based on how well goals were accomplished and plans were executed. The upheaval we are watching in this primary is really the job evaluation. The grassroots profoundly believe that the GOP has failed. I illustrate this blog subject with this reality because a similar dynamic is happening within the pro-life movement (PLM). In much the same way, there is a brewing civil war within the ranks of the PLM between what some have called the “establishment” pro-life advocates and the grassroots supporters.

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A Letter to a Senator from a Simpleton

Current Events
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image “An Odious and Limited View of the World”

“I am personally sick and tired of the narrow-minded, hateful groups we continuously hear from who use Christianity to support their simplistic and intolerant view of the world.”
~ Indiana State Senate Majority Leader (GOP) David Long referencing Bible-believing, Liberty loving, Conservative Christian people in Indiana.

Senator David Long must be under a lot of pressure. I have no idea what universe he is currently living in, but those remarks found in the opinion section of the Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel would be offensive to your political adversaries much less your base.

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(STEP 5) FIVE Easy Steps Pastors can take to Lead Their Churches in “Political” Engagement

Cultural Reformation
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Teach / Preach on the Theological Mandate of Cultural Engagement.

Several years ago I decided I was going to preach through the book of Acts expositionally. Take my time and go verse by verse, chapter by chapter and get the whole book into our spiritual system. I originally did that because I wanted to underscore our local church roots as a Pentecostal people. What happened? I was blown away by the evidence of a church that consistently engaged the culture with the Gospel and the repercussions that took place with regards to liberty and litigation. To say the early church was not political is to ignore the entire book of Acts.
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(STEP 4) FIVE Easy Steps Pastors can take to Lead Their Churches in “Political” Engagement

Cultural Reformation
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Identify Solid Members who have a “Call” in this Area and Empower Them.

I am a pastor so I “get” the history of people in your church who have a passion for social issues and governmental concerns. Often times (unfortunately) their passion becomes your pain in the neck. They call you, bug you, and generally stress you out over an area that up to this point you weren’t that concerned about. Please hear me out on this one…

There was a time I was just like that as well…
But the Lord had to arrest my attention and candidly, theirs too.

My story goes like this…
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