My Motivation To Miss Hell

You Can Quote Me on That

“I have heard it said that two heads are better than one. Whoever said that
obviously took ‘personality’ out of the equation”

What a beautiful morning after such a dreary week...rain, rain, rain. Not the hard stuff. Although, we did occasionally get the “hard stuff”. We mostly got the gentle down pour. And when it wasn’t raining, it was still cloudy.
But this morning…wow!
I realized something about myself this week. (Self-Actualization – Abraham Maslow would be so proud of me). I was teaching my bible class, “Life of Christ”, and sharing with the class my soul shaking fear of not wanting to die. I told them that I want to “…live forever…” I also told them that I am afraid of hell and that I don’t want to go there. I also told them that hell isn’t physical torture on an earthly body, but rather unquenchable misery.
I DON”T WANT TO MISS HEAVEN!
As I was sipping my fine cup of java this morning, I realized the origin of this fear.
As a youngster, my dad gave me a lot of latitude. He would let me do things on my own as long as I followed the rules. Specifically, if we went to a store, I could wonder away to section that appealed to me just as long as I “didn’t touch”, and when he was ready to leave, I was to be ready to leave.
I wasn’t too bad about it. Every once-in-awhile I would get the message “I’m gonna’ leave you!” I would very quickly put down what I was doing and make a dash for my dad. You see my dad meant what he said.
One day I was with my dad at a K-Mart® more than 4 miles from home. I must have been about 9 or 10 years old. He went there to get parts for his truck so he could tune it up and change the oil and filters. That was boring to me. So, I headed of a few isles over to the toy section. Not a problem. I saw my dad make a move for the front of the store. I was right behind him. He then got in line behind 5 or 6 people that had a lot of stuff. It was the only cash register open. I stood there for what seemed like a whole hour bored out of my mind. It was probably 10 seconds. That’s when I noticed my second favorite place in the store…the comic book section. So while dad was waiting in line, I thought I would catch up on Spiderman (my favorite) and batman.
It was a great spot! From where I was, I could see my dad and the front doors. I was right at a good spot with Spidey and Doc Oc when I heard my dad’s voice say “I’m Leaving”. I know I responded verbally but I didn’t even look up. I had to finish this! I figured I was a couple a seconds behind my dad. It was probably more like 10 minutes. I have a terrible reality of time. I darted for the door. I went to where my dad parked…he was gone. I got left behind.
I cannot begin to tell you about the anguish I felt. I can’t describe it. I lost my security. I lost my dad’s favor. I would eventually have to deal with his wrath and judgment.
I began to walk home. I watched at every turn, every corner to see if he would be there. He wasn’t. This wasn’t an idle threat. This was for real!
I began to think of what he was going to say, what my punishment was going to be when I got home. That was as bad as being left behind. I cried…a lot.
I thank God for this experience.
The anguish I felt as a child felt like an eternity. It took me an hour and a half to walk home. Friend, that was just a little taste of what hell will be like. With hell, there is no second chance. There is no tomorrow. Hell is an eternity of anguish with no chance for change.
I never want to experience that emotion again. I am motivated to make heave my home at all cost.Heaven – Don’t Miss It!

The True Teacher

I participated in a Thanksgiving Ecumenical service once. What an eye opener. It was held at one of the two local Lutheran Churches in Port Clinton, Ohio. As I recalled both United Methodist pastors were present. A Presbyterian, Episcopal, Assembly of God, Nazarene, and a Wesleyan (that was me) pastor was also present. It was my job to disburse the element of the “bread” for Holy Communion. As I was taught by my mentoring pastor, I gave the “Word” while giving the bread.
So, if you can imagine, I had a flat disc about the size of a dessert saucer in my hands. People would pass by my station and tear off a piece of unleavened bread for themselves and then move on to the “wine” station. As each person would tear off their portion of the bread from the disc, I would quote scripture from “The Passion” referring to the bread or some other New Testament bread reference.
I could begin to tell who was from what denomination by the way they responded to me. The Catholics and Episcopalians in the crowd would tear off the bread and hold it carefully in two hands. As I would begin to quote scripture, they would bow their heads and wait until I had finished before placing the sacrament in their mouth and moving to the next station.
The Lutherans and the Presbyterians would tear off the bread, carefully hold it in two hands, gaze at me while I quoted the Word, partake, and then move to the next station.
The United Methodists would tear off the bread, place it in two hands and while I would be speaking reverently bow their heads and partake of the sacrament and continue on to the next station.
All the other “Protestants” would tear of their bread with one hand place it in their mouth and continue on as if I wasn’t speaking at all.
Now just so that you understand me, I don’t think their behavior rude, or sacrilegious. I had just never seen different denominations practice Holy Communion side by side before, and I learned something.
Each group “performed” as they had been taught. So, what I saw like it or not, was a reflection of what denominations taught their people. Some of my own parishioners were there. They behaved as the rest of the “Protestants” behaved.
Now, if you think this is about Holy Communion and the way people handle the sacraments, you are thinking way to small! This is about ministers and their teaching. If we teach the “sacredness” of the Holy Communion elements, people will understand the sacredness of the elements. If we teach the value of prayer, people will pray. If we teach the blessedness of giving, people will give. I believe that if we teach the necessity of Holy Living, people will seek to live a Holy Life.
Therefore, I believe that people are kept in the bondage of sin because ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ are not unified in declaring the requirement of a holy, sanctified life.

Am I wrong?

Our Nature vs. Our Sin

Welcome to the porch! What a beautiful morning here on the edge of the Great North Woods. As I stepped out on the porch I was greeted with some rather chilly air, 38 degrees according to the thermometer… WOW!
I have discovered that my sons are very quickly becoming coffee bums. This is troubling to me. I have some very nice beans that have come my way via God’s blessings and they (son # 1, 2, & 3) are being wasteful with them. This is an atrocity! You must understand…me and coffee go way back.
I made a whole pot (12 cups) for them. It was an exotic Arabic bean, Irish Cream mixed with fresh ground, roasted, imported Costa Rica blend. It was nice. I had a cup and left the rest to the 3 amigos.
I went to my office and put on 6 cups of Folgers® lite. Vigorously I worked. When I stopped to get me some brain juice, I discovered that they hadn’t finished what I had made for them and the little locust flew over to my office and consumed all my coffee!

Ain’t nothin’ sacred no more...Coffee Bums!

I realize this is just human nature. I will teach them and they will come to be true coffee aficionados. It’s that human nature that bothers me.
I have stumbled upon another characteristic in human nature that really bothers me. It seems to be prevalent here in my location. So, maybe you don’t see this where you are. It is the personality that seeks the information that they want to hear. This can appear in all kinds personal issues such as marriage, parenting, legal, and financial advice etc.
The one in particular that breaks my heart is “living in sin”.
In my area, (probably not yours) I constantly deal with people who practice sin, live in sin, confess the sin, but won’t remove themselves from the sin. They will tell you that they are believers, followers of Jesus Christ. And since they are believers their salvation is secure. Jesus doesn’t expect us to be perfect and knows that we sin everyday in word thought and deed.
At this point, I could branch off into a doctrinal dissertation in an attempt to disprove such a statement. But I would rather look at the origin from which the thought originates. I don’t think you can deny that it comes from the heart… a heart that is influenced by a human nature…a nature that seeks an easy way and rejects personal responsibility. This kind of nature would rather believe a lie than deal with their personal sin.
So, because of their heart nature, I know people who will jump from church to church until they find a minister or priest that will tell them what they want to hear, a minister or priest that will affirm their belief that they will sin everyday in word thought and deed.
So, I have two questions that I hope to hear some discussion:

(1) Why does human nature cause people ( I believe the “majority”) to chase after ideologies that keep them in sin instead of truth that will set them free?

(2) Negating false teachers, why would men, who seek the truth, teach such things that keep people in the bondage of sin?

Please take time to respond. I would to hear your thoughts and share your comments.

About The Band

I’m sorry I’ve been away so long. As you may know “Priority of Time” is an issue I struggle with. The summer months have been so loaded that coming to “The Porch” has not been a priority. Sorry…that’s just the truth.
Truth is that I’m back and man do I have some things to write about! There ain’t nuttin’ like a summer runnin’ around with a bunch of teenagers… goin’ to camps, goin’ camping, camping out in Churches, playin’ concerts, seein’ old friends, makin’ new ones. We have had quite a few adventures this summer.
I say “we” because the youth worship band has decided to take a step, a very big step. The band has decided to step into the ministry. I believe their hearts to be in the right place. When they first approached me about the idea, I was wondering if it had something to do with the glamour of being a band. So, we sat down and had a pow-wow about what is the band. I asked these teens for a mission statement. As teens will do, they surprised me!
I was told that the coolest thing, what they wanted to see happen, would be other teens and adults coming to a relationship with Christ because of their music. You could have knocked me over with a whisper. As their Pastor, I was so proud of these kids…
I can’t begin to describe my heart! So, blindly I said, “Let’s do it.”
Now, you may not know this, but I’m the drummer and the Evangelist of the band, not to mention the only adult.
First things first…let’s pick a band name. We settled on (drum roll please)…
“Sonic Demolition”. Before you snicker at the name, I have to tell you about the scripture references we went through to get the name. The band didn’t want a name that sounded cool. They wanted a name that stated their purpose. Joshua 6:20. Look it up. Again, I was so proud….
Sonic Demolition – tearing down the walls of evil with the sound of the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Ya’ know what… I like that! O.K. that’s talk and print now let’s put it into action. They have. Two of the concerts we did this summer were not in a “Christian” forum. The public witness that these kids gave was astounding! I am so proud of them. They will be…no…they are world changers!If you have a chance, check out the band’s web page at www.myccm.org/SonicDemo that’s where we post where will be. In the mean time pray for the kids. If you can, support them financially…equipment is expensive and so is the extra upkeep on my van! But what we would really like is for you to consider having an evening youth event at your local high school. Get about 100 teens together (or more) and invite Sonic Demolition. If your youth group isn’t big enough to do that by themselves, then work with other evangelical churches in your community to sponsor it. We’ll be sure to bring the music, the fun and the gospel.

My spring work load is becoming ever increasing. So, in light of the piles on my desk (and the ones yet to come) I will be taking time away from the Front Porch until June. That is when I hope normality will visit my life. Until then …take care of yourself and each other.

Pastor Eric

Lazy Parents

There was a beautiful sunrise in Central Wisconsin this morning. Last night was absolutely beautiful too! We (my wife and I) had a campfire under the stars. You should have been there. Build a fire pit in your backyard and burn a little wood. It’s great therapy!

For years on Cincinnati radio I heard a man do commentary. Today, I would like to borrow his format.
You know what makes me sick! You know what makes me so angry that I could sew somebody’s seat to a padded pew and preach a bad sermon…perpetually! I’ll tell ya’! It’s these mambee pambee, wimpy, lazy parents that have kids but won’t be a parent. You know the ones I’m talking about. People who send their kids away to school for 8 hours a day and then when their kid comes home, they still totally ignore them, people who dread the weekends because there’s no school to send their kid away to. If you’re feeling like this, then I’m talking to YOU.
I could talk hours about parents not being parents just by sending your kid to a public school. But I’ll leave that alone for the time being. When I look at my little town, there are only a handful of parents that know where their kid is when they get off the bus. By dark, the children start disappearing into their homes. I know that this phenomenon happens only because the kids are hungry. I bet if I fed them they wouldn’t go home until they needed a place to sleep. I’m talking about elementary level kids. The teens are worse. I see them jumping in and out of cars, speeding through town, guys and gals doing vulgar suggestive things that I wouldn’t do with my wife in public. The funny thing is they aren’t old enough to know why they do it. They just saw someone else have the same actions on TV. With cigarettes in hand and profanities rolling off the tongue, these kids believe they are all grown up. Why, because there ain’t a parent in sight.
Kids are taught young to learn from what they see. So, as a baby sitter, they are put in front of the TV with a bottle and 150 channels. Thousands of hours later parents think it’s a sign of intelligence that their 4 year old knows how to use the remote and can play a video tape or DVD. Parents laugh when their 5 year old repeats a profane word. After they start school, parents have no idea kids are comparing what each can get by with, and thus starts the game. Within a couple of years, parents start taking the attitude “…I can hardly wait ‘til school starts…” so they can get rid of their kid for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. By the time the kid is a teenager (13) the parents really don’t care where they are or what they are doing because the parents are to busy while making money to buy a boat, to short-sighted while rediscovering their marriage, or to self-centered to think of anyone else while their going through their divorce. Here me loud and clear: THE PROBLEM IS PARENTS AREN’T BEING PARENTS!

WAKE UP AMERICA!...

Just because you can make a baby doesn’t make you a parent. Do you realize how better off our country would be if parenting skills improved? So, if you think babies are cute, then go and visit the nursery of your local hospital. Have vasectomies, tubaligations or use proper birth control. Don’t make babies. That way you don’t suck up the resources that are needed by the people who really parent their children, and the children themselves.

A Vow

As I sit here typing this morning, the fragrance of fresh brewed coffee is wafting through my nostrils. I’ve wrapped my hands around the cup several times and sipped. It’s a foggy morning as I stare off the front porch and out into the mist. I suppose the wolf man might be out there somewhere. But on a more serious note, I am here. It is a quiet morning after a very busy week. It is refreshing, and soothing to just sit here with cup in hand. I really don’t want to pen anything down… just take in the serenity. Nevertheless, I made a vow to myself. I vowed that I would take this time (and it has been a fight) and faithfully write once a week. There are weeks I absolutely can’t. Just take a look in the “Archives” and you’ll know that’s true. Even in the weeks I do write it is a fight. The fight comes in many different forms. Sometimes, I am tired. Sometimes, I am lazy. Sometimes, I have other work that has to take priority. Sometimes, my heart isn’t in it. Sometimes, I just don’t feel good. Sometimes, my motivation is gone. Who wants to get up at 6 a.m. on Friday and/or Saturday to write an article that you don’t get paid for?
But, I made a vow to myself. I vowed that I would write. I vowed that I would write in a forum that would cause me to publish quality. I vowed that I would do it faithfully. I have no one else to hold my feet to the fire about this vow but myself. There is no one looking over my shoulder to see if I am writing. There is no one to watch and see if I am doing my homework, researching my thoughts, or just reading to expand horizons. It is I… myself… and me to see that this writing gets done and thus fulfill my vow.
Now, you may ask, “What’s the point?” I am surrounded by people who make vows, and have no intention of honoring them, or at the very least have not considered the cost of honoring them. I discovered this phenomenon when I started my ministry. People would “vow” to be in church on Sunday when I would ask them to come. They wouldn’t show up. I finally quit asking because I realized that I was setting them up to lie. I don’t think the modern era understands the vow “…’til death do us part.” I believe they comprehend the words. I don’t believe they intend to keep the vow. I mean isn’t it a little crazy to suggest that no matter what…you stay married. C’mon that’s what divorce is for…right!?
Then, I think of who the vow is made to. People are counting on me to keep my vow to them…aren’t they? People want the assurance of my vow… don’t they? When I don’t keep a vow what does that say about me? I guess that’s why we have contracts. We now put our agreements in writing so that when one party breaks the agreement the other party can collect damages. Contracts are in every part of our society. Now, I’m not saying contracts are a bad thing. But, instead of the integrity of a vow, when you enter a relationship, make out a contract. That way, a person doesn’t have to have the personal integrity, stamina, or character required to honor a vow. One party can choose to “buy out” the other’s contract and end the relationship. If one party doesn’t hold up their end of a contract the other party has the right to end the relationship and seek to collect for damages. Finally, both parties can just simply agree that the relationship is mutually bad and dissolve the contract. The possibilities are provided for in the contract because it is anticipated that someone somewhere will not keep the terms agreed upon. That’s what a contract is for.
To quote Webster, a vow means, “…a grave, important and serious promise.”
A good teaching of this comes from the Dr. Seuss book, Horton Hears A Who. I read this years ago, and I have never forgotten this little ditty to this day.
“I meant what I said
And I said what I meant.
An elephant’s faithfulness
One hundred percent.”
Here in lies the nature of a vow. No one can make a vow for you. You have to make it yourself. No one can make you keep a vow. You have to keep it yourself. It says a lot about a person who can keep their vows.
How ya’ doin’ in that department?
On the lighter side, I’ll ask you about your vows… but I won’t ask about your diet.

Daddy…Love Mommy

Just the other day I had the neatest experience. It was about 7a.m. on a school morning. I was sitting in the dark, in the bathroom having a quiet moment. Now don’t get red in the face. I am not being crude. I was really just sitting in the bathroom in the dark. To be precise, I was sitting on the edge of the bathtub. The rest of the house was waking and stirring and no one knew where I was. That is until my 4 year old woke up. I could hear her meandering around the house. Her sounds dissipated into the kitchen and I knew she was with her mother. My mind was able to drift back off to the place it was before. I’m not sure how long it was before the door slowly swung open and her beaming face poked in to find me. I put her on my lap and we did the traditional “Good Morning” hugs and kisses. Then she promptly slid off my lap, grabbed my fore finger in each hand and began to pull. I thought she was playing with me at first so I kinda’ put her off. She grabbed my fingers and started pulling again.
“C’mon Dad!” she said emphatically.
Getting the message, I let her pull me out of hiding, thru the dining room and into the kitchen where my wife was making breakfast.
My little girl pulled me over next to my wife and demanded, “Daddy…love Mommy!”
I obliged her. I wrapped my arms around my wife, nuzzled her neck and kissed her.
“How’s that”? I asked.
“Do it again!” was the reply
This time my wife wheeled around and gave me a more passionate kiss. My twin boys entered the kitchen hiding their eyes. My 16 year old passed by and muttered something about “…get a room…” With her heart satisfied, my little girl left the room to move on with her day.
My wife and I have always displayed our affection in front of our children. We have also lavished our affection on them. To this day, we hug, embrace, kiss and tell each other “I love you” before we say “…goodnight”. We say “I love you” when we leave each other. I can’t imagine life any other way. And I have always wanted my boys to know that I love their mother. I have tried to show it with my words, actions and affections.
I do this so that it will be common for them to show affection to their wives. I do this so that they can cultivate a relationship with their wives that will be strong and not end in divorce. I do this for my grandchildren who aren’t even born yet. I do this for my wife, so that she will feel loved and know that I am not ashamed of her. I do this to honor her in front of my children. And yes, I do this for me. I love loving her. I am proud that she is my wife.
I don’t know what was going on in my 4 year old’s mind, but it was obvious that her day wasn’t going to start until she saw daddy loving mommy. I have to admit, it is a great way to start the day! As great and as important as all that is….for all the same reasons….I want them to catch me loving God.