Are You Secure, or Insecure?

I've had a pretty interesting week. Being a pastor is the type of job that is quite Gumpish,  "you never know what you're gonna get". One day is pretty quiet, and then the next day is filled with activity and stuff. 

Without going into great detail about the circumstance of my week (which is truly insignificant), I realized, or should I say that I admitted to myself, that there are areas of my life that I am  insecure. 

Yep. I am insecure. 

Wait, don't stop reading the blog quite yet. I know that this may come to surprise to you. Part of this process of admitting to myself my insecurities, was when someone actually said to me, "I thought you were more secure than that".

Got me to think- do I portray a personality that is secure? Now, when I say "secure', that's a pretty deep word, but for this discussion, I guess I'm talking about interpersonal esteem kind of secure. The one where you feel good about yourself. Confident. Sure that you can get it done. The kind of stuff they fill you full of in elementary school to help you conquer the world. 

For the most part, I think that people expect others to not be too insecure, and expect our selves to be secure. We're a' society of people that want everyone to be secure. No second guessing. No wondering about our value. No need for affirmations. 

As I was reflecting on that term "insecure" it got me to think- do I want to be a person who is so secure that I don't need anyone else? That I am so confident of my self that I can be completely self-sufficient, not requiring anything from anyone?

The answer I came to was, no. 

Here's the power I see in insecurity- when we are insecure, we are constantly dependent on God. Now hear me out here, I'm saying being insecure about our salvation, or insecure about our inherent value. I'm saying that there is a benefit to not being so secure that you feel as though you do not need a relationship with God, or other people. That you have arrived to such a place that you don't ever put yourself in a position where you have to depend on God or someone else to build you up. 

I think that would be a bad thing. 

Security is good. Being secure is good, but a dose of insecurity in your life opens you up to dependence on God, and for that, I think it can be a good thing. 

Are you insecure about an area of your life? Turn to the Lord and ask Him to build you up. Admit that you need His affirming love and encouragement. Allow Him to cover you with His love and realize that in spite of your insecurities, you can find security in the one who created you, knowing that you are loved.

Don't be too secure.

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Here- Take This Jesus Pill. You'll Like it.

Have you ever been sick?  Have you ever gone to the Doctor? Dumb question, right? I'm sure you have. We all have at some point or another. Going to the Doctor isn't the funnest thing in the world, but when you're in need of some meds or something, it often is quite helpful. 

Found this interesting article about a Doctor who got in trouble for talking to a patient about Jesus. 

you can read it here- http://www.myfoxny.com/dpps/news/offbeat/prescribing-jesus-gets-doctor-censured-dpgonc-km-20110522_13318742 

It troubles me on so many levels that this Doctor would get in trouble for talking about the most influential individual in the history of the world. If you don't believe me, look at the date today. Its based on when Jesus was born. 

I can appreciate and understand that this opens up a discussion on religion in the workplace. One could say that allowing this guy to talk about Jesus would have to open the door to others talking about their faith. That doesn't trouble me at all. Put my Jesus up against anything and He will prevail every single time. 

Here's the biggest issue- worldwide, there is antagonism against Christianity. Not through individuals, but through organizations. It appears to me that it is culturally acceptable to be anything but a person who believes in the God of the Bible. This should not be so. 

The truth that this Doctor knows, that everyone else should know is that a trained Doctor can only do so much. They can prescribe pills and 'practice' medicine, but they are limited in their overall power. At some point, you have to go to the Creator. You have to bow your knee and admit that you need something more powerful than yourself to get you out of what you are in. 

You need a touch from above. 

Have you been going at it on your own strength? Have you not been to see Dr. Jesus lately? His office is open. No waiting line. No HMO and no co-pays. Go in, sit down and take a dose of what He is giving and He will cure you of the pain that only can come from the Savior. 

Nothing wrong with prescribing some Jesus. 

be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Open Letter To Harold Camping

Dear Mr. Camping

I heard this morning that you changed your prediction for the end of the world to now arrive on October 21st 2011. 

Would you please stop making predictions about the rapture? You have got your predictions wrong before this past week, and I think at this point you should remove yourself from doomsday prophecy predicting and move onto something else. 

Its pretty clear this isn't your gifting. 

Here's the problem I have Mr. Camping- I'm not doubting that you have faith in Jesus Christ. Obviously you do. My issue is that for a lot of people in America you have now become a point of ridicule that are making the majority of us Christians who are not like you look really dumb. While the majority of us do not agree with you, because you are getting so much press, people are putting us in the same group as you. I share your faith in Jesus, but not your prediction. 

I know you love the Lord Mr. Camping, but at this point, I think a better approach would be to warn people that the rapture is going to happen "eventually" or "at any time" or "when you least expect it". This approach would remind people about the impending arrival of our savior and would probably produce the effect that you are looking for- a turning towards God. 

I can appreciate that you want to narrow it down to an exact date, but I want to remind you what Jesus said "no one knows the day or the hour", so I think that probably includes all of us, doesn't it?

You're getting old. You're like 80 something now, aren't you? The good news is that you're going to be with Jesus soon anyway, even if the rapture doesn't happen in the next few years. I'm not saying it won't happen, I'm just saying that you'll be seeing Jesus pretty soon anyway, so you shouldn't fret about it. 

Well, hope this didn't come across too harshly. I was trying to be nice. Trying to protect the faith of the scores of good Christian people on this earth who truly love the Lord, believe in the rapture, but understand that they can't predict when it will happen. 

Have a blessed day. Remember- NO MORE PREDICTIONS. 

Pastor Matt Krachunis

Faith and Victory Church Auburn Wa

www.faithandvictory.com 

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Its Not The End of The World

I'm going on record to say that tomorrow won't be the end of the world. For those of you that have succumbed to the panic, its okay. You'll still be able to attend church on Sunday (I think its going to rain Sunday).

End of the earth prophecies have been happening for ages. There is always someone who says that they have figured it out, and knows what is going on, and when it is going to happen. The truth is that the Bible declares that no one knows the day or the hour and that the end is going to come like a thief in the night. 

Here's what I think is happening- those that believe that it is the end have either fallen to false theology, or they want the world to end.  Somehow, they have been deceived in such a way that they think that they know what is going to happen. 

They don't. 

However much comfort they may have is fleeting, and their hope groundless. As Christian people, we are to live our lives in such a way that we are living as if the return of Christ is going to happen today, not tomorrow. We're supposed to put our hope in Christ as our Savior from our sins, not our Savior from this world. He will save us from this world, but that's not why we serve Him. We serve Him because of what He did on the cross. 

Are you living like Christ is coming today, or as if He is going to come tomorrow?

People who live like He is coming tomorrow will find themselves constantly putting off the spiritual necessities of the day, and the things of this world that truly matter. People who live like He is coming today live with a constant expectation of His arrival in such a way that it impacts every aspect of their day in such a way that they have a constant awareness of His presence. 

Don't live like the end of the world is coming tomorrow. Live like its coming today. Be encouraged that if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, who lives for Him, you have nothing to fear. You can live each day like His arrival in imminent, knowing that your relationship is grounded in the truth of His word, and the Salvation that He provided. 

He's not coming tomorrow. He's coming today. 

Be Blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

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