Before I share my thoughts on chapter one of Servolution, let me just say that prior to us receiving the book or even finding out about it, God had already given me a vision for something very similar, in fact in many ways identical to what is being described in this great book. So, when I received a copy of the book it was an incredible confirmation that God was moving, and that we were hearing Him speak and following His lead. Having said that, lets get into the impressions that I had while reading this chapter.
To start with, I like Dino’s emphasis on ensuring that our “Servolution” has a clear mission that everyone believes in. This is crucial in projects where volunteers are concerned, people need to know what they are getting involved in from the get go and need to get a sense for whether or not they can buy into the concept. As the Bible says in Proverbs 29:18 MKJV “Where there is no vision, the people perish”, so is the destiny for projects which lack a clear and concise vision. In relating a Servolution to the Boston Tea Party, Dino explained that revolutions have far reaching implications and that the motives and methods are of critical importance. He also explains that a Servolution is a revolution based on, and operates with, compassion and love, with a goal to service and answer the cries of the poor, the hurting, and the forgotten. How true, Christ came to heal and to lighten the load of those that would come to Him and He especially focused on these groups. He also commanded us to go out. In order to go out, we must leave the comfort of our pews and the four walls that surround them and reach out to the lost and dying world around us, and we need to pray for the fire and the perseverance to carry it through person by person, need by need, and situation by situation.
In the book of James we clearly see that faith without works is dead. Yes, we are not saved by works (our works, being as filthy rags, would never do the job), but true believers will have works of righteousness that emanate from their faith and an active relationship with Christ. They won’t be boasting in their works, but boasting in Christ, and giving glory to God, and by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony they shall overcome the enemy’s grip on the lost. We must remember that as we take on any kind of “Servolution” project, that we are called to live our lives in such a way that people will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (not us), and Dino fleshes that out more as the book progresses.
Dino goes on to talk about how the focus in their Servolution is to initiate change, by bringing healing to a hurting world (amen – full healing only comes through Christ) and by loving people to Christ. He further shares that it involves initiating change through simple acts of kindness for the glory of God, which becomes a church revolution through serving. The change will impact us deeply and profoundly and will do the same for those we serve. The emphasis is to serve one person at a time. This is of utmost importance, the Servolution itself can never be the emphasis, but the people being ministered to must be the focus and there must be a desire to address needs and share Christ in a hand in glove relationship, or the risk is that the Servolution will be nothing more than a secular humanitarian effort with the word “church” attached.
I appreciated Osteen’s move to thrust the author and his wife into action by giving them a do or die donation (start a church or be arrested for theft). There was enough humour to lighten the moment but enough edge to push them into what God had in store for them. I sincerely hope that there are many leaders such as Mr. Osteen who are encouraging others to get out and fulfil the call on their lives to reach the lost with the love and truth of Christ.
It was good to see that as with every ministry I have seen, the founders of the ministry went through discouragement that they had to push through. This training ground of disappointment strengthens our metal and prepares us for some of the hard work that lies ahead. Whenever I go through this kind of struggle, I remember the words of James as can be read in James 1:2-8 MKJV – “My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations, (3) knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. (5) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him. (6) But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. (7) For do not let that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord; (8) he is a double-minded man, not dependable in all his ways.” What a great temptation startup struggles are, they represent the temptation to quit, to throw in the towel and to forget about it. The fact that Dino has included this in the starting chapter should be a wake up call to all of us embarking on a Servolution type of ministry, to be prepared for the rough stuff and to push through, and to not despise that which may seem small, to start with, but to have faith and work with God, and see what He will do through us.
I was also pleased to see that the ministry team was interested in serving those who were not already being served, the very ones that nobody else found important enough to serve. There is often very little glitz, glamour, or reward in this kind of work, but it is truly the work that is in the service of the Lord. It is often thankless, can be frustrating, and requires character to follow it through. Fantastic – all for Jesus, I surrender, I surrender all!
Dino and his team, early on in their ministry, dug into the service of widows, which is a call of scripture that many ministries overlook. As we see in James 1:27 MKJV – “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their afflictions, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” Dino illustrates that when we exercise the commands of scripture, the fruit starts to surface, the response to serving the widows was church growth. The book of Acts church experienced rapid growth, and the reason many churches are stagnating today is because they do not do what scripture tells them to do. If they would, they would see results similar to what was happening in Acts 2:44-47 MKJV – “And all who believed were together and had all things common. (45) And they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. (46) And continuing with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they shared food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Healing Place Church had the right attitude and vision in initiating their Servolution and Dino explains that, that attitude was “whatever, whenever”. Their heart was for service no matter what the cost. They demonstrated self sacrifice, commitment, and resourcefulness. They demonstrated compassion and addressed needs which, when coupled with sharing Christ, wins souls. (Proverbs 11:30 ASV The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls)
Single moms became another focal point, which makes sense since there is often so much lack and hurt and need for healing with single moms. I was pleased to see that the common theme between all of the groups they served was to see a need and then to fill it. Servolution did not become a believers only club, nor did it become a lost souls only club, but focused on serving the needs within the body of Christ and then pouring out the overflow into the surrounding community.
There was a great illustration in the chapter of a man who was married by Healing Place Church who later came to share his struggles and to seek answers of a spiritual nature from Dino. This demonstrates that if we are not just “nice people” doing “good things” but we also are sharers of truth, that God will send us people seeking answers. Then of course we need to follow the instruction of 1 Peter 3:15 MKJV - “but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear.” If we do this, God will use us to reach people and to bring them to Him.
When it comes to receiving people in the church, hospitality is king. Their community meal offering was a great way to demonstrate a willingness to offer something with no strings attached, while at the same time offering another opportunity to give individual and personal attention to all who came. This is where some churches fall down, on the follow through. Getting people through the doors is only part of the battle, the other part is showing them the love of Christ in a real and tangible way, welcoming them and using the time together as an opportunity to share truth.
Out of the entire chapter, I really only had one part I would have reworded. It was with reference to the way that Dino was describing the people that the Servolution would serve. He made a couple of comments such as, ‘God will bless those who bless “His people”‘ and ‘Pray, Ask God to open your eyes to the needs all around you and to help you to see “His people” the way He sees them.’ Since the Servolution was not just geared toward seeing the needs within the body of Christ but also in serving the needs of non-believers, this should be reworded. “His people” are those who recognize Him as Lord and follow His commandments. Those who are not believers, do not fall into this category.
For example, Jesus said in Luke 6:46 MKJV – “And why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?” and in John 14:23-24 MKJV – “Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. (24) He who does not love Me does not keep My Words, and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” and in John 8:39-44 MKJV – “They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus answered them, If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. (40) But now you seek to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth which I have heard beside God; this Abraham did not do. (41) You do the deeds of your father. Then they said to Him, We are not born of fornication; we have one father, even God. (42) Jesus said to them, If God were your father, you would love Me, for I went forth and came from God; for I did not come of Myself, but He sent Me. (43) Why do you not know My speech? Because you cannot hear My Word. (44) You are of the Devil as father, and the lusts of your father you will do.”
Overall, I felt that chapter one sets up the vision of Servolution very well and wets your appetite for the digging in that comes later on in the book. I truly enjoyed the way that Dino relates his experiences and the vision that God gave him in the form of Servolution. I truly recommend Servolution as a must read for anyone serious about following our Lord’s commandment to preach the good news to all creation. Winning souls needs to be primary in every church, and a Servolution is a great way to do it.
Jim Blake is the National Chairman of Concerned Christians Canada, he is a husband of one wife and a father of five children. Mr. Blake has been a guest speaker at church events has been involved in pastoral conferences, has been a presenter at political events involving both Christians and non-Christians and has advocated for the rights of individuals who have been persecuted for sharing their faith. Mr. Blake has been a spokesman for Christian values in the secular media and on Christian Radio and TV. He has also been in talks with leaders from Church and Parachurch organizations and has had one-on-one meetings with high ranking politicians. Praise be to God for the doors that He opened for CCC and for Mr. Blake. To learn about Concerned Christians Canada, feel free to visit www.concernedchristians.ca.
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12"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
13"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
15Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
16"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."
17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come " And let the one who hears say, "Come " And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
18I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
20He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly " Amen Come, Lord Jesus.
21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
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As a husband of one wife and father of 5 married since 1994, and together since 1991, and having had many conversations with people successfully in marriage for up to 50 years, you can get a sense that I have some credibility in laying out the following set of tips. It is by no means exhaustive, but if you will follow it, you are well on your way to marital success.
Step 1 - Don't have sex with people you are not married to
Step 2 - Take your time and don't get married because he/she is cute... but because the person is a person with virtue and moral character and because they truly want to commit their life to a loving partnership with you
Step 3 - Make sure that you are not deceiving yourself to "be happy"
Step 4 - Make sure you understand it is for life through sickness and health, through poverty and riches, through bad times and good, till death do you part
Step 5 - Pray to see if this is truly God's will (consider fasting while praying - it builds character and can help you focus more on the answer from God)
Step 6 - If all of the above are in place... be patient... spend personal time together getting to know each other emotionally and intellectually (not sexually or physically that clouds the mind). Discuss goals, ambitions, what you are willing to sacrifice in order to have a loving and healthy family, understand the responsibilities involved, and the aspect of being self-sacrificing for others
Step 7 - Be sure you are making the right decision and that the person you are thinking of being with is truly the one - listen to wise Godly council even if you don't like what they are saying - pray - Step 8 - if everything above checks out set the date, remain pure and chaste until the day you are married - the time waiting will demonstrate character and will build anticipation and enhance the honeymoon
Step 8 - (Don't skip any of the previous steps) Get married understanding that there is no out and that you are committed to making this marriage work no matter what it takes. Recognize that marriage is not, as some say, 50/50, it is 100/100. That way when one is weak the other one can pick the other up and vice versa.
Step 9 - Pray, Communicate, pray, communicate, pray, communicate, repeat until one of you is no longer alive. Love, honour, obey, cherish, build up, encourage, respect, enjoy, truly LIVE... no matter what level of income you have, don't fight over money (it kills marriages).
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Last Updated on Friday, 06 November 2009 23:08
Two Paths - The World vs The Gate
Are you worldly? What do I mean? Perhaps you are focused on drinking partying and having sex. Perhaps you are focused on the score of the next sports game. Perhaps you only want to have a “good time” and forget about the consequences. Maybe your thinking that you may not be here tomorrow anyway.
I want to tell you something. In this life, you have two paths to choose from. One path gives you the sense of pleasure for a time but has no lasting peace. On that road, you may have many “friends”, you may have many people that will walk with you, and help you to hold your head up as you vomit in the toilet. They will laugh with you, and will seem to be the ones that you can't live without. They will smoke with you, do drugs with you, “party” with you and will tell you all the things you want to hear. They will seem to accept you as you are and will call you the funniest person they know as you tell them the most disgusting jokes that you have ever heard. They may encourage you to go after fame and riches and prestige. They may even help you get there. You will likely find yourself keeping so busy with activities or events, drunk or drugged up that you don't have a moment to think. You may even keep trying to add more and more accomplishments to the list of things that you can brag about to others in hopes that it will help you feel good about yourself. The problem is that at the end of the day, when you are alone with your thoughts, you will feel a deep sense of loneliness, and a deep ache in your innermost being. I want to warn you right now. I have met many many people and no matter how rich they are, no matter how many safaris they have gone on or how many triathlons they have been in, no matter how many awards, degrees, or accomplishments they have under their belt, when all is said and done, there is no satisfaction, no water for their parched spirit.
The answer to this deep dull ache in the depths of your being lies on the second path. On this path, there is lasting hope, peace, love and joy. There is true family, community and fellowship. When you start on this path, it may be rocky. It is not for the cowardly. It is challenging, yet rewarding, exhilarating and fulfilling. On this path, when you go to sleep, you feel clean inside, you can truly rest, you can know what it means to live in hope of tomorrow no matter how messed up the world around you becomes. You no longer will feel alone, neither when you are in a crowded room nor on a deserted island a hundred miles from others. No longer will your focus need to be impressing people. No, rather, your goal will be to walk more and more in the depths of this path of freedom. Not freedom like the world promises, which is a lie. Not the freedom to do every form of wickedness and feel like garbage at the end of the day. No, freedom, from the burdens, and guilt that lie within the depths of your soul. The truth is, no matter who we are, we have done things that we know are wrong, and no matter how many good things we do, it never seems to matter, the bad things are still with us like a weight on our back.
This is called condemnation. It is with us because we have done wrong. But this second path I am talking about is a path of righteousness. On this path you receive forgiveness of your sins and true freedom from the one thing you cannot run away from, the wickedness in your own heart. The second path starts at a gate, the name of the gate is Jesus Christ. If you enter into the path of righteousness it is only through Jesus Christ. If you want the freedom, peace, love and joy I have told you about, don't go to religion, don't go to your friends who don't have the answer, go to Jesus. Pray right now, “Jesus help me now, save me from myself, free me.” I tell you the truth. Jesus came to die for your sins so that you could experience true freedom. I am living proof that a broken man, in love with women and the things of this world, can truly be free from the burdens and sin that plagues the mind and the soul. I have true peace now, and I owe it all to Jesus. I don't promise you riches and the things that do not deliver what you need. I offer you salvation through Jesus Christ of Nazareth. May God grant you the wisdom to choose life while you still can.
Jim Blake is the National Chairman of Concerned Christians Canada. If you would like to know more about Concerned Christians Canada, please visit www.concernedchristians.ca or call 403-690-4636.
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Last Updated on Monday, 14 September 2009 18:06
From our Chairman
I would like to encourage you to invite friends and relatives to get involved with CCC. As you may or may not know, Concerned Christians Canada has a slogan - Praying, Acting and Making a Difference! That is our focus in everything we do. Making a difference involves people. In God's sovereign will, and through His divine providence, God gave us an opportunity to be part of the harvest of souls.
Please be aware that this is a time, in the Spirit, of great activity. The powers of darkness are not asleep and this is a time for men to get on their face before God, to pour out, to the Lord, confessions, to walk in a spirit of repentance, and to ask that God would use them for His glory, that God would manifest His power through them.
Are you one of these people? Do you want to be used by God? Do you want to be great in the kingdom? Jesus says "Be the servant to all". Seek the heart of God on how you can be the salt and the light in the world, in which God has placed you. Ask for his vision and then share what you feel God shows you with others in our group.
Pray that God will bring many more who thirst after righteousness, for His name sake, to join us for a great move of God in these last days. We don't know how much longer the Lord will tarry but we know that there are more signs and closer together. Clearly time is short and we must be intentional in our actions. We must set aside the lusts of the flesh and the foolishness of youth, we must be sober minded and focused on fulfilling His will for our lives.
When we pray that the God of the harvest will send workers into the field, that is white and ready to harvest, our accompanying prayer must be here am I, Lord, send me! Are you willing, to make a difference? Are you willing to be salt and light? Are you willing to live your life in such a way as that when others see your good works that they Glorify your Father in heaven instead of you?
If so, start praying, start encouraging others to join us in what the Lord is doing. Do not be a spectator, there is no credit to you if you walk with the crowd that is on the straight and narrow path. In the end, the wheat will be separated from the chaff, the chaff will be gathered and thrown into the fire, and those that do not bear fruit will be cut off as a branch to wither and die and later to be thrown into the fire to be burned.
God wants none to perish but all to come to repentance, and He says that no eye has seen nor ear has heard the things that he has in store for those that truly love him. Jesus said, you love me if you follow my commandments. He has commanded us to go out into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. We must repent, seek holiness, purity, honour, and God's glory. We also need to preach, teach, admonish, rebuke, edify, exhort and through it all share the love, grace and truth of God with all we serve.
If you truly love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and desire to love your neighbour as yourself. Join us in Making a Difference for time and for eternity.
How you can help: =============
- Pray that God will help us to be in one accord and that He would help us always to keep Him and His word central in all that we do - Get the word out to others and invite them to join us, who are serious about making a difference - Start discussions in our LinkedIn group on ministry ideas and techniques - Create focused action plans for meeting the needs of a specific group of needy people, and include ways of sharing the truth of the gospel with them while demonstrating the love of God with them - Please also bare in mind that CCC is supported only by people becoming members of our organization or by donation. We are not financially supported by government or any church or parachurch organization
You are important, necessary, and special in the eyes of God, get on your face before the Lord in a spirit of humility and cry out for His mercy on you and on us all as we seek to serve Him, and others, in a spirit of meekness, peace, love and joy. Pray that God will strengthen and equip us for every good work that He has in store for us, and pray that God will use us to meet needs and to reach souls for His kingdom.
May God bless you as you seek to serve Him,
Jim Blake National Chairman Concerned Christians Canada
Praying, Acting, Making a Difference!
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Fear of Losing Tax Status?
I received the following comment on why a brother decided not to join us in the fight for righteousness:
On 08/13/09 10:14 AM, he wrote: -------------------- hey bro,
Would love to join your group, but the blurb about influencing policy making is a show stopper for me. I'm a non profit and we're not allowed to participate in such things. It's a bummer, but being non profit is the largest asset we have and that allows us to influence for Christ (Read: stay in biz).
...
My response,
Concerned Christians Canada is not a non-profit for a reason. We would never want to tie our hands on being salt and light in the world. To whom much is given much is required. We are given a voice and a place of influence for a reason. If we must be silent in order to receive funds, we will forge ahead in firm faith in the Lord, penny less if need be, but compromise is no option. I have thought long and hard over the years when we have had little or no support financially, about whether or not non-profit is the answer. The conclusion I came to is "No, God is the answer". He will equip us and furnish us for every good work, He wants us to do, which He always manages to do, and in the end it is Him who always receives the glory, because He miraculously provides for the work He asks us to do. If Christians will not support us, then God will make a way, another way, if it is His will for us to continue.
Tax status will not be around for much longer for organizations that desire to speak the truth of Christ, already I have been told about organizations who have lost their tax status for teaching that Christ Jesus is the only way. I am sorry if what I am saying offends you, this is not my intent. Rick, before long the only choice will be to shut up and not preach the truth, or to lose your tax status altogether. Even churches will face this sad truth. Then the time will come that you will have to take the mark in order to keep receiving donations. One compromise will come, after another.
I invite you to come, to join our discussions and be a part of blazing a trail for the Lord. Let God worry about whether or not you will have tax status. He is your provider, not men. We welcome you and ask you to step out in faith, but of course it is completely up to you. I don't think discussions will jeopardize your status anyway, and you may have some very helpful and insightful things to share that others need to hear, and perhaps you would be the missing piece in the puzzle.
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. May the Lord bless you and keep you until we speak again.
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These days it seems that men who become pastors and those who are appointed as elders are more interested in being recognized by men and building 4 million dollar buildings than being a servant to all. They introduce themselves with titles and look to be "respected" by men. We are to humble ourselves or we will be humbled (Luke 14:11 For whoever exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted). God will worry about elevating us if He sees that we are worthy of it. We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We must be holy even as our Father in heaven is holy. It should be our sincere desire and goal to press in and press on in the Lord, to grow daily, and to eat the meat of the word. I see so much denominationalism and hear so many "church building" strategies. Pastors rallying attendees to build their congregations, Churches not sharing buildings, wasting millions in utility bills, let alone building costs of unnecessary extra buildings that lie empty and locked 80% of the time or more.
And by the way, where is the service to the poor (Galatians 2:10 Only they asked that we remember the poor, which very thing I was eager to do) and ministry to widows and orphans (James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their afflictions, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world) and the broken hearted (Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to the blind, to set at liberty those having been crushed, (19) to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.")?
In the ministry I am in, the Lord has had me visit many churches and the consistent trend is that churches are almost exclusively social clubs for those that call themselves Christians; whether or not they are Christians is another question. There is nothing wrong with getting together and fellowshipping, even on a regular basis, but why not fellowship while acting in the service of others? Why not serve those in need and at the same time share the truth of the good news, that we have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, but that Christ paid the price for those sins on the cross in order that we would not have to. Yes we all deserve hell, and no, none of us will ever earn salvation, but the shed blood of Jesus bridged the great divide between our "filthy rags" righteousness and His holiness.
Paul said it clearly, 1 Corinthians 1:10-15 "But I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (11) For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brothers, by those of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. (12) But I say this, that every one of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. (13) Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (14) I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, (15) lest any should say that I had baptized in my own name."
We must stop the madness. The self righteous elevation of self. We are to consider one another better than ourselves, as Paul writes Philippians 2:1-3 "If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tendernesses and mercies, (2) then fulfill my joy, that you may be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves."
If you consider yourself a Christian, please for the love of God and the sake of the kingdom, act like it.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 13 August 2009 00:04
On Pain and Suffering...
I received the following question which I felt was important enough not only to reply to, but to publish to the website:
Hey question for you out of the blue of course. Why is it that so many people go though terminal illnesses these days? I used to think God would only give us what we could handle. And it would make us stronger! Any ideas? I haven't really figured that out for a while now.
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Christ is calling His church back to the basics. Non-Believers are so confused by what the church has become. They often say that we, who call ourselves believers, cannot agree even on the basics of what it means to be a Christian. They talk to some Christians who believe that they need to live by the ten commandments alone, they talk to others who say they only need to walk in the spirit, and while the Spirit will lead us into all truth and cause us to follow the law of God, people without knowledge of scripture are confused and believe that each denomination represents a different religion. The problem is that we as Christians are not reading and living the Bible every day. Non-believers see the Sunday believer approach of some Christians and say fairly that Christians do not even walk the talk, "Why should I become a hypocrite like that?"
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Alberta Human Rights & Citizenship Commission - Defenders of Charter Rights?
The Alberta HRC represents a fiasco in law. They are not a body of individuals interested in protecting the rights of all citizens equally. Rather they are a council of individuals who use government funds to crush individuals whom they do not agree with.
For example, Alberta's HRCs ruled that Reverend Stephen Bissoin and Concerned Christians Canada were no longer allowed to share views on homosexuality which in some way could be deemed to place individuals with same sex attraction at risk of being discriminated against. In point of fact that would be like charging someone with rape because they were close enough to another person that they could put that person of risk of being raped. They deemed that there was circumstantial evidence linking a letter that Rev Boissoin wrote and submitted to the editor of the Red Deer Advocate in which he explained his religious views on homosexuality and those who would foist their homosexual doctrines on school aged doctrines.
Whether or not you believe embrace homosexuality is not the point. Rev Boissoin is a citizen of a country where freedom of religion and expression are enshrined in our Charter. Like it or not, Rev Boissoin had the right to voice his opinion and the Red Deer Advocate had the right based again on our Charter of freedom of press and media communication to publish that opinion. There are individuals in North America and around the world that want to silence views they don't like. The truth is that if you "silence" those people, their views go underground and are like a pressure cooker. Let them air their opinions and encourage civility and compassion and you are far better off.
In fact, even EGALE - Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere supported Rev Boissoins right to write the letter and to publicly express his opinion, even if they did not agree with that opinion.
In order to initiate the process, in Canada, of bringing the full force of the government against an individual you don't like, all you have to do is pay for a postage a piece of paper and an envelope. You will incur no other costs. Also, if you file a complaint and are not found to have lodged a valid complaint there is no repercussions for frivolous charges. The person who has had a complaint filed against them must pay for lawyers appear before their tribunal hearings and if found guilty heavy fines can be levied and sensitivity training can be required of you. The complainant can even receive an award for filing the complaint even if they were not directly effected by the discrimination. As was the case with Darren Lund who was awarded $5000 for writing his letter.
Once again, the tribunal determined that there was a circumstantial connection between the letter that Boissoin wrote and the assault of a homosexual teen that occurred a couple of weeks later. Boissoin did not know the teen, and in fact has "nothing but compassion for those who are trapped in the homosexual lifestyle" (he wrote in the letter that the Advocate printed).
The thrust of Boissoins letter was to challenge people to speak out for children who he felt were being used as pawns in the next social experiment (the normalization of homosexuality through educating young school aged children that it is a healthy lifestyle choice). Boissoin considers such a prospect abuse that leads children into what he considers a dangerous lifestyle. He backed his claims up biblically and medically, but apparently it is only right to wage a cultural war if you are recognized by HRCs.
Case in point, last year a ministry in Calgary who has been serving on the street of our city for the last seven years, filed two separate human rights complaints against the city and against individuals that were persecuting them. The HRCs rejected the complaints out of hand even though the ministry has hundreds of hours of footage proving that they have been harassed by police and have had their charter rights denied them. The HRCs explanation? The ministry does not have "enough evidence" and HRCs "do not deal with charter issues".
Excuse me? What on earth are they then dealing with, if not charter issues? Nobody seems to know, but it appears that according to the tribunals, "truth is not a defense", nor does it seem to matter when it comes to determining whether or not a complaint is legitimate. HRCs are a militia for the politically correct.
They need to be disbanded, disassembled and discarded. Or completely overhauled to actually be just.
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To start with, I like Dino’s emphasis on ensuring that our “Servolution” has a clear mission that everyone believes in. This is crucial in projects where volunteers are concerned, people need to know what they are getting involved in from the get go and need to get a sense for whether or not they can buy into the concept. As the Bible says in 
Single moms became another focal point, which makes sense since there is often so much lack and hurt and need for healing with single moms. I was pleased to see that the common theme between all of the groups they served was to see a need and then to fill it. Servolution did not become a believers only club, nor did it become a lost souls only club, but focused on serving the needs within the body of Christ and then pouring out the overflow into the surrounding community.
Jim Blake is the National Chairman of Concerned Christians Canada, he is a husband of one wife and a father of five children. Mr. Blake has been a guest speaker at church events has been involved in pastoral conferences, has been a presenter at political events involving both Christians and non-Christians and has advocated for the rights of individuals who have been persecuted for sharing their faith. Mr. Blake has been a spokesman for Christian values in the secular media and on Christian Radio and TV. He has also been in talks with leaders from Church and Parachurch organizations and has had one-on-one meetings with high ranking politicians. Praise be to God for the doors that He opened for CCC and for Mr. Blake. To learn about Concerned Christians Canada, feel free to visit 
Are you worldly? What do I mean? Perhaps you are focused on drinking partying and having sex. Perhaps you are focused on the score of the next sports game. Perhaps you only want to have a “good time” and forget about the consequences. Maybe your thinking that you may not be here tomorrow anyway. 
