My Tension in Voting

Last night I had task of watching the South Carolina Gamecocks, doing some New Testament homework and watching Obama. It was the kickoff of another football season and the mark of a moment that I thought we would never see.

Last night if you are unaware, Obama was nominated for the Democratic National Party. It was a mark in history that we can tell our children about in the black community. He has accomplished a great deal of things in his life to get to this point.

But…..

I will not be voting for Obama or McCain for that matter. My brother over at Speaking Truth wrote a great blog, that served as salt underneath my nose. With Obama and his message I find ambiguity between his stance and my faith. Now this is not a decision that I have come to lightly. Whether you agree with his politics or not there is a unique thing at work here. I saw last night black and whites for that matter locked in arms with tears coming down their face because they too realize that we are seeing a historic event. Has he brought a spark of hope for the people I truly believe he has. I also believe that he has carried himself with intellect and savvy during this race. He has encouraged old blacks they have never voted to vote ( I heard of a woman that is 102 registered to vote for the first time in her life). 

But Obama has not taken a true stand for the voice of one slain and hung on a cross on a hill called Golgotha. See my heart looms for the day when we can see a man who gets before the people and says,” Above everything else I love Christ.” What a glorious day that will be. Obama has dropped the ball on many issues and has placed his salvation in a place of question to me. Now I do not have the final say so on this matter but to many things are visible.

His uses a diaprax method to get people to roll with him that is dangerous and at the core demonic. This stance calls for him to synthesize all faiths and thoughts together to develop some “ecumenical hodgepodge.” He has clearly taken a postmodern approach to scripture that allows him to define what truth is in his “own personal world.” Lastly he goes against the very core of the bible by insisting on gay and lesbian marriages and abortion. Now I do feel that he has a point that they should not be discriminated against but legalization of marriage is just wrong.

My tension is still locked with the premise that if this was a white guy this would not be that difficult. I must be honest I want to vote for Obama and it has nothing to do with his acumen or politic but his color. I have seen and heard of the injustice that we as blacks have received for hundred of years and for the man to raise to the top I feel like I should cast my vote for him to help give him a push.

But….

There was a man that had a cross nailed to his back and walked up a hill. He gave his life so that I could have mine. When I was out getting buckwild he choose me to be a part of his team. Looking past my sorriness and seeing greatness he took beatings and never said a word. For me to adjoin myself with brother Obama is a slap in the face of my dude, Jesus.

Though the Obama story is historical and noteworthy the story of Jesus has an intrinsic value that trumps Obama’s. That being his story is filled with grace and salvation for Brian Foulks.

Much repsect to you Obama but I am going to roll with Christ

Just my thoughts

Do we really Believe?

I have been wrestling with this for months. I encountered a situation where my mother wanted me to take my son’s mother to court. Though I do not think that she is doing a good job raising my son I refused to take her to court because she confessed to me she was a believer. I told me mother they way I understand the bible it is wrong fora believer to take another believer to court. My mother who has been christian for over 28 years responded,” will sometimes you have to do certain things.” (This is the woman that has stood on the word of God all most of my life. She has been through cancer, unemploymeny, poverty then whole nine. Much of my foundation came as a result of her constant prayers  that my life be spared.)Then she stopped and thought about what she had said. From that moment the question always loomed in my mind whether we really believe the bible.

 

I have often questions whether people really believe the bible like they say they do. If we were put in situation that caused us to really stand on our faith would we be so inclined to adhere to the scriptures? I hear people talk about abortion that the Obama is cool with as well as the other issues. But I wonder do we put on a show and tell for people to make them think they we have it all together. I wonder if we would disagree with abortion if our 13 year daughter was raped and left pregnant.

 

This is a hard thing to swallow but a thing of this nature happens. Are we truly devoted to the truth in the word that would cause use and our child to handle this situation the way the bible prescribes? If a sister/brother in the church did something that was legitimately wrong that caused you to lose a lot of money would you take them to court. Do you have bootleg DVD’s in your crib?

 

All of these are things that are wrong that many of us as believers do on a daily basis. We are quick to condemn people for the very same thing that we ourselves are guilty of doing. Kind of similar to Romans when Paul rocks the Jews for the same thing. We overlook these things and then have the nerve to say God understands my heart.

 

We have compartmentalized the faith to make it convenient with our lifestyle. Selling drugs is not wrong because I am trying to feed my child. Or I took this person to court cause it was wrong what they did. My daughter got an abortation because that would not be fair. This stuff is tough but where do we stand on these issues as it raltaes to the bible. 

 

It is time to stand firm on the word of God regardless of what it may bring. Don’t get me wrong I know we will sin on the regular but when we consciously do things that are incongruent with the word of God this brings on another connotation. We have set such a bad example for the unbeliever because we have failed to practice what we preach.   

 

Just my thoughts

5 of the most misinterpreted scriptures

1. 3 John 1:2

 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

   2. Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

   3.Romans 4:17 

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

   4.Psalm 105:15 

Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

   5.Matthew 18:18 

I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

the VOLUME church

My wife and I moved to SC in 2004 discerning the call to start a church plant. I never wanted to move back to SC but doing what we felt called to do we moved back. After about a year being back in SC we launch out with about 60 people. Everything was moving well and going fine. We lost a lot of people in the transition period of about 6 months. We moved to another location that was a lot less expensive and continued doing ministry. In the midst of all that I encountered the Doctrines of Grace listening to a shai line cd (the solus christus project) that I had heard a hundred of times. As I studied them out I found that what I had learned was not remotely close to what the people was really saying.

 

I told before the people that this would be the last Sunday we would have church because I had gotten some information that made me question my own salvation. For the next year and half I went into study to learn more about the truth of the bible. I studied Calvinism and the reformed doctrine for about a year before I was comfortable with the teaching. At the end of that time, I then enrolled into the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. During this time I began to see how important the reformation was to the plight of the church.

 

Since that time I have been half hearted going to the process of church planting. “From the door” I have rebelled against God as it relates to church planting. I have never wanted to it and when I have done it I have done so half hearted. I never mind being a part of a church and working as a part but now it is time to step up to the plant. I have tried to move as if God changed his mind about the work in Columbia,SC. Thankful to my man Atiba for hitting me with the truth a week ago.

 

After many name changes, searching, reading, trying to build a core team,  and mission statements I found a spark in my heart with” the VOLUME Church.” Living a life for Christ in stereo.

 

My wife and I moved to SC in 2004 discerning the call to start a church plant. I never wanted to move back to SC but doing what we felt called to do we moved back. After about a year being back in SC we launch out with about 60 people. Everything was moving well and going fine. We lost a lot of people in the transition period of about 6 months. We moved to another location that was a lot less expensive and continued doing ministry. In the midst of all that I encountered the Doctrines of Grace listening to a shai line cd (the solus christus project) that I had heard a hundred of times. As I studied them out I found that what I had learned was not remotely close to what the people was really saying.

 

I told before the people that this would be the last Sunday we would have church because I had gotten some information that made me question my own salvation. For the next year and half I went into study to learn more about the truth of the bible. I studied Calvinism and the reformed doctrine for about a year before I was comfortable with the teaching. At the end of that time, I then enrolled into the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. During this time I began to see how important the reformation was to the plight of the church.

 

Since that time I have been half hearted going to the process of church planting. “From the door” I have rebelled against God as it relates to church planting. I have never wanted to it and when I have done it I have done so half hearted. I never mind being a part of a church and working as a part but now it is time to step up to the plant. I have tried to move as if God changed his mind about the work in Columbia,SC. Thankful to my man Atiba for hitting me with the truth a week ago.

 

After many name changes, searching, reading, trying to build a core team,  and mission statements I found a spark in my heart with” the VOLUME Church.” Living a life for Christ in stereo. This is what we will go forth whole hearted with to fulfill the call that God has for us. it has been almost 4 years since we moved and now it is time to stop being like Jonah and obey.

 

Though we have been working on it we have been extremely slack about geting in accomplished.We are going to move on this with intensity and follow the leading of God for this to come to fruition this time. We ask you all to pray for our strenght as we restart with a new mission to fufill the call of God. 

 

the VOLUME church

 

 

 

Ephesians 2:8-10

” Undeserved, so We Rock Grace HARD”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy Magic Hair

I came across this website this morning talking about “holy magic hair.” I started reading from another brother in the faith blog about “Rebuke not an Elder“ that caught my attention.The “Holy Magic Hair” doctrine is taught by Lee Stoneking. The concept is loosely based on the fact that women who do not cut their hair have some special glory that they behold through their hair. This is taken from the scripture 1 Corinthian 11:15.

He manages to develop a doctrine out of Paul’s writing to the church of Corinth that deals with propriety. He states that a women’s and her communities freedom “in the spirit” is based on her not cutting her hair. A true disregard of the atonement that we received from the cross.

So i just dove into this so I will stop right there until I can read and hear more.