Now just a bit about me... For those of you interested who haven't fallen asleep yet (and have another hour to spare for my long-winded novel - haha) - And please note: I've been working on updating this page since I got married, so bear with me.... My name is Dave. I'm a 38 year old guy from eastern Washington, USA. I'm just recently married to a beautiful woman by the name of Tammy (that's her in the pic at left standing next to me). She really is wonderful too and I thank God so much for bringing our paths together. Believe it or not, I met her online (while playing a video game) - It was totally unexpected! She is from Australia (New South Wales). It was wonderful having her for a visit throughout November and December (2008) and even better when I went to see her in Australia in September (2009). I know she would want to say hi to all my friends out there who visit the site so, "hi," from Tammy! :) We got married September 19, 2009 in Australia and it was great!!! Now I'm working and waiting on immigration paperwork so I can bring her back to the States. If you'd like to see pics of our wedding, read our story, or even help us out at all, you can visit our wedding page www.DavidAndTammy.com.
Tam and me at Nowra Wildlife Park in NSW, Australia
As you've probably figured by now, I author websites (like this one you're looking at), articles and work in my profession as a computer technician. As a hobbie I love to work with computers, study the Bible and I read a lot. I live alone at present and enjoy composing music and writing songs and love to gather with sincere bros and sistaahs in Christ when the opportunity presents itself. Currently, I do not consider myself as being directly affiliated with any particular denomination (or, in other words, a formal member of any particular "church/religious organization"), so I guess you may count me as part of the 17% of Americans (according to recent statistics by Gallup) who have nothing to do with organized religion at all (aah, feels nice actually - grin). Of course, in saying this, I am not at all suggesting that I consider myself to be separated from the body of Christ for indeed I am a believer and a brother in Jesus. I love the Lord with all my heart and I am blessed to consider myself a part of His Church; His body; His Bride; His people! From my view "the Church" is something spiritual and living and not something defined by buildings, programs or denominations. All of that simply to say that my personal choice to disconnect completely with traditional "church" as most people know it, is not a disconnect from true Christianity (i.e. following Jesus every day) at all or even to disconnect from other sincere followers of Jesus. I believe strongly in the family of God, of which I am, absolutely, a valid part!
It is true that I don't really see myself becoming intricately involved with organized, institutional "ministry" at any time in the near future; though I do believe the Lord has placed a calling of service to the body of Christ on my life. But then, that's nothing special, for all of us who claim to be His children have the same call to minister. In fact, "service" is all the term "ministry" means biblically anyway (it is the religious concepts we have been raised with that turn words that express loving service into official, even professional, religious duties with formal titles)... I believe that the details of the individual calling to serve will mature the more broken we become before the Lord and the more conformed to His nature we become. My sincere belief is that, whatever form of service I engage in (by His design), will flow out of a natural response to His love. This is VERY IMPORTANT to emphasize (and a little bit hard to explain because of the problem of years of traditional influence upon these kinds of terms).
John 15:15
The kind of service I am talking about is not a guilty motivation to perform works for God to earn His blessing, favor, or any such thing. It is a desire to follow Him because I love Him. I already know that He is my Heavenly Father and accepts me even if I never do anything. I already know that His love is completely unconditional. This love has motivated me to follow Him and my desire is to obey every word He speaks. I already know that Jesus calls me His friend and not simply His servant. Because I engage my relationship with God on a personal level, with the understanding that He is my closest friend, I avoid the temptation to get "spooky spiritual" about anything because spirituality is simply life involved with Christ and should exist in a natural, normal flow. I am at peace to simply to enjoy this life, living freely, and no longer worry about agendas, spiritual benchmarks, or anxious religion.
To just expound on this point a little further, let me just say that I no longer believe in the traditional, religious concept of "entering the ministry" one day (and I personally reject all forms of presumed "professional ministry" - i.e. "the full time ministry", etc.). I believe that the modern religious concept of "ministry" (and even "Christianity" in general) is so completely opposite to what the New Testament illustrates that, for many typical church goers today, a first century Christian mindset in action would be virtually unrecognizable... or perhaps even incomprehensible. If you will permit me a moment, I will try to explain. Serving one another (ministry) should be part of life itself for those who know Him. James said that, not only is it part of the Christian life, but it manifests evidence of our sincere faith in God (James 2:18). So I leave all the details of calling in His hands, and simply concentrate on serving as love motivates me, where the Lord leads and as the revelation of His grace compells me, and I do not seek to spend my human efforts to "pursue ministry" as though it were some "thing" apart from every day life itself and the way we engage our relationship with Christ and other people (with His life flowing through us) and I certainly will never regard ministry as a "profession"; the way it is commonly considered today by so many who find themselves about the business of religion. I just want to pursue the Lord. I believe all "ministry" (service) should flow FREELY out of sincere love and as a direct result of submission to Christ. The moment it is defined as a program, status, profession, identity, or religious vocation - then it ceases to be ministry as God intends it (in my opinion). I confess that I tend to be immediately suspect when I hear people use the terminology: "my ministry", "so-and-so ministries", "enter in the ministry", "full-time ministry", "office of ministry", "left the ministry", etc. I say suspect because I am interested primarily in what motivated this response. There is a severe corruption of this term in concept because of religious tradition, which has all but completely distracted most church-attending (and even many non-church-attending) Christians from a pure and simple Gospel mindset.
As far as "attending church" goes, I don't - though I do sometimes tag along with my mom and sis about once every few months when I visit them in Seattle (so I joke that theirs is my home church), but other than that I do not attend meetings anywhere, nor am I looking for a "church" to attend - certainly not in the institutionalized sense as is common and popular today. It's kind of funny I guess... I remember when I used to shake my head in disapproval of those who claimed to only attend services on holidays...... hehehe.... Now that's me! ...and even less. I do spend time frequently with other brothers and sisters in Christ (who are part of the same ONE body of Christ that I am a part of) as well as converse with some great Christian friends via telephone and e-mail, but as a whole these days, I'm not the biggest participant or proponent of institutional Christianity for a number of reasons. I love my brothers and sisters who yet attend institutional churches and I pray for the pastors I have been blessed to come to know as friends, but there is a deep work the Lord is doing in my heart in this season of my life and the place He has chosen to do it just happens to be outside of the institutional church. If this "testimony" I am sharing regarding how I approach the Christian faith strike anyone as uncomfortable or incomprehensible, please know that I stand by the belief "let each one be persuaded in his own mind" and I do not intend to force my opinions on anyone.
I certainly don't expect everyone to relate to or understand my perspective on "church" initially and that's ok. I remember well how I used to react to people who would tell me they served the Lord outside the four walls of a church. I thought most of them were crazy. ;) (and maybe a few of them were, who knows, hehe)... I just didn't understand how a person could actually be so deceived to think they could engage a healthy relationship with Christ (or other members of the body for that matter) without the support of and membership in a "local, institutional church" (consequently this is a term not found or demonstrated anywhere in Scripture). It's not so great a surprise to me that people generally think this way. It's the way most of us have been raised, myself included. I also remember (to my own regret now) the concerns that raised in my mind about other individuals' perceived present spiritual condition; Generally I presumed they were probably in rebellion of some sort (likely having a problem with church leadership and authority), hurt, bitter, deceived, selfish, lazy, uncommitted, wanting to get out having to tithe their money, or just plain spiritually proud. I remember the tags I placed on such people too; Lone Ranger, Rambo, Maverick, isolationist, dissenter, a critical spirit, etc. Even if these labels weren't spoken out loud, I remember the mindsets that were indeed present, however silent. It was quite humbling to one day find myself filling the shoes I had long despised of others... Others whom, in reality, I had thought myself to be more faithful and more spiritually mature than they, simply because of my submission to the weekly program (and/or a "pastor" figure)... I had much to learn, much to be humbled of and much to allow God to change (as I still do). Praise God, He is ever faithful, He is so good and so merciful to our short-comings!
God has been teaching me what it means to walk with Him in total sincerity without any distraction (even the distraction of religious activity - as "church" can often become). It's not easy to always be confronted with the question, "where do you go to church?" and know exactly how to respond without getting into a big discussion or have people misunderstand me. Christians are so programmed to say that and then to respond with astonishment and sometimes criticism because most of us have been taught from a very young age that attending church is the most important part of being a Christian. For many years I have myself been a slave to that manner of thinking, and always have sought to define my calling, giftings, ministry, and even my relationships with other Christians and the Lord within that context, but in recent years the Lord has been opening my eyes to more clearly discern the body of Christ and not place emphasis on a building or program, which is built and maintained by man. I am not suggesting that meeting in a special place constitutes sin, so please don't be offended at my expressed conviction; I simply mean to suggest that such is not essential, not expressed biblically and sometimes can be a distraction from a clear focus on the centrality of Jesus in our lives. Our common ground as Christians is based on the fact that we know HIM and it is only as we walk in HIS light that we have true fellowship one with another (1 John 1:7).
Matthew 18:20 - The Message Translation
I love the simplicity of Jesus' words in the Matthew 18:20 passage. I'm glad He didn't say, "when a hundred or more of you meet for two hours a week at a special building, wear fancy clothes, tote a large King James version of the Bible, perform religious routines, pay tithes and sit passively, listening to endless re-hashed sermons until you're nodding off in the pew and falling on the floor from boredom, I will be there." (hehe) No, He simply said that when as few as two or three come together because of Him, He'd be there! To that I say, "Amen!"
Where I am now is just wanting to know Him without all the distractions, without all the religious facades, without all the pressures of trying to please people and act like something else other than simply a disciple of the Lord. Most of all, I want "self" out of the way. What I'm finding out is that this requires death! John the baptist knew that in order for Christ to increase, he must first decrease (John 3:30)... and quite literally it meant death for John (talk about "losing your head" - grin). He had to be taken out of the way so Christ could become the focus; a very literal example of a parallel, spiritual truth. In a similar way we must die to all the distractions of the flesh, and yes I think sometimes the distraction of church world and "religion" in general, so that Christ may come into view, simply and purely.
it is simply more of Christ and less of me. He increases as I decrease.
This is what it means to be a disciple."
Chip Brogden of Watchman.Net
In the months shortly before I left the institutional church I attended (back in 2001), I was standing next to my father's hospital bed (he was dying of cancer). Dad took my arm firmly and looked me in the eyes and said, "Son, be wary of men who would set themselves up in your life as 'spiritual fathers'." He said, "I raised you to be a son of your Father in heaven!" I will never forget those strong and prophetic words he spoke to me. It almost brings tears to my eyes just remembering that moment and to regard how my dad knew that his primary purpose in life as my father was to release me to God my Father; to walk in His ways as His son. I also remember the day, when I was but a teenager (many years earlier of course), that dad shared with me how God had moved on his heart to release me fully to Him. He said this with tears running down his face. I can only imagine how impacting this revelation had been for him. My dad and I were always close. I had such an amazing father. I love and miss him so much. He was proud of me as his son and never ceased to show me off to everyone he met when I was with him. Mom tells me stories of how excited he was when I was born and how he even put a big sign out in the yard saying "it's a boy!!!" Dad and mom were older than many of their friends at the time who were having children and so it was a joke among friends that Abraham and Sarah had been given their son by God... though this was not so much a "joke" to my father. He had been long convinced that God was going to give him a son and then here it came to pass. He dedicated me to the Lord and he and mom invested their lives to raise me (and my sister) to know Jesus. I remember times as a little child walking past my parent's room and the door would be cracked open and I'd see dad on his knees weeping and praying for me. I share all of this so you can appreciate, as I do, how impacting it was for me to hear my dad (who loved being my dad) release me to the Father and then to have him take my arm in his last few days on earth and leave me with such a powerful truth.
At the time that my dad spoke these words to me, the institutional church I was attending was fully caught up in what I call the "fathering doctrine". The last I checked, they still are. They would hold conferences and constantly preach how important it was to be submitted to a "spiritual father". In leadership classes they taught a doctrine which suggested that, even if a pastor was in error, you should still follow his instruction because God would regard your obedience the same as being obedient to God because you submitted to pastoral authority. Of course, the truth is, this doctrine is nowhere present in Scripture and is heresy, but it is effectively persuasive none-the-less the way these false leaders present it. I sat in services where I heard visiting pastors say amazing things like, "members of the congregation should be baptized into the pastor!" This is obviously contrary to the truth that Paul reminded the believers about in 1 Corinthians 1:12-17. Another teacher came into the church and actually taught that you could not be a son or daughter of God unless you were first the son or daughter of a "spiritual father" (i.e. submitted to a local pastor of an institutional church). There was ceremony, illustrated sermons, even a table placed on the platform where the leaders of the church sat around and a sign that read, "the fathers table". My "pastor" used to even call me his "spiritual son" - though he had no part in leading me to Jesus or discipling me. The other pastors also frequently used passages of Scripture in their sermons that were clear references to GOD the Father but interpreted them with dual meaning as though "pastors" were also "fathers" in like respect. On and on these kinds of doctrines were introduced... some of them more subtle than others. There were also times I challenged them and went to the pastor of the church and confronted him. It didn't help. It only got worse. My dad was not directly aware of many of these things going on in the "church" I attended. In fact, him and mom lived 250 miles west of my town (roughly a 4-hour drive). They did not attend my church or have any relationship with those people. Yet, for some reason, this was the urgent message dad felt necessary to leave me with in his parting days. I believe it was message motivated by the Holy Spirit. It is also a message that strongly came to define the convictions I hold concerning what passes for leadership in today's so-called church. I am wholly disgusted by these kinds of mindsets that are 100% contrary to the doctrine and heart of Jesus.
I wish I could tell you that I immediately embraced the words my father shared with me that day, but I was still under the influence of religion at that point (not to mention these men who had postured themselves over me). It would take a few more months before things really started to sink in and the Lord started to open my eyes to the truth. I thank God constantly for giving me an earthly dad that loved Jesus and allowed God to speak through him and to raise up a son who would follow God as his Father above all else. It is my firm intention to honor my earthly father in this direction and my full conviction to submit my life to GOD my Heavenly Father and let no other voice sway me. To those of you visiting this site, I would like to encourage you with the same truth my dad encouraged me with; BE WARY OF MEN WHO WANT TO SET THEMSELVES UP IN YOUR LIFE AS FATHERS! You have one Father and one Shepherd and one Teacher, even the Holy Spirit of God that dwells in you. You are His holy Temple and you are His Church. Do not be enticed by religion and the schemes of men. Follow Him! Hear Him! Trust Him!
Matthew 23:9 (NLT)
If you are more interested in some of the details concerning my personal perspectives on "church," I would like to invite you to browse a few websites that have become a source of encouragement to me personally and also explain some of the reasons why I feel so strongly that institutional Christianity misses the mark when it comes to aligning ourselves with the example God has ordained in His Word. In fact, I personally view it (organized religion) as little more than an enormous distraction. You can browse these sites and read some further comments about my personal perspective on this subject, if you are interested that is, by browsing the pages of this website. There's also an article I wrote several years back that still expresses my heart in some of these areas, you can read it by CLICKING HERE. The article at the previously mentioned link is actually a few years dated now, but still expresses most of the main themes in my thinking on these matters and it may be a good introduction - especially to those of you who are just starting on your journey outside the traditional religious church system or are considering it. At the time I wrote it, this site was still evolving into what is now it's primary existence. Some of the links on that page may no longer be active (I will get around to updating them one of these days), but you can find a lot of fantastic, highly recommended articles and website links in the main pages of this site as well, which I do try to keep updated. God bless you!
I've been a Christian since I was about 4 years old and I suppose one could say that I have tread my share of miles in "church world" (even though I'm only 38). In other words, I've seen just about everything there is to see in the way of religious tradition in the institutional church system and the effect it has on people. I've witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly (grin). I've been part of a few different denominational groups as well as non-denominational organizations over the years and continue to enjoy friendships with Christian brothers and sisters from a variety of denominational backgrounds. I've also taken part in my share of ministry-related work; teaching youth, working in street ministry outreach as well as a variety of other evangelistic events, leading worship, attending Bible school, etc., but I do not boast in any of those things. In fact, much like Paul the apostle said about his former religious life, I count all that stuff as trash and have put it away completely in favor of a living, breathing relationship with Jesus Christ!Philippians 3:7-10 (The Message)
I have come to the sincere conclusion that what is important is NOT the rituals most Christians follow every week in their scheduled services or even the mere attendence of those services, but what is important is the pursuit of intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, the desire to know His Word, and true fellowship with the body of Christ.
I also believe that Christians need to allow themselves the freedom to become real and honest with themselves and others when it comes to dealing with hardships, struggles, trials and other circumstances of life. Too often Christian brothers and sisters are not honest with each other and they put on phony smiles and religious facades in an attempt to try and cover their weaknesses and pain - not to mention their sin. Sometimes they even get offended if someone else happens to express blunt honesty about their struggles instead of maintaining a demeanor of unwavering strength in the face of their adversities. I have one word for this, it's called PLASTIC! The plastic needs to melt! It's time to burn away the facades of religiosity, pride and hypocrisy that keep us separate from one another (and sometimes God). Christians need to get honest about even the struggle to work out their faith. When we maintain our religious, phony acts we need to know that usually the only ones were fooling is ourselves (and we're not really even good at that). Believe it or not, the world is wise to our stupid games! Why do you think they have no interest or concern about what we do within the four walls of our churches? They are waiting to see truth manifested. They want to see if this faith we talk about really works in (or should I rather say THROUGH) times of struggle. They want to see evidence of the hope that sustains us even when things do not go the way we planned or expected.
A lot of so-called "ministries" today (like we see on "Christian" television) are preaching a foreign Gospel; a Gospel that avoids the cross and too often denies the Scriptures. They will tell you that your faith is this powerful force that can be used to manipulate the hand of God to get blessings, wealth, health and material prosperity. I once heard a Lutheran preacher say so eloquently, "Jesus never used His faith to get off the cross." How true! He endured the suffering and it is His strength that manifests through our struggle and weakness; not to mention that draws us closer to Him. This is not to say that God does not sometimes prosper His children in very open, tangible ways, but we should be content with what we have and trust Him to lead, protect and take care of our needs. It is this dependance on Christ that conditions us to hear Him clearly when He speaks and tells us to go where He wills and do what He commands. To much of what is preached today denies the soverenty of God and focuses on an appeal to our flesh and, worst of all, it places man at the center, in charge and on the throne (instead of Christ). Such who teach and preach such things only have an appearance of godliness but they, by default, deny the power of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and they lead many astray; into even deeper bondage that what they promised their hearers freedom from.
The world is looking to see a manifestation of the real power of God in our lives (one that is wrought from Gospel reality). They've heard our wild sermons and excited talk about our belief in the power of the Spirit of the Lord, but (for the most part) they have yet to really see it manifested at all through our lives. I think that, largely, this is because we are not broken enough and we have not truly learned what it means to believe God with childlike faith and to move beyond our insecurities and feelings of intimidation and inadequacy and realize that we are not "lay persons" placed under some artificial covering of men by whom we must first receive recognition from and approval by, but we are saints of God and we are priests and kings, heirs with Christ Jesus! We are all ministers (servants) of His, we all have the capacity to hear the voice of God and walk in obedience to that voice without the approval and permission of men. When the body of Christ truly understands and comes into a realization that God has made every one of us EQUALLY significant in our call to share Christ to and with one another, as well as to the lost, then I believe we will see God do amazing things through us! Perhaps we have seen glimpses from time to time, but I believe it will increase the more confident we become in whose children we are!
1 John 2:26-27 (NIV)
Ultimately, I believe that when these aspects of the Christian's life come into focus and alignment (i.e. the pursuit of intimate relationship with God, the desire to know and apply the Word of God, the desire to have true fellowship with our Christian family, the willingness to be completely honest in every aspect of our faith, and the realization of who we really are in Jesus and that our faith is lit as a flame), then the lost will be drawn to a real, living expresion of the joy of knowing Jesus manifested through our lives and they will want what we've got... not just because it looks good on the surface, but because it is something they recognize to be real and that they desperately need too.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:
This site is about real life relationship with God. Relationship and TRUTH is completely the focus! I'll tell you the honest truth; I am completely uninterested in mere religion and just following the same ol' routine every week of my life, stuck within the walls of a lifeless institution, pretending that somehow this what the real Christian life is all about. I don't have all the answers and I don't presume to think that only I am on the right track, for in all honesty, I am quite aware of my faults and my shortcomings and realize that I have yet plenty of maturing to do as a Christian. God's grace is amazing and it motivates me to keep climbing, keep pressing, keep running to get closer to Him. I've had my share of dry spells and frustrations along this road. I've faced questions and struggle (and I'm sure there will more to come), but one thing has never changed; I WANT HIM!!!
Rather than create a site that merely argues points of doctrine or just rails on institutional Christianity, as certainly some sites do (and I have myself been tempted to do), I wanted to develop a site that simply promotes and encourages relationship with God and New Testament restoration concepts. I wanted to present a site that instills hope, excitement and anticipation for God to move within the earth and within His Church and bring us to revival... REAL REVIVAL - FREEDOM FROM DEAD RELIGION INTO THE JOY OF HIS ABUNDANT LIFE! It's not a big deal to me if some of the featured writers and ministries presented through this site don't agree perfectly in every single tiny detail with my opinions about ministry or minor doctrinal points of view (and, say, "organizational" versus "organic" church concepts)... What I find to be essential are the things that unite true believers; our relationship with Christ, our commitment to His Truth, our freedom to enjoy life in Him without being subject to religious condemnation, and a sincere passion to know the Lord and find His will for our lives and obey it.
There is something else I want to express here, just briefly... One of things I feared about creating this site was that it would give an "over-spiritualized" image of who the real Dave is. You might think TruthForFree.com (formerly the Prayer Shack) is some kind of formal ministry or that I am a skilled speaker who travels around and preaches at conferences. I wouldn't even mention this part if it wasn't that I have, on ocasion, received e-mails from folks who presume I'm a former pastor, an evangelist, or they have asked me to come speak at a conference (even to "minister" overseas). Some people approach me as though I were a spiritual advisor or counselor of some kind and sometimes it's hard to know exactly how to respond because, on the one hand, I love people and my heart goes out to those who have been wounded by abusive church experiences and who are seeking truth and freedom. I want to encourage them and always point only to Jesus, though the drawback of having a website is that it can tend to put an "official" appeal on things when nothing "official" is intended whatsoever. Please hear my heart folks, I just want to know Jesus closely like so many of you and my intent is only to keep walking in the direction that will lead me to that ultimate goal. Perhaps one day, God will direct me to "minister" in some capacity other than merely sharing my heart on a website like this (which is just dandy as far as I'm concerned right now). I am open to whatever He desires of me...
Presently God is walking me through something that requires so much of my attentions resting on Him only. Anything else "ministry-related" I truly believe would be a distraction to that process (mostly because so many of my concepts of ministry have been instilled and influenced by religious mind-sets rather than Spirit-led, biblical, relational motivations). In fact, I'm not really even a fan of the word "ministry" anymore because of the way that it has been corrupted by the concepts that drive organized religion. I'd almost rather eliminate it from my vocabulary altogether, but alas, many people relate to the term and I understand that so I use it as a means of identifying with some. Believe it or not, I don't walk around the house praying all day wearing a TruthForFree t-shirt while trying to figure out ways to finance a best-selling book or mega ministry organization to reach the masses. I simply love living each day, being a normal boring ordinary dude. I love spending time with my wife. I like to hang with good friends, see an ocassional movie, listen to some of my favorite bands (U2, Iona, King's X and Julie Miller), go camping, fishing and enjoy a tastey micro-brew now and then 
(or as the Friar in the movie Robin Hood would say, "the Lord's brew" heh heh). ;) I love to laugh, spend time with my family whenever possible (that's my beautiful niece and nephew in the picture) and just be honest and sincere in every relationship I have. I don't see myself as some religious guru who knows (or thinks he knows) everything about how "church" is to be done (though I at least understand the "church" is about His people who are assembled in Christ Jesus as a SPIRITUAL house of LIVING stones and not some religious activity or building program). I hope that much will be made clear through what is presented on this site; because, to me, "church" is who I am (and who "we" are colletively) because of who I (we) know - that is the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20; 1 John 1:7; etc.).I'm sure it doesn't even need to be said that I, like any other Christian, sometimes fail, I have sin in my life that needs to be expelled, and there is much about where I am in my walk with the Lord that leaves me (for lack of a better word) discontented; I am not as mature in Him as I desire to be. I am not always the quick-forgiving sort, but God is doing a real work in my life, as I know He is so many people. I want to associate with other people who are open to allowing this process to run its course in their lives and to give others the same grace in the process (including me). I am pretty down on "religiousness" and I'm not a fan of institutional Christianity, but I don't hate anyone who is part of this. I don't presume to know the reasons why everyone involves themselves as they do in various things but I trust that God is able to bring us all to maturity in Him as each of us just yield ourselves to Him each day.
I believe God is big enough to be God without my help (grin). Sometimes I think I try to help Him too much. While I'm sure some of my personal perspectives will emerge from time to time in the articles and even some of the other website links provided on this site, my hope is that the reader will be encouraged and motivated to pursue a closer, more meaningful, impacting relationship with Christ. A relationship that is not encumbered about by artificial religious behavior and rules, regulations, or motivations of works-righteousness, but a relationship where excitement for the Lord and being in Love with Him becomes the principle motivation for all Christian service. May you be blessed as you browse the pages of this website and I hope you'll have some fun too! And, please, if the Lord has placed something on your own heart to share with the body of Christ and you feel compelled to perhaps write an article, please share it with me! I love it when Christians step out and minister the Lord to others. Perhaps I can post your article here (as I have often done) for others to be encouraged and blessed by! God bless you!
In His grip,
Dave (& Tammy too)
Nobody777@hotmail.com
P.S. In other news, any of you out there who are gamers (i.e. play PC games online), write and let me know! Yes, it's true... sorry to burst your religious bubbles, I do engage in the sinful activity of the occasional video game (hehehe). I absolutely love technology and am especially intrigued with high-end game graphics, so I especially enjoy games that push the limits of my computer (and I'm due for a serious upgrade). I love all the new releases like Crysis, FarCry2, HL2 and (though it's less of a graphics marvel that some of the latest releases, one of my favorites is World of Warcraft (which is actually the video game I met my wife in while playing)! The graphics are cartoony but beautiful. The quests are fun and the game world is a blast to explore. Battlefield 2142 is another big favorite of mine; a futuristic first-person shooter complete with vehicles, mech-warriors, tanks and aircraft. Loads of fun with a squad of guys working together. My online name in the game is Nobody777.com. I also dig the Rollercoaster Tycoon series (designing theme parks and coasters is great fun)! My other favorite is TrackMania Sunrise (Extreme Edition). It's a car racing game (with great graphics) that lets you build your own stunt racing tracks and play them online with other people. It's a blast! You can download the excellent demo for free at http://www.3dgamers.com/games/trackmaniasr/downloads/ but I heartily recommend purchasing the full version (even though it's a few years old now, the game does require a decent graphics card for smooth play). The way the game works is you have to complete races at the start to win medals. Win all of a certain type of medal in a series and you get bonus points. For each medal you score, you get "coppers". These coppers are units (kind of like money) that allow you to have access to track pieces so you can build custom racetracks. If you earn enough coppers you can build large tracks with lots of jumps and loops. You jump through the air over mountains and lakes, even skip across the water! This game is totally "family safe" and never gets boring because you can build custom tracks making it always new everytime you play! It really is one of the funnest games I've ever played. Below is a video clip of me racing one of my custom cars that I call "Shack 01" (a.k.a. The Prayer Shack race car). Enjoy! :) I also have a gaming page I put I up for fun... you can get to it here: http://nobody777.com/gaming/.
I also play a lot of the other popular online PC games (first-person shooters and third-person action games and what not) so, if you're a gamer, send me an e-mail and we'll play online sometime. You can also visit my MSN personal blog page (which is terribly out of date): http://spaces.msn.com/nobody777/
And for you political junkies out there, I'm also a member of the Conservative Underground (which is a MySpace-style site that emphasizes Conservative values and community). I like the concept, however, there's obviously some crazies there too (just like anywhere) so I'll probably be dubbed by some as one of those "right wing extremists". Sigh... That's ok... Anyone who really knows me understands that I am first and foremost a Jesus follower (at least that is my supreme desire). In my personal opinion, most of the core principles that comprise the Conservative Party align with genuine Christian principles, although I admit there are things I even disagree with that Conservatives sometimes are advocates for. In general though, I like the idea of small government, lower taxes, free enterprise, and pro-life values (the overall prevailing theme being FREEDOM). I have a number of friends that describe themselves as Democrats as well and I understand and respect their personal convictions. In fact, strangely enough, I've discovered that often many of these folks hold to very similar values as I do, but they have been persuaded by a different ideological approach is all. I am sometimes told that the reason some Christians identify with the designation of "Democrat" is because Democratic concepts seem (in their view) to be more concientious of the kinds of things that mattered to Jesus and His followers; care of the poor, the weak, and the average Joe... However, while I see this may be true in some respects as far as the rhetoric is involved, the problem lies more in the actual practice. For the record, I do not think people that describe themselves as "Democrats" are evil or any such nonsense. Simply stated, one of the biggest problems I have with Democratic/Liberal policies is that their good intentions are most typically sought after by means of BIG government, higher taxes, and oppressive, intrusive regulation. This, in my honest opinion, was NOT the approach of (or mindset espoused by) Jesus. Jesus preached values of PERSONAL responsibility before God and in connection with our fellow man; However, personal responsibility is not something that is routinely emphasized by the tenents of liberalism. They may say it is, but their actions in policy demonstrate that so-called "personal responsibility" is something that is only possible through big government enforcement. So, yes, liberals sometimes tend to speak about things that sound compassionate, but the way they seek to accomplish those "compassionate" goals are by way of over taxing people and then dictating through their own expansive governmental policies how other people's money should be spent and then forcing compliance by increased regulation. This is an arrogant way of governing in my opinion because it is actuated under the assumption that the Federal Government knows better how to manage our lives than we do and the forces us to comply whether we like it or not. It is the opposite of free-will, spirit-led, love motivated personal responsibility.
Let me also just offer this perspective to those of you curious about my political mindset here... I often find it odd that Christians who believe strongly in "organized religion" are, at the same time, such big advocates of Conservative/Republican politics. In my view, the two are really at odds with each other (in terms of how they qualify their agenda). I realize that some people, on first glance of this statement, will not understand how I could possibly draw such a conclusion. But whether they realize it or not, proponents of "organized religion" end up being more identical to "liberals" in their approach; as they typically favor BIG "church" government run by elitist ministers, emphasis on taxation through things like tithing, offerings, and guilt-based sermons that essentially suggest that everyone should pay their fair share BY FORCE of religious legalism. Strangely, these church members who are often quick to shout loudly against political leaders who filtch wealth from the masses while promising them prosperity and "welfare" provisions are often, at the same time, eager to embrace the very same kind of tactics they claim to hate but which are employed by popular evangelists and church leaders who preach, "if you just give us money, God will make you more prosperous, you'll be protected, all your needs will be met, and so much more good will come of it for the benefit of all. Often the same church folks who (bearing the Republican banner) call for term limits on their political leaders, somehow are NOT in favor of term limits on church leaders (as it's not uncommon for a pastor to occupy the same position for 20+ years). Additionally, I've heard church attending Christians cry foul play with regard to politicians (on both sides of the political fence) who vote for pay increases for themselves and then keep the same salary even after they leave office - yet, often times, their pastors do the very same thing! Church going Christians often express annoyance with left-wing politicians because of their tendency to waste money on massive spending projects, yet just look at the church buildings many of these same Christians pay taxes... ahem, I mean tithes... to keep in operation; huge buildings, hogging resources, and empty for the much of the week except for service times. The same people who express anger over such waste among government projects, tolerate it with joy in their own religious environment. Republican church attending Christians align themselves with their Party in saying, "We don't want intrusive government... We want to be left alone to make our own decisions and to allow individual freedom and ingenuity to drive enterprise and increase productivity and benefit our communities!" Yet, when it comes to their religious ideology, they opt for heavy-handed church leaders who tell them what to think, say and do at every turn, every week, every month, every year, year after year and sometimes they won't even make a decision without "checking with their pastor" first. Whereas their political conviction leads them to boldly declare they want the Government out of their lives because they are more efficient on their own, yet they don't apply the same conviction to their life in Christ. They want church government involved in everything! Often times church goers can't even choose to have a gathering in their own home unless it is first approved by the pastor or a board of elders! And talk about bureocracy; I have watched time and again, throughout my years in church world, sincere Christians ask their pastors for permission to engage in various evangelistic projects, only to have "the elders" sit on it for 6 months to "pray about it". Avid church goers (who often cringe at the prospect of socialized welfare) are typically supporters of "welfare" church programs rather than promoting individual freedom and Spirit-led motivation. You see what I mean? It honestly boggles my brain how Christians can express such hatred for political injustice, over regulation, leadership with too much power, over taxation (and sometimes taxation period), wasteful spending, and oversized government and yet they - at the same time - think these things are essential to Christianity and actually work hard to maintain them, spread them around by introducing the same patterns through their missionary endeavors, and they sometimes get venomously angry at anyone that suggest such mindsets may not actually be beneficial to the Christian's walk with Christ? Simply amazing!
No wonder there is so much political confusion among various groups of Christians; We have Christian Republicans who sometimes give "conservativism" a bad name (and are anything but conservative when it come to their religion) and Christian Democrats who often have hearts in the right place but miss the mark just the same. I don't think there is anything wrong with supporting a political party that aligns with your conscience and conviction. It's good to want to promote righeousness in government and do our best to see good policies win out so that, as a nation of people, we can continue to live in peace and freedom. I believe in voting, not just to have a voice, but to make wise choices THAT CAN WIN and, therefore, effect positive results. So, all that having been said, I do consider it an honor and privilege to live in a free country and to be able to be a part of the political process in some small way (even if only by voting). I pray for our leaders and ask God for wisdom in making right choices and try to be active in writing letters or making calls to political leaders when conviction calls. Some of you may not relate to this same kind of interest in politics and that's fine too. I have nothing condemning to say about anyone. I merely hope to encourage by my comments, not to suggest that everyone should think exactly as I do. Please don't presume that I would ever be one of those folks that believes Jesus would be a Republican if He was here in the flesh either. God's concern is spirit and truth at the core of our being, not alignment with political parties. I'm not even entirely sure why I got off on this subject, but I suppose it might matter to some folks to know where I'm coming from politically. I hope my heart is clear enough and my desire to honor the Lord is visible, even through my views on politics.
I hope no one misunderstands this next statement. I mean it with all sincerity and am not trying to speak condescendingly to anyone (whatever your political persuasion may be). This is simply an honest observation. In my opinion, proponents of organized religion (i.e. those who favor the "institutional church" paradigm) - I would assume based on the kind of parallels I have just shared - would equally favor more liberal policies in accord with the Democratic approach concerning politics... Both of these ideologies espouse doctrines that favor more governmental control, influence and interference. Both of these systems of government favor the mediation of elitists who claim to know better than you do how to spend your money, how to reach out to the hurting, how to provide for yours and your neighbors welfare, and how to accomplish their "mission". All due respect to my Democrat (and politically "left"-leaning) friends, but this is NOT the doctrine of Jesus who sets us free! As much as I would hope this might encourage my Democrat friends (who today find themselves at odds with the severely problematic dogma that fuels the Institutional Church system) to maybe look closer at the "dogma" of their political party's leanings, I would (by the same logic) hope to encourage my Republican friends who still favor big "church" government to think again as well.
If you consider yourself a strong Conservative/Republican (or even a Libertarian/Independent), then how might it be that you see no conflict between that mindset and the "liberal" mindset of the current Democratic Party? Aren't you basically at odds with your own ideology? Several of you, that I am aware of, today describe yourselves as "politically unaffiliated", probably in large part because of this revelation I am talking about. You have become fed up with the hyper-emphasis on political patriotism (not to mention the host of all-too-corrupt political leaders) and I understand your frustration; However, I think there is a difference between "political patriotism" and the brand of real American patriotism that flows from a truly Conservative (and even Christ-motivated) mindset. When I observe the history of America, I am no longer distracted by Republican versus Democrat anxieties (for, in truth, both parties in the beginning were very similar in their core values and often came together on the things that really mattered). In fact, I think there are followers of Jesus today who THINK they are "Democrat" only because of the socially conscientious rhetoric of the Party. I think what they are doing though is confusing governmental responsibilities with what Jesus would have presented as PERSONAL and INDIVIDUAL responsibilities, which are guided by internal faith working through love NOT by external government force of obligation!
What I see, when I look at the history of this incredible nation of America, is a story about men and women that were fed up with the political and spiritual oppression of their (all-too-religious) government and who fled to the New World to find freedom (and not just to find it, but to defend it at all costs). This new freedom was not separated from genuine Christ-centered influence, but was actually inspired by it. The prospect of being a FREE nation and working together to enable a governmental ideology that opperated by and for (coming along side of) the People, under the eye of the Creator, to insure their freedom was not interfered with but protected at all costs is an exhilarating thing to consider. Despite America's flaws, this remains the greatest nation on God's green earth; still the freest, still the most benevolent, still the most just... and I grow weary of the pessemists and cynics who are always cutting it down, always looking for evil under every rock, and always looking for its failure rather than hoping and praying for its success. It is evident (at least in my perspective), by many respects, that the very heart of this leadership style that came into existence (and authored its Constitution) was inspired by the kind of leadership manifested in the pages of the New Testament (and, granted, a bit of the Old too). While this new government was not without its flaws, the basic intention was very closely aligned with the manfest purpose we find in Scripture of sincere New Testament "leaders" - to serve and protect but not get in the way.
While America has never been a "theocracy", it aligned itself with the biblical example of godly leadership which, as it concerns matters of faith, serve to insure its freedom to grow without fear of outside oppression. Some will say that the same good intentions (inspired by biblical concepts) are, arguably, just as valid to justify the existence and mantenance of the organized church system. I heartily disagree - except for the fact that, because this remains a free country, such organizations are free to form, exist and thrive without government entanglement if they so choose. The argument that church leaders only intend the same noble objective as our forefathers did for America is not accurate for a number of reasons. Like I mentioned earlier about how Liberal rhetoric is better than its practice, the same holds true here (in my opinion). Secular government is one thing (which the New Testament, by-the-way, approves of and instructs us to pray for), but applying the concepts of secular government to govern Christian faith and community is wholly unbiblically and, quite honestly, anti-Christ in nature! That may sound like a contradiction in terms but it's not. The Christian, aside from God-mandated responsibilities to heed the directives of just secular government, is governed by the Spirit of God Himself - not religious hierarchs! That submission to God trumps EVERYTHING else! It especially overrides the fantasy rulership of the so-called clergy! The is not a single Christian doctrine of Scripture that allows for the position of mediating religious overlords who sit and collect salaries in the name of "ministry". What a joke; a joke that isn't funny at all!
The founding fathers, who were advocates for religious freedom, were not supporters of any kind of religious tyrrany! Thomas Jefferson especially was opposed to it. Jefferson also loved the teachings of Jesus. As a matter of fact, he eventually became motivated to publish a work he titled "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth", which was later simply called "The Jefferson Bible". For many years this book was given to all new members of Congress. Imagine that! I'll bet those who cry "separation of church and state" would be greatly offended at such an activity - yet this was the heart behind the first and best leaders of this great nation! For them it was not an issue of "church or state" because they understood the difference between corruptible organized religion (which so often involves oppressive sham authority and manipulated mindsets) as opposed to simple and genuine Christian faith that inspires life and practice through individual responsibility. This book (The Jefferson Bible) was Thomas Jefferson's effort to extract the doctrine of Jesus from the Scriptures. The book does not contain His miracles or the other letters of the New Testament, but ONLY the teachings of Jesus. These words guided him and inspired him deeply. Interestingly enough, he became known as one of America's strongest voices for religious freedom and yet (what many Christians don't know is that) he was, at the same time, against any form of religious leadership that subverted the teachings of Jesus to manipulate the masses for the sake of increased power and wealth among the so-called "clergy". Jefferson's influence provided a framework for governmental protections allowing for freedom of faith (and even the establishment and continuance of organized, institutional forms of religion) but that would not permit oppression of any kind that might force people to subserve corrupt religious tyrants.
The walls of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. bear his strong words. Many Christians today, however, do not even realize that his words are referring most specifically to church leaders - not world dictators. "They [the clergy] believe that any portion of power confided to me, will be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly; for I have sworn upon the altar of God, Eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. But this is all they have to fear from me: and enough, too, in their opinion." (Thomas Jefferson) It was Benjamin Franklin who humerously asserted that "lighthouses are more helpful than churches" and even George Washington (himself a man of strong, Christian faith and who attended church) admitted that "the best Institutions may be abused by human depravity; and that they may even, in some instances, be made subservient to the vilest of purposes."
James Madison asked the question "What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not." President John Adams once even said, "The priesthood have, in all ancient nations, nearly monopolized learning. And ever since the Reformation, when or where has existed a Protestant or dissenting sect who would tolerate a free inquiry? The blackest billingsgate, the most ungentlemanly insolence, the most yahooish brutality, is patiently endured, countenanced, propagated, and applauded. But touch a solemn truth in collision with a dogma of a sect, though capable of the clearest proof, and you will find you have disturbed a nest, and the hornets will swarm about your eyes and hand, and fly into your face and eyes."
and adulterated by artificial constructions into a contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves...
these clergy, in fact, constitute the real Anti-Christ." -Thomas Jefferson
As you can see by these few examples, it wasn't that our founding fathers were "anti-religious" necessarily (nor were they, at all, against the habit of Christians gathering together or applying Christian principles to the actuation of government), but simply that man must be free to commune with his Creator without mediating oppression from external forces, be they church leaders, secular governments, or anyone else! Arguably, the entire purpose of the modern day church system is to "manage" the faith of their members. In every way, even if subtly at time, they oppress and encroach upon the free will of the congregant. They dictate how it should live, how it should spend its money, how it should talk, who it should vote for, where it should go, what it should do, how often it should gather together, what kind of music it is allowed to listen to, what kind of food it should eat, what it should read, think, sing, even what it should pray for. In virtually every area of the Christian's life it has a voice of instruction, leaving no need at all for the voice of God - and this is the worst part of all! It is entirely offensive to genuine Christian sensabilities. It bears a form of godliness but denies the Lordship of Christ in the heart of individual believers in practice at every turn. Even the best-intentioned church leaders fall prey to the system's prevailing mindset, which strongly leads me to believe that - at the core of it - is a demonic spirit working its influence, control and deception. By stunning contrast, America's first leaders were not set in place to rule over her by way of dictating her every involvement and taxing the public to provide welfare systems and to grow itself bigger. On the contrary, America's first leaders volunteered to SERVE their fellow man with the primary interest to protect them from "wolves" who might disrupt their freedom to enjoy self-governed communities of friendship, faith and transaction. Because of this, I have a much higher opinion of America's founding fathers (and the general purpose of our American governmental system) than I do of even the best church organizations! One system pulled together to protect individual freedom, the value of personal responsibility, and ethics that promote justice and fair treatment of all. The magnificent thing about good secular government (as was constructed by our founding fathers and maintained by the Constitution) is that, while I may not personally wish to involve myself with organized religion (because I personally believe its mindsets are anti-Christ, distractive, oppressive and spiritually destructive in nature), the beauty of just secular government is that I am protected from being subjected to any form of tyrrany; be it religious or otherwise. In other words, while many churches may have destructive or oppressive tendencies, I (as a free American) am not forced to sit under them... and if my right to this freedom is ever encroached upon by implication of corrupt leaders, I have an advocate of justice because of our American governmental system and founding Constitution, that steps in to defend my God-given freedom. So that seems a good thing to fight for; FREEDOM!
I personally describe myself, politically, as a Conservative (rather than Republican) because Conservatism involves core values (like what I have just described to you; like what our founding father subscribed to) rather than merely political/social objectives. When it comes to voting, I do typically tend to choose the Republican ticket because in our two-party system, the Republican agenda typically defends Conservative principles. That having been said, if a Democratic politician happens to reveal Conservative characteristics in contrast to a corrupted Republican alternative, I will chose that representative over the Republican party. What about "third parties" some people ask me (like the Libertarian party)? Some people opt for alternate parties because they align more closely with their own convictions of what proper government should look like. For me, this comes back to the issue of rhetoric versus the ability to put things into practice. Some may disagree with me on this, but I would still opt for either Republican or Democrat because we are, in all truth, a two-party political system in this country. We always have been! The way I look at it is like this; Which party has proven more able to get mostly positive objectives accomplished? Yes, at times there may be a politician who holds to issues I disagree with, but how does he compare with his opponent? If he is more right on the issues I find are important and which will positively move this nation forward after Conservative principles, then I will choose him/her over his opponent. To me, a third party vote (even on principle) is like throwing a vote away and to chose such when you know we have a two-party system is (in my opinion) a bit selfish (though I cannot fault someone who is simply trying to obey their conscience). The great thing about our form of government is that each person is completely free to vote their conscience. My only point with sticking with either of the two parties is because, if a person is really interested in being an agent of ACTUAL change, I think those interests are best served by common sense logic in supporting the party that has the best chance of winning and at least moving things a step forward (even if it doesn't bring everything an individual wants all at once). Third parties, historically, split meaningful majorities allowing potentially destructive minority concepts to prevail. So, in the end, it actually encourages a loss and works to move the country backwards instead of forward. So, third parties (I believe), while intending good, essentially work the opposite and become an obstacle to righteous advancement not a proponent. Again, that is my own opinion and personal conviction. If you do not agree, that's fine with me. Absolutely, live by your convictions and may God's wisdom and grace guide you.
So that's why I typically vote with a Conservative candidate and party - and especially one that has the best chance to win. To me, elevating my desire for "the perfect party" (even if I'm right) would be selfish in the interest of seeking the most beneficial course of action for the greater good. That doesn't mean I have to sit by while my party comes up with dumb ideas. I can work to persuade the powers that be and see them change. Some people may say this is their approach to "staying in church" and they argue that my not coming on board (by attending church like everyone else) but insisting on a third party view point (i.e. one that exists "outside the church walls" so to speak) is divisive and unbeneficial. If that is someone's honest conviction, then I must respect it (even if I don't agree with it). No doubt, I have talked to church leaders face to face that think my perspectives are inconsistent in this detal... BUT that is because they have an elevated opinion of something that their own Bibles do not allow for. They have already elevated their man made system of religion over God Himself! As a result they see anyone who does not align with their agenda and mindset as "divisive" and "rebellious" and "deceived". The great thing is, I am FREE in this great country and I can choose to leave that foolish, corrupt religious environment behind if I want to. The bold reality of American freedom, which my forefathers (and the brave men and women of our American military) died to protect and preserve, provides me that benefit! Meanwhile their view of religion (which they have chosen to place themselves in subservience to) keeps them in spiritual bondage. Ironically, their nation's governmental foundation allows them the freedom to remain in their own self-imposed delusion if they so choose, proving that it is (in fact) more liberating than the very "liberty" the claim to already possess in Christ. Until they are free themselves, fully clothed with the revelation of the Gospel and all it provides, they will see an inconsistency in people like me, and they will not fully understand what I am talking about. Sadly, some will take this mindset to their death. How tragic that people can be free and claim to be "proud to be Americans" and even claim "spiritual freedom" and yet so locked down in religious bondage that they never really see outside their pathetic boxes. The Lord loves them and has in mind to free them completely, if any will hear His call. If I can be some voice in this direction, "Lord use me!" So, all of that jibber jabber to say that, if Conservative political involvement is something you feel is important, then check out my page at The Conservative Underground. It's really no big deal, but I'm posting the link here for anyone who wants to connect on political endeavors and maybe have some fun venting political opinions. Those not interested I completely understand and I am committed to never pushing this website in any political direction. My primary interest is the central Truth of Jesus Christ! Let that be our absolute common ground and principle motivation in all things as brothers and sisters. Governments will rise and fall, but HIS kingdom will rule forever!
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