Mike Edmisten

I’m not sure I take it this seriously. And after reading this stuff, I’m feeling pretty convicted about that.

I’m talking about preaching.

The great Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon, was abnormally intense before he preached. Sometimes, they had to carry him out to the pulpit…the weight of the burden and the glory of God made it difficult for him to even walk. He rebuked preachers who were “jolly” and “lighthearted” before ministering the Word of God.

In a modern day context…Steven Furtick, lead pastor of Elevation Church, said that before he preaches…

His stomach hurts from restless nerves, leading him to feel like he’s going to throw up.

While he’s backstage, he listens to one worship song, over and over again, pacing around the room praying…often out loud. He lifts his hands sometimes, kneels sometimes, etc. And sometimes he jumps around to get fired up. Steven said, “I bet this looks pretty funny to the people around me. So sometimes I make them jump with me. Really.”

He anoints his head, eyes, ears, and mouth with oil before all four of Elevation’s services.

I take the weight and responsibility of preaching very seriously. But the Holy Spirit drilled me when I read about these men of God. With apologies to Emeril, this Sunday…

I’m going to kick it up a notch.

After He created Adam and Eve, “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.“ (Genesis 1:28, NIV, bold mine)

God gave the earth to us as a gift for us to manage. His call for us to subdue the earth is a call for us to creatively use the resources the earth provides for us. God created oil, coal, etc. Based on his statement in Genesis, it would seem that his desire is for us to utilize these gifts that he has given us. This doesn’t jive with radical environmentalists who view drilling, mining, etc. as “raping the planet.”

Now, while we’re pointing out the errors of radical environmentalism, let’s not go radical ourselves. God’s call for us to “subdue the earth” is not a license to treat his creation flippantly. There is a balance between using the earth’s resources and just being stupid. As we creatively use the earth’s resources, I do think we should be constantly researching new technologies. That just makes sense. But not using the earth’s resources because of our skewed spiritual perspective does not make sense.

So, as we wrap up this series of posts, it really does come down to a spiritual principle. It comes down to your view of creation vs. your view of the Creator. It doesn’t bother me that people want to respect the environment. I do, too.

When I was a kid, my dad taught me to respect the environment. We would go on fishing trips and he would teach me that a true sportsman will “leave the lake just as he found it.” In other words, common sense conservationism.

I’m not advocating that we all start polluting for the fun of it. Taking common sense environmental steps is good. But when we cross the threshold and begin to view the planet as something close to deity status, we’re on dangerous ground.

Not because it will raise the price of gas…but because it will lower our view of God.

Things are moving at ACC!

We are ready to start our basement renovation project. Our end goal is to create a warm, welcoming, fun atmosphere for our new children’s ministry. It all starts this Saturday.

We’re having a basement workday at ACC this Saturday, May 31, beginning at 7:00 am. We’d love to have as many ACCers as possible come out to help. Even if you can only come for a few hours. Some is better than none.

You’ll also notice a big dumpster in our parking lot. Mercifully, it’s only taking up three parking spaces. Please be patient. It won’t be there for a long time.

I’m ready to get it started! Hope to see you on Saturday!

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans 1:25, NIV, bold mine)

That verse is a good description about the extreme radical wing of the environmental movement. The earth has become the god to be worshipped. They are worshipping the created instead of the Creator. The Bible calls that idolatry.

But how exactly does that translate into you paying $4.00 for a gallon of gas?

This radical environmentalism has taken over the minds of our elected officials. We are not allowed to drill for our own oil. We are not allowed to build refineries. And the end result is no mystery. There is less oil available. And the oil that is available belongs to foreign nations who have disdain for the U.S. What’s the cumulative result of that?

Look at any gas station sign. That insanely high number you see is the end result.

But where did it all begin? It began with this notion that the planet is to be honored, served, and worshipped. If that’s true, then to drill for oil, to cut down trees, to mine for coal…that is equivalent to raping and pillaging a deity.

As I said in my previous post, I purposefully steer clear of politics in my ministry and on my blog…except when the political issue is also a spiritual issue. This one qualifies.

Based on the Word of God, our priorities are skewed. The planet is not a deity. It is not an object of veneration or worship. It is a created thing. The Creator is the one who deserves our worship.

So, what does the Creator have to say about how we manage his creation? Tune in tomorrow.

I am privileged to serve on the oversight team for a new church plant. Horizon Christian Church will officially launch in September in Cold Spring, KY.

I’m asking all of you ACCers (along with anyone else who may be reading this post) to pray for Horizon. The church was dealt a tough blow this week when the school that they were intending to use for their worship services rejected their request. Horizon’s lead pastor, Joel Young, is still talking with school officials, but it’s not looking good at the moment.

However, God is bigger than this. That’s why I’m asking you to pray for Horizon. Pray for God to open the door of this school. Or, if he has a better location in mind, pray for him to reveal it to Horizon’s leadership.

So many “God things” have already happened for this young church. I absolutely believe that God is going to come through in a mighty way. Join me in praying for that today.

Jay Bruce was the 2007 Minor League Player of the Year. He’s widely regarded as the top prospect in all of baseball. So what did he do in his Major League debut last night?

Oh…not much. He just went 3 for 3, knocking two singles and a double. He had 2 walks. In total, he was at the plate five times…he reached base five times. A stolen base. Two RBIs. Two runs scored.

Did I mention that it’s about time for Jay Bruce to be brought up to the big leagues?

Fill up your tank lately? Wow. That’s some serious sticker shock. And it appears that it’s only going to get worse.

I make it a point not to use this blog as a stump to promote my political views. I do have very definite political ideas and values. I’m not ashamed of them. I hold to them very strongly.

But this blog is an extension of my ministry, and I purposefully leave political discourse out of my preaching and teaching…except when the political issue is also a spiritual issue. Then, I have no choice but to tackle it. And if it makes a Republican or a Democrat mad…well…there’s nothing I can do about it. My loyalty to the Word of God trumps my political affiliation by a long shot.

So why would I blog about gas prices? Because there is an underlying spiritual principle that we need to be aware of. I touched on it in my Earth Day post last month, but I want to focus in on it even more given our current pain at the pump.

Bob Brown, an Australian politician and environmentalist, said, “There is a spiritual side to our connection with the planet. And in this material world, that’s anathema.”

Many in the radical environmental movement view the issue as their religion. The “spiritual connection” we have with the planet makes everything green into an object to be honored, revered, even worshipped.

What does this have to do with gas prices? Quite a bit, actually. We’ll explore it tomorrow.

It’s about time.

Jay Bruce is going to be joining the Reds tonight as they open a series with the Pirates. Bruce is leading the International League in hitting, batting .364 with 10 homers, 37 RBI and eight stolen bases. His 67 hits are tops in the IL, and he also ranks among the leaders in slugging percentage (.630), runs (34), extra-base hits (24) and RBI.

As I said, it’s about time.

One sad note…to make room for Bruce, the Reds designated Scott Hatteberg for assignment. I’m a Hatty fan. But with Joey Votto now owning first base, Hatteberg became the odd man out. Such is life in the bigs.

One of the great privileges of my life is to walk with people along their journey to faith. And then, when that journey culminates in complete surrender to Christ, it’s indescribable.

I had one of those moments on Sunday when I had the privilege of baptizing Carol Sexton. This was no snap decision for her. Carol spent a long time wrestling with a lot of tough questions. She’s been part of Ground Floor, which really kicked her spiritual quest into overdrive. And it culminated on Sunday when she confessed her faith in Christ and was baptized into Him.

As she was coming up out of the water, Carol pumped her fist in the air victoriously. It was an awesome moment! She received the victory that is available through the death and resurrection of Jesus. She was stoked! And I was, too.

It was one of those “I-can’t-believe-I-get-to-do-this-for-a-living” moments!

I grew up in a family steeped in military pride and tradition. My grandfather served in the Army during World War II. My uncle was in the Air Force. My brother was in the Marine Corps. My father’s service as a Marine in Vietnam earned him the Silver Star.

Thanks to all our servicemen and women who are fighting so that we can enjoy peaceful picnics and barbecues today. Take a minute and pray for them and their families who miss them so much.