Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Which Crown Are You Aiming For?


 
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 3:13-14)
     Some young preacher will study until he has to get thick glasses to take care of his failing eyesight because he has an idea he wants to become a famous preacher. He wants to use Jesus Christ to make him a famous preacher. He's just a huckster buying and selling and getting gain. They will ordain him and he will be known as Reverend and if he writes a book, they will make him a doctor. And he will be known as doctor; but he's still a huckster buying and selling and getting gain. And when the Lord comes back, He will drive him out of the temple along with the other cattle.
     We can use the Lord for anything--or try to use Him. But what I'm preaching and what Paul taught and what was brought down through the years and what gave breath to the modern missionary movement that you and I know about and belong to was just the opposite: "O, God, we don't want anything You have, we want You." That's the cry of a soul on its way up. Success and the Christian, pp29, by A.W. Tozer.
     This great message from brother Tozer immediately reminded me of the story about James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who asked Jesus if He would grant them the honor to sit next to Him in the Kingdom, one on His left and one on His right.
     One can easily understand the excitement that both James and John were experiencing now that they had discovered the truth about eternal life. One can also understand the human need to obtain an important position in life; it’s a concept that has been inculcated in our mindset from the very beginning. Success! Status! Money! Power! Fame! These all have been the mantra that has been drummed into our head from childhood. Most of our education is mostly geared to secure the tools necessary to achieve a successful life and all its trappings (homes, car, bank accounts, best looking spouse, etc.), and few can deny this inherent aspiration and built in motivation. We (our conflated egos) probably think about these things throughout the day, but most will not admit it.
     While spirit-filled disciples of God have learned that these things are not important and that we should be willing to cast off everything for Christ, I’m certain that a day does not go by where we are not engrossed with the need to be lauded for any success we can achieve in our new walk with Christ. Those in the ministry cannot deny that part of their efforts are motivated in part to receive at least a certain amount of glory for the “wisdom” they have acquired since coming to Christ. 
     Believe it or not, the Apostle Paul suffered from this very thing, as we read about the thorn that was buffeting him, which Christ told him that His grace was sufficient. In that story, Paul said that a messenger from Satan was attacking him to actually keep him from becoming conceited after he had experienced being lifted to the third heaven (he really didn’t know if he was in paradise or not), but He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. One can imagine the heavenly mysteries that Paul had heard (and possibly saw), that no one is allowed to hear until the Lord returns to establish His Kingdom here on earth for an eternity. Imagine how privileged Paul must have felt; looking at his fellow servants and even thinking, “Hah! You guys have no idea what I have heard and seen about Heaven, but I can’t tell you. Boy! Wouldn’t you love to have this knowledge? But only I have it. Na Na Na Na Na!
     But, obviously God allowed a messenger from Satan to keep him in a state of constant affliction, so much so that a state of humility had enveloped him due to the severely and excruciating pain he experienced throughout the day. Nevertheless, through this thorn in his side, Jesus Christ actually blessed Paul with inside knowledge that the torment he probably experienced until the day he was beheaded, was that rather than boasting about the knowledge he now possessed, by virtue of being the only human being to get a glimpse of Heaven, instead, Paul said he will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong,(2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
     Obviously, the issue of big egos was rampant amongst the Apostles during the time that Christ was with them, and probably more so after He ascended to Heaven. Even in those days, Christians had their respective heroes, as we read in 1 Corinthians1:12, where competing ministries existed between Apollos, Paul and Cephas, and probably many more. One can imagine how today’s preachers, evangelists, teachers, authors, talk show hosts, actors, singers and any people with talent can easily fall prey to a sense of the high self esteem as they eventually develop their own groupies. 
     Imagine how so many renowned evangelists speaking before a crowd of 10 thousands to a 100 hundred thousands of hungry sheep must feel when they deliver a great, power-packed sermon (regardless whether it is completely truthful), and they are applauded and praised by this throng of adoring followers. Heady stuff is today's American version of Christian ministry. Many popular evangelists nowadays are actually treated like rock stars. Therefore, who wouldn’t aspire to become an evangelist or a singer or a great orator immediately after turning their lives over to Christ. Believe it or not many individuals, who had previous fame in the secular world, after turning their lives to Christ, immediately went into the ministry and can now be seen on television or radio or involved in a forum that actually provides them with the same adulation they experienced before. Only now, they claim they are using their talent for Jesus!
     I’m ashamed to say this experience happened to me after I committed to follow Christ in 1975, after working as a radio and television talk show host and news reporter for about 5 years. After being a Christian for only a short while, I joined these same folks in public ministry as an evangelist and Christian broadcaster. After about 4 to 5 years of this, Christ got a hold of me and whacked me good. He told me that He didn’t save me to become a Christian Super Star but to get down in the bunker and use the Holy Spirit gifts He blessed me with to help the widows, orphans, infirm, prisoners and the lost, which is true religion in the eyes of God. Actually, I'm glad God got me out of that aspect of ministry because I could not deal (both spiritually and emotionally) with the inflated egos and the fund raising techniques that were used by many to keep their ministry afloat. Like the Apostle Paul, I couldn't sell the Gospel.
     It wasn’t until I left the “ministry” in 1985 and began working at several schools and colleges with young gang bangers, counseling Viet Nam veterans, developing jobs for kids coming out of prison, working with pregnant single girls who had been abandoned by their boyfriends, working at a homeless shelter, and many other social service endeavors, that I felt I was finally being used by God to do the work he initially called me to do. 
     Sadly, we see thousands of people who have turned their lives over to Christ (especially on the Internet) who are more motivated by obtaining glory and adulation from the "online church" they have nurtured rather than serving God in the trenches. The worst part about this phenomenon is that a majority of these individuals is that they water down the Gospel with soothing messages rather than proclaiming the true word of God, which includes the reality that Christians will suffer great tribulation. Rather than warning the sheep that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and that they need to pick up their crosses and practice true religion, they feed their audiences with titillating messages their itching ears want to hear. Rather than teaching them sound doctrine, their loyal and adoring followers turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths, (2 Timothy 4:4). 
     One of those messages is the Pre-Tribulation Rapture to Heaven theory which is not biblical. Obviously preaching and teaching their flock that it won’t have to endure great tribulation, which the Apostle Paul emphatically stated they must experience in order to enter the kingdom of God, is a more acceptable message. Speaking and teaching against the Rapture to Heaven myth is not a very popular position to take. I haven’t made many friends in the Christian arena for writing and speaking out against this non-biblical theory; as a matter of fact, I have lost many former friends and associates and will probably lose many more. My message most certainly does not create much interest for Christians to buy the two books I have written on this subject. If anything, I have been branded a heretic for even suggesting that God would allow His children to suffer. Well, we know what happened to Paul and all the other apostles for speaking God’s truth.
     The Bible tells us we must pick up our crosses and follow Christ. The cross is an instrument of death as it was for Jesus and His original apostles. Today's followers of Christ must be prepared to follow this same path of tribulation and even death, eventually. Many say the Christian of today will not experience the horrors the early apostles had to endure. All were either beheaded or crucified except for John who was exiled to the Island of Patmos. The others were executed. Since then, millions have been tortured, burned in oil or at the stake, beheaded and a myriad of other horrible deaths (read Fox's Book of Martyrs) which are too gruesome to expound here. Sadly, American Christians believe they have a “get out of jail free” card due to the non-biblical dogma called “The Rapture.”
     But, in the end, when Christ returns, and it’s time to hand out His reward to the faithful, many will be surprised that those sitting next to Jesus Christ on His throne may or may not be James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee. Many will be surprised that we won’t even see the evangelist de jour, the pastors of America’s mega churches, authors of many books on prophecy, or hosts of a 1000 radio and television shows strewn throughout the Electronic Church, those who are already receiving their glory, fame and riches. 
     We probably won’t even recognize those seated closely to Jesus. It may well be a nameless nurse who labored with starving, bloated-belly children in Rwanda or Darfur; a young mother who took in stray and wayward young prostitutes who escaped from the demeaning clutches of that insidious business; a humble, unknown lady in her 80’s who devoted the majority of her life to cooking and feeding hundreds of hungry kids in the ghettos and barrios of America for over 40 years, or it may even be a humble usher in a backwoods church, somewhere in the Appalachian Trail of Georgia, who always greeted church members with a gleaming smile on his face. For certain, they will be those who have chosen to wear the thorny crowns of life rather than seeking the glittery one that can only belong to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 
     I pray that I may be accounted faithful to even be allowed to enter through a side door, much less worthy enough to see my Lord through a pair of binoculars while seated in the last pew in His Kingdom.

For more information about the author and his two books, please click on The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation. To access his web sites and blogs, please click on Joe Ortiz.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

That’s What Friends Are For!


(Artwork by Irmabelle Rivera)

     The word “friend” comes from the Greek noun philos, which is primarily an adjective, denoting "loved, dear, or friendly." The great American city of Philadelphia, known as the “City of Brotherly Love,” derives its name from philos.
     The dictionary defines “friend” as a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard, a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter, a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile, a member of the same nation, party, etc.; and a member of a religious assembly of friends, a like-minded fraternity of those who are devoted to God.
     For those of us who are fortunate to have close and dear friends, we are often blessed with friends who most of the time are even closer than members of our own (blood line) family. Some friends, dear and close ones going back as far as high school, are to be treasured. I’m fortunate to have two such friends including my schoolmates (singer and songwriter) Alan O'Day and my sister-in-law Patricia Marcil Ortiz, the kind of friends you can call on a moment’s notice and pour out your heart knowing they will never betray your confidence. Believe it or not, I even have such friends on the Internet (and you know who you are).

     Nowadays, many of us who have numerous co-workers and acquaintances, normally behave “friendly” or at least cordial towards them, but they may not necessarily be considered true friends.
     How does one determine if the person you call “friend” truly meets up to that definition? Or even up to your expectations?  That answer is best summed up, thus, "when the going gets tough, true friends are always there for you."
     The Bible speaks much about friends. We are reminded first about those who claimed to be great friends in the story of Job, where we see that those who claimed to be great comrades actually turned on him. As the story goes, the devil challenged God by telling Him that His children only serve Him when they are blessed, as Job, who possessed a great family, wealth and respected by many in his community. The devil says to God, “Yes, but what if things were different, and he lost all of his wealth and became poor, destitute of health, family and community status? Would he still remain faithful?
     God took the challenge and told Satan he could bring whatever harm to Job, but he could not kill him. Satan commenced to wreak havoc on Job’s life. Satan took away everything Job owned, including family, property, community status and health. Throughout the ordeal Job remained faithful to God, but his friends began to scorn him, turned against him and even mocked him. Yet, in the end, God restored Jobs fortune, because he forgave and prayed for his friends.
     I’m certain that many of us have experienced similar circumstances, where friends stood aloof during our crisis; but many of us are fortunate to have friends who will stand by you, but they are rare and few. Some of us have friends who can hurt you, but in the long run are also ones that can remain faithful. These friends are the ones whose counsel can enrich the heart. These are true friends can debate a variety of issues with you and still remain faithful even if you disagree with each other. But, when push comes to shove, is that friendship strong enough to endure the worst case scenarios of life? If you stumble and fall, commit an almost unforgivable act, such as lying, cheating and betraying them in a moment of weakness? Maybe; but such a friend is a rare, rare person.
     Being that each and every one of us is human, prone to weakness and pressures that we often buckle under, there is one friend that we can depend on, regardless of the severity of the most heinous peccadillos we can commit. That friend is Jesus Christ. Now, realize this first and foremost, in order to be called a “friend” of Jesus, true friends have to obey His commands. Does Jesus abandons us because we slip and fall and not always obey Him? Most certainly not. He is best known as one who always fellowships amongst even the most grotesque sinners. During that fellowship He is always a true friend who comforts you with the truth. Recognizing that the truth is the Gospel, that He died on the cross to pay for our sins, it forces us (if not behooves us) to share With our other friends what Jesus has done for you.
     Now, be aware, that sharing what Jesus Christ has done for you is not about debating things theological nor is it about piously flaunting doctrine in a haughty manner. It is about giving testimony to others about the saving grace and mercy you have received. As you share your story (which does not include the gory and sordid details), telling others how Jesus was able to pull you out of circumstances so horrible, that suicide was one of the options you considered, has greater convincing power. It is these testimonies that impact the listeners, not the quoting of scripture. Actually, the ones who need scripture quoted are the ones who claim they have known God for a long time, but yet fail to practice the same grace, mercy and loving kindness they have received from Jesus Christ.
     As you continue this new found journey with your new friend Jesus, and those who have yet to turn to Christ see and sense the difference between the new you from the old, the Holy Spirit begins to move into the hearts that have been softened by your loving testimony. As you see the changes coming about, true friends begin to rejoice with each other when sinners repent. Then, as they begin to grow in this new friendship, their heart is open to instruction from those who have served the Lord for an extended time, those who have deeply studied the word of God, who are new friends that can provide them with the knowledge of God and His purpose for mankind.
     However, be mindful that hearing and learning the word of God (at least in the learning stages, however long that may be) does not give a person the license to begin spewing forth the scripture to others solely because they have experienced God’s power at work in their life. Those duties actually belong to the elders (Presbyteros), one who is advanced in life, (a senior citizen, if you will), especially those who have labored long in the word and doctrine, who actually deserve double honor.
     If anything, new converts need to work as servants in the fields, not as novice pastors, preachers and evangelists, but as laborers for Christ. He calls them disciples (Greek noun, mathetes, lit., "a learner" (from manthano, "to learn," from a root math, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor), in contrast to didaskalos, "a teacher;" hence it denotes "one who follows one's teaching).
     Disciples are first and foremost new babes in Christ who are on a mission to learn about Christ and God’s mission for mankind. There are two major ways a disciple grows into ministerial leadership. One is to learn from the elders and the other is what I call on-the-job training, those learn what true religion is all about. It’s not about going straight to Bible college or seminary to obtain pastor credentials (as many are prone to do) in this status-conscious church we see today. We learn best our true roles as Christian by doing the works we were called to do, which is to visit and help the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. This is where true friends consider the poor rather than the rich and mighty, which (sadly) consists of many who claim to be serving the Lord.

      Our mission is clearly defined throughout the Bible but, unfortunately too many view their roles as preachers and evangelists, or self anointed ministers who are accountable to no one but themselves. These are they who remain friends of and with the World, who cannot be God's true friend. The true disciples of Christ are in the front lines working with the homeless, the infirmed, widows and orphans, prisoners and the aliens.
     Those who are handicapped, seniors and others who cannot labor on the front lines, should at least be God’s prayer warriors. Many are they who have been chosen as Missionaries, a job that is not in much demand as they were 100 years or so due to the fact that many servants of Christ now exists in foreign lands due to the efforts of those who traversed in dangerous countries that had not heard of the Gospel before, of which many laid down their lives and died for their friends.Those who have regular jobs can also minister by financially supporting those front line individuals and organizations.
     It is these faithful of which God calls His friends. When He returns to rule and reign on earth for an eternity, we will see Him face-to-face. Albeit we may be war-torn,wounded and tired from our labors, almost to the point of death, He will personally reach out, to thank us, to hand us His reward. Many of us will bow our heads, even begin to sob, realizing that our devoted faith in Him has been worth all the suffering we experienced. By abiding in His will, we will finally be able to look and see our dear and precious friend, knowing that what He promised to the faithful, is now being fulfilled by His presence. Yes, we will know that by His grace and mercy and His loving kindness, we will finally know that we are those who were the true Friends of Jesus, who will forever share in His Glory.
     It will be these valiant soldiers of the cross who God will greet them by their first name as all friends do and He will personally bless each and every one of you for your faithfulness.
     Now, isn’t that's what friends are for?

For more information about the author and his two books, please click on The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation. To access his web sites and blogs, please click on Joe Ortiz

Thursday, March 17, 2011

How Do We Discern True Leadership?


     For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves, (Acts 20:29-30).
      Within the circles of evangelical Christianity itself there has arisen in the last few years dangerous and dismaying trends away from true Bible Christianity. A spirit has been introduced which is surely not the Spirit of Christ, methods employed which are wholly carnal, objectives adopted which have not one line of Scripture to support them, a level of conduct accepted which is practically identical with that of the world--and yet scarcely one voice has been raised in opposition. And this, in spite of the fact that the Bible-honoring followers of Christ lament among themselves, the dangerous, wobbly course things are taking.
      The times call for a Spirit-baptized and articulate orthodoxy. They whose souls have been illuminated by the Holy Ghost must arise and under God assume leadership. There are those among us whose hearts can discern between the true and the false, whose spiritual sense of smell enables them to detect the spurious afar off, who have the blessed gift of knowing. Let such as these arise and be heard. Who knows but the Lord may yet return and leave a blessing behind Him? The Price of Neglect, pp 6-7, by A.W. Tozer.
     My friend and mentor, A.W. Tozer never shied away from boldly speaking the word of God. Like faithful prophets of old, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and the young Samuel, there’s was not about heaping glory on themselves, nor gaining fortunes and admiration from the flock, it was all about being faithful to God and His will. These messengers of God probably complained a bit about their working conditions (and there was virtually no pay involved, nor retirement benefits to look forward to), but they stayed the course. Even though none of them saw The True Promised Land, but merely sojourned in Palestine in tents, a temporary abode. They knew they would one day enter into the eternal rest that God has promised those who obey Him.
     But, yet, the faithful face obstacles unaware, brought forth by unbelievers, ravishing wolves in disguise, using the very words of God to deceive and seduce the flock to venture territories of destruction. They wear the emblems of God on their soldiers’ uniforms, emblazoned on chest and armbands, loudly proclaiming the name of Jesus and His word, John 3:16 being among the most popular. But then, when they have gained your confidence, with diabolical subtlety, they begin stripping your shield of faith, by quoting scripture with Gatling gun ferocity that has no bearing whatsoever, nor relevant to messages being shared amongst a grouping of true soldiers of Christ. They also send you private messages, in hopes of planting seeds of doubt amid the fellowship.
    They say of this and that man or woman of God, it is rumored, has seduced members of the flock, with charm and deceit, to surround he or she with admirers to feed their ego, and form their own congregation. And they give you names of others who share the same view, albeit that person is a fellow comrade of deceit. The divide and conquer battle has begun to deceive and create division among the faithful. They have you at their mercy. They have won you over.
     And you, never realizing the tactic they used goes contrary to the word of God; you nibble at the bait until their merciless hooks have you where they want you. Their methods alone should have sent a 1000 flags to stand up and cry, “Foul!” Not only foul as in committing an error, but foul as in the odoriferous stench that reveals their true nature. But, even young and uniformed Disciples of Christ have been blessed with the Holy Spirit power of discernment. If your soul feels instant anxiety in what you hear them saying, realize that God’s word is revealing the wolves for what they really are.
     As we continue in our respective journeys, one who preaches, one who teaches and others with various Holy Spirit power gifts, solely to edify the body of Christ, recognize that these painful experiences are lessons to be learned even though we often believe the lie. But let us recognize (as we are told in Romans 8:28) that each incident turns out for the good for those who have been called according to His purpose. Also, and most importantly, remember that the true battle is God’s war against the principalities and evil spirits in high places, and He will reveal the wolves’ true identity, because deceivers can only present thorns and thistles of doubt, while God’s true children of promise produce the fruit of the Spirit, fruit that is personified in caring for the poor, infirm, homeless, the lost and those who need and love our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And don’t we all ~
     But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other, (Galatians 5:22-27).

~
For information about the author and his two books, click on The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation. To access his webs sites and blogs, please click on Joe Ortiz

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Sheep Are Led, Not Driven by Untested Shepherds!

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand, (Psalm 95:6-7)

Cattle are driven; sheep are led; and our Lord compares His people to sheep, not to cattle.

It is especially important that Christian ministers know the law of the leader--that he can lead others only as far as he himself has gone....

The minister must experience what he would teach or he will find himself in the impossible position of trying to drive sheep. For this reason he should seek to cultivate his own heart before he attempts to preach to the hearts of others....
If he tries to bring them into heart knowledge of truth which he has not actually experienced he will surely fail. In his frustration he may attempt to drive them; and scarcely anything is so disheartening as the sight of a vexed and confused shepherd using the lash on his bewildered flock in a vain attempt to persuade them to go on beyond the point to which he himself has attained...

The Law of the Leader tells us, who are preachers, that it is better to cultivate our souls than our voices. It is better to polish our hearts than our pulpit manners, though if the first has been done well and successfully it may be profitable for us to do the second. 


We cannot take our people beyond where we ourselves have been, and it thus becomes vitally important that we be ministers of God in the last and highest sense of that term. The Price of Neglect, pp151-153, by A.W. Tozer.

     There are thousands upon thousands of self-anointed Bible preachers and teachers on the Internet today, who (are most likely well intended) that have joined numerous social networks and are presenting their understanding of the Bible. Most of them claim to be evangelists or have adopted a religious title of sorts, and genuinely feel they are qualified to deliver God’s message to the masses. 
     Many of these folks claim their interpretation of the Bible truly represents what God intended in His written word. Their authority to preach or teach (they claim) comes directly from the Holy Spirit based on what has been historically delivered to them from this or that preacher-teacher of their experience. They use standard cliches like sola scriptura which basically means by scripture alone, the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. This is true; however, who truly knows or understands completely the message that has been put forth in the Bible. Mankind has historically attempted to discern the Bible’s message but, unfortunately, no one person alive (or now dead) has attained the complete knowledge of God. Those who claim thus deceive themselves.
     Yes! There are many scholars, preachers and teachers of God’s word that have preached for years, who have gained great popularity, but none can claim “their” interpretation would pass canonical muster. Sadly, the Christian religion, especially, is filled by millions who claim they present the Gospel as God intended, which is most often challenged by others with an opposing view. Surely someone has to possess the correct interpretation, right?
     No! No one can make such a claim. While there are many pastors, teachers, scholars and evangelist who are engaged in the ministry, the majority of professing Christians are perplexed by the reality that there exist thousands of interpretations, and no one to really trust to get precise answers.
     The Apostle Paul (frustratingly so) addressed this dilemma (or conundrum) when he spoke to the church of Corinth, as we read in 1 Corinthians 3:1-15. One of (if not the best) explanations he could provide the church is that basically, members of the body of Christ have been given specific duties (and or gifts) by God and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. In this group if scripture, Paul tells us that one person plants the word of God, and another waters, but it is God through the power of the Holy Spirit who gives the increase. Way too many Christians try to validate their relationship to Christ by how many tracts they pass out, how many people they believe they led to Christ, how many verses they post on the Internet, and even how many books they have written. We have no clue whether what we believe we do for Christ is approved or blessed!
     A person who plants (Greek word phyteuō) in essence is a broadcaster, in the classical sense, as was Johnny Appleseed, who sowed apple seeds over a wide area. For those who instantly thought that a broadcaster was solely a person who hosts a radio or TV show or reports the news, that label (broadcaster) actually came into existence to define these folks at the birth of electronic media. It was not used in any other sense before that, besides its application to farming. The media rendition came into existence as the new invention called radio was born. The word was first coined then because through that invention information was now going to be cast to a broader area than before possible, ergo the word broadcast. Actually, if you Google Johnny Appleseed, you will find the story of a young lad who went about casting and aspersing seeds in a widely disseminating manner. In essence Johnny Appleseed was the first renowned broadcaster we had in America.
     If you will examine both the regular and Greek dictionaries, you will find the same meaning for the word sower (Greek word speiro), which means to plantseed is the euphemism for the word of God (see in the Bible the story of the parable of the sower in Matthew13:1-9.
     Paul then follows and speaks of a person who waters (Greek word potizō,) which means to furnish drink, irrigate, and or metaphorically to imbue and or saturate one's mind.
     Therefore, the point Paul is driving home is that not all “ministry” is the same. In church settings, specific duties are assigned to the Bible teacher (seed planter), and one who waters (prayer team leaders) and of course the shepherd, who basically coordinates the duties and responsibilities of the various ministries.  
     However, on the Internet, there is no one really in charge of these ministerial duties. By “in charge” we speak of a person who can lead all of those who are involved in (what many perceive is) the Online Church. Most definitely, we are told that wherever two or more are gathered together in His name, Christ is in their midst. Sadly, what we have in social networks is not a true religious gathering, but a vehicle and a venue where bickering, quarrels, endless debates and the spreading of false doctrines are the norm. For that matter, anyone at any time can come and go into various social network sites as they please, drop their little anti-Gospel bombs (as terrorists do), without any accountability, and then flee the scene as quickly as they arrived.
     Many Christians who have become accustomed to receiving their seed food on Facebook or other social networks are in reality exposing themselves to great harm. I do not want to be viewed as a contributor to this dilemma (as I have been accused of numerous times). Many say that I am on Facebook to heap glory on myself for my past political and media accomplishments, and that I'm trying to prove that I know the Bible better that others. I emphatically rebuke this allegation. If anything, I have been trying to share the knowledge I have gleaned from God's word to alert my brethren (whom I love ever so dearly) that Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation and they are not prepared to do so! 
    Regardless I plan to devote my time solely to the original purpose for my joining Facebook, which was to promote my books. I was advised that starting a blog was also a good way to get exposure for my books, and it has been a redeeming exercise and therefore I will continue that endeavor as well.
     However, while the socializing and making many great friends on Facebook has been fun and worthwhile on many fronts, I recognize that too much of my time is being spent on meaningless debating theological points of view and this has become an exhausting experience. It has taken me away from my original plan; therefore I will be curtailing this activity to a great (at least 80%) degree. If anything, I will limit my Internet time to posting my blogs. If anyone wants to comment on them, they can either leave me a message directly on the comment section therein or email me directly at Joe.Ortiz9299@GMail.com. 
     As is evidenced by the recent earthquake in Japan, plus the other natural disasters that are perplexing every region in the entire world – plus the political instability and military upheavals in numerous countries – I believe it behooves us (who claim to be true Bible-believing, Holy Spirit-filled and faith-believers in Jesus Christ, that we reconsider our (sometimes incessant) involvement on social networks, engaging ourselves in meaningless and foolish debates (2Timothy 2:14-21, 2 Corinthians 12:20, Luke 22:24, Romans 13:13,  Philippians 1:15, Philippians 2:3, 1 Timothy 6:4, 2 Timothy 2:23, James 3:14, James 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Galatians 5:26, Titus 3:3), and be about the business of picking up our crosses, following Jesus and practicing the true religion (James1:26-27) that God requires. If one chooses to be actively involved as a minister to God’s people, especially on social networks on the Internet, so be it. But they first should seek approval from God and hopefully have met the spiritual requirements of a true shepherd to serve in that capacity.
     Concerning my decision to limit my time on Facebook, some may say “good riddance” and others may say (as many have told me) they will miss my leadership of bringing greater clarity to the word of God. However, if a true leader is one who leads by example and sets the pace for what we disciples of Christ should be doing, then I plan to devote less time to social networking and instead focus my time on prayer, studying Gods word and publishing my findings on my blogs.
     I have also begun writing my fourth (and probably my last) book while there is still time; old age and physical maladies are taking a bigger toll than I realized. More importantly, spending more time with Jesus in prayer and study will be more efficacious to my friends and family in my local community.  Hopefully, many of you will do the same, while we still have the time and freedom to do so.


Spiritual HUGZ!

Joe Ortiz


For information about the author's two books, please click on The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation. To access his blogs and web sites, please click on Joe Ortiz