FindingGodRadio.com

Mike and I have been traveling so we took some time off from the #1 Finding God Radio Show on the Internet, but now we’re back!!

We thought we would start a series on our view of the Bible. Everyone has their view of the scriptures so here is what we think. In the first show we are going to talk about "Where the Bible Came From". You may or may not agree with what we say and that’s okay. Feel free to comment if you like and we’ll try to answer any questions you might have.

And now on to the show…………..click the podcast button.

 

 Where Did the Bible Come From? [11:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (25)

I was driving up to Phoenix two days ago to pick up my wife and daughter at the airport and there was a Van in front of me on the Interstate Highway with a Christian “fish” symbol on the back as well as a bloody picture of Jesus with thorns on his head. This really pissed me off. Yes, I’m about to rant and there will be many of my dear brethen who will say shame on me for being so vocal, but so be it.

Don’t show me your “fish” or your “bloody Jesus” show me your life…

Different people have different reasons as to why they go to God and that’s okay, because it is between them and God anyway. But let me ask you a few questions and get you to think for a minute.

Some people go to God for healing. When they are sick it is their number one priority in seeking God. They want God to heal them. I understand this, but then they set up churches and ministries all based on healing as if that is the only thing God is here for–and that I don’t agree with.

Ten leprous men came to Jesus to get healed. Yes, they had needs and yes they looked to Christ and the power of God to meet that need. But when they were healed, 9 of them ran off to live their new life. Only one came back to get more than just the healing. The other 9 got what they wanted and went away happy and thankful, but they went away.

If we only come to God for healing, what happens when we are healed?

Others come to God for bread (material things). Again this happened in Christ’s time after he fed the multitudes with bread they followed him around and he confronted them about only coming for the bread. Yes when you need bread, you can go to God and He will supply, but what happens when you are full? Do you still want God?

Others come to God because they want to see signs, miracles, wonders and the show. “Show us the signs” they say, “and then we will believe.” Christ wasn’t fooled by this and neither should we be. I know people who only want to go to a church that is filled with emotion, commotion and the experience of God. But what happens when the show gets old? Do you have to keep upping the stacks and make it a hotter, more emotional show? When the show becomes common place do you still want God or do you just go look for a new show?

From the beginning in the Garden of Eden, God just wanted a relationship with mankind. In Deuteronomy 32:9 it says, “For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.”

Yes God heals, provides and is a powerful and almighty God, but those are just the side benefits of having a relationship with Him.

What do we really want from God? It should be just to know Him and have a relationship with Him, the rest is secondary.

God’s Best to you,
Duke Clarke

We are in the monsoon season here is Arizona. A few days ago we had a big storm come through, here are some pictures of what it was like before and after at our home.

These rainbows are God’s sign that there we not be a flood any more that destroys all of mankind. But there is another interesting part to this story. When it rained in Noah’s flood, Genesis says that “the windows of heaven opened up” and that’s where the rain came from that filled the earth.

In Malachi 6:10 God says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

The windows of heaven are used here to show how God will pour out His blessings. The only other place that phrase is used in the scriptures is during the flood when the windows of heaven poured forth rain that filled the earth. That is a pretty good visual to think about when it comes to God’s ability to pour out His blessings.

So let them pour into your life and accept all the blessings of God in abundance.

God’s Best to you,
Duke Clarke

Yesterday I heard a young lady speak who was quite good. She was very personable and had some interesting things to say. During her talk she said that in almost every letter she gets people will say, “Thanks for keeping it real”, “Thanks for being real”, “Thanks for making it real”. Then she looked at the audience and said, “Don’t you find that scary?”

Now, that’s good!

People are so used to the things of God NOT BEING REAL. Instead, Godly matters are represented as mystical, supernatural or just out of reach unless you are a super-dedicated, super-motivated, super-righteous, super-religious individual.

God doesn’t live on a throne at the top of heavenly Mt. Olympus passing judgments and controlling lives, God lives on the street, in the living room, in the bedroom, in the quiet desperate moments as well as happy blessed events of people’s lives.

There is a difference between those who are just in love with the “idea of God” or the “idea of Christianity” and those who practice God and practice Christianity. The idea of Christianity can afford to EXCLUDE all that are not of a similar belief. But the practice of Christianity must INCLUDE by love all people regardless of belief-that’s keeping it real.

I’m not interested in meeting God once a week at the local spiritual-filling station conveniently located on every other corner. I want God to be there when I wake up every morning so we can plan the day. I want Him there when I have to write my first email of the day and the last email of the day. I want Him around for every call I have to make; with me on every errand I have to run and advising and forecasting what’s ahead on the course we are taking.

That’s what is real to me. Keep God real in your life and your results and your prosperity will be real.

God’s best to you,
Duke Clarke

I read an article recently about some conflict between two groups that I will not mention, but if you want to read the whole story check out the recent issue of Christianity Today.

According to the story, there is a group in the Midwest that is trying to reach people who have soured on Christianity (that’s a pretty big market), so they are going where the people are and talking with them. Sounds a bit like what Christ did. But just as Christ was criticized, so are these people being attacked because they are meeting in a microbrewery to have their talks. They are getting great turn-outs and it is a successful program.

“Bring your bible and have a beer” could be the headline of the flyers passed out, but I don’t think they were that bold. You see another group funded this venture and the funding group has a big time “tea totaler” philosophy (no alcohol) so thus the conflict.

Now I’m not here to give a pitch one way or the other on alcohol. My father was an alcoholic so I know how destructive abuse can be. But I also believe in a balanced life in every category with no extremes one way or the other.

But the whole focus of the new group was to find dissatisfied Christians who wanted to talk about God. Are we supposed to say, “Live your life according to my standards and THEN when you are all perfect I’ll talk to you about God” or is it “come are you are and let’s talk”. Personally I’d rather go the later route since that seems to be what Christ did.

I guess money still has strings, so it’s better to raise your own money and do what you think is right before God. Anyway, I thought finding God with a beer and a bible was pretty interesting–I’d go to one of their meetings.

God’s best to you,
Duke Clarke