MASTER OF THE MIXED MESSAGE, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND CHRISTIAN ARTIST GETS KEYS TO JERSEY CITY

 "WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT... THINK ON THESE THINGS" PHIL. 4:8

INTRODUCTION

The post-modern American way of 'wearing your heart on your sleeve' is to express your opinions on your T-shirt or on a bumper sticker! Some other western cultures may consider it a taboo to discuss politics and religion in public, but in the USA, we just 'let it all hang out!' It's part of the Fifth Amendment heritage guaranteeing the right of free speech. We cherish our right to say anything, anywhere, anytime. Even those who may differ with us will say, 'I don't agree with what you said, but I'll defend your right to say it.' The right of free speech is the main requirement for a free society. But there is one little problem, are we sure of what we want to say?

BUMPER STICKER WISDOM
Weaving my way through some recent morning traffic, I felt that usual lift I get when I pulled up behind a car with a fish sign on the rear bumper, knowing that ahead there was a fellow comrade in arms, who almost certainly would let me in the lane ahead of them, or who wouldn't shake their fist at me if my driving habits caused offense. And there it was, the 'I Love Jesus' sticker on one side of the bumper. However, the little lift I was feeling soon plummeted as I noticed the sticker on the other side saying, 'Horn broken, Watch for Finger!' It just didn't add up. It was as oxymoronic as a Christian swearing. How can you mix the two?

A MAZE OF MEDIOCRITY

Has our Christianity become so diluted that we have no qualms about mixing black with white and producing a muddy shade of grey in direct opposition to the exhortation of 2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV, "...What do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" As usual, it all comes down to the difference between the two kinds of salt Jesus spoke about in Matthew 5:13, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." There is a salt for savoring (preserving), and there is a salt for treading! Long ago, the dams holding back the lakes of the ethics of this age burst and flooded the church with a maze of mediocrity, rendering it unable to proclaim the truth any longer. Consequently, the culture of the world and the church have blended, making them both masters of the mixed message.

the emasculation of America

What is the ethic of the age and how did it get into the church? In little over one generation (the baby boomer era), our culture has undergone a complete 180° turn on many social and moral issues. T.R. Ponich comments on one perspective of this change: "...[The Three] Stooges comedy consisted mainly of wild physical antics and verbal chicanery. Unfortunately for Stooges fans, by the 1970's, a new generation of... post-Vietnam feminist moms seemed intent on programming aggressive male traits out of their young sons... Random violence, even comic violence, became distinctly unfashionable. Guns and G.I. Joe dolls soon bit the dust, and even the old Warner Bros. cartoons -- wildly anarchistic and hilariously violent escapades starring Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner -- started getting the evil eye... Eventually, the comically aggressive, all-male and somewhat misogynistic Three Stooges got caught in the crossfire. They and Bugs gradually melted away from after-school fare, replaced by safer figures such as Big Bird, Barney and the pre-porn Pee-Wee Herman. It was part of the emasculation of America. It was never an organized thing, but as it accelerated through the Carter era, this phenomenon began to produce harmful effects: men with perms, Alan Alda, boys who don body armor to ride their bikes." The ensuing gender confusion is just one symptom of the muddying of the message. The church, perhaps aspiring to greater social acceptability, and backing down in the face of the shifting sands of public opinion, has failed in any effort to clarify the issues.

A SIMPLE PRAYER

I'm going to close this article with a simple prayer. "Lord, help us as your Body here on Earth, to be more than what we used to be or are now. Stop us in our tracts from continuing in retreat mode. Let us clarify our cry and be clear and concise in our efforts to evangelize our society. Restore to us our saltiness so that we, in turn, might restore our culture to your righteousness again. Eradicate all spiritual apathy, familiarity and mediocrity from our hearts, so that we can send a clear message of truth to a world that is still looking the answer. Above all Lord, give us strength to always be worthy of Your Name. Amen!" #

"Great article, Jeff (FMI Report April '03 "Sleep Peacefully, God is Awake!"). Chuck Pierce"

"Thanks for all your efforts within the State of New Jersey. You are making a difference as the Spirit of God goes before you. From Abundant Life AG Washington Township--- prayers your way! Karen L. Clements"

"Dear Jeff, Just a note of testimony from your [recent] service with us. One of the men in the church was especially touched by the power of God. He came down to the altar and said after the service that he felt God was speaking to him. He asked for prayer to discern the voice of God and has been clearly hearing from the Lord since. He has made a decision to come into obedience to the Word in all areas of his life, from his finances to his family. Praise God!! Pastor Bryan Riportella, Wall, NJ"

National Day of Prayer - On May 1, Christians from all around the State of New Jersey gathered in public places of note to participate in the National Day of Prayer. For the third year running, I had the privilege of speaking on the steps of the Capital Building in Trenton along with many other church and community leaders from around the state. After that, there was also a gathering of many key leaders outside the Supreme Court Building in Trenton. Public declarations, prayers and proclamations were made to see righteousness resident in America again.

'Beauty for Ashes' Event - We had the pleasure of being a part of a significant event early in the month. Pastor Mario Gonzalez reports: "On Thursday, May 8th, Jersey City, NJ was not only blessed with an exhibit of prophetic fine art that unequivocally glorified the Lord, but it's historic Loew's Theatre served as the venue for the unveiling of a masterful work of art in itself, an art book entitled, 'Beauty for Ashes' which catalogues the career and works of the internationally renowned Brazilian artist and director of The Hope Center Arts Academy, Duda Penteado. The Hope Center is a ministry primarily emphasizing worship and mentoring through the arts, spearheaded by Rev. Mario & Leigh Gonzalez.

The book signing event was attended by the Brazilian Ambassador to the United States, as well as by Mariano Vega, Councilman-at-Large, Dr. Carlos Hernandez, and the Mayor of Jersey City, the Honorable Glenn Cunningham, who spoke glowingly of both Penteado and his work with the Hope Center. Later the next week, Mayor Cunningham gave Duda the key to the city a private ceremony at his office in City Hall.

Duda, along with his art dealer Sam Cintron, a long-time friend and head worship leader at the Hope Center Tabernacle, have coordinated many art exhibits throughout Jersey City and New York City sponsored by The Hope Center in an effort to sensitize the community at large to the life-changing power of Christ, through the arts.

In reflecting on this avant garde method of evangelism, which specifically targets the secular world, I am reminded of the Apostle Paul speaking to believers in Corinth, letting them know that separation from the world did not mean isolation from society. On the contrary, it meant integrating the beauty of a God-filled lifestyle into a Godless environment so that unbelievers could actually see 'living examples' of what they themselves could become. The Christian life must be an exemplary life, an open letter for all to see and admire. We are, after all, God's work of art. Rev. Mario Gonzalez, President & CEO, The Hope Center, Jersey City, NJ.

Last month we ministered at the following churches:
SUN 4TH - JESUS IS LORD FELLOWSHIP, TOMS RIVER, NJ, PASTOR NESTOR ARELLANO 
MON 5Th - FAITH ALLIANCE MEETING WITH STEVE HILL, TOMS RIVER, NJ
WED 14TH - CITY COVENANT COALITION PASTORAL FORUM, BROOKLYN, NY 
SUN 18TH - HOUSE OF HOPE BIBLE CHURCH, JAMESBURG, NJ, PASTOR KATHY BICHSEL 
WED 21ST - SOLOMON'S PORCH MINISTRIES, STATEN ISLAND, NY, PASTOR PETE CRUZ
SUN 25TH - WORD OF LIFE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES, DOVER, NJ, PASTORS SAL AND LINDA BELLINI 
THUR 29TH - “NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM,” NEW YORK CITY

"TRUE COLORS - All For One And One For All!"

Today's ministry is no place for cowards! A stirring message about courage being the missing virtue in a 

modern church increasingly facing a hostile culture of unbelief. 

Available on audio CD, audio cassette and video.

Order online at: http://www.firepowerint.com/products.htm