A Prayer Rally and A Long Walk Home

I had the opportunity to be part of a 9/11 prayer rally at the Civic Center Plaza in downtown Santa Ana. It was a beautiful morning of prayer, as people from all over the city came together to pray for our city of Santa Ana, Orange County Churches and government, California and the United States as a whole.

Here is a transcript of the prayer I got to lead for our Nation:
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"We live in a great country. We have so much to be thankful for.
We experience so many freedoms that other nations do not. We as a nation have been blessed beyond measure.

But Psalm 33:12 clearly tells us 'Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord… '
If God is not the Lord of our Nation, We will not be blessed.
As Americans, may we understand the fact that our nation's strength comes from God, not from ourselves. Watching and reading the news most days can be disheartening can’t it?
It feels like we are a country that is Economically, Politically, Morally and Socially unravelling. I know many of us fear the future for ourselves, for our Children and for the generations to come. However, I do want to encourage us with the words of Hebrews 13:8. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Our God does not change. Our God is with us and will not forsake us. We can have hope for our nation when we realize we have a God who hears our prayers and responds. To that end, let’s pray for our Nation:

'Heavenly Father, we pray for our President Barack Obama, Vice President Biden, our Senate, our House of Representatives, our Supreme Court and Judicial System, that they would seek and follow the Lord's guidance as they make decisions that impact the future of our nation.
We pray for our troops serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and throughout the world. We Ask you Lord to comfort, protect and guide them. We pray that the national economy will be strengthened through wise legislation and careful stewardship of resources by all citizens.
We pray for healing of fractured and dysfunctional family situations, asking God to bless and protect the young and the vulnerable. We pray for provision, as well as long-term solutions, for those trapped in our nation in the cycle of poverty.
We pray that Americans will respect all human life as a precious gift from God.
Thank you for listening and hearing our prayer, Almighty God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, Amen.'

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After the Prayer time, I jumped into my car, headed to the parking garage exit, pulled out my parking stub to pay...and realized...I had no money! In my hurry to get to the prayer rally that morning, I had left my wallet and cell phone back at Church! I asked the parking attendant as nicely as I could, "would you do me a huge favor and let me go without paying? You see I left my wallet at my Church (inserting nervous, humble laughter), and I promise I will drive right there, grab my wallet and come right back to pay you." She smiled and said, "No." I pleaded for another 30 seconds or so before realizing, she wasn't budging. The parking gate had never looked larger or more intimidating.

So without a wallet or cell phone, I decided to walk the 14 blocks from the Civic Center to my house to get money and a ride from Marie! It was an interesting and fascinating walk. I saw buildings and landmarks I had never noticed before, driving the same route hundreds of times. I felt the intimidating stares of teenagers hanging out on sidewalks as I walked through their territory, an obvious outsider. I felt the pain of a young mother who walked past me carrying an armful of groceries in one arm and her baby in another. I felt the humility of a grown man riding past me on a children's bike, heading to work or a friend's house. I smelled the exhaust of the city bus zooming past me and odor of trash cooking in the 90 degree heat. In a sense I got what I had prayed for earlier in the day. I had prayed during one of the individual prayer times, that God would continue to give me a heart for my city. There is nothing like walking 14 blocks through a city to see what the needs and issues of the city are and to develop a heart for it! I can't say I was excited to walk 14 blocks, but I am so thankful for God's constant refinement in my life, teaching me new things, causing me to see every day situations and places through His eyes and with His heart.

Fortunately, I arrived home safely and eventually sprung my car out of parking lot/toll booth jail. It was a good day.

What is the Difference Between Mormonism and Biblical Christianity?

Justin Taylor, writer of the blog, "Between Two Worlds" recently posted about the differences between Mormonism and Biblical Christianity. I thought it would be helpful for you to read. Be in pray for your friends or family who may be deceived by the unbiblical teachings of Mormonism. Pray that God will give you truth, wisdom and love as you interact with them.

What do Mormons believe about apostasy and restoration?
Mormons claim that “total” apostasy overcame the church following apostolic times, and that the Mormon Church (founded in 1830) is the “restored church.”

What’s the problem with this understanding?
If the Mormon Church were truly a “restored church,” one would expect to find first-century historical evidence for Mormon doctrines like the plurality of gods and God the Father having once been a man. Such evidence is completely lacking. Besides, the Bible disallows a total apostasy of the church (e.g., Matt. 16:18; 28:20; Eph. 3:21; 4:11–16), warning instead of partial apostasy (1 Tim. 4:1).

What do Mormons believe about God?
Mormons claim that God the Father was once a man and that he then progressed to godhood (that is, he is a now-exalted, immortal man with a flesh-and-bone body).

What does the Bible teach about the nature of God?
Based on the Bible, God is not and has never been a man (Num. 23:19; Hos. 11:9). He is a spirit (John 4:24), and a spirit does not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). Furthermore, God is eternal (Ps. 90:2; 102:27; Isa. 57:15; 1 Tim. 1:17) and immutable (or unchangeable in his being and perfections; see Ps. 102:25–27; Mal. 3:6). He did not “progress” toward godhood, but has always been God.

What do Mormons believe about the Trinity and polytheism?
Mormons believe that the Trinity consists not of three persons in one God but rather of three distinct gods. According to Mormonism, there are potentially many thousands of gods besides these.

What does the Bible teach about the Triune God?
Trusting in or worshiping more than one god is explicitly condemned throughout the Bible (e.g., Ex. 20:3). There is only one true God (Deut. 4:35, 39; 6:4; Isa. 43:10; 44:6, 8; 45:18; 46:9; 1 Cor. 8:4; James 2:19), who exists eternally in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14).

What do Mormons believe about human exaltation?
Mormons believe that humans, like God the Father, can go through a process of exaltation to godhood.

What does the Bible teach about humanity?
The Bible teaches that the yearning to be godlike led to the fall of mankind (Gen. 3:4ff.). God does not look kindly on humans who pretend to attain to deity (Acts 12:21–23; contrast Acts 14:11–15). God desires humans to humbly recognize that they are his creatures (Gen. 2:7; 5:2; Ps. 95:6–7; 100:3). The state of the redeemed in eternity will be one of glorious immortality, but they will forever remain God’s creatures, adopted as his children (Rom. 8:14–30; 1 Cor. 15:42–57; Rev. 21:3–7). Believers will never become gods.
What do Mormons believe about Jesus?
Mormons believe that Jesus Christ was the firstborn spirit-child of the heavenly Father and a heavenly Mother. Jesus then progressed to deity in the spirit world. He was later physically conceived in Mary’s womb, as the literal “only begotten” Son of God the Father in the flesh (though many present-day Mormons remain somewhat vague as to how this occurred).

What does the Bible teach about Jesus?
Biblically, the description of Jesus as the “only begotten” refers to his being the Father’s unique, one-of-a-kind Son for all eternity, with the same divine nature as the Father (see note on John 1:14; cf. John 1:18; 3:16, 18; see also John 5:18; 10:30). Moreover, he is eternal deity (John 1:1; 8:58) and is immutable (Heb. 1:10–12; 13:8), meaning he did not progress to deity but has always been God. And Mary’s conception of Jesus in his humanity was through a miracle of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:20).

What do Mormons believe about our eternal destiny?
Mormons believe that most people will end up in one of three kingdoms of glory, depending on one’s level of faithfulness. Belief in Christ, or even in God, is not necessary to obtain immortality in one of these three kingdoms, and therefore only the most spiritually perverse will go to hell.

What does the Bible teach about our eternal destiny?
The Bible teaches that people have just two possibilities for their eternal futures: the saved will enjoy eternal life with God in the new heavens and new earth (Phil. 3:20; Rev. 21:1–4; 22:1–5), while the unsaved will spend eternity in hell (Matt. 25:41, 46; Rev. 20:13–15).

What do Mormons believe about sin and atonement?
Mormons believe that Adam’s transgression was a noble act that made it possible for humans to become mortal, a necessary step on the path to exaltation to godhood. They think that Christ’s atonement secures immortality for virtually all people, whether they repent and believe or not.

What does the Bible teach about sin and atonement?
Biblically, there was nothing noble about Adam’s sin, which was not a stepping-stone to godhood but rather brought nothing but sin, misery, and death to mankind (Gen. 3:16–19; Rom. 5:12–14). Jesus atoned for the sins of all who would trust him for salvation (Isa. 53:6; John 1:29; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 4:10).

What do Mormons believe about salvation?
Mormons believe that God gives to (virtually) everyone a general salvation to immortal life in one of the heavenly kingdoms, which is how they understand salvation by grace. Belief in Christ is necessary only to obtain passage to the highest, celestial kingdom—for which not only faith but participation in Mormon temple rituals and obedience to its “laws of the gospel” are also prerequisites.

What does the Bible teach about salvation?
Biblically, salvation by grace must be received through faith in Christ (John 3:15–16; 11:25; 12:46; Acts 16:31; Rom. 3:22–24; Eph. 2:8–9), and all true believers are promised eternal life in God’s presence (Matt. 5:3–8; John 14:1–3; Rev. 21:3–7).