With 100% certainty, God is for us!
With so many working parts, when a system is compromised and complicated, it's doomed to failure. There's no remedy to this coming collapse as problems get layered upon layers like the lasagna I had last night. If the government took every cent from everyAmerican, they STILL would remain hopelessly in debt. As China pulls out of the U.S. stock market, buying as much gold as they can get their hands on, we'd be wise to follow THEIR example in that regard and NOT the example of spending-our-way-out-of-debt as our own government is modeling.
A food crisis, civil unrest, wars and rumors of wars... it's going to get worse before it gets better. Seems the only money-making industry this nation has to offer is that related to its military industrial complex. What does that mean? More wars. Perhaps even war against her own people. It's called Civil War.
Over a decade ago, I launched an eMail to my Subscribers. In that message, I mentioned that something big was coming to this nation that would grind our billion wheels to a halt. About a month later, planes were flying into the World Trade Center and Pentagon on 9-11.
People wrote asking if that attack was what I was referring to. In my spirit I knew, 9-11 was not it.
If it's possible to set these thoughts aside, we should not be ignoring the weather and geo-physical happenings. A blind man can see that natural and manmade disasters are on the increase. The earth is shaking at a quickening pace. Long dormant volcanoes are coming to life. Sink holes are swallowing people in their sleep and while they're playing golf. Tsunamis, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, freak snowstorms, then there's the threat of another nuclear meltdown the likes of Fukushima or an EMP, manmade or solar.
Jesus said there'd be days like these.
What are we, as Followers of Christ with a Kingdom agenda, to do in preparation?
For starters, don't be scared, get PREPARED! Like Noah, like Joseph, do the smartest, most forward-thinking thing anyone can do with their resources (the answer is NOT hoarding cash in a bank account). We should aspire to do that which will be for the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people. If the day is coming when gold, food, cigarettes will be the most in-demand items to keep your family in high clover, get some!
More importantly, be equipped to serve. As one who has seen the dyer importance of BEING rather than merely GOING to The Church, seven years ago, I obeyed the Holy Spirit and became certified as a Workplace Chaplain so I could bring The Church into the marketplace with credentials. Prior to that, I was already convicted about the necessity of blending the secular and the sacred; my gifts simply made room for me. Since then, I have attempted to get as many people as I could to begin seeing their job as a ministry, every bit as crucial to the Kingdom as the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11, I believe.
As an ordained minister, I fulfilled a typical role in local churches over the years, preaching, teaching, marrying , burying and baptizing. Recently, after completing the International Chaplain Academy, I received certification as a "Disaster Pastor." Through the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN), I've become convinced how thoroughly UNPREPARED the majority of The Church is to assist people in the aftermath of a catastrophe. In fact, I have heard several reports from Law Enforcement officials stating how well-meaning Churches flooded into disaster incident areas and, quite frankly, made things even worse.
Although the small army of CISM-trained, uniformed, background-checked ADRN Volunteers were an amazing help (and still are) during the nearby Bastrop wildfire that destroyed 1700 homes and out-buildings two years ago, I believe future disasters will not necessarily be in such close proximity. Sure, the city of Austin is built over underground caves that could become sinkholes some day, but I believe the ADRN, and similar organizations, will be called upon to aid victims of disaster around the nation in the not-too-distant future.
What does that mean? It means the rapid training of greater numbers of Disaster Pastors is imperative. An army of Chaplains must be equipped and ready to deploy... and soon, in my humble opinion. Just as the West Point graduating class of 1861 graduated TWICE that year in order to fill the ranks of officers in both armies, likewise, the ADRN would be wise to rapidly certify as many Chaplains as possible in preparation for upcoming nationwide disasters.
If it's possible to set these thoughts aside, we should not be ignoring the weather and geo-physical happenings. A blind man can see that natural and manmade disasters are on the increase. The earth is shaking at a quickening pace. Long dormant volcanoes are coming to life. Sink holes are swallowing people in their sleep and while they're playing golf. Tsunamis, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, freak snowstorms, then there's the threat of another nuclear meltdown the likes of Fukushima or an EMP, manmade or solar.
Jesus said there'd be days like these.
What are we, as Followers of Christ with a Kingdom agenda, to do in preparation?
For starters, don't be scared, get PREPARED! Like Noah, like Joseph, do the smartest, most forward-thinking thing anyone can do with their resources (the answer is NOT hoarding cash in a bank account). We should aspire to do that which will be for the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people. If the day is coming when gold, food, cigarettes will be the most in-demand items to keep your family in high clover, get some!
More importantly, be equipped to serve. As one who has seen the dyer importance of BEING rather than merely GOING to The Church, seven years ago, I obeyed the Holy Spirit and became certified as a Workplace Chaplain so I could bring The Church into the marketplace with credentials. Prior to that, I was already convicted about the necessity of blending the secular and the sacred; my gifts simply made room for me. Since then, I have attempted to get as many people as I could to begin seeing their job as a ministry, every bit as crucial to the Kingdom as the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11, I believe.
As an ordained minister, I fulfilled a typical role in local churches over the years, preaching, teaching, marrying , burying and baptizing. Recently, after completing the International Chaplain Academy, I received certification as a "Disaster Pastor." Through the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN), I've become convinced how thoroughly UNPREPARED the majority of The Church is to assist people in the aftermath of a catastrophe. In fact, I have heard several reports from Law Enforcement officials stating how well-meaning Churches flooded into disaster incident areas and, quite frankly, made things even worse.
Although the small army of CISM-trained, uniformed, background-checked ADRN Volunteers were an amazing help (and still are) during the nearby Bastrop wildfire that destroyed 1700 homes and out-buildings two years ago, I believe future disasters will not necessarily be in such close proximity. Sure, the city of Austin is built over underground caves that could become sinkholes some day, but I believe the ADRN, and similar organizations, will be called upon to aid victims of disaster around the nation in the not-too-distant future.
What does that mean? It means the rapid training of greater numbers of Disaster Pastors is imperative. An army of Chaplains must be equipped and ready to deploy... and soon, in my humble opinion. Just as the West Point graduating class of 1861 graduated TWICE that year in order to fill the ranks of officers in both armies, likewise, the ADRN would be wise to rapidly certify as many Chaplains as possible in preparation for upcoming nationwide disasters.
Nothing else matters but the winning of souls (minds, wills and emotions). Being The Church without preaching at hurting disaster victims will become an important part of the Last Days harvest, I believe. Teaching others how to BE The Church when there's no preachers or steepled edifices in sight (think Paul with the church at Lydia's home) will be critical in the near future.
My contention? We need to start thinking WAAAY outside the box of what we've come to know as Christianity American-Style.
Now.
As I see it, the Stuff is about to Hit The Fan and the Bride has not made herself ready. We're stronger together than we are apart.
Let's be praying earnestly for the American Body of Christ. We are not limited by our own strength and capabilities because of the Power of the Holy Spirit within us!
If God is for us, who can be against us? Just as the Israelites sent Judah first praising and thanking God for the victory before the conflict ever began, we can do likewise!
With a sense of confident urgency, I bless you all,
Michael Tummillo
Chaplain and Founder of The Church @ Work
Join us for Tipping Point 2013 as many stream cross and ideas are exchanged across the Body of Christ during this Seven Mountains gathering. I'll be the MC on Friday, speaking on Saturday. CLICK HERE for Houston Chronicle article.
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