Stained Crystal

A report came out in the Los Angles Times yesterday that said Dr. Robert Schuller had been ousted from the board of the famous Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove California (a suburb of Anaheim). Robert H. Schuller is 84 years old.

Let me give you a little history lesson here... Dr. Schuller came to Garden Grove in 1955 to start a church for the Reformed Church Denomination. The problem was that he couldn't find a building to suit so he decided to rent a drive-in theater and preach from the roof of the snack stand. The church grew year after year until he was finally able to build his first building in 1961. The Crystal Cathedral was not finished until 1980. Dr. Schuller stepped down from the pulpit in 2006 and turned it over to his son, Robert A. Schuller. But that lasted less than three years. He fired his son over differences of opinion on the direction of the church. The Crystal Cathedral filed for bankruptcy in late 2010 being almost 45 million dollars in debt. Ouch!

I have to say I like Dr. Schuller's vision. To start a church at a drive-in was really "outside the box" for the 1950's. He started the first 24-hour suicide hotlines. And was a pioneer for the televangelist program. At one point it was estimated that over 30 million people tuned in to his TV broadcast, and that was almost 25 years ago. I have to say I do admire him for his visioneering of the ministry.

However... (you knew this was coming, right?) I have always had issues with some of the positions on bible doctrines and teachings. And oddly enough, that is what got him into some hot water with his own board and his family.

A couple of years ago one of Dr. Schuller's daughters took over the ministry and became he Senior Pastor. Her name is Sheila (Schuller) Coleman. Now, I could comment on my concerns surrounding women pastors here but I'm fearful it would hijack the story. But suffice it to say... I'm not a huge fan. My opinion... I own it. Please direct all opposing and hateful comments to Tony C. Today.

However, I have to applaud Rev. Sheila for a couple of things. Things that Dr. Schuller opposes and eventually led to his ouster from the board. Rev. Sheila actually made the folks in the church choir sign a covenant stating that they had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior and that they firmly believed the Bibles teaching that marriage should be between a man and a woman! Groundbreaking stuff!!!! Especially given the fact that she is in California and is a part of one of the most liberal churches in America. And her father, Dr. Robert H. Schuller opposed it!!!

Dr. Schuller argument reportedly was that he wanted people to know that everyone was welcome at the Crystal Cathedral. I agree. I want everyone to know they are welcome at the church I pastor, but the choir members are a part of the ministry. Is it too much to ask them to be a Christian before serving in a ministry like leading worship? Is it too much to ask them to adhere to some basic tenets of scripture? I would hope not. I think this goes to show how Dr. Schuller has let his standards slip over the years.

Which begs the question... Have we done the same thing? When is the last time you took a look within to see if you have changed in ways that aren't very becoming a Christian? Are you more than just a believer in the Book? Are you a follower of the Book? The whole Bible?

Blessings!

"Just One More Time"

Hey folks,
It's time for my yearly blog. I can hear some of you now... "ah man, that time again?" It is, so sit back and enjoy! OK, at least sit back.

Today I would like to talk to parents about how they discipline their children. Really its more about the lack of discipline. I think it would be good to start this confab with a quote from the Holy Bible. Proverbs 23:13, 14 reads, "Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell."

Just the other day I was in Lowes Home Improvement studying the finer qualities of the "nail" and "screw" aisle. I must say the variety of fasteners found in that 44' 7-3/8" section is hypnotizing! And I'm not even talking about the anchor bolts... oh, please don't get me started on them! Anyway, I was snatched from my trance-like state by a screaming little girl. She was still a good five aisles away but that high pitched piercing wail of discontent could have easily been heard in the lawn & gardening section outside.

I noticed it was getting louder! I quickly tried to immerse myself in the instructions on a box of 2-3/8" deck screws, but it was too late! Before I knew it they were at the end of my aisle and the mother was looking as though she was going to turn in! NOOOOOO! I screamed in my head! What could she possible want on the nail and screw aisle? My heart began to pound in my chest as my ears started to ring with the sound of that precious little spawn of satan. It's really a good thing they weren't near the lightning section, all the lamp would have shattered into a million pieces due to the decibels emanating from a little girl I guessed to be 5 to 6 years old.

I wanted to run, but my lower extremities were going numb. And wouldn't you know it... they stop right behind me! Curses, it was the glue section that brought them there! It was then that I heard mom speak...

Mom... "If you don't hush I'm going to wear you out right here in this store. Do you want me to do that?"

Lucy-fer... (screaming to the top of her lungs)

Mom... "I'm going to count to three! One... Two..."

Lucy-fer... (stomping her feet as she continues to scream... and spew pea soup)

Mom... "Now I mean it! I'm going to spank you right here! One... Two..."

Lucy-fer... (Head begins to spin, boxes of nails and washers start quivering, and more screaming and crying)

Me... THREE THREE THREE! (not out loud,but in my head)

Mom, never got to THREE! Why? My only guess would be that she missed that episode of "Sesame Street".? By the time they moved on down the aisle and eventually around the corner, I was ready to wear somebody out! And it wasn't little Lucy-fer! It was mom.

Now please understand, I'm not for brutality. Just "good ole fashion" discipline. If I understand god's word correctly, discipline is good for a child. The verse I shared says it will deliver their souls from hell.

The problem with children today is not ADD or ADHD. The real problem is LAZY PARENTS. Sure I know ADD and ADHD are issues with some children. Yet, I wonder how many of them have been misdiagnosed? Instead they suffer from LP (lazy parents). Parents, we have to step up to the God-given responsibility of discipline. It isn't pleasant, but neither is changing dirty diapers or cleaning up puke, but its our job. And if you set the tone early in your little bundle of joy's life, you will find that you don't have to spank nearly as much when they get older.

Oh, and "Time-out" is not the answer. All that teaches a child is to sit in a confined space until they are allowed to come out. If you think about it, we do the same thing with adults... its called JAIL. The percentage is astronomical that those who have been in jail will likely be a repeat offender. They don't learn their lesson just because you take them out of society for a period of time. Just the same, the fear of time-out won't keep your child on the straight and narrow.

Proverbs 29:15 says, "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."

So when we fail to discipline our children we not only hurt the child, we disobey God. Both prospects should be repulsive... especially to the christian.

Until next year... I mean next time...