Here you have the opportunity to ask Pastor Shaun anything you want. I will answer honestly, transparently, and prayerfully. Let me know in your question whether you want to be left anonymous. Remember you can ask anything at all, personal, professional, or philisophical.
Personal (examples)
What was your most embarrasing moment?
When did you and Mel your twin brother first get separated?
What color socks are you wearing right now?
Professional (examples)
What does the Bible say about __________? (You fill in the blank)
My friend/teacher/professor said "____________" Is this true, what could I have said?
Are socks in the Bible?
Philosophical (examples)
Should a Christian get a tattoo?
At what age should I start dating?
Should Christians wear socks?
I will respond to all questions. Answers will be sent to your e-mail and possibly posted on this page.
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Talking with Angels??
I recieved a question concerning interaction between angels and men.
This was my answer. Prior to the flood Genesis reveals that angels were having relations with people. This was against God's design so He dealt with it. Now humans are not supposed to try and contact angels or spirits.
As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. (Lev 20:6)
Therefore I am sure God has told the angels not to answer humans. That leaves only the fallen angels or demons that will answer. So people who talk to "spirits" or the dead, or ghosts are talking to demons.
When people consort with "spirits" they are inviting evil into their lives, and many people today suffer from demonic harassment. If someone has no relationship with the living God they are helpless to discern or deal with this problem.
Those who are born again are of a different category. If they will follow God they can even have authority over the demonic.
And when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. (Matt 10:1)
There were also times when the disciples were powerless over demons (Matt 17) and some who used Jesus name were even whooped by demons. (Acts 19) The key for the saved is to be tight with God and follow His lead.
As for accounts of angels rescuing people or visiting people who are being persecuted for their faith, I believe many of these accounts are true. I also believe that people can receive messages from supernatural sources. So how do we know whether a supernatural contact is good or bad?
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1)
No one sent from God is going to conflict with the Word of God. God does not contradict Himself. Any angel serving the Most High will speak and act consistent with what the Scriptures teach about God's character. Any message given by God to someone will also be consistent with the Bible.
THE BOTTOM LINE
God has directed that all supernatural encounters go through Him. We are not to call out to angels, the dead, or spirits, we are to call out to Yahweh. God directs all angelic activity, if an angel intercedes it is by His direction. The demons have to obey God as well (see Job). However, we must recognize that God has allowed demonic activity to drive the lost to salvation and keep the saved listening to Him. God initiates, we respond. If you feel like you are experiencing something supernatural, you are to go directly to the Father with it. If it does not gel with the book, punt it. You should also seek mature godly counsel like your pastor when something you can’t explain occurs.
Hope this helps
Pastor Shaun
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Why Church?
Recently someone asked me, "Why is going to church important?"
Here was my answer. Hebrews 10:25 says this, "do not forsake our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encourage {one another;} and all the more as you see the day drawing near." We are called to fellowship, because living the Christian life is difficult. We need encouragement because we were created as social beings. If we do not establish relationships within the church we will establish them outside the church. I heard a great quote but I don't know who said it originally "Show me your friends and I will show you your future." We cannot expect to follow God if our closest friends despise Him with their apathy.
If we want a life that honors God, we need to build relationships with His people. I can't imagine anyone coming to me and saying, "wow Pastor Shaun you are cool and I want to be your friend but your sons stink and I can't stand them. So I will be friends with you but not your boys." I am sorry but I love my sons and anyone who wants my favor must have respect for my sons. I am sure it is the same with God. How can we say, "God I love you and want a relationship with you, but I cant stand your kids and I refuse to be around them."
Jesus often uses the analogy of a human body to represent His church. (Rom 12:4-5, 1 Cor 12:18-27, Eph 5:30) The message is clear, alone we are incomplete, we were created as part of something larger than ourselves, the church. We were not created an island. We need each other. Where I am weak, someone else is strong, Where I am strong someone else is weak. We were created to fight together. Christians are not 'Rambos' or 'Lone Rangers' we are a fellowship of believers. The role of the church is bigger than any individual. No-one is strong enough or smart enough, or committed enough by themselves to accomplish the call God has given them.
We have been blessed with gifts to bless others 1 Cor 12:7 "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." Your gifts were not given to you for you. Your life as a Christian is not about yourself. A life without God can be selfish, should be selfish for if there is no God or greater good, than "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die." (1 Cor 15:32) But a life with Jesus is no longer about us because "we have been bought with a price, therefore we should glorify God with our bodies." (1 Cor 6:20)
So as I see it there are several reasons for fellowship
1. We need encouragement through relationship.
2. To love God we must love His children.
3. We were made part of something greater than ourselves.
4. We have been given gifts to share with others.
I hope this helps.
Love
Pastor Shaun
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What about Dinosaurs?
I recently got a question, "What does the creationist view say about dinosaurs?"
Dinosaurs are among the many animals that have become extinct during the short violent history of our planet.
The account of Noah details a cataclysmic flood event that changed the very face of the planet. This event is widely documented in world cultures as well as geologically. Most of the fossil record we do have is a result of this flood.
In addition to producing the largest deposit of fossils we have, the flood also drastically altered the face of the earth. There are several theories on the flood, but they all agree that a pre-flood earth was vastly more vegetated and could support more life.
When reading evolutionist literature, you will be astonished at the range of ideas concerning the extinction of the dinosaur. The following is just a small list of theories:
Dinosaurs starved to death; they died from overeating; they were poisoned; they became blind from cataracts and could not reproduce; mammals ate their eggs. Other causes include-volcanic dust, poisonous gases, comets, sunspots, meteorites, mass suicide, constipation, parasites, shrinking brain (and greater stupidity), slipped discs, changes in the composition of air, etc.
It is clear that evolutionists dont know how the dinosaurs vanished. However, for those who believe the Bible it is quite clear. Since the flood, species become extinct every year. The fact is, extinction not evolution is the pattern we have been observing as long as we have paid attention.
The dinosaurs would have been on the ark because there is not prohibition that they shouldn’t be. We see dinosaurs in the Bible Leviathan (Job 41, Psalm 104:25-26, Isaiah 27:1) Behemoth (Job 40:15-24) and Tanniyn (Neh 2:13, Psalm 91:11, Jer 51:37).
Every culture has legend and art that includes dragons. These dragons resemble dinosaurs more than any other creature we know of. In fact we have quite a bit of evidence of dinosaurs existing alongside man. Bushpaintings of dinosaurs in Zimbabwe, Carvings of dinosaurs in Arizona with tyrannosaurus tracks nearby, human tracks next to dinosaur tracks in the Puluxy formation in Texas, along with unexplained finds in recent history. Species such as the coelacanth which were thought to be extinct have been rediscovered alive.
The conclusion, we have fossil remains of many animals that no longer exist today or that we havent yet rediscovered. Dinosaurs lie in this category. They are addressed in the Bible and within creationism. In fact the case made from a biblical world-view is more consistent and has fewer contradictions than does the evolutionary case.
I hope this helps.
Love Pastor Shaun
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Tattoo or not tattoo that is the question?
I have gotten a lot of questions about tattoos and piercings. Here are some general thoughts.
The real question is, as a young adult Christian in this time and place, why do you want a tattoo or a piercing? What is the motive of your heart? Christianity is not about rules, it is about relationship with your heavenly Father. Your decisions direct your life, what are you living for?
Most people who ask me say it this way “I really WANT a tattoo.” Could the wants of today interfere with the opportunities of tomorrow? Tattoos are permanent wants are not. What is God’s call on your life both now and in the future? Are tattoos and piercings part of God's call on your life? You have been bought with blood and saved for a destiny. Study and meditate on 2 Tim 2:4:
No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
My counsel is this. Get consumed! Life is too short to waste on worldly things. You have an eternal adventure ahead of you. Don't trade any of it for the cheap thrills and occupations of this place.
Also consider what the Bible says about your body in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So honor God with your body.
Our earthly bodies have been given to us so that we can live truth and honor God in a world that dishonors Him. We are to be a living Bible that all can read and find Jesus.
I have had some say, “I want a tattoo to honor God and be a testimony about Him in my life,” I suppose this falls within the realm of possibility; however, I find it hard that God would be glorified by something He has spoken against. In Leviticus 19:28 God said this:
'You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.
Why did God say this? Because He wants us to be holy, set apart for Him. He is not interested in superficial tricks. Many other religions use markings in their worship. Jesus is looking for worship that is expressed by a transformed heart and life, not a deformed spot on the skin.
Honestly I believe most want tattoos and piercings to make them look cool or radical. Jesus did not ask His friends to be cool or radical with regard to things of this world. He was looking for those who would be radical for truth.
You must make the decision, you will either follow or you won't. God be gracious to your faithfulness and merciful to your faithlessness. The decision is yours.
Love
Pastor Shaun
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enGAUGED
I have been asked if Christians should gauge their ears.
With respect to what Christians should or should not do, we need to remember what Jesus taught the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the leading religious leaders when Christ came. If anyone knew what men should and should not do it was the Pharisees. They had rules for how to dress, eat, work, play, build, marry, tithe, etc. Now most of these rules were based on the bible. However; over the years men had added to what the bible said. For example the bible says you shall not boil an animal in it's mothers milk. (Deut 14:21) But men added to the requirement until they had two kitchens one for meat and one for dairy.
When Jesus came, He was not impressed with what the Pharisees had done. They had become legalistic, men who cared more about the rules than the Ruler. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders because they obeyed the law with their lips, but their hearts were far from God. (Isa 29:13, Matt 15:8) You see being a Christian is not a system of rules about what you can and can not do. It is about a relationship with God and serving Him with the life He has given you.
Now let’s address gauging ears. Is it a sin? No, but it is not a requirement either. Now we have to ask oourselves, “why do we want to gauge our ears? If we are going to be honest the answer is most likely because gauging our ears will make people notice us. God also wants people to notice us. He says we are to be witnesses, and that we should do things that people might notice and glorify God. (Acts 1:8, Matt 5:16) Will gauging our ears get us noticed? Probably. Will it glorify God? Probably not. Being noticed because of our clothes, or hair, or jewelry is not what God has instructed. In fact the bible encourages women not to adorn themselves with gold or jewels, but with good works. (1 Tim 2) If we will read Matt 5:16 and 1 Tim 2 we will see that God wants us noticed for our heart and actions.
However, like we have already said, gauging our ears will get us noticed. But we need to consider if this will help or hinder our ability to what God has for us. At this point in life, do we know who God will send us to? Will they care if we gauge our ears? I personally do not want to do anything permanent that could hinder me from being able to reach those whom God might send me to.
Should Christians gauge their ears? The Bible does not say. Should you gauge your ears, ask God.
Follow the Son
Pastor Shaun
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E CANVAS
AEROSOL ART 
