By Kyle Gray on 4/20/2008 8:57 PM

A of sometime Monday or Tuesday, this blog will no longer exist! I have moved my blogs to my own site, which can still be linked by clicking on my name from this site, or you can just bookmark the new site. www.themile.tv

Feel free to subscribe by email on the new site and get notified when I submit a new post! It’s going to be fun, right now I have an entry about automated bathroom dispensers – haha

Keep checking in, I’d love to hear from you!

By Kyle Gray on 4/10/2008 9:30 PM

First of all, I will not approve posts that tell me I am attacking Oprah as a person, and all the good she has, and is doing for humanity!!! I respect her greatly for all she devotes herself to in helping charities, people in third world countries and those in need domestically as well. It is her theology I am questioning here, not her humanitarian efforts.

As you may know, Oprah is in the middle of an online 10 week study right now with over 2 million people joining her weekly. This time around, she is partnering with Eckhart Tolle…author of “A New Earth; Awakening Your Life’s Purpose”. Both the book and the online course purport to be able to awaken you and our world to life’s grand purpose. Yet this is only old lies in new packaging. The oldest lies in the universe are: “your eyes will be opened,” “you shall be as gods,” and “you shall know the difference between good and evil.” (Gen 3:5)

Eckhart Tolle’s version of enlightenment includes the belief in what he calls “painbodies.” These painbodies appear to be similar to what Scientologists call “Body Thetans” (BT’s) which is a pesky, negative and nasty thing that we should shed as soon as possible. I agree with John Hamby that Tolle’s theology is nothing more than an eclectic mix of western and eastern beliefs presented in a tolerant, non-threatening and nonsectarian way. What we are getting here is Eastern mysticism proclaimed with a German accent. Sure, there may be some truth mixed in with this error. And some of the observations and exercises in the book and seminar may be helpful to people with anxiety, anger, and depression. But at its very core, the teachings of Eckhart Tolle contradict biblical Christianity. Just a few examples are, his statements that: •“A growing number of followers of traditional religions realize that how spiritual you are has nothing to do with what you believe.” [Eckhart Tolle. “A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose” p. 18] •“We need to understand here that heaven is not a location but refers to the inner realm of consciousness.” [Ibid. p. 23] •“The ultimate truth of who you are is not I am this or I am that but I am.” [Ibid. p. 23]

On one of her shows a Christian in the audience challenged Oprah about being an adherent of the “New Age.” Oprah responded by saying, “I am not a new age anything and I resent being called that. I am just trying to open a door so that people can see themselves more clearly and perhaps be the light to get them to God, whatever they call that.” Yet if you examine what she says she believes it is New Age to the core. Also it is instructive to note that her continual search reminds us that this kind of spirituality is ultimately unsatisfying. The smörgåsbord of religions and ideas that make up her belief system suggest that she has not found what she is looking for.

One of the dangers of this new online class is that Tolle and Oprah try to show participants in this class how Christianity can be blended together with other religious beliefs. Oprah describes herself as a “free-thinking Christian” and tells how she arrived at that point. Understand this when you blend Christianity with any other belief system it is not longer Christianity. Christ either is your Savior or He is not. In chapter three of his book, Tolle uses much deception to marry his false doctrine with that of Christianity (and a myriad of other religions). In fact Eckhart ends this chapter with a bang when he claims “… God is a feeling experience not a believing experience. … If God for you is still about a belief, then it is not truly God.” (A New Earth, p. 45). Yet Scripture clearly states in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is (exists) and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (NKJV) In fact believing is the very foundation of the Christian faith.

Oprah has a tremendous amount of influence and she certainly has the right to say whatever she feels is true, that’s not a constitutional thing, God allows it all over the Bible. My worry is that some Christians are being fooled by this teaching. The Bible stands alone as the Word of God, timeless, applicable and infallible. Not because I said it, because God made it so. Oprah claims to be a Christian but admittedly denies Jesus is the only way. This is against Biblical truth.

Oprah and Tolle consistently use verbiage like, “In that true state of being we find the real I AM”…and “Man created God in mans own image”. Statements like this are clearly not original and nothing new. They are taken from Gods Word and twisted to mans liking. There is nothing new under the sun, this is why it is important to know your scripture!

By Kyle Gray on 4/6/2008 10:31 PM

The theory of evolution is a brilliant one indeed. Though relatively new, it provides man with an alternative to God. Well-respected men and women around the world dedicate their lives to this theory…in research, science, astronomy, zoology and philosophy, to name a few areas of education. What has become of all of this intense study and funding? What answers has the evolutionist found?

I have no desire to attack people because of their beliefs; I find that approach to be futile and benighted from both sides of the fence. Evidence always demands a verdict, right? We’re all working with the same evidence, we’re all digging up the same bones, looking through the same telescopes and seeing the same beautiful nature through the lenses of our eyes. How can the creationist and evolutionist see all of the same facts, yet come to rest in diametrically opposed camps?

It comes down to one question…do you believe that God is, in fact, who He says He is? I believe that the universe is screaming the song of order and intelligent design. I dare not get into the science of it all in this initial entry, lest some of you get bothered that I wrote a book.

Evolution is finding its way into the cracks of our culture at an alarming rate. What’s more surprising is that some Christians are unaware they are even being influenced. You can’t turn on your TV or watch a movie that isn’t preaching evolution. My kids can’t watch a cartoon without hearing the millions of years theory. You know me, I’m not suggesting we boycott the media, I’m only wondering why we aren’t doing more to arm ourselves personally from a Biblical perspective?

Theistic evolution is corrupting churches, you know…the idea that God took thousands…or millions of years to create all that we see. He certainly could have done so if He pleased, He is God you know. The Bible tells us He did it in 6 days. Period.

When I was teaching a seminar of the book of Revelation a few months back, I got to the point of the crazy attacking locusts. Someone stopped me afterwards and pointed out they had to be Apache attack helicopters. I waited and listened, and then I said this…If God wants fire breathing monstrous-attack locusts…He’s going to get them! If God wanted to create the universe in 6 days, He’s got it.

It all starts with a worldview. You believe scripture…you believe God is who He says He is…or you don’t. It’s that simple. Archeology and science is continually pointing to a young earth. We are constantly discovering the Bible is true, from a facts perspective, but the media and scientific community won’t tell you that. You can’t pick and choose what you want to believe from the scripture…you believe all of it or you deny all of it..

I got the chance to spend two days filming at the Creation Museum in Cincinnati last week. It blew me away. Straight up facts, straight up science, straight up answers from the Bible. It’s all in there, we need only to take the time to read. We need only to believe that God is indeed, omniscient, omni-present and omnipotent. The answers are not hard to find, no need to check your brains in at the door of the church.

Remember, it’s not a faith issue. The evolutionist has great faith. They must prove that something, in fact, comes from nothing. They must hold onto the theory that out of nothing comes something. That takes great faith. We are called to give an answer to this great debate…in love. Are you prepared to do that?

Check out the museum, take a road trip that is well worth every penny. Check out www.answersingenesis.org
God has revealed to us what we need to know, our job is to do the research and settle on a verdict. The truth will lead you to the heart of God. He created us, He loves us and He gave up everything to have us by His side for eternity…if we’ll only believe.

By Kyle Gray on 3/12/2008 4:20 PM

Maybe I have your attention now. 

Welcome to the greatest experience of your life.  The Kyle Gray Blog Nation.  Here you will experience the pinnacle of learning.  This is a high brow blog.  Theologically judicious, intellectually astounding, and philosophically recondite.  This is not for the public school graduate.  Prepare to have your mind blown with topics that rival Einsteins theory of relativity.  The educated masses will flock to this blog in droves  not seen since the academia explosion of the mid 40's. 

With no further ado, I give to you, my first post. 

 

 

I love lamp.

 

 

 

(and yes, I don't buy into global warming)

My truck gets 11.5 miles to the gallon, and I don't care.

 

Now, let's get it on.

By Kyle Gray on 3/12/2008 4:20 PM

Ahh, the most controversial question of the Fall.  I can't tell you how many times I have been asked this question as a pastor!  I have seen Christians try to back up their stance with scripture, I have seen families get made fun of for not partaking in this October event and I have seen others get chastised for allowing their kids to trick or treat.  What is your thought on this heated debate?  I often wonder when asked this question, if the recipient of my answer is going to bring cheers or stones. 

Here’s my thought, for what it’s worth. 

If you want a literal answer to the question, “should kids celebrate Halloween”??  I would have to say NO.  What is there to “celebrate”?  I celebrate Christmas, I celebrate Easter, I celebrate birthdays, baptisms, newborn babies, weddings (as much as a guy can actually do that), the Fourth of July, my kids’ achievements, anniversaries, every single Ohio State win and every single Michigan loss.  You get the point…I have reasons for “celebrating” these things, obviously.  That being clarified, I personally don’t see the harm in letting my kids trick or treat.  THIS IS A PERSONAL DECISION!!!  Before I go on, I know great Christian families that choose to avoid this holiday (if you can call it that) and I know incredible men and woman of faith that build virtual haunted houses in their yards for neighborhood kids every October 31.  I grew up trick or treating in South Toledo with my oversized pillowcase and bad cammo face paint.  I swear I was always Rambo…

Obviously trick or treating doesn’t make anyone a Satan worshiper.  I do worry though, about people who take it too far and never explain to their kids the ridiculousness of this night each year.  Dentists everywhere are shouting in support at this point☺  This year my son Kasen is a Power Ranger, my daughter Adia is Jasmine, the princess and my other son Alston (AJ) will be bringing the candy collecting as a cheap looking pirate, complete with lame plastic mask and super thin rubber band strap pinching his hair all night.  Trick…or…SNAP, it broke.  Anyway, back to my point.  There is no right or wrong answer to this question.  Every parent must make their own decision…but keep this in mind.  If you choose to let your kids trick or treat, YOU’VE GOT TO DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE!  Somehow your kids need to understand they don’t have to conform to the world to be accepted.  You have to draw the line somewhere, to show them Christians are to act differently, to live by a different standard of love, forgiveness and daily living.  I know some parents that take their families out to eat and go bowling every Halloween – their families are incredibly close…not because ringing doorbells and getting the dreaded nickel breaks up families, but because they understand communication and time spent with their kids probably blows away a pillowcase of candy.  There are plenty of opportunities to teach your kids we are to be “in the world but not of the world” according to scripture.  Just make sure you are taking advantage of these moments, whether you decide to let your kids wear a Superman outfit that is always way too big, or you just want some quality time with your family.  Good luck this year with whatever side you’re on, and no matter who you are…I think it’s safe to say, “Again with the giant marshmallow circus peanuts, no one wants them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”       

By Kyle Gray on 3/12/2008 4:20 PM

Ah, the universal showdown.  On one side, corporate America…on the other side, cool America (what?  I didn’t say which is which).  I have used a Dell or two in my time, I didn’t really have any problems with Dell…it’s just that I prefer Mac.  I like to edit videos, record music, integrate my itunes…and then put them all together on a DVD.  Mac does all of this, perfectly – in my opinion.  It doesn’t hurt that they look a lot better too☺  While I will praise Mac from the highest computer mountain I can find, I do understand something about PC’s as well.  They run businesses better…in the past they communicated to the rest of the world better, let’s face it…they’ve been the standard since the Atari 1040st went belly up!  -ha
I don’t argue Mac vs. PC because it really is a preference.  A good friend of mine helps run the IT department at the Toledo Blade, and another one heads up the IT department at HCR downtown.  They can tell me why PC is the way to go…for them.  I have no problem with that, what they are saying is true…but so is my viewpoint…for what I need in life.  Both can’t be true can they?  Truth is truth…except in this case…truth seems to be relative on a particular viewpoint.  What they say is true, but it’s different from my truth??  Sure.  It’s this way with a lot of things in life…Ford vs. Chevy, wireless providers, TV manufacturers…the list is seemingly endless.  So what’s your point Kyle?  I’m getting there.  This idea of relativism is gaining a lot of momentum these days.  My generation and the one behind me are quickly losing our grasp on truth.  This in not my idea, this is a fact.  Truth is becoming relative to a preference.  I hear it daily.  You believe what you want to; I’ll believe what I want to…if it’s true for you, that’s great.  It seems fine when dealing with certain life decisions, but it is a serious problem when introduced into spirituality.  You hear it on Oprah, you see it on the news, you read it in magazines and unfortunately you’re getting it from too many pulpits these days.  What is truth?  True truth?  Today we’ve lost the confidence that statements of fact can never be anything more than just opinions; we no longer know that anything is certain beyond our subjective preferences.  Truth is dying.  Let me tell you something, when truth dies…all of its subspecies, such as ethics, perish with it.  If truth can’t be known, then the concept of moral truth becomes incoherent.  The death of truth in our society has created a moral decay in which “every debate ends with the barroom question ‘says who?’”
This slow death of morality in our culture produces an “anything goes” mentality.  Everyone wants to do their own thing.  In some cultures it is custom to care and nurture the young…in others the custom is to eat their young.  Which do you prefer?  They both can’t be right.  We are living in a world where diametrically opposed truths can seemingly co exist.  This is not a good thing.  We feel that it is building tolerance for one another.  What we are doing is undermining the word of God, the nature of God Himself and who Jesus Christ was, is and will forever be.  Let me explain.  When Pilot asked Jesus “what is truth”, he didn’t realize true truth was standing directly in front of him.  Morality needs God, just read Exodus 20:1-17.  To deny true truth would be to say good and evil do not exist, they most certainly do exist.  To say Christianity is right for you but not for me is to say Jesus Christ is not who He claimed to be…as C.S. Lewis put it…either Jesus is a liar, lunatic or truly Lord.  There is no other option.  Jesus says I am the way, the TRUTH and the life…no one comes to the Father except through Me!   -John 14:6 
Relativism and postmodernism really says this…if the case they make for their views leads to a TRUE conclusion, it would contradict the premises on which their argument is based.  It leaves some to say the Bible is intolerant, that it’s too narrow minded…there can’t be only one TRUE TRUTH, a loving God wouldn’t send anyone to hell.  I’ll say this…a loving God gives a choice.  Where there is a choice, there is right and wrong, good and evil.  Where there is truth, we have the choice to accept the Son of God into our hearts or reject Him.  He has revealed to us everything we need to know.  Revelation 3:20 says that Jesus is waiting for you to knock.  Surely He will answer the door.  Are you asking the right questions?  Don’t be surprised, when you do, if the answer leads to a narrow path…less traveled but more profound and grace filled than you could have ever imagined.                

By Kyle Gray on 3/12/2008 4:20 PM

Well, I’m off to Honduras in 3 days.  We’re headed to Choluteca for 8 days in the tropical Central American 100-degree heat.  I’ve never been to Choluteca, so this should be awesome!  Last trip we went from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba, over to Olanchito, back to La Ceiba and home through Houston.  We have to fly through Chicago and stay over night in Miami this time…that’s not at all horrible☺

I love going to Latin America.  It’s not so much that I come home and want to sell everything and save the world…it just makes me appreciate what we have been blessed with in this country.  We get up, go to work…make money and take great vacations.  90% of these people don’t have good jobs, don’t make money and have never heard of a vacation.  You can’t believe how far a dollar goes there.  That’s what I love. 

I took my three kids to story time at the library tonight, and then we went to McDonalds for some dollar menu ice cream action.  They didn’t even finish their ice cream.  That’s how it goes around here.  I can’t tell you how many times I was asked, “can we get a prize!”  No prize.  Just ice cream.  Sigh.  So out the door we went, another dollar menu dessert and some good old-fashioned family bonding with dad.  I asked them, “Who brings the fun?” and they answered correctly…DAD!!!  That’s all that matters.  So I grabbed a few extra straws on the way out (dad has a habit of chewing on straws) and headed home to put everyone down for bed.

It’s my custom at the Gray house to make them each tell me what they’re thankful for each night, and then thank Jesus for that.  Not surprisingly they thanked Jesus for ice cream.  I’m pretty sure Jesus doesn’t care about ice cream, but He certainly cares about my kids.  If mission trips have taught me anything at all, it’s this…teach your children to be grateful.  They’re starting to understand that nothing is owed to them…even ice cream is a gift, purchased by money that God has provided.  As they grow up, I’ll try my hardest to keep reminding them of this.  Until then, I’ll settle for ice cream and moments to teach them about grace, in what small ways they can comprehend.  After all…being grateful is a direct result of understanding grace a little better.  The more we understand grace, the more grateful we become.  I’m working on this theory for a book I’m slowly developing called Falling For Grace…more to come on that adventure.

Yesterday morning I had the chance to take my daughter Adia to school for “donuts with dad” day.  It was early…for me anyway☺  I watched as dads sat in the cafeteria across from their children, eating jelly donuts and drinking ice cold apple juice.  Every dad there looked tired.  I think that’s a prerequisite for parenting.  I couldn’t help but see how much it meant for Adia to have her dad in the lunchroom.  She couldn’t imagine what it meant for her dad to hang out with her on her turf, if she only knew dad couldn’t understand some of the math questions on the wall…

She didn’t care.  She got her dad, alone…and her dad got free donuts...and time with his girl.  I'm pretty sure her dad doesn't care about free donuts, but he sure does care about his daughter.

Last night I asked her our nightly question and she knocked it out of the park with her answer…”donuts with dad”. 

Time to be thankful, I don’t care who you are.  We owe that to God, no matter how small.  Get that in your heads.  To be truly grateful.  To really say thank you.       

By Kyle Gray on 3/12/2008 4:20 PM

We are in Choluteca and things are going great. It's about 90-100 degrees of jungle heat... but the computer is working :-). I'll check this a few times a day so if you have any questions about dangerous animals or taking cold showers, I'd love to chat!
 
The team is so much fun, we are so blessed to be able to come here and do this!!! We are heading out to the jungle in a few minutes to share Christ...but more importantly, we fire bombed some huge ants this morning and I had a scorpion coming after me with devil eyes...I handled him like Brian Fellows.  -ha
 
Love you all!

By Kyle Gray on 3/12/2008 4:20 PM

What did you guys think? What a story, we'd love to get him back later in the year! We had almost 8,000 in attendance!! I sure forgot my problems:)

By Kyle Gray on 3/12/2008 4:20 PM

Hey everybody! Sorry I haven’t been blogging lately…since I got back from Honduras things have been crazy…Tis the season.

Oh wait, I don’t have to tell you, you already know. We all already know!! Everyone sings the same song this time of year. Things are always busier, there seems to be less time in a day, more headaches (we bought our tree last night and put it up)…I remember this going easier when I was a kid watching my parents do it☺

Everyone and their grandma is looking to sell something, looking to find the best deals, looking for the perfect gift. I long for the days I could walk through the mall and not get stopped by every kiosk offering me a message, hair curlers, or a helicopter that actually flies and fits in my shirt pocket. Everyone is trying to make a living…I get it.

It sure doesn’t stop me from going, are you kidding me…with three kids?? We go all the time, let the kids ride rides, play in the playground, get something to eat…we’re actually headed there in an hour! Some are horrified with what Christmas has turned into, some embrace it, I find myself somewhere in between. As a pastor, I think it’s unwritten code that I be horrified –ha.

As a dad, I love to see my kids light up this time of year. We have traditions, Childrens Wonderland at the rec center in Maumee, lights at the zoo, driving around looking at lights on houses, getting our tree, all of this brings our family together…it really does. Many people make comments this time of year about how much we are spending on gifts. Others tell me it’s great for the economy, that can’t be a bad thing right now, right?

I don’t have a soapbox atop the mountain of consumerism, but I am growing increasingly aware that we are losing our focus. What if it wasn’t about what we are spending, but what we are really GIVING? The return I am getting on a toy bought for my kids versus what I feel when I help others in REAL need isn’t matching up. How many of you watch your children open up a present only to have their eyes immediately focus on the next one in line, that may be bigger…wrapped in superhero paper?

What if we spent less and gave more away? To those in need locally, to those in need in third world countries? What kind of Christmas is Jesus interested?

www.adventconspiracy.org is asking the same thing. I haven’t done all the research necessarily to say I agree with all they are putting on the table, but it is interesting.

I am preaching this week on the life of Jesus and next week on this very matter…what should Christmas look like? I’m not a proponent of throwing everything we do this time of year away, I’m just wondering what we can do to get the true meaning back into the forefront of our ethos of Christmas conversations.

Give me your thoughts, how do we get Christmas back? I doubt it will happen throughout all of society, but it should be happening in our lives. Christmas IS special, it brings memories back, it provides hope to this dying world through Jesus Christ, brings distant family members closer to home and it should jolt us back to what is important…giving, serving, telling the world about a Savior that gave everything!

Alright…enough of that, time to get to the mall☺