Durocher's Blog

" Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings..." Rejoice? When is the last time you "rejoiced" when a fiery trial came upon you? It hurts... Text message: Him: "Hey brother if you could spare the time could you pray for me? Under attack again by the enemy--very tiresome. Can't wait for Christ to come back". Me: "Remember. You're not a loser. You're not a liar. You're not abandoned and you're never alone". Him: "I keep praying so hard and feel better for a while then spiral down again. It makes me feel my faith is not strong enough at times". Me: "Exactly. You don't need faith when you are on top. The devil comes prowling when he sees you down". Him: "So God is waiting for me to crumble to my knees? I have every night. I start...

The Chief Shepherd Take a look at this photo. What do you see? A shepherd--some sheep--and what? The sheepdog! The trusted old sheepdog. If Jesus is the good shepherd and His sheep know His voice, then how can anyone else be a shepherd of His flock? Peter left us with this instruction, " So I exhort the elders among you... shepherd the flock of God that is among you , exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory". The sheepdog Within the bible we find many illustrations about shepherds and sheep, but there is much variation in how the comparison is used. Here is an example that Jesus used about sheep: ' Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves'.  I thin...

Life is pain The world is a difficult place. The world takes no prisoners. The world prowls around seeking who it may devour. The world will abandon you. The--world--will--abandon--you. " Life is pain, Highness, anyone who says differently is selling something ". Dread Pirate Roberts If you are human, you have surely felt abandoned some time in your life. Sure, some have it worse than others, but let's not kid ourselves, we all feel it some time or another. It might be by a family member, or a friend. How about a teacher or a co-worker. A parent or a government. We all feel it. When you feel it, what exactly does it feel like? REJECTION! That's what it feels like. It feels like rejection. Do you know why? Because it IS rejection. When we are abandoned, we are left in favor of something else. We are rejected and that other thing, whatever it may be, is chosen over us. When we are abandoned we desperately want to feel loved, to feel accepted,...

Freaky Pentys--Which stands for Freaky Pentecostals  Ben was intently looking down at the maintenance log for the helicopter. Ben was our new mechanic. We had just recently moved to a new state and I began a new job. I found out that Ben was a believer so I wanted to know where he gathered for church meetings. "Ben", I said. "You go to an Assembly of God, don't you"? "Yes", Ben replied while never lifting his eyes from his work. "Do they......um...do they roll around in the isles and bark like dogs"? Awkward pause. Ben lifted his eyes then quickly dropped them back to his work and replied, "Do you want them to"? How many of you have had this conversation? Or a conversation similar to it? "Are you one of those Calvinists"? "Are you charismatic"? "Are you dispensational"? We love labels.  " You're Presbyterian? I know about you. You are the 'Frozen chosen'. God chose...

What do you fear? Fear falling? Fear dying? Fear losing a family member? Fear losing a job? Fear losing money? Fear losing health? Fear that others don't like you? Fear the Boogy Man? What is it that you fear? God instructs us to fear Him. Is fearing God the same as fearing spiders? Don't skim too quickly through the following quotations--let them sink in. Jesus had this to say about fear: “ I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows ." And John tells us this: "God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfecte...

I recall a time back in Montana when Kim(Maggie) said to me, "You're home, but you're not home." She said my mind was always somewhere else. That I'm willing to serve everybody in the community, but not my family. She was right. I was running everywhere--helping everyone--involved in every "church ministry". I had to realize I had moved from "single" guy to family leader. My season of life had changed and I hadn't. We live in a world today where many men and women never stop being "single" with children. Many children today live in the same home with their biological parents, but they belong to a different family. Everyone in the family belongs to a different family. Even husbands and wives belong to different families. I have even heard of husbands and wives going to different churches. Absurd! It should not be this way. You might ask, "How can family members actually be part of a different family"? Well, the old sayin...

So they would have you think Many years ago I sat in the pastor's office at church. I had lots of questions--he had lots of answers. One question I asked him was about how to meet others in the church and develop relationships with them. I complained that everyone is always so busy. He responded with an assured smile, "So they would have you think".  "So they would have me think"?  I sat bewildered. Did he just say they are putting up a front? And this whole time I thought it was just me! It probably was me, but at least it wasn't ALL me! The American way It really is isn't it? The American way, I mean. Being busy is just as American as apple pie. We puff our chests out and say, "I've been really really busy lately"! Even if we've just spent the last 12 hours watching reruns of Criminal Minds, we still say we have been busy. Why is this? It's the American way. It's woven into the fabric of our culture. Not ...

What tribe are you from? There is a new trend among some Christians. What Christian tribe do you belong to, is the question being asked. What Christian tribe are you from? Tribe--community--gang. What's the difference? Not only do you have to identify your tribe, but you also need to learn how to live within this tribe. Living within a tribe is called a community. There are hundreds of books written on the subject of community. I've actually read many good ones. And some not-so-good ones. Why would someone write a book on how to live within a tribe/community? Is something the matter with us? Isn't living in a community as basic and instinctual as sleeping and eating? Sampler Look around, we have online communities, gay communities, gardening communities, homeschool communities, church communities, suburb communities, golf communities, exclusive communities, gated communities, ecovillage communities, intentional communities, Amish communities, hippie commun...

“ A crucial part to every army is the intelligence branch. Intel gathers up information about the enemy so they can be equipped and prepared. In Ephesians 6: 11-12 Paul gives us information about the devil’s schemes. Which is cunning, craftiness and deception. Just like a wild animal stalks his prey, then springs in surprise, so does Satan attack with stealth and deception.” Gregory Brown “Spiritual Warfare”  Article here Liar! Who me? Thanks, Mom. Most of my life has involved deception, whether me being deceived or my actions deceiving others. My mother was the master at manipulating people. Some would call this “charm”. For someone who was not a deep thinker, I was in awe of how she could spin words like webs into getting  people doing things the way she wanted. This is the same method used in fortune-telling. I was a palm reader, self taught through books and lots of people watching. I was also a portrait artist, so every face I saw was meticulously studied and o...

Movin' south, you guys y'all! When I moved south I noticed one thing. Well, one thing other than the kudzu. If you don't know what kudzu is--google it--then go plant some in your least favorite person's yard. If you ever travel to the south you will notice one thing. It is the most prominent thing everywhere you turn. The south of the United States is the Land O' Church Buildings! While Minnesota is the Land O' Lakes, the south is definitely the Land O' Church Buildings! Okay, okay--the close seconds are Chick-fil-a, the best BBQ joints in the world and cotton. Did I mention BBQ? You have to try it! Question Does meeting in a 'church' building once per week make you a Christian? If you ask many folks around here, the answer is yes. But I think we know better. We are the church The bible says that WE are the church. The 'called out' ones--the children of God--the believers--the chosen ones--the saints. All believers on the ...

You're crazy We've all heard it. Someone comes up to you and says, "God told me___________", fill in the blank with some crazy, off the wall schizophrenic statement. "You don't say"? "That's interesting"? "Have you been sleeping well"? "So what do you think it means"? Does God still speak today? I mean, really speak? Put 'em up! In some parts of the church these are fighting words. You bring up the subject of hearing from God and all kinds of emotions rage. Defensive---excited---doubtful--fearful--I have no idea what you are talking about and yeah, duh. Let me ask you. Does God speak to you? Simple right? This question is very easy and yet extremely difficult to answer. I am not going to make an effort to bring any of the answers you theologians might be hoping for--you'll have to read some deep theological books for that. My purpose here is not answers, but encouragement. I'm here to s...