Corporate Deployment: Unified in Purpose

Carol and I have been in the ministry together nearly 30 years. Through the years we have always heard one particular cry from hundreds of people in various churches, para-church organizations, and prayer groups all over the country. There is a continual cry for coming together in unity. 

We have heard many reasons offered in gatherings, meetings and conferences, as to why the Body of Christ can't seem to come together. Reasons like: unforgiveness, bitterness, leadership abuse, competition, envy, strife, ambition, greed, prejudice, racism, sexism, imperialism, hypocrisy, apathy, and the list goes on and on and on.

Of course, these observations have been quite accurate. We have been in and around the church world over 50 years, so we can tell you, first-hand, that this has been a legitimate complaint and issue against the Church in America and right here in south central Pennsylvania.

However, we're not writing to add to the complaint. Nor, are we writing to offer a one-size-fits-all solution to the problem. Yet, we're writing to offer another way of approaching the issue of unity. Perhaps we're offering another way of viewing what unity will look like.

In our experience, many who call for unity are usually calling for everyone to come and join with THEIR movement, cause or mission. And if everyone does not "come together" to fulfill what they believe God has called THEM to do, then the outcry is again, "No one wants to walk in unity!"

Our brother and ministry overseer introduced this explanation to us while he was training and mentoring us. He said, "This is how we often view the next move of God: When the vision is in MY heart, it's the will of God. But when that same vision is in another leader's heart, I feel they're walking in selfish ambition."

So, why would God tell scores of leaders to do the same thing? Is He actually calling every leader, in every church, every prayer group, and every para-church organization to pool all of their people and financial resources into one massive effort, under one group's banner?

Personally, we believe many leaders might be missing a critical point.

We believe the Lord is calling for us to come together in unity of PURPOSE, not necessarily, unity of PRESENCE (physically coming together all the time).

Now we must share a story to clarify our point. Another local pastor was constantly trying to get us to bring our congregations together for a unity gathering. We were very reluctant to do that because the type of people we were mentoring in that season, were not regular church-goers, and most had been burned out or even hurt by church people. For us, a unity gathering would have been disastrous for our people. However this wonderful, caring brother kept insisting that we needed to come together in unity.

A few months later, his ministry had a need for a van. We happened to have one that we no longer needed. So, we gave it to them. After we completed the transaction we told him, "This is what it means to come together in unity. We don't need a church unity service. You had a need. We met your need. That's what it means to come together and work together in unity."

As our nation continues to fall apart, many church and ministry leaders continue to call for unity, but most seem to think unity means always physically coming together for meetings and gatherings. But what is the point of such gatherings if there is no action that deals with our hearts and homes at fundamental levels?

Now, on the other hand, there are other pastors and ministries to which God has caused our paths to cross and we have physically come together to host prayer gatherings and street outreach efforts. However, we don't get together merely for unity gatherings. These have been providential connections that have led to genuine fulfillment of God's purpose.

Carol and I see the call for unity as a call for UNITY in the SPIRIT. It is a call for unity in GOD'S PURPOSE. We must stop confusing corporate gatherings as a sign of unity and TRUST the Spirit of God as He unifies us through CORPORATE DEPLOYMENTS.

Our military is the perfect example of this. Our military is deployed all over the world, not gathered together in one spot, on U.S. soil. They are deployed by different branches (Air Force, Army, Navy, etc.), so again, they're not all doing the same thing, in the same place, in the same way. However, they are deployed with a common purpose.

For instance, God has deployed us into the urban community, to deal specifically with the urban Believer's wounds that were inflicted by their family, friends and even church leaders. So we can't command and demand that every church, every prayer group, and every para-church group join with our calling, under our marching orders.

We can't command and demand that all inner city ministries unite with us and our strategy because some of them are called to deal with drug and alcohol addictions, while others are deployed to supply food and clothes to the community.

We must each do what God has called us to do and perhaps, we're just simply supposed to make other branches of the Kingdom Warrior military AWARE of our assignment. In some cases, like we did with the other pastor, we might be able to HELP meet some of their battle needs, or supply COVERING IN PRAYER over their deployment. 

Sometimes, God's orders will cause our paths to cross and we will find ourselves "coming together" in certain sectors of the war zone. But that is something GOD must orchestrate, not us.

So, this is what Chris and Carol mean by, "coming together in unity." Some of us may never meet one another physically, on this side of eternity, but we still, will have worked together and come together in unity.

Everyone must follow the orders that the Holy Spirit is giving them and obey the assigned deployment that HE is giving them. We must understand that the UNITY we are looking for is in the SPIRIT of GOD because HE is commanding ALL of us. 

As human beings, we've got to relinquish this fleshly, carnal need to be in control, always knowing what everyone else is doing. We must stop striving to pull everyone into one position, under our authority. We have to simply obey our orders from the Lord, knowing that HE is speaking to others, and trust that they are doing their part as well.

Normalcy Bias

I came across a very interesting phrase last year. That phrase was normalcy bias, or normality bias. This refers to a mental state people enter when facing a disaster. It causes people to underestimate both the possibility of a disaster occurring and its possible effects. This may results in situations where people fail to adequately prepare for a disaster, and on a larger scale, the failure of governments to include the populace in its disaster preparation plans.  

This just so happens to describe the government of the United States. As we face the inevitable and impending economic and social collapse of our country, they are making no plans to protect us. 

The assumption that people make when they are suffering from normalcy bias is that since a disaster has never occurred then it will never occur. It can result in the inability of people to cope with a disaster once it occurs. People with a normalcy bias tend to interpret warnings in the most optimistic way possible. 

In the case of many American Christians, they turn to every positive Bible scripture they can find or they constantly watch positive messages on Christian TV, to simply try not to think about what is coming. This is because people with normalcy bias have difficulties reacting to something they have not experienced before. They would rather act like they can't see it, can't hear it, or they never talk about it. 

I realize the opposite of normalcy bias would be overreaction, or "worst-case thinking" bias. People who are like this have a tendency to take every tiny negative thing they see or hear as an impending catastrophe.

So I'm attempting to bring some balance and truth to you today. 

For several years, America has been racing toward destruction like a blind-folded race car driver, streaking down the track at 200 mile-per-hour. We have outlawed prayer in schools; approved the killing of the unborn (resulting in abortions at a rate of over 3,000 per day); promoted greed, violence and explicit sexual acts on television 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; we punish good people while blessing the evil ones; we approve gay marriage; snatched away the basic rights of citizens through health care laws; and make every effort to crush the knowledge of God and the Bible.

For years I have talked to our little prayer group about perilous times and learning to recognize the seasons we are in. While most of the Christian TV ministers continue to prophesy about a beautiful future for everyone, our politicians and government officials continue to lie to the public, even as they abandon the ship by getting on their secret financial life-boats because they know that America has hit an iceberg and the Titanic (our country) is sinking fast.

For instance, our unemployment rate in America is not 6.3% as it is reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor. It’s more like 13.1% The statistics they report only reflect the number of people receiving unemployment benefits. This statistic does not include the people who no longer qualify for benefits because they've been unemployed so long that their benefits have expired. It does not include the people who are on disability or those who are disabled, have no benefits, and cannot work. Yes, they are LYING to us.

Here’s some more issues they aren't talking about:

•    1 in 6 Americans are on food stamps – 17% of Americans can’t afford food

•    The median income of America has dropped by 9% since 1999. So, NO, the current President  hasn't   changed the downward slope. Most people make far less money now than they did in 1998.

•    43% of us Americans spend more than we make; nearly half the country is in debt beyond what they could ever pay-off.

•    In 1979, there were 61 American companies with AAA ratings; in 2014 there was only 4.

What most Americans don’t understand is that other nations have already banded together to do business with one another and they no longer need to use the U.S. dollar as their currency. That’s why gas prices kept soaring higher. The value of the dollar decreases, therefore it takes more money to purchase gas, food, and everything else we need or desire.

When this happened to Germany in 1923, that nation collapsed into poverty beyond belief. When it happened to Great Britain in the 1970’s they collapsed into poverty, crime, riots, protest, etc. That’s what has happened in recent years to Greece and many other nations that we see in the news, but the American media does not explain why these people are rioting and protesting in the streets. That’s because our media is feeding our normalcy bias. 

Here is one report from Swiss company, Vision Bancorp: “…as welfare benefits expire, unemployment continues to rise, and persistent budget deficits force American politicians to cut welfare spending for all but the most needy individuals, we will see a dramatic increase in the number of riots and violence in the U.S."

What do I mean when I talk about America's collapse? I mean, your job would end because your company would fold. Your money would be gone because the banks would close. Your debit card would no longer work and your credit card would be useless. Your savings or retirement would vanish overnight. Your social security checks, pension checks, and pay checks would stop, and any money that you had in your bank at the time of the collapse would disappear. Whatever amount of gas you had in your car, would be all you would have left. Whatever amount of food was in your home, would be all you would have left. There would be riots as people would storm through grocery stores and department stores for food and supplies. There would be no police because they won’t have a paycheck either. 

This is not make believe! That's exactly what happened when Hurricane Katrina hit Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana back in August of 2005. They had been warned and warned, but the people and the government were stuck in their normalcy bias. In the end, hundreds of people died and the city of New Orleans was in absolute chaos. Now maybe you can see why America's government has been quietly preparing a new military to control the population when the collapse hits this country.

Chris, you’re scaring me! How could this possibly happen? I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to shake you out of your normalcy bias! This is not just a possibility. It is an inevitable outcome…UNLESS… unless America turns back to God.

Matthew 24: 3-14 reads: As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Verses 21-22 reads: For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

Verses 32-33 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.

So what's the proper response?

Get your heart and soul away from depending on your job, making money and pursuing the American dream. That's all dead and gone now. That pursuit is officially a nightmare. Now it's time to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. It's time to seek God like never before!  As you know, God has given our little family an assignment to rebuild, restore and renew hearts and homes. 

Are you with us? Let's do this! 

Standing for Traditional Marriage

My stand FOR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE first began when I wrote a letter to the mayor of the City of St. Louis back in the 1990's, in protest of several special interest groups who were presenting political views and social movements that, I felt, were detrimental to my efforts as a husband of a loving woman, and a father of three African American boys. 

For years, hard-working, committed, tax-paying citizens like me, have been told that if we disagree with the changes in society, we must remain silent and don't try to force our views on anyone else.

But what was I supposed to do when the views of others were forced upon me by extreme liberal initiatives that could prove to be very destructive to my little family?

Why did the economical success of others have to be paved by the blood of our unborn Black children?

Why was the dismantling of solid marriages and families in the Black community necessary for the advancement of the LGBT cause?

Why did freedom of speech not apply to a Christian, conservative Black family?

Why were our "pastors" and other Black political leaders, aligning themselves to causes that were literally wiping out the necessary foundational elements that could build the Black family and the communities that they anchored?

I had no answers when I wrote that first letter, but I have a little more experience now. I am not a political expert. I don't represent a political party. I am not a scholastic theologian. I don't represent the evangelical, right-wing, Tea Party conservatives. I don't even have a college degree. I've lost jobs, suffered two home foreclosures, and even failed at starting a church. So the experts and radical activists can and will seek to invalidate my words through intimidation and humiliation.

All I have is nearly 35 years of a happy and strong marriage. All we have are three adult sons that we raised to work harder and smarter, value their wives, respect others, and love God. I always felt that the best thing I could ever give to my sons was a father who loved their mother. And that's all I have to offer the world today; an African American father who loves his wife and children.

I don't have any expert opinions, but I still have a lot of unanswered questions as ONE CONCERNED FATHER. And I ask these questions in letters, OP-EDs and vlogs (video blogs) as I challenge the modern wisdom that has poisoned the atmosphere in our neighborhoods and households.

No one may ever really listen to or pay attention to a word I say, but at least I will have exercised my right to express my views in, what might be, the final days and hours of a free nation.

My name is Chris Green and I'm ONE CONCERNED FATHER.

Prove Me Wrong

As a Black man who grew up in a time in America when Blacks were stripped of rights and opportunities any time our culture, practices and beliefs were not in agreement with the agenda and politics of the majority, I don't see how the current push for LGBT rights is treating us any different.

Most Blacks hold to traditional family values and we resent how that view is automatically deemed as siding with Republicans, conservatives and right wing extremist. These family values and traditions were passed down through hundreds of years of ethnic and cultural practices that even defied the devastation of slavery.

Now, because we still hold to these cultural and ethnic practices and beliefs of heterosexual marriage and strong family ties, I fail to see how the LGBT community is responding to us any differently than the KKK, the eugenicist, the slave master, the brutal police officer or any other who uses their power and privilege to oppress the traditional Black family.

I don't need any one to bombard my post with screams of bigotry or hatred on my part. Get out of your feelings and emotions and PROVE to me how this movement is any different than any others that threaten to take away my job, my business, my ministry, my livelihood, and my reputation simply because I will not drop my African ethnic and cultural heritage to embrace and participate in the LGBT agenda. 

PROVE to me how their agenda and practice of punishing those who disagree with them, is any different than what I have faced all of my life; because from my perspective, it's still the same as what I have dealt with ALL of my life.

Don't give me an emotional onslaught of calling me a bigot or homophobic. Try to walk ONE DAY in my shoes as a Black man in America. Until you can do that, keep your comments to yourself and PROVE ME WRONG.

My name is Christopher Green and I'm One Concerned Black Father
#iHaveValue #MyFamilyMatters #RespectMyCulture #RespectMyBeliefs

Merry Christmas

We love the holiday season because of what it means to our immediate family. Ten years ago we moved to south central Pennsylvania and discovered a part of the country that still celebrates the holidays in traditional ways. It was a pleasant surprise to find ourselves in a region where decorations were going up all over the city and people still placed candles in their windows. 

Having grown up in a big city where many people, for personal safety, had stopped greeting one another with “Merry Christmas!” and the cynical air of commerce had choked out the giddy excitement of family get-togethers, I found myself a bit ashamed that I had grown so callous about Christmas.

Being in this part of the country brought back those days of growing up in the 60’s when our parents piled up their children in the family car and we drove around the city just to look at all the homes decorated with sparkling lights, along with extravagant displays on the front lawns.

However, as the years went by, people found their lawns raided and their homes vandalized. Crime began to sky-rocket in the city during the holidays until most of the lights were no longer put up and the only place to see lawn displays were the in the exclusive gated communities, which we could not enter.

Massive lay-offs and urban sprawl changed the holiday landscape until the season became, for many, just three or four weeks to endure the tension between gift-giving expectations and the fact that they had no money for anything beyond the basics: shelter, food, and heat. Christmas is a distasteful time of year for a lot of people.

However, we always had a great time in the Green household which always included getting together at grandpa and grandma’s house for a massive assembly of relatives from all sides of everyone’s families. Christmas with the Greens was like a Broadway production, only with no script or choreography. It was incredible and indescribable.

Some of the warm memories from my childhood were stirred again as we came upon our first Christmas in Pennsylvania. Since we were away from our closest friends and family, it drew us closer with our sons. We were able to spend quality time together, especially since we were aware that these would be the last of those times for us. We made a few trips back to St. Louis for the holidays, but time was dictating that a new phase of life was quickly coming to our family.

During our final Christmas together, we went to a local mall to take family photos. We told our sons this was going to be important because this would be the last time we’d be together in this way. We told them that in the future, the photos would include their wives and children. They didn’t believe us at that time, but that’s exactly what is happening.

As we come upon Christmas, tomorrow, our youngest son, David Matthew lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with Michelle, his wife of 18 months. Our middle son, Jonathan Mark, is in his final year of school and he’s only home for breaks and holidays. Our oldest son, Christopher Michael, lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is preparing to marry the love of his life, in three months.

We have wonderful Christmas memories with our children from our years in St. Louis as well as our years in Harrisburg. It’s just that the years go by so very fast and we are thankful that we made memories instead of making regrets.

We set out to be very intentional about making sure we didn’t have any regrets as parents. That doesn’t mean that we were going to be reckless and throw caution to the wind. No, that simply meant that we were going to seize the moments that God was granting us every day, every week, every month and every year with each other and with our children.

A lot of Christian Believers spend the holiday season debating about how Christmas is celebrated or even if we should celebrate it. One day they will look back and realize that they missed golden opportunities with their families and friends.

In the end, it won’t matter if whether you did or did not have gifts, toys, trees, or decorations. All that will matter is if you spent time with the ones who are dear to you. Just ask the people who are missing their loved ones during this holiday season. They’re not interested in a debate about Christmas. They would just like to be with their mom, dad, sister, brother, cousin, uncle or aunt, one more time.

So, Carol and I encourage you to stay focused on the people and things that matter most. If your family is living in three different time zones, like ours is right now, make sure you take some time to make a connection.

Immediately after the holiday, we’ll get back to our jobs and the daily task of making a living. But during this holiday we encourage you to continue in the mission and vision that God has placed in your hands; to rebuild, restore and renew hearts and homes.

May you have a safe and happy Christmas,

Chris and Carol Green