Suicide

by Lori and Paul Carhart

This message was originally given by Lori Carhart at the Launch Pad gathering on July 18, 2009 and was followed by an extended worship time.

For some people life is pretty good all the time. I have known people who just have it all. Tragedy doesn't seem to touch them.

Then there are those who do go through hell but toughen up and never cry.

If you fall into either of those clubs then this discussion ain't for you.

This discussion tonight is for those of us who do cry. Those of us who may have something now but didn't their whole life. Those who are at their last rope. There is no hope in your life. There is no reason to live on through tomorrow.

I can't speak for everyone. But I can over come the enemy with my testimony. I am gonna kick some devil butt tonight. It is time for a fight and the Holy Spirit is right!

I was single for 33 years and it was hell! Day to day sucked, holidays sucked, Valentine's day sucked.

I worked and went to school while everyone I knew had a life. Someone to share life with and children.

I remember crying to God some nights because I thought I was literally gonna die from loneliness and never experiencing life. Having a companion, a child, and even just someone to eat dinner with.

I remember one night, a really bad one, I remember going to Sunset Beach and walking down to the water. I remember telling God that if I was never gonna get married and have children then I didn't want to live anymore. I didn't attempt suicide but I considered it.

For each person it may be something different. For me it was marriage and children. For some it is money or a job. For others it is just the emptiness that life can bring.

Many times thoughts of suicide happen when there is something missing in our life. But sometimes we can have it all and those thoughts still come because God created us to worship him. And when we don't there will always be a void in our lives.

Let's see what God's word says about Suicide and the things that can lead to it.

You shall not murder.
– Exodus 20:13

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.
– 2 Corinthians, 8-12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
– Proverbs 13:12

I will say to God my Rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
– Psalm 42: 9 & 11

Are you hopeless tonight? Are you discouraged tonight? Have you thought about taking your life? Do you want to take your life tonight? Sometimes, when you don't think life is going to get any better, you're not too far from God blessing your life. Come down here tonight. Allow Jesus to save you, God to heal you and the Holy Spirit to deliver you. God created you to have a purpose in this world. God created you to worship Him. Come down here tonight and let us lay hands on you to lift that oppression, depression and hopelessness.

God has hope for you. Let the Holy Spirit touch you and partake of it.

Next Launch Pad Gathering: July 18

Join us on Saturday night, July 18 for a night of worship in a true "underground" movement!

We're very excited to have the full band this time out. The music has never sounded so good and we know the worship time will be anointed.

921 Olive Ave. Long Beach, CA.

8:30 pm.

Alley-side entrance.

Been Too Long

by Paul and Lori Carhart

This message was originally given by Lori Carhart at the Launch Pad gathering on June 20, 2009 and was followed by an extended worship time.

Hey hey hey, Olive Ave. Let’s face it. With all the good times we enjoy in life, life is really hard. And no one person avoids pain. And if we’re not gonna read God’s Word and worship God in spirit and in truth, life is empty.

The pain of life is too much to bear. And even when Christians read God’s Word and worship God in spirit and in truth, life can still be hard and painful.

So we party!

We smoke cigs, weed, crack, meth… and drink until we numb the pain.

Hey, let’s party!!

Looseys, Bobos, Pinch, Rerock, slammin, beat, juice, sauce, steez, dank, blown, bust grapes, rollie, dro, dubs, 4:20, 4:21!

Let’s see what God’s word says about our body.

Hosea 4:11
Harlotry, wine and new wine enslave the heart.

Do you want to be a slave to sex and wine?

“Slave to love… ohhhhh, slave to love. Oh, I can’t explain. I am a slave to love.” – Bryan Ferry

This is a footnote from the Spirit-Filled Life Bible: “What god wants most from the people, the heart, has been stolen away by immorality and drunkenness.”

Isaiah 28:7-9
But they also have erred though wine, And through intoxicating drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink. They are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filth; no place is clean.

Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?

In other words, you can’t learn from a baby Christian. You have to learn from someone who has known the Lord a long time and has counted the cost of knowing Him.

And you can’t learn from a drunk “man of God.”

Are you tired of missing your life? Come on down. God wants to heal and deliver you from cigs, alcohol, weed, and drugs. The power of God can do what no one else in your life can. It has been too long! It has been too long! It has been too long! Come down here tonight and allow god to heal and deliver you!

Ephesians 5:18
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation but be filled with the Spirit.

Come down here tonight and allow the spirit of God to fill you! The weed and wine has filled you! And afterwards you feel empty! Allow god’s spirit to fill you! You can legalize it all but God will still call.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Flee sexual immorality every sin that a man does is outside the body but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body or do you not know that your body is the temple of the holy spirit who is in you whom you have from god and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify god in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Even though this scripture specifically is in reference to sexual immorality, it also clearly sets forth the concept that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit to live in. Any pollution of that temple, be it sexual impurity, drugs and alcohol or even too much of the wrong kinds of food can and will contaminate the temple.

Proverbs 23: 29-35
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: they have struck me, but I was not hurt; they have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?

That is just plain sad! That is so wack!

It has been too long!

The Holy Spirit wants to deliver you tonight!

Next Launch Pad Gathering: June 20

Join us for a brief time of study and extended worship on Saturday night, June 20 at 8:30 pm.

We're in the Downtown / East Village Arts area of Long Beach and we'd love to have you come worship with us.

More information.

The Real Purpose of The Church

by Paul and Lori Carhart

This message was originally given by Paul Carhart at the Launch Pad gathering on May 16, 2009 and was followed by an extended worship time.

What is The Church?

When I refer to The Church, I’m not talking about a building somewhere with a steeple. I’m not talking about specific denominations. I’m talking about the whole of all Christian believers. All Christians, regardless of denomination and doctrine. That is The Church.

Why do people go to church?

1) Activities
2) Fellowship or social gathering… maybe even gossip.
(I’ll speak more on the evils of gossip another time)
3) Teaching… morality
4) Feel better about yourself

Why SHOULD people go to church?

1) Learn more about God
2) Experience the presence of God
3) Experience the blessings of God (Another word: Miracles)
(Blessings and miracles are a result of God pouring out His Spirit on those who love and worship Him in spirit and in truth)

If you're not getting at least one of these things from church, you might as well sleep in. Many believers have decided to do just that and have abandoned going to church altogether.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:25

I want to take a quick moment to point out here that the “assembling together” spoken of here in the book of Hebrews is the early church. It was not in the form it takes now in Western society (and subsequent satellite missionary offshoots). It was a gathering of believers, usually under Roman persecution that took place, most often, within someone’s home. There were no such things as cathedrals, pews, podiums, Powerpoint presentations, worship teams and all of the trappings that we have come to know as part of the traditional church setting. I’m sure there was singing and the reading of scripture, all meant to, as the scripture says, “exhort one another.” But the idea of the traditional church setting as being sacred is not scriptural and can be, in fact, a harmful box to put God into. Instruction is very important and the Word of God should be used. Worship is also an important aspect of the early church. But just as the disciples gathered in the upper room on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the modern church structure doesn’t have to be in place for God to move. In fact, it can indeed be hindering and can be used to quench the Holy Spirit.

So what is worshiping God?

Maybe we should take a look at a few things it isn't.

1) Is it ten minutes of music before preaching?
2) Is it American Idol or some sort of concert?
3) Is it competition?
4) Is it misplaced or misdirected…
- toward man?
- toward money?
- toward material possessions?

The very first of God's commandments given to Moses is "You shall have no other gods before Me." - Exodus 20:3

We can try to pinpoint what worship is, but we might be selling ourselves short unless we define it in this way:

Worshiping God is to bask in His presence. What it boils down to is that to worship God is to fulfill the purpose for which man was created.

Don't believe me? Let's look at what the Bible says in the book of Genesis. Chapter 3, verse 8.

"And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden."

This is immediately after both Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit. But notice something about this passage:

"…they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden."

Notice that God walking in the garden was a common thing. So common, in fact, that both Adam and Eve were familiar with the sound. Could it be that mankind was created to walk with God? I submit that we were created for that primary purpose.

Beings who fulfill their purpose

Naturally, after Adam and Eve introduced sin into the world, the world is in a fallen state. Still, other than man, most other facets of creation fulfill the purpose they were created for.

What does Jesus say about birds?

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
from Matt 6:26

And flowers:

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;" from Matt 6:28

And…

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse," - Romans 1:20

Indeed all of creation fulfills its purpose.

But does man fulfill his/her purpose?

For the most part, no. Most people spend very little time walking with God. So how can we improve that? The closest we can come now is to worship God in spirit and in truth and to let the Holy Spirit move.

How can we worship God?

1) Worship through music

"Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet
Praise Him with the lute and the harp
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes
Praise Him with loud cymbals
Praise Him with clashing cymbals" - Psalm 150: 3-5

It’s also worth noting here, that one of the reasons that music comes to the forefront as a means of worshiping God is that it is, scripturally, a form of worship practiced by angels at God’s throne (Revelation 5:8-14).

2) Worship through the arts (and other talents, gifts and abilities)

"So you shall speak who are gifted artisans who I have filled with the spirit of wisdom that that they may make Aaron's garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest." - Exodus 38:3

3) Worship through kind acts and giving

"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the lease of these My brethren, you did it to Me." - Matt 25:37-40

4) Worship as a lifestyle

"You shall have no other gods before Me." - Exodus 20:3

5) Corporate worship,

"Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: 'For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,' that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God."
- 2 Chr 5:13-14

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
- Matthew 18:19-20

Clearly, there’s power in coming together to worship God.

6) Just about anything you do when you put God first

The Key: Putting God First

"You shall have no other gods before Me." - Exodus 20:3

In Genesis, 4:1-16, we read the story of Cain and Abel. Both brought sacrifices to God but God was only pleased with Abel's sacrifice. I believe it was because Cain had an attitude problem, that God wasn't pleased. God wanted an animal sacrifice. Cain was a farmer and didn't have any animals. Rather than trade grain for a suitable animal (his brother would have probably been glad to trade with him), Cain simply offered whatever he wanted. In the end, he killed his brother out of jealousy, almost as if to prove how twisted his heart had always been.

My point is: the most important element you can bring is a right heart. Forgiveness of sins daily = a right heart.

"Now we know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him." - John 9:31

Worship paves the way for a closer walk, which finally fulfills man's purpose.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. - John 4:23

Conclusion

If more of mankind fulfilled its purpose, the body of Christ would be stronger and the Church as a whole (as in the body of believers in Christ currently upon the earth) would not be as diluted and powerless as it is today.

Next Launch Pad Gathering

Join us for a true "underground movement" at our next Launch Pad gathering on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 921 Olive Ave., Long Beach, CA.

8:30 pm. Enter through the side-alley entrance.

Short Bible study and extended worship time!

Sex

by Lori and Paul Carhart

This message was originally given by Lori Carhart at the Launch Pad gathering on April 25, 2009 and was followed by an extended worship time.

It is time for some housecleaning (in response to some of the neighborhood resistance concerning Launch Pad). When Paul and I go to Clancy's to sing, we drink Coke. We were walking back to our car and my high-heel boot tripped on the sidewalk. We were laughing and having a good time. There were a group of kids hanging out in the parking lot, staring at us. No, young people, I wasn't drunk.

Paul and Lori and Launch Pad do not believe that church is a place for politics. But since you're all saying that "those stupid white people" "hate Obama," we thought we should address it. Paul and Lori pray for Barack Obama every day. We do so according to the Word of God. God's Word commands us, as Christians, to pray for the President of the United States. In Romans 13:1, the Bible declares,

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God. And the authorities that exist are appointed by God."

Another housecleaning: Everyone is saying my daughter is a brat. It is true, she can be. Paul and I are working on that. But I've dealt with a lot of your children and they're not perfect either. No one is. Melody has had a lot of mean things said to her, especially in regards to the loss of her sister. Now, to the church lady "over there" who needs to be delivered from witchcraft, who said, "God's not going to bless that house." I rebuke that in the name of Jesus. And you also said, that we need to preach God's Word. I had a lot of scriptures in my last discussion and Paul has used scripture in all of his teachings. And I have a lot of scripture in this one. So come down and check out God's Word. He loves you. We love you. You can get delivered from Religion. I did. Just remember, it was Religion that killed Jesus.

Now, to the young lady hanging on my fence, calling the police about our gathering: Honey, I'm old enough to be your grandma. Satan always copies what God does. I had called the police the day before asking about the law. Honey, come down here and get saved. I'm not going to sleep with your boys. I only sleep with Paul. God has better things for you to do. You don't have to pretend you're dumb. Come down here and we can discuss the law. Maybe God's calling you to be a lawyer. God loves you. We love you.

Moving on. The title of my discussion tonight is: Sex.

I want to start by saying "Thank You" to the young men of Olive Avenue for the condoms left in our driveway.

I'd like to say to all the young people: Please don't have sex until you're married. But I realize that you are. So if you are gonna do it, please view the display on our fence. You'll notice an empty box of Paul's condoms. They work. The cellophane ones you left on our driveway will assure you a baby.

Sex. Sex. Sex! Oh baby!

Young people listen! Wilt Chamberlain slept with 2000 women. Madonna brags about her lovers. Now I'm not judging. I wish both of them the best. Only God will judge each of us. I'm using them as examples. Everybody in the world today and, unfortunately in the church, is getting it on, bang a gong.

Now, when I was in the church, everyone told me that Godly women are quiet. Now, I do believe that God uses all kinds of personalities. But not all of us are quiet. So I sat there, quietly in the pew, with my conservative suits. And when I shared my desire to marry, you know what they told me? "Be married to Jesus."

Now, I love The Lord. But I was like, "What?" I went home and shared this with my daddy. And he said, "Lori, you can't hold hands with Jesus. You can't have sex with Jesus. You can't have babies with Jesus." My dad loved The Lord. But he wasn't a religious weirdo. So here I was, a 32-year-old virgin, wanting to get married. And you know what happened? My daddy hooked me up! He started coming over to my house in Lakewood, showing me all these pictures of a dude named Paul Carhart.

On our first date, I told Paul that I don't play games. "I want to get married and have a baby." And I also told him that I don't put out until the wedding night. Now Paul, could have been like Rico Suave over here with a chain link fence and said, "Oh baby, I can't wait until we are married. For sex? Come on, baby."

La-la-ladies! Fa-fa-fellas! Ladies, I'll talk to you later. Listen up, boys. You wanna get yourself a hot woman of God? None of this "baby, baby, baby" stuff. Do you know what Paul did? He courted me. He wooed me. Young people: You don't know what courting is. But it is when a man pursues a woman for marriage. He started sending me flowers at the school where I worked. Now he didn't send some daisy off the side of the road. He sent beautiful flowers. He sent me red roses. He kept sending different ones all the time. He would include love notes. "Lori, I can't wait to see you again." "Lori, I can't wait to hold your hand again." "Lori, only 57 more days." He wrote me poetry. Hello, Lover! Come on, fellas! Man up! This is what your woman wants. She wants a ring, a commitment and a wedding. Even if she says she doesn't, she does.

Okay ladies. Your turn. Alright ladies! Listen up! God's got more for you than Rico Suave and a chain link fence. Ladies, God wants you to be a queen. God wants you to have a man who will treat you right. Now I can hear the smack now. I was walking Melody to pre-school and this lady and man walked by and said, "Humpf! Everything's gonna be alright. Her husband cusses at her." Now it is true that Paul cusses sometimes. He was raised in a home where his father cussed. Paul's dad was not a Christian but he did receive the Lord on his deathbed, praise the Lord. Everytime Paul loses it, and he is getting better, he asks God to forgive him and he asks me too. Now I'm not saying it's alright. But every man and every woman has their faults. No one is perfect. Paul is a faithful husband and father. He doesn't drink or smoke. He's a hard worker. And he danced with me in ICU after I almost died. I heard you all out there. "He was cussin at her. I was laughin. Come over here, honey. I'll make you happy." Yeah, it's true ladies. On my wedding night, I wasn't the best lover to Paul, although he was to me. Many women never have an orgasm their entire life. I've had one every time I've been with Paul. You know ladies, just cause you ride a lot of horses doesn't mean you've mounted a stallion. But the first time was painful. Lubrication is key, girls. Poor Paul. He didn't pop my cherry. He had to chop down my cherry tree. But after our beautiful wedding in Long Beach we spent two nights in Huntington Beach. You've got me there, ladies. I wasn't that good. But Paul was patient. And in Arizona and New Mexico I got better. And by the time we got back to Colorado Springs, I was pretty good. Paul now calls me Luscious Lips.

Now church ladies, listen up! Before you have an attack, this all went down after we were married. And the Bible says that the marriage bed is undefiled. Honey, your man is hittin on me and I'm a woman of God who said "no." He is sleepin with you without a commitment. Oh yeah, and you ain't in his Fab Five. Ladies, you've got the power. If he won't commit, then the love glove won't fit.

Young people, listen up! The devil has been lying to you. God didn't intend for you to have multiple hook-ups. He intended for you to have one lover in the boundaries of marriage. Alright, now that I've overcome him with the word of my testimony, it's time to read the internet… oh, I mean the porn magazine… oh, I mean God's Word.

What does God's Word say about sex?

Song of Soloman 1:2:

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine.

Song of Soloman 1:12-13:

While the king is at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance. A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me that lies all night between my breasts.

Song of Soloman 4:9-16:

You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse. You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes. With one link of your necklace. How fair is your love. My sister, my spouse, how much better than wine is your love and the scent of your perfumes than all spices. You're lips, my spouse, drip as the honeycomb. Honey and milk are under your tongue. And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse. A spring shut up. A fountain sealed. Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with pleasant fruits, fragrant henna with spikenard. Spikenard and saffron. Calamus and cinnamon with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes with all the chief spices. A fountain of gardens. A well of living waters. And streams from Lebanon. Awake I, north wind, and come. And blow south upon my garden that its spices may flow out. My beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.

Song of Soloman 7:1-10:

How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince's daughter. The curves of your thighs are like jewels. The work of the hands of a skillful workman. Your navel is a rounded goblet. It lacks no blended beverage. Your waist is a heap of wheat set about with lilies. Your two breasts are like two fauns, twins of a gazelle. Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks towards Damascus. Your head crowns you like Mt. Carmel and the hair of your head is like purple. A king is held captive by your tresses. How fair and how pleasant you are, oh love with your delights. This stature of yours is like a palm tree and your breasts like its clusters. I said, "I will go up to the palm tree. I will take hold of its branches. Let now your breasts be like clusters of the vine. The fragrance of your breath like apples. And the roof of your mouth like the best wine. The wine goes down smoothly for my beloved, moving gently, the lips of sleepers. I am my beloves, and his desire is toward me.

It's getting hot in here.

Young people, listen up. The devil's been lying to you. God wants you to have the best sex ever. All God asks is that you are within the boundaries of marriage.

Hebrews 13:4:

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

So if you're gonna do it, do it to or with your spouse.