Who is this Jesus you profess in?

Before I even got out of bed today this question was bouncing around in my thoughts. When I opened my Bible to have my Quiet Time this morning I read Isaiah 26 and this scripture jumped off of the pages. In verse 10 we read "Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord." Pretty powerful, and convicting words.
This was me years ago. I knew the difference between 'Good' and 'Evil', but I chose 'Evil' over 'Good.' I assumed that I was a Christian and that I believed 'In' Jesus, only to realize at the age of 36 that I did not.
The plumb line that keeps me going is the Apostles and their lives, and all of the rest that followed them, and Christ to their deaths. Would we truly 'Die' and give our lives for Christ? We all have been afforded grace if we are reading this today. With that said we must all ask this huge question to ourselves right now "Is there any 'Wickedness' in our lives? Are we still doing things we ought not to do because they are unrighteous? If so, then maybe we don't know this Jesus in whom we profess. If we were to truly regard His majesty beginning today, then we would give our lives totaly to Him and be wiling to die for Him in, and to all things.
Who is this jesus I believe in? He is my redeemer, and Savior. He is my rescuer, and my strength. He is Righteous, and 'In' Him I can be too. I will die for and surrender all, to Him who died for me~

Supply Source

I have a problem. In 1992 I began my 'True' journey as a 'Real' Disciple of Christ. Totaly committed, and not turning back. It took a simple Bible study in which my wife forced me to go to, in order to begin a 'True' walk with Christ. The study was by the Navigator's and it's focus was on a 'Quiet Time.' I had been in and out of church ever since I was a boy, and I had never ever heard of a Quiet Time. It was through doing 'mandatory' Quiet Times in this study that Jesus drew me close. Scripture convicted me, and I had to make a choice. Believe it, Belive what I thought, or believe what others had taught me.
It was not long when the Lord revealed to me that in His model prayer (The Lord's Prayer) that His words of "Give us this day our daily bread" had a far greater meaning than monitary food. My mind was flooded with scripture as I read this verse. I recalled these scriptures "I am the bread of Life", "In the beginning was the Word", and one of my favorite, Revelation 19:13(b) "And His Name is the Word of God."
As a Pastor it bothers me that the majority of professing Christians read devotionals, and not the Word (because it takes to much time, or they claim to not understand it) of God on a daily basis. People tend to fall away, compromise, justify, and blame sin and everything around them for their failings instead of going to the 'Supply Source', the Word of God. If, as a Pastor, I need desperately to be in the Word daily before anyting else, what makes others fill like they can make it on a 'Snack' (Sermon, Bible Study, Devotional) weekly?
The Lord promises to 'Supply' us with all our needs (not our wants) each and every day. Are you being supplied daily? There is nothing better than to have read scripture hundreds of times, taught scriputre hundreds of times, and even preached scripture hundreds of times, and waking up one morning to something new in the Word. We will never know it all, and He will always be revealing new things to us. He wants to console, counsel, encourage and supply us with all that we need. Go to the source....'His Name is the Word of God.'

Emotion's

The definition of this powerful word 'Emotion' is:

"A Natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others."

As I reflect on this word I come to the conclusion that we all need to be very careful as Christians, and not be carried away by 'Emotions.' We all have fallen prey to our emotions that have led us down the road of 'Me' and not others. It has also taken us away from the cross instead of to it.

Emotions can be good when they lead us to repentance, reconcilliation, and forgiveness.

As a Husband, Father, and Pastor I have witnessed the pain and joy of emotions. I have witnessed the miscommunication, harsh words, bitterness and anger that comes from it. All emotions are, and can be good if dealt with by the Spirit of God.

So how do we deal with emotions when they divide, seperate and become self centered? The solution can be a hard one, or one that is simple and easy. The answer is "Turn to Jesus." Yes, it is that simple. Our major obstacle of course will be 'Us.' We all will have the opportunity to make a choice. We can chose to allow our emotions to take us where we should not be, or allow our emotions to be tempered by the Spirit of God.

Don't allow yourselves, satan or anyone else to control you by emotions. Choose to stop, reflect, pray and overcome the emotions that may lead you away from the cross instead of to it~

Why Joseph? Why Mary? Why not Us?

Have you ever wondered why out of all the people in the world in such a day as Joseph and Mary's, that God chose them to be the parents of Jesus? These are the sort of questions I love to think about. Why? Because it makes me question the "why's" in my life, and my relationship with God.
I don't want to throw to much into this by going through alotof scripture, and even going through Luke. I want to shed a little 'insight' in the book of Matthew alone. In chapter 1:19 we see that Joseph is much different than many other men of that day, "He was 'righteous." I do not know very many, or even any men today that when given the news of Mary being with child, would not publicly disgrace their wife to-be's. Joseph was a man of integrity and turly took to heart "Loving your neighbor as hisself."
Another glimpse into Joseph's life is that "The angel of the Lord spoke to him." His righteousness afforded him the daily direction that would take him out of self, and towards God. Joseph knew the Word, and he also knew the prophesies. When faced with the truth Joseph got right up and acted out of obedience to what the angel told him. As I look back into my life, and reflect on the many I counsel, mentor, and share with, I am faced with this truth "Many know, hear, and still do not act."
Chapter 2 starts right off with 'Prophesy being fulfilled.' As Christians we are to know the Word, and also know the end. But, do we truly act in obedience to these truths?
Look t the Magi. They were not men of Jewish descent, but they had read the prophesies and believed that they were true. They decided to pursue truth instead of merely look at it from a distance. They acted on what the believed to be true. Ironically, even King Herod heard and saw 'Prophesy' and acted on it. In God's soveringty and wisdom He again in a dream warned the Magi to go a different way bakc to their country.
Again through the rest of chapater 2 we see Joseph again warned, getting up immediately, and prophesy being fulfilled several more times.
So why Joseph? He 'acted' out of obedience everytime he was spoken to. Not when he discerned it, or thought it through, but immediately. becuase he knoew prophesy and was wiling to not just know it, but believe it. His realtionship with God came before anything else, and he by faith walked by it.
Why Mary? Luke gives a better account of Mary's life. It ws a life obedient and reverent to God. She also would believe and act, not think as to what she might have thought. She honored God through her humility and praise. She stayed committed to her pledge to Joseph with honor and respect.
What about us? When is the last time we have heard from the Lord? When is the last time we walked in total obedience wehn we supossably know the truth? When is the last time we followed without hesitation? When is the last time we really trusted and obeyed?
You see, we ahve alot to learn. God has so much for us, but the truth is "We are to busy with us, to be totaly obedient to Him. I look back at my life and reflect on the areas of my life in which "He spoke" and I waivered. Jesus says in John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." I get the picture, do you? I (we) keep myself from being used in ways I cannot fathom. Why not us? This is the question. God wants to, so why not learn from Joseph and Mary~

"What do you glory in?"

In Romans 15:17 Paul pens this "Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God." My thoughts immediately go to Paul and all of his trials, tribulations, sacrifices, and love for the lost. He was beaten, flogged, stoned, shipwrecked, and abused. Paul was Pharisee of all Pharisees, and had knowledge and zeal, yet he gave it all up to follow Jesus 100%.
When reading about these great men of God I tend to ask myself "Who is this Jesus that they knew?" Today I know this Jesus more than I ever have before. This relationship has, and is being built daily by being in the Word, serving and loving others as He did. This relationship gets stronger because of facing struggles in my life, trials, persecutions, and tests. It has grown due to the realization that it is not my life, and that I can do nothing at all without Him.
Let me ask you all this question, "Are you 'in' service to God? If you are then are you boasting about your accomplishments, or His accomplishments through you?" You may have grown up as good people, not so bad people, or normal people. I grew up a great con artist that took advantage of everything, and everyone. People thought I was a gret guy, but they did not know the darkness that pssessed my inner self. Jesu srescued me from all of this at the age of 36. How could I not glory in what He did? I had nothing to do with it other than finally surrender to myself. My love for people, and all that I do has nothing to do with me, but everything to do with Him. I glory in Him as Paul did. If Christ is in me then how can I not be in service to Him? All glory, honor and praise always be unto Him~

Assuming...Lack of Faith~

If we were at QTM I would ask everyone to get transparent with this question by a show of hands. Because of the last several days and events that have taken place, the Lord woke me up with this word 'Assuming' ringing in my head. I have always shared with people that 'Assuming' is really of the devil. If everyone would get honest we would all have to confess that 75-80% of the time "We are wrong in our assumption's." This most definitley leads me to say that assuming is not of the Lord.

In Philippains 4:6-7, Paul pens these words "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This my friends take 'Faith.' We all love to quote it, but do we really get it?

The reason we get anxious is that we 'Assume' most of the time the worst. God does not promise us tomorrow, but only today.

To me the "What if's" can most definitely be classified as 'Assumption.' Over the years I have know many parents that have not allowed their kids to go on mission trips because they assume they will not be safe, and that the country they go to is hostile (as a dad of girls who have been all over the world, and one who is still living in Africa, I know the feeling). It takse faith to trust our kids with God's care.

Many times our assumptions lead us to say things to someone, or about someone that is not true. We often assume what people feel and think instead of listening and trusting. We all do no think alike and we all have opinions at times. The devil or our own selfishness quickly throws us into assuming, and we get our eys off of Jesus. 'In' Christ Jesus we can rest, we can trust, we can move forward, be free of bondage, we can pray, we can place ourselves in others shoes. Most of all, we can ll experience nad walk in the 'Peace that surpasses all understanding.'

Next time we think that people do not care, people do not understand, we want answers now, what will happen.....Look to the Jesus. Oddly enough 98% of the people I talk with about any problem or issues in their lives respond when I ask them about being in the Word "No." We want peace, we want to forgive, we want answers, but he last thing we do is pick up the Word of God that can give us peace no matter what circumstnace they are in. Are you one of these people?

Philippians 4:6-7 is a promise. If we go to Him, and get out of self, we can have peace that surpasses all understanding. Prayer is powerful, bu the power of the Word is even more powerful.... And this my firends is not assumption~

HOPE (Even when we don't see it that way)

Today you must be exeperiencing God's grace and love for you. Lift up your head, take a deep breath, and realize "He has given us another day!" Today the majority of the people professing Christ to be their Savior only find 'Hope' in teachings and scripture that promise them something, make them feel good, and they agree with. But what about the majority of the scripture?

For years people have been persuaded that the 'Old' Testament does not hold much merit because the 'New' Testament is about the 'New' Covenant. Unfortunately they do not know that 'Both' go hand in hand, and that each are from God, and have been inspired by God. Each are for our everyday walk to God, and not away from Him.

To me, Ezekial 18 (really the whole chapter) verses 25-32 offer true hope to all believers. It is the key to the beginning, and the finishing strong in the Lord as a true Christian. Lets look at them, "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has commited he will die. But if a wicked man turns away from wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die. Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Are My ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

"Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new Spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!"

When we become 'Believers' then we are grafted into Israel's lineage. So, the same applies to us today. We cannot begin to believe that we have an advantage over Israel, and then continue to sin. The scriputre is clear on who will and will not live with Him in heaven.

So where is the hope? Most that read this blog will think "I don't see it that way!" While those who know that God loves us so much that He is warning us before it is to late will say "Thank you Lord!" Now the choice is ours. We can lay down 'All' that is sin in our lives and live, or continue to justify and use excuses for sin. Right now we have the opportunity to turn away from sin, repent, and live. Now that is true hope~

"Not Enough Room" John said.

In John 21:25, the Apostle John writes "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I would suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." I love this passage, and I desire to know even more about Jesus.

What about you? We all heard about Jesus and alot of what He did as we grew up, and continued to hear about Him as we got older. But, do we long to know more about Him each and everyday? I must say that over the past twenty years of being in the Word I have come to know Him more than I ever dreamed. For many its the same old stories, and the same old Jesus. There is really no passion, no zeal, and no obsession to know more about Jesus.

I want to encourage all of you today to start a new mind set, and a new life plan. Here on earth we will never know enough about our Jesus. John is so right when He penned those words "The world would not have enough room for the books that would be written." Each and everyday we can encounter Jesus. He wants to continue 'Writing' the book of our lives, so that others might come to know more about Him. Are we His tablet, adn he is continuing to write the book of your life with HIm~

THE WAKE UP CALL

All I can say is "Thank You Jesus!"We have been going through Ezekial in our monday night Bible Studies. Last night we went through Ezekial 16. It only solidified the truth about God's true love for each and everyone of us who by His grace is allowing us to read this blog.

Ezekial 16 shows us God's heart and also shows us that He is God and does not take sin litely. Today I think we have become 'Immune' to the truth that "God is God and He can do as He wishes." If He decides to discipline, punish, cause grief to, or even bring death to anyone or any people group, He has every right to. If it will get our focus back on HIm and off of the world then He is just in doing it.

How about us? ARe we not like the Israelites? Have we not prostituted ourselves with the world and sold Christ out for our pleasures? Ezekial 16 is a stark reminder for us that He will not tolerate this. If God did this to His chosen people, what makes us think that even worse would happen to us when we have the cross, and the Holy Spirit?

This is a wake up call to all who read it. You probably will not take the time to read this chapter, and many will form an opinion by just reading this blog. Sadly though, if you don't, then it means you don't really care and have been deceived into thinking that it's okay to continue on the path you think is okay.

I personally am taking Ezekial 16 as an eye opener to me. I believe it is the Word of God and that its purpose is to change everything about in order to be comformed into His likeness and His people. You will have to decide for yourselves. Is the secular lifestyle that Christains choose worth your eternity. Is the compromise in a Christians life worth Him "Turning His face from You?"Wake up, repent and turn~

Are we merely 'Close' to the kingdom?

After 20 years in the scripture daily, I am still intrigued, fascinated, convicted by, and drawn to scripture. It is alive, and active, a double edged sword cutting to the very marrow. God is speaking to me, not others, but me. We try to make it about the historical, the greek, the hebrew, and everything else in order to evade it's truth's. Many are in a race through it, so that they can say "I've read it front to back!" But there is a haunting question Jesus asked a teacher one day. He was learned, and knew scripture. I suppose that includes me the same for me. I know it, but do I get it?

In Mark 12:28-34, this scripture has remained embedded in my mind and heart for many years. The question always comes to me "Am I merely close?" Let us look at the scripture and see what Jesus is asking us today:

"Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Well said, teacher" the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

"Not far from the kingdom of God!" We really aren't any different from this teacher of the law. We have heard about the greatest commandment for years and some can even quote it, but the real qustion is "Are we living it?" This is where the rubber hit's the road for me, and all that are reading this. To love God by what Jesus is saying is to be about His business and not ours. To put Him before anything else in our lives. To love Him with every part of us, not just the parts we want to. For many today the truth is that "Its just merely words and not something that is reality." The choices we make, the things we do, the shows we watch and the many things we put before our God. And what about 'Loving our neighbor's?" Again we verbalize this love, but do we show it? Are we truly placing them above and their needs above ourselves? Are we showing them Christ in us, instead of the world in us? Our neighbors are 'ALL' and 'Everybody' that we encounter each and everyday! It's our family, our friends, and 'Yes' even the strangers around us. Do we really love them as ourselves? If we were incarcerated, in the hospital, in a nursing home, on the streets, lonely, depressed (and the list goes on) would we see the love anyone has for us if they never saw us? True love for the God is being obedient to His will. Doing His will. Being His hands and feet here on earth. Loving our neighbors as ourselves is encouraging, sharing truth in love, placing our time and resources above our needs.

Knowing this passage means nothing unless we are putting it into practice. We verbalize love, but love means nothing at all unless there is 'Action' behind the words. Unfortunately for the majority claiming to be Christians, Jesus would have to say "You are not far from the kingdom of God"

Are we Distracting?

It would be really hard for me to 'pick' which part of the ministry I love the most. I love to preach, I love to teach, I love to do Praise and Worship, I love going to Driscoll Childrens Hospital, I love the nursing home, I love Mentoring, I love the Rehabilitaion Centers, I love being a husband, father, and grandfather, I love serving the Lord all of the time. There is one though that has becomes 'Special' to Judy and I, and that is teaching at the Detention Center. We see kids from all facits of life, and social economic situations. Most of all we see kids. Kids that were created in God's image and who have lost their childhoods do to some kind of circumstance. But, they are still kid's.

With our new son, Jacob, I see daily howhe has lived a life of a 30 year old, but the fact is he is still a seventeen year old young man. I explained to him a couple of days ago that we are not treating him like a 'kid', we are treating him like what he is, a seventeen year old, and it is hard for him to realize this.

Today was one of those mornings that God reached down out of heaven an touched the young kids sitting amongst us at the Detention Center. Almost from the start of our time kids eyes were welling up as if rivers of tears were about to flow endlessly. We sang 'Better is one Day' and it opened up the conversation about the reality of everyone will die and face eternity somewhere. We read Jude (only made it a third of the way through) and hands went up, questions were being asked, and tears again surfaced. Hands were going up and kids were saying they want this new life, and it was humbling to see what God was doing. We ended the day by singing 'I can only Imagine.' Tears again began to flow and everyone wanted my card before we left. You see, every young man and lady there has the opportunity to call Judy and I when they leave. They all want to turn from their old lives and live the new. The smiles and looks we get when we give them those cards is overwhelming. They know that we are there for them 24/7-365. Let us all pray that they will pick up that phone.

All of this was great and God had done His part by drawing those kids to Him. Sadly though, as Judy ministered to three young ladies, the guards immediatley turnd the TV back on to where a movie had ended for us to speak. Sexual content and partying flooded the screen of that TV and I watched in horror as these broken kids were now faced with the world and all that it has to offer once again. I looked at the staff and thet too were laughing at the movie and engrossed with every word and what they were watching. I felt sick to my stomach. I wanted to stop everything ans say "These kids will have no chance if they continue to watch this stuff!"Then I was filled with grief and compassion because the Lord was showing me something else. He was showing me that these kids are being exposed to the same trash that believers allow theirselves and their kids watch. I stood there horrified and grieved.

As a Pastor I deal with families and kids on a weekly basis. I am the one that parents expect to pick up their kids broken pieces. I am the one that people look to to magically make their marriages better. I am the one who people make excuses for their immoral actions and ungodly lives to. My heart aches because it is all common sense. "Trash in, trash out!" We all have heard it, but do we do anything about it? There are very few TV shows on today that does not have some sort of 'sexual' content and profanity. There are very few that are not focused on realtionships and self centeredness. Kids are now use texting to say things they would never say to someone face to face, or even go as far as to send sexual pictures via texting. We atke kids to church, act like we worship then we sit our young sons down in fron tof our TV's watching a football game with half dressed cheerleaders expecting them to not go in their closets and act on what they have seen. We watch all of the Beer commercials, crude commercials and all that the world has to offer then exect them to live godly lives. Is Sports really so important that we are willing to risk our childrens futures? They are kids! How do you think they will respond? What seeds are we really planting? Are they seeds of godliness?

The past paragraph is not even what I was thinking of before I began this blog, but please let me ask everyone this "What do we think kids will be attracted to?" I praise God that He has afforded Judy and I to be His hands and feet at the Detention Center. We learn more and more every week about kids, and how we have messed up and may be messing up this generation with things of the world and not Jesus. We as believers should not have kids that struggle with the world 'IF' we would quit providing them the world! The seeds we plant will have 'Eternal' consequnces. Re-evaluate what you tink is ok and save your kids today from the brod gate~

Overcoming is Crucial

Sometimes I get a bit confused and amused at people who call themselves Christians. They have heard all the sermons, listened to all of the music, prayed, rededicated, and so forth, but they stillhave a problem 'Overcoming.' I encourage everyone to look at what the scripture says about ''Overcoming' using a concordance. I think that you will be surprised at how crucial 'Overcoming' is to our final destiny.

As I read Revelation 21:6-8 this morning I was lead to post on this one particular scripture; "He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolators and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Now, I don't know about you, but this really gets my attention! You see, and 'overcomer' gets their fill with Jesus, and He gives them everything they need to overcome. I don't believe by any means that when Jesus says "He who overcomes will inherit all this" means that He will show favoritism to those who don't. So, who are thos who don't 'Overcome?'

Cowardly: Those who succumb to peer pressure, those who do not make a stand for right instead of wrong, those who give way to sin instead of Jesus. Those who care more about themselves than others. Those who are afraid to be a witness for Christ.

The Unbelieving: I beleive we have all been here before, but that we are no longer walkign in unbelief. These are people who talk the talk, but do not walk the walk. These are people who 'try' instead of do. These are people who justify sin, compromise, and proclaim defeat instead of walking in victory. They are 'Fans' and not 'Followers.'

Vile: Those who are unpleasant, wicked, evil. Those who are always negative and un hospitable.

Murderers: Not just those who kill, but also those that kill with words, demoralize.

The Sexually Immoral: Those who lust after the opposite sex. Those who have pornographic issues. Those who wear provacative clothing. Those who justfiy and watch shows, or movies that have sexual content, and justify it by saying that it has a good story. Those who are engaged in premarital sex of any kind.

Those who practice Magic Arts: People who believe in horoscopes, gambling, lotteries, or anything that is merely an act of faith in something rather than God to help them.

Idolators: Those who love anything more than Jesus. Those who won't give up anything for Jesus. Those who put anything before Jesus.

All Liars: A real biggy! Exaggerating, outright lying of any sort. Any size of lie. One that does not tell the whole truth.

Wow! What a list and what a great opportunity to 'Self Examine!' You see, we don't necessarily want to admit that we have or have had any of these traits that actually condemn us to death according to the scripture. Jesus dies so that we can overcome all of these traits. If we don't then we won't 'Inherit' what we think we have already. Overcoming is Huge. Jesus died a hideous death so that we can, not can't. He has given us His Spirit so that we can overcome, and not fail. It is time to admit the truth and become an overcomer. It is time to forget about the faith we thought we had, and start living in an overcoming faith. Our eternity rests on it. 'Overcome!'

WHITEWASHED?

Whitewashed?Many people who read the scriptures forget that "It is how God speaks to us every time we read it." When it becomes convicting they attempt to read into it and interpret it by saying "God is talking to those people then" or, "You have to understand the history behind what is being said." I don't know about you, but the way I know God is speaking to me is that I am challenged and convicted by the Word. God is asking me "Pete, don't you get it? Is this you?"Last night we were reading Ezekial 13 and in versus 10-16 God spoke to all of us through these passages. Here is 10-12 and ou can read 13-16 on your own;"Because they lead my people astray, saying "peace", when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. Whent he wall collapses, will people not ask you, Where is the whitewash you covered it with?"This is so much more than what we read 'If' we ask God to show us what this means for us today. God is displaying His mercy, grace and love to each of us when we recognize that this scripture is a warning for us not to be like them. First I recall what Jesus said in Matt. 10 "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." Peace? What is peace? We do live in the last days, and the world is pulling at us all each and everyday. In our quest to find peace we fill our lives with everything we can in order to fill a peace that only Jesus can give.So what about the 'Wall?' The wall is merely who we are suppose to be in Christ. Our 'Wall' is to be our testimony, our lives, our claim of being a Christian. But what have we done with this wall? Have we not 'Whitewashed' it with Christian tee shirts, bumper stickers, icthusus, music, positions at church, etc...? You see God's Word causes me to ask myself "Am I really a Christian, and will my wall stand regardless of what comes my way?" We will all face times of hardship, struggles, and tests in our walk with Christ. When these things present themselves then we will see whether we have just put a coat of 'Whitewash' on, or if we are a wall (a true Christian)standing firm in these situations. We are no different from the Israelites then. Do we have idols in our lives today? People do not like ot look at this but, "An idol is anything we put before God, anything we won't give up for God, or anything we love more than God." If we have idols in our lives then it is best to remove them as soon as possible. If not then we are bellieving a lie and are merely 'Whitewashed' people. Our wall will not stand, and according to this chapter in the end we will be destroyed (I know this doesn't seem pleasant to most, but I did not write the scripture.) Kyle Idleman wrote a book recenlty, Not a Fan, that we took QTM through page by page, and chapter by chapter. Kyle puts it out there and challenges his readers to come face to face with truth "We are either fan's or follower's." I higly recommend each and everyone of you to read it. Oddly enough Ezekial is exposing the same thing to each of us today. We are either a strong wall of Christ in us, or a 'Whitewashed' want to be with and unpleasant eternal in our future. For me, I am going to be the 'Real Deal' fro all to see, in the good time, and the bad. My wall will always stand no matter what~

THANKSGIVING

I cannot help but to be drawn to Philippians 4:4-7 when I hear the word 'Thanksgiving.' It says "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:

Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ."

We all have alot to be thankful for. Another day, a great family, our health, the breath of life, food on our tables, etc... Paul gives us these word's of encouragement in order to stay encouraged. In order that we will continue to focus on how good God is, and has been in our lives. I don't know about you, but I need to guard my heart everyday.

Last night I took a young man to the nursing home in order to let him see that he has alot to be thankful for. It seems that over the past several years he always gets on his pity pot because things don't work out the way he thinks they should. As we walked the corridor's and talked with those who have little hope, he began to get the picture. He realized that he has his health, he has his freedom, he has a home that does not smell vile, and that he has taken alot for granted. I too am reminded about why everyday should be a day of Thanksgiving.

Today we have people doing the 'Thirty Days of thanksgiving', and it leads me to wonder "Why not three hundred and sixty five days of thanksgiving?" "Why not give thanks without ceasing?" How about committing to thank the Lord everyday until He comes back, or He takes us home? Now let's give Him thanks~

REBELLIOUS? WHO ME?

Whenever I see this word I remember that 'Back in the Day' one young actor portrayed this word better than the rest 'James Dean.' James did not just play out this role in his life, but he also played it out in death. He is remembered for being the 'Rebel without a cause.'

In Ezekial 12:1-2 we find this scripture:

"The word of the Lord came to me: 'Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people."

Immediately when reading this our flesh jumps in and says "Not me!" We tend to then look around and begin thinking of others that this scripture might apply to, still thinking "Not me!"

Unfortunately for us all the scripture is saying to us. We know the truth, but we have compromised it. We know the Word, but we have maligned it. We kow that we aren't walking in total surrender, and we accept it.

As I read and re-read this passage yesterday it took me right to the source. It took me to me. Immediately I asked "Lord, do I have any rebellion in my life? Am I compromising or maligning your truth because of my rebellious self? Is all sin really that bad?Did yo ureally mean what You said Lord? You see, this is how the Lord speaks to us all, 'IF' we have eyes to see and ears to hear. The people of Israel had all of the promises, all the inheritance, they had God leading the way, but kept rebelling agaginst Him. Are we getting it yet?

In 1 Samuel 15:23 in the King James it says "For rebellion is as withcraft and stubbornous is as Idolatry." I do not about you, but I do not want anything to do with wicthcraft and my stubbornous will only lead me away from God instead of to Him.

Lord, let us all have eyes to see and ears to hear~

Running Red Lights

Each and everyone of us our zealous about what we believe whether we admit it or not. We all become 'Dogmatic' about our belief's and unfortunately our 'Dogmatism' can really reveal the pride within us. You notice I did not say "The pride of Knowing and living as our Savior", but the "pride that lives within us."

One of the things I love the most about the Lord is that when we 'Run Red Lights' He affords us the grace we need to recognize it, and change. If we do not recognize these times then I believe it is safe to say "We aren't in tune with Him." Thats right, I said waht you just read and to be honest we all tend to overide the truth that the Spirit of God is wanting to share with us.

It seems that I am constantly getting into scriptural debates with people who believe in election versus choice. Yesterday a young man deleted me from FB because I shared with him that he is prideful, and that his constant 'bashing' of people who do believe in free-will is only divisive. He quickly deleted me from FB and sent me a message saying that I have slandered him (I am not sure that he undestands the word slander and that there is a huge difference between slander and truth). My message to him was that whether or not one believes in Election or Free-will does not matter. In the end we will not satnd before Christ on this doctrinal issue, but we will stand before Him being accountable for our lives and what we did for the gospel.

Through all of the messages back and forth I realized this "I myself have run alot of red lights." Instead of be zealous for my position on doctrine, I should be praying for the division that these doctrines and beliefs cause. Both sides believe in repentance, purity and holiness. They both believe and profess "Christ crucified and raised form the dead." The Lord showed me that I too can allow a doctrine to take me away from doing His will, His good and pefect will. I have run to many red lights, and am choosing to stay focused on one thing "Christ in me and through me." This is th eonly way that others will truly desire what we have~

Encourgement

Every Sunday morning I have the privilege of praying with my dear brother Dan in Phoenix. We always share what the Lord has done in our lives, and what He is showing us during the past week. After praying it dawned on me that I had not shared a huge praise. When I shared it with him he said "This is what you need to blog! This is extremely encouraging!" So here we go:

Lat Sunday evening I took Jacob (my new son) and Lucas (my Timothy) to see a twenty four year old young man at a Re-hab/Nursing home. On the way I shared with them why this young man was there and what happened to him to be in the condition he is. They listened with great intent and were axnious to be a prat of ministering to a young man who is comotose, paralyzed, and in essence dying. You see, this young man broke into his dad's bedroom and grabbed alot of drugs from chest of drawers. That night he 'OD'd' and life changed for him and everyone else in his family. My boys were truly speechless when they saw the pictures of this young man haning on the wall. Nothing wrong with him, and living life. It was hard to look back at him in his bed after looking at the picture's.

We played our guitars, and sang for over an hour. As we paused between songs, I would speak truth into the young man, and his dad and sister. By the end of the night there was not a 'Dry' eye. God was at work. When the songs were over I shared with the father and daughter that Nick had heard the truth tonight, and that he would be able to make it right with Jesus and become His folower even in the condition that he was in. I also explained that God had allowed this because of this young mans condition, the father and everyone else would actually come to Christ through what happened to this young man.

As we walked down the hall towards the door I looked over at my boy's and asked "What did the Lord show you tonight?" They both looked at me and almost at once said in unison "How ungrateful we are." Jacob also added that he would rather be doing things like visiting people than hangin with his friends.

What about you? Have you stopped your world to love and serve someone else lately. Have you actually realized how blessed you are, and how ungrateful that you have been? The world is full of people that just need to see and hear Christianity in action. Jesus did not say to go out and make converts, He said make disciples. Who are you discipling? You are missing out on God showing you unbelievable things, as you lay down your life for others~

Out of Context

There are alot of scriptures that people take out of context. "Alot!" Probably one of the ones that shakes me up the most is found in 1 John 1:10 "If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives." At first glance one would think "We have and always will sin." But, the very next verse in 1 John 2:1 says "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But, if anybody does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." These verses seem like they could definitley 'Contradict' each other, but if we stop, listen and learn, we can understand what John is saying.

John by no means is saying "We will always be sinners." He is saying "If you have sinned don't lie about it. Stand up, repent and move on. Then, "Stop Sinning." A person that thinks they cannot stop sinning is a person who does not have faith. Phil. 4:13, 1 John 4:4, and Matt. 19:26 assure us that we can. If we say that we cannot, then there is a huge lack of faith here. How can we say we have faith if we are not willing to live it out, and beleive all what is written.

For years now men have written tracks that take malign God's word. If I have sinned then I need to own up to it. If I have sinned I need to repent and get back in a 'Righteous' state with Christ. How can Joh tell us in one verse that we are sinners, and the next to stop sinning. You see, the context is very important, and many take the Word of God out of context in order to continue to sin instead of rising above it.

My door is always open to the mormon's and Jehovah Witnesses. I ask them in and ask them "What translation of the Bible are you reading?" When they tell me I simply get up and get their translation. I then ask them to share with me why and what they believe. As they 'Skip' around in the Bible attempting to convert me, I simply say "Gentelmen, Let us look at this verse in context. Let us go up at least ten verses, and go past ten verses." Ironically after a time with these folks I always have one or more ask "Can I come back sometime and talk more?"

Don't race through the Bible, camp on it. Allow it to penetrate the very marrow of your soul. Allow the Spirit of God to take you towards Him, instead of others (people who share scripture out of context) away from Him. Teh Word clearly states that we must "Stop Sinning." What will we do with it~

ANOTHER YEAR, HEAVEN IS MY HOME!

Every year that goes by is a reminder to me that eternity lies before me. Every year I realize more and more that I was born to prepare for death. Every I am reminded that "Heaven is my home."

What about you? Are the things of this world pulling you away from these truths? Is there anything in your life that is more important, or that you need to achieve before you die? For those who love the Lord the answer is simply, "No."

When I surrendered my life in 1992 to the Lordship of Christ I would tell my girls "I am ready to go home, to heaven." They would get a little 'ticked' at me and say "That is selfish, we need you." But after all of these years walking and growing in the Lord, I believe they would look up when its all been said and done and say "He finally made it, He's Home."

I would love to be here for my grandchildren, I would love to be on the mission field, I would love to grow even older with my wife (my best friend) and keep sharing in ministry with her, I would love to experience and see the youth I teach weekly finally make the true comittment in their lives to follow Christ 100%. All of this crosses me mind for a second and then.....Well you know the answer by now.

May the Lord bless each and everyone of you as you now begin to prepare for death. It will come, and no one knows when. Heaven is my Home~

A STARK REMINDER

It is amazing today that many people claim to have 'Faith', but there is little evidence of it in their lives. Many do not stop, and meditate on the Word, and therefore think that by faith, what they have been taught is 'True Faith.' Ironically faith has nothing to do with what is taught, and everything to do with reading the Word, accepting it, and living out what it says.

Throughout the 'New Testament' we see 'Reminder's' of the Old Testament. Not only do the writers of the New Testament remind us, but Jesus Himself reminds us of the past, and how God dealt with His people. Why? Because the same principles apply to us today. We tend to be the same rebellious people who still serve the idols in our lives, than peopl 'Sold Out' to God following in total obedience, just as His chosen people did.

One passage of scripture that always talks to me when I read it is Hebrews 3. I am only goin gto share the last part of it, and ask that you go back and read the whole chapter and the beginning of chapter four. Many have not wanted to hear from God on this scripture because they will have to change if they recognize themselves in the same state as the Isrealites of old. Lets us see what the Word of God says "Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those who Moses led out of the desert? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter His rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief."

God has shows me each and everytime I read this passage that I need to reall and truly 'Believe' and that if I do, I would quit sinning. Today many think that this is an unatainable task, but that thought process does not come from God. He gave us His Son and the Holy Spirit in order that we will not sin (1 John). We have not received a 'Get out of Jail' pass when it comes to the final judgment day. Our 'Unbelief' will keep us from 'Eternal Rest.' We all know the Romans 10:17 says "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Does this not mean that it is the Word of God that we should believe, and that we always need to have faith to believe and act on it? I love to read and be enocuraged by James 1 :22 "Do not merely listen to the Word and so be decieved. Do what it says!" Okay, this is going to take 'Great' faith on our part. We are going to have to throw out alot of what we have been taught, or even thought. We are going to have to 'Believe' God and His Word. Are we up for that?

Faith has nothig to do with the quoting of scripture, the denomination we attend, or even the deeds that we do. It has everything to do with being obedient in all things to God. Do we truly desire to enter that rest in the end, or are we willing to one day be left dead in the desert (hell)? Lord let us all live lives in total obedience to You as we continue to die to ourselves~

We Do have Our Part To Do~

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:1 "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and Spirit, perfecting Holiness out of reverence for God." These words of Paul's are not in the Bible to be merely 'Stepped' over. Today, as Believers we do have 'Promises' from God that lead unto salvation. God has, and always will do 'His part.' The crazy thing is that we forget we have our part as well to do.

Let us slow down a bit and really look at this scripture. Paul does not anywhere in his writings (nore the other writers) claim that just because one has come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, that they are now Holy in their future state. All of the writers warn us of falling away, turning from Jesus, and being engulfed by the world again.

Yes, we do have promises from God as believers. The greatest of all promises is that we can have eternal life with Jesus one day. Unfortunately many take that 'IF' word out of the equation. The New testament would never had to be written if salvation had nothing to do with our actions and obedience to Christ. God is going to keep His promises and this is the first step of belief we need to understand. There is another thing we must also believe that all of the writers of the Scirpture share with us "That IF we persist in filling our lives with the world, and IF we do not turn from sin, and that IF we do not walk in obedience, God's wrath will come upon us." This He also promises.

"We must purify ourselves from everything that contaminates our body and Spirit. Is there anything in our lives that contaminate our bodies? Smoking, cussing, drinking, and gluttony are just a few things that come to my mind immediately (trust me there are many more). Is there anything in our lives that is contaminating our Spirit? What we watch on TV, what we watch at the movies, what we read, what music we listen to, etc, (and the list goes on). Are we willing to 'Purify' ourselves from these things? To purify anything is a continous thing. If anything is is unpure, then it needs to be made pure. This is our part in the equation. God is not going to 'make' us do this, but out of love and reverence for Him "We will."

'Perfecting Holiness' is our goal in order to show God and others that we are reverant to the Lord. Many believe today that we cannot be Holy, and this is because they do not want to give up things in their lives that are unholy. This is why the alot 'Bad' teaching today has caused a serious evolution of apathetic, sin enduced, self seeking believers today. They have been taught that when you accept Christ that you are now Holy forever and that he will always be in you. According to the scripture in Hebrews 12 "Without Holiness, no one will see the Lord." The ture hope is that "We can be Holy." If we purify ourselves from the world and the thing sof the world, then and only then will we be able to perfect Holiness. Paul would not write these things if he himself was not doing them.

'Reverence.....' I am not really sure that people know what true 'reverence' is today. True 'reverence' will be seen by others because it will be flowing through our actions. We cannot by in to the lie that we are reverent on Sunday mornings alone, and when we walk out the doors that reverence is left at the door. Being rverent is a daily, hourly and minute by minute thing for a true believer. One cannot be 'Reverent' lusting and living for secular things.....Can they.

Okay, enough chattering and truth sharing. What will we do with what we just read. Will we believe the Word of God and start 'Purifying' our lives of the things that contaminate our bodies and Spirits? Will we sieze the truth and begin 'Perfecting Holiness' in our lives? Last but not least "Will we begin living lives of true 'Reverence' to God? We must do our part in order to receive His promise~

PSALM 119 (HOW TO SUCCEED IN ALL THAT WE DO)

Last year I was drawn one day to Psalm 119. As I began to read it (Stopping at almost every verse to meditate on it, and ask God waht he wanted to show me) It did not take long to realize that this awsome, long chapter, was God's blueprint to a real realationship with Him, and how to maintain that realtionship not just yearly, not just monthly, not just weekly, not just daily, not just hourly, but every second of the day. Every waking momnet of the day.

After finding myself consumed for over an hour reading this awesome Psalm, a thought came in to my mind to lay my Bible down and pick it up tomorrow where I left off. As I shut my Bible and began to walk out of my office, it was apparent God was not done speaking to me. I looked over at my Bible and went back and opened it once again as God beagn speaking to my life once again. This happened tow more times before I finally found myself finished with Psalm 119. Almost four hours later I realized that I had just spent some of the most rewarding time of my life with the Creator of all things.

You see, Psalm 119 teaches us the importance of God allowing us to speak with Him. Age is not a factor here, and even from the first time one really grasps who He is, the answers to having a long, lasting realationship with Him is revealed. He taught me once again how to minister, how to teach, how to know Him, how to be the best husband I can be, the best father I can be, the best grandfather I can be, and the best friend I can be. These are all things that money cannot buy and schools cannot teach. As aPastor I am brutaly honest at times with whomever crosses my path. I let everyone know that I can share the Word with them, I can teach them, but I cannot teach them how to know God and fall in love with Him. Psalm 119 does a far better job than I could ever do.

God wants us to stop, climb up in His lap, seek His face, and give Him all of our undivided attention. He still desires to 'Father' us and help us in all of the areas of our lives. Will we stop all that is going on in order to be taught by our Father? Pick up Psalm 119. Do not place a time limit on when to finish it, or even be distracted by other things. God wants to speak to us all~

WE ARE, OR WE AREN'T (and everyone will know)

There is and always will be a huge debate on who really are Christians and who are not. The scripture is pretty clear here. Alot of people in which I chat with get upset sometimes and say "Are you saying that I am not a Christian?" At this point I just quote scripture and let it do the talking. We have skated around total truth for years now. What is 'Good' and what is "Evil.' Oddly enough it is pretty black and white, "Good is good, and Evil is evil."

Let us examine the Word on this one...

In Matthew 7:13-23 we see the truth of this question and we probably need to really scrutinize our lives as well. Jesus says "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only few find it. First we need to ask ourselves one huge question "What road are we truly on?" You see, many have been to church, been active in church and thaty have been told or assume they are Christians. But truthfully, "Which road are we on?" Do we still think that freedom in Christ allows us to do secular and worldly things? This my friends is the broad gate and the broad road. Jesus goes on and say "Watch out for false prophets. They will come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." We have to be on our guard today more than ever. Men teaching and preaching doctrines that fit their lifestyles instead of the pure truth of the Word and who Christ really is. They agree that all are sinners, and that Jesus doesn't care if abot the small stuff. Instead of calling out sin in peoples lives they avoid the truth so that people will still 'Hit the box' in order to keep their lifestyles going. These next few verses to the ones that are truly seeking the truth will be encouraging, self examining and life changing. Those who are playing will not take these passages seriously, and look at other people instead of their own lives. Jesus says By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Like wise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad cannit bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Okay, "Is there any bad fruit in your lives?" If there is then it must be dealt with. Now, Jesus gets even more balck and white with the rest of His message by saying "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', will neter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My father in heaven. Okay, whose will are we fulfilling? "Ours, or His?" There is no middel ground here folks. This is not like 'Horseshoes' where 'Close' get us in! Now He says "Many will say to me ont hat day 'Lord, Lord, did we not prosephy in Your Name,a nd in Your name drive out demons and perform miracles?' The I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Wow! Does he really mean thse words? You bet He does! Jesus isn't talking to unbelievers, but to people who claim to know Him. You see, we can feed the homeless, be a Pastor, Argue scripture, Visit nursing homes, Mentor kids, Get involved in many good causes, etc....But If there is any evil in our lives, He said we will be told "I never knew you."

Today there is alot going on where people who claim to be Christians are doing good things. However, they justify their secular activities, espouse that they have freedom to do them, and truthfully have changed the grace of God into worthless words. They believe they are exempt from Holiness, Righteousness, and purity because they have been 'Saved.' I dont know about you, but I see in scripture clearly that true Christians produce 'No' bad fruit. They do not endolge in nay form of evil, and choose to live righteouss live. The fruit then is first fruit. The fruit then is not works, but Christ flowing through them. If true Christians would quit calling people Christians because of what Jesus says, then and only then they might change. I love calling myself a servant and slave to Jesus Christ. I also love saying "I am a real Christian." Why? Because it keeps me changing, heading to the cross, and living like Him so that others will see and desire the same as myself "To be a true Christian."

Proverbs 24:16

In ministry there is a constant onslaught of people who desire to give up, say that can't do it, and that do not persevere. Why? Because they might not have the Holy Spirit within them. Pretty bold statement some may say, but let us look at this scripture, Proverbs 24:16 "For though the rigteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes."

Here we see two different people, the 'Righteous' and the 'Wicked.' I pray that no one even goes to the place where they say "I am not wicked because I make the wrong choices, or that we can still have the Holy Spirit in us when we do wicked things."The key here is that the scripture calls us to be Holy and Righteous. It does not say we are all going to sin, it is okay to sin, but that we all have sinned. So now we can all agree that we all believe scripture to be 'True.'

SO let us take a look at the 'Righteous' man in this verse. Did he quit? Did he give up? Has he made exuses? No! He gets up and gets right back into a righteous state through repentance. Sin no longer masters him. The church and Christians have really blown it when they attempt to encourage people by saying "It's okay, we all sin." "That's okay, God loves you." "Try your best, that is all God desires." For some reason we try to pacify people by not telling them the truth and encouraging with scripture. If God has called us to be righteous (and He has) then why would we tell someone the opposite? Wicked is wicked. Sin is sin. It does nto matter if we stoled the cookie or the cookie jar, it is still sin and sin is wicked.

So, can the Holy Spirit dwell in someone that does not persevere? "No." One of the most important purposes of the Holy Spirit is to turn people from wickedness, and to Righteousness.

James 1:13-15 explains this really well "When tempted, no one should say "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death." Now, I hope we all see that wickedness and sin are of our own choice, and not always soemthing we can blame on the devil. If you fall, "Get up!" If you are truly a Christian you will "Get up!" The wicked will always blame someone or something for their fall, and they would rather make excuse than to "Get up!" If we fall, then may we always get up and get right back into that rightoues state with God~

Resolved

I have been reading Jerry Bridges book 'The Pursuit of Holiness.' I love all that he has to say and in chapter 9 he quotes Jonathan Edwards "Resolved, never to do anything which I would be afraid to do it is were the last hour of my life." Wow! This is a powerful quote. The awesome thing about this quote is that Jonathan Edwards did not just quote it, he lived it.

So where does this quote leave you and I today? Will it leave us in the same place we are when we hear some other truth quoted by another Christian influence? Will we merely say "Thats a good one", but not resolve to live by it?

Eternity is real and we all will face it one day. According to the scripture we will be judged for all the good and bad that we have done while we were alive. It also says that 'IF' we repent (turn 180 degrees for the sin and then to God) that the sins we repent of will be thrown into the sea, and never remembered. Heaven is real and Hell is real according to the scripture, and I believe this to be true. It will be a terrible thing in the end to find out that our opinion on who will, and who want enter into Heaven, or be cast to Hell was not right. The clear plumbline is this "Is what we are living for worth what Christ died for?" Was that football game, sitcom, book, magazine, or anything of our pleasure worth our eternity? Jesus said that He will come back as a thief in the night. What IF He comes back this very hour? Where will you honestly be with the decision you have made. We must not 'Try' to do better. We must be 'Resolved' to choose kingdom things over worldy passions and lust. Then and only then will we know that we are His~

Arm Yourselves!

Today more than ever too many people use excuses for not surrendering totaly to Christ. The majority always espouse how hard it is to 'Quit' sinning. They basically throw up their hands and assume that this is going to be okay on judgement day with Jesus. However; the Bible is clear that all who truly die to self inorder to live for Christ, will suffer.

Let us look at the scripture so that we can see and be encouraged by what it says. In 1 Peter 1:4 Peter writes "Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves witht he same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin." You see life here on earth wans't as easy as we think for Jesus either. In Hebrews 5:710 we see that Jesus also had to suffer throughout His life. It says "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverant submission. Although he was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Milchizedek." His focus was different than the rest. His focus was on His Father and 'yes' he suffered being obedient just as we do.

Peter writes a powerful message here by letting us know that we should just go ahead and 'Die' to sin, and then we are done with it. The problem is that in our own power we attemot to die to sin, but go and take it back. Our focus is on us and hte sin instead fo God. Peter is also saying that IF Jesus did it "We can too!" The irony of it all is that dying to these things is the best thing that can ever happen to anyone pursuing the Lord Jesus. It feels great once we have died to it.

Tomorrow we will go to battle just as a soldier goes into battle. The soldier will pack his gear, claen his rifle, and make sure that he has everything he will need to win that battle. He is Armed for battle. How about you? Will you get up and put on the armor tomorrow? Will you pray, read His Word, and walk out of your houses armed for battle? I have heard thousand of excuses for why people allow sin to occupy their lives. The sad thing is that they were not will to arm themselves daily in order to overcome the sin that lies ahead. Every morning do yourself a huge favor and Arm yourself to die from self and live for Christ. Yes, You will suffer, but remember this "It's gonna be worth it!" Christ did, and we can~

The Jacob Project

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).

Judy, myself, our girls, and our ministry is about to receive a huge blessing. After several years of mentoring at the Juvenile Detention Center our dream is coming true "To open our home to kid's that have never had a real home." I am not sure who is more excited, us, our girls, our church, or Jacob. There is alot of joy flowing through our house after the furlough weekend in which we had Jacob to our home for 24 hours. Can you imagine a young man who grew up without a mom, without a room of his own, without a table to sit down with family, and without 'No' positive role model in his life? A young man who had to fend for himself because his dad had is own agenda (drugs, etc)?

Jacob turns 17 next thursday. He has been a model Cadet an the boot camp. He has goals and ambitions. Jacob was robbed of all these things until now. We, as people tend to do our own thing as so called believers. Judy and I have heard things as "You are going to let this young man come in with your grandaughter in the house?" "You need to be careful!" "Are you sure you are ding the right thing?" from so called Christians. What about faith? What about the scripture? What about Jacob and all the countelss others that can dream and have the same opportunities with just someone to love them, care for them, and help them.

You see, most people do not want to admit it, but they are more 'Polluted' by the world rather than 'sold out' for Jesus. Why are not more Christians allowing kids into their homes? These are the orphans that might have grown up in what seems to be a family, but never knew what family was. The percentage of kids in the Juvenile Center that Judy and I teach every weekend that do not want to go back home is staggering. The Juvenile Center has become a 'Carousel' to these kids because it is safer there than at home. On any given weekend we will ask this question "How many of you do not want to go back home when you leave here?" There is never less that 85% of the kids raise that raise their hands.

I praise the Lord that because of the courage and love of our Judge, that our family will finally have a son, and a brother. Just the right one and his name is Jacob. As Jacob and us prepare for his arrival, I told him "Jacob, you are a pioneer. You are a yong man that can fulfill all of your dreams, and set a standard fro others to follow." Words cannot express the smile that came across his face. He is more than a project to us, and far more than an orphan to us. He is Jacob. He is our son, and our friend. He is a young man that God has allowed us to love, nurture and care for, just as Jesus has done for us. We will be placing him in college this next semester to begin his dream. He dream has gone from wanting to be a welder to wanting to be a probation officer. In his word's "I want to help other kids like me." Please keep him in prayer. He iw worth it~

Where is our Focus?

It has become more apparent to me every year, month and day, that the belief system about Christ and being a Christian, comes from what one has been taught, or heard, rather by the Word of God. One of my favorite question to ask people is "Why do you believe what you believe?" The crazy answers and looks I get are pretty sad (I started to say humerous, but I am more concerend about their souls than humor) empty and yes, "Pathetic!" What has happened over the years? Where has the focus gone? The focus has landed on 'Us' and not 'Christ.'

The demand for self satisfaction has created a false sense of faith, and belief. The scripture is clear that it is not about us. It is about Jesus and serving others. It is about the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and keeping us from a sinful state. Many teach and preach today that evryone that calls themselves a Christian is going to heaven. Does the Word of God say that? many teach and preach today that as long as your trying it will be good enough. Does the Word say that? Many preach and teach that as long as your doing something for Christ that He is good with that. Does the Word say that? Many preach and teach that God wants your best for you. Does the Word say that?

We have lost our focus. We have allowed people to take our eyes off of the truth and we gravitate to some new teaching that fits our lifestyles. You see, If we have our focus on Jesus we would have to change! We could not keep from it. If we had our focus on Him then we will deal with any and every sin that is in our lives. If we have our focus on Him then we will be reaching to the lost knowing that if they do not turn to Him and surrender their lives 100% to Him then their fate will be eteranl damnation. Here is the problem "We don't want to change, but we want Jesus." No one can tell me that IF our focus is on Him that our lives won't change. They have to change because of Him, and our true love for Him. We speak to Him in prayer, and He speaks to us through His Word. Why look elsewhere? There are gret books, devotionals and study material out there, but these should only consume 10% of your time. The other 90% should be in the Word. We have to get our focus off of other preachers, teachers, and leaders, and get it back on Christ. Then and only the will we see revival. Are you humble enough and bold enough to do it?

You sure you are 'Born Again?'

I remember years ago whenever anyone questoned my salvation, or my being 'Born Again' I would get extremely boiled. I believed what I had been told and taught for years until 1992. I laid down everything I had ever been taught and began my new journey of following Jesus, and not anyone elses doctrine, or beliefs. I chose to believe what the Word says and not what, or how anyone else interpreted it. "What if what they have taught me is wrong?" I thought. Today, I am so glad that believing what it says has lead me to a life of being a real Christian, following Jesus as the scripture says to do.

I want to share this passage of scripture with you so that you might believe and live that life Christ desires us to live here on earth. Regardless of what we have been taught it does "Say what it says" period. Yesterday at the Detention Center I had two young men say "We are all children of God!" Then I asked him why he believes that. He stared at me for a few moments and I said "Let us see what the Bible says:

1 John 2:28 thru 3:10....

"And now children, continue in HIm, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin. No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. he who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in Him; he cannot go on sinning, becasue he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is nto a child of God; nor is anyone who does no love his brother."

When these two men finished reading this scripture I asked them what they thought God was telling them and they replied "That I need to be born again, and that its not okay to sin. I need to change."

Several years back a young Pastor who I had mentored posted things on Facebook that were totaly secular, and just not right for the Christian to be doing and shwing the world. I emailed him and asked him to please tell me how he interpreted this same passage. he emailed me back (not knowing the purpose of my sending it) and said "Matthew Henry says........" He read the commentary of Matthew Henry and said that this passage has noting to do with anyone 'salvation.' Now, what did you read? What did these young men at the detention center read? read it again and again. When I first read this after I agreed with God to believe everything it says, I examined my life and did away with any sin that I knew was in my life. I desperately wanted to be born again (as the Word says) and be His true child. Today, I pursue Him and His righeousness the same way I did back then. I had danced with the devil for years and years, and made justified my life of sin as many do today, while still saying "We are born again."

If you are having a hard time digesting this truth, then stop and realize that it is His grace that is affording us the opportunity to get in right standing with Him. Don't take your thoughts of being born again lightly. Do away with anything that isn't right, and allow Him to make you new~

Trick or Treat

I believe most of us grew up longing for the next holiday to show up. Good times, friends, family and crazy get togethers. This was what I thought and believed 'BC.' As a Pastor everyone wants me to provide my opinion on the holidays, and most of the time I hear alot of justification. The holiday that I always have to address the most is 'Halloween.' Let me first say that anyone with children, or grandchildren immediately think "They will be so cute dressing up as Batman or Cinderella." I have to agree that they would, but I also have to agree with the fact that there are many more days a year in which they can be cute and adorn those costumes. Matter of fact if they want to get dressed up in May and go door to door seeking candy, this would be fine.

Here is the deal that many people don't want to accept and that is "Halloween has nothing to do with Jesus, or Christianity." People immeditately say "Christmas came from a pagan holiday and Easter did too!" So, let's look at these with common sense. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter all bring glory to God and Jesus Christ, and are the only holidays that we can actually evangelize, because everyone (even an unbeliever) knows their purpose. They do not promote or glorify the devil, death, or wickedness. Halloween does. The pressure mounts and Christians tend to fall from peer pressure and say "Well, lets have a fall festival, carnival, or outreach at our church, so that we can offer an alternative." Something big is missing though. We are still honoring the day. It is a fact that rapes, human sacrifices, abuse of children still occurs every Halloween in this country and countries all over the world. People say (and my wife and I have to admit also) that it is sad to not open the door and give these kids some candy. When are we going to learn that we aren't suppose to be of this world anymore. The Word of God tells us plainly that we will suffer for His sake. I feel that this is why Christianity has lost ground at a rapid pace across the world. We say we are to be different and yet we do the same things the world does. Unfortunately we call our Christian friends (who are weak) and they agreee that those standing firm have lost it.

I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I do believe that if we train our kids up right from the beginning it will be easier to keep them on track when they get older. If we show compromise in areas of wickedness or evil then they will compromise. Can you imagine an 8 year old justifying what is wicked and what is not? Even if they don't wear a wicked witch costume or a little devil outfit, they still know that the day is about wicked (Once the get over the candy lure), evil, and death. As a Christian I believe we are to look at resurrection not death. Good and not evil.

Last but not least...What do you think Jesus and the Disciples would do? You know the answer don't you. According to the scripture the devil is the father of all lies, and I believe we can either acknowledge this lie now, or pay for it later. The founder of a church that has grown leaps and bounds over the years put out a video series about paganism years ago, and one of the videos is all about Halloween and why as Christians we should have no part of it. I concuur with this video and applaud it to this day. The sad thing to me today is that there are alot of the churches using the same name as the founder and the church he founded who will have 'Alternative' things going on at their churches in the name of Jesus. Even they don't make a total stand and the lost sit back and remain confused. The question is this "Will we compromise and accept evil, or will we satnd for Christ and our kids. It would be sad to stand before Jesus one day and because of our choice to celebrate this holiday, He will say "Trick or Treat, I never knew you."

GAMBLING

You have probably started reading this post wondering what I personally think about gambling, or what my opinion is in this matter. Well, I am not going there today. What I will say is this "Everyday everyone is gambling, whether they think they are, or not." That's right "We all gamble!"

Let me explain it to you as the Lord shared it with me today. In my quest to live for Him, surrender to Him, deny myself, die to self, each and everyday, I have to be cognizant of the fact that the choices I make will include gambling in one measure or another. Say you are driving towards a an intersection and the light is turning yellow. You decide to speed up and hope that it does not turn red. Just as you reach the intersection it turns red, and immediately you look around to see if there is a policeman anywhere. You gambled. Suppose you are running a little late and you were to be somewhere at an exact time, or you might miss the opening of a movie or show. Maybe your going to miss the blessing before the meal, or the bible study is going to start without you. When you get there you realize it started and you cannot go back and see what has already taken place. Maybe you have been selfishly working hard wanting the best for your family, and find yourself gambling on being the Father or mother to them, only find out you cannot get those years back.

Today we all gamble with the Lord. "What?" "We gamble with the Lord!" We find ourselves not changing because we are gambling that He won't come back today, and find oureselves saying "We will start changing tomorrow." How about the times we say "Lord if you will do this, I will never do it again." Many believers today gamble on what they have been told, or taught instead of knowing what the Word truly says. Have you followed a Pastor, a teacher, a denomination, or maybe just aquired your own opinion and thoughts on what the Lord really expects out of us? That is nothing short of 'Gambling.' Alot of teachers today say "God wants your best for this life", "This is your Purpose driven life", "All you have to do is say a prayer", and last but not least "God understands your struggle with sin." Are these saying scripturally correct? Does God understand that a Tee Time is more important thatn the lost and the needy? Does God understand that eating out is far more important that children dying of hunger? You see, none of these line up with scripture, but we tend to 'Gamble' that God will overlook them. To God, sin is sin. We gamble that a small white lie is not as bad as a big lie. We gamble that sexual immorality is not as bad as homosexuality. We gamble that we don't have to be Holy, Righteous and pure, because everyone has told us that we will always be sinners.

I don;t know about you, but I laid down 'Gambling' in 1992. I made alot of money 'Gambling' playing cards, betting on games, playing golf, and just about anything anyone could ver gamble on. In 1992 God showed me that I was gambling with the most important thing I could ever lose, and that was my eternal life. I had a choice to stop gambling, start believing, start seeking, and start following. I am not gambling anymore, because I know because of the Word of God. Everyone seems to cling to 'New' teachings, and methods. Then they gamble on whether or not they are right or not. Here's the deal..... Jesus said "Go ye therefore and make disciples", He did not say 'Converts!' If you are not doing this and merely trying to get people saved, then you are gambling that Jesus will look over His command. Stop gambling and start living. Stop gambling and start being. Stop gambling and start giving. He is a just God~

'Likeness'

Almost every week in the Detention part of the Juvenile Center I feel the need to share with the detainee's this one huge truth found in Genesis 1:27 "So God created mankind in His image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them."Why is this so improtant to share with them? It is important to let them know, and for us to be reminded also, that we were created in His image, not our's. We were created to be a reproduction of Him. Not in looks, but in character. Not in looks, but integrity. Not in looks, but in love (you get the picture).

When I think of His image I quickly affix my thinking to a mirror. I am supposed to be the duplicate of what I see. Today we use every excuse in the world for why we make wrong choices. We blame satan, and others for our choices, and misdeeds. When we continue to sin then we have to ask ourselves this question "Whose image are we depicting?" We were not created to be the image of satan or the world, but of God. The crazy thing about this is that we get to choose each day which to put on, Christ or satan. When we go to the closet and know that people will be looking at us we normally pick out what makes us look the best, or what we represent. We want our image to show others who we are. Are you catching on to what we need to focus on? It isn't about us, and how we look, it is about Him and others seeing Him in us. Wehn we choose to sin when we know it is wrong, or justify sin for any reason at all, the world sees the image we reflect. God did not 'Create' anyone readign this to be our own idenity, He created us so that we will show the world Him. In our homes, at our places of work, and even during our pleasure times, God wants Himself to be seen through us. I don't know about you, but I know that I have been created to be like Him in everything. Not some of the things I do, but everything.

As we reflect about this post I pray that each one of us will realize that God does nto make junk. We are His 'Masterpiece' crated in His likeness. Now, let's believe it, and live it~

Eye Opener!

too many people go through the Word at a fast pace. Many say "Get a Bible and read it through in a year!" I always say "If God is speaking to you, then 'camp' on that scripture until He moves you on." Reading the Bible and receiving what God has to share with you is not a race, but a relationship. How can we change when we are forgetting to take one step at a time?

Alot of people read into this scripture in which I am about to share and forget that God is wanting to share something with each one of us, and not a 'select' group. Read it carefully and then go back and get the full context when you are through. Start from verse one and continue to go through the whole chapter. In Romans 9:18 Paul says these words "Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden." Many have attempted to take this scripture and use it as an 'Election' scripture. Whether you or I believe that it is about election or not, we all have to admit that God is God. He can and will do whatever He pleases in order to bring glory to His name.

Stop for one minute and look at this scripture with your eyes wide open, and with the Spirit of God speaing right to you (And that is His purpose for the Word). If one continues to choose sin instead of repenting and turning from it what can God do? If someone has run the race until the end, but then chooses to justify and compromise any sin in their life, then what can He do? If someone does not commit fuly to Him to follow Him whole heartedly, then what can He do? He does not have to show mercy. He is God and can do whatever He chooses to do. What if He decides that if I continue to sin that He will harden my heart so that others will see how easy it is to choose the 'Broad road?' IF I was to choose to sin, He can choose to harden my heart to where I can never come back to Him. I personally do not want to take that chance.

If this post has not 'Opened' you eyes to this truth, then maybe we need to re-examine where our heart is, and what condition it is in before it is to late. God is God and I am not! Now that is an eye opener~

Millstone Waiting?

I never knew what a millstone was, and never really cared until I read this passage in the scripture "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for them to have a millstone around their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matt. 18:6). Now that is convicting and scary to me. We all have 'Run the Red Light' so to speak and have taught our kids, and grandchildren things that according to the scripture would constitute our having a large millestone wrapped around our neck in the end. Praise the Lord for His mercy and grace. However; now that we know this truth and have this knowledge, we will be held accountable in the end if we do not repent. We have to change the way we have been doing things. We need to see it His way, and no longer our way.

Some examples of things we have, and might be doing today:

"You are not suppose to be listening to that kind of music! You need to be listening to Christian music!" Then "Honey, hand me that AC/DC cassette, I want to rock out a little."

Ring, Ring, (child answers the phone) Mom, Dad, so and so is on the phone. Mom, or Dad "Tell them I am not home!"We have just taught them to lie. To sin.

Mom and Dad "No you can't." "Okay you can." "No you can't." "Yes you can." The scripture is clear that we are to let our yes be yes and no, no or we will be condemned (James 5:12)

Mom or Dad to child "It's not okay for you to watch that show, but it's okay for us."

"I better not catch you drinking, but can you bring me another Beer?"

Parents to children "You clean up that *@&$#% room!" "Don't you ever let me hear that language coming out of your mouth again!"

"Hey son, check out that bombshell!"

"Honey, when you go to get milk, bring me back some 'Lotto' tickets!"

Instead of saying "Could you please clean your room?" The volume goes up and it comes out this way "GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW AND CLEAN THIS MESS UP!" the child replies "OKAY! OKAY!" and we get mad for the tone they are using.

"Wow! they gave us to much change back! What a blessing! Let's get some ice cream!"

These are just some examples of how we teach our kids today. Do you not think that this scripture should be speaking loud to us? We wonder why our kid's are not sold out to Jesus, but then they see us leading them away from what the scripture shares with us on how to be Christ like examples and instead of like unbelievers.

We will all have a choice from this day forward. We can train our kids up in the world according to the love of Christ and His Word, and not how we may have been taught. Our kids and our grandchildren will do what we do and according the Word of God we will be leading them 'To the cross or away from it." Let the millstone be our encouragement on the changes we need to make around His little ones~

'DECEIVED'

I will never forget as long as I live the feeling I had when I read Mark 13:5-6 "Jesus said, Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in My name, claiming, 'I am He' and will deceive many." Shivers actually went down my spine because I knew that everything I had been taught probably was not right. Where people deceiving me? What if they are wrong? This fueled the fire within me to constantly be in the Word, and constantly be pursuing Him.

The tragedy today is that the majority of the people I come into contact with, espouse what they have been taught, and the majority of what they have been taught does not line up with the Word. It is scary to me that when I talk with other teachers and Pastors alot of them believe what they believe because of what they have been taught, and after challenging them with truth, they walk away bewildered.

Assurance of Salvation is knowing without a doubt that our lives are lined up 100% witht he Word of God, and not with what someone has taught us. Assurance of Salvation does not come from what one scripture tells us, but from our obedience to what the Word of God says. What have you been obedient to? What man has said, or what the Word of God has said. Remember this...Jesus Himself said that 'Many' will say that 'He is' but will deceive many. Make sure you are not one of either. Our salvation relies on it~

Crossing the 'T's and Dotting the 'I's

When I had my business, I always would tell my employee's to make sure they cross their 'T's and dot their 'I's. Over the years when people came to me for advice in any area of their lives, I would tell them the same, cross your 'T's and dot your 'I's. As I read back over my last blog I noticed something that to most people would not disturb them, but to me it really got my attention. There were alot of 'Dislexic' words within the post, and even some that were mispelled. I was convicted that in my haste (I cannot totally blame my mind for working faster than my fingers) that I should 'Always' go back and proof read what I have written. Honestly, I always think that I did not make any mistakes, but isn't that true in all that we do?

Today I want to confess the problem I am having with this, and why conviction set in during my reading of that blog. "It isn't my best!" If I am truly doing everything to God's glory then I should make sure it is the best, and take the time to make sure it is the best, so that He will get the glory for what he showed me to write. Alot of times in our walk with Christ we hastely move through our lives not taking the time to make sure that we are livng, and doing our best in all things. Alot of 'T's don't get crossed, and alot of 'I's don't get dotted. We think "Oh well, it is not that important." Well, it is... Everything we do will be seen by not just a few, but many. People watch people who claim to be Christians. We claim that we give God our best, but we do not slow down and proof read our lives and our actions. In order for God to get the glory, and in order for people to see Him in us, we must realize that even the little things must become the big things in our lives. If not then we will not be showing the world that we as Christians always give HIm the best in all things. That we care about what people see of our Savior in us.

I apologize and ask all of you that have read these blogs to forgive me for not proof reading them before I posted them. My desire is that even though they may be good, and that maybe people think "Thats ok a little typo is not improtant", that I want it to be the best. Not for me, but for Him. Slow down, and take time to do your best. We were created to be His image~

"Leaving a Legacy"

Throughout God's Word we see a 'Legacy' being left for generations to come. The stories of men and women's lives, and their realtionships with God. Joshua 4 is one of those chapters in which we see the importance of leaving a legacy. God had just made the water stand up in a heap and Joshua commanded the people to build a monument with twelve stones so that every generation would know what the Lord had done for them at that very spot. The Jewish people do their part by teaching their children to memorize scripture, know the legacy, of what God did for them nt only in the good times, but also in the bad times. The legacy allows us to see what obedience brings, and what disobedience brings. This legacy in the backbone of faith, and now the entire Bible is the legacy of others victories, and failings. It is also the legacy that One man can step out of heaven, live a perfect life here on earth, die and be resurrected for all sinners who come to Him.

I say all of that to ask this "What legacy are you leaving?" When you are dead and gone will your children, their children and their children know who you were? What will they know? "Gramps was a nice guy who had a great personality', "Gramps was a guy who always got mad", "Gramps was a great surfer or golfer", "Gramps made alot of money and left us all some." I think you get the picture. What about the teenagers adn the legacy they can start right now "They were so coool", "They were cute", "They were great atheletes." What if we died today, what will we be remembered for?

I pray that my leagcy desire will be yor legacy deisre strating today. I want my children, thier children, their children and so forth, to know when my name is mentioned that I was 'Sold Out' to Jesus. That I was His bondservant. That I always gave time and had time for anyone in need. That my bank account meant nothing to me, but that peoples lives and eternity meant everything to me. That I finished the race strong. That they knew my failures and mistakes so that they will never do the same. That I never compromised, but held fast to my Jesus. That my life was not my own, that it was His. That I did not leave my kids a fortune, but that I left them and others a great reward, the hope of Christ.

Start Journaling about your walk with Christ. Start blogging about your journey with Christ. Most of all, Start living the legacy of Christ in you~

Before I Rise

I don't know about you, but before I rise out of bed I converse with the Creator. As I lay there He has placed something already within me that beckons His presence and attention. Let me share this with you also "I am not laying there at 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 etc. not wanting to get up." In the stillness and quietness I meditate on scripture, pray for others, and then just commune with the Father. When I get up it is learning time and praying time. I read the Word as He teaches me and I lift up the prayers He has laid on my heart througout the night.

But, before I rise I think alot about how the simplicity of the scripture has become a battle ground for professing Christians. I think about why the vast majority (App. 97% according to some poles, and I belieev it by what I see) are not living out their faith, but merely going about heir daily lives living for themselves. Scriptures run constantly throughout my mind as if there is a computer in there dsicerning and searching out truth. I thik abotu how I can serve even more, ,ove even more, and be the man Christ died for. Before I rise I can say "It is as if I am siitng in the lap of my Father, and He wants to hear my deepest thoughts and concerns. For many, this might just be what you need to kick off your day in His way.

I have alot of admiration for Frances Chan. In Crazy Love he said that he decided one day to just look at and read the scripture as a little child, and thatthis is what changed his life. After seminary and years of teaching and Pastoring he saw truth in a total new way, like a child. This probably is the main reason for so many bad days in peoples lives, arguments on belief and not service an love to towards oour neighbors.

Before I rise I spend time with Him in the queitness and still. Even before I rise to do my Quiet Time and pray, it is me and Jesus in the stillness of the night. Give it a go my friends and see if you don't rise with a different perspective. His perspective~