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~

Baffled :(

There are alot of great teachers out there today I must admit. Just as soon as you begin thinking "These guy and gal's are sticking to the Word", they throw and evident opinion in. What is so hard about preaching and teaching the unadulterated truth? Here's the deal.... I think it is much easier to follow opinion, interpetation, and justification rather than live out what one preaches and teaches. To this I am 'Baffled.'

I personally have found it easier to live it, than to evade it. I here Pastor's and Teachers saying we should not be of the world, yet on their Facebook pages everyone sees that they are still entangled with it. I am 'Baffled.' They talk about surrender and then show off their new things. I am 'Baffled.

You not what though? If I am Baffled, what do you think the rest of the peeps are after hearing their teachings. I am Baffled because what anyone preaches, teaches or shows another, has eternal consequences. Are you Baffled? There is only one narrow road and that my friends is not something to be baffled about~

"Today's Foolishness..."

I love the Epistles fo Paul. Many don't! Paul simply tells it as it is, and people do not like it. How about you? Are you up for truth today. Paul lets us know in Philippains 3 that he was 'full' of religious wisdom, full of the word of God, but then surrendered it all to know the truth, Jesus.

In 1 Cor. 1:18 many will look at it, confess it, and even think that they are in line with it, but they are mistaken. IF the Corinthians would have been (and they thought they were) then Paul would never had to write this letter to them. It says "For the message ofthe cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who ar ebeing saved it is the pwoer of God." Talking to anyone? You see they thought they were, but they are not examples of the power of God, just merely head knowledge folks. It goes on to say "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise' the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate" (Quoting Isaiah 29:14).

I really believe that this has become a huge problem in the church today. Men are leaning so much on wisdom of others, and missing the simplicity of being a follower. Conferences, books, teaching videos, radio messages, and on and on. Have we ever considered that all this is for nothing if we are not changing and serving everyday of our lives? Men's wisdom limits their time, devotion and sacrifice to the Lord.

Paul continues "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made the foolish the wisdom of the world? Paul continues and concludes provign that our wisdom is nothing. Why then do we spend countless hours, listening to Christian radio, going to conferences, reading books, doing bible studies? What are they there for? If we are not changing then they are of no value at all. All they are is knowledge and emotion. Knowing God and seeking His wisdom takes death to self, not fancy talk and great lyrics.

Is our lives showing the power of God, or is our lives demonstrating a knowledge of God by how we live, and love others. James put's it this way in chapter 1:22 "Do not merely be hearers of the Word and so be deceived. Do what it says." If we are not doing what it says then we are proving that it is our wisdom and not His. Have you been foolish. Have you relied on what little wisdom you have aquired through sources instead of the Holy Spirit? One day God will ask us "Did you really think your wisdom tha lead to excuses is worth what my Son died for? We were created to be His image, His likeness, His hands and feet. Without this knoweldge, we too are showing foolishness to a lost and dying world~

"Are you Kidding?"

Over the years I have noticed people 'skimming' over parts of the scripture that really challenges them to be a follower of Christ. We always want it our way, and only want to give up the easy things, and not the hard things. Jesus speaks these tough but life changing words in Luke 14:26-27 "IF anyone was to comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-Yes, even his own life- he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does nto carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Wow! "Are you kidding me!" to those who have not truly surrendered their lives to Christ, this is the response. To all who have surrendered truly Christ it is fulfilling.

How do you respond to this passage. It is a little harsh isn't it? Immediately our brains think "Wow, He did not mean it literally." Jesus had just told them about heaven and about the great banquet. He was now informing them that it will come with a cost. He did not expect all of His disciples to go in the front door and say to their family members "I hate you all, I am now a disciple of Christ's and that is one of the conditions!" No, I believe He was forwarning them that their families would probably be their greatest distractions. In my life I have bore the pain of making a stand for Jesus over my family. I have wrestled with the Lord on what I am to do? I have spent hours crying alone at night because I made commitment to Christ, and my wife, kids and family members, hated me. I have friends desert me, and even congregation members I have loved, leave because of my uncompromising devotion to Christ. Hate? Strong word, but that is what one has to do to stay totaly in allegiance to Christ (I encourage you to pick up your Bible and read the rest of Luke 14:28-35 it really is good!) Our minds take it to the easy routes and say "Let's substitue another word for 'Hate.' The greek defines the word as 'A strong dislike.' Okay, to me it is the same thing. We have to dislike the things that come against God and try to take our focus off of Jesus, or the outcome can and will be eternal.

"Are you kidding?" I started off with this as the heading, and I will end with this in closing. "No, He was not kidding!" If we are to truly experience all that He has for us, then we are to always put Him above everything else, period. I love Jesus more than my wife and children, and that has afforded me to be the best husband, father, and now grandfather I can be. My focus is not on what is aorund me, or who is around me, it is, and always be on Jesus~

"The Healing, the Command, the Betrayal"

I love the scripture! One of the most awesome thing it does is when it shows me, me. When it is the finger of God pointing directly at me saying "Change!' Understanding this immediately shows me that God loves me and that His grace is affording another opportunity to get lined up with His Word.

In John 5 we find that a had been lame for 38 years. That my friends is a long time. Several things happen here at the first. Jesus noticed him. There were many other people around that pool that day, but Jesus noticed him and chose him out of the rest of them. When the man began making excuses, Jesus simply said 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 'At once the man picked up his mat and was cured. Jesus doesn't mess around, but requires this man to act on what HE commanded. Why? Because the man had to prove his faith. Shortly after this the enemies of Christ wanted to know who healed him. He told them that he did not know, because Christ had slipped away into the crowd. Then in verse 14 we see this "Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you." The man went away and told the Jews that is was Jesus who had made him well.

Let us look at this:

Jesus chose this man out of all of the others to heal.

Jesus commanded the man to get up, take up his mat and walk.

He did, and he was healed after 38 years of being lame.

The man did not know anything about Jesus, but he knew that he had been healed.

Jesus went and found the man and commanded him to STOP SINNING!

The man went and betrayed Christ to the Jews.

You may be thinking "Wow! that guy is terrible!" But I will be the first to say "I have walked in his shoes." Many times from the age of 12 until I turned 36, Jesus came, and He healed me from my sin. He healed me from financial dilema's, He healed me from personal problems, and He healed me from me. The issue of sin, and desiring it over Jesus was always my downfall. I too would deny Christ, by the choices to sin in front of all the people who were around me. How many times have you heard that same command "Stop Sinning, or something else will happen to you?" I heard it many times, and chose the sin over Jesus.

If you are reading this and if you have any sin in you today that needs to be taken care of, realize this "Jesus chose you to read this blog. Jesus want to take a step of faith and begin walking with Him. He does not want us to go and pick up sin again. The terrible warning to the man and us is this "Something worse might happen to us, and I believe it will be eternal." People are watching us today. If we continue to sin then they will nto see a way out to be healed, and they surely won't see Jesus~

"Track shoes or House shoes?"

This journey in which we are in is really a race. I love the saying "We were born to prepare for death." As a Pastor I continually see people claiming to be IN the race, but it is clear to all around them that they are not. This saddens me greatly, because IF one isn't truly in the race, then they will have eternal ramifications. Paul tells us this in 2 Timothy 2:5 "Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules." Look at it this way, "If a football player catches a pass, or runs the ball, and does not cross the goal line, then he will not make the touchdown. IF he does not cross the goal line and steps out of bounds, or only goes 99 yards, then he will not be awarded the touchdown." A field goal kicker can kick as many field goals as he wants, but unless they travel through the upright, he will not be awarded the points. If a track star runs a race and then decides to 'cut' across, it is clear by what Paul has said, that he will not receive the prize for winning.

The writer of Acts 2:24 says "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." 1 Cor. 9:24 says "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one get's the prize? Run in such away." In Galatians 5:7 Paul writes "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" What about Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by a cloud of great witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that entangles, and let us run with perseverence the race marked out before us." last but not least, Paul leaves us with these words of Wisdom before he leaves this earth "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

We all start off after repenting and comitting our lives to His Lordship, running 'The Race.' We start off strong and have every intention to stay strong until the end. Now, here is the mirror of truth. Are we still runnign hard towards Jesus? Are we still putting off any and everything that hinders us? Have we allowed shallow teaching, and our own opinions to keep us from running the race in which one day we will receive the prize, eternal life with Christ Jesus? Are we running as if only one will get the prize?

Today the majority of professing Christians will say that they are in the race, but they are not willing to endure, overcome, and persevere here on earth in order to receive the prize. They use every excuse in the book to get out of serving others, being part of a body of believers (Not a member, but part of), dying daily and picking up their crosses. "I'm tired, I am swamped, I had a bad day, I am not going to be at the church everytime the doors are open, the surf is good, the fish are biting, I don't have time, etc. Can it be possible for them to still when the prize? According to scripture they are not competeing by the rules. There is no dying to self, no coming after Jesus, no taking up of the cross, no serving, no giving of finances, and yet they think that they are still in the race.

Today, we can all get back inot the race. We can give it 100% and be sure that in the end we will receive the prize of our salvation. Jesus Himself said that many will try to get in by another gate. What gate are we standing in front of? Have we slipped on our Track shoes, or ar we comfortable in our house shoes? There is a great cloud of witnesses watching from above, and even rooting for us to win the race that is set out before us. Will we finish the race strong~

"What Power are you seeking?"

You probably are thinking right now "What's up with him? I am not seeking any power, but that of Christ." Let's get honest though...When you are engaged in a confrontation, you desire to win and seek the power within you to prove yourself right. When you are involved at work, church or evem everday politics one soon finds themselves seeking the most imporant role instead of the meneal. We have something driving within us to be in control, and be the one who comes out on top at whatever the cost. This is not the power that we should be seeking or allowing to control our lives. The power of money and possessin things is always at the doorstep of our lives as we go through this journey.

Paul says in Philippians 3:10 "I want to know the power of His resurrection and the fellwoship of sharing in His resurrection becoming like HIm in death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Paul had it all, but began dying to it all (verses 3-9) in order to 'Know' the power of the resurrection. Today we only desire to 'know' enough to make us feel good, and possibly get us safely home to heaven. Many diligently seek the scriptures to 'know' and 'figure out' Jesus and all that happened. The 'Why's and the Why nots.' Paul could care less about all he knew, he just wanted to know the Power of from life to death, and death to life.

In our lives we hardly seek that Power though. Many are afraid that IF they found it then it would require total change, and for the majority, they don't want to give up their power to anyone. The power of the Holy Spirit and the Power of the resurrection is essential to the Christian life. Show me a person who is not serving others, doing that which pleases the Father, praying without ceasing, producing fruit, and I will tell you right now "Jesus and the power of the resurrection is not in them." If you are getting a little unerved right now because you are not dying to self, or being obedient to what you know is the truth, then realize that God is giving you His grace right now to repent and begin a life in power. All of the studying, trying to figure it out, apologetics, etc will not proivide this power within us. Only the simple truth of dying to ourselves inorder to be resurrected daily to a new life each day. A life of serving Christ and loving people. A life of joy even when this world and its problems rain down us. His power in me, and my life laid down for Him. How about you? Will you lay down your life and the power you have control of in order to be resurrected into a new life each day?

SAVED (you might have it wrong)

"The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are Being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). Today the word saved has probably been the most misinterpreted word in the Bible. We tend to cling to what we want ot believe about this word, and let go of what this word actually meant to the writers, and to us today. Here are some definitions of the word 'Saved' according to the dictionaries: "To rescue from harm, danger, or loss. To set free from the consequences of sin, redeemed. To keep in a safe condition; safeguard. To prevent the waste of, or loss of, conserve."

We all know Romans 10:13 "For everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." Saved from what? "Sin!" What did the Cross and Jesus save us from? 1 Peter 2:24 answers this "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds we have been healed." The cross affords us the opportunity to die to our sins and be saved from them. Only the cross has the power to set us free from ourselves and sin. Deliberate sin, justified sin, and any sin only demeans the power of the cross.

Because of His grace we will have the opportunity to 'Repent' of any sin that we might commit, and be once again saved from that which brings death. May people cannot accept the fact that "Being Saved' is an ongoing condition if sin rears its ugly head. If I realize that I have sinned and repent of that sin, then I am 'saved' from that sin. IF I sin again I need to be saved once again from sin because it has once again seperated me from God. Biblical common sense.

Today we see more than ever people who run around professing to be 'Saved.' Their lives are no different than before because they have been told they are saved and possess eternal life. Paul states in Romans 8 that a hope that has already been obatined, is no hope at all. Theologians tend to run away from the truth by saying "Well, they never were saved." I am one that over the years (Prior 1992) did have 'saved' times in my life. I felt the presence of Christ. I changed for a short time, and just like the parable of the sower, I turned back to my old ways. No one cannot tell me that I was never truly saved because I know what happened within me. By the grace of God, He allowed me to once again get saved from my sins by the power of the cross. Men are trying desperately to figure out why people sit in pews, don't produce fruit, don't give, and don't change. They forget that they are the ones told people they are saved and they have their tickets, or their insurance policies.

If you have any known sin in your life today, repent and turn from them. This is God's grace and proof that He loves you. He will not force you to lay down your sin and be freed from it, but He is giving you that opportunity. Jesus says in Matthew 10 and 24 "Only those who endure until the end, will be saved." Are you enduring and overcoming? Is your life showing the power of the cross, or is their no power being displayed because of sin in your life. Today I am saved from any known sin in my life, and I am not going to voice that I am going to sin any more. I have been saved from my sin by the power of the cross, and chose not to allow it back in my life. If I do....Then I will need to be saved from sin again

Pizza and Jesus

Alot of people ask me a simple question once they get to know me "Why are you always excited?" All I can say is that since 1992 I have never let the fire go out. Sure, there have been times that have taken there toll on me, but I have always looked at the glass half full because of Jesus.

Last night we arrived home late and tired from a two day trip that really wore us out (Judy's birthday trip to Warrenton, Texas). As always I suggested that everyone get their showers as I checked my 'e' mails and settled in. Being it was late, they had ordered Pizza to be delivered and it soon arrived. When the door bell rang they yelled "You got to get the door we are dressed for bed!" As I opened the door I saw this young man around 26 years old standing there with our Pizza. He soon realized that this wasn't going to be a normal delivery. I looked at him as he was trying to shove the pizza into my hands and collect the money with an earnest stare. I said "Hi! What's your name?" He hesitated and then said "James." I them said "Hi James where are you going to church tomorrow?" He quickly told me that he had not been for years because he worked late and slept in. I then moved alittle closer and said "Well James, do you love Jesus?" He quickly said "Yes, I do?" I said "Are you sure?" He said "Of course I am sure!" I then told him plainly "No you don't James!" His eyes got about as big as they could without falling out from his face and he began making one excuse after another. I asked him "Why would Jesus usher you into heaven my friend if you aren't even making a simple choice to worship Him with fellow believers?" He said he did not know, but he thinks he would still be entering them pearly gates. After about twent minutes I finally said "James, God has given you today, and the devil is promising you tomorrow. If you are to die on your way home without repenting and turning to the truth (Which he said he knew the Bible well and went to church when he was younger) where do you think you will be?" He said "Sir, I think I am going to be in heaven." I asked him why he thought that, and he assured me that this is what he had been told. I ended our conversation with "James, I am looking at me years ago standing in your shoes. I believed everything everyone told me about the Bible and about getting into heaven. The truth is that what I believed was what man fabricated in the scripture and I was heading straight to hell. James, you are banking your eternity on what man has told you without knowing waht the Word of God tells you." With this our evening ended, but it was all worth it.

I do not know what James did when he left, or if he chose to repent and get right. I do know though that last night was a divine appoitnment for a young man who simply delivered pizza to our door. You see, we all have divine appointments daily. Appointments with garbage collectors, students, merchants, fellow employees, waiters, waitresses, even our own family members. What will we do with appointments? What we do with them may very well effect their eternity. Tomorrow (or even tonite if you get out), look all around at your surroundings. Look at all the people who one day will face eternity. They will either spend it in heaven or hell. This should be important to everyone who claims to be Christ followers. "Jesus, please place soemone in our paths everyday to proclaim the hope that we have..."