There was a time that Tammy and I were given the opportunity to become Pastors of a wonderful church in a little town in northeast Ohio. I went to our pastor for guidance; his advice was, “You have so much talent, you don’t want to bury it up there where it will be isolated and hidden.” He followed that with the promise of full-time employment “just as soon as the church can swing it” and thus we decided to stay where we were.

As Tammy and I were talking, I said, “I promise you the Kingdom’s of the world”. Where we were, I was being seen on the Pastor’s TV show, the Church was on the verge of imploding, but we thought it was on the verge of exploding and the pastor I was under had a lot of connections and was widely known.

As the words slipped out of my mouth I was reminded of Jesus in the wilderness and I began to analyze the tricks the devil had used to keep me enslaved. The devil has NOTHING original; in this instance, the pastor was saying it would be a sin for my ministry to be hidden, what was the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:5? “And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.” He said, “This will all be yours’” We stayed because this little church in a secluded burg could not offer our ministry the exposure that surely God wanted for us – how foolish!

Secondly, through the years another “tool” that was used was first the promise and then our dependence upon financial support from this church. I wanted to be “full-time in the ministry” so badly that promise after promise held us there and once we were put-on full-time, our dependence upon the support kept us there. What was the first temptation to Christ? Luke 4:2” Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.” The devil said, “here’s the stone, turn it into bread!”  He used sustenance to tempt him, nothing new.

Finally, when all else failed and he was through with us and we had awakened spiritually to the abusiveness of the situation, the Pastor vowed to destroy me. If the enemy can’t woo you or when you awaken to his lies, he will seek to destroy you, but he can’t because you belong to God. Luke 4:9-11 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Satan tempted Christ to kill himself, knowing that he couldn’t do it to him. This pastor tried to ruin my marriage, my reputation and although he sent us out with “his blessing”, later publicly vowed to destroy our ministry.

Tammy asked me a valid question this morning; she asked does any of that matter after all these years? And it does, only to warn others that the enemy will use even ministers and churches to abuse you. He will use “Ministry opportunities” to sidetrack you; he will fatten you up, just to dine off of you and when all else fails he will seek to destroy you. You needn’t fear, the enemy cannot defeat you; 1Jo 2:13, 14 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” AMEN!

  THEN JESUS SAID, “HE WHO HAS EARS, LET HIM HEAR.”
MARK 4:9 

In my long experience of this adventure called life, I have found a certain truth; those who most need to hear the truth are unable or most likely unwilling to listen. 

Character flaws which glare like neon upon their lives to others remain hidden and unaddressed by those possessing them. Loving friends who do their best to illuminate these flaws are either ignored or shunned or dismissed. Friendship crumble, relationships ruin, beautiful, fulfilling interactions rot like fresh-caught fish left out in the summer sun for too long.

Jesus knew this ignorant side of man. He knew every time that He spoke a few would respond, but most would not. And so often before He was about to handout a potential life-changing truth, He would preface it by saying, “HE WHO HAS EARS, LET HIM HEAR.” This curious oft-used phrase was Christ’s way of saying, “Most of you who need to hear this won’t; you will hear, but you will not listen” or “You will listen but you will not follow through, knowing the cost of discipleship is the submission of your own desires and will. 

I have toyed with the idea of hosting a seminar of corporate management. I know many pastors and small business leaders who would benefit from a weekend of examination of their treatment of their employees. The problem is that to the person, not one of those employers would be willing to attend such a weekend even if it were cost them nothing more than their time. Why? Because they are quite content to do business as they always have, even though they struggle with employee and customer loyalty. They just don’t have the ears to hear. 

Within the institutional church the problem is much the same; congregants gather hoping to hear truths that might change their lives, but weekly reject those truths for life as usual; we desire intimacy and community, but we shun it out of fear of venerability, which is little more than acknowledging our own personal need to change and grow. One of my favorite personal quotes was from a poignant popular song of years gone by, it goes, “THERE ARE NONE WHO ARE SO BLIND AS THOSE WHO WILL NOT SEE”. 

What is God trying to say to you today? The very thought that makes your heart pulse and your palms swear; the very thing you need to say or to do or to change is as simple as facing the fear and doing what you know you ought.
This message is for you; “HE WHO HAS EARS, LET HIM HEAR.” AMEN!

“IT IS NOT THE HEALTHY WHO NEED A DOCTOR, BUT THE SICK.”  MATTHEW 9:12

 This passage has been playing over and over through my consciousness’ for weeks now.

 Jesus came for the unhealthy, the unspiritual, the unworthy, the undesirable, the unlearned, not the sort of people you see featured on TBN or the 700 Club. He loved God with every fiber of His being and His fellow man without condition, more than He loved Himself.

He shunned the religious leaders who proudly wore their haughtiness as crowns. He ate with prostitutes, drunkards and thieves. He was tempted by every sin that we are and yet was without sin. He never built a church building or erected a sign; He met sinners where they were and loved them into an eternal relationship with God Jesus never promoted Himself and He never considered the “Ministry” His’. He only did what the Father commanded. He never owned a home and possessions never owned Him. He found His purpose and therefore His contentment in His obedience to His Father.

I once saw a picture which depicted Jesus asleep on the front pew during a church service; I somehow believe that He would find much what we do as believers as either boring or sin; most of our religious traditions have no more to do with Christ, than did the religious traditions of the Scribes and Pharisees. John Michael Talbot once asked in song, “Would You Crucify Him – if He walked right here among you once again?” He concluded the song with the conclusion, “I think we’d crucify Him – if He walked right here among us once again!” I concur. I don’t think more “believers” would do any better at recognizing Him today than our forefathers did when He walked among us the first time. Why?

We would be looking for a messiah that fits our image of God, just as Israel was looking for one in their own image.

Religious men proclaim, “I am without sin – alcohol has never touched these lips, I have never said a bad word, I have never have sexual temptation”

Spiritual men say, “ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD AND I AM THE CHIEF OF SINNERS!”

With whom do you think Jesus would be found; the first or the later?

Jesus said, “IT IS NOT THE HEALTHY WHO NEED A DOCTOR, BUT THE SICK.”  

I awakened to an increased awareness of my need for God. This awareness grew from more than the sinus headache which punishes me even as I write; the awareness is born more from the eating hunger of emptiness which invades every corner of my spirit whenever I drift from His burning presence.

We live in an age that has taken the greatest truths and reduced them to vinyl bumper stickers and diminished love to nothing more than a Hallmark Store sentiment.  Eternal  truth orders our universe and true love has little to do with warm feelings of fondness and more to do with the gut-wrenching need to care for others more than we care for ourselves.

Certainly, we plan our way, but our Heavenly Father directs our steps. Our God family is once again vitally aware of God’s providence in our corporate worship life. In recent weeks He has once again opened the door for us to have a place to worship weekly.

We had been advised that we may need to move soon, but our God has said, not yet! He has not only showed us His great favor in keeping us where He has led us but as He always does, when we are in His perfect will; He has expanded our blessings in being there.

As a young man I sang of the elusive butterfly of love; as an older man I have hungered for the elusive experience of true Christian community, which like love is non-existent without sacrifice. I remember asking, “How will I know when I am in love?” The consistent answer left me frustrated; “You’ll know!” “Recently I have been seeking God hard, “How will I know when we have discovered true biblical community? How can I create it?” I suspect God smiles as He says, “You will know and you cannot create it, only I can. “  For the first time in a long time, we, as a God Family are indeed experiencing relationship rather than religion.

The greatest treasures in life are those intangible, elusive, sometimes almost mystical values that we cannot create, cause or define, but are wholly aware of when they exist; love, community, liberty, life.
So precious are these treasures that they come only through great sacrifice, even to the point of death. What did Jesus say, “HE WHO SEEKS TO SAVE HIS OWN LIFE SHALL LOSE IT, BUT HE WHO IS WILLING TO LAY IT DOWN FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT.”

Tammy and I were discussing God’s law of supply and demand other day; we decided that  some people  call it Karma, some say “What Goes Around; comes around”, Jesus said, “GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER AND RUNNING OVER. THE MEASURE BY WHICH YOU GIVE IS THE SAME MEASURE BY WHICH YOU RECEIVE.” It’ is a law of God which applies to us all whether we believe in Him or not; this truth is so evident that it cannot be ignored or denied. “JUDGE AND YOU WILL BE JUDGED”; you give mercy, you will receive mercy multiplied, you give love and you will receive love multiplied, if you are gracious toward others, you will be able to be gracious to yourself as will others, more than you deserve, likewise, if you are judgmental, critical and damning the same will be returned to you in greater abundance than you dare imagine, perhaps not today or tomorrow, but sooner than you like and perhaps eternally unless you are repentant.

Yes, God is with us and His laws, as translucent as they may be never fail. Amen!

  “LOTS OF PEOPLE CLAIM TO BE LOYAL AND LOVING, BUT WHERE ON EARTH CAN YOU FIND ONE?” PROVERBS 20:6 The Message 

“Pastor, I would have followed you to the ends of the earth!” the lady said to me after telling me that she was leaving our church. My reply was simply, “But, you didn’t, did you?”

I sat and listened to a heart-broken pastor yesterday tell of how his ministry is being undermined by good, but disloyal members. I heard the same story again today from another pastor. 

The weakness of human relationships isn’t only seen or felt within the ministry though; who of you have not been disappointed by a “friend” or family member? So many marriages today are broken upon the rocks of discontentment and heart-ache after the promises of loyalty and love are broken! 

“LOTS OF PEOPLE CLAIM TO BE LOYAL AND LOVING, BUT WHERE ON EARTH CAN YOU FIND ONE?”  

I used to joke that my late father never made a promise to us as kids that he didn’t break; as a kid it seemed that way. Poor dad often promised from his heart what he desired to do for us, but had no means of doing. His intentions were better than his word. As a father, I now understand that his heart often out-spoke his head. 

Not everyone’s intentions are as pure as my fathers though. Most people have very conditional love, which is really not love at all. Most people have loyalty also which is based entirely upon whether or not we continue to please them, which is not loyalty at all.

So how should we measure out love and loyalty? As Christ measures them out to us, fully, freely and without condition; such love and loyalty frees men from their sin, such love and loyalty forgets their transgressions, such love and loyalty will change the world.

The Psalmist writes, “LOTS OF PEOPLE CLAIM TO BE LOYAL AND LOVING, BUT WHERE ON EARTH CAN YOU FIND ONE?”  We shouldn’t be surprised that there are so few, we should be determined that we each become one. Amen!

“AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH, O ARM OF THE LORD; AWAKE AS IN THE ACIENT DAYS”
ISAIAH 51:9

It may sound flippant or even humorous to question; has the Lord’s arm fallen asleep? When you consider that the “Redeemed” are the Lord’s body, then it is very elementary to understand, that it is “WE” who have gone dead on God, not that God is in anyway restricted within Himself.

The Holy Spirit speaks through the Prophet Isaiah saying, “AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH, O ARM OF THE LORD; AWAKE AS IN THE ACIENT DAYS” yet I’m afraid the Church sleeps on.

Around us men hunger and thirst and are destroyed by sin; yet the Church sleeps on, Children lie homeless in our cities and run half naked and drug-crazed through abandoned apartments; yet the Church sleeps. We continue to build shopping mall structures of gold and glass to preserve and protect the saints as though the crop of the Lord is not already spoiled, the dying world longs for hope; yet the Church sleeps on. 

Our corporate churches are run by men and women with credentials which rival those of the best CEOs in the nation as certainly they must as our houses of worship have become complexes of business. We sleepwalk through our days imagining; dreaming, that somehow we are making a difference while the Evening News tells a different story. As the lost agonize as though in childbirth in the hells of their own destruction; we recline in comfort, take satisfaction in our meetings and our classes and refuse to look beyond the stain-glass as the sanctuary; we don’t want to be disturbed, we may not be able to sleep, but we needn’t worry; for the Church sleeps on. 

Our small groups and our little churches are exclusive to those who think and feel and act and look like they do; they convince themselves that all people are welcome however they feel threatened if their little core embraces anyone new; the message is alive; yet the Church sleeps on. 

Do not be deceived; this message is for you and me for we are the church; the prophets see our heads nodding and he knows they do no nod out of agreement, but out of our own weariness. He sees that the Church sleeps on and so he cries out through the ages with a loud clarion call, “AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH, O ARM OF THE LORD; AWAKE AS IN THE ACIENT DAYS” and the Saints of Heaven echo AMEN!

“HE CAUSES HIS SUN TO RISE ON THE EVIL AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDS THE RAIN ON THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS”
MATTHEW 5:45

Blessings and trials come unannounced; each new day will bring one or the other or both. The test of character is how we handle the blessings and trails which befall us.

There is a great danger of accusing God of being unfair when we are faced with trails; there is also, perhaps an even greater danger of forgetting God once we are snug within His blessings.

To blame God during trials is to forget His character; to forget that He is loving and just and righteous. The darkness of trials can blind us to His compassion; the wails of our own inner sorrow can deafen us until we no longer hear His many promises to keep and defend us.

As recipients of God’s blessings we so easily and quickly forget that He is the source of our good fortune. We are so quick to take credit; attributing our “luck” or our perseverance or our hard word and diligence; foolish man you cannot even take your next breath without His permission. Who is it that has equipped you to do what you have done? Who is it who teaches you what you need to know? Who has given you the gifting and the where-with-all to do what you do? Did you create yourself? Did you place yourself in your mother’s womb? As an infant, as a child, did you have say in where you lived and what you learned and the life that influenced you? No! Even as a man, the Word reminds us that we “WE MAKE OUR PLANS, BUT HE DIRECTS OUR STEPS”.

So abundant is the mercy and love and grace of our God; He never lets go of us. “HE CAUSES HIS SUN TO RISE ON THE EVIL AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDS THE RAIN ON THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS” Each day either blessings or trials will come our way; each day we have opportunity to bring Glory to the name of God by how we handle each. Amen!

Jesus said, “LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.” MATTHEW 5:16 

Jesus; being all truth understood that within each of God’s created beings is the light of God. Created in His image; we are created to shine forth His glory. Before the fall of man to sin, the natural state of you and I was to be one of being sinless, therefore radiating the undefiled glory of God. 

Jesus goes on to say, if we want a light to shine that we do not place it under a basket and yet some of you have done just that; you have allowed your own desires and interests and satisfactions to cover the light of God which burns deep within you. 

You have allowed those situations, relationships, friendships and personal glory to hinder the glory of God in you. Indeed you no longer bask in the warmth of His love; why should you expect that anyone outside of yourself could see it? Where you once shone clear and bright upon the lamp stand of God’s Word, you have allowed your love of the things of this world to darken you. 

Where are the good works of God in your life? What have you done for God lately? Let’s get real; what did you do that was not for you or yours yesterday? Preacher, you’re not exempt, how much have you done for God compared to how much you have done for ‘your’ ministry? How much time have you spent alone with Him compared to “doing the ministry”? 

We are created for His good pleasure; whatever we do we are to do to the glory of God. Where is your light? Is it shining? Where is your heart? For where your heart is that is where your treasure will be also; you will give to that which you love.  

You and I are given a few hours upon the plain of earth; we each hold an allotted amount of time with which to serve His’ purpose with our lives to bring God glory. With that in mind, how are you doing? 

Jesus said, “LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.” Let the people of God say, Amen!

Narcissism has invaded our theology, our worship and our expectations of God. Our worship is filled with expressions of I, Me, Mine. How Great Thou Art is recognized only through the goggles of His benefits to me. The Houses of Worship, which God does not expect us to erect, are designed for our comfort, our convenience and our glory, although most often we protest, “To God be the Glory!” How is He glorified in shrines built to ourselves?

We are to look outward; reach beyond and never sit down. We are to look beyond our desires; reach beyond our comfort and never rest in what God has already accomplished, even it is through us; there is always the remainder of this day to serve God.

Christ first command to those who would be His Disciples; “Deny yourselves” remains the most relevant. Certainly the greatest Command is for you and I to love God with all that we are and our neighbors as ourselves, but such love cannot exist in a heart that has not first been stripped clean of self-love.

Again, I will say, Our focus should not be so much on what others, including God; can do for us, but rather, through God; what we can do for others. Nothing is free except the Love of God. He gives it to us freely; our love given back to Him will cost us everything. However,what joy comes becoming whom we created to be.wever, what joy comes from becoming whom you were created to be.

THE RIVER OF GOD

“THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS MADE ME, AND THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY GIVES ME LIFE.” JOB 33:4

Before I was conceived into this life I was already in communion with Him who creates and calls us all. As the rain is happy to return to the ocean waters of her birth so the spirit of man rejoices to be reabsorbed into that from which he comes.

A great insatiable hunger stalks us each one until we find reunion with God; the Holy Spirit waits as an eager guide outside the heart’s door to show us the way; Christ has washed clean our path by His very blood and the Father awaits His prodigal children to find their way home. The journey begins long before air fills our lungs and continues after we cease upon this plane of life.

Whether God is amazed or amused at our aimless wanderings, I do not know; I do know He is ever present to lead us and unite with us. How pointless is most of what we fill our time with; how little we do for God or His Children; we have so little time for anyone once we are finished  serving ourselves. At worse we never give God a thought, at best,  most will squeeze out an hour or so a week to go though the motion of worshipping Him in a way that is most foreign to the God who calls us. Many never consider that life and worship are to be more.

Saddled by the pagan traditions of religion we must strive before we realize that there is anything more. Still the Holy Spirit waits to breathe life into us; the life we are suffocating to know. “IN GOD, I LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE MY BEING”; as a fish absorbs and is absorbed in the water of life through which he moves, so I must absorb, be absorbed and move in His presence. What a pitiful substitute is the religion of man for a living relationship with God. How pale are routine are the obligatory gatherings of “church” when compared with the refreshing reunion of a family who loves God.

“THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS MADE ME, AND THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY GIVES ME LIFE.” Amen!

 “WHEN A CRIME IS NOT PUNISHED, PEOPLE FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DO WRONG.” Ecclesiastes 8:11

There is no greater proof of this truth than the condition of our current society. Laws mean little and punishment means less. When a criminal is told that he is being sentenced to ten years; he begins calculating hat he will only do two. What would happen if a ten year sentence was actually a full ten-year sentence? What would happen if that 10 year sentence was of hard labor?

I do not understand how it is unjust to make people work hard in prison, if they are not willing to work hard and resort to crime within society. Hard labor is considered cruel; I consider crime cruel. How many sad stories have been told of countless innocent lives destroyed by repeat defenders who were out of prison early? How many of those offenders were out early because of heir “good behavior” within the controlled environment of prison? I never had trouble behaving with when my parents were in the same room either. It was always when I was left to my own resources that I broke the rules.

I once had a thirteen year old boy stand toe to toe with me and say, “If I killed you right now, they wouldn’t touch me because I’m too young! And even if they arrest me, by law, I can only be held until I am 18, then I’ll be released and you’ll still be dead. “WHEN A CRIME IS NOT PUNISHED, PEOPLE FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DO WRONG.”

Parents make the same mistake with their children; by trying to be loving and merciful they sabotage their own authority and household rules. “If you do hat ONE more time . . .” should never be in a parent’s vocabulary. I you know they disobeyed, they know they disobeyed. Delayed obedience is disobedience and punishment that is lessened isn’t punishment at all.

Think carefully what wise Solomon is saying, “WHEN A CRIME IS NOT PUNISHED, PEOPLE FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DO WRONG.”AMEN!

The eye believes that the foot and the hand and the mouth and the head all ought to look and function just as he, the eye functions. The mouth cannot understand why the toe will not carry the same passion for speaking or tasting as he, so rather than try to function with the toe to accomplish a united vision; the mouth begins his “mouths only” church.

The metaphor for the church that dominates the New Testament is “family”, however if the Body of Christ of today is a family it is certainly the most dysfunctional family the world has ever known. This family is far from the one that is quipped to welcome the unchurched into the church family.

The American ideal of what the church is to be is far from what Jesus ever described; Hal Miller says, “UNFORTUNATELY, THE METAPHOR THAT DOMINATES MOST OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY DOESN’T HELP US MUCH; WE USUALLY ENVISION THE CHURCH AS A COPORATION. THE PASTOR IS THE CEO, THERE ARE COMMITTEES AND BOARDS. EVANGELISM IS THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BY WHICH WE MAKE OUR PRODUCT, AND SALES CAN BE CHARTED, AND FORECAST. OF COURSE, THIS MANUFACTURING PROCESS GOES ON IN A GROWTH ECONOMY SO THAT ANY COPORATION-CHURCH WHOSE ANNUAL SALES FIGURES AREN’T UP FROM LAST YEAR’S IS IN TROUBLE. AMERICANS ARE QUITE SINGLE-MINDED IN THEIR CAPACITY TO THE COPORATION METAPHOR, AND IT ISN’T EVEN BIBLICAL.”

In reinstating Peter, Jesus did not say, “Do you love me? Go to church!” He said, “PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME? FEED MY SHEEP, CARE FOR MY LAMBS; in so many words, “BE THE CHURCH!” One cannot separate the call of God for one’s life from the call of God for Community. Community is not just fellowship and fellowship is not just eating at Stan’s Restaurant together with other Christians. Gilbert Bileziken says, “COMMUNITY IS DEEPLY GROUNDED IN THE NAME OF GOD. IT FLOWS FROM WHO GOD IS. BECAUSE HEIS COMMUNITY, HE CREATES COMMUNITY. IT IS HIS GIFT OF HIMSELF TO HUMANS. THEREFORE, THE MAKING OF COMMUNITY MAY NOT BE REGARDED AS OPTIONAL FOR CHRISTIANS. IT IS A COMPELLING AND IRREVOCABLE NECESSITY, A BINDING DIVINE MANDATE FOR ALL BELIEVERS AT ALL TIMES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR HUMANS TO REJECT GOD’S COMMISION FOR THEM TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND TO BE IN COMMUNITY. BUT THIS MAY HAPPEN ONLY AT THE COST OF FORSAKING THE CREATOR OF COMMUNITY AND BETRAYING HIS IMAGE IN US; THIS COST IS ENORMOUS, SINCE HIS IMAGE IN US IS THE ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTE THAT DEFINES HUMANITY.”

There is no struggle within the community of the Godhead of the Trinity; Jesus does not resent the Holy Spirit for having separate desires or function, God the Father doesn’t resent that God the Son walked among us, in skin as one of us and He hasn’t; no, God is community. Community accepts, receives believes and supports.

How do you define church?

“THINK OF ME AS A FELLOW-PATIENT IN THE SAME HOSPITAL WHO, HAVING BEEN ADMITTED A LITTLE EARLIER, COULD GIVE SOME ADVICE.” C.S. LEWIS

I adopted a new way of considering what it means to be a pastor; this is not a new perspective, I believe as much as it is the correct perspective. My vision of who pastors are to be is less authoritarian; more visionary, less elevated; more comrade, less religious relic; more human and subject to life as all others. 

A pastor is perhaps walking with you on an unknown trail, but not necessarily pointing out the directions as much as he is helping you to find them along with himself, He may know where he wants to go, but he is convinced that God will speak through anyone present to help get everyone there together. He places more confidence in God; less in himself. He listens to the voice of God through others, as much as he listens for the voice of God within Himself.

His title means little; it is his heart that sets him apart. C.S. Lewis describes a spiritual leader well when he says, “THINK OF ME AS A FELLOW-PATIENT IN THE SAME HOSPITAL WHO, HAVING BEEN ADMITTED A LITTLE EARLIER, COULD GIVE SOME ADVICE.” 

How liberating such an attitude brings! It is not MY church or MY people; it is NOT MY responsibility to make people attend, grow or remain. God calls a group of people together to be his church and we leaders merely assist in finding a time and place to grow together; what happens beyond that, is up to God and to those who are called to come together. 

Where is this Church? A part of it is in O.S.U. East Hospital this morning, another part is working at the laundry on Route 3, another part is attending to children at a day care in Sunbury, and another part of it is in Whitehall, Reynoldsburg and on Cleveland Avenue. The Church is not a place or a location, the Church is the people of God and the Church is wherever God’s people are gathered. We meet, where we can. 

God help humility replace arrogance, love replace ambition, earnest submission replace manipulation, vision replace schemes, faith replace self-preservation, The Holy Spirit Ministry replace man-directed programs. Amen!

“YOU HAVE HEARD IT SAID, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND HATE YOUR ENEMY.’ BUT I SAY TO YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU, THAT YOU MAY BE SONS OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN; FOR HE MAKES THE SUN RISE ON THE EVIL AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDS RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST.” MATTHEW 4:43-45 

This is the test isn’t it? To be a Christian is to live in opposition to your natural nature; it means to love those who hate you and to good to those who use you. There is no place within the believing heart for malice; no secret room where it is safe to store anger or revenge, no peg upon which you are to hang grudges. 

Have we not been told, even if we perform all manner of miracle and yet do not love that our actions are useless? How easy it is to “love” those who love us; how easy it is to give if when we think there is a possibility of return or reward for such gifts. Sincere love is however when we sacrifice knowing there is nothing to be gained; greater love is when we give just as freely while understanding that we are being used. 

We do not love for our sakes; we love for those around us, showing them the unconditional love of their Heavenly Father. Though our love is always tempered by our humanness, we can in small ways hint at the boundless depths of the Father’s love for us all. 

God gives abundantly to all His children; the sun shines upon the good, the bad and the ugly, while the rain refreshes both those who are fair and those who are unfair. 

Believer, your job is simple, but there is nothing easy in it; that is it is uncomplicated, but not easy to perform; Jesus says,

“YOU HAVE HEARD IT SAID, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND HATE YOUR ENEMY.’ BUT I SAY TO YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU, THAT YOU MAY BE SONS OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN; FOR HE MAKES THE SUN RISE ON THE EVIL AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDS RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST.” AMEN!

“TROUBLE AND DISTRESS HAVE COME UPON ME, BUT YOUR COMMANDS ARE MY DELIGHT.”
PSALM 119:143 

Nothing touches the heart of a parent as much as the concern for the well-being of a son or daughter. Other troubles may camp at your door routinely; other trials pass, at times nearly unnoticed, but when are children are in danger or making risking decisions or participating in risky behavior, our lives can come to a screeching stop. 

The worry, the concern, the heart-ache and the sorrow can consume us; how we want to make their decisions for them. In such times, we need to remember the laws of God are in place. His Word is true and if He cares for you and me, He will certainly care for our children and loved ones as well. 

Jesus said, “IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLES, BUT I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” You and I must cry out to God with loud voices; “we trust you God, we know that you are God and you are good and merciful and just! 

In as much as we love our children; in as much as we love our parents; in as much as we love our spouses, He loves them more. When we have done all that we can to teach them and guide them and care for them and love them; then the test comes for us to release them, 

It is God’s Word that orders the lives of His children; we must place our trust in His commands. 

FATHER GOD, W COME TO YOU AND WE ASK FOR STRENGTH. Allow the angels to intervene on our behalf. As trials and troubles rise around us like a flood we place our trust in the security of your commands. Speak where we cannot speak; say what we cannot say, direct and protect those we love for where our arms are too short, your love never fails. In Jesus mighty name, we pray; Amen!

  “YOU HAVE PLANTED MUCH BUT HARVESTED LITTLE. YOU HAVE FOOD TO EAT, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO FILL YOU UP. YOU HAVE WINE TO DRINK, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO SATISFY YOUR THIRST. YOU HAVE CLOTHING TO WEAR, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU WARM. YOUR WAGES DISAPPEAR AS THOUGH YOU WERE PUTTING THEM IN POCKETS FILLED WITH HOLES!” HAGGAI 1:6 

The prophet speaks to the condition of those who disobey God. There is no success a part form the blessing of God. 

As conditions around us deteriorate our only hope is in the mercy and grace of God.  Men look to men, but the ways of men are riddled with selfish intent. Only God gives graciously and freely and abundantly; only God has the unlimited resources to satisfy all our needs and the ability to keep us in spite of enduring trials. 

If you find yourself frustrated with each step, perhaps you should reevaluate with whom you are walking. If you your good faith comes back to you void, perhaps you should reconsider in whom you are placing your good faith.

As David reminds us, “I HAVE BEEN YOUNG, AND NOW I AM OLD; YET I HAVE NOT SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN, NOR HIS SEED BEGGING FOR BREAD.” PSALM 37:25

 “AS FOR GOD, HIS WAY IS PERFECT; THE WORD OF THE LORD IS PROVEN; HE IS A SHIELD TO ALL WHO TRUST IN HIM.” 2 SAMUEL 22:21

This fallen world is full of opportunity for compromise. Following our deceitful hearts, we so easily compromise what we know to be truth; we compromise our health; physically, emotionally, mentally and unless we remind ourselves of God’s goodness to us; we too often compromise ourselves spiritually.

Hear the words of the man of God; embrace the wisdom of lessons learned, remind yourself of your Father whose heart is broken by our willful sin.

“AS FOR GOD, HIS WAY IS PERFECT”;

For our sake’ “THOU SHALT NOT. . .” is written. Being the One who created us, He knows what is most profitable for us. Our sin does not threaten His Lordship; it breaks His heart, for us. He knows the destruction that awaits His rebellious children. “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!” ROMANS 6:23

“THE WORD OF THE LORD IS PROVEN;

God’s communication is perfect. His Word is a Light unto our way, Lamp unto our feet; life and that abundant and eternal. The more the darkness of the world assails us, the more we need His Light, the more confusing the path before us the more we need His direction; the more death surrounds us and demands that we make more of it than we ought; His Word reminds us and keeps us; “OH DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VISTORY?” 1 CORINTHIANS 15:55

“HE IS A SHIELD TO ALL WHO TRUST IN HIM.”

Only a ruthless, conniving, deceptive enemy would convince his foe to drop his shield in the heat of battle; only sin-prone man could be foolish enough to do so, yet how often, at the very time we have need to place all our trust in God, do we choose to abandon such trust; do we push aside God who is our shield.

About 30 years ago, after faithfully fighting the enemy for years, in an area of my life. I let down my shield; I let down God. I listened to my heart; I reasoned with my brain and I choose to ignore the counsel of the Word of God for this area of my life. I felt abandoned by God and man and so I pushed aside the shield who had been protecting me from the firey darts of the enemy. Without God to keep me the projectiles hit their mark and I fell wounded and dying.

In the heat of battle, out of loneliness and fear and sorrow and feeling abandoned, I compromised God’s will for my life; after years of flirting with temptation; I sinned, and my world tumbled. I suffered tremendous loss.

And even though I eventually sought and found God’s forgiveness; even though I would recommit to God’s will in the situation; even though by His great mercy, like Job, I was given back everything I had lost and more; my greatest sin came when I failed to continue to trust God to resurrect what was already dead; I failed when I pushed God who is my shield away and leaned unto my own hurt and twisted understanding.

Oh, how I should have said, ‘WHAT TIMES I AM AFRAID, I WILL TRUST IN GOD!” PSALM 56:3

“AS FOR GOD, HIS WAY IS PERFECT; THE WORD OF THE LORD IS PROVEN; HE IS A SHIELD TO ALL WHO TRUST IN HIM.” 2 SAMUEL 22:21 Every day in big and small ways we have opportunity to prove or fail God; my prayer is that you hold tight toGod who is your shield. AMEN!

“SUCH PEOPLE ARE NOT SERVING CHRIST OUR LORD; THEY ARE SERVING THEIR OWN PERSONAL INTERESTS. BY SMOOTH TALK AND GLOWING WORDS THEY DECEIVE INNOCENT PEOPLE.”

ROMANS 16:18

Do not be deceived by smooth talk and good speech; right is right and wrong is wrong, no amount of flowery oratory can change the absolutes of God’s Creation. There is certainly something within all human nature which does not want to acknowledge the absolutes of this world for absolutes demand that we surrender our will and bow to the will of God. Such surrender is tantamount to our realization that there is One who is greater than you and I and like it or not; His ways are higher than our own.

The Apostle warns; we are easily deceived by good rhetoric; men don’t care so much about the truth of what is being said, as long as it is said well. Many an errant preacher files pews weekly, not because he cares about anything more than his own personal security or that he strives to present the truth of God’s Word, but because as errant as he is in saying it, he says it pleasingly.

What people are the subjects of Paul’s address here? “PEOPLE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS AND UPSET PEOPLE’S FAITH BY TEACHING THINGS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT”, for whatever reason, doctrine or ploy, whether in the work place or in the church, whether in your home or in the market, The Apostle warns; “AND NOW I MAKE ONE MORE APPEAL, MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. WATCH OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS AND UPSET PEOPLE’S FAITH BY TEACHING THINGS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. STAY AWAY FROM THEM.” What “thing” taught was Paul referencing? He was talking about our understanding that Jesus is the Son of God and is God.

Something within man says if a man speaks well and looks good; he must be right. If he can clearly articulate what he believes; what he believes must be correct. There is however, a difference between a good leader and a politician; a man may be an excellent politician, but not have the interest of his country at heart. A man maybe a great preacher and care one iota whether or not what he is preaching is the Gospel truth, as long as it fills his pews and his pockets.

Paul says, “WATCH OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS AND UPSET PEOPLE’S FAITH BY UNSCRIPTURAL TEACHING.” They may sound good, but as the old story goes, just because fly-paper has a lot of other flies on it, doesn’t mean you ought to join them; perhaps they’re all there because there is no escape. AMEN!

“BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATEVER MAN SOWS, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP.” GALATIANS 6:7 

Believer, do NOT think for a New York Minute that you cannot be deceived. 

  The prophet told us, “THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY WICKED: WHO CAN KNOW IT?” JEREMIAH 17:9 So the advice, “Just follow your heart” is horrible advice; your heart will deceive you more times than not. You need to follow the Word of God which does NOT change. In it there is light and life. 

I was a young man and now I am old; I have learned a few things, some through very painful lessons, that help be avoid deception; for example, 

• if I need to ask whether a situation is right for me – it isn’t!

• If I want to know if my attitude or my actions are ok than I need to examine whether of not I would ever be ashamed of them.  

• For example, “Am I being too friendly with a member of the opposite sex? Would I behave the same way if my wife were present?

• Should I look at something on the computer? Would I look at it with my Pastor or a member of my church?  

• Should I say this? Would I say it in front of the person it concerns? 

Relationships are built or torn apart due to

• trust or lack of it;

• communication or lack of it,
• nurturing or lack of it.

• Here is another simple truth; If an action of mine offends my wife, that should be reason enough for me not to pursue it further; whether I feel it is right of me or not, as a married man if it’s not right with her, it’s not right for us, if it’s not right for us, it’s not right for me.

 Perhaps I didn’t realize that this limitation would come with this relationship, but if I am committed to my relationship, I must do what is best for it, sometimes to my temporary chagrin (she does the same for me). Relationships are give and take – sometimes you give-up something you love for your mate and sometimes she does the same for you.

• When you argue (and you will) the argument should not be about who is right and who is wrong, but how can we resolve this difference and each grow closer to God through it?
  
• Finally, you never get away with ANYTHING. You can call it Karma; I call it the law of God – what goes around comes around. EVERYONE thinks they will never get caught; EVERYONE does sooner or later, but you will get caught and you will pay the highest price for your bad decision. 

How did the serpent win over Eve? Through deceit and lies, “Surely this isn’t wrong – God will understand!” “REMEMBER, IT IS SIN TO KNOW WHAT YOU OUGHT TO DO AND THEN NOT DO IT.” JAMES 4:17 But be care also that you are not deceived. Forget your emotions; what does the Word of God say? What does God want you to do? Do you really need to ask?

 “BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATEVER MAN SOWS, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP.”

The spiritual man understands that he has no rights. The spiritual man wants to live as far away from sin as he possibly can for he understands that even the passing shadow of sin will leave him scarred. The spiritual man recognizes the blessings that come from God to be vehicles of salvation for those who are yet to come. The spiritual man only needs the Word of God to direct him; it is the “LAMP UNTO HIS FEET” in a darkened sinful world. The spiritual man lives for others.

2 CORINTHIANS 6:14 “DON’T TEAM UP WITH THOSE WHO ARE UNBELIEVERS. HOW CAN GOODNESS BE A PARTNER WITH WICKEDNESS? HOW CAN LIGHT LIVE WITH DARKNESS? 

Life is often difficult; there are few seasons of pure joy; where there are no heartaches or challenges. We cannot control what tomorrow brings into our lives, but we can choose how will respond to those challenges. Our response can determine the outcome of many more tomorrows; our tomorrows and the tomorrows of our children and our children’s children. 

It is natural to seek to ease our pain, but we must be cautious for the most immediate answers are seldom the permanent solutions; “THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT TO A MAN, BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH. PROVERBS 16:25

Hear the voice of Jesus, “COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE BURDENED DOWN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. MATTHEW 11:28

The carnal man excuses his sin until it has grown and overtaken him and destroyed the blessings of God in His life. The spiritual man avoids even “THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL” that God might shine forth and strengthen his life for the difficult days ahead. Amen!

Friday, July 24, 2009

“WHEN JESUS CAME TO THE REGION OF CAESAREA PHILIPPI, HE ASKED THE DISCIPLES, “WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT THE SON OF MAN IS? 15 THEN HE ASKED THEM, ‘WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? MATTHEW 16:13, 15

Who is Jesus? Time magazine recently ran a cover story asking this very question. The question is still valid and necessary. We see here a conflict between fiction and the truth. For the world had their opinion of who Jesus was and then there was the truth.

Brothers and Sisters, we should never be surprised that the world’s opinions differ from the truth in spiritual matters or in the personage of Christ.

This conflict is best expressed in the lyrics of perhaps my favorite Larry Norman song;

The Outlaw:

Some say he was an outlaw, that he roamed across the land,
With a band of unschooled ruffians and few old fishermen,
No one knew just where he came from, or exactly what he'd done,
But they said it must be something bad that kept him on the run.

Some say he was a poet, that he'd stand upon the hill
That his voice could calm an angry crowd and make the waves stand still,
That he spoke in many parables that few could understand,
But the people sat for hours just to listen to this man.

Some say a politician who spoke of being free,
He was followed by the masses on the shores of Galilee,
He spoke out against corruption and he bowed to no decree,
And they feared his strength and power so they nailed him to a tree.

Some say he was a sorcerer, a man of mystery,
He could walk upon the water, he could make a blind man see,
That he conjured wine at weddings and did tricks with fish and bread,
That he talked of being born again and raised people from the dead.

Some say he was the Son of God, a man above all men,
That he came to be a servant and to set us free from sin,
And that's who I believe he is cause that's what I believe,
And I think we should get ready cause it's time for us to leave.

Do you know Him? He desires a relationship with you and He has already made the way, but don’t look to Time magazine or Psychology today for the answer; they don’t have it. Don’t rely upon a Church to tell you; they may or may not know themselves; read the Bible. The New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; they will show you who He was when He lived as a man. Study the book of Acts and you will see what His Church is supposed to look like; who Jesus desires us to be. Pray and ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you through the Scripture and He will.

Whatever you do, take the time to consider Him; your life and eternity depend upon it. Amen!

  “IF YOU FORSAKE THE LORD AND SERVE OTHER GODS, HE WILL TURN AND BRING DISASTER ON YOU AND MAKE AN END OF YOU, AFTER HE HAS BEEN GOOD TO YOU.” JOSHUA 24:20 

With broken heart I hear the stories of fallen comrades; brothers and sister; once in Christ; loved ones who once worshipped God with me; who once danced in His presence, who often bragged of His Mercy and Grace and Blessings; who have now, after time, deception and loss of heart or disappointments, have fallen away from their love for Him.  

Choosing to abandon the glory of His goodness they have wandered into the darkness and have lost their way. 

With broken heart I hear the stories of children raised in the church, who once sang His praises, read His Word and talked to Him nightly, who have been swept away by the pleasures of the flesh; tempted by the allure of a big and shining empty world. They have yet to experience its emptiness, but too soon they will. Their lives and their eternal souls hang as delicate spider webs before the oncoming tide of destruction, but they cannot be afraid for they are anesthetized by the fun of their “freedom”. How far the tender feet of the naive are bound to slide! 

Whether naïve or deceived or intentionally rebellious, the outcome is the same, and that outcome is destined to last eternally. “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” ROMANS 6:23 

Let us each pray for the souls of our loved ones, for the souls of others as well as for our very own souls. Hear the Word of God; “BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP.” AMEN!

Good Friday Morning to you all (not that this is Good Friday),

Rather than send Devotion this morning I feel I ought to send a Thank You to all of you who receive the Devotions Daily, as well as a special invitation.

I have been writing these devotions for over 10 years now. For 8 years they were indeed daily for the past two or more, I write as consistently as my schedule allows. I hope that you still find them encouraging and helpful. You are a select group of friends from around the world who receive them.

I want to invite all of you friends who do not attend our church, to attend corporate worship this Weekend, wherever it is you worship. Go with an expectancy to receive from God and with a determination to be used by Him as well in the service. I want to invite all who are or have been apart of our church to attend this Sunday to see what God is doing. Please pray for New Hope Community Fellowship, as we pray for all of you.

Several months ago, our entire Sunday structure changed. I believe we are spiritually healthier now than we have ever been as a church. I invite you to come to see what God is doing. Do not expect a Sunday Worship Service as usual; rather expect a participatory study of the Word and a time of sharing and ministry. The whole paradigm of what church is has changed, as has the hierarchy and our understanding of the definition of the meaning of "church". Pastor Jim will be sharing and I will be ministering to the children.

Just a reminder; our new location is 112 Eastwind Drive, Westerville, Ohio. We are VERY EASY to find. There are directions and a map on our website.

Have a blessed weekend and celebrate His faithfulness always.

Pastor Gary 

Do you ever lose track of time? Ever lose a day? Today I am reminded of the old CHICAGO song; "DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?"

I got up this morning and like a dutiful husband pulled the trash to the curb because Friday is Trash day. I asked the girl at Starbucks if she was having a good Friday and she just looked at me oddly and said, "No." Wow, "must be bad", I thought. At work I was called to say I would need to meet with a family tomorrow at 4pm and I said, "Well, I was planning on going to our company day at the Zoo". My comrade kindly said, "Gary tomorrow is Friday, not Saturday". Suddenly, I am still one day away from the weekend. I would have really been upset to be waiting at the movies to meet my wife this evening, if only to find out it was only Thursday.

Have you ever realized that time is just the manner by which we measure life events? Time is our measurement; not God’s. We think we have a schedule, we think we have plans, we make out plans, but God directs our steps.

I find people never really know where they are on God's time-table, some maybe thinking it's Friday, they've lived a long-life and they are wondering why God hasn't called them home yet; when in reality it's only Thursday or far too often; we think it's only Tuesday and it is in fact, late Sunday night and our time on earth has all but gone.

You are only a vapor; life is as brief as the flicker of your eye lash. Most of us live our lives as though we have forever to find God.  He is always closer than we realize and our time to accomplish His will here below is often much less than we might want to know.

This morning as I was coming south on 71, a woman in a white Mazda cut me off in the fast lane; cutting over, she missed my right front bumper by inches. I was doing 70 and she felt the need to get in front of me.

It happened so fast, I couldn't react and she missed me pulling left before cutting through three lanes of traffic the other direction, leaving the freeway via the very next exit. I don’t know why she was in such a hurry, but she almost outran time.

Less than a second of traveling time was the difference of her clipping me and sliding in. Had I hit my horn (my first thought) she may have hesitated enough to cause us to collide. The ironic part of the story is that I am certain she is totally unaware of how close she came to causing a multi-car pile-up at 70 plus mile an hour. A moment's difference and lives could have been cast into eternity forever.

I am sure she is at her desk somewhere in the city - going through life as usual with no idea how differently this day could have been for all of us on 71 south.

You and I have this moment; nothing more, we plan for later today, tomorrow, next week, next year; we may think we know what time it is, when indeed only God knows what the next hour holds. Live now for the Kingdom of God, it may be all you really have. Amen!

  “I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF ME.” Philippians 3:12 

Many of my “encouragers” have passed on to their reward and some days I wonder if I can press on without them. Evil men prevail and fraudulent men thrive, while so many sincere disciples hunger and thirst for righteousness in an unrighteous world.  

Men pin their hopes on false Gods in politician clothes; their promises are but a vapor, which has vanished before it escapes their lips. 

The confidant I miss the most and especially today left this ugly world after 97 years, but far too soon. About a month before she died she left me with two charges; she said, “I may go on, but don’t you quit! Don’t you dare quit; God has brought you too far for you to quit now!” Like you say, "there are too many preachers and not enough pastors; you’re a pastor and people need to be loved. You have good little people who can do plenty for God if you’ll just turn ‘em loose.” 

Her second concern struck me as the words of Christ must of struck ol Peter so many times; “We need to pray for the preacher; you know who I mean, we need to pray that he gets saved, while he has time!” “Don’t you think he’s saved,” I asked, “You can’t love God and mistreat people and be right with God; he needs saved before it’s too late.” This dear old saint wouldn’t slander anyone, but she never mixed words either. Together we agreed that we would continue to pray for the preacher’s salvation as long as she was alive and I would continue, once she was gone. 

What wonderful, joyous times we had together, even at the end when she was almost too weak to speak, she would pray until her whisper became almost a shout. “Oh God” she would weep, “Have mercy, have mercy on us little people with our little faith!” Many times she would interrupt herself and say, “Oh how I wish I could come to church and walk the aisle and shout! My how I miss church!” 

Of course she didn’t miss church at all, we had church whenever we met, but she missed the fellowship of other believers many of whom she felt forgotten by.  

On days like today; I press on knowing that there is a cloud of witnesses who are cheering from the hidden side of Glory, they continue to say, “Don’t you dare quit – there are people, even pastors who need saved!” AMEN!

 “A MERRY HEART MAKES A CHEERFUL COUNTENANCE: BUT BY THE SORROW OF THE HEART THE SPIRIT IS BROKEN.” PROVERBS 15:13 

I read this week that doctors have discovered that our blood vessels actually harden with unexpressed anger; in our polite society, it is no wonder so many men are outlived by their wives. 

Before you think me completely brutish, follow me. Our society gives women the permission to “feel”; to cry, shout, scream, pout and it can even be forgiving if a man should “push his wife” to the point of doing something physically violent. (Anyone remember a woman name Bobbit?) However, if a man raises his voice during a confrontation he is immediately and forever more considered a tyrant. 

While there has been a destructive feminization of men in our society over the last several decades and while no one wants to see a male counterpart to Oprah leading an all male audience in a chorus of sobs over a neglected puppy; emotions are real and men and women both need the opportunity to feel and express those emotions.  

Still our society is much more forgiving of a woman’s display of anger than they are of a man’s display of sorrow. It is well known that anger is a secondary emotion, so while we deny men in general, the right to express sorrow, we are outraged when that sorrow erupts as anger; better they hold it all in and die an early death I suppose. 

Seriously, I would love a dollar every time I hear a male (young or old) told to “get it together” at the funeral home. I recently watched a man chastise his brother for “over-grieving” the loss of his wife. How do you over-grieve losing your wife by quietly crying? This man was joined by other embarrassed family members who told the widower to toughen-up for “the kid’s sake”. I wanted to skip from sorrow to anger myself and beat a few knots on the heads of that ignorant family! 

Sorry, that sounded brutish didn’t it? Seriously, my point is men do feel sorrow, sadness and despair, just as women feel anger. However when men express sorrow it is often seen as weakness or unmanly. Therefore, many men bury their deep hurts and fears until they erupt much uglier as anger or God forbid; violence. 

I wonder if “The Jesus Ministry” could have continue today after that FIT He had in the temple? He was yelling and turning over tables and flogging men, any Pastor doing that today would become the subject of the morning headline; ‘EVANGELICAL GOES CRAZY IN THE CHURCH HOUSE!” 

“A MERRY HEART MAKES A CHEERFUL COUNTENANCE: BUT BY THE SORROW OF THE HEART THE SPIRIT IS BROKEN.” A broken heart does much more than make a person look sad; it breaks the spirit. The spirit of a man is who he actually is; under the skin and bones; his spirit is who he is; sorrow breaks who you are. 

I am not advocating uncontrolled anger or violence, However, The Bible does say, “BE ANGRY AND SIN NOT” EPHESIANS 4:6 I am proposing that women do what men are told to do all the time; consider what your mate is feeling; give him space and permission to feel sorrow before it escalates into anger. And unless it sounds like I am blaming the women for our bad actions; men, you need to be honest with yourself and allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to express your sorrow. The deeper you stuff your emotions, the more volatile they become if they explode as anger. As men, we need to be aware of the emotions we are feeling and we need to be rational in how we express those emotions.

Both men and women should strive to think of others as well as themselves; in fact, before themselves. Both men and women need to feel validated. We must be aware that all have humans experience emotion. That emotion needs to be expressed if we are to be happy and healthy. Ideally our world would allow everyone to express sorrow as to diffuse the extremes of anger, express anger without sin and express forgiveness, as we all fall short of God’s glory.Amen!

  “LORD, MAKE ME TO KNOW MINE END, AND THE MEASURE OF MY DAYS, WHAT IT IS THAT I MAY KNOW HOW FRAIL I AM.” PSALM 39:4 

Maturity comes as the result of humility; humility is the result of honesty. Neither are often reached without transparency and accountability. 

Before we can grow; we must know. Before I can be a better anything, I must be willing to recognize that there is a need for improvement. I can blame my wife that I am not a better husband or I can admit that I need to be a better husband and become one for my wife. 

You’ve heard it said that the trails of life will either make you  bitter or better and it is I that makes the difference. Here David’s cry; “LORD, MAKE ME TO KNOW - HOW FRAIL I AM.” Of course David was speaking of being physically weak, however without an honest assessment of ourselves; a willingness to learn from others and a hunger to hear from God, we will never be prepared to grow stronger, physically, emotionally or spiritually. As long as you are content with “good enough” you will never be better. “KNOW IT ALLS” never do. 

I have listened in amazement to those individuals who can tell everyone else how to live while their own lives are in shambles. “I have two sons in prison, but let me tell you how to be a good parent! I have a lousy relationship with my step-children, but let me tell you what you’re doing wrong”. It is neither common sense nor humility that is missing, it is both! 

Let you and I begin with the man in the mirror. Let us ask God to show us our short-comings, however do not bother to ask to see your failures until you are ready to admit your imperfection and you are ready to do the hard work of changing. Pray, “God show me how to be a better man, mate, friend, disciple; show me how frail I am! Help me to grow and change.” 

The natural response to the ugliness of sin in our lives is to blame someone else. In one fell-swoop Adam blamed God, disrespected his wife and shirked responsibility for his sin when confronted in the garden; “THE MAN SAID, ‘THE WOMAN YOU PUT HERE WITH ME – SHE GAVE ME SOME FRUIT FROM THE TREE AND I ATE IT.” Adam does admit that he ate the fruit only after he blames God and his Wife. Eve was deceived, but Adam chose to disobey. The better answer, the honest answer should have been; “God, I messed-up. I should have been the spiritual leader; I should have set the example.”

Blame will take you no where good. Honesty and humility will bring you the opportunity for maturity. AMEN!

 Brennan manning observes; “THE ENTIRE PROCESS (OF SELF-DEVELOPMENT) CAN BE VERY EXCITING AND ENTERTANING. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THERE’S NO END TO IT. THE FANTASY IS THAT IF ONE HEADS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND JUST WORKS HARD ENOUGH TO LEARN NEW THINGS AND GROWS ENOUGH AND GETS ACTUALIZED, ONE WILL BE THERE. NONE OF US IS QUITE CERTAIN EXACTLY WHERE THERE IS, BUT IT OBVIOUSLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH RESTING.”

Isn’t it so easy to become disillusioned with life; religion, relationships, church, and God? There is something within each of us that notifies us that we have not arrived yet and yet we strive as little “Martha’s” to work hard to achieve whatever it is we think we are suppose to achieve only to learn that we have not achieved it at all! 

What is the answer then? Do we quit striving to fulfill the inward desire to look like “Abba (Daddy) God”? No! I believe the answer is simply to do as the Apostle John teaches; do the next thing in love. John announces Christ deity with His opening declaration of his Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word”. When we recognize that Christ lives in us, it becomes increasingly easy to allow Christ to live through us. 

The world won’t know you are Christian by how many times a week you go to church or by how many Scripture verses you memorize. They won’t know you are “Christian” by whether or not you are “born-again’, baptized or Spirit-filled. They could care less whether you cut your hair, avoid R-Rated Movies or listen to Rock n Roll. I hate to tell you Preachers, but the world isn’t impressed by your plastic smiles, your college degrees or how well you can preach; they don’t even care if you preach; but they will know we are Christians by our LOVE. 

Who is it that takes the hand of the dirty homeless man and sees in him the business man he was meant to be? Who is it that kisses the cheek of the promiscuous AIDS infected girl and looks into her eyes to tell her she’s virginal princess in the eyes of her Eternal Father? Who is it that gives away his bill money to pay the bills of another, (perhaps reckless) young couple? Who is it that cares for the widows, feeds the orphans and believes that basic human needs are more important than a glistening steeple, polished church van or new stained-glass windows? I’ll tell you who; the Christian; the man or woman who has looked into the face of love, been touched by the hands of love and has been carried by the arms of love; not when they had “made it”, but as they stumbled along still hurt and broken. 

Do you know where to find mercy? You find mercy at the feet of those who have received mercy. Whether or not your lips have never touched alcohol or cigarettes or the lips of a loose woman do not matter nearly as much as whether you have ever really touched the heart of God and allowed Him to touch the lives others do not want to touch. True faith is NOT about religion, true faith is about RELATIONSHIP; with God and with others. Christianity does not begin with us - it begins with Christ. It begins and is and is nothing if it is not love.  Amen!

“OWE NO MAN ANYTHING, BUT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER: FOR HE THAT LOVES ANOTHER HAS FULFILLED THE LAW.” ROMANS 13:8 

We always emphasize the first of this passage, which is indeed wisdom, however the meat of this verse is in the second portion; “FOR HE THAT LOVES ANOTHER HAS FULFILLED THE LAW.”

Are the words here of the Apostle Paul directly referring to Christ? They certainly could be for Jesus Himself said, “THINK NOT THAT I AM COME TO DESTROY THE LAW, OR THE PROPHETS: I AM NOT COME TO DESTROY, BUT TO FULFIL.” MATTHEW 5:17 Jesus most definitely accomplished that fulfilling through His unconditional love for all mankind. However in thus fulfilling the law, Jesus has also provided the way for us to fulfill the laws of God as well. 

Nothing is greater, purer Christianity than loving God with all we are and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Every act of love is an acknowledgement of the existence of our mighty God. Every unselfish act is worship to Him. Does the Word not instruct us that, “LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS”? 

Yes; 1 PETER 4:8 “ABOVE ALL, LET YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER BE INENSE, BECAUSE LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS.” 

Church, if we could forget all our programs, all our studies, all our buildings, all our structure and just merely learn to honestly love, we could turn this old sin-stained world right-side up. If we could learn to love with the intense love that is slow to anger and quick to forgive; the kind of love that so welds our relationships together that we never let go of one another, always believe in one another, always support one another, the Words of Christ would come true; “BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHER.” JOHN 13:35

When I was first saved during the Jesus Movement we used to sing a song, more importantly we strived to embody this song with our lives 

We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
 And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
They will know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand.
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
They will know we are Christians by our love" AMEN!

  “MY PRAYER FOR THEM IS THAT THEY WILL BE ONE, JUST AS YOU AND I ARE ONE, FATHER- THAT JUST AS YOU ARE IN ME AND I AM IN YOU, SO THEY WILL BE IN US, AND THE WORLD WILL BELIEVE YOU SENT ME.” JOHN 17:21 

What was the prayer Jesus prayed for the “Church” as He was preparing to return to His’ Father? His prayer was for the unity of the Church. Not for the Baptists or the Presbyterians or the Pentecostals or for the Methodists or for the Vineyard; No! 

His prayer was that His “Church”; that ALL His children would be in unity even as He and His Father are in Unity. What did He say? “WHERE (JUST) TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME; THERE I WILL BE IN THE MIDST OF THEM”. Bob Munford’s translation of this verse is, “IF JUST A COUPLE OF MY KIDS CAN COME TOGETHER AND GET ALONG; I WANT TO BE THERE JUST TO SEE IT!” 

Perhaps you heard the story about the lone man who had been stranded alone on a desert Island for four years; at last he was discovered and the rescue ship sent the first mate out in the row boat to get the survivor. As the First Mate reached the shore he saw three little huts, curious, he asked about them. “Well, said the survivor, the first hut is where I live and the third hut is where I go to Church.” “What about the second hut?” asked the First Mate? “Oh, replied the man, "that is where I used to go to church!” 

God’s people (the church), is highly ineffective because we cannot work together in unity. Consider this; how much could a 1000 member Lion’s Club impact your city? What about a 10,000 member Kawana’s Club? Suppose 50, 000 Boy Scouts set out to change a town; what could they accomplish? Yet we have churches of 1000 and 10, 000 and easily at least 50,000 Christians in most cities, but how effectively have we changed our communities for Christ? 

Jesus prayed that we would have unity for He knew that we would only be as effective as we were able to remove our egos and titles and work together for a unified purpose, which leads us to the second reason that we are highly ineffective; we do NOT have single purpose. 

When the first church gathered in the Upper Room they were of one heart and one mind and one spirit and the Holy Ghost came and they went out and changed the world. The problem is 1^st Methodist Church is so busy working to build 1^st Methodist Church and Vineyard is so busy making certain that Vineyard is getting credit for their work and the Baptist are so busy enlarging the Baptist Church and New Hope is striving that people know we’re still alive that none of us are working nearly as hard to build the Kingdom of God as we are our own reputation and “our ministries”. Until we reach the point where we do the work of God and we don’t want to be noticed; we will continue to have our worship services while the lost continue to go to Hell all around us. 

Even when we get them saved; our first mission is to get them to join OUR church. If we worked as hard as making certain they belong to Him as we want them to belong to us, the whole world could be shaken! 

Brethren; we are playing with the souls of men. For the sake of building our own kingdoms we are ignoring the Kingdom of God. If the Lord is returning for a unified church; we may have a long time to wait. Chances are the signs of the earth will be fulfilled long before the Bride is ready for her Bridegroom. 

“MY PRAYER FOR THEM IS THAT THEY WILL BE ONE, JUST AS YOU AND I ARE ONE, FATHER- THAT JUST AS YOU ARE IN ME AND I AM IN YOU, SO THEY WILL BE IN US, AND THE WORLD WILL BELIEVE YOU SENT ME.” JOHN 17:21 AMEN!

 “BUT IF YOU REFUSE TO FORGIVE OTHERS, YOUR FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS. MATTHEW 6:15 

Is there a greater testament to love than forgiveness? Has there ever been a greater challenge to one’s “rights”? Don’t we all feel justified in our own unforgiveness toward others? Can’t we all say, “But I was wronged”? 

Of course you were wronged; otherwise forgiveness would be unnecessary. If no one has hurt you or taken advantage of you or abused you or violated your trust you have no need to forgive. 

Whatever the offense toward us, such an offense can never measure the offense natural man is to Our Holy God, “BUT GOD SHOWED HIS GREAT LOVWE FOR US BY SENDING CHRIST TO DIE FOR US WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS.” ROMANS 5:8 While we still cursed Him and mocked Him or ignored Him or before we even knew Him; He forgave us and loved us and chose to die for you and me. Can you hear Jesus say, “LOVE EACH OTHER, JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, YOU SHOULD LOVE EACH OTHER.” JOHN 13:34  While you are still being hated, while you are still being cursed, while you are still being taken advantage of; here’s what you must do – “LOVE ONE ANOTHER”! 

To what degree must you be willing to love? Until you are willing to die for the person who is hates you; for the person who abusing you; for the person who is lying about you; for the person who is taking advantage of you. But you cannot love them until you are willing to forgive them.

Forgiveness is NOT saying the wrong done is ok. Forgiveness though is saying that the wrong done is ok with you; it was wrong, but I will not allow the hurt of the wrong done prevent me from loving you. 

Is it any wonder the 12 complained to Jesus; “THIS IS A HARD SAYING!” It is easy to hate, difficult to love, but essential to forgive if we are going to be forgiven by our Father in Heaven. Amen!

  How Faith Works

Three years ago the Holy Spirit began troubling my spirit; the church I pastor was doing well, finances seemed secure enough, attendance was good, but having, at that point been in full-time ministry nearly twenty years, I found myself feeling distant from “real people”.

My relationships with the unsaved were minimal; the previously unsaved friends that I had known had all gotten saved and passed on to glory. I found myself not only surrounded by Christians, but more troubling; by religious people. I felt like a fish in dirty water, I needed the fresh air of honesty that only unchurched people live in consistently. I decided that I would look for a part time job to renew my connections with the people of the world.

Within a week of asking God for direction, two suitable jobs became available. Money wasn’t an issue, so I was choosing on the basis of being able to interact with people who didn’t know Jesus. The first and most attractive job to me was working as a “coffee-boy” at a local gas station. I would service the coffee shop area of the Speedway. I had a church member who already worked there and I could start immediately. I saw this as a wonderful opportunity to meet lost people and since many are “regulars” who come in daily, I would have the opportunity to build relationship with them. I had decided to take this position and was driving home when I felt an urging to stop in at the local funeral home to see a friend.

As I arrived unannounced I interrupted my friend as he was emptying his desk. “Where are you going?” Well, he had decided to move from the Cleveland Avenue Chapel to one in Newark, Ohio. As we made small talk Craig interrupted me asking, “You wouldn’t know anyone looking for a small part-time job would you?” “What would the job require?” “Perhaps 20 hours a week, mostly helping the Manager with computer work and Greeting families at the services.” To make this as brief as possible, before I could really consider all the ramifications I blurted out, “I’ll take the job!” and after an interview with the HR of the company and a couple more days to pray, I changed my mind about being a Coffee Boy at the gas station and became office help at Schoedinger Funeral Home on Cleveland Avenue in Columbus. I knew nothing of the funeral business, except what I had learned as a Pastor doing funeral services.

Before long a position was created for me that the company had never had before and I was promoted to “Administrative Assistant”. For nearly two years I worked that position and did whatever was necessary on any given day at the funeral home. I have conducted many, many services – assisted a lot of families and have learned more about this business that I ever asked to know, but I love it.

Two weeks ago Sunday, I stepped out in faith and announced that my Wife and I would no longer accept salary from the church. Making such a decision was difficult for me, because I knew that Tammy and I could not support ourselves with each of us only working part-time. But as a church, we have been trying to pay-off church debt and our numbers are now down to where the church can’t realistic support us as they once did. I have no sorrow about where we are as a church for though we are a small congregation the community that we have been striving for as a church is finally being seen and we are spiritually growing as a church family closer and closer. Each Sunday is a roundtable discussion of God’s Word together and God is changing our lives!

The Tuesday after I made the announcement about not receiving salary from the church I was called before the powers that be and asked if I would consider being full-time as the Manager of this Chapel. Besides full-time pay, the best benefits in the business, plus retirement savings. God is good.

We make our plans, but God directs our steps. That’s how faith works. In three years, without any design from me, I have gone from “Greeter” to Manager of the Chapel. I am the only Manager of a Chapel who is not also a licensed Funeral Director. God has advanced me, even in spite of my lack of formal education.

Money has never been the issue; I took the job without even asking what it paid and if you asked me today what I make I would need to look it up; after all I am not the provider for my family; God is. He takes whatever my best efforts produce and meets our needs accordingly and we give Him the glory. And at the very moment of need, God provides, He always has and He always will as long as we lean into Him.

At one time in my life I believed that there was a difference between those in the full-time ministry, i.e. “Pastors” and lay people of the church; I was wrong – we are all ministers and full-time for God as long as whatever we do, we do for the glory of God!

My challenges for you today; walk in faith, not by sight or feelings or even goals; step out trust God and where God guides, He’ll provide! Amen!

  “REMAIN IN ME, AND I WILL REMAIN IN YOU.” JOHN 15:4

Can God’s Word be any clearer? “REMAIN IN ME, AND I WILL REMAIN IN YOU.” When we are no longer growing in God we don’t need a new church or a different pastor or other programs; we don’t need a newer Bible or better singing. When we are not growing in Christ it is because we are no longer allowing Him to be dominant in our lives.

Change of scenery may suffice until you grow weary of trying to be a “Christian” outside of His Lordship, but God’s promise is true; “REMAIN IN ME, AND I WILL REMAIN IN YOU.” If you are no longer growing in God it is because you are not where you need to be in God.

A woman once told me, “I can’t be spiritual; with a husband like I have, he holds me back!” Ironically for all the years she lived with her restrictive husband she fought to be in church and continued to grow, if at times that growth was so marginal it was barely noticeable, however was they were divorced she quit coming to church altogether and has for years now been a raging alcoholic. How many times I have seen people leave the church where God has directed them in search of something better only to become non-churchgoers altogether! 

“REMAIN IN ME, AND I WILL REMAIN IN YOU.” Either Jesus is God and His words are true or He is a liar and they aren’t. I want to say, “Buck-up; grow-up, own-up and fess-up!” We live in a society where everyone else is to blame, but if you aren’t growing in God it’s because you are GOING in God!

A word of caution here; some of the times of my greatest spiritual growth have been those silent times when I have had to continue to walk on in faith. We have all had those times when God appears to be on vacation just when you need Him most. You are looking for A SIGN, you are trying to FEEL your religion, you want to hear Him, but you don’t. That’s when you look to the promises of God’s Word and walk on in FAITH. Once you’ve survived the valley to your next upward clime toward the mountain top, you will look back and realize the faithfulness of God.  

So many times during their 40 years of wandering in the desert the Israelites were ready to return to the slavery of Egypt; they were blinded to God’s presence by the sheer hardships of the wilderness, however to this day in hindsight, they remember and celebrate the faithfulness and deliverance of God of those very times.

Jesus said, “REMAIN IN ME, AND I WILL REMAIN IN YOU.” You have His Word on it. Amen!

How about you; where’s your heart? Here’s the danger of such instability; as John Lennon said, “LIFE IS WHAT HAPPENS WHILE WE’RE MAKING OTHER PLANS”. The danger is that we can become so preoccupied with what we are going to do we accomplish little or nothing of lasting value. The Apostle James reminds us, “A DOUBLE-MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS” JAMES 1:8 I know this passage is examining the value of FAITH, but isn’t often a LACK OF FAITH that prevents us from pursuing our interests?

When the fire of enthusiasm if flaming we can get all excited about starting a task, but when the winds of doubt start challenging that flame too many of us shy away from the hard work that would produce results and allow ourselves to be drawn another direction. Many Pastors are visionaries and they are prone to envision exciting possibilities only to abandon them before the church leadership or the congregation can embrace the vision. Suddenly yesterday’s “God Vision” is passé and the new vision is all the rage at least in the Pastor’s mind.

Churches as a whole can fall victim to such shifts. This week we’re going to be a “Purpose-Driven Church”, next week we’re going to be a “Missionary-Church” and again the next week, we’re going to be a “worship-led church”. The sadness is while we’re busy making our plans; life happens; millions of souls are lost all around us, babies go to bed hungry, somebody’s daughter sells herself, body and soul for a little more dope. While we’re busy building a better net, the fish are being loss.

I passed a construction site this morning; a big church is building an even bigger building. Ironically, as I was looking at the piles of construction supplies which will become the new “church” a homeless man shuffled by. Disheveled, weary and already warm on what promises a very hot day; he carried all his worldly good in to plastic grocery bags in his hands. He nodded at me and he too looked at the impressive structure being built. I wonder what he thought about it. Do you think the homeless man is as excited about the new church as the Pastor or the congregation? What are we doing with our lives, our time, and our finances? Who are we building our “ministries” for? Who do we hope to reach? When do we stop dreaming and begin doing the work of God?

For the second day this week, as I look out my window, the police have a man spread eagle against a car in the parking lot next door; church, whose impacting that man’s life? Has he ever had the opportunity to encounter a person of faith who has encountered the living God?

Church, we’re NOT impacting our world; something’s wrong, so I will ask you again; where’s your heart?

 It doesn’t matter so much what we decide to do with our lives if we never understand that life is bigger than our own choices. If our reality is that we are somehow responsible for our own lives than we tend to live selfishly. If however, e embrace the truth that our lives are a gift from God to be used for the betterment of others to His Glory; we gain a totally different perspective of what it means to be alive.

Changed as well is our definition of success; suddenly “the one who dies with the most wins philosophy” is null and void and possessions lose their value compared to caring for one another. Once a man realizes that he is indeed his brother’s keeper how can he find any pleasure in his own abundance if others around him remain in need?  Success is measured more by what is freely given than by what one accumulates for himself. When the character of Christ is replaces our own selfish natures what we value changes. The importance of temporal things diminishes while the eternal good of others, even before our own desires increases.

Work becomes ministry and a means to touch other lives; a conduit by which makes God makes Him known through us. Commerce becomes the podium and our lives become the sermons for a lost and dying world who will never entertain the practice of entering a “Church’.

Reality “Church” is wherever God’s people are living in right-standing with God; when we walk in righteousness for His name’s sake, men are drawn unto our Eternal God.

Life is a surprise party; in immaturity we can protest that we never asked to be born or we can be thankful for the opportunity to walk where Jesus walked, grateful for the opportunity to serve our God through the lives we live.

Today is a good day to reflect the Glory of God. Amen!

“CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE”
 JOSHUA 24:15

You and I must make a daily choice; whom will you serve? Will you choose to walk in the precepts of God or do you choose to serve the flesh? Do you choose to embrace the laws of God or do you choose to ignore His’ precepts? 

I can almost hear the critic saying, but I made my choice long ago, why must I make it again? The short answer is that temptation did not quit on the first day you chose to live for Christ. I am not saying you need to be saved anew each day, Christ has paid the price for the salvation you have received however, I am saying you must make a conscious decision to live that salvation daily. However temptation to sin is but one tributary of a many rivers one must continually, spiritually navigate. Other choices we must make define our lives. Our integrity is known by the depth of our conscious living choices.

Just as a believer should retire each day by asking, “What did I do for God today?” “We should also begin each day by asking, “What will I do for God today?” How can I be a blessing to others today? What good thing will I do to allow the love of God to shine through me?” 

As Christians we are to shine forth the glory of God, but far too often the grime of this world hides our lights. We can try to clean the outside of our lives by practicing religion, but religion will not allow others to see God in you. Or we can earnestly seek to love God with all we are and our neighbors as ourselves and those choices will allow the Holy Ghost to cleanse us from the inside out. It will also allow others to see Christ in us.

Some, perhaps you; have recently been going through the motion of going to church, but you aren’t really excited about God right now. For some, it was difficult for you to open this devotion; you just aren’t interested, but it is for you this devotion is given; “CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE” AMEN!

As you read this, Donna Williams is having a triple bypass of her heart performed at Riverside Hospital. Pray for Donna and her husband, Mark. Amen

“WHAT WILL YOU DO ON THE DAY OF RECKONING, WHEN DISATER COMES FROM AFAR? TO WHOM WILL YOU RUN FOR HELP? WHERE WILLYOU LEAVE YOUR RICHES” Isaiah 10:3

The prophet Isaiah was not so much asking questions as he was giving his listeners an opportunity to think. Notice his premise is not whether or not trouble will ever become present; his premise is “when” trouble comes, then what?

He asks; what will you do? Who will you turn to? All the possessions you have worked all your life to accumulate; where will they go?

Whether we are facing calamity or the end of the world or even death itself, there is a day of reckoning for each one of us. “Day of reckoning” means the day of a settling of accounts. There is a day coming when the score is settled; everything you have said, thought and done will be taken into account and the score will be settled. Some people call it Karma, but I believe Jesus addresses this law when He says, “GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU: GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER, AND RUNNING OVER WILL BE PUT INTO YOUR BOSSOM. FOR WITH THE SAME MEASURE THAT YOU USE, IT WILL BE MEASURED BACK TO YOU.” LUKE 6:38

I know we most often associate this verse as a pleasant promise of blessings being returned for blessings and I  believe that’s true, but think of it, if “THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH”. What you accumulate through sin is what you’ve earned, payday is coming!

If you want financial blessings; give. If you want mercy: give mercy. If you want to live in peace; be a peacemaker. If you want kind words spoken of you; speak kindly of others. If you want a friend; be friendly. If you wanted to be loved; love. Granted you may be persecuted in spite of righteousness or rather because of it, but even then Jesus says when you are, you are blessed!

Payday is coming and we have “ALL SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD”, so “TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION”. Rather than wait until the day of reckoning (which can come at any moment for anyone of us), you need to turn now to God and repent of your sin; you need to flee temptation and run headlong into the will of God for your life! Jesus said,”IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE, BUT I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD”, so why not turn to Him now while you can? You may not have time to “Get Ready”, so you must live ready!

As certainly as you are alive and reading this, an account is being made of what you think, say, and do. You need Christ’s forgiveness and salvation otherwise, allow me to echo the Prophet, “WHAT WILL YOU DO ON THE DAY OF RECKONING, WHEN DISATER COMES FROM AFAR? TO WHOM WILL YOU RUN FOR HELP? WHERE WILLYOU LEAVE YOUR RICHES” Think about it – do something about it, now. Amen!

PLEASE PRAY, A LADY IN OUR CHURCH;DONNA WILLIAMS IS SCHEDULED FOR A DOUBLE BYPASS TOMORROW

  “MY SON, GIVE ME YOUR HEART, AND LET YOUR EYES OBSERVE MY WAYS.” PROVERBS 23:26   

God’s ways do not change. The Father who has given us life has also given us the way to best preserve that life. His laws are not to prevent us from enjoying life; just the opposite; His ways lead to abundant life and that life eternal.

Natural man cannot understand the restraints of God. In fact natural man cannot understand restraints at all. His heart cries for freedom, but what natural man perceives as freedom is the desire for those things which would enslave us. Without boundaries there is no freedom only chaos and destruction. Natural man left to his own devices is inclined toward sin and death. It is the Christ who says, “HE WHO THE SON SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED!”

In as much as man’s heart longs for its own independence, his Creator desires liberty and joy and peace to reign supreme in the heart of man. Where there is no disciple there is no peace. Yet God cries out, “MY SON, GIVE ME YOUR HEART, AND LET YOUR EYES OBSERVE MY WAYS.”

Does your heart belong to God? Do you awaken each day longing to bring Him Glory or do you awaken each day longing to find your own pleasure?  Do you begin each new day desiring to be a blessing to others or do you begin each day desiring to be blessed? Do you hungry and thirst after righteousness with God or are you concerned whether or not you are in right standing with God? God says “GIVE ME YOUR HEART”. Is your reply, “Lord my heart already belongs to you” or do you secretly say, “My heart is MINE”? If you place your own comfort, desires and wants before your love for God or the expression of that love toward others, you have already made such a proclamation.

“AND LET YOUR EYES OBSERVE MY WAYS”, I have said it before; the world says, “TAKE”, God says, “GIVE”. What are the ways of Jehovah God? How does He look upon His Creation? How did God in flesh live while among us? The surely the example has been set. To truly observe indicates more than just seeing. To observe is to see and to do; to recognize and to duplicate; to put into practice what you have seen.

In what ways are you observing the ways of your God? Is your love unconditional; as His love is? Are you slow to anger and quick to forgive as Our God is? Are you more concerned about the needs of those who hurt you and abuse you or deny you? Are you persistent in your deliberate concern for those who hold no concern for you?

Consider these thoughts and hear your Heavenly Father say to you this day,   “MY SON, GIVE ME YOUR HEART, AND LET YOUR EYES OBSERVE MY WAYS.” AMEN!                                 

“FOR WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS AGE, AGAINST SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN HEAVENLY PLACES.” EPHESIANS 6:12

Do not forget dear friend, that beyond this interchange; known as life, there is another realm, just as real, just as direct and just as interested in your life.

Many of the obstacles to our success and / or joy are birthed in the spiritual realm. Personal exchanges, unkind remarks, skewed thoughts are the work of the powers of darkness that war against the children of God.

Conflicts within our homes, our churches, even our jobs are the work of an adversary who “WALKS ABOUT AS A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.” 1PETER 5:8 His imps are always ready to bring havoc into our relationships and our lives; the devil is more than willing to allow us to blame personalities and politics and circumstances rather than recognize that we are involved in spiritual warfare.

We are told in the Word “RESIST HIM, STEADFAST IN FAITH, KNOWING THAT THE SAME SUFFERINGS ARE EXPERIENCED BY YOUR BROTHERHOOD IN THE WORLD.” 1 PETER 5:9 Child of God, you are NOT ALONE in your travail, but we must recognize that much of the confusion, unhappiness and discontentment are nothing more than the product of the dark spiritual forces which surround us in this world.

Let us not forget,  “WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS AGE, AGAINST SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN HEAVENLY PLACES.”

“SUBMITYOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE YOU.” JAMES 4:7 AMEN!

For certainly, I can spend my time making myself more comfortable or I can invest my time pouring myself into another life that he or she might see a bit of the Glory of God’s love.

The more unlikely the recipient; the greater opportunity for God to make Himself known. If I love someone who is lovely and loveable, I am no better than the pimps and the drug dealers, if I love the very one who is likely to use, abuse or curse me; than I am ripping asunder the very veil of darkness that enslaves that dear Soul.

If I feed one’s body or spirit or mind or heart than surely I am also touching the very Spirit and mind and heart of God. “WHAT YOU DO FOR THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHERN; I HAVE DONE IT UNTO MY GOD.” 

Consider standing in line at the grocery is a grumpy grandmother of color and a young white man steps forward and without fanfare pays for her groceries, or if an young black man would step-up and hand $10.00 to the clerk for the shopper behind him, or a stressed-out mother was handed a few roses and a simple “God Bless You” as she left the market. What if the next time you’re eating out you pay the bill for the couple at the next table via your waitress? Consider the impact a simple act of kindness can generate.

The world has grown weary of “good deeds” done as advertising ploys and “free” services which are really a ploy for donations. Isn’t our God big enough to reveal Himself through our selfless acts done without promoting ourselves, our ministry or our church? The possibilities are endless; as are the opportunities, the question then becomes how often are you and I living only by our own agenda or for our own comfort? How often do you and I look for the opportunity to be a blessing?

As I see it; each new day is both a blessing as well as a responsibility. How are you going to live this day?

  “FOLLOW ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN” MATTHEW 4:9

 Notice in His exchange Jesus does not direct the soon-to-be disciples to the local religious leaders, nor does He direct them to the established religious centers.  

He does not offer religion at all. These men had been steeped in religion, what they were in need of was a livening experience with the living God. Jesus gave the prescription for life in one simple command; just two words; “FOLLOW ME”. 

He wasn’t hosting a teaching seminar or Jesus Rally. He didn’t offer DVD Teachings or a message series on tape, He didn’t have His own ‘authorized’ version of the law to sell or coffee mugs or T-shirts or even sanctified breath mints; in fact what Jesus did looks nothing like what most of Christianity looks like today.  

What Jesus had to offer was ABUNDNAT LIFE and that He would purchase for one and all. He instructed His Disciples, ‘FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED; FREELY GIVE”. Jesus didn’t preface His remarks with 30 minutes of praise, nor did He follow them by receiving an offering (now I’ve got some preachers attention), what He did His command with was what God always attaches to His commands; a promise. 

In this case, Jesus says, “FOLLOW ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN” In other words, follow me and you will lead others who desire what they see what I have deposited in you. Jesus did not offer religion; He offered RELATIONSHIP. He said in so many words, “Come get to know me and I’ll introduce you to My Father and you will all be family!” 

The call of Christ has never changed and the promise remains the same; “FOLLOW ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN” 

You may or may not like the package Jesus is most often seen to be a part of, but His gift remains the same and once you get past the fancy ribbons and gaudy paper, the present of eternal, abundant life is what you need.

Listen carefully Jesus is speaking, “FOLLOW ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN” AMEN!

  “A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES, AND A BROTHER IS BORN FOR ADVERSITY.” PROVERBS 17:17

“He’s not just my Pastor; he’s more than a friend; he’s more like a brother”; spoken to a church visitor, spoken about me, spoken by a member I did indeed count as a friend. Ironically, she quit the church that same week and I haven’t seen or heard from her since.

Those words, her voice have haunted me for the largest part of the past year. In spite of my resolve to move on, my heart aches when I think of the “friends” who have moved in and out of my life.

The truth is that I have been more fortunate than most. I do have friends who I have had all my life. I have friends, I do not see or speak to everyday, but the mere remembrance of them brings a smile to my face and encouragement to my heart. With a few major exceptions, most of them predate my ministry days and I suspect will be there when all I have shepherd have forgotten me. 

We live in an egocentric world. We define love by “what’s in it for me?” We define commitment by our level of current contentment. Our relationships don’t last, our jobs don’t last, our marriages don’t last, our church memberships don’t last, our friendships don’t last; but we comfort ourselves saying, “It’s not me – it’s everyone else!” 

Listen to how God defines friendship; “A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES, AND A BROTHER IS BORN FOR ADVERSITY.” Do you understand there is NO SUCH THING AS A FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND? If you’re not down with me for the struggle, than you’re not down with me at all. (How’s that for modern lingo?)

At a time when the first disciples were concerned about people quitting the “First Church of Jesus”, listen to what Jesus said, “THEY WENT OUT FROM US, BUT THEY WERE NOT OF US; FOR IF THEY HAD BEEN OF US, THEY WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE CONTINUED WITH US; BUT THEY WENT OUT, THAT IT MIGHT BE KNOWN THAT THEY WERE NOT ALL OF US” 1 John 2:19

Pastors around the world receive this devotion for encouragement, so please allow me to speak to you a moment; we all know the feeling of rejection that comes after you have poured your life into the lives of people only to have those people walk away (usually after they are better), any man or woman knows how we tend to depend upon the sweet counsel of friends; PROVERBS 27:9 says “THE HEARTFELT COUNSEL OF A FRIEND IS AS SWEET AS PERFUME AND INCENSE” , for your health, for the health of your family and for the health of your ministry, please realize we are going to experience only what Our Elder Brother has experienced before us. Hurt as it may, there is only one proper response, bless them, let them go in love.

At times, like this time for me; you will have no idea why you have been abandoned; you will be haunted by past promises of loyalty and commitment. We understand that the Bible says, “BEWARE WHEN ALL MEN SPEAK WELL OF YOU”, but yet each time we want to believe the expressions of love are sincere; remember the same people who welcomed Jesus later cried “crucify Him”, the very followers who proclaimed Him Lord and King, chose the ungodly Barabbas to live and condemned Christ to die, the same people who bowed before Jesus; some of whom he had healed, some, whom He had fed, most of whom He had invested His very physical life into later nailed Him to the cross,.

You will have many acquaintances throughout life and ministry, but very few friends indeed; you needn’t worry about which they are for in time they will reveal it to you themselves. “A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES, AND A BROTHER IS BORN FOR ADVERSITY.” Cherish the few friends who come into your life; as I wrote some time ago; friendship is a sacred trust, when broken it offends both God and man. Amen!

  “SEE, I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU THIS DAY LIFE AND GOOD,
 AND DEATH AND EVIL” DUETERONOMY 30:15

“FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.” ROMANS 6:23

God has set before man a simple choice; seek Him and live or deny Him and die. God says, “you can do what I know will give you the best life possible and live eternally or you can choose to find your own way, suffer throughout this existence and be damned forever without relief.”

Such a simple truth that is central throughout the Word of God is so often neglected by the pulpiteers of today. Why; could it be that such a stark message does not assure a preacher’s popularity.

Men love to hear how good they are. They love the unconditional assurance of good life and Heaven, however who wants to hear about sin and death? Such preaching will never build bigger buildings or buy cars or new robes for that matter, but with men lost and dying, shouldn’t we be warning them of Hell before they find out all too late of it’s existence? 

Preachers, we should be shouting from the rooftops, “Choose Life - Choose Christ!”  Some of us preach as though we’re afraid of offending the devil himself. We have too often forgotten that the eternal soul of man is at stake!

Believer, Christ has called you also to “GO UNTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL”. The word “Gospel” means “Good News!” We hold the Good News that God has a better way and it leads to life eternal. Whom have you told lately? If you are afraid of turning them away from God; realize this, if they are not following Him, they have already turned away from Him. Are you afraid to speak the truth in love because they might go to a hotter Hell? Saved is saved and lost is lost and if one isn’t saved they are already lost!  

Hear the Word of God; it applies to you and to everyone you meet, know and love; “SEE, I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU THIS DAY LIFE AND GOOD,
 AND DEATH AND EVIL” DUETERONOMY 30:15

  “THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE; I WILL NOT FEAR: WHAT MAN CAN DO TO ME?” PSALM 118:6

It is not by chance that the writer begins his thought by establishing his relationship with God. His right-standing (righteousness) is the solid foundation from which he can proclaim, “I WILL NOT FEAR”. 

Beloved, IF God is on your side, you have NO reason to fear. What can separate you from the love of God? “. . . NEITHER DEATH, OR LIFE, NOT ANGELS, NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR HEIGTH, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY OTHER CREATURE, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.” ROMANS 8:38-39 

You may say, “What if men persecute me for following Jesus? What if they say bad things about me? “IN FACT, EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS WILL BE PERSECUTED,” 1 TIMOTHY 3:12  

But what did Jesus say? “BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN PEOPLE INSULT YOU AND FALSELY SAY ALL KINDS OF EVIL AGAINST YOU BECAUSE OF ME.” MATTHEW 5:11 

“What if they do not pay me for my labors; what if I lose my job; how will I live?” “LOOK AT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR; THEY DO NOT SOW OR REAP OR STORE AWAY ITEMS AND YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM. ARE YOU NOT MUCH MORE VALUABLE THEN THEY? Dear Child of God, you can proclaim, “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT!” PSALM 23 

But what if they take my life? “WE ARE CONFIDENT (I SAY), AND WILLING RATHER TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY, AND TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.” 2 CORINTHINANS 5:8 

Too many of God’s children live in fear and bondage to the “What-ifs” of life; we belong to ALMIGHTY GOD! We can rightly say, “THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE; I WILL NOT FEAR: WHAT MAN CAN DO TO ME?”AMEN!

“I WATCH, AND AM AS A SPARROW ALONE UPON THE HOUSE TOP.” PSALM 102:7

What more can you be when being your best is not good enough? How far must you run before your history does not catch up to you? How far can you go that your shadow doesn’t threaten to overtake you? Where can you hide when no hiding place wants you?

Have you ever given your all and your all is not enough? How it is that evil men deliberate in their wickedness prosper, but righteous men are condemned in their humanness?

 “I WATCH, AND AM AS A SPARROW ALONE UPON THE HOUSE TOP.”  I see the churches of hypocrites and liars full and few hungering after God’s plans. I see the abusive and the manipulators succeed, but the holy and the humble are discounted as failures and fools.

The question is not whether God exists or not, the question is whether or not God is aware that you exist. On the roofline where He placed you; your vantage point allows you to see the goings on around you and yet you so often seem to sit alone.

At some point, one begins to wonder whether or not it is worth the watching any longer. Should one sit or take flight; does a single sparrow matter to anyone at any rate? 

Scripture does say that a single sparrow does not fall that its father doesn’t take notice of it; perhaps God is waiting for the sparrow to fall! Have you ever felt so desolate and forgotten?

“I WATCH, AND AM AS A SPARROW ALONE UPON THE HOUSE TOP.” Dear God, When we feel alone remind of your presence. Remind us that you have placed us where we are and that we are still under your care. If we fall, you will be there to catch us, but even if you wouldn’t we still belong to you; remind us this day, I pray, Amen!

“AND HOPE MAKETH NOT ASHAMED; BECAUSE THE LOVE OF GOD IS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS GIVEN UNTO US.FOR WHILE WE WERE STILL HELPLESS, AT THE RIGHT TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY – BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” ROMANS 5:5,6,8 

I often wonder where the love of God is within the body of Christ. A year ago I conducted the funeral service for a week-old baby boy. The infant’s parents weren’t married and they had no church background, but I had buried the young girl’s grandmother a couple years before and so I found myself doing my best to show this couple the love of God.

In a few days (on the anniversary of their lost baby’s birth) I will be marrying them. As I met with them last evening I asked about their beliefs and church background. I listened intently and broken-hearted as they relayed their experiences with “Christians”.

“There’s a man who comes into my place of employment; we girls have nick-named him, “Jesus Man”. When I was 7 months pregnant or so, he came into work; “Where’s your ring?” I said, “excuse me!” “Are you married?” “I was shocked at his boldness, I was just trying to do my job, he continued; are you going to get married before this baby comes?” “No!” The man’s next few words caused the young lady great sorrow, “Well, you know where you’re going then!”

In one fell-swoop this man had judged, tried and convicted her without as much a common concern for her or her baby.

About this time the young woman and her boyfriend began attending a mega church in. While they didn’t like the size, they did like the preaching and the worship. Within the first few weeks of attending the girl’s mother suffered a financial set-back; being in need and at her daughter’s suggestion and out of desperation, the woman called the church asking for some temporary assistance. Upon receiving the request, the pastor in charge answered, “We’d really like to help you, but your unmarried daughter and her illegitimate baby live with you, for that reason we can’t!” Needless to say, the young couple have never attended church there or anywhere else since.

Almost a year ago, within days of losing her baby she was also told by a co-worker, who is a preacher’s daughter, that God had taken her son because the baby was conceived in sin. This is the same co-worker that hounds the young girl daily about coming to her father’s church. I wonder if the preacher’s daughter realizes that we are all conceived in sin? Since the announcement of the upcoming nuptials, rather than the expected encouragement you might expect the woman to give this young woman, she has been hearing, “A little late, isn’t it?” I believe God weeps for His children.

If we the Church are to offer “HOPE” through the “LOVE OF GOD SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS”, where is the Good News of Hope; indeed, where is the “LOVE OF GOD”? God help us! If Christ so loved us while we were yet sinners; why don’t we who call ourselves by His Name off the same unconditional love to those who are still lost?

Except by the grace of God, you are no different from the most desperate sinner you know. Let us love God with all that we are and love one another as we love ourselves. In Jesus’ Name AMEN!

“THE IMAGINATION OF MAN’S HEART IS EVIL FROM HIS YOUTH.” GENESIS 8:21 

A popular lie of today’s society says that we are all born innocent; our lives become corrupted by the trials of life. 

 God’s Word teaches quit the opposite; “ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD” ROMANS 3:23. We are made better by the lessons learned through adversity; not unlike our Lord, “ALTHOUGH HE WAS A SON, HE LEARNED OBEDIAENCE FROM THE THINGS HE SUFFERED” HEBREWS 5:8N,  ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US.” 1 JOHN 1:8 One might ask if such belief

“THE IMAGINATION OF MAN’S HEART IS EVIL FROM HIS YOUTH.”  The understanding of this reality equips us to understand our reliance upon He who is without sin. If I can be “Holy” by effort or “Righteous” by will; why do I need the grace of God or the sacrifice of Christ? 

It is because my heart is deceitful, my ways naturally are wicked, my mind is in need to be continually renewed that I need One who is greater than me. 

Sin comes easily for me. I am corrupt by nature. Salvation is the process that I experience daily. While God is perfect; I am not and so I recognize my need for the grace, mercy and salvation of God.  

My recognition of my own imperfection also allows me to be as merciful toward others who fail; as I desire God to be toward me. 

The man who falls to his knees and cries, “God have mercy on me a sinner!” is far closer to the Kingdom of God than the man who fancies himself, “a pretty good Christian”. As Jesus told the self-righteous men of His’ day, “I ASSURE YOU, CORRUPT TAX COLLECTORS AND PROSTITUTES WILL GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD BEFORE YOU DO!” MATTHEW 21:31

Those who believe they are good see no need for God. However, remember Christian; “THE IMAGINATION OF MAN’S HEART IS EVIL FROM HIS YOUTH.” AMEN!

“SEARCH ME, O GOD, AND KNOW MY HEART: TRY ME, AND KNOW MY THOUGHTS:” PSALM 139:23

If we are going to be free from sin, we must not wait until we are faced with temptation; we must avoid it.

Acts of sin are birthed within our heats and minds long before they are carried out by our bodies. That is precisely why Jesus warned about the thoughts of adultery and hatred as being the same as the act of adultery and murder.

You and I are commanded by God’s Word to take “EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE”. Before the passing thought can take nest within our being we must chase each impure thought away. Before we lie, steal or cheat we must not allow our thoughts to even consider such actions. Without the thoughts these actions cannot follow.

When we catch ourselves having such thoughts, we must stop them and redirect them to the right way of thinking.

Nothing can do this better than to have the Word of God memorized. Just as Jesus used Scripture to put the thoughts of temptation to flight in the desert; we must be on the ready and equipped to scripturally answer the adversary whenever he should approach us.

So this prayer helps prepare us to face temptation. The Psalmist is saying, “Lord know my heart and know my mind and before they can misdirect me; show me and lead me. You know me better than I know myself – test me and show me where I might fall!”

“SEARCH ME, O GOD, AND KNOW MY HEART: TRY ME, AND KNOW MY THOUGHTS:” I want all that I am; even my thought life to reflect your glory. Amen!

“THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION; OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

The love of Christ compels us to look to Him, seek after Him, become more like Him. For too many of us, this passage of Scripture is little more than justification for pretending to be what we desire to be rather than allow God to raise us up to be who they were created to  be in God.

Herein lies the hitch; knowing the will of God in each individual life. What is “clean” for me may indeed be “Unclean” for you; that is to say, that God knows each of our weaknesses and strengths, what may become destructive in my life; paralyzing my spiritual maturity, may not affect you negatively at all, in fact may even be a spiritual strength for you.

This free will is most disturbing to those of us who would rather have the ten laws written in stone.

Many, perhaps most, would prefer that God would just clearly list all things displeasing to Him for every area of our lives; thus removing our need to seek and to follow Him diligently. God however desires not mind-numb robots programmed to follow rules; God desires relationship with you, therefore, He asks you to stay in step with the Holy Spirit, working out your own salvation with fear and trembling and He commands us not to judge one another, for indeed the liberty expressed in another’s life may be precisely what God has called Him to do.

“THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION; OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW. So, we might ask, “LORD, WHAT IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT?”, but that question was already asked long ago and the answer remains the same; “LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ALL YOUR SOULD, ALL YOUR HEART, MIND AND STRENGTH AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Only people who have been changed by the Holy Spirit of God can love well. Amen!

I sat this morning staring at the expansive ocean before me. As far and as wide and as deep as I can see, only water and waves. Dark grey to light blue, the sea dances in front of me.

The heavy winds today are matched only by the dark restless ocean below. Sea foam blows like tumble weeds across the drifting sands.

The roar of the churning waters makes conversation impossible unless one is willing to shout and strain to hear what their partner has to say; so today is better suited for observation and inner reflection.

I love the ocean for many reasons; however I like it best perhaps, because like the mountains, it reminds me of the smallness of man and the vastness of our God.

My world so often is centered almost wholly on me and yet compared with God’s creation, I am so very small. I stretch my heart to embrace the seemingly endless water and reflect upon the fact that God who has created it is so much larger than it that He merely spoke it into being.

The foolish may believe that such beauty was born out of nothing; has evolved into such wonder, but I think such belief would require much more faith than to believe this universe of symmetry and order was created by One who is mightier than us all.

Naturally the belief in a Creator God requires man to understand that there exists someone greater than himself. It also requires Him to accept that he is not free to live without regard for His creator or His laws. I do not find such belief at all difficult. I see the wonders of His’ Creation and like David I readily proclaim; “Your creation displays your glory!” With this understanding renewed; I want to fill my place within His creation. Amen.

How will you live this day? How will the world be different for you having lived it?

I believe in a simple formula; as I go, so goes my family. As my family goes; so goes our community. As our community goes; so goes our country. As our country goes; so goes the world. We cannot complain about the shape the world is in if the shape of our personal lives are no different.

The choices you make today affect every person you love and every person who loves you. What we permit for ourselves will be the norm for our children and the expected for our grandchildren. If those choices are good; than the next generation will stretch to do better; if they are compromised down for us, they will be less for our children and even less for each generation to follow.

The Word teaches, "TO HAVE A FRIEND, YOU MUST BE FRIENDLY". The same principle applies to every virtue; if we desire to be loved, we must first love, if we desire to receive kindness, we must first offer kindness, if we desire others to be generous, we must first be generous. It's a law of God; "GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU - BY THE MEASURE YOU GIVE IT, YOU SHALL RECEIVE IT."

So simply; allow me to ask you again; How will you live this day? How will the world be different for you having lived it?  Think about it - Live it. Amen!

 “WE HAVE SINNED, EVEN AS OUR FATHERS DID; WE HAVE DONE WRONG AND ACTED WICKEDLY.”  PSALM 106:6 

Perhaps these words stir pity within your heart. Perhaps you say, “Poor man; how terrible!” May I suggest that you need pity only yourself? This man is on his way to redemption for he recognizes his sin. You and I may still be stumbling in the darkness and calling it light. 

Sin creeps in. Sin comes in so subtly as to not to disturb the slumbering saint. Quietly she steals into the room offering first one compromise and then another and before long, if you should awaken; you realize that you are now doing what you once proclaimed you never would or never would again! 

Perhaps you are startled out of your sleep by the realization of your desperation or worse yet, perhaps you merely roll over becoming even more comfortable with sin sliding next to you in bed. 

Do not be deceived; sin is progressive; sin is relentless. Sin has not come to be your friend; sin has come to rob, steal and kill you. Sin is always accompanied by his unseen friend; death. Sin may appear to you as a beautiful girl or a comforting drink or a numbing smoke; he may offer you lots of money or lots of comfort or lots of love, but you will also receive the one you do not see, for when you reach out to take the spoils of your sin, you will also grasp the cold hand of death; something in your life; something or someone you care about will die. “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.” ROMANS 6:23 

Only when we recognize that we can no longer control our lives; only when we understand that we are all vulnerable to temptation and prone to sin are we even close to the salvation that awaits us. Only when we understand how close to darkness we stand, do we begin to understand our need for the greater Light. Amen!

I want to share with you the dream I experienced this past night; knowing that often within dreams are stories and meanings.

I met a young pastor whose church was “dying”. He invited me to come pastor his church. After some thought, I agreed that I would bring our congregation to join his and I would pastor.

Our first meeting was an evening meeting and within minutes the room began to fill. As the crowd grew, so did the excitement. Within a half an hour the seats were filled in front and to the right which also had ample seating. Within the crowd I could see familiar faces of former members of our church. They were looking around in excitement.

Just before the service was to begin, as I prepared to preach, the former pastor placed a page of scribbled notes upon the pulpit and said to me – “since there’s such a nice crowd tonight, I think I want to preach.” I said, “I thought you said you realized that you aren’t a preacher and you needed me.” “I did”, he replied, “but since I need to go away to get a job and I will be will be going away for awhile,  I want to preach tonight”. I quickly examined my heart and analyzed the situation. I thought, “if I am to be Pastor, I must show my leadership’. “Didn’t you advertise that I would be speaking?” I asked “Yes,” he answered, “but this is the best crowd we have ever had!” I remember thinking, ‘Isn’t it interesting that a day ago he had lost all interest in this church and now he wants to preach’. I quietly insisted that we would go on with the service as planned. Crestfallen the man replied, “Ok, I won’t preach, but can my daughter sing a special during the offering – since we will be leaving?” Reluctantly, I agreed. Someone to the side said, “Offering should be GOOD” tonight!”

I took the podium, “In just a moment I will be delivering the Word of God to you. I know it will bless you and in the mean time, little Sue is going to sing a special for you.”

As the music started, I looked around; I was excited. I thought ‘last week we had three people and tonight there must be over a hundred – look what God has done!’

“I must change my message’ I said to myself I will preach, “Come and see what the Lord has done!”

 I need a Bible” I knew the quote was from the Word of God, but I couldn’t say from where.  I began to look for a Bible to find the Scripture reference. There was something that looked like a Bible by my chair. I picked it up and it was a Bible that had been turned into a decoration, painted gold with glitter pages all glued together. I picked-up what appeared to be another Bible, but it was an old worn song book.

 In looking for the Bible I overturned a glass of water. A lady on the other side of the platform approached me with much fanfare offering to clean up the mess. With much disturbance she began moving the curtain behind me and the table beside me, in general causing quite a disturbance. At the same time, I realized that a former member of our church was moving throughout the congregation greeting old friends and handing out Christmas presents that she had from the previous Christmas. She had quit the church before she could give them out and so she was delivering them now.

About this time the song caught my attention and it was a pleasant melody that really didn’t have anything significant to say. The song was closing and I still didn’t have a Bible.

I awakened to the thought, it all seemed great for a moment; a sanctuary full of people ready to hear God’s Word;  but I then realized that it was just “church” as usual, not at all as God would have it.

 In my dream the other pastor had been cordial until we no longer shared the same agenda; the women moving about, the confusion, the politics, it all seemed too familiar. I wanted to preach “COME SEE WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE”; see how we had only 3 people a week ago and so many now, what success! The only problem was I couldn’t find Scripture to back my message.

As I stood in my bathroom in the early morning light reviewing this all-too realistic dream I realized that what we find comfort in is so seldom God.

I wanted to preach that this was all God’s will, but it wasn’t. So little of what we call “Church” is. We have our ornaments; like the shellacked Bible and the old hymnal, lifeless traditions; gathering dust. We have people who come to be seen; they like to “serve” as long as they can create enough commotion doing it as to get noticed. We have people who come to church for friendships – more interested in friendships with each other than friendship with God. We have the fair-weather Christians (some are preachers, who want to belong), but only as long as the church is “successful”. These people are ready to leave the church as soon as it doesn’t measure-up. Then there are the others who want to be heard, but have nothing to say. And last but not least; we have the Man of God who has become a pulpiteer; a great preacher, a motivator, who honestly wants to please God, but allows the world’s measure of success divert Him from what God intended His Church to be. We all like the broad way, but it’s the narrow road which runs to the Kingdom of God.

Isn’t time we care more about BEING THE CHURCH THAN GOING TO CHURCH?

“SALVATION IS FAR FROM THE WICKED: FOR THEY DO NOT SEEK YOUR STATUTES” PSALM 119:155

It’s been said, and is true that God is only a prayer away; as close as your next breath, but if a man is unconcerned with finding God He might as well be a thousand miles away.

If my car keys are on the counter, but I am busy eating or drinking or watching television, those keys might as well be in another state. Unless I look for them, I will never find them.

Some men are content with being “seekers of the truth”; they are content with the process of seeking, but until they decide that they desire to acknowledge the truth once it’s found, they will forever be seekers.

Salvation is far from the wicked because they don’t care about God or the laws of God. They are content to carry on in their wickedness, refusing to even acknowledge God’s existence.

Sadly, righteousness is far from some believers; for while they profess to love God, they are not concerned with being in right standing with Him. They may claim His name and even say, “I love the Lord!”, but Jesus said, “IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS”. Righteousness is as far from these professed believers as salvation is from the wicked, because neither desires to acknowledge the laws of God.

The old song lyric has been playing in my spirit for weeks now; “THERE ARE NONE SO BLIND AS HE WHO WILL NOT SEE!”

You can say you want to grow in God, but until you are ready to acknowledge that His ways are higher than your own, you are only playing church and church never saved anyone. You can claim to be God’s friend, but a friend is one who will lay down his life for another and unless you are willing to acknowledge your need to change in order to be like Him, you are only deceiving yourself.

Any man who is content where he is will go no further. Amen.

  “AND HE WAS CALLED THE FRIEND OF GOD”
JAMES 2:23 

Abraham had many distinctions, but none greater than this; “HE WAS CALLED THE FRIEND OF GOD”. 

Note; this isn’t something Abraham proclaimed about himself; it is what was said about him. In other words, when people saw Abraham they saw that he was a friend of God.  

His words honored God. His life honored God. What he did and how he did it, it all brought glory to God’s name. A friend is the man who makes the other man look good. A friend is the man who cares more for the other man than he does for himself. “NO GREATER LOVE IS THERE THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”. JOHN 15:13 

I said it a couple weeks ago and it bears repeating; “FRIENDSHIP IS A SACRED TRUST; BROKEN IT OFFENDS BOTH GOD AND MAN”.

I have had many acquaintances in my life but no more than a few friends.

Friends; people who have loved me for who I am and who still stand with me, sometimes in spite of knowing me so well, but loving me enough to know I desire to grow into a better person. Perhaps for the thousands of people I have known, I have perhaps less than a dozen true friends. I hold each friend as a treasure for they make my life worthwhile.

However the friendship I most desire is with my Creator, He has promised through His Son, never to leave me or forsake me and He has always remained true to His word, but greater yet is my desire to have it said of me, that I am His’ friend.

I desire that all that I say makes Him look good. I pray all that I do, demonstrates His unconditional love. I desire that I am so true to His character that others will know that I am His friend. I hope that when I am laid out and life has left these lips; it can be said of me, even as it is said of Abraham, “AND HE WAS CALLED THE FRIEND OF GOD” Amen!

Jesus sent His’ disciples out into ministry saying, “AND AS YOU GO, PREACH, SAYING, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPERS, RAISE THE DEAD, CAST OUT DEMONS, FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE. DON’T CARRY A PURSE WITH AN EXTRA COAT OR SANDALS OR EVEN A WALKING STICK. DON’T HESITATE TO ACCEPT HOSPITALITY, BECAUSE THOSE WHO WORK DESERVE TO BE FED. AND WHATEVER CITY OR VILLAGE YOU ENTER, INQUIRE WHO IS WORTHY IN IT, AND STAY AT HIS HOUSE UNTIL YOU LEAVE THAT CITY.”  MATTHEW 10:6-11

I thought of this passage of Scripture as I read the ticket prices for a famous minister coming to our city. Seats start at $25.00 and range up to $150.00 a seat to hear this man preach. He has proclaimed that he doesn’t preach about sin, because it’s a negative word and he also believes that a person doesn’t necessarily need to believe in Jesus to get to Heaven – he thinks there are many ways, “as long as one is sincere”.

And yet Jesus said” I am the way, the truth and the life no man comes to the father except through