What are you looking at?

It never ceases to amaze me how many people are caught in adulterous affairs, cheating at work, lying to friends, falsifying records...I'll stop there. I could go on you know.

Ok. Let me stop and clarify. I am not perfect. In fact, when I get to heaven, I want to challenge Paul on the "chief sinner" thing. I know I'm flawed, but I think if I mess up and get caught, I say, "I messed up!"

It astounds me to watch the news and see how many people are trying to avoid the punishment for something they did.

As Christians we are taught in Scripture to watch out for the temptations. Avoid the temptations at all cost, but know that there are consequences for your actions. Being forgiven by God does not always take away the consequences.

Proverbs 4:23-27 (NIV) ²³ Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
²⁴ Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

So here is a marvelous idea. In fact you should have thought of it by now. If you are doing something wrong, STOP! Ask God to forgive you. Then, here is the hardest part, ask the person you have wronged to forgive you. Accept the consequences and move on working diligently to not continue in the sinful behavior.

We are all sinners. We all mess up, but we also all have the ability to ask for forgiveness.

So what are going to do about that thing in your life that you know is wrong?

Just wondering.

A Good Base

My maternal grandfather spent time on a road crew in his younger days. He did a lot in his life; most of it hard physical labor. Blacksmith, road work, construction... you get the picture. He used to talk about the road was only as good as its base. If you have ever watched a road being built, you know that more time is spent in the steps leading up to asphalt. The asphalt is the icing. The cake takes time to make. The icing (asphalt) won't last as long on a weak or poor base as it will on a strong base.

We  can translate that to our spiritual walk. If you have a weak faith base; your worship, your prayers, your total spirituality will be weakened.  

How do we create a strong faith base?

1. Ask God to give you strength in ALL that you do.
2. Pray. Pray often. Pray regularly (create a routine).
3. Read the Bible.
4. Study the Bible. Yes, there is a difference.
5. Worship! Privately & Corporately.
6. Be involved in a local church.
7. Inventory your lifestyle. If it is not honoring God...Change!

When do we create a strong faith base?

Many studies have been done over the years and all come to the conclusion that the older you are the less likely you are to become a follower of Christ. So, it is no surprise that most adult Christians became Christians as a child or teenager. As a  Children's Minister, I put effort into making sure that children understand their need for a Savior. Bible Study Leaders are encouraged to present the Gospel on a regular basis. Vacation Bible School always has an evangelistic component. Kids Camps are sure to present the Gospel boldly. As a parent, we should make our life example to our children to include those items listed above. We need to look our youngsters in the eye and tell them about Jesus!!

Where do we create a strong faith base?

That is a wonderful question. Scripture tells us to be in the world, not of the world. Meaning be a Christian that influences the world for Christ; do not live in the world and be influenced by the corruptness of the lost souls around you. Many will tell you that you cannot pray in pray in public schools. I would argue that you can pray anywhere you like. They may not acknowledge your wishes to organize a prayer service every morning, but can they really stop an individual from taking a quiet moment to pray? Pray. Read your Bible. Talk about how God has impacted your life. I would encourage you to do those things wherever you go.

God has paid a huge and wonderful price for you.

What price are willing to pay to acknowledge His price?

Build your faith on a strong and firm base!

The Bible

Bible:

Webster has several definitions listed. One is a preeminent publication that is viewed as authoritative on a particular subject. Another is simply a book. But the number one definition listed in this dictionary is the sacred Scriptures of Christianity containing the Old and New Testaments.

If you grew up in most Evangelical Denominations within the United States then you have heard that the Holy Bible is the infallible, inerrant Word of God; meaning that it is without error and incapable of error. I am unashamed to hold this view. I grew up believing this, I still believe this and I will always believe this.

 I have heard people say that the Holy Bible is nothing more than an old book of good thoughts but nothing more. Really?! How can a simple book contain "stories" that had pertinence 3,000 years ago and maintain pertinence everyday since? The only answer that can be considered plausible is that a "higher power" was involved. That is true. God, the very Creator of the universe, is that higher power. From Genesis to Revelation, story after story, truth after truth, God has placed them in just a way that for those who read this book and believes the truths displayed; their life can and will be changed.

Think of this - of all the prophets in the Old Testament, their prophecies have came true. All of them; documented in the New Testament. "There will be a Savior born in Bethlehem." Hey guess what; there was a Savior born in Bethlehem! Hundreds of prophetic stories are recounted as they came to pass. When you study the Sciptures, it becomes apparent that the writers are connected. Some of the Scriptures contained in this Holy Bible that we are talking about are written over 1,000 years apart but fit together as if the were written in one setting. God has His hand on the writers of every word in the Bible. Contrast this with other "books" who proclaim, "well, some of our prophetic suggestions have came true and others may some day."

I urge you to read the Bible frome begininning to end. Try to read a book at a time. At the very least, read a chapter at a time. The book is not written to be dissected by your brain to make it fit your lifestyle or belief system. So many people tatke what they believe and try to make the God's Word fit that. God's Word is written to form and shape your belief system. One of my Seminary Professors stated that one of the worst things we ever did was to put chapter and verse to the Scripture. His point was that we take one sentence out of context to make it sound like one thing when if you read the whole paragraph or book you see a whole different meaning.

In the 1960's, the most quoted Scriture in America was John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Clearly this passage speaks of the love of God for all people.

In 2000, the most quoted Scripture was Matthew 7:1. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Now, a mere 40 years later, we are trying to say don't judge me. Be tolerant of me and my behavior. However, in a deeper look at this passage we find that Jesus is actually saying "If you judge others inappropriately then you also will be judged by God by those same standards.  God is much more adept at being a judge than we are.

The best way to approach the Bible is to study it, not just read it. Allow one passage interpret others.  Live with it and live by it. Allow God Himself to speak to you through the reading and study of His Word. Be fed the Scripture by hearing good preaching. (By the way, if you are not regularly a little offended or burdened by the preachers message, it is likely that you are not hearing GOOD preaching.) Pray for God to reveal Himself to you through His Word and through those in your life.

The Bible is God's instruction book for us. There is not a substitute for being a student of the Holy Bible. Read it. Study it. Live it. Be blessed by it!

Praise God for allowing His Word to be passed down through the years to us.

Like a child!

¹ How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³ Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3

I love that word; "lavish". Webster Dictionary defines it as expending or bestowing profusely.

God, the creator of the Universe, has poured out an overly abundant amount of love to us and on us and for us. He knows that we are messed up (sinners). He knows that we have, do and will mess up. Yet He has provided SO much love through His Son, Jesus.

As a father of two wonderful girls and the husband of a loving and caring wife, I understand immense love, but I cannot imagine the type of love that God the Father has lavished on us. Just think, He let His Son  Jesus die a horrible death so you could live forever with Him in Heaven! The death sentence that you and I deserve was placed on the Son Jesus.

I think about the word lavish and try to quantify, "how much love does it take to be lavish"? When I realize how much I have messed up, it must be a lot!

Then this passage talks about being children of God. Have you ever been in the grocery store or the big box store and see kids acting horrible? You know; the ones that are being disrespectful to their parents, upsetting the whole apple cart. (Pun intended!) And you say to yourself, "I'm glad I don't have to put up with that."

God says, about you and me, "I know how bad you are and I want to call you mine anyway." All you have to do is claim the love of Jesus as your own and live as He instructs (love others as yourself) and He will call you "His".

So, you just pray the prayer and everything is good? Not exactly. God's Word (the Bible) never tells us that saying the right words will save us from Hell. What it does say is that giving your heart and life to Him will bring a change in your life like nothing else. He will make Himself very real in your life, but you should want to live for Him and like Him to the best of your ability.

Living for Jesus is not a boring monk like existence. He will show up in amazing ways. He certainly has in my life. Even in tough times, and there will be tough times, I have felt His presence in such fantastic ways. Sometimes He shows up as I listen to music. Sometime when I am reading His Word. Sometime in a conversation with a friend (or stranger). It is hard to explain if you have never experienced it, but it is real!

He has lavished His love on me when I didn't deserve it.

He is Wonderful!

New This; New That

I know by now you have made, attempted and failed at some of your "New Year Resolutions". I know I have! Happens every year.

This made me stop and think. How often do I promise God something and not follow through with it? Some people refer to these events as "foxhole prayers".

Everytime I fail Him, His Holy Spirit convicts me; makes me feel sorry. Not sorry that I failed; sorry that I failed Him. He has told us in His Word, the Bible, that he forgives us. I understand that part. I am grateful to Him for His grace, mercy and forgiveness.

The hard part for me is, after all He has done for me...how little I have done for Him.

I believe. I trust. I AM SAVED by His blood. I am not doubting my Salvation. I am simply saying..."I am sorry Lord for when I fail you."

This blog episode is simply a way for me to express my sorrow for failing my Jesus. But it is also a way for me to restate the fact that we are all sinners (failures), but He sees us through the eyes of forgiveness and love.

Praise Him for all He has done  in your life. Take time to think about how you can do better at serving Him. Read and study His Word. Pray. Serve Him by serving others.

I know I am!
No, really I am.

Jesus - Man among men

Recently I have been reading 1 John. The epistle starts out very similar to the Gospel of John.

1 John 1:1 (NIV)
¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

John 1:1 (NIV)
¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Both speak of Jesus as God. The Trinity is a difficult subject for many. I look at this way. If God is God, and He is, then He can be three different things if He wants to be. That may be too simple for your complex mind, but I don't have to explain everything. Some things are just faith that it exists. So, enough on that.

Scripture tells us that Jesus came to earth as a baby. He lived as a child and a young boy and a young man as a human being. He was tempted with the things that tempt you and me, and yet, He lived a sinless life. He died as man does, yet He defeated death. Then, He arose from the grave, confirmed His ressurection and ascended to Heaven.

All this reminds us that Jesus is a relational being. He went through life onthis earth to be able to relate to what you go through. When you pray for Him to help you in a particular circumstance, He can relate to your situation. He cried for His mommy as a baby. He skinned his knee as a boy and winced as His dad cleansed the wounds. He felt awkward as a teenager when people made fun of Him. You get the picture? Jesus was a human being. Which means He is now a relational being.

Jesus wants to have a relationship with us! He is not interested in our wish list prayers. He wants to accompany you on this journey called life. He knows what you are going through. He wants to be there for you. Better yet, He is there for you. Turn to Him and ask for His guidance along your path.

1 John 5:18-21 (NIV)
¹⁸ We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. ¹⁹ We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. ²⁰ We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
²¹ Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

God bless you and your family this Chritmas Season!

Liar, Liar, Pants on fire!

1 John 2:3-6 (NIV) ³ We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.
⁴ The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:
⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Scripture clearly instructs us, as Christians, to obey His commands. Most of you who read this would agree. You would say that, "Yes, Christians should obey God."

I want to be VERY clear that I know I am a messed up sinner. I lay no claim on perfection. However, I am convicted of my short comings and I strive to be in God's will.

I say all that to say this. It breaks my heart to see "professing Christians" blatantly disobeying God. How can you stand before friends and family and say that you are a Christian if you are openly and willingly participating in sinful acts? If you are engaged in an extramarital affair, stealing from others, cheating on your taxes, getting drunk on Saturday and teaching Sunday School the next day, invoved in premarital sex...and are not burdened to a breaking point...look hard at your proposed Salvation experience.

God knows what goes on in your heart. You cannot fool Him. How can we live double lives in the presence of the All Mighty God? We can't.

It is one thing to be lost and not know the truth, but to know the truth and ignore Him is unthinkable. He provides forgiveness and Salvation, but there is a price. You must obey His commands to the very best of your ability.

This is no doubt a ramble at best, but I have been struck with the reality that we are surrounded by people that are lost and they are convenced that they are saved. It is heart breaking.

If you are living a lie, please look at what is clearly stated in God's Word. Obey His commands.

Treat His promises with respect. He is a gentleman and will not force you to accept the gift of His only Son. However, if you do not accept the Son you will not know the Father.

We are not human beings going through a spiritual experience.

We are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience.

Eternity is a long time to wish you had got it right.

John 14:6 (NIV) ⁶ Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.