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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

New Site Location!!!

Friends... even though the links have been cleared, I am going to stick with my new site location for future studies.  I would ask that you who have faithfully followed me thus far continue to do so at the new address.


We will be continuing our path of study through many differently themed topics, and the same style of study will be maintained.  However, I believe that a change of venue will be a good thing for the site, and a more secure location is never a bad thing.

One addendum to the new location you should all be aware of, though, is that no comment will ever be allowed to be anonymous.  The new site I signed with doesn't allow it, even if I wanted it to be allowed, and that is why I removed the "4th Wall ministries" from the site address... I figure, if you can't be anonymous, why should I?  With that said, if you intend to comment (which I always encourage at the highest level), please know that "anonymous" is not an option, and you'll have to list your name.

If that discourages you, I apologize... I pray that you'll copntinue to comment and share your thoughts as you have done in the past, because we all know that iron sharpens iron.

As it is, this will be the final post on this site, unless I decide to reactivate it in the future.  Should you have any questions about this, you are welcome to email me directly at 4thwallministries@gmail.com.

And, as always, I pray grace and peace over you and yours, my Christian siblings!

God bless you all!!!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Warning

Friends, somehow there have been links coded into some portions of text in my postings... please do not follow the links, and please know that I did NOT add them.

I will most likely be migrating to Wordpress soon, and will maintain the domain name if I can. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Grace

Monday, November 19, 2012

The 7th of 7... part 5...

It's time to come to a close with this portion... and time that we look to a very pointed and descriptive verse from the letter to the Colossians.  It is as powerful an admonishment then as it is today, and it must be heard and adhered to.  It must be.

"But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth"
Colossians 3:8, ESV

It's an interesting thought, right?  "Put them away" has such a vivid connotation to me, because I'm always asking that my kids put their toys away, and put their clothes away, and put their dishes away.  Of course, each one has a different meaning for "away," but it is an interesting point of discussion, I think, to put one's wrath and anger away. 

I think of it like the toys and the clothes, because when they're strewn about the house, someone is bound to step on something, or break something, or dirty something, or rip something, or lose something... but if only those things were put in the place they belonged, that wouldn't happen.  Now picture those little action figurines on the floor of your living room, and imagine that they were labeled with the words "anger, wrath, malice, slander, hatred, aggravation, agitation, temper," and so on.  Husband, would you want your wife to trip over one of those?  Wife, would you want your husband to do the same?  Mom and Dad, how about for your kids?  And kiddos, do you need your parents stubbing toes on these toys?

I call them "toys," because of the truth that we DO coddle and nurture our anger at times.  We all do it, for one thing or another, and there's always some ridiculous and selfish reason to which we cling that we explain as our own personal justification for our anger.  The reasons are different for everyone, and they spread wider than can be imagined in the list of possible answers, but everyone has at least one.  And when we're feeling down, or someone steps on our pride a little too hard (or sometimes just looks in our direction in such a way that we can convince ourselves that there was a menacing glance directed at us specifically), we pull our toys out to play. 

In Ephesians 4:26 (ESV), Paul teaches to "Be angry, and do not sin," which I would tie to this directly as saying that you can pull your toys out WHEN AND IF THERE IS REAL JUSTIFICATION, but they must be put away before you hurt someone with them.  And now, without even realizing it, you're imagining telling me your excellent reason for being justified in your particular anger.  Allow me to just say this... there was the Guy named Jesus, and He was arrested wrongfully; beaten beyond recognition publicly; tortured with no cause; put on trial wrongfully; accused wrongfully; convicted wrongfully; forced to carry His own device of crucifixion up to Calvary; hung on that cross with nails driven through His hands and feet, in the most humiliating way possible, with mockery on the ground among the guards, from one of the fellow recipients of the same punishment that day, and on a sign above His head; MURDERED through this awful means of execution called crucifixion; and mocked the entire time, with no remorse from anyone jeering, while a crown of long and sharp thorns was forced onto His brow and scarlet robes were paraded about Him.  Yet, He said nothing except, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do" in Luke 23:34. 

He.  Is.  Justified.  And given what He endured, since He is the model, and His responses are the example, and we are charged to live as Christ lived, I will have to ask if I am justified.  I would also ask that you ask yourself if you are justified. 

Pick up your toys, folks.  Be responsible with those things you do possess, and make certain they aren't left about to hurt other people.  After all, it won't be the random passersby that you inflict pain upon... it will be those you hold most dear, because they are the ones walking around barefoot in your presence, while all of you are at home.  It will be the ones that are closest to you, the ones you never in a million years would want to harm.  It will be the very people you are intent upon protecting... trust me, because I know from personal experience.

God bless you all!!!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

I Am Second... volunteer night...

So, I had the blessed privilege last night to go to the God's Not Dead Tour concert at the Reliant Arena, serving with the volunteer team from I Am Second.  I walked in, got my t-shirt, got the run down on what we were doing, and then we were off and running!  Some amazing things happened last night... and God moved, right in front of us at the sign-up table!  He definitely increased.

"He must become greater; I must become less."
John 3:30, NIV84

I'll get the easy stuff out of the way first.  I got to meet a favorite DJ (Kent Matthews from KSBJ and NGEN Radio), and snap a picture with him.  I met a young man named Sam Hancock, lead singer of Luminate (sign up to follow their page on facebook), and had the privilege to speak with him for a few moments.  He is quite a powerful young man, and filled with the Spirit as he proclaims the Word!

I bumped into Building 429 after the show, and discovered that they are some great people, too!  And the top of this first portion came when I was able to stand in front of Michael Tait from the Newsboys, snap a photo with him, and tell him how impactful his music has been since the days of DC Talk.  I was certainly blessed in all this!

However, these things (although quite exciting) were not the highlight of the night.  No, friends... the highlight of my night was watching a PACKED Reliant Arena in Houston raise their hands to our Father in Heaven in worship and praise.  I saw thousands of hands, thousands of closed eyes, thousands of mouths moving with words of praise and worship flowing off their lips.  I watched as those same faces lit up with pure joy, regardless of which band was performing. 

With Luminate, we all proclaimed that we will raise our Banner of Love... and the crowd praised God, and was blessed!

With Building 429, we all proclaimed that you can Take This World, and Give Me Jesus... and the crowd praised God, and was blessed!

With the Newsboys, we all proclaimed to be Jesus Freaks, openly acknowledging before anyone who has questions that our God is NOT dead, but is SURELY alive... and the crowd praised God, and was blessed!

And with the I Am Second organization, I watched and spoke to hundreds of people about what it means to me to put God first, and to put others first, making myself second.  I told them of the difficulties I have had, and how placing the Trinity in the first position has helped me to realize that my role is to follow Christ and His example.  I explained that I have the opportunity to blog through some of the new book coming out, and people were quite excited to hear about the devotional covering 365 days of the year.  I spoke about the Expeditions that IA2 is going on, and the opportunities to get on board and join the team, and people were showing massive inerest, not only in going on the trip alone... they wanted to bring their children (young children), to educate them on the need to serve, all over the world.

I watched hundreds of people sign up for the IA2 organization's emails and information, and I witnessed God's hand moving in the lives of the people before us through this global movement.  I am grateful to have been so blessed by this opportunity, and I will certainly go and serve again!

God bless you all!

Follow Kent Matthews on twitter and instagram: @KentMatthews
Follow Luminate on facebook: Luminate
Follow Building 429 on twitter: @Building429
Follow Newsboys on twitter: @newsboys, @michaeltait7, @duncanphillips
Follow I Am Second on facebook and twitter: I Am Second, I Am Second Volunteers, @iamsecond
And hashtag them ALL, as often as you can, to help spread the Word..... GOD'S NOT DEAD tour, 2012!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The 7th of 7... part 4...

Remember a little ways back when I suggested that to embody anger is to embody the enemy?  Do you remember that I mentioned that this was bad, and that we should always go to the Lord in prayer, rather than allow the enemy to take hold of any situation?  Well...

"Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil."
Ephesians 4:26-27, ESV

Bam!

Anger, when allowed to grow, turns into a sin.  Please understand, though, that we are not to avoid anger altogether.  We were given emotions to feel them, and as stated before, guttural feelings cannot be ignored.  What we do with them, however, is a different story.

Notice here, Paul tells the readers in the church at Ephesus to "Be angry and do not sin."  It's like he's telling them to have their anger, because there's nothing really wrong with that... but don't get crazy (Bon Qui Qui voice).  Once you've gotten to the point of sin, there's no stopping it.  It has become a monster, and it will run its course, even if that course has no end.  Naturally, as we've seen many times from 1 Corinthians 10:13, there will be means of escape provided to you, but we have to choose to take them.  And the first of them is to turn immediately away from your anger, and give it to the Father to handle.

Also, we should resolve each issue with each day.  Our model in life is Jesus Christ, who is One with the Father, and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).  Ours should be, as well!  Holding onto anger, coddling it like we would a child, allowing it to grow and flourish into a behemoth that ruins the relationships we have, is not the answer. 

Again, I'll have to admit that I'm not great at taking this advice, but I'm trying not to let the enemy interact with my family anymore since starting this portion.  And, to be honest, that's the thing that really set it off in my head.  If I give full vent to my anger (Proverbs 29:11), then I am embodying the enemy.  In that moment, I am allowing satan to speak into my family.  Worse yet, I am sometimes CHOOSING that path, because I am allowing the full vent to just run free.  I cannot tell you how hard it is to write that down, and I cannot tell you how much my heart hurts to know that I would do such a thing to the ones I love the most. 

But you see, letting anger fester gives the opportunity to the devil.  It says it right above this in the verse chosen for this passage!  We freely give that chance to the prince of lies and deceit, and we allow him to interact with our family, our friends, and ourselves, and we excuse by saying that we were "venting."  We allow it, because we "had the right to be THAT angry."  We make the choice to invite the filthiest being in the universe into our heart and into our home, and we hide behind personality or circumstance or some other ridiculous thing that most certainly DID NOT keep us from turning upward instead of inward.

Don't be that guy any more.  Don't be that gal any more.  Choose to look up, and seek Him in your moment of anger... I promise, it will change your responses for the better!

God bless you all!!!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Monthly Mission Trip Update!!!

Blessed friends… I am so moved by the donations I have received already, covering almost $600 for my trip to South Africa. Thank you so much, each one of you, for giving to this mission! Your generosity truly humbles me beyond belief.

As for the preparation for the trip itself, I have been working through the storying cloth that I mentioned in my last message about this trip. I am using my small children as a test audience, and it has become a regular thing in the house to gather around the space where the cloth is hung and test daddy on the pictures (we missed a few days, but we’re getting back in the swing after a SUPER busy weekend). I have also been practicing with the Evange-Cube, and have become quite capable at sharing salvation through this small and simple device. This one has been shown to my small group a couple of times, and they said I was “pretty sick with it,” which in high school senior-ese probably means I did well.

Some have asked me if it is too late to give to the trip, and I’m excited to tell you that it is certainly not too late. The deadline is in February, and I only need 17 more people to give $100, or 34 people to give $50, and I know that God will provide those people. I’m so blessed to have a group this large to reach out to, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to go and share the Gospel with people in South Africa!

Should you have any questions you’d like to ask of me, about the trip or anything else, please feel free to contact me directly at 4thwallministries@gmail.com. I’d be happy to talk with any one of you, any time.

And, as always, I pray grace and peace over you and yours!

The 7th of 7... part 3...

So now that we've looked into what wrath produces in us, and how disgusting that really is, we need to look at what it does not produce.  We need to look at what is not accomplished.  We need to look at what we (if we're being honest) wish we could deliver, but are INCAPABLE of ever delivering.

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
James 1:19-20, ESV

You see, our anger produces a lot of things.  We can grow it into hatred or wrath, we can physically emote our anger and break things, we can verbally show it and hurt people.  However, the one thing that will never, ever, ever be produced by any angry person on this planet is God's righteousness.

Yeah, friend, I'm talking to you and me and everyone else... we're not capable of that.

And you say, "Wait, if I'm angry about the right and righteous thing, then surely that would bring forth God's righteousness, right?"  No.  If we were able to bring about God's righteousness, then we would be able to affect change from His throne.  We don't have that ability.  It states in Genesis that "By the seventh day, God completed His work that He had done (Genesis 2:2a)."  He is done with His work, including al the decisions that need to be made.  Remember, He sees all of time, all at once, and He knows what choices we have made already, all the way to the end of days.  We cannot change His will, His plans, His anything.  Also remember that He wants us... but He certainly doesn't need us.

Our anger is often flared in many circumstances, and our wrath and rage come up in different ways at times, but the one thing I'll ask that we think about right now is the reaction in the gut.  I'm certain you assumed I would refer to the heart, but the gut is where I want to start with this, because there's a feeling we all get sometimes when we know we're wrong.  That feeling is guttural, and it is noticeable, and it is not something that can be ignored.  Anger is the same way, except it causes the adrenaline to flow.  Muscles begin to expand and contract, and the heartbeat quickens.  These are effects that are FELT by any person, and the rise in blood pressure that can redden a face (like mine) is not only felt by additional heat in the face of the angry person, but it is SEEN by the people around that person!  Visible and tangible reactions, all of which are not capable of being ignored in the moment your anger flares.

Why do I point this out?  This is where I get to the heart of the matter being a matter of the heart.  If we become angry in a heated moment, I would say that it is probably something almost involuntary.  After all, we know right from wrong, and as Christians we are bound to stand up for what is right, and against what is wrong.  However, how we handle that anger is up to us.  Our first and best response, as with anything, is to take it to the Lord in prayer.  However, that is not always what happens, is it?

No - we tend to find ways to justify the anger, then enhance it just a smidge.  We classify it as being on the "right side" of the argument, and then we have laid summary judgment on anyone opposed to us, without even saying so.  We find fuel for the fire, kindle it a little bit, and justify it all as being "right" or "righteous" in our own limited view.  And would you like to know what the opposition is doing?  The exact same thing.  Yeah, that's the beauty of the system where everyone has an opinion, and everyone's voice matters.  We all get to decide that our "side" is the right one, and that God is on our "side," and not on the other. 

But did it ever occur to anyone that God might be on His very own side?  It should... because His decision, His next move, His choice about what will happen next, whether we agree or like it or accept it or not... that IS the RIGHT and RIGHTEOUS one.  Period.

We don't accomplish His righteousness through our anger, friends.  We get to be a part of it through prayer.

God bless you all!!!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

The 7th of 7... part 2...

This one will be pointed, and I hope you will be as affected by it as I already am.  We'll start with our Scripture... it will become clear shortly why it is so powerful that we understand this point.

"A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated."
Proverbs 14:17, ESV

See, there was this being at one time in Heaven, and his name was lucifer.  I know that he is not and was not a man, but the principle is still sound as an application, because he grew greedy, prideful, and thought he could take a place above the Father.  The enemy was not satisfied with his proper place, but rather than shine for the Father in that place, lucifer grew hot-tempered over the issue, and tried to overthrow the Throne.  How did that work out?  Oh, right... he was cast into the pit of hell, never to escape, and all those who joined him went, as well. 

Even though we are not supposed to hate anyone (people), I would bet that if I asked people if they hated satan, they would probably say that they do.  Again, not a man and I know that, but the principle is applicable just the same.  And really, if there was one being that you really reserved your hatred for, wouldn't satan be the best choice?  I mean, he clearly is of evil devices, and he certainly acts foolishly.  In reality, actually, I think that hatred of satan is a good thing, because we are supposed to hate unrighteousness, and he kinda embodies that, right? 

So I promised that there would be an eye-opener in this section, and I'm going to make good on that promise right now.  When you and I allow the other six sins we've discussed, whether one by itself or any combination of them, regardless of their individual manifestation and specific circumstances, something happens.  As Christians, in those moments, we realize that we are doing wrong, and we grow angry, as I mentioned before.  That anger then manifests into wrath, and that is when we, if we allow it to continue, embody the enemy.  Yeah, I said that.

You see, the demonic name assigned to wrath is satan, and if we are embodying wrath, we are embodying satan.  Does that sting?  It certainly should.  We are charged, all of us, to show the character of Christ by allowing His love and grace and peace to shine through us.  Acceptance of His salvation is an amazing freedom, but the responsibility to live like Christ is also present in that, and this is shown in the commands to love others (John 13:34-35), forgive others (Mark 11:25), turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), and show others the care that you would want shown to you (Luke 6:31).  If we're not doing that, then we're harboring anger, we're holding onto resentment, we're protecting our other cheek, and we're asking other to do for us what we're unwilling to do for them.  Does that sound like someone you have heard of before?  A certain serpentine being from a little moment in the Bible known as "Original Sin" (reference Genesis 3)?

Every day we have a choice in how we respond to everything that happens in our lives.  As Christians, we are supposed to respond in love and grace and peace to all things, to show the love of Christ and make it evident that we are different and set apart.  Any time we do the opposite, we are showing the world within us, and I have to tell you, friends, that there is truth in another Scripture we can memorize and use to maintain our demeanor...

"Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."
1 John 4:4, KJV

A friend and pastor pointed out to me that anyone living in perpetual sin is being demonized.  Before I have all of you upset with me for calling you demons, please know that I am just as guilty in this as anyone else.  It is difficult to always maintain an outward breath of grace onto any situation.  I do not do well in this... like, at all... but I think that having thought about it in this way for the first time, realizing that my anger and wrath are the embodiment of the demon satan himself, I will be more aware of my responses and my temper.  This is why I think that this portion will create and allow for a major turning point in all of our lives, with respect to wrath specifically. 

Also, know that there is a weapon against wrath and against satan: prayer.  Another pastor I follow on facebook and twitter asked in his book 30 Words: A Devotional For The Rest Of Us that the reader write down five things to be thankful for, and three to pray for Heaven's provision, and then pray over those eight things every day for 30 days.  I have taken up that challenge, and I am enjoying the freedom and blessing of it all, battling my sins directly with prayers for the provision of the Creator to come right into my life.  I would ask that you also take up that challenge, whether this is one of them or not, and write down the five thankfuls and the three provision-neededs, and pray over them constantly for 30 days.  It will feel great, I promise.

We don't need to have any demons in our lives, friends.  However, demons are real, and spiritual warfare is real, and it is fought in the battleground of the heart of each and every human being on earth.  And while I am using the names ascribed to them for specific purposes in this study, please know that the knowledge of their names is unnecessary... because we know the only Name that grants salvation, the Name that is above all other names, and that is the Name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who paid the price for us to be freed from the complete control of any demon in the universe, because no power can surmount Him!  Give thanks for that today, and expel your wrath as we move forward.

God bless you all!!!

(Go visit www.30wordsbook.com to download your copy of @JarridWilson new book, and sign up to follow him on facebook, twitter, instagram, and YouTube.  Grace and peace!  #30WordsBook)

Saturday, November 3, 2012

The 7th of 7... part 1...

We've been through the prior six, and we've extrapolated both the dangers and the points of advice to avoid each one.  We've looked into what each one does, and what it produces.  However, there is one thing that is produced by the whole of them put together, and it cannot be avoided.  It has many names, honestly, but we will simply refer to it by one, because it is the 7th of our group, and it is the end result of the culmination of any and/or all of the previous six... this, blessed Christian siblings, is wrath.

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?"
Romans 7:24, NIV

The words of Paul above are no different than the words of any Christian who sins after receiving salvation.  Guess what, folks... that's all of us.  And if you're not having the above reaction every time you sin, then a whole separate conversation needs to be held.  We should realize that we are saved, yes.  We should realize that we are covered in the grace and peace of Christ, through His atonement, sure.  However, if we fail to recognize that we are STILL sinners, even though we are redeemed ones, then we have missed the point entirely.

Speaking personally, I will admit that I still sin (shocker, right), and that it always produces the same effect.  I get mad.  I mean really mad.  Then, as the anger swells in me like the beginnings of a tumultuous storm, something else will happen in the immediate space around me, regardless of how small, and my anger finds its vent.  It becomes emesis on the floor of whatever just happened, and in that moment, wrath has taken hold of me.  It's not pretty, and I always end up apologizing later... but I'm not sure that does any good, because I end up doing it again.

Anger is an emotion, and we are given that emotion to experience it.  However, we are supposed to turn to the Father with all things (that whole "cast all your cares on Me" thing is for real, you know), and not turn inward.  Yet if there were a "pet sin" that I had to admit I harbor, this would be it.

(These next few sentences will be difficult for me, but they must be included.)  I like being angry.  I like to be mad, because I spent a large part of my life mad about something.  I spent that portion of my life mad, because I messed something up somewhere along the way, and then the consequences came and bit me in the behind, and I failed to blame myself... but I was really good at blaming someone else.  Honestly, I still am quite the virtuoso on the violin of blame.  I can blame anyone for anything, and most of the time it doesn't even make sense to me!  However, you should also know that my loquacious nature and oratory skill come with the ability to manipulate and twist words, phrases, and whole conversations into what I wish they had been.  And I am smart enough to convince myself of something.  Or, perhaps, I am stupid enough to fall for my own nonsense.  Either way, once I have convinced myself that someone else is to blame, my anger begins.  And like the thought that starts small in any sin, it then grows, finds more space, grows more, and becomes a full-blown monster.

That monster, once let loose, tends to convince my face that I am mad, and therefore I have a permanent line on my forehead.  I'm always asked if I am upset, and I always answer that I'm not, but the line in my head from my years of useless scowling is not going away any time soon.  The monster then goes to devour anything it can find, much like the little white lie in a Christian children's program, and this always starts with my family.  My wife and kids, the people I'm supposed to always show only the best of what I have to offer, are the ones who see the very, very worst.  They see me lose my cool over spilled water, shoes not in place, clothing not in a hamper... all ridiculous things.  Then it stems out to my parents, where it also should not go.  I have no reason to be upset with people who do nothing but love me and my family.  None at all.

The hardest part is coming now, so bear with me... I know that's nonsense, because no matter how slowly I type, you read a completed segment, and have no concept of the time involved, or how many times I go back and change something... but trust me, this is not easy.

I'm mad at myself, because of the mistakes I have made along the way.  I'm mad at myself, because of the trust that I have earned and then burned.  I'm mad at myself, because I know good and well that if I had only turned right at Albuquerque (trying to lighten the mood a little), I might have found this destination sooner.  I'm mad at myself, and not at all mad at them, but my pride keeps me from admitting it; my greed and lust to be right keeps me from admitting it; my gluttony for more reasons to be mad, and more things to be right about keeps me from admitting it; my envy of them for actually being right keeps me from admitting it; and then my anger takes over, full force, and spews out, becoming wrath.

I'll apologize each and every time, and things always go back to "normal," but it's never really the same.  Each explosion chips away at things, and my anger becomes an architect of destruction.  And, as painful as this is for me to admit, the reality is that it is a pervasive issue in the entire human race.  How we handle it is what separates us.

We're going to spend a lot of time in this one, folks, but I believe that it will be a great learning experience for us all.  I pray that you will join me in remaining free from the simple steps into a pattern of anger.  Honestly, even though it isn't a religious film, per se, I'm still compelled to point out that anger is the path the the Dark Side, and this is a fact. 

Next we'll look at something truly terrifying about wrath, and I think that will be our collective turning point.  Until then, please pray with me for the grace and peace of Christ to reign in all of us, and that we would always portray the fruit of the Spirit, no matter what is going on.

God bless you all!!!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The 6th of 7... part 4...

To close out our thoughts on sloth, we'll return to Scripture and look to a very well-known passage.  I use this today as an encouragement, which I hope this whole section has been, to stand firmly against laziness, especially in the spiritual realm.  Sometimes we feel like we just can't do it, or we just can't measure up, but...

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13, ESV

In reality, I could stop there and leave this thought at just that piece of information.  I mean, when you think about it, there really isn't anything else to discuss beyond that, is there?  Jesus can literally do all that we can think of, and all that we cannot think of, and it is He who strengthens us as Christians.  It is through His sacrifice in silence, His atonement and blood, that we are able to stand taller than we ever could have before in the face of the enemy... because I've read this story, folks, and I know how it ends. 

As an aside to that, a friend asked a teacher I know to do a study on the Book of Revelation.  The teacher, a very well-educated man and well-respected in the field of Theology, answered my friend very simply.  He said, "Two words: God wins."  I don't know about you, but I sat up a little straighter just hearing the encouragement in those two words.  We already know the ending of all this, and we're able to withstand... but it is not through our power.

It is ONLY by the power of the Lamb that we are able, and by no other means.

If there were an overall point, it would be that Christ is the only source of real ability and strength, folks.  Through His power, His grace, His ability, we are able to get up and go do whatever it is that we need to do.  We are able to serve His people, and be the hands and feet of His body.  We are able, and the only thing stopping us is our own sheer laziness, and lack of belief in our Savior's abilities.

Once again I'll point out that there is a difference between believing IN Him, and just BELIEVING HIM!  Believe that He can do through you what He has done through so many people throughout history... the amazing!

God bless you all!!!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The 6th of 7... part 3...

With this segment, I'm not going to reference a specific verse of Scripture, but I am going to quote my wife.  You see, we have the privilege of spending time with a group of adults from our church in what we call a "Life Group," and we were discussing the need to serve just this past Sunday.  Her words were profound, and while I may not get them exactly right, the intention will be carried forward.

"We benefit spiritually from the service we perform physically; we need to BE the hands and feet of the Body of Christ."
~ My Wonderful and Amazingly Insightful Wife

She was telling a story about having cash on hand, seeing a person in need, and giving it to that person freely.  This happened over a week ago, and the person who received the money has no doubt forgotten my wife, and forgotten that my wife stopped to give, but my wife remembers feeling like she was led to give, and she was obedient to the leading.  My wife followed the leading of the Spirit, and was blessed for doing so. 

People like me (yep, calling myself out on this one in a big way) have issues with giving to folks on the street, because I don't know what the money will be used for.  I build up the concern in my mind that the person will just use it for drugs or alcohol, and I lay out the fact that I give to my church and other organizations that are more well-equipped to serve those in need, and so I don't have to serve this person.  But, again speaking from my wife's wisdom, what if that was a test?  What if that was an angel?  What if Jesus is watching right now, in this moment, and I turned my back on someone He created?  Would He do that?

Guess what, folks... He is always watching.

Another excellent example of this service above self mentality resides in my mother.  Each year, she spends countless hours preparing meals for the homeless of our great city, and then she places them all in brown paper bags, and goes downtown to personally deliver them to people on the streets.  She has taken my daughter with her, and shown my little girl that there is an importance to serving the community beyond your individual sphere of influence.  I am humbled even as I type this, because I have not participated.  I actually asked her why she would put herself in such a "harm's way" situation, as I saw it in my limited and sloth-like view, and I was met with the answer that we all should give (approximately, not a direct quote here), as she simply asked me, "What would Jesus do?"

Sloth is so easy to fall into, friends, and while it probably seems like this one would be easiest of them all to avoid, because all you have to do is keep doing stuff, the truth is that this one is the hardest to avoid.  And it's the hardest to avoid, because sitting down and doing nothing is so much easier than getting up and doing anything at all.  Abdication is so simple a thing, and assuming someone else will do "this" or "that" is just as easy. 

What if our country... no, closer than that, what if our church... no, closer than that, what if our family... no, even closer than that, what if I decided today to get up and do that which I felt led to do, even if it's just a call to prayer?  If I did it, and modeled it for the family I am blessed with, then they could spread out and model it to their schools and the church.  Those people could then model to the city, and then spread to the state.  Those people could then model to the country, then the hemisphere, and then the whole world.  Change doesn't begin at the top, friends.  It begins with me.

Thank you, to my wife and my mother, for being examples of service above self, and for truly modeling the message of the I Am Second organization, even without knowing it.  I love you both!

Now the charge is to you, my blessed friends, to find that person in your life who lives this mentality.  Find them, and thank them, and then go and be like them... because they are Christ-like in their actions, and that is the goal for all Christians.

God bless you all!!!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The 6th of 7... part 2...

Today, I'm going to ask a favor of all of you in the action of combating sloth.  I'm going to ask you to not avoid the spiritual work of prayer today, and I do so on behalf of my family in the Northeast US, currently under siege by the so-called Frankenstorm.  Prayer works, folks, and we all need it at times... every one of us.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
Ephesians 6:18, NIV

I will confess, that in my attempt to avoid slothly behavior yesterday, I failed to take on the work before me of properly responding with prayer to a couple of messages about my family in the area affected by the storm.  Don't get me wrong, though, I did pray for them.  But the response of "Yes, I'll pray" is an important one... and it is one I forgot to give.

This real world example, delivered from me to me yesterday, is exactly why we must remain vigilant at all times.  The failure to communicate on my behalf turned into an argument, and that was not only unnecessary, but 100% avoidable.  All I had to do was say, "I'll do it," and that was (apparently) too difficult for me. 

Here's the inside scoop, though, folks: it wasn't too difficult.  I was lazy.  I assumed that it was understood that of course, I will certainly pray for them.  I assume that far too often.  It's like the assumption that someone knows that you love them, and so you choose not to say it, because they should know that.  Sometimes, friends, those words are exactly what you should say in the most powerful and vulnerable moments, so that trust and deep, abiding love can be forged and strengthened.  You have to say it (yes, I'm talking to me more than I'm talking to any of you), and you have to mean it.

It is in this spirit of vulnerability that I will ask forgiveness openly, admitting before the world that I failed in my own teachings and following my own advice, and I will ask that all of you join me in prayer for the family I have in the affected area.  I will also ask that you pray for all the people in the area being hit by this super-storm. 

I went through Katrina's aftermath; I watched what Rita did to the city I was born in, as well as the city I moved to and grew up in.  There will be work for the Lord's people following Sandy, just as there was for all the other major storms.  And as the levee system has now apparently failed in Bergen County, New Jersey (once home to a favorite DCI World Class Corps, the Cadets), there will be flood damage and repair that is needed in many, many areas... and many, many lives.  This work will be physical, and it will be emotional, and it will, most importantly, be spiritual.

Please take a moment to join me in prayer for these people, those I know and those I don't, and lift up the saints in the Northeast.  Seek God's protection and provision for them all, and know that as you pray, you are resisting the impulse to let someone else do it.  Know that in that resistance, you are resisting the devil, and he will have no choice but to flee from you.  Know that as you pray, you should pray with fervor and power, not having a spirit of timidity, but claiming the peace that only Christ can bring. 

In short: pray.

God bless you all!!!  (And I love you, Mom!)

Monday, October 29, 2012

The 6th of 7... part 1...

Home stretch, folks... only two remain, and one of those begins today.  Or, you know, perhaps I'll wait and start tomorrow.  Yeah, I think waiting would be a great way to start this one off.  Do you know why?  Meh... I'll tell you later.

Of course, blessed friends, this is sloth.

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."
Colossians 3:23, ESV

Now, honestly, I thought of just waiting until another day to go through this, because we have a corporate audit going on at the moment, and there are many things to be done today.  However, putting off the continuation of the study doesn't seem to make sense, especially considering that the topic of this portion basically speaks to procrastination of every kind.  See, the term "sloth" means the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.  It's laziness.

I know what you're thinking, and I agree.  I'm not lazy either!  I do what I'm supposed to do, and I make sure my stuff gets done on time.  Or do I?  Do I really?  And as the verse above advises, do I work at it as though I am employed directly by the Father?  In my studies here and my small group and life group, I dig deep and focus on what I'll say, because I want to make certain that whatever is said, and whatever is taught, is a pleasing fragrance to the Lord.  But do I do laundry that way, or do I fold it and leave it in stacks?  Do I clean house that way, or do I do the bare minimum to allow for company to come over?  Do I count inventory at work that way, or do I pencil-whip the sheet, because it's an annoying requirement of my current position?  Do I put off things for tomorrow that could be done today?

Moreover, if I do all of those things (and if you do them), would I continue to behave this way if Jesus Christ were to write my next performance review?  There's a nugget to chew on, right?

God created all of this around us, including each and every one of us.  When we do something, anything at all, it should be for the glory of the Father, should it not?  And that would mean that we should step forward and work at it as though our very lives depended on it! 

Better than this, though, is the spiritual side of things.  Now I know, you're all going to say exactly what I said: I'm not spiritually lazy!  I mean, I pray, I study, I teach and I lead... I look to the Bible for all kinds of things, and I read it every day, in some form or fashion, so I cannot be considered spiritually lazy.  However, let me just ask a few questions that Jesus might ask of all of us in this regard. 
1. What did you do with orphans and widows?  Did you come to Me?
2. When I was in need, when I was in prison... did you visit Me?
3. When I was starving, did you feed Me... or pass Me by?
4. When I was sick, and dying in My bed... did you comfort Me?

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"
Matthew 25:40, NIV

The overall question toward our collective sloth would be, of course, have we been the hands and feet as we should be?  Or are we avoiding that, as well?  And the individual question is no different... even though it is more painful.  I know it hurts me to realize and see my laziness so plainly... but that is how we grow.

God bless you all!!!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The 5th of 7... part 3...

We'll close out our thoughts on gluttony now, and return to a verse that I have made mention of several times already in this study.  I want to make certain that it gets repeated enough, folks, because there is inherent danger in not remembering the truth that resides within these powerful words.  After all, all sin begins with temptation.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity.  God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it."
1 Corinthians 10:13, HCSB

So, I'm gonna reach for a small factoid here, and assume that you are like me in one very specific way.  You are probably human.  Did I get that right?  And if you are human, then you are also tempted.  And if you are tempted, then you also give in, and are overtaken.  Please notice, it points out that the only temptations that will overtake us are "common to humanity," and so if it is common to be gluttonous (and it is, folks, especially in America), then it will overtake us.  That's just what it says.

On the other hand, though, it also points out that God provides the way away from it.  As I have stated before, I will remind you and me and everyone again, the only way to take the way out that is provided is first and foremost to seek it out.  Then you have to actually walk THAT path, as opposed to remaining in your squalor and sinfulness.  If we don't take the escape route, we have no one to blame but ourselves.  

To put a finer point on that last part, if you are falling to temptations, and you are blaming God for them, then you are wrong.  Yes, friends, I said it.  You.  Are.  Wrong.

A way of escape is promised, and the last time I checked, God makes good on 100% of His promises.  He is faithful, and unfailing, and His love endures forever.  He is long-suffering and steadfast, and when He says He will deliver, He delivers in grand exuberance!  He never misses, He never falls short, He never comes up just shy... He never, ever, ever fails.

On the other hand, we fail constantly.  We think (and yes, I've made this point often) that we can handle it, or that we are able to carry it or that we are stronger than the world around us.  How does that work out, exactly?  Really think about it for a second.  I imagine when you give it some deep and honest reflection, you'll be saddened to admit to yourself that you know you fail in this... guess what, folks, I'll admit openly that I fail in this a LOT!  I try far too often to handle things on my own, and it always ends the same way: in tears.

Lastly, and this one is what really stuck out to me this morning, it doesn't say that the escape route is provided so that we can flee... it says the escape route is provided "so that you are able to bear it."  There is a light at the end of the tunnel, even if there seems to be no way out of the current moment of temptation.  Now, I'll be honest and admit that there probably is a way out of the temptation, but if any given person, including myself, isn't strong enough to take that way and "Just Say No," then there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  That light starts simply with the truth that you (we) WILL get stronger, and WILL get smarter, and WILL be abel to stand against all things eventually.

The light is there... and this light is the light of men, the life of men, and it shines in darkness.  Darkness tries like the Dickens to overcome it, but this light will NOT be extinguished, friends.  It is what drives us forward, it is a pillar of fire to the front and smoke behind.  It is our truth, our way, our life, our Redeemer who LIVES that IS THE LIGHT to which we fly in moth-like fashion.  Seek Him first, blessed ones, and know that He is able to provide your way free of anything you can imagine... because He endured it all and more for each and every one of you!

God bless you all!!!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Prayer request...

Dearest Christian siblings, I have a business conference I must attend out of the state for a few days, and I would like to humbly ask that you pray for my family while I am gone.  Please pray that they would know at all times that I am missing them, and that things would run supernaturally smoothly for my wife, who will be handling everything for our three kids for the next couple of nights without any assistance from me.

I will return on Friday evening, and I would also humbly ask that you pray for travelling mercies for myself and my team that is accompanying me on this small journey.  We're headed to Orlando, and while that may sound like fun, it's all classroom and work time.  There are three of us travelling, and we would all appreciate your prayers.

Larger than that, though, I would ask that you say a general prayer for anyone who is travelling, by any means.  The number of people who are hurt or killed in travel accidents is far too high, and recently hit home here in my city with the loss of a young man in an auto accident.  It was a hit and run, and their family is distraught beyond belief, so as you lift them up (God knows who they are), please also lift up the general population, so that all families will be able to get their loved ones home safely, if it be God's will.

And even larger than that, I would ask that you just pray... pray without ceasing... pray with all kinds of requests... pray in good times and bad... pray with fervor... pray HARD... talk to the Father, for it is He who answers your prayers, and it is He who holds your prayers in bowls as incense, as a sweet aroma to Him.  No one else. 

Pray, friends.  Pray all the time.

God bless you all!!!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The 5th of 7... part 2...

We're going to continue the previous thought on gluttony, but we're going to shift the focus slightly to what happens when we have excess to the physical being.  It is not a pretty thing, and it certainly does have Spiritual implications.

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."
1 Corinthians 3:16-17, ESV

I read a book once that asked the question, right off the top, of what the reader thinks of as being "holy."  It was interesting, because my mind flooded immediately with pictures of solemn appearance, reverent dress, priests with pomp and circumstance through lavish pipe organs in grand cathedrals (no, I am not Catholic).  I pictured those moments in church where things are so very sobering, and the only thing you think of is who and how you really are in comparison to the Holy Father (that'd be God the Father, folks).  And as I looked back down to the page, I was shocked when I saw that we are holy.

Yes, Christian sibling.  You.  Are.  Holy.

You are holy because Christ resides within you, and the Spirit flows through you, and God watches over you.  You are made holy through Him who sacrificed everything so that you could have everything.  As the verse says above, you are a temple for the Father, the Son and the Spirit.  That temple is to be maintained as holy.

So we discussed addiction, and it wreaks havoc on the spirit.  But the other side of that is what the addiction, gluttonous want for more of anything, can do to the body.  America is chiefly (sadly) famous for its amazingly high rate of obesity.  Now here's a knowledge-bomb, friends, and I want to make sure you don't miss it: too much food, especially too much fast food, is likely to cause weight gain.  I know, you're like, "that blew my mind," but it's the truth... I promise.

All kidding aside, it's really a serious issue.  And if you think back to the days of Christ, there was food when there needed to be food, and there was enough for everyone to eat to be nourished.  I doubt the snacking industry was booming then, and I bet there were no fanciful creatures and characters trying to sell this cookie or that chip to overload the arteries and sugar capacity of the individual eating them.  Further, as an embalmer, I can tell you without any doubts that obesity definitely causes problems on the physical form.  A plethora of conditions exist, too many to list, and all are related to this one portion of gluttony.  Too much food, especially of the processed variety, slows your blood flow to key areas, because it's all flowing to the stomach to digest (tryptophan effect), and if your blood slows to the wrong places, you could have a heart attack and die.

Of course, alcohol has an entirely different effect, in that it kills the liver.  In too great a quantity, it can also eliminate brain cells, slow down synapses, and all other manner of things.  You know, if you drink too much at once, you can actually become septic from the toxins included in the alcohol, and you could just keel over.  Yes, friends, alcohol poisoning is real... and it can affect anyone at any age.  Again, from the professional realm, please trust that I have backing for that point.

So the liver goes, and then what happens?  Well, there's only one liver in the body, so you either have to have it replaced, or you cannot properly process waste through your body.  Without that, you will turn into a yellow person, and then a green one (jaundice), and you will get sick and die.

Then there's narcotics, with alcohol of course being among the list.  Smoking, prescriptions, illegal drugs, drinking... they all bring up different problems, and they all attack your body from the inside out.  Put another way, they all attack and sack the Lord's temple from the inside out.  And, because you "needed" that fix or that drink or that high or that Little Debbie snack cake, you invited this upon yourself, Trojan Horse Style, and have no one to blame but you.

If I were still a fan of a certain animated show I watched in my early twenties, I would just say, "Gluttony's bad, mmm-kay."  However, even as you may laugh and crack up and gasp that I would watch such a program (we were all young once), you should know that this statement is about as simple as it gets.  It is also about as truthful as it gets.  God is good; sin is bad.  This sin, while masked in things like addiction and the need to fulfill oneself when sad or lonely or upset or in pain or in distress, is still a vicious evil.  Blessed siblings, as a dear friend commented to me once about a portion of this study, you must allow God to be your fulfillment, and let the cleaning begin from the inside out, as well.  Only He can sustain you, and only He can fulfill you truly. 

God bless you all!!!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

The 5th of 7... part 1...

Four down, only three to go, and this one that I'm about to tackle was one that I initially didn't see as being all that bad.  However, upon some deeper thought, I have found it to be worthy of its placement in this group, and for one specific reason... but we'll get to that soon enough.  This one, dear friends, is gluttony.

"Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things."
Philippians 3:19, ESV

Have you ever heard that you should do all things "in moderation?"  It is a timeless principle, and great advice for anyone, really.  With no intention of offending any particular person for any particular abuse, let's just look at this honestly.  Too much food can cause obesity; too much alcohol can cause alcoholism; too much of any narcotic can bring an addiction; too many drugs can bring a plethora of addictions (referring to both illegal and prescription); too much fast driving (without being caught or hurt) produces recklessness and arrogance; too much frivolity erases severity; too much severity can also erase frivolity; too much TV removes the need for imagination; too much sun can cause cancer; the list goes on and on and on and on.

Granted, there is probably that one person you know who can eat fast food four times a day and never gain weight.  There is also a person you know who seems to never, ever be inebriated, even though they drink all the time.  There may even be a person who takes multiple pills for multiple things (some to counteract the others), and they never seem to have any illnesses or addictions.  However, these are one-off cases of pure luck and circumstance, and they are not normal.  What is normal, in our fleshly nature, is to fall from the wisdom of seeking Christ's joy, and seek out only the fleshly pleasures that can exist.  We trick ourselves into thinking that we NEED that food, or we NEED that drink, or we NEED that drug, and then we have become slaves to another god.

And yes, I do see it as idol worship, because we fall from reliance upon the Father and lean onto something earthly for our sense of peace.  That is idolatry, no matter how you frame it.  It's putting something before the Father.

Now, before someone starts writing picket signs, please know that I do understand that addiction is difficult, and that it is not as easy as just putting it down and walking away.  People are there to help, though, and as long as the help is ignored and the fleshly desire runs free, then the addiction is in control.  The moment that one decides to seek help, and find peace, and start walking the path back to God, though, their gluttonous behavior begins to end.  And THAT, Christian sibling, is cause for celebration!

We must make the effort to set our minds on the things above, and remove from our desires the wants of the flesh.  We have to be renewed in the mind, CONSTANTLY, and transformed by the power outflowing from the Resurrection of Christ that transforms us all into new and different creatures.  We must learn to abstain from those things that are permissible, but not beneficial.  We must recognize that the Word (yes, THE WORD) has already spoken on your gluttonous wants and mine, and He is providing a way of escape for us... but we must seek it out!

God bless you all!!!

Friday, October 19, 2012

I Am Second...

I wanted to take a second and let you all know that there is an organization I follow, and I think that all of you should follow them, as well.  The organization can be found on facebook under I Am Second, Twitter at @iamsecond, or you can visit www.iamsecond.org to get more information.  They, as a group, have helped me to shape my writings in a powerful way... placing Christ first, always.

"He must become greater; I must become less."
John 3:30, NIV

I lead a small group of high schoolers, as you know from many things I've written, and they all receive an "I Am Second" bracelet each year.  I ask them to wear it, and display the #Truth that Christ is first everywhere they go.  Last year's young men received an extra gift, an I Am Second New Testament Bible, which I know they carry with them everywhere they go.  This year, I have all seniors... five seniors... I'm not quite sure what to do for them yet, but I know one thing is certain: I will ensure that they leave high school placing Christ before themselves.

The verse above is a champion verse for me, and one that I repeat frequently.  I love the Gospel of John (actually teaching from it all year this year with my small group), and I think there is no better example of the intent to remain a follower of Christ than that of John the Baptist.  He cried out to all he met that another One would be coming, One who is greater, One whose sandals he was not fit to lace.  He met Christ, and was humbled immediately, asking to remain in the second position.  Of course, Christ asked John to perform the greatest water baptism in history, and I believe that John was chosen for this specifically because of his extreme humility and willingness to remain in a position that always places Christ first.

More than that, though, as Christ is One with the Father, this position also puts God's will first, meaning that we would always follow the example of Matthew 6:33 in seeking first the will of God, and THEN things will be added unto us.  John, Jesus' cousin, was constantly reminding people that the Messiah was coming, and John was, as DC Talk so eloquently labeled him, truly the first #JesusFreak on earth.  His faith and passion for the things of the Father were so powerful that he didn't need anything else to sustain his spirit... because he, John the Baptist, remained second.

So many people in our world today are seeking out things to sustain their happiness, but John knew true, Biblical joy!  Just like Paul, nothing could dampen the spirit, and nothing could stop the radiating peace that flowed out from the love of God in their lives.  Folks today, though, are so caught up in "feeling good" and "having fun," they tend to try things they shouldn't to enhance physical pleasures and satiate desires.  In that moment, as we've been studying through the Seven Deadly Sins, anyone in that position making that decision falls into pride, lust, greed, and envy.  It can also follow that they end up in gluttony, seeking more of the "high," wherever it comes from.  Sloth also exists, as they are too lazy to get out of the pit.  And finally, wrath will come, because of the self-loathing and deprecation that follows knowing that any given repetitive action or thought is wrong, according to the Word of God.  So much pain, and all from chasing the fleeting ridiculousness of "being happy," and the real truth of it is that the offender here has removed the proper first position Person, and they have assumed the first position themselves. 

Here's one that will sting, but it is the absolute truth: no human being has the right to be in the First position... period.

I have found added peace in reading through the literature from I Am Second, and I know that if you struggle with anything at all (and you do, by the way, whether you admit it or not), you, too, will find the same peace in placing yourself behind and beneath the One who died for you.  Think about that for a second... He stood in the way and went to the Cross for you; He intercedes for you; He created you; He conquered hell and death and damnation for you.  If you are capable of fitting that bill, then I guess you can be first.  (But none of us are capable, and none of us get to be first.)

Go sign up to follow, like the page, get regular email updates, and enahnce your small group with this amazing organization.  And remember, always and everywhere, Christ comes first... and I am second.

God bless you all!!!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The 4th of 7... part 3...

To close out our thoughts on greed, I thought perhaps we would return to a favorite book of mine for some deep wisdom.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have a love for Proverbs, and this particular one is right up there in the top of my list... it is so simple, so "duh, man, you didn't know that," that we can have the tendency to miss it.

"A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched."
Proverbs 28:25, ESV

Honestly, if you think back to all the times when you were greedy about or over something, you would have to admit that strife was present.  Whether or not it was running rampant or being truly destructive is irrelevant, because the effect comes either quickly or slowly... but the strife that exists is the root of it.  And the root of the strife is greed.  Simple arguments turn into screaming matches, and all because one person doesn't want another person to have/hold/use/touch/eat/drink/spend/play with/be near/talk about/think about/dream about something.  Isn't that ridiculous?

Now think back again, and ponder on the times of peace in your life.  If you really, really, really think about it, all of the times that you were completely at peace were in direct relation to times when you were in complete trust with God's will and plan for your life.  I know for me, when I have placed my complete and total trust in the Father, and stopped trying to make things happen for myself, I have had no worries.  Do you know why?  Because I was not involved.

You see, when I am involved, my interests come into play.  When my interests come into the picture, all of a sudden I am thinking of myself, and not of the task.  This can lead to me focusing on the end result only, and not what it takes to get there, which can lead to missed steps, purposeful shortcuts, and other breaches in my character... and all because my focus shifted from the Creator to the created.  Perhaps I'm not supposed to be elevated within my company right now, and I should be content to shine in the role I currently hold.  Perhaps I'm not supposed to lead a new team of people at another location, because there is a purpose for me at this location still, and leaving would be a poor decision.  However, if I get involved in those self-conversations, as I have many times, I project my will and my hopes onto God's will for me, and I assume that they must line up... and there, I become greedy.

Worse, though, is that when I begin to think of me, I stop thinking about everyone around me.  I focus so tightly on accomplishment that I forget that the journey IS important.  The people you pass along the way (not negatively, but literally the people you walk by and interact with) are important to your current situation, and if you become greedy about it, and you start making mistakes, the issue becomes how long it will take before you are discovered and caught in those mistakes.  Then you become defensive about everything that is said.  Then you become paranoid about things you think people are saying.  Then you make more mistakes, because your focus is so slanted, you cannot function without drama.  Then guess what you have all around you?  Strife.

Another favorite Proverb is listed below, and I will use it today to back up the one above.  The thought is that we need to trust in God, believe on Him and in Him, and know that when we surrender ourselves to His will and to His purpose, we will find the peace and enrichment in life that we all seek.  It doesn't matter if we understand it all, because He does, and we trust Him, and that eliminates the self-built strife of trying to comprehend infinite plans with a finite mind.  The Proverb I reference as a supporter to the one above is:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6

Straight paths are paths free of missed steps... free of strife... free of greed and malicious attempts to gain more, more, more.  Our understanding is limited in all things, and no matter how intelligent or enlightened we become, we are NOTHING; nay, LESS THAN NOTHING, compared to Him.  Let Him straighten you from your greed, Christian sibling, and find peace.

God bless you all!!!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Monthly update... mission trip!!!

Blessed friends, I had the privilege of meeting with my team leader yesterday, and I was given some tools to begin working with before the trip. For any of you that are curious, I will be working on ways to share the Gospel where a written Bible is not something that can be used, because there is a large amount of illiteracy in the area I’ll be visiting and serving in.

I will go through each of the tools on this page eventually, but I need to finish my current study first.  Don't worry, though, the cloth and the cube are getting regular exercise at the house with the family!

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20, NIV

For anyone who has already donated to the trip, please let me thank you from the bottom of my heart! In reality, I only need 23 people to give just $100, and I’ll be able to go and witness to these prisoners and squatter camps… and I know that God will provide those 23 people! For any who either haven’t yet, or are still praying about it, please know that my thanks are extended to you, as well, for even considering the donation.

As a reminder, all I need is 23 people to send $100, and your donations can be sent to World Hope Ministries International, PO Box 11808, Spring, Texas 77391-1808, with my name written in the memo line of the check. As we have more meetings and preparations, I intend to keep you all informed of the exciting things that I’ll have the opportunity to share… and I fully intend to send out a set of photographs once I return, along with what I’m certain will be powerful stories of God’s movement in the prisons and camps in the region.

And, as always, I pray grace and peace over each and every one of you!

Monday, October 15, 2012

The 4th of 7... part 2...

You know, even though we began with some encouraging words, we really must take a step back and see what greed really is, and what it really does... and who it affects.  It is vital to note that this will be one of those uncomfortable moments in this study, and I am no exception in the discomfort of what will follow.

"For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely."
Jeremiah 6:13, ESV

Granted, Jeremiah is speaking of a time before Christ, and there was much greed in that era.  The books of 1st and 2nd Kings are filled with kings who began in reverence, but all of them, eventually, "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord," and it related to two things: pride, of course, and greed.  The book of Judges is no different, really, as the cyclical apostasizing of Israel would always turn to God when in dire straits, but then slowly pull away as they felt they could handle things on their own, or another god (false idol) promised greater benefit or bigger reward (even if the reward was just that they could marry a foreigner).  And what did that greed get the Nation of Israel?  What did God's CHOSEN PEOPLE receive for their greed?  Judgment.

Frankly, folks, even on this side of the New Testament, the wisdom from Jeremiah holds true.  We are all greedy in some form or fashion.  For myself, I am greedy with my time in service to the church.  I need to clarify that so you'll fully understand.  I want to serve... I want so badly to serve in all ways, because I was so far gone at one point that I would never have thought of serving.  And while I am aware that our salvation is not about attendance, I want to make certain that my works prove my faith, just as James teaches.  In my greed to have more time to serve, other things take a back seat... and  the back seat items should never be back there.  I sacrifice time with my wife and children, time I could be using the blessings I have been given through study to enhance their lives.  Most people will look at it and say that it's okay, because I'm serving others, but if I'm not serving my own, then what good am I as a husband and father?  I believe that I am greedy for the wrong side of this coin, and that it should shift a bit. 

This premise, like it or not, holds true for everyone on some level.  Whether it is as personal as mine or not is where the differences will exist.  Most will say they are greedy for money; some will be possessions or collectibles; some will be extreme and become hoarders, unwilling to let their things leave, and unwilling to leave their things.  I am greedy for time, and I wish I had more, but that is the lesson that all of us must learn, from the least to the greatest.  We must learn to manage what we have been given, and to manage it well.

Again, speaking only for myself, I need to find more time to spend with my family, and let some other things go.  There is no additional time to add, so I have to manage it better.  I need to not think greedily (only of what I wish to do), and start to operate on a broader thought pattern, one which enables the entire family to flourish... not just myself and those I serve. 

Greed is tough, folks... and it permeates, just like pride and lust and envy.  Let's not let it rule anything any longer.

God bless you all!!!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

The 4th of 7... part 1...

We have arrived at the middle of the group, and yet another central portion of our sinful nature is seen here.  Honestly, I could've tackled pride in the 4th position, because pride is literally at the center of all of these sins... well, really it's at the heart of all sins period.  However, it needed to be exposed quickly, and therefore we begin now into what I have selected to be 4th, following a closely related cousin named envy.  This, dear ones, is greed.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Matthew 6:33, ESV

I know, the prior three have all begun with what the sin is and what we should look out for.  They have all been started with warnings and truths about the nature of each one.  This one, however, I have decided to approach differently, in that I will begin with a solid admonition.  I cannot think of any better than the verse above, because greed does NOT relate to only money.  Greed relates to all manner of things that one can keep to oneself, refusing to share with others for the strengthening of God's kingdom.  We just associate it with wealth, because we are a sadly materialistic society.

To give some ease to the beginning, therefore, I will start with money.  Seek God first, and you will be blessed.  Please understand, "blessed" does not mean that you and Bill Gates will be neighbors, and it does not mean that world travel will be something you can just whip out a change purse to pay for.  "Blessed" in this context, means that you will be able to care for yourself and family.  But be warned, for when the focus shifts from God, even though monetary increase may still come, the blessings will begin to slip.  (Never forget, He owns it all, and He decided what portion to give to you, and He can just as easily take it all away.)

Now to the more important things than money, seeking God first in any given area will enable you to be blessed in that same area.  For instance, in the matter of friendship, if you were to attempt to be the kind of friend that Jesus was to His 12, your attitude would be one of self-sacrifice and service.  You would be focused only on the edification of the kingdom in the lives of your friends, and you would use said edification to build them up always, just as it is said in Ephesians 4:29.  Your focus would never, ever be centered upon yourself, and you would constantly look to make your friends' lives more successful, more joyous, more peaceful, whether through knowledge or laughter or even through the occasional and necessary rebuke (done lovingly, of course).

Added to that picture, imagine if you sought God first in your relationship with your children.  If you were the kind of father that The Father is, all of the above statements would be true.  However, you would need to add an additional element to it, because while you do love your friends, you love your kids even more.  Kids come first, and the only time your friends importance would be lowered would be when your children needed to be more important.  You would be the abba father, the agape love daddy, the one man (not being sexist, just using my situation to draw from) that could throw perfect spirals, run bases, work on music, and put up a perfect ponytail (yes, folks, I have a daughter).  Everything you own and everything you work to own for be for the benefit of your children, and your teaching and time would always center around the love of Christ in their lives.

Going just a tad further, imagine your marriage in this scenario.  Your kids rule your heart, but your spouse comes before your children.  I know that's tough, but it is the way things are supposed to be.  Everything you are, everything you do, everything that ever happens is for the building up of your spouse, and it always and everywhere radiates the love of Christ that both of you have.  Seeking God first in your marriage is one of those things that keeps you from hiding money in secret accounts; keeps you from hiding relationships with other people; keeps you from hiding feelings that you are fearful of sharing; keeps you focused on building up your spouse, rather than making sure your spouse knows that you are awesome at any given thing.  Seeking God first in marriage is the way it was supposed to happen... and it is still the way it is supposed to happen... and it's never too late to turn it around, if your focus is elsewhere.

No joke, Christian sibling... it is NEVER too late to turn that focus back to the Father!

Just imagine a world where people sought God first in all things.  Instead of complaining about making breakfast for others and all that I have to do in the mornings, doing it all with a joyful heart to serve my family.  That joy would spread to each of them, and they would show it forward, knowing that their smiles would enable others to smile.  Those others would be able to share their joy forward as well, and before you know it, the guy standing in line in front of you at Starbucks decides to pay for your coffee, because he has been greeted with a lack of greed in the emotional department.  Think about it...

Focus, friends, as we go forward in this 4th installment.  Let's all pray for each other constantly that we could find a way to bless one another, whether we know them or not, with an added smile.  It is free, costs nothing, yet means the world to the one that needs it.  Don't be greedy with your joy.

God bless you all!!!

Saturday, October 6, 2012

In between... a moment of pause...

I haven't yet brought this up again, but after a fruitful discussion with a group of high school seniors I lead, I felt it necessary to remind everyone (mostly me) of this powerful truth.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity.  God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptations He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it."
1 Corinthians 10:13, HCSB

It is an awesome privilege, leading young men in a small group.  We study (currently in the Gospel of John), we pray, and we hold each other accountable.  We test each other and task growth to each other.  And at the end of each day, I share a prayer for them... and I know that they each pray for me. 

However, they are in so volatile a time in their lives, because it is their senior year of high school.  The whole world is about to expand exponentially for them, and they will need the strength of their Savior more than ever.  They will also need the iron sharpening iron from other brothers in Christ, and a relationship of honest accountability to remain strong and effective for the Kingdom.  And as we sat down to discuss temptation and difficulties arising from it, this verse came up.

As I've said before, the issue is not knowing that there is a way to get free from the temptation.  The issue is finding it... and the bigger issue is whether or not you're looking for it.  I have ignored the way out, even though it was blatantly obvious to me, and that yields nothing positive.  As a matter of fact, at one point in my life, I grew so numb to any way out that I almost lost myself in the 7 I'm going through, and it cost me friendships and trust and love and much more.  It's not a price tag I encourage anyone to chase after.

So I'll pose a challenging question to you today.  Do you see the way out from whatever it is you're facing right now?  Do you know that God is providing one for you?  Do you trust that it will be exactly what you need to free yourself from whatever it is that currently ails your spirit?  Further commitment to any given sin is not the escape, and no matter how cool it was in the movie, no one really ever needs to see "how deep the rabbit hole goes."  The only thing we need to do is find the means of escape, the holy and blessed means of escape that our Heavenly Father has placed in our view. 

I'll also pose an accountable question to you today.  Are you seeking that way out, or are you content in your sins?  Are you?  Really, really think about it, and ponder whether or not it is something you are seeking.  That path exists, and finding it isn't usually that hard... but if you're not even searching for it (whether from pride or laziness or lust or any other sin), then there is a whole other set of problems that must be discussed. 

For now, though, as we cover these specific 7 sins, please keep in mind the words above that there is nothing that is allowed to overtake you.  The awesome part of that statement is that God is not going to allow you, a Christian, to be run by temptation and sin... the horrible part of it is that when temptation and sin run your life, you allowed it to happen.  But rest peacefully in the truth that there IS a way out!

God bless you all!!!