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!!!

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!)

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!!!

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!!!

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!!!

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!!!

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!!!

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!!!

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!!!

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!

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!!!

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!!!

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!!!

The 3rd of 7... part 3...

This will close out our thoughts on envy, and I believe that I have been led to the perfect verse for it.  You see, envy is so infectious, but it seems to overtake the individual from the inside out.  The problem, though, is that before it comes to the outside, it destroys the inside.

"A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot."

Proverbs 14:30, ESV

Peace is what we should be seeking, and envy does not allow for that.  Envy and jealousy gobble up all the peace they can, just as the leviathan does anything it wishes in the sea.  I mentioned before that I had the demonic names associated with each of these sins, and "leviathan" is the one for envy.  That mystical beast was known to devour and consume anything that crossed it, and it was going to be the most vicious, the most feared... nothing else mattered.  It became so bad that anything else in the  sea stirred enough jealousy to require destruction of the foreign object.

There is no peace in any story of the leviathan.  Tranquility does not exist there.  And if that is how your heart reacts to things in life and in the world, then there is no peace within you.  Imagine how awful that would feel (or recognize how awful it DOES feel) to only be concerned with consumption of everything around you, so that nothing could be better/faster/smarter/stronger/prettier/handsomer/etc.  Where would your life go?  Where is it going now?  Even if you only have a small amount of leviathan in you (and we all do, friend), you are in some ways competing in this ridiculous race.

And why does it seem that the harder you push, the harder it gets?  Why s the finish line never getting closer?  Well that's simple: your bones are rotting away.  You heart isn't giving life, it's barely clinging to it.  You aren't living in this manner... you're struggling to survive.  Without peace, there can be no life of significance, and that is what Jesus wants us to have!

Stop today, and realize that envy should no longer hold sway over you.  Sure, there are people who are blessed in different ways than you are, and some of them seem to be blessed in greater ways than you are.  However, if you take their blessings AND their trials, looking at the entire picture, you might not want their circumstances so badly.  In fact, you might just be able to take an honest look at all the blessings you've received, and recognize that you are as highly favored as the Word says you are. 

On a side note, there is a young man who recently won the lottery, and stated that he would give away the vast majority, if not all of it, to charity (working from memory here, and I don't know the entire story).  My wife looked right at me and stated that the reason we will probably never win an amount that large is because we wouldn't snap to a charitable response.  She's right, 100%.  But we're working on that, and shifting our focus.  We're thinking about the responses we should have, regardless of the scenario, and we're thinking about the old question, "What Would Jesus Do?" 

I'll tell you one thing... He wouldn't be envious.

God bless you all!!!