Spiritual Bullies

Spiritual Bullies

We talk a lot about bullying these days it seems.  A kid recently in my area 11 years old hung himself due to bullying, we see it on the news, on the internet, in the papers, and in our schools.  The issue is a hot topic and for good reason.  No one should bully or be bullied.  However, what about the church?

There are spiritual bullies in  our churches that we seem to put up with, accept, or ignore?  What is a spiritual bully?  Well I take a spiritual bully as someone who pushes their agenda, beliefs, opinions, or judgements on other people.  A spiritual Bully only likes and agrees with people who agree with them and support them, and condemn, put down, or arrogantly treat those who disagree with their belief system as less than christian, a hypocrite, bad chrisitian, or even a heathen.  They are legalistic and have a narrow-mind and can only see their view point, here their own voice, and tear down others who do not agree or line up with their "side".

I'm not making this stuff up.  You ever wonder why a church only has 10-15 people in it?  It's because the bully pastor or bully member(who runs the church) that's all the people that agree with them.  I know some churches are small and dying because they refuse to change, but many are dying because of the selfishness and arrogance of the person who only hears or sees their own voice and not God and pushes it on others.  Yet they do what they do in the name of God.  Well so did Saul(before he was Paul) when he persecuted chrisitans and had them put in jail, so did the Pharisees and religious leaders in the NT.  Doing something in name of God doesn't always make you right.

Bullies in our churches and pulpits are nothing more than modern day Pharisees who are using religion and God for their own selfish agendas or misguided ignorance.  You don't go to the same kind of church I do, then you are less than me.  You don't use the same version of the bible that I do, than I am right and you stupid.  You don't worship with the same kind of worship music I do, then you are not as good of a chrisitan as me.  We push agenda's and relgious doctrines and spiritual opinions on people.  When they have nothing to do with the Great commision of making disciples or the Greatest command of loving God and loving your neighbor(others).

Do you think a lost/unsaved person cares about what version of the bible you use, or whether you sing "old hymns of the faith" or contemporary praise music? You think a lost soul cares about your views on the end of times, or speaking in tongues, or eternal security, or  if you're baptist or church of christ, or methodist? 

I am not belittling any one subject, but spiritual bullies focus on the minors and miss the majors.  They push opinions and miss grace.  They throw out their harsh words, agruments, and pride yet miss loving people, accepting people where they are, and showing them the love of Christ.  People need to know you love them and God loves them, before you can teach them doctrine or basic bible truths.
It's a process.

We all have a right to our preferences, choices, and things when it comes to matters of opinions and just because you bully someone with your opinion as if it's gospel or doctrine, doesn't make it so.  Bully are insecure people, they are scared or afraid, so that is why they bully, or it has everytyhing to do with the way they were raised and taught.

People who grew up in churches where the preacher screamed and yelled, think that is the way preachers are suppopsed to preach and if they start preaching they do it because that think that is only way to preach.   People who grew up in country very traditional chuches think that is the only way you can worship and anything new or modern in church is blaspheme or wrong.  That is where I begin to wonder are people truly following God or are they following tradition? A mentor? Their Family? 

God isn't a bully and He doesn't want His church to bully people.  If anyone has a right to force people to beleive something or do something it's God, and He gives us free will to choose Him, but also some freedom in the way we do things, and we need to stop making every little thing wrong, a sin, or a test of fellowship with others.  Stop being a bully and a modern day pharisee and start preaching, teaching, and sharing in love, and stop worrying about everything being a sin or sending you to hell.  Read God's word and pray with an open mind and heart.

My advice don't put up with spiritual bullies, if you have them in your church, deal with them, or move on.  If their heart as hard as their head, it may be a losing battle especially if they are in leadership and church isn't willing to deal with it.  But for everyone else,  Love God, Love other.

Luke 6:37(NIV)
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Trust

Trust

Psalm 62:8(NIV)
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

That's a tough word isn't it?  It's easy to trust when we have all the facts, can see with our own eyes, or we know the person really well, but it's alot harder to trust in a situation when we don't have all the facts, we can't see or know everything, or we don't know the person or situation well.

I am not advocating we trust everyone, but I am advocating we learn to trust until someone gives us reason not to, and I'm also advocating just because someone we love or care about breaks our trust, doesn't mean everyone will.  Most of all, I am suggesting that no matter what this world throws at us or what obstacles stand in our way we CAN trust God!

Trust in a simple definition means "to have faith or confidence in someone or something".  We need to learn to trust people or we are going to be some of the most negative, bitter, pessimistic, or skeptical people in the world.  However, we also need to use discernment, common sense, and God as a meter to measure who is worthy of our trust.  Don't trust the loud mouth with your personal feelings you want kep secret,  or don't trust the a family member/friend to be dependable when they have tract record of being undependable or inconsistent or dishonest or selfish.

What I really want to talk about today is learning to truly "TRUST" our God.  God wants to move us, motivate us, stretch us, convict us, or teach us and we resist His prompting from the Holy Spirit because we are selfish, or fearful, or distracted, or don't want to give up control.  How can we say we love God or serve Him or have surrendered to Him when we won't trust Him?  I am here to tell you that sometimes God is going to want you to do something, go somewhere, or be a part of something that will not make sense to you or sometimes your family or friends?  Especially those like me who are "called" to ministry, you might find yourself alone in some situations just you and God because family or friends think you're crazy or losing it.

I am sure that is how people felt about Noah building an ark in the middle of no where, or Abram picking up and leaving his homeland and not even knowing where he was heading, or Moses for going back to Egypt to lead God's people out of Slavery, etc..plenty of stories in the Old and New Testament of God calling people to TRUST HIM and though it might not make sense on paper, or to family/friends, or to the world, God had a plan, a purpose, and wanted those He called to Trust in Him.

God is not going to set us up to fail. God is not going to punk us or play a practical joke on us.  If God wants us to do something, It's for a reason and we must decide whether we want to TRUST Him and be obedient, or we want to resist him, fight him, run away, ignore, or make excuses.  I've tried running from God, He found me. I've tried making excuses, I ran out, and I've tried to resist, but to no avail.  If God wants you to do something or calls you to something, He will be faithful to you until you are ready or willing to accept. 

Our job is to Trust God.  Do you trust Him for salvation?  Do you trust Him for grace?  Do you trust Him to Provide?   Do you trust Him to protect you and/or your family?  Either you trust God all the time in all areas or not at alll, you can't pick and choose when to trust Him.  Think about it, if a  person is untrustworthy, then they are untrustworthy in all areas, if you got a friend who lies to you, then you probably aren't going to trust them in anything. 

However, God is trustworthy, always! Forever!  Trust in Him in all areas of your life and allow Him to bless you, work through you, use you, grow you, teach you, and love you!

Titus 3:8(NIV)
This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone

What's your excuse?

What's Your Excuse?

It seems that when it comes to why people do not go to church or why they aren't christians the excuses can be endless.  But, in the end it's all they are: Excuses!

There is no excuse that is good enough out there that gives us a pass from not being an active part of  "THE BODY OF CHRIST", that is what the church is(read I Corinthians 12:12-31).  That means that we must not only "attend" church services, but more importantly, we must be "committed" to serving and being active AS THE church.

There is also no excuse out there to stop going to church or being a part of the local church body.  How many times have I heard people say they got mad at someone, they got their feelings hurt, or the preacher didn't visit them, or they missed church and no one noticed.....etc....etc.....we can make all the excuses, find all the reasons, and justify every one of them, but the bottom line is, it's an excuse.  Many stop going to church all together or they "church hop" everytime they don't get there way or like something.

People C'mon!  If you had a bad experience at one restaurant would you avoid every eating at a restaurant again? If you went to Wal-Mart and a cashier was rude to you or made you mad, would you stop going to Wal-mart or boycott all Wal-marts or deparment stores?  Absolutely Not! So we cannot with all honesty blame one person or one church for us giving up on God or our faith.  The problem with everyone's faith and attitude about church or God is internal, meaning the problem is us, not the church and not others.

Truth is, there are bad churches out there. Truth is, there are people out there who are christians who are mean, dishonest, rude, and selfish and they hurt people.  I can be honest and say some of my deepest hurts in this life have come at the expense of people who called themselves Christians and was part of the church.   Truth is, the church is made up of imperfect people and also people who  are so harded the Holy Spirit can't convict them or they are so selfish they have hardly a conscience and satan has a foothold in their lives or that church, but that doesn't make all Christians bad or all churches bad.

We need to stop making excuses to avoid going to church and being faithful to God.   Whether we like it or not, Jesus Christ after His resurrection from the dead for our sins, He established the church and if He did that, it's pretty important, not optional to our faith.  If He felt the church was important enough to compare it to His body and we are a part of His body, then we need to take it serious and stop making excuses to avoid it or not be a committed part to it by giving of our time, our talents, or our treasures.

We also need to understand that if we "call"  ourselves a Christian or we are a member of a church, that more is expected of us.  Some of you reading this today might be that negative part of the church or the one giving christianity a bad name,  no excuse for people to not go to church or be christians, but we all could help by being a more positive part of the church and being a better example of our faith in God, people have enough excuses to not go to church, don't make it easier for them.

Reality, is God wants you to be a part of His church and He wants you to be a devoted Christian and follower of His.  Excuses aren't going to cut it and they will not be accepted by God. Do not let satan, lousy christians, bad churches, or most of all lame excuses keep you from being a part of the Body of Christ(the Church) or serving God and giving to Him as a Christian.

 If someone makes you mad at a church, pray for them, or if it's serious be honest with them and confront them, or take it to the church leadership, or if you're sin a situation that seems like it's not going to get better, than move on, but find another place to serve and worship, don't stop going or being a christian because of one person or one bad church experience.  Church is bigger than one local church and christian faith is bigger than one person who isn't practicing their faith.  Stop makign excuses and start being a positive part of the church body and work on your personal walk with Jesus.

Romans 1:20(NIV)
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Running on Empty

Running On Empty

Most of the time that sounds like a bad thing doesn't it?  When we are running on empty usually means we've stretched ourselves too thin, aren't getting enough rest, and have too many irons in the fire.  But, did you ever think of it in another way? I'm talking about a differnt kind of empty and it's a good thing!

We live with the HOPE of what Jesus Christ did for us, not only dying on the cross for our sins, not only defeating death, hell, and sin, but He rose from the grave and left an empty tomb, and because of that empty tomb, we have the hope of eternal life and salvation from our sins, therefore, we are running this race in life with God because of the empty tomb. 

So when I say "running on empty" it's a good thing!  We focus a lot on the cross and Jesus death, but so many times, we forget to focus on what was even more important, that HE ROSE!  He overcame death!  He defeated it! He not only defeated death, but in the process became sin on our behalf and took our sin and defeated it, and because of defeating death and sin, He defeated Hell, which is the punishment of sin and sin brought death into the world.

Only a perfect sacrifice from God could ever defeat sin, death, and hell.  That victory is symbolic in the empty tomb.  We have life because of His death.  We have forgiveness of sins because of Him becoming our sin.  We have a choice to spend eternity in Heaven instead of Hell because He overcame hell.  Do you see why the empty tomb is reason to celebrate? Do you see why we can run this race of life with confidence because of the empty tomb?  Do you why we have hope in this world because of Jesus?

People live their lives every day going about their daily business and routines and chasing after things of this world that they think will give their life meaning, value, and purpose, but they are running and chasing in vain.  They are filling their lives with all sorts of things and none of them can bring peace, purpose, value, or hope.  Only Jesus Christ with His death on the cross, His defeat of sin, His victory over hell, and most importantly that empty tomb gives anyone and everyone who will accept it everything they could ever need for purpospe, peace, value, meaning, and hope!

Are you running on empty today? 

John 20:1-10(NIV)
¹ Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

OUCH!

OUCH!

Psalm 49:5 (NIV)
 ⁵ Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me

I'm not sure there is a worst feeling than being betrayed or hurt or "stabbed in the back" as we like to say by those we love, care about, or consider family or friend.  It's tough, and not an easy answer to respond to how to overcome those tragic moments.  It is true that sometimes you  those we love the most end up hurting us the most, even when it can come to violence or abuse.

I am not sure what always makes a husband hit his wife, or a wife to have an affair on her husband, or parents to abuse their kids, or co-workers to throw us under the bus, or for our best friend to lie to us, our boy/girfriend to cheat on you, or a friend to gossip about you?  I am sure there are many scenarios out there where me and you have been hurt or wounded by a friend or family member.  We expect it from an enemy or stranger sometimes, but never from those we love, trust, or respect the most.

I've been there, am there, and I'm sure many of you reading this have been there or are there too.  What do we do? How do we handle it?  How do we overcome or heal from it?  I think every situation is different and to different degrees and level, but  I think there are some things we can do.

First, we have to forgive.  I am not saying forget, I am not saying allow the person to keep hurting you, or to even stay in the relationship.  They best thing may to end the relationship or part ways or put distance, but forgiveness and reconciliation are two different things.  Forgiving is about you releasing yourself of the anger toward the person or offense, so that you do not become vengeful, resentful, bitter, or do or say things you will regret or put yourself at same level as the guilty.  Forgive the offense, and focus on healing.

Secondly, we have to protect ourselves. This may mean distancing yourself from the person, or having nothing to do with them, or ending the relationship, or simply avoiding them until they make sincere effort to change. This step is hard for many people because we feel guilty, or feel sorry for the person especially if it's a loved one, we can make excuses for them, and all these unhealthy things. But, when there is danger, you run, you get out of harms way, and avoid those people that are toxic, dangerous, manipulating, or purposely being or doing wrong.  This isn't being mean or harsh, it's protecting you and your family and sometimes your health or sanity.  It also doesn't mean your a bad christian because you withdrawal from a relationship because of how you've been treated.  Bible says forgive, it doesn't say keep putting up with peoples behaviors.

Thirdly, we keep doing right.  Do not let others actions keep you from trusting people, loving people, or moving on with your life.  There are bad people out there, but no all people are bad.  We just simpoly have to choose better and more wisely those we befriend, marry, date, or family we let close to us.    Even in our best efforts to do right or be a Godly person, because of sin and satan even good people are going to hurt us or wrong us sometimes, but the key is was it accidentaly or intential?  Was it an isolated event or does it consistently happen?  Do not  let others bad behaviors or lifestyles keep you from doing right and being a good person.  If you see red flags, or pick up on inconsistencies in someones speech or behaviors, than beware.

We can pray for those who hurt us, we can pray for God to give us the strength and peace to ovecome and move on and heal and we can read scripture and maybe some other christian books to help us in our quest to heal from hurts.  Wounds seem to be deeper aned hurt more when they are from people who we love and respect and whom we've trusted ourselves around, but we still can learn from this, overcome, don't keep repeating the same hurts and mistakes, heal, and move forward with our lives and sometimes that means without those negative, toxic, and harmful people in our lives and sometimes it can mean restoration or healing of a relationship, that really depends on the offender. 
Psalm 101:4(NIV)
The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil.Titus 3:10(NIV)
Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.

Motives

Motives

Proverbs 16:2(NIV)
All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD

I think that is a legitimate question to ask ourselves as we go about our daily lives.  Not only what motivates us to do what we do and act like we do, but also what are our motives for our relationships? How we treat people?  Why we do things?

Many times we can do things with selfish or self-seeking motives, using or taking advantage of people, especially people we are supposed to love and trust.  We do things only with the intention of holding it over their head, or to get something in return, or to get infomation, or hold it aginst them, or to get something out of it ourselves.  That is no  way to treat anyone, especially people we love.

I have had people do me a favor, then bring it up when they wanted me to do something for them, like I owed them, even though their favor to me was unsoliciated.  We will be nice to people at school or work to get them to do our work for us or make us look good.  We will take advantage of relationships and parents will use their kids and kids use their parents and husbands their wives and vice versa not for the greater good or love, but for selfish or self-centered reasons.

Our motives in life, especially for those who desire to be a Christian and live for God need to be pure, holy, sincere, and honest.   As Christians we help people for God's sake and never expect anything in return.  We are to love people and treat them fairly, honestly, and respectful and not in a way to use them, exploit them, take advantage of them, or walk on them.

There is not a worse feeling in the world than feeling used or betrayed or manipulated by someone, especially by someone you are supposed to love and respect.  This behavior turns into a lifestyle and does not honor God.  I would be bold enough to say it's sinful for us to have impure or selfish motives in any relationship.

I think the desire for anyone is to be treated with love, dignity, respect, and our best interest in mind and in return we do the same thing for others.  We love people the way God loves us and the way God loves others.  The greatest command given when ask to God was this:  "Love God, Love Others."  You cannot fulfill either with you have hidden or secret motives that are selfish.

I want to encourage everyone reading this today to have pure motives.  Let God motivate you to be a good person and treat people honestly and fairly.  To love others and to not expect anything in return when you do something for someone.  Do not do anything for selfish reasons or treat people selfishly.

Philippians 2:3-4
³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

MYOB

MYOB

Proverbs 18:2 (NIV)Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions

Many of you know what that stands for?  Mind Your Own Business.   I could save us all alot of trouble if we'd all be just as worried about our own business and lives as we are about others business and lives.  I am not saying we shouldn't care or be concerned about others, but at the same time, many of us are so busy wondering and worrying about what others are doing or not doing that we neglect ourselves, but even more, we can be over-stepping our boundaries as a friend or family member.

It's common sense to me really.  You got a friend or family member who has a drug or alcohol problem or has a cheating spouse, yes you may have an obligation to step in and intervene or try and help them, but in day to day life when we want to push our nose and opinions into other people's business where it doesn't belong we are wrong.

If a friend or family member asked for your advice, input, or opinion than you have every right to be  I their business because you've been invited, however if you are are neve invited, but still insist or pushing or prodding your nose or opinion into people's lives, you're going to find yourself with few friends and maybe a sore nose 8-).

There is a fine line between being a concerned/caring person and wanting to help others and being someone who is just very nosy and opinionated and wants to tell everyone else how they need to be living or what they need to be doing or not doing in their lives.  That is not healthy relationships to do your friends and family that way. 

How many times has someone gotten mad at you over something you said or did or a decision you made and it wasn't even their business or related to them in anyway?  How many times have you forced your opinion or view on someone and ever stopped to hear what they had to say or that maybe they didn't even ask for your input? Do you think maybe some people never ask for your opinion or advice because you are too opinionated or too nosy?  Think about it!  Might be time for you to take a hard look at yourself and evaluated your relationships.  

Do people respect you and your opinions?  Do people come to your for advice?   Do you respect other peoples business, boundaries, and lives?  Are you quick to get angry or excited over what someone else is doing or not doing even when it has nothing to do with you?   I admit I'm an opinionated person, and I'm not afraid to share my opinions with those that ask.  But, I try to respect those i care about and hope they do the same. 

I have people in my life who I go to because I respect their opinions and advice and I also avoid certain peole because I do not respect their opinions and advice because they have way too much of it and too little listening or respect for boundaries.    I think God calls us to love and care about people, but He also wants us to respect people's business, privacy, opinions, views,  and lives.

Do you want someone sticking their nose in your business where it doesn't belong? Or pushing their opinions on you when they were requested by you?  We would not want someone treating us that way, so why would we treat others that way?

Let's all do a better job of loving and respecting people and mind our own business and worry about being the person God wants us to be. 

I Thessalonaians 4:11b-12(NIV)
You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

God's Timing

God's Timing

One of the hardest lessons for anyone to learn is that God's timing and our timing do not always match up.  We pray and want things and want them now! Our society of instant gratification has ruined our patience and faith in God, because what we want we want now, without even considering it may not even be God's will especially in our prayers.

We can rest assured if we have faith in God and a committed relationship with Him, He will ALWAYS give us what we NEED and not always what we want.  But, it's more than just desires of wants or needs, the key is to understand that God is God and we are not and that His timing is not the same as ours.

So many times we try to bring God down to our level and place God in human terms, but instead we should be striving to be more like God, learning to wait on God's timing, and trusting in His will for our lives.  He is God.  He is Holy.  He is creator.  He deserves and demands our trust!

It's ok to pray for things, but we must learn that when we approach God we must not only pray in faith, but we also must learn to pray with the attitude of  God's will be done, but most of all be willing to wait and trust in His timing.

They say in the entertainment business that "timing is everything" and I believe that in the Christian faith.  Timing is everything and that timing is God's not ours.  It may take  years to get a prayer answered and it may not be answered in the way we want, but that is where we trust in God's bigger picture and plan, things that we may not see or know.

Some of our prayers do get answered quickly and fairly often, but many take lots of time, because there are other factors going on.  As the old song says,  "God works in ways we cannot see-He will make a way".  We have to learn to trust, wait, and have faith in God's perfect timing. It's perfect everytime.  Ours is not, and  sometimes God may be trying to protect us, He may be working in someone else's lives and there are factors and things taking place and taking time that we do not known about, so therefore we have to wait on God and trust in His perfect will and timing.

Whether we are praying for others, ourselves, a situation, a problem, a loved one, an illness, a job, or anything and any situation we are praying to God about,  we all have to give it to Him in prayer and understand the Holy Spirit even speaks when we don't have the words to express, and when we give it to God and keep praying about it, we must be faithful in our prayers, but also faithful in our trust, patience, and waiting on God to work.  God's timing, let's wait on it!


Isaiah 64:4(NIV)Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

What's in a Name?

What's in a Name?

What does the name "Christian" mean to you?  Some people say "I'm a Christian", but it's simply based on they are not catholic, jewish, muslim, mormon, or buddhist, so they must be a "Christian".  However, Christian is not a race or it's own religion, it's a term first used in the bible in the New Testament to describe people of "The Way" or followers of Jesus Christ.  First, they were called people of "the way" and eventually the term "christian" was coined, basically meaning a follower of Christ.

So, you are not a "Christian" unless you are literally a "follower of Jesus Christ" meaning it requires you to do something, not just wear a name.  It means people responsed to the gospel/good news of Jesus Christ, and accepted Him as their Savior, was obedient to Him, was baptized, and begin following Him.  That's the name Christian.

I have met people my whole life who claim the name "Christian" yet they do not claim any faith in God, some simply believe in God, or went to church when they were little, or know they aren't some other religion, but they are simply misunderstanding the meaning of being a Christian.  They aren't serving God, praying to God, reading His word, or serving in His church. They have no relationship and have made no commitment to God through Jesus Christ, therefore they are mis-using the name Christian

I can go around calling myself Doctor, but unless I go to medical school and pass and fulfill the commitments of being a Doctor with the state to get my license, then I am no Doctor.  It requires a process and commitment and steps to become a Doctor, and christianity is the same, it's more than a name.

We need to be educated and informed.  Do not call yourself a Christian if you have not made a commitment to Jesus Christ and are not actively in a relationship with God serving Him and being a part of His body the church.  In order to wear the name, it bears with it a great responsibility and calling. 

I am not trying to be legalistic or judgemental, I am trying to be realistic and clarify what the name Christian means and doesn't  mean and what wearing the name brings with it.  If your aren't another religion, then you simply are no name. You are not a religious person.  If you were raised in church when you were a child, but never made a commitment to Christ or stopped going, then you aren't a Christian, you are simply you.  A non-christian, or whatever you want to call yourself. I could say you are a sinner, but we are all sinners whether we are christian or not, the only difference is when you become a christian you have forgiveness of your sins those who aren't are still living in their sins.

 If we have graduated from a certain school or with a certain degree or training then we take pride in being called an engineer, a soldier, a doctor, a mechanic, a teacher, a certified welder, or licensed social worker.  Our names mean something because we did something to earn to wear the name, and we would take exception to anyone who called themselves our name without earning it or going through the steps to be able to wear it.  Christianity is the same way.

Anyone can become a christian and everyone has a right to be called a christian, but they must first choose Christ, choose to accept Him in their lives, repent of their sins, be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and be committed to living and growing in a personal committed relationship wi.th God.    But, we can't wear the name or call ourselves a christian if we aren't willing to commit to Christ and wear His name in service and commitment.

Acts 11:26b(niv) 
The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Acts 2:21 (niv)
And everyone who callson the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Weekend Getaway

I had an opportunity to get away with my wife this past weekend and head to Lynchburg, VA and spend the weekend enjoying some quiet time, alone time, quality time, and spend saturday going to the one day Marriage conference "Love for Life" sponsored by AACC(American Assocation of Christian Counselors) and it was held at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

I think it has been since our honeymoon that we had the chance as a couple to be alone and just enjoy being together with no distractions, problems, kids, worries, jobs, or stresses.  As one of the speakers said it is very important for married couples to have a "daily delay"-take 15-20 minutes out of your day just to talk and visit as a couple.  A "weekly withdrawal" meaning make time for a date night and then a "annual abandon" meaning take one weekend a year and go somewhere for the weekend just the two of you alone and enjoy each other and time together.

So I guess this was our "annual abandon".  The conference was great,  Tim Clinton Spoke(founder of AACC), Ted Cunningham, Pastor of Woodland Hills church in Branson, MO, Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar (of 19 kids and counting) and a guy named Joe White. (Duggars to the right and Ted Cunningham below) they were my two favorite speakers.  The Duggars shared their story and how they kept God at the center of their marriage and family.  And Ted shared 3 journeys we are on, our own spiritual journey, our spouses spiritual journey, and our marriage journey.  He was very funny too.

All and all, all 4 speakers did a good job sharing with all us married folks.  We had a little contemporary worship with was nice and we also were able to pick up a couple books to read.  I think Cheryl and I both got alot out of the conference and we needed it.  Sometimes people need that help, and though some couples go to a marriage conference on the brink of divorce, others might go to get recharged, and I think you'll agree no matter how strong or weak your marriage relationship we always can learn, grow, and become a better spouse.

I think we enjoyed just taking our time driving there and stopping for lunch and a little shopping.  We ate at some good restaurants during the weekend, found a place called Nancy's chocolates which had truffles from heaven, they were awesome!  We also enjoyed just lounging around our hotel and not having to be or go anywhere in particular.  We visited Lynchburg Church of Christ(christian) on Sunday morning before heading home.

It was a great great time. I love my wife so much and realize we need to be proactive in making time for each other, that I have lots of things I need to be working on to improve myself as a husband, father,  man, minister, and christian.  That my wife and I need time away and to enjoy being together and make time for it more often.  We also need to better communicate, it's so easy to fall into ruts, or miscommunicate, or blame your spouse, or let outside distractions come between you.

I want to encourage all my married friends to work on your marriage every day.  Go to an marriage conference every year.  Take a few minutes each day to visit, make a weekly date night, and take a weekend a year to get away together.  But always work on yourself and strive to put God first in your marriage and in your own life.  Marriage is a journey and a commitment and it takes lots of work and it's worth it!  I love my wife and thankful even though we have been faced with some tough times in our short marriage that we've not given up on each other and our love for God and one another!

Huh?

Huh?
Is this your first response when someone is talking to you or telling you something?  Because you either can't hear, or have selective hearing, or are ignoring them. Well what about God?

God speaks to us.  No it may not be audibly like He did during times we read about in the Bible, but I'm not sure that would matter. God talked to  many people in the Bible directly or through dreams and angels, etc...and still they didn't listen to Him.

God does speak to us in a variety of ways today, through His Word, other people, nature, circumstances, through music, through reading christian books, emails, and blog(like this wonderful gem).  Most of all He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit.  Yes, God Himself comes and dwells in us when we accept Him and our Savior and are baptized, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit and among the many roles the Spirit has, one is to speak to us, but the great question is are we listening?

Maybe God is trying to speak to you about your lifestyle or behavior? Maybe God is trying to get through to you about you about your attitude or rebellion?  Maybe God is trying to talk to you about serving more or getting more involved in your church?  God is speaking to us everday in a variety of ways about a variety of topics depending on each of our invidivual needs and place where we are in our relationship with God.

Some of us God is speaking loud and clear that we need to get in church, or get saved, or God is calling you to ministry, or convicting you of a sin, or trying to help you make better decisions or act with honesty in integrity?  I am not sure, I can't tell you what God is saying to you, but I can tell you to open your ears and listen all around you.

Don't get confused there are other voices speaking for your attention.  Satan speaks to us and our own voice speaks to us, I find it eery that satan's voice and our own voice sound just alike, but when God speaks it sounds nothing like our own voice??? Maybe that should be a clue to us who is speaking to us, who we are listening to, and who's advice we are following??

Take time to listen to God. Read His Bible, do a devotion, Pray, worship, look around you, whatever ways you communicate to God, always leave time to be quiet and still and listen to God. Don't do all the talkin, give God time to speak to you, but most of all take time to Listen and Hear Him, it could change your life, the direction you are headed, and could be a huge blessing!

James 1:22-24(NIV)
²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Serve

Serve

Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)

⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

 

Serving is not an option, it's a command. You would think by looking around  many of our churches today that serving was optional, as our churches are filled with people who simply "attend" and do not "participate" and who warm pews instead of warming up their gifts God has given them.

 

One of the biggest problems facing the church besides satan and the world, is I think apathy from church members, I hate to even call them members, because they really are more attenders than members, being called a member implies you are an "active" part of the organization, or in christians terms,  part/member of the body of Christ.

 

The problem is church is we got a body that only a few of the parts are working and moving, and the rest leave the body crippled or lame because they are not doing their part or fuction in the body.  We need ALL parts/members of the body to be working, serving, and moving together with the rest of the body, so that the whole body is working properly and truly giving glory to the head of the body, Jesus Christ!

 

If you confess christianity, attending church is not an option, you need to be a part of the body. If you are a christian, then participating and serving in the body is not an option, you need to do your part.  We are all gifted by God in different ways and with different talents, but talent un-used is talent wasted, and servants that are not serving are hurting the body and holding the body back.

 

The question is not whether you serve or not, but where you serve and how!  Serving is not an option for the Christian.  We cannot just only attend services and bible studies,  we need teachers, nursery workers, greeters, children and youth workers, administrators, leaders, singers, custodians, prayers, encouragers, and the list of serving positions and places to serve are endless in a church.

 

Here is what happens, when you don't serve. You got a hand trying to do the job of a foot, or an ear trying to do the job of a toe.  Or better yet, you got a foot trying to do 10 other jobs in the body, when they are only gifted to be a foot.  

 

You have one person in many churches doing the work of 5 or 10 people because no one will get up, step up, and serve.  I got news for you, God is not honored by attenders, pew sitters, and do-lessness.  He is honored by sincere service, workers, and people using the talents He gave you for the sole purpose of using for His kingdom and His glory.

 

My challenge for you today is SERVE!  Get to work!  Take the burden off the few in your church who is doing all the work, and do your part in the body of Christ! 

 

1 Corinthians 12:27(NIV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Sickly

Sickly

Matthew 9:12(NIV)
 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick"

This has been the worst month for me as far as sickness goes.  I am typically pretty healthy other than an occasional cold, but this month I have been sick most of January it seems, a bad chest cold and a stomach virus and in between of tired, achy, and weak feeling.  Not sure what the reason? I'm getting old? Different climate? I'm a wuss? I don't know, but I'm hoping next month is better.

I was thinking about all the sickness, even if our small church we'd had some sickness going around, we even had to cancel a wed. night service about a month ago due to several being sick.  Seems many illnesses and viruses can be contagious and spread around.  Your kids go to school and daycare and pass them around and then they come home, to church, to a restaurant or store and keep passing on the joy.

It's really how sin is.  Sin is an illness and a sickness that spreads around and keeps many people sick. Some people are even terminal with it, it seems because they refuse to get help and go to the Healer/Great Physician.   There is a cure to sin, but we've got to seek out the help.

Sin does make us sickly doesn't it? It's hard to recover sometimes from that secret sin or bad habitual sin or lifestyle that is causing us to sin.  Sin has been compared to a cancer because it comes into our lives starts out small and slowly(or quickly) spreads throughout our lives until it destroys us and even kills us(both physically and spiritually).

If sin compares to the sickness I've had this month in a spiritual sense that isn't good.  Because sin does weigh us down, wear us out, keep us sick, and makes it hard for us to recover and get healthy again.  If we aren't careful and do not take care of ourselves or find ways to recover for our sin sickness then we are just going to stay sick.

Like we take antibiotics, medicines, and all sorts of remedies to feel better from physical sickness and ailments, we also need to seek out treatment for our sickly sin nature.  Our medicine is not in a pill or a bottle, but our medicine is sought out through prayer(talking to the doctor) and through reading His word(prescription) and or through His Holy Spirit and the prayers and support of others.

Sometimes in order to get sin out of our lives when it's keepin us sick, we've got to make some drastic changes, maybe end some bad relationships, or change places we go or visit or hang out, or maybe it's more suttle and we just need to change our attitude and outlook,but either way, I can promise you there is only ONE cure for SIN and it's through Jesus Christ and only He can heal you from your sickly state.

Seek Him, go to Him, allow God to heal you and help you so that you are healthy and vibrate in your relationship with Him.  Yes, we all will still get colds, the flu, and viruses on earth, but regardless of our physical nature, we can be healthy, vibrate, and thriving in our faith by overcoming our struggles with sin.
1 Peter 2:24(NIV)
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Gossip

Gossip

2 Corinthians 12:20(NIV)
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

It's a pretty simple term, but has very huge consequences.  It's spreading rumors, whether true or lies,  It's hard to tell sometimes, but it typically involves people talking about people and situations that they aren't involved in, do not know all the facts or details, and don't seem to care.  Webster's defined it as "idle, often malicious talk".  That's what it is, idle, people who have too much time on their hands, and malicious, meaning it hurts people.

We all may form opinions of people based on meeting them or being around them, we may think they are a jerk, or friendly, or quiet, or whatever,  and we may joke and talk about people for humor, but when we get to the place where we start "talking about" people to other people, to spread gossip, it's plain wrong, no way to justify  it.   We are spreading half-truth, hear-say, and garbage to other people without first hand knowledge, accurate facts, or most of the time not even knowing the person, situation, and basing it on our biased opinion of the person or because it makes us feel important to tell others about "people". Not Cool.

Sad thing is it's everywhere, on the internet or social pages, message boards, websites, etc...and it's at work, in our family, at our schools, and sadly of all in our churches! Yes Church! We have people who go to church who love to talk about people and get and give the "scoop" on people.  We do not think of the consequences, how it makes us look, how it makes God or the church look, or what affect it has on others.

Let me give you some examples.  Just because a person has money, doesn't mean they got it illegally.  Just because a person loves working with kids doesn 't mean they are a perv or pedofile.  Just because a person is not married by a certain age doesn't mean they are gay.  Just because a husband is friendly doesn't mean he's cheating on his wife.  Just because a wife is outgoing doesn't mean she's a whore or a tease.  Just because a person dresses a certain way doesnt' make them in a gang, a druggy, or a drunk?  Just because a person is related to someone who is bad, doesn't mean they are.  Skin color or nationality doesn't make a person a terrorist, a murderer, or a thief.

Do you see how we label people? Start rumors? Or spread lies? Just because we see something or hear something? It's sad, it's wrong, it's sinful!  Stop it!  If someone comes to you with gossip, let it end with you, and if you know this person is a gossip, stand up to them and tell them to stop spreading it.
If you want to know whether something is true about someone, go directly to the person and ask them or tell them what you heard so they can deal with it.  If you hear people talking badly and unfairly about someone, defend that person if you know it's not true and stand up FOR them.  We are just as guilty of gossip, if we don't end it, stop it, or stand up to it!

There is not one good quality about gossip.  There is not one level of it that is ok or acceptable.  The only way gossip is going to stop is if we stop being a party to it, do not have relationships with people who are gossips, and confront people when they are gossiping. 

Gossip destroys communities, schools, work places, homes, churches, and lives.  Sometimes it doesn't matter whether it's even true or not, enough people spread something around a person is guilty whether it's a false or not.   We need to spread less gossip and spread more love.  We need to put an end to godless chatter and start doing more good for others.  Encourage and pray for people with your words.  Help others, don't tear them down, talk about them behind their back, or run your mouth about them, especially when you know it's garbage.

Things are even worse now with technology, between texting, facebook, and the internet  gossip spreads faster than ever before.  Gossip doesn't honor God.   It's still gossip even if it's true or even if you type it and you are still responsible for your actions and be judged by God for it. 

Do you want to honor God with your lives? With your words? With your actions?  Put an end to gossip!  Stop slandering and spreading rumors about people.  Let it end with you.  Don't put up with it in your home, your church, or your lives!  Gossip will stop when it has no where to go.

Proverbs 26:21-23
²¹ As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
²² The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.
²³ Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent^[a] lips with an evil heart.

Prayer vs. Prayer

Prayer vs. Prayer

Romans 12:12(NIV)

¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

I often wonder about my prayer life?  Or lack there of?  I pray daily, but like many I'm not as consistent as I should be.  Or better yet,  it's not that i don't pray enough, but maybe I don't pray in the right way or with the right attitude. Can you relate?

What I mean is we can pray regulary, religously, and set aside a time to pray, but if we are praying with a bad attitude or selfish motives, or only because we want something, I think it sort of defeats the purpose of prayer.

Prayer is communication with God and we can communicate with God anytime we want. His ears are always available, but one thing we need to understand about prayer is that it's not request hour.  And just because we ask, or ask repeatedly doesn't mean God is going to answer our prayer in our way or in our time.  Praying is giving something to God and trusting Him to do what is best according to His will and sometimes His will involves us not getting what we want, our way, or when we want something.

Secondly, prayer is not only our opportunity to communicate with God it's our opportunity to offer Him praise/worship.  We don't like it when we have a friend or family member who only calls us when they want something.  I can imagine God kind of feels the same way.   Now God wants to help us, He wants to talk to us, and He wants to bless us, however, as part of having a relationship with Goid we must spent time daily praising Him, worshipping Him, thanking Him, and just talking to Him because we enjoy His presence. I am guilty of going to God with all "my junk" or "to do list" but not taking the time to just enjoy Him or spend some time gloating on Him.  God doesn't have an ego or insecure like we are, but God is creator and sustainer of life and giver of salvation, He does deserve and demand praise. If anyone deserves to be praised it's Him, He's God, only one who is perfect!

Thirdly, we need to learn God isn't Santa Claus, an ATM, or a Jeanie.  We can go to Him anytime, but we can't never go to church, never read our Bibles, not have a relationship with Him and think we can just go to Him and expect instant results.    I see so many times, people do not go to church or claim any relationship with Jesus, yet they think they are Christians (I guess because they aren't Jewish or Catholic?), but Christianity is just a name, it has to be given to us by accepting Jesus, only when you follow the salvation process are you then a "christian".  People nevre pray or seek God until they are in a bind, then they go to God and pray and don't get their way and they just confirm in their minds God doesn't care? But, let's be honest, if someone treated you like crap, used you, and talked bad about you, then came to you for a favor, would you want to help them?

  I don't think God answers our prayers according to our goodness, but I do think He considers our faithfulness.  You can't go to God with your christmas wish, or like running to the atm to get a withdrawal, or rub a lamp and get all your wishes.  God desires a relationship with you and once we realize that and learn to talk/communicate/pray to God on a regular basis, not based on what we want or will get, but because we love God and want to praise Him and trust Him with all our lives, then we are starting to get what real prayer is about.

I encourage all of us to pray to God daily, multiple times daily, but strive to learn to talk to God just because, take moments just to praise Him, or thank Him.  Take time to ask God for things you want or need, but let God know ahead of time regardless of how or when He answers our prayers, we trust Him and know He will do what is best for us.

How is your prayer life? How often do you pray? How do you pray?  Some things for us all to think about, maybe we've been going about it wrong?
Ephesians 6:18NIV
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.

Together

Together

Ecclesiastes 4:10-12(NIV)

¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken

We are not the only church, we are not the only christians, and we do not have all the answers. We are not alone. I'm talking about the church.  The body of Christ.

Though there are many church denominations out there, God never designed the church to be so many different bodies.  God designed "one" church. ONE body of Christ.  God wants us to be together. 

There are many christians, preachers, churches, etc...that seem to have their sole focus in proving other churches or christians wrong, pushing their opinions or relgious views, and that is not promoting togetherness.  That does not promote unity, one, or being together.  It isolates, separates, and divides. I know sometimes we are wrong, or get it wrong, and there are some people or churches teaching things we may not agree with, but we always have to ask ourselves is this a salvation issues? Does heaven and hell hang on this issue?

With all the people in the world and all the christian views and ideals, we are not going to agree on every topic, every situation, or every view.   However, I think if we'd stop being so dogmatic, egotistic, fearful, or insecure,  I think we could agree on alot more and be alot more together than we are a part. 

Imagine how powerful and what an impact THE church could have if our only agenda was God.  We only preached Jesus, we were only guided by the Holy Spirit, and we'd stop making every issue an issue of division, fellowship, or faith? We would actually BE the ONE true church.  We'd be TOGETHER! Even with our faults, sins, and differences, we could still be ONE!

So many different churches and individuals spend so much time worrying about being "spiritually" correct, or offending someone, or proving themselves right, or worry going to hell over every decisions, or being wrong, or Lord knows what else we worry about?  In the mean time, when we are focused on things like that or our individual church denominations or personal agenda's or "passions"(I use that term loosely), people are dying and going to hell, people are leaving the church, or people are missing Jesus. 

It's hard to be the Body of Christ when we pulling the body in different directions or even more creating more than one body.   We need to use common sense, prayer, study, and lots of love, grace, and patience with one another. 

I'm not saying every "church" out there has it right or got it all together, but I also realize no matter what "church" you attend or are a part of, they all are full of good and bad people, people who are serious and people who are lazy in their faith.  People who go to church for the wrong reasons and people who are there for the right reasons.  No church has cornered the market on every single verse in the bible, every doctrine, or has every command down.  I'm being honest here, it's the truth.

The baptists, the methodists, the churches of Christ, the Catholics, the Lutherans, Episcipals, the chrisitan churches, the Presbyterians, the penocostals, the evangelicals, the charismtatic, the liturgical, and many of these groups have several splits or divisions, and that's just the main stream protestant and catholic churches, this isn't even considering  many other denominations, or those that are way out in  left field in the name of Jesus or other cults or religions.

My point is, most bible believing mainstream churches have their good and bad. We need to get it together an be together. While we stand around worrying about if someone is a member of our denomination, using our version of the bible, believes the same as I do about speaking in tongues or the end of times, or using music, or sings contemporary or hymns in worship, or calls their preacher pastor or minister, or takes communion every week or month, or pushes women's role in churches, or whatever the topic, while us church body parts sit around bickering about many questionable topics that God never meant to be divisive, people are simply dying and going to hell, communities aren't being impacted, the good news is not spreading, and the great commision is not being fulfilled.

Let's get it Together Folks!  Let's be the One church! The Body of Christ!  Do you part in the boyd and work with the body! Let's work together to reach the lost, make disciples, overcome satan, and bring glory and honor to God.  Heaven is waiting!


Philippians 1:27 NIV[ Life Worthy of the Gospel ] Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel

Narrow

NARROW

Matthew 7:13-14(NIV)
    ¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Narrow.  It can be a good thing or a bad thing.   Good when talking about your waist line and bad when talking about your mind.  Good when talking about the way to Jesus and bad when talking about attitude.

I remember an old saying that say's, "Your mind is so narrow you can see through a key hole", which is pretty narrow!  Meaning that a person isn't willing to think outside their own box, or willing to be open to others opinions only their own.  Not a good way to live or make or keep friends in my opinion.

In church circles we like to throw around titles like "Liberal" or "Conservative" or "progressive" or "legalstic", and I don't like labels and don't think God does either.  Those labels are man made and not always accurate. 

A narrow-mind is never a good thing, because you are limiting yourself and isolating yourself from common sense, reality, or even actual truth, whether it's in christian circles, politics, careers, even relationships.

God gave us a pretty big mind and the freedom to use it and exercise it, why we limit it I'll never  understand?  We get hung up on things that don't matter and make them matter.  We get focused in on our own opinions and try and make them everyone's.  We can manipulate the Bible or other's words to make them say or mean what we want so they agree with us.  Which is not healthy or right.

When it comes to God, we need to take Him and His word and mold ourselves around Him, not vice versa.  When it comes to others, we need to learn to agree to disagree, be big enough to accept the fact that sometimes we are wrong, don't know, or someone else knows more than us.  We need to open up our minds and realize we don't have all the answers and we can't always be right.

When I talk about moving from a narrow-mind to being more open-minded, please use common sense. I am not talking about anything goes, accept and agree with everyone, and not have your own opinions, but we need to stop living in fear or dominating and trying to control others who don't agree with us because we are insecure.  We put God in a box and make being a christian so difficult that it becomes a list of do's and don't instead of an actual relationship.

We can also be so narrow-minded when it comes to politics, our area of expertise, our intersts, etc...that we make it hard for people to want to talk to us or be around us.

My advice? Take a chill pill.  Loosen up.  Stop making your mind, your life, your opinions, and your thinking so small and narrow, that's a small place to live when we have to control or worry about every little thing. 

Following God is serious business.  His Word is no joke, but sometimes we make things so complicated when we care more about keeping our opinions, our  traditions, our ways, or things so narrow, that being a christian becomes so rigid and narrow, that it becomes an obligation and not a relationship, like Jesus intended it to be.   The way to Jesus is narrow, only through Him, however the methods people worship Him, relate to Him, and serve Him are not to be narrow or rigid.  Jesus gives us freedom and freed us from slavery and a narrow-mind is a form of slavery.  The way is narrow, He didn't mean our minds.

Whether it's your faith, relationships, hobbies, politics, or whatever, learn to open your mind God gave you and think with common sense, truth, and being realistic.

Luke 24:45(NIV)
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Always someone else

Always Someone Else

No matter how bad we seem to have it, feel like our life is, or how awful we feel our circumstances are, we have to remind ourselves someone else out there always has it as bad or worse. We are not alone.

Just like with the holidays, though many are excited and looking forward to the holidays, many more dread the holiday season because maybe it reminds them of loss? regret? loneliness?  You know what it's like when you are sad or depressed or angry and people all around you are happy, makes you wanna punch 'em in the gut lol. 

Anyway, I'm not trying to ruin anyone's holiday cheer, I just want you to think about somone else besides yourself.  If you are happy consider those who are not and reach out to them or pray for them..  If you aren't happy, keep in mind others are worse off than you and maybe that will make you focus and appreciate the things you do have to be happy about.  Either way, the focus needs to be taken off oursleves so much.

Really if you think about it, Christmas is really about the most unselfish person ever, Jesus.  He willingly gave up His home in Heaven, perfection, holiness, and turned it in, to be born a human in an old stable, knowing that His future was to be one of torture, death, and hell.  Jesus wasn't thinking of Himself when he was born, and definitely not of Himself, when He went to the cross.  He wasn't being arrogant and saying I'm the son of God I have a right to boast, nor was He feeling sorry for all the pain He was going to endure for you and me.

Jesus really is the  ultimate example of thing about others and how important it is for us to have an unselfish attitude, especially around the holidays.  We need to care about ourselves, take care of ourselves, and spend some time working on ourselves, but our attitude should be one of gratitude, appreciation, and adoration to God for all His blessings, even despite whatever circumstances we may be facing.  But, also our attitude must still be one of thankfulness especially if we are suffering or going through a hard time, because we will need God to get through it no matter the circumstance.

I just hope we all can think about someone else this Christmas.  First, Jesus, and secondly those less fortunate or those we know have a hard time during the holidays or have needs.

Merry Christmas!

Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves

Shepherds

Shepherds

I don't think it was a coincidence that God chose Shepherds to come and find newborn baby Jesus the Messiah in a manger.  Afterall,  He is the good Shepherd and Jesus was the lamb that was sent to be sacrificed for our sins. 

These common, hard-working people had a thankless job of tending the sheep, leading them, guiding them, protecting them, and caring for them.  It's sort of what God does for us.   I've been told sheep are some of the dumbest animals in the world, they are hard-headed and stubborn, well I think it's a good comparison, because I know I at times, we are all dumb, stubborn, and hard-headed.  We are also easily led astray, vulnerable to attacks (sheep wolves and other predators, us satan, though he is also compared to a wolf in sheep's clothing as well).

The point is we need guidance.  We need accountability and leadership in our lives.  If not, we are prone to get lost, fall and get hurt, or even put ourselves in danger from temptations, addictions, struggles, and problems.   As churches, we need leaders to lead our churches.  Most churches have problems because they do no have adequate Shepherds(also called Elders, Overseers, and Pastors) to lead and guide the flock(God's church).  When you have no leadership you have chaos, one or two trying to dominate or be controlling, and you certainly have many different individual groups trying to "run" the church, but they are just "running" it in the ground" and "running" members and potential members away.

We need a Shepherd.  We need a God to guide us, lead us, and protect us. If we accept this lamb of God(Jesus), He gives us His Spirit to dwell in us and act as a guide.  We can call on the Good Shepherd anytime in prayer for help, comfort, strength, wisdom, courage, power, and direction.

You cannot go through life with no leadership?  You will spend 40 years doing circles in the desert like the Israelites did in the Old Testament because they refused to follow God.

As the Christmas season and story is around you and you hear about Shepherds. I want you to think about the importance of having a Shepherd in your life,  maybe that's what's  missing?  As a church member or a Christian I want you to think about the Shepherds in your church.  I want to encourage you to support them, pray for them, follow them, and allow them to lead.  If you church doesn't have Shepherds like the situation I am in, turn to the Bible and see what the Bible says about leadership and get some Shepherds in your church so that your church will be biblical, healthy, and function as it should with God as the ultimate shepherd.

We all need leadership in our lives:

As Individuals we need God:
 John 10:11(NIV)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep

As a church we need Godly men to lead us:
1 Peter 5:2(NIV)

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

The Bible

The Bible

Psalm 119:8(NIV)
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sing against you."

Psalm 119:133(NIV)
"Diret my footsteps according to your word."

The Bible is the WORD of God.  (John 1) in John He tells us that Jesus is the WORD and the Word became flesh.  The Bible is holy scripture.  For the Christian it should be a map, a guide, a GPS, and an instruction or lesson book..  The Bible is all sorts of things.

Though many want to argue about verions/translations of the Bible, they end up missing the point or the intent of  Holy scriptures.  Though I don't agree all translations/versions are good or accurate, I also from in depth study on my own conclude that not all are bad and certainly not trying to point people away from God or mislead people from God's truth.  I think most scholars wanted to make the bible as accurate as possible and as close to the original manuscripts as possible, but that's another subject.  Either way,  we must use common sense and wisdom to understand the point of the Bible is to help us know God and His plan for us.  Use a tranlation that you are comfortable with or your church uses.

However, the point being today is that as a Christian you cannot grow without actively reading and studying the Bible.  You cannot claim to know God or have a healthy relationship with Him if you are never spending anytime with Him in His Word.  It's like people who try to bake without a recipe or people who try to put together equipment and furniture without reading the instructions. It's like saying you are best friends with someone, but never talking to them or getting to know them.

We need God's word.  The Bible teaches us about the gospel message of Jesus.  It teaches us about the character and person of God.  It serves to guide, equip, instruct, teach, edify, encourage, convict, challenge, motivate, etc...pick an adjective, the Bible is there to reveal many things to us. 

No matter how old you are, how long you've been a christian, and even those of us who are leaders, pastors, teachers, etc..in church, no one has arrived when it comes to reading and studying the Bible.  There is always something to learn, and some insight, understanding, or wisdom we can gain.  We will always need instruction, correction, and growth as long as we live on this earth.  We need God's word.

We need to develop a reading plan, get a study Bible or devotional t helps us read and study the Bible.  We need to get involved in a Bible study at work, home, at church, or a small group.   No one can ever say I get too much Bible. 

God did not inspire this Book of His Word to go to waste, lay on a coffee table, book shelf, or in night stand.  It is meant to be read, studied, appreciated, and shared.  Take time to read your Bible. Find ways to be creative and manage your time better and make room for reading and study of God's Word.  It could change your life.