IN CASE YOU DIDN'T THINK HE CARED

You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.
⁴ You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. ⁵ You go before me and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head.  ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,too great for me to understand!  Psalms 139:3-6

You ever think God is too busy to be concerned about the little things?  I mean like what you choose to wear, or how you fix your hair, or whether you play hard, win, or lose?  I was reminded this past weekend of the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit, even regarding what may seem somewhat trivial to me.  Now what I'm referring to is not where I forgot to pray for someone, or forgot a meeting with someone, or forgot my message, or forgot to take up an offering.  Nope.....not remotely that important...but apparently it was important that the Holy Spirit amidst all the more significantly important things clearly advised me on.

See what happen was I had prepared a meal for a family, and had packed everything up, temperature checked it all, and was ready to roll.   I just had to grab a few extra aluminum pans before hitting the road.  I had grabbed a couple of full pans, lids, and one half pan, and a lid.  As I am closing the hatch to my truck I heard the still small voice say, you need to grab a few extra half pans.  I hopped in my truck and again, I heard you really need to grab a few extra half pans. I turn the radio up with my gospel and head to my last stop before hitting the road to pick up some food.  No sooner than I am gathering the last pans of food, packing it all, I'm short a half pan.  I really really need a half pan to transport this last little bit.  It was at that moment I remembered the still small voice advising me....and I felt totally stupid.   Here I am a pastor, encouraging people to listen to the Holy Spirit, and I so thought.....this was insignificant, until I needed, didn't have, and then had to stop off the path to go and purchase something I had in abundance at home, only had I listened.

Now the cost to purchase what I needed was $.99, but it wasn't about that.....I was reminded that GOD cares about even the little things concerning us, and He is always looking out for our good......if we would just listen, we would learn.  If we learn, we would grow.  So we all just need to listen.

God bless you all, and I pray you actually heavily consider listening to the Holy Spirit and not just listen, but actually follow what He's advising you to do so you may actually be able to REACH someone He's trying to REACH.  LGLP

 

FYI...IN CASE YOU NEEDED DIRECTION/RE-ALIGNMENT

And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.  Exodus 26:35



As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.  Rev. 1:20






GOD was very specific regarding the construction of the Tabernacle that the Israelites were to set up in the Wilderness. Everything had a place, and there was a reason for it being set in it's place.   I don't want to spend much of my blog speaking about each piece, but I do want to highlight two pieces the Lampstand and the Table of Shewbread.   Notice how the table of shewbread is positioned north, while the lampstand is south of it.    The table held the shewbread, which is representative of the bread of life, Jesus, and the very purpose of the lampstand was to illuminate the shewbread.   If you move the lampstand then the shewbread is no longer illuminated.  Which again...the sole purpose of the lampstand was to highlight, cast light upon the shewbread.   Now, in the book of Revelations we are told that the lampstand is representative of the church.   So the purpose of the church, is to illuminate, to draw attention to, to point people to CHRIST, the Shewbread, the Bread of Life.

Unfortunately when we don't understand this principle, we being the church...will try to cast our light on things, other than JESUS.   Now, before someone tries to hijack this blog and say we are supposed to be salt and light, and light is suppose to shine in places of darkness (TRUE), but the purpose of the CHURCH is to SHINE IT'S LIGHT UPON THE SHEWBREAD.    Now imagine if we take OUR LIGHT (lampstand) out of the HOLY PLACE to an ANTI-ABORTION RALLY?   What if we took our LIGHT (lampstand) to the Democratic/Republican/Tea-Party conventions?   What if we took our LIGHT to protest against GAY-RIGHTS, or GAYS in the Military, or at the funerals of those that were gay and served our country?  Or here's one....If took our LIGHT (the lampstand) to town hall meeting to advocate against busing kids into our communities, or GUN RIGHTS, etc?

I'll tell you what happens....when and if we do this......the table of shewbread, CHRIST is no longer highlighted, and we are positionally and totally out of alignment.   Now does the Bible have something to say about some of the things mentioned above...absolutely!!!!   But our role, our calling as THE CHURCH is to CAST LIGHT onto JESUS, to point people to Him.  This is best carried out through how we LOVE GOD enough to DO, TO FOLLOW HIS COMMANDMENTS.  Not try to make unbelievers follow it.....BUT WE ARE TO!    Then how we LOVE PEOPLE, by showing them the grace we were shown, and exposed to that made CHRIST attractive to those of us living in darkness prior to coming to CHRIST.   So before you attend your next pet causes meetings, ask yourself this question....have you moved the lampstand?  Please don't!   LGLP

THE POINT (OF IT ALL)

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. ⁶⁷ Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

⁶⁸ Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. ⁶⁹ We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
⁷⁰ Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.”  John 6:67-70


There comes a point in all of our lives that we reach the POINT!  You know for some of you it's the breaking point.   For other's it the bottom of the barrel.  For other's it's the Point of No Return, or the point of enough's enough.   Whatever the POINT is, at that given moment a decision is required.  Even if the decision is not to make a decision one, needs to recognize not making a decision is just that a decision as well.  Take for instance to pic above if you are driving and you see this choosing to stay in the LANE ENDS, means just that YOUR END.  Some of you are doing the same things you did in H.S. and that sign reads.....LANE ENDS.....enough said. 

For others its electing to choose one of the other options guaranteed decline, and far too often we choose against this one, because in our minds we have a portrait of success...which usually we are swimming in money, comfortable home, totally secure...and we are at the top of our game.....but that always won't be the way....there is this thing called aging that happens to us all that may have us yielding onto uncertain opportunity.  Whichever......you have to choose, and like many times in the Gospels Jesus challenges those following Him to deepen their commitment in light of some uncertainties, as well as some knowing it will be a rough road up ahead filled with opportunities to GLORIFY HIM, not you.  

So what about you....have you realized that HE has the words that give more than just life, but rather the ETERNAL LIFE that shall proceed this one?  Peter did.  Now we know the whole Peter story, he assaulted someone, lied that he even knew Jesus, and Jesus still have mercy on him, and restored him.  This is not about what church you attend, or if you attend church, but rather are you listening to, studying His WORD, so much so you are BECOMING THE CHURCH He's promising to come and receive unto himself?  That too..is s decision....that you have to make.  11 of the 12 were true in their commitment while....there was one amongst them that was not.  Which in closing I want to just say.....HE WAS STILL CHOSEN BY CHRIST!   JUDAS didn't sneak in....didn't bamboozle CHRIST.....he was chosen as one of the twelve....just be aware THERE'S ALWAYS ONE (that's still in need of experiencing the love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness of CHRIST)!



So what will you decide to do with today? How will you handle the betrayer in the office?   At what point will you stop saying I SHOULD BE or WOULD BE...and START DOING?  Since tomorrow isn't promised to any of us......I suggest you seize THIS DAY my friends!  LGLP247

Just Do It! NO SERIOUSLY DO IT!

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22 NLT

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  NIV

Studies show that a lecture-style format in teaching/preaching has a very low retention rate. (more specifically we remember roughly 5% of the sermon) Which stands to prove why we have been somewhat ineffective....we meaning Christians, the body, not the Pastor's technique, message, or length of service.  5% is 5% whether he/she preaches 5 or 50min.  So what's the problem? (and if I'm stating the problem....I better have a solution....I know.)


1) We don't know the WORD!  - often times if we are really honest, we don't know the WORD OF GOD.  We leave that up to the pastors, youth leaders, elders, church leaders in general.  If asked name 5 promises of GOD to you (not to specific characters in the Bible, but the ones to you)....could you name them?  We make many mistakes, and many of the mistakes we make are because of either we don't know what GOD's WORD says about the matter, or we don't care to do what GOD's WORD says on the matter.

a) Solution to not knowing the WORD:  READ and STUDY it.  I'd encourage you to develop a daily devotion of reading a verse or a few (less than 10) a day.  If you don't understand it....this leads you to then ask questions of a respected person of the WORD (a solid friend, mentor, or pastor).  Studying it will require other people so you need to be in a small group, and if you've never been disciple....this is KEY to your growth in CHRIST.  You can't reproduce disciples if you aren't one.

2) We fail to do what it says! - It doesn't matter how great of a speaker the pastor is, how engaging they are across the pulpit or stage, if when service ends you have or show no intention to practice what the WORD SAYS.   Notice I didn't say what the PASTOR SAID or PREACHED or TAUGHT on.....if you don't have your Bible, Digital Device, or old notepad before doing everything to capture what was said, and then intentionally doing it....then what was the point of sitting and pretending listening for 45 (possible Catholic run time) 75-80min (your contemporary services) or 2+hr ( you know who you are) if when it ends you will continue to do your own thing?

a) Solution figure out before you leave the place of worship how to respond to the message.  Who will you call following the message?  Who will you bless because of the message?  What act of worship will you commit to DOING immediately after the service. 

The scripture says YOU MUST DO WHAT IT SAYS, or you're deceiving yourselves.  I leave you with this thought:  What are you deceiving yourself of?  Jesus said to those in the CHURCH in Matthew 7:21-23    Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ²² On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.  Jesus knew these people were deceived, the problem was they didn't know it because they were doing good acts, but their hearts were far from him.   So examine yourself....where have you practiced THE WORD (what you were told to do) from last Sunday's message?

I sincerely pray as you lace up your shoes for the day, for the weekend, for the week....and beyond you JUST DO IT.  That you'd find yourself in a CHURCH that LOVES GOD (enough to teach the WORD, especially in DEED) and LOVES PEOPLE (enough to walk alongside them until the end up at the foot of the cross, willing to get up from the cross and bring back others in need of meeting THE CHRIST) tomorrow!  LGLP 

PROOF YOU'VE WRESTLED

²⁴ This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. ²⁵ When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. ²⁶ Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
 
²⁷ “What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”²⁸ “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel,^[a] because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”  ²⁹ “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.  “Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.

³⁰ Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”  (GEN.32:24-30 NLT)


No one is born a Christian.  As much as we'd love to believe this...we are born sinners.  We are brought desiring people to serve us, change us, feed us, give us, do for us....and few people grow up, and out of this mindset.  So you see how it is easy for us to go through life confused when someone introduces Christianity to us.

Jacob desired to make things right in his life.   He know he had lied and cheated Esau out of his birthright, but now it was time to face him, and he had some anxieties regarding doing so.   As if he wasn't already wrestling with facing his brother, he is now locked in a wrestling match physically with what appears to be an angle of the LORD.   Jacob knowing this.....decides not to let the angel go until he obtains a blessing, for he apparently knew if an angel was there....there had to be a blessing in this visitation.

We wrestle with many things in this life; addictions, relationships, insecurities, health, unfair expectations, wt. gain/loss, selfishness, religion, faith, finances, many other things and even with God.   But my curiosity is what are the results of what it is we wrestle with? I mean looking at the scripture above, I'm sure Jacob was changed after encountering the angel.   Not just physically because his hip had been dislocated, but even spiritually having been face to face with an angel of the LORD.  Not to add his name and identity had changed for all time that his name even to this day is associated with the very nation GOD heart breaks for, ISRAEL.

So I simply want to leave you wrestling with this thought....what is it that you wrestle with?  Are you as successful as Jacob was?  Is there a noticeable change   physically/mentally/spiritually/relationally/financial

 

or are you still in the midst of the wrestling match?  I know people that have scars from battles that they've won, and they are changed forever.   I know people that have conquered addictions, walked away from accidents and near death experiences that walk a different walk.  

I know I've wrestled with things in my life from fatherlessness, to desiring the love of my father, to insecurities, and many other things, but my prayer is that now I walk as if I've encountered GOD in my wrestling and that I walk in the victory &  power of God's might and His word, that is attractive to all those I encounter for HIS GLORY!  LGLP

LONG OVERDUE

 

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. ³ Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. ⁴ Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, ⁵ for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.  Phil.1:2-5


Today was a reminder to me, that I have much to be thankful for.   The easy out would be the Sunday school answer....to GOD, and my family, etc.........but I want to take it a step further....and thank all of you!   Yes....you!  The people of Calvary Church:  the executive team, the office staff, the volunteers, every member, attender, guest...and stranger because whether you knew it or not in some small or significant way you have blessed me, and my family.   Maybe it was your prayers.   Maybe it was kindness toward me or my family.   Maybe you sent a thank you card.  Maybe it was an invitation over for dinner.   Maybe it was simply expressing your gratitude to God for me. Maybe you sat and let me talk myself out a mess...or off the cliff.   Maybe it was correction on something I did, or said, didn't say or your grace during a misunderstanding. 

I want you to know I'm extremely humbled that I get the opportunity to work alongside many of you.  Others I'm still tickled that I get to be your pastor.......and walk with you through life.   I'm especially thankful to those of you that have come alongside me and my family during times of struggle and or pinches.   You know what I'm talking about running Tre/Rajime somewhere.  Or the prayers you offered up with us for Bianca, or our marriage.   It's because of each of YOU that I am, that WE ARE, and please don't stop....praying for me, my family, and encouraging us when the Spirit of GOD places it on your heart.   

After the Tsunami of Worship this morning, I felt it was necessary to slow down, and simply say thank you.......you know who you are and how you've blessed us, continue to be the CHURCH, and changing lives & transforming communities God will continue to provide each of us with open door opportunities make His Name Famous in this land.

I will continue to HONOR EACH OF YOU by loving you, and praying (with/for you) that you will experience the fullness of GOD's plans for you, by clinging to the truth of His Word, and how to apply it towards daily living as Salt/Light!  I'm still FULL......PTL

NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP.......YOU BETTER STOP IT!

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. ²⁶ [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”]  Mark 11:25-27


Am I the only one that remember this simplistic, juvenile prayer?  Where we went before God before we went to bed, simply to ask him to watch over us, protect those whom we love, and then if we were to slip into eternity to be the rescuer of our souls.

Jesus told His disciples that when you pray....if you have anything against ANYONE that you need to forgive them....so that God can forgive you of your transgressions.   REAL TALK, I'm pretty sure you transgressed GOD today.  

Think about it:  were you completely honest with HIM about your feelings about your boss?  How about did you follow through on all of the Spirit promptings today?  Did you give when He instructed you to?  Did you say what He told you to say to your children, your husband, etc?

Ok maybe you knocked those out of the park....howabout did you spend any REAL quiet time with Him?  If so you should have a journal with what He shared with you?  See I said STOP IT, because we can deceive ourselves in our pious prayers and wonder why GOD hasn't answered.  Or wondered why do I feel like He's not listening, or that they are bouncing off the walls or ceiling.   I simply submit to you.....did you forgive as well as ask forgiveness?

I pray the LORD my soul to keep, If I should die before I wake, I hope I've spent this prayer cleaning my slate of any hate....so that when I stand before to take my first eternal breath, I hear the LORD say now you can enter into my rest.   GOD BLESS...LGLP

A WAY....WHICH ONE ARE YOU CHOOSING?

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death Prov. 16:25 ( & 14:12)

 ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life." John 14:6

Every last one of us are on a journey....and that journey is called life.   From deciding who are friends will be, to where we want to live, to what schools will we have our kids enrolled into, all they up to who I'm going to marry, and prayerfully spend my last days with.


With thousands of choices to make daily, how does one make not just good choices, but GOD choices without GOD?  Simply put you can't.   In order to make GOD-like, or choices that please GOD, one must be walking in relationship with Him daily.   Your day has to more than start and end with Him, there has to be intentional steps to include Him with you during your decision making during the day.   Which is why in Col. 3:23 Paul reminds us to do EVERYTHING as if we are doing to for GOD Himself.

So as I'm preparing for the message for this Sunday it dawned on me as we live in this post modern culture where tolerance is not enough......NO...they WANT APPROVAL.  They want us to say we are willing to allow THAT* in our lives, into our very hearts.  So the question is......the WAY in which you are going/heading does it lead to ETERNAL LIFE or DEATH?  Solmon said there is a way, a method that a man chooses that he thinks is the right way, and it's utterly wrong, while Jesus said HE IS THE WAY.  So are you choosing a way, or His way?   Simply put this comes down to a LIFE or DEATH ISSUE.  Jesus was tolerant.....but there were things He didn't approve of, and we should be no different.   See you Sunday for THYATIRA, meanwhile LGLP (in case you didn't know LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE) !!

* denotes - anything that you have had a standard against, that now you are willing to concede the truth for and allow into your heart, and eventually you become totally passive towards.

THE DREADED LIST? REALLY!?!?!?!

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
 ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.


Each one of us has a LIST OF THINGS to do today.   Some of us are anal enough to have it actually written down.  Some of us it's in our head.   Some of us....the list is floating around, and there is essentially no order in of which we will accomplish the things to do today, which to our demise we could totally miss doing what are really the most important things one the lists.  Reading the above scripture forewarns us about how we walk through the day.  One way will invovle us fulfilling our flesh's desires, while wrecking lives all along the way, while the other way creates an enviroment that invites the presence of the Spirit of God in all we do, and everywhere we go.  One involves breaking the law, while another will leave people speechless.

I actually think that this blog is actually a true emergency blog.....because as many of us have already begun our day, what would GOD say we've already accomplished?  Would it be dressing ourselves?  Getting our morning cup of coffee (or in my case cappuchino/cocoa)?  Would it have been getting everybody off to where they needed to be on time? Would it be getting to work on time?  Or having the first meeting?  Here's the real emergency.....our culture has a list, we have a list, and GOD has a list, and depending upon which one we view as the MOST IMPORTANT will we either try to do all of them, which is like this train pictured veering off the tracks, barrelling towards destruction.  Or we have become wise to realizing that really there is, and should be ONE LIST.

See JESUS gave us THE LIST when He said in Luke 10 (26-28 NLT):    Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
²⁷ The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

²⁸ “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

I venture to say if this is not your No. 1 and No. 2 on your list, you aren't living....you are existing, and like the train above your flesh is on a collision course that you will decimate anyone, and anything in your path.  But maybe, just maybe Loving GOD and Loving People are your 1 and 2, and before you break your arm patting yourself on your back....can I make sure no. 3 is correct?   Paul said in Colossians (3:23 NIV) to the people of Colossae:  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,.....

So as you stop what you are doing, and look at your list, your checklist of accomplishments already for this day......I simply ask you ARE THESE YOUR TOP THREE, for if they are....the other things on your list may also get accomplished by your EXECUTION of these three, and if not....at least you kept the FIRST THING, FIRST...and may the peace of GOD put your heart at ease regarding anything else you feel the pressure to get done.  LGLP
 

FREEDOM OF SPEECH......REALLY?

Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp. ² Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the Lord, the fire stopped.  (Numbers 11:1-2)

In America we love our freedoms.....and honestly they are many...but as a Christian American I wonder do any of those freedoms change?  Before anyone thinks this is my attempt to curb, shut down, or even take a jab at the myriads of political rhetoric posted on social media....I'd caution you to pause, simply because complaining happens far outside those boundaries. 

I mean we can be found complaining about any and everything.  And remember there is a difference between making A COMMENT, verses COMPLAINING.  One is isolated...the other one is a frequent topic of conversation.  From our kids poor decisions, to the amount of work, or hours of work we are asked to fulfill. We complain about taxes & the gov't.   We will complain about the preacher, and the teachers.  We complain about the worship or the worshippers.    We complain about the neighbors and even the neighborhood, and at the end of it all......how does GOD feel about complaining, or more specifically about OUR, his chosen peculiar people complaining??????

We see the Israelites complain throughout the scriptures, we find Job complaining (7,10), we see that there are times the Lord saves us during times of crying out, but it appears by and large that our suffering increases when we complain or murmur against what He is attempting to teach us.   Remember in Deut. 1:34 God became angry when His people were complaining.   Remember the Israelites ended up in bondage to the Egyptians because of their own sins.   Remember the 3 days journey turned into 40 years of wandering, because of complaining.  Jesus rebukes the people in John 6:43 to stop complaining.   It even says in 1Cor. 10:9-10 that we shouldn't be found murmuring or we too will get destroyed.....  James 5:9 cautions us to not complain for we will be judged.   Philippians 2:9 Paul instructs us to do EVERYTHING without complaining and arguing.......now if this wasn't a punch to my/our guts.........so how should we be in a culture such as ours........  I recently heard from a dear brother JJ Bond that maybe after accepting Christ everyone needs some duct tape put over their mouth to force us to have to actively live out our faith, before getting in trouble with our words.....not a bad idea, since the tongue is so hard to tame.  So again, how are we to exist in such a perverse culture?

PAUL penned it best...Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Col. 4:5-6  In other words......never expect non-believers to conduct themselves as WE are suppose to conduct ourselves....this is a yoke we can't put on them.  So knowing that they aren't believers we should be gracious, and kind in our conversation as to win them over with our love, after all it was some one's love & genuine concern for us that won us into the faith in the first place.   NOW GO & SHOW the LOVE OF CHRIST ALIVE in you.  LGLP

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.....ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE?

⁶ As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. ⁸ And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.  2Tim. 4:6-8 

I don't care who you are, or what you believe, or how old you are....we are all fighters!  The questions are WHO ARE WE FIGHTING FOR, and WHAT WEAPON WORKS BEST to achieve your desired outcome of winning?

Babies pre-post natal are fighting to live from the moment of conception.  People are fighting for the rights of the unborn.  The Gay/Lesbian Community are fighting for equal rights.   Civil Rights are still being fought for and debated about.  Couples are fighting for their marriages.  Kids fighting for their parents to stay together.     Soldiers in the armed services are fighting for ____________________.  Name your party they are fighting for their cause.  Students are fighting, teachers are fighting, civil servants are fighting, animals are fighting (being endangered).....I mean prayerfully you get my opening drift we are all fighting but I go back to my questions WHO........and WHAT?

Paul says his life has been poured out.....much like Christ's bleeding upon the cross had given his all for the sake of all of humanity past, present, and future.....Paul said his life has been poured out as an offering to GOD.   Some of you maybe reading this right before going to bed, others will catch it in the morning but did you live today as if you were pouring it all out for GOD?  Or was it to advance your career, or your agenda, or was it to position you to get more glory?  Remembering we are all fighting.......are you fighting with the end in mind, that you desire to bring people together, or is it totally an US vs. THEM, and the them are those that believe differently than you.....them are those that vote differently than you.....them are those who ___________________________.....and I just want to make sure I'm not sending mixed signals.....are those in fact breathing individuals or is it the rulers of darkness, the principalities, you know the imps of the adversary....cause surely......you aren't leveraging the war against flesh & blood are you?

Secondly, I wanna talk weaponry:  YES I DO, especially during a time of heated gun law reform debates, etc.   Peter took out his weapon when they seized his teacher, and sliced off the ear of a servant officer.   What did Christ do?   Did he cheer on Peter's attempt to defend his cause?   Did he hang his head and say " You done did it now...Ol Pete....you are in trouble"?   Did He call the others to draw their swords...(mind you the company that came to seize him were heavily armed) ....NO....what He did was called them to all pause......not so he could break free and show them how it was done.   Not so he could call the angels from heaven to come to his aide.....no....He asked them for time so that he could tell Peter to put his weapon, the WRONG WEAPON, away...then He gave His attention to Malchus....to demonstrate care, concern, and love by healing what seemed to be his immediate hurt.  People are hurting all over the world....some in our own households....will you lay down your cause, to champion Christ's?  When 911 happened it was the retaliation that got families through the grieving process, it was love, love of their fellow man/woman that gave comfort in many forms.   Today, another horrific assault was unleashed from the pits of hell in Boston.....and how we respond will either hurt or heal those affected.  

I'm not joining your cause......whatever that is, because I'm too busy trying to pour out my life EVERYDAY as a drink offering to fulfill Christ's mission to us all to LOVE GOD, and LOVE PEOPLE....and to do that....I have to lay down the wrong weapons, and use the one HE gave me, a heart that desires to see His will done on Earth as it is in HEAVEN.   I believe that is at the ESSENCE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT!  IF LOVE BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS....then I think that's what I need to reload up on, in order to WIN THIS WAR FOR SOULS, THE LOVE OF CHRIST!   LGLP

PROTECT WHO....BY WHAT? REALLY?????

⁵¹ But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.

⁵² “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? Matthew 26:51-53

Here is overzealous Peter seeking to protect JESUS CHRIST?  REALLY?   Anybody laughing yet?  Peter must've momentarily lost all of his marbles.......This is JESUS CHRIST.....who has demonstrated his power and authority countless times.  This wasn't at the begining of their relationship or His minstry but rather near the bitter end. 

Now the days of us carrying knives and swords are about gone with that of the switchblade sisters....but what would He say to those of us who cling to our guns that aren't hunters?    What would he say to those who have semis for security really?  What about the assault rifles for fun and the sport of....what?  Really ths sport of???????

I'm not a hunter, I'm not an armed public service or gov't employee, and when I go to sleep at night.....I don't trust in my nickel plated......or brushed metal.......I trust in Jesus.   Quick Draw McGraw was a silly cartoon, Bonaza had it's run to, and the wild wild west....well really aint that wild.   Evil will always be present, and I fight it (evil) on my knees not with one hand underneath my head and the other one on a pistol grip.  According to the world what I am war against is in spirit realm, and my piece won't be much help in that area so.........THIS IS MY PEACE.......the CROSS! LGLP

FIRST PSA for 2013: NEW YEAR, NEW APPROACH

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
Genesis 1:26
 

What are mere mortals that you should think about the human beings that you should care for them?  ⁵ Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.  Psalms 8:4-5

I've struggled with posting a blog to kick off the year simply because I wanted to honor GOD and His Holy Creations to be an encouragement to you, my readers, without being offensive or dishonoring and it wasn't really until I continued in prayer, slept on it, continued in prayer and then allowed GOD space to show me, speak to me, and allow me this opportunity to now "pen it" as it may.

2012 was a rough year for many reasons that I won't really go into, so those of you that know me, will know where I'm coming from.  But by and large, it was a challenge and I've done some evaluating of myself, my relationships, and how this all can and may have had an effect on me, and my effectiveness as I try to live out the GREATEST COMMANDMENTS (LGLP) and nurture people to be the first rate version of themselves vs. them being a second rate version of someone else.  One of my many roles is being child of GOD, secondary to that are many other roles (husband, father, friend, pastor, etc) and depending on who you are talking to one of those may take priority over another, but primary....IS BEING A CHILD OF GOD.  Realizing this........I may need to remove from my bucket (if you will) notifications (your posts) because they dishonor GOD, and to that effect are things that I don't need in my bucket, especially if this is the bucket I must draw from to receive as well as give encouragement.

What am I saying........LOOK I respect your freedom of speech, your freedom to bear arms, your freedom, your freedom, your freedom.......but and I do mean BUT, there comes a point when what you post, share, feel to express is dishonoring (To GOD, & the very people He made in His image) and if I expect to continue to be the SALT & LIGHT, I will need to remove certain folks notifications because it does no good to the building of GOD's kingdom.  The Christ I serve, and am attempting to model, doesn't spend much time (ANY ACTUALLY) expressing His political views, and speaking on gov't foolishness, but rather He points people to the heart of GOD continually which lands me, and should us, on loving even those we may disagree with, and choosing to honor them & GOD in our freedom to speak.  Your political view/stance and opinions complicate human relations.....don't believe me.....look at places like Israel & Rwanda where they don't and can't love one another because of their politics & opinions that have caused much bloodshed (which is murder....whether physically or in character assassination it's still murder).  We're not there yet, the point of genocide( but some of your post point there)....but what's stopping us, people already feel all the republicans, dems, liberals....whatever need to be done away with.  REALLY?

SO, in short since we all will have to give an account of EVERY WORD (Matthew 12:36) I want to try to make mine few, and surely not about my misguided feelings regarding people that if not stewarded well, will disgrace the very creations of GOD I'm supposed to be honoring.  ( notice I didn't say I'm removing you as my friends.....just my notifications of............) Happy New Year.....I plan on continuing to LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE (LGLP) as He commands!!!!!!