tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41074890304896021702024-03-13T04:28:18.697-07:00kevin wallaceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-45905985063138986172016-01-27T16:46:00.001-08:002016-01-27T17:14:02.743-08:00PRESENT SUFFERING, FUTURE GLORY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PCXROifmCk/VqjgYjGlIDI/AAAAAAAAF4s/WmeUNyDAt04/s1600/Kettlebell-with-girl-in-background-e1362663764107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PCXROifmCk/VqjgYjGlIDI/AAAAAAAAF4s/WmeUNyDAt04/s320/Kettlebell-with-girl-in-background-e1362663764107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Often times, I use the gym to illustrate my perspective. I see people come in, day in and day out, who are scared to death. Some are scared because they have never tried something as difficult but are even more scared of not getting better. Scared of dying. So, into the gym we go where, everyday, we’re given a “to do” list. Most times, this list involves movements, weights, times and distances that leave us overwhelmed. Believe me when I say blood, sweat and tears are common elements in the gym. Because of this, we’re often tempted to find the nearest exit until the next time we “feel like it”. Thus, putting off another opportunity to become better.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">On the other hand, we’re given the opportunity to engage. Faced with what is absolutely necessary for us to become well, we pick up an enormous amount of weight and, suffering for a short while, we give it our all because we know that this is a path that will lead us to being better. This isn’t blind faith. We have a knowledgeable and experienced trainer who instructs us what to do, how to do and when to do. For someone to walk in and attempt to knock out 150 kettlebell swings at 55# without knowing how would be suicidal. So, fearfully, we tap in and listen to the voice of wisdom and proceed down a path to become better. We pick up the weight and go to work.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recently heard someone say one of the most repeated perversions of scripture. “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Really?... Please, hear me when I say THAT’S NOT WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Cor 10:13</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> says, “No </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">temptation</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has overcome you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Satan tried to tempt Jesus on several occasions when he was physically and mentally weakened. Satan, the master of deceit, was doing what he does in order to distract Jesus and hinder him from righteousness. Even in a weakened state, Jesus was unwavering in his pursuit of glorifying the Father. He could have taken the easy route and enjoyed a temporary pleasure, resulting in a diversion from God’s plan. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suffering</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, however, is a separate issue. Fast forward. Jesus, face down, clawing the ground of Gethsemane, distressed to the point that his capillaries burst, praying, “Father, let this cup pass from me.” He didn’t want to die but knew that this suffering was absolutely necessary to glorify the Father. Through his sacrifice, we are extended grace. In like fashion, we as Christ followers will also suffer. Jesus reminds us in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 16:33, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“In this world </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you will have trouble</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus completed the work then invites us to follow him into a life of righteousness. Even Paul, being committed to worship, said in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Romans 8:18</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “I consider that these </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">present sufferings</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are not worth comparing to the glory to be revealed in us.” It’s called sanctification, folks, and it involves a process.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">We, as Christ followers, are not exempt from suffering. Maybe it’s job loss, broken marriages, natural disasters or the loss of a loved one. Maybe it’s recognizing that God has called us to a specific service at a specific time and place and, because it’s not the “normal” thing to do and find it difficult to rationalize, we’re labeled as fanatical or crazy. Think about it. Most of us know someone who has been in a position of "I can't take this anymore.", and it's meant quite literally. IF we were able to deliver ourselves from that suffering, we would never utter the words "Oh God!" Devastating things happen that leave us completely broken. It's when we are genuinely spiritually shattered that God is waiting to revive the hearts of the contrite. This isn’t a blog intended to scare but to paint a clearer picture of the path that we’re called to. Until you realize what God has planned for you, you haven’t truly lived. </span></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-47362410804195037872014-12-19T11:47:00.000-08:002014-12-19T11:49:14.432-08:00CHRISTMAS IN COWETA<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I’m writing this, there are people coming into the next room where there are toys displayed on a table for the visitors to see as they walk in. Refreshments are available for enjoyment. Our visitors are met with “Merry Christmas!” and numerous other greetings to make them feel welcome. It’s an inviting environment. These visitors have fallen on hard times. Circumstances have led them to a point of realizing the need to ask for assistance so they can see joy on the faces of their children Christmas morning. A single mother is there and instructed to “shop” through the mountain of toys to find what is appropriate for her child/children. As she shops, you can clearly see the flurry of emotions on her face; pride, needs vs wants, thankfulness, etc. After a brief moment of silence, someone tugs on her shirt sleeve and says “We’re just kidding. IT’S ALL YOURS.” Suddenly, the tears began to flow as words are no longer needed or found. Gratitude is obvious. Hope has come in the form of someone caring/loving enough to take time out to invest in a family that most have never even met. Just a desire to do what’s right.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can’t help but notice the diversity. Different ages, races, genders, lifestyles form an eclectic mix of society who are all invited to share in the festivities. Some live under bridges. Some drive up in nice cars/SUVs. Either extreme makes it difficult to not cast judgement. Why does someone sometimes choose to live as an “urban camper”? What does someone who drives a new Suburban know about being needy? Have we truly taken the time to know and have an understanding of current events that led them here? “Love thy neighbor.” isn’t exclusively for those you choose to surround yourself with or necessarily agree with. As we do this, we have learned that, sometimes, the urban camper actually has money but also has an intellectual deficiency that prevents him/her from making wise choices with that money. Sometimes, we meet individuals or people that have been hard workers all of their lives, only to be met with an injury or devastating setback that has left their bank account dry. Either way, the need is great.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="1898-artwork-of-nativity-scene-at-nativity-church-munir-alawi.jpg" height="427px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/T4sDCiATmJIGvbDFgrL36usys77ZpbvDtBHUCXQC_xFWO3jSJ3J3C-NsdhgFVJA6WBvic1wUxezff7WoOCKfqx_4Co_LvjXJMXdXkkQsSdfymXZGZvHw2oRBFt7VomwscA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the grand scheme of things, we’re ALL invited to share in a celebration which is the birth of the Messiah Jesus Christ. Most of us come to the table expecting to receive only so much. “Much of what?” you might ask. GRACE. Ravi Zacharias once said “You can’t base your appetite for grace off of one taste. It’s not a plate of sushi to sample only to push back from the table to say “I’ve had enough.” after only one bite.” THERE’S SO MUCH MORE. Just when you think you have any sort of understanding of what it is to give grace, you’re still faced with the challenge of receiving it. You see, grace is defined as a gift freely given to those who are undeserving. Suddenly, we’re faced with the fact that no matter how good we try to be, there’s still junk in our lives that leave us flawed, defiled or just plain “boogered up”. It always eventually comes out. “BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2: 4-7). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some will come to the table to take then push back from the table discontent in what they receive. Others will come to the table, completely broken, to be filled then lifted up to learn that there are new levels of contrition that are often prompted by a relationship with Lord Jesus. God the Father invites you to the most joyous of celebrations in the birth of His son Jesus where His life is given freely to those who will receive it. It’s a lowly life of servanthood where, when we make a choice to be contrite/broken/lowly and don’t consider ourselves above someone else, that He lifts us up for His glory. It’s life changing and it’s life giving. I’ll leave you with a Christmas wish to ponder; PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TOWARD MEN.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-14523192416623211592014-11-11T12:48:00.001-08:002014-11-11T12:48:57.905-08:00BROKEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-992Ykq6Gjrw/VGJ1ow3hfRI/AAAAAAAAFas/4paEtRkTPwg/s1600/il_340x270.490116248_d0cx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-992Ykq6Gjrw/VGJ1ow3hfRI/AAAAAAAAFas/4paEtRkTPwg/s320/il_340x270.490116248_d0cx.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">There I stood in the middle of the parking lot with the hood raised on my old blue Chevy while trying to look busy repairing something that I didn’t know how to fix. That pretty much sums up my week. You see the “funk” had crept in and brought everything to a screeching halt much like the engine I was staring at. I was broken. Frozen. </span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-58ab542d-a099-6e29-a139-81b2e30f62a7" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">My son jokingly asked me, recently, if I was going through a mid-life crisis. My response was “If I was ever going to have one, it would be now.” I have the privilege of watching and helping my kids as they learn, practice and grow into who they want to become. The progressions are obvious and doors are starting to fly open for them to display their gifts. While I’m overwhelmed with pride, something lurks in the shadows. Me. The “me” that has never reached the level of success that I’ve always wanted to attain. I don’t see doors flying open for me. There were many mistakes and plenty of missed opportunities along the way but I never thought that I was that bad. I thought that someone would’ve recognized the talent and taken the time to promote me to stardom. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Right about now, you’re saying “You are so self centered!” and you’re right. Please, understand that I love my family and will support them in whatever they chose to do providing it’s not detrimental to them or anyone else. I understand well the role of responsibility in providing and nurturing. I was told once that a man without a dream is dead. I’m not dead. My dream is alive and well. So…. why?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Suddenly, it began to be clear. As I questioned “Why?”, I found myself singing, while the tears rolled down my face, a song I had sung almost a hundred times before:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Why? The question that is never far away.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">But healing doesn’t come from the explained. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Jesus, please don’t let this go in vain.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You’re all I have, all that remains.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">So here I am, what’s left of me</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Where glory meets my suffering.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I’m alive even though a part of me has died.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You take this heart and breath it back to life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I fall into your arms open wide.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">When the hurt and the healer collide.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I mentioned before, I was already broken. However, according to the Greek definition of the word, there’s two distinct degrees of contrition. I didn’t think I had anything else to offer, nothing left to sacrifice. I was wrong. See, what I had missed was, in the middle of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> mess, God was waiting for me to take the pieces of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> messed up life, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> failed attempts, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> desires and lay it at His feet as a sacrifice. He was waiting for that voluntary gesture so that He in turn could breathe life into these bones so I can truly live. If your worship doesn’t involve sacrifice, then you haven’t truly worshipped. It’s not easy. It hurts. It’s scary. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Mark 10:32)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It involves removing self from the equation. If we are in the least bit self centered, then we’re not at all Christ centered. </span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God hasn’t taken away my ability to sing or play an instrument so I’m hoping He still wants me to use them. I’m gonna keep singing and recording as much as possible but with the understanding that it’s for the praise of God and not of men. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(John 12:43)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’ve brought my requests humbly and boldly before the throne. He’s aware of them. Now it’s time for me to leave it there for Him to do with as He wishes. Keeping in mind the nature of a father, I believe He has nothing but the best planned for me. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Jer 29:11)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-26790467404915057532014-06-22T21:39:00.001-07:002014-06-22T21:39:39.309-07:00DEAD OR NOT DEAD?I finally took the time to see "God's Not Dead" and heard something that I connected with. The student who is given the task of proving God's existence is faced with some "fall out" in the form of friends and family questioning (or just plain not supporting) his actions to walk by faith. I've been there. I'm still there.<br />
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A few years ago, at a time when I first realized God was calling me into something big, a friend gave me a copy of "The Dream Giver" by Bruce Wilkinson. Bruce explains that, when we set out in pursuit of our God given dream, friends and family with the best of intent will question our actions. Maybe, even, try and discourage us. Again, often times, those closest to us may not understand God's calling on our lives.<br />
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I responded to the call to ministry a few years ago when I was asked to serve as music minister at a small church on the south side of Newnan. This church offered nothing that attracted me in the way of music. There was no Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, no contemporary worship music. Reluctantly, I accepted. Almost immediately, the comments and titles started. Friends that I grew up with started calling me "Preacher Kevin". To this day, it hurts. I hear the snickers. I know of the jokes, often, from the ones I've considered to be friends or family. People ask my wife "So, what does Kevin do for work? When is he going to get a "real job?" Trust me, there's not a day that goes by that I don't wonder, even worry about, if I'm doing enough for my family. I know, better than anyone else, the needs of my family. God know far better than I. That is why I have to do, act and say what I believe God is calling me to. <b>"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us." Rom 8:18 </b><br />
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Today, I heard the song lyrics "Break our hearts for what breaks yours.". God sometimes leads us into the "desert" where we can chose. We can chose to be disobedient and find ourselves stumbling around in the desert of our consequences for forty years or we can chose to obey and be delivered in four days. Inside of two weeks, our income was reduced by 2/3. I say that to explain my belief that God has allowed that "tragedy" to happen. We were given that opportunity to react bitterly or respond by drawing closer and seeking God's plan. I believe God allowed this to happen so we would better understand the people that we serve who are facing similar situations. He allowed this so I could explain, by my own life experiences, that prosperity (<b>Jer 29:11</b>) isn't defined by monetary gain. Prosperity, in God's kingdom, is defined by our relationship with Him.<br />
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There are far more knowledgeable people who can argue scientific explanations and philosophy in an attempt to reason away God. NO ONE can debate the transformation that takes place when we heed scripture that promises <b>"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chron 7:14 </b>That's the moment we surrender everything we think we know into the hand of a sovereign god. Whether that healing takes place in this life or the next makes no difference. It's for God's glory and it's His plan.<br />
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Trust me, God's not dead. The question is, are you?<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-69613156547676095212014-04-28T19:18:00.000-07:002014-04-28T19:23:07.577-07:00PERSPECTIVEMy life, these days, seems to be all about perspective. My days swing 180 degrees from one day to the next whether in the places I go or the people I'm around. Either way, I get to go to my home, at the end of the day, with some sort of normalcy.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago, I was approached by a man needing food. I quickly gathered some food and before I could leave for my next appointment, he asked for clothes. I explained to him that I was on the way to pick up my kids from school but, if he would give me his sizes, I would have them for him the following day. Sure enough, he returned the following day. This time was more personal. Plenty of conversation, clean clothes, blankets and the opportunity for him to shower. He's been back regularly since then, often times, to cut the grass or pick up trash around the building. Mind you, it's been a challenge. He knows the system. He can be aggressive. There's also an issue of personal hygiene.<br />
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Today, with the promise of bad storms in the area, we were trying to make sure that some of our visitors had somewhere to seek refuge from the storm. I and another friend loaded up our friend's belongings and took him to his "home" that we had heard so much about. I thought I was prepared...<br />
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Suddenly, I was reminded of a passage from Max Lucado's book "God Came Near" entitled Mary's Prayer. Mary, holding baby Jesus, is telling Him that his tiny hands would feel no satin, hold no pen, wave from no palace balcony. No, His hands were reserved for much more precious works; to touch the open wound of a leper.<br />
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We walked down the railroad tracks to a bridge affectionately called "The Bat Cave". Ironically, I've seen more bats flying around the steeple of the church across the street. There were none to be seen at "The Bat Cave". The local residents were sleeping on trash heaps complete with the rotting corpses of rodents. The smell of urine was stifling.<br />
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It's easy to try and rationalize and maybe come to the conclusion that "Well, they put themselves in that situation." Some even prefer that way of life. No drama. No responsibility. No accountability.<br />
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I looked down at the tracks that I was walking on as we left him there on his trash heap, the same tracks that seem to go on endlessly in either direction with a different destination on either end, and I thought about how completely grotesque I must have looked, sounded or smelled when I first encountered Jesus. I was the leper who, according to customs, had to yell "UNCLEAN!" to warn the other passers by so as not to be infected by my disease. I had become so overcome by this disease that I had become numb. The numbness prevented me from feeling the damage being done when I habitually reopened old wounds where, eventually, infection would set in and, eventually, I would begin to fall apart. But God, filled with infinite love and compassion, touched me.<br />
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He touched me! Oh, He touched me!<br />
And, Oh, the joy that floods my soul.<br />
Something happened and now I know.<br />
He touched me and made me whole.<br />
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I'm so grateful that God didn't leave me to die as a result of my choices but, by grace, brought me back to life. So, how can I, in good conscience, not extend the same hand of grace to a world that desperately needs it?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-83579450184733444462014-03-07T21:31:00.001-08:002014-03-07T21:38:13.868-08:00Listening, But You Ain't Hearing...<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I remember countless nights, in my youth, laying on the floor in my bedroom with headphones and listening to music. Often times, I would listen to the same song over and over again, not only memorizing words but, memorizing guitar solos, drum fills, harmonies, etc.. Obviously, the lyrics have a story. However, with the headphones on and being able to hear the emotion of the individual and the chemistry between multiple players striving for the same thing took it to another level. I was mind blown by how David Gilmour of Pink Floyd could hang on one note and make you cry or the way Steve “Machine Gun” Smith of Journey could play something on drums that sounded so simple to the untrained ear but, to the musically educated, it was so much more. These are a couple of guys who set the bar high in the music industry. Because of what they did and how they did it, many have “stolen” or borrowed their licks and applied it to what they do. A friend of mine used to valet park for private events in the Nashville area. One night he was working a party for none other than Vince Gill. He wound up shaking the hand of Vince and told him “Man, I’ve stolen every one of your licks!” Vince’s response? “Cool! I stole them from someone else!” It’s always humbling to pay an accolade to someone only to have them redirect the praise to someone else. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-c94ed5b2-a027-cccf-6a39-10d4f34c6b8d" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Towards the end of Matthew 4, scripture says that there was a multitude of people who were brought to Jesus to be healed or “entertained”. Jesus withdrew to the mountain top where his disciples came to him as He began the “Sermon On The Mount”. Notice the word “disciple”. “A follower or student of a teacher or leader.” See, these guys weren’t just there to see what Jesus could do for them. They were so impressed by the person of Jesus and convicted by His truth that they were compelled to follow, to imitate. </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The converts in the book of Acts were called Christians because they looked, spoke and acted like Christ. Another example is the crippled beggar in Acts 3 that was healed and the people who knew him recognized him as “the guy who USED TO sit… to beg”. His life was changed because of the actions of another who happened to be changed by the actions of another who was changed by the Master. Disciples making disciples. When we encounter the excellence of love (1 Cor 13), we begin to understand that there’s a higher standard and we have to have it. When we don’t get it, we’re incomplete. So, with that in mind, there’s a shift in our lifestyle that causes us to be more intentional about being COMPLETE. Mediocrity is no longer an option. Jesus said that He didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. (Matt 5:17) It’s ironic that the entire law is fulfilled in one command. “Love thy neighbor as yourself.”(Gal 5:14)</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we draw near to Jesus and we intently hang on every word and the Word becomes music to our ears, the “business” fades away and what’s left is something beautiful. Something pure. It becomes something we won’t trade for less and there is nothing better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suddenly, I’m reminded of a couple of wiry haired guys screaming “We’re not worthy!” when invited to hang out with Alice Cooper. In our case, we’re invite into a relationship with the King of Kings and, though we’re not worthy, he promises to make us holy. It’s amazing what you hear when you listen closely.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-25376160854442040412013-06-12T19:15:00.000-07:002013-06-12T19:15:16.517-07:00GOLFEvery once in a while, it's good to attempt something that you're not necessarily experienced at. Well, providing what you're attempting isn't detrimental. Once a year my in laws fly in from the UK and I spend the better part of two weeks attempting to play golf. I dig playing golf.<br />
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The goal, in golf, is to swing the golf club (each club for a specific distance) and move the ball further down the fairway until, eventually, the golf ball finds it's home in a hole that is approximately 4 " in diameter. For someone like me, who is not very good, it can be pretty amusing. It can also bring out the worst in you. On a dime, emotions can swing from one extreme to the other. Still, the goal is to approach the green and win the prize.<br />
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While playing today, I found myself quickly leaving the comfort of the lush green grass of the fairway and entering the treacherous lands that surrounded. Sand, water, sticks, rocks, etc.. Then it dawned on me how similar life is to the game of golf.<br />
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Let's say, for instance, you begin in the tee box which is where the game begins. You're in the right frame of mind, you've chosen your instrument and the whole world is laid out before you. And so it begins... From the view of the tee box, the path is so beautiful. So serene. You tee off with the hopes of moving forward but suddenly you find yourself in trouble. Maybe blocked by some unforeseen obstacle. Maybe you find yourself buried. Sometimes you play through. Sometimes you have to reset, but not without a penalty. Those blasted penalties! When you figure out how quickly they mess up your score, you often figure out how to avoid those penalties. Don't beat yourself up too bad. Even the most experienced players find themselves in the rough. We're all going to kick up a little dust. Don't dwell there. Focus on the prize and get back on track.<br />
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As followers of Jesus, we know full well what the prize is and we know that if we apply scripture to ourselves then we'll see hazards come into play. We would find it in our best interest to remain composed, focused and trained so we know how to respond in the face of certain trials. Make sure that you progress and, on your final approach, find yourself entering the promised land.<br />
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<b>1 Cor 9:24-27 </b><br />
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<b><span class="text 1Cor-9-24" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;">24 </span>Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28565A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span> Run<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28565B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span> in such a way as to get the prize.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-9-25" id="en-NIV-28566" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;">25 </span>Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28566C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span> that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28566D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-9-26" id="en-NIV-28567" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;">26 </span>Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28567E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></span> I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28567F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-9-27" id="en-NIV-28568" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;">27 </span>No, I strike a blow to my body<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28568G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></span> and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-56327365053957005102013-05-07T18:59:00.000-07:002013-05-07T18:59:06.425-07:00CROSSFIT (continued)Well, it happened again today. I started the day with a couple of cups of coffee and went to the gym. The gym, as mentioned in one of my earlier blogs ("Crossfit"), has been a place of a lot of inspiration for what's been happening in my life. Why Crossfit? Because life changes. A lot of those changes are often uncomfortable and unwanted but definitely needed.<br />
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So, I exited the gym with plenty of things on the daily agenda. Most, of which, involved a lot of manual labor and moving things from place to place. While loading my truck, I found myself in conversation with two ladies that had experienced some of those "changes" in the form of job loss and, even, their homes. Suddenly, life changed.<br />
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I found myself sitting when there was so much to be done. I was so happy to find that they, both, had recognized this season of loss as a time of opportunity rather than defeat. I believe desperation can sometimes cause us to see more clearly than when things are going well. Maybe a relation to "fight or flight". With things suddenly brought sharply into focus, it either paralyzes us with fear or it empowers us to press on.<br />
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Each application produces it's own results. Paralyzed by fear does exactly that. It brings everything to a screeching halt and sucks the life right out of you. Nothing happens. Only existing.<br />
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Life, however, happens when we get fed up with just existing and begin to crave life abundant. And, so, the game begins. Senses are sharpened and the body responds. Sometimes explosive. Sometimes delayed. All depending on the signals that are sent from the head to the body. The brain and body always in constant conversation.<br />
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Often times, the results aren't instantaneous. In fact, you may never see them. One thing is for certain. Someone else will. People are always watching to see how the story unfolds and, long after we may have passed away, someone will draw from our reactions as a guide to how to approach life.<br />
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The reality is, we're all desperate whether we know it or not. Jesus Christ left his throne to walk this earth for 33 years and gave us the perfect demonstration of life. Right now, someone is saying "But, he died...". Yup. And He encourages us to do the same. When we understand our purpose of worship and, in that, realize that it's not about being self serving but, rather, serving others we intentionally listen for God's voice, take the words of instruction and activate. We die to self only to be raised to new life.<br />
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What about you? Is this season of loss or desperation or have you found yourself in the harsh estate of complacency? Personally, I don't want to go out without a fight but, in order to do what is required, I'm going to need more power than I can personally muster up. His name is Jesus and He's waiting to breath life into bones.<br />
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<b>GAME ON</b>.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-15869438706636944532013-01-28T18:52:00.000-08:002013-01-28T19:04:19.672-08:00GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION?...<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3491446771658957"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, I did it again... Under the guise of “practicing my right to free speech” via social media, I found myself in a conversation with someone of far intellectual superiority. So, once again, I ask the question “Why me?” Is this an opportunity for me to actually study what I believe to be true and express it lovingly or was I just spewing my opinions with nothing to stand on? Is this a case of David and Goliath or Peter walking through the gates called “Beautiful” extending the hand of grace?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had posted my belief that “Bad company corrupts good morals.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1 Cor 15:33)</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As a father of three, I prefer that my children not hang out with other kids who may not have the same moral convictions. As Granny used to say, “If you lay down with dogs, you catch fleas.” (I think Granny was pretty sharp...) My friend quickly and clearly stated that he disagreed. He believed disassociation from anyone, for fear of picking up bad habits, is the epitome of weakness of character. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before getting defensive, I found myself agreeing with him to an extent. After all, Jesus didn’t turn his back on someone when they were in need whether that person recognized the need or not. He didn’t just happen upon the woman at the well smack dab in the middle of Samaria only to leave her there because she had been wed five times. He didn’t disassociate himself from lepers for fear of being infected. As a matter of fact, everybody that he encountered or hung out with was boogered up! More importantly, Jesus was very intentional about where he went, when he went, and who he was near. Again, as I have stated in other posts, Jesus issues the command “Follow me.”.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though, as Christians, the ultimate goal is to look like Jesus, talk like Jesus, listen like Jesus and love like Jesus, we are NOT Jesus. We are given the opportunity to mature in Christ Jesus but it’s a process. It doesn’t happen immediately. When a baby is born, that baby enters the world helpless and totally dependent on someone else to feed. As the baby grows, he/she develops the ability to feed him/herself but is still not completely independent until much later in life. Through those years, that child has matured considerably, all the while, taking on certain characteristics of the person that raised them. Never, in my life, have I met anyone that was beyond the reach of influence. EVER! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rarely, if ever, does someone struggling with substance abuse immediately go back into the same environment that they escaped with any success. They have to go through a season of detox, a season of counseling and a season of healing. Only then can they have any hope of ministering to the needs of friends with the same habits without being affected. Even if the maturity level is there, do you really think it’s wise to go back into those areas of persuasion for an extended amount of time? The misled individual may see your actions and think they can do the same thing but result in catastrophe. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Association is defined as “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A group of people organized for a joint purpose” which begs the question “What is the joint purpose?”. I, as well, meet with and love people from all walks of life on a daily basis. Some of those people still habitually practice things that are detrimentaI to their and my well being. I’m still growing but I’m wise enough to know that I’m not invincible. Choose your battles wisely and proceed with caution. </span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-3335409858710310342013-01-22T05:23:00.000-08:002013-01-22T05:23:52.038-08:00CROSSFIT<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5764944923575968"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I enjoy going to the gym. That kind of stuff has always intrigued me. The discipline, the commitment that goes into training and the way the body responds to that training is astonishing. At a young age, I started weight training and, though I was never a big man, I was ripped! Wrestling and biking were soon added to the equation and produced expected results. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Somewhere along the way, things changed. My body stopped responding the way it was. Workouts got boring. I even found myself not going on occasion but would soon resume the same workout with the same intensity with the same results. Nothing... However, I kept on doing the same routine, going through the same motions, because I thought it was enough. It was comfortable. No results, no improvement, no change. “Insanity” has been defined as doing the same thing over and over again with little or no results...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The game changer was when my friend, Ben, walked in. It seemed as if everyone in the room stopped and was simultaneously thinking the same thing. “I want some of what he’s having!” There’s a difference between someone who’s big and someone who’s big and defined. Bodybuilders go through a regiment of bulking up and then, before a competition, drop crazy amounts of weight in order to give a better appearance. This guy was different. This is the way he looks all the time. He’s not massive but there’s no question about his strength. There’s no question about his discipline. There’s no question about how he conducts his life.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I asked him about training me and he introduced me to the world of crossfit training. Crossfit incorporates movements from several approaches to fitness. Powerlifting, gymnastics and aerobics are all part of the process. Always changing because life is always changing. Routine is the enemy. Of utmost importance is communication between mind and body. When an exercise is unfamiliar, you would do well to pause, if only for a moment, to listen to the head and, as the signals are sent, move forward. Always progressing, always communicating, always adapting and always growing. Crossfit isn’t only a physical application. Crossfit is a community, a family, and their purpose is to love and encourage each other and to grow together. Oh, by the way, rest is a BIG part of the program. However, even in rest, the body grows.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before we got started, I told Ben (my personal trainer) “I’m your lump of clay. A clean slate. Tell me what to do and I’m gonna do it!” His eyes lit up... He told me that nothing irritates him more than when someone comes to him for instruction but then proceeds to tell him how they do it. Common sense tells me, if you’re going to ask someone else’s advice, that your way of doing things isn’t producing the desired results. CHECK YOUR EGO! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m three weeks into this and I’m still jaw dropped at the similarities! You see, most Christians have been going through the same motions (at best...) for years. Most of us attend the same churches at the usual time, sit in the same pews and talk to the same people. We sing the same songs, listen to the same pastor and exit the doors of our designated place of worship absolutely unchanged.... Insanity! And we wonder why the church isn’t growing.... To make matters worse, we may even be at that point of realization that our usual routine isn’t working but, because what we hear or read in God’s word involves the pain of being molded, we resort to what we’re comfortable with; religion. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Isaiah 29:13-16, Prov 12:15, Prov 14:12)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When was the last time that you actually stepped out of your comfort zone to do something that you knew was not in your power or encouraged someone else to do the same. To fully trust in the Potter and put yourself in His hand? When was the last time you did something so completely uncomfortable because you knew it was so completely right? When was the last time you grieved over someone else or prayed over a personal sacrifice so much that it literally made you sick? There comes a time that we, the church, have to “move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Hebrews 6:1)</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We have to move forward so steadfastly to the point that we will certainly be crucified only to be raised to new life. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isaiah 40:31</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> says “...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” We have the ultimate personal trainer and his name is Jesus. After all, he not only broke the mold, he created it.</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-12023438905368348812012-07-09T08:02:00.000-07:002012-07-09T08:02:34.252-07:00EXTRAORDINARY<br />
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Once in a blue moon, someone comes along that you can truly call extraordinary. Someone comes along that brightens your day and brings joy to those they encounter. No drama, no junk,....</div>
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Many reading this already know my wife Alison. You know that she's the kind of person that will do anything for anybody at any moment. With that in mind, I was still a little surprised when she came to me and asked if someone could move in with us. Here we are with three kids of our own. What about their safety? What about their security? Our financial well being? So many questions.... I told Alison I needed to know more before giving an answer.</div>
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To my surprise, a day later I received a phone call from the person in question. He was a very polite young man. He was quiet but well spoken and exuded confidence. I was seriously impressed that this High School student "manned up" to have a conversation with me and to ask me if he could move in. It wasn't an easy step. I believe he and I would quickly learn that he had many more difficult steps ahead. He moved in.</div>
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I need to take a little time to brag on my children. My oldest son, 14, gave up his room and moved in with his younger brother so our new guest could have his own space. I asked him, "Son, are you ok with this? I don't want you to feel pushed out." His response? "Dad, this was my idea." That's the mark of a true servant when you think more of others than you do yourself. My daughter, 9, immediately took to our new guest. THIS SCARED ME! As a dad, I'm very protective of my children. However, dad's have a tendency to be more protective over their daughters. Especially, when it involves a stranger moving into your home that's taller than me..... My youngest son, 8, ....... Well, he loved it. After all, the new guy had an X Box.... They all loved him.</div>
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Out of respect for him and his family, I'll not get into the circumstances that allowed him to move in. There were struggles both physically and spiritually. He was introduced to me as the kid who walked to school..... from quite a distance... in the rain. Nevertheless, he made it happen and graduated with excellent grades. When applying for college, again, he came across hurdles and, again, he overcame and received a scholarship. He then visited the recruiter's office.... The question that he faced?...... "What do you want to do?".... He scored so high that the sky is the limit. </div>
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Over the next few months there came preparation. My friend got a job as a camp counselor at the YMCA and, again, quickly moved through the ranks and received a full time position. With his infectious smile and gentle spirit, he made friends every day. People are coming to me on a daily basis and telling me how much they love this guy! </div>
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He leaves tomorrow. Before he does, I want him to know how much he has meant to me and that this former guest in my home, this stranger, is now my friend and, though there is no biological ties or papers to say so, I consider him my son. A striking resemblance I might add.... (smile). He probably doesn't realize it, but there is so much about him that reminds me of Jesus. Meekness personified. Constantly pouring himself into someone else.</div>
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Tony Mays, it has been a privilege and an honor to have you in my life and to be a part of my family. I pray that God guides you and keeps you safe on your adventures in the years to come as you go into the military. You'll never go alone. When you return, you'll find the door open..... and dishes in the sink!</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-44012465987369510092012-05-30T12:19:00.000-07:002012-11-16T06:14:23.727-08:00WHO ARE YOU?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;">One of my favorite things in life is animation. I particularly love the scene where Simba is faced with so many questions and is obviously in a point of soul searching. Not only did he lose his dad at a very young age but, he's left with a legacy of royalty to uphold.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;">I also LOVE Rafiki, the wise old baboon that, if you're in Simba's shoes, you don't want to hear... but you do. His mannerisms may not be to your liking but his words are unmistakably true and prompts you to react or to respond.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;">Rafiki, the wacked out prophet, tells Simba that his father is alive and then issues the challenge "Come, I'll show you." Lesson number one: When discipling, don't just stop with mere words. I'm sure many of you have heard of the <b>EDIP</b> teaching method. <b>Explain, Demonstrate and Imitate</b>. Problem is, most of us are guilty of falling short of the first method of explaining... Rafiki could have taken the easy way and issued the challenge of "Go". Instead he told Simba, his student, "Come, follow me. I'll show you." My mind immediately goes to Paul as he says<b> "Therefore I urge you to imitate me." (1 Cor 4:16)</b> In other words, "Follow me because I follow Christ."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;">In that instance, Simba is so excited to see the face of his father that he sets off running. He's so determined, in fact, that he barely slows down in spite of the vines and branches and numerous other obstacles along the way. His focus is primarily on one thing; seeing the face of his father. <b>Hebrews 12 says "... let us throw off everything and the sin that so easily entangles."</b> Who would've thought we had so much to learn from Simba? </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;">When Simba reaches the place where he expects to see the face of his father, he's placed in a position of taking a long, hard look at himself. Initially, he sees only himself. Isn't that normally the case? Typically, we're so self centered and buried in our circumstances that we don't see any further than that. It would behoove us to take into consideration the command of "Honor thy father and mother" with the hopes that we recognize the opportunity to reflect the face of God through how we respond to our circumstances. We are given the opportunity to live up to that legacy of royalty in the name of Christ Jesus the King.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;">James and John, self centered as they were, said </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;"><b>"Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on <i style="-webkit-background-clip: padding; background-clip: padding-box; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your </i>left, in Your glory." (Mark 10:37) </b>Jesus responded by saying "You don't know what you're asking." Had they fully known the cost of following, I dare say they wouldn't have been so quick to say "Yes." Nevertheless, they did follow and the cost was ultimate. Spiritually, they died to themselves existing only to worship the King. Their physical death was purely part of the process. Even in that, they worshipped and they got more than they knew they were asking.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;">Are you up for the challenge? Are you willing to forsake all for the sake of the call? Who are you? What is your birthright? Coward or King?....</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-59439590516890174462012-04-15T20:58:00.000-07:002012-11-16T06:15:09.656-08:00DIG DEEP<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8914944359567016" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shortly after moving back to Newnan, my wife and I bought our first house. You could still see where the previous owners had a garden, though, it had long since grown over. Given the setting and circumstances of settling in, it seemed only fitting to complete the domestication process by planting a garden.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started by marking off the area in which to plant and started digging. With a general idea of what to expect and wanted results, I dug in. It got dirty. It got tiresome. It was a slow process. Alison, my wife, came out at one point that I was on my knees and planting tomatoes. “Do you know what you’re doing?”, she asked. “Nope. Just doing what I was taught as a kid.” Little did I know the lessons I would learn by applying what I had heard as a child.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What started out as side project quickly turned into a goal. That goal? Harvest. Honestly, there were alot of times that I got more joy out of watching Mrs. Smith from down the street harvesting crops until she needed help walking back to her car. She loved it. I loved it. We shared in the process. I would grow, she would pick and she would preserve what she was given. Often times she brought it back. Often times she would give it away.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then came a hard lesson. There were the obvious obstacles; weeds, rocks, bugs, etc.. Nothing prepared me for the rainy season. Not the occasional rain, but one of those never ending, ground saturating, “waiting for Noah to paddle by any moment” seasons. It was unsettling to see my plants, my babies dying. They weren’t prepared. What did I do wrong? Did I not pull enough weeds? Was there not enough nutrients?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just below the topsoil lies a hard layer of dirt. If the rainy season brings more than the topsoil can process or distribute, it puddles. If that puddle doesn’t subside soon, the crop drowns. It stagnates and rots. However, if you put in the necessary work, if you take the time to really prepare the soil and bust through that hard ground, your crop is better prepared to withstand the rainy season yield a longer, more bountiful harvest.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many “fair weather Christians” have started out strong only to wither at the first hint of a storm? Are we, as the body of Christ, taking the time to prepare our own little spiritual garden to withstand the onslaught of spiritual warfare about to happen? Are they dug in? Are they fortified with Truth? Are they loved so much that, even when surrounded by weeds of sin, they stand tall in honor of the Son?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s time to dig deep, Christians.</span></span></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-78658284635915316942012-04-03T21:26:00.000-07:002012-11-16T06:15:45.442-08:00Temporary Pleasures vs. Eternal Rewards<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5396067947149277" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many of you have ever pursued something that you were sure would bring you happiness? Maybe it was a vacation. Maybe it was a collection of comics that, if you had just one more, would make you complete. Was it the lottery? The same lottery that, if you had only exercised enough restraint, you wouldn’t feel the need to win in the first place?..... Even if you had won, the sudden surge of popularity, responsibility and the feeling of self sufficiency would ruin you. The comics kept coming, leaving you with another “just one more.”. The vacation wasn’t long enough. Even if it was, you eventually had to come back to “reality”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you found yourself in the middle of a dilemma that you didn’t create? Maybe you’re a product of a shaky family life or woke up on skid row due to the loss of a job. Poor choices? Bad circumstances?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 19:16-30</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The rich young ruler asked Jesus what must he do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds by saying “Sell all you have.... and follow me.” The rich young man walked away saddened because he wasn’t prepared to put aside temporary pleasures. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 16:19-31 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another rich man is so consumed in his material stuff that he totally misses the opportunity to sow kingdom seeds by ministering to the needs of another who just happened to be laying at his gate. The result? A complete role reversal.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 9:1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Jesus encountered a man who was blind from birth. A temporary setback. Jesus healed him both physically and spiritually FOREVER. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 8</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Jesus encountered a woman of the streets who had been condemned to death at the hands of the religious leaders. Jesus stood in her defense. Pardoned... FOREVER. Job, the richest most righteous man of his time, lost everything..... temporarily. He chose to worship and was restored ETERNALLY. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 5</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Levi, engrossed in his work as a tax collector, answers the call to be a disciple of Jesus and discovers PURPOSE. Lazarus was dead. Jesus gave him LIFE EVERLASTING.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you see what I’m getting at? There is only one I AM! Only one “BEGINNING AND END”, “ALPHA AND OMEGA”, “EVERLASTING”, “JEHOVAH JIREH” and what he asks is that we FOLLOW HIM. Seek Him. Know Him. The reward? A relationship with the Master. Freedom. Wisdom. Joy. Everlasting life. Will it be difficult? Yes. Will it be painful? Probably. Will His commands defy every ounce of logic that we know? Absolutely. However, He asks that we be wise and walk by faith. It’s when we follow our own fleshly desires that we find ourselves dissatisfied or spiritually disabled.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all have our own stories and each one is a part of His plan. Don’t you want to be a part of His happy ending? Are you a product of your circumstance or of the Saviour?</span></span></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-46292656710213384672012-02-07T18:35:00.000-08:002012-11-21T18:09:26.439-08:00PULVERIZED!<div id="contentArea" role="main" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 493px; word-wrap: break-word;">
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While cleaning my house the other day, God laid a word on my heart that I wasn't quite ready to give a definition for. "Contrite", much like so many other words of the Old Testament, isn't used much in today's society. However, most of us have or will experience what it is to be contrite.</div>
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After a little research, I was made aware that there are actually two very similar definitions depending on context.<strong>Isaiah 57:13 </strong>"For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the <strong>contrite </strong>and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the <strong>contrite</strong>." Twice in the same verse is this word mentioned each time carrying a little different meaning or level of degree.</div>
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"Contrite" is a derivitive of the Greek root word "daka" which actually means broken, bruised, crumbled, etc.. This is an indication that there is still life left in us. Why? </div>
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The second application of the word comes later in vs15, this time, with a little more intense. The Greek translation here is "dakka" which basically means pulverize. It's when our pride is obliterated that we are in a proper state of worship.</div>
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Being in a contrite (daka) physical state doesn't guarantee a contrite (dakka) spiritual state! We are simply given a choice of whether to react or respond. Job was most definitely in a broken physical state and, based on scripture <strong>(Job 1:20)</strong>, he tore his clothes, shaved his head, dropped to his knees.... AND WORSHIPED. Wow! Suddenly, he was brought to the realization that, once the dust settles, only one thing remains. A holy God. It is this same holy God desires a relationship with us. It is the same holy God that desires to see his own reflection is us and, in spite of our perceived circumstances, offers another chance at life abundant. </div>
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<strong>Psalm 51:1-17</strong> is a beautiful picture of a man who has been put under a microscope and exposed for who he is. In that state he recognizes that life without God is not only futile but not possible. The psalmist makes a choice in his broken state to receive the nourishment that he so desperately needs and so commits to the Lord's will.</div>
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When you find yourself crushed under an avalanche of desperation but not quite smothered, take that moment of silence to say goodbye to pride and bury it. What you'll find is, with proper nourishment, new fruit in the Spring.</div>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-90065382228468818312011-12-15T19:50:00.000-08:002011-12-15T21:13:21.225-08:00Prepare The Way Of The Lord!Obviously, with Christmas around the corner, most of us are focused on the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Around the same time, also announced by the angel Gabriel, was the birth of John the Baptist. Maybe its just me, but some passages of scripture just make me laugh. There stood Zachariah as Gabriel told him that he and Elizabeth were to have a son and Zachariah says "How can I be sure?".... Gabriel's response? "I'm Gabriel." As if to say, "You crusty old man! Do you know who you're talking to?" Right then, God took away Zachariah's ability to speak. Not only would he eventually get his voice back, but he would witness the birth of his son John the Baptist.<br />
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I believe the birth of John was a result of righteous living going as far back as Aaron. A legacy of love, if you will. Luke 1:15-17 says John would be great in the sight of the Lord and that he would bring back many of the people of Israel back to the Lord. He would also turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous. He would, in fact, "Go and make disciples...".<br />
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Before any of this would happen, scripture tells us that John lived in the wilderness. I believe this to be a geographical fact. When applied to ourselves, it's probably in reference to a spiritual wilderness. Most of us have, at some point, experienced a state of spiritual funk when we are aware of the voice of God but find ourselves doubting/disobeying because we can't make sense of it. As I've said in one of my earlier blogs, it's not always for us to understand. It is absolutely for us to obey. Luke 1:80 says that John made his first step into ministry when he matured. Maturity begins with obedience. Maturity begins when we humble ourselves before a far superior being and a supernatural love. Typically, it's after we surrender that God reveals to us the reason behind the command.<br />
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My prayer this Christmas is that we would put ourselves in the shoes of John, intently take that first step of obedience so that we, too, can live a life worthy of the title "righteous". Prepare the way of the Lord!<br /><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-31118449078287414912011-12-04T19:31:00.001-08:002012-05-30T12:35:43.760-07:00VERUCA SALT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Even when I was a kid "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" creeped me out. I always thought it had some evil undertones. "Daddy, I WANT a squirrell!" demanded this vile little creature named Veruca Salt. I've always loved movies. Once in a while, you come across those characters that you love to hate. Veruca exemplifies the "spoiled little rich kid" that wants everything her way right now. As the story unfolds, the squirrel she wanted so badly wound up being alot more than she bargained for. You might say she got what she deserved. I think I disliked her so much because a part of me identified with her.<br />
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<b>Numbers 11:4-34</b> tells of the Israelites, after they had been delivered from Egypt, complaining about being hungry. Mind you, this was after God had rained down manna from Heaven and provided everything they needed and then some. The cry going up from the Israelites was "We want meat! We should have stayed in Egypt!" Even Moses (much like Veruca's dad...) cried out "What did I do to deserve this?.... Why did you dump the responsibility of these people on me?" God got angry. So angry, in fact, that he gave them exactly what they asked for. Scripture tells us that he gave them so much meat that they choked on it. Some translations say it was coming out of their nostrils.<br />
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We always seem to think we have this life all figured out and, if we get what we desire, everything thing will be just fine. We always seem to want that which we don't need.. I happened to grow up with a father who loved me enough to let me lie in the bed I made. Sometimes those are the best learned lessons, painful as they are. It never occurred to me that I was damaging our relationship and driving a big wedge in between us. By the way, a good word to define separation from our father is "Death".<br />
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The Israelites found themselves buried, literally, in a plot of land that was named "Kibroth Hattaavah" which means "Graves of the Craving". If we continue to go through this life focused only on what we want rather than what our Father wants for us, we WILL get what we ask for and suffer for an eternity. Since when do we know what's best for us?<br />
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If we were to execute life with the pursuit of glorifying our Father rather than ourselves, we would find ourselves rewarded in ways we could never imagine. We would find ourselves.... well.... LIVING. <br />
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I think, when I pull out of the driveway in the morning, the squirrel better move.....<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-64244834997422026162011-11-14T21:02:00.001-08:002011-11-14T21:03:49.013-08:00Hardened Heart; No Spine..... How many times have you found yourself in the middle of a situation you tried desperately to get out of but, the harder you fought, the more difficult the situation became? Kind of like quick sand? After all, its in our human nature to go into survival mode when things get rough. Some people call it "fight or flight". Nobody wants to intentionally put themselves in harm's way, especially, when you don't have an idea of what the plan is. The exception to the rule is our military. They enlist, go through rigorous training and, at the end of the day, are prepared to go into battle no matter the cost. However, even they have an idea of what the plan is. They prepare because there is always a threat on the horizon and, if need be, they will fight. They will fight and they will follow their commander because he's been there and lived to tell about it.<br /> I've been talking with my wife who told me of a friend that is amazed that we are still going forward with our ministry in spite of certain set backs. Insubordination, lies, lack of support, lack of finances and even theft. Our friend said she would throw her hands in the air and use a few choice words as she did so. Where is the reward? Where is the appreciation. <br /> <b>Mark 6:47-52</b> tells us that, after Jesus had fed the 5000, He sent his disciples across the lake in a boat where they quickly found themselves in the middle of a storm. They were so caught up, in fact, in the storm that they didn't even recognize Jesus when He came walking towards them on the water. They thought he was a ghost which further fueled their anxiety. They were so focused on their circumstances that they didn't factor in the possibility that the storm was ALLOWED to happen so the Father would be glorified. Scripture tells us that Jesus hadn't planned on walking TO them but BY them. Upon hearing their cries, he showed compassion and changed his direction and climbed into the same boat they thought was sinking. "Don't be afraid. Take courage! I am here!" There the disciples, Christ's followers, stood with their mouths hanging open in amazement because they STILL didn't get it. All this took place on the heels of Jesus feeding 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. <br /> How many miracles does Jesus have to perform before we trust Him? When will we realize that He is leading us into a battle with forces that cannot be seen and, as a result, are much harder to fight? Again, I say, EVERY TIME Jesus told his disciples "Follow me.", He led them straight into a storm where they would be tested, tried, tempered and grown to be men of battle. <br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-71100059215894006532010-11-14T13:46:00.000-08:002010-11-14T13:46:20.461-08:00FOLLOW THE LEADERPersonally, I believe God is always speaking to us. The question is, Are we listening? Over the past few days, I've been asked on several occasions about filling worship leader positions. Is it that time of year again where local churches are " cleaning house"? Is the fact that I've been asked repeatedly a clear indication that God is calling me into that position or is it Satan trying to distract me? I have to believe that part of that answer lies in whether or not I've been given the abilities to perform the duties specified. I know, I know! "God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called." I've heard that before and, yes, there is a certain amount of truth in that. However, along with walking by faith, we are also to make wise choices in life which indicates that we have to make the effort based on the knowledge we have. Faith without works is dead, right? Moses was given the task of leading Gods people out of Egypt. The only provision that Moses was given was a stick but, oh, look at the miracles that were performed when that provision was surrendered to God's will! Also, there is the fact that Moses was in constant conversation with God. Constant prayer. Prayer without ceasing.<br />
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God's word says "My sheep hear my voice and they do what I say."(John 10:27) It's when we don't listen that we find ourselves in peril and outside of God's will. What happens next is beautiful. It's a little known fact that, when a sheep goes astray, the shepherd goes out of his way to find the lost and bring them back into the fold. When He finds them, He breaks the leg of the one which prohibits the one from running off again. By the way, sanctification is always painful. At that point of brokenness, the Shepherd gently holds the wounded sheep close to his heart. There, the sheep hears and begins to get in sync with the Shepherd's heart and it is there that the healing begins. The broken bones are set and fused back together and, often times, stronger than before.<br />
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The kind of relationship that God wants with us is one where we follow Him so intently and passionately that we hear His voice speaking ever so quietly. When we don't hear Him, we still follow and we still pray. Why is He not answering? Did it ever occur to you that maybe He's waiting on you to start praying for the things that He wants for you instead of what you want for you? I recently heard Charles Stanley say that we begin to see action when our desires line up with God's will. Understand that God, like any good father, has a permissive will and will allow us to make choices ( good and bad ) and suffer the effects because experience is often the best teacher. If you're a parent then you know as well as I do that there are times when you can talk till you're blue and your kids are not going to listen because their desires are not yours. There are times when your kids will pester you to no end for something you know is not in their best interest and you don't respond because they aren't going to hear "No". At that point, the child makes a decision whether or not to follow through and it is usually determined by whether or not the child shares the same heart of the parent.<br />
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God has called us to abundant life. Try as we may, we cannot wrap our little, finite minds around the fact that with abundant life comes those "learning curves". Learning/growing involves struggles, discomfort and, sometimes, pain. All the while, God stands in our corner offering words of instruction and encouragement. We have one goal in life and that is to be like Him. Don't you think it best that we listen to the author and perfecter of our faith?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-11962740708639170382010-09-07T06:12:00.000-07:002010-09-07T06:12:31.219-07:00DO YOU LOVE ME?I've sat here and tried to find the words to explain what happens on a daily basis. We have been given the duty, the responsibility, the honor to pick up ridiculous amounts of food and to make sure that it ends up in the hands of those who need it. I got up today, Labor Day '10, and drove my blue Chevy pickup to the local grocery store only to have it filled completely with produce, breads, deli and dairy items. What happens next is even better. On Tuesday morning at 10:30, volunteers arrive at 15 Perry St. Newnan, Ga to sort out this food into family sized bags. People are singing. People are praying. People are laughing and people are crying. Some are believers. Some are just curious. At around 11:30, the food is loaded into several vehicles, at which point, we divide and show up at various locations around Coweta County to deliver relief to those in need. <br />
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Need is indiscriminate. It doesn't care how long you have been without. It doesn't care about skin color or age. Sometimes the food ends up in the hands of those who never had much. Sometimes it ends up in the hands of those who make bad choices. Sometimes it ends up in the hands of those who have been making six figure incomes but, due to a failing economy, are left without a job and stuck with a mountain of bills. Through this transfer of food from one hand to another, relationships are developed. <br />
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I remember one day in particular when most everything had been distributed except for a few loaves of bread. As a friend is engaged in conversation with a single mother who happens to be in an abusive relationship, I'm on the next block engaged in prayer with a single mom for her infant daughter who has been experiencing seizures. Its mind blowing, really. <br />
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"Who am I?" "Are you sure you have the right person, Lord?" These are questions raised throughout the bible by those who would go on to be soldiers for Christ simply because they obeyed. By our standards, it didn't make any sense for God to call someone who had been orphaned then raised by a pagan slave driving culture. It didn't make sense that God would call someone who had murdered another human being to be the one who would lead the exodus of God's people out of bondage. (By the way, bondage is also indiscriminate.) Exodus 4:2 Moses questioned God about the possible disbelief of the people he was to deliver. God responded "What is that in your hand?" This was not a case of God having a mental hick up and not knowing what was in Moses' hand. He wanted Moses to realize what was in his hand. In this case is it was a staff, a stick that, as the story progresses, would turn into a snake that would devour the snakes of the Egyptian magicians,be used to bring water from a rock, and even split the Red Sea. Talk about a serious miscalculation for Moses! In spite of Moses' doubts, the story goes on to say that God loved him.<br />
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In September '09, God called a couple of singers with no organizational skills and a very bad case of ADD (we still can't agree on who has it...) into a ministry that feeds His people physically as well as spiritually. We have been called to lead His people out of bondage. Some will follow. Some will find themselves wondering aimlessly in the desert. There will be impossible circumstances. There will be hardships. There will be victories. Will you accept the challenge? Will you answer to the call? John 21:15-17 God asked Peter repeatedly "Do you love me?" and, after Peter's struggles with his own flaws and failures, God still commissioned him to "Feed my sheep". God's question for you - "Do you love me?".....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-41809478229775682152010-05-26T10:46:00.000-07:002010-05-26T10:46:36.432-07:00LETTING GOAs I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, I, along with four other guys in the worship arts ministry, have been going through a study on grace. Its been said you can't truly give grace until you've truly received grace. If I'm totally honest, I've had a real problem with receiving grace. Its the difference between a head knowledge and a heart knowledge. Just recently, I found myself engaged in a conversation with someone who, apparently, has been through some similar struggles. If we're honest, that's what most people want to hear. They want to hear something that relates to "real life". They want to hear about the difference that a relationship with Jesus Christ has made in my or your life. Not what we've heard about in someone <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">else's</span>.<br />
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The Bible says that its by grace we're saved through faith. Again, we have to understand that grace is defined as a gift that is given and is not attainable by any other way. We don't deserve it and there is nothing we can do to earn it. Its not something that is inherited or "grandfathered in". Based on those facts, we make a choice to trust God and receive the gift of salvation. That's where faith steps in.<br />
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"Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen." (Heb. 11:1) We hope for peace. We hope for wisdom. What happens is, when everything we do, say or think is driven by our desire to please the father, these things become ever closer and attainable. Gal. 5:6b says "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." God is the definition of love. When we obey God's command to "Love the Lord your God" and "Love your neighbor", the result is fruits of the spirit and there lies the substance. When people see someone led by the Spirit and displaying a supernatural love that's not based on investment returns, they see the evidence of an almighty, loving God.<br />
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Those "fruits" don't just appear without making the effort to follow. "I thought you just said there was nothing you could do to get to heaven. Why are you talking about effort?" Funny you should ask. James 2:17 says "..faith without works is dead." When mom used to tell me "Dinner's ready!", I didn't just lay there and expect to get full. I had to get up and get going to sit at the table where my nourishment was so freely given. Those "efforts" are based on obedience. Not on how good I may think I am or how hard I think I may be working. If my work is not the results of a direct order from God above, then its all in vain. This is where I've had a serious struggle. Letting go...<br />
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Losing your identity isn't something that comes without pain. After all, you worked hard to be who you are, right? People know you for who you are, right? Again, vanity... Upon the day of your salvation, you became a child of the King. You became a follower, a slave, a CHRISTIAN. The Bible says you have a new name in glory. (So much for my birth name...) A dear friend of mine once told me, when I was going through a troublesome time, that I was going through the crucible. I've never been a scholarly person so I asked her to explain. She began to tell me about the purification process. When the goldsmith begins to purify the gold, he turns up the heat and all the impurities float to the surface where the goldsmith is constantly removing the impurities. The goldsmith knows the gold is pure when the only reflection he sees is his own. How many times have you felt like God was telling you to do something or go somewhere and, because you trusted your own judgement, God got trumped. That's right. You trusted your own intellect over God's. That's when the friction began and it started getting hot. <br />
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For all the husbands reading this, God tells us in the book of Titus (2:5) that wives should be subject to their husbands. The problem is, we always seem to stop reading there. The very next verse basically tells us, as husbands, to live with self control, integrity, and live by a Godly example. In other words, MAN UP! Give your spouse a reason to be subject or submissive. When she sees that you are trust worthy and love her to the point of laying down your life, chances are she'll be prepared to live by the same standards. <br />
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Jesus was not only prepared to lay down his life for His bride (the church), He did! When we understand that the blood that was shed on the cross at Calvary has the power to cleanse us of EVERY sin, then we can get on with our Christian walk without hesitation or, in my case, false guilt. He accepted me when and where I was even with all my baggage. When Jesus <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">layed</span> down his life for me, He took all that baggage (past, present and future) and took it upon Himself. That leaves me with no choice but to be submissive to the Bridegroom. <br />
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I'll leave you with a quick story. I once heard a preacher tell a story about a hunting expedition and the method was simple. Place a banana in a cage with an opening just small enough for the monkey to get his hand in or out. Once the monkey reached for the banana, it became a real problem for him to get his hand back out of the cage while it was still wrapped around the banana. He was trapped by his own desires. Because he wanted the banana so badly, he remained there until the hunters came with the expected results. The moral of the story is this. The enemy is coming to steal, kill, and destroy. LET GO!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-5759753452526552492010-04-26T05:33:00.000-07:002010-04-26T05:33:58.905-07:00GRACE<div class="byline"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000094896586&v=app_2347471856&ref=profile#" onclick="ask_delete_note(433827625048, 'note_433827625048', 10,100000094896586,'Grace','/note.php?note_id=433827625048\x261\x26index=0', 0); return false;"><br />
</a></div>"When is the word 'Freely' not associated with the word 'Grace'?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I've been meeting with four other guys from the worship arts department at church and reading through "In The Grip of Grace" by <leo_highlight id="leoHighlights_Underline_0" leohighlights_keywords="max%20lucado" leohighlights_underline="true" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dmax%2520lucado%26domain%3Dwww.facebook.com" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dmax%2520lucado%26domain%3Dwww.facebook.com" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); cursor: pointer; display: inline;">Max Lucado</leo_highlight>. The topic, obviously, is Grace and its a walk through the book of Romans. During these meetings, in order for us to be able to better minister to each other through what God says about our issues, we've been pretty transparent and pretty much laying our darkest secrets on the table. What I've found is that, at some point, we've all experienced a state of spiritual paralysis. I was happy to learn I wasn't the only one. I was also encouraged by what God's word says.<br />
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I'll take this opportunity to share a little of my personal testimony. I was fifteen years old and accompanying my parents with our choir while singing at a revival at a little church in <leo_highlight id="leoHighlights_Underline_1" leohighlights_keywords="alabama" leohighlights_underline="true" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dalabama%26domain%3Dwww.facebook.com" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dalabama%26domain%3Dwww.facebook.com" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); cursor: pointer; display: inline;">Alabama</leo_highlight>. I didn’t want to be there. I can't remember why. I just didn't. The evangelists bringing the message looked like he was going to drop dead of a heart attack; sweating profusely, red faced, neck bulging, gasping for breath with the signature "Haa!" at the end of every statement. I endured nevertheless. When the invitation was given, if I'm honest, I was praying that no one responded so I could go home. I looked up to find the evangelist standing right next to me (I was in the back of the church). "Are you ok?" he asked. "No" I responded. I still don't know why he singled me out but it was like God had placed me under a holy microscope and, at which point, everything was revealed. I asked God to come into my life and I was miraculously changed.<br />
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I would like to tell you that I immediately started living a saintly life and I was a soldier for Christ from then on. I wasn't. I was very excited and I knew I was different. I went to school the following day and proceeded to tell my friends that I was saved but the following years were much different. I have done things after the day of my salvation that, honestly, I'm embarrassed to talk about and it would make for a much longer book. Did I lose my salvation? No! That's not scriptural. I believe because I wasn't studying God's word daily I became preoccupied and the rest is history. Again, I was saved. However, I had no understanding of "Lordship". Fortunately, God allowed me to stay around long enough to learn that lesson and has allowed me to serve Him further while here on the earth.<br />
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I've been constantly reminded of my past. That's what Satan does. If he can't have your eternity, he'll have your today. He'll make you question your salvation, question your abilities, and even question God's abilities. <br />
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Let's get back to the question. "When is the word 'Freely' not associated with the word 'Grace?" When the application is "Receiving" grace. Grace; unmerited favor, given freely, paid for with a price. There is nothing you can do to earn or deserve it. If there was, then Jesus died for nothing. <br />
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John 11:32-44 tells us the story of Jesus was called to rescue his friend Lazarus from the dead. This account states that, according to Mary, Jesus was four days late. Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days and stunk. "Jesus wept." (vs 35) Did He weep because His friend, Lazarus, was dead? That doesn't make sense. Jesus raises the dead! I believe Jesus wept because of their lack of faith. As the story continues, Jesus yelled "Lazarus, Come out!" and Lazarus walked out of the grave. Why did Jesus yell? He whispered to the storm and it subsided. He spoke and the universe was created. Was it to show authority? I believe there's the possibility that he was a little mad with the fact that His people, His own followers, had just accused Him of being too late. <br />
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What's keeping you from stepping out of the grave, or rut, you're in? Is it disbelief? Lack of faith? Jesus is weeping because His people are constantly coming across the "next big thing" that He can't overcome. It is by grace, through FAITH, that we are saved. By the way, God's word says that we are BEING saved (1Cor 1:18). That's on a daily basis through a relationship with Him. We are going to mess up but, through grace, we are made holy in Him. Jesus is calling. Roll away the stone, lose the grave clothes and start living! <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-90986908955572894722010-03-17T06:18:00.000-07:002010-03-17T06:20:46.445-07:00GIVE US THIS DAY......<div class="note_content text_align_ltr direction_ltr clearfix"> <div class="note_content text_align_ltr direction_ltr clearfix"> <div>Trust. It seems its the one thing that's the hardest to come by. Once you gain it, its another thing, entirely, to retain it. It involves a number of issues. Compassion, understanding, patience and, above all, love.<br /><br />As a child, it never occurred to me that my parents didn't love me. Because of that assurance, the thought of not eating or being clothed never crossed my mind. I got up everyday knowing that everything I needed would not only be provided but done so in such a way that I knew Mom and Dad took pride in what they were doing. They wanted the best for their kids. Does that mean that I always got what I wanted? Absolutely not! (That being said, I was a little spoiled!) What if I had gotten the Yamaha 80 I always wanted? What if I had gotten the endless supply of comic books I always wanted? I was so short sighted, at the time, to understand how much money went into acquiring these things not to mention how much money, time and effort went into maintaining these things. Does that mean that I stopped asking for them? Probably not. I was still learning valuable lessons.<br /><br />Fast forward. Very similar situation but with a different <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_0" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" leohighlights_keywords="perspective" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dperspective%26domain%3Dwww.facebook.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dperspective%26domain%3Dwww.facebook.com" leohighlights_underline="true">perspective</leo_highlight>. Now as an adult with children of my own, I'm given the task of being the provider rather than the provided for. My wife and I get up everyday and immediately start addressing needs for that day. Meals, clothes, baths, school, recreation, clean beds, etc., all vital parts of our children's existence that they take advantage of without a second thought. Chances are, if we are any sort of parents, our kids never have to ask for it. They just have an inherent trust that they will have what they need. What comes next makes your heart melt. "Thank you" or "that meal was great" or "these clothes fit perfectly". Gratitude has a way of making you feel appreciated or complete as a parent. Its the icing on the cake. Next level stuff. It just makes you want to improve your game that much more.<br /><br />Again, different <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_1" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" leohighlights_keywords="perspective" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dperspective%26domain%3Dwww.facebook.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dperspective%26domain%3Dwww.facebook.com" leohighlights_underline="true">perspective</leo_highlight>. I would LOVE to have a recording contract. What if its not in my best interest? Better yet. What if its not God's will for my life? Do I keep on asking until I get what I asked for? It kind of reminds me of Verruca from "<leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_2" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_2')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_2')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_2')" leohighlights_keywords="charlie%20and%20the%20chocolate%20factory" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dcharlie%2520and%2520the%2520chocolate%2520factory%26domain%3Dwww.facebook.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dcharlie%2520and%2520the%2520chocolate%2520factory%26domain%3Dwww.facebook.com" leohighlights_underline="true">Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</leo_highlight>" as she screams "I want a squirrel!" It sounds a bit hedonistic doesn't it? It makes me want to slap that spoiled little rich kid! How do you think God feels? I once heard Charles Stanley say "We start seeing action when our desires line up with God's will.". Ultimately, God's will for us is to be a reflection of His son Jesus Christ. Does He not know what we need exactly when we need it? Matthew 6:25-34 tells us to not worry about what we will eat or about our bodies or our clothes. (v26) "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"<br /><br />When was the last time you sat at your computer and said "Thank you, God, for this modern convenience....". (now for a moment of silence....) Do you get the picture? We get up everyday and begin our tasks as if we're the ones doing all the work. Seems a bit legalistic doesn't it?! You're not the one who grew the cotton that was used to make the underwear you're wearing! You're not the one who created the seed from which the apple you're eating was grown! Yes, we do a certain amount of work (you can thank Adam for that one!) but we're also given the strength to do that work not to mention the lessons we learn from that work. Again, you have to look at the imagery. Our heavenly Father puts us into parental roles (even though we're His children) so that we can teach our children (who are also His children) so that they can grow to be mature adults (still His children) and teach their children.<br /><br />To get to the point, God wants us to communicate with Him, make our requests known and, when we get our answer (even if we don't like the answer we get) be thankful. He wants us to develop trust. We lack trust because we don't have a close enough relationship with Him and, as a result, have a lack of understanding. How do we expect to teach what we do not know? He is our father. He loves us. He will provide what we need for today.</div></div></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-4453444873416695712010-03-02T05:01:00.000-08:002010-03-02T05:03:51.298-08:00GET REAL!If I'm being completely honest, my reasons for wanting to write this started with selfish and defensive motivations. Hopefully, as you read on, it'll become clear that those kind of motives lead to nothing but a vicious circle of arguments and a very ugly display of a life unbecoming a Christian. What I would like to do instead is take this as an opportunity to encourage those who desire to walk the footsteps of Jesus to stay focused on the author and perfecter of our faith and not be distracted by those who, even with the best of intentions, have been tricked by the deceiver into this facade of religion instead of a relationship with Jesus.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. One thing that we don't have enough of within the body of Christ is accountability. Alot of times, we may question the actions of a brother of sister but, because we lack knowledge, we fail to "call them out". That's not to say we should be hanging our dirty laundry out for the world to see. God's word plainly states how we should go to that person, in God's love, and show them what God's word says about the situation at hand and pray that their eyes are opened to the Truth. Jesus said,"If you know me, you will be my disciples and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32) If a lack of knowledge is what's hindering you, the solution is easy. Pick up a copy of God's word, readily available, and begin to read. Personally, I've got several different translations. If I'm feeling scholarly, I'll pick up a KJV and try and decipher old testament lingo. Other times, I'll pick up a NAS or a copy of "The Message" and really enjoy the simplicity of it. Either way, Ask God to speak to you clearly. I believe He wants to.<br /><br />Wisdom, however, is a different story. Wisdom is actually taking what we know and applying it properly. Sometimes its a lack of wisdom that compels us to speak what we have read but we lack the spiritual maturity to know when to shut up. I get all excited about something I've read or heard and, before you know it, I've opened my mouth and made a train wreck of things. Again, Jesus said,"If you KNOW me...". Not just His words but His heart! There's alot of Christians running around quoting what we all know to be true but, if our words aren't "delivered with grace, as though seasoned with salt" (Col 4:6) then it can have quite the opposite effect! Its like the "bull in a china shop" syndrome.<br />Wisdom is just one of those things that take time. You could memorize the Bible inside and out and, if you don't know the heart of the Master, you'll still mess up.<br /><br />Finally, there's faith. Even if we had Solomon's wisdom, I believe God can and will ask us to do things that defies our finite understanding. Whether it be a command to build an ark or whether it be to follow Him straight into the heart of Samaria, as children of God, I believe we have a responsibility to obey first and ask questions later.<br /><br />"Therefore as you have come to know Jesus Christ, SO WALK IN HIM, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." (Col 2:6-7)<br /> <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107489030489602170.post-559661862030074242010-02-23T15:19:00.001-08:002010-02-23T15:19:40.670-08:00I WILLSunday morning started out the usual way. That was probably strike one! I started my day with my usual two cups of coffee and walked into church thinking about the usual order of service and how I was going to lead the choir as well as the congregation into the very presence of God. Problem was, I wasn't walking closely enough myself.<br /><br />We started the service with "Our God Reigns" declaring "spirit of doubt, you have no place here!" Obviously, the enemy knew that I was spiritually deaf at the time because he attacked hard. I have been questioning "self worth" for a number of reasons. Am I being a good husband and father? Am I providing what my family needs? Should I go and take a "real" job for the sake of "taking a job" or do I continue pursuing what I believe is God's will for me? Often times our worship of an almighty God is determined by our circumstances. I think what happened next was based on the fact that I had failed the very test that I had been learning. I wept.<br /><br />In the book of Luke (5:17-26) Jesus healed a paralytic that had been brought, through the roof, into the house where He was teaching. Jesus told the paralytic "Because of your faith, you are healed." and told him to get up. At that point, because of his faith in Jesus, he got up. When Jesus said "Get up", those words not only penetrated his ears but resignated within his soul!<br /><br />I have been so paralyzed by a spirit of doubt and fear that I was useless! I hadn't taken into consideration the fact that, despite a failing economy, we haven't missed a meal, we haven't missed a bill and my family is clothed and fed! Last night, while thinking back to the song we finished Sunday's service with, it struck me. "Give us Clean Hands" kept referencing Jacob so I came home and did a little reading. Genesis 28:20-21 says "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God..."<br /><br />He will give us exactly what we need according to His will. It may not always be comfortable (just ask John the Baptist!) but the end result is glory. Lift your head up and step out of the boat and onto the water. Just don't take your eyes off of Him. The next time God says to you "Get Up!" what will your response be? As for me, I will.<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1