Who Are We Fighting?

Whenever you get into some kind of altercation there has to be an opposition, otherwise it isn’t much of an altercation. Even when there is war within a country there is always two sides engaged. When civil war broke out in our country, it was the Union North, against the Confederate South. In a boxing match there is always two guys in the ring standing toe-to-toe, exchanging blows to determine who is going to be standing at the end. Whether it be friendly competition or a war, in order for the conflict to be a conflict there has to be two opposing parties.
As long as you know who you are fighting against and can identify the difference between your opponent and your friend things will be alright. The last thing that anyone needs in any form of conflict, is for even one person to be confused. One person on your side that is confused as to what they are doing, or who is on whose “team” can ruin the whole effort. I can remember when I was in high school playing on the school basketball team. One of our key players got injured and coach called one of the kids who never got any playing time.(No not me, I didn’t even get in that time.) Well, when you don’t get to play much, eventually you stop paying attention to the games all together, because you don’t expect to go in anyway. That night, this was the case. Poor guy was so excited to get in the game that he stole the ball and shot it into our goal. Yes, he scored for the other team! At that moment he was the most popular guy on both teams. Boy was I glad I wasn’t in at that point, and when coach put me in, I knew that there was nothing I could do to look worse than he did. Amazing how relaxed I was playing after that. From that point forward the game had changed. They had the momentum, and getting back on track from that upsetting moment of the game, was just something that we were unable to do. We were the better team, but we just didn’t have enough time to gain our composure again and come back. Had it been in the first half we would have for sure. Had it been the first half though, and it happened again the second half…well, you get the picture. Having to deal with someone on our team continually shooting at the basket we were trying to defend would have made our job even that much harder. Sometimes I feel that way as a Christian. Especially here in New Orleans, because you can go to the French Quarter and see people posted up with signs and big six foot PVC crosses telling people that they are going to hell. Or you can see groups of people during the gay pride festival chanting out “God hates queers!” It is like having to watch out for fire not only from your front, but from behind you as well. Getting shot in the heat of battle is hard enough to deal with, but for the right causes we are proud to. On the other hand getting shot in the back by one of your own, is pretty much just plain crappy.
Who are we fighting against? What is it that we are doing here? Are we here to “scare the hell” out of people? Or are we here to love them into Heaven? It makes it really difficult to talk to people, and show them the love of Christ when you have a bunch of people CLAIMING to be on the same team as you are; wearing the same colors, and sporting the same “logo”, displaying nothing but hate, arrogance, and down right ignorance. I have listened to people talk about going into battle for Jesus, and putting on the full armor of God, but then they use it to “protect” themselves against the wrong thing. They put on this armor and use it to create distance between them and the world. When they do this they put distance between them and the people in the world. The same people that on Sunday morning they claim to have compassion for. Then they come into contact with those same people out in the world and ignore them, or look down on them. Grabbing their children and bringing them closer telling them “don’t look at him” while all he is doing is smiling and waving at the children. The compassion for those people that they speak of in church, is the same compassion that drives them to lie about whether they have change or not. This kind of “Christian” has taken “not of the world” and used it as an excuse to not serve the world. They shake their head in disgust at the homosexual people in the community, or out right show a lack of respect for the person wearing baggy pants and a big shirt with his hat cocked to the side.
It seems to me that we have forgotten who the enemy is. We were right to put on the Armor of God, but wrong in the way we used it. Even better, we were claiming to put on the Armor of God, but it belonged to someone else. The Armor of God will protect you form evil, and the attacks of Satan, and at the same time allow you to embrace the people around you with the Love of Christ. We spend so much time fighting against the wrong enemy, the real one is running free causing turmoil throughout the world, and to make it worse inside our camps. When are we going to figure out that we are fighting the wrong enemy? Why can’t we realize that what we are doing is not hindering the enemy, but helping him? Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that our battle is not against man, but “the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”(Ephesians 6:12b NIV) Our efforts are aimed in the wrong direction, and all that we are doing in killing the people that are caught in the bondage. If your trying to abolish slavery, you don’t go and kill all of the slaves. You go after the one selling them, and taking them to be slaves. This isn’t rocket science. Where did we go wrong? How do we get the slaves to trust us when we try to set them free, when their slave master has hired people to dress like us, talk like us, and look like us, to go in and kill them? The only thing you can do then, is change your look. Put on a new uniform, and bring out the one thing that sets you apart from the other guys. LOVE, true compassion, and an outright attack against the real enemy.
“10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:10-12, NIV

A Leader Into Battle

Some might notice a pattern of thought in my latest “notes” or “blogs”. My focus lately has been the focus of the Church. Having found my self convicted of my desire to “plant a church”, God has brought me to a place where I am really looking deep into the root of where that desire comes from, and also what that really means. One of the things that I have said lately is that I am not called to be a “church planter”, I am called to make disciples. I am not claiming that planting a church is not one of the ways that this might happen, all I am claiming is that God has revealed to me the way that He wants me to do it. Part of this is the fact that God has caused me to rethink some of the things that I believe about His Church, my purpose, and the mission. Also, this new journey has given me the ability to sit back and take a different perspective on the way the church functions here in the United States. (In my circles anyway)
While sitting back and looking at the church I have noticed a few things about the way we do things, and the things that we teach. I hear a lot about going out and being “doers of the word and not just hearers.” Pastors and teachers calling the charge to go out and work in the mission field that you are in everyday. These things are great, and true. I love the fact that they are being taught, but the problem I have seen is that though the battle cry has been sounded, there is no one to lead the charge. I can’t pretend to believe that no one in the world is “leading the charge”, but I can tell you that in the majority of the “churches” I have visited, or been a regular attendee, the cry is sounded every week, yet no one leads it. There are always a few in the congregation that want to, or talk about it, but are soon discouraged because of the resistance from the leaders.( I know right!!!) So the teaching is good, the battle cry has been sung, but the person making the cry is stuck in the pulpit, and pleading for the people to go and live dangerously. Jason Dukes, in his new book “Live Sent” writes “ It’s not what you teach, it’s what you emphasize. Being a missionary, loving your neighbor, and getting involved in discipling are all great things to teach and push people toward. But they are more importantly great things to emphasize over and over again in more than just words.” His emphasis is on emphasis (you see what I did there?) and we should all be emphasizing that. We preach and teach what we should do, but then don’t actually do it. We sound the battle cry and then just sit there and wonder why nobody is charging. Robert E. Coleman writes in his book The Master Plan of Evangelism, “One living sermon is worth more than 100 spoken ones.”
Jesus not only sounded the battle cry, but he lead the charge. He not only invited His men to become fishers of men, He showed them how to fish. He not only told them to love the world, but showed them what it looks like. Jesus not only taught what to do, but He emphasized it every day. A real leader rallies his troops and then leads them to the fight. A real leader sounds the battle cry, and then is the first one to charge. A real leader says he is willing to die, and then doesn’t shy away from the opportunity to do so.
We can teach all day what it means to be a disciple, but only when we show them what it looks like to be one will they ever learn how to.
“Something is not being emphasized when it is just talked about. It is emphasized when its message influences both what is said as well as what is done. Something is emphasized when the practical day-to-day strategic purpose of a specific group reflects that emphasis in everything they do.” Jason C. Dukes. Live Sent

Where We Go

In the face of danger we have this natural instinct to go and hide. When a hurricane comes we board up our windows, and take shelter. Those of us here in New Orleans, pack up and leave. We flee in order to keep safe. The same thing happens when we are challenged. The natural reaction is to back down, to submit to your normal ways, and not move forward. This is the natural way, however most of us have come to accept challenge and move forward to face these challenges. Sometimes when we chose to face the challenge we come victorious, and others we fail. Natural reaction would be to give up, not continue to try, just move on to the next. Some however have come to the place where they can continue on until they arise victorious and have defeated that challenge. Most people shy away from change as well, we don't want to go outside of our comfort zone, and comfort is more often than not the same thing that everyone around us is doing. If we do as others do, we fit in, skate through life un-noticed and don't stand out. We can move through and be accepted by one group or another. A fad can soon become reality, and your new way of life. Some people don't grow out of different stages in their life, they find comfort and come to believe that this is the only way. Where do we go? We go wherever life is comfortable, and convenient. How many people do you know have taken on a way of life, or a philosophy and chose to take it as their defining thought process? They find something that fits their personality, and take it on as their way of living. Trying to show this person that they are wrong is useless sometimes, because they have been sold out to the idea that their comfort is what is most important. How many times have you heard someone say, "I don't know, it just feels right."? It just feels right! Since when did the thing that "feels right" become the right thing. How often is the thing that "feels right" in all actuality wrong? I would have to say pretty often, at least in my life. I have come to see that more often than not the things that feel right are the things that I know are wrong. I don't know about you, but if it comes natural to me then I know that I need to evaluate that and see what is at the center of that feeling. To often people walk away from what they know the bible says because they don't agree with it, or because they aren't comfortable with the way it makes them feel. If you are one of those people who aren't comfortable with the way the bible makes you feel. GOOD! Keep reading it, that feeling is what is going to probably save your life. Jesus was full of teachings that didn't sit right with people, because a lot of what He taught went the opposite directions from their traditional way of thinking. They couldn't fathom that what He was saying about Himself was true. "How dare he speak of himself that way", they chose not to accept Him. They would follow Him as long as He was doing things for them. They sat and listened to Him teach while He was healing their sick, they ate the food that He miraculously gave them, but when He started to teach the hard to swallow stuff, the stuff that was hard to imagine as true, or took them away from what they thought was right, they turned their backs on Him. We do this a lot don't we. I remember hearing someone say to me once that they don't believe everything that the bible says. WHAT?!? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This is a person who called themselves a devout Christian. But this isn't their fault, they listen to their feelings, that is what they did. They read some stuff they didn't like because they felt that it challenged some of the stuff they were doing in their lives, or in the lives of love ones and thought they would just choose not to accept it. This is what we so often do, we feel like this is wanting us to change who we are. We don't want to have to sacrifice who we are, who we have made ourselves to become. It is natural to shy away from change, to be scared of being someone that is different from the things that we know. "Does this mean I have to stop...?","I don't have to change _______ , do I?" We fear change, we hate change, we can't accept it in our natural state. Because of this natural reaction to change, people have perverted the truth. People have changed the Bible's teachings to fit their lifestyle. They begin to fool themselves, or choose to follow a teaching that doesn't require them to change. I would have to say that if there is a teaching that doesn't require who you are to change, then I would suggest that you re-evaluate yourself and really look to see if change is in fact what you need. I would say that we all need change, we all need to become different people than we are. "I can't change, I have been this way for too long now." I know. This is true, YOU can't change, but the great part about all of this is all you have to do is recognize that you can't and submit yourself to the forever changing and saving power that is Jesus Christ. The chances are that there are a lot of things that need to be changed about all of us, but the difference between me and some others that I know, is that I am willing to allow Jesus to change those things about me. I know that I am not perfect and that once He changes one thing there will be something else that needs to be changed, and I am okay with that. I am ready for Jesus to change who I am everyday for the rest of my life, to break away the peaces of rock that formed the person who I was, and carve in me a new life, making me a new creation. One that does not crave the things I once did, a creation that is free from the bondage of "comfort" that I fell under. I am ready for the things I am currently comfortable with to be uncomfortable to me. I don't want to be in a comfort zone, I want to be in Christ, where I am always changing and being prepared to be comfortable in the place He is making for me. " 60On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[e] and they are life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." 66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:60-68We to often hear a tough teaching that hits us right where we are, and makes us get up out of our comfort zone, and choose to walk away, to turn our backs. We chose to follow what makes us comfortable, not willing to accept the teaching God has given us in His perfect word. Where do we go? We go to a place where no change is required. Where should we go? I mean, Jesus has the words that leads to eternal life. Where else is there to go?

The Kingdom

This morning in church the pastor preached a message titled "His Kingdom Never Ends", and as I was sitting there God kept laying different passages on my heart, and different illustrations, so I had to come here and write a little note about it. The focus passage was Hebrews 12:28-29, where the author writes " 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire." When he made his first point he was talking about the "kingdom that cannot be shaken". Here it really hit me, God spoke to me loud and clear. The kingdom of God is here and it is not going anywhere, nothing anyone can do is going to break the walls of God's kingdom down and infiltrate. God is too strong and His kingdom will always be. This truth is not just so in the life we are living here on this earth, but it will continue for ever, through out all of eternity we are going to be living in the Kingdom of God. Not weapon, not man, not science, not Satan himself will be able to destroy the kingdom.Jesus came and started preaching this all around, He came saying " repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near", He spoke parables trying to paint pictures of what the kingdom is like. The kingdom is like a mustard see, like a man who sows good seed, like yeast that was mixed into flour and then made into dough. He commanded us to seek first the kingdom of God, he explains who will have the hardest time making it into His kingdom. He explains the type of person that will inherit the kingdom. Jesus focused a lot on teaching of the kingdom and I feel like we neglect to understand, or even think, or more importantly focus on this kingdom that God has built for us. Well, what is this kingdom Jesus spoke of, where is it? The same Jesus who teaches us what the Kingdom is like tells us where it is, well Heaven of course, but how is it that I can say the Kingdom is here now? Because Jesus tells me in His word that it is inside of me, and all of us who believe in Him. Luke 17:20-21 " 20Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within[a] you."Here is where my strength is found, this is why I know that I am indestructible. Sure you may be able to take the breath from my body, but inside me lies the kingdom of God, the kingdom that cannot be shaken, and for that I am thankful. I am a part of the kingdom that has endured thousands of years of people and powers and principalities trying to break down the walls, trying to persecute to the point where nothing will remain. The kingdom I am a part of survived great persecutions from the Roman empire, under Nero and Domision, countries leaders like China and Russia try to keep the kingdom from being preached in there nations but were unable to stop it. China is said to have the strongest church, the most active and full body of Christians in the world. Why? Because you can't stop it," the kingdom of God is too big to hide" Dr. Thomas Strong. The word of God is too loud to silence, the truth my friends has set us free, from any bondage, any chains that this world can put us in. I am reminded of a story in Acts 5 where the Apostles were in Jarusalem and they were performing all kinds of miraculous signs, and all of the believers were meeting in a part of the Temple called Solomon's colonnade, and the high priest and his Saducees became jealous so they arrested them. They were wanting to persecute them, but along came a teacher of the law named Gamaliel and told them " "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." And here we are! Still strong, still unshaken, un able to be contested. All of these people who try to stand against the Kingdom of God find themselves defeated and unable to silence God's people. And one great and glorious day will come when we get to be in this kingdom that God is preparing for us, a place that we can't even beguine to imagine. This is the place where I have made my home, this is the place that I get to spend eternity with my Savior. " 15The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[a]in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits[b] thick,[c] by man's measurement, which the angel was using. 18The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[d] 21The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. 22I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp." Revelation 21:15-23 This is where we will be, let's not neglect to introduce as many people as we can to this stronghold, this unshakable kingdom of which we are citizens.

What Do We Fear

What I'm about to say is based off of my own convictions, and of the response to the same question by some other people. I would have to say though that based on the average response this is probably one of the general reasons that people don't spread the gospel. Having said that, why don't we do a better job of spreading the gospel? The answer I think is because of fear. We are afraid of our knowledge, or lack there of. Another question for those who don't fall into this category is for the leaders of the church. Why does you congregation not grow, or what is the reason your people aren't spreading the gospel? I say the answer is the same, fear. I know as I came up I was afraid to share my faith, afraid to go up to people I didn't know and strike up a conversation about one of the two topics that people were reluctant to talk about.(religion and politics) "What will I say?", or "What will they say?" The average person that attends church, or even serves in the church doesn't really understand, or think that he/she has the words to say in this kind of situation. Why? Why is there this fear? Is it because of our leaders? What are you teaching in your pulpit? Are you preaching blue skies and rainbows, or are you attempting to "fan into flame, the gift of God" (2 Timothy 1:6) Perhaps they don't even know that they have these gifts. Are the leaders of the church igniting the burning coals of passion that are smoldering in the bellies of believers, waiting to ignite and proclaim the gospel of the resurrected Christ from the roof tops.Why do they fear? They fear because they don't know enough to know that "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) They fear because they don't know that the foundation on which they stand in Jesus Christ is solid rock and nothing can shake the ground under their feet. That though our lives may be taken, and this body in which we live may be put to rest our spirit is in the grasp of the All mighty God, protected by the impenetrable walls of His grace. I fear that today's leaders of the church may have lost that passion, that burning desire to step outside of the confines of the church building and go mix it up, and pick a fight with Satan himself. Are our leaders out at the front lines ready to lead the charge, or are they giving their students the basic knowledge and a sword and sending them into the charge, while they sit safely behind the protection of their office. I tell you the truth, if this be the case we are not dealing with leaders, but we are dealing with cowards. Jesus said that "the kingdom of God is forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."(Matthew 11"12) A line from one of the movies I love so much "Remember the Titans" said "attitude reflects leadership" if this is true and the church today shows the attitude of timidity, where are they getting it from. Because I know for a fact that the spirit given to us by God to dwell in our bodies is the spirit of a warrior. Bold, and forceful, passionate, and true. "But God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)What are you teaching? Look at your congregation and ask yourself what attitude are they reflecting from their leader? Hear the battle cry, and LEAD the charge.

Staff Support

Today in Sunday School we talked about Hur. For those who don't know who Hur is, this isn't just a misspelling of "her" this is an actual person in the Bible. In Exodus 17:8-16 you'll find the story. The Amalekites attacked the Israelites, and Moses told Joshua to get some men together and go and fight them. He said that he would go to the top of a hill with the Staff of God in his hands and Joshua and his army would defeat the Amalekites. So that day Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the hill. As the Israelites fought the Amalekite, Moses held the Staff up in the air, and as long as he was doing so Joshua and his army would be winning, but if it came down they would start to lose. So Moses had to keep this Staff up in the air. Needless to say he got tired and was unable to keep it up, so Aaron and Hur got a stone for him to sit on, and they each grabbed an arm and held it up till sunset.This is so cool, you see here what an important role Hur played in this key event. I think we discovered that Hur is only mentioned one more time in the Bible. Aaron we know is mentioned more, and he plays some big roles in the Story. Hur on the other hand did to. This goes back to a great sermon series I heard called HIStory. This was a teaching about the roles we play in the story of God. This whole life and history is a story God is writing and He wants to cast us. What role will you play? I look at Hur here and see that there is absolutely no role too small, and no role in this big story of life that can't have a big impact on the kingdom of God. We all have a part to play, some are big mega evangelists and others are pastors of mega churches. Some are Sunday School teachers, or small group pastors. Still some are missionaries that go to far off lands and spread the Word. Others stay here and head up organizations to fund and supply these missionaries. Still again others set up chairs, and run I.T. equipment for corporate worship service. Some clean the bathrooms, drag trailers, and take out the trash. There are people who hand out bulletins, and sharpen pencils. All of these people from the greatest to the smallest have a role in the big picture of the will of God. All are important, and none should be overlooked.I can remember when Whispering Pines Community Church(now known as Anytime Church) in Port St. Lucie, FL launched in an Elementary School cafetorium. People were all over the place, setting up, and greeting people. Some brought the coffee, and doughnuts, others set up the chairs, others set up the sound equipment, KidZone, and nursery. Hospitality table was always manned and the result was worship service. At the end people stayed behind to tear down and make sure that it was left the way we found it. I remember there even being someone who every week took charge of making sure that the trailer got packed up in an orderly fashion. If you have ever stood in the back of a trailer that has been closed outside in a Florida summer for a couple of hours, you would get it.The point is that some people lose the passion, and the interest in doing these things because they feel insignificant. I know this isn't so for a fact, because I have seen at that same church the level of help go from everyone to a need for people to commit. Every person in that community that pitched in from the biggest job to the smallest, from preaching to music, to set up, to setting out the coffee straws, made a big impact in the bigger picture that God was painting. Outreach was possible, the gospel was taught, and worship was something that was never missing. So, we need not lose the passion, we need to see that just as Hur was mere "staff support" he was a key player in the winning of the battle. So I say grab an arm, take hold of the HUGE job God has for you, pitch in and allow gospel to reach the ears and hearts God has prepared. Just as important as preaching and music is for reaching the lost, so are the people who are big enough to do the small jobs.

Walking along the narrow path

Matthew 7:13-14 (New International Version)
The Narrow and Wide Gates 13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
I was a girls gymnastics coach for quite some time. I was fortunate enough to see some great gymnast practice and compete. These girls are so incredible to watch. They have the strength, stamina, and focus that I could only wish to have. These girls put in countless hours at the gym. This sport requires years of training and practice to become great. Dedication and perseverance are as important as natural ability. These girls start when they are very young and spend more time at the gym than most people spend at home. Their entire social life revolves around that facility. Their friends are their team mates, and their influences are their coaches. Being a gymnastic coach in my opinion is more than just teaching them about the sport. You develop a personal relationship with those kids. You instruct them, discipline them, and encourage them. The skills that they do requires a lot of concentration and development over the years. As they get older, and more mature in the sport they are able to reach higher levels of difficulty. Out of all the apparatus the one event that intrigued me the most was the balance beam.
The balance beam is 4.1' high, 16'4" long, and 4" wide. Not very easy to walk on, not to mention preform acrobatic skills. It is so interesting to me to watch the development of a girl who is training on this apparatus. When they start out as a young girl they have to learn how to walk on it, back and forth, over and over. This sometimes takes months or even years to be able to do comfortably. Then they progress to turns, and leaps. Eventually to cartwheels and handsprings. Then to tucks, and layouts(flips). One of the keys to being able to effectively preform on one of these balance beams, is where your focus lies. When learning to walk on these, they are taught to keep their heads up and not to look down. "Look down, fall down", that's what I used to tell them. When first getting comfortable with this apparatus, looking to one side or the other will cause you to fall that way. This reminds me so much of the narrow path we as Christians walk on a daily basis.
As disciples we are constantly maturing, constantly growing, and learning. We start off born again as new creations learning and growing as infants do. We learn how to walk on the narrow beam of salvation. As young gymnasts do we look left, or right, and stumble on the beam. When a gymnast first learns how to walk they start on what is called,"the low beam". This is done because the coaches know that they will fall off. This keeps them safe, provides them with confidence to walk down the narrow beam. Often the coach will walk next to them holding one of their hands to give them confidence and talk to them, encourage them correcting their mistakes. We as Christians have the same luxury, the blood of Jesus Christ gives us the confidence that tells us when we fall we will be allowed to get back up on the beam. God puts mentors in our life to hold our hand at first and show us the proper form in which to walk a successful beam. Just as gymnasts progress, the coaches change, coaches that are able to mold you and teach you how to use the gifts God has given you in order to walk the beam in a way that the Judge will be pleased with. As you progress and mature, your strength grows and your balance. You learn how to focus on the end of the beam in order not to fall. Some times the skills that are required, the elements that are in the routine cause you to stumble, or even fall. The good news is that unlike the judges at a gymnastics competition our Judge doesn't deduct for our falls. He allows us to confidently jump back on the beam to finish the routine.
The point is, that you don't put a five year old girl on a balance beam and expect her do an Olympic caliber beam routine. It takes time, and training to be able to comfortably walk down that narrow path. Gymnasts fall, over and over again. They get discouraged, and frustrated when they don't get the skills quickly. It is the coaches job to encourage them, and train them to focus on the future. To show them that in time they will be able to walk the beam and do skills on the beam with ease. As it is with us. We will fall and stumble, we will get discouraged and frustrated. We need to look to our Lord, our focal point so that we can learn to walk the path comfortably and with confidence. We need to keep our mentors close by and look to them for encouragement and wisdom. Paul had to encourage and instruct the churches, and Timothy. We need to stay in God's word in order to keep our eyes focused on the future. We stay in the Word so that we don't forget our basics, our foundation, our strength. The path is narrow, the journey is hard, the reward is glorious.

A Gift

It is the week before Christmas and all through the town, car horns are honking because traffic slowed down.
People are yelling and flipping the bird, because lines in the stores are so long it's absurd.
Morale is down and stress levels are high, people are searching and searching for the right present to buy.
A race to the register, or the last one on the shelf, any thing they can do to make it better for themself.
There is anger, even violence in the line at the stores, people walk out and don't hold open the doors.
This season we're in of love, peace, and joy, has become more about TVs, jewelry, and toys.
On this day I'll celebrate out loud with a horn, my trumpet will sound on the day Christ was born.
The gift of salvation which he freely gave, He freed me from sin of which I was a slave.
Twas a gift on that night the Lord born as a babe, He came not to condemn the world, but to save
With Him came peace, and joy, and Love, a gift not from a store, but from Heaven above.
The gift of salvation came in this little boy, a gift not comparable to any expensive toy.
Tis a gift to us given from God on that day, A gift given at a price we could never repay.
So I vow to my God, Savior, and king, to him be the glory of everything
And I'll always take the time on this night to remember, The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

Mauricio Hance

Problems

I was feeling down the other day. The problems of daily life were really hitting me hard. I have put in an application to go to seminary in New Orleans, but I don't have the money to pay for school. I don't know where to find it, or how I'm even going to afford to move there if I do get accepted. On top of that I was having a proble paying my rent, food, not even gas. I had a horrible day at work and am tired of going there everyday and working hard for little. My wife had a rough day with the kids and the kids were complaining more than normal it seemed. I was really just ready to pack it in. My wife sent me to the store for something and to be honest I was ready to get out. As I'm driving home from the store a song on the radio comes on, and these are the lyrics...

Been a hard one
Been a bad one
Been a tough one
Been a sad one
It's just been one of those days
That keeps chipping away at my heart
Nothin' new here
It's what I do here
It's a stereotypical day in the life
I'm surrounded by all of the pain and the strife
But I know it's alright

'Cause it's only the world I'm living in
It's only today I've been given
There ain't no way I'm giving in
'Cause it's only the world
I know the best is still yet to come
Cause even when my days in the world are done
There's gonna be so much more than only the world for me

This really hit my heart. How incredible is this truth? This is only the world! Why should I let this world that I'm not even part of get me down. How can I allow myself as a new person in Jesus Christ allow this fallen world to cloud my joy. I face everyday battles as I'm sure do you, but I have something to keep hold of. I have the Holy Spirit of the living God living inside of me, and He want's so for me to allow Him to take over and worry about this crap for me. All I have to do is sit back and let Him do it. Money, time, work, and problems are only the world. I can expect the world around me to be stressed in this time of unstable economy. I can understand when a rough day at work makes these people of this world to be angry and agrivated. I'm not surprised when I see people blowing of steem by yelling and screaming at their wives and childred. Why? Well because these people are of this world. They not only live here, but are subject to the happenings of this world. I on the other hand, and you as well if you are a follower of Jesus Christ are in this world yes, however are now part of a new creation, a new Kingdom that is led by Christ. This is just temperary, this place is not my home and how I long for my home. This fallen world is going to forever try to bring me down. I can not allow it to, or shall I say if I try to face it on my own I will allow it to. So what is the answer? How do we face off against the difficulties we face as strangers in this world? By allowing the gift that God has given us to guide our steps as we make this walk. This walk of faith that allows us to let go and let God. God is so much stronger than the powers of this world, and has given us oppertunity to tap into that power, by submiting all to Him. He will provide, He will guid, and He will protect us from the worries of this world. So what do I say about the crap of this world? I say bring it on, I have no fear, for the Lord my God will bring me through victorious, and allow me to walk through this short life focused on the work He has given me, and that is the furtherance of His kingdom.

So when the problems of this world come at you, as they will daily, remember "It's only the world", and that you are no longer part of it.

The Church

What is the problem? Is there a problem? Some would answer,No! There is no problem with the Church. Leave well enough alone. Some would say that the problem with the Church, is that there are people out there saying there is a problem. People would say that I"m the problem with the Church. I'm the kind of guy who goes around disrupting the order of what is going on. I'm stirring up issues, that if I would just get on board and shut up wouldn't be issues. Is that true? Am I just making something out of nothing? Is what we see in our country now what the Church is supposed to look like? You know, what are we trying to accomplish as a Church? I'm not sure that this question gets asked enough. I'm doing a study on a book called "The Barbarian Way" by Erwin Raphael McManus. In this book there is a part that says "... Jesus began His public ministry with a simple invitation: "Come, follow Me." His closing instructions to His disciples can be summarized in one word, "Go!" A quick survey of the modern church would lead you to believe His invitation was " Come, and listen." and His closing mandate would be summarized in the word "No!" Is this true?

What if it is? If this is true what would the Church look like? I think that it would look like a bunch of individual groups of people. It would look like a building with one name on it, was in competition with a building with another name on it. It would look like building "A" would be competing to get more people in it than building "B". It would look like building "B" is trying to recruit people from Building "A", because these people have gifts, or skills that they don't have. It would look like people measuring their success by how many people are there every time they meet. It might look like people in the Church are only identified as Church people, because they go to one of these buildings once a week, dressed up in a "uniform" in a sense. It might even look like certain people aren't aloud in one building or another because they don't dress up to social standards. If this were true about the Church it would look more like a social club rather than a place of worship. Now the question is, what does the church look like here today?

Does the Church look like a group of people working together to achieve a common goal? Does the Church look like the different branches of the military working together, using their different areas of expertise to defeat the common enemy? Does the Church look like a building? Or does it look like a Kingdom? When people ask you "What Church do you go to?" Is your answer: "This Church, on this street, in this city."?

If it is, what are you learning from "This Church...."? See when I read the Bible, God tells me that I am the Church, that You are the Church. He tells me that we are all one Body, yes different parts of that Body, but one Body just the same. He tells me that no part of the Body other that the Head is more important than any other part. I know that each part of my body is for different things, and serve different purposes. I also know that when I want to run, or jump, or walk, or even stretch. All the parts of my body need to work together to achieve that Goal. In the same way so does the Church. We do have a job. We have an objective, given to us by our Commander In Chief. How successful would a wide receiver be without a Quarter back? How successful would a batter be without a pitcher to throw him the ball. How successful can the Church be, without The Lord being the center of our focus.

Satan thinks like boxers. If the body goes down the head will follow. What Satan doesn't take into consideration is that our head is watching every punch he throws. It's telling us which way to move in order to dodge his punch. He is telling His hands which punches to throw. His feet which way to step, and his body to tighten up to deliver the blow. God is undefeated, and undisputed. He defeated the one thing that Satan had control over, Death. The best way to get to your destination is to follow someone who has already been there, and who knows all the safe routs.

Take a look around, and tell me what does the Church look like here today?

Just let go

You know, I have been having problems, at work and at home. The biggest problem I have been having is in my walk with Christ. Well, today I hit rock bottom. I took my dog out, and because she wouldn't go to the bathroom when I wanted her to, I actually kicked her. I felt so bad, and started wondering. If I did this to my dog, whats next? So God told me that I needed to talk to someone about this. I ended up going to one of the men, who I look at as a big brother, and spiritual mentor's house. We sat down and had a couple of cups of coffee. We talked for about two hours. We talked about everything, I mean I held back no punches at all. I let it all out. I humbled myself and let this guy know everything that was bothering me. We went back and forth like I said, for a couple of hours. He really helped me out a lot. He re introduced me to the passion that has slowly been seeping out of my soul. I had to go over there, there is no doubt about it. See, God is always giving us ways to get out of the hole we put ourselves in. Sometimes we go day in and day out, and allow the things of this world to bring us down. The devil will put temptations and put just enough in our lives to let us slowly walk away from Jesus. What are the things that we do to allow this to happen to us? We allow ourselves to be "too busy" for God. We stop reading the Word everyday, and slowly take our armor off. You wouldn't go into battle without your armor would you? I have a friend who is a cop and he won't go to work without his vest. In the same way, how can we go into this fallen world of evil and temptation without putting on our armor every day. The same way that friend of mine won't go to work without his vest, he definitely wouldn't go to work without his weapon. God has given us a sword to take with us into the daily battle we face. How do we use this? Jesus gave us an example in the desert, when Satan tried to tempt Him, He came back with scripture every time. This is the same way we use the sword every day. It is also there to convict us of the things we do everyday that God isn't pleased with. Keep in the Word, and so Will I. Put on your armor, hit your knees every morning be for you go out into the world prepare yourself, for the junk that I promise you will encounter every day. Let's go out into battle, as the armed, protected, and passionate soldiers that we are. And may the strength and wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit, that God has so graciously given to us, guide you through your daily battle. Amen.

What to do

At work I have had something bothering me for a while. Recently certain things took place where I had the oppertunity to bring these things to the attension of the people who needed to know. In doing so the result was peoples lives would change drasticly. It did change these peoples lives. What I did was the right thing, and I know it. God without a doubt kicked me in the butt and made me say what I was fighting to say. Now I know that what I did was the right thing, but now I feel like I'm getting punished for it.

I don't get it. I am now working more hours in the week. Don't get me wrong, the overtime is good to have, but now I'm spending more time at work and less time at home, or in ministry. I know a lot of that ministry part is my fault. I need to be doing ministry at work just as much as anywhere else. I've beed given this great honor of being the men's ministry leader at my church and don't get to do much with is, because I work every other Sunday. I feel like I don't know anyone at church, and as the men's leader I should be building relationships with people in the church. I don't know what to do. I feal like I want to leave my job, but I know I can't. It is also taking a toll on my personal relationship with Jesus. My studies have almost completely stopped. I know this is my fault and no one elses, but I'm so tired at the end of the day. All I ask is that if there is anyone out there who accually reads this. Please pray for me. I really need it. May God help me.

Brother in Need

This afternoon I got a phone call from one of my Christian brothers whom I have been trying to talk to for weeks now, because I have noticed a few things that have bothered me that were taking place in his life. I know that for some that read this(if anyone still does) some one elses life isn't any of my business. I tell you that it is. Why, because of the aforementioned phrase "Christian BROTHER", brother of course being the key word. Yeah, you might say that even my biological brothers life is none of my business either, but yet again I tell you that if you can't tell your family the direction they are traveling is the wrong one out of love, who can you tell?

So, when I got home from work I called him back and asked if we could meet somewhere to talk about what he had mentioned in the phone call he made to me. After he agreed I asked if I could also invite another man that him and I both look up to, to join us in the conversation. With his consent I made the call. With no hesitation he agreed to tag along. At the agreed upon time the three of us met at a local Starbucks to pray and talk over his problems. Well, to make a long story short after we had beat that horse long enough the conversation had worked it's way into another direction. After a couple of hours I was ready to call it a night, but one of the other guys convinced me to hang out for a little while longer. After just a few minutes my brother just so happens to pull into the same Starbucks we were at for a cup of coffee.

So he joins us, and being another one of the man in questions trusted friends he fills him in on what is going on. I tell you this knowing it to be true, that was no accident. Oscar my brother had a lot of God given wisdom to bring to the table. At that moment all that I knew in my heart was confirmed once again. It was no accident that God put the four of us in that moment, at that place, all together for that reason. We still aren't sure what the tough decision that this man has to make will be, however I can tell you that it will be a choice guided by God himself.

It was amazing to see the things that I have learned through the last couple of weeks, and the sermons that I've heard all come together in that moment for the plan God had for us tonight. God is Great, and He is alive. He is working everyday in us, and as He has given me the strength tonight to obey him and get these three brothers together to lift up our falling brother, I pray that He continues to do so in my life. I challenge all who read this to take up arms and fight the good fight, obey the Lord our God and do not allow the evil one to attack our brothers and sisters, stand strong and know that God will give us the weapons to come out victorious. So, when you have a brother or a sister that is walking down the wrong street in the dark, take him/her that lantern that God has so graciously given us, grab them by the hand and lead them into the light.

What are we doing? Look around, at all the people around you. What do you see? I see a lot of people that are losing the battle. I can't stand the idea that there are so many people out there that just don't get it. It hurts me to see all these people that just don't understand, and deep inside they have a real want to understand. When you go to church on Sunday, what do you see? How many people go to church on Sunday and stop there. Or, I guess this is a better question, do you go to church on Sunday and leave it there? Your Christianity that is. Or when you talk about it with someone out of church do you lay it all out there for them, or do you tell them that it's all peaches and cream. How often do you preach the word of God. Once a week, or in a safe place. You know it seems like we are afraid as a whole of our Christianity. Like we hide it, we do our thing on Sunday morning maybe mid week as well. Sure we tell people to come and see, or put up signs. How about telling them why to come. How about getting out there and doing what Jesus told us to do. How about instead of our church life not conflicting with our work schedules, our work not conflict with our ministry. How about taking any opportunity to minister. I don't know about you, but the God I read about in the Bible isn't all about coming and sitting in a little safe haven and talking good things. I see the God of the Bible coming out of that situation and becoming flesh in a human form, to suffer and die. I don't know what you think about that, but to me that is the opposite of scuttle. That to me is a down right wake up smack in the back of the head.



Why do we shy away from the things God wants us to do? Oh, I know because people don't want to hear us say this stuff. Well guess what, people don't want to stop at the red light on their way to work, but they need to so that they don't cause an accident. So you don't think they want to hear it, well tell them anyway, because that might have been what they NEEDED to hear. I look at the apostles and see, not some guys who went to church every week, but some guys who brought everywhere they went. And guess what, they left it there too. When they left, they left a church behind. Those people didn't know that they wanted hear the stuff they heard. These guys walked around and ate what they could find, and took beatings and imprisonment. They were criticized and humiliated. Yet they still pressed on. It didn't matter the obstacle that was put in front of them they had no intentions of stopping. They were not going to hold back because the people around them thought it wasn't "PC". Instead they spoke louder. Civilized, hardly, controlled never, passionate OH, yeah.

These guys knew that the enemy was strong, and tactful. Still they pressed on. They knew that they would be persecuted. Still they pressed on. They knew that the punishment for the words they were speaking could be and ultimately was death. Still they pressed on, and continued to add in numbers daily. They didn't give up our cower in the face of the enemy. They pressed on. I challenge you to do the same.

Come out of your comfort zone. Trade in your suits and ties for armor and swords. Your 1000 dollar Italian shoes go in for boots and a shield. Put on your helmet, grab your megaphone and Bible, and go find a corner and preach to all who will listen. Fight with all the weapons that your God has given you, prayer and love. Unite together as one body and fight the enemy with passion and courage. Face you adversary face to face standing strong under the protection of the Lord. Don't give God instructions, just show up, shut up, and report for duty. Be still and know that He is God.

My first.

I preached my first sermon today. All I can say is WOW!! I now know how pastors feel. I wish I could do that every day. I don't know how I'm going to be able to deal with having to wait for the next time I get to preach. It is such a great feeling when you know that your up there doing something for the Lord. How can people get up there and do that for so many years and then deny that there is a God? No lie, I felt like I was standing in front of Him as He watched over my shoulder.

When I woke up in the morning I was so nervous, I was feeling nauseous. I was shaking and scared I was thinking about how bad I was going to do. "I hope they like it", " I hope that I don't mess up". What if... what if.. Everything was going through my head. I forgot my glasses, you name it I was afraid it would happen. Then, on the way to church I turned on the radio and David Jerimiah was preaching on the kind of nerve, or bravery we as Christians should have. We Christians should have the kind of bravery that surpasses the idea of failure. The kind of bravery we should have is the kind of bravery that doesn't recognize failure as even an option.

I get it now, the reason those feelings were there, is if you will look back at the earlier text in this blog you will see that the word "I" is in one form or another the most written word in all of the blog. So, now there is the reason why those feeling are overcoming me is because I am thinking about I too much. I"m not going to be doing anything. The Spirit of God will be the one doing the talking. Matthew 10:19-20"19But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." So when you feel like you are worried about not having the right words to say, Don't worry you don't have to say anything as long as you just submit, humble yourself, and let the Spirit of God speak on your behalf. At that point the wrong words will never come out of your mouth.

Paul

I persecuted many people and put them under the knife,

The people who spoke of the Son of God that brought eternal life,

i didn't believed about who they spoke and laughed at what they said,

I knew for sure the man they call the Son was crucified and dead,

One day as I was traveling knowing every thing I've done was right,

I suddenly found my self on my knees, blinded by the light.

To my dismay the man they called the Son , and spoke wonderful things about

There he was in my face ready to call me out.

So, now here I am using whats left of my youth,

traveling from town to town teaching the truth.

So what is it that I denied that now I know is right?

OH, yes that's it, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Light.

So as you go on through your week and live out you life as normal. Take the example that Paul set for us and show people the way, by speaking the truth, so that they can see the light.

The Ten Commandments

The ten commandments, most of us know them, we often refereto them. It is said that out laws were made based on them. People often say that you need to live by them. My question is do you? Should you live by the ten commandments, what are they good for, and are they the basis for what we decide if we are " good " or not? Are we living the right way if we follow them.

Here is what I have to say about the ten commandments. I have had many debates about them, I have also got into some arguments about whether or not they mean anything to us or if we should just forget that they were even written? I say no. I think they are important, but not for what most people do. They are important for learning, for knowing that we can't do life by ourselves. If you think your doing right by following the ten commandments your not. How can you live by only ten of the hundreds there were. The ten are a summery if you will of the hundreds of the laws of Moses. Number two is that the law of Moses was fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Without the New covenant in Jesus we would not be able to do it. That's the whole point. We as a race were failing. Now in the new covenant we are saved by the blood of Jesus. We no longer have to try to look at these laws and navigate our live according to them. God has given to all who believe and are reborn into a new life the gift of the Holy Spirit who works with us who are in fact spirit and lead us on the path to righteousness. You no longer stop and think about throwing something out of the car window because you see a sign that shows you the fine for littering and it is against the law, you stop because you know its wrong, you don't need the law to tell you, you just know. It is the spirit of God that tells me not to punch the guy at the restaurant for talking junk to me. Not the idea that if I do I'll go to jail. See I don't need the law because the law isn't what shows me how to live, I have the Spirit of God living in me telling me what to do and not to do.

Going back to the commandments , They hold no relevance as law, because of Jesus. they are nothing more that a tool for teaching us that we have not the power to live according to the law even if we know what it is. And even if you go all your life referring back to the ten commandments and don't "break" any of them you still sin. So going through all that to follow them isn't going to save you anyway, the only way to be saved is by the blood of Jesus. So if you live your life according to the law you deny the power of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you live life by the laws then the gift of salvation by the grace of God is not accurate. But you believe in the new testament which preaches salvation through Jesus by the Grace of God and are trying to earn your way to heaven by following the laws instead of just accepting the gift. Hebrews chapter 8 verse "13By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear." So utilize the gift God has given you and live life guided by the Holy Spirit and forget about the law. You will not break them is the spirit is leading you.

Christian Connectivity

I am a part of a men's group that meets every Thursday night, we do book studies and video studies, sometimes we pick a topic and take turns teaching on that topic(which is fun), but it is always an open forum, everyone has the opportunity to speak, ask, or put input. We do have rules, or more like guidelines if you will. Everything has to be scriptural, the common phrase used is that you have to be able to prove it by scripture.

Here is something that I have to say about that. I by no means think that the leader of the group feels otherwise, but as a general idea for people who take this phrase and literally go by it is a dangerous thing. Let me explain. The idea of using scripture to prove your point is something that shouldn't be practiced. What we need to do is get away from that and start speaking on the things that scripture already proved. It is very easy to take verses out of the bible and put them together to "prove" your worldly understanding of a spiritual meaning. Instead I say take what the scripture, God's living Word, has taught you and relay the message. This is where we get into these doctrinal differences, this denomination says this, this denomination says that. How can you take your views on something especially something Devinne and put your own little finite ideas in it and call it the Word of God? Not to mention what gives you the right and/or ability to tell someone else that they are wrong? I don't know about you, but I know that I'm not God, and if the Bible has all authority and is the living word of God then who else but Him has the right to do so?

The bottom line is that there is only one true, right, and sound doctrine. The doctrine of Jesus Christ the son of God, who died for our sins and gave us everlasting life. We need to go back to that, we need to go back to preaching Christ resurrected, and speaking only on the things that the Bible speaks. I know that there are people out there that do this, I wouldn't dare to say that someone is wrong unless they are obviously teaching what isn't written. I do know, and not by a lot of experience that it is easy to fall into the trap of using the Bible to prove your point. I just write this as a cation to any who might find themselves doing this. Just study, and pray. Speak only on what God tells you to speak on and nothing else. Teachers have been given an awesome gift, and responsibility in the Church so don't take it lightly, and remember when you teach to make prayer a big part of your preparation.

If your not a teacher and your ministry is different, take the time to pray over, with, and for your pastor. Let them know and see the love and support from their flock. Start a prayer ministry where every Sunday before the service gets started pull him aside and pray for him and the service. I know he will love it.

Why Did This Have To Happen To Me?

How many times have you asked yourself this question. While your in pain because of an injury, perhaps you have just go the news that your getting fired. Maybe worse, the loss of a loved one, the serious illness of a child, or sibling, or spouse. Your car gets stolen, you feel like you have had this incredible run of bad luck, "why me?" My answer to that is, as a wise man tells me on a regular basis, "It's none of your business." How right is that? I just so happen to find that 100% correct. It really isn't any of our business why these things happen to us, however it is our responsibility to keep our eyes open and our hearts pointed to God so that we can listen when he tells us or shows us why.

You hear a lot of people or even maybe yourself lose or question faith in God because of these things. Have you ever thought" would God really let me go through this" or " how could a loving God let this happen to me?" First of all as I said it's none of your business and if he wants you know He will tell you. Second is something that I read that really hit me and I love the way the author said this in Lee Strobel's "The Case For Faith" Peter John Kreeft, PH.D. said in an interview " How can a mere finite human be sure that an infinite wisdom would not tolerate such short-range evils in order for more long-range goods that we couldn't foresee?" See God can and often does make the most beautiful roses grow out of the ashes of evil to create a beautiful garden of good over it. The only way to see this is to keep your faith and let God show you.

Seven years ago I tore my A.C.L. in my left knee. All I could think about was, why? What could be the reason for this to happen to me? This was the worst physical pain I have ever felt, and emotionally it was pretty heavy too. My soccer career was over and that was all I had. Well, seven years down the road I get what I think might be the answer. I hurt my knee again at work, this is the worst I have injured it in seven years, and this big ordeal came of it with workman's comp. I never wanted or pursued this, but some how it came into the picture. Anyway I ended up going into work to talk to the district manager whom I have never had a face to face or otherwise conversation with. A couple of minutes into the conversation it was obvious that the conversation was heading down hill to the point where termination was almost in the next sentence. With help from my manager we saved my job, and the point of all this is, that they will give me some light duty and put me up front learning the computer system and dealing with customers to learn the sales end of the company which is like a fast rack to management. In fact, the district manager told me to apply for the sales manager position. Point? It took me seven years to get the answer to the "why" question, but it will come if He wants you to know.

Dr. James Dobson said, "Continuing faith is proof of true conversion" It's by faith we are saved not by works, so no matter how high the "highs" are or how low the "lows" are don't lose your faith. Find comfort in knowing that Jesus sympathises with us and all our "stuff". He knows what life is like to sleep well knowing that he understands and is on our side.

Authority

I once wrote a blog titled "The Living Word", in which I talked about the Bible and how the words never change, but what I get out of those words changes almost every time I read them. The Bible is God's written word and has all authority. What the Bible tells me is what I need to live by. because this is God telling me what to do. Now God being the creator of all that we know, and above everything tells me what to do I need to listen. Also when it says what not to do I should listen. I would think that this is a basic belief for all Christians. Especially when this same book tells me what the result of not listening is.

I was having a conversation with someone not too long ago and I'm not sure how but the conversation(like it usually does with me) ended up being a spiritual discussion. One of the things that the other party said really got to me. "I don't really agree with some of the things that the bible says". What? I can understand not accepting everything that I, or any one person says, but the Bible? I don't always agree with what my pastor says or does, what my father says or does, but I will always go back to check out what the Bible says about it so I know where to put my beliefs. So, one person no, but the Bible yes. I don't care who you are or how long you have been alive, if the bible says something different then I have no choice but to go with that. I know that the Bible is God's word, I know that everything that He wants me to know He will tell me through it. So when someone tells me that they don't agree with some of what the Bible says I say then how do you believe any of what it says?

We have been given this incredible "gift" if you will of free will. God gave us the power to choose. He also gave us the Bible so that we know what to choose. We know what is right and what is wrong, we know what the results of our choices are and we know eventually we will have to accept the reward or consequence of our actions. We choose to believe or not to believe or I guess what we believe. But I tell you that I believe in Christ resurrected. I believe in God incarnate coming to die so we don't have to . I believe that "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and He was with God in the beginning." I also believe that the words that were given to us so graciously by God so that we could be eternally with Him in Paradise namely the Bible has all authority over my life, and that I shouldn't make a choice no matter how big or how small without consulting God through prayer and the Bible. I encourage you to do the same.