Tag: christ

A Journey Abroad

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A Journey Abroad 

It’s 2300 my time and where I am I have no idea. I’d never seen a flight like this, instead of going over the Pacific, were going over the Northern Arctic Circle.

The trip started off with a hiccup when I realized I grabbed my brick with the wrong charging cable attached. Then, the plane was delayed for unknown reason. Then takeoff was delayed due to rain in Chicago. I was sitting in the middle seat, one big Asian man on my left, and a very VERY large Hispanic man on my right, who despite my best efforts was so big he was inadvertently touching me the whole flight. If that wasn’t bad enough, there was no air vents on the plane, and less then a minute after sitting down before we backed away from the gate, I had orange soda spilled all over me. Needless to say, getting shot at in a C-130 was preferable to my situation. I never felt like I could really get up and stretch and feeling so uncomfortable I never got to sleep. I can’t even admit how many times I’ve sinned on this flight. Covering my neighbors extra space in the emergency exits. Or the front row behind the galley. It’s been a test of patience and still have more patience to go. Apparently the plane has an upstairs and the flight attendants switch off during the shift. I thought that was weird seeing as I don’t understand how the plain has an upstairs.

Finally after hours and hours of un-comfort the sweet sound of metallic gears as the landing gear extend down towards the ground. The final leg of the journey or at least part one, comes to a close and a prayer that the travel to the next gate is easy and quick. The flight to  Manila is relatively short, in comparison of course. 

Driving through the city the sinking in my stomach as I realize just how poor the Philippines really is. Shops have tin roofs, pieced together, most don’t have screens, and even the brokenness of the streets and the jumbled together power lines are tell signs of a weak infrastructure, and a lack of technology or money to change the status quo. After showering for the first time in a single room where the shower and toilet are not separated by any walls, or curtains, but instead, when you shower, the very toilet itself gets wet. Not to mention the lack of hot water as a whole. The fortunate have a small heater for the water but that provides minimal heat. The rest have nothing but one temperature, cold.

Despite the clear differences in creature comforts the Filipino people are second to none with their warmest hearts of love and generosity. Even those with so little give so much. I don’t mean monetary but to have a massive feast for a stranger and hold back for nothing, I can say I have never been so warmly welcomed in my entire life. Within moments I was being treated as if I had been apart of the family for years. While the culture has different personalities, some people are quiet and reserved, and some people are loud and full of energy, that doesn’t ever take away from the kindness experienced.

There’s no shortage of laughter heard, or singing, and dancing it seems runs in the family of my Argie. The joy shown even with so much threat going on in the country, and even with the inconvenience of Martial Law or at least a partial martial law as security check points were in place. A joyous heart fills the night with song, and dance, and laughter. The welcome received is like nothing I had ever experienced. While on my journey, I was able to do a little writing.

What do we fear? This is a question I’ve been thinking of lately. What is it I fear I wonder? Failure I suppose, but failure of what? I’ve been thinking about my marriages and the failures that wrecked my perspectives, my self-esteem, and my thoughts of the future. Can I put the past behind me? Can I leave behind the pain and the feelings of being a failure? In the last week abroad I’ve seen things that were heart breaking. We (Americans) are spoiled and yet blessed all at the same time. Do I have the strength to, no…. The courage to move forward into the unknown?

I found something in myself this week. I found courage in my journey as I ventured off on my own. Hong Kong tested my resolve. I couldn’t read road signs, no cell service, no WiFi, and yet, I found my way. I tried now foods, swam with sharks, dropped 150 feet, and explored. Besides finding love, I think I may have found some level of myself. As I was standing at a rail in the Hong Kong Airport I realized I was alone and I realized I was okay with it. How things can change when we least expect it. God works in us, and through us. Paul I’m sure never expected his life to change like it did. Damascus changed everything for Paul. While I have traveled my own separate path to Damascus, my change has occurred more slowly. Change sometimes comes when we least expect it. Something I’ve been considering is the song What If I Gave Everything By: Casting Crowns. In the song, it talks about sitting in the shallow end never truly going out to swim. 

So why am I still standing here?
Why am I still holding back from You?
I hear You call me out into deeper waters
But I settle on the shallow end
So why am I still standing here?

So afraid what it might cost to follow You
I’d walk by faith if I could get these feet to move
But I don’t want to live that way
I don’t want to look back someday
On a life that never stepped across the line

The idea that I had in mind was, if I’ve been a lukewarm Christian. How long was I sitting on the fence? How long did I believe, but didn’t grow in faith? I was a lukewarm Christian most of my life. Recently at a revival service I was listening to the pastor and he said you have to be either black or white, you can’t be light and darkness. Revelation 3:16 (NKJV)“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”Jesus understands those who are all in, or the ignorant who aren’t in at all, but for those who are lukewarm, he finds them vial. I didn’t know it but for so long I was not growing closer to Jesus. I thought it was good enough to just believe that Christ was real, and he was the way. Let me tell you, you cannot sit by and think your good is good enough. When you love someone you give your all for them, so why do we not give our all to our Lord and Savior? We are given so much from God, and we give in return the scraps of our life. We are so ungrateful, and when we live our lives with one hand on Jesus, and one hand on the world, the world will pull you to pieces. We must learn to not divide our attention, but instead give Jesus both hands. Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV) 23 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” 

If my time in the Philippines taught me anything it was to appreciate God’s blessings in my life. People live happily with so much less then I have, and I need to learn to count my days, and appreciate that what I have is from the Lord, but more importantly, I’m rich in love.

The Storms Of Yesterday

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The Storms Of Yesterday

The longest days are the most trying for us all. The dark cloud that covers the sky and tears fall to the ground. So long ago the silence was rocked and the world would never be the same. How many nights of nightmares would live on echoing into the night? How many times do we wish for the light, but in truth, if there wasn’t darkness, we’d never truly know the light. We know your will Lord is pure, and perfect. We know that the sins of long ago still ripple through time today. How the lost stick with us even today as the minutes seemed like hours so many years ago. I remember the numb, the wondering lost in my own mind. I struggled then to see the way, to know the path to walk. I knew you and yet I couldn’t face the truth. After it happened I walked like a robot not feeling, just simply existing. Feeling the lost and wondering why, and I was broken beyond what I thought could ever be pieced back together. 

On that day, 14 years ago I watched in horror as the depravity of man would be self-evident. I watched as hate won out over love, and a sibling rivalry would touch my life in a forever way. I ask God now to give me faith like Daniel. I ask for hope like Moses. I ask you Lord to give me confidence to rise above my anger, to lift my sorrow to joy, and give me a tomorrow to make a difference. 

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about it, that the smells, sights, and the feeling runs through my mind. I can see the destruction in my mind when I close my eyes. I can see the horror in my dreams. I realize I cannot run from it, and like destiny it will find you, because it’s inevitable. I cannot run from my feelings, instead I must learn to embrace them and understand them. I must control the memory, and not allow it to control me. Living with shame and guilt is not what you have planned for me. I often question why you gave me the gift of sight that day, and I wonder if I was supposed to do more, but the explosion happened regardless, and I know I can’t change it now. My faith today is weak, and my strength is low. I know you my Lord will lift me up and you will cover me in the feathers of the angels. 

Father, my father, I know that in the darkness you are with me, and I will stand tall as long as I know you will always stand by me. When Saber fell it rocked my world. How you would take the broken me and turn it into something useful. My broken heart bleeds today. Today Lord so many remember the fallen, and as they seek understanding please place your healing hand over their hearts. Please ease their suffering. Please look after them and give them comfort. The tears of the past are wiped away and I ask your mercy be upon us today. We remember them and rejoice in their lives. We remember how amazing they were, and how they glorify Heaven now. I ask forgiveness for my weakness, and my failures on that day. 

Today I raise a glass to my friends, they are gone, but ever forgotten. Today I remember their lives, and their sacrifice. Today a moment to remember, and to raise my voice to the Heavens and praise Jesus for the family we have because of the lost. We are close and we love one another and out of the ashes of the lost a family is born. So today, I know that today, all my hope is in Jesus. I thank God that yesterday’s gone. I look to tomorrow as yesterday fades away. The storm of emotions fills me today, but you will wipe the tears away, and you will command the storm to leave me. 

Thank you Father for my brothers and the time I knew them. Thank you for the sorrow and showing me how to live through the pain. You give me so much and I praise you in my pain, and trust you know my way. I know you hold my tears, and I know you are with me always. 

Moving Through The Wind

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Moving Through The Wind

In recent years I’ve placed a lot of thought into who my true friends are. I’ve lost sleep over it. I’ve cried regarding it. I’ve yelled and been frustrated by it. In all that time perhaps the greatest lesson I learned was the danger of placing your faith in man. The thing is, growing up in a home with no father, and dealing with family issues resulting in me leaving home, I definitely had father and mother wounds. Those wounds would define a large part of my life and to some extent it still does. I found the need, the craving for acceptance anywhere I could find it. If it wasn’t bad enough to have those wounds from the family dynamic I would be rejected by my peers and for a season, I would face deep reticule, teasing, and strong judgments based on my physical appearance, and my apparent social status. Rejection became a common occurrence for me, and now grown up and after two failed marriages to affairs, it’s no wonder I have a deep-seated fear of abandonment. I think more then abandonment I fear what happened to me two and a half years ago, will haunt me the remainder of my life. When I was abandoned by yet another family, let down and sold out by the ones who were supposed to be there for me, I failed to recognize the one I should have been putting my faith in the whole time, Jesus Christ. 

Christ, the Son of God, the second part of the trinity, the savior of mankind over the power of sin on a fallen world. Christ is the only hope that matters. Christ is the only star to guide yourself by in the blackness of light. Christ is the one who will never leave nor forsake you. And yet sometimes it seems Christ is so far away. While the evidence shows this is not true, as a sinful man, living in a sinful fallen world, the lies faced by the greatest liar and deceiver of all time, Satan, and his demons, are intrusive at the very least. Satan’s battle plan is to lie, to deceive, to make every opportunity to sway us away from the graces of God and into the hands of evil. Often this happens slowly, tiny little movements to alter the course, like putting a magnet close to a compass in secret. This spiritual warfare happens frequently and appearing to be benign, however that’s farthest from the truth. Not every attack on our minds or hearts is a frontal assault. Small actions of sabotage over time can prove just as an affective strategy for Lucifer the General of the darkness as a full frontal assault. 

We endure many hardships and heartbreaks along our path. Illness of family, or even ourselves may happen at any time and fundamentally change the course of life forever. We often ask why us, why did this — happen to me? It’s hard for the human mind to grasp these hardships, these tragedies, but if we could take a moment and place ourselves on a different level of thinking, could we not see the potential of impactful behaviors on those around us? How we live our lives has effects like ripples in a pond, and we never know how far reaching our actions may be. Laying in a hospital bed sick, maybe even dying, but singing praises to Jesus and God our Heavenly Father, may be the information a nurse ever knows about Jesus. How sad it is that we somehow think everything that happens is about us, as if we were the center of the cosmic universe. The truth is, we are small pieces of a larger puzzle, and we all have a roll to play. We may not like the idea of being so small, and in one manner of speaking insignificant, but to God we are vastly, irreplaceable. God loves his children, and no matter the cause of any bad or tragic thing, God is using that for some form of good, never letting anything, no opportunity to go to waist. We on the other hand, we let opportunities slip by us frequently. We pass up chances to pray for others. We pass up chances to share the Gospel. We pass up chances to allow the light of Christ to shine through us. Largely I think this happens out of fear, just like the denial of Christ by Peter, that out of fear of persecution of acknowledgement to what’s become an unpopular belief in today’s world. Being Christian isn’t easy, but I’m all fairness, we were warned from the beginning it wouldn’t be. And if we’re honest about it, why should it be easy? We are horrible people. We sin against our Father, and we have dark stains covering our souls. It’s only through the blood we are redeemed, but we often think of that as a right and not as a gift. We think of that as insurance, a license to sin, because God will forgive us no matter what we do. 

The life we are given comes at a price, and if we are honest it’s a test, a journey to discover the truth, and not just discover the truth, but accept it into our hearts, following Christ. The journey to Heaven is a challenging one, full of struggle and hardships, but also one of great joy, and love. 

Some people endure more then others, and some people manage to do so with grace. What is the difference between us I wonder? Faith is powerful and in it, and with Christ, God gives us a great gift. Faith is something that must be cultivated. Faith must be tended to like a garden. Faith is something we are given through the power of the Holy Spirit and in that we have the power to become more then the tiny creatures we really are. In God, through God we are made big, big enough to lead, to grow, to inspire, and we are made into warriors with a spirit of hope, and not fear. Are we willing to grow beyond our baser instincts of fear and doubt, or are we willing to surrender to the Lord and allow that spirit to fill us up and guide us? Yes I have deep routed wounds that have left scars in my life, but as I have grown through the pain, which has not been easy, I have learned the truth, Jesus is the only truth, the only way. 

The scars, though they often have a way of reminding me they are there, they are also a reminder of what I’ve endured. The future is of course not known to me, but one thing I do know is we all have a purpose. God’s graces and mercy are not bound to limits, but are only limited by what we can manage and our own purposes. Life is full of uncertainties and we expect certain things, and we ought to ask what can or should we be doing for the Holy Name of Christ. Walking a path of Christ, can often lead to a life of emotional solitude. As the list of whom one can trust gets smaller, the isolation inevitably creeps in and requires strength to fight against the whispers from the dark. 

Some of us face the darkness more then others. I, having seen death up close know the struggle many face with depression, loneliness, and an isolation that has deep roots. Facing these things can be a challenge and alone impossible. The world as we know it was created, and we along with it have a unique purpose, and never is that purpose to endure the hardships or darkness alone. The truth is there may be times in this life when you venture ahead alone. Of course, I’m not referring to God, for scripture says God is with us always, never forsaking us. We were created, designed to be in relationships and when we find ourselves without the draw of the worldly relationships, or lack there of can be difficult. I can be in a crowded room and sometimes feel completely alone, isolated, cut off from the people and world around me. We must remember to keep the helmet of salvation on and tight. We cannot open ourselves to the Devils lies or whispers. The dominion of the deceiver is designed to break you down, pull you away from the Lord. Christ was clear when he said “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Christ doesn’t day you might have troubles, he says you will! Are you ready for those days? Are you ready for the days when the war knocks on your door? Are you ready for the day when the servants of the Devil attacks you? Are you ready with the full Armor of God to fight the battle of spiritual warfare? 

I know my armor, I know the word, and even with that I am still susceptible to the barrage of lies from the dark. Satan loves to wear you down. He hates you and loves causing doubt, and bringing you down. Life isn’t easy and was never promised to be, but ultimately we have a choice, we can live in life believing all that the world tells us, that the idea of God is antiquated, or truth is subjective to fit each person’s opinions. That science is the end of truth and leaves no room for anything it cannot yet explain. That God is dead and no longer relevant in the world today. But to believe any of that is to have fallen for the greatest lie Satan conceived. The truth is, and there’s only one, our Lord Jesus Christ, was born of a Virgin Mary. He was God made flesh, to live a perfect life, to break the bonds of sin, to take on the full cosmic wrath of God in punishment for sin past, present, and future. Died on the cross and forgiving mankind of the sin in which they truly did not understand. Was buried in a tomb and on the third day, Rose again, fulfilling prophecy. Folding the napkin telling the world death was finished. He rose and proved it by appearing to over 500 in a forty day period. Changed the hearts of the disciples who were living in fear. The spirit of courage changed them to be courageous of their faith and they did not hide any longer. The bridge is open and the invitation is sent. Christ is waiting for us with open arms if we only cleave away our old selves, and pick up the cross and follow Him. I am not a perfect man, and in many ways, I’m a broken misfit toy, but in this story, God uses the broken, God uses the small, God uses the misfit, and God gives strength, and courage beyond our wildest dreams. God uses the island of misfit toys and in God’s house I’m not an outsider, I’m not a misfit that doesn’t belong. In God’s house I’m welcomed just the way I’m am, and in that day I give up the ghost, I will be transformed, this body will fade away, my final sins will be washed away forever, and into paradise I will go, no longer chasing the wind. 

Rebel Without A Cause

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Rebel Without A Cause

While the term Rebel is not always considered to be a bad thing, such as the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars, the rebellion I’m referring to is much more serious. When we think of rebelling, or rebellion today we think of the nations in Africa that often have a coup or even Iran or Russia. Rebelling might make for good Television, but in reality the rebellion that is the ultimate story is that of Satan against God the Father. Isaiah 14:12“How you are fallen from heaven,

O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!” Satan rose against the Father and has gone to great lengths to destroy lives. The plot to remove man from the presence of God was to introduce knowledge into the Garden. Sin, is the avenue of our rebellion towards God every day. When we sin knowingly we rebel against the Father. Deuteronomy 31:27 (NKJV)“for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death?”When we rebel we are say we are without prophet, or in otherwise without God’s favor. Numbers 14:9 (NKJV)9 “Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”

We often want to stand up against those in charge. We want to stand and argue or bicker over leaders saying things like “they aren’t my _____”. I have heard that a great deal in regards to the President of the United States. We often forget that just because something like an election doesn’t go our way that somehow we don’t have to respect that leadership. In scripture the Sanhedrin tried to trick Jesus into saying something against Rome thus he would be charged with citing rebellion. In 2 Samuel rebellion is something King David faces more then once. In 2Samuel 15:9-12“9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’ ” 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything. 12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.” Absolom rose against David his own father in a coup over Jerusalem. We see Christ affirming to us that those in Authority are appointed by God, and there is a reason for it. Not every King, or ruler will be promoters of peace or prosperity, but a purpose never the less. 

Many don’t like President Trump, but regardless he was elected and serves the office of this great nation. We have a hard time understanding how the Lord can keep leaders such as North Korea, or even Syria in control, but there is a reason. We must understand parents, step parents, principles, bosses, or any other leadership must be respected under the law of the Lord. No matter how much dirt there is, or what mistakes someone made, we all dirt in our lives. None of us are perfect and we cannot expect to know what it’s like to be in the highest positions of leadership. We are all without justification on our own, but it’s through Christ we are blessed. We are blessed and through mercy we are given the ability to preach, teach, and lead those around us. Will we lead rebellion against the Lord by spouting hate and wicked speech, or will we lead those to the Lord by showing love to all, and living our lives according to scripture?

We understand that the Romans were not always the kindest to the Jews, and yet Paul is very clear, Romans 13:1“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” There is no authority great then God and we must remember our place in this world. Do not sin knowingly and in the face of God. Sin itself is treason against our Father and we must not do so just because we think we can get away with it and be forgiven. In 2 Samuel 20, Joab for the second time defies the will of the King (David) and murders the leader of David’s Army Amasa. Due to Joab’s disobedience in the murder of Absolom he was demoted from General. Joab is in essence rebelling against the will of his King, due to putting what’s best for himself first. This all falls under the second rebellion to threaten the throne in a short time as Sheba stands against David calling David’s appointment not legitimate. David was appointed by God to be King, and yet Sheba, and others teach us a valuable lesson what it means to rebel against God. 

To rebel against God is treason and the punishment for treason is death. Will we stand with God or with the world?

As I was thinking about what it means to submit authority and how we cannot use this as a blanket statement.

James 4:17 “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” 

Exodus 1 Israelites rebel and do not kill the males born, thus being blessed by God.

Daniel: Daniel’s friends disobeyed king Nebuchadnezzar and does not bow down to the idol, and is blessed by God, surviving the furnace.

I am a man who believes that doing what’s right stands above that of the law of man. Understanding that ALL men in power are appointed by God. When evil rulers abound, opportunity given to those who follow Christ, we are commanded to do what is right, and thus stand up and resist the ordained for what is, and we obey our Lord. We are tested to see if we will stand by and do nothing and be subject to the wrath of God, or if we will stand up and incur the wrath of man and blessed by God?

Those with the means to do what is right must do what is right. We who can fight should fight against the evil in this world. We serve the Lordship of Jesus, and it’s in Jesus we stand up against the wrong, and obey that which is governed and not in conflict with the will of God. Batman for instance is a vigilante, but if an authority is unable or unwilling to do what is right or necessary, should he not stand up and do what is called in James 4:17?

While the idea of vigilantism is highly controversial, and largely theoretical, it’s an interesting topic to discuss. I’ve always wondered why we don’t see more vigilante justice in this world. There are a lot of millionaires and billionaires in this world and yet none of them have become Batman. Although rare there have been some accounts of vigilantism, however, in those instances it’s been more motivated by vengeance than justice. The Cornel Law School definition of vigilante justice is “Behavior that resembles or matches that of vigilantes. Vigilante justice often describes the actions of a single person or group of people who claim to enforce the law but lack the legal authority to do so.  However, the term can also describe a general state of disarray or lawlessness, in which competing groups of people all claim to enforce the law in a given area.” 

It’s a tough idea to really put into practice because largely in my opinion it’s based on accountability. While we may feel that law enforcement agencies don’t move fast enough, or don’t care enough to do the job, the fact is, while I do support the idea of vigilante justice, it’s something that must be engaged only in extreme circumstances, and it must be remembered that in our nation there are laws against this act.

Real Life Vigilantes 

There is a group of people who patrol the streets in Liverpool UK, and they claim to be extra eyes and ears for the police. They do however dress in suits, gear, and hide their identity. They have stopped at least one pickpocket, but more then that, they help prevent crime, and feed the homeless. There is a project called the real life superhero project, and they are a real group in Montreal. There are other groups popping up, and while they are not quite Batman, they do have good intentions to help those in need, and deter crime.

http://reallifesuperheroes.com
http://xtremejusticeleague.org/index.php/about/

The line between rebellion and trying to do the right thing is a blurry gray line. It must be understood that just because you don’t agree doesn’t give you the right to take matters into your own hands. Children who don’t think their parents make the right decisions, doesn’t mean the child can do what they wish. Just because you don’t like the way a court case went, doesn’t mean you can take justice into your own hands. Rebellion is not always a bad word that depicts racism, or rule breakers. While the rebellion in Star Wars stood against a dictatorship that ruled through fear and punished with death, not every rebellion is indeed a negative thing. The biggest rebellion we need to keep in mind is the rebellion towards God in sinful behaviors. We must understand that God is the authority and His law is perfect and good. The laws of man may be fallible and mans rulers though ordained by God does not mean all leaders or rulers are to be obeyed. Obey the rulers of man so as they do not conflict with the laws of God. There may come a day when the rulers of the land make God’s law a crime. In these situations it is right to rebel against the authority, but know that there will consequences for it. While Jeremiah, Daniel, even Paul, disobeyed the law of the land, Paul died for it. Are we willing to die for the Lord? Are we willing to stand against authority to stand up for God? Our life is not our own, but our life is for God. We must remember to always do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and follow authority ie: Parents, Police, Teachers, Government officials etc. so long as God is not being disobeyed. (This is not a matter of opinion based on different policies.)

Stand for the Lord and do what’s right. Know the details before passing decisions. Be vigilant, and prepare for the day when doing what’s right may not be easy, and it may turn illegal. I cannot vouch for others, but I would rather be judged by God and find pleasing favor in the Lord, rather then save myself in the eyes of man. 

How Long Will You Wait?

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How Long Will You Wait?

I hear it all the time; “I have to work on some things before I can go to church.” I hear so many excuses for so many different areas of life, and while of course some are legitimate others are not. At some point we must launch. We cannot sit on the launch pad forever. While there may be delays in the launch, we need to be ready when the weather clears and we are a go for launch. We cannot continue to shelve problems, or kick the can down the road to deal with later.

Do we move with intent towards God every day? Do we push ourselves to move beyond our lazy nature, or do we become stagnant swamp water? When I think of moving forward with Christ I think of the Apostle Paul. The fight he faced for so long in his life was beyond what most of us would ever face. If we were faced with that kind of opposition would we pick up our ball and go home? Would we keep our faith, or would we go back to our old ways of life? When you live in Christ your spirit is constantly refilled in the Holy Spirit.2 Timothy 4:6 (NKJV)“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.”Paul knew his time was at hand to depart this world, and he knew that his work was good work. The thing about Paul was he wasn’t afraid to die. You cannot truly face life, and face challenges if you are afraid to fail, or die. Paul knew he would suffer in the name of the Lord, and he was prepared because he knew God’s grace was sufficient for him. 

When we consider the challenges in our life, would we be willing to die for Christ? There are hills to die on and there are fights that aren’t worth the effort. Christ is the hill to die on. Christ is the only hill we face that we need to ever truly worry about. So many of us live for this world. So many people live to make money, or seek fame. So many people live for trinkets or other things that keep them tethered to this world, but we are called to cleave to Christ and sever the desires of this world. 2 Timothy 4:9 (NKJV) “Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.”Will we abandon those we are called to serve along side, or will we remain faithful and vigilant like Luke? Will we fight when the fight comes to our door or will we cower in fear? Will you stand on the truth and preach that truth, or will you forgo doctrine for the pleasing of others? 2 Timothy 4:3 (NKJV)“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;”It is not easy to stand against the pressures of the world, but we must remember what’s at stake. Jesus came to us on a rescue mission. Jesus deployed from Heaven to come and rescue us from the hostage situation we were in. We were being held in bondage by sin, and that sin was never going to negotiate. Jesus came to save us, and give us a change at forever. God gives us a spirit of strength not fear. 

In order for us to truly launch we must understand that nothing we face in this world is by chance. We make choices that send us on a path. We face our own repercussions. God corrects our actions as needed. We face preparation, or face the sins of others. No matter where we find ourselves we are on a divine appointment. No matter if it’s at the store in the check out line, or rolling up on a rollover accident we are where we need to be when we need to be there. God wants you and the question is, are you available to answer the call? When the time comes how will you finish your journey? Will you finish it like Paul? 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NKJV)“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

When we prepare to take our last trip around the sun how will we answer to God? God gives us all talents and we have the opportunity to grow those talents, or squander them away. Christ gives us the opportunity to launch and we have the button for a go/no go for launch. Will you rise to the occasion or crash into the water? The choice is yours. Finish your journey strong and pleasing to the Lord.

Do You Doubt Yourself

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Do You Doubt Yourself? 

God, I can’t do what you ask of me; you’ve got the wrong person for the job. God, why am I not handsome enough? God, why am I so stupid I can’t figure out this math? God, I’m not good enough.

No matter what your doubt is, or your level of self-esteem, there’s one very important detail to remember, God loves you, and God has created you for a purpose. It’s hard to understand that we won’t be good at everything. Not everyone will like us, or even respect us. God knows our hearts, our strengths and weaknesses, and because of that God uses us to fit our skill set. I know God isn’t going to put me in a position to rely on math. I also know my gifts don’t rest within the nursery at church, however the youth, God thought it would funny to place me outside my comfort zone to get involved with the youth program at church, despite my comfort level. I have often wondered why me, and I’ve questioned what gives me the right to teach, or preach about our Lord and Savior. I’ve wondered what makes me the right person to start with. When it comes down to it though, am I questioning myself, or am I questioning God? Does God make mistakes? According to scripture, no, God’s plan is perfect, so then, we are the ones sinking in the water because of a little faith.

What do we think about ourselves with others? The Devil is the great divider. If Lucifer can divide us from inside paradise imagine what he can do to our marriages, our families, communities, etc. It’s hard thinking about how far divided we really are. We are divided in ideals, politics, even now the topic of biological sex identity. We have truly become lost in the ideas of the world. Even lost we have hope, a hope of tomorrow, a hope of eternal, and no longer the darkness reigns without a hope. We just need to see the red letters and know the truth. Galatians 3:26 NKJV“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” For my God has breathed a breath of life, and I am reborn in it. I feel the spirit renew my faith everyday. I feel God by my side even in the darkest of nights. I feel God’s warmth in the coldest of days. Fear does not run my life as it once had. I came to the Father broken, and I was remade, re-forged, and built stronger. 

Colossians 3 speaks of being a new man/woman, a new creation in the spirit of the Lord. It calls for us to let go of the old self, to allow the old (you) to die away and be reborn. You aren’t who you were growing up or what side of the tracks you grew up on. We are made of God and in the Holy Spirit we are not divided in God’s house. We are all valued to why do we devalue others, or even ourselves? Just because we are different, and come from different places, doesn’t mean we don’t all add value to this life. Colossians 1:16 NKJV“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or [powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”We are all made of God, for God, and that means that each of us plays a roll, not a matter of big or small, God loves us all just the same. 

God I don’t know if I can teach that class. God I don’t know if I can go on that mission trip. God I don’t know if I can lead that ministry in my church. God chooses us because He knows we can handle it. God appoints us because we are the right person for the right job. We must learn to trust in that and be willing to submit, and not constantly push back. We are all Human beings and we bring differences but even in those differences we celebrate under one name, Jesus Christ. We are under our creator the one and only Father God.

We doubt if we can live together, or if we can coexist in this world, but the thing is, we must live in harmony together. Republican or Democrat we say “Oh I’ll never be friends with that someone who voted for that guy.” Even worse, is when the dissention becomes hostile and filled with anger and violence. We don’t have to agree but we are called to live together under one ozone layer. It’s time to put away the foolishness that’s ridden our planet in anger and hatred. It’s time to realize it’s time to make a change. Proverbs 17:27NKJV “He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.”

God our father teaches a quiet answer that turns away wrath. Do not allow your insecurities to cause you to try and strong arm your opinion. Do not allow fear to dictate your actions. We all have our creator in common and even when I doubt who I am, what I can do in this world, God always says “I got this”.

Always speak the truth and we do that in love. All things are possible in Love. God gives us all a chance to do great things, or terrible things. We have the opportunity to spread love and at the same time if we doubt ourselves, trust that we are loved by the Father. No matter the opportunities God places in your lap, God chose you to be the one unique enough to handle the job. No matter if it’s a ministry class, a mission trip, a conflict at home or work, we have the power to change because we learn the truth in Jesus Christ. We may not be able to change others, but we can change ourselves. Don’t doubt who you are, instead grow in Christ. Don’t run from Christ’s calling for you, instead embrace it, and know that you are so loved by our creator that He wants a personal relationship with you. That means you’re important and needed and wanted. It doesn’t matter what man/women, says about you, all that matters is what we do and if it’s pleasing to God.

We are gifted with Grace, and blessed with Mercy, and we have our Faith that in Jesus Christ alone we are saved. We have Scripture to guide us, to teach us, and in all we do bring Glory to the father. These are the pillars in which we stand and if we are honest with ourselves, we have a blessing and we should all feel special and loved. Don’t let the world tell you you’re anything less then royalty under the blood of Christ. Don’t let the weight and sin of this world eclipse who you really are.

Whom Will You Kneel For

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Whom Will You Kneel For 

The world, life, is hard and is relentless in the attack. I was thinking about the movie Superman, and the picture of Zod in front of Superman demanding the man of steel kneels before the general. We have a choice in our life to determine whom we ultimately want to kneel before. We don’t have the option to sit on the sidelines and not choose a side. Everyone has a side, even those who don’t believe at all have a side. If we are not with Christ we are with the world. If you’re are in the world, you may be an unwitting participant in the team for Christ, but more often then not we become unwitting pawns of the Devil. I just heard the public outcry, ‘but I’m a good person!’ While that may be true, good doesn’t get us into Heaven. 

The idea of being saved is different from the idea of being submitting. The act of kneeling is the physical show of a person submitting. Ephesians 3:8-14“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Jesus Christ is the great healer, and the Son of the Father. We are healed from our chains, and set free, but how many of us are willing to submit to the father? We love the idea of fire insurance, or the get out of Hell free card, and that describes the savior part, but what about the Lord part? Do we truly, if we’re honest about it, feel the need to bow, or drop to bended knees for the Lord of the universe? We love the insurance, but to be a servant, that’s the line. Our Lord says, Matthew 7:21-23“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ 

Knowing that Jesus Christ existed, and accepting the power of Heaven and Earth, are very different then succumbing to them. Knowing the power of Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to wash over you, it’s hard not to drop to your knees when you finally have the release of the world on your shoulders when you submit to Christ. We know that being a Christian, especially today is very difficult, but we realize that we still have freedoms to worship without fear of being turned into human candles which is exactly what Nero of Rome did to early Christians. 

Whom will you kneel for, and when your faith is questioned, or attacked by the world, will you have the strength to kneel before God, and stand up to man? The battle for your soul has already been won and gift wrapped for you, but you have to choose to use it. Christ died for you so you wouldn’t have to bare the weight of your sin, and in return some very simple things were asked of you. Love with all your heart and submit to Christ. The war is still being waged, and eventually, hopefully before it’s too late, you’ll have to pick which side you want to be on. As for me, I’d rather kneel before God, than stand against Him. It’s never too late to let go of yourself, and be made new in the blood of Christ. It’s never too late to let go of yourself, and realize God’s way is far better than your own. We could never hope to achieve success on our own, and if we measure success from a world view, then we will only have greatness in this life, but if we accept the greatness and mystery of Jesus Christ, we will see greatness from a Heavenly view when this life passes away. Of course, it’s a choice we all must make, and some will refuse to submit to the Lord, and scripture is clear what happens to them. It might not seem fair, or just, or compassionate, but when we don’t follow rules of man we go to jail, a life in four walls, freedoms stripped away, but when we consider breaking the cosmic rules, that’s unfair. How small and foolish creatures we are to think we know better then the sovereign God of the Universe. There’s hope in Jesus, as Jesus is the one and only hope. 

MOB JUSTICE

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Mob Justice

This really grinds my gears! How we have become a society of mob justice. In this country, the law was designed as an innocent until proven guilty. I was watching Good Morning America (GMA) and there was a call to boycott all R. Kelly music. The call was to delete all music you’ve ever had for the artists, to remove record labels, commercials, etc. Currently K. Kelly is not facing any criminal charges, just an investigation, and is not certain they will ever make it to court, and that being said, how can we as a people put together this lynch mob and pretend like we are the ones to determine guilt, and how we determine guilt now based on rumor, conjecture, and popular opinion.

I remember loosing my job because I was accused of something a few years ago. I remember being charged with a crime, but there was more to it then what was told to the powers that had the choice to sign a warrant or not. The sad part was, being accused cost me my job. Not being convicted mind you, and just al allegation was enough to fundamentally destroyed my career. We have become a society that a rumor, or allegation is just the same as a guilty verdict. We are not in the days of pitchforks and witch hunts, but instead we are in the twitter and Facebook accack world. Public opinion can be everything in our world, and I must say, how sad that is.

Scripture is clear about how we are to act as Christians, and sadly if you look at the percentage of Christians in America there is supposed to be around 70% of the population. Proverbs 17:4 (NKJV)4 “An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.” If we are not part of the case, or apart of the witnesses, we need to learn to keep our mouths and opinions to ourselves. Exodus 23:1“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.” If we do not know if a report is false or true, we really should just keep our mouths shut. Leviticus 19:16 “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.” Rumors can destroy lives, and we seem to have so much power, it’s ridiculous. 

We are Christian and although it’s necessary to call out sin in those we see, we are supposed to only speak things in which edify others. We have become a society in which one off color joke, or one rumor, can cost someone everything. We’ve become a society in which a Christian having a beer in a restaurant is a treasonous sin, and then everyone knows that (someone) had a drink with dinner. Rumors do truly hurt people, and judging people not only hurts feelings, but can destroy lives.

We need to take a step back from the social media uproars, and allow justice to happen within the court of law. We are not privy to investigation details, and we are not informed of everything in the media, and the media itself is often biased to juicy details even if they aren’t exactly true, because it builds ratings. We have a responsibility as Christians to watch what we say and that’s not just verbal word, but also on social media. We have a responsibility to spread love, not dissention. We have a responsibility to truth, not rumors. Let us not get swept up in the social media crucifixions of people. Let us wait for facts before passing judgments of guilt or innocence. Let us not be at home jury’s. During the last decade, we saw this during the Michael Brown case, the Zimmermon case, Bill Cosby (who was found guilty), and many more. Let time evidence speak the truth, not conjecture and rumors. Regardless if R. Kelly is guilty or not, it’s not our place to determine that guilt, especially just based on what we hear over social media, or the news, or through our friends.

We are not Batman, and while I respect the idea of some vigilante justice, Batman does not attack those who are innocent, and he does not just make judgments without first obtaining evidence. We have a responsibility to the truth, and to seek truth. We must realize that when we gossip, when we spread rumors, when we judge quickly without the facts, we are talking the Devils language, half-truths. We are all guilty of this I’m sure, and we all need to be more conscience of what comes out of our mouths, or fingers.  

The Path To Damascus: A Journey Over The Mountain

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The Path To Damascus: A Journey Over The Mountain

This was supposed to be a leisurely walk in the woods. Day one, not the case. Right off the bat the Devil’s been nipping at my heels. From my pack being overweight, to pack malfunctions, to the rain, to the camp stove not fitting on the tank. It would seem I did not do due diligence in my preparation, even though I’ve been planning for five months. Even now as I lay in the tent I can hear the heavy wind and the rain going on outside.

1400 after exhaustion we stopped and set tent. Notes that the bag is way to heavy but with no reason what to cut next time at a loss. The pad, tent, bags are needed without a doubt. Clothes are wet from the rain and sweat. It’s likely some knives aren’t needed. Sox are decently dry. Nothing but mud and rain so far. Goals to make it to the footbridge day one not going to happen. The right strap of the ruck seems unable to hold the weight of the pack. Water seems abundant on the trail so far. There’s been a good amount of uphill but thankfully down also. My body hurts and I feel exhausted. Riley is such a trooper. She’s gone through streams, mud and crossed bridges with no problem. I think she knew of some animals off the trail and she seemed intent in a direction at one point. So far the ground is covered in rock. Setting up the tent was a big challenge but we are safe and sound for probably the night. I don’t think I will make it in 5 days. Oh, side note, no service at all on the cell. And we are going to nap. 

The Road is long, but we never give up, even when we are knocked down.

In the end much like NASA, I would consider this a successful failure . While I didn’t hit my goal the lessons learned are most valuable, and myself and Riley come away without any major injuries. Best of all, I didn’t die

I did not achieve my goal to make it as far as I wanted, but understanding that failure isn’t an awful word, so long as we learn from them. Due to fatigue and pain I stopped early in the day. Currently unless I can lighten the load or the trek becomes easier, it’s not likely I will make my goal. What was my goal? Was it to prove to myself “I still got it”, or was it something else entirely? As it is written in Acts 9 a man named Saul, a Jewish Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and trained at the school of Gamaliel, a well known and one of the most noted rabbis in history. He had power which we know because he was able to be granted the authority to go to Damascus to seek out and prosecute Christians. Saul was not a man to be trifled with. He was wealthy, popular, well known, educated, and most of all had incredible authority. He did not make it to Damascus the way he intended. On the path he becomes blinded and the Lord came to Him. Jesus Christ spoke to Saul, condemning him for the ongoing persecutions. Saul became something new. He would be known throughout the world as the Apostle Paul. So what happened to Saul? Simple and yet complex, the Holy Spirit is a force in which we do not understand and yet we know it can change people, it can heal people, it can stop death, and much, much more.  

The water of Christ is like the untainted water in nature, pure and crisp, untoched by the hands of man.

So here I am on my very own path to Damascus and the first theme that comes to mind is transformation, second is perseverance. In order to understand Jesus we must under the nature of who Jesus was. As we learn in scripture, Jesus is love. We are loved and as I lay in this chilly tent with Riley (my service dog)  next to me pressed up against my hip, I’m reminded of love. Love is the lynchpin to everything, the transformation of our spirit, who we are, and the love that gives us salvation. Here’s the catch, love and salvation doesn’t mean your life will be easy or smooth sailing. Frankly, it’s the opposite, and life gets harder. To live in Christ is to carry a cross, but also paint a bullseye on your chest. To live in Christ is to be different however, to live with that renewing source of love everyday of your life. How can we love with so much hate and turmoil? For that we return to scripture. 

Our Lord and savior loved us eternally despite our cruel nature. Our nature of sin that is no less than cosmic treason. Christ died, bled for us and with arms wide open. The trinity being part of the sacrifice repaired the gap between God and mankind that was made in the fall. The trinity touching the Earth, covering the soil on Golgotha with innocent blood cleansing sins for all who seek Jesus with a repentant heart. Christ suffered for our sins, not just a death but a cruel, long ordeal of flogging with a scourge. This was a long ordeal of hatred and malice of men pouring out His blood with each whip tearing flesh from the body. Christ suffered for our sins and in a single sentence uttered from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ freed us from a fate we deserved, Hell. Luke 22:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” That forgiveness is a gift that came at a high cost, but a gift we must choose to use. 

We all face change, but how we change is up to us. Do we change in Christ, or do we allow the world a chance to be what changes us? We all face the world every day, but it’s important we remember, “Don’t let the world be your Bible, let the Bible be your world.” (NK) Allow Christ to be the change in you. Saul changed and reminds us 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”Saul changed from the Holy Spirit and forever became Paul. As the world attacks you everyday the world wants to change you and when we truly take a look at the world, Satan rules it. Satan wants us to look like him, and not Christ. When we choose to transform ourselves to fit in the world, we choose to look like the god over the earth. It takes perseverance to fight against the forces that mean to sway you into darkness. When you choose to follow Christ, you live to follow Christ. Romans 12:1“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” We must not just feel different in our hearts, but allow that different feeling to shine in our actions every day. We cannot say we are different and still act and behave as if the world has a hold of us. We must renew ourselves daily and follow Romans 12:2“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” 

We all face the world, it’s peer pressure, it’s lies, it’s draw to look like the world living in greed, sex, cruelty, debauchery, and other sinful desires. When we face judgment at the foot of the cross, we will never be able to blame others for our actions. We will never be able to say someone else, or something else made us make sinful and un-Christ like decisions. We are all accountable for ourselves, and how we behave and treat others. The transformation that Saul goes through on the road to Damascus is a very real, fundamental example of how the Holy Spirit can change someone. Saul was a man who did awful, sinful things, and was motivated by hatred. Saul hated what the Christians stood for, and was determined to imprison, and even murder Christians. Saul was responsible for allowing Stephen to be stoned to death. We see the nature of Satan as he interferes with the workings of the Church and how Satan is determined to destroy as many lives as possible. Satan wants to break the bonds between God and man. By allowing ourselves to become overtaken by the world is to transform into the likeness of Satan. If we are to call ourselves Christians, everything we do must hold true to that scripture. We must work at it every day. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by this world, but instead allow ourselves time in the Word of God. We must study, and take the word into our hearts so that when people (the world) looks at us we look different. When we stand up before the world and against the pressure of the world we will be judged by God. Do we allow ourselves to follow destructive paths, or do we allow our path to be laid out by Christ? Walking against the grain as it were is not an easy thing. Walking against the will of this world, and standing firm on the cross is the hardest thing you will ever do. 

There is hope for those who are walking with the world. It’s never too late and you’re never too far gone to change your life around and start living for Christ. It’s never too late to accept the gift of the Holy Spirit into your heart, and allow that spirit to change you into a new creation. There is nothing too big, or too small that the Holy Spirit cannot change. The Spirit can take killers and turn them into saints. The spirit can take thieves and turn them into great missionaries. The spirit can take the worst drunk and turn them into the best father. Christ is in the business of changing lives by loving us, and showing us mercy. We are washed through the water to wipe away our sins, and be made white as snow. Jesus Christ saves, and we need to understand that as long as we live in this world, it only takes one small step down the wrong path and before we know it we’ve slipped into a chasm unable to get out on our own. We must learn that when we follow Christ nothing is impossible. Christ can change hearts and minds without bending someone’s will. I’ve seen those with addictions, with cruel and malice hearts, even devout atheists change their path because of the Holy Spirit. We all walk our own path to Damascus and while some may never find God it’s not because God wasn’t there, it’s because they chose to deny. Just as much as the slow fade (casting crowns) can cause us to slip into sin, we are only one step away (casting crowns) from knowing Jesus Christ. On my path to Damascus I realized I had a choice, a choice to be a servant of Christ or be a servant of myself. I realized I made a choice in my past to walk in the wrong direction, and I realized how influencing the world is. I realized that once I chose to follow Christ so much of the pain, and so much of the despair that I was going through would be caused by my own sinful desires. I was sinking under the weight of my own sin, and I realized that Jesus Christ was the hand that reached into the mud and lifted me out. Every one of us walks our own path of Damascus we just need to choose to let go of ourselves, the selfishness that consumes us, and allow Jesus Christ into our hearts. Once we make the choice it’s something we have to work on daily. We cannot grow complacent because the Devil never stops. The Devil never takes a day off and neither can we. The Devil and the fallen angels in his army are constantly moving against the people living in this world, and if we are not careful the cunning snake enters our lives without us knowing it. We can never become complacent to the true and real dangers we as Christians face, particularly now. The war against Christianity is not just from other religions anymore, but from within the ranks of Christianity, from politicians, and other groups that aim to destroy the Christian faith. Much like Paul we know that to be a Christian is to live a different life, but also means that life will not be an easy path. Paul would undergo great pain and suffering in the name of Christ, but we suffer only a little while to live in paradise forever. 

Being a Christian is hard sometimes, but having faith that no matter where our path leads us, whether it be down a peaceful stream, a muddy mountainous trail, or the valley of death, the Lord will see us through any and all circumstances. I firmly believe that when we no longer have a purpose God will take us home. We of course have the choice to do stupid stuff and we can hurt ourselves in the process, but God will take us home when the time is right. Follow God’s path, and live a Christian life. Don’t walk an isle on Sunday, and smile and shake hands, but as soon as the doors open you go back into the world acting like a devil. We are always being watched from people all around us, and when we act like a devil people notice. It’s only a matter of time before someone says ‘if that’s what a Christian looks like I want no part of that.’ We must do better and not give a bad impression of what a Christian should look like. As a Christian we are little Christ, and we need to be Christ like. No, we will never be perfect, and we will always fail, but we are always able to make the choice what kind of person we want to be. Let the Holy Spirit cover you and transform you each and every day. Continue to grow and change in Christ and withstand the attacks from the world. I may not have finished my goal but I have learned from it and I have grown in lieu of my failure. I will not allow this to defeat me and I will continue to grow and try to better myself and allow my failures to make a better man and most importantly a better Christian. I will attempt to take the path to Damascus again, and I will do so with the lessons I have learned. It’s okay to fall and fail, just never give up. Do not allow pride to determine who you are, but instead humble yourselves before the Lord, ask for forgiveness from the sins you’ve committed, and repent to do better not tomorrow, but today. 

Looking Back

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Looking Back

As the year 2018 ends, looking back over this last year I wonder what I’ve accomplished. While I can’t say I’ve had the most productive year, but I don’t believe it’s been a total waist either. While I’m not sure I see my own growth, I have been told I have grown, and no I don’t mean my stomach, I mean my walk with the Heavenly Father. I have moved farther along on my path to a Bachelors Degree. I have joined a young adult bible study that I enjoy going too. I have started working towards being ordained. I have attempted to get a recumbent trike from the VA as part of my recovery from back surgery. I completed another round of physical therapy. I have maintained a debt free life. I participated in multiple Wounded Warrior Project events. I said hello to new friends, goodbye to some of them, even goodbye to some old friends. The biggest change in my life is meeting a wonderful lady named Argie. We have grown in our affection of one another despite the distance between us. We are making plans to meet early in 2019 and I have become quite hopeful for that visit.

While on the surface from the outside looking in it may not look like I’ve made any progress but in reality, laying the groundwork and a solid foundation takes time and efforts. There have been setbacks along the way as my career in security ended abruptly. But God closes off paths to bad areas we don’t need to be. Security was over for me, and when it closed I decided to listen to God and trust in the new path before me. It’s interesting how God will take something completely unrelated and show us a path. While I was in Cape Cod I met some great men of God and they made great points of scripture that would lead me to my new path. Interestingly enough this came less then two weeks after I would loose my Job in security.

Going into this New Year I would recommend not looking back except to learn lessons, and leave the junk behind. Do not hold onto pain, or losses, or regrets. Learn from them, and always have a spirit of joy. The Lord God is plentiful with gifts from above, and we should be rejoicing that we still draw breath, and that while we do we can live for God. 1 Chronicles 16:11-12“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”1 Chronicles 16:8“A blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.”

Do not live in the past, because it’s gone and done. Look ahead to the future with joy and hope for Jesus loves you.