Tag: 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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

The World and Blindness

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The World and Blindness

I could have the most money in the world and without you I would have nothing. I could have hundreds of friends but without you I would have no one. I could have all the toys in the world, but without you I would have nothing. There is no amount of world that can satisfy the hunger of my soul. My Lord without you I am nothing. I can feel all the deepness of love but without you to show me the way that love means nothing. Without you my Lord I do not fully understand love, or life. What is it I seek if not for your face? Is it truth? The world tells me so many things, how do we know what’s truth? There are so many people and so many ideas about what’s right, and what is wrong. We save the trees, but we kill the babies. We are told we cannot say Merry Christmas, so it has to be a holiday party, but that wasn’t enough and now we can no longer use the term holiday. Freedoms are no longer freedom, instead it’s limited by what is deemed acceptable. In this ever changing world, there is so much telling me how to feel, what to say, what not to say, and there’s so much confusion all around me.

I can imagine so many people feel this way. I can imagine the millions of people who struggle with their faith, who go out into the world from the comfort of their homes, their old schools, and enter into a world where everyone’s got an opinion and theirs is the right one. Where the real world will teach you what you need to know. The protection of the ferry tail life is gone and the world will teach you how to be.

I remember when I was growing up and going to church I was glued to what I was being told. I was a sponge and I wanted to know whom this Jesus was who would make everything better. When I reached middle school I had been in church for many years and I fear without it my life would have been tremendously different, if I survived the three years. I can remember many nights coming home from school after a long day of being bullied and tortured and crying myself to sleep, praying God would take me before morning. I asked, begged God for many nights to save me. I remember being offered drugs more then once. I remember more then once being offered cigarettes, and alcohol. Later I remember the whispers that gangs had moved into the neighborhood and they were recruiting. The Devil was hungry and I refused to be his entrée. I knew those things were wrong and I stayed away. I recalled the DARE program and hearing what drugs do, and I remember hearing how they destroy your life. Without Church it seems my life could have gone far differently. Wondering every night if my life was a mistake I faced the world and it was telling me my life was worthless. I was being told that my life would be better in a gang doing drugs, stealing things, drinking, and that’s where I would be better off.

Romans 12:2 (NKJV)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.” The world wants you to think that God is dead. The world wants you to think that God is a nice story you tell people to make them feel better about death and life. I recall what scripture says, John 20:29“Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Thomas saw and only then did he believe, but those of us who’ve never seen, we are called to believe from faith in the things we cannot see. See, with the world fallen, and ruled by the Devil, everything is teaching us to forsake the cross as nothing more then a story. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Jesus knew all along who would betray him, who wouldn’t believe in him, and yet, he offered the same gift to them as he did to those who loved him. He offered the same gift to the soldiers who nailed him to the cross. He offered the gift of salvation and forgiveness to the man who flogged him nearly to death. To those people he offered this James 2:30“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Forgiveness is an amazing gift, a gift we must accept in order to use. Forgiveness is such an easy concept, and yet for some so, so difficult to act on. The world teaches revenge, to get even, if you are hurt, to hurt them worse. Jesus forgave us, so we would live, but not so we could live in faith alone, but that our faith would compel us to work. 

James 2:20-24 (NKJV) 20“But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”

I am a stone jagged and rough. Jesus Christ is the waters of life, and in my walk with Christ the waters wear away the sharpness, the jagged, jaded edges, and it’s in Christ I become smooth and the waters wears away everything I am not meant to be. Jesus knows I’m a work in progress and he doesn’t judge me for the failings of my sinful natures, instead he picks me up, brushes me off and tells me not to do those things again. Jesus Christ knows my heart and knows I am a sinner but I try hard to walk the righteous path. I know that the world teaches me so many things, but it’s the teachings of the greatest teacher, the greatest shepherd to ever be. No matter how awful the world tends to be, remember that there are good people who live in it. Remember how dark the path may be Jesus is our light house guiding us home. The world will cast the fog, and will try to push you off course to get lost on the sea. We may become broken along the way, but God mends the broken hearted. God uses the broken, and makes the weak strong, and the poor rich. God is a master builder and creates a masterpiece in each of us. The potter to my clay, and I know that my Jesus is greater then that of all the world, and I trust Jesus, and though I am told I must live in the world, I know I must never become apart of it. I realize that I am not a perfect man, I am a wretched sinner, and I deserve Hell, but by Grace I am saved.

Lord my shelter, my rock, my protector, I pray to you to watch over me, to guide me, to look after me in the days ahead as I go to be closer to you. It’s no accident I find my own path to Damascus, and I ask for your wisdom that I may grow closer to you. I ask for the words to put on the paper that would be a message to the world. I ask for those who read this little blog of mine that they are blessed in the words you speak through me. I ask that I decrease and your presence increases in my works. I ask that you diminish my pride and that my works be about you and not me. I ask as I go into this new year that you show me a path. I ask for your guidance in where to go, and what to do that would be pleasing and uplifting in your word. The world is a cruel place and I’ve seen so many affected by the cruelty and awful nature of people in the last few weeks, I pray that those who’ve been hurt that you place your healing hand on their hearts. I ask these things to your blessings and your will. With love in my heart I humble before you that your will whatever it may be will be done. Amen

Blind Justice

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Blind Justice

We spend so much time trying to fight what we cannot see, smell, or touch. How do we prove something that happened 2000 years ago, and how do we face that truth if it were to flip our world upside down? The truth is we often hold anger and resentment early in our life that forces us down a path of quantifying what we see and what we fan feel, the problem is when that pain forces us to a feeling that there is nothing out there, no God, no grand plan, just cosmic chance.

We often want answers as to why bad things happen to good people. We want to know why people get sick, or why babies die, or why there is evil in the world? The idea that there is evil in the world because of a cosmic or divine standing such as sin is hard for some people to believe. Some people believe that sin is just the nature of man and man is only the wirings within the mind, the nature and nurture argument that a compound of events molds a person into the way they are and thus sin is nothing more then biology. While many compare this in adults, we fail to recognize the sin that spawns in children at an early age. The sin, or nature to lie, or to steal, or harm animals, or even other children is nature are it’s earliest stages but if it’s nature and nurture then what’s the cause? If human behavior is not inherently sinful and evil is a learned trait then where do children at this young age learn such behavior?

We want to think that we are in control of our lives, and that there is no one else, and nothing else at work. We want to believe that we are all we need and nothing else can dictate policy for our lives. Many view the Christian faith as a faith of rules, of guidelines in which a cosmic fairy tells us what we are doing wrong, as it takes the fun out of life, and in turn threatens us with some imaginary fiery torment for all eternity. So instead of putting any credence to this nonsense, people walk their walk and live their lives however they want, and while some live their lives in complete peace of others, there are some who find the cross so distasteful, so offensive that they cannot help themselves but to wage war with Christianity.

For those who wage war with Christianity, what is the main piece of contention? As it has been said by both Lee Strobel and J. Werner Wallace, the linchpin of Christianity rests with the resurrection of Christ. If the resurrection didn’t happen then the followers of Christ were liars and died for a known lie and Christ was just some profound Rabbi. If it did happen, and Christ did raise from the dead, then how would we be able to prove it happened? There are manuscripts that date back to within 30 years of the resurrection of Christ, and there are thousands of manuscripts that can all be cross-referenced to prove validity. That being said, there is still the question of how to prove or disprove the case for Christ. There are 5843 surviving manuscripts of ancient texts that is far more then those of the Iliad, and other early writings. All of these things further the evidence that this was not an isolated account. How can we expect to find truth if we are unwilling to truly add up the facts that all point to one truth, Jesus.

Women were not allowed to be legal witnesses, and every account of the life and resurrection of Christ does not show discrepancies, it shows a different perspective, different pieces of the puzzle that all point to the same overall story, despite the small variances in story, the overwhelming evidence points to the empty tomb that the Romans, and Jews were unable to prove foul play. The first account of the missing body was reported by women, and the fact that would only hurt the case for Chris, yet that did not detract the Apostles to tell the truth. There is no way 500 people would have been under some joint hallucination, or mass psychosis. This is just simply not possible. Yet, so many people discount the 500 eye witness, the truth does not just come from followers of Christ, yet Romans and Jews alike. The accounts of the empty tomb and the death of those followers of Christ has accounts on both sides who wanted nothing more then to prove the stolen body theory. Jesus did not survive the cross as many have proven, that his death was most assuredly accurate.

Scripture is not the only account out there but scripture is the only truth, the others just collaborate the truth. Jesus was thrust with a spear at the end of his life by trained killers, killers who if failed would be executed themselves. Jesus died on the cross from his injuries sustained in a flogging, beatings, hanging on the cross unable to breath, and bleeding to death, Christ would not have survived his ordeal. The cross is offensive to so many, but even for sinners and atheists alike, the cross is a symbol one so many find distasteful or are afraid of. So many people allow their anger and hate to blind them from a truth they don’t want to see. The truth is, it doesn’t matter if you are Atheist, Buddhist, Muslim, Pagan, or any other faith sins are equal at the foot of the cross. Jesus dying on the cross for the love of all mankind was a gift, one that was given freely and for all those who seek Him to use. A gift without application is worthless, but for those of us who seek Christ, who seek to have a relationship with the Father, we understand that the justice of the Father is blind. We understand that before the cross all sin is equal, and so long as we seek the Father through Jesus Christ the sins we have are washed away because Christ alone took the punishment, the wrath of God for them. As we know from our own legal system, justice holds the scales and is blind to anything but the facts. Our Heavenly Father does not see our color, our creeds, our nationalities, even our flaws, for the scales are level for each of us. Our hearts which turn to Christ, to be made a new creation, to burn away the sins of the past, to be reborn with a new heart, washed by the waters in baptism showing ones faith to the world, starting a path as a new person.

It is because of Christ I do not fear death, instead I know that when my work here on Earth is done I will be welcomed home with open arms. It is because of Christ that I have any hope at all within this life, and the hardships I’ve endured seem to mean something. It is in Christ I know that my suffering as not been for naught and I trust in my Fathers plans for me. I know that love is more powerful then my sins, and that sins albeit cosmic treason against an almighty, all powerful God, love concurs death itself. My works are but filthy rags to the Lord but my heart is worth all eternity. It is the heart in which Christ died for, the gift for each and every one of us to choose to have that relationship with Him in our hearts. How lucky are we to have a God who cares about us, who cares about our well being, and wants only what’s best for us. How gracious are we to be to give God nothing short of our love and devotion. Jew and Gentiles we are all welcomed into the Kingdom, and the price of admission is love. We are to have a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Christ changed my life two years ago, and while it hasn’t been an easy road for me, I know that Christ has plans for me. I was angry with God for the way everything had happened with my ex-wife. I was angry that I was made to go through such an awful even not once, but twice in my life. God though doesn’t make people do bad things, they are more then capable of doing that on their own. God does however promise to see us through those bad times. God promises that He would never leave nor forsake us. God didn’t just promise those things to me in passing, but when the odds were stacked against me to survive, God put a stop to my own death, assuring me my sins were forgiven, and breathing new life into my chest. A miracle to say the very least, and not only did I survive, I have come so far under the guidance of my Heavenly Father. Christ lives and as one of my favorite movie series points out, “God’s NOT DEAD!” No God is not dead, and the empty tomb and over 500 eyewitnesses proves that. We have so much evidence for the existence of Christ’s miraculous life, all we have to do is accept what we find. Bad things happen in and around the church and this often pushes people away. People judge God by the actions of people. People hate God or despise the very existence of God because they often feel hurt or betrayed by God, or deny that a God could be so careless to allow such evil or bad things to happen. The truth is, we don’t always have the answers of God and the why, but we do understand that we have free will to love or hate. We have free will to build or destroy, and it’s in those decisions our actions are born, thus we do amazing or awful things. The pursuit of power, greed, or sexual lust are the three basis that people do most things wrong in adult life. God does not need us, but wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

Jesus Dies 

Luke 19:44-46“Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.”

John 19:34“But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”

The Empty Tomb 

Luke 24:1-12 24 “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, [a]and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were [b]greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

8 And they remembered His words. 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like [c]idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths [d]lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.” 

John 20:4-7“So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the [a]handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.”

Jesus Resurrected 

John 20:24-29 24 “Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, [f]“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Reasons to Believe 

The eye witnesses had power, had prestige, and money. They had nothing to gain giving up their life for Christ, except for the truth of a Heavenly Father. Every eyewitness was willing to die for the truth. That puts their testimony in a different category then you or I.

The chain of evidence is there if people actually look at it. The writings and teachings did not change from writings within 20-30 years, till the counsel in which the bible was assembled.

Christianity is true because the evidence points to truth. God is truth and the scales are equal for each and every one of us. 

Christmas Truth

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Christmas Truth

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus Christ is the truth, and the only ‘truth’ that matters this Christmas. Jew and Gentiles alike, those who follow Christ in the light of the truth shall be set free from the bondage of sin and we will be washed by the reviving waters, the blood of Christ that was shed so each and every one of us could live a life in eternal hope. That blood that was shed could never happen without the birth of that baby Emanuel. Christmas is our time to remember the birth of Jesus, and no matter when it ‘actually’ happened, Christmas in December is our observed celebration. 

Jesus is Christmas. Christmas is not about us, or the gifts we get. God gave us a single gift and that gift was Christ. Do we trust in the Lord? Do you ask God for all these things, these wishes of jobs, love, relationships, or just the stuff? We are not the center of the universe. In 1532 Nicolaus Copernicus theorized we are not the center of the universe. This man was threatened with death, even by the church, and shows that there will always be religious idiots. There will always be those who know just enough scripture to be dangerous. So many people choose to live for self, choose to live for selfish desire and don’t live a Christocentric life (Christ Centered). Nothing else matters in our life, except a babe born laying in a manger born in Bethlehem. All people, reace, ethnicity, color, or creed is loved by God so much that he gave his only begotten son for us.

John 8:12“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 

We see the Christmas story in Luke.

Luke 2:1-25 (NKJV)

2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Have You Been Naughty or Nice?

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Have You Been Naughty or Nice? 

We are in the mindset we’ve been nice, and we’ve made the list in which Santa Claus has checked twice. We think we deserve gifts and presents but we’ve lost sight of what’s so important. Instead of Santa it’s God who truly knows if we’ve been naughty or nice. When we think of our walk are we walking in God’s will or our own will? Luke 1:26-3326 “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”Our sins are treacherous and filthy and our sins forever place us on the naughty list. We are wrapped up in emotions this time of year and we often loose sight of truth. Faith is based on God’s truth not emotions. We cannot look back to our emotions and expect our perceptions to be based on reality. 

Santa is a fun fantasy we enjoy but we cannot take our eyes off of the real giver of the best gift we could ever accept. Forgiveness of our sins for eternal salvation is freely given despite the naughty nature of our lives. Hebrews 11:6“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We must accept into our heart that 

James 1:17“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 7:11“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

We celebrate Christmas of the little baby in the manger, but we forget it was be cause we were hopeless without Him, we were sinners in which there was no hope of works to win our way to Heaven. Death is a gift, a release of a sinful life for a place of no sorrow, no pain, and no tears. Our naughty nature is wasted away and Heaven awaits us where we will forever be amazing.

Now, before all of you get up in arms about Santa Claus let me add a personal note, I believe the spirit of Santa Claus is very alive and real. In the 4thcentury Saint Nicholas was a very alive and real person who gave gifts generously to those of the poor. While the legend has changed, and small things were added or moved, the idea of Santa has endured. The magic and mysticism of Santa may have grown as time has moved forward, but the truth is, while Santa may no longer be a real person (that we know of) the thought of what Santa represents is just fine. Giving to those in need selflessly is not only a Santa thing, but as the Saint who gave birth to the legend was a Christian bishop. Live your life with a giving heart, and full of love. Keep Christmas cheer and while Santa is great, remember Santa worked for Christ, just doing as Christ had done. Don’t put Santa ahead of Christ, but don’t miss the spirit of good ol Saint Nick. 

Before The Trumpet Sounds

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Before The Trumpet Sounds 

It truly breaks my heart when I see so many people who don’t know the Lord. When I see people who are grumpy, ill tempered, mouths like a sailor, or cruelty towards others, it makes me wonder what would it take to introduce someone to the Lord. As we go into this Christmas season and I along with millions of other people celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, how many truly know the Lord? Jesus came to us to show us a life of hope, of love, and to give us a true understanding of the Lords blessings. Even with the evidence of who Christ was, the truth that exists, people still deny him. Sadly, the day will come the trumpet will sound and for those who’ve waited too long, or even those who have chosen a path devoid of Christ, the alternative that awaits them is not the fun cliché’ of ‘Hell’s more fun’. Revelation 21:8But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” To me, this doesn’t sound like a ‘fun’ place to be, especially for all eternity. 

We are told time and time again yet we never listen, at least not in the appropriate context. We are told to live life to the fullest, or live like it’s your last, but usually when we hear that it’s talking about doing whatever makes you happy, or taking chances. What we don’t hear is giving your heart to the Lord because it could be your last. Trust in your savior so when the end times come you are not condemned to the worst punishment that we would ever face. We are warned time and time again in scripture, but we rarely listen. We see those who truly should know better especially those who spend so much time in Church and yet never know Christ. This shouldn’t be surprising however because Christ said this 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!’” 

When we think about the last days we don’t usually consider the trumpet sound that will one day echo through the air. For those who follow Christ 1 Corinthians 15:52 (NKJV) 52“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” For everyone else, those who never knew Christ, the trumpet will sound and will signify the day of judgment for all. Ezekiel 33:3-6 “when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will [a]save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ We as Christians have an obligation to the Gospel. We must spread the good word of the living waters. We must understand that we have a responsibility that wasn’t just a suggestion by Christ but a command to spread the word of God, this was called the Great Commission. 

When the day comes for the trumpets to sound, Revelation 8:6“So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.” Will you be ready? Will you have lived your life as if your last day would define if you were worthy of Heaven? Now, make no mistake, no one on their best day is worthy of the Kingdom of the Lord, but through God’s grace and mercy, and Love so we can use the gift we’ve been given. I digress, and I feel it’s important to understand the severity of need to not have the mentality you can come to Christ whenever you deem fit, after you’ve had your fun. We never know when our last breath will be and we never know when the trumpets of the end will sound. So many people make excuses for not going to church, or even making excuses to do things that would make anyone question if they were true Christians or not. Excessive drinking, partying, multiple sexual partners, and an overall living for the world, and not for Christ is exactly the caution I mean to express. Although I do not fear death, my own death, I do fear for the millions or more that don’t know Christ and will face righteous judgments of the Lord. While we will all be judged, those who love and fear the Lord have nothing to fear from death. Will you allow yourself the life you want, the life of the world, the life of selfish sin to miss your chance to know Christ? 

The day will come when Christ returns, and we don’t know when that will be. We don’t know when we will breathe our last, and because of our shot amount of time, we have a finite sum of opportunities to give ourselves to Christ, and we must live to fight the world and all of it’s distractions from our Lord and Savior. Don’t wait for the blow of the trumpet for at that point it could be too late.

Strange Directions

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Strange Directions

I have had a little time to ponder where I am in my life, and I’ve come up with some interesting conclusions. First I told God early in my life I did not want to be in ministry such as a priest. Later I expanded that to include pastors. I fought tooth and nail against that notion. Then one day I was asked to teach a Sunday school class every now and then. Of course I said yes, and did so for a while. I eventually stepped away from teaching to focus on school more, even though I believe that was just an excuse. While I enjoyed teaching, I didn’t leave myself enough time to put lessons together, and I was trying to run from my enjoyment of teaching. I was running from my enjoyment of diving into scripture and learning the mystery of the Bible. I guess the question to ask was what was I afraid of? Well, that’s simple, afraid of getting sucked down a path I didn’t want to be on. God though, as I said thinks things are funny. I didn’t realize when I walked away from teaching I would miss it as much as I did. But God gets what He wants.

Some time would pass before I get back into teaching or preaching anything and I could see a difference in my life. Proverbs 21:2“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.” I knew in my heart I needed to get back into scripture and get back to more of a routine with the Lord, I just had no idea how far that would go. 

I have seen how quickly the plan goes off the rails and how quickly the sharp claws of the Devil can grip a hold of someone and not let go. I was given a second change, or maybe it was a third, or fourth, but regardless, I was given another chance, and God has made sure to set my path.

I never would have imagined my life where it is, not ever. I never would have dreamt I would be involved with so many church or Bible study events. I never would have imagined that so many of my daily events would revolve around scripture. I look to my tomorrow and I no longer tell God my plans, instead I wait for God to reveal them to me. I can honestly say that when I stopped trying to walk my own way I have been happier, and more satisfied with life. While I don’t presume to say everyone’s path is that of ministry, I believe there is a path for everyone because scripture says so. God creates every one of us for a purpose and we may not always see it, or even like it at first, but giving it some time and you will find your peace. I never would have thought I’d be working with the Emergency Chaplains, or working towards being ordained, or ministering to people every day, but here I am. God’s got a great sense of humor, and for every big thing I said no, God said ‘Oh yeah? Watch this.’

If you don’t know your path this Christmas, first and foremost learn about that little baby boy born in a stable and placed in a manger. Learn about that baby boy named Jesus that came to save us from the hopeless tomorrow we once had. The darkness we were once wrapped in was broken after 400 years of silence and a baby’s cry pierced the universe and the greatest concert to ever be performed was played by the very Angels on high. It’s a sweet, sweet sound that of a newborn baby. This baby was no ordinary child however, for he was born a King. He wasn’t born a prince like everyone else, no, he was born into his Kingship. We all have a chance to worship that little boy, the king of kings, if we only give our hearts to Jesus we will watch our lives change. We will be born again as a new creation, and we will walk a new path. We will be different and we will have others look at us and know that we who’ve been washed by the Holy Spirit are different. It’s time to ask yourself what direction you’re going, and see if you’re walking with Christ or not. It’s Christmas, and no time like the present to give a present to the glorious king of the universe. Love concurs all, and we only have to love to love to use the greatest gift we’ve ever been given, salvation. Follow the light, you will know your path. The light is Jesus today, and always.