Peace , Perfect Peace... Some random thoughts on Peace.

Peace , perfect Peace...

The Personnel Journal reported this incredible statistic: since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the time! In its study, the periodical discovered that of 3530 years of recorded history, only 286 years saw peace. Moreover, in excess of 8000 peace treaties were made--and broken.

True peace..complete and perfect , can only come from one source - its Author... Our Creator.

This time of year the phrase " Peace on Earth and Good Will towards all Men" is used quite a bit (although not as much as it used to be). Taken from Luke 2:14 , it is meant to be used as a sentiment of gesture , implying that we should all be peaceable towards each other... While I don't disagree with the sentiment , that's not actually what the scripture says. Its says "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”...

Who exactly is he pleased with? - Those who love him...those who obey him... Those who TRULY try to know him...

The truth is , the peace that is being talked about here is not that of war between men ,but peace between a disobedient creation and its creator. Being reconciled to God through faith ,love and obedience to his word can one only REALLY ever experience TRUE peace...

I for one , can testify to this truth.

Even then , the peace that we have through God doesn't ensure us a pain-free life ,but rather one of testing.Peace is not a life without trial ,but rather the quiet place you find among the noise ... safety in the midst of harm.... Comfort in the throes of utter turmoil and anguish....Peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but is rather the confidence that He is there with you always.

I had read a short story of a man who sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.

The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.

As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.

A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.

The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?

A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.

A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs.

With her eyes closed she spread her wings to cover her little ones...

She manifested peace in a place where there was none... A Peace that transcends all earthly turmoil. ...True peace.. Because safety consists not in the absence of danger but in the presence of God.
We are living in dark times .. and dark times don't require dark measures ,but rather - The Light ....I'll end this with the poem that inspired this thought tonight ,in hope that it will leave you with the same "Light" it left me..

" I rest beneath the Almighty's shade,
My griefs expire, my troubles cease;
Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed,
Wilt keep me still in perfect peace."
                                                       

                                                       - Charles Wesley.

Windows...

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
(1 Samuel 16:7 ESV)

The human eye is incredible. The fact that there are actually 2 of them working together for the same purpose yet independently of each other is even more so…If you take in to account all the sequences that are firing off at this instant while you read this , it’s just plain staggering… There is no question ,given the complexity of these organs that they were carefully created with much thought and care.. They are often called “The Windows to the Soul”..

But for all their grandeur , they are still limited as to what they can do..

You will never be able to see your own face with the exception of the tip of your nose without the aid of a reflection..nor the back or top of your head ,with out the aid of some sort of reflection or mirror..I think we all would agree that we don’t leave the house to go anywhere without first checking our reflection first..but have you ever considered what it is we are checking?

You see we have set a standard in our minds that we check against, and depending on how the reflection looks we make adjustments – in other words we are looking for flaws… And when we find them, we make the corrections to our satisfaction and then we go about our business but regularly taking advantage of any reflective surface we pass – to just “be sure” that everything is still in check…

With all of our care and personal honesty we attack the flaws in mirror with conviction..yet what do we do about the inside?…how do our eyes see in there?… This is another limitation to the eye- it can’t look inward without a reflective surface…

So have you ever looked intently into a mirror…into your own eyes? Even then ,you can’t see whats in your heart… you can’t see the side of your self that no one else knows.. But God does – after all , if he put that much CARE into your EYES , how much more then did he for your SOUL?…

He created it.. He gave us his words to nourish it… and when we have broken it , he gave us his son to SAVE it…

Would he not also give us a way to CARE for it?.. A mirror of sorts to check for the flaws and make adjustments?… A standard to set our minds on?…. yet for many , that standard sits on a shelf and NEVER gets looked into…For all the beauty we take in with our eyes, nothing compares to the beauty and majesty The God who created us…The very least we can do is look in his book written for us so that we can come to know him. By this and this alone, we can then know ourselves and see our TRUE reflection..

For all of our complexity and beauty – we are flawed and fragile creatures…If eye sight is considered to be the most valued of the senses , how much more then is the soul and the ability to look inside and see your own – and be CONTENT with what you SEE?

The invitation to study is still open…

Read Psalm 139 ,all verses.

Do it – it will be worth it 

This Little Box...

This little box contains 2 things essentially -Thoughts and Time ,both mine and yours. For me , time is spent typing my stream of consciousness in an attempt to share something relevant with you that may be useful to you. For you , time is spent reading and considering what has been put before you for your  consideration and to hopefully provoke thoughts of your own..Therefore , given  the fact that I took time to write these things down and you have given YOUR time to read them  , then we are connected in this little box …. Here –  we share a moment in time and what I share with you MUST be worthy of your time or I have wasted both of ours…

Time is an extraordinarily complicated  facet of our lives. It was created by God to put forth life into motion , and to help us keep track of that life and its events and ultimately  , To give order and purpose… It was set in motion by Him and will only be stopped BY HIM when the TIME of HIS choosing has come.. Our great God in his wisdom didn’t give man the authority to rule over time ( imagine the mess we’d have if he did!) but rather gave him the ability to think ,reason and act on each moment as it’s presented to us. You see, we can never get a moment back once it has come , you only have 1 shot at it while its new … As soon as it comes –  because as quickly as it comes , it also goes and becomes the past . Even as I type this , and you read it – these small fragments of time are gone.. So let me get to my point and not waste the most precious commodity we have since we don’t really know how much of it we have been afforded…

We all have people that we care for and love in our lives. Our family…our friends…. I dare say that we have many people who we fight for or even die for if necessary . With that thought in mind , given only 1 hour of time left with them – how would you spend it?  I can t speak for you , but for me , it would certainly not be spent bickering over the trivial things  …nor would it be filled with “fluff ” or words that sound pretty and just take up “time”.. That last hour would be spent with them sharing with them, especially if I had not shared with them ,  the Gospel of Christ – This would be the PRIORITY. There is nothing more important than THIS…. NOTHING. You may be reading this and if you also believe that to be true or not , either way I urge you to consider one or both of these questions -

If you are a Christian already , you know that there is no other way to God  than naming the name of Jesus Christ proclaiming your faith in him, repenting of your sins and then dying to your old self in Baptism ,rising again  from the water a new creature in HIM  and living faithfully and obediently as possible for the rest of your life ( John 14:6 , Mark 16:16 ,Acts 2:36-42 , James 2:14-26 , 1 Peter 1 :13-25 and I could go on..) And so being a Christian you also know besides the importance of this message ,  the urgency of it because of TIME.. It says in Proverbs 27:1 that we are not promised tomorrow …

So why then? Why do we not tell our loved ones TODAY of this message? Why do we avoid  telling those closest to us that haven’t obeyed the Gospel of Christ about it? Are we afraid that it will end the friendship or make things “weird”?  Are we embarrassed or ashamed of it?…

A better question might be , do you REALLY love them at ALL? If you believe the Gospel is the most important thing to share with someone and yet you don’t share it – what does that REALLY say about your LOVE for them… A better question yet might be, How much do you have to HATE someone NOT to share the Gospel with them?…

It’s a harsh thought and my intention is not to offend or accuse ,  but  only to make us think while we are inside this little box together , so that we can ACT outside of it….

People are going to die without the Gospel of Christ. People are dying right now with out it. Don’t let it be people you LOVE , much less anyone you come in contact with… “ Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:18-20 ESV) …. This doesn’t say “Preacher Go” … it simply says “GO” and the implication is “NOW” because time is limited as I have already stressed…. If you are a believer ,  then you have work to do…

IF you are NOT a believer , then now comes my second question that I spoke of earlier –  Why Not?

I have just briefly just shared the  Gospel of Christ with you in a very small and simple sense…Much more can be expounded on , but would need to take place outside of this box. IF the evidence I presented is enough, please consider what has been shared between us and please , I beg you act upon it… IF you require further study then please  ,please contact me either by message here or email or phone and allow me the pure privilege of sharing more with you the Good news about Christ and how much he loved and still loves  us all ..  I promise not to waste ANY of your , or my time…..All of my contact info is available  -

I have used the space inside this little box for quite a while to engage in a moment in time with anyone who may read my ramblings , in hopes of  encouraging  some , provoking others just to think but always to offer an invitation to study the bible with me. While a few have accepted that invitation ,by the worlds standards I have been a failure…but its not about numbers.. It’s about LOVE.

God loved us enough to die for us , so we can spend eternity with him…  Because I love HIM I also have an unfeigned love for all people  -  so I will continue to offer the same invitation to study today , tomorrow  and so on…as long as time allows … From this little box

The invitation to study the bible is STILL open  ;)

Read  Ephesians 5  , giving strong attention to verses 15,16 and 17
.

Become..

In Mathew 23:37 Jesus laments -"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing..."

What a sad scene! .. Seeing all the potential in people, yet none of it in motion..Reduced down by life and its trials only to see what was left..What they had BECOME..

I can identify with Jesus here.. We all see people who are hurting , and yet instead of seeking comfort and solace - they lash out in anger and malice..People who are capable of great things and yet too apathetic to act or care..People who have every blessing that would be considered "good" , and yet are NEVER satisfied with what they have.. People who will always find a complaint , rather than a kind word.. People LIE for gain , and then LIE to avoid consequences..People who demand TOLERANCE, but TOLERATE NOTHING in return... People who go to war with EVERYONE in their life because they HATE who they have BECOME...

I see people who have bought what the world is selling and traded their souls for it... and by doing this have been CHEATED.

But I also see people who are fighting... Fighting the private wars inside all of us.. Fighting the desire to be selfish and instead be generous.. Fighting apathy and instead being caring..Fighting the desire to be malcontent and instead being content with what they have..Fighting the urge to be hateful and being KIND instead.. Fighting to be honest NO MATTER the CONSEQUENCE... People who are fighting the GOOD FIGHT because of who it means they MAY BECOME!..

I see also people who gave the world back what it was selling, because they know that there is something BETTER.

Which will you be? The slave to sin the world wants to you to be?
Or , the Fighter God wants you to be?

The truth is , we are all flawed...and we are all broken... and our scars beg for us to succumb to the ugliness that life sells us - but in fighting the ugliness ... comes TRUE beauty.

In fighting the good fight , we can be the people we were intended to BECOME...

The invitation to study the bible is STILL open... Wont you join me?   ;)

Bittersweet..

It’s funny , I have probably driven  up this road more than a couple of thousand times in that last 11 years and yet today I noticed things that I hadn’t before… Not that I hadn’t ever seen them before , but I supposed today I really appreciated them.  The small horse farm between our neighborhood and the grocery store seemed to reach out and pull me in – almost as if I was moving in slow motion so that I could fully take in the charm of the old barn , the horses and the tiny house.  I thought to myself of how awesome it was nestled here in suburbia between the ever-growing development of new neighborhoods and shops  , that right here in this 1 mile stretch of road  -  beauty still remained…I appreciated the 3 dead oak trees that I have wondered for years would ever fall , and marveled at them because they hadn’t… They just stood there stoic against the backdrop of  changing fall leaves ,almost as if they were putting on one last show for me before I go…

I just took it all in… Because in a week , my scenery will change. Not that I don’t look forward to the move and the opportunity before me to work with the church there – I mean I still can’t believe that this work will not only be the thing that sustains me and my family ,but it is the work that I truly ,truly love to do… I can barely stand the anticipation of waiting to just to “get there” , and yet –  there is sadness..though I wouldn’t  exactly call it sadness ,but I suppose more of a” nostalgia in real-time” …. It’s bittersweet  - not just leaving  my friends and family ,but my surroundings..my memories here..my road…my grocery store… my town. … Sugar Hill Georgia.

These things will all be new for us in a few weeks ,and while I am riddled with excitement of what our new places will be to us THERE, I’m caught up in a meld of moments of what these places have been to me HERE … For instance –  I obeyed the Gospel of Christ here.. I kicked addiction and got sober here.. I fought for my marriage ,  and won it back  here.. I raised both of my kids here , and this has been their home as long as they can remember…In a very real sense , I too have grown up here!  It should be no surprise to me that in the  last few weeks  I have noticed MORE of what I have taken for granted for so long , and taken advantage of the time left here – and really  , really appreciated this place…

As I sit here in front of the screen thinking of how next to word my next sentence, a  thought enters my head that I just can’t ignore – I wonder how Jesus felt in his last days? I wonder , did he take in all  his surroundings? Although he had left heaven and ultimately emptied himself as deity to the form of a human – surely he appreciated his creation? Surely he took a good look around and saw that it was indeed  , GOOD (Genesis 1:31)…Or his relationships with those that he loved ? His mother? His brothers and sisters? John? …Peter? No question that Jesus dreaded the fate that awaited him –  we see the evidence of the sweat drops of blood as he prayed in the garden for it to pass from him(Luke 22:44) – so how much more did he soak up all the little moments leading up to that dreaded tree? Although he was God – he also was human.. He felt joy and happiness…  as well as pain and anguish and its only my humble opinion ,but he HAD to  have taken a really good look around and said to himself ” It’s gonna be hard to let this go”…

But I’m only presuming , and I wouldn’t dare to make a statement for him that he didn’t say  nor would I assume to know his thoughts on these things – they weren’t revealed in scripture… I suppose its me and my humanity desperately trying to relate to his… But after all – earth is NOT heaven , but man -

It sure does have its moments…

In the last month , I have subjected myself to situations that normally I would not have. Work situations that I normally would turn down due to personality conflicts or control issues… I have done this only for the purpose of  aiding me in the move of my family to another state for the great opportunity that awaits us there to serve our great God and to help others who may be seeking him. Enduring these moments with the knowledge of what waits has been nearly unbearable at times  , and admittedly burdening on my soul…

But today – I drove up my road , on the way to my store , in my town  and took in my surroundings .Maybe for the first time since I have lived here – I made the backdrop the subject , and not just the wallpaper of my mind while I drove from one place to the next …In doing so , it made the events of the past month a little easier to swallow and the taste that will be left  in my mouth of this place , a little sweeter than yesterday.

Maybe for the first time , Sugar Hill GA lived up to its name – It has provided me with a sweetness that has over come the bitterness of leaving , and a regained appetite for the journey to come..

Philippians 3:14  -”I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

And press on , I will….

DamageControl

Whether we want to admit it or not , we all damage our kids. From the argument over money right in front of them , or dealing with them sharply for no other reason than you’re not in the mood” to deal with with them – we damage them. Granted , these things wont scar them for life but they certainly have influence over who they become. We all do it , and there is no way to avoid it –  we are human ,  and we are flawed… we too , are damaged.

It’s a hard thing to admit.

I woke up from a sound sleep this morning at 2 a.m with this sobering thought and wrestled with myself for an hour before I could get back to sleep. Have I REALLY done the best I can with my kids? I’m already aware of mistakes I made with my oldest  ,but the truth is  - I couldn’t be happier with who she is right now.. She is confident , smart ,talented and beautiful – not mention armed with a quick wit that allows her to hang with ANY of her older boy cousins and absolutely SLAY them when necessary! She is INCREDIBLE and I love her more than I can express – but do I deserve credit for that? I have given her many reasons to fail because of my own damage and yet she continues to blossom…

But , what about my son? – The day I found out we were having a boy , it literally paralyzed me…. I was scared to death…  How was I supposed to raise this baby boy into a GOOD man  , when I wasn’t even sure myself if I was a good man?.. and then it hit me ,like it always does. I’m usually a little late to the party and this was NO exception -

God has given me EVERYTHING I need to raise my kids right in SPITE of who I am or fail to be …This sobering thought brought me to where I should have already been  -  My knees.



As I prayed that afternoon , I asked God to help me help him and my daughter.. To help me become the man I want my son to model after ….and to become the kind of man my daughter will look for in a husband one day.. To help me be the husband I should be to my wife so that we together can be a model of what BOTH of our kids will look to for future relationships and NOT what  the entertainment world says relationships are, but what GOD says they are!!  Help me be the kind of man that despite my own damage and despite my own flaws – raise good children ,who will raise good children that will raise good children!!

To be the kind of man who can say he is sorry when he is wrong ,and forgive himself so he doesn’t drag that baggage into the equation as well… because THAT’S where all the damage we do comes from ANYWAY…

Isn’t it?

The truth is , God must be part of the equation with parenting – just like he should be with marriage. So on the days when I screw up , and the days when I get it wrong and the days when I have messed it all up – it all stays together IN SPITE of my best efforts to tear it apart…

I still pray that God will help me be that  kind of man.

As we go through life  ,we continue to grow…. We continue to learn.. and with learning comes mistakes. If you’re not making mistakes , you’re not learning – its part of it… But if you continue to make the same mistakes , you have missed the lesson and aren’t  growing at all. As a parent  , my worst fear is that I will do more damage than good to my kids – That as a human being capable of error , I may fail…But this has been my biggest failure by FAR.

Why ?  Because  fear is only an outward sign of distrust and if I trust my God the way I say I do , then I have  NOTHING to fear..

The reality is , I’m a good parent … My kids are proof of this… My kids are proof that my wife and I despite our flaws , we are doing it right… Our kids sleep more sound than anything I can think of because they KNOW they are loved…and they ,with God’s help will turn out not undamaged or unscathed  - but  physically and emotionally and most importantly SPIRITUALLY healthy!! In a single word – GOOD…

It is my hope that yours do too..

In the face of our flaws and mistakes , God forgives us – so forgive yourself also… Trust in him and HIS way and any fear of being a less than perfect parent will leave you. … We may not be perfect  , but HE IS….. And he don’t make no JUNK.



As always – the invitation to study the bible is open. We can study anything you like , trust – it’s all in there no matter what it is.



Read  - Ephesians 6:4,Proverbs 1:8-9 ,Psalms 127:3-5 ,Deuteronomy 7:14 and Proverbs 22:6

Who Prays for The Preacher?

Pray for me Preacher! he shouted as he was walking away..."OK" I shouted back  ,not really knowing what to pray for ,  just knowing  that God could fill in the blanks that  I may have left open as I prayed..

This is the scene all too often in with what I do.. ."Pray for Uncle Bob or Pray for Aunt Betty" , "Pray for My Mom of Pray for my Dad" or  "Pray for this ,pray for that"....pray ,pray , pray.... And so I do.  I pray for people I don't even know upon the request of someone I do know... I pray for our Leaders ,yes even HIM.

Why? - because if I can pray for people who I know NOTHING about , I can CERTAINLY pray for a man who is under the microscope of the American people especially when so many are unhappy with him and the decisions he has made in the last 4 years. I can't  IMAGINE the pressure he and his family must be under... SO even though I don't support his politics , his beliefs or his lackluster performance - I certainly can pray for him as a human being ,a father and a husband. He is human and humans need prayers to a righteous God who can save.... There is no doubt HE NEEDS IT.

So  , this got me thinking -  As and Evangelist , I do ALOT of praying..ALOT of encouraging...ALOT of caring - even for my enemies  ( Mathew 5:44).  I pray because I can't help myself... I pray because I'm helpless... I pray because the need flows out of me all the time both waking and sleeping...... I pray  NOT because it could ever  change God - but because  it changes ME.

I get discouraged. I get frustrated. I struggle with sin...and I fail - Just like everyone else. I am not immune to humanity..If anything I am numbed by it...almost made callous due to over exposure of it...and that's when I need God to prick my heart again and make me understand why Jesus Wept... to make me understand my need for Christ in my life ... to remind   me that I am NOT bullet proof , but rather frail and fragile as everyone ...and to make me see fully , the power of PRAYER.

So who prays for the preacher? Who prays for the one who continually prays for others? Who prays for ME when I need it?

The correct answer should be "Anyone I ask to"...

All too often we assume because the preacher is solid when in fact he may be the one that needs prayer the most at that moment. Handling rightly the word of God comes with a massive responsibility and accountability ,as it should. James warns us in chapter 3 verse 1 of his letter "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." There is no "almost right"...its right or its wrong when it comes to handling Gods teaching.  This alone is enough to call for the prayers of others on the Preachers behalf..

But even in the small things of life - Money troubles , family stress, keeping up appearances  or possibly -  even moving your family to another state   to serve with a congregation there (yes , this one is about me) - Prayers are not just welcomed  , they are MUCH needed.

There is no sound louder than that of a prayer not heard on your behalf ... especially when it has been requested.

So pray. Prayer FOR our leaders AND  about our leaders ,  The Lord knows they need God's guidance whether they think they do or not.  Pray for the Preachers everywhere fighting the Good fight , we are human bleed just like you do...

And pray for each other. James 5:16 says "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

They can ....  and they do...

But no prayer at all accomplishes just that - nothing.

I will pray for... so please - Pray for me.

The invitation t study the bible is still open.....  ;)

Read the book of James.. yes, all of it.

Second Best

With 20 years in the construction industry , there is no doubt that every facet of the work is grueling . From the seemingly mundane task of “rolling out” the tools at the beginning of the day to “rolling em’ up” at the end , to the stress of trying to both please the client while maintain affordability to promote future business ..and of course, lets not forget the pure physical exhaustion that comes from doing all day what most do at the gym for an hour( I’ve always said that you gotta be a fool to pay for cross fit training when you can can come work for me and get PAID while you TRAIN!…but I digress) – It’s beyond tiring …beyond exhausting…its draining , in every way.

My wife often said earlier in our marriage that “The world gets the BEST of you , and we get the REST “…And for a long time she was right… sometimes , she still is. In the last few years I have focused on whats REALLY important , what I’m REALLY working for – Our family. The bible says ” If a man wont work  , let him not eat”(2 Thes.3:10) and I believe that to be true ,like the rest of the Bible…But when work is put before family , then the family suffers – and I fail not only as a Husband and Father ,but as the Spiritual leader of my home… I made a decision several years ago to not make my family “Second Best” ,but rather give them “My Best” , and not “The Rest”…but even like this , like many of us – I still fail….

How?

Because If I put My family first and work Second – WHERE DO I FIT GOD INTO THE EQUATION?

Does my God deserve any LESS than FIRST in my life ?Did he HOLD anything back from me? Did he not give us HIS BEST?

Give my God “3rd Best” in my life? – God FORBID…

This however , is where many of us end up..Trying to fit God in…. in our “ EXTRA “ time…and its a DISGRACE. ….Ok , so the answer is moving God into “Second Place”...right?

Second Best looks like it ought to work ,but it never does. Second Best feels warm and comfortable ,but leaves us cold and unfulfilled. If we settle for Second Best ,we will never TRULY be satisfied – with Second Best we are destined for failure.

In so many ways we have accepted “Second Best” as an acceptable shelf to sit God on and only come to him when its convenient for us… and this also is a DISGRACE.

You see , the TRUTH is – when I put God FIRST before EVERYTHING ELSE – it gives both a proper order to my life as well as PRIORITY…How So?…

Example 1 – As I have already stated , the line of work that I chose often leaves me with a lackluster attitude to bring home to say the LEAST…but , if I love God MORE than my wife and kids – I will dig down deep to find the guy they NEED me to be for them when I get home… Not because I want to – but because GOD SAID TO! Colossians 3 :19 tells me to “Love my wife and not be harsh with her” and in 1st Peter 3:7 it says
“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an UNDERSTANDING way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”…. These are commands because they are NOT easy.

Example 2 – Knowing that I will not always be able to uphold the commands above because of my own weakness , there is an understanding on my wife’s part…. You see – if she loves God MORE than me ,then the days that I can’t uphold these simple commands , the days that
I let her down , the days that I am SIMPLY UNLOVABLE – not only will she love me anyway..but she will STAY WITH ME…(Titus 2:4-5)

With divorce so common in our country today  , its evident that many don’t follow this principle ,but that will be a different post

The Truth IS – when I put God FIRST – then my family is NOT “Second Best” ,but rather an extension of me , and I in them….united in the love of Christ and service to our Creator..

While the road to this point in our lives has not been so black and white , it never the less continues down this path – focused on him and by extension each other..Learning ,growing ,forgiving and loving… It has been a difficult path at times ,but the best paths are…

As we plan to leave the construction industry behind us to focus on working for the cause of Christ – I cant help but think that these past 20 years will only aid us with the lessons we learned along the way about putting our priorities in line and leaving “Second Best “, where it ought to be….behind us.

Baggage

Baggage....

Problems = Opportunities
Obstacles = Challenges
Struggles = Strength
Weakness = Patience.

Most people run at the first sign of difficulty...I'm not most people. As long as people gather in one place , there will be problems. For me , a problem is simply an opportunity to teach.. an obstacle simply becomes a challenge , and through these challenges and struggles that are rooted in weakness ,comes patience and strength... and then understanding....and ultimately Glory to God for his purpose has been accomplished.

Its not about THIS life , it's about being EFFECTIVE in this life...

Mathew 28:19 says - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"..

He doesn't say "Preacher Go"... he simply says - "Go"... that's me , and you..

That's ALL of us.

In "going" , we will encounter people with more baggage than Samsonite and more excuses than the desert has sand.. We will also encounter people within the fold who have issues and are either in denial , or ignorant.... There will be kids that have parents with issues , and Parents whose kids have issues and every other imaginable combination of issues ,problems and baggage - BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS IT...

Put that baggage down...and walk away from it...

One of my favorite quotes says " And the day came when the risk to stay the same was MORE painful than the risk to CHANGE"

...but make no mistake -

It WILL be ugly ,because SIN is UGLY...It WILL be dirty , because SIN is DIRTY...it WILL be difficult , because SIN makes EVERYTHING DIFFICULT... It may even be PAINFUL ,because sometimes CHANGING IS PAINFUL....

Because when you invite the Devil to a fight - He - SHOWS - UP..

..and he will make it DIFFICULT.

BUT..

... If we have faith..and hope... and LOVE - These problems become opportunities ....and through PATIENCE - We gain our brothers and sisters..!!
We can help each other carry that baggage to a place where it can be set down and forgotten(Galatians 6:2)..
We are able to help mend the broken hearts with the Love of God , and with that SAME love create bonds with each other that are stronger than STEEL...and the fight will have been WORTH IT..

....I have been called ....and I will answer... I WILL FIGHT....
Study the bible with me! The invitation is STILL open.. ;)
Read 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Knowing the Difference

Knowing ABOUT God and KNOWING God are two entirely different things...KNOWING the difference is the key...

The Psalmist tells us how he delights ,meditates and loves Gods precepts all though out Psalm 119..
In verses 15 -18 he says " I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.. Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.."

And then again in verses 159-160 he says " See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love. All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal."

David here is pining... nearly begging for God to give him instruction... begging for him to be constant in his life...and DELIGHTING in it..

Do WE do that? Are we THANKFUL for God's teaching , or do we despise it?

Be honest with yourself....but if the answer is the latter , we are in trouble.

We give our kids RULES or TEACHING because WE KNOW WHATS BEST FOR THEM ....not to be mean or unjust ,but the exact opposite. We give them teaching and boundaries because we LOVE them and we KNOW whats over there where they "aren't allowed"...and we want to spare them the pain of it... and in return we know that they love us back by obedience to our teachings.

Although they may not understand them at the time , if our kids follow our rules they come to KNOW us and our LOVE for them in a much deeper and meaningful sense... and when they have grown and have their own kids - THEN  see what we saw -  THEN  they will understand and KNOW our love for them was stronger than imaginable, and that the "rules" were a pure expression of love...maybe the purest!

So,where do you think this pattern came from?

Gods teachings aren't burdensome...they are a PURE  expression of HIS love for US....and our response should be nothing less than total obedience.
David KNEW the difference in KNOWING God and knowing ABOUT him... and it convicts me to try harder.

How bout you?

Study the bible with me...

The invitation to Study the Bible is still open.... ;)

Poor King Ozymandias

Ozymandias
by Percy Bysshe Shelley

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:

`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'

Nothing beside remains. Round the decayOf that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,The lone and level sands stretch far away".

Humble yourself ...or the God  that created  you WILL... No matter how great ,or talented or powerful you may believe you are , trust - its all fleeting even as you read this.

In the book of Ecclesiastes  King Solomon the wisest of ALL Earthly Kings penned "Vanity of Vanities ,all is Vanity" because he knew full well that accumulating wealth and power is futile.... He knew that within  3 generations , most of us will be forgotten .. We are from dust , and to dust we return leaving, behind all of our "Great works" to only decay after us....

However much we may believe it to be true - We are not Eternal...not yet... But one day we will face eternity and the legacy we have left behind us will tell the story of where we spend it.

Either we will hear - 

"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."(Mathew 25:21) 

Or we will hear -

‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Mathew 7:23)

Which will YOU hear?.... that's completely up to YOU.

I believe the worst part of Hell will be having the knowledge that you had choice ...

There is nothing that this life has to offer - no pleasure , nor power ,nor even Kingdom  ,that is worth trading your soul for.. NOTHING.

Study the Bible with me.... The invitation is STILL open...    ;)

Vox Populi

Vox Populi  is a Latin term .Simply translated it  means” Voice of the people”. This term is from a song of the same name by a popular band called 30 Seconds to Mars , and while I’m not a fan of their political and religious views , I do love this song… It talks of  a “Call to Arms” and “A time to go to war” which is exactly where we are right here in our very own country. Not a physical war ,but a war being waged none the less..A battle being brought by the morally bankrupt in America who by the delusion of unearned entitlements and rights , look to  destroy  all that is righteous and good… So this is My call to war – will you answer?

The latest poles suggest that the voice of the people of America has not been heard ,but has in fact fallen on deaf ear. 52% of America polled said that they disapprove of the controversial “Obamacare” issue that today , was made law…

I am part of that 52% , and I have not been heard…. So how should I respond?

It may not be what you think…

You see , I am a Conservative ,but not a Republican…not anymore. I don’t believe that with what has been demonstrated by politicians of EITHER party , that EITHER party has it right..not for a long time.However –  before I am a Conservative  , before I am an American ,  before I am ANYTHING …I am a Christian , a subject to the King of Kings and under the rule HIS Benevolent Monarchy. So  rather than rest on MY thoughts on the topic – I will cling to God and what HE says FIRST…because I am Second…so it’s not MY voice that’s really important here..

Sadly , this will not be the decision of most . Especially conservatives…even ones who “call” themselves Christians…They will lash out ,with empty words of anger just further fueling the fire for those who seek to tear us down. This is demonstrated over and over by over zealous “Pseudo-Christians” that use Gods words to promote an agenda that has nothing to do with God ,but rather fear or doubt.

You see , when we lash out over the politics of men ,we prove just how much we don’t trust in our God.

Mathew 6 :25-34

²⁵  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴  “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

So where is YOUR  trust ? Where is YOUR  faith? … I can only answer for me ,but if you call yourself Christian – it’s not found in uproar …its not found in protest..

Its found in obedience.

The Book of Romans  says in chapter 13 verse 1  says“ Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God”.

Also in 1 Peter 2:13-17 it says “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood….. Fear God. Honor the emperor.“

So though my voice was not heard today along with 52% of the people of America , I will NOT lash out.. I will not protest …I WILL be subject to the laws of the land…

And when the law goes into effect , I will OBEY…not because it’s what I want ..but it’s what I should do as a Christian man who is desperately fighting a battle ..A battle that is fueled by trust and faith that my God is in control and NO MATTER THE OUTCOME …

…Because the outcome could be bad…but maybe  ,just maybe this is what we have ASKED for?

Hmmmmm…Back to the war…

You see , until this country stops blaming “the other guy” for all of our woes, and starts taking PERSONAL accountability for our OWN choices we will continue to erode as a nation …The fact that God IS in control should instill in us a reverent fear and awe of him , because we have become a Godless country that has taken him out of nearly everything… Maybe , things are what they are because we have ASKED for it….

The movement to remove God and his statues has been in motion a lot longer than you and me have been around.. As the saying goes ,an elephant can’t be eaten in one bite, but over time it can be eaten one bite at a time… The morally bankrupt of this nation have been eating at it for years and have finally consumed most of it by demanding undeserved entitlements and rights …

Because this is” America” were tolerance is preached by the immoral majority, but preaching of the moral is no longer tolerated …  So this is My Call to Arms -

Rise up… 

Rise up Christian men and lead your families and communities in SPITE of harsh opposition we will face(1 Thessalonians 2:1-2)..

Speak boldly the things of God(Ephesians 6:20) ,but speak them with kindness and love so that we may show people who God REALLY is(1 Corinthians 13:1).

Lead by being obedient to the laws of the land and show God that your faith is in HIM and not men..(Mathew 6:25-34)

Lead by NOT lashing out at our liberal friends but rather be an example of what a TRUE Soldier of Christ is - A  humble SERVANT (Philippians 2:5)

Together – our voice WILL be heard…but not through the roar of anger ,but through the love of Christ … Because actions are ALWAYS louder than words… ALWAYS.

Vox Populi

This is a call to arms, gather soldiers
Time to go to war
This is a battle song, brothers and sisters
Time to go to war

Did you ever believe?
Were you ever a dreamer?
Ever imagine heart open and free?
Did you ever deny?
Were you ever a traitor?
Ever in love with your blood lust and need?  * -(has this not been all of us at some point?)

This is a call to arms, gather soldiers
Time to go to war
This is a battle song, brothers and sisters
Time to go to war

Ever want to be free?
Do you even remember?
Want to be God and devil like me? * (this too has been all of us at some point)
Ever want to just stop?
Do you want to surrender?
Or fight for victory?

Here we are at the start, I can feel the beating of our
hearts
Here we are at the start…

Darkness falls, here comes the rain to wash away the
past and the names
Darkness falls, here comes the rain to end it all, the
blood and the game

Far, far away in a land that time can’t change
Long, long ago in a place of hearts and ghosts

This is a call to arms, gather soldiers
Time to go to war (Far, far away…)
This is a battle song, brothers and sisters
Time to go to war (Long, long ago…)
This is a call to arms, gather soldiers
Time to go to war (Far, far away…)
This is a battle song, brothers and sisters
Time to go to war

This is a call to arms, This is a battle song,

Draw your own conclusions..I have drawn mine… and with that , a line in the sand.

Distractions

I have had an incredibly great day.. Nothing spectacular as far as events go – but just focused. Today was spent 100% with my wife and kids and some much-needed time together – A day swimming and enjoying the summer weather and then a great dinner out tonight. While we were at dinner I had one of those moments when everything around you stops and you have the unique opportunity to just take it all in… Knowing that even though there was no special  reason , this day would be memorable above others..
My son had just made us all laugh (no surprise there) when I noticed a woman sitting caddy corner a cross from us with her family. She as well as her family were very well dressed and clearly well taken care of… They were what nearly anyone would consider “Happy” by the worlds standards based on their appearance alone . I noticed her because she was watching what was happening at our table , not that she was rudely staring – but she seemed to be admiring the “moment” that we were having. Judging by the look on her face ,she may have even been admiring all the previous moments because as I have already said – Today was one of those days. Whatever the circumstance , she seemed to be enjoying watching us enjoy ourselves…
After our food came and we were all involved in our meal , I looked back up only to notice her with a much different look on her face. While she was watching us , she was smiling pleasantly as if she could just imagine what we were laughing about – but now she seemed to be lost in her beverage… and it dawned on me why. As I looked at her table , I noticed that her husband and 2 out of her 3 children were all fully engaged in their mobile devices and certainly not engaged with one another. Noticing this prompted me to then look around the restaurant only to realize the sad truth that almost every table had at LEAST one family member sucked in to their phone and COMPLETELY disconnected from the rest of the table….
Distracted and Disinterested = DISCONNECTED
The truth is , no matter how sad and true this is – I have also been guilty of this..  and I was wrong…
How many “moments” have I lost due to distraction? How many moments have I been RIGHT THERE and yet  a million miles away? ..too many to count I’m sure – but how lucky am I to realize it  now and make sure that I DON’T lose any more?
The connection that we have with our families is a direct reflection of our connection with God.
If we are willing to forsake the time with our Spouses and Children who we claim to be the “Loves of our lives” , how much more have we forsaken to our God the REAL love of our life? I mean , if we can completely ignore the most important people in our lives with them sitting RIGHT next to us , how much more have we neglected time spent with our Creator?  I can only look back in wonder at how many opportunities I have missed to spend with my God in prayer , or have many opportunities I have missed to honor him with my example because I was distracted when I should have been attentive – and a host of other missed moments… The bottom line is  that I have not made the best use of the time given and I myself MUST DO BETTER..
Ephesians 5:16 says”Make  the best use of the time, because the days are evil”… It is my prayer tonight that we ALL  do so. We are not promised tomorrow , much less the next minute.. I hope that we all recognize the value in each moment that passes enough to not let them become regrets ,but rather  memories.
I have heard it said that “Each passing moment is another opportunity to turn it all around” …Such a powerful saying that  not only embodies the urgency for seizing the moment ,but for starting fresh when we realize we have let too many slip from us… Don’t let the devil take another on from you.
Psalm 103:15-19
15“As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16  for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17  But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
18  to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19  The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

The invitation to study the bible is STILL open to all…. 

If you invite the Devil to a fight...

… He’s gonna show up.
A good friend told me this a couple of weeks ago as I was in the midst of the worst week of one of the best months of this year so far. As I read that back , it sounds absolutely ridiculous ,but its also absolutely true.
Today is April the 30th . In the last 30 days I have had the opportunity to preach the Gospel 4 times at 3 different congregations in 2 different states and heard 1 outstanding sermon from a young Christian as I visited 1 another congregation just last night. While most would agree that the preacher is the one doing the encouraging, I have been encouraged more than I can express by the audience at each place. In addition to these moments I also was approached by a willing heart looking for truth in the scriptures and have a study with him later this week… Spiritually speaking - this month has been incredible . In losing myself in service to God , I found in myself both Strength and Peace.. This service no doubt was an invitation to the enemy to fight… and he showed up.
And although I have never been a materialistic person , its amazing the stress that losing or paralyzing the “necessities” of life can bring in to your life. As much as I wish it wasn’t , money is a necessity  , it is  - and the Devil knows this. Financial hits aside , I was also involved in a wreck  that not only cost me additional money -but also a week of work… again more loss of wages. I think anyone can identify with the stress that unexpected financial surprises can cause in every facet of your life ,and I like everyone else am not immune to the pressures of these…
But the devil didn’t win.. he threw me the punches and through trust in my God , prayer and the generosity of others  - I was able to roll with them…
Keith -1  / Satan -0
So for now - I have made it though and look forward to the beginning of a new month and look forward to both it’s challenges AND rewards. We are only affected by what we allow to affect us , and I for one have been showed grace ,mercy,generosity and favor and affect by ALL of them.
The most important things to take away from this best worst month is the lessons that God allowed me to learn - that being a Good Steward is MORE than just being frugal ,that being a Good Servant is MORE than serving,but allowing yourself to ALSO be served , and first and foremost that TRUSTING HIM is more important than all of these. Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 12:10 “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, THEN I am strong.”…
…and so AM I.
read 1 Peter 5:8 and 1 Corinthians 10:13
Have a great one people   ;)

Lying , Justifying and the Lesser of Two Evils.

I’m not gonna lie.

What a strange phrase!? Yet I , and the majority of people I know say it. Its almost as if we are saying ” Normally at this point , I would belying to you -But right now I’m telling the truth”.. Putting it this way sounds completely absurd and I sometimes put things in absurd terms to help me to think about them- as absurd as THAT sounds. The truth is (and there is another one) , I would hope that we are ALWAYS honest with each other , striving to not only seek the truth but to espouse it in all that we say and do.. But often , probably too often - we allow ourselves to be deceived and believe a lie or worse - we lie to ourselves… Why?

In my past , I struggled with the truth. I can easily tell you that it was a defense mechanism or a means of escape and while there is SOME truth in those claims - its not the ENTIRE truth of the matter… And that’s the point. Sometimes we would much rather just have a little of the truth than ALL of it - Again I ask ,why? For the same reason that I struggled with telling the truth in my past - SELFISHNESS.

We as humans will often take the path of least resistance. We want to do the right thing ,but too often don’t want the work that comes with it. In this type of mindset we will look for justification .. Justification keeps us from feeling guilty about not doing the work and we feel better about ourselves. The root of the problem is not in the justification(although that is still a problem) but in the cause of it. Almost every lie carries with it a portion of the truth - sometimes its a small detail , other times its most of the story - either way, in the portion of truth - there lies our justification… So which is worse? A little truth in the lie, or a little lie in the truth?

Before you answer let me ask a different way- Lets say your making a cake . Your kitchen window is open because the spring weather outside is beautiful . As your are mixing the cake batter , a bird flies by and does what comes natural to him and drops his excrement and it lands on the window sill and in turn, a small amount splashes into your cake mix. What do you do? After all - it is just a small amount of bird poop ,and in the grand scheme of things - who will know? The heat from the oven should cook out the impurities and besides , you have worked SO hard on this cake it would be a real shame and a lot of work to throw it away and start over…

My hope is that you saw the absurdity in this description but also recognized the Progression of Justification. Sadly ,This seems to be the American mentality when it comes to the truth. We would rather believe that the cake is unaffected my the smallest impurity rather than toss the whole thing away. “The Greater Good” and “The Lesser of Two Evils” have become our “go-to” phrases when it comes to The Progression of Justification and we absolutely relish in these 2 phrases because it makes us feel GOOD about making a BAD choice.. But I have to ask , How much bird poop has to be in something before YOU wont eat it?

I hope your answer is NONE.

The truth is , When choosing the lesser of two evils , EVIL is still chosen…

So my final question is , What are you prepared to do about it?

Count the cost before you answer…they are high and great.. But absolutely worth it. There is no substitute for the truth..Nor a substitute for the one who gave it. If ANYTHING is true -its in God’s word . Jesus tells us plainly in John 14:15 ” If you love me , keep my commands.” .. Surely he didn’t mean just the ones that are convenient for you to keep , but ALL of them.

Stand Firm.

Tell the truth..no matter the consequence.

The invitation to study the bible is STILL open.. ;)

Read 2 Thessalonians 2 :1-17…Yes, the whole chapter.. ;)

39

Contemplation is a gift…for some. For me? - it’s a never ending cycle of self examination. Constantly examining and re examining myself ,my life , my experience and what I can do with it all to help others…but the truth is , I can only help myself. If I am being intellectually honest , the only person that can benefit from my past experiences is me…To take the lessons learned and be a living example in a very true sense The truth is no one may ever benefit from the things I have to share about my life and mistakes I’ve made or the love that burns within me for my God who bought me back with the blood of his son… But If I am who I believe I am , from all of this self contemplation and self examination I subject myself to , then I HAVE TO TRY.

I turned 39 this past Friday…This truly was a day I thought I would never see 20 years ago , and yet it came and went and I am now 2 days into the last year of my 30’s… and then came the thought - What now? Have I done enough? Can I do more?..As the progression went I finally came to the big question -

“Is God pleased with me?”

Then I was quiet for long time…

IS God pleased with me?… I wanted to believe so , but based on what? My faith? My Love? My Hope? My obedience? My knowledge and application of his teachings?The number of people I have helped? - What?… My reputation?

In the book of Revelation Jesus addresses the church at Sardis and their reputation by saying at the end of verse 1-3 “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. “…

Though their reputation was good , they were DEAD… Why?

Because their works were incomplete - How?

Because their HEART WASN’T IN IT. - “Verse 3 -Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. “

John 4:24 tells us “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”… if you are just going through the motions and your heart ain’t in it - It AIN’T TRUTH…And just like the church in Sardis , you are DEAD…

So as I begin my 39th year of life - I will give nothing less than MY ALL to WAKE UP and STRENGTHEN what remains so that my works are complete in the sight of MY GOD.. and I will REMEMBER what I have RECEIVED and HEARD but most importantly - KEEP IT..

As far as my reputation goes -who really cares , if God doesn’t? That’s not why I do this..I do this because I JUST CANT HELP IT… Because I was worth saving…and so is everyone else…

WHAT we do is never as important as WHY … And in ALL I do - My God deserves nothing less than ALL of my heart…

The invitation to study the Bible is STILL open… ;)

Read Ephesians 3:16-18