The Way(Where? Remixed and Reposted)

Since it is a new year, I think it is important to keep it movin' when it comes to growing as Christians and finding God's will and purpose for our lives. It's important for us to determine how we are growing by as Henry Blackaby would say, "watching where God is working in our lives." Beginning this month I will be picking up where we left off last year by reposting my series the way. Last month I had the chance to sit down and watch the movie The Book of Eli, It was one of the most amazing and truthful secular movies that I have ever seen, once you get past the violence and language.

The premise of the movie is, a "catastrophe" of some sort had obliterated civilization as we know it. All of the technological and mechanical advances of the previous generations had been powerless to keep the catastrophe from occurring, thrusting civilization into a lawless, moraless, brutal anarchy. EVERYTHING IS BROKEN.

It is the epitome of a world that has lost its way and walked out on God. Every form of religion or spiritual faith were but minute memories in the minds of a few survivors. A lone survivor had managed to salvage a copy of the Bible and sets out on a spiritual pilgrimage to share the good news when he felt it was the right time. The crux of the film was another survivor whom remembers the power of the Bible is on a quest to find a copy of God's word to use for his own personal gain. Sound familiar? The beauty of the film, was that the Pilgrim Eli had memorized the Bible and hid the words in his heart, the book(Bible) was just a reminder of his faith.

Jesus' half-brother James calls this absence of a connection to God, "the way of error" in his letter to the church(James 5:19-20.) Notice I said to the church not to the world. Apparently its possible for Christians who have decided to follow Jesus to somehow end up on the way of error. Matthew even tells us that Jesus warned His disciples about these Christians(Matthew 7:21-24.) Here Jesus is saying that we have to apply what we have learned or else we can end up going the wrong way. Even the apostle Paul tells us that he had to keep learning to be content( Philippians 4:9 – 12.)

Which path are you on? The ruler of this world, Satan, has a way of twisting the truth and this world has bought into his half-truths. The world teaches us to go into THE LIGHT after we die a physical death. The gospel tells us to LET THERE BE LIGHT before we die a physical death. This is part of being crucified with Christ(Galatians 2: 20-21.) However the world will tell you there is a better way. King Solomon warned us about this way(Proverbs 12:15, 14:12, 16:25.) The Hebrew word used here for way is derekh. It can refer to a physical road or pathway, but metaphorically it often refers to the journey, manner, or course of one's life. Notice the resemblance to our word direction?

Everyone who is alive and conscious is on the road; every day presents us with choices about how we will walk down the road. Right now you are on your way, walking the road implies decisions. Out of some desperate hope the world says God sends ANGELS to guide us to the light; which is crazy, because the Angels are already with the light. Which leaves us to wonder how do we get there? Here's a clue, it's not how we would expect to (Psalm 103:11, Isaiah 14:24, Isaiah 55:9.) God's ways are HIGHER WAYS.

Where are you in your Christian walk? You cannot walk anywhere without having a "where “or destination in mind, unless you like walking in circles. The choices we make determine where we are going and what way we will get there. However, the Bible is clear that there is only one "right" way. The Hebrew word translated "right" is yashar which can also be translated as straight(as in a straight line.) When the Bible talks about God making a Christian's way straight(Proverbs 3:6, 11:5, 16:3, Isaiah 30: 21, 45:13, Jeremiah 10:23, Philippians 4:6-7) it doesn't mean that it will be a straight line or easy. That would contradict what Jesus said(Matthew 7:13-14.) Remember the journey that God led His people on by cloud(Numbers 9:20-22?) God promises to make our way clear, the way is to the light. The way glorifies God.

Are you comfortable with the status quo? The world tells you that you need to follow the Kings of; security, money, relationships, sex. Some will even convince you to follow the king of pop, MICHAEL JACKSON. This has become the status quo of our world. But none are a king like mine, just sayin'. Which are you following? When I was a little boy it was common for kids to give in to peer PRESSURE. However, now I'm a man made in in His image(1 Corinthians 13:11-12.) And here is the beauty of grace it doesn't matter how far we fall or stray; once we go through the school of hard knocks and learn our lesson, we all come crawling back to you, God.

Remember the story of the prodigal son? Remember the story of David and Bathsheba, how about Samson and Delilah (Judges 16:4-21?) Both of these men were clearly called by God and somehow lost their way, most would say that these men had fallen to the God of sex. If you remember, after each made their mistakes, they returned to God and glorified Him. you see there is a clear difference between making a mistake and the way we live. We are human; we will make mistakes, but its how we live after those mistakes that determines the path we take. I can make a mistake and get back on the right path or I can continue living the way I want.

Jesus taught His disciples the best way to avoid this "way of error," prayer. Listen to His prayer in the gospel of Matthew (Matthew 6:9-13.) Later the apostle Paul echoed this in his letters to the churches in Colossae and Thessalonica(Colossians 4:2-5, 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-22.) So, God won't LEAD ME to TEMPTATION. Sure David and Samson cried out to God, after their mistakes. They didn't follow God's steps. They did it THE HARDWAY. According to Luke Jesus told a parable to the Pharisees(religious leaders) about how God's kingdom works(Luke 14:1-14.) You see, the Pharisees had a problem much like David and Samson, PRIDE.

Let's look at pride like the gas gauge in your car. On the left side there's boastful pride and on the right side there's thankful pride. When the gauge is leaning to the left we are going the wrong way; while to the right, the right way. Sadly, such self-deception ends, as Solomon explained, in "self destruction." The only remedy is teshuvah, REPENTANCE, a complete turning around from the crooked path we are traveling. This involves the miracle of true humility as a confession of faith who we are and what we hope to gain in the end. All of my life I have been told that repentance is simply turning around and going the other way.

Now, I understand that's not true repentance. If we go back the way we came from, we are going back into the darkness and to temptation. Even Solomon warned Israel about returning to their old ways(Proverbs 26:11.) Moreover, listen to what Jesus said (John 12:35-36, 46-50.) True repentance requires us to take a whole new path (derekh.) Remember when Paul explained to the church in Corinth about not being married to unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-17?) He asked, "what does light have in common with darkness? Nothing. The Bible is clear that we are to have nothing to do with those who practice deeds of darkness(Ephesians 2:11, 5:8,Colossians 2:11 -13.)

It is impossible for light and darkness to coexist. To say that darkness and light are the opposite ends of the path would be putting them on the same path(albeit opposite ends,) which is not the gospel. The prophet Moses clearly tells us that God separated the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:3-5.) Throughout the Bible there is a sense that God's people (Christians) are to be "separate" from the world (Isaiah 42:7, 16, Acts 26: 18, 1 Peter 2:9-12.)

Whenever I start to console someone in recovery from any addiction, the first advice I give them is to stay away from the places you used to go. Then I tell them to get new friends. Because if you keep going back to your old ways, the same thing is going to keep happening. This is a mistake I made after my near-death experience; I went back to the clubs and I ended up naked in bed with my first girlfriend I had. The Bible even tells us this will happen (Proverbs 27:22, 2 Peter 2:20 -22.) To expect anything different is insanity. The only thing that can save us from our old ways and old paths is to get off the road completely and follow another path. The path of YESHUA(Jesus,) which literally means salvation. That's the truth. Further the whole truth is Yehoshua Ben Nun who was formed to be in His days a great deliverer for His "chosen ones."

Whenever someone accepts Jesus, we say, "they have a NEW LIFE." Listen as Jesus taught at the Temple about who He is (John 8:12-17.)Later Paul had to give instructions to the church at Ephesus about how to grow the right way(Ephesians 4:20-24.) That's repentance, a new life and a new path. If the kingdom of God is the kingdom of servant hood and humility, where are you and which way are you going? Since it's a new year what better way to start the year off? That is what this next series will be about.


The Way(where REPOSTED AND REMIXED?)


Alright, in these next few blogs I will be going into depth, where I left off in my last blog. Over the last few months I've discussed about how it is important for us to grow as Christians, I've already discussed how God grows us through different means. Now it's time to discuss which way we are going. Are we growing closer to God or away? But before we talk about which way we are going, we first must know where we are at. So this first part of this series will be a type of SELF-EXAMINATION, asking where we are at as individuals, as a nation and as a church.

In his book Jesus Wants to Save Christians( a manifesto for the church in Exile,) Rob Bell explains that in the begining of the Bible everything was perfect. Moses tells us in Genesis the first marriage was ordained and in the words of God, "it is was good." That is until sin entered the world, from then on mankind lost its way. Paradise had been lost and life became a struggle, nothing was as easy or simple as before. Moses goes on to tell us that after the fall, "God was in the garden of Eden looking for Adam and Eve. The Lord God called to man, 'where are you(as if God didn't know.)'

Then later in Genesis Moses tells us, 'Eve had two sons(Cain and Abel) and one of them sins by killing the other.' Again God is asking "Where." To Cain He asks, "where is Abel your brother?"To which Cain answers, "am I my brother's keeper?" The point is, we have to know where we are in life(God knows) and which way we are going. Are we getting closer to God, or farther away? Moses tells us in Genesis that "Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden. He not only leaves the presence of the Lord, he builds a city there and settles down, away from the Lord."Bell says, "the story of the first two sons is actually a story about the progress, innovation, and the inevitable movement of human civilization."Isn't this supposed to HOLD US TOGETHER? Just a few chapters later Moses tells us, "the whole world had one language and a common speech as it continued this eastward movement." Moving further away from God.


Moses tells us in the book of Genesis they said, "let's build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth. Then the Lord scattered them from there all over the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called babel(which is Hebrew for confused)- because the Lord confused the language of the whole world, from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth."

I mentioned in an earlier blog how some people use language of Babel. Bell says, "the writer of Genesis keeps returning to this eastward metaphor insisting that something has gone terribly wrong with humanity, and that from the very beginning humans were moving in the wrong direction."Which reminds me of a saying I learned in Sunday school when I was teenager. "Whatever isn't bringing you closer to God is taking you the other way." Which way are we going?

Is that job bringing you closer to God; that relationship; that school, that hobby, that movie, that music? Which Joshua Harris talks about in his book,Stop Dating the Church and Fall in Love with the Family of God, Harris says, "Christians plan their whole lives around their jobs, colleges and friends. And they neglect the importance of the influence of the church in their lives. Sound familiar? And if you remember, author Rob Bell says in his book Sex God, "that "everything is spiritual." Listen to Jesus in Matthew's letter to the Jews(Matthew 6;25-28.) We've already discussed the importance of COMMUNITY. So I ask you, where do you see yourself at in Jesus' statement? Which way are you going? What path are you taking, seeking first the kingdom of God or that of the pagans?

Individuals?

Since I can't speak for everybody, which would be stereotyping, not judging them(which is another blog in this series), I can only speak for myself. A couple of weeks ago I went back to the town I spent much of my teen years for a Spring festival and bicycle ride. I had a chance to think back about all things God has brought me through since I was a teen there and how much closer I am to God, now. Back in 2005 I worked as an extra on the set of the movie Stomp the Yard in Atlanta! I share this because I had one of those "how" moments. We were filming the opening dance battle scene with Chris Brown. At about 3 a.m. in the morning we broke for dinner. Which was held in a big tent in the parking area. I decided to sit outside the tent to eat, because it was cooler. As I ate I smelled a smell I hadn't smelled in years, the smell of marijuana. Why couldn't I have just had my way? It would have been so much easier.

This is what Bell calls my Sa'aq in his book Jesus Wants to Save the Church(a manifesto for the church in exile.) Which is basically saying, WHERE WERE YOU, Where were you when I needed you? I'll talk more about this later in this series. It was then that I realized how selfish and childish I was being. I had been WALKING MY WAY. The writer of the book of Proverbs says, "THERE IS A WAY that seems to be right, but in the end leads to death THERE IS A WAY that seems to be right, but in the end leads to death(Proverbs 16:25.) I was reminded of the focus Scripture from last Tuesday morning"s mens breakfast.

America?

Matthew tells us of a time when the mother of Zebedee's two sons came to Jesus and asked that he would grant that one of her two sons sit at Jesus' right hand and the other at his left hand in Jesus' Kingdom. To which Jesus answered, 'You don't know what you're asking, can you drink the cup I am going to drink?' And they answered. "We can." Then Jesus said to them," you will indeed drink from a cup(Matthew 20:21-24.)" Sound familiar? In the NLT version of Matthew's account of the discussion, Jesus describes the cup as being bitter. To put down the selfishness and ambition of their request, Jesus leads them to the thoughts of their sufferings. It is a bitter cup that is to be drunk of; a cup of trembling, but not the cup of the wicked. It is but a cup, bitter perhaps, but soon emptied; it is a cup in the hand of the Father.

Like baptism is an ordinance by which we are joined to the Lord in covenant and communion; and so is suffering for Christ. Matthew tells us soon after the Last Supper, Jesus takes the two sons of Zebedee to another garden( and the brothers couldn't even stay awake.) It is there that Jesus falls to his knees and prays to the Father to let this cup pass from Him. When I accepted the cup, I accepted all of the hurt and bitterness that comes with the cup, which I discussed in my last blog. Isn't that what happens in marriage when God unites the husband and wife together? They say to each other, I'm "coming your way"and "have your way." I learned that the Christian life like marriage isn't always a bed of DAISIES AND ROSES.

In fact listen as Matthew shows how Jesus goes a step farther, "whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me(Matthew 16:24.)" Or better yet listen to the apostle Peter and Luke( 1 Peter 2 :21, Luke 14:27.) 'The Christian life is an every day life-long commitment. Not just some SHORTSTOP in a life of having it your way. Which is what the world teaches us, isn't it? Telling us to walk this way. Which reminds me of the story I heard as a youth. There is Cherokee Indian chief, who was approached by a little Indian boy.

The little boy explained the chief. A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy." It is a terrible fight between two wolves." The little boy listened intently. One wolf is evil, unhappy, and ugly: He is anger, envy, war, greed, selfishness, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority/superiority, false pride, coarseness, and arrogance. He spreads lies, deceit, fear, hatred, blame, scarcity, poverty, and divisiveness." The other wolf is beautiful and good: He is friendly, joyful, loving, worthy, serene, humble, kind, benevolent, just, fair, empathetic, generous, honest, compassionate, grateful, brave, and inspiring resting wholeheartedly in deep vision beyond ordinary wisdom."The little boy paused in deep reflection of what the chief had just said. Then he exclaimed; "Oyee. (in recognition.)The Chief continued; "This same fight is going on inside you, and inside all human beings as well."The little boy paused in deep reflection and recognition of what his chief had just said. Then he finally cried out deeply; "Oyee! Chief, which wolf will win this horrific war?"

The chief replied, "The wolf that you feed. That wolf will surely win." Where is America and which wolf are we feeding? Which way are we going? I recently watched the Idol gives back show and heard Randy Jackson say, "God bless American Idol." Something about that bothers me. It doesn't seem right putting the words God and Idol in the same sentence, does it? Isn't there something the Bible about God and idols? Then later in the show, Randy Jackson played guitar during an all-star version of the song stairway to heaven. Sounds like a tower I mentioned earlier, doesn't it? Which way is America going? Someone alert Homeland security, I think somewhere down the line America suffered a stealth attack.

If you know me, you know I'm not into politics, which is about making the right people happy. I am more concerned about making God happy. Like I said before, I am just a hand. My mentor however, is running for the Georgia House of Representatives in 2012. May God bless him, we need Christians in government. I recently watched ABC's Evening News with Diane Sawyer and heard her ask the question, "should America still call itself a Christian nation?" Then a week later she sounded excited to report that archaeologists have discovered Noah's Ark( of the Christian Bible) had been found in the mountains of China.

Leaving me to wonder, which way she was going? Is America still a Christian nation, how do we get here? Actually, considering removing the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. A once indivisible country has become divided. Children killing their parents or other children. Children having children. Killing unwanted children. Children having sex with teachers.

I can remember back when I first moved to Georgia in the 80s after my father retired from the Army at Fort Carson, Colorado. On my first day of school in Georgia my fifth grade teacher mispronounced my first name, she introduced me saying "Martin(Mar-tone.)" I made the mistake of correcting her when she interrupted me and asked if I had rolled my eyes at her. And I told her, I don't know. To which she demanded that I step outside on the breezeway. Which led to the class erupting in laughter and me ignorantly stepping outside not knowing what to expect. A few minutes later, the teacher followed me with a wooden paddle and proceeded to paddle me, For rolling my eyes at her. Harsh? I learned my lesson, though. While today teachers aren't allowed to touch students. Which is what my friend and Brother Brad Stine calls the wussification of America.

Listen to what the wisest man who ever lived had to say about discipline (Proverbs 13:24, 19:18. ) This is how you train your kids to go the right way. Which way is America going? About the same time that I was becoming acquainted with Southern discipline, I can remember the shame and guilt of being gay( not that I was.) Because when my classmates found out I was born in Germany and I wasn't into sleeping around with girls and I didn't listen to the vulgar music like they did. I was quickly deemed the Nazi fag. I'll talk about those little more later in the series. Nonetheless, the gay lifestyle was one of Shame to say the least. This era in American history was deemed as one of the most profitable and likable, if you remember, gas cost less than a dollar a gallon. Do you see the Eastward metaphor here?

The farther we get from God's original plan for us, the more sin increases, the harder life is and the less we get for our money. And here we are now trying to redefine the very definition of marriage. Last year the community I live in voted in favor of alcohol sales on Sunday. This year they had to close a school because of lack of funding, hmm. Back when I first moved here, Sundays were sacred in the South. Now it is just Sunday bloody Sunday. Which way is America going? If you remember this about the same time the"under God"and"same-sex"arguments bloomed then our economy started going South or should I say, East? Which way is America going?

The Church?

Since we are on the subject of same-sex marriages, there are a number of denominations that are ordaining gay preachers. However, listen to the apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the church in Corinth( 1 Corinthians 5:11, 6:9.) Even the church has gotten caught up in the hype of being politically correct instead of saying have your way, lord. Have we lost TOUCH with Him? Garvin McCarrell the men's ministry leader at the church I attended Colorado stated, " the further ministry gets from accountability and exposure to the local church, the weaker and unhealthier it becomes." The apostle Paul goes on to write to the church in Corinth, "follow my example. As I follow the example of Christ." Listen as Paul continues in his letters to the church in Corinth, Phillipi and Ephesus(1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 3:17, Ephesians 5:1 – 3.)

Which way is the church going? Do we follow Christ or do we FOLLOW THE CROWD? It was the late Bob Briner who in his classic book The Roaring Lambs in 1993 taught me what it meant to truly be THE SALT AND LIGHT of the earth and what would happen if the world could see the light in us. We are commanded to light up the world. Which leaves me wondering WHERE THE LIONS ARE? Matthew tells us in his letter to the church that Jesus called us to be the salt and light of earth(Matthew 5:13-14.)

Joshua Harris says in his book Dug Down Deep, quoting John Scott, 'Jesus called his disciples to exert a double influence on the secular community, a negative influence by arresting its decay and a positive influence by bringing light into its darkness. For it is one thing to stop the spread of evil; it is another thing to promote the spread of truth, beauty and goodness.' Then Harris goes on to explain, the church is called to engage the world around us with counter-cultural lives and counter-cultural truth from God's Word-- to arrest decay brought about by human rebellion and spreading the life-giving light of God's truth." The church needs to RISE UP. Do you see why we can't just talk the talk ? We have to walk it out.

We'll talk more about this later in this series. There is a disturbing trend happening in today's church that bothers me, most churches start their service out with a bunch of songs and music, often spending half their service on this. Don't get me wrong I enjoy worship music. But what did we determine was purpose of meeting together as community in my last blog? Worship and praise are a part of fellowship, but not a whole, they are the icing on the cake.

When I was growing up my parents used to tell me, " eat your meat and vegetables first, or you don't get dessert." They knew if I got full from dessert, I would not get as much out of the meat and vegetables. Which are necessary for healthy growing. Most of time, the congregation tunes out after the praise and worship time, because they are full. Some go to the bathrooms during the sermon, while others leave altogether. Today, America is faced with an epidemic of obesity. I wonder if the church is following the same pattern? Listen to the writer of Hebrews( Hebrews 5:12-6:1.)" Apparently, even then early church had begun to FALL BACK the other way.

STEPS?

Fortunately for us the Bible is full of wisdom and advice to help keep us from going the wrong way, step by step(Deuteronomy 6:4-7, 2 Chronicles 7:14-17.) The prophet Samuel declared this in his first letter(1 Samuel 2:9.) The psalmist continued this thought( Psalm 7:9, 25:12 37:23, 40:2, 66:9, 90:17.) No matter how you fight God, every time you run, God will lead you back to His plan(Proverbs 16:1, 9, 19:21, 20:24.) First off, let me CLEAR THE AIR, I am starting with THE MAN IN THE MIRROR, me.

Herein lies the problem for me and most of us( Hebrews 5:11-12.) We don't want to spend the time going through the steps of the process. We want all the benefits; the pleasure, money and the security without the pain or the waiting(hgh.) But in the end, it will all be WORTH THE PAIN and worth waiting for(hgh.) I know it's all part of the plan. We are the ones who need to decide I'M WIT IT. In his Christmas message pastor Bill Purvis stated," a baby changes everything. When Jesus was born everything changed. just like Mary and Joseph's plans changed, so do ours once we begin walking with Jesus. As long as you have a plan, God can't help you. You have to get to a place where you're are broken before God." Many of you have already made plans for the new year, like me. If they are part of God's will then, they will come to pass. If not, we must trust His plans for us are better than ours. Ty and Robert, let's change the game(CTG) and rep His name in a new way in 2012.

Mary and Joseph were betrothed in their early teens. In the Jewish culture a boy becomes a man at the age of 13 and a girl becomes a woman at the age of 12, which is celebrated by a Bar Mitzvaha(son of the Commandment) or Bat Mitzvah(daughter of the Commandment,) respectively. At this point they are required to keep the commandments, since they have been taught them since their first birth. It is a huge party(similar to our birthday parties.) The premise is a child begins living a "new life" as an adult. When Solomon instructed parents how to train their children, this was done by no later than 13. When the apostle Paul instructs children to obey their parents, he is speaking of those younger than 13. No wonder we have so many "spiritual babies(1 Corinthians 3: 1-3.)"

Listen to the words of a poem I recently read called Take Time. "take time to think; it is the source of power. Take time to read; it is the foundation of wisdom. Take time to play; it is the secret of staying young. Take time to be quiet; it is the opportunity to seek God. Take time to be aware; it is the opportunity to help others. Take time to love and be loved; it is God's greatest gift. Take time to laugh; it is the music of the soul. Take time to be friendly; it is the road to happiness. Take time to dream; it is what the future is made of. Take time to pray; it is the greatest gift on Earth." I'm not sure who wrote it. However, King Solomon said something similar(Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, 8:5-6.)

last year I was approached by a publishing company urging me to self publish my first book. I turned to Jerry Jenkins for advice. He warned me to go the traditional route with a traditional publisher. Because, "it may take longer, but it is the right way to get the most from your writing. Everyone has a great idea or two, but it takes time going through the process to be a professional writer." After doing some research, I learned that self-publishing is like the modeling schemes of the 90s. No one pays a legit agency for modeling jobs. Agencies pay models. Writers don't pay publishers. Sure there is a one in a million breakthrough model or writer. But even they didn't make it overnight. It takes time and experience, learning their crafts.

Again, listen to the apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Rome(Romans 8: 28.) All of these steps are working together and leading to God's will, ALL THINGS, every step. We just don't see it at the time. That is why hindsight is 20/20. Moreover, when we say,"EARNESTLY, I SEEK THEE." We are telling God, we are willing to follow Him step by step. No wonder God gives us steps for marriage (Genesis 2:24 -25, Ephesians 5:21 – 31.) This idea of "one flesh" is that a husband and wife are walking so close together on the same path, they share one heartbeat.

When we don't follow God's steps, we are just playing house. When we don't follow God's instructions, we are just playing church and trying to SHOW OFF. This is why the modern philosophy of philanthropy is flawed, it looks good on the outside; but, it is missing one important step, a relationship with Jesus. If the Christian faith and the only way to God is based on grace(fulfilled through the death of Jesus,) then all of our good works are worthless, filthy rags( Isaiah 64:6.) I know, IT'S NOT FAIR.

Some people think as long as everyone is happy in the end, it doesn't matter how you get there. Again, I am a firm believer that the ends never justifies the means. How we get there does matter. Lying is never an option for a Christian, that would be taking us the other way. Listen how the apostle Paul teaches believers in Ephesus and Thessalonia how to be children of the light(Ephesians 5:5 –13,1 Thessalonians 5:5-10.) You see, if we've truly changed paths, we've CHANGED FOREVER.

Sadly the statistics prove the the church isn't following God's steps, look at our divorce rate. The steps are the determining factor between true LOVE AND DESPAIR. If "love"does not; wait(hgh,) forgive, forget, keep hoping and is boastful(1 Corinthians 13:1-9,)" I am here to say, this ain't love. Because love isn't walkin' out. Mother Teresa once said, "the poorest of the poor are those who feel that they are unloved."

Most of you also know that I am a Army brat and my father served 21 years in the Army. You also know that it was in 1998 when I attended my first Promise Keepers conference with my father and my mentor. Four years later my mentor's father died while my mentor was stationed abroad. One year later my mentor came home for his eldest daughter's graduation from college and for the first time he really made me feel like family. Then in 2004 both my mother and father died. Next in 2005 my mentor was re-stationed in Georgia and every since he has been like a father to me. In 2008 I attended his retirement service after a 31 year career in the Army. As you know I spent this past Thanksgiving with him and his family, I called them my adopted family. Do you see the process that started almost 14 years earlier? Maybe it just took him that long to get used to my "hardware(piercings.)" Hoo-rah.

As I think about my passion for writing I can remember back in the seventh grade where it all began in Jerry Snider's class. Then later as I joined the debate, literary and drama teams in 11th grade, under Jerry's tutelage. It was on the debate team and I first learned about status quo. Status quo is defined by Webster's as "the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time." And here is our problem, too many of us have become complacent(comfortable) with the way our lives are. While Paul urges us to be content, yet continue to learn/grow in our faith. Where are you?

Of course as most of you know, my major in college was English, until I had my accident. It wasn't until 2004 that I wrote my first screenplay about a Christian who lost his way and gets caught up in the club scene with alcohol and sex, sound familiar? Then in 2006 I wrote my first blog entry. Finally in 2010 Jerry Jenkins read my blog and suggested I take classes through the Christian Writer's Guild to polish my writing which led me to rewrite my screenplay and enter it into the first annual Atlanta Pitch Summit contest which won it's category. Here I am now talking with studios and producers about green-lighting my script. Do you see the steps, my journey?

And finally there is a very special relationship that everyone who knows me is aware of(I couldn't hide it if I wanted to.) However, what most of you don't know is how it all started. I can still remember the first time I saw her back in 2006 and I was left SPEECHLESS by her beauty(I'll talk more about beauty in a sec.) A few days later her mom introduced us, I even went home and called my mentor to tell him about her. For the next four years we grew the same way.

Although, I didn't see it at the time and I didn't really want to when I did. Our friendship had grown into something more. Then, I hurt her and we didn't talk for nearly two years. During that time I realized how much I care about her and how much I miss her and those incredible eyes(yep, yep.) Sure, I tried it my way and only realized how wrong I was and how right(yashar) she may be. Nope, I never saw it coming. Do you see the three broken roads that God guided me through?

You see, I'm broken. We are all BROKEN PEOPLE because of WHAT WE DID. We all have a SINFUL NATURE, we all have SECRETS AND REGRETS . Only God knows the steps to put us back together again, better than we were in the first place. Only God can make us INNOCENT. You see before my accident, to be blunt, I thought with the wrong head; if I wasn't drinking, smoking something I had no business touching or sleeping(at least trying to) with someone who wouldn't commit to me.

Yeah, I made plenty of mistakes. But, I also learned from them. John Powell wisely said, "The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing." After nearly 16 years of being celibate, I'm living proof that there is sexual healing. A big part of that healing came from learning what MY B.I.B.L.E. has to say about women.

The biggest lesson I learned is found in Genesis(Genesis 39:7- 40.) This is why I don't allow myself to be alone with women at my place or theirs; this would lead to temptation. I don't play house, period. When we play house or church, we only get some of the benefits, I'd rather have all of the benefits of marriage. Next let's turn to the wisest man ever who wrote a lot about women(Proverbs 2:16, 5:3, 5:20, 6:24,7:5, 22:14, 31:1-31.)

He learned a lot from his father's mistakes, since he knew a woman could be kryptonite to even the strongest man. If Solomon knew how dangerous flattery was, then I think we should listen. Of course the world tells you, "a little window shopping is alright, as long as you don't touch" and "a little look doesn't hurt." However, listen to how Jesus explained this to the Pharisees(Matthew 5:28–29, 12:35-37.) As I stated in an earlier blog, flattery is selfish and requires no commitment.

I hope I don't offend any ladies by saying this, but I can't LET IT SLIDE. Every man knows, there is no need to go shopping for milk, when you've got the cow at home. As I explained in my last blog, I am determined to be a man of integrity and I am doing things the right way this time. Writer Charles Simmons once said, "Integrity is the first step to true greatness. Men love to praise [it], but are slow to practice it. To maintain it in high places costs self-denial; in all places it is liable to opposition, but its end is glorious."

At this point, I must make a confession about a recent mistake. I found myself getting to know someone new, sort of like a rebound relationship. Problem is relationships like that are void of commitment and this time it was me who wasn't willing to get past the flattery stage. Besides, I knew someone else still had my heart and I still need her to FORGIVE ME, hopefully its ON GRACE I STAND with her.

A lot of women want to be a "Proverbs 31"woman. Yet, they fail to realize they can't get there without going through the steps(Proverbs 31:31,) they have become complacent with looking and talking "Godly." Solomon even warns them not to eat the bread of idleness(31:27,) being complacent. It's a lot like cooking, if you skip any of the steps in the recipe, the end product won't be its best. I can't help but wonder if Solomon wasn't just talking about a superficial, physical beauty. It's not just about an image we see in the mirror, mirror. He said charm is deceptive, not physical beauty; so maybe he is saying that a woman can act, talk and seem Godly, which is deceptive(remember the Dililah?)Delilah is a play on the Hebrew word laylah, which means night; it can also mean "flirtatious", or inclined towards love.

The name may hint that Delilah worshiped a goddess of sexual love, and was a sacred prostitute. When I was in the youth at church growing up we called them church hoes, you know the girls that hooked up with or made out with all the popular guys; of course they didn't have sex, but they liked to straddle the fence. Then they would have all of the right answers during Sunday school. Their parents taught them they could have their cake and eat it too, which is not gospel(Jeremiah 2:2-3, Ezekiel 16:32, Matthew 6:24,Galatians 1:10, James 4:4.)

At Christmas we called them Christmas ho-hoes. The steps are what determine whether a woman becomes a lady or a jezebel. The apostle Paul is emphatic that you must have nothing to do with people like this(1 Corinthians 5:11,15:33, 6:9, 6:18, 2 Corinthians 12:21.) With that said, some of you reading this will find yourselves deleted from my Facebook page and my life in this new year. I concur with evangelist Ken Freeman, "if you're not going to live like a Christian, don't tell people that you are one."

Oh well, a footnote about Samson, Samson means the sun. Because their names mean night and the sun, the story may have its origins in ancient myths about the battle between night and day. The sun and the moon, darkness and light. The steps are what keep men from ending up with one or the other, its the difference between GOLD and fools gold. Everyone knows that the dance of life is made up of more than just one step. If not you would just keep going in circles.

I've always been told that we put our faith into action by how we live, actually its our faith that puts us into action. Remember actions speak louder than words(James 1:22-24..) As we begin this new year we all need to see where we are and which path we will travel in the year ahead. The steps help us return to innocence( 1 John 5:1-13, Rev. 22:1-5.) All of the old prophecies(Genesis 3:15, 12:1-3,18:18,22:18,26:4,Psalms 72:17,Isaiah 40:3-5,Jeremiah 4:2) point out that Jesus is the way back. In closing this blog, I now realize it's the steps that will determine if I meet MY ANGEL or a paper angel in this new year as I continue to tread the derekh(way.)







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