After I posted my last blog, I had a job interview on post at a nearby Army base. As I drove across the base I passed the hospital where both my father and mother were treated for their cancer. I had only been on base a handful of times since my mother died, which is appropriate seeing that in three days it will be nine years exactly since she “passed.”
I use the term “passed” purposefully, because before they each left this world I had the opportunity to ask each where they’d spend eternity. I remember the peace and confidence in their eyes. Helen Keller once said, “Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there’s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.”
I remember the blessing that I felt when they left this COLD WORLD. I remember all of my father’s fears of struggling to make ends meet in this so-called life. I remember him being worried about the price of gas nearing two dollars a gallon. If his cancer didn’t kill him, he would’ve had a heart attack if he had to pay for gas today.
As the primary caregiver, I witnessed both the physical and financial decay of my parents. I watched as the once tough and proud Army Sargent who was my father was humbled to the point that he needed help walking to the bathroom. I remember that last time that I saw my mother in her hospital room as she tried to drink the orange soda that I brought her for her dying wish. It’s so simple to show those we love how we feel by what we do. LOVE WILL LEAVE A MARK.
No, she didn’t want some big expensive gift or a lavish sendoff, she just wanted a simple soft drink and to my horror she couldn’t even drink it all without vomiting some up. My parents always taught me as a child, “It’s the little things that matter most in life. “ Yet, both society and this world believe that it’s all about having the biggest and latest gadgets, cars, toys and the latest video games. People most often place their hope and joy in lifeless things.
The world calls this being “blessed.” Professor, pastor and author D.A. Carson once noted, “The eternal Son did not think of his status as God as something that gave him the opportunity to get and get and get. Instead, his very status as God meant he had nothing to prove, nothing to achieve. And precisely because he is one with God, one with this kind of God, he ‘made himself nothing’ and gave and gave and gave.” The world is all about getting and being on top— unfortunately, the church has let this materialistic mentality replace the biblical definition of blessings, it’s a SAD CONDISHUN to see the saints SELL OUT for petty temporary things that are only a sweet escape from our pain. I wonder, WAS IT WORTH IT? Does the taste of this world’s kiss really satisfy? The world thinks so.
While contrary to what the world believes, Jesus stated in His Beatitudes that those who are really blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and those who are meek and humble, “For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Andrew Murray writes, “The very first words of His (Jesus) proclamation of the kingdom of heaven reveal the open gate through which alone we enter. The poor, who have nothing in themselves, to them the kingdom comes. The meek, who seek nothing in themselves, theirs the earth shall be. The blessings of heaven and earth are for the lowly. For the heavenly and the earthly life, humility is the secret of blessing.”
Instead of bragging and boasting, we need to be a city on our knees before the mercy tree of God. I know to some this seems RADICAL, but it is clearly biblical ACCORDING TO GOD (Luke 14:11; Philippians 2: 3–11; James 4:6). THIS IS THE TIME to prepare for heaven; this is how we lift our lives up to God; by dying to self daily, we’re not nearly dead, we are to be dead to sin(Romans 6:2).If we expect to go to Heaven, we must die to our old ways, not gratify them under the name of Christianity!
Heaven is real—the kingdom of heaven is a place that will last forever, it’s not temporary or bound by the confines of time like this present earth. Unfortunately, there are many false doctrines and flat out cults in the church that teach that God promises to “bless” His people richly and favorably with earthly treasures. Earthly treasures make us feel good for the moment just like addictive pain killers. Frankly, it’s not just in the “Health, wealth and prosperity” teachings, it’s this self-righteous, “I’m blessed” mentality that has spread in most churches like a cancer and has blinded so many to the truth of the gospel. It’s become the biggest MISCONCEPTION of the modern church; NOTHING IN THIS WORLD is worth losing your soul. THE SIZE OF SIN in today’s society is enormous.
Sometimes it makes me want to puke when I hear this arrogant attitude that contradicts the very Savior we claim to follow and believe in. Jesus taught His disciples that when we do things for a POOR MAN and the least of these, we are doing for Him (Matthew 25:31–46), perhaps we’re entertaining angels unaware. It was the late Confederate soldier, writer and Freemason Albert Pike who said, "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
But that’s not what we believe today, is it? It’s every man for himself, no matter what the cost. The apostle Paul warned his protégé Timothy that in the LAST DAYS there would be false prophets masquerading as angels of light and the people (the church) would turn away from sound doctrine and pursue their own lusts (2 Timothy 4:3). Not that different from the great harlot that the prophet described Jerusalem as (Ezekiel 16: 1–63). Ezekiel’s vision is how God saw His people as they were living in a foreign land—it’s not the picture of a lady, but a very promiscuous NASTY GIRL! Perhaps you think someone like you would never betray Jesus, be careful (1 Corinthians 10:12).
I’ve seen some of the dearest Saints turn out to be the DEVIL IN DISGUISE when the truth came out after the testing of their faith and their lives SHATTERED. Job declared that the man that God corrects is blessed (Job 5:17). The Hebrew word here is esher and it means happiness. So we should be happy when God corrects and disciplines us for it is a sign of His love for us (Hebrews 12:4 – 7), God is simply blessing us by redirecting us from our own selfish desires, not giving them to us. This is the way of El EMMANUEL.
Later the psalmist also states that esher “blessed” is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked (Psalm 1:1–3). On one occasion Jesus was petitioned by someone who had lost a loved one and is demanding their share of an inheritance and Jesus warns them that life is not about getting or being “blessed” by things (Luke 12:15). Ironically, Kohl’s department store has a Christmas commercial with actors and actresses discussing how to “bless” friends and family with gifts and more things, which is straight MIXED UP!
Randy Alcorn explains in his book Heaven, “All the blessings Jesus promised will be ours in the place we live—the New Earth (Matthew 5:2 –11).” The dictionary defines blessing as “The act or words of one that blesses, a thing conductive to happiness or welfare.” In the Old Testament another Hebrew word translated as “bless” is the word barack and it is more often used and can also means praise, congratulate or salute and is even used to mean a curse.
In Genesis after God created the sea creatures, birds and even Adam and Eve, He blessed them and later promised to bless Abram which would in turn one day bless all families of the earth (Genesis 12:1 – 3). Abraham believed God and not just in his mind. He obviously had to do something with Sarah and his action was credited to him as righteousness (6), as a reward he was blessed with children. The psalmist declared that children are a blessing from God (Psalm 127:3).
God’s ultimate desire is to bless mankind—every tribe and every nation (Revelation 7:9–10). Like any father or husband, God’s greatest desire is for those He loves to be with Him. That’s His greatest gift, not worldly and temporary possessions. The Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards said it best, “It becomes us to spend this life only as a journey toward heaven... to which we should subordinate all other concerns of life. Why should we labor for or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end and true happiness?”
Yet, still we as a body of so-called “believers” keep missing it; we keep pursuing the gift rather than the giver. How appropriate seeing how we will celebrate Christmas and the BIRTH OF LOVE in a little over three weeks, the greatest gift of God to the entire world born in BETHLEHEM, HOUSE OF BREAD. Of course His own people missed it because of their thirst for power and control. Can you hear them? “WHAT CHILD IS THIS”, they must’ve wondered?
King Herod and the Jews were expecting a mighty and powerful earthly ruler to come to the rescue of the Jews; instead He chose to come as a simple little baby, a message in a baby. The apostle Paul says that it’s because Jesus came in humility that God exalted Jesus to the highest place (Philippians 2:8–10). If the Son of God came to show us how to live, we’re missing it. This is why the lost don’t understand the gospel; it’s counter to their culture. Unfortunately, it’s the opposite of what many Bible believing Christians claim as well, many have forgotten that our blessings are ACQUIRED IN HEAVEN and they keep praying, begging and believing God for the pleasures of this world.
John even shares a story of a time when Jesus’ own followers were hungry and pleading with Him to give them bread like God had given the Israelites in the wilderness and again, just like with the woman at the well a couple chapters earlier, He refuses to give them what they want. Surely, God wants these people to have what they need, water and bread, the BASICS OF LIFE.
Nope, He again offers them something much better, eternal life (John 6:25 – 68). And not to the surprise of Jesus, many refuse this gift and no longer follow Him (66). Their hearts and minds are set on earthly treasures and blessings and not the kingdom of God, they were fatally confused and that is what this last remixed and reposted blog will be about, how many are confused about true life and death. The late Martin Luther King Jr. once stated, “A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.”
CONFUSED (REMIXED AND REPOSTED?)
Most people, who know me, know that for the last year my mother has been battling lung cancer. Some of you reading this have walked this path with me and have come alongside me and my family this past year. You were there when my father lost his three-month battle with lung cancer himself.
I was touched by having my church choir family come to the funeral home for the visitation and viewing of my father during the choir rehearsal time. Your words, prayers and kindness were greatly appreciated and comforted me. It was these simple and thoughtful actions that showed me you truly care. Dwight L. Moody said it best, “There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.” Jesus made it clear in His Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5: 3 –12).”
Ironically, it was the comfort from my church family that superseded that of my biological family who felt I was cold-hearted for not being upset, while most of my family were grieving my parent’s death, I was comforted because I knew they were in a better place and God had healed them permanently, instead of fixing them for a little while. The early disciples understood this, they knew that Jesus had conquered the grave (1 Corinthians 15:54–56). To the Jews this is a promise of God through the prophet Hosea (Hosea 13:14). The birth of Christ was the death of death which fulfilled over 300 prophecies about the Messiah. For this reason the apostle Paul believed that we have been living in the last days since Jesus’ birth (Romans 13:11).This world is running out of time and all creation knows as it cries out for Jesus’ return.
Randy Alcorn continues in his book Heaven, “The apostle Paul considered it vital for us to know what happens when we die: ‘Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Using the euphemism ‘those who fall asleep,’ Paul speaks of those who have died.” The apostle John shares a story when Jesus comforted Martha after her brother Lazarus died, yet Jesus assured her that he lives (John 11:25–26). Albert Einstein once said, “The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there is no risk of accident for someone who’s dead.” Don’t WE BELIEVE that WE LIVE with our Lord in the city of God? There’s no need for MORE TIME. Why do so many HANG ON to this world, did somebody hit the crazy button?
In an old Seed from the Sower segment Michael Guido shared, “One day while traveling home from a funeral, a friend shared, ‘You’ve been to many countries all around the world, I wish that I could go to one where there weren’t any cemeteries.’ I smiled as I explained, that’s where I’m going once I finish my WORK here on earth. In heaven there will be no sickness, pain or death.” What a joyous thought! It’s a JOY TO THE WORLD that Jesus has freed us from eternal death.
Living with a disability myself, I understand the mortality everyone faces on this earth; like it or not everyone is dying, it’s part of thecircle of life . During the winter months even newborn baby’s breath condensates into a vapor outside on a cold day. No matter if you’re one month or 100 years old, once that mist is gone, you don’t get it back. Listen to how Jesus’ half-brother explained it (James 4:14). Because of sin and the curse our current flesh won’t last.
But for those who belong to Christ there is a blessing, a whole new life free from decay. D.L. Moody once stated, “Soon you will read in the newspaper that I am dead. Don't believe it for a moment. I will be more ALIVE than ever before. In a twisted sort of way, Christians are the original WALKING DEAD, there’s more life left in us after we pass!
Most of you know that I’m an avid cyclist. I often have concerned friends caution me about being careful riding on the highways, especially at night. Not that I’m being sadistic, but my reply is honest, “If by some chance I were to get run over by a truck or other vehicle, don’t worry—at that moment, I’m ON MY WAY home where I’ll no longer be plagued by sin or suffering, IF I DIE TONIGHT, I won’t bec.me another STATISTIC. I’ll finally be home— IT’S ALL GOOD.” Mark Twain once said, “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. “It’s the only way to truly live with abandon for our Lord.
Randy Alcorn continues, “Your deceitfulness, laziness, lust, deafness, disability and disease are not the real you. They are temporary perversions that will be eliminated. They’re cancer that the Great Physician will surgically remove. His redemptive WORK is such that never again will they return.”
Composer Pepper Choplin beautifully shows this in his anthem Song Of The Saints, my favorite choral anthem— “Tell the loved ones, we are safe now. Tell them we have no more pain. Do not hurry heaven’s journey, but do not fear it just the same. All will go through times of grieving, every tear must be released…. every promise Christ has given through our lives, was proven true.” With such words of encouragement and HOPE I can’t help but wonder why we are so scared of death and why are we so adamant about staying downhere? Surely, we must be confused.
New Life?
In a recent episode of Marvel’s agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent May confronted agent Coulson about the changes in him since he nearly died in the line of duty protecting New York City, “There’s no way that you can experience that type of trauma, facing death and not change.” That scene resonated with me deeply since I experienced a similar trauma. In HINDSIGHT, before my accident I was confused.
I spent my younger years partying, drinking and trying to live life to the fullest. To me life was all about having fun and experiencing every pleasure that I could and that’s what I thought it meant to be fully alive . In contrast the Bible says that I was actually dead in my sin (Ephesians 2:5), not ALIVE at all. Kyle Idleman Points out in His Book Gods at War, “When we experience pleasure, there’s a part of us that thinks, yes! This is what I was made for. Even if you haven’t experienced much pleasure in your life, you’ve experienced enough to know that you want more. Thus begins the quest for the elusive NARCOTIC of pleasure. “
In a nutshell this is how we define being happy. The problem is you can never get ENOUGH, you’ll never be satisfied with the temporary pleasures here on earth. King Solomon declared that every pleasure that we work for and dream of here on earth is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 2:1 – 16). And Solomon concludes his perspective on pleasure with “death” (16). King Solomon’s father King David pleaded with his people to stop chasing their dreams and to stop making gods out of earthly things, he reminds them that God has set apart His “faithful” servants for Himself alone (Psalm 4:2–3). So, in the spirit of Christmas—COME ALL YE FAITHFUL!
About 700 years later another Jew would reiterate King Solomon’s message, the apostle Paul wrote to the pastor of the Greek church in Crete, “Say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions . . . While we wait for our “blessed” hope… Jesus (Titus 2:11–12). I can’t help but feel that we are like the Jews in wondering, what child is this? What did the forefathers of our faith know that we don’t?
Perhaps the wisest and richest man ever knew that real life—satisfying life and the chief purpose of every man and woman is fulfilled after a temporary physical death—for it is then and only then that we will be in the physical presence of God and complete the SACRED LOVE of the bridegroom and bride, a husband and wife. As in earthly marriages, it will be a NEW LIFE. However, it will last always and forever! No “‘Till death do we part”—for death has been defeated. God is glorified when we LET GO completely and surrender everything to Him. One day when I finally meet my lady, I know that I’ll DIE IF I HAVE TO for her, to give everything I am to her. British soccer star Frank Clark once noted, “Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of little things.”
The birth of Christ on that O’ HOLY NIGHT epitomizes this love of God for His people and He demands the same from us. In his book Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis writes, “Until you have given up yourself to Him you will not have a real self. Sameness is to be found most among the most ‘natural’ men, not among those who surrender to Christ.” Ironically, we look at our present lives as life and what happens after death as the AFTERLIFE, when actually this is what Randy Alcorn calls the “beforelife.” Randy Alcorn explains, “Since in heaven we’ll finally experience life at its best, it would be more accurate to call our present existence the beforelife rather than what follows the afterlife.” The British theologian John Wesley once noted, “The best is yet to come.”
There was a time when I saw dying as a time when we come back to life—but now I understand that we’ve never really lived before. Because it’s in the new heaven, which will be a new earth, that every promise of the Bible will be fulfilled and perhaps even more. As Randy Alcorn explains, “We cannot anticipate or desire what we cannot IMAGINE.” As many of you are reading this today, I am singing in a community choir presentation of Handel’s Messiah. The Messiah begins with the Recitative For Tenor (solo) which is titled Comfort Ye My People. It is a song about God’s promise to COMFORT, HEAL and RESCUE God’s people. Listen to the promise of the bridegroom, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God, saith your God.”
This promise was fulfilled through the birth of Jesus. One of the popular Christmas carols we all sing is O’ Come Emmanuel. The prophet Isaiah prophesied about Jesus’ birth 700 years beforehand (Isaiah 7:14) and called Him Immanuelle (GOD WITH US), Jesus was God with us in the flesh on this earth, but on the new Earth (heaven) we will be with Him in the flesh. You see, Jesus wasn’t born into this world to fix us ; He came to heal us permanently and take us HOME with Him to live forever! We’re goin’ home to the city of God.
What an incredible love story, isn’t it? Today, ALL AROUND THE WORLD there are millions of women hoping to get a diamond from the man that they love. To most women a diamond says, YOU ARE MINE and I BELONG TO YOU. Marilyn Monroe once sang, “DIAMONDS are a girl’s best friend”, but diamonds won’t last forever—they too will be destroyed. A true lady loves a man for him, not what he can do or will give her— a true Christian will WORSHIP God because He is God, not for what he can get from Him— LET US LOVE God for God’s sake when He says “COME TO ME.” The apostle Paul declared that three things will always REMAIN: faith, hope and love. But love is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:1), love alone is worth the fight.
Michael Hosea was 100% correct in Francine River’s Redeeming Love, “He stopped and glared at her. ‘It’s a lifetime commitment in my book, lady. It’s not an arrangement you nullify when things get a little tough to bear.” Perhaps this life hasn’t been kind to you and like millions of others you’re TIRED OF THE STRUGGLE. It was Peter who encouraged the early church about suffering for the faith and the blessing it is (1 Peter 3:8 – 13, 4:12 – 19). As my brother Saeed sits wrongfully imprisoned in an Iranian jail, I can’t help but think how blessed he is— Jesus Himself told His followers that we are blessed when we’re persecuted and mistreated in this MAD WORLD (Matthew 5:10). Jesus’ half-brother James declared that we should be joyful for being blessed with this gift (James 1:2 – 12) that one day God will justify. In John’s vision of heaven he saw the Saints crying out for Justice (Revelation 6:7 – 11). God rest Ye merry gentlemen and ladies!
Randy Alcorn continues in his book Heaven, “What prepares us to participate in God’s glory? Our current sufferings (Romans 8:17–18:1 Peter 5:1– 4). ‘For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all’ (2 Corinthians 4:17). Provided we draw our strength from Christ, the greater our troubles now, the greater our glory then. . . In heaven He’ll reward us for our acts of faithfulness to him, right down to every cup of cold water we’ve given to the needy in His name (Mark 9:41).”
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Tears for Christ’s injured and neglected honor glisten in the crystal of our third bottle. When we hear Jesus’ name blasphemed among men, or see his cause driven back in the day of battle, who will not weep then? Who can restrain his weeping? Christ sees such tears as diamonds; ‘blessed’ are the eyes which flow with such royal treasure.”
In the New Testament there are two words used for blessings, the first is Makarios which is best translated as happiness, Matthew uses this word to describe those Jesus mentioned in the Beatitudes and the apostle Paul uses this word to describe those who are forgiven (Romans 4:6–8). BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL (7). The other word is Eulogeo which is focused on words and is what we say over our food before we eat (Matthew 26:26), it also represents the good things we say about people who have passed (Ephesians 1:3). It’s the word we get our word “eulogy” from, which is given at most funerals or “going home” ceremonies.
This is what is found in the epilogue of Redeeming Love, “After sixty-eight years of marriage, Michael was laid to rest. Sarah followed within a month. According to their wishes, only simple wooden crosses marked their graves. However, a few days after Sarah’s burial, an epitaph was found scratched into her marker. Though fallen low God raised her up an Angel.”
An Indiana cemetery has a tombstone more than 100 years old, with the following epitaph: “Pause, stranger, when you pass me by: as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so will you be. So prepare for death and follow me.” An unknown passerby scratched these additional words on the tombstone: ‘to follow you I’m not content, until I know which way you went.” Pastor Mark Driscoll recently tweeted, “For Christians, this life is as close to hell as we will get. For non-Christians, this life is as close to heaven as they will get.”
And this is the whole purpose behind me writing this book, how we live and act in this life will determine where we spend the rest of eternity. If we really believe in and love God, it will change what we desire and pursue. The Bible is explicit about the church, the lady not loving the things of this world, but being set apart for God (James 4:4, 1 Peter 2:9 –12, 1 John 2:15 – 17).We must be faithful in the little things of this life. John Wilkes Booth’s older brother Edwin Thomas Booth once stated, “When you are older you will understand how precious little things, seemingly of no value in themselves, can be loved and prized above all price when they convey the love and thoughtfulness of a good heart.”
As I read Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven, I was amazed at the things people were hoping for in heaven. I enjoy my cup of Joe, but I could care less if there’s any in heaven. I like horses and big cats, but they are not why I am looking forward to going to heaven. It’s not even the fact that I’ll be reunited with my parents and other loved ones who believed in Jesus. Nor is it because they will be cancer free and restored to health as well as I; it seems like a dream that one day I’ll have a new body with no disability. The memories of my parents’ illnesses and the sorrow my family felt when they didn’t get well will be long forgotten as we stand in the presence of God.
Joni Eareckson Tada writes from her wheelchair about heaven, “I haven’t been cheated out of being a complete person—I’m just going through a 40 year delay, and God is with me even through that. Being ‘glorified’—I know the meaning of that now. It’s the time, when I’ll be on my feet dancing.” Yes, there will be dancing in heaven which excites me! Not even that drives my desire for home or LIVIN’ DREAMS. As we walk in this new life of Christ and He changes us, He changes our hearts and gives us new dreams. Dr. Charles Stanley recently preached, “When you delight in the Lord and find your joy in Him (Psalm 37:5), your heart will change and your dreams as well.” Just like a man I’m sure that God knows when somebody is using Him to get what they want, that’s not love— it’s lust, which is all about getting, not giving! God doesn’t always give us what we want because it’s not always best for us, GOD IS ENOUGH.
As a little boy I had the childhood dream of being able to fly like Superman. On one occasion while my family lived in Italy, I jumped off the storage shed behind our house in an attempt to fly. In heaven we’ll be with the angels and possibly be able to fly in our resurrected and new bodies. There is no telling what may be possible for us to accomplish in heaven, so why do many desire to stay in this life?
John Eldredge writes, “We have settled on an image of the never ending sing-along in the sky, one great hymn after another, forever and never, amen. And our heart sinks. Forever and ever? That’s it? That’s the good news? And then we sigh and feel guilty that we are not more ‘spiritual.’ We lose heart, and return once more to the present to find what life we can.”
Not to sound spiritual, I’m looking forward to finally be able to look God in the eyes and say thank you for your grace, for your precious gift given to the world that You SO LOVED through Jesus (John 3:16). For the countless blessings both realized and not—thank you for the blessing, the gift of my disability. And I’ll rejoice with all the saints of the ages—for the King has come. Soon He will reign over all the nations for a thousand years with the saints who suffered.
Recently, English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking stated, "I don't think we will survive another thousand years without escaping beyond our fragile planet. I therefore want to encourage public interest in space." That’s fine with me because the bride will be home with Jesus on the new earth which He will REBUILD anew UP FROM THE ASHES and reign as King forever! Again, God will be the center of it all and brighter than any sunshine we can imagine. brighter than those first rays of sunlight after God flooded the earth to cleanse it.
The Bible states that in the days of Noah, “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. . . In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the 17th day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth and the floodgates of the heavens were opened (Genesis 6:11 – 7: 11).”
When God flooded the earth in Noah’s day, it was a baptism of water that brought new life. Later God promised He would never destroy creation with water and blessed Noah and told him to RESTART by being fruitful and multiply (Genesis 8:21, 9:1–2).” The name Noah is a play on the Hebrew word noach which means: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort or to be comforted. This word is also found 13 times in the writings of the prophet Isaiah, note that this word isn’t a feel-good touchy word; it’s an action describing the judgment of God—either a blessing or a curse.
In the Apostle Peter’s second letter to the church, he foretells that God will destroy the earth “By fire (2 Peter 2:13).” This is the ultimate and final purification like the refiner’s fire purifies gold. This is the same Peter who stood by Jesus while others walked away after Jesus offered them the gift of eternal life (John 6:65 – 68). However, Peter declared, “You have the words of eternal life (68).” And that is the gift of the gospel that we celebrate each CHRISTMAS.
For believers and followers of Christ, THE END IS THE BEGINNING of real life, THE LIVING YEARS that will span eternity. Randy Alcorn continues, “With the resources God will lavishly give us on the New Earth, what will we be able to accomplish together? When we think about this, we should be like children anticipating Christmas—sneaking out of bed to see what’s under the Christmas tree.”
Perhaps, there is some reading this blog who don’t BELIEVE in God, you don’t even believe in heaven or hell. And that’s fine, it’s called a gift because it can be accepted or refused—that’s your choice. But know this, you don’t have to believe in hell to go there, that’s man’s default destination because of sin. But you do have to believe in heaven to go there, because believing means living like that’s your home. Or you can try and make your heaven here with the FINER THINGS of this world and eventually lose it all and LOSE THIS LIFE as well.
In his comedy routine, my friend and brother in the faith Brad Stine explains, “You don’t have to believe. So why did He (Jesus) die, so you can have a perfect life? No, so you don’t have to go to hell. Well, I don’t believe in a God who would send people to hell. He didn’t give hell for you, this is great about Christianity, He (God) gives you all the answers—hell was created for the devil and his angels, that’s part the rules He put in place, anybody who rebels against Him, that’s where they are going… So if you go to hell, you chose it…. Well what are you saying I should just believe in Jesus so I don’t go to hell? Pretty much!” For those who submit to and follow Jesus there is no more Hell to pay.
In what’s likely his last public message, the Rev. Billy Graham shared, “We deserve hell, we deserve judgment and all that it entails. The cross is offensive because it directly confronts the evil which dominates much of this world.” I don’t know about anyone else reading this blog, but I know how selfish and sinful I am. I CROSS THAT LINE between right and wrong daily. I know what my triggers are; I GET WICKED in an instant. I’ve experienced THE FEVER of desire and LOST MY WAY. Fortunately, THE SIZE OF GRACE is sufficient and JESUS’ BLOOD HAS COVERED ME. He’s saved me from myself, He’s my HERO. Christian rapper Lacrae shared during Billy Graham’s message, “Jesus lived a life I could not live and died the death I should have died. . . I gained everything when I put my trust in Him.” Still, we must fight ourselves because here is not WHERE WE FROM.
Andrew Murray writes in his book humility, “The hopeless struggle against the workings of self and pride within us may indeed become still more hopeless as we think of the power of darkness behind it all; the utter despair will fit us the better for realizing and accepting a power and a life outside of ourselves too, the humility of heaven as brought DOWN and brought nigh by the Lamb of God, to cast out Satan and his pride.” If we can learn anything from Satan, it’s this, finding the quickest way to the top of the ladder and doing whatever we must to be great in this life doesn’t get us to heaven—it sends us down from it, just like with Satan and a third of the Angels in heaven.
Andrew Murray continues, “Humiliation is the only ladder to honor in God’s kingdom.” We can’t come to God and keep playing the SAME OL’ GAME as the world, we CAN’T FAKE IT. Jesus told His disciples that He is the way to the father in heaven (John 14: 1-6), not to the earthly riches and fame. Fourteenth century German writer Thomas à Kempis wrote, “Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living.” Yet, many in the church present the gospel as some get rich quick Ponzi scheme that allows us to get, get, get. That’s not the gospel, get over it!
Billy Graham continued, “One reason the cross is offensive to people is because it demands, it doesn’t suggest—a new lifestyle in all of us. Sin is a disease in the human heart. The Bible says, ‘If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things pass away, everything becomes new (2 Corinthians 5:17).’ He can make you a totally new person.” It took me nearly dying physically in that car accident almost 17 years ago to finally help me realize what living really is, MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED—now I’M TURNT, not confused.
In The Light(Reposted and Remixed?)
After I posted my last blog, I saw an old Seed from the Sower segment where Michael Guido explained, “One young woman asked her friend, ‘Do you think Jesus ever smiled? After all they called Him the man of sorrow.’ Her friend replied, ‘I’m pretty sure that He did. When I asked Jesus into my heart, I felt like I had swallowed the sun. And I can’t stop from telling people about how happy He makes me, I can’t stop smiling.’ The Bible declares over and over, ‘The joy of the Lord is our strength.” I think Michael Guido hits the nail on the head—the joy of the Lord, not the things of this world, is our strength. As the bride we get our satisfaction and our joy from Christ alone.
As a man and a dreamer, I long for the Spark in the eye from the woman who loves me unconditionally, regardless of what she can get from me or what I can do for her. Older men often tell younger men that when you see this spark, you’ll know that there’s something special going on. I haven’t met a man yet who can explain to me this PHENOMENON. They just say there will be an unexplainable peace in my heart. At this point my life I’m convinced that she won’t look like I expect or even act like I may want her to. No, she won’t be perfect, but be perfect for me and LOVE ME for me. I’m looking for THE LIGHT BEHIND YOUR EYES.
American author Jodi Picoult explains it best, “You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.” I pray the right woman will love only me. A real lady is a ONE MAN GIRL. With that said I’ve learned that people who claim to love everything, never truly love anything! The more I HEAR ‘EM say love, the more I realize THEY DON’T KNOW that love is not a synonym for enjoy or like. A lady knows the difference between loving and liking. She knows love means commitment, not being comfortable.
A few years ago I was talking to an acquaintance who “loved” chocolate. This girl would get all mushy-eyed and excited at the thought of chocolate. She also “loved” the season of fall and would smile as she talked about the leaves falling from the trees. But, when she would talk about how much she “loved” her boyfriend of three years, there would be no smile. She complained to me about him, but earnestly professed her undying love for him. Eventually, she began to flirt with me and tempt me. I knew from our many conversations over the years that she wasn’t relationship material, because she was more concerned about temporary happiness than about a lasting relationship. Likewise many professing believers are more concerned about temporary pleasures than eternal holiness.
The Hebrew word for holy is qadosh and it simply means to be set apart for a special purpose. Strong’s concordance explains the Greek word for holy, hagios means “To set apart by (or for) God”— much like a bride is set apart for and devoted to her husband. WE BELIEVE God’s people, the church (bride) are to be set apart from this world. Like with an earthly marriage, with this new life come new priorities and new desires that are NOT OF THIS WORLD. Besides, doesn’t a bride long to be with her husband? Not other men. Some mistake the Christian life as an easy life full of shiny, happy people. They DON’T LIKE the idea of not getting their way.
What I think the first young woman in the story missed was that she used the world’s definition of happiness to define a permanent and eternal happiness that can’t be shaken and isn’t dependent on circumstances. Chuck Swindoll defines joy as, “Living above the circumstances.“ That means that our happiness does not depend on how things are going, but on God’s constant goodness—even when things are hard. Worship leader and writer Gangai Victor once wrote, “True worship leaders worship the Lord at all times and use songs only when necessary.”Most people know that one day I hope to sing a special song to the lady of my heart to express the joy I have in her. It will be a simple outward expression for her, but it won’t be my love.
This is true joy and it only comes from having a relationship with Jesus, the bridegroom. The prophet Isaiah was first to describe Jesus as “a man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3).” Isaiah’s prophecy was that Jesus would be rejected by both this world and His own people; Jesus would be rejected by His bride. To be honest, Jesus is getting the short end of the stick. His bride isn’t faithful and really doesn’t want anything to do with Him. She’s more concerned about being comfortable here on earth than going home to Him and being truly committed.
Paul explained to the church in Philippi that they would not only believe in Jesus, but suffer with Him (Philippians 1:29). Jesus once told His followers, that they would have trouble in this world (John 15:18). No, this world is not a love fest for those who really believe in and follow Jesus. As we talk about suffering for the faith, one of my favorite heroes in the Bible comes to mind, Stephen as he suffered, cried out, “I SEE HEAVEN open up (Acts 7:54–58).”
I think of our brother Saeed Abedini who is willing to die and suffer for the faith and is holding on for something better than this world has to offer. God has a way of taking BROKEN PIECES and making something new and beautiful. The prophet Isaiah declares that God gives us BEAUTY FOR ASHES (Isaiah 61:3). The early Christians especially the apostle Paul, were THANKFUL that they suffered for their faith (Romans 8:17, Philippians 2:17, Colossians 1:24). Paul encouraged the church in Corinth to suffer “abundantly” (2 Corinthians 1:5).Randy Alcorn explains in his book Heaven, "God uses suffering and impending death to unfasten us from this earth and to set our minds on what lies beyond."This is what happens in the book of Hebrews(Hebrews 11:32-40).
The Apostle Paul’s message was to be thankful in all situations (good and bad), for everything (Ephesians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:18). This is appropriate seeing how we will celebrate Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks. But are we really thankful or wearing masks to cover our ungratefulness? St. Augustine once said, “You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run.” I want there to be a FIRE IN MY HEART for God, whether I'm being blessed or not.
The church is called, by its nature to find ultimate joy and satisfaction in the bridegroom—Jesus, and nothing else; not our dreams, paychecks, homes or even our families (Luke 14:25–35). We’re to love Christ more than all of these. It’s CASH OR CHRIST. Jesus makes it clear that we can’t serve both man and God (Matthew 6:23–25). We may say, “Jesus, I am UNASHAMED OF YOU and we’re NOT FOR SALE,” but our refusal to let go of the things of this world shows otherwise. Jesus said something similar about the Pharisees of His day (Matthew 15:7). They too claimed, “I KNOW HIM (God),” but refused to be humbled. Theologian John Calvin wrote “Those who set up a fictitious worship, merely worship and adore their own delirious fancies; indeed, they would never dare so to trifle with God, had they not previously fashioned him after their own childish conceits.” This is why the Bible warns us not to LET DOWN our guard; pride, self-preservation and selfish ambition can blind us to the truth (Matthew 16:6, Mark 8:15).
We are even to be willing to suffer for the sake of this relationship. True love doesn’t end in divorce. That’s not real commitment, its convenience. Just like a husband hurts and struggles when his spouse hurts. Hence, in sickness and in health—in good times and bad times, they stay together. Although I’m unfaithful, Jesus isn’t LETTING ME GO. We DON’T LET GO of what we really love. Jesus would do anything for His bride; even give up His life for her by going to the cross. He humbled himself out of His love for us (Philippians 2:8–10). If THE CROSS IS MY CONFESSION, then humility is the evidence of the GOD IN ME.
While studying for this blog I came across a book on humility written by a 19th century preacher and missionary that shook my world like an EARTHQUAKE. In his book Humility Andrew Murray writes, “Jesus Christ took the place and fulfilled the DESTINY of man, as a creature, by His life of perfect humility. His humility is our salvation. His salvation is our humility and so the life of the saved ones, of THE SAINTS, must needs bear this stamp of deliverance from sin, and full restoration to their original state; their whole relation to God and man marked by an all pervading humility. Without this there can be no true abiding in God’s presence.”
It’s our humility that should bear the light of our character and our witness for Christ, not earthly power or position. Not earthly riches or treasure. Jesus warned that where we place our hope and treasure, our hearts will be and if we Fix our eyes on things above, our bodies will be full of light (Matthew 6:21–22). Later the apostle Paul urged the church in Ephesus to live as CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT (Ephesians 5:5–8), so TURN YOUR LIGHT UP and SHOW THEM the love of God by how you live. And that is what this Thanksgiving blog will be about, how to light up the world.
IN THE LIGHT (REMIXED AND REPOSTED?)
The prophet Moses declared that in THE BEGINNING, God said, “LET THERE BE LIGHT (Genesis 1:3) and He separated the light from the darkness. And the battle between light and dark, good and evil has been going on ever since. The fight is clearly seen in the Old Testament as one king or ruler would follow God and another wouldn’t. Time and again this TUG OF WAR between darkness and light is seen in the Bible, these PATTERNS stretch into the New Testament and even into our society and our culture.
Because of the fall of man IN THE GARDEN, we are all born with a sin nature. This is why the psalmist pleaded with God to give him a new heart. He confesses that he was conceived in sin and unless God washes him completely, there is no hope for him and he can never enter the presence of God(Psalm 51:1–11).
The Psalmist knows that nothing can be hidden from God. He knows that God even can see the wretchedness deep within his heart. Oswald chambers once wrote, “You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.” The psalmist knows that if not for GRACE AND MERCY, he’s destined for hell.
Randy Alcorn points out in his book Heaven, “What would keep us out of heaven is universal: ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from a relationship with God (Isaiah 59:2). God is so holy that he cannot allow sin into his presence: ‘Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong’ (Habakkuk 1:13). Because we are sinners, we are not entitled to enter God’s presence. We cannot enter heaven as we are. So Heaven is not our default destination. No one goes there automatically. Unless our sin problem is resolved, the only place we will go is our default destination... Hell.” Our sin nature, our carnal desires will always leave us HELLBOUND.
Before you stop reading, let me assure you there’s some good news and there are BRIGHTER DAYS ahead. And it’s the best news, ever. Better than any of us could ever imagine. This battle between darkness and light—between good and evil, has already been won. It was won at CALVARY. Where Jesus died for whosoever believes in Him (John 3:16). He would die just to be with you.
Theologian R.C. Sproul, J.R. explains, “The glory of the gospel is not that God, just because He’s a nice guy, decides not to hold our sins against us. The glory of the gospel is that my sins are already dealt with, already punished. There is no grudge not because He has forgotten, but because He remembered our sins at Calvary. Our sins are not forgotten but forgiven, because Jesus received their due punishment.”
One day all of this suffering and the darkness of this fallen world will end, forever. The Apostle John’s vision of heaven is so magnificent and spectacular that words can’t describe it and none of us can imagine how glorious it is going to be finally be home with our Savior and Lord. John’s vision starts with a warning to THE BRIDE, “You have forsaken the love you had at first (Revelation 2:4). Clearly, this church professed to love God, but somehow their love shifted to someone or something else. Later John encounters a heavenly choir of angels singing the song of the Lamb. There will be a huge CELEBRATION in heaven because we’re finally the presence of Jesus.
The late George Beverly Shea once kidded Billy Graham that the latter would be unemployed in heaven—while Shea would still have a job leading worship.” Every nation and tribe will make a joyful noise in heaven, because God is STILL THE KING. And He will bring JUSTICE for all of our suffering here. Then we shall CRY HOLY is the Lord with the Angels and FOREVER REIGN with Him.
And this is just the preparation, the prequel for the goodness that’s to come. For John soon sees the WEDDING DAY of the Lord, when the bridegroom finally receives His bride and she is clothed in fine linen made up of her righteous acts (works) (Revelation 19:6–9). C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Women sometimes have the problem of trying to judge by artificial light how a dress will look by daylight. That is very like the problem for all of us: to dress our souls not for the electric lights of the present world but for the daylight of the next. The good dress is the one that will face that light. For that light will last longer.”
As a man, I often dream of the day of having the best view at a wedding and seeing my bride walking down the aisle towards THE ALTAR, I imagine the smile on her face and the glow in her eyes. It’s a bittersweet moment when we’ll surrender our freedoms in life for something more fulfilling, together. Yes, I KNOW that I have to give her all of me, likewise the church must give God all of herself, just like Christ gave everything that He had for His bride. Are you ready for that wedding? It will be an eternally BEAUTIFUL LIFE.THAT HOME will be SO BEAUTIFUL. Canadian theologian D. A. Carson explains, “Worship is the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honor and worth to their Creator-God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so.”
Only, this wedding in heaven will be much different than weddings here on earth, because this wedding is all about the bridegroom and He will be the center of attention, for He gets all the glory. Perhaps this is why we as a church are self-righteous sometimes. Because as the bride, we think we’re the center of attention in this relationship—but we’re not and never have been. Ever since that first ray of light in the beginning, it’s always been about God. Pastor Mike Wilkerson of Mars Hill Ballard explains, “Here’s what’s surprising about making sense of your life in God’s story: the story is not about you—it’s about him. He is both the author and the main character, and he has written you into his story to say something about him.”
And in heaven it becomes more about God. John tells us that after the judgment of the dead, where people are judged for what they “did” in this life. God will create a new heaven and new earth that are so wonderful, those in heaven now, can’t imagine. There will be no more death, pain or suffering. Again God will be the center of this new creation and the love will be so great that there will be no need for a sun or moon. God’s HOLY LIGHT and love will illuminate everything, at this point my life that is what I’m looking forward to the most, being in the physical presence of Jesus and I WILL BE enjoying His light as MY BEAT GOES on after this world ends, baby!
WTH?
And this is where so many people, including Christians, tend to lose focus and reveal their true heart. We forget that this world and life are only temporary. The psalmist declared that, “I won’t die, but I LIVE (Psalm 118:17). Life goes on for everybody after death—both sinners and saints will spend eternity somewhere. The only question is where. What we pursue in this life will determine where we will spend eternity; Heaven, Hell, but here (earth) is temporary and it won’t last forever. In an article that I wrote for my final assignment of my current class I began with this observation, “Over the last few decades many theologians have concluded that man has created God in his own image—of course this contradicts Scripture (Genesis 1:27). Furthermore, since the events of 9/11, there has been a growing trend of man creating his own version of heaven here on earth.”
When Jesus began His earthly ministry and declared His authority as the Good Shepherd, He explained that those who really loved and followed Him would have an “abundant” life (John 10:10). This has become one of the most twisted and confusing verses in the Bible. Many false teachers and hopeful believers have concluded that Jesus wants to fill His followers’ lives with temporary and fleeting pleasures of this world. If this were the case, then those first disciples would have never had to suffer for the faith and they would have been some of the richest and most popular teachers of their day. Instead they lived modest and humble lives as servants of the King. What the heck happened to us? The late Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
According to the Strong’s concordance, the Greek word for abundant used here is perissós and it means, “Advantage, going past the expected limit.” The average life expectancy of people TODAY is 78.9 years. Some regions may expect a few more years depending on gender and region, but 78 is average worldwide. To younger generations this may seem old, but in the scope of eternity 100 years isn’t a blimp on the radar. The point is our journey on this hunk of rock hurtling through space is very brief.
But for those who love, follow and serve Jesus there is this promise of a longer, beyond expected life that is truly abundant. German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "Jesus calls men, not to a new religion, but to life." It’s imperative for us as a church to not only faithfully follow Jesus, but faithfully get the message of the “good news” out, so don’t just GO GLOW. Theologian Marva J. Dawn once wrote, “...we are to be lights in the world. It is God's business to light us, to set us on the lampstand, and to bring the people into the house. Our only duty is to shine forth with the gospel.” If we as a body don’t AMP IT UP and SHINE the light of heaven into this dark world by how we live, we will have to stand before the throne above and answer to God for how we’ve wasted this brief time that we call life, because there are no secrets in heaven.
If we are really different and set apart from the world, then we can’t go on pursuing the same things the world does. Jesus taught His disciples not to pursue or worry about the things of this world that TOMORROW will be destroyed in the fire (Matthew 6:28– 33). Jesus tells us to pursue the kingdom of God, things above (33). By our nature and purpose we can’t continue acting like this world and loving the things it does. Anglican theologian Vinoth Ramachandra writes “Note that shattering conclusion: we become like what we worship." There can be NO COMPROMISE in this life.
It seems like every sense 9/11; the church has become fixated on being comfortable and profitable here on earth. As America’s prosperity took a hit after 9/11, the prosperity gospel and the feel-good mindsets increased in popularity IN THE CHURCH; many Christian evangelicals who had once been absent from the church community, returned to hear the “good news.” But, the hope seemed to shift from heavenly blessings to the ROYAL LIES of worldly BLESSINGS as popular “motivational” speakers and authors flooded bookstands with titles like “Your Best Life Now”, “Change Your Words, Change Your Life.” It’s a simple case of IDENTITY THEFT. We can’t claim to follow a humble God and not be humbled ourselves. How can the world SEE THE LIGHT if we keep living in the dark? President Calvin Coolidge once said, “Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshiped.”
Andrew Murray explains, ““The root of all virtue and grace, of all faith and acceptable worship, is that we know that we have nothing but what we receive, and bow in deepest humility to wait upon God for it.” Sure, God wants to give us good gifts as an expression of His love for His bride; but they aren’t meant to replace the ultimate gift—Himself,one that will last forever…Himself, where moth and rust do not destroy (Matthew 6:20). That’s what our hearts are to be set on (Matthew 6:21).
Everything else is going to be destroyed, even the earth will FADEAWAY. No wonder God allowed the original Temple, to let the light out. Or maybe God decided to BREAK THE BUILDING so He could get back in. This year people will take 850 million pictures of family, friends and places in their lives, one day all those pictures and places will be gone. I think about some of my favorite places and memories: biking outside in the countryside, standing inside the Coliseum in Rome, walking around the leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, running through Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy or standing on top of Pikes Peak in Colorado and looking down at airplanes four years ago.
And I realize that none of them will last or compare to the glory of being in heaven. The wisest and richest man ever declared that wealth and the things of this world are meaningless (Ecclesiastes 5:10–15). The Hebrew word prosper is shalom and it doesn’t mean money or possessions, it means peace or completeness. And the bride won’t be complete until she is reunited with the bridegroom.
Randy Alcorn continues, “It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.” This is why I need to MURDER MY FLESH and let Jesus RESCUE ME.
One would think that with the ever increasing greed, violence and moral bankruptcy of the world, the bride would desire more for Jesus to take us home. We don’t need the Bible to tell us that this world is not where we belong. Doesn’t a bride long to be with her husband and not other lovers? Jesus’ half-brother James answers this question pretty bluntly, if we love this world, then we are enemies of God, not His bride (James 4:4)—Adulterous people are what James calls those who love this world.
Pastor and author John Piper explains, “Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It's a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God. If we don't want God above all things, we have not been converted by the gospel.”
I recently asked a friend who is engaged to be married if he is more concerned about his future wife being happy or being faithful to him. He replied, “I hope that she is faithful to me and that makes her happy.” I’m no prophet, just an ordinary man; but I’m confident that is God’s ultimate desire as well, for the church to be with Him and be content.
One of my favorite parts of Francine Rivers’ book Redeeming Love is when Angel awakens from her drug-induced sleep and is confronted by another prostitute named lucky, “Lucky took her hand. ‘They’re rigging his wagon so he can take you home with him. You’ll sleep all the way with the laudanum you drank. You won’t feel nothing. ‘She felt lucky touch her hair. ‘You’re a regular married lady now, Angel. He had a wedding ring on a chain around his neck. He said it belonged to his mother. His mother, Angel. He put his mother’s wedding ring on your finger.”
At first Angel isn’t satisfied and she longs for her old life as a prostitute, perhaps because she was the one in control. Letting go of this life and trusting God can be scary at times, but no one ever said that the Christian life would be easy, still we shouldn’t LOOK BACK. The more time Angel spent with her husband, the more she got used to this new way of living and the less the ways of her old lifestyle satisfied or tempted her.. Solomon made it clear that we acknowledge God by the way we live, not talk (Proverbs 3:5).
It works the same way in the Christian walk, the more time we spend with God and the more we focus on Him, our desires and even dreams change and we come BACK TO LIFE. MY HOPE is in the Christ alone, He’s coming back for His bride only. It’s the Jesus paradigm effect, the things that used to matter the most to us become of little importance to us. The apostle Paul explained this very phenomenon to the church in Philippi (Philippians 3:7).
Jesus told his followers that the kingdom of God works the opposite of the way things work here on earth. The greatest on earth are the least in heaven and the least on earth will be the greatest in heaven. Things of little value in this life will have the greatest value in the kingdom to come and vice versa. When we pray to God, “BUILD YOUR KINGDOM HERE”, it’s not about bringing more earthly things here; it’s about bringing the humble and forgiving spirit of God to earth, again.
Take for example the most precious commodity on earth today, gold. To many it is a symbol of great wealth on earth. But in heaven, the pavement that we will walk on, will be made of gold (Revelation 21:21). Jesus even rebuked His own disciples for aspiring for positions of greatness in this life (Mark 10:35– 45). If we really want to be somebody, we must be in Christ. Before Jesus went the cross He gave one last command, “love each other and this is how the world will know that we are His disciples by our love for Jesus and each other (John 13:34– 35).
For the second time in as many years I’ve recently witnessed members of a local church go on a self-righteous POWER TRIP to get their way in a church. Fortunately, this time I wasn’t the one attacked. However, it broke my heart to see a pastor, father, husband, child of God, a brother being slandered and attacked by the wolves. They wanted their way so bad that they didn’t care who they hurt or what means it would take to get it, they like it ON THAT HIGH and think that it’s okay. That’s not the humble and loving spirit of Christ. One of my favorite Facebook quotes is, “God don’t like ugly.” Don’t forget the LORD KNOWS how corrupt our hearts really are.
It’s this very quest for a position of power that caused God to shake heaven like an earthquake and cast Lucifer, the once bright morning star (Isaiah 14:12) and a third of the Angels in heaven out. Because there can be no selfish ambition or other sin in heaven. Darkness cannot be part of the light.
As a man and a dreamer, I long for the Spark in the eye from the woman who loves me unconditionally, regardless of what she can get from me or what I can do for her. Older men often tell younger men that when you see this spark, you’ll know that there’s something special going on. I haven’t met a man yet who can explain to me this PHENOMENON. They just say there will be an unexplainable peace in my heart. At this point my life I’m convinced that she won’t look like I expect or even act like I may want her to. No, she won’t be perfect, but be perfect for me and LOVE ME for me. I’m looking for THE LIGHT BEHIND YOUR EYES.
American author Jodi Picoult explains it best, “You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.” I pray the right woman will love only me. A real lady is a ONE MAN GIRL. With that said I’ve learned that people who claim to love everything, never truly love anything! The more I HEAR ‘EM say love, the more I realize THEY DON’T KNOW that love is not a synonym for enjoy or like. A lady knows the difference between loving and liking. She knows love means commitment, not being comfortable.
A few years ago I was talking to an acquaintance who “loved” chocolate. This girl would get all mushy-eyed and excited at the thought of chocolate. She also “loved” the season of fall and would smile as she talked about the leaves falling from the trees. But, when she would talk about how much she “loved” her boyfriend of three years, there would be no smile. She complained to me about him, but earnestly professed her undying love for him. Eventually, she began to flirt with me and tempt me. I knew from our many conversations over the years that she wasn’t relationship material, because she was more concerned about temporary happiness than about a lasting relationship. Likewise many professing believers are more concerned about temporary pleasures than eternal holiness.
The Hebrew word for holy is qadosh and it simply means to be set apart for a special purpose. Strong’s concordance explains the Greek word for holy, hagios means “To set apart by (or for) God”— much like a bride is set apart for and devoted to her husband. WE BELIEVE God’s people, the church (bride) are to be set apart from this world. Like with an earthly marriage, with this new life come new priorities and new desires that are NOT OF THIS WORLD. Besides, doesn’t a bride long to be with her husband? Not other men. Some mistake the Christian life as an easy life full of shiny, happy people. They DON’T LIKE the idea of not getting their way.
What I think the first young woman in the story missed was that she used the world’s definition of happiness to define a permanent and eternal happiness that can’t be shaken and isn’t dependent on circumstances. Chuck Swindoll defines joy as, “Living above the circumstances.“ That means that our happiness does not depend on how things are going, but on God’s constant goodness—even when things are hard. Worship leader and writer Gangai Victor once wrote, “True worship leaders worship the Lord at all times and use songs only when necessary.”Most people know that one day I hope to sing a special song to the lady of my heart to express the joy I have in her. It will be a simple outward expression for her, but it won’t be my love.
This is true joy and it only comes from having a relationship with Jesus, the bridegroom. The prophet Isaiah was first to describe Jesus as “a man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3).” Isaiah’s prophecy was that Jesus would be rejected by both this world and His own people; Jesus would be rejected by His bride. To be honest, Jesus is getting the short end of the stick. His bride isn’t faithful and really doesn’t want anything to do with Him. She’s more concerned about being comfortable here on earth than going home to Him and being truly committed.
Paul explained to the church in Philippi that they would not only believe in Jesus, but suffer with Him (Philippians 1:29). Jesus once told His followers, that they would have trouble in this world (John 15:18). No, this world is not a love fest for those who really believe in and follow Jesus. As we talk about suffering for the faith, one of my favorite heroes in the Bible comes to mind, Stephen as he suffered, cried out, “I SEE HEAVEN open up (Acts 7:54–58).”
I think of our brother Saeed Abedini who is willing to die and suffer for the faith and is holding on for something better than this world has to offer. God has a way of taking BROKEN PIECES and making something new and beautiful. The prophet Isaiah declares that God gives us BEAUTY FOR ASHES (Isaiah 61:3). The early Christians especially the apostle Paul, were THANKFUL that they suffered for their faith (Romans 8:17, Philippians 2:17, Colossians 1:24). Paul encouraged the church in Corinth to suffer “abundantly” (2 Corinthians 1:5).Randy Alcorn explains in his book Heaven, "God uses suffering and impending death to unfasten us from this earth and to set our minds on what lies beyond."This is what happens in the book of Hebrews(Hebrews 11:32-40).
The Apostle Paul’s message was to be thankful in all situations (good and bad), for everything (Ephesians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:18). This is appropriate seeing how we will celebrate Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks. But are we really thankful or wearing masks to cover our ungratefulness? St. Augustine once said, “You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run.” I want there to be a FIRE IN MY HEART for God, whether I'm being blessed or not.
The church is called, by its nature to find ultimate joy and satisfaction in the bridegroom—Jesus, and nothing else; not our dreams, paychecks, homes or even our families (Luke 14:25–35). We’re to love Christ more than all of these. It’s CASH OR CHRIST. Jesus makes it clear that we can’t serve both man and God (Matthew 6:23–25). We may say, “Jesus, I am UNASHAMED OF YOU and we’re NOT FOR SALE,” but our refusal to let go of the things of this world shows otherwise. Jesus said something similar about the Pharisees of His day (Matthew 15:7). They too claimed, “I KNOW HIM (God),” but refused to be humbled. Theologian John Calvin wrote “Those who set up a fictitious worship, merely worship and adore their own delirious fancies; indeed, they would never dare so to trifle with God, had they not previously fashioned him after their own childish conceits.” This is why the Bible warns us not to LET DOWN our guard; pride, self-preservation and selfish ambition can blind us to the truth (Matthew 16:6, Mark 8:15).
We are even to be willing to suffer for the sake of this relationship. True love doesn’t end in divorce. That’s not real commitment, its convenience. Just like a husband hurts and struggles when his spouse hurts. Hence, in sickness and in health—in good times and bad times, they stay together. Although I’m unfaithful, Jesus isn’t LETTING ME GO. We DON’T LET GO of what we really love. Jesus would do anything for His bride; even give up His life for her by going to the cross. He humbled himself out of His love for us (Philippians 2:8–10). If THE CROSS IS MY CONFESSION, then humility is the evidence of the GOD IN ME.
While studying for this blog I came across a book on humility written by a 19th century preacher and missionary that shook my world like an EARTHQUAKE. In his book Humility Andrew Murray writes, “Jesus Christ took the place and fulfilled the DESTINY of man, as a creature, by His life of perfect humility. His humility is our salvation. His salvation is our humility and so the life of the saved ones, of THE SAINTS, must needs bear this stamp of deliverance from sin, and full restoration to their original state; their whole relation to God and man marked by an all pervading humility. Without this there can be no true abiding in God’s presence.”
It’s our humility that should bear the light of our character and our witness for Christ, not earthly power or position. Not earthly riches or treasure. Jesus warned that where we place our hope and treasure, our hearts will be and if we Fix our eyes on things above, our bodies will be full of light (Matthew 6:21–22). Later the apostle Paul urged the church in Ephesus to live as CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT (Ephesians 5:5–8), so TURN YOUR LIGHT UP and SHOW THEM the love of God by how you live. And that is what this Thanksgiving blog will be about, how to light up the world.
IN THE LIGHT (REMIXED AND REPOSTED?)
The prophet Moses declared that in THE BEGINNING, God said, “LET THERE BE LIGHT (Genesis 1:3) and He separated the light from the darkness. And the battle between light and dark, good and evil has been going on ever since. The fight is clearly seen in the Old Testament as one king or ruler would follow God and another wouldn’t. Time and again this TUG OF WAR between darkness and light is seen in the Bible, these PATTERNS stretch into the New Testament and even into our society and our culture.
Because of the fall of man IN THE GARDEN, we are all born with a sin nature. This is why the psalmist pleaded with God to give him a new heart. He confesses that he was conceived in sin and unless God washes him completely, there is no hope for him and he can never enter the presence of God(Psalm 51:1–11).
The Psalmist knows that nothing can be hidden from God. He knows that God even can see the wretchedness deep within his heart. Oswald chambers once wrote, “You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.” The psalmist knows that if not for GRACE AND MERCY, he’s destined for hell.
Randy Alcorn points out in his book Heaven, “What would keep us out of heaven is universal: ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from a relationship with God (Isaiah 59:2). God is so holy that he cannot allow sin into his presence: ‘Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong’ (Habakkuk 1:13). Because we are sinners, we are not entitled to enter God’s presence. We cannot enter heaven as we are. So Heaven is not our default destination. No one goes there automatically. Unless our sin problem is resolved, the only place we will go is our default destination... Hell.” Our sin nature, our carnal desires will always leave us HELLBOUND.
Before you stop reading, let me assure you there’s some good news and there are BRIGHTER DAYS ahead. And it’s the best news, ever. Better than any of us could ever imagine. This battle between darkness and light—between good and evil, has already been won. It was won at CALVARY. Where Jesus died for whosoever believes in Him (John 3:16). He would die just to be with you.
Theologian R.C. Sproul, J.R. explains, “The glory of the gospel is not that God, just because He’s a nice guy, decides not to hold our sins against us. The glory of the gospel is that my sins are already dealt with, already punished. There is no grudge not because He has forgotten, but because He remembered our sins at Calvary. Our sins are not forgotten but forgiven, because Jesus received their due punishment.”
One day all of this suffering and the darkness of this fallen world will end, forever. The Apostle John’s vision of heaven is so magnificent and spectacular that words can’t describe it and none of us can imagine how glorious it is going to be finally be home with our Savior and Lord. John’s vision starts with a warning to THE BRIDE, “You have forsaken the love you had at first (Revelation 2:4). Clearly, this church professed to love God, but somehow their love shifted to someone or something else. Later John encounters a heavenly choir of angels singing the song of the Lamb. There will be a huge CELEBRATION in heaven because we’re finally the presence of Jesus.
The late George Beverly Shea once kidded Billy Graham that the latter would be unemployed in heaven—while Shea would still have a job leading worship.” Every nation and tribe will make a joyful noise in heaven, because God is STILL THE KING. And He will bring JUSTICE for all of our suffering here. Then we shall CRY HOLY is the Lord with the Angels and FOREVER REIGN with Him.
And this is just the preparation, the prequel for the goodness that’s to come. For John soon sees the WEDDING DAY of the Lord, when the bridegroom finally receives His bride and she is clothed in fine linen made up of her righteous acts (works) (Revelation 19:6–9). C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Women sometimes have the problem of trying to judge by artificial light how a dress will look by daylight. That is very like the problem for all of us: to dress our souls not for the electric lights of the present world but for the daylight of the next. The good dress is the one that will face that light. For that light will last longer.”
As a man, I often dream of the day of having the best view at a wedding and seeing my bride walking down the aisle towards THE ALTAR, I imagine the smile on her face and the glow in her eyes. It’s a bittersweet moment when we’ll surrender our freedoms in life for something more fulfilling, together. Yes, I KNOW that I have to give her all of me, likewise the church must give God all of herself, just like Christ gave everything that He had for His bride. Are you ready for that wedding? It will be an eternally BEAUTIFUL LIFE.THAT HOME will be SO BEAUTIFUL. Canadian theologian D. A. Carson explains, “Worship is the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honor and worth to their Creator-God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so.”
Only, this wedding in heaven will be much different than weddings here on earth, because this wedding is all about the bridegroom and He will be the center of attention, for He gets all the glory. Perhaps this is why we as a church are self-righteous sometimes. Because as the bride, we think we’re the center of attention in this relationship—but we’re not and never have been. Ever since that first ray of light in the beginning, it’s always been about God. Pastor Mike Wilkerson of Mars Hill Ballard explains, “Here’s what’s surprising about making sense of your life in God’s story: the story is not about you—it’s about him. He is both the author and the main character, and he has written you into his story to say something about him.”
And in heaven it becomes more about God. John tells us that after the judgment of the dead, where people are judged for what they “did” in this life. God will create a new heaven and new earth that are so wonderful, those in heaven now, can’t imagine. There will be no more death, pain or suffering. Again God will be the center of this new creation and the love will be so great that there will be no need for a sun or moon. God’s HOLY LIGHT and love will illuminate everything, at this point my life that is what I’m looking forward to the most, being in the physical presence of Jesus and I WILL BE enjoying His light as MY BEAT GOES on after this world ends, baby!
WTH?
And this is where so many people, including Christians, tend to lose focus and reveal their true heart. We forget that this world and life are only temporary. The psalmist declared that, “I won’t die, but I LIVE (Psalm 118:17). Life goes on for everybody after death—both sinners and saints will spend eternity somewhere. The only question is where. What we pursue in this life will determine where we will spend eternity; Heaven, Hell, but here (earth) is temporary and it won’t last forever. In an article that I wrote for my final assignment of my current class I began with this observation, “Over the last few decades many theologians have concluded that man has created God in his own image—of course this contradicts Scripture (Genesis 1:27). Furthermore, since the events of 9/11, there has been a growing trend of man creating his own version of heaven here on earth.”
When Jesus began His earthly ministry and declared His authority as the Good Shepherd, He explained that those who really loved and followed Him would have an “abundant” life (John 10:10). This has become one of the most twisted and confusing verses in the Bible. Many false teachers and hopeful believers have concluded that Jesus wants to fill His followers’ lives with temporary and fleeting pleasures of this world. If this were the case, then those first disciples would have never had to suffer for the faith and they would have been some of the richest and most popular teachers of their day. Instead they lived modest and humble lives as servants of the King. What the heck happened to us? The late Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
According to the Strong’s concordance, the Greek word for abundant used here is perissós and it means, “Advantage, going past the expected limit.” The average life expectancy of people TODAY is 78.9 years. Some regions may expect a few more years depending on gender and region, but 78 is average worldwide. To younger generations this may seem old, but in the scope of eternity 100 years isn’t a blimp on the radar. The point is our journey on this hunk of rock hurtling through space is very brief.
But for those who love, follow and serve Jesus there is this promise of a longer, beyond expected life that is truly abundant. German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "Jesus calls men, not to a new religion, but to life." It’s imperative for us as a church to not only faithfully follow Jesus, but faithfully get the message of the “good news” out, so don’t just GO GLOW. Theologian Marva J. Dawn once wrote, “...we are to be lights in the world. It is God's business to light us, to set us on the lampstand, and to bring the people into the house. Our only duty is to shine forth with the gospel.” If we as a body don’t AMP IT UP and SHINE the light of heaven into this dark world by how we live, we will have to stand before the throne above and answer to God for how we’ve wasted this brief time that we call life, because there are no secrets in heaven.
If we are really different and set apart from the world, then we can’t go on pursuing the same things the world does. Jesus taught His disciples not to pursue or worry about the things of this world that TOMORROW will be destroyed in the fire (Matthew 6:28– 33). Jesus tells us to pursue the kingdom of God, things above (33). By our nature and purpose we can’t continue acting like this world and loving the things it does. Anglican theologian Vinoth Ramachandra writes “Note that shattering conclusion: we become like what we worship." There can be NO COMPROMISE in this life.
It seems like every sense 9/11; the church has become fixated on being comfortable and profitable here on earth. As America’s prosperity took a hit after 9/11, the prosperity gospel and the feel-good mindsets increased in popularity IN THE CHURCH; many Christian evangelicals who had once been absent from the church community, returned to hear the “good news.” But, the hope seemed to shift from heavenly blessings to the ROYAL LIES of worldly BLESSINGS as popular “motivational” speakers and authors flooded bookstands with titles like “Your Best Life Now”, “Change Your Words, Change Your Life.” It’s a simple case of IDENTITY THEFT. We can’t claim to follow a humble God and not be humbled ourselves. How can the world SEE THE LIGHT if we keep living in the dark? President Calvin Coolidge once said, “Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshiped.”
Andrew Murray explains, ““The root of all virtue and grace, of all faith and acceptable worship, is that we know that we have nothing but what we receive, and bow in deepest humility to wait upon God for it.” Sure, God wants to give us good gifts as an expression of His love for His bride; but they aren’t meant to replace the ultimate gift—Himself,one that will last forever…Himself, where moth and rust do not destroy (Matthew 6:20). That’s what our hearts are to be set on (Matthew 6:21).
Everything else is going to be destroyed, even the earth will FADEAWAY. No wonder God allowed the original Temple, to let the light out. Or maybe God decided to BREAK THE BUILDING so He could get back in. This year people will take 850 million pictures of family, friends and places in their lives, one day all those pictures and places will be gone. I think about some of my favorite places and memories: biking outside in the countryside, standing inside the Coliseum in Rome, walking around the leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, running through Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy or standing on top of Pikes Peak in Colorado and looking down at airplanes four years ago.
And I realize that none of them will last or compare to the glory of being in heaven. The wisest and richest man ever declared that wealth and the things of this world are meaningless (Ecclesiastes 5:10–15). The Hebrew word prosper is shalom and it doesn’t mean money or possessions, it means peace or completeness. And the bride won’t be complete until she is reunited with the bridegroom.
Randy Alcorn continues, “It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.” This is why I need to MURDER MY FLESH and let Jesus RESCUE ME.
One would think that with the ever increasing greed, violence and moral bankruptcy of the world, the bride would desire more for Jesus to take us home. We don’t need the Bible to tell us that this world is not where we belong. Doesn’t a bride long to be with her husband and not other lovers? Jesus’ half-brother James answers this question pretty bluntly, if we love this world, then we are enemies of God, not His bride (James 4:4)—Adulterous people are what James calls those who love this world.
Pastor and author John Piper explains, “Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It's a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God. If we don't want God above all things, we have not been converted by the gospel.”
I recently asked a friend who is engaged to be married if he is more concerned about his future wife being happy or being faithful to him. He replied, “I hope that she is faithful to me and that makes her happy.” I’m no prophet, just an ordinary man; but I’m confident that is God’s ultimate desire as well, for the church to be with Him and be content.
One of my favorite parts of Francine Rivers’ book Redeeming Love is when Angel awakens from her drug-induced sleep and is confronted by another prostitute named lucky, “Lucky took her hand. ‘They’re rigging his wagon so he can take you home with him. You’ll sleep all the way with the laudanum you drank. You won’t feel nothing. ‘She felt lucky touch her hair. ‘You’re a regular married lady now, Angel. He had a wedding ring on a chain around his neck. He said it belonged to his mother. His mother, Angel. He put his mother’s wedding ring on your finger.”
At first Angel isn’t satisfied and she longs for her old life as a prostitute, perhaps because she was the one in control. Letting go of this life and trusting God can be scary at times, but no one ever said that the Christian life would be easy, still we shouldn’t LOOK BACK. The more time Angel spent with her husband, the more she got used to this new way of living and the less the ways of her old lifestyle satisfied or tempted her.. Solomon made it clear that we acknowledge God by the way we live, not talk (Proverbs 3:5).
It works the same way in the Christian walk, the more time we spend with God and the more we focus on Him, our desires and even dreams change and we come BACK TO LIFE. MY HOPE is in the Christ alone, He’s coming back for His bride only. It’s the Jesus paradigm effect, the things that used to matter the most to us become of little importance to us. The apostle Paul explained this very phenomenon to the church in Philippi (Philippians 3:7).
Jesus told his followers that the kingdom of God works the opposite of the way things work here on earth. The greatest on earth are the least in heaven and the least on earth will be the greatest in heaven. Things of little value in this life will have the greatest value in the kingdom to come and vice versa. When we pray to God, “BUILD YOUR KINGDOM HERE”, it’s not about bringing more earthly things here; it’s about bringing the humble and forgiving spirit of God to earth, again.
Take for example the most precious commodity on earth today, gold. To many it is a symbol of great wealth on earth. But in heaven, the pavement that we will walk on, will be made of gold (Revelation 21:21). Jesus even rebuked His own disciples for aspiring for positions of greatness in this life (Mark 10:35– 45). If we really want to be somebody, we must be in Christ. Before Jesus went the cross He gave one last command, “love each other and this is how the world will know that we are His disciples by our love for Jesus and each other (John 13:34– 35).
For the second time in as many years I’ve recently witnessed members of a local church go on a self-righteous POWER TRIP to get their way in a church. Fortunately, this time I wasn’t the one attacked. However, it broke my heart to see a pastor, father, husband, child of God, a brother being slandered and attacked by the wolves. They wanted their way so bad that they didn’t care who they hurt or what means it would take to get it, they like it ON THAT HIGH and think that it’s okay. That’s not the humble and loving spirit of Christ. One of my favorite Facebook quotes is, “God don’t like ugly.” Don’t forget the LORD KNOWS how corrupt our hearts really are.
It’s this very quest for a position of power that caused God to shake heaven like an earthquake and cast Lucifer, the once bright morning star (Isaiah 14:12) and a third of the Angels in heaven out. Because there can be no selfish ambition or other sin in heaven. Darkness cannot be part of the light.
Poker(Remixed And Reposted?)
Most people know every year I volunteer at the Christian music festival Celebrate Freedom in Atlanta, this year it was held on Labor Day weekend. I was so excited to get away and hear some live music and hopefully to hear from God. I had planned and had looked forward to that weekend all summer.
As you would expect, things didn’t go quite as I had planned. It turned out to be quite a busy weekend in Atlanta with two major football games (yuck) and Dragoncon taking place. The traffic was ridiculously bad and I missed my exit for the festival. By the time I realized that I had driven too far and turned around, I had missed my volunteer time.
To be honest, I was so disappointed in myself that I felt like just turning around and coming home Then I spoke to the volunteer coordinator and she encouraged me to enjoy the concerts and other activities. So I took her advice and had the chance to see one my favorite Christian groups in concert, Family Force 5. Their show was amazing and full of energy.
Afterwards I was so AMPED and hyped up that I decided to explore the fairgrounds and let the big kid in me out. Trust me there was plenty of mischief for a kid like me to get into. Since last year’s concert the fairgrounds had added a cable left ride that would take you from one side of the fairgrounds to the other.
As always, being the daredevil I am and since I enjoy heights; I decided to take a trip across the fairgrounds to get some food and water. Then something crazy happened. Within minutes of the journey up and over– a sense of paranoia came over me, I was PARALYZED with fear, crazy “what ifs” popped into my head.
What if I had a seizure above the crowds and fell to my death. What if my shoes fell off and hit some poor bystander on the head. What if the winds picked up and my bucket began to sway. What if I dropped my camera and hit someone. I remember telling God I’m not going to die today.
It took a little girl in a bucket going the opposite way to stick her tongue out at me and make a silly face to calm my nerves. I began to be the cool, calm and collective Martin who enjoys the views from above. I was able to sit back and enjoy the smell of all the wonderful and unhealthy fairground food. I was able to laugh (to myself) at the other passengers who were having panic attacks themselves.
I began talking to God about my fears and my doubts. Not just those in the moment. Immediately I remembered all of the struggles that God has brought me through over my life. By the time my ride was over I had regained my confidence and I had a new perspective. Even with tens of thousands of festivalgoers I was able to hear God’s still small voice loud and clear. I was able to give thanks and praise to God for the BEAUTIFUL DAY and for the beautiful landscape.
After a quick trip downtown for dinner at my favorite place to eat in Atlanta, The Varsity, I headed back towards the festival. I admit that that it was CRAZY for me to drive back downtown with all the traffic. But then again, I do like a good challenge and adventure in my life. Everything was good until I hit a bad rainstorm on my way back and couldn’t see the road before me. Being legally blind and driving down a highway through a bad storm isn’t fun. Again I found myself crying out to God for help.
After getting off the highway and taking city streets, I finally made it back to the fairgrounds just in time to get a good seat for the remaining concerts. Huddled up in front of me were members of one church wearing red church shirts with its name and a scripture on the back. As everyone settled down for the next concert, one of the members turned to me and offered me a beer.
Of course, I refused (not politely) because I don’t drink anymore. My heart began to sink as I continued to watch this community of believers drink and smoke cigarettes. At one time, a couple within the group began to argue and the man sounded like a sailor on leave visiting a bar.
I couldn’t help but wonder what other people were thinking about this spectacle. What was the message this church was trying to share? I mean there were little kids playing ball less than 10 feet away from the group. I don’t mean to come off the judgemental, but listen to how Jesus explained how we know who follow Him and who they will glorify ( Matthew 7:16.)
Fortunately, the arguing couple prompted the church to leave and not a moment too soon. The hometown heroes– the international group Third Day took the stage to close out the festival. Before they opened, lead singer Mac Powell shared a story about their opening song. “A few years ago the band was playing a concert in the Northeast and was approached afterwards by a wealthy middle-aged couple.
The woman shared, ‘Last year our only son drove to a field outside the city and parked his car overlooking the city. He had taken my husband’s gun with him and was going to commit suicide. Until he turned on the radio and found a Christian station playing your song cry out to Jesus . And that’s what our son did. Our son changed his mind and came home and cried to us.”
Mac Powell explained, “That’s the beauty about God, He hears us; when we are hurting, lonely or confused. All we have to do is cry out to God. He will hear us. We’re all hurting in one way or another. We all have fears and we all have hopes and dreams; God is waiting for us to turn to Him.”
This is why the apostle Paul told the church in Philippi to run to God in every situation, good or bad (Philippians 4:4–7.) In his latest book The Question That Never Goes Away Philip Yancey explains, “God seems to understand fully the grounds of our protest as well as our need to rage against the pain.”
It’s not that God doesn’t already know what is on our minds or in our hearts, not that He doesn’t know our hopes and dreams. Like any father He wants to hear from His children. Like any husband He wants to hear from His bride. There’s no need to go around trying to pretend we’re not hurting. There’s no need to HIDE like Adam and Eve did in THE GARDEN (Genesis 3:1– 8) when we make mistakes. I’m free to be me. There’s no need to wear a mask and I FEEL SO ALIVE, it’s not a sin to be open and honest (at least it used not to be.)
This is appropriate since we will celebrate HALLOWEEN in less than a month. I know we celebrate “Fall festivals” because we don’t want them running around wearing costumes and masks. But we have no problem teaching them one thing and then not living that way. It’s Halloween, no matter what you call it. Likewise sin is sin, no matter how we try to justify it. When I was a child my father always told me, “Do as I say, not as I do. “And that’s what this remixed blog will be about.
POKER(REMIXED AND REPOSTED?)
When I was in college it was common for most of my friends to play poker on the weekends and sometimes on “special days” during the week. With it came the usual trappings of gambling and drinking.For the really daring and brave students, the ones who unashamedly flaunted what their mama’s gave them and played strip poker, sex (physical) was a bonus. Personally, I never really got into the game, not even strip poker (not that I didn’t want the sex ;) I just didn’t like the idea of being dishonest. I’m a firm believer that there’s a right way and a wrong way to do everything– lying isn’t an option.
Although I didn’t and still don’t know much about playing poker, I know the key to being successful in the game, is not letting the other players know the hand you are holding. The better you are at bluffing (lying,) the better your chances are of winning. Strip poker is even worse– you hide your hand (lie) to get someone to take their clothes off and reveal what should be hidden.
Maybe I had some morals in me during college after all; maybe I was even a little good like my friends said. Probably not! I guess it goes back to how I was raised. When I was little and my family traveled a lot, we played the card game Rummy. For those of you who have never played it, this is a game where the cards are dealt on the table face up for all to see. Throughout the game players are to lay down their cards that match cards with the discard pile.
Throughout the game each player sees what cards the other players have and can even help each other play the game. It taught me a lot about life, we can help each other. We’re all on the same playing field and no one is better than anyone else. This is how the apostle Paul told the church at Corinth that the body of Christ should work (1 Corinthians 12:25– 26.) The church is the original UNITED KINGDOM (UK.)
When we humble ourselves and put others before us (Philippians 2:3–6) THE GLORY OF GOD is shown, not ours. Of course we try to give God the glory by tacking on the phrase “To God be the glory” or in “Jesus’ name” after we say or do something in an attempt to justify our worldly lusts and pride. Our actions reveal who gets the glory, not our words. We are called to live like we mean it.
We definitely like wearing a POKER FACE to get what we want. Hamas’ Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh once said, “Some people think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover-up and decoration. But as time goes by, what is true is revealed, and what is fake fades away.”
We treat Jesus like He’s an AFTERTHOUGHT instead of Him being our purpose for everything; if this disgusts me, a broken and miserable sinner. How do you think it makes a perfect God feel? As if we think we can fool Him. We think we can keep a secret from Him. The Bible is clear, nothing is hidden from God (Ecclesiastes 12:14, Matthew 10:24–26, Luke 8:17, Hebrews 4:13.) And SOMEDAY the truth will come out.
We may impress people for a little while, but eventually the truth will come out. Ask fallen evangelist Jim Bakker, he once said after his fall from grace, “You can't fake it when you're alone with God, you know.” Why even try to hide it? In an old message by Jentzen Franklin he explained, “When we try to cover our sin, God will expose it. But when we confess our sin, God is faithful to cover it.” This is what was happening in the garden with Adam and Eve. They sinned and tried to cover it. While it’s always best to be honest and to say, “I’m sorry, I was wrong and I love you.”
This is what struck me about Angel in the book Redeeming Love, she knew she was an adulterer and didn’t try to hide it. Every time Michael’s brother-in-law Paul confronted her about her past, she would admit, “Michael knew what I was when he married me.” This is what impressed me about the young woman I went out with earlier this year, from day one she was honest about her beliefs. Even though she knew that I didn’t agree with them. My father always told me, “It’s better to be hated for who you are, then loved for who you’re not.”
Most of you who know me, know that I hate it when women wear a lot of makeup; especially lipstick, kissing a woman who wears a lot of lipstick is like chewing on the end of a pencil; it leaves the taste of the lead in a man’s mouth! I’ve never understood the concept of makeup. Most women claim they want to be loved for who they are, not their looks. Then they spend hours primping in the mirror to get ready to go out, which is vanity (one of the seven deadly sins.)
And then get mad at men for staring or lusting. The Bible doesn’t speak too highly about vanity or outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 31:30, Jeremiah 4:30, 1 Timothy 4:8,) so why do we? Ironically Miley Cyrus once said, “I think that turning on the charm without being fake is really important.” A real lady knows that true beauty comes from the inside, perhaps her heart. This is what makes her either shine bright like lightning on a dark night or show the darkness inside.
When I was in the hospital after my accident, the young woman who duped me into trying drugs with her came to visit me. She wanted to know where she could buy wine on a Sunday. At the time in Georgia it was illegal to sell alcoholic beverages on Sunday except at restaurants. After I explained this to her, she remarked, “Maybe I can go to the grocery store and find a young guy working at the register.” Confused, I asked what she meant, “Come on, haven’t you ever used your looks to get what you wanted?” At that point I saw through her mask. My friends had warned me all along. Joan Jett once sang, “You’ve got nothing to lose. You don't lose when you lose fake friends.”
I’ve never been one for wearing masks myself; I’ve never been one to hide my feelings, either. Back when I used to model in Atlanta, there were days I had to put on concealer and other makeup for photo shoots. One thing I learned quickly was, if you don’t get all of the makeup off, pimples develop and your skin looks worse. Again, the truth always comes out.
I don’t think when I’m married; I’ll rollover and see my wife lying beside me FACE TO FACE looking perfect with makeup on at two in the morning. Most men tend to look for women to be perfect, physically, while women expect men to be PERFECT emotionally and spiritually. Hello, none of us are perfect. That’s no secret. It’s no secret Jesus is the epitome of perfection (Hebrews 12:2,) not us..
Rob Bell explains in his book Sex God, “There is a saying in the recovery movement: ‘You are only as sick as your secrets,’ this is true for relationships as well. If there are secrets that haven’t been shared, topics that can’t be discussed, things from the past that are forbidden to be brought up, it can cripple a marriage.” FAMILY SECRETS are the worst kind; the truth will come out SOONER OR LATER just like in poker.
THE TRUTH?
In the beginning of the book of John there is one of the most quoted and misunderstood passages about truth. Jesus is traveling through Samaria on His way to Galilee when He meets a Samaritan woman at a well. This is odd because to the Jews the Samaritans are lowlifes and pagans that came from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim after their deportation in 722 BC into Assyria.
This woman is astonished that Jesus would even talk to her, because she knows the truth. She knows that Jews don’t talk to Samaritans, Samaritans are beneath Jews. She wanted water to drink to satisfy a temporary thirst; Jesus never gave it to her, He wanted to make her GOOD FOREVER. Instead He washed her with the truth that she was an adulterer, a sinner like you and I.
Instead Jesus frees her from her sin. He asks her to BELIEVE in Him. And she isn’t upset; the woman is so excited that the truth is out that she stops hiding and she runs back to town to tell others about Jesus and they too believe (John 4:1– 42.)
Before the woman goes to town, Jesus revealed some of the greatest truths ever. We don’t have to go anywhere specific to “worship” God (John 4:21.) He tells her that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and truth, no more masks (John 4:23– 24.) We worship God by showing and living in the spirit of His love. By doing what Jesus did. A few chapters later Jesus tells a group of Jews who believed in Him, “The truth will set you free (John 8:32.)” Grace is our answer to our freedom cry. Matt Redman recently tweeted, “For worship to be worship, it must contain something of the otherness of God.”
Church, we have to stop wearing masks. We have to stop hiding behind church walls throwing Scripture bombs to a lost and dying world. We believe in having a personal relationship with Jesus, but He is not our own PERSONAL JESUS. He came to save the sick and broken of this world. Jefferson Bethke recently tweeted, “Church isn’t a Museum for good people, it’s a hospital for the broken.” If we are indeed Christians, then we are to be Christlike; which means we must do what He did, die to self and our will, which is the only way to glorify God.
Besides God knows when we’re fakin’ the faith like Judas who wanted to get rich. We have to stop hiding behind buildings and our false religion. The truth is we are broken, hurting and wretched sinners and there’s nothing we can do about it, if it weren’t for the GRACE of God we would be just as helpless and lost as the world. Some present the gospel like it’s having the winning lottery ticket and we never have to struggle, but the truth is we all FALL APART. David knew this as he cried out to God in the Psalms (Psalms 32:5, 51:3–5) and later the apostle Paul declared his own wretchedness (Romans 7:24–25.)
Paul would reveal a thorn was given to him to humble him (2 Corinthians 12:7– 10.) Paul could no longer wear a mask and neither can we, neither can I. You see, I would like to believe that I don’t wear masks, but I do. Part of the reason I work out so much is that I hope people will see my muscles, my physical appearance and not see my disability.
Because the truth is I’m just a scared and weak little boy. I’m a “nobody” and I’m fine with that. If nothing that I write ever gets sold were printed again. I’m content. I don’t write for fame or fortune, I write out of obedience to God. No, I don’t have to be someone great in this world, but I must serve something greater than I. That’s being a “nobody.” And that’s who God likes to use. Joshua Harris recently tweeted, “Wisdom for cultivating contentment: "Don't compare everyday moments of your life to someone else's highlight reel.”
In his classic Twelve Ordinary Men John MacArthur explains, “God’s favorite instruments are nodies, so that no man can boast before God. In other words, God chooses whom He chooses in order that He might receive the glory.” I’m not famous and not popular; I’m not rich (in an earthly sense.) In my case I’m below a nobody, I’m disabled and no matter how hard I try, I can’t RUN AWAY from it. I know that’s not politically correct; but I’m not a politician, either.
Money may buy you happiness, but it can never by you true contentment. A “nobody” who is content is richer than a somebody who has everything, but can never get enough. Mark Driscoll once wrote, “Growing up Catholic I thought saints were like superheroes. Superman can fly. Aquaman can breathe underwater. Chastityman can keep his hands to himself.” Despite what we may want to believe, we are still broken sinners.
I have other health concerns than just my brain injury that keep me humble; which is good, not BAD. In an article I wrote for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series I shared about my experience with humility, “We may not see them at the time, but when we LOOK back over our lives, we can see the humor in our humility. It can be a bad decision or mistake that we have made. It can be a circumstance that is out of our hands completely and we must rely on God’s provision, which is humbling in itself.” I can’t even type because of my disability, I must rely on speech technology to help me write. So actually I’m speaker not a writer, it’s pathetic.
Don’t we believe that God takes our messes and makes them messages? Don’t we believe that God turns our tests into testimonies? THE STRUGGLE in my life is God MAKING ME MORE than I could be on my own. Someone once said, ““Life is like photography. You need the negatives to develop.” GOD HELP ME TO BE what you want me to be. Because the truth is Martin Johnson is not STRONG ENOUGH or good enough to do God’s will. Paul admitted something similar to the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 12:10.)
I know how weak I am. That’s why I don’t tempt myself by going to bars or allowing women to come over to my place alone. I don’t want the TEMPTATION. I don’t like playing with fire anymore. James Merritt said it best a few years ago to message, “I guarantee that if you don’t put yourself in the wrong place with the wrong person at the wrong time, the wrong thing will never happen.” The sooner we acknowledge our mistakes and weaknesses, the quicker God can help us and He can get the glory.
I recently had some friends who got evicted from their apartment; they had been shacking up together for almost a year. Before they were evicted they admitted that they were wrong, but they never did anything about it. Now these were Christians who refused to work on Sunday because they believed it was wrong, but they didn’t want to do anything about living together, they called it love. They believed that they were good enough. We aren’t good just because we SAY SO.
Good 3.0?
I recently shared with a group of men at my church, “THE VOW to God you took on your wedding day, wasn’t a vow to be perfect or to a perfect person.” It’s THE CONTRACT to your wife that is supposed to guarantee in good times and bad times, YOU NEVER LEAVE her and you show each other MERCY. Isn’t that love really means? As Joshua Harris said, “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.”
God’s love shows us that when love takes over, imperfections and mistakes are covered. We all make mistakes. Even Jesus said that none of us are good (Mark 10:18,) we all need grace. Marriage isn’t the place to experiment with grace; it’s where grace is unplugged. Just like through Jesus, LOVE RESTORES. If a woman can’t show me grace while were dating or getting to know each other, I don’t see the relationship going much farther.
While I was working on this blog I saw a clip from an old Billy Graham Crusade message from 1983 where he declared that even he was a sinner and needed God’s grace. How did we (the church) go from such a spirit of humility to a spirit of supremacy that we have today? With church leaders and teachers claiming we are so rich and powerful and we deserve the best of this world? Churches water down worship to simple songs that make people feel good. Paul warned his protégé Timothy that this would happen (2 Timothy 4:3.) He also warned that they would use Christianity as a way to get rich (1 Timothy 6:5 – 9.) Most millennials admit there’s something wrong, they know there’s more to the Christian life than lip service and looking good.
One of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity is that we aren’t saved by works; we can’t earn grace, we can’t work our way into heaven and we can’t sing our way into heaven, either. At this point let me clarify, I have nothing against singing Christian songs or praise music. In fact I recently joined the choir at a new church that I became a member of a few months ago. I enjoy a good PRAISE, PARTY ROCK. Singing is one of the ways that we communicate with God. A good song can make even me tear up at times.
But this is where draw the line, because spiritualism isn’t emotionalism. You see, sometimes we like to sing songs and PUT ON our masks of emotionalism to look godly. Christian rapper Lecrae recently tweeted, “Use your hurt and happiness. Don't let them use you. If you don't master your emotions, your emotions will master you. “I don’t have to SING AND SHOUT HALLELUJAH to be a Christian.
Even the lost can do that and never enter the presence of God. God is the church’s only hiding place. Personally I prefer those intimate times when I praise God alone, like when I was on the cable left at the Christian music festival. Because then I was singing for an audience of one. I wasn’t trying to show off for anyone. Mark Driscoll recently posted, “Artistry becomes idolatry when there is confusion between the Creator and the created.”
And this is how the church comes off sometimes, we want so hard to look like we have everything together. We want so hard to be good that we go OVERBOARD trying to be good; we put our good works on display, we pray long or extravagant prayers in public, and we try to sing moving or inspirational songs. All of which Jesus spoke against (Matthew 6:1–34.) These are good, but we get carried away at times. Just like a young girl who is learning how to wear makeup. She wants so desperately to look beautiful and older that it backfires and she only shows her immaturity.
It’s like the young “Christian” woman that I went out with a couple of years ago, most of you have heard the story about how my best friend introduced us and made her out to be a “Godly woman after God’s heart.” When we went on our first date, she had a blouse with a plunging neckline that would make Jennifer Lopez blush. This woman thought she was a SHOWSTOPPER. Again, most women believe it’s their bodies that make them a lady. But a true lady doesn’t need to show any cleavage and she doesn’t need to be in the LIMELIGHT to be GLOWING IN THE DARK. Likewise the church can’t believe we're an it girl (a lady) because of how we look.
The church is called to be the SALT, LIGHT of the earth, we don’t have to tell anyone; we just have to be the light and shine. Salt is first mined from the earth and taken from the dirt. Then it is applied to wounds for healing, is not a temporary PAINKILLER. It should be obvious that we are salt, just like there is an obvious difference between a lady and a woman. Jesus told His followers that it is so obvious, it’s like a city on a hill that can’t be hidden (Matthew 5:14– 16.) People should be able to see THE GOD IN ME by how I live. St. Francis of Agasi famously said, “Always preach the gospel. And if necessary, use words.”
Worldly people are all about grandstanding and make a name for themselves. The church isn’t supposed to work that way, we don’t have to go big in the world for God. God can use the simplest thing, like a sunrise or a little baby being born to bring glory to Himself. We don’t NEED big buildings to do God’s work or to glorify Him. The prophet Malachi taught God’s people to bring their ties into the church, a storehouse (a barn.) Jesus told a parable to His disciples warning them that bigger isn’t always better (Luke 12:16– 21.) Don’t we believe that God can do anything? He did make man from dirt. Don’t we believe that the people are the church? We don’t need better buildings, we need better disciples.
Yet, we put more emphasis and time into temporary buildings, instead of eternal souls that REMAIN forever. Our IDENTITY is in Christ, not buildings. The body of Christ should glorify God, not a wretched building. Perhaps this is why God allowed for the temple to be destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. Because God had a new plan, a better plan that this world wouldn’t understand. He is going to use the least to glorify Himself. Greater plans than ours.
The apostle Paul warned the church in Corinth that God makes the wisdom and things of this world are FOOLISHNESS to God and He will expose it (1 Corinthians 3:18– 4:5.) Because the truth is we want to be better than God and do bigger things. Things that will make us famous or rich– the truth is we’re not I lady, just a material girl with a LOVE GONE MAD. We want to do things for our glory. We work so hard to be major, when we need to get LOST IN MINORVILLE. . Hell isn't a going be full of bad people, I’m sure there will be plenty of people who thought they were good enough to go to heaven.
In his book Gods at War, Idleman explains that is the simple things in life that Jesus says are good, “In Luke 10, even though he has a lot to do and only a little time, it’s surprising that Jesus took time to stop and visit with a few good friends, Mary and Martha. There the two sisters of Lazarus, and Jesus clearly has a special relationship with that family. The Scriptures tell us that Martha opened her home to Jesus, and here’s the scene that took place: two sisters, one hurrying around frantically with all the preparations wanting to make the home worthy of Jesus, the other sitting quality at his feet, listening... The God of achievement distracts us from following Jesus by distracting us with all the things that need to be done. How often do we live with good intentions of spending time with Jesus and turning our heart toward him only to find at the end of the day that’s the one thing on our checklist that we never got around to?“ But we think that if we are successful in a worldly sense, we're successful in a Christian sense, really?
Perhaps this is why the church teaches people to chase their dreams, which is what the world does and what Satan tried to get Jesus to do (Matthew 4:1– 11.) Perhaps this is why we constantly chase things of this world like dogs chasing cars. My mother raised me to be a man, not a dog–I don’t chase things, or women. I may like a challenge, but I’m not CHASING YOUR LOVE. Every man knows that nine times out of 10 if you chase a woman, she won’t be worth the chase if you catch her; especially if she’s dreamy gorgeous.
We like having SWEET DREAMS to chase after, only to catch them and realize that NONE COMPARE to the TRUE GOD. Don’t we claim to believe that He’s all we’ve EVER WANTED away? Unfortunately we constantly crave more? We really don’t have changed hearts’ after all. This is why for some LETTING GO of their dreams is worse than dying, because they have earned it; at this point in my life I’m, ALL IN.
Three years ago I could’ve chased my dream and move back to Colorado for good, I could have manipulated the situation and did what I wanted. But I knew deep down inside that it wasn’t God’s time. I’m sure I would’ve been happy at first, but eventually I would be restless and not content. I decided it was best to be obedient to God’s leading. Just because we can figure a way out to make things work, doesn’t necessarily make it right or God’s will. Sometimes it takes more faith to be still and trust God; to let Him fight our battles, WE GONE MAKE IT. I may have a brain injury and be legally blind, but I’m not DEAF.
Don’t we believe and say, “IN GOD WE TRUST. But the truth is we just trust in the things He will do for us, that’s not love. WHERE HAS OUR LOVE GONE? I’m sure the women reading this know when a guy is faking his feelings to get what he wants and you know when he’s putting on a charade. In the words of Forest Gump, “I’m not a smart man, but I know what LOVE IS.”
It’s not KICKING AND SCREAMING to get something you want from someone (1 Corinthians 13:4– 6.) Love is giving to someone what they can never earn or do for themselves and that’s where we can REST. There’s nothing you can do to make God LOVE YOU BETTER. John Piper recently shared, “The more you bask in the sovereignty of your God the more you'll relax in the complexity of your life.” The truth is that JESUS IS more than enough to satisfy His bride for all eternity, there’s no need for anything MORE THAN LOVE from Him. Unless we are adulterers and can be faithful to the one who died for us.
This is what Gracie Trey eventually learned in the movie Grace Unplugged. Sometimes we get so busy doing what we want because God has gifted us that we don’t realize who we are really working for. Likewise, sometimes the church gets so busy doing church work and wearing our church clothes that we neglect doing real kingdom work.
While I was at Celebrate Freedom, I was amazed to learn that Family Christian bookstores have been a 501K organization since December of last year.Even the apostle Paul dealt with misguided and deceitful teachers in his time. Like Satan they masqueraded as Angels of light, but one day God will reveal they were only playing poker (2 Corinthians 11:12– 15.)
As you would expect, things didn’t go quite as I had planned. It turned out to be quite a busy weekend in Atlanta with two major football games (yuck) and Dragoncon taking place. The traffic was ridiculously bad and I missed my exit for the festival. By the time I realized that I had driven too far and turned around, I had missed my volunteer time.
To be honest, I was so disappointed in myself that I felt like just turning around and coming home Then I spoke to the volunteer coordinator and she encouraged me to enjoy the concerts and other activities. So I took her advice and had the chance to see one my favorite Christian groups in concert, Family Force 5. Their show was amazing and full of energy.
Afterwards I was so AMPED and hyped up that I decided to explore the fairgrounds and let the big kid in me out. Trust me there was plenty of mischief for a kid like me to get into. Since last year’s concert the fairgrounds had added a cable left ride that would take you from one side of the fairgrounds to the other.
As always, being the daredevil I am and since I enjoy heights; I decided to take a trip across the fairgrounds to get some food and water. Then something crazy happened. Within minutes of the journey up and over– a sense of paranoia came over me, I was PARALYZED with fear, crazy “what ifs” popped into my head.
What if I had a seizure above the crowds and fell to my death. What if my shoes fell off and hit some poor bystander on the head. What if the winds picked up and my bucket began to sway. What if I dropped my camera and hit someone. I remember telling God I’m not going to die today.
It took a little girl in a bucket going the opposite way to stick her tongue out at me and make a silly face to calm my nerves. I began to be the cool, calm and collective Martin who enjoys the views from above. I was able to sit back and enjoy the smell of all the wonderful and unhealthy fairground food. I was able to laugh (to myself) at the other passengers who were having panic attacks themselves.
I began talking to God about my fears and my doubts. Not just those in the moment. Immediately I remembered all of the struggles that God has brought me through over my life. By the time my ride was over I had regained my confidence and I had a new perspective. Even with tens of thousands of festivalgoers I was able to hear God’s still small voice loud and clear. I was able to give thanks and praise to God for the BEAUTIFUL DAY and for the beautiful landscape.
After a quick trip downtown for dinner at my favorite place to eat in Atlanta, The Varsity, I headed back towards the festival. I admit that that it was CRAZY for me to drive back downtown with all the traffic. But then again, I do like a good challenge and adventure in my life. Everything was good until I hit a bad rainstorm on my way back and couldn’t see the road before me. Being legally blind and driving down a highway through a bad storm isn’t fun. Again I found myself crying out to God for help.
After getting off the highway and taking city streets, I finally made it back to the fairgrounds just in time to get a good seat for the remaining concerts. Huddled up in front of me were members of one church wearing red church shirts with its name and a scripture on the back. As everyone settled down for the next concert, one of the members turned to me and offered me a beer.
Of course, I refused (not politely) because I don’t drink anymore. My heart began to sink as I continued to watch this community of believers drink and smoke cigarettes. At one time, a couple within the group began to argue and the man sounded like a sailor on leave visiting a bar.
I couldn’t help but wonder what other people were thinking about this spectacle. What was the message this church was trying to share? I mean there were little kids playing ball less than 10 feet away from the group. I don’t mean to come off the judgemental, but listen to how Jesus explained how we know who follow Him and who they will glorify ( Matthew 7:16.)
Fortunately, the arguing couple prompted the church to leave and not a moment too soon. The hometown heroes– the international group Third Day took the stage to close out the festival. Before they opened, lead singer Mac Powell shared a story about their opening song. “A few years ago the band was playing a concert in the Northeast and was approached afterwards by a wealthy middle-aged couple.
The woman shared, ‘Last year our only son drove to a field outside the city and parked his car overlooking the city. He had taken my husband’s gun with him and was going to commit suicide. Until he turned on the radio and found a Christian station playing your song cry out to Jesus . And that’s what our son did. Our son changed his mind and came home and cried to us.”
Mac Powell explained, “That’s the beauty about God, He hears us; when we are hurting, lonely or confused. All we have to do is cry out to God. He will hear us. We’re all hurting in one way or another. We all have fears and we all have hopes and dreams; God is waiting for us to turn to Him.”
This is why the apostle Paul told the church in Philippi to run to God in every situation, good or bad (Philippians 4:4–7.) In his latest book The Question That Never Goes Away Philip Yancey explains, “God seems to understand fully the grounds of our protest as well as our need to rage against the pain.”
It’s not that God doesn’t already know what is on our minds or in our hearts, not that He doesn’t know our hopes and dreams. Like any father He wants to hear from His children. Like any husband He wants to hear from His bride. There’s no need to go around trying to pretend we’re not hurting. There’s no need to HIDE like Adam and Eve did in THE GARDEN (Genesis 3:1– 8) when we make mistakes. I’m free to be me. There’s no need to wear a mask and I FEEL SO ALIVE, it’s not a sin to be open and honest (at least it used not to be.)
This is appropriate since we will celebrate HALLOWEEN in less than a month. I know we celebrate “Fall festivals” because we don’t want them running around wearing costumes and masks. But we have no problem teaching them one thing and then not living that way. It’s Halloween, no matter what you call it. Likewise sin is sin, no matter how we try to justify it. When I was a child my father always told me, “Do as I say, not as I do. “And that’s what this remixed blog will be about.
POKER(REMIXED AND REPOSTED?)
When I was in college it was common for most of my friends to play poker on the weekends and sometimes on “special days” during the week. With it came the usual trappings of gambling and drinking.For the really daring and brave students, the ones who unashamedly flaunted what their mama’s gave them and played strip poker, sex (physical) was a bonus. Personally, I never really got into the game, not even strip poker (not that I didn’t want the sex ;) I just didn’t like the idea of being dishonest. I’m a firm believer that there’s a right way and a wrong way to do everything– lying isn’t an option.
Although I didn’t and still don’t know much about playing poker, I know the key to being successful in the game, is not letting the other players know the hand you are holding. The better you are at bluffing (lying,) the better your chances are of winning. Strip poker is even worse– you hide your hand (lie) to get someone to take their clothes off and reveal what should be hidden.
Maybe I had some morals in me during college after all; maybe I was even a little good like my friends said. Probably not! I guess it goes back to how I was raised. When I was little and my family traveled a lot, we played the card game Rummy. For those of you who have never played it, this is a game where the cards are dealt on the table face up for all to see. Throughout the game players are to lay down their cards that match cards with the discard pile.
Throughout the game each player sees what cards the other players have and can even help each other play the game. It taught me a lot about life, we can help each other. We’re all on the same playing field and no one is better than anyone else. This is how the apostle Paul told the church at Corinth that the body of Christ should work (1 Corinthians 12:25– 26.) The church is the original UNITED KINGDOM (UK.)
When we humble ourselves and put others before us (Philippians 2:3–6) THE GLORY OF GOD is shown, not ours. Of course we try to give God the glory by tacking on the phrase “To God be the glory” or in “Jesus’ name” after we say or do something in an attempt to justify our worldly lusts and pride. Our actions reveal who gets the glory, not our words. We are called to live like we mean it.
We definitely like wearing a POKER FACE to get what we want. Hamas’ Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh once said, “Some people think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover-up and decoration. But as time goes by, what is true is revealed, and what is fake fades away.”
We treat Jesus like He’s an AFTERTHOUGHT instead of Him being our purpose for everything; if this disgusts me, a broken and miserable sinner. How do you think it makes a perfect God feel? As if we think we can fool Him. We think we can keep a secret from Him. The Bible is clear, nothing is hidden from God (Ecclesiastes 12:14, Matthew 10:24–26, Luke 8:17, Hebrews 4:13.) And SOMEDAY the truth will come out.
We may impress people for a little while, but eventually the truth will come out. Ask fallen evangelist Jim Bakker, he once said after his fall from grace, “You can't fake it when you're alone with God, you know.” Why even try to hide it? In an old message by Jentzen Franklin he explained, “When we try to cover our sin, God will expose it. But when we confess our sin, God is faithful to cover it.” This is what was happening in the garden with Adam and Eve. They sinned and tried to cover it. While it’s always best to be honest and to say, “I’m sorry, I was wrong and I love you.”
This is what struck me about Angel in the book Redeeming Love, she knew she was an adulterer and didn’t try to hide it. Every time Michael’s brother-in-law Paul confronted her about her past, she would admit, “Michael knew what I was when he married me.” This is what impressed me about the young woman I went out with earlier this year, from day one she was honest about her beliefs. Even though she knew that I didn’t agree with them. My father always told me, “It’s better to be hated for who you are, then loved for who you’re not.”
Most of you who know me, know that I hate it when women wear a lot of makeup; especially lipstick, kissing a woman who wears a lot of lipstick is like chewing on the end of a pencil; it leaves the taste of the lead in a man’s mouth! I’ve never understood the concept of makeup. Most women claim they want to be loved for who they are, not their looks. Then they spend hours primping in the mirror to get ready to go out, which is vanity (one of the seven deadly sins.)
And then get mad at men for staring or lusting. The Bible doesn’t speak too highly about vanity or outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 31:30, Jeremiah 4:30, 1 Timothy 4:8,) so why do we? Ironically Miley Cyrus once said, “I think that turning on the charm without being fake is really important.” A real lady knows that true beauty comes from the inside, perhaps her heart. This is what makes her either shine bright like lightning on a dark night or show the darkness inside.
When I was in the hospital after my accident, the young woman who duped me into trying drugs with her came to visit me. She wanted to know where she could buy wine on a Sunday. At the time in Georgia it was illegal to sell alcoholic beverages on Sunday except at restaurants. After I explained this to her, she remarked, “Maybe I can go to the grocery store and find a young guy working at the register.” Confused, I asked what she meant, “Come on, haven’t you ever used your looks to get what you wanted?” At that point I saw through her mask. My friends had warned me all along. Joan Jett once sang, “You’ve got nothing to lose. You don't lose when you lose fake friends.”
I’ve never been one for wearing masks myself; I’ve never been one to hide my feelings, either. Back when I used to model in Atlanta, there were days I had to put on concealer and other makeup for photo shoots. One thing I learned quickly was, if you don’t get all of the makeup off, pimples develop and your skin looks worse. Again, the truth always comes out.
I don’t think when I’m married; I’ll rollover and see my wife lying beside me FACE TO FACE looking perfect with makeup on at two in the morning. Most men tend to look for women to be perfect, physically, while women expect men to be PERFECT emotionally and spiritually. Hello, none of us are perfect. That’s no secret. It’s no secret Jesus is the epitome of perfection (Hebrews 12:2,) not us..
Rob Bell explains in his book Sex God, “There is a saying in the recovery movement: ‘You are only as sick as your secrets,’ this is true for relationships as well. If there are secrets that haven’t been shared, topics that can’t be discussed, things from the past that are forbidden to be brought up, it can cripple a marriage.” FAMILY SECRETS are the worst kind; the truth will come out SOONER OR LATER just like in poker.
THE TRUTH?
In the beginning of the book of John there is one of the most quoted and misunderstood passages about truth. Jesus is traveling through Samaria on His way to Galilee when He meets a Samaritan woman at a well. This is odd because to the Jews the Samaritans are lowlifes and pagans that came from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim after their deportation in 722 BC into Assyria.
This woman is astonished that Jesus would even talk to her, because she knows the truth. She knows that Jews don’t talk to Samaritans, Samaritans are beneath Jews. She wanted water to drink to satisfy a temporary thirst; Jesus never gave it to her, He wanted to make her GOOD FOREVER. Instead He washed her with the truth that she was an adulterer, a sinner like you and I.
Instead Jesus frees her from her sin. He asks her to BELIEVE in Him. And she isn’t upset; the woman is so excited that the truth is out that she stops hiding and she runs back to town to tell others about Jesus and they too believe (John 4:1– 42.)
Before the woman goes to town, Jesus revealed some of the greatest truths ever. We don’t have to go anywhere specific to “worship” God (John 4:21.) He tells her that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and truth, no more masks (John 4:23– 24.) We worship God by showing and living in the spirit of His love. By doing what Jesus did. A few chapters later Jesus tells a group of Jews who believed in Him, “The truth will set you free (John 8:32.)” Grace is our answer to our freedom cry. Matt Redman recently tweeted, “For worship to be worship, it must contain something of the otherness of God.”
Church, we have to stop wearing masks. We have to stop hiding behind church walls throwing Scripture bombs to a lost and dying world. We believe in having a personal relationship with Jesus, but He is not our own PERSONAL JESUS. He came to save the sick and broken of this world. Jefferson Bethke recently tweeted, “Church isn’t a Museum for good people, it’s a hospital for the broken.” If we are indeed Christians, then we are to be Christlike; which means we must do what He did, die to self and our will, which is the only way to glorify God.
Besides God knows when we’re fakin’ the faith like Judas who wanted to get rich. We have to stop hiding behind buildings and our false religion. The truth is we are broken, hurting and wretched sinners and there’s nothing we can do about it, if it weren’t for the GRACE of God we would be just as helpless and lost as the world. Some present the gospel like it’s having the winning lottery ticket and we never have to struggle, but the truth is we all FALL APART. David knew this as he cried out to God in the Psalms (Psalms 32:5, 51:3–5) and later the apostle Paul declared his own wretchedness (Romans 7:24–25.)
Paul would reveal a thorn was given to him to humble him (2 Corinthians 12:7– 10.) Paul could no longer wear a mask and neither can we, neither can I. You see, I would like to believe that I don’t wear masks, but I do. Part of the reason I work out so much is that I hope people will see my muscles, my physical appearance and not see my disability.
Because the truth is I’m just a scared and weak little boy. I’m a “nobody” and I’m fine with that. If nothing that I write ever gets sold were printed again. I’m content. I don’t write for fame or fortune, I write out of obedience to God. No, I don’t have to be someone great in this world, but I must serve something greater than I. That’s being a “nobody.” And that’s who God likes to use. Joshua Harris recently tweeted, “Wisdom for cultivating contentment: "Don't compare everyday moments of your life to someone else's highlight reel.”
In his classic Twelve Ordinary Men John MacArthur explains, “God’s favorite instruments are nodies, so that no man can boast before God. In other words, God chooses whom He chooses in order that He might receive the glory.” I’m not famous and not popular; I’m not rich (in an earthly sense.) In my case I’m below a nobody, I’m disabled and no matter how hard I try, I can’t RUN AWAY from it. I know that’s not politically correct; but I’m not a politician, either.
Money may buy you happiness, but it can never by you true contentment. A “nobody” who is content is richer than a somebody who has everything, but can never get enough. Mark Driscoll once wrote, “Growing up Catholic I thought saints were like superheroes. Superman can fly. Aquaman can breathe underwater. Chastityman can keep his hands to himself.” Despite what we may want to believe, we are still broken sinners.
I have other health concerns than just my brain injury that keep me humble; which is good, not BAD. In an article I wrote for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series I shared about my experience with humility, “We may not see them at the time, but when we LOOK back over our lives, we can see the humor in our humility. It can be a bad decision or mistake that we have made. It can be a circumstance that is out of our hands completely and we must rely on God’s provision, which is humbling in itself.” I can’t even type because of my disability, I must rely on speech technology to help me write. So actually I’m speaker not a writer, it’s pathetic.
Don’t we believe that God takes our messes and makes them messages? Don’t we believe that God turns our tests into testimonies? THE STRUGGLE in my life is God MAKING ME MORE than I could be on my own. Someone once said, ““Life is like photography. You need the negatives to develop.” GOD HELP ME TO BE what you want me to be. Because the truth is Martin Johnson is not STRONG ENOUGH or good enough to do God’s will. Paul admitted something similar to the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 12:10.)
I know how weak I am. That’s why I don’t tempt myself by going to bars or allowing women to come over to my place alone. I don’t want the TEMPTATION. I don’t like playing with fire anymore. James Merritt said it best a few years ago to message, “I guarantee that if you don’t put yourself in the wrong place with the wrong person at the wrong time, the wrong thing will never happen.” The sooner we acknowledge our mistakes and weaknesses, the quicker God can help us and He can get the glory.
I recently had some friends who got evicted from their apartment; they had been shacking up together for almost a year. Before they were evicted they admitted that they were wrong, but they never did anything about it. Now these were Christians who refused to work on Sunday because they believed it was wrong, but they didn’t want to do anything about living together, they called it love. They believed that they were good enough. We aren’t good just because we SAY SO.
Good 3.0?
I recently shared with a group of men at my church, “THE VOW to God you took on your wedding day, wasn’t a vow to be perfect or to a perfect person.” It’s THE CONTRACT to your wife that is supposed to guarantee in good times and bad times, YOU NEVER LEAVE her and you show each other MERCY. Isn’t that love really means? As Joshua Harris said, “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.”
God’s love shows us that when love takes over, imperfections and mistakes are covered. We all make mistakes. Even Jesus said that none of us are good (Mark 10:18,) we all need grace. Marriage isn’t the place to experiment with grace; it’s where grace is unplugged. Just like through Jesus, LOVE RESTORES. If a woman can’t show me grace while were dating or getting to know each other, I don’t see the relationship going much farther.
While I was working on this blog I saw a clip from an old Billy Graham Crusade message from 1983 where he declared that even he was a sinner and needed God’s grace. How did we (the church) go from such a spirit of humility to a spirit of supremacy that we have today? With church leaders and teachers claiming we are so rich and powerful and we deserve the best of this world? Churches water down worship to simple songs that make people feel good. Paul warned his protégé Timothy that this would happen (2 Timothy 4:3.) He also warned that they would use Christianity as a way to get rich (1 Timothy 6:5 – 9.) Most millennials admit there’s something wrong, they know there’s more to the Christian life than lip service and looking good.
One of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity is that we aren’t saved by works; we can’t earn grace, we can’t work our way into heaven and we can’t sing our way into heaven, either. At this point let me clarify, I have nothing against singing Christian songs or praise music. In fact I recently joined the choir at a new church that I became a member of a few months ago. I enjoy a good PRAISE, PARTY ROCK. Singing is one of the ways that we communicate with God. A good song can make even me tear up at times.
But this is where draw the line, because spiritualism isn’t emotionalism. You see, sometimes we like to sing songs and PUT ON our masks of emotionalism to look godly. Christian rapper Lecrae recently tweeted, “Use your hurt and happiness. Don't let them use you. If you don't master your emotions, your emotions will master you. “I don’t have to SING AND SHOUT HALLELUJAH to be a Christian.
Even the lost can do that and never enter the presence of God. God is the church’s only hiding place. Personally I prefer those intimate times when I praise God alone, like when I was on the cable left at the Christian music festival. Because then I was singing for an audience of one. I wasn’t trying to show off for anyone. Mark Driscoll recently posted, “Artistry becomes idolatry when there is confusion between the Creator and the created.”
And this is how the church comes off sometimes, we want so hard to look like we have everything together. We want so hard to be good that we go OVERBOARD trying to be good; we put our good works on display, we pray long or extravagant prayers in public, and we try to sing moving or inspirational songs. All of which Jesus spoke against (Matthew 6:1–34.) These are good, but we get carried away at times. Just like a young girl who is learning how to wear makeup. She wants so desperately to look beautiful and older that it backfires and she only shows her immaturity.
It’s like the young “Christian” woman that I went out with a couple of years ago, most of you have heard the story about how my best friend introduced us and made her out to be a “Godly woman after God’s heart.” When we went on our first date, she had a blouse with a plunging neckline that would make Jennifer Lopez blush. This woman thought she was a SHOWSTOPPER. Again, most women believe it’s their bodies that make them a lady. But a true lady doesn’t need to show any cleavage and she doesn’t need to be in the LIMELIGHT to be GLOWING IN THE DARK. Likewise the church can’t believe we're an it girl (a lady) because of how we look.
The church is called to be the SALT, LIGHT of the earth, we don’t have to tell anyone; we just have to be the light and shine. Salt is first mined from the earth and taken from the dirt. Then it is applied to wounds for healing, is not a temporary PAINKILLER. It should be obvious that we are salt, just like there is an obvious difference between a lady and a woman. Jesus told His followers that it is so obvious, it’s like a city on a hill that can’t be hidden (Matthew 5:14– 16.) People should be able to see THE GOD IN ME by how I live. St. Francis of Agasi famously said, “Always preach the gospel. And if necessary, use words.”
Worldly people are all about grandstanding and make a name for themselves. The church isn’t supposed to work that way, we don’t have to go big in the world for God. God can use the simplest thing, like a sunrise or a little baby being born to bring glory to Himself. We don’t NEED big buildings to do God’s work or to glorify Him. The prophet Malachi taught God’s people to bring their ties into the church, a storehouse (a barn.) Jesus told a parable to His disciples warning them that bigger isn’t always better (Luke 12:16– 21.) Don’t we believe that God can do anything? He did make man from dirt. Don’t we believe that the people are the church? We don’t need better buildings, we need better disciples.
Yet, we put more emphasis and time into temporary buildings, instead of eternal souls that REMAIN forever. Our IDENTITY is in Christ, not buildings. The body of Christ should glorify God, not a wretched building. Perhaps this is why God allowed for the temple to be destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. Because God had a new plan, a better plan that this world wouldn’t understand. He is going to use the least to glorify Himself. Greater plans than ours.
The apostle Paul warned the church in Corinth that God makes the wisdom and things of this world are FOOLISHNESS to God and He will expose it (1 Corinthians 3:18– 4:5.) Because the truth is we want to be better than God and do bigger things. Things that will make us famous or rich– the truth is we’re not I lady, just a material girl with a LOVE GONE MAD. We want to do things for our glory. We work so hard to be major, when we need to get LOST IN MINORVILLE. . Hell isn't a going be full of bad people, I’m sure there will be plenty of people who thought they were good enough to go to heaven.
In his book Gods at War, Idleman explains that is the simple things in life that Jesus says are good, “In Luke 10, even though he has a lot to do and only a little time, it’s surprising that Jesus took time to stop and visit with a few good friends, Mary and Martha. There the two sisters of Lazarus, and Jesus clearly has a special relationship with that family. The Scriptures tell us that Martha opened her home to Jesus, and here’s the scene that took place: two sisters, one hurrying around frantically with all the preparations wanting to make the home worthy of Jesus, the other sitting quality at his feet, listening... The God of achievement distracts us from following Jesus by distracting us with all the things that need to be done. How often do we live with good intentions of spending time with Jesus and turning our heart toward him only to find at the end of the day that’s the one thing on our checklist that we never got around to?“ But we think that if we are successful in a worldly sense, we're successful in a Christian sense, really?
Perhaps this is why the church teaches people to chase their dreams, which is what the world does and what Satan tried to get Jesus to do (Matthew 4:1– 11.) Perhaps this is why we constantly chase things of this world like dogs chasing cars. My mother raised me to be a man, not a dog–I don’t chase things, or women. I may like a challenge, but I’m not CHASING YOUR LOVE. Every man knows that nine times out of 10 if you chase a woman, she won’t be worth the chase if you catch her; especially if she’s dreamy gorgeous.
We like having SWEET DREAMS to chase after, only to catch them and realize that NONE COMPARE to the TRUE GOD. Don’t we claim to believe that He’s all we’ve EVER WANTED away? Unfortunately we constantly crave more? We really don’t have changed hearts’ after all. This is why for some LETTING GO of their dreams is worse than dying, because they have earned it; at this point in my life I’m, ALL IN.
Three years ago I could’ve chased my dream and move back to Colorado for good, I could have manipulated the situation and did what I wanted. But I knew deep down inside that it wasn’t God’s time. I’m sure I would’ve been happy at first, but eventually I would be restless and not content. I decided it was best to be obedient to God’s leading. Just because we can figure a way out to make things work, doesn’t necessarily make it right or God’s will. Sometimes it takes more faith to be still and trust God; to let Him fight our battles, WE GONE MAKE IT. I may have a brain injury and be legally blind, but I’m not DEAF.
Don’t we believe and say, “IN GOD WE TRUST. But the truth is we just trust in the things He will do for us, that’s not love. WHERE HAS OUR LOVE GONE? I’m sure the women reading this know when a guy is faking his feelings to get what he wants and you know when he’s putting on a charade. In the words of Forest Gump, “I’m not a smart man, but I know what LOVE IS.”
It’s not KICKING AND SCREAMING to get something you want from someone (1 Corinthians 13:4– 6.) Love is giving to someone what they can never earn or do for themselves and that’s where we can REST. There’s nothing you can do to make God LOVE YOU BETTER. John Piper recently shared, “The more you bask in the sovereignty of your God the more you'll relax in the complexity of your life.” The truth is that JESUS IS more than enough to satisfy His bride for all eternity, there’s no need for anything MORE THAN LOVE from Him. Unless we are adulterers and can be faithful to the one who died for us.
This is what Gracie Trey eventually learned in the movie Grace Unplugged. Sometimes we get so busy doing what we want because God has gifted us that we don’t realize who we are really working for. Likewise, sometimes the church gets so busy doing church work and wearing our church clothes that we neglect doing real kingdom work.
While I was at Celebrate Freedom, I was amazed to learn that Family Christian bookstores have been a 501K organization since December of last year.Even the apostle Paul dealt with misguided and deceitful teachers in his time. Like Satan they masqueraded as Angels of light, but one day God will reveal they were only playing poker (2 Corinthians 11:12– 15.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)