Where Are The Warriors?

God's Boogers and Lipstick

2012-01-30T14:41:00.005-06:00

Do you believe there is a spiritual lesson to be learned in every situation? I do. I think it's there if we only take the time look for it. And what happened at a Denny's restaurant two days ago is a prime example.

I attend a small men's accountability group every Saturday morning at a Denny's restaurant. We eat breakfast; do a Bible study; confess and encourage; and basically do what the Word calls “iron sharpening iron”. Yesterday I came into the restaurant with my friend Lyndy Phillips. (side note: He may be the best motivational speaker in the world. Hire him to come speak to your group. Info here) I took a seat at the usual place where I have been sitting for years: a u-shaped booth at the back of the restaurant. The waitress asked us if we wanted coffee. Lyndy declined. I gave her the usual nod of approval. And minutes later, sitting in front of me was a cup of piping hot coffee. I drank, talked, laughed, and shared like I usually do. I didn't even notice the stares two of my friends were giving to my coffee cup.


Actual Denny's Photo

Apparently on one side of the cup was a “USO”: unidentified stuck object. To this day there is quite a debate on what the object was. I think it was a booger. Others guessed everything from a scrap of hardened egg to a bit of human flesh. But the icing on this grotesque cake was the lipstick on the other side of the cup at the top. A beautiful lip-shaped Cover Girl pink crescent hung like a wreath of feminine victory. It was at the exact place that had been drinking. And no, I do not wear women's lipstick to a men's group, so it definitely wasn't mine. It obviously belonged to the previous recipient of that glass. It had just not been cleansed properly of the former “things”. I pushed it away, never again to touch my lips.

So what kind of biblically spiritual lessons can we take away from a boogered-up Denny’s coffee cup?

Well, for one: If you are truly born again, your cup has gone through the dishwasher and has been rinsed clean from God's perspective. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 1Cor 5:17 You are a new cup. So why do we act sometimes like the booger on the cup, the lipstick on the rim, or the “turd in the punchbowl”? Because we have to cleanse our hearts and purify our lives. We need to keep the cup of our lives clean. We have to scrub the hardened sin spots that have been caked on through persistent use in our previous lives. Old habits die hard. And the things I still struggle with daily to eliminate from my life are the very things I have spent most of my life doing over and over. “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Prov 27:17 I need my friends to be human Brillo pads. I need them to help scrub me clean of the deception and dysfunctions I have accumulated through years of living a sin lifestyle.

Another great lesson comes from this scripture: “We do not live for ourselves only, and we do not die for ourselves only.” Romans 14:7 Every time you interact with a person, one of two things is going to happen. Either you will leave your lipstick on them. Or they will leave their lipstick on you. That lipstick could be negativity, enthusiasm, hope, encouragement, fear, pessimism, laughter, tears, or joy. What you have will leave a mark on them. Make a commitment that people will be better when they leave you than when they arrived. Be a positive change in others. Leave the lipstick of the spirit on them.

And the last lesson I learned is to be aware. Look! Open your eyes. The waitress had no idea that there was a booger and lipstick on my cup. I'm sure she didn't carefully choose that cup so she could be malicious to me personally. I simply think that she is so caught up in the routine, mundane life of serving that she is on some sort of auto pilot. We get the same way sometimes, don't we? There are lonely, lost, hurting people all around us that we could encourage with a word or a touch, if we could only see them clearly. But many times we trudge on through the mud of our daily routine never stopping to look and see clearly. We pray for “God appointments”. Then we drive right on past them, caught up in our own little world. “Open my eyes that I may see...” Psalm 119:18

I believe that all things really do work together for good. I believe that the good times and the bad times are partners in our education. The best mountain ranges have both peaks and valleys. Surfers need both crest and trough of a wave for their exhilaration. And I believe that there are spiritual lessons everywhere if we will only look for them; even in a coffee cup from Denny's.

Nothing New Under The Televangelistic Sun

2012-01-02T15:36:00.001-06:00

You might think that I am some sort of Neanderthal, but I don't have cable television. I used to have Uverse, which gave me over 400 channels with 56 of them being movie channels. And one night I nestled in on the sofa, popcorn in hand, so I could find something to watch and end my day with a time of mindless vegging. I actually scanned up all 400 channels and couldn't find one single thing of mental value to watch. Nada! So I am now the proud owner of a rabbit ears antennae. It is almost ludicrous to see a cheap antennae running to a very expensive flat screen television. But hey, that's how I roll!

So here comes the interesting part. My wife and I scanned what was available over the air here in Dallas, Texas late last night before we went to bed. It all seems to come down to three categories: Mexican, Religious, or Network. We chose religious. What a collection of minutia. There were two that captured our attention and made us watch briefly, until we could simply take no more. Evangelist Peter Popoff had a show where if you bought his amazing miracle water, money would come your way. He had lots of testimonies of people who had bought his miracle water and found within a week that somehow the bank decided to pay off their mortgages.

"Operators are standing by. This is a free call!"

Others told tales of money miraculously arriving in the mail from sources they had never heard of. I watched him play with people's hope like my cat plays with a toy. It was sad. I'm not saying that his ministry isn't real. I'm not even saying that those miracles were false. But what I am saying is there were so many red flags going up in my spirit it looked like a Tibetan prayer chain from the Himalayas. There was no mention of the name of Jesus or anything about redemption and salvation; only fast, easy, miraculous money.

We moved to the next station where W. V. Grant, Jr. was doing his miracle healing deal. The problem with his show is that he used so many clips from decades past I am not sure if any of it was recent. He was selling his miracle healing handkerchiefs, and a gold key that contained a personal scripture “just for you”. It was the key to prosperity. I thought I remembered him getting hammered on an NBC special years ago when they did an expose' on televangelists.

Throwin' down the beats for the Lord!

I think Grant was the one that was using a wireless ear piece to receive the gift of “discerning of spirits” via his wife on a microphone in the back. I'm not sure. I do know that he did some jail time. Yes, there could have been real power in those handkerchiefs. And it also could have all been a scam. I'm not saying that. But again I watched the hope in people's eyes. They wanted so desperately to believe.

I love Jesus. I love the fact that the Pharisees needed someone to kiss him so the soldiers would know who to arrest. He looked too much like all the other disciples. There was no hesitation in discerning which one was Grant or Popoff, and who was not. I love Jesus for the fact that he was broke. I love him for his willingness to heal all that were oppressed of the devil; not just one or two. (Acts 10:38) I love the fact that there was nothing the recipients of his grace had to purchase, send in, do, or carry. They came to him with absolutely nothing. And he responded in power, truth, love, and authority. The last time I posted on this blog I asked if Jesus would embrace technology. I'm not sure if he would tweet or have his sermons simulcast. He probably wouldn't wear French cuffs on his starched, white shirt. But one thing I do know for sure, he would point people's attention away from himself and towards God Almighty. I know that one look into his eyes and everything would change for the person who was fortunate enough to cross paths with him. I know that his ministry would not show people how to grow their own personal little kingdoms. He would be very concerned with the condition of their souls; in a way that no prosperity can heal. He would touch them with profound truths which would call them to a deeper understanding of their Creator. And he wouldn't want their money. He wouldn't have to wheedle or cajole them using “heat of the moment” tactics. He would simply trust God for his provision. And like He always does, God would “show up”.

I know that I probably sound way too judgmental. Especially since Jesus said this: "for he that is not against us is for us." Luke 9:50. But are we really "for Jesus" if we don't do what he says? I've lived too many years as a Christian hypocrite. And I'm done playing the game. I want to follow my King in truth and obedience.

So although most televangelists aren't as bad as “Jersey Shore” or some of the Kardashian crap, they should point you to the author and finisher of your faith: Jesus. You can get clearer reception by turning off the television and hitting your knees. But if you need a silken tied, perfectly coiffed compass to point you in the right direction, then by all means head on down to Best Buy. Check in the antennae isle. There is a miracle key and a vial of water with your name on it.

Will Jesus Embrace Technology?

2011-07-26T16:10:00.001-05:00

With all the buzz about the “end of the world” shenanigans lately promoted by the Family Radio false prophets, I started thinking about what the next step for us truly look like. Scripture is clear that we will head into a time of tribulation, and will have both the advent and demise of a man called “the beast” with his devious cohort “the false prophet”. There will be the much debated “mark of the beast” given to all who give their allegiance to this man and his world system. But the Christians who have the faith to hold out until the end will get a special treat: they get to see the much anticipated return of Jesus himself.

“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” 1 Cor 15:51-53

And look at this:

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thes 4:16-18

So it is clear that there will be many who are changed, and meet the Lord in the air at his triumphant return. Jesus comes back down, extinguishes the evil ones from off of the face of the earth. And then he sets up his millennial kingdom. What happens to those who have been lifted off the earth, and then return with him:

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:2-6

So those who are alive at the return of Jesus, who have kept themselves free of the beast's system, and who have not lost their faith; get to reign with Jesus for a thousand years. But what will that kingdom look like? If he comes soon, he will meet a generation of very tech savvy people in the air. And he will take those people to the next millennium. This is a generation that is used to cable television, the internet, and Apple products. Will Jesus set up his reign “old school” with a simple type of life? Or will he take full advantage of technology? Will we have access to Jesus through some type of social media? Or will Jesus have us live a lifestyle like it was 2,000 years ago. Will there be flight in manufactured machines? Or will we have the abilities with our spiritual bodies to appear like Jesus did and walk through walls.

If people like Michael W. Smith get to go, will he write amazing material for his King and publish it through technology channels for all on the planet to enjoy? Will we get to hear sermons and teachings from Jesus archived? Or does one have to be there? If this is true:

“That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Cor 2:9

Then we probably have no idea what a future filled with technology invented non-selfishly, but purely for the pleasure of our King would look like. Either way, it will be nice when the trash is taken out, a king we have never seen but worshiped is readily available, and there is something we can only imagine: world wide peace. Maybe I'll tweet about it.

I'm Just An Old Pair of Speakers

2011-06-23T13:59:00.011-05:00


Dahlquist DQ-10

My common sense is telling me not to write this blog post. Blogging is a little bit like sending an email: one should wait and count to 10 before it's sent. Because once it is out there...it is out there. But what the heck! I am still feeling the funk and mentally processing the difference between the truth and the lies. And it is all because of the speakers that I love: My Dahlquist DDA 1T's!

I had a conversation with my wife earlier today about selling a three speaker arrangement that I have had for years, but is currently not being used. I have been a fan of Dalquist speakers since the middle 70s and used to drool at the end of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer's “Lucky Man” when played on a pair of DQ 10s. The rumble of the 20 cycle note and the air around the synthesizer is just pure bliss. So my wife said something that stuck me like a knife earlier today. I have a paid of Dahlquist DDA 1Ts that tower beside a Pinnacle monster sub-woofer. It's Nirvana for the ear drums. She said that because those are so old, they aren't worth anything. I retorted that those three are a $2,000 system that are extremely valuable because you can't get them anymore. I don't know why I put them up there with the treasures of Tutankhamen and the Mona Lisa as far as value goes. Maybe because they have given me so many years of pure audio pleasure. Maybe because in my mind they are still new. But the reality is that they are simply old speakers that were great in their time, but now have been passed up by a new generation of trendy, cool, hip, happening speakers. The new stuff is flashy and valuable to this Ipad generation, but they sound like crap. And this alt/bro generation has neither the time nor the inclination to value what is older.

Pinnacle Sub-woofers will punch you in the chest

I went online to see what they are worth to try to prove a point to my wife. But as usual, she is right. I can't even find them anywhere. I did find a discussion thread where old geezers reminisced about audio equipment from the bygone days of yore. It made me feel like I was at a D-Day Invasion reunion. I remember when Tom Holman was a real guy, and not just a big THX roaring in at the start of a movie. Saul Marantz, Amar Bose, Paul Klipsch, and Henry Kloss all had active parts in the R&D of their companies. Now they are just logos on some venture capital Korean consortium that uses their name for marketing recognition. And today it dawned on me that I am old at 52. I look at myself with the same eyes that I see my Dahlquist speakers. And I see beauty, ability, and technical perfection. But the world sees me as something that might not even get an opening bid on Ebay. I thought I wasn't supposed to be worthless until my seventies. What I see as career “prototypes” the world sees as failures. What I espouse as “Edison's 1,000 ways how not to make a light bulb” the world sees as career instability. I'm such a loser!


Paul Klipsch

Then I pulled a David at Ziklag and started looking at ages. Abraham was 75 when God told to leave Haran. Harland Sanders started KFC with his first social security check at age 65. Noah was 500 when he started building the ark. I even shook my head in amazement as I watched a Bob Proctor video yesterday. He admitted that he was 77. He is amazing. So that gives me hope.

I, like my speakers, put the air around the strings of Beethoven's 7th that contribute to it's melancholy tone. But I live in a world that wants to blare Snoop Dogg at ear bleeding levels. Like my sub-woofer, I hold my auditory integrity during the cannon shots of Tchaikovsky's “1812 Overture”. But I live in a world that wants it's speakers to be hidden while they jack cars in “Grand Theft Auto San Andreas” on their 3D televisions. I secretly want others to see the value in me. But I know that the younger, better looking, smarter, more tech savvy uber-man is what the world is attracted to. So I'll finish this day with gratitude that I am still in the game. Solomon did say that a live dog is better than a dead lion. And an old speaker that will give me goosebumps during “Braveheart” is better to me than a new and fresh e-speaker.

Anthony Weiner is the Anti-Antichrist!

2011-06-21T13:30:00.004-05:00

Anthony Weiner's resignation officially takes place at midnight tonight. In case you have no idea who I am talking about, he is the congressman who was busted for tweeting pictures of himself to a myriad of woman. And although I didn't see the Full Monty versions of his macho offerings, (who would want to) the ones I saw of him flexing in the mirror in the gym were pathetic enough.


I wish I could "unsee" this.

Notice I didn't say that Weiner was the antichrist. I said that he was the “anti-antichrist”. He is the exact opposite of the coming world ruler who will be blessed by Satan himself and be given power to rule the world for three and a half years. That is if you believe the prophets Daniel and John the Disciple. Both of them had much to say about “the man of sin” and his trusty sidekick known as the false prophet. They will bring quite a show to planet earth right before the return of Jesus. We know from John that Michael himself gets to kick the crap out of all those who decide to follow them, and he gets to throw both of them into the lake of fire.

“And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” Revelation 19:20 NLT

Ouch! And check out what happens to then one who anointed them both:

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:10 KJV

There is “forever”, which is a pretty long time. But these folks get a double portion of torment: forever and ever.

Daniel is pretty clear that the reign of the antichrist will be no cake walk. Although he totally runs the show, there will be opposition and rebellion from a couple of different kings. Read Daniel 11. But one thing that is never prophesied to happen is what happened to Anthony Weiner. And that is why I call him (and others) the “anti-antichrist”. Women will not be a factor. Remember how Monica Lewinsky was a distraction and the bane of Bill Clinton's presidency? You can sit and think about how many men have been brought down by illicit relations with women, and lots of powerful names will come to mind. Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Italian President Silvio Berlusconi, World Bank and IMF president Paul Wolfowitz, and the list goes on and on. As long as there have been men with great power, there have been “femme fatales” who have brought them down. Can you say Samson and Delilah anyone? And the pulpits are full of men like Jimmy Swaggart and Paul Sheppard who have paid great penalties for their lack of self control in the naked woman arena. And not only our generations, David had his Bathsheba, Caligula had his sister, and Jerry Lee Lewis had his underage cousin. But the man of sin will be different.

Spitzer and his physical therapist

“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.” Daniel 11:37

Many people believe the wording that he will not regard “the desire of women” to mean that he will not worship nor regard the gods that women like. And there is some merit in that thinking. But I tend to see it another way. If this man is anointed by the Dragon himself, and has only three and a half years to try to send as many people to hell as he can; I don't think he will have the time nor the libido to waste it on trollops. I can't see this man being a horn-dog. Power is his game. Total control is his aim. And as he sets himself up in the “holy of holies” in the Jerusalem temple as god, he won't flex his spiritual muscle to try to win sexual trysts with women who see that kind of thing as an aphrodisiac.

Can you imagine the antichrist tweeting HD pics of his package to someone? Do you see the false prophet calling down fire from heaven with a member of the Swedish Bikini Team on each arm? You can't can you. And neither can I. Where so many great men have had blind spots in the sex area, this man will be rock solid and focused. Luckily he will be replaced by a righteous King who was also tempted in ALL AREAS, yet without sin: Jesus. I'm sure Jesus probably had a cute sister of a cleansed leper literally throw herself at him. Maybe not. But we know that he overcame all that this world had to offer in the way of getting him to stumble. And he marched right over it.

So take hope fellow Christians in the fact that we will someday soon have a righteous King who can not be bribed with boobs nor distracted from integrity by batting eyelashes. And that gives me great hope in the future.

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 2:12

Will We Speak Hebrew In Heaven?

2011-06-01T11:57:00.003-05:00

If you go to Google and type in the word “hallelujah” you will get 29,100,000 returns. That is a very strange phenomenon for a word that is not in the Bible one single time. Yep, that's right; it's not in there. And yet there are almost thirty million mentions of it on the Internet. If you are a Christian, you are probably doubting that it is not in the Bible. So go see for yourself. The first time we even see the two Hebrew words that make up that saying is in Psalm 104:34:

“Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.”

Those two words that comprise the saying praise the Lord are where we get the saying Hallelujah. But if it isn't in the Bible, where did we get it? And why do so many Christians say it? That answer comes from the New Testament. When John was taking his tour of heaven in the book of Revelation, he heard people saying that word. In fact, lots of people. And he wrote that book in Greek, so the word we see four times in Chapter 19 is “Alleluia”.

Think on that for a minute. While John was in heaven, he saw the multitudes of people saying “praise the Lord” in Hebrew. Now it is possible that everybody in heaven will be speaking Dutch or Spanish, and only occasionally shout out a Hebrew phrase. But I tend to believe that Hebrew will be the predominant language with which we will all praise God. And yet another point of our Hebrew language of the future comes from Revelation 15. Here's what John saw:

“And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “ Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.” Revelation 15:2-4 NKJ

This song of Moses is taken from Exodus 15. And in Deuteronomy 31 he taught it to the next generation:

“So that very day Moses wrote down the words of the song and taught it to the Israelites.” Deuteronomy 31:22 NLV

Guess what language Moses spoke? Hebrew. Guess what language his song is sung in? Hebrew. Guess what language we will probably be speaking in the New Jerusalem according to what John saw? Hebrew. Maybe it is time to get some Rosetta Stone software and get a jump on the crowds.

Also note that the two times that phrasing for hallelujah is used is in relation to the vanquishing of the enemy. In Psalm 104 the sinners and wicked are no more. In Revelation the term is offered up only after the antichrist, false prophet, and wicked are removed from the game. Pretty sweet deal, right? After God takes care of those who are against us, it is only natural for us to bless Him with our thanks and praises.

Although not in the Bible, here is the best secular song with that word in it. So many people have covered that Leonard Cohen song; from country and folk musicians, to rockers like Jon Bon Jovi. It might be because it's great. Or maybe because they have this small part of their spirit that has hope and is already reaching out to the One who made them and inhabits their praises. Either way, God is good all the time. And it is a good thing to praise Him. Here is the version by the great John Cale from the Velvet Underground.

Do We Need More Medieval Sex?

2011-05-21T16:28:00.010-05:00

Medieval sex is simply getting ridiculous. And I didn't really understand what it was all about until yesterday. I had a “moment of clarity” (so to speak) after getting really mad at HBO. And please understand that I am no prude. I am a recovering porn addict so I have seen it all. But I never understood why that world is invading the other ones, until today. Here is my journey.

I really wanted to watch the miniseries called “The Tudors” when it first came out. But I didn't. It is currently being reshown on BBC America, so I set the DVR to record some episodes. I had heard great things about it from friends whose opinions I trust. I have always thought that was an interesting time in history. As a Catholic boy, I took Sir Thomas Moore as my patron saint at my confirmation. And have many times scratched my head in amazement at Henry VIII's quest for a male heir. Cromwell, Boleyn, Mary, Elizabeth: all fascinating people. So When Showtime came out with the series, I couldn't wait. Well, this series is excellent; all except for one thing: the gratuitous sex scenes. I am sick and tired of having to fast forward past a scene because of some naked wench in Henry’s room. Yes, we know that he was a total horn-dog. But the 1966 movie “A Man For All Seasons” portrayed all his iniquities without having to show any of it. Do we really need to have bare butts to get the point? I understand that sex sells. But geez! What is it selling for Showtime? So I moved on.

I also couldn't wait for the Showtime series called “The Borgias” to air. Again, an amazing time in history. And one to really chagrin the Catholics. So I taped it. And this is one great series. It is sit on the edge of your seat intriguing. And very well written. But here we go again: gratuitous “T and A”. This story could easily have been told without having to show all the forbidden sweaty humping of the monarchy. Good Grief! Yes the pope was a letch. But to constantly have naked nuns fluttering out of rooms in a convent ticks me off. Where do the Skinemax after dark B-movies end and prime time soft core porn begin? Yes, this is in prime time. I got angry because I had to have a trigger finger on the remote control. Ridiculous! I remember when what was sexy was what was NOT SEEN. The imagination is far more stimulating that the eye. Yes I'll probably watch the season finale this weekend. But with the papacy at a falling point, why spoil the moment with boobs?

I was already miffed because “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” on Starz was nothing short of porn. The little I saw left me angry. I had anticipated seeing another version of “300” or “Gladiator”. Instead I got male penises and full on lesbian action. Why should I have to watch guys kiss in order to get my fill of testosterone-laden gladiatorial arena battling? Yes, Rome was decadent. But the 1960 Stanley Kubrick, Kirk Douglas, Lawrence Olivier version of “Spartacus” didn't have to push the envelope in order to tell this great tale.

Today was the final straw. I started watching HBO's new series “Game of Thrones”. I was excited to take certain aspects of medieval castles and jousting; and merge them with a science fiction fantasy genre. And I wasn't disappointed. Strong characters and well written plots merge with kingly honor and deceptive power struggles. But dang it: why do I have to watch the queen do doggie style sex on her wedding day. Seriously! Everybody holds their meetings in a brothel in this series. What? That's right. Any time the characters want to meet, there are naked whores flittering about. And it is just pathetic. Because their nudity adds absolutely nothing to the story except for puerile titillation. How did Peter Jackson do it with "The Lord of the Rings"? Those were fantasy movies that won every major accolade and made gazillions of dollars; all without one single act of oral sex. What are you thinking HBO?

Where is the clean "guy stuff"? Where is the gruff series where a man can be a man without having to battle waves of lust? James Bond had plenty of sex. But we never had to actually look at his wiener or some trollop’s buns.

So here is where my moment of clarity came in. I wondered what kind of market these shows were serving. What is their niche? I mean, come on: anyone can get plenty of hard core porn on a computer, I pad, or smart phone for free. And if a man wants to see people having sex, HBO probably isn't his first outlet of oculary delight.

Why interject all the sex into a television series where it serves no purpose other than to get a man's motor running? And then I got it. It is all a part of a master plan where the lines between right and wrong are getting blurred. A man can truly tell another accountability partner that he hasn't looked at porn. But in reality, he is simply watching a male oriented television series and getting all the mental fantasy fuel he wants. It's safe, easy to click away from, and deliciously deceptive. Or so the lie will whisper. How far we have come from the boobs in “Braveheart” and the one sex scene in “Band of Brothers”. It's just plain sad. I noticed it in Fox's O'Reilly Factor when they showed the same bikini clad clip of Carrie Prejean over and over. I quit watching Bill. And it is everywhere, on every channel, and at every media outlet. Who knows what the future holds. Maybe we will finally beat Rome during the time of Caligula as the most sex-laden country in history. But then, HBO will probably make a miniseries about us.

Only 11 Days Left To Get Free Stuff From Deceived Christians

2011-05-10T17:10:00.007-05:00

Well, if you believe the people at Family Radio, the world is going to end in 11 days. And unfortunately, there are thousands of Christians who are buying into this theory. The best news report I have seen on these false prophets was on NPR. Here is what they had to say. Make sure to listen to the 6 minute audio report on this page.

Apparently, these people have taken what they consider to be the the date of Noah's flood and added seven thousand years to it to come up with the date of the “rapture”. So at around 6pm on the day of the 21st, there is supposed to be a giant earthquake which will start at the Pacific rim near Australia and move across the whole Earth. Then Jesus will appear to take up the church in a “rapture” and leave everyone else here in a giant chaotic state to fend for themselves. And if you believe any of that, I have a bridge to sell you. What they don't realize is even the Bible itself puts the date of the flood at 2348 B.C. For them to say that the flood was 7,000 years ago shows they have not done their homework. Here are some things you need to know about this end time delusion that has swept the hearts and minds of many of God's people.

First of all, even the pastor himself had an earlier date that came and passed without the church being taken. It was supposed to be September 6th, 1994. That passed. Suddenly he remembered that he had not read the book of Jeremiah? So with egg on his face, I mean with the Holy Spirit on his head, he came up with a new date of the 21st of May 2011. Remember the ones in California who “knew” that the date of the “rapture” was in 1988. That was based on Israel becoming a nation. They gave away all their earthly possessions. Then they stood naked on a mountain waiting for Jesus to give them their “robes of righteousness”. Imagine their shame as they left the mountain broke and naked. And these Family Radio knuckleheads will do the same.

First of all: There Is No Pretribulation Rapture! People like Tim LaHaye have done the church a great disservice by writing those “Left Behind” books. My wife loved the books and read them all. She is a big fan of the storytelling but thinks that they are scripturally unsound. I think they are pure evil. They perpetuate a false teaching that the antichrist will take full advantage of in the future. The rapture theory was not taught by any of the greats of the faith like Knox, Huss, Wycliffe, Luther, Calvin, Cranmer, or Wesley. The Bible is clear that Jesus only returns once, not twice. Here's what the word says:

“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10-11

In the same way means IN THE SAME WAY. Not a partial touchdown. Not a fly-by to scoop up some Christians. But he comes back exactly like John saw it in Revelation 19. Read it for yourself. And when does he come back? When do we meet him in the air? The Bible spells it out:

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “ O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 1 Cor 15:50-58 NKJ

So when is this trumpet? When do we meet the lord in the air? Easy, it's the last trumpet as shown here:

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thes 4: 13-18

Jesus comes at the LAST TRUMPET. In Revelation 8:8 there are seven angels with seven trumpets. Read what happened while the first six blow theirs. Because the seventh doesn't sound until Revelation 11:15. Does any of this look like the rapture these deceivers are trying to sell you? Of course not. Here's all you need to know.

1. Jesus said it best when the subject of the end times came up. His disciples asked him when would these things be and what would be the sign of his coming and of the end of the age. His response was this: “Beware that no man deceive you”. Mat 24:3-4. He knew that deceivers would abound and deceive many. Even the false prophet looks like a sheep but speaks like the dragon. And,

2. If you know anybody who belongs to the Family Radio cult, they are giving all their money and possessions away. This is an excellent time to pick up a car or a house cheap. And you have 11 days to score some serious deals before they all figure out they have been duped and want their stuff back.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36

Ropin', Burpin', Praisin', Fartin', Fellowshippin', and God

2011-05-02T15:19:00.006-05:00

What an interesting weekend I had. I was invited by my friend Lyndy Phillips to go to a men's retreat in Oklahoma. I attend a nondenominational church here in Dallas. And the retreat was sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. So that means I got to walk among 3,000 Southern Baptist men from all over the state of Oklahoma. The retreat was titled “Men Rewired”, and it took place at possibly the most gorgeous area of that state: Falls Creek Conference Center. I have been to the Arbuckle wilderness on other occasions. And as I rode through the mountains and trees, it was hard to believe that I was in Oklahoma.

What an amazing time. And there were three amazing take-aways from the weekend. Those of you who are Baptist will probably smile. Those who are not will scratch your heads.

1. It's all about the altar call! Their services were amazing. But each one ended with a request for men to become honest with themselves about their own spiritual condition. And it's if not good, “Come on down” to make it right. They would keep their “invitation” open for an inordinately long period of time. It was as if the longer they played the music and tried to coerce sinful men to leave their seats and journey forward, the more men would finally succumb. That is strange to me. I don't see Jesus doing that; or Paul for that matter. I am a very big fan of accountability and the confession of sins. (James 5:16). I also understand how much faith it takes for the power of God to move in a tangible way. Remember the woman who pushed through the crowd to touch the hem of his garment? (Mark 5) Even the prodigal son had to make the first motion of a trip home before the father ran to meet him. But to think that the Holy Spirit can't tell a man to get the porn off his computer or quit stealing from work from his seat in the auditorium makes me wonder. I guess it's just a Baptist thing. I'm not sure if it worked or not. Because the throng of men heading to the stage were a perfect mix of pastors who were asked to pray for people, and men who were coming to repent. So I guess it was a safe way for a man to confess and repent: look just like everyone else heading to the stage.

2. Keep those hands down! I admit it: I'm one of those types of people who get so lost in the praise of our great and glorious God that I simply must raise my hands in worship. But apparently the Baptists aren't. Imagine 3,000 men singing to some of the most anointed worship music ever. Then imagine only 6 or 7 raising their hands up to God in celebration. Yep, that's right. As I raised my hands, the older gentlemen next to me look at me as if I had just got off the mother ship from Venus. He had one of those “you ain't from around here” looks on his face. It was funny. Why are some men so afraid to freely worship God? Remember when David danced before the Lord with all his might? And his wife despised him in her heart. Why? Yes all things must be done decently and in order. ( 1Cor 14:40). And more churches are falling into the “slain in the spirit” and “holy laughter” trap. But Geez! Can't a man with a Skoal ring on his jeans and a big belt buckle take a minute to raise his hands to his King?

Here's where it gets good. We sang a song where the lyrics were “I'll stand with hands high and heart abandoned. In awe of the one who gave it all”. I thought that surely if the lyrics dictate a raised hand, they would comply. Nope! Never! I guess standing stoically like a rock is good enough for grand pappy, and it's good enough for them.

3. Man up! The third thing that came out of this past weekend changed my life. One of the featured speakers was Michael Catt, Senior Pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia. If you are not familiar with them, they make Christian movies. They did “Facing the Giants” and “Fireproof”. And I was lucky enough to get to watch their newest movie to be released in September: “Courageous”. How I managed to fight back the tears while sitting among dusty cowboys is beyond me. This movie is great! Check out the trailer.

I found this trailer on YouTube and called to Jayne to come in and watch it. I teared up as it played. And I had already seen the movie. This is one powerful movie. And it strikes right at the heart of what is wrong with the church today: men are weak and women have to take the wheel. I love my children more than anything on this earth. And I have some deep issues of regret that I wasn't a very good father. Maybe that is where all the emotion comes from. And this movie will do the same thing to you.

So I guess my big “A-ha” moment came as I thought about this past weekend. I realized that as dads, we want our children to raise their hands to us, but we don't raise them to our heavenly Father. We want our children to come to us freely, and without coercion. But sometimes we need to get hammered with endless stanzas of "Have Thine Own Way" before we move to our Father. We want our kids to crawl up into our laps, but we keep God at a distance. It makes me disappointed and a little hurt when I only get occasional communication from my kids (usually via Facebook or text), yet that is the way many times I communicate with the one who knew me in the womb.

So here are my lessons from the Okie weekend. Be free with your praise. Tell your Father you love Him. Watch “Courageous” when it comes out. And lastly, MAN UP! Just be a freaking man! Stop being weak. Get right with God, and then stay right. Cover your wife and kids with blessing and praise. Stay tuned for more thoughts from this last weekend.

The Rock God Met The God of Rock!

2011-04-19T12:15:00.005-05:00

I love amazing encounters with really interesting people. This past weekend I had one of those. I had the opportunity to work in security at the International Guitar Festival which took place at Market Hall here in Dallas, Texas. Imagine if you will a giant convention center filled with nothing but guitars and things pertaining to the music business. It was quite a gathering of very peculiar people. There were large music vendors like Gibson, Fender, and Yamaha all showing their newest wares that turn the mediocre into guitar virtuosos. There were lots of 50-something women still dressed like they were groupies waiting for Motley Crue to come out of the stage door so they could party with the band. Unfortunately, they still look hot, only in their own minds. And yes, there were lots of 60-something men, adorned with rock gear who still live in a 70s time capsule. It was sad. Remember the song by Jethro Tull “Too Old to Rock and Roll, Too Young to Die”? That song was written for these wrinkled musicians of the days of yore. But my weekend changed at a place called the cave.

I was working the back of the facility at a small room where they did “up close and personal” guitar clinics. George Lynch of Dokken blasted the room at a decibel level to make sure that nobody had ear drums left. Like Spinal Tap, he just wanted to make some ear drums bleed. They screened a great movie called “The Wrecking Crew”. Watch it if you can. It's amazing. But then, in came rock star Rick Derringer to do a clinic. I stood outside the room, trying to look as daunting and bad-ass as possible. I was security after all. But I listened intently to everything he was saying. He told his story. The room was packed; and all ears were focused on his captivating storytelling abilities. Everyone was amazed at the famous songs he had played guitar on, and the fame he had accumulated. And then he did it. He played the famous song that everyone thinks about when the name Rick Derringer is mentioned: “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo”. Horned hand salutes bobbed in the air as swaying heads and tapping feet played right along with his song. The man hit all the high notes. He still has it. Then his clinic took an amazing turn.

He went on to tell the people that he had rewritten that song due to the fact that he now has a relationship with Jesus Christ that changed his life. And he sang it with the new/improved lyrics. “Rock and roll hoochhie koo” was now “Read the word, live it too”. “I'm high all the time, hope you all are too” now sings “I'm high on God hope you all are too”. And the lyric that still sang the same “truck on out and spread the news” took on a whole new meaning. It was at that time that half the crowd got up and left. They weren't interested in hearing any of that “Jesus shit”. Rick didn't seem to mind. He continued with the clinic, giving glory to God by telling about how his life changed for the better. His smile was peaceful and angelic. His testimony of God's provision in his life was motivational. I was stunned, inspired, amazed, and so proud of him. There was no doubt that God has done an amazing work in his life.

Here's where the story gets really good. As I stood by the door, God spoke to me. He said to tell Rick Derringer that “I will honor those that honor me”. That was straight from the Old Testament.

“But now the LORD says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” 1 Sam 2:30

As Rick was leaving I walked right up to him and told him that God had given me a message for him. He didn't balk or discount me. He stopped and said “What is it?” I told him. He immediately raised his hands in the air and said “Praise God”. Could this be the man that worshiped at the altar of the rock gods? I guess that is the beauty of the transforming power of our Lord. I then told him a version of Luke 12:8 that just came off the top of my head:

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.”

We hugged, and he went outside to do a radio interview. I saw him again briefly the next day and reminded him what God had told him. He raised his hands and kept walking. I love that man.

So why do I write this story? Because as we approach Easter, it is good to remember that the power of the resurrection can work in the life of any man; regardless of how bad he might seem to be. There are bonds that can be broken, healing that can take place, and new starts in life that can begin.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Cor 5:17

We all have some old things that need to pass away. Let this season be the time of spring cleaning. And then call out to the One who raised Jesus from the dead. By looking at Rick Derringer, I can tell that God is still in the miracle business.

I Met The Death Angel Last Week

2011-04-13T11:05:00.002-05:00

There are many things to love about life. I guess my favorite is how it interrupts the mundane and regular with a surprise that will change everything, at least for a while. Last week I met the death angel. And I haven't been able to put what happened out of my mind since then.

I was driving on my way to the gym to workout like I do most afternoons when I came upon a major intersection. There was a white van that belonged to a plumbing or A/C business sitting at a red light. Behind it was a car full of teenage girls. To the left of it was a truck with a Hispanic man in his 40s, and behind him was a black woman who was a nurse. The driver of the van opened his door at the light and got out, and fell to the pavement. At first I thought he had dropped something out of his window and was retrieving it. Then he laid down on the pavement. My second thought was that he heard some type of strange noise emanating from under the van, and that he went down to take a look. It was at that exact moment that a kind of a chill came over me and goosebumps raised on my forearms. I immediately knew that the man was dying. I pulled over, parked, and got out of my car. I ran to the spot, weaving around the cars full of annoyed people that nobody was moving. By that time the Hispanic man was straddling him and beating on his chest. The girls had gotten out of their car and were standing there just looking at him. The nurse was on her knees, had his wrist and was looking for a pulse. She touched the side of his neck. I had a chance to get a good look at the man lying on the street. He was probably in his late 40's, dressed like a blue collar worker, was overweight, and lied there motionless. His only movements were from the CPR being performed. Then something strange happened.

The nurse dropped his wrist and said to us that he was dead. The man performing CPR refused to quit until the ambulance arrived. She said that it was of no use. But he just continued pinching his nose, blowing in his mouth, then beating on his chest. And a thought instantly wafted through my mind that I had dreamed and prayed about for years. I thought, “I am going to lay hands on that man, pray, and bring him back from the dead”. Jesus did it. And Jesus said that the things he did shall we do also, and greater things that that. Strangely, there was absolutely no check in my spirit, no thought of unreasonableness in my mind, nor fear of what the others might think as I lay hands on this man and he comes to his feet. I was ready, willing, and able to perform a bona fide miracle, just like the kind you read about in the Bible. I could see myself looking up to heaven, and saying something like “In the name of Jesus, rise and walk”. I'm not sure whether I took a step towards that man or not. But I do know that the next thing that happened is hard to put into words. The most intense fear I have felt in a very long time seemed to step right up to me and block me. Although I could see nothing, there was definitely something or someone there. And I found myself completely paralyzed. So I just stood there, like a dog who had been told to “stay”. And I did nothing.

I was amazed at how fast the ambulance came screaming in. There was also a policeman who blocked the street. The paramedics took one look at the man and knew that it was too late. They didn't break out the defibrillator or start beating on his chest. They simply brought out a gurney, and asked for help to lift the portly body onto it. It was clear that this “earth suit” no longer had an inhabitant. And would soon be returned to dust.

I have asked many questions about last Tuesday that still have yet to be answered sufficiently in my mind. Why did the man have to die on the pavement in East Dallas? Why couldn't he have died a more noble death; something like throwing himself in front of a bullet to save the Pope's life? Why didn't I raise him from the dead? I bargained with God about how much he would receive glory in a miracle like that. Think about the press: “God Lives...and Still In The Raising From The Dead Business!” What a killer Easter season PR blitz for Jesus that could have been. But the one that haunts me still is: who stepped in front of me that day? Who was this unseen man that carries such power of fear? Was this the man who went through Egypt killing the firstborn? Or was this a loyal servant of Satan there to take this man to a place he really doesn't want to be? I thought about the movie “Ghost” where shadowy figures come out of the ground and take men screaming in fear to the nether world.

I've learned that everyone dies. I've learned that the way we die isn't as important as the fact that we die. Suicide seems worse than choking on a chicken bone. But neither of them can beat saving a bus load of orphans. Or dying on a cross. I hope I face death with dignity and honor. I hope I am not afraid. I want my belief in the fact that my Lord died for me, and that I trust in him, to be the overwhelming factor on the day that somebody is picking up my “earth suit” and putting it on a gurney. I hope I am surrounded by someone who loves enough to keep beating on my chest and blowing in my mouth, never giving up on me. But most importantly, I hope that when I am asked to leave this place, that I have understood my destiny, and have given my best in trying to achieve all that God wants me to do. That may be today. But if it’s not, I'll seize this day and live my life to it's fullest. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go tell some people that I love them.

What Does God Think About Crybabies?

2011-03-28T09:42:00.006-05:00

I cried yesterday. What a baby, right? It doesn't matter what made me cry. No, it wasn't the end of “Forrest Gump” or “Romeo and Juliet”. It wasn't even brought on by the Dallas Cowboys. It was something to do with God's direction of my immediate future. And this morning my best friend gave me words of encouragement that made me realize how God views our tears. At first thought you might think that God's mighty men of valor have the strength and intestinal fortitude to squelch any outward expressions of emotions and simply march towards victory in the joy of the Lord. But as I thought about it sitting here at my keyboard, I realized that I am in a pretty good company of those who had tears stream down their faces.

1. King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:5 and Isaiah 38:5)
2. Queen Esther (Esther 8:3)
3. Ruth (Ruth 1:14)
4. Job (Job 16:20)
5. Jonathan (1 Sam 20:41)
6. King David- what a total crybaby. He cried all over Psalms. (Psalm 6:6, etc.)
7. David's might men of valor (1 Sam 30:4)
8. Timothy (2Tim 1:4)
9. Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4)
10. Paul – another crybaby (2Cor 2:4, Acts 20:31)
11. Jeremiah (called the weeping prophet, too many instances to name)
12. Peter (Luke 22:62)
13. John (Revelation 5:4)
14. Mary (John 20:11)

Heck, even the Lord Jesus himself cried. Remember the shortest scripture in the Bible? Two words: Jesus wept. (John 11:35) And were those misty-eyed man tears? Look at this:

“While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.” Hebrews 5:7 (New Living Translation)

So what does God think about all this crying going on down here? One might think he would stand up from his throne and yell with the rumbling of thunder “Quit yer crying you weenies and man-up!” But we find another scenario in relation to God in the Bible. He actually thinks our tears are precious, and cherishes them enough to save them in a bottle.

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8 (New Living Translation)

So it seems that our crying is not in vain. It is noted from above. And it is welcomed as part of a purging process that is divinely inspired. Look at what both the Old and New Testaments have to say about God's part in our crying:

“The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.” Isaiah 25:8

“And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:4

This doesn't look to me like a God that shuns our crying. But one who connects intimately with our sorrow and grief. So go on and cry if you need to. And see if a friend will show up with the finger of God to help wipe away your tears.

Better Than Rocket Science

2011-03-24T10:39:00.004-05:00

Last night an amazing thing happened. At a class I was attending we talked about Gideon having to remove the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole from his Dad's house before God would send him to deliver his people from the enemy. (Judges 6) The conversation turned from removing sin to accountability. Then people felt safe enough in that environment to start sharing some of the secret things that they might not have ever told another living soul. The power of sin lies in secrecy. But honestly, there is no secrecy. We are surrounded with a great cloud of witnesses. (Heb 12:1) Lots of people in the spiritual are looking on. If God sees every sparrow that falls to the ground, don't you think he sees the porn on your computer or the income you didn't file on your taxes.

“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” Luke 12:2

Does that scare you? It should if you have something to hide. It does me because there is plenty in my life that I am not proud of. But fortunately, God has made a provision for us because we all are the same: trying to make it in a fallen world. One gentleman confessed something that I am pretty sure he never confessed to anyone else ever. Others were transparent and honest enough to talk about some of their struggles and victories. Well, what I mean is that they talked about their struggles. We seldom have a problem being transparent with our victories because we know that brings God glory. But the struggles...well, you know.

So here is the solution. It is a system that works every time. It is like the Pythagorean Theorem or some mathematical formula that is guaranteed to get the results you desire. Leave one of the steps out and you have a cake that has fallen because not all the ingredients are there. Apply them all: and presto! Instant relief. They work in tandem. It's a beautiful thing. Want to know what it is?

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

It's so simple. Confess your faults/sins/frustrations/desires/secrets to another living person. Pray for each other. Remember that Job's captivity was turned when he prayed for his friends. (Job 42:10) Pray for the one confessing, or pray for the one you are confessing to. And then receive your healing. Bam!

One guy last night talked about how the shame and condemnation he was feeling since sinning lifted the minute he confessed and another man prayed for him. It's not rocket science. It works. Every time!

Do you have someone you can be completely honest with? Is there someone you can trust with your most embarrassing things? You know it's going to eventually come out. So why wait?

Does God Live in District 9?

2011-03-16T11:24:00.004-05:00

Has God ever spoken directly to you? What was it like? Did He speak in a whisper? Did He send some sort of mind picture? Did you hear it in your head? Or was it transmitted to your heart? God speaks to each of us in different ways. And this morning as I was trying to sort through some revelatory knowledge I received yesterday that troubled me, God spoke to me in order to ease my mind a little bit. Remember Daniel?

“I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.” Daniel 7:15 (New King James Version)

Daniel had some amazing visions and most of them troubled him. But God is faithful. And Daniel usually had some sort of visitation to help him understand and make sense out of what he had just seen. I love that about God. What a good teacher He is. And Jesus did the same thing in order to help the people who lacked understanding to “get it”.

“Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.” Matthew 13:34 (New International Version)

So God obviously knew that I was troubled by what He has been revealing to me in the word lately. So He sent me an understanding from the movie “District 9”. I saw the movie, twice. I can't recommend it to anybody reading this blog because it is violent, and has lots of “f-bombs” strewn throughout. It does have a very astute underlying lesson throughout the plot line. Here is a clip God showed me this morning during my quiet time:

Humans did not know how to operate the alien weapons. There was an amazing power available to them. But they lacked something to be able to utilize such power for protection or destruction. And God used this lesson to help me understand the Bible in the last days. There is an amazing power available to us. And most Christians are simply stockpiling the word without being able to understand the hows and whys of it's use in the end time. The two witnesses in Revelation 11 are a great example of what I'm talking about:

“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days. These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lamp-stands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.” Revelation 11:3-6 (New Living Translation)

They won't be fire breathers. This kind of power given to them is indicative of the Word of God...the Bible. It is the sharp two-edged sword of Hebrews 4:12 that Jesus wields when he returns in Revelation 19:15. And I'm sure that the true warriors of God reserved for the end time are being taught to effectively exert the sword of the spirit which they are commanded to put on daily in Ephesians 6:17. The Bible has power, unlike anything we can imagine. But we can't use it effectively unless the DNA of our God surges through our spiritual veins. Then...the things Jesus did, shall we do also. And greater things that that shall we do because He goes to the Father.

“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (New Living Translation)

Start working out with the sword. Then get ready to strap it on. There is an enemy flood that is amassing just out of our sight. And there is a victory on this planet that has yet to be finalized for our coming king.

Dude, Where's My Sustenance?

2011-03-08T09:57:00.005-06:00

In times when so many people are struggling financially, the field is ripe for the prosperity preachers to bank upon the hope of the kingdom. It's not that they are misquoting scriptures. On the contrary, they are talking about the prosperity that God wants all of us to have. Remember that God delights in the prosperity of his servants. (Psalm 35:27) So when it doesn't work, what's the scoop? The Bible is filled with lean times where people had far too much week left over at the end of their money. Some of it was to test their faith. Some of it was because they were lazy or stupid. But the overwhelming majority of the times of famine and leanness were because the very people who were created to walk, talk, and fellowship with God had broken their connection. Many of the people were just plain “far from God”. And God decided to withhold His blessing from them in order to get their full attention. Hey, I've been homeless before. I know what it's like to look up to the heavens and yell “OK, God...you have my full attention!” Every time I have been financially lean in my life it was because I FIRST became spiritually lean.

Love the story of Gideon? Here is how that amazing saga begins:

“Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains. So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it. So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.

And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the LORD because of the Midianites, that the LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. Also I said to you, “I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not obeyed My voice.’” Judges 6:1-10.

I love it how the New King James uses the word “sustenance” for their vanished stuff. That Hebrew word is also translated in other places to mean “life”, “food”, “revival”, etc.; all the things we need most now in this nation.

So before we cling to “hope and change” from media crackpots and phoneys; maybe we need to see if there is any sin and/or rebellion in our life. This story ends in an amazing way: Gideon delivers and restores God's people. Until another Gideon comes, this is an excellent time for us to take inventory of our lives. David asked God to do something that is a very scary request for most Christians:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 (New Living Translation)

The good news over and over in the Bible is the fact that when God's people repented, they were restored to times of peace and prosperity. First comes the fellowship. Then comes the bank account. See how it works. If more people really understood that principal, the prosperity vultures who sell your deliverance for a $29 DVD would suddenly find themselves in the same boat. And God is no respecter of persons.

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (New Living Translation)

It's our move! Move the King of Kings back into your life if you find him off the board these days. And if He is alive and well in your game, march forth and go take the enemy.

Three Out Of Four Ain't Bad. Or Is It?

2011-01-10T13:51:00.006-06:00

If there has ever been a time in my life where I need my “land healed” it is now. I don’t want to take up this entire post relating to you all the challenges in my life. Because you might utter some sort of expletive under your breath that starts with the word “holy”. And this blog is not about problems, it is about solutions. So I want to go straight to the source of the solution. And I spent most of the morning thinking about this one scripture:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (New King James Version)

Everyone who has been a Christian for any length of time knows this passage. It gets serious airplay on Christian radio teaching and preaching programs. And it definitely has been read at the start of every church fast I have ever had the privilege of being a part of. So why doesn’t it work at times? Why do we continue to be called to a fast, sing with raised hands, give beyond our ability, serve in mundane ways, and talk about God one to another; and yet there are parts of our “land” that never seem to be healed with any lasting, true healing. Once the emotion of Christian synergy wears off, we seem to be left standing in a field of defects and character flaws that glare in Gods face like a tailgating driver with his bright lights on?

I wonder if it is because this recipe for God’s healing doesn’t work without all of the parts being added to the mixing bowl. Have you ever made a cake without the egg? Ever eaten bread without the yeast? Chemical reactions most assuredly take all the right parts in all the right amounts to produce the desired effect. So I whipped out my Strong’s Concordance this morning to look at all four parts of this text in the original Hebrew language.

Part 1: Humble yourself. It pretty much means what you think it means: “to be humble, be humbled, be subdued, be brought down, be low, be under, be brought into subjection”. It also means to bend the knee. This word is translated “subdued” many times throughout the Old Testament when talking about an enemy being conquered. David subdued the Philistines in 2Samuel 8:1. I have done this at many different times in my life; mostly because God has done the humbling…and not me. But still there were several times of strong crying out to God. So I think I understand this part. Interestingly enough: this humbling will eventually take place for all people as every knee bows and every tongue confesses to Jesus.

Part 2: Pray. Yep, this is the easy one. Because the Hebrew word used here (palal) means “to intervene, interpose, pray”. Is there anything else that really needs to be said about prayer except “Just Do It”? In my life I have prayed lots. So when my land is unhealed, it must be either one of two things.

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3 (New King James Version)

Nope, that’s not it. Because all the times I have earnestly prayed for freedom in any area, it was not for my own pleasure, but for the pleasure of being a more pleasing creation to God. Just the converse is true: I don’t really pray for myself at all. I spend almost all of my prayer time in intercession for others. That is because of my dysfunctional belief that I am not worthy to receive anything good. When I’m sick I’ll pray for myself, but seldom at any other time. But that is another blog post also. So that is not a missing ingredient…at least not to me. So pray without ceasing.

I’m going to skip to Part 4: Turn from your wicked ways. That’s easy: “To turn back from or return to; to go or come back to”. It seems like the entire New Testament starting with John the Baptist and ending in Revelation with an angel flying through heaven has the same message of repentance. This one I truly get. I simply need to stop doing the sinful things that will keep me separated from God. And start doing the things that will bolster a relationship with him. I doubt there is anyone who reads this that doesn’t immediately have something come to mind that they either need to either stop or start doing. When we sin, we know it. And that doesn’t necessarily mean that we are out there “whoring it up” like the prodigal son with a bag of daddy’s money.

“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” James 4:17 (New Living Translation)

There are sins of omission and sins of commission. At least that’s what all the mega-preachers say. I think Part 3 is my missing ingredient.

Part 3: Seek My Face. Here’s what the Hebrew word “bagash” means: to seek, require, desire, exact, request. First of all, I’m not sure what the face of God is. I thought that no man could look upon the face of God and live. So when I asked my wife how that works, she didn’t hesitate to try to explain it to me. I just didn’t get it. She does. When I seek my lost car keys, I start an extensive search for a goal that I can easily picture in my mind. I go through my pockets and tear up the sofa cushions looking for them. And when I have found them, I can hold them in my hand. How will I know if I have found “God’s face”? What will that look like? I have heard His voice at times. I have even experienced miraculous touches from Him. But His face???? I haven’t a clue.

So here I sit typing this blog with a flat cake. It still tastes pretty good because three of the four ingredients are very sweet. I’m hoping that this week God comes down with the frosting. And I hope I get to lick the beater.

The Messenger of Sweat

2011-01-07T20:57:00.004-06:00

The stretching mat at LA Fitness Gym is an interesting place to learn spiritual lessons. Before you discount that idea, think about something. As you stretch your hamstrings, you can look around at all the members of the club. And at the club I work out in, there is a wide range of potential physical champions ranging from young kids to geriatric plate bangers who have the spirit of the grim reaper himself hovering over them; as if to “spot them” while they push up that one last rep on the bench press.

So today was a cornucopia of delight where my people watching passions are concerned. It was what the military calls a “target rich environment”. There was a young man who is approximately one third my age; which incidentally put the exact same weight on his bench press bar that I do. Nothing deflates the fragile male ego faster than watching Mr. Punyverse effortlessly bang out more reps with the same weight as you do. There were the usual suspects of mirror watching, roided self obsessed Guidos. There was even a Barry White look alike who was wearing lots of bling to the gym. I noticed him because he shouted out something indicating that either he had turrets syndrome, or had dropped a dumbbell on his left testicle. It became apparent after careful observation that he was simply rapping along to the Ipod playing somebody obnoxious like Cee Low at 100 decibels into tiny Walmart ear buds. There was a “twenty something” normal looking girl on the leg abduction machine who constantly scanned the club with a shame based countenance, convinced that every man there was checking her out with a lustfully perverse fascination. I really don’t think anybody was even aware of her existence, other than me.

But the reason I mention this is because of two older men who owned the crunch machine for a while. Taking turns and exerting as little energy as possible, they made sure that nobody else had access to it. Possession is 9/10ths of the law they say. I was on the mat no more than 10 feet from them. And wasn’t even stealthy in my desire to eavesdrop. They rambled on about Ronald Reagan destroying this country, and something else that sounded like the adults on the Charlie Brown cartoons. Blah, blah, blah. Then I heard the word that immediately got my attention: Jesus. It seems that one of the men had been recently laid off from his job after many years of hard work and dedicated devotion to that business. And I noticed on his face something that I own and wear frequently. It’s the “everything’s going to be alright mask”. When men get scared, they usually put up a power façade. It’s the reason that barking dogs never bite. And also the reason that the wizard of Oz was really just an old man behind the curtain. And one man wore it proudly like a football jersey on a rabid fan at the Super Bowl. The other man was doing exactly what needed to be done: quoting scripture. He was relaying his own testimony of how he had been out of work for two years and somehow God always provided for him. He said that it was miraculous how people would give him things when he needed it most. He never lacked food, money, electricity, water, or anything that would be considered a “need”. It made me think of this scripture:

“I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” Psalm 37:25 (New King James Version)

I felt the pull of my quadriceps as I listened and pondered. They were unaware that I was taking in that message as if it were specifically given for me. It’s funny how God works that way. They moved on to the lat pull down machine, and I relocated to the elliptical rider. And hours later I sit here at my computer writing this to let you know that God knows exactly what you need, and when you need to hear it. You see, I have been put in a position this week where I need to trust God. And the first thing I did was to run put on my man mask. But deep down inside I needed to hear what the man said to his friend. He confirmed what my amazing wife had been saying from day one. The man rattled off scripture after scripture like an anointed Gatling gun. And you know how the word of God is, it doesn’t return void. It accomplishes everything that God wants it to accomplish.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (King James Version)

So I challenge you to not be a wimp where your knowledge of the Bible is concerned. And to speak it when you feel the tiny tug of prompting. You never know who might be listening in. And maybe some day you will come to an understanding of this great cloud of witnesses you are surrounded by, what you said, seeds you sowed, and fruit that was born because you had the courage to sharpen iron with your innate iron.

“The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry. And a wise friend's timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.” Proverbs 25:11 (The Message)

2011: The Year I Take a "P"

2010-12-31T12:53:00.005-06:00

Well it’s the last day of the year 2010. And this is the day when traditionally I sit down and write out all my 2011 goals. I set my resolve to accomplish them. I break them all down into small, achievable segments. I post them somewhere visible where I can always keep them in front of me. And I tell someone my goals so that I can be held accountable by another person; who now partners with me in the accomplishment of each and every one of them. Hey, that’s the plan on planning, right? At least that is what I have heard from every mentor on goal setting. But today was different.

I woke up this morning in a sort of a funk. Maybe it was because I had another birthday yesterday and I really felt “older” this time. Maybe it is because other than a relocation at the end of January, I really don’t have any earth shattering goals to write down and stick on the mirror. Make more money…yawn. Lose weight…been there, done that. Spend more time with God…yep…every year that one gets written down. But a scripture kept coming to me in my quiet time this morning that I can seem to shake.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.” Luke 14:28-32 (New King James Version)

It’s as if God was letting me know that planning is a major part of goal setting. In that passage, Jesus was saying “who doesn’t plan?” And the answer is: a loser! Having a plan goes way beyond having a goal. A goal is the end result. A plan is how to get there. And I got that in my quiet time this morning.

So the real revelation came as I took the dogs for a walk to the lake. And two scriptures that should be very familiar to everyone came to my mind:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

and

“Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.” Psalm 127:1

I guess having a goal is good. And having a plan is even better. But unless I understand my purpose, than all of that stuff just won’t work. So I guess my challenge to every one that reads this is to find out what your purpose is. Because until you do that, you will just have another January 1st exercise in dreaming. And I think I’ll end with another over-preached scripture to ponder:

“If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves. But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.” Proverbs 29:18 (The Message)

Part 1 of 3: The House on Village Court

2010-12-27T11:19:00.006-06:00

I found out recently that the home I grew up in is being demolished because it had become a crack house. Apparently the walls had been torn up and much of the sheet rock had been bashed in by people who either planned to, or actually did put in a meth lab. I heard this news recently and didn’t really think about it much. But somehow at the time it didn’t surprise me.

Remember the part in the movie Forrest Gump where he and Jenny walk by her childhood home, and she runs up and starts throwing rocks at it? The home is abandoned and dilapidated. But somehow she still has a connection with the property that Forrest doesn’t really understand. I remember taking my wife into my old neighborhood a few months ago. I think she was surprised at how poor we must have been as kids. Because my old neighborhood is now the barrio. I guess that is what they call Mexican ghettos these days. I left there to go to college in 1977 and every time I went back after that the condition of that street just seemed to get worse and worse. I used to chalk it up to the fact that nobody there really gave a crap about where they lived. But now I have a different hypothesis.

There are places mentioned in the Bible that were strongholds of evil. Take Nineveh for instance. Zephaniah and Nahum both prophesied the utter and complete destruction of Nineveh. But look at what happened when Jonah arrived on the scene. Here is what Jesus had to say about an Assyrian capital that was a serious center of evil:

“The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.” Matthew 12:41

Was there ever anything good spoken about Egypt in the Bible? I love studying that culture. But except for Akhenaten who came to believe that there was another God other than Ra, that place has always been considered yet another stronghold of evil. God pretty well pounded them at the Exodus. And what is even more interesting to understand is that Pharaoh was willing to let them go. But God changed his heart so that He could show the Jews how much He loved them by pillaging and then destroying much of Egypt.

And let’s not even talk about Babylon. After having been in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin last summer, I could write for days. Even with Daniel there, Nebuchadnezzar still ate grass like a horse. How about Aleister Crowley’s Thelema Abby? The Italian government still keeps its true location hidden so that occultists won’t come and receive dark power there. My wife and I prayed at Hitler’s bunker this year. But I digress. Let’s get back to Village Court Drive.

Due to my highly dysfunctional childhood, there were a lot of really bad things that opened spiritual doors and sowed satanic seeds in that house. That house saw drugs being taken and pot being grown, incest, porn, atheism, bestiality, pedophilia, anger, hate, rebellion, witchcraft, occult, and Satanism, teen pregnancy, Catholicism, alcoholism, spirit manifestations, and lots of secrecy. LOTS of secrecy. So after my dad died and the house was sold, the new residents had lots to deal with if they desired to turn that property into one that served and honored God.

“Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.” Proverbs 26:2

Did the people who moved in there deserve all the curses that came with the property? Probably not. But then again, do children that are born into evil families deserve that fate? Did Job’s children deserve to be destroyed? Did all the firstborn of Egypt deserve to die? I guess the point of this rambling blog post is that maybe it really doesn’t matter the cards that we were dealt in this life, or the curses that were set against us undeservedly. Maybe the point of all of this is what we do with the houses we bought. My childhood house could have been a cute, happy, Godly, peaceful home. But when crack heads are your tenants, and meth is your god; then destruction surely comes. And when the whole neighborhood is of one mind, then so goes the street.

I hate what I did in that house. Many of those things still haunt me over 40 years later. But I wasn’t saved when I lived there. Now I am. Yet I still want to either drink or cry when I relive many of the things pertaining to that house. And since Jesus told us that what was done in secret will be shouted from the rooftops at the Judgment, it will probably be pretty ugly. There is nothing I can do about that now. And Paul nailed it best:

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

I guess the plans for 5126 Village Court Drive is to demolish the house down to the foundation, and start again. And isn’t that ironic?

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (New Living Translation)

Let the demolition begin!

Bear Hugging God

2010-12-23T10:50:00.004-06:00

There are many different kinds of hugs in this world. There’s the hug where you and somebody creepy press upper bodies together, yet bend at the waist so that everything south of the equator is as far apart as can be. There is the man hug where you pat each other on the back. There is the sideways hug where you hug a female, but you are both facing in the same direction in case you accidentally (or on purpose) touch a boob. There are the European pseudo-hugs where it looks like a hug actually happens, but upon further examination there is space between the both of you; just like in pro wrestling. And then there is the thankful power hug.

Everybody knows the story of the man in Acts 3 who was crippled from birth and sat begging daily at the beautiful gate of the temple.

“Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.” Acts 3 New Living Translation

I want to point out something in this story that I have never heard another Bible teacher point out: the hug! Yes the guy was healed. Yes he went praising and leaping. But then came the hug. And it wasn’t one of those “thumbs up” thank yous like in the Mentos commercials. It was a power hug. Look at some of the other translations of verse 11:

“While he was clinging to Peter and John…”

“And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John…”

“While the man kept holding on to Peter and John…”

It makes me wonder about my thankfulness. Do I even say thank you when somebody does something great for me? Is my thankfulness shallow? When God does a miracle in my life, do I drop to me knees and “cling to him” prayerfully. There is much said throughout the entire Bible about thankfulness; or man’s lack of it. Like the ten lepers who were healed in Luke 17:

“One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?”

So here’s my deal: 2011 will be the year I cling to God. I will thankfully bear hug him until He has to pry me off with a crow bar. There! I out it down. Now the ball is in my court. What about you?

Oh Brothers Where Art Thou?

2010-12-16T21:50:00.017-06:00

There were a lot of things I didn’t learn being raised in the Catholic Church. I don’t mean it to be a slap on that denomination; simply a fact. One of them was that Jesus was not an only child. Actually, he had at least four brothers and at least two sisters.

“Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” Matthew 13:54-56

So can you imaging being raised in a household with Jesus as your big brother? Was he bossy? Did he wrestle Judas to the ground? Did he ever punch Simon in the arm in jest? Who was the best student? Somehow we have mystified Jesus so much that he doesn’t seem to be a real person. So when Jesus became filled with the Spirit at his baptism, and his ministry started at the age of 30, what happened to his brothers and sisters?

When Jesus went to a wedding in Cana, John chapter 2 tells us that Jesus, his mother, and also his disciples were there. Although it doesn’t mention his brothers or sisters, I personally believe they were probably also there. I mean, who would invite Mary, Jesus, and 12 stinky fishermen, and not the rest of the Christ family. (small joke…get it? His last name was not Christ)

The next time in scripture we see mention of his brothers is a very peculiar incident indeed. Jesus is teaching to a large crowd and they show up wanting to get to him.

“As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you.” Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” Matthew 12:46-50

There must be a reason Jesus blew them off at that time. I think they were probably worried that big brother had lost his mind and went off the deep end of the religious pool. I personally believe that they were there for a mini-intervention. If they just wanted to tell him that granny was dead, I’m sure he would have received them. But he didn’t.

Conspicuously absent from Golgotha where he was hanging on a cross beaten and bloodied were his brothers and sisters. Mary was there, to the very end. But where was his family shouting to Pilate? Where were the brothers trying to get Jesus freed from the temple guards? There is no mention of them at any time during the Passover week of Jesus. Again I believe that they probably had families of their own to worry about and not crazy Uncle Jesus. Living like a good Jew would have meant marrying, having kids, attending Hebrew school, and making a kosher home.

So where do we finally see them together again? Anyone? Buellar? The funniest mind picture in the Bible might be all those on the ground looking up as Jesus ascended into heaven. Were their mouths agape and did they squint staring at the clouds? Maybe that is why God sent down a couple of angels to tell them to leave. But who was with them when they went home?

“Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James).They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them.” Acts 1: 12-15

Who’s crazy now? Huh? They saw their brother come back from the dead. And then saw him ascend to heaven. No wonder they were all together united in prayer. So of the four brothers, which two became strong Christians? Anyone? Buellar?

The book of James has to be one of the best books in the entire Bible. And James is the brother of Jesus. He was a strong pillar in the church in Jerusalem. The book of Jude is the same brother named Judas in the above text. It also is an amazing book. Simon and Joseph, Jr. have nothing written about them. Not in the Bible. Not even in the writings of Josephus. I’d like to think that they did amazing things. But who really knows?

So know this: if your family thinks you are crazy, you are in good company. If your family seems to abandon you or come against you because of your belief system, your king knows exactly how you feel. Keep this in mind as you wander through this holiday season.

Meth Labs, Bad Choices, and 2010

2010-12-12T17:46:00.004-06:00

My friend Tim did an interesting thing this week. He told me to watch a television series that had never crossed my mind; especially since it is being rebroadcast in it’s entirety on AMC. The series is titled “Breaking Bad”. Here’s the premise of the series: a 50 year old high school chemistry teacher finds out that he has terminal lung cancer and will only live a couple more years. His life drastically changes when he decides to use his knowledge of chemistry to enter the world of meth labs. I’ve only seen two episodes so far, but I love it. This is not family friendly television. One of the drug dealers can’t believe that a middle aged man from suburbia is manufacturing methamphetamine. When he asks the main character played by Bryan Cranston why he is doing it, he answers with an amazing line: “I woke up”. Pretty amazing answer, right? This is an underlying theme that seems to run through many of today’s current media stories. Remember the movie “The Bucket List”? Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman think they are dying. So what do they do? They try to accomplish the things they have always had on their list of things to do before they die.

If you think about it, there are lots of movies where the plot is that someone who thinks they have only a short time left to live throw caution to the wind and vanquish a foe or do something absolutely amazing. What is it about death that seems to be such an efficient motivator? Does finality beat procrastination like rock beats scissors? Why do football teams always seem to find a second wind during the last two minutes of the game? Didn’t they try hard enough during the other 58 minutes? I think I’m starting to “get it”. In a couple of weeks I’ll turn 52. And yes, it means that I really don’t have much time left on this earth. I have been in a funk this weekend because it occurs to me that I have wasted pretty much the majority of my life in endeavors that really aren’t significant. My wife will beg to differ with me. Being the quintessential optimist, she always looks at the brighter side of things. God how I love that about her! But she is biased by unconditional love. Sort of like the mom on Jerry Springer who defends her hideous child by saying things like “he’s such a good boy” etc. I’m sure Hitler’s mom spoke highly of him. But I digress.

Jesus's brother James said it best when he asked the question: “For what is your life? It is even a vapor, which appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.” 2010 flew by like a vapor. Last January it seemed like I had all the time in the world. But now I wonder how it could have passed so stealthily. And in retrospect, I didn’t do very well. In fact, the entire last decade has been a showcase for decisions and burgeoning endeavors that seemed good at the time. But history shows them to be miserable failures. And so as I write this, I hear the faint “tick tock” of my life’s story serenading me as an ambient noise. Like a person who lives by the sea shore yet doesn’t seem to notice the crashing of the waves, I really don’t detect it anymore. But whether the sands of time are perceived or not, they still flow undauntedly through the hour glass. And what is stored below far outweighs what lies in wait to squeeze through the tiny gauntlet.

I need a plan for 2011. And here it is:

I hope the words of this song will stick with the kids who sing it. And some day as they look to an approaching year, with the scales of their past accomplishments tilting towards the negative, they will take the lyrics to heart and formulate a game plan for the time they have left.

Obama's Health Care Plan and You!

2010-03-26T09:54:00.007-05:00

So Obama’s health care package has officially passed and there has been nothing but a tumult from those who call themselves “conservative Christians”. Seriously people! How about just shutting up and actually believing the Bible? There are so many people who do so many things that are unscriptural, all the while calling themselves Christians. It is no wonder many people don’t want what we have to offer.

“I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi

So here’s what the Bible says about Barak Obama:

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Romans 13:1 (NIV)

Is it possible that Barak Obama was elected President of the United States by mandate from the Almighty? Is God sovereign? Are things under control where God is concerned? If that is true, maybe we Christians need to quit screaming with the Tea party, put down the signs, and go home and pray. The best thing we can do for Obama is to pray for his salvation and devotion to the will and ways of God. Instead of throwing stones at the prez, maybe we should tithe instead.

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” Titus 3:1-2 (NIV)

The Forsaken Blog!

2009-10-30T22:13:00.005-05:00

I noticed today that I haven't posted on this blog for almost four months. While toggling between my ludicrous Facebook addiction and my inane Tumblr page, this little gem has been completely forsaken. But fear not. I shall start putting my spiritual musings back up here next week.

Sailing Away From My Latest Addiction

2009-06-25T16:01:00.007-05:00

There is a reason that this blog has become fallow lately. I left for a while to pursue the latest worldwide addiction: Facebook. I guess the fog lifted today after I got into a heated debate with a Christian friend of mine about something I posted on Facebook. And I really wish I hadn’t done that (both posted and defended my post). Sometimes the words on a page do not do a very good job of translating to the exact sentiment bouncing around in my head.

So what is it about Facebook anyway that makes it so much of an international cultural phenomenon? I guess it is a manifestation of our deep seated need to connect with others. But isn't that the real beauty of this particular deception? Do we REALLY connect by Internet anyway? I know there are emotional affairs and sexual fantasy trysts that take place behind a computer screen. But does any of this really take the place of sipping lattes at Starbucks taking turns exchanging thoughts or laughing around a full dinner table passing canned vegetables and dry meat loaf? Not really. It is the insecure coward’s way of connecting without the risk of true intimacy or painful refection. And I am such a man. I need to back away and stop the obsession of "who updated their status within the last four hours". My wife says that I can’t delete any friends. I have to stay friends with them on Facebook forever. So instead of bucking social networking protocol, I’ll just quietly slip out the back door and get back to this abandoned house.

God has been showing me lots of cool stuff in the Bible anyway; and I need to get back to putting it down here. I’ll start tomorrow by talking about whom Bathsheba’s grandfather was, and why that affair had ramifications far beyond what the casual Bible reader thinks about it. I’m in Exodus and it’s rocking my world. Then I need to talk about adultery, shooting people that deserve it, stealing from employers, Christian Gnostics, and all the stuff lately that has been draining my tank on a daily basis.

And then there is my pride and joy…my little girl...whom I have to hand off to another man soon; and the deep sadness that I have been pushing down every time I think about that. God, how I love her! I'm not sure what that is all about. So I really have no clue about how to handle what is springing up from the depths of my soul. I feel like such a failure as a father. She says otherwise. And this would be a great time for the truth to be known and have it set me free. Actually I need to be set free from lots of confines and restraints. But that is for another blog post. Time to pull some weeds and trim the hedges.

It's Just Love And Miracles Out Of Nowhere

2009-02-17T16:49:00.003-06:00

I had an interesting memory hit me today. I wondered when it was that love started breaking through into my life. Here’s why I started thinking about it. I was sitting in Denny’s last Saturday morning with a men’s group from my church. There was a lady who was a third generation Curandera who would come every time we met just to talk about how she was a “soul collector”. You know the old saying from 12 steps: if you got it, you can spot it. I spotted her a mile off. She would sit and tell us how much she appreciated the “gift” that her mother gave her, sent down from her grandmother: the ability to distribute spirits to others. I won’t bore you with the details of our numerous conversations.

I asked her if she was finally ready to renounce Santeria and give her life to Jesus. She was. But before she prayed with me, she would go back to her booth, hang her head, and cry. I knew then that love was breaking through. I led her to the Lord that day in a Denny’s restaurant on Central Expressway in Dallas.

I started thinking about when His love began breaking through in my life. Long before I was saved, I used to ride around in a car selling cemetery property with my father-in-law, who was a Messianic Jew. He played cassettes from a group named Lamb that was filed with some extremely anointed music. I hated it, but I loved it all at the same time. That music started seeping through the cracks in the wall around my very hard heart. But those cracks actually had gotten there years before.

I loved the Moog synthesizer in the 70’s. Bands like Emerson, Lake, and Palmer had my ear. And when Kansas came out with “Leftoverture”, that was the first punch against my wall. This band was a rock band with less than subliminal Christian overtones. And though my ears wanted loud synth at ear splitting levels, my soul wanted truth, hope, and love. And it got it from this album; and especially this song. Here it is. Imagine owning this on both vinyl and Eight Track tape.

So I thought I’d post simply to chronicle what happened in my blue jean bell bottomed tie dyed life back in the 70s. I wasn’t saved until after I slid deep into a sin dysfunction that guaranteed only God Himself could pull me out. And that was on March 7, 1981. That night the harvest came in. But the seeds were sown years before. That is another story for another blog post. Thanks Kansas and Lamb!

Hearing the words: "Well Done!" some day soon

2008-12-16T14:04:00.013-06:00

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 (NIV)

Watch this short film clip!

Well, we all know that some day we have to stand in front of our Lord and give an account of what we did with this life. And I gather that some people will literally hear the words “well done good and faithful servant”. But I wonder if any part of that will be left out when my turn comes around. Did I do anything "well" and complete? Was I really "good", or "faithful"? Can I sincerely be called a "servant", or was I self obsessed and selfish? I know as an athlete, there were times when I finished a sport completely spent, knowing full well that I gave it my all. But what about my spiritual life? How hard did I train? How much did I give? What does my scoreboard reflect?

But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.” Ecclesiastes 9:4 (NKJV)

I’m still in the game!

Gay people, seriously, just shut up!

2008-12-08T17:13:00.006-06:00

So the people have voted, and a majority in California has chosen to ban gay marriage. I thought that was what the election process was all about. People have the power to vote; and then what the majority wants they get. Isn’t that what democracy is all about? Apparently not.

Here is the now famous video called Prop 8: the musical. Yep, there are some seriously funny people in this like Jack Black and John C. Reilly. But look at the amazing spin that is being put on social issues that have political ramifications these days. I hope you know enough of the Bible to see the absolute lies in this video. If you don’t, why not?

I don’t believe anybody in California is saying that gay people can’t continue to have civil unions. But I don’t even see where anyone has the guts to stand up and call the gay lifestyle what it is: wrong. The mastery of this propaganda is saying that someone who disagrees with your viewpoint is hate-mongering. I don’t see any hate in democracy. Actually, it looks like it is the other way around. Remember the old lady who gets the cross torn out of her hand and gets it stomped on? Or how about this:

Imagine if I went into a gay church and disrupted their service by handing out flyers about being straight. I’d be called a bigot and hate monger. There is definitely a double standard where political correctness is concerned in America. If I vote to pass a law mandating all illegal immigrants become naturalized citizens, I’d be accused of hating Hispanics. But when Jesse Jackson calls New York City “hymietown” or says that he wants to cut off Barack Obama’s balls, I guess that is OK. Greenpeace can torch Hummers to save “mother earth”. And PETA can throw blood on a celebrity in a fur coat yelling “fur is murder”. That is, of course…love. But when a Christian defends their belief system, they are considered hate mongers.

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

The beauty of these times we live in is that we are forced to take a stand. You know the old saying: “If a man doesn’t stand for something, he’ll fall for anything”. As the falling away begins, we must decide what we believe, why we believe it, and then become impervious to scurrilous attacks. Whiney gays, victimized blacks, and angry liberals love to accuse you and call you names like “hate monger”. But remember what Jesus said:

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” John 15:18

I Need A Mountain Fix!

2008-11-25T14:51:00.009-06:00

It takes a lot of guts for a man to speak the truth in love to another man. And a friend verbally smacked me down last night. I needed it. This blog has been taking a direction that is becoming less and less inspirational, and more and more negative. And that is because I have been feeling more and more tired, uninspired, and generally negative. That is a pretty strange phenomenon for being only a few days away from my wedding, huh?

I need a fix. And I’ll get it next week. People have various ways to “fill their tank” and “sharpen the saw”. My drug of choice: the mountains. And next week I’ll be in the beautiful Cascades in the Pacific Northwest at a private secluded cottage.

Ironically, God feels the same way. Mountains have played a prominent role throughout the Bible. The ark of Noah came to rest on a mountain. Lot and his daughters went to live in the mountains. Moses went up on a mountain to spend quality time with God. David went for protection from a raging Saul to the mountains. Elijah heard the still small voice on a mountain. There are famous mountains like Horeb, Sinai, and Zion sprinkled through the Old Testament. Jesus went up on a mountain to pray many times. And when Satan wanted to tempt him, where did he take him? To a high mountain. When John saw the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, where was he? Yep! You got it.

One of the Seven Angels who had carried the bowls filled with the seven final disasters spoke to me: "Come here. I'll show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb." He took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, resplendent in the bright glory of God. Revelation 21:9-12 (The Message)

So I’ll post when I get back. And hopefully my words will reveal a new power, contentment, rest, and peace that I will find in the presence of my new bride and on the top of a mountain. The mountains are my drug, my fix, my refreshment.

And thank you J-Dawg for your brutally honest words! The wounds of a friend are better than the kisses of an enemy. I appreciate it. I am not going to delete the post we discussed because it was honest, raw, and the way I felt at the time. Will it come back to bite me? Probably! But I can never be accused of not being honest and speaking my mind.

So blog reader, what about you? Do you need a fix? Or are you running on all eight cylinders and doing just fine? Can friends sense a loss of joy and power in your life? If so, I suggest you get back to where you were when you were at your best. And of course, I'll always recommend a trip to a mountain.

Turn The Page!

2008-11-20T16:51:00.007-06:00

Denial is like poison. I hate it. The worst part of denial is that searing pain you feel when you realize that you have been in it for some time. And denial is like a turd in the punchbowl at the prom. This should be the happiest time in my life. And yet I feel like I have been poked with a sharp stick as I sobered up today and had to face reality.

OK, so I am divorced and have been for almost nine years. During that whole time I was in denial about my children. I thought they were doing fine. I thought they saw at least one small positive about the whole ordeal. They are very much like me in one aspect: they can BS with the skill of an academy award winning actor. I guess they inherited that from me. I spent most of my life never being completely honest with anyone, much less myself.

So I am getting married in less than two weeks. I tried to make myself believe that this new blended family would work. That way I could feel happy about the collaboration of some very wounded and dysfunctional people.

Granted, I can deal with the fact that my soon to be stepson hates my guts. And I can even deal with the fact that my soon to be stepdaughter is being ruined by my soon to be wife. My lady love has yet to learn how to be a parent first and a friend second. And that type of relationship is scarring her daughter for life. But that is another story.

Today I had to come to terms today with the fact that my own children are shunning me. Maybe I am a bad father. Maybe they just don’t know how to process the fact that their dad is getting remarried. Maybe they have never really been able to communicate with me. If that is the case, the problem lies with me. I am the man, like Nathan the prophet said to King David.

I love my son more than any man on this planet. He is in another state doing an extremely amazing thing today. And I had to hear about it second hand through my daughter. I called him last night but he never returned the call. My daughter reached him successfully. Thank God for caller ID. That way we can let anyone we don’t particularly like go straight to voice mail. I asked him to be my best man at the wedding. He has yet to even call me to discuss the wedding. I hope he makes it. Because I’ll rent a best man or have my future step son (see above) be my best man. And that would be the saddest thing of all.

My daughter is my pride and joy. But she hasn’t been happy in a very long time. I had lunch with her today and I actually cried as I drove back to work. When did I lose her? Where did my little girl go? Did I ever have her, or am I completely full of crap? She shows so much tension towards my soon to be wife that I guess we will just see each other twice a year, Christmas and her birthday. I am between a rock and a hard place. I was told once that women try to pick someone who is just like her father. Will she end up with someone with whom she can have a true, honest, intimate relationship? Because if she picks someone like me, she will be screwed.

A new chapter in my life will begin soon. As I look back, I see a house that has been left in ruin and once connected inhabitants who have gone various ways in the winds of this world. And it hurts to see an empire in dilapidation. And now I take to myself new members and begin again. I feel old and tired. My wife will need strong leadership and a committed superhero husband. But I feel like she will get a false smile and rehearsed lines in order to keep a happy household. I love her, a lot! And if loving her means that I lose my children, then I briefly frown at God and yet still trust Him that He has this whole thing carefully thought out. I rely on God to take care of my children. I miss them so much, even though they are always within earshot. And I feel like I am watching them slip though my fingers. But the truth of the matter is that they haven't been in my palms in a very long time. I have been in denial. And I hate that realization.

Let the wedding come and let the new chapter in this already amazing life begin!

What is it about a gun?

2008-11-18T13:14:00.005-06:00

What is it about a gun? My friend Beth was in the Ukraine and she visited the Kalashnikov plant where they manufacture the amazing AK47. She talked about firing it in fully automatic mode and she beamed like a lighthouse as she relived the experience. She can’t weigh 100 pounds soaking wet. Yet she felt really powerful. Her words: “It was so cool”.

Power is a funny thing. We all want it; lots of it. Jesus promised we would receive it after the Holy Ghost came in Acts 2. He said that all power was given to him. And he also said we would do the same things that he did here. So where is the disconnect?

Most of the Christians I know are fighting a real battle. They have to fight for their kids against the indoctrination of garbage like MTV. They have to battle their lustful thoughts every time they walk through a shopping mall and see women dressed like little whores. They have the daily battle against doubt, discouragement, the culture of a damned world, and propensity to do our own thing because the influence of rebellion and unrest is wafting through the air. Women have to battle for the affections of their husbands. Students have to find their place on the campus against the wall of peer pressure.

In the twelve step program, people recite over and over how powerless they are. But are they really? And isn’t it power that will eventually ease the war.

It’s time to arm up! It’s time to kick the enemy in the gonads. It might seem a little hypocritical because I have posted things in the past that were more of a faith statement than a report of current events. But I’m starting to get my power back. And it feels good. Maybe it’s my impending marriage. Maybe it’s God’s merciful intervention. But then again, maybe I’m just sick and tired of letting the bully come in, throw me down, and take my lunch money.

Planes are hitting my head!

2008-09-19T15:11:00.009-05:00

Want to know what my problem has been lately? I don’t cast down imaginations. I hate them. But sometimes I listen to them, and let them set up camp in the fertile field of my mind. And the enemy knows that.

“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (New Living Translation)

In my life, every time I have periods of victory, it is because I have made the conscious effort to take captive my thoughts. Every time I get weak, pusillanimous, and become an eager partaker of sin, it is because I don’t cast down the tasty imaginations that seem to hit my brain at the most opportune moments. And that is what effective warfare is all about, isn’t it? Strike them when they are not ready where they least expect it. My head is a great battleground.

Look at the verbiage in that scripture: “knock down”, “destroy”, and “capture”. These are not wimpy verbs. And they do not describe something that can be done halfway. It’s time to kick some ass in the enemy’s camp!

I haven’t been very thankful lately!

I haven’t manned up and spoken to the enemy lately! And that is why things are not as they could be.

I have taken my eye off the finish line and somehow became diluted with the things of this world. Unfortunately, all the stuff I long for are about to be burned up.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10 (New King James Version)

So, what will I do? I guess the first aspect of change is to confess it. And so I lay myself bare on the Internet. It’s time to get back on track. And so I will! Because the stakes are too high!

“Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lamp stand from its place among the churches.” Revelation 2:5 (New Living Translation)

Everything Changed at Mr M

2008-07-29T20:44:00.011-05:00

I don’t remember exactly what grade I was in. I think it was the fourth grade. Maybe it was the fifth. I am not sure. But I remember being very afraid of the neighborhood bully Pat Reed. I don’t know why. He had never hit me. But I tried to avoid him whenever I rode my bike to “Mr. M” the convenience store a few blocks away. There was just something about him, an influence that radiated from him that made me fear him. So the day he told me he was going to fight me, everything changed. And I knew there was no way out.

“…but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.” 1 John 4:18 (King James Version)

I went home and told my mom that I was scheduled to fight Pat Reed at the Mr M after school. God how I miss my mother! She asked me how I felt about it, and I told her I was afraid. I had never been in a fight before, especially with the caliber of warrior like Pat Reed. She told me that she was going to teach me how to fight. And she did. We went into the back yard and she instructed me that I needed to keep my hands up. She talked about punching in the nose, and fighting fair. But mostly she told me to fight to win. I took an exam cram because the time of testing was at hand. As the hour approached, she took out some of my old Catholic School uniform khakis that I hadn’t worn since I started attending public school because she knew there might be a fray involved and she didn’t want me to tear my “good clothes”. I had to leave and I told her to stay at home. This was something I had to do by myself. I hopped on my bicycle and headed up the street. I wanted to turn around, but I DIDN’T.

“The children of Ephraim were armed and carrying bows, yet they turned back in the day of battle.” Psalm 78:9 (Amplified Bible)

The appointed time came. I was standing in the field adjacent to the store ready to get my ass thoroughly kicked. Pat Reed was late. I stood there with my friends anxious with anticipation. Time flew. Still no Pat. The sun started to set. My enemy, the object of my paralyzing fear was a no-show. In my mind he was going to make quick work of me and walk away in triumph with my bloody liver stuck to the top of a very sharp stick. It never occurred to me that the reason he never showed was because of my courage. It seems that as long as everyone feared Pat Reed, he had no need to show whether he was as tough as we all imagined or not. I never realized that my one single act of courage: simply agreeing to fight, would throw his world into a tizzy. And he would be exposed as a fraud. I can’t begin to tell you how freeing that day was. It was as if I walked out of a cave that imprisoned me my whole life into the light of confidence in myself.

Months later my friends and I were riding our bikes to the fireworks stand to buy some bottle rockets. We had made launchers to shoot Roman candles and bottle rockets at about everything we could. There on the side of the road coming towards me was Pat Reed. As his bike approached, I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel fear. He stopped and looked at me, and demanded my brown paper sack full of fireworks. I dismounted my bike and said in defiance: “No”! Then I did something that changed the course of my life forever. I walked over to him and pushed him down. He got up, but he didn’t swing at me. He looked stunned and picked up his bike. He quickly got on and rode away as fast as he could. I couldn’t believe it. The object of my terror, the bane of my school existence, the nonvanquishable foe was nothing but a little boy with a need for some serious counseling. I was determined to never be held hostage to that kind of fear ever again!

So why do I write this story? Because I read my daughter’s blog tonight and it made me sad. I wonder if my mother felt sad when she thought about how much I was afraid of Pat Reed. And I also wonder why I never took my daughter in the backyard and taught her how to fight when she was young. I now wish I would have told her how to punch financial fears right in the nose. I lament not having taken out the khaki garments of faith and told her to “bitch slap” the enemy when he whispers in her ear how God will not provide for her. I regret not showing her how to hold her fist of assurance in God right in front of her face to fend off heavy blows. I wish I could hold her as fear rides her way on her road to the fireworks stand. And most of all, what I wouldn’t give to be able to watch her as she pushes the despair of her not knowing what to do right off of his rusty bicycle. She is such a warrior. But somehow I forgot to tell her that. I always tried to let her know that she is loved. But sadly, I did a very poor job of letting her know how strong she is. She has no idea that Pat Reed is actually afraid of her, and not the other way around. But if she will just ride towards Mr M in expectation, I believe that God will show her things that will change her life forever.

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2 (King James Version)

YouTube, MeTube, and UsTube

2008-06-19T09:19:00.003-05:00

Occasionally something comes to me from a coworker that really matters. In my office we swap lots of emails, and plenty of YouTube videos. Most of them are videos that were totally a waste of time to watch. Granted I chuckle when I see stupid crooks or newscaster bloopers. But mostly there are videos sent to me that I won’t even remember watching one week from now. And then came this one. And I thought it was so significant that I wanted to share it here. Give it a look.

I know I am supposed to end each blog post with something profound. But the video did that for me. All I want to remind you of is that your life has been carefully thought out, and you are exactly where you are supposed to be. God knows who you are, and where you are. He knows how you feel, and sees your secrets. There is no dirty laundry hidden from the Lord. And His hand is upon you. Be encouraged that your Maker is thinking about you and smiling.

”For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (New King James Version)

Time To Loosen My Grip

2008-06-11T15:39:00.008-05:00

Every time I spend time with my children I become a selfish brat. I know deep down in my heart the way that it works. Here is what the Bible says:

“Don't you see that children are GOD's best gift? The fruit of the womb, his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.” Psalm 127:3-5 (The Message)

So my head tells me that my children are “on loan” from God. They belong to Him. And I have been entrusted with their care and upbringing for such a brief time until I have to send them on their way. But I don’t want to. My inner untransformed brat wants them all for myself.

Two Sundays ago I spent time on the phone with my son. He is selling for Southwestern Company in Indiana, and is very busy all summer long. Yes, I realize that it is a “Cats in the Cradle” moment. But as I sat in my car listening to him talk, and swapping thoughts with him, I wanted to tighten my grip on him. I love him so much. And I don’t want him to grow up. I want him to stay the little blond boy that would curl up in my lap and sleep while I stroked his hair.

And what can I say about my daughter? She is my pride and joy, and a gift from above that I have never been worthy to receive. I spent the day with her last Sunday and can’t even begin to verbalize just how much I love her. We ate pitas and ice cream, walked around the square in Denton, and spent some serious father/daughter bonding time. What I wouldn’t give to have her five year old little hand holding mine as we walked. What price I wouldn’t pay to hear her little voice talk as her tiny feet patted the sidewalk and strived to keep up. I wanted to defiantly clutch her amazing life in my white knuckles, and yell at God that I wasn’t going to let go. “She is mine! All Mine!”

But the truth is that neither of those children has ever been mine. And the fact that our Lord allowed me to be exposed to them for as long as He did shows nothing but the generous and merciful character of God.

”Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of turning.” James 1:17 (Darby Translation)

So I thank my Maker for all the goodness He has so generously bestowed upon me. And I release my grasp so my children can be free of my selfish parental whims. I can finally derive pleasure watching them rise up to fulfill the amazing destinies that are already beginning to manifest for them in the world.

Thanks God for loaning me those two. Please keep your loving hand upon them. And give them their own children that were as much of a joy to parent as those two were to me.

Bum Nation: A Rant!

2008-05-22T11:49:00.009-05:00

So this will be my first blog post that has absolutely no scriptures in it. But I have a pet peeve to air and my fingers are flying across the keyboard. I was on YouTube listening to different versions of an amazing song called “She Moves through the Fair”. It is an incredible song that is a cross between a Celtic love story and a ghost story from The Twilight Zone. All of my favorite groups from Pentangle, to Fairport Convention, to Richard Thompson, to Sinead O’Connor, to the enchanting Lorena McKennitt have all done great versions of this song. And then I came across this video. It is a beautifully melodic version of the song put to clips of the movie “Becoming Jane”. Give it a watch.

Don't look at the hoppy dancing they were doing. Look at the event. Look at the people. And my question is: where have the days of class and style gone? I remember when flying, one would dress up and head to the airport. Now, people dress like bums when they travel. I remember getting dolled up for church because it had a sort of respect and piety about it. Now, since the church has become “seeker friendly” and doesn’t want to offend anybody for any reason, we allow the most flirtatious and relaxed attire. Yes, we say things like “God looks at the heart and not at the outward appearance”. But torn jeans and concert t shirts would never have crossed David or Solomon’s mind. And even Jesus himself, who owned nothing, wore a robe so nice that his Roman crucifiers refused to tear it in pieces. They cast lots for it. Which they would probably not have done if He sported a "Caesar Augustus World Tour XXIV" wife beater tunic and cut-off gladiator shorts.

Granted, I speak as an American. I know it is different around the world. In Russia, they might only own one nice outfit, but they will wear it with pride and dignity. They have a brilliant mix of poverty and class. Somehow we love to be the “rock and roll country” where success can come looking like a beach bum, and achievement seems to surround those who lack style and grace. I wonder if people will eat like pigs, belching and farting at the marriage supper of the lamb. I wonder if people will recline and put their feet on the coffee table in front of Jesus. I wonder if teenage girls will dress like little whores as they seek the face of skanks like Paris Hilton and not the face of their Maker. Where has the class gone?

I have to believe that it is different “out there”. I have to believe that those who are called sons of the Most High God actually present themselves like princes. And ladies have the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit; because I know that it is of a great price in the eyes of God. (1 Peter 3:3-5) (Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I had to eventually throw in a scripture)

Are the Cary Grants of the world all dead? Does class only exist on the classic movie channel? Have the Doris Days been replaced by the Britney Spears of the world? Does anyone even know what panache and flair mean? Have grace and style been replaced by gangsta bling and booty calls? Are the words "Please", "Thank You", "Yes, Sir", and "No Mam" sitting in a glass case next to the dinosaur bones in a museum? Where are the men who open a car door for a lady and offer her their seat on a subway? Where has customer service gone?

What a strange time we live in. It is curious to see how this all plays itself out. Rant over!

Just "Man Up"!

2008-05-16T13:16:00.007-05:00

I hate it when I see something in the Bible that hurts a little bit because I know it applies directly to me. But I have been studying the life of King Saul and I got roughed up spiritually a little bit by something I never noticed before.

What do you immediately think of when King Saul comes to mind? Bad king? Trying to kill your hero David? The famous “to obey is better than sacrifice” story with Samuel? His willingness to kill his own son for eating honey? It is amazing how bad he became later in his life. But I believe that many of his mistakes were based on the fact that he really didn’t know who he was. And he didn’t act like his calling. And many of us suffer from the same malady. This is what I mean. Here is what the Bible says about Saul:

“There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.” 1 Samuel 9:1-2 (New Living Translation)

But when Samuel came to tell him that he was going to be an honored guest at his table, here was Saul’s response:

“I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way. And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.” Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like thisto me?” 1 Samuel 9:19-21

So who is telling the truth? Here is a man from a wealthy family who had Brad Pitt looks and Fabio charm. Yet his answer was that he just ain’t nothing special. Was he trying to play Samuel for a fool with false humility? Or did he really see himself as nothing special? Could it have been a mistake?

“Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the LORD has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.” 1 Samuel 10:1

And to make sure that Samuel hadn’t been drunk or high, it came time for Saul’s royal coronation. Does Saul proudly step up to the plate and confirm the desires of the people?

“So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the LORD, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the LORD, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! So they asked the LORD, “Where is he?” And the LORD replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.” So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else. Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the LORD has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!” 1 Samuel 10:20-24

Can you imagine hiding among the baggage when you are supposed to be crowned as king? Why did he do that? Was he afraid? I believe that he just couldn’t buy into the fact that he was called by God to become a king and lead a nation. This paralyzing low self image than many Christians have (me included) keep them from being all that God has called them to become.

So what does the new king Saul do? Does he take up residence in a palace? Does he start attending to matters of state? Does he become defender of the kingdom? Nope! It’s time to plow. And when the enemy comes, one can either rise to their destiny, or return to their common ways.

“When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the people about their plight, everyone broke into tears. Saul had been plowing a field with his oxen, and when he returned to town, he asked, “What’s the matter? Why is everyone crying?” So they told him about the message from Jabesh. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry. He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message: “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!” And the LORD made the people afraid of Saul’s anger, and all of them came out together as one. When Saul mobilized them at Bezek, he found that there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.” 1 Samuel 11:4-8

It took a visit from the spirit of God to transform Saul into the leader, warrior, and strong king that God had called him to be. And he turned a nation of crying, cowering weenies into a mighty battle force. Read the rest of the chapter. Saul kicks some Ammonite butt!

So I end with one scripture to think about.

“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:6 NKJV

Jesus, like Samuel has called us to be kings and priests. Are we hiding in the baggage? Are we plowing in the field looking just like every other laborer on the planet? Or are we ready to drop the low self image, and buy into the image that Jesus has given to us. It’s time to back away from the ploy and draw the sword. The church needs leaders. There is some enemy butt to kick.

I Quit!

2008-04-10T13:00:00.005-05:00

Since we recently came out of the Easter season, your church probably spent a lot of time talking about the crucifixion/resurrection story. And I hope you had a chance to really meditate on some of the lesser known stories that have been told in the Gospels. Few ministers preach about Peter’s denying of Jesus three times. I guess we don’t really want to rag on Peter because we wonder what we would have done if we were put into the same sandals. I have never heard anyone preach about how John outran Peter to the tomb of Jesus. I used to wonder why that was mentioned in John’s gospel. But the more I thought about John and his indescribable love for Jesus, it makes perfect sense. How about Pilate's wife or the soldiers who were guarding the tomb? Ever wonder about Barabbas, the rest of the story? I do.

But there is a guy who I can guarantee you would have quit his job the minute his encounter with Jesus ended. His name was Malchus, and he was the servant of the high priest. You know the story.

”Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” John 18:10-11 (New King James Version)

So here is the scoop. A band of armed Jewish temple guards come to arrest Jesus. Malchus is tagging along because his boss, the high priest is the head man in charge of this altercation. Peter doesn’t charge the priests soldiers. He doesn’t even charge the high priest himself. Who does he attack? Poor Malchus, who is just there because his boss called a midnight field trip. And after feeling the blow, he probably saw his ear sitting on the ground in a bloody mass.

Then imagine the hardened criminal and rebel rouser Jesus, whom you have come to arrest, reach down and put your ear back on. Can you imagine how much love must have been bursting through his eyes? Can you see what it might have felt like? Can you imagine how that encounter would have changed you forever?

The guards, even after seeing that miracle close up; continue in their arrest of Jesus. I wonder if any of them simply dropped their weapon and said “Forget this, I’m outta here!”

Could Malchus have ever gone back to work for the priests after seeing the meeting where grace and mercy encountered religious tradition? And in his life, grace won.

Have you had a close and personal encounter with Jesus? Has He touched your face? Has He shown you the kind of mercy that has changed your life forever? And if so, have you simply walked back to work for the world?

If you are the servant of the current religious machine, I challenge you to quit your job, drop your nets and follow the One who reattaches ears and reassembles broken lives.

My Daughter Made Me Cry

2008-04-04T16:02:00.006-05:00

I apologize for not posting here for a while. But I want you to know a little bit about my daughter Chelsea. She might be the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. And I believe a parent can have no greater joy than seeing their children come to know the Lord, and then actually "walk the walk".

"Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep." Psalm 127:4-5 (The Message)

So that being said, I was on my daughter's page on facebook today because she and I have a hot and heavy game of scrabulous working. And I came across the following post. My initial reaction was to be mad because I didn't help her and was totally unaware of her condition at that time. But I started seeing the situation beyond my own self-indulgant fragile male ego and started seeing the beauty of suffering and why God allows us to go through painful things. The end result is astonishing, and without faith it is impossible to please Him. Here is that post in it's entirety:

God wasn't lying in Acts 14:17

"So, as some of you know, I have been going through an incredibly rough time financially lately...and to be honest last week, I was really upset with God because I didn't understand why I was trying my hardest to be faithful to Him and my life was just so torn up and I was left with no sense of peace or hope. I did not understand what God was trying to do in my life, and I was so beat down that I had absolutely nothing left to give.

So, last Wednesday I cried out to Him for about the thousandth time and begged him for some money or some peace or something. I realized that I would need to make about $600 by the end of the month to just pay my back bills so that I would still have electricity and phone next month (that did not even include current bills or bills for April or credit card bills that have been accruing interest from school and a few unwise spending choices in my past). Now $600 seems a little impossible.. but I just continued to have faith that if God wanted to, he would bring it.

So, the next day I swallowed my fear and pride and went up to Hannah's to pick up my w-2 (which ended up being great because I was scared to go in but I had a long talk with some of the old managers, and it was really great). So, point being, I did my taxes that night, and my refund was $963, which is crazy since it was only $200 last year! Which was really awesome... but that could have been business days and that doesn't get me money in time... so I was a little worried still....but there was still my first weekend to work.

So, Friday night, my first night, I work my butt off and walk away with only $9. So, I was upset, and I didn't know what to do, and I was just emotionally exhausted literally... I just cried myself to sleep and begged God for help. So, the next morning at CR, I almost didn't go because I just didn't think I could take another day of focusing on more of my problems... but I felt really convicted... so I just went... and I sat there broken and crying the whole time... and when it was my time to talk I just broke down and told the whole story and asked for prayer... and it felt great to get it all out.

So, after church two ladies in my group pulled me aside and each gave me a hundred dollars...and I just cried and thanked them and thanked God and was excited that God provided.

So, if that wasn't enough, that night I made great tips, then tonight, three ladies from my CR group came up to work tonight to watch a movie they didn't even want to watch so, they could tip me.. which meant so much to me.... and then they handed me this envelope in it from one of their homegroups with almost $500 dollars in it! This was all money collected from women who don't even know me! So, in the last 5 days, God has given me almost $850 real dollars and hypothetically (counting my refund that is yet to be deposited) almost $1,800! In 5 Days!!!!(Which doesn't even include all the food and smoothies and massages me friends have given me. That is out of control! And all this is from people that I barely know or don't even know at all (or am lucky enough to be bound to through homegroup love)that just want to show me God's love.

So, how can anyone say that God doesn't provide for those who trust in Him? And even if you are someone who is turned off by God or by Christians in general, how could you not want to serve a God that stirs love and generosity like that in people's hearts?

So, thank you God, and thank you to everyone who has helped me out (fiscally, emotionally, or otherwise). Words cannot express my gratitude, and I just pray that someday God will allow me to help someone out like this, too."

I can't tell you how proud I am of my daughter. And how honored I feel to have been given the role as being her father in this plan.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17 (New International Version)

May you fathers out there be blessed with quality children like I have been. My daughter is a total warrior. She is stronger spiritually than any other woman I know here. And she deals painful blows to our enemy because she is covered in the blood of the Lamb and her testimony is strong.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;" Revelation 12:11 (King James Version)

God bless you Chelsea. If you ever come across this blog post may you always know how cherished you are by BOTH of your fathers.

A World of Sputterers

2008-02-21T16:21:00.011-06:00

It is so easy to completely BS our fellow Christian brothers. Seriously! Churches are full of “sputterers”. They look just like you and me. They sing with raised hands and pray with scripture quoting expertise. But they are about to sputter out. It's called "image management" when a man's insides don't match his outsides. And that is why Henry David Thoreau said that the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. If you are not sure what I am talking about, then watch this video. It is a catchy tune by a group called “eels” and it may be one of the best representations of what I am saying. Watch it to the end and pay particular attention to the lyrics. It's dark, but oh so true.

We use lots of things as Novocain for the soul. There are two things we can do with the pain we accumulate from living in this world. We can stuff it and try to act like everything is OK. Most of us are masters at the art of image management. But the problem is that it will always eventually keep resurfacing. So what do we do? We keep injecting ourselves with “Novocain for the soul”. It may be sexual things like porn, masturbation, strip clubs, or promiscuity. They will definitely deaden the pain; at least for a brief time. We use overeating, overworking, and over-just-about-everything to stay distracted. And it works for a while. But then we are right back where we started. Drugs and alcohol are the preferred deadener of choice for much of Christianity with secret lives and thriving addictions. That is why programs like Celebrate Recovery are so popular in churches today. Or maybe we can just live vicariously through others by wasting our lives away in front of American Idol or Desperate Housewives. That way we don't have to face our character flaws.

The second thing we do is the only one that really works. Or as eels say:

“You better give me something to fill the hole; before I sputter out”.

Jesus is the only thing that can fill that “God shaped void" some have in their born again lives. Even saved sons can feel pain and anxiety when they wander away from the one who called them into His kingdom. And Jesus spent lots of time seeking for those who are sputtering out. He came for the "lost sheep". And even lost sheep are still sheep; but somehow they have lost their way.

“He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.” Isaiah 42:3 (New Living Translation)

And how does Jesus do that? He uses people just like you and me. We are the ones who are called to find those who are sputtering out and show them the only real way to fill the hole.

"Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way" Isaiah 35:3 (New International Version)

Have you helped a brother in need lately? Are you one of the Christians who look great on the outside, but inside you are weak, hurting, lonely, and feeble? If we don’t help those who are sputtering, who will? I admire the honesty of the group eels. They are speaking for an entire generation who are losing it. “Life is hard. And so am I. You better give me something, so I don't die.” Jesus came that we might have life, and have it abundantly.

Grab a sputterer this week. Take them to lunch. Listen to them without judging them. Love them like Jesus would. Those who have been forgiven much will love much. And love covers a multitude of sins.

Britney Spears and Job's Wife

2008-01-21T21:13:00.000-06:00

A week ago I thought Britney Spears was nothing but a skanky ho. There was absolutely NOTHING about her that I really cared about. And it made me angry that our media spent so much time reporting about her chaotic life. From her pantiless shots with gal-pal and fellow lowlife Paris Hilton, her numerous mental breakdowns, frequent rehab visits, and her continually showing herself to be possibly the worst mother on the planet; to her latest ambulance drama, she was a non issue to me. So it floored me when I heard the voice of the Lord during an intercessory prayer meeting tell me to pray for her. I actually wanted to rebuke Satan for what I thought was a false mental message. Why should I pray for someone that I have absolutely zero interest in? Aren’t there homeless Russian children that He wanted me to intercede for? I wanted to pray for someone that really deserved prayer, not someone like Britney. But God taught me an interesting lesson that day, and He did it by prompting me to think about another lady in the Bible that nobody ever really talks about.

If you have been a Christian for any length of time you have read the book of Job. There is no greater story of trial, perseverance, and restoration anywhere in the Bible. You Joseph fans might debate me on that one, but let’s move on. The book begins with a bang. God has a dialogue with Satan and the devil is given free rein to destroy Job’s life. He wastes no time in bringing swift destruction to everything Job holds dear. Everything except the one thing that I thought Satan would go after first: his wife. Why did Satan kill everyone but Job’s wife? And what could that possibly have to do with praying for Britney Spears?

The only thing we really know about Job’s wife is that after his trial began, she said the famous words that makes every man snarl under his breath:

“His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" Job 2:9 (New International Version)

Ouch! That one must have really hurt. Satan is the master of using people for his own gain if they will let him do so. And the fact that he kept Job’s wife alive to speak words of discouragement is a brilliant tactical move on his part. There is nowhere in the book of Job where it says that his wife comforted him. A dog licked his sores. But as for his "better half" there is nowhere where it says that she stayed with him and helped him or cared for his wounds. His three friends at least sat with him and had open dialogue. But not his wife. Granted, she had just lost her children and possessions also. But only one thing could be more discouraging to Job than seeing his beloved wife killed? It would have to be seeing his wife live and verbally cut him down, and then abandon him.

Satan has tried this tactic on many occasions. He spoke through Peter to Jesus, and Jesus rebuked Satan while talking to Peter.

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:23 (New International Version)

You will find many times in the Bible where the words of a friend were used as a weapon of attack. And Satan will use and abuse people in this world until he is done with them. Then he will waste them. I know that is not a foreign concept to you. There are probably people coming to your mind right now that fit the bill.

Here is an example from my home town of Arlington, Texas. Does the name Shannon Wilsey ring a bell? Probably not. But she became one of the biggest porn stars in the world under the name Savannah. And when the devil was done with her, he had her kill herself. That is his modus operandi: use them, abuse them, and then waste them. You can probably think about many victims from celebrities to rock stars who have been used and then wasted.

So what does all this have to do with Britney Spears? I wonder what would have happened to Shannon Wilsey if people would have interceded for her from their knees before she killed herself. Was her "profession" so reprehensible that comfortable Christians wouldn't even pray for her? Had she gone too far? And I now have no doubt that the God who will leave the 99 and go after the one lost sheep has decided that he loves poor, misguided, lost Britney Spears just as much as He loves both you and I.

Our task dear friends, is to deliver as many as we can from the jaws of the enemy before the death blow is dealt. I challenge you to ask God whom He would like YOU to pray for. Maybe it will be someone you could care less about. It is a hard thing to pray for a pedophile priest, a mass murderer, a wife beater, or some foreign terrorist. But those are exactly the type of people that Jesus came to this world to save. And it is our duty to be salt and light to the most unlikable of people.

“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.” Jude:22-23

God's Stocking Stuffers

2007-12-23T07:29:00.000-06:00

Well, it’s Christmas time and if you are reading this you are aware that Jesus is the reason for the season. There is a propensity for many Christians to get radical in their fight against rampant commercialization and Santa worship. And that is a good thing. Jesus is truly the reason for the season. And there could be no better gift to mankind than the Messiah.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (King James Version)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (King James Version)

Like all Christmas celebrations with the family, there is usually a gift given that is exactly what the receiver wanted or desperately needed. There was one Christmas where I gave my daughter a new Ford Focus. She had been driving a piece of junk Kia Sephia without complaining. And she lit up like a well adorned tree when she saw the car. Years later she still talks about how great that Christmas was. But something else happened that day. She looked in her stocking to receive many smaller gifts that were also well pleasing and much needed. They are called stocking stuffers, and we love getting them. I love getting Red Hots candy in mine. The small stuff is just the icing on the happiness cake.

God gives us stocking stuffers. The big gift is Jesus. The smaller gifts are also a sign of his great love and generosity towards us. And they are the icing on our spiritual cake.

“Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.” James 1:17 (The Message)

How about the gift of work? If you have a good paying job, a career that you love, and lots of stuff, that is nothing but a pleasurable stocking stuffer from the Lord. His provision for us usually comes in the form of labor that helps us survive.

“That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:13 (New International Version)

“Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 5:19 (New International Version)

How about the gift of the comforter? Jesus called the Holy Spirit the comforter. And the gifts that the Spirit brings with Him are amazing.

“Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 (New International Version)

And the Holy Spirit continues the Yuletide tradition by putting his own gifts into your stocking. There was an old story about getting a lump of coal in their stocking if a person was bad. We have all been bad, but the stocking is always full of goodies for us to play with.

“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28 (New King James Version)

How about wisdom? Ever need direction or guidance in your life? Those are also gifts we can find in our Christmas stocking if we need them. If you lack in those areas then maybe you didn’t put it on your Christmas list.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (New International Version)

So if you find that you were Scrooged this year, maybe it is time to do a personal inventory of your spiritual condition. God fills all the stockings of His children with yummy spiritual stuff. But like Santa, He knows who has been naughty or nice. He is making a list and checking it twice. Hit your knees, and ask. Maybe you will find that this will be your best Christmas ever!

“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11 (New Living Translation)

Heroe or Creampuff Weenie?

2007-12-09T16:14:00.000-06:00

Heroes still exist! And though they are few in number, they walk among us and sometimes sit right next to us in church. There are men who find that they must face overwhelming adversity with courage and determination in order to show both the spiritual and earthly realms that, though they might look just like any other man there is something different about them. Such are the amazing soldiers of World War II who took a stand at Bastogne, Belgium. If you haven’t seen “Band of Brothers”, rent or buy it today. There is no better way to show what I’m talking about than by watching that series. Here is a sneak peek from the ten part show. During Hitler’s last offensive push of the war named “The Battle of the Bulge”, the true warriors had to make a stand and dig in. Watch the clip below and focus more on the spirit of valor and perseverance than on a couple of cuss words you might hear.

There are days approaching when you are going to have to make a resolute stand. Yes, YOU! Maybe those days are already here and you find yourself in the trial of an enemy bombardment. Maybe you are at ease. But either way God has plans for you to show what you are really “all about” regardless of the religious diatribes or holy pontifications that tend to proceed out of our mouths. The kingdom of heaven is not in word, but in power. And talk is cheap.

“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:3 (NIV)

The trying of your faith is more precious than gold, and there is no better way to show the type of faith that pleases your God than to face adversity with might and bravery. The kingdom of darkness has lost the war and yet still they push with a powerful offensive until their total and complete demise.

“Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Revelation 12:12 (NKJV)

There is a reason why so many of your Christian brothers are falling by the wayside, and living powerless and ineffective lives: they haven’t done all.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)

Are you doing everything? We are told to pray without ceasing. How’s your prayer life? Is it sparse, weak and wimpy? Or are you firing back at the enemy daily with effectual fervent prayers? Are you clean from sin? Or have you let the enemy march right in and steal your victory? Do people see a warrior when they look at you? Or do they see a spiritual creampuff weenie? Would your neighbors and coworkers even know that you are a Christian? Are you the one to call when Satan’s Panzers roll in?

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NIV)

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)

The war is almost over and your reward is at hand from our great general Jesus. But until then, we are to dig in and not be moved. We are to suffer with joy because that is what Jesus did. We are to crucify our fleshly desires because they weaken and distract us. We are to hold the line and not fall back. WE are the front line of defense. WE are the victors through the cross. WE are the warriors! And there is one more stand which is mentioned in the Bible.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life:” Revelation 20:12 (KJV)

God believes in you! He loves you, strengthens you, and will give you everything you need to live triumphantly in authority, beauty, and holiness until the war is over. Dig in deep and stand strong! You are not alone. You have great men in the trenches with you.

And Then There Were Three!

2007-11-23T14:48:00.000-06:00

Folks, there is a reason why this blog hasn’t been updated in a while. This week I finished a major assignment that God had asked me to do. Here’s the scoop:

I started a book titled “Where Are the Warriors?” a couple of years ago, but had been poking around on it and never finished it. God hit me upside my head recently and told me to finish it. So I did. I also wrote my third book and it is now ready to be published. Here is the current line up and status:

“Where Are the Warriors?”

This book is getting rave reviews from everyone who has read a copy of the manuscript. It is over 300 pages long and 82,000 words. There has never been a book like this anywhere on any shelf. It is the quintessential book for Christian men. It was immediately picked up by Tate Christian Publishing company. I hope you men have the guts to finish that book. It will change your life.

“Discover How to Bust Your Man!”

This controversial book for Christian women is the ultimate guide for accountability. It is a step-by-step system on how to catch men cheating, looking at porn, and attending strip clubs. It was quickly snatched up by Publish America who purchased the manuscript. After a long battle with their highly paranoid legal department, the book is ready to fly off the printing presses soon. This book will give any Christian man with a secret life the fear of God.

“It’s Not OK!”

This book was written at the request of God. I know that sounds strange. But He asked me to do it immediately after I finished “Where Are the Warriors?”. It is a short and powerful book which contains seventeen things that Christian men already know but need to be reminded of occasionally. At less than 70 pages, it is concentrated. And will be in the 7” by 5” hard bound format.

Because there is a national minister also named Steve Foss that I want absolutely NOTHING to do with, I have written all three books under the pseudonym Jude Benedict.

So I am done writing for the minute. I am going to reacclimatize myself to life again and wait until they start coming off the presses. Then I will take my time with a novel I will write about the end time titled “Surviving the Mark of The Beast” which will address all this “left behind pretribulation rapture” nonsense.

Thanks for your patience friends. I’ll update this blog with regularity again.

God Loves Stupid, Moronic Pumpkinheads!

2007-09-18T12:37:00.000-05:00

Occasionally we see people that make us afraid. I don’t mean we fear them personally. I mean we fear God enough that when we see who they are and what they stand for, it makes us afraid of the wrath and judgment of the Almighty. I know that many people believe that God is the teddy bear cushy grandpa God. And two times in the Bible it actually says that “God is love”. But two times in the Bible it also says that “God is a consuming fire”. (Deut 4:24, Hebrews 12:29) It was God who sent the death angel through Egypt to kill all the firstborn, not Satan.

Jesus said it best in Luke 12:5:

“But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.”

So I present you the two top finalists on my “Pumpkinhead award” list for being possibly the most stupid people on the planet. Contender number one actually believes that he is Jesus returned. And just like the first appearance of our glorious king, this knucklehead is driving a BMW, wearing lots of gold jewelry, drinking scotch by the gallon, smoking banned Cuban cigars, and making millions off of donations from his flock. (sarcasm added) All this is at the expense of a group of Christians who are so deluded it makes me want to line them up and smack them all with a Bible.

The silver medal for idiocy goes to Dr. Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda.

Sorry dude! No way Jose, you are just another Jesus wannabe.

The gold medal in the moron Olympics goes to an elected official from Nebraska. His name is Senator Ernie Chambers. This goober is an avowed agnostic who is suing God in US court for terrorism. That’s right! He is suing God. I am not sure how to even comment on this guy. Says the Associated Press: “The defendant in a state senator's lawsuit is accused of causing untold death and horror and threatening to cause more still. He can be sued in Douglas County, the legislator claims, because He's everywhere....The Omaha senator, who skips morning prayers during the legislative session and often criticizes Christians, also says God has caused "fearsome floods ... horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes. He's seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty. ”

I actually hope that God shows up. Seriously! Can you imagine what it would be like if the maker of heaven and earth actually popped in for 15 minutes to hear what one of his created beings had to say about him?

““My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

So it is good to know that the real believers who know the truth aren’t swayed by all the end time charlatans and deceivers that are starting to come out of the woodwork. Read the Bible and do what it says. Listen to the voice of your shepherd and king Jesus who says that his sheep hear his voice. Follow after the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit, and hold fast the profession of your faith.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1:4 KJV

Are You A Loser Like Jesus Was?

2007-08-16T16:57:00.000-05:00

Simmer down now! I know what you are thinking. The minute you read the title of this blog post you were a little defensive and wanted to smack me around a bit in order to protect the reputation of our Lord. But I want to prove a point here and hopefully get you to a place where you see your own life a little differently.

According to the programming of this world, Jesus was a total failure. If we look at his life through the lenses that we judge our own lives, it would appear that he knew very little about “success” and spent no time seeking after the things that we in this present time hold dear.

1. He was a homeless thirty year old man.

“As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” Luke 9:57-58 (New Living Translation)

By today’s standards that would definitely take him off of the list of people who are heading in the right direction. We in America seem to judge the value of people by how well things are working in their lives. We look at their nice homes and fancy cars, and think that they are successful. But the truth of the situation is that many times people are so bogged down by all the stuff they have accumulated and have become so wrapped up in the pleasure they contain that they have no real spiritual power.

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:13 (New Living Translation)

2. He walked away from a successful carpentry business to travel preaching about spiritual things.

As firstborn, he had a duty to take care of his family, especially his mother. Since the Gospels are conspicuously silent about his father Joseph when his ministry started, we can assume that he was either dead or gone from the scene.

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” Mark 6:3 (King James Version)

He left a profession that was esteemed and became a person who was despised because of what he did daily. I can only image what the reaction of his brothers and sisters was as he told them that he was walking away from an established industry and going to be “living on faith”. If your older brother came home for Christmas and told you that he was going to be leaving his successful law practice to walk around Europe and preach, what would you say? How would you react? Would you consider him a success?

Ironically, some of his disciples did exactly the same thing. James and John had fishing businesses and walked away. It was the same with Peter. They dropped their nets and started following a homeless guy around the country. I’m sure they received the same reaction from their families.

3. He remained unmarried.

Regardless what the bull-discus of "The DaVinci Code" says, Jesus never married. If you were thirty and unmarried, and not gay, would your family consider you a success? Could his relatives have tried to fix him up with “nice Jewish girls” incessantly?

4. He bucked his religious upbringing.

Imagine a good Jewish boy who was devout and knowledgeable preaching in the temple.

“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.” Luke 4:16 (New King James Version)

Now imagine that same boy making enemies of the priests and scribes, throwing out money changers with a whip, and becoming number one on the “most wanted” hit list. Does that sound successful to you?

Let’s not even talk about hanging out with his crazy cousin John the Baptist. Locusts and honey? He was not the best dressed man in Judea.

So what is my point?

“Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” James 4:4 (New Living Translation)

If you are trying to be “too cool for school” and seriously desiring to look successful in this world, you might want to have a look at where you are at spiritually. Because Jesus has shown us that many times we have to buck the worldly system in order to be fully submitted to the perfect will of God. Was Mother Teresa successful? Not according to guys like Donald Trump who base their whole existence on the accumulation of stuff. But to God, she rocked. And He is really the only one we have to impress.

“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” Matthew 19:29 (King James Version)

Nothing But A Forgiven Worm!

2007-08-01T22:14:00.000-05:00

I am amazed with how fast I can lose perspective on the things that really matter. I am sitting in my office as I type this and I have been in a funk all day. Oh, the reasons for being an ungrateful weenie seem like they are valid at the time. Maybe one day it will be that I don’t have as much money as I think I deserve for my labor. Maybe it will be someone who treats me unfairly, or my strange housing situation, or the myriad of lies that the enemy has clandestinely whispered to my soul that I seem to entertain without rebuke. Whatever the reason, my attitude lately has been stinking up the kingdom of God. I tell you this because I am ashamed for not being the person that my King wants me to be.

Do I really have it that bad? Heck NO! And I can sit here all day long and tell you how I really want to be more like Jesus. But do I really? Or is it just the same old religious claptrap that rolls off of the tongues of most of the men in our kingdom today?

Yet somehow Jesus seems to know just how to be a great shepherd and guide to me in times just like these. There is a still small voice that reminds me of the price he paid for me. ME!

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.” 2Corinthians 1:4-6 (New Living Translation)

Lord Jesus forgive me for being weak!

When Is Disobedience Not Really Disobedience?

2007-06-15T08:24:00.000-05:00

Could there actually be something worse than disobeying God by being an obstinate whiny brat? I believe there is. And God has been showing me that not only does this insidious phenomenon exist, but that many times I have been the poster child for this kind of rebellion without even knowing it. Let me explain.

We all know what it means to just flat out disobey the directives of God. I hope by now you have all reads the book of Jonah.

“Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. Jonah 1:2-3 (NLT)

Of course, God let Jonah have a brief stay in the Big Fish Hotel for a couple of days to rethink his decision. We’ve all done that, haven’t we? We have all heard what we believe to be God telling us something to do, and yet we didn’t do it.

I love the story my friend Paul told me about being in a line at a bank behind a lady carrying a baby. He said that he heard the small voice of God telling him to say to the lady that her baby was going to be alright. He didn’t do it and felt horrible after the window of opportunity had passed. Then God said that it was OK. He was going to use another servant to get that message to her. But Paul had missed out on a blessing.

Has that ever happened to you? Have you felt like you should call someone, or pick up a stranded motorist, or speak a much needed encouragement to another person…and didn’t do it? Then you feel horrible because you know that you disobeyed? I have, many times.

Another friend of mine Scotty the body was at a gas station when a poor motorist asked him for money for gas. He said “Sorry, all I have is a credit card”. WHAT??? He knew that it was lame and felt bad the next day as he relived the story for me. There is a definite blessing in being obedient to God.

SO WHAT COULD BE MORE EVIL THAN JUST SAYING “NO” TO GOD?

In the amazing book “My Utmost for His Highest”, Oswald Chambers says that the counterfeit of obedience is self sacrifice. What’s worse than being rebellious is disobeying by doing other good works. It is because we deceive ourselves into thinking that we were being obedient servants. Ponder that for a second. “Sorry God. I would speak to that lady but I’m busy reading your word”. “Sorry God. I can’t give to that poor motorist because I have to tithe”. Get the picture?

The greatest example of this in the Bible is King Saul in 1 Samuel 15. It is an amazing story. Here is the directive from God by way of Samuel the prophet:

“Samuel also said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD…Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” 1 Samuel 15:1-3

And Saul went and did what the Lord commanded him to do. Well almost….

“But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.” 1 Samuel 15:9

Samuel asked Saul if he obeyed and his response was that HE DID. Samuel asked him about the sound of all the livestock that he heard. And here is the conversation that they had:

“Why haven’t you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’s sight?” “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.” But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” 1 Samuel 15:19-23

What is wrong with giving all the good stuff to God? What is wrong with offering sacrifices that please God? NOTHING! Unless doing so is disobedience by self sacrifice. And God is very serious about obedience in his servants.

There have been times when I didn’t do something I knew God wanted me to do because I was too busy “discipling” someone, or ushering at church, or leading a men’s accountability group. All of those are good works for God. But Samuel said it best: obedience is better than sacrifice.

Are you being totally and completely obedient to what God wants you to do? Or has the counterfeit of obedience, self sacrifice crept in? Ask God. He will tell you.

WHEN IS DISOBEDIENCE NOT REALLY DISOBEDIENCE?

NEVER!

Four Years Later, God Showed Up!

2007-06-04T11:03:00.001-05:00

I have been on a total 24 hour high because of some news I received. Rimma Palangian was saved yesterday. I guess I should not be any happier than when any other lost person comes to know the Lord. But Rimma was different. Her case was special to me.

I met her when I enrolled in UTA to take Russian language classes. She was my professor, and she was unlike any other college professor I ever had. I instantly fell in love with her. She was hard yet caring, and would push each student to the limits of their learning capacity. She was tough, and many people would drop her classes. But there was a softer underbelly that would occasionally show itself to her students.

Rimma had a very hard life. She was born in Soviet Russia and worked as a translator for the KGB. She and her husband smuggled themselves out and came to America where they both taught foreign languages at the university level. Rimma was adamant in her disbelief in God. Maybe it was because of the oppression and poverty she came from in Russia. Maybe it was because she had seen and experienced so much pain in her life. From the brutal murder of her mother, to numerous abortions, to having her husband and soul mate become sick and live in a vegetative state for years, she never saw any evidence of the presence of a loving God who is in control. She and I would spend hours talking about Jesus, and just “agree to disagree” every time. So I decided to pray for her religiously and love her through it. There is something about the power of love that can break through the hardest heart.

Her husband Jack died and I was blessed to be asked to give the funeral. That is when I started seeing cracks in the hardened exterior of Rimma. Because now the question of eternity and life after death were things to be seriously considered. I kept praying and loving her, even when she many times just plain pissed me off.

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27 (NKJ)

Rimma has been sick lately and in a lot of pain. I make trips to her house as often as I can just to visit, listen to her talk, breathe her second hand cigarette smoke, and remind her how much God loves her and is waiting on her. Yesterday my friend Jayne and I met at her house. We were there to just love her, and nothing more. Jayne went and got her tacos. We watched her eat and talked about who would be waiting for her on the other side and what existence would be like with our new, young, spiritual bodies. Rimma went to sleep, so we left. Jayne is an extremely sensitive person where the leading of God is concerned, and she felt like she should go back later and have a conversation just between the two of them. Jayne led her to the Lord, and Rimma was saved with many tears and great joy. Praise God!

So What’s The Point?

“Never stop praying.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)

“Pray one for another…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 (NKJ)

I started praying for Rimma four years ago. It is easy to stop praying when we don’t see immediate results, or we start believing the lie that it does no good anyway. Prayer works. It is an amazing weapon of our warfare, and a great way to move God.

"The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent". 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

How is your prayer life? Do you pray consistently? Are your prayers strong? Have you given up on your unsaved loved ones? Do you feel like there is a glass ceiling between you and God, and that He doesn’t listen to you? He does, you know!

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

Happy Birthday Rimma, or should I say “C Dnyom Rozhdenya”. Yesterday you became my sister in Christ. And there are a lot of people who are celebrating with us.

“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” Luke 15:10 (NLT)

Thank You Jesus!

The Scariest Scripture in The Bible

2007-05-09T07:53:00.000-05:00

Before we talk about what I consider to be the scariest scripture in the entire Bible, I want to show you a video that will drive the point home in an entertaining way. I first saw this video from the band Genesis back in the 90s, and loved it back then. It is a tongue in cheek look at the victims of the scripture which is the basis for this week’s post. It gets good at the end.

Well, here is the scripture and it came from the lips of Jesus himself:

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:22-23 (New KJV)

We always think that those who will miss eternity with the Lord and head for hell are guys like Hitler, Pol Pot, and Jeffrey Dahmer. I guess we don’t want to think about many of those being judged as having a position of ministry for the very King who will reject them. That scripture is scary because those people went right up to the judgment thinking that they were “in”...saved...having it made. And Jesus said that he never knew them. Yikes!

Knowing Jesus isn’t enough! Let me say that again: KNOWING JESUS ISN’T ENOUGH. In Acts an unclean spirit tells some vagabond Jewish exorcists:

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? Acts 19:13-15 (KJV)

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:19 (NIV)

Everyone knows God, even someone in the dark kingdom who resists His divine plan. The key to eternity is not knowing Jesus, but being known of him.

But the man who loves God is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:3 (NIV)

So here are a few tips for you to know if you are known of God.

Jesus said that his sheep hear his voice and He calls them by name in John 10:3. Do you hear the voice of your shepherd? Are your quiet times a two way street where you do both talking and listening? Do you have a regular quiet time?

Jesus said that he is the vine and we are the branches in John 15:5, and that the branches will bear much fruit if they are connected to him. How’s your harvest these days? Are you bearing the kind of fruit that God finds pleasing? If you are not sure what the “fruit of the Spirit” is, look it up in Galatians 5:22.

And thirdly, Jesus said something that we all hate to do. Here it is:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

Ouch! Denying ourself is extremely hard to do. Don’t we really want the kind of ministry that the band Genesis pokes fun at? I heard a pastor call it “heaven to go to heaven in”. This ain’t heaven folks! This is boot camp for eternity. This is preparatory school. And if you put your eyes on many of the ministers who have slipped and faced big falls in the past like Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggert, Ted Haggard, and the myriads of priests who have been caught in indiscretions, you could possibly miss out on being known of the true Shepherd of your souls. Don't let any minister or any MAN distract you from being in the flock.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 2 Peter 1:10 (NIV)

Take some time today and ask your righteous judge if you are known of him. And then listen. I believe He will tell you. If you are, then press on and fight the good fight of faith. If you are not sure, then get saved. You know what to do, or you wouldn’t even be reading this blog.

If King David Had Girls Gone Wild

2007-04-30T10:06:00.000-05:00

In some ways I believe we have to be tougher than King David. Before you write me off as having lost my mind, hear me out first. Yes, we have all read the great life story of the king who is called a man after God’s own heart. We know about the key of David and the sure mercies of David. Many of you are thinking that you could never even come close to being like David as far as toughness goes. When you think about him living in a cave, faking insanity, running from Saul, dropping Goliath like a bag of dirty laundry, kicking Philistine butt all over the land and instilling the fear of God in all foes, it is hard to imagine that modern day Christian men have to be tougher than David in any aspect of life. But it’s true. Think about something.

We all know the story of his affair with Bathsheba and subsequent results. And I do not want to throw David under the bus because I have also made serious sin based choices in the past just like that one. But here is David walking on the roof and he spots a nude Bathsheba bathing. After the lust was finished he had done the deed. It is a great example of what happens to God’s men if they don’t control their thought life. But in that respect we have it significantly tougher than David. He was exposed to one lust based temptation and he fell. We are exposed to dozens of them daily.

If David had access to “Girls Gone Wild” on a regular basis, would he have made more bad decisions? If every time David was at the beach he was exposed to ladies in thong bikinis, would he have been strong? If every market place was filled with scantily clad girls, or every road adorned with billboards of sexy ladies advertising products nobody needs, could he have defeated the visual onslaught?

My good friend Scott is pissed. He is finally getting to the point of anger where sex and lust is concerned. Men can’t watch any television without being mentally attacked with “sex sells” type of images. We can’t go to a movie that is any good without having the plot interjected with hook-ups, adultery, or gratuitous nudity. We can’t even watch a sporting event without close ups of cheerleaders or “wardrobe malfunctions”. Scott is a warrior for God. And he is mad because he realizes that we are at war, and the battleground is the mind. Our enemy knows that we are sexual men who are visually stimulated. And he is the master at throwing that bait out to fish for those who are having a weak moment.

If David had the Internet, would he have clicked on a picture of Bathsheba, and then called a number to order her services? We do, more then Christian men are willing to admit.

A 1996 Promise Keepers survey at one of their stadium events revealed that over 50% of the men in attendance were involved with pornography within one week of attending the event.

Maybe we are not so unlike King David. This might be why he spent most of the Psalms crying out for the salvation and deliverance of God.

David, despite his faults is known as a victor and a king forever. And we also have been called kings and priests of our God, just like our brother David.

Be strong my brothers! God knows who we are…and where we are. He knows out thoughts and struggles. He brings the secret things to light, whether they are good or evil. And our God is for us!

Pants On Fire!

2007-04-23T11:32:00.000-05:00

It’s confession time! I told a lie the other day and it has really been bothering me ever since. I am not sure why I did it. It wasn’t one of those big lies that gets a person out of a major jam or keeps them out of jail. It wasn’t even one of those “little white lies” that will keep the peace in a family like telling your wife those pants don’t make her butt look big or that the burned meatloaf really does taste good. It wasn’t the type of lie we always tell like answering an officer who pulls you over for speeding if you knew how fast you were going. I lied to Time Warner Cable. I moved from a location recently and they asked me when I moved out. I fudged the date two weeks. I profited only two dollars by doing it and have been feeling like a total worm ever since. In the same week that I filed my taxes being totally honest, I lost my integrity on something so inconsequential.

Maybe it is because I know God’s take on lying.

“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.” Proverbs 12:22

“There are six things the LORD hates, no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.” Proverbs 6:16-19

Two of the seven things that God hates involve speaking lies. The King James Version calls them an “abomination” before God. He takes lying very seriously. And I have done it in small amounts almost all of my life. Why? Was it because I came from an abusive family where we were taught from a very young age to lie? Or is there a more sinister reason?

We get to make a choice in this world whom we are going to pattern our actions after. The God of this world (Satan) has a character of pure deception.

“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

Does it mean that saying we feel great when we really feel horrible, or telling a friend that business is awesome when it really stinks are not “good lies”? A lie is a lie. And God our Father wants us to pattern ourselves after his character of truth.

“God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.” Hebrews 6:18

Did you get that? It is impossible for God to lie! Impossible! So he takes it seriously when his children start acting like the father of lies instead of like their Creator Father who loves them and cannot lie. Jesus spoke a lot about truth ands how it sanctifies us. Paul even admonished us to speak the truth in love.

“Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.” Proverbs 18:21 (The Message)

So I’m going to try my best to speak the truth in everything I say from now on. Just don’t ask me if you have bad breath or if you are a good driver…

The Atheist Post

2007-03-28T14:23:00.000-05:00

If you have ever done any real witnessing at all, or have ever entered into a conversation with people about Jesus, you have invariably come across someone who claims to be an atheist. There are plenty of them out there. And it is our job to reach them and tell then about the love, forgiveness, and grace of our God. But the strange thing about people who claim to be atheists is that they were at one time believers. I have NEVER YET met any person who was an atheist from childhood. They will always say “I used to believe in God, but……” And that is where the crux of the matter starts to appear. Every atheist I have ever met, who is willing to talk about their beliefs, will eventually say that they are actually harboring anger and resentment towards God for something that happened to them, and that is why they choose to no longer believe. They have become masters of masking their pain, and have just chosen instead to lay the accusation against their tarnished view of God.

Here is an interesting video from the British band XTC. The first time I heard this catchy tune back in 1986, I was a little disturbed. But once I really understood what Andy Partridge was saying, it spoke volumes to me about the mindset of a disenfranchised believer. The lyrics have been subtitled thanks to the Youtube poster.

Ironic that a person who doesn’t believe in God is writing Him a letter, isn’t it? And as he takes out his anger on the tree with his two hammers, he is expressing his pain just like so many people the whole world over have done again and again. Let’s examine the song.

How many times have you heard questions like these:

If God is real, why is there so much suffering in the world?

Why would a loving God let babies be slaughtered in wars and go hungry?

If God really exists, why doesn’t he stop the madness in the world today? Why did he let Hitler kill six million Jews? Why does He allow African genocide?

If God created us, why does he allow such sickness and disease in the world?

Sound familiar? Many times we get into a theological debate, or just throw scriptures at them like this one:

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (New Living Translation)

Know this: hurting people hurt others. Try to pick up a dog that has just been hit by a car. It will bite you even though you are trying to help. And many times people that are angry at God have been hurt. Ask the right questions that will lead them to reveal when they stopped believing in God and what happened. You will be amazed at what many people have been through and why they feel like God has forsaken them.

I find it is best to remind people that this messed-up world will be passing away soon, and God will make everything right and restore it back to its intended condition. John got a glimpse of this when he wrote:

"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:3-5 (New King James Version)

There is a new day coming in which all the evil of this world which made some people question the existence of a loving Creator will be gone, and they will get to see Him face to face. And yes, this God they curse and revile has the compassion to personally wipe away all tears from the eyes of those whom He loves.

If we don’t have the conversation with them which brings hope and leads them to the truth of God, who will? Let the atheist rage. It’s OK! Love covers a multitude of sins. And the more we can love an angry, obnoxious atheist, the better the chances we have of reaching them with the truth

Satan's Leadership Must Stink!

2007-03-19T10:31:00.000-05:00

Hopefully by now you have figured out that we are at war. Not in Iraq. Our battle is in the spiritual realm. And with all the scriptures being preached about “putting on the whole armor of God” and “the weapons of our warfare” you should have figured out that you have been drafted into the army of Jesus. How’s the fight going on your front?

I have spent the past few days thinking about a very familiar scripture which most of you know concerning the casting of unclean spirits. It is mentioned in both Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” Matthew 12:43-45 (New King James Version)

Have you ever wondered why that is? If a spirit is cast that is in Satan’s kingdom, you would think that he would just show back up at headquarters and ask to be reassigned. Why do they wander seeking rest? Rest? If they are in a war with us and this war is coming down to the end, it shows you the state of mind of the troops of Lucifer. It would seem that some do not want to be in the front lines of the battle. But they just want to hang out in someone’s human body until it is over. It is reminiscent to me of the Gulf War when Iraqi soldiers were surrendering in droves when the war first began. They knew how futile the fight would be.

One of the most amazing encounters Jesus had was with the man in the Gadarenes and a demon who called himself “Legion”.

“And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.” Mark 5:8-11 (King James Version)

Why would this spirit ask not to be sent out of the country? Why would he rather reside in a pig than to be sent back into the service of Lucifer? The reason is simple: serving in Satan’s army must stink! Serving a general who has pitiful leadership skills is extremely discouraging. Fighting for a cause that ultimately ends in defeat is unmotivational. So what else would they want to do but hang out in the body of a person until the final judgment?

Have you ever seen one single scripture where an angel of the Lord was tired or seeking rest? Absolutely not. Every time there is a mention of an angelic encounter, that person appears to be strong, motivated to obedience, competent, capable, and ready to head back into the fight.

In Daniel’s classic encounter with a warrior from our team, he tells of the battle and why he was delayed in getting there:

“Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.” Daniel 10:12-14 (New Living Translation)

And then he says something amazing. He doesn’t want to look for a place to rest. He doesn’t want to spend some time in a nearby pig. He says that he wants to take care of business here, and then head back into the heat of the battle.

“He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.” Daniel 10:20-21 (New Living Translation)

Can you see why you have chosen the right team to be on? (Or rather the right team has chosen you)

Fight the good fight of faith! Resist the devil and he will flee from you…not fight to the death. Remember that you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses that doesn’t have any problem with kicking some satanic butt if they have to. Be a warrior and not a person seeking rest. Be a conqueror and not a casualty. There will be plenty of time to rest when this part of the plan is done. In fact, I believe there is a banquet planned for us. Let’s be there!

In Praise of a Real God Warrior

2007-03-04T14:39:00.001-06:00

This Blog post will probably get me in trouble. First of all because it will seem like I am throwing a lady who calls herself “God Warrior” under the bus. I really am not. I just want to make a point. If you don’t know whom I am talking about, here is a brief explanation of this unusual sister in Christ. And remember, she is the one who agreed to go on national television representing our kingdom, so I guess discussing her appearance is fair game.

There is a show in prime time called “Wife Swap” where they get wives to swap houses for a period of time and live with a different family. The producers of the show relish in getting ladies from drastically different lives to exchange families. Honestly, I have never actually seen the show myself because I just don’t want to put that kind of pop culture trash into my mind. I wonder how many of the people who invested an hour in “Wife Swap” actually read the Bible or prayed an hour that day. But anyway, there was a lady from a Christian family who swapped houses with a pagan wife. Talk about a golden opportunity to shed some light and love into a house that desperately needs the truth of Jesus Christ. I was glad that they sent a “God warrior”, until I saw this clip. Hang in there all five minutes if you can.

What a shame! That was a golden opportunity to do some real ministry and spiritual warfare instead of trying to scream the devil out. And look how encouraged and inspired her own family felt after her glorious arrival back home! Now she is a celebrity.

There was a great quote I learned from the Dale Carnegie Course that said: “What you ARE speaks so loud I can hardly hear what you are saying”.

And Jesus said it best this way:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16 (New Living Translation)

I wondered if anyone would want to become a Christian based on an encounter with “God warrior”. And then I had to take a long, honest look in the mirror and ask the same question about ME.

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi

Self test time.

When people who do not know Christ spend time around me, do they want what I have?

Do People want to give glory to God based on the good works that I do which they see in me and through me?

Do people see enough love in me to truly know that I am a disciple of Jesus?

Even if I call myself a “warrior” do people see the power in me that can accomplish much and the faith in me that can move mountains?

Do my words encourage and administer grace to the hearer?

Will people want to know more about Jesus based upon my representation of him?

I was walking through downtown Dallas yesterday and came upon some street preachers at a train station. They were bellowing out the “good news” at the top of their lungs. It made me wonder if they ever do any good. Then two small Hispanic girls came up to me and struck up a conversation. They asked me if there was anything that I wanted them to pray for me about. They both radiated love and life in a big way. Of course I’ll take as much prayer as I can get, so I told them “yes”. Boy oh boy, you should have heard the prayers of the one girl who was in charge. She was as strong and knowledgeable as any Christian I have ever heard pray. She was a true “God warrior”. There was no yelling, screeching, victimization, or showmanship. There were just the prayers of a young girl who knew her God and knew how to pray effectively. She blew me away.

I have absolutely no idea who she was or where she was from. But I knew I wanted what she had to offer!

May God bless her for being a true city on a hill.

Ready For A Name Change?

2007-02-14T17:48:00.000-06:00

It has long been a custom of Eastern people to change their names on the occurrence of some great event in life. And the Bible is full of name changes in the past.

• Abram was changed to Abraham (Gen 17:5, Neh 9:7)

• Sarai was changed to Sarah (Gen 17:15)

• Jacob was changed to Israel in commemorating of his prevailing prayer (Gen 32:28, 35:10)

• The King of Egypt changed the name of Joseph to Zaphnath-paaneah because of his ability to reveal secrets. (Gen 41:45)

• Another King of Egypt changed the name of Eliakim the son of Josiah to Jehoiakim when he made him King of Judah. (2 Kings 23:34)

• The name of a great lady Hadassah was changed to the one we know as Esther (Esther 2:7)

• When King Nebuchadnezzar became fond of some of the strong Jewish prisoners, he changed their names from Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. (Dan 1:6-7)

And of course you should be familiar with the name changes in the New Testament. When their ministries began Saul was given the name………….And Simon was given the name……………. (You better get those two right. They both authored New Testament books)

Did you know that even Jesus was “given” his name?

“Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.” Luke 2:21 (New Living Translation)

“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” Philippians 2:10 (New International Version)

There is a lot to the meaning of a name. My birth name is Steven which means “crowned one”. I hope that I can live up to that name. My son is named Nathaniel which means “gift from God”. He definitely lives up to his name. He is my pride and joy.

SO HERE IS THE THING TO THINK ABOUT:

The Bible says that in the future we will be given a new name from God himself.

“I'll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I'll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name." Revelation 2:17 (The Message)

What will your new name mean? Will it mean “one who accomplished much”, or will it mean “had great potential”? Will it be the name of a disciplined champion for Jesus, or a reference to laziness? Will it be the name of someone who holds the position of king, priest, or favored son and daughter? Or will it be like the name Ichabod: the glory has departed?

Since we are judged based on the works done in the body during our brief stay here, it behooves us to build for ourselves a good name. And you know what Solomon said:

“A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1 (King James Version)

What's in a name? More than most people can ever imagine.

Here is a beautiful song called "Whisper My Name". Remember what Jesus did for us.

Larry Brown and Lot's Wife

2007-01-27T10:36:00.000-06:00

Everyone knows the shortest scripture in the Bible: “Jesus wept”. But few know the second shortest scripture in the Bible: “Remember Lot’s wife”. She is the one who just could not seem to let go of the hideously sinful past and look to a future of clean living. But this post isn’t about Lot’s wife.

I am one very lucky man. God seems to keep putting people into my life to help make me a better person. But this post is not about me either.

My spiritual brother is Paul Darby. I can honestly say that nobody in my life leaves me scratching my head in amazement more than Paul. His company is thriving, and he is experiencing the blessings of the Lord in a big way. He is rolling out what he calls the “Wealth 2007 Project”, and he asked me if I would go into downtown Dallas with him and shoot some video of homeless people. A part of his project is showing the difference between people with a financial plan for success, and those without one. But this post is not about Paul.

We met a man on the street named Larry Brown. Here is the video we shot.

What you can’t see is the fact that after the camera quit rolling, we continued talking to Larry. He admitted that he was a pastor of a church with a wife and children. So why was he living on the streets away from his family and church? Two words: crack cocaine! We prayed for him right out in the open, he wept, shuddered, and spirits of drug addiction moved. He left a free man filled with joy and a new found sense of restoration and opportunity.

Two weeks later I received a call at 3:10 AM on a Sunday morning. It was Larry. He was in a horrible place, needed food, shelter, and a ride. I drove 45 minutes to south Dallas to pick him up. He was in a train station because he was kicked out of the local V.A. hospital. He was homeless, penniless, stinky, and desperate. As we drove him out of that part of town, this grown man cried like a baby. But this post is not about that night.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

“And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.” 2 Peter 2:20-22 (New Living Translation)

Why did Larry return to the bondage he was set free from to a life which he abhors? I’ll never know. But one thing I DO know: I saw a lot of myself in Larry. And I know that many times I have settled for a life that is far less than what Jesus has in mind for me.

If He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly, why do we not claim it…and live it?

If you read this, please say a prayer for Larry Brown. May the Good Shepherd leave the 99 and go after the one lost sheep.

God Calls Us Royalty! We Should Act Like It!

2007-01-17T18:47:00.000-06:00

Have you ever come across a scripture that just doesn’t seem to go away? I’m talking about the kind of verse that just bounces back in forth in your head. In my experience, that happens until I finally see what God wants me to see about the message contained in that scripture. Then when I “get it” it usually goes away. Here is one that flew off the page at me last week and stayed in my face. It is from the amazing first letter of Peter.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

That verse is talking about us; the Christians. And Peter tells us that we are a royal priesthood. What a strange thing to say, until one really meditates upon it and sees the picture of what we are.

What do you think of when I mention royalty? Think about the person who comes to mind. Maybe it is Lady Diana or Prince Charles. Maybe you see someone like Grace Kelly of Monaco, or Queen Elizabeth II. Maybe it’s Peter the Great or James Earl Jones in the movie “Coming to America”. Either way, there are some things that all these royals have in common.

1. They act like royalty. They have a demeanor and air about them which usually is one of class, dignity, wisdom, and respect. They know who they are, and present themselves in a way that is becoming of someone of excellent blood.

2. They have authority. When I was in London one time, the light suddenly turned red and we came to a screeching halt. The queen’s limo came by. Royals have special privileges and respect because of the position they are in. Did they earn it? NO! They inherited it from their father the king.

3. They use power to accomplish what needs to be done in order to make their kingdom safe, secure, prosperous, and thriving. The welfare of their constituency is paramount. Now what do you think of when I say priesthood. Do visions of someone who is set apart for spiritual purposes come to mind? Is it a person who knows the word, is “prayed up”, a great counselor, and man of God? If you are thinking about some scandalous pastor or priest, it is because you probably had exposure to someone who didn’t fulfill the calling that would make them a royal priest.

Maybe it is time for us to start acting like what we truly are; what God has ordained us to become. When we understand what it means to be a “royal priesthood”, we will act with the dignity, authority, and power of a royal. And we will show ourselves to be the strong, educated, spiritual leaders we should be.

SELF EXAMINATION TIME!

Do I act like a king/queen or a common peasant?

Do I accomplish good things with authority or do I rabble rouse and complain with the Plebeians?

God calls you royalty. God calls you a priest. Be what you are.

“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away”. 1 Peter 5:4 (NIV)

"I'm on my way; I'll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown.” Revelation 3:11 (The Message)

A Fork In The Road For 2007

2007-01-02T15:30:00.000-06:00

Have you set your goals for 2007 yet? If you did, have you written them down on a piece of paper and posted them on the refrigerator or bathroom mirror. I wonder how much thought you put into what direction your life will take this New Year. According to the Bible, there are three paths we can follow for the next year. Here is what God’s word says:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 (New King James Version)

So we have three wills of God for us: one that is good, one that is acceptable, and one that is perfect. And the goals hanging on your mirror or on a 3X5 index card in your pocket, which are they to God. Would you consider them to be good for God, simply acceptable to Him, or perfect enough to bring a smile to his face?

I strongly encourage everyone to spend some serious “face on the floor” time with God and figure out what His will is for you for 2007. He has thought you out and ordered your steps before you were even conceived in your mother’s womb. He knew you before you became a Christian, and He knows you now.

The best thing we can all do is figure out which way the Lord is going to move in 2007 and follow Him. He is the master, and we are simply His servants. And no servant plots and plans for the master. They simply follow along being of service to their Lord. And He has chosen you as a servant because of the many things you can do to be of service.

I love this poem from Russell Kelfer:

You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the Master's seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.

You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!

Figure out what your king and master would like you to accomplish in 2007. And put that on the bathroom mirror. There are three roads in front of you. I pray that everyone who reads this will be filled with the wisdom to choose the perfect path.

The Blitzkrieg of Bubba!

2006-12-21T11:50:00.000-06:00

Blitzkrieg is a German word which means “lightning war”. It is used to exemplify the speed with which a military campaign can be waged; fast like lightning. And there is no better enemy at the blitzkrieg than Satan. God said it best to Cain:

“You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” Genesis 4:7 (New Living Translation)

Did Satan waste much time when he was given the “go ahead” against Job? Absolutely not! As fast as the messengers could come, they had reports of destruction. And that is the same way he is towards you. He is lying in wait for you to open the door to him, and then he will pounce with lightning speed.

Consider the case of Bubba. OK, his name isn’t really Bubba, but the story is true. He is a member of the men’s accountability group I attend every Tuesday night. He is a born again Christian and father. He attended church regularly and was self employed. Two things happened that started the attack. Bubba’s divorce was finalized at the same time that he had an incredible month of prosperity in his business. He was left with a stack of cash and a license to party.

“For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” Proverbs 1:32 (King James Version)

The attack started with a thought: “I wonder if you still have it? I wonder if any woman will still find you sexy?” And then the thought started to germinate. That’s when the bottom fell out and the lightning war began.

Less than three months later Bubba was back in the group. He was telling about spending time with the wrong crowd, going to strip clubs, doing drugs, having anonymous sex, bringing porn into his house, and even stealing his son’s Ritalin to crush and snort.

The grace of God is an amazing thing and his mercy endures forever! God will fire a shot across the bow to warn you that destruction is eminent. Here was Bubba’s shot. He was standing in line at an after hours sex club where he was waiting to go inside. The police came screeching up and raided the place. He got away. Had he been inside, he would have been arrested and lost everything including custody of the son he loves. That’s when he shared a moment with the “prodigal son”. Scripture says the “he came to himself” and he and Bubba both wondered “what the hell am I doing”?

There is a Chinese proverb that says “A man falls seven times, but he gets up eight”. Bubba has confessed, repented, and gotten back in the saddle to ride. The lesson he learned is how fast the destruction can come once the door is opened to the enemy.

May God be praised that he will leave the 99 and go after the one lost sheep.

If you think it could never happen to you or me
read this and let it soak in:

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Galatians 6:1 (New Living Translation)

The Least Of These

2006-11-20T08:32:00.000-06:00

There is only one ritual in the church that almost every denomination can agree upon, and that is the taking of communion. We celebrate the last supper where Jesus broke the bread and gave the cup. The words he said are timeless: "Do this in memory of me".

What do you think about when you remember Jesus? Many will remember him doing miracles. Many will see him teaching. Some will think about the bloody and cruel Passion Week. But for me, I think about the type of people he chose to hang around with. It wasn't the elite "cream of the crop" that he surrounded himself with. It was the lowest by man's standards. His disciples were stinky fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. And he did much of his ministry to those who were shunned by society: prostitutes, lepers, and the like. He showed unconditional love to those who were unlovable. And he gave a second chance to many who had completely screwed up their lives.

If we are to be "Christ like", we must do the same. In fact, he tells us that during the judgment, we will be held accountable on how we loved the unlovable.

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me, you did it to me." Matthew 25:39-40 (The Message)

It's easy to love those who love us back, and associate ourselves with the movers and shakers of society. It's fun and it feeds our ego. But what about the homeless, addicts, offenders, terrorists, AIDS victims, and murderers? Can we love them and welcome them into the church with open arms? God has another perspective because he is a God of grace, and His mercy endures forever.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO RICHARD THOMPSON

I've loved the musicianship of Richard Thompson ever since the late sixties when he was a founding member of Fairport Convention. This song might sum up the entire New Testament in three minutes. Turn up the speakers. It's called "God Loves a Drunk".

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42 (New International Version)

Do something for someone who can never repay you. They just might be a special person to the one who made them.

What Do You Think?

2006-10-30T09:00:00.000-06:00

I came across an interesting scripture this morning in my quiet time. Have you ever had one just jump off of the page? This one did for me.

Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7 (New King James Version)

We both know that there is nothing wasted in the Bible. Every word has been put in there for a reason. So why would it talk about the wicked man forsaking his way, and the unrighteous man forsaking his thoughts?

Napoleon Hill said it best in his great book "Think and Grow Rich" when he wrote that "thoughts are things". And since the battleground for this great spiritual warfare is the mind of man, it makes sense that there should be a twofold approach to that scripture. Wicked people just need to flat out stop doing their wicked actions. But someone who is not right with God is in a different place. He hasn't actually DONE anything wicked...but he is thinking about it. And he too needs to squash the thought of sin before it becomes an action of sin.

I haven't seen one place in scripture where it says that we will never have an evil thought. Come drive your car in Dallas, Texas and you will have plenty of evil thoughts. But I do see where we are admonished to control our thoughts.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (New King James Version)

Jesus knew that the thought life is paramount when he said:

"You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28 (New Living Translation)

So what do you think? Solomon said that as a man THINKS in his heart, so is he. Do you think thoughts of peace and power? Do you meditate on the positive promises of God daily? Or do you give your mind a steady diet of the negativity of the world, the lust of the sex industry, the pessimism of the news, or the doubt of humanistic academia? If we think like the world, we will have what the world has: a distance from God. But if we do what God says in that scripture (forsake our unrighteous thoughts) He will draw close to us. And that is something to think about!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Walmart Apples and God

2006-10-07T09:42:00.000-05:00

I went shopping for groceries the other day at a Walmart Neighborhood Market and began my ramble in the produce department. I love Washington delicious apples and they had a whole area dedicated to apples. I started the process that everyone does who is shopping for fruit: search through the myriad of apples on display for the ones that were appealing. I began the selection process by picking up potential candidates and looking them over. Many of them had flaws. There were worm holes, and discolorations. There were some that were bruised so badly that they were too soft in one part and others weren’t ripe enough yet. They were all rejected. The two apples that went home with me were gorgeously red, firm to the touch, nice and big, and looked delicious.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14

The next day I couldn't wait to treat myself to one of those apples. They were both firm, red, plump, and looked scrumptious. As I took a bite from the one on the left, I immediately spit it out. The inside of the apple was brown and rotten. How could that be? It looked great from the outside. In my experience, one can tell when an apple is rotten because the outside starts showing signs of deterioration. Not in this case.

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.” Matthew 23:27 (New Living Translation)

I immediately grabbed a knife and took the second apple. I wondered if it was rotten like the first. When I cut it in two, there were two of the freshest, juiciest halves I had ever seen. The second apple was one of the best apples I had eaten in a very long time. I pondered that very strange scenario. How can two apples look identical but be so drastically different on the inside? There were so many spiritual lessons I learned at Walmart that day. In the Bible there are five places where we are called the “apple of God’s eye”. (Zech 2:8) God is searching the whole earth for some tasty fruit to enjoy. He is standing at the bin looking, feeling, and sometimes squeezing apples to see who will be selected.

“You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.” Matthew 7:16-18 (New Living Translation)

The only time I ever read where Jesus cursed anything was a fig tree that bore no fruit. Producing fruit is extremely important in the grand scheme of things. And the Bible is clear that rotten apples will be chunked into the fire.

“Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:10 (New Living Translation)

So today would be a good day to evaluate yourself on what kind of fruit you have been producing lately. Are you a barren tree? Are you gorgeous on the outside but rotten on the inside? Are you tasty and juicy to God? All things are created for his pleasure, you know. (Revelation 4:11) I remember the old days when being called “a fruit” was a bad thing. Let me give you a new perspective on being in the Walmart apple cart.

"I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.” John 15:1-8 (The Message)

Bothering God With Piddly Stuff!

2006-09-18T13:25:00.000-05:00

There is a part of me that still thinks it was just a coincidence. And there is a part of me that knows it was a miracle from a God who is interested in the minor intricacies of our lives. But yesterday, it stopped raining for exactly 26 minutes. And that was precisely what I had prayed for. Here's what happened.

A friend of mine got married yesterday and it was awesome. When he was at our Tuesday night men's accountability group last week, he was excited about his wedding. But his one concern was that the outdoor ceremony was scheduled on a day where rain was in the forecast. I told him that I would pray that God would stop the rain for his ceremony. Everyone was kind of amused at the fact that such religious and bold words would come out of my mouth. Actually, so was I.

God did say in Isaiah chapter one that we could reason together, so I took him up on the offer. I asked God to rebuke the rain off of Randy's wedding ceremony. I reminded God how hard they had fought to remain sexually pure until after the ceremony. And I reminded God how far Randy has come in his faith. When he started the men's group, he was in a crisis of faith about God and his relationship to us mere mortals. But now his light shines brightly!

Yesterday I drove from Dallas to Arlington in the pouring rain. I prayed all the way there for God to stop the rain but had an umbrella with me anyway. Ten minutes before show time, people were ushered into covered places to watch the ceremony. But like clockwork, the minute the minister came to the front, the rain miraculously stopped. I sat in the seats uncovered with my umbrella closed for the whole ceremony. When it was over, the rain began once again. Coincidence? I am beginning to think that God might be more intimately connected to us than we give him credit for. Look at this story about a miracle that has always made me marvel.

The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live." And he said, "Go." Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?" "I will," Elisha replied. And he went with them.

They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!" The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. 2 Kings 6:1-7 (New International Version)

I love the fact that some of the Bible versions say that the axhead swam to the surface. Strange, right? Not really. Is it strange to think that an axhead could swim, or is it stranger to consider that the power of God would be released in miracle proportions for the losing of a borrowed tool? Maybe we ARE that important to God. Maybe he REALLY DOES care about us that much. If he will stop the rain for a wedding, and make an axhead swim for a workman, what would he be willing to do for you?

Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD. Psalm 113: 5-9 (New International Version)

Go To Jail! Go Directly To Jail!

2006-09-04T11:35:00.000-05:00

I learned an interesting lesson the other day, and I really believe that it was from the Lord. Here’s how it goes: “If we live like we are in prison, we will be free. If we live like we are free, we will be in prison”. It has taken me a while to understand this, and now it makes perfect sense to me.

There are people in the world with exorbitant amounts of freedom that are really in bondage. The freedom to go where we want, do what we want, eat whatever we want, sleep with whomever we want, and look at whatever we want has actually brought us into massive amounts of bondage, Our bodies are fat, weak, and addicted. Our minds are polluted with the world’s philosophy. Our hearts are constantly seeking selfish things. And this “freedom” to pursue earthly pleasures has helped us become a race that is losing it’s spirituality with lightning speed. When an obstinate feminist shrieks “It’s my body, I do what I want” she is opening herself up to eventually reaping the bondages of abortion and sexual promiscuity. When a man thinks he has finally gained the power where nobody tells him what to do, he has become his weakest.

Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” John 4:34 (New Living Translation)

Can you think of anyone who was freer than Jesus? And yet he came here with a purpose: to be a servant. He had one thing on his mind and could not be distracted from the mission of doing the will of his Father. If he is our earthly example, maybe we should learn from him what true freedom really is.

In prison, men are put on a disciplined regiment. They do the actions daily and regularly which will benefit their progress. What would it be like if we were commanded to do certain disciplines daily and we had no control over them? What if a spiritual warden made us pray daily with power and self sacrifice? What if we were forced to read the Bible with wild abandon? What if we had “witnessing time” every day at four where we were encouraged to share our faith with others? What if boundryless sex, porn, being drunk, drugs, laziness, and leading a secret life were outlawed and punishable with grave consequences? Personally, I think we would develop a deeper relationship with our Creator in the absence of such self destructive behaviors.

“You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 (The Message)

What an interesting analogy Paul makes to an athlete in training. Olympic hopefuls don’t have the freedom that everyone else has. They are in a self imposed prison of discipline and training, but they are among the freest of all people. And that is the type of life where limits lead to limitless power. Decide today to put yourself into a prison where discipline and dedication are commonplace! Decide today to cast off the “freedoms” that actually hinder you! Decide today to bring yourself under the control and servitude of Jesus Christ. And watch how much more liberty you will have as one under the control and supervision of God.

“Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.” John 8: 34-36 (The Message)

So Jesus said, "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage." Matthew 20:25-28 (The Message)

I'm A Total Studmuffin And Chicks Dig Me!

2006-08-28T13:36:00.000-05:00

Ecclesiastes chapter 3 tells us that there is a time for every purpose under the heavens. One thing that is doesn’t mention is the fact that there is a time for us to start thinking with the right head. Because of our God given libidos, men are the most self deceived beings on the planet. We all want to appear sexy and attractive to the opposite sex. That is the reason we suck in our guts on the beach as a hot woman walks by. (admit it, you’ve done it at least once in your life)

But there is a reason why the “gentlemen’s club” business is booming in America. We love to deceive ourselves. “There are more than 2,400 strip clubs in the United States; annual revenue at some clubs is as high as $8 million.” Stop Pretending, Candi Dushman. World Magazine, 5 August, 2000.

Is it actually possible that a smoking hot sex kitten half our age would ACTUALLY be turned on by our fat, balding bodies? Are we so irresistible to young beautiful ladies that they want to get their clothes off as quickly as possible and grind against us for hours on end? The answer should be popping into your head right now. But if it didn’t…it’s “NO”!

There is a spiritual reason for that phenomenon, and Solomon nailed it almost three thousand years ago.

For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread, and the adulteress stalks and snares as with a hook the precious life of a man. Proverbs 6:26 (Amplified Bible)

The adulteress will actually hunt for men’s lives that are precious to God. They may be thinking that they are just out for the money. But they are unwittingly being used by our enemy to bring the Christian warriors into bondage. We’ve all seen it. The fastest way for a Godly man to be instantly neutralized and see his ministry totally vanish is for him to be caught with a naked bimbo. And that is exactly why we are hunted. Satan knows exactly what kind of bait to use. He is the master fisherman. And believe me; every piece of bait contains a deadly hook inside. It’s just not worth it!

And lastly, I want to relate a story to those who think that hanging out in strip clubs or “titty bars” is a victimless thing to do. This is for all those who have deceived themselves into thinking that those beautiful young ladies are “really into you” and want to be with you.

I was the manager of a furniture rental store in Arlington, Texas back in the 80’s. People would come in to rent furniture to furnish apartments because they didn’t own any, or were transient at the time. We had many strippers as customers. One in particular was named Lisa. She was in her early twenties and was drop dead gorgeous. She was smart, eloquent, funny, and always came in to make her payment with a big stack of one dollar bills which were still wet with baby oil. She would say it was just a part of her act, and the bank never had any problems accepting them. She was right. One day she came in to the store and had a huge scab on the inside of her right calf. It looked horrible and seemed very painful. I asked her what had happened. She let me know that she had gotten on the back of the motorcycle of a customer who was leaving the club because she needed a ride home. Her calf was against his hot exhaust pipe and literally cooked like hamburger meat. When I asked her why she didn’t feel anything, she let me know that she had been extremely drunk at the time. I asked her why she got so drunk at work. She replied with words that haunt my soul to this day: “Do you think I could do that if I wasn’t drunk?”

May we always be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem!

"Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Start Punching Back!

2006-08-21T08:29:00.000-05:00

We have all heard the story about Paul and his "thorn in the flesh". You should be familiar with the amazing passage of scripture in 2 Corinthians 12. He has just been talking about the great revelations he has received from the Lord. Having been taken up into the third heaven fourteen years before, he heard things that he wasn’t allowed to talk about to anyone else. The same thing actually happened to John in his journey through the heavens when he was about to write down something he heard and was stopped by his prophet guide. (Rev 10:4) It makes one wonder what is going on up there that we aren’t supposed to know about yet. But let’s get back to Paul.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.” 2 Corinthians 12:7 (New King James Version)

There has been a lot of speculation as to what Paul’s thorn in the flesh actually was. I heard a preacher say it was bad eyesight because of Galatians 6:11. I even heard another say it was an addiction. But one thing is for sure, his thorn was a spirit sent from the evil kingdom. He says what the thorn was: a messenger of Satan. The Greek word for “messenger” is the same word translated “angel” in other New Testament places. And this is not the first time a fallen spirit has done the will of God. If you haven’t read my post on trash talking, do so after you finish this. The book of Job is a prime example. God sent a lying spirit to the mouths of his prophets in 1 Kings 22 to make Ahab fall. In Judges 9, God sent another evil spirit to buffet Abimelech. And of course, who sent the evil spirit to torment God’s own chosen king Saul? That’s right: The Lord. Yes, God is mercy. But God is also judgment. And many people don’t like to believe this scripture:

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Who sends the delusion? God!

So if Paul’s thorn was an evil spirit, why didn’t he just cast it? He knew about casting devils. It makes sense to believe that he tried, and failed many times. This isn’t a new thing. There was a devil that the disciples of Jesus couldn’t cast in Mark 9:28. The fact that it didn’t move shows that his “thorn” was no rookie in Satan’s kingdom, and his ability to beat Paul like a piñata was the reason Paul went to God three times. Every time he seriously asked God to move this mountain, the answer came back “No”. I hear so many preachers say that God never says “No”; He only says “Yes” or “Not Yet”. The Bible is full of times when God said “No”. Moses brought down some “No’s” carved in stone from the mountain. God said “No” to things like other gods and adultery.

The last thing we should think about is the word translated “buffet” in this passage. The Greek word literally means “to rap with the fist”, and it is the same word used in Mark 14:65 to describe the way Jesus was punched in the face during his pre-crucifixion ordeal. The messenger of Satan is punching Paul in the face. It was an enemy he couldn’t defeat, so he took his cause to God and pleaded for some divine intervention. God said “No”.

What is your thorn? Who is your foe? Are you even fighting back? Are you doing the “rope a dope” and letting him beat the crap out of you? Remember you are a soldier of Christ, and a warrior in this plan. You are destined for ultimate victory because Jesus has made us more than conquerors.

“Fight the good fight of the faith.” 1 Timothy 6:12 (KJV)

“You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood.” Hebrews 12:4 (Amplified Bible)

Start punching back! There is a reason we have been given the weapons of our warfare.