Who is your shepherd?

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me...." John 10:14



I am convinced after 51 years of living that the Bible's multiple references to sheep, shepherds and flocks is not just a wonderful metaphor that brings truth to the widest possible audience; it serves to simplify our often confused and complex human nature. Like a sheep we by our nature are followers. Each of us tends to gravitate toward others with like interests, and in many cases we find ourselves blindly following the crowd at the risk of injury, ruined relationships or even death.

In John's gospel, Jesus refers to himself as the "good shepherd." By Jesus differentiating himself in this manner, he is warning us there may be other "not so good" shepherds along our journey. As believers, it is our responsibility to learn the masters voice. We must know what the Bible says so that we know when the "good shepherd" leads. Jesus said, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the middle of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16 He warned then that in our lifetime we would be tested and tried by those who looked like shepherds but whose motivation is to harm the flock.
If we love Him we will know Him and not be deceived by "other shepherds" when they call.

My prayer. Forgive us Lord, for those times when we strayed from the pasture and into harm. Thank you for being the "good shepherd" who cares for and loves his sheep. Thank you Lord for leading us beside still waters and for anointing our heads with oil. And, though we must dine at a table you have prepared in the midst of those who desire to destroy us, you always provide comfort, guidance and protection for your flock. I give you praise and glory in all things and humbly thank you for leading me even when I failed to follow, in Jesus name I pray. Amen!

Wisdom of God

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Is 29:14

I find myself increasingly frustrated at level of the intellectual blather emanating from the so called academic elite. How can those who claim to be “experts” by virtue of their academic pedigree spew such nonsense? The predictable fare of scientific and philosophical minutiae, most often derived from concocted data and spurious mental gymnastics serves primarily to confound and lull to sleep the uninformed masses who are more interested in “American Idol” or the “WWF” than the moral and ethical decay threatening the destruction of our free society. Be it the ravings of evolutionists or the creative science of global warming, “politico-science-speak” (I made that up) has become a tool of distraction designed to diabolically transform an apathetic and poorly educated populous into mindless drones unable to take a breath without getting permission from Big Brother.

What has facilitated this societal shift from self-governance to big government? Why is the average citizen misinformed and generally apathetic about the world around him? Why has the progressive movement made such giant strides toward stripping away our basic freedom? I believe the answer lies not in a debate between “science” and religion, Jungian Psychology and the truths of the bible rather, I believe it resides in mankind’s obsession with self.

For years now, the progressives and liberal activists have manipulated societal mores and ethical benchmarks in a methodical manner partly because the average citizen has been distracted with himself (herself) and his (her) own physical pleasure more than what is morally correct. One need only look at the state of the family, marriage and the crime rate to see that our society has been engaged with selfish carnal satisfaction at the expense of many institutions we used to hold dear. For example, during the period 1960-2005, according to a Pew Research study, illegitimate births increased sevenfold from 5.3 percent to 36.8 percent. Among blacks two out of every three births are illegitimate. Divorce even among born again Christians achieved parity with the rest of society over the last forty years. And, as of June 30, 2008 2,310,984 prisoners were being housed in federal and state prisons or local jails.

The statistics tell a story that one can literally feel in the environment. The presence of the darkness that pervades our society lies heavy in almost every aspect of our daily lives. People are buying guns at record rates, and there is a general uneasiness about the economy and looming hyperinflation as the government continues increase debt at a “never-before-seen” pace. All the while the wheels of scientific and political misdirection continue to provide the curtain of deception behind which the “wizard” continues to operate the levers.

In the last days

The bible speaks clearly about the days in which we are living. The apostle James writes, “Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.” God, speaking through the prophet Isaiah, continues, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate;”( Is 29:14) and Peter warns, “…in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. I am sure many of you are scoffing now. The bible tells us that the “things of God” (His wisdom) confound the “natural man” (that is a man not filled with the Holy Spirit). How are we then to understand the wisdom of God?

In Acts Chapter 2 and verse 7, Luke writes, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” Since the day of Pentecost when Jesus ascended to heaven and the promised Holy Spirit filled thousands of gathered believers like “the sound of rushing wind,” the gift that can unlock the wisdom of God has been available to Christians. Yet, it is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (a foreign concept to the average Christian) that unlocks the treasure found only in God’s word and enables us to understand it.

Many of the “last days” prophesies from the bible and some pulpits will fall on deaf ears and hardened hearts because most Christians have not received this important gift. Until one is “born of the spirit” through a born-again profession of faith, baptism of the Holy Spirit and an on-going relationship of prayer and study of God’s word, God’s wisdom cannot be understood. This certainly explains why so many who profess to be Christians are confused about their faith and, without realizing it, contributed to the secular notion the “America is no longer a Christian nation,” or some such “politico-science-speak” nonsense.

Get over yourself

Distracted by our concern over self, we (Christians included) have allowed our world to reach this historic low point with only further decline on our horizon. Although we do have an answer to our predicament as I explained earlier, I don’t believe we are ready to collectively embrace it. We have not reached our proverbial rock bottom. Until we have been sufficiently broken to repent and love God more than ourselves, we will not embrace our Father and His Son and rise from the ashes.

God is jealous. He wants us all to himself. He wants us to give our lives in service to Him alone. Jesus said that we are to love the Father with “our entire heart, mind, and soul and with all our strength.” God will not share us with money, houses, clothes, MTV or false religious doctrine. He wants all of our love and all of our service demonstrated in every aspect of our lives. He wants us to live our lives in such a way that our outward behavior and internal attitude will bring glory to his name.

Friends, we are not there yet and I believe we will continue to slide into further turmoil, until (if ever) we decide to come back to the Father in humble repentance. When we are ready to fully embrace God and die to our own selfishness, then we will begin to understand God’s wisdom. God is an infinite being who works through the individual sprits of his people in the physical realm. The power of the Holy Spirit flowing through each of us and connecting ourselves to God and each other is the essence of Christianity and the answer to the restoration of the world as God intended.

My prayer. Father forgive us please for not realizing just how much you love us. Forgive us for putting other things before you and for ignoring the gifts that you offer your children. Bring us to our knees Lord and humble us at the foot of the coss. Increase our wisdom through the transforming power of your word and the Holy Spirit. Give us a Daniel spirit and determination to do what is right no matter the consequences. We need you now more than ever Father, please hear your children as we approach you in earnest prayer and humble repentence. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Witnessing

"Be merciful to those in doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." Jude 22-23

In these last days, being a witness for Christ is more important than it has ever been. The urgency in my spirit as the end draws near is overwhelming. I feel sick to my stomach knowing that the time of our Lord is so close and yet there are so many who still do not know the Lord. Family members and friends who have not received the Lord as Saviour are on my mind constantly.

The noise of confusion and false doctrine seem to be on the rise. The way therefore that we witness must be examinied and customized in every circumstance. Jude speaks of witnessing to some with compassion and kindness. To others he calls for urgency as if rescuing them from a burning building. Still others who are confused and lost in the world system must be shown mercy ernsestly praying for them to see the light of God's love through our lives. Finally others may require us to get into their world and witness to them where they are, being cautious to show them love and kindness being careful not to condone their worldly behavior.

We must constantly call on God in prayer to help us understand how to witness to each non-believer we encounter. It is not a cookie cutter approach rather it is a human to human approach in which we demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to them with our actions more than our words. Time is drawing near and practice time is over, we are in the fourth quarter and we must begin our full court press to bring in the harvest before the King calls us home.

My prayer. Father there are so many lost souls who need to know the gospel . You have given us the responsibility and the opportunity to share it through our lives and our conversations. Give us discerning spirits Father and show us how to customize our approach in sharing the gospel with everyone in our sphere of influence. Help us to be ambassadors of your Kingdom in everything we do. I pray in the name above all names, Jesus Christ. Amen!

He is our shepherd

"Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3

In these difficult days when it seems that everything we have trusted in seems to be collapsing around us. Consider this verse of scripture and give thanks that our Father, our Creator is watching over us. He made us and he will not let us be alone. He will watch over us and guide us because we are his sheep and he loves us.

God asks two things from his sheep. He wants us to love him with all our hearts, minds, spirit and with all our strength. He also wants us to love one another, as we love ourselves. If we do that we glorify Him and we will draw others to a life of faith in God through Jesus Christ.

Today when you are tempted to get frustrated with those who oppose your political view or something you hear on the news, consider that God created that person and he allowed a particular event so that his sheep would love that person when it they seem impossible to love. Or we would give thanks to God in the midst of a tragedy. Jesus turned the world upside down by the way in which he obeyed the Father and did amazing things that opposed the rational thinking of the people around him.

God wants us to be world changers not world followers. But to do that we must have the confidence and faith that he created us and is with us in everything we do. But he wants us to follow his lead no matter how strange it looks. Lets try it today. Lets do the right thing when everyone around us says its the wrong thing and as we give God the glory through our obedience, we will see the miracles begin to happen around us!

My prayer. Father, you created us for greatness. Help us Lord to turn the world upside down and bring your Kingdom down to this dark and dying world. Empower and strengthen us when we oppose conventional thinking and do what you ask us to do. We await your miracles Father! I pray in earnest through your son and my savior Jesus Christ! Amen

If you are saved tell somebody

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this-" Psalm 107:1-2



We, who have been redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit have a story to tell. Its good news and we should proclaim it especially to our friends and family. If we do, praise God for our faithfulness, if not, then why?

Paul writes, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16 Alistair Begg, in his “Truth for Life” podcast asks, if the gospel is “good news,” “Why would any one be ashamed of good news?” Why someone, who understands what Paul would is saying in this scripture, hesitate to tell others about “the power of God that brings salvation?”

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul reveals a significant dilemma that exists between the believer and the non-believer regarding the message of salvation through Christ. He writes, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” As the non-believer slips farther away from the “message of the cross,” it becomes more difficult for him or her to understand the message. Conversely, as one grows closer to God and faith is increased the word says that the message is “the power of God.”

If this is true, perhaps failure to share the gospel may, in large part, be due to a lack of faith. If one doubts the power of God to transform lives through salvation he or she may be reticent to share the gospel. Secondly, if an unsaved person tends to receive the word as “foolishness,” another temptation and a growing trend these days may be to “water down” the message in order to make it more palatable. Unfortunately, doubting the message and changing the message are not what God wants and our meddling in his plan, nullify the power of His word.

If we truly believe God’s word we must be faithful to it as it stands. It will not have the same power as God intended if we change it. We must believe it has the power that God says it has and not be afraid to tell it to everyone no matter how they receive it. Paul sums up what God requires of his followers: “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." The beginning and end of our relationship with God is only through our faith. We cannot add to or subtract anything from the reality that it is by our faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified that we are seen as righteous in the eyes of God. No effort, no works no good deeds, nothing can make us righteous. Until we have faith in God's word, we will be unable (perhaps even ashamed) to tell others of the “good news” of our Lord.

My prayer. Father, forgive us for our minuscule faith and our embarrassment for sharing our faith with others. We have sinned against you every time we have lacked the courage to tell others about you. We have disappointed you whenever we tried to dilute the power of your message to make it more acceptable to the world. Help us Lord to expand our faith and be bold in our proclamation of the good news of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. In His mighty name I pray, Amen!

Let Us Pray

Father, on this National Day of prayer we find ourselves broken and need of a savior. We have strayed from your word and followed our own way in the United States. Our families are in a shambles, our schools are failing and our country is on a path toward socialism. The freedoms that you granted us are being eroded and we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Lord your word says that if we will humble ourselves and seek your face with a repentant spirit, you will heal our land and restore our souls. Father, it is with a humbleness and heart felt sadness that I approach your throne of grace for my country, my government, my school system, the media, families across this country and most importantly the Body of Christ. Father, we have fallen and we need your hand to help us up. We have allowed ourselves to believe the lies of the Enemy and he has had his way with the institutions that have made this country great.

I pray for all levels of government today Lord from the President down to the town councils and mayors of this country. I pray for a spirit of repentance and against corruption by money and power. Heal our land starting with our leadership. I pray for a Daniel spirit in our leaders that those who are called by your name Lord will stand up for what they believe in the face of persecution. I lift up their decisions that they me be examined in the light of your word.

I pray for the safety and security of our military forces and their families. Renew their spirits and strengthen them in their efforts. Breath life into families who have lost loved ones to the senseless violence of war. Keep the children of lost fathers and mothers under the comfort of your loving touch.

I pray for an open news and media complex that the spirit of truth and not deception be upon it. I pray for role models to stand up in the media and the entertainment industry. I pray for sound policy within our government that would allow free speech to continue and not be shut down because it may be damaging to a political agenda.

I lift up families that are headed by a man and a woman. I pray for the strengthening of fathers and their role as leaders in the household. End today child abuse and apathy within our households. Change the hearts of parents who have lost their way and are not being positive influences on our children. Protect Lord the lives of the unborn in this country.

Help us Lord on this day to remember all that grieves your heart and soften hardened hearts. Restore us Lord to our once greatness. Let the truth reign and let lies be exposed and eliminated. Return prayer to our schools and show us where lies are being taught to our children their. Give us wisdom and courage to promote Christian education and find the resources to keep good schools open. Give parents a heart for giving their children a better life than they had and draw families to you Lord.

Finally Father, unify your Church. We have let denominationalism and false doctrine creep in and have lost our way. Send revival to us both individually and collectively. Help us through your Holy Spirit once again to return to the church as it was in the days of your apostles Paul and Peter.

I pray in earnest through your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen!

A People Who Live Apart

"From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them, I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves on of the nations." Numbers 23:9

God put this verse in my spirit this morning as I read his word. In these times of turmoil and changing values and the swirl of politics and social agendas. God tells us to step back and look at who we are in his eyes. We are set apart from the rest of the world. We are his chosen. It is up to us as followers of Christ to be different fro the rest of society because we are his children.

The world will try to swallow us up and water down the truth of God's word but it is up to us to remain steadfast and continue to proclaim the truth no matter what the consequence. It is time we stand as believers for the truth of God's word and show the world that we are His and that we are steadfast not tossed about like a wave on the ocean.

As believers we must be aware what the enemy is doing around us and fight back for what is right for our God and our families. No matter what the personal pain and persecution that we will suffer in the months and years ahead, we have only one time to get this right and God is watching us "from the heights."

My prayer. The days of persecution have arrived in America Father and we need your strength to see us through. Walk beside us Father and hold us up. Thank you for the redemption we have through Jesus Christ that when we fall you have already paid the price for our iniquity. Fill us Lord with the Holy Spirit and embolden us to stand for the truth of your Word in a dying and hostile world. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

The Forgiveness Of God

'If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me...... then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land." Lev 26:40-42

The Book of Leviticus is much maligned and often quoted out of context by secular society. It seems to be used by many to show how unreasonable and mean-spirited God is. No one likes rules especially when they interfere with our own selfish desires. From sexual prohibitions to the observance of the Sabbath, Leviticus lays out what God expects from his people. Yet, even some "born-again" believers look at this book as just Old Testament "stuff" that no longer applies because Jesus died for all sin.

As I have been reading through Leviticus and letting the Lord speak to me through it I have come to discover, how much love is really in this wonderful book. As God lead his people out of Egypt and into the land of Canaan, God was preparing his them for the sin that they would find there and like any good father would do for his children, God warned his loved ones, of the trouble awaiting them. As I read this text I see a father pleading with his children to listen to his wisdom so that they don't get hurt.

However, like a good parent, God knew his children would not listen. They could not stop themselves from engaging in improper sexual activity or would not be able to rest from their work on the sabbath. Just like a little boy who had been told over and over that the stove was hot and he still reached up and had to find out for himself. Ouch! God knew they would stray and had to outline for them their punishment.

"Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled." (Lev 19:24) God had seen this behavior from the Canaanites who inhabited the land they were about to enter and did not want his children to fall prey to the things that caused them to be cast out of their land.

God lovingly warns of and sternly promises punishment for sins so that they may live freely. Yet, he also knows that they will fall and he will have to punish them. But at the end of the punishment, God promises forgiveness if his people genuinely repent.

Modern America needs this kind of forgiveness now. Like the Canaanites, I am afraid God is going to cast us from our land because of our disobedience. I pray that we believers wake up before we find ourselves under God's punishment. It's time we repent!

My prayer. Father you are a God of many chances because you love your people. We have taken advantage of your kindness and have deservedly brought your wrath upon our country. Forgive us again please Father and let your mercy reign one more time. I am sorry Lord for the times I ignored your warnings and took advantage of your kindness. I love you Father, and I pray in earnest for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, who are still in sin and disobedience. Thank you for your mercy and your favor, it is truly more than we deserve. I pray in Jesus name, Amen!

Watch Out for Deceivers

“With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.” Daniel 11:32

We live in difficult times. On a daily basis we are bombarded with information and “disinformation” about what is truly happening. We as believers and informed citizens must be diligent so as not to be deceived by those who are trying to gain advantage and destroy our freedom.

In the scripture, Daniel prophesied of events that would occur in 168 AD when the Syrian King Antiocus Epiphanes would enter the Holy of Holies and desecrate the temple in Jerusalem. Epiphanes sought to force Greek culture and manners on the Jews through his smooth talk and logical arguments.

Daniel is warning us today to be aware of the kinds of deceivers like Epiphanes that are likely to cross our paths in the months and years to come. He is emphasizes the importance of having a relationship with God and understanding what his word says as the best defense against the deception of smooth talking deceivers that seem to be more prevalent than ever these days.

My prayer. Father, help us to stay focused and in constant relationship with you through prayer, fasting and study of your word. Forgive us Lord when we falter and raise us up when we stumble. Thank you for your sufficient grace. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Human Understanding

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Is 29:14



The things of God confound the natural man. In Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth he writes of "God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began." What? A secret wisdom not even the church fathers had? How exciting! Paul continues, "None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." 1 Cor 2:7-8)

On the day of Pentecost, the Lord gave us all the secret to unlocking the wisdom of God that confounds us as natural man and that is the power of the Holy Spirit. With the gifts that the spirit unlocks in us we are able to see that which our natural humanness was blinded since the beginning of time. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives the born again believer eyes that see like Christ and a supernatural insight that confounds conventional wisdom.

We as believer must take hold of this gift that God wants us to have so that we may better serve him while we are here. With this gifting we can see where our prayers will be most effective, where our giving will be effectively used for kingdom purposes. I believe it will give us insight into the current events that are happening around and cause our level of anxiety to be diminished as we begin to see God's plan of salvation accelerate toward the "last days.

My prayer. Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit that we may continue in the ministry of your Son Jesus Christ. Help us Lord to see with your eyes into a hurting world that we may better serve you through an outpouring of love on the lost around us. Use us today Father for your purposes in everything we do, in Jesus name I pray, Amen!

He is Risen

"...the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen..." Mathew 28:5-6

Of all the discussion about Jesus whether he was the Son of God, a prophet or just a great teacher, not many deny that the tomb was empty when Mary Magdalen went there that day. Mathew's account attest to Roman guard that was placed on the grave site to prevent the disciples from stealing the body. However even they "shook for fear of him, and became like dead men." (Mat 28:4) when they realized the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty.

Praise him today and thank him for dying on the cross for your sins and saving you through his grace.

My prayer. Father we worship you for your great love and the wonderful gift of grace that you gave us and undeserving people. I love you Father and I praise your name. In Jesus name I pray. Amen!

It is Finished!

"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." John 19:30

There's a line that is drawn through the ages
On that line stands an old rugged cross
On that cross, a battle is raging
To gain a man's soul or it's loss
On one side, march the forces of evil
All the demons, all the devils of hell
On the other, the angels of glory
And they meet on Golgotha's hill
The earth shakes with the force of the conflict
And the sun refuses to shine
For there hangs God's son, in the balance
And then through the darkness he cries

It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there'll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord

Yet in my heart, the battle was still raging
Not all prisoners of war had come home
These were battlefields of my own making
I didn't know that the war had been won
Oh, but then I heard the king of the ages
Had fought all the battles for me
And that victory was mine for the claiming
And now praise his name, I am free.

Lyrics By Bill and Gloria Gaither

The Passion of Christ - Part 4

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. Luke 22:54

Peter, James and John were part of Jesus’ inner circle, they were his closest friends. In most of the major discussions and certainly when Jesus prayed the night before he was handed over to be crucified, Jesus had them near. In fact, when Jesus was seized by the temple guards, Peter drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers.

Why then, would Peter, as Jesus’ predicted, deny to have even known his best friend after Jesus was in custody. In fact, “…Peter followed at a distance,” as arresting soldiers and Jesus made their way from Gethsemane to the temple court. Peter chose to hide in the shadows rather than admit he was a follower of Christ. He was scared.

This episode speaks volumes about the state of Christianity in 2009. Unlike Peter who had no idea what would become of his friend Jesus, we modern day Christians have the benefit of knowing how the crucifixion story ended. We can look back on the day of Pentecost, where thousands saw the Holy Spirit descend upon the disciples and Peter stood up and led over 3000 to the Lord; yet, most of us still follow Jesus at a distance. What are we afraid of?

Many Christians fail to grasp the power of the risen Lord. If the Body of Christ (the Church) who has asked Jesus Christ into our hearts would understand the power we possess knowing that God has forgiven our sins and that we have overcome death as well, then we would not remain in the shadows, embarrassed to admit we believe. Of all the religions on earth Christianity is the only one that can say that their leader has been put to death but is now alive and has been living for the past two thousand years! That’s empowering!

It’s time to get serious about our faith and stop listening to all of the noise around us trying to put Christianity in a box. The power of Christ living inside of us drives out all fear. Stand up and tell others why you are so confident. The Last Days are here brothers and sisters and if we don’t tell the lost about the good news, it may soon be too late.

My prayer. Father again, forgive us for trying to limit you. Forgive us for being weak-kneed Christians. Empower us through your Holy Spirit to speak boldly without fear or reservation about the gospel. Prepare a way for each of us as we go out in a very dark world to be beacons of light. I pray that we be doers of the word and not hearers only. In Jesus name Amen!

The Passion of Christ - Part 3

Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. Mark 15:21

This morning a loving wife lost her husband to cancer. He left behind two young boys and a grieving widow. The cancer took him in less than six weeks. An unexpected loss, her best friend gone. She is a widow, left to raise her two young boys, alone.

Simon, the father of two sons Alexander and Rufus, lived in Cyrene, an ancient Greek colony located in the eastern portion of modern day Libya. The bible doesn’t say why Simon was in Jerusalem the day Jesus was to be crucified. He was probably there to do business or perhaps he was on vacation with his family. Who really knows. He was just “passing by,” when God called him. “Hey Simon,” He said through the Roman guard, “I have a job for you. Simon, I have a burden for you to carry. I need to you to serve me and my kingdom.”

Simon didn’t expect when he approached the gates of the Jerusalem that morning he would find himself suddenly under the weight of the cross of Jesus and in the midst of the noise and commotion that must have surrounded the march toward Golgatha. Six weeks ago, the "loving wife" never thought she would soon be a widow and a single mother. Yet in a blink of an eye, she is alone wondering what just happened. Much like Simon she must have thought, why me? Why did God give me this burden? I’m not ready, I cannot possibly do this. I don’t want to carry this load?

When we and desire to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, not only our lives but our responsibilities change forever. We are no longer our own master; if we want to grow closer to God we must bear what he asks us to carry. We must serve where and when he calls us. Usually, he calls us to places outside of our comfort zones, at inconvenient times, and sometimes with pain at some level.

When we carry Jesus’ cross, we find ourselves in the midst of turmoil and often scared. But, when he asks,"Will you do this for me?" God does not leave us alone. No, you will find Him right next to you. He loves his children and wants us to gain experience and grow strong through the difficulties he asks us to endure.

The bible doesn’t reveal what happened to Simon after he carried the cross. I suppose it doesn’t matter in the context of the Word of God. But, I know after that day, Simon’s life was never the same because he answered God’s call.

My prayer. Father, I thank you that you give us opportunities to grow closer to you. I know they are not always pleasant experiences but I am so grateful, that when we must endure them, You are alongside us holding our hand. I pray for the family of your fallen saint. I thank you Lord that I had the pleasure to have known him and that you called me to the hospital this morning so that I could meet his widow and be a part of your miracle in her life. I pray for protection and peace to be upon mother and sons today as they bear up under the weight of their crosses. I thank you that you will never leave us nor forsake us Father. I love you Lord and I pray in earnest in the Name above all names, Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen!

The Passion of Christ - Part 2

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor 5:21

What is worse in God's eyes, murder or adultery? Perhaps stealing is more grave than gossip? Lying must be worse than talking back to your parents. Surely God is going to punish Adolf Hitler more than Dr. Kavorkian.

To the fallen being in a fallen world, sin comes in varying degrees of severity. Child abuse or rape are repugnant and in almost all cases (Note I said almost) the perpetrator of these sins is considered irredeemable to society. Whereas the ladies at church who gossip about the pastor's wife or offer an insincere welcome to the single mother at the new member's supper are considered minor offenders who "momentarily" stumbled. Most believe God will judge Ted Bundy and Jeffery Dahmer with unrelenting power and will give the silver haired grandmother a supernatural "slap on the wrist."

The Bible has a different take on the severity and ranking of sin. God, in his infinite perfection, I believe sees all sin equally for what it is, sin. To him whether the sin is incest or shop lifting, abortion or a "white lie, it is equally damning. It is so serious to Him that he sacrificed his only Son for every sin of mankind past present and future.

It is so difficult to understand the "weight of sin" that Jesus experienced. Isaiah said "he was crushed for our iniquities" Is 53:5 Jesus was literally crushed under the weight of the murder of six million Jews at the hands of Nazi Germany, the idol worship of the Jews at the foot of Mt. Sinai, and for the times when we lied to our parents to avoid a spanking. All sin; sin for every human being who died, who lives, and who is yet to be born. Jesus took the punishment and death on the cross, for Chinese and Germans, black and white, atheists and witches so that all of us may be made "sinless" before God.

He loves the world so much that He, who never sinned, "became sin." Jesus became the motivation for murder and torture, the prompting of a father to leave his family, and for a priest to molest a little boy. Jesus became sin without ever having a sinful thought in his life! And the weight and pressure he underwent "crushed" his spirit.

As we prayerfully consider the depth of Jesus' love and sacrifice on Calvary, remember how foreign sin was to Jesus and how much he loved us for enduring the tremendous weight of our wretchedness.

My prayer. Forgive me Lord for my nonchalant attitude toward. Forgive for ever thinking that if I didn't get caught, I was innocent. Forgive all my trespasses and give me the courage to follow your example of forgiveness toward others. I love you Lord and thank you so much for the unbelievable outpouring of your love on me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

The Passion of Christ - Part 1

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor 5:2

This week before Easter Sunday has many labels: Passover Week , Holy Week, Easter Week. It, like Christmas, has become another subject in the sound bite wars that seem to dominate our daily lives. As with every other daily "debate" I pray that the monumental sacrifice and the tremendous importance of Jesus' death and resurrection does not get lost in the "noise."

In the Book of Exodus, Moses is instructed by God how to avoid the final plague that would force Pharaoh to allow the Jewish nation held captive in Egypt to be set free.

"Speak to the whole community of Israel. Tell them that on the tenth day of this month each man must get a lamb from his flock....The animals you choose must be males that are a year old. They must not have any flaws....Take care of them until the 14th day of the month. Then the whole community of Israel must kill them when the sun goes down. Take some of the blood. Put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where you eat the lambs. ...."The blood on your houses will be a sign for you. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No deadly plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." Ex 12:3-13

I did a Google search on lambs. Few sites discussed the lamb as a religious symbol or had cute pictures of lambs with children, but most showed various cuts of meat and or lamb recipes. It seems that lambs that are not destined to be sheep, have one purpose, to be slaughtered and eaten. Perhaps that is why God chose the lamb as a representation of his Son's sacrifice for the protection of His family from the coming wrath against the world's sin.

This week, try to envision an innocent lamb being Jesus. In your mind's eye watch the brutality inflicted by mankind on this helpless creature. Then look at the love in Jesus' eye as he took the beatings and the scorn. Think of a helpless lamb being cared for by a young child and then reflect on the scourge, the nails and the crown of thorns tearing at your Saviour's flesh. Look at the purity of the lamb and consider all of the sins ever committed by mankind being placed upon a brutalized and near naked body hanging on a cross for only one reason. He loves you!

My prayer. Forgive us Lord for not being able to comprehend the depth of your sacrifice because we are so concerned about ourselves. Help us to begin to grasp just how much you love us. Thank you so very much that you who knew no sin would die for a wretch like me. I pray in earnest in the Name above all names Jesus Christ. Amen!

I Will Protect Him

"I will protect him for he acknowledges my name." Psalm 91:14

These are and will continue to be difficult times. High unemployment, a government stripping our country of its sovereignty, and a general anger amongst the population dominate our thoughts. The warnings of the prophets from Ezekiel to Daniel to John seem to be coming to life nightly on the evening news. Jesus himself said of these days, "...because iniquity (wickedness) shall abound, the love of many will wax (grow) cold." Mat 24:12

One can see tempers growing shorter and unemployment lines longer. Talk of protest and anarchy fill the airwaves of the talk radio stations, while Internet blogs violently slander anyone who disagrees with their point of view. Freedoms that were taken for granted ten years ago are being threatened by an ever-increasingly fascist tone throughout the land.

What can a Christian do, who is chastised for his beliefs, and threatened when he speaks out against the murder of unborn children or in defense of his family against the violence and degradation of pornography?

We must all have faith, realizing that God sometimes allows calamity to strengthen our resolve and to show his glory to those who do not believe. Sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph when reunited once again with his family after many years, said of his hardships," God sent me ahead of you to preserve your lives." In other words, Joseph knew that God had a bigger plan in mind and he had to allow Joseph to suffer hardship so that Jews would be relocated to Egypt and eventually grow to over two million there. By Joseph's suffering God would lead the Jews out of Egypt and show the world his power and love for his people freeing them from slavery and leading them into the land he promised to Abraham. To God, a little suffering now to bring him glory and new souls into the kingdom is worth it and expected.

No matter what is happening now, it will most likely get worse. Some may lose everything, others may find themselves hungry and homeless, others may even die. However, God is still there and watching and using the power of the Holy Spirit in us to bring him glory and win souls for eternity. This is our chance to shine saints, and to "run with patience, the race that is set before us." Heb 12:1

The Lord is Our Judge

"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, he LORD is our king; it is he who will save us. Isa 33:22

The world is on the verge of worldwide panic. Economic recession and political tension consumes the headlines. Decision makers vacillate because the problems seem so complex and overwhelming. The world has dug itself a financial hole through excessive spending and the accumulation of massive debt. Those who loaned the money to fuel the spending spree and grew wealthy on the interest, are now finding it difficult to be paid back what was borrowed from them. We face uncertain and potentially dangerous times ahead.

As a society, we are like children who have run away from home and found that the world can be cold and dark outside of the confines of the warmth and security of our parents home. We are like sheep who have wandered away from the protection of the shepherd and are standing in the midst of wolves. We have chosen to ignore what our Creator has told us is best and have wandered away from his covering.

The problems we have today are of our own doing. God is not punishing us because he is mad; rather we are suffering from what He warned about. He loves us and wants us to return home. How many times did we read his word and say, "God really didn't mean that, I think we can still do this and be okay." We rationalized his word saying, "the Bible cannot be taken literally, it must evolve with the times. After all, it was written by humans, how could they know what God was thinking?" Or worse many have chosen to completely ignore Him saying, "The Bible is just a collection of fairy tales, that are for weak-minded people, who needs it."

The Holy Spirit through his servant Moses wrote, "The LORD will vindicate his people and relent concerning his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free. " Deut 32:36 Although this was written specifically for the Jews, it certainly applies to the world situation today. "He (God)will say: 'Now where are their gods (money, credit cards, material things) the rock they took refuge in,'" Deut 32:37

Many people say that God is mean, that he brings down calamity on the world. The fact is we serve a good God, one like a good parent wants the best for his children, who loves them and disciplines them when they are doing something they shouldn't. We cannot run our lives without boundaries. The boundaries established by God. When we look at the Bible as a source of things that are written by a cruel God who doesn't want us to have fun, we miss the point. Like a good parent, God does not want us to get hurt. He doesn't want us to suffer economic hardship, so he wrote through Solomon, "the borrower is the slave to the lender." Prov 22:7 No, God wants his children to enjoy life and because he is wiser that us, he has established the best possible set of boundaries to maximize our freedom and safety.

We are in this current situation for only one reason. We have chosen to ignore God's advice and now we must let the mess we have caused unravel itself. Many will lose everything they have accumulated and many will find themselves with no job or home. People will lash out against each other and sadly some may be murdered or assaulted. Some may even choose to commit suicide and others imprisoned. None of it is a surprise to God and none of it was caused by Him! The echoes of what he warned the Jews in the desert are ringing loudly today. History repeats itself.

My prayer. Father thank you that you want the best for your children. Thank you that you would not let us stray too far from home and that as a good shepherd you would gently nudge us back. I pray for an awakening in your people that we may see the error of our decisions and repent from our misdirection and begin the journey back to You. I pray for financial wisdom and blessings in the days ahead and I thank you that you will have compassion on your servants. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN!

Are You Ready?

"But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." Acts 7:55


While Stephen was being stoned by the religious leaders in Jerusalem he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Acts 7:59 Luke said, that Stephen "saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing (at God's right hand)!" Stephen was clearly serving God no matter what the cost, he was truly "full of the Holy Spirit."


I have been asking the Lord lately to reveal to me what he wants me to do for Him and His Kingdom and although he is silent on the specifics he continues to reveal to me that there will be troubled times ahead. He has given me Jeremiah 13 and 17 as well as Revelation 2 (the "persecuted church" as his words to me. He is clearly reminding me of difficult times ahead for the Body of Christ. These are the days of Noah and we will all need to have the strength that Daniel had in his faith if we are to persevere.


In my study in the Book of Acts, the Lord has made it abundantly clear to me that what Stephen suffered because he chose to tell the truth of the gospel, is an echo of what life soon will be like even in America. Today, verbal stones are constantly being hurled in our direction. The congregations of many denominational churches are shrinking. I believe there will be a day in this country that many Christians will have to seek the underground as they do in China and North Korea. Churches of the future will most likely look like the home churches that were first organized in Stephen's day.

Just as our European brothers and sisters do in England and elsewhere, Christians battle in an increasingly secular society to practice what their moral compass requires even at the risk of their jobs. The rise of socialism and diminishing freedom in the name of societal engineering is driving out ethical behavior and replacing it with moral relativism and a strong centralized government that desires to enslave its citizenry and control every aspect of daily life. The United States is fast becoming a socialist "democracy" with a leadership that is imposing its will upon the people through fear. Christians are the last bastion of resistance and the length of freedom's reign in the United States will be directly proportional to our willingness to endure the "stones."

While we stand and pray for our leadership to seek the will of God for our country, we are preparing ourselves for a spiritual battle unlike we have ever experienced. The Spirit-filled Christian will be the last man standing in a war against tyranny.

Are we ready to take the persecution?

Do we have enough love for Jesus and our fellow man to stand up for what we believe and speak the truth even when the rocks begin to reign down on our heads?

The time is now, to man up and serve the God who loved us enough to hang on a cross so that we could spend eternity with him in Paradise. Lord, give us the strength to endure to the end, like our brother Stephen.

I'm in! Will you join me!

Through Life's Trials

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;" Rev 2:8-11

In Jesus' letter to the church at Smyrna he writes, "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)....." In these difficult days many of us face job loss and and financial hardship. Stresses of everyday life are magnified as the pressure of the economic crisis enveloping the world weighs heavy on everyone. We as Christians however have cause to rejoice because we have a Savior in Jesus Christ who is with us no matter how difficult the struggle. We are truly rich even in our poverty.

I believe the times we are in will get worse and even in the United States Christians may experience increasing persecution as liberal groups continue to influence our politicians and the affairs of our government. Jesus prophetically predicted this and as he wrote to the persecuted church in Smyrna, " and I know the the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." Jesus, encouraged them as he does us now to "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days," because the faithful will receive "unto death, .....a crown of life."

Jesus' message is for today and for all who are and will be persecuted for their faith. Whether it is a reprimand at work or a physical beating, we as believers are or will be persecuted and we must endure to the end. God may not always deliver us from the trials of life but he is always faithful to stand with us as we endure them. Just as He shut the mouths of lions and lead his people as a pillar of clouds by day and a pillar of fire by night, God is with us. We will persevere until the end if we trust that he is the "Alpha and the Omega" the beginning and the end. "He that hath an ear, let him hear."

Our First Love

To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

Jesus, who walks in the midst of the churches, explains to the Church at Ephesus that He knows their works, how hard they labor, how they have been patient and how much they hate evil. He continues, “you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.” All great praises from the Savior.

But the King also has this to say, a message for all of us in the “Loveless Church.” “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” How devastating it is to hear Jesus use these words, “you have left your first love.” He is telling the Ephesians and all of us “who have an ear” that we must be careful not to forget why our churches exist and who it is we are there to worship. Jesus says to everyone, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

Our faith must not be in the youth programs, the praise band or the size of the sanctuary; it is about loving Jesus and remembering how he captured our hearts when we realized that he loved us so much that he willingly gave his life that we may be sinless in the eyes of God. We cannot lose site of the fact that He gave of himself as an example that we are to give of ourselves completely to His service and the service of others.

I Stand at the Door and Knock

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rev 3:19-21.



In the Book of Revelation, Jesus writes seven letters to Churches of that day which when laid out in order, mystically reveal church history from 100 AD until the time of the Great Tribulation. The commendation and criticism God had for each of the churches reveal to the modern day Christian that there are many practices and attitudes in churches today that the believer, who is serious about his relationship with the Father, should distance himself from.

Many people today are claiming that they have "lost their religion" because of the experiences they have had in church. Judging from the letters in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 this is not at all surprising to God. Jesus clearly reminds seven times, "He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches." that we should recgonize the churches that do not stand on the word of God and leave them. Warning us of the dangers of false doctrine and the dismissal of God's word.

We live in very interesting times. The level of deception seems to be increasing and the number of people leaving churches because of false doctrine, wickedness in the pulpits and hypocracy in the pews, is on the rise. As believers we must pray for the lost and lead them gently to the loving arms of our Father who wants to adopt them into his family (our family). Time seems to be running short as the day of our Lord's glorious return is ever closer.

My prayer. Father, I pray in the name of Jesus that you would open the eyes and ears of your wandering sheep and turn them back toward you. I pray that we as your children will be more keenly aware of how to reach your sheep and help guide them back to you . Show us Father how to lead them back as you change their hearts and call them out of darkness and into light. I pray in earnest that all may find their way home, in Jesus mighty name. Amen!

Forgive One Another and Be Healed

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Eph 4:31-32

We all have things that we hold on to. I suppose there is security in holding on; like a blanket or a pacifier to a young child. Even after we are saved and we promise to give our hearts to God and walk with Jesus Christ daily we continue to carry those burdens into our new lives with Christ. We fool ourselves into thinking that because we accept Christ as our Saviour that the burdens and the past will melt away in the euphoria of our salvation. Not exactly! When we give our hearts to Him, we have work to do. In fact, we may discover that we have burdens we didn't realize after we walk with God awhile.

No, just like when we went forward or we prayed a prayer and asked God to step into our lives, we also have to physically with some and spiritually with all our burdens "let go" of them. If we are grasping hold of our anger toward another, or hanging on to an addiction we cannot take hold of Jesus' hand and allow him to lead us. If we harbor resentment, jealousy or lust in our hearts there is no room for God there to heal us from them. We must make the first move our selves with these burdens of our former selves and release our grip on them so that we can grab hold of something new.

I have learned so much in my walk with God but letting go seems to have been the most difficult lesson. God however, is patient and has allowed me to release them over time while revealing new ones that I didn't realize I held onto. Like a parent, God loves us through these issues but we must trust him and give the problem to him freely and keep our hands off while he heals the wounds and replaces the burden with more of him.

Its a wonderful experience but you have to make the first move.

My prayer. Father thank you for your gift of salvation through your one and only Son. Thank you that you love your children so much that you want none of us to suffer the burdens that we have taken from the devil and have carried all of our lives. Not all of these hurts we asked for, some of them were done to us by people who were supposed to love and care for us, but none the less we still hold onto the pain because that is all we have ever done. Help us Lord to trust you enough to release our grip on the hurts and the burdens of our past. Replace them with more of your love and lead us Lord into new lives of service to you and our brothers and sisters who are still lost and carrying their own loads. We want to be free Lord and take hold of the good things that you want to give your children. Thank you Lord! I pray all of these things in Jesus mighty name, Amen!

Begining of Wisdom

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Proverbs 1:7

There are a lot of difficult questions facing our world today. How do we organize our spending priorities to change the economic crisis we are in? How do we resolve the problem of world wide terrorism? Should we continue with the war in Iraq or move to Afghanistan? On the medical front, in the classroom, on Capitol Hill and in the cities and towns across America, we seem to have more questions than good answers.

Fundamentally, we have failed to look to our best source for answers the one true God. The most wise man to ever have lived was King Solomon. He was wealthy beyond his wildest dream but the one thing he asked God for was to gran him wisdom and God did. Solomon wrote the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. Each is filled with tremendous insight and wisdom for young and old alike, for leaders, for married couples and a host of other professional disciplines and social situations.

However, Solomon starts his writings with what I believe is his most profound revelation for the God, the spiritual author of everything he wrote. All knowledge begins with fear (respect and reverence) of the Lord. One can spend a lifetime studying and become a scholar and recognized expert in his or her field, but without a genuine reverence for God, all of it is for naught.

Isaiah 29:14 says, "I (God) will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Paul says in 1 Corinthians that God has "made foolish the wisdom of the world."

What scholar has figured out where the earth came from? Why are no two snowflakes the same? Who or what caused "Old Faithful" to erupt like clockwork for thousands of years? In the thirty-eighth chapter of the Book of Job, God conducts a four chapter final exam for which Job cannot answer a single question after which he concedes "I know that you can do all things (Lord); no plan of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2

As much as we try to find the answers to life's most difficult questions and debate over Darwin Theory, our minuscule attempt at gaining knowledge cannot advance until we first concede like Job "and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6 God is the Creator, the author and he knows the beginning from the end and until we grasp that knowledge we will be hopelessly searching for wisdom and find ourselves miserably lost and ignorant.

My Prayer. Father, please forgive us for thinking we are wise when we fail recognize you as our loving and gracious redeemer. Forgive our arrogance and our pride and gently nudge us back from our aimless wandering. Help us to realize like you did with Job that it is only through your plan that our life will be lived. Help us to understand that we are your hands and feet and that your purpose will be fulfilled no matter how hard we try to do things on our own. Thank you Lord for continuously bringing us back as a shepherd rounds up his strays. Thank you for loving us enough to give us your Son as redemption from our sin and mediator for us when we wander away. I love you Father and I ask you for a double portion of wisdom beginning with a deep reverence for your goodness and mercy. In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Ordinary Men and Women

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1 Cor 1:26-29

If you are reading this and believe that the Word of God is divinely inspired and physically written so that mere mortals could comprehend what is in God's heart then this verse is from the Father for you right now.

Friends in Christ, God loves you and has called you out of who you were and into what he has planned for your life since before you were born. All you and I have to do as believers is live it. God is empowering us that we live out his plan for us no matter what our surroundings appear.

God chose ordinary men and women not scholars, influential people or the "best of the best" to do His business. The time is now to see and understand that God wants us to live our lives for Him and the Kingdom in these times. Why are you waiting? Why am I waiting? None of us are going to be any smarter by earthly standards, nor born in a different family. We are in God's family and its time we live like it, start today and watch how the world is going to change. We are the most influential people on this planet when we live like the people our Father has called us to be.

My prayer. Father, today I humble myself and lay all that I have accumulated that has kept me from You at your feet. I am choosing today to let go of the idols and the stuff that is preventing me from fully serving you and being the person you have called me to be. I repent and turn away from everything that displeases and seek your face. Lord give me eyes to see what you see in every situation I face and give me the courage to be a man of God in everything I do. Let my hands and feet be yours. Use me to do that which you called me to do no matter how difficult because I can do all things through You who gives me the strength. I love you Lord now let me act like. In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Tell Them What they Want Hear?

"But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?" The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. " 2 Chron 18:7-8


The truth is under attack. No one wants to hear bad news any more even if its true. "They won't like us if we tell them something they don't want to hear." What happened to our spines? When did America ever shy away from the truth because it was too difficult to hear? It seems as if from the White House to Capitol Hill to the Mayors office our politicians have lost their ability to lead.

While we must continue to pray for them, we as believers have a duty to remind them that they are obligated not only to the citizens but more importantly, if they are followers of Christ, they must also place themselves under His leadership and guidance.

We will all do well to lift these men and women up in prayer and also remember what the Holy Spirit inspired in 2 Chronicles 7: 14 " If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. "

This prayer is for believers not atheists or agnostics. "My people" is us! We must humble ourselves, we must pray and seek God's face and turn from our wickedness then He will heal our land.

If any of our representatives call themselves followers of Christ or are practicing Jews then this word if for them. We should pray this ourselves and also send it to them via email or letter or phone call. Our country needs to be healed and God is ready to do that, we need to do our part!

My prayer. Father we acted proudly and ignored your presence, thinking we could run our country without You. Forgive us Lord for our arrogance and pride. As the father accepted the prodigal son, please forgive us our trespasses and sins and take us back into your loving arms. We humble ourselves before you Father and repent from our wickedness. Please Lord hear our prayer and lay bear our hearts to examine our sincerity. We want to see you and make your ways our ways. We want to know your face and see you smile upon our nation once again. We as believers in God stand in agreement that we have been wrong and ask now with humble repentance and confident boldness that you will hear us from heaven and heal us from our iniquity and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank you Lord that you would love America enough to heal her if we sincerely and humbly ask and walk in your ways. I pray too Lord that believers everywhere will send this prayer to their elected officials and leaders all across the country and encourage them to pray for each other and stand as leaders. Father we are ready to hear bad news as long as it is the truth and we are prepared to fight the long fight to win back the freedom that we have given up by our disobedience. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen.

What They Want to Hear

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2 Tim 4:3-4 (NKJV)

In a Feb 10, 2009 "Times on Line," article entitled, "Vatican Buries the Hatchet with Charles Darwin," the author writes: "The Vatican has admitted that Charles Darwin was on the right track when he claimed that Man descended from apes.
A leading official declared yesterday that Darwin’s theory of evolution was compatible with Christian faith, and could even be traced to St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas. “In fact, what we mean by evolution is the world as created by God,” said Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture."

One day earlier (2/9/2009) in a German on-line newspaper "Der Speigel" Bishop Richard Williamson speaks at length in an interview that he does not believe the Nazi Holocaust that killed six million Jews during World War II happened.

Needless to say these two articles were upsetting to me but not surprising to God in light of the writing of Paul in his second letter to Timothy.

These days are full of half truths and out right lies from the heads of our governments to the pulpits of our churches. Deceptive speech is the norm. From the White House to the Vatican, our politicians and many of our clergy are turning their hearts away from truth and toward fables and misinformation, to gain favor by telling what they think people want to hear. Truth is gone from the very places we need the truth to be spoken.

The truth is not always what most of us want to hear. When the news is bad or when improper behavior needs to be corrected the truth is not pleasant. However, denial of the truth does not make the bad news better nor does it correct poor performance. Yet we continue to deceive each other saying everything is okay, denying the truth so that for a moment we can be popular while delaying the inevitable and often making the situation worse.

"Bad news doesn't get better with age," my former Commanding Officer would say. He was right. Yet many times his officers were afraid to tell him when something was not right for fear he would be mad at them.

When are we going to tell the truth? We will never correct our difficulties by hiding them and worse changing the facts to cover up the reality of the situation. Truth is absolute and we are only fooling ourselves if we think we can deny that.

My prayer. Father I know from your word that nothing that is happening in the world right now is a surprise to you. Neither the President nor the Pope can fool You. Father, in the name of your Son Jesus, forgive us for thinking that we can deceive you in any way. Help us Lord to see the error of our ways and heal us from the sin of lying and deception. I pray in earnest for our eyes to be opened from the blindness caused by our self-deception. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen.

You Know Me, Father!

“O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.” Psalm, 139:1

I have to confess that I have been preoccupied this year with wedding plans. My daughter is getting married and I have been obsessed with how much things cost. It is frustrating to me because I am not very trusting when it comes to money and frankly every time a dollar is spent I cringe because I am exposed and I don’t know how I will make enough to afford paying the monthly bills and the wedding on top of it. I know this sounds normal to most of you but to me this is a huge deal and even though God is working in this wedding making everything smooth and providing the resources, I don’t trust God enough to stop worrying.

Am I being unreasonable here or am I just human? I find comfort in Psalm 139, because when I read it I know God knows exactly how I will react to every expenditure and new requirement even before I hear of it. He knows that I don’t trust Him and he knows how much monetary issues worry me, and He loves me just the same! I wouldn’t love me but I am thankful He does!

My prayer. Father, thank you that your word is true. Thank you that you know us better than we know ourselves and that you love us when we are not very lovable. I pray Father for your peace and for an expansion of my trust in you in this difficult financial time. I thank you that you would provide me with the resources to give my daughter the kind of wedding that she wants. I thank you that my wife and I are on the same page as we plan the budget and carry out the spending and planning for this event. Above all Lord, thank you that my daughter and her fiancée are happy and that they are drawing closer to you as they open the next chapter of their lives together. Father use me to be a godly influence on Chuck and Dawn and continue to work out all of our salvation, one day at a time as we walk more closely with you. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

Test the Spirits

"...do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out in the world." 1 John 4:1


John warns us that there are many false prophets and deceivers who will try to lead us astray. Jude warns too in his letter, that "certain men have secretly slipped in" among us, to steal the faith. Many of them are those we read, watch on television , and see in the pulpits of our churches. They make so much noise, bombarding our senses trying to draw us toward their new idea. They demand our attention with a new melody, a clever lyric, an attractive model or a clever sales pitch. How can we discern the good messages from the bad?

John tells us that we must remain in Christ and be diligent for the deceivers went out from the believers. That is the deceivers know the word of God so we too must have a thorough knowledge so that they cannot trick us into believing a lie or half truth. John says, "It is the man who denies Jesus is Christ," that is the deceiver. John reminds us that what we have heard from the beginning (from Christ himself) is the truth and only that word is true. Those who came after him who did not remain true to what Jesus spoke for their own personal gain are the deceivers. They have existed through the centuries spreading their deeds until they have become false doctrine. They are the root of denominational splits within the body of Christ and their confusion has driven many from the Church and has given rise to atheism and allowed other religions to deceive even more.

It is incumbent upon all of us to understand the word of God and not substitute denominational doctrine for the truth found in Jesus Christ. We must walk daily with our Father and be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we are not fooled by the next new thing. There is coming a day when the deception will be more than a confessional booth or fast talking televangelist looking for a quick buck. If we can be deceived by religion or a feel-good preacher, we can certainly be fooled by Satan himself and his appointed messengers. Understanding the truth is a matter of eternal life or death, we must take it seriously!

My prayer. Father open our eyes that we be not deceived by things we want to hear. Open our hearts to your word and only your word as our source of strength and truth. Help us to be doers of your word and guard us against the deceivers that are trying to lead us astray. We ask this in the mighty name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen!

Living in Christ

"But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." 1John 2:5-6

Happy New Year. Last year I started this blog and didn't give it the daily treatment that the name implies. In fact this is my eightieth post so you can see that I made a post on average about every four days. Hardly, what I set out to do. As I reflected on the posts, they did represent how I struggle with myself to meet God on his terms rather than my own. God wants our undivided attention and frankly, most of the time, we are too busy for him. If we are truly believers and have Christ dwelling on the inside of us as the word says, we must heed the words of the apostle John, "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

In 2009, I plan to take stock in this verse and examine and fix where I fall short of walking like Jesus did. Jesus had a boldness about him and his "Father's business," that we as Christians don't have. We are ineffective most of the time in our ability to share the gospel with non-believers. Not only do we not have that boldness, but most of us cannot even tell a non-beleiver who God is and why we believe Jesus was a real person. I believe homosexuality and now atheism have been able to gain acceptance in our community because we have been ineffective in spreading the love and knowledge of Christ to a world hungry for His message of love and hope. We have to do better.

My prayer in 2009 is to grow in my love for God that I would walk as boldly as Jesus and do his Father's business in the workplace, at church, in the grocery store, inside my home and amongst my family and friends. Wherever I have a sphere of influence, I want others I meet to see Jesus Christ in me. I believe the greatest thing that can happen to me in 2009 is to have someone stop and ask me, what is different about you? That will be my queue to tell them the good news of Jesus Christ!

My prayer. Father, please forgive me for living a mediocre and unproductive "life in Christ." I understand that you are trying to tell all of us that if Christ truly dwells inside of us we ought to act like Jesus not our former sinful selves. Grant me Father the insight to see where I fall short and shore up my weakness with your Love and forgiveness. Help me to better put my talents to good use in moving the Kingdom forward as we wait patiently for your return. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to write this blog in the freedom of the United States of America and I ask that you continue to pour out your blessings on this great country even though at times we have failed to live like you demand us to. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!