Declining Immorality

This morning on my drive into work I heard an interesting statistic. The radio announcer stated that in 1997 people were asked whether or not musicians should be able to say and act as they wanted when performing. At that time 27% of the respondents agreed with that statement. Now fast-forward 15 years to 2012 and ask that same question. In doing so it was found that 42% of the people agreed with that statement. WOW!


I do not know why but this statistic really surprised me. In some way I suppose I was still hoping that the concept of decency was somewhat prevalent. Unfortunately, it seems to be losing ground.

Think about it. These numbers seem to reflect a 1% increase every year in the group that believes in anything goes. Anything goes! It truly is a scary thought is it not? Let us expound further.

If this same rate of growth continues then a child born today will graduate with 60% of the people around them believing that when it comes to music, and probably most anything, anything goes. Gone are the days of “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” and hello are the days of bringing Vegas to Main Street.


Can I tell you something else? I do not believe we have hit the tipping point. A tipping point is the point in which a movement or a trend goes from a slow unnoticed growth (or decline) and exponentially gains (or loses) ground. This whole growth of immorality in our children and our community could get quite a bit worse. Or it could get better.

I know that at times when we look around us it seems that the world is gaining ground and the Kingdom is losing it, but the battle is not lost. Time and time again in the Old Testament we read of Israel being captured (by their own sin mostly) and then cast out of their land, but time and time again they regained what was lost. I believe we can do the same.

It is time that we stop sitting on our hands with eyes pressed shut and mouths muted. Stand up! Speak the truth and stare the immorality in the face. Be the difference that our children need.

When the next generation looks around what do they see? Obviously the world is everywhere and has no problem pressing its beliefs on us and our children. They are fighting to influence us and to change us, when God has called US, His people, to be the agents of change. God has called us to be unmovable from His side. God has called us, what else do you need?

I don’t know, maybe I am just on a rant today, but someone has to be ranting. I love my God. I love my family. I love my church. For these reasons I will STAND UP, and I ask that you STAND UP too.

Annoying Love

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church”
Ephesians 5:25

    Can I tell you something, but you have to promise not to tell my wife? She can really get on my nerves. I mean really get on my nerves. She does this hover thing where she just stands over me and stares me down, adoringly of course, but my goodness it irks me.

    Can I tell you another something, but you have to promise to tell her this time? I would not trade any of it. For as much as she annoys me, I love her too much to be without her. It is like those little annoyances are necessary to my life now and I would have it no other way.

    So what does this have to do with anything? Well, I can’t help but wonder if that is the same opinion God has of us. It is like we mere mortals  do everything we can to disappoint Him, yet He continues to poor out His goodness and love. No matter what we do He forgives and continues to bless. Knowing that Christ loves me, in spite of myself, is a great lesson to learn, especially when attempting to fully love my wife the same way Christ loves the church.

    This lesson, however, does not only apply to husbands, but to all believers. To really love like Christ essentially means that we must love one another in spite of each other.

    Hard pill to swallow? Yeah, trust me, I know.

    Just think about it for a moment. If we were to really start loving one another, regardless of flaws, and strive to live a Christ like life, we might just live up to our potential. Isn’t that what it really is all about: potential.

    Let me tell you something else about my wife. I want to see her succeed. I love her so much that I want to see her do great things for God. I pray for it, and God has granted it over and over again. And you know what? He is just getting started.

    See when we love like Christ we have a desire to draw the best out of our neighbor, the same way Christ desires to draw the best out of you.  It doesn’t matter how much they annoy you, it only matters that you are there to be annoyed.

    Take a moment and thank God for loving you, in spite of how annoying you can be. Make sure to praise Him for bringing the best out of you, and for extra measure go forth and attempt to bring the best out of someone else.

Belonging to Him

“Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
Romans 8:9
Do any of you reading this today remember the moment when the need to be one with Christ finally clicked. Maybe you have yet to cross that moment, or maybe it went by over a series of moments and no one event sticks out. However, for me there is most definitely one singular moment where everything just hit me and I knew I had to commit my life to Christ.

I was listening to a military chaplain speak on some lesson, the lesson I forget and is unimportant in this story, and he quoted the above highlighted scripture. During the weeks leading up to this bible study I had been reading the book of John and reflecting on my childhood in the church. Then I walked into this study and God got a hold of me.

Something about the thought of not belonging to Christ, not being one of His, is what scared the hell out of me, literally. I knew right then that something had to give. Has that happened to you?

Now that I have had many years pass since that day I still reflect on that particular scripture. Stop. Re-read. Think.

Do you have the Spirit of Christ? Are you sure? This is no laughing matter. The scripture is quite clear that if you do not have the Spirit of Christ then you are not His, so you better have it.

Now let me clarify something. To have the Spirit of Christ does not mean you speak in more tongues than your neighbor. Nor does it mean you fallout in the Spirit every Sunday. What it does mean is that you walk in the peace and joy of Christ Jesus and allow His will to lead each and every step of your life. It means that you are empowered by the Spirit and accomplish great things that draw attention to Him, not you.

I have just read Forgotten God by Francis Chan and I must say I agree with much of what he has to say. In this book he expresses an opinion that for many of us we give little attention to the necessity of the Spirit in our life. It is like He is not God or something.

Let me make something very clear. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD.

This is what makes it so important to have the Spirit in you. If you do not have the Spirit, and the Spirit is God, then can you really say you have God in your life. The Spirit was sent to be with us on Earth, He is God in your life. Embrace Him. Now!

Maybe you did not have a moment during a bible study in which the Spirit just fell on you such as I did, but you still need a moment. Take this week and focus on the Holy Spirit and focus on having more of Him in you life.

Excerpt: Eden Tree

    As the morning softly draws in I am awakened by the eerie sound of silence. It forms a stillness that settles deep into my soul and causes me to desire a release from within, yet I cannot. My eyelids slowly lift to reveal the world around me and they reveal nothing more than disappointment. The clouds of the sky have fallen and lie thick amongst our camp. It is hard to see more than a couple of feet before me, though my consciousness registers that I see all that is needed. 

    In awe I look to the heavens to gain my bearing and see the rising sun settled upon the low clouds. Using the density of the mist as a blanket for my eyes I peer at this most perfect orb. The radiant satellite smiles down to me through the haze and warms the dampness in my bones. I easily stare upon it without strain and admire the perfect roundness of the edge giving the appearance of eternal solitude settling with peaceful bliss.

    Entranced with the perfection of the morning I lose myself to the memories of days gone by. In the distance I can see the face of my mother appearing to me with the most surreal smile. As greatness of her image draws inward she forms a solid translucence that the sun can no longer penetrate. With my mind tossed into an array of confusion I step towards my phantom mother with a wanting heart but a hesitant soul. The steps of my well tattered boot fall short of the ground as I glide through this rise of moisture beneath me. With every step, wisps of the heavens dance under toe.

    With a childlike desire I call out to my mother with a muted mouth. I continue my glide to this otherworldly mother of mine and the sun in all its perfect glory continues to bear tenderly on the bridge of my nose. Its faint light in this world sympathetically urges me forward to bind the source of my mother’s continued glory. How can she be here in this place? How can I be here in this place? Where is this place?

    The answers elude me. But I continue to move forward uncontrollably. Passing the fire from the night before, I see only amber embers slowly flickering at the end of their short life. Around the fire there are no bodies, there are no companions, just imprints of warmth from where a body once was. I begin to realize that I am in a desolate existence where there are only myself and my mother, both of which are guided by this sun, and neither of which are truly alive.

    Quickly I notice there is no pain in step, I move with flawless gait. The once dead appendage connected to my hip seems to have been corrected in this indescribable place. With every breath I can feel a renewed energy like never before and my legs begin to pump like that of a stallion. My pace gains a vivacious skip followed by a spry gallop. Before I can comprehend the maker of my sudden liveliness I find myself in full stride with my arms flowing back behind me catching the wind in my palms. It is as if I was in a field of high grass as in the days of my youth, yet I am merely running among the clouds with no visible ground beneath me. Where this energy comes from I do not yet know.

    My face is resolutely pressed towards the image of my mother who never gets closer nor further away. The golden hue of the sun that is masked by a silver cascade of fog is covering my every step and in its mysterious existence has spoken silently to my soul and shown itself to be the source of my new found youth in this place. I continue to run wildly still with no answer at hand and with no determined destination, just …running… wildly.

To purchase the full title go to:  http://www.amazon.com/Eden-Tree-E-W-Lewis/dp/147529428X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337816365&sr=1-3

or 

Purchase from Backlist Books in downtown Massillon, Oh. 

A New Song

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”
Psalm 98:1

Has the Lord done marvelous things in your life? By which measure do you determine the blessings you have received? How often do we only look at what we have gained, instead of what we have not lost?

As I review these questions in regard to my own experience I cannot help but notice that all to often we only acknowledge God for what He has given, and not for how He has protected. It is as if we neglect to think of all the things that could possibly go wrong and how, just maybe, at times God keeps us out of the way of trouble.

The above mentioned verse states that the right hand and the holy arm have worked the salvation. First, take a moment to remember that salvation was not worked by you, but by Christ. While it may be true that we wrestle out our own salvation, the salvation itself was earned by the Savior. Second, salvation is a work, it is something that was actually done.

What we need to ask now is: what are we saved from? Many will say that we are saved from eternal damnation. While true, it also seems a bit empty. I cannot help but to believe that this great big God of ours not only blesses us with salvation, but also blesses us with the avoidance of the what could have been. 

Time and time again God declares to the Israelites that He desires for them to prosper, multiply, and have everlasting joy. To me that seems like a lot more than just salvation. Don’t get me wrong, salvation is enough, but we serve a more than enough God.

So let us put this all together. God does marvelous things. He has worked out our salvation. Not only are we saved, but we are blessed and protected by our Father. And all we are told to do is “sing to the Lord a new song.”

I, for one, shout out to God with victory and thanksgiving. Not only am I thankful for what He has given, but also for how He has allowed me to passover the troubled waters of the world. Do we at times face disturbance or downright struggle, yes, but without God it could be so far worse.

So today sing a new song. Sing  a song that is full of thanksgiving, not only for the blessings you have noticed, but also for the ones that went undetected. Sing a song that recognizes God is awesome, and bigger than we ever can know.  Sing a song that removes yourself from the equation, and purely recognizes God as your sovereign Lord.

To Judge, or not to Judge

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2

Growing up I often heard the old adage “you shouldn’t point because there are always three fingers pointing right back at you.” So being the ornery boy that I was I would typically respond by using my elbow instead.

Clever right? Not quite.

As I became older I put away my childish ways and now I just point and say to heck with the fingers pointing back. However, with this new found wisdom comes an understanding of what that adage meant. Essentially, none of us are without flaw or flawless or faultless or sinless. There has been only one who had the right to point and instead He embraced.

As I meditate on this fact and look over the church as a whole today I see in many ways the church getting those three fingers right back at them. Time and time again through the centuries the church has pointed at all the sinners saying they were not good enough. Sinners were too dirty. Sinners were too lost. Sinners were not like the white washed tombs the church had become. And now we are receiving the judgement right back.

The above scripture spoken by Jesus is often thrown around with little understanding. Everyone is ready to quote the first sentence, but few know the second. It is important to know that Jesus is not saying that we are to stop judging, He is saying that if you do be ready to be measured in the same way.

Are you saying it is okay to judge, you ask? NO!

What I am saying is that we need to spend more time on ourselves, and less time criticizing others. True, iron sharpens iron, but make sure you are iron first!

Let us look at what else Jesus had to say. He said that we should not look at the speck in our neighbors eye, while ignoring the plank in our own. Later the Word also says that we are to confess our faults to one another. Again, Jesus tells us that if we have aught with our brother we should leave our offering and seek forgiveness. At what point did He say grumble and blame others?

It is time church to stop acting as if we do not know why the world hates. First, Jesus told us they would because they first hated Him. Second, to often Christians have sat on their pious pews pointing at the world in self righteousness. I know that is harsh, but tell me it is not true. Maybe not everyone acted in such a manner, but at times the loudest ones did.

So what is the point of this berating of my fellow Christians in such a way that verges on a judgmental rant? Simple. I am not perfect and either are you. I have judged people and most likely so have you. I am a sinner and I need God, and I need you so that we both can be better people. I just ask are we willing to help each other become a better people today?

Modern Idolatry

“Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols”
Acts 17:16

Recently while perusing my Facebook News Feed and enjoying a few minutes of cyber voyeurism (this is what it feels like at times) I took interest to a video posted by a friend of mine. This particular video was a biting take on modern day idolatry.

In this particular expose the videographer depicted the idol worship found in some African nations and verbally described in detail what was happening. He then rewound the tape.

Upon this rewind he again played back the audio of his description, but changed the images he was displaying. Instead of tribal Africa, the backdrop now showed football loving America. Wouldn’t you know it all fit.

Now I am not writing today to condemn the practice of football. Any one out there that  knows me would know that I am a fan. Go Buckeyes! However, I am writing to caution us of the idols we hold in our lives.

Football may be the easy target due to its grandiose affair but there are many more out there. Let us also point out music. Ask any teen today and they will tell you of at least one artist that they would just die to see. This even goes for our Christian teens and their Christian bands.

As we grow older for many music and football are not as appealing, but the enemy is quick to replace it with something else. At times we can allow our career to get the best we have. Or could it be the ministry that you adore so much. For some it is their worship, maybe they are the best worshiper in the church and it is what they live for. The point is maybe there is something getting in your way.

The minute something comes between you and God you have a problem. The minute your ministry is more important than the God it is suppose to be for, is the minute you have formed an idol that stands before you. Yes, you may be the best worshiper, but what are you worshiping. Your God, or your worship.

What is it? You already know the answer. All I am asking of you today is to confront it and confess it. Acting as if there is nothing in your way does nothing but impede you.

Stop it!

Let us no longer have provoked spirits, but do let us have exhilarated ones. Have a spirit that is charged with God, not tampered by sin. Stop creating barriers and start breaking them down.

Great Decision

“I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.”
Exodus 6:6

Every year around the time of Easter Christian culture explodes with remembrance that Christ died on the cross. Drive by any church and you will see reader boards saying as much. Even our treasured Facebook is crowded with passages and images of Christ and His great sacrifice. However, at times I get the feeling that some of us (maybe even most of us) are just not getting it.

First let me point out that before the great sacrifice of Christ, there was the great decision of Christ. In no way did Jesus have to go through with the plan. In fact in the garden He asked for the cup to be passed (oh I am so tempted to teach on which cup this is, but another time shall we). In order to understand how this was a decision we must first understand the state of Christ.
Jesus was a man! I know it may seem hard to believe but He was wholly man. Now, He was also wholly God, which led to His great faith and accomplishments, but He was still a man. As such He was subject to human inadequacies and had to conquer them the same way we do today.
Stop and think on that for a moment.

If Christ was wholly man and faced our same struggles that means it was difficult for Him to lead that perfect life. That means He accomplished more than we ever thought. That means not only did He conquer death, but He also conquered the inadequacy of man.

But why?

The reason why is because he desires to free you from your burdens, so He bore them and conquered them just for you. He desires to set you free from the captors of this world, so He became captive and bore your punishment to set you free. He desires to redeem you with outstretched arm, so He got on a cross stretched BOTH arms out and redeemed you once and for all.

How great is our God? Not only did He cleanse you so that you may enter into the Kingdom (any god could have done that) but He also bore all of your troubles so that you would not have to. Praise Him, for He is worthy to be praised!

Let us leave with this. In Exodus 6:8 it states, “I will bring you into the land…” Let us not forget this point. That He has fulfilled the first three promises in Exodus, and one day He will fulfill the fourth; He will bring us into His land.

World Sins

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you”
John 15:18

The discussion of sin is one that has been approached time and time again, however, I wonder if we have ever looked at the sins of the world. What I mean is have we looked at what is considered to be a sin by the standards set forth in the world?

Worldly ways don’t matter.
Christ does matter.
Not caring if people do not like #1 and #2.

If you follow those three standards you can be certain the world will eventually take issue with you. However, if you adhere to the reversal of those standards the word we gladly receive you. The reversal is as such:

Worldly ways are essential.
Christ is a nice moral story.
Other people’s opinions are necessary.

Let me set one thing straight right away. The only opinion that matters is Christ’s opinion. The minute we stray from looking toward God for the standard is the minute we begin to fall from salvation. So look up; look up and find the guidance you need.

Second, Christ is more than just a story, He is the way and it is time we get to know the Way. To many times as Christians we have taken the time to know about God, but we fail to know God. Remember it is not about what you know, but who you know, and you better know Jesus.

Third, the ways of the world will fade away. In 1 John 2:15,16 we learn as much. Instead of worrying about the ways of the world that will perish, we must focus on the ways of heaven which are eternal.

Stop. Lets have a quite moment and digest.

Okay, you ready to continue.

Let us end with this. Remember, the world first hated Christ and as such the world will hate us. I know hate is a strong word, but I really think it is time we stop being so soft about everything, sometimes hard is just true. And sometimes the The Truth is just hard.

What is so hard about the truth? Well that one is simple. The truth sets us free because not only does it forgive, but it makes you address your past. You must address that the world is not essential. You must address that Christ has risen. You must address that only His opinion matters. Sometimes that is hard, but without it where would you be.

Who is He?

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Matthew 16:15

I have often wondered about who Jesus really is. I mean what was it really like to sit and walk with Him while He was on Earth. Reading through scripture we get a pretty broad perspective.

It begins with Him being the life of the party when He turned water into wine. Later we see that He was a bit of a rebel as He sifted wheat on the Sabbath. There is that time He took a whip to the moneychangers at the temple. (Does that mean He had anger issues?) Let us not forget the miracle worker when He walked on water, calmed a storm, healed many, cast out demons, and multiplied the fish and loaves. My goodness just who is this man?

This really is an intriguing question, but even more intriguing is who do you say He is?

When we review the Gospels for the characteristics of Jesus we see a man of many qualities. In retrospect it may just be easier to say who He is not. He is not:

Compromising
Fearful
Lost
Deceived
Heartless

Maybe it is that last one we should really focus in on. Jesus is not heartless. In fact He is heart-full. It is this overflowing love that allowed Him to ask for “this cup to pass” but still have the courage to say “it is finished.”

When I am really getting to the grit of who Jesus is to me I can’t help but think that He is my everything. But what does that mean? How do you really share that with someone? Can a nonbeliever even comprehend that?

Truth is, is that by saying Jesus is our everything we are not really explaining His awesomeness, but instead we are revealing our inability to describe Him. Does that make Him indescribable? Not really.

Simply, lets call it what it is: Love. Who do I say He is? I say He is the one that loved me so much that He gave Himself for me. He is the one that was willing to take the punishment that I deserve just so He and I can be one together. Is that who you say He is?

Its not that I have all the answers, but at least I have an answer. This should be a challenge to every believer. Who do you say He is? If you don’t know, well, maybe it is time.

Be Still

“Be still, and know that I am God”
Psalm 46:10

Busyness. What a mess our busyness can be at times. We run from one chore to the next never taking the time to just be still.

As we continue down this path of busyness we begin to become less and less in control of ourselves and more and more at the mercy of the world around us. Before we know it we are going to the doctor for blood pressure and anxiety. He in turns gives a regiment of medications that we are too busy to pick up.

We make these little calendars so that we can keep it all straight, but instead we become slaves to our pocket schedules. Instead of having the freedom to live spontaneously we live by the schedule dictated to us. Not that there is anything wrong with orderliness, but sometimes we just need to let go.

God’s word tells us to be still and know that He is God. When was the last time you have done this? I mean really been still, not that quick Hail Mary you throw up as you head out the door.
Every day we should strive to spend time with the Lord. Resting in His presence and hearing the schedule He has for us, after all He does know the plans He has for us.

Trust me, I know about busyness. Right now I am writing this all down frantically so that I can get to print in time for Sunday. My days have become so full that even weekly devotionals are hard to keep up with. So yeah, I am busy. However, this week I ask you to join me in slowing down. Busy is not healthy. Let us all slow down and take time to be with the Lord. Besides what good is it to gain the world, but lose our souls.

Good as God is

“You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst”

Nehemiah 9:20

What does it mean to be good? Does it mean to look out for others? Does it mean to give to your local food bank? Or does it mean to be good to self and family?

The reality of it all is that in the terms of man there are a variety of definitions for good. We see “good” as merely being an adjective and not a state of being. We utilize the word “good” to describe a situation or condition, when we should be utilizing the word as the title of a state of being.

When we say a person is good, it should not be in reference to their acts, but in reference to what they are. I know this may be difficult to differentiate, but it is essential in understanding the “goodness” of God.

God is not good because of what He does, but because of who He is! When we begin to understand this fact then we begin to understand the true Spirit of God.

Notice Nehemiah stated that God gave His good Spirit and this Spirit was to instruct. Again, today, we see that God has given His good Spirit and this Spirit is to instruct. What is He to instruct us in? Simply, He is to teach us how to be good, not as an adjective, but as a being.

Now take notice to the second portion of this scripture. A quick examination here will show how the Holy Spirit instructs. He instructs us through manna (bread) and water. Have we not learned that Christ is the bread of life and His spirit is like living water?

It is important for us to accept that in our natural state we are not good. But when we accept Christ and receive His Holy Spirit we can be. As we take in more and more of his Word (manna) and drink in more of His Spirit (water) then we can be transformed into something more than what we once were.

As we grow from not good (I hesitate to say bad) to good we understand the source in which we are tapped into. As man we can only use the word “good” to describe something, we fail to hold the capability to actually be good. However, with Christ we can become good not because of who we are, but because of who He is. Keep that in mind this week as you draw closer and closer to being good.

Beyond Doubt

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:6

Doubt. It is a pretty ugly word isn’t it? It is often taught in churches that we are to never doubt when we have faith. We are taught that doubt is the antithesis of faith and therefore we must avoid it at all costs. To this point I can only say that I DOUBT that is truly the case.

James teaches us that we are to have no doubt. He teaches that if we do doubt then we are simply like an undulating wave of indecision that lacks the strength to be decisive. We will walk this earth doubting our abilities causing us to go any which way the wind blows. To this point I can agree.

So now I have fully confused you. Good! I would hate to have you think you know me to well.

All joking aside, what I am getting to does hold water, even if it is wavy. Doubt is a complicated matter and we must understand the role it plays in our lives in order to understand what doubt we should avoid.

I believe that many of you will find that you have struggled with doubt many times in your life. I know I certainly have. Let us begin with the idea that doubt is not the problem, but what we doubt can be.

First we must never doubt God. God is faithful. God is on time. God is our Father. God is many things, but He is not to be doubted. Most of all God is not man.

I find that most of my doubt does not revolve around God but around me. I doubt that I have the ability. I doubt that I am good enough. I doubt that it is possible. This doubt is not always wrong and at times can be used for good.

When I feel that doubt rising in me it becomes an alarm. It signals my need to turn to God that much more and search His Word for guidance. In doing so I do not doubt Him, but I doubt myself. By taking this doubt and embracing it I am actually becoming closer to God. You can do the same.

When James teaches that we are to ask in faith he is speaking to this exact matter. When we doubt ourselves, essentially recognizing our own shortcomings, we should look to God out of faith in His power. You see in this manner we do not doubt in God. We do not become waves blown by the wind, but instead we come stalwarts focused on the steadiness of our Lord.

Today I challenge you to acknowledge and embrace your doubt as a way to latch on to Christ that much more. Use your shortcomings for good. After all when we are weak He is strong.

Eternally Forgiven Life

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”

Romans 8:1

So who is your biggest enemy? What is your biggest obstacle in life? No doubt many of us will respond with a triumphant “Satan” or claim that “temptation” is what they struggle with most, but what if you just admit that your biggest downfall at times is you.

Take a moment and reflect on your perception of your own ability. We will often find that we are most critical of our own actions and misgivings. It is like we understand the principle of forgiveness when it comes to family and friends, but check forgiveness at the door to self-reflection.

Stop it!

Stop forgiving others while you condemn yourself!

The above-mentioned scripture states that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Are you in Christ? If the answer is no, then we need to have a different conversation, but if it yes, then you need to renew your mind.

A renewing of the mind is essential as we move forward in our God appointed lives. First and foremost you must remember it is not all about you. If it were then life would not be very exciting, now would it? It must first be all about God and your relationship with Him.

All good things come to those who trust in the Lord. This saying holds true each and every day of your life. In fact you have probably heard, read, or said those very words yourself. Well today I challenge you to start living them.

I feel like I need to tell you to go sit in front of a mirror, smile, and say “I am good enough, people like me, and praise God because yes I can do anything.” But that would be corny and slight similar to a television skit. Instead just live out your life trusting that God chose you and forgave you.

When I am in my pulpit and say “Salvation, not condemnation” I am speaking to all people, not just the ones outside of the four walls. It is time. Time to stand up and stop being your own worst enemy. The devil is already trying to tear you down; stop giving him a hand.

I will end with this. God loves you. He knew you in your mother’s womb. He knows the hairs on you head. He knows you better than you know yourself. And He chose you anyway. Stop condemning what God has forgiven and start walking in his precious gift, eternally forgiven life.

Give it All

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

In any given week I find myself traveling throughout much of Stark County and even up to Akron. During these drives I often pass by the local churches and read their signs. There are the standard “Jesus Saves”, then there are the inspirational, and some are even comical, but the one I crossed this week was subtly upsetting.

The sign I read this week read: “Make Jesus part of your 2012”. At first this does not seem like much of an issue. Right? But when you evaluate it further you will find that there is one word that is actually quite disturbing. That word is “part”. See I believe that this is the whole problem with the faith; we all just want Jesus to be a part.

Jesus did not come to Earth and save us from our sins just so He can be a part of our lives. Instead as believers, young and old, Christ is to be our whole life. Remember, in the scripture above, He has begun a good work in you and plans to see it into completion.

God is not some novelty that we pick up on Sunday, or if we are really religious on Wednesday as well. He is meant to be part of our life all the time. When Paul walked the Earth he did not put Jesus down when it was convenient, instead he picked up the cross that much more when it wasn’t. This is how Paul allowed Christ to complete a good work in him.

As we begin this year we each need to look at ourselves and find how we are going allow Christ to have all of us, so that we may have more of Him. They say that you can have too much of a good thing, well they are wrong. You cannot have too much Christ and I challenge you to try.

So in conclusion all I can say is press on for more. Don’t give up with where you are now, for you can always have more. We have yet to come to that time of completion and therefore there is always more to come. Don’t just give Jesus part of 2012, but give Jesus all of 2012.

Garment of Salvation

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness”
Isaiah 61:10

Over the past few years as I have grown in my ministry and relationship with Christ there have been many questions that I have wrestled with. Often times these questions will sprout from curiosity in how my brothers and sisters in Christ relate to the world. Not so much as to what they abstain from, but how they testify and exhort the Word of God.

Anyone who has heard me preach will know that I firmly believe in “Salvation, not Condemnation.” The thought in this phrase is that all to often we attempt to judge or even clean a person up before we share the true glory of Christ. Over the years this has done nothing to advance the Kingdom. Instead it has made the faith into bigotry full of judgment, something Christ Himself taught against.

People often quote John 3:16, yet neglect to read the very next verse where it states that Jesus did not come to condemn but to save. It is true that there is a day of judgment, but that day has not yet come and WE are NOT the judge or even the jury. We have been told to do two things, love God and love others. How is our judgment accomplishing either of those tasks?

In reference to the quoted scripture at the top of this scrawling I want us to take note of the order of things. Isaiah reports that we are first clothed in garments of salvation and then covered in a robe of righteousness. This order is essential for us to understand.

We must first be saved before we can be righteous. Without salvation we cannot even begin to understand righteousness. A well-respected friend once said that the dictionary has very little to say about righteousness, and that is because man has very little to say about righteousness. (Terry, it would appear I listen to you as well). This statement could not be anymore true. The people of the world are incapable of being on or understanding the righteous path because righteousness does not reside in man, but in God.

In summary, what I am leading to is the old idea of “cleaning a person up” or attempting to get them to live a “right life” before they know Christ is fully illogical. Let us first get them to meet our Savior and then let Him wash them. After all did He not wash the feet of His disciples? Is He not willing to cleanse us as well? Let us today reflect on how we share our faith in hope of improving not only others, but ourselves.