The God Honoring Thing to Do

Mother’s day is here, it’s the time set aside when people everywhere honor those through whom they entered the world. God would even use his special creation, Woman, to enter human society and bring redemption for all mankind. The mother to child bond is very powerful and unique among all relationships. The life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his interaction with her provides many lessons and reveals many clues to what God has on his mind regarding ones treatment of a mother. Mary who knew the calling, and responsibility on her son would seek the young boy who was left behind in Jerusalem (Luke 2:49) like any mother we see her concern, and like a child he responds reminding her of his calling and purpose. Then we see Jesus on a cross and while dying he still demonstrates the concern for his mother by assigning the responsibility of her care to the disciple he loved, John. This man he  personally mentored preparing him to love and care for his mother as he would (John 19:25-27), guaranteeing she would have food, clothing and a roof over her head. These lessons teach us all something very important, love and care for your mother as long as you have breath, it’s the God honoring thing to do.

Happy Mother’s Day to all my friends and those of you who support Truth for a Generation.

The Great Sacrifice

It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating a brand new year and here we are looking at another Resurrection Sunday (the great sacrifice).  The years are moving with rapidity like so are many other things in our lives. The scripture is right on that says “…whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”  My view of James 4:14 took on a new reality for me with a recent heart challenge. I was diagnosed with something called Arrhythmia better known as A-Fib or a failed SA node. It’s when the normal electrical impulse of the heart beats in an unreliable pattern resulting in poor blood circulation. It often requires a surgical procedure to address. I underwent 2 procedures lasting 7 hours. Let’s just say, when you’re in the gym regularly, eat healthy and careful with your body there are certain things you don’t expect. For me, this was one of those unexpected things.  So this week means a great deal to me and for most Christians. It’s a time we all recognize the great sacrifice Jesus made, that allows access to God, the creation of a greater covenant that provides, healing, provision and a security beyond the physical. This is a great time to develop spiritual disciplines and implement them lifelong. The last several months have renewed my commitment to him. It has deepened my understanding of his love for me and raised a greater passion for the work of the Kingdom: and all this because of his great sacrifice.

Looking back with gratitude

This is that time of the year when we begin to reflect on just what kind of year its been. I can say from my experience its been both interesting and rewarding. We don’t need to look very far to see life for some has become very challenging. There has not been much change in the state of affairs nationally, especially economically. Its been encouraging to watch many who have not allowed their challenges break them but only reveal their great resilience and faith in their creator. I pray this has been a year to remember primarily because you have experienced the same and Gods profound love for you. Merry Christmas

How now shall we live?

Have you noticed how many opinions we have of what God is like by so many people, church leaders especially. I am convinced after years of observation, study and just plain personal experience there is one example of  God he would want us to hold onto. Like God we are designed to be givers. There are more people who are finding their lives unfulfilled because the realization is setting in they are not here to simply accumulate stuff, but if we would be honest with ourselves there is no other time we feel more  fulfilled then when we are giving. The nature of God is love, we are created by this supernatural essence.  A recent article in the New York Times spoke of a couple who decided to give away everything they did not use and keep only what they needed, even moving into a smaller apartment. They felt by paring down their lives they would get out of it more meaning.  This is happening all over the world as I hear the stories, apart from God however life is never completely fulfilled yet I understood the deep need of this couple and others who follow this path. The current economic climate begs one to refocus on what their priorities should and should not be. Only when you give yourself away in any of several ways will you begin to unearth the true meaning of Gods intention for life.  This I believe is a reality more Christ followers will come to discover.

Our Fathers

There’s something special about a group of men together in worship and enjoying sincere fellowship. With father’s day approaching this week I just returned from a M.A.N.D.A.T.E weekend (in the Poconos), men addressing needs desiring a truth eternal. This is the men’s ministry of Truth Center and this year was special.

  This retreat was our fourth and they just get better each year. We were joined by men from four churches in the city, all expressing how great an experience this was for them. It is hard to top men praying in the spirit at 6 a.m. calling on God with such passion it moves everyone in the room, and many to tears, yes real men don’t mind crying. What a powerful lead in to our father’s day celebration.

  Men provide strength in their communities, in their churches and their families. However, spirit filled men provide all of the above with authority and insight. This was special on a number of levels and I expect the fruit of our time together to manifest. I pray this will not be just another Fathers day but one in which you have lived so you can be appreciated, loved and respected for the man you are.

Bogota, Columbia

I am awake early as usual and thought I should add this post of the tremendous time were having here. We have seen the power of God in the 2 Sunday morning services here at El Pacto with numerous souls coming to the Lord. Present in the second service was a group of young men who have lost legs fighting the war here against the guerillas, yet God is doing a work in their hearts as they sat and received the word entitled, Ownership. This word settles the issue of who we belong to in reality. Those in attendance were really in receive mode.  In addition there has been much time spent in several sessions with the staff as we engaged them in  some leadership training. Pastor Bunche asked if I would take part of our time here and spend with his leadership. Thank you for all your prayers as we finish this week at the school El Pacto has built in one of the worst areas in this city, a place where many of the children,  because of the level of poverty, eat their best meals during the school day. We are also visiting the women’s farm (which TCMI supports) another ministry effort which houses and rehabilitates substance abusers, Pastor B will be sharing with the women. Again thank you for your prayers, what an honor to serve God in this capacity.

Exposing Darkness

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:19

 The real war is not being fought in Iran, Afghanistan, or some of the more remote regions of Africa; no, the real war today is for the souls of men. Wars are always waged over territory this is no different. What is so interesting about this is, it is being conducted in plain sight, yet it is not so obvious. Failure to identify the true enemy only leads to deeper deception. In the movie, “The Usual Suspects” a statement is made that to this day resonates:

“The greatest thing Satan has ever done is to convince the world he doesn’t exist.”

Many consider this current period of our history to be post-modern where the very consideration of a maniacal spiritual being is beneath the intelligence of most. The response is often, “The Devil is just some contrived being that helps a weak person make sense of the problems they go through, most of which they don’t want to be responsible for.” The other side of this conversation there are those who say is he is just some creature out of religious fiction.

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

The unbeliever one can understand, however, our Christian Leaders should be people who see behind this thin veil of deception and into the face of the real enemy. Instead, many have been caught up in the bright light of popularity, celebrity, and just plain, self-centered kingdom building at the expense of Gods calling and his people. Having been shown the Kingdoms of the world by the god of this age, many have bought in lock, stock, and ministry. This is not simply a time to pray but watch while praying, and also keep your eyes fixed on that which is permanent and enduring, Jesus.

New Wine New Wines Skins

 

“Elevated thinking always agrees with elevated believing”, these were the first words spoken as I addressed our church family before crossing into 2010. As the evening unfolded and the word was shared this statement began to take shape. The Pharisees and Johns disciples asked why the disciples of Jesus did not fast (Mark 2:18) and his response was profound, “No one pours New Wine into Old Wineskins”. The understanding is this, as the wine ferments it will burst an old skin which had no flexibility. He knew his concept of fasting and theirs were vastly different. He also knew if the New Wine he introduced was poured into New Wine skins both would be preserved. 

 Today we have New Wine in many forms. Oral Roberts, some years ago introduced something new, he wanted to revolutionize his ministry concept with televised revivals. During the process resistance came from his own group of Pharisees’, however his determination was evidenced by this statement “Principles don’t change methods change”.  He was simply introducing New Wine. 

 In 1995 two Stanford college students working out of a garage in California would revolutionize the way information would be gathered and how research would be done. They impacted the advertising world by changing the model and all this today recognized by one word, Googling. Today Sergei Brin and Larry Page and their company Google has given us all New Wine. 

New Wine are fresh concepts, ideas, practices and beliefs which are not always readily accepted. I believe this will be a year in which God will introduce some New Wine and pour into those skins that can embrace his new concepts, ideas, practices and beliefs. 

All who do will receive and benefit from all he will do. Remember “Elevated thinking always agrees with elevated believing”. 

Isa 43:19 

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.                                                         

 

God with Us

There is always something different about this time of the year, there is an apparent change in the attitude of most people. Many families anticipate spending time together, rekindling relationships and there is  just an overall attitude of goodwill. Maybe it has something to do with the time God chose to enter the realm of human existence, coming exclusively to deal with mans greatest problem, sin. The angels declared upon the birth of Christ that peace has come to men who will to do good. This was a paradigm shift in how mans greatest problem could now be resolved because the savior, messiah, anointed one and prince of peace was now in the earth to reconcile man to God. No wonder there was so much excitement in the heavens the day of his birth and this season remains in the opinion of many the most joyous of the year. My Christmas prayer is that more will come to know him, the power of his saving grace, his reconciling love and the true meaning of his name, Immanuel.

Another Year

With every passing year one of the more interesting times for me is the day of my birth. It’s not because I’m getting older with each passing year like everyone else, but it’s the time of the year, October 31^st which most of the world recognizes as Halloween. It’s a 4 billion dollar holiday, that’s big business by anyone’s standard. I thank God every year for his grace  however this season presents another reality that I cannot dismiss. This is a season of hyper spiritual activity, a time when front yards are filled with ghoulish masks, headstones marking graves, skull and bones of all kinds many vying for the most coveted front yard, even as I write this the doorbell rings with parents and children just enjoying a seemingly innocuous holiday. While behind all the commercialization of this billion dollar day some child will go missing possibly involved in a ritual marking the day, covens of witches and warlocks celebrating Satan and honoring this holiday as the most open time to celebrate with dead ancestors, while proudly wearing the Baphomet, the pagan deity revived in the 19^th century as a figure of Satanism. In this pluralistic society we hear everyone’s beliefs should be respected however as the church we don’t sit idle allowing the portals of activity to go unchecked, no this birthday celebration is about warfare, actively engaging the church to arm itself likewise by praying against everything that lifts its head against God. While I pause to thank him for another year of my life, celebration I must admit is not first and foremost on my mind.