Faith!

Can you describe what a person of faith acts like?

 John Ortberg states: "The decision to grow always involves a choice between risk and comfort. This means that to be a follower of Jesus, you must renounce comfort as the ultimate value of your life. And that’s sobering news to most of us, because we’re into comfort...but water walkers master failure... Did Peter fail?...Failure is not an event, but rather a judgment about an event. Failure is not something that happens to us or a label we attach to things. It is a way we think about outcomes...Did Peter fail? Well, I suppose in a way he did. His faith wasn’t strong enough. His doubts were stronger. 'He saw the wind.' He took his eyes off of where they should have been. He sank. He failed. But here is what I think. I think there were eleven bigger failures sitting in the boat. They failed quietly. They failed privately. Their failure went unnoticed, unobserved, uncriticized. Only Peter knew the shame of the public failure. But only Peter knew two other things as well. Only Peter knew other things as well. Only Peter knew the glory of walking on water. He alone knew what it was to attempt to do what he was not capable of doing on his own, then feeling euphoria of being empowered by God to actually do it. Once you walk on water, you never forget it--not for the rest of your life!" (Ortberg, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat, page 21-23).

Hebrews 11:1-13

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.  By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.  By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.  All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”

 

Our faith in God calls us to worship Him!   Right out of the gate we get our first example of someone worshipping God which is Abel.  The text reminds us that “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.”

Abel had a genuine heart!  It lead him to not only be obedient to God but caused him to simply worship God for who He is. It was pleasing to God.  Abel produced a better sacrifice than Cain because he had a righteous heart and he put forth all that he was in his offering to God.  He didn’t simply do offer God “a half-hearted” offering like Cain.  Abel’s offering spoke about his character.  Abel’s faith in God caused him to simply worship the Father.  It was genuine worship. 

 

How often do you look forward to giving tithes and offerings with a grateful heart?  This current economy is tough.  It’s hard to give especially when money is tight when bills need to be paid to keep things on or to continue to have roof over your head and to continue to eat.  I want to ask a question not only of you but of myself as well:  Have you ever had the faith of the widow we read about in Luke 21?  Think about that for a little bit.  God has told us that He will always provide what we need and we are called to faith in Him that He will do what He says He will do.  That kind faith leads us to worship our God because He is great and He loves us.  When was the last time you just simply worshipped God because He’s God?

 

Our faith in God calls us to walk with Him! I would like to have a little more info on Enoch but we only get a few verses.  Genesis 5:24 tells us, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

 Paul explains to Hebrews that, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”

 

Apparently Enoch’s walk with God was so close that God took him home without Enoch having to experience physical death. From Enoch we learn that to walk with God is to please God.

Faith is essential to please God.  How do we do that?  Well having faith in God means to choose to walk in righteousness and obedience towards God and His will.  It means to respond and to act on His Word.  It means to simply trust in His guidance.  It means that completely believe that God will do what He says He will do.  Is your walk pleasing to God?  Are you more concerned with pleasing others or God?

 

Our faith in God calls us to work for God!  So God calls Noah to build an ark.  He tells Noah about a flood, rain, a boat…which was all foreign to Noah and the people of the time.   It took Noah around  100 years! 7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Hebrews 11:7

The things that God spoke to Noah had not occurred.  But here is the thing:  Noah trusted what God an acted in his faith.  Noah’s faith showed the light on the disobedience and sinfulness that surrounded him.  Noah was righteous in God’s eyes.

 Do you have faith that leads you to work hard for the Kingdom of God? We are too comfortable! We sometimes want someone else to do the work.  We rather spend time doing what we want rather than what God wants.  Which makes sense for the unbelievers but not for Christians.  There is too much evil in this world; too many lost for us to be comfortable.

 Noah’s faith called him to work even when the situation didn’t make any sense. How do you respond to God’s calling when the circumstance doesn’t make sense?  Your faith requires action! 

 James 2:17-18 – “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.  But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Warren Wiersbe says, "Faith enables us to understand what God does. Faith enables us to see what others cannot see. As a result, faith enables us to do what others cannot do."

 

Our faith calls us to wait on God!  When Abraham left Ur, he didn’t know his destination.  He had no clue where he was going but he trusted in God to lead him.  He obeyed the instruction of God to leave his land.  Abraham’s faith wasn’t quickly rewarded, either.  Abraham waited for a home in the Promised Land where he spent his entire life living in tents. Abraham was willing to spend his whole lifetime in temporary dwellings because he had his eyes on something greater…heaven (whom God was the builder).  He waited…and waited…and waited on God.  Do you have the patience of Abraham?  If not, why?

 

Also, God promised Abraham a son…it took 25 years.  He was 100; Sarah was around 99 when Isaac was conceived.  He never wavered in his faith that God would do what He said He would do.  Even in the face of reality!  It’s impossible to reproduce at their age, but not with God! 

9By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10

 

Do you wait on God or do you rush?

How is your prayer life?  How long do you bathe a particular circumstance in prayer?

Is it easier for you to give up?

 

All of these examples we read here in Hebrews mimicked what Paul tells the church in Corinth “for we walk by faith, not by sight” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

 

We (Christians) are taught and called to a life that “walks by faith.”  God allows us to deal with the events of life, all the trails, the tragedies and the traumas which will prepare us for glory.  He uses the all the above to remake us into His image.  If we remain grounded in God’s Word and being active in being a “doer of the Word”, committed to following Christ’s example, and obedient to God our faith will continue to grow! 

As Christians, as we walk in faith…our faith knows hope (Jesus).  Our faith expects to receive from God what He has promised us in His Holy Word. It tells us that there is no place for fear or worries. It encourages us surrender and put our burdens in God’s hands.  Faith reminds us that God is not in a box and can do anything!  Faith continually repeats to us how real God is! Faith helps us wait…and wait!  Faith moves into action!  Faith convicts us to preach the Gospel to the lost!

Jim Chesser

On Saturday February 2, 2013 a dear friend, brother, and mentor, Jim Chesser, finished his earthly race. I have known Jim for 13 years.  He is one of my earthy heroes.  I had scheduled a trip on my calendar to go see him but passed just days before I made that trip.  I am sad that I didn’t get to say goodbye.  I have been processing his memory and legacy over the last several days and two scriptures that come to mind are:   

“Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” - 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 11:1

            Jim was a trustworthy servant of the Lord and someone that I want to imitate.  This was evident in the fruit (John 15) he produced.   In fact if you’ve read my blogs or listen to me teach I mention John 15 a lot, one of the reasons is because that text is something that Jim often discussed with me and encouraged me to live out when we talked about Kingdom work and people. Jim was a constant student of the Word.  He was always sharing with me where he was studying in the Bible.  He would show me new things he had picked up from studying that he hadn’t picked up before.  He would always tell me the things God was continually teaching him in His word.    Jim was a professor and a minister for over 40 years and he was so humble.  He always told me he was still learning even though he had a wealth of knowledge and faith. 

The other part of that fruit was leading people to Jesus.  Jim couldn’t breathe without talking about Jesus.  As I have been processing the memory of him, I realized that Jim has his fingerprints all over the Kingdom.  The preacher that I serve with was taught the Gospel message by Jim; I was mentored by Jim when I was young in ministry and he even aided in me not leaving the ministry when I was young. I realized that numerous friends of mine in the trenches of ministry were either mentored by or lead to Jesus by Jim.  Jim understood and lived Mark 8:34-38.  Jim is someone that I want to imitate. 

Several years ago, I was able to travel with Jim on a Wednesday night for seven weeks.  It is one of my favorite times in my life.  Jim was traveling to a local congregation teaching fundamentals of faith.  He asked me if I would tag along and assist him. I was honored.  What I didn’t know is that would be a teaching time for me.  Jim shared common loves with me:  the love of faith, family, food, and FSU (Jim was the master of acrostics, acronyms, alliterations, and the like). During our rides and down times, Jim would tell me stories.  Jim had a story for EVERY situation one could think of in a church situation.  You name a church scenario, positive or negative, and Jim was in it.  Jim gave me so much wisdom in dealing with situations in ministry during these 7 weeks.  He showed me how to and how not to teach adults as well.  He taught me how to deal with angry people.  He taught me how to love the impossible to love.  He often during these 7 weeks taught me the importance of patience.  I could go on and on about those 7 weeks. 

For the last several years I would bounce a lot of my sermons off of him and he would give me more insight and help polish my messages more as well.  Jim also gave me wisdom as a husband and father too.  Jim helped me years ago to be able to talk to my son about me not being his biological father.  Jim always gave me wisdom when it came to having balance and giving my wife quality time.  Jim was one of the first people to come see my wife and I when we had Addyson and even gave my wife flowers, something she has never forgotten.  In fact, Addyson’s first gift came from Jim…a FSU football/teddy bear that she proudly displays.  Jim and I often had little meetings where we spoke about family, our faith, football and FSU, and always about food.  I will miss him.  He left his fingerprints on my life.  He is someone I need to imitate in my walk with Christ.   

As I continue to celebrate Jim, I am reminded of the Ray Boltz song “Thank You” as it speaks to the man Jim was and still is…although he liked this song he would tell me that that the sinner’s prayer lyrics need to change, which I agree, so I will change it for Jim. 

Thank You

By Ray Boltz

I dreamed I went to heaven

And you were there with me

We walked upon the streets of gold

Beside the crystal sea

We heard these angels singing

Then someone called your name

You turned and saw this young man

And he was smiling as he came

And he said friend you may not know me now

And then he said, but wait

You used to teach my Sunday School

When I was only eight

And every week you would say a prayer

Before the class would start

And one day when you prayed (Reworded for Jim)

I decided to change my heart (Reworded for Jim)

CHORUS

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am a life that was changed

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am so glad you gave

Then another man stood before you

And said remember the time

A missionary came to your church

And his pictures made you cry

You didn't have much money

But you gave it anyway

Jesus took the gift you gave

And that's why I'm here today

One by one they came

Far as your eyes could see

Each life somehow touched

By your generosity

Little things that you had done

Sacrifices you made

They were unnoticed on the earth

In heaven now proclaimed

And I know that up in heaven

You're not supposed to cry

But I am almost sure

There were tears in your eyes

As Jesus took your hand

And you stood before the Lord

He said, my child look around you

For great is your reward

Thanks Jim, I will always love you…see you later

As a Christian, are you committed to Jesus?

For fun I was checking out the average cost of Super Bowl tickets for this year’s big game in New Orleans.  Here is what I found:  The average ticket for this year's game is currently $3,278.39, with luxury suites costing more than $300,000 on the high end (I can’t fathom that). The cheapest available ticket is just over $2,000. Face value of Super Bowl tickets is between $850 and $1250.  For a guy like me with the salary I make…that’s a lot of money.  It would take some serious commitment to save and sacrifice from me to get the Super Bowl.  That’s why I’m good sitting at home watching.  But here’s the deal…people have already made that commitment to be there at the Super Bowl and will pay whatever it takes to be there.  Hey I got tip my hat to those that are totally committed. 

I like to think of myself as a “committed” man!  I am committed to my wife and children.  I love wife and children and I am very active with them.  I constantly think of them, constantly putting them before me.   I am a committed sports fan especially that of the Washington Redskins and the Florida State Seminoles. One look at my office, clothing in my closet, and my mood on Saturdays and Sundays (during football season) will attest to this truth of my commitment.  I am committed to other things as well like food, driving properly, movies, and my career.  How about you?  What and where are you totally committed to?

            Jesus was committed!  He was committed to doing the will of His Father.  He was committed to teaching truth!  He was committed to people! He committed to being the suffering servant so He could be our Savior!  He was committed to agape love!  He was committed to sit and eat with sinners!  There is a whole lot more I could add as this list isn't exhaustive.  Here is the thing though, Jesus was committed and He wanted His people to be the same.   

“And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his [b]life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” – Mark 8:34-38

        Many believers think they can be committed to Jesus and to the world. It doesn't work that way.  Jesus lets us know in the above passage that such philosophy of life is false. As a Christian, I am called to be committed to walk in the ways of Christ.  Once Jesus began to teach and speak to crowds, He would tell about the cost of following Him.  Of course the crowds would dwindle.  Jesus spoke truth.   He wanted them to know that it would not be cheap, it would not be easy, and that there would need to commitment to Him to be His disciple.  If you've ever read my blogs, I always seem to bring up John 15 and Jesus speaking about fruit.  If you are a Christian; then it’s important that you are committed to Jesus.  That commitment will be evident in the fruit you produce. 

Let’s look at this passage:

“Come After Me” this was a call to the new birth. It was a call to make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. It was a call for them to turn their backs on the world and give their life to Jesus.  Being born again starts with baptism (John 3:3-5, Acts 2:38).  It’s about being a new creation in Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17). This new birth causes your life to change (in a wonderful and amazing way). Your desires and habits will change. Your commitment will change.

“Deny Himself” This phrase literally means, “to completely disown, to utterly separate oneself from someone.” We see this phrase in Matthew 26:34 describing Peter’s denial of Jesus.  This is not the same thing as self-denial. Denying self involves me surrendering my will and submitting to God’s will.  I stop leaning on my own understanding and trust God (Proverbs 3:5-6).  My plans, my desires, and the like are committed to being what the Father wants.  God is sovereign and I allow Him to be just that.   I recognized that my body belongs to Jesus because He died for it and to the Father because He created me (1 Cor. 6:19-20).  Denying oneself is hard because we as humans are so committed to being selfish, to pleasing our own wants and needs. 

“Take Up His Cross” This phrase held meaning for the people in Jesus’ day and not in a good way.   As I read in history, we can estimate that over 30,000 people were crucified by the Romans during Jesus’ lifetime.  I’m sure as the people heard Jesus say take up your cross, they cringed and it was upsetting.  In that day, a cross was not jewelry or a decoration on a wall but rather a method of shame, humiliation, suffering, torture, and then ultimately death. When someone had to take up a cross, it was the same as a man walking on death row.  You were going to die!  For one to take up their cross, they were carrying something that was going to lead to their own death upon their shoulders.  When they came to the place where they were going to ultimately die, they laid down on this cross that they just carried and they were nailed to it.  They were hung on this cross where they suffocated and suffered as they died.  He’s the deal:  When Jesus is telling His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him, He is calling them to die to self and commit to their life to living in righteousness and holiness (Gal. 2:20, Colossians 3, 1 Peter 1:14-16, Romans 6). Jesus is calling to die and be separated from this world and it’s lusts and passions.  We take up our cross when we choose to live according to God’s ways rather than the way of the world no matter what it costs. We take up our cross when we live out God’s righteousness in our lives and in our relationships no matter what it costs. We take up our cross when we are willing to suffer as Jesus suffered no matter what it costs.  We never comprise God’s word.  We always stand where God stands.  We stand out when God calls us to stand out.  A Christian is committed to the Lord no matter the cost.  

“Follow Me” A disciple of Jesus turns away, makes a 180 from his self and old life. The disciple of Jesus takes up his cross and is willing to lay down everything for the glory of God. The disciple of Jesus takes his place behind the Lord and he follows Jesus wherever He leads, wherever He goes. The disciple of Jesus walks in complete obedience and submission to Jesus, our Savior!  This is a continuous act.  It never ceases.  A disciple of Jesus is committed to being a constant student; they are committed to consistently growing in the Lord.   There is genuine commitment to serve and lead others to Jesus! 

            Jesus says if you look to find your life you will lose it but if you lose your life for His sake, you will find it.   Christians are you committed to Jesus as you claim to be?  Are you too busy trying to find life comfortable here in this world?  Remember Jesus says if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us in front of the Father.   Oh Christian…are you committed Jesus?  Does your life right now suggest?  

2013, time to continue to grow

Wow it's been a long time...I promise to be better at the blogging here in 2013

I love being a husband.  I love being a Father.  My wife and our three children are my world.  That world is a joy and a blessing.  I am thankful that God had blessed me with that world. 

It has been a quite a journey watching my marriage grow as it has been with watching my children grow, too.  I remember when it was everything seemed simple being a bachelor but then I got married.  My home went from three to five (six if we count the dog and knowing my wife and children I will).  I have grown as a husband…not sure how my wife has put up with me these last 9 years of marriage (10 if you can’t dating and I will because that will earn me cool brownie points with my wife).  I believe she has been able to put up with because she too has grown as a wife.  I remember when my little guy was “iddy biddy” and now he is going on 11 years old.  He has finally admitted his like in girls. 

Sometimes I wish time would slow down a little but that isn’t happening.  I wish my kids would stay small just a little longer but they just keep growing.  I’m not the young man I once was and my body will attest to that notion.  I am closing in on 40 and I finally am starting to see gray hair.  Sweet!  I guess I’m saying all that to say this:  It’s natural to grow.  It’s true.  Now unfortunately in our world people are born with certain defects that cause them not to grow or the like.  But that defect is unnatural. 

It’s natural to grow in my walk in Christ.  I should be different than I was 10 years ago…5…2…6 months ago.  What I mean is that my faith should be stronger.  My knowledge of the scriptures should be better and stored in my heart (Psalms 119:11).  My willing to be patient, to love, to be graceful, to forgive all should be growing and continuing to grow.  I should be able to lead others to Christ on a daily basis.  My character in front of people and behind closed doors should be something that makes God smile.  I start standing where God calls me and I as I grow, I refuse to compromise God's Word for being comfortable.  I should be living a righteous life that is bringing the Father glory (Matthew 5:14-16).  In fact if I’m growing in my walk...it will be known by the fruit that I’m producing and leaving behind.    

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

-John 15:1-11

Jesus tells us 10 times in that passage above to “Abide in Him”.  That’s very significant.  Hey if you ever done gardening or farming…if something you've planted isn't growing and is no good and in the way of other produce growing…it’s thrown out, burned.  The evidence that you as a Christian and that you are growing is the fruit that you are producing.  This brings the Father glory.  That fruit is your personal growth in Christ and leading of souls to Jesus.  My challenge to you today is reflect upon yourself.  Are you growing in Christ or are you content with being complacent? Are you producing fruit that is bringing the Father glory or that’s going to have you cut off and thrown in the fire?  That’s my thought and challenge for the day.  

Moving on!

         It’s been awhile…almost three months.  There has been a reason for my absence from blogging. Since the moment I came home graduating, it has been a rollercoaster ride…some fun and some not so fun! 

Unfortunately in the last three months I have seen first-hand as well as experienced heart ache.  If you live life long enough…you have experienced heart ache.  It isn’t fun.   Sadly what I speak occurred between the children of God…the family of Christ; people I am very close with or now, was.  I now know why some people choose not to be a Christian…not because of Christ but because of His people. 

I haven’t blogged because sometimes when people write out of anger, out of emotion…what they write can be harsh, destructive, hateful, or the like. I didn’t want to do that.  Jesus commands me to love God and love people.  I know the first command can be hard but so is that second command.  Jesus tells us to love another.  I have said before that love defines Jesus and it also defines us (Christians).  We are also called to be at peace with another.  But not everyone who is a Christian heeds these words.   They don’t heed it because of pride, arrogance…sin!

Growing up as a preacher’s kid, this is not my first time dealing with heart ache within the church and as a preacher now, it won’t be my last.  It nothing new…look at the warnings Paul wrote to the churches as well as Timothy ( a preacher):

“Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”

 – Romans 16:17-18

“O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge” which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.”

– 1 Timothy 6:20-21

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

 – Colossians 2:8

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

- 2 Timothy 4:1

“Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,  but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.  For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,  on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.”

- Romans 2:1-16

Jesus and Peter also warned of this:

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.”

 - Matthew 7:15-20

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

- 2 Peter 2:1-3

As I write this…I have spent much, much time with my Father in heaven.  I have asked for forgiveness and have forgiven those I needed to forgive.   I am moving on.   I will say this last thing:  To all of my Christian family, my brothers and sisters…test every action you make, every thought you have, all of your emotions to that of Scripture.  Be sound in doctrine, in truth; not according to you or anyone else but to that of Jesus…to God’s Word. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”

– Proverbs 3:5-7

“Love* one another!”

-Jesus

*for a better definition of this love (agape) see 1 Corinthians 13

Grace!

This Friday April 27, 2012, after about 37 years of college (even though I am only 34), I will graduate from Florida Christian College with a B.A. in Preaching.  Usually one graduates college around the age of 21 or 22.  Obviously that is not always the case and there are many who graduate college later in life.  I am not one to give a testimony as there are so many more people that have a greater testimony that has a far more impact than me.  But I thought given the week for me, that I would share some things with you.  The things that share now have been confessed God and also to men.  I have nothing to hide and I no longer carry the burden of my sin because of Jesus.  I have been on the right path for many, many years now all thanks to Jesus Christ and my loving Father in Heaven...and grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  God never gave up on me even when others and I did.

I actually never wanted to go to Bible College or be a preacher.  I am not sure that I had a clear picture of what I wanted to do when I graduated High School in 1996 but I do know that I wasn’t going to college.  But as life tends to do…it throws you a curve ball.  We had family crisis in the summer of 1996 which destroyed my plans to stay home and work full time.  I had only one option and that was to go and enroll at Florida Christian College where both of my brothers had already graduated (and mother eventually would several years later).  I want to confess some things and make them clear to you.  I was a lazy, selfish, and a very much unmotivated young man.  And to be completely honest, even though my father was a preacher and I was raised in a very good Christian home, I didn’t care to walk the life of a Christian.  I believed in God and was baptized at 9 but I really didn’t have anything to do with Jesus or being a Christian.  It showed!  From 1996 to 1997, 3 semesters in at FCC and I probably had the lowest GPA of anyone walking the face of the earth.  Truth is I was too enticed with my sinful life. 

This sinful life led me to take a break from college for a year.  I never got caught or in trouble but my choices lead to a horrible GPA which caused me not have enough loan money to stay.  I moved away for year, didn’t change, and only grew worse.  I never paid back my loan so I defaulted.  For some reason I came back to FCC in 1999, worse than before.  My sinful life was in full swing.  Again two more semesters, the same GPA, the same sinful man, the same result. 

The thing that crushes me is I look through my old syllabuses and it angers me that I wasted the professor’s time.  They had so much to offer me and had given me the tools to succeed and in return I didn’t care.  I missed out!  There were people at this time in my life that called me a waste of potential.  I remember when I heard that, it hurt me.  Truth is that they were right.  I was a waste.  I was prideful, selfish, arrogant, and worst of all…a man who had forsaken the cross and instead of being dead to my old self, I let my sin control me.  Paul tells us,

 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”   Romans 6:1-11

I hurt so many people.  I had unholy relationships.  I had so many opportunities to let the Light of Christ shine and instead I used people to make me feel better.  I was liar and a loser.  Instead of glorifying God, I glorified my sinful life which Christ came to destroy and break the chain and instead of edifying my brothers and sisters in Christ, I torn them down.  I was vile man.  I am embarrassed, horrified and ashamed of the things I did to nail Jesus to the cross. 

But that is not the end of the story…as you have probably have guessed.

In the midst of the sin, the lie I was living…I became a paid minister for a church in south Florida.  Yeah, I don’t get it either.  I would like to tell you that my life changed the moment I was hired…but that is not the case.  Only months into my ministry, I was caught in sin. I hadn’t changed.  I should have been fired right then…but I wasn’t. 

The next several years in ministry were a battle.  They were a battle because something happened that I had never experienced.  I began to be abused extremely emotionally and at times physically from someone that I worked alongside of in ministry.  I didn’t stand up for myself and allowed this individual to abuse me.  Now instead of going to God to deal with the abuse…I turned to sin.  It got to the point, I couldn’t take it anymore.  I was done with God, church, people, and my life.  I committed the worse sin I could think of to get fired from ministry, I was walking away permanently.  I was tired.  My life’s choices had done nothing for me and sin wasn’t helping me but making everything worse.  I was going to kill myself.  I thought to myself that I deserved hell…it was true. 

I can only tell you that there are no lost causes with Jesus.  God intervened and I not only didn’t kill myself as I tried to but I also didn’t walk away from God.   It took the lowest of lows, for me to be completely broken to where finally all I could do was to reach for God and God alone.  Psalm 40:1-3a “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God…”  I starting living the life that God had intended me to walk all along.  I finally became the man called me to be.  Scripture became real to me.  God’s plan became real to me.  Jesus’ love was very real to me.  I finally became the minister God called me to be.  I finally became the Christian that I was baptized to be.   

All of this is still a work in progress.  I was man who had reputation as a sinner, a waste, a liar, and a selfish loser.  God didn’t write me off even when He should have.  I have been on the right path for over 10 years.  I am amazed that with all that I have done that God  loves me the way He does but that shouldn't surprise me or anyone as you read His word.  I don’t get it or understand it but God has blessed me with a wife and three beautiful children.  He has helped me restore many broken relationships that I broke because of my sin.  I am an ordained minister in a local church carrying the passion of Jesus to all those that I meet.  I don’t deserve that but here I am.  God is awesome.  My reputation has changed because I have allowed Jesus to change me and people see it…and believe me, I don’t want that to ever change only grow.  I am so grateful that my identity is in Jesus and not my sin anymore.  I am overjoyed that the burden of my sin is gone and that there are no chains latched onto me.  God loves us…a love indescribable. Don't let sin entice you and run your life...it will only destroy it.     

Friday April 27, 2012…I will finally graduate FCC.  I never thought I would graduate.  God had other plans.  As His word says, "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11  He is God of many “do-overs” and I love Him for that.  He gave me another chance.  We serve an awesome God!  To God be the glory forever and ever.  Sorry for talking your ear off.  Thanks for letting me share this.  That’s my story so far…

What do you communicate to your children?

Kids rock!  I enjoy serving them and being around them.  I love my children!  They are a blessing and joy!  Sadly not all children know this.  What do your children know? 

The other day I observed a mother who expressed to her children that they were a burden on her life.  I heard her refer to them as “stupid”, “idiots”, and “money suckers.”  There were other things she said but I will not repeat them.  This mother also didn’t seem to care that she was belittling her children in front of an audience.  These children were ages 4 and 6.  The children looked as though they just wanted love and affection from their mother but instead received aversion.  My heart broke for them and their mother. 

           

            As I reflected on what I saw and heard; I wondered what I communicate to my children.  I am very careful as a Dad to never say anything or do anything demeaning to my children even when I am angry with them.  But I am not perfect.  And it’s not just words that can communicate.  Not too long ago, I was home working.  Working required me to use my computer.  If you ever watch me work, I am intense and focused...most of the time.  My son Evan came to me, really wanting to show me something that was amazing and important to him.  He was excited!   But I was busy and had a deadline.  I told him not right now.  I said I would look at it later.  Later came and I didn’t see it.  I never followed through with him.   Evan wanted to show me something and instead I showed Evan that what I was doing was more important than him.  

            If we are not careful, we become no different than that mother.  Do our children come and seek love and affection from us and receive the opposite? I am guilty!  I have had to ask my children for their forgiveness.  I remember on a couple of occasions telling Evan how sorry I was and he looked right at me and said, “Daddy I love you and remember only Jesus is perfect.”  Thanks buddy! 

Children are NEVER a burden.  They are always important.  Psalms 127: 3 tells us that, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”  Jesus’ Apostles at one point thought that children were being a burden but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 19:14).  Children need to know that we love them and have heart for them.  Not only by what we say to them but how we show it to them. 

            One day they will be grown and out of the house.  What will they have learned from us?  May the things you do and say be edifying to your children.  Love your children in accordance with 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  Play with them, teach them, comfort them, laugh with them, love on them, and be a kid with them.   Kids Rock!

-James