What's it all about?

I was watching a beer commercial the other day and it kept getting interrupted by a football game. Seriously, the world tries to tell us that it is all about sex, money and power. Power to influence to get your own way. Power to get sex. Money to get sex and power. The car you drive displays your money and attracts sex. So buy this car, wear this cologne or perfume and drink this brand of alcohol and you will have it all.

Folks, Christians sometimes look different, act different and are different in many other ways. Well it's supposed to be like that. You should be able to pick us out of the crowd. Although we are no different than others, in some ways. We like to laugh, have fun and enjoy some of the things of this world. However, they are not what we live for. For us, they are not "it all".

Christ, our Savior was born.  He lived with us and then died for us. The "it" for us is this example of Christ. He came to be with us. He shared with us and gave for us. There was no taking advantage of others. No selfishness. No attempts to acquire the most. This is how we live. And, it will look different from time to time. Some will laugh at us, at times to us and others behind our backs. They may think we don't know what we are missing living the way we do. But, we do. Most of us have lived it or seen it. But, we have found a better life. A life with our Christ. Because He came to be with us.

So we live differently. We love, we laugh, we eat and we enjoy life. But, we care, we give and we share. Our "it" is the fulfillment of life with Christ. Never perfect but always trying to play by the rules, live quieter, more humble lives. Family matters. Friends matter. The car we drive, not important. It doesn't define who we are. The way we live defines who we are. If they hated Jesus, there will be some who don't like us. That's ok. It isn't the number of friends but the quality friends that is important. Remember, you are in this world but not of it. You are a representative of Christ in this world. You are also a friend of Christ in this world. And, there is no better friend to have than Him. Oh, and by the way, He loves you. Hey, you have it all!

Born A Baby?

     The Bible tells us that God is the same today, as He was yesterday. He was, is and ever shall be. The same God of Adam and Eve is my God. He keeps his promises and He is faithful forever. My God is the God that the Bible says He is.

     Many people have their own thoughts on God. The "big man upstairs", is one. They have their own beliefs of God. They may believe he meddles in the affairs of man. Or, that he is watching us from a distance. Nice song, but bad theology. When their circumstances change, they begin to blame God. They ask, why did He do this to me? Or, how could He let this happen? They change their belief in how God operates and they ultimately change the one who is unchangeable. People change God to fit their circumstances, and to make themselves feel better. And, so when they feel bad, God gets the blame. Or, when something bad happens, it's God's fault. How many times have you heard someone say I don't believe in a God that would send people to hell? Well, people chose their path. God wants everyone in Heaven, but not everyone wants to be there. Man is given choice, and some chose to do evil. Since we are in this world, some of the evil may bump into us.

     That is why I follow the God of the Bible. My circumstances don't change God. God changes my circumstances. Because God is faithful, I have hope in the future. Because He is strong, I know my troubles will pass. I may have cancer today, but I have healing tomorrow. I heard a song with the line, even if the healing doesn't come. Again, nice song, bad theology. The healing comes. We may not see it , or it may not be the healing we though it would be. God thinks higher than us. We were convinced of His mistake when God sent us a savior in the form of a baby. But, it turned out better than just ok. A king, that did not rule? Not what we were looking for. And the savior dead on a cross? Wrong again. God has things under control. His plans work for our good. All things work for good, for those who Love God. God can take a bad circumstance and work it for something good. My cancer has brought our family closer together, for one. With His strength, I will continue to enjoy life, and not spend one minute being angry or bitter. And, my complete healing will come, from God through my doctor and God's creationg of radiation. When man creates a tragedy, God can help us to recognize a good plan, to cause a good outcome. Giving, praying, sharing, loving are good things that we can provide by the Grace of God to change a circumstance.

     So why doubt God? Is it that we simply doubt ourselves? Do we not know that we are God's children? But, if we don't know God, how can we know ourselves? You are on the Internet. Find a good site and start to look at who God is. Find a good Bible study, a good radio station, television program, find a good church, or just ask a friend. But, please get to know God. He knows you and loves you. He loves you right now. He loves who you are right now. Because you are His child, and He loves you. HE can help you be a better you. He can help you be  stronger, happy and living a fulfilling enjoyable comfortable life.

     I am everything I am because of God. Every success and joy in my life is the result of His love and strength. God helps us in Spirit. He is our strength, our Joy, our Comforter, our Healer and our Savior. People who follow this Christ have a purpose in their lives. They have fulfillment and fun. They live life to the fullest, every day. If you don't have this God, the God of the Bible, you really don't know what you are missing. Please invite Him into your life. Once you have found the true God, you will never let Him go. And He will never leave you. A saviour born a baby, just like the Bible says. He is you personal savior.

How did you vote?

"My Kingdom is not of this world"......................Jesus

Jesus taught His ministry during the rein of the Roman Empire. How terrible was politics in the Roman times? Generally, you would come into power by violently murdering the current leader. Orgies were routine. Slaves common. Do something wrong and you get stoned, different meaning from the one used in Washington and Colorado. Oh, and if that's not enough, do something wrong and you get nailed to a cross, and hung up in the air for the world to watch you die a slow and most painful death.

The Jewish people thought the Savior, Jesus, came to save them from the Romans. Be a king and rule so they would be blessed, safe and subject to a loving, merciful king. (Which He is.) But, what did Jesus say about the unjust Romans. Give Ceasar his money. Pay the taxes. Be subject to you leaders. Be a good citizen and pray for your enemies.

Jesus was concerned about "His Kingdom". The kingdom of the heart. Live a humble peaceful life. Love you neighbor. Help those in need. He didn't preach that Ceasar should help those in need. He taught that each of us should give, as we could, to help others. He taught peace. Peace between His children.

Despite the unjust government of the Romans, despite the killings of early Christians (called followers of the way), the Kingdom Christ established grew. Today, help it grow again. No harsh talk, but kind words. Encourage, give, love. Accept, forgive and worship 'our' King. Our LORD.

Because our Bible, God's word, says to pray for our leaders, pray for them. Pray for your neighbors. Pray for peace. Pray for His kingdom, Pray for those to answer the invitation to join God's family. To become a child of God. Pray for Christ to fill you, guide you and lead you in His work, in His kingdom.

Your most important vote is the vote of your heart. Vote God today.

God, the giant killer

One reason that millions never made it into the promised land was giants. They stood just outside the promised land afraid to go in because it was inhabited by giants. I know some of you may be wearing a little smirk right now, thinking of giants. However, giants are still keeping us out of our promised land.

How, you may ask? Think of it, and be honest. What giants are you facing in your life? What is it that is keeping you from your promised land? What is it stopping you from obtaining true and complete happiness?

Is your true happiness a new job? A relationship? Maybe going back to school? Possibly working a little extra, or giving up a weekend? Missing a Steeler game? Oh my! For many, there is a fear that stops them from achieving their goals, dreams and their happiness. It may be a fear of failure, thinking they can't go back to school. They are too old. They can't find a good relationship for fear of getting rejected. A fear of fitting in? The fear of something new? Some may keep a bad job, bad relationship or whatever, because of the fear of taking the risk of something new. Even though it may lead to their own real and true happiness.

This fear is a very real giant. Millions get stuck with the ok, or worse. They fear leaving behind the so-so life to say hello to the good life.

God has helped millions defeat their giants. It started with a young man named David defeating Goliath. It continued in the wilderness with Joshua, and God is ready to help you defeat your giant. With God, all things are possible. He promises to never leave your side. He also promises to complete what He starts, in you. God is the strength in your weakness. He promises to go before you to defeat your enemies. All you have to do is follow. Read the 23 Psalm. This is a Psalm for the living. God leads you to your promised land. A challenging life, full of satisfaction and reward. God will bring to you those things that make life restful, peaceful, satisfying and rewarding.  A life worthwhile and fulfilling. And, all you need to do is follow.

I encourage you to follow God today. Ask Jesus to come into your life and lead you. He is faithful. His promise is real. He will come into your life and lead you to a peaceful and rewarding life. He will be you comfort and companion. And, your giant killer.

One in a Million

Millions of Hebrews were delivered out of Egypt by God. He led them trough the desert to the Promised Land. Millions never made it. One man named Joshua made did make it into the promised land, the land of milk and honey, the good life. You too can become one in a million. You can live the good life in the promised land.

How many people are going in the opposite direction of God? Millions, for sure. They are wandering through life. They are looking for the milk and honey, searching, but never finding it. They don't understand that people living the good life, still work. (The Isrealites that entered the Promised Land had to conquer it through courage and faith in God.) People who are living the good life promised by God, enjoy their work. They are successful at it. Challenged by it. Rewarded by it. Some rewards are monetary but most are spiritual. Spiritual rewards are those that make you feel good. They give you a feeling of worth and a knowledge that you are making a difference.

God is still leading people to the Promised Land, the good life. Are you heading there? Or, are you stuck wandering around life. Wandering with no real direction, searching for something that just keeps staying out of your reach. I ask people "How's it going?" Sometimes I get the response, "Oh, it's going". Or, "so-so". If this is a real evaluation of your life, then you need to start to follow Jesus to the good life. You need to stop following the crowd. Be one in the million that is going the opposite direction. The direction towards Christ.

Jesus went against the crowd. Love you enemy? You are supposed to hate them. Turn the other cheek? Aren't you supposed to fight back? Jesus says blessed are those who are humble, maintain honor and right living. The opposite of 'grab the gusto.' The opposite of the crowds. In fact, a crowd tried to push Jesus off a cliff. Yet when they got to the edge, he was gone. He was moving in the opposite direction. This is the direction I'm going too. I'm following Jesus. Sometimes I may get distracted, slow down a little, maybe even stagger a bit. But the loving and gentle encouragement of His spirit guides me in the right direction and keeps me on the right path. The path that keeps me in the promised land. Jesus led me to the good life and this good life just keeps getting better.

Jesus has invited you to the good life too. Won't you start to follow Him today? And, if you are following Him, trust Jesus to lead through. He will never leave you, and never let you fail.

Christmas in July

    We look at the life of Stephen as he was speaking as a Christian. Those around him became enraged and then began picking up rocks to deliver a punishing death. They hit him with roughly baseball size stones until he was dead.

    Stephen didn't stop being a Christian. He didn't take his words back or try to talk his way out the situation. He didn't hide his Christianity in the crowd. Why? The answer is Christmas. A new birth, born again into a new life. Stephen knew Christ came to set us free. Free of the past. Free of our mistakes and failures. Free of our sins and free of death itself.

    Christ said that those He set free were free indeed. He frees us what others called us in the past. Free from who we were. Free from previous disappointments and pain. We are no longer the sum total of our failures. The difference of making a new me with Christ is that, when we accept Jesus, He fills us with His Spirit. He takes us where we are at, and sets out a new path for us. He is able to take our past and use it for our good. At the time we accept Jesus, He lays out a new life plan for us. A plan He says, is for our good. Christ's promise to us is to supply our needs. He promises our success and brings us His blessings. These are His words to us and His promise to us. I am free to chose whatever lifestyle. Free to choose what I watch and say and to do whatever I please. However, He helps me make the right decisions. And He leads me to the success I could not achieve on my own.

    Choose to accept the invitation of Jesus. Join life with Him, and allow His promise to lead you down a path of fulfillment, adventure, peace, joy and ultimately life. Everlasting.

Whos fault is death?

Recently a younger friend of ours unexpectedly passed away after recovering from an illness. A younger person dying is not uncommon, but it really hits home when it's someone you know and have worked with for many years. One day they are here and the next, gone. It's always quite a jolt.

Christ said to be watchful for the end. It will come like a thief in the night. We tend to think this means the end of the world. For our friend, it was. We never know the day or hour. We think we have forever.

Way to often, I hear people questioning "why did God take them?"

Well, God did not take them. Disease took them. Or, cancer took them. Or, an accident took them. But, God did not take them. Death took them.

God received them.

The death of a friend is sad, for us. We will miss them, and our lives may change. We gather and are sad together. Yet, with the knowledge that God has made a place for our friend in Heaven, we should celebrate. God has made a room for our friend in His home. From the beginning of time, it was God's plan that our friend would spend all of time with God and share in His glory. Did you know that God made you to be His friend? He wants you to share His glory. You didn't make it, work for it or even earn it. Yet God has made it ready for you and even went and made it possible for you to have it, through the death and resurrection of His Son. A home for you, with God in Heaven.

We should celebrate the day. Our friend with God, seated at a banquet table, celebrating in a place that has no pain. A place that has only joy, friendship and endless adventure. A place where............... even better than your best day on this earth.

This is what death means to a Christian. It means a birth. A new birth with a new body in a new place called Heaven. Where you are with God and He with you.

This is available to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ; and, believes that He died our death for us, so that we may live. So that we may live eternally in Heaven with our friends, our Savior and our Creator.

Got Vision?

In Genesis 13:15, God said to Abraham, "as far as you can see, I will give it to you." Now here, the word 'see' does not mean 'look at'. For example, see the moon, or look at the moon.  Here in Genesis, the word see means 'realize'. God is saying as far as you can see yourself owning and living in the land, it is yours. God is talking to Abraham about vision.

Now this isn't foreign to us. We use it all the time. We use it when we imagine laying on a beach, hitting a home run or making a putt. Further, we wouldn't open a restaurant without envisioning it packed full of happy paying customers. We vision, or imagine, or whole lives. As we grow older, our imagine changes and matures, but it never goes away.

God is asking you today, what great visions do you have? What areas of you life can you envision God helping you to improve? Financial, relationships, worry, God can change every area and circumstance of your life, when you partner with him.

You can't continue to do things the same way and expect different results. That just keeps you in the same circumstances. It keeps you is a vicious circle of defeat. It's time for a great change in your life. And, it starts with a great vision.

Got your vision? Now, have faith that God will give you your vision.

Look at the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is full of healings. Giving people what they couldn't get themselves. Giving them something that no one else could give them.............until they met Christ. Then Christ healed them. Jesus gave them life, even out of death. He raise the dead even before He raised Himself. Has your dream died? Then bring it to the feet of Christ.

Christ's own words were, "pray, believing that you have received it, and it will be yours". Read Mark 11:24. Jesus Christ is only waiting to partner with your.

What is you vision? Bring it in faith to Jesus and watch Him make come to life.

(also read John 15:7, Luke 11:9, Matt 7:7)