Christmas or Holiday?

     Now that we start the Christmas season, or holiday season for others, the debate starts of putting out nativity scenes, saying merry Christmas or happy holidays, and the start of billboards welcoming atheism. (The constitution dictates to keep the government out of faith, not faith out of the government. Read it, it is full of faith statements, and congress still starts every session with prayer.)

     Let me start by saying that I am not offended by anyone's lack of religion. My wife and I are really not bold about professing religion. We are bold about our relationship with Jesus. There are too many debates and factions and much too much focus on religion, especially in Christianity. Early Christians simply were Christians. They followed Christ. Their group was called the way, the way of Christ. The Christian belief is simply that man can do nothing to earn his way into Heaven, but that God made his way to Heaven through the Savior Jesus, the Christ. It is my relationship with Christ that I will be bold about.

     Christ was also pretty bold. He cleared the temple, he ate with sinners, walked with lepers, celebrated instead of fasting and 'working' on the Sabbath.

     He was also totally unconcerned about popularity. He told his disciples that since He was hated they would be hated. He told them if they went to a town and were rejected, simply leave. Not try harder, not do a miracle to convince them, just walk away. He was rejected in his own town and after raising Lazarus from the dead some were convinced that he needed to be killed, and Lazarus too. (John)

     So I am not offended by anyone's lack of religion. I am not offended by anyone's different religion. I am tolerant and welcome of other beliefs.

     As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Come over to eat and we give thanks to God for our meal. Sit close to us when we eat out and you may join in prays before we dine. Tell me I can't pray, and I will simply leave. (Although this has never happened.) I will boldly wear my relationship and my faith. I will not shout it at you. I will enjoy sharing it but will not force it. There is a cross in our front yard. I have several Christian tattoos you may see in the summer. And, I am ready in season and out, to share my faith in Jesus to one or many, as God places me.

     The 'season' of faith in Jesus is not just for the next 25 days. Boldly celebrate it for the next 365 days. Jesus came to give abundance and joy, not just for one day but for a lifetime.

Thanksgiving....or giving Thanks

     Although we should be giving thanks every day, today........Thanksgiving..........is our day we have set aside to give thanks. Among all the eating, celebrating and football, we should take a moment to remember all of our blessings, and simply give thanks. We should give thanks to God, for all good things come from God.

     We have created a world that is too obsessed with what we don't have. Our joy is often what we have in the cart and our hope is for what we have placed in our wish list. We are always looking for the next item to make us happy and we often end up, restless, anxious and unhappy.

     We need to be happy for what we have for there are so many who have so little. There are so many who want to eat, but have no food. So many who want for home but live in a tin box.

     As we become thankful for what we have, we need to then turn to be thankful for our God. For he so loves us. When we place first.............His concerns, He then is faithful to provide for our needs. God asks that His work sometime would come through us. If someone is hungry, can we not provide to feed them. He is not asking us to feed the whole world, but maybe just one, who is hungry. He is only asking us to share just a portion what He has provided to us.

     Then we can truly give thanks to God who gives so much to us. Please take a moment today to give thanks to God.

Our Father, we thank you for the wonderful things you have given us, the wonderful people you have placed in our lives, the love you show us through these friends and family that you have given us, and the grace and mercy through Jesus, you offer freely to us. May we recognize and thank you for the good, for you are a good and loving God. Amen

Let go..............

     Proverbs 3:5 tells us to let God be in control. Trust Him. Trust Him to help you, lead you and take you places that you can not go by yourself.

     1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast or cares (or anxieties) to our Lord. He is loving and faithful and will protect us and fulfill our needs. Remember, He leads us to peace and safety (Psalm 23).

     But, oh how we love to hold on to those worries. We love our burdens and troubles. We love to share and compare them. We don't just discus them, we wear them as a badge, an excuse and sadly they become an anchor around our necks. We are supposed to allow our Jesus to take our burdens. If we don't, these burdens may take away our joy for life. Have you even worried to the point that life was just not fun anymore? Before you get to that point, or if you are there now, then it's time to let go.......

     Sometimes, we give those anxieties, burdens and troubles to Jesus in prayer, but we immediately take them back. We dwell on them. We think about them and how to solve them, like we are smarter and more powerful than God. We devise a plan and then think we have solved our problems. How smart we think we are.

     Well. If you are like me, then you have a made a mistake or to. A miscalculation here and there. What s the saying about our best laid plans?

     We plan our steps, but God tells us that he wants to plan our very steps, our very path of life. He wants to lead us to a place that is right for us. A place that meets our dreams and matches our gifts and talents.

     Sometimes, we just need to step back and let God take control. Let Him control the circumstances that we can't manipulate. Let Him open the door that we can't break through.

     We need to give our cares to our Lord and then step away. Step back into the comfort that our loving God now has our problems. And take comfort in the fact that He has the means, and the desire to take of them for us. He is our Shepard, our caretaker and our savior. In Jesus is our comfort.

     It's time to let go..........and let God in this prayer.............

Heavenly Father, take this burden from me and replace it with your peace. Comfort me and lead me down the path that you have established for me. Thank you for loving me and wanting to help me with my worries and give me the help that solves my troubles. In you love I now rest. This I pray in Jesus name.

Follow Who?

     The Bible tells us that God prepares our steps. He makes our path straight and that He goes before us to defeat our enemies. (Our enemies being things/people/thoughts that would cause us to stray from God, and cause us harm.)

     Jesus simple asks us to "Follow Me". So we set about following Jesus. Or, do we? We pray, and we can pray good prayers. But, it may seem that God is not with us. Or, is it we that are not with God?

     How often are we off doing simply whatever, and asking Jesus to follow us? We have to stop and consider what we are doing and where we are going. What are our motives? Far too often we are heading down our own path. We are pursuing our own goals. Too often, we are off doing "own thing". We are living just for ourselves, seeking goals that benefit only us. And when things aren't going well, we pray for Jesus to come and "fix" our situation.

     We call it prayer, but really it is just us yelling for Jesus to "get over here". We want Him to make right the situation we put ourselves in, because we know best. We want Jesus to manipulate our circumstances so that we come out on top.

     Jesus wants to manipulate us, so that every circumstance is the winning choice. He wants us to follow Him, so that everywhere we go, He has already been, and 'prepared the way' for us to follow. When this happens, we are at peace, wherever the we are. His peace has filled us. In doing so, we can share His peace, in the situation. We can show His love to the people he has put around us. Jesus is asking us to be His representative in this world. We have to stop asking what He can do for us and ask what we can do for Him.

     How can I bring hope, love and peace to this world? This is my prayer. Won't you share it with me today?

May you be blessed with peace in your heart today. 


Psalm 37, Psalm 85, Matthew 4, John 20

No Haters Allowed

     Recently a professional NBA player 'came out'. He announced he was gay. The first round choice of the women's pro basketball association already stated she was gay. And, several sports reporters feel that professional football will soon have a few athletes join in revealing that they are also gay.

     For many years now, we have watched same sex couples search for buying a home together on major networks. We watch home shows, cooking shows, comedy shows and now we will watch major sporting events that openly profess alternative lifestyles.

     So, what is our response? (Us being Christians.)

     Well, read what Jesus specifically said about same sex couples. Well, He said nothing about it. The ministry of Jesus was about forgiveness. It was about inclusion, acceptance. It was about love.

     Jesus was about loving everyone. Even those we had thought we were to avoid. He preached to us to give to everyone, help everyone and love everyone. The only hate in the world was the hate that was directed towards us, not from us.

     Yes, Jesus taught not to sin. But, Jesus never said 'stop all sin, and then you can follow me'. If He did, no one would ever be able to follow. Because our Bible teaches that all of us are sinners. In fact, it says that if we say we are not (sinners), then we are lying. Jesus said to "come and follow me". HE said come as you are right now. Because who you are right now, "I love".

     Let me also point out that once we accept Jesus as our Savior, once we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we still sin. We grow in grace. Come on, if happened right on the spot, this would be a wonderful world. Practically sin free. If Christ likeness happened over night, the world would also be a smaller place with those just being swept up to heaven overnight. We are fooling ourselves if we think church is filled with perfect people absent of sin.

     So now, we can understand also, that we don't have to be sin free to be useful in the Kingdom of God. Isn't it wonderful that Jesus can use us sinners. We who gossip, tell course jokes, look at thing we shouldn't, think of things we shouldn't, bend the truth, a little to prideful, and yes, Jesus can even use those who are a little too high and mighty.

     One message Jesus did make clear was that we shouldn't judge others. We need to focus on our change. We need to be kind, gentle, live our lives the way our Lord has instructed us. And, Jesus has instructed us to love others.

     Jesus has instructed us to love others. Yes, I repeated it because we forget to live it. We tend to revert back to the 4th grade mentality that I'm better than you because..............Two disciples debated who was first. Jesus taught that the last was first. Sometimes even Christians forget His messages. Please don't forget the message of love.

No haters allowed in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus Wept

John 11:35. Jesus wept.

What was it that brought our Lord to tears?

His dear friend was very ill. Jesus was just a few miles up the road. Martha and Mary sent him a message just how bad His dear friend was. They expected Him to come and help. But, Jesus waited a couple of days.

Then when he decided to go, Jesus told his disciples that his friend was already dead. He was going to 'wake' him. All the disciples knew was that people just tried a while earlier to kill Jesus and they were sure that going back out was very dangerous. But, they followed.

When Jesus arrived, Martha and Mary were convinced that if Jesus had been there, their brother would not have died. In fact, that's exactly what they told Jesus. In essence, what they said is, Jesus, you're too late. He has been dead for 4 days, and there is nothing you can do now.

They believed Jesus for some things, but they put Jesus in a box. They only allowed Him to be Jesus, Lord, Savior, Almighty, in the context of their own understanding. How many times have we ourselves only allowed our Lord to operate in a small window of our own understanding? How many times have we believed that even Jesus could not help our situation, or our life? How many times do we believe in miracles, but that one would never happen for us?

How many time have we said Jesus, you are too late? You didn't give me what I wanted or what I expected, so you are of no use to me now. Maybe I believe in God, but not one that is all loving and all powerful. Or,  I believe in God but not the one of the Bible. Heard this before?

Jesus wept. Why? He cried because His friends had no hope. No faith. Jesus said, show me where you laid him. And the response was, he has been dead for four days. Four days. He stinks now. Don't open up the tomb.

Jesus said, show me..........where you stopped believing. Show me, so I can show you a miracle. Roll away the stone to the tomb and Jesus called out the dead. He brought life to death. That is the power and love of God.

I invite you now to show Jesus where you buried your dreams. He can bring them alive. Take Jesus to where your hope ended. He can resurrect it. Where does your faith start to falter? Where do you start to doubt. Take Jesus there, so he can begin to work His love and power in your life.

All things are possible........ALL THINGS, are possible with God. Are you with God? Roll away the stone of your faith. And,

May God bless you this day.

Easter Plans

A friend asked me what my plans were for the weekend. Then they answered for me saying, I know it's Easter, you'll be in church Sunday.

A young woman asked Jesus a similar question. She questioned whether she should worship in the city or on the mountain. Jesus answered her that "the time had come where you worship in spirit and in truth. This is the worship that God is looking for." (John 4)

If you worship in church and enjoy it, great. However, you do not need to be in a building with the word church on the outside to worship God. And, you can worship God on the other six days of the week.

When you are born again, the Spirit of God comes to live with you, and in you. Then your life, how you live, becomes worship to God. With the help of the Spirit, God makes you more like himself. God is always able to see your life, and how you live. This is the truth, in worship (living) that God is looking for.

I actually spent this Sunday morning enjoying a walk with my wife. We talked, held hands and spent time together knowing that the work of the upcoming week will take time away from us. We worship together and help each other grow spiritually. And we stay close as a family. Not perfect, but working on it. And more importantly, allowing God to work on us. Try as we might, we can really effect no change spiritually on ourselves. We can go through the motions and give all the outward appearances of spiritually. However, it is only God that provides the inward changes towards 'Christlikeness.' This is the spirit and truth in worship, a changed life.

I know this a big weekend for church. As we walked, we noticed the street all parked up around the churches in the area. Church attendance must have doubled today. Sadly, this attendance is just a part of the Easter ritual. Dress up, get gifts, eat chocolate and drag everyone to church. My prayer is that everyone will really seek Jesus today. Because if they do, He will answer them. It is God's desire to have a true relationship with us. He created us in his image to love us, care for us and relate to us, eventually to have us live with Him in heaven.

God created everyone in His image. He loves you. Black, white, gay, young, old, rich or poor. God loves you. Seek God today in truth. Worship Him with your life. God is looking for you today. Call out to Him, "here I am." And God will come to you. I pray for you to truly have a relationship with God today. He will love you and care for you. And I promise your life will be wonderfully transformed. God bless you.

Relationship, not religion

This is what I know about our relationship with Jesus...............

How do you get into Heaven. The answer from a young Sunday School student is..........you have to be dead. Now that is a basic answer!

But really, what must you do? Here is a basic response................

Must you follow the laws?

No.

Must you follow the rules?

No.

Must you be accepted by the majority?

No.

Must you be accepted by "the church"?

No.

You must believe in Jesus. He is who He says He is. Believe that He died for you, paying the punishment for all sin.

Grace, forgiveness, is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. A gift. It is not earned. Grace is not given after you obey the laws, follow the rules, fall into the majority or are accepted into a church.

Christ says to come and follow Him. He does not say to go and stop doing anything, or start doing something. He simply says "follow me".

Why? Because God loves you. He created you. He formed you in the womb. He made you, he knows you and He loves. He loves you right now. Knowing who you are right now, He loves you. Even if you don't, He does. He loves you. If fact, in Christ, He says you, are His Masterpiece. You are His greatest work. He made you and then stepped back and said, "perfect". Masterpiece, couldn't do any better, just what I wanted.

One more thing I know. It's that Christ wants a relationship with you. Right now, just as you are. Begin that relationship today. Or, renew it today. Or, strengthen it today. Not works, changes, promises to be better or anything else. Just a relationship. Just start talking to Him. He already knows you and is waiting to get closer.

Simple, basic, but true.

Gal 2:20; John 3:16, Job 31; Psalm 139:13-14; Eph 2:10

As Little Children?

Matt 18:2 "..unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Ok, pretty straight forward statement. However, many Christians will overlook this short statement Jesus made. Never is a strong word. So, we need to know what this means, because it simply tells us one thing we need to do to enter heaven.

We need to be like little children. This means more than just happy go lucky, playful type attitudes. When Jesus taught us this, children had no rights. They had no voice, no protection and no value on their own. Too small and insignificant to even make a good slave.

Children need to be fed. They can't work, and can't get their own food. They are completely dependent. They need to be protected, nurtured and fed. They need examples of how to grow up properly. Here, we are now beginning to get the key examples of how we are to be like children.

We need to be completely dependent upon Jesus. We grow up and we start to feel pretty good about ourselves. The world values independence and we start to feel arrogant about our abilities. We are proud of our work, our possessions and think we are to hold the glory of our existence. We grow so dependent upon ourselves and our abilities that it starts to blind us of any need for God.

If things go wrong in the world or in our lives then we blame others. We blame a boss, spouse, the other political party and eventually we blame even God. Or, we turn all the blame upon ourselves and instead of feeling God's love and grace we feel shame and depression.

We need to be completely dependent, like children. We need to be dependent upon Jesus. We need to look to him for or self worth. We are the children of God. We are his masterpiece. He supplies all we need. He supplies our daily bread. He opens doors that we could not open ourselves. God supplies the good in our lives. We need to give Him the glory for our shelter. He is the reason we have our jobs and can earn a living to feed to our families. Jesus should be our example of how to live our lives. Not a sports hero or celebrity or super rich entrepreneur.

We need to rise daily and look to Jesus to fulfill or daily needs, give us protection and supply the grace of His love. When we become dependent as children on the love of our God, then we are assured of entering heaven. If we remain dependent upon ourselves, then we can only open the door that we by ourselves have constructed.

Enter into this loving relationship with Jesus today. Begin today, renew today or strengthen today, your relationship with Jesus Christ.