Salt and Light

Click on the scripture reference and read these verses: Matthew 5:13-16

I believe that the Church is the greatest earthly hope that we have in existence. i don't mean buildings, I don't mean the Roman Catholic, or any other, denomination. I am simply referring to the people who have a relationship with Jesus Christ, God's Son, who died on a cross for our sins and came back to life three days later. For me, these are indisputable facts. Maybe science hasn't proven their validity, but neither has it disproven them. Besides, I have first-hand experience with a relationship with Jesus, through my faith and trust in Him, that would hold past any scientific challenge. "A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument." (unknown)

Yet just as I believe that the Church is the greatest earthly hope, in that we are the tangible touch of Christ to the world around us as He is living through us, we also have developed some serious flaws through the years since our institution. In the verses we read at the beginning, which are in red and the actual words of Jesus, He calls us salt and light. I have been dwelling on these verses for a while now and want to share with you what I have learned. Though it will be in reverse order from what's listed, I'd first like to look at "light."

We, the Church, are light in this world. Darkness cannot hide from light when in the same room or space. The only way light can be kept from penetrating darkness is to be shut out in some way. Think of a dark room in a basement with no windows and only one door. If the door is sealed well, whatever light is on the outside of the door will never reach the inside of the room. However, open the door, and whatever light is shining just outside will flood the darkness and, depending on its brightness, illumine everything it touches to some degree. Darkness cannot stop it.

The light that is in us is the Light of Jesus Christ. It is the light of truth, justice, mercy, grace, love, forgiveness--all of the traits and characteristics of God; the fruit of the Spirit, if you will. Simply because Jesus, in the form of the Holy Spirit, resides in us, so does His light as even our sin nature cannot hide the glory of God. Darkness is powerless against such light. Just as God is eternal, so is the light of His glory within us. It will never be quenched. Stars that illumine our night skies are seen by the human eye thousands of years after they have been extinguished because of the time it takes for the light to reach the earth from its source. Yet this light, the light of His glory, will never be snuffed out. It is indeed eternal. It reaches past our bracketed existence on this planet.

Light is what we carry to the world. The very source of the light lives in us if we have chosen to believe in the work Jesus did on the cross and in His being who He said He was, the very Son of God. The closer we draw in relationship with Jesus, He also draws nearer to us and that light shines even the brighter. Our dark world needs light. Much of it maybe even craves light. Light is what we bring as the Church. We reflect it much in the same way the moon reflects the sun. When light is reflected, the brightness of the reflected light is dependent on the substance of the reflective material. For example, a white sheet will reflect light, but when foil is used, the reflected light is much brighter than what was elected off the sheet. The brightness of the light we reflect depends on our substance, and our substance depends on the depth of our relationship with Christ.

But just as light is what we bring, salt is how we bring it.

Let's look at just a couple of characteristics of salt. Salt makes things taste better. It seasons. When we sit down at the table, or cook food for others, we often season the food with salt to bring more flavor. Salt also preserves. You can salt meat and preserve it a little longer. However, unlike light, salt is temporary. Eventually, salt can and will lose its flavor.

As the Church, in my personal observation, we more often get the "light" part right than we do the "salt." After all, the light really isn't us, it's Jesus. We don't have to do much for light to come through. But salt? That requires much more effort. When we see evidence around us that "the world is going to hell in a hand basket," as we often put it, we normally get pretty self-righteous and feel the need to defend Jesus and/or our faith. We act surprised at what is going on.

Yet, have you ever noticed that God has never entered a day where He called Gabriel over and told him to go warm up the trumpet because God was surprised by something that a non-believer did the day before? Lost people act lost! God's not surprised by that, so why are we? When there is a Supreme Court decision, an act of terrorism, a school shooting, a video from Planned Parenthood, or some other social ill, we adopt a sudden sense of urgency to do something to stop it. Yet if we really felt that "urgent," we would've been doing something all along, right? But in our sudden urgency, we sit down the salt shaker and pick up the persimmon juice. What we offer to the world, while true, now tastes very bitter and unwelcoming. No wonder it gets rejected so often.

Salt is mined. It is in huge rocks or stones. Larger rocks of salt have their uses, but it looks much different than what we see in shakers on tables. Meat can be laid onto rocks of salt for seasoning or preservation. Unlike what is found in shakers, food must be brought to the salt, not the other way around. For salt to reach the food, it must first be crushed or ground. Could it be that this is true for us, as Christians, as well? Before we can be the most useful, there must be a season of crushing or breaking. It's not that we can't be used without being broken, but we depend on others to come to us. Our sense of urgency may be less. We still season. We still carry light. We just haven't been through a life event that has brought us to the point where we can be poured out before others as a drink offering to them.

Once salt is crushed, unless salt is poured out onto the food, it can't reach it's highest potential of seasoning the food. You can sit a salt shaker on the table. In that way, it can be among the food; it can be a part of the offering at every meal. Yet, until it is poured out, touches the food, covers the food, it cannot season the food. This is why I'm extremely apprehensive about religious freedom laws. It gives us Christians yet another excuse to not be poured out and serve in humility. It allows us to stay in the shaker and even attach a spiritual label to it so that our greed sounds legitimate. Not that everyone would do that, or be that way, but my experience has taught me that many look for just such excuses. It gives a voice that we can use to not be the tangible touch of Christ to someone who may be looking for hope, for light. Why would we ever want to do that?

We trade the seasoning power of salt to offer a "taste and see the Lord is good" opportunity to the world, and try to serve the light we carry in glasses of persimmon juice. For those who have never had persimmon juice, it is extremely bitter and makes the lips pucker. It is a very unpleasant experience. As believers, we hear or see truth and are drawn to it because the Truth lives in our hearts. The world around us is unfamiliar with Truth and that is why we are called to be salt (seasoning those around us in ways that we are pleasing to be around and deliver Truth in palatable ways) and light (also delivering truth that isn't watered down nor wavering). Why is it that we can't do both?

Be light today. Be salt today. Give truth, but only in a way that is pleasing and seasons those who need the truth. That is how we change the world starting with the one beside us.

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What does a "relationship" with Jesus look like?

I'm glad scripture says in Romans 10:9-10 that we only need to declare/confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead to be saved. If it had involved a relationship like I have with Him now, I'd have been up a creek without a paddle. Many who have been "saved" (in other words, they have decided to believe by faith that Jesus Christ is indeed the very Son of God, and that His death on the cross and resurrection that followed paid the sin debt of death for them) would say that making that decision is the same as having a relationship with Jesus. While it does, in fact, introduce you to Jesus, and open the door for relationship, you don't automatically just "know" your Savior in all His glory. That would be like jumping from being introduced to the person who will be your spouse, to being married with a family a few seconds later. No relationship works like that. Jesus is no different.

Maybe this disagrees with your theology some, but hang with me. I really believe that we will end up in the same place if you will continue with me here. If you're one of those that has tried to have a relationship with Jesus, or you're just wondering what one looks like, read on too.

The absolute first step in having any relationship, as described above, is being introduced to the person with whom you desire relationship. This happens at the point in your life where you make the decision to follow Jesus by confessing that decision with your mouth, and believing in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead. At that decision crossroads, you change your eternal destination to heaven in the presence of God, forever and ever and ever (per Romans 10:9-10 listed above). But what about the relationship that follows? Let's look.

The Bible speaks primarily in the Old Testament of God audibly speaking to mankind. He used judges and prophets to do this most of the time. It normally wasn't to everyone who said they believed in God. Let me bring you some comfort right now and know that in my relationship with Jesus, I have never audibly heard His voice. You do not need to worry that someone will put you on an episode of Dr. Phil because you are hearing voices inside or outside your head. This is not some spiritually induced schizophrenia.

Growing up in the church, as I did, I used to believe that a relationship with Jesus was dedicated on what I did to instigate it, or to keep it going once it started. The things I thought I had to do was, of course, go to church, serve others, worship, read my Bible, etc. My list of things was probably no different than yours in most ways. I heard the scripture quoted many times, which is true, "come near to God and He will come near to you." (James 4:8) The only things that I could think of to draw near to God were the things in my list. I determined to get busy doing what I thought God would be doing or would want me to do, and surely He would then come near to me. I was wrong.

It wasn't until my life fell apart in 2011 and God started putting me back together again in 2012, that I realized what a relationship with Jesus/God really meant. What does it look like? Not much different than any of m other relationships. Let me explain.

I remember being in the altar in early 2012 and I was extremely broken. I was pouring out my heart to God and asking Him what was going to happen to me. I'd made some terrible choices, gotten involved in sin, and was reaping the benefits of my stupidity. Then in an altar in Texas, not audibly, yet clear as day, I heard the voice of God. It was more of a thought than anything. I knew the thought wasn't mine, though, because it wasn't saying anything to myself that I believed to be either true or possible. God only said, "Let me love you." Here I was crying and blubbering and trying to give Him a list of all the reasons why that couldn't happen. After all, because of what I had done, I viewed myself as unloveable. But love me He did and does.

I have an app on my iPhone called the Bible App. It posts a "Verse of the Day" each night at midnight. I have no way to properly explain it, but I chose to read those verses almost every day, and almost every day each one seemed as though God was speaking directly into my heart. Sometimes, it even got almost to the eerie point because the verse would be so on target. Those verses still say something to me most of the time. I have come to believe that it is simply because I make myself available to hear what God has to say. I tune out the noise of my day, and allow God to speak. There's no magical time of day to do it. Actually, I enjoy keeping the conversation going throughout the whole day.

See, here's the thing. All my lists of things that I thought I needed to do to draw near to God were actually things I was supposed to do because I had already drawn near to God. The list was supposed to be a result of my relationship, not the relationship itself. The lists, the details, the commandments, the rituals, were never intended to be my relationship with God. Yet, I had made them such. But what I've found is that God, the Creator of the universe, desires to sit down and talk with me all the time--daily. The biggest change in my prayer life if that I'm still and quiet long enough for God to talk back. Before, my prayers were my lists to God in response to the lists of things I brought to Him through my actions. It was a very warped way to have a conversation. Now, it's not like that at all.

Through reading those verses, I've learned more of the character of God. I've learned to discern His voice among all the other thoughts in my head. On top of that, I've seen the things He's told me revealed in my life. If not for revelation, I might consider contacting my straight jacket tailor and setting up a fitting. Where at first, most of His communication to me was through the Bible, now it's as much in my thoughts as it is reading scripture. Sometimes He even speaks to me through others who are also Christians and I recognize His voice in their words.

There is indeed a relationship to be had. It is God's wish for all mankind. But now do you see the difference I was speaking about in the first couple of paragraphs? Our confession and belief changes the eternal destination, but it's the relationship that changes the journey getting there. Try it. Make yourself available. It may seem awkward at first, but that's ok. The benefits of your perseverance will be absolutely amazing!

Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly.  I welcome your comments!  PLEASE leave one!!!  Here's how:
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2.  Write your comment in the box provided.
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My Answer: How involved/uninvolved should grassroots Christians and Christian leaders be in politics?

Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:

Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.

For me, when I posted this question on Facebook, I honestly did not have a WHY for me on any "side" of this question. As an American, I believe in the rights granted to us by the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other governing documents. I am of the opinion that we have gotten some things terribly wrong in our interpretation of those documents.

An example of bed interpretation would be the "Separation of Church and State." Most Americans do not know or realize that this "right" is NEVER MENTIONED in ANY governing document! Here is what the First Amendment actually says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

The phrase "Separation of Church and State" comes from a letter by a man named Jefferson that was cited by the Supreme Court and was originally used and intended to keep Christian principles a part of American government. For more information about this letter and the origin of the phrase, I would strongly encourage you to take a moment and read the article found by clicking here.

One must also remember their history lessons from school. One of the things England did that drove our founding fathers crazy was the imposition of the Church of England! There was only one denomination that was allowed and it was controlled by the English government. So the free exercise of religion was taken away. The founding fathers left and came here to escape this among many other things. So when they sat down to write our first documents, these things were still fresh in the minds of the authors, thus included in the documents. Given this information, I HAVE to come to the conclusion that the original intent of the founding fathers was to keep the government out of the church, not the church out of the government!

I've found, however, that any organization's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness. Our strength is our freedom. We fight and die for it, and live it out with every passing day. But we see that enemies, including our main adversary the devil, conjures ways to expose and pervert that strength away from its original intent. It's a "what's good for the goose is good for the gander" problem. If Christians have those freedoms, then by using the governing documents alone to define our freedoms, so does every other religion. That can be a problem when it comes to such "religions" as ISIS.

My personal weakness in recent election seasons has been magnified on social media. And I've noticed that I'm not the only one. There is a need in us as Christians to jump on the defensive when we feel that Christ is being threatened. It's natural. The disciple, Peter, felt the same urge when he drew his sword and cut off the ear of the Roman soldier as he was about to arrest Jesus. But just as Peter was admonished for his actions by Jesus, so I think I would be...and you would too if you've spoken out as I have in the past.

In order to arrive at where I believe the truth lies to this question, let's first start with what scripture says in a couple of places regarding our reaction to and role in our government as believers:

"1Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority." Romans 13:1-7 NLT

The way that I read this passage tells me that whoever is in authority, whoever is President, is instituted by God. Even those who are "men of God?" Yup. Remember Saul? He was Israel's first king. Rebellious to the core, lazy, insecure, attempted to murder David out of jealous anger more times than I can count, was basically not someone would not want to be your mentor in the area of Godliness. Yet he was ordained of God. Even David, the man who was the target of Saul's jealous anger, admonished his men when David returned with a piece of Saul's garment in a very crappy cave. :-)

Our submission to authority does not lie on the person, but in the office. Don't get mad at me! I didn't say it, God did. Let's look further.

"1I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity." I Timothy 2:1-2 NLT

God tells us here to pray for those who are in authority. And God threw in that pesky little word, "all." That means that our prayers are not to be slanted one way toward some, and another way toward others, but that we should pray the same for all. He even says to "give thanks." Oh no. Really? That's a hard one, especially in today's economy and leadership. (Just keeping it real here, people.)

And finally...

"Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king." 1 Peter 2:17 NLT

Notice that Paul did not get instruction from God to add the words "as long as he's a godly king or a Republican. Though someone from the Tea Party might could squeeze by too. Just leave those Democrats alone!" God didn't tell Paul to add that. He just said, "respect the king." You may not agree with what I'm saying to you, I'm just telling you what the Bible says. You can do with that what you will. Just know that what you post on Facebook and other social media is a reflection of what's in your heart. So when I and others read it, we see where your heart is in regard to following the guidelines laid out in scripture. NOT ONE TIME does scripture say we have to AGREE with our king! But it DOES say we have to respect him and pray for him. Why? Look again at 1 Timothy 2, "...so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity."

I've not found one place in scripture where it says anything against Christians taking an active role in political matters. But if we do, the roles should be taken with the guidelines expressed here and not vindictiveness, anger, vengeful hearts, fear, or malice toward anyone. Notice I included "fear." If God is in control, who have we to fear? No one. Not Al Qaeda, ISIS, or anyone else. Government is a God-instituted entity. It is ordained by Him. And we must honor God by respecting that entity and its authority over us.

My opinion is that our country has indeed gone away from God. Do I like it? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! But our role as Christians is ill focused. We rant and we rave about the President and how Godliness is gone from America and its government. We do this blindly thinking that a Godly person in the White House will get us back on the right track. Yet everywhere in scripture, I see God telling us to honor those in authority over us. He knew there would be those in authority over us who would not honor Him. Again, remember Saul? But with all my heart I believe that God Almighty is MUCH more interested with who is God in OUR HOUSE than who is God in the WHITE HOUSE!

If we get OUR HOUSE right, the WHITE HOUSE takes care of itself. That's the way God taught us to handle things in scripture. Get YOUR heart right, YOUR house in order, YOUR priorities straight, and He will take care of the rest. We have a history of thinking we have a better plan than God. But He laid out the plan long ago: "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT. So why do we keep aiming at the government when the fault is our own? We didn't do what God asked to have the result we say we want. It's an obedience issue. A heart issue. Not a President issue.

In my book that will be released before too long (hopefully), I talk about the fact that Christians have begun using the Bible as a window more than a mirror. Sure, we are to be fruit inspectors of others, but when we focus on the fruit more than the reflection, we have become judges rather than inspectors. And at that point, we are way out of line!

My Answer: If someone commits suicide, are they automatically condemned to hell?

Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:

Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.

There is no gray area to me in determining suicide is sin. It is self murder. The Bible is very clear on murder even to the point that it is one of the Ten Commandments listed in Exodus 20:13. To always start from a point of truth is the best way to arrive at a conclusion. So suicide is a sin.

There are seven known suicides in the Bible: Abimilech (Judges 9:54), Samson (Judges 16:29-31), Saul and his armor bearer (1 Samuel 31:3-6), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas (Matthew 27:5). While most of these characters were in situations of disobedience at the time of their suicides, Samson was not. Some view him as a martyr even. There's no way you could use his life as a model for righteous living, but what he did was quite remarkable! He is even listed in the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11.

To look at this properly, we must first look at what "saves" a person. Jesus set Himself apart from the pack in John 14:6. He is the only way to heaven and our salvation comes solely from His death and resurrection - His redeeming (buying us back) work on the cross where He paid our sin debt. And scripture teaches, I believe, that nothing can take away what He has given. Look at Romans 8:35-39. God didn't put the word "except" after the words "nothing can separate." In the original Greek the word "nothing" means NOTHING! To me, that includes suicide. To say that having sin that has not been confessed sends someone to hell, though a person has confessed belief in Christ as their Savior, says to me that sin trumps the blood of Christ. No sir! The blood trumps it ALL!

There are also those who have said that suicide must be the unpardonable sin, or unforgivable sin, spoken about in Matthew 12:31-32. Actually, if you read all of Matthew 12, you'll see that Jesus was directing His speech at the Pharisees.  This was not a simple teaching moment where he was teaching the disciples or other followers! Jesus had been doing miracles in front of the Pharisees. But instead of seeing the truth, they said that Jesus was possessed by Beelzebub, a demon. They had spoken directly against Jesus, His Spirit, and the work He had just done before them. The unpardonable sin has nothing to do with suicide.

So no, though suicide is a sin, I don't believe it automatically condemns someone to hell. But read on. There's more to this answer than where we've arrived so far.

I must also say here that the saying "Go won't give you more than you can handle" is a LIE!!! The Bible NEVER says that! While that may be a comforting thought, it has no Biblical merit. The closest thing that scripture says to this comes from 1 Corinthians 10:13. In this passage, the Bible is addressing temptation to sin and saying that God will not allow us to be tempted in ways that He will not provide a way out. But this verse, nor any other verse, says anything about mental stress, depression, or anxiety. Actually, scripture is very clear that there WILL be trouble and trials in life! But it also says, to not fear because Jesus has overcome the world and in Him, we too are overcomers!

Suicide is indeed a sin. Depression, stress, and anxiety are also indeed real. People get to the point where they feel they can't take any more. I'm one of them. In November of 2011, I had a loaded gun to my head and was locked in our master bedroom with my wife praying for me on the other side of the door. I know what that's like. But I will tell you that, no matter who you are, you are here for a God-given purpose that is designed specifically for you by God. YOU MATTER! Your life is extremely important to God's plan. But to fulfill that plan, you need to be alive. Scripture says that it is appointed for man to die. But that appointment is not our to set for ourselves. It is God's and God's alone. If things get tough, talk to someone. There IS hope!

My Answer: Is it ok for a Christian to be cremated?

Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:

Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.

Again, as in before questions, does this act go against what is taught in scripture? As I look through scripture, I can find no mention of cremation. But neither can I find any mention of instruction on "acceptable burial practices" of any kind where Christians are concerned! There is no mention whatsoever about curses or punishment of any kind in regard to burial practices. There are people in scripture who were burned to death as a punishment for some act while living. But the act of burning carried no distinction in and of itself as to any eternal meaning at all.

Scripture tells us that one day the graves will burst open and give up their dead and that those of us who are Christians will have a new "resurrected body" that will be glorified in nature. Granted, in our minds, putting a body back together again seems much easier when there are identifiable pieces - much like putting a puzzle together. In our minds it may be impossible for a body to come back together and come out of a grave when it is only dust, especially if it was scattered from a mountain top or poured into a river. But do we really think that gathering every single minute particle of dust is too difficult for the God who spoke the world into existence? I can't put the God I serve in that small of a box.

People have lost their lives to fire down through the ages. Just this week, here in Nashville, a poor tanker driver, for reasons unknown, swerved in the middle of the night and hit a bridge with a tanker full of unleaded gasoline. The tanker exploded and the driver was killed. The fire burned so hot that it melted some of the steel in the bridge that passed overhead. Think back to 9/11. The plane that went down in Pennsylvania was practically pulverized with the lives of innocent people - heroes - on board. When events like this happen, are these people, if they are Christians, simply out of luck because their bodies were burned into ash at death? I can't make sense out of a theology that would say that when scripture says clearly that "nothing can separate us" from the love of Jesus. So as to the first analysis question, I would have to arrive at the answer being: No. There is no evidence that cremation goes against anything in scripture.

So what about it being the wise thing to do? Though sentimental reasons do exist and people want their ashes spread over certain areas or kept in an urn in a home or special place, the most frequent answer given when asked why someone would choose cremation is the fact that being cremated is much cheaper than a full burial. So if a family isn't prepared with resources to pay for a full burial, then cremation for them would indeed be the wiser choice, in my opinion. If resources are available for both, then it comes down to just personal preference.

Based on my own conviction for the reasons listed above, I see nothing wrong with a Christian choosing to be cremated after death, or for that decision to be made by authoritative legal parties for the deceased.

My Answer: Is it ok for a Christian to get a tattoo?

Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:

Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.

I must say that I was VERY surprised when I posted this question! There were some very hard feelings on both sides of this issue! After the subject of a Christian drinking alcohol, I thought I would ask a relatively light question in theme. But there was nothing "light" about the responses that I read from those who answered. As a matter of fact, it was BY FAR the most debated topic of any question asked. Following this posted question, I actually had to list "NO DEBATING" as a "rule" for responding to the posts. Some didn't like that. That's fine with me. You have your own Facebook page and you can post anything you want. :-)

This also became the one exception when I actually posted an answer to my own question on my Facebook page. That was never my intention to do. However, given the heated discussion that had occurred, I felt that I needed to weigh in. I'm still not sure if that was the best thing to do, but it's what I did. What follows is the skeleton of the way I responded with a few added thoughts.

So here's my take on the whole tattoo thing. The only time I can find in scripture where tattoos are actually mentioned is here: Leviticus 19:28. Please understand that I am NOT one of those guys who claim that the Old Testament of the Bible is no longer valid because we are under grace now and not the old law. While there are parts of the old law that have gone the way of the Dodo Bird, there are still parts that are valid today. Let me explain briefly.

There are three different types of law in our Old Testament canon that we use today. They are Cultural Law, Ceremonial Law, and Moral Law. Cultural and Ceremonial Laws are indeed no longer valid. Moral Law is still very much valid and is alive and well today. It transcends the Old and New Testaments. The Moral Law states that death is the only payment for sin. When Jesus died on the cross, He became that death payment for our sin: past, present, and future. By fulfilling the debt requirement for our sin, Jesus said, "I haven't come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it." Moral Law still stands! It is the standard by which our actions are measured. It, along with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, is the main way that we know when we are in dangerous proximity to, or have committed a sin. And there was no angry God in the OT and a loving God in the NT. He says in Malachi 3, "I am the Lord, I do not change."

This passage in Leviticus is a part of Ceremonial or Cultural Law, not Moral. If you read the verses surrounding 28, you will see that in those days, tattoos were given to worshipers of pagan gods. Back then, they marked to which god they were loyal and gave them a form of identity in that regard. Today, that's not always the case. And besides, if we are going to use this verse, then that makes the verse about men shaving just as valid an issue with God! If you shaved today, guys, you're in trouble! Or look a few verses down where it talks about lying in reference to weight and measures. Some of us would be in BIG TIME trouble on Facebook lying about weight! No, this is not a valid argument, in my opinion, for not having a tattoo. It's fine to not like them! But don't start throwing God into the mix by making Him say something He didn't say by using verses out of context.

Next question deals with cremation. Later, guys.

My Answer: Is it ok for a Christian to drink alcohol?

Opening paragraph is at the beginning of every "My Answer" blog:

Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. So I posted a series of questions on Facebook recently, challenging Christians to not debate issues, but to search for the WHY behind their convictions to these answers. I purposefully never posted my answers till now. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.

The first question you need to ask yourself really isn't the one posted in the title. The first question you need to ask is, "WHY am I asking this question?" When my parents told me not to go touch or do something, there'd be times I would get as close as I could to doing it, but not! Now my parents didn't let me get away with that kind of thing hardly ever, but many of you reading this, if you were told not to touch something, you'd put your finger so close to it that you couldn't wedge a frog's hair between your finger and the object, BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE TOUCHING IT! Right?

We Christians are the same way. We know we're not supposed to sin, but we want to know just how close we can get to sin and not cross that line in the sand. We think we can sneak up on sin and get our thrill fix before we call it a day. I've been there. I feel ya! But then asking the question from the title COULD (not does) show a heart issue where you want to tap into your inner "bad boy" and get it out. That issue needs to be resolved prior to this one. That's an integrity/character issue that you need to be honest with God about and move past before ever dealing with this question.

I stated yesterday that I run everything through two filters: scripture & wisdom. We'll get to the scripture part in a moment. But as for wisdom, let me say that if there has ever been a time in your life when you have abused alcohol, then this answer is a DEFINITIVE NO! There is no circumstance where you should put your health, testimony, your life on the line for a sip of an alcoholic beverage. Remember the question: "In light of my past failures, my present circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, is this the wise thing to do?" For you sir/ma'am, the answer is no.

Godly Christians are on both sides of this issue. I must say that I even disagree with my father, whom I love and respect dearly, on this issue. The important thing to remember is that on whichever side you choose to come down, there are those who are to be just as respected and and acknowledged that their relationship with Jesus is just as valid as yours.

Now to the question at hand. Wine is mentioned throughout the Bible. I'm not going to list all the verses for you. That would be something that, at some point, you need to do for yourself. That was the whole purpose behind the Facebook exercise to begin with. From Noah getting drunk in Genesis 9, all the way throughout scripture, wine makes occasional appearances. The first recorded miracle of Jesus, Himself, was when He turned the water into wine at the wedding.

I've heard people say that they've researched the original Greek and Hebrew words and that wine, as it is referenced many times in scripture including the wedding miracle, was not wine as we know it today. That according to the original languages, it was three parts water and one part grape juice. Ok. Continuing, those on that side of the argument will say that different Greek or Hebrew words are used when referencing wine at other parts of the Bible when it admonishes us about getting drunk with wine. Again, ok. I can see how you've arrived at your conclusion.

My only issue is that no matter if it was three parts water or just one whole part wine, the Bible says we can get drunk off of it. There is no getting drunk without alcohol in the mix. There's getting FAT from too much grape juice! There's getting a bad case of the runs (diarrhea for you northern folk), but there's no getting drunk without alcohol.

And what about the wine at the wedding? Again, I have to reference scripture for this one. Those in attendance claimed that the wine, that up until seconds ago had been water, was the best wine. See, normally hosts would serve the best wine up front. Why? Because once people get alcohol moving through their system, not only does the band sound better, but the wine tastes better too! That's why I believe, and my conviction remains, that the wine that resulted from Jesus' wedding miracle was fermented. People who were drunk and shouldn't know any better said that it was the best. At that point, grape Kool-Aid would have tasted fermented to them. But they could distinguish this as the best.

What about the stumbling bock verse? Again, if we're going to cite that verse as the foundation for our convictions, in my opinion, we need to push away the Carnegie Deli Cheesecake, my dad's banana pudding, or the peach cobbler. Not that these things within themselves are bad, but sometimes the waistline gives evidence of possible gluttony in one's life. One is just as serious as the other. You can run the gamut with things that could be equally a stumbling block: speeding, movies, tv (soap operas?), gambling, you name it.

And know this. I've had an uncle that was a severe alcoholic. He chased my grandmother through her home with a baseball bat one time. He was beaten close to death and left naked in the snow. I've heard the stories and know well the potential. Yes, alcoholism can be dangerous! That is why I said above that if you've shown any form of addictive tendencies toward alcohol, your answer is always NO!

But for the rest of us, if we're going to look at it for its possible troubles it could cause, does that mean we need to cut out sex too? Over 50% of marriages end in divorce with many of them due to infidelity. We have teenage pregnancies, abortions, STD's, pornography, human sex trafficking. So do we say that we can't have sex due to the damage it can cause? Of course not! The issue is what our enemy has done in perverting a God-given gift into something twisted and sick.

My interpretation of scripture and my conviction tells me that scripture (except in cases of addiction stated above) does not speak against the consumption of alcohol, but rather the abuse of it and getting drunk from it. Drunkenness is against scripture. But I cannot arrive at total abstinence.

My Answer: Is it acceptable for a Christian to smoke?

I purposefully didn't answer. When I posted the following question on Facebook last week, I wanted those answering to search their own hearts, Bibles, convictions and know their own answer if ever asked why they believe the way they do. In my own past, when questions have been asked about why I believe certain things, I've been guilty of being silent until the pastor or teacher proclaimed his/her belief and gave us what must have been the "right answer." For years I formed my beliefs this way. I'm not proud of that.

    Growing up as the son of a preacher, I was never further than a question to my parents, as well as a variety of other Godly influences, from what I thought I was supposed to believe about any spiritual matter. But as time passed, I studied God's word for myself and was challenged by all of them to do so. On some questions, my personal study only reinforced what I'd heard as a child. On others, I found that I differed somewhat from what I'd been taught along the way and that my understanding of scripture lead me to a few different places. (I'm not going to tell you whether my parents and I disagree on any of these questions. If you want to know that, you've TOTALLY missed the reason for the blog series or the challenge to you behind it!) I read 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I felt that this directive was calling me farther past just my hope of salvation, but about anything for which I felt a conviction within my faith. This blog is not THE answer. It is MY answer according to my personal Bible study. I challenge you to find yours.

With that in mind, last week I began posting one question per day that, as of the writing of this blog, many Christians are asking. There are some things that make eternal differences (i.e. Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus died on a cross and was raised to life three days later, etc.). These questions fall of lesser weight, but are debated as not being very clear cut in scripture. By far, the majority of Christians have stances on these things, however. And there are wonderful God-fearing people of God on both sides of every question. So I wanted to know if they got their stance from their pastors and teachers, or if they'd actually studied on their own and developed their own conclusions. I saved my answers for here.

My plan is to answer one question per day until all seven are complete. If I listed all seven answers in blog, it would be really LOOONG! We may differ in our opinions or convictions. That's ok with me as long as it is you. I won't be debating with you. You can share with me below if you want to say that you disagree with me...as long as you also put the WHY! :-)

1. Is it acceptable for a Christian to smoke?

There are basically two questions I ask myself first when approaching any question like this. The same process will be followed in developing my answers to the following questions. 

1. Is the action against what is taught in scripture?
2. Is the action wise for me to do?

The first question speaks for itself. The second comes from a book by Pastor Andy Stanley, The Best Question Ever. He bases the book off of Ephesians 5:15 and gives three "filters." The resulting question is: "In light of my past failures, my present circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do?"

Is smoking against what is taught in scripture? There are no references to smoking in scripture. Now many have used the argument of the fact that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). I get that! I do! But the exact same argument could be made about eating Twinkies. As a matter of fact, every scriptural argument I've ever heard on this subject could just as easily be used for gluttony! Choose any verse you want. This is not the only one I've heard used on this issue. But Christians don't talk about gluttony, do we? "Food doesn't smell as bad as cigarettes and besides, we use food for fellowship. We don't use them cigarettes for fellowship Bro. Kevin." And what about the cancer the cigarettes cause? Valid point. But if you do the math, you'll find that exponentially more people die every year from issues related to overeating than ever do from lung cancer. If you're going to use the "temple" verses, that's fine with me. An argument can be made. But don't try to make the argument if you don't have a problem eating the extra cookie before bed.

Is it wise? The same answer would be given to this as to the previous question. Is it wise to have half the pan of brownies your wife cooked just so you can eat them while they're hot? Probably not. But in this case, over indulgence becomes the key factor. What if all you do is have a cigar with the guys only once in a while? I don't see the problem here. If it becomes an issue where it is becoming addictive, then there's a problem. But if not, I wouldn't tell you not to eat just because you might one day eat too much. That's just my opinion.

But if you overindulge in anything that brings damage to your body (smoking, gluttony, drug use, etc.), in my opinion, according to scripture, you (we) are in a sinful act. My point here is not so much to say that smoking isn't a sin as much as to say that we shouldn't point the finger at someone else just because their sin is different from ours.

What's My Name?

I am a student of leadership.  The study of leadership and bettering myself so that I can in turn better others around me is a passion of mine.  One thing that is HAMMERED into your head in almost any basic leadership class is to use a person's name as much as possible.  Why?  Because people feel special when their name is used.  They recognize that to the one calling them by name, they are more than a number, a demographic, or an employee.  Names matter.

Any company that has survived years of building a brand around a name will tell you, names matter.  There is a lot riding on a name.  Reputations, lawsuits, promotions, guilt, and innocence can ride on a name.  One of the first responsibilities ever given to man by God after creation was naming the animals.  God gave Adam and Eve their names.  Your parents probably named most of you!  Names count.  They matter.  People, organizations, countries all respond to a name.

As I look through and read scripture, I see this fact drilled home as I see those whose names were changed after significant events in their lives.  Here's a short non-exhaustive list:
Jacob - Genesis 32:27-28
Paul - Acts 13:9
Abraham - Genesis 17:1-5
Gideon - Judges 6:31-32

Each of these men had something significant happen in their lives and their names were changed as a result.  And their new names reflected the events for which they would be known.

As a leader, when I'm coaching someone else, I've started doing something that I've seen a mentor of mine do with those whom he is helping to develop a God-centered vision for their lives.  I now have people write out their own obituary and their own epitaph.  Macabre?  Maybe a little.  But see, these two things are how those who come behind you who may not have known you or anything about your life will remember you.  They will look you up on the Internet, or they'll pass by your headstone in a graveyard somewhere, and there engraved in marble will be the one phrase summation of what you meant to the world while you were here.

Take a moment.  Try it.  Your obituary can be a little longer - a paragraph maybe.  Your epitaph, what will be written on your headstone, must be much shorter.  How do you want those who follow you to remember you?  What do you want said about your life in one simple phrase?  What difference do you want to have made when you breathe your last?

Gideon was the last name I listed above.  I recently did a study on the few chapters in Judges that record for us the life of Gideon.  There's not much there.  But what is, is powerful!  He was raised in a society that worshipped an idol named Baal.  There was an altar to Baal in Gideon's parents' home where he had grown up.  As a matter of fact, Gideon's first act of obedience to Jehovah God was to go to the home of his father and tear down the altar of Baal!  The verses above pick up right after this event.  We see the people calling for Gideon's life!  Yet the name that he ended up getting was one that meant "let Baal contend for himself."  Basically, "Baal Fighter."

In Revelation 2, we see the letter to the Church in Pergamum.  At the end of this brief letter, click on the reference link that follows and read what is written.  Revelation 2:17

Does this mean that all of us who claim the name of Christ, who have placed our faith and trust in Him as Savior, who devote our lives in the pursuit of holiness have received a "new name" that only we will understand?  I think it just might.

Those of you who know me personally call me, Kevin.  It is how I am known and the name to which I respond.  But I believe with all my heart that there is another name.  I believe it may even be the name referenced in Isaiah 43 (and surrounding chapters) when the scriptures continually remind us that God has "called you by name."  (Isaiah 43:1)  "I have called you by name and you are mine."  It tells of how when we are overcome by waters, we won't drown.  Or when we find ourselves in the fire, we won't be burned up.  We are HIS and He has a name for every one of us!

So if our names represent who we were while here on this earth, what great things we did for the cause of Christ, what do you want your name to be?  When you walk through the gates of heaven and you look your Savior in the face for the very first time, and He says, "Welcome home, _________."  FILL IN THE BLANK!  I'm afraid for so many of us, we may be trying to leave Jesus at a loss for words because we're not doing anything to earn a name greater than "Warmer of Many Seats!"  As a matter of fact, when I'm coaching people in the future, I may add this to the list of assignments.  Write out the name for which you want to be known by your Heavenly Father.

For me?  Messenger of Hope, or Hope Bringer.  That's not a very pretty name in English, but it really is how I want to be remembered!  Whatever my name is that is waiting for me, aside from seeing Jesus, it'll be the best moment of the beginning of my eternity... when I get to hear my name for the first time.  What's your name?

Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly.  I welcome your comments!  PLEASE leave one!!!  Here's how:
1.  Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2.  Write your comment in the box provided.
3.  You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list.  If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that.  Most of you should choose the  NAME/URL option and leave your name in the space provided.  You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4.  Click the PUBLISH button.  THAT'S IT!!!

THANK YOU for stopping by!  Till next time...

Enough Isn't Enough

Recently I've been thinking and praying about blessings.  I fully believe that Michelle and I are going to be seeing abundant blessings from God in the next few years.  I believe that with all my heart!  It started with a challenge from a friend/mentor to do a 5-year Plan for my life.  I prayed about the plan before I started writing a word because I really didn't know where to start.  But a few hours later, when it was done, and especially in the days that followed, I remember feeling guilty.  I felt I had over asked what I should.  I KNEW I had over asked what I deserved!  So where in that plan did I over step the line at "enough?"

"Enough" is a word that we use in both a positive and negative connotation.  In the positive, we may say, "I have enough," meaning that there is nothing else I need.  in the negative, especially if angry, the use more often than not moves to the past tense, "I have had enough!"  We may raise our voices when using the word in this context trying to get the point across that we're not going to take anymore of __________ from someone else.  Still a third, actually, is at a point of resignation to pressure from others.  "Ok.  Enough.  I'll do it."  The list isn't exhaustive, but I think it's "enough" to get my point across.

To say that I've seen an outpouring of God on our lives since writing that plan on July 30, of last year would be a gross understatement!  There's no magic in the outline; no hokus-pokus in even a plan.  The fuel that drives the whole thing is an understanding of God's will/plan for my life, a surrender to that will/plan, and a sincere belief to the point of constant expectation that God will complete what He has obviously started!  And oh, what a ride it has been already!  And I'm only eight months into the plan!

So I began asking God if I was selfish.  I'd asked this question before with an unmistakable response to the negative, but I just have a hard time believing what God is up to, so I felt the unnecessary need to ask again.  It was in this questioning just last week that Michelle and I (along with another friend) started a 6 week journey of a Bible study by Priscilla Shirer on the life of Gideon in the Old Testament.  The first night of "homework" and personal study gripped me and I started to see the answer of God unfold before my very eyes.  Don't you LOVE it when God answers the cry of your heart in unmistakable ways?!?

In order to show you what I mean, I must first lead you on a very brief journey of where I've been in scripture.  Click on the following scripture reference and read Deuteronomy 7:1-2.  In this passage, God's people are on the threshold of the Promised Land!  They've been led out of Egypt by Moses.  Most recently, they've been led here by Joshua.  The words, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" are already in Joshua's thoughts and not far from reaching the ears of God's people.  God has said He will deliver these armies who are stronger in number and strength into the hands of His people.  All they have to do to win the battle, practically, is SHOW UP!!!  Then the land could change in name from "Promised Land" to "Delivered Land."

But what happens instead?  To find out, let's skip ahead a little ways and read it as it happened.  Click on the following links to verses from Judges 1.  I think you'll get the idea.
Judges 1:19, 21
Judges 1:27-28
Judges 1:29-32
Judges 1:33
Are you getting the picture?  Can you see the similarity in each one?  Epic FAIL!!!

Each one of these failures that Judges chapter 1 outlines cost the people of God DEARLY!!!  As a matter of fact, those very people that were not conquered, though God was going to deliver them into the hands of His people, are the ancestors of the people who give Israel a fit even to this very day.  It is why we have the tension between Israel and Palestine and battles over the Gaza Strip.  The thorn in the flesh has never gone away!  All because God promised a blessing, gave it to His people, His people saw iron chariots and higher numbered armies and decided that a little Promised Land was better than no Promised Land.  So they settled for about half.

Now in today's logic, half might make sense!  After all, we want to be kind to our fellow man.  Charity is a good thing!  Why take all even if instructed to do so by God, when half seems to be comfortable?  Half is good.  Stir crap, it stinks, right?!?  Let sleeping dogs sleep and go about your own business of enjoying some freedom!  But God saw what was to come.  He knew the hearts of those whom Israel didn't fully wipe out.  This is why in Deuteronomy, He said to "show no mercy."  He knew that in time, there would be no mercy shown for His people in return!  God is not a God that is bound by common sense or reason.  His ways and thoughts are higher than that.  He sees all of time at a glance.  That's not logical or even imaginable to the human mind!  Click on this verse and read it, 1 Corinthians 1:27.  See?  Sometimes He just likes to use the most unusable person to accomplish the most difficult of tasks.

Our enemy, the devil, fooled the people of God into thinking that "some" was better than "all."  Even though God had both promised all and commanded all.  What about those questions you wrestle with all the time?  You know what I'm talking about!  It's the things that you know God is telling you to do; leading you to do, and so you do "enough."  Christians today are all about "enough!"  What is "enough" service as a volunteer in my church?  What is "enough" time with my kids?  What is "enough" money spent on my spouse for a birthday gift?  What is "enough" to give as a tithe to my church?  How much is "enough" forgiveness for that person that hurt me?  How many good deeds is "enough" to outweigh the bad ones?  Our church building is big "enough."  I've done "enough."  I've had "enough."  Just "ENOUGH!!!"

When did "enough" become "enough" to God when it comes to blessing His people?  When He talks about blessing us, He speaks in terms of windows being poured out so that we won't have room to receive it!  He talks about cups running over!  He mentions an eternal heavenly inheritance!  He uses words like "whoever," and "whatever."  There is a promise to the seeking, asking, and knocking.  And not one time do you ever hear turn into a holy personification of the Seinfeld TV show character, The Soup Nazi, and scream at you, "No blessing for you!"  There's not a "Full" on God's gauge!  It doesn't even have an "ENOUGH" about halfway up!

What God does, Himself, is the only time we can ever say that enough has been done.  His creation was enough.  His plan was enough.  His Son, Jesus, was/is enough.  Heaven will be enough.  But then, in all of this, He gave all He had.  There was nothing more to give.

What is it that you have walked away from too soon because you saw something that scared you?  You saw the iron chariots too and they looked quite daunting!  You thought there was no way to complete the task because of the opposition.  Or there were ALL THOSE PEOPLE who said you couldn't do it, or that you shouldn't do it, and you gave up because of some form of "reality check" that you got duped into believing.  DON'T STOP!!!  DON'T QUIT!!!  The Promised Land is just that . . . PROMISED!!!  If God said it's yours, then HOLD HIM TO HIS WORD and TAKE IT!!!

But Kevin, how do I KNOW that the promise is from God?!?  Here's how I check it.  If it fails any ONE of these, I know that I'm to walk away and that I'm being deceived by the enemy.

1.  Does it go against any part of scripture in any way?  If no, you're good here.
2.  Does it bring glory to God?  If yes, you're golden on this one.
3.  Does it have the good of others at heart?  If yes, keep going.
4.  Does it fall into any area of my weaknesses to sin & temptation?  If no, good.
5.  Is any part of it born from selfish motivation?  If no, go on.
6.  Would it put God in a position to show off?  If yes, yippee!!!
7.  When I tell Jesus about it face to face, will it make Him smile?  If yes, it's a keeper!!!

I leave you with this.  Part of obedience is in realizing there are no parts to obedience!  It's all or nothing.  But so is the reward.  The fullness of our blessing depends on the completeness of our obedience.  Be blessed, my friends, as you claim His promise.

Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly.  I welcome your comments!  PLEASE leave one!!!  Here's how:
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THANK YOU for stopping by!  Till next time...

"They will act religious..."

As we were closing tonight, I was talking with a coworker about today's church.  We were speaking about the authenticity of the average modern day Christian.  Understand, we weren't passing judgement and stating that anyone wouldn't deserve heaven or anything of the sort!  It was simply a discussion on whether most of today's church-going Christians "get it."

I can already hear someone from the back row stating piously in his best religious tone, "Son, we're not going to 'get it' till we get to heaven one day and see God for all that He is in all His glory."  You know, you're right.  We won't.  But see, Jesus didn't come to tell us what we had to wait for so much as He came to redeem us to Himself and bring His kingdom to us so and establish His kingdom NOW!  I don't mean the environment of the place called heaven that we will occupy for eternity, but I speak of the relationship with/to the God of heaven, Jehovah.  In relationship TO God, means to be children OF God and therefore be WITH God in His kingdom.

Take a moment to read John 14:9-14 (NLT) (click on the scripture reference to the left and you will be directed to the passage).  Jesus says that if we have seen and know Him, we have seen and know the Father.  He also says that we will do "greater works" that what HE did!!!  He even ends that paragraph by telling us that we can ask for things in His name, and it will be granted to us!  Now please note that I don't believe that means asking for a Mercedes, unless somehow that car would glorify God and not YOU!  The "yes" to these asks come with a expectation that the affirmative answers bring glory to the Father.  How do we know what brings glory to Him?  We know Him.  How do we know Him?  According to John14, we get to know His Son, Jesus.  We get to know Jesus by surrendering our lives to Him, believing in His work on the cross to take our place for our sin.  When we do that, we are adopted into the family (kingdom) now, and immediately become heirs to the throne of, and friends with God, and brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ.  Jesus said that all that His Father has given Him, He gives to us.  God's kingdom - here and now.

Let's read one more passage (you can click on this reference too to be taken directly to it) and then we will get straight to the point.  Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5.  Pay close attention to verse 5.  All through this passage, Paul is talking about church-going people!  He's not talking about the crowds that we're needing to tell about Jesus, he's talking about the ones who should know better!  Me and you!!!  Look around you.  Close your eyes and imagine you are where you normally sit on Sunday (yes, I know you have "your seat" in church).  See those people around you in your mind.  You think they "get it?" Do YOU?!?  Are we living lives of authenticity?

Let's look at some of the works that Jesus did: healed the sick, made the lame to walk, made the blind to see, brought back Lazarus from the dead, fed 5,000 men and their families from a few fish and a couple loaves of bread, calmed stormy seas, walked on water, and the list goes on.  Now Jesus said that we would do even greater works than HE!  What have you done?  Made the toast without burning it?  Got the kids to soccer only ten minutes late this time rather than the normal fifteen?  Fixed the broken windshield wiper on your own?  NOW go back and read 2 Timothy 3:5.  What if we were so busy with verses 2-4, that we ended up like verse 5?  The great toast, the lack of tardiness, the working wiper while all good, mean nothing to eternity!  God takes more care of us than just providing a close parking space at Walmart!!!  There is POWER given to us!!!

I don't believe that it will be long till Jesus returns.  And when He does, I think there are going to be many of us Christians who look at Him and say, "Whoa! Preacher wasn't kiddin'!"  We will be caught off guard at the fact that being godly is more than a good idea or a mantra by which to live.  The Bible, Jesus, our Heavenly Father - are all more than a good idea!!!  They are REAL!  Yet we treat it like we've joined a fraternity or a sorority, learned the secret handshake, the code words, the key gestures, and now we're part of the club!  All that religious hokey pokey stuff will work it's way out, we just want to go to heaven and be a part of something and this is an easy one to join!  We use the stuff we've learned when appropriate, but never tap into the full power that lives inside of us.  We are living 2 Timothy 3:5!!!

Then on top of all that, we spend so much effort every four years trying to push for the "right man" in the White House.  BTW, if you're just joining us, "right man" means Christian man.  It's Christianese.  But can I actually get someone out there to agree that the Christian one isn't always the best LEADER?!?  We need BOTH.  We need a Christian who is also a good leader.  Not one or the other!  Yet seemingly we need that person (President) to blame when things don't go as they should.  "Well, if the 'right man' had been elected, it wouldn't have been like this!"  Can I just throw the BS flag right there?!?  I firmly believe that Jesus isn't as concerned with having a Godly leader in the White House as he is having a Godly leader in YOUR house!!!  Let's stop blaming others for our lack of faith and courage!!!  If it's not the President, it's someBODY or someTHING else!  The real reason that things are the way they are looks back at you with a haunting stare every time you face a mirror.  The church hasn't been the Church for years now!

I believe God is looking for His children to RISE UP!  We wear HIS name!  We are HIS people!  We carry HIS power, HIS love, HIS salvation, HIS hope to a hopeless world.  Let's quit GOING to church and let's BE the church.  Let's no longer deny the power of the God whom we declare we believe in and worship.  Our enemy is playing for keeps!  It's real!!!  Let's get real ourselves.

I'm going to pray here.  Feel free to make this prayer your own.

Jesus, I'm sorry for making Christianity more of a good idea than a reality.  I'm sorry for not acting like the child you chose to make a part of Your eternity by sending your Son to die in my place.  Prompt me with the Holy Spirit to act when I should act, listen when I should listen, and fill me with wisdom for every decision I make every day I live, starting right now.  Empower me and help me to act in that power with FULL FAITH!!!  Knowing that Your promises are true and that whatever I ask in Your name, if I am in line with Your will, it will be given to me so that You alone may receive glory!  Thank you for Your forgiveness and Your promises.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Please leave comments below! Ask questions! Tell your friends by clicking on the social media links and posting on your Facebook or Twitter or Google + accounts. It helps to know that these are being read and even helping YOU! I never know that unless you're doing these things and ESPECIALLY leaving comments!!! Thanks for sharing a few moments with me!

Through

"The best way out is always through."

                                 - Robert Frost

Ever felt stuck? It may be that you're stuck in a job you don't want or like; maybe you're a teenager and you feel stuck because you're ready to test your wings a little, but it's not yet time; maybe you feel stuck in a relationship or marriage; maybe it rained yesterday and you decided to drive in the yard and now you're LITERALLY stuck!!! Wherever you find yourself, whatever you're stuck in, try as you might to find another way, you can't find another way... except... through. 

Let's take just a moment to read some scripture:

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:1, 2 NIV)

These verses let us know that being stuck is not an if, it's a when! Note what the scripture says again: "When you pass through the waters," "when you pass through the rivers," "when you walk through the fire." This passage also gives you the way out in each one: "When you pass through the waters," "when pass through the rivers," "when you walk through the fire." Scripture says much more about what we go through or find ourselves in, that what we go around. And even then, most of the time, an around journey often involved wandering, indecision, and disobedience. God's not in to wasting our time or His. The shortest distance between two points is still a straight line! And, for us, that means... through. 

So, yes. Hard times will certainly come. Uncertainty will mark days and even seasons of our lives. We will question. We will seek. We will dream of easier times when moments of rest will fuel our toil more efficiently.

But, just as certain as the water, the river, and the fire, so is through. The water, river, and fire are not destinations, they are but passing moments. And what awaits us on the other side is what God, our Heavenly Father, is dreaming up for us! And His ways and thoughts for us are SO much higher than our own for ourselves. And He has promised that even in times of trouble, He will never leave nor forsake us. He walks beside us. He holds our hand. And soon, relief will come. But first we must go through.

Please leave comments below! Ask questions! Tell your friends by clicking on the social media links and posting on your Facebook or Twitter or Google + accounts. It helps to know that these are being read and even helping YOU! I never know that unless you're doing these things and ESPECIALLY leaving comments!!! Thanks for sharing a few moments with me!

PS - Join me at OASIS CHURCH OF NASHVILLE this coming Sunday as we start a new series on getting your Breakthrough! This week, we will be giving away copies of the new book BREAKTHROUGH by Joel Osteen  to all our first time guests. Services are at 8:30a, 10:15a, & 12:15p. They are also online at www.oasischurch.tv. For iPhone and iPad users, they have a FREE app in the Apple App Store where you can watch services LIVE and streamed throughout the week! CHECK IT OUT!!!

Discouragement

One of my pastors at Oasis Church of Nashville, Adonis Lenzy, spoke this past Sunday on being stretched in times of discouragement. I, myself, have found that I have been on polar ends of the courage spectrum in recent days, and all depending on the day. 

God has taken me to this verse. "So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!" (Psalms 31:24 NLT) This verse lets me know that my God is a God of courage!!! He is a God that WANTS me FILLED with courage!!!

I've come to recognize the power of discouragement. I've faced it's power over a recent season of my life. I've made choices I've wished I had not made. I've been rejected, abandoned, and had my "wilderness" (for those of you Bible peeps who know what I'm talking about!). I can't measure what I've been through, neither do I want to! I'll only say that I've faced enough to know I don't want to face it at a deeper level. 

Look here: "Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love." (1 Corinthians 16:13, 14 NLT) These verses are not exhaustive in scripture. They are just a couple of examples. But how many of you know that God will not ask of you that which He will not empower you to do?!? So when you face a moment or a season which causes your head to bow, your shoulders to slump, your eyes to droop, your pace to slow, or your morale to dip, KNOW that it is NOT of God!!!

Will God allow moments or seasons that are hard to go through? Absolutely. Sometimes discipline is necessary. So is "stretching," to use a term from Pastor Adonis. Our faith, our resolve, our TESTIMONY can not strengthen without first being tested. "Testing" means it is being exercised, worked out. Ever lift weights? When you do it the first time, or the first time in a long time, what happens the next day? You're SORE!!! It hurts to wash your hair!!! You try to think of more than one reason to put one foot in front of the other because it hurts to even IMAGINE it!!! But, what happens when we work out on a regular regimen?the resistance is still there, but not the every moment soreness. So it is with our lives in Christ. 

Our faith must be exercised. God knows this. He is our "coach," if you will. A good coach not only sees your talent, but your potential. And he or she will push you to help you see it in yourself! God does this in our Spiritual lives. And when He does have to discipline us, as mentioned earlier, He has even given us encouragement through those times as well!!! "For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” (Hebrews 12:6 NLT) You are LOVED!!! You are HIS CHILD!!! Be ENCOURAGED!!! What a coach!!!

Have an awesome day today!!!

BIBLE: Love Is A Choice

First, read Luke 10:25-37.

As a Worship Pastor, I have sat down with many of the artists I've had the privilege of pastoring, and I've heard them say something like this, "You can't help who you love."  Or, "It just happened!  I didn't WANT to love that person!"  If you're like me, you've probably even said something like that YOURSELF!  It's on television, in the movies, printed in books and magazines, and all across social media.  We're told that we need to find our own truth.  That our purpose depends on what is best for us.

I will agree that each of us are made as individuals.  We are made uniquely with diversity in mind.  That was always the intent.  We are "fearfully and wonderfully made" according to Luke 139:13-14.  We have a purpose and a calling that we are each supposed to fulfill.  BUT!  There is a commonality that binds us all.  There is a foundation on which our diversity and uniqueness is to be built.  Isaiah 64:6 tells us that any purpose, and calling, any "righteousness" is like a filthy rag without Christ.  So in order for anything we do, our works, to make any difference at all to God, there must first be the common foundation of a relationship with Christ.

In the scripture I asked you to read, the expert in religious law asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life.  Look again here at verse 27 as the expert recounts what we now call the Old Testament law.  And he was right, according to Jesus!  In order for everything to make sense, for all our works to be counted, we must FIRST love God, then love others!!!

But now let's stop right there!  How is that possible?  If we are to find our own truth, according to the media and what's popular, and if we can't help who we love, then how can we CHOOSE to love God and love others?!?  AND, that last part actually says to love neighbors as MYSELF, so I have to love ME too!!!

Michelle and I were watching a Podcast of Bishop TD Jakes tonight on TV.  He said something that just HIT me!!!  He said, "Love is controllable.  God could not be considered to be a just God were He to command us to do something we can not do."  Oh WOW!!!  Bishop Jakes woke up a whole new thing within me as God used him to speak into my own heart.  Do you understand what God is implying here by His command to us to love?!?  He is saying that we CHOOSE who we love!!!  If we choose to love Him, we choose to love others.  We choose who our mates will be.  We choose our friends.  Love is a CHOICE!!!

And did you see how cool Jesus answers the question in our main scripture passage?  When the expert recounted to love God and love our neighbor, the lawyer wanted to know who was classified as our "neighbor?"  That's when Jesus delivers the story of the Good Samaritan.  Samaritans and Jews didn't talk to each other!  Ancestors of the Hatfields and McCoy's, these two nations!!!  Yet Jesus showed a CHOICE by the Samaritan to have compassion on this hurt Jew and care for him.  This was the kind of choice on whose shoulders could ride the reconciliation of two peoples.  Remember at the end of ROCKY IV when Rocky was being interviewed by the Russian announcer after just knocking out Ivan Drago?  He said, "If I can change, and you can change, then maybe we ALL can change!"  It's a choice.

And the part that I only touched on earlier isn't by any means the lesser of the lessons here.  We are to choose to love ourselves.  According to this scripture, we can't love others until we love ourselves first! Otherwise, who are we going to love our neighbors AS?  Just to get you thinking.

I'm reminded of ol' Joshua in the Old Testament telling his people to choose that day who they would serve, but, he said, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."  So who you gonna love today?  Choose now.  :-)

BIBLE: Confessions - Who I Am in Christ

I posted these a while back on Facebook. I was asked to post them again. I decided to do it here in my blog so that they are archived and can be accessed any time. I encourage you to copy these! Print them out! Put them on your mirror, as I do. I say them EVERY DAY as part of my daily routine. God knows my every thought, but the devil does not! He can place a thought, but the devil can't read your mind! When you say these, say them OUT LOUD! Make it a proclamation!!! Let the devil know that YOU know who you are and WHOSE you are!!! And you know the POWER of He who holds you in the palm of His hand. 

CONFESS WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST!

 

I am strong in the Lord and in His great power!  I draw my strength from His boundless wealth of strength. (Ephesians 6:10)

 

I am strengthened with His glorious power so that I have all the endurance and patience I need. For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Colossians 1:11, Philippians 4:13)

 

The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead now lives in me and gives life to my mortal body. (Romans 8:11)

My mind is daily being transformed by God's word and is not in bondage to depression, anxiety, worry, and other weapons against my thought processes. On the authority of God's word, I bring my every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:5)

 

The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

 

I am complete in Christ and the fullness of God dwells in me. And all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge dwell in me through Christ Jesus. (Colossians 2:3, 9-10)

 

Wisdom in my heart is like water in a deep well. I am a person of understanding and I draw it out. (Proverbs 20:5)

The stripes Jesus took were for my HEALING! I command every cell of my being, down to its smallest part, to come in line with what Jesus has done for me and rid my body of disease, addiction, sickness, infection, or wound. (Isaiah 53:5)

I have perfect knowledge of every circumstance and situation in life for the Spirit of Truth dwells in me. (John 16:13)

 

I am delivered from the power of darkness. I know the truth and the truth has set me free. Because Jesus has set me free, I am free completely! (John 8:32, 36)

 

Jesus said that whatever I bind on earth is bound in heaven and whatever I loose on earth is loosed in heaven. I now loose the blessings of God to flow into my life. I expect to be overtaken by goodness. (Matthew 18:18)

 

The Holy Spirit teaches me all things and brings all things to my memory. I know and remember who I am. I now use my words and my faith to manifest God's highest and best for me! (John 14:6)