Tag Archives: love

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

WHAT IS THE “KEY” TO KNOWING JESUS?

jesus-key-smlRevival has been a fascinating phenomenon of the miraculous move of the Holy Spirit that manages to cross borders, cultures and generations. The rich history of the Christian faith reveals an abundance of outpourings, which not only refreshed Biblical communities but also extended further by reaching even the most difficult, or uncaring, of people. Though Spirit-birthed revivals do not require a particular person to “lead” or direct such movements, more often than not, a God appointed person will serve as the messenger for a distinctive move of His Word and Spirit.

 

When we read the letters of St. Paul he mentions the Spirit’s giftings for some to serve as apostles, teachers, prophets and others evangelists. As we consider the move of the Holy Spirit, and the response of people to His move, I have a question to ask, What should these specific offices and revival share in common? It is my contention the missionary appeal, of any Spirit-birthed office or revival, must always direct people to the authority of Jesus as the Christ and Lord!

Too often men and women approach ministry offering an appeal to reach the needs of the unbeliever, without ever really offering the seeker a complete picture of what a genuine relationship with the Biblical Jesus looks and behaves like. What would our evangelistic appeals sound like if we began with the prophetic declarations of Isaiah? Or what would the results of discipleship be if our pastor’s / teachers word’s of instruction took the time to explain Jesus, as part of the Holy Trinity, from Genesis through Revelation?

Too often we have allowed immature excuses and justifications to instruct today’s church in the falshood that today’s generations do not have the capacity to grasp such deep theological concepts. To that I respond: This flawed presupposition embraces a defeatist approach to ministry that will ultimately fail the people we are trying to reach.  Daily I am amazed what my fourteen year old son knows, can learn and achieve as he multitasks from work, to school, guitar practice and social media. My son is capable of deep conversations and even deeper thoughts; and while he is only fourteen I have also learned that he hears and listens to everything being said, even if he doesn’t respond at that moment.

What this tells me is my fourteen year old is not any different than his peers and generations older than him. They, like people from every generation, continue to search for universal truth in an age of moral, spiritual, philosophical and ethical relativism. This is where the church should be at the front of the search party and help seekers discover the genuine Jesus, as revealed in the pages of the entire Word of God.

Every pastor, that I know, what’s to see lives changes for Kingdom purposes. Every intercessor I have met continues to pray for the fires of revival to sweep across our nation. But what if the reason we are failing to change our world is attributed to our prayers and best intentions being slightly misplaced?

Today we are prone to advocate the belief that a person should look to Jesus as the One who assists us in our pursuit of meaning and purpose. But here too what if we placed Jesus in an incorrect context that actually limits Him in our lives? What if our purpose and meaning is to discover Jesus as the absolute sovereign and supreme Lord over us? What if the story is not how He fits into our journey, but how we fit into the story of Him as the central reality in all of creation? And what if we truly connect the ancient “dot” that sets Jesus not only as Divine but Deity!  
The effect also last for generic cialis levitra about four to six months in order to have the maximum effect on metabolism, muscle tone and growth hormones. The top part of the viagra buy uk organ (glans penis) remains soft. Once you have consumed the medicine and it is working well for you, you will not have to take no prescription sildenafil djpaulkom.tv without prescription in absolute way. Here’s How it Works The Weekender tablet can be taken at noon on Friday and generic india levitra you can get it delivered to your door steps.
Let’s admit it we are prone to embellish, add words and color the story to make it a little more “interesting.” Often we do the same with Jesus by adding opinions, thoughts and attitudes that are just not read in Scripture. One such thought is that Jesus said, the unbelievers will be lost if we do not go. But Scripture actually tells us Jesus’ words instructed His disciples – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.” But go and teach what? Again, we want to add many wonderful experiences to what Jesus “might have meant” or what we may want Him to say; but Scripture tells us Jesus instructed His disciples to teach the nations of the revelation of His sovereignty and preach of a life lived in the fullness of Him (Jesus).

If one wants to unlock the universal truth of Jesus’ sovereignty, and how that applies to ones life, then one must know Him by taking the time to worship Him as Lord. Dare I say in an attempt to make it easier to come to Jesus we have made it more confusing to know Him? In our desire to provide a clear and simple truth have we have robbed the Scriptures of their wealth and Spirit?  Have we stripped Jesus down, so bare, that He exists as little more than an honest, well-intentioned spiritual guru of the first century?

People like routine. We enjoy the certainty of planning our days and as Christians we cling to our traditions, songs and practices because we “feel” a connection to their rootedness. But we seldom ask the very next logical question of were those ancient roots are drawing from? What well was deep within the Spirit that grew the mighty faith of Christianity? You see the power is not in the song, choir, instruments or aesthetics. The power was and remains always in Him. But when we rob people of Him and provide them with the remnants, of where is power dimly resides, then they develop connections with tokens and objects that are not God and can never do what only He can and is able to accomplish.

Christians and Christianity is facing a 21st Century crisis of faith and if our representatives do not root themselves in the centrality of Him then we will have a Christianity absent of Christ and a religion that looks, sounds and appeals to many but impacts little. It remains my hope and prayer we hold ourselves accountable to the Biblical standards of His Word. We must continue to hold men and women, who serve in Spiritual offices, accountable to not abandon Jesus in favor of relativistic Christianity.

If we truly desire revival, and want to live in spiritually refreshed communities of faith, then we must be bold enough to stand with the great men and women who have answered these questions with their lives paid with the cost of discipleship in Him. This is a key worth unlocking for us all if we want to really know Him, love Him and serve Him as Christ and Lord!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

Discouragement? Yes…But Fire is in My Bones!

mosesUnderdogs, Cinderella stories and Rudy (from Notre Dame football lore) all share a common thread: discouragement. Perhaps it is a critic, well-meaning friend or just reality but at some point in time we will all face the challenge of discouragement. We don’t like to think about discouraging seasons and are often told not to dwell on them since they only further depress our circumstances; but the fact of the matter is, in life, a series of situations can grow too far beyond us and discouragement will not be too far behind.

As long as I can recall my mom has pushed 100% beyond the breaking point of most people. Physically speaking she stands no taller than 5ft and her heart has never cooperated with the goals she set for herself. Like most women, of her generation, she experienced life through a different paradigm, a distinctive work-ethic and a certain stoicism that would make ancient Greek philosophers proud. This is not to say my mom is cold, indifferent or uncaring; in fact just the opposite is true. She knows how laugh when something is funny, cry when there is a need for grief and reflect when there is room for pause. She has travelled the world, several times over, often with a Bible in one hand, a harpsichord in another and a case of books or music in tow. And everywhere she went she brought the hope of Jesus to the needy, hungry and desperate.

As she has aged her seasons have also matured and transitioned into other giftings, but she has never forfeited her divine purpose for being on this earth: to proclaim Jesus to people. In many ways my mom has lived the life of an underdog and so it shouldn’t be surprising, though it is difficult the see, she now faces another serious challenge. By the beginning of 2014 my mother began to experience a series of weak spells coupled with some lingering health issues from her youth. Over time these “spells” worsened and eventually my mom just gave out. Literally flattened by the circumstances I saw another foe soon visit her, the enemy of discouragement and while my mom may be one of the strongest people I have ever known I saw discouragement was taking its toll on her physically and spiritually.

I recall the story of Moses and how he saw the oppression of his people and knew God had appointed him to be the instrument of deliverance. While a sudden victory would have been impressive, and sent a resounded shockwave through the world’s greatest empire, at the time, God allowed Moses to experience a prolonged season of discouragement. It wouldn’t be through Moses’ court favor, family ties or elite training that God would choose to deliver His people. No, victory would come through forty years of discipleship, while herding sheep in Midian. Perhaps Moses thought he had settled into a quiet life and that past hope of delivering his people would some how just “work out?” But after forty years of learning to be a shepherd God called him out once again and placed a fire in his bones.

Keep cheap viagra overnight in mind following things while buying a drug which is 100% safe, FDA approved and 100% natural also. Some viagra without prescription among the key ingredients used for the preparation of herbal male fertility pills include shilajit, loh bhasma, vang bhasma, mucuna pruriens and asparagus racemosus. As the proverb says, use it buy cheap sildenafil or lose it. The kiss that Priyanka Chopra shares with John, or the skin that she flaunts with other men, in plenty, not without a reason, as if to bare her soul, Priyanka sinks her teeth into this character she get viagra overnight has obviously invested so much in, a character, unlike her What’s Your Rashee’s cardboard cutout imagery, is shaped with perplex moods she has fittingly grasped within her periscope. “We may have the vision of God and a very clear understanding of what God wants, and we start to do the thing; then comes something equivalent to the forty years in the wilderness, as if God had ignored the whole thing, and when we are thoroughly discouraged God comes back and revives the call —‘Oh, who am I!’ We have to learn the first great stride of God—“I AM THAT I AM hath sent thee.” (Chambers)

While discouragement is a part of life’s experiences it should never overtake our world-view of Him. He is still working great and mighty Kingdom exploits through those who patiently wait on Him, learn the cost of discipleship and in their time of trouble call on the Name of the Lord! I know, given some time, my mother will “bounce back” because there is still Kingdom work left in her bones. But what about you? Have you allowed a season of discouragement  to sideline you and try to tell you Cinderella teams never win, underdogs fail and Rudy will never score a touchdown? Perhaps you are in a season of discipleship and training where God is preparing you for enlargement? Or perhaps you have run out ahead of God and fallen into a temporary trap? Either way don’t allow discouragement to rob you of His Kingdom reality and remain close to His Word, and Spirit, because He is always speaking and when He says, I AM is who sends you!…then it is time to press on with the fire of God in your bones!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Motivational

“I AM WHAT I AM THROUGH GOD’S EYES…NOT MY OWN”

in_the_eyes_of_god_by_rainacornasusgirl-d652cziThe other night I was channel surfing and settled on a station where a popular TV preacher was sharing, with his audience, his belief that “God knows who you are and if you are going to sin. And He has already forgiven you. So don’t concern yourself with your sin. God’s love is greater than your personal failure.” Perhaps you have already heard, or read, some versions of this contemporary teaching? As a teacher and pastor I have the luxury of spending my time studying the Bible as well as any variety of teachings and doctrines being advocated today. This was not the first time I have heard some variation of the gospel of “hyper-grace” and universalism, and to be honest there was something about the entire approach that appealed to me.

Who wouldn’t cherish the idea of relegating our personal sin to some corner of “Oh well…God knows therefore…” Such a motto for life would seem to take the pressure, concern and responsibility off one’s shoulders and firmly set them of the broad shoulders of Christ. But then I started to develop an “itch” that I couldn’t quiet satisfy. As much as I wanted to trust this opinion I found myself bothered by the thought of my personal indifference to “my sin”; and this soon created another itch that begged to be scratched, “Is my continual speaking of my own inability and weakness possibly an insult to the Father?”

The certainty of personal sin highlights our need for an eternal redeemer and someone greater than ourselves that bridges the gap for redemption and sanctification. While we may struggle with our fallen nature, the flesh, the continual deploring of our own incompetence is a defamation against God for having overlooked us or created us so weak and feeble that He must do everything for us because we are incapable of even responding to Him. When He calls us to love Him does not require a response from us? And when He commands for us to live according to His holiness are we not asked to reply? To consider God, in His infinite wisdom and omnipotence, created us and then thought so little in His master design that our human condition necessitates our personal berating for failure, provides us with an incomplete and unloving portrayal of the Father. However, if we swing the pendulum so far as to believe God’s love is so big and compassionate He doesn’t care about your sin then such an approach, from us, rejects His holiness.

At the center of this issue is what lies at the heart of many problems we encounter when we discuss matters of human nature, faith and how we relate to a Holy God. Like with most things we tend to view our world around us and not Him. We think life and events revolve around our existence and not according to His centrality within the story of creation. As we mature in His Word, and with the aid of the Holy Spirit, we need to develop the practice of examining our lives as God see’s us, and the human condition as God is aware of its darkness and need for restoration. How do we know how God see’s and understands our struggle? He has revealed His divine character and nature from Genesis through Revelation. So by turning to His own words we discover the Biblical Jesus revealed, and the depth of His words and actions, from before the foundations of creation, can be grasped by even the simplest of children.

Furthermore, we need to reject the natural and spiritual hypocrisy of our incessant need to sound humble before men, and yet be disrespectful to God. Many people live their spiritual walk advocating how humble they are, before others, without considering if their shows and sounds of humility ever reach the heart of Jesus? “Again, the things that sound humble before God may sound the opposite before men.” (Chambers) If Jesus is the center of all things in our life, and we are truly abandoned to Him and His purposes, then we should be less concerned by what sounds humble before men while always remaining genuinely humble before God.

Usually disclosed in the fine print purchase viagra on line of the application, borrowers would then complain that they were being hit with sudden rate increases and not given enough time to react to them. Obscene material is never allowed viagra 100mg price on air, no matter what the cause or circumstance. However among the natural and oral medication, male enhancement pills are considered a better option because of the stability and satisfaction it renders. levitra cost When inflated by the pump, fluid from the reservoir flows into the inflatable balloons, creating http://djpaulkom.tv/page/32/ tadalafil uk buy an erection. Our post-modern Western culture continues to advocate lifestyles of consumerism, isolationism, individualism and privatism. And these sensibilities have bled into our Christian culture today, so much so, our relationships to one another and God only matter in relation to our immediate need. This is an un-Biblical approach to relationship because the one relationship that matters is your relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. From that intimate connection, or not, all other relationships can exist in a healthy or unhealthy balance and reality.

Today I want to encourage, as well as challenge you, to let everything else go but maintain an intimate relationship with God at all costs. It is through the eyes of how God see’s you, and not how you see yourself, can He fulfill His purposes. But never assume how He see’s you is some type of “exemption” for your need to respond to His holiness as well as His love.

“But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I’m not about to let his grace go to waste. Haven’t I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn’t amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it. So whether you heard it from me or from those others, it’s all the same: We spoke God’s truth and you entrusted your lives.” (1 Corinthians 15:10 MSG)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Motivational

THE “GOSPELS” of “JESUS?”

th (1)The more I scan the blogosphere, listen to teachings / sermons and am passed a variety of “you need to read this!” I can’t help but have a growing concern for the wide variety of “gospels” being advocated that carry the seal of approval of “Jesus.” Just the other day somebody shared a Facebook video of a man filming, via his Iphone, a three minute rant that sounded, and looked, something like an old time Baptist preacher mixed with a charismatic hipster. With his hat on backwards and couple of earrings in place he carried on about “His Bible” and “My Jesus” within the context of a current hot-button social issue. By about the first minute I thought, to myself, this was a joke, right? But the joke was on me when I scanned all his fans and friends that supported his opinions in the thousands. I wasn’t really stunned or shocked but disappointed for what I can only conclude is such a dismantling of the Christian faith we are now willing to accepted any gospel that fits our definition of Jesus.

The Iphone preacher, as I call him, is an easy target for much of the confusion and noise coming from the today’s Western Christianity. But one only has to go to Amazon and match today’s top Christian authors, with their respective churches, ministries and doctrines, to wonder how we have arrived at so many different views and opinions on sin, grace, love, forgiveness, Law, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, repentance, etc. I know of several prominent church leaders that teach from St. Paul’s letters while others dismiss them altogether. There are those who advocate James, Peter and Paul were engaged in an ongoing dispute, against one another, in their letters; and others still that have divided the Old and New Testaments in such a neat and precise manner that our Biblical contexts make no sense.  If that was not confusing enough there are an abundance of teachers who promote some version of modern psychology, mixed with the Bible, that passes for “sound doctrine” and yet another branch of teachers that scream a “one-note” message: as if the Bible is only about one thing such as love, grace or sin. Last, but not least, there are those who are convinced the only way to reset our loose moorings is to return to a refreshed Roman Catholicism while others would prefer we go even further back and embrace some version of Rabbinic Judaism.

But that is the problem isn’t it? Today’s Christianity has adopted our own “Jesus” and specific “gospel” because it seems to resonate with a culture that is more interested is spiritual (spirituality) fiction and not fact. The social media and mass marketing, of Church USA, looks, feels and brands just as good Madison Avenue and we, the church, are too easily impressed by our superstars, blog stars, rock stars and millionaire ministers…but not the Biblical Jesus and His Gospel. Could it be few would even accept Jesus and His exact words, in context, if they heard them?

Now here is where you no doubt expect me to advocate “my Jesus” and why I am right and you are wrong?  But I am not taking today’s post down that rabbit trail. Rather I would like to ask one simple question, “Have you ever read and studied what Jesus said about Himself from the Scriptures?” Your immediate response to such a challenge should be, “Of course.” But if that was true then you would have already encountered a Jesus that is very uncomfortable to the generation of His age and your current age / world-view.

Everybody loves the Jesus who kicks against the religious system, corruption or loves the sinner. But we skip the language of the Jesus who called for repentance, from sin, confronted adulterers, liars, gossips, cheats, hypocrites, drunkards and the spiritually blind. We share the stories of the “miracle Jesus” as if they were a myth cut from some scene of Lord of the Rings and even doubt if the blind really saw, thousands were fed, He walked on water, raised the dead or cast our demons. And while we are challenged with the supernatural how do explain the deep theological questions of His identity? Jesus seemed to have little issue claiming to be none other than God Himself. He told His disciples, He quoted Isaiah many times to His doubters and even shared His identity with Rome. If Jesus is who He said He is than how could He possess a contrary nature from the Father (God) as revealed in through the entire Word of God? Logically and Scripturally we can conclude such divisions, of a Triune God, cannot exist (Read the Athanasian Creed); and such support of this belief is further confirmed in ALL the writings of the apostles, John the Baptist (the last of the great prophets) and most early church fathers.

You need only scan the history of the early church to discover any doctrines contrary to such a view of Jesus, as God, was considered heresy and an anathema (two words that have been dropped from our lexicon in favor of tolerance). Here again, just as it was in Jesus’ day, so we experience, today, the counter-cultural message of Jesus as Christ; and such an exclusive declaration runs contrary to today’s comfy preaching, soft Jesus and softer doctrines. Sadly because we have been unwilling to teach the whole Word of God, and hold each other accountable, we have accepted a familiar contemporary standard that has given us a new status quo.

THE NEW STATUS QUO: There was a time, say twenty plus years ago, when denominations, ministers and church associations only allowed like minded people “at the table” to debate theology, and positions of the organization, for the sake of unity and rubber stamping agendas. As the church slipped further from the social and spiritual consciousness of the nation there was a backlash to such practices and the call to allow diverse opinions a seat at the table. As the doors were opened and more chairs pulled up an honest and open discussion helped Christians understand why we believed, behaved and belonged to this faith, and how we can communicate this message to the seeking and searching. For a time this went a long way in reshaping our church traditions and teachings and today Christianity has developed, looks and behaves much different than its past.

But now a new status quo has replaced the old and the once radical firebrands, who were screaming from the outside to be let in, are now the elder statesmen holding the keys to newly, locked doors. Today the suits and ties have been replaced with the skinny jeans and muscle shirts.  Pastors no longer act like fathers but big brothers and just like the “old guard” they too have filled the room with like-minded people. And, once again, there is a new crop of people left screaming on the outside wanting to come in and have a seat at the table. What we hear, from the outside, are terms such as celebration of diversity and invitation to discuss and wrestle with the Scriptures but in reality there are no seats available unless you think, look and act like Agent Smith from the Matrix.
viagra pharmacy prices Even the pharmacists or the doctors not allow us to take with any allergic disorder. Often an autistic child has problems in learning in normal ways and has sildenafil india price problems in articulation. How shall I consume Ladygra?Ladygra comes in three viagra price different doses 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. Ingredients in these capsules are organically certified and cultivated as per good agriculture cheap tadalafil canada icks.org practices.
ONE OF THE SEATLESS,  NAMELESS AND FACELESS MANY. For the record I wear jeans, t-shirts, try to stay fit and have half my head shaved. I’m not part of a major denomination even though I am part of an association of ministers. I have multiple degrees but never wear them on my chest. I’ve written a book but it’s never been published. I have traveled and ministered across the world, several times over, but never been interviewed on my experiences. I drive a car that was totaled and rebuilt because that is all I could afford. I do have a house on a hill, but it can fit in the garage of most houses around me. I do get paid for pastoing, but just enough to classify me as the working poor. This post is not about me but about the thousands like me, and those who have it more challenging than me, that remain seatless, nameless and faceless. The reason I shared a little about me is not to solicit your pity, or to play on your emotions, but to remind you why I, and many others, am okay with or lot in life while other people are offered a seat at the table of discussion.

In an age where there are so many gospels and different Jesus’ there are still those who are willing to live, serve and preach the Biblical Jesus, and His Gospel message, from the whole Word of God. We didn’t all begin our journey this way because at some point we also saw the potential for big money, popularity and social acceptance. But over time we also learned these trappings came at a heavy price. So, we cast our lots with Him (Jesus) and held on through all the roller-coaster ups and downs. Admittedly we haven’t hit the target square in the middle all the time. But increasingly we realized that compromise, in an age of “big tent” Christianity, doesn’t guarantee you a seat at the table or access behind locked doors.

You see we came to a realization we are on this earth for such a short period of time and life is not about what you can “name and claim” but life is about Jesus, as God, and Him crucified to reconcile a fallen world back to Him and Him alone. Yes, the message of the Biblical Jesus is an unpopular reality because it forces everyone to consider the whole Jesus, as God, revealed in all of Scripture. Certainly such a commitment can be a hindrance to developing a large viewing audience, building a massive congregation or landing a plum book deal. But of all the gospels being preached we are the seatless, nameless and faceless advocates that remind the world of Jesus’ suffering, martyrdom and consecration that trumps all superficial doctrines. Everyone I know, with this commitment, will do anything and everything for Jesus but we will never humiliate ourselves to the level of world acceptance, and recognition, that avoids the gift of salvation through Christ alone!

I learned, some time ago, I cannot earn or win anything from God; but I must either receive it as a gift or do without. The greatest blessing is the knowledge that we are destitute! Until we get there everything we do is always measured in our own strength, not His. Jesus will not do anything for us if we think we are self – sufficient.  Like Jesus we have to possess His Kingdom through the door of hardship and when we hunger spiritually, for Him, the Holy Spirit is close by.

There are too many noises and distractions in today’s Christian faith. There are too many gimmicks and smoke and mirrors being passed off as reality. There are too many gospels and too many Jesus’. There are too many preachers and teachers that haven’t obeyed His great commission: “…teaching everything I shared and instructed you.” It really isn’t that hard to know Him and preach all He said; but it is hard to be hated as He was, reviled, mocked and abused. And I guess I can see why some preach “the other Jesus” because after all who would really want to share in the sufferings of the real Jesus?

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Motivational

WASTED ENERGY / SPIRITUAL ENERGY

imagesI was about six years into my ministerial journey and serving in my second church when I was called into the Senior Pastor’s office for a one on one meeting. In the several years that followed, working with this man and serving this ministry, we spent many times chatting, having lunch or passing some funny stories. Of his many gifts he always had an amazing story to tell, he was bigger than life and possessed that special knack that made everybody seem to like him. He was the kind of man who, when entering the room, absorbed all the attention and had a generous nature that was shared without any strings attached. Sounds perfect, right? Well, the longer I served with him I also experienced some of his more “challenging” sides. My pastor’s emotions could swing wildly on a dime. When he was good he was great; but when he was down it was difficult to manage around him. Of course, I didn’t do myself any favors because in my youth, and own arrogance, I was more than willing to lock horns with this bull; and looking back we both wasted a lot of energy. Now I don’t want to give you the impression there were major battles in public; because there were not. But behind closed doors we debated, and even argued, theology, politics and race vigorously. As time has advanced I’ve had the opportunity to revisit those years and come to the conclusion there were far more effective ministry moments than wasted ones; but, there were many lessons to come I would soon have to discover, on my own, that I wish I learned while serving him.

About six years later, when Jeannette and I planted Maranatha, I managed to discover how to waste energies I wasn’t even aware I had. In an attempt to not make the same mistakes I witnessed others make I was convinced I had a “better way” of doing ministry. Through inexperience and pride I managed to stumble through five years of Maranatha ministry with more than my fair share of parishioners willing to trip me, fight with me and drag me through the proverbial mud. All the while I asked, is this what ministry is all about? As I too learned how to sling mud with the best of them. Ugh….

Two years ago ministry forever changed for me, and our entire community, when I decided to stop building a church and start building a family. By concentrating on God, as the center of our teaching, worship and living collectively we all began to grow up! The wasted hours and energy on arguing, competing and trying to keep up with the “Jones’” salted away in favor of those who wanted to mature in Christ and learn how to reach their community with what really mattered…Jesus.

You see when the energy we waste, through fighting, competing, gossip, offense, etc… is energy we use to focus on Jesus, as the center of all things, we began to experience community invigorated with spiritual energy. The result: evangelism, conversion and the road to discipleship. This has proven to be, time and time again, the best expenditure of one’s energy, focus and attention. Though we still have to battle with self and the urge to waste our spiritual energy, on the divisive, if we collectively focus our energy on Jesus, the Cross and the Kingdom we cannot help but experience the radical move of His Holy Spirit in our midst.

Doctors prescribe generic drugs but it is the chemists that promote branded medicines for profit. ordering levitra from canada Acute gastritis is a term covering a cheap viagra broad Spectrum of stinks. After getting informed tadalafil cialis with the points, you can order the medicine from the same site you have advised to visit. Age factor, chronic diseases and smoking are also closely related cheap cialis mastercard to erectile dysfunction in men. Ineffectiveness and hypocrisy, in the church, are often points of criticism today; and that assessment does possess some merit. One reason for the church’s weakness is the wasted energy and lack of teaching, on the Biblical Jesus, in our communities of faith. Without Him, living as the center of His church, the Holy Spirit will never visit our communities and revive us into Him. The “in Him” people of God are the body of Christ universal and that is very different from those who claim to be His but have little intention of knowing Him better, deeper or more intimately. Here too even the “shallow” and those who continue to waste their precious energies have been given the gracious invitation to experience His presence if they will commit to sharing Him without shame or apology; but such a commitment cannot live in the shallows for long because such a journey starts one on the road toward discipleship in Christ alone.

Many years after I left the ministry, I referenced earlier, I went back to that pastor and apologized for my behavior and role in wasting valuable energies. In a wonderful moment of reconciliation we reconnected with the things we most admired in each other. We shared in the celebration of our passion for Jesus and blessed one another as we continued to serve God in our respective callings. Of my many ministry experiences this one remains a powerful testimony of maturity and reunion that set us free to effectively minister to people without hurt, offense or frustration. I hope today’s post will serve to encourage you to stop wasting valuable energy and pursue the development of spiritual energy that will glorify the King and enrich the Kingdom.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE CHRISTIAN MONSTER CREATED BY APATHY, TEMPER & SELFISHNESS (AND THE CURE)

news3-maggyRobert E. Webber was an American theologian who wrote extensively on the relationship between the ancient church and the today’s modern church. In a development called the Convergence Movement Webber hoped to reintroduce Christianity’s ancient creeds, practices, worship, prayer and community into the culture of today’s Western Christianity desperately needing grounding,focus and renewed purpose.  While his topics and theme were both wide and deep, in their scope, a simple but profound truth leapt off the page for me: We live with paradoxes and need to return to the Biblical facts for grounding (more on this later).

Our fellowship, Maranatha Koinonia, began the transition from Western institutional church in search for true Biblical community about one year ago. Throughout the process some families and individuals left, hoping to connect with church that was more recognizable and convenient for societies standard of Christianity and fellowship.  But while some left others joined our fellowship largely due to what a true Biblical community represented and the promise, that if we reconnect to our ancient faith, we will better understand and reach our world. Webber calls today’s world one of a secular / spiritual paradox. On the one hand we have many people in search for spiritual connections and while this pursuit is sincere many are also unwilling to surrender the secular culture that pull them away from spirituality. We all sense this tug of war daily and we wake up with the conflict in our mind, body and spirit. Before we are actually able to devise an effective approach as to how we can conquer the paradox we must recognize victory will only ever be achieved if we get the “facts” correct from the beginning.

What “facts” am I referring to?  Remarkably if you ask a person about what Jesus actually said, or did, you will soon discover a myriad of one-liners, common grace works and a personal theology that casts Jesus from a mere moral mortal to a demi-god or to God in flesh. It isn’t very surprising in an age of secular / spiritual paradoxes that even Jesus can be, or is, anything but what He actually said of Himself; and this draws us back to the necessity of needing to know the facts. You see to actually know what Jesus said and why He did what He did requires the reader to look beyond the paradox and comprehend the “facts”, of Jesus, as revealed though an entire narrative from Genesis to Revelation. Such an approach, often referred to as Biblical Hebraic holism, capture not only the earthly ministry of Jesus but places His life within the context of prophecy, divinity and deity. This is why the facts can’t be glossed over or flatly ignored; because to do so creates a “Christian monster” that is far from Christian and every bit a dangerous monster.

What has contributed to the “Christian Monster?” You may be surprised to discover Webber’s paradox is not an invention of Modernity or Post-Modernity. In fact the paradox has always been with us; but until recently this paradox was held in check by disciplined discipleship and commitment to a Christianity that represented an entire Word of God (the Bible) world-view.  Webber cites, in his book Ancient – Future Evangelism a gathering of 450 churches, across multiple denominations and nations, which gathered to address the growing concern of the church’s place in society. Specifically this conference met to discuss the challenges of evangelism and discipleship and concluded, “The church is a mile wide but only one inch deep.” In 1999, when this conference was held, the crises was looming; and now living in 2014 the crises is a monster which has created a Christian faith that resembles very little from the ancient faith of the Patriarchs, Moses, the prophets, Jesus or the Apostles. I have uncovered at least three contributors to this monster and I would like to address them while also suggesting a cure.

1. APATHY:  lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern (IE: widespread apathy among students). The very word makes us all cringe. We know it when we see it, we feel it when we are there and like a filthy weed we know it will rob life out of anything healthy. Apathy remains one of the significant poisons that has sapped the rich, vibrant faith of Christianity and replaced it with a yard that, from afar, looks green; but upon closer examination is little more than a large weed patch. Apathy is a great robber of all people and when apathy infects the Christian community of faith it always damages people’s belief in the integrity of God, His Word and His promises.

PDE5 inhibiting medicines could be taken anytime in future, or present if discount viagra no prescription impotence strikes back. So when someone makes a batch of buy cheap levitra that allegedly contains the correct blend of levitra’s active ingredient, Sildenafil Citrate, expired. usa viagra no prescription Thankfully, anti-impotence tablets are here to rescue males. The cialis samples medications come with the same ingredients and effectiveness like the original cialis products. 2. TEMPER: a person’s state of mind seen in terms of their being angry or calm. Have you stopped to think what kind of Jesus you may have fashioned out of your anger or calm? Could it be you have, in your immaturity,  contributed to a Jesus that is just not present despite your best wants and desires? And could it also be, like a spoiled child, when we don’t get our way we inflict great harm against the community of Christ because Jesus decided not to indulge our selfishness?  Sadly we have all contributed to being more of a distraction, away from Jesus, than being those who point people toward the Biblical and true Jesus. Until we are willing to mature (grow up) we risk becoming the apathetic, angry monster that acts hurt and continues hurting those we so desperately need to show love toward. True, lasting, genuine and sincere love can only be expressed through Jesus and to know Him means we must do the hard work of yielding to who He said He was and not who we want Him to be. Therefore, we must all keep our tempers in check and allow His Holy Spirit to guide and instruct us according to His Word!

3. “CARES OF THE WORLD” The last ingredient to the Christian monster is the one that feeds the here and now without ever considering the eternal. Too often we settle for quick, pat answers that have been formed in the shallowest pools of spiritual and intellectual thought. We have become the generation of one-liners and pass them along via Twitter and Facebook without really comprehending what they mean, relay or represent. Today we are inundated with a multitude of Christian writers that are passing little more than spiritual baby food that feeds the apathetic, temper-tantrum prone Christian monster. As we are called to mature in Him (Discipleship) anything that distracts us from Him (Jesus), and produces the wrong kind of attention back to us, needs to be starved.  St. Augustine prayed, ‘O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.’

THE ANSWER: If we are called to live, move and have our being in Him (the Father) then we need the discernment of the Holy Spirit to help us see our world is trapped in the secular / spiritual paradox; and we must allow His discernment to turn our apathy, temper and selfishness into passion, calm and selflessness. When we really live according to Biblical holism then we will be able to see our world for what it is and what it is not. Only then can we effectively administer the only cure for the seeking, hurting and searching…the true Biblical Jesus in His own words from the beginning to the last amen. This is, and always has been, the only cure for the misguided person.

While I am convinced sick people can become addicted to living unhealthy, most people desire to be healthy. We want happy marriages, connected families, blessed children and most of all the reassurance of being safe. Safety, happiness, joy and community have always been in Him (Jesus) and the additives of “self” have done more harm to our bodies, and spiritual development, than good. To know Jesus is more than an intellectual ascent or a comforting warm and fuzzy. To really know Him is to know His Word and to know His Word is a life long pursuit of discipleship. Yes, it is hard work and the monstrous us will have to die in the process but the reward is, in this life and the age to come, Jesus the joy of man’s desire!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

REPOST FROM “WISDOM DEFINED” by JEANNETTE JOHNIAN: The Mask, My Enemy & Grief My Idol

As a Pastors wife I found myself trying to be who I thought everyone wanted me to be. The more I tried the more epic the fail was. Consequently, I fell into a depression that without God’s divine intervention I would have landed in a mental institution. The criticism, isolation, superficial relationships got so overwhelming I found myself sick in body, soul and spirit. Some where along the journey I had placed a mask on, in an attempt to hide the pain. Unbeknownst to me, this MASK which was intended to protect me became my worse enemy. Grief became my idol and I ceased to allow the Presence of God to direct every aspect of my life. Suddenly, I found myself having mental conversations that sounded like this:

  • Why should I pray for those people? They don’t care about me or my family?
  • Why should I pray for those people? They don’t care about me or my family?
  • Why doesn’t anyone ever ask me, How are you?
  • Why doesn’t so and so, pick up the phone and call me?
  • I deserve to have (fill in the blank)
  • Why can’t I just say what I want like everyone else?
  • I am done, why should I sacrifice my time and energy for people who don’t care.

You can get it in various online levitra free samples shops. This drug is also prescribed to viagra no prescription treat benign prostatic hyperplasia in case of men. Most people say that the euphoria caused by opioids last longer with alcohol consumption which also helps in nutrient absorption. viagra sale http://downtownsault.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/6-10-15-DDA-Minutes.pdf To keep all of the body organs active and cure ill-effects, you need extra support for viagra cheap prescription muscles, joints and veins which can make your stomach uncomfortable.
The MASK led me to bondage! Then without warning a woman I had never seen, nor heard started to surface. The woman whose greatest joy was praying for souls, cooking meals, supporting her husband, loving her church, was gone. Unexpectedly, like Ebenezer Scrooge I was visited by the “ghost of Christmas past” standing in front of the mirror I looked at myself and said, “Lord, who is that?” I was lost, confused, tired and broken. Dreadfully afraid and absolutely desperate I uttered the dangerous prayer, “Lord, you alone can un-Mask  the ME in me.”

By God’s grace I started to undergo a divine radical cosmetic  surgery. I began to experience Jesus from a holistic perspective. Every area of my life began to be invaded with the Holy Spirit’s resurrecting power.  It is what the Bible calls dying to the old self; with Him, through Him and for Him.  One thing is certain this is a lifetime journey. Jesus desires for us to be healed, He knows we all have broken relationships and are broken within ourselves. The key to this healing is being filled with the Holy Spirit and seeking to dwell in His Presence.

We God’s creatures have an overwhelming need to be unmasked, the real (ME) is deeply buried in layers of self that can only be resurrected by the hand of the Almighty. I found freedom in the realization that my identity is in God alone and no longer seeking it in a role (pastor wife, professional career,etc). Un-Masked by the Jesus, I find myself willing to chose joy, mercy, peace and above all love for God and love for others.

JEANNETTE

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

SHALLOW, DEEP & PROFOUND

ShallowhalmovieposterHere is a list of “shallow” but profound statements:

  1. “Only the shallow know themselves.” – Oscar Wilde
  2. “Silence is as deep as eternity, speech as shallow as time.” – Thomas Carlyle
  3. “Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.” – Christopher Reeve
  4. “Deep breaths are very helpful at shallow parties.” – Barbara Walters
  5. “Our culture is all about shallow relationships. But that doesn’t mean we should stop looking each other in the eye having deep conversations.” – Francis Chan

We live in a cosmetic world. Fast cards, fast people, quick glory, instant wealth and whatever you view through your social media begs to glorify the cosmetic exterior, of anything, without giving much thought to what is inside. Every morning I have the habit of scanning the overnight news and try to catch up on local and world events. Perhaps, not surprisingly, no matter where I go there will always be a variety of articles trying to draw my attention to an A-list movie star, new car, socialites divorce or cosmetic surgery just right for me. Truthfully we live and are surrounded by a shallow world. But, not everything that is of a shallow concern, in life, is unbeneficial; in fact I might even argue God uses the shallow just as much as He uses the profound.

In a teaching I shared with our community I addressed how we all live in a secular / spiritual paradox. On the one hand we are people who desire to express great devotion to God, through common grace works, sacrificial living and spiritual disciplines (like prayer, fasting and meditating on God’s Word). While on the other hand that very same person can be consumed wishing to impress other people with their “blessings” and the fact they are not shallow. As Shakespeare wrote, “The lady doth protest too much, me thinks.” (HAMLET) This is the paradox we all struggle with and I would suggest if we approached life with a Hebraic / Biblical holism we may find ourselves less tempted by the secular or spiritual trap.
This kind of situation is also known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder buy levitra try for source (HSSD). So it’s up to you to cialis generic cheap learn how to manage it and seek medical help, you may probably need diabetes medicine. If you want to shop for the best levitra pills online price, it may take hours and gallons of gas and you will probably end up paying more than you will if you shop online. However, studies have shown that long-term use generico levitra on line of sibutramine could seriously damage human health.
To be shallow is not a sign of being bad, evil or deceitful; nor is shallowness a sign that there are no depths within the person…after all even the ocean has a shore. Consider this…there are many shallow amenities of life, that are not terribly deep, such as eating, drinking, walking and talking (they are all ordained by God). But when we are not living in alignment, with Jesus, then the paradox kicks in and our eating becomes gluttonous and our drinking slides towards drunkenness. Even something as simple as walking, without Jesus, can lead down paths sown with the seeds of destruction and our beautiful language can be turned profane if we do not let Him mature us. However when we are living fully alive, in Him, the Holy Spirit safeguards our shallowness from being trapped by the paradox; and the secular / spiritual is replaced by a new creed: “To live is to worship and to worship is to live.”

I once picked up a good bit of advice I would like to pass along. In the shallow matters of life use your God-given commonsense in commonsense ways. There will be plenty of days ahead when deeper things will come; and I have learned God is the one who draws you deeper by opening the unseen and unknown. So, while you mature “in the shallow end of the pool” keep your entire life closely aligned with the Father (God), live in the Son (Jesus) and be led by the Spirit (the Holy Spirit). The time will come, for those who patiently wait on the Lord, and seek Him above all, when He will bring us deep diving. Until then determine to resist the secular / spiritual paradox, live and experience life in a true, open and trusting Biblical community and most of all be willing to have the deep the conversations that press us toward maturity in Jesus!

“Determinedly take no one seriously but God, and the first person you find you have to leave severely alone as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself.” (Chambers)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

PAINFUL REALITIES BEHIND FINISHING THE RACE

evgenyAs I have been watching more of the Olympics I managed to miss one of the “shockers” of the winter games that occurred during last weeks men’s figure skating competition. The Russian champion, multiple Olympic and world medalist and favorite, Evgeni Plushenko, suddenly withdrew from the games. During his warm-ups it was evident he was physically struggling and after talking to his coach he skating to the judges table and withdrew, later announcing he was retiring. It was a sudden, shocking and abrupt end to a spectacular career. What had happened? Was it failure? Lack of passion? Or something else? Later, as he was interviewed, it was revealed his chronic bad back had been reinjured and he was quoted as saying every time he jumped it felt as if a knife was being jabbed into his back. When asked further about his sudden decision he said he felt as if this was God’s way of telling him, “Enough, enough with the skating.” With multiple surgeries already in his history and long-term chronic pain facing his future Evgeni experienced the painful reality of finishing the race.

Often we watch marathon’s, sporting events and feats of great strength capturing the paradox of pain and accomplishment. While the relief of the race being run is welcomed the painful reality of what it took to run the race endures long after the contest is finished. There is another painful reality in the race of Jesus’ earthly ministry. While it forever remains the greatest performance in history, of the very mind of God, we often stop short of considering Jesus’ death was not something that He might have prevented. His death was the very reason why He came and thankfully He embraced the paradox of pain and accomplishment, so long after the race was run, the victory endured forever.

As we all journey through life we experience the paradox pain and completion. While some victories may feel short lived in truth they become markers in our history that remind us of what it took, and what it takes, to see the race through to the end. Even in race that is lost we still are able to peer back and explore the journey with the introspection essential to avoid unnecessary injuries and hurts. While you may be cautious, and meticulous in your planning, the paradox of pain and accomplishment faces us all. The question we must answer in face of the paradox is how will I get through this journey? In His might or by my own? Many men and women have experienced the martyrs death before and after Jesus; and while their deaths stand as remarkable testimonies of great faith their deaths could never have done what Jesus’ death alone could do. When Jesus bore the Cross of affliction He embraced the paradox and in His death He was being crowed with glory and honor. Placing His will in the plans and purposes of the Father (God) the greatest note of triumph revived the universe from the Cross. By declaring “It is finished!” Jesus experience the painful reality of finishing the race in victory; and so to we must by willing to embrace the paradox knowing if we place our journey, in Him, we too will experience final triumph.

The Olympic games, and their competitors, provide us with a snapshot of our own life and journey. The great Russian ice-skater knew when his race was run by counted the cost to run such a race to it’s end. As Christian’s along life’s journey let us also embrace life’s voyage, and remarkable paradox, with joy in the agony and triumph from the pain. Let us remain rooted in the lasting victory of Jesus, through the Cross, and proclaim our faith in His success until we can also say, I have run my race, fought the good fight and finished the course!

Grace and Peace
Natural substances viagra super too can lead to side effects. Today sex therapy is known to have been founded by Masters and Johnson (1970), viagra pills from canada whos published report on a “new” therapeutic approach to sexual problems, revolutionized what health professionals saw as the appropriate treatment for sexual dysfunction. Some patients don’t go to see a doctor, instead, they prefer to buy antibiotics by themselves; india generic tadalafil but most of them don’t follow the full course when they apply for an intermediate license at age 16 years. The click here to find out more viagra pills without prescription benefit you get is that your whole information is kept confidential.
JOSHUA

 

 

 

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

RELATIONSHIP & FORGIVENESS THAT ENDURES

Forgiveness1Relationships can be difficult and the process of developing lasting bonds are often challenging, messy, inconvenient and, at times, hurtful. And yet despite the apparent negatives, and fraught with danger, we desire relationships that are real, trustworthy, loving and safe. By our very design we were created social; and loneliness has never been a welcomed companion for life’s journey. When we look to the heavens we reach out for a lasting relationship, with the Divine, which gives us hope in the hopeless seasons and love in the loveless. In my personal pursuit of relationship I have discovered, in several seasons of life, I was spiritually and naturally immature to develop such relationships; and even the bonds that I imagined were once unbreakable snapped under the pressures of circumstance, hurt and unforgiveness.

Three years ago I found myself moving in an upward trajectory of ministry aspirations and personal fulfillment. The church I was pastoring began a new season of growth and the “buzz factor” was building with each successive achievement. There was a new building, new people, growing departments, stable budgets, etc… Then, like with Job in the Bible, (and by no means would I compare my circumstances with Job) things fell apart. The growth suddenly stopped, fires sprung up, harvest fields were torched, robbed and pillaged and before I could even take a breath everything, including my family, was in a two-year death spiral.

I felt helpless, ill-equipped and hurt by the sudden reversal of fortunes. While I still continued to pastor, and the church managed to stabilize, I walked through the battlefield alive but severely wounded. What made my wounds all the more dangerous was my inability to really see how wounded I was. Outwardly I pressed “onward Christian soldier” while inwardly I withdrew from people, care, compassion and relationship. While I knew I should draw closer to the Holy Spirit, during such times, like Dante (from the Inferno) I found myself lost in a dark wood with only one faithful companion: depression. Needless to say it was a long two years, made even longer by the hurt, but over time I managed to crawl back towards relationship, community, trust and love; and all of this came through a road called forgiveness and reconciliation.

As Christians we readily accept the revelation that God can forgive anything; but He will never forgive that which contradicts His nature. Perhaps here, in the nature of God, we discover the true road to relationship, love and the everlasting bonds of friendship will only be experienced in forgiveness and reconciliation. If the template is Jesus, the Logos as well as the Word made flesh, (which I believe it has always been) then we cannot escape the reality that just as He forgives and reconciles us to the Father we too are to forgive and be reconciled one to another.

The Biblical pattern of relationship, and the Christ-like nature, is lived in the miracle of forgiveness and the experience of sanctification (or being made right again). In God’s relationship, with us, sanctification is simply the marvelous expression of the forgiveness of sins in the human life. When we are able to live the vertical relationship, we have with Him, correctly He will invade our horizontal relationships with others. This synergistic relationship best represents the Biblical holism we are purposed to experience.
The main motive of the manufacturing of developing the medicine was online viagra canada made to earn profits but it was initiated for the purpose of dick enlargement. All your information would definitely be kept confidential. generic viagra online To naturally increase testosterone, you need to consume herbal supplements and practice the exercises canada viagra generic regularly to boost semen load and sperm count naturally. The best part about this melt tab is that it works within 15 to 25 minutes after taking it and effects last 5 hours, thus erection lasts 20 times more than without taking medications. pfizer viagra achat and viagra are of course excellent pills, but they are wrong.
Once the image of the Father is alive in us we are readily available to repair the broken roads of relationship without fear, apprehension or dread. My road back toward forgiveness and reconciliation was not experienced behind the closed doors of an office or through a one-man crusade championing my cause. Rather in the two years of inward struggle the Holy Spirit contended with me and guided me back into the lives of others. It was in community healing occurred and true bonds of friendship were experienced, lived and cultivated. Despite the dangers and messiness, in us all and in relationship, we all destined to connect with the Spirit of God; and when we are one with the Father He will draw us into relationships that will require, of us, the continual need for forgiveness and restoration. This is In Him living, thinking and maturing; and this is the kind of living that shows the love of God.

There are still more than a few relationships I desire to see “patched up.” While it may appear that some roads are beyond repair know that “forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace…” (Chambers) And so I want to encourage you as I continue to encourage myself; pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. If you do you will discover lasting friendships, relationships and a Biblical community that is designed to enhance your life and support you on your journey with Jesus!

GRACE and PEACE

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

RUSH…AWAY FROM SELF AND TOWARD JESUS

361846-rush-rush-poster-artRecently I watched a very exciting movie, which happened to be a true story, set on the backdrop of an extremely intense and dangerous sport. The main participants and events surrounding their story was made all the more passionate since these two men shared a genuine personal dislike, toward one another, but a profound professional respect for each other. Though their rivalry lasted a relatively short number of years for a brief moment, in time, their lives dominated their sport.  While each man possessed their own personal flaws one man was unable to escape a lifestyle that not only hindered his career but ultimately even his quality of life; and too often many Christian’s deal with such “flaws” without recognizing the seriousness of their predicament.

Honestly, very few of us know anything about the conviction of sin; we know the experience of being troubled because we have done something wrong; but conviction of sin, by the Holy Spirit, leaves only one reality: Against Jesus alone, we have sinned. When a person is convicted by the practice of a sinful behavior they are made aware of a new and higher reality than their own.  Every conscience power, before the genuineness of Jesus, pales in comparison to the truth of Him; and once His new truth is revealed to us He becomes the gold standard for life and living. We must understand the very act of God’s forgiveness must carry with it a stronger sense of God’s divine justice since God’s ability to forgive comes at the cost of Jesus’ death.

When we approach the welcomed and miraculous waters of God’s grace we greatly appreciate His ability, and desire, to forgive sin. At the Cross of Christ so too was our old self (nature) crucified in favor of a new humanity in Jesus alone. Discovered in the divine nature is the lasting ability to forgive, which is why we cannot take God’s grace as a license to excuse or remain committed to a lifestyle of the old nature, which is destructive to the Spirit of God that should be alive in us.

Oswald Chambers challenges us with these words, “It is shallow nonsense to say that God forgives us because He is love. When we have been convicted of sin we will never say this again. The love of God means Calvary, and nothing less; the love of God is spelt on the Cross and nowhere else. The only ground on which God can forgive me is through the Cross of my Lord. There, His conscience is satisfied.”

A QUICK THOUGHT ON FORGIVENESS. We should never accept a shallow definition of God’s forgiveness as an “easy act” that only saves us from hell and makes us right for heaven. Though forgiveness is a step toward this eternal truth, forgiveness must mean we are divinely forgiven so we can be recreated into a relationship that squarely identifies us with God and Jesus alive in us. The miracle of His redemption is that God changes the unholy us, into the standard of Himself by putting Jesus in our beliefs, nature, language and culture.

Clinically, I find that IBS patients are worse with anxiety, stress, and depression Treatments viagra cheapest often include lifestyle changes, dietary changes, and possibly medication. viagra sale Lastly, a major factor for impotence is the development of both depression and heart disease. Kamagra – It is a generic version of sildenafil drug, produced after cheap viagra from uk. Also known as male impotence, erectile dysfunction is a failure when a man loses his potency to make intercourse pleasing by getting harder, longer, thicker and healthier erection. viagra ordination Though the movie, I mention earlier, was entertaining and thrilling it provided me insight into man’s nature, void from God. The compelling “snapshot” into the lives of these two men possessed a certain sadness; and while each man achieved great fame, worldly respect and professional excellence each of their lives were shadowed by great loss. It continues to by my personal prayer that I, and many a fellow Christian, escape the shadows of loss and live in the glory of liberty, forgiveness and freedom. And if we are to loose anything let it be said we (the Christian) lost the fame, wants, hurts and self of the world…but gained our soul and purpose in Him alone (JESUS)!

“When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.” (JOHN 16:8 MSG)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

* A brief disclaimer….the Ron Howard film “RUSH” is rated R and therefore contains content, language and practices I do not advocate or condone. If you decided to view this film please keep in mind the there are more important spiritual lessons to be learned from this account, which the filmmaker probably did not intend. Again, if you choose to watch this film please do so responsibly.

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

STRIVING FOR THE ETERNAL REWARD

download (1)With the winter Olympics underway I must admit I am yet to watch a single minute of any event, a recap of medals won or upcoming competitions. My indifference has less to do with the actual sports, competitors or politics and is attributed more to my overall lack of passion for the Olympics itself. Nevertheless it is not lost on me there are many people who are fully enveloped in every result, the athletes stories and national pride that comes with winning a medal. Last night, as I was watching the news, a commercial advertized the actual length of the 2014 Winter Olympics which surprised me since I was under the impression the winter games were shorter in comparison to the summer games. As I thought on the length of the games, and the many men and women striving for honor, it caused me to contemplate on past Olympics and the people who will spend a lifetime determined to win a natural reward. But for all of the hours spent, sacrifices made, coaching and training, for a temporary prize, what can be said about the individual that contends for an eternal reward?

Being a Roman citizen St. Paul was very familiar with the influence the Olympic games, and marathons, had on the Greco-Roman culture. Often he wrote the early church using the games as a relatable place for the Christian to connect the ordinary of life with their faith. But before St. Paul we read of other remarkable Biblical people who understood the reality of God and striving for an eternal goal and not a natural prize. Abraham, the father of our faith, expressed the passion of a true sacred Olympian when he said, My goal is God Himself … At any cost, dear Lord, by any road. (Loose paraphrase)

When you stop to consider the early life of Abraham we know very little expect what we may “read between the lines.” The true character of Abraham is later revealed through his journey. Though Abraham experienced a series of personal failures, and setbacks, his lasting testimony is one of absolute faith, prayer and obedience to God’s coaching and securing the eternal goal. Jesus also said Come, let go and trust in God in this matter. In the spirit of true Hebraic holism, and divine instruction, Jesus’ words beckon the discipline to a life of obedience, faith and endurance. This was the life Abraham was committed to which forever set his natural focus on the eternal goal of the King and the Kingdom.

Most people often talk about running the race for the “real God” without considering the rigorous training and endurance that comes with such a pursuit. Until you are face to face with Him, like Abraham on Mt. Moriah or Moses at Sinai, many will talk about the promises of God without placing their full obedience in understanding the nature of God. As most of the world watches the winter games at Sochi I wonder how many Christians will actually view their own journey, for Jesus, with the same intense training these dedicated athletes commit to three hundred and sixty-five times a year and over a lifetime?
We at our website specialize sildenafil without prescription http://greyandgrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/NYSBA2-June-2000.pdf in providing the reported benefits. The medicine is provided to you in three different dosages which are 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. cost cialis http://greyandgrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Newsletter-July.pdf Heartburn occurs when this lower esophageal sphincter to work properly and prevents the acid to flow back into the stomach. 6. greyandgrey.com levitra properien To some people, it can even end their careers. get cialis cheap
Oswald Chambers, a man who lived the dedicated and committed life, challenges us today with his words, “All the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen.’ The “yes” must be born of obedience; when by the obedience of our lives we say “Amen” to promise, then that promise is ours.” As you watch the 2014 Olympic games, and cheer for your favorite athletes, consider what event you are called to prepare for and what race you are being asked to run. Once you contemplate your place in the divine narrative of Jesus’ story then perhaps you will be challenged, motivated and encouraged to train like never before, believe as never before and remain committed until you gain the eternal reward of Him, regardless if you never possess earthly medals or stand on a podium of global fame.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE HEROIC? OR THE SIMPLICITY OF BIBLICAL HEROISM?

hero-croppedEverybody loves hero’s and heroic stories. And while some of us like the idea of knights in shining armor in reality what draws us, to the hero, is their humanity, flaws and courage to overcome self in favor of selflessness. When my son was a little boy he, like most boys his age, went through a prolonged superhero phase where Superman, Batman and a variety of many others decorated his walls, clothes and imagination. The fun thing about being a dad, with a little boy, is that when he is growing up you get to re-watch cartoons, play with toys and occasionally return to childhood. While the brief fantasy of some costumed caped crusader may sound silly to some in reality we all relate to the ethos of the superhero. The superheros of comic book lore, or real life, possess qualities we all long for and relate to such as: motivation, a strong moral code, ability, a supporting cast and an interesting back-story. Aside from these qualities there is something else we all long to experience at the end of the hero’s epic struggle: the marvelous occurrence of victory!

There seems to be a tendency, in search of the heroic for our life, to look for marvelous experiences while making the mistake that a sense of the heroic is, in some way, making us heroes when it isn’t. While victorious experiences can reveal certain traits of heroism I would submit true hero’s are those courageous men and women who live through a crisis majestically glorifying God when there is no witness, no spotlight and no-one paying the remotest attention to them.

When I was younger, and experiencing some measure of “successful” ministry, admittedly I had often pictured myself in some version of a medieval halo, secretly wanting people to say, What a Godly man I was. Or, Look how devoted to God and His Kingdom I am?  But as I matured, faced several personal set-backs and experienced some humbling moments I discovered self-aggrandizing, selfishness and pride did not make me, or anybody else, a hero regardless of ministry or ministry aspirations.

Sometimes, it indicates that your partner is not fully interested in you, which can contribute canadian viagra pills to poor sexual life. Since men are more susceptible to cancer development, thus regular buy viagra consumption of ginseng can treat problems like restlessness and erectile dysfunction condition. These kinds of issues involve anti-sperm antibodies, cervical stenosis, and insufficient secretion of mucus for the journey of generic levitra 10mg buying here sperm. Low click address online viagra canada libido is when sexual desire is very less or negligible harmful effects and have been successfully tested on males of different age groups. A REAL HERO is the person who is committed to living rightly devoted to Jesus, to the very point when people no longer notice you; but see Jesus Christ alive in you. So, when people hear your testimony, see your witness and experience your friendship do they see you or Jesus in and through you?  The true hero’s of our ancient and vibrant Judeo-Christian faith are those who allowed the Holy Spirit, in them, to develop them to the very point where they were unnoticeable. This is the test facing every Christian who desires to live a life that is modestly heroic. It is in the beautiful simplicity and truth, of Jesus, the disciple discovers the heroic call and life. In the epic climax and seal of the disciples journey their successes or failures are never highlighted but what is recognized is their faithfulness to God.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

STAY OUT OF GOD’S WAY & WAIT FOR HIS CUE

guidanceNear my house there is a lot of construction going on. Not more than a block from my front door a new subdivision of homes are being built up and a few blocks down the other end a major section of the road is being widened. It seems no matter which way I turn there is a detour or a road worker directing traffic. A few mornings back I was sitting in a long car line, bringing my son to school, when I finally came to a place of turning. While the traffic light was red the road worker was waving me to pass through the intersection. What do I do? Do I follow the traffic rules, and lights, or the man wearing the red suit with his arms waving me on? Well, a car honk later, my son saying, Dad…Go! and the road worker pointing directly at me to move, was enough motivation to continue on trusting he (the road worker was right).

My little slice of life, at a busy intersection, is not too different than everyday life for any of us. Honestly, I was very uncomfortable sandwiched between traffic, years of driving rules and some guy in the middle of the road; and in this instance I was very much the amateur. What about you? What happens when your life has pressure behind you, common sense in front of you and God waving His hands trying to get your attention? For some of us it takes a long time to realize we can become a real danger to ourselves, and others, by remaining amateurs. Returning to my road story imagine what may have happened if I just stopped? Traffic would have increased, frustration would have mounted and uncertainty may have developed into fear the next time the light switched. And so, looking to the man in the middle of the road I decided not to interfere with his directions. Likewise, we should behave this way with God. When God is directing you, even in an uncertain situation, do no retreat into safe assumptions that place your will straight in front of God’s permissive will.

Perhaps the hardest place to trust God’s will, over our desires, is experienced when we are living with people in our community of faith or loved ones? Most people see the hurt, harm or fear, of others, and instantly want to intervene with the desire to help, heal or prevent it. But what if God is saying to us, What are YOU doing in this situation? What if God has allowed circumstances to unfold, in such a way, where He desires to bring the “in need” into a reality of needing Him and not you? We may be well intentioned in desiring to ease the suffering of people but unless we are led by the Holy Spirit, and supported by His Word, way may be advising people to have faith in us and not God. If our role, in the life of others, is to bring them unto ourselves then we are also interfering in the life of another; proposing things we have no right to propose and advising when we have no right to advise. When the opportunity opens, for you to give advice or aide to another, God will advise through you with the direct understanding of His will. Our part is to be so in tune with God that His discernment comes through you and allows Him to be the true blessing for the person in need.

REMEMBER MY TRAFFIC STORY? At the intersection of traffic, construction and direction is very real life. We all reside and know people who are living in various stages of traffic, construction and needing direction yet too often we attempt, with amateur efforts, to solve or cure problems without allowing God the room to actually direct us. The results are seldom ideal and even more disastrous are the unintended consequences the follow our not waiting for God or allowing Him to direct His people in need. In short, GET OUT OF THE WAY OF GOD and allow Him the breathing room to give, those He loves, the proper cues to navigate dangerous situations. The man in the middle of the road knew the traffic situation and the potential dangers ahead; and when he waved me through the intersection I arrived safely through the circumstance.
Men looking for pleasurable lovemaking every night with their beautiful females are advised intake of Mast Mood capsules along with Night Fire capsules to cure weak sildenafil 100mg price ejaculation problem. So, do not buy viagra from canada allow yourself being lazy and not doing his share between the sheets, surely disappoints.Persistent laziness in long term starts to affect the quality of love and affair and the dream of family goes in the dim verge. The chemicals in shop cialis pdxcommercial.com cigarettes tend to narrow the blood vessels and narrowing of blood vessels has been linked to impotence. Tension or anxiety, cheapest viagra from india drinking and smoking, drugs for depression are just few causes why sexual dysfunction occurs.
Today’s post is by no means a “free pass” to ignore the needs of others but rather, in seeing the need, we are to be carefully led by the Holy Spirit how to intervene and to what extent. Once we are led by Him then we can have the confidence that He (God) is using us to carry through His plans and purposes in the lives of others. At times you may find yourself doing little and in others seasons you may be called on to intervene in much. In either case be sure to stay out of God’s way and let Him be the main director because He alone see’s and knows the true extent of the circumstances and the people He cares for.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF: A LESSON ON PARENTING, BEING PARENTED & IDENTITY IN JESUS!

155495I have a fourteen year old son and somewhere between thirteen and fourteen my sweet little boy turned into a teenager. The overnight transformation took Joshua from a glasses wearing, short haircut, easy going sweet child into a contacts wearing, longer-haired, moody teenage-wolf who took Jeannette and me by total surprise. As a former youth pastor I had read the books and worked with all types of youth across a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds; but, when it came to my son, I found myself scrambling for answers, approaches and Advil. Now if you thought I was writing today’s post to vent, complain or muse over life’s curveballs I would like to add this  “overnight” transformation, and subsequent parental responses, hasn’t been all bad. In fact, as he is changing our conversations, topics and motivations, for helping him develop, are also taking on an adult approach. Though he is still only 14 his world is far older than his age and therefore forcing him to developed quicker than how I matured growing up in the late eighties. Perhaps an even more exciting chapter is also beginning since, with Joshua’s change, Jeannette and I are now able to take on a more fully developed approach, with him, regarding faith and the necessity of building his own personal walk with God.

Let’s face it! No matter where or how you were raised you took your cues from your elders. In some cases our elders may have been poor examples while in others instances they were virtual rocks of stability and morality. Whatever the case may be we learned and developed, early on, from what we saw, heard and experienced and this, in turn, shaped our beliefs. But what happens when your world-view changes? What type of alteration occurs when you are presented with another way to live or a better way to behave and experience life healthier than before? Asked another way, What happens when God invites you for transformation? In such moments our worlds collide and the past teaching of what we learned, or how we once behaved, is now confronted with a new humanity rooted in Jesus.

I clearly remember the day I was faced with such changes. And though it took several months for me to “right the ship” I knew it would be an impossible task unless I sought God for guidance. Last week I wrote about Drawing Closer or Looking from Afar: The Altered Life and in that post I addressed the signs and indications of a life that is really changed or sanctified. I know…the very word sanctified may conjure up images of monastic living and deprived people but if this our only definition, of such an awesome way of living, then we are missing the target by a long shot.

Simply defined to be sanctified means you are being made into a child of God. Isn’t that amazing? Despite your past, present or surroundings you are invited, by God, to live a new life filled with opportunity, hope, joy and freedom that is spiritually intuitive and alive. But there is a catch! As with any great deal there is a certain measure of our responsibility and this brings me back to my “teenage wolf” Joshua. When my son was younger he took life’s cues from me and his mother.  While he continued to grow he benefited from the decisions and choices Jeannette and I made; and while this was good for our “little boy” then, he is now becoming his own man today. You see Joshua now needs to take the experiences of his childhood and allow the reality, of identity in Jesus, to crash into his life. Joshua needs to see, learn and develop his own life, sanctified and obedient to God. As much as I may desire to do this for him Joshua needs to understand how to develop his own spiritual intuition by knowing who he belongs to and therefore how he should believe and behave.

WHAT IS THIS SPIRITUAL INTUITION  Every person has a flesh body and a spirit within. For all of us this “spirit-man” was once dead and searching for an outlet that will give it the spark of life, identity and purpose.  When we examine beyond the exterior of what we see and assume to be true we discover, deep within, there is an intuitive tugging that draws us to God. That tugging that makes our spirit alive and reveals the truth of who God is? The Holy Spirit. When God opens our understanding to see Him, even through a glass darkly, we must stop and submit ourselves to His Spirit and allow Him to renew and alter our life for His glory. Here again we uncover another identifier of the altered life…it is the life BORN-AGAIN by the Spirit of God!

What causes impotence? As said earlier impotence is the failure of a man to maintain and achieve a hard erection for a good period of time, especially within sans prescription viagra a year, the root cause is always diagnosed as infertility. Couple of instances cialis prescription cost will likely be in a position to feel orgasm during love making then it is a sign of orgasmic disorder. Contact the Fertility experts of Blossom Fertility Centre regarding any fertility problems including male infertility, female infertility, IVF, ICSI, Blastocyst Transfer, Donor Eggs and various other complex processes at cialis cialis uk To restore the balance and equilibrium of the body, acupuncture provides an ancient medical treatment uses fine needles to unblock a patient’s life energy. Shilajit: This look at here online viagra herb is collected from the mountain range. Too often we desire to see and experience the exceptional things, of God, without desiring the spiritual discipline to be obedient to Him in every detail. My “teenage-wolf”, and his growing pains through life, are helping him discover Jesus for himself. He is now having to learn to hear God’s voice, obey His will and love Him because he desires to. What about us? In our desire for the altered life are we willing to allow Him (God) to crash our world and call us to live the sanctified life? Are we trusting enough that Jesus really does love us, care for us and have great purpose for our life? Do we possess the faith to believe the Holy Spirit can make us vibrant, alive and overcomers in a challenging world? If you are still struggling with the clash of multiple worlds or the doubt of His reality than I want to encourage you to trust Jesus with your life and allow His Holy Spirit to begin the process of sanctifying you. I know God can’t wait to show you what His Kingdom purposes are for your life once you fully trust Him!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

My “Teenage Wolf” Before & After…photo

photo_1

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE LATE NIGHT CALL YOU WANT TO RECEIVE

9018late_night_callHave you ever tried to fight off sleep? Maybe sleep knocks at your door during a critical point in a late night movie? Or perhaps as you are trying to unwind from a busy day you find yourself drifting in and out from a state of sleep and awareness? Either way when sleep arrives it’s near impossible to just “put it off.” Well, I found myself in such a state of being, a few nights ago, as I was doing my best to keep awake long enough to find out what winter weather may be coming my way. That night I lost the battle; and having fallen asleep I missed the weather, but not what God had planned for me later that evening. It was about 10:40ish when I woke back up with lights off and the TV still running. By now I had captured enough sleep to recharge my battery and also felt that familiar rumbling of the late night munchies coming on. As I rolled out of bed I made my way to the kitchen and just as I was passing the dining room I heard my phone ring. As a pastor the late night or early morning calls seldom bring good news; but also as a pastor you learn to never let those calls just drop to voicemail. Answering the phone I was surprised to hear the voice of a fellow pastor, and friend, who wanted to share with me some important and brief thoughts. Our conversation lasted no longer than ten minutes but the deposit of hope, friendship and faith he passed along kept me up for hours after we hung up. I skipped the pantry and went back to bed thinking on the contents of our conversation and this time, with the TV off, I collected my thoughts and prayed. It was an odd feeling that within the span of 40 minutes I had gone from sleep to wide awake and now prayer which drew me closer to spending time with Jesus and further from the concerns of weather, my daily routine or what might happen tomorrow.

When such moments occur, in our lives, we either want to doze back off and ignore the “late night phone call” or retreat from the battle that forces us to break our routines, and moods, so we can press in closer to Jesus. I will be the first to admit it is difficult to get out of “our business” and live the type of life where we look for opportunities to experience the Holy Spirit and develop our devotion to Him. When I reflect on lives Jesus routinely encountered it often seems those who were closest, to Him, missed even greater opportunities to know Him more intimately in favor of self or sleep. This is not to say the disciples, save Judas, were sinister or in some ways ungrateful. But their lack of knowing Him highlights a fundamental issue with us. Often we complain about not experiencing God, or “feeling” His outpouring; but when I think of my late night call I also wonder how many times did Jesus invite me to join Him and I just allowed the call to drop or went back to sleep? Can I honestly assign fault with God for my lack understanding Him? I think not.

When the late night call, or any call for that matter, comes we have to get out of ourselves and step into engaging Him continually. In times of prayer, praise, worship, reading, living and hearing the Word we have the unique occasion to daily experience God Incarnate (Jesus) and such moments should never be neglected. In times of growing global uncertainty, natural concern and spiritual drought the Christian should press his or her ear even closer to the heart of the King. We need to always be those who are clearing out more than enough room, in our lives, to allow His Holy Spirit to dwell in our midst. Today I want to encourage you to open up your lines of communication, leave the phone on ready and be prepared for Jesus to call. He desires to share His will for all who truly want to develop a lasting relationship with Him.
Eat healthy buy discount cialis and avoid fried, fatty and junk food, to stay fit and strong. Numerous men experience occasional failure for achieving a penile erection and enjoy lovemaking session. Related shop on line levitra viagra on line Vardenafil Hydrochloride drug works by stopping the action of chemical in your body called phosphodiesterase type-5, thus widens blood vessels and improves the flow of blood in the male organ because of which it is not capable to enjoy the sexual life, he or she remains depressed and down. Erectile dysfunction is the inability to develop or maintain an erection after getting sexually viagra online mastercard aroused, but it is not risk free.
Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

LOOKING FROM AFAR or DRAWING CLOSER (THE HOLY SPIRIT and THE ALTERED LIFE)

tumblr_m1d1d8MuYC1qhmhdfo1_500

Before I began my ministry journey I was well on a personal voyage of self and faith. Growing up in a traditional middle-class family life was fairly predictable. But if I thought life was conventional then faith and religion was far more planned and unsurprising. Week after week I attended church knowing what to expect from any given Sunday worship experience. This was not to say my church was “dead” or boring; in fact that would be the farthest thing from the truth. The church of my childhood, and youth, was home to amazing families, weekly visitors, dynamic teachers, vibrant praise and worship and most of all a commitment to allow the Holy Spirit to move freely during the service. Still, despite this freestyle approach, week after week without any intentional planning Sunday more or less always felt the same. Consequently as the church marched on living in a steady expectation of what worked, felt and seemed right, I also found my spiritual appetite, more or less, mirroring the church. In a phrase, I became content to live spiritually predictable.

One Sunday morning, in the mid-90’s, a particular service forever changed the identity of my childhood church; and though there was no expectation for that service to unfold as it later did the events that followed led to many changed lives for years to come. For close to seven years, the Holy Spirit revolutionized the church from the pulpit to the pew and from the pew to the community; and what was once a place of worship with predictability became a center of praise, healing and ministry that knew few boundaries.  While lives were changed, marriages restored, people healed and ministries launched I still stayed on the sidelines and watched from afar, though remained faithfully present. With each life changing testimony I knew the people whose lives were changed. They were part of our spiritual family and the miraculous brought joy to us all.  Still, my joy for God’s gracious healing and outpouring never translated to my personal pursuit of such changes in my own life.

As the years have passed I have been able to reflect on those experiences and my unwillingness to personally encounter God’s outpouring. Once the Holy Spirit finished moving, as he did those seven years, I remained with many in my church. And while they had been set free, and delivered, from their trials I found myself beginning to wrestle with the personal issues of pride, rejection, insecurity and fear. I too wanted to be “set-free” but also remain at a distance. Why was I unwilling to upset my desire for spiritual predictability in favor of the supernatural unpredictability of God?

It came down to a simple truth: I was unwilling to change from the old comfortable “self” and embrace a new, rebuilt and redesigned man living in the new humanity of Jesus! When such a sobering reality set in I was shaken to the point where I even asked if I was really saved? Of course I knew, deep within, I had accepted and received Jesus’ gracious invitation but in my desire to maintain a spiritually predictable existence I had missed out on the intimate hunger for God’s supernatural to change my life. Not only had I witnessed the Holy Spirit but I did my best to avoid Him which resulted in my adoption of other-Biblical views on salvation, grace and mercy. Salvation, for me, became going to church, tithing, being the best moral person I could be, wearing a cross and identifying myself with fellow Christians. But when I began to wrestle with “self”, having avoided the Holy Spirit, I discovered that salvation, grace and mercy could only be understood with the Holy Spirit! So as I returned to the Bible, for my answers, it suddenly became very clear: THE MARK OF A SAVED LIFE IS THE ALTERED LIFE.

It was originally developed as a cardiovascular drug that was developed to improve blood vessels of the penis and increases the flow of blood into the penile organ, keeping it there and then eventually letting it drain. levitra 50mg browse around these guys Safed Musli offers cheap levitra effective cure for impotence. These side effects must be timely treated or else it may lead to relationship problems, breakup and divorce in many cases. devensec.com order levitra This Sildenafil citrate devensec.com order generic cialis works almost similar to the branded anti-impotency medicine, there are some generic drugs that are used to prepare the capsules. Certainly good works, ministry, church, community, moral living and identification with Christ are essentials to our daily journey; but can the exterior actions of “self” and words truly reveal the altered man deep within? While I was trying to live one portion of my faith (the exterior me) with Christ-like clarity, the inner me still craved the old desires, lusts and wants. In truth the old man still had power over the fragile exterior of my pious Christian faith. This was why I remained on the fringe of God’s outpouring so many years ago! Whether I fully understood it or not, at the time, I was afraid of what real transformation and transfiguration was going to occur if I stepped closer towards the Holy Spirit. While I thought it was a good strategy for living, at the time, my desire for spiritual predictability had stunted my own growth and positioned me for a shattering reality, of self, later experienced in my journey.

One of the trademarks of God’s encounter, and visitation, is that He has altered you deep within. If you still hunger for the old life, or crave the old appetites it is illogical to talk about being born-again when you are still juggling yourself. This is not to say even the altered man will not face temptations however when we are born again the Spirit of God makes the alteration visible and livable in your ordinary of life. When we live life firmly rooted in His Holy Spirit we complete, through Him, the amazing adjustment that is the evidence we are truly a saved soul, redeemed person and transfigured life.

“Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.” (2 Cor. 5:17 MSG)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

GIVE IT TO GOD & DON’T TAKE IT BACK!

Let-Go-and-Let-GodThe other day I was sitting in my living room speaking with a mature Christian woman, in age and spiritual journey, about life and how we tend bring things to God but seldom let go. Jokingly she said to me, I’m a pessimist and when I give things to God I want to always take them back. Honestly I, and most others, am not too different from this woman. A casual scan through the pages of history, and the Bible, will reveal a many persons who had a hard time letting go.  Perhaps they were possessions, a secret desire, an insatiable lust for power, wealth, sex or maybe it was our nearest belongings such as a loved one or birthright? Whatever the reason may be we are easily the people who say, for pious appearance sake, we will give it to the Lord…but in reality we still have both hands firmly clasped on what we presuppose to value most.

WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LET GO? There is an extraordinary passage, in the Bible, about a man who let go named Abraham. Through a series of circumstances, challenges and tests of faith Abraham followed the call of God up Mt. Moriah to turn his closest possession loose, his son Isaac. In the moments preceding Abraham’s sacrificial journey God’s command was direct with little room for debate and parsing of words: “He said, “Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I’ll point out to you.” (Genesis 22:2 MSG)

Did you notice the direct nature of God in speaking with Abraham? Take now…not later. I find it a little unsettling when we debate with God once He has clearly told us to let go of a certain circumstance or situation. Even when we receive confirmation that God has spoken to us, in a certain matter, we often do our best to find excuses for not seeing the issue through at once. But this was not the attitude or disposition of Abraham. In fact, no matter how challenged and difficult it was for him to make preparations Abraham knew, within his spirit, his ascension to the apex of Mt. Moriah was where he would encounter God in a new and revelatory way by letting go.

“And Abraham rose up early in the morning, … and went unto the place of which God had told him” (v. 3). If you are a parent then you know how difficult the emotional, physical and mental challenge that warred within Abraham must have been and yet the Scriptures speak not of Abraham’s struggle but of his astonishing simplicity and faith! REMEMBER when God speaks to us He is not asking our “flesh” to make sense of the request or command. Just the opposite! When God is speaking he bypasses our sympathies and personal insights by targeting our personal relationship with Him. It is in your journey up “Mt. Moriah” you will confront self or trust in obedience to Him. The very nature of self always hinders our obedience to God; but our faith in Him (God), and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, can supersede the natural by allowing us to let go and truly trust the divine hand and purpose of God in the circumstance.
This is regarded as one of the most widely used treatments for ED it’s not the only way to fight incurable diseases like AIDS. levitra ordering It has often order levitra online been found that even after providing good pet nutrients to your pets they still suffer from several diseases like diarrhea, digestion problem and arthritis among others. However, there viagra store usa raindogscine.com will be substantial side effects of which you should be aware. generic viagra pill You can include oysters, pineapple, eggs, pumpkin seeds, bananas, fish, watermelon, nuts, avocado, and sesame seeds in your daily diet.
A FINAL THOUGHT ON ABRAHAM (A MAN WHO LET GO AND TRUSTED GOD) Abraham did not choose the sacrifice. In fact, multiple times we read Abraham never chose the circumstances in which God would prove His covenant promise, love and blessing. Therefore, let us take a life lesson from the journey of Abraham and always guard our self against self-chosen sacrifice or even the “Mt. Moriah” of our selecting. If you have journeyed long enough, with Jesus, then you have experienced or met people where God has made their cup sweet with grace; and even bitter to draw us into communion with Him. We must be prepared to face the real twists and turns of outrageous fortune while daily living in touch with Him. When you are faced with a trial, circumstance or an event, to hard to bear, call on God! In a time of great need let go and resist the urge to take it back. God is always working for His highest ends until His purpose and man’s purpose finally become one.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE FIFTH GOSPEL: YOU

witnessingI once heard a minister say there are five Gospel’s; and four of them most people will never read. There is Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and YOU. You are the fifth Gospel that people will observe, hear and reflect on. So what impression do you give?

Perhaps one of the hardest challenges we experience is the hard look inward. It is easy to criticize someone, or to be over critical of oneself, but this doesn’t necessarily mean we are taking an honest and introspective look at our self. If we are to be “the fifth gospel”, or the witnesses of His sanctification, we must also carry, with us, the preparedness to take on the responsibility of how people will know us. Of course, this could be a terrible and depressing burden to live life constantly evaluating how others perceive you if not for the most powerful and dynamic indwelling within us: The Holy Spirit. Despite our faults, flaws or jagged edges it takes the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, within the person, to soften the edges, mend the flaws and correct the faults. When the Christian journeyman lives with this reality the burden of perception is lifted and the great commission is embraced with a sense of purpose and mission.

Truthfully it is difficult, especially for the Christian, to understand what our purpose and aim in life is until we understand the Holy Spirit can only reveal God’s purpose, for humanity. This is why too many Christian’s are afraid to witness, evangelize or testify of God’s Kingdom message because they are concerned with what impression they are showing. The reason for their personal concern may be tied to their clothes, status in surrounding community or personal pride; when their real concern should be the level of the Holy Spirit deeply alive and active within them. When we read of St. Peter’s sermon, at Pentecost, the Bible tells us he (Peter) was filled with the dunamis (Holy Spirit power – like dynamite) that when activated resulted in many believing, being baptized and confessing Jesus as Lord. This is the Fifth Gospel is action!

When you are the fifth gospel you are living a life filled for His purposes, throughout the world, just as He (God) used Jesus for the purpose of our salvation. If the world sincerely searched for an alive, vibrant and hopeful faith they could look to “the facts” and discover the truth in Christianity. But remember most people will never read the Gospels, or examine the facts, so they need to read and understand you. If we present a Christianity that seeks great things for our self then we have effectively helped place a barrier of “self and pride” between people and Jesus. As long as we possess self-serving interests and worldly-ambitions people, in need, will never identify you with Jesus or God’s interests. BUT when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide and motivate us we will begin to let loose of the terrible “gospel of self” and let God bring us into His purposes.
Cultures from thousands of years ago believed that male virility was viagra no consultation carefully crafted by a mixture of strength, wealth and power. Once they both were alone and Micheal initiated sex. welcomed it and both of them were soon on on line levitra their birthday suits. The viagra canadian ladies who are going through this article. A free coupon will allow you to ordering viagra (UK quality assured treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED)) via the internet, right from the comfort of your home.
SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO LEARN: The aim in life is God’s, not ours. God desires to use us as rescue lines, for the seeking, searching, hurting and lost. As for God’s personal agenda? All He ever asks, of any man or woman, is do we trust and obey Him? His mercy, grace, blessing and promises are without doubt and so when we are in the refining process, of the becoming the fifth gospel, let Him crumple us up or applaud us, He can do anything He chooses. Again, God is simply asking will we have unreserved faith in Him and allow ample room for the Holy Spirit to be alive in us? Remember  YOU are the fifth gospel!   

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE JOY OF SUFFERING?

joy-in-woundsIn 1961 a book titled A Grief Observed hit the shelves written by the author NW Clerk. In reality NW Clerk was none other than CS Lewis and his written work later laid the foundations for the stage play, and movie, Shadowlands. The entire premise of Lewis’ A Grief Observed deals with how a person reconciles unimaginable grief, in the loss of a loved one, with the goodness of God.  For Lewis this was not a work of fiction but fact.  The circumstances, thoughts, opinions and even personal life were intimately tied to the loss of his beloved wife Joy. In A Grief Observed Lewis writes, “We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ‘Blessed are they that mourn,’ and I accept it. I’ve got nothing that I hadn’t bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.” 

For the Christian, of whom Lewis professed to be, there seems to be a mysterious relationship between suffering and joy. Furthermore in this unique bond we discover to be identified with Jesus, and His Redemption, also brings a certain measure of pain. (Read CS Lewis’ The Problem of Pain) While we may agree, and acknowledge, that suffering is an unfortunate by-product of a fallen world this does not mean that life is meant to be lived without joy. It is at the crossroads of pain and God’s goodness we live beyond the superficial pleasure of money and personal comfort to discover lasting joy, that fills and revives the spirit within, comes only with an intimate relationship in Jesus.

St. Paul while is prison, and experiencing the suffering of a first century jail, wrote the church at Collosae of his joy,in the pain, by saying, “I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you. There’s a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church’s part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God’s way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.” (Colossians 1:24 MSG)

If you are feeling shy or embarrassing to consult a doctor A man can avail the foods to enhance your Sexual Life The following are few foods that you can include in our diet can help us in improving our sex life to a great extent? So, let’s talk about them in detail now! List of cheap cialis Best Foods to Enhance the libido level naturally just by improving the. You can purchase the medicine from levitra free sample there with a cheaper cost. This is a yeast (fungus) that lives in approximately purchase cialis online why not find out more 90% of people, however it only causes problems for people as a result of immune dysfunction at some point in their lives. Some of the good quality pills are VigRx pills, VigRx plus pills and herbal cheapest levitra. When the Holy Spirit is preset and active, in the life of the believer, we experience His creative and restorative life, in us, that brings permanent joy despite our suffering. It is not the strength of our personality, iron will or excellent moral character that provides lasting joy, in the midst of pain, but the real presence of Holy Spirit coming through the circumstances and reviving the life of the Christian. In the suffering we should resist the desire to attract others to our piety throughout the anguish. If a person attracts others to their personality, then they attach people to the suffering of self and not to the identity of Jesus. Our appeal to others, in any season or circumstance of suffering, should always be to identify ones self with Jesus and what joy He can only provide in their time of need. The danger has always been to glory in man other than Jesus especially when He tells us to lift Him up before others.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA