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Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

IF YOU ARE SOPHISTICATED AND A KNOW-IT-ALL YOU MAY BE MISSING OUT. (IT’S GOOD TO BE ORDINARY)

know-it-all-300x223“Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.” (Matthew 11:25, 26 MSG)

A few weeks ago I shared of a conversation my daughter (now age 7) and I had on a variety of topics well beyond her years. As I chose to answer some of her questions, and others I decided not to answer, it reminded me as to how God, in His infinite wisdom, elects to share with us insights as to how His ways operate. No sooner did our conversation end another question emerged; and this time it was a question I had for God, Who does God share with and who does He not share with?

When you consider natural relationships you generally think of them in a progression of stages marked by some transitional and, at times, life changing events. In much the same way as a natural relationship we develop our spiritual bonds in like manner. But there is a stark difference in a spiritual relationship, with God, and a natural friendship with a fellow man or woman.  In natural relationships we tend to live at different levels. Some of us are “hot” while others are “cold” and this is due to the fact that we live at different intensities and therefore, it may take some time for us to build these lasting relationships. But with God, He always “burns” at the same intense level while it us that are often “cold” to His desire for communion and relationship.

Consider this…God, in dealing with the sin nature, does not cleanse us more and more from sin since He already conquered the sin nature once and for all. But when we reflect on our part, in this divine relationship, we discover that we are called to live in His marvelous light as well as living redeemed from all of the sins attached to the old nature of “self.” Simply examined any meaningful and lasting relationship, with God, can only be sustained with genuine love, compassion and obedience (commitment to the relationship).
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Image1Isn’t this the type of relationship we all long for? God will never reveal more truth about Himself until we have obeyed what we already know. This is where the “know-it-all” and sophisticate, as read in Matthew’s Gospel, miss the essential bonds of communion with Him. Since they believe they are burning “hot” when they are actually “cold” they also assume they know exactly what He is sharing, speaking and asking. The reality is Jesus was more thankful for the ordinary person, who is very aware of their need for communion and “low” burning temperature, than the sophisticate. Beware of becoming a “know-it-all” because you will miss His voice; and remain obedient as well as ordinary in your pursuit a faithful relationship with Jesus.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

REPOST from WISDOM DEFINED (Jeannette Johnian’s Blog) FROM THE TABLE TO HIS TABLE

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One of my greatest pleasures in life is cooking a meal in my little kitchen and seeing my family and friends enjoy. I remember as a little girl spending time in my grandmother’s kitchen learning to make rice and beans. Of course there was no food network back then and my Abuelita (grandmother) didn’t measure a thing. She would say “you put a little of this and a little of that and a whole lot of love into it.” It was there at her table I learned what it meant to be hospitable and generous. We would eat to sound of beautiful ballads playing in the background as she told me the stories of yesteryear.

Not only was my grandmother’s kitchen a place of love so was my mother’s. I am convinced that on the great day of the Lord my  mother will fully come to understand how many lives were touched by her love meals. Many times I asked myself why did she make so much food, there were only four of us in the house. Looking back she would make enough for anyone who would “happen to stop by.” It was and still is her language of love.

Much of my life formation was done around a table. When I started dating my husband I was invited to their home for lunch after church. It was there, a very different type of meal was offered. Yes, there was food but I learned much about the scriptures, the move of the Spirit of God, to love and serve God with all my being. Their table though designed to satisfy natural hunger truly satisfied my spiritual need.

What do these two tables have in common? Fast forward twenty years,  I looked in my kitchen as I was preparing our Thanksgiving meal and felt lead to set a different table for my guests. I decided we would first  partake of the table of the LORD. There we gathered in family to experience the sacred communal reality of communion.
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Just as my grandmother,mother and mother in-law demonstrated there hospitality at the table, so we came to the table of the Lord to bear witness as one family, of the radical hospitality of Jesus. During this act of worship, our attention was focused on HIM who was present in our midst as we gave Him thanks. As we partook I realized we were renacting an ancient play that will be seen once again in the marriage supper of the Lamb.

As we celebrate the Christmas season there will be many beautiful tables set but none more loving and life changing then the table of the LORD.

Peace,
Jeannette

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

CAN YOU COME TO JESUS?

4128370793_dd11757bd5_z“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28 MSG)

The holiday season seems to bring the best and worst out of people. The day after Thanksgiving we hear nightmarish story after story of humanity at its worst; and despite these accounts people are not dissuaded from fighting, massive crowds and danger, to try to buy a new flat screen television. The Christmas season also seems to bring the worst out of atheists who do their very best to remind people that Jesus is a myth, despite the historical evidences that prove otherwise.

I am not just trying to single out atheists but I often wonder why people are so reluctant and, in some cases, aggressively resistant to a reality that includes the man, mission and invitation of Jesus? In fact, it is not just atheists but many people, Christians included, that have a difficult time coming to Jesus; and I often ask myself, why?  Is a life, accepting and submitted to Jesus humiliating? Are people resistant to Jesus because they don’t like to be told that they must come to Him? Perhaps…but I also wonder, are we reluctant to come to Jesus because we know, deep within, there are certain parts of our life we wouldn’t’ dare bring before a holy, just and righteous God. I would challenge everyone, myself included, with the following question: If you want to know how real you are, test yourself by these words—“Come unto Me.”

CONSIDER THIS: In every circumstance, in which people are not real, they will dispute rather than come, they will argue rather than come and they would rather experience great distress and sadness rather than come. The reason we don’t want to come to Jesus is because we are expecting Him to reveal our great personal shame or wickedness. This is never how Jesus has dealt with humanity. Yes, there are many offensive things, we are all guilty of in the eyes of a holy and righteous God, but sadly because of our unwarranted fear of Jesus we miss His merciful invitation for us to just come to Him.

Jesus knows humanity is broken, tired, worn our and burned out on religion. His purpose is not to remind us of what we are already living with but to restore us into communion and right standing with Him. And His invitation doesn’t begin with long list of how we have failed but with an invitation to “Come unto Me.” So why do atheists, believers and or unbelievers resist the invitation of Jesus? Could it be, when we hear His invitation we also know that something must happen, in us, before we can come?
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I said earlier Jesus does not deal with humanity by showing all of our wickedness, shame and guilt but when we accept Jesus’ invitation the Holy Spirit will show you what you must deal with that keeps you from entering into communion with Jesus. The mysterious and sacred work of the Holy Spirit (the third part of the Godhead / Trinity) will always discover the unconquerable areas in our life, that we are resistant to let go of, to join in communion with Jesus.

Layout 1This Christmas season I would like to encourage everyone to set aside the billboards, arguments, personal reasons and distractions as to why Jesus may be a myth and consider what His invitation really means. Many falsely believe, Jesus’ invitation are His words of sympathy, to ease our suffering, without truly considering what His invitation is really asking of us. We do not accept His invitation for the feelings of “Oh well, I have done it this time and now I feel better!’ If so, then we gained nothing from Him and He has done nothing on our behalf. The invitation of Jesus is, ans has always been, the outstretched hands of God for you to take Him at His word so He can heal you from the hurt, shame, fear and burned out distresses of life. Will you come to Jesus?

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

LOOKING AT SIN & REDEMPTION THROUGH A DIFFERENT PARADIGM

redemption_series_graphic“In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 MSG)

I’m not trying to be clever, cute or intentionally controversial but something curious happened to me as our faith community has studied the book of Revelation. While Revelation deals with many eschatological and prophetic themes it often wraps them within the idea of covenant relationship, fidelity and a return to an Edenic state.  As I was sharing with my faith family the events surrounding Jesus’ second coming, and His union to a “faithful bride”, I also began to revisit how I have commonly viewed sin and redemption and asked, is there a better way?

By asking such an “out of the box” question I was not challenging God’s prescribed order of events and means by which He restores all things. Rather, like with most things, when I don’t have a clear understanding I turn to spiritual mentors, writings on the topic, opinions and most of all God’s Word to see if I am thinking God thoughts or just well intentioned but misleading opinions? Everyone struggles with what St. Paul called a “thorn in the flesh” whether it be a specific sin or the burdens of the sin nature. Furthermore, we know our remedy has and is always securely placed through the atoning work of Jesus. Yes, despite this truth, sin doesn’t just disappear from our lives and cease to exist. In fact, the sin nature is very much alive, in the world around us, and by default we are surrounded by many elements that attempt to revive the old nature within us.

For over 37 years I have tried to conquer sin, through spiritual pilgrimage, fasting, prolonged prayer, counseling, public confession and begging but it wasn’t until I revisited sin from a different paradigm I was able to better understand His work of redemption. So, here is the first paradigm shift on sin: Sin is a fundamental relationship; it is not a wrong doing, it is a wrong being of deliberate and absolute independence from God.

When you consider the Judeo-Christian world-view its approach to sin doesn’t just deal with specific sins but the very nature of sin itself. This type of worldview therefore places the Bible (God’s revealed Word) as a historical record, prophetic promise, covenant agreements and guidelines for a life that is willing to not just treat the branches or leaves, of the “sin tree”, but is willing to bore down deep to the roots. In considering the ministry of Jesus the first thing He confronted, in humanity, was the heredity of sin and not the specific sins they may have been struggling with. Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery went deeper than the sexual sin by confronting the very heart of the sin nature. Which is why Jesus said to her, Go, your sins (plural) are forgiven and sin no more. “The revelation of the Bible is not that Jesus Christ took upon Himself our fleshly sins, but that He took upon Himself the heredity of sin that no man can touch. God made His own Son to be sin that He might make the sinner a saint.” (Chambers)

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Here too we are not just focusing on the action, of sacrifice, but in the act of relationship in which Jesus rehabilitated humanity and returned us back to where God designed us to be. This is why I experienced great frustration in dealing with personal sin by using actions or works to cure my problems. What I needed was what we all need: To break relationship with sin and enter into a faithful relationship with Jesus. Everyone is invited to enter into union with God on the grounds of who Jesus is and what He has done.

Not to long ago I had a rose bush that in its first year bloomed such marvelous flowers. But each year this bush produced less and less until finally it looked as it was going to die. Noticing it was sick I tried a variety of cures only to see marginal change and a worsening of the situation. Eventually I even tried to cure the soil conditions around this bush but this too had little effect. Finally, in one last attempt I uprooted the rose bush and planted it elsewhere. Next spring it came back to life and each year it has grown stronger and stronger with very little need for my direct attention. Like my rose bush many people are desperately trying to redeem their lives, through works and well-intentioned Biblical actions, when what is needed is a literal break with the old sin relationships and engaging in a new intimate relationship with Jesus. Redemption is God’s ‘bit,’ and is absolutely finished and complete! But communion and relationship is a two-way street so consider looking at sin and redemption through a new paradigm; and you may find yourself treating the root of sin is more rewarding than examining the leaves.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

I WANT TO KNOW…BUT THANK GOD HE DOESN’T TELL ME

WhyDo you remember the country music song, Thank God for Unanswered Prayers? In this typical and sappy tune the singer looks back at his prayers God chose not to respond to. As the song goes the singer wishes he could have married another sweetheart but looking at his current wife and family he is thankful God didn’t answer his prayer and allowed him to marry the woman who was his wife.

The other day I was driving with my daughter, who is six years old, and she asked me a litany of questions. While most of her questions were to be expected from a young inquisitive mind there were inquiries that bordered on years ahead of her current age. As she continued to ask I chose not to answer, some of her questions, for the simple reason I knew she was incapable of understanding the full wisdom of what I knew.

Throughout my spiritual journey I have been like my daughter asking God a series of questions with the expectation He was going to provide me with an answer I would find agreeable and or understand. In particular there was not a single night of prayer when I didn’t remind God I wanted an answer to a pressing question of “why?” As my personal frustration mounted I continued to press God for an answer only to be greeted with further silence; and this is not to say God was not answering other prayers, but in this single question He remained silent.  Eventually I stopped asking and for the first time, in a long while, I finally had peace about the question even though I still didn’t have an answer.

When we are walking with Him there will be times He will choose not to speak; and this is not because He can’t or won’t but because we are incapable of understanding the fullness of His answer. Let me ask you, what if I had answered my daughter’s most pressing question with the extensiveness of my insight and understanding? Would she have understood the answer? Too often we believe we are capable of understanding God and when He doesn’t answer our question we should be thankful for Him choosing not to answer. In the sacredness of divine mystery there are some things better left unanswered, for a season, until He chooses to finally reveal all things. If, in His silence, we remain trusting He can bring peace and understanding in the most unexpected ways.
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One last story. Sixteen years ago I responded to the call of God and it was then He planted a small seed of vision in my life. It was not until many years later did that seed of “the call” grow into a fragile sapling of commission. Today the sapling of commission is a young tree of mission and ministry that must weather the storms of life. Throughout the process there were times I knew exactly what God was asking of me and at other times I had to trust in the seedling days of vision. Wherever you may be in your walk trust His call and commission even in the days of silence and you may be surprised how and when He chooses to speak.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE SACRED, HOLY and HEROIC PT. 6: FOLLOW THE CALL

Paul_Preaching_On_Mars_Hill

Still, I want it made clear that I’ve never gotten anything out of this for myself, and that I’m not writing now to get something. I’d rather die than give anyone ammunition to discredit me or impugn my motives. If I proclaim the Message, it’s not to get something out of it for myself. I’m compelled to do it, and doomed if I don’t! If this was my own idea of just another way to make a living, I’d expect some pay. But since it’s not my idea but something solemnly entrusted to me, why would I expect to get paid? So am I getting anything out of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message at no cost to you. You don’t even have to pay my expenses! (1 Cor. 9:15-18 MSG)

St. Paul is truly a giant, among men and women, of our shared Christian faith. How counter-cultural was Paul? How entirely opposed to Western Christianity was his ministry focus? His words, to the church of Corinth, will seldom be preached on Christian TV or from most pulpits and despite his humility his critics, and there are many today, want to eradicate his letters from the cannon of God’s Word. Of the many things we may debate, regarding Paul’s letters, there is one area, in the life of Paul, that stands without question: His passion for following the call of God! But why was Paul so committed to his calling?

We quickly forget, or reject, the sacred, holy and supernatural touch of God in our lives. Today, we live in a society that likes to uncover everything and reveal the hidden secrets of anything. Furthermore, when it comes to God, critics often do their best to discredit the supernatural and try their very best to explain it until it is void of any power. But the true call of God cannot be manufactured in the same way we create a modern image to idolize; and despite the best efforts of critics the sacred, holy and heroic calling can not be disregarded.

St. Paul’s encounter, on the Damascus road, was supernatural and it forever set him on a journey of following “the call” despite his personal cost. While we often look at Paul’s supernatural encounter, as the genesis of his call, his real heroic pursuit of God came in the immediate years of obscurity in Arabia. Little is written and less is known of these years but when Paul emerged, much later, a calling to preach the everlasting Gospel had developed within his core and his mission field was very different than his contemporaries.

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Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” Paul understood the call of God, and there was no competitor for his strength, affection and purpose. If a man or woman is called of God, they are called to live the life that is sacred, holy and heroic. The called man, or woman, is the person that must respond to the invitation of communion and relationship with the Father, Son and Spirit.

We like to be comforted with words such as, “your time will come” but I would rather encourage us all with Paul’s words, So am I getting anything out of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message. For all who answer the call I thank and commend you for living the sacred, holy and heroic life. Press on, run your race, persevere and proclaim the everlasting Gospel to every nation, tribe and people. Follow the call! There is no sacrifice to great…there is destiny in your soul that will not let go, look ahead and continue the fight!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

SMALL IS THE NEW BIG by ED GUNGOR

Ed GungorMy dog’s name is Frank. He is a little, white-haired  terrier of some kind. He may be small but he lives large in the Gungor family. He thinks he’s one of us and he has the job of “protector. If you came to my door right now and we were trying to talk, Frank would be a force to reckon with. He’d be freaking out that a “stranger” is at the door. And his bark is unnerving. He doesn’t have the highpitched “arf-arf-arf” of the tiny dogs—it’s more a midtoned “rarf, rarf, rarf.” And he would just keep on barking until I yelled, “QUIET! Go to your kennel!” at least a couple of times. Then he’d reluctantly shut it down and stroll towards his kennel, stopping every few feet to look back, grumbling under his breath. Frank leads an everyday, small dog’s life. He’s never been on TV; he’s never won “best of show;” and there

are only a few people in the world that could actually pick him out of a crowd or a photo. He gets up around the same time every day, runs outside to do his business, comes back in to get some chow and water, plays with a few of his squeaky toys and then settles in for his mid-morning nap. That’s about the best it gets on any given day. Oh…he has his moments of thrill—the occasional ride in the car with the window down, the surprise visit from a drop-by friend with their dog, but for the most part Frank’s life is predictable. But he’s cool with that. He seems very comfortable in his own fur. I, like Frank, have a pretty predictable, everyday life. Except for the occasional, “Hey, don’t I know you…”  from someone unfamiliar, there are only a few people who could actually pick me out in a photo. I got up this morning, had some time with God, paid my bills, answered emails, prayed with a friend who was rushing off his young son to the hospital (he was dehydrated from a really bad flu), ran a few errands and did some blogging. For the most part, my daily life is…well…daily. True, I have a bump or two of excitement and opportunity from time to time, but, all in all, my life (like Frank’s and most of the rest of us) is lived out in a zone called ordinary.

But I’m not nearly as settled about it as Frank. Truth is, I’ve always struggled with being everyday-ish—almost like it’s a sign that my life doesn’t really matter. I keep thinking if I mattered there should be more bing-batta-bing going on. And I want to matter. Otherwise, what’s the point? The billion-dollar question is how—how does one come to matter? And, then, if that question can be answered, how do we know when we do matter—how does one measure such things?

AMERICAN IDOLS
America is a hero culture. Prominence rules. Inconspicuous means insignificant. We tend to think only those who stick out are worthy of adulation. So, the stick-out beautiful, stick-out rich, stick-out talented, fairytale people are the only ones who matter—and they are our idols; our American idols. Somehow, these values tell us stick-out proves worth. If people don’t stick out; if they are average, ordinary;
they are cellophane. Nobody notices cellophane.“The obviously well kept secret of the ‘ordinary’ is that it is made to be a receptacle of the divine…” – Dallas Willard

We live in a world that insists one must be way beyond ordinary to matter. If that is the case, a lot of us are losers. But something in me doesn’t want to accept that. There’s something in me that finds the notion of insignificance as scary as suicide. I want to make a mark on this rock. I think God is the author of that longing. However, I think most of us are mixed up about this whole enterprise of “significance.” I think we struggle with the who-am-I-in-the-scheme-of-things question, plus, we misjudge whether or not we do
matter because consciously (or unconsciously) we have bought into the myth that prominence is the only sign of significance. So, if we are not “famous” or pastoring thousands, it breeds hopelessness in us.
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RADICAL ORDINARINESS
From the American point of view, being “ordinary” means we are just “another one of those,” which signifies we are nothing in particular—thus proving we have little value. But something in us silently screams with deadening agony at that notion. This is why each of us, from the smallest child to the oldest adult, wants to be different; outstanding in some way; unique, extraordinary. Even the fifteen minutes of fame that Andy Warhol said everyone would someday have in our modern media-world is a welcome commodity if it protects us from the status of being a “nobody.” But here’s a provocative thought: it appears that the beachhead for God’s life spilling into the world is through the dreaded ordinary. When you study the scripture and the lives of the saints throughout history, it is as if “ordinary” is the chosen habitation of the eternal. Consider Jesus. He was born in a manger (you can’t get more ordinary than that). He grew up in a small village with a bad reputation and grew up in the home of a carpenter. Jesus, it turned out, became a blue-collar worker. He did this to be with us, to be one of us—to bring the life of the eternal into the world through the ordinariness of life. The message Christ followers refer to as the “gospel” is to be more than a ticket to “make the cut” when we die. The gospel is a call to allow Jesus Christ to heal, empower, and inform the individual human experience. And in the interaction that occurs with the Savior, ordinary people encounter a life that is greater than just human life—it has the quality of eternity. Amazingly, God’s life does not destroy ordinary, everyday human life; it actually fulfills and empowers it. Dallas Willard writes, “The obviously well kept secret of the ‘ordinary’ is that it is made to be a receptacle of the divine, a place where the life of God flows.”

On this view, being basic, ordinary, and merely human (with human limitations, blind spots, and all the rest) is absolutely the best thing that could have ever happened to us. That’s because our unspectacular traits are the perfect springboards for the Divine. It
turns out that small is the new big.“It appears that the beachhead for God’s life spilling into the world is through the dreaded ordinary.”

For more information on Pastor Ed Gungor or CMI Global (which I am ordained through) click below.

Sanctuary Church

CMI Global

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE SACRED, HOLY & HEROIC: “RENUNCIATION” PT.4

jesus-sending-the-disciples“On the road someone asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.” (Luke 9:57)

When I hear stories of renouncing the world it conjures up images of a poor monk living in a dark and damp cave, a guru starved to the point of death or a minimalist trying to fit their entire life into less than 400 sq.ft. While some may marvel at such personal discipline these examples are far from Jesus meant by calling the Christian to renounce the world. In the Gospel of Luke we read of two different men that expressed a desire to follow Jesus. If we were living in the sandals of Jesus we would probably be excited to hear two passionate responses to our appeals for following the Kingdom. But when we read Jesus’ response I bet we can’t help but feel a bit aghast. Upon hearing these two men’s desire to follow Him Jesus’ reply was one of severe discouragement. But why? Was Jesus having a bad day? Did he not want these men to follow Him? Or could it be He knew what was deep within their heart and challenged them at the core of who they really were? Again, if we had been walking with Jesus, on that day, we may have been tempted to challenge Jesus’ terse response and ask where was His love, mercy and or grace; but Jesus’ words cut past the superficial exuberance of the moment, as well as the religious posture of the day, and addressed what was of true importance: “Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” (Luke 9:62 MSG)

Never apologize for Jesus. To the world, that knows Him not, His words have always hurt and offended. Truthfully, even in our own experience, when our spiritual eyes were fully opened we too became quickly offended as He began to address parts of our life requiring change. Jesus has always and will continue to offend the world, it’s thinking and attitude until there is nothing left to hurt or offend. Jesus has never possessed a shred of tenderness toward anything that is ultimately going to ruin a person, He so dearly loves, in the service of God.

Jesus’ response to the two men of Luke 9 were not answers of hatefulness or rejection but genuine truthfulness and love as well as invitation for communion and relationship. Jesus words were bold, daring, sacred, holy and heroic. Jesus knew what was in the hearts of these men and He was willing to bore, deep within, to offend that which they loved most in this world. Oswald Chambers said, “If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the Lord that hurts you, you may be sure that there is something He wants to hurt to death.”

Once in a while, a sudden loss of visual perception in one or both eyes (NAION) may happen. canadian levitra Causes for Erectile Dysfunction: Depression: Too much of depression or hopelessness or sadness generic tadalafil tablets in any person can be known only when one goes for sexual intercourse. Of course, there viagra ordination is no absolute guarantee that you can send a mail to with the required quantity. So, keep ready of scanned piece of prescription in time of levitra 10 mg purchasing the drugs from online pharmacy. In our quest to live the sacred, holy and heroic life of faith, in Jesus, we need to acknowledge there will have to be a death to self and every want fed by this world. Out of His love, for us, He desires to be the sole provider for your need. Jesus wants to be your rock and fortress as well as your strong tower and waters of refreshing. If we continue to look to a world, that appeals to our natural self, we will look past Him and continue on our way travelling with Jesus no longer. Though some have walked away from Jesus, after He offended them, perhaps the most encouraging portion of this narrative is discovered in Luke 10 directly following the two men of Luke 9, “Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. He gave them this charge: “What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands… The seventy came back triumphant. “Master, even the demons danced to your tune! Jesus said, “I know. I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning out of the sky. See what I’ve given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that’s the agenda for rejoicing.” At that, Jesus rejoiced, exuberant in the Holy Spirit.

“I thank you, Father, Master of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the know-it-alls and showed them to these innocent newcomers. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way. “I’ve been given it all by my Father! Only the Father knows who the Son is and only the Son knows who the Father is. The Son can introduce the Father to anyone he wants to.” He then turned in a private aside to his disciples. “Fortunate the eyes that see what you’re seeing! There are plenty of prophets and kings who would have given their right arm to see what you are seeing but never got so much as a glimpse, to hear what you are hearing but never got so much as a whisper.” (Luke 10)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE SACRED HOLY and HEROIC PT. 3: BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS and a ROAD TOWARD RECONCILIATION & RESTORATION

restore

Daily I share with you personal reflections, stories and accounts, of others, I have experienced or heard along life’s way. I use these brief stories as way of creating a relatable place where you and I can meet together on common ground. While I have shared stories from my childhood, marriage and even ministry I have purposely kept certain areas, of my life, private out of respect for others. But there comes a time when some of the private places, in our lives, can be revealed so as to help draw us toward the road of reconciliation and restoration in Jesus. CONFESSION: I have a broken relationship within my family. To remove the specter of speculation this relationship is not between my wife and me; but it is within my flesh and blood family. Earlier this week I had a long conversation with a close friend, and fellow pastor, whose ministry is exploding with rapid growth and salvations. An evangelist, by calling and in his heart, he also serves a needy community that lives in the shadows of one of the most spiritually dark places of our nation. As we were encouraging one another he too shared how division, within his family, has affected him. While his strained relationships are difficult to reconcile he also shared his ongoing trust, forgiveness, love and patience, for those in his family, and how the Holy Spirit is slowly leading them back on the road of reconciliation and restoration.

Do you have broken relationships? I’m sure my pastor/friend’s story, or mine for that matter, is not unique. The very thought of broken relationships led me to a passage of Scripture often quoted, in such times, but seldom practiced or applied correctly. “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. (Matthew 5:23 MSG)  If when you come to the altar you remember your brother holds an offense you must ask the Holy Spirit, has the Spirit of God brought this offense to my attention? Or is this offense born from anger and personal hurt?”

“If you remember…” what can this fascinating statement mean? Does it imply we refer to a ledger of offense, tucked far away? Or could it mean the Holy Spirit is continuing to remind you of a breach, and necessity of reconciliation and restoration? If it is the former, than you need to be very cautious in your next action; because you may be motivated by a spirit of division and accusation (which is not born from the Spirit of God). If it is the later than you must respond and trust the Holy Spirit! “Go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.”  Never object to the intense, raw and amazing power of Spirit-birthed reconciliation. When the Holy Spirit is bearing down on you He is also cultivating you, in that trial, hurt and offense, as how you are to live a IN HIM!

First be reconciled to thy brother. Jesus’ direction is simple—“first be reconciled. Go back the way you came, go the way indicated to you by the conviction given at the altar; have an attitude of mind and a temper of soul to the one who has something against you that makes reconciliation as natural as breathing. Jesus does not mention the other person, He says—you go. There is no question of your rights. The stamp of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and obey the Lord Jesus.” (Chambers)
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And then come and offer your gift. The progression is clearly marked. In the dangerously beautiful community of faith we see the heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, then the sacredness of being led by the Holy Spirit and finally His holiness, within the family of God, by way of obedience to His Word. Our gift, at the altar of the Lord, may be many things but perhaps the greatest gift we can lay before Him is the gift of reconciliation and restoration in our broken relationships.

It is my prayer for you, the reader, my friend (mentioned earlier) and in my own personal family we soon experience, by His grace and mercy, healing in our broken relationships. While I may not know when, and by what circumstances, the road of reconciliation and restoration will be travelled?  I know the commission of the sacred, holy and heroic community, IN HIM, is calling us to travel that road together. If we are truly IN HIM people then we will be spending eternity with these loved ones. I pray, before eternity, I will enjoy laying a gift of mended relationships before the feet of Jesus.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE SACRED HOLY and HEROIC PT. 2: RELATIONSHIP & COMMUNION

imagesTHE SACRED HOLY and HEROIC PT. 2: RELATIONSHIP & COMMUNION

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” (Matthew 5:41)

I was in the mall yesterday, picking up a few items, when I stopped in a store to purchase a final thing. Making the line I was directly behind a woman who was eagerly sharing, with the sales clerk, the many reasons why she (the sales clerk) should visit their church. On the one hand I commend this woman for inviting another person to her church. On the other hand I cringed as to how she chose to extend her invitation. Appeal after appeal was made reciting all of the churches ministries, outreaches, locations, times and people “just like her.” Then, as her purchase neared completion, the woman asked the sales clerk, Where did you use to attend church?  The sales clerk gave the name of a very large church, in our community, to which the other woman said, Oh! If you liked going there then you would love going to our church…we are just like them. Same music, same preaching and the same kind of people.

It may have sounded innocent enough, and the invitation was offered with the best of intentions, but something just didn’t set right as to how this woman perceived her church. To her, and how she represented her faith community to the sales clerk, church was “just like” the others churches full of programs, groups, music and ideal locations. But I want to ask all of us a question, Are programs, groups, music and locations why we are called to join a community of faith? And is this how want to present our community to others? What I didn’t share earlier was a small, but important, part of their conversation. The sales clerk shared the reason she was no longer attending her previous church was because she didn’t experience any relationships in such a large community. It is the concept, of relationship and communion, which distinctly turns our churches from large gatherings of “Christians” into relational communities of the Sacred Holy and Heroic. (Read this week’s earlier post)

I realize every church has a distinct “voice” and method of how they desire to share their message with people. However, here to, I want to ask a provoking question: Are we presenting “our” message or His? Our vision and mission fields should be varied but the message must remain the same: The preaching of the Everlasting Gospel which draws people into relationship and communion. In my opinion the woman, from the mall, should have invited the clerk to join her community, based on their communion and relationship with Jesus and not through a series of programs. The strength of the Christian community is summed up with Jesus’ emphasis on relationship and communion.

Genuine Biblical community (koinonia), and relationship, can only occur when we live in communion with the Father, Son and Spirit. Out of our right relationship, with Him, we are able to enter into a sacred and holy community that lives heroic, bold, loving and distinct from the world. When we present community, as something “like” somebody else or “feeling” as something the appeals to our personal preferences we risk inviting people to participate in social gatherings not necessarily formed in communion with the Son (Jesus). Today there are many churches that give a passing mention to Jesus but the real attraction is to the person behind the pulpit or the zip code of the building.

To live in true Biblical community Jesus demands no passion, other than for communion with Him, should replace that which is birthed from the Spirit and rooted only in Him! In ministry, and in ministering, it is easy to get lost in the fog of works and good deeds. It can be even easier to loose our way in modern creeds, of religious presuppositions, and contemporary spiritualism. But when we are called to endure, the strain of this world and the pressures of personal desire, Jesus replaces our wants with the need of relationship, to Himself, and communion with those who are focused on Him above all!

“The Sermon on the Mount is not an ideal, it is a statement of what will happen in me when Jesus Christ has altered my disposition and put in a disposition like His own. Jesus Christ is the only One Who can fulfil the Sermon on the Mount.” (Chambers)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

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Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Motivational

THE SACRED HOLY HEROIC PT. 1

luminous5THE SACRED HOLY HEROIC  PT. 1

It was the summer of 1997 and I was tossing and turning, in bed, just hours before I would walk down the wedding aisle. My final restless night was filled with worry, doubt, concern and excitement about the biggest transition of my young life. Almost twenty years later, and still happily married, I have had the opportunity to counsel many couples before their wedding and find myself telling them time and time again, you are never really ready to be married. After you have prayed, counseled and made your decision you just need to GO! I often chuckle when I observe people attempt to over plan their life. Often this type of person desires to have their income at a certain level, living in a certain neighborhood, planning enough trips and vacations, etc…and then, all of the sudden, a monkey wrench! Maybe it’s a baby, a temporary set-back, or a life-changing circumstance but “the plan” now has to be adjusted. Planning is great! In my family we live on a budget, have a yearly plan and even try to set some goals for four to five years out; but we have also shared in enough life to leave room for transformation. It is easy to imagine that we can get to a place where we are complete and ready, but preparation is not suddenly accomplished, it is a process steadily maintained and often adjusted with minor tweaks and, at times, major changes.

There was a time, long ago, when the sense of sacrifice appealed to a young Christian. Humanly speaking, the one thing that attracted us to Jesus was our sense of the heroic and being a part of narrative that special, sacred and mysterious. It was this inner working (by the Holy Spirit) that compelled us to be bold, courageous and go! But that has changed, especially over the past twenty years, with today’s modern church method attempting to reach people who are not longer seeking the mysterious and heroic. Despite the churches size, technology and budget today’s American Church experience, in large part, has managed to provided the seeking and searching with a perfectly planned and sterile environment that encourages a worldview that says, “what I (the church) can you do you.”  And something sacred has been lost in translation. (More on this later)

Community can be a funny thing. I live in a sub-division where I pay a monthly fee for certain community services. By the “letter of the law” I am apart of my community because I pay dues; but even though I am apart of the community it is still possible for me to live with limited relationships and connection to the events, and lives, of my subdivision. Likewise, this same dynamic can exist in a church community when we only view this habitat of faith as a place to “pay our dues” followed by an expectation of the community providing us a service. I would like to challenge our thinking as to how we really view the community of faith with a great moment is US history.

A young, optimistic and confident President Kennedy once challenged Americans to reconsider not what their county could do for them but what they could do for their country. Perhaps no truer secular words summed up a consecrated creed for the sacred community. What we have lost, within the message of the Church USA, is the sense of what I call the Sacred Holy Heroic. I mentioned earlier the unique church experience where our worship services, along with support ministries, are so programmed that they actually are designed to manage your expectations. I have sat in countless planning meetings where the entire service is planned down to the very second and nothing occurs without it being planned our predetermined. One such successful and popular church pastor / planter proudly said he hoped a visitor would experience the exact same service in any of their satellite churches.

To be victorious, he/she must appeal to voters throughout the state. sildenafil tablets 50mg In the erected state, the medicine increases the time and a male can provide better secretworldchronicle.com prescription viagra pleasure to a female. The system at present is so standard within the US that almost fifty p.c of patented medicine have their cialis sales australia generic equivalents. During rehabilitative your visits will be less frequent and strengthening care is less often still. cheap cialis So what does such programming create within our community of faith today? In a race to keep up with current trends, and measuring analytics, our building must get bigger, our outreaches must become louder, our video’s look edgier and our pastors and teachers perform as rock stars or CEO’s while the message, of the Gospel, sounds less sacred and more like an echo of our society. Seldom do we now gather with the expectation of seeing, touching, living and experiencing the sacred, mysterious, holy and revelatory. Even more dispiriting is the purely western notion of building projects and glamorized ministers serving as a new frontier for heroic Kingdom action. The raw community of faith needs to exist outside the created bubble of “self” and reconnect with the Sacred Holy Heroic that is only  rooted IN HIM (Jesus). Today’s church, as with the church of every age, is called to reconnect with the same heroism and sacrifice of the ancient and historical church and GO BOLDLY INTO THE SACRED HOLY HEROIC !

The “go” of preparation is to let the Word of God inspect deep within and force us to answer the call and commission of heroic sacrifice. If we are to enter into the narrative of the mysterious, sacred and historical Christian faith then we must also be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to detect, in us, the nature that will never work in His service. No one but God can detect that nature in us. While we may be tempted to plan every last detail, in preparation to go; we must also understand, like with marriage, we are never fully ready. But, in all of our planning, if we leave room for His Spirit to guide us we will join in the Holy invitation of true community and fellowship (Biblical Koinonia).

Once we understand the holy invitation is one of heroic participation and sacrifice we will no longer get trapped by a selfish or self-serving Gospel but live courageous and bold for the selfless and sacrificing Gospel. Planning is good, preparation is great; but never over plan and prepare, in such a way, where the Spirit is disinvited and the mystery of the sacred holy heroic is lost. If you pack away your lights, building, designer jeans and programs, and welcome people to join in the mystery, then you may just discover who is really in your true community and hungry for the message of the sacred, holy and heroic.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE GOAL OF THE CHRISTIAN: DO HIS WILL

Jesus-Daughters-of1THE GOAL OF THE CHRISTIAN: DO HIS WILL

In my many years of ministry one question seems to come up time and time again. “What is the will of God for my life?” I have asked the question countless times, and in a variety of different ways, but the seemingly complex question possess a simple answer we are seldom satisfied with. The straightforward answer, to the previously asked question, is DO HIS WILL.  Admittedly, this is easy to say, hard to do and even harder to comprehend; but why? In our natural life personal ambitions and desires change as we mature; but in the born again experience the goal, of the Christlike life, remains the same from the beginning until the end….DO HIS WILL! “We start with Jesus and we end with Him—“until we all attain to the stature of the manhood of Christ Jesus,” not to our idea of what the Christian life should be.” (Chambers) The aim of the Christian is to do God’s will, not to be useful, not even win the lost, though we will be useful and we will help the lost, but that is not the aim of the Christian. Our aim is to do the will of the Father.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry the city of Jerusalem was the place where He reached the climax of His Father’s will. It was in Jerusalem He preached His final bold messages on the Kingdom, performed miracles and, upon the Cross, reconciled the entirety of creation to the Father. Nothing ever discouraged Jesus on His way to Jerusalem. Jesus never rushed through villages where He was persecuted, or lingered in others where He was welcomed. Gratitude nor ingratitude never dictated His purpose to finish His ministry, in Jerusalem, and all the way He asked his disciples to continue with Him to the very end.

“The disciple is not above his Master.” In our journey the same things, that happened to Jesus, will take place to us as we continue toward our “Jerusalem.” There will be works of God manifested through us, people will be blessed, and one or two may show gratitude while the rest will show ingratitude. But nothing must deter us from continuing toward our Jerusalem.

“There they crucified Him.” We have all read the accounts of the Gospels and know, through His sacrifice, He became the gateway to our reconciliation and restoration (Salvation). We are called to take up “our cross” and follow Him; and while we may not end, our journey, by way of crucifixion (by the Lord’s grace) we will live our purpose, in His will, as we journey toward our “Jerusalem.”

“God has made it a rule for Himself that He won’t alter people’s character by force. He can and will alter them- but only if the people will let Him. He would rather have a world of free beings, with all its risks, than a world of people who did right as machines because they couldn’t do anything else. The more we succeed in imaging what a world of perfect automatic beings would be like, I think, we shall see His wisdom.” [1]

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA


[1] CS Lewis, God in the Dock (New York: Harper Collins, 1999) 152-153.

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Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

MASTER AND COMMANDER

master-and-commander-dvd-coverMASTER AND COMMANDER

“Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” (John 13:13)

Sometimes I wonder if I was born in another life?  Don’t panic! I’m not saying I believe in reincarnation but what I really mean to say is I have a special affinity for any and all things related to the British Navy. In my office I have a replica of Lord Horatio Nelson’s HMS Victory and can almost recite, from memory, all of the major naval battles and important figures throughout England’s rich naval tradition. It should probably come as no surprise that I also have read, and own, Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O’Brian’s series Master and Commander. I can’t really place my finger on what appeals to me about this epoch in history? Maybe it’s the formality of the times? The appeal to wild adventure? Or the romance of the sea? Whatever the allure, I have always marveled at the role of the captain and his ability to serve as leader, judge, friend and at times spiritual mentor. In a natural setting the captain is the master and commander of his crew and vessel; and while the ocean can be a fickle mistress the captain must know how to read and navigate great danger in order to complete his journey and fulfill the given mission. Do you remember the story of Mutiny on the Bounty? Without getting into the history of the “why’s” the crews mutiny came down to a conflict of who was the master and commander. Said another way to have a master and to be mastered is not the same thing.

“To have a master, within the Christian experience, means that there is One (God) who knows me better than I know myself, One (Jesus) who is closer than a friend, One who searches the deepest areas of my heart and satisfies it, One (the Holy Spirit) who has brought me into the secure sense that He has met and solved every problem of my mind. To have a master is this and nothing less — One is your Master, even Christ.” (Chambers)

When you carefully look at the work of Jesus, in the lives of people, you discover He never enforces obedience and never overrides our will to make us do what He wants. I know, at certain times, I wish God would master me and make me do what He wants, but He will not. In other instances I have wished He would leave me alone, and let me continue my own way, but He does not. When Jesus makes you aware of Himself, as master and commander, you begin to discover the balance of not my will  but Thy will be done.

“Ye call me Master and Lord”— BUT IS HE? In today’s established dialogue Master and Lord have little tolerance or acceptance. When we teach or share, Jesus with others, we prefer words such as Savior, Helper and Healer. While He firmly holds the aforementioned titles, He is also Master and Lord; and today’s Christian should never be ashamed or resistant to His firm but loving direction. To live “In Him” is the Christian’s natural behavior when we accept Jesus, as master and commander (Lord), because we have come to experience His love through our willful obedience to His will. According to an accurate reading of the Bible obedience is based on the relationship of equals, that of a son with his father. Jesus was not just God’s servant…He was His son! While the relationship between God and Jesus is divinely unique we also read, from the parable of the prodigal son to the teachings of St. Paul, God is looking for potential sons and daughters (adoption), grafted into His covenant promise, and heirs of salvation.

If our belief is that we are in fear of being mastered, it is proof we have no master except ourselves. When this has become our attitude, toward Jesus, we have moved far from the relationship He desires. Jesus, as master and commander, isn’t lording over us like the heavy-handed Captain Bligh; but as loving father He patiently waits, desirous, for faithful sons and daughters to live with Him in sacred relationship and holy communion. “The Father can be well pleased in that the Son only who adheres to the Father when apparently forsaken. The fullest grace can be received by those only who continue to obey during the dryness in which all grace seems to be withheld.” [1]

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA


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Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THERE ARE “IN HIM” PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!

0000iconJesus-christTHERE ARE “IN HIM” PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!

“And now, saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be His servant.” (Isaiah 49:5)

What do you like to do during your downtime? Watch TV? Invest in a hobby? Read a book? There is not a single person, I know, that doesn’t appreciate a little relaxing time. For my wife, her idea of relaxing is sitting on the beach and reading a book; while in my downtime I like to follow my favorite sports team (New England Patriots), play a game or also read a book. In the almost twenty years of marriage Jeannette and I have built a rather large library ranging from the Shakespeare and Homer to Andrew Murray and NT Wright and while our reading list is wide-ranging we often find ourselves returning to a few favorites. By far my preferred author is CS Lewis and The Problem of Pain, Mere Christianity, Till We Have Faces and many other titles have challenged the way I understand the world and the people I am surrounded by.

There are those, within the Christian community of thought, that either love CS Lewis or express deep concern for what they believe is an apologetic for un-orthodox positions of Christian doctrine.  I once had a conversation with another Christian who refused to read any of Lewis’ works because she assumed he advocated universalism. When I attempted to explain Lewis’ unmistakable words, on matters of salvation, she continued to believe he and his writings were heresy and therefore there was no dislodging her presuppositions on Lewis that day. The reason I injected the polarizing person of Lewis, it today’s post, is because there are also others, within Christian thought, that reject any other person as “saved” if they are Roman Catholic, Anglican or Orthodox.

This frightening fracturing, of the Christian faith, is partly to blame for what some perceive as an incoherent Gospel message. And if you believe these divisions are only reserved for the historical orthodox community you may be shocked to discover Protestant denominations are equally quick to turn on Pentecostals, or other non-denominational communities, because they do not adhere to a specific set of affirmations and or creeds. The purpose of today’s post is not to “peel back every layer of the onion” because I recognize this debate has been ongoing for centuries. Rather I want to bring us back to a reality we have all experienced and live with: “The first thing that happens after we have realized our election to God, in Christ Jesus, is the destruction of our prejudices and our narrow-minded notions; we are turned into servants of God’s own purpose.” (Chambers) The reason the Father created humanity was to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. The curse of sin has switched the human race on to another tack, but sin has never altered God’s purposes. When we are “born again” we are to become “In Him” people and brought into the realization of God’s great purpose for the human race: You are created for God! He made you and positioned you, where you are at, to testify of Him. This realization of appointment, for most, is the most joyful fulfillment on earth once we appreciate our remarkable role in His restorative purposes.

I have come to understand, and appreciate, God is working on the hearts of all who truly love and desire Him. In His loving guidance He deals with our spiritual nature to channel our hearts to beat after the single heart of Him and not to the rhythms of the world. The love of God and the nature of Almighty (Pantokrator) God is focused, and introduced into us, in John 3:16—“God so loved the world …”

While I personally may have differing doctrinal views, from others, I am able to identify God has masterfully placed “In Him” people where I may never travel. We have to maintain our soul open to the fact of God’s restorative purpose, and not muddle it with our own intentions. The purpose for which the missionary is created is that he may be God’s servant, one in whom God is glorified. When we realize that, through the salvation of Jesus, we are made perfectly fit for God we will finally understand why the Father has sown seed in many fields.  He demands absolute integrity from His servants, because He has put into them the very nature of God; and so let us all be cautious, in criticizing others in this great community, lest we forget God’s purpose for redemption, reconciliation and restoration.

This is not a call for ecumenism, as some have come to define it, universalism or Unitarian theology. But this is a call to unite all “In Him” people and celebrate our diversity, while maintaining our orthodox fundamentals uncompromised, to carry forth the essential teaching of the everlasting Gospel to the nations.  CS Lewis wrote, “There are three things that spread the Christ life to us; baptism, belief, and that mysterious action which different Christians call by different names – Holy Communion, the Mass, the Lord’s Supper.”[1]   If Lewis is correct, which I believe his statement is also Biblically supportable, then there are IN HIM people sown throughout the world and across many historical and rich traditions of the Christian faith. Let us rejoice together and magnify the name of Father, Son and Spirit as we testify His message of redemption, reconciliation and restoration!

 Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

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[1] CS Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper Collins, 2003)62.

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

REPOST from WISDOM DEFINED (Jeannette Johnian’s Blog) “WHEN THE KINGDOM INVADES MY STINKING THINKING

jeannetteWHEN THE KINGDOM INVADES MY STINKING THINKING

There is a running joke in my family that I have a crush on theologian NT Wright. Anytime we are in a conversation and a certain truth is mentioned I interject and say “NT Wright says”…It causes quite a stir, eyes start rolling and the laughing begins. All joking aside I don’t have a crush on NT Wright but it wasn’t until I heard NT lecture on the book of Romans that my understanding of the message of the Kingdom of God started to invade my stinking thinking.

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Let me explain, as he expounded on the scriptures, I had read over and over again, it was like dots being connected and suddenly I started to see the totality of the message of the Kingdom of God.  My spirit leaped within me and when I heard statements like  “the new age had broken into the midst of this present age” and “we are called to be truly human after the model of the Messiah”,it was as if I was born again, again.The Kingdom message has radically reordered how I see myself, unbelievers, the body of Christ and specifically all that God has done in and through Jesus Christ. I have laughed, cried and mourned as my life is being challenged with the most extraordinary message in the world.I recently had a conversation with a friend on the topics of forgiveness, restoration, God’s judgement and justices. As I sat and listened statements like these were said:

  • I will forgive but won’t forget.
  • I believe in reconciliation but not necessarily the need for restoration.
  • I am not the judge and God will judge those who have hurt me.

I found myself agreeing with each of these statements. After all, I had said and heard them throughout the years.
Hours after the conversation Kingdom thoughts started to invade my “stinking thinking”.  “What if God’s judgement is executed by an outpouring of love? Jeannette, will you be happy? What if justice comes in the way of blessing? What if Kingdom reconciliation is only seen in restoration? What if true forgiveness means covering over an offense as if it has never happened?

Suddenly, I remembered the story of Jonah he went to preach reconciliation to Nineveh, they repented and God restored them. Then the Bible says, it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. What? The man of God brings the word of reconciliation and it angers him to see God’s justice. God, challenged Jonah’s stinking thinking. You can read it here;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+4%3A1-11&version=NIV

You may be saying this is Bible 101. Perhaps it is but honestly ask yourself have you wrestled with these kinds of questions? If God is creator and judge of all and we are His people, are we not to reflect his true character. Is HE not calling us to live in the  present as it will be when the Kingdom is fully restored? I believe He is and as we allow the Kingdom to burst into our lives, families and communities of faith we are proclaiming the story of our God.

Peace,
Jeannette

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

UNMASKING TEMPTATION PT. 4: DEVELOP A TASTE FOR WHAT GOD LIKES AND A CRAVING FOR WHAT HE DESIRES

2002-11-02-empty-caloriesUNMASKING TEMPTATION PT. 4: DEVELOP A TASTE FOR WHAT GOD LIKES AND A CRAVING FOR WHAT HE DESIRES

I love chips! Any type of crunchy, salty, spicy or sour chip I just seem to crave them. It, for me, is the ultimate “bad” food temptation I seldom try to resist. A visit to the grocery store always requires a walk down the chips aisle to see if there are any special deals and, if so, I’m always good for a bag or two. It’s easy to crave what we know is not good for us. Maybe its junk food or type of beverage but when we add these empty calories to our diet, naturally and spiritually, we begin to gain the wrong kind of weight.

Every person has a taste for what they like and don’t like. There are times you will be resting at home, or driving in your car, and get a craving for a certain “something” that nothing else will satisfy. Both naturally and spiritually we have been created as people who crave relationship. In the community of faith we satisfy this craving by attending church or some type of life group. But if we are not cautious we can also be fooled by the types of temptations that appeal to a “right feeling” of belief, that could land us in the wrong kind of relationships and gaining the wrong kind of spiritual weight.

Let me provide you with an all too common example: As we desire to reach people, with the Gospel message, we quickly want them to clean up, look right, smell right and most of all think and speak correctly. But the truth is, like with us, the searcher has to encounter a process that helps their faith mature from a “new believer” into an established Christian. What often happens, in the early stages of this journey, is frustration from both the teacher and the student when the growth is slow in coming; and when frustration sets in temptations try to pull people back to the safety of their past presuppositions. What is supposed to happen? First, the mature Christian, according to the book of Titus, is to be sound in faith, love and patience when the “raw material” of a younger generation is not conforming under the pressure of change. Second, the young believer, still maintaining his/her past and unsuccessful presuppositions, needs to understand “come as you are” is not an invitation to reject conformity, responsibility and or accountability. The Conclusion? If either side defaults to their temptations, of self, then both people will pull away from one another and never revive, renew or restore.

Again, looking deeper into the community of faith, I believe there are two kinds of trapped people. The first trapped group are those locked in the “inside of the church.” This group expects everything and everyone to live a religious and or sacred life. Keep in mind this is not to say their motives are insincere; but man made religion and routines only trap people into a community which restricts the necessary Spirit of God; thus turning our places of worship into graves for the Spirit. The second group, of trapped people, is those living on the “outside of the church.” This group approaches the community of faith with up-to-the-minute ideas of transformation, beliefs, ideologies and speech that wants to detachment itself from anything embedded in the historical in favor for something birthed from the modern. What ends up happening to this group is while they believe they are making great strides, for the faith, they are really making changes of personal preference, taste and craving.  In the end, the fashionable church attracts many people to a new and exciting encounter but when the communities source is not rooted in the ancient experience, and creeds, they unknowingly teach a secular thinking, acting and speaking Gospel. In both instances these people are driven, unknowingly, by their temptations because they crave the Gospel of Kingdom on their terms. Did you catch that? THEY CRAVE JESUS’ MESSAGE ON THEIR TERMS.

So what is the solution? Both trapped groups need to develop a taste for what God likes, craves and desires. What does God like and crave? “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) It may sound like a tall order but what do we think Jesus’ words are really challenging us with? Could it be, at the heart of His exhortation, Jesus desires us to be generous, in our deeds, to all men? Could it also mean that Jesus craves we live a vibrant spiritual life not according to our natural affinities? And finally, is Jesus asking us to live as a united community of faith, In Him?

This also comprises thin nerves, which restricts the online pharmacy cialis blood flow and hardens the penis muscles. You should even eat less of fish, poultry and meat, especially when you are https://pdxcommercial.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/15223-S-Henrici-Rd.-Flyer.pdf cheapest viagra price trying hard to free yourself from the painful gout attacks to ensure gain gout pain relief. Know more about Kamagra: Kamagra is a trusted drug to help men battle from erection problems. levitra sale Warnings – Not All They Are Cracked Up To Be Many businesses read about warnings over potential computer viruses, new ways to stop women being attacked or emails suggesting if you click here money will be magically donated to charity. 99.9% of all of them than Sildenafil Citrate! This will provide you with the satisfaction some time sex becomes a basic need in every animal’s life. find over here now buy cheap levitra Everyone has natural affinities; there are some people we like and others we have to “suffer.” But the Kingdom attitude is to be as the Father is in Heaven; and therefore we must never let our personal likes and dislikes rule our Christian existence. “If we walk in the light as God is in the light,” then God will bring us into communion with people for whom we have no natural affinity. The example Jesus gives us, time and time again, is not that of a good man, or even of a good Christian, but of God Himself. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Show to the other man what God has shown to you; and God will give you generous opportunities, in everyday life, to demonstrate whether we are perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.

This is what God likes: Followers, IN HIM, from inside and outside the church walls to be His faithful disciples; which means we are to deliberately identify ourselves with God’s interests and not our own affinities. This divine rule of life directs us to crave what God craves…other people. “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, …” The expression of Christian character is not living a religious lifestyle or defiant routine but living Christlike. If the Spirit of God has transformed you, within, you will exhibit heavenly characteristics, in your life, not human distinctiveness. “The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works out in the practical details of life.” (Chambers)

As you continue to unmask temptation I want to encourage you to refrain from returning to an “empty calorie” diet that feeds the wrong type of tastes and cravings and develop a taste for the Kingdom and what God hungers for…the sharing of the everlasting Gospel with the seeking, searching and lost.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

 

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

UNMASKING TEMPTATION PT.3: WILL YOU CONTINUE WITH JESUS?

CHRIST_SUFFERING_FOOLS_by_vmaximusUNMASKING TEMPTATION PT.3: WILL YOU CONTINUE WITH JESUS?

“Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations.” (Luke 22:28)

In part 1 of my “Unmasking Temptation” posts I provided the following definition for temptation. Temptation is a suggested short cut to the realization of the highest call that we are all to aim for. Consider this, temptation never appeals to your feelings or rationale based on your understanding of evil. Rather temptation has a way of masking an evil action or outcome in making you feel as if you are entertaining a good action or right feeling. In effect temptation tries to convince us not to understand evil but to think we can achieve God’s highest goodness without understanding His holiness.

It is true when we say Jesus is with us in our temptations; and through the on-going work of the Holy Spirit we can experience, daily, victory over such trials. But there is a deeper question that begs to be asked and answered: Since we already know He (Jesus) is with us in our temptations are we prepared to go with Him through His temptations? Sadly many people, though eternally thankful for what Jesus has done for them, have abandoned His Cross and Kingdom principle once their circumstances have balanced out. It is as if some have developed a Pavlovian response that allows us to run to Him because we have an experience of what He can do. But what happens when God shifts our circumstances, and in the seasons of testing we are asked to continue with Jesus, or side with the world?

RESEARCH IS A WONDERFUL THING! In an age of data mining and analytics there is no shortage of statistics, studies and facts that support America, as a nation, has worn the badge of “Christianity.” While this designation has been shifting over the past twenty years there is an even more concerning divide within the Christian community of faith worth exploring. Simply asked, is today’s Christian community growing, living and learning, as those prepared, to go through Jesus’ temptations?

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.”  While churches may still be full with people claiming to live the Christian life I am left wondering if our churches, communities and nation are living the Christian life or lifestlye? Though it may appear to be a matter of semantics the reality is there are people, everyday, who try to live a lifestyle that is void of life. Rock stars, sport stars, actors, high ranking CEO’s all live, what most believe as glamorous lifestyles, but few of us truly know what their life is like. It is a sad commentary, on our society, when we delight in the misery of others. Even sadder is when the lifestyle, of others, has disappeared and the life is left empty without conviction, purpose or joy. Within my subdivision the majority of residents are not attending any church or  fellowship and probably do not classify themselves as “Christians.” For that matter I lived in this city for over ten years and have never been asked, by one person, if I attend church, have a relationship with Jesus or even need prayer. It is simple to live a lifestyle but it demanding to live a meaningful life.
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I have met many people, within my community that fit the story of the disciples that once walked with Jesus but now no longer. Why? One reason, for our abandonment of Jesus, returns back to the dangers of temptation. The same temptations of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. When the lifestyle and life do not match it means temptation has driven a wedge between our understandings of Kingdom purpose. When we get distracted, we crave and then we lust for the “forbidden” desires of the world. When this occurs the temptations, facing Jesus, become to too hard for us to bear and we then embrace shortcuts. RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT and allow Jesus to bring you through His temptations. Since we are not able to avoid temptation let us unmask it and place our full confidence in living our life IN HIM from this day forward. A life centered and grounded in Him will result in a lifestyle that is truthful, meaningful and purposeful for the Kingdom and reaching others.

As Christians we have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God allows around us. Never! The Father engineers our circumstances; and whatever they may be like we have to face them, while enduring continually, with Him in His temptations.

“They are His temptations, not temptations to us, but temptations to the life of the Son of God in us.” (Chambers)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

UNMASKING TEMPTATION: DON’T LIVE IN BONDAGE BUT LIVE IN THE SPIRIT!

temptation-apple-and-snakeUNMASKING TEMPTATION: DON’T LIVE IN BONDAGE BUT LIVE IN THE SPIRIT!

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.” (1 Cor. 10:13)

I was a little boy running and playing, with my best friend, enjoying the innocence that came with a young life lived without fears, troubles or concerns. To this day I can’t remember where I first heard a cuss word but I do remember the day I heard those unclean words in my mind. Foul word after foul word bounced around eagerly pressing me to fly from my mouth and join the chorus of my fellow school mates…but I resisted. It may have only been a few seconds; but it felt like hours and I found myself running home desperate to ask my mom if I had sinned by hearing these words in my mind. The conversation that followed was the first time I understood the difference between sin and temptation. Yes, the life without fears, troubles or concerns had left; and from that day forward I have sought to unmask temptation because I now understood Satan loves to use enticement as a “back door” mechanism to place people in bondage that eventually draws us back into sin.

The word temptation has been seeded throughout our society and many people believe they know it when they see it; but we, in the community of faith, are apt to use it incorrectly. Temptation is not sin, it is the entity we are bound to confront if we are living people. Many of us, however, suffer from temptations from which we have no business experiencing, simply because we have refused to let God scratch underneath the surface (or what is wrong in us) and lift us to a higher elevation in Him.

This is where you can count on feedbacks and reviews. Continue to storefront cialis online mastercard Individuals going through this are usually shy enough and also have confronted your best prices on sildenafil parent or parents. Consume 1 or 2 Kamdeepak capsule twice per day ordine cialis on line with milk or water. When should this drug not viagra prices be used? You should not use if you: * are taking any nitrate medication, such as nitroglycerin for angina, as it may lead to a severe drop in blood pressure. A persons character on the inside, what he / she possesses in their personality, partly determines what they may be tempted by on the outside. The temptation fits the nature of the one tempted, and reveals the possibilities of our fallen nature. So in order to unmask temptation we need to define it. Simply defined temptation is a suggested short cut to the realization of the highest call that we are all to aim for. Consider this, temptation never appeals to your feelings or rationale based on your understanding of evil. Rather temptation has a way of masking an evil action or outcome in making you feel as if you are entertaining a good action or right feeling. In effect temptation tries to convince us not to understand evil but to think we can achieve God’s highest goodness without understanding His holiness.

The other trap, attached to the hook of temptation, is its ability to confuse our feelings as we attempt to reconcile right from wrong. Without the aid of the Holy Spirit we incapable of separating right from wrong and furthermore, without Him, we will not resist our lust-filled desires on will-power alone. Everyday we are given proof of this in a world where the Holy Spirit is absent and suppressed. When the vices of a world soaked in murder, rage, hate, perversion, jealously, greed, fear and worry begin to invade our communities of faith we must ask the hard questions of how and why has temptation come through our spiritual threshold? Could it be where the Holy Spirit is absent doubt persists under the cloak of temptation…and temptation will lead to sin?  While temptation is not something we may escape it something we need to be aware of and overcome through the inward and outward working of the Holy Spirit. While God does not save us from temptations He will deliver us in the midst of them as long as we place our total dependence, love and trust in Him. (Heb. 2:18.)

GRACE AND PEACE

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE WHEN NODODY IS LOOKING

magicianYOU ARE WHO YOU ARE WHEN NODODY IS LOOKING

“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty.” (2 Cor. 4:2)

Have you ever attended or watched a magic show? Of course everybody, in the audience, knows there is not any real magic being performed; yet the viewer sits fixed on the stage either trying to figure out the trick or marvel at the fantastic performance being unveiled before their eyes. Through careful stagecraft, props and lighting each trick builds upon the next until the show culminates with a grand finale. With the performance concluded many in the audience will leave asking how did he do that? Of course, the answer to the question will remain a secret because the magician wants you to believe in the power of illusion.

I once heard a pastor say, referring to a persons character, you are who you are when nobody is looking. What Pastor Laurie was expressing is a temptation, we all struggle with, when we are safely behind locked doors with the shades pulled shut. It is in the privacy of where we believe nobody sees us our words and actions the truth of who we are is revealed. While some people openly demonstrate their true self there are those who act like ‘the magician” and perform great illusions for others to believe. I want to encourage all of us, as St. Paul encouraged the ancient church, renounced the hidden things of dishonesty. The purpose of today’s post is not to “scare” anybody into the fear that Jesus is waiting to expose every dishonest word or action we have committed (although, for loves sake, He will not indefinitely allow dishonesty to persist in any persons life). Rather I hope to appeal to the spirit of Christ, within you, that yearns for the higher call to holiness, righteousness, communion and spiritual community.

These issues cause a man to suffer from the adverse health effects like severe headache, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, levitra cialis viagra diarrhea, upset stomach or longer and continuous erection for more than defined period. Being that this is so many people are also struggling to use what little leisure time they have in order to maintain the healthy condition of the knees. 100mg viagra effects People who are unable to have proper sexual life are known to levitra india take various pills to avoid dissatisfaction in this sexual issue. What happens when your precious body suddenly lose an erection? Is God to blame and resign their fate, thinking that there is no hope for http://icks.org/viagra-8434 sildenafil cheapest a cure? Or maybe you’re more willing to deal with this condition? Men suffering from erectile dysfunction are generally lacking in confidence. Oswald Chambers asks, “is there a thought in your heart about anyone which you would not like to be dragged into the light? Renounce it as soon as it springs up; renounce the whole thing until there is no hidden thing of dishonesty or craftiness about you. Envy, jealousy, strife—these things arise not necessarily from the disposition of sin, but from the make-up of your body which was used for this kind of thing in days gone by.” (see Romans 6:19 and 1 Peter 4:1–2)

As we personally desire to live a genuine Christlike life we must maintain a continual watchfulness to be transparent and honest with a world we desire to reach with the Gospel message. “Smoke and mirrors” Christianity is much like the magician performing a grand illusion: On the exterior we can be impressive, inviting and entertaining. But do we risk performing for a people who are still questioning, what is the trick? Will we not more effectively reach the seeking and searching when we express a relationship that can exist without the lights and stagecraft? I hope this has given all of us something to pray on and consider.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

A LITTLE INSIDE BALL: A SECULAR GOSPEL OR A TRUTHFUL GOSPEL?

imagesA LITTLE INSIDE BALL: A SECULAR GOSPEL OR A TRUTHFUL GOSPEL?

In honor of the upcoming World Series I want to borrow an expression often used to explain what happens behind the scenes during a game. The expression, a little inside ball means you are going to reveal some secrets that are known only to “insiders.” So here is an already well known perception: within the church USA there is a growing concern in the gap between the community of faith (Christians) and those they desire to reach (the un-churched, seeking or searching). Now this may not be much of a secret, to you, but the real inside ball is the growing disconnect the church has within itself in sharing the Gospel message with the world they seek to reach. (More on this later)

For over thirty years, especially beginning with the “Jesus Movement” of the 70’s, churches experienced exponential growth and influence within a culture experiencing social and spiritual disillusionment. During this precious outpouring many men and women learned how to engage their culture and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, a harvest was reaped during those seasons of uncertainty and spiritual decline. The years that followed saw the rapid expansion of churches, ministries and the birth of the mega-church across the United States. By the 1980’s the American church was engaged in world missions (especially within Communist nations) as well as providing a strong counter balance against the popular culture that resisted the revived church ethos. Though there have always been liberal approaches to theology and ministry, during this time,  there was little debate on what kind of Gospel message was shared with the world.

By the 1990’s another social shift occurred as skepticism and cynicism increased with reports of moral compromises and financial scandals that rocked the church. By the late 90’s, though largely un-recognized, the church USA’s voice and influence was waning. By 2000, and especially following the aftermanth of 9/11, the church seemed less equipped and unable to aide a nation in need of repentance and restoration to Jesus. While many churches were filled during those immediate weeks following 9/11 many of the same churches were empty months later. In an attempt to reconnect with the changing culture much of the church shifted their approach, creeds and doctrinal roots in favor of a Gospel that was more “in touch” with Generation X, Y and Millennials. So, has the church managed to influence the culture following this purposeful shift? (More on this later)

Here I would like to boldly acknowledge I am not writing this post as an outlier within the Christian culture. This post is not meant to criticize a church, denomination, pastor and or a specific approach to ministry. Truthfully I am very much a part of the church culture that lives disconnected from society and acknowledges I am trying to find a way to reach the seeking, searching and lost. I was raised in the 80’s, experienced the changes of the 90’s and live with the results of the 2000’s. As a pastor, I have often tried to appeal to people, who have lived their spiritual formation through the “church mill”, only to discover their past hurts and offenses have hindered their ability to engage in a healthy spiritual community. Likewise I too have failed, at times, trying to push people into a failing pattern that was incapable of helping them mature, grow, reconcile and live restored. It has always been my sincere hope I could provide something “better”, that could reach people, only to realize I also needed to change.

But what do we change? Or better asked, where do we begin to change? Should we change our doctrines? Perhaps our worship styles or physical exteriors? I would add (and this is my opinion) changes in décor and clothing can be made to be respectful as well as sacred. This same principle can be applied to worship and the way we conduct ourselves in public ministry. But can we apply the same approach to doctrine? ABSOLUTELY NOT! This must remain a non-negotiable but not for the purposes of trying to keep tradition and religion in a place of esteemed honor. Earlier, in this post, I asked has the church managed to influence the culture? Sadly the answer is no. A 2009 survey, from the Barna research group, revealed the American Christian culture believes less about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible and even Satan than ever before. Even more shocking was the belief that almost half of the Christian’s surveyed believed the Bible was the same expression of truth equivalent to the Koran or the Book of Mormon. For all of our churches, ministries and Christian based entertainment it is apparent the ancient doctrines of our Christian faith are unknown or not believed and the result is a ‘Christian” nation without an identity.

Last week I met with a couple of church “doctors” who were spending some time with me and helping Maranatha Koinonia through a series of ministry transitions. During one part of our conversation one of the “doctors” turned to me and said, “The reason the church is failing to reach people is because the church USA has failed to realize America is a secular nation.” As our conversation continued the reality, that became evident (and here is the inside ball), was if the church will not share a truthful Gospel, to a culture in search of truth, then all we have given society is a secularized Gospel.
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Many of my ministry peers have tried to make Jesus simple in the hope this would appeal to the majority of people. In a very real way Jesus is extraordinarily simple. But there is nothing simple in the dedicated life of one who follows Jesus.  Admittedly we, in the church, tend to complicate things with tradition and religion, and while some tradition is rooted in ancient creeds, and faith, there are many practices that are rooted in complicated routines. Today, we live in a world that claims to make life simpler; but for all of the simplicity life has become more complicated and confusing. Here is a simple truth: God has revealed a simple genuineness, especially in a world of competing ideas, faiths and philosophies, through a Biblically truthful Gospel and Jesus. Too often I see people try to make Jesus someone of their own ideology or use the excuse living as a Christian is too hard. To this I politely counter by saying, religion is complicated but a relationship is simple. Jesus has not invited a seeking and searching world to join a convoluted and complicated system of controls and manipulation. Jesus has invited the seeking, searching, hungry and lost to enter into a simple relationship by which we will allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into a healthy community of faith with the Father, Son, Spirit and Church Universal.

Here’s the point: Jesus is simple! This is why He says to come to Him as a little child.  But living a lifestyle of the world, and for the world, is complicated. To live a secular Gospel or a Truthful Gospel is the great question facing the church USA and the people we seek to reach. The reason we can not compromise the ancient creeds and doctrines, of our faith, is because they are rooted and born by Spirit of God. In an increasingly secularized nation do we really want to reach people with just a secularized Gospel or do we want to share a simple but truthful Gospel? Here’s the inside ball: The church will fail, Jesus’ Great Commission, if we do not influence and reach the un-churched with the simple, Biblical, Gospel Truth. Much like the cultural and spiritual convulsions of the 70’s we are again experiencing the same changes. While we know the Holy Spirit desires to pour out, and revive our dry lands again, I seriously wonder if the church USA really wants Him to pour out and begin His revival within our houses of worship?

As I mentioned earlier I am every bit part of the problem as well as part of the solution. While we may make some “surface” changes, to reach the searching, seeking and un-churched, we can never change the heart of our ancient faith that remains the same yesterday, today and forever.  For all of our ministries, church numbers and influence I am still reading, daily, of a nation sinking further into moral decay and spiritual blindness. What will take for the church USA to stop sharing a secular Gospel and a complicated man- made religious system? When will the church USA return to a simply Christian lifestyle, a simply Jesus faith and truthful Gospel creed? Let it begin in my house….let it begin in all of our houses.

“The simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA