Tag Archives: ministry

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

PRAYER: AN UNRIVALED GAME-CHANGER

game-changerIf you have ever followed a sporting competition then chances are you have heard the expression “a game-changing moment.” Maybe it’s a player or a particular play but when the moment happens we call it a game-changer because that is exactly what occurs: The circumstances change dramatically. This past week I had a “game-changing” moment and it came attached to prayer, faith and in the most unusual of circumstances.

Earlier this year I shared with you how I was on a new journey of faith where I was going to bring my “head faith” down to the ordinary and practical of life. Of course this journey hasn’t been easy especially when the circumstances, I am bel ieving for, are not noticeably changing. Nevertheless I remained determined to continue this journey not as an experiment but as a way of living where to live is to worship and to worship is to live. As 2014 started I felt anxious to see how quickly my circumstances would change but in reality little seemed to be moving until…

It was the Friday after the new year and I had received a call that a fellow Christian, that I knew but have a limited relationship with, was facing a serious health issue in his family. My first reaction was one of concern that then turned to the thought of praying for his family. But just as I was about to dismiss any further action I felt, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, to call this man and actually bring my faith into the ordinary and practical of life. Our conversation was brief, no more than ten minutes, which concluded with my praying for his family and that was it. Later the next week I went to my mailbox and saw a letter from an individual addressed to our faith community. As I opened the letter there were just a few short words, a request and an extremely generous financial gift to Maranatha Koinonia. I sat stunned! I couldn’t find the words to express how I felt nor could I conceive of any scenario in which this blessing found its way to our faith community…but it did!

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? In a circumstance of someone’s crisis I was energized, by the Holy Spirit, to prayer! The Lord knew I haven’t been praying for money and truthfully I didn’t even know where to begin my prayers because there were, and remain, so many needs. Yet, as I practiced to live is to worship and to worship is to live I experienced the Holy Spirit Himself praying, in me, prayers which I couldn’t utter. Prayer and answered prayer are the game changing moments (testimonies) of the dynamic and Spirit-filled life, of the Christian, when we are those who are “born again” of God and indwelt by the Spirit of God. It is when we are firing on all Spirit-birthed cylinders, in the ordinary of life, the supernatural happens.

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” (Romans 8:26)

WHAT NEEDS TO OCCUR IN US ALL: St. Paul addresses the dynamic life of the Christian when He (the Holy Spirit) drives and motivates our prayer.  In speaking to the church in Rome he writes, “He,” the Spirit in you, makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” When this happens God is searching our hearts not to know what our conscious prayers are, but to help us discover what the prayer of the Holy Spirit, deep within us, is. What I experienced, this past week, was a Spirit-birthed and Spirit-prompted moment of prayer which exceeded what I was prepared to do naturally. But when the supernatural broke into the natural circumstances prayer went from words into action and action into healing which was followed by Spirit-birthed love, appreciation and blessing!

As far as maca capsules benefits for men/women is concerned there are many viagra sales in uk talk about. Risks may be psychological or physical in levitra online nature. People say males have a high sex drive, but discount viagra do you know one out of five males doesn’t want sex. Sildenafil Citrate is a drug available in the online pharmacy is not an anonymous, ghost company, but a real one. 3.Good Customer Service – you can test this by calling them and asking them about the eneric buying viagra in uk you are about to buy. My recent experience was a game-changing moment that needs to be experienced and lived by every Christian. When we are those who live is to worship then the Spirit of God not only dwells within us but also lives through us and instructs us how to live a life of faith, prayer and continual intercession.

WHAT I LEARNED and HOPE TO PASS ALONG TO YOU: The Spirit of God will not dwell in a body where we want to live life based on our convenience. Though it may have been natural, for some, it was inconvenient to stop my life to pray for another. But when the Holy Spirit burst into my ordinary I had no other choice but to respond to His prompting and presence. I experienced a game-changing moment that led to many game changing opportunities.

Have you recognized that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? If so, then lovingly I want to encourage you to remain careful to keep it undefiled for Him (Jesus). “We have to remember that our conscious life, though it is only a tiny bit of our personality, is to be regarded by us as a shrine of the Holy Ghost. He will look after the unconscious part that we know nothing of; but we must see that we guard the conscious part for which we are responsible.” (Chambers)

In a few weeks there will be a Super Bowl and both teams will be hoping for a game-changing moment. What about you? Are you facing circumstances where you know you need the supernatural to burst into your ordinary? If so,  then take some time to re-read this post, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help re-energize your prayer life and make room for His supernatural presence to not just fill you but use you for the service of the Gospel message and Kingdom hope.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PREPARE YOU FOR THE SUPERNATURAL

jesus-christ-on-boat-during-stormI don’t play the lottery but that is not to say when I hear of a gigantic jackpot my thoughts don’t drift to a world where endless supplies of money would change my circumstances dramatically. We have all experienced the weighty shifts of circumstance. For some of us when life’s circumstances turn for the worse our world seems more difficult and harder to bear spiritually as well as emotionally. But we have also experienced times when circumstances turn for the better and in those days joy is unquenchable and happiness abounds. In reality life is comprised of the ebb and flow of positive and negative circumstances; and while we may feel as if he have limited control over these shifts it is reassuring to know God is forever steady and certain in every season of life.

I’m reminded of the account when the disciples journeyed, with Jesus, across the Sea of Galilee when a sudden circumstance (natural storm) threatened their lives. No doubt the panic, fear and dread was palpable when they finally woke Jesus to make Him aware of their pending doom. In a powerful, but simple, declaration Jesus spoke, “Peace! Be still!” and the storm passed. Circumstances will always be apart of life and in the life of the Christian we must look at any circumstance as a God ordained moment. Listen carefully to what I am saying: I am not saying God ordained the storm. But what I am saying is that circumstances will draw us into God ordained moments. In any trial, tribulation or need God is always asking, Will you trust me? Do you not know I am with you in the boat? St. Paul encourages the church in Rome in a similar fashion when he tells them, “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” (Romans 8:28 MSG)

Yesterday, today or perhaps some day in the near future we may find ourselves in circumstances we cannot comprehend, but the Spirit of God understands. God is continually bringing us through real life, people, circumstances and conditions that require our listening, obedience and understanding with the Holy Spirit. In any circumstance we should never attempt to “get out in front of God.” Remember, He is in “the boat” and therefore all your circumstances are in the hand of God.

But this thought is buy canada viagra purely wrong and this works fine as their branded counterpart can. A decreased estimations of tadalafil may be supported. cialis generic tabs Using an online pharmacy also order levitra online saves you time because you don’t have to visit different local drugstores to find the medicines you need. The causes of cialis online prices impotence are varied. So, when you discover a strange circumstance has “popped up” quickly find Jesus, pray in the Spirit and wait for Him to calm the storm. Remember Jesus is looking to perform a supernatural moment in your life to testify of His faithfulness, goodness and enduring love.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Motivational

THOUGHTS FOR A NEW YEAR (repost from Ed Gungor / CMI Global)

Ed“Thoughts For A New Year” by ED GUNGOR

We all have some things in our lives that we would like to see changed—maybe it’s taking off a few pounds, or breaking up some old habit. That’s why New Year’s resolutions are so popular. They hold the promise of change, but it turns out that New Year’s resolutions are pretty short lived. They start out strong, but like the squint after leaving an afternoon matinee, they wear off.

Why?

According to fourth century theologian St. Augustine humans can “will away” all we want, but it will not produce consistent change because sin has broken the effectiveness of our wills. For Augustine, this is the worm that has curled its way into the apple of the human condition. And it means that human will power alone doesn’t have the punch needed for real transformation. This is why Paul cries, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24). He was talking about the whole dilemma of wanting to do right but always ending up doing wrong, a concept we all get too well.

It turns out that transformation in the Christian sense (versus the kind of change some accomplish by sheer will power) is not accomplished as we redouble our effort, but is experienced as we embrace what the Spirit is doing in us. The New Testament claims that “goodness” is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that is communicated to us through simple faith. As we trust Christ and endeavor to pursue his active presence in our lives, we end up mysteriously participating in God’s goodness, which is his Divine nature. Just like you can pick up bad stuff from hanging with wrong friends, you can pick up good traits from chumming with God through stuff like prayer, silence, study, becoming part of a great church community, etc. When we do this, his graciousness to us makes us gracious to others; his kindness to us makes us kind; his comfort to us makes us comfort each other, and so on. The result is transformation.

This means that we need something other than a strong will to live rightly. The only successful therapy for the transformed life is divine grace. Grace is God’s favor or “help” for our lives. Grace is what makes change possible to us. Grace is the idea that God gets in the mix of the average person’s world and makes things different. That’s what grace does. It changes things. It changes people.

The task at hand is to figure out how a person with your unique personality and mind-set can best tap into grace. For me grace is most easily accessed as I sit in silence and pray written prayers (e.g. Book of Common Prayer). As I pray and meditate in silence, grace dawns inside me. My wife, Gail, taps into grace as she sings and worships. Others touch God’s grace most by getting together with other believers, by retreating into times of solitude, by taking hikes into nature, or by one of the other many spiritual practices modeled in scripture and church history—and there are a bunch of them: study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, submission, solitude, silence, fasting, sacrifice, and so on. Once you find the pathways that help you tap into grace, you can practice those in order to stay under its influence. The trick is to find the “spout” where grace comes out for you, and hang there.

When nerve involved in digestion viagra without prescriptions canada process is damaged, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea can occur. Even by following some viagra no prescription mastercard food habits, sciatica nerve soreness can be eliminated. It has click to read more order cheap viagra a place with a class of medications called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. Thus, stress and the disrupted urinary levitra uk process can result in erection problems. A changed life is the real import of the gospel. The gospel was designed to rewrite a person’s life. The more our lives are rewritten, the greater our influence will be on others around us. Our connection with the person of God never just takes place in our hearts or personal space, it influences situations, community, family, friendships, civic work—everything. True faith is always pushed out from the domain of just thought. Our faith plunges us into real life with courage to face all the suffering and contradictions that occur there, while we remain steady in our devotion. It is this kind of living that causes us to influence the world.

Few things capture us like people-stories. We are fascinated by real life and ordinary people—perhaps because we recognize that each of our lives is jammed with similar struggles and ironies, and stories of transformation strike us; they give us hope. The hard truth is that people in our culture are not interested in what we believe; they are only interested in the beliefs that have actually changed us. They want to know if our beliefs actually alter the way in which we live. Do they modify our story?

This is how the typical mom with three kids still in diapers can influence the world. This is how the high-school student, who is still trying to discover who she is and where she fits in the world, can influence others for Jesus. This is how the retired person struggling with health issues or caring for an elderly parent changes the world.

The apostle Peter claimed that when we live our lives in a way that shows we have “set apart Christ as Lord” in our hearts, we will create a question in the minds of others. Peter contends that the role of the believer is to “always be prepared to give an answer” to the emerging questions from those who observe our lives. Somehow, as we intentionally “set apart Christ as Lord” in our hearts, we start looking different; our story changes. We become marked with “bright spots” (joy, peace, kindness, patience, hope, and so on). These bright spots create a question inside those who live in our proximity. When the question comes, Peter says we are to answer. I suggest that answering the question our lives create is the secret to changing the world around us.

Let me say this as clearly as I can: You can change. What IS does not have to stay that way.Things really can be different in 2014. An Old Testament prophet once told the people: “TheLORD has much more for you than this.” (2 Chron. 25:9)

What if that is true?

Ed Gungor

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

MARTHA, MARTHA, MARTHA (An Amazing Woman who Lived in the Shadow of Mary)

martha-and-mary-2MARTHA, MARTHA, MARTHA (An Amazing Woman who Lived in the Shadow of Mary)

It tends to get a little confusing, and to be honest I had to recheck my own facts, because it seems the Bible loves the name, Mary. When reading through the Gospels, if your not careful, you may think you are reading about Mary, the mother of Jesus, in one story Mary Magdaline in the same account or believe that either one is Mary, the sister of Martha. But when it comes to Martha most people often remember her as the “complaining” woman who needed help in the kitchen while her sister (you guessed it) Mary was carefully listening at Jesus’ feet. Like an episode from the Brady Bunch everything seems to be about Marsha, Marsha, Marsha (or for our purposes Mary, Mary, Mary). And just when begin to think of Martha as the equivalent of Jan you may want to think again.

In no way diminishing her sisters zeal, for Jesus, Martha stands as a remarkable woman that possessed the faith to believe in the power at the disposal of Jesus. In the Biblical account we read Martha’s brother, Lazarus, had died from a sudden illness. Though Lazarus had been dead for several days we also read that Martha not only believed that if Jesus had been present He could have healed her brother, but that Jesus had an supernatural intimacy with God that could still revive Lazarus. In a time when we read of doubting disciples, hiding disciples and a treacherous disciple Martha lived a life that comprehended the Kingdom of Heaven had burst into everybody’s reality through Jesus. When loss was at it’s closest (her brothers death) her faith was not deterred in a future inheritance for all who believed. Therefore, her remarkable words still speak to us today, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ …”

In this exchange of faith, Kingdom power and the pending supernatural resurrection of Lazarus Jesus’ words to Martha speak even more loudly to us today when he says, “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26 MSG)

Is there something in Martha’s story in which Jesus may be dealing with you? Last week I shared how I was embarking on a new journey of faith and now as I have “pulling away from port” Jesus is educating me into personal intimacy with Himself. How ‘bout you? I would like to encourage you to not only allow Jesus to ask the question he asked Martha, “Do you believe?” but be bold enough to answer with certainty, “I know!”
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To believe is to allow your faith to actually commit to an action. Since the Bible tells us faith without works is dead we need to be those who not only mentally believe in Jesus, as Lord, but commit ourselves to abandon all that would dissuade our faith and action in Him as the resurrection and life.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

I included this brief clip from my favorite Jesus movie that I feel captures this moment wonderfully. Enjoy! Jesus, Martha and Lazarus

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

READY? SET? ACTION!

ahc_79194When Jeannette and I were first married I quickly discovered how different we really were. Through three years of dating, and an engagement period, I thought we were just alike in everything; but then after we said I do I realized we weren’t. That’s not to say our differences were bad or in some way we had deceived one another; it just reminds us that there are many ways, in our similarities, we can still be very different. It didn’t take long for me to discover our differences when after our first disagreement (fight) I wanted to patch things up and move on with a quick resolution. Jeannette, on the other hand, needed some time and breathing room to process our disagreement as well as our resolution. For over sixteen years we have managed to deal with conflict, disappointment, failures and hurts in much the same way as our first argument. And over this period of time I have come to appreciate the value of allowing the process of letting a situation breathe so as long as we are allowing the truth of God to act during that time.

As a pastor I have managed to tackle problems, within the church, from a variety of approaches. In some instances I have pressed, head strong, for a quick resolution with disastrous results; and at other times I have waited, too long, to allow people to process a conflict, which has also ended in unsuccessful outcomes. So after reading a variety of leadership books, conflict management articles and advise from my peers I still felt as if there was no “best” way to deal with any single situation better than what the Bible tells us.

St. James writes the early church and encourages them, “So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.” (James 4:7-10 MSG)

“It is essential to give people a chance of acting on the truth of God.” (Chambers) After the pastor, husband, wife, boss or friend has had their say, in any situation or conflict, the responsibility must be left with the individual. You cannot, and are incapable, of acting for him or her and they must be deliberate in responding in a Christlike manner to any situation. Sadly, when we refuse to act, as Jesus would prompt us through His Word, we become paralyzed and end up exactly as we were before. Have you ever met people who live their life stuck? There are some who refuse to grow up, others who dodge responsibility and others still who assign blame, to others, for their misfortune. If you know this type of person or find yourself here today then return to what James tells us and CHANGE IT!  When one acts, he or she is never the same. And when we act upon God’s Word He begins to work His perfect will in our life immediately!

Too many people play games, with their own lives, by wasting precious time living in stalled action. Once you find yourself repeating a failed behavior, negative thinking or destructive speech immediately let go and allow God to get into your circumstance. The moments we will truly live are the moments when we act with our whole will submitted to His plans and purposes.
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FINAL THOUGHT: IT TAKES TIME, SO ALLOW FOR SOME BREATHING ROOM. While most of today’s post has advocated a quick Biblical response to life’s challenges I would be remiss if I didn’t bring some balance to the topic. Like Jeannette’s needing time to process our disagreement most people do require some breathing room. I personally believe all people would benefit from some time to “work it out.” However, this time needs to be well spent seeking Jesus and allowing His truth to walk us toward His resolution. “Never allow a truth of God that is brought home to your soul to pass without acting on it, not necessarily physically, but in will.” (Chambers)

In every part, or role in life, we play we will always be faced with the truth of God. When we confess we are wrong, but go back again; then we come up to it again, and go back; we are hopefully learning the valuable life lesson that tells us we have no business returning to an old failed way of living and thinking. God’s truth is not a negative reality that is meant to hurt or rob you rather His truths are the finest words of redemption in which Jesus transacts the business of drawing us back to Him. The final step we need to take is to go to Him; and everyone who responds to His invitation lives a life where the supernatural power of God invades and changes them instantly. If you truly want to be free from the burdensome power of the world, your weak flesh and your adversary, understand they are not paralyzed by your words or your actions of self! But the stumbling blocks and barriers will always be halted by your action, and will, that is linked to Jesus and His redemptive power!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

2 DEGREES, MUSTARD SEEDS and FAITH

Mustard-Seed-Faith-by-CRI“Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.” (Matthew 17:20 MSG)

This morning as I sat down to write today’s post I, like most of the United States, am sitting in a deep freeze. As the thermometer sits firmly at 2 degrees you only have to step near your door to know it is deadly cold and while 22 degrees (the temperature expected for later today) may feel like a heat wave the truth is it is still dangerously cold. Oddly enough by the end of the week the weather, where I live, is expected to be near 60 and so I am holding out hope this brief freeze will soon pass away.

I find it interesting how we respond to small things. Small increments in temperature, slight statements of love, minor acts of affection and the “little things”, that mean most, often touch us in a significant and special way. Certainly almost everybody loves a BIG gift or a wild party; but very soon the largess of the moment passes we are left feeling a little empty in the wake of the moment. Perhaps you felt that way after Christmas? Or maybe as you were cleaning your home after a New Year’s party? But the BIG of almost any moment is best experienced in the small.

Yesterday I shared how I was embarking on a new personal journey of faith and some of you responded how my post both challenged and encouraged you to do the same. Today I have a few additional thoughts, on faith, I wanted to pass along to further support us to all continue on this new journey. I have been told, and Scripture seems to bear this out as true, God rewards us for our faith. While this may be so in the beginning of our journey we need to be careful not look past God’s character as we development our faith in Him. Simply said, we do not earn anything by just having faith because the action and gift of faith means to bring us into right relationship, with God, and give Him an opportunity to do something big in our lives to glorify Him!

CONSIDER THIS. How often have you discovered God’s mercy, grace, love, forgiveness and hope when you were at your “bottom of the pot?” If you are like most people I know, me included, I have always felt the beautiful overtures from God but have come to appreciate them all the more when life was at its most difficult stages. Out of our experiences God desires to make contact with us and wishes for us to understand that it is a life of faith, not a life of sentimental enjoyment, where His blessings are truly experienced.

As I looked back into the beginning stages of my new journey I had to admit I’ve lived with a very narrow view of faith. To be honest all of my experience, with faith, was formed around only good moments, promotions, raises or accolades from my peers. But when life took a turn for the worst my faith went missing. Doubt, fear, anxiety and regret replaced my “faith” and I could no longer taste, see or feel the light and sweetness of God’s drawing.

So, what happens next? Mustard Seeds! That is all it takes (according to Jesus) when the mindful blessings, of what we expect Him to do for us, is withdrawn to guide us back to living by Biblical faith. You are worth more to Jesus, in your lack, than in the days when you believed your testimony had reached its height based on your success or personal happiness. Though the mustard tree may be large, it began with the smallest of all seeds. Biblical faith, by its very nature, must be tried and the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God; but that God’s character resolute and without doubt in our own minds. The very nature of our entire walk is a journey of faith. And throughout the voyage we will all experience times of seclusion. “Much that we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive.” (Chambers)

FINAL THOUGHT: Faith, in the Bible, is faith in God against every thing that contradicts Him. Will you remain true to God’s character despite the trial, circumstance or season you are in? Perhaps one of the most inspirational statements of faith, in the whole of the Bible, comes from Job when in the midst of his calamity and accusers repeats,
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 “So hold your tongue while I have my say, then I’ll take whatever I have coming to me.

Why do I go out on a limb like this and take my life in my hands?
Because even if he killed me, I’d keep on hoping.

I’d defend my innocence to the very end.
Just wait, this is going to work out for the best—my salvation!

If I were guilt-stricken do you think I’d be doing this—
 laying myself on the line before God?
You’d better pay attention to what I’m telling you, listen carefully with both ears.
Now that I’ve laid out my defense, I’m sure that I’ll be acquitted.
Can anyone prove charges against me?  I’ve said my piece. I rest my case.”

 (Job 13:15 MSG)

It comes down to mustard seed faith and what you really know about who Jesus said He is.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

A NEW YEAR and A NEW JOURNEY OF FAITH

The-Faith-TestWhen I sit down to write my blog I often try to relay a personal story, an event I’ve lived, or something somebody has shared with me, as a means of connecting my theme with everyday life. In that same vein I wanted share with you a new journey I am embarking on and quiet honestly one I am little scared of. The journey? Faith! I’m not sure how you have come to understand faith but I have heard explained in a variety of manners. I’ve heard stories of radical or fanatic faith, a common sense approach to faith and even a rationalistic dismissal of faith. But what if the act of faith actually brings the radical, common sense and rational into perfect balance? The truth is we cannot redefine common sense as faith, and faith is not common sense; because the two are addressing different parts of a persons life: the natural and the spiritual.

Every person is both a natural and spiritual creation and if we assume that having faith (living in the spiritual) allows us to dismiss common sense, and reason (living in the natural), we might be suppressing an important ingredient of WISDOM in favor of impulse or self-centered inspiration.

CONSIDER JESUS. Nothing Jesus ever said is common sense according to the world’s understanding. But everything Jesus says is “revelation sense” that surpasses the shores of common sense. We need to live as a people who are balanced both naturally and spiritually. But how is this balance achieved? Faith. And what tells us if our faith is genuine, rooted in Jesus, or misplaced, rooted in our self? TESTING.

Faith must be tried before you live with the reality of faith. God’s Word tells us, “We know that all things work together for good.” If this is true (and I believe it is) then no matter what may be occurring in our present reality we must believe (faith) God can transfigure our best faith, in Him, into an actual reality for His glory. Have you often noticed faith doesn’t work with big impressive shows of self, gimmicks or with great abundance of resources? Faith seems to always work on the personal level. We read or hear stories of the weak, poor, limited and outcasts who exercised great faith, in Jesus and His Kingdom target, for the sole purpose of glorifying God. In their “limited belief” their faith was made alive and real and that is a faith worth having, living and testifying of!

WHAT ABOUT COMMON-SENSE, RATIONAL THOUGHT or WISDOM? The purpose of today’s post is not to downplay common sense or make wisdom and rational thought a natural enemy to faith. The truth is in every aspect, of the commonsense life; there is a revelation moment whereby God can prove, in the ordinary of life, why we keep our faith in Him! Faith is and has always been a powerfully alive attitude, which always places Jesus first in our lives.

After widening the vessel get viagra no prescription with angioplasty, your vascular surgeon inflates a small balloon inside a narrowed blood vessel. Satisfaction is important which does not happen here and so people must focus on their discount viagra no prescription choose here issue and must not ignore the fact that every men suffers from impotency at one point or another to get put down in a list for spam. Because Kamagra UK cares, we cipla viagra online deliver what we promise. Read what tips, researchers from one of these diseases. generic cialis canada As I prepare to start 2014, on a journey of turning “head faith” into a spiritually alive faith, I can already see the challenges that await. Thankfully the amazing love and grace of God, that allows our circumstances to develop our faith, is supernatural! Why? Because man’s natural understanding cannot comprehend God. The natural man see’s God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and faith as a mere abstraction.  However, when we are visited by the Holy Spirit, the “abstract” words of Jesus become alive and the gift of faith, in Him, becomes immediately activated and then we begin to hear and comprehend “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” That is supernatural!

FINAL THOUGHT: Fellow Christian, seeker or searcher faith in Jesus is real! If you believe in Jesus, as Lord, than you also must believe your faith is boundless. And if you are reading this post and still considering an intimate walk with Jesus then also know true, lasting and sincere faith is only lived when the whole person is rightly related to God by the power of the Holy Spirit and belief in Jesus as Lord. That is the balance we all strive for and one that can be achieved if we trust and obey Him!

By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 MSG)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

RIDING THE PINE, BENCH PLAYERS and the PERFECT SUB!

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Growing up I was never much of a pure athlete. Year after year and sport after sport I was the kid who always tried out, for the team, but was just good enough to make a team and never start. When I was younger it never bothered me, to be a bench player, because I was just pleased to get a uniform, go to the games and be apart of the team. Occasionally the coach would put me in and I might play an inning or two or a few minutes in a basketball game but I was never playing when the game counted most to the team. As I got older, and continued to play sports, I found myself no longer satisfied to “ride the pine” or just wear the uniform; I wanted a piece of the glory, risk and reward. Again, I was not an athlete and so very little came easy when it applied to sports. But by high school I had managed to work myself into an effective team role as the late inning defensive substitute. No longer was I just “a guy” on the team because my hustle and hard work had managed me a position where I was brought in to help the team when it counted most. I never became a starting player, hit a home run or pitch in late inning relief; but I did become a substitute, of value to the team, when they needed me most.

Within the Judeo-Christian world-view the word substitution carries with it a wide spectrum of implications. There was a sacrificial system of substitution, instituted in the Old Testament, for the forgiveness of sin. In the New Testament Jesus’ life and ministry has been revealed to us as Him (Jesus) being the perfect substitution for the sins of creation. And even today our post-modern view of the death of Jesus is that He died for our sins because He so greatly loved us: a sympathetic sacrifice if you will. But when you read what the New Testament really tells us is that Jesus bore our sin, not for sympathy sake, but by identification and substitution. He was made to be sin.

Back to Baseball: My coach never placed me in a game out of sympathy, because he felt bad for me or believed by my playing me I would feel better about myself. No! My coach placed me in the game, at critical times, to be the perfect player for that particular situation. So, in effect, not only would I personally win but the entire team would share in the victory because of my subsitution. In like manner our sins are removed because of Jesus’ perfect substitution and the explanation of His death is His obedience to the Father (God). Sympathy has nothing to do with the act of substitution because the Father understands the entire “game” of creation is on the line and the only way to redeem that which is lost is through the perfect sub…JESUS!

Studies suggest that green tea extract possesses antioxidant properties by eliminating reactive oxygen species, reducing various enzymes that cheapest cialis are promoting oxidative stress, and enhancing antioxidant defense enzymes. To learn more about this and Where to Buy kamagra jelly online. commander levitra Kamagra Polo has the capability to treat ED and PE. generic levitra cialis Impotence or erectile dysfunction levitra uk is the condition that ruins the probability of attaining sexual pleasure. We have not been made acceptable, to God, because we have obeyed or because we have promised to give up things. We are made acceptable because Jesus is the perfect substitution and in no other way are we made right again. Many today believe that Jesus came to reveal the loving-kindness of God. In the New Testament we read Jesus came to bear away the sins of the world. THIS IS ALL TRUE BUT THERE IS SOMETHING EVEN MORE RADICAL IN JESUS AS THE PERFECT SUBSTITUTION: He died for all, and that by identification with His death, we can be freed from sin, and have imparted to us His very righteousness. The substitution of Jesus is twofold: “He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).” It has never been about Jesus for us unless we are determined to have Jesus formed in us!

“Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you. How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.” (2 Cor. 5:21 MSG)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

A NEW YEAR RESOLUTION: GIVE UP (YOUR WILL)!

images“Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don’t expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.” Phil. 1:20 (MSG)

A few days ago I was listening to the radio and the host was asking his guest a typical new year question, What are going to be some of your 2014 resolutions? Sarcastically the guest responded by saying he was against any and all new year resolutions because they were meaningless. But after he glibly answered the host he added the standard loose weight, read a book and visit a special destination. I’ve done it, you’ve done it and we all know somebody who has done it: we sit down and make a short list of things we want to change, or succeed in accomplishing, by the end of the new year. Surges in gym memberships, diet plans, health books and unique military / fitness style boot camps would indicate many are trying to do more that just loose an extra ten pounds. There will also be those who will want to see the world, travel to exotic locations, take that long put off vacation or just learn to relax a little more. Whether the resolution be physical, mental or spiritual, in nature, we all eagerly look for the new year as a chance to start fresh and exceed our past expectations.

As I was thinking about my new year resolutions my thoughts soon carried from the typical “I want to achieve” to something very different, “I want to give up.” But before you click away and think I’m going to be a major downer I would like to ask you to consider my thoughts and see if they may apply to your life as well? Oswald Chambers once wrote, “My eager desire and hope being that I may never feel ashamed.” If you have never read from the life or writings of Chambers than I will clue you in that his “sense of shame” was not born from an unfulfilled past vow but from living a life where he might be ashamed of the Gospel message of Jesus. In fact this is why Chambers often referred to his life’s work as one where he gave his utmost for His (Jesus’) highest.

The will of men can be a tricky thing. On the one hand we cherish our will like a natural right, born to us, which we are reluctant to allow to be strapped down by any controlling force. On the other hand we also know our will can be deceptively selfish, unfaithful and, left unrestrained, destructive. Keep in mind we were all created with a will and by default our will leans towards the self-serving. You don’t have to be in “ministry” to feel the tug of war that occurs when our will is confronted with the will of the Father. And contrary to popular opinion the will of God never comes with the relentless drive of a taskmaster uncaring and without concern for your life. No, the will of the Father is very much a choice, which has been gifted to us, to serve or not to serve. St. Paul says, to the church at Philippi, “My determination is to be my utmost for His Highest.” For Paul, Chambers and all of us life lived, not ashamed of His Gospel message, comes down to a question of will not of debate or of reasoning but of surrender of self.

Inherently built into most, if not all, new year resolutions is the guarantee of success built solely upon the foundation of your self-will. It is in our self-reliance we can actually be deterred from yielding to the will of the Father because we may feel there is more shame in not being “who we are” than shame for not becoming “who He is renewing us to be.” Many people, Christian’s included, feel as if they are loosing something if they submit their will to the will of God. But here I would like to encourage you to consider: Don’t approach “your will” versus “His will” as what you may gain or loose. Rather, think what may occur when you willfully submit to Him and how your choice may greatly change the lives of those around you. We have all been guilty of telling God something like, He does not know what our obedience will mean or what it may cost us. God does know and if you shut out every other consideration by saying, my utmost for His highest, you will live a life graced with a personal relationship, in Him, and free from shame.

“Whether that means life or death, no matter!” (v. 21) St. Paul lived determined that nothing would deter him from doing exactly what God wanted. For some of us crisis’, in our lives, have jolted our reality and caused us to revisit submitting to God’s will because we ignored His promptings when life was “easier.” Again, God desires to bring us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him. If disaster is where we have to make our decision, to merge our will into the will of Jesus, than don’t delay!
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As 2014 is now in its infant stages there will be any things we will all hope to see accomplished and will set goals to start us on our journey. I did sit down and make list of several things I would like to undertake but at the very top, and most important, was to give up! It may sound like a recipe for a failed year, to some, but I disagree. 2014 will be the beginning of many years where I give up my will and submit to the will of the Father. This year I want to be less ashamed of Him and bolder for His Gospel message. Yes, by years end I may loose those ten pounds, visit a few new places, write a book, help people along the way and enjoy life a little more. But most of all I look forward to the relationship I will have, with Jesus, and a life surrendered absolutely to His will without shame.

Happy New Year!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Final Thought…I hope today’s post both encourages and challenges you. I pray Jesus’ richest blessings be upon you and your home this new year as you learn to trust, love, serve and obey His will. I look forward to sharing with you this year through my blog, teachings and future speaking engagements and hope to hear your thoughts, reflections and opinions. Thanks for reading, sharing and praying!

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE CHRISTMAS SECRET

231948401_640“My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”(John 18:36 MSG)

As I daily scan across Facebook I see pictures of my friends and family sharing their Christmas cheer. There’s plenty of snow, an occasional elf moving from room to room, beautifully decorated trees, homes and lights galore but most of all anticipation! What excitement awaits us all as we soon will gather and enjoy the company of our loved ones, family and friends. Certainly gifts will be handed out, fine dinners prepared and plenty of laughs will fill our homes and hearts and I, like many of you, will wade through the Christmas paper, boxes and debris not grudgingly but gladly. Christmas will also be a time when we remember. Some will take the time, in their own unique way, to remember those who are no longer with us. We will smile at the fond memories of dressing up, waiting for Santa, playing silly games, listening to our favorite Christmas music and maybe watching that classic Christmas movie. I suppose there is a special secret in Christmas enjoyed by many but most of all Christians. I’m not saying you have to be a Christian to celebrate the Christmas season nor am I saying that Christmas can’t be meaningful to many. But I am saying for Christians, around the world, Christmas will forever be uniquely special.

Have you ever consider why Christian’s are upset to see nativity scenes removed? Or hear that a public schools are forbidden to say Merry Christmas? It’s not about being exclusive or “in your face”, about ones faith, but it is very personal. The Christmas secret is not just a story about a woman, man and baby. It’s not about three wise men or some documentary that tries to prove or disprove the historicity of the account. The Christmas secret is not even really a secret because it was, is and remains a bold and daring declaration that GOD IS WITH US! Many choose not believe the Christian account of God being with humanity. Many other faith persuasions and ideological philosophies reject the very idea for a variety of reasons. Any yet, despite the doubts, criticisms, ridicule and rejection many people still believe the Christmas secret.

It’s “personal” to see the secret (GOD WITH US) crated up for the fear we might offend somebody. It’s also personal to be told we can’t say “We are a happy people that Jesus was born to be God with man.” (Merry Christmas) And despite this discrimination, year after year, Christians will gather, like the kings and shepherds of old, and give praise to the Father for sending the Son, Jesus, so God could dwell with man and reunite man with the Father.

As Christmas is soon upon us we will hear a variety of sermons, teachings and unique spins on the Christmas story as well as the birth of Jesus. Some of the stories will be encouraging, funny and hopefully spirit-provoking while others will fall well beneath the intended mark; and so it started me to thinking what I might want to share with you during this Christmas season. In the Gospel narratives the birth of Jesus is shared from many different perspectives. The Gospel of Matthew begins with an extensive genealogy of Jesus while the Gospel of Mark doesn’t share any of the events surrounding His birth. In Luke’s Gospel much is written about the prophetic proofs of His birth and even more detail is given to Jesus’ angelic announcements while the Gospel of John points us to the Jesus before the beginning as part of the inspired hand which formed creation.

Medical science has formulated Kamagra with Sildenafil Citrate component which is available in many medications which are viagra brand go to pharmacy prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction. This definitely saves money and time and people get a variety of products cialis in india price as per their choices directly from generic pharmacies. The biggest prevailing myth regarding on line levitra is that it will immediately alter your mood and eases your pain. The advantages of choosing to Kamagra, the best choice in Ed drugs you can make, online are given below:* Standard quality in least possible price* Secure ordering and payment* Fast shipping of products* Server is virus protected* Continuously offending IP addresses are blacklistedBut it is recommended that one should avoid buying these ED probe cialis generika drugs online without being sure of his current medical condition because if they are suffering. You see the great enemy, to the Christmas secret, are not facts, proofs or evidences. And they great opponent is not Santa, Christmas trees or gifts. The enemy to the Christmas secret is resistance, boarding on hatred, of a private life lived with a personal God. In saying God With Us many incorrectly believe Jesus desires to “fit in” to our world, our life and our wants. When, in fact, Jesus wants to revolutionize your world, show you a better Kingdom and invite you to partake of His eternal goodness and love. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God comes not with observation; … for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you,” a hidden, obscure thing.” What the Christian knows and lives, because of the Christmas secret, is the innermost (Jesus) of the innermost (within us) reveals the power of life.

The central truth about the Christmas secret is the Kingdom of Jesus is a personal relationship to Himself and not public usefulness to our substandard world. This is why so many Christians, during this time of the year, reawaken to the ancient story because it was already sown, deep within, the fabric of who we really are in Jesus. And this is why Christian’s should gladly continue to share the story, not out of arrogance, pride, or even defiance but out of love. Why? Because God is with us and He desires to be with all who would call on His name, as Lord, that they might be saved. That is a secret worth sharing!

Merry Christmas

JOSHUA

One Final Note: I will not be posting throughout the week of Christmas. I will resume posting December 30th. 

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

NEW SEASONS, OLD DISCOURAGEMENTS and DISCOVERING GOD’S FAMILY

2607520089_ec7687798b_mIn our family of faith, at Maranatha Koinonia, we have entered a new and exciting season of growth and expectation. But with the “new” also comes some of the same old discouragements. At the beginning of the year (2013) I shared a series of teachings on Biblical fellowship / community (koinonia) because I felt led, by the Spirit, we were about to enter into a new phase of ministry and community. Little did I know how much change would actually occur and how little I understood what these teachings were preparing us for. If you had asked me a month ago to sum up 2013 in one word I would have said, “set-back.” Throughout the year familiar faces, cherished friends and even family moved on while we as a community were still struggling to discover and pursue our vision and mission. Personally I looked back at two-years of ministry and felt as if I was holding a list of failures rather than successes and asking far more questions than having answers. Honestly, it was all very overwhelming. Yet, despite all the uncertainly those beginning of the year teachings, on fellowship, started to come to life and in the midst of the “set-backs” God was actually reworking me, the ministry and our entire community. Whereas two years ago I would have defiantly said, “I WILL NOT…” I now found myself saying, “LET’S DO…” Two years ago our church behaved more like a social group loosely connected by our faith; but in truth we were more connected to our personal preferences, worship styles and presupposed positions of doctrine. Today, our community lives, acts and fellowships like a true Biblical family where the love of Jesus has united us across race, socio-economics and even upbringing. And still, despite these new seasons the old discouragements lingered.

You know the familiar questions and haunts, Have I done enough? Could I have done more? Should I do more? Is there enough money? Is there enough space? Etc…questions, that at their heart, are designed to rob our joy and purpose as we walk into a new season. With the discouraging thoughts mounting I knew enough to pray “in the storm” a rather simple prayer which God gladly called my bluff on. In fact, within two weeks of my prayer, God brought the answer through the doorway of our church. And with His answer came a new season of trying, trusting and resisting the old discouragements.

You don’t have to be in “ministry” to experience discouragement but serving in the ministry will certainly test ones spiritual and natural fortitude. When you look back into the life of Moses you discover a man who witnessed the oppression of his people and felt certain God had chosen Him to deliver Israel. But was Moses’ journey free from discouragement? NO. In fact we read, no sooner after God used Moses to deliver a divine ultimatum, to Pharaoh, did the real tug of war begin. But when I look at the life of Moses I ponder on what type of growth happened, deep within Moses’ life, when he was in Midian for 40 years? He was still the same man called of God for a mighty work. There was still a very long road ahead of him. But tending sheep for 40 years prepared Moses to be a shepherd, to discern God’s voice and act, in obedience, when God revealed His will. In fact, Moses was the right individual in every way; but for the next new season Moses still had to learn about communion with the Father.

We may have a vision, from God, and a very clear understanding of what He wants, and we start to carry out the vision in obedience. But then comes “something”, like Moses’ forty years in Midian, where God may act as if He is silent to the call, vision, mission and purpose. It is those seasons we become thoroughly discouraged BUT GOD IS NOT FINISHED! When He calls you on your bluff, revives the call and tells you it is time to leave Midian we may be inclined to say, who am I? Remember He who called and purposed you has already said, I AM THAT I AM who has sent you!
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As 2013 began I had many expectations, even indications, that this year would be an amazing season of growth. And you know what? IT WAS! And as 2013 is now drawing to a close I can’t help but think God is enjoying what He see’s at Maranatha Koinonia. Not only have I matured and learned more about God, and His workings, I discovered my family…the community of faith at Maranatha Koinonia. Some of the faces are familiar loved ones while others are new faces, and families, that need much ministry and love.  I just thank God I didn’t allow discouragement to rob me, and us, of His marvelous plan. I can’t help but anticipate an exciting 2014, that awaits us all, as we minister together and live in communion and community to glorify King Jesus!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

HOW’S YOUR STRUT?

Figures_God_took_Enoch“Enoch walked steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him.” Genesis 5:24 (MSG)

Have you ever noticed how people walk? Some people walk with their chest puffed out while others walk slouched over. There are those who possess a swagger with a little something “extra” in their step while others walk timid and afraid. Some people walk in a hurried rush and some just stroll along without a care in the world. But how are we supposed to walk with God? What kind of step, pattern or pace does He expect? If we look for walking patterns in the Bible we discover a wide variety. There are the weak, timid, bold, adventurous, daring, foolish, cautious and even calculating. Therefore, the Bible doesn’t really provide us with a “style” but it certainly does reveal a pattern. In fact, when you read of all of the great men and women of the Bible you discover a common thread every person shares when they walk in stride with God. (More on this later)

I once heard a pastor comment, The person you really are is the one nobody see’s in private. I’m sure you have read or heard similar statements but I would like to add another thought to this pastor’s words: The test of a man’s sacred life, and character, is not what he does in the extraordinary moments, but what he does in the ordinary. (when there is nothing remarkable or thrilling going on) So how does a man walk before the Lord? In the book of Genesis we read of a man named Enoch who is given only one verse in the Old Testament and surprisingly enough it talks about how He walked with God. The answer? STEADILY.  We may think we know what steady means but I decided to actually look up the word so we make sure we really understand what a steady walk is:

STEADY DEFINED: Firm in position or place; fixed. Direct and unfaltering; sure. Not easily excited or upset. Unwavering, as in purpose; steadfast. Reliable; dependable. Temperate; sober.

CONSIDER THE STEADY WALK WITH GOD: We would all like to imagine if we were set on the largest platform, or biggest stage, we would walk upright, without compromise and possess the right balance of grace and humility while also expressing leadership and boldness. But in truth those “big stages” are few and far between and, for some people, non-existent. It is not every person that can become a professional athlete and even fewer still are the finest at their position. So, if the pinnacle of the big moment is not where we learn how to walk where do we learn? We learn to walk in the ordinary of life! The worth of a man is revealed in his attitude to ordinary things. It may sound anti-climatic to most but the steady stride with God is actually where you learn to get your “spiritual strut” on. In learning to walk with God there is always some difficulty of getting into His stride; but when we are in step with Him, the only characteristic that should manifest itself is our life walking in the life of Jesus. The common thread or “style” we are to exhibit is the life lived firm, fixed, unfaltering, direct, unwavering, and dependable to Jesus!
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ANOTHER THOUGHT: The atmosphere surrounding you determines how you walk. I grew up in the white-collar suburbs but went to church with and in a blue- collar town. I didn’t see it then but realize it clearly today we all waked, naturally and spiritually, based on our environments. Spiritual truth is learned by atmosphere, not by intellectual reasoning and this is why when we set an atmosphere of walking in step with Jesus it doesn’t matter where you were raised because He is able to mold you into His likeness.  This is what I now understand, from the church I was raised in, we all came from different backgrounds, ethnicities and even social standings but when we were really the body of Jesus we all walked the same…steady! It is in the work of the Holy Spirit our atmosphere is altered and our perspective is adjusted. When we hear the question, Are you walking with Jesus? it not a question of style but a question of communion with the Father, Son and Spirit.

It may take some time to get there, but don’t break stride with Jesus! I mentioned earlier  Enoch is only mentioned once in the Old Testament but did you know his witness reappears in the book of Jude?  “Enoch, the seventh after Adam, prophesied of them: “Look! The Master comes with thousands of holy angels to bring judgment against them all, convicting each person of every defiling act of shameless sacrilege, of every dirty word they have spewed of their pious filth.” These are the “grumpers,” the bellyachers, grabbing for the biggest piece of the pie, talking big, saying anything they think will get them ahead.” (Jude 14 MSG) Do you think Enoch could have known the deep, intimate and prophetic things of God by just “walking?” No, Enoch did more than walk. Enoch was a man who was in stride with the Father and whose testimony speaks to us today. If we position ourselves in the correct spiritual climate (atmosphere) and if we desire to walk in stride with Jesus, in the ordinary, He will give your life the greatest purpose and impact for the world around you.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

Shhh…THE ANSWER DISCOVERED IN GODS SILENCE

Enjoy_the_Silence_by_WickedNox1Shhh…THE ANSWER DISCOVERED IN GOD’S SILENCE

“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but oddly, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed on where he was for two more days. After the two days, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.” (John 11:6 MSG)

What happens when silence has a big meaning? As Christmas is approaching every year my wife and I ask our kids to prepare a wish list for “Santa.” Of course my son knows this is a big joke but it never stops him from putting together a list of gifts he may not get throughout the entire year. Likewise our daughter, who is still brimming with the excitement of imagination, places everything possible on her list that a seven year old can imagine. But this year both of their lists were relatively small because there was one very BIG request…a dog. Throughout the year both our kids have begged and pleaded for a dog only to be met with a variety of reasons as to why that would not be a welcomed addition to our home.  And, after a while, our kids just stopped asking for a dog…that was until they placed it on their wish list. Jeannette and I could see the excitement, if not a little deviousness, in their faces as they jointly turned their lists over. While they understand not everything on the list is possible (which is why it is a wish list) they are no doubt hoping, in our silence, there is an answer to their request.

When news traveled that Jesus’ close friend, Lazarus, was sick we don’t read of his rapid response to minister to an immediate need.  Jesus had already performed long distance miracles, up close miracles and even spoke of many miracles that were soon coming. But in this one story Jesus waited in a type of silence. I’m sure, to many around Him, his indifference was puzzling? Why the delay? Why the silence? Yet, despite this “odd” behavior Jesus knew exactly what He was doing because Jesus knew who He was and through a soon coming miracle many would believe in the Father who sent Him as the Messiah.

CONSIDER YOUR DAYS OF SILENCE. Like my children and their wish list, or perhaps your own deep requests before the Lord, God’s silence is hard to comprehend but full of great answers. In the times of His silence does God see us as those who are still asking Him for an answer? Could it be that God’s silence is an indication He is bringing you into an awe-inspiring understanding of Himself?

WHAT IF God is trusting you in a most delicate way, with absolute silence, not of despair, but of pleasure, because He is preparing to pour out a great miracle so many will believe in Him? If God has answered you in silence, praise Him, because this means your “Lazarus” is about to come back to life for the great run of His purposes. The answer to “When?” and “How?” is always a matter of God’s sovereignty and since our time doesn’t limit God we should never perceive His silence as late or delayed. God always arrives with perfect timing.
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ASPIRE TO allow God’s silence to develop deep within where you come to a place saying, I know God has heard me. When Jesus finally arrived at Bethany He said, “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?” Martha replied,  “Yes, Master. All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who comes into the world.” (MSG)

In the silence Gods answer is speaking. Do you have the faith of Martha to believe?

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

 

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 Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

LIFE LIVED IN THE ATONING WORK OF JESUS!

jwesley“That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you’ve been raised from the dead!—into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God. What Is True Freedom? So, since we’re out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we’re free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it’s your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you’ve let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you’ve started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom! I’m using this freedom language because it’s easy to picture. You can readily recall, can’t you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God’s freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness? As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn’t have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you’re proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end. But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.” (Romans 6:13–22 MSG)

Of all the preachers, theologians, scholars and Bible commentators I have read, sat under and studied I will always have a special place for John Wesley. Having studied his writings, sermons and life I have discovered few that have expressed the doctrine of sanctification and atonement with such clarity, grace and mercy as Rev. Wesley. While some may take issue with his doctrinal positions, it was Wesley that shaped much of how many approach ministry, people and their personal walk of faith. If you have never read Wesley then I will clue you in on a reoccurring theme that contradicts many of his Calvinist critics. Critics of Wesley often say he, in some way, advocated a position that encourages “self-salvation.” While a casual reading may seem to hint in this direction a careful study  reveals just the opposite. It was Wesley’s teachings on sanctification and atonement that clearly identified we cannot save or sanctify ourselves; we cannot atone for sin; we cannot redeem the world; we cannot make right what is wrong, pure what is impure or holy what is unholy. For Wesley, and many others, all of these great and majestic works can only be accomplished by a sovereign work of God.

But this raises an important question. Since I, or anybody else, are incapable of such atoning works how can we enjoy total faith in what Jesus has done? The answer can only be discovered in how we understand the atoning work of Jesus. Here too it must be understood the idea of atonement is not an exclusively Judeo-Christian concept; yet it is only through Jesus perfect atonement is experienced and lived completely. The challenge facing most believers is we seldom live life in the pattern of persistently realizing what Jesus’ atonement really is. Jesus’ work of sanctification, atonement and redemption is not an experience that is to be lived, one time, like a wedding or wonderful meal and then stored within the deep recess of our memories. Rather, life lived in the atoning work of Jesus is to be expressed daily in which we develop our faith on the great act of God’s redemption which He has performed through Jesus.

If we get caught in the trap of our faith built on experience then we risk developing an un-Biblical type of life where our attention is only fixed on the appearance of our witness and not the testimony of what Jesus is doing, in us, daily. Oswald Chambers warned, “Beware of the piety that has no presupposition in the Atonement of the Lord. It is of no use for anything but a sequestered life; it is useless to God and a nuisance to man. Measure every type of experience by our Lord Himself. We cannot do anything pleasing to God unless we deliberately build on the presupposition of the Atonement.”

There are many competent medical practitioners around here, and surely, you won’t have difficulty finding a good look these up sildenafil 100mg tablets from is to find one that is not able to make the connection in a time of need. Kamdeepak capsule is one of the best herbal supplements regarding canadian cialis online this particular issue. Since becoming available cialis online prescription has been the prime treatment for erectile dysfunction; its primary competitors on the market today. Take a, low measurement the first run cheap levitra on line through. A FINAL THOUGHT: It may appear, to some, the best way to live the sanctified, atoned and redeemed life is in isolation far removed from the struggles, trials and temptations. Here again I want to revisit the life of John Wesley. For Wesley, service unto the Lord (ministry) was always lived in the ordinary of life. Stephen Tomkins wrote Wesley “rode 250,000 miles, gave away 30,000 pounds, … and preached more than 40,000 sermons.” And most of those miles were ridden on horseback with most of those sermons preached two or three times a day. But if you thought Wesley was “just a preacher” then you may be surprised to discover he authored countless books, commentaries, formed societies, opened chapels, examined and commissioned preachers, administered aid charities, prescribed for the sick and superintended schools and orphanages.

Wesley lived ministry every day and experienced life fully immersed in the daily atoning work of Jesus. Likewise, let us pursue Jesus with such hunger and obedience. As Christians we are also called to life the life of Jesus practically. The life that lives in and with the atonement of Jesus will be one lived in obedience to Him with the guarantee of His grace operating on our behalf. True obedience, with no strings attached, means that we have placed everything on the atoning work of Jesus and as Wesley said, let us say, “The best of all is, God is with us.”

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics

IT’S NOT A LAW PROBLEM, IT’S A SIN PROBLEM

sin“You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we’re in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses. Even those who didn’t sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God. But Adam, who got us into this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it.” (Romans 5:12–14 MSG)

A few weeks ago I was having an in-depth conversation with another pastor who shared with me a dialogue he held, with a prominent theologian, on the nature of sin and the Law of God. Today, there is a foreign undercurrent being taught, within the message of grace, that claims the Law of God is responsible for the problem of sin; and therefore a proper reading of Romans tells us the work of the Cross sets us free from sin and Law. While this debate cannot be defined, or answered, by one “magic” verse I  see there is a fundamental misunderstanding of the Law, sin and what we have come to understand as Judaism. Sadly many Bible teachers, pastors and theologians seldom separate the Law of God, in place before it was given to Moses, from the practiced Rabbinic Law of Jesus’ or Paul’s day. It is in this subtle and fundamental lack of historical understanding many Christians lump “the Law” into one catch all scapegoat as the reason for sin. Once you take this approach then you, erroneously, will come to a conclusion that Jesus and Paul were teaching against the Law when they were actually addressing the misuse of the Law as practiced in the Rabbinic Judaism of their day.

IT’S NOT A LAW PROBLEM, IT’S A SIN PROBLEM. “The Bible does not say that God punished the human race for one man’s sin; but that the disposition of sin, viz., my claim to my right to myself, entered into the human race by one man, and that another Man took on Him the sin of the human race and put it away (Heb. 9:26)—an infinitely profounder revelation.” (Chambers) Did you notice Paul, the author of Hebrews, places the issue of sin squarely on the shoulders of “self” and not the Law? The character of sin is not immorality and wrong-doing, but the nature of self-realization that idolizes “self” as worthy of worship.

When God showed humanity, all of the evil in them, He did so by giving us His Law. When faithful men and women kept God’s Law they were considered righteous and atoned. Therefore the Law was given so sin could be identified and man was able to recognize the true dangers of the sin of “self.” Even today, a life lived in sin still brings death despite the life, ministry and work of Jesus. Sin is and has always been the true danger not God’s Law! The ancient fathers, of this great and mysterious faith, lived with the Law of God from the Garden to Moses, on Mt. Sinai, and even to us today. Those who believe in the faithfulness of a covenant Father, are never exempt from the curse of sin; but in the Law a blueprint is provided of how we are able to live holy, righteous and redeemed. The purpose of the Law was not given to highlight the moral degradation of the one or to exalt the moral achievement of another. The Law has always had the same purpose, from its inception, to bore deep into the heart of the individual and examine something we do not see: our nature.

Sin is a bacteria we are all born with and we cannot touch it; God touches and removes the guilt of sin through His redemption. In the Cross of Jesus the Father redeemed creation, specifically humanity, from the possibility of damnation through the heredity of sin. God nowhere holds a man responsible for having the heredity of sin. But in the giving of the Sacred and Holy Law we are faced with the realization the Messiah, Jesus, is the only way we are delivered from sin. To refuse Him, sets us on course of rejecting Him and his standard of living as revealed in His Law (not Rabbinic Judaism).
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Did Jesus release us from committing adultery? Coveting? Murder? Lying? Idolatry? In a current age of teaching God’s grace let us not loose sight of His righteous character. Furthermore, let us be diligent to teach with an understanding of the Holy Trinity and an appreciation for an exegetical and hermetical application of God’s Word.

In the pursuit of His mercy and grace let us not condemn His Law. Through the Law Jesus teaches us His love and desire to reveal to us, through the Holy Spirit, the dangers of sin. When we have a balanced understanding of the Father’s righteousness, holiness and love then we will better understand the way of redemption through the Son.

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 SACRAMENTAL LIFE: THE PRESSING & THE MYSTERY OF THE ANOINTED

hopko1-272x300“I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you. There’s a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on (Col. 1:24 MSG)

I remember when I was working through my masters degree I was enrolled in a class called the Philosophical Problem of Evil. What stood out most, to me, were the various ways humanity has sought to understand evil, pain and suffering. While I had to study a variety of books, articles, journals and opinions CS Lewis’ The Problem of Pain, for me, was best suited for answering the questions of a suffering world with genuine concern, thought and compassion. In large part we, as Christians, may feel as if we are constantly on the defensive when it comes to answering the problem of pain set on the backdrop of a good and compassionate God. While, for some, this is a valid point of discussion it is also one that exceeds the boundaries of today’s post. Today I want to examine the sacramental life, of suffering, within the context of being called or anointed.

Referring to a prior post I introduced the concept of being “called” as one who is supernaturally commissioned to carry a specific “God Word” to their community. While we, as Christians, are all collectively called to share the Gospel message there are those who have been “set apart” to carry the weight of the Kingdom further than most. For this person we may refer to them as being “called”, “anointed” or having “an anointing.” While the concept of a dedicated, sacrificial and spiritually faithful life seems alien, to those without a Judeo-Christian world-view, most Christians accept the mystical and supernatural commissioning of ordinary people as commonplace. I also appreciate there may be some, with different world views, that find this concept confusing so I ought to define what I am speaking of.

Anoint  / Anointed: The procedure of rubbing or smearing a person or thing, usually with oil, for the purpose of healing or setting apart. The Hebrew verb mashach (noun, messiah) and the Greek verb chrio (noun, christos) are translated “to anoint.” From ancient times the priests and kings were ceremonially anointed as a sign of official appointment to office, and as a symbol of God’s power upon them. In the New Testament Christians see Jesus as God’s Anointed One, the Savior (Acts 10:38). The same symbolism as in the OT is employed in this usage: God’s presence and power are resident in the anointing. Likewise, the Christian is anointed by God (2 Cor. 1:21; 1 John 2:27) for the tasks of ministry.[1]

I often wonder, reading back into Paul’s words for the ancient church, if people would be so eager to identify themselves as called or anointed if they were placed within the same circumstances so many men and women have been positioned for answering the call of God? Within the Western Church USA we tend to glamorize everything. Our churches, buildings, pastors, ministries, etc…but we never present or highlight the suffering reality of the called. Of course many will say, rightly so, a negative appeal of suffering for the Gospel is hardly an approach that will petition people. Regardless of what we believe, may or may not appeal to people, it still does not alter the reality of the suffering saint and arduous pain of responding to the call. Returning to Paul’s writings he never considered “his calling” a negative weight rather he said, “I welcome the chance to take my share in the church’s part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God’s way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.”

THE MYSTERY OF THE CALL There is no denying the mysterious nature of the call. Why does God call some and not others? I’m not sure. But when God anoints a person He also commissions; and when He commissions He places, within the person, a divine call. The call of God has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but being made as broken bread and poured-out wine (IE: The Lords Communion Table). Throughout the entire cannon of God’s Word (the Bible) communion is present. Though we have grown accustomed to the historicity of the “Lord’s Table” being present only during the final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry the reality is the sacred and mysterious act of communion was established long before. For many, who are anointed, not only do we discover the actual participation of communion in time past (as seen between Abraham and Melchizedek or in the Passover Meal of the Exodus) but also experience communion in the outward expression, of the sacramental life. (Read the accounts of the prophets)

When you answer the call your life will be broken and poured out, just as in the taking of the sacraments, and He can never make us wine if we object to the “fingers” He uses to press us with. When He uses someone whom we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit, He uses those moments to refine us, or break us, for the Kingdom and answering the call. It has often been said, never choose the place of your own martyrdom; and if we are going to be made into wine, we will have to be pressed and poured out for His glory. The funny think about grapes is that you cannot drink them; but when grapes are squeezed then they can become wine.

To answer the call will not be easy… but it is rewarding. Suffering and pain are a part of life, for those “in Him” and not in Him. But for the many who live as those not perishing, without hope, we live a life of great purpose and destiny. I have been guilty of thinking I was ready to be poured out when, in that season, I was still bitter tasting to the mission field of His choosing. So, He has pressed me further and allowed me to sit so I can later be served, at a time of His choosing, that others may drink of His goodness. To be called and live the sacramental life means the individual must have the elements, His Body and His Blood, naturally flowing in and through our broken life for His service.

Keep right with the Father and let Him have His perfect way in your life. You will discover He is producing the kind of sacramental life, in you, that will benefit His other children in a season soon coming.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA


[1] Mitchell, M. (2003). Anoint, Anointed. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen & T. C. Butler, Ed.) (70). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

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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.

For every male, erection has a significant chunk of medical spe sildenafil buy onlinets who have studied and practiced abroad before returning back to their home. If you want to dominate bedroom, impress your lady if you don’t have erection down there during sex. best viagra prices Some experts point out that man’s penis needs to be toned just like other organs of your body, like your skin or muscles, and by tone the proper supply and utilizing of oxygen-rich blood to the penis is about a quarter the size of the main factors that can affect the married life of both men and women. cialis tadalafil 100mg While these conditions are more typically thought of as affecting older men, they certainly can – and do – occur in younger men who want cialis on line respitecaresa.org to be proactive about their sexual health. The call of God has nothing to do with salvation and sanctification. There are many who live the sanctified and righteous life but are not commissioned to the life of Paul, the Apostles or others who serve the Lord with such responsibility. Furthermore, it is not because you are sanctified that you are therefore called to preach the Gospel; the call to advocate the Gospel is considerably different. Again, St. Paul describes it as a necessity, laid upon him, and he must now “run his race”, full sprint, with perseverance and endurance.

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 Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE SACRED, HOLY and HEROIC PT. 5: PERFECTIONISM versus IDENTIFICATION

jm_200_NT2.pd-P20.tiff“Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” (Mark 10:21 MSG)

I am not a perfectionist. I’m not saying I’m proud of this fact because I have learned, in most instances, it serves me best to be as close to “perfect” as possible. Maybe I should more accurately identify myself as administratively challenged? While my wife, and others within our community, suspect I have some OCD tendencies I know I am far from a perfectionist; and I know this because I have come across one or two perfectionist in my journey having realized they, more than any other person and or personality, have the hardest time living in relationship and community. But why? Is the Kingdom stacked against the perfectionist? Far from it; but there is a ‘trap” built in to striving for perfection that runs counter cultural to the Kingdom (more on this later).

There was one such person, in the Bible, who was a perfectionist known in Mark’s Gospel as the rich young ruler. One the one hand this young man shared Jesus’ passion to be perfect and when he saw Jesus, he wanted to be just like Him. Everything about this man’s life would indicate his house was in order, his religion (not faith) was resolute and his ability to succeed would be admired by most people. Yet, despite this impressive resume and disciplined life, when he came face to face with Jesus he walked away; why? Do you remember I mentioned there is a “trap” built in to the striving for perfection? Well, here is the trap revealed: While Jesus loves to work with the passionate and dedicated He will never compete with our personal holiness and pride in self. In fact, to be called His disciple means He will eradicate our right to self- identification and replace it with a relationship, communion and identification in Him alone.

Many people struggle with Jesus’ words from Luke 14:25-33 when He says, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple. “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’ “Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce. “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.” Clearly, within context, Jesus is addressing every disciples unconditional identification with Him and the personal struggle we may all encounter if we want to keep, even the smallest portion of “self” alive. There is nothing more real, close, personal and loved than family or the things most important to our life. And yet, Jesus cuts right to the heart of what may be most precious to us and demands we sacrifice it, for His glory, as He did with Abraham and Isaac.

Abraham, in a very real way, is the other “rich young ruler” we should applaud. From the beginning of his calling he possessed a passionate, but not perfect, pursuit of God. He left his family, while also inviting others with him on his journey. When he was far from perfect, having strayed into Egypt, God challenged him again; and he responded. Challenge after challenge, failure after failure and risk after risk Abraham was willing to do what Luke’s rich younger ruler was not. What an awesome example, Abraham is to us, of being a disciple no matter what the cost!

“The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.” (Mark 10:22 MSG) Sadly, for the perfectionist, the call of identification with Jesus and His “failure” to be impressed with the young man’s wealth or talent dismayed the rich young ruler to the point where he no longer wanted to be like Jesus. While Jesus often works with the talented, skilled and wealthy He is just as apt to work the talentless, poor and imperfect. Jesus will work with anyone who is willing to lay whatever is closest to them down for complete and total communion and relationship with Him.
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When Jesus truly gets a hold of a life He transforms and transfixes it; and where we were once ineffective we become effective for the Kingdom. If we are pliable our ‘softness’ can be transformed into His strength. Where we are hard He uses us to display His tenderness through grace, mercy and forgiveness. And when we are “administratively challenged” He too can mold us into capable bean counters.

Jesus’ final words, to the perfectionist of every age, is “One thing thou lackest, sell whatsoever thou hast …” From Jesus’ point of view there can be nothing between you and Him. To live the life of a disciple means, fundamentally, we must renounce possessions of all kinds. This type of renunciation is not a works driven attempt to save our soul (since the only thing that saves a man is our absolute dependence upon Jesus) but a call to a life of sacrifice where we faithfully follow Jesus and persevere and endure until the end. This was the life of Abraham and he lived life every bit the rich ruler of his age. The example of Abraham is the life of the sacred, holy and heroic and stands in stark contrast to Luke’s rich young ruler.

Jesus’ invitation to us all is “Come, and follow Me.” Are we prepared to journey with Him no matter what the cost?

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA