The Kingdom of God is Near

It's just an interesting phrase to consider. The words came right out of Christ' mouth, spoken to the disciples.

And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ - Matthew 10:7 (ESV)

The Kingdom of God is at hand? The Kingdom of Heaven is near? What was Christ speaking of? Was He speaking of physical proximity, chronology, spirituality, or what?

It's also interesting to reflect upon the way Christ was treated by a few select few people and the heavens them self. There were a select few whose conduct generated mighty songs. The Magi from the East bearing gifts fit for a King. There were the few disciples that immediately bowed down in His presence. Then upon Jesus death there was "Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight" - John 19:39 (ESV)

The point is there were a few that recognized Jesus as King. Many mocked Him for claiming to be King of the Jews, but when asked about His Kingdom by Pontius Pilate, Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36 (ESV)

The Kingdom of God is at hand, and indeed it has come. Not to its fullest measure, but it is here. It is very near you. It is on your heart and in your mind, and the moment you die you will face it for eternity. The King has already come and purchased your entry. And we turn to celebrate the birth of this King and His Kingdom in this season of the year.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” - Luke 1:31-33 (ESV)

Listen to the audio sermon, "My King Who Died for Me".

Note: Please be aware of the fact that we do not know Christ' birth date. December 25th is not the correct date. I am sure of that, but not sure exactly what date or season is correct.

Priorities in Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

It was released less than three months after my day of birth, but it's one of those classic movies that many of us "more mature folks" have seen and remember, the movie "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World." The plot begins with four car loads of people hearing the dying words of a thief. With his last breath, he tells of a $350,000 treasure buried in Santa Rosita. Then it is off to the races as the quirky cast attempts to grab the stolen cash.

While our life is not as dramatic, the story line is the same. A dying thief has told us a lie about a non-existent pot of gold, and we're now clawing and scratching our way through this world in search of treasure that doesn't exist and will not satisfy, even if we did find it.

The point is to check our priorities. Are the pursuits of this world trampling our relationship with God? Does the routine of domestic gathering dominate our time and undermine our commitment to the commands of our Divine Creator?

There are four basic matters that First Steps Discipleship challenges you to fit into your life.

1. A fulfilling prayer life
   
2. The study of God's Word


3. Fellowship & service to His people


4. Testifying to the Glory of God

With all the quirks of our own personalities, the madness of this world, and the various curve balls thrown our way, there are no more important tasks than the being and doing of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
- Matthew 22:37-40 ESV

Know the Blessing

The Fury of God's Love

"Watch out now." "You better be nice." "You're gonna burn in hell." "You better play by the rules." "Don't make me come down there."

Today, the Christian church in America has shifted too far in the opposite direction, but not too long ago preachers pounded on pulpits and threatened the fires of hell, if you did not accept Christ as Savior. The truth is that without Christ all are condemned to hell. Our condemnation is not the question. The question is, "How shall we escape condemnation?" And yes, Jesus is the answer.

I say these things to beg the question, "Shall we fear God"? Do we need to be afraid of God, and are there different types of fear of God? How can an all loving God be full of wrath? First of all, yes, you should fear God. And I pray your fear is grounded in a balanced knowledge of who is He, and not a one-sided perspective. Allow me to explain.

Put your self in the place of an American slave in the 1800s. Your lord is harsh man. He works you to the ground; He punishes you harshly, when you make a mistake or fail in a task. Though he does provide you with shelter, food, and clothing, you see no hope of ever being free. Your lord has total domination over your life and treats you harshly. You would do anything to escape him. Any positive thing he does for you is overshadowed by your fear and anger towards this abusive person.

Now, let's trade you to another master. This master still requires of you hard work and service, but the master is kind. You are a part of his family. He is providing for you in exchange for your service. You have clothes, food, and shelter. You know your master's business and you help him with it. The work is hard, but you share in it knowing that you are of mutual benefit to each other, and that your lord is a fair man. You are still his slave, he bought and paid for you, and if you try to run, or fail in your duties, there will be stern punishment. But you also know that this master may someday set you free. He has the power and authority to keep you, or to set you free.

The first master is the picture Satan would have you believe about God, when it is really the devil that holds you down. Satan would have you believe that God is an evil one-sided oger that will never let you go. Satan wants you to think God is oppressive, controlling, and full of wrath.

The reality is that Satan is the destructive master. But Satan is also subject to God's sovereignty. God can and has destroyed individuals, families, cities, nations, and even the entire know world. He has destroyed evil, and he will do it again. You should be afraid of that. God has promised to destroy everything that is evil or causes evil, and He has demonstrated this in the past. You do not want the Lord to break out against you. You want to be on His side.

Now, knowing that God has such awesome power over His enemies, we also understand that this is the fury of His love. We know that He destroys His enemies for the sake of His people and His kingdom. Do you want murders in heaven? If murderers lived in heaven, it would not be heaven, would it? Do you want rapists, liars, thieves, and quarrellers in heaven? That would ruin the whole deal.

God is at work fitting us for heaven. He is preparing a place for us. I know you think of mansions, when that phrase appears. But what about the rooms of our hearts? What if it is really the spaces of our heart that need to be made ready for heaven. Certainly it is. We must come to understand that fear of God is justified. He can and does break out against evil. He is holy. He is Mighty. He is the Eternal God. He is also Our Righteousness.

The ultimate deception is associating our fear with unjustified or evil motives of God, rather than the fury of His love.

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. - 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 ESV

- Recommended Fiction Reading: Karen Kingsbury, Every Now & Then
- Recommended Music: Rich Mullins, The Love of God, Songs 2

Know the Blessing

Our Ever Present Savior

The mysteries of Christ are many and marvelous. How can it be that He is both before and after David? How is that He could create the world and then be born into the world that he might save the world? These questions are not beyond explanation, but they are marvelous mysteries that reflect the ever present nature of Christ our Savior and Lord.

How is it that he saved you and me on the cross some two thousand years ago, before we were even born, and yet the salvation he brings is both present and future? How could His past crucifixion bring both a modern day rescue from this world and a future rescue from eternal damnation?

When He died on Calvary he gave me life that is out of this world! When His blood was spilled on Golgotha, he gave me liberty from the bondage of human thinking. When He rose from the dead, he gave me the power to rise in the wisdom of Godly council.

He is the Word in flesh appearing. We are so fixated on appearances that it was necessary for Him to show up. And when He did arrive, he showed the world the power of His word. Some people despise the laws of God as a burden and restriction on their live. When he came into this world, Christ released liberty, true freedom that flows from His Word. He spoke, and demons scattered. He said the word, and bodies were healed. He said the prayer, and the dead were brought back to life.

The ever present Savior is the power of the ever present Word. He is the Word Incarnate. The Word is not a burden; it is life! And not only life, but life to the fullest! By His stripes we are healed. Not only is His blood payment for our sin, but His perfect life is a substitute for ours. It is the freedom to be finished with the world's system, and to truly live in His system.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? - 1 John 5:1-5 ESV

“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” - Deuteronomy 30:11-20 ESV

You have a choice. Choose life. Choose the commands of God. Choose the ever-present Savior.

Know the Blessing

Teddy Roosevelt's Last Thanksgiving Proclamation

He was the twenty-sixth President of the United States. His final Thanksgiving Proclamation was issued on October 31, 1908, the year that Henry Ford's Model-T went into production. President Roosevelt gives praises and warnings that are still apropos.

For the very reason that in material well-being we have thus abounded, we owe it to the Almighty to show equal progress in moral and spiritual things. With a nation, as with the individuals who make up a nation, material well-being is an indispensable foundation. But the foundation avails nothing by itself. That life is wasted, and worse than wasted, which is spent in piling, heap upon heap, those things which minister merely to the pleasure of the body and to the power that rests only on wealth. Upon material well-being as a foundation must be raised the structure of the lofty life of the spirit, if this Nation is properly to fulfil its great mission and to accomplish all that we so ardently hope and desire. The things of the body are good; the things of the intellect better; the best of all are the things of the soul; for, in the nation as in the individual, in the long run it is character that counts. Let us, therefore, as a people set our faces resolutely against evil, and with broad charity, with kindliness and good-will toward all men, but with unflinching determination to smite down wrong, strive with all the strength that is given us for righteousness in public and in private life. - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1908

Read the full proclamation on "The American Presidency Project"

God Save the U.S.A.

Daniel Seeks God's Favor

The Old Testament Prophet Daniel is a unique character, and many of you are re-reading his prophecies in light of current events. Daniel was a man that interpreted dreams, because he knew how to seek the Lord. Daniel was a man that observed a desolate time in the history of Jerusalem, and he knew to turn to the Word of God, specifically, the prophecies of Jeremiah, to understand the times.

As Daniel reflected on the desolation of Jerusalem he recognized its origin. While you may love reading and studying the dreams and prophetical aspects of Daniel, don't miss the obvious. The most obvious point is directly connected to the prophetic aspects. The desolation of Jerusalem was rooted in the behavior of its citizens. The future of our nation is also rooted in the behavior of its people. During Daniel's reflect found in chapter nine, a prayer is recorded. This prayer is very insightful.

"Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth." - Blue Letter Bible. Daniel 9:13 - NIV

Read the entire chapter on-line at Blue Letter Bible.
www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Dan&c=9&t=NIV

Notice that Daniel says, "we have not sought the favor of the Lord". Think about that for a second. What does it mean to seek the favor of the Lord. Is that merely a petition? Is that simply asking, "Lord bless me and my household"? Sometimes, that is the way we approach it. Sometimes, we just want to ask for his favor, rather than putting effort into obtaining His favor.

Would Jerusalem been desolate in Daniels time, if the people had obeyed the Lord's commands? Would our nation economy being suffering so much, if they people on Wall Street and Main Street were walking the commands of God? Would today's American families be so torn apart and dysfunctional, if we obeyed his instructions for marriage and relationship?

My point is painfully obvious. If you desire the Lord's favor, walk in his ways. If you desire God's Blessing, trust in his instructions. If you seek to avoid disaster and desolation, follow in the paths of our Righteous God.

America Bless God

Weak-Willed Women (and Men Too)

Weak-willed women; that's the way the NIV says it. The various Bible translations use a variety of words to describe these women: weak-willed (NIV), gullible (NJKV), weak-minded (GW), foolish (BBE), or silly (KJV). Reading this passage today, the first thing that hit my mind, was weak-willed men too! Yes, men and women fit this description. Read the passage with me.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV)

This passage is describing the characteristics of people in the last days, the end times. The attributes of humanity shall be godless, amoral, and wicked in His sight. The part that really captured my attention was the phrase "weak-willed". I confess. I am prone to self-indulgence. I am prone to be drawn away from the "right things" into the "good stuff". You know, the good stuff from man's viewpoint. The sensual indulgences that delight our eyes, ears, noses, finger-tips, and taste-buds.

Regardless of what word is used to describe the will of these women, here are some common elements to consider. First, their sin is a burden. Guilt has brought doubt onto the stage, and the person is temptation prone due to doubt regarding past sin. In other words, sin breeds sin. Another common element is the deceit of sensual indulgence. You know the sensation that goes with the indulgence. You know the taste, smell, vision, sound or feel. You can vibe to the rhythm of the wicked thing you're about to do. As the good preacher said, "I may not know your sin, but I know you know where to find it." And then, as soon as you find it and partake of it, the good feeling quickly passes and the weight of guilt sets in. Your moment of pleasure turns to guilt, heavy weight, a burden, and you're right back where you started, wishing you had chosen different.

Here's the hard part to swallow; "a weak will". When I allow sin to invade my life, I have a weak will. My flesh has conquered my will or my spirit. I know; its a major fight. It's a constant battle. It is also a matter of resolve. Think of Joseph fleeing from Potiphar's wive, "How can I do such a wicked thing, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9). Joseph was resolved not to sin against God. Joseph was committed to the right action, not tempted by the good stuff.

You can compare the verses for yourself. There are some interesting phrases in the various translations. But the bottom line: Get a will; Be convicted; Stand resolved to honor God!

The Case for Sin

The modern sciences and the secular rationale for disease, paralysis, illness, missing limbs and death itself, all tie to a material explanation of man's condition. Secularist believe we are constituted by a material mass that is manipulated by chemical alterations. They do not recognize the distinction between body and soul. With chemicals, drugs, physical treatment, therapy, diet change or exercise, you may be healed, corrected or altered. Secularist do not associate sin nor spiritual elements with the physical, mental, or emotional condition of man.

It is interesting to compare the modern assessment to the words of Christ, the Red Letters. In speaking to a paralytic brought forward by his friends, Jesus said,

“Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” He said this “that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” - Matt 9:2,6 (ESV)

Jesus associated the healing of the paralytic with the forgiveness of sin. When sin is removed, paralysis is removed. When sin is removed, sickness is removed. When sin is removed, abuse and addiction are removed. When sin is removed, death is removed!

Think of it this way. Will any of the above afflictions exist in heaven? ... Sure, they still hang on in this world. Sin is still at work in this temporal world. Satan is still seeking to steal, kill and destroy. He is at war against your body and soul. But be not afraid of him, but rather they one that can destroy both body and soul for eternity, or establish you for eternity with Him and thereby free you from all the enemies of God.

Does sin cause illness? Does sin cause disease or paralysis? Does sin cause death? Yes! Are these consequences directly caused by the person afflicted? Not always; Sometimes yes; Sometimes no. Sometimes we are afflicted by our own actions. Sometimes we are afflicted by the actions of other humans. Sometimes we are caught up in the battle of eternity. One of my pet peeves is the phrase, "God took him home". I understand what you mean, but God did not cause the death. Sin causes death! Death is the consequence of a fallen world. Death entered this world because of sin and rebellion toward God. How can His spirit content with those that rebel against His every instruction?

Death, illness, disease and paralysis are evidence for the case of sin. And all of these shall be destroyed in the end. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. - 1 Cor 15:26 (ESV)

The big question is ...

"Will you escape this world having found and exemplified forgiveness?"

Thank God, the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins!

Twenty Years of Redemption

It's been twenty years in the making and oh what joy and fun. It's been twenty-years in the making and it's only just begun. It's been twenty years in the making, my soul still being cleaned. It's been twenty years in the making, and I'm still learning ... He is the King!

It was October of 1988 in Houston, Texas. Dede wanted to go to church, and I thought she was out of her mind. Church wasn't for me. Those people didn't like me. But I was wrong. Dede went to church without me, and I didn't like that either. When I walked through the door of Cy-Fair Christian Church, I found something I did not expect. I found warmth, acceptance, and forgiveness, when my sin and shame was staring us all right in the face.

It's been twenty years now, since Roy Davis looked me in the eye and said, "Jesus died for you." It's been twenty years, since I stepped into the watery grave of baptism, professing Christ as my Savior, trading His life for mine. The transformation has been sharp and steep at times and it is not over yet. He works on me daily, shaping me for His Kingdom, turning my heart from myself to others; turning me from my old natural ways to His ways.

I cannot thank Him enough. Where would I be without him? Where would I be, if he had not sent Dede? Where would I be without Cy-Fair Christian Church, Roy Davis, and three men named Doug? Most of all, where would I be without Christ?

Twenty years of redemption. He makes me complete.

To God be the Glory!

Ninety Percent Law - Ten Percent Grace

The name of this blog is Know the Blessing, and I am delinquent in posting a new blessing. "New" in this case would be misleading, because the topic is actually very old.

In order to "know the blessing", you must first understand the curse. In order to see the provision of God in our lives, we must first see what it is like without God in our lives. In order to know the peace, hope, and confidence that surpasses all understanding, we must realize the turbulence, despair and doubt of this temporal world.

I just watched Ray Comfort's video, "Hell's Best Kept Secret" on the Living Waters web-site. Ray is a bold witness for Christ and his basic point is that we tell unbelievers of God's grace without establishing the need for it. There is no need to repent, be baptized and be saved, if you do not think that you are sinful. You do not need to turn around, if you don't believe you are going the wrong way. We must establish the reality of sin and destruction, before folks see the need for salvation. We must establish that we stand condemned in violation of the law, before we can truly accept the redemption we have in Christ Jesus.

John MacArthur put it this way in his sermon, The Law and the Gospel ...

It was John Wesley who said, “Before I preach love, mercy and grace, I must preach sin, Law and judgment.”

It was Wesley who said, “Preach ninety-percent Law and ten percent grace.”

It was Charles Spurgeon who said, “They will never accept grace until they tremble before a just and holy Law.”

It was John Wycliffe who said, “The highest service to which a man may attain on earth is to preach the Law of God.”

J.C. Ryle, “People who will never set their faces decidedly toward heaven and live like pilgrims until they really feel they’re endanger of hell. Let us expound and beat out the Ten Commandments and show the length and breadth and depth and height of the requirements of the Law. This is the way of our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount. We cannot do better than to follow His plan.”

John Stott wrote, “We cannot come to Christ to be justified until we’ve first been to Moses to be condemned. Once we have gone to Moses and acknowledged our sin, guilt and condemnation, we must not stay there, we must leave Moses and go to Christ.”

We cannot know the blessing of grace, until we know the curse of the law.

America Bless God

A Fulfilling Prayer Life

What prayer has the Lord answered in your life recently? Do you pray in such a way that His answers are recognizable? Is your prayer life fulfilling? Does it lift you up not only because you give your cares to him, but also in knowing that He has provided.

We've read the Ask-Seek-Knock section of the Sermon on the Mount numerous times. Do we really look to God with faithful expectation? Do we truly believe that he will provide what we ask for?

Earlier this year I read Grant Edwards' book, Swimming Lessons. This book gives a background on the First Steps discipleship material. Edwards provides four basic accountability questions that reveal our commitment to fundamental Christian Discipleship:

1) How fulfilling is your prayer life?
2) What are you currently studying in the Bible?
3) How are you serving in the church?
4) Who have you led to the Lord lately?

Edwards' exhorts the reader, if our prayer life is going to be fulfilling, you must pray with specificity. How will you know he is answering you, if you do not ask for something you know will be true or not true at a future point in time. How will you praise Him specifically, if you do not pray specifically.

I'm oft guilty of speaking general prayers, "O Lord, heal the sick". Let is become crystal clear, and let us look in faithful expectation of what the Lord is going to do in these days.

Remember the Two Titan Coaches

If you like Denzel Washington, surely you remember the two Titan coaches. If you love football, surely you "Remember the Titans". This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Awesome drama, rivalry on many fronts, love, hate, victory, defeat, fun, sadness, harassment, encourgement, genuine caring, bigotry, true love and eventual acceptance; Excellent acting! This movie is a landmark film in my mind.

One element that stands out is the different tactics of the two coaches. African-American Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) replaces Coach Yoast (Will Paton), when T.C. Williams High School undergoes racial integration. Yoast agrees to the assistant role of defensive coordinator, being demoted from head coach. The coaches have markedly different styles. Coach Boone is black and white, hard-line, nothing but perfection on the basics. Yoast is more likely to coddle the players, and run trick plays. He is much more subtle and fancy than Boone. The two coaches clash time and again, but they both come out victorious.

Which coach best represents American culture, versus the model of Jesus? Was Jesus subtle and coddling, or was He crystal clear and demanding?

Today, in our men's Bible Study, we talked about Matthew 7:1-6 (ESV) ...

"Judge not, and you will not be judged ..."

What do you think? What's the main point? Are we to keep our mouths shut, let people make their own mistakes and learn their own lessons? Or is there a time and a place to get in the middle of someone?

End in the end, Yoast has the title quote of the movie, "You make sure they remember, FOREVER, the night they played the Titans!" Coach Yoast eventually stiffens his back, and even stiffens on a young African-American player that he had previously coddled.

Is America coddling sin? Are we allowing wrong to ruin our nation? Does true love let people fall or sternly warn them? Let me know what you think...

You may also want to read a similar post I made regarding Jillian Michaels and "The Biggest Loser" on the Political Hope blog.

America Bless God

The First Concern

What are you worried about? What concerns you most?

As we walk through this life our priorities, our first concern, changes with the seasons of life and with culture and technology. As a child your first concern maybe playtime. Teens maybe concerned primarily with the latest trend in clothes or electronic games/gadgets. Parents maybe concerned with paying for college.

Our first concern is manifest in a couple of ways. One, in the plagues of the mind ... what worries us, what are we thinking about? Two, in how we spend our time and money. Sometimes our first concern is not reflected in our actions and our priorities. And sometimes the first concern that plagues our mind, is not what we intellectually know it should be.

In the Sermon on the Mount Christ said, "... do not be anxious about your life ... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matt 6:25-33 (ESV)

As believers, our first concern should be His Kingdom and righteous. Reality says, we do not do this. So, let's have a venting session....

What is really the first concern that is standing in the way of you seeking first His Kingdom and Righteousness?

The Parable of the Good Juan Martinez

Have you heard the parable of the Good Juan Martinez? In Jesus' day it was a no name from Samaria. In your case, maybe it was was Sam Martin from Austin. In some future era, it could even be the Good Sam Martian, as your space ship crash lands on some distant planet. In my most recent episode it was a bad alternator and the good Juan Martinez, from Memphis, Texas.

When you turn on the blinker and the speedometer starts bouncing in rhythm, you might have a hint that something is wrong. The voltage gage is showing about 10 volts and fading quickly. The air conditioner is slowly dying, but our good 'ole suburban is still running fine. We cruise into town, looking for a parts store. I know there's one here somewhere, but I push it too far. As we turn around on the far edge of town, we've seen no parts store, and the suburban dies there in the median.

I start hoofing it back toward town just in time to catch Juan and his helper leaving the local trash dump. They stop and offer me a ride to the parts store, take the time to go by his house for booster cables, and help install the new alternator. All told, Juan and his helper spent well over 45 minutes working to get our suburban back on the rode to Austin. As I repeatedly thanked him, he just said you're welcome, and I've been there myself.

Some would say it's mere coincidence that Juan was leaving the dump just at my time of need. I say that's is God's perfect timing. In those first 30 minutes of the suburban sitting in the median with no help in sight, well over 150 vehicles passed by. Two others stopped to offer help, but our appointment was with Juan.

This morning as I come to work on a Sunday School lesson, there was another appointment that I was unaware of. This appointment was with a letter dated November 11, 1995. Honestly, I had forgot all about it, and certainly didn't know I still had a copy on my PC. It was a letter to Dr. D. James Kennedy. It was a letter marking a key benchmark in my life. A benchmark that Dr. Kennedy helped establish. It was a benchmark that I desperately needed reminding of.

You see I didn't know about these two appointments, but someone did; Someone that knows me better than I know myself; Someone that knows me better than mother, father, or wife; Someone that exists outside the boundaries of time; Someone that told the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Praise God! He comes to my rescue, just at my time of need!

A New Way to Fast

Fasting is a bit foreign in today's culture. Most commonly it is associated with abstaining from food. If you've ever tried to fast in today's culture, you quickly realize how much emphasis we put on eating, and the difficulty of avoiding meals from a cultural viewpoint. With that aside, allow me to suggest what I believe is a much more complete understanding...

The first reference to "fasting" in the Old Testament is associated with the Day of Atonement. You can read about this in Leviticus 16 & 23. The idea was self denial; not just abstention from food, but also from sex and work. A Sabbath, a day of rest and grand reflection upon the Lord is the idea.

This idea is well pronounced in the New Testament. The best form of fasting that you can carry out in your life is a life that is dedicated to God, not the things of this world. The New Testament tells us repeatedly to deny our self; put away fleshly desires; engage the Spirit of God; be done with the passions and gratifications of earthly, fleshly wants. This is the new fast. Certainly there is value in abstaining from food for a period of time, but the bigger picture is a life that does not gorge itself on material and fleshly consumption, but rather consumption of God and His Spirit; a life that is hidden in Christ.

Here are a few of the references to consider as you give your life over to His will...


New Testament Scriptures concerning self denial from Nave's Topical Bible:

• Take up your cross and follow him: Mat 16:24, Mark 8:34 & Luke 9:23
• Eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom: Mat 19:12
• Sell whatever you possess and give to the poor: Mat 19:21
• One hundred fold reward for those that leave family to follow Jesus: Mark 10:29-30 & Luke 18:27-30
• Giving all you have: Mark 12:44 & Luke 21:2-4
• The disciples left everything to follow Jesus: Luke 5:11, Luke 5:27
• Unless you renounce everything you cannot be my disciple: Luke 14:33
• Whoever loses his life for Jesus' sake will keep it: Mat 10:37-39, Mat 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24 & John 12:25
  
• I do not count my life of any value unless finish the course: Acts 20:24
• Our old self was crucified with Christ: Rom 6:6
• If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live: Rom 8:13
• Put on the Lord and make no provision to gratify the desires of the flesh: Rom 13:14
• Let us not judge one another but live and die for Christ: Rom 14:1-22
• I discipline my body and keep it under control: 1Co 9:27
  
• I is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me: Gal 2:20
• Walk by the Spirit and you will not ratify the desires of the flesh: Gal 5:16
• The desires of the flesh are against the Spirit: Gal 5:17
• Those who belong to Christ have crucified the passions and desires of the flesh: Gal 5:24
  
• Whatever gain I had, I count it all loss for the sake of Christ: Php 3:7-9
• Put to death whatever is earthly in you: Col 3:5
• Renounce worldly and ungodly passions, live self-controlled & upright lives: Tit 2:12
• Abstain from the passions of the flesh: 1Pe 2:11-16
• Live not for human passions but for the will of God: 1Pe 4:2
• Go out for the sake of The Name: 3Jn 1:7
• Love not your life: Rev 12:11

Examples of Self Denial:

• Abraham, when he offered to Lot (his junior) his preference of the land of Canaan: Gen 13:9 & Gen 17:8
• Moses, in choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for only a little while: Heb 11:25
• Moses, in taking no compensation from the Israelites for his services: Num 16:15
• Samuel, in his administration of justice: 1Sa 12:3 & 1Sa 12:4
• The widow of Zarephath, in sharing with Elijah the last of her sustenance: 1Ki 17:12-15
• Daniel, in his abstention: Dan 1:8
• Daniel, in refusing rewards from Belshazzar: Dan 5:16 & Dan 5:17
• Esther, in risking her life for the deliverance of her people: Esth 4:16
• The Rechabites, in refusing to drink wine or strong drink, or even to plant vineyards: Jer 35:6 & Jer 35:7
• Peter and the other apostles, in abandoning their vocations and following Jesus: Mat 4:20
  Mat 9:9, Mark 1:16-20, Mark 2:14, Luke 5:11, Luke 5:27 & Luke 5:28
• in forsaking all and following Jesus Mat 19:27 & Mark 10:28
• The widow, who put everything she had into the treasury: Luke 21:4
• The early Christians, in having everything in common: Acts 2:44, Acts 2:45 & Acts 4:34
• Barnabas (Joses), in selling his possessions, and giving everything that he had received to the apostles: Acts 4:36 & Acts 4:37
• Paul, in not regarding even his life dear to himself : Acts 20:24, Php 3:7 & Php 3:8
• Paul, in not coveting anyone's silver, gold, or apparel: Acts 20:33
• Paul, in laboring for his own support while he also taught: Acts 20:34, Acts 20:35, 1Co 4:12 & 1Co 10:33

Who's Building Your Temple?

Brother you missed it. If you live in or around Hutto, and were not at LaHermosa's 10th Annual Men's Conference, you missed it. It was an incredible blessing. It is always an incredible blessing when men gather in the name of the Lord.

I know. You have stuff going on. If you'd been with us, Pastor James McGilveary of Straightgate Fellowship in Hutto would have helped you clean out your garage. And he does a fantastic job! This is not just re-arranging your stuff; he cleans it out and gets rid of the junk.

Pastor Billy Billups, of Candlelight Baptist in Round Rock, taught about an old pair of shoes. Leather sandals baby. These ain't no Nike or Rebok hoofs that reflect the priority of a material world; these are the shoes that carry the gospel. These are the shoes that do the work of real Christian men!

The theme was "Whose Building Your Temple?" It's a Greater Building. As magnificent as Solomon's temple was; as tall as the Sears Tower maybe; the new temple; the temple of the Holy Spirit; your body, the body of the Christian ... is a Greater Building. The new sanctuary is much better than the old one; and it is serious work to build it up and defend it.

Who and what is building your temple?

Make plans for next year. You need to watch out for LaHermosa Men. These men are committed to God. They are committed to the Bride of Christ. Praise God for Christian men that are on fire!

http://www.huttochurch.com/

You Can Throw A Prophet in a Pit, But It Won't Shut Him Up

Our Bible Class is going through the D. James Kennedy book, "Why I Believe". The second chapter is titled, "The Stones Cry Out". In reference to Luke 19:40, Kennedy asserts that archaeology is the voice that cries out in our day. While the followers of Christ remain somewhat quiet, the artifacts of history loudly speaks to the accuracy of the Biblical record and the Truth of His Written Word.

Then enters, stage right, a news story from World Net Daily. Yet another example of Biblical history being affirmed by the spade of the archaeologist ...

Old Testament 'proof': Royal seal discovered - Archaeologists unearth ancient relic from prince mentioned in Jeremiah

The WND story concerns a prince named Gedaliah who is mentioned in Jeremiah 38:1 as he served Judah's King Zedekiah in the final days before Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. Gedaliah is part of the crowd that lowered Jeremiah by ropes into a miry pit in order to silence his prophecy against them. They figured that Jeremiah's words were a hindrance to the morale of the soldiers (another story there).
(photo by Dr. Eilat Mazar)

So again, a detail of the Bible is confirmed from the dirt of history, proving you can throw a prophet in a pit, but that won't shut him up. Jeremiah's warnings speaks to us again today with the discovery of a signet ring.

The ironies of Babylon continues to haunt us (see Jeremiah 27 for instance). The history of human marvel and decadence in Babylon is symbolic of the whole human condition, which the UN seeks to restore. Babylon is a great topic for comparing the Bible to the historical record, to current events, and to future prophecy. Do a little research on Babylon yourself. See how secular history and events compare to Biblical records and events. See what the United Nations has planned for Babylon.

The stones do cry out ... and praise God for the life and ministry of D. James Kennedy

Blessing the Bully

My favorite Bugs Bunny cartoon, Bully for Bugs, involves Bugs digging right into the middle of the bull fighting arena. As the toro is running the matador out of the arena, Bugs is trying to get directions to the carrot festival. The bull steams up Bugs' tail, and "you realize this means war", declares Bugs. Well, I don't suppose Bugs ever read the New Testament, but suffice it to say, his definition of "turn the other check" is on the wrong side of the law.

The passage in Matthew 5, often used to justify pacifism, is misunderstood and misapplied in our culture. Jesus tells the people, if you are forced to go one mile, go two. If they sue you for your tunic, let them have your cloak as well. Do not refuse the beggar or the borrower. Most people say this simply means do not retaliate, but there is much more to it than that.

If little Johnny is abused by the bully on the school playground, there are multiple ways to respond. You can take Bugs' approach and declare war (not recommended). You can simply tell Johnny to not fight back and ignore the problem. Or you can bless the bully!

Bless the bully. That's the ticket. In the days of Christ, Romans soldiers had a legal right to have citizens carry their gear up to one mile outside a city as they passed through. Jesus says, take it an extra mile. If someone sues for a $1,000 dollars, give them $2,000. This is not just a matter of walking away from a fight. This is engaing injustice with justice. This is engaging hate and abuse with love and blessing.

Pour out love and blessing, kindness, and prayer for those that abuse you. Seek justice through prayer. Prayer that your enemy will be reconciled with God. When he is reconciled to God, he will be reconciled to you too!

Bless the Bully!

Over Oathers Anonymous

Yes, I'm making up new words. It's for your benefit and that of Anonymous. Maybe you recall Christ's words in the sermon on the mount. One of His topics was oaths.

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
- Matthew 5:33-37 (ESV)

The problem for me is over oathing. Yes, I over eat also; That's another set of scriptures for another day. Over commitment. Over oathing. Over eating. That's me; that's Anonymous, and you can jump in this little confession session at anytime. I think I'm drowning.

Oaths and swearing are significant problems in our culture. We make all kinds of promises that we cannot keep, or even intend to keep. We say things just to end a conversation, so we can move on to what we want to do, and get away from that nagging person that what's us to commit to doing something for them. We embellish our stories and statements to make ourselves look better.

Christ, said don't do it. Don't add on to what you're promising. Do not say yes unless you mean it. Do add an excuse to your no. If you're not going to do it, say no. If you're going to do it say, yes. And leave it at that. If the other person has a follow up question, great. You and I don't need to add extraneous statements or excuses to the conversation. We don't need to swear by a higher power.

Well, prayer for anonymous. He needs help in this area. Keep him from he evil one. Maybe you need help too. Confessions appreciated (i.e. don't leave Anonymous alone).

Anonymously yours....

The Blessing of Faithfulness

American culture has a preoccupation with sexual fulfillment: affairs, love triangles, all manner of sexual relationships ... It is near impossible to watch TV or a movie without seeing some form of sexual immorality being glorified or projected as normal, and this is lived out in a considerable portion of our population. The ways of Christ and His Word are rejected as out-dated and even abnormal. The later is true. The former is a rejection of timeless principles.

While the standards of God are clearly superior to the ways of man, American culture and even the church have rejected, lost, or ignored Christ' teachings. True and pure faithfulness is the highest form of fulfillment, even sexual fulfillment. When a couple is sold out to each other, when they are deeply committed to one another, they will truly experience a blessing from God.

The adulterous ways of man are racked with relational problems. Complications, lies, deceit, jealously, disease, and many other problems plague the promiscuous sexuality of Americans. Pour relational skills and self centric desires break up couples, one after another. Christ words on divorce and purity are but a faint recollection.

I urge you all to be faithful. Know the blessing of being faithful. Be faithful to your bride, and Christ' bride, the church. Be faithful to the ways of God, and you will truly experience a blessing. Raise the standard of relational conduct. Show commitment, and project the commands of Christ in all that you do.

America Bless God

Rise Up O Men of God

Well we did it. It was a touch painful for a couple of us, but the blessing that flowed was incredible. An hour plus change and new location made a world of difference. Instead of 7am in Hutto, the men of New Hope are now meeting at 6am in Pf-ville. Honeycut, Luce, Gibson, Coker, Moore, Peterman and I shared a great time of fellowship, breakfast, prayer and discussion of the Bible. I'm very grateful to God that we could all get together.

The phrase "Rise Up O Men of God" came to mind as we parted company. In Matthew 5, Christ Jesus makes it clear that He did not come to abolish the moral standards of the Old Testament, rather to raise them. Not only is murder wrong, but hatred toward your brother is wrong. Not only is adultery wrong, lusting after a woman is wrong. Sin is a terrible condition, and we must deal with sin aggressively! We must raise the standard of Christ. We must rise up!

So, rise up we did! We rose up a bit earlier to learn the blessing of fellowship, and to learn the higher standards of Christ Jesus.

If a dose of worship from the old time hymn will motivate you, click below ...

"Rise Up O Men of God"

No Delight in the Death of the Wicked

I wish I understood it. I wish I could fully explain the logical and how's it derived. The truth is that I can't. It perplexes me to no end, and I am driven to help turn around this backwards thinking. I'm sure you've heard the type of statements I speak of. It's the kind of statement that equates good with evil and evil with good.

Last week Eileen Flynn, religion reporter for the Austin-American Statesman, posted an article on the Bible Flap between James Dobson and Barrack Obama. Eileen's blog deals with the basis for morality, "Is the Bible a valid source of morality?" Boy, did it stir up the discussion. As usual, a good number of Humanists and Atheists commented on her blog.

The perplexing part is how confused some people are about God and the Bible. Some assert that God is evil for destroying evil. Here's a quote from one of the posters,

"Thou shall not murder/kill…..God kills/murders everyone but Noah’s family." - TXatheist

TXatheist accuses God of violating his own commandment, and fails to acknowledge the evil of mankind. Murder is killing an innocent, not just any killing. Death is the penalty for sin, and God is by no means evil for being just. God is perfectly just in destroying evil, even if that means taking a guilty life. God has power over life and death, and promises to destroy all evil and death itself in the end.

More than that, God's wrath and punishment is a means of drawing people back to Himself. God has no delight in the death of the wicked, rather He is pleased when people turn from their wicked ways and live.

" ... O son of man, say to the house of Israel: 'Thus you say, "If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?" ' Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'" - Ezekiel 33:10-11 (NKJV)

The logic of TXatheist and others leads me to think they would prefer that evil remain in the world. Would heaven be heaven, if evil is not purged from it? Will the earth be new, if good ole' evil remains? How is God evil for removing evil? Rather evil seeks to remove righteousness. And righteousness seeks to remove evil. I rejoice in seeing the day that sin, and everything evil is removed from this earth.

America Bless God

Carrying Offenses

One of the greatest enemies of the church walks right in through the front door, bright smiles, and a bubbling personality, at least at first. They join the church, get involved and seam to be a great contributor. Then you find out the rest of the story. When a problem arises, they're gone. They carry their offenses with them as they hop from one church to another.

When you get angry with someone, how do you handle it? Do you immediately take comments personally and get upset? Or do you dig into the statement a bit, making sure you understand what the person is saying, and why they're saying it. It is so easy to take things personal, when they really are not. Proverbs says ...

The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. - Prov 18:17 (NKJV)

We really need to understand, before we take offense. And when we do take offense, do we stuff it and run along to the next church? Or do we take a cup of coffee and a piece of pie to our brother or sister, sit down and say, "Can you help me understand"? Do you try to work it out peacefully?

Ultimately it comes down to whether we are reconcilers or offenses carriers. Christ has reconciled us to God, and He commands us to be reconciled to our brothers and sisters, as far as it is possible with us.

Work it out. Do not carry your offenses around with you.

The End of the Law & the Ruthie Syndrome

If you've ever watched the TV program Seventh Heaven, you surely remember Ruthie. She's the cute little younger child that is always batting her eyes, and helping her siblings get into trouble, though she tries to stay out of it. Ruthie will often meet her parents' expectations with technical obedience, but her heart is in rebellion with her older siblings. This begs the question of whether obedience precedes faith or faith precedes obedience, but we won't go there now. Brothers Crow, Coker & I have already rode that horse off into the desert.

The Ruthie Syndrome is an illustration of the Old Testament (OT) Law. Under the OT Law with all of its dos and don'ts, the Hebrews were under the weight law. The law was the tutor and it was their curse. There was no way to live up to it. Man could not do it. And even if he could hold up to some expectation of the law, there was still the question of why. Was it merely and outward representation combined with a rebellious heart? This is the Ruthie Syndrome.

Christ is the of End of the Law. The word "end" has multiple possible meanings. It could be termination or fulfillment. In the case of the sacrificial system, Hebrews 10 communicates both. Christ fulfilled and made more meaningful the OT sacrifices that foreshadowed The Sacrifice to ended all sacrifices. Indeed to continue to sacrifice goats and bulls for sins, when the Son of God has been sacrificed for all sin is an abomination.

With the moral law, Christ fulfilled and ended the OT law at the same time. He made the OT moral commands more rich, in that He raised the expectation from mere outward appearances to the capture the innermost intentions of the heart. He also lived the law, exemplifying that which no man could accomplish without the Spirit of God.

Paul asks a great question in Galatians 3:2...

"Did you receive the spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you
heard?"

Christ' work on the cross liberates us from the weight of the law and draws our hearts to the spirit of the law at the same time. We are freed from sin, and become slaves to righteousness, out of heart felt conviction and love for God. Now the letter of the law need not be manipulated to make you feel better or accomplish your goal. It is the spirit of the law and the love of God's ways over mans' ways that makes us one with Him in spirit and in Truth.

America Bless God

They Don't Have To Be Asked or Told

I'll never forget it. It was one of those moments that is forever etched in your mind.

Some men were gathered in the prayer room on a Wednesday evening. We had already begun praying. After several folks had expressed their heart before God, a surprising, but familiar voice, began praying. He wasn't in the room, when we began, but now he was.

It was the Associate Pastor. His prayer began, "Lord, help these people that are too foolish to pray. They're hurting. Their marriage is in trouble, and they don;t even know to prayer about it..." He had just come from counseling a couple in the church.

This is much like raising children. Some times you have to tell them to do the obvious. Some times you have to ask them to take out the trash, or do the dishes, etc... Some times we adults are the same way.

Oh, but not so with the men's group, I currently meet with. You do not have to tell these men to pray. They do it without prompting. You don't even have to say, let's pray. They just do it. They know that turning to God is the best thing we can do.

Ask and the door will be opened unto you.
Seek and you will find.

God Save the U.S.A.

The Working Poor or Helpless

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:3 NIV

Honestly, I've always struggled with this verse. I've had a hard time getting my mind around the phrase "poor in spirit". I've tended to look at it as "poor self-esteem", or "thinking lowly of one's self". The later is still worthy of consideration. Humility and a right attitude or right perspective toward God does involve how we view ourselves, but that does not mean we are worthless. Unworthy is accurate. Worthless is not.

I think the better question to ask is this, "How desperate is your spiritual condition"? Are you a poor beggar that standing on the corner asking for a spiritual handout? Or can you handle it on your own? Are you totally desperate for a spiritual rescue, or are you working your way through it.

The Greek word used for poor in this verse (Matthew 5:3) is the poor helpless desperate beggar, as opposed to the working poor. Which phrase best describes you? Which thought leads to the blessedness, the complete fulfillment?

Prayers Answered at Little Ebenezer in Hutto

The prayers have been going up for nearly a year. Little Ebenezer Baptist Church (LEBC) of Hutto, Texas has been seeking a pastor, since the passing of Isaiah Brown in July 2007. People all around the community have been praying for this church. People have gone and laid hands on the church doors crying to God for a Biblical preacher; a man of the Word.

The prayers have now been answered. Today, Rev. Fred. B. Warren, Jr. was installed at LEBC. Pastor Warren and First Lady, Gail, are well known and loved by Little Ebenezer. Today's Installation Service was a great blessing. This is a church that knows how to praise the Lord and knows how to see His blessings. When God acts, they give Him all the praise that is due. Ross Davis worshipped using a mime dance that clearly pointed to the power of God in our life. You can read more about Little Ebenezer Baptist Church on the web. Visit http://www.lebc.us/

Rev. Dr. John T. Townsend of Peaceful St. James Baptist Church in Austin delivered the charge. Dr. Townsend has obviously poured many hours into the young Rev. Warren. Dr. Townsend was very direct and wise in addressing the complexities of being a pastor, a pastor's wife, a deacon, and just following a pastor.

I most admire the fact that Warren and Townsend are both men of the Word. They believe and trust in the Holy Bible. This book will change your life! This book is a blessing. It's the very Word of God. Townsend and Warren stand firm in it, and their ministries are blessed because of it. You can know the blessing too. Pray for the Spirit to Reveal God's Word to you. Express your trust in God and His ways. You will never be the same. You will know the blessing, as does Little Ebenezer Baptist Church of Hutto.

May God richly bless Pastor Warren and his family!

Maximizing the Month of May

Dude. This May 2008 A.D. has just kept on giving. It's like the month that overtook its neighbors April and June both. I think I've put over ten-thousand miles on my "new to me" Chevy Impala. We've been to El Paso, Lubbock, Abilene, Rockdale and all over Austin. FYI it is six hundred miles from Hutto to El Paso - one way.

May is a month of graduations you know. Between family, former youth group students, and the homeschool community, Dede and I get an extra dose of blessings. We attended a wedding and a deacon ordination in April, before May even began. There was a revival meeting in Rockdale; three National Day of Prayer events, Police Chaplain training and a Discipleship Seminar. There were also the homeschool events of a blessing dinner, an athletic banquet, the formal dinner/dance and graduation. The actual dates are just a blur now, but the memories will last forever.

The blessing is seeing the smiling faces of teenagers, former and active duty. They're making their way in life, getting married, graduating, working hard and serving the Lord. Seeing the faithfulness and dedication is awesome. Seeing the smiles and hearing the stories first hand is most excellent.

A real highlight came for me tonight. Several years ago a young teenager asked permission to lead worship at our youth service on Saturday night, we called it TWiST (Teens Worshipping in Spirit & Truth). That small beginning is still growing and strengthening Christ' church. While TWiST is no more, Tyler Murphy and Kevin Gibbs are still serving whole heartedly. They continue pointing young people to Christ, the glory of God, and doing it very well.

Tonight they held a Release Party for their new CD, Speechless, which was really another great worship service; it was very clear that Christ is the King of Price Hill. You can check them out on myspace or facebook.

http://www.myspace.com/pricehillmusic
http://www.pricehillmusic.com/

Glory to God! May isn't over yet!

The Accountable Man

You've heard the stories of the fallen preachers; Sex scandals, fraud and theft from the church coffers. Ministers, pastors, preachers and all men are subject to frustrations, arrogance, and all manner of temptations. These temptations are more easily engaged, when we walk alone.

Several years ago, I began praying for men to help me walk with God, to hold me accountable and to challenge my theology. In a few short years the Lord Provided. He landed me in Hutto, Texas. He introduced me to men named Crow, Leatherman and others. Then he brought along my father-in-law and man named Coker. Some are more crazy than the others, but each one is highly treasured in my heart and the Lord's.

Accountability is a necessity for Christians, including pastors! This is not a recommendation; it's a command! You need to share your successes, burdens, and temptations with other Christians. You need trustworthy believers in your life to help you see God's ways and God's provisions.

I am blessed. God has provided accountable Christian men for my life. What about you? Can you do it alone?

Waiting Tables

Imagine this ...

"A mother-in-law perfectly illustrates the gospel."

I hope that gets your attention, because it is true. You can read it for yourself in Matthew 8:14-17 (www.blueletterbible.org). Peter's mother-in-law is sick in bed with a fever. Jesus touches her. The fever leaves her and she gets up to wait on Him! That's the gospel in a nut shell. We are sick. Jesus touches us. We are healed, and get up to serve Him!

My good friend (and ABG Director), Ronny Koehn, was ordained as a deacon of Southside Baptist Church (www.southsidebaptist.org) in Abilene, Texas on April 20, 2008. Southside Pastor Kevin Ueckert challenged the new deacons to wait tables, to serve the poor and the widows, to be the hands and feet of Christ at Southside. Deacons are servants. It is an office and a title, but the basic meaning is servant. Waiting tables is the perfect illustration.

I was into Petroleum Products in my High School D.E.C.A. class. Food Service and waiting tables was out of the question. I've never worked in or owned a restaurant. I have certainly paid countless times to be waited on.

Now, I know the blessing of serving others. When you've been touched by Christ; healed by Jesus, the disease of pride is decreased, if not totally removed. Waiting tables is an honor.

Now go, and clean those dishes... Serve Ronny, serve!

Wow! This is the day...

Wow! Word's cannot express how blessed I am this day. Things have been hectic for Dede and I both, and that will continue through the weekend. But I tell you, this is the day the Lord has made. I have been inspired by so many events this week and especially today. There are revival meetings going on in Rockdale, the Texas State Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday, the National Day of Prayer in Hutto, and other good news that must wait.

You can read about the NDP events at http://www.prayhutto.org/Events.htm#StateBreakfast

Honestly, I cried tears of joy late this evening as I prayed at Hutto Discovery UMC.

PS: You need to go visit their restored sanctuary. It is inspiring! http://www.huttodiscovery.org

Havin' Fun for No Money

Maybe you're familiar with the old Talking Heads song. It depicts a wonderful scene. The happy new couple is gathered around. They're watching with great attention and big smiles, proud smiles. It's awesome! The entertainment is free, "Havin' fun for no money".

I experienced it today. Well, almost. Ron and I actually paid a couple of dollars to eat a breakfast taco, but the entertainment was free. He was all the rage of a local Mexican Restaurant. He was maybe 10 months old, a very handsome young man. He was making eyes at the waitresses, while his big sister was helping to serve customers. They had everyone in the palm of their hands.

Little children. They're an awesome blessing, a true joy. The same is true of new believers; People that have just realized that Jesus paid their debt. They've just realized that they are free to be who God made them to be. They don't have to fit the world's mold after all. It's awesome! It's a joy and blessing.

But what if they fall away? What if they aren't well fed? What if no one is there to laugh and cry with them through the trails of life?

Are you prepared? Do you know how to take care of a new believer? Are you equipped to disciple a new believer?

Join me on May 10th for First Steps Discipleship Seminar. Visit http://www.disciplinganother.net/. Pastor Rick Ives will led the seminar and equip us for one-on-one discipleship.

Racial Reconciliation

Could it be? Could there be true healing, repentance and forgiveness for racial sins in our land?

Could it be that someone has followed the leading of the Spirit, admitted his faults, and then asked for forgiveness?

Could this be happening in Jena, Louisiana, home of the Jena Six, while Reverends Sharpton and Jackson are no where in sight?

It could be, and in fact it's true. I just spoke to a good friend who felt called to Jena this week, after hearing Dr. Richard Land speak about the revival on the radio. This revival is now in it's 8th week.

Friends, God can move mountains. God can move the mountains of racial conflict in this land. God can help us all find forgiveness. He can and does heal us. Listen to His voice. Listen to his call. Revival is needed. Revival has come to one town. Let repentance, mercy, salvation and forgiveness rain down on all of our land. Let Him Reign!

Read about the Jena Revival from the North American Mission Board.

God Save the U.S.A.

Secrets Laid Bare …

On the one hand it’s good to get things out in the open. On the other hand it’s good to keep shame hidden and buried away. On one hand you need someone to know what you’re going through. On the other you don’t want any one to know.

Secrets: secrets kept; secrets revealed. Secrets exposed; secrets held in confidence. Secrets bottled up; secrets blabbed from the roof tops.

Secrets are volatile. Secrets are sensitive. Some can be good. Some are bad. Some people you can trust with them; some you cannot. Some secrets are harmful when exposed. Some secrets need to be exposed. Some are best hidden forever. The possibilities are endless…

The blessing is this. While our secrets are laid bare by the Truth of God, they are also covered over by the blood of Christ Jesus. While our shame is revealed by the presence of Christ, it is forgiven and put to rest as we trust in him. He has taken away our sin and our shame, but that’s the reason he had to come.

It’s terrible that he had to die for our shameful secrets, but it’s a great blessing that he did.

The question is this? Are you trust worthy? Can you keep a secret? Are you a confidant? Do you handle you mouth correctly when it comes to talk of others’ secrets?

Revealing the works of God brings him glory. His mighty hand and out-stretched arm have lifted the shameful secrets of many hearts, and turned us away from destructive behaviors of the past. But when is it appropriate to reveal a secret or not?

The Scripture has much to say about secrets. Check out the following verses and
Know the Blessing…

Proverbs 11:11-13, 20:19: 25:9; 26:22-26
Matthew 6:4; 6:18
1 Corinthians 2:7; 4:1; 14:25
2 Corinthians 4:2
2 Peter 2:1
Jude 4

Fishing in the Dark

It was a week of so after the resurrection of the Jesus. Apparently Peter was feeling a bit perplexed about the situation, and he announces, “I’m going fishing”. Six of his buddies follow suit and they go out all night, and don’t catch a thing. (See John 21 for the full story.)

They meet daybreak with a flash back to three years prior. Seeing a man upon the shore, he calls out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No, we haven’t any.” “Cast your net on the right side of the boat.” They catch a large mess of fish, and then one of them recognizes him. It is Jesus. Peter jumps out of the boat and heads for the shore, and they all share breakfast at the lake with the Jesus.

Three years earlier, they encountered Jesus in a similar situation. Jesus tells Peter to put out into deep water for a catch. Again, Peter had been fishing all night, and had not caught a thing. But because the Master said so, he did it; and the result? Yes, a large mass of fish. Greater still, they left their boats and nets, and they followed Jesus. (See Luke 5 for the full story.)

For today’s cop; it would be like leaving the police car on the side of the road with the lights and sirens still running … gone to follow Jesus. For a soldier in the army, it’s like laying your weapons down on the battlefield and walking off. For the modern day accountant, leave the IRS forms lying on the desk … gone to follow Jesus.

The experience of Peter and the other disciples a week or so after the resurrection of Jesus was a not so subtle reminder. It’s a reminder that you and I need also. The disciples had gone back to their old profession. They went back to fishing for fish, when Jesus taught them to be fishers of men.

Most fishermen know that that you can get good results in the dark. The fish are drawn to the light. The disciples’ light was maybe a bit dim at this point. Maybe they were wandering a bit about what to do. Then Jesus’ reminder and challenge came to Peter…

Do you love me? … Feed my lambs.
Do you love me? … Take care of my sheep.
Do you love me? … Feed my sheep.

Have you forgotten the call? Do you remember what Christ called us to do?

Easter Sunday is over, but the call is still there. Let’s us put down our worldly priorities. Set aside your worldly ambitions and worries. It’s time to go fishing in the dark. Not for fish using large nets, but fishing for men, using the light of the Risen Savior.

One Part Purity

The recipe is an ancient one. It has been handed down from generation to generation. It's been recited over and over again, but it's hard to follow. The ingredients are simple and the instructions are not hard to understand... they are hard to follow.

It calls for two parts purity. One part is not enough. To reap the blessing of the age old formula, you really need two parts purity. One part may leave you heart broken at best, sick or dying at worst.

Many young women try to maintain their purity, waiting for the right guy. But if "the right guy" is not pure, then maybe is wasn't the right guy after all. Purity plus impurity usually results in more impurity...

On March 11th, the CDC announced the latest results on STDs among teenage women (ages 14 - 19). The news is not good. "One in four teenage girls has a common STD." An estimated 3.2 million female adolescents have at least one of the common STDs.

http://www.cdc.gov/stdconference/2008/media/release-11march2008.htm

http://www.frcblog.com/2008/03/the_failure_of_the_condom_cult.html

I guess we've lost the formula. One part purity isn't enough. Is the blessing of that ancient Biblical recipe lost?

Do your part. Pass it along to your sons and daughters. "Two parts purity."


God Save the U.S.A.


J. Brent Bullock
America Bless God

Not Afraid to Fall

Some are afraid, and some are embarrassed; Some are so good that it rarely, if ever, happens. Then there are those that almost take pride in it. I guess I “fall” in the last category. The more spectacular the fall, the more fun you’re having.

Skiing at Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico is excellent this year! There are over 110 inches of snow, and we had seven inches of fresh powder accompanied by brilliant blue skies on Tuesday (3/11/08). It was majestic! Michael and I hit the slopes early. We were among the first skiers on the lifts waiting expectantly in line as the lifts opened and the first riders found their way to all parts of the mountain. The deep powdery snow makes it more challenging to practice the basic ski techniques, and Michael has handled it like an old pro.

Falling at high speed is not a good thing. Falling while trying to stand still is most humiliating. Been there, done that! Many people are afraid to fall and therefore they never ski at all, or keep to the “safe“ parts of the mountain. Others are so prideful their “falls” are always some one else’s fault; It was the mountain, the skis, the boots, another skier, anything but our own responsibility.

So too with our standing and falling before God. Are you afraid to admit you have fallen in Gods sight? Certainly, we don’t desire to fall on purpose. It is our nature though. Just as falling while skiing is a common and natural occurrence, our falling in life is part of our nature. Though men deny it and make all manner of excuses, we’ve all done it and we’ll all do it again.

The question falls to our attitude. When we fall, will we humble ourselves and let God lift us up? Will we trust in Him, or in our own abilities? He is there to lift us up! He will exalt us, when we bow down before Him. He will call us righteous, as we place our faith and trust in Him, as we hide our fallen state in His Perfect Son, Christ Jesus.

Suggested reading: Psalm 145, Matthew 23:12 and James 4:10
http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=nasb&book=Psa&chapter=145#top

Suggested listening: “Get Up” by Superchick, Regeneration album
http://www.myspace.com/superchick

The Never Ever Lesson

Never Ever. That's the name of the class. It was his first time ever. Never before in this life had he done it. The class name was fitting alright. Now, one day later, after four hours of instruction, the "never ever" has passed, and now he is snow skiing (and falling).

Michael and I are in Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico. It's beautiful. It's been snowing in the past 24 hours and there is a ton of snow (111 inches at midway to be exact). Our condo is right next to the ski lifts and the lessons, so we didn't fall down getting there.

I've tried to teach Michael many things. He just pulled a transmission out of 64 Chevy pick-up. He knows how to play baseball. He's studying the Christian Worldview and Latin right now (among many other things), but skiing? I think I'll leave that to the pros. My friends took me to the top of Sierra Blanca, New Mexico in 1979, taught me to snowplow and said, "see ya at 4". That was about 10 in the morning. I didn't want to teach Michael my mistakes, nor use the approach of my "friends".

So, too with teaching the commands of God. That's not something I want to leave to chance. It's something my children needed to be ready for. He's seventeen now and Bryana's 22. The Jews teach that children become accountable to God, at the ages of 12 or 13. Not that children will be ready to be accountable for their sins, but that God will hold them accountable for sin. It's called culpability. At that point in the life of a teen or pre-teen, I agree with the Jews, God will hold the child accountable. They will stand on their own before God to account for their own actions...

Will they be ready? Will you prepare them? Do you know the commands yourself? It's difficult to teach what you don't know, and this is not something you should leave for a "crash" course.

Don't leave your child with "never ever" lessons on the commands of God. The never ever ski lessons deal with all basics. They teach you to walk in your ski boots, before trying to ski with them. What are you doing to prepare the children in your life for accountability to God?

"Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" - Matthew 5:19 NIV


America Bless God

J. Brent Bullock, Minister
http://www.hismoralbanner.com/

Between Enemies

Interceptions are awesome! I love playing and watching football. I especially love watching the picks, and doing it myself is an absolute thrill. The face of the QB usually reflects a look of disgust. The enemy got between him and his receiver. Don't you feel bad for him? I guess that depends on the QB and the team protecting him.

Well, that's a bit of the devil in me. Satan loves to get between people, and for all the wrong reasons. He wants to get between you and your spouse; You and your parents; You and your in-laws. He loves messing up relationships. He loves getting between people that are supposed to be on the same side, so he can get them on different sides, which can both then be on his side (however that works)... He is the master deceiver and confuser, the father of lies, the great accuser, and he wants to get between you and the ones you love, especially The One that loves you more than father or mother, The One that loves you eternally, The Lord God Your Savior.

So, I have two questions for you. One, are you going to let him do that to you? And two, are you going to get between Satan and the ones you love? Are you going to pray on their behalf? It's called intercession. Are you going to intercede for the people you know and love?

Moses interceded for the Israelites when poisonous snakes where upon them, and on many other occasions. The Aronic priests interceded for Israelites as they brought sacrifices to God. The Spirit of God intercedes for us, when we don't even know what to pray. And above all, Jesus is our complete intercession. He is The One that goes before God on our behalf, and he has gone between us and Satan to separate us from the sin that so easily entangles.

So what are you going to do? ... Go before the Lord on behalf of a friend or loved one. Pray to get Satan out of the lives of those you care about. Go between them and Satan. Go before God and ask for his help.

God Save the U.S.A.

J. Brent Bullock
America Bless God Campaign of Texas
www.HisMoralBanner.com

Missing the Blessing

Is America missing the greatest blessing of all?

Is your life blessed? What about your marriage? What about your relationships with the opposite sex, parents, children, co-workers and neighbors?

It seems the greatest blessing of all is masked in our land. The weight of the world could be lifted from our shoulders, and yet we continue to walk under heavy loads. Our nation is burdened by its own expectations and the “pursuit of happiness”. Could it be that we got mixed up somewhere along the way? Could it be that our perception of reality is tainted by a harsh task master?

Just for a moment … suppose that you work for a harsh and devious boss. You have worked for this boss most of your life. You know nothing else, and certainly nothing better, and yet just down the road, right around the corner, there is a better job. Would your harsh boss tell you about it? Would he let you know there is better life around the corner?

Of course not! He would try to hide the other job from your sight. If you did find out about the better deal, the harsh boss would lie to you; he would attempt to deceive you into thinking the other job is not so “good” after all.

That’s the story of my life. I was working for the Great Deceiver for many years, before someone showed me the greatest blessing of all. Someone showed me that there was another way. Someone stepped in and revealed the lies the Great Deceiver had told me about the other Boss and His Good Book.

The Deceiver has told me the Good Book was bad. He told me the other boss didn’t care, and He was mean and oppressive. Oh, the lies. All the while I was missing out on the greatest blessing of all.

My friend, God’s ways are not a burden, they are blessing. When you engage the instruction manual of the Almighty, you will be blessed. You will Know the Blessing.

Brent Bullock, Minister
America Bless God Campaign of Texas
www.hismoralbanner.com