shame cultivators
Ask yourself: “Is there anything in my life that is cultivating shame in my heart that discredits the gospel ?” After some honest inner searching here is my personal list of “shame cultivators”: * envy * lustful thoughts * a non-edifying spirit * pride – a thirst for recognition and myself before others I have experienced and continue to experience the saving grace and forgiveness found in Jesus alone … and because of this new life in Christ I am called to be His ambassador. BUT how can I be his ambassador when I face these powerful challenges in my …
atheists … mark your calendar
A friend recently brought this to my attention. It seems those that deny GOD … atheists, as they are called … have complained that Christians have Good Friday, Easter and Christmas, but they have no special day of celebration. Many outspoken atheists have even gone so far as to register their complaint to the State and Federal government. But actually atheists around the world have had a special day all along … built right into our calendar … and that day is today … April 1st … April Fools Day. It appears King David founded this day when he wrote …
the devil's chaplain
This past week-end I visited my Dad in the hospital as he was recovering from a mild heart attack shortly after gall bladder surgery. During my time with him I had an opportunity to speak with the hospital chaplain. She claimed she was ordained by her church denomination and felt God calling her to this specific kind of ministry. However, when I asked her about the challenges of not compromising the gospel of Jesus while interacting with various religious beliefs … here was her response. “I simply listen and do my best to connect people of all faiths … including …
NIKE, a clueless goddess
In Greek mythology NIKE was the “goddess of victory” and fought on the side of the Olympian gods to defeat the Titans. As a basketball coach years ago one of my players asked if our team could all purchase identical NIKE shoes to develop our season around the theme of “victory”. I agreed. We finished 3-19. The shoes were great … our players were not. I once asked a gym full of high school basketball players at a camp if they could experience just one victory in their life … outside of basketball … what would it be. Their answer …
frozen Christians or freedom in Christ ?
This may not sit too well with some folks … but tough … so buckle up here it comes. More and more I truly believe children and dads are being convinced they have spiritual limitations because of their past. Fourteen years ago GOD granted me redemption and forgiveness from a life of sin and shame … yet I have noticed churches that are more like a stumbling block than a building block in regards to my process of restoration. Certain doctrinal interpretations have shackled men and fathers into reduced roles of “occasional church attenders” at best. Satan will not allow …
the book that matters
Kids and adults that read seem to have advantages too numerous to list in this brief communication. I have probably read more books in the past 5 years than any other 5 year span of my life. I would like to think that I am much smarter now … but that is very debatable. Right about now you probably think I am going to preach about God’s book … the Bible … and its value in your life. However, there is one book that may be of equal importance with scripture … and that book is called the “Book of …
knowledge + approval = 0
More important than math, science, history or English … encourage your children to explore the truth about eternal salvation. Truth based on God’s standards not man’s. Recently, as I have re-examined this truth, I came across an interesting concept. There are many people who have the correct knowledge of the gospel of Jesus. They know the account of His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles and healings, His suffering death and His resurrection. In addition to this knowledge many also actually approve of the gospel message. They agree and consider the Christ stories to be true. However … this …
wow, impressive title
Seems I often encounter folks who, when pressed hard enough, will actually admit that they are a Christian. Yet it appears the last thing in the world they want to talk about is a relationship with GOD. They bore you to death with sports stuff, weather worries, financial flops, and political parties. Yet GOD, Jesus and Biblical truths remain a forbidden topic. Perhaps these “christians” should just say they are not Christians and get it over with. After all this title has more significance than a BS, an MA … a PhD … or a CEO. The title that identifies …
intentional disobedience
On Monday of this week I was faced with another obedience decision. I could choose truth or careless indifference to the truth. While God was making my choice clear … at the same time Satan was doing his best to convince me it was just a small thing and no big deal. I can still hear the voice of the evil one telling me: “This lie will not dishonor your wife or your marriage, it is just breaking a small pledge and no one will probably find out anyway. —– I chose disobedience. Tuesday my devotional time took me to …
mickey for willie
In the 1950′s and 60′s my brother and I used to collect and trade baseball cards with our friends around school and the neighborhood. The heroes back then where men like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Whitey Ford, Roger Maris, Sandy Kofax, Bob Gibson and Frank Robinson. It was a thrill to make a big trade … especially if you received one of your long time favorite players in exchange for a few “bad players”. The greatest trade arrangement in the world came on a hill just outside of Jerusalem . On that day 2,000 years ago Jesus offered the trade …
