Tag: Jesus

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Fresh Oil New Wine 2013 Friendship New Year The Bible The Life of Faith The Mysteries of God Through The Looking Glass

An Odd Beginning…

“Marley was dead: to begin with.”

KS12503With these words, Charles Dickens begins his classic tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge, who found life and redemption after living a life of greed and misery. A story that begins with death ends with life.

Kind of ironic, huh? Well, there is another story very similar…

It is the story of people who were born into death, with no hope. Yet, in their darkest hour, a baby was born with the power of life in His hands. A child was born who would become the Savior of the world.

It is our story… yours and mine.

It is the story of all of us who have found hope in the life, death, and life of a risen Lord. It is the story of all of us who have called upon the name of…

KS12499Yeshua…

Immanuel…

Jesus.

During this Christmas season, maybe you are looking for something the presents, songs, and sentiments of the season just can’t satisfy.

Jesus invites you to make Him the center of your holiday by making Him the Lord of your life. This year, give Him the greatest Christmas gift you can… your heart.

From our House to yours, may you have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

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America Living It Out In Real Time Miracles Out of Nowhere New Year The Bible The Mysteries of God

Wonderful!

Christmas_Tree_FarmsIn Shakespeare’s classic play, Juliet asked Romeo:

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

In spite of the sentiment in those words, the truth is that we are people, not plants, and our names carry great significance. Someone once said…

“The sweetest sound on earth is your own name spoken tenderly by a friend.”

A Good Name

In biblical times, a person’s name directly indicated his character. If we explore the pages of the Hebrew Bible, we find that the Hebrew word for “name” is shem, the name also given to one of Noah’s sons. This word comes from a root word meaning “to set a mark.”A child was often named according to something that “marked” the child.

Many times a name would become synonymous with fame, renown, and heroic reputation, such as in the case of David. God Himself blessed the name of David, saying,

“I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.” (2 Samuel 7:9 NKJV)

Unfortunately, a name can also come to represent evil. After years of being under the rule of a fiendish queen whose wickedness caused heartache in the land of the chosen people, few Jewish families consider the name Jezebel for their baby girls!

KS12499

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us, a Son is given…
And His name shall be called Wonderful…

Wonderful! Isaiah began his description with this word that comes from the Hebrew people, which refers to supernatural power, something that cannot be explained in terms of human planning.

A great evangelist of the 1900’s was a man named Rodney “Gypsy” Smith. Until his death in 1947, having ministered all over the world, he maintained a glow and an excitement about Jesus that were infectious. One day he was asked how he stayed so fresh in his life and preaching. He replied…

I never lost the wonder!

Gypsy Smith couldn’t get over the wonder of being touched by the God of the universe through the salvation given by Jesus. He often said, “I didn’t go through colleges and seminaries. They wouldn’t have me… but I have been to the feet of Jesus.”

So how about you?

KS12474Have you been to the feet of the baby in the manger who became the Savior of the world? Have you stood, as the shepherds and kings of old, in awe at the wonder of the One called Wonderful? If not, this Christmas season is a great time to start! What better gift to give to the One Whose birthday we celebrate that your own heart and life.

Merry Christmas!

— adapted, in part, from the chapter Call Him Wonderful by Ron Phillips from the compilation book, The Spirit of Christmas (©1999 Thomas Nelson Publishers)

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The Life of Faith The Mysteries of God

On Mary’s Lap

What promises have been made to you in your lifetime?

If you are like me… many. Some were kept, some were broken, but many were made.

Now, what if the promise was something that was so outrageous you thought, “There is just NO WAY that can happen?”

For a young girl named Mary, her situation seemed pretty unbelievable. Yet the promise of the Messiah – THE Promise of the ages – was about to come to pass, and she had gotten the message from an angel that she had been chosen to be the vessel by which the Messiah would enter the world.

She… a teenage virgin.

Exactly!

Mary had made the choice to remain pure, and this was the ultimate reward. The prophesy stated that the Messiah would be born to a virgin, and her decision to remain sexually pure made her a candidate. And while some of her other qualifications (being born of the line of David, etc) were things beyond her control, the choice to remain a virgin was uniquely hers.

Now, being the earthly mother to the Son of God would not be without challenges, many of which were probably not apparent at the time to this teenage girl. But in the months and years to come, she would suffer the ridicule of being pregnant as a teen, have to make the 60 mile journey to Bethlehem, give birth in a stable, then have to flee to Egypt to protect her child from the blind rage of Herod. Furthermore, it is fairly apparent from history that Joseph died, leaving Mary to care for their family. Then add to that the fact that Mary had to stand by and watch helplessly as her Son was beaten, tortured, and crucified. Honestly, I don’t know how many of us could stand that kind of grief.

Yet, Mary never wavered from her original assessment — the words she spoke to the angel when he first delivered the joyous news…

Be it unto me according to your word.

Some would argue that some of our liturgical friends have “made too much” of Mary. Well, if this is true, I would venture to say that the evangelical church has made too little of her. We find in Mary a woman of amazing resolve and grace, a servant -hero of the faith.

Throughout December, I will be preaching a series entitled, “What Child Is This?” This week (8th), I will be talking about Mary… who she was, what she did, and what she means to us as 21st century believers… On Mary’s Lap.

I hope you will join me, in person or online.

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The Mysteries of God Through The Looking Glass

The Mercy of the Lionheart

Through the Looking Glass

The story is told that, while walking around the perimeter of a castle wall one evening, King Richard the Lionheart was struck in the shoulder and neck by an archer’s arrow. Days later, as he lay close to death, he asked that the captured archer be brought before him. As the would-be assassin stood before the dying King, expecting to hear the order of execution, he heard these words instead:

1227101031a“Live on, and by my bounty behold the light of day”.

King Richard then ordered the young man to be freed, and given 100 shillings.

The Bible says that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. It was our sins that nailed Jesus to the cross.

But…

It was HIS mercy that cried out, “Father, forgive them.”

It was HIS grace that put all of the riches and resources of Heaven at our disposal.

As we enter into a week of Thanksgiving for all of God’s goodness toward us, let us all remember to put His mercy and grace at the top of the list.

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Living It Out In Real Time The Life of Faith The Mysteries of God The Secret Place

Following The Father’s Voice

Leaves1As we enjoy the colors of fall, in the midst of a season of thanksgiving, this seemed like a good thought for today…

Jesus’ challenge to us  – His calling – is to “follow on”.

What an exciting call!

Jesus acknowledges us as joint heirs with Him, saying literally, “What is Mine is yours.” And the Holy Spirit wants to guide you into the treasure chest of what God has for you.

We have, for too long, kept our hands behind our backs, Leaves3afraid to plunge them into the fruit basket of the Spirit, not opening up the presents God has for us. There is so much to experience – so much to see. Jesus cries, “Follow on!”

A simple, yet potentially double-edged Ashanti proverb begins Javaka Steptoe’s picture book entitled In Daddy’s Arms, I Am Tall, a powerful collection of poems celebrating African American fathers. The proverb reads…

When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him.

Leaves2In Jesus’ arms, I don’t have to worry about the future! The future is in the hands of my Father. He will whisper in my ear, and He will say, “This is what I am going to do if you trust me and step out in faith. My gifts are here to help you live in peace and joy.”

— from the book, Kisses from the Father
by Ron Phillips

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America The Life of Faith Through The Looking Glass

One Day In November

JFKOn Friday of this week, most people in our nation will remember it as the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. As history reminds us, President Kennedy was shot and killed by an assassin’s bullet as his motorcade drove through the streets of Dallas, TX, on November 22, 1963. For the last 50 years, conspiracy theories have swirled around the event, inspiring countless books, movies, documentaries, and websites.

But while the attention of the world was focused on Dallas on that fateful day, two other world-renowned personalities slipped into eternity within hours of the death of the President…

ALH

Well-known British author, humanist, and agnostic Aldous Huxley died in Los Angeles, CA, at the age of 69. Best known for his novels, including Brave New World, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry.

LewisChristian author, lecturer, and apologist C.S. Lewis died at his home in Oxford, England, one week before his 65th birthday. Lewis was known for so many timeless classics including The Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, and The Screwtape Letters.

The contrasts are palpable… one man in the prime of life, while the other two entering into their twilight years. One man cynical of God and spirituality, while the other two with deeply held religious beliefs. One man a powerful world leader, while the other two intellectuals from the halls of academia.

But by the end of the day on November 22, 1963, all three men were standing before God, faced with only one question that mattered…

“What did you do with Jesus?”

Whether a prince or a pauper;

Whether from prestige or from poverty;

Whether the most powerful leader in the world, or an individual lost in obscurity.

The Bible says that “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). No matter who you are, what you’ve achieved, your net worth, or what you’ve become notorious for, we all live by the same non-negotiable rule:

“And as it is appointed for men to die once,
but after this the judgment…” ~ Hebrews 9:27

Judgment. The one thing all men face and no one escapes. But just as this destiny awaits all men, another promise is just as real and just as available…

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” ~ John 3:16 (NKJV)

My friend, judgment was something you were never made for. But just as God’s righteousness could not allow sin to go unchecked or unchallenged, His mercy would not allow mankind to be lost without hope.

He would not allow YOU to be lost, without hope.

Hope is as close as your next breath – that breath that calls on the name of Jesus.

If you would like more information about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus, click here.

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America The Bible The Life of Faith

Lord, Liar, or Lunatic

I recently read an article that was disturbing beyond belief – as a Christian, a pastor, and an American.

The Conservative Baptist Association of America is suing the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs after two chaplains were openly ridiculed by the leader of San Diego-based VA-DOD Clinical Pastoral Education Center program**. This program is designed specifically for chaplains who want to be able to minister to soldiers and veterans in VA hospitals. Among other things, the lawsuit filed alleges the following:

  • The Instructor (for the program) told the chaplains that it was the policy of the VA in general (and her in particular) that chaplains should not pray in the name of Jesus.
  • In October 2012, the Instructor told the class she believes God could be either man or woman. When Chaplain #1 referred to The Lord’s Prayer, she “angrily pounded her fist on the table and shouted, ‘Do not quote Scripture in this class.’”
  • In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shooting, Chaplain #2 mentioned during a group discussion on counseling that he would tell a parent that “there is evil in the world.” The Instructor retorted, “You don’t actually believe that do you?”
  • In January 2013, the Instructor told the chaplains “there is no room in the program for those who believe they are right and everybody else is wrong.”

As Christians, we have a Bible that is our source of strength, wisdom, and instruction. As Americans, we have a Constitution that guarantees the inalienable rights of it’s citizens to believe, worship, and speak, as is stated:

KS77810Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

According to this Amendment (the FIRST Amendment contained in The Bill of Rights), we as Americans are guaranteed the right to free speech – speech that, right or wrong, may offend some. We are guaranteed that government CANNOT prohibit the free exercise of religion. If our “religion” states that Jesus is Lord, it is our right, not only to believe such, but to speak it as well.

But, more than that, we as Christians are held to a higher standard than even the Constitution. We stand on the Living, Inerrant Word of the God of the universe… the Bible. If we are who we claim to be, and believe what we claim to believe, then our mandate and responsibility are crystal clear:

We must believe. Jesus is either exactly who He said He was, or we all just need to sell our churches and go home. He is either the Lord of the Universe, or He was a lunatic. Some religions claim He was a good man, a great teacher, or a prophet. Sorry – not possible. If He was not exactly who He claimed to be, then He was a liar who has led billions of people astray. That would not be someone that anyone in their right mind would consider to be a “good man”.

We must receive. Jesus said:

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me” ~ John 14:6

Jesus didn’t say “I am A way” – He said, “I am THE Way”. The idea that “all paths lead to God” may play well talk shows, reality television, and group therapy sessions, but the problem is that it just is not the truth. There is ONE Way to God – through the door marked by the blood-stained cross of Jesus. The cornerstone of our faith is that belief.

We must tell the world. One of the last recorded things Jesus said on this earth was what we now refer to as the Great Commission:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ~ Matthew 28:19

We know from Scripture that not everyone will welcome the Good News of Jesus. As Paul told the Corinthians…

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles… ~ 1 Corinthians 1:22-23

BibleWe live in a society that has sacrificed conviction for convenience, belief for bogus arguments, and freedom for the cold, bland bowl of lies, served up by “The First Church of ME”. However, we are called to be — and MUST remain — a Light in the world. Make no mistake about it – what looks like a fight with radical forces within our government is really a battle being waged on a much greater battlefield. There is a war in the Heavenlies being fought for humanity. And at the end of the day, when all of the arguments have been made, we must do as Paul told the Ephesians…

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (emphasis added).

When all is said and done, Heaven and earth will pass, but the words of Jesus will remain forever. So take heart, believer! After all… among His life-giving words are these:

“I have overcome the world.”

** If you would like to read the article in it’s entirety, go here.

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Living It Out In Real Time The Life of Faith The Secret Place Through The Looking Glass

Finding Your Place In The World

Through The Looking Glass2Here is an interesting quote I recently heard…

For me, in personal living… in fulfilling our place in the world… in faithful use of our talents… each of these is a spoke in the circle of successful living. Prayer is the hub that holds the wheel together. Without our contact with God, we are nothing… With it, we are ‘a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor’.

These words were not uttered by a famous preacher or evangelist. They were spoken by Conrad Hilton, the man who founded the Hilton chain of hotels… a successful businessman who understood the power of prayer, and that a relationship with God is CENTRAL to any lasting success we can have in this world.

In God’s economy, being a success isn’t about money or fame… it’s about a right relationship with Him. It’s about seeking Him in every decision, and trusting Him to guide your every step.

Do you want to be a success on God’s terms?

Understand the power of prayer in your life, and you’ll discover a supply of peace, contentment, and hope that never ends.

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America Living It Out In Real Time The Life of Faith

The Buck Stops Here

Well, this seems to be the $17 trillion dollar question:

“What is going on in Washington?”

It is disturbing to witness the dismantling of our nation right before our eyes. What we are seeing taking place in Washington right now is nothing short of tragic. There is confusion, division, and unfortunately, deception.

LOTS of deception.

Mystery surrounds the “dismissal” of nearly 200 high-ranking military officers for reasons that range from “questionable” to “absurd”. Scandals continue to plague the NSA, the IRS, the State Department, the Pentagon, the Justice Department, and the White House. Questions go unanswered concerning the Benghazi attack, the mistreatment of our allies, and the assault on our Constitution. And as the inexcusable deception related to Obamacare is unfolding before our eyes, the influence and positioning of Muslims in seats of governmental power is slipping “under the radar”… unnoticed, unchecked, and unhindered.

To say “I am alarmed” by the Islamic infiltration of our government at some of the highest levels would be a gross understatement.

Consider, if you will, this case…

Many of you remember the moral scandal that brought down New York Congressman Anthony Weiner. What you may not know is that his wife Huma Mahmood Abedin, a Muslim, worked for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff. While Ms. Abedin was working for Hillary Clinton, she was simultaneously working for a journal promoting Islamic supremacist ideology founded by Al-Qaeda financier Abdullah Omar Nasseef. Her parents support and worked for the terrorist organization led by Sheik Yusuf-al-Qaradawi, the notorious Muslim Brotherhood jurist, who has issued fatwas calling for the killing of American military personnel and suicide bombings in Israel.

In light of these facts, how in the world did Huma Abedin get the kind of high-level security clearance she would have to have in order to work in the State Department, and with unfettered access to the Secretary of State of the United States of America?

Why has nothing been done about Muslim extremists? Why do the questions about Benghazi go unanswered? Why has this administration repeatedly and recklessly chosen to align itself with terrorist organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood – at the risk of irreparably damaging our relationship with our #1 Middle-Eastern ally, Israel?

After 9-11, one would think that a long, hard look would be taken before appointing anyone remotely tied to Islam to a high-level government post. However, this administration has chosen to openly welcome Islamists into the upper echelons of U.S. power. Consider these…

Arif Alikhan – Assistant Secretary for Policy Development for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Mohammed Elibiary – Homeland Security Adviser.

Rashad Hussain – Special Envoy to the (OIC) Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Salam al-Marayati – Obama Adviser and  founder of Muslim Public Affairs Council and its current executive director.

Imam Mohamed Magid – Obama’s Sharia Czar, Islamic Society of North America.

Eboo Patel – Advisory Council on Faith-Based Neighborhood Partnerships.

So, what can we do? What must we do?

We must pray. We must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting for this nation to return to God. We must encourage our friends to do the same. This has gone far beyond “politics as usual”. This battle has long since crossed into the spiritual realm with the very soul of our nation at stake. We must heed the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14, humble ourselves before the Lord, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wickedness. Then, and only then, will we see the healing of our land.

We must stand for truth. We ARE still a nation under God. No amount of history revisionism can change our Judeo-Christian heritage and foundation. It is time for the church to once again be the church, and stop cowering in the corner of society, fearful of offending hand-picked, government-approved special interest groups dedicated to immorality, ungodliness, and the dumbing-down of Biblical values. It is time for the Billy Sundays, the D. L. Moodys, and the Jonathan Edwards of this generation to arise!

We must stand with Israel. While this administration has done its level best to marginalize and insult our best friend and closest ally in the Middle East, WE THE PEOPLE must never lose sight of the promise that God made to Abraham thousands of years ago when HE promised to “bless those that bless you.” We must pray for Israel, support it in any way we can, and never fail to hold accountable those in our government who fail to do so.

We must communicate with our representatives. It is high time that our elected officials be reminded that they are our representatives, not our rulers; that they were sent to the state house to serve the people, not to enslave the people. Whether Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Liberal, Conservative, or anywhere in between, these people must be held accountable for the decisions they make on behalf of the people, and understand that failure to act in the best interest of the people will result in their removal by the people.

buckstopsherefrontsmallPresident Harry S. Truman famously had a sign on his desk in the White House that read, “The Buck Stops Here”. It is time for our representatives to stop kicking the can of responsibility down the road to future generations and stand up for what is “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy” (Philippians 4).

As I have said before, May America bless God once again!

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Fresh Oil New Wine 2013 Friendship Living It Out In Real Time The Life of Faith The Mysteries of God Through The Looking Glass

Recognizing Greatness

Through the Looking GlassI have often said that I pity anyone who isn’t from East Tennessee in the fall. With the changing of the colors, and the cool, crispness in the air, it truly is a beautiful place to be.

However, the coolness in the air prompts my mind to wander back a few years, to a time when my team and I were on our way back from the Gambia in Western Africa. We had just finished a week of ministry, it was early January, and we had a short stay in Barcelona, Spain on our trip home. Barcelona just after Christmas is a beautiful place… much of the seasonal decor is still up, and that, combined with the hustle and bustle of after Christmas shoppers and the beautiful architecture of this centuries-old Spanish city made our short stay most enjoyable.

Antonio Gaudi was a famed architect, responsible for some of the most celebrated architecture in Barcelona. When Gaudi died, half of the city of Barcelona mourned his death.

This made the circumstances surrounding his death even more tragic.

You see, three days before, Gaudi was hit by a tram. As he lay injured in the streets of Barcelona, no one would come to his aid. Cab drivers looked at his ragged attire and passed him by, afraid he wouldn’t be able to pay the fare. This renowned architectural genius died in a pauper’s hospital from those very injuries.

We pass people by for many reasons…

… the way they look;

… the way they act;

… they don’t look or talk like us;

… they see the world a little differently from the way we do;

… or, we’re simply just too busy to take the time.

However, Jesus said in Matthew 25:40…

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

In this parable, He is making it very clear that the manner in which we treat others (yes, our enemies too) is the way we treat Him. Our attitude toward Him is reflected in the way we treat those around us. The fact is that, when we pass people by, we are passing by greatness. Just like the passersby in Barcelona failed to recognize the great artist that lay wounded before them, we are passing up the opportunity to reach out to the very people Jesus died to save… people made in the image of God Almighty, who have great worth and potential in the eyes of Christ.

So… the next time you are about to pass someone by, look again. What you see in their face may be the very face of Jesus.