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Consistent

Would you say that you’re consistent?  All the time?  Most of the time?  Sometimes?  I’ve realized in the last few days that no one, and I mean no one is consistent all the time.  We all hope that we’re consistent all the time or that the special people in our lives are always consistent, but the reality is that they are not.  You and I have been disappointed by people that we love and care about deeply.  And for most of the time, they don’t disappoint us, but they’re “human” and they’ll say or do something that will break that consistency.  

I’m not trying to be a Debbie Downer or to make you feel pessimistic, but to show you that we all fail.  We’ll let someone down, and we’ll say to ourselves, “I suck!”  The thing about us is that our emotions aren’t consistent.  They’re not.  One day when things are going well, it’s all smiles and sunshine.  But when it’s one of those crappy days, our emotional well being goes down the tubes.  If you’re a Christian, you can’t let your emotions dictate your faith because it will go up and down, up and down.  You can’t let your faith be like that.  

Do you know what’s consistent?  Of course, God.  Do you know what’s the next consistent thing?  It’s His Word.  If you look in the Bible, it has scores and scores of promises and things that God said or told people that He would do, and guess what?  He did.  100 out of 100 times.  So what can make us more consistent in our faith and our stability as people - His Word.  2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”

It’s His Word that made us; it’s His Word that brings us to Him; it’s His Word that  makes us submit ourselves to Jesus; it’s His Word that brings about healing & restoration; it’s His Word that matures our faith; it’s His Word that makes us CONSISTENT not only in our faith but our character as a Gospel-centered person.  His Word!  Many people have criticisms about the Bible - it’s too boring or it’s not relevant to my life or many other things that people make an excuse not to read His Word.  

The sad thing is that it’s Christians that say these things.  They make excuses not to spend quality time reading, meditating, & memorizing His Word.  Psalm 119 says, “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet...” Don’t let your emotions or ambitions or counsel from others to lead you, but let God’s Word through Holy Scripture lead you in your faith and in your life.  It might actually make you more consistent in your faith and in your life to where people will praise God for that. Isn’t it time to grab that key of consistency?   

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Wonderful Surprise

What’s in the box?  It’s a picture, but it’s something or nothing.  This state of “there being something or nothing” fits the Bible.  Many people including Christians think that the Bible is nice to read, but it’s more than that.  Because it is the very words of God, it brings about joy, peace, affirmation, and hope.  I’ve been personally going through a challenging time in my life, and days seem filled with anxiety, worry, and doubt.  

I can’t turn to tv shows or movies or hobbies to get my mind off of the struggle that I’m dealing with.  Yes, I’ve talked to family, friends, and colleagues, and of course I’ve prayed.  Those things have helped tremendously, but until this past week when one of my devotionals quoted 1 Chronicles 16:11.  I finally found some stability and comfort.  It says, “Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always”.  

By looking to see who God is - all powerful, all knowing, and all loving, it started to give me strength and that if I seek Him more, I will be reminded that He is my crutch, my rock, and my fortress, and no matter what I’m going through He is with me every step of the way.  And boy, do I ever need Him now.  

What the Bible does isn’t giving “nice little stories or hollow hopes”, but it gives us a concrete hope which came to earth 2,000 years ago.  Jesus came to experience what we go through and then took the punishment for our sins in order to be with us throughout eternity.  He knows exactly what I’m thinking, feeling, and dealing with now, so I won’t feel “alone or afraid”.  He’s with me.  

My advice to anyone who’s reading this blog is that if you’re going through something challenging or difficult - “open the box”.  Open the Bible and read what God can and is doing right now.  Let Him lead you to Scripture that will heal and give strength!  I’m not saying that once you read the Bible that everything will be fine, but it will give you peace of mind & heart.  

You will read about the unconditional love that God has for us through Jesus Christ who endured the cross and shame.  Hold unto Him, and He will get you through whatever it is.  It’s promised in the Bible over and over again.  In the Bible, there’s something and not nothing.  Open it and find out.  

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Rock Throwing

You’ve heard of that say, “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw rocks”.  Duh.  This is a famous metaphor about judging others.  There are many passages in the Bible especially in the Gospels where Jesus talks about judging others like in the Sermon on the Mount.  But I think a lot of people take for instance Matthew 7 out of context.  

When people read, “Do not judge...” people make an assumption that no one has the right to say anything to anyone even if bothers them.  Basically, you can’t say anything to anyone especially if you’re a Christian because they’ll think that your being judgmental.  

Yes, of course, we don’t have any right to judge others by our own sinful judgments.  All of us Christian and non-Christians at one time or another are hypocrites.  We’ll say one thing and yet do another.  No one is faultless; no one is so spot on correct all the time that they can judge everyone.  So, I see myself and others living a life of broken glass in their lives.  

The Bible is very clear that we should keep accountable to other brothers and sisters in Christ, other believers but not to non-believers, we should hold our tongues and stop our criticisms toward them.  I know it’s hard, very hard to stop thinking negatively toward my neighbor who smokes weed all the time.  Rather than judging him, maybe I should reach out and get to know him.  

There’s probably a reason why he’s doing that all the time.  Yeah, probably he’s addicted to it, but maybe also he’s hiding a deep pain or problem in his life, and he thinks that weed will help him  forget for a short period of time.  So, rather than judging him, i should pray for him.  And one of these days reach out to him.  If he’s addicted to weed, I ask myself, “Am I addicted to something else  like my road rage or my pride sometimes”.  

I don’t want people looking in my life and seeing broken glass everywhere, but I want them to see clearly in my life and see my Savior living in it.  So, if you’re a Christian, is there broken glass in your life or is it hole free?  

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Toughest Challenge

I read this passage in my daily devotionals this morning.  I’ve probably read this passage hundreds, maybe thousands of times before.  The previous times that I read this passage it meant that in order to be a true follower of Christ, you had to accept Him into your life.  Yes, this passage means that but there’s so much more to it if you sit down and really think about this passage alone.  

The Apostle Paul in this passage is rebuking Peter in this chapter of Galatians.  Peter has fallen into the trap of going back to his ways, his interpretation of following God, and his understanding of his faith.  Peter shied away from the believing Gentiles when other Jewish Christians came in contact with him.  Peter fell under “peer pressure” to follow the Jewish practices of being accepted by God.  By doing this, he failed the Gentile Christians and God.  

Paul gave this verse to indicate that YOU CAN’T JUST SAY A PRAYER TO BE A FOLLOWER/DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST!  You must live out your life in discipleship and obedience to Jesus; you can’t be the same person that you were before; and you can’t live out the same characteristics/mannerisms of before.  You and I belong to Jesus.  We don’t own our own bodies, minds, and souls.  It ALL belongs to Jesus or nothing at all.  He doesn’t take pieces of us; He wants all of us!  

So, if you say, “Well, I can’t forgive this person or I’ve been like this way for a long time or I can’t change”.  Do you know what you’re really saying, “Jesus isn’t my Lord and Savior.  I am”!  Jesus isn’t “living” in you!  He’s just a nice cliche in your life.  If you call yourself a Christian, then He’s controlling your temper, He’s controlling your tongue, He’s controlling how you react to people, He’s controlling who to love, etc...

I say this because the hardest thing to do as a pastor is to reach out to people who continually fail in their faith walk.  Who always go to their habitual sin or they always say that they’ll come to church or change their lives for Christ, but it never happens.  As a human being, my initial feelings are to let them go and discard them.  Say to myself, “Well, I tried so many times, so that’s it...”  The question is then asked, “Would Jesus let them go?  Would He give up on them no matter how frustrating they are to Him?”  The answer would be “NO”!

He didn’t give up on me; He didn’t say after failing Him again and again, “Man, Steve, this is it!  I’ve had it!  All this grace and love, and you still fail to respond in kind!”  No, He says, “I’ve gone through hell and back for you!  I love you.  This is why I do this”.  So, I can’t give up on people and forget them.  I can’t be like the worldly person because Jesus owns me.  He lives in me.  

If He lives in me, then I can’t stop and give up on people.  I can’t turn my back on them even when they have hurt me.  I can’t listen to my selfish, sinful side and make excuses not to live like Him.  I can’t!  And any true, authentic follower of Jesus can’t either.  So, I’m off texting people to come to church and meeting up with some of them to encourage and help them in their lives in order to bring them to the one who truly loves them.  I’ll be honest that I’ll have one of those days when someone will frustrate me because they don’t want to commit to the Lord, but I can’t give up on them because He never gave up on me.  

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50% Love

Do you know where you can get a deal?  The day after Valentine’s Day you can get the overpriced cards, chocolates, and flowers over 50% off.  So, you can buy 20 Valentine’s cards, and you’ll be set with 20 years worth of Valentine’s cards.  I wouldn’t try that on chocolate.  I don’t know who started Valentine’s Day as a holiday, but it’s a sham.  Yes, I said it, a sham!  

On a day where love is expressed to others with expensive cards (Hallmark) and expensive gifts, so the question that I pondered is “Why only express your love on February 14?  Why not express that love on August 15?”  So many companies make a huge profit on this day by making people feel guilty to “buy” their love for someone.  Please!  

Do you know when people in your life say loving, encouraging things about you?  At funerals.  I ask myself why can’t I tell people in my life that I love them and appreciate them while they’re still around or living?  It’s probably a combination of my pride and taking them for granted.  I hear too many stories of people not taking advantage of expressing their love for others.  

I know it’s hard to tell and show people that we love them, but as believers/disciples of Jesus Christ it should come natural.  1 John 3:16 says that because “...Jesus laid down His life for us then we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers...”  If we don’t experience God’s love for us through Jesus Christ, then how can we express that love to others, even to strangers?  We can’t unless we are shown.  

As Christians we were shown the greatest unconditional love in the history of humanity - Jesus Christ giving Himself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for us who didn’t deserve it at all.  This is amazing love.  If it’s hard for you to express or show your love to others, then let Jesus overflow His love and grace into your life daily.  You’ll see some awesome results.  You’ll become freed from guilt & sin, you won’t feel inferior by expressing your love, and you’ll live in joy constantly.  

So, Happy February 17 Day!  Tell some people that you care, love, and appreciate them in your life.  Doesn’t Jesus do and say that to you everyday?  

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Feel the Burn

Ok, ok, I finally did it.  I finally got my lazy butt up and started working out again.  Let’s see...the last time I worked out was (gulp) over 10 years ago.  When people would ask me why I don’t work out, I would say, “It’s against my religion”.  Funny?  No?  Ok, back to my blog.  There are some similar traits with physical working out and spiritual working out:  it’s painful, easily discouraging when you compare, and it’s worth it.  

It’s painful!  Being over 40 and working out again, you become sore for a long time, longer than when you’re younger.  I ache all over - just walking and laughing are painful.  Fitness people tell you that it’s normal, but your body tells you to “stop!!!”  Your body is telling you that you’re not in great shape or any shape at all.  Your body screams for you to stop doing what you’re doing.  Doesn’t our lack of spiritual maturity, always going back to your habitual sins, & there being no joy/excitement anything pertaining to God scream the same thing?  We’ve been lulled to be spiritually dormant, always telling ourselves, “Yeah, I’ll finally do my devotionals or starting praying for people or commit to my church or I’ll start sharing my faith or...”  But the thing is, it never happens.  

Spiritual exercise is painful.  You have to carve out time out of your busy schedule; you have to do things that are not normal for non-believers like waking up early to spend time with God or to commit time to the Church.  Or refusing to go to certain places with your non-believing friends.  The list is long and hard to do, but spiritual exercise is beneficial to your faith.  

Another downside to getting into spiritual shape is that our sinful nature causes us to compare our spiritual faith/body with other people in our church.  Here’s one practical step for spiritual exercising - DON’T DO THAT!  This is very harmful.  Why?  Everyone in your church are on a different spiritual journey - some are very mature in their faith and some are just starting out.  When you compare yourself, then you are prone to become arrogant to those who are spiritually lower than you are and discouraged when you compare yourself to those who are spiritually higher than you.  Don’t compare yourself!  Don’t look around!  Look to the cross, look to Jesus as you walk with Him each day.  

Years ago when I was in college and was working out consistently, I would always see bigger people working out with bigger weights.  My pride would push me to do more than I could.  You’re at a gym, and you want everyone to know that you’re as strong as anyone else.  Well, you could guess I injured & embarrassed myself.  You walk with the Lord at your own consistent pace.  Church isn’t a place to show off how spiritually mature you are, but it is a place to show how much God is working in your life and how the Gospel is permeating through you.  

Lastly, don’t tell this to my wife because she has told me over the years to work out/exercise because it’s good for me, and it’s worth it.  I don’t mean don’t tell her I’m working out, but don’t tell her that she was right.  Even though I’m a little sore, I have more energy and more optimism on a daily basis.  My spiritual exercising does that and more.  My growing and maturing faith gives me perspective in my life, my family, and the ministry.  It helps to understand that I can’t see it, but I’m growing stronger and stronger in my faith.  This is not to “show off” my spirituality, but it’s to help others in their faith for the Lord.  

1 Timothy 4:8 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  So, isn’t it time to get out of your spiritual laziness and become spiritually buff not only for yourself but for your family, friends, & church?  Isn’t it time that you stop seeing God, your faith, and your church as your “spiritual duty” but as a “spiritual joy”?  So, open that Bible, get on your knees to pray, & get back into spiritual shape!  

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Turning Your Back to God

A funny thing happened last Sunday at our worship service - our projector failed, so we decided to turn our back to the praise team to look at the lyrics on a monitor in the back.  It was weird because our praise team just saw our backs, and it was weirder for the people who came in because the entrance to the sanctuary was in the back.  They all looked startled and a look of “why are you guys facing the wrong direction?”  I chuckled to myself when people who were late to service were surprised to see the whole congregation see them come in late.  

But something struck me...we “Christians” do this all the time.  No not facing the opposite direction during praise, but we tend to forget why we’re in church in the first place.  Instead of coming to worship the risen Lord who gave up everything for our sins & weaknesses, we look at other people and judge them. Matthew 7:3 asks, “....why focus on the speck in your brother’s eye and yet pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”  

We tend to forget that people are messy with their own sins, and more importantly we forget that we’re messy as well with all our sins that we’re struggling with.  So why do we tend to forget God especially in church and focus on what our brothers’ and sisters’ were wearing or what they did or why they act a certain way.  Yes, yes, there should be Biblical, loving accountability, but shouldn’t we remember that we’re just as sinful as the next person?  

I think that God the Father is saddened not only with the sin in us but how we tend to put people in a higher standard than ourselves.  We give them in our mind all these expectations as believers, and yet we ourselves don’t meet any of those standards.  Do you know what Jesus would call us when we do that?  Pharisees!  He hated the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law because they exuded spiritual righteousness but inwardly condemned and judged people all around them.

So in a way, they turned their backs to God and focused on people.  Church shouldn’t be like that.  It should be a place where the family of God comes to face God and not to turn their backs to Him.   Once we turn our backs to Him then we automatically focus on other things instead of the one who loves and cares for us.   This is why we have many churches fighting, splitting, and eventually people leaving.  

My advice the next time you go to church - don’t turn your back to God.  Don’t focus on other people but focus on the Lord because if you do, it doesn’t become a church but another social place to judge and ridicule others.  It won’t feel like a church, and you won’t feel the presence of God during worship service and in your faith.  Meet Him face to face.

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Forced to Rest

I’m a week late with my weekly blog.  It wasn’t cause I forgot or that I didn’t want to.  It’s because I was sick.  Some people may think, “Too sick to type.  Suck it up!”  God is so wise and all knowing even about ourselves that He sometimes pushes that pause button in our lives.  Some of us want to go 100 mph, and even the best sports cars can’t maintain that for too long.  As human beings, we can’t go “full throttle” all the time.  

I remember when I was young that I loved getting sick.  Loved being in bed, loved putting things off, and loved just doing nothing.  Now as an adult, I can’t sit still for more than 5 minutes.  I have to meet this deadline or go to this meeting or meet this person.  I have family, church, and personal obligations.  Last month being Christmas felt like being in the Indianapolis 500 - so many things to be done including family holiday stuff.  Whew.

I couldn’t and didn’t want to rest, but God blew the whistle and said, “Yes, you do”!  During that time in bed, God was speaking to me through His Word, and I had some incredible times of praying to Him & listening.  Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, “Come to me all who are weary and burden, and I will give you rest”.  The word “rest” isn’t about taking a vacation or taking time off from things.  I think this word “rest” means that Jesus will give you - peace, rejuvenation, and strength to tackle things in your life again.  

When you have “blinders” on in your career, relationships, or academics, you start to forget that you’re not in control, but He is!  When you focus on the obstacles and stresses in life, you become tired physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  We all need REST in Jesus; we need time to spend time in His Word, in prayer, writing in a journal, and just listening to hear His loving and gracious voice.  

Well, I feel rested not because I was in bed but because I spent some quality time with my Lord.  He told me that I can’t overcome the world with all it’s stresses, pains, and hardships, but He already did on the cross for me.  Jesus reminded me that He took not only my sins, but also my weaknesses, stresses, and discomforts.  He has already overcome them all.  I was reminded this when I was sick.  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you very much.  

So if you feel a little run down physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, get some rest in Him.  Read His comforting words in Scripture, pray out loud, listen to His voice in you, and write down the things that He has said to you.  It’s always a good time to find rest.  

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Same Old, Same Old

We’re only a few days away saying “goodbye” to 2016 and saying “hello” to 2017.  As I am getting older, the years are flying by.  Time doesn’t stand still.  It’s always running.  It may look like a new year, but the book of Ecclesiastes 1:9 says “...that there’s nothing new under the sun”.  I guess in a lot of people’s minds 2016 was the year that we lost so many celebrities.  Here’s just a few:  Prince, Carrie Fisher, Glen Fry, George Michael, Muhammad Ali, etc...  I’m not sure but Google said that there were around 112 famous people that passed away.  

I’ve read a lot of Facebook posts when after these celebrities have died that they say, “2016 sucks!”  I’m a little saddened as well because I grew up watching or hearing them, but shouldn’t we be accustomed to this?  No one is immune to dying - the rich, the poor, the famous, and the not so famous.  I guess to us these people are immortal, but they’re not.  They’re human beings just like all of us.  And just like us they are marred by sin and bound by the broken world that we live in.  

Yes, it isn’t 2016 that sucks but all of this world and life.  It sucks!  It doesn’t suck because of bad things happening but because of SIN.  People will get old, people will get sick, and people will die.  It’s depressing, but there is hope like Carried Fisher aka Princess Leia said in Star Wars.  This New Hope isn’t from our championed spirit or our resistance to conformity, but it’s in Jesus.  It’s in the Lord.  

He will one day come back to right every wrong in this life.  Jesus will kill once and for all sin, death, and Satan.  No more disease, sickness, hatred, phobias, and death.  Life won’t suck anymore, but it will be glorious!  Actually, it will be “normal”.  Normal where all the sucky things won’t be here anymore.  Right now we’re living in an abnormal world and an abnormal life.  But one day He will make all things “anew”.  Hallelujah!  

So, my hope isn’t in a new year coming in or new resolutions, but it’s in my faith.  It’s in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He gives me hope in this life and the life to come.  If not, it will be the same old, same old when we turn that calendar year.  

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Little by Little

I usually don’t get excited for the official day of winter, but there’s a special reason.  It’s not because I love snow or the cold weather.  I grew up in Ohio and went to school in Boston, so there was plenty of those things every year.  The reason I’m excited is because little by little we get extra daylight.  I know it doesn’t show for a long time until usually around Daylight Savings Time begins, but just knowing that it’s arriving brings a smile to my face - warmer weather, the smell of Spring, and being able to be outside for long periods of time.  

John 3:30 says, “He must be greater, and I must be less”.  As Christians, when we begin our new lives in Christ, we become “born again” - new creations!  It would be great if once you were saved that you’re totally transformed and that’s it.  But the truth of the matter is that we will continue to sin and fall into our temptations for the rest of our lives.  The hope is that as growing disciples of Jesus, you slowly grow and develop into mature believers.  

I know that there are many times in life that there will be times of struggle, pain, and discomfort, but knowing that our Lord has overcome death, sin, and Satan gives us eternal hope that should never die in this broken world.  Yes, it would be easier and painless if we were completely perfect in our faith, but the reality is that the process of our faith in this lifetime will mature us more and more.  

So, you may not see it, but little by little we are growing in our faith.  Slowly but surely greater things will happen in our lives if we trust and rely on the One who gives us eternal hope in this lifetime and the next.    And one day we will all celebrate together in Heaven how your faith has lasted throughout your earthly life “little by little”.  

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To Change or Not To Change

I’ve realized that I’ve been in NJ for almost 18 years.  Wow!  I remember praying many times in seminary for God not to send me to NY or NJ to do ministry because generally the people in the Metro area are cynical, negative, and angry.  If you grew up in this area, I apologize, but you know it’s true.  The hardest thing   isn't living here, but it’s trying not to be like everyone else.  

I say this not because I’m perfectly doing it, but I see myself slowly becoming like everyone else.  Being from the Midwest, I grew up always saying, “hello” or making small talk with even strangers.  But here.  If you look at someone too long, it’s a recipe for confrontation.  Being on a checkout line at a convenience store, and seeing no one having eye contact or talking or even smiling is weird, but I’ve succumbed to being like everyone else.  

But God’s Word like in Luke 9:23 tells me that if I am to follow Christ, then I have to carry my cross and follow Him.  If I call myself a Christian, I need to live differently like everyone else because my joy doesn’t come from outside circumstances but from my faith which is always alive in me.  Inward thoughts say that if I don’t become like everyone else around me, then I become a “welcome mat” for all to walk all over me.  

No!  I stand up for my rights, but I need to let Jesus’ love and grace that He’s poured into my life overflow into other people’s lives.  This means that I don’t become impatient behind a long check out line at the mall or whenever I bump into someone that I say, “sorry, excuse me...” or overreact when the lady in the Toyota RAV4 cuts me off and drives 15 miles below the speed limit in the speeding lane!  Sorry.  Just breath...

I need to be a better ambassador for Christ not because I’m a pastor but a CHRISTIAN.  What are we saying to the world when we lose our patience, anger, and kindness?  Are we saying that we’re only different on Sundays but the rest of the week we can act like every other person?  No.  In order to mature our faith, we must practice it.  And the best way to do that isn’t just reading the Bible more and praying more, those things are good for our spiritual maturity, but our faith really grows when we practice it practically in life.  

Our faith grows the most when it’s pushed and prodded and bent here and there.  We grow the most in the “valleys” in our lives and not in the “mountains” where it’s so good and warm, but in the valleys where it’s cold and dark.  Press on to the Lord for He will strengthen us, inspire us, and even carry us if He has to, but don’t be tempted to live or act like everyone else around you.  Be different because you are different - you are a new creation in Christ.  I guess I’ll be praying for that lady in the RAV4.  

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Surprise Attack

Today is December 7th 2016 a day that “...will live in infamy...” 75 years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  A day that many Americans know from our American books that it was a dark day where thousands of soldiers lost their lives.  It’s a day that you can’t ever forget.  The thing that sticks out is that it was a surprise attack - it was early in the morning when the Japanese planes swooped in.  Also, it was because many of the ships were docked too closely for easy destruction.  The point of it was that the Navy wasn’t prepared.  It just happened.  

But what about March 12th or August 23rd?  What are those dates?  They aren’t very important in our American History, but I picked those dates to show that for many Christians, they were hit with a surprise attack.  From whom?  From Satan.  After he was defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus, he has lost the war, but he wants to win some battles with many believers.  He wants to attack them when they’re unprepared, not expecting temptation or stressed at challenging times.  This is when Christians digress from their faith and become passive in their walk with the Lord.  

Peter warns all believers in 1 Peter 5:8 “...to be alert and sober minded...because the devil is like a prowling lion ready to devour his prey...”  Do you know who his prey is?  It’s us.  He wants to tempt us into sin; he wants us to give up on God because it’s been a tough few days or weeks; he wants us to compromise our faith, so that we drift slowly away from Jesus.  Each day Satan has multiple surprise attacks on us to get us discouraged, frustrated, or even angry at God.  

What is our counter attack?  It’s placing our hope, trust, and faith in Jesus, the lion tamer.  It’s Jesus who when He died and then 3 days later resurrected showed that He had defeated sin, death, and Satan.  So, when you feel a surprise attack and shell shocked.  It’s time to call on Jesus the leader of the Armies in Heaven to come to your rescue.  No power or being can stand against Jesus.  The victory has been won by Jesus!  Amen!  

[psk69]

KUWTK

For some of you who may not know what KUWTK stands for - it’s “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”.  I’ll have to admit that i watched 1 or 2 episodes.  Ok, ok maybe a whole season, but I haven’t watched it since Scott and Kourtney broke up.  Did you hear that they maybe getting back together?  Sorry, I digress.  Whoever the producers were, they got the name from a term that many people have heard and use daily - “Keeping Up With The Jones”.  I don’t who the Jones are, but the idea is that we need to keep up with the neighbors/people who seem to have it all, and we have to compete with them, of course.

I fall into this every year around this time when I see my neighbors who beautifully light up their homes with almost pristine, coordinated Christmas decorations.  (This isn’t it).  So what I do is think and surf the web to find lights and decorations that would beat the socks out of all my neighbors.  The only thing that stops me is when I see the prices for these decorations.  No thank you.  James 4:6 says that “...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble...”  See, when we try to compare and compete with people around us, it usually 1. Makes us feel superior on those who we deem are below us or 2. We feel inferior on those who we deem are above us.  

Our insecurities make us think and do things that are toxic to our lives, always trying to catch up with other people.  What they have or who they’re with.  It’s a never ending cycle that will always leave us empty because no matter how hard we try we will never be on top.  Our pride has to be in check not from ourselves but from something or someone that overcame pride and so much more.  The only one that I can think of is Jesus.  He overcame His pride by becoming human to be born into a poor carpenter’s family, to be vulnerable to everything  in this broken world, and ultimately die a horrible death for our sins.  He overcame death, sin, and Satan.  He is the only thing that will dissolve our pride.  

I need more grace everyday because I see myself a selfish, sometimes bitter, and ignorant man.  I need His grace to help me be cured of this toxic poison of pride in me.  I need His grace to be at peace with myself and the things that I DO have.  And, I need His grace to understand that this Christmas season isn’t about competing with others to see what “new shiny stuff” we get this year but to feel complete in my Lord and Savior who loves me unconditionally, warts and all.  I want to say and feel during this Christmas season that “I am complete in Jesus!”, and I don’t need to compete or keep with anyone else.  And, it would be nice to see Scott and Kourtney get back together again...

[psk69]

Skipping Thanksgiving

It’s that time again - Merry Christmas!  Wait?! It’s Thanksgiving and not Christmas.  It is?!  Yes, we have forgotten that.  Christmas music has already hit the radio.  The stores are ready for the big sales to rake in the money.  People have already decorated their homes with Christmas lights and inflatables all around.  But haven’t we’ve forgotten Thanksgiving?  Yes.  Why?

I was a psych major.  Ok, it was only for a semester, but I think people love Christmas not because they want to celebrate Jesus’ birthday but because they want to get things.  It isn’t a psychological irregularity, but it’s because of sin in all of us.  One of the characteristics of sin is selfishness.  We don’t want to be thankful or say, “thank you” to anyone for anything.  

We want to build our own life with it’s castle and kingdom.  We don’t want anyone to help us because then we feel dependent on others, and we don’t want that.  We want to seem strong and independent.  Most of all we don’t want to thank God for anything.  But the reality is, He’s given us EVERYTHING especially His Son Jesus to be a bridge to Him.  

The Pilgrims came and gave thanks to God not because everything went well with them.  They lost many to hunger or disease, but they still celebrated the fact that God was still loving them through the difficulties.  Even Thanksgiving, many people forget that God is the one that has put that delicious spread on the table, so that we can enjoy the abundance of food.  

Let’s not go too fast into Christmas, but let’s take a moment on Thanksgiving to thank the Lord for all the things you do have instead the things you don’t have.  Let’s give Him all the glory and worship for He is to be “thanked” for the blessings in your life.  This is why we are thankful - “...for He is good, and His love endures forever”.  

[psk69]

Too Dark

A few weeks ago, we had Daylight Savings Time where we put our clocks one hour back.  Many people including me were overjoyed with the thought of having one more hour of sleep.  It was great, but it didn’t last long because yes we get one more hour of sleep, but it also means that it gets darker earlier and earlier.  So, there are many people who go to work or to school when it’s dark and come back to darkness.  There are many who become depressed because of this, so many of these people are gloomy and depressed during these times.  

The sun and light does affect people.  The more they have it in their lives, the more positive and happy they seem to be.  Likewise, darkness brings about a negative aspect.  John 8:12 says that “...Jesus is the light of the world...”  When believers, born again disciples of Jesus Christ deem that as true in their lives then they are always upbeat even in the face of duress.  Our faith should not be dictated by circumstances or having symbolic “darkness” in our lives.  His light gives us warmth, direction, and love.  It shows us that we’re not alone in the deepest and darkest times.  

There are many who cling to things in the dark to help them deal or cope like substances they take or certain companionship to help them feel significant and  alive, but those are temporary assurances.  They come and go, but in Psalm 23 it says that God will be with us through the dark “valleys of death”, and He will lead us out back into the light.  Jesus died on the cross 2,000 years ago to face death, sin, and Satan.  He faced the darkest of dark days for our sins and weaknesses, so that we would be in perpetual light in this life and the life to come into eternity.  His light will be in those who trust Him as Lord and Savior forever.  

[psk69]

Rubber Necking Politics

Well, here we are - the day after the Presidential Election of 2016.  I bet many people today are saying “Wow”!  Who would have known that Donald Trump would be the next President of the United States.  Now, I’m not here to start ranting about what will and will not happen in the next four years.  Or buying and storing extra rations for the apocolypse to happen.  I’m glad that this election is over.  

I’m actually tired of the blogs, television networks, my fellow colleagues in the ministry, and even my own family telling me to vote a certain way.  People who I respect, more Godly, and a lot more intelligent will look at this blog (if they do) and say this or that about my outlook.  They’ll say it’s “too simple” or “What’s wrong with you?!”  

Do you know what “rubber necking” is?  It’s when you’re driving, and you see an accident or a police car that had pulled over a vehicle.  Traffic slows down, some people take pictures with their phones, but most just want to see what’s going on.  I think, and this is my opinion, many Christians, churches, and pastors have been doing this “rubber necking politics” for the past year.  We've been roasting other Christians and Christian leaders for their rationale why we should support a certain candidate, and it’s led to a lot of discouraging and nasty comments from fellow believers themselves.  Whatever happens, it’s in the sovereignty of God.  

It’s good to be informed of the candidates and their policies and to know what’s going to happen in the country that my family & I live in, but it’s another thing to be so caught up in something that won’t make a scratch in eternity.  Yeah, yeah, I know, too simplistic.  Jesus says in Mark 12:17 “...to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to give to God what is God’s...”  

The Jews wanted Jesus to be the Political Messiah to free them from the Romans and to make “Israel Great Again”, but Jesus saw what was most important was for people to “repent and come back into the Kingdom of God”.  Their eternal destination, their soul preservation in the presence of God was the most important, the most dire thing that Jesus wanted to do.  As Christians, isn’t that our most important duty to share the Gospel and make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28) and not to lose our focus of our purpose for the Gospel’s sake?  

Probably in the next few days, weeks, and months there will be a lot of Christian leaders coming out to still complain or support Mr. Trump.  Let’s remember to pray for our leadership in this country - all branches of the government and to have faith in God who is in control.  Like all police say at an accident, “Let’s move along people”.  Let’s move, and put our trust in the One who loves and cares for us all the way to death and back.  

[psk69]

Being a Part

I didn’t realize it until this past Sunday during our Membership Class.  I am PART of the Body of Christ.  Yeah, I’m the pastor, but I and others can’t forget that I am a Christian believer like everyone else in our church.  Many churches forget that pastors and leaders are sinful humans like the rest.  Even if the pastor is famous, written many books, is a mentor to many, and seems righteous then most, it still doesn’t change the fact that they are sinful creatures like everyone else.  

Yes, they are called by God to preach and teach the Gospel, to counsel the hurt, and to be an example to the rest of the Body, but we are just as fallible as anyone else.  What churches need to do is to keep pastors accountable by praying and asking them “...how their week was” or to see that things are well in their lives as well.  Pastors also encourage the congregation to grow in their faith by accountability, rebuke, and also with Gospel Love.  

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says to “...encourage and build one another up...” this isn’t just to the other members of the church, but it’s also to the pastors and leaders of the church.  They’re your brothers and sisters in Christ as well.  They struggle with temptation, with their families, with their faith, and many other things that you deal with also.  They need Gospel Love too.  

This Gospel Love isn’t too complicated.  It can be simple as saying, “I’m glad that you’re part of this Body” or “I’ve been so blessed with your leadership or you leading praise or your service in the Fellowship Ministry”.  All it takes to encourage and build up is 10 seconds.  You never know that your next encouragement to another believer like the pastor or leader will help them up in life or in their faith.  You may never know that maybe they have been in a pit, and all it took was for someone to notice and lift them up.  Look around and see who’s in the “pit” - member or leader or pastor.  Then give them 10 seconds.