"Colonoscopies and Spiritual Cleansing"

Before my employment as an office manager for a psychiatrist, I had both medical training, schooling, and employment in the field of gastroenterology. That simply means I worked in a branch of the medical field that deals with healing disorders of the esophagus, stomach, colon, and rectum. As such, I participated in the procedure rooms and observed some rather unpleasant things. If you think preparing for a colonoscopy is unpleasant, you should try viewing one. Before a colonoscopy, the patient is sedated. When I had one years ago, I was administered a medication before the procedure called versed. Versed is a "conscious sedation" meant to relax and block pain. During a routine colonoscopy the physician looks for abnormalities such as polyps (growths) on the walls of the colon that can become cancerous if left untreated. Colonoscopies are considered preventative care. There are all kinds of tests and preventative care for our physical bodies, but are there preventative cares for our spiritual health? Is there a procedure that would delve into our spirits to pick out unnoticeable issues that, if left alone, would grow into deadly problems in the years ahead? Is there some kind of spiritual surgery that could excise a "root of bitterness" or uncontrolled anger, lust or pride before it "springs up causing trouble and defiling many" (Hebrews 12: 15).

Good news. The answer is yes! There is a spiritual procedure I like to call a spiritoscopy (pronounced spirit-os'-copee). I simply refer to it as God's Word! Hebrews 4:12-13 says, "The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the dividing of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." That's some scalpel! When we submit ourselves in obedience to the Word of God, whether by reading it, through a minister who preaches it, or by others who teach it - that living and active Word cuts into us, laying our thoughts bare, exposing us and convicting us if something isn't right such as a root of bitterness, uncontrolled anger, lust, pride, etc. I allow myself a "spiritoscopy" often by going to the Word and asking God to show me if there is "any grievous way in me" (Psalm 139:24). I desire His piercing work so that any offense against Him may be excised from me through prayer and forgiveness. The Word of God not only heals but can be used as preventative care. In a spiritual sense God frequently uses "nurses and assistants" (if you will) to wield His "scope" searching the thoughts and intents of our hearts. These "preventative care assistants" are those in the Church body around you as teachers, preachers and evangelists who show you the Word, share the Word, preach the Word, teach the Word then used to convict and correct the deadly things that can spring up to trouble and defile you (Hebrews 12: 15).


Paul tells us, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3: 12-13). I find it interesting that God's Word describes sin as something that hardens the heart putting us in grave spiritual danger. Why? Because in the physical sense a real tumor is generally harmless until it hardens into a hard mass which then puts us in grave physical danger. Did you notice in the scripture I just mentioned that the warning from Paul is plural? His message is to all of us (brethren). All of us are to take care of our spirits. We are to search ourselves, making sure there is no spiritual growth such as an evil unbelieving heart or grievous root growing in any of us. We are to help each other see what we cannot see for ourselves. We are to help, guide, and assist to excise those issues when they arise and do so without a judgment. At the same time we are to exhort, encourage, comfort, and stand alongside one another so that we can help each other to grow in faith. In this way, sin won't deceive us or harden our hearts against God and against one another. This is why I write these blogs. I want us to learn, grow, mature, and change through what we learn from Gods Word! I want our lamps to be burning and filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit, shinning brightly when Jesus returns. Each blog is intended to be like a spiritual screening, where you can exam yourselves to determine if you need to schedule an appointment for prayer and get yourself under the Great Physicians' hand so that His Word can heal and restore you to spiritual health. When was your last spiritoscopy? It isn't always pleasant, sometimes it's even bothersome to hear you have a sin issue, but spiritoscopies can help protect a neglected soul from a deadly spiritual illness that can metastasize. Which by the way is much worse than any disorder of the physical body! Just as colon disease is treatable if caught in a timely manner, all spiritual illness is correctable if dealt with early and not allowed to take root. If you let it go, if you continue to neglect to apply the Word of God, your sin, as a disease, will dig so deep you become entangled in all it's roots causing you to slowly fall away from your original faith. Don't let that happen! Exam yourself daily. Purge out any weakness or any sin by calling on our Great Physician to cleanse, heal, forgive and restore you. And He will!
Until next time,
-Pat-

Don't Waste Your Breath

When God created man out of the dust of the earth, He created a living, breathing being capable of thinking, feeling, dreaming, loving, and living forever (Genesis 2:7; Genesis 37:5; Genesis 29:18; 1 Corinthians 15:35-53).
It’s also important to note that when God breathed into Adam, He gave more than the breath of life — He gave him an important reason to live, and that is to worship and praise Him. As David declared in his psalm:

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6).

This means that we waste our breath when we use it for something that doesn’t honor the Lord in whom “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Our life is a gift from God, but not just our whole life, but every single instance, every breath we take. There is absolutely nothing we could do to make us take one more breath if God did not allow it. Think about that for a second! That breath you just took – and the one you are taking now – is only possible because God is letting you breathe! That’s right, it is not your right to breath, you cannot demand God to let you breath one breath longer, it just isn’t up to you. So what are you doing with that breath God is giving you right now? Are you using that breath to swear? To lie or gossip about others? Are you using it to do anything negative against a person when you should be trying to lift them up? If we adopt the mindset that as Christians we are Holy and set apart from the rest of the world and that every breath we take is meant to bring honor to God - meaning with every single breath we should be loving God and our neighbors- if we truly believed that, then how different would our actions be?

Although we cannot blow life into a handful of dirt as God did, we can use our breath to speak words of encouragement to the discouraged, help the sick (Matthew 25:36), and console those who grieve (John 11:14-19). Case in point. Recently I had a health setback where I was forced to be bedridden due to a painful nerve condition. Not only was I incapacitated and discouraged because of unbearable pain, but my spirit was lamenting being unable to sit up and fulfill my calling in writing blogs. Through my anguish, I was blessed to have friends who stepped up and continually used their breath to pray for me. Others sent cards, text's and emails of encouragement. Those little acts of love helped me through my ordeal. Through their prayers of inspiration and motivation, they were honoring God by walking in love, "Walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and has given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor" (Ephesians 5:2).

With our breath, we should be bringing glory to God by our actions, our words, and our attitude. If not, then we need to pray that we will start to live out the faith that we proclaim, that God would work through us in some way every moment of our day. When we use our breath to honor our Creator with the unique combination of talents, abilities, and opportunities that He has given us, we will never be wasting it. You never know how one kind word will be the one breath that lifts another person out of despair and brings honor to your Creator. John 15:12, "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." AND "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves" – Philippians 2:3

Until next time,
-Pat-

All The Stupid Stuff

Recently I was reminiscing about a really nice man I befriended on Facebook years ago. Unfortunately, he suddenly and prematurely passed away to the shock of myself and many others. During the course of several conversations, he told me he had been brought up in church and was given a basic religious foundation, although he did make it clear, "I'm not a believer like you are." I felt led to introduced him to my Sunday blogs which generated many discussions regarding world religions, various belief systems, and especially my faith in Jesus Christ. Although he was very curious about my faith and asked for several explanations of Bible passages he struggled desperately to understand true Christianity. He admitted to having one roadblock that would always leave him doubting any Biblical principle I shared. That roadblock was LOGIC! He admitted, "Certain things just don't add up for me. It's all the stupid stuff you're told to do as a Christian, like baptism. I don't understand it. It's not logical. If a person is baptized as a baby, why re-do it as an adult? Does it not take the first time?" As I was scanning my memory of things he asked me over the course of our online friendship, I thought to myself, maybe there are readers out there with friends or family members with this same question, "Why do I have to get baptized again if I was baptized as a baby? Or why get baptized at all?" In reality, those are great questions. How would you answer someone who asked that of you? Would you know what to say? I want to talk about the act of baptism in hopes of clarifying any confusion or doubt about why it is significant. Even Jesus Himself was baptized!

If someone ever asks why they should be baptized or even re-baptized, remember this little explanation. It might help.
In South Africa as a baby or even a young child, you are not entitled to a passport of your own to fly to another country as we are here in America. A baby born here in the U.S.A CAN get its own passport once a form DS11 is filled out. But in South Africa, you have to be added as a dependant on your mother or father's passport. Doing so then entitles that baby to go where their parents are going. However, when that baby reaches a certain age, they have to apply for their own passport. They now would have the freedom to go where they please by producing their own passport when they wanted to travel to other countries. The border staff or employees at the airport would no longer accept that they travel on their parent's passport.

Consider at my example from a spiritual perspective. When you were a baby, if your parents initiated you into their religion you became a part of their "redemption" because you were not in a position to make such a decision yourself. The Bible never offers suggestions and regarding this subject, it clearly states, "repent and be baptized" in Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." As a baby, you cannot repent as commanded by the Bible because you have no knowledge of God's will and cannot make choices or conscience decisions between right and wrong. Baptism has to be a conscience, free-will based decision to commit your life to Christ which an infant cannot make by their own free will. Therefore, if anyone is baptized as an infant or even a child without knowing true commitment, the baptism cannot be honored. Personally, my parents had me baptized into Catholicism when I was just a few months old. I had no way of knowing what was being done. I was incapable of commitment and I certainly wasn't exercising my free will. Yet, because of the personal beliefs of my parents, I was considered "baptized." I WAS NOT! I was riding on my parent's spiritual passport.

The truth is, at some stage in your life, you are or either will be confronted with various truths about a relationship with Christ just as my friend was. It may present itself in different ways but nonetheless, it reaches out to every heart. The Word of God is everywhere today: on TV, radio, cassette tapes (still around), through missionaries, through Internet applications, on gadgets like The Wonder Bible, smartphone applications, etc. In fact, the entire Bible can be download to your smartphone! At this point, you have to make a decision because you can no longer ride 'piggyback' on your parents' decision for you. Figuratively speaking, you must have your own passport. By making a decision to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, repenting of the sins you've committed and then being baptized, you have made the conscious decision to use your passport. No longer can you lay claim to your baptism as a child, you must now take the step of commitment yourself - your parents cannot sign for your passport, you have to do it yourself. "We may never be martyrs as in the days of old, but we must commit to die to self, to sin, to the ways of the world. This is the significance of baptism. Symbolically we die with Christ and raise to new life." In short, Christian baptism is the means by which a person makes a public profession of his faith and discipleship. It is in the waters of baptism we declare without words yet in action, "I confess my faith in Christ, Jesus has cleansed my soul from sin, and I now have a new life of sanctification." Baptism is not "stupid stuff." Symbolically, as the sinner confesses the Lord Jesus, he dies to sin (Romans 6:11) and is raised to a brand-new life (Colossians 2:12) that represents the cleansed, holy life -- the new start that follows salvation. Romans 6:4 puts it this way: "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death IN ORDER THAT, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (emphasis mine). Very simply, baptism is an outward testimony of the inward change in a believer's life. I hope something here will help you or someone you know understand the things we sometimes interpret as "all the stupid stuff."

Until next time.
-Pat-

Uncertainty and the COVID-19

Human beings like certainty. We are hard-wired to want to know what is happening when and to notice things that feel threatening to us. When things feel uncertain or when we don’t generally feel safe, it’s normal to feel stressed. This very reaction, while there to protect us, can cause all sorts of havoc when there is a sense of uncertainty and conflicting information around us. Because of the recent Coronavirus pandemic, this is a time of uncertainty. Nations across the globe have imposed travel restrictions. We are only allowed to shop for necessities as infrequently as possible. We are instructed to use delivery services instead of venturing out. A large majority of our population has been advised to work from home and even home-school our children. People cannot meet with family or loved ones who do not live with them. Churches are closed. Weddings have been canceled, baptisms canceled, sporting events virtually shut down. But in the midst of all this unpredictability, we do not have to be afraid because we can know for certain nothing will harm us. As believers in Jesus Christ, as members of HIS family, we have His promise of protection against this virus.

This blog will remind the followers of Christ of just that!

Remember in the Old Testament, Exodus 12:23 specifically, when the angel of death was to be released to strike down the Egyptians but that there was protection only to God's people that would cause the angel of death to pass over them and them only? What was it? Let's refer to scripture: Exodus 12:21-23 "Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssops, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and He will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down." What spared some and not others? It was THE BLOOD of the Passover Lamb sprinkled on the top and sides of the doorframes of the believers that spared their lives when death came into their "neighborhood." I want you to see the connection between then, and the angel of death, destruction, and interruption now known as COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

In Exodus 12, the symbol used against death and destruction was the blood from a "Passover lamb." In the New Testament, Jesus is called the PASSOVER LAMB in 1 Corinthians 5:7. Jesus was and is the sacrificial LAMB, who was slain, and whose blood saves us from death (John 1:29). Now, it's interesting to note that the Bible tells us "life is in the blood" Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." In the Old Testament, lambs were sacrificed and their blood used as atonement for sin. Today, it is Jesus' LIFE Blood needed to save you. HE IS YOUR PROTECTOR AND SHIELD. Jesus said, "Drink my Blood," did He not? HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY DO THAT? How can we drink Jesus' blood?? John 6:53, "Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." His blood = LIFE! Follow me now! Jesus also said, The words that I speak are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63). JESUS WORDS ARE LIFE! His spoken words are protection if you dwell in Him, but you must dwell in Him. His words must live in you. His words are powerful. His spoken words can literally move a mountain IF you'll only believe (Matthew 21:21). Those who dwell in Him (and He in them) have the power of His spoken word over death, destruction, illness, and anything meant to harm us, including the Coronavirus! He promised these things in Psalm 91. It's a beautiful promise to the believer. Let's go over it. Every practicing, obedient believer should believe and recite this prayer daily and the Coronavirus will not come near you!

1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (you must live in Him, dwell in His Word and you will find rest/peace.)

2. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him. (He is your only refuge. Your only place to be safe.)

3. He will rescue me from every trap and protect me from deadly disease. He will cover me with his feathers. He will shelter me with His wings. His faithful promises are my armor and protection. (Like a mother hen that outstretches her wings to protect her young, so too will the Lord cover you. What He has promised the believer through His Word you can bank on! His words are your armor; your protection. USE THEM!)

4. I will not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at my side and ten thousand die all around me, these evils will not touch me. (The Coronavirus cannot touch you if you dwell in Him, follow Him, and believe what He just told you. No matter how many are dying around you, that evil WILL NOT TOUCH YOU!)

5. If I open my eyes, I will see how the wicked are punished. (Just as the Egyptians doorposts were not covered by the Passover protective blood and they were punished, so too will those that created this horrific virus receive their due reward.)

6. If I make the LORD my refuge, if I make the Most High my shelter, no evil will conquer me; and no plague will come near my home. For He will order His angels to protect me wherever I go." (IF ... and I say "if" you are a follower of Jesus Christ, read and dwell in His words of promise, this prayer applies to you in every sense of the word. No evil can conquer you, no plague or pandemic can even come near your home!! Why? Because He has promised to order His heavenly angels to protect you wherever you go.

YOU HAVE HIS PROMISE OF PROTECTION FROM THE CORONAVIRUS! Now, find rest (peace) in His promises that you are safe under the shadow of His wings!

Until next time,
-Pat-

What's With You And The Cross?

I was taken aback this past week when someone made an unusual comment after I changed my Face book profile picture (which I often do.) The picture I'm referencing is the one above. The comment was, "About this new picture, with the cross. Are you trying for sainthood?" Two days after that comment I was sent another impolite question by the same person but this time it came through a private instant message which read, " What's with you and the cross?? Have you joined some New Wave religious group?" Needless to say, I cannot think what would incite a person to ask such a question because of the above picture when that person has known me for 31 years and I've never been shy about my faith. The negative context and logic used lack spiritual incite. I know many Christians experience unprovoked attacks both verbally and physically on a daily basis. Some are severe and brutal. It comes with the territory, "If the world hates you, remember it hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18). So in this blog today I will attempt to help clarify WHO I am, WHO WE ARE as believers in Christ Jesus and as members of the Body of Christ; His Church Body. In no way do we "try" for sainthood.

The Church is not made up of people who believe they are better than others, but rather it is made up of those who realize that they should be better than they are and must continually strive to do better (Philippians 3:12-16).

The Church is not made up of perfect people, but people who realize they are following a perfect Lord and therefore must do the very best they can (1 Peter 2:18-22; 1 Peter 1:13-16).

The Church is not made up of people who never make mistakes, but those who often acknowledge their mistakes and then forsake them (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13).

The Church is not trying to withdraw from everyone, but rather to draw everyone into its fellowship and love and encourage them to walk in the light where God the Father and Christ the Son are found (1 John 1:3-7).

The Church is not trying to set up arbitrary rules to hinder anyone, but rather to show the rule of Christ which helps everyone (Gal. 6:14-16; Philippians 3:7-16).

The Church is not trying to take the joy out of your life; it is trying to put real joy into every life it touches (Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; 1 Peter 4:13).

The Church is not trying to separate you from your money; it is trying to keep your money from separating you from God (1 Timothy 6:6-10; Proverbs 10:22).

The Church is not trying to become the master of your life, but is trying to get you to master yourself (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

The Church is not trying to rob your life of priorities but is trying to allow you to put real priorities in your life (Matthew 6:33).

The Church is not discouraged simply because you miss service regularly but is fearful that you will miss heaven completely (Hebrews 10:23-31).

True Christians know they cannot earn, gain, obtain, or work for sainthood so that they might enter eternal rest in heaven. There is absolutely nothing we could ever do to acquire sainthood or earn eternal life. Nobody can! We are simply not good enough, "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, NOT a result of works, so that no one may boast" Ephesians 2:8-9. Paul said in Romans 5:16 “… For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins." Sainthood (if you want to use that term) IS A FREE GIFT made possible by Jesus Christ and available to anyone who believes it, accepts it and is baptized into the faith based on biblical principals.

It is truly disheartening to think that posting any kind of a picture expressing faith in God would incite the response it did. My wish is that Christians and non-Christians alike will carefully examine the list above. As a follower of Christ I do not take the points I made above lightly.

Until next time,
-Pat-

In The Midst Of Coronavirus

Millions of people are working from home. Schools and businesses have closed. Grocery shelves are eerily empty and toilet paper has become the number one commodity. The culprit? COVID-19; Coronavirus. Normal people are anxious in the midst of this global pandemic and I can only imagine it will become much worse before it gets better. Fear and uncertainty are the hallmark response to things that people don’t understand and that they feel threatens their safety and the safety of their loved ones. Where can we turn to in these troubled times when we're not even allowed to interact with one another? I think we can learn a lesson from the psalmist David.

David was one guy that often described himself in a state of great adversity. His pleas for help are unmeasured. As an example, David once cried out to God, “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; for my soul taketh refuge in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, Until these calamities be overpast. My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword” (Psalm 57:1, 4). Do any of you feel like that right now? Do you feel you are encompassed by calamities IE: Your employer has told you to go home indefinitely. The government has told you to "shelter in place" and not to leave your home except to buy groceries or medication. Your local store shelves are stripped and you cannot find needed items for your pantry or medicine cabinet. You're afraid you won't be able to feed your family, pay your rent or mortgage, or keep your utilities on. Your parent's health is compromised and they are in the age group where the virus is killing the most people, etc. ?? What do you do at the height of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty?

How did David cope with all his adversity? The occasion that prompted him to write this psalm was the desire of King Saul to kill David. Saul was jealous of David and wanted him terminated. David spent much of his early life fleeing from the wrath of Saul. Was it through complaining, feeling sorry for himself, or having the “woe is me” syndrome? No! Amazingly, David overcame adversity by putting his trust in God, and by “Praising God!” David proclaims, “They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down: They have dug a pit before me; They are fallen into the midst thereof themselves” (Psalm 57:5-6). Who in the world feels like thanking God, praising God, or singing to God in the midst of adversity, distress, anxiety, tribulation, or catastrophe? NO ONE! Yet, this is the answer to remaining calm. Why? For one, "GOD INHABITS THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE" (Psalm 22:3). When you praise Him, He draws near and is in your midst. Psalm 34:17-18 "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Now is the time to draw near to God, not to complain or panic. What was David’s reaction to all of his troubles? Was it a voice of complaint? No! He praised God! “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing praise. I will give thanks unto thee, O, Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations” (Psa. 57:5, 7, 9).

There is a valuable lesson to be learned from David’s reaction to misfortune. In the time of trouble, we should praise God! Do you remember what Paul said, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through the comfort of the scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). We all too often, when trouble comes our way, stoop to complaining, feeling sorry for ourselves, or lose our minds with worry. But this is not the way that God would have us to react to difficulty. When Peter and the other apostles were confronted with hardship – what was their reaction? “They, therefore, departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name” (Acts 5:41). When Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, did they complain and feel sorry for themselves? No! The Scriptures say they prayed and sang praises to God (Acts 16:25)! Are you feeling sorry for yourself? Have you become fearful, anxious, and unglued? Have you forgotten what God has given you? I'll remind you, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but power, love, and a sound mind" (1 Timothy 1:7). If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, if you believe His Word and obey His Word, He will take care of you and make a way where there seems to be no way. In the toughest of situations, this seems to be God’s specialty. He’s working on our behalf even when we can’t see it all. He has a plan and purpose in whatever we walk through. He can cut a clear pathway through anything. He can carry us through any storm. He’s the God of miracles. He never changes. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and He fights for you today! Aren’t you thankful?
I sure am.

Until next time,
-Pat-

What Does It Mean To Be In The World Not Of The World?

I was asked an interesting question the other day by a fellow Christian I would like to share. It was, "How can we honestly live in this world and not be a part of it as we are instructed in 1 John 2:15-17?" It is written in scripture like this, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Then she went on, "Isn't that unrealistic? I mean, the world is all around me. How can I not be a part of it?" It's a legitimate question!
First of all, we must understand the context in which Jesus used the word 'world.' Of course, there is our physical earth: the physical globe, the physical universe (Hebrews 1:2; John 13:1). We can see these as concrete objects. However, most of the time when the Bible speaks about the world it is referring to the humanistic, corrupt value system that is at odds with God (Matthew 18:7; John 15:19; John 4:5). Confusion may arise for some when they read GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD. That sounds like a contradiction if we're asked NOT to love the world but God does? To the worldly or unlearned, it is a contradiction! But in reality, it is not. We have to keep things in context.

The Bible also informs us, "Satan is the god of this world." Satan is the god of everything that's wrong, everything that's evil, not concrete things in and of themselves. Satan's value system is contrary to God's (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 2:16). When the Bible says God so loved the world, it is referring to the human beings who live here (1 John 4:9). The scripture which says, "Satan is the god of this world" is something entirely different. It is the corrupt moral system of the world we are not to love because Satan's world promotes: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life: 1 John 2:16, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." Every sin imaginable can be summed up in those three evils. As examples: envy, adultery, pride, lying, selfishness, etc. These are not concrete things. These deal with the spirit /heart/mind of man, not his physicality. So we can see then, Jesus is asking us not to love the things which will destroy our soul and they most certainly will if we remain in them. He is not telling us it is a sin to play golf, enjoy wholesome music, be successful, or enjoy a glass of wine. God is concerned with the inner man. For if the inner man is rotten, the entire body is spoiled.

Think about this as an example. I love the outdoors. Many years ago I owned a tough-skinned, 10-foot inflatable raft that had a wooden floor and was propelled by a boat motor. Every Saturday I would Bungee cord it to the roof of my Jeep and take it out to the lake. My raft was designed to float and to protect me from the water - not sink. And though I was surrounded on all sides by water, water was not to infiltrate my raft, otherwise, great harm such as death from drowning could occur. The key was, the raft was only as safe as the inside was dry ... as long as no water could leak in despite the fact I was surrounded on all sides with great danger. In the same sense this example can be applied spiritually. We are in the world (raft) but we are not to be of it (the lake water). As soon as we let the things of the world enter us (like a boat filling with water) we will drown in our sin. Your only hope after your boat fills with water and begins to sink is a life jacket. Your only hope when you're drowning in sin is JESUS, your life preserver.

Our goal as followers of Christ is to actively engage our culture with the Gospel, by living the Gospel, without allowing the culture's ungodly morals, values, attitudes, and behaviors to infiltrate our lives. So, how can we live in a way that impacts the world for Christ without allowing the world to impact us? Admittedly, being out in the world but not like it can be brutally difficult-much like paddling upstream. Which I've done! But some days it may be more like trying to go up Niagara Falls. Well, to help us live in this world, we can refer to these words of Jesus for comfort. He was praying to the Father for us and said this: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them, I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:15-21)

Jesus did not ask the Father to take His followers out of the world. In fact, Jesus commissioned them to go into the world as His ambassadors. Instead, He asked the Father to protect them from Satan and his schemes, to guard them against temptation, and to make them holy through the truth of His word. Did you notice that Jesus’ prayer was not just for that handful of disciples? Jesus included you and me in that prayer! He said, “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one those who will believe in me through their message.” The truth principles also apply to us. We must guard our own hearts and lives against temptation. Take an inventory of your life. Where are you weak? In what areas are you most tempted? Ask God to help you identify those weaknesses and then take steps to protect them. Take precautionary measures. Find an accountability partner. Take things out of your life that constantly cause temptation. Patch the holes in your boat! And so importantly, immerse yourself in God’s Word. Know the truth inside and out so you can recognize lies when you hear them. Obey what God shows you in His Word so your life will be holy and above reproach. Then get your boat in the water! There are some drowning souls in need of rescue.
Until next time,
-Pat-

First Love

When I first became a Christian, I was very excited about being saved. In my zeal, I wanted to go out and teach the Word to the whole world despite the fact my family thought I had lost my senses. So much so, my parents offered to pay for psychiatric therapy. I simply loved the Lord and wanted to share Him with everyone (Acts 9:17-22) even though being new to Christianity I knew nothing. Being a "babe in Christ" I was unlearned in His Word and didn't know any discretionary principals when approaching people. As I look back today, it is no wonder my parents thought I was crazy! My enthusiasm was all over the place. The simple fact was, Jesus had become my first love.

Is your zeal the same today as it was the day you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior? When a believer does not depend on God daily, his love for God can grow cold. Jesus addressed this issue when He spoke to the church of Ephesus. Jesus said: “I have somewhat against you because you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” (Revelation 2:4–5). If you find yourself lacking the zeal you once had or if walking with Jesus isn't appealing any longer, you can ask God to look upon you with understanding to rekindle your love for Him.

If the fire has gone but you feel you want it back, be encouraged that the desire to get back to where you were, is a gift in and of itself. That desire is the planted Word (seed) waiting to spring forth once again. The seed of God's Word is still there and has rooted itself in your heart. After a dormant winter when spring arrives, a plant pushes itself up through the soil once again. Though it seemingly died and disappeared for a season, the roots never did and that plant regenerates again. It's the same with every soul who has the Word living in them. I went through many rough years where it seemed the world around me was crumbling away. I faced broken relationships, depression, bitterness and resentment, lost friends, and my faith suffered. I was on the edge of walking away, but I always knew I wanted to be back where I was, where I loved Jesus and felt secure in His love. I knew I wanted to have a zeal for God again. He took that little spark and kept working away until I came out of my winter season. I’m richer now for having gone through it. And I can see now how my faith is deeper than my circumstances, it’s woven through the core of my innermost being.

We must learn that we serve the Lord by “abiding” in His teaching: “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). This needs to become a daily habit. If you have never struggled with a loss of passion, you will. There will be a day when you experience the cold of "winter." (Maybe you're there now!) You'll lack enthusiasm. Reading the Bible will seem like an extra chore. Staying faithful may lose its appeal. Reaching out to God in prayer may feel like it requires more energy than you have. The bad news is, that day will come. The good news is, it will pass. When it does, you’ll be richer, stronger and more satisfied. Stay in His Word. Don't give up! You’ll have a greater understanding of what it means to live for Christ, a greater appreciation of all He’s done, and a rekindled flame to be about His business.

There's no doubt our walk with Christ can be filled with struggles and victories but it's what do you do when the struggles come. How do you handle those days where you’re not as hot for Jesus as you use to be? How do you maneuver through bad days, draining thoughts, and emotions and feelings that don’t serve you? How do you shift gears and start driving again when you just don’t feel like it? What do you do when you see that you’re going in the wrong direction? How do you get back on track when you see that you're drifting away or after you have fallen? Stay close to God by crucifying your flesh daily, mortifying its deeds, getting power over it. What exactly do I mean? That the deeds of the body are put to death (forsaken) one by one as they come to light. In other words: I stop doing things when God's Word reveals them to be wrong (Romans 8:13; 1 John 1:6-8). Pray without ceasing. Make the Bible a part of your daily and/or nightly routine, and dedicate a specific time to God and keep that appointment. Remember you are a work in progress, so continue making adjustments. And if you fall, bounce back quickly, and realign yourself with Christ. But remember, without consistency, you'll be prone to wander off again.
Until next time,
-Pat-

"You People Are Weird Freaks!"

"You people are weird freaks. Freak!" That may seem like an odd title for a blog, but in reality, these have been actual words directed at me. Not once, but several times throughout my life. And what for? In one recent case, I defended my Christian view on abortion against the beliefs of a liberal who vehemently held that a woman has the right to abort her baby even up to the ninth month if she so desires. Today isn't about abortion. It's about being "weird." First, let's define the word 'weird' from the Merriam Webster dictionary. WEIRD: of strange or extraordinary character. Adjectives of the word weird are: abnormal, freak, odd, different, or peculiar. Contrary to popular opinion, I like being called weird, odd, or peculiar! Why? Because it is proof my thinking, beliefs, and opinions are in line with God's! In the King James Version of the Bible, Deuteronomy 14:2 reads as follows: "For you are a holy people unto the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth."

We read in the scriptures that God has always demanded of his people that they be different. In Deuteronomy 14:2, Moses tells the children of Israel that they are different. From the scripture above God is telling us we are not only peculiar (by the world's definition and or standard) but that we are also "holy people!" The word “holy” means to be set apart, different. God wanted the children of Israel to be a “peculiar people.” The new English Standard Version translates this phrase “treasured possession.” Certainly, something that is a treasured possession is different from everything else one has and is set apart. That's the Church, CHRISTIANS, Jesus' Body of Believers.

In the New Testament as well, Peter quotes from this passage in Deuteronomy and applies it toward “Spiritual Israel” – also Christians. Peter writes, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). God wants us, as Christians, to be different! Paul writes to Titus these words regarding Jesus, “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” Titus 2:14). Jesus died so that we could be different; set apart. We read in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing; and I will receive you. I will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” In order to be God’s children, The Church must be separate, distinct, unique, different, and that is what seems weird in the eyes of the world.

So, are we different? Yes, we are, and I am glad that we are. Today we live in a time when denominations around us are conforming to the world. We hear of denominations who condone abortion, homosexuality, fornication, and adultery. The church of Christ does not condone such activities because God’s word condemns these things. We follow God's Word, not what the world approves. Instead of conforming to the way that the world would have the church, the church ought to be demanding of individuals that their lives be transformed through repentance and renewal of the mind. Romans 12:2 tells us, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Are we different? Yes, we are. We are different because we have been transformed by Christ to be a people who are holy, the children of God, separate from that which is sinful; different from the way the world would mold religion in its own image today. It is our differences from everyone else that defines who we are as Christians! We should never be embarrassed about that! And though people outside of Christ call us weird, they also despise and hate us. Jesus warned us in John 15:18, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you." And so I wear the badge "weird" with pride. The world and the denominations may think us “strange” (1 Peter 4:4) but I wouldn’t have it any other way. One day, Jesus will return and all will bow (Revelation 5:13) and God will be glorified, not because of our similarities with the world, but because of our differences (Matthew 25:34).

Until next time,

-Pat-

Strength

Often I hear this scripture spoken by Christians at all levels of understanding, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It's a quote by the apostle Paul and it's found in the book of Philippians chapter 4, verse 13. We like to say the words "I can do all things through Christ." And why wouldn't we? But oftentimes we don't give much thought to the latter part of that statement "WHO STRENGTHENS ME." I think we need to because of how we obtain this strength. There is a method of obtaining and accessing this strength.

The strength Paul spoke about was an inner power that sustained him even while undergoing the most serious physical circumstances (2 Corinthians 11:23-30; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10). Many present-day Christians have neither Paul’s confidence nor the strength of which he spoke. Perhaps it is because we do not know the answer to the question, “How does Christ strengthen us?” Actually there are three biblical sources from which we receive strength from the Lord:
1) The Word of God — Paul tells us that the gospel is not only God’s power to save but that we must continue in that gospel in order to be strengthened by it. To continue in it we must READ IT then ACCEPT AND OBEY what we've read (Romans 1:16; Romans 10:17; Ephesians 3; Colossians 1:1-11; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 John 1:9).
2) Prayer — It is through the medium of prayer that Christians receive wisdom from above (James 1:5-6; Proverbs 2:1-6), and from that wisdom, receive strength to overcome trials and temptations (Proverbs 2:10-20). Note that we must ask for wisdom “in faith” — the source of that faith is the Scriptures (Romans 10:17).
3) Fellow Christians — Our fellowship with other Christians of like faith provides us the benefit of bearing one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2; Romans 15:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14), and receiving strength from one another (Hebrews 10:24-25; James 5:16; Numbers 11:1-2).

How does Christ strengthen us? By studying and making application of God’s word, engaging in daily prayer to God, and by giving one another strength and encouragement, we build up a bond between us that will survive even the fiercest of Satan’s assaults (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV; Hebrews 5:12-14; Philippians 1:3-6; Colossians 1:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3; Romans 16:1-20; 2 Timothy 1:16-18). It's actually that easy. Not only does strength come from reading God's Word, so does faith for "faith comes in hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Do you lack faith? Then don't put your Bible down because you doubt it's worth, pick it up. Do you lack the strength needed to conquer a vice, turn from temptation, or walk away from sin? Then pick up your Bible and read. The words contained on those pages will begin to clothe you in spiritual armor needed to do battle. Always include daily prayer and fellowship with other Christians who are struggling and learning like you.

If you do these things, then nothing will be too difficult or too hard to overcome. You will be strengthened in His Spirit and might. My closing prayer for you comes from Ephesians 3:16, That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man."
Until next time,
-Pat-

Not Everyone That Calls Jesus Lord Will Be Saved

Many Christians believe this: That everyone who calls or claims Jesus as their Lord is saved. Period. Anyone who 'confesses', no matter what.
I'm telling you Not Everyone That Calls Jesus Their Lord Will Be Saved. Did I really say that? Well, no I didn't. Jesus did! Here are His words, "Not every one that says to Me Lord, Lord (or calls me their Lord) will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23).
These are perhaps the most frightening Scriptures in the Bible. Jesus is clearly speaking to people who called Him their Lord. These were people who actually performed miracles in His Name, who literally cast out devils in His Name, and who did other wonderful things in and His Name. THESE WERE CHRISTIANS He was addressing, not non-believers! How do I know? A nonbeliever does not have the power to cast out demons because a nonbeliever isn't filled with the Holy Spirit! And you have to be filled with the Holy Spirit to cast out demons because you have no power in and of yourself. It is by the Holy Spirit demons flee not by any human power. Therefore, the people being addressed were Christians and if these Christians were filled with the Holy Spirit how can they not be saved? Let's examine it.

There are a few important things to note! Carefully re-read and absorb Matthew 7:21-23 again. (above)
1. You cannot enter heaven unless you obey him (highlighted above) AND you have to do the will of the Father (again, highlighted above). "Why do you call me lord lord and do not the things I ask?" - those being addressed are DISOBEDIENT- not doing what He asked.
2.) If you work/practice/purposely with intent continue to commit iniquity (sin) He will not allow you into heaven. "Many will say to me on that day, have we not prophesied in thy name and done many great things? I will answer and say, Depart from me, I don't know you, you workers of iniquity" (sin). The word "workers" implies intent. - those being addressed are purposely being DISOBEDIENT- they are, with intent, purposely and continually working sin in their lives.
3.) "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15) This is an admonition. Bottom line, -don't be DISOBEDIENT- don't continue to sin!

It is obvious then, that to enter heaven as a "saved" Christian, there are conditions the Christian must meet other than just saying 'Jesus is my Lord and Savior'. According to the scriptures, those conditions are: You cannot work (continually and purposely practice) iniquity/sin (verse 23), and you have to do the will of the Father (verse 21). To give you an example of inequity, I'll quote the Merriam Webster dictionary. Watch closely at the wording! "The definition of an iniquity is a sin or wrong-doing. An example of an iniquity is someone running into another person with their car on purpose." Notice, ON PURPOSE!! In other words, willful intent. Sadly, there are many Christians who have made an altar call, verbally accepted Jesus as their Lord, but have no intention of changing their habits of sin. They make no effort to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. Why? Because unfortunately, they love their sin more than the commitment they made (John 3:19). As examples, these would be those which purposely remain in an adulterous relationship KNOWING God condemns that behavior, those who conduct themselves unseemly in a same-sex partnership, those who practice the occult, drunkards, idol worshippers, etc. Read it in Revelation 22:15. None have any inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Open your mind. You cannot HABITUALLY PRACTICE SIN, CONTINUE TO PURPOSELY IGNORE YOUR SINNING, WILLFULLY IGNORE WHAT GOD SAYS TO PLEASURE YOUR FLESH and expect God to open the gates of heaven to you! Christians are flesh like anyone else and yes we fail, we can fall, we can slip, and yes we do occasionally sin BUT WE NO LONGER MAKE A HABIT OF IT. We submit and strive to obey with the help of the Holy Spirit. If we do slip, we immediately ask for forgiveness and are forgiven. Too many Christians believe once they are saved, salvation is a sure thing. NOT SO! (Matthew 7:21-23). Look at the picture in this blog. THAT WAS ME! I was imprisoned by a vice I could not stop or control but I wanted to. After years of trying to do it on my own, I finally in desperation turned to Jesus with a similar prayer like that in the picture. Once I did, my sin was lifted, my desire ceased. JESUS HEALED ME! It takes submission and sincerity and if you have those HE WILL ANSWER! He will heal.

Many religious people and churchgoers will not make it! They will be shocked and dumbfounded when the Lord rejected them "Many are called, few are chosen" (Matthew 24:14). As with those in the Bible example who had spent their lives teaching in Jesus' name and doing many charitable deeds in Jesus' name, they were rejected. How could this happen? What went wrong? They were so sincere and now they're are being told they cannot enter into Heaven. Despite trying to blame the Lord, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever. Perhaps the deadliest of all who say Lord Lord are those who have never rested completely in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Jesus plainly tells us why the religious group in Matthew 7:21-23 were not allowed into Heaven, and if you have ears to hear and eyes to see, then please listen to the Holy Scriptures being taught today. "If you love me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS" -- OBEY-do what He asks. In the case of Matthew 7:21-23, those who call Jesus “Lord” are those who don’t do what God commands. It's very simple actually. Remember what Jesus says about those who follow after Him? Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me (daily deny sin) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him, the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26, NKJV)

You can call Him your Lord all you want. You can have the gift of prophesy or work great miracles, but unless and until you OBEY HIS WILL you cannot and will not enter heaven when you die. Jesus said, "IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS" -- or in other words, OBEY HIM! Many people will attempt to enter through the pearly gates of Heaven but will be refused. Most religious people die with an expectation of God letting them into Heaven, but it doesn't work that way. It really doesn't! You have to enter into Heaven God's way, which is through the door - Jesus Christ, who spoke in John 10:7 "I AM the door of the sheep." He also said in John 10:1, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. Did you understand that? Anyone who attempts to enter into Heaven by human effort (works, sacraments, goodness, religious devotion, etc.) is a THIEF and a ROBBER (because you're trying to get into Heaven without going through the door (Jesus). John 10:9, “I am the door: by Me, if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Jesus was asked if few people are going to Heaven. Jesus replied that MANY will seek to enter into Heaven, but only a few will be allowed. This Scripture passage should frighten MANY people.

Those who follow Jesus must “deny Himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Those the Lord says He “never knew,” that Jesus calls “workers of iniquity,” are those that were never saved OR HE WOULD HAVE LET THEM IN! They never had a true relationship with the Lord because they never denied themselves (they kept sinning day in and day out), never took up their cross, never followed Christ even though God gifted them with His Spirit when they came to Him to be born again. They only claimed to know Christ! And the most interesting part of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21-23 is that these individuals prophesied, cast out demons, and did other wonderful works in Jesus’ name. They did works consistent with someone who has the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in their lives. And yet, despite all their spiritual giftedness, and the work of the Spirit in prophecy, demon possession, and other works, these individuals were never saved. Now THAT my friends is scary! It's time to get right with the Lord. Time is short. If you are struggling to give up some destructive sin in your life, there is still time to repent and turn back to the Lord by asking forgiveness and petitioning the Holy Spirit to work in you to overcome desires that are harming you and your relationship with God. Do it today. You won't be sorry.
Until next time,
-Pat-

Why God Allows Us To Go Through Bad Things

Look closely at the title of this blog ... "Why God Allows Us To Go Through Bad Things." The operative word here is ALLOW(S). Have you ever murmured to yourself why you believe God not only put you through a particularly tragic situation but that He's the one that authored it? Do you honestly believe God is the source of the hardships, failures, and or catastrophes in your life? Do you think He's being unfair to put you through that? I'm assuming then you might also believe God "did it" to you? Maybe you've never asked why our world is infected with pain and suffering, but my guess is you will when they strike you or a loved one with full force. It's important to realize that though God MAY ALLOW a tragedy to take place in our lives without intervening, He is never the author of that tragedy! God is not the creator of evil and suffering. He will never set up traps to hurt or bring misery upon us. Take the example of Job who lost all of his animals, all of his servants, every sons and daughter were killed, and he was afflicted with sores all over his body, etc. but not once did he blame God or lose faith. The Bible tells us the author of all of Job's woes was Satan. In fact, Satan came to God for permission to bring misery upon Job. Satan told God that if he could do these things to Job, Job would curse God. God disagreed. To prove the righteousness of Job, God ALLOWED Satan to "test" Job. I say 'test' because we can be tested in like manner as well. Do you ever question why you are or have suffered a long-term illness, suffered over the loss of a child, lost all your material goods in a house fire, or have seen your loved one murdered? ALL THESE THINGS CAN BE A TEST by Satan to see if we will stand with God to the end. Believe it or not, all these things, all these tests, can serve a great purpose.

Though suffering isn't good, God can use it to accomplish good. In Romans 8:28 the Bible promises, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose." Notice the verse never mentions God causes evil and suffering, just that He promises to cause good to emerge TO THOSE THAT LOVE HIM. Neither does the verse say we will see this good (outcome) immediately or even in this life how God will cause good to emerge from a bad circumstance. Maybe something we've suffered or are suffering has influenced a complete stranger and will be used to change that person after we have left this earth. Remember, we only see things dimly in this world (1 Corinthians 13:12). We don't know all things as God does! Important to keep in mind is, God doesn't make this promise to everyone. He makes the solemn pledge that He will take the bad circumstances that befall us and cause good to emerge if we're committed to following Him. Some might say, "No, He can't bring good out of my circumstance. The harm was too great, the damage was too extreme, the depth of my suffering has been too much." If you doubt God's promise, know that He took the very worst thing that has ever happened in the history of mankind - dying on the cross - and turned it into the very best thing that has happened in the history of the universe! Which was the opening up of heaven to all who follow Him! If God can take the very worst circumstance imaginable and turn it into the very best situation possible, can He not take the negative circumstances of your life and create something good from them?

God isn't some distant, detached, and disinterested deity; He entered into our world - the body of Jesus - and personally experienced our pain on all levels. Jesus is absolutely there in the lowest places of our lives. Are you broken? He was broken, like bread, for us. Are you despised? He was despised and rejected of men. Do you cry out that you can't take any more? He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Did someone betray you? He was sold out. Are your most tender relationships broken? He loved and He was rejected. Did people turn from you? They hid their faces from Him as if he were a leper. Does He descend into all of our hells? Yes, He does. Every tear we shed becomes His tear. Listen closely ... every tragedy, every disappointment, every heartache, every disaster or drama we face are all "ingredients" God can use and does use to work out for our own good through growth, maturity, and change. When we've gone through it all, we rise to a better place and a better person. From glory to glory we learn, mature, and change to be more like Him in thought, word, and actions.

Consider this illustration to better understand how "bad things" can actually be good things for us. Grandma was baking her grandson a cake. She asked her grandson if he would like a piece of the cake after it was finished, and of course, he did. She then replied, “Here, have some cooking oil.” “Yuck,” said her grandson. “How about a couple of raw eggs then?” “Gross, Grandma!” “Would you like some flour then — or maybe some baking soda?” Her grandson replied, “Grandma, these things are all yucky!” The Grandma replied, “Yes, all these things seem bad in and of themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake.” God works in exactly the same way! He knows that when He considers the things we've been through and puts all of them in His order, they always work together for good! (Romans 8:28). Rejoice then, that we can be a part of the finished product! (Hebrews 12:1-10; Psalm 119:75).
Until next time,
-Pat-

A Lesson To Learn

Once in a dense forest, a big bear broke into a cabin of some hunters. They were out at the time but had left a fire in a pot-bellied stove. The bear saw the red hot stove and figured it was an enemy, so he ran over and put a bear hug on it. Naturally, he was severely burned, but Mr. Bear thought the enemy was trying to fight back, so he squeezed a lot harder and was burned even more. The more he squeezed the more he was burned. What a vicious circle for a vicious bear to be in!

There is a lesson we can learn. There are many people who would say, “What a dumb animal to hug something to his own hurt!” But it might be they are doing the same thing. How many Christians are there who hug worldliness themselves (lying, pornography, adultery, wearing immodest apparel, excessive drinking, etc.) and refuse to part with it? Let someone warn them of the danger and they will hug it all the more. As someone once said to me when pointing out her flaunting fornication, "No one is going to tell me what to do!" First of all, I was not telling her what choice to make with her life, rather, I was sharing what GOD HAS SAID regarding the consequences of her choice ...her 'refusing to let go of a hot stove.'


It's so disheartening to see many 'Christians' who confess they follow Jesus but cannot bear to part the sin of worldliness, and yet they cannot be saved while holding on to it (1 John 2:15-17). They either don't understand or don't care how frightening that is. Christians often profess a desire to go to heaven, but all the while they hang to those very things that will prevent them from going! Have you ever wondered why some people won't let go of the very things that are destroying them? Paul, in the book of Hebrews, wrote, “Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Paul was exhorting to put aside the sin that overruns us. As believers in Christ, we cannot purposely continue to sin. I said purposely with intent. Paul also wrote, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3). Our "desires" (and priorities) should now be set on seeking things above and not how to satisfy sinful desires.

What would make a person want to “gamble” on the eternal home of his (or her) soul (Matthew 16:24-26)? Yet, they do. As Christians, we ought to “let go” of anything that has the potential for hindering our being in heaven. I want to make this point ... Now that Christ is living within you, you will begin to hear Him speaking to you in gentle, flowing thoughts that are not your own. Deep within you will hear a voice saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isa.30:21). He will begin to guide your steps into a life that not only pleases Him but that fills you with love, joy, and peace that passes all understanding. And He will reveal more of His great love for you and His desire to spend time together with you. One of the things God will speak about is removing sinful thoughts and behaviors from your life because they are destructive to you. Please hear this! Sins destroy your relationships and the fulfillment of His destiny for you. This is considered the outworking of your initial salvation experience (Phil. 2:12).... to work out your own salvation. What does that mean?? It is the laying down of your life, dying to self and coming progressively alive to the workings of the Holy Spirit within you. His design is for the Spirit’s power to flow out through you to others. You will discover that you can cease from willful, rebellious sinning. You can and will manifest the Holy Spirit who is living within you (1 Cor. 12:7-11). I'm addressing all Christians. Get to work allowing God the opportunity to remove these pebbles (sins) within you which can hinder His flow out through you and impede the fulfillment of His destiny for your life. The removing of these sins is one of the pieces of evidence that you are His and His Spirit indwells you (Rom. 8:9-14; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-32; 1 Jn. 1:5-10; 2 Pet. 1:2-11).
I pray you'll consider what I have written in this blog and work together with God to let go of the sins that so easily beset you because again, the overcoming of sins is one of the pieces of evidence that you are His and His Spirit dwells in you.
Until next time,
-Pat-

Did Jesus Really Refer To Peter As Satan?

When you read the exchange between Jesus and Peter recorded in Matthew 16: 13-20, you might ask your self, "Did Jesus just call Peter, Satan? How could He do that? Why would He do that?" Here is that exchange from the NKJV): “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men" Matthew 16:21-23 – NKJV).
At first reading, we might think that Jesus’ reply to Peter seems harsh. After all, Peter loved and revered Jesus — he had plainly confessed his faith in Jesus as the Christ. So what on earth would prompt Jesus to address Peter in such a manner? Let's examine it. The very idea that someone would harm Jesus, much less kill Him, was unthinkable to Peter. He was willing to take up arms (John 18:10) and even sacrifice his own life (Matthew 26:35) to prevent any aggression against the Son of God. Most of us would be delighted to have someone as concerned for our well-being. Why then does Jesus scold Peter so sharply, calling him “an offense,” even referring to the apostle metaphorically as “Satan”? (Matthew 16:23 – NKJV). I think to answer this question, we should carefully observe the latter part of Jesus’ rebuke which reads:
“You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Notice that Jesus did not deny Peter’s love for Him, but He recognized that love, to a certain degree, was a selfish one. After listening to the teachings of Jesus for three years, one would think that Peter would have understood God’s plan and purpose in sending His Son, requiring His death as a sacrifice for the sins of others. Even if that fact were not entirely clear to the apostle, something else should have been — if the Lord said something had to happen in order for His will to be accomplished — that was exactly the way it had to happen (Isaiah 55:10-11 – NKJV). There could be no room for argument, compromise, or second-guessing. There’s no question that Peter believed in Jesus’ mission (Matthew 10:5-6 – NKJV; Matthew 15:24; Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10), but he wanted to see that mission accomplished on terms suitable to him. He desired salvation, but he didn’t want Jesus to suffer and die to make that salvation possible — even if God said it was necessary (Hebrews 10:5-10 – NKJV; Psalm 40:6-8 – NKJV; Matthew 26:39 – NKJV; John 4:34 – NKJV; John 5:30 – NKJV; John 6:38 – NKJV). Peter’s motivation to preserve the life of the Lord he so loved, would seem noble in our eyes. However, Jesus wanted him to understand that no motive is noble if it conflicts with God’s divine plan!

In today’s so-called religious world, we see people who are mindful of the things of men rather than of God. Their motives often appear worthwhile because they say they do not want anyone to be lost. However, they tell folks their sins are forgiven and their souls saved when they have not obeyed God’s commands of repentance and baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21). Focusing only on the happiness of people, they offer them worldly diversions, even though these things are not according to God’s will (Colossians 2:18-23 – NKJV). Sadly, they want people to attend church services, so they make worship an attractive spectacle instead of humble obedience to the Lord (John 4:24 – NKJV; 1 Corinthians 10:31 – NKJV; Colossians 3:16-17 – NKJV; Micah 6:8 – NKJV; 1 Samuel 15:22 – NKJV). They don’t want to offend anyone, so they permit all kinds of anti-biblical precepts under the misconception of "inclusion" or "diversity" such as same-sex marriage and justify those who unrepentantly engage in immorality (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21).

Jesus’ words to Peter prove that even the most sincere individual can be sincerely wrong when that sincerity is not fully subject to God’s will. Peter’s love for Jesus could not be permitted to supersede the Father’s righteous plan for mankind’s salvation ( 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 – NKJV). We would be wise to learn from Peter’s error, and remember that God’s work can only be done God’s way (Matthew 7:21-23), unless He says to us, “Get behind Me, Satan!” (Matthew 16:23 – NKJV). At the moment of Peter's rebuke, his objective was a selfish one by rejecting what God wanted for what he wanted, his will over God's will. Peter's spirit was not acting in line with the spirit of Christ. God’s will in our lives is at the heart and core of what it means to be a true Christian! In this self-absorbed society, it is all too easy to make decisions according to “our own will.” Even some in God’s Church today rarely consider whether their will, desires, and perspectives fail to reflect God’s will. Because of the subtle nature of the Satan-influenced society around us, even God’s people may sometimes be deceived into thinking that their carnal will, desires, and perspectives—unchallenged by people around them—may fully reflect God’s will. They may even be disappointed at the idea that God’s will would direct them to go against society’s expectations.

We must recognize how very important it is to live our lives according to God’s will. As we identify and rid ourselves of self-will and as we pray for God’s will to permeate our lives, our decisions will be full of wisdom and our lives will be greatly enriched. To be in God’s kingdom, we must truly strive to make His will our own. We must work hard, continue to bury our self-will and follow God’s lead into His Kingdom. As we do this, we will arrive there one day soon, together! Above all things, we must do God’s will, always!

Until next time,
-Pat-

Building Your House

We know Jesus taught that the foundation upon which we build our spiritual house is of the utmost importance. It never hurts to be reminded of certain passages regarding this. So. that said, I want to point out some elements of Matthews's passage from his 7th chapter, verses 24-27. I'll begin with this. Jesus is speaking: "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it didn't fall: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and doesn't do them, will be like a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell: and great was the fall of it." There are some interesting things to note. First, look at the comparison of characteristics of the two builders.

1) BOTH HEARD THE WORDS OF JESUS- The two people in this parable both heard Jesus share His message of faith and repentance (verse 24,26). Therefore, based on that both people in this parable knew the way of salvation. They both heard the Gospel and each one had a reaction to it.
2) BOTH BUILT HOUSES- Each person built a house based on their understanding of what Jesus said. The house in this parable is a picture of our spiritual life. Depending on how each heard/interpreted Jesus' words, each one then applied Jesus' words as they saw fit.
3) BOTH BUILT IN THE SAME LOCATION- Verse 27 describes a very severe storm. This same storm affected both houses, so they must have been built in close proximity to one another!
4) BOTH BUILT SIMILAR HOUSES- Nothing is said about their houses being different. They used similar materials and most likely a similar design.

Have you ever lived in a neighborhood where all the houses look exactly the same? The only difference is the color of the siding, shutters or shingles, yet they have the same shape, design, floor plan, and square footage? The only difference Jesus mentions in these verses is the foundation each man built upon. If looked at closely, the parable is a picture of people and how they respond differently to the Gospel message! People hear that same message and yet can and do react to it in different ways. Regardless of how a person may react to it, people build all their lives based on what they think Jesus is saying. These people all build their houses in the same location. That is, they weather the same storm, work the same jobs, do the same things, go to the same churches, hear the same preaching, and live very similar lives. From the 'outside' you can't tell much difference between the two hearers! Obviously, the people pictured here are religious, orthodox in their beliefs, serving in and supporting the church. They have a lot in common, at least on the outside.


Are there any contracts? There are some major differences between these two types of people and I believe it's worth noting. ONE MAN BUILT HIS HOUSE ON SAND- This man built with little preparation (or he would not have chosen sand as a foundation). Sand is unstable, ever-changing, ever-moving, without stability. It can never provide a firm foundation. Building your spiritual house on sand speaks of people who hear the Gospel, but instead of believing it and coming to faith in Jesus, they believe they can build their lives on the shifting sands of human philosophy, wisdom, opinion, and religious achievement. They are driven by outward, religious appearances and faith in themselves, rather than faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They are people who hear the Gospel and decide they can save themselves. They might even believe the general message of the Gospel but choose to follow God on their own terms. To them, His Word is open to interpretation and worse yet, change when it needs to align with their convictions! If God commands them to do something, they will obey "if" they choose to. If they don't like it, they won't do it. This is where self-interpretation and change come in. Sadly, their houses are built on self-will, self-fulfillment, self-satisfaction, and self-righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:5 says it best, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." Their works are based on religion that has the appearance of being right, but lacks the power to save the soul! Too, think of it ... building on sand is easier. It requires little effort. Just a little change here, maybe slightly there, but not too much or it becomes an inconvenience. They fool themselves and everyone else around them into thinking they are right with the Lord. The bottom line is, a spiritual life built on sand requires no commitment, no sacrifice, and no faith whatsoever. Sand builders like instant results without the commitment. They love the heights but hate the depths, are hot then cold, up then down. Sand foundations are built by those who believe they can say a prayer, sign a card, join a church, and all will be well.


THE OTHER MAN BUILT IS HOUSE ON A ROCK- This man digs deep, deep enough until he reached the bedrock. Rock doesn't move. It is unchanging, stable, and sure. Building on rock speaks of people who hear the Gospel and believe it to the point that they build their lives on it! The word "rock' in these verses is identified as "These words of mine." The "rock" IS the Gospel. It's the same rock mentioned in Matthew 16: 16-18 (you might want to look that up). Rock builders understand that Jesus alone has the power to save their souls. They hear the Word and conform their lives to it. They believe it, embrace it, yield to it and the messages change their lives because their foundation is sure. You know you've built your spiritual life upon The Rock when you do what God asks in His Word. What God warns you not to do, you avoid. You will pay any price, walk any path, or do anything the Lord tells you to do. You love Him, honor Him, and obey Him (John 14:15, 1 John 2:3-6). So understandably, there are two types of builders who construct very different lives based on how they hear and respond to the Gospel. Truthfully, YOU are building one of those houses right now.



You can join a church and still go to hell. You can be baptized in water and still go to hell. You can be a good person in the eyes of others and still go to hell. You can build your house on religion and still go to hell. You can build your house on atheism, human wisdom, human philosophies, and anything else you can name, and you will still die and go to hell. But if you build your life on faith in Jesus Christ, The Rock, your house will stand through the storms of life and you will be saved. You realize that the person who built his house on the sand never intended for his house to fall. He THOUGHT he was doing the right thing as so many others do. He thought he was building a house that would stand against anything that came. He was wrong. His confidence was not in the Lord; it was in himself. His confidence was misplaced. The problem with his house is the foundation! So if you are building your spiritual house on anything but Jesus Christ and His gospel, it will fall. When it falls, you will be lost forever, and you will spend your eternity in the fires of hell. Think of your spiritual life. Every day you attach boards, drive nails, add on rooms, and try to improve your house. Regardless of what you do to the house you are building, what matters the most is the foundation. Be absolutely sure you are building on Jesus Christ and the Gospel. If you have realized today, or know of someone in your family or circle of friends that has been building on the wrong foundation, you or they can change that today by turning to Jesus Christ. There is a storm coming that's going to shake foundations everywhere, and your house is right in its path. When that storm comes, the only houses that will stand are those built on the solid foundation of the Word of God.
Until next time,
-Pat-

'Of The Spirit" vs Spirituality

Have you ever talked to someone you know about your own faith and belief in the Bible, to then have them respond something like, "Oh, I don't believe in religion but I am spiritual." What does that mean exactly, "I am spiritual." I think it is a non-biblical viewpoint people embrace who don't want "religion" in their lives, but they still want to believe and hope they have enough good about themselves to get to heaven. Look at this definition of spiritual: Being a spiritual person is synonymous with being a person whose highest priority is to be loving to yourself and others. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. A spiritual person knows that we are all One, and consciously attempts to honor this Oneness. A spiritual person is a kind person. Notice the highest priority was to self? Is there a difference between religion and being spiritual? Google notes that religion is a set of texts, practices, and beliefs about the transcendent shared by a community, and involves a relationship with God. Spirituality, on the other hand, is about a person's relationship with the transcendent questions that confront one as a human being. This may or may not involve relationships with God.

The truth is, "religion" and "spirituality" are not the same as, not even close to, being of the Spirit the New Testament addresses. Several years ago I knew a lady, a former employee, a very kind, benevolent woman, that said she believed there was a God, was convinced she was going to heaven but did not believe she needed Jesus to arrive at her eternal bliss (as a reminder to the reader: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.") She, like so many including Oprah Winfrey, believes there are many ways or paths to God and define their "spirituality" as such.

Today I want us to think of the word “spiritual." What is it to you? I can tell you what it is not. It’s not something you “get”; it is not some kind of faucet that one turns on, and then turns off. Biblically, it has to do with being “of the Spirit” in the New Testament application. It is one who is “of the Spirit” in that, he or she abides by the instructions given from the Spirit in the Word of God (2 Peter 1:21). The faithful child of God is “of the Spirit” in that he or she has obeyed the gospel – that instrument God uses to call a man from sin and darkness and unto Himself (2 Thessalonians 2:14). We can choose to walk according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. We can only walk IN THE SPIRIT when we are OF THE SPIRIT. Those of the Spirit are “led of the spirit” (Gal. 5:18) because they are directed by that Word the Spirit has given. They walk, then, not after the flesh (Romans 8:1). The dangers of walking after or according to the flesh are discussed by Paul in his letter to the Romans. He had great concern for all the churches, praying and teaching that they would not walk in the flesh because of the consequences which include the wages of death (Rom 6:23). He warned, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:5).

Think of that if you will. The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law. It's simply saying, those who do not follow biblical law/principals are hostile toward GOD. Their minds are contrary to God's way ... they serve themselves, their wants, their desires, their flesh. They love themselves more than God and have virtually made a god of themselves, serving their flesh. These are the opposite of those born of the Spirit. The child of God IS, then, spiritual! Spirituality is not something you “get” in reaction to something else. It is something permanently A PART OF THE BELIEVER! It is amazing how time and men take their toll on plain Bible teaching. Among words and expressions abused, misused, perverted, bent, and twisted are such as “born again … spiritual … saint … sanctified … holy … converted…,” etc. It is little wonder that in a nation filled with Bibles men still have little concept of the will of God. And in a time and society wherein virtually everything has been placed on the altar of materialism, goods, fun, etc., very little thought is even given to being spiritual. But time does not change the Word, and it is still required that men obey the truth, and live by the truth, and thus, in life, to be born of the Spirit. For the child of God, the challenge is, again, to BE SPIRITUAL and not to just drift through life unguided and then, when faced with some situation, to “GET SPIRITUAL.”

In conclusion, though the following is never popular to say to others, my duty as a Christian is to inform you that if you have never been born again (John 3:3) then you have the wrath of God abiding on you (John 3:18, 3:36) and not one of your best efforts can ever please God because “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom 8:8). Since you have rejected Christ, if indeed you have, you reject your only hope of eternal life and have standing before you the eternal state of the wages that you have earned - death (Rom 6:23). Because everyone has sinned, including me (Rom 3:23) Jesus came to earth and was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life but became sin for us so that when God the Father looks at those who believe, He doesn’t see our sinfulness but He sees the righteousness of Christ and He imputes His righteousness to us (2 Cor 5:21) making us worthy through His shed blood being born of the Spirit. Today, if you have heard His voice in this message, repent and trust in Him because today can be your day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2). If not and Jesus returns before you are born again, you face a Christ-less eternity and the everlasting wrath of God (Rev 20:11-15).
Until next time,
-Pat-