Month: November 2014

by

A Great Deal!

It’s Black Friday and I know there are scores of people standing in line and fighting the crowds around the nation for a good deal on a gift.

We did it yesterday evening after the turkey was eaten and while the Dallas Cowboys were losing. We decided to go down and get a new TV so we could better watch the Cowboys lose! 😉

Linda and I stood in line for an hour talking to other shoppers. We were about a hundred in line according to one of the store managers that was doing a head count.
And the line kept on growing with around 300 by the time it was over.

Our line was for just one size TV. There were lines for many other things around the store.

I don’t know why this is called Black Friday when the stores make so much green!

But I’ll give you another deal – a Red Deal. And you don’t have to stand in line.
Even better – it’s FREE.

It’s salvation.

If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

I’ve noticed that this line is never crowded, though it should be.
There is no fighting to get a hold of it.
There are no tickets handed out.
And according to the verse, it’s well lit and you can still have fellowship with those around you.

You won’t find this deal in the sale paper because salvation is FREE and you don’t have to wait for it.
It can be yours now!

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:9-10

Abba, I have had many things over the years that have broke, been repaired, or I returned. Salvation is not one of them. Thank you for this free gift given to all, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

by

Thanks Giving It Up

What would you willingly give up for another person?

I know some people that have given a kidney or bone marrow to help someone. But my question leans more towards what lifestyle would you give up to help someone.

Would you give up drinking and never touch another drop if it would rid your mom of Alzheimer’s?

Could you give up bacon or seafood if you knew it would cure a child you know of leukemia?

What about church? Would you never miss another service if it made grandma well again?

What are you willing to give up for your children or spouse to insure they are happy and safe?

The things you say you would give up are the things that Jesus did give up!
He never got drunk, never committed adultery, and never ate bacon or seafood. He did not lie, steal, murder, or back talk His parents.
He was never jealous or envious. He did not cuss or take God’s name in vain. He never missed the opportunity to worship God with others in a synagogue or Temple.

And He did this all for YOU!
Then He did something else!

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21

Jesus took upon Himself the sinful things you weren’t willing to give up so you could be made whole.
So you could be made perfect.
So you could have a more abundant life!
So you could have eternal life with Him in heaven someday!

Paul testifies of the things he was willing to give up after he accepted Jesus as his Savior.

I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Phil 3:8-9

Abba, on this Thanksgiving Day I am reminded of what I am most thankful for – that you gave up the opportunity to sin so that I can live. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

by

Liberty in Christ

To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18

Liberty is freedom!

The Founding Father’s were all about liberty and freedom. Reading the Declaration and the Constitution will give you a real sense of the liberty they meant for all that live in these United States.

But liberty and freedom doesn’t not give people the right to loot, pillage, and destroy property.

There are laws pertaining to these crimes. There are thousands of laws pertaining to all kinds of crimes. Still people continue to freely disobey the law.

How can the death of a young black man by a policeman justify the burning of police cars and the stealing of television sets?

What people need is Jesus – not more protesting and rioting.

If you feel oppressed, it is Jesus that can give you liberty.

I am free to do anything – ANYTHING in Christ Jesus. But the Holy Spirit keeps my spirit in submission on what that anything is! I am not free to sin but am set free not to sin.

This country (and the world) needs the liberty of Jesus against oppression.

Abba, I pray for those that are oppressed by sin and seeking liberty through crimes, drugs, hurting themselves, suicidal tendencies, or excuses. I pray that I may deliver the message of deliverance to those I meet, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

by

Write and Protest – but Pray!

The apostle Paul lived in pagan times. The ruling government was Rome. The emperor often thought of himself as a god.

Idol worship was prevalent. And it wasn’t long before Jews were exiled from Rome and Christian’s were persecuted.

It was the worst of times.

And yet the Apostle wrote this to the church at Rome;

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Rom 13:1-3

I try not to get political in the pulpit or on social media. For me, politics will never save anyone. You cannot legislate morality or salvation.

Do I agree with everything the President does? I have never agreed with everything any president has done and I’ve been voting since 1976.

Even president’s that made a claim of being Christian did things I did not agree with.

The Bible makes it clear the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

I believe we often get what we deserve. Sometimes we get a good, decent, God-fearing ruler and sometimes we get a disgrace.
Most of the time we get someone who will just go with the status-quo of the Washington political scene.

Should you vote? Yes!
Should you protest wrongs done by governing officials? Absolutely!
Should you continually bad mouth, rundown, and curse governing officials? Absolutely not!
You curse that which God has ordained.

So what should your response be to a president that does what is wrong, immoral, or unconstitutional?
Voice your protest if you wish too – you have that right in the USA!

I once wrote President Carter a letter over something he said which I thought was inappropriate for a born-again Christian. Did I rebuke him? Yes, in a pleasant way for his reclamation.

It’s okay to write, protest, and even rebuke.
But pray for the president!
Pray for the Congress and Senate.
Pray for the Justice’s.

Pray! It does change things!

Abba, I pray for President Obama today. Though I may never talk to him, I pray that someone that is Spirit-filled will be able to speak with him and his family about You. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

by

God Still Saves

Sunday was a great day at Crossroads. I was honored to baptize a 73 year old man.

I’ve known Bobby for years, as he is Brock’s dad – Brock being my brother-in-law. Brock had been actively talking to his dad about salvation and often asked us at church to pray for him.

Last Wednesday, Brock’s mom passed away.

This devastated the family.

When another son, Brent, began talking with his dad about things, Bobby realized that he would never see Betty again, not here and not in eternity. With that thought came the reason why he would not see her – he was a sinner that had never given his heart to Jesus.

That changed last Saturday night when he asked Jesus for forgiveness and invited Him into his heart.

It is written,

if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:9-10

I am witness and testify that Bobby did exactly that! He confessed with his mouth and told me that he meant every word he prayed – he believed in his heart. He further made a public profession of his faith by being baptized.

It was a glorious day and a great reminder that GOD STILL SAVES!

Abba, I am blessed that Bobby gave his heart to You. I am thankful for the change I see in his family because of his decision. And I pray that his salvation will affect many others that need Jesus as Savior. YES&AMEN

by

Born to preach and teach

Everyone has something they love to do – something they need to do. Something they were born to do.

You are born to do something and I hope you are doing it.

I have wanted to be a DJ on the radio since I was about 7 years old. Along the way I accepted Jesus as my Savior and then God called me into the ministry.

He also led me into radio broadcasting where I am a DJ.

I am also a pastor and have been for 15 years at my present church; preceded by 6 years at my former pastorate.

I have to talk. It’s what God has called me to do. It is what I love to do. I can take to heart the words of the Apostle Paul,

Yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Cor 9:16

He may have been saying that he had to preach the Gospel and would be reprimanded by God if he didn’t.
Or, like me, he may have been saying that it was his calling and he had to preach the Gospel – that it was a part of him. That it was his life!

For me, it is what I was born to do. To preach, teach, and talk about the Gospel.

Woe is me if I don’t.

Abba, I am blessed by the knowledge of Your word. I want to know more and share more with others. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

by

The Warning and the Way!

Last time I said that your love for another person will excuse their sin. They can be living an abomination but because you love them, you will overlook what they do.

Let me shed some light on this in a different way by using a familiar verse.

You are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. Rom 2:1

You often think of judging when someone points out the sins of another in a condemning tone.

But what happens when you overlook the sin of another person. You are judging that there is no severity in their sin. You will let them live without the knowledge that sin is punishable by the Great Judge.

To not inform someone about the danger of sin is to condemn them in their sin.

Ezekiel was given this charge by the Lord God:

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Ezek 3:17-19

I will admit that I am guilty of overlooking the sin of someone I love. But in doing so I may be condemning us both.

We need to be a watchman and just shout the warning. That’s all God requires from me and you.

Abba, You love me so much that You told me my sin would be punished by death. Then You provided a way for me to live through Your Son. Thank You. Give me wisdom in giving the warning and the way! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

by

Love Overlooks and Excuses.

Love has an amazing affect on people.

Love is able to transform sadness to happiness; it changes loneliness into hope.
The Bible has much to say about love – how it is so patient and kind.

While,

Hatred stirs up strife, Love covers all sins. Prov 10:12

“love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

Love also overlooks sins.

There is a husband that’s an alcoholic but the wife loves him and makes excuses for him when he doesn’t show up with her at a party.

There’s the child doing drugs but the parents don’t want to believe that because they love her and just want to believe she’s going through a phase.

I can go on and on and this may be happening in your family. Your love is not covering their sins – it’s overlooking those sins.

You will overlook the sins of those you love!

You nor that person you love can ever, ever cover those sins.
But Jesus can because He covers those sins in forgiveness through His own blood.

Your sin isn’t overlooked or excused – it’s forgiven, washed away, removed, gone, and never to be remembered.

Abba, thank You for covering my sin. I would still be in a bad shape had you just overlooked it. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

by

Treat others with fruit!

I love my wife. She teaches me things.

The other day we were discussing how we discuss things with other people. You have to be careful what you say and to whom you say it.

Someone you believe to be your friend will turn on you when you say something unflattering about another person – even if they agree with what you say.

Her conclusion is to speak things about others that cannot place blame back on yourself.

In Galatians 5:19-21 it speaks of the works of the flesh. Each of these attributes, characteristics, and sins work against you. Get involved with one and you will end up in trouble.

Use them against another person and you are to blame.

Then the next few verses say something totally different.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Gal 5:22-23

When you treat others with any of these characteristics you will never be blamed for doing wrong. There are no laws against these things.

So take the advice of the Bible and my wife – treat others with the fruit of the Spirit and others will never speak ill of you again.

Abba, the fruit of the Spirit is where I want to live each and every day. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

by

The Funeral

I’ve done many funerals in my time as a pastor. Each varies in length with how much the family tells me about someone, how much I know about the deceased, and what God lays on my heart.

I like to honor the one that has died, which is easier and much more joyful when the person knew Jesus as Savior.

It’s really not much different from a sermon – taking anywhere from twenty to forty-five minutes.

So I was a bit surprised by the amount of time the Bible spent on the death of a great man of God – a Patriarch of the Hebrews, Abraham.

Just forty-three words.

This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. Gen 25:7-8

But when you think of the words of Jesus, who said,

“Have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Matt 22:31-32

Abraham did not have a funeral – but a homecoming!

And so it is with all that die in this life to wake up in NEW LIFE!
Death is not the closing of one’s eyes and seeing the darkness – it is closing your eyes and seeing the Light!

And Abraham’s life speaks for itself in the descendants he left behind, including a Child born into his family under the family of Judah – Jesus!

Abba, when I die, may the words at my funeral be “He lived for Christ!” YES&AMEN