Happy Holidays?

'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:34-36, 40 NKJV The holiday season is approaching and it should be a wonderfully happy time of year. It is a time of wide-eyed wonder for little ones and an opportunity for young families to make memories by inventing traditions that will be part of their family gatherings for years to come. Most people will gather with their families for meals, exchange gifts, attend church & work celebrations and enjoy the overall festivities. However, let us not forget that while the Holiday season is a time of celebration--for some, it is a terribly depressing and hopeless time of year. Many lack the basic necessities of life--food, shelter, clothing, etc. Many are estranged from their families--some because of their own choices & some because others made choices that caused the rift. Many have lost loved ones & the holidays bring fond memories, but serve more as a reminder of the loss they have suffered. It can emphasize what is missing from their lives rather than being a celebration of what they have. As Christians, we must be careful not to get so caught up in our own families & festivities, that we ignore the needs of others. Obviously, this is something we should do daily but even more so during the Holiday season. It is our duty and responsibility to be servants to those we come in contact with. If we reach out to them in love and meet their physical needs, that will open the door for us to speak to them about their spiritual needs. When we do for others, it bring s a smile to the face of GOD. We must live our lives in the same way Jesus did when He walked among mankind. He went to the poor, the oppressed, the possessed, those who lived openly sinful lives--these are the people He reached out to. He was called "a friend of sinners" and was criticized for associating with such people. We must do the same--when we do for people who have nothing to offer us in return, we are living out the mission of Jesus. Oh, to suffer persecution for the cause of Christ! I can think of no greater honor. Our desire should be to live a life that honors GOD. So in your holiday hustle & bustle, don't forget to minister to "the least of these" & in doing so, you are honoring our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ and truly celebrating what CHRISTmas is all about... Blessings! Tony

The source of hope...

This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" Lamentations 3: 21-24 NKJV I, for one, am thankful that GOD is a GOD of second chances. I know that I have pushed the envelope on that one, but GOD is faithful--even when we are not. We have hope because of Jesus, because He was born of a virgin, because He lived a sinless life and willingly sacrificed Himself on the cross to provide our salvation. He didn't have to & we certainly didn't deserve it. We deserved the sentence of death and eternal separation from GOD in Hell with the devil and his demons. But GOD, in His great love for us, showed mercy & compassion towards us. We have reason to be thankful for His mercy & His grace. Left to our own devices, we easily fall prey to the wiles of the devil. Satan's tricks are not new, they are as old as time itself. He used them to persuade angels to follow him in rebellion against GOD. He uses them still to convince humans to live in rebellion, contrary to the Will of GOD. He perverts things GOD intended for good--look at what he has done to sex. GOD created sex as a physical, emotional & spiritual union of a man and a woman in a committed marriage relationship. Satan has perverted it by making it cheap through pornography, through pre & extra-marital sexual relations--worst of all, he has perverted it through homosexuality. GOD never intended for people to be intimate with those of the same sex--Satan did that! Remember Sodom & Gomorrah and what became of those evil cities & the inhabitants thereof? Satan has also twisted up our views of money, possessions & material things. There is nothing wrong with having things but rather than owning them, we've allowed them to become our master instead. They (material things, that is) have become idols to us. We think we can't live without the newest gadget, the flashiest car, a larger home, a fatter bank account--all at the expense of our relationship with GOD. GOD is a jealous GOD--He doesn't like to share our hearts with anything or anyone else. Deuteronomy 4:23-24 says, "Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." We are reminded of this same concept again in the New Testament, in Matthew 6:24 which reads, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Why then do humans struggle with this so? Why has it plagued mankind for centuries? Why do we allow Satan to exercise control over us in these areas? We are rebellious and disobedient children. Just like Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden, we think we can live life on our own terms--but, it doesn't work that way. GOD will not bless a life lived in opposition to His Word & Commandments. He allows us to exercise our free will choice and suffer the consequences of those decisions. You see, often we blame GOD for the problems in our lives when they are the outcome of our poor life choices. Yet, while He could simply leave us to suffer--He extends grace to us repeatedly because He is loving and compassionate. He is our source of hope, He is our faithful Father, He is the breath of life and He delights in making provision for His Children. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy." (Psalm 147:11) How can we rebel against, be disobedient towards, or withhold praise from the Lover of our souls? My hope is in Him. I pray yours is as well... Blessings! Tony

Let's not play church...

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:23-24 NKJV I think one of the major problems in the world today is that people are tired of seeing people play church. Those in the world tend to think those in the church are nothing but hypocrites and maybe there is some degree of truth in that. Maybe, as Christians, we've become so sterile in our approach to people that we turn them off. Maybe we've become so professional & polished in our Christianity that we've forgotten where we came from and especially what GOD has delivered us from. Have we been doing church so long that we no longer remember what a mess we were when GOD found us? We lived lives that were offensive to both GOD and man, but the GOD of the universe reached down into the filth of humanity, picked us up out of the muck & mire of this world and miraculously saved us! We've conveniently forgotten the path Satan had us on, the road to destruction that was taking us straight to the depths of Hell. On the other hand, we often look at those in the world like as if they are beyond hope. Many churches these days are exclusive rather than inclusive. We find ourselves unable to look past the outer cloak of flesh they wear--with it's bedraggled clothing, the unkempt hair, the multiple piercings and tattoos. We need to look at them through GOD's eyes, "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV) GOD desires that all men be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), so that should be our goal as well. If we carry the name of Christ, we need to love others as GOD does and do what is in our power to see them come to salvation. Far too many churches are more interested in building bigger buildings, having bigger choirs, reaching the next level in attendance--but they have forgotten the purpose that the church exists for, to reach a lost and dying world with The Word of GOD. We send missionaries to foreign lands but we are afraid to walk across the street or speak the name of Jesus to another person in the supermarket. We are failing miserably in carrying out the Great Commission, especially in touching the lives of those closest to us. GOD forgive us! These are my thoughts, what are yours? Blessings! Tony

Lord, help me understand...

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV Lord, give me wisdom and give me understanding. So much has happened and so little of it makes sense to me. Not so long ago, America was a nation of people who trusted in You. She was a nation founded on Christian principles and because of that she was strong & blessed. Our military was second to none & the nations of the world stood in fear and in awe of our might because You were our strength and as long as we kept our focus on You, we were shown Your favor. So, how did we get to where we are now? Have we, as Christians, grown so pathetic and so complacent that we no longer stand for anything? We have allowed the voices of a few who claimed they were offended by "religion" to dictate the laws of our land. What must we do to get back to what we once had? How can we turn the tide of political correctness and reclaim what we have lost? I am sickened by those elected officials who claim to represent us when their only interests are in pacifying liberal leftists who cry foul at anything that doesn't agree with or endorse their views. I know You must be disappointed at what this country has become also. Christianity is on the brink of becoming outlawed because it speaks against immorality, homosexuality & other sexual perversions, idolatry, drunkenness, laziness, and many other ills that our society now embraces as normal. I know Your Word tells us "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14), but how do we get back there from where we now are? I am but one man, Lord. What can I do? On my own, I cannot & will not be heard. How can I rally lazy, complacent Christians to once again engage in the battle? We need a revival! Lord, let that revival begin in me and let it spread to my community, my state, my country & the world as a whole! Lord, make Your Presence known--fill Your people once again with a fresh anointing of Your Holy Spirit. Let us suit up with the full armor of GOD and fight the evil one that is overtaking this world. Give us boldness to speak Your Name & to proclaim You to everyone & everywhere we go. Let us not be the generation that sits back while one by one our freedoms are stripped away. So many have fought & died to preserve these rights--we cannot sit idly by. How will we respond to the generations to come? Will we tell them we gave up or will we tell them they are free because we stood in the gap & fought to preserve freedom for those who came after us? Give us courage so that we can say we fought the fight and finished the race and we can claim the crown of righteousness that awaits us when we reach Glory! Rally the troops, Lord, we have a battle to win! Who out there is with me? Who will help me fight for the Lord, for our freedoms and against tyranny?

Sweet Temptation?

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV Temptation...Satan has been playing that game for centuries and has he ever gotten good at it! Man however, is still falling for the same old thing. You would think we would catch on at some point, but he keeps dangling the carrot in front of us & we continue to fall for his tricks--pride, fame, wealth, drugs, relationships, etc. The result is ruined lives, fractured families, financial disaster and the like. On our own, we are not strong enough to withstand Satan's attacks--but, if we can overcome our own foolish pride (that Satan plays on so well) & learn to look to GOD & draw from His limitless strength--we can stand strong. Pride is what got Lucifer (Satan) into trouble to begin with. He, who was once a beautiful angel, allowed pride to over take him & thought he could rival GOD. His rebellion ended when he & his followers were cast out of Heaven. Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall" & Lucifer's fall is a perfect example. Since he was forced from Heaven & knows what awaits us there as followers of Christ, it gives him all the more reason to desire to deter us from spending eternity in Paradise. He wants nothing more than to drag as many of mankind into the pits of Hell with him. What can we do? "Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:7b-8a). The closer we grow to GOD, the more distance we put between ourselves & the devil. But, don't be deceived into believing he goes away completely--he doesn't. We must always be on guard & not give him a place to sneak in--if he gets his foot in the door, he will barge right in. When we think we have come so far that we cannot fall, we are setting ourselves up for just that. We must remain humble before the Lord, we must remain pliable in His hands, we must seek Him even in seemingly insignificant matters because He is interested in even the minute details of our lives. If we pray, seek GOD, study His Word so we have the ammunition with which to fight Satan's temptations. "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" James 1:12. Jesus Himself endured temptation, yet remained without sin. When He was at His weakest point, Satan came to Him but He was able to use GOD's Word to withstand. We have GOD's Word available to us, if we will but tap into it, mine out those golden nuggets that will allow us to also stand when temptation comes our way--and come our way it will, it is only a matter of time. We must learn to rely on GOD rather than self if we are going to win the battle against the devil. In the end, we're already told we win. Along with that, we get a heavenly reward, a mansion in glory, a crown of life...why would we not want that? Blessings! Tony

What does it mean to be Free?

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32 NKJV Today is Independence Day, the Fourth of July. It is the day we celebrate our independence from the tyranny & oppression of England. 237 years ago, patriots took a stand and proclaimed liberty. As a result, a great new country was formed. History records that America was settled by people who were in search of religious freedom--Christian people, who desired to worship their Creator in the manner they saw fit without that worship being dictated by the Church of England. These people overcame great obstacles to carve a new nation out of the massive wilderness that was then, these United States. Problems & plagues came their way, yet they stood strong--refusing to waiver in the face of danger, trusting in the will of The One who had brought them to these shores. I looked up the words "freedom" & "liberty" in my trusted Merriam-Webster Dictionary and found their definitions to be the same. Both read, "the quality or state of being free." That prompted my question, "what does it mean to be free?" I suspect individual interpretations of the word "free" vary from person to person. As a Christian, I take my cues from the Bible. I found many references to free, freedom & liberty within GOD's Holy Word. John 8:36 reads, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." Romans 8:2 says, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Then there are a couple of my favorites, Galatians 5:1, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." and 2 Corinthians 3:17, "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." I've come to the conclusion that freedom doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. Apparently, what I see as a freedom is seen by some as oppression. Because many people no longer wish to live in accordance to GOD's Word, they see GOD's commandments as oppressive & restrictive. Freedom should not & does not mean we can choose to live however we want to. We are still bound by the laws of the land & even moreso by the laws of GOD, because while America's laws may change with the winds of time & supposed progress--GOD's laws never change as stated in Malachi 3:6, "For I am the Lord, I do not change..." However as we have seen in recent years--liberals have pushed through changes in our legal system that 30-50 years ago would never have been allowed. Progress is not always positive. Where are we headed as a nation? Only GOD knows. I don't like everything I see happening to the country I was born in & taught to love, but I know that while the future is a mystery to me--GOD is already there. While I can only look at the present & past, His sight & knowledge extend to infinity. I need only trust Him to use whatever happens to bring about good, even when evil seems to prevail. I pray that we as a people will turn back to GOD & that America will once again be a blessed nation. For what it is worth, those are my thoughts. Blessings! Tony

Hate the sin, love the sinner...

"If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also." 1 John 4;20-21 NKJV I am on my soapbox again about political correctness. Much is said these days about "tolerance" & to the point it becomes nauseating. I say this because Christians are told we must be tolerant of any & everything the world throws at us. I'm not sure tolerance is a correct term. Tolerate, according to my much-referenced Merriam-Webster Dictionary, means "a: to allow to be or to be done without prohibition, hindrance, or contradiction b: to put up with." I've stated my dislike (many times) for preachers & ministries who preach GOD as only a loving GOD who would never sentence any soul to Hell because it is against His Holy Character. Truth is, GOD is a GOD of love--but He is also a GOD of righteousness & judgment. As Christians, we are called to love & accept others--to look past their sin & love them in spite of the ugliness of the choices they have made. We are still to use the wisdom & discernment GOD gives us to judge sin as sin, but we are not to judge the soul of the person---only their behavior. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." Prior to our salvation, each of us walked in sin. We all made poor choices. Still, GOD looked past that & loved us. We were--and are--sinners, but we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ our Lord. If we truly love our fellow man, rather than demean & belittle them, we should look back at where we came from. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb & the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). We cannot point people towards GOD if our life does not reflect the love of GOD. We should make them aware of the penalty of sin, but love them and help direct them towards salvation. But not for the people GOD put in my life through the years, I'd still be lost--were I still alive at all. Worse yet, had I died during my period of rebellion against GOD--my soul would now be burning in Hell for all eternity. GOD loved me enough to guard me through that period of my life & continually give me additional chances to know His love. During a time when I was steeped in alcohol, drugs & a promiscuous lifestyle--or in simple terms, SIN--GOD still loved me & desired to restore me to a right relationship with Him so I could fulfill the plans He had for my life. He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Some Christians & churches are exclusive--they don't want to dirty their saintly hands with the things of the world. But, how can we be effective in ministry if we don't reach out to people where they are? Jesus went to the sinners. He walked where they walked & in doing so, He called them out of darkness & into the light of GOD's love. Referring back to 1 Corinthians 6, it says "and such were some of you". Someone came to where we were, someone took a chance on dirtying themselves with the filth of the world in order to reach out to us. Because He loves us, we are to love others. We cannot profess Christianity if we don't love people. GOD help us to not think so highly of ourselves that we fail in our mission to reach out to others. To love them, we must accept them as they are--we must be "inclusive". Accept (once again according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary) means "to receive willingly", that sounds so much better than "tolerate". I'm reminded of the old altar call hymn, "Just as I am". GOD accepts & receives people just as they are. We should too. We should hate the sin, but love the sinner. Blessings! Tony

Our sins have been absorbed...

"And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world." 1 John 1b-2 NKJV According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary the word "propitiate" means to appease & "propitiation" means something that propitiates; specifically: an atoning sacrifice. Think about that--Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. It is difficult for me to imagine a love so deep, a love so pure, a love so sacrificial that it would compel someone to give Himself to death in order to save others. Yet, Jesus willingly gave Himself to do just that. It gives me reason to be thankful for the fact that GOD loved me so much that He sent His only begotten Son to, in effect, serve as a sponge and absorb my sin. Just as a sponge absorbs liquids, Jesus Christ came to soak up the sins of the world--my sins, your sins, everyone's sins. One man, one sinless man, served as the substitute & took the penalty for the sins of the entire world. As His precious blood drained from His tortured & tormented body, hanging there on the cross of Calvary--it covered our sins and as the earth soaked up that blood, our sins were totally & completely done away with. Logically, it is hard to wrap one's mind around that fact. However, logic plays no part in faith. Faith calls us to believe that which seems illogical. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Therefore, we have hope. Lamentations 3:21-24 affirms that saying, "This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" All we have to do is accept His free gift of forgiveness & surrender our lives to Him. Why do so many refuse that gift? Why do so many despair? Why are so many fighting addictions, joining gangs, living in torturous torment at the hands of the devil? They are lost, dead in their sins because they have not allowed the Jesus of the cross to take those sins from them. As Christians, it is our responsibility, our duty & GOD's expectation of us to reach out to them--to tell them about the Jesus who died to atone for those sins, to show them the way of reconciliation & the hope they have in GOD. I am well aware of my shortcomings in witnessing for the Lord & I pray daily for boldness to speak openly of GOD's faithfulness & the forgiveness that is available through Him. He has delivered me from so much. Without Him, I am nothing. I desire that my life is a mirror that reflects the love & mercy of GOD & tells those I come in contact with that Jesus is the sponge that absorbs the sins of the world--theirs included. What are your thoughts? Blessings! Tony

Preach the Word!

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2 Timothy 4:2-4 NKJV Something concerns me about a great deal of the preaching I hear nowadays--I fear that in an effort to be more seeker-friendly & have a broader appeal to their communities, many preachers focus on the loving side of GOD's character & downplay or completely ignore that He is also a Righteous Judge. Don't get me wrong--GOD is most assuredly a loving GOD & He wants to prosper us, spiritually moreso than materially. However, we cannot omit the fact that He will judge the just as well as the unjust. Many pastors, both the average & the famous, appear to be more concerned with growing their churches numberwise than in promoting true discipleship. I realize numbers are important. Larger churches have the man/womanpower to support various ministries & outreaches and those are needed. Tithes & offerings are contingent on the number of congregants also & obviously, money is necessary to pay bills & fund the ministries of the church. But, what exactly is the purpose of the church? I tend to think it is more important to preach GOD'S Word in its entirety. Otherwise, the church is nothing more than a Christian country club. The Gospel is "good news" but it also carries the weight of responsibility--the responsibility of living in accordance to GOD's principles and standards. If people don't know/understand them, how can they be expected to live them out? Preachers & teachers should take that responsibility seriously. I believe they will be held accountable at judgment for this very thing. That being said, all aspects of GOD's character need to be explained from the pulpit. Sin needs to be addressed & called "SIN" rather than sugarcoating it in order to make it less offensive. The Gospel is offensive for good reason. People must see sin as sin & realize their need for salvation. Once they are saved, it is the responsibility of the church to disciple them in the Christian life. I'm not sure we are doing justice to the calling GOD has placed on us as ministers of His word. And yes, if we call ourselves a Christian, we are all ministers of the Gospel & expected to share GOD with those within our circle of influence. The big question is, is the church influencing & changing the world or is the world influencing & changing the church? What are your thoughts? Blessings! Tony

How will I be remembered?

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 NKJV As I grow older, I become more & more aware of how brief and how fragile life is. In the grand scheme of things, 60, 80, or even a hundred years on this earth does little to compare to Eternity. I'll soon be 52 and in those years, I've seen many births and deaths and witnessed the events that occur in between. When you see a headstone in the cemetery, it tells you little other than the person's name & the years they were born & died. Yet, those who knew them personally know what their life consisted of, how they lived, what they believed in and what they contributed to the world & those whose lives they touched. I once read a poem entitled "The Dash" that talked of how we should live our lives & it gave me reason to ponder. I wonder how will people remember me when my earthly life is done...? I know there are many I have wronged along the way & I'm aware that my bad choices have influenced & impacted others negatively. I pray they have or will forgive me in time. For a time, I lived a very self-centered life, seeking only to satisfy ungodly desires. I caused pain for many in the years I relied on alcohol as a crutch to help see me through. I was concerned about me, me alone, & gave little (if any) consideration to the effect it had on family & friends. I was determined to live my life by my rules in spite of what I'd been taught. I knew of GOD, but did not know Him on a personal level. I saw the Bible simply as a list of "thou shalt nots" that would sentence me to a dull, boring & funless (not sure that is even a real word but it fits) life. Still, I know many were in prayer for me. GOD answered their prayers. In time, He drew me to Himself. After much running & much fighting, I finally surrendered my life to Him. That was in January of 1992. I was 30 years old & had done much damage in the 15 or so years I had lived contrary to the Will of GOD. Thankfully, GOD desires to forgive us rather than punish us. Once I repented, He willingly forgave me & restored me to a right relationship with Him. Granted, I am far from perfect--thus I still must crucify my flesh (Galatians 5:24)& die daily to self (1 Corinthians 15:31). I find Christianity to be a process & like a plant, I grow a little each day in my walk. Now I find myself looking back at more years than I have yet before me. I wonder... Am I making good use of the dash that is my lifetime? How will people remember me? Does my life reflect my Christian beliefs? Am I having a positive impact on those I come in contact with? What will be the content of my eulogy? Does any of it really matter anyway? I pray that I am letting my light shine & that my influence & actions are positively impacting others. I cannot change the evils of my past life but am thankful I am a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). I know that once I close my eyes in death, I will open them once again in Heaven and witness the splendor of that Foursquare City built by GOD for His children. The anticipation of the glory that awaits me there brings me joy. I so want my loved ones to share that experience with me in eternal bliss. I pray I am living the remainder of my life in such a way that those left behind after my death will speak kindly of my "dash". That is how I hope to be remembered. How about you? Are you living for the Lord or living for the devil? There is no fence-straddling, we are either with GOD or against Him. Turn to GOD rather than from Him & let your light shine for Him. Blessings! Tony

Be Like a Tree...

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good." Psalm 52:8-9 NKJV I've been off work for a few weeks so I have a lot of time to think, to read, to pray. I'm not accustomed to having so much time on my hands but I'm trying to use it as a time to grow closer in my walk with GOD. I live in a highly wooded community & while walking my pup, Sampson, I found myself observing the tress in the neighborhood. It made me think--which can often be a dangerous thing. However, this time I felt it was somewhat of a revelation. Trees are interesting. Each one is unique in its appearance & the way it grows, but one thing they all have in common is they all grow upwards. They reach towards the sky as if raising their branches in praise to their creator. Trees don't compare themselves to one another, they don't desire to have what the other trees have. They simply grow in their own unique & God-given manner. They flourish with what GOD provides for them in the form of nutrients & water. Some have broken branches & scars from enduring terrible storms, yet they still thrive without complaint--ever reaching heavenward. People need to be more like trees. We need to stop focusing on others & look inward, searching for what gifts & talents GOD has bestowed upon us. There is no need to compare ourselves to others, as GOD has created each person for a specific purpose and gifted them accordingly. We need to embrace our uniqueness and thank GOD for His blessings. Yes, we will encounter troubles & trials--but we will heal from the storms of life that come upon us. They may bring pain, but GOD uses those experiences to grow us an draw us ever closer to Him. We need to praise Him in the storm, ever lifting our arms heavenward & giving Him glory. He never promised the Christian life would be easy, just that the eternal heavenly rewards would be worth whatever we are forced to endure in this life. Scars show that we have overcome the pain, that we have healed & often that we are stronger as a result of the season of trial & pain we went through. I know I've been through a lot in my life & that journey is not yet over, so I will likely endure more before I meet my Lord. I want to be the man in Psalm 1:1-3--"Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper." I know I have a long way to go to reach that place, but my heart's desire is to give honor & glory to GOD for His blessings in my life. How about you? Blessings! Tony

The Simple Gospel...

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 NKJV The simplicity of the Gospel is perhaps why so many can't or won't accept it. As we age, we become skeptical, cynical, doubtful--we lose that childlike quality of faith. We cease to take things at face value, always seeking an underlying motive. Jesus Himself stated that we must receive the Kingdom of GOD as a little child in order to enter Heaven (Mark 10:15 & Luke 18:17) Children are typically very trusting, very accepting and extremely non-judgmental. They love unconditionally... Our status in life & our education sometimes get in the way as well. It's hard for us to overcome our own intelligence & sense of reason and accept simple truths. Jesus also explained to Nicodemus in John 3 about the spiritual birth, or being born again, saying the Gospel was available to "whosoever believes." The Pharisees were well-educated, familiar with the Law and considered to be leaders in the community. How could someone of his caliber accept the teachings of a lowly carpenter turned teacher? He did... Oh, we say we believe in GOD and the teachings of Jesus but our actions say differently. Even the demons believe (James 2:19) but believing in GOD is not enough--we must place our faith in Jesus, asking forgiveness for and turning from our sins. We deserve punishment--eternal separation from GOD and sentenced to a hellish torture. But, GOD loves us enough to offer us a free gift of salvation if only we will overcome our foolish pride and ask for it. The Christian life is not merely a list of "thou shalt nots"--it is a deeply personal and intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe, the One True GOD. He desires to fellowship with each of us individually. There is no cookie cutter approach that works for everyone. GOD made us all uniquely individual, so each relationship is also unique. We must cease to judge others because we see their sin as greater than our own. That is between them & GOD, just as our sin is between us and GOD. Let's work to keep it simple. The message is, was, and always will be, the same. Jesus came to earth and willingly sacrificed Himself in order to reconcile man once again to GOD. He rose again and lives eternally at the right hand of the Father, interceding on our behalf. Still, each person has a free will & has to choose for him/herself whether or not to accept GOD's gift of grace. Our job is to tell the story. We never know how or when GOD will use our individual story, our testimony, to impact the life of another & potentially change their eternal destination. "And they overcame him (the accuser of the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..." (Revelation 12:11) My own story is not pretty, yet I share it when the opportunity presents itself & I've seen it minister to others. There is great comfort in knowing we are not alone in the struggles of life. Share your story & keep the message simple. GOD will honor your efforts & allow you to see the fruits of your labor--either here or in eternity to come... Blessings! Tony

The Trials of Life

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior..." Isaiah 43:1-3a NKJV In times of struggle, this has always been one of my "go to" Scriptures. It offers me reassurance that I am not in the fight alone. It reminds me that GOD is always at my side. It calms my fears when I am facing the uncertainties of life. Lord knows I have experienced many of those throughout my life--both before & after my salvation. Granted, I made a lot of bad choices along the way & once those seeds were sown, the harvest was sure to come. There are consequences for our actions of willful disobedience to the Lord. It all comes down to that stinking free will He gave us! And, Satan--boy, does he know how to push our buttons... I am reminded of a story I once heard about a boy with a bad temper. His father instructed him to go out back & hammer nails in the fence when he lost his temper. Day after day, week after week--the boy beat & hammered nails into the fence boards working through his frustration. Slowly, he began to gain control of that terrible temper. Then, the wise father told him to remove a nail each day he didn't let anger win. Daily, the boy dutifully pulled one nail until the day arrived that he was able to tell his father there were no more nails in the fence. The father led the son outdoors & told him how well he had done but finished with a lesson about the holes left in the fence after the nails were removed. It is good to say I'm sorry, but once the wound has been delivered a scar will remain. Words & actions do damage... So, yes--we mess in our nest, so to speak, at times. We create our own problems by speaking or acting without thinking. We think GOD isn't acting fast enough, so we devise our own plan to get the process moving along. How wrong! Remember what happened when Abraham & Sarah tried to help GOD's plan by allowing him to create a child with Hagar? Remember when King David looked lustfully at Bathsheba & the disastrous events that occurred as a result? We are not alone in our desires. We are actually in great company. Many people in Biblical times tried to do things in their own way. It is not a new game at all. King Solomon stated "there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9) How true! Trials come our way in life. That shouldn't suprise us. If the King of Kings & Lord of Lords experienced the trials of humanity in His sinless state, how much more should sin-sick man encounter trials? James 1:2-4 tells us, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." Additionally, 1 Peter 1:6-7 states "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" Trials have purpose--they stretch us beyond our comfort zone, they make us think outside the box, they force us to look at alternate perspectives--in doing so, they grow our faith and deepen our trust in The One who walks with us through this life, preparing us for the Eternal Life yet to come. Fact is, we will be a work in progress until we draw our final breath--unless of course Jesus returns to take us home to Glory. Life is something like Spring training or maybe boot camp. It is designed to shape & mold us, to remove the rough edges & polish us up to be the jewels GOD sees us as. What wonders await us across that Crystal Sea and on those streets of gold! But until we get there, we must fight the battle here in a world seemingly gone mad--one that appears to have declared war on all things Christian. Tired, frustrated, battle-weary as though we may be--we must fight, knowing He walks with us through the fires of life... Fight on, fellow soldier--the battle is the Lord's! Blessings! Tony

Faith, Works, Unity, etc...

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10 NKJV Is it just me? Do others of you grow weary in your efforts to minister to "the least of these" as directed by our Savior? The demands of life, work, family & church sometimes feel like weights, pulling me downward & wearing me out in my struggle to continue forward--reaching for the prize. As I reflect back on my life, I wonder sometimes if what I do & have done really matters. Yet, I know that is Satan working on my mind, trying to render me ineffective for the ministry GOD has called me to. That ministry is, for now, a part-time endeavor because I must work to support myself. I pray that GOD opens doors for me to make it a full-time ministry at some point in the near future. Still, at times I wonder--Lord, where is the harvest? Am I impacting this world for You? Must I wait til I reach Heaven to see the results of my efforts?Is there something in me that is hindering the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those I am trying to reach? I pray daily for those in ministry & missions. I know the task is a difficult one. I know we must all maintain faith & intercede on one another's behalf. At the same time, we must hold to our faith and continue working for the Kingdom. Am I saying works gets one into Heaven? NO! What I am saying that is out of a heart of gratitude to our Lord & for our own salvation, we "work" to spread the Gospel because of our faith in The One who saved us by His grace. In the book of James,(2:17 NKJV)--we are told "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." Then, there is "the household of faith" thing. Oftentimes, church people shoot their wounded. We tend to treat those outside the church body better than those in our own family of faith. We criticize, we gossip, we judge. Fact is, each & every one of us is accountable to GOD alone. That is not to say we are not to hold our brother accountable--we are. We should address our concerns to the individual rather than talking about them behind their backs to others. Matthew 18:15-17 gives instructions on how to deal with church disipline, however, many an issue can be resolved without the involvement of others and restoration can be accomplished one on one between two brothers/sisters. On the other hand, there are some who appear to thrive on being offended. They wear their emotions on their sleeves & wait for someone to say or do anything that can be taken as offensive. Many a friendship has ended, many a church has split over seemingy trivial instances where someone got offended. The offending party may be totally unaware they have done anything--then again, it is best to address things one on one to restore the relationship to avoid a festering fued. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!" Psalm 133:1 NKJV Unity is yet another issue. Various churches & denominations look down on one another & speak ill of one another. What we seem to miss is that we are all on the same team, the same mission--bringing lost souls to salvation. We should work together to accomplish that rather than in direct opposition to one another. Our goal should not be to steal members from one another--there are far too many lost people out there in the world! If we are fulfilling the Great Commission, all our churches in every Christian denomination will be filled to capacity & the need to build more churches will then become necessary in order to minister to all those we are bringing to faith in the Lord. Ephesians 4:11-13 tells us, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;" Lord, my prayer is this--Fill us with your precious Holy Spirit & help us to realize that Satan is our enemy, rather than one another. Draw us together in Christian unity in order that the world might see & be drawn to You. Grant us wisdom, Lord. Help us to overlook one another's faults & shortcomings and be a true family of faith, working to build your Kingdom rather than our own. AMEN. Are you working for the Lord? He has a place that only you can fill. Surrender your will to Him & allow Him to use you for His purposes. That is my goal! Blessings! Tony

All Things?

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV I had a bit of a revelation, an ah-ha!, a GOD moment, if you will--recently while conversing with a friend. As I've stated many times, Romans 8:28 is my life verse & I truly believe GOD uses "all things" for our good & His glory. Matthew 6:33 came to mind, also referring to "all (these) things." I began to ponder how many referneces there might be to "all things" in the Bible, so I began a search to find out. Thanks to the Internet, I was able to quickly search the New King James Version (the one I tend to utilize most) of the Bible & found all things mentioned 142 times. Obviously I won't try to show all of them but some stood out as having significant meaning to me. The first reference I found was in Genesis. How fitting! After man's fall & the Great Flood, as GOD was instructing Noah & his family to repopulate the earth He said "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs" (Gen 9:3). The next time it appeared was again in Genesis, this time relating to Abraham. Gen 24:1 says, "Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things." In searching further, I found "all things" again in 1 Chronicles 29:14--this time King David is speaking & says, "But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You." OK, I am sensing a pattern here. These 3 men were all known for their close relationship with and obedience to GOD. Maybe there is a connection... Moving into the New Testament--as Jesus was preparing to go to the cross, He prayed--saying, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will." Bouncing right along to the book of John, we come to John 21:17--"He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep." Then there is my all time favorite, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). . In Philippians we are told, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13) There is also 3 John 1:2, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." And finally in Revelation, we find "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Rev 21:7) In these, it appears that "all things" are conditional once again to being in close relationship with and obedience to GOD. Hmmmm... Here's my take on it. Our priorities are seriously out of order in this world. We seek after material things as if we will possess them forever. Our efforts to gain more & more material wealth distract us from what is truly important. GOD does want to bless & prosper us and He promises just that if we follow His Commandments & teachings. However, I suspect our perception of prosperity & GOD's idea of prosperity might not be the same. True, prosperity comes in the form of material possessions on earth, but Heaven has no need of material things. Heaven is filled with everything we will need for eternity. The only possible thing missing are the souls we should be bringing with us if we are obedient to GOD's command to go into all the world, making disciples, baptizing and teaching them in the ways of GOD (Matthew 28:19-20). We must seek after the things that have eternal value rather than things we will leave behind when we go on to Glory. I know I often miss opportunities to be a witness for Him. I seek forgiveness daily for my shortcomings. When I reach Heaven, I want the crown I lay at Jesus' feet to be filled with precious jewels. He gave His life for me, I should serve Him faithfully with mine. What about you...? Blessings! Tony

Progress & Political-correctness?

"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV I realize I'm not a young man anymore but I recall a time within my life when things were far different in this world. People looked out for one another. They weren't self-centered like they are today. The world was a far more innocent place. Children were allowed to live their childhood, playing outdoors and feeling perfectly safe doing so. We were taught to respect adults & authority figures, like teachers, police officers, etc. In our schools, the Bible was not only allowed but celebrated. GOD's Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule were the basis of our laws & general teachings. The Gideons passed out Bibles in our schools, we had Christian assemblies & prayer was offered at our sporting events. Couples got married before having children, homosexuality was seen as wrong, parents raised their children to be productive and working responsible members of society. People worked to recieve pay & benefits. Welfare was seen as a short-term assistance for those who fell on hard times or solely to benefit those who were ill, elderly or handicapped. Somewhere along the way, a shift occurred. Suddenly, Christianity was seen as antiquated & obsolete. In our efforts to be "politically correct", we sacrificed our values completely. The things that once were seen purely as SIN, became accepted as normal. Our values completely changed--a total 180 degree shift. Welfare became a lifestyle. Illegitimate children suddenly outnumbered legitimate (products of committed, married adults) children. Homosexuality & other sexual deviations were embraced as "alternative" lifestyles & suddenly became popular. Crime began to run rampant in our land. Children could no longer play outdoors without fear of the adults who should love & protect them from danger. Many Christians simply accepted these changes. Those who spoke out opposing them were labeled at "haters". Christian organizations (including many churches) were deemed to be "hate groups" because they were intolerant of the newly accepted SIN that had received an illegitimate level of acceptance in the name of political correctness. GOD Himself became an outlaw & Christians along with Him. Everything--except GOD & Christians principles--was suddenly acceptable. The world became tolerant to everything that was once taboo and intolerant of anything that hd to do with GOD. Maybe I am the one who is confused, but it all seems wrong. Don't misundertand me--I'm far from a "hater" of any kind. I love people. I want to see people succeed in life. I'm aware we are all sinners & everyone is in need of a Savior. It is not my place to judge anyone, but I am supposed to exercise discernment & godly wisdom in my life & dealings with others. Yet, when I oppose something that GOD calls SIN--I am seen as "politically incorrect" and unwilling to accept progress. Well, if that is the case--then I must be those things. I refuse to accept SIN as normal. I will not bend to the immorality of the world and say it is ok. What I will say its that people need the Lord. Our leadership in this country needs to reinstate godly principles--the things our nation was founded on--as the moral compass for the United States. The US was once a leader in world affairs, a friend of Israel, a nation that saw GOD's blessings as a result. We need to get back to the basics, turn back to GOD, repent of our SIN and allow Him the position of leadership He deserves in our daily lives. Policial correctness and so-called progress are nothing more than a cancer in our midst, a blight on our nation. They will continue to kill our country and its inhabitants unless we return to The One who has the answers. We need to put GOD back in our schools & return to the Biblical morals that once guided us. When we do, GOD will honor His promises. Until we do, the downward spiral into the pits of Hell will continue. The choice is ours, what vote will you cast? As for me, I'm on GOD's side... Blessings! Tony

Where have all the good men gone?

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 NKJV I must have missed something somewhere along the way. When did it become socially acceptable for men to simply act as sperm donors & have no responsibility for the children they sire? I meet men of all ages & races who seem to think there's nothing wrong with haphazardly fathering children with a woman, or sometimes several women, and simply walking away. Don't they know that children from single-parent homes are far more likely to repeat that cycle? Don't they know that children from single-parent homes are far more likely to end up in prison, or that many of them won't live to adulthood because of the influence of drugs, alcohol, gangs & the like? Don't they know that GOD designed the family as a two-parent arrangement for a reason? Men are supposed to be the leaders in the home, to set the example for the children entrusted to them, to guide them in spiritual matters as well as providing basic instruction for living life. When did we shut GOD out of the institution of marriage He created? When did our preachers cease to call sin exactly that--SIN? Is the church impacting society, or is society impacting the church? Have we allowed the media & societal changes to dilute our minds to the point that we now accept anything as normal? Friends, GOD is still GOD! He is still on the Throne. We are allowing ourselves to take the route that so many civilizations before us have taken--a road to extinction that begins with the erosion of morality. We, the created, have turned our backs on the Creator. We have broken His Commandments. We have made idols of money, possessions, people, and the list goes on & on. It is not too late. We can repent & return to Him. We can begin anew, living our lives in accordance with His Word. We can implement changes in our world that will restore morality and turn the tide of evil that is washing over these United States. GOD, please forgive us! Those of us who call ourselves "Christians" have a moral obligation to live in accordance to GOD's Word, to spread His Word in the form of being both a living and a verbal witness of His goodness. If we don't, who will? It is certainly food for thought... Blessings! Tony