What "Gear" are you in?

When you look at the shifter in most modern automoblies, they have several gears to choose from Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Second and Low. Life is much the same way. You can remin in "Park", staying in the same place, immobile, going nowhere, looking at the same scenery and basically stagnant. How does that profit a person? Doing nothing gets you nothing in return. James 4:17 tells us, ,"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin". So, where does that leave the person who sits idylly and does nothing, who waits for the world to provide for his/her needs? Remaining in "Park" exhibits laziness and an unwillingness to follow God's Commandments. Then there is "Reverse". We often spend our lives looking backward at happier times, wishing we had done things differently, moaning about the could'ves, would'ves and should'ves. But, let's face it--life has no reverse gear. We can't go back no matter now much we might like to. We can, however, take the lessons we learned and apply them to the life ahead of us, try not to make the same mistakes again and continue moving forward. If we dwell on the past, we simply rob ourselves of our now. God wants to use us in the present... Luke 9:62 says, Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Those are the words of Jesus Himself, words written in red. I don't want to be counted as "unfit" for God's Work. How about "Neutral'? Well, the truth is that neutral can be either positive or negative. If we choose to remain in neutral, we may as well park because we're not really accomplishing anything and have become lukewarm. Lukewarm isn't good--not hot and making accomplishments in the Kingdom, not cold & detracting from the Kingdom--just kind of coasting through life with no real destination in mind. We know how God feels about lukewarm Christians... "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth" Revelation 3:15-16 That is certainly not how I want God to view me. However, "Neutral" can also be a time of hesitation to refresh ourselves--in this way, it is a positive thing. Sometimes, we need a brief respite from life, a time to refuel, to refocus and recenter ourselves in the Lord and prepare ourselvesfor His Work. 2 Peter 3:18 tells us, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen" It's ok to take a breather, to relax a bit, to take a vacation to refresh oneself--but then we have have to begin moving forward... Let's jump down to Low" gear for a bit--Slow progression is better than no progression. Sometimes, we need to proceed cautiously and slowly into our next phase, a new project, etc. We don't want to rush things and make a mess of what God is doing. I know that I have tried to hurry things and "help" God (as if He needed my "help" to accomplish what He was doing) and made a royal mess of things in the process. There is value in caution, but we cannot be fearful. We are to move boldly, even if slowly, into God's Work. Obedience is the key. I do recall that he tells us to be "slow to speak, slow to anger;"but also "quick to hear" (James 1:19) There's also 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." We operate under His Power and, as Christians, should exhibit His Love... Then there is "Second" gear. Once we understand the mission, it's time to ramp up the speed a bit, move into a higher pace and work towards finishing the assignment. Funny thing, there is no "Second" in the Kingdom. We are all equal in son/daughership. We all win! But, until we reach Heaven's sweet shore, there is work to be done here on earth--mainly the work of pointing lost souls to Him. We are told to "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." 2 Timothy 4:2. Ease into it, take your time to build confidence and comfort--but the assignment is not optional--it is a commandment from God. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 Whether or not we choose to obey is up to us... Finally we arrive at "Drive". Once we understand the mission and have properly equipped ourselves, it is time to shift into drive and cruise on down the highway doing our all to show the Love of God to others we encounter along the way. It has been said that we are often to only "Bible" others may read. Our lives should reflect the character of Christ and exude love and compassion. 1 Peter 1:13 says "... preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." How do we continue in His Work? By being in constant communion with The Father, prayer, Bible reading, praise and worship. We have to continually refill ourselves in order for the Spirit to overflow from us and splash on others so they too can receive the vision, come to know God and be part of His mission on earth. Understandably, we all have to start somewhere and there is always room to improve--but, What gear are we operating in? Just some of my thoughts and ponderings... Be blessed, Ya'll! Tony

Car Wash Christianity

"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil," Isaiah 1:16 I live out in the country on a dirt road and I enjoy the space and the peace that goes along with it. Try as I might, it seems to be an exercise in futility to wash our vehicles. One trip out, and depending on the weather, the car or truck is covered in either dust or mud. Pondering that made me think of how we often approach our spirital life. Often, we go to church on Sundays and enjoy a time of worship and The Word only to walk back into the same old garbage afterwards. Don't get me wrong, we need church. We need fellowship with other believers. But, what we need more than anything is real heart change. We need to learn how to praise God in the storms of life & not go back to our old and comfortable ways of sin. "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) What does it benefit us to be wishy-washy in our faith? How does that point anyone to God? Either we are fully dependent on Him or we are fully dependent on self. Self typically takes us down the wrong path... We need to be fully committed in our faith. We can't hold hands with Jesus while we are dancing with the devil. We need to choose one or the other. Personally, I know that I mess up at times & don't display godly characteristics. But, I do try & be repentant and change my ways. God knows we aren't perfect like Him, but our goal should be to be as much like Him as possible. "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1) We have to bring ourselves under submission to His Will. His Way is better. Lord knows that I have tried doing things my way a lot in life & then had major messes to clean up as a result. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) So, let's not have a car wash Christianity, praising Him one day and wallowing in the mud the next. Let's be fully committed in our faith! Blessings, Tony

Holy Boldness

"And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31 I've been hearing the words "Holy Boldness" in my spirit lately. I fear that, as Christians, we have been operating from a place of comfort and complacency. That is simply not enough! If we are to claim and proclaim the promises of God, we must act with boldness and grab hold of what He has for us. Our efforts to share the Gospel must be intensified. Time is short for Jesus' return and the world is a dark and ugly place. Sin is rampant in our nation and world. Abominations are paraded in front of us and accepted as the norm. Children and the elderly are dying at the hands of those who are commissioned to love, care for and protect them. Political corruption and racism abound. People are hungry and homeless. Where is the Church in all of this? We're sitting back on our blessed assurances and watching it all unfold, apparently unconcerned. If we are not concerned about those around us, then where is our love for our fellow man? If we are not doing somthing to improve their circumstances, are we not complicit in their demise? Are we living from a place of fear and timidity, or do we believe what the Bible says? Where do we find strengh, boldness and a call to action? "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16 "I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2 We find our strength through time spent with God and in His Word. We find our strength in prayer and through communion with those of the faith. It isn't enough to simply talk about the issues, we must take action! We must exercise Holy Boldness. We must put on the full armor of God and be ready to engage in battle on Heaven's behalf. Change only happens when there is a change taking place. It's up to us, as God's ambassadors here on earth to bring about change. It is not the government's responsibility. Had the Church been the church, the governemet would not have had to step in. We are the body of Christ. We must get out of our comfortable, air-conditioned sanctuaries and hit the streets to escort in a time of change, not religion--simply being the hands and feet of Jesus, making Him known to a lost an dying world. There is hope! His Name is Jesus! It is up to us to boldly make Him known!

Looking for Love...

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 Those of us of a certain age will recall the country song, "Looking for Love" sung by Johnny Lee back around 1980--which seems like a lifetime ago now, although I was an adult when it came out. So, yeah--I guess I'm getting old. I've had that old song on my mind for some reason lately. Anyway--in it, he talks of looking for love in all the wrong places, playing a fool's game just hoping to win, telling lies & losing time and time again. Obnviously, he was looking for romantic love and apparently wasn't very successful. There's a spiritual parallel there. We waste valuable time in life trying to find fulfillment in what the world has to offer. There is a void within us that only God can fill, but we attempt to fill it with things that aren't made or meant to satisfy that great need we have. "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear." Isaiah 59:2 As for me--I tried to find fulfillment in the world. I sought to be popular and make myself known. I looked for fulfillment in romantic relationships. I thought a good job and being in a position of power would meet my needs. When that didn't work, I amassed possessions--which still left me empty. I tried drugs, alcohol and sex--but, they only caused more (and worse) problems in my life. Ironically, I had grown up in church and attended a Christian school. I knew God's Word. I just didn't want to heed it. In my mind, it seemed like a list of "Thou shalt nots" that would rob me of the freedom to enjoy life and all it had to offer. Still, life and poor choices robbed me of the same. "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled;And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2:11 I knew what I needed to do, I simply did't want to. I ran from the calling God had on my life, made a myriad of bad choices and sent myself into a cycle of depression and despair. However, when I hit rock bottom and had the presence of mind to reach out to God, He was there, waiting for me just as He had been for all those years. I couldn't run or wrestle with Him any longer. He wasn't willing to renegotiate--I had to do it on His terms. I surrendered and accepted what I should have many years before and could have avoided much pain and heartache if I had. "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!" Psalm 139:7-8 He separated me from the old, called me out and made me new. He cleaned me up. He gave me purpose. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9 Here's the truth of the matter--what He's done for me, He'll do for you. He offers us a free gift of salvation. Jesus gave His life and blood to make a way of reconcilliation for sinful man--and we are all sinners. All we have to do is receive the gift He offers. Like the father received back the prodigal son, God will willingly open His arms and heart to you. You've made mistakes. You've done terrible things. Maybe you're caught in addiction--to drugs, alcohol, porn, gambling, sex, codependency, etc. He already knows and He loves you anyway. The first step is siply calling out to Him. He is waiting for you, just as He waited all those years for me. Stop looking for love in all the wrong places--reach out to God and receive true, unconditional love like you have never known before. Become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) in Him. Let go of the baggage that the world has weighed you down with and fall into His overwhelming love an peace. There's also a line in the song that says, "You came a-knockin' at my heart's door. You're every thing I've been lookin' for." It reminds me of another Scripture, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20 What are you waiting for? You're looking for love and love has a name, His Name is Jesus--The One Who gave His life for you!

We Must Trust Him

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV We say that we do, but do we really trust God? Sure, when life is going well and all seems right in our world--it's easy to trust God. But--when all hell is breaking loose, when family relationships are strained, when financial disaster occurs, when you're bound in addictions, when a marriage falls apart, when a child is disobedient and making bad choices, when death unexpectedly claims a loved one...do we trust God? Sadly, I have been in all those places. And, at times, I found it hard to trust Him. I've accused Him of being unfair. I've been angry at God. I've wanted to walk away. I've not wanted to live this God-given life. Fortunately, He has never given up on me--even though I've given Him reason to. He's been faithful. In the darkest and most painful times of my life, He's been with me. He has encouraged me to keep going. He's offered me spiritual strength, when I was completely tapped out. When I gave up on myself and wanted to throw in the towel, He never gave up on me. When I wanted to die and begged Him to take me, to end the pain for me...He carried me through and gave me a purpose for my life. "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthains 4:8-11 NKJV When we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel (or when we're certain it's an oncoming train meant to knock us down once again), He gives us hope. He created us with and for a purpose. Every day that we awaken to is a gift from God, a new opportunity to make a difference in this world. How dare we minimize the Creator of the universe? When times are tough, that's when we need to trust Him more, to cling to Him more, to seek what we're to learn by going through whatever lies ahead. Let's face it, life isn't easy. Stuff happens. We get the wind knocked out of us time and time again by the attacks of the enemy of our souls. Yet, God is always there to pick up the pieces for us, to give us the strength to go on, to love us through life's pains and trials, even the consequences of our own poor choices. He finds a way to use those things, to weave them into the tapestry of our lives and to intertwine our lives with the lives of others. The reality is that nothing is wasted. Nothing goes unseen or unnoticed. Every dark cloud has a silver lining. The bad is somehow used to bring about good in our lives and for the Kingdom. He brings others into our lives who face the same struggles that, with His help, we have overcome so we can share our testimony of deliverance and restorataion with them, thereby pointing them back to The Father of Love. He means us no harm, He simply knows what is best for us and allows us to go through things that will grow & strengthen us. It is all part of our refining process to make us fit for battle in this world and preparing us for the world to come. Regardless as to what comes our way, we must trust Him... Blessings! Tony

Bumps in the Road...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV Somewhere along the way, we all hit some bumps in the road on the highway of life. We plan, we prepare and we save for the future. But somehow, life just doesn't go as planned. We're speeding along and things seem good when all of a sudden, we hit a big pothole in the form of family issues, a death, a divorce, an illness, an addiction, financial concerns, etc. Some type of calamity or tragedy strikes and knocks the breath out of us, takes us to our knees. Well, on our knees is where we need to be more anyway, talking to God and seeking Him. Why is it that we trust ourselves so, when we know ourselves best and are aware that we don't know it all? Why is it that God always seems to be our last resort, rather than The One we run to first? He isn't caught offguard by anything, but we are. Why is it that we can talk the Bible talk so well but struggle so to walk the Bible walk? Why is it that we put on our masks and act like we have it all together when in reality, we don't? Why is it that we have so much trouble being transparent about our struggles and try to keep them hidden from others? Why can't we accept that God allows things into our lives to stretch and grow us, so that we learn from the event and are better prepared to minister to others as a result? "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18 Why do we always feel that God is punishing us for some sin we've committed? I propose that the answer is that we rely far too much on self and far too little on God. We need to turn that around and put it in the proper order... We're supposed to be new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), but we don't act like it. We drag around our yesterdays with all their pains, problems & struggles like they are some sort of badge of honor that we can't let go of. When we're not doing that, we're wasting our time worrying about what might happen tomorrow, next week, next year, etc. The reality is that yesterday is gone and we can't change a thing about it. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed and we have no control over it. The best thing we can do is live our lives one day at a time and use them to honor God. All we have control over is the now. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 I'm not one to say we should change God's Word in any way, but imagine if a comma were placed between the words now and faith... We need to have a "NOW" faith, not a yesterday or tomorrow faith. We need to trust God in the now. He has forgiven us our yesterdays (assuming we've confessed & repented of yesterday's sins) and He alone knows what tomorrow holds in store. We'll get there when we get there if we live to see it, as my Granny always said. May I remind you of a couple more Scriptures? "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1 and "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:10-11 God's goal is not to condemn us, but to make us righteous through Jesus and He uses that which seems like trials to mold, shape & perfect us into who He desires us to be. We shouldn't be surprised by those bumps in the road, He told us to expect them. We just need to rely less on self & more on God. He is the light in our darkness. He is our guide through life's wildnerness. All we have to do is push self aside and follow Him... Blessings! Tony

The Devil Made Me Do It..?

"He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:8-10 NKJV In our world today, everyone wants to do their own thing, to be comfortable in their SIN without having anyone call it what it is--SIN. How'd that happen? Well...we Christians sat back, kept our mouths shut, and watched society erode over time. It took decades to happen, but we slowly began to overlook SIN--to call it choice in the name of political corectness & tolerance. I mean, we don't want to appear judgemental or anything so we overlooked SIN and made excuses for it rather than exposing and eradicating it like we're supposed to. I'll date myself considerably here, but I recall a comedian named Flip Wilson back in the 70s who always said, "The devil made me do it!" He also dressed in drag as "Geraldine" & it was seen as funny. Of course, that was before men started dressing and acting like women & it being seen as a cultural norm. I remember when churches used to hold womanless weddings & beauty pageants as a means of bringing humor into the church--because it was simply seen as humor. Nowadays, the thought of such seems strangley odd because men & women seem to have no clear roles anymore and the world says it is all ok & everyone should be accepted for who they are (or who they perceive themselves to be) regardless of the genitalia they were born with. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we should publicly humiliate anyone or bring back public stonings--but, we need to call SIN what it is. The devil only has the power that we give him. He doesn't make us do anything. He merely presents the temptation, idea, rebellion, or whatever. We made the choice whether to dismiss the idea or act on it. There is no SIN in being tempted, it is SIN when we entertain and act on it. One cannot profess to be a Christian and live in habitual SIN, or condone the SIN of others. If you're attending a church that supports SIN, you need to find yourself another church. Still, no one is beyond the reach of God's Great Grace. Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord can be forgiven of their SIN and be saved. As Christians, we are doing people a disservice if we tell them otherwise. God is a God of Love, but He is also a God of Judgement and will not allow SIN to enter Heaven. Our job here on earth is to represent Him to the lost and help them see their need for forgiveness. If the concept of SIN is lost, then there is nothing to seek forgiveness for. My Bible says that "ALL have SINNED and fallen short of the glory of God" and "the wages of SIN is death." But God, Who is great in Mercy, made a way for SINful man to be reconciled to Him by sending His One and Only Son to sacrifice Himself in their place, to take on the SIN of all the world, to die a cruel death, to visit Hell and wrestle with Satan over the souls of mankind. And, He won! He overcame! He sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven forever making intercession for us. So, let's not be so accepting of SIN. Let's be bold enough to call it what it is. Let's not give the devil any power--becasue the battle is already won! When you're tempted to use the line, "The devil made me do it," don't! By God's Grace & Power, SIN has no power over you, nor does the devil. Resist the devil and he will flee! Blessings, Tony

It Ain't Easy!

"Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:32-33 NKJV Let's face it, the Christian life isn't easy. In a perfect world situation, we'd simply surrender our lives to God & live happily ever after, spreading sunshine and joy wherever we go. But, it's not a perfect world & it's becoming more and more imperfect day by day. Times are indeed getting harder for people of Faith. We shouldn't be surprised though, Jesus warned us about it. We've simply gotten fat, lazy & complacent in our Christianity over the years. We have our rockstar preachers, our concert-like environments, our comfy chairs & climate-controlled sanctuaries. Most churches are so strictly scheduled that there's little room for the Holy Spirit to operate. And, we wonder why God seems distant... The fact is that as we near the end of the age & the return of Christ (which could happen any day and we really need to get our lives & houses in order to be prepared for), things are going to get increasingly difficult for the Family of God. The world is full of trouble, sin is rampant and now, it's condoned rather than seen as wrong. We look at the world in utter disgust. But, what are we doing about it? If the church operated like the church of old, we'd be out doing street preaching and evangelizing. We'd be supplying food to the humgry, clothing the naked, ministering to those who are imprisoned. We'd be taking care of widows & orphans. We'd be shing the light of God's love into the darkness of the world. Yet, we sit in our sanctuaries & talk about how evil the world has become & do nothing for the most part. Talk is cheap, people. We have to put feet to our faith. Will people question our motives? Yes, they will. Will they think we're a bunch of religious fanatics? Probably so. Won't they think we have some sort of angle? Most likely--but we actually do. We're called to be salt & light to the world around us and to share God's Love with hose we come in contact with. Will they reject us & God too? In some cases, yes--but in others, they will open their hearts to the truth of God's Word & become a new creation in Christ. That's where our reward is--the joy of seeing others come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and His Sacrifice for them. It takes work. It takes blood, sweat & tears. It takes getting out of those comfy chairs & burning some shoe leather, knocking on doors, talking to people who are different from us, overcoming our fears and being Christ's Ambassadors as we should be. Remember The Great Commission? It's a commandment, not a suggestion... It ain't easy, but it's worth it! Blessings, Tony

You Are Loved!

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 As humans, we all need to know that we are loved. Sadly, many in this world don't feel the love of or from others and it tends to make them feel hopeless and worthless. I can completely relate, because for much of my life and even though I was loved by many, I felt unloved & unworthy of anything good as a result. Why? Well, I made a lot of bad choices in life and frankly, I became embarrassed and felt foolish even interacting with others--much less expecting love and acceptance from them. In my drug and alcohol-induced state, I went through cycles of isolation and depression. But, I was really good at putting on my mask & appearing "normal" to those around me. When I came to the place in life that I amitted I had a problem, many were surprised because I had hidden it well to all but those closest to me. I wish I could say that I knew where it all began...I'm not really certain. I had a pretty good childhood. We weren't wealthy, but I didn't lack anything. But for some reason, I always felt less than, like I was an unnecessary burden to my family, like I just didn't fit in somehow. At an early age--like 12-13, I began looking for "my people" who would accept me & love me for who I was. I found them, or so I thought. I started hanging out with neighborhood kids who were significantly older than me & that introduced me to a world of drugs, alcohol & sex. I felt "grown" and liked this newly discovered world. Needless to say, it didn't take long before things began spiraling out of control. Somehow, I maintained that lifestyle for several years before I came to the point that I couldn't anymore. God had been calling to me all along, I just wasn't listening and I was determined to do life my way. I didn't want to live by a list of "thou shalt nots" and a bunch of self-imposed religious rules. My lifestyle brought me to the brink of death and it was at that point that I begged God to take me out of this world. But He didn't...so, I told Him my life was a wreck & if He could do anything with it, He could have it because I was done--done as in I literally wanted to die. Because my family had been impacted by suicide, I vowed I would never do that...but the reality is that I wanted to still. I had reached a place of emotional and spiritual bankruptcy and felt I had nothing to offer, nothing to give and no reason to live. In His wisdom, God had placed someone in my life who reached out to me, who told me about God, who tried to put a mirror in front of me so I could see what he saw & what God saw in me. As I laid on the floor, in a fetal position and begging for death to come--I remembered some of the conversations Chris (God's instrument and vessel) & I had and it was then that I surrendered. I remember suddenly feeling such peace...peace like I had never felt before. It was as if a weight had been lifted from me. I felt warmth and love, I had hope again--something I hadn't experienced for over half my life at that point. I got up, cleaned myself up and drove to a nearby church to talk with the pastor. Some of his people had recently visited my home during a neighborhood outreach and one of the men was a guy I had gone to school with in years past, so it was the first church that came to mind. The pastor was kind and he reassured me that I had done nothing worthy of God's condenmation and damnation, that those thoughts were from the devil instead. I became a regular attender of that church & eventually joined, was baptized and began working to minister to others there. Over time, I joined the choir, I taught Sunday School, I worked with the youth program and served in any way I could. I was quite literally reborn into another person altogether. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 This verse was (and is) a reality in my life! I wish I could tell you everything has been easy since my conversion. I can't--there have been hard times, horrible losses, fractured relationships--but, God has walked with me through the hard times. He has comforted me and shown me grace & peace whether I was on the mountaintop or in the depths of a difficult valley. He has loved me through it all. God wants you to know that you too are loved! He sent His Son into this world for you. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 He loved each of us, long before we recognized Him. "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10 He walks with us and places others in our lives to love and encourage us & for us to offer love and encouragement to. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25 God doesn't make mistakes. He has a life plan designed specifically for you and frankly, there's nothing you can do that will make Him turn His back on you. It took me many years and a lot of heartache to realize this. If He did it for me, He can and will do it for you. Just know that you have worth, that you are here for a purpose, that you are valuable in the Kingdom, and most of all that YOU ARE LOVED! Blessings! Tony

Patience...Who, Me?

"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5:7-11 Man, I gotta tell you that patience has never been my strong suit at all. It's an area I struggle in considerably. I want what I want & I want it now, in my time & on my terms. Patience, what is that? Well, in the season of life I'm in, God has been teaching me much about patience. Talk about being stretched out of one's comfort zone... The devil has thrown up every roadblock & obstacle he could to try and make me give up. Fortunately, what I lack in patience, I make up for in sheer determination. I do not give up and I don't accept defeat easily. Still, the Lord has shown me Scriptures about being patient along the way. "Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly." Proverbs 14:29 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12 Funny thing there--the house I grew up in as a child, the house number was 1212... God has interesting ways of catching your attention. Then there's the Love Chapter, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." 1 Corinthians 13:4 And continuing the love theme, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2 We need to show compassion towards others and give them godly direction and advice, "And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone." 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Really God? Believe me, I love people and I want to see people come to know the Lord more than anything. But, some of those people really get on my nerves! Some refuse to hear you, some are completely defiant, some are just prisoners of their own poor life choices & can't see a way out. They often won't listen to reason & sometimes get defensive when you're trying your dead-level best to help them. Don't get me wrong, I make a mess of things sometimes when my other character flaws exhibit themselves. I can be horribly blunt in my speech and in expressing my personal opinions and typically don't care who hears or disagrees with them. Really, I'm the guy that you don't ask an opinion from unless you really want it because I'm gonna be honest and that honesty might hurt your feelings. I don't set out to, but it happens because I'm not too good at flowering things up & making them sound pretty. I just give brutally honest responses. But patience...really? I'm still working on myself & what's better is that God is still working on me. I know I have to make Him scratch His head at times because I've always been the precocious sort & now that I've lived almost six decades on this earth, I suspect the possibility of that changing is pretty small. I read about Job & his patience. Evidently, he was a better man than I can ever hope to be. But, I'm still forging forward with my head down and a great deal of stubbornness and determination. Whether you classify those as character flaws or character qualities, it's how God wired me when he knit me together in my mother's womb. There are struggles in this life, but God uses them, uses me, and uses you--flaws and all--to accomplish His Plan. I won't pray for patience...because you get trials to help you develop said patience & Lord knows, I've got enough trials without bringing more on myself. Wisdom, Favor, and Anointing--those are the things I pray for daily. But, that patience thing...who, me? Help me, Jesus! Blessings! Tony

The Covid Crisis...

"Therefore the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will send a wasting disease among his stout warriors; And under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame. Now in that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God." Isaiah 10:16 & 21-22 NASB Isaiah is my favorite Old Testament book. As I was reading this morning, this passage about the remnant of Israel stood out to me. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I'm not saying that God has sent Covid-19 as any form of punishment, but there are some points of interest. We all know that God is all-knowing & all-seeing and that He is capable of bringing good out of even disastrous situations (Romans 8:28). We know that God walks with us through difficulties (Isaiah 43:1-3), we know that He doesn't put anything on us that we can't bear or that He Himself has not endured (1 Corinthians 10:13) and we understand that we grow through what we go through (James 1:2-4). What I'm saying is, that we've made excuses for years about not having time to invest in our relationship with God, that we're so busy that we can't spend time reading the Bible, that we can't spend time in prayer, that we don't have time to sit still & listen to praise & worship music so we enter God's Throne Room. Well, with the Corona virus, we're all stuck at home for the most part--except for those who are considered essential. Fortunately for us, my wife & I are both considered essential. She works in health care & I for a recovery program. So, although we are separated by many miles at present because of circumstance, we're both still working & able to pay our bills. Many are not so fortunate. Domestic violence is on the rise and people are concerned about their finances & how they'll pay their bills if this continues. We can't allow the devil to put worry on us, we have to trust God (Matthew 6:25-34). Even if we're still working, we still have a lot of extra time on our hands. How about we use that time to reconnect with God? What if He has allowed this in order to get us to refocus our priorities? We've let work, school, relationships, possessions, hobbies, sports, etc., take all our time from God. God should be first in our lives & we've relegated him to the bottom of the totem pole in our priorities, the last option instead of first place, where He should be. Repentance should begin with the people of God (2 Chronicles 7:14). Once we get our priorities right and reignite our relationship with God, then we can be that lighthouse to point others to Him. There are a lot of lost & lonely people out there who have no hope. We possess an eternal hope that is shareable & that is what we need to do, share it! 1 Corinthians 13, known as The Love Chapter, tells us that it doesn't matter what we posses, the good deeds that we do, the money that we give--none of that means anything if we don't have love for God & love for others. We are unable to give what we don't possess, so we have to work on us first in order to then share with others. We're going to get through this! God has not abandoned us! I don't classify myself any sort of prophet, but I think that God will bring an end to this just as quickly as it began, bring healing & restoration to our land (Psalms 107:19-21) and that we, as a a people will, cease taking Him and our other freedoms for granted, and that churches will be filled to capacity. Rather than being a voice of fear, let us be a voice of faith. Rather than buying into the doom, let us share hope. I'm telling you, we win in the end--the Book has already been written & I've read the last chapters. Don't lose hope. Don't lose faith. Keep your chin up and your eyes on the cross of Jesus. Trust in God & His Mighty Grace! Blessings! Tony

Sweet Peace....

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful." John:14:27 ASV With everything that is happening in our world today, peace seems elusive. However, the peace that Jesus offers isn't dependent on our situation or the circumstances that surround us. We have to look at things through spiritual eyes, rather than natural eyes & see what God sees rather than what appears in the natural world. We live in a fallen society & under the curse of humanity. But, this life is temporary and our eternal home is Heaven. We are merely passing through this world en route to our final destination. While we are here, we need to be about the Father's work & do what we can to point others to Him. Change has to start within the church body--we've become complacent, somewhat fat & lazy, content with what we have & are. But, God has so much more! "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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 ASV It is God's people, Christians, those within the church that have to take the first steps and forgo our pride. We must be humbly submissive to Him. We must repent of our sins before we can encourage others to repent of theirs. We must seek the face of God before we can show Him to others. We must ask for forgiveness and then lead others to do the same. Essentially, we can't give what we don't possess. If we've taken it upon ourselves to do things in our own power, then we've left God out of the equation altogether. We can accomplish the natural, we need God to accomplish the supernatural. He'll allow us to be part of it, but we have to have Him to complete it. Lie won't always be easy. We'll encounter troubles. Isaiah 43 tells me that God walks with me through the trials of life. Romans 8 tells me that He brings good out of all things. Psalms 23 tells me that He walks with me through the valley of the shadow of death. Psalms 91 tells me that He covers me with His wings & protects me from pestilence & disease. James 1 tells me to consider it all joy when I encounter trials because it is in times of trial that my faith grows & I draw closer to God as a result of them. Philippians 4 tells me to be content with what I have & in any situation. So, how can I know all these things, read His Word, pray for divine revelation and then not take seriously what He shows me? I have to see things from His perspective & walk in faith, denying what I see in the natural. Remember, we walk by faith, not by sight and when we walk in the Spirit, we won't fulfill the desires of the flesh. Our carnal man will always be at odds with our spiritual man. We choose which one we'll be. No fence-straddling allowed, we have to choose a side. As for me, I want the sweet peace He offers so I'm going with God. I pray you will too. Blessings! Tony

Jesus's Mission Statement...

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn," Isaiah 61:1-2 NKJV Jesus quoted these verses as He launched His public ministry, reading them in the Temple and stating that He was the fulfillment of the prophecy--the Messiah, The Son of God (Luke 4:18-21). I see that as Him claiming this as His personal mission statement. As Christians, or "little Christs", we are supposed to follow the example of Jesus. Therefore, if this was His mission statement, should it not also be ours? But, do we do it? Are we preaching the good news to those in need? Are we ministering to the brokenhearted? Are we sharing the message of freedom in Christ to those held enslaved by the chains of addiction, abuse & depression? Are we taking the Word to those who are imprisoned to tell them there is a better way of life? Are we telling others that Jesus is the way & that He's taken the punishment for all their sins? Are we making it known that He will return & judge the earth? Are we comforting the grieving? How well do we measure up in what we do as Christians? It's not enough to just attend church on Sunday. We don't get gold stars & smiley faces for participation--we must be people of action! James says it well. I like James because he doesn't sugarcoat things, he shoots straight & gets right to the point. Here's what he has to say, "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:15-17 NKJV Wishing someone well is ineffective if we don't do something to change their situation. We have to be willing to get our hands dirty and serve others. Jesus did it--He washed the disciples' feet. If He, as the Prince of Heaven, can be a servant, can't we? I fear we are missing opportunities to share God's Love with others because we don't want to get involved or be a bother. So we stand idly by while people stagger through life & towards the gates of hell without making effort to warn them of the dangers ahead. If you knew a bridge was out, wouldn't you try to stop people traveling towards it to save them? Some years back, I heard someone speak on a verse from Proverbs. I read Proverbs daily but had never paid attention to this particular verse until this point. It was Proverbs 24:11, which reads as follows: "Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter." It's our duty as Christians to tell others about the sinless life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection of Jesus--all for them. If we fail to tell them of His love for them and of the eternal torment that awaits them if they choose not to accept & follow Him, we are allowing them to wander aimlessly, stumbling towards destruction, the very gates of hell itself. I don't know about you, but I can't stand by & watch while those of my generation and in my circle of influence commit slow suicide by living a life without Christ. It's up to us--we have to be the ones to tell them! Will people think we're crazy? Probably so. Will we lose close relationships because of our zeal for God? Maybe...but Jesus warned us there was a cost to being His follower. He told us there'd be difficulties. He told us we'd be despised & persecuted. But, He also told us that it'd be worth it in the end, when the battle is over and he welcomes us into Heaven, His Kingdom of Glory and Eternal Peace, and says "Well done..." I long for that day. Don't get me wrong, I love my life & the people in it, but my soul longs for the day I see my Jesus face to face. I just want to take as many with me there as I can. Do I get tired and frustrated at times? Yes, do I ever! Do I sometimes question my calling? Yes, often... Do I wonder if it's all worth the personal sacrifice, the sometimes seemingly endless days, the lost sleep, the tiresome travels, the separation from loved ones? Yes, to all. But, I know without a shadow of a doubt that God has called me to what I do and I refuse to let anything or anyone on earth or in hell below, distract me from my purpose. Do I miss the mark sometimes? Yes, all the time. But God loves me still & knows the motives of my heart. I have to ask for forgiveness regularly, but I'm doing what He called me to. We have to be the ones to sound the alarm! All is not lost. We can still turn our country back to God. We just have to be willing to stand our ground & not let the forces of evil overtake this world. We may be but a small remnant of believers, but look what Gideon did with a small army. We cannot continue to sit in silence. Will you join with me in this battle? Will you take Jesus's mission statement as your own? Will you help proclaim Christ to the masses? Will you be a heavenly ambassador to this lost generation? Will you live a life that points others to God? Or, will you just stand there with your hands in your pockets while they march towards hell? It's your choice, but you have to live with the choice you make. Ponder and pray about that... Blessings! Tony

Loving Past the Labels

"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." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV I fear the Christian church in America as a whole is missing the mission God called them to because we have become prideful, condescending and self-righteous. We're much like the Pharisees of old in that we call attention to ourselves, our good deeds, & our position in whatever ministry we are part of. We do things more for the fact of being seen of men than we do of pointing others to God. We point a bony finger of righteous indignation at others rather than simply loving them as we are told to. We forget who & what we were when God pulled us out of the muck & mire of the world. I'm not saying that we're not a new creation when we come to Christ & that the old is done away with (2 Corinthians 5:17), because it is and it no longer defines who we are. However, I think it's important for us to remember where we came from in order to be able to minister to others facing the same struggles (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). While it is true that the modern church has been highly influenced by the world around it, rather than the other way around like is should be, we're still supposed to love others in spite of their sin. That doesn't mean we condone sin, just that we choose to love the sinner. How can we expect to minister to them & cause them to turn to Christ if we think we're too good to associate with them? If I recall, Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount that we're supposed to love our enemies, to do good to them that persecute us because even those of the world love the ones who love them (Matthew 5:44-48). We're supposed to be different in that respect. We're supposed to love like Jesus loved & He loved and prayed for even the very ones driving the nails into Him as they placed His body on the Cross of Calvary. Now, that's love! Like Jesus, we need to look past the sin & realize that people are affected by this world, the circumstances of life, addictions, demonic oppression, etc. Regardless of all that, God still loves them & sent His Son to die for their sins. He wants a relationship with every one of them--the thief, the liar, the drunk, the junkie, the prostitute. He sees them all as lovable. Therefore, we need to look past the labels the world has placed on them & see their value through God's eyes. I recall years ago teaching teens at Eastern Valley Baptist Church, sometime in the early to mid 90s. I walked in one morning with a box of children's building blocks, the type with the ABC's on them that toddlers usually play with. I got a lot of strange looks & snarky comments from some 13-18 year old kids. I recall one saying. "Mr. Tony, we're not 3 year olds." But, I had a point to make that day & those blocks played a part in it. I asked those young folks to think about other young people who might feel they didn't fit in or wouldn't be welcome at church. I got responses like the druggie, the unwed mom, the bully, the nerd, etc. As they called them out, I used the blocks to build a pyramid on the desk. Believe me, I was still getting puzzled looks & I'm sure they wondered exactly where I was going with this demonstration. When they couldn't think of any more labels to call out, I handed a block to a young man sitting in the front row & instructed him to throw it at the stack of blocks. He did & the stack of blocks tumbled down scattering all over the desk & floor. Then I hit them with the truth bomb that we either went out of our way to reach the "bad eggs" of society and bring them in to help build the church or we judged & exiled them, destroying the church instead. It was a God moment. I can't claim credit for it, but it was impactful. They mentioned it to me for years afterwards until they moved on to College & Career or Young Marrieds classes as they aged out of the youth group. Life has taken us all on different journeys since then & I'm sure will continue to until Jesus returns or God calls us home to Heaven. The fact still remains that we either build the church by calling in the lost or we allow it to die a slow death and leave the lost to a fate of eternal hell and damnation. I have enough to answer to God for. I don't want to blood of others on my hands. I have to get outside my comfort zone & minister to people who may be much unlike myself because of life choices, ethnic backgrounds, political leanings, etc. It's my job to see them through the eyes of Jesus, rather than my own. What about you? Blessings! Tony

God's Eraser

"...you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Colossians 2:12b-14 Long ago and far away in a different chapter of my life, when I was a school kid, teachers wrote their lessons & instructions for the class on a blackboard. Once those assignments were completed, she/he would simply erase the old & replace it with the new assignments & instructions for the next day. People of my age & growing up era will recall wiping down the blackboards & cleaning erasers, sometimes as a teacher's assistant or, for some of us as a form of discipline for misbehavior. God works somewhat like that too. He is able (with our cooperation & submission) to wipe away, completely erase, the old sinful person we once were. He can take a life completely riddled with sin and seemingly going nowhere, except straight to the pits of hell itself and clean it up and make it purposeful for His Work and Kingdom. You doubt my words? Paul was Saul. One day he was killing Christians & then he had an encounter with God. After a three day period of blindness, he began being used for God instead of in opposition to Him. Maybe God used that period of blindness to take away Paul's self-dependence & focus him on his dependence on God instead. David, the King, was an adulterer and murderer--but God used him. David suffered great consequences for his sin, but he was called a man after God's own heart. Jonah ran from God & spent three days in the belly of a whale before surrendering to God's call on his life and seeing a great revival in Nineveh. Moses killed an Egyptian and argued with God, but became God's vessel to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt and to the Promised Land. The fact is, God loves you & desires a relationship with you & there's nothing you can do to change that. He wants to use you in His Kingdom Work. He doesn't care what you've done or where you've been or how many times you've failed. He want to erase the old & give you something new--a new assignment for Him, instead for working for the devil. He's already done the work. He sent His Son to be the sacrifice for your sin. He nailed all your sins (along with the sins of the entire world) to the cross."For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17 NKJV If you follow the life of Christ in the Gospels, He offered forgiveness to all who would believe & receive it. He didn't condemn people for their sin, but simply told them they were forgiven & to go and sin no more. I think that's where we miss it. We think we can repent & ask forgiveness and then simply go back to our sin because we know God will forgive it again. He will. However, if we are willfully sinning, we're abusing God's grace. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" Romans 6:1-2, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36 So, if you're ready to experience true freedom, saved & unsaved alike, call on Him to forgive you of ALL your sins--even those little hidden, secret sins, and let Him wash the slate of your life clean and give you a fresh start. God's eraser is an awesome thing! If He can use someone like me with nothing at all to offer, He can use you. You just have to let Him erase the old & make all things new. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (all Scripture references from the NKJV) It's up to you, God's eraser is ready & waiting... Blessings! Tony

Seasons...

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4 We go through seasons in life, similar to the seasons of nature. We grow and mature, physically, mentally and spiritually. It is all part of the process called life. We start out young, active, vibrant and always learning new things as we grow. We move into another season when we begin to mature into young adults. The season changes again when we take on the responsibilities of a home, a job and a family of our own. Then comes the Winter of life as we age, see our children grow & start families of their own and our physical bodies move into a mode of slow decay until death claims us & we return to dust once again. Mixed in along the way of the various seasons of life are seasons of happiness and pain, seasons of prosperity & loss, seasons of hope and hopelessness. I think of Job & how he responded to the great losses he suffered. I wish I had his faith! I mean, I have been through a lot in this life and for the most part, I think I've managed it all pretty well although some of it has been especially difficult. But I've also had times where I whined, moaned and complained to God and I've experienced a few complete meltdowns along the way as well. Let's face it, life can be hard at times. Don't get me wrong, it can be purely joyous at times as well but we (or at least I do anyway) tend to recall the negative experiences far more vividly than the positive ones. We grow weary of the pain, the sickness, the evil of this world. Our plans sometimes get completely wrecked & nothing seems to go right. Even when we know we're doing what God has called us to, we sometimes doubt the path He guides us on. Even though we walk with Him & talk with Him daily, we sometimes question if we're really in His Will. Sometimes, we just want to throw our hands up and quit, but we can't--our job isn't finished yet! I know that I long for the day I hear my Savior say, "Well done!" and I enter Heaven's rest. I'm ready for that place of peace and calm, where the troubles of this world vanish away into the beauty and worship of Heaven and Our Creator. Problem is, apparently God still has work for me to do here--which means I have to endure, I have to keep going, I have to keep sharing Him, until He returns or calls me home. I don't get to choose the time of His return or my homegoing. I have to work on & walk the path He has for me until my time here is done & He is ready for me to join Him in that heavenly home. I must faithfully follow Him and daily choose to trust Him as long as there is breath in my lungs. There's the reality of it all--it's my choice. I choose to listen to either the promises of God or the lies of the devil. I've followed Jesus for many years & while I haven't always understood why things happened as they did, He's always seen me through them. I've reached the season of life where I have more years behind me than I do ahead, but I'm not retiring from God's work and service. I can't say that I don't want to sometimes, but I know I can't. I must walk though each of life's seasons, no matter how badly I want to give up, and work til Jesus comes. After all, He's never left or forsaken me. He's blessed me more than I deserve. He allowed me to love & be loved and to have some wonderful life experiences along the way. He's never given up on me, so I can't give up on Him either... Blessings! Tony

It's Beginning to look a lot like CHRISTmas...

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12 NKJV While it's unlikely that Jesus was actually born on December 25th, that day has been chosen to celebrate His birth. Many would say that the day is a pagan ritual centered around the Winter solstice and that it has been defiled with Santa, reindeer, snowmen & the like. But they all play into the spirit of the holiday (that word is rooted in holy day as Christmas is rooted in Christ's Mass of Catholic tradition). The Winter solstice occurs, just like others & is part of the nature of this world we live in. Santa, St. Nicholas, or Father Christmas is based on a real person who lived somewhere around the 4th century & was known for his acts of kindness. While there's nothing wrong with indulging childhood fantasies, it's important that we teach the real reason that we celebrate. Can you imagine being there in those fields that night? A heavenly & royal light show began and angels appeared to announce the birth of the long-awaited Messiah! What went through the minds of those lowly shepherds? We read the story of how it happened but they we re there in the flesh, living it as it unfolded. What were they thinking as they made their way to that manger stall to see with their own eyes the fulfillment of God's Promise? What a gift! What did they expect? When one thinks of a King, you anticipate a royal home & furnishings, not a feed trough in a stable. You expect people of high stature, not peasant teenagers as parents. You expect a purple robe, not swaddling clothes & hay. You expect groomed royal stallions, not sheep & donkeys. But, were they fixated on the surroundings or were they simply in awe of the Gift they witnessed? As for me, I think they knew they were part of God's great plan to bring salvation to man, although they had no idea how it would eventually unfold. They probably thought that baby would grow to be a mighty warrior King who would overthrow the Romans & give them back their nation and identity. How could they know that tiny baby would one day sacrifice Himself for the sins of mankind? How could they know that each step He took & each breath He drew brought Him closer to the Cross? While His birth was the beginning of the plan, His death & resurrection were the culmination and completion of the plan to ransom lost mankind. The reality is that we, as recipients of God's Great Gift are now part of that plan to share Him and the gift of salvation with others who have yet to receive it. So, while we celebrate Christmas with all the worldly festivities, our goal should be to recognize the real reason we celebrate (Jesus) and share our celebration of Him with those around us. The world & it culture are constantly changing & evolving. However, God & His Word remain constant and unchanged. We are in, but not of this world (John 17:16). Our efforts should be focused on pointing others to Christ. I'm reminded of Linus in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" as he he says "Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about," and recites verses 8-14 of the second chapter of Luke before taking his blanket & walking off stage. It's child-like faith and sincerity of heart that make Christmas really CHRISTmas (emphasis mine). We celebrate the birth of our Savior, the Christ child, The One who came to rescue us in our time of need. That's what CHRISTmas is really all about. Keep Christ in your celebrations & you'll find that it's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTmas... Blessings! Tony

Thanksgiving and Praise...

"Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation." Psalm 100 NLT It's the season of Thanksgiving...ironically, we should be thankful at all times, but somehow we choose to set aside one day to be thankful. It makes for good holiday family gatherings & hopefully acknowledging God as the Source of our blessings in this life. But, are we really grateful? I fear that in these United States of America, we take much for granted. Because we were blessed to be born here, we assume we are entitled to live the American Dream regardless of the cost. I've been to a poor country & seen poor people with my own eyes. I've worked with groups ministering to the homeless. I've helped get basic needs & holiday gifts for kids in foster care. I've visited veteran's homes, nursing homes & sick children wards at the hospital. I've witnessed hatred, prejudice & even death. I've made a lot of poor decisions through my life that not only negatively impacted me, but also those connected to me via family, friend, coworker & church member associations. Thankfully, God has seen fit to preserve my life through my stupidity & somehow found a way to use all that to minister to others. He truly uses all things & the least among us to be useful in the Kingdom! Truth is, for the most part, that Americans are spoiled, ungrateful, gluttonous people. The more they achieve & the more they possess, the more they desire. Their appetites never seem to be satisfied... How do we go about changing this? Well, the same way you eat an elephant, one bite at a time! If we stand aside & wait for someone else to do it, it may never happen. One person can make a huge difference. Any movement has to have a beginning. I grew up in the Birmingham area during the Civil Rights struggle. I remember school riots, church bombings, and the ugliness of the era. I remember watching a friendship develop between Reverend Billy Graham & Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. via television & newspapers. It was not well accepted by the white churchgoers of that time. But, over time, acceptance came & segregation became a thing of the past. We Christians need to do the same--peaceably assemble and make our voices heard, Support what is right & godly and boycott that which is not. We're a large group, but most are sitting silently waiting for someone else to be the one to make the first move. Let's turn our nation back to God! "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance." Psalm 33:12 Let's be a joyful & thankful people! "Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe." Hebrews 12:28 Let's let our praises be heard! "I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done." Psalm 9:1 We are a blessed nation & we have much to be thankful for. We, the church, have missed the mark in doing our part to point people to God, to share the gift of salvation, to help meet the basic needs of those around us who are hungry, hurting or homeless. It starts with us. We must repent of our ungrateful & gluttonous ways and begin again. "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 Then, how about we really enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise, sing praises to him and bless his name? thanksgiving & praise should be an everyday thing, part of our Christian lifestyle, and should make people want to have the joy we have in our lives. Happy Thanksgiving & blessings to you! Tony

Putting Limits on God?

"And now the Lord says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, And My God shall be My strength), Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' " Isaiah 49:5-6 NKJV Isaiah is my favorite Old Testament book. I find great wisdom and direction as well as great comfort in it. Here we see Isaiah with a limited vision, a vision to reach Israel. In itself, that's not a bad thing as God calls us all to reach out & minister to those in our peer group, those we have influence with. And, that's a good beginning...but we shouldn't stop there. God has a way of putting us into places & situations where we can minister to people who are quite different from us, people we wouldn't normally encounter in our day to day life. God's intention for Isaiah was for him to reach a much wider circle, to the ends of the earth. That sounds a little like the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." We limit God by limiting ourselves. If we are truly saved, blood bought children of God, then we should have a desire to share Jesus with others. Our cup should be filled to overflowing & spill and splash out all over those we come into contact with. But, we need to think outside the box, get outside our comfort zone, dare to be bold & different (some of you are already thinking that I myself am quite different without accentuating that fact in any way...), so we can share the love of God with a larger group, so we can make Him known to our friends' relatives and friends, so we can go to different areas of our town, our state, our country, and the world...so we can have seemingly chance (but really God-ordained) encounters with people in real world, life and death situations and tell them about Jesus. We have to meet them at their time & place of need. There is no limit to what God can do in & through a life that is totally surrendered to Him. What has He called you to? He's been whispering something to your spirit for some time. Are you ready to trust Him & step out in faith and act on it? I'm reminded of an old song some friends & I used to sing may years ago. Ponder its words... "Step into the water, wade out a little bit deeper. Wet your feet in the water of his love. Oh, Step into the water (children) Wade out a little bit deeper, come join the angels singin', praises to the Lamb of God. It's time we the people, stand up for what is right. It's time we squared our shoulders back, and raised our swords to fight. For the Bible is our weapon, and the spirit is my shield. The church needs more of its members to be workers in the field." Are we putting limits on God by putting limits on ourselves? Shouldn't we listen to that gentle nudge of the Spirit as He woos us and say, "Here am I, Lord, send me!"? Isn't it time to trust Him and step into the water? Isn't it time we stood our ground, prepared to fight for His Cause & His People? Step out today, God will walk with you through the fires and the floods (Isaiah 43:1-3), He loves you & has called you for such a time as this, to be His mouthpiece and proclaim Him to those lost in sin. Are you ready? Do you have your armor on? Then, raise your sword, soldier, and march into battle in the Lord's Army! Our Great Commander will lead the way. We just have to walk in it... Blessings! Tony

Living Under a Death Sentence...

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die..." Hebrews 9:27 We are all living under a death sentence. Unless the Lord returns, we will all face death. There are many scriptural references to death & dying, "A time to be born, and a time to die..".Ecclesiastes 3:2 is a well-known one. Research it, there are many more... How is it that a person can know that every minute of life is a minute closer to death and be unconcerned about their eternal destination? How is it that one can grow up in these United States, being exposed to the church & Christianity on a regular basis and deny the existence of God? How is it that despite the fact there are churches on every corner throughout each city, in each state, all across this nation, a person can claim to have no knowledge of Jesus Christ? We don't have any way to know when this life will be over. That's why we have to be prepared when death comes to claim us. The truth is that if we know Jesus, we die an earthly death only to raise to a Heavenly, eternal life. "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die..." John 11:26 If we accept His Free Gift of Salvation, we just change our address to Heaven when we take our last breath on earth. It's a pretty good deal! But, you have to be ready... How is it that even those who claim the Name of Christ can see the lost daily, knowing they are hell-bound, & do nothing to point them to a loving Savior? How is it that Christians can be so caught up in their own lives, that they see no need to assemble with other believers at church? How is it that a Christian can work alongside others for years in a factory or office & their coworkers have no idea they are a person of faith? We have a mandate from God to share our faith with others and to rescue the lost, "Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter." Proverbs 24:11 Or, how about "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20? The whole world is living under a death sentence & it's our job to tell them there is a better way, a way that leads to Heaven! I fear we are missing the mark terribly in this area. Don't assume it is the preacher's responsibility to get everyone saved. It is the duty of every believer to minister to those they have contact with & influence over. If not you, then who? We will all be held accountable at judgement. I want to know where I'm going to spend eternity & I don't want anyone else's blood on my hands because I failed to tell them about God's love & salvation. What about you? Are you willing to save someone living under a death sentence? Something to ponder... Blessings! Tony