What Constitutes Sin?

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9 NKJV SIN...the very word has an ugly ring to it, doesn't it? People have been reluctant to admit they are sinners from the beginning-- since Adam & Eve partook of the tree of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. Oh, we are quick to recognize sin in others' lives, just hesitant to accept that it is a part of our own. None of us are perfect. We all have shortcomings. Yes, we are all sinners--whether we care to admit it or not. Choosing not to acknowledge that fact, does not change the fact in any way. While it may be true that some sin is much more public & has greater consequence in the legal arena of this world, the truth is that it is humans who attempt to grade sin by giving more weight to say...theft in comparison to lying or murder in comparison to gossip. GOD, however, simply sees sin as sin with no distinction. If you notice above, 1 John 1:8-9 simply say sin--nothing about what degree of sin was committed. Romans 3:23 says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death.." Sin is sin, period. Still, we try to justify our actions and bad decisions by calling it something different because...well, it sound nicer & far less offensive that way. Many pastors fail to preach on sin because they don't wish to offend anyone. They might quit coming to church & we'll loose their tithes or maybe they fill key leadership positions in the church--whatever would we do to fill those slots? I recall a time when the man of GOD spoke with great fervor about the ills of sin & unashamedly called it what it was--not a choice, not blame-shifting and finger-pointing--just purely what it was, SIN. In today's seeker friendly and politically correct churches, our priorities are seriously out of whack. The Bible does not sugarcoat things, it calls things as they are. We would be wise to do the same. Take a look at 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, " 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." The unrighteous? Such were we? Ouch! Preaching on that Sunday is sure to win friends and influence people, huh? It's bound to have people leave the service feeling all warm & fuzzy! But, it's true--we look at others and are repulsed by the obvious sin in their lives. We judge them, we belittle them, we gossip about them. In all our righteousness, we forget that GOD once delivered us from something similar. We feel like we've come so far in our spirituality that we have to wear our church mask & act as if we are something we are not--perfect. Only one perfect person ever walked this earth & what did He get? He was beaten, spit upon and crucified by those He came to save. The pastor delivering Sunday's message--he's a sinner. Sister Sally who sits on the front row each Sunday all decked out in her finest clothes--she's a sinnner. Those who lead music, teach Sunday School, play instruments, take care of the nursery, clean the building--they are all sinners. The saintliest of people all have a past & all are sinners. Humankind shares that as a common bond. Our end, unless we repent, is Hell--and it is what we deserve. Sin will forever separate us from GOD unless we do something about it. Thankfully, GOD loved us enough to provide the atonement for our sins through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. Without salvation, we are doomed. If we accept His free gift, Heaven will be our reward. Our goal should be to take as many with us as we can by telling our story of what GOD did in our lives. Jesus bled & died to take our sin burden. We don't have to be weighed down with it any longer, When we do stumble, we must be quick to confess it and ask forgiveness. Are you willing to risk persecution for His sake? He certainly was persecuted for ours... Blessings! Tony

Don't do Life Alone...

I wish I could tell you all that I'm some kind of spiritual superman, but I'm not. I've made more poor choices in life than I care to recall or you have time to hear. But, I'll give some highlights of my life still the same. I was born into an average middle-class family, the youngest of 3 children. We didn't have a lot but I guess we really didn't realize it. I mean, we had the necessities--food, clothing & shelter--but we were far from well-off. My father worked and my mother was a stay-at-home mom--pretty much your typical Ozzie & Harriet type household. I grew up in church--went to Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, was part of the youth group. I went to public school the first 4 years & then to a private, Christian School where I graduated. So, I was exposed to GOD's Word regularly. As a matter of fact, when I was 8 years old, my grandmother--who incidentally was the godliest woman I ever knew--claimed me for ministry. Now, I gotta tell you, the thought of being a preacher didn't appeal to me in the least--as a matter of fact, the very idea terrified me. So, what did I do? I began running from it. I decided that I could make my own way in life and turned my back on the church--and GOD. I took a path that lead me through much pain & heartache, but it was the road I chose. I was always somewhat mature for my age so consequently I hung out with "friends" who were 2-3 years older than me. As a result, I was introduced to a lot at an early age--smoking, drinking, drugs & sex. At 19, my girlfriend informed me she was pregnant. Wanting to "do the right thing" and wanting to be part of my child's life, I married her. The baby turned out to be twins--a boy & a girl--so at 20, I was married with 2 children. The marriage was a disaster & we knew it early on. It was far from a match made in Heaven & certainly not the way I had pictured my life. To deal with the pain & frustration in my life, I drank. The more miserable & upset I was, the more I drank. I became a full-fledged but functioning alcoholic. When I wasn't a work, I was drinking. The friends I hung out with drank--the coworkers I socialized with after work drank. Alcohol seemed to take over my life and would prove to be my worst demon. In my rebellion, I knew what I was doing was wrong & I knew that GOD had a purpose for my life but the path He had for me seemed too difficult so I refused to surrender my life to Him. About that time, GOD allowed a new friend & coworker to enter my life--in the form of a Baptist preacher. Like GOD, he was able to look past the ugliness of my sin. He visited my home, he knew my family and he welcomed me into his home and life. He was very plain-spoken and brutally honest with me about my situation. It took some time but he eventually made me see the error of my ways & led me to the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." I was a new person & I was excited about what GOD had done for me. I was telling everyone how good GOD is. Unfortunately, my wife did not share my excitement but, I was sure I could win her over. I began attending church again & took my children along. I made new Christian friends. I was baptized and once again, I knew GOD desired me to serve Him. I surrendered my life to Him & publicly acknowledged that I was called to ministry. As you can imagine, I met with strong opposition at home. I was told if I chose to follow this craziness, it would be alone because she had no desire to be a part of it. I trudged along, determined to do what I felt GOD was calling me to do. I quoted Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" frequently and took on more in the church than I really should have. I began working with the children's & youth ministries, joined the church choir, got involved in a Sunday School class & took the lead of the church's men's ministry. I prayed, asking GOD to change the situation in hopes she would feel compelled to join me. She never did. Although looking back I can see there were signs, I was blind to them at the time. She became involved in an extra-marital affair with a co-worker & left despite my efforts to convince her otherwise. So, after 15 years of marriage, I was a single dad raising two teenagers alone and now wearing the label of "divorced" in the church where I had served faithfully. Church people can be hurtful at times & often shoot their wounded. I was approached by one of of the Deacons who informed me that the church had never had a divorced staff member & never would as long as he had any say in the matter. Admittedly, I was far from perfect but to my understanding divorce was not the unpardonable sin--especially when I had not initiated it. Although many people there were kind and understanding, I soon found I no longer fit into the church family I was a part of. Slowly, I began to step back from the various positions I had taken and began seeking spiritual food elsewhere. I became involved in several area ministries for single & single again adults and eventually joined another church that had an active single adult ministry. Dee & I met in that singles group and found we had much in common. We became good friends although we only socialized in group activities as neither of us were particularly looking for a relationship. Having both been previously married to unfaithful spouses, we were leery of marriage. Over time, our relationship grew & we decided to marry. We encountered difficulties but we knew GOD was in it so we persevered. GOD guided and protected us through many trials. Financially, we struggled but GOD saw to it that we never did without and we remained faithful to Him. The children left home to pursue their own lives & we thought we would travel, minister and enjoy life as empty-nesters. We moved to a new town through a job transfer, served as youth leaders & were active in the various ministries of our church there. Then, there was an automobile accident that left Dee with serious back & neck injuries. she had surgeries, used a walker, then a cane and finally was able to walk on her own again. Once again, we were ready to continue on with our lives. We moved again through a job transfer, this time to Daphne. I enrolled in classes through the local Baptist Association's Samford Extension where I completed a certificate program and we both took courses in Biblical Counseling with the intention of using that as a ministry to others. We had plans to retire to the country & live a life of service & ministry in our golden years. Dee struggled with health issues for some time & they eventually claimed her life on May 4, 2011. The past few years have been hard but through it all GOD has sustained me. While I don't understand it all, I know He has a plan for me and I'm waiting to see what doors He chooses to open or close. I recently discovered a passage in Psalms that has offered me reassurance. It's Psalm 57:1-2 which reads, "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me." I was immediately drawn to the "all things" because I claim Romans 8:28 as my life verse. I've come to the conclusion that GOD allowed my life as it has been for a purpose, because I can relate and show compassion to mankind without judgment as I've lived so much of it myself. So, rest assured that GOD has a plan for whatever it is you are dealing with today. None of us are perfect, but GOD loves us in spite of ourselves. We are who we are because of the life experiences we have. GOD uses those experiences, whether good or bad to help mold & shape us into who He wants us to become. Don't try to do life alone, partner with a friend who will hold you accountable and who you can talk openly with. Most of all--give your life to GOD & let Him lead in ALL THINGS...

New Beginnings

"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV It is a New Year--a time of new beginnings, a fresh start. As we walk the road of life, we all hit a few potholes & speedbumps along the way. It may be family & relational issues. It may be financial issues. It may be moral decisions we are faced with. Whatever we encounter is meant to shape us, not to define us. Lord knows, I've suffered my own share of setbacks & failures--truth is, there is very little this world has to offer that has not somehow touched my life through the years. Satan would have us think these things will make us ineffective for the Kingdom & use them to squelch the plans GOD has for our lives. None of us are perfect, we are all born with an inherent sin nature from our natural earthly father, Adam. Paul tells us in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Does that mean GOD can't use us? No, it means if we are willing to accept the responsibility for our choices & actions--GOD can use those very things to help us reach out to others facing similar situations. Sometimes the choices of others force bad circumstances on us, but that too, can be used by GOD for good in time to come. Admittedly, it is hard to see GOD in it while we are in the heat of the battle--but in time and looking back in retrospect, we can see how GOD delivered us from much & has and will continue to use it for our good and the good of others as well as for His glory. I feel like I speak & write of this subject often--I suppose because it is I struggle to understand it myself because of the problems I've faced, the poor choices I've made, and the impact that others' decisions & actions have had on me personally. Satan beats me up a lot of days, tells me my past makes me useless in GOD's work, plants seeds of doubt--especially through this credentialing process I've been going through for ministry. However, I'm determined to stay positive & to mine out the nuggets of GOD's Word that pertain to such things. It makes me look not only at the strengths of Biblical characters, but also to study their weaknesses. I find that I see a lot of myself in them & it gives me hope. Hope is what I need. Hope is what we all need. The only true source of hope is in Jesus and an intimate & personal relationship with Him. Each of us needs to turn our attention on cultivating our relationship with GOD, on studying His Word more, on spending more time in prayer--for ourselves, but mostly intercession for others. So many are lost, so may are bound for a devil's Hell--a place not intended for human souls. America needs a true revival & for it to begin, it has to begin within the walls of our homes & churches. So many Christians have become comfortable & complacent that their focus is inward rather than outward. If Jesus is our Lord & Savior, we are to follow His example. As I read the pages of the Bible, I see nowhere that He was concerned for His own needs--but concerned for the lost & dying around Him. We need to grasp that vision and go forth into the world seeking to bring the Gospel to all who will hear. I am speaking to myself as much as anyone else. I know I have many shortcomings & I ask GOD's forgiveness for them and to empower me and embolden me to be His Ambassador. I pray GOD will use me in spite of myself and strengthen others to join me in the battle. The battle is the Lord's, but we have to stand with Him. Are you willing? Time is short, we must act now! Blessings for a healthy, happy & prosperous New Year! Tony

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?