I am Judas...

"Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself." Matthew 27:3-5 It is something that has been on my mind a lot lately. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, the cost of a common slave. I find it ironic that only shortly before that, Jesus had washed the feet of the disciples--something that was commonly done by a servant/slave. Once he realized that he was wrong, he went back to the Chief Priest to return the money. However, the damage was already done. Jesus had been sentenced to die by crucifixion. Judas threw the money down & ran away to hang himself. He died a horrible and lonely death. This man who had lived & walked with Jesus in the flesh for over 3 years was so overcome by his greed that he betrayed the Son of GOD. Most people rightly have a low opinion of Judas, but I fear they fail to realize how much we as humans have in common with him. I know that I allow worldly things to interfere with my relationship with Jesus. Matthew 6:33-34 tell us, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Sadly, many of us--myself included--miss the mark on this. Worry seems to come naturally to us. Worry, however, shows a terrible lack of faith. Additionally, we let ourselves be weighed down by possessions, relationships, unnecessary debt, etc., things that drive a wedge between ourselves & the Lord. When we chase after material things, are we not betraying Jesus for those things? Do they not represent our own "thirty pieces of silver" in a way? When I allow those worldly influences to become idols in my life, I am effectively betraying Jesus all over again. He loved me enough to leave the splendor of Heaven, take on human flesh and die on a cruel Roman cross--all for me, all for you, all for humankind as a whole. When Satan tempted Him in the wilderness--he used position, possessions and food as bait. Jesus withstood those temptations using the Word of GOD as His weapon. When the devil tries to use those same tactics on us, we should also stand on the promises of GOD and His Word. The things this world has to offer us amount to nothing in the grand scheme of things. They are merely temporary. We can't take any of those things with us when we leave this world. What we should be doing is cultivating our relationship with GOD, reading His Word, ministering to His people & evangelizing the lost. Those are the things that will have eternal value and will allow us to hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:23) Isn't that what we all desire? I know I do--I want to live a life that honors GOD so I'll be welcomed into Heaven when my time on earth is done. I can't do that if I value the things of the world more than I do my faith. If I do that, I am Judas... Something to ponder. Blessings! Tony

In GOD We Trust?

"It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man." Psalms 118:8 NKJV In GOD we trust...a phrase that is printed on our currency in these United States, but do we really trust GOD? Our forefathers came to this great land in search of freedom--freedom from tyranny and religious oppression. This newly formed & liberated country honored GOD, revered GOD, trusted GOD, and looked to Him for guidance & direction in all things. As the winds of time & the winds of change blew, one thing remained true--GOD was the GOD of America. Various sects & denominations of the Christian faith came into being, They differed in their doctrines, but the core beliefs remained grounded in the Bible. Division did not conquer our faith. But, what happened? Was it the influx of foreigners who brought different religions into our culture? Was it the Hippie culture & the mind-altering drugs that became prominent in the 60s & 70s? Was it Rock & Roll music? Was it the Women's Lib movement? Was it decades of wealth & affluence that caused us as a country to lose our focus, our dependence on GOD? No, it was none of those things. It was a slow, methodical, attack of the enemy that convinced the American church it needed to be tolerant of new ideas--to accept new fads as the norm. And, we took the bait--hook, line & sinker. We became complacent--we settled for the things of the world instead of holding on to the things of GOD. When Clark Gable said "Damn" in Gone With the Wind, Americans were aghast. Look at what Hollywood puts out now and as Christians, not only do we not speak against it--we support it by seeing the trash they produce just as much as those who are lost do. I grew up watching The Wonderful World of Disney & these days, you can't even trust Disney to produce wholesome movies. Things that once were completely unacceptable have now become the norm in this land. Am I endorsing intolerance? No, I am not--just as Jesus went to the lost, the sick, the sinful people of His day--we should do the same. I think it is completely unChristian to be hateful or hurtful towards those with different beliefs & values from our own, but I do think we are to lovingly point them towards the Savior without compromising our own values in the process. We can't do that if we hate & berate them. GOD's Word says the world will know us by our love--our love for one another & our love for the lost. We've blown it and we've blown it big time! We can't even get along within the walls of our churches & within the Christian community, let alone with the outside world. Am I saying I am perfect? Good Heavens, no! I mess up far more often than I'd like to admit. I look at the temporal things of this world far too often rather than focusing on the eternal things of GOD. I can throw a major pity party when things don't go my way--I can whine, moan and complain like the best of them. I'm often trying to pull my foot out of my mouth or end up eating my own words--and can I tell you, they don't taste good! I've got Proverbs 3:5-6 hanging in my bedroom, where I see it before I close my eyes & as soon as I open them again--"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." Lord knows I want to live by them, but life beats me up a lot and once again--I find myself looking at what appears real, rather than GOD, Who I know is real. Sometimes you just have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, take a deep breath and face the realities of life head-on. GOD never promised us our earthly life would be easy. As a matter of fact, He tells us over & over again not to expect that--but to expect to be mistreated, spoken ill of, & that some of us would lose our lives for our faith. I fear America will soon come to exactly that--a place where Christianity is so despised that those who refuse to deny our faith will suffer not only persecution, but death for our beliefs. All of this because we accepted the lies of the devil and effectively surrendered rather than taking a stand and fighting for what we believe in. People sometimes call me a fanatic. Those who love me generally love me to the utmost & those who hate me, hate me just as intensely. There is rarely a middle ground--but I'm OK with that. I figure if Jesus loved me enough to die for me, the least I can do in return is to live for Him. That means accepting whatever this life holds in store--with all its uncertainties. all its pain. Let me say, Like King David did, "To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation..." Psalms 25:1-5 NKJV Where do you stand? Are you tired of being force-fed the things of this world? Are you willing to suffer for the cause of Christ? We all need to think about this now so the decision is made before the question is asked by someone with a sword or gun in hand... Something to ponder--I know what my answer will be. Blessings! Tony

A Rose is a Rose...

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 NKJV Pay close attention to that Scripture. Notice it doesn't say, "for some have sinned..." Nor does it say, "for most have sinned..." It specifically says, "for "ALL" have sinned..." (emphasis mine). That means no human being who has ever lived or ever will live--with the exception of Jesus Himself--is capable of living a sinless life. Therefore, we are all guilty of sin & deserving of death as a result. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Many people try to "pretty up" sin by calling it by a different name, but a rose by any other name is still a rose & regardless as to what one might choose to call it--sin is still sin. Some say it isn't sin, merely poor choices. Some say we are a product of our environment & therefore, someone or something else is to blame. Some cite inadequate education or employment opportunities as the reason for their moral failures (a.k.a. SIN). Some revert to the old Flip Wilson show's, "The devil made me do it!" However, every one of these excuses are just that--excuses. We can shift blame all we want in an effort to justify our sin, but the truth of the matter is that we alone are responsible for the choices we make. Now, granted--there are times when others' choices may put us at a disadvantage or hurt us either physically or financially. But, the trails & tribulations of life do not excuse us from from the decisions we make when we disobey the laws & commandments of GOD. Bear in mind also that all sin is sin in GOD's eyes. A "little white lie", the theft of a pack of chewing gum, or cheating on one's income taxes are sins just the same as robbery & murder. GOD sees the issue as purely black & white. Humans are the ones who muddy things up by declaring gray areas to minimize the conviction they feel when they know they have sinned. We often attempt to make ourselves feel better by convincing ourselves that we are not as guilty as others we know. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 has some harsh words, "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." OUCH! Who do we think we are to judge other people by stricter standards than we have for ourselves? Seriously, how hypocritical can we be? Our standards don't matter--all of humanity will be judged by The Righteous Judge & according to GOD's standards... Thankfully, Jesus Christ--The Holy, Sinless, Spotless, Perfect, Son of GOD--according to Philippians 2:7-8, "...made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." Why? He did it for us! He willingly sacrificed Himself, taking the sins of the world on His precious body so that our sin would not be counted against us if only we would accept & believe in Him and make Him our Savior & Lord. You might be thinking, "That sounds good & all, Tony--but, what's the catch?" The beauty of it is that there is no catch! In all honesty, I'd be lying to you if I told you life's going to be great & you'll have no problems if you will simply trust in Jesus. The fact is that whether you are saved or lost, life can be challenging, painful & downright difficult st times. But, when you have the Holy Spirit living within you, GOD's Word to guide you and the love and support of the church, the family of GOD--the sucker punches Satan will hit you with, will be more easily managed because you aren't fighting it alone. Our burdens are lighter when they are shared. Many can carry a heavy load much easier than one alone can... Don't wait, don't hesitate, don't procrastinate. Cast your cares upon the Lord because He cares for you. But, He is a jealous GOD--He won't share you with the idols of sex, drugs, alcohol & greed. You have to be willing to forsake all to follow Him and when you invite Him in (Revelation 3:20), he'll be the one to answer your door when the world comes knocking. Satan will deceive you, use you & then, cast you into Hell for all eternity as a thank you for entrusting your life to him. Trust GOD today. If you've wandered away from Him, He will welcome you back--just confess your sin & trust your heart & life to Him. Share an eternal inheritance with Him and His Saints in Heaven's glory... Blessings! Tony

Comfort and Consolation

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NKJV Do you ever wonder why trials & tragedies occur? Do you ever ask "Where was GOD when...?" Do you ever find it difficult to cling to your faith when life is beating you to a pulp? Well, I do. Yes, I admit it--I am a man of faith & a minister of the Gospel, but sometimes I struggle to understand why things happen, why GOD allows pain & suffering, why people rob, rape, & murder others, why there is sickness & death, why prejudices and social injustices exist, WHY? Why do some people seem to live lives of relative ease without seeming to have problems and other seem to be plagued by difficult circumstances & events throughout their lives? On a personal level--I fail to understand why has my life been touched by practically every situation the devil can throw at me. I look back over my life and wonder. I had pretty decent childhood. My parents remained married until my dad's death. It was the first & only marriage for both. I was raised in church. I went to a Christian school. I was a typical rebellious teenager. I strayed from my upbringing, got involved in drugs, alcohol & sex. I smoked & I got caught shoplifting. I wasn't a model child, but my picture didn't grace the Post Office walls either. My mother is still in denial--she still insists that I was a good kid. I guess that is what she chooses to believe or remember, rather than remembering finding cigarettes, pot, porn & alcohol in my room when i was a teen. OK, so I was a hellion--pure & simple. I outgrew all of it and turned out to be a somewhat decent human being. Still, my life has been touched by much adversity, many disappointments, and many tragedies--but GOD had His hand on me, even when I was deep in the stench of the world. I think all the problems I've encountered throughout life have made me understand & relate to people & their struggles. Isn't that what life is really all about? Truly, no man is an island. Each life touches so many others--either negatively or positively. I want to live in such a way that people know I am a Christian by my actions, speech & lifestyle. I want to be able to offer them the hope I have in Christ when they are facing hard times. I want them to know the peace that passes all understanding, the peace in knowing GOD is in control even when life seems to be spinning out of control--as it often does. GOD can use all things (Romans 8:28) for our good & His glory. I'm convinced that He allows some seemingly disastrous things into our lives to teach us, to stretch us, to grow us--so that when the time comes and others are facing life's difficulties, we can truly say, "I know how you feel, because I've been there and GOD brought me through it." We can say that with all genuineness and sincerity because it is part of the testimony of what GOD has done in our lives. Each life creates a ripple effect in the lives of those it comes in contact with. Think about that when you meet someone with different views, from a different background, from a different ethnic group, someone homeless, someone wealthy, someone hurting... We all have an opportunity each day to allow our lives & our testimonies to give hope to others. It's time we stopped selfishly thinking about ourselves & our comforts and reach out to a hurting world. One life can make a big difference--look at the life of Christ. Look at the life of Billy Graham. Look at the life of Rev Martin Luther King Jr. Look at the life of Mother Teresa. There are so many who made the choice to make a difference & what a difference they have made in this world. While our names may never be in the History books, rest assured--they will remain known to GOD & remain known to those whose lives we impacted, either negatively or positively... Be blessed! Tony

Boast on GOD...

Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV We spend most of our lives comparing ourselves to those around us, gauging the norm by what we see on television and in magazines. It isn't GOD's desire that we live up to worldly standards--we are supposed to set our minds on things above, not things of the world. He created each of us as unique individuals to serve a specific purpose in His Kingdom--we aren't all meant to look & act alike. We are all different for a reason & we each have a uniquely personal relationship with GOD that is like no other person's on earth because we are like no other person on earth. We fill our heads with ideas that we must live in a certain neighborhood, work for a certain company, drive a certain car, possess certain material things--in order to live up to the status quo. None of that stuff really matters! There's no reason to be boastful about our status in life--we need to be bragging on GOD & what He has done for us & those we love. We need to show others that because we are people of faith, because we trust Him to provide for us, because we pray and expect Him to answer--He blesses & honors us as a result. When our time on this earth is done, when we've breathed our last breath and our heart has beat its last, when we find ourselves face to face with the GOD of the universe--He won't be concerned with where we lived or what we possessed, the question He will ask us is, "What did you do with My Jesus?" You see, life isn't about us at all--but how we relate to GOD & His people. If we live a life that points others to Christ, if we treat people with the love & respect they deserve, if we possess a servant's heart, if we live not to amass treasures but to share the blessings GOD bestows on us with those we come in contact with--then, we are living a life that honors GOD & fulfills the plan and purpose He placed us here for. We are blessed so we can be a blessing, we are comforted in our trials so we can comfort others when they are struggling, we overcome so we can help others to be overcomers. We are all a work in progress and that work won't be completed here on earth, it will be done when we reach Heaven. Until then, we have to understand there is pain in the process, but there is purpose in the pain. Don't complain about what you lack & don't brag on your accomplishments--boast on the GOD who met your needs and allowed you to be a blessing to others as a result. Our words have greater power than we realize. Something to ponder... Blessings! Tony

Contentment...

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV It's been a couple of years back now that I had the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua with a group from my church, New Life Assembly of God, on a mission trip. I remember the excitement & anticipation before the trip since it was my first opportunity to be part of a mission trip. For years, I had wanted to go on one but something had always interfered with my abiltiy to go. I remember noticing distinct differences when we got off the plane in Managua. First, there were armed guards observing people as they entered the airport. It struck me as odd but in retrospect, it's not such a bad idea--if we had that in America, we might have less terrorism & hijackings. Managua itself was a relatively modern city & in many respects looked like Anytown, USA. We loaded or luggage into the waiting van & were taken to our hotel in a neighboring town near where we planned to work & do crusades. The hotel, while very clean & nice, was far different from what we are accustomed to here in America. It was more of a Bed & Breakfast style place. There was no air conditioning & no hot water & it was much like sharing a dorm with college roommates. I shared a room with 2 other men & there was an ajoining room where the driver & interpreter (both Nicaraguan) stayed. So, five men shared one bathroom--1 shower & 1 toilet. Needless to say we all got pretty comfortable with one another during our time together, but it was fun. I mean you know people when you attend church with them & you know people when you live with them. I'm sure I enlightened them as much as they did me. We worked in an outlying village that was far from modern. It had dirt roads, open air markets, wells, outhouses, and the homes the people lived in were little more than tin shacks with dirt floors. Many of the people had no car--they walked, rode horses, bicycled, whatever was necessary to get where they were going. Small children played naked in open fields & dirt piles. Chickens roamed freely. Livestock were corralled by erecting primitive stockade type fences out of native trees. It was quite an eye-opening experience for me. I've never lived in luxury but even the poorest of Americans have far more than many of the Nicaraguans (Nicas, as they call themselves...) do. What struck me as unusual was how happy & content these people were. They had little & they freely shared what they did have. They showered outdoors in what looked akin to an outhouse by pouring water over their bodies, lathering, and rinsing by pouring water over their bodies again. Yet, when it was time to attend church, go to an evangelistic meeting, etc., they wore their best clothes, they were clean & their white shirts gleamed in the sunlight. It is possible to be poor, yet still be clean & take pride in one's appearance. What a shame so many Americans can't grasp that fact! In general, Americans are spoiled & ungrateful for the blessings they have. Much of the world's population lives in poverty. Yet, they apparently appreciate the little they do have unlike us who are never satisfied and always wanting more, better, newer, whatever. Proverbs 15:16 says, "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble." We would do well to heed that and learn to be content regardless of our life's circumstances. We often spend our lives trying to make a living & forget to simply live and enjoy life. As for me, I am far from wealthy yet I still have more stuff than I have need of. Still, I find reason to complain--looking rather at what I feel I am lacking instead of being grateful for what GOD has blessed me with. I have a home--with air conditioning & running hot & cold water. I never go hungry. I possess transportation to get me where I need to go. Near my home are hospitals, supermarkets, churches--I lack for nothing, yet I'm not certain contentment is part of my daily life. I'm sure I need to repent of the sins of discontent, discouragement, a complaining & critical spirit, an many more. Lord, forgive me! Help me to see things through Your eyes, hear things with Your ears. May the things that bring joy to Your heart cause me to rejoice and may the things that break Your heart cause mine to ache as well. I desire to be one in Spirit with GOD, whatever it takes for it is in Him I find strength. How about you? It's something to think about... Blessings! Tony

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