Love & Light or Hatred & Darkness?

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:19-21 NIV Darkness cannot drive out the dark because darkness is simply the absence of light. Similarly, hatred cannot drive out hate because hate is the absence of love. Darkness cannot exist when there is light just like hate cannot exist where love is present. Why is it that our world today thinks the way to deal with evil is to do more evil still? Evil is the absence of good. Less than a hundred years ago, a dictator deemed an entire race of people as evil and unequal. His solution was simply to exterminate them--and he tried. Other countries of the world rose up to stop him but not before he murdered some six million men, women & children. The dictator happened to be German. Does that mean all Germans are bad? No, not at all. The victims were Jews, God's chosen people. Were they all good? No, I'm sure they weren't. Right here in the US some fifty years or so ago, black citizens were denied basic rights by white citizens who saw themselves as superior. The blacks were beaten, ridiculed & killed in a supposed effort to protect the white race. Were the blacks inferior in any way? No, they weren't. Were the whites superior because of the color of their skin? No, not by any means. Less than 20 years ago, Muslim terrorists hijacked airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York City in an act of holy gihad against the evil Empire of the United States of America. Are all Muslims murderers? No, I happen to personally know people of the Muslim faith who are peace-loving people. You see, evil presents itself in many ways. A person's race or nationality doesn't determine if he or she is good or bad, that person's heart is the determining factor. We all have the capacity for good & evil. Senseless acts of terror are committed on a daily basis. Most of us tend to associate mostly with those we see as like us in most respects. We fear what appears different or what we don't understand. Could it be that Satan uses these perceived differences to create fear and cause mankind to teach hatred instead of love? I'm a Christian man. I'm supposed to live a life above reproach, a life of good character, of integrity and above all, a life of love. If I pass judgement on a person becasue of his/her skin color or ethnic or religious background, am I living a life of love or am I perpetuating the cycle of hatred that has been prevalent for centuries? Seriously, what would Jesus do? Something to think about... Blessings! Tony

Let Go of the Past!

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."Isaiah 43:18-19 Time sure passes quickly nowadays--it is New Year's Eve again. As we close the door on 2014 & look back on the year that is now past, let's be grateful for the good & relish in our accomplishments. Let us also accept the negative & learn from it as we move forward into a New Year, a new chapter in life. New Year's is a time for reflection, but it is also a time of anticipation. 2014 is done, with whatever it brought with it. For some--like myself, it was a year of change and a year of challenge. For others, it was a year of loss & mourning. For others, it was a good and prosperous year. And for others still, it brought a mixed bag of both good & bad. I saw the end of an era in my own life when I was released/retired on disability from AT&T because of back issues. My season working in telecommunications was good to me. It afforded me much, allowed me to raise & provide for my children & provided me with a means to take care of my wife during her illness and bury her upon her death. After many years, my heart was no longer there & I found my work meaningless & mundane. As that door closed, GOD saw fit to open a door for me to work in the ministry of Teen Challenge, where I had been working part-time for the past couple of years & found very rewarding. My income changed dramatically, but GOD is making provision for me daily and I have no reason to doubt He will continue to do so. My Social Security Disability was denied but is still possible. My attorney is diligently working to secure it for me and I know that it is part of GOD's plan for my life, it will happen & if not--well, I don't want it. I only want what it is GOD desires for me. I've learned that if I try to run ahead & help Him--I tend to make a royal mess of things. It is best to wait on Him. My life isn't what I thought it would be but regardless of that, I am blessed. I'm looking forward to what GOD has in store for me in 2015. I'm open to His Will & want nothing else. Many think I should be in a serious relationship--I' not opposed to it, but not seeking it. Many think I should move elsewhere--I will if GOD so leads. Many think they know what it best for my life--I trust GOD alone. Many think some of the things I do are completely nuts--they might be, but Jesus was seen as a radical & if I am imitating Him--maybe I need to be radical as well. Let us all bid farewell to 2014 and move into 2015 with a positive attitude & great expectations. "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:15-20 Let us look forward rather than backward. We will only stumble in in our attempts to move forward if we are looking behind us instead of before us. My prayer is that 2015 is a year of blessings for us all and that we will conduct ourselves in such a way as to point others towards the cross of Christ. Blessings! Tony

My CHRISTmas Wish...

"...I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:1b-6 NIV I'm opinionated. I know it. Most of my friends & family know it well also. Here goes... CHRISTmas has become so overly commercialized that for all practical purposes, it has completely changed what people see as CHRISTmas. While there is nothing wrong with gathering with loved ones & exchanging gifts, it is my opinion that we've bought Satan's lie. We see the holidays as a time to celebrate, a time to party, a time for gluttony & drunkenness--a time for Santa and his elves and sleighs & reindeer--a time for anything & everything except what it originally celebrated--the birth of Christ. As Christians, we are expected to be tolerant of everything, everybody, & every behavior. However, no one is asked to be tolerant of us, of our beliefs, of our morals and especially of our Bible-based opinions about wrong & right. Granted, it is not our place to police the world. It is not our place to judge the world. However, it is our place to tell the world of a loving GOD Who sent His One & Only Son into this cruel world to serve as a sacrifice, an atonement for the sins of mankind. At CHRISTmas, we celebrate the beginning of that earthly, solitary, sinless life that was GOD Incarnate, Jesus Christ. How about we all put our judgements, our prejudices, our cultures aside and learn to love one another, to accept one another--regardless of race, regardless of nationality, regardless of religious background, regardless of denomination. Unity is what it's about. Our country is made of of the melding together of the multitudes of the world. We have much to be proud of. At the same time, we have much to be ashamed of. We are still a nation divided. After many years of racial unrest, for the most part we still segregate ourselves along ethnic lines. Even in our Houses of Worship, we separate ourselves as predominately caucasian churches, predominately black churches, predominately hispanic churches, predominately asian churches--I think you get the idea. On top of that, we separate ourselves by denomination--there are Baptist churches, Methodist Churches, Pentecostal churches, Catholic churches, etc., etc., etc. I fully believe each church exists to reach a certain segment of society that only that body can minister to. There is nothing wrong there. What is wrong is that churches act as if they are in competition with one another. They point their boney finger of righteous indignation towards one another & speak ill of pastors, churches, denominations or complete races of people. Somehow, I can't see this as the spotless church, the bride that awaits the Return of Christ. Let's learn to love and accept one another, faults and all, and come together in a spirit of unity for the cause of Christ. We are not fighting one another. Together, we should be standing against the god of this world and sharing the message of hope and love with a world bound for Hell. This is the cause for which Jesus was born, for which He died. It'd be nice to honor the season of His birth by living in a spirit of love--the love that compelled GOD to give the greatest gift of all. "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 GOD has a plan, a purpose for every life He creates. We squander His precious gifts and spend our time on earth quarreling and fighting amongst ourselves when we are called to be a people of peace--especially during this season of peace. While it'd be nice to make it a year-round thing, the CHRISTmas season is a good place to start. Let us truly love one another without regard to our differences. This is my CHRISTmas Wish. Something to think about.. Blessings! Tony

A Grateful Thanksgiving

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17 NIV Thanksgiving is upon us & as always, I'm trying to remember to be thankful in all and for all things. My life certainly hasn't turned out the way I had planned, but I know GOD has blessed and will continue to bless me--often in spite of myself. Sometimes, this happy-go-lucky, laid-back & easy-going guy can be a real grumpy Gus. Sometimes, the problems of life are self-inflicted & sometimes, the choices or actions of others cause or at least contribute to my frustrations. Still, I know that my GOD can make a message from a mess & turn tragedy into triumph and He does so on a daily basis. So, who am I to doubt Him? Hasn't He promised never to leave or forsake me? I find it so easy to allow negativity to overcome me and whine about all the things I see myself as lacking instead of being thankful for the many good things in my life. Fact is, I am undeserving of anything good. I allowed the god of this world to have & use me for many years & had I died while I was living that lifestyle--I would have busted Hell wide open. However, GOD had a plan for my life & a plan to turn all the negatives into positives so I would be in a place to minister to others living destructive lifestyles. He has blessed me with a great family. He allowed me to share part of my life with an amazing and godly woman, who is now enjoying the eternal life with GOD that we all long for. He has blessed me with some wonderful friends & allowed me to enjoy many adventures & experiences that a lot of people miss out on. Most of all, He has loved me, cared for me and protected me when I didn't deserve it. So, as we gather with family & friends today to enjoy our Thanksgiving meal, let us remember to be truly thankful for all GOD has done and for the multitude of blessings He allows us to enjoy in this life. Be thankful--that is my goal, today & always. How about you...? Blessings! Tony

Do I do enough?

"Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter." Proverbs 24:11 NKJV I attended a men's conference & retreat last weekend & really enjoyed it. I was with a large group of guys (staff & students) from Teen Challenge, where I am blessed to work and serve. It was a time of refreshing, a time of fellowship, a time of worship, and a time of challenge. The speaker presented great messages and gave me a lot of food for thought. While I've always thought I was a pretty good guy and that I served GOD & my fellow man well, I realized that there is always more work to be done, more souls to be reached for the Kingdom, more ministries & missions to support. The more I thought about it, the more I understood that I can never do enough. I can't repay, even in part, what GOD did for me in sacrificing His Son for ME. I realized that even though I tithe, even though I pray, even though I minister to others--I can never do enough! I realized I must drink daily of the living water of the Spirit so that I might be continually filled in such a way that the Spirit overflows from me and onto & into those I come in contact with. That same Spirit that filled Jesus as He prepared for His earthly ministry is available to me, is available to you, is available to all who are willing to be humbly submitted to & used by GOD. He expects it, He commands it, and He promises to provide us what we need to do it. We just have to step outside of our comfort zone & allow ourselves to be stretched, to grow and serve and love with all we have so others will see Christ in us. The world would be a better place if we simply followed the plans laid out for us in GOD's Word. Jesus said we would do far greater things than He did but we have settled for mediocrity and complacency instead of storming the gates of hell like we are supposed to. It's time for me to draw my sword and charge into the battle, giving all I have to serve the Lord and His people. It's time for the church to get serious about doing the work of GOD instead of sitting comfortably in our buildings going through the motions of "church" while the people of the world are dying & plunging into hell. It is our duty as Christians to show them the way to GOD. If we don't, who will? Something to ponder... Be blessed! Tony

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