"Not ready..not going."

Here I go again; I remember when we were kids my mom would have her hair appointments on Saturday mornings. Well, she would also use Saturdays to take us places, however the catch to this was that we had to be ready to go when she pulled up in the driveway or we weren't going anywhere.

Looking back on those days now I can understand her motives behind some of things she did; especially the "if you aren't ready to go when I get there then you're not going". It taught us to be ready at a moments notice, because with my mom we never knew when exactly she would show up in the driveway.

The same principle must be applied in the lives of every believer when it comes to the return of the Lord. He has said in his word,"watch therefore,for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."Matthew 25:13

So, let's remember to be vigilant and always ready, because He is coming back, and in the words mom used when we were kids; "If you're not ready when the Lord returns...you're not going with Him."

"Don't be a churchgoer..."

I, like many people I know grew up going to church from the time they can remember. I can't begin to tell you when I wasn't in church as a young person, because believe it or not I along with alot of other people I knew my age, we loved to go to church. Church then was a time to hang out with your friends that went to a different school than you did and catch up with what might have gone on with them from the last time you were together.

We went to Sunday school and in the summer time we were at vacation bible school. We went out of town to visit other churches to meet other young people and see who's choir or group sang the best. Yes, we were the quintessential churchgoers at a very early age. They taught us about Jesus being born and that's why we celebrate Christmas, and about him rising from the dead and that's why we celebrate Easter. Oh, and we got new clothes at Easter so we could look good doing our Easter speeches.

I was fourteen years of age when I really understood the whole reason behind us "going to church" in the first place. I now understand that we (the believer) are the church and that the building is the place we meet to fellowship and strengthen one another to go out into the highway and hedges and compel men and women to come and be apart of the church-body and not just the church-building.

"Don't be a churchgoer...Be the church."

The root cause

I have seen people change their lives for the better and I've unfortunately seen people change their lives for the worse. And, I have been wondering and contemplating what could posssibly be the causes of these drastic changes for the worse.

The causes of the turning ones life for the worse seems to directly related in part or in whole to the availability of or lack of money. When there has been the lack of money in the lives of some people and they desired to have it by any means; then they normally turn to committing offenses that they feel will give them their desired results and that is have money. The same could be said for those that have a considerable amount of money and they desire more and more of it. They have been know to enter into scamming for more or manipulating the existing system not only to receive more but to keep more.

Now, there is nothing wrong with having money, however when the reverse can be said and that is the money has you then that becomes a problem. Money is stated in the scripture as being able to answer all things. This includes but not limited to the providing of your family, giving to organizations that provide for those that can't seem to provide for themselves.

1Tim6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil:which while some coveted after, they erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Lets not love money, but like it; so we are able to do what the Lord would require for us to do with it, for the "root of righteous" yields fruit. Prov. 12:12b

"Check under the hood"

When I was in the detailing business years ago; I was priviledged to see exactly what was invlved with getting a used car ready to sell whether for the dealership or for the auction. We would take a vehicle that looked like it was 50 years old and ran that way too, and vacuum out the interior and sometimes even shampoon the carpet. We would then take a cleaning agent to remove any film that had built up over time on the paint finish. When there were scratches present we had this compuonding cream that blended the finish to the degree that it looked as if the scratches were removed. Finally, we would put a real generous amount of wax on the finish and buff it until you could practically see yourself in it.



Once the vehicle was detailed and placed on the lot; the job of selling it was up to the salesperson that had a potential client looking at that vehicle. And, the idea was to direct the clients attention away from wanting to know either how much the cost of the vehicle was or how did it actually drive. I've seen people purchase vehicles on an used car lot without ever test driving it all because of the way it looked sitting there on the lot shining like new money.



This is for us to keep in mind that we must consistently remember it's not what it may look like on the outside, but it actually is on the inside. The Lord shows us in the book of Matthew 23:27 "...hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.



So, indeed we should allow the outside to look good, but never at the expense of allowing the inside to dry up and die. Let's "Check under the hood."

Power of Attorney

There are times in our busy lives that we aren't able to go and get everything done as we would like to do, and there may be some transactions that must take place but we have to be somewhere else at that time. This is where a power of attorney document would come in handy. This document allows an individual to appoint another person or organization to conduct a specific business transaction in the absence of the principle person. Most husbands and wives have these documents done up which keeps both from having to schedule both their times to let's say be at the bank to sign papers. This document says in essence that "I give this person or organization complete authority to function in my name on my behalf."

We as believers have been given that same type of Power of Attorney. We don't have to worry about when the enemy raises his head to come against our families, finances or our fellowship. All we must do is invoke the Power of Attorney that has been given to us by the Lord himself. Mark 16:17b "...in my name shall they cast out devils..." We don't even have to worry about not having enough or going without, because when it seems that are backs are against the wall all we have to do is utilize the Power of Attorney...John 14:13 "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do..."

So, don't be concerned about any situation that may show itself today or even tomorrow; just know that you as a believer have been given the Power of Attorney for every area of life.

Whichever way the wind blows.

I have had friends I grew up with that would agree with you one moment and not even 30 seconds later in the same conversation would agree with someone else and disagree with you. The fun thing I used to do (and I've since repented for) was to hold a conversation with these persons and in the course of our discussion whatever it was at the time I would change my mind about three or four different times just to see if the individual would do the same.

I was never disappointed with results of my little experiment that I had conducted on my seemingly unstable friends. I was always told from the time I could remember that whatever decision I make to stand by that decision. However, even in those instructions I received I was also instructed to listen to all sides of the argument and after hearing both sides then decide whether the position I was standing on was yet the correct one.

This brings us to consider the scripture that instructs us to ask God for any lack of wisdom we may have and not only to ask God, but to do it with the expectation that God will do just what we are asking him. We aren't to be the friends of my past that would believe one way today and then the next day believe something totally different. The scripture refers to this person as being like a wave that is tossed back and forth by the wind.

Let us believe the Lord for the promises He has spoken to us, not only in the scriptures but also what He has spoken to us individually. Let's not be tossed back and forth or whichever the wind blows, because the scriptures say it best...James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in ALL his ways.

"If first you don't succed..."

I believe in encouragement almost to a fault; I just think that the more a person is given encouragement the more apt they are to accomplish whatever they set out to do no matter how difficult the road may get for them. I can remember always hearing..."if first you don't succeed, try again". Sometimes it may not have been said in those exact words but the meaning was still very clear; don't give up.

I've seen and heard of what some may deem as horror stories of people venturing out to make a mark in this word and they end up losing if not everything then almost everything, but they never allowed a set back to keep them down for very long. Sometimes it seemed as if once they got knocked down they would bounce right back up as if it never happened.

Unfortunately it seems to be just the opposite when it comes to our relationship with the one person that has never failed at anything, but because our prayers may seem to go unanswered day after day we feel it's no use of us even coming back to the church.

I'm telling us today; that never going back to church or reading our bibles and praying is just what the enemies of the Body of Christ want us to do. However, the remedy for bouncing back is quite simple when you think about it, because in the remedy is a guarantee. It may not say exactly..."if first you don't succeed..." but it does say..."the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much".James5:16

So if first you don't succeed...Pray, Pray again.

Some side-effects are...

I, in all my forty plus years, have never seen as many pharmaceutical commercials as I have as of late. There is at least three or four different prescription drug commercials in the span of one hour. There have been everything from rheumatoid arthritis commercials to fragile bone commercials, and there are so many more I wouldn't have enough room in this post to write them down.

Along with the commercials for all these different ailments is the positive performance of the prescription drug that they are advertising. They show how your life will be more enhanced for the better once you begin taking these prescription drugs. Then at the end of that same commercial in a lower tone and rapid speech they tell you of the side-effects of those same prescription drugs that are to make you better. Amazingly the side-effects at times are much worse than the issue in which you are taking the prescription in the first place.

Now, I don't want anyone getting the idea that I'm totally against prescription drugs; because I'm not totally against them at all. I am however one who believes in weighing out every option that is a possible choice before the prescription drug option. Whatever choice one makes should be with the understanding that if God isn't in the midst of the consultation then the results aren't guaranteed anyway.

There is a prescription that we as believers are privileged to take and the side-effects are guaranteed to be the same every time. As we continue to walk in the Spirit the results shall continue to increase everyday...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.Gal. 5:22,23

So let's be very mindful of what we are taking into our spirits, because the "Side-effects" have been know to be worse.

"911...what is your emergency?"

I remember when I was young and when there was some type of emergency that perhaps happened, we would dial "0" for the operator and she would answer the phone with, "operator may I help you". She would never answer the phone with asking what is your emergency because at that time everybody called the operator for pretty much everything.



So, they developed the 911 phone system that was strictly for emergency calls requesting some type of help. Once the phone system was on line a person would call 911 and the person on the other end would answer, "911 what is your emergency". This new system was wonderful in the beginning with some glitches here and there however for the most part it saved critical time in getting the right help to your given situation.



Now as the populations grew in areas the calls to 911 increased overwhelmingly, and it's not unusual when you call 911; that you hear "911 please hold" or they can't understand what you are saying because of some type of language barrier. Now it seems that the 911 system is in need of some type of emergency assistance.



Which brings me to my point for today, and that is I find it very refreshing as a believer that my trust is not completely in the hopes of individuals coming to my rescue. I'm certainly thankful for the technological breakthroughs that we as a people have achieved, however I'm more joyful of the fact that when I'm in need that I can call on the One who never slumbers nor sleeps but is a very present help in the time of trouble.



Palms 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.



Don't wait until there is an emergency in your life; you can call him anytime you like. He's even better than the operator of old that we called for everything, He's better because he doesn't have to patch you through to anyone else. "This is Jesus...I already know what you need".

"Will the real..."

There was a game show that started airing around 1956 called, "To tell the truth". The way the game show worked was to have three people who stated that their name was "Joe King" or "Josephine King" if it were three females. Once the name was given by the three people the host of the show would then read a letter that the real Joe or Josephine had written. Armed with the information in the letter the four celebrity judges were allowed to ask the individuals questions in relation to what the letter stated the person did for a living and so forth.

When the time of questioning was over then the panel judges were then asked to decide individually which person of the three they thought was the real Joe or Josephine King based on the answers they received. The host then asked the real Joe or Josephine King to stand up.

This is the similar to the life of the believer versus the churchgoer. The world plays the part of the panel judges asking all types of questions trying to determine what is real and what isn't. This has been the case almost from the beginning, but there is a day coming and it won't be very long that the ultimate judge, Jesus Christ the Righteous, will descend from heaven with a shout and it will be then that only the real believers will be able to stand up.

Seasoning Salt

My wife is an excellent cook and I'm not just saying that because she reads my posts sometimes; I'm saying it because it's true. I don't think there is anything she can't put together and make a great meal out of. She has the ability to taste whatever it is you have put together and is able to tell you almost 100% of the time what the ingredients are that's in the dish.



Now, I know how to cook pretty decently, however it is probably my least favorite thing in this world to do. You can forget about me being able to determine what's in a dish unless I put it in myself. With that said there is an ingredient that I think is probably one of the greatest discoveries of the cooking world, and that is "Seasoning Salt".



It almost doesn't even matter whether a person can cook or not, because if they have the right amount of seasoning salt mixed in the dish then it's going to give it a nice flavor. I love seasoning salt; my mother use to make a quick dish with spaghetti noodles a little butter, a splash of Tabasco and seasoning salt. This was the dish for every Saturday afternoon as we watched Star Trek and some other shows, but if there wasn't any seasoning salt then we didn't have the dish because it's never the same without seasoning salt.



The same is said about the believers of this world; the Lord called us the "Salt of the Earth" and that without the salt there is only blandness. We are to be the flavor in which the world wants to taste; and once they have tasted the flavor of love that we have to offer then we can direct them to the place where they to can get this "Seasoning Salt."

Hide and Seek

I remember some of the fun games we use to play as children. There were the games you played as a group and then there was those challenging games like "hide and seek". I loved to play hide and seek, but not for the hiding part of it. I prided myself on being able to go and find the ones that were hiding and then run back and touch the base before they did.

There were times during the game that a person could be standing almost in front of you and you would never see them because they were concealed very well you could pretty much say they were hiding in plain sight, and no matter how hard you looked you just weren't able to find them. It is at this point in the game that after you have found all the ones you were going to find; you hollered out, "Olly Olly oxen free" and all the ones you didn't find came out of their perspective hiding places.

The same principle that we used as children in the game of Hide and Seek is the same principles we employ in searching out the Will of God for our lives. There have been scores of people that have read the scriptures from front to back many times over, but can only give you a surface synopsis of what the bible is trying to convey to the reader.

The scriptures gives us to know that the Word is related to a treasure and with any treasure that I've come to know about; an individual had to seek to find it. I'm convinced that when we set our hearts and our minds to seeking out the treasure of the word, we'll be pleasantly surprised to know that it wasn't that far away in the first place...and ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jer.29:13

Corrective Vision

I'm what some might term visually challenged; I first was required to wear corrective lenses somewhere around the age of 12 years old. My parents would take me to the eye doctor once a year to have my eyes checked to make sure that the glasses that I was wearing at the time would be sufficient enough for me to continue wearing or would I have to get a different prescription.

I have to say it was rather fascinating to sit there and the doctor would have you look at the chart on the wall with all these different letters that were all boxed shaped so you really wouldn't be able guess at what the letter was. Then the doctor would put this device over your eyes and it would have these lenses in it; and with each turn of the lens the doctor would ask, "which is better...1 or 2". This process went on until the doctor got to the right setting on the device and you were able to see the letters as if they were two inches from your face.

The same could be said with our christian walk today. We, in and of our own selves, can you see to a point and being able to differentiate what a thing is can really become challenging to us only because we are somewhat pre-programmed to see things a certain way. This is why we need to continuously go to the Lord for an eye examine, not just once a week on Sunday but everyday of our lives. It is through the light of His word that we will begin to focus in on what He would have us to see at any given moment, there is no need for him to ask us "which is better..." because His word is the true prescription by which we ought to see, not only ourselves but all those we come into contact with on daily basis.

So, if you haven't done it today or perhaps you haven't done it at all...why don't you make an appointment with Jesus and allow him through his word bring everything into focus for you.

Independent...dependency

This is my nephew Dallas' first car.

It took me back to 1985 when I bought my first car; it was a 1971 Volkswagon Beetle. I really loved this car from the time I was a youngster, because it was owned by a young man in the neighborhood I grew up in. Every time Billy (that was his name) would drive down the street I would envision me driving that car one day.

I have always heard that when you get to the place in life where you have a car; that you would be free as a bird. I looked forward to one day getting a car just like the one Billy had, or better still the one Billy had. Well, that day arrived in the fall of 1985. I had just graduated and was on my way to college. It was with a portion of my financial aid check and the help of my grandmother; that I was able to realize a long time dream of owning my first car. However it wasn't just any car...it was the car that Billy used to drive through the neighborhood, yes it was my dream car. Now I was on my way to true independence, because now I had the one thing I knew was going to make that happen...my car.

It wasn't long after I bought the car that I found out, this so-called independence that came with owning your own car, was a mythological fallacy started by people who didn't have a car. I was going to need gas, oil, water, the lack of these few things mentioned will keep a car from going very far if anywhere at all. You become dependent on these items from the first day of owning a car.

So, it's with that concept in mind we must understand that we are dependent upon one another as well. The scriptures tell us that we (born-again believers) are the Body of Christ and members in particular, meaning that we are interdependent and connected to one another and that it is the roll of the body to provide for the members of the body. When a part of the body is lacking some type of nourishment it is the body's responsibility to provide healing and comfort to that area. The body will only function for so long without proper care and it will begin to deteriorate. The results of lack of care doesn't show itself outwardly in the beginning, the process of deterioration begins from within the body as it starts to attack itself. The more the body attacks itself inside the weaker it becomes outside. This is when the everyone begins to notice the decay.

There are words to a song that says in part..."I need you, you need me, we're all apart of God's Body..." It is when we as the Body of Christ begin to reach within itself...lift the bowed down heads, heal the brokenhearted; it is when we truly become our brother's keeper that we can understand that our independence is in fact the results of our dependency to one another.

We are better...together.

Where do I stand?

I have to admit it; oftentimes I find myself having to pause and take another look at where I stand. It's very easy to get caught up with helping people figure out their lives and the directions that you think would best benefit their own walk with God; that we sometimes forget that we too have a walk that needs evaluating from time to time.

I've seen first hand how an individual can be so accurate with their diagnosis of situations that have people in a virtual gridlock in their lives and after the differential is given and the remedy is dispensed, the individual is back flowing in the express lane of the christian highway. But, on close examination of the one that prescribed the remedy we see that their own life isn't moving forward at.

This is why I thank the Holy Spirit for being just who he is... you know; comforter, guide, re prover, etc. It's He that brings us to the place of self examination and asking ourselves those questions that should provoke us to true humility.

So, let's ask ourselves everyday that the Lord allows us to be apart of..."where do I stand" because I believe that question when asked in sincerity will bring answer that will confirm the need for us to pray more fervently for the direction of the Holy Spirit and will also keep us from being that type of individual in which Jesus described in the book of Matthew the 7th chapter..."And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Instead let's be the one described in Galatians 6...Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Keep asking, and He'll keep letting us know..."Where do I stand."

Check the record...

I guess I should have at least one post this month that has a hint of political underpinnings; so this will be the post today.

Once every four years we are flooded with calls and mail declaring that a certain person has decided to run for President of the U.S.A., and that we have the unique privilege with being apart of a group of people(registered voters) that have the task of choosing which person we want to serve, in what is deemed the most powerful position in all of the free world.

We hear speeches declaring their desire to lead us to a new level of living; they talk about the positive things they will do once they are elected. They promise sweeping reforms of the way things have been going and promise to make our lives better than they ever have. They promise us the moon and stars; and we know they can't deliver half the things they say but we want to think that maybe this time it will be different; so we allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of hope with all the promises made never to be realized.

We must constantly keep in our minds and especially in our hearts that there is only One that can keep any promise ever made. It is He that we should overwhelmingly choose to be our leader in every aspect of our lives. Most certainly we should exercise our right to vote during any and all elections, but we should never allow what is taking place in the media to determine how to decide. It is in choosing God as our source of comfort, protection and provision that we'll be able to decide whom to vote for, because the scriptures tell us that as long as we put our trust totally in the Lord and we don't try to figure it out for ourselves, but instead look to him; he will direct the way we need to go. Proverbs 3:5&6

So in the spirit of the season of election; I would like to announce the candidate that I'm choosing, and I extend the opportunity for you to choose as well, to be the leader of my life and perhaps yours; his name is Jesus. He's the only begotten of the Father; he's the Saviour of the world, and all his promises are "yeah and amen." Check the record.

"...I need...I"ll want..."

I was a child of the late sixties and seventies. My siblings and I didn't have that bad of an upbringing. Though we weren't rich by any means; we weren't necessarily dirt poor either. My parents did pretty good providing the daily necessities that we required for ourselves. I don't really recall ever wanting for things as a child.

Now that I'm the parent however; I have not it seems followed the pattern that was set by my parents. I missed the lesson they were teaching ; whether they realized it or not. I thought the more I gave my children the happier and more joyful they would be as they grew, however the more we gave as parents the more they wanted as children; it seemed as though they were never satisfied.

Don't miss understand me; I'm not nor would I ever suggest that we not see to the needs of our children. There is, I believe, a line that exists and to cross it is to invite a host of attributes that are completely unacceptable i.e. Greed, Covetousness and Gluttony just to name a few.

The 30th chapter of Proverbs says in the second part of the 8th verse,"...give me just enough to satisfy my needs." Because, 9th verse "For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name."NLT

The scripture reveals to us that there is a slippery slope that we walk on when we allow our wants to be the gauge of our satisfaction. The Lord told his disciples in the book of Matthew after they asked him to teach them to pray; he said in 6:11 "give us this day our daily bread."

We shouldn't be so preoccupied with tomorrow, next week or next year; for the Father knows what we have need of, so let us continue to ask the Lord for our daily bread and in doing this; it keeps ever dependent upon Him.

Give me what I need and I'll want more of You.

"I got it.I think..."

Isn't it a great feeling when you have been wrestling to grasp an idea or concept and finally it clicks; the lights come on, the bells chime and the whistle blows. Wow, what an awesome rush of joy and satisfaction when you reach this apex and great milestone.

Then you come to soon realize this is just another rung on the ladder, another link in the chain, another cog in the wheel. You have no sooner lifted your hands in absolute victory and exclaiming to the world around you that; "I got it" and the truth hits you like a German Shepard hits a training sleeve; "I think I got it."

The truth of the matter is, no matter how much we come to learn and know in this we call life; there's still more to learn.

The same is to be said about the Lord Jesus. I believe the Apostle Paul said it best when he said,"...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death..." Paul shows us that there is more to it than we think we know.

So, let's keep digging it the scriptures and I assure you we will begin to unearth more understanding than thought we ever could, and just when we begin to shout..."I got it" look a little deeper and you'll revise your shout with an addendum..."I think I got it."

Tired...Doing the Right Thing.

I can't begin to count how many times I've heard; and have even said it myself a time or two, that I'm tired of always being the one to do the right thing all the time. Especially when it seems that practically everyone else doesn't seem to be bothered with doing what's right and they appear to be moving forward in their careers, finances, etc.

You ask yourself,"why am I killing myself with following the rules and treating people like...people, and the person next to me is nasty, mean, hateful and down right conniving. Is it possible that nice guys actually do finish last?

Well, I must admit; I was leaning toward that line of reasoning before I started to understand the scriptures. The Bible is full of examples where the believer shouldn't be concerned with the individual that seems to prospering from shaddy dealings and so forth, because the Bibles lets us to understand that even though they seem to be getting by; they certainly will not get away.

So, continue to, as Spike Lee says, "do the right thing" keep being nice and caring and loving even to those that are flat out mean. I encourage you in your discouragement and I challenge you not to give up, because Galatians 6:9b declares "...we will reap a harvest of blessings at the appropriate time."NLT

Be Patient and Wait...?

Patient: 1. bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint. (merriam-webster)

Wait: 4b. to remain temporarily neglected or unrealized. (meriam-webster)

We seem to hear this phrase uttered more times than we care to count or realize. It's there when a loved one has left the existence of this world; and one is trying to come to grips with the pain that has seemingly taken the place of breathing. But, we hear those words that seem to be in total conflict with one another..."Be patient and wait". Is it sadistic of us to tell those in the midst of what they may deem the worst experience in their lives to that point; to continue to take the pain that has been inflicted upon them and not only take it, but bear it with the sense that there is no hope for relief.
Being patient and the act of waiting is draining and consumes a great deal of strength from an individual; however I believe that as we find ourselves in these times of great pain and perhaps it seems as though we have been neglected remember this: Psalms 34:17 "The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."
So yes, be patient and wait; because the reward is far greater than the journey it took to get there.

It's starting to look alot like...

Everyone likes receiving gifts; there isn't a person that I know living that doesn't like get something from someone. I think that is perhaps one of the biggest issues we face as individuals; always looking to see what we are going to get from a situation. A man that goes into a new relationship is looking to receive perhaps better treatment from this new person that he didn't from the last, and vise versa. However, it seems to me that even though it's starting to look alot like christmas; the truth of the matter is it's not. The one thing that hasn't changed is the individual looking for something. When we are true to ourselves and begin to take a thorough inventory from within; it will be then that we will be able to learn that, "it is more blessed to give than it is to receive.

The Start of Something New...

It's a great day and a great time to start something new... I've always wondered though about some people, because I refuse generalize, have such a tumultuous time with the idea of starting something new. I wonder is it fear of the unknown and what this newness could bring, is it because of the complacency that has crept in over time due to lack of engaging in anything outside the normal? Would there be records to keep if there was no new? Would there be a finish?