True Strength….

The older I get the more I realize that true strength, the kind that helps us endure, the kind that helps us cope, the kind that helps us stand, and the kind that helps us fight against evil, only comes from God. And it’s disguised as human weakness. The best place to build strength is not in a gym or in a high intensity workout, it’s on our knees in prayer asking God to empower us with His Spirit. What the world perceives as weakness (admitting our faults and inability to cope) is really the conduit in which God infuses us with His strength.

11 The Lord gives His people strength.The Lord blesses them with peace. Psalms 29:11

Being More Concerned With Your PR….

Hypocrisy has always been an issue. It’s just changed it’s name. Today hypocrisy is better known as “political correctness”. Jesus calls out the Pharisees’ hypocrisy here. Doing something to “save face” isn’t really a good reason to do it. How often do we see today man-made ideas pushed into the mainstream that are purposely presented to be a substitute for God’s standards? Or how many times do we see evil rewarded in the name of “progression”? Or love being converted into tolerance? Disagreeing with someone doesn’t mean you hate them. And loving someone doesn’t mean you accept every aspect to their behavior. Jesus confronted these religious leaders because they were more concerned with man-made traditions than they were with God’s law. They were pretenders, whose hearts didn’t really know God. If they did, they would’ve recognized Who Jesus really was. Being PC may earn us brownie points with the world, but will only drive us further away from what matters most, God Himself. Stop pretending. Get right with God. Instead of pursuing political correctness, how about being more concerned with your PR, personal responsibility (to God).

1 One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. 2 They noticed that some of His disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating. 3 (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. 4 Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to–such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.)5 So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked Him, “Why don’t Your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.”6 Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor Me with their lips,but their hearts are far from Me.7 Their worship is a farce,for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ 8 For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”9 Then He said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition. 10 For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ 12 In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents.13 And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.” Mark 7:1-13

The American Gospel….

The American Gospel has twisted the Biblical Gospel enormously. One particular area is sharing the truth in love with others. When people refuse to listen, slandering Christ followers for their belief, the Americanized Gospel tells us to feel bad, try to compensate the offender by convincing them that Jesus will make their life better. The Biblical Gospel tells us to handle rejection by shaking the dust off of our shoes as a sign to show the offender they have been abandoned to their fate. They have rejected God, so God has rejected them. Our disassociation with them is evidence that we stand on opposite sides. That’s huge. Should we feel bad? No, just sad that these people will miss out on eternity’s blessings (what they could have). Then we should focus our attention on those we haven’t met yet, that will receive our message with joy. We need to stick with the Biblical Gospel. It’s worked for centuries, and doesn’t need to be altered.

7 And He called His twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. 8 He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick–no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. 9 He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.10 “Wherever you go,” He said, “stay in the same house until you leave town.11 But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. 13 And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. Mark 6:7-13

A Way That Actually Accomplishes The Goal….

These proverbs speak volumes. Discipline is huge. I look around and see very little discipline anywhere. Education is one of the biggest offenders of this principle. People have gone astray, and our government rewards them for evil behavior. If the divide in America could be summarized in a few short words, it would be good vs evil. It’s that simple. People are fighting for their right to do evil, while others who oppose them are fighting for what’s right. The core problem goes much deeper. All of the BLM movement is just a disguise for hiding hatred. What’s the difference between the hatred they use (display), to fight the hatred they say they are against? What’s the difference between the violence they use, from the violence they are fighting against? Honestly, like it says right here, slandering others makes you a liar and a fool. When hatred is hidden, division follows. Be one that accepts discipline. Better yet, as I’ve always said, “discipline yourself, so others won’t have to”. Do it God’s way and it will lead to life, not death. Stop fighting, and start disciplining yourself to live a way that actually accomplishes the goal.

17 People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray. 18 Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool. Proverbs 10:17-18

Why Would They Want Jesus To Leave Them?

I have always wondered why the crowd, that was witnessing the after-effects of the demon-possessed man, pleaded with Jesus to leave their area. Jesus cast out the demon(s) in the man into a herd of pigs, that ended up drowned in a lake. They witnessed with their own eyes the once possessed, now sane and calm, man acting as normal as they were. Why would they want Jesus to leave them? Why would they want Someone Who could work miracles to not stay and work more miracles for them? Probably for the same reason Peter did when he experienced the power and holiness of Jesus. Peter words speak volumes for how sinners respond to Holiness, “ oh Lord, please leave me – I’m too much of a sinner to be around You”. God’s Holiness, by comparison, reveals our unholiness. When we are not in right standing with God, it makes us feel the weight of our guilt and shame. We tend to run away from God so we don’t have to experience these feelings of inadequacy. It’s probably the reason why the people wanted Jesus to leave. How often do we do the same? The problem is when you’re not in a right standing with God, running away only compounds the problem. We need to run to God, for He is the only One able to forgive us of our sin. When we do run toward God, we find Him waiting with open arms ready to forgive. That’s why Jesus is so important. He is the reason God waits with open arms. It represents what Jesus did on the cross, which reveals His enormous love for us. Oh, how so many never understand, and thus keep themselves from ever experiencing forgiveness. Do not be like the people wanting Jesus to leave. Invite Him in, no, run to Him. He’s waiting with outstretched arms.

14 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. 15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 16 Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. 17 And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.  Mark 5:14

The Remedy For Selfishness…

In our current times, hatred is everywhere. We have people telling us we need to unite, but the hatred they promote won’t allow unity to take place. Hatred is a symptom of a bigger problem. And hatred cannot drive out hatred. It’s simple math, 1+1=2. Hatred + more hatred= a lot of hatred. The only remedy for hatred is it’s opposite. Hatred is just outward evidence of its root problem, selfishness. The remedy for selfishness is love. I’m not talking about the shallow, inaccurate, and incomplete persona of love mentioned everywhere today, like the “love is love” propaganda. I’m talking about the LOVE Jesus displayed and preached about. For perfect love drives our fear (1 John 4:18). And love makes up for all offenses (1 Peter 4:8). Love is selfless. And that love cares enough to do the hard things, like rebuke a wrong, and call out sinful behavior. That’s the side of love that few ever hear about, or come to know. Love means being willing to get our hands dirty for the sake of another. That’s why it’s the only solution to hatred. Love someone today, and watch unity arise, and hatred lose its drive.

12 Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses. Proverbs 10:12

Come And Talk With Me…..

When you seek God wholeheartedly, you hear Him say, “Come and talk with me”. How often have you experienced this?

8 My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with Me. ”And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalms 27:8