CARPE DIEM

You know if I died right now, I would be satisfied with my life. I have done so much and seen even more. I am so thankful for the life the Lord has blessed me with. I can not do enough to show my appreciation for what God has done for me and through me. I never thought I would be where I am today. Yes, I do have regrets, but overall I know I have accomplished much. But, the beautiful thing about my life is this. It not over. I still have goals and dreams. I believe the attributes that have enabled me to live this life to the fullest are faith, perception, and discipline. This is not a formula for success. I am simply describing what qualities I believe have helped me live a full life up to this point. Faith was key because the alternate fear would have stopped me from taking any risks--and receiving life's real rewards. Perception has been invaluable because without it I would have missed how to take advantage of all the opportunities the Lord presented me with. And, finally, discipline was essential because without it I could have never mastered myself in order to push off gratification and embrace long term satisfaction. I don't know if I will be remembered 100 years from now. But, I can truly say everyman dies, but I have truly lived. With Christ help - Seize the day!

Fasting

It’s about four o’clock in the morning as I am finishing this article on fasting. The house is peaceful. The kids are asleep. I can perceive the central heating humming rhythmically in the back ground; besides my laptop, the only thing I hear in the house is my son rustling in the bed. This is a good moment for me. Currently, my heart feels at rest. It’s interesting; during these moments I can slow down and reflect on what is going on in my life.
During these moments I can asses myself: how am I doing as a husband, as a father, as a friend? Let the truth be told, this pulling away is when I see the most growth, and experience the most positive change in my character. Usually during these times I ask my self questions like: Did I respond correctly yesterday? Or, am I overreacting to the information presented to me last week?
This time is essential for me to develop into who God has called me to be. The solitude is satisfying to my soul. But, wait what is that noise I hear? “It’s my twitter notification informing me that one of my twitter friends has just updated their status.” [Beep, Beep, Beep] my alarm begins to avenge itself on the quiet. And, like an object being sucked through a vortex I am taken out of my solace and violently pulled back into the hustle and bustle of my very busy world. No worries, the Scriptures has an answer to my problem; God has prescribed a way where we can find satisfaction even if we live our lives seemingly opposed to tranquility.
God’s diagnosis is fasting. Merriam-Webster defines fasting simply as “to abstain from food or to eat sparingly”. Fasting as Richard Foster would describe it is a “discipline”. Dallas Willard would describe the practice as a “spiritual discipline”. These two great authors don’t contrast each other. What they are doing in their depiction of the practice is highlighting different aspects for the reader. The former focuses on the methods and the latter focuses on the motivation.
This article will briefly focus on the why! If done properly biblical fasting is a physical means of producing spiritual fruit. It is a means of maintaining our true prosperity, which is our relationship with God. Now I do want to clarify that there are practical and medicinal purposes for fasting as well, such as weight loss and the cleansing of undigested food that has built up in the intestines and colon. Yet, this article will only focus on the spiritual benefits of this discipline.
Jesus lays the foundation in Matthew 6:16 – 18.

16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 6:16-18 NIV

Let’s focus on three points here. First, Jesus says “When you fast” this phrase makes it clear to all that fasting will be a normal part of the Christian’s life. He does not give specifics, but his general reference implies that it will be habitual and encompasses everyone who follows after him.
Next, Jesus commanded us, “do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting.” The implication here is our motivation for fasting must be scrutinized if we intend to receive any positive results from the practice.
And finally, Jesus’ statement—“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face…and your Father…will reward you” indicates that God will reward you for the effort, and not just through the process. Based upon Matthew 6:16 – 18 the foundation for biblical fasting is clear: it is expected of every believer, the believer must watch their motives, and untimely God will reward him or her for their efforts.
Now that the foundation for fasting has been unpacked let’s look at some practical ways fasting bears fruit in our lives. I am intentionally excluding spiritual warfare and will focus on the spiritual rewards of the practice. Let’s start in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 58:6 is where we will start with the specifics on the spiritual rewards of fasting. In this popular text, the prophet’s rebuke of Israel concludes with God’s intended benefit for their fast; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke.
The clarity here is unmistakable. To summarize it, Israel’s reward would be freedom from the bonds of selfishness. This is an amazing point. Fasting sets us free from ourselves. I have found one of the hardest things to do in this world is to make a selfish person see something other than their own situation. Have you ever tried to convince a selfish person they were wrong? Good luck! I would rather go 12 rounds with Mike Tyson in his prime than to do that. We all struggle with selfishness. Besides pride, it is the biggest wrestling match a Christian will have in maintaining a healthy relationship in his or her life; and I not just talking about with God. I mean with people too. James 3:16 says, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing” (NASB). Nevertheless, God gives a prescription to free us from selfishness and that is Fasting!
In Matthew 9:15 Jesus focuses on another benefit for the practice.

Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.” Matthew 9:15

To contextualize this, Jesus’ disciples were eating well when the religious leaders and John’s disciples were fasting. At this point Jesus is questioned about his disciples’ actions. The primary point of what Jesus says is simple; they don’t need to fast when I am here with them. But, the peripheral point is appropriate for our discussion. Jesus says, “The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.” What is the benefit for fasting in this case? It is for perseverance.
Early in my Christian walk there was a saying I often heard repeated. “If you pray you stay, if you fast you last.” Fasting is like finding water in the desert. It gives you the strength to continue. Many times in our walk we get into the stagnant areas because of various reasons. It could be we find ourselves there because of sin, hurt, unforgiveness, etc. Regardless of why we find ourselves there, God says that fasting will help us to maintain and persevere until the race is done.
In Acts 13:2-3 we see the final benefit we will discuss regarding the practice.

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Hearing God is a vital benefit you receive from fasting. How can you have a relationship with a person whom you can not communicate with? You can’t. Thus hearing God is the most important thing you can do to maintain a healthy relationship with him. Fasting is like removing the wax from your ears. It clears the way for you to hear God. I am not saying you always need to fast to hear from God. But, there are times when fasting is necessary for obtaining directions from Him. I can hear the central heating humming rhythmically in the back again. I understand ultimately in life what we are really looking for is peace with God. But, it is difficult to obtain. Honestly, without His help it is impossible. So often we think we know what is best for us. So we wrestle against the direction our life is going. However, God directs our path. The only way to find peace in God’s path is to trust Him. Fasting helps bring us to a point of clarity! Thus, it is essential to practice fasting in order to find rest, in God. It brings you to a place where you can free yourself of yourself, gain strength for the journey, and to hear the God who has your best interest in mind. Fasting helps you live this busy life in a way that can still bring satisfaction to your soul. Where is that snooze button?

Storms

We recognize a storm in a variety of ways. Sometimes you can smell it coming, other times you can hear it, and yet other times you can see its ominous presence in the distance. So often we view a storm in a negative light. However, there is a blessing in the storm. Regardless, how it comes, you must always remain focused on what the storm is doing to the land. Because we are not an agrarian culture anymore we have lost touch of our dependence on rain. Now a days, rain is seen as a hindrance to our drive to true happiness. You know the song "Rain, Rain, go away come again another day." However, without rain the land would quickly become barren. And, our world would quickly become lifeless. Gain a new perspective! Because of rain the land has the opportunity to flourish and produce life. Honestly, I believe the same is true with the storms of our life. Regardless how the storm comes be thankful for the rain and focus on what it is doing to your heart. Recognize the opportunity to be fruitful is a process that requires tears (Wait a minute!) well let me say it like this...the opportunity to be fruifjul is a process that requires just a little rain.

My discussions with author "Steve Pressfield"

Recently, I wrote a review of a book entitled "Gates of Fire" from my new favorite author Steven Pressfield. My post must have caught the eye of his publicist because she emailed me back inquiring if I desired to ask the renowned author a couple of questions. Of course, I was flattered, and I agreed. To my suprise she even sent me a copy of his work entitled "The War of Art." My good friend and colleague Ben Komanapalli informed me there was a lot of buzz in leadership circles about this book. At this point, I was giddy with joy. Having received the book in the mail, I decided to wait and read it on may way to Haiti. By the way the mission trip to Haiti was awesome. The country is in need of one thing --Leadership training. Anyway, when I settled in on the plane leaving JKF I picked up the book and could not put it down. The book was so engaging. I read it from cover to cover in 2-hours. The book was awesome; and here are the questions I asked Steven after reading it:

In your book “The War of Art” you address the opposition we face in attempting to “completing our creative goals” could you explain why this monolithic internal opposition is so prevalent in humanity?

In The War of Art, I say that it's a clash between the Higher Self and the Lower Self, the small Ego. That's the closest I can come to something that satisfies me. It may be a little too "mystical" for others.

I think that we humans inhabit, as Shakespeare said, a realm somewhere between animal and angel. We're pulled in both directions. I believe that certain "laws" obtain on this earthbound dimension (death is real, individuals are separate from each other, time and space are real, the most powerful emotion is fear) that do not apply on the dimension above us. In that dimension (where the Greeks would have said the gods live), death is not real (the gods live forever), time and space are malleable (the gods travel "swift as thought") and the predominant emotion is not fear but love.

Though we are all here in this material, timebound dimension, I believe we somehow retain "memories" or "visions" of that higher dimension--and that a part of us, our best part, aspires to return there somehow. That's why, when someone in this earthbound dimension acts in accordance with the laws of the higher dimension (a soldier, say, who throws his body onto a hand grenade to save his buddies), we are moved profoundly by that act and we bestow our highest awards and honors on the person who performed it.

So, by this theory, our better parts aspire to rise to higher levels, to write the novel we know is inside us, compose the symphony, fight the good fight against evil ... but at the same time we are opposed by our baser, cynical, self-centered selves. Of course the lower will always resist the higher. If the higher wins, the lower is not only out of a job but is disgraced and rendered meaningless.

Do feel all fundamentals lack creativity? What about the great artist and thinkers who have come out of the fundamental camps – C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, J.R.R. Tolkien? Are they anomalies?

2) I would disagree with you that C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer and J.R.R. Tolkien are fundamentalists. On the contrary, they are highly cultured, highly individuated artists who have thought deeply about the problems of the human condition and have arrived at their philosophical and spiritual positions through a long and rigorous process of investigation, meditation and rumination.

The fundamentalist (as I define him, anyway) does the opposite. He stops thinking. He surrenders his free will and his capacity for reflection and deliberation. Instead he swallows whole some externally-derived doctrine or belief system (Communism, fascism, free-market capitalism, etc. etc.) and becomes an unthinking robot in its service.

I admire the hell out of the three artists you've cited above.

Do you feel satisfied once you overcome hindrances to writing/our goals? Would you term this self-actualization/purpose or is this just a step on the right path?

3) Great question. I do feel satisfied. In fact I would say that no other act is truly satisfying other than that. And to me it's a step along the way. I'm not sure where the way is going, but it does seem to trend, I think, toward greater awareness of one's own self and the potential within oneself--but with the paradoxical element that what we learn about our individual selves brings us closer to other people, so that the more we become the unique individuals we were born to be and the more we produce the unique contributions that only we can contribute, the more we admire others on the same path and the more communion we feel with them.

Its about the heart!

How do you respond when you are hurt? Do you put up a guard to protect yourself from being hurt again. Imagine if God did that...we would all be in trouble...the irony of being God must be that "he is love" yet the very people whom he loves constantly hurt him. I can not imagine how much pain we put him through...may people don't think about hurting his feelings. But, God hurts, cries, and has emotions. It probably make us feel better not to think that way... its easier on us to make him an emotionless robot...I am sure it makes us feel better about our own actions. But, we are created in his image and likeness...the scriptures are full of instances when God is pouring out his heart to no avail.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Matthew 23:37

I hate that I hurt God...often I am so self-absorbed that I don't think about him...only my feelings... I am so thankful for his grace...not only that he keeps making himself vulnerable to me--even though I hurt him--he gives me the opportunity and strength to show others his great love for me. How? By strengthening me to give His loving-kindness unconditionally to those who hurt me! What a God!

Gates of Fire...the Leaders and their followers motivations

I am turning into a King/warrior buff--blame it on the years of football. Anyway, I love the stuff. I know, I know, ...it is so passé. So, I guess I am a caveman regarding some of my ideal's. Nevertheless, in my journey to find what makes the alpha male warrior tick, I came across this book entitled "Gates of Fire." It falls in the genre of Historical Fiction; it was written by Steven Pressfield. The book focuses on the battle of Thermopylae, which is the same story Frank Miller depicted in his graphic novel 300. But, unlike 300 the Gates of Fire goes into greater detail explaining what motivates Spartans. Also, Pressfield was more intentional in humanizing the players in the conflict than Miller was. Pressfield even authenticates the Persians. The author did such a good job in humanizing all the characters he was able to articulate a truth about leadership that is rarely talked about using the main antagonist of the story, King Xerxes. The character Xerxes is able to communicate the very fear that topples, in my opinion, many great leaders. The inability of a leader to trust the motivations of his followers. In this brief passage I am about to quote Xerxes, husband of Queen Ester, who is the King of Persia--one of the largest and greatest empires in the History of mankind, crystallizes the fear of mistrust many leaders experience. In explaining to his most "trusted" advisers why he would devise a strategy for his next military move based upon a captured Spartan's testimony rather than heading their counsel, he states the profound:

"Consider:whom can a king trust who comes into His hearing? What man enters before Him but with some secret desire, passion, grievance or claim, which he employs all his artifice and guile to conceal? Who speaks the truth before a king? A man addresses Him either in fear for that which He may seize or in avarice for that which He may bestow. None comes before Him but as a suppliant. His heart's business the flatterer speaks not aloud, but all he obscures beneath the cloak of dissemblance and dissimulation.
Each voice vowing allegiance, each heart declaring love, the Royal Lister must probe and examine and if He were a vendor in a bazaar, seeking the subtle indices of betrayal and deceit. How tiresome this becomes. A king's own wives whisper sweetly to Him in the darkness of the royal bedchamber. Do they love Him? How can He know, when He perceives their true passion spent in scheming and intriguing for their children's advantage or their own private gain. None speaks the whole to a king, not His own brother, not even you, my friend and kinsman."

The point: if you are a leader trust no one!

Powerful truth and in a world full of sin where you have to hold on to every thing you get with all your might here, here!!! But, because of Jesus we don't have to walk in fear we can walk in faith.

Why...

1. It is Christ who they are following not you.."...and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..." (Galatians 2:20b)
2. You are called to give and serve not to get and hoard That's not the way it should be among you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,(Matthew 20:26)
3. Because you are not your own...you were bought at a price. (1 Corinthians 6:20a)

The point: you are Christ's so that men can use you...that is the point...Leaders who walk in fear are not trusting God nor do they understand their purpose! What are the motivations of the people who follow you? Who cares...Ask yourself this! What is your motivation for following Christ!

Overcomer

It is easy to give up to say, "I can't go on!" But, as the old proverb says "Everyman dies, but not everyman truly lives." Life is not so much about what happens to you, but its how you respond to your situation that is more important. How is your life going?

The wisdom of the intrigue

The world teaches us there is wisdom in concealing your hand. In this interview, Lebron can not honestly answer most of the questions posed to him transparently because it would affect his contract negotiation leverage and endorsement appeal. This wisdom comes from living in this fallen world. I am not singling Lebron out because we All fall into this trap. The trap of playing games with our actions and words in order to hold power. However, this wisdom does not come from God. 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 says, "The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." God asks us to be wise, but our wisdom is a heavenaly wisdom, and it does not originate from a sense of power, but it originates out of a sense of reverence for God. Do you trust him? Well if you do who cares what cards you hold; He is in control of the game anyway!

The All time best book on Leadership - and the proper state of a Leaders heart

I don't care who you are from Obama to TD Jakes, from the Pope to Jay Z, this book will change your life! If you have the courage to read it!

Technology + Spirituality = New Heros!

As America changes so does it's ideal and ideas of what a hero is and what they should look like!

Baptism Video!

2008 Orchard Baptism Video from The Orchard on Vimeo.

This is a interesting format that could crystallize the baptism experience!

Bosnian Missions trip!

Here is a short video of our attempt to promote American football at a Bosnian camp targeting young adults!

The Blessing of Obedience to God out of the Box"

The deeper reality in obedience is the kind of spirit it works into us. IT is a spirit that crucifies greed and covetousness. It is a spirit that crucifies greed and covetousness. It is a spirit of compassion and outreach. It is a spirit of sensitivity and trust. Once this inner disposition has taken over our personality, material blessings cannot hurt us, for they will be used for right purposes. We will recognize material goods to be not for us alone, but for the good of all.

--Richard J. Foster

Is it not interesting that often people work so hard to "Take God out of the Box" But, in reality if one would respond to God as He has decided to reveal Himself he or she would see even the seemly mundane in God had such vast dynamics that it would be next to impossible to comprehend the effects of the “routine in God” on their lives! "Come and follow me!"

My Testimony!

In 1993, I was a graduating senior at South Charleston High School, which is a public school in South Charleston West Virginia. At that time, I was the West Virginia High School Football player of the year, and was nominated a blue-chip High School All-American by national sports reporters. I received a full football scholarship to Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach Florida where I played four years and eventually dominated my competition. I played so well I caught the eyes of many professional football scouts.I was projected to get drafted in the fourth round of the NFL draft to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, as the old saints used to say “BUT GOD...” At the mid-point of my senior year only 4 quarterbacks had dared to throw the ball in my direction; I intercepted all four of them. Going into the second half of the season we were facing the best quarterback in our league, Howard University’s Ted White, who was eventually drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. He held numerous records in our conference. Not only that, the year before he had thrown 7 touchdowns against us in a 63 – 13 route. (None of those touchdowns where on me by the way) At the start of the game the question of the day was how many touchdowns would Ted throw that day? Well, I am happy to say that Ted had the courage to throw my way, but like the other Quarterbacks that year who had dared to throw my way, I had picked him off just the same and revealed in the glory. Ted White was not simply a courageous man, but he was a determined one as well because his draft status was being judged based upon his performance in this very game. Thus, not to be shown up Ted threw another long bomb in my direction, yet this was my day, my year, my time, and I intercepted this record-breaking quarterback for a second time that day. Ted decided after the second interception he would not throw the ball in my direction again. So the test of wills had ended, and I had come out victorious. However, an interesting thing happened following the second interception, after extending my body to dive and snatch the ball out of the air and away from my opponent I stood up in the end zone to celebrate my victory with the traditional end zone dance. It was there in the middle of my celebratory dance my future was forever altered. As my body was gyrating and contorting I stretch, strained, and finally tore my groin in two pieces. Believe it or not but I was unaware I had injured myself until the next Monday in the training room. When I became aware my groin was ripped in two, a million questions came to my mind. But, the number one was Why God? I was a young Christian then, and I did not understand why God would do this to me. I barely finished out the rest of the football season, and as a result of my injury, my draft status plummeted. On draft day my name was not called. Fortunately, my agent made a couple of calls, and I was picked up as a free agent by the Minnesota Vikings, even though I was rehabbing intensely, my groin was still not healed. My situation looked beyond hopeless. I now realized thatGod put me in this position where I had to trust in His ability and not my own. I was called to tryout to makeMinnesota’s 53 man roster even though they had drafted three other people who played my same position and picked up two other veteran players who also played my same position one of them being former Super Bowl MVP Larry Brown. Like I said, my situation was hopeless. However, as the old saints used to say “BUT GOD”.Interestingly, I impressed the coaches more than any other player that year except for Randy Moss that is. And, during this process God gave me two dreams: One I was standing inside of the Minnesota Vikings home stadium, and two God showed me I would produce abundant fruit from playing football. Furthermore, through prayer God had spoken to my mother, and He impressed upon her heart that I would make the team. There I was with one leg and trusting God that He would follow through on His promise. Do you know what happened next? I was cut. Yep, I was the last man cut on the roster. But, even though I was cut something inside of me would not allow me to trust my circumstances more than I was trusting in God’s promise. So, two weeks into the season who do you think called my house? The Minnesota Vikings called me back and asked me to play on their team. And, for the next two and a half years I did just that, starting the last six games of my career and even being named most valuable player for one of them. Personally, I think the most remarkable thing in my whole experience was the fact I learned to trust in God, no matter what. At times God allows you to get in hopeless situations so that you are forced to trust in Him so that he can give hope to others. Seniors you are graduating into an extremely polarized society, in the middle of a war, and in a day when people doubt the very existence of truth itself. You are graduating in the wake of the largest school massacre in US History, and in a time when many people’s faith seems to be ebbing. Your are graduating in a Postmodern world in which everyone is encouraged to do what that feel, and will relentlessly defend that right even at the expense of reason. You are graduating at a time when men are rejecting authority, yet you have been raised to become leaders. I could go on and on and speak about unspeakable horrors in Africa and Asia, yet I think the Scriptures summarize our situation the best. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 says, that in the last days difficult times will come. ² For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. You know Paul paints a bleak picture of our times. However, as the old saints used to say “BUT GOD” Remember God allows you to get in hopeless situations so that you are forced to trust in Him so that he can give hope to others.

We have another prophecy about our times that does give us hope. In Joel 2: 28-32 ¹⁷ 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLDMEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; ¹⁸ EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy... ²¹ 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.' Even though God does tell us that times will be difficult, He also says that He will be with us and empower us to overcome. I don’t know about you but something inside of me will not allow me to solely trust the internet and television, something in my heart is screaming trust in God. In comparing the difference between faith and trust you can see what God is asking of you. I heard an analogy, which illustrates trust well. Imagine you were at Niagara Falls and you saw a clown who said, “Do you have faith that I can walk a tight rope over the falls with a wheelbarrow without falling to my death?” You maybe doubtful until someone you know comes running up and states that he has seen him do it 100 times before. At the word of your acquaintance you say to the clown, “I believe that you can do it,” Instantly, the clown jumps out on to the rope and quickly zooms up and back the line with wheelbarrow in toe. You stand amazed and begin to clap at the clown’s skill. As the clown returns he heads toward you, and he states, “Do you trust that I can walk this tight rope over the falls without falling to my death?” In which you respond, “Of course,” the clown then looks at you and says, “Well if you trust me, get in the wheelbarrow and go over the falls with me.” Having faith in someone puts you at very little risk because the consequences of their actions do not always directly affect you, but trusting someone requires you to make yourself fully vulnerable to them. Their level of competency and skill will have a direct affect on you and your life. The question of our day is, “Are you willing to get into God’s wheelbarrow?” In Hebrews the author states, “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” but without trust it is impossible to know Him. Trusting God makes you vulnerable to His will and His skill. Only through personally experiencing God’s ability in your life can you truly know Him. Do you trust God? These are the last Days and God’s word says that they will be difficult. And, they are. However, God also says that He will empower us, be with us, and ultimately gain victory through us if we choose to trust in Him until the end. Thus, this is your responsibility: trust God. Trust God to protect you when you are in danger. Trust God, regardless of the consequences, Trust in Him. Trust God when the wind is blowing at your back. Trust God even if the situation looks hopeless, trust in Him. Trust God when the task is simple. Trust God, regardless of the level of commitment involved, Trust in Him. Trust God when it’s not convenient for you. Trust God, regardless of the amount of pain you must endure to get it done, Trust in Him. Trust God when you are certain of the outcome. Trust God, when you are sure you will fail, trust in Him. Trust God when you are confident of the future. Trust God, no matter how many times you get discouraged, Trust in Him. Trust God, when you have reached the pentacle of your success. Trust God, when you have hit rock bottom, trust in him. Trust God when you are the center of attention. Trust God when you are all alone, trust in him. Trust God when you are certain you will have a long life. Trust God when life has reached its end, trust in him.

Seniors don’t ask why you where called to live in these difficult times, God does not always answer our whys; however, even if he does, above all else He requires you to trust in Him. Just Trust Him!!! God allows the rain to fall on the just and on the unjust alike; however, if you trust in Him you will gain access to His ability. Ultimately, this is your edge in life; this is your advantage. God promises to be with you. Therefore, go forth and shine. Strive for the highest heights, reach for the loftiest goals, and make the deepest sacrifices. Because you are His children no matter what goals you set, no matter what objective you strive for, you will achieve them, only if you put your trust in HIM. Thank you for this opportunity to speech to you today. I value this occasion. May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may He lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.

Great Music!

Moving Windmills

Why don't we try?

Do the right thing~

Following the course of action that is well pleasing to God may not always be easy in a sinful and fallen world, but such obedient and even heroic options can, bu the grace of God, be found and followed even in the most extreme conditions. Such unswerving commitment to discerning and obeying the will of God-including a willingness to pay the "cost of discipleship"-- is much needed in the twentieth-century American church, where believers are all too often tempted by the comforts and compromises of the surrounding culture.

John Jefferson Davis


It is my belief that God has given us the moral framework to make the right decision in every situation. However, faith comes in when an individual finds themselves knowing what to do, but not having the strength to do it. It is my belief, at this point the individual is tested to hold and proclaim the truth even if he or she is not able to live up to God's standards. Often times people compromise and make there experience of failure the basis for truth instead holding on to the truth of God's Word. Courage is needed! The believer needs to be honest about where he or she is in relation to God's Word and to seek His Grace to empower him or her to live up to His standards and not down to our weaknesses!

It costs...

Leadership article @benkomanapalli

http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/06/03/quad_community_press/news/doc4a2533c6371e5870756098.txt

 

 

Posted via web from anthonybass's posterous

...is there such thing as right and wrong?

According to [contextual absolutism], there are many moral absolutes, not just one absolute of “love,” as in situation ethics. Situation ethics – reduces law from a statutory system of rules to the love canon alone.” However, the fundamental difficulty with the “situational approach, of course, is the absence of a definite criterion for what constitutes a “loving” course of action in any given situation.  

 

John Jefferson Davis

 

Think about this in a postmodern world where each individual as the “ability” to define his or her own reality; what would hinder an individual from defining love the same way another individual would define hate?

 

Ant  

Posted via web from anthonybass's posterous

First Post

This is my first post on Posterous.com; I am trying to see how this application works. I just found it today...so forgive me...I leaped before Iooked. 

 

ant 

Posted via web from anthonybass's posterous

See...

I think one of the most beautiful things about being a Christian is that you have the vision to see the extra-ordinary in what other's think is mundane!

ab

Give them hope!

It is part of the job of a minister to give hope to those who are hopeless; however, the skilled minister knows how to convey that hope so that his or her message will be received. The point...How you communicate is just as important as what you communicate!

1 Corinthians 13:13a

So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love.

Is there no king?

One unsuccessful answer to the problem of conflicting moral obligations is known as "situation ethics." In this approach there can be no real conflict between two or more absolutes, because presumably there is only one absolute" "love." In each and every situation, one's moral obligation is to take the most "loving" course of action, even if that should mean discarding traditional ethical standards. John Jefferson Davis Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Do you see why today's Christian must defend absolutes. Without and absolute standard each individual then becomes god - determining what is right and wrong in his or her own eyes. With abouslutes we are saying there is no King! Well is there a King?

Afro-American

It is interesting to see what other countries deem valuable about your culture.

Bishop Jakes at CRC

This is one of the most powerful events I've attended; there may have been 400 people who gave their hearts to God that night!

ant

Leading in Difficult Times

Check out this Promo video for a Series "Leading in Difficult Times" Bishop McBath http://www.bcourtneymcbath.org/ preached a couple of months ago! To me it is the most relevant word for the Church in America today next to John Bevere's "Honor's Reward!"

ant

A slave...

Enslavement to the opinions of others is the source of a great deal of duplicity in modern society. How often we discover our action to be prompted, not by the divine Center [God], but by what others may say or think.

Richard J. Foster--Freedom of Simplicity

I think if we are honest with ourselves we will begin to question our motives...why do we raise our hands in worship, why do we have to have the last word in a discussion, why do we have the profession we do? I think the doom of our time is that we lived shallow lives because we wanted to look good in the eyes of others!

Suffering!

Will people receive this? Or does it even matter?

Courage!

The Decision

...Men can do them no harm, for the power of men ceases with the death of the body. But they must overcome the fear of death with the fear of God. The danger lies not in the judgement of men, but in the judgement of God, not in the death of the body but in the eternal destruction of body and soul. Those who are still afraid of men have no fear of God, and those who have fear of God have ceased to be afraid of men. All preachers of the gospel will do well to recollect this saying daily.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer -- The Cost of Discipleship

Bonhoeffer's point really does not give the believer any room to compromise...And, the point is powerful enough to actually make a lasting impression on the life of a believer... Why? Because this truth leads to one conclusion, either you fear God or you don't. There is no grey there!

WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN??

            This is one I can honestly say I have never seen circulating in the emails so; if it touches you, you may want to forward it.   Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?  I never noticed this....

            The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.  The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes.  Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.  She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!' 

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.  The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.  He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.  Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside.  He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.  (John 20:6-7)  Was that important?  Absolutely!  Is it really significant?  Yes!  In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.  The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.  When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. 

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating.  The servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.  Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.  The servant would then know to clear the table.  For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.  But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........  The folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

Email author unknown! 

Bacterial Flagellum and Irreducible Complexity

Fear not?

They [Jesus' disciples] must not fear men. Men can do them not harm, for the power of men ceases with the death of the body. But they must overcome the fear of death with the fear of God. The danger lies not in the judgment of men, but in the judgment of God, not in the death of the body but in the eternal destruction of body and soul. Those who are still afraid of men have no fear of God, and those who have fear of god have ceased to be afraid of men. All preachers of the gospel will do well to recollect this saying daily.  

 

--Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship--

Do you want to see where your faith is, you need to find out where your fear is!!!!

Answer their Questions!

Christianity demands that we have enough compassion to learn the questions of our generation. The trouble with too many of us is that we want to be able to answer these questions instantly, as though we could take a funnel, put it in one ear and pour in the facts, and then go out and regurgitate them and win all the discussions. It cannot be. Answering questing is hard work. Can you answer all the questions? No, but you must try. Begin to listen with compassion. Ask what this man's questions really are and try to answer. And if you don't know the answer, try to go someplace or read and study to find the answer.

--Francis A Schaeffer--

My prayer is that as we are changing our ministry methods, we are making the necessary changes to meet the root needs of the people!

a little bit of what is to come!

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the way of love that not only receives every attack without fighting back but, even more, it actively reaches out to the transgressor to identify with his or her lostness, guilt and condemnation, and to make this its [love] own.



J. Rodman Williams

The point is are you willing to identify with pain of the people who hurt you? In our compassion we must understand that most of the human race is unable to respond to pain in a constructive way so we hurt others because we don't know what else to do! However, if we experience our offenders pain, we begin to know them; and it is at this point where healing can begin.

Brief Summary of the Obama Social Media Strategy!

Obama social media strategy: Copy and paste this link into your address bar! http://tinyurl.com/ax2b6b

Pride!

My name is Pride. I am a cheater. – by Beth Moore (Praying God’s word)

 

I cheat you of your God-given destiny…because you demand your own way.

 

I cheat you of contentment…because you “deserve better than this.”

 

I cheat you of knowledge…because you already know it all.

 

I cheat you of holiness…because you refuse to admit when you’re wrong.

 

I cheat you of vision…because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.

 

I cheat your of genuine friendship…because nobody’s going to know the real you.

 

I cheat you of love…because real romance demands sacrifice.

 

I cheat you of greatness in heaven…because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.

 

I cheat you of God’s glory…because I convince you to seek your own.

 

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

 

You like me because you think I ‘m always looking out for you. Untrue.

 

I’m looking to make a fool of you. God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…

 

If you stick with me. You’ll never know.

Greatest fears...

Greatest fears...

I have found an interesting phenomena; no one wants to face their "greatest fear(s)." [Neither did I] But, having been face-to-face with several of mine, I now realize sometimes God allows those fears to come upon us to show us HE has the strength to bring us through even our "greatest fears." Many run from this type of test, but for the called it is essential to pass the "greatest fear" test. It is necessary to believe God is trustworthy in every situation; even in your darkest. There is no test as affective in deepening your trust in God as this one is. Having passed this test you will be ready and willing to be used by God in any situation to give Him glory! Remember they are our fears not God's!!

Job 3:25 "For (A)what I fear comes upon me,
And what I dread befalls me.

Is Christianity Just for the middle class?

...Bible-believing Christians who stand against the liberal theologian when he would say there are no absolutes in the Bible can make the opposite mistake by adding other elements as though they were equally absolute.  in other words, the absolutes of the Word of God can be destroyed in both directions. That is, the liberal theologian can say, "After all, there is no such thing as an absolute, and specifically the Bible does not give absolutes," or the evangelical can reach over into the middle-class standards and say, "These [middle-class] standards are equal to the absolutes of the Word of God." 

Francis A. Schaeffer -- Two Contents; Two Realities 

Francis Schaeffer pulls the cover away from the prosperity message that has been perverted...it's middle class values made absolute! 

Where no oxen are, the trough is clean

Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strenght of an ox!

Proverbs 14:4

Wow what a truth! Think about those difficult people you have to lead...they get the work done, but you always have to clean up after them! To me the question is value a clean trough (peace) or production...I think the answer lies in the tact and the ability of the leader!

What is the Church?

Is this possible?

...We in L'Abri have had people come to us who have "accepted Christ as Savior" but are not even sure hat God exists. They have never been confronted with the question of the existence God.  the  acceptance of Christ as Savior was a thing abstracted.  In had an insufficient content. In reality, it was just another kind of trip!

 

Francis A. Schaeffer  -- Two Contents, Two Realities 

I have written about this subject before, but the weight of Dr. Schaeffer's comments are explicitly conveyed here. What is the question? Can people come to a saving knowledge of Christ without believing that God exists? The answer seems simple and obvious, but the implications are catastrophic!

 

Discipline in a Long-Distance Race

Hebrews 12

^1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

It is heaven that allows us to withstand the pain!

Politics

Politics is when people choose their words and actions based on how they want others to react rather than based on what they really think.

 --Patrick Lencioni  "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" 

This is a concise way of determining whether you are manipulating people or not! 

 

Heaven!

Suffering is many things, but in the end it is God's invitation to us to trust Him, and to look forward to place where all suffering will forever be replaced by joy—Heaven.

— Randy Alcorn


I am now reading Randy Alcorn's Book "Heaven." In it, he deals with the point that there is so little talked about Heaven in our seminaries, and in our Churches. As a result, he says no one knows much about their eternal destination nor is anyone looking forward to going there. He notes the saying "You are so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good," as a reason why most people don't focus on teaching about it, yet his point is historically the people who have done the most for this world are the ones who have had their focus on the next---Heaven. If what he is saying is a truism, then unless Christians being to set their mind on things above [Heaven], the church will not have its maximum impact upon the earth!

Social Media

Salvation!

And if they "accept Christ as their Savior" and do not understand that God exists as an infinite-personal God, and do not understand that man has been made in the image of God and has value, and do not understand that man's dilemma is not metaphysical because he is small but moral because man revolted against God in a space-time Fall, in all probably they are not saved! 

Francis A Schaeffer "A Christian Worldview!"

Thoughts? 

Bishop McBath

Bishop B.Courtney McBath is my Pastor (www.crcglobal.org) he is the founding Pastor of Calvary Alliance of Churches. Great man! Check him out!

The art of fund raising by Bishop McBath!

1. People give to a vision!
2. People want an opportunity to give.
3. The opportunity to give must be specific.
4. People want to be recognized that they gave!
5. The fund raiser must be bold in asking for the funds!

Find the argument!

I have come to realize no matter the subject, if you don't know the argument behind the subject, you will never truly understand the subject. Evolution vs intelligent design, Calvin vs Armenian, Smith vs Marx, etc. I realize if I understand the seminal [original] argument, I really don't need to do a vast amount of research on the topic. Understanding the arguments help you to discover the logical conclusions of both views. If you understand the conclusions, you can form your own opinion! Only after you form you own opinion based upon both sides of the argument do you truly understand the subject!

Two Contents, Two Realities

There are four things which I think are absolutely necessary if we as Christians are going to meet the need of our age and the overwhelming pressure we are increasingly facing. Thy are two contents and two realities:

The First Content: Sound Doctrine 

The Second Content: Honest Answers to Honest Questions

The First Reality: True Spirituality 

The Second Reality: The Beauty of Human Relationships

Francis A. Schaeffer -- Two Contents, Two Realities

It is so interesting that Dr. Schaeffer knew 30 years ago what we in the church need to focus on today to save the sinner and edify the believer, which is truth and authenticity! 

mosart vs outkst

Take Up your Cross and Follow Him

Take Up your Cross and Follow Him

1. Matthew 16:24

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

2. The half hearted kamakazi (http://epicvelocity.wordpress.com/)



Kamikaze pilots are only useful if they are committed to their mission. You cannot have involvement without commitment and be effective. It goes with the territory. Once you are committed, you’ll find resources, energy and people follow. Commitment precedes results.

There was a story of a Kamikaze Pilot who was amazingly interviewed about how he returned from his 50th mission. He said, “Well it’s like this…I was very involved, but not very committed.” God has called us to be more than just involved; Christ has called us to be completely committed to Him and His mission. Let’s face it - it’s easy to be involved, but not committed.

http://epicvelocity.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/catalyst-the-half-hearted-kamikaze/

a post from DOUGLAS GROOTHUIS

THE CONSTRUCTIVE CURMUDGEON
THIS IS A FORUM FOR REFLECTION ON CULTURE, ETHICS, PHILOSOPHY, AND THEOLOGY. THE VIEWS POSTED BY ME HERE ARE MY OWN, AND DO NOT REPRESENT ANY INSTITUTION WITH WHICH I MAY BE AFFILIATED. THE POSTS MADE BY OTHERS DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT MY VIEWS. BEING A CURMUDGEON HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RUDENESS OR INCIVILITY, BUT MEANS THE WILLINGNESS TO SNIFF OUT THE TRUTH AND EXPOSE LIES AND SPIN AS BEST ONE CAN IN HUMILITY--AT LEAST THAT IS THE GOAL.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2008

God-free Religion to Go
After much research, hard work, trial and error, and after consulting (and paying; they don't come cheap) a plethora of social science consultants, we have finally achieved our goal. The stakeholders are pleased; our market share is rising; our popularity is going through the roof. We have reached the ultimate reinvention.

We have made religion God-free--and in the name of God!

Our forms are fabulous, enticing the eyes, tickling the ears, tugging at the heart, drawing in the designer demographic. The choreography is cogent, spectacular, impressive. Our numbers are up, the complaints are down; our path is wide, our message inviting and inclusive.

We have put God on a leash. It is a powerful image: God for us, in our way. We celebrate the love of God without a nasty cross; the power of God without judgment and narrowness; the presence of God without any censorious legalism on his part. O God, we are free of God!

We have a Bible. Oh, we all believe it, or at least salute it at some point in the service. We don't expect you to bring your own, of course. We've moved beyond the book to the screen. We supply the multicolored, ever-moving screens. There a few positive, uplifting texts there, too--at least when it fits the mood we create. We do not mention Psalms of lament or, God help us, Ecclesiastes or Job. These do not speak to busy, postmodern people, you see. Our consultants told us so.

We have no power to heal the sick, or raise the dead, or cast out demons, or call people to repentance or to worship God in abject humility and desperation. Why should we? Who does that any more? It does not fit our postmodern context; it just is not relevant. Besides, it would reduce the numbers. The giving units would shrink. How could we afford our mortgage? When people get sick and die, we try to move on. We turn mourning into laughter as soon as possible.

Gold and silver we have plenty. In the name of our designer God, be happy! Be successful! Don't be negative. God believes in you! God bless us all!

We have a new, better, form of godliness. We have the lights, the cameras, the action. Our seats are comfortable; our platform people are pretty. Nothing is out of line: no hair uncombed, no moment unscripted, no unscheduled episodes. There are no interruptions. We even have an emergency generator. There will be no power failures here.

We have no dead air. We are busy with our program. We are efficient. We give door prizes and smile.

We have reinvented God, our designer God. Surely God is pleased. We use him in so many ways.

We have reinvented communion. Do it your way, in your timing, as you see fit. No old words and stuffy invocations and recitations. Whatever it means to you, it is. And we do it once in while, when our program schedule allow for it.

We have made religion free of God, that old God that failed. And we blink and twitch.

(Yet the remnant of true God-seekers remains.)

Election

Even though I do not hold some of the values of our new President. I am hopeful that he will have a successful presidency. It was an amazing experience. I don't know if it is a dawning of a new day ideologically, but it truly was the realization of many peoples dreams!