Its Miraculous!

Do this. Do that. I want to see this. I know its difficult, but I really need it.

This is how a lot of our prayers sound like. First, we list a few things that we "need". As soon as we finish with our demands, we begin to negotiate a deal. We creat a hypothetical comittment, hoping for a miraculous sign of God.

The jewish leaders asked Jesus for a sign. They were asking The Lord of Lords and the King of Kings to prove himself. Jesus responded by calling them an evil, and faithful generation.(Matthew 16)

We are that generation.

Are you asking for a miracle, for a little insurance. Here is a miracle...Jesus saving sinners through grace.

I am a terrible person. I am a drug addict and an adulterer. I am guilty of fraud, alcohlism, and theivery. I am an orphan. I am despicable. I am a disgrace to the human race that God created. But Jesus chose me. By his blood, by his nail pierced hands, by the crown of thorns that was placed upon his brow, and through his ressurection I am forgiven. He chose us, a sinful nation, over his crown in heaven and gained both. That is Miraculous!

April 25th, Sardis Baptist

Pile of Junk!

I recently began to explore a bag of clothes that I hadn't worn in a very long time, and was reminded why. As I searched through the bag for something decent looking, I began to think(scary huh?). Why would I have been interested to keep any of that junk, at any time? I wasn't wearing any of it, and if I was I would've looked absolutely ridiculous. All that the bag was doing was taking up space. From time to time I would have to move it all and maneuver it so that I could find something worth finding.

Psalm 55:22- "Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."

So often we carry around needless junk, not only on our shoulders, but in our hearts. Over time we accumulate pain, heart-break, and bitterness. Our memory allows us to deposit our anger in our minds like you would a large check into the bank. We look at this junk and know that it's weighing us down but for some reason we decide to lug it around with us wherever we go.

This baggage tends to make us miserable. As we look for happiness and joy we find it trapped behind the bars of our burdens. As we try to build new relationships we are soon to find that the painful memories that we hold on to causes us to build up mental and emotional walls. We try to get past it but somehow, this pile of junk always manages to find its way back into our lives and back into the way.

Good news! Psalm 55:22 words it perfectly. So often WE try to remove our junk ourselves. As we continuously find a new place to re-locate it, we become tired and bogged down. It is impossible for US to remove our junk, and this is why we are called to give it to God.

Man has had junk since the Garden of Eden. We sin. Thats why Christ chose to die upon the cross. He chose to rescue us from our junk. And just like we hold on to hurt, we hold on to sin.

This is going to be a short entry because my point is...GIVE IT UP. Whatever it is that you have clinched in your fist and grasped in you heart, let it go. Don't just let it go as a child releases a balloon into the air but release it from you hands into God's. All of our issues cannot fit in our palms and they are to heavy to carry upon our backs. Why not give to someone who has, can, and will handle it? What is stopping you?

You may think that God doesn't want your junk or that he won't accept it. The thing is... God cares for you. He wants to remove the weight of the past from your shoulders. He gave us victory and he desires for us to feel victorious. He seeks to feed the hungry, so be fed. Stop lugging around the junk and GIVE IT UP!

Believe Jesus. Love Jesus. Live Jesus.

Switch-a-roo!

Do you know the definition of a "Switch-a-roo"? As you can already tell, it's not "correct" terminology. To be honest I don't even know if you would classify it as slang. To be totally honest, the only reason I used the term Switch-a-roo was to hopefully catch your attention. Anywho, a switch-a-roo is simply a change.

I know that we have all heard about change. This is a little different than you may have heard. I'm not talking about political change. I'm not speaking of changing your stomach flab to rock hard abs. And by the way, I'm not writing about changing from terrible to mediocre.

Christians are Christians through faith. Contrary to common belief, faith is not only belief but it is belief in action. Faith in Christ doesn't only make a claim, but it makes a change. When or how? Do you really care? Many people profess to love Christ and know the call that comes with him but don't follow through.(But Jesus told him, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."-Luke 9:62) Will you?

When Jesus saves your heart, he changes your heart. When he changes your heart, he changes your life. Have you been transformed?

Saves Your Heart.
It all starts with being saved through Christ Jesus. He is the only way to be saved. Christ died on a cross for you, and the rest of humanity. After he died, he came back to life. Some choose to believe this and live like it happened. Both are key components of saving faith. Do you have both? See, we must have faith in Jesus(God's Son). The first step in being changed by Christ, is being saved by Christ.

Changes Your Heart.
If you have been saved by Christ, he changes your heart.

"This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day,* says the LORD:I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."- Hebrews 10:16

We usually complain that living for Christ is difficult. It is often so difficult because we are trying to do so on our own. The probable reason for this is that you have not been saved. People without Christ have no power over sin, therefore are defeated by this world. But as a believer, God changes our heart. As he does this he re-writes our morals, our thoughts, and our desires. You begin to hate what you used to lust. Christ gives you love for the people that you used to hate. God is unchanging but changes those who follow him so that may bring glory and honor to him. Are you desiring the same things? Do you love sin as you once did, or are you now desiring things of the LORD? Inspect youself, see where your heart is and see who is controlling it.

Changes Your Life.
When Jesus changes your heart, he changes your life. This one takes alot of common sense. As you begin to have a desire for things of God, you have to begin choosing those things over sin. Sorry for the weak comparison, but it is like a diet. You look in the mirror and don't like what you see. The sight gives you a desire to look differently. You have the desire to lose weight. This desire brings on a choice. What you usually do is sit on the couch, comfortably, and watch TV or read. You know that you need to exercise. Do you sit or get up and take a jog around the block? You love brownies! All of a sudden you get the craving for something belly-filling. Do you take the chocolate or grab an apple?
Desires bring on choices. Paul spoke of these battles within one's heart. Your life should be reflecting and imitating the one who saved you. Is it? A disciple desires to be like his master. You have to decide if you desire this world or God. If you are a true believer, the choice has been made.





Transformed?
Have you been transformed? Has Christ changed you? Has a "switch-a-roo" taken place in your heart and life?

• No? The probability is that you have not expirienced the saving grace of Jesus. With faith comes evidence. Maybe your a young believer. The change is coming. Don't fear, the times may be tough but with a change of heart, your life will be changed easier than anticipated. Maybe you've found yourself in a whole. God didn't put you there, but he will sure help you out. Go back to the Gospel. Change starts and finishes there.

• Yes? Keep it up. Don't get comfortable. Believe Jesus. Love Jesus. Live Jesus.

Don't Think...

Many test-takers and students have something in common. It's an issue and usually causes many mistakes. They think. Seriously. Let me show you...

Your taking you final exam and are about to finish, but then you read the last question. You think the answer is A. Your set to bubble it in, but then another crazy question crosses your mind, "What If I'm wrong?". So you think, think, think. B is a ridiculous answer, but C and D are reasonable. So you ponder on it. Then you do some real decision making and decide that C can't be it because the word cat starts with C, and you hate cats. Then D is real reasonable because your great aunt's brother's name is Doug. You think some more. You pick D. You get your test back and see that A was the answer. You wonder how in the world you got the question and then you remember thinking about it...

See how ridiculous it sounds? Athletes do the same thing. Basketball players think, then hesitate about the big shot and don't get it off in time. Certain people think about a certain health care bill. Now do you get my point? We think way to much.

We do that same very thing in faith, it's called theology. Wow, now before you get bent all out of shape let me explain. As you look at human life, its not hard to see that we humans don't always make the best of decisions. We got it all wrong when we ate that fruit off of that one tree, when we were told not to by the creator of us and the tree. I think I got the story right.

For the last 6 months I have been tormented with theological questions. Among the topics are predestination, the loss of salvation, denomination, and others. I tried to find answers, but what I was led towards was personal opinion and selfish reasoning. Through all of this I have found one answer...I am no theologian, nor have I been called to be one. As a Christian, I have been called to read the Bible and believe every word and every point of punctuation in it.

With theology, we try to make sense of God. And by the way, why do we try to make sense of God when he created sense in the first place. As believers we are to live as we believe God would have us to, not the way that makes sense. I encourage you to read more of the Bible and believe what it says. I say this because theology is God through the eyes of man, but the Bible is God through the eyes of God.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not talking about sound biblical doctrine. I am speaking of theology, which is opinionated and biased. We are to believe and live as God says, not believe and live the way God says after we modify what he says.

Does this sound like a rant, yet? We live in a time that everyone believes in something. I mean even atheist believe in nothing, and nothing is something! We need to remember that our opinions don't mean squat if they are not in line with the Word of God. The Bible is our foundation and our houses are to be built out of bricks of faith, and that faith being in our foundation! As one wise woman of God reminded me, "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain."

No matter what you believe, the truth is the truth. The Truth is Jesus, and if you are living outside of him and his grace you are living a lie. One day, whether it makes sense or fits your vocabulary every knee shall and every tongue shall confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. That is not theology, but that is the Word of God.

Your Out!

Your Out! That is the call that baseball players hate to hear. As the batter walks up to the plate, desiring the perfect pitch, he fears those two words. See, the phrase announces the batter's failure to reach the base. I'm glad that our faith and, more importantly, God's grace isn't hit and miss. See, for the hitter, one key mistake can send him right back to the dugout or even end the game. With Christ, there's a second chance. According to the word, God has extended a helping hand that is accompanied by love, grace, and mercy.



"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."- Romans 5:1-2



God has given us the perfect pitch. He sent his Son, to die for us, and to give us redemption. How do we get the redemption? We have faith in Christ, trusting him with our minds, bodies, hearts, and souls. Heard it before? Probably so. But how have you heard it and how have you received it?



You may have heard it the watered-down, 21st century church way or you may have heard it as the truth. In today's church, some voice God's grace as a ticket to heaven but a pass on holy living. Now of course, they don't say it that way. What happens is they talk more about programs, more about Sunday school, and more about what they have done, than they do Jesus. They ignore the cross and speak of grace, altogether forgetting that the cross is what brought grace in the first place! This carelessness for the gospel has brought terrifying results. I say, that this is a big reason denominations that don't denounce homosexuality exist. I say, that this watered-down disgrace is a reason that we have youth group members who have no idea that oral sex is sin. Receive it.



"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,"- Titus 2:11-13



I encourage you to receive and accept the Gospel. I also stress that you accept it for what it is. Don't degrade it, and please don't try to change it. It is holy, pure, and has saved the souls of many. It's purpose is to save, but should also be used to motivate. This "Good News" is not to be used as an excuse but as a motivation. Pushing us and training us to live as one who has seen the Saviour. Motivating us to understand the cross and to wear it daily.



Recently I had my heart broken. My heart was broken because I realized where my heart's desire was. My heart was not as a disciples of Christ should be. My love had been divided and my wants had been scattered. Studies have shown that approx. 138,000 people die without Jesus each die, which means they face eternal damnation. I was not living to change that number. Are you? The problem is, I took the emphasize off of the Gospel. The Gospel saves, so why don't we live accordingly?


See hearing the Gospel and accepting the Gospel are to different matters. Acceptance brings appliance. Once a person hears the Gospel, then he may accept the Gospel, finally the Gospel is applied. For the Christ that we accept, applies his love and his blood to our hearts, minds, and lives. This changes everything. Our minds change, so we think differently. Our hearts change, so we want differently and we are given the ability to love. And through these changes, our life is transformed. We are now made new. We are saved when the Gospel is applied and until then, we are destined for hell.


The Gospel is Genuine. It's true, and it's pure. There is no other. It is not a get rich quick scheme. It is not an excuse. But it is the way. It's all about Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NONE get to the Father, except through HIM. Your resume? It doesn't matter. What we need is a stamp of approval, in which our souls are the paper and in which the ink is the blood of Christ. We are not only to be pressed by this ink, but we are to be covered in it. Is it Glamorous? Maybe not. Will it make you famous? Probably not. Is it the one and only way to salvation? Definitely so.


Take it or leave it. The Gospel is. I warn you, it is offensive. It will change you inside and out... but it's worth it. It can't be bought with money because the price has been paid the precious blood Christ. As the blood is precious, even more so is the man from who it flowed. Take it. It was purchased for you. He took the nails for us.

Left Standing...

I have been called a lot of things in my life. I am viewed in different ways by different people. Some positive, probably more negative. Kinda like mushrooms, some people view them as delicious and some(myself) view them as nauseating. There are many things in life that are debatable. Presidential elections, favorite sports teams, and even the character of some individuals. But as we argue and contest, there are some things that were, are, and always will be. Some topics stand as fact with no ifs, ands, or buts.

All people are bad is a "good" fact to start off with. I state this and am reminded of the one man who managed to remain pure and holy for all 33 years of his life but we will get to that in a minute. Like said, all people are bad. Fault can be found in all men and women despite the myths. When you really inspect the heart of man, you discover that no matter how clean the outside is, the inside somehow resembles the clog in a dirty sink. No debating to it, All men (except for that one) are bad.

Now to that one. The most significant facts revolve around Jesus for he is fact itself. Lets list these facts. Jesus is God. Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus was born into this world as a man by a virgin to save man. Jesus died on a cross, for you and I. Jesus went to hell for you and I and defeated sin and death. Jesus came back and rose again three days after his Crucifixion. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and none gets to the father except through him (John 14:6). Those are facts. Non debatable even if the attempt is made over and over again by this world.

We need Jesus. All we need is Jesus. The fact is Jesus stands alone and we should should be kneeling before him.

For the past week or so I have been studying Idolatry and the fact that we are so engulfed in it. We whore ourselves to myths, ways, and culture of this world. Exodus 20:2-6 tells us that there is one God and we are only to serve, worship, and live for that God. This is not a new discovery. The problem is that we would rather worship the things of this world, that will pass away, than worship the one true God that will remain forever. Do we realize the wrath that awaits idolaters? I think not.

So who/what rules your life? Idols are not only hand made statues of the old testament but they are the things in our lives that we allow to compete with Jesus. I'm talking relationships, entertainment, your job, academics, and etc. Anything that you prioritize equally to or above Chris is sin and an idol. Who do you want to please more, God or the other people in your life. Are you ok with watching television shows and movies that defile the name of Christ? What do you worship and how do you worship it. We are called to have no other God's so look at you life and ask yourself, who is you number one? Is it Christ, is it a tie, or is it another part of you life?

The comparison shouldn't even be close. Who is your God and who are you serving? One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Do it now or later, you make the choice. The truth stands and his name is Jesus.

"Wow, so how'd you get that Scar again?"

And there they are, your Superbowl winning New Orleans Saints! Wow, how about that declaration? After playing in 42 previous seasons and only accumulating 2 playoff wins, the Saints have stated their status as champions boldly. Boldly, Quarterback Drew Brees shuts up all doubt. And yes, boldly, the Saints defeated the highly favored Colts.

As followers of Christ we are called to do the same. Now, I don't mean we are called to hold up the Lombardi trophy, or even play in professional sports. What I do mean, is that we are called to be BOLD.

Once upon a time I was asked the question of, "Seth, what does it mean to be bold." To be honest I was dumbfounded. I had spoken of the term "boldness", as if it had no more significance to believers than an accessory to writing. So this is my answer to the question that I will never forget. Drum roll please...... Jesus!

What do you know, the answer is Jesus. You say, "Seth, this makes no sense. How is Jesus the definition of bold and how does he make me bold?" Well, lets think about it guys. Princeton gives the definition of "Boldness" as "the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger". Now lets go over some examples people... Walking on water. Wait, not just water but stormy, sea tossed water and not walking in water but over and on top of the liquid substance. Jesus did it. I say that is pretty risky business. That's not enough, eh? How about battling and resisting temptation from Satan himself(Matthew 4). Oh I almost forget, when he realized the religious leaders were spitting on the house of God, he ran in and literally began flipping tables with the hypocrites. Bold enough? Not quite? Okay. This man predicted his on death, was the word and is the word, God in the body of a man, born of a virgin, founded the Church, made the lame walk, made the blind see, and made demons run off of a cliff. The simple fact is dictionaries have it all wrong. The definition of boldness is Jesus.

The boldest of all, was when he boldly accepted our nails in his hands and carried our cross on his back to the site of his death . You think he stopped there? No. Jesus went to hell and back. Yes, he went there for you and I, defeating death and sin, and rising from the tomb on day number 3.

You want bold, there you have it. How can you be bold? Believe it. Live it. Many of you who are reading know all of these accounts. Do you apply that knowledge? Are you walking as Christ is commanding? I can know how to speak, care, and act but if I don't do these things in the name of Jesus its all worthless. My challenge to you is to be crucified with Christ, and to be raised in new life. Live like you have new life.

How to pray for boldness? Ask for Jesus to help you become what he saved you to be. He saved you to be like him. Jesus is holy and pure. To be holy and pure is to be BOLD.

The Great Idea of...

There have been many great ideas over time, and I mean many. How about the one to place little white letters across the big green signs on highways? Oh and the classic, washing a new red sweater with your also "newly-purchased" white polo. The examples keep coming. Abortion and Alcohol to end all of our problems, ever heard of that one? Maybe lets try the, "Fill my life with sex to numb my body of pain" route?



Welp, get the point yet? I heard another "fantastic" idea this weekend. I was told by a fellow that a great way to witness, was to not witness at all. That we should all just make T-Shirts that read, "I am not ashamed to be a Christian". And the so called purpose behind this ground-breaking idea was to escape persecution and still reach people. I was given the example of an old
coffee cup that says, "Tell someone about Jesus today, use words if needed".



Are you INSANE?! Two points here guys. The last thing a person who's soul is headed to hell for eternity needs is a T-Shirt or Coffee Cup! They need Jesus! They need you to love them, care for them, and part of that is TELLING them. It is YOUR responsibility! It's not only a command but common sense. You don't show a man on fire a T-Shirt that says "Your Burning", but you take that Shirt and smother out the flames! What you do, is everything you can to notify that person of the issue and take action no matter what the cost because that's exactly what Christ DID FOR YOU! He didn't slip on a T-Shirt but a cross and he was not slipped there but NAILED!

Which brings us to "Number two" and that is, We were not called to wear T-Shirts! For some reason Christianity has been projected as comfortable. In Acts 20, Paul the Apostle shows the most urgency I've ever heard of in a man. This is a man who is leaving one place to another, and the other he knows will lead to his death. He gives the people all he has emotionally. He pours out his heart so they may know that there is One King, One Lord, One way, and One JESUS. On other hand we want to wear T-Shirts.

Think of your kids, Mom and Dad. Think about your husbands and wives. Think about your brothers, sisters, and friends. Think about the one who means the most to you. What if they were the one dying, and going to hell? What if your loved ones were the people destined for eternal damnation? Wear a T-Shirt now? I think not. You would say something, if what you felt was anything near love! The "lost" have families and friends. You should take them and the task of telling them no differently than you do your own.

So what do you do now bud? Do you let many perish and put on a T-Shirt, merely being too lazy to reach out at all. Or do you show your salvation, telling others, putting yourself on the cross, showing the Lost how to be found. It's up to you.

Needs?

Hey Guys, long time no blog for me. I wanted to leave some personal and ministry information on here so you could get in touch with me if ever needed. As most know, I'm on facebook and twitter so that is always an option. Here are some other places you can find me. I am open for preaching, teaching, counseling, and basically love ya to the best way I know how(through Jesus)

email: tsethsprings@aol.com
cell: 704-451-5582


Love you guys, and God Bless

Forget....

My Last post was on the subject of fulfilling God's plan for your life. I said that in order to do that you have to have a will to fulfill it. You have to have a passion and a desire to fulfill that plan. This topic has a lot to do with another will and that's what I write to you about today.

When you build a house there are steps. You have the foundation, you have the walls, you have the roof, and so many more tasks in between to complete before you can move in and live safely. We often forget that there are step to fulfilling God's plan. We often forget to forget. We often forget to forgive. I tell you its impossible to move on to tomorrow if your still holding on to yesterday. We worry about what God wants and plans for our future but usually forget to forgive the hurts from the past.

I have a past like anyone else. I've made many mistakes but I've also been hurt deeply by the ones of others. For so long I hated the ones that had harmed me. For so long I let my pain fill up in side of me and I held on to it like a baby does with his or her pacifier. I let memories of tears run through my mind constantly. I tell you, that you cannot be happy, you cannot be glad, and you cannot be joyful, if all you hear are the sad songs of life!

I came to a huge understanding of this about 14 and 1/2 years later. I came to the realization that forgiveness actually existed. I became a believer in Jesus Christ and let me say its not always easy, but when you meet Jesus, everything changes. I realized that I had spit the face of Christ, I had placed a crown of thorns upon his brow, and nailed him to a cross but more than anything I realized that even though I had done everything in my power to hurt him, he still loved me. I realized that through repentance and faith in him I had been forgiven. I saw that I had no right to hold anything, against anyone else.

I had to let go of yesterday to grasp today and hope for a tomorrow. I was made anew in Christ, meaning everything before this place, this time, and this thought has been blotted out. That pain, those memories, and those tears were all washed, wiped, and covered with and in the blood of Jesus Christ who went to hell and back for me and you. He didn't just save us for yesterday but he saved us for eternity.

Do you have the will? The will to forget, the will forgive, which gives us the will to fulfill. Refuse to be chained by the past and gain freedom in Christ. Tell Satan to take his hate, take his guilt, take his shame, and get out of here. Do you want life? Do you want joy? Do you want purpose? Seek Jesus. Anything worth having is in him.

The Will to Fulfill

"The will". The will to what? The will to win? The will to work? The will to sit back and relax?

There are so many "wills" in the world. John Elway had the will to win during his historic drive against the Browns. MLK had the will to change race relations and the world forever. Billy Graham had the will to submit to God's will and preach the Word.

What do you have the will to do "believer"? (you might want to put your steel toe boots on) Why do WE, so called Christians tend to have the will to sit back and do nothing? Yes Christ died, yes Christ set the flag of all victory, and yes his grace is sufficient but his grace is not a ticket to "do whatever you want land". Do you have the will to fulfill God's will for you or are you the normal professing American Christian that only has the will to do what makes you happy? Think about it. Do you have the will to fulfill God's plan for you?

Lately, I've been wondering, "Lord, what do you want with me? What is your plan for my life?"

When I would pray this, Jesus wouldn't come down from heaven on a white horse, use large words spoken in a booming voice but he has taught me a very valuable principle. The Principle is, "God's plan isn't based on my plan, and his plan is not just one big picture but a day by day adventure."

A "day by day adventure", eh? When I say this, I don't mean every step of everyday should be mapped out like a treasure hunt. I don't mean that one day we're a sailor, one day a preacher, and one day an astronaut. What I mean by this is that God's plan is not always going to be clear as mud but daily obedience, daily consecration, and daily separation in every situation is God's plan. It is God's plan for us to listen to him, situation by situation and be obedient in all that we do. God's plan for us is that we look to him in all things. One day he may ask you to climb a mountain, but obeying a simple command like avoiding a little "white lie" is just important because they are both God's plan for us.

I think as humans, we focus on the future so we don't have to deal with the present. We, "Believers", get away from faith and don't even realize it because we decide to worry about next week or month so we don't have to depend on and trust in Christ now. This is why so many believers seem to be in the same place spiritually week after week, we don't look at our wrongs of today so we can get closer to Christ and better for tomorrow. How can we be taller next month if we don't grow the days between now and then? It's all a matter of getting down to the nitty-gritty. Paul speaks of running a race. He says to endure the hard times. To keep our heads up and keep going strong. I think this man of God understood the fact that runners can't stand still and finish races. He knew that if a runner didn't keep his feet moving he would not progress forward. So called believer, roll up your sleeves, put your boots on and go to work. Lets stop abusing God's patience and start living and running for him. Start now, you may not get the chance later.

We get caught up in doing the "big" things and goals but ignore the daily walk of a believer. Why miss out on a daily, sun up and sun down relationship with creator of the world? Why miss out on his plan for today by focusing on his plan for tomorrow? We get so caught up in plans that we forget the purpose of the plans which is pleasing Christ. Once we get to the point of plans being about us, us, and some more us, the plans lose all purpose and lead us into a pit of emptiness that displays no fruit.

I encourage you, take it day by day. Don't have your cart pulling your horse. Its easy to get wrapped up in tomorrow but without the steps we take today, tomorrow will never come. Love Christ, Serve Christ, and love others today. That's his will, do you have the will to fulfill it.

Bargaining With Jesus?

Again I find myself sitting here, thinking about lessons that this world teaches us from the time our baby bottoms hit the cradle. From success to eating our vegetables we're taught so much. I remember sitting with my little buddies when I was 6 or 7 and trading toy cars. Bargaining with them, "I'll give you this, if you give me that.", I would plead. By the end of this recess the cars would be banged up from our "playtime" crashes and the cars would have been traded and swapped from hand to hand more times than I could keep up with.

As humans we bargain with everything. We give time and work so we can get money and turn around and give money so we can get a product. We bargain with our family members to see who gets the TV remote, when and which brother or sister gets to ride in the front seat. Life is full of what I like to call, "Give-Get" situations. There are two questions I hope you ask yourself when coming away from this blog. What are you giving and getting? The other, more important question is, which one are you doing more?

Galatians 2:20

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ.* It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

When you look at this scripture it doesn't seem to say much about bargaining. That's because you can't bargain with Jesus! You see here that Paul speaks of crucifying himself with Christ, as Christ did for us. Paul basically says he no longer lives but Christ lives for him, in him, and through him. This isn't only because Christ gave himself for us and we should give him ours back in return but he realizes that Christianity calls us to give our life as an offering. I know that this seems wordy but when it boils down to it what I'm trying to say is Christianity is not about "Get,Get,Get" but its about "Give, Give, Give".

Do you "believe" because eternal life or do you believe because the truth and the one who gives eternal life? Do you try to be a "good person" for blessings from the Lord or do you serve the Lord out of love, humility, and a true life of consecration to Christ? Do you "love" God so you can get, or do you Love God because you recognize who he is and so you can give unto the Lord what is his? Oh, and did you accept an invitation to a salvation because you could have eternal life or because you got a glimpse of the Glory of Jesus and saw that you could have him and serve him with all you have.

Are you Giving your life to the one who created it or are you trying to bargain with him by giving bits and pieces so you can get all that you seem to want? Quit trying to do the least you can, just be a Christian, simply Christ-like and give it all just like Jesus did on the cross.

True Tophies...

GO! FIGHT! WIN!... Those are the words shouted and heard from football stadiums around the nation. I can't believe its already that time again. Whistles will blow, pads will pop, and coaches, daddies, mommas will all scream. Why? Is it the love for a game, is the excitement of a last minute, game winning drive? No matter how the scoreboard reads at the end of a football game, two kinds of people walk away. We call those people winners and losers. One teams hopes and dreams, blood and tears are lost, and the others found and accomplished in the eyes of all who watch. It's sad, and you'll see exactly why here...

If you didn't know, I try to be an athlete. For so long I'd put all of my hope and my dreams on a field with white lines and numbers. I'd score a touchdown here or there and my day, my game, and what I called my "life" would be made...for a while. I loved to see my dad proud and hear my mom saying, "Yep, that's my boy". It was my everything. Then there is the other side of the coin. The loss. When I fell, I fell hard. I'd walk to off the field slinging my helmet like a brat, pout all the way home, and eventually make everyone around me miserable. Win or lose on the field, it's just a win, or just a loss. It sounds pitiful or cowardly to some that I say this and still call myself a competitor, but winning is not everything.

After a while my body began to break, the wins got old, and the losses, well they got even older. I began to search for something else. Something to give me victory, something to give me satisfaction. Something to give me success. I had already tried sex, alcohol, drugs, and anything else, and like football, they amounted to nothing but a broken heart. As I searched for personal glory and fix, I found more empty space because the trophies couldn't fill it.

Today when I "lose" a game my head points north and my fingers point high. When I win I don't speak of I or me.. but I speak of him. See I found something that would fill the space and my cup would overflow. The "student-athlete of the year" plaque and popularity couldn't fulfill me but he could. He is Christ. He is Success.

When I say success I don't mean getting that new car or raise you've been working for. I definitely don't speak of a prosperity gospel. Money will not bring you joy because I've never seen suitcases in or on top of a hearse. Wins on an athletic field add up to history and a high of any kind leaves you desiring more after the quick-fix is over and gone. I speak of a success that leaves you with a cross and eternal life. The definition of success is not a life full of accomplishments, but a life full of Christ.

See as soon as you gain the Championship or raise of this world you soon begin to desire more but Christ is the gift the keeps on giving. Christ comes in, does work, and satisfies. I no longer pin my life upon self-glory but the glory and grace of he who lives in me.

John 4:13
13 Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."


We're told from the time we are born, "make the grade", or "make the play", then as we age we're told to "step up", "be the man", "make the most you can". If you don't do these things I promise you, that you will be seen as a failure to the world. You will be seen as a disgrace or simply insane. I tell you today, don't work for this life but let him give you life, and live that life for him and you will have joy and peace that you could never imagine.

I have scored the touchdowns and gotten the trophies but none of those compare to what I have in Christ, you can have it too. Jesus is enough.

"Looking People"

People love to look. Don't tell me that you don't love the sight of beautiful beaches or gorgeous mountainsides. The Lord has blessed us with indescribable scenery so we could be left in awe by his power. Don't try and entertain me with the idea that you've never caught yourself staring at an item in a store that you would just love to walk away with. Oh and please don't lie and say that you have never been taken away by the sight of an amazing sunset.

People look, all of the time. David looked over the roof top, Martin Luther King looked at a world full of hate, and entrepreneurs look at a world full of opportunity. Often I'll run into a "searcher" or what I simply like to call a "Looking Person". The looking people aren't looking for just a beautiful sunset or mountainside but something more. Something else. See these are the people who are looking for something that gives them an identity or that "one" missing part. Rather their on an expedition for hope or love or even help, they are searching.

Guess what. I'm not saying this is a bad thing. Surprised? See if people never look, they never find. If I'm not looking for the quarters in the cushions, I may come up a few quarters short. Proverbs says to search for wisdom and to search for understanding. It is an actual biblical principle to search. Searching is not the issue but examine yourself and see what your looking for.

Recently, I have been searching. I decided to take a look at my life and saw myself standing still. I began to look more and more and eventually found myself searching for the call that God has placed on my life and searching for what he is asking for me to do next. I found an answer...

What I am, what you are, and what we as Christians are being called to do is search, not for help not for love, not for grace, and not for a map of our lives to come but search for Christ himself. See if we look into Christ, if we chase after him and him alone, in him we find promise, we find love, we find help, we find him. Because if we seek we will find and if we knock the door will be opened.

You don't need things, you need Christ. Are you waisting your time and looking at anything else?

Pleasant Conflict....

So last night I was watching a movie that I hadn't seen in seems like forever and a day. The Lion King. Filled with giggles, chuckles and soul calming melodies, it also contains all sorts of conflict and life lessons. The one that I watched most closely was the obvious, most important conflict between Scar, the twisted uncle that never shows to the family reunions, and Simba, the praised son of the King who grows into a solid ruler himself. See Simba was taught to love good, life, and righteousness by his father, to the point where he could not deny his love for the prosperity of Good. Scar on the other side was known for being against everything solid in foundation and sought after self driven goals that eventually led to his death. The story eventually comes down to an epic battle and division. Good and Love prevails as Simba claims his place on the throne by doing away with scar in an actually righteous way, showing that good and evil can't "co-exist" and share the same kingdom or dwell within the same vessel. This Disney animation may seem silly and I do sound like a dork making it so serious but it brings out a principle that most adults can't comprehend.Forget the Bumper Stickers, Jesus says, we can't co-exist.

Luke 12:49-53
49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.
53 ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.", -Jesus

Who are you? Which team are you on? No riding fences.

1 John says that we can't love Light and Darkness and if you say you do, you are calling God a liar. None of us would openly say that we love something else more than we love God but we have to remember that a Judge doesn't only look at the words of the defense but he looks at the evidence brought forth. Jesus has called us to salvation, and salvation calls us to live like we're saved. Jesus isn't merely a hobby but he is life itself and anything apart from him is death. When you accept Jesus, you also accept a cross and carry that cross not only to church on Sundays but you carry it day in and day out.



Preachers, writers, and other ministering Christians remember the Great Commission. Remember that the Great Commission calls us to build Disciples of Christ, not false hopes or illusions. I encourage you to present the Gospel, the full, true, Jesus filled Gospel. Preach the blood, preach the cross, preach the impact, and most of all preach Jesus.



Jesus is Love, don't forget it! Jesus came to save but we must not forget that there is a way to live and a way to die. Jesus is the way to life and everything else leads to death. God's Grace is awesome but so many people try to use it as a license to sin. Are you saved or do you just have a false hope? Jesus is love, Jesus is God, and God loves you. Accept Jesus, Accept Love, Accept the Cross, Accept Life.

P.S.
People who confess Christ with there mouth but deny him with their lives are the number one reason for atheism. What team are you on?

Just One Ring...

Humans have many, many habits and take part in many, many activities, rather good or bad. We seem to do these things to fill the spaces. That's why we hear so many professional athletes say, "All I need is a Championship, just one ring on my finger and my career will be complete". This is also why women say, "All I need is one more cute little thing from here and my shopping will be done for the day". This is why the "attempting to quit smoker" feels the urge while driving, eating, talking, or just simply empty handed. We have or seek these things that seem to make us "whole" but in reality just leave us searching for more. See because the professional athlete gets his ring and says, "Wow, two would be nice". The Woman finds that one cute little thing but shows up the next weekend and basically buys the entire store. What about the smoker? The smoker lights that one cigarette up at the stop light but discovers an hour later while stopped again in their car that the last one simply wasn't enough.

My point is nothing in this world lasts. We get caught up in these absurdities, trying to fill our cups full of anything we can find. We search and look under every rock and between every couch cushion but never find anything but more emptiness. See the athlete ages and can't play, the woman's pocketbook winds up empty and the all the smoker does is create a cloud of cancer. All of these things and everything this world has to offer will run out before the race is over and you be left short of the finish line asking yourself why nothing ever worked. Here is the answer...

Those things are not Jesus. See its very simple. Jesus is enough, and nothing else really matters. We see that Jesus never passes away and can't be defeated by his resurrection from and over death itself.

For so long I tried to fill my life with everything under the the sun. I looked for relationships based on sin and deception, I looked to athletics, I looked to recreational buzzes but all it got me was a broken heart and a false hope. I thought my popularity and social status had supplied me with all I needed but when I took a deep look into my heart all I saw was a deep, empty, and blackened whole. Then I found Jesus and let me tell you, when you let him take over, when you let him come within, and you give him complete lordship over your life, there is no room for anything else. He's so overwhelming that the cup, you were once trying to fill with the world but remained empty, is now overflowing.

I came to understand how and why Paul felt the need to sing praises to the Lord in Jail. Jesus is enough. Stop trying to find fulfillment from the world because all you will find is an eternity full of death and hell. Search for the Lord Jesus Christ, and there you will find everything, an eternity full of life and heaven.

Real Pollution...

One major focus of politicians, special concern groups, and the American people in general is pollution. The pollution of air, water, and everything else around us is seen by many as a large problem. Pollution talks have created the "idea" of "Global Warming" and has been blamed for cancer and death. Companies, organizations, and individuals have accepted a "going green" policy to try and make the earth (which was created by God) a healthier place for us to live.

Believe it or not there is type of pollution that I am more concerned about. It is the pollution of a perfect Gospel. A perfect Gospel that is based around a perfect Jesus. People have tried for centuries to pollute this message. We have preachers that stand in pulpits and speak opinionated messages and tell stories that relate to nothing but senseless humor, self-esteem, and the world. People have taken the word "believe" in the verse John 3:16 and replaced it with "think". I have heard sermons that talk about salvation but not the cross or Jesus Christ.

The world has taken a cup filled with purity and tried to combine with something that has no resemblance of God at all. People have tried to pollute the purest words ever spoken! My question is, why would we try to fix something that's not broken. The answer to my question is that people would rather change something perfect to make themselves look better and more attractive or create any easier path to their choice of life. We have forgotten that the true Gospel doesn't only show the light but it brings it. We forget that Jesus and his life gives us life but often its not the life that we want. The life that many people want is one wrapped around themselves and sin which is death is disguise.

Jesus' death was a bloody one. The cross which he died on was soaked in his innocent blood. He chose to pay the debt of all people with that blood. Why are we trampling through it? Why do we deny the truth? Why do we deny him? Why we preach messages that make things seem easy to give false hope? Why do we forget that the great commission is about saving souls and making disciples and not just putting names on a church role?

While people are focused on going green, lets focus on going Jesus. How about, we call it what it is and accepting it as that. Salvation comes with a cross. A cross that we should be proud to bare because it resembles my Jesus. Preach The Truth. Preach The Gospel. Preach The Blood. Preach The Cross. Preach Jesus.

Between My Toes...

I love, love, love the beach. The water crashing into the shore while the wind blows the hair of many. It's a great oppurtunity to sit and talk with friends or have an awesome time fighting the waves with family. The thing that captures me the most suprises many, but it's the sand. I love leaning back, letting my feet sink and watching as the sand rises between my toes.
Sand can be beautiful but it can also be very dangerous.

'24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.' -Matthew 7:24-28

Often we get caught up in the beauty and magnificance of sand but I see here that it's better kept for vacation. As we hear the opinions and ways of pagan people we get entangled like strings on a shoe. We chase the world down this highway because the road is ride without speedlimits or restrictions. We build our lives(house) on the ideas(sand) of this world because we see no inspecter pulling in the driveway.
As we travel these ways and set this foundation we have no idea what they lead to. We learn in verse 13 of chapter 7 that the wide highway is the one that leads straight to hell and destruction but the narrow leads to God's Kingdom and eternal life. The narrow is led by the one and only messiah, Jesus Christ. His teaching may not be the easiest but he never promised easy. My king promised a cross to die on and eternal life. Build your house on the rock which is Christ because the sand which is the world will always come short and crumble under your feet when put under the pressure of judgement.
I ask my self today is any room, door, or even square inch of my house built on the sand. Jesus chose to give us a rock to stand on, live by, and shout from. Are we doing it or are we okay with gaing nothing now and still losing everything later?

Fire Ants...

I often ask the popular question..."why?". Why this and why that. It is a natural action of the human mind, most of them anyways, to search for reasoning or the "why" factor in most situations. I often ask myself and even God why about the simple or even silly things of life. Why was it Adam and Eve and not George and Martha? Or why do I find myself stumping my toe on things that seem to have been in the same place for a century? Oh and I always seem to question why god created fire ants while I'm dancing across my yard and swiping at my feet and legs.
Then again there are the serious, more impacting questions that we ask. It seems to me that every time something goes terribly wrong we seem to look at the sky, shake our heads, and say, "Why God?". I admit I am guilty of this insanity and often forget that, "It rains on the just and unjust alike". I am so quick to throw all of the blame into God's arms and tend to forget that the world we live in is an imperfect one.
I also often forget to ask God the question of, "Why did you bless me so much?". Or "Why do I have a place to live and enough food to eat". It's quite obvious that we're okay with the good but it happens to slip our minds to rest it upon the shoulders of the almighty one. We can curse the heavens when we have red insects running up our ankles but we forget to to praise the Lord when everything is right. Praise the Lord through everything, with all that is within you, and at all times, not just when its comfortable or the sunshine seems to be just right.
Tonight as I sit here typing away, I think about grace. Not just a song but the true grace of God. I imagine his nail pierced hands and his thorn crowned brow. I think about the words, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.", that my Jesus prayed while he was hanging on that cross. Tonight I ask, "Why does he love me, the undeserving, that much?"....