We Are All Building

The choice that we have is not will we build, or refuse to build. We are building our lives every day. We are building our personal fitness. Either it's on fruits and vegetables, or we build it on ribs and potato chips. We are building our satisfaction. We can opt for fun outside of the will of God, or we can do the many things within God's will for pleasure. We are building our vocational lives. We can make our work primary and neglect other areas, or we can keep it in a proper perspective and still be excellent in it. We are building our families. We can model our home dynamics after the 'me first" ideal that is so prevalent in the world; or we can place the needs of our loved ones first as Jesus did. In fact that is really the whole point of this entry. When we build on anything else but what Christ demonstrated through precept and practice, the thing that we build will collapse. Building our lives on solid rock means we find out what Jesus says and then do it. Work it out!

Based on Matthew 7:24-27

People As Trees

It is reported in the first Psalm that they which find their joy and delight in obeying God's word would be like trees planted by rivers. They bring forth fruit at the right time and their leaves do not wither. Jesus said that a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. I'm all for being proactive in our walk with Christ. It's a wonderful thing to promote the rewards of our obedience. John 15:16 even tells us the fruit we bear will endure. There are things that Christ develops through us that will out live us. When I think about my parents, there is no doubt in my mind that is a true statement.

I know nobody wants to touch anything negative these days; but there are another group of trees in the Bible which illustrate the lives of people. The poor tree which bears evil fruit. It is not our titles that define us. It is not the position we hold. It is not even the reputation we have. It is our lifestyle production that defines who we are. It is not what we say. It is what we practice. We cannot practice sinful behavior and call ourselves good trees. This is extremely important for our eternal destiny is tied to the fruit we bear; not to the talk we declare. Jesus says any tree, that includes false prophets, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire. Take an honest look at the fruit your life is bearing. It shows who you are in truth. Work it out!

Travelers Addendum

I sure don't want anyone to think that there is something joyous in discussing the topic of hell. I don't like thinking about it either. God is good, generous and loving beyond compare. He has no desire to see anyone go to hell; yet He forces none to go to heaven. He has given us the choice to be with Him, or to reject Him. Ignoring hell, as painful as it is to talk about, will not make it go away. God has done everything necessary to provide for us an escape from that horrible place. Jesus died as our substitute. He received the punishment that we deserved. He has offered us eternal life. He has warned us of the wrath to come. All we need to do is choose to get on the right road. We cannot transfer our discomfort concerning hell to making God mean and hateful. We can go to heaven. He wants us to go to heaven. He has prepared the way for us to get there, but it's not automatic. Choose eternal life by choosing Christ. Work it out!

Traveling

Jesus constantly used illustrations that are easy for us to grasp. He spoke of life itself in terms of a major trip. He advised us to "Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it." (Matthew 7:13,14 GNB) When we take a look at our lives and we are traveling the road that is crowded, we need to do something to change our course. If the path that we have chosen is easy, than we are again likely to be heading in a direction we really don't want to go. If the entrance to the road is so broad that is does not challenge us at all, the road connected to that entrance is not good. The broad, unrestricted, crowded road of ease is the road to hell. It's disturbing that in our day many roads prescribed by our churches meet the qualifications of a destructive journey. Don't take comfort in a church affiliation. Examine your own life to see if you are traveling on a road that has a tightly restricted entrance, followed by a path that is lonely and narrow. To put it simply, the road to life is receiving Jesus Christ and following everywhere He leads. We don't even hear much about heaven and hell anymore. Jesus Christ talked about it often. We are all going to heaven, or to hell. The road we are traveling now is leading to one of those two eternal places. It takes more than just dying to go to heaven. It takes traveling on the narrow road while we live. Are you on the right road? Work it out!

The Golden Rule

One of the most familiar things that was ever introduced to us from the lips of Jesus is "The Golden Rule." He said "Do for others what you want them to do for you: this is the meaning of the Law of Moses and of the teachings of the prophets." The logic of this as a social ethic is flawless. Every environment we move in and out of would be better if this directive were followed. The simple neglect that we experience in relationships is what has this world steeped in misery. Too many of us are fixated on what we can get rather than what we can give. The self centered, egotistical, me first ideal is choking every ounce of decency from our society. You and I may not be able to change the whole world, but we can certainly change our little world of personal relationships. Think of all the things that you want most from others and then instead of waiting for those things to come, give those things away to others. Treat them the way you want to be treated without any concern for the results. Work it out!

The Mess In ATL

Most of us have heard about the allegations that have been levied against Bishop Eddie Long. When it comes to this issue I think about the danger of elevating people to a status that is too high. We tend to get shocked at situations like this because of the high level of exposure and respect that we give to human beings. People were never meant to be superstars in the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the King. He is the One and Only superstar in the Christian Community. We cannot excuse the Bishop if he is guilty of these things he has been accused of. We cannot dismiss how serious the damage this brings upon the entire church if these boys are not being truthful. It is a very sad state of affairs for all concerned. The influence of every preacher, every christian and every church takes a hit when something like this happens. It smears the glorious name of the Lord we represent and makes it hard for non-believers to trust any of us. Perhaps it's time for us to remember that Jesus Christ is the only one that is to be lifted high. The rest of us are just fortunate to be connected to Him by the free extension of His grace. If these things are true we should be disappointed, but not shocked. Let's magnify Christ and recognize that men and women are nothing more than human beings, capable of gross human failures. Work it out!

What Drives You?

Some people are driven by a variety of fears. Some people allow their entire lives to revolve around material possessions. Others are not happy unless they feel like everyone they are connected to is pleased with them. Then there are those that want to have a reputation of success at just about any cost. None of these things is the main thing. The deepest level of authentic living comes from finding out what God wants and then doing it. We have a Creator that designed us for a purpose. A relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, that impacts our choices daily, is everything. When our lives are driven by pleasing the Lord then we are really on to something great. Work it out!

Thought inspired by THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE day 3 by Rick Warren

I'm Not An Accident

I was born an African American in the city of Pittsburgh. My ears stick out away from my head. My teeth are bigger than most other people I see. I am of a quieter sort than many people are comfortable with. I analyze in depth before I act on things. I am loyal to the point that it comes back at times to bite me. There are many other things about myself that I could list, but I'm impressed to be reminded of how none of it is there by accident. God designed me to be me. He has a purpose for the way that I was made. Physical characteristics, temperament, talent, limitations they are all woven into my being so that I can do what I was made to do. That is a comforting thing. I am 52 years old and there are still people that try to change me. I am so glad that I have learned how to be happy with who God has made me to be. I am comfortable in my own skin. I don't hide from my abilities or my flaws. How about you? It's good to know that you are who you are by design. Work it out!


Thought inspired by THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE day 2 by Rick Warren.

Do You Know Where You Are?

In the malls they have these maps to guide you to the store you wish to find. Before you begin to move you must find the dot that says "you are here." Amazing Grace is so much more than going from lost to found. God by grace, "...made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6) We are in an elevated position of victory right now. That is a fact. The work has already been accomplished. Our faith simply makes true for us personally what has already been done. We are above the things that trouble us. Many of us just have to learn to believe what the Lord has done. We have a far greater benefit than safety from hell. That is important, but we have been placed in the position to win over everything that attempts to hinder us. Yes, we do have to continue to fight battles. However, we are doing so from a position of strength. Knowing where you are means everything in the Christian life. We must expect to win over all the things we face. Work it out!

Look Back & Learn

Katrina revealed some glaring weaknesses in our systems of relief. We have been supportive in providing help all over the world when disaster strikes. The people of New Orleans suffered for five days without any type of relief. The people were basically abandoned without food, water, medical care or any of the basic things that are necessary to survive. There is no doubt that the devastating combination of events made this catastrophe somewhat unique. The failing levees after the severity of the storm itself complicated things exponentially, but surely a way to drop water and food to the people that were trapped in the city could have, SHOULD HAVE, occurred. Maybe this type of systemic failure will never happen again, but we know that if we do not learn from our mistakes they can be repeated. Perhaps there is a catastrophic event that has occurred in your life that revealed mistakes that you must not repeat. Whenever we look back at a thing if we do not learn we waste our time. Don't let your painful experiences be wasted. Learn the lessons well. Work it out!

The Lost Practice

"When I feel myself growing dry spiritually, when I don't sense that cutting-edge anointing, or when I need a fresh encounter with God, fasting is the secret key that unlocks heaven's door and slams shut the gates of hell. The discipline of fasting releases the anointing, the favor, and the blessing of God in the life of a Christian."(Jentezen Franklin)
Pastor Franklin has hit on something here that we should re-familiarize ourselves with. Many Bible characters benefited greatly from denying themselves food for a short season to see some spiritual goal realized. Esther, Daniel, Elijah, Moses and even Jesus Christ practiced the discipline of fasting. Our spiritual lives will be enhanced and stubborn problems will be moved when we fast. Work it out!

Meeting Problems With Prayer

"Jesus Christ is the healer of all diseases, the Conqueror of all enemies, the Deliverer from all sin. If our failures teach us to turn afresh to Him, and to find in Him the grace He gives to pray as we should, this humiliation becomes our greatest blessing." (Andrew Murray)

Consistent Living Brings Predictable Results

The central themes of our faith have not changed. We need to give our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to read and apply the Word of God to our lives. We need to lean on the strength of the Holy Spirit. We need to have consistent fellowship with other believers. When we do those things we will grow and when we do not we will have trouble. It is really not complicated at all. Are you doing those things? Work it out!

Draw Near

When we draw near to God He has promised to draw near to us. That is a powerful promise that we can certainly count on. The question would be, how do we draw near to God? The first thing would be to withdraw, or pull ourselves away from the hustle / bustle, the noise and the many distractions that fill our modern lives. Then we focus on worship. God seeks those that worship Him in spirit and in truth. Finally, and this is the thing that is hardest for us, we wait. We tend to want instant contact. We are looking for quick spiritual elevation. Some sort of microwavable connection is what we want. Well, "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..." Drawing near to God requires at least these three things: withdrawing from other things, worshiping Him in spirit and in truth, and waiting upon Him. Work it out!

You Are the Temple

The basis of everything that is good comes from an intimacy with God that we carry on in the depths of our being. This is something that is hard to articulate, but available to all of us. We are spirit beings. We connect with God, who is Spirit, in the center of ourselves. We need to cut off the multiplied levels of external stimuli to practice this. It takes a quiet place to sense this in the early stages. It takes an intentional calming of ourselves and our environment. Through our knowledge of God, we will begin to feel the sweet vibration of His peace. He desires to lead us in every area of life from that sense of peace. His peace is not dependent upon things being peaceful. We can learn to be centered in His peace with confusion raging all around us. Obviously, it takes time to develop this awareness. The compass for the accuracy of our understanding this leading is always God's Word. The Bible is a lamp unto our feet. What we also need to understand is the Holy Spirit working in our human spirit. Knowing Him from the inside - out takes life to a higher place. Work it out!

A Changed Life

I can remember when a dramatic change was just expected once a person gained a true relationship with Jesus Christ. The power of that union made a significant impact on the recipient. It seems that now we do not have the same expectation. As a result we see people come into a worship setting and make themselves at home there. They may pick up a few of the common customs of the church family, but nothing else changes. They use the same filthy language as before. They continue with addictive lifestyle patterns just as before. They go to the same ungodly places as they did before. They handle difficulties with the same dysfunction as before. Something is wrong! We are enfolding people in our churches without properly introducing them to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible directly indicates in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The Lord Jesus Christ changes lives for the better. We cannot expect or accept anything less in our modern experiences. Have you seen a change in yourself since your relationship with Christ was formed? If not, you may want to examine what you really have. Work it out!

What Are You Waiting For?

What is it that you need to turn over to God right now? There are many people that can remember things that God has done for them in the past and they rejoice over those things. Others have great hopes for what God will do at some point in the future and get really excited about those brighter days. Those perspectives are both valid, but if that is all there is a key element is missing. God is looking for you and I to trust Him with our current conditions. If you need strength for something today, God desires to give it to you. If you are searching for guidance concerning a right now problem, God has answers for you. If you need deliverance from a substance or behavior, trust the Lord and He will be your freedom. He is not just a "way back then" or a "someday soon" God. God is waiting to help you now. What are you waiting for? Lean on Him for whatever it is that is in your face right now. Work it out!

Wasted Time And Energy

Don't waste time making judgments about other people. There is no law that says someone else should respond to a situation the same way you would. There are vast differences in the backgrounds we were developed in and that greatly colors how we do things. We are now looking at life through the filters of our unique experiences. The bottom line is we don't know why somebody else does what they do. We don't have enough information to make a proper judgment. Pure love, complete knowledge, and an understanding of what we were made to do are the reasons God is the only qualified judge. Let's make the most out of our lives and let God judge everyone else. Work it out!

SHINE

Jesus said that we are to be light in this world. Light does not just accept the environment it finds itself in. In other words light does not adapt to darkness by becoming darkness. Light changes the environment of darkness by simply shining. The power of light is the ability it has to show darkness something different. That implies that we must learn to embrace things about ourselves that make us different. Too many people force themselves to blend in. We can choose to be who God has made us and live daring to be different. Work it out!

Look Back and Move Forward

You can look back, think back, laugh back, and talk back; but you can never go back. I had a great weekend at the wedding of a childhood friend. The following day there was a neighborhood celebration. It was good seeing people that I played "Hide and Seek" with now with children too old to play those types of games. The graying, balding, weight spreading, limping and hopping were evident signs that what we remember from those three streets are simply that, memories. The wedding was dramatically Christ centered. So many of us have made and are making comments about our personal faith. God is so good to us. Through all the twists and turns of life it seems in one way or another we have grabbed hold of what matters most. I hope we keep enjoying stories and photos of the past, while we get all we can out of the here and now. May the grace of God through Jesus Christ be the fountain we constantly draw from. Work it out!

The "Haves" vs The "Wants"

What you already have is usually better than what you think you want. I tried out a Blackberry yesterday to see how it compared to my 1st generation Iphone. After just a couple of hours I could see that my Iphone is better for me. Now I have to go down and get out of a contract that would lock me in for two years. That is how it often occurs in life. The grass looks greener until you are standing in it. What you have is not always valued because you are so familiar with it. Don't make the mistake that I made with the phone when it comes to what matters most. Treasure and nurture what you have. The Apostle Paul said something that is quite instructive. "I have learned to be content in whatever state I am in..." An attitude adjustment might be the only adjustment that is needed. Work it out!

Obey God's Word

Whether we call it higher ground, deeper depths, or another level there are places in life that are beyond us that we can reach. It is not as complicated as all the formula gurus try to make it. I really don't think it takes 7 habits, 5 steps, sowing 3 seeds or any of the popular trails that seem to multiply before us on a regular basis. All we have to do to find a greater life experience is read God's Word and do what it says. Joshua 1:8 puts it like this, "Be sure that the book of the Law is always read in your worship. Study it day and night, and make sure that you obey everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Make a commitment to obey God today. Work it out!

The Lost Art of Saying No

It is usually not a good idea to do something based on the motivation of guilt. The responsibilities we have, which are genuine, should be taken care of. The duties toward our families should be carried out. However, there are always a few nagging little things that really don't have much to do with what we are truly responsible for. There are duties that call us simply because of the expectations of others. When we are faced with those kinds of things we need to be careful. Expectations can form an inexhaustible list. An honest question to ask, in cases like that, is why should I do it? If the only thing that rings back to you is the guilt of failing to meet somebody's expectations, you may want to consider ignoring the task. We would probably be surprised at the number of things that people can do themselves, or have done another way if we were to say no. Don't be somebody's crutch just because they expect it. Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose from the grave to be the savior. He is qualified to be all things so you don't have to be. Work it out!

Not a perfect world

In a perfect world we could do right and expect to get right in return. Whenever we did something good we would know that good things would also come our way. We would expect that everyone we treated with kindness would give us kindness back. Isn't it obvious that we are not in a perfect world. This world we live in has fallen. We can do everything right and still at times receive results that are poor. It is a stubborn, frustrating reality. The beauty in all of this of course, are the promises of God. The Psalmist declared, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." (Psalm 34:19) We cannot expect to have a trouble free existence, but we can expect the faithfulness of a loving God to carry us through. Work it out!

To Thine Own Self Be True

Are you pulling inspiration from your true self, or are you chasing the idea of somebody else? In a group of pre-middle to early high school students, I was impressed to hear their dreams. Future scientists, artists, law enforcers, & animal lovers were all in the house. As usual, there were also a large number of dreamers looking to be athletes. I just can't help but to wonder if these NFL, MLB & NBA dreamers are expressing true heart level dreams. In fact it really makes me wonder if many of us are truly in touch with what makes us tick. Satisfaction does not come from chasing money. We cannot be fulfilled by doing what somebody else has projected upon us. We will be disappointed if we are trying to follow a path that will impress our friends. Knowing what we are truly passionate about, matching that with our skills, and putting in hard work is a sure fire formula for a life that pops. It's not too late. Follow your heart and use your skills. Work it out!

Fragile, Handle With Care!

I have preached two funerals in a week and another one will be at our church this weekend. One person that was at the second funeral shedding tears for her brother, died a few days later. Another person that looked marvelous at the service, was hospitalized the next day. We tend to think we have plenty of time to do what we wish to do. We may even put off the things we know we should take care of, having no sense of urgency. I would like to suggest to everyone reading this, to take care of the little things regularly. Life is too fragile to take anything for granted. We need to make sure our lives are at peace with God each day. We cannot be sloppy, and nonchalant with our spiritual lives. Don't allow sins to go without confession made and forgiveness received. Then we must take care of our human relationships. Let's not just assume that the people close to us know that we love them. Say it and show it often. That hug, smile, kind word, or loving gesture may be just what one of your dear ones desperately needs today. We don't know how much time we have in the future. We do know that we have right now. We can show that we care today. James 4:14 GNB says, "You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears." Think about that.

Loving Life

Had a great Birthday yesterday. Dinner with my wife and daughter, my two favorite girls. Then me and the wifey went out to the beach and just waded in the surf for an hour or so. The older I get the more I appreciate the simple things. Good health, family and friends are ultra valuable. The love of God and the love of some key people make life worth living. Thank God for 52 great years. I don't know how many more I have left so I'll enjoy moment by moment whatever I have left. Whether it's 50 minutes or 50 years, God has given us the privilege to freely enjoy the things He has made.

Joy

Don't underestimate the power of joy. It is a virtue that has enough strength to keep us moving. We are not always in a place that we would consider happy, but joy is a choice. We can decide we are going to walk in joy even though our circumstances may not dictate that kind of response. A joyous disposition will help us rise above our condition. Really, there is always something we can celebrate. Likewise, there is probably some stuff we can be gloomy about. It is a matter of perspective. You can choose to celebrate if you want. Today, I choose joy!

A Happy Time To Be Sad

It's a beautiful thing to see a dedicated child of God go home. Heaven awaits the people of God. In a strange way, many Christians have stopped talking about our ultimate hope. As many things as God does for us in terms of bringing abundant life on earth, these temporary blessings do not compare with our heavenly hope. Celebrating that hope realized brings mixed emotions. There is beauty in the transfer that has happened for the person going to heaven. There is pain that must be managed in the lives of those that remain on earth. We said goodbye to a beloved deacon, William Bryant, today. He openly loved the Lord, his family, and the church. We rejoice in the fact that heavenly blessings are now his. We feel sympathy for the family members that are in pain. Whether we describe it as a sad time for a person to receive a happy blessing, or a happy time for a person while others struggle with tears, the feelings at a home going service are always mixed. We know how we should feel mentally, but our hearts do not always keep pace with our heads. Rest in peace "Bear," you will be missed!

What do you know?

We can live based on what we know. So many people make the mistake of conducting their lives based upon the mysteries that exists. We do not understand all the ins and outs of death. We cannot always reconcile the effects of God's power and man's freedom to make choices. We do not understand when bad things happen to good people. We do not know how much room the devil has to act, or why the Lord gives him any room at all. We have a hard time with starvation, joblessness, homelessness, disasters and all kinds of suffering. We can choose to live based on the darkness that covers these mysteries, or we can go from day to day based on what we know. God is love. The Word of God is light. The Holy Spirit is our helper. Leaning on the Lord brings healing and hope. Some mysteries will be cleared up with time, so why should we torture ourselves trying to figure them out beforehand? Other things that happen will never be understood by us. We don't like that, but it's just the way it is. "...Walk in the light as HE is in the light..." Our experience of life is just better that way.

Creative Space

Is it wise to take renewed energy and sink it into the same routines? There seems to be a need to get involved with something fresh. It does not mean abandoning the major things that are already a part of your life. Along with your current commitments, it is always wise to leave a little space for creativity to run. If our lives are too full to ever try anything new, than they are just too full. The genius that is waiting to be released in you may not have an outlet from the thing that you must do to pay the bills. We all know that survival is a necessity. The thing is, God has made us for more than just survival. Make a little room in your life today for the dreamer. Do a little prayerful dreaming. God is able to do more than we can ask or think!

Grind it out.

That's a phrase that was often repeated by Ray Croc the man behind the world renown McDonald's corporation. He was a paper cup salesman. He stepped up to begin selling milk shake machines. He was fascinated by a little hamburger stand that needed multiple milk shake machines. To satisfy his curiosity, he went out to meet the McDonald brothers. He was so amazed by their system for selling burgers and fries that he bought their operation and multiplied it. His story, is a story of all the things that went wrong and his "stick to it" lifestyle that caused him to overcome every obstacle. We are familiar with what is now a multi-billion dollar success story. What many of us do not know is that it all came about because a man named Ray was willing to grind it out. The Bible calls that perseverance. In our journey we must remember that "...the race is not given to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." (Ecclesiastes 9:11) We are all plagued with ups and downs in life. The distinguishing factor is some endure while others quit. I want to encourage you to grind it out!

Ordinary Days

It is almost natural for us to gear up for the extraordinary. We can buckle up for harsh times and prepare to give the storms of life our best shot. We can easily slide into significant good times. Proms, weddings, graduations, reunions can all be times of excitement for us. However, what do we do with the ordinary, run of the mill, nothing to write home about kind of day? How do we prevent a series of ordinary days from sliding by without getting something out of them? Of course, most of our days will be ordinary. Maximizing ordinary days has allot to do with our expectations. We have to tap into our faith. We can get closer to God on an ordinary day. We can do something to improve ourselves on an ordinary day. We can enhance our family relationships on an ordinary day. We just have to believe there are opportunities out here for us everyday. There are! "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation." (Psalm 68:19) You and I have an opportunity for growth today. I plan on finding mine.

Maintaining Freedom

We have freedom in the United States of America. At the same time our troops are fighting in two ongoing wars. They are positioned to defend our freedom in other parts of the world also. That demonstrates the fact that freedom has to be maintained. The same thing is true with our spiritual freedom. We have had freedom handed to us through the work that Jesus Christ has done on the cross. "He whom the Son has set free, is free indeed." Yet, just as our troops are still fighting to keep our freedom in the natural realm, we have to fight to keep our freedom in the spirit too. There are all kinds of things at work trying to entangle us. We can be bound by substances. We can be bound by habits. We can be bound by unhealthy relationships. Even church duties and routines can be binding when they are shifted out of their proper place. Our identity is not tied to a church title, position, or perceived success. Freedom is experienced because of our conscious effort in two specific areas. We are free based upon the nearness of our relationship to Jesus. We are free because of the power of the Holy Spirit. "Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Knowing we should be free and actually experiencing freedom is two different things. Living in freedom must be actively maintained.

Stop trying to be something other than human.

Realizing the limitations that we have is a real freeing thing. The feelings of guilt could haunt us if we let them. Sometimes we can be tempted to wonder why we have done some of the dumb stuff we have done. Sometimes we can wish we were able to go back and do things differently. There are times we may wonder why our impact has not been greater than it has been. If we listen to the hype, we are made to believe that our strategies and plans are where the real hope lies. The truth is we cannot do much about our human failures except receive forgiveness from God. We cannot do much about the future that lies before us except for trusting in the providence of our Heavenly Father day by day. Regrets and wishes are wasted energy exercises. Most of the messes we have made just fall under the category of being human beings anyway. The sin nature inside of us is much more decrepit than most of us think. The blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit are the true fountains of blessing. We have to work with the Lord, as people in process, everyday. Stop stressing and start trusting! He is not surprised by anything that we have done. He knows us through and through and loves us anyway. You and I are no better or worse than anyone on the planet. We are just humans that mess up in a variety of ways and need grace from God to make it.

Getting The Most Out of Our Pain

God brings blessings out of our brokenness. He brings life out of death. The power of God is made perfect in our weakness. When we run into highly negative situations and know how to lean on God, those situations can be the best things that could ever happen to us. The truth about our human nature is troubling. We just don't seem to trust in the Lord the same way when everything is sunshine and roses. We depend on Him most when we are in difficult places. The less we have, the more we need from Him. The more limited our options are, the greater our dependence on Him. When we feel like we can do it ourselves, that is exactly what we do. Just look at the most horrific thing that has ever happened in history and you will see the principle. Jesus Christ crucified is the worst crime that has ever occurred on this earth. The Son of God beaten and killed dwarfs every other human failure by a long way. However, the power of what that event has done for us is the best thing that could have ever happened. Resurrection came out of death. Because of God's involvement in the worst thing man has ever done, salvation is now available to all. This principle is not automatic. If we want to just suffer and wallow in our misery, God will allow us to do just that. The key is taking ourselves to Him for strength when we are in painful places. God making the best out of the worst is nothing new. He specializes in it. Try him and see!

The Tension

There is a very real strain that happens daily inside of us. People have an inner war that is not much different to "the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other shoulder" often illustrated in cartoons. When we want to do what is right there is always a competing temptation to do wrong. The key mechanism is our ability to make a choice. If you are waiting for some sort of spiritual territory where there is no more temptation, you are looking for a state that does not exist on this planet. No matter how much you love the Lord, how long you have been in church, what type of title you have in the church, or how many people respect you and your reputation, you will still be tempted to do the wrong thing. As long as we are in human skin we will be drawn to wrong, improper behavior. We must choose to do what is right in the midst of those wrong feelings and it is not always easy. Winning and losing is based upon what we choose. That is just the real deal. What are you going to choose?

Shelter

When it is blazing hot we want the shelter of the shade. When the rain is coming down we look for shelter from the wetness. When it's snowing we need shelter from the cold. Bunkers and cellars even provide shelter from tornadoes and hurricanes. We also need to know we have shelter available in the midst of traumatic life events. We cannot avoid all of the painful things that life brings. We will encounter different types of loss. We run into some awful effects from relationships. We must deal with difficult circumstances in general. These things do not have to burn us up, soak us, or blow us away. "God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble." Our Lord is a shelter from the trauma we will encounter in life. Why stay in the elements when they occur? Go to Him for shelter.

Find It

There is a rhythm. There is a groove that is restorative. It could be as simple as a change of pace. It could be an intentional, temporary change of scenery. It could be getting out in God's nature, or feeling the pulse of a different city. It may even mean two completely different things for two different people. Whatever it is to you, every once in a while you have to find it. Rutsville is not a fun place, nor is it a good place to be for too long. Creative juices dry up there. The ability to keep yourself challenged begins to diminish. The way the people in your life get treated by you even starts to suffer. When you get into that type of a hole you have to do something to get out of it. There are pathways that can be taken to renew yourself. If you have to and you can, get on up and get away. David prayed "create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me." Being renewed is a real thing. When your inner self is getting old and stale, make renewal a priority. Put in the work!

The Michael Jackson Affect

How has your life been touched by Michael Jackson?

The impact goes all the way back to childhood. The songs connect to nearly every significant milestone. The first crush I ever had, "I'll Be There." The first school dance, "ABC." My love for basketball, "The Jackson Five Don't Take No Jive." My first serious girlfriend, "Rock With You." Coming back to the city of Pittsburgh, the base line from "Billy Jean" was boomin all over the city. Watching my son dance at the family reunion, "Jam." There are too many memories to list on this venue, but I would love to hear some of yours.