“Who am I”

 Amidst the Stillness

Once during bible study, the question was asked,” What do normal Christian people think about? “Sarcastically, with grace, it depends on, “who you are” as far as your uniqueness?  Now, for me "normal" should be used loosely because we all have our own little distinctive unique aspects of ourselves, and I truly believe a lot of us struggle in the world today with the words, “who am I”? 

A majority of us claim to be born again Christians. But what makes it so hard to take these claims seriously? Perhaps many think they are Christians because they once confessed Christ in the past and that’s enough? So, Is it a new day? Or perhaps a day based on life that’s repeating itself? Like me are you doing the same things that you did last week? Performing actions that give the minimum that just gets you by. After all, you have done all this before. If you are just going through the motions of boredom, you may need to change your ritual of wasting your time. As the expression goes, in our daily lives is there enough evidence to convict us of being Christians? Think about your answer to this question. Is it to get rid of all “outward things and focus just on “spiritual” things? No, the big problem with that. As humans we are physical as well as spiritual. We don’t just learn things by thinking; we learn by doing. We don’t just add to our knowledge by ideas, but by experiences that add up to the motions of, “who am I” in Christ.

According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” we are regenerated, renewed, and born again, and this new creation is spiritually minded, whereas the old nature is carnally minded. So does the new nature fellowships with God, obeys His will, and is devoted to His service? You ever met someone new, and they ask probing questions trying to establish who your identity is. For me they look at my physique and then they response, “where did you play at”? In Christ we are adopted, justified, redeemed, reconciled, and chosen. In Christ we are victorious, filled with joy and peace, and granted true meaning in life.

If you identify yourself as more than one alphabet, does it leave you with a feeling of neglect for your other ABC parts? Leaving you with lovey milk toast thoughts like, “are they trying to throw dirt on my other “essential” nuts and bolts of me.  Stressing the drama as “a spoon full of sugar”; hearing voices that echo or imply that strange,” Mary Poppins mindset, an agent of moral self-change?” Retorting, “Don’t they know I’m a former feel in the blank. Leaving us with the question, Do we as Christians no longer prefer to love, vs our sin? We wonder why we so often do not live in the manner described, even though we have given our lives to Christ and are sure of our salvation. This is because our new natures are residing in our old fleshly bodies, and these two are at war with one another. 

In fact, we hate the impurity within us and engage in a spiritual battle to defeat it. Maybe God is urging us to practice our faith? That involves both what we do and help other people and what we do to work on our relationship with God.

Praise the Lord, we have the victory in Christ: “The word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2{14).

 When we are excited, afraid, worried, or elated, we tend to chew over our conversations or actions we either participated in or wish we hadn’t. We may have spells of overthinking when we are engaged in a major transitional thought, such things as political identity, diversity requirements; starting a diet or even what we tithe to the church. Maybe your, who I am identity comes from a disease or condition you have?

Part of the problem goes all the way back to the First Commandment: You shall have no other gods. Anything we put our fear, love, and trust in more than God becomes an idol. And no idol can hold up to that kind of pressure. Our idols will let us down, and then we’re left with a broken who identity.

One way to avoid overthinking this worldly identity subject is to incorporate Scripture and prayer into one’s thoughts as we join Jesus on his mission. The psalmists give us excellent examples of this Psalm 94:19 says, “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.” 

The plethora of details about who we are in Christ, whom we belong to and our purpose, can be spoken in declarations as " I am a child in Christ?" that’s with you daily. So, what does that mean? Should It consume our thoughts for a short normal time? Or Thinking about it daily and giving it to the lord in prayer, with study and action which is good, but overthinking can turn a simple God honoring matter into an overly complex one.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Today, let us celebrate and remember God just didn’t go through the motions with us, He sent His Son Jesus into this world to live a whole life in our place and then die a death for us.  That is what frees us to know who we are and do the motions of our faith. It is what Jesus called in our Gospel lesson every day to be a “light” and “salt “of the earth. 

When we are in Christ, “we are more than victors through Him that loved us” (Romans man’s 8:37) and can rejoice in our Savior, who makes all things possible (Philippians 4:13). In Christ we are loved, forgiven, and secure. In Christ we are adopted, justified, redeemed, reconciled, and chosen. In Christ we are victorious, filled with joy and peace, and granted true meaning in life. What a wonderful Savior is Christ! That’s Who we are! In discovering or rediscovering or reaffirming your identity in Christ, God opens the door to learning about who you are, what you are called to be as His child, and to embrace the hope for your life in this world and the world to come. Rather, we are God’s church, a community that comes together around His Word to be the body of Christ. This is what God sees as our identity, that is who we are.

God Bless You and This Ministry!

“Soul Food Anyone”

 “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

Jesus is making the connection between God’s Word and food. He invites us to think of God’s Word as a nourishing meal.

As we all know our bodies require food for strength to keep it functioning as it should.  It can only go so long without the proper nourishment.  What about our soul? Does it need to be fed?  Most often my soul does, especially during times in the present day, when “sudden death” happens, that make many people stop to reflect on life and the realization that at any moment it could be your last day to spend time with a loved one or family member. The bottom line is this—we live in a fallen world, and “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel” (2Corinthians 4:4). The sad truth is that most people do not see the Bible as the absolute authority anymore. As God’s Word continues to be marginalized, unbelief will continue to increase around the world. So fellow, brothers and sisters, let’s begin feeding the soulful with our spiritual conversations?

One way someone may feed their soul is through the practice of prayer.  Prayer is as essential for one’s livelihood. It is a daily communion with God.  Most people eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to feed their physical bodies. What about prayer?

Today’s cry, perhaps is a prayer need, from the trenches of reminders phrase, “do not be afraid” which is written in the bible 365 times. That’s a daily reminder from God to live every day being fearless.

For some the idea of talking to God—praying—is kind of odd, isn’t it? Back in the day I use to pray to God as if he were a genie in a bottle, I would throw salt over my shoulder and hope that, if we’re lucky, he’ll hear us and act according to our wishes.

Usually when you talk to someone, you can hear his or her response to you. But prayer is different. Prayer looks like you’re basically just talking to yourself. How do you talk with someone who doesn’t necessarily talk back—audibly, at least? And if you believe that God not only listens to prayers but answers them too, how do you distinguish your own thoughts and feelings from God’s answers?

Then there’s the really big question: Does prayer even work?

But really, it’s a “listening prayer” spending some time talking to the Lord and 90% of the time listening to His response biblically, two-way communication—we talk, and God talks; as opposed to a literal listening prayer voice. It follows the biblical instructions concerning prayer. We are to pray in faith (James 1:6) in direct address to God (Matthew 6:9), in Jesus’ name (John 14:13), offered with reverence and humility (Luke 18:13), with perseverance (Luke 18:1), and in submission to God’s will (Matthew 6:10).

What’s the point of praying if God already knows the future, orchestrates what’s going to happen, and knows what we need? And yet, billions of people all over the world practice some form of prayer. Why bother if it doesn’t make a difference? 

Ask a dozen people, “What is prayer?” and you will likely receive a dozen different answers. “It’s talking to God,” one person might say. Another might respond: It saying the Our Father or some might say prayer is asking a higher power for what you want or need with the heart as well; making prayer and relationship inextricably intertwined as one beat belonging together.

 In the midst of trials our transformed heart needs prayer, resembling the heart of God. It’s not so much about getting tangible “results” from God. It is rather an opportunity to know God more fully, to better understand what he wants of each of us, and to establish a lifelong relationship.

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” This is the very first thing James writes in his letter after his salutation. Why? Because of its import. Many Christians think once they’ve made that decision for Christ that everything will fall into place and life will be that proverbial bowl of cherries. And when trials and tough times come upon them or continue, they begin to question, “why?” Wondering how they could possibly endure horrible circumstances and consider it joy.

Prayer is a lifestyle of humble dependence, of living in community and harmony with God, the source of life, “a way of walking in love.” Certainly that “way” involves more than repeating words and phrases and hoping that those rote words will magically connect us with God.

This topic is very near and dear to my heart because it is a lesson, I’m relearning each and every day of my life. Why would a good and loving God allow us to go through such things as the death of a mother (cancer), a friend and sister committing suicide, plus injury playing sports to ourselves and a childhood friend resulting in his death, such hardships, worry and fear? Surely, if He loved us, He would take all these things away from us. After all, doesn’t loving us mean He wants our lives to be easy and comfortable? Well, no, it doesn’t. One of the most difficult parts of the Christian life is the fact that becoming a disciple of Christ does not make us immune to life’s trials and tribulations. But you know what I have discovered? Spiritual conversations with “Grace”. Matthew 28:19

 The Bible clearly teaches that God loves those who are His children, and He “works all things together for good” for us (Romans 8:28). So that must mean that the trials and tribulations He allows in our lives are part of the working together of all things for good. Therefore, for the believer, all trials and tribulations must have a divine purpose.

God’s joy really is there. Trials and tribulations come with both a purpose and a reward. You can consider each trial joy; you can greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory even when you feel like you are face-first in the mud puddle. You can endure whatever circumstances are making you quake in your boots right now. If you have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ—you have all you need.

Through all of life’s trials and tribulations, we have the victory. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ." Although we are in a spiritual battle, Satan has no authority over the believer in Christ. God has given us His Word to guide us, His Holy Spirit to enable us, and the privilege of coming to Him anywhere, at any time, to pray about anything.

God Bless You And This Ministry!

“The Flavor of Time”

 One of the most famous songs from the musical Rent asks “how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee? In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife? In 525,600 minutes- how do measure a year in the life? How about love? Measure in love.” 

I don’t mean if you actually think about why a second is the length that it is, or if you use a wristwatch or your cell phone or a timer to measure time. What I mean is; what are the important events that you use to mark your “Faith” time? The Bible is clear that faith is measured in terms of both quantity and quality. So, what does that mean?

Before going into my whisper of words noting what the Bible says about faith and how to measure it, I ask you the question, “Is Faith a critical element for being a Christian”? Do we measure time in relation to Christ? Yes, in the fullness of time, God came to earth. That’s what we celebrate at Christmas.

 Hebrews 11:1 says it best: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We understand this to mean that faith is an action which treats things that have not yet happened, and things which are not empirically evident, as truth. There is no practical distinction between the object of faith and reality to the believer. Faith is the ability to believe indeed.

Well how do you measure a year? With a whispered “peace be still. How do you measure a lifetime of purpose? Doing the things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth, “Christ-like,” and Christ-following. Doing every day, the day, the hard way? 

Sometimes, do you look at time and begin to tire, this isn’t living its existence. This strange fruit, I measure daily with pain on the leaves. Then the sudden smell of flesh is the fruit for the birds to pluck. As for the leaves, they drop so strange because it is the harvest of time. The future looking for someone to take it forward with that church piano playing, “why don’t you call me anymore”. Such an echo of music a sound song of beauty of what is beautiful in God’s eyes. Finally recognizing the qualities God has cherished in the lives of his people; which is one way to determine His concept of beauty, “It was not their physique or stateliness but their faith and service that made them beautiful”. 

Why did Jesus come? While remaining God, Jesus took upon a new nature - a human nature, uniting the divine and the human into one being, one person. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully human.It was the truth of Christmas, the favor of time, “love”. God loved His own and provided a way—the only Way—for us to spend eternity with Him. He gave His only Son to take our punishment for our sins. He paid the price in full, and we are free from condemnation when we accept that free gift of love. "But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8.

The applications for us today is first for those of us who are waiting. You may be single and waiting for marriage. You may be waiting and hoping for children. You may be stuck in a job you can’t wait to get out of. You may have a tough time with your health, and you’re just waiting for things to get better. I know as a believer, I’m always impatient for things to happen faster with the house of worship as well as my loyalty of action; as far as prayer, reading studying the word and dealing with affliction. 

For those of us who are waiting, sometimes impatiently, here’s the first application: God is the God of perfect timing. “When the right time came…” God is always the God of perfect timing.

Here’s the second application. The whole reason for Christmas is this: God wants you to be his child. God wants that kind of relationship with you. He wants you to experience the intimacy, the privileges, that come from being his child. “Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you” 

By growing in the amount of faith one has and by allowing Christ’s faith to work mightily in him or her, the ability for a Christian to obtain the object of faith, whether it is healing, understanding, or righteousness, becomes even more sure. But you see that’s a challenge at this time of year, in this breakneck time between Christmas and New Year’s, when time seems to be confusing. What day is it? What stores are open? What is for dinner? Who else is popping in? With our familiar schedules mixed up, it’ hard to know just what time it is to take our “Medicine”.

God has given to each a “measure of faith” to use for Him. This “faith” is the gift from which all the other gifts flow. Faith is the first gift we receive (for justification), and faith is the gift that brings the other gifts of the Spirit into our lives. When a person is born again, God gives him gifts as a new member of the family of God. We receive the gifts according to the measure that God has given us, and we exercise the gifts according to the same measure of faith.

“To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Ephesians 4:7). God deals to everyone his portion. Not everyone receives all the gifts, nor is the same gift given to everyone in the same measure. Our sovereign God distributes each gracious gift according to the measure of faith that He has bestowed on us.

As we finish our Christmas celebrations, as we continue to be in this period of uncertain time, we remember that God is the Lord of all time. How will you measure time? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee? However, you do, rejoice in the God who came to save us in the fullness of time, to make us his children and heirs of his promises. 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). This verse gives clear direction and flavor of time which offers genuine hope to the believer in Christ.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.Philippians 4:6

God Bless You and This Ministry!

“Tricky Alliance”

 Happy New Year 

Is being a sports fan good or bad? Yes and No is my answer. It all depends on whether your little ‘god’ of sports, are summed up in Christ or abstracted from him? Ok, Tornado Fans, What’s your New Year’s resolution? Is it, “There’s always next year”?

He is not afraid of Bad News; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord” Psalm 12:7 

I am an unabashed ISU Cyclone and Denver Broncos football fan, but I do not write as a fan today—rather, as a Christian. Loyalty forever True, has always been my new year’s resolution as a child of God. We are blessed to have joined in and participated. Upright people don’t fear setbacks and do not constantly worry about what could be lost. They know God will never lose them. All the Glory to God!

The Christian life is a life of day-by-day, hour-by-hour trust in the promises of God. Which helps us, guides us, takes care of me/us, forgiving and leads into a future of holiness and joy. But I often find my life, at the end of each year influenced by “New Year resolutions” (I will identify as sports sometimes) similar to the way my computer becomes infected with a virus. Garbage In, Garbage Out. How about you? Or is this a Perception vs Reality moment about sin?

There is no difference between December 31 and January 1. Does something mystical occurs at midnight on December 31? The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. The Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named. In the medieval era, the knights took a vow to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry. WoW

Common New Year’s resolutions today are commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money more wisely, and to spend more time with family or a new one sports fans, spending time trolling tweet about your favorite college sports team. By far, the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating more healthily. These are all good goals to set other than the trolling tweets. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Our rootedness in this fallen world should serve our longing for rootedness in the world to come Hebrews 11:16. We have already had the opportunity to experience family, fellowship, camaraderie, love, and place, however imperfectly. To act as though we come from nowhere except prideful longing resolutions are a commentary on our understanding of the past as well as the future.

These longings are only ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ and his steadfast kingdom community, the church. Nevertheless, it is most natural that these longings be reflected in limited but genuine ways in our lives. I consider each resolution fashioned as a sport in a sense to be a competitive display of the performing arts. Is this capable of displaying truth, beauty and goodness? Herein lies a general problem. It is not only those who consider(resolutions) sports a waste of time who sever it from Christian living, far too often, those Christians who enjoy athletics do the same. Our responsibility is to take every thought captive to obey Jesus (2 Cor 10:5).

As we overload our Christian computers, with apps that need to be, “rebooted” with a resolution challenge so that they work again each year.  The kind of rebooted New Year’s resolutions delight, that will satisfy our hearts infinitely more in Christ, than if we forsake him and put our trust in ourselves or in the promises of this world. God’s promises are not automatic. It is the result of daily diligence and it’s the result of proper fear and how we participate into God’s “rest”?

We as Christian’s with a rightly ordered, Christ-centered worldview are uniquely in a position to enjoy athletic competition as a good gift from God, and his or her sports(resolutions) loyalties as a demonstration of our God-given rootedness in time, place, family and community. Of course, we can make an idol out of different resolutions, losing weight, exercising, diet, drinking, smoking, family or allegiance to our favorite sports team. But the gospel does not obliterate these cultural connections. It reinterprets them in light of the gospel story and our responsibility to seek first the kingdom of God (Matt 6:33, 1 Cor2:2).

I'm thankful that we are taught as children of God to say, “God Bless You,” but believe it or not, I'm equally thankful that others say, “Go Cyclones! But I am most thankful that — whether we are Buckeyes or Longhorns, Hawk-Eyes or Sooners, Broncos or Navy— in Christ we all say, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20).

So, what sort of New Year’s alliance resolution should a Christian make?

(1) pray to the Lord for wisdom James 1:5 regarding what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) find an responsible partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead, allow them to motivate you further; (6) don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory in everything we do! 

Dear Lord and Father of mankind Forgive our foolish ways.

Re-clothe us in our rightful minds, in purer lives Thy service finds,

In deeper reverence, praise, guide and reboot us Lord. Re-clothe us in our rightful minds. At this moment we let go of all those things that cause any destructive input in our lives. Nudge us back to a healthy place with the allure of your love. Today, reboot our resolutions(sports), so that we may reappear fresh and clean and ready to rumble., in the name of Jesus, Amen

God Bless You and This Ministry!

“Pardon, anything to Offer?”

On this Christmas Eve as I sit looking out the window in Ames, Iowa, in the background the song, “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” is playing. From time to time this song makes me think of loneliness for the past tradition, rituals, along with a feeling of spiritual emptiness. Fortunately, God knew it would happen and has given me/us a lot of helpful advice in His Word. I begin to ruminate and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with so much zeal, believing that, in Christ, God entered the human race and so deserves the title Immanuel or “God With Us” (Matthew 1:23). But before the worship of self-subsides, I say, You think our world is messed up now, I wondered what the Roman world was like that first Christmas Eve for Christians?

Rome was not a good place to be a Christian prior to Constantine the Great’s conversion. Christians were routinely rounded up, arrested, tortured and then murdered in a variety of creatively grisly fashions. Rome knew how to turn pain, fear and death into a spectacle that simultaneously entertained a bloodthirsty populace and cowed them into submission. As such, Christians had to be careful how and when they worshiped. For much of its early life, the Christian religion essentially existed underground. 

But the Romans celebrated “Saturnalia” a week-long Roman festival honoring the god Saturn; since it started on December 17 apart from some magical powers there was little to distinguish them from their human worshipers, it fell within what we now call the Christmas season. Interestingly, historical accounts differ about whether Saturnalia celebrations were examples of debauchery or charity. Yet, for most of history, debauchery seems to dominate celebrations of the holiday. As they ate drank, loved, envied, cheated, lied and otherwise set morally unedifying example you see they didn’t care about those who worshiped them. All they wanted was to be appeased as they shouted, “Io Saturnalia” the way we might greet people with ‘Merry Christmas or Happy New Year!’ 

As Christ entered into a culture in which the gods of that age were not worthy of worship, our little gods are as much like Rome’s. Sounds like idol worship much the same as self-worship which can be a lonely activity. 

“The Gods we worship write their names on our faces; be sure of that. And a man will worship something ... That which dominates will determine his life and character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today’s gods are far from anonymous, and the question comes to those without a friend. This fact I know, Jesus is a friend of sinners. This means that He is our friend and is waiting for us to acknowledge His presence and availability. God’s love for us is almost beyond imagining. When we consider Jesus’ Incarnation J—His leaving heaven to be born as a helpless human infant in order to grow and experience life among us—we begin to get a glimmer of the depth of that love. 

Self-worship can be lonely, so take your hands off me misery. What warms a heart outside in? God says “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it”? Jeremiah 17:9 Rather than trust our hearts. We are to commit or hearts to God: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6

As we prepare to gather with our friends and family to exchange the gift of Love and celebrate the light of Christ coming into this world Jesus also taught instead of having this feeling on Christmas Eve of being surrounded by the stranger of “lonely”, we as Christians are to be surrounded by “brothers and sisters in Christ.” This is a heartbeat within a place that when the hard times come as inevitably, they will during those lonely times, remember you are surrounded by those who care; that’s our distinct responsibility a better way of being human than anything currently in our world’s society.

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) Jesus is truly the Friend who sticks closer than a brother and blessed are those who have Him as their Friend. 

God Bless You and This Ministry! 

Merry Christmas Happy New Year

“Dear Daddy”

The moments are just flying by with the help of the Holy Spirit, as the impersonal power that you make available to us as your followers. Yet, as you reveal and move me, to understand that “teammates, colleagues and the community culture, always trumps strategy; which are the ultimate motivator” and bear in mind the process and the legacy, for an identity in a Christ Life.

I miss the Comradery of 1 Peter 4:8-10

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace”.

This verse focuses on the need for Christian teammates to use their talents to serve others, and to adapt their skills to fit the gaps that all God’s creatures needs filled.  Being kind and serving gladly, instead of complaining, are tremendously important skills for those in Christ as teammates.

When I sit back and remember all the countless times that you gave me some of your thoughts as you drove me around in your taxi cab of newness, I am convinced that you God, knows why you to be my counselor. The one that always encouraged me to reach for the stars was you. I am thankful for all the things you prepared me for. In you, I see the effortless dedication to care and love.

In our new identity in Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6), but we are reconciled to God (Romans 5:10). This new identity completely changes our relationship with God and our families, just as it changes the way we see the world. Your quiet yet strong presence is always there. Our new identity in Christ means we have the same relationship with God that Christ has—we are His children. God has adopted us as sons. I have now truly realized the true depth and breadth of your presence throughout my life. In you, I see the effortless dedication to care and love. You are always loved!

We are able to call Him “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15-16). We are both joint heirs (Galatians 3:29) and friends (John 15:15) of Christ. And this relationship is even stronger than those we have with our earthly families (Matthew 10:35-37). Instead of fearing God as judge, we have the great privilege of coming to Him as our Father. We can approach Him with confidence and ask of Him what we need (Hebrews 4:16). (We can ask for His guidance and wisdom (James 1:5) and know that nothing will take us from Him (Romans 8:38-39).). We also rest in His authority and respond to Him with trusting obedience, knowing that obedience is a key part of remaining close to Him (John 14:23). 

We are no longer citizens of the world but apart from it (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1). We understand that we are a part of a heavenly, God-ruled kingdom. Things of the earth no longer draw us (Colossians 3:2). We don’t fear or over-emphasize suffering on earth or the trials we face (Colossians 1:24; 1 Peter 3:14; 4:12-14), nor do we place importance on things the world values (1 Timothy 6:9-11). Even our bodies and our actions reflect that our minds are no longer conformed to the world (Romans 12:1-2) but are now instruments of righteousness to God (Romans 6:13). And our new kingdom perspective means we understand that our enemy is not the people around us but the spiritual forces that endeavor to keep the people from knowing God (Ephesians 6:12). 

All of this is the ideal—the character of a mature follower of Christ. One of the greatest blessings about our identity in Christ is the grace we’re given in order to grow into the spiritual maturity that truly reflects our new identity (Philippians 1:6). Our lives in light of our identity in Christ are filled with a heavenly Father, a large, loving family, and the understanding that we are citizens of another kingdom and not of this earth. You are always loved!

God Bless You and This Ministry!

“Free in Christ”

“So, if the Son sets you free, you will be indeed” John 8:36

As I watch all of the championship games today. I love the competitiveness of Football, it is without doubt, one of the most popular sports in America. I use to theorized that it was one of "many paths up the same mountain, my little selfie god". But what about the sport or love of selfies? Does it tend to foster an ardor of a self-little god? Maybe? The Bible is clear that we not only have the ability to choose, we also have the responsibility to choose wisely, maintain godliness, modesty, and propriety; that’s free will. 

But Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Mark 12:30).

Dear Lord, I know I’m not owning all the freedom you’ve purchased for us. Though you’ve already freed me from the egotism of trying to do something to deserve a relationship with God, and the anxiety of wondering what God thinks about me in any given moment; Help me though the chains of condemnation, even though they have already been broken and my fear of death and Judgment Day have been eliminated—I’m still not as free as you intend. In Jesus name, Amen

Do I, as a Christian live as though I am still in bondage? On the surface things look and sound great. But on the inside, it is a mess So I, “Throw another log on the fire “log in to social media and take a selfie. Is that You? Today we put the highlighted pictures of ourselves and echoes of words,” that are related to what, on social media? At times showing that Mr. or Ms. Good Bar image with the appearance of everything being great. The notion that sin has warped, twisted, maimed, and ruined human goodness is as pervasive in theology as social media is in modern life. This does not mean that the use of social media is sinful, as such.  It’s just that it was designed to be in harmony with human nature, which, being fallen, will give rise to a fixation on the self, the stimulation of its desires, the embellishment of its pride, and the encouragement of self-righteousness.

As the fires burn within, what do the ricochets in a social media chamber have to do with our Christian Life? A lot! It is “curved in upon ourselves”. It exploits the fallen weaknesses and the sinful appetites of the self.

“if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:23

This is precisely why the original sense of the term, We are required to “continue in the faith, stable and steadfast” (Colossians 1:23). “to echo the teaching above,” to share continuously the Good News of the Living God, who loves us with infinite and merciful love. What say You? 

Does this “if” in Colossians 1:23 indicate that our salvation depends upon us? What if our faith fails? If faith fails then it is an indication that it was not a valid saving faith (1 John 2:19). The genuine believer will persevere by the reality of God in his life with the perseverance of the Savior!

Suddenly you say out loud, “Jesus Christ is risen!” If anyone hears that divine “post”, it is likely they will hear parts of the original message, depending on where they are within their Faith Journey. The truth is that all who have not heard or understood this gospel message will have a chance to believe it. God will resurrect them to physical life and give them the opportunity to believe and inherit eternal life! Will they hear its message as if it were a lecture on morality or preachy? Rather than living a life that is aligned toward God and others, human sinfulness directs our life inward, toward self-justification, self-gratification, and self-promotion. Yet the gospel is not difficult to understand with the help of the Holy Spirit. The problem lies within us—in our spiritual blindness or our sin nature. If there is a resistance in the heart to loving God, there will be resistance in the mind to knowing God—and therefore to listening to and seeking God. I say, “Can the truth set us free”? The key to our mental garden. If so turn it over to Christ. A fabulous super computer,” our mind the battle ground of the soul”.

According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

Everyone seeks some kind of freedom. Especially in today’s world, freedom is the highest virtue, and it is sought after by all who are, or consider themselves to be, oppressed. But freedom in Christ is not the same as political or economic freedom. In fact, some of the most harshly oppressed people in history have had complete freedom in Christ. The Bible tells us that, spiritually speaking, no one is free. In Romans 6, Paul explains that we are all slaves. We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. Those who are slaves to sin cannot free themselves from it, but once we are freed from the penalty and power of sin through the cross, we become a different kind of slave, and in that slavery, we find complete peace and true freedom. 

Far from being oppressed, the slave of Christ is truly free. We have been set free from sin by the Son of God who said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Now the Christian can truly say, along with Paul, “Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). We now know the truth and that truth has set us free (John 8:32). 

Can we use social media to love and serve our neighbor?  I think so.  I have seen it contribute to actual, not just virtual, friendships.  It enables members of a family to keep track of their far-flung relatives.  It can be a platform for expressing sympathy and soliciting prayers.  The challenge is to use this medium in that way, while resisting the badness within us that the medium can also bring out.  This is what Christians have to do with life in general.

When we are in Christ, “we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37) and can rejoice in our Savior, who makes all things possible (Philippians 4:13). In Christ we are loved, forgiven, and secure. In Christ we are adopted, justified, redeemed, reconciled, and chosen. So “Why” did God choose me? He chose you to demonstrate His character. He chose you that you may know Him and love Him. He chose you because He is love (1John 4:8). He is gracious, He is merciful, and He has a glorious plan for you.

In Christ we are victorious, filled with joy and peace, and granted true meaning in life. What a wonderful Savior is Christ!

God Bless You and This Ministry!