Jesus The Light Of The World

Colossians 1:24- 28

Paul's Labor for the Church
24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

We have been called into the ministry to help those who cant help themselves. To bear with those who cant carry their own load. We have been called to edify the church, to bring the lost to the gosepel of Jesus Christ, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, weep with those who weep. We have been called to lead, direct, and manage. Not to let people stay comfortable, but rather to work with them as they find out all that God has for them in Jesus Christ.

This can become frustrating and make us angry when we find great seeds that only need to be pushed into the right direction and they would rather stay in their comfort zone. They would rather be around people who bring them down, rather than lifting them up. When we find people like this who want to fight us on every suggestion and every move we must remember that we too where once like this. It has taken my pastor years to get me to the point where I will grow, where I will listen to him and where I will be obedient to his discipline and correction. I always wondered why he was so “mean” but it was not that he was being mean to me; it was that he wanted to help me avoid the mistakes and scars that he knew that I would face. He didn’t want me to hurt and to live with the guilt, disgust and shame that I now live with. My pastor loved me enough to talk harsh to me because he knew that in my weak and immature mind I didn’t have the knowledge and foresight to see the enemy coming and his attacks.

For us who have been on the battle field a long time we must remember to be patient with the new soldiers. To remember that they want to follow God, love people and have a heart for leadership and the church like we do; but we also must remember that they can’t see the enemy around the corner. So when they walk into the fire, we must remember to be here for them and it’s not about saying I told you so- it’s simply about accepting them where they are on their journey.

In time God will do the same for them as he has done for us; but in the meantime we must not get mad at their anger and resistance- rather we must remember that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, and continue to pray for them and when they come to the right side of the tracks to be here for them. We work, we toil, and we put up with all the junk not because we have to but because God has called us to love people even when their unlovable.

Don't Throw The Baby Out With The Bath Water....

When I hear my so called conservative friends talk about their love for America and its values I don’t doubt that they are looking at this seriously I just doubt if their not agenda motivated rather than people motivated. I am not a fan of Nancy Polisi or Barney Frank but I am also not a fan of Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney. Extreme is bad on both sides. Anytime you have people saying that others can’t be involved unless they agree with you on everything it becomes dangerous. Nancy Polisi says if your not for universal health care than your not a democrat and Dick Cheney says that he doesn’t want people like Colin Powell and Megan McCain in the republican party. You want to talk about control, communism, dictatorship and taking away a persons choice of freedom and the right to think and believe what you want: there we go.

Here’s the fact even in our own camps where not going to agree on every little detail, but we can agree not to throw the baby out with the bath water. This summer I had written several articles on health care and the right to life that I think will help real conservatives, like myself, well I am more of a libertarian conservative I guess, get back into office and help take America where we ought to be. But before I get started I just wanted to mention something that I think is fact. About the some of our presidents:

1. Barack Obama- Moderate Socialist: I honestly think that President Obama has a good heart. I am proud that we have a African American in the white house. I look up to him and he helps me to realize that all my dreams can come true if I am willing to fight hard enough for them and take the heat. But I really think that himself and many Americans believe that socialism is the best government policy. I think that we need to stop using this word as a bad word in a country where freedom of speech and belief make up the foundation to who we are. I believe that God allowed His son to die for my sins and I don’t want to be beaten down for that so I don’t see why we can’t have an honest conversation with people who believe in socialism. It’s a government policy idea that some countries have. People believe that the government will take care of the country better than the private sector does. They believe in a even playing field for everyone and no competition. I don’t believe that Obama is a bad guy and I know that his motives are from a good place, it just so happens to be a socialist place. Ted Kennedy was this way, Hillary Clinton has some of these beliefs; so why can’t we just talk about it, we can and we will disagree with it, but we should be free enough to say what’s really going on. I don’t think Obama is a bad guy, I just know he is a Socialist and it’s a fact- Like it or not- and we can all no matter where we stand love and pray for our president.


2. George W. Bush- Center Left; He governed from the center 90% of the time. But most of his big mistakes was when he went to the left: Iraq, Bailout, increasing government. He was center in many of his things, but we have to admit George Bush was no conservative. He put his Jesus Card up when he needed the votes, but as soon as he was elected he didn’t call for another four years.


3. Bill Clinton- Liberal; Bill Clinton is a fair minded Liberal; he believed that government was suppose to be a support system to the poor and stay out of the areas of the private sector that worked. On national security he was a true blue liberal. And in many ways I think that him and bush are alike because they paid a lot of people off to keep quiet.

4. George H.W. Bush- Libertarian: Do what you want just leave me alone. This guy has to be my favorite. He really just wanted the private sector to do its part and the government to do its part. He made some slips along the way, but I don’t think he has been given as much credit as he deserves when it comes to his attitude about government and the private sector- leave us alone and we will leave you alone.


5. Ronald Reagan- Big Tent Moderate: this man literally had Colin Powell and Dick Cheney working for him. Now that’s genesis. He has conservative kids and liberal kids. We wanted all options on the table. Conservative, liberal or moderate and it didn’t matter which one was what he wanted to do the best thing for the nation. Ronald Reagan didn’t care if you where Christian or Jewish, Gay or Straight, Male or Female, Black or White, Conservative, Moderate or Liberal. He wanted the best people with the best ideas at the table.
I think this is accurate- you may disagree but that’s ok you have the right to be wrong- LOL.

I want to jump in again and talk about some of the problems that we seem to be facing when it comes to the health care debate. I think that both extremes of both parties have High Jacked the health care debate and have taken it to places neither side can afford to go. I want to bring things back to the center and try to get things done.

If democrats are going to do the right thing, they must tell Nancy Pelosi to step away from the table or to claim her fire down. It’s the democrats in the house that are KILLING obama. Their making this man and this country look like fools. There not keeping with the spirit of Ted Kennedy. We all no that our health care system needs to be fixed, but we also must remember that there are a lot of great things about what we have now. If where going to fix things these are the steps we must take.


1st we must start telling the truth about how many Americans aren’t covered. Its not 47 million Americans. Its only 15 million. 17 million of those people not covered are illegal immigrants from: Canada, Germany, Mexico ext. That right there takes you down to 30 million. 10 million of those people don’t have full coverage health care like: dental, hospital, prescription; they are just covered to go and see their doctor. And then five million people it is estimated wouldn’t even get coverage if they had to. So now where left with 15 million Americans. It is 305 Million Americans and 70% of these people have health care. And out of that 70%, 55% are happy with what they have. So 15% of American are unhappy with there current health care, plus we have another 15 million Americans who aren’t covered. Should we completely scrap our entire system for government run health care when about 70% of it works. I don’t think so. I think that we need to fix it put not throw it away. So here’s my plan.

a. Every American regardless of pre- existing conditions should be able to get health care. Let the private insurers compete for business against each other, not against the government.

b. Lower prescription drugs cost, doctor cost and hospital cost for senior citizens by 20%.

c. Provide free health care for children who live in single parent low income homes or who are being raised by a low income relative or guardian.

d. Change the rules for health care companies. Give solid. No nonsense rules to them for incentives and benefits if they lower the cost of their monthly services. If people pay less then the companies can receive rewards.

e. And allow prescription drug companies to compete across state lines and for “Off brand” prescriptions companies to compete in the market as well.
With these cut is cost and improvements I think Conservatives, Moderates and Liberals should be able to agree. This will help save us trillions of dollars in debt and restore faith and confidence in a government that seems to be getting bigger and a lot less interested in everyday peoples needs.

I Could Be Wrong But I doubt it ;)

He Is.......

Do you remember what it was like. He loved you past yourself. Cared for you unconditionally. Looked you in the face and you knew He was actively listening. He let you talk. He let you feel. He let you be who He had created you to be. He didn’t judge you. He didn’t make assumptions, He was just there.

Do you remember what it was like when you heard they were going kill Him. You knew He was innocent, you knew He hadn’t done anything wrong. This kind, gentle, loving, healer. This one who took away your sins. This one who gave you purpose, promise and permission to be yourself. This man, rabbi, messiah, savior, and friend.

You saw what happened when He raised Lazarus from the dead. The joy of two grieving sisters. The amazement of a doubting crowd. You’ll never forget the emotion of the woman who was healed who had been suffering with the illness of blood for 12 years. Her relief, her joy, her happiness that she once again was made whole. She had struggled for 12 horrible years: rejection, fear, anxiety, loneliness, having her named ruined. And in a moment this indescribable man took all that away.

He feed 5,000, He walked on water, He forgives sin, heals diseases, opens blind eyes, calls people to leave everything behind and follow Him. His mother was a virgin, His father is the Creator. He is worshiped by angels; He commands the seas and controls the weather. He is constant, never changing, omnipresent, omnipotent, He was there in the beginning and He will decided when it all in the End.

John 1 (The Message)
John 1
The Life-Light
1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
in readiness for God from day one.
3-5Everything was created through him;
nothing—not one thing!—
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn't put it out.

If Your Looking

As humans we have a natural thing called reaction. When we are hurt we react, when we are sad we react, when we experience joy, we react. We react to things physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. We react by putting walls up or by letting them down.

We react honestly, sacrificially, and sometimes without knowing that we react. I think that apart of maturity is knowing how to control your emotions. There are so many levels to emotions and we are all wired in so many different ways that its sometimes hard to figure out what path we are on and if where coming or going. But what happens when you don’t know what to do. When frustration meets anger. When pain meets promise. When difficulty meets pleasure. What happens when you find yourself staring at the sky and not knowing why? When you find yourself praying prayers to God and lost in emotion. What do you do when you feel like you can’t feel anymore. When yourself tells your heart one thing and your mind and discipline are on another path. Where do you go when advice won’t get you there, knowledge can’t teach you enough and wisdom is only gained through experience?

This is the road less traveled. This is the hard road. This is the road where you can’t rely on people, promises or even history. This is the road that requires the hardest attribute: trust. You have to trust when you can’t see. You have to trust when you can’t know. You have to trust when ALL of “this” doesn’t make sense. When what you thought was going to happen doesn’t. When what you prayed for fails. When that hope that was shining so bright begins to dim faster than a speeding train. When everything crashes and you’re left to be the hero and to save not just the day, but the moment. When you’re left to look yourself in the face and tackle the obstacles. Maybe we have been lead by anxiety, pain, fear, or a grudge.

Maybe we thought through it and it was not what we thought. Maybe we prayed and moved before we got an answer. Maybe all of our maybes have crossed paths and left us with confusion. Our heart and mind have communicated, but the path was not designed for the direction. We must sit. We must trust and we must know that God in His sovereignty is Good. God is Good. That is our promise. This is our hope. This is the way that will lead us from the tangled and strangled confused “it”. My heart bleeds. I put up a wall. My heart cried. I walked away. I lost my trust in the right, and it left me with a chip on my shoulder. Then you came and now I don’t know what to do.

I have not prepared myself for this. I don’t know how to react to this. I didn’t expect these feeling to arise. I have tried to put this fire out. I don’t even want to go there because the first cut it the deepest. This is where I sit. This is where I take a breath. This is where I will stop and pray and wait and listen. This is where you will find me if your looking.

Here I Am.

God Write Kindness On My Heart....

Romans 12:18 (The Message) 17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

In the examination of the heart I would argue that it is most important to examine ones on heart first. We must look at the depth of our own sin. How we have left disgrace towards God. How we have brought shame on His glory. How our attitudes, words, and actions would leave the sinner to reject God. We are the worse ambassadors for God because we are the ones who need Him most. This confession will lead us to repentance and forgiveness in God.

When we look at the book of Romans Paul comes close to systematically giving us religious views. In here he screams out to us how we should treat our neighbor. We must become sacrificial in everyway. From our actions, to our words, to our thoughts, to our prayers. EVERYTHING WE DO, must be sacrificial when it comes to our neighbor because that is how Christ was for us. I have personally thought about my own sins and for me I know that if I was a not a believer and looking at myself I wouldn’t want to be one; how this must grieve the heart of the Savior who has shown me show much grace that it should change my life and make me a different person. I think about myself, I pray for myself and I seek God for myself rather than for my neighbor.

As Christians we must be determined and motivated to get along with EVERYONE, and we must remember that words count and that they have an affect. I don’t care how “strong” you are someone can say something that gets to you, and we must remember that feeling when we speak because that same pain that we feel, we can also be guilty of making others feel; O how this must break the Saviors heart that we would speak with praise and worship out of our mouth and then in the next sentence we can be cruel and rude to the people who He has created and died for.

There are many things that I pledge to myself not to do or to seek God for and I hope that God will train my lifestyle to help me to become a nicer person and a kinder person and a person who submits fully to the will and . To stand when I need to stand but never at the cost of hurting someone else or blocking someone from submitting to the Lordship and to the Grace of Jesus Christ.

I wonder if the Church of Jesus Christ and His Believers (His ambassadors) acted like we had been washed in the blood of a Kind and gracious God, if we lived like we have been born again and we have heaven waiting for us in the next life, if we have a personal and daily relationship with Jesus Christ. We talk to God. The God who created and listened. The God who killed His own son for the sins of the World. This God lives on the inside of us. If myself, and Christians all over lived like this, would the world really be stuck in a wondering state or would they too desire this amazing grace.

O God forgive me for I know not what I do…..

A Fast Update

WOW- I can’t believe it summer is already gone and I am now embarking upon a new journey for my masters program. Midwestern has been a blessing in many ways but it has also been crazy for me in many other ways and starting this new semester I have found myself experiencing the crazy ways of this Seminary. But I believe that God will prevail and that His majesty will be displayed for all to see. Lately I have been thinking about the difference between the permissible will of God and the perfect will of God. And I am praying if which camp I am in. I wonder if you can ever get back to the perfect will of God after stepping off course. I am not really sure about this concept. Also I am trying to figure out how you know for sure which path you are on. I think that we all feel at times inadequate and confused even in the “OK” moments of life. I think that for the Christian we tend to put our hope in God and know that whatever happens next He will be in control of it. But what happens if you unintentionally step off track. What if your intentions and direction are meant to glorify God, but you make the wrong choice. Yes God is absolutely sovereign and in complete control and everything is for His glory and to exalt the name of Jesus Christ, but what happens if you misinterpret God’s will for your life at a particular moment.
This summer was great I took some classes, and that’s where the whole crazy part of this school comes it- LOL. I went to Louisville I got to see Zach, Derek, Whit, Kevin, Andy and the crew- it was pretty much amazing; I wish God would call me back there, maybe He is, but I am not sure. I have to make many more trips back there this summer. Its always fun visiting family.
Well I don’t have really anything exciting to say….. So Be Blessed and May God Guide All Your Steps

My View On Michael Jackson Death......

One of the regrets I have in life is always the stereotypes and prejudices that I have placed on people, regardless of the reason. I now say to people when I hear them judge “don’t spit up in the air, because it just might come back down and hit you in the face”. We look at the governor from South Carolina who aggressive attacked and sought for the dismissal of President Clinton in the nineties after President Clinton had an affair, and now ten years later this same man who was spouting hate and calling for the Presidents head, is facing his own battle with an affair that caused betral to his children, wife, state, political party and country.

Yesterday we lost an American music icon, Michael Jackson died of heart complications at the age of fifty. He changed the way music was heard, perceived, and produced. His hits, awards, and musical accomplishments are too long to list. At some point in all of our lives we have been affected in a good way by music, and for his adoring fans, his music changed their lives. We don’t have to understand or agree with everything about a person to emphasize with the family. Today a mother has lost her child. Three children will never hug their father again. 9 brothers and sisters will only have the memories of their brother to hold on to. Anytime death happens, there is a since of sadness and remorse that reminds us that maybe we should have done something different to reach out to the person who is now gone. Now is not the time to focus on the negative, and if we are talking about the negative of this man’s personal life it was decided by a group of his peers who found him NOT GUILTY for the accusations that had been charged against him. Regardless of what you may think, a court and jury said he was innocent; legally that is what we must accept.

The charge really isn’t to the world, but rather to the believer. Our hope is heaven, God’s destination and in times of confusion, pain and anxiety, we know who the best pain killer is: His name is Jesus and the blood that flows from Emmanuel’s veins can radically change a person and make us open our eyes to God’s unconditional love. In death the believer finds victory. In death the believer finds Hope and Rest. In death the believer lays down their burdens and sees Jesus Face to Face. Now is the time for the believer to get loud and tell people of this absolute great hope and promise that is a fact. We celebrate the creators mind for giving Michael Jackson the ability to create, and in that we speak about the creator, Jesus Christ, to those who don’t know him. Remember: “Don’t spit up in the air, because it just might come back down and hit you in the face”.