Marriage

   On the heals of World Vision releasing a statement that they will now allow those that are unrepentant LGBTQ's to work for them, as long as they are professing Christians, there has been statements flooding social media and other venues. It truly seems that the church in America has truly given over their thoughts and desires to all manners of evil. If we cannot even stand up to call out a "Christian" organizations wrong doing, then how on earth can we witness to those that are unbelievers that we come in contact with? I have seen statements that there is "unclear translation issues" within our versions of scripture, that we "just need to love everybody", and "it is so great that this organization is being more open minded".
   First, scripture is very very clear on the issue of marriage and family. In fact, it is one of the clearest topics that are laid out for us in scripture. "And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:3-6 ESV) This is a passage where Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and they are trying to trap him into saying that divorce should be allowed. Yet, it still clearly states that a man leaves his family, and then hold fast to his wife. There is a pretty clear picture hear of who is involved in marriage.
    "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
         But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." (Ephesians 5 ESV)
   This passage deals with this issue right to the core. How is it that so many Christians think that those who are LGBTQ are those who fit in the second half of this passage as correlations to Christ and the church? They do not at all, for again scripture clearly states that it is a man and his wife, they are one, and are a correlation to how Christ interacts with His church. Those that are practicing unrepentant LGBTQ individuals fit into the first half of this passage. They are the sexually immoral that must not be named AMONG us. It does not mean that we cannot talk about such issues and how to pray or care for those individuals, rather we are called to witness and bring the gospel to those in need every day. However, it does mean that those who are sexually immoral should not be named as one of the number of the church of Christ. Why do I say this? Well, it is because of this passage. Paul tells us that we (the church) and the relationship we have with Christ correlates to the way that a marriage and a family should work. Therefore, when the church allows sin and sexual immorality to creep in, does it not distort this correlation that has been created with the church and Christ? If these things are not to be permitted with the church, then how can we say that by allowing those who practices these such things into the "church" is the right and loving thing to do? Does it not say in Romans: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.
For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." (Romans 1:16 - 2:16 ESV)
   It seems pretty clear to me that this passage is laying out that the sexual immorality that Paul talks about in Ephesians may in fact not only have to do with adultery, but also with those who commit sexual acts that are outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. Paul says right in this passage that it is unnatural and that those who do such things will receive "the due penalty for their error." Paul is not merely saying that they will receive a slap on the wrist here, but rather when you read this whole passage of scripture, there is God's wrath being poured out upon them. I for one, take that to mean exactly that. When God pours out His righteous wrath on people, it is not welcoming and comforting. It is painful and filled with suffering. When someone does what this passage says, that they know what is right and then they still don't do it, the consequences are not pretty. "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."(James 4:17 ESV)
   So, in closing. World Vision is not being more open minded, they are not being more loving (for if they were being loving, wouldn't they tell those who are dying in sin that there is an escape, that there is a savior who died for those who believe, rather than merely approving and accepting what they do?), and they are not searching deeply into translation issues. These are all things that people come up with so that they do not have to deal with the just and powerful God who is almighty and jealous for Himself. The God who when unrepentant sinners die, He sends them to hell. He fulfills His promises and does not take lightly to those who ignore what He has commanded. We need to pray long and hard for those who are lost in this world, and yet, that does not mean that we need to open our arms and welcome them into our midst without any call for repentance. As John the baptist said, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near." He did not say to those with whom he spoke, come God loves you as you are, no need to change from your selfish ways. No, he spoke with boldness and righteousness that those who did not repent at the coming kingdom of God, they were the ones who should fear death and it's consequences.

Love For a Lost Group of People

     I recently finished working on a project that I have been working on for a few years now. I had been talking with friends about the differences between the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church. It amazed me that so many people that I talked to knew very little, or nothing about what the Roman Catholic Church actually believes. Upon realizing this I went on a quest to find documents from the Catholic Church that stated what they believe so that I would not have to use my own words to summarize what they believe, but rather could merely point others to their own documentation of their beliefs.
     The results that I came upon were even more disturbing than I had previously even known. There are many statements that they make within their own catechism that directly go against passages of scripture and create a false doctrine deceiving those who truly desire to know Christ and His truth. Due to my findings and this desire for others to know what they truly believe and base all of their teachings upon, I decided to take points from their catechism and refute them with scripture. This link will take you directly to the work that I have done on the issues at hand. If anyone would like further discussion on these issues, please feel free to contact me. Also, just to let you know, the contents of the link will probably take you quite a while to read, since it is quite long.

Truth

   What do we think of when we hear the word truth? What thoughts come to mind? Is it something that is scholastically learned through hard studies? Is it something can be proved? Is it something that can be taught? Or maybe is it something completely different from these other things, or a combination of them all? I would like to look at specific sections of scripture to see what it has to say on the topic. Many times we think of truth as something tangible and to be grasped, but what if there is more to it than that.
   "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7, ESV)
   "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." (1 John 1:1-4, ESV)
   "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me." (John 8:31-45, ESV)
   "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." (John 1:14-18, ESV)
   "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:11-14, ESV)
   These are a few of the verses that discuss what truth is, does, and contains. Many people have heard the saying "the truth will set you free". Many people who do not even believe in God or trust Him for their salvation. Yet, they hear this saying and they know at least part of what it is referring to. They take it to mean, that if you have wronged someone or lied to someone or something like that, then if you tell the truth it will take a weight off of your shoulders and cause you to feel better. That has nothing to do with where that saying actually came from. Instead the verses where this is talked about clearly discusses the way in which the Jews were so mad at Jesus for claiming that they were not children of Abraham and therefore slaves. It has nothing to do with feeling better, but rather the state of someone's soul. Until Jesus reigns within your heart and mind, you are lost, unable to find truth.
   Why can I say this? I can say this because Jesus said clearly "Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me." This stings to the very heart and lays out what the issue is when dealing with the idea of truth. People believe that they know the truth and have an infinite amount of knowledge that they can draw upon. Yet, they forget the greatest factor in knowing truth. They forget it's source!
   One way to think about this would be to have access to the greatest river of the purest water ever tasted by man. People could drink of this river and feel refreshed to the utmost. People would travel for thousands of miles to come to the head of this river, to the very spring that fills it to overflowing. Then, over time this river becomes a thing of "normal" occurrence. The people begin to channel the river to all parts of the world, creating life and pleasing taste for all who come in contact with these branches of the wonderful river. Over time the whole world has been touched, even if just the slightest sense, by this mighty river. People begin to become complacent and to forget that there was a time before the rivers refreshing taste. People begin to attach different rivers to their water sources, trying to gain a greater access to better water. They combine the pure river with smaller ones that have impurities and lesser quality tastes. They have problems with what to do with the water after it is used, and therefore begin to add drains further downstream so that those furthest away from the spring have the most polluted water. This continues on and on and on, until children are told the story of the purest river in the world, as if it were a mere fairy tale.
   The fact is, this is where truth has gone. Jesus is the truth, the way to salvation, the life giving source, that refreshing cool drink. And yet, the world has taken His words, the Truth of scripture, and turned it into the most disgusting waste. Yet, at the same time that they have turned it into such awful waste, they continue to drink and use it to try to "convince" others that this Truth (water) is the most pure and wonderful that there is. How can this be? How can people be expected to see the beauty and purity of the living water, when it no longer resembles it in the very least?
   And yet, even though this water has been diluted in such a way that it no longer even resembles its true state, there is hope. When someone dilutes a river, or a stream, somewhere hidden away from all these distractions and dilutions, the Spring, the Source still exists. We may have to walk through the most disgusting and polluted water that could ever be to follow the river to its Source, and yet when we do, we find the most amazing and pure tastes and life that we could ever imagine. It no longer has an oily or putrid taste, but rather a smooth and refreshing one.
   This spring, this life source that I have been talking about, is Jesus. He is the savior of the whole world, and the only way to salvation is through Him. Now, He no longer dwells upon the earth in human flesh. He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. However, He did leave us with His word. The Bible. And with His word we may begin to understand and grasp this life giving water. To see more clearly in this murky disgusting river that is our world. Without scripture, The Bible, we have no way of knowing truth.
   It is with that in mind that I challenge everyone to read the Bible, to search it to see if their church is doing the things that they should, to see whether they are being fed properly, or whether they are drinking the most vile water/food that could be had.
   There are those "churches" that claim to be feeding their congregations Truth, when in fact it has been so diluted and polluted that it no longer even resembles the Truth. The Roman Catholic Church claims that they are the proclaimers of Truth, and that those who disagree with them, they cannot be believers of Truth. Yet, they no longer hold to the actual words found with the Bible. They have many beliefs held by their leaders that go directly against scripture and the teachings of Jesus. There are others that would also like to deceive you into thinking that they proclaim Truth. Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Joel Olsteen, Rob Bell and many many others.
   The church of God needs to stand up and declare that all of these people smell. They smell like the sewer that they are trying to push upon people, claiming that it is Truth and worth drinking of. We cannot sit idly by while they take the actual Truth and twist it towards their own purposes and dilute it with the filth of their own ideologies. If something contradicts scripture, it is not true. It cannot be true, for as we read in the passages above, Jesus is the Truth. If he is the Truth, then nothing that contradicts His word can possibly be true.

The Necessity of Afflictions: By John R. MacDuff

                                                         The Necessity of Afflictions

                                                             By John R. MacDuff

                                                           "If need be!" 1 Peter 1:6


What a blessed motto and superscription over the dark lintels of sorrow! — "if need be!" Every arrow from the quiver of God is feathered with it! Write it, child of affliction, over every trial your God sees fit to send!

If he calls you down from the sunny mountain-heights to the darksome glades, hear Him saying: "There is a need be!" If he has dashed the cup of earthly prosperity from your lips, curtailed your creature comforts, diminished your "basket and store" — hear Him saying, "There is a need be!" If He has ploughed and furrowed your soul with severe bereavement — extinguished light after light in your dwelling — hear Him thus stilling the tumult of your grief, "There is a need be!" Yes! believe it, there is some profound reason for your trial, which at present may be indiscernible. No furnace will be hotter than He sees to be needed.

Sometimes, indeed, His teachings are mysterious. We can with difficulty spell out the letters, "God is love!" We can see no "bright light" — no luminous rainbow in "our cloud." It is all mystery; not one break is there in the sky! Nay! Hear what God the Lord speaks: "If need be!" He does not long leave His people alone, if He sees their chariot wheels dragging heavily. He will take His own means to sever them from an absorbing love of the world — to flush them out of self, and dislodge usurping clay-idols that may have vaulted on the throne which He alone should occupy! Before your present trial — He may have seen your love waxing cold — your influence for good lessening. As the sun puts out the fire — the sun of earthly prosperity may have been extinguishing the fires of your soul. You may have been shining less brightly for Christ, effecting some guilty compromise with an insinuating and seductive world. He has appointed the very discipline and dealing needful — nothing else — nothing less could have been effectual! Be still, and know that He is God! That "need be," remember, is in the hands of Infinite Love, infinite Wisdom, infinite Power! Trust Him in little things — as well as in great things — in trifles as well as in emergencies. Seek to have an unquestioning faith.

Though other paths, doubtless, would have been selected by you had the choice been in your hands — be it your to listen to His voice at every turn of the road, saying, "This is the way — walk in it!" We may not be able to understand it now — but one day we shall come to find that affliction is one of God's most blessed ministers — sent forth to "minister to those who are heirs of salvation." There would be no rainbow in the material heaven — but for the cloud! Lovelier, indeed, to the eye is the azure blue — the fleecy summer vapor — or the gold and vermilion of western sunsets. But what would become of the earth if no dark clouds from time to time hung over it; distilling their treasures — reviving and refreshing its drooping vegetable tribes? Is it otherwise with the soul? Nay! The cloud of sorrow is needed. Its every raindrop has an inner meaning of love! If, even now, afflicted one, these clouds are gathering, and the tempest sighing — lift up your eye to the divine scroll gleaming in the darkened heavens, and remember that He who has put the rainbow of promise there — saw also a "need be" for the cloud on which it rests! There is therefore reason for this chastisement, for "Whom the Lord loves — he chastens." Hebrews 12:6. What! God loves me when He is discharging His quiver upon me! — emptying me from vessel to vessel! — causing the sun of my earthly joys to set in clouds? Yes! afflicted, tempest-tossed one! He chastens you — because He loves you! This trial comes from His own tender, loving hand — from His own tender, unchanging heart! Are you laid on a sick bed — are sorrowful months and wearisome nights appointed unto you? Let this be the pillow on which your aching head reclines — It is because God loves me! Is it bereavement which has swept your heart and desolated your dwelling? God appointed that chamber of death — He opened that tomb — because He loves you! As it is the suffering child of the family which claims a mother's deepest affections and most tender solicitude — so have you at this moment embarked on your side — the tenderest love and solicitude of a chastening Heavenly Father. He loved you into this sorrow — and He will love you through it.

There is nothing capricious in His dealings. Love is the reason of all He does. There is no drop of wrath in that bitter cup you are called upon to drink. "I do believe," says Lady Powerscourt, "that He has purchased these afflictions for us — as well as everything else. Blessed be His name, it is a part of His covenant to visit us with the rod." What says our adorable Lord himself? The words were spoken, not when He was on earth, a sojourner in a sorrowing world, but when enthroned amid the glories of heaven, "As many as I love — I rebuke and chasten." Rev. 3:19. Believer! Rejoice in the thought that the rod, the chastening rod — is in the hands of the living, loving Savior who died for you! Tribulation is the King's Highway — and yet that highway is paved with love. As some flowers before shedding their fragrance require to be pressed — so does your God see fit to bruise you. As some birds are said to sing their sweetest notes when the thorn pierces their bosom — so does He appoint affliction to lacerate, that you may be driven to the wing, singing, in your upward soaring, "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed!" "Those," says the heavenly Leighton, "whom He means to make the most resplendent — He has oftenest His tools upon." "Our troubles," says another, "seem in His Word to be ever in His mind. Perhaps half the commands and half the promises He gives us there — are given to us as troubled men." Be it ours to say, "Lord, I will love You, not only despite of Your rod — but because of Your rod. I will rush into the very arms that are chastising me! When Your voice calls, as to Abraham of old, to prepare for bitter trial — be it mine to respond with bounding heart, "Here am I!" — and to read in the rainbow which spans my darkest cloud, "He chastens, BECAUSE He loves!" And He pities, because He loves. A father bending over the sick bed of his weak or dying child, a mother pressing, in tender solicitude, an infant sufferer to her bosom — these are the earthly pictures of God. "Like as a father pities his child." "As one whom his mother comforts — so will I comfort you!" When tempted in our season of overwhelming sorrow to say, "Never has there been so dark a cloud, never a heart so stripped and desolate as mine!" Let this thought hush every murmur, "It is your Father's good pleasure!" The love and pity of the tenderest earthly parent is but a dim shadow — compared to the pitying love of God. If your heavenly Father's smile has for the moment been exchanged for the chastening rod — be assured there is some deep necessity for the altered discipline. If there are unutterable yearnings in the soul of the earthly parent as the lancet is applied to the wound of his child — infinitely more is it so with your covenant God, as He subjects you to these deep woundings of heart! Finite wisdom has no place in His ordinations. An earthly father may err — is ever erring; but, "as for God — His way is perfect!" This is the explanation of His every dealing: "Your heavenly Father knows you have need of all these things!" Trust His heart — when you cannot trace His hand! Do not try to penetrate the cloud which "He brings over the earth," and to look through it. Keep your eye steadily fixed on the rainbow! The mystery is God's — the promise is yours. Seek that the end of all His dispensations may be to make you more confiding. Without one misgiving — commit your way to Him. He says regarding each child of His covenant family, what He said of Ephraim of old (and never more so than in a season of suffering) "I do earnestly remember him still." While now bending your head like a bulrush; your heart breaking with sorrow — remember His pitying eye is upon you. Be it yours, even through blinding tears, to say, "Even so Father!" For he does not afflict willingly. In our seasons of trial, when under some inscrutable painful dispensation, how apt is the murmuring thought to rise in our hearts, "All these things are against me! Might not this overwhelming blow have been spared? Might not this dark cloud, which has shadowed my heart and my home with sadness, have been averted? Might not the accompaniments of my trial have been less severe? Surely the Lord has forgotten to be gracious!" No! These afflictions are errands of mercy in disguise! "He does not afflict willingly." There is nothing capricious or arbitrary about your God's dealings. Unutterable tenderness is the character of all His allotments! The world may wound by unkindness — trusted friends may become treacherous — a brother may speak with unnecessary harshness and severity; but the Lord is "abundant in goodness and in truth." He appoints no needless pang. When he appears, like Joseph, to "speak roughly" — there are gentle undertones of love. The stern accents are only assumed— because He has precious lessons that could not otherwise have been taught! Ah! be assured that there is some deep necessity in that all He does. In our calendars of sorrow we may put this luminous mark against every trying hour, "It was needed!" Some excess branch in the tree required pruning. Some wheat required to be cast overboard to lighten the ship, and avert further disaster. Mourning one! He might have dealt far otherwise with you! He might have cut you down as a fruitless, worthless cumberer! He might have abandoned you to drift, disowned and unpiloted on the rocks of destruction — joined to your idols! He might have "left you alone" to settle on your lees, and forfeit your eternal bliss! But he loved you better. It was kindness, infinite kindness — which blighted your fairest blossoms, and hedged up your way with thorns!

"Without this hedge of thorns," says Richard Baxter, "on the right hand and on the left — we would hardly be able to keep the way to heaven!"

Life: Impactful

     What does it mean to live a life completely sold out for God? How do we know when we are doing this? I think that the answer is simple. When God is our everything and only thing, that is when we know that our whole being is purposed for God's purpose. As I sit in my office listening to the new Shane & Shane album I am amazed by the people that say that they never have an opportunity to share the gospel with those they come in contact with. To be able to listen to music created by such wonderful musicians is a blessing, and then to be able to play such music within my office for every student who comes in to hear is one of the greatest blessings that we have in this country.
     Shane & Shane's new album has a song on it called "You Loved My Heart to Death". What a beautiful picture this is. We were born with a heart of stone, one that hated (or still hates if you are not a Christian) God with everything that it had. Yet, God reached down to us and drew us unto His side, gave us a new heart, and now lives and works through US!! It truly is amazing. He loved me so much that He killed me, to live again in His love and grace.
     There are those that say that Christian music is not as well made or of the same quality that secular music is. I would disagree with this on some accounts, and yet on the whole there does seem to be this depth of quality that some Christian artists have a struggling reaching. One reason that this problem exists and the secular realm looks at these artists and laughs, is because they are not living this sold out committed life. They tour the country trying their hardest to look like every secular musician, but with the name of Jesus thrown in there so that Christians will buy their music. Or they go to the opposite extreme, they do not look like the secular artists, but instead they live on milk, and that only skim. They do not delve deeply into the scriptures and sing, actually sing from their hearts what the Lord has been teaching them. They are content to merely live and sing what they have known since they were young or "newborn" and never seem to want to actually see more of Christ on display.
      There are artists that do go deeper, that take on the challenge of actually bringing forth "good" music. And it is not merely from creating a better sound with their instruments, but rather that you can hear their hearts beating with the truth of scripture. "Beautiful Life" They want to sing about it, even if it hurts, offends, or causes people to question. "Power Trip" They are not merely singing the fluff that feels good and causes people to sway with their emotions, but rather they sing in such ways that you want to cry, while rejoicing at the same time. "10,000 Reasons" "Though You Slay Me"  "Heart Problem" You want to jump and run, while wishing you could be carried away on a cloud to the Father. "Over the Sun" "Before There Was Time" They make you want to search yourself and see where you can improve, where you can create more time to be with the Father. "Revelation Song" "Lord Have Mercy" These are the artists that are trying so desperately to revive and renew "Christian" music. "Indelible Grace" They bleed out their hearts each and every track, they reveal their own struggles and trials, even while struggling to hold on.
   I implore you, search for artists like these, they exist in every genre of music. They may be popular, they may not, but search for them! They will encourage YOU to go to the scriptures, to search for Truth on your own, and not merely to feel good inside and move on with your life. Bring the good news to all those that you can, share it anyway you can, and live in such a way that YOU desire more of the Word and God, when that happens, others will see and wonder at the difference.

A Godly Life

      What does it mean to live a Godly life? Is there really a difference between you an me? Why do you think you are so different from me, what makes you better? These are all questions that we as Christians have heard numerous times throughout the years. Yet, oftentimes we answer these questions so awfully. We fail to point to the one that truly is Godly, to the one that makes the difference, to the one that is better than everyone else, we fail to point others eyes to God.
      When a person walks up to us and asks us why we live a certain way, we shouldn't feel the need to make excuses for why we don't work on Sundays (or maybe you don't even use God's given day of rest), why we bow our heads to pray before meals or throughout the day, for why we read the Bible, for why we go to church (isn't it just the same thing each week over and over again), or even for why we celebrate certain holidays such as Christmas and Easter.
      My dear friends, we should be ashamed of ourselves. We think that by offering the same answers that non-Christians do or minimizing the reasons that we do certain things, that should shout forth the glorious wonders of Christ to the world, we in some way can better ease people into understanding God. This is so backwards and so wrong. Instead of making excuses for what we do as a result of living out our faith, how about we stand by them, explain them to a lost world, show them why it is the ONLY way to LIVE. It is not through deception and misguided knowledge that the world will come to know Jesus, but rather through the active explanation of the gospel to those with whom we come in contact with. We cannot sit back and pray that Jesus will work through us, and then when we are presented with the opportunity to share the gospel we run and hide behind some fear that they may no longer like us or hold us in as great of a societal standing. WHO CARES!!! We sure as heck shouldn't!
      There has never been a time throughout all Christianity where the true church has ever been "liked" by all of its fellow man. The church has been persecuted, hated, and despised. Why should we even begin to think that it will be any different for us now? Sure, there are those that will hear the gospel and come to faith in Jesus. That is in fact what our calling is, to lead those souls to the throne of grace. But there will be those that do not appreciate what you say or do as a Christian. It is for that very reason that we must live out our faith. We cannot be ashamed of the gospel. If we are, how will we lead those souls that are called to the throne? Our lives must mean more than merely pleasing the general population of the world. Instead we should be focused on pleasing one alone! Jesus, the Lamb of God, who sits on the throne and the Father's right hand, He is the one that we should be striving to honor and proclaim. "For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." (Luke 9:25-26, ESV)
     This is not merely a suggestion here in Luke. It is a declaration to us that if we do not stand tall and preach the gospel to those all around us, that if we do not live in such a way as to proclaim a different lifestyle, that if we do not act upon the truths that we hold so dear, the one who intercedes for us and holds us in the palm of His hand and gives us life will be ASHAMED of us. How humbling is that. That the Son of Man, ruler of the universe, savior of our soul will be ashamed of those that do not stand for Truth. I do not think that those who truly trust in Jesus as savior will continually fall in this area, if someone does, then the chances are that they were never "one of us". Therefore, let us not fall prey to the snares of the devil. For, it is not easier to brush aside a topic or opinion, for in the end, it will all come down to what we have done for the "least of these." (Matthew 25:45)
   "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." (Ephesians 6:10-20, ESV)

Fatherhood

Many people know September the 11th as a day of sadness and sorrow for what happened in New York City in 2001. However, I will forever remember September 11th for what happened to me this September 2013. This is not to take away from the sadness of events from the past, but merely to express my deep joy.

My day began as each had for recent months with work at the hotel that I worked at. I got home around the same time and was greeted by my beautiful wife. After I got changed and more comfortable, she told me that she had a gift for me. I smiled, wondering what it could possibly be since it wasn't near my birthday or a holiday. As I began to open the package, I began to wonder if it could possibly be what we had just so recently began praying about. To my wonder and amazement there were some little outfits and some pregnancy tests inside. I looked up at my wife, wondering with my expression if it were truly true. To my great joy, she said with a deep expression of joy, "we are gonna have a baby!".

I was so excited and so filled with amazement at God's goodness and grace. Who was I to be given such a gift of love and mercy? I could not wait to tell the whole world of the goodness of my Lord. I know that with Fatherhood comes great responsibility and yet I welcome it with open arms, knowing that if God has given me such a gift as a little child growing in my wife's womb, then He will give me all of the strength and abilities that are needed in order to take care of and provide for my family.


"Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."
(Psalm 127 ESV Bible)