Many people do good things . . . .

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”(Romans 10:9-11)

These are very familiar words to most born-again believers today. To be a follower of Christ, truly saved from sin, one must not only believe that Jesus is who He claimed to be, but we must not be afraid to speak about it. In fact, we are commanded to share our belief with those whom we encounter and lead them to a relationship with the Savior. We are live in such a way that shows others what a Christian is and how a Christian should live. We also know what we have come to label as The Great Commission. Read it carefully. These are Jesus' words to every believer, not simply the early disciples:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”(Matthew 28:19-20)

It is not enough to be saved . . . We are not seeking fire insurance! We are saved to do good works, so those who see us will glorify our Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) Many are mistaken to beleive that we do good works to be saved . . . NO! After giving ourselves over to Christ, the residing Holy Spirit spurs us to live for the Lord. Many people do good things, however, only what one does for Christ is of any real value. Please do not be fooled. There is only one way to eteral life and only one way to live for the Savior while we are on this earth. Jesus paid it all for us . . . we must in turn commit to live for Him . . . despite the struggles, the rejections, and anything else that comes with the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ!

As I remind myself daily . . . I am just a nobody!

A Stable Relationship

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 8:38-39)

People just do not trust others this day and age . . . especially yong people. Fathers have abandoned their children. Once rock-solid marriages are on the verge of break ups or already ended. Friends you once trusted have betrayed trusts. Teachers, policemen, coaches, even religious leaders have been found guilty of terrible acts misconduct with those whom they serve. Who can be trusted? Is there such thing as a stable relationship anymore? Thak God for these comforting and trusted words of Paul concerning Jesus! Paul was convinced and so am I, that once one commits to Christ, it is a stable relationship. Jesus will hold up His end of the bargain! We may wander, but Jesus remains faithful. he will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

I have tried Him for myself and know this is true!

It is so important to show people the love of Christ. Working with youth, I have found that they need to experience trust over time. Many have been hurt by those closest to them. If they are to trust a God they cannot see, they must first trust us who know God. We must be there for them to experience God in the flesh. One of mentors would say we must be "Jesus with skin on". Who do we need to be Jesus to today? Who needs to expereince trust, commitment, and dedication? It starts with a smile, a helping hand, a caring thought. It takes time. jesus gives us all the time we need. Will we do that for others?

Reality Check

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:14-25)

If you think we don't sin . . . well we are lying! While it remains our goal as believers to not sin, the reality is that we do. We strive to sin less and less each day, but being sinless has been accomplished by only one . . . Without the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit residing in us as His children, well we are lost! We are hopeless. No man is perfect . . . not one!!! Thank God for His grace. Embrace it. He grants us forgiveness through Christ alone, not our merits. (Ephesians 2:8)Paul knew this well. As great and as zealous as he was for the casue of Christ, he realized he was nothing without grace. He battled sin from within day after day. I too know the struggles. I want to please God daily, but from the moment I open my eyes, I feel the struggle between my will vs. the will of my God. I want what I want, yet I seek to please the One who has resued me from the penalty of sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.(1 John 3:8-10)

I need a serious reality check all day long. Whether I am battling fatigue, selfishness, pride, bitterness, or just plain old laziness, I must decide moment by moment to live for Christ and not for me. How 'bout you?

a series of concussions

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.(Romans 6:11-14)

We can get used to sin. At first, we may not see the consequences. We feel bad, but when we think we have gotten away with it, it begins to feel ok and we do it again. "Maybe it was not so bad", we convince ourselves . . . "perhaps it is ok. after all, everyone else seems to be doing it." Those convincing words of the enemy continue to twist our thoughts today as they did Eve. (Genesis 3:1-6) I have heard sin compared to a concussion. Like the athletes today, the first concussion never seems so bad. They recover and are soon back in the game. However, medical experts have come to realize that a series of concussions get worse and wors and the effects can be deadly. CAT scans and other medical tests are revealing irreversable damage to the brain. Sin too can be easily ignored early on. We do not feel the damage of a little lie and office gossip. A innocent fling with a co-worker or weekend pornography with the guys. We begin to ignore the symptoms and keep doing the same things over and over . . . feeling comfortable and then . . . WHAM! The final blow is struck and the damage has beeen done! Marriages fall apart, children are abandoned, sentenced to jail time, even an early death occurs. Sin is all-consuming. Do not get comfortable with it. Do not continue just because the consequences have not take place. Repent now before more permanet damage is done! Satan is still on the prowl . . . do not give him opportunity to destroy you!

God's 911 Response

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.(Psalm 91:1)

On this day of remembrance, as we recall where we were and what we did when the terrorists struck in New York, the Pentagon, and over the skies of Pennsylvannia, I am encouraged by the 911 response in Scripture. Before disaster strikes, we need to be assured of our protection. However, He is also there when disaster strikes and in the aftermath. The key is to know the Lord and place our hope, our faith, and our future in His hands! I was encouraged to see the churches packed immediately following September 11, 2001. But what about now? The terrorists have been captured and killed. It seems as though we are breaking codes and capturing even more of the enemy every day. But where is our faith? In Whom is our trust? Had my wife not made the decision to obey God's call into full-time ministry less than a year prior to 9-11, where would she be now? She worked in the Pentagon in a location where the plane struck and lost thirteen co-workers to the terrorists' activities. Please be encouraged today that although we live in a sin-sick world and face unknown dangers every day, there is hope and safety in the shadow of the Most High! We can live trusting in His plans for us. We can live despite the dangers we face. More importantly, we can live abundantly with out fear, knowing God is in control! Mnay brave police, fireman, soldiers, and civilians risked their lives during 911 and since for the lives of others. let's live like they did each day . . . risking it all for the lives of others.(John 15:13) Not only is God in control, but He is returning. We should not fear the enemy, we should fear the Lord and be sure we are secure in His hands. We should be sure our childrn know Him. We should live out loud so others may come to know Him!(Mattehw 5:13-16)

Be encouraged . . . be courageous . . . be Christ to a blind world so they may see Him in us!

A Lfe of Leisure?

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:6-8)

Enemies of God . . . you and me! Imagine that . . . If God had not reached down from heaven and sacrificed His very blood for us, we would still be lost . . . destined for an eternal hell. I don't know about you, but I have to keep that in perspective. There is nothing you or I could do in order to be one with God!

Oh, but for God!

While we were still sinning . . . still going against all He is and was, He sacrificed Himself in the form of a human being and made a way for every human being to be one with Him. If He loved us so much while we were His enemies, what does that say of His love for us as His friends? This is why am so adamant about how we live today! How can we casually say we are CHRISTians? How can we flippantly mention God or worse yet, choose to ignore Him? How can we not declare His glory if He has indeed rescued us from such a future as we deserve? No, CHRISTianity is not a walk in the park or a joy ride simply to avoid hell. It is a sacrifical and devotional life to a Living God whom we owe our very existence! As we ponder what Christ did for us, I wonder if we realize that we are now to do it for others . . . sacrifice our lives so they too may be free from the grip of sin. This is no longer a life of leisure. Have we considered the costs . . . Jesus paid it and we must as well!

Guilty . . .with a possibility of parole!

There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.(Romans 3:11)

Sad news for every one of us: No one is good! So if only good people go to heaven, well guess what? No one will get there! Not Mother Teresa, not Mary, nt even the sweet little old lady down the street. No one is good! We all stand guilty before a holy God! The following passage reminds us of our sin nature, yet gives everyone hope . . .

. . .for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood . . .to be received by faith.(Romans 3:23-25)

Guilty, with a possibility of parole: but it is up to us! While each of us is guilty of sin, there is hope for each of us. But it only comes through fairth in Jesus Christ. He alone has provided the way out. He paid the debt for sin on the cross, and we must accept His sacrifice as our only way out. No time for good behavior. No plea bargain. No fancy New York lawyer. It is only through Jesus. He goes before the Judge (God) and declares that I am guiltless because He has paid the price for my sin. His life for mine and at no cost to me. Unbelievable, but true. Because God so loved the world . . . and me! (John 3:16) yes we are are guilty of sin and do not deserve God's grace. But that is exactly what grace is. Yet it must be accepted on God's terms! Where do you stand before the righteous Judge . . . guilty or paroled? Sentenced to death or free to live? Your choice!

Practice what you Preach!

" . . .you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”(Romans 2:21-23

We have all heard the saying, Practice what you preach! Many times we as parents are caugh saying just the opposite, "Do as I say not as I do." Well, while we are yet sinners, we who are responsible with teaching positions (and that is just about all of us)who name the name of Christ must be aware of the example we set. It is not enough to know the Word or even know Jesus as Lord and Savior. We must live it! As people of influence, we must be walking Gospels. People need to see Jesus daily in the way we live. In a world full of phonies and fakes, we need to be true to our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ! Kids especially can point out a phony! We cannot walk around like we are perfect, yet we must set the example. Many times, we show the greatest example of a Christian when we humbly admit our faults and failings. However, we must also show the sacrifices and determination it takes to live according to the Word with success! We must be real. As living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2)we show the reality of Christianity to a lost and dying world. Still not sinless, but striving to sin less and less!

What will we do with Him?

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.(Romans 1: 18-21)

Some may say they do not care about God. Others may even try to believe there is no God. However, as we read here from Paul, the simple presence in nature reveals to each of us His mere existence! Who else could paint a sunset . . . magnificently different each evening? Who else could possibly design a seaside beach, a mountain plain, or island hideaway? Nature cries out to each of us that there is indeed a God! There are no excuses!

The question remains: What will we do with Him?

Some said He is Lord and Savior. . . . others said "Crucify Him!" It is no different today. Some say He is still God while others try to remove every mention of God from the public eye. Some keep Jesus in their pocket and take Him out on Sundays, at Bible studies, and in their private prayers. Very few will stand in the public eye and demonstrate their faith in the Living God.

What will we do with Him? What will you do with Him?

God first

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”(Romans 1:16-17)

Paul had an obligation to God. Realizing what he had been before Christ saved him, he was energized by the opportunities to share Christ with others. Depite the various challenges Paul faced, he never backed down from his obligation to Christ . . . because of his love for Christ! We all love things. We have our personal dreams and aspirations. We have our family relationships and plans for our lives. Yet as good as all these dreams and desires are, none should ever surpass our love for Christ and our desire to do His will. Never should we put God second over our personal or family goals! This is what I believe Jesus meant when he said:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26-27)

God first . . . then everything and everyone else will fall into place!

A matter of FACTS!

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. But he has risen! He is not here! See the place where they had put him. 7 Go! Tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. It will be just as he told you.’” (Mark 16:6-7)

Did Jesus really die? Did He really rise from the dead? Did He rise back to heaven in bodily form? Questions . . .questions . . .questions! But why? In a court of law, eyewitnesses provide evidence to the truth. So why do we not take the eyewitness accounts of so many concerning Jesus' life, death, and resurrection? Is is not just a matter of faith, but a matter of FACTS! Peter stated it.(2 Peter 1:16) Besides the Roman Seal, the empty tomb, an AWOL Roman soldier, and a 1.5 to 2 ton stone being rolled away with no one noticing, there were eyewitnesses to resurrection. We read of over 500 eyewitness physically seeing Jesus alive and well following the burial. (1 Corinthians 15:6) Then of course, we have the disciples; eleven of the original twelve died for their belief in Jesus! People do not die for a rumor, a fairytale, or a hope. They died for what they believe in! Read the book of John. He was the closest to Jesus. He wrote of the FACT that the disciples saw Jesus' hands and side and witnessed the wounds close up. (John 20:20)It no doubt encouraged them and as they received the Holy Spirit(Acts 2:4)they went out and taught, testified, and toiled for the growth of the Church. They died doing just that! So no longer doubt . . . It is a matter of FACTS!