Deal With It

"Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." (Proverbs 10:17)

Everyone has at least one proverbial elephant in the room.

You know... that issue in your life that you refuse to deal with, that will not go away by itself.

Many of us have more like an entire herd of elephants in the room. And some of them are old, wrinkled elephants that have been there for years. We just don't want to deal with our issues and move on with life. It seems easier to just sweep our problems under the rug where we don't have to face them every day.

How's that working for you?

This issue of not dealing with problems affects all people; young and old, married, single, divorced, separated, etc.

And I find that the older I get, the longer I refuse to deal with my elephant in the room, the harder it gets to face up to it, and so I keep on trying to pretend it's not there.

But an elephant never forgets.

That old issue will continue to surface at the most inconvenient times, when you thought you had buried it for good. And it will keep on haunting you, rearing its ugly head, keeping you bound, holding you back.

You have to deal with it.

My mom used to say we have to be peace makers and not just peace keepers. 

Peace keepers sweep problems under the rug and avoid confrontation, thinking that will make for a peaceful home. But the problem with that method is that those problems you avoided will only grow and fester and irritate and inflame until the pressure gets so great that it all explodes in mass family drama.

Being a peace maker means confronting issues.

You have to talk about that elephant in the room that you've been ignoring.

And when you confront a difficult issue, no matter how careful and sensitive and diplomatic you try to go about it, its going to be painful. Its going to make some waves. But you have to deal with it. 

Jesus said:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)

The normal tendency of people in dealing with 'issues' is to confront other people about them, thinking that the "problem" is with the other person...

Ha.

I would highly recommend that before you confront someone else thinking that they are the problem, or cause of your issue, that you get really honest with God, and with yourself, and first examine your own heart. 

What is it about you; about your behavior, your refusal to yield, your refusal to forgive, that might be causing or contributing to this issue or situation?

Do not get caught up in the Blame Game. If you are bitter, blaming others for all of your problems, take that load of junk, put it in a bag, and take it to the street!

Almost always, if we're being honest, God will show us that we are 99% of the problem—not the other person. 

And I can say this truthfully, about myself, from twenty seven years of being married to my wife. Even though it "takes two"... I am responsible for most of our problems and issues. Not 100%. But in the high 90% for sure.

It's because I didn't follow the imperative of Love:

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, is not self-seeking, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:1-7)

Love is not self-seeking.

Love has no personal agendas. Love does not seek to better itself at the expense of another person. Love does not look out for number one. Love is others focused, not self-focused. Love seeks the good of others, and not just its own good. Love does not have to be right all the time. Love says, "I'm sorry, I was wrong." Love forgives. Love sacrifices. Love serves. Love gives. 

Self confrontation is always the best, first step.

And yes. There is definitely a time when you must confront another person about an unresolved issue.

But from what I have learned and experienced, the elephant in the room that must be confronted and dealt with... is usually me.

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:3-5)

Blessings in Christ.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails

Strongholds

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

In ancient times, a stronghold was a walled city; created as an impenetrable fortress to keep one's enemies out.

King Nebuchadnezzar's 5th century B.C. city of Babylon was protected by a brick wall which was 56 miles long, 300 feet high, 25 feet thick, with another wall 75 feet behind the first wall, and the wall extended 35 feet below the ground. Additionally, it had 250 watch towers that were 450 feet high.

However, in the above passage from 2 Corinthians 10, Paul exhorts God's people to demolish strongholds that are not walls made of brick and mortar.

The strongholds Paul speaks of are in the mind—namely; worldly arguments, philosophies and attitudes that exalt themselves above and against the knowledge and wisdom of God.

Over the last couple of weeks, the phrase I've had heavy upon my heart and spirit is; 

"Demolish strongholds."

We know people—particularly some young people—who are in bondage in their minds, because of spiritual strongholds due to:

1.  Lies spoken from ungodly counsel.

2.  Corruption from an ungodly culture.

3.  Deception from ungodly agendas.

One stronghold symptom that hits close to home—on our college campuses—is the use and abuse of a highly addictive prescription Amphetamine called Adderall. Here is what you need to know about this drug.

“Common psychological effects of therapeutic doses of Adderall can include alertness, apprehension, concentration, decreased sense of fatigue, mood swings (elevated mood or elation and euphoria followed by mild dysphoria), increased initiative, insomnia or wakefulness, self-confidence, and sociability. Less common or rare psychological effects that depend on the user's personality and current mental state include anxiety, change in libido, grandiosity, irritability, repetitive or obsessive behaviors, and restlessness.

Cardiovascular side effects can include irregular/increased heartbeat, high blood pressure, or low blood pressure. Other potential side effects include abdominal pain, acne, blurred vision, dry mouth, loss of appetite, nausea, reduced seizure threshold, and weight loss.

Recreational use of Adderall generally involves far larger doses and is therefore significantly more dangerous, involving a much greater risk of serious side effect.  Addiction is a serious risk with heavy recreational amphetamine use. Abuse of Adderall can result in a stimulant psychosis that may present with a variety of symptoms, including paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions.

Adderall is considered to have a high potential for misuse. Amphetamine salts can be crushed and snorted, or dissolved in water and injected. Injection into the bloodstream can be dangerous because insoluble fillers within the tablets can block small blood vessels.”

Someone we know is using this drug and has changed from a bright, joyful young person, into a withdrawn, depressed individual, who appears to have walked away from Christ, and now may be involved in a sexually immoral lifestyle and orientation.

What is sad about our young friend, is that they started taking Adderall after a secular counselor saw them for mild depression and their inability to concentrate, and who then prescribed them the medication. But now they are worse off than they were before taking this drug. When asked by a parent who expressed a great deal of concern over their behavior and use of Adderall, they brushed them off, saying:

"Aw, it's just a college thing."

There are high school and college kids dealing this drug on campuses today because it is so popular. 

Apparently, Adderall is very easy for young people to obtain. You get an appointment with a counselor, tell them you are depressed, and many counselors will write you a prescription for this drug. Our young friend's counselor apparently said, "Please promise me that you will not start selling this drug to your friends." This is a red flag. It's as if this so-called "counselor" already knows what a huge problem this drug is, but prescribes it anyway.

Now, since being on a diet of Adderall and ungodly counsel, the brick wall or stronghold with our young friend is, their mind is totally closed off to the truth of God's Word. They used to serve at their church with joy and enthusiasm. Now, they have stopped going to church altogether. And they glibly justify the use (abuse) of this dangerous drug as "Just a college thing."

Note: An Adder is a deadly, venomous snake, or serpent, both in the Bible and in the English dictionary. Consequently, Adderall is a dangerous drug destroying the lives of many young people today. Interesting coincidence, wouldn't you say?

The serpent—the devil—only comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. (See John 10:10). But Jesus came that we might have life in Him, and that means truly abundant life and peace. And we as Christ's followers have divine power—mighty in God—for the pulling down and demolishing of Satan's strongholds. 

Many people, both young and old, are in chains—in bondage—to the enemy of their souls, to whom they have given a foothold in their life. And once this diabolical enemy gets in, he can quickly turn a foothold into a spiritual stronghold, as he has with our young friend.

Our divine weapons to fight this satanic enemy are Love, Prayer, and the Word of God.

And we cannot remain silent.

If you know someone who is slipping away from God and from their family, and who is giving the enemy a foothold into their mind, get a hold of them, in Love, and shake them out of their slumber, however you can. Don't let them get so far gone that the devil has established a firm stronghold in their mind. It can be very difficult to pull a person back into the light, once they have slipped into the darkness of Satan's deceptions and snares. 

Whatever you do, don't give up.

Keep praying for them, and don't stop. Keep reaching out to them , speaking God's Word to them. 

Love them back to Jesus. 

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

The Selfie

"Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God." (2 Timothy 3:1-2)

The biggest social media site in the world is said to currently have over 1.3 billion monthly users.

That's an astounding 1/7th of the population of planet earth online each month, posting messages, goofy website links, and personal photos, often taken using their cell phone while looking at themselves in the bathroom mirror.

The "selfie" is what this cell phone self-portrait has been dubbed, by the Internet folks who decide what to call these things.

Paul's warning 2,000 years ago, to his young protege' Timothy, accurately foretells today's modern culture. 

"People are going to be self-absorbed."  

I couldn't help but be amazed as I read through the entire passage in 2 Timothy 3:1-2, of how this modern generation falls under each detailed description given by the Apostle Paul.

The following are some interesting statistics I found online while researching for this post.

The people born between 1980-2000 are referred to as the "Millennial Generation."

• [They] are the largest, most diverse generation in history.
• Nearly 78 million were born between 1980-2000.
• On average, they are marrying at a later age, if at all.
• They are the least religious generation in American history.
• 60% feel that government should provide for their retirement.
• They are most responsible for the growth of the video game industry.
• 83% use a computer for work an average of 17 hours per week.
• 20% use their computer for work 40 or more hours per week.
• They use computers for personal use an average of 17 hours per week.
• 28% listed atheism, agnosticism or no preference as their belief system.
• 34% said that no one can know what will happen when they die.
• 65% rarely, or never attend religious or church services.
• In importance: 1.family, 2.friends, 3.education, 4.career, 5.spouse, 6.spiritual.
• 73% chose "Facebook" as their most popular social media site.
• Most listed texting as their primary means of personal communication.
• The majority see nothing wrong with same-sex marriage.

The first thing that comes to my heart about the generation named, is to never insult them by referring to them as "Millennials." 

I hate cheesy, unbiblical labels, as if people are merely some demographic to be labeled, and not human beings. I know I hate being referred to as a "Baby Boomer." What a stupid title. Please don't ever call me a "Boomer."

Over the past several years, I have heard a lot of ideas, philosophies, and methods on how best to reach the young people of the current generation, who, to a great degree, do not seem very open to hearing about Christ. Many of man's methods have not been very effective. They may help you get young people to join your cool youth group, but lasting, transforming change seems mostly absent.

Knowing that God had phropheseid of the perilous times of the resistant culture of our day, Paul wrote:

"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Preach the word of God.

That may not sound very hip or sexy. Many may tell you it is old-fashioned and outdated. Others will try to tell you that preaching God's word "will not work on this current generation." I've heard all the excuses.

But Paul proclaimed, 

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16)

There is power in the Word of God.

The philosophies of fallen man are dead and are powerless to impart life or change in the spirit.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

God's word is alive. It is not just some ancient teaching, showing us how to live the right way. There is power in the Word. And to reach the hearts of people, only the word of God has power to discern the thoughts and intents of their hearts. 

You can argue or debate worldly philosophy with people all you want. But there is no power of God in this.

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul." (Psalm 19:7)

There is no power in trying to wage a spiritual battle using worldly methods.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

The self-absorbed hearts of these perilous times can only be melted and moved by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)

A friend recently told me that young people will not believe you until they trust you. So build relationships and be real with them.

Speak the truth in love.

They don't care that you know, until they know that you care.


—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Living in a Bubble

“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:10-11)

A man from another country, was speaking on the radio of how America is living in a bubble.

Particularly, he was referring to Christians in America. 

He said,

"You are not living in reality."

I've been thinking about this for some time. It's been very troubling. 

According to enrichment journal on the divorce rate in America:

• The divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%
• The divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%
• The divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%

And though these statistics pertain to the nation as a whole, for anyone who has been around churches much, divorce is an epidemic among Christians today.

How can this be?

From what I have witnessed over the last ten to fifteen years, it's because the man who said we are living in a bubble was correct.

Many Christians are simply not living in reality. 

Much of what "Modern Christianity" has wrongly promoted, is the "happy little Christian life" where we supposedly will have perfect marriages, perfect wives, perfect husbands, perfect kids, perfect pets, perfect cars that never break down, perfect houses, perfect yards, perfect jobs, perfect health, never a lack of of money, all of our prayers get answered, and we never have any problems in life. A care-free life with no trials, trouble, or persecution.

The problem is, God never promised this to us.

We're living in a bubble.

What I have witnessed, is, when a bubble-dwelling husband or bubble-dwelling wife have expectations of this perfect, happy little Christian life, and their spouse does not live up to their perfect expectations, they often go looking to greener pastures for another mate who will fill the bill. They are seeking someone who will give them that perfect, happy little life that God never promised.

The root of the problem is the heart.

People who live in a bubble have their hearts set on the things of this world, and not on the Lord. 

The Apostle Paul said:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

A friend of mine often talks about the self-idolatry of self-absorption.

Bubble-dwellers are inward-focused. Self-absorbed. Their entire life revolves around them. They rarely, if ever, see anyone outside of their own context of self. 

A friend told me a story of a man who felt led by the Lord to send a poor woman in Africa a fairly sizable sum of money for Christmas. He didn't know the woman, but learned about her through a local ministry. When the woman received the money, she didn't do what most Americans would probably do, which would be to buy what they needed, and then save the rest for their own needs. No, she bought food for her entire village. She didn't look only to her personal need. She met the need of her entire village.

This really hit home personally. 

Miraculously, the Lord recently provided a generous sum of money for us, to meet our needs, as we were in pretty dire straits, due to a medical issue I have which rendered me unable to work for almost a year. We were so thankful to receive this gift. But I confess, it never entered my mind to share any of this gift with others, because our own needs were so pressing.

But afterwards, when I heard this story about the dirt poor woman in Africa who unselfishly blessed her entire village with the gift she received of the Lord, it really convicted me.

It made me examine my own life... my own heart. 

Do I really need the kind of house and lifestyle I currently have to survive? Am I invested more in this world and the temporal things in it? 

Or are my treasures stored up in Heaven?

The story of the poor woman in Africa changed me. I can't escape the unselfish love and compassion she showed for others. She demonstrated the love of Christ in a way that I can't honestly say I ever have.

Have you?

"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:1-4)

This week as we're in a time of prayer and fasting, my prayer is that God will burst our bubbles. 

I don't want to live in a self-contained world that revolves around me.

"Lord Jesus; make me more like You."

Amen.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Learning To Walk

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)

Do you, or anyone you know, seem like they are stuck in a rut in life? Never progressing, not growing, never able to resolve issues in marriage or personal relationships?

When you're stuck in a rut, you have two choices:

1. Keep spinning your wheels and remain stuck.

Or,

2. Do whatever it takes to get out and move forward.

In your walk with Christ for instance, too many times, people get stuck in a rut when situations, or seasons in their life change, and they can't, or won't, adapt to the changes. And so they sit idle, complaining of, "how good things used to be".

Perhaps the most painful, and helpful life lessons I've had to learn, is that God puts certain people in your life for a season. Some of these seasons are quite long, and others, not so much. Good friends move away. People move on. Situations change.

We get used to wonderful routines in these seasons of life where we come to depend on people, on close friends, to fellowship with, talk to, have coffee, go fishing, or just hang out. Good times. The best of times.

When we are going through difficult trials, our closest friends are right there, going through it with us. We can always call them up and ask, "Can we get together and talk? I'm in deep water and I really need you to pray for me."

But when our close friends, with whom we've grown so accustomed to having close by when we need them, move several hundred miles away, that source of "on call" fellowship is gone. Sure, you can call them on the phone. But it's just not the same as the face-to-face fellowship you once had with them. That particular season you had together where they were close by is over.

And the most painful lesson in all of this, is you can't go back and try to re-create these seasons. They were unique, and wonderful for the times you had them. But God had these people in your life, in your geographic space, only for a season. But eventually, everyone moves away, it seems.

When we shut down and stay stuck in our ruts, when the seasons in our life change, it often indicates that we are too co-dependent on people. On our closest friends. On how things used to be in the good old days.

Instead of being co-dependent on imperfect people, we must learn to become totally dependent on a perfect God.

We have to learn to walk our own walk with Christ.

No one else can walk it for us.

Jesus said; "Without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

I'm convinced that God brings special people into our lives for a season as mentors and godly examples of what it looks like to walk out our own Christian walk, and then He removes them, so that we will then become the wise friends and mentors who help a younger or newer disciple of Christ to learn to walk for themselves.

You can't remain in the same place. 

It's a new season now.

Enjoy it for all God has for you in it. And invite others who need to learn to walk to come along.

It's time for you to become the mentor and leader that God has called you to be.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails

How Great Is Our God!

"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!" (Matthew 24:30)

I cannot wait for that Day!

That glorious day, on which, Jesus Christ; The  King of kings and the Lord of lords will come back to earth, coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory.

And all human beings alive on the earth at that time will bend their knee and bow to Him, and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Do you believe that?

I do. Jesus said it. The Bible records it. And I believe it.

There are no "New Years Resolutions" on my list for 2014. However, what I am doing, is starting off this new year right. My focus is, and always will be, on God, and on how great He is. I trust in Him completely, to manage my life, and to provide for me. He is my only source of peace and joy.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)

I want to share a story from back when I was newly saved. It involves my former musical tastes and my personal CD collection. Around the mid-1990's, I had amassed a fairly large collection of over 200 discs. That may not be a lot to you. But for me it was.

One day after spending a couple of hours listening to some of my old CD's, I could not seem to find anything that moved me the way it once had. I used to perceive myself by the kind of music that I liked. Those styles and genres were what I self-identified with. But as I sat there looking at the rows of discs on my book shelf, it all just kind of felt like dead weight to me now. It wasn't part of me anymore.

Something had changed.

I was not that person anymore. My 'old man' did not exist any longer.

Now, I didn't feel like it would be "evil" for me as a new Christian to listen to my non-Christian music. It's not like it was Devil worship or anything like that. It was popular stuff on the radio at that time. However, it was completely lifeless and worthless to me now.

I simply no longer had any desire for it.

So as I sat there staring at my huge stacks of CD's, I pondered what to do with them.

And then, without a doubt in my mind, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

I put everything in some boxes and went to a music store downtown. They bought a large portion of them for pennies on the dollar. I didn't make much cash, but it sure was great to unload them. And with the short stack that they wouldn't take, as I walked back to my car near the alley, I saw a dumpster, and just felt totally free to toss the rest of them in the trash.

All except one.

I had this one disc that was my favorite. I had learned several of the songs on it. And this music and particular artist was who I most identified with in my "former life." I wanted to write and record the kind of songs that this guy had.

Then, as I was on my way out to see my wife at work to tell her about my experience, as I drove, I kept staring at that one remaining CD that I couldn't quite bear to part with.

After a few minutes of thinking about that CD, and why I did not want to give it up, without hesitation, I grabbed it, and threw it as hard as I could out my open passenger window, at the cement retaining wall of the overpass. That CD shattered into a hundred pieces of silver. It was gone.

Forever.

Now I was really free.

I can't fully describe the incredible feeling of lightness and freedom that I felt at that moment. I shouted for joy like a crazy man as I drove down the highway. A huge weight had finally come off my shoulders. That last little piece of myself that had never really brought me any true peace or satisfaction, had been cast off. I no longer had any desire for that part of my old life—my old self—that part of me was now dead and gone.

And I have never looked back.

Look, I am not judging anyone who is a Christian who still likes and listens to secular music. You're free to do as you wish. If you like Foreigner, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marely, The Eagles, Nirvana, or AC/DC, I could care less. It's between you and God.

But I would like to encourage you to do some soul searching, and pray about it. Do you love music that does not directly bring glory to God? Just think it over. Again, it's between you and God. I'm not judging anyone.

And just so we're clear, this is not some legalistic, "Thou shalt not listen to secular music" rant. I am sharing my personal story here—my personal journey—of what God has done in my own heart and in my life. I am not telling you what you should do.

But, for me... if the message of any music is not clearly about Jesus, or if it fails to totally glorify God, I'm just not interested in it anymore.

And I love it, and am thankful to Jesus, that I have been set that free in Christ that I am no longer bound by the same old stuff that I was bound by in my "former life" (smile).

Again, I am free. Totally, amazingly free! \o/

I remember my Mom once told me that being a follower of Jesus didn't demand that she give up things in her life. Rather, it was that God had set her free from them.

Jesus said, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)

And now I am free.

Here is the first song that God put on my heart for 2104. It should be the anthem of worship to our God, today, and forever more:

"How Great Is Our God."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b69CcVs8pMc

The splendor of a king
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God – sing with me
How great is our God – and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father, Spirit and Son
Lion and the Lamb
Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God – sing with me
How great is our God – and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God



—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

The Slippery Slope

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth" (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

It's been equally frightening and fascinating, to watch the ever-quickening downward spiral of our culture.

What was morally unacceptable to most Americans just a few years ago, is now applauded by the Liberal masses. What was illegal last year, is now legal in some states.

Political correctness is killing our nation.

One thing I have observed over the last twenty or so years, is that as immorality has increased, and has become more culturally acceptable, many people who profess to be "Christian" have begun to approve of, or excuse immoral behaviors (sin) which are explicitly forbidden in the Bible.

And a common denominator among these culturally/politically correct "Christians" is that they have stopped reading and heeding their Bibles. They have turned from God's doctrine, and have replaced it with fluffy, worldly doctrines; "The gospel according to Oprah."

This is the slippery slope—getting away from the Word of God, and slowly incorporating the philosophy of a corrupt, worldly culture into your mindset and way of life. And once you start down that deceitful path, it becomes more and more difficult to return to the truth of God's Word.

God's command of repentance—turning from one's sin and turning to God—is largely missing in the message of modern Christianity.

Don't disgrace Grace.

Under the guise of "love" and "grace" many so-called Christians are playing fast and loose with the Word of God, and are leading unsaved people directly into eternal condemnation. Because they are so afraid of offending people, they refuse to tell them the truth; that God has appointed a day on which He will judge sinners who refuse to repent of their sin.

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

To Repent literally means to "change one's own mind, and to think differently afterwards." Change one's mind about what?  That all human beings are sinners. That each of us have sinned against God. None of us are "good" people. God will judge people according to His own standard of perfection, not according to what we think is good or righteous. 

A common objection to this is people who say, "I'm a good person! I don't murder people or rob banks!"

But in God's perspective, hating someone in your heart is the same as murder. Lusting after someone who is not your spouse is the same as if you had physically committed adultery with that person.

The slippery slope of excusing and approving of people's sin; all so you don't "offend" them, is leading people to Hell. This is not "loving" people. This is not "pointing people to Jesus."

God commands all people to repent of their sin. He doesn't say, "Oh, that's okay" (wink, wink).

Jesus said; "If a man loves Me he will keep My commandments."

I remember the first time I read Acts 17 where "God now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world." 

All men everywhere. 

That's plenty plain. All men everywhere means that all men everywhere are sinners, and have sinned against God. All men everywhere need saving. And all men everywhere who need saving, need a Savior.  

Saved from what?

Saved from Hell.  

I know, Hell is not a popular subject with most people. But that's why Jesus came down here, became a man, and died on the Cross for the sins of the world; because all men are sinners, and we all need saving. Because in God's perspective, we all deserve to go to Hell because we all have sinned against Him.

So when you point someone to Jesus, you are pointing them to the only One who can save them from the eternal Hell they deserve for sinning against God. 

If someone has pointed you to Jesus, you must acknowledge and confess that you are a sinner. That you have sinned against God. That you do deserve Hell. And that God has commanded you to repent, to turn away from your sin, and to turn to Him.

And that is a command from God (not a suggestion). And His command is made in love, because God is Love.

God is going to judge sinful humanity by Jesus Christ, who took your place on the Cross. He died for your sins. He paid the penalty for your crimes against God. He went into hell so you won't have to... but only if you repent and turn to Him.

You can't refuse to repent of your sin and expect God to forgive you. 

If you are a married person who is committing adultery, you are not saved just because you say you, "believe in Jesus" when you refuse to repent of your adultery. If you are a homosexual, you aren't saved simply because you say you "believe in Jesus" but you refuse to repent of your homosexuality. Same applies if you are a thief, if you are a habitual liar, if you cheat on your taxes, if you worship money, if you idolize material things, if you surf the Internet every night looking at pornography, if you are a drug dealer, or if you are sleeping with your girlfriend when you are not married.

A person who has repented of their sin and has turned to God, does not still live a life of sin the way they did before they came to God. You must repent. 

God is Love. But the loving God will also judge sinners.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:18-32)

God doesn't hate homosexuals.

And He doesn't single out their sin as the worst sin, as some people today seem to think. God loves all people everywhere. 

But God also commands all people everywhere to repent of their sin, and to turn to Him. 

If you read the long list in Romans chapter 1 of the things that God includes as being unrighteousness; homosexuality is no more a sin than being disobedient to one's parents is a sin. All sin is sin. And according to Romans 1, approving of someones sin, is just as bad as committing the sin itself. If you are afraid to offend someone who practices homosexuality (or any other unrighteousness), that you excuse their sin, you are actually approving of it. And you're just as guilty as they are, as we see above in Romans 1. 

All unrighteousness is unrighteousness. And all unrepented sin and unrighteousness will be judged by God.

No repentance means no salvation.

When you share John 3:16 with someone, share Romans 1 with them too. 

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.