Christianity - A Process and Not a Destination

As I was reading Galatians 5 -6 this morning, I came across the 'Fruit of the Spirit'.

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control"

I am reminded that becoming a Christian (Christ follower) is not a destination. There is never a point when we have arrived. Yet, it is more of a process that is not unlike a traveling. We are always striving toward the perfection of Christ, knowing that we can never achieve it until we are indeed at our destination which is heaven and in His presence.

Don't ever think that a church membership, baptism or other ritual will get you to the point that you are at your destination. All are well and good but they are yet part of the process of traveling toward Christ.

Instead, strive toward integrity by keeping Christ-centered. Paul tells us in Galatians that we can do this by focusing on the fruits of the spirit.... love, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I wrote those on a 3 x 5 card today and will carry them with me. How will you focus your heart on the fruits of the spirit?

Prayer - As Vital as Food and Air

I am studying prayer in my Bible study and it is incredibly enlightening to me. I am learning that it is not an 'accessory' to a victorious Christian life but as absolutely vital as food and air. If that is the case, why do most Christ Followers treat it like a map folded in the glove box?

What follows is some of what I wrote in my devotions today. I am posting it here because, well truthfully I feel that God is leading me to do so. I pray that it will be enlightening to you as you also seek God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit.

Yesterday:
Just an ok kind of day. Governing board meeting and the like. Left my wallet @ home so it was a day without meals until I got home. My mind just kind of existed and I didn't have any formidable conversation with God. And I feel it too… my spirit's fuel tank is running on low. All I wanted to do when I came home was to sleep.

Bible Study:
Studying about the 'process of prayer'. It starts with a 'broken and contrite heart' (Psalms 51:17). God will only hear my prayers and will only be open to my conversation with Him if I am of the right mind. This is why confession is towards the front of any prayer. ACTS A-adoration, C-confession, T-thanksgiving, S-supplication. This is not a magic formula but it is vital to approach a perfect God.
Romans 12:2 'Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.' The 'renewing of my mind' involves prayer.

Billy Graham says "It is apparent that prayer, when prioritized in the Christian life, is the difference between thriving Christians and struggling Christians. If you find yourself struggling, take a close look at your prayer life. In doing so, you'll rediscover the key to growing stronger in your faith." Wow, yesterday was perfect example of a 'struggling Christian' kind of day… blah, no direction, and it affected every part of my day! Prayer should be as necessary to me as breathing and eating… an necessary and vital part of my life.

Prayer:
God, my Lord and my Savior, you reign supreme. Nothing occurs without your knowledge. It all becomes confusing to us when we see things happen because you have allowed mankind to have free will. We question 'why' when we see suffering yet you provided free will to allow us to love you. Forgive me, Lord when I let my free will just allow me to coast through the day without acknowledging you and asking you for direction and guidance. Forgive me for not just communing with you throughout the day. You want to guide me and yet I treat you like a road map left in the glove box. God, please forgive me. God, I come to you with a heart and mind that yearns to be led by you. Holy Spirit, please take my hand and guide me today.

God, I have been feeling overwhelmed this week. You gave us such a wonderful time of rest and reflection last weekend in North Carolina and Tuesday hit me like a brick wall and it has been that way all week. Each day drained me a little more and now it is now Friday and God, I am tired… out of fuel. I know that it is because I have not been pulling up to your 'fuel pump' to be refreshed and refilled via prayer. Forgive me, God.

So many things are on my mind regarding the farm and how to make things happen. The fencing for the hogs and the sheep fold, walling in the shelter to create a lambing shelter, a barn, a way to pay for it all. God, if it weighs me down, it is obviously because I am not giving these concerns to you. God, I am sorry and ask for forgiveness. Help me to learn to become a victorious Christian through prayer. Not for my glory but for yours.

Thank you, God for loving us so that you gave your one and only Son for us. Thank you… Amen.

Sheep

I sit here this morning looking out over our sheep thinking of how David did the same thing 3000 years ago. They depend on us for food, water, and safety. Alone, they are helpless and destined to die prematurely due to starvation, dehydration, disease, or predator. We are also the same in God's eyes. Yet, he does not fence us in but allows us to have free will to come and go from under his protection. It is amazing to watch these guys in this lush pasture reaching through the fence because I guess 'the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence'. Without fences, we as Christ Followers can do the same if we do not have our eyes on our Creator.

Spreading the Gospel is Not an Option

I went to my first 'Missions 101' class at my church last night. My church is big-time into missions and sends people constantly around the world on short and long-term missions. Although these trips many times are designed around a building project or whatever, the primary purpose of all missions trips is evangelism... spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:19 says "go..." and it does not make it optional. Whether my mission field is local with someone I meet today or global via an Operation Christmas Child shoebox or a trip around the world, I am to spread the Gospel.

Until now I have always thought that I'll spread the Gospel when I am trained and yes, I should work towards that goal but I can still use the knowledge that God has given me to spread the Gospel today also. A person that I meet today may die tonight! If I do not allow God to reach them through me, their eternal life may be spent in hell! Oh my...

Today is the day of salvation. Christ Followers, today is the day to spread the Gospel. God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and strength (1 Timothy 1:7 - 12).

Today is the day.

In God We Trust

As I read news of 300 people being laid off from Piper Aircraft in my little town of Vero Beach, Florida, I am reminded of the motto that is on the coins and paper money in the United States of America.

"In God We Trust" is something that our eyes probably glance on every day. Do we REALLY trust God though. Sure, it is easy to say that I trust God during the good times when money is in our bank accounts and we are healthy. But what about when the money is short and there is no job available? Do we continue to trust God in the same way?

The Israelites HAD to trust God for their daily provisions when they were in the desert for forty years, they had no other choice. Can I do the same? Am I called to do the same EVEN when I do have a good job, bills are being paid and my family is healthy and happy? I believe that we are indeed called to trust the same way.

I have to admit that it is difficult though and as we read Exodus, it was hard for the Israelites then also. That does not diminish what I SHOULD be doing. God, help us in our unbelief that you will provide... that you will sustain... that you will provide a way. God, please come to the point of our need.

Making the Most of Today

I’ll be finishing Kirk Nowery’s book, Make the Most of Your Life today. It is a very interesting book that is not like the time management and life management books that are on most bookstore shelves.

Kirk speaks of making the most of your life from an eternal perspective as a Christ follower. He stresses Jesus’ words about how we need to be viewing even the mundane daily activities from an eternal perspective.

I know that this is how I should live and it will be an interesting exercise as I look at my waking hours and the things that I think, say, and do. You see, I ‘know’ that I should operate in this manner but knowing and putting into practice are many times two different things.

This will involve commitment to give my life to God as I wake each morning then following through on my devotions and time to study the Bible and spend time in prayer (conversation) with God. If it is a weekday, I then will need to look at my schedule and my to-do list and ask God if I need to make changes that will better accommodate what He wants me to do. Then as I go through the day I must be open to His direction which may seem like detours to me. This will be hard at first as I tend to get ‘tunnel focus’ looking only at what I have before me. I must do a better job of not only expanding my vision but also expanding my audible senses to hear others and God.

Are you also trying to ‘Make the Most of Your Life’ using God’s perspective instead of your own? Tell me about your experiences. Maybe we can encourage each other along.

Blessings to you as you journey out today!

Christ Follower or "Christian"

I was catching up on Facebook this evening and ran across a post from an Associate Pastor of a United Methodist Church. His comment was "how sad" he was that the voters in Florida chose to limit marriage in the state to between only a man and a woman.

People, it is time to stand up and start to confront people like this! They are leading their flock to HELL by teaching false doctrine and picking and choosing what they wish to present as fact from the Bible.

I believe the WHOLE Bible from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation... every word... EVERY WORD is inspired by God. If I choose to throw out even one sentence, what gives me that right? If I pick and choose, why can't someone else? If we all did that, what good is the Bible to anyone?

Listen and listen up good. I'm angry and SICK AND TIRED of 'pastors' and 'ministers' that are tearing apart the Bible. Watch out for the label "Christian" as it means little in today's society. Lots and lots of churches have church members that use the term Christian very loosely yet have little interest in following Christ by believing the ENTIRE Bible.

If your church is not preaching the entire Bible from the pulpit, run away quickly! This sort of false teaching is rampant in our country and becoming more so by the day.

We are in the end times, time is short. Are you a Christ Follower or just a "Christian"?

Get Up Off of Your Duff and DO Something!

Some call it an epiphany, I just call it waking up and smelling the coffee.

I got the message from God yesterday that I have been thinking too much of ME lately and not enough about Him and what I need to be doing for His Kingdom.

You see, I've been plagued with tension headaches for the past four weeks. They usually come in the late morning and little medication takes them away. It has been a cycle that has created an 'oh, woo is me' attitude that has placed my eyes on me instead of on God.

It is time that I change that. It is time that I lay these headaches at the cross and get back to God's business. Time is short and I have so much to do. OK, today I move forward and get off my duff!

I heard a great quote yesterday and it applies here. "We need to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death." (Mark Batterson Wild Goose Chase) As I sit here writing this morning, the sun is just about to rise above the horizon. My heart is beating and my lungs are breathing in and out, therefore God has given me purpose for today, He has a job for me to do.

What is your purpose of life? Is it to focus on yourself or to focus on others? Please take the time to reply and I would like to see your views.

Are You Watching? Do You Notice?

I just spent the first 30 minutes of my day the way that I do every morning. I have set up RSS feeds to scan newspapers across the United States and around the world. I like to review the news this way as it keeps me on focus and I'm not bogged down by articles that just really don't make a difference in the long run.

One of my RSS feeds happens to be Joel Rosenberg's blog (joelrosenberg.blogspot.com). He mentioned that since the summer of 2005, 4200 rockets, missles and mortars have been fired at Israel! All while the U.S. and other countries do basically nothing! What would we be doing if it were Canada firing into Chicago or western New York? This is just amazing to me and is spoken so much of in the end-time prophecy of Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation... No one comes to the aid of the Jewish State.

I also read of Putin's progressively aggressive stance to the countries that used to be under control of the USSR. His retoric is also aimed at the European countries and the U.S. All the while, Putin has had very cozy relations with Iran.

All of this is ratcheding up in real-time. Are you watching? Do you notice? Most importantly... are you in prayer?

Time is short and there are SO many who are not Christ followers. I don't mean 'Christian' either, I mean 'Christ followers'. The term Christian means close to nothing in the United States except that the person professing that they are a Christian know that God exists and that someone walked around several thousand years ago by the name of Jesus who called Himself 'Christ'.

Time is short and we have do not have time to 'play' Christian. Spiritual warfare is running rampant and we must be diligent and solid in our stand for Christ. I am a Christ Follower. Please join me in prayer for salvation for unbelievers as well as fortitude and strengh for Christ followers as they stand solidly and firmly on the Rock of Salvation for what they believe.

Is my Spirit in Control of My Body or Vice-Versa?

In reading Paul's first letter to the believers in Corinth, I have come upon some interesting information. 1 Corinthians 9:27 is a little strange in the NIV. It starts out by saying 'No, I beat my body and make it my slave...'. I have to admit that this did not make any sense to me 20 minutes ago.

Reading the same verse in the KJV makes more sense. 'But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection...'. NOW I am starting to see what this means. I keep my body under the control of my spirit. This is directly in opposition to how the world operates. Listen to most any conversation at work or on campus, you will hear the person speak primarily about his body - about his financial concerns and recreational pursuits, his occupational goals and physical needs. (This is from Jon Courson).

Now that I am a Christ Follower though all this is turned upside down. I am to constantly place the wants, needs and pursuits of my body (my flesh) under the control of my spirit that is one with Christ Jesus. This is something that I have really been striving for lately.

One way that I have found that works for me is a change of mindset. I have changed 'I have to...' in my mind to 'I get to...'! An example for me is that starting this past month, I have made it a practice to get up at 5:30 every morning to dive into God's Word and to just spend time with God. I started out with the mindset of having to get up and it was a drudge. Lately though, I have noticed that I jump up out of bed (mind you knowing that my automatic coffee maker already has the first cup ready). I GET to spend the first several hours of my day with the Creator of the universe! What an awesome opportunity! My body (who wants to keep on sleeping) is not in control or 'on top'. I have my spirit in control of this situation. It is not always easy and I have a LONG ways to go but this is a start.

I now see Matthew 6:16 more clearly when thinking about this. Jesus does not say "IF you fast (abstain from food)" but "WHEN you fast". He knows that part of keeping our bodies in cheque and under the control of our spirit requires discipline on our part. Taking time to abstain from eating to instead spend that time praying for others. Getting my tired body out of bed at 5:30 because the King of Kings and and the Lord of Lords wants to commune with me personally.

I will strive TODAY for my spirit (under God's authority) to be in control of my will, my personality, my emotions, my all. Tomorrow morning, I will strive for the same goal.

The End of a Christian Nation - Apathy

I feel that the end of the United States as we know it is close at hand. To read and hear quotes from the founding fathers of this nation is to understand how much our fathers were devoted Christ Followers. Oh yes, you can find the one here or there but they are very rare.

Today, we have a nation that is blurring the lines of morality for its own pleasure. It is interesting though that I do not feel that the end of this great nation is at hand due to satans work outside of the church in the hearts and minds of unbelievers. No, the end of this nation falls on the responsibility of those that are warming the church pews on Sunday but living like this world the rest of the 6 days and 23 hours. Apathy among Christians will be the ultimate downfall of this nation.

As I spend more time in the Bible (THE WORD OF GOD), I am more convinced that there are very few 'grey' areas that are open to interpretation. There are a few... but areas such as homosexuality vs. sex only between male and female, sex outside marriage, evolution vs. creationism, only ONE way to heaven vs. only believing in a god... these are very, VERY clear.

Christian people are you listening?!? This nation is heading towards hell as we sit back on our rears and do nothing! Stand and be a Christ Follower! From 2 Timothy 1:7-8 in the Holy Bible, Paul is saying to Timothy "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God (speaking of the Holy Spirit), which is in you though the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. DOES THIS SOUND LIKE "SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING???"

I am sick and tired of people telling me that my faith is a personal thing and I should keep it to myself. Yes, it is personal but that personal relationship to my God gives me an intense desire to see the lost with the love of God. I can't just sit back and watch them tumble towards hell. I must do SOMETHING. Please join me...

Will There Be A Tomorrow? TODAY IS THE DAY!

I was reading in Matthew 24 this morning about Christ's second coming. We are to be on our guard. to be vigilant in our watch. But not only that, we are to be tending to the responsibilities that God has placed in our care. I believe that that means that we are to be always tending to the the souls of the people that God has placed within our circle of influence. How will I minister to them today? How can I show God's love? How can I tell them that time is short and that He will come again SOON to collect His children unto Himself? We are told that as birth pains increase in intensity and come at closer intervals.... so will the signs showing the second coming of Christ. Wars, rumor of wars, earthquakes and other natural disasters will increase. Godlessness will be rampant. The elect will have their eyes on Israel looking forward to His second coming.

I don't have time to mess up today. God has given me today to serve Him and I will do so with all of my heart and with all of my strength.

Finding the Gifts in Everyone

I am struck this morning as to how we as individuals in our society in America look and thus treat others around us. We see some people as 'important', we see others as 'busy', we see yet others as 'worthy'. But how does God see us?

The Bible in so many verses tells us how much God loves us and cares for us as His children. I am a father of two so I can understand that feeling. I love my daughters more than words could possibly ever express. It is a gut thing... nothing that can be placed into words. If God loves each of us in that manner, shouldn't we at least attempt to view others in like manner?

How often do we see someone in a job that we consider menial and say to ourselves 'they probably deserve it'. Other times we get upset with someone and think to ourselves 'wow, how dumb are you... you can't even do that'.

How dare we as followers of the one true God and savior, Jesus... How dare we treat HIS children in that manner. My heart breaks for those whom society sweeps to the gutter. The thing is through... I am guilty of doing the same. God, please forgive me.

I can think of a family where there is a lot of talent except for one. "Why can't you be like your brother or sister?" is the common phrase for that one. He doesn't know why he can't be like them... he only knows that he isn't them... God made him unique with special gifts of his own.

I can think of how upset I got with a checkout clerk at a local store because she needed the bar scan to enter a sale in the cash register. "I told her the price... that should be enough", I thought in my mind. Yet, she is trying to the best of her ability to do her job as she was trained. God also made her unique with special gifts of her own.

Shouldn't we be all about showing the love of Christ to others so that they will want what we have found? Shouldn't that love be shown in acceptance at least of the person (but maybe not their actions if they are contrary to God's Word). God loves them as a child of His. As Christ followers shouldn't we do the same?

God, help me to be more sensitive to those around me. Help me to approach others seeing them through your eyes. Help me to show them your love. God, help me to be the man that you have called me to be.

Today is New Day!

What a crummy week I've had. I've been low on self-esteem all week and my heart has just not been in sync with God and what He has been calling me to do each day. I'm not sure why but I do KNOW that I should no be striving to get my 'self-esteem' from this world. Even my loved ones will let me down on occasion. We are all human... it happens.

My self-esteem should be coming from God and God alone. Luke 13:22 - 28 speaks about the narrow door. There are so many that think that 'being good' will get them into heaven. Others think that church membership or warming a pew seat on Sunday morning will get them into heaven. It is ONLY a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that will lead you through the narrow door.

It is time that I get off my duff and stop having a pity party for myself. People are dying everyday without a relationship in Jesus. They are thus condemned to an eternity in hell... eternal separation from God. I cannot let this day pass without being obedient and sold out to God and being responsive to His leading.

Today is a new day...

Focusing My Heart

I have been attending a conference for work that has placed me out-of-town and in a hotel for the past several days. My schedule (I'm a routine kind of guy) is all out of whack and other than getting up at 5:30 am, everything else is out of kilter. On top of that, I have not walked outside to breath fresh air since the time that I arrived which was 10:30 on Wednesday morning.

With my schedule being different, I also find my focus on my study time in the Bible and my dependence on Christ being different. That should not be the case and I know it. Why does that happen? I so want to be focused solely on Christ and in doing so I know that the world around me will fall into place.

I should not be looking for excuses though but should instead be looking for opportunities to do the things that I do better. My wife often comments about my routines and I know that I put too much emphasis on them. God doesn't call me to a routine life but to a challenging and exciting life. I need to look for the opportunities that He places before me and then TAKE them.

Am I preaching to myself? Sounds like it. Charlie, take this opportunity where God has placed you (me) and use it for His glory. Yes, it is different. OK, show Him how you will take that challenge and run with it.

OK, God. I think that I get the picture but I need your strength. Thanks for being there for me. I want to glorify You today.

Loving the Lost

I learned yesterday how important it is for all of us who consider themselves to be followers of Jesus to be reaching out to the lost around us no matter where we are or what we are doing. In Matthew 27:37-40, Jesus sums it all up.

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind'. This is the first and greatest commandment. And
the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'. All the Law
and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

In our churches in America it is so easy to just wander in and wander out week by week and never reach out to those around us. But look at the second command above... if we are to truly love our neighbor (those around us in the work or social setting), shouldn't we be concerned for their eternal destiny? Remember good works doesn't cut it. They can be a 'good' person in the eyes of society and yet be heading straight down the path of eternal damnation. Do I care? I better if I truly stand on the commandments above.

God, today show me how I can reach out to someone around me. I don't want to do this under my own power though and certainly not for my own glory. I want to be obedient to You. Please open the doors and give me a gentle nudge to act... to love my neighbor as myself.