What about the Galileans

When I was 18 I worked in the oil fields of Kern County where I would work closely with my supervisor Larry on a daily basis. I was just saved and looked for any opportunity to speak about God's love and Larry's need for salvation. 

 One weekend Larry had the crew and our wives to his house for a BBQ. Using the coals as a metaphor for separation from God then describing Hell - Larry stopped me in mid-sentence asking why God would allow a baby to die with no cause. He told me the story about his sister’s infant who choked on an aspirin and died.

 One day some Jewish men asked Jesus about a tragic and appalling massacre that took place as Pontius Pilot the Roman Governor of Palestine killed a group of Galileans as the worshiped in the Temple of God in Jerusalem, he then mixed their blood with the blood of animals using it for a pagan sacrifice.

 Larry's question, like the question the Jews asked Jesus, was more than disturbing. The conversation with Larry shifted as I explained God’s heart was broken because of the loss of his niece, but it didn’t change his need for salvation and letting the death of an infant, who never did anything deserving of death, stand in his way of eternal life, it would still end in eternal separation from God. The conversation continued for months. I don’t know if Larry ever received Christ as his savior. I still pray for him today.

 One of the great things about Jesus is he has a tendency to cut to the chase…Knowing the hearts of the Jewish men asking about the Galileans were in reality attempting to fuse their lifestyle with being in right standing with God. Jesus basically said “anyone who is unrepentant is still separated from God.”
 Bad things happen in life, at times they are not easily explained or even can't be explained. God is not to be blamed. He understands the pain and confusion some events cause, he is also painfully aware that its only our choice that keeps us separated from him for eternity.

 Entrance into eternal life isn't complicated to understand for a reason. Everything has been done for us and it's a choice to accept or deny the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross removing our sins before a Holy God, or not. Jesus told Nicodemus unless you are born again you will not see the Kingdom of God” Is that fair? It isn't meant to be fair, we don't have a say on the issue. It's yes or no. Our arguments are usually only smoke and mirrors because a yes means submission to God giving ourselves over to God and His ways, saying no to our choices and yes to his. It’s not about the Galileans it’s about us and our relationship with God.

 HE stands at the door of my heart when he calls me, just like he stands at the door of your heart when he calls you. His call for my life is not contingent on what happens in your life nor your call contingent on anyone else because we will all stand before the throne of God alone and he will say “what did you do with my son when you had the offer given to accept the sacrifice he made for you on the cross dying for your sins?"

 It’s all in or all out. 

The decision is eternal. When, not if, we stand in front of God there are no do-overs.

 Say yes today ask to be forgiven for the life we've lived with out God. Ask Jesus to live in your heart and make you new because his blood and sacrifice on the cross are the only remedy from eternal separation from a relationship with God.

Love Looks Deeper

 Mark 10:21

 “Jesus looked at him and Loved Him”.

 I think of the days when I'm expected to do for someone. I’m not sure if the expectations are self-imposed or if they are indeed true. I have often felt like I come up short not living up to those expectations and when that is true the desire is to run for cover fills my mind with a feel of panic. I don’t feel like a leader most of the time and yet the Lord continues to put me in situations and among people who allow me to gain influence, yet I can’t help feel they could always do much better.

 Mark 10:21 speaks of The Rich Young Ruler. Mark writes that “Jesus looked at him and loved him”. I imagine this young man of influence poised himself asking Jesus the all-encompassing question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life”? Did he actually want the answer or was it expected of him to ask such a question in front of those who looked to him as an influencer?

 Jesus knowing all things; and knowing what is in the hearts of men “looked at him and loved him.”
 I’m taken by this statement because I sense a love that is sincere and loves for the purity of love. Looking deeply beyond what words say, I imagine Jesus peering into the eyes of the young man, his heart weighing heavy knowing the young man, the boy inside, like most of us, couldn’t give himself over to the requirements of a yielded heart to God.

 Jesus knew the limitations of his heart. Many times we come to the Lord wanting more but Jesus sees what holds us back even when we don’t. He knows just how far we are willing to go to get what we want, he then asks for more because he wants us to sacrifice what we prize more than him, when we come. Jesus knows where our affections are divided, where the will of God will be laid down as we embrace what we love more than him. His desire is our full affection.

 Hearing the words “One thing you lack” shakes me to the core of my manhood. Jesus knows me intimately; he knows my shortcomings and what I hold like a poker hand. His face is soothing to my spirit when I know “He looks at me and loves me”. He will always call me to an intimate relationship with him because that’s his greatest desire. He gave everything to connect with me.

 The Rich Young Man asked Jesus for the how to book on inheriting eternal life. He was the one who turned away not Jesus.

My heart is stronger because I know even in my short comings His love is steadfast.

 The question that probes my heart is what value do I place on my relationship with him?

 Am I ready to do what he asks, when he asks? Mark 10:21 causes me to think that he is patiently waiting for me to make the right choice, he isn’t impatiently tapping his foot thinking I should know better by now and should have the ability to act on a moment’s notice. He waits as "he looks at me and loves me."

 He stands at the door and knocks, he doesn’t barge his way in. I’m thankful he recognizes sometimes I need a moment because I don’t always do what is expected. 

Thankfulness

 Last month at Discovery Park I had the opportunity to talk to a homeless guy named Robert, my friend of a year now. It amazes me that the more of God’s word we have in the reservoir of our hearts and minds  that he is able to express his heart and mind to us in all situations. He draws from that reservoir ministering to us in each situation.

 Robert is one of the local guys who always shows up for our  Church on the Streets gathering, every Wednesday and every third Sunday of the month. Robert one of the friendliest guys out there. He has usually had too much to drink. The conversation usually stays on the surface, not going too deep. Today was different. God had other plans for Robert today. We sat saying hi to each other and talking about the whereabouts of other men we’ve made friends with. Then the sun broke out through some clouds. Robert made a comment of how good it felt. I was telling him how thankful I was about having the ability to experience God with all my senses. Then I was reminded about the 10 lepers in Luke 17:11-19. Jesus healed 10 lepers but only one returned to thank him for healing them. Robert listened intently as I told him the story. Then I told him about the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. I told him my story, how I accepted Jesus as my lord and savior when I was 18, and how thankful I have been each day since. I told Robert, who was sober as a nun today, how I cared for him, his safety; and for his health. Then I asked if he had ever asked Jesus into his heart the way I did when I was 18. He told me he had. I believe him. I got to pray for him that God would keep him safe and draw him to his heart and into an intimate relationship with him.

 Today was a good day. I looked around and saw others being prayed over. The Good News of Gods loving heart was being handed out today. Prayers were being answered today.

 We are blessed to be trusted to handle the only words that give life to a lost and dying generation. In all our frailty and personal struggles, the creator of the universe makes the choice to put such a treasure in jars of clay. What an unspeakable honor we have been trusted with. Look for every opportunity to give away what has been freely given to each one of us. His love.

I always want to have it in my heart to be thankful for  all things. I owe everything to Jesus and his love for me. His Sacrifice he made in giving his life so I can stand before a holy God and be free from the guilt of a sinful life.

 lets continually fill the reservoir of our lives with the words spoken to us by the Holy Spirit and study the Bible daily.

A Starving Man

 Today was the first day of our awakening fast. About 2 o’clock today I remembered a teaching from Pastor Eddie Rents when he spoke to our men at Man Camp last May. I was craving food that I would probably never eat today. I know 2 o clock sounds pretty wimpy; I agree and have no excuse. Pastor Eddie taught about feeding on the things of God. He spoke about how a starving person will eat anything to fill the hunger and stop the pain they are suffering, even if they are fully aware that what they are eating may harm them. He talked about how we are created with a void in our lives that can only be filled or satisfied with what comes from the one who created us. When we try to fill that emptiness inside our spirit we begin to fill it with the very things that will damage our lives and ultimately destroy us.

 On Saturday Guys Net of Real Life Church, our men’s group, went to Hawk Hill in Marin County. We experienced the sun rising over the Golden Gate Bridge as we dedicated our hearts and the year ahead of us.  I always stand in awe when I get a glimpse into how amazing it is to see the hand of God create a new day with the freshness and hope he places into each one with uniqueness. Like each new day the Lord tells us in the book of Lamentations that his mercies are new every morning and they never come to an end.”

The men who gathered on Hawk Hill reflected on the year that past and expressed a new hope for the New Year in front of us, as we all cried out to God in prayer, dedicating our hearts and our hopes to our God.

 After our time on Hawk Hill we joined Rodger Wong at the SF Mission in the “Tenderloin” area of the city where we bagged up groceries then headed to 4 separate old hotels that serve as subsidized housing for people who have become separated from life as you and I know it. There were three of us in our group who spent our time with one man named Luther, a Vietnam Vet. We shared God’s heart with him. We invited him to a church service that would be held at the mission, we were able to pray with him then gave him the groceries we showed up with. As we were headed down the stairs to leave I turned and noticed him standing watching us walking away. I noticed a look in his eyes that appeared as if he was longing for more time together. I stopped and went back to talk to him for a few more minutes. He told me more of his story about his Father who abandoned him, his brother and mother. He was the oldest. His life was catapulted into adulthood as a young man. He told me about taking on the responsibility imposed on him. I looked in his eyes and realized his life was taken from him, not in Vietnam but in California when he got home. He was 20 at the time. During our conversation I realized he had been starving all his life and was desperately trying to fill the chasm in his life with anything that would stop his pain. Now he just had given up and locked himself away from anything that could bring more pain to his spirit. He claimed to know who Jesus is. I asked him if he realized that Jesus felt and understood the hurt he lives with daily in his heart. With his empty eyes he just looked at me and said he knew God loves him but he isn’t ready for all that church stuff. I was able to pray with him once more and asked the Lord to touch the deep places that had been hidden from the light of his love.

 I wondered today about Luther as I was looking at all the snack food that was being consumed around me. I thought about how I allow myself to get hungry for the things of God and begin to fill that hunger with other things that don’t have the ability to satisfy my spirit but only leaving me with more hunger and a greater need for my King.

Colossians 3:16 says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

As brothers in Christ we have a responsibility to one another, we need to teach and admonish each other, we are suppose to sing, ha ha ha, yes sing, psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other. We need to tell each other of the great things God has done in us and shown us.

That’s feeding on the things that will sustain us and the words of Christ will live in us in the richest way and lead us in to the abundant life Jesus came to give us.

Live strong and LEAD

What do you see?

Mark 8:21-26 tells the account of the people of Bethsaida bringing a blind man to Jesus. They beg him to heal the man…after spitting on his eyes Jesus puts his hands on them, then asks the man "what do you see?" The blind man says, "I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

 As we experience life, when we find things pressing in on us and become overwhelmed by unfavorable circumstances, we often miss God whispering in our ear, its normal to not recognize what he is doing in our lives.

 The blind man was able to see after Jesus touched him, even though he had been touched by God he remained unable to see clearly. Like the man in Mark we don't see clearly the changes God is making in us because he may choose to do things in ways we don’t recognize.

 Paul tells us in Philippians 3:13-14  we are to "forget what lies behind and strain toward what is ahead of us", we are told to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us toward heaven in Christ. Forgetting all things good and bad so we don’t get attached to anything on earth, because we don't belong here but with God in Heaven. Don’t expect God to do things the same way all the time. Today’s fire is not found in yester days ashes.

 The beauty about God is he always tells the truth. He always does what he says; and he can always be trusted. He always wants what is best for us.

 Grab on to the idea of not holding too tight to an experience or thinking life will always be lived the way we expect it. When we make the decision to live intimately with God his plans may be different. His ways and thoughts are always higher than ours and he always knows what he is doing.
 Oh when he says he is a jealous God, he means he is jealous when it comes to anything that takes us away from that intimate connection with us that he loves so much.

After Jesus touched the blind man’s eyes a second time he was able to see everything clearly.
 Don’t give up before the touch from God happens that will make all the difference.

 Instead of looking for the cure to what ails us, look for and at the physician who has the cure to what ails us.

Jars Of Clay

Today was a good day at Discovery Park Church On The Streets.

The faithful Discovery Park team was amazing as usual with their bright loving smiles and inviting hello’s when greeting everyone.

 I have the blessing of being one of the members who gets the privilege of talking with everyone who lives in the park. These have truly become our friends. It has been an interesting transformation from ministry to a relational interaction at Discovery Park.

 Today I had the honor to speak to two men, Bob who I met for the first time today and Robert who I have become friends with over the past year.

 Bob is a Vietnam Veteran. He told me he still has problems staying inside due to his problems with Agent Orange exposure. He just feels more comfortable outside. As we talked he told me he was married and had two sons. He lost his wife, he didn’t tell me how. He lost one son who died in Afghanistan who was a Navy Seal. His other son died in Iraq. Bob also told me he and his wife use to work with displaced kids. Who were homeless for one reason or another. He told me how the two of them loved changing the lives of lost children who had nowhere to go and no hope. I was moved. There was a sincerity of heart. He looked deep into my eyes, almost piercing through, as he told me about how he and his wife were almost like shepherds and guardians for the children they loved and worked with. After his wife died that all came to an end.

 He told me about how he was spit on and scorned when he came back from Vietnam. How he was so confused that he and other men who put their lives on the line to serve their country were treated like they were the enemy and not heroes when they came home.

 The conversation I had with Bob had some amazing sagas to it. It had the makings of a good auto biography or even a short film. But there was one thing missing. As he related his experiences there was no life to his stories. I don’t think Bob was fabricating anything, I just believe he was tired .

 He told me he suffered loss from the Agent Orange exposure in Nam, now with one lung, and one kidney. He also told me he was an Army Ranger so he was tougher than the Agent Orange and it wouldn’t get the best of him. Bob was empty in side. When I asked him if he ever went to church he said he wasn’t ready yet. I was able to hear Bob’s story today and interject that God indeed loved him through all his life’s situations he described to me, that the Lord was with him through the atrocities he endured through war, the loss of his wife and both sons. How he was able to experience the heart of God being expressed through him and his wife as they reached out to a hopeless situation when they helped the homeless children. So he could hear of the love God had for him today. Bob acknowledged my remarks. I was able to pray with him before he left and I believe the God of love touched a man who got caught up in the hardships handed out by life, and I am firmly convinced that God in his infinite wisdom touched Bob’s soul today. Bob will think about the things we talked about.

For that I am grateful to the Holy Spirit.

 I also talked to Robert today, my friend of a year now. The sense of thankfulness carried through from my conversation with Bob. It amazes me that the more of God’s word we have in the reservoir of our hearts and minds God is able to go from one conversation to the next, both unrelated and he draws from that reservoir ministering in each situation.

 Robert is one of the local guys who always shows up for our COTS gathering, every Wednesday and every third Sunday of the month. Robert one of the friendliest men there. He has usually had too much to drink. The conversation usually stays on the surface, not going too deep. Today was different. God had other plans for Robert today. We sat saying hi to each other and talking about the where abouts of other men we’ve made friends with. Then the sun broke out through some clouds. Robert made a comment of how good it felt. I was telling him how thankful I was about having the ability to experience God with all my senses. Then I was reminded about the 10 lepers in Luke 17:11-19. Jesus healed 10 lepers only one returned to give thanks. Robert listened intently as I told him the story. Then I told him about the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. I told him my story, how I accepted Jesus as my lord and savior when I was 18, and how thankful I have been each day since. I told Robert, who was sober as a nun today, how I cared for him, his safety; and for his health. Then I asked if he had ever asked Jesus into his heart the way I did when I was 18. He told me he had. I believe him. I got to pray for him that God would keep him safe and draw him to his heart and into an intimate relationship with him.

 Today was a good day. I looked around and saw others being prayed over. The Good News of Gods loving heart was being handed out today. Prayers were being answered today.

 We are blessed to be trusted to handle the only words that give life to a lost and dying generation. In all our frailty and personal struggles, the creator of the universe makes the choice to put such a treasure in jars of clay. What an unspeakable honor we have been trusted with. Look for every opportunity to give away what has been freely given to each one of us. His love.

Happy are the feet of those who bring good news.  

Creative Thought

I have a friend in Church who referred to our minds and hearts as a reservoir. Her statement was “We need to fill our reservoirs with God’s word.” That was the first time I heard that term regarding to storing God’s words in our hearts. That’s the perfect term because that is exactly what our minds and hearts are. We store knowledge and experiences in our hearts and minds, from there God will minister to us and others through us. Daily life is then lived out,  then new things and experiences are gained.

 Our minds and hearts are designed to be like a reservoir. Whatever we take in we speak and live out. If we store God’s word in our hearts meditating on it we will begin to live it out. God knew that when he said “study to show yourself approved’ and ‘out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”, because a man will draw out of his heart what is stored up in it, either good a or bad.

 I recently read an article about creative thinking from a business blog. I won’t go into detail about what the author wrote but I do want to express some thoughts about what the Lord revealed to me through it.

I don’t want to ramble on so I’ll get to the point.

 In John 10:10 Jesus speaks about life in abundance. The term abundance reflects different ideas to all of us. So for argument sake let’s use two definitions for abundance.

Abundance from the Free Dictionary by Farlex on line:

a·bun·dance  (-bndns)

n.

1. A great or plentiful amount.

2. Fullness to overflowing

Abundance from the Greek New testament:

per-is-sos'     Adjective

Definition

1.               exceeding some number or measure or rank or need a.            over and above, more than is necessary

 So why am I writing about abundance and creative thought, joining them in the same article? Because one leads to the other. I found that when there is an abundance of life in me, when God’s word is alive in me, according to Colossians 3:16, joined with a balanced amount of service that I am involved in (James 2:14 -18.) Then comes creative thought. God is amazing for many reasons. I love that that he gives creative thought when we spend time with him and in his word. God is very relational. When we are in a relationship with God he loves to share his heart with us showing us his creativity in what he has made, things we see and what we don’t see. According to John 16:13 God placed his Spirit in our hearts for the purpose of showing us what is in his heart. God isn’t selfish and doesn’t have a cloke and dagger relationship with us. He wants us to know him and the things he loves. He gave us 5 senses because he wants us to enjoy what he has created. He knows what speaks to each one of us. According to Psalm 39 he knows each of us intimately because he created us uniquely as indivuals who relate to him. That’s why he calls us personally. The call to be born again into new life is never a corporate decision but always a personal decision.

·        We read and study God’s word, filing the reservoir of our hearts and minds.

·        We meditate on it by talking about what we have in our reservoir with God (prayer) and each other (fellowship).

·        We play out what we are learning by putting it into action (James 2:14 -18 and Matthew 28:19.) 

·        God’s Spirit moves his word 18 inches from head to heart and we begin to see it through revelation Ephesians 2:17.)

·        God’s words become alive in us according to Colossians 3:16 and our relationship with God is transformed to more than just words we hear on Sunday morning in church and become personal.

·        Life becomes abundant with the richness of more experience and revelation, my wife calls this a flowing cup, she draws that term from Paul in Philippians 2:17.

 That is when creativity comes, through great thought and action. God begins to drop his thoughts in our minds and hearts. This is the place that great ministries are born, books are written and art is expressed through the very expression of a relationship with the maker of all things. All gifts come from above. There are no wrong gifts just miss guided gifts. Depth and abundance comes from relationship with God who knows us intimately because he created each one of us uniquely the way we are. He alone knows the depth of each heart.

 Abundance and creativity go hand in hand but not in a way that is expressed by a void of a relationship with God who burns to lalvish his love on us and through us because he all about relationship, he always has been and always will be.

Abundant creativity comes through him and having a relationship with him. It’s never too late to get started.