The Whole Poop!

This blog may turn your stomach but it has to be said…

Growing up, I lived in a County that was known for itsDairy farming. You know, the place milk comes from? Driving by these farms was,to say the least, an experience for the olfactory sense. Ok, the smell waspretty rough…but cow manure can do that.

Did you know that manure is the oldest and most effectivefertilizer known to man? That’s right, as long as man has used cows, horses,pigs etc. in domestic capacities; and as long as man has planted seeds in theground he’s used manure to fertilize his crops. Manure returns up almost 75% ofnitrogen back to the soil; 75% of the phosphorous; and over 80% of the potashthat was taken from the soil. One dairy cow can produce 27,000 lbs. of manure ayear…that’s a lot of poop!

In biblical times, the value was greatly understood. Itwas gathered and piled outside the city gates so its value could be shared byall. If we didn’t put manure back into the soil, our farm lands; our lawnswould soon be depleted of all its nutrients. Nothing would or could grow fromthese areas without it.

What possibly could I relate to you about manure and God’sWord? Paul, what’s the whole “poop” on this blog? Why am I “WASTE -ing” my timeon this subject?

In Mark 14:3 – 9 while he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a manknown as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensiveperfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on hishead. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Whythis waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked herharshly. "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you botheringher? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor youwill always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But youwill not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfumeon my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preachedthroughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory ofher."

Some ofthe disciple thought what she did was a waste! The money that the perfume couldhave been sold for would have provided more funds for the ministry then tosimply waste it on Jesus head. Like the manure, most think it’s just a waste.To the WORLD your service to the Lord and giving of your heart to God is awaste. The WORLD thinks Jesus was pure waste of time. The world thinks we, as Christians,can do better.

Matthew26:8 and when the disciples saw it, they were all indignant, saying for whatpurpose is all this waste?

Even today among Christiansthere can be found much of this spirit that wants to give as little as possibleto the Lord and yet get as much as possible from Him. To some of us, shovelingmanure and storing it would not only be disgusting but a waste of time. Some ofus are reaching to God for prosperity and are actually already standing in hisabundance.

Reaching out is good;reaching for God is good but God has already given you the talents, skills andabilities to claim this. Some things in yours and other people’s lives may seema waste to you. My earthly father thought this way. He considered a lot I didto be a waste. I played soccer which he thought was a dying sport. I loved towrite poetry and he thought that was not only a waste but also not a masculinetrait. I was a Boy Scout and he considered this to be a wasted effort, what prosperitycould I achieve with that?

Well, Soccer is an Olympicsport and watched by millions. Some of the greatest poets were men…Walt Whitmanand Poe for starters. And did you know that 75% of all Astronauts; and 60% ofall CEO’s were Eagle Boy Scouts?

Your life on earth can beconsidered like manure by other…non believers. To some, who you are and whatyou do can seem a waste. But like manure, you have potential to add life andnutrients to those around you. You can grow and help others to grow. Oh and youdo smell….you are “The Aroma of Christ”. What that means is the Satan can’tstand your smell.

2 Corinthians2:14 – 16

“But thanksbe to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession anduses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those whoare being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death (Satan); to theother, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

I’m good with that!!!

 

 

 

Negative Nitwits

My best friend’s family is going through some serious health issues. Why is it, amidst all the doctors and specialists; amidst all the family members and amidst all the friends someone always has to be the negative nitwit? If there is one thing that I can’t stand in relation to tough times– is a negative/critical spirit. Isn’t it best to be positive in all these situations? If you want to upset me, put me in a room full negative Ned’s and Depressive Dee’s….it will drive me nuts!

A Pessimist is someone who complains about the noise when opportunity knocks.

Okay, so here is the bad news, “Expect Negativity/Criticism in this World!” Negativity is an easy trap to fall into. It is much easier to be critical than to be correct. Negativity is contagious. In fact, after being around someone negative, I find myself complaining about their negativity. And, a negative spirit is a lot like that one rotten apple in the bunch; it will spread to the other apples.

Luke 11:14-20 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, “By Beelzebub, a prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against it will be ruined, and a house divided against it will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

Negativity often involves personal criticism. Look at the insult and exaggeration the Scribes used on Jesus. They said that he was “possessed by Beelzebub” - the identity of Beelzebub is found in the Old Testament the name meant “Lord of Flies or Lord of Filth or Lord of Manure (the poop)” and came to be another name for Satan.

Negativity is a choice! It may be easier for some than others, but it is a choice. Negativity is Indicative! Critics often expose more about the critic than anything else. When people try to whip up criticism it is often a reflection of their own heart.

Negativity often reveals inactivity. Criticism often comes from those not doing anything.

Chinese Proverb: “Him who complains, “It can’t be done!” needs not interrupt him who is doing it.”

Negativity often reveals a lack of faith. For some reason, Critics have problems with projects that require a ton of faith. That’s why they often surface when things start happening. Negativity often reveals a lack of personal time with Jesus. You cannot worship Jesus and stay negative. Negativity often reveals deeper personal problems… Negativity is a cry for help.

Negativity often reveals a heart of selfishness and jealousy. Remember that the source of most conflicts lies within a person’s own selfish desires. James wrote, "What is the source of conflicts and quarrels among you, is it not your own desires that battle within you?

Negativity often reveals ignorance or misunderstanding. Most people are afraid of things they don’t understand– so they complain and criticize.

What’s the solution? Like I said in an earlier article…GET OVER IT! Refuse to be infected!!!

We live in a negative world and Satan would love nothing more than to steal your life. Refuse to let someone else Jealousy steal your Joy. Refuse to allow their doubt to rob your determination. Refuse to allow their faithlessness to kill your faithfulness. Refuse to let their sarcasm stop your service. They tried to get Jesus but He refused to be infected!

We are called to live positively in this negative world. Because of God’s grace, his love and his Salvation, we can exist in this negative world.

The Lake Effect

The Lake Effect

I’m different. I am not like any one of you. This is how God designed us. Being different is a good thing. This difference in us all breeds commonality. I know that’s hard to understand but we seek to be alike but knowing we never can be. Where difference is appealing division is not.

1 Corinthians 1:10 - I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

The word division is a very strong word but for the sake of comfort, I will use the word clique instead.

We all come from various backgrounds, people come with their respective interests and our own spiritual condition, we meet in church and share the common Cup and the broken bread and we are called to see the oneness of our life.

This weekend at church, I took the chance to look around the congregation to see the differences. Difference of gender: difference of age; difference of. As I thought on this I realized, that in my mind I was classifying other members. It was almost subconscious in my thought process yet I naturally did this.

My mind said those people sitting up front are those closest in heart to the Senior Pastor or wanted to be singled out. Isn’t this why we sit on the front rows? To be noticed? What about the people who sit way in the back? Are they sitting back there because they were late or want to leave early?

My mind got more detailed… most of the associate Pastors hover near the entrances and in or near the lobbies. Is this to be of assistance to the members arriving late; to pray over the members; or is it in case of urgent things that may occur during the course of the service.

Even more specific, as I walk into the sanctuary I greet the people I know with a hug and a handshake. Yet with some others, I give a handshake or nothing at all. Some I spend time with talking and listening….others just a casual greeting. Some just get a nod from me in recognition.

Is this how everyone conducts themselves? Have I created my own clique?

All of us want to belong, to be a part, but our human nature makes us want to be a part of not just any group, but of an exclusive group. We want to be a part of some Clique. Belonging and the desire to belong are not bad, but the desire to gain status by belonging is dangerous. This desire causes us to compare ourselves with others and to be depressed when someone else gets in and we are left out.

We adjust to insure acceptance into these cliques. We pretend to agree when we secretly disagree. If necessary we use insincere flattery to gain the approval of those in the cliques hoping that they will give us admittance. In short, we compromise to be a part of the exclusive cliques.

Being in a clique is like the ripples of a lake. Once you make it to a specific ripple we find there is another one. Sometimes, we find that the ripple we are in, doesn’t really give us the sense of worth we really desire. This Lake effect can cause undo turbulence in our lives and distort truth and vision. Why? Our worth does not come from without, but from within. Our value is not increased by belonging, but by being. True love is not on the surface of the lake but within the heart.

The Church should be a place where people who have no other natural reason for associating with each other come together in love and, in love, serve one another and God. A few good examples are:

When our Children’s Pastor bridges the gap between the Word of God and our children by using methods to excite and interest our children.

I am blessed when our Senior Pastor has us turn to our neighbors in the congregation and greet them or start a conversation with them from a simple phrase.

I am blessed when I see people tithing of their abundance during the offering.

I am blessed to see people go to the stage for prayer knowing only God can fix their specific issues or areas in their life they need help with.

When these and many more blessings occur within the church it’s hard for Satan to divide the church.

I have a lot to learn in this area because I still separate myself from those I feel are cordial with me but not friendly. I need to remind myself that the focus is on Christ. I must allow petty issues to be lost in the shadow of the message of the cross of Christ. I must resolve to remove every barrier that has been erected to prevent fellowship and service among God’s people in this world. I must continue to give an on looking world a visible demonstration of love based fellowship.

 I can’t speak for you but I’m sure some of you are going through this as well.

I ask those of you whom I have wounded with my words or by ignoring you when you needed to talk, please forgive me. I ask your forgiveness for my classification and grouping people in my mind and thus separating myself from you. I ask for forgiveness for seeing you in a different way than Christ have taught us to see people.

It’s time to recommit ourselves to promoting and preserving the love God commands in His house.

It’s time to calm the waters of the lake and remove the “Lake Effect

Get over it

Philippians 3:13-14 -Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Basically what the Apostle Paul is saying here is, “GET OVER IT!”

Let me give you a little background on this statement. My best friend and love of my life exemplifies this saying. She battled Cancer twice, overcame an upsetting end to a long relationship yet still pressed on to raise 5 great children. She’s God’s Princess and like all woman of God out there, God has his finger on her heart. Oh yes, she’s a tough Woman of God too!

We can develop wrong and bad conclusions and values about our tasks by teachings of society; by the daily menial life at home; by our goals for materialism and business; and by entertainment and emotions that make us feel good. This feel good attitude…never stands the test of time!

To properly “Get over it” we need to develop a strategy to overcome… we are the Victors not the Victims! Jesus won! The victory is complete…you’re not a loser!

To properly “Get over it” we need to set our sights on the Stars and be happy when we hit the moon. Lofty goals are good but we need to celebrate the individual victory points first!

To properly “Get over it” we need to love those that have wronged us, we can’t stay on the side lines just because we have suffered. Oh, BOO HOO…who hasn’t suffered? Even Jesus suffered and he didn’t do anything wrong…but he still loved!

To properly “Get over it” we need to do what God has asked us to do instead of asking for more. I personally wouldn’t give you anything unless I knew you would use it to the best of your ability. Neither will God!

To properly “Get over it” you need to stop freeloading! If you’re sitting on your butt waiting for God to work…you’re a freeloader. Get off your butt and start acting on God’s word. God’s not into pity parties, he loves you but don’t expect him to waste his efforts on someone that doesn’t put him first in their lives. God is an active God not a couch potato God.

Let me ask you this:

Have you been misunderstood?

Has your dreams fallen through the cracks?

Have you been disappointed?

Have others not yielded to you?

Can you here what God is saying…..Get over it, Get up and move on!!!

If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, self-doubt, bitterness, or self-pity, we won’t bury ourselves. I read this story a long time ago about a farmer whose donkey fell into a well. He at first gave up hope. He started to shovel dirt into the well to cover the donkey that he thought was lost and dead. Every time he poured dirt into the well, the donkey shook it off and stepped above it.

Eventually the donkey got out of the well. See, the problems we face in life can have the potential solutions contained within them. Even bad times can prove to be the most positive influence on our life and lead us into a greater relationship with the father in heaven.

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that amateurs built the ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.

See the bigger picture and “GET OVER IT”

Best-ist Friends!

Do you have a ‘Best Friend’? I hope you do. Best friends are very important. Best friends are our confidants. They are our counselors. They back us up when others are against us. We can tell them anything. Jeff Foxworthy defines a “Best Friend” as not the person who bails you out when you’re in jail but the person sitting next to you in jail! That’s not the situation we want to be in but it does make a point… Best Friends are there through thick and thin; and good health or bad.

Biblically when I think of best friends, I think of Jonathon and David. In Samuel 18:1 it states: “There was an immediate bond of love between them and they became the best of friends.”

Have you ever met someone and you just “clicked”? You immediately liked them. You became good friends, even best friends. I have. Jonathan and David liked each other immediately and they became “like two peas in a pod.” Where one was, the other one was close behind. They also made a vow of friendship. Samuel 18:3 – “And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.”

“He LOVED him as himself”…love is the core expression of commitment. Think about those you love, how do you know you love them? You know you love them because you want to be with them “all the time”.

A song by King and Country called: “The Proof of your Love” really brings this to the front:

So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

Love is proof; love is sacrifice and when all else fails only love remains. Throughout Jonathon and David’s life they continuously recommitted their lives to each other. They made sure that they said to one another, “I’m behind you, I’m with you. We are in this together.” They loved each other…they were Best Friends!

There is nothing like the love of a “Best Friend”. How do we choose a best friend then? Well, I don’t know about you but this is my basic criteria for the best friend interview:

1.      Best Friends should know the bible: your friendship needs protection. The Bible is a two edged sword. Choose a friend who knows and loves their Bible. You need to protect each other and only God can provide the strength and wisdom to do this.

2.      Best Friends have vision: your friendship should be filled with challenges or it will become very dull and boring after a time. This includes accountability as well as in praying for each other.

3.      Best Friends should have faith: your friendship is based on a lot of unknowns only through faith in God and each other can these be uncovered. The only chance of a successful friendship is your faith and dependence on the Lord.

4.      Best Friends give their whole heart: we need to be whole hearted Christians not only to God first but also in our relationships.

All these qualities work hand in hand. God says in his word, wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in his name, he is there also. That’s right… “2” Best friends…gathered together…in God’s name…in love, God is with them. Do you want God with you?

You better!!!

Proverbs 18:24 a man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

If you don’t have a best friend….get one!

You may have a best friend already…..could be me!!!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10  Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Worry Wart

I have a tendency to be a worry wart. When worry sets in for me my solution to overcome this is to read the Word of God.

Specifically James 1:2-12 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.⁷That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position but the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

In Bob Marley’s song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” he makes a very interesting statement:

“In every life we have some trouble,
when you worry you make it double
don't worry, be happy”

Worry can cause other physical, spiritual and mental issues. Bob’s statement that when you worry you make it double is a very true statement. Worry causes stress which can result in depression, ulcers, disease to name a few.

Worry is our bodies warning indicator that we aren’t putting God first in our lives. Trouble and difficulty come to everybody. Sickness, suffering, disease and death afflict both rich and poor. Life is not fair! Life isn’t fair for all of us though, so technically then, life is fair.

James chapter 1 speaks of the problem of difficulties and troubles in our lives. These difficulties can force us to ask some dangerous questions… “Why me? Why now? What am I doing wrong?” James tells us to consider these trials as “Pure joy!”

Huh? Joy in problems?

James uses the word “Whenever” you face trials. He didn’t say, “If you face trials”; or “for those who face trials” but “whenever” you face trials. That’s includes everyone! He also says, “Many Kinds”. They may involve the pain of a lingering illness or an untimely death. Some know the heartache of a broken marriage or a short-circuited romance. Trouble may come from a rebellious child or an alcoholic loved one. Some struggle with problems in business or with health. Others combat lingering depression or habits that seem unbreakable.

But James says that trials are the evidence that God is at work. Paul agreed with this in 2 Corinthians when he stated, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”.

A few years ago, I was living in a garage and a rent check away from being homeless. I worried about when my next meal was going to be; if I was going to run out of gas in my truck and how to pull myself out of this hole that I dug.  But I persevered and through faith in God’s plan for my life, I climbed out of that hole. Why did God allow this to happen in the first place, you may ask? Spiritual Maturity and maybe, just maybe God was teaching me to not to look at my circumstances.

Our goal as growing Christians is spiritual maturity. We don’t seek troubles, but we rejoice in them because their dividends are greater than the discomforts they bring. If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us. If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to ‘count it all joy.’

James doesn’t say “grin and bear it”, nor does he tell us to just give in or give up. He makes four suggestions for dealing successfully with trouble. Live joyfully; live expectantly; live submissively; and live humbly.

But you have to “live” with your eyes and heart on God…FIRST!

Light, Mirror, Action

When a heart is cold as ice, you can't melt it with advice.
No one wants to listen to a list of things they shouldn't do.
So I build a city on a hill and I light a candle on the sill.
Knowing you’ll be always knocking at the door.
Oh God I just want to love on everyone.
All I have is yours to give so let the people come… (“Learning to be the light”, Newworldson)

This song is on my top 10, very close to the top! Why is because besides being a real toe tapper, I can really relate to the words.  (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/newworldson/learningtobethelight.html) Check them out for yourself and I dare you to tell me you don’t see a little bit of yourself within these words.  But I really connect to this song because it reminds me of my days in the Navy and being a new believer in the Lord Jesus.

In the included verses of the song the third line brings tears to my eyes. “So I build a city on a hill and I light a candle on the sill.” My job in the Navy was a Quartermaster which is basically the Navigator of the ship he is assigned too. When you’re new to a ship and not in charge you tend to draw the last straw on when you stand your watch. I mainly stood watch from Midnight to 4 in the morning.

Now you may be thinking that’s probably the worst time to be on watch and you’d be wrong in my eyes. IT WAS THE BEST! 1^st: all the big brass (High Ranking Officers) usually is not awake. 2^nd: It’s quiet! 3^rd: You get to sleep in!

Picture this, Midnight…the ship is running dark (no lights except red lights to illuminate interior areas connected to outer areas). Your 60 feet above the water on the bridge of a ship and you have a great view of the millions of stars in the clear sky. The waves (about 4 – 6 feet high) gently lap against the side of the ship as if beating to its own rhythm.  The white caps of the waves are visible and the only sound from the ship is a gentle humming from the Gas turbine engines.

On the Horizon you see the shoreline of some Country/Continent (Pick one). The only lights you see are Lighthouses, Channel markers and Towers/Building Markers winking at you to their own pulse. These lights can and usually are 10 to 30 miles away. This is my focus for this blog.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

We live in a very dark place, be it drugs, alcohol, violence, gambling, lying, stealing the list goes on and on. This is because people live lives that are contrary to God and his word. They feel that there is nothing wrong with fornication, adultery, murder, and hatred, prejudice, planting bombs, shooting people, or failing to serve a Living God. Right has become wrong and wrong has become right.

We are not the light, Jesus is. We are but containers filled with his light if we choose to be. Like the lights on the shoreline, the light we carry can be seen from a long way off. Like the lights in the distance, are lights are bright and pierce the darkness. Like the lights in the distance, the light we carry guides and provides safe navigation to those who seek it.

Now let me tell you another thing about those lights on the shoreline, there not as bright as you may think. Most lighthouses have mirrors behind the lights to reflect that light out into the dark areas. See, we are not the light but we are the mirror. We reflect the light of Jesus into the darkness.

The word tells us to reflect this light into the darkness. You ever use a flashlight in a lit room? Not really effective is it. But take that same flashlight into a dark room and its power is seen for what it truly is. The flashlight won’t last forever though, it needs power…batteries. Our fellowship with God and likeminded believers; hearing and reading the Word of God; and praying constantly is what charges the light we carry.

The point is, if we don’t step out into the darkness, the light we contain is not being used to its full potential. We are limiting God and not doing what Jesus taught us to do.

As men and women we need to reflect his light!

I’ll end this writing with the Chorus of “Learning to be the light”…

It's so much brighter living in your world, Savior, what You did for me
You gave me something I want everyone to see.
When we struggle and it all goes wrong, only You can make it right
So I say…Oh oh oh oh oh…

I'm learning to be the light

77 times 7 = Freedom

In 1985, a poorly made decision by me (God told me not to go) and I went to pick up a Christian friend from work…A Christian FEMALE friend. Consequently, her life was in turmoil at the time and was in the middle of a bitter separation from her husband. I knew of this and drove at 11PM at night to go pick her up from work anyway.

Let me give you a little background on her husband. He was military like me and a practicing Tae Kwan Do Black Belt not like me…he was a very jealous man.

Apparently, he was waiting in the tree line on the other side of the road of where his wife worked.  Because of the security restrictions on the building she worked in, I wasn’t allowed inside and waited for her to get off from work.

Her husband at this point had left his hiding place and approached my car. My window was down and he took a coat hanger and wrapped it around my neck trying to pull me out the window of my car. This didn’t seem to work fast enough for him so he opened my door and yanked me out using the hanger. I had wedged my hand between the hanger and my throat which infuriated him.

At that point he took a sharpened stick (not sure where the knife was to sharpen said stick) and tried to insert it into my neck. As I tried to fight him off, I guessed he decided killing me wasn’t his first choice. He literally beat me senseless with his knowledge of martial arts. To this point, not a word was said, or none that I remember.

Meanwhile, his wife and the other workers had called the police. For some reason, her husband stopped his assault on me, picked me up off the asphalt and set me on the curb. At that point he started to talk to me, I don’t remember what he said but about that time the police showed up. The rest of the night was pretty much a blur as I was rushed to the hospital.

Why am I telling you this??? I want to share with you about forgiveness. Matthew Chapter 18 literally changed my life in viewing forgiveness. When Jesus tells Peter that he should forgive 77 times 7, this truly opened my eyes. I’ve shared in my other blogs about this before but I can see no reason why this shouldn’t be a fixture at the front of our minds. We should write 77 X 7 as a reminder everywhere we go!

God really does have an obsessive thing about forgiveness. So much so, that he mandates; He orders it. And just like any other mandate in Scripture, forgiveness is primarily mandated for our own good. God does know all; He knows that you and I will never really be healed; we will never really move toward wholeness; we will never really get on with our lives until we are able to let go of the resentment; until we can give up gaining revenge and just forgive.  

The mistakes you and I make a lot of the time is we look at who the person is who has wronged us, and we look at what they have done to us. In my taking a beating my first thought WASN’T forgiveness and I’m sure you can imagine what it was! When we have been wronged, we need to look at who God is, and what God has done for us.

This forgiveness thing is so important! In Matthew 6:12 is the middle of the Lord's Prayer is a phrase that a lot of us never think about. "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."

Have you honestly thought about what you are asking God to do there? We are asking God to treat us, to forgive us, exactly the way that we deal with other people who have wronged us. Let me write that last part again, “EXACTLY THE WAY WE DEAL WITH OTHER PEOPLE!!!”

Back to my story, did I forgive him… as a matter of fact I did. I went to the jail, against the police and my lawyer’s advice, and told him I forgave him for what he did. That Jesus was the Lord of my life and that because he had forgiven me, I was forgiving him.

In the trial, this was brought up by the defending lawyer. Consequently he was released of charges into the hand of the Military Justice system, which most likely would have happened anyways since we were both military. He served time, and was dishonorably discharged from a Military prison.

I don’t know whatever became of him but I think God forgave him and healed his heart. That he is standing in every way for the Lord in his life.

God knows!

What did it do for me?

I’m free.

Cancer: Can and Cant’s

My Best friend inspired me to write this…

I have never been touched directly or indirectly by cancer…not until this year. No, I don’t have cancer. God in his great wisdom decided to indirectly show me what cancer is all about. We tend to think cancer as a huge, insurmountable monster. In some ways this is very true.

In the book of Mark 5:24-34, is the story of a lady with a bleeding sickness. She knew that if she just touched Jesus clothes she’d be healed and in verse 34 it reads… He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Her condition may or may not have been the result of cancer. Cancer is a disease that can do many of the same things this lady endured.

In verse 25 it says she suffered 12 years. Most health issues we deal with are on a short run. A cold lasts a few days; the flu maybe a week to ten days and some injuries may take several months heal. People with Cancer are in a tough and grinding marathon. It is there every morning and every evening for days, weeks, months, and years. It involves Outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, Surgeries, Recovery, etc.

Cancer can touch your status: This woman’s condition meant that she was considered religiously unclean and anyone who touched her would be considered unclean. This woman’s condition meant she could not bear children. And thus she lost a lot of the status and respect women had in that society.

Maybe it is the physical toll of chemo and radiation. Some cancer patients feel as if folks treat them as if their condition is contagious. Worst of all, there are those who would say that your cancer is the result of some kind of sin in your life for which you are being punished; if you just had enough faith God would heal you.

Cancer can touch your finances: She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. Mark 5:26.
Medical treatments are expensive. Even if you have good insurance, the out of pocket expenses are a challenge.

Cancer can touch your strength: In the above verse, it states…”…she grew worse” Cancer patients know well that in facing their disease they can get worse before they get better. The effects of chemotherapy and radiation, at times, are worse than the disease itself.

In my eyes, those with cancer are heroic. They would never choose this battle. But they face it daily. It is the greatest physical challenge and stands above other physical, financial, emotional accomplishments of a life. Those who face it head on experience their greatest hour.

But guess what….THAT”S ALL THAT CANCER CAN DO!

Cancer CANT touch your Faith: When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Mark 5:27-28 Jesus affirmed that it was her faith that made her well.

And without faith it is impossible to please God Hebrews 11:6a. Don’t get the idea that cancer is due to a lack of faith. Great faith is not the pleasure of the mountain top. Great faith is moving forward in our struggles. I would not wish illness on anyone, but it is in this battle that our strength increases.

Cancer CAN’T touch love: One of the products of cancer is the love of relationships. Helping hurting people brings out the best in us. It shakes up our priorities, reminding us that the greatest things in life are not things at all.

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

Cancer CAN’T touch eternity: there is only one way to overcome death and that is through Jesus. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, Romans 6:5

We must always remember… Are position on Earth is not – the land of the living to die. Are position on Earth IS - the land of the dying and by grace we are going to the living...Eternal Life.

When I lived in Muskegon Michigan, my neighbor was a very angry man. I didn’t know it at the time but he had lung cancer and they had given him 6 months to live…incurable. 3 days before he passed away his church minister came and prayed healing over him. As I said, he died three days later. He told me just before he died that those were the best 3 days of his life. The last 3 days were the most peaceful and joyful days of his life

Why? Because God didn’t cure him but God healed him. To be cured is to remove disease from the body, but to be “Healed by God” is a complete provision of wholeness!

Yes, there are a few Cancer cans but they are overcome by the power of the Cancer Cant’s!