Church is not a country club - Lent Day 16

Just to add AGAIN there are no prerequisites for God's love. To often the followers of Jesus, myself included, have added preconditions on just who is "lovable" and who isn't. Christ didn't....he sat, ate, had fellowship with people in broken places. ( prostitutes, tax collectors, etc) Why don't we...believers....the "salt and light" follow suit?



To often churches have a country club mentality. Lately I've been convicted on this. If you're a christian and reading this how many non-believing friends do you have? Are you investing your relational time solely in like minded people? Are you shying away from people because they're rough around the edges, hardened, or deemed not worth it? Because they don't believe like you? They may ask you questions and probe into your faith?



Sometimes the church is a place where you have to appear a certain way, pretend like you're perfect, and admit to no failures. You just can't come as you are. If you do there are plenty of people who will "clean you up. " Obviously a church should be where God's truth is upheld, preached, and taught.... but to often it seems like the people in church are worried about absorbing people into church culture rather than letting God change the hearts of people.


It's my growing aim to love anyone for where they are at and let God do the rest. This is not an easy task in my life. I do believe my faith in Christ to be a saving one, I also believe it's not me who saves them but the Grace of God through Christ. That same grace gives the repentant heart a new nature. In the end it's up to the individual to decide to take His grace or not. However I am still commanded to love regardless if a person accepts it or not. I am equally still commanded to not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, even at the risk of not being liked.



Matthew 5:46-48 (NLT)


46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends,
how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.



Romans 1:16 (NIV)
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

In line for the March of the Unqualified - Lent Day 14

In a big way I feel unqualified to serve God. I sin, struggle, fall short. I am my own worst critic on just about everything. I doubt and get pessimistic. I am a really hard learner. I have trouble paying attention. I am not a great speaker. I struggle with constructive criticism, I sometimes fail to practice what I preach. I get depressed. I've got "thorns in my side" that seem to never leave. The list could go on, hopefully you get my point.....I don't feel qualified to be loved by God, to serve Him, and tell others about Him.



I am reminded of some of these passages below, they are written by Paul who is the primary author of the New Testament letters.....if he struggled...no doubt I will. Yet his struggles and unqualified feelings didn't stop him from being used in a mighty way by God. It is not the purity of the messenger, but the purity of the message.....The Gospel. So in regards to following and serving the Christian life isn't about being perfect, you don't have to become qualified before serving him, it's about following the perfect Christ even in our weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 3:5 (NLT)

⁵ It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.

Romans 7:21-25 (New International Version)

²¹ So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

*Hebrews not written by Paul, unknown author

Blessings and Trials- Lent Day 12

This last year especially I've seen many people suffer around me. Suffering like I've never suffered before. Incurable diseases, loss of children, loss of a spouse, people losing jobs, etc. I've admired how many around me who are suffering cling to their faith in Christ. I think it is safe to say storms in life have a way of erasing or refining faith.

I don't know what my life holds, but I can say I know it won't be pain free, it's not always gonna be easy. There will be a day where my faith will have to face a really hard test. It may be sickness, a loss, unemployment, etc.

I can fully expect not to react perfectly in any storm, (nor will I ever claim that, I react so imperfect on a normal day let alone a time of trial) but I think its important at least for me to make a pre-decison to cling to my faith before the hard times come. I am reminded of a few verses.......that at least to me tell me to expect storms and to have a genuine and practiced faith before they come. I know we can't prepare for what the elements bring ..... earthquakes, rains, and winds can be so devastating..... I guess I just believe if I live my faith now, it will be something to cling to when/if everything else is in shambles. A foundation among the rubble. This is what I believe I have witnessed in those around me who've had such trials this last year. Thanks for reading.


Proverbs 10:25 (NLT)

"When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation."


Matthew 7:24-29 (NIV'84)

The Wise and Foolish Builders 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law



1 Peter 4:1

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin

'Spartan' - Lent Day 11

This song really resonates how I feel today. It's one of my favorite songs, from my favorite albums, from my favorite band. If that makes sense? Five Iron Frenzy!The lyrics that really get me today are this........"he said love endures all things and it hurts to think its true, if I mark a span of failure is his burden just as light?"

1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.


Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."


It's a guess those lyrics were inspired by the above mentioned two Bible verses.I don't want to expand my thoughts to broadly today..... but I am really thinking....man if you love someone you endure for their sake. You drive on. You display patience, kindness, and "speak the truth in love."

I genuinely feel my love for others is being tested. My own sensitivities are being challenged and in regards to caring for people my flesh and spirit are locked in combat.What if I do fail? In the confines of a direction or choice? Will my failures reflect Christ, will they prove Him to be true to his word? That his burdens are light in comparison to what I could ever carry. Will they be light in my failures as well? Will I be failing at all?

I know one thing right now, I never want to close my heart off. I never want to be someone who just folds there arms and says I don't want to play anymore. I want to be a person that can endure. Believe me I can be just as fickle or fair weather as anyone, shame on me if I ever succumb to that.To others I want to display a genuine love despite my circumstances and feelings. Just like Paul did as displayed in the verses below.


2 Corinthians 6:3-6 (NLT)
Paul’s Hardships

3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.

The Gap of Eternity- Lent Day 10

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.



To be cliche....I agree with the statement that there is a God shaped hole in all of us. Mankind is restlessly searching for completion or fulfillment. We chase many things to try to fill the gap. We chase relationships, more things, a better job, the collection of stuff, hobbies, sex, pleasure, education, social status, religion etc. Only to find those pursuits futile or hopeless. Think about it we often think to ourselves....when I get to this point then I'll be set, when I just reach this milestone I'll be happy, when I get this degree or this job then my life will be complete. To me at the end of those things we start searching for a new mission to fulfill us so we can again be "set."

Now don't get me wrong many of those things are good. In my view many of the above mentioned are gifts from God. We ( myself included) just tend to reverse the order. Thinking things will be our joy, rather than knowing God and having him as our joy first.

To sum it up I'll borrow from something I read today. "Just as a square peg cannot fill a round hole, neither can the “God-shaped hole” inside each of us be filled by anyone or anything other than God. Only through a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ can the “God-shaped hole” be filled and the desire for eternity fulfilled." Thanks for reading.

30 Days to Live - Larry's Story - Lent Day 8

Don't have much to say other than the below scriptures. Lately I've seen people suffer just like this man. While this reminds to me to wisely invest in my relationship with my wife, children, and forget the meaningless things that I so often chase after. Above all it reminds not to forget God as a young man, as to build a lasting foundation that when not leave me when the bad days come. I'd encourage y'all to read the passages below, to choose to live wisely, and that wisdom I strongly believe begins and ends with knowing the Lord. Thanks for reading.


Psalm 39:4 (King James Version)4LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

Psalm 139:16 (New International Version)16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Ecclesiastes 12
1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”— 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; 3 when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; 4 when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; 5 when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.[a] “Everything is meaningless!”
The Conclusion of the Matter 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Judged - Lent Day 7

You know one wrong judgement against someone else can change the whole course of their life. That's what happened in this video clip. If you have a story you'd like to share regarding how someone has judged you feel free to share. How did it alter your life?

I am a firm believer that the hurting and confused don't need our condemnation. I think any of us that have ever being hurting, confused or just in a bad spot feel the gravity of our situation anyway. Pointing a finger, denying someone, or judging as if we are "better" only builds spite, mistrust, and weighs heavily on the heart. Imagine if we ( I speak to Christians on this the most) offered grace? A hug, a cup of coffee and conversation, respect for the doubter, praying with someone, a listening ear, or an invitation to hang out etc. It would go a long long way. Showing grace always does.

I haven't always demostrated this idea. As I grow in my faith I am more aware that I have no choice but to practice this. Even if I will never be perfect at it. If I can leave you with a thought......God loved us first, no pre-requirements. Christians should follow suit.


1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Do I Love Gay People? Lent Day 6

As a Christian I have to answer this question.....Do I love gay people?



My answer is Yes.



My main point in writing this will be to define what the Bible says about homosexuality. I will not be preaching or lecturing anyone who is a homosexual or who agrees with homosexuality. I am simply showing what the Bible has to say.



My second point will be how I .....as a Christian respond to a homosexual. Plus the wrongs and rights in how the church at wide has treated homosexuals.First let me say that I am not going to point out homosexuals as these "supreme sinners" because all of us....are equal in terms of sin.



Romans 3:23 (NLT)



23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.





Let me be very clear in saying that I unapologetically believe the Bible and it's standards on what homosexuality is. What does the Bible have to say about it as far as it being a sin? I'll comment more after each verse is read.





1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT)



9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
11Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.





Scripture is pretty clear that Homosexuality is sin ( along with many other things mentioned in the above passage) but it's also clear that scripture says one can change! Not just from a sexual lifestyle but from sin's grip all together through Christ.





Romans 1:26-27 (NIV)



26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.





The above verses do not leave it open to suggestion that the Bible says the homosexual lifestyle is not natural. Romans 1 essentially talks about how mankind can plainly see God's qualities, order, and truths but along the way we in the futility of our thinking exchanged God's truth for lies. Paul mentions homosexuality in this chapter because it just is genuinely clear how this doesn't fit naturally for God's creation. Don't get me wrong all sin, which we all do, is not what creation was intended for either. Essentially sin means "missing the mark."





2. How do I as a Christian respond to a person who is homosexual.Well I first ask what would the Bible or Jesus have me do?



Matthew 7:12-13 (NIV)



12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.



Christians haven't always lived up to this standard. Especially in the face of politics and "culture wars." Some have ungraciously forgotten RESPECT.



Matthew 5:46-48 (NIV)



If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.





I have to admit I am really good at loving those like minded with me. While I am imperfect at it I strive to love others who aren't like me even if I disagree with them.



Philippians 4:5 (NIV)



5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.



It doesn't say ....let your gentleness be evident to some, or to those who agree w/ you......but to ALL.



Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)



15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.





As Christians we do have standards , anyone who knows me knows I stand up for what I believe.However there is a way to present Biblical truths and values.....which often disagree with the secular culture......in grace and love. To often those in the church at large forgets to do that.





3. How the church responds to homosexuality.





1 - Extreme hatred - Fred Phelps leads a congregation in Topeka. He and his band of followers go around the country protesting various things with signs that say "God hates fags", "God Damn America" etc etc. Because of him those that follow the true Gospel of Christ have to explain themselves, the media coverage he gets doesn't help us either. My take on Phelps....he isn't following anything close to what I know is Biblical, he seems very self righteous, and I personally think he will not be in heaven one day. Not just because his life devoted to hate, but his life void of Jesus Christ.





2 - Balanced approach - Augustine I believed coined the phrase " Love the sinner and hate the sin." Many or most churches I think strive for this. Loving homosexuals but not accepting the lifestyle. Homosexuals are human, they have feelings, genuine hurts and cares, as Jesus was friends with many whom the "religious" deemed not worthy (IE. prostitutes, tax collectors, drunkards, the poor,etc). We who are his followers should follow that example. That doesn't mean we dilute the truth of the Gospel and its saving message, Jesus told the plain truth that sinners (all of us) needed Him, but we love others as he did in genuine love.





3 - Siding on the error of grace or totally denying the Bible.

Many liberal denominations have openly embraced homosexuality and ignored anything the Bible has to say on the issue. Anglicans, Episcopals, a branch of Lutheran, and some in the United Methodist Church.


To me that's as equally wrong as # 1. If you look at the above examples in scripture again 1 and 3 aren't right. Genuine love doesn't refuse to tell the truth about sin. If my best friend in the world came up to me telling me he was going to rob a bank because it would benefit him financially you'd better believe I'd warn him how that wasn't good for him. ( No I am not comparing gays with bank robbers, just sin with sin) Or if he came up to me telling me how he still loved his wife but he was going to have an affair you'd better believe I'd warn him just how wrong that was and how the consequences could be devastating.

Thank you for reading. I hope I approached this with gentleness and respect. This is an aspect of faith and a pretty divisive issue in our culture. Again my point was to present the biblical case for its view on homosexuality, but also a biblical case for how homosexuals should be treated. Again I don't zero in on them as these super sinners, but I zero in on the topic because it's a big one in our day and Christians cannot avoid it. Thanks for reading.



* In upcoming blogs I'll address some things politically and culturally but this was not the blog for it.

Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe - Lent Day 3

Genesis 1:1 " In the begining God created the heavens and the earth."

The basis for our worldview starts with the with our beliefs on the very origins of the universe, earth, and life itself. Randall Niles puts it best...."something did it, or it did itself."

There was either an intention in all that we see in this life and a Creator to be aknowledged which gives us genuine purpose, meaning, and value. Or we have to accept that nothing made us from nothing. Life has no value and no purpose. How we believe this effects the entire course of our lives.

"Something to think about."
- Randall Niles


"You are worthy, Our Lord and God, to recieve glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." -Revelation 4:11

JW's At My Door - Lent Day 2 - authentic faith

This world doesn't need canned answers, scripted responses, or a prideful mentality from Christians. This world needs Christians to be authentic, willing to make friends rather than seek trophies. Christians who live their faith unaplogetically not only in truth, but in grace towards others as well. I can't say I haven't always met this ideal, but the deeper I get in my walk, the more of a desire I have to live an authentic faith in Christ.

Colossians 4:6-7 ( NLT)

" Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone."

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven."

Jesus Wants the Rose, Lent Day 1

Jesus doesn't desire our perfection. He doesn't demand that we "get right" or "cleaned up" before we ever take a look at Him. Jesus loves us if we are washed up, burnt out, wore down, simply confused, addicted, afflicted, or just in a habit of making mistakes, big or small.



He didn't come for those who think they have it all together. He came for those who knew they didn't.


I started believing in Christ at the age 15. At that time I was in Juvenile Detention, very angry, a failing student, a drug user and very confused. At the same time coming to Him doesn't have to be this dramatic thing, it could be a person realized they had a hole in their heart that only He could fill.

Below is a statement Jesus made a long time ago for those to come to Him. The thing I love about this is there are no prerequisites in coming to Jesus. Or at the very least taking a look at Jesus. Wherever you are in life high or low .......Jesus wants you."Something to think about."

Matthew 11:28-30 (New Living Translation)


Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

*I am revising and re-posting some old blogs from last years Lent. I'll have some new blogs intertwined in this as well. I don't participate in Lent like my Catholic and Lutheran siblings, but I like to use it as a time to reflect and share my faith on my blog in solidarity.