Double-Minded

Whenever I tried to share my testimony of my faith in Jesus Christ with my brother, he angrily rejected it. He would not receive any “religious talk” from me at all. As his health declined and death drew near, I tried again. While he was still able to speak, he wouldn’t hear it from me. I knew it wouldn’t be me, if anyone, to lead Larry to his Savior. I prayed that God would bring someone into his life to whom he would listen.

Recently, God has been convicting me as to why Larry would not hear anything about my faith from me. He had seen  me act and talk contrary to my Christianity many times. To him, I must have seemed a terrible hypocrite or a fool. And he was right.

My brother was not the only person in my life that I have so damaged my witness, I couldn’t possibly share the Gospel with them. How could I talk to them about a Lord God who lives inside me, never leaves me, loves me, changes me, when my words and behavior don’t show that to be true? My testimony to these dear people has not been life, but death and pointed them toward hell rather than the Lord.

It’s easy to act and talk the spiritual way around the Christian family. But apart from them, if I behave differently, then I am what the Bible calls double-minded and a hypocrite. I don’t do this out of peer pressure or fear of rejection. I don’t even have that lame excuse. I am simply too much into indulging my flesh.

I have sinned against God and against these people. I am trying to change. I am deeply sorry to the people in my life that I have given such a terrible testimony. Please forgive me.

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“MORE THAN SONGS” Companion Adult Study (Introduction)

This is the introduction to the study that accompanies my book MORE THAN SONGS…

 

The most important book you can ever read is The Holy Bible. To read it simply as a book can impart great wisdom and understanding of the nature of humanity, God, and history. It contains principles for all aspects of life, love, and prosperity.

However, the Bible is far more than a book. It is the revelation of God. He authored all sixty-six books, through yielded servants who faithfully recorded what the Lord told them to write. The words are the power of God released to anyone who seeks to know Him. They are truth. They are eternal. They are universal, and they are personal.

Do Not Open Til Dec. 26th

You may think it odd timing, but think about it…

 

Historically, Jesus’ birth was likely not on December 25th. That date was set as the celebration a long time ago, and established in the church calendar to coincide with the pagan celebration of Winter Solstice. At the time, church leaders were seeking ways to include followers of other faiths in the Christian celebrations. For this reason, some Christians have stopped celebrating Christmas. Historians estimate the blessed event to have happened some time in October. There are several historical and biblical discrepancies in traditions of the season. For example, the Bible does not specify how many Magi there were; however, it does say that they found Mary and the young child about two years later “in the house”. But the tradition makes a beautiful nativity scene.

But really… does it matter when we celebrate the birth of our Savior? Shouldn’t we celebrate Emanuel all the time? The miracle of God becoming one of us should affect every day of our lives. Choosing to celebrate on December 25th does not make us pagans. Regardless of the non-Christian origins of many of the season’s traditions, observing them does not invalidate our celebration. God has used pagan nations and practices to show His glory and fulfill His will. For example, the ancient Roman Empire built superior roads connecting the entire empire (which included most of the civilized world at that time). When the Romans began persecuting the Christians, it caused them to scatter. The road system made travel easier, and theses believers took the gospel with them wherever they went. God had used the Roman empire to spread His good news.

As the season approaches, we must resist the world’s attempts to take Christ out of Christmas. Commercialism breeds despair, particularly in our economy. Giving gifts is a wonderful thing, especially joyful when we give in remembrance of the gift we received from our heavenly Father in Jesus.

Glorify God in all we do in all seasons. Celebrate Emanuel (God With Us) every day. Be a beacon of joy this Christmas. Do not wish anyone a “happy holidays” or “merry X-mas”. Respond with love: “Peace on earth, and goodwill to all”.

A CARROT, AN EGG AND A CUP OF COFFEE

You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again. A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was
solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.

Shut Up Or Speak Up?

If you have a friend who is a recovering drug and/or alcohol addict, and you know they are stopping to slip backward, what do you do?

Do you think “Well, they’re not doing the hard stuff like they used to, and they seem to have it under control”, or “It’s not for me to judge”? Are you afraid that confronting them might cost their friendship and not do any good anyway? So, you don’t say anything. You just hope they’ll be okay.

Or do you risk losing their friendship and confront them? Do you love them enough to say: “It’s not alright for you to even start down this path. You have a problem, and it will take you back to self-destruction”?

Do you speak up and help them stop it in the early stages, or do you shut up and hope it doesn’t get worse again?

What do you think?

HHHEEEERRREDONNY!

Well, tomorrow, January 20, 2017, America gets what they asked for. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in and begin his term as POTUS. The majority of American voters chose him, and now he’s what we’ve got. And there’s nothing we can do to change that.

There will be protests tomorrow at the inauguration. Other than John Wilkes Booth attending Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration, I don’t recall any protests at the ceremony before. I guess they are protesting the election process, because that’s what stuck us with Trump. I just pray the protests will be peaceful. It is our Constitutional right to peaceably assemble to express grievance with our government; however, that right is forfeited if violence or the threat of violence erupts.

And speaking of our Constitutional rights, whether we like our new president or not, he is our president. But, I want to remind everyone of something Mr. Trump may not realize. Starting tomorrow, he will hold a position he has probably never had before… EMPLOYEE.

That’s right! POTUS works for us, the American people! He is accountable to us. So, WE THE PEOPLE need to constantly remind him who his employer is!

Think about it… Then act like it!

Longer Still (Post Election Reflections of a Black Man amongst the Evangelicals)

  The Scriptures that contain the stories of Israel, the Messiah Jesus, and the early church have long shaped how I viewed the world. It was the bible that affirmed black personhood in the fac…

Source: Longer Still (Post Election Reflections of a Black Man amongst the Evangelicals)