Christians are being persecuted in the world.

Prideful, materialistic and arrogant

If a person is a Christian, can they still be arrogant, materialistic and prideful? I was reading a blog of a person who recently came to faith in Jesus. I read the entire contents of one of his blog entries. It sounded like he definitely had a God encounter but many things which he  spoke about troubled me. He kept giving glory to the Trinity which was a bit odd to me. I guess it is no different than a person closing a prayer in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It was obvious that he was new in the faith because he still spoke as an immature Christian. There were hints of arrogance in his speech as well as a mention of his  accomplishments in life as though he was the sole author of them. He referred to his possessions as "my stuff" vs God's stuff where he was merely the steward.

I was led to the blog by my unsaved sister-in-law who has no yet interest in becoming a Christian. She believes that Christianity is a cult. I have consistently prayed for her salvation. God is working on her heart. I haven't given up on her yet because the door is still open and she is still asking questions. We have had some great conversations. She has said some really untrue statements about God and Christianity but I have learned to allow her to say things because she truly doesn't really know anything about Christianity. She is still blind and lacks discernment. She does not have the Holy Spirit living in her. She wrongly believes that Christianity is a cult though she gave no evidence. She is led to believe things through what the world system has taught her and brainwashed her to believe. While the door is open and while it is still day I will actively engage her with questions to cause her to think and lead her to Christ. Lord use me up.

Work in progress, my 69 Camaro

Faking Church

Do you ever think that you are just going through the motions of being a Christian? I guess I have been struggling with this for sometime. Sometimes I feel that if I don't attend church that I won't be missed. I know that God will miss me. I guess I struggle everyday with getting up early to spend time with our Lord, reading my Bible and praying. Am I the only one who feels this way.

You see, I don't want to be a faker. I don't want to be just another pew warmer who is not advancing the Kingdom of God. Perhaps God is just saying stop what I am trying to do for Him and just simply be still and know that He is God.

They say that the Bible will keep you from sin but sin will keep you from the Bible. Maybe that is my problem. I just know that I have been a faker not quite a backslidden Christian but I have had my priorities all wrong. I need to begin my day with God and end my day with God. I have to not let technology that is the computer and surfing become my god. Whatever we keep our focus on becomes our god. Technology is merely a tool and not life.

Pray for me.

Time might be short for us Christians on this earth or perhaps Jesus won't be coming for His church after I am gone. I just know that Big Brother is watching all of us. Have you ever noticed how many cameras are around you wherever you go? Life is just like one of those Bourne movies. We are always being tracked. Even peons like us.

I know that there will be peace and then the end. We should keep our eyes on Israel and the rebuilding of their Temple. We should be focused on the lost that is people without Christ. I don't want to be a fake Christian anymore. Besides who am I fooling anyways.

Divorce Sucks...

I was talking with a friend recently and he shared that he and his wife are separated and she has filed for a divorce. They have their hearing in a month. I was deeply saddened by this news. What do you say to a friend who is about to be divorced? According to God's word, there is only one reason for divorce, adultery. Has adultery been committed in this case? I don't know. How can a wife or husband throw away over a decade together as man and wife? The statistics say over half of marriages end in divorce. That includes couples in congregations and outside of congregations. What the heck? Whatever happened to cherishing your wife or husband? I went through hell during my first three years of marriage and vowed never to return to that again. My wife and I always say, "Divorce is not an option."



AMERICA IS CRUMBLING



American society is broken because the America family is becoming past tense. There are very few social norms. I wonder what the statistics are for the stability of marriages of people whose parents divorced? I'd say those people may end in divorce too. Since I am talking about social norms, we could say there are none. Anything goes in America. Same-sex marriages, abortion of millions of babies (infant homicide), Islam being the fastest growing religion in the world, Christians being persecuted for their faith, conservative talk radio and tv about to go off the airwaves because of anti-Christ bleeding heart liberals, the value of the dollar shrinking because the government keeps printing more money etc...



DIVORCE IS OVERRATED



Why do people divorce? Most people divorce because they are not happy. Well, I say to yawl, "Boo hoo." Obviously wedding vows mean nothing and they are merely words people traditionally say. What happened to, "for better or for worst". Happiness does not come from external things. Joy can only come from having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. But if this is true, why are "Christians" divorcing too? The grass is not greener on the other side. Our marriages must last on earth because in heaven we are not married. Adultery according to God's word is the only valid reason a marriage couple can divorce.

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

The answer to the divorce dilemna is to have a Christ-centered marriage where both the husband and wife have committed to lives first to Christ and second to each other. When one the spouses is not fully focused on the marriage and their spouse, expect problems. Both men and women can easily wander away from the marriage due to a host of things which include but are not limited by the following: lack of feeling loved, cherished, appreciated, etc... Great books to read to stimulate your marriage are the Love Dare from the movie, "Fireproof." Also the "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman (I think that is his name). Can I say that my marriage is perfect? Well, no. Marriage is a journey you take with your wife or husband, it is not a destination. Marriage takes alot of work and humility. If your marriage is on the ropes right now, don't give up. Jesus is your answer. First admit that you are a sinner needing a Savior, repent of your sins and ask Jesus to come into your life to be your Lord and Savior and believe in your heart He died for your sins, was buried and rose on the third day and you will be saved. Do it today.

Bumper-Sticker Man Dan Merchant from

Bumper-Sticker Man Dan Merchant from "Lord, Save Us From Your Followers"

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what has love got to do with it?

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18 - NIV). My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (KJV). I was watching the program on KQED last night, 9/15/09, all about love. What has love got to do with it? Love is not merely an emotion that we feel. The Bible teaches us that God IS love. What does that mean to you? God said, "dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11) Who is "one another"? Do I have to love the unloveable? What about those co-workers who gossip and slander you at work? Do I have to love them? The Bible teaches us the Great Commandment: "Lord the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself." I suppose as Christians we need to love all people no matter if they will be in Heaven with us for all eternity or not.

Dang, it is so hard to love others when it appears they hate you and talk bad about you but hey, God calls us to love them. God still loves us unconditionally no matter how we sin. This is so hard to understand how an infinite God can love us. How are we so different from the world? We lie, steal, lust, envy, covet etc...

My prayer is "Lord help me to love others like you love me, help and empower me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Empower me by Your Spirit to love my neighbor no matter how they behave. Lord I express and acknowledge my weaknesses in this area. Fill those areas with compassion, humility and strength. I fail miserably everyday. Let my light shine before men so that You may be glorified. I do not preach myself but You Lord. Thank you for your grace and mercy in Jesus' name I pray. Amen."