WHATS IN IT FOR ME

So many times, we as Christians only participate when there's something in it for us. Whether it be another program of another church or the same church. Is it the spotlight we crave. Why is that? But if you truly seek after the Holy Spirit, would that be an option? Do we really believe what God has for us is for us and another person can't take it? Do we understand that we don't all have the same gifts and our destines are different? Do we really understand that because we might have the same gift as another that it doesn't mean that our levels in that gift will mirror each other? Click on this song, "What God Has For Me is For Me" and please enlighten me! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSns4e-xu3g&feature=related

AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER

Do we really believe we have a responsibility to "watch out" and "love" one another, "receive one another", "edify one another", "serve one another", "bear one another's burdens", "forgive one another", "submit to one another", "exhort one another", "consider one another", "be hospitable to one another"? When we see another in error, is it our responsibility to help correct the error or do we say, "You know the Lord will take care of that...we reap what we sow?"
The New Testament reveals "Our Responsibilities to one Another". It is commanded by Jesus (Jn 13:34-35; 15:12).

John 13:34-35 (NIV) 34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 15:13 (NIV) 13 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” 17 “This is my command: Love each other.”

Do we understand the full meaning of our "Responsibilities to One Another"? Enlighten me.

THE REALISM OF SANTA CLAUS

In preparation for this production Detective George & The Gospel Thieves (written 5yrs ago), God lead me to study and include a controversy topic...Santa Claus. But you know it wasn't until this production that I understood why. I didn't question it then because I always told everybody that I believed in Santa Claus. And I still do. I believe in the spirit of which he stood for. He was a "real person" and loved Christ. Matter of fact, a Bishop in the Christian church.

Legends have created the fairy tale image of flying reindeers, elves, North Pole, etc. but this man had the "Spirit of Giving" especially to the needy and poor. I don't think its wrong to adapt his character. Shouldn't we as Christians or simply as humans have that type of spirit.

What prevents us from believing in something that appears unreal? What prevents us from believing in God's Promises...what He has said, will be? Are they too "fairy tale" for us to grasp and hold on to? Please enlighten me!

HAS MISINTREPRETATION CREATED DENOMINATIONS?

There are hundreds of denominations that differ in name, organization, doctrine, worship, and plan of salvation but their base is “Christianity.” Is this division or unity? Is this based on God’s word? Ephesians 3:10,11 says that the church is part of God's eternal wisdom, so do you think denominationalism fits somewhere into His concept?

"Church" is used two ways; "universal and local”. The "universal church” refers to all who have been redeemed by Jesus' blood, have been forgiven of their sins, and have been born into His spiritual family. Matthew 16:18 - Jesus promised to build His church. Ephesians 5:23,25 - Jesus is Head of the church, and He is Savior of His body. Acts 2:47 - The Lord added to the church those who were saved.

The "local church(s) refers to a congregation of Christians who have united themselves to work and worship together. Acts 8:1 – Jerusalem Church, 1 Corinthians 1:2 - Corinth Church, 1 Thessalonians 2:14 – Judea Church, etc.

There were different congregations (Romans 16:16) however, they had the same pattern of organization; doctrine, worship, and salvation plan. In Romans 16:17-18, Paul alerts the Christians that differences over doctrinal is dangerous, matter of factual too dangerous to overlook and tells them to guard against those who bring divisions into the Church to the point of avoiding them. Paul wanted them to be wise in spiritual things but unlearned in evil things. Can this be “The evils of division when we say we’re representing the same God?”

Galatians 1:6-9 (KJV)
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Is denominationalism authorized in the gospel? Is denominationalism a man-made instrument used to set himself apart? Apart from what though? Traditionally, we are what our parents or grandmomma ‘em are/were but since I am “out the box on a lot of traditional man-made thoughts” my experiences and convictions steer me a different direction, so is this division and denominationalism? No, I think it makes me a universal believer (non denominational) who can find unity with any other believer of similar mindset and one without similarity, we can agree to disagree in love and move on. You see, I have found the love of God’s Word, the sincerity of its practice, the devotion to it, the love for God and others and… man-made tradition/laws in every denomination that I have encountered. Does this make us all going to heaven but traveling on different morning trains; one for each denomination and one for universal? I don’t say this to be cruel… I say this because of its TRUTH. Please enlighten me?

CAN WE WALK AS JESUS WALKED ON EARTH

The Bible says, “Sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4). Any command by God that is not obeyed perfectly would be defined as sin, correct? In 1 Jn 5:17, apostle John states, “All unrighteousness is sin”. Does that mean we have to be perfectly righteous to not sin any longer? Paul states, “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” in Rom. 14:23; wouldn’t that include everything we do even our consciences and omissions, James 4:17; “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James writes, "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2).

Jesus walked this earth sinless. He is our example. Does that mean we can walk this earth sinless? Thought comes to mind that Jesus had an advantage over us; He was/is as God, "First" so the answer is "NO." Lets me off the hook, huh? Nah..it really doesn't because all that answer says is, "it's a easy way out of responsibility." "All things are possible with God" plus, we are made in His image. AND....IT WOULD TAKE TOTAL COMMITMENT.

We all have blamed others and avoided the responsibility of being responsible for our actions. I believe when the scripture states, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” Romans 12.2, it is an example of the walk of Jesus. Although Jesus walked this earth, He “Spiritually lived in another world and was disconnected from this world in such a way that we all should strive to be so the disposition that ruled Jesus will rule us. Enlighten me.

Why are the Saints so Worried???

WHY ARE THE SAINTS SO WORRIED?

 

The world is ever changing on a daily basis.  We don’t know where, what , who, when, how things are going to change which causes people to WORRY about things such living, surviving, money and the ability to enjoy luxuries that we desire.  What is baffling is that we hear many Christians, true born again believers, Saints; children of the most High God express their concerns for their live in the midst of this political, natural disastrous, non-serious religious world, which we live in today.  How and why is this??

 

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) says:

²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^F30 ?
²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

This is such a powerful passage that Jesus was privately giving to His disciples in the mountains.   The same goes for us today. . . . . If we know that all things are in His hands and we belong to Him why do we the people of God worry about our surroundings, our families, our jobs etc.?   How come we can’t be like Paul in the midst of all of his obstacles he states in Philippians 4:12;

“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

 

Where is our foundation of strength? Do we really have Faith? Is trusting God only seasonal?

 

WHY ARE THE SAINTS SO WORRIED? 

NATURALLY & SPIRITUALLY BALANCED

1 Corinthians 15: 42-46
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.

In the natural, we have fragile, delicate, human bodies inherited from Adam who was corruptible…but Christ-like is who should thrive to be; incorruptible and full of power. Where or is there a balance between the two? Or is it one or the other? Is it being so holy that we forget we are human with imperfections? Is it knowing who you are in Christ though you yet have issues? Is it seeking the face of God? Is it repentance?

In writing my interview with Reggie “Reg”, I made the statement that I think he has a natural and spiritual real-ness that a lot of Christians lack; balance. Why do I think he’s balanced? He knows what God has called him to do, he is thankful, he seeks God, he talks to God, he asks God, he waits on God, and he has not forgotten from where God has brought him. This world can't give us all that we need but we continue to ask it to instead of God. Why? I think when we do this...we are not naturally and spiritually balanced. What do you think? Enlighten me!

SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification comes from the latin: sanctus and facio. Sanctus means holy or consecrated. Facio means to accomplish or to cause something to happen. Both the Hebrew qadosh and the Greek hagios refer to holiness as a separateness.

Sanctification means that we have been set apart by God for His use, his purposes so that every aspect of our life reflects His presence. The Old Testament speaks of God setting things apart for His use making them holy. His work begins on the inside and eventually His presence on the inside should appear on the outside. It is God’s desire to sanctify us through and through; complete, entirely, perfectly to the extent of spirit, soul and body setting us apart to Him

Sanctification is the process whereby we come to be more like Jesus. It is a door into personal communion with God. Therefore His presence and power in our lives should make more of a difference today than it did yesterday and our behavior should reflect this change. Our thirst for His righteousness should allow continued/daily yielding to Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:23, "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

However sanctification is a part of the salvation process which includes three aspects: regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. In regeneration; new birth justified by faith as God’s deals with our lives transforming us into the image of Christ. We begin to grow in the grace and knowledge and mature. In glorification we are given our spiritual body and transformed into the presence of God for eternity.

The apostle Paul, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). My prayer, "God please be patient with me, I know You aren’t finished with me yet."

Since sanctification is one part of salvation then are we not totally "saved" until we are glorified? Enlighten me…

Unequally Yoked

Unequally Yoked "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?"What does it mean to be unequally yoked? Definition of Yoke...(Latin word means to join) - a wooden bar or fram by which two draft animals are joined at the heads or necks for working together. (Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary)

In Deuteronomy 22:10, God forbid the people of Israel to yoke a donkey and oxen together. The yoke would grant too much weight on one and choke the other as they move forward. They would not travel smoothly, helping each other. One would carry all the weight while draging the other.

Spiritually, being attached to a person who does not share Jesus as Savior can cause just as much heartache as the yoked donkey and oxen. Naturally, it could be anyone who couldn't equally pull their own weight in business or even friendship. The "unequally yoke"factor is the Word of God however, "Spiritually", do some of us carry this too far? I have heard statements that "those folks" we shouldn't associate with or they need to be converted to what we believe in. Is that belief in line with scripture?

I can understand this mindset if there is no common faith but do we not associate with people of certain denominations even though they share the belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit just because they are of another denomination? Do we sometimes take this as far as becoming judgmental? Self righteous? Or just plain Ignorant? The word says not to be unequally yoked with "Unbelievers". Can we be unequally yoked with the scripture?

Spare The Rod, Spoil The Child

I would like to ask the question to bible scholars and anyone else who cares to comment…where in the bible does it state, “spare the rod, spoil the child”? Is it really scripture? I couldn’t find it! But I have heard it quoted all my life as scripture. Has this “quote” been past down from generations to generations without the correct reference of interpretation? Because I did however find a poem by Samuel Butler called "Hudibras". Below is two lines of it:

"What med'cine else can cure the fits of lovers when they lose their wits?
Love is a boy by poets stil'd; then spare the rod and spoil the child."

In this poem, he is giving reference to the practice of spankings/corporal punishment between adults in the bedroom. Believe me, I am not mocking God’s Word, I am attempting to understand His Commands. We have too long been carrying around what great-grandmomma them’ said was scripture.

However biblically speaking, the closest scripture in regards to “spare the rod, spoil the child” I found was Proverbs 23:13-14: "Withhold not correction from a child: for if thou strike him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from hell."

It is my thought that we should understand the full definition of “Rod“ and “Correction” in Hebrew. This scripture is very important so I think to determine its full definition here the question is what was Solomon’s really stating?

Correction means “muwcar” which translates to discipline, chastening - - -which addresses verbal correction. The “child” is “na’ar” (Hebrew) and is a boy, lad or youth and the “child” is between the ages of 5 and 21. Children under age 5 are called “nurslings” and at 21 they are adults.

In the Hebrew language, there are three key words that are translated into English as “rod”. The one used in Proverbs is “Shebet”. The Shebet was the large walking staff held by the head of a family, the shepherd’s crook, or the king’s scepter. The book of Esther states that when the Shebet is extended to someone that they find life, but when it is spared it brings death.

“Beatest” is to strike but in this scripture it is followed by “he shall not die”. “He shall not die” is “muwth” (Hebrew) and means to die, kill, have one executed, perish, to die prematurely by neglect of wise moral conduct. In verse 14, it tells us that through beating with the Shebet we can save our child’s soul from death. “And shalt deliver” is “natsal”(Hebrew) and means to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip and “his soul” is “nephesh”(Hebrew) which means soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, desire, emotion, passion, the breathing substance, the inner being of man.

Could this scripture be that the rod are rules, stiff and ridged, they don't bend? And a spoiled child could one who has no regard for the rules set forth. If we look at this verse in a literal mindset, couldn’t we FIRST strike him/her with our “Rod of Correction” i.e. love, example, and teaching?

Let's think about how our children view us as parents? Do we really have any authority over them? Do they respect us? Are we parenting our children or they parenting us? Are we enabling them to be insufficient adults? Are we teaching them by example?

I believe a Biblical proverb should regulate and govern our life. That it should teach us how to live, what to and not do. It is the Wisdom of God... however there is a difference between our knowledge and God's Wisdom? We as humans can know many things and not be wise in applying those things.

We can fail to use that knowledge or fail to use it correctly. If we aren’t using our ROD OF CORRECTION(LOVE, EXAMPLE, TEACHING) FIRST OR WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE YOUNG… what’s left when they are older but the RODS OF ALTERCATION AND INCARCERATION?