"All This Work For Nothing?"

"Unless The Lord builds the house, the workers labor in vain."
     The forefathers of The United States believed that their labor to build a great land would not be in vain.
What do you think our forefathers would think of The U.S.A now?
I suppose they would be disappointed at best.
     Moral decay is a growing problem. Violence fills not only the news, but countless TV shows. Some people have just given up.
     The economy is a mess. Even Middle Class families need to go to food pantries. Unemployment effects everyone in one sense or another.
    The presidential election is quickly approaching and the candidates are flinging mud again. Yesterday in church I heard quite the notion; why split the the nation in a contest of of Democrat VS. Republican and instead come together as a nation united.
    Let's become we the people.
 One Nation under God, not one nation under religion.
    Perhaps the idea is to stop ignoring the crumbling ground as a nation divided against itself. It shouldn't matter who's right or wrong but how do we fix the problems.
  The song "Imagine" by John Lennon has lyrics that say, "No need for greed or hunger. The brotherhood of man."
   The song "Come Together" by The Beatles has a line that goes, "Come together right now over me."
We could replace "me" in this section of the lyrics with God and even and maybe this a solution to any problem. It wouldn't to try.
    Some of the words of The Our Father prayer are as follows, "To be forgiven our trespasses we forgive those who trespass against us." We may not be able to forget but forgiveness and leads to healing.
    Truly getting together could join us to rebuild our broken down country.
In church we may share the sign of peace with each other is good but actions speak louder than words.
Flashing the peace sign though comforting needs validation which comes with the practice of actually spreading peace.
1st Corinthians 15:58 (Paraphrase)
" Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters be firm, steadfast to the work of God, knowing in the creator your labor is not in vain." 

"The 1%" (Messages From The Pulpit)

"The poor you will have with you always"

"Easier is it for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than it is for a rich man to pass into the

kingdom of heaven."

"The good shepherd will leave the 99 to go after the the one lost sheep"

 

Through all of human history the gap between the rich and the poor has been a great fuel for the fire

of human conflict.

Those who have little or nothing have adopted a "it's not fair" attitude toward life.

And I can see why.

Especially here in the United States.

A great throw away society.

People have lost jobs at restaurants for saving discarded food for those who go hungry most of their

days.

Often people with wealth throw away perfectly good furniture simply because they have grown bored

with it.

In order to save a few dollars company’s send jobs overseas while people here lose job opportunities.

A quote from a song by Silverchair says, "You say money isn't everything but I'd love to see you live without it."

But doesn't The Bible teach us that "You cannot serve God and money (paraphrase). "

In recent news there has been The Occupy Movement. It seems that Occupy Wall Street got the fire started.

By occupying Wall Street which is the hub of economic power in The United States.

A large group of disenfranchised young people took up residence on the streets of New York City in what was to be a peaceful protest against how unfair it is that the rich catch all the breaks and refuse to

share the wealth.

The poor are downtrodden and crushed under the feet of "the ruling class." The 1% who own most of

the worlds resources with seeming no regard for those who either struggle to make ends meet.

"If you're not outraged you're not paying attention."

Sadly what was to be a peaceful protest made headlines for stirring up trouble.

The voice of the oppressed turned into a hateful scream. The Occupy movement soon became counter

productive.

The cry of injustice had once again fallen on deaf ears.

But who's fault is it?

The bigger question may be, "Does it matter?"

What is accomplished when we fight for peace with acts of war?

People see that often the rich are godless people relying on their wealth.

But that isn't always the case.

What of people who rely on intellect to save them?

Maybe we should rely on faith.

Jesus left the riches of heaven to walk amongst us to teach us what is truly important.

He asked his followers to follow him without money. Without extra clothing. To follow in faith alone.

In the end we all must make an account of our lives.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Like sheep we have all gone astray. Rich or poor there is none righteous, no not one.

In the end whether rich or poor will mean nothing. It's what you did with your life that will count.

You can take that to the bank.

"Ebarassment"

Something happened today that I didn't see coming.
Unfortunately God witnessed the whole thing.
I went to church. I enjoyed the message.
I received Communion.
I went to the library.
Then it happened.
There was a group of "street preachers" right near the entrance of Rite Aid where I planned to buy a few items.
These preachers weren't passive. They were "screamers." In other words these men who happen to be large men( who could go toe to toe with any fit defensive lineman in the NFL) . Intimidation not only in stature but how they share The Gospel.
I happened to be wearing a t-shirt proclaiming that Jesus is our best hope in life.
In my head I began to feel that people would associate me with the screaming preachers. So much that I considered going to a different store which is more crowded and in my opinion a somewhat inferior store.
I left the crowded store to shop at Rite Aid despite the proximity of the screaming preachers.
All went well. But when I left the store I felt that every eye were upon me.
I didn't want to be lumped together with the screaming preachers. 'I'm not like them. I'm not one of those Christians.'
Shame.
It got worse.
While on the bus I noticed a man I knew years ago that was a bit outspoken as a Christian. He is fond of me.
He also brings quite a bit of attention to himself. He'll hear a bit of conversation and if it goes against what The Evangelical Church teaches he'll surely speak up. He can quote scripture chapter and verse.
Again. Shame.
Am I ashamed of The Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Surely not I was wearing a Christian t-shirt.
But what about "being seen" with Christians that are loud and proud.
I ask God to bring people to me to witness to but maybe this was the wake up call I needed to show that I'm not quite as ready as I claim.
I will not give up or beat myself up for this weakness.
God knows my heart. He knows my weakness.
But in Christ my weakness is His strength. And I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The same can be true for you as well.
Do you know of Jesus but don't really know him?
Do you go to church but aren't sure of whom it is that the church celebrates?
Or maybe like me you know Jesus but would die of embarrassment if a stranger would to start up a conversation began to talk of Heaven and how to avoid Hell?
Open up to God.
You know you have done wrong even if you're unsure of God and who God really is.
Ask forgiveness for your wrong doing. Be humble. Go to a quiet place and cry out to God. He hears us all. He turns NO ONE AWAY.
You may not understand God's ways but I assure you that no one on this planet past, present, or future has all the answers.
With forgiveness you don't need to go to a confessional and ask a priest for absolution.
You can go right to God.
Allow God into your life, into your heart and allow God to cleanse and heal you. To make a new creation.
Allow God to guide you. After you bring Jesus into your life He sends The Holy Spirit as your guide.
A great place in The Bible to start is The Gospel of John and The Book of Romans.
Get to know God via The Holy Spirit. Ask for bravery to share what God is telling you.
This is a prayer I pray every day.
Working with God I will get there.
Someday people will know :
I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
For God's Glory, Not mine.  
   

"There's An App For That"

Love 'em or hate 'em computers are everywhere.
Computers used to take up an entire room.
Then came the P.C.
Now we can take our computers everywhere.
We put them in our cars to help us with directions.
We can arm our home security with the touch of a button.
We can even unlock are cars from miles away.
News travels faster than ever before.
Sure there are many advantages of living in the electronic age.
One advantage is how we reach out to the world about God. Without God none of this would be possible.
So why not use the information super highway to spread His word.
Setting up this blog didn't take long at all.
I connect with Facebook friends and they get to see what God is doing in my life.
We can share our testimony. It's much simpler than you think.
You don't need to have eloquent speech.
Moses tried to use his lack of speaking skills to get out of rescuing The Hebrew Slaves from Egypt. So God provided Aaron to be the spokesperson.
It's much easier to reach out to people all over the world. I suppose you can be a missionary right in the comfort of your own home.
It's not being lazy, it's being creative.
Before computers were everywhere God was everywhere.
Before computers gave directions. The Word of God and The Spirit of God gave us direction.
Before push button security there was security brought to us by relying on God and God alone.
High speed internet is nothing compared to how fast God works in our lives.
We may find answers easier on search engines than we may find answers to why our prayers aren't answered the way we'd like them to be.
But when you walk with God our hindsight is better than 20/20. Far better than IMAX 3-D.
When you have God's vision for your life you'll have more than just word of mouth or the internet at your hands.
You'll have His entire Kingdom.

"Branches" (Messages From The Pulpit)

So often The Bible speaks of trees, branches, fruit, and roots.
After the world was flooded and The Ark finally landed on dry land we know the story about Noah sending a dove out with an olive branch. These days we come to link doves and olive branches as a sign of peace.
Doves are also carry great weight as symbols in The Bible.
Doves were often offered as a sacrifice of purity.
A dove came down from the heavens during The Baptism of Jesus. A voice from Heaven said about Jesus,
"This is my Son in whom I am well pleased."
Imagery of doves comes again at The Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came into the Upper Room in the
form of a dove.
Before Jesus ascended into Heaven promised to send a new comforter. That comforter was The Holy Spirit. Jesus is said to be the Prince of Peace. So as the third person of The Holy Trinity, The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us. To bring us comfort and peace.
Isaiah 53: 5 "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him. And by His stripes we are healed."
This verse from Isaiah 53 is a prophetic vision of what Jesus would accomplish as he somehow endured His
Passion. The ultimate sacrifice for purity. The ultimate sacrifice for peace.
As Christians our roots should be based on The Word of God which feeds us more than any morsel of food that comes from the earth and prepared by human hands.
When we drink of the living water that pours from The Heart of Jesus. From His wounded side where blood and water spilled from our Savior, Jesus Christ.
A water that feeds the seed of faith that The Holy Spirit alone can plant in our hearts. Even with the faith as small as a mustard seed we can do great things through Him that strengthens us.
If Jesus is our true vine then us being the branches of Jesus and if we run from the sin that so easily ensnares us we will produce a great harvest.
A harvest soon to be collected. A harvest of souls who seek forgiveness and eternal rest with Jesus whom brings a peace that passes all human understanding.
A harvest which has it's roots in Jesus. In a world where if you take a little time to look around you'll see signs of our creators handy work.
The wonders of the sea. The beauty that is spread throughout the world. Everything from the plants and trees to all the animals we see. Many of these animals are symbols of God's being.
The Lion, The Lamb, and The Dove. Body, Soul, and Mind. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

"Allergy Season" Messages From The Pulpit

We have all seen Dandelions and many people confuse them with flowers. In fact they are weeds.

In general weeds choke out what else might have grown there including healthy grass.
Weeds appear in spring. Let me compare weeds to sin.
As with the Dandelions many weeds are pleasing to the eye. Other flowers are also attached to thorns.
Including roses.
And like these plants sin also catches our eyes. We get closer unaware to the dangers of sin. Sin can be very alluring. They draw us with the false beauty and empty promises or even benefits. Some plants actually produce deadly poison.
All sin when fully grown gives birth to death.
As with plants that produce pollen that can cause our eyes to become sticky, itchy, and fill our eyes
with tears. This can cause us trouble with our vision. Trying to wipe our eyes we become distracted.
Sin is our greatest distraction. We rub our eyes and hope to overcome the effects of sin. Nonetheless
we keep coming back to what we know to be bad for us and breathe deep the sweet smell of the sin that so easily ensnares us.
The Devil also comes to us in the disguise of a beautiful angel. In fact Satan was once the chief of all the angels, the most beautiful angel in Heaven. He was known as the Angel of Light. He is know the
the Angel of Darkness. He was tempted by power and vanity. He thought that he could rise above God.
He sought to set his throne at the pinnacle of the mount of Heaven.
Satan was cast out along with one third of the angels. Now he roams the earth seeking whom he may
devour.
The great thing is The Angels of The Lord outnumber all the wicked spirits 2 to 1. And if we run to
The Lord, He will give His angels charge over us.
Just as angels lead people to the crib of Jesus.
Jesus who wandered the the wilderness searching His lost sheep.
He who full of the knowledge that he was to die a brutal death to save all of mankind for sins that He
never committed. He went to a garden to ask The Father the strength needed to carry out His mission,
the mission of forgiveness and salvation.
Jesus was arrested, betrayed by his close friend Judas. His disciples abandoned Him as we nailed to
a execution devise constructed of wood, the tree of Calvary.
That very cross is the cure of all our temptations and the sin they produce. The cross leads us all to
eternal life spent in the glorious presence of our creator. A presence first felt in The Garden of Eden.
Eden which was earthy paradise we lost. But the paradise we share with God far surpasses anything
created here in out temporary home among the thorns. Our place in heaven secured by the savior who
was crowned with thorns.

"Are You Insane?" Messages From The Pulpit

Many people have asked many questions about Jesus.
Including "Who do you say that Jesus is?"
St. Peter answered "You are The Christ, The Messiah, The Son of God."
I recently  read a novel based on the life of Jesus.
It was a great novel. It got me to ask myself, "Would I have followed Jesus with all the claims that he made?"
One thing stood out to me. Jesus spoke of "eating his flesh and drinking his blood" at that point I scratched my head and can honestly say, I'm not so sure.
I have doubts once in a while and I can't see him. (I admit my doubts have nearly disappeared)
But what if I had been there walking with him?
In the heat of persecution would I have denied knowing him when things got rough?
Would I walk away in shame as I watched him die upon the cross?
Would I join in mocking him? Would I have said, "Physician heal thyself. Come down from that cross and show the world that you are indeed The Son of God."
Would I deny Christ?
At this point of my life I would deny Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Even unto torture or death.
Jesus said, "If you deny me before men I will deny you before The Father."
I hope that when my judgment comes God will say, "Well done good and faithful servant."
The Bible says, "The message of The Cross is foolishness to those who are dying."
Dying from the ravages of sin. A blindness of the reality of the sting of death that comes from an unwillingness to admit that we have done wrong and need to repent. We may say, "God loves everyone surely He won't bring me to eternal punishment." But what's the big deal?
Not admitting that you have sinned is like saying that you can do no wrong.
It's between you and God. No one else needs to know what wrong you have done. God knows and is not willing that any one should parish. Once God forgives ANY sin it is erased from his memory.
Another question is would you betray Jesus as Judas did?
You might say surely not. Are you sure?
People sell out every day.
Maybe you hang with friends that openly mock Christians. You not only deny Christ but you join in.
You point out the flaws of The Christian/ Catholic Church.
You claim contradictions found in The Bible.
You mock "Jesus Freaks."
Need I say more.
Will you choose popularity or truth?
No Christians aren't perfect. But The one who started it all is.
You would be insane for not following The Spirit of the one true and living God.