For The Birds

 

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Romans 12: 3 NKJV 

I've been amazed lately at the dust up caused by the bans of some top conservatives from certain social media platforms.  Now, were it me I don't think that I would be too outraged as I know the person I am inside.  However, I believe that this goes beyond simple denial of thoughts and speech.  For what we are witnessing now is a generation (s) whose sole social apparatus revolves around their electronic devices.  Believe me, I've known this for awhile.  I see the panic whenever a youngster loses their newest I Phone or somehow forgets their password.  You'd think that the entire world had ended.  Now, I have joined the millions who gather on Facebook as well.  There are times I post my blog page there.  Yet I still have not delved into the Twitter and Instagram world of the internet.  I guess I'm just too old school that way.  Sometimes I wonder, how did we even get to this place?  How did millions of Americans come to the realization that the opinions of so many people who have never met them matter?  I have a co worker whose daughter was somehow deemed not too popular at school and therefore her Facebook page was at  times filled with insults.  Again, how did we get here?  I come from a time where we went out into the world to meet people.  I remember people who gathered at bus stops and checkout lanes would open up in conversation.  Not so much anymore.  With the advent of the coronavirus as a national tragedy, more and more people are turning to the internet for their social needs.  This is wrong in so many ways.  Suddenly we're beset with millions of people online screaming LOOK AT ME!  Like I said, maybe I'm just too old school.  

So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; "and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.  "But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.'  Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.  "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 14: 7 - 11 NKJV 

The other day while at the gym I was surprised to have someone say that they had noticed me coming in quite often and complimented my resolve.  Let me tell you, I value conversations like this more than a like on Facebook.  This is genuine, one on one communication that I feel we are slowly losing in this country.  Yes, I know that there are virus restrictions, I get it.  Yet this shift to a digitized social interaction has been coming for some time now.  Will we finally come to a place where all human social interaction is done over a computer screen?  I fear that day.  Even now, in the midst of nationwide lockdowns, we are hearing stories of the increase in suicide, domestic violence and depression among our population.  The alarm bells are ringing.  Can there be any doubt that people are longing to return once again to conversation and interaction?  Our weekly men's group has now been relegated to some sorry video conference platform.  Where we used to meet every week to catch up with one another, is now simply a video discussion with barely little interaction.  Yeah, that sucks.  Our church services have also been forced to go the online video service route as well.  Which, in my opinion, will lead to a decline in congregation sizes and a rise in more people in need of the Lord.  Indeed, there are plenty of opportunities out there to share the gospel of Christ digitally.  Yet somehow I doubt that this is what Jesus had in mind. 

For do I now persuade men, or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Galatians 1: 10 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Happiness Is...

 Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, Rejoice! 

Philippians 4: 4 NKJV

Back in the day some PR genius discovered a swanky new slogan which became a national rage.  He simply attached the words "Happiness is" to things that seemingly made other people happy.  Soon, there were bumper stickers and T shirts everywhere with phrases from Happiness is a warm puppy to Happiness is finally being divorced.  It seems that everyone was interested in letting others know just what made them happy.  I once had a shirt with the phrase "Happiness is playing hockey," it was great.  I was reminded of those times this week when I saw a young lady at the gym sporting a shirt with a smiley face on the front.  Of course, I wasn't sure if she was trying to let everyone know she was happy or that she simply liked smiling faces.  Personally, I would be all for people to once again start wearing shirts that advertised what made them happy.  Then at least we would know.  If we we were to do such a thing, just how many shirts or bumper stickers would you see out there proclaiming "Happiness is knowing Jesus?"  Now, I don't want to generalize, but I've seen some pretty unhappy Christians in my time.  Hell, I've been unhappy many a time as well.  I would say that knowing Christ, or even Christ in us, does not automatically make us the happiest person in the world.  However, it is definitely a good place to begin.  I think that it is a common misconception that once we become a Christian that we somehow began to walk around with a permanent smile on our faces.  Maybe for some people this might work, but not for me.  For even though we may believe and trust in God, we are still subject to the range of human emotions which our heavenly Father saw fit to create us with.  That's right, everything which we are has been lovingly created by God {Genesis 2:7}.  So, can we therefore theorize that whatever it is that makes God happy will make us happy as well?  Possibly.  Do we not seek justice, fairness and love?  My friends, our heavenly Father adores all of these things.  I would say that many of the very same things which make our own hearts glad also are dear to the Father as well.  I say many of the things because there are still those times where we continue to take joy in what is wrong.  Would the Father celebrate our alcoholism or drug addictions?  Probably not.  Then again, do these things truly make us happy?

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.  "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.  "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.  "You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.  "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."

John 15: 9 - 15 NKJV 

I can recall more than a few bad behaviors that I've indulged in.  None of them I'm sure made my heavenly Father happy.  But I'm pretty sure I know what it is that makes the Father glad.  Jesus shared this truth with us more than a few times.  We're told that if we keep the commandments of Jesus that we will abide in His love {John 15:9}.  I think we can pretty much guarantee that if we know and follow Christ that God will indeed be happy.  I wouldn't put it past God, were He into such things, to sport a T shirt claiming "Happiness is he who knows my Son".  I was thinking this week of something along those lines.  What is it that makes me happy?  I mean, REALLY makes me happy.  Well, I'm usually happy at my happy place a the local gym.  Writing makes me happy, as if that was not already obvious.  Yet, one thing that makes me happy beyond measure is that I am no longer beholden to those things I dabbled in the past which I thought made me happy.  Many things with which I passed my time which had no benefit to my well being.  I cannot ever get those moments back, but I can realize that God brought me to that place for a reason, and that reason was to show me that those things were not in my best interests.  These days, I can honestly say that Happiness is being Jesus.  The apostle Paul could, and did, proclaim the very same thing {Galatians 2:20}.  Think to yourself that you have a new bright yellow T shirt.  On the front of the shirt is a short phrase that only you can complete.  Happiness is....

Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37: 4 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Time Sucks

 

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit;" Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

James 4: 13 -14 NKJV 

I learned a new saying which I have applied to my own life some time back.  I'm not sure if the guy invented it, as it seems like a common knowledge thing.  Anyway, a fitness guy I follow mentioned the term "time sucks."  Time sucks?  Whoever heard of such a thing?  Well, it turns out that when you learn his definition of what he was referencing then you might just be familiar with a few time sucks in your own life.  See, time sucks are those things in life which occupy our time and keep us from the things that are important.  For me, my time sucks were pornography and surfing the internet...for pornography.  I have a coworker who spends a good deal of his time online with sports betting and fantasy football...time suck.  I've been there, we find that place where we feel comfortable and it becomes our go to comfort zone.  I get it.  When we're in our own time suck, the cares of life are of little or no consequence.  That in no way means that they go away, just that our attention is elsewhere.  It might be something as harmless as watching a tv show at night, reading a good magazine or going out for a few drinks.  It's wherever we find the comfort to spend our time.  The larger question is, what are our time sucks keeping us from?  Family time?  Quiet time with the Lord?  Time spent of important projects?  It could be any number of things.  Now, I've heard more than a few people over the years make reference to the phrase "idol worship" when describing these behaviors.  Well, if you can define a idol as anything that keeps our attention away from God then that may be true.  I believe that in our hearts we know what the right things are to engage with our time.  Which is how I overcame a major time suck I had been facing for years.  Read on.  

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

Like I said, for years I had faced my own time suck of dealing with pornography issues.  Much of my time was spent in videos, magazines and online images.  To give you an idea of how far back this went, most of my dabbling into porn was done with videos and magazines as Al Gores internet had not yet been developed!  That was back in the day.  However, slowly I began to see the emergence of God into my life.  Don't get me wrong, I was still into porn, but God was certainly knocking at my door.  I hate to say that my own physical condition had a hand in my emergence from a pornography addiction, but that's exactly what happened.  A pastor friend of mine one day introduced me to a Christian brother who was pretty much into hardcore fitness and activity.  That was HIS time suck so it seems.  Like I said, we all have our own places where we spend our free time.  What my friend showed me was that I was able to do the activities I long ago thought I couldn't.  What was stopping me was...me.  Thus began the slow process of transforming one of my major time sucks from destructive...to constructive.  After all, that is what's all about, right?  Another huge realization came when I discovered the truth of who I was as a man.  I wasn't the out of shape, porn browsing junkie that I for so long thought I was.  For lack of a better explanation...I am Jesus.  The apostle Paul assures us of this reality in Galatians {Galatians 2:20}.  These days my time sucks consists of trips to the local gym at least 4 times a week.  These days my time sucks consist of finding new and healthier ways to nourish myself.  Through it all, Christ Jesus is in me.

~Scott~ 

More Than Words

 

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Romans 15: 4 NKJV 

If anyone has read my page for more than in passing, you would notice that I often quote my scriptures from the New King James version of the bible.  It's not really a coincidence, for at my desk is a copy of a Charles Stanley study bible in the NKJV translation.  Yes, I was a big Charles Stanley fan back in the day.  So, why does all of this matter in the big scheme of Christianity?  Well, it seems that sooner or later the question will pop up in Christian circles over which bible translation is the "most" accurate or holds better to the original text.  Honestly, I have no idea.  The reason that I use the NKJV in my study is that it sounds more...lifelike.  I tried working with the King James version, but there were far too many thee's and thou's for me to deal with.  That was just the language of the day.  So, again, why does all of this chatter matter?  Is it really that important to the Lord which translation we get His word from?  I think not.  A good friend of mine who shall remain nameless and continues the frustrating practice of answering questions with even more questions (despite my own tendency to do the same) has taken to using the Concordant version of scripture in the vain hopes that this version would somehow give us a glimpse into the meaning of scripture.  I remain unconvinced.  We're told that ALL scripture is of benefit to us {2 Timothy 3:16}.  I take that to mean my NKJV, the concordant and, yes, even that silly Hawaii bible from a few years back.  So, if all scripture is used for basically the same benefit, why our struggle to get the most accurate true to the gospel version?  Well, we naturally want to know what the writers of the scripts intended when they wrote the scriptures.  So, we created for ourselves concordances for the scriptures.  Now, it seems to me that what we've been seeking all along with all of these different translations is clarification.  What did the writers mean to say?  That can be a sticky topic when you get into different languages such as Hebrew, Greek and other dialects.  Remember this, however, it is not the scriptures which have changed, we've changed the scriptures to suit our own thoughts.

For prophesy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1: 21 NKJV

I've often wondered what portions of my go to text of the NKJV are simply added to suit the thoughts of the day.  That is, the attitudes of those who transcribed it.  It's no secret that our own thoughts, feelings and beliefs can and do influence how we ultimately see things.  Some call this our "filter."  I have a filter, and most assuredly the translators of the scriptures had their own filters as well.  Do these filters change at all the meaning of scripture?  I would say no.  Like a political spin doctor, there have been those who have added their own spin to the texts we often read.  How many of you grew up reading the old testament and coming away with the idea that God was angry and vengeful?  This God who provided for the birth of Christ Jesus and the washing of my sins was vengeful?  Yet we see this attitude added to many a Sunday sermon.  The scriptures didn't change...we changed.  I'm of the belief that if we are seeking the meaning of scripture we should go to the author Himself.  Think about it, who would know more about scripture than God?  I truly believe that through His revelation that He will open our understanding to whatever passages we are wondering about.  Now, will God use different translations of scripture to reveal Himself?  Absolutely!  I recall reading the words of the apostle Paul as the reality of Christ Jesus was revealed by the Lord in me {Galatians 2:20}.  Could the Lord have chosen a different translation to reveal this truth?  Yes, but He chose to use that which I had on hand.  It was through these words of Paul that I came to the realization of Christ in me.  The importance is not on which translation He used, but on the result He achieved in me.  It is through scripture that He will be revealed.  

"You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of me.  "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."

John 5: 39 - 40 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Why I Believe

 When Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"  He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"  And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you."  Then he said, "Lord, I believe!"  And he worshipped Him.

John 9: 35 - 38 NKJV 

The story of the blind man healed by Jesus we find in John 9 is a interesting contrast to the beliefs of that  day.  On the one hand, we have the man who was healed by Jesus because he had been blind from birth {John 9:1}.  Immediately, the disciples of Jesus ask Him THE question.  "Who has sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" {John 9:2}  What was Jesus' answer?  Neither the man nor his parents sinned.  I find this passage interesting because all too often when we hear of someone in distress or dire circumstances, our immediate thought turns to what sin they could have possibly done to anger God enough that He would afflict them.  I often encountered this while I was in church as well.  Many a Sunday I heard more than a few friends would ask me what part of my life God was upset with.  Is this how we should react whenever hardships come?  I guess the better question would be, are those hardships in our lives a matter of Gods punishment upon us?  Well, if you hold to the concept of a angry, vengeful God then your beliefs might just fall in line with this mindset.  I don't see things in that way.  My own view of God is one of who He truly is.  Of the very nature of God.  The apostle John assures us that instead of anger, the Lords true nature is love {1 John 4:8}.  Are we to believe that a loving God continually finds ways to punish those who fall out of line?  Did Jesus look upon the blind man as having sinned and therefore deserving of punishment?  No, His first thought was of restoring his sight.  From the scriptures we can see plainly that it was not Jesus who condemned, but the Pharisees of the day {John 9:16}.  In the end, it was the question of Jesus that changed the mans life forever...Do you believe?

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10: 9 - 10 NKJV 

I have run across some pretty interesting takes on Christianity in my lifetime.  However, I can still confidently say that I believe in Jesus.  I have seen the Lord work in ways only He understands, yet I still believe.  Some call this blind faith, I prefer to think of it as knowing the truth of who I really am.  There are a few simple facts which support my beliefs.  I was created in Gods own image {Genesis 1:26}.  Not only that, but it was God who breathed into me the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  From the very start God has been a intimate part of who I am.  But that was back in the days of creation, right?  Ok, I get that.  Yet the apostle Paul assures us of our identity as well.  It is Paul who introduces us to Christ in us {Galatians 2:20}.  Believe me, there are plenty of haters running around in the world who will try to have you believe that Jesus could never be one with a sinner.  Well, that might have been true in the days before Jesus, but not now.  For Jesus defeated sin once and for all {Romans 6:6-11}.  Could you stand behind a belief that claimed that your sins were forgiven by the death of Jesus on the cross and yet still cling to the belief that you are a sinner?  Yeah, me neither.  Yet this is the message of more than a few modern church leaders.  I prefer to see the Lord for who He truly is.  That through His love for me He formed me in His image.  That in His love He provided for my life in Him.  That is why I believe. 

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 

1 John 4: 20 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Learning To Let Go

 

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6: 9 NKJV 

There is a common phrase out there that I was reminded of this week.  In fact, it is one my mother used to remind me of every so often when my own impatience would overtake me.  Let go and let God.  Yes, let go and let God do the effort.  Sounds simple right?  Yet there are far too many occasions where I (and more than a few others I'm assuming) continue to work in the arena which the Lord is more suited for.  I get it.  My mother would tell me a story every so often of when I was young and would be working on one model airplane project or another.  There were times when I would get frustrated at the parts not fitting together that I would lose whatever patience I had.  She would then suggest that I take a break from what I was doing.  No!  Not until the project is finished.  See, I wanted to fix it.  I wanted to make right what I saw as a bad situation.  In my older years, I've often seen the very same behavior in more than a few situations I get involved in.  Situations which have one clear cut answer.  Let go and let God.  For one thing, it sure as heck would spare me a lot of stress and turmoil.  But why stress out over something which is better left to the Lord to manage?  Because I want to fix it that's why.  In some ways I'm still that little kid struggling with that model airplane.  So where is the line drawn in those situations where we are better off allowing God to do what He does best?  Perhaps to better understand this is to understand the words of the apostle Paul in his description of the truth of Christ Jesus.  See, Paul believed that it was Jesus who was living through him {Galatians 2:20}.  Paul understood that it was ultimately Jesus who did the heavy lifting in his life.  Whatever it is that we are dealing with.  Whatever situation has us flustered.  It is Jesus who is there to work on our behalf if we allow Him to.  Let go and let God.  

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

I can honestly say that I don't believe that it is the desire of Jesus that we attempt to handle each and every situation alone.  It is Jesus who instructs us not to worry over such things {Matthew 6:25}.  I feel that a big reason that many try to work in situations best suited for God is the mistaken belief that we are alone.  If I don't do something then who will?  Well, we're not alone.  We never have been.  It is Christ Jesus who shares in each and every thing which we do.  Therefore, when we reach that point where things may seem a bit overwhelming, it is Jesus who is there with us.  For those who have realized the truth of Christ in us, letting go and letting God is as simple as allowing Christ to work through us.  Why should we stress when we have Jesus working with us?  Maybe that's why He didn't want us to worry.  Because when we worry, we tend to try to fix things ourselves.  What good is it for me to get frustrated when Jesus is there to tell me, "I got this."  To live as one with Jesus is to know that there will never be any part of our life that He is not intimately involved in.  Once we understand this, the daily struggles of life don't seem so hard anymore.  Let go and let God.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5: 6 - 7 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Scrooged

 

We are of God.  He who knows God hears us; he who is  not of God does not hears us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 John 4: 6 NKJV 

One of my favorite movies of all time is the film A Christmas Carrol with George C Scott as the venerable Scrooge.  It is Dicken's tale of redemption during the holidays.  I was pondering this film the other day as I thought about how we ourselves lose sight of our own identity at times.  It happens more than we'd like it to I'm sure.  Those moments where our flesh takes over and we lash out at others or treat someone wrongly.  We've been Scrooged.  Of course, all of this boils down to our own identity and being that person who we know that we are.  Was Scrooge really that selfish Ogre the first part of the movie showed him to be?  Or, as with many a Christian, had he simply forgotten who it is that he was inside.  I suggest that he had merely forgotten himself, only because I have been Scrooged more than a few times in my own life.  That's right, I have forgotten who it is that I am on more than a few occasions.  This begs the question, who are we?  Who am I?  Who is this man that I so easily forget and allow someone else to take over?  Well, perhaps the apostle Paul explains it best when he speaks to Christ Jesus living in us {Galatians 2:20}.  Did Paul, who went by Saul back in the day, know who he was as he persecuted the early church?  I think not.  He was unaware of his true identity.  However, he soon came to his own realization on a road to Damascus.  It was here where, as Paul tells it, that God chose to "Reveal His Son in me" {Galatians 1:15-16}.  That always seemed strange to me, that God would allow the man Saul to persecute His church so viciously before finally revealing to him who he really was.  Keep in mind that this had less to do with the church and more to do with Saul.  At the end of the day, Paul became one of the greatest defenders of Christ we have ever known.  Many have seen the love of the Father who revealed Himself in one had been so despised as Saul was.  

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

I believe that this realization of Christ Jesus in us to be one of the most difficult concepts to understand.  Paul, in fact, referred to it as the "Mystery among the gentiles" {Colossians 1:27}.  I came to the realization of Christ in me a few years ago, and have struggled with many questions ever since.  We can read it through the scriptures.  We can claim to understand.  However, there are times when all it takes is a trigger and we suddenly forget who it is that we are.  That trigger may be a life event or someone provoking us to anger, yet if we fail to stop and realize who we are we will be caught up in something we will soon regret.  I, for one, do not want to be known as one who dwells in the behaviors of the world.  That's not who I really am.  Each and every time I have fallen into such behaviors I have regretted my decision to do so.  It may sound silly, but as we are faced with different situations, we do well to stop and take stock of what we are facing.  Knee jerk reactions do not do well here.  Then, as we contemplate our actions we ask ourselves the question, "Is this who I really am?"  Believe me, it does work eventually.  Eventually we will become so in tune with our knowledge of our own identity that we will instantly know Christ who is in us.  We will know in an instant whether our actions will glorify Christ in us...or reveal our flesh side once again.

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

~Scott~ 

The Good Man

 

"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."  Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."  Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, show us the Father?" 

John 14: 7 - 9 NKJV 

I had a interesting correspondence with a good friend who chooses to remain nameless this week about the perceptions we have of God and Jesus.  How is it that, as believers, we tend to see God as angry or resentful, yet we see Jesus as loving and caring.  Is Jesus somehow the kinder, gentler version of God?  Well, we know from scripture that God and Jesus...are one in the same {John 14:9, John 1:1, Hebrews 1:3}.  Therefore, when we see Jesus, we see the Father as well.  This is the very same lesson Jesus taught Philip when His disciple asked for evidence of the Father {John 10:30, John 14:7}.  Yet, all too often we hold God to a much harsher standard than we do Jesus.  We see God as a stern, angry or resentful.  However, when we see Jesus we see Him as kind and gentle.  Why is that?  Well, I believe that a lot of our own perceptions of God is based on what we hear about Him and our own life experiences.  Unfortunately, most of what we hear about the nature of God comes from church teachings.  How many of you have sat through Sunday sermons where God is claimed to be a stern and/or jealous God?  I know I have.  Indeed, if our understanding of God is based only on the old testament, one could be forgiven for having such a dark view of the Lord.  However, remember that the old testament also included the prophet Isaiah's foretelling of the birth of Jesus, the savior of all mankind {Isaiah 7:14}.  So you see, the old testament wasn't all fire and brimstone after all.  Through it's pages we are reminded of Gods true nature, of His love for His creation.  The same God you have such a dark view of is the same God who provided for the Israelites in the desert, redeemed king David and saved Israel's bacon on more than one occasion.  But what about that mistake in the garden of Eden, you say?  You mean our mistake?  There is no doubt that Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, buying into the lie of Satan.  The lie which said that they could be "Like God."  Well, if you look into scripture you will see that they already were like their creator.  Created in His very image.  I like to think that Gods love for His creation prevented Him from punishing Adam and Eve with death for their transgression.  Although, in a way, that death would come later.

Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Hebrews 1: 3 - 4 NKJV 

I will say, that in my own readings of the new testament I cannot recall ever coming away with a negative view of God.  So, is it just in the old testament that our negative feelings are centered?  I wouldn't go so far as to attach a negative feeling to the scriptures, for even in the old testament we see plenty of times where God reveals His one true nature.  What is His one true nature?  Love {1 John 4:8}.  Yes, despite all of the fire and brimstone and grim warnings and dire circumstances, God has never once strayed from His one true nature toward us.  We know this because we know that God, and Jesus as well, is the same yesterday, today and forever {Hebrews 13:8}.  Yet, when we stand Jesus side by side with God, one is given a more negative view than the other.  Knowing what I know about scripture and Gods one true nature, I believe that these feelings we might have about God are a result of our own experiences.  We may have a bad church experience, been judged wrongly by Christian friends or felt let down by the Lord.  All of these can lead to a negative view of God.  Our own filter has become clouded.  I get it.  I've been there more than a few times.  One of those times I became so angry with God for allowing my mom to die that I thought I would literally give up on Him.  Now, that's a pretty harsh view against one who has never once given up on me.  In time, I had to clean my lens to totally understand why God would not answer my prayers over my mom.  My prayers were based on my needs, I wanted her to stay.  However, Gods actions were based on His love nature, that she no longer be in pain.  Had I understood that earlier perhaps it would have made her passing easier.  So it is that our own experiences with the Lord can shape how we feel about Him overall.  We do well to remember that Jesus is the express image of God {Hebrews 1:3}.  When we look upon Jesus, we see the Fathers one true nature manifested through Him.  Now that's a good man.

The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."  So he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.  And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them.  Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"  Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.  Do not be unbelieving, but believing."  And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and My God!"  Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 

John 20: 25 - 29 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

A God We Never Expected

 

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." 

John 5: 14 NKJV 

Growing up in the church, I learned quickly just how I was supposed to behave if I wanted God to be on my side.  Obviously, there was a slew of rules and behaviors to follow to ensure that the Lord would bless and protect me.  I needed to avoid everything from stealing to telling the most innocent of lies.  For if I crossed that line and did something bad, I could be assured that God would not be happy with me.  If God was not happy with me, then bad things in my life would surely follow.  We expected God to act when we acted out.  It was that simple.  After all, we were sinners, right?  Didn't God need to keep discipline in the ranks somehow?  I mean, what good were followers of God if we misbehaved all of the time?  That is a good question, and one that deserves an answer.  I don't know about your church experiences, but I was always led to believe that good behavior and the Lords favor went hand in hand.  When we behave well, the Lord blesses us.  That's a good story if you can sell it.  It turns out that it's the same story the institutional church has been pushing for years.  I can recall walking into church on any given Sunday morning hoping to find solace from Christian friends for whatever trials I was facing in my life.  Well, it never failed that there was always more than a few people who were convinced that I had committed some offense in order for God to allow hardship into my life.  Somehow God was angry with me because of my behavior and now He was punishing me.  Of course, this is the very same God who punished David and the people of Israel when they stepped out of line as well.  Now it was my turn to feel the wrath of a God who was not pleased with whatever it is I had done to displease Him.  Does anyone see a issue with that line of thinking?  That the same God who loved me enough to save me from myself would somehow harbor enough anger and resentment against me that He would punish me?  I remember thinking one day in my late twenties, "God, did you lie to me?"  'Was all of that talk about love and the forgiveness of sins just something to get me to follow you?"  If we trust God at His word, we know that all He has ever spoken to us is true.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4: 7 - 8 NKJV 

How many people out there grew up knowing a distorted image of God?  I know I did.  Like I said, I believed that God was there to keep watch over me for when I misbehaved.  As a result, I came away with a image that God was a God who would just as well punish me than forgive me.  This is the distorted image of God far too many people carry with them.  Today, I know a God who loves me and has provided for my sins to be eliminated from His sight {Romans 6: 11}.  So what happened to change my perspective of God?  Well, some might call it His revelation, but I believe that it is more about seeing God for who He really is.  There are a lot of things that can influence our own view of God.  Our own bad experiences, world events and tragedy can all have a hand in our seeing who the Lord is.  Yet, if we listen to those who knew Him best, we see a different reality.  How is it that you see Jesus?  Funny, but growing up I had a much kinder view of Jesus than I did of God.  See, Jesus came to heal and to forgive us of our sins.  He's not like God who waits and watches for us to screw up.  Yet, Jesus and God are one in the same.  That's right, when we look upon Jesus, we see the Father as well {John 10:30}.  Jesus claimed that He could do nothing which He had not seen the Father do {John 5:19}.  It is impossible, therefore, to carry the belief that Jesus and God are somehow separated.  Jesus carries the characteristics of the Father and vice versa.  We also carry within us the characteristics of Jesus.  The apostle Paul has proclaimed the truth of Christ that it is Jesus who lives in us {Galatians 2:20}.  So, if you would still hold to the belief that God is waiting for you to screw up so that He can punish you, you will be surprised to know that when the Lord looks upon you He sees His Son.  That's right, when God looks upon us all He sees is Jesus who lives in us.  You might be even more surprised to know that when we approach the Lord to seek forgiveness for our sins that we will be surprised at His response to our request..."What sin?"  

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 

1 John 4: 16 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Law Breaker

 

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take your bed and walk."  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath.  

Have you ever thought of Jesus as a law breaker?  As a common criminal?  If not then thankfully you do not possess the mindset of the early Jewish authorities and teachers of the law.  See, back in the day it was common knowledge that you didn't work on Saturdays.  That was seen as the Sabbath, the day the Lord rested from His labors of creating the heavens and the earth.  Well, all it would take was a sick man to toss a monkey wrench into the years of tradition that the Jews had been following.  One day Jesus came upon a sick man ling near the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.  Legend has it that a angel would come down, stir the waters of the pool and whoever stepped into the water first would be cured of whatever ailment they had.  You can imagine the race to be the first into the water when that happened.  As Jesus was passing the pool, He asked this sick man, "Do you want to be made well?"  Now, I'm sure that the very last thing on the sick mans mind was that this was the Sabbath.  Was this man who had tried and tried again to be the first into the pool and be healed supposed to simply tell Jesus, "No thank you, sir, for it's the Sabbath and any kind of work would certainly be illegal."  We're told that this man had been afflicted with his infirmity for thirty eight years {John 5:5}.  I can imagine that in the moment the Sabbath was the last thing on his mind.  So it was that Jesus healed the sick man and became a law breaker {John 5:8}.  Of course, when the Jewish authorities got wind of these works of Jesus, they immediately sought to kill Him {John 5:16}.  Jesus knew that He had done nothing wrong.  In fact, He knew that what He had just done was dismantle one of the traditions which works against us.  It's been said that the law is only as good as those who follow it.  I say that sooner or later, ANY law will be broken by someone somewhere.  How many times have you driven through a stop sign?  Those are only mans laws you say?  How many times have you taken the Lords name in vain?  How many times have you looked at a woman with not so good intentions?  If I were following the law, tomorrow would be the Sabbath for me.  Would I turn Jesus aside from saving me simply because it's a day long held by tradition?  Better yet, would Jesus Himself refrain from saving you on the Sabbath?  I think we already know the answer to that one.

Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.  "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel."

John 5: 19 - 20 NKJV 

Why had Jesus healed the sick man on the Sabbath?  I don't believe that Jesus chose that day in order to heal the man simply to stick it to the legalistic Jews.  The Jews who seemingly valued their traditions above all else that was important.  No, Jesus healed the man because He could.  This man was suffering, and Jesus eased his suffering.  This is what Jesus does.  Why would we be surprised that He would offer a healing touch to someone without regard to what day it was.  If you were sick wouldn't you wish Jesus to work in your life no matter the day?  Where is it that Jesus even got the notion to do such things?  Well, He tells the Jews assembled to accuse Him that He only does what He sees the Father do {John 5:19}.  In the minds of the Jewish authorities, Jesus has born the ultimate sin.  Not only had He worked on the Sabbath, but He claimed that God was His Father, making Him equal with God.  Blasphemy!  Now, if we were adhering to the Jewish law, I would be toast by now.  For I continually recognize Christ Jesus as the Son of the living God.  It is Jesus who tells His accusers that He and the Father have been working {John 5:17}.  I feel what most people lose sight of in these passages is the truth  by which Jesus explains Himself.  For Jesus does only what He sees the Father do.  How many of us picked up behaviors from our own parents that we continue to use today?  I have a friend who is a pretty good gardener.  He learned that from working with his father.  I have yet another friend who is good at working on cars.  Again, a skill he learned from his own father.  As believers, we have the opportunity to learn from the Father as Jesus has.  We do this through Christ Jesus in us.  The apostle Paul explains that it is Jesus who lives in us {Galatians 2:20}.  As Jesus learned from watching the Father, so will we learn from knowing Jesus.  

~Scott~ 

Just Like Me

 

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  

Romans 8: 10 - 11 NKJV 

I've been curious lately as to how many well meaning believers can claim that they know Jesus.  I mean, that they REALLY know Jesus.  For there is  a running joke among myself and a few friends of mine that there indeed two Jesus'.  We have the Jesus which every mainstream church pastor preaches on Sunday after Sunday.  The Jesus who was born, grew up and began His ministry and was then crucified.  Of course, that wasn't the end of Jesus, for He was raised up after three days and ascended into heaven to be seated at the Fathers side.  Pretty accurate, I can go along with this view of Jesus for the most part.  Then we have the Jesus who we've all read about, but with one big difference.  This is the Jesus I have come to know.  This is Jesus as He truly is.  Perhaps why most believers seldom hear of this alternative Christ is because He is seldom spoken of in church circles.  Yet, it is through scripture that we learn of the truth of Jesus.  The apostle Paul first introduces us to the reality of Christ in the book of Galatians.  Now, we all have heard of the man Saul and of his relentless persecution of the early church.  Saul may well have become one of the churches great villains...were it not for Jesus.  For on that dusty road to Damascus, Saul was introduced to the real Christ Jesus.  It was Paul who told of His conversion that day, of how God chose the exact time to introduce him to the truth of who it is he really was {Galatians 1:15-16}.  Who was this Jesus whom Paul came to know?  This is a Jesus who is not so far removed from us as we were meant to believe.  This is a Jesus who is just like me {Galatians 2:20}.  Just like me?  It was Paul who spoke to the reality of Christ by claiming that "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."  Knowing this, how can I be anyone else but Jesus?  Of course, this is a huge step for many believers who are much more comfortable with the Jesus of the church.

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are disqualified.  But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. 

2 Corinthians 13: 5 - 6 NKJV 

For those who have longed to come to know a real relationship with Jesus, how much more real can it get than to realize that you are just like Jesus?  Mind you, the truth is out there, although it might have not yet been revealed in us as it was in Paul.  Remember, it is the Father who brings us this revelation of the truth of who we really are.  More importantly, it is the realization that Jesus is not far removed from our lives as the church has taught us.  Jesus is not just sitting in heaven looking down upon us just waiting for us to screw something up.  It was the prayer of Jesus in the garden that we and the Father would be one with Him {John 17:21}.  This was the desire of Christ, that He would have a relationship with us.  Not only that, but that our lives would be in His as well.  This is what Paul was speaking to in Galatians.  The realization I have of Christ in me has brought me into a new understanding of who Jesus is.  He is not the punisher who calls us out for our sins.  Remember, the sin issue is water under the bridge at this point.  Not only did Jesus die on the cross to wash away our sins, but He dealt a death blow to the sin issue as well.  We are now, as Paul tells us, to consider ourselves dead to sin {Romans 6:11}.  The truth about Jesus is not limited to what we hear from our pastor.  The truth about Jesus is that He is just like me. 

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

 

The Battle Within

 

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.  All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 

1 Corinthians 6: 12 NKJV 

I once knew a African American man who was a coworker of mine.  Now, this man was indeed a good and positive person...when he was sober.  For his greatest weakness was retreating to the bar each day after work to, as he called it, "work on his issues."  In the end, he was fired for a DUI he received while on vacation to California.  I've written many times of the evils of addiction, so I figured one more wouldn't hurt.  Perhaps this time somewhere out there someone would hear what I have to say.  I've known plenty of people who have been caught up in the evils of one addiction or another.  I myself battled a addiction to pornography for years.  So, what made me want to delve once again into this issue?  My old coworker.  I often recall him telling anyone who would listen that, as a black man, that he would not be enslaved to anyone.  I get it.  Yet, in his struggle not to be under the control of any man, he came under the control of something far worse.  Back in the day, seldom did I think of my own addiction as being enslaved, yet that is exactly what I was.  When it needed me, I was there.  If you are entangled in a addiction of your own, you might not feel as if you are a slave.  You might even feel as if you can kick your habit any time you want.  But I will disagree with that line of thinking.  Remember, I've been where you are today.  I've already walked that road.  The addiction I had did indeed enslave me.  Although I knew that it was wrong, it's pull was so strong that I continued in its behaviors.  It became a safe place for me, where I could retreat to when things were bad.  I didn't get drunk, high or abusive, but I was as addicted as any drug user has ever been.  What happened that changed my mind on what I was doing?  Simple...Jesus happened.  More importantly, knowing Jesus and the man I really was inside.  I believe that at the heart of every addiction is our own false belief of who it is we really are.  Just because someone abuses alcohol because he feels like he is a failure does not make him so.  A drug user may be enslaved to his addiction because he feels as if he has nothing to live for.  Again, a false belief.  

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 

Galatians 5: 1 NKJV 

A 2014 survey found that 69% of Christian men admitted to viewing pornography at least once a week.  For me it was a staggering statistic.  For any pastor it should be a warning sign that he is not doing his job!  How do I come to this assumption?  The same way I came to the moment that I realized that what I was enslaved to was not who I really was.  There are no better ways for new addicts to be introduced to their addictions than through feelings of inadequacy.  How many alcoholics and drug users are out there among us who simply have a low opinion of themselves.  I get it, I've been there.  When I dabbled in pornography, there was nobody there to remind me of how bad of a person I was.  However, as I found out, that feeling is momentary.  As the effects of our drug of choice wear off, we're back once again to the reality we try so hard to avoid.  But I would like to introduce you to the reality which you may have never heard of.  A reality which I'm almost certain your pastor has never introduced you to.  That is our reality in Christ Jesus.  Those who know my own story know that my epiphany moment came a few years back as I was about to enter yet another strip club here in Portland.  It was like I'd done so many times before.  But this time was different.  This time as I reached the door, something within me began to speak to me.  That message was, "This isn't the man who you are."  I have zero doubt that Jesus chose that moment to introduce Himself to me.  Yes, I knew who Jesus was, just not in a personal way.  So, if I wasn't this guy who walked into strip clubs and watched pornography, who was I?  Well, a good Christian friend helped me with that one.  I was now on a journey which the apostle Paul referred to as the "Mystery among the Gentiles" {Colossians 1:27}.  It is Paul who introduces us to who we truly are in Gods eyes.  When God looks upon us, He sees His one and only Son.  For it is Christ who now lives through us {Galatians 2:20}.  Can Jesus be enslaved to a addiction?  Absolutely.  However, once we realize who it is we truly are inside we start down the path of not only knowing Jesus better, but ourselves as well.  

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1: 27 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Our Season Of Discontent

 They are of the world.  Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.  We are of God.  He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.  By this we know the spirt of truth and the spirit of error.

1 John 4: 5 - 6 NKJV 

Most everyone has been witness to the events which occurred in our nations capital this week.  Whatever side of the political fence that you sit on, you need to carefully consider whether you are in support of such anarchy.  Now, these demonstrations claimed to be part of a large movement in support of president Donald Trump, but I feel that that is where the similarities end.  There are also reports that this demonstration was infiltrated by more than a few antifa agitators.  Only a complete investigation will reveal what really happened.  So, how is it that we've come to this point?  Well, from my own personal experience, we heard what we have been wanting to hear for many years.  The election of Donald Trump in 2016 was spurred by his promise to put America and our citizens first before anything else.  These words resonated with a large swath of a nation so accustomed to the empty promises of Washington.  This man was speaking to our hearts.  Whether this was a unique campaign strategy or simply Donald Trump being who he is only he knows.  I am inclined to believe that he was being real and honest with the voters who were listening to his every word.  What I, and a good number of Americans, have lost sight of is that Donald Trump is just a man.  President elect Biden...is simply a man.  Despite all of his self inflating ego, Barack Obama was...just a man.  So, are we to believe that one man can indeed alter the nation and ultimately change history?  Perhaps, but I'd bet that all of those marchers in Washington this week weren't focused on the One who can truly change a mans life.  That being Christ Jesus.  I've listened to president Trump speak, and he says a lot of positive things about our country and his Christian faith.  He does indeed appear to be a man who knows the Lord.  Yet, knowing the Lord is a long way from being the Lord.  Now, I've never accepted Donald trump as a replacement for my heavenly Father, but I've given the words he's spoken a paramount, almost heavenly devotion.  After all, he was saying what I longed to hear our political leaders say.  We do well to remember that it is the Lord who is ultimately in control of everything we will ever experience in our lives.  

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4:  3 - 4 NKJV 

I will say that I don't believe that Donald Trump ever misled his followers with falsehoods.  What I will admit is that those who listened to him speak were so glad to finally hear his words spoken that they forgot that he was indeed...just a man.  I will point out that other men have enthralled crowds with sound words before.  Men like Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and our own pontificator Barack Obama.  The apostle Paul warned his young apprentice Timothy about such things in his letter to him.  Paul advised Timothy that there will be many with "itching ears" who will be turned from the truth {2 Timothy 4:3}.  From the events of this past election season, it seems that we indeed have a nation of people with itching ears.  Believe me, the political candidates of tomorrow are taking notes of how this past year went down.  If they aren't they should.  We have not seen the last of a few men who will speak to what it is that we want to hear simply to gain political office.  What has set Donald Trump apart from these hucksters is that he actually did what he said he was going to do.  That will forever remain a part of his legacy.  The deeper question we must now ask ourselves is...where do we place our trust?  Do we trust in the slick words of any political hack that comes along?  Well, if all we seek is anxiety and disappointment then we can do just that.  For me, I would rather place my trust in the one who gave Himself for me {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  I would rather place my trust in knowing that it is Christ Jesus who lives on in me {Galatians 2:20}.  Man can speak to a great many things, and at times his words may seem uplifting for awhile.  However, at the end of the day we do well to remember He in whose image we are all created {Genesis 1:27}.  

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said; "We ought to obey God rather than men." 

Acts 5: 29 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

By Faith

 Luke ~ "How am I supposed to fight?"

Ben Kenobi ~ "Your eyes can deceive you...don't trust them."

I recently watched a little snippet of the "Chosen" series which was showing on my Facebook feed.  Now, one of these days I'll take the time to watch the whole first season, but only if I don't have to enroll in anything to do so.  Yeah, I'm funny like that.  Anyway, in this video clip, Jesus is speaking/teaching a small group of young children when something He said caught my attention.  As Jesus was explaining justice to the children, He told them "There are many things which you do not yet understand about scripture, and that is fine."  What?  Jesus telling children that it's ok not to know the bible?  Yes, because I believe that this fell in line with the message Jesus was giving to all who would take the time to hear Him.  Understand that back in the day, these words of Jesus were so foreign to the people of His time that they often refused to see what it was that was right in front of their noses.  The parables which Jesus used to illustrate His teachings often included references to those He was speaking to.  Of course, through these parables, Jesus was speaking to the people in a way they would understand.  How many times have you been scrolling through the scriptures and suddenly came across a passage that suddenly opens your eyes to a new understanding?  I've been there far too many times.  Why didn't we see this passage before?  Or, if we did, why didn't we understand it better?  Well, for lack of a better explanation, God does not reveal all things at once.  I am a firm believer that we see with our eyes yet believe in our hearts.  Yet, that's not always the case when it comes to knowing and understanding Jesus.  Like many, I've struggled with the prospect of believing in One whom I could not see.  I knew that Jesus existed, but I could not physically see Him to assure myself that He was there.  I was trusting my eyes to verify what I already knew in my own heart to be true.  I saw this carry over into church teaching as well.  Whenever I heard that pastor say "Come Lord Jesus," I immediately was excited at the thought of finally seeing my Savior.  Well, if we go down that road we'll be kicking rocks for a long time.  The trouble is most well meaning Christians have missed the boat.  Instead of waiting for Jesus to arrive we should be happy that He is here.

The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."  So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."  And after eight days His disciples were still inside, and Thomas was with them.  Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, "Peace to you!"  The He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.  Do not be unbelieving, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"  Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

John 20: 25 - 29 NKJV 

So tell me, are you blessed today?  Have you known and trusted in Christ Jesus even though you could not prove Him with your own eyes?  Many believers stake claim to know Christ, yet they chafe at the thought of Jesus being alive today.  I do not blame the believers for this, for the institutional church narrative has long held that there is a divide between Jesus and those who believe in Him.  That barrier is sin.  We read in scripture that all have sinned {Romans 3:23}.  Many well intentioned believers read this passage and right away think that they will always be separate from a God who supposedly loves them.  Yet, here's what else we find in scripture.  We are now dead to our sins {Romans 6:11}.  Not only has that sin barrier been removed from us, but it is Christ Jesus who lives within us today {Galatians 2:20}.  So, who do we trust, the scriptures or the pastors?  Well, the bible is correct, we were once dead in our sin trespasses.  However, that is the old man, our former self before Christ was introduced.  Through Jesus, that old man I once was has been put to death {Romans 6:6}.  What remains is a new creation in Christ {2 Corinthians 5:17}.  It is not with our eyes that we will come to know Christ, but knowing Him in our hearts.  Indeed, God will bless those who believe with the revelation of the knowledge of Christ in us.  This happens when it pleases the Father, for not all things are revealed at once.  

Consequently, faith is out of tidings, yet the tidings through a declaration of Christ.

Romans 10: 17  ~ Concordant scriptures 

~Scott~ 

A Witness For Condemnation

 

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8: 1 NKJV 

I recently saw a video online where a young lady was taking the bold step of giving her own testimony for all the world to see.  Apparently she had been a victim of the worst of pornography as well as feelings of self doubt and condemnation.  I get it.  For those who have read this page before, I've been there.  I've been down that very same road where this young lady was headed.  This indeed proves all which I have heard that the evils of pornography are not just indulged in by the men around us.  For me, my addiction led to all sorts of issue I began to have with myself.  Feelings of low self esteem, self doubt as well as not feeling very worthy.  I could see those feelings in the young lady in this video.  However, if I were to give her just one bit of advice I would tell her to not expect her public testimony to free her from her chains.  At least that's not how it worked for me.  I can remember telling my story a few times while in the grip of my addiction, and not much changed aside from more people knowing what I was dealing with.  Perhaps that was this girls intention in relating her story.  Let me just say that we can tell others our story all day long and it will never come close to healing what it is we are trying to escape.  Those who have been to addiction recovery meetings know this all too well.  Sure, we can attend the meetings and tell everyone what we've been through, but after that meeting is over there will still be those who will indulge their addiction.  What is it about giving our testimonies that somehow leads us to believe that we will be cured of what we're dealing with?  Well, back in the day, a testimony was given by those who wanted to tell the world what God had accomplished in their lives.  Like the Christian practice of baptism.  Baptism has never absolved anyone from their sins.  On the contrary, it is merely a public testament of our faith in the Lord.  The only similarity between baptism and our testimony is that they are both given in public.  It is there where the similarities end.

Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.  Death no longer has dominion over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV 

So, what is the advice that I would give this young lady?  What is it that you're chasing?  What is it that you believe so strongly in your heart that convicts you?  If this young lady were to approach the Lord and ask for forgiveness of her sins, He may just tell her "What sin?"  I am going on the assumption that she is indeed a believer and that she has given her heart to the Lord.  Knowing this, what sin is there that would convict her in the eyes of the Lord?  Did not Jesus come to wipe away our sins {1 John 1:9, Acts 2:38}.  Then there is the reality that there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus {Romans 8:1}.  Indeed, if I feel condemned by sin, have I sinned or have I simply forgotten what it is that Jesus has accomplished in me?  I would say the latter is true.  My sin needed to be dealt with, and it is Jesus who did that.  It is Jesus who became sin on my behalf {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Ask yourself this question, how many times does Jesus need to be crucified?  Almost all Christians would agree that Jesus died once for the forgiveness of all.  Why, then, do we continue to condemn ourselves with the guilt of sin?  The apostle Paul also tells us that we are now dead to sin {Romans 6:11}.  That's right, that sin which someone told you was still with you...is gone.  You are no longer seen as a sinner in the eyes of the Lord.  What does God see when He looks upon us?  He sees His only Son.  Again, Paul assures us of this truth we have in Christ.  We're told that it is Jesus who lives in us {Galatians 2:20}.  So, the truth is that we are dead to sin, God does not condemn us and that we are one with Christ Jesus.  I would hope that somewhere along the line, someone who needs to see this message in their life will read this.  

I and My Father are one.

John 10: 30 NKJV 

~Scott~

A New Day

 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Revelation 21: 4 NKJV 

This is the time of year where most people make predictions for the upcoming new year.  I've tried to lay off that practice this year, for honestly I do not know where my life will soon take me.  I've always thought that new year's resolutions were for those who seem to know exactly where they are headed in life.  Yet, how many of us are indeed certain what tomorrow will bring?  In a year that has shown us so much turmoil and confusion, can we honestly guarantee what the next will bring?  Yet here we stand on the brink of a new day.  If it be the desire of the Lord, I will find myself once again penning my thoughts on times passed 365 days from now.  Once again, I'll put aside any predictions I feel that I need to be made known.  One of my favorite times of day has always been sunrise.  It is here, at the dawn of each new day, that we find a sense of renewal in a way.  Gone are the events of the previous day and, unless we will ourselves to worry over past events, we will soon find that this new day has plenty of worries of its own.  I have a saying that I have incorporated into my exercise regimen; "Tomorrow is another chance for me to do better."  It may sound bland, but it's indeed true.  In fact, I would take that a step further to say that tomorrow is another chance for ALL of us to do better.  Now, do I know what tomorrow will bring?  Not really.  I can, however, make a educated guess as to what the day will be like, based on previous days.  After all, that's all any of us can do, right?  I can do terrible in one of my workouts and immediately declare that "Tomorrow I'll do better!"  Do I know what tomorrow will bring for certain?  No.  So, what is it that keeps me going?  What is it that makes me a so called "glass half full" kind of person?  Well, a lot of my assurance comes from what I believe in my heart to be true.  In a year of uncertainty and lockdowns, I've felt the pain of isolation as we all have.  Yet I still remain true to what I believe, that better times are ahead.  Why?  Because I am not only the worlds worst pessimist, but I know in my heart that God remains on His throne.  I know in my heart that nothing that has or will ever occur will happen apart from the Lords notice.

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not more valuable than they?  "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  "So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'what shall we eat?'  or 'what shall we drink?'  or 'what shall we wear?'  "For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all of these things.  "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Matthew 6: 25 - 34 NKJV 

What is it that you suppose that Jesus ever worried about?  Do you think that He ever worried or fretted about this, that of the other thing?  I do.  I believe that Jesus, being flesh as we are, indeed worried about whatever things a young Jewish boy or teenager would worry about.  Can I imagine the worries that He might have had?  Well, one can only speculate, but I'm sure that there were worries about His parents finances, His standing in the local community and just about every other thing a kid growing up worries about.  We're told that Jesus indeed can sympathize with whatever it is that we are struggling with {Hebrews 4:14}.  This is due to Jesus having been down that road before us.  He is that trail blazer through life which each of us can follow and learn from.  What did Jesus tell us about worry?  Well, He warned us in a few places of the dangers of worrying about tomorrow.  In the sermon on the mount, Jesus warns us not to worry about things as simple as food or clothing.  Can this be because Jesus knew all too well what worry can do to a person?  Did He Himself experience the negative effects of worry while growing up?  I believe that He did.  Therefore, Jesus would have known that worry is never in our best interests.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble {Matthew 6:34}.  Taking this one step further, can Jesus ease our own worries today?  Of course.  If we trust in our hearts that it is Jesus who is now living through us as the apostle Paul recognized, then we have a real life relationship with Him {Galatians 2:20}.  I know that whatever it is I am facing, Jesus has already been there and done that.  I can trust that He will guide me through.

~Scott~