Category: Preacher

Did you know that Doves return to their nest and destroy any evidence that a nest existed? I didn’t either. Last week I reported the arrival of 2 baby doves and the mother’s efforts to encourage them to fly. Fly they did. We watched them for a day taking small flights I guess to gain strength then we did not see them for a few days. Then we saw them back on their nest picking it apart until the nest was a pile of twigs on the ground. I suppose any bird expert can explain this in elaborate terms but I just think it is a good example of working together for a greater effect. This is the definition of synergy. Perhaps, we can take the advise from nature and learn to work together.

1 Corinthians 12:4-13 explains that we all have different gifts but the same Spirit. Some of us have gifts of wisdom, some knowledge which could be understood as same but we can be wise but not very knowledgeable, I suppose. Some can sing or play a musical instrument and some of us can only carry a tune in a bucket but may have a gift of the gab. The point is that when we combine our unique gifts into a synergistic system, we a can accomplish greater things. A car has many parts but when engineered into a system can be used for driver and passengers to go much further than if we relied on our own two legs to walk the distance. Likewise, our body is put together for a greater effect. Now, that is a real miracle how God has formed all of our parts into a synergistic master piece!

The next time we try to go down the rabbit hole without even a flash light to illuminate our path, perhaps we should stop and ask for spiritual guidance. The result may very well be combining your talents and gifts with another to achieve a greater effect.

T

Most people are strong enough to break one pencil but when combined with more than one, it is not so easy. When we become one with each other, we also can become much stronger. As we celebrate Ascension Sunday and Memorial day, I am reminded that we are not alone in our quest to survive neither are we alone in our desires to succeed. Our fallen heroes paid the ultimate price for our freedom. They were one with each other for a higher calling for us all so we should shake the hand of any veteran or police officer in the line of duty to keep us free.

1 Peter 5:9 says to resist evil to stand firm in the faith as others have also endured throughout the world in order to be restored, empowered, and strengthened forever and always. These are indeed words to live by as we continue to fight the good fight. As the doves shown in the picture represents peace, may they also represent unity. We are not alone in our fight for freedom but we have an obligation to be aware of deception. I believe we need to be guided by the Holy Spirit not earthly forms of media that are intended for sensationalism to sell their product. We should remember our fallen heroes first before the BBQ pit gets fired up and our favorite beverages are drunk for after all, without their sacrifices would our free society even exist?

John 17:10-11, says everything is mine and everything is yours so everything is shared as one. We as mere humans but can rejoice in knowing we are one with each other and our creator. Let us stand firm in our faith and soar to heights beyond the fringes of fear knowing that we have a gift of freedom. Let freedom continue to ring to new generations of one.

T

As I write this post, the news is all about more violence at a concert in the UK. Whether it is called a terrorist attack or some crazy suicide, the affect is still the same. People have died by this intentional act of violence. No matter how much defense we put up to stop this insanity, the offense appears to have its impact. The media reports it. I am not saying it is wrong to report it but do we have to analysis the why to the point of exhaustive confusion? Is this the evil one’s way of keeping us away from the truth?

Defense is to do with protecting something or fighting against an opponent. It is the opposite of offense. I have heard it said, the best defense is a good offense. Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. A feeling of wanting something to happen and thinking that it could happen. Defense and hope definitions are numerous on the web but I personally like patheous.com explanation as related to a Christian believer which makes the word “hope” not just a desire for something to happen. Instead, a true believer knows that hope is firm because it is grounded in the Word. When we combine the preparedness to defend hope with the strength that comes with our faith, then we have a real purpose in life.

Like a game of football, the best defense starts with preparation to score with a good offense. Many of us prepare for the game of life with the determination to succeed. However, the sad fact is that many fail to properly prepare to succeed therefore struggle to defend what they truly believe. All too often we get caught up in the game of “he said, she said” in the news media and forget to understand that everyone has an opinion. Opinions tend to contain some truths and some deception intended to support an earthly belief system. What is the truth? That question can be a loaded topic for late night discussions but I believe knowing and understanding truth will set us free. From a Christian context, “discernment is the perception in the absence of judgement with a view to obtaining spiritual direction and understanding”. You may not want to believe or you may have pre-conceived notions of what is true or false. Either way, I believe it is more important to be directed to the truth. John 14:17 tells us that we were not left without our leader, Jesus. He promised us a Companion referred as the Spirit of Truth and would be present for only those who believed. The Spirit of Truth would help prepare us for the battles to come to defend hope. Read also 1 Peter 3:15-17 about being ready to defend our hope against those who would attempt to destroy us but our good lifestyle in Christ will put them to shame. We are indeed in a battle for truth. As we see terrorist attacks impacting the news cycle, is it not a tool for deception? I believe the great deception the evil one uses is the human weakness we possess to self-diagnose the problems with the world according to our earthly beliefs. Perhaps, we should humble ourselves and submit to a spiritual direction to the ultimate heavenly truth.

The audio below was recorded last Sunday and so timely to events of today.

T

Who feels growing pains more? Is it the person actually experiencing the growth or perhaps it is our loved ones who feel our pain. Our mothers may be the most affected by our growing pains. Have you ever considered how some of your dumb acts have caused your parents more pain than you can imagine? I look back in my life and cringe when I remember by dumb selfish acts that caused pain to others. Guess what? We can not turn back time but we can grow into a new creation. 1 Peter 2:2 says that as we are nourished by pure milk of His word, we grow into salvation. I hope you honored your Mother on May 14th whether she was present with you in the flesh or present with you in the Spirit, she still deserves your recognition of her unconditional love.

I like the idea of growing into a greater understanding of salvation. Good thing for us all that we are not judged for a final sentence by our actions of the past! Last week I spoke of the gate being the great shepherd, Jesus Christ. Previous weeks I have posted about change being inevitable. We can choose to bury our heads in the sand and pretend we can keep everything the same but time moves on and so do our lives. We can either grow into a living stone and spiritual temple or stumble in the rubble of a demolished sinful world. (1 Peter 2:5-8) Growing pains are an inevitable by-product of moving on with our lives. Yesterday is history so no need to dwell on our past accomplishments or failures. Today is our moment to make a difference in our life or the lives of another. Tomorrow’s story is still to be written. What do we want our story to read? What does the future hold for all of us? Let us all get excited about the future prospects when led by the promise of eternity.

T

 

My last post was about change and I suggested we all should expect changes in our life. Some changes will be to the better where others not so good but guess what? Changes are inevitable. As long as we are divinely guided then it will all be just fine.

I read a lot of books. Some are audio and some are text depending on my day. I try to make the most of my time while driving listening to an audio book. When I have a few hours to sit quietly like when giving blood platelets, I read a book. I would like to recommend two books recently heard in the audio form that I consider good books. The first is “Calling Me Home” by Julie Kibler. This book is about love across the great race divide early in the last century and ends in present day times with a very interesting friendship and reunion. Changes have certainly occurred dramatically in less than 100 years! The second book is “Proof of Heaven” by Eben Alexander and is about NDE, the gateway and the core. This second book is a real eye opener for those who perhaps are more than a little skeptical of life after death.

The title of my subject “The Gate” in this post is more related to my second recommended book as it mentions the gateway. In ancient days well before barbed wire and fence post, shepherds protected their flock of sheep by gathering them together in a natural barrier like the side of a mountain or hill with three sides leaving open passageway where the shepherd covered the opening with his own body. Now, some of you may find this strange especially if you do not live in hill country or do not know the characteristics of sheep. You may have to use your imagination to get the picture. The shepherd was the gate to protect his flock of sheep. Some of my readers may at this point be board and moving onto to some other stuff on social media but if you can stay with me for just a few more lines, it may turn out to be beneficial to you. Like the author of “Proof of Heaven”, some may be of a scientific mind as he is and refuse to accept the concept of a gateway to a new world. Some may think they are invincible, free of any concerns of life as they believe only in life as they know it. But eventually, some will experience a life changing event that proves just the contrary to their beliefs. The analogy of the shepherd being the gate to protect his sheep is written in John 10 where Jesus explains that he is the gate and whoever enters through him will be saved. They will be protected to come and go to find good pastures and live life to the fullest.

We are all subjected to sin and we can choose to live in the darkness of sin. However, if and when we are ready to accept a good change, we can enter through the gate to a wonderful eternal existence in peace.

T