Living in Christ

 One only has to turn on the news to learn that we are in desperate times today.  The violence consuming our airwaves is nothing new, but the frequency of it is alarming and discouraging to many today.  Good is being called evil and evil is being called good.  What we were once appalled at we are now desensitized to because it becomes the norm despite our efforts, so we give up the fight.  The attacks upon righteousness and goodness are unrelenting and have the influence of turning our hearts into despair.  We wonder what can we possibly do to make a difference in light of all that is happening?  My friends, God is still on the throne and God is still in control, despite what we may be seeing, experiencing or feeling!  The issue is that believers around the world have become solitary and afraid.  We have, in my opinion, given into the lie that there is nothing that we can do.  We have stopped gathering together with one another to pray, ...

  As believers, I know that we question the situations and culture that we find ourselves in during these times.  We wonder what has happened to our world and why are things happening as they are.  I also hear fellow brothers and sisters in Christ complaining that something should be done, but they themselves do not want to get involved. Lastly, why aren't the miracles and power of God not being manifest during our lifetime?  The answer my friends is that we have forgotten to Whom we belong and that the battle is always fought on our knees!  To many, this could be a passive way of stating that this is all that we can do, but I would like to say that we need a change of thinking and praying in order to start seeing the results that we so desperately desire!  I want us to really take a deep look at the Lord's Prayer: "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven....

 Praying In the Name of Jesus   Scripture: John 14:11-15 / John 16:23-24 Questions: What does it really mean to pray in the Name of Jesus? Why does it seem that some prayers are unanswered? If Jesus stated that if we ask for anything in His Name He would do it, why does it seem that we do not receive what we ask for? Where is the power of the Name of Jesus? God answers prayer. Either that statement is true or it’s not true, right? Either it is true or it is not true. Friend, it is true. God answers prayer, and that means that I, a human being, a mortal, weak and fallible, can address God, and He will hear me. Now, folks, when I dwelt upon that, when I thought about that, I said, “Is that true? Can I speak to Him and He will answer me?” And then I thought on the heels of that thought, “It is true. I know it to be true. And if that is true, I am an unmitigated fool if I don’t know how to pray and if I don’t pray.” Now, what does it mean to pray in His name? Does that mean that w...

 Recently I had a friend tell me about an experience that he had at work one day.  He had just hired a new employee to fill a position that had been empty for some time. The newly hired employee was very qualified, very personable, and very willing to take on the new position.  He did reveal to my friend that he had just come out of a bad relationship and was trying to do the best that he could to get back on his feet.  Trusting his instincts, my friend went ahead with hiring this individual. He was given a start date and then sent on his way.  The start date came and went, but the new employee did not show up as planned.  My friend tried to call and left messages and even texted the new employee, but heard nothing.  Not willing to give up that easily, my friend decided against continuing with interviewing other candidates, and instead, held out this new employee would fulfill his promise to start the job.  Finally he texted and said that he had b...

While driving today, I happened to hear a news report about a well know pastor/evangelist.  The report stated that the pastor had received a very clear message from the Lord. The message was that he needed to get a new private jet to take the Good News of Christ around the world.  This pastor said that the Lord was also very specific and very clear on what airplane he was supposed to get.  This plane will seat 16 people comfortably and will only cost about $54,000,000 dollars.  The report went on to say that the Lord also told him to go to the people to raise the money so that they could all be involved in taking him, and the Good News, around the world.  Need I say that I was skeptical after I heard the report and it brought to mind the words of Christ. "7  Therefore Jesus said again,  “Very truly I tell you, I am  the gate  for the sheep.   8  All who have come before me  are thieves and robbers,  but the sheep have ...

As the holiday season is upon us, it is important that we reflect on why we celebrate.  To most people, the season is about Santa Claus, telling him what we think we deserve, spending as much money as possible to make sure we are able to out do our gift giving from the previous year, and wondering if we are going to be able to survive the new year with the new debt we just created.  To others, the season represents the moment that God stepped out of heaven and walked among us. Regardless of what our focus of celebration is during the season, many of us, including believers constantly struggle with our needs verses out wants. We need good jobs to pay for all the good toys we think we need.  We need better and bigger houses in which to put all our new stuff.  We need the new diets, the new phones, on and on and on.  So our focus, more often than not, becomes worrying about how we are ever going to make enough money to support the lifestyles we believe we need. ...