9 months of Prayer

As I reflect back over the uncountable prayers I have prayed over the last nine months I realize that these prayers have changed me. Throughout my days in Egypt I would see a person, or a name would come to mind and I would pause to pray for that person. I have truly approach the throne of grace with boldness like I never have before. My faith has been tested and it has become my intimate possession through the conflicts I have endured. There is no way of knowing how my prayers impacted these individuals, but I rest in knowing that God heard them and answered them in His own perfect way. I was also comforted in knowing that hundreds if not thousands of people were praying for me while I served here in Egypt and as I stop and reflect now, I appreciate the sustaining power of intercessory prayer and how those prayers changed me and those we prayed for during Chapel.

Oswald Chambers wrote this about the purpose of prayer:

“To say that prayer changes things is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me, and then I change things.”

 I never thought of prayer quite this way, but I believe he is absolutely right. Prayer has changed me, because God kept changing me. These prayers have not changed me externally, but have worked miracles on my inner nature. I have simply become more like Christ and that is the greatest memory and souvenir I take home from this deployment. Not even a Medal of Honor compares to that. When I depart this world, the awards and worldly accomplishments are left behind to collect dust and perish, but my soul will live on with Christ.

Relief Has Arrived

This morning was a joyous occasion as CH Jonathan Secrest (the new chaplain) arrived from Fort Hood. CH Secrest and I will spend the week transitioning and then I will depart Egypt and make my way back to Camp Atterbury, Indiana to outprocess and prepare to reunite with my family. My wife Ashley and the kids are extremely excited. It's going to be quite a moment when we lock eyes and make that first embrace. It's emotional just to think about! The Lord has provided everything and everyone my family has needed in my absence. He continues to prove Himself faithful in all circumstances. He always knows what is best for His children and we are blessed to have been adopted by Him. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:16...I have never stop giving thanks for all who cared for my family during this deployment, I have remembered you in my prayers. Thanks to everyone who has been there for Ashley, Taylor, and Garrett during my deployment.

 

Personal Baggage

Studying the Bible means deepening your knowledge of God and then applying what you learn into your everyday life. But studying the Bible with no faith in what it says, with the wrong motives, or without the guidance of the Holy Spirit is fruitless. However, with that said, there is another issue that influences the way we view and interpret scripture, our personal baggage. I have witnessed this in my interactions and relationships as a chaplain and I have seen it lead people into some dangerous beliefs and attitudes. First is the problem of assumptions. Never assume you know what God wants or expects and never assume God or Jesus to be whoever you want them to be. They are who the Bible says they are, not what we make them to be, this is a dangerous form of idolatry. Second, life experiences can absolutely taint the way a person reads the Bible. With so many children growing up without a father they may struggle to understand what the Bible says about the Lord being a loving Heavenly Father. The Bible says that God is a defender of the fatherless; “God in His holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows. Go provides home for those who are deserted…” (Psalm 68:5-6). The experiences of life influence our desires and choices, thus affecting our interpretation of the Bible. No matter our life experiences, when we study the Bible we must avoid making assumptions and be aware of how our personal baggage will cause us to misinterpret scripture. God wants us to know Him, and He has given us the Bible and His words for us to do that. If you are studying and applying the Bible in the right way then you will change, you will transform, and you will bear fruit.

 Let God’s word speak for itself. We have all been influenced by the world and our life experiences. Check your baggage before you study the Bible so you can hear God speak to you from His holy Bible. He is the solution and He is the truth, and He wants us to find Him and understand who He is.

The Sin of Silence

Speaking to the seminary community on Aug. 20 at the beginning of a new academic year, Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary said, “We know what we believe; that’s what we confess. We know what we must do, as the Lord Himself has commissioned us. And may we ever be faithful to speak what we’ve been commanded to speak.”

Mohler preached from Ezekiel 3:16-27, in which God gives the prophet responsibility for those to whom God calls him to speak. In the passage, God says to Ezekiel, “If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.”

Mohler asserted that the message God gave to Ezekiel is as applicable today as it was for the ancient prophet.

“The portrait given to Ezekiel is [one] we must hear and we must heed and we must own for our own time,” Mohler said.

Confronting a fear of truth-telling, Mohler said the scriptures present only two conditions that require silence: when in the presence of God and “when we do not know what to say because the knowledge is too far from us.” But, he noted, calls to speak are “far more prevalent in scripture” than calls for silence, noting that the call to speak is not generic, but a specific call to preach God’s revealed truth.

“Our task is not theological speculation; we are not called to doctrinal creativity; we are not summoned to invent a message; we neither market nor test this message, nor modify it. We receive it. And as we receive it, so we preach,” Mohler said.

But preaching God’s Word is often unpopular, he reminded the seminarians.

“The increasingly secular culture of the West, and specifically the United States, is poised to present the seriously Christian minister with serious challenges. And challenges bring temptations. One of the greatest temptations is for us to remain silent,” Mohler said.

“We are tempted to speak in terms that will be better received, we believe, than the terms of the gospel that scripture require. We are tempted to lower our voice when we should raise it, and to raise our voice when it should be lowered. The truth dies a thousand deaths of equivocation and is buried in a grave of evasion,” he said.

Even so, ministers cannot avoid trouble, Mohler said. “We will be in trouble with someone. So let us choose this day those with whom we will have trouble. The world says, ‘Remain silent,’ and God says, ‘Speak.’“

Mohler emphasized his desire not to spark a “new belligerence or a posture of defensiveness,” but to call the church to obedience to all that scripture teaches. “My concern is the mandate given to us by God and my concern is the church,” he said.

Silence in times of trouble is sin, Mohler said, noting the increasing cost of speaking the truth. “It will cost more every year to bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ, to the exclusivity of that gospel as a radical cause of outrage in this culture, to the moral teachings of God’s Word,” he said.

Mohler emphasized that consequences of speaking God’s truth span beyond cultural discussions of morality. The call to speak the truth in times of trouble today, as in Ezekiel’s day, carries eternal consequences.

“This is not merely about some cultural conflict over moral questions; it is about an eternal conflict over the souls of men and women. Nothing less is at stake,” he said.

“Together, may we be determined never to remain silent when we are called and commissioned and given opportunity to speak. May we end our days free and innocent of the blood of all men,” he said. “May Southern Seminary and the Southern Baptist Convention and all of God’s people learn new skills of truth-telling and draw courage to speak the truth in love and resolve to speak as best we know in the time we are given to the people whose eternal destiny may hang in the balance.”

Audio and video of Mohler’s address, “Don’t Just Stand There: Say Something: The Sin of Silence in a Time of Trouble,” are available at the Southern Resource webpage: video and audio. Mohler’s two previous milestone convocation addresses also are available: Don’t Just Do Something: Stand There and Don’t Just Stand There: Do Something

You Must Become Foolish

The message of the cross was labeled as foolishness in the years following the crucifixion and that belief continues today. For the unregenerate or those who are living in self-deception, the message of the cross if foolishness, primarily due to their failure to acknowledge their sinfulness and their need for forgiveness. Throughout the centuries there has been plenty of intellectuals who have rejected the cross as foolishness and instead embraced the knowledge and worldly wisdom that books or academic institutions can provide them. The apostle Paul was led to write two very powerful scriptures in his letter to the Corinthian church. First, he wrote that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God's power to us who are being saved" (1 Corinthians 1:18). Can you see the divide placed between two groups of people here? The foolish, translated "moron" and the wise. Yes, you heard that right, Paul called those who have rejected the cross as "morons" or "stupid." But for those who are being saved, they will be granted God's power and wisdom. For me it's a no-brainer, but this is the power of Satan's deception. A little later in his letter Paul wrote this "no one should deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness" (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). Now, you might think that in 1 Corinthians 1:18 Paul called everyone foolish who failed to believe in the message of the cross, but now he is calling everyone to become foolish. There is no contradiction and here's why. Paul is calling out those who think they are wise and like all of Paul's letters he is writing to a specific audience and this letter is directed to the Corinthian Church. Undoubtedly the Corinthian church mirrors individual churches that dot the landscape  on our planet today in that they are full of false coverts, those who seek to divide, and those who have failed to rely and trust in godly wisdom. Paul now exhorts these "wise" people that if they want to be wise, they must become fools first. Translation, these men need to "die" to themselves before they can receive the wisdom of God, they need to "loose their life" so they can find their life and begin to see that the wisdom of this world is foolishness compared to knowing God.
In summary, if you are doubting the relevance and power of God's word and embracing worldly wisdom such as college textbooks, books by atheist authors, evolution, lectures given by college professors or the latest marketing strategies, I exhort you to test all things against scripture. The danger of not having a biblical worldview will cost you dearly in this life and the life to come. You might even discover that you are not saved and your eternal destiny in the hands of the Devil.

Please, become foolish so you can become wise towards God. His word is sufficient!

Hell in the Army

While nothing can compare to the horrific nature of an everlasting Hell, there are certain events and crimes that remind us just how sinful humanity can be apart from Christ. If you study God's word on a consistent basis, crimes that shock the average person shouldn't surprise the follower of Christ. Our world is fallen, dark, violent, vile, and ruled by Satan. But it's amazing how many Christians forget this. If you have ever stepped out of your comfort zone by traveling to a foreign country for a mission trip, grew up in a ghetto, been deployed to a war zone, or simply watch the news, you understand the vile nature of sinful man. The apostle Paul instructed Timothy of what would happen in the last days. Paul wrote that "people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents (if they are in the minority to have two parents these days), ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanders, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:2-5). Then Paul instructs him to avoid these people (except for evangelistic purposes)! In our world today so-called Christians don't avoid these people, they embrace them as friends and even engage in slander, cursing, blaspheming, loving themselves and pursuing personal pleasures with these individuals.

Within the Army ranks, child abuse, child murder, and child rape have increased 40% since 2009 according to the Army Times. In fact 118 children have been murdered by Army Soldiers in this time. The Army has a power point presentation for every subject under the sun, but nothing is provided about being a parent. Being a parent is the most important job a person will ever have, yet most never seek knowledge or training, nor follow biblical guidelines of having children within the covenant relationship of marriage, causing infinite problems for our culture, our economy, and for our government. According to the Army Times, the Army enrolled 75,197 soldiers on waivers, more than half of them related to illegal conduct in civilian life. Of those, 34,338 soldiers who were allowed into the ranks in spite of records that included felony arrests and convictions, serious misdemeanor violations, and some with sex crimes against a minor. Talk about a challenge for leadership!
Here are some of the child abuse crimes that have occurred in the Army in the last few years:

*The rape and murder of a 23 month old boy (Soldier was the boyfriend of the child’s mom and has been awarded multiple military awards)

*8 year old boy will be fed through a feeding tube the rest of his life after being beaten by his mom’s live in boyfriend because the boy accidentally deleted his XBOX Grand Theft Auto profile. (Soldier has been awarded multiple military awards)

*The rape and murder of a 5 month old girl, he also molested a 7 year old boy and several other children while serving at Fort Hood (He was previous convicted sex offender before enlisting in the Army)

*5 year old girl beaten to death for wetting on herself. The little girl’s room was splattered with blood from being beat with a belt by her father.

 
The only solution for this kind of depravity and vile behavior is Jesus Christ. Paul said people would be “brutal” in the last days. This was occurring in Paul’s time and it occurs in our culture today. The mission remains the same, bring heaven to earth by proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ to the whole world. There is no other alternative!

Unequal Treatment

As part of the National Defense Authorization Bill for 2014, the same bill which has taken extra steps to protect the religious freedoms of military chaplains, a special privilege has been added for homosexuals.  In a pair of memos released on August 13, the DOD announced that a service member who wants to enter a same-sex "marriage," but is posted more than 100 miles from a state that allows same-sex "marriages," will be granted seven days of extra paid leave (ten days if posted outside the continental United States) just to travel to their wedding.

This special leave -- only for destination weddings of homosexual couples -- is above and beyond the regular annual leave granted to every service member. How much does this cost the American taxpayer? For ten days' work, a Captain (with six years' experience) earns $1,787.20 in base pay alone - that's not even accounting for benefits like housing allowance, health care, etc. Yes, you read that right, a homosexual Captain will get paid nearly $1,800 to get married, while a heterosexual Captain will not get these extra 7 to 10 days of leave or honeymoon time. Since roughly only 2-3% of the American population is actually homosexual, why should tax-payers be forced to pay these extra days of leave. This is the principal issue, tax payer funded homosexual weddings!

This special treatment is not required by the repeal of the 1993 law on homosexuality in the military referred to as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell;" it is not required by the Supreme Court's Windsor decision; and it is fundamentally unequal and unfair. In a time of sequestration and severe cuts to the military, the Pentagon should be in the business of strengthening our troops, not on same-sex "wedding" planning.

 

 

Contact your U.S. Senators today and urge them to stop the Pentagon's plan to pay for special bonus leave for same-sex "marriages"

 

Visit the Family Research Council website for more information: https://www.votervoice.net/FRCA/campaigns/33217/respond

Godly Standards

Christians are commanded to remain faithful to God's standards. It becomes an honor and a privilege for a true follower to discover what their Father commands and expects of them, and then a love pursuit to obey Him. The Heavenly Father loves us deeper than we can imagine and wants the best for His children, thus He has given us the highest of standards to achieve. In His process of redeeming the world that had fallen in the Garden of Eden He gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, His chosen people. The Ten Commandments are both vertical (man to God) and horizontal (man to community) and Jesus Christ carried these moral laws into His ministry, except for keeping the Sabbath Holy. Besides the church and Christian related organizations, no other organization on this planet possesses standards comparable to God's, which is understandable since He is the Creator. But with relativism and post-modernism become so popular people now believe they can live by their own standards. Even those who identify themselves as "Christians" have chosen to disregard God's standards because His standards no longer fit their lifestyle. Others believe they can pick and choose which biblical standards they will follow because they believe they've been enlightened in this modern age. This belief and lifestyle screams I don't love God and have never experienced regeneration. It's no surprise that the world applauds and rewards rebellion against God's standards, the military increasingly so. Immorality, crude language, lust, impurity, and greed (Colossians 3:5) are rewarded throughout the world, to include the military. The danger for Christians is the draw or inward pull to conform. It's natural to want to fit in for achievement, but this is opposite of what God commands. If you are born again, you have put off the old self and have put on the new self and you are being renewed in the knowledge according to the image of your Creator (Colossians 3:9-10). If that verse doesn't describe your life then you are not saved and you are not a follower of Christ. In conclusion, remember that God's standards pertain to your appearance, your body, your attitude, your thoughts, your eyes (what you look at), your tongue (what you say), your marriage, your children, human life, your friends, and much, much more. These standards bring joy and abundance to the Christian life, but are not possible apart from Christ.

Rejection of Wisdom

When someone rejects Christ, they reject God, and when they reject God they reject wisdom. It sounds crazy, but over two-thirds of the world rejects the wisdom that only God can provide. This means that over two-thirds (perhaps a lot more) of people roam the earth with no knowledge or understanding about God and are void of wisdom in their life. You may ask, how could this be true? First, Proverbs 2:6 states that only the Lord gives wisdom, it states "For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." The great part about this promise is that everyone can find it. Why? Because the words of the Lord's mouth are contained in scripture and why can we trust scripture?...becasue of its divine orgin. Peter told us that "no prophecy ever came by the will of man, instead men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21). Second, wisdom is critical to avoiding disaster in life and most importanly eternal Hell. King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 1:29-31 "Becasue they hated knowledge, didn't chose to fear the Lord, were not interested in my counsel, and rejected my correction, they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes." These are the words of a loving Father. He wants to prevent us from destroying our lives becasue of our sins. He stands ready to provide us wisdom and be a shield for those who live with integrity. God wants you to find Him, but He doesn't respond to insincere seekers because He demands our whole life and our repentance. He promises that if we respond to His warning and fear Him, He will begin to teach us wisdom through His Holy Spirit. In fact, He will pour it out on us (Proverbs 1:23).   

Healing for the Broken

If you are broken, then your heart is being prepared to receive the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Many of our troops will return home to "broken" families, to "broken" marriages, to "broken" relationships, and perhaps just plain "broken." Let me encourage you with some words from King David once he was broken by the words of the prophet Nathan after being confronted about his adultery and sin with Bathsheba. What did David do first? He cried out for God's mercy and compassion in light of his sins. In Psalm 51, David prayed many things as he sought restoration, things such as God desiring integrity in the inner self and asking God to wash him white as snow from his sins. But I love what he prayed in verse 17 about the kind of sacrifice God finds as pleasing. "The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart." God prefers a broken spirit rather than some physical form of sacrifice. God wants to see his creation fall before Him broken, humbled, and repentant. This is the only acceptable attitude before a Holy God. He will provide you spiritual healing. If you are feeling broken, call out to Him with your sacrifice of a broken spirit and He will do what no one else can....free your soul from bondage and spiritual pain. Separation from your Creator will always leave you feeling lost, empty, and hopeless. Come to Him and experience healing!

Military Religious Freedoms

Please listen closely to Dr. Moore's message concerning religious freedoms for military chaplains, especially the last 2 minutes. Dr. Moore shares from Acts 16:35-40 where Paul and Silas were jailed by the chief magistrates who had been influenced by a mob of Romans and were thus pressured to take wrongful action. Paul and Silas were stripped naked, beaten with rods, and then thrown in prison (Acts 16:22) even though the charges against them were never investigated and no hearing was conducted. Thus Paul and Silas were never given a chance to defend themselves. When the chief magistrates sent the police to release them, Paul recounted the unjust action that was taken against them and boldly stated that him and Silas were Roman citizens and demanded that the chief magistrates come and escort them out of the jail themselves. Paul was taking a stand for his civil rights under Roman law and the rights of all Roman citizens. In America we are entitled to our constitutional rights and when those are infringed upon, we should speak out, not just for ourselves, but for all those who can't speak, such as the poor and sick. Paul and Silas chose to accept the apology of the chief magistrates for what happened to them. Christians should also be willing to accept the sincere apology of those who have wronged them. As a military chaplain I prayerfully seek to honor God in all I say and do, and use biblical discernment when navigating through government and military environments that are becoming more godless by the day.

Cohabitation

If you are living with your girlfriend or considering moving in with your girlfriend or boyfriend, then please read and consider the biblical evidence put forth in this letter from Evan Lenow (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary). The justifications of  "we might get married one day" or "I really love him and want to be with him or her" or "it will be easier financially" are emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually dangerous, and most importantly sinful and dishonoring to God. Please read carefully if you are considering this course of action.

Many of us would like to think that the church is immune to the growing trend of cohabitation prior to, or instead of, marriage. Unfortunately, this cultural trend has crept into the pews as fewer church members recognize cohabitation as a violation of biblical sexual ethics. Scripture is clear in its condemnation of fornication (a KJV-style word for a pre-marital sexual relationship). Fornication and fornicators (as well as adulterers) are described as evil, subject to judgment, and not heirs of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 15:19; Acts 15:20, 29; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Hebrews 13:4). Beyond the clear scriptural statements regarding fornication, cohabitation presents another breach of biblical ethics. God established the sexual relationship between a man and a woman in Genesis 2 as a sign of the covenant of marriage. Just like the rainbow serves as a tangible reminder of God’s covenant with Noah that He will not destroy the earth by flood again, the sexual relationship between a husband and wife demonstrates the exclusive, permanent union of marriage. It is so intimate that Genesis 2:24 says the man and woman “shall become one flesh.” Those who cohabit participate in the “pleasures” of the relationship without the covenantal commitment. This stands in direct violation of God’s plan for marriage that He established in Genesis 2 prior to the Fall. So how do we address the issue of cohabitation in the church? First, remember that cohabitation is not the unpardonable sin. After Paul gives a vice list in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 that says certain people, including fornicators and adulterers, will not inherit the Kingdom of God, he states, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). We need to work with cohabiting Christian couples to help them confess and repent of this sin. Ideally, this confession and repentance should have a public element to it within the church. This does not necessarily mean that they air their dirty laundry before the church on Sunday morning, but it should at least include their families and those in their circle of influence who are aware of the situation. Depending on the church, it may also include the entire church body. Second, we need to help these couples separate from their sinful lifestyle. Many couples use cohabitation as a “test drive” for marriage, but it is actually a recipe for disaster. If a cohabiting couple is heading toward marriage, then we need to encourage them to change their living arrangements. If it means a woman moves back home with her parents, or a man moves in with some friends for a period of a few months, then so be it. If the couple is not willing to do this for the remainder of the time leading up to the marriage, then they are not interested in honoring God with their marriage. We simply cannot turn a blind eye to the issue of cohabitation. The biblical covenant of marriage is too important to God’s design for mankind to adopt the world’s preferences for pleasure without commitment.

This article was authored by Evan Lenow, who serves as assistant professor of ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. This article was originally published in The Alabama Baptist. It also appeared in Baptist Press August 14, 2013. For more on the topic of cohabitation, see Trillia Newbell’s piece The moral dilemma of cohabitation. - See more at: http://erlc.com/article/cohabitation-in-the-church#sthash.cZWacbxp.dpuf

Do You Hear His Voice?

In John 10 Jesus claims that all who truly follow Him will hear His voice as their Good Shepherd. This is a soul searching question for all who call themselves a Christian. Do you hear the voice of Christ in your daily life?  If you only know about Him, then you never will. But when you know Him intimately and relationally, then you will hear His voice and you will rejoice. Here is what Oswald Chambers wrote about whether or not Christ truly knows you.

"It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus. A person's soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding touch with Him. Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one true sign of discipleship is intimate oneness with Him, a knowledge of Jesus that nothing can shake."

I pray you will ask yourself this critical soul searching question....do you hear the voice of Christ?

Harmless as Doves

This morning I reflected on Jesus' command found in Matthew 10:16 "Look, I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves." Every devoted follower has to search their heart and ask themself whether they are willing to be hated and persecuted by the world. Most unfortunately are not. When I was hired by Corporate Chaplains of America I was told that chaplains needed to be "as shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves." I found this to be true and applicable in workplace chaplaincy, but have found this to be overwhelmingly apparent in the military context. As I started to look at this verse deeper the word that comes to mind is hostility and danger. When sheep are alone without protection, they are easy prey for wolves. In fact, wolves are predators who hunt down their prey, kill it, and then devour it. However, disciples have a "good Shepherd" in Jesus who laid His life down for the sheep. He will never leave them in times of danger but will empower them even if they are called to give their lives. Jesus never promises that His disciples won't be preyed upon, but instead gave instructions of how to strategically respond when persecution becomes threatening. First, Jesus says to be as shrewd as a serpent. A serpent is shrewd because they are stealth like and can often go unoticed unless stumbled upon, but they can also get away quickly when they are threatened. The KJV uses the word wise instead of shrewd. The Greek unsderstanding of wise means discreet, implying a cautious charcter or operating with practical skill. Second, Jesus says to be as harmless as doves. A dove is non-violent, innocent, and most importantly the Holy Spirit  appeared in the physical appearance of a dove as the Spirit descended upon Jesus following His baptism.

So, if you are truly His, then you have been called to fulfill the Great Commission. This requires sharing the gospel, a strong Christian witness, and a passion for discipling new believers. Thus, Jesus instructs us to be wise, cautious, and discreet in sharing our faith, but to do it with boldness and passion. Finally, He says to do this with the innocence of a dove. To strategically advance the gospel, Jesus' instruction provides the skill necessary to avoid unnecesary death and persecution, but the good Shepherd also tells us the truth of what will happen to His disciples, they will be beaten, taken in front of councils, Kings and governments, and ultimately they will be hated and perhaps killed.

Remain harmless as doves,  never harbor hatred in your heart towards those who hate you, and never resort to violence.

 

When American Education was Christian

This coming school year my wife will make the transition from public school teacher to Christian education. Ashley is extremely excited about the freedoms she will have to share her faith and lead her class in prayer each day, something that is absolutely forbidden in public schools. I came across this statement that was listed in the Harvard University student guidelines in 1636. This statement is nowhere to be found in today's Harvard student guidelines as you can imagine.

"Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3) and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdom, let every one seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek it of Him (Proverbs 2, 3). Every one shall so exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein."

Yes...Harvard used to instruct their students to read the Scriptures twice a day.

I will be praying for my wife, the teachers, the staff, and all of the students at Metrolina Christian Academy next week as school begins.

Do You Really Love Christ...?

I come across people who tell me that they believe in Jesus, but I rarely hear them say they love Him. The question isn't about whether they believe, because Satan believes, the demons believe, but have they surrendered to Him. In other words have they died to self in order to follow Christ? Have they come to the cross in humility and in Godly repentance? The answer for most who identify themselves as Christians is NO. A Christian cannot love the world, why? "Because if anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). This is a serious issue in America. People are constantly trying to gain success for themselves with no regard for the Kingdom of God or for following Christ. Loving the world is idolatry and was punishable by death under the Old Testament law. Now we embrace it and call it achievement or a hobby, when in actuality it has replaced God.
Secondly, Jesus said "The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me" (John 14:21). Now, this is the true test of whether a person is a true follower or not. It doesn't matter what a person says they believe. It comes down to this one verse. If you genuinely love Christ, you are constantly seeking to obey Him and studying the scriptures to discover how you can obey Him.
Love equals obedience and obedience equals love. It becomes your spiritual duty and a privilege to obey Christ.
I would caution and warn anyone who claims to be saved, but has no desire to follow Christ. You are not a follower and you are without salvation. If you love your life more than Christ, then you are not worthy of Him and are living in deception.

Please...ask God to search your heart, convict you of the hidden sin in your life, and lead you to His Son Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.
The strongly urge you to enter into a relationship with Christ, your soul is precious to Jesus.

Holy Suffering

Most Christians, especially in America, don't expect to suffer for doing good, its the last thing on their mind. They read the scriptures about Christ and His disciples and they think "that will never happen to me." In most cases their right, being whipped, beaten, spit on, and threatened with death isn't likely to happen in America. However, that day could arrive within a few generations at the rate our nation is declining and becoming more godless than ever. It's no secret, just open your eyes and read the news. Peter told believers to rejoice in the suffering they experience for being followers of Christ. Peter told believers this  "If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you" (1 Peter 4:14). However in the next verse he commanded them to ensure their suffering was from obedience and not from doing evil "None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer (hatred in your heart towards another person), a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler" (1 Peter 4:15). Believers can sometimes conduct themselves hypocritically (something Jesus hated and condemned), becoming instruments of wickedness instead of being conduits of righteousness.  Believers could also needlessly align themselves with causes and activities that annoy and irate unbelievers. The term meddler used by Peter (4:15) refers to someone who interferes in things that are unrelated to his or her calling. I would encourage believers in our culture today to guard their hearts and minds, to include who they spend time with and who they align themselves with, i.e., "don't be mismatched with unbelievers." You will conform and you will loose any zeal you have for Christ.
Ultimately, when you begin to do what Christ has commanded you will suffer. You will love Him more than your career or your own life. Christ calls you to die in order to live as follower of His, we must never forget that.
Be encouraged by Peter's words "But if anyone suffers as a "Christian," he should not be ashamed but should glorify God in having that name" (1 Peter 4:16).

Stand upon His teachings and remember it's an honor to suffer for Christ.
 

There is Power in the Name

My good friend and brother in the faith, Chaplain Dan McKenney of Corporate Chaplains of America wrote this wonderful devotion of the power that is found in the name of Jesus.

It is quite apparent that the apostle Paul's zeal had not been tempered by God, but it was clearly directed the right way. Paul was as zealous for God as a Christian, as he was persecuting Christians before he became one himself (Acts 26:9; Philippians 3:6). This is the neat thing about the way God works in our life. We do not become robot Christians, because God takes our unique personality traits and shapes us and molds us into what He wants us to be.

Everything that Paul did now was centered in this great name of Jesus (Col 3:17; cp Acts 26:9). I think it is important to talk about it, because calling out to some generic God means nothing. God has instructed the Christian church to pray "in Jesus name" to "heal in Jesus name" and to "preach in Jesus name." Anything that is not done through the name of Christ does not have God's endorsement. It is not that there is some sort of magic in saying the words, "in Jesus name" at the conclusion of our prayers, it's just that this name signifies God's power and God's authority. God commited all power and authority to the Son (Matthew 28:18) as Jesus himself so testified.

When we do things in the name of another person, or entity it carries with it the authority of that person or entity. A police officer can command a person to stop in the name of the law, and there will be servere consequences for the person that does not do so. As a private citizen nobody is obligated to stop in my name. My name has no power or authority in that context whatsoever. Occasionally I get a note in the mail that tells me that someone donated a gift in my name. That means I get the credit and thanks from that organization as if I made the personal sacrifice myself. If I put property in someone else's name, then I no longer have any claim to it.

All through the book of Acts we see the following things done in Jesus name.

1. Asking for salvation is to be done in Jesus name (Acts 2:21; 4:12; 10:43; 22:16).

2. After repenting of our sins, we are to be baptized in Jesus name (Acts 2:38; 8:12,16; 10:48; 19:5).

3. People were healed in Jesus name (Acts 3:6,16; 4:7,10,30).

4. Believer's were persecuted and told by the government not to preach or teach in Jesus name (Acts 4:17-18; 5:28,40; 21:13).

Even today, much preaching and praying is tolerated just so long as Jesus name is not mentioned. It seems that Jesus name is the real sticking point with many people!

5. The early followers of Christ considered it an honor to suffer living out their lives in Jesus name (Acts 5:41; 7:58; 15:26).

6. One common way for the enemies of the gospel to discover the followers of Christ was that they were known as those who called upon the name of Jesus (Acts 9:14,21).

7. Paul was specifically called to bear Christ's name before those whom God sent him (Acts 9:15-16,29).

8. Simeon declared that this is the age where God was calling people unto the name of Christ (Acts 15:14-17).

9. Paul cast out evil spirits in the name of The Lord Jesus (Acts 16:18; 19:13).
Since the name of Jesus was important at that time I believe if the church is to experience any degree of power and influence for the eternal good of mankind we must continue to exalt this NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME! We must do so with no less zeal that the early church did.

Come to Me

In Matthew 11:25-30, Jesus makes some powerful, yet comforting commands. First, He says that God has hidden "these things" from the wise. Who are the wise? Well, Jesus referred to the Jewish leaders as the wise, but this also refers to those who arrogantly refuse to acknowledge their sinfulness, repent of their sins, and learn the true way to God through Jesus Christ. Those who do this find a deep intimacy with the Lord that can't be expressed in words. But in verse 28, Jesus speaks three of my favorite words ever spoken "Come to Me." Jesus instructed everyone by saying this "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." As we prepare to redeploy, our troops are "weary and burdened." For some its the burden of finding employment, for others its a failing marriage, for others it could be an out of wedlock child birth that occurred while they've been away, and for many its something else. Anyone can understand how these problems can make a person weary. We don't need to see psychological statistics on the increase of stress and anxiety related disorders to know that these issues can mentally and emotionally depress a person to the point of giving up hope. In our modern culture, young people, especially young soldiers on deployment turn to video games, movies, and other methods of loosing themselves for temporary periods of time. But, internally the Bible tells us that a person will never have peace and will remain weary and empty until they reconcile with their Creator.

It is my pray that our soldiers will obey Jesus and experience the overwhelming peace and comfort that He provides me every moment of my life.
Take away these biblical promises from God in verses 28-30:
Jesus' yoke is light and easy
We will learn from Jesus
Jesus is gentle
Jesus is humble in heart
In Jesus we will find rest
Jesus' burden is light
Most importantly...no one knows the Father except Jesus. Translation, you can't know the Father unless you know Jesus!

Don't remain unresponsive, accept Jesus' offer and "Come to Him," its the only thing that can change your life.


 

Jesus Didn't Come for Peace

If you walked up to the average church going Christian and told him or her that Jesus didn't come to bring peace but a sword, they would probably call you a liar. But that is exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 10:34, "Don't assume that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." However the sword that Jesus brings is not an actual sword. His sword was made to divide and to separate. Don't misunderstand this verse, Jesus has already foreseen what is going to happen when people receive Him as their King, it was going to divide families and friends. This is often seen in Muslim families where a son or daughter converts to Christianity and is then cast out or even put to death. But its also seen when a son or daughter of a nominal "Christian" home is genuinely born again and begins to live out the scriptures as they are spiritually transformed by the Holy Spirit. What happens? A son turns against his mother or a daughter turns against her father. There is certain division that occurs. Jesus said "For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household" (Matthew 10:35, 36 and Micah 7:6). Jesus' next statement makes His quote of Micah very clear when He states "the person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."
Let me summarize this for you, Jesus came to divide families if it means salvation for a member of that family. Jesus' expects His followers to give Him ultimate supremacy beyond parents or children. The consequence of not doing this is deadly....you will not be found "worthy of Christ."

If you want to find your life, you must be willing to lose it (Matthew 10:39). Christ demands total commitment and full surrender to His message. Anything else will lead to denying Christ and in return He will deny you at the day of your death.
 

Military Chaplain Support

On June 12th Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina's 7th distrtict spoke about the religious freedoms of military chaplains. Mike's district covers the east side of Fayettville to Wilmington. What he says is the truth and needed to be said. I have personally experienced exactly what Mr. McIntyre states. Undoubtedly, the hand of God has been upon certain aspects of the Defense Authorization Bill for 2014 proposed in the House.
I am grateful that Mike McIntyre understands his role as a public servant and the religious freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution.
This is prayer at work!
 

Thanks for Standing Up

I would like to thank Congressman Walter Jones and my Congressman Robert Pittenger for standing up in favor of military chaplains and religious freedoms. On June 14th Congressman Jones's first proposal passed by voice vote in the House Armed Services Committee as an amendment, that would allow military chaplains to close their prayers as they see fit, ensuring that they are not denied their constitutional right to religious freedom. Congressman Jones has been a longtime leader in the fight for religious freedom in the military and represents many of our Soldiers living in the coastal area of North Carolina.

“I know of multiple chaplains who have been reprimanded for closing their prayers ‘in Jesus’ name,’” said Jones. “This provision is absolutely necessary to prevent the constitutional rights of these individuals from being trampled in the future. Military chaplains provide an invaluable service to our men and women in uniform, and their work should not be hindered by a blatant disregard for religious freedom.”

Feel free to send him an email of thanks at https://jones.house.gov/contact-me/email-me.

Thanks and God Bless!
 

Magnified or Crucified

One of the greatest internal battles Christians face is the constant tension to magnify ourselves or be crucified with Christ. It's simply our nature and especially in our American culture to want to magnify ourselves. The draw can be powerful and often times we don't even realize it. When we magnify ourselves we are essentially worshiping ourselves and demonstrating pride and exaltation of self.  The Devil searches people, especially Christians for pride and self-exaltation and then seeks to pounce once he finds it dwelling in their hearts, but when the Devil searched Jesus during his 40 days in the wilderness he found none. The Devil wants us to build our own kingdoms, but if we are in Christ, God will not allow us to enter His reign with a kingdom-grasping pride. Paul said "now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24). However a believer will never fully grasp this concept until they put their flesh to death. A genuine convert will slowly begin to experience their old nature being crucified with Christ and their desires becoming more and more in line with the Lord's. They will view political and social issues through a biblical lens and their spiritual eyes will be opened like never before, they begin to see through their previous blindness. The scales will be removed from your eyes. Is it you living or Christ living in you? (Galatians 2:20). Christians are commanded and assisted by the Holy Spirit to consciously, consistently, and courageously say no to sin and hate it as much as God does.

We must never forget that Satan doesn't fear Christianity or Christian values, Satan fears Christ!
Don't magnify yourself, crucify yourself with Christ.

The Anger of Jesus

It's interesting how many Christians use Jesus' cleansing of the temple encounter as justification for their anger or temper tantrums (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48). However, they really have no idea why Jesus was angry or even the type of anger He expressed. But to answer the question, did Jesus really get angry? The answer is yes. John Mark illustrates this in Mark 10:13-16. In fact Jesus became indignant, which means He was very angry. His anger was primarily focused at His disciples, but it is also directed at anyone who feels that children are unimportant or anyone whom the world feels are of little value. Everyone has value in the Lord's eyes. Some people always assume that Jesus only showed love and meekness, which He did in all situations. But remember, Jesus was perfect, completely without sin. So when He became angry He was absolutely righteous in His anger. There was a sense of justice and purity in His anger, as it should be for us.
In Mark 10:13-16, some people, probably parents, were bringing their little children, to include infants to Jesus so that "He might touch them." His disciples rebuked the people and the children, and probably told them to leave Jesus alone. This angered Jesus greatly and He told His disciples to "let the little children come to Him." Jesus follows His command with this "Don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." I can picture the shocked faces of those listening to Jesus. Jesus just said if you want to enter the kingdom of Heaven you must be like a little child. Undoubtedly, they were trying to figure this out in their hearts and minds and of course this is completely counter to the way the world thinks. What Jesus meant was that children receive gifts with anticipation, with joy, and with thankfulness. Although perhaps this is no longer the case for many spoiled children in today's culture, children receive without believing they did anything to deserve the gift. This is what happens when a person genuinely comes to Christ and receives Him as their Lord and Savior. They did nothing to deserve it, but God graciously grants them salvation. Little children have total dependence and trust in their parents, that is the picture of how we are to view our relationship with the Heavenly Father. Little children don't earn their food and shelter or even their birthday or Christmas gifts, they are gifts, just like salvation.
A question that is often asked is would Jesus get angry with the social issues of today?.....Absolutely. Why? Because Jesus was righteous, pure, and holy and possessed all of the attributes of the Father. All things were created through Him and He was the Word become flesh, thus He was God in the flesh.

If you don't think Jesus would be angry about abortion, then you don't know Jesus.
If you don't think Jesus would be angry about homosexual marriage, then you don't know Jesus.
If you don't think Jesus would be angry about child slavery, then you don't know Jesus.
If you don't think Jesus would be angry about crony capitalism, then you don't know Jesus.
If you don't think Jesus would be angry about out of wedlock births, then you don't know Jesus.
If you don't think Jesus would be angry about cohabitation, then you don't know Jesus.
If you don't think Jesus would be angry about pornography, then you don't know Jesus.
If you don't think Jesus would be angry about obesity, then you don't know Jesus.

I could go on and on, but this is who Jesus was, fully man and fully God at the same time and perfect in every way. Jesus got angry and we should to, especially on the issues listed above. However anger changes when you know Christ and so will your response.


 

Godlessness in Government

On Tuesday 171 Democratic Congressman and 2 Republicans voted to allow atheist chaplains in the military. Fortunately the majority voted no and it didn't pass. This is especially concerning when there are only 200 Democratic congressman in congress. If anyone is from Colorado or New Jersey please vote these men out of office, Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.). Both of these men proposed failed amendments to the DOD's spending bill to allow atheists to serve as chaplains.

Rep. John Fleming (R) from Louisiana who proposed the amendment said this, "In the final analysis, I believe that an atheist chaplain would be the last person in the world that we would want a dying soldier who needs that last moment counseling in their life."

Open your eyes to the godlessness that is entering our government and thank God this amendment did not pass.

Pray for our President and our leaders in local, state, and federal government.