The New Greater Life

God has cleared the air! He went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. We are no longer living under a low-flying black cloud.

He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, He personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to get it right once and for all. The law code, weekend as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that.

The law always ended up being used as a band aid on sin instead of the deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn’t deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embraced what the Spirit is doing in us.

Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them--- living and breathing God!  Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God.

But if God Himself has taken up residence in your life, you could hardly be thinking more of yourself than of Him. Anyone, of coarse, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, won’t know what I am talking about. But for you who welcomed Him, in whom  He dwells---even though you still experience all the limitations of sin---you experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, that the alive and present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, He will do the same thing He did in Jesus; bringing you alive to Himself.  When God lives and breathes in you, you are delivered from the dead life. We don’t owe the old life one red cent.

The life with God is an adventure, is  full of anticipation, and childlike. “What’s next, Papa?” In Him, we know who we really are and we know who He really is!

Let It Go

Once we know that nothing we have ever done can get God to reject us because of what we are, we feel free to forgive ourselves for whatever we have done. And each time we forgive ourselves we pull ourselves out of yesterday's failure and begin to hope for today's blessings. Remember if Jesus has forgiven you------then why haven't you forgiven you?????


Some of you have a tough time with the Holidays. You may be alone, distanced from families for one reason or another. You think back to Christmas past and the memories sting, because those days are gone. But, you are not alone. He is with you. He really is-----talk to Him. He will bring you comfort.

Rabbit Trails Can Be Deceiving!

Today, I came to the realization that I had been chasing rabbit trails. I have been doing everything but what God has called me to do.

First, I enrolled in college with the idea of learning all the aspects of website development. This endeavor took up so much of my time that I had none left to devote to the study of the Word. In addition I was brain-dead from the effort.

Next, upon completion of the first semester, I signed up for a full load for the next semester. Upon taking a closely scrutinized inventory of my priorities, it became quite clear that I had put God on the shelf in the pursuit of worldly endeavors. 

Furthermore, I then withdrew from all my courses. No, I didn’t retreat from my rabbit trail, I began studying at home. I still wasn’t fulfilling my calling and I was getting just as brain-dead as I had while attending college.

Today, while ministering to a dear person’s needs, I realized that helping another was much more important then building websites and the pursuit of materialistic accumulation. There is nothing like the Holy Spirit using a person to minister to a dear soul who is truly in need. Nothing comes close to being led by God and doing the work that He has equipped us for.

It is very important that you understand that it is Jesus who has the power.  He is the head of the Church; we are the body of the Church.  Jesus sits at God’s right hand and God looks at the matter positionally that we sit at the right hand of Jesus. Upon His ascendancy to be with the Father; His work is to be done by the body of Christ which is the Church. He gives believers the authority to use His power for the benefit of the body-the Church.

I can tell you one thing for certain is serving the Lord. It is true serenity and peace; no amount of material goods can ever come close to the love of Jesus. God bless you and watch out for those rabbit trails. 

Wow, That Was Scary!

I was at church this morning. We had a breakfast for the benefit of a missionary team we are sending to Haiti and I was talking to one of our leaders concerning jobs, health care, and Obama. The guy says to me that you know he is a Muslim don't you. I said that I heard certain accusations but in researching them found no evidence of convincing proportions.

I asked him how he knew this to be true. He remarked as if it was not in doubt that Obama had said while on the campaign that he had visited all 57 states. He said there are 57 Muslim states and that proves he is a Muslim.

It didn't prove it to me. In fact in rechecking various sources on the Net it seems to be the general consensus that the contrary is true. This is verified by the best investigators in the world. The news organizations. They leave no stoned unturned.

Now to the scary part, this guy is a leader in my church. He plays a part in the decision process. I liked him then and I like him still. However, my trust in his judgement has taken a major hit.

I am not at all sure how I feel about the job that Obama has done. However, the job is gigantic. So he needs the time to fix where George Bush just plain gave up. However, on the other hand, if the health care deal is any indication, it seems like he has had hollow victories at best. Hopefully, I am wrong.

It's about jobs. Wall street and Main street are two different streets. We need to get money flowing again. These banks are nuts the way that they are hoarding the money for the benefit of the ownership.

One final note, that what certain members of the legislature have done in regard to holding the health care reform hostage is absolutely morally corrupt. Mary Laundrau for one and the guy from Oklahoma as another. They are a disgrace.

The verdict is still out on Obama, it is just to early to tell. The American people are in no mood for nonsense. They want results, if he doesn't get them, then he will be out in four. If he does, he will do eight.

Ready For the Big Time

Very few individuals jump into the big time, though most would prefer doing just that. As soon as we walk across that stage and get our diploma, we think we are ready for the big time. Our slick resume makes us look like a combination of Joan of Arc, Winston Churchill, Donald Trump, and Mother Theresa.

But that is not God's way. He prepares His servants most often through extended periods of waiting, designed to hone skills and break self centered wills, to shape character and give depth. While He works we must be patient, for we are being made ready.

Should We Stone Tiger or Are You Perfect?

Tiger Woods has really got himself in a jam. He get’s caught in a messy scandal involving another woman, he od’s on pain killers, he won’t talk to the police. He is lying through his teeth about not playing in his own tournament.

But you know what? Who are we to judge. Let him who has not sinned cast the first stone. Is that you to throw the rock. I think not. We need to pray for Tiger and his family and not judge. 

Sure his behavior looks bad. Trust will have to be regained. Hopefully he will deal with his life controlling issues as we deal with our own. I am going to give the guy a chance as I would like from those who understand that I deal with issues as well.

You Can't Over Exaggerate God

To magnify something you make it look larger, increasing it out of proportion. To magnify ourselves, our activities, our job, our goods is dangerous ground to walk on. But when we magnify God; we are on safe ground. We simply cannot say too much about God’s goodness, grace, or love. The most exaggerated things we say about God will still be far below what is actually the case. You can’t outdo God in anything righteous.