Signs..Signs....Every Where Are Signs....

Mark 16:20
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen
We seem to be a sign seeking generation.
Signs in the sky.
Signs in nature.
Signs in music.
Signs in the dreams of men and women.
Signs coming forth at every turn and prophetic words being spoken at an unprecedented rate.

But here in Mark 16 we read where the Lord confirmed or backed up the truth of the preaching of His word with signs.
What signs?
Well, what would be the most incredible sign we could ever hope to see or be a witness to?
Would it not be a life that has been touched and changed by the power of the Holy Spirit of God Almighty?
I think maybe it would.
A life that displayed every wrong thing concerning sin and the kingdom of darkness (a.k.a Satan's domain) now full of life and light and walking in the newness of being born again. Who could dispute such a sign? No one. Oh, they might argue and rail with such words as, "this person is only faking it. They haven't really changed." But the testimony of one who has been saved is beyond reproach. Proven by the work of the Holy Spirit.

The real truth of whether a person has changed or not is found in the heart. I have had many who came forward to be saved and to them such a decision was no more than a mental exercise. There wasn't any remorse for their sin. No change in the direction there life was headed in. No evidence of brokeness or a contrite heart. After an extended time, there was o evidence of a turning around of will and life under the direction of the Holy Spirit, that brings a new nature and character. II Corinthians 5:17 reads; Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold all things become new.

Did you catch that? Any man be in Christ....looking to Christ for life, he (the one who has been saved) is a new creature. A new creature with a new nature. A new creature with a new life. My old way of life is dead, and it has been replaced with one that Jesus wants to teach me how to live.

The one thing that has amazed all the years I have been a Christian is how I keep learning more and more about myself as I learn more and more about Jesus. As I seek Jesus daily, I am put in situations and circumstances that reveal more of my character. It is an ongoing process. I was saved yesterday----I am being saved today----I will be saved tomorrow. The initial commitment was made when I surrendered my life to Christ and made Him Lord over me. Now, I get to learn how to live this new life daily. It's a kind of  "on -the-job-training" if you will. Maybe that is why the Apostle Paul said we were to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

I am not the same man (in my nature and world view) that I was 20 years ago. It has nothing to do with society or my environment, but has everything to do with God at work in me.
Let God have his way in you today, that we may all grow into the unity of faith.
Love deeply today....
Speak truthfully today...
Pray powerfully today....
Walk faithfully today.....

God be with you....
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Excuse Me Officer...It Seemed Like the Right Thing To Do

I Chronicles 13:4
And all the congregation said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

This passage concerns the moving of the Ark of the Covenant (that gold box from Raiders of the Lost Ark) to Jerusalem. The people said...."Hmmmm! It seems okey dokey to me. Lets do it." The moving wasn't the bad part. It was the way the people decided to transport the Ark. Their way cost a man his life. Well, that doesn't sound fair. Truth be known, God doesn't deal in fairness, especially when it is the mind of sinful man that is deciding what is fair and what isn't.

I only want "fair" when it benefits me.
I only want "fair" when I don't get my way.
I only want "fair" when it is something I really want.
Well, I have learned that God has a definite plan and way to approach Him.
Just like the people in the I Chronicles passage, they decided on how they would approach God and it cost them.
They took it upon themselves to act in a manner that was contrary to the way God had given in Scripture.
On the surface, it looked like a good deed. "Let's bring the Ark back to Jerusalem!" But it was the way they brought the Ark back. It wasn't the way God had laid out for the Ark to be transported. Their selfishness and lack of respect for God cost a man his life. As the Ark was placed on a cart and was being take back to the city, one of the oxen stumbled and the Ark shifted. A man named Uzza reached out to steady the Ark and when he touched it, he died.

How much of what I do are things that seem "right" in my own eyes but are an offense to God. I can even do religious deeds that have no use or be blessed by God. Why? Because I did not consult God on whether or not He wanted me to do it. I heard Dudley Hall say, "How would you like to spend your whole life baking apple pies for God, only to discover that God doesn't like apple pie." It would be a wasted effort.
I don't want to waste myself on things that aren't pleasing to God. I don't want to fall prey to only doing what "seems right in my own eyes." I want to be obedient and listen for God's instruction and they carry it out.

Sure do hope I learn and grow up before I grow older.
Never forget---God is love. Not that God loves, or God created love....God is, by His very nature, love. And for this reason, His heart is for us. He desires to communicate His will to us. Not only that, beyond the communication, He desires to empower us to carry out that will. So don't waste yourself on your own soulish nature. Spend your energy listening for God. Then follow!

God on you....
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The More Things Change...The More They Stay The Same

Proverbs 23:29-35
Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. Don't let the sparkle and smooth taste of wine deceive you. For in the end it bites like a poisonous serpent. It stings like a viper. You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. And you will say, "They hit me, but I didn't feel it. I didn't even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can have another drink?"

We are indeed "walking" dead men and women outside of a life with Christ.
When we live according to the sinful nature, we gravitate toward the things that feed that sin appetite.
We think that real life is found in carrying out our desires and wishes under the cover of darkness.
I am in need of being saved and restored by a Power greater than myself: That would be Jesus.
I am in need of coming to the place of being totally in touch with my own lack of power: Wheather that power be found in my own self will or my own physical strength, I lack the capability to put my life back in order.

I see so many who disdain the instruction and healing that is found in the Twelve Steps.
They (as the big books states) look for an easier softer way. As if their own perception will pick up on something.......some way..........some new thought that no one else has ever considered that will eliminate the need to follow a few simple instructions in order to live life under the direction of "SELF". This path has, and always will, lead to failure and relapse. That may sound harsh and unloving, but I am merely stating what I know to be true. Just as I told you to not touch the eye of an electric stove when it was on because it would burn you. The addictive mind says, "It won't burn me because I have no intention of touching for that long." Touch it and the outcome is what I predicted. You get burned.

I guess I am amazed at the power of the human mind and will especially when it is under the influence of sin. It will seek out any way what so ever to remain in control. It will even get super religious in order to survive. But only through submission to God and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior will break the power of in. Only the blood of Jesus will break the penalty of sin. And only an ongoing relationship with Jesus will destroy the future of sin in your life.

I don't have the all the answers.
I'm not sure I even have some answers.
But I do know this.
Jesus is the way ......the truth.....and the life. Not some life. Not a life. Not one of many different types of life. Jesus is THE life.
Chew on this.....

God on you...
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Please Pray

My brother-in-law, Don Campbell, has lost vision in one of his eyes. He is going to the doctor this morning to have this checked out. It may require surgery and we need pray that God would provide a means for this surgery.

Don pastors a church in Gurley, Alabama and travels around the country preaching and sharing at county fairs and flea markets. God has used Don and his family in a mighty way.

Thanks...
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Recap From the Weekend

Visitation Saturday at Rapha was one of the better one. Weather was perfect. It was the first time this year that the families could be outside enjoying the surroundings. People were fishing and playing horseshoes. Some just sat in the shade of the trees sharing conversation and hopes and dreams of a better life.
Kids chased after the ducks and geese and our 9 new additions to our ducks were the hit of the day. Nine little ducks all following hard after their momma.

Saturday night was...................well.........it was good.
I never know what to expect going on. Sometimes I feel like the music I've chosen for the worship time isn't right, but God uses it anyway. Maybe I have a doubt about a particular song, but God comes and the room is alive with worship. That's the way it was last night. It was easy to worship, easy to play, and there was a freedom in the room.

We started off with a version of Some Kind Of Wonderful. A bright tune that speaks of our change of heart from loving the the things of this world to a new life loving Jesus. Wayne Wimpee sang and cut loose with his harmonica which really talks to the spirits of the men who are there on Saturday night.

Next was a Vineyard song, I Believe. A declaration of our beliefs and the foundation for our new life....Jesus Christ. We moved into I'm A Believer, The old Monkee's song. "Then I saw His face...now I'm a believer.....
This really brought the guys up and into it. We closed out the worship set with No Other. There is no other love like you O'Lord. You are the reason for life and you offer it freely to all who would receive. There was a time at the end where Debbie began to sing in the Spirit. Whenever she does this, it always ushers in the presence of the Lord to an even greater degree. I am always amazed at how God comes to fill up the music.

The message was from Jude:20 -  But you, dear friends, build yourselves up (lay your foundation) in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Starting with the basic premise of recovery. You are rebuilding your life. In order to do that, you have to remove all the rubble from your past. From there you lay a foundation, being Jesus Christ. Everything begins there...our belief, our faith, our hope in that Jesus is who He claims to be and will do in us what He claims He will do.

Barry Hooks came up after I finished teaching and brought everything full circle by reading from the Big Book of AA (We claim that the Bible is the "BIGGER" book). During the ministry time that followed, several men acknoledged their need to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. There was much prayer and many tears, but these were tears of joy and not guilt ladened. Tears of being set free.

Once again, as I closed the door to the chapel after everyone had left, I took one last look into the room and asked myself the same question I have asked after every meeting...."How are you gonna top this, Lord?" You know what?
He will.

God on you...
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I'll try to get the message up in the I-pod section of this blog as soon as possible.
I am going to try to post some of the music also, but I will not let it remain indefinitely. We will sway it out.
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Saturday Video

If you have been around the Greene Street Letters for any time, you'll discover that every Saturday is video day. I try to find songs and teachings that have spoken to me and refreshed me. This weeks video is an offering from Chuck Girard, former lead singer of LOVE SONG. Love Song was one of the premiere groups that came out of the Jesus People movement back in the 60's. LAY YOUR BURDENS DOWN. What is it that is found in the hearts of men and women that refuse to release burdens and lay them down? Pride? Not wanting to admit we are all in need of help? What ever it is , it is the very thing that cripple and hinders us from moving on in Christ. Matthew 11:28 Jesus commands (let me rephrase that....Jesus encourages) us to "Come to Him...all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Rest..... The state of living without struggle. Without effort. Without strain. To be at peace. To be still. To be safe. Why would we reject such an invitation? Today, Saturday April 2nd.....................whatever time it is you read this posting......lay your burdens down and experience the grace of God. God on you..... mb

1000th Posting

"Give us this day our daily lifestyle...forgive those who seek to take it from us for Yours is the Kingdom and Power and Glory to keep us in the lifestyle we are accustom to."

We would never pray such a prayer out loud.
We would never be as blunt and open as the words I have written here, but let me confess to you that this was a prayer I prayed for 2 years. Oh I didn't use those words, I couched them in religious terms and made them sound really well. But when I was left to my own thoughts and my own heart, God uncovered me for what I was. A selfish man. I had attained a certain level and lifestyle and had convinced myself that it was God who was blessing me. Little did I know or understand that God really didn't  have an interest in my lifestyle. He was more concerned with my maturity and character development. I ear that we cast God in places that He has no interest in going.

I hear many stories today from many different people about fear of the future. Fear of economic collapse. Fear that a level of lifestyle will be affected by the events we see playing out around us today. This fear causes people to cower and withdraw from God. Oh they don't withdraw their presence, they continue to go to church and worship. But they withdraw their tithes and offerings from God. They sing about the greatness of God and yet doubt that He truly will give them their "Daily Bread." This is not time to be tight- fisted with God. Now is the time to lean into Him and acknowledge Him as the supplier of our needs. Either the words of Scripture are true, or they are not.

I understand the fear.
I understand the selfishness that people go through.
But I also have been brought to the place of learning to trust God in everything.
Houses are just houses....
Cars are just cars.....
Things are just things...
But the love and presence of God is eternal and I wish not for Him to turn from me because of my doubt and fear and love of the world. I want to learn to love God more than anything else. This is where real life begins.

Life with God is not free from pain.
Pain is a part of life and God wants to help us.
He will either:
1.) Heal you from it.
2.) Take you out of it.
3.) Allow you to walk through it so you can learn.
No one really wants to learn life lessons by going through pain, but this is the place we can see God unlike any other. I don't run looking for pain, but I don't want to run away either. I want to hold God's hand tighter and simply follow Him.

In October of 2003, God spoke to me about a time of shaking that was coming in which everything that we possessed that wasn't from His hand would be destroyed. All that would be left would be the eternal things. I'm not so sure that lifestyle may, in fact, be one of the things God is shaking. People are trying to maintain a lifestyle that is self-centered and not from God. We want God to bless us in such a way that we can maintain this lifestyle but I don't really believe that this is part of God's plan.

Call me a doom and gloom nay Sayer.
That's o.k.
I think many have lost their love for heaven and have fallen in love with life here on planet earth.
The sweet by and by has become home here an now.
My home is not this planet and I don't not look for fulfillment here, but hold unswervingly to the hope of glory that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. One day, whether because Jesus comes to get me or I pass over by death, I will stand changed. I long for that day. I yearn for that day. This world has nothing to offer me. As a friend of my mine said so eloquently in a song he wrote....."So I'm saying, "Good by world."

God on you.....
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