ONE THING THAT BINDS THEM ALL---SIN

 

Step # 1
We came to believe that we were powerless over alcohol/drugs and that our lives had become unmanageable.

Romans 7:24
Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

It's all about the "S" word.
We even have stuck the moniker on a town in Nevada. "S" City.
Sin.
Missing the mark is one definition. That means that there is a target or destination or behavior that we are aiming at, but because of sin, we do not hit it. We can never hit it. It is impossible.

Alcohol / drugs are the outward signs or symptoms of an inner wrong.
A nature that constantly puts us in danger to do the wrong thing.
Now the wrong thing doesn't always manifest in killing or dope dealing or rape.
It appears through lies.
It shows itself through envy and jealousy.
It comes on the scene through greed and lust.
Bottom line is that what takes place in our hearts is played out through our bodies.

For the addict, the sin nature introduces them to their drug of choice.
Once this happens, a love affair begins between user and drug.
The longer this relationship continues, the more the body and mind changes.
the addict, through alteration of body chemistry and brain function, looses his ability to choose to stop.
This is hard for some folks to grasp. I hear people say all the time, "Why don't they just quit. They know that it's killing them." Well for the addict it isn't that easy. They want to quit. They have tried to quit. But that craving (an actual physical response), driven by that old (sin) nature draws them back time after time.

Fix the sin problem.
Fix the addiction.
The root of all mankinds problems is a broken relationship with Jesus.
That is why the Apostle Paul went on to write in Romans 7:
Who will set me free from the body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ out Lord!

See...You don't have to live in the darkness of addiction any longer.
There is an answer and it's been right here all along.
I can write these things as being true because I have witnessed, over the past 14 years, the power of Christ to deliver a person out of the bondage of sin and addiction.

Father God!
This morning, right now, I ask that you would open the minds and spirits of those who may read this, who are still trapped in addiction.
I would that Your Holy Spirit would break off all hardness of heart, mind, eyes and ears so that the truth can be seen and understood.
I pray that the power of the message that Jesus has defeated sin and the devil once and for all time be brought to bear in the hearts of those who struggle.
I pray that you would pour immeasurable amounts of hope, grace, mercy and love upon everyone who reads this today.
And that we might come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ....
Amen

God on you....
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THE JESUS PEOPLE ARE NOW JESUS' PEOPLE

 

The Jesus People days...
Heady stuff, even now.
News reports on the major networks about what was happening on the West coast.
A revival of sorts.
No one wanted to call it that because it was so unusual. Little did they know that it was business as usual for God.
Darn that God...doing His work outside the walls of the traditional church.
Some traditional churches were forever transformed because they embraced what God was doing.

Kids getting saved....
Coffee houses that had music spilling out into the streets.
No one told us we couldn't play in the Kingdom. 
Babes learning how to "Do the Stuff" of Jesus.
You know, the Stuff?
Praying for sick people and see them healed....
Speaking to demonic spirits and see them leave people alone...come off of, come out of...come away from, only to be replaced by God's Holy Spirit.

God's church....His real, believing, living, giving away church cannot be defined by denomination or buildings. It is not bound by any agenda, except His, and is not driven by demographics. It exists and thrives in an atmosphere of worship. A people who are beat up, scarred, emotionally down trodden, but whose hearts are just crazy in love with Jesus. 

A people who go out into the market place, the work place, the schools and see hearts who are living misdirected lives. Or as it was so aptly put..."living lives of quiet desperation." Lives with an unquenchable thirst, looking for something that would quiet the demand to be quenched. So using drugs and alcohol quieted the voice temporary, but it came back with a vengeance...."Give me more!!!" And people  answered that hellish call.
The more they fed the voice, the deeper and deeper they spiraled out of control. 

Jude: Verse 21-23
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life And on some have compassion, making a distinction, but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, having even the garment defiled by the flesh.

It is the love of God that was awakened in my own heart back in 1968, that still burns today. Oh I still mess up and say things I shouldn't have. Listening to my flesh more than the Spirit, but God is quick to forgive me, and loving tell me, "Let's try it one more time, o.k." You see, that period of time back in the 60's when the Jesus movement was rolling wasn't just a fad. It wasn't the latest "in-thing" to hook into. It changed the heart of a generation, and the change is still evident today. We have grown older and hopefully a little wiser. We still find that our voice is still relevant and that we still have a story to tell, songs to write and worship to give. 

Funny part in all of this, sitting here at my computer this morning, in my mind, I still feel 18 - 19 years old. The body says different....snap,crackle and pop (that isn't a cereal...its' my bones). I pray that God will let me keep on until it's my time to exit this old world. Isn't that what Jesus would want from us? To fight the good fight? To run the good race? I think so.

God on you...
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DEEP IN THE SHADOWS

 

Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death....

Life is filled with sunshine and shadows....
A mixture of darkness and light that, at times, seek to define who we are and what we are trying to accomplish.
Not accomplish in the sense of job's or skills, or tasks...
but in the sense of who we were created to be.
Sometimes the shadows can be so deep that you can't find your way.
Sometimes the light is so blinding that you can see what lies ahead.

But there is a shadow that not only provides you with safety and understanding, but covers you with love.
The shadow of God.

Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress.....my God, in Him I will trust.

God's cover over you as you traverse this terrain of life...His shadow.
The shadow of love...
The coolness of His presence completely overtaking you.
The protection of His name flying like a standard for all the world to see that you are His possession. 

In Psalm 23 we read that part of life's journey includes going through other shadows. In this case, David writes of the valley of the shadow of death.
Valley...
The lowest point between two mountains....
Mountains could symbolize problems and situations we find ourselves facing.
Mountains so high that they block out the natural light, casting long shadows down into that valley.
Such places can be scary and cause one to pause.
But David wrote that he wasn't afraid of such times or places, that he was moving through one shadow, in the protection and safety of another shadow.
The shadow of death has no cause for concern to David because he understands who it is that is taking him through this shadow. He understands that death cannot overtake until it is his time.

We all have these parts of our life journey that will take us through the valley of the shadow of death. Never, never, never forget who has a hold of you...
Spirit, soul, body all belong to God. I am His and He is mine. Such is a comfort to me. As David wrote in Psalm 23...."I will fear no evil."
I'm not the smartest guy in class, but I do believe that mindset and heartset will serve me well..."I will fear no evil."
Think on these things...

God on you..
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ISAIAH 35

 

Isaiah 35

I always look to Isaiah 35 as the "hope" chapter.
The heading in my Bible says "Hope for restoration".
I was restored yesterday.
I am being restored today.
I will be restored tomorrow.
It is a work in progress.
Sometimes when we look at what is going on in our lives, it feels like we are going backwards.
It even feels like we are being punished. (isn't it funny that we use the term punished instead of disciplined when we are the ones going through everything.)

In Isaiah 35 there are some incredible pictures and visions that can come forth as you read the words.
V1. - Even the wilderness will rejoice in those days. The desert will blossom with flowers.
A.) That's weird! The change from wilderness to flowers happens when rejoicing takes place. Could it be that worship is part of this restoration? That no matter where we are today (it begins with wilderness) when we worship that opens the door for change and restoration. Now before you write me and call me new age or heathen.....we do not cancel confession and repentance.

V.2 - Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel's pastures and the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God.
A.) I love this! An abundance! Not a few pots scattered around. Not some flea market vases full of plastic flowers. But an abundance! Abundance of what? Evidence of change that God is bringing to our lives. This is also coupled with singing and joy. I don't see this part as being like church where we go and sit in rows and sing the first, second and last stanza. I see it as each person just abandoning themselves to God. Abandoning themselves and just going crazy, not even thinking about the person next to them.
B.) It is in the evidence (flowers) of change and in the singing and joy that we find that this is the place where God will display his glory (nature). I guess Scripture is true when it reads that God will come down and inhabit the praises of His people. One translation says that God will come down and put on the praises of His people like a coat. Cool!

V.3 - With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.
A.) Tell the story. Better yet, tell your story. Tell what God has done to you. Tell of your love for him. Don't cover your story with religious jargon or "church-speak" ...put it in words that others can understand.

Like I said, Isaiah 35 is an incredible chapter.
Read over it.
Chew on what you have read and digest it.
Let God reveal to you the things that you need to see and understand.
Have a good weekend.

God on you....
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EXODUS---WHEN WILL WE LEARN?

 

Seventy go down to Egypt to escape the famine.Seventy relatives of the sons of Jacob make their way to Egypt only to find that Joseph, the brother they thought was dead, now had power over their very lives.God, in his wisdom, had brought about through all the pain, the heartache, the sorrow, a wonderful ending to the story. Family reunited and taken care of by the one who should harbor the most resentment, bitterness and anger...Joseph. But he didn't!

It would have been great if the story ended right there but, like life, things have a funny way of turning and changing. You could even say, "Hey! We didn't see this one coming."

We read in Exodus 1: 7 reads But their descendants had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so quickly that they soon filled the land. In other words, the Israelites became prosperous and wealthy. They filled the land to the point that they became a threat to the powers that be. One other thing that is not mentioned to much when it comes to the Israelites........they adopted the customs of the land. They worshipped the Egyptian gods. In other words, they became pseudo-Egyptians in habit and custom.

God, when he led them from Egypt using Moses, took them into the desert to get them out of Egypt. Once there, God began the process of getting Egypt out of them. We see the people's heart when Moses went up on the mountain to be with God. After being gone for 40 days, the people assumed that Moses was dead so they entertained Aaron, Moses' brother with a proposition. "Make us a golden calf so that we may worship it!" Where do you suppose that idea came from? From their time in Egypt.

One thing that we have got to guard against is becoming prosperous in our society to the point that it draws us into the customs and worship of this world. 

Wealth has a way of changing people and enticing them to partake and participate in things they normally would not. It is the customs, the rituals, the subtle worship of this age that is so dangerous to people. It draws and woos our senses, making these outlandish promises if we partake. We will look better, our lives will have more purpose, we will become a part of a select group. Every bit of that draws our own flesh (sin nature). God clearly states that when we become a follower of Jesus, the world hates us and we should have nothing to do with the world. By saying "have nothing to do with the world," it means that 1.) we have to live here 2.) we don't have to indulge in what the world considers to be of great value.

Prosperity is not a bad thing.

But when that mindset and lifestyle become the driving force and reason for your existence, then you have crossed over into some dangerous territory.

Let God guide you in your financial decisions.
Give as God commands you to give. Give generously. Give joyfully but give.

Don't be enticed by the lure of a lifestyle that you would trade the eternal things of God for the temporary things of this life.

God on you.........

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KINGDOM VALUES

 

The verse above is from John 17:3 and deals with "knowing" God. In fact, the very thought of knowing God may seem foreign to some people. Knowing "About" someone is far different than actually knowing them.

Some will only go as far as filling a pew or a chair on Sunday morning, singing the songs, putting a few dollars in the offering, only to leave until the next Sunday. There is no thought given to God during the week, except in those cases where we find ourselves in trouble and we turn to Him to help us.

We very seldom turn to Him for direction or wisdom. We don't seek Him out to spend time with Him because of our love for Him. I know that there are some who will say, "You don't understand----I just don't have time for such things." I do understand. I understand that we make time for the things we truly love to do or to be the people we truly want to be with.

One of the first things I learned when I came to the Vineyard was that they had a set of values. And the very first one on the list read as follows: "I value the pursuit of God. I am hungry to know God's presence, hear His voice, and follow hard after Him." Now I don't believe that the Vineyard has the corner on this whole "pursuit" of God thing. This is the very core and foundation of relationship with Christ that transcends all denominations, churches, etc...

The funny part in all of this is that as the years have rolled on since my entry into our fellowship, my desire has grown to pursue God. To pursue His voice as I read His word daily. To look for Him in all my circumstances as I go through my daily life. I've tried to live under the direction and influence of this world, and it didn't work. It promised me everything and left me empty which only drove me to chase that much harder. 

So how do you come to a place where you want to pursue God? You find yourself a fellowship that teaches the Word. A community of like-minded people who are hungry for the presence of God in every aspect of their life. Now don't confuse what I've said this morning with chasing after an experience. The pursuit and experience become more important than actually being in God's presence. IT becomes a vehicle that is selfish and self centered. It becomes all about you and not about God.

I love the first verse of Matthew 5.

"And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him."

They came to Jesus.....the verse doesn't say that He called them, whistled for them, or motioned in anyway for them to join Him. The disciples were watching and when they saw Him sit down, they came to Him because He had something to say. They wanted to hear the words....and oh what words they were. We should have the same attitude. Always be watchful and ready to hear what God has to say...more important is that we need to be ready to apply what we hear.

I think this is enough for today....
Before leaving the house this morning, tell God..."I want to pursue You today. You told me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow You, and that is the desire of my heart today."

God on you..

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MOTHER'S DAY 2021

 

Mother's day 2021....
The mother of my children is asleep at the time I'm writing this. In the quietness of this house, I can hear and almost see the memories of mother's day over the years. There were those times when I would wrestle the boy's out of bed so we could fix breakfast for her. Usually blueberry muffins and a cup of coffee. We would come marching into the bedroom something akin to a Cecil B. DeMille epic movie. Both the boys wanted to carry the tray containing our morning fare. Such a debate and struggle would usually be solved by me carrying the tray due to the fact that the vigorous debate by the brothers usually resulted in spillage and a coffee stained morning paper.

There was no "easing" into the day when the boy's came into the room. "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!" being said loud enough that I'm pretty sure that every mom on Greene Street was awakened. The boy's would pile up in the bed anxiously waiting for Mom to take a bite and a sip of coffee. The world would not be right until she said, "Oh this is wonderful, thank you." Smiles, laughter and a mom who was still trying to wake up and gather her senses so she could face the day.

Those two little boys have turned into grown men with families of their own, and isn't that the way life should be. Oh they won't forget what day it is, and there will be phone calls and visits. There will be cards with hand written words that express their love, appreciation, and admiration for this woman who saw then through the years, taking care of them every step of the way. Isn't that how it should be? I think maybe yes.

Sitting here in my office this morning, I also think back to my own mother who has been gone for 40 years. Her face and her voice are still there in my memory and I pray that time never rob me of this.

SO this morning....
Here on Greene Street....

The words from Proverbs 31 have been more truer than there are today.

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her. There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!!

Happy Mother's Day Vicki!

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