Wow, I just got done reading this fairly short post by John Piper that really encouraged me about not giving up hope with our struggles against sin. Sometimes I just wonder how many times am I going to keep doing the same sins over and over again? Why am I like the dog who goes back to the same old vomit. Why do I lose patience with people, why do I get angry so easily, why do I like to horde my money, why do I like to argue, why why why? Should we just throw in the towel? NO! Read this and it will encourage you as it did me.

It's Never Too Late to Keep Asking - By John Piper - Original Article

One of the greatest hope-killers is that you have tried for so long to change and have not succeeded. Now you look back and think: What’s the use? Even if I could experience a breakthrough, there would be so little time left to live in my new way it wouldn’t make much difference compared to so many decades of failure.
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Slaying the Giant of Fear

How do we slay the giant of fear? Is there anything that we should fear here on earth? God's word will tells us what we should and should not fear.

When we think of slaying a giant we are reminded of the story of David and Goliath. We see how one of the great Bible Heroes faced his literal Giant. Who strengthened David? Who gave David the power to even face his giant? We know it was our Lord and Savior who strengthened him. David declares to Goliath 1 Samuel 17:45-47: Read More...

I can't even tell you how this story has encouraged me today. God is in control of everything. I know He is, but I think we forget sometimes. We take life for granted but in a single instance everything can change. One minute life is going as normal and the very next second your entire world can come crashing down around you. But He is sovereign!

There is one thing being a father that you never want to experience and that is one of your children being called home to be with Jesus before we think it is time. I really can't imagine it and I pray that I am never put through that trial. You have to read the story of the Weinberg family and their trial over the Easter weekend. It is the most amazing miracle.

Compare this miracle to the idiots who claim they control angels and are anointed with sapphire dust and we see a complete difference between what a real miracle looks like verses one created by man. One honors God and the other honors man.

Here is a link to this story. When you start reading it you need to navigate on the right hand side up the blog posts by clicking the titles of each post. You will start off on "How it all began" and work your way up. I promise it is a blessing to read.

http://howgoodisgod.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-it-all-began.html

My life is no longer my own because it was bought with the highest price and that is the blood of Jesus! We who proclaim the name of Jesus as LORD and Savior are slaves to Christ.

I have listened to John MacArthur preach a message on being a slave of Christ and he has preached it again at the Shepherd’s Conference 2008. What an awesome message he presents speaking God’s truth about our position in Christ.

Here is a short excerpt of his sermon. I really suggest reading the whole thing because I believe you will be blessed by it.

The Lordship controversy with the silly notion of Christ as Savior and not Lord would’ve been far less acceptable & influential if this had been translated correctly. It’s the only issue I know of in Scripture like this. Consider what this truth would mean for the prosperity gospel: gone! Or the market-driven philosophy that appeals to people at the level of their fallenness and promises them what they want in their fallen condition. Or the postmodern concept of truth, or your “personal Jesus.” All obliterated by the kurios-doulos relationship.

He is master, we are slaves. But we are also friends, and He is also perfectly wise, kind, generous. But He is master, He alone provides all I need; my only protector. In the spiritual realm, I have only one provider, protected. He’s my great High Priest (Hebrews), my Discipliner (John 15), my Rewarder. If you’re struggling with this, turn to Philippians 2:3ff:

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; [that’s slave talk!] 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a SLAVE, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

If you think slavery is beneath you, know that Jesus became like a slave!!! He denied Himself. He perfectly obeyed the will of the father, taking up His cross and denying Himself. Read More...

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 contains one of those classic passages in scripture that addresses God’s election of the saints. God has provided this particular passage to give us hope and let us know that He is in complete control of all situations. We are to stand firm in His promises. Everything that we put our faith into is the knowledge that He keeps His word to us. Our hope is in Him and nothing else. It allows us to stand firm. Read More...

My wife Paula and I were able to give our testimony this last Friday night at our church. Our church does a once a month "3rd" Friday get together. They serve dinner and have special topics and speakers. Well since Valentines day was Thursday they did a special night on what the bible says about "love". They also had two couples, which we were one of, as speakers on how God entered our relationship and how He has changed it over the years. This message is really less about us and more about glorifying God in what He has done in our marriage. I hope this message blesses anyone who could be in our situation over 10 years ago. God has the power to heal any relationship. Here is our story. Read More...

Today in the Christian community some of the most basic and plain truths of the Bible are being challenged. I have read and listened to people who are claiming there is no heaven nor hell. They are not real places and the kingdom of heaven is found here on earth. The people who are making this claim are not atheist but people who claim to be Christians living for Jesus.

Why are these basic foundations of the Bible being challenged by people.? How do you possibly read scripture and say there is no heaven or hell? What the heck is scripture talking about when it speaks of these terms? Is it just symbolic, a metaphor, an analogy or is it just what it says it is? Read More...

12 years ago my mom was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer. It was a day I will never forget. My world came crashing down around me with complete disbelief in what was happening. I remember I wanted to just crawl up in a ball and sleep it away. She had less than a 1% chance of surviving more than 6 months. 12 years later after brain surgery and a lung removal it has come back in a vengeful way. Monday January 14th 2008 my mom has been given less than a week to live. They have found a massive tumor in her brain and now is in a hospital bed in the middle of my sister’s house waiting to make her final journey to home. A home that Christ has promised to her, to me and to you if we are willing to turn to Him. Read More...

I have been dialoging with some interesting so called Christians who have a very twisted view of scripture and what it means to be a Christian. They write and say that they feel it is perfectly fine to use foul and degrading language. Most of these gentleman are part of the emergent church and claim to be living their lives like Christ commanded. But instead of their "cool" worldliness they are going directly against the Word of God. I would like to address the topic of our language and how we speak and what we speak represents to the world who Christ is in us. Is it ok for a Christian to walk around using 4 letter words, is that being a good ambassador of Christ? Read More...

I just want to put this very bluntly, divorce is not an option for any Christian. My friend and I were discussing if there is any valid reason for getting a divorce and there is only one instance of were God allows divorce and this particular situation does not happen in our culture today. My friend found this great article written by Thomas M. Strouse, Prof. of Theology on The Bible, Marriage and Divorce.

Now we as men and women can come up with lots of excuses why we should be able to divorce, but God's plan is for no one to separate a man and women. We may find ourselves in some very difficult situations with our husband/wives but God's word is very clear on this issue. I also can look at Genesis 2 and see the original plan for marriage that we should strive for and there is nothing in Genesis that says men cleave to your wife unless... Nope it is until death. Take a read of this article it is excellent. I would be curious to know if anyone disagrees with this or not. Read More...

One of the largest seeker sensitive church's in America is Willow Creek. They are primarily responsible for the seeker sensitive movement about growing large mega-church's and they have released a new book on their findings about the spiritual depth of their congregation. Not surprising their results were not good news and they have found their congregations to be spiritually weak. This is well worth a read. I am so blessed to have my pastor, John Werhas, who isn't all about the "church" programs but about teaching the Word of God book by book, chapter by chapter and verse by verse.

Here is a quote from the founder of Willow Creek and below is a full article from Town Hall.com Read More...

I have to tell you this message today burdens my heart. The message today is a grave warning to the apostate church in Laodicea. And a grave warning to self deceived unbelievers. We have seen a progression as we have moved through the church’s getting worse and worse and we have ultimately come to the Church with no believers and a complete rejection from Christ. They are in worst possible state and that is they believe they are Christians but are deceived. Read More...

I have had a lot on my mind in the past few weeks with so much going on in my life and trying to do all I can to live for my Lord and Savior. I have been wondering what is God going to do with my life and how can I be used most effectively. Sometimes I wonder if I am doing what God wants me to be doing. My Pastor, John Werhas reminds us that I don’t make up the plans of my life then tell God to follow me. But I am to do the will of God and follow Him. I think I know what the will of God is for me but why do I seem to flounder at times? Read More...

Travis Carden (http://www.traviscarden.com) has done some fantastic work putting a list together to show we are in a constant state of depravity until God breathes spiritual life into our spiritual deadness. If we take these passages as a whole I have a really hard time thinking that any man can bring himself or should I say “choose” God. I cannot align myself to be in the right position to receive God’s grace and mercy when I am completely depraved and dead in my sins. What do you think? Read More...

Here is a sermon I spoke on this Wednesday. How are we to stand up like the Church of Smyrna in the days of persecution? Read More...

This video clip features a message from Paul Washer, a hard core pastor, spreading the Gospel message. I have previously posted on one of his sermons and commented on what a powerful message he gave of God’s good news. You can listen to his previous message here. What is amazing to me is no matter when I hear the Gospel message it fills my heart with joy for what Christ has done for us. Read More...

Life has been crazy busy these last few weeks and I have really failed on keeping up on the blog. Hopefully as things calm down I will get back into my routine of posting a couple of times a week. Read More...

In our weekly men’s breakfast this morning one of our pastors was going through the 2nd chapter in James teaching on faith and works. I have been thinking about my own faith and does my life show the fruits of my faith. I think in some ways yes and some areas I definitely need to improve. But as I thought more about this and the people who I know who are true Christians always demonstrate fruit/works in their lives. Then I started thinking about people who claim faith in Christ but there is NO fruit and on top of that they don’t even believe in what the Bible has to say. Read More...

There are two things that the enemy really hates followers of Christ to be caught doing. The first is reading God’s love letter to us, the Bible. The second thing he hates is when we are on our knees talking with our Father in heaven. Read More...

1 Peter 2:24
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. Read More...

Andrew Murray wrote one of my favorite books called Humility The Journey Towards Holiness. It is a pretty short book but very powerful at a 110 pages you can finish it in a few hours. Read More...

This entry is completely directed towards myself. I need to hear this message.

Have you fallen, have you messed up, are you beating yourself up for something you did that you know was wrong? Are you asking yourself questions like how can Christ possibly love me with my wicked heart. I should just throw in the towel I can’t live the way Christ wants me to live 100% of the time. Read More...

I am not a huge fan of compilation CD’s of lots of difference artists but WOW Hymns is just fantastic. If you love the old hymns and their messages but want more of an up to date tune then this is the CD for you. Read More...

My wife and I went to the Forum last night to see Hillsong United. They have just released a new album which is amazingly good called “All of the Above”. If you have never heard of them I highly recommend their music. Here are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs on the new album called Lead Me to the Cross. Read More...

It has been a year now without having cable or satellite TV. I can honestly say I have not missed it at all. The decision for us to cancel our cable subscription was decided when my oldest boy started rolling his eyes and stomping his feet when I asked him to do something. I thought to myself where in the heck did he see that? Well one afternoon they had the Disney Channel on and there was a girl on the TV (Raven) who stomped her feet and rolled her eyes at her father. That was the deciding factor! Read More...

This has been one of those days. My cell phone got suspended for not making a payment (I did it over the phone over a week ago but I hung up before I go the confirmation code). My boss told a group of us that he expects us to spend the next 2 weeks spending 18 hour days working on this project (Sat and Sun). I had someone call me stupid and ridiculous because of something simple I asked of him. I feel overwhelmed with so much on my plate that I just don’t have time to do everything that needs to be done. Read More...

I am pretty much a black and white kind of guy when it comes to what is right and wrong. But there are some gray areas for us who are followers of Christ. I pretty much like to fall on the most conservative views but there is freedom in Christ. He has given us choices in many areas of our lives, but how do I choose these freedoms and know its ok to do them. Read More...