Independence or Dependent?

In 1776, the thirteen colonies that existed in the new world gained their independence and began to experience freedom from the British Empire.  Since that time, on July 4^th Americans all over the United States will celebrate the independence with a variety of celebrations. 

I’ve often wondered if each of us really knows what it means to be truly independent.  I’m not talking about independence from a nation, but rather from a regime that is brutal, conniving, and manipulative.   It is true that there are many nations where all three of these traits are evident.  However, there is one regime that is so much more than any one nation can be; the regime’s name is Satan.  The Apostle Peter said, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  1^st Peter 5:8 (NLT)

Satan is in an all out war with us.  He wants our independence.  He makes the phrase:  “I have rights” into something God is not pleased with.  It is true that we have the right to believe or not believe.  We have the right to change or not.  However, there are consequences of good and bad to the decisions we make.  Satan worms his way into our independence and begins to convince us that God is harsh and intolerant and doesn’t allow you to be what you desire to be.  

It is a fact that our nation is changing.  It isn’t the same as it was in 1776 or 1876 or 1976 or 2014.  Not all change is bad.  As a matter of fact, in the hundreds of years of our nation, there have been great advancements in medicine, technology, industry, and education, along with many others.  Change can mean that we are making improvements. 

Independence means we have to be responsible to ensuring right decisions and changes are being made that will be honorable to God.  Not all the changes in our nation have been good.  The morality and values of our nation has taken a big hit.  Being “politically correct” is the new term for, “don’t offend.”  It is high time that we as a Christian nation and the Christian communities of White County stand as believers in Jesus to proclaim truth with unity.  Another Satan tactic is to get Christians to fuss and fight and argue over who is right and who is wrong and who is going to heaven and who is going hell that we have taken our focus off of leading and representing Jesus.  It is true that Christians have become a victim of Satan’s schemes. 

Our independence is due to the fact that Jesus set us free.  Jesus said in the Gospel of John 8, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can’t come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.”  We are free from a dead-end life.  Jesus opened the door of opportunity if we chose it.  The free life means stop being dependent on the sin life.  The free life means that sin cannot reign and being politically correct cannot be the motto of the believer or a nation who desires to be led by God.  The free life means we have to deal with sin head on and not tolerate behavior that is not honorable to God. 

So often churches want to focus on issues like same sex marriage.  But what about gossip and envy and hatred and discord and lying and jealousy and drunkenness and pride and wild parties?  When the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to Galatia, it wasn’t writing to the unchurched, rather the churched.  Paul also, wrote some touch stuff to the Christians in Corinth.  So often Christians point the finger to the changing of the nations morals and values at the unchurched, but if we were to take a really hard look at ourselves, we just might be leading the way in bad behavior mostly. 

It is time the church changes the community, rather than the community changing the church.  We must stop dividing and start working together.  We must kick Satan out of our town and tell him he isn’t welcome.  I challenge each of you to contact me and let me know if you are ready for a better community and a better county and a better State.  Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”  John 10:10 (NLT) Together we can make a difference and fully experience true and satisfying independence.  Write me at thegreatestcommandislove@gmail.com or text or call me at 931-545-7543.  Are you ready for full independence?  Don’t let Satan be welcomed in our town anymore!!!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

"GO"

The word “go” is a key word for our dog, Sox.  Sox is a tiny toy poodle.  If anyone in the house says the word, “go” Sox jumps up even if he is in a deep sleep.  We thought we could trick him by spelling go.  We began to say, “It is time to, “G-O!”  But given the fact a poodle is the second smartest dog in the world (depending on what expert you talk to), learned how to spell really quickly. 

If it looks like Sox isn’t able to go, he will hide behind a chair and pout.  If he gets to go, he will jump up and down and around and smile as if he won the grand prize!  He will run out to the car and run in circles until we open the door.  He loves to “go”!

The word “go” is used nearly three hundred times in the New Testament for various reasons.  I have heard plenty of sermons in my life about “go” into all the world and preach the gospel.”  While that statement by Jesus is vitally important, the desire for me in this article is to engage all of us in going through life like Jesus. 

The Jesus life is living out the heart and soul of the messages of Scripture full throttle.  Taking a panoramic view of Jesus’ life we see his endurance through not eating for forty days and then being tested to turn stone into bread.  Jesus gave the perfect response to Satan, “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” Matthew 4:4 (The Message) The view of Jesus life continues with Jesus putting the religious elites on their heels when they put a lady who was caught having sex with a man that wasn’t her husband in front of him.  He challenged their motives with a penetrating question that soured the mood by saying, “let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”  John 8:7 (NLT)  The skybox view shows Jesus giving water to a woman whose life was totally screwed up.  She had multiple husbands and is now living with a guy.  Jesus’ desire for the woman was for her to find hope and peace and grace and love, not from living in bad situations, but rather, by seeing that life is about drinking from the right well that gives living hope to a stained up person.

So many stories can be shared about Jesus and the way he treated others or how he responded to the religious oppressors.  Jesus was always dignified in his response and always kept his cool about him.  He never waivered in his pursuit of helping others see hope no matter what ethnicity or baggage they carried around.  He simply loved and adored those whom he served. 

Living the Jesus life means we “go” through life just like Jesus.  Loving.  Serving.  Caring.  Supplying.  Holding.  Sheltering.  And, demonstrating an acceptance of people no matter their ethnicity or baggage they are carrying around.   “Go” means taking it in the gut from those who are mean-spirited, hateful and revengeful.  It is turning one’s cheek so that the striker can see our desire is to be kinder and to walk with them no matter how far and to give our coat even if it is below zero and to be a servant to the meanest of people who hate the very person we represent. 

“Go” means “If you want to give it all you’ve got, go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor….” Matthew 19:21 (The Message) Richness is nice and it gives freedom from financial worries, however, the richness that is most sustainable is the relationship one has with Jesus.  No amount of money can pay for a discipleship card or heavens entry fee or salvation.  The debt has been paid in full and all one needs to do is live the surrendered life of Jesus. 

The world needs us to “go” and live Jesus.  Live him with grace.  Live him with hope.  Live him with mercy.  Live him with love.  Go and be Jesus!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

I Want to be Like Jesus!

He is different.  Unusual.  Odd.  To some, he is weird and out of touch with reality.  His identity is doing the will of his father, not his own.  His passion is people, not a self made man.  His ambition is to seek out the lost, not riches for himself.  His desire is to open up his house as a place to party and relax and live in complete satisfaction rather than lock his doors and be a hermit.  His love isn’t self-gratifying, rather it is offered to everyone.  His purpose is to be the peacemaker, redeemer, grace man and forgiver.

Who is this guy?  His name is Jesus! 

Oh, I want to tell you that Jesus is so much more than a story in the bible.  He is very much alive!  He is our personal savior.  He is our friend.  He is our teacher. 

Jesus’ desire was to put together words that would touch the hearts of his listeners.  His desire wasn’t to be a “preacher” who could quote more Scripture than anyone could obtain, rather, he wanted simplicity to lead his teaching so that everyone could leave with something.  He was a master at teaching a child to an adult. 

I want to be like him!  I mean, I want to live and love and teach and serve and lead just like Jesus.  Who better to mentor one’s life than Jesus?  I have many in my life who have mentored me and given me advice that helped shape the person I am today.  However, there hasn’t been anyone close to Jesus.  

The disciples had the best of the best!  Day in and day out they were taught by a man who could take a mustard seed and make a powerful story or demonstrate the power of feeding five thousand with a few fish and loaves of bread or he could have a faith walk on water to show that there is nothing that can hinder where he needed to go. 

In all of Jesus’ mentoring to his disciples, the one thing that was constant was Jesus’ prayer life.  The conversations he had with his dad were crucial to his life.   Sharing what was on his heart and getting the needed instructions from his mentor was a must. 

To be like Jesus is to live out the very attributes of Matthew 5, 6 & 7.  To have a deep need for God was at the pinnacle of Jesus message at the base of the mountain as thousands gathered to hear Jesus teach.  Being poor in spirit meant to put self aside and allow the desires of God to lead.  To be light and salt meant that one be a flavor of spirituality that put a good taste in peoples mouths and to be light demonstrates all the virtues of a Jesus led life.  The light says follow me because I follow Christ.  Forgiving has become a way of life because we desire the forgiveness from God. And, building our lives on a solid foundation ensures our security when we are thrown around by hardships and trials and health issues and financial woes and painful losses. 

Being like Jesus means living a life that trusts his Father to lead us where we need to go and getting us through the uncertainties of life.  Being like Jesus means that I might turn people off by my lifestyle, but in the end, the reward is much greater.  Being like Jesus will help others see truth in a way that isn’t dogmatic, brutal, or condemning.  Being like Jesus means that grace is for all, not for a select few. 

Will you be like Jesus?

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian