Unwrapping God's Gifts

Gift wrapping paper that was once beautifully colored with reds, greens and imprints of the Christmas season has now become a ball of worthless trash.  What was once the desire of those trying to figure out what is inside the nicely wrapped box has now become a distant memory.  The package that was once the lure of the eye due to its beauty of glitzy wrapping paper topped with an elegant bow has now become useless and will be thrown away and never again be eyed with a desire to know what’s inside. 

According to research from Hallmark, Americans spend approximately $3.2 billion a year on wrapping paper. The hours spent selecting wrapping paper for the ones we love is no easy task.  Not just any wrapping paper will do; it is carefully examined and thought out before the selection is made.  Presentation is everything.  Some cannot give a gift unless it is wrapped perfectly.  The wrapping paper must make a statement that conveys that the gift is worth opening and seeing what is inside.  

On December 25^th billions of people all over the world opened beautifully wrapped gifts that were placed under a Christmas tree.  Each gift was wrapped with love from the giver.  No amount of time or money spent on the wrapped gift compares to the joy the giver experiences when the one who receives the gift opens it up and is full of excitement.

God is no stranger to gift-wrapping.  His wrapping of gifts may not be with beautiful and glitzy colored paper or bows nicely wrapped around the gift; however, his gifts offer eternal blessings to anyone who desires to open his or her heart to receiving them. 

Can you imagine the look on God’s face whenever one of his kids takes one of his gifts, opens it up and is full of excitement that they begin to call everyone up to tell about the gift?  Of course, the gifts God’s gives aren’t made on a production line and cannot be bought at the local department stores.  However, the gifts are available to take not only on December 25^th but any hour of the day, everyday, of every week and of every year throughout our lifetime. 

Throughout the Bible, God talks about life changing gifts that will give eternal blessings.  There is the gift of grace.  Grace means that I do not earn anything from God, he already did it for me through another gift…His son, Jesus.  Ephesians 2:8 tell us “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” The gift of grace was also demonstrated by God according to Romans 5:8, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” 

How we respond to the gifts from God is critical.  The key is showing love and dedication to the giver of the gifts and a willingness to open the gifts out of gratitude for the eternal blessings from God.  When we respond with a desire to surrender to the gift giver by declaring His Lordship in our lives and a commitment to living in grace and being a demonstrator of right living, then our entire life changes and eternal blessings are given.    

The question is, who is willing to unwrap the gifts so that the eternal blessings can be experienced?   Personally, I would love to chat with you more about all the gifts God has wrapped up for us to enjoy and experience!  You can call/text me at 931-545-7543, email me at thegreatestcommandislove@gmail.com or call my office at 256-446-5574. One call, text or email can eternal change your life!  Are you ready and willing to take the gifts God’s gives freely? 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Parents Chosen for Jesus

God has been prepping for thousands of years for the moment of choosing the parents for his most precious son, Jesus.  It couldn’t be anyone.  It had to be a couple whose values reflected his own.  It had to be parents whose morals were centered in God.  It has to be parents who demonstrated humility, a strong work ethic and disciplines that would enable them to raise the Son of God.  To be Jesus’ parents, the requirement had to be one who found favor with God.  Luke 1:28 says, “The angel [Gabriel] went to her [Mary] and said, ‘greetings, you are highly favored!  The Lord be with you.’”

To be highly favored by God meant that Mary was true to living out God’s will and loving him with all her heart, soul, strength, and mind.  Every part of her life was a reflection of her desire to be godly.  She was the perfect mother for Jesus.  She had no issues that would prevent her from fulfilling one of the most important missions anyone has ever been given directly from God. 

Mary wasn’t the beauty queen of Galilee.  She didn’t live in the most expensive subdivision.  She wasn’t the most popular or the most cultured.  She was simple.  Humble.  And, God fearing.  Not fancy, just ordinary. 

God’s choice of Mary and Joseph was a brilliant one.  When one looks throughout Scripture, God uses the most unexpected people to bring about the most spectacular events in the history of mankind. 

Parents are chosen everyday by God to bring a child into the world.  What an incredible responsibility God has to place every child with a parent.  There are some parents who are abusive, uncaring, and unloving.  Some children get parents who are lawbreakers, while others get parents who do not believe in God or want anything to do with any Christian group.  Some may say that isn’t fair!  Some will asked, why would God place them with parents who are abusive, lawbreakers or atheist? 

If we allow our negative circumstances to define us, then we will never move beyond our own self-pity; nor will we ever experience the opportunities of what God’s love will ultimately do for us.  It won’t be easy not to blame, be angry, bitter or sad; however, the entire reason God chose Mary and Joseph to bring Jesus into the world was because He knew the type of character they would have as parents and He needed godly parents to raise Jesus so that ultimately he would save all of us from our sins (Matthew 1:21) and to let each of us know that God will be with us every step of the way, (Matthew 1:23) whether good or bad, nice parents or not, God is never a step away; he is always engaged in our lives and hangs on to every word we say and travels with us throughout our life. 

Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph are a vital part of the Christmas story. If we really take a close look at their parenting skills, we will see how they were humble, led with integrity and ensured that their son would receive the best teaching spiritually, physically and academically.  May we all do our best to teach our kids the same values spiritually, physically and academically. 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Releasing Your Christmas Arrows

Someone once said, “An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming.”

There are so many downers in life that pull us backwards such as:  Financial problems.  Marital conflict.  Health crisis.  Loss of a loved one.  Painful memories.  Job loss.  Social struggles.  Depression.  And, the list goes on and on and on.  Many seek to find solutions that will enable them to cope better, but for some, the solution is never the right one or best one.  The struggler continues to seek out one solution after another, but never seems to get anywhere.  Their “arrow” is pulled back and stressed to the max.  There is no other direction to go but forward; but for some, there is anxiety about letting go, fear of traveling through the unknown and uncertainty as to where they will ultimately land. 

Scripture says “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1^st Peter 5:7) and the Apostle Paul shared with struggling Christians at Philippi “not to be anxious about anything….” (Philippians 4:6)  Trusting someone enough to give his or her worries, cares and anxiety to is easier said than done.  Letting go and allowing oneself to launch takes courage, focus and vulnerability.  Yet, it is necessary to let go in order to experience freedom from the difficulties of life. 

Holidays like Christmas can be one of the most painful, lonely, emotional and anxious times of the year for those whose life has been stretched backwards to the max.  Instead of Christmas being about being about Jesus, it has become about everyone else but him.  Families go into debt in order to give their kids the latest gadgets.  When Christmas is all over and the tree and lights are taken down and the bill for all the “must haves” comes in, it is a reminder of where you really are in life; stretched as far backwards as possible.  Anxiety, pressure, worry, and depression become the normal emotions and there seems to be no way out. 

Now is the time that the stretched out life is released.   Now is the time to focus on what is, rather than, what isn’t!  Now is the time to aim at what will bring about joy, peace and hope.  Now is the time to launch into the arms of God and trust him enough to do what he does best, which is to provide every child of his resources to survive.

Jesus said it best in Matthew 11, Are you tired? Worn out...Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” 

God never promised us an easy life, but he did promise that he would never leave us nor forsake us.  Keep company with the Father and ensure Jesus is total Lord of your life and use the Spirit of God effectively so that life when life difficulties happen, you will be able to soar through them with focus and with accurate aim. 

This year, the gifts are Christmas arrows.  These arrows are those things that hurt, cause grief, hinder joy or produce conflict. As each arrow is placed carefully in the bow and pulled back as far as possible, ensure that you take aim at your desired target in life and simply let go! May you finally be able to enjoy life once again!  Now is the time to launch your Christmas arrows and trust that God will land you on your feet!  Merry Christmas!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

What Child Is This?

What Child is this
Who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?”

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.”

What Child Is This? 

 The Gift of God – John 4:10

The Baby – Luke 2:12

The One who Saves – Matthew 1:21

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6

What Child Is This?

 He looks like every other baby.  Act like every other baby.  Cries like every other baby.  He will sleep, eat, and need diaper changes.  This child will learn how to talk and walk.  He will fall, feel pain and experience heartache.  This child will get dirty and take baths.  He will need hug and will rely on his mom and dad to help him grow up.  This child will be taught values, ethics, morals, integrity and good character.  He will have to deal with challenges, he will be tested, have to make decisions to do wrong or right.  He will suffer hardships and enjoy victories.  He will have friends who will stick with him through good and bad times and he will lose friends because of peer pressure. 

What Child Is This?

 He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world and the lamb who takes away our sins.  This Child is God with us, and the anointed one and the King of kings and Lord of lords.  He is Jesus. Messiah. Christ.  Holy One.  Alpha and Omega.  Redeemer.  And, Friend. 

There will never be anyone else as tenderhearted, forgiving, merciful, grace, love, gentle, patient, obedient, and kind.  This Child Jesus opened hopes door for everyone to enter so they can experience a life of eternal joy and peace.  

What Child Is This?

 He is Christ the King who never wavered in his obedience to his Father, nor did he yield to Satan’s temptations.  This Jesus Child grew up and stayed true to his word day in and day out.  He helped an adulterous feel the relief of forgiveness and a taxman discover the true meaning of salvation. 

Getting to know this Child will change your life.  He will not only save you from your sins, he will give you eternal life with him in his home!  This Child is all that we need!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Christmas Brings Out The Best in Us!

The city lights have now become giant snowflakes.  One by one, homes are adorn with lights and wreaths and mangers and the words, Merry Christmas.  The sounds of Christmas are being heard loud and clear.  Choirs are singing Joy to the World and Silent Night is heard in the background as shoppers walk through the stores to find that perfect gift for their loved ones.  Jesus is now the topic of conversation.  Jesus is now at the center for billions around the world.  Jesus gets the attention and the praise he deserves.  It is Christmas!  It is Christmas! 

Christmas is unlike any other holiday.  Christmas brings out the best in most everyone.  Christmas is love and faith, and Jesus.  Christmas is hope and peace.  Christmas is gifts and laughter.  Christmas is family!  Christmas is kindness and generosity and joy!

When we get right down to it, Christmas should be three hundred sixty-five days of living.  Everything Christmas brings out in each of us should be lived out January through November, too.   Jesus said, “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” (MSG)  Living the Jesus life will help a child in May.  It will give food to the hungry in August.  It will put clothes on someone is March.  It will walk two or three miles with someone who is hurting in October.  It will pray over someone who is struggling with sin in July.  It will open the doors of opportunity to tell the Jesus story in April. 

The essence of Christmas is sharing and giving to those in need.  We have a tendency to rally our givers together in December to give to those less fortunate.  However, when January rolls around, we are proud of what we’ve accomplished in December and we begin to quickly forget those who we helped and need up more January through November.    

If Christmas is celebrating Jesus, then we must also do it with the intentions of telling them that his birth is so significant that it will change your life.  The angel of the Lord told Joseph in a dream that the baby Mary was going to deliver would be the savior of the world.  His name will be called Jesus because he will save everyone from sin. 

Giving Jesus was a demonstration of God’s gift to us.  John 3:16 says “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son….” (MSG)  God didn’t stop sharing, and loving and being kind and generous at the birth of Jesus, it was only the beginning of what was to come.  God continue to demonstrate his gift giving and “love for us: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV) God isn’t a one-month giver out of the year; rather, he is continually seeking to ensure we have all that we need. 

The best gift any of us will ever receive is the gift of salvation.  Being saved is a huge load off our minds and it puts us in a right relationship with God.  There is no magical formula to receiving the gift.  All it takes is a desire for the gift.  Make this Christmas the most memorable of them all by making Jesus your Lord and Savior.  By allowing him to live daily in your life and by resurrecting into the new life that Scripture calls baptism.  

May this Christmas be a time of joy and giving and loving!  Mostly, may is be a time of receiving the most significant gift of them all, the gift of salvation.  If you want to know more, call me at 931-545-7543. 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian 

Being Thankful Even When It's Tough Times

"Give thanks in all circumstances…." 

How?

My daughter is fighting a war in Afghanistan.  I am fighting diabetes.  I have no job.  My son is doing drugs.  My child has died.  My marriage is falling a part.  I’m depressed.  My bank account is overdrawn.  I’m tired of being sick and tired.  

Circumstances affect each of us differently.  It is easier to say, “give thanks in all circumstances” than to actually do it.  Especially, if the person saying it has never gone through troubled times. 
In this case, the one saying it knew exactly what he was talking about.  Paul, an Apostle of Jesus had his moments in the suffering department.

            Flogged 5 times with the Jews 39 lashes.

            Beaten by Roman rods 3 times.

            Betrayed by those who pretended to be a friend.

            Pummeled with rocks.

            Many sleepless nights and missed meals.

Paul said, “And that’s the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches.” 1 Corinthians 11:28 (MSG) 

No doubt, circumstances can make life difficult to deal with.  The pain is real. Adversity is hard.  And, trials take us on a journey of suffering.   If allowed, difficult circumstances can wear us down, zap our joy, and defeat us. Our vision is blurred by what isn’t possible, rather than, what is possible.

Thanksgiving comes when we walk with God even with life’s journey is tough to deal with.  God will lead us to the very place that restores our joy and hope.  He allows us to take a breather and regroup so that we will be refreshed and strengthened.  

Our circumstances may take longer than we desire and life may seem like it is crashing down.  Never allow your hand to lose its grip from God’s hand; nor your eyes to wondering off to find a quick solution.  Trust God’s leading.  

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

New President…Same God…Trust

Finally!  The presidential election is over.  Political signs will be taken down. Political commercials will stop.  Political pundits will reroute their talking points. 

As the announcement was made that a new president was elected, there was joy on one end of the street and total disbelief on the other end.  Some were crying tears of heartbreak, while others were crying tears of happiness. 

For some, there is fear of what the future will bring; for others, it is a day of hope and optimism for America’s future.  There were millions who went to bed in disbelief that their presidential candidate lost; while millions for the winning presidential candidate went to bed believing in a better tomorrow. 

No matter if your candidate won or lost, it is God who is ultimately in controlled.  Trusting God is key!  I truly believe that the more we trust God, the calmer life is and the more we can see clearly God providing exactly what we ultimately need.  The psalmist said it best in Psalm 13:5, "But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me."  God is clear in Psalm 50:15 “I want you to trust Me in your times of trouble so I can rescue you and you can give Me glory.” 

No matter who the President of the United States of America is, God is still the most influential leader that humankind will ever know.  Proverbs 21:1 declared that “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.”  Trust must be in God!  We must trust that God knows what he is doing and who he allows to be appointed in positions of great authority. 

God is in the business of ensuring we have what we need, when we need it.  Trusting God’s timing can be one of the most difficult parts of life.  It is in our trusting God that will relax and calm us.  Through Jeremiah, God reminded Israel that He would restore them, but they must trust his timing and his reasoning behind his decision of when that will be.  Jeremiah encourages the people that God is aware and that there is hope for the future: “I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:11 – MSG)

There are all kinds of situations in life in which trusting God is the only avenue we have to get through the difficult times, situations or elections.  God is on the scene doing what he does best.   

God is never distant!  God is present.  Available.  Listening. 

Trust!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Who is My Neighbor?

Jesus was asked a question by an expert lawyer in Luke 10:25-37, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus asked two questions back to the lawyer: “What is written in the Law and how to you read it?”  The lawyer quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5, “Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”  Jesus affirms the lawyer’s answer and says, “Do it and you will live.”  As a lawyer will typically do, he asked Jesus another question, “Who is my neighbor?”  Jesus then takes the lawyer on a journey of what it looks like to be a neighbor no matter what ethnicity, skin color, social status, nor gender. 

The expert lawyer knows full well who his neighbor is, but because he is bent on justifying himself to limit his social obligations to treat everyone fairly and with dignity, he asked the question, “Who is my neighbor?”  Jesus uses three men to describe how a man who was left to die was treated by those who saw him bloodied and about to die. 

In Matthew 25:31-40 Jesus illustrates a fact that there will be a separation between the righteous and the unrighteous.  Jesus illustrates it by talking about how one treats others when they are hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothing, sickly and a prisoner. The righteous responded to Jesus my asking, “When did we do these things?” Jesus said, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

The accounts of Matthew and Luke illustrate a unique way in which we are to help our fellow neighbor.  James Wiseman, writes about his experience of homeless men in Washington D.C., he entitled it, The Parable of the Good Samaritan and Those in Need.  James Wiseman seems to struggle with his own obligations to the homeless men due to his job and time restraints.  After all, he was a monk who had taken a vow of poverty, meaning he owns no possessions.  What could he really give to the homeless?  How could he actually help?  Busy could be an excuse like the priest and the Levite in Luke 10.  Or, he didn’t have food, water, or clothing to aide the homeless.  Jesus tells the lawyer to go and do like wise and Jesus tells the righteous, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”  The question remains: Who is obligated to help the homeless?  The answer is:  Every neighbor. 

Margaret Aymer’s writes about Fredrick Douglass’s Use of the Good Samaritan in Abolitionist Rhetoric, Douglass presents a speech to the Free Church of Scotland for their decision to take funding from the southern U.S. slaveholders.  Douglass metaphorically compares the one left on the side of the road in Luke 10 to that of a slave in the deep south of the United States.  Douglass goes so far as to call out the churches in the south as the perpetrators of hurting and leaving the man lying on the side of the road to die.  The men lying on the road to die are the slaves who were bought by the slaveholders.  These were the same slaveholders who were financially giving money to the Free Church of Scotland.  If we are going to take Jesus’ words literally in Luke 10, then we have to believe that our neighbor is everyone and everywhere.  If one is mistreating a neighbor no matter where they are in the world, we are obligated to help.  Douglass concludes that once we realize who are neighbors are, we have a moral and ethical obligation to help bandage the wounds and use all resources such as food, water, shelter and clothing to help the one hurt to heal. 

Our neighbor may be hungry, sick, or in need of clothes.  The question is:  What will we do about it?  Jesus said, Jesus said, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

I voted!

This election has been like none other in my lifetime. I have read countless thoughts about Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump. Many weigh in on the presidential candidate’s ability to lead our nation. News media has their choice. Christians are divided on their choice. The nation at large is divided on their choice. Who will win? Who should win?

It has been said by multiple people that conscientiously they cannot vote for either candidate; therefore, they will sit home and not cast a vote.  Truth be told, that is their right not to vote, but I will say ever so boldly, make sure that you do not complain the next morning when the newspaper headlines read:  ____________ is now the President of the United States. 

Like every election, there are important issues on the line for many different groups. Issues such as:  Supreme Court Justices.  Social Security.  Healthcare.  Economy.  National Security.  Immigration.  Infrastructure.  Religious Freedom.  Gun Control.  Taxes.  This election is no exception and I am sure that others could add to this list.  The 2016 election is a big deal.  Sure, all the presidential candidates have flaws and have done things that are blatantly and outright wrong.  The question is:  Which of these candidates can rise from the ashes of their own imperfect life and lead a nation who for hundreds of years have prided herself on seeking "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"

Yes, our currency still says:  “In God We Trust.”  There is still religious freedom from the largest cities to the smallest towns across America.  Each American can exercise his or her right to bear arms.  Our nation still enjoys the freedom of speech and the opportunities to go about exploring our country without fear of government intrusion.  Protesting on the streets or on the sidelines of a football game are freedoms that some other nations cannot do without imprisonment or death. 

The reason we still enjoy all the freedoms and the “In God We Trust” on our currency is because men and women all across this land for centuries have fought hard to preserve the ideals of a great nation.  Our forefathers and mothers literally worked themselves into an early grave so that generations to come would experience a land of hope, prosperity, freedom, safety and resilience.  May it never be said that any of us squandered their vision and hard work because we disliked a presidential candidate or was too “religious” to vote for someone with whom we thought didn’t fit the mold of “correctness.” 

As I write this, I have already voted.  I chose the one whom I thought would best lead our nation.  This candidate is not perfect, did things I totally disagree with and said things that made me mad.  But, in the end, I had to take a hard look at what would this candidate do for our nation morally and ethically.  I listened to this candidate’s ideas, philosophies, experiences and determination.  I reviewed this candidate’s stance on a few of my most important social values and ensured they matched closely.  Is this candidate perfect?  Not at all!  But, neither am I!  So, based on lots of prayer and guidance from the Spirit of God, I made my choice.  If this candidate wins, praise God.  If this candidate does not win, praise God!  To stay home for me was not an option.

So, as the election draws near, this is how each of us should respond now and when the results are revealed:  May God bless the United States of America!

1. Pray for each candidate no matter how you feel about them.
2. God is still in control and knows exactly what he is doing; so, trust Him.
3. Do not show disrespect for either candidate; after all, they are each still one of God's children.
4. Keep calm.
5. Stand for your moral and ethical truths, but don't show hatred toward others who differ in their moral and ethical truths.
6. Remember, no matter who wins, God is highly capable of working out the details of how He needs and wants America to be. Don't take matters into your own hands. Trust Him!
7. Lift Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump up to God, rather than spouting critical accusations based on what is heard from the media.
8. Don't let Satan steal the show by distracting us in forming hurtful, harmful and hateful opinions about others voting for a particular candidate.
9. God is on the scene and working out all the details, so trust that He knows exactly what He is doing.
10. Remember, Presidents come and go, but God is always in control. No President will ever out command God, veto God nor ban God from this great nation He has blessed. Keep trusting. Keep praying. Keep loving. Keep calm. Keep focused.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

What's In a Name?

Nothing can be more confusing than to drive around looking for a new church to connect with.  Nearly on every corner, there is a type of “church.”   A church seeker may asked:  Why so many?  Why so many of the same kind of church? Who is right?  Who is wrong?  Can all of them be right or wrong? 

Does it matter what name is on the marquee to determine whether or not it is the right church?  After all, Scripture called the people of God many names: 

Church of the Gentiles – Romans 16:4

Church of God – 1 Corinthians 1:2

Body of Christ – Ephesians 5:22-23

City of the Living God – Hebrews 12:22

Church of the firstborn – Hebrews 12:23

Bride of Christ – Revelation 19:7

Bride of the Lamb – Revelation 19:7

So, if someone is driving down the road and sees a church sign that says, “Bride of Christ,” would that person stop to attend the group of believers?  It has been my experience that most people only search for a church family to attend based on the name they typically attend in their hometown or family tradition.  I must admit, I am one of those people, too!

In Acts 2, the excitement of the newborn church was the talk of the communities and eventually, the world.  Thousands were accepting Jesus and Scripture declared that God was adding those who were being saved (Acts 2:47b).  What is interesting about the newborn church is the fact they were motived by “the apostles’ teaching,” “fellowship,” “breaking of bread,” “prayer,” “unity,” “meeting needs of the community,” “eating meals in each others home,” and “praising God together.”

Notice how the baby church lived out their faith. They didn’t get caught up on what is the best name for their new church plant; rather teaching, fellowshipping, eating with each other, prayer, helping, and praising motivated them.  That is the kind of church Jesus is proud to call his own. 

Fast-forwarding to 2016, it appears that the name on a marquee has become the focal point rather than Jesus.  Having a catchy name or claiming one particular name is the one and only “true” church name has really become more of a distraction and a hindrance to helping people know about Jesus.  You see, the identity of the church isn’t in the name we call it; rather, it is in the relationship we’ve established with the one who died and resurrected for it.  And, to claim one church name has the market on biblical-correctness has forgotten to look closely at all the other names the believers were called throughout the first couple centuries. 

There are millions seeking to connect with a group of believers who are excited about teaching, fellowshipping, eating with fellow believers, praying, helping others and praising the Father, but are confused about who is right?  After all, there are thousands to choose from.  In my fellowship alone, there are about 25 different types of Churches of Christ.  What is sad is that some will not fellowship with each other because of certain “opinionated doctrines” that cannot be backed up with Scripture.  However, the Churches of Christ are not the only Christian group who has difficulty; they all do. 

We must remember that Jesus isn’t bent on what name we call ourselves on a marquee as he is in how we reflect our loyalty to him, our love for God and neighbor and our faithfulness to living a lifestyle that will point everyone to a savior who is love, hope, grace, forgiveness, kindness, servant, and mercy. 

May every church group be God controlled, Jesus centered, Spirit-led, biblically motivated, community helpers, unity driven, and worship focused.  When each believer makes it a point to follow God’s Word, then and only then will we see changed hearts and Jesus led lives in and out of a church gathering.  May it be said of us a thousand years from now that the believers in the 21^st century made a come back by breaking the barriers of “church” segregation based on names and united as one under the authority of Jesus and the guidance of the Word of God and the leading of the Spirit. 

 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

A Better United States of America

Over the last few years, our nation has been rocked terror, protest,  mass shootings, hate crimes, new laws that interfere with many of American’s core beliefs.  Charleston, South Carolina was the scene of a hate crime where a lone gunman stalked his prey for nearly an hour while Christians were praying and studying the Scriptures before shooting up the house of worship and murdering nine. 

Rioters took to the streets in St. Louis and Baltimore to protest against what they felt was police brutality and prejudice against blacks.  Four Marines and one sailor were murdered at the hands of an Islamist extremist in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Police officers are murdered in Dallas, Texas.  Unarmed black men shot and killed by police officers.  Some National League Football players kneel during the National Anthem in protest against the brutality toward people of color.  School shootings.  Church shootings.  Mall shootings.  And the list goes on. 

“One baby is aborted every 26 seconds. That’s 137 every hour.  Which means there are 3,304 murdered every day; 23,196 every week; 100,516 every month and 1,206,192 every year just in the United States of America.”  http://www.mccl.org/us-abortion-stats.html

While the stats are tough to read and our present-day America is looking bleak in the eyes of millions, never count out God and what he will do next.  He is aware.  He knows our situation inside and out.  He will never leave us abandoned without hope, nor forsake us while we are at our worse.  One of the reasons that Romans 5:8 is my favorite Scripture is because it tells all of us that while we are at our worse, God is at his best.  Look at it… “ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”  God is in the business of redeeming us, saving us and being merciful to all of us.  

Don’t give up on America just yet; instead, let’s look at how we can live the Jesus life and make an impact in our nation that will help rid our towns and States and an entire nation of hate crimes, murders, drunk drivers, prostitution, greed, deception, and liars 

God never created any of us to do wrong; rather, he created us to have a wonderful relationship with him.  1^st John 4:19 says it perfectly, “We can love because He loved us first” (paraphrased)

Also, God would have never made us in his likeness if we were created to be rebellious.  Moses said in Genesis 1:27 that we are all “made in the likeness of God.”  God is love.  God is peace.  God is good.  God is patient.  God is kind.  God gentle.  God is self-control.  God is faithful.  God is joy. 

The way each of us helps change a community for the better is to be better ourselves.  The way to be better is to model God’s likeness and to allow the indwelled Spirit to lead us in our pursuit of godly living.  The way to model God’s likeness is to train our thinking and behavior to be godly.  The Apostle Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:8, "...train yourself to be godly."  The way we train to be godly is by doing four very important lifestyle changes:

Number 1:  Keeping focused on Jesus, not on self!  Hebrews 12:1-2, "...throw off everything that hinders us...fix our eyes on Jesus....” It’s all about Jesus!

Number 2:  Praying and Positive Thinking! Philippians 4:4-9, "...in everything, by prayer...think about such things...." Stinking thinking only gets you a bad attitude and no friends or influence.

Number 3:  Kicking out bad habits!  Galatians 2:17-21, "...I no longer live, but Christ lives in me...." Jesus and the Spirit keeps the bad habits from coming back if you stay connected.

Number 4:  Being around motivators!  Hebrews 10:23-25, "...let us consider how we may spur one another...let us encourage one another....” Church gatherings are the spark to give energy to model godly values. 

When godliness leads our lives, community’s change, crime goes down, hate of one’s color of skin loses out and murderers become life protectors. 

It all starts with YOU!  Will you be the ONE to start making our community a better place to live? 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian