Holy Holy Holy

Like some of you I have recently been attracted to this social networking called Twitter and more specifically Facebook. A lot of you have been on here a lot longer than me (about 8 months for me), but recently I have witnessed some things that have caused me concern and I want to pass those along to you.

I have Facebook like a lot of you to keep up on what my friends are doing and to post photos and sometimes to share what is on my heart. I do get a kick out of the silly meaningless postings about every movement someone makes, but I still try and see the reasons why someone is sharing.

The thing I like about Facebook is the accountability it gives believers. As Christians, we should welcome the access into all aspects of our lives since we ultimately know that the Lord knows our thoughts and sees all our actions. Whether this is scary to you or not that is for you to decide. But the Lord is not a "gotcha" God who is waiting to strike us down for our sins.

I do laugh at the terminology of Facebook when we add "friends" to our list. Most of us hardly know more than three important facts about the person, but ultimately we make the choice to add them into our "personal space." Now again I believe we should allow anyone to see into our lives (aside from security issues) the thoughts and pictures we are sharing about our lives because they are meant to be holy.

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16. The Greek word for holy here is hagios and it means we should be pure from carnality, to be modest and clean.

What I have seen recently has been troubling which brings me to my challenge and it mostly has to do with photos. Are you prepared that when you have your photo taken that in all likelihood that the photo will be posted on the internet where the world can see? This is especially true if your picture is taken with someone else's camera.

Most photos or albums show up in the "highlights" section of my homepage so what I witnessed last weekend was a bit of a shock since it was more like a "lowlight." It was photos from a party and it included lots of photos of women in skimpy clothing, plenty of pics from bars and plenty of alcohol flowing.

The saddest part for my wife and I is the pictures included people who have platforms for Jesus at my church (my heart is to not be too descriptive if you didn't see the photos as well). Now in all likelihood the photos were meant to stay within the group of people in the photos, but on Facebook we all know people love to "tag" people in photos. This makes the photos go out to all the "tagged" persons friends so the audience can multiply quickly.

Needless to say, I felt I had to act and I made a call to someone I trusted and she was also on the friends list and I wanted to make sure I wasn't being a "prude" and she assured me I wasn't and she and her husband would check the photos as well and take the appropriate action. Thankfully, the photos were down later that afternoon before my 17 year-old son and 14 year-old daughter saw them.

One of my warnings besides knowing when we have our picture taken that the "world" might see it is we need to know who our "friends" are because we have now invited them to share their values with us and our friends. When we receive something on our homepage we don't like we have to call the sender to have it removed.

In my story above, I am sure the sender of the photos was being true to their character and I would not have wanted to make that call asking someone to remove their post because it might be considered offensive to my "Christian" friends. The sender was probably thinking that "you took part in all the activity and now you are ashamed?" Not a very good witness for Jesus when we engage in this level of hypocrisy.

Is the point of my post that we do a better job of hiding our bad behavior? On the contrary. God is calling us to live a life of holiness and it should be reflected in all aspects of our lives. This includes our time at pool parties, birthday parties, vacations and office parties. So we need to be careful when we get in front of a camera that we know what we are stepping into. Is the picture taken going to need much explanation? Is the location possibly embarassing? What are other people in the picture wearing or is there much alcohol featured?

My purpose is not to point fingers at anyone or say that no one should have an alcoholic drink. I know I have erred and I am thankful for the grace of God. I know I have probably invited the Enemy to attack based on my calling out behavior, but I feel it is necessary. Judy and I had to confront someone a few days after my story above based on info that started in Facebook. It is not always received with open arms.

May you also not look the other way if you see inappropriate conduct, either written or photos. We are who we hang out with and who we invite into our space and that includes Facebook. The Lord gave me a new twist to a line you may have heard. "If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" The Lord said to me, "If I was to send someone to look at your Facebook profile, would you be convicted of being my follower?"

Just a thought.

Fast Update

Hi All,

I thought I would give you an update on my fast I started last Monday. Honestly, when I started I had no idea what to expect. I had read in the Bible about people going into a period of prayer and fasting and that Jesus went 40 days without food or water in the wilderness. The devil met his match with Jesus during this time.

I didn't know when I started if I would make it past lunch since I love food and it's easy to snack around my office. But I also knew the Lord called me to do this and if He asks you or me to do anything, we will not fail. I knew if I relied on Him for strength and kept my mind and heart focused on Him, this was possible.

The hardest part of the first few days was the constant headaches. I believe I was detoxing from cafeine and so my hands were shaking a bit whenever I sent texts, but nonetheless a couple of Advil took care of it and I was good to go. I also found myself praying through everyone in my contact list of my cell phone. I was proclaiming the name of Jesus and interceding for others became the high point of the day.

The highlight of Day 3 came when I sent a text to someone I had prayed for in the morning. She's someone I briefly know, but still pray for on a regular basis and then I got a text back from her later that afternoon thanking me for saving her life. She narrowly avoided an auto accident in her new car. It's small and the car that almost hit her was a big SUV. I immediately gave glory to God.

I have been surprised not to wake up each day not having big hunger pains. While food is all around my house I suddenly found myself in the habit of not eating. Now mind you, I travel everywhere with my big water bottle. My wife has been great through all this as she tries not to eat in front me, even though I tell her it's okay.

My goal was to make it a week, but I felt called to try and make it through Thursday which would be 11 days. I asked Judy out for Valentine's on Saturday and if I woo her enough and she says "yes", then I want to have an extra day to reintroduce food.

I have used these past 8 days to seek the Lord for direction and guidance in my life. I feel a strong calling from Him and that He is preparing Judy and I for something, we just don't what it is yet. It's been great to use the time praying for my family, my work, my church, my friends and co-workers.

My family has been very supportive of me and I couldn't have made it this far without their support. I thank my friends for praying for me and I want to reiterate this is all God and not me. There is no way could I fathom going 8-11 days without food unless the Lord was supporting me. I have relied on Isaiah 40:29-31 to carry me.

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Glory to God in the highest. He is amazing and so worthy to be praised. I look forward to coming back and revisiting the fruit of this fast with you. Bless you all.

Unchartered Territory

On Monday February 1st I began a journey into new territory for myself. I hope it becomes a benefit to others. I began to fast sustaining on water and juice where needed. I felt the Lord calling me to this last week and I know His prompting came from some blogs I visit, but mostly I know this is something that has been missing for me.

When I felt the call last week to begin fasting, I sought my friend, Catherine, who encouraged me and gave me some good insight from an article written by the late Dr. Bill Bright at Campus Connection for Christ. I included the link at www.ccci.org/growth/growing-closer-to-god/7-steps-to-fasting-and-prayer/index.aspx.

I set my date for Monday and I have set a goal for seven days, but I'm leaving it open to the Holy Spirit if He desires me to go longer. I know it's nice to have goals, but when I started I wasn't sure if I would need a cheeseburger by the evening of the first day. Thankfully, that wasn't the case.

Why fast? Because Jesus commands us to do so. It is not just a matter of if we fast, but when we fast. " When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:16-18

I am not doing this because it will make me more spiritual than you or anyone else. It's all about seeking Him and His plan for my life and my family's life. I'm excited (and nervous) about what God will reveal to me during this time. I know that I will spend more time in prayer than ever and be feeding continually on His Word.

Here's where I hope the benefit is for you. I will be lifting you all up to the throne of grace seeking His blessings on your lives. I can't think of a greater and more humbling joy, to pray for my family and friends.

I would also like to seek your prayers that I would be faithful to Him during this fast and that God can truly sustain me on His strength and might. I will try to keep you updated during the process.

A Word To Live By

2008 has come and gone and as I wrote at the end of the year it's a great time to reflect on the past year. What I love even more is the start of a new year and what I can look forward to in the coming year.

I was encouraged to do this by a friend and I have found it helpful so I want to pass it on to you. It's finding a word and a verse to live by for the new year. I have found it helpful since it helps keep me focused on my daily walk, my work and my ministry. I find it helpful when it comes to dealing with people whether at work or at church or in the grocery store.

My word last year was love and my verse came from 1John 4:10 and it said we will know we are children of God if we are loving others and if we're not, well...... then we're a child of Satan.

I prayed about my word for the year and thankfully the Lord came through, like He always does and He brought me the word ENCOURAGEMENT. I was thinking, "Well Lord, I love encouragment. It's a spiritual gift of mine so why did you assign me this?" I believe He wants to build on the love He asked me to show others in 2008 and really build people up in 2009. This includes friends and even people I just meet.

The verse He gave me was from Hebrews 3:13 and it says, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." I so love God's Word.

I found a few interesting elements in the verse. Notice how it says we are to encourage daily. It doesn't say yearly or monthly or whenever you feel like it. I need to be encouraging people everyday. I believe the Lord has equipped me for this since I know He will never ask me to do something I can't do.

Encouragement for me might take the shape of a kind word, a kind act, a hug, a text to someone who is hurting, an e-mail. It really requires that my eyes be focused on Jesus and for Him to give me the discernment to watch for those that are hurting. First and foremost, I have to keep my eyes open to what is happening in my own home. I must build up Judy, Taylor and Shelby on a daily basis or I will be no good to anyone else.

I also love in this verse that we are to encourage daily so we don't fall into the trap of sin. Sin is not always packaged with the word SIN written on it. No, sin is alluring, deceiving and hidden. The enemy is the master deceiver. He is constantly whispering in our ear, twisting God's words and trying to get us off God's path.

So I have laid it out there for you. I encourage you (here's my opportunity for the day) to ask God for a word for 2009. Something that you can keep out front that will help keep your ministry and your life in some kind of order for the year. Something that will help you find purpose in life's problems and struggles.

Thank you for your encouragement and your prayers and I hope to blog at least twice a month while still maintaining my own study in His Word. Bless you all.

Happy New Year

I know I have been away for a while. I haven't fallen from the faith or started going door to door as a Jehovah Witness. No, the Lord told me in the fall it was time to stop writing and start studying again. So that's where I've been the last few months, doing good old fashioned Bible study.

It was about this time last year I wrote my first devotional and it was on the gift of Jesus at Christmas and from there I was encouraged to start a blog and I was on my way. I got some great feedback from people and it spurred me to write as much as possible. My intent was not to come across as a know-it-all, but rather to share what God was doing in my life and encourage others to seek Him in a passionate way.

I love the week after Christmas and before New Years because it gives me a great opportunity to reflect on the wonders of what God did in my life in the past year while looking forward to what God will do in the upcoming year. I am happy to say with confidence that I am not the same person I was a year ago.

Through time in His word and through life experiences, 2008 is a year I won't soon forget. In July, I sat and watched as the Lord took home a 21 year-old after a three month battle with cancer. In December, I sat and prayed with a good friend until he lost his five-year battle with cancer and he went to be with Lord. A longtime employee of mine was diagnosed with colon cancer and he is in the battle of his life. What are you trying to teach me Lord?

He definitely taught me (with a little help from my wife) that I was no longer availabe to sweep issues and problems under the rug. As Judy says, it was time to get the shovel out and get in the trenches and do the dirty work. In what seemed like the longest August of our lives (it had nothing to do with the heat outside), Judy and I got busy and did the work that was needed in our marriage and I know the Lord has taken us to another level.

If we had any hopes of helping hurting couples in their marriages, we had to get things right in our own home. Judy and I have made a commitment not to settle for mediocrity in our home and in our marriage so we know to expect a constant barrage from the Enemy.

God gave me another lesson for me this year and it dealt with the subject of love. We talk about love in our world all the time, but the Lord told me this year that it was time to stop telling people how much I loved Him and start showing people how much I loved Him. A dear friend gave us a Christmas present with a framed picture of our Golden Retriever, Carly, and her golden, Miley.

At the bottom of the picture was a verse, 1 John 4:16, God is Love. The entire verse reads like this, "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him."

God showed me more about love this year than in any of my previous 47 years. I got off my self-righteous butt (at times) and began to love people where they are and encourage them in their daily life and their spiritual journey without judging them and their motives. Showing agape unconditional love is not necessarily an easy thing, but it is the God thing. I had to show that if God is truly in me that I had to be loving others.

I know He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in me. I am excited for 2009 (even with our new president) because I know that God holds my future. My Bible study has shown me in the last week that God is pleased when when we choose to walk with Him (see Enoch and Noah).

I hope to be regular in my posting in 2009 and I pledge to be transparent as always. Have a blessed 2009 my friends and may the Lord show His lovingkindness to you and your family.

Don't Panic, God Is Still In Control

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. "

John 14:27 NASB

This verse today comes courtesy of my wife and it's the words of Jesus himself. Judy sent this verse to me in regards to my running the ship hear at work for a couple of days while the rest of my family is vacationing on cruises and hanging out on the beach in Australia.

This is the great thing about God's Word. It has many applications. Maybe when you first read the verse and saw the word fear you might have jumped to tomorrow's election and fear gripped you about what might happen if the wrong person wins. Let's face it, in this world there is a lot to be fearful of.

No matter what the fear, Jesus has the answer. Peace. And notice Jesus points out that there is a difference between the heavenlies and the worldly. Wordly peace will not be the same as peace from Jesus. Jesus' peace is eternal. The world's is temporal. I think back to my childhood when someone had wronged me and if that person happened to be an adult I knew I could go to my parents and tell them the problem and immediately I would feel a sense of peace because I knew they were in charge. They had my back. And if my dad had his dander up I would be sitting there saying, "Go get 'em Dad. Give it to 'em."

That's what Jesus can provide for us. He has our back and our front. He has our hearts and our souls. He has these things if we get out of the way and keep our eyes fixed on Him and allow Him to be God. How often we get fearful because we try to take back control from Him and do things our way and in our timing.

Now this doesn't mean we don't have a part to play. It's not just sit back and say, "Oh well. God will do all the work." God wants us to be obedient to help advance the Kingdom. Isn't it much more rewarding to be part of the process and not just let someone else do all the work?

While we're waiting, while we're studying, while we're praying, while we're being obedient, God hasn't left us alone. Jesus is referring in this verse that the peace He is leaving is gift of the Holy Spirit. What a great down payment until Jesus returns.

I have seen this peace played out in my life and the lives of others. Judy and I have tremendous peace about the elections tomorrow. Regardless of who's president or what marriage may look like, I know that God is still in control and that His church is the ultimate bride. His peace has carried a friend through her marriage struggle and the uncertainty of the future. Where I know she is really hurting, she constantly tells me, "I have great peace in this, I have great peace in this."

His peace has carried another family as they are dealing with cancer and have dealt with it for five long years. The end is near and in only through the love of Jesus could He flood this family with the peace of knowing He has them in the palm of His hand.

Shalom to you all.

Action Needed, Not Words

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Galatians 6:2 NIV

I'm back for now. I don't know for how long though since I try to share when God gives me something to share. I don't want to write just for the sake of writing. Today's verse the Lord brought to mind and it speaks to what has been going on for Judy and I the past three weeks.

The Lord has asked us to get in the trenches with people going through struggles and so it was time to walk the walk as they say. No more writing about Godly behavior, but instead getting in and helping friends when they need it most. It's easy to tell people that you love them and that you'll pray for them, but it's another thing to carve out time from your schedule to talk, listen and pray over someone that is hurting.

Later in Galatians 6 in verse 10 Paul tells us we are to especially love our fellow believers. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." I believe the Lord wants us to help each other out so we can be better equipped to go out into the world and be a witness for Him. If we are so bogged down in our struggles we won't be of much use for the Kingdom.

The Lord has really worked me over recently about agape love. This is that unconditional I'll love you at any cost no matter what you're going through kind of love. He helped bring me to that point by working me through the judgmental side that I displayed a few years ago. I had a real struggle being compassionate for someone going through something that wasn't an issue for me.

God and His marvelous Word helped get me aligned and He used some prior ministry experiences to mold and equip me. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35. When Jesus talks, I listen.

I am a strong believer in Christian fellowship and having mentors that can help you individually or as a couple. God has blessed Judy and I with people that we can call upon in a moment's notice for help or prayer or just to listen. We in turn endeavor to pay it forward using the skills the Lord has equipped us with.

What has the Lord equipped you with that might be of use to fellow believers? Maybe it's a circumstance that you have gone through that you might now be able to help someone else with. Are you actively looking to build relationships with other Christians that will sharpen you? Are your eyes open to the people around you to notice if they maybe going through tough times and you might have something to offer?

I can tell you firsthand the feeling you get from helping others in a time of need is oh so gratifying and you never know when you might need the help of others. That doesn't mean we keep score when we help others, but instead we let God do that and He will bring the help we need when we need it.