Time gets away from us
By Brian | July 27, 2008
Have you ever known time to get away from you? Your busy doing something and the next thing you realize is that your late for church, or you`ve had no time to pray, or like me you`ve had no time to blog, or what have you.
The problem is there is only so much time, and the time we have is precious.
I am currently fighting battle after battle. The cult that has taken my wife, the lawsuit they have filed against me for Telling The Truth. I’m so busy at this point that I have had to pick up a pda to blog wherever I may be. During breaks at work, or in the court house, between appointments, whatever.
Why is there so little time in our lives for the truly important things? God, our families, our friends, our church, our prayer lives, spreading the gospel?
Brothers and sisters, do whatever you have to do to make the time. Surely Jesus wasn’t too busy for us. He spent his short life down here with us when surely he had better, heavenly, things to do.
Make your priorities like his. Loving the lost, the widows, the orphans. Spreading the good news. Despite every important thing in your life, you have the time.
Posted from moBlog – mobile blogging tool for Windows Mobile
Topics: Love, News | No Comments »
Giving - The Christian Path
By Brian | June 25, 2008
I recently had the good fortune to meet a Sunday school teacher whose church is based in the Philippines and we spoke a lot about the conditions there, the church, and more than anything, the children. One of the hardest things they run into is supplies such as toys, coloring books, crayons, teaching aids, furniture, and what have you.
After hearing of this I went onto Amazon and purchased twenty coloring books and had them shipped straight to the church. For the price of taking a few folks out to dinner, just one time (or less than ten gallons of gas) these kids will have things to play with in their Sunday school class. These teachers are clearly doing a wonderful job with these children, even without adequate supplies. Imagine what can happen with just a little bit more.
I’m not saying any of this to toot my own horn, by any stretch of the imagination. I am saying that those of us in the US and Europe could all do a lot more than we’re doing. All of us could. There’s no shortage of Christians out there. But for some reason that I don’t understand, there seems to be a shortage of Christians helping other Christians. Of course, I’m right there too - I never considered that it would be possible to just pack up a box and send it to someone that needs it.
Maybe it’s time we all consider it now. Just find someone that has needs and fill them. It doesn’t have to be in the Philippines. It could be right next door or down the street. Somewhere there is someone that needs something. It may be a material thing, or a kind word, or the sharing of the gospel. Whatever it is I can tell you that filling that need will help them, and you’ll feel very good doing it.
Topics: Love | No Comments »
Like a Thief in the Night
By Brian | June 22, 2008
I’m not typically one to be too apocalyptic. Nonetheless the Word is clear that we do not know the hour or the day that He will return[1 Thessalonians 5:2]. We do know that it’s going to be an incredible experience[2 Peter 3:10]. Where do you stand? No, I’m not screaming out the “end is near” or “turn and burn.” What does concern me is the many Christians that justify actions that are not clearly laid out in the Word, or worse, actions that are expressly forbidden.
The first that comes to mind for me is divorce but there are many, many others. There are certain expectations that the term “Christian” denotes. We are commanded to abstain from the appearance of evil[1Thessalonians 5:22]. Obviously we want to avoid doing evil, but it’s clear that even if we’re not doing evil there are times we appear to be, and that really should be avoided. We are representing Christ on Earth. This is no small responsibility.
In one of Ravi Zacharias’ radio programs he talks about his trip to the liquor store. If I can find it I will provide a link to it here. It’s one of the funniest stories I have ever heard, and it so clearly illustrates what it really means to avoid the appearance of evil. Of course, if we are told to avoid the appearance of evil clearly we need to avoid doing evil.
As many of you know, my wife belongs to an extremely spiritually abusive church and is in the process of divorcing me, clearly something she feels is supported by God. Not the Word, no, but some kind of push by the Holy Spirit. Anyway, when I saw her yesterday, 8 months pregnant, and no wedding ring on, I was just so deeply saddened. Of course most people wouldn’t think twice about a pregnant, unmarried, woman. Yet we should. At the very least we should see the lack of morals prevalent in society today.
We are accountable to a higher power. We are bond servants of Jesus Christ[Acts 16:17]. Isn’t it time we act like it? I recently spoke with a young man on the west coast. He and a group of young adults from their church are starting a house church. The reason: the main church does not address concerns they have. They feel that the elders within the church have grown complacent & apathetic toward the rules of the Christian road. We talked a bit about the situation, which I wont address, as well as the dangers inherent in a house church and I am satisfied that this small group is doing something that many groups do not. Living in a way the Word dictates.
I was reminded, once again, that how we live is a model for the Lord Jesus Christ, and if we live in a way that we are called hypocrites, or apathetic, or complacent, then the same will be said of the One True God.
Isn’t it time to practice what we preach?
Topics: Acts, Peter, Thessalonians | No Comments »
May He Sanctify You Completely
By Brian | June 17, 2008
I received a father’s day card in the mail from my wife’s parents and written on it was Thessalonians 5:23-24:
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Isn’t that an incredible thought? We sinners, saved by grace, have an incrdible fountain. To be sanctified by the creator of the universe is a pretty awesome thought. Of course if anyone can do it, He can.
I am truly blessed, in difficult circumstances, by the people around me. The Lord has truly blessed me despite all that has happened in my life. At times I don’t know what I would have done without my family, both near and far. The Lord gives us family for a reason. None of us are perfect, of course, but our families are something truly special. Truly a gift from God.
Topics: Thessalonians | No Comments »
Biblical Principles and Marriage
By Brian | June 14, 2008
A while back I heard a preacher explaining that divorce is not permitted. He went on to say that when pastors are performing marriage counseling they need to make clear to the couple that the Word does not permit divorce, except under the situation of adultery. Interestingly enough my wife, who is divorcing me, lives with this exact same pastor, but I’ll leave my post on hypocrisy for another day.
The fact is marriage is incredibly important to God. The Lord abhors divorce! Why, then, is it so visible in our society today? Well, I think a number of factors come into play. There is, of course, the fallen world argument. Yes, we do live in a fallen world where so many things are taken for granted. Pornography isn’t exactly a big marriage booster. Even in the smaller things, though, our priorities are incredibly skewed. For instance, many in ministry place the church before there spouse. Why is that? The commonly accepted biblical priorities begin with the Lord, than our spouse, then, together on the third tier, our children, families, churches, etc. There’s a good reason for this.
When we place others before our spouse, whether those others be a church, a family, our friends, or anyone else we really are placing their value above our spouse and, let’s face it, if our spouse feels unvalued lots of bad things can happen. Affairs happen. Divorces happen. Broken homes, hurt children, and the Lord is certainly not glorified in those things. When, as Christians, we are not glorifying the Lord, something is very, very wrong with our focus. Our priorities are incredibly skewed.
Of course the first in the list of priorities is God and that is incredibly important as well. If both halves of the marriage are focused on the most important priority what strife occurs will be minimal. There will always be problems within a marriage but when both members are truly focused on the Lord, are praying together and listening together, they will be brought into unison. I can tell you first hand that praying together is incredibly important in your marriage. If you haven’t prayed with your spouse today then grab them, right now, and do so. Despite all that’s going on in my life I was privileged to pray with my wife today. Many times I could have but I didn’t. Those are the mistakes we learn from.
Lastly, do you remember those vows that you made? Have and to hold, death do you part, sickness and in health? Did you stand in a church and make those vows before God? Think about that a minute. You may have said those vows to your spouse but you made them before God. Your accountable not to your spouse, but to Him. Have you considered repeating them? Many couples hold a second ceremony in their lives to renew their vows and that’s a wonderful thing to do, but did you consider doing that right now? Is there any reason not to? Pray with your spouse, and while your praying, renew those vows you made. Renew them for the Lord, for yourself, and for your marriage.
Topics: Husband, Love, Marriage | No Comments »
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