There was once two brothers that had their own families, homes, and where partners in a fishing business. They were living the dream. Everything was fine until one Man changed it all. Everything they had worked so hard for, for so many years, had been diminished by one man and two words. That man’s name was Yahsuah (Jesus), and the two words were simply…FOLLOW ME. The two men were of course…Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew. These men’s lives had been so drastically changed in an instant, yet they had no idea just how much their lives would change in the journey that they were about to endure.
It is amazing to read about men like Peter and watch them as they grow. The Peter we read about in the gospels is, by far, not the same Peter we read about in Acts and the letters. This man is most defiantly not the same as he was the day Jesus first met him in that boat. He came from one who was constantly being rebuked by Jesus, he was called out as Satin at one point(Mark 8:33), completely denied Christ three times (Mark 14:66-72), to a man who was so full of God that his very shadow would fall upon the sick and they would be healed (Acts 5:16). He was transformed from little ol’ Simon the fisherman to a mighty man of God named Peter. When Peter writes in first Peter chapter four verse two “so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God”, he is not giving instruction about something that he learned about in seminary; he is testifying from a life of change that he himself had come to experience and understand.
Peter is just one of hundreds we find in scripture that had been completely flipped upside down when they encountered The Living God; in fact, I cannot recall one single person in the bible, there may be…I just can’t think of any, which continued living the same old life they once lived after being called out by our Lord. Abraham left everything to follow God, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and David…the list goes on and on. Every one of them were taken from the lives they were used to and comfort of the familiar, to an adventure that completely and utterly transformed them unto faithful servants of The Most High. God is in the changing business my friends. This is what He does. He is holy, righteous, and just. He is so completely other, and he wants nothing more than to change us into His likeness.
I know it is popular to believe that the day we became believers God preformed this supernatural surgery on us, and that somehow made us like him, but that is not even remotely realistic. I am not talking about heaven or hell here. I am talking about no longer being the self righteous, self centered, angry, abusive, God hating, world loving, sons of Adam. No matter how hard we try within ourselves to be anything else, we will still have this vessel we call flesh, thus failing in our efforts. Sure, with a great effort, we can change some old habits we may have, but at the end of the day we will still be Simon the fisherman. We can become bible scholars and do our very best to live out our interpretation of what God says in the scriptures, but our best efforts will only fabricate us to become Scribes and Pharisees, and we all know what Christ thought about them. The world doesn’t call them Scribes and Pharisees today, they call them hypocrites and religious nuts. In fact, disciples in the New Testament never called themselves Christians as we do today; they were called that by the world who believed that they were “like Christ”.
God knew that we could never live up to his standards on our own. That is why he came to this earth and put on this flesh of man. He came to illuminate in man the very righteousness of God, so that we may have the example to follow. Jesus also knew that even His example alone would not be enough for us to be like the Father, so He died and went back to the Father, so the Holy Spirit could come and live IN us, thus empowering His disciples to walk even as He walked. Jesus did not say that He is going back to the Father so he can send His Holy Scriptures to us that it may lead us unto all truth. He said He was leaving so that the Holy Spirit can come, thus taking Their abode inside of us and leading us unto all Truth (Jhn 16:13)-I would encourage everyone to read John 14-16 where Jesus speaks a great deal on this matter-. God wants to come and Live inside of you and I so He can change us into His likeness. This is a process that can only happen when believers become living sacrifices and allow God to make us holy and expectable unto Himself (Rom 12:1). This is the only way that it is possible to be like Christ. This is what empowered Peter to become the mighty man of God he was. This is what will empower you and I to manifest our loving and all mighty King to a world which is in great need of such a King.
Are we calling ourselves Christian or is the world giving us such a name because of what they see in us? Are we true disciples, if so then all that we are and everything around us will continually be changing? Every day, month, and year we will be less of what we were and more like the indwelling Spirit of God. So, in conclusion, let us freely welcome the change from the God who does not want to leave us the way we are, and with a grateful hearts, give praise to a God who, He Himself, never changes.

Andrew Peterson sings a song called little moments of truth. It is a song about seeing little moments of Truth (Jesus -The Truth) every day. I see little moments like that from time to time. I guess if I payed attention a little better I would see more, but you know how it gets when we get into the daily grind of things. Anyway, we live in a world today that it seems that love is something that is a rarity; it is most defiantly not the norm. It is most common to see people always out for themselves. After all, that is the gospel that this country preaches. Life is all about you, and if you want anything in life then you have to reach out and take it. This is the gospel known as secular humanism, and it is being preached in every government ran church in America…known as the public school. This doctrine has infected this country so bad, that we now live in a world that so few really care about anyone but themselves; however, despite this fact, we can still see little moments of truth, little moments of love scattered here and there. Let me share one with you now.

I work for an ambulance company, and on one particular day I was left down in a town here in Rhode Island because there was a patient that was being released from the hospital. He was an elderly man, probably in his eighties. I was about an hour and a half from home and I should had been off work an hour before I was to pick this patient up, so I was already tired from working a full day. When I picked him up I asked the nurses if I was to take him to a nursing home, and they said no, but that he was going to the home of a niece of his . I could hear the negativity in their voices when they told me this, so it was apparent that they did not agree with the set up and thought he belonged in a nursing home. I did not think much about it. After all, my job was just to take this fella home, so I prepared him for transport. As I got this man to his destination, I pulled up into his nieces driveway. The area that she lived in was a very poor area, and her home was extremely small, but pretty well kept. I did not look all through her house, but I would think that there was about three rooms, a kitchen, one bedroom, and a very small living room. The living room was well over half way taken up by a hospital bet that she had prepared for her uncle. I asked this lady why she would do such a thing. Why would she take in her uncle like this. After all, it is not like it was her father or something. She told me that he is her blood, and she loved him to much to let him go to some nursing home. I thought, man she seems to be having a hard time providing for herself not less a very sick old man. To top it all off, this women handed me a ten dollar bill as a tip for bringing him home. I told her that I could not take the money, and that this is what I do. I told her that I am already getting paid for this and that she needed to keep her money, but she insisted that I take it. She said, “as you can see we do not have much, but what we do have we give” This is what this women told me word for word. Those words still stick out in my mind very clearly. The word that hit me the most was the word “we”. We…She had no one there but herself and now her sick uncle. Her uncle is the one that made that statement a “we” statement. Wow…what this women is saying is a little moment of truth. Her uncle is not just her mother or father’s brother, he is a we. This women has not bowed down to the gospel of this world. In her world, there is not an “I” there is a we. Her uncle is bone of her bone and flesh of her flesh. His lack of good health was her lack of good health. His problems are her problems. Better yet…her love becomes his love. Wow…this is the True Gospel of Christ. There is no I in the kingdom of God. There is only a we.

Jesus poured his life out for us, and we are to poor ours out for all as well. If we are indeed in His kingdom, then there is no “I” only we. Your problems are my problems, your debt is my debt, your joy is my joy, and my love is your love. Now that does not mean to start sending me all of your monthly bills….I know what your thinking. I am actually thinking of sending mine to all of you…LOL.

Let us all pay real close attention to all that God would like to show us from day to day, and may we always look for those little moments of truth. God bless you all…I love you.

Psa 13:1   How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
Psa 13:2  How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Psa 13:3  Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
Psa 13:4  lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
Psa 13:5  But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
Psa 13:6  I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

I have always compared my journey with the Father to Abraham when God told him to go to a land that He would show him. Abraham did not know where he was going; he was just obedient to the Word of God. Abraham had faith that God would lead him to the land He had promised.  I, in comparison, have always had faith that God would also show me the land that He, or at least I thought, told me. This journey has led me to many places which you, if you have not already, can read on this blog site in a number of different articles that I have written in the past few years. However, I am beginning to wonder if my journey has been more like the children of Israel wondering around in the desert for 40 years. This thought just came to me a little while ago. Could it be? Could it be that my journey has been just a mere wondering around in the wilderness, or is it, in fact, a journey of faith.

I look at myself today and I am not sure who I am anymore. There was a time that I could identify myself. I was a preacher of the Gospel of Christ. I was a music minister, youth pastor, and evangelist. I was a Christian radio man. I know that these are just titles, but I was comfortable with who I was, and I believed in what I was doing then. Today I stand today completely useless. I am no good to the Baptist, charismatics, or any other denomination or “non-denomination denomination”. I am no good to “community” living. I have been so engrossed by systematic Christianity that I am deemed useless to them.

You know…I don’t ever remember reading where Abraham went here and there asking God…”Is this the land Lord…How about this one Lord…not this one either?” Yet, this has been my journey up to this point, or at least It is how I am perceiving it right now. I do believe, without an inch of doubt, that God had opened my eyes to the Truth of westernised Christianity. My heart is, to this day, very heavy for the church. I believe that so many are deceived into thinking that their way of “doing church” is the pleasing God; however, what good is such revelation? What is it worth to know that bible studies, sermons, church programs, pulpits, pews, and steeples have become a stink in the nostrils of All Mighty God. Not that all of these things in themselves are bad, but what we have made them has become nothing more than the ritualistic sacrifices the Israelite’s where making that made the Father want to vomit so many years ago. Tell me what good is such understanding? It is not like I can convince anyone of such truth. Most, if not all, of those in this deception will never be convinced that it is so. After all… They have it all figured out remember. Who knows? I am telling you I am no good for anything anymore.

My journey has been to find a land that I believe God has promised. A place where westernized Christianity has no place in the hearts of the residence. A place where the “Spirit of Religion” can not enter into the gates. A place where Love is the foundation and NOTHING more. A place where God is all that matters and NOTHING else. A place where the Spirit of God has  the lead and not some man. A place where it’s residence don’t turn their backs and run away from their own. A place where the residence gather together for the mere purpose of being together, praising our Lord, and not to have bible debates, sermons, or any one person dominating the time. I have been looking for a place where the only thing we know for sure is that we know nothing, and God knows all. I have been looking for a people who don’t have all the answers, but can lead you to the One who does. A place where God Himself defines who we are to the people around us and not our interpretation of the scriptures, doctrines, or the name we have on the sign out front. A place where they don’t hold scriptures, doctrines, customs, traditions, or anything above The Father. I have been looking for a place where God truly does sit on the throne, and not just have a people who says He does. I long for a place that  has Jesus as the one we model our lives after, and not (though great men of God) Peter, Paul, or anyone ells in scripture or of this world. A place where judgement still belongs to God and not His servants. A place where all the residence are, as God sees them,…equal. A place where each member can thrive and be molded in the hands of The Living God to be placed exactly in the Body where he or she is supposed to be, thus bringing life to that part of the body. I can go on forever here, but it is late and I am tired, so let’s rap this up.

I guess you can call me Martin Luther King Jr and say I am just dreaming, and that there is no such place this side of Heaven. Maybe your right. Maybe I have just been wondering around in the wilderness for 40 years. Maybe I am just a lost child and not a Abraham. Maybe I should just give up searching, I definitely feel like it. Maybe I should just start my own denomination (makes me sick just saying that). I don’t know. I really don’t. I don’t have all the answers; right now I feel I have zero answers.  I do know that God is my Father, and I Will go where he leads me. I have nothing more. I just pray that He speaks soon.

Anyway…that is where my pathetic mind is at the moment. As always, my brain is in full speed. It is 2:44am right now, that should say something. I will attempt a little sleep now. God bless all the readers of this blog. I love you, and, as always, I pray that God will lead us all into the fullness of Him.

Okay, I am about to say a number of things that we are not supposed to say, yet most of us do, and the ones that haven’t only wish they did. Here we go… I QUIT, I GIVE UP, I CAN”T DO THIS ANY MORE, I AM DONE, I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL, I CAN NOT GO ON ONE MORE SECOND!!!!! There….now that I got that off my chest…let me proceed with this entry.

If you have read my last blog entry entitled “Home…How Do I Get There” you would have read that I have been on a long journey in search for home, or at least a place that felt like home to me. Of course I have failed in my efforts time and time again, and for some reason I believe that God has brought me through such a journey to bring me to this very spot that I am in right now. In fact, threw the past several years He has opened my eyes to so many things, and I think that I am finally, being the slow minded man I am, understanding some of those things. It is like seeing fire for the first time in your life…you see the flames, but you don’t understand how hot it is until you touch it. God has aloud me to see many things through the years, but it is only now that I have finally stuck my hand in there and touched it, and now I am beginning to understand it.

You know…the funny thing is…I am a ordained minister of the gospel (according to the umpteen men that laid their hands on me and the rest of the folks in that ministry that claimed to have seen that gift in me), so I have this automatic thing I do. I tell people what I have learned. I have always shared what I believed God was giving me, kind of like I am doing now. Only blogging, I think, Is more of a therapeutic thing I do to help me get my thoughts straight, and you all have the pleasure of  of telling me how far away off the mark I have went. Anyway, I have learned that people, including myself, think they already know everything.  When one shares what is on their heart the hearer will either amen what you say or refute what you say. Either way, they, again…including myself, think they already know. “Amen….I agree with that…nope…that’s not right because bla bla bla bla bla”. You see. What is the point of saying something to anyone when they already have all the answers?

You know…there where people in the scriptures that where just like that. They where called Scribes and Pharisees. They thought they had it all figured out as well. That is until Jesus came and challenged their thinking. Oh wait…that’s right…the Son of The Living God did not convince them either. Okay…a little sarcasm there, but it is true. They really believed that they understood God so well, that instead of falling at the feet of Jesus, they hung Him on a cross.

Jesus, however, had a handful of men who really wanted the Truth and he called them disciples. After a good wile of hard knock life kind of teaching from the Master He sent them out to tell others of the good news, and then He named them Apostles, or sent ones. They where not sent to the Scribes and Pharisees but to the people who where hungry for Truth, thus making these truth seekers disciples as well.

These Scribes and Pharisees knew the law by heart. They where trained to know that law, and they where trained well. They held so tight to what they thought they knew that the missed the very Messiah they longed for. He stood right in front of them and spoke around and to them, but they could not hear. You see…all they know to do is amen or refute because they already know God, and the things Jesus said did not jive with there interpretation of the law of God, so they choose to refute. All I can say is Solomon was right when he said that “there is nothing new under the sun”. Times have not changed, or should I say, men have not changed that much. The world, especially Christianity, is full of Scribes and Pharisees. I should know…I am one of them, but I believe I am finally being set free from such a title.

I have spent most of my Christian life around scribes and pharisees, so I think it is high time I move my church letter from the church of bla bla, and move it over to the first church of walk it out. It is time that I just focus on living the gospel of Christ instead of  preaching to the choir. There must still be a true seeker of truth out there somewhere that just wants to be set free from the bondage of deception. I think mother Teresa nailed it with her statement “always preach the gospel, and if necessary…use words”. I don’t know if that is the exact quote, but you get the point.

I have but one ministry, and that is to love God and love everyone ells. We all work so hard on trying to learn the scriptures, understand church doctrine, find what or which church to belong to, seek out the where and what God has called us too or to do. We go to church meetings, Sunday school, bible studies, seminaries/bible collage, conferences, and seminars. We watch Christian programing, sport our Christian tee-shirts and bumper stickers, and read Christian books (yes even blogs). This list can go on and on; however, every single one of these things mean absolutely nothing without the foundation of Love.

Let me put it another way. You go in for a surgery to remove your appendix, and the surgeon you have has mastered the art of cutting people open and closing them back up. Unfortunately, he skipped out on every class in med school that covered anatomy. He wears a white coat. Everyone calls him Doctor so and so. He has all that good medical terminology down pat, so he sounds like a good Doctor. He even knows all the instruments to use during the procedure, but when you wake up you find it hard to breath because supper Doc removed one of your lungs instead.

I feel we have done the same thing. We can look the part of a Christian, talk a good Christian talk, and we can convince a great deal of people that we are Christians; however, we have missed the basic fundamental foundation of the Love of Christ that makes us Christian.  As Paul says in 1 Co 13:1 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (ESV)”. There are many scriptures I can quote her to back up what I am saying, but it is not my intent to try and convince anyone here of anything. I only want to report what my direction will be from here on out.

I am done chasing movements, churches, and visions of man. I am done preaching to the choir as it where. I am done with trying to be the perfict Christian. I am done with trying to make sure everyone (exept The Father) is pleased with me. I only want to fall at my Father’s feet, let Him love me, love Him in return, and allow that Love to radiate out to all around me. If while at His feet He uses me for anything more, then it will be His doing and not mine.

I would challenge you to do one thing. Read the whole book of 1 John; however, when you read it, do not try and lie to yourself about what John really said, but just beileve what he said. For example in 1Jn 2:9  “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness”. don’t try and covince yourself that it “really” means I want him to go to hell kind of hate, but take it for what it is. If I don’t love him…Jesus give my life for him kind of love, then I am in darkness AKA…without Christ (the true light) even now.

As always…thinking out loud…your friend Frank. May you walk in the love of beloved Father.

Home…. such an interesting word don’t you think? I have heard this word a billion and one times in my life. I have used the word myself many times, yet I am pondering the true meaning of this word at the moment. Those of you who know me, know that I am a thinker. I am always thinking and pondering things. It has proven to be a strength and a weakness to me over the years.  I am not real sure which one it will prove to be on this subject matter, but the risk of this has never stopped me from blurting it out before, so why start now.

I think the English vocabulary is one of the weakest in the world. We use words so loosely and we literally strip our words from their true meaning. We also will use words in a broad spectrum taking away the power from that word. For example…LOVE. We use this word to describe many different things. ” I love that car…or I love pizza”. Then we will take that same word and turn it loose on our spouse, family member, children, etc. What is wrong with that picture? How can we use the same word to describe how much we like a car or favorite food, and then use the very same one to describe how we feel about someone? I just does not make logical sense.

I was just going back over some old blogs that I have written in the past several months, and I came across one that I wrote when a cousin of mine had been shot entitled “Where are they”. In that entry, I wrote a prayer that pierced my heart once again. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of every day life, we tend to loose site of what really is down deep in our hearts. It is neat to go back and read some of the things that we go through. At the time I wrote that particular entry, my heart was so broken, and I wanted nothing more than to do what was right in or Father’s eyes. The truth is, that is indeed what is down inside me. That is what is always down inside me, but some how I always seen to forget to some degree. When I read this entry, particularly the prayer, My heart once again broke. I want to re post this prayer in hopes that it will remind you all as well. Let God do His perfect work in us all, and let the whole world see, once and for all, that Jesus truly does live. As some lyrics in a great song from the late Michael Jackson says…:If we want to make the world a better place, then take a look at yourself and make a change”. Let us all take a look at ourselves, and see how bad we are, and let The One who really can change us do His will, and we will no doubt see the world around us change. Enjoy this prayer, and make it your own. I love you all.

“Instead of going to some discipleship seminar this year, how about just falling down before our father and from the depths of you heart, cry out to Him, and say God, I don’t know about the church that I attend, but I want to be fully yours. Break me oh God. Take all that I have and all that I am. Teach me to love the way you Love. Show me how to lay my life down for those who are oppressed and in bondage. Use me oh God, to open my arms out and embrace those who need to feel your touch. My life is not my own…it belongs to you my King. Open my eyes my Lord, that I may never miss someone in need, and give me the understanding to supply that need.Teach me to walk the way that you walk, and help me to teach others to do the same. Oh Father, I don’t want religion, entertainment,doctrines, or another powerless church service…I want…no,… I need your Life. You Life illuminating the very ground that I walk. That all who would look upon me would see only You.  Oh my beloved, this is my prayer….this is my plea”.

God bless you all…Good night.

I have started classes here lately to become an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), and WOW is it fast paced. It requires many many hours to retain the abundance of information that they through at you. It is like a years worth of education wrapped up into three months. It has totally consumed me; however, I felt that it was something that God wanted me to do, so here I am.

I am the kind of guy that always feels like I am late for something. My wife can tell you that when we have to be somewhere at a specific time, I am always rushing everyone in the house to get in gear so we are not late. Okay, so we have an hour to drive five minutes, but something in the back of my mind is saying your going to be late Frank…your going to be late. The truth is, we hardly ever are; in fact, we are typically early.

I have been experiencing the same sort of anxiety when it comes to this class that I am taking. I always feel like I am so far behind that I will never catch up, so I poor myself into studying more and more. I have studied so hard at times that my brain seems to be over loading. I will sometimes forget something that I had worked very hard at remembering. It is a great deal of stress to be under. I have a family that is counting on me to do well in this course so I can put food on the table, I have friends that have invested a great deal in me to accomplish this task, and let’s not forget the many lives that hope I know what I am doing when trying to help them in their emergency. What can I say…I have stress.

I was sitting here today having some family time, just after my study time of course, and God spoke to me. He said…”SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM”. Now I could have replied…What do you mean seek first the Kingdom, what do you think I have been doing up to this point. I have moved all the way to Rhode Island seeking your Kingdom. I have spent much of my life seeking your kingdom, so what in the world do you mean to seek first the kingdom, but I did not need to ask Him that because I knew exactly what he meant. What He means with this question has been made perfectly clear many many times throughout the years in my walk with Him; however, it is just another one of those lessons that we tend to forget over and over again.

God’s children are children of faith. We must have faith because we can not please our Father without it. We are to walk in and by that faith. Faith is to FULLY trust in, or we can use the biblical definition of faith which is “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”.  Now don’t be tricked by the word “hoped” in this verse. It does not mean hope like we may use the term hope…”I hope gas prices go down, or I hope the economy gets better”. The word hope hear says I am throwing everything in. I am laying it all down and putting my full trust in this one. There is a peace in this kind of hope. There is a rest and assurance in this kind of hope. It is this faith that will provide “evidence of things not seen”. I have seen the evidence of the unseen One through faith, and it has provided me with the substance that has persuaded me to fully trust. although I have been known to loose sit of this truth from time to time, as in this present time of anxiety.

To fully trust our Father in all that we do is to seek His kingdom first. You see, if I feel that God wanted me to become an EMT and I stepped out in faith and pursued it, yet I get caught up in that pursuit and forget the One who told me to do it, then I have missed the mark. Everything, when done in faith, is for the kingdom, so… if God wants me to be an EMT then it has something to do with the advancement of His kingdom. I am not becoming an EMT because there is big money to be made in it (believe me, this is not the case) I am becoming an EMT because I feel this is the path my Father has put me on; if it is the path He has put me on then you can guaranty it is for His kingdom, and I must, no matter how hard it gets, remember that and fully trust (have faith) in Him. If, when I get to the end, I find I was wrong in taking this path, then I will repent and continue on in faith. It is my faith that has led me to this point, so, at the end of the day, the Father will be pleased with me.

If I asked my daughter to go and wash our neighbors car, and she ended up washing the wrong car, I am not going to be upset with her. I may get a good laugh out of it, but I am not going to punish her for washing the wrong car. She thought she was doing what I wanted her to do. The truth is, someone got blessed in the process…someone ells has a clean car. Okay, it was not exactly what I wanted her to do, but she was, nonetheless, obedient and faithful.  “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His will”. ALL THINGS…even when we make a wrong turn in faith.

Anyway, I have been once again reminded to seek the kingdom first. I have been reminded to trust in the One who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light, and to put being an EMT back into His hands and out of mine. WOW…that is a load off…I feel better already . That is not to say I can now stop studying…faith without works is dead, but I can say that my fate is in His hands…I have nothing to worry about. Thank you Father…

Hey friends, I know it has been a number of weeks since you last heard from me, but then again a great deal has been going on in my life. I have moved from Tennessee all the way to Providence Rhoade Island. It has been both spiritually and mentally challenging , but as always my feet are steadfast in the complete grace of our wonderful God. My life is not my own, it belongs to The One that picked me up from that pit and set my feet upon Holy ground. Now I am not calling Tennessee the pit and Rhode Island holy ground; in fact, this particular geographic location is not one that I would choose to live. It is beautiful at the moment, but I just know the cold and many blizzards are in my future….BLAHHHH… However, my joy is always found in the will of my Father, and this is where I feel He has me for the moment, so here am I Lord…Send me.

I am in a church body located in Providence RI. It has somewhere around 30 or so members in it, and, like Rose-Creek Village where I moved from, it is a community of believers who share each and every day with one another.

It is a blessing from God to have each other. I know that when I was in organized church (denominationalism) I struggled so much with trying to live out the life that God requires us to live by just doing the Wednesday night prayer meeting/Sunday church services kind of thing. It was so tough out there because there was no one to keep me accountable to the sermons the preacher preached on those days. I tried so hard to live it, but always failed. I think that so many miss it…so many come short of overcoming the obstacles in there life on there own. I know, I have heard it all before (I have said it myself), We have God every day of the week…He will help us. I believe this statement to be a true one, but I believe His answer to that statement is…”I am with you through each other”.

I think that one of the greatest gifts our Father has given to us is one another. It is a beautiful picture when you think about it. The “one another” I am talking about is named “The Body of Christ” in the scriptures. Who is Christ but God Himself manifest in the flesh. Jesus said “I go away”, but that He would come and take His abode in you. Who was the “you” he was talking to? It was not A PERSON, but a people. His disciples.

Am I saying that God does not come and live inside an individual; of course not, but I am saying that His body is made up of many members or body parts. “The hand can’t say to the foot I don’t need you”. Yet people all over the world are saying I only need you two or three times a week, and the rest of the week the “Body of Christ” is busy with the rest of their lives, and pursuing the American dream. Look…there is a hand slapping his wife around, there is a foot running over that poor man on it’s way to put more money in the bank, over there are the eyes looking at pornography, and there are the fingers pulling the trigger of a gun shooting her pastor husband. Sound familiar? These things, among many other tragedies, are all things we hear about the supposed body of Christ. Body parts scattered every where, and we wonder why a lost world can’t see Christ.

When ever you hear testimonies of people who knew the pastors who had the affair, hoked on porn,the wife that was abused, etc. they always seem so shocked. Why is that? Because the left hand did not know what the right hand was doing. Because there where things in these peoples lives that no one knew about. There where dark secrets in these people. That’s not to say that people who live in community can’t have any as well, but I can say that it proves to be one difficult task to keep things hidden away. What true disciple of Christ would want to keep such things inside? Is not our main objective as disciples to be like The One we follow?  I doubt very seriously that most of these people we hear such things about want to live with things like these inside. Most want to be set free, but they are just scattered body parts left to face these demons alone.

These are the most drastic examples of course, but there are things in all of us that God has supplied help for through His Body. We need each other. I don’t believe everyone is supposed to live the same way we do, but I do believe we should be together, confessing our faults, loving one another, and holding each one accountable for those things in us that God wants destroyed. The love that the Father has bestowed upon us should fill our hearts for one another. So much so, that the one with the dark secrets feels free to lay it all out on the table and not fear if he or she will be judged by everyone.

The unity in the body of Christ supplies an atmosphere for awesome things to happen. The love of God that one feels from such unity will truly set people free from the bonds that keep them. True unity is nothing that man can build on his own which proves to all around that God is real, and they will truly see what He looks like.(1Jn 4:12  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.)  (Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Joh 13:35  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”)

In my next entry I want to talk more about unity, but on a more global scale. Until then, let us continue on this journey, and embrace all that our Father lays before us…amen.

  You know, I never title my writings until I am done with the writing because I never truly know what I will write until it is done. All that I know is that my heart is heavy to write. Sure, much of time I have somewhat of an idea that my mind is pondering, but the writings pretty much write themselves. So, at this point, I have no title. Let us take a journey together here and see where God will lead us. Maybe you will see the title in this writing and entitle this writing yourself. I will leave it to you, the reader, to tell me what it should be named. Oh I can hear some names now, God help me.

When I was a few years younger I joined the Army. (this thought just came to me now…see what I mean). At that time I was running as far from God as I could, so I thought the Army would be a good way to do that. Anyway, I went and talked to a recruiter, and he gave me all those great promises that they are so well trained to give. It all sounded great at the time. He made it all sound so awesome and fun. Ohhh…and let us not forget the College money. Man…I was pumped, so I went and took the ASVAB test (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), and then I signed on the doted line. The very day I stepped off that bus at Basic Training I realized that recruiter was not exactly honest with me, and as the days went on, I realized this more and more. This left me wondering what in the world I signed up for here. Here I am, many years later, and I am asking myself this very same question today. Let me explain.

I came to Christ when I was just a young man, and I fell madly in love with my redeemer. I learned a great deal about Him through those earlier years, or at least I thought I did. He was this well groomed, soft, gentle, loving and caring Jesus, and His whole heart was to make sure I was well taken care of, got all I wanted and needed. BUT THAT WAS THEN…

Since those days, God has led me on a journey that has left me once again wondering what did I sign up for. The truth is, most of all those wonderful doctrines that where imputed into me back then where worth about as much as all of those promises that the Army recruiter gave to me those years ago. Ever since I have been off the bus and stepped my feet on this rode, also known as THE WAY, my life has been ripped apart. My body (aka flesh) has been burned, and my very guts have been spewed out for all to see (I know…very graphic…sorry). Even as I write this article, my head feels like it is about to explode and my heart about to wither away. For those of you that have taken this whole blog  journey with me since it started, know well enough that I have vowed to shoot you straight, and give you all the truth that I receive. Sometimes that truth is not pretty. This entry will be an example of that kind of truth.

I have found that God does not look as I was taught he looked like. Although some of what I was taught had some particles of truth to them (that Army recruiter had some as well) God does not look like the way most of Christianity would like to paint Him. I know, I know, His yoke is easy and His burden light…but compared to what? ( I could give you something on that scripture that would cause you to see it a little different, but I will leave that for another entry). I have come to see that God does not want to give me all that my little heart desires, he wants to change my heart so all that I desire will be what He desires, and that, my friends, requires the complete disintegration of who we are in the flesh. I have news for you…..THIS IS NOT A LIFE OF ROSE PEDDLES AND DAISIES! This is a life full of disappointment, regret, pain, and torment. All that you will really receive when you sign on the dotted line is a CROSS. A cross in which our blessed savior said would be a prerequisite for being His disciple. He did not lie to us as our interpretations of scriptures have. He told us exactly what living life as a TRUE disciple would look like. It requires the death of who we are and everything that even remotely smells of who we were in the flesh.  (BYE BYE OLD MAN)! As a result of this death a resurrection would take place, and the things that our lives would produce would look JUST LIKE CHRIST. (HELLO NEW MAN)! He will tear this temple down and raise it up on holy ground. This does not happen all of a sudden just because you believe, said some prayer, or were baptized in some water hole somewhere. This is a process that begins the moment that you truly sign on the dotted line, given up on EVERYTHING you hold on to, and climb upon the alter of God, and allow God to kill you. It is on this alter that you will SEE HIM FACE TO FACE, and when you look upon his face…you die. Sounds fun huh? Are you ready to sign up yet?

I know these are hard sayings. Christ did not say that “strait is the gate, and narrow is THE WAY, which leads unto life, and FEW there be that find it,” for noting. The path of a true disciple is not an easy path, so if you don’t mind me asking, how strait is your path? What all did you manage to get through the “gate” that you walked through?

Christ told us to count the cost. He tells us this because it will cost us everything if we so choose to follow Him. EVERYTHING friends. That is why so few will find THE WAY. They are not willing to lay down their comforts, their knowledge, their possessions, their denominations, and their life. They are comfortable believing that the cross they must bear is a Wednesday night and Sunday church service, their 10% (maybe), and supporting a missionary in some foreign land who really is giving their life for Christ. If you can truly grasp this, and get past the anger you’re feeling right now, it will change how you view scriptures. The verses will begin to really come to life for you, or should I say bring death to you.

I know that this writing must really seem to be a downer. The truth is…at this point, I don’t have anything uplifting to say. I know that I should say something that says how great everything will be if you so choose to sign up, and some days I have things of that nature to tell about. Right now, however, I do not. I myself am counting the cost. I am not to sure if I can handle any more of this cross of mine. It has been a long journey, and I am growing more and more weary. The sad part is, I have not had to endure even 1/16 of what my brothers and sisters have had to endure for the past 2000 years. I am a disgrace to the family name. I do see glimpses of beauty from time to time, and that gives me hope and strength to continue this journey, but right now I can’t see a foot in front of me. It is tough my beloved friends. It really is.

Aww…I am sure I will rise from these ashes and continue on with The Lifter of my head. He has never failed me….never. I have always found victory with Him. Where else could I go, to whom could I turn, What else could I do. I have been chosen by The Creator of all things. He is The Lover of my soul, my love and my passion. I will make it because He said I would.

How is that for a recruitment letter. Me….mister evangelist. I don’t guess I will win many souls with such writings as this.  The truth is, we will all stand before God, and there will be many who say Lord Lord, I went to church, I am a believer, I have been baptized, I paid my 10%, I supported missionaries, and I invited people at work to come to church with me. Many people will say this, and the Father will say SORRY I NEVER KNEW YOU. I am sure many of you have plenty to say to me at this point. All of those great scriptures that you have worked so hard on remembering, you now have an opportunity to use them. Swing away friends…swing away. I am no stranger of being wrong about things. Much of my life has been a lie, and I did not know it. However, at the end of the day, the Truth will still be The Truth, no matter how many verses of scripture we have memorized and interpreted.

As said in the beginning of this writing, though you will see something written in the title area of this entry, the true title is one you must name. Those who have ears to hear…let them hear.