Speak it in Love

The truth is not always easy to hear. It may be even harder to speak. This is especially true when you have to speak it to someone you love. But if you don't speak the difficult truth to your loved ones, how can you speak the truth to anyone else. Love is the key.

Have you ever had a coworker ask advice and withheld what you really thought because it might hurt your relationship? Have you ever known a family member who lied to you, but you ignored it to avoid the confrontation? Have you ever been hurt verbally, but denied it so as not to lose a friend? We don't always speak the truth. Should we? Should we ALWAYS speak the truth regardless of the consequences?

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:14, 15 NIV84)

I'm not sure these verses apply, but they are pretty powerful against lies. If we are to grow more Christ like, we must tell the truth. We must do it in a way so as not to destroy, but to build up. We must do it as a tool for improvement of our lives or those affected. We will continue to mature as a follower of Christ only if we do it through honesty and truth. It is said the truth will set you free and I believe that lies will also shackle you. As Christians we must be leaders for truth and leaders for speaking the truth out of love. We must be as pure in heart, soul, and body as anyone when it comes to declaring the truth.

Speed the word of truth. Thank you Lord. Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for deliver wring me from evil Andy the evil of lies. Thank you for your patience in serving as our savior. Praise God for your love.

Too busy!

Wow! That has to be one of the busiest Thanksgiving weekends I've ever had. Two basketball games, two Thankgiving dinners, a birthday party, church, practice, time with the family and Christmas decorations. I'm whipped and I'm thankful all in one. Yes, the Holidays are now in full swing.

I need to remind myself to take time with God during this time of year. You would think with the focus on the birth of Christ, it would be natural to take time with him. I think I'm living proof that's not true. If you don't spend time with God the other 11 months, this time will be more of the same. I have to admit my priorities have not been on God lately. I am so consumed with school, basketball, CMA, and stuff around home, my devotional and prayer time is suffering. I'm just too busy. Can you imagine that? I'm to busy for the creator of the universe. I'm too busy for The Lord of my life and the giver of all that I have. It's a little strange!

I need to change that tonight. I need to recommit myself to him. Please Lord forgive me for my failings and my excuses for not spending time with you. Please help me to slow down and enjoy your daily presence in my life. Help me to focus on serving others for you. Help me to take time with my students and fellow workers that I might be a light to them. I beg your forgiveness for not being the man of God you called me to be. I love you and praise you for your blessings and mercy. Thank you Lord for my wonderful life, the gift of Stephanie and the adventurous life you have given me. Be with me as I travel through this holiday season that I might be totally focused on you. Convict me Lord that I will not waste a moment away from your presence. Thank you Lord. amen.

Seems weird to talk to a God!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20, 21 NIV84)

Doesn't it seem weird to talk to the creator of the universe? Once in a while, tonight for example, I am completely awed during my time of prayer. Usually it's a verse like this one from Ephesians that overloads my brain. I mean why do I even pray to a God that is so powerful? Who am I to even feel like I could have something of value to say to God? I can't ask for anything because he provides all. I can't  talk about my future. He already knows it.  In my feebleness and struggle for words, he is powerful. It has taken me over 50 years to finally realize , it's not what I say or ask that God cares about. He just wants to hear from me. In his perfect grace he just wants to spend time with me, his imperfect, flawed, sinful servant. When I do spend time with him, he just can't help but to heap blessings upon my soul.

It really embarrasses me how blessed I am. I have done nothing, yet he has given all, even his own son. This thanksgiving I can't even express in words how much I am humbled to pray to God. Thank you Lord for wanting me. Thank you for your love, mercy, and grace. Even in the awkwardness of my prayers, you are there. Even when I babble in a blog, you are there. Even in my sinfulness, you are there. Praise your name , for I am blessed immeasurably more than I could imagine.

Do You Love Everyone?

What would you think if I told you God loved Porn Stars? Well, that was the message we got today in Church and if that isn't strange enough, listen to this. We had a visit from one of the founders of www.xxxchurch.com at church today. XXXChurch.com is devoted to helping people with an addiction to pornography. They have handed out Bibles at a Porn Convention. Think that's a little strange? What other group of people need Christ more? If I really think about it, it's not much different than going to the "Boogie" and serving water, supplying tracks and serving the biker community.

I think God is speaking to me again. I keep getting hit with the message that We, as CHRISTIANS, are not fulfilling the correct mission. Going out into all the world literally means going OUT into ALL the world. Somehow that message has been modified. We spend more time serving our fellow Christians, in our comfortable church pew, than we do serving the lost. We need to be OUT with the Porn addicted, the gays, the lesbians, the atheist, and the rest of the ANTI-Christian people. We need to be out serving and loving.

There is a LARGE group of people who will NEVER step foot into a Church. The only hope we have of planting the seed is if we GO TO THEM. They make us angry, uncomfortable, and we would just as soon "Stone" them than sit in the same room with them. But, that's not what we are called to do. Christ went to the dispicable, the outcast, the whores, and the insane. He hit the literal UNDERBELLY of society and shared his love with them. We should do the same.

I say all this and you should realize I am a LONG WAY from doing that. Sure, I've served at secular Biker rallies. I might even be doing more than most, but it's not enough. I need to serve more and so do you. Do you REALLY love everyone? How do you show it? Can you show love to someone you avoid? How do you love the sinner and still hate the sin? Can you accept a sinner without endorsing their sin? 

I wish I had answers to these questions.

John 8

New International Version (NIV)

² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”