Month: July 2012

I Desire Mercy Not Sacrifice – Go And Learn What This Means.

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Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” I desire mercy and not sacrifice – Go and learn what that means! Matthew 9:13 The questions we need to ask ourselves as we consider Jesus’ command to “go and learn” are as follows: 1. What is stopping us from befriending unbelievers? 2. What are we afraid of? 3. What do we have to lose? 4. Who said we couldn’t have worldly friends? I moved up to northern California six years ago from San francisco, and every time I tell a friend that I am going back for vacation or for a visit, I get several reactions. Sometimes I hear – “oh boy, when I visited that place a few years ago, I felt the spiritual oppression just fall on me.” Other times I get the – “man I will be praying for you, I hope fire and brimstone don’t fall while you are there.” Even still, I get a question – “what …

My Hope is build on nothing less!

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On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. 1st Published in 1836 Edward Mote My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found; In Him, my righteousness, alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. Note: Our hope for eternal life depends completely on Jesus’ righteousness. There is nothing we can do to add unto the finished work of Jesus. Even though there are times when doubt, fear and darkness of this world will challenge our faith we can rest assure that he …

BFF

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A wise old farmer was working beside the road when a family moving to a nearby town stopped and asked him if that town was “friendly.” The farmer said he could not really say. But the people pressed him for an answer, so he asked them what the town was like that they came from. They answered that it was terrible – the people were rude and small-minded. The old farmer replied, “That is just how you will find this town.”No matter what our disposition, we need to work at friendliness. We need to be consciously cheerful. We need to ask questions. We need to place ourselves in situations where friendships breakfast group, men’s retreats, and, especially, service in some ministry of the church. Women are so much better at this than men. We must learn from them to take the initiative. The deepest of friendships have in common this desire to make the other person royalty. They work for and rejoice in the other’s elevation and achievements. There are no hooks in such friendships, …

Baptism: The triple portion

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I heard the story about a bunch of guys who used to gather together to read their bible every day on their lunch break. They were all from different denominations, so they agreed that they will not make it the goal to change each other’s theological point of view, but will allow the Word of God to do the speaking. One day while reading, they stumbled across a very controversial subject and each man found himself drawn into a deep discussion. But there was one guy in the group who was not an active participant in the discussions. So, he was asked to share his opinion. He sat up , cleared his thought and said, “I really don’t care about what is written in there, I am going to stick with what I’ve been told.” Could it be, that what you have been told about the Holy Spirit does not measure up with what is written about Him in God’s book? In this study post, I encourage you open the book for yourself and explore. …

That which looks, sounds, smell, Spirit filled is not necessarily Spirit Filled

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As a pastor and spiritual head of both my church and my family, I usually get the following questions either by leaders in my congregation or most certainly by my wife: “Is the Holy Spirit leading you? Did you hear from God for the direction you are taking this church or family? Did you get a word from God about this project, plan or path you are taking us on?” I must confess that sometimes I am tempted to clothe my speech, my plan, and projects with an emphatic yes , “the Lord told me, the Spirit has spoken, the Lord is leading.” But anointing our plans as God’s will, or the Spirit’s leading doesn’t mean that they actually are Spirit led. In the the same way, claiming to be filled with the Spirit, sounding like we are Spirit filled or acting like we are spirit filled does not mean we actually are. It is crystal clear in the the Bible that we should be Spirit Filled. Ephesians 5:18 commands, And do not get drunk …

How to work for Google Earth in a hurry!

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A few days ago, George and Lu Sigalas, a husband and wife and members of our church invited my family to spend 4th of July with them in the hills of San Jose, California. We accept promptly. I was thinking, free food a swimming pool and a magnificent view for the fireworks later that evening. We made it up the mountain and began to mingle  with the people at the house. George and Lu introduced his nephew and his wife the owners of the house in the hills. The kids jumped into the pool and my wife and I began checking out the finger foods on the tables. While we stood there a gentleman came over and got a plate of meatballs, he said hi and went back to his seat. A few minutes later he came back and got another plate. At this time we realized the  meatballs must have been really good. So we went over and got some too. While we stood around talking this gentleman reached out and introduced himself as Michael. …

Spiritual Gymnastics

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Gumnos: throwing off every encumbrance Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness. 1 Tim. 4:7 The word “train” comes from the Greek word Gumnos which means “naked” a word from which we also get our English word gymnasium. It is said that traditional greek athletes trained and competed without clothes. So to “train” literally meant to exercise naked or compete without clothes. The reason behind this practice was to allow the competitor to be free of every encumbrance that would burden and keep him/her from maximum performance. For Paul, connecting this word “train” to godliness will mean that his audience will begin to exercise their faith by training themselves to begin learning how to discard bad habits, evil tendencies, and anything or any lifestyle that impedes godliness. The scripture says it this way… “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before …

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow – Who promised you tomorrow?

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And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. Exodus 8:10 Have you ever had a “duh” moment reading the Bible? A moment when you perceived that the action or decision taken by someone you are reading about was foolish or stupid. Well, I had one the other day reading Exodus chapter 8. God had sent Moses to Egypt to tell Pharoah to let His People go. If Pharoah did not let the people go, He would pour his wrath upon the land. Chapter 8 of Exodus is where we find our second wrath. The first being the turning of the river Nile into a river of blood. Seven days after that, one would think Pharaoh will repent and let the people go. Instead, he hardens his heart and sits through another horrifying experience. This time it’s frogs. Frogs are everywhere. They came out of the land and covered it. Pharoah calls Moses and begs him to plead …

What is your name?

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My wife has several names that she answers to. One nick name, and two other names given to her by her parents – one by her father and the other by her mother. One she loves and the other she hates. That is because names are very significant where she comes from. In the bible God gives and often changes the names of people to reflect their character or something specific about them. Their name identifies them and stands them up for something specific. For example: Abram become Abraham; Sarai becomes Sarah and Jacob becomes Israel. In the same way, God’s names reflect His character. His names are far more than descriptions or designations of some super powerful being up there in the universe. His names are actually a revelation of his ways, his essence, his character, his person and his nature. If you want to know what God is like, his person, his care and concern, you will find it in the revelation of His names. So join me as we take a look …