A Quest To Live Holy

It's been a crazy two weeks this month! With the loss of our dear brother in Christ, Bob Roth, and his awesome funeral last Saturday and celebrating the Resurrection Day (a.k.a. Easter), we're preparing for the DCnDC conference this week/weekend with Billy Leavell!

The quest to "LIVE HOLY" begins tomorrow night with Billy! Guess what?? I'm very excited about him coming! He's one of the great line of deaf preachers I have ever known. He has been "Living Holy" since a young age! He is definitely the walking Bible! I love to read him and how he lives for Jesus. There's no other place I rather be, this week/weekend, than to be with Billy. He's a strong Christian prism reflecting God's love and truth. And I need that warmth of that love God has through him!

Come and join us and be filled with Living Water (Jesus)!

I better go now! I'm now on my quest to continue living holy lives!

Resurrection Day!

Good morning!

I'm really excited about this coming Sunday when we all gather together to remember the "Resurrection Day". I'm not going to call it, "Easter". "Easter" is known worldwide and, of course, it is a holiday where many will celebrate with bunnies and eggs. I think it's cute to see the kids run around on the hunt for hidden eggs and excitingly curious what is inside.

But...

We need to teach our kids the real meaning of "Easter". It is actually remembering the resurrection of Jesus; it's a Resurrection Day; it's a day when God miraculously raised a dead body to life and that life is a promise to each of those who believe in Him, repents of their sins, confess that Jesus is Lord (which actually mean that you do not live your life the way "you" want but the way the Lord wills), baptize for the forgiveness of sins and live in Him forever (on earth and with Him in Heaven)! Amen? Amen!

We're closing this Sunday's "Love" series with the "Greatest Love In The World: Jesus Christ!"

What did Jesus accomplish on the cross?

One simple question.

Seven Answers.

Resurrection Day! Not just the Good News, but The Best News, ever!

DC Whiteboard #4 (Case for Conversion) - Pt 1

Studying the book of Acts

Case for Conversion - Pt 2

Studying the book of Acts..

Be A Road Sign For God!

As a deaf community, our deepest desire is to become more than a worship serivce or a weekly gathering of people. Our hope is that we become a deaf community that is completely committed to posting the road signs of God at every curve and corner of our lives.

We are a deaf community in motion; we are not confined by the walls of a church building. Instead, we are defined by our ability to tell the story of God the way we live, move, love within our place of influence on a daily basis.

Life in Christ, together
Change the Deaf World
Hope and forgiveness
Be who God has called us to be
Study to know Him
Live as He lived

Psalm 119:30, "I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws."

Amen?

DC Whiteboard #3 Pt 1

He shall find rest..

Good evening...

We're heavy in heart and have been since last week. Our dear brother in Christ, Bob Roth, is getting close to departing this world to spend eternity with God. He will leave behind his beautiful wife, Tresa and five precious children under the ages of 13.

We admire Bob's faith with God. He has struggled with cancer for over a year and a half. At one time, we had thought, with God's help, he successfully conquered cancer but it crept back, rapidly! Right now, he's enduring the valley of the shadow of death. He is not fearing evil and knows God is with Him all the way through.

Bob loves the Lord. He loves the church. He ministered in the area of benevolence. He has helped countless people with diverse issues especially the deaf. Despite he struggles, he managed to be with us to worship God, even at the weakest point in his life. He's a guy that wouldn't trade anything else for Jesus, for His church, for the time to be with Christians.

We know he's nearing the time of "rest". Psalm 62:5-7 says, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone, my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God, he is my mighty rock, my refuge."

Soon, he'll find the covet opportunity Christians seek, rest.

See you soon, brother. We love you. And we'll do our very best to comfort and encourage your family. May God be with you!

Cloud of smoke...

Wow!

Since the day I started "DC Whiteboard", I've been bombarded by other denominations criticizing the teachings of the Bible. Comments left on Lowenstein's YouTube and emails sent pointing that I teach a false doctrine and that the "churches of Christ" is a cult church. (I am literally laughing here!)

And I'm smiling here!

Cult church? How can the church of Christ be a cult church? Do they know the definition of the word, "cult"? We are nothing compared to the cult church like David Koresh, Jim Jones and many others. Denominations that uses the word, "cult" church trashed Jesus' name and probably for the sake of "competition". They do it to scare potential followers of Jesus away from His church. They are more like the modern day Pharisees who is out to get Jesus (His church).

They are nothing but a "cloud of smoke". (coughing)

Really! There's no perfect church. Period! I mean that there's no perfect people in His church because we continue to sin, on and on. I continue to be amazed in God's power and love through His church at Fairfax!

I see some making remarkable transformation and continue to be transformed!
I see some struggling to live for Jesus and I pray to God for them.
I see some involved in a ministry and continue to minister others giving God the glory!

I can say a whole lot about other churches in the world today. But this one thing I do, "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves." Ro. 14:22 (niv)

Church DNA

I love people with "Church DNA" in their hearts.
I love what we do for the Lord.
I love how we do it.
I love the people I'm serving beside.
There's no place I'd rather be than right where people are serving Christ.
When my brothers and sisters come to worship God with me, their devotion is remarkable!
Their commitment is inspiring. It's their commitment that inspires me!
Tomorrow (Sunday), our lives (me and my family) belongs to the Lord!

Tomorrow and any other Sunday, I'm inviting you into eternity.
I'm inviting you to get in the boat with me and go!

I can't think of a more exciting time to be with the church (worshippers).

I won't stay at home.
I won't slumber in our cozy bed.
I won't replace being with the church for families, friends, or last minute events.

We must change or we'll never accomplish the mission Christ has laid before us.
Think about it.

I know one who allows the "Church DNA" to flow around his/her vessels. How? I can tell by his/her fruit, commitment, love, obedience and acceptance.

Bamboozled?

It was a good day today! In fact, it's been a great week! I know I haven't blogged much these days. I've been doing DC Whiteboard every Monday and getting it out in the blogwaves.

I'm not giving up!

Despite receiving criticism and accusations that we're false teachers, I'm not giving up. I say what the Scriptures say. I quote what the Scriptures say. I do the best I can to explain the Scriptures to the hearts of the deaf in the world.

No. I'm not giving up!

Am I confused? Did I misread the Scriptures? I don't think so? I'm very confident about this. I'm not "self-deceived"! Though, there are remarkable capacity for "self-deception". We can hear clear teaching from Jesus and say, "We don't get it." Really? How is that? Is His instruction too complicated?

Someone quoted in the Lowenstein's "YouTube" saying that it is dangerous to teach the book of Acts to newbies (unbelievers and new converts)! Did that raise my eyebrows?

Most definitely, yes! Also, it jaw dropped!

I believe the most dangerous thing is "NOT" teaching the "WHOLE WORD OF GOD", from cover to cover; from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21! The Word of God (a.k.a. the Bible) isn't confusing at all. God is NOT the author of confusion. It's the people.

What about "Love the Lord your God" don't we understand? Too complicated?

What about "Love your neighbor" can't we grasp? Still too complicated?

What about "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved" that we can't comprehend? Way too complicated?

What about "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men" escapes our comprehension? Do you say, "I can't do that."?

Are the fundamentals teachings of Jesus, Paul, Peter imprecise and vague?

Have you discovered your protests about Jesus' direction? Does it have to do with rebellion than ignorance? Do we possess selfish ambition rather than long for greater biblical clarity?

We can go on and on saying, "My church taught me this and that..; I don't believe your church's doctrine.; That's not what my minister said.; My daddy warned me about your church; Well, that's what your church teaches.; I have nothing to say, talk to my preacher."

What if Jesus meant what He said?

What if Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, meant what he said?

What if we know precisely what Jesus meant when Jesus said what he said?

What if we don't like what Jesus said? Or Paul? Or Peter?

What then?

What If God Answered?

Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes?
Don’t interrupt me. I’m praying.
But — you called ME!
Called you?
No, I didn’t call you. I’m praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.
There — you did it again!
Did what?
Called ME.
You said,
“Our Father who art in Heaven”
Well, here I am. What’s on your mind?
But I didn’t mean any thing by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord’s Prayer.
It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Well, all right.
Go on.
Okay, Hallowed be thy name .
Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?
By what?
By “Hallowed be thy name”?
It means, it means . . good grief, I don’t know what it means.
How in the world should I know? It’s just a part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean?
It means honored, holy, wonderful.
Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what ‘hallowed’ meant before.
Thanks.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you doing about it?
Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control,
of everything down here like you have up there.
We’re kinda in a mess down here you know.
Yes, I know;
but, have I got control of you?
Well, I go to church.
That isn’t what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You’ve really got a problem there, you know.
And then there’s the way you spend your money –
all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read?
Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me!
I’m just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!
Excuse ME.
I thought you were praying for my will to be done.
If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones
who are praying for it.
Like you — for example.
Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
So could I.
I haven’t thought about it very much until now,
but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free.
Good.
Now we’re getting somewhere.
We’ll work together — You and ME.
I’m proud of You.
Look, Lord, if you don’t mind, I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
You need to cut out the bread.
You’re overweight as it is.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in
and remind me of all my hang-ups.
Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember, you called ME — and here I am.
It’s too late to stop now.
Keep praying. ( . . pause . )
Well, go on.
I’m scared to.
Scared? Of what?
I know what you’ll say.
Try ME.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
What about Ann?
See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she’s told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I’ve sworn to get even with her!
But — your prayer –What about your prayer?
I didn’t — mean it.
Well, at least you’re honest.
But, it’s quite a load carrying around all that bitterness
and resentment isn’t it?
Yes, but I’ll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her. She’ll wish she had never been born.
No, you won’t feel any better. You’ll feel worse.
Revenge isn’t sweet.
You know how unhappy you are –
Well, I can change that.
You can? How?
Forgive Ann.
Then, I’ll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin, will be Ann’s problem — not yours.
You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned.
Oh, you know, you’re right. You always are.
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You . . (sigh).
All right all right . . I forgive her.
There now! Wonderful!
How do you feel?
Hmmmm. Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don’t think I’ll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven’t been getting much rest, you know.
Yeah, I know.
But, you’re not through with your prayer are you? Go on.
Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Good! Good! I’ll do that.
Just don’t put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted.
What do you mean by that?
You know what I mean.
Yeah I know.
Okay.
Go ahead. Finish your prayer.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.
Do you know what would bring me glory –
What would really make me happy?
No, but I’d like to know. I want to please you now.
I’ve really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you.
I can see now how great that would be.
So , tell me . . . How do I make you happy?
YOU just did.