Old Has Gone, New Has Come

This is a great picture of our three girls all ready for their first day of school today! So here we are to say, "Goodbye, Summer and Hello, Fall!" The old has gone and the new has come! It's been a blessed summer for us all as family together. I totally believe God intended this summer to be a family summer. Normally, I would be on travel to the National Workshop and on a mission to Romania. But this year, God seem to close both doors and say, "You need to focus on your family, Mark." And He is right, as always! We're so blessed to spend the whole summer together in the Williamsburg, Outer Banks (OBX - North Carolina) and in the Virginia area.

Now, summer is gone, it has aged, and it is in the past. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (niv)

You will also notice a "For Sale" sign behind the girls on our lawn. Lord willing, this house will be old and we will enter a new home soon. We're very excited about it. If it is still the Lord's will, we will reside near the historic town of Leesburg and closer to the Shennadoah Mountains! Leesburg appears to be the "central" point of all points: you can travel north on 15 toward Frederick (MD) where there's a deaf church on Market Street, you can drive east toward D.C./Maryland on Route 7 and other highways or you can drive south toward Fairfax, Manassas, Centreville, Warrenton where there are deaf populants in the area. Change is always exciting. It's a lot of work to do a change but we can make the hard work exciting! This is very similar to our walk with God. God desires us to always be on the "changing mode" for the better, not for the worse (evil). The Holy Spirit does His work in the very core of our lives and molds us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus!

"..who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:21 (niv)

We must always be on the "changing mode" for eternity! God isn't finished with us until life ends or His Son, Jesus, comes to bring us home. We know that will happen someday, soon I hope. But there are so many people in the world without Christ. They don't know who Jesus is. Jesus isn't interested in the "I know "of" Him." He wants us to "know" Him as a friend (relational intimacy)! Jesus wants us to "grow" all the more to love Him! Jesus has already shown His love for you: DEATH ON THE CROSS! That's their expression of LOVE!

So, everyday, we need to keep our life on the "changing mode". When we get up in the morning, it's a new day. Whatever happened yesterday or last night is old. Say a prayer of confession to God,

"Lord, we admire You and Your presence among us. Please forgive the wrong I have done against You! Help me live through this day as a "change person" ready to reflect Your love among those around me. You're an inspiration to me and I know You're still working in me to change me (talk, walk and thought). In Jesus' Name, Amen!"

Remember, you're not you, you're Jesus. Jesus lives in you (Gal. 2:20)! Make room for Christ in your heart and let Him be the guide in how you live your life among others and before God!

What Have You Done With My Son, Jesus?

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (niv)

They must comfort or encourage themselves and one another. And we may see, as those are most able and likely to comfort others who can comfort themselves, so the way to have comfort ourselves, or to give comfort to others, is in agreement with the exhortation of the word (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Note, we should not only be careful about our own comfort and welfare, but to promote the comfort and welfare of others also. He was a Cain that said, "Am I my brother's keeper?" We must bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ ("Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ"Galatians 6:2 (niv)

They must edify one another, by following after those things whereby one may edify another, "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." Romans 14:19 (niv). It is Christ's law that we edify His church (others and self). As Christians are lively stones built up together a spiritual house, each of us ought to be on his/her journey to promote the good of the whole church by promoting the work of grace in one another. So how are you doing? Is sitting at home and "assuming that growing in Christ" is working? I don't think so. And that's not what the Lord has in mind. Those "disconnected from" or has "severed ties" with His church has violated Christ's law, not being present to "bear one another's burdens"! Per James 2:14-17 (niv), James pointed out that there will be people wishing others the best without helping them, "'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed.' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?"

And it is the duty of every one of us to study that which is for the edification of those with whom we converse, to meet all people for their real needs, especially babes in Christ!. We should communicate our knowledge and experiences one to another. We should join in prayer and praise one with another. We should set a good example one before another. And it is the duty of those especially who live in the same area and family thus to comfort and edify one another. You have the greatest opportunity, as so are under the greatest obligation, to do this kindness one to another.

This is what the church in Thessalonica did (which also you do), imitate their example, do what they have done, love the love they loved, and this is what they are exhorted to continue and increase in doing. Note: those who do that which is good have need of further exhortations to excite them to do good, to do more good, as well as continue in doing what they do.

Otherwise, at the end of time (your death or Christ's coming), God will ask you one simple question, so simple that you may have a hard time answering because you may not be living the life of obedience to His commands:

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY SON, JESUS?

Whirlwind Weekend

Man! What a weekend! I don't know how all this had happened. Even though, I was a bit behind with my studies for yesterday's lessons, God managed to help me through it all. It was a tough Friday helping the Flavin family move from one house to another. They have alot of heavy stuff, especially the dining room set which was extremely heavy. We just never thought we would accomplish all this heavy stuff. But with God's power and might, He prevailed!

Saturday was a busy day, too! Talking with one of our sis-in-Christ on VP (which is called a videophone that the deaf people uses to see each other as a phone call!). It's a neat way to be in touch with someone and literally seeing them. We talked a good hour or so about various issues that needs to be addressed. I pray as she walks through the "valley of the shadow of death", she will fear no evil for she ought to know His rod and staff will always be with her! (Ps. 23) Then I went to the store to get more groceries to feed our hungry children! In the meantime, I bought my wife a venti Chai, 6 pumps! Then we had to get our home cleaned, again and again, before a couple of people come and look around.

The men zoomed into the beautiful Shennadoah mountains to prepare for whitewater rafting. It was a fabulous day and we really enjoyed the time together as brothers! We were in awe of God's creation gazing at the tall trees on the mountains (it's actually a foothill). The water wasn't that rough due to lack of rain this month but it was extremely nice. Overall, it was a fun time together as men of God. So I didn't get home til 9ish and was already hitting the Bible getting ready for the anticipated Sunday services.

Sunday, time to get up and go to church. Not one bit was I tired but I was pumped up and ready to glorify God! Yesterday, we had a handful of visitors attending the deaf worship service. God bless them for being with us and wanted to assure them that God loves them! One interesting verse, in relation to my lesson on, "High/Low Maintenance" that I showed to all those in attendance is (in several translations) Proverbs 18:9. I have given a lot of thought about this blog (prayer and bible reading):

"A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things." (NLT)

"Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys." (ESV)

"One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys." (NIV)

Regardless of all the pressures and plans we endured through the week, weekend, God expects everyone to be present to worship Him and be ready to serve. Sunday is a awesomely important time to come together and give Him the glory. Not only Sunday is a time we make ourselves available to serve Him among others (move, visitations, fellowship, preparations for Sunday and more...). God is and will always be disappointed with those whom He called have become a "slacker".

He warns us in His Word that such "slackers" are people who destroys not only themselves but His church. Their influence is a grave spiritual danger to other brothers and sisters in Christ. They are providing stumbling blocks to both, the weak and the strong, but more on the weak. They are hindering their friends and childrens' desire to know and serve God. They are hurting our chances of reaching out to others because they will know who attends church but do not set a good example to them (visitors) then questioned why they should go to church if it doesn't make a "difference"! Ouch! I have seen people tell me this after they have seen and learned whom some of you are (within the church) and your example isn't Christ-like! Therefore, slackers are people who tremendously HINDERS THE GROWTH OF HIS CHURCH!

Regardless of just about any kind of pressures you had struggled with, God expects your presence. If you've had a whirlwind weekend like mine, worship is a way of life and we're called to put ourselves in His presence!

An Excuse That Won't Work On Jesus!

"As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62 (niv)

What does this Scripture tells us that is divinely important!?

C O M M I T M E N T !

A man with a dying father said that he would follow Jesus wherever He goes. Then Jesus explained that He's always on travel and does not stay in one place. Then the man "changed his mind" giving Jesus an excuse that he couldn't follow because his father was dying. This doesn't mean Jesus doesn't care about his father, he cares if something will lead a man from seeing Jesus as the Lord! Jesus Himself attended funerals. Another man wanted to follow Jesus but he must remain with his family a little more longer before he makes a decision when he will follow. Would Jesus wait for them? The FIELD IS RIPE FOR HARVEST and time is critical here!

Curious, do you picture yourselves like these two men? Are you so tied up with activities or mixed priorities that keeps you away from the place of assembly? Have you not only set a bad example to yourselves, but to your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and friends in the world?

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25 (niv)

Come to think of this interesting thought. Suppose Jesus appeared on the Sunday morning we're at church to worship God but another "Christian or two" are either doing nothing but sitting at home or busy with your children's activities on Sunday or teeing off with your friends (you are teaching your kids and friends that worship on Sunday is a choice!), or hundreds of other excuses, how would you feel? How can you explain your actions? You have given up meeting with other Christians in worship. Where's the habit? Where's the encouragement? Here are a couple of thought I received from the "uncommitted":

1. Too busy or tired with work or school
2. Rather do some work around the house
3. Rather go shopping
4. Christ is important, not the church
5. Rather sleep in; I overslept; I forgot to turn on my alarm
6. Weekly attendance is not important
7. Jesus doesn't expect me to attend
8. Guest visiting for the weekend
9. Hard to form a habit of assembling
10. Regular attendance causes family tension; my kids drives us up the wall!
11. Those in attendance are not my kind of people; don't get along with anyone
12. No one cares about me; no one is interested in me
13. I must work on Sunday
14. Too far to drive; gas price is high so can't waste it on my trip to church (save for other important trips)

"They follow the Lamb wherever he goes." Revelation 14:4 (niv)

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (niv)

Do you have Jesus' sandals? If so, you're allowing Jesus to lead your life what He wants to do. Or does Jesus have to put his feet in your shoes and tell you which way is the way to go? It will be very uncomfortable. Christians will see one who is either 'committed' or 'uncommitted'. No matter how many times a fellow and faithful brother or sister try helping and encouraging other weak Christian, God knows what lies in the heart of such person. As James say, we must have working faith! Christians must not reject the words of Christ for the Word of God is the judge on those who misbehave and walk a faithless life. (John 12:48) Christians must surrender their all. A committed life to Christ does not come by accident. It is a life that is purposefully lived. We must realize that we must surrender our wills to the will of God. Look at this awesome verse Paul wrote to selfish Christians in Galatia!!

"Our sinful selves want what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is against our sinful selves. The two are against each other, so you cannot do just what you please." Galatians 5:17 (ncv)

You cannot do what your friends please. You cannot do what your boss please. You cannot do what your kids please. You cannot do what you please. Otherwise, any excuses you make will NOT work on Jesus! Believe me, He knows! Now, that's up to you!

Before I close, I want to assure you that no one is, in no way, perfect in this world. Only God and His Son, Jesus is perfect! It is only Christ that perfects us if we allow Him. I can be such an idiot or an ignorant person at times but thank God for our weaknesses! They help us become increasingly stronger day by day!

The Alpha and Omega!

Michelle and I just returned tonight after eating out at P.F. Chang (Chinese Bistro) then hurried from Fairfax to Sterling for the open-captioned movie, War Of The Worlds starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning. Man! It was an awesome movie!!! You know I love the old Orsen Wells movie, "War Of The Worlds". I don't know how many times I have seen it but it seems like a gazillion times that I clearly remember each scenes. Watching the newer version of "Worlds" gave me a firm prediction what will happen next. It is closely similar to the older version of "Worlds"..

As the movie began, they were showing things that cannot be seen with a naked eye. You'll have to use a microscope to be able to detect things like "parasites, DNA's, molecules, and whatever those scientist call those micros!". At first, I thought we were in the wrong movie section. "War of the Worlds" are in section 19 and it is open captioned. The scene went from micro to macro and it was "a drop of water" on a leaf. Then the title came, "WAR OF THE WORLDS". I was like, "Ok..." Let the movie begin!

Again, an awesome movie. The special effects. The suspense. The graphics. The scenery. Everything in the movie was heart-pounding!!! Mankind on earth were immaculately powerless against the Martians! No weapon can destroy them. No missiles. Not even a laser. Blackhawks flew against it but couldn't prevail against it. Howitzers rolled with some of the most powerful ammo known to man couldn't conquer them. The army, navy, air force, marines were annihilated! The aliens continue to snatch people and destroyed them. Mankind were on the brink of total annihilation; in other words, mankind would be wiped out from the world! But the aliens were dying inside their protective shield. After taking in air, people (blood), and whatever is nature, the aliens were dying. They became powerless! People were wondering why and how the aliens died. It wasn't the weapons of the world! They were all, like me, very puzzled. Until the end, the narrator talked about something that blew me away!

The scene came in showing NY in ashes but on a tree, a green bud was budding. Life begins again. As the cam drew near the fresh green bud, the narrator explained that the aliens died because of what God had created. Nature destroyed them: air, blood, water. Whatever God had created destroyed whatever was evil! It only took whatever is micro to annihilate evil! In other words, the aliens were infected with the good God provided! Evil was wiped out!

This movie reminds me of our Lord Jesus! It only takes a pure blood to wipe away the evil in us. Sin, has or still is, alienated in our lives and we're without peace! But God sent Jesus into the world to condemn sin in us and to give us the peace we're looking for and have. He became sin for us so that we be made right with God:

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21 (nas)

I believe Orsen Wells created this movie out of his understanding of God's powerful potential! Only God possesses the weapon against evil (Ephesians 6:10-17).

Bow down before the One that is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega!

13 years and still on our journey!

Happy anniversary, wifey!! It's really amazing that we've been married 13 years, TODAY! We don't have time to be "fed up" with each other. Our love hasn't corroded, instead continues to shine so brightly that you'll need your Oakleys! Our marriage isn't build on the foundation of sand but on the foundation of our mighty Lord Jesus Christ and His Father in Heaven! The kind of marriage that is powered by the Spirit which is eternal!

There are people who get married will agree and say, "Let's hope we're right for each other". "We'll see how it is as time goes. If it doesn't work, we'll agree to call it quits!" Do you hear/see such comments from your friends or your love ones in the family? This kind of marriage is built on sand. It is not firm. It doesn't prevail against hardships. Whatever or whenever the strong winds of negatives come their way, they're easily blown away. Instead, we ought to say, "We were made for each other. God brought us together for a purpose. Our marriage has been witnessed by our Great Father in Heaven." The right foundation every marriage should be is on the rock whom is Christ Jesus!

Anniversaries are a wonderful reminder of the beginning of our journey. A Christian journey. A marital journey. A Gold's (gym) journey (a healthy lifestyle). It would be an excellent idea to keep several "anniversary dates" noted, especially the beginning of your spiritual journey with God! You will be able to reflect back the years you've endured through and through!

Any kind of journey lives and dies. Marriage dies (it's what Satan wants, not God). A friendship journey dies. A healthy journey dies. A journey with God dies. But I want to point out that a journey with God is the most critical part we must examine. It's a matter of life and death, eternity with God or eternity with Satan, heaven or hell.

"For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." Romans 8:13-14 (niv)

Paul wrote to the church (Christians) in Rome warning them with extreme caution that if they "live" according to the nature of sin (living in sin), they will be cut off from the lifeline of God! The love between such person and God has been severed! The love has died. The person has returned to "square one" by becoming, again, a sinful person. God has not regarded such person as one of the sons of God. So we ought to live with the help of the Spirit (Word) and put to death the sin that so severed the love between himself/herself and God!

If we continue to sin (intentionally), beware when Christ comes, He will say this,

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." Revelation 2:4 (niv)

I pray that the journey you began with your wife, your husband and with God continues on forever! Indeed, death is the only thing that ends the marital journey and that's the way it should be! It is God's way! Many end their marital journey for selfish reasons. And many end their journey with God for foolish reasons. The journey you have with God ought to continue for eternity! Regardless of all the obstacles we face and stumble, overcome them and move on! And you will be blessed!

Happy anniversary, wifey! Our journey continues and Lord willing, we'll pass the mile (year) marker 15, 20, 25, 50! I love you with the love of Christ!

VaPoRiZeD!

Good evening, bloggers!

I am really excited about this Sunday's lesson, VaPoRiZeD! It is based on James 4:14 but I encourage you to read the whole chapter of James 4.. However, James 3 is even more powerful that everyone in the world ought to read, re-read and apply to their own lives!!

"Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." James 4:14 (nas)

A question we should ask ourselves is this, "What Is Your Life Anyway?"

Faithfulness (Men's Edition)

Have you seen this song, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." What a wonderful song. The words come from the book of Lamentations 3:22-23. Jeremiah had an achy-breaky-prophetic-heart. He was singing the blues. But I am gong to tell you something. Jeremiah, in the midst of mourning over Israel, says these words. “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Jeremiah said that. If you study the life of David, he had some hair-raising adventures early in his life. As he got older, he began to write the book of Psalms.

One of the major themes of the book of Psalms is the faithfulness of God. The people who would really sing this with passion were the elderly in the church. They would sing from the depths of their souls, “Great is thy faithfulness, thy hand hath provided.” I wondered why they would sing so loud and with such conviction. These elderly saints had experienced thousands and thousands of answers to prayer. They had experienced the Holy Spirit comforting them and loving them in times of divorce, in times of struggle, in times of trial. So they had a lot of God’s trustworthiness under their belts, so to speak. They could sing it with real unction because they knew God was someone they could trust.

Frankly, that is one of the reasons that I am so optimistic and fired up about the church at Fairfax! Do you realize that most of us here only have a year, two or three of God’s trustworthiness under our belts? We have traced God’s faithfulness for only a couple of months, but give us ten years and we will be able to sing that with such power that we could blow the roof off the top of the building and its walls with our hands! That fires me up! I cannot wait to see what God is going to do in my life and your lives. The Holy Spirit is faithful. We will experience a new supernatural power to be faithful.

It is tempting to stop right here and to just shut it down. But I can’t do that because I would leave us hanging. We have got to understand the take home, the application, and the relevancy. Now let’s see how faithfulness plays out.

Faithfulness is becoming a man of your word! You say something, you keep it! You give a promise, you keep that promise. That is what the Holy Spirit will do. He will keep telling you and me to become a man of our word of our word, especially in the area of relationships. The Holy Spirit will help me to become a man and help you to become a man of your word in your relational world.

I want to say a word to the husbands here. If you are a husband, please slip your hand up right quick. Years ago or maybe just months ago, you stood in a shiny polyester suit before God, a preacher and a group of family and friends and you made a vow. You gave your word, men, to honor, to love, to cherish, to submit, to hold your spouse in high esteem. Yes, you might have been mouthing the words just to get to the honeymoon in Jamaica, but you said the words. Guess what. Guess what. God holds you to your word. You can’t mess around with vows and covenants especially in the marital domain with a holy God. And if we cooperate with the Holy Spirit of God, we will find a supernatural infusion of faithfulness to love. We will experience a new desire to cherish, a new desire to court and to romance and to love and to pray with our wives.

Are you a man of your word in marriage? Ain't faithfulness a great feeling?!!

6 Days

Michelle and I have been doing a (full-blown) cleaning, painting, trimming, discarding, arranging, dusting, and finishing-touches on our home before we put it on the market (MLS) tomorrow!! It took us approximately 2 weeks to really get things done in such a small house! And our energy level dropped to an all-time low and we surely received a good beating: body aches, headaches, back spasms, cramped arms and scrapes and bruises. As a result of all this abuse, the house is just as good as new, spanking clean and ready to sell!

During the whole 2 weeks (could be a whole lot more), naturally, I think of God! I think of the "6 Days" God created the world, everything in the world and us! From light to darkness, from expanse to land to seas, from plants to trees to various kinds of fruit, from night and day, from living creatures to man in the image of God, He did it in "6 Days!" It took us over 2 weeks to bring our "tiny home" to a "near perfection" (it will never be perfect)! But it took God 6 days to bring the vastness of the earth and sky to an absolute perfection! What kind of an intelligence would build such a rock in the universe, including the complexity of all creatures and living things!

It awed the prophet Isaiah the creation God created! He wanted to remind us all that God has done!

"That they may see and recognize, And consider and gain insight as well, That the hand of the LORD has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it." Isaiah 41:20 (nas)

"Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it,.." Isaiah 42:5 (nas)

"It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands And I ordained all their host." Isaiah 45:12 (nas)

David, a man after God's own heart, wrote a song about God's marvelous creation in Psalm 148:

"Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and maidens, old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens."
Psalms 148:1-13 (niv)

Concerning believing in God, if you believe that He created the earth and all that's in it, then you will not have any problem believing the rest of the historical accounts throughout the Bible. Otherwise, if you do not believe in the creation account, don't bother believing in anything the Bible says. In other words, if you do not believe God can create everything in 6 days, then it will be impossible for you to understand how God can raise His Son, Jesus from the dead after three days!

"For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37 (niv)

Who Are You?

Who are you? What is your name? I am sorry, but I really don't know you.

If you have a friend of 20, 30 or 40 years that suddenly says, "Who are you?", how would you feel? It would come to a shock to you at first. Then the second response would probably be this, "You gotta be kiddin' me! It's me, man! You've known me for 30 years, dude!" Yet, he still says, "I am really sorry, I don't know who you are." Then walks away. Your jaw will drop to the floor. A buddy of 30 years vanished without a trace! You're eternally banned from a friendship with him. After all the laughter, tears, hundreds of thousands of conversations, mutual support, sporting events, restaurants and hundreds of great times, the friendship dwindles to a complete end! You may be thinking, "What did I do to deserve this?" "What did other people say to him about me?" "Why, after 30 years, did this have to happen?"

Could this happen to you in your relationship with Jesus? Sure!

"Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:23 (niv)

This is what we ought to fear the most. Jesus can end any relationship with God's children. If you read the whole chapter of Matthew 7, you will understand. Jesus expects God's children to bear fruit, stay away from false teachers, walk the narrow way (suffer for Him), and listen to Him. It really doesn't matter if you had some great times with Him to the point that you fell away from an intimate relationship with Jesus. You may still be thinking, "He's my Friend but I don't have time for church." "He's my Friend but I have other friends I fear to lose so I do what they want me to do." "He's my Friend but I still love to be like the world." "He's my Friend and I am saved then I go and play with sin a bit but He will understand because He is my Friend." I can give you hundreds of quotes thinking Jesus as your Friend, yet you "intentionally" sin against Him.

Then He may someday come to you and say, "Who are you? I am sorry, I don't know you." and walk away.

Does Jesus know who you are? He will if you listen to Him.

Got Worship?

Like the commercial, "Got Milk?". Now I say, "Got Worship?".

"Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise." Nehemiah 9:5

"Stand up and shout it if you love my Jesus..." That's a song our children love to sing!

But what happens to that youthful exuberance and joy at worshiping the Lord? God doesn't want us to lose it. Read through the Bible and highlight all the actions used to reverence and praise our awesome and eternal God. In a world which regularly uses God's name in vain, isn't it time we stood up and praised him -- not only in church (our private worship) and in our daily devotionals (our personal worship), but also in our lives every day (our public worship)?! In regard to worshipping the Holy God we ought to love, consider this powerful verse:

"Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money." Isaiah 43:24

Worshippers at the temple were required to bring presents of sweet perfumes to be burned upon the altar of God: but Israel, in the time of her backsliding, became ungenerous, and made but few minor offerings to her (Israel's) Lord: this was an evidence of coldness of heart towards God and his house. Remember, God does not judge on what is outside (you may show you love God but really you don't) but what goes on inside the heart. He is more interested in the heart. Remember how Samuel chose a young David to be a king. Remember Jesus rebuking the Pharisees calling them white-washed tombs (they are dead inside but shining with pride on the outside)!

Brothers and sisters, does this never occur with you? Might not the complaint of the text be occasionally, if not frequently, brought against you?

A Consuming Fire!

Deaf worship under the beautiful sky! (August 24th)

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." Ps. 24:1-2 (niv)

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe for our "God is a consuming fire."

See to it, then, that you do not refuse his gracious call and offered salvation.

See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks from heaven in His Word, with infinite tenderness and love; for how can those escape, who turn from God in unbelief or apostacy (led astray), because "There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:18 (niv), while He so graciously seeks them to be reconciled, and to receive his everlasting favor! God's dealing with people under the gospel, in a way of grace, assures us, that he will deal with those who despises the gospe of our Lord Jesus Christ, in a way of judgment.

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13 (niv)

We cannot worship God acceptably, unless we worship him with reverence and godly fear. Only the grace of God enables us to worship God the right way! God is the same just and righteous God under the gospel as under the law. The inheritance of believers, which is eternal life with the Father, is secured to them (the faithfuls); and all things pertaining to salvation are freely given in answer to prayer.

Let us seek for grace, only the grace God gives, only the grace we receive through Christ, His Son, that we may serve God with reverence and godly fear. Think of the church, in the book of Acts, throughout Galilee and Samaria, "..was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord." Acts 9:31 (niv) Why? Because our God is a "consuming fire!"

"Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." Revelation 14:7 (niv)

Magnetic Starbucks

I am about to be honest about something that will make me vunerable to ridicule. I'm okay with that so here goes: I only like Texas sweet iced tea at home but when I go to Starbucks, I only get the cold sweet drinks. There, I said it. It's a Venti Iced Chai, 7 pumps with less ice and more whole milk. That's exactly how I say this to every barista I meet. Load it up.

I read somewhere about a book called, 'Pour Your Heart Into It' by Howard Schultz, the chairman of Starbucks. Critics says it is a great book and I love learning about how Starbucks got started and how it became what it is. Just like Pizza Hut, they were founded about 2 1/2 hours from where I grew up (Manhattan, Kansas). Anyways, the truth of the matter is this: I LOVE Starbucks and so does my wife. I know people who loves Starbucks and I even ask if we could bring them a kawfee (my slang for coffee).

Speaking of kawfee, how can I love a place that is founded on dark roasted coffee beans, when I don't even like the 'coffee' part that much. The reason for that is this: I love the EXPERIENCE of Starbucks. I love the look, the feel. I love the smell, the colors, the nice baristas (the people). I love seeing people sitting around drinking coffee, having good conversations. I love seeing people I know. Starbucks isn't in the coffee business for people. It is in the people business while serving coffee. And, frankly, it's hard to stay away from the place.

So, I ask you. Yeah, you... reading this blog. Critical questions: What kind of experience are we giving those who don't know Christ? Are we (believers) getting it? Are people magnetized by what we are offering, or what He is offering? What are we doing wrong?

Hunger!

Bloggers, I added a comment in Dennis Cesone's blog and thought you all ought to read his blog! I was really excited to read his blog on, "My Food":

http://denniscesone.blogspot.com/2005/07/my-food.html

We've got to hunger for fellowship regardless if there's difficult people we're struggling to get along with.

We've got to hunger for His righteousness if we're daily reading His Word and meditating on them.

We've got to hunger to worship God which is not confined only on Sundays but everyday, 24/7 and for eternity! Sadly, many Christians go when they feel like it, just simply disappeared from the place of worship and fellowship during the whole summer, too, and are controlled by others (kids, friends, time) rather than God (conviction, inspiration, motivation).

We've got to hunger for discipleship because God wants those who love Him to shine His light before others.

We've got to hunger for mission because hundreds of thousands of deaf people are without Christ. Doesn't that make you SQUIRM knowing that you know Christ and they don't! Too few harvesters are out in the field. In other words, too few of them are hungry in this area!

We've got to hunger for ministry because God has blessed each of us with a gift He wants us to use for His service and glory. When we're not performing His precious gift, we're not hungry to serve.

In the passage, John 4, the Disciples, unintentionally, tries to distract Jesus from the opportunity to harvest Samaria (Samaritan woman and her community) by urging Jesus to eat food. Jesus wasn't interested in this type of food. He was hungry for food in another plane! Spiritual food. Food that brings people to His Father.

In the same way, Satan offers us "worldly food": time, events, extracurricular activites outside of the church that falls on Sundays and Wednesdays, social events that appears to be more fun than church, open captioned movies on Sundays (alot of people missed the blessedness of worshipping God because of this!) and hundreds more!! Like Jesus, we ought to say, "No to these because God comes first and the field is extremely ripe for harvest!" It's the harvest we ought to be hungry for! A Spiritual Harvest! So how hungry are you!?

If you're missing worship, missing the most important spiritual activities that provides you the eternal nourishment you need, you're NOT hungry.. You're simply hungry for the "worldly food", the food that spoils!

Beyond Comparison

(Warning: long post)

Jotham’s son Ahaz reigned over the southern kingdom after him, but he followed in the evil ways of the Canaanite nations. Ahaz closed the doors of the temple and placed altars to false gods on every street corner in Jerusalem and in every city in Judah. He even sacrificed his own sons to the false gods. On his death, he was not buried with the other kings, because of his wickedness, and his son Hezekiah took his place. (2 Kings 16; 18:1 - 19:37)

Hezekiah’s first command was to reopen the temple doors and to cleanse the temple. When the temple was cleansed, sacrifices were offered, the people sang, and the priests played David’s instruments. On that day, Hezekiah and the people knelt and praised God and dedicated themselves and the temple to his service once again. Hezekiah then sent messengers throughout Israel, inviting the people to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. God’s people responded to Hezekiah’s lead so that the Passover celebration was greater than anything in all Israel since Solomon was king. In fact, the people extended the celebration for seven extra days. These were exciting times of worship and praise.

Fourteen years later, Sennacherib of Assyria surrounded Jerusalem and proclaimed loudly that no God could protect Jerusalem from the hands of the mighty king of Assyria. In common terms, he dared God to do something. Hezekiah prayed to God for help, and Isaiah provided God’s answer. That night God defended his honor and his people, and 185,000 Assyrian soldiers died. Disgraced and defeated, Sennacherib returned to his home and shortly afterward was killed by his own sons.

Then what does that mean to us? How do we apply this in our lives?

God will always defend his honor.

When His children worship him and obey him and remember His relationship, He is honored.

When Christians renew their commitment to God, He is honored.

When His people kneel before His throne in daily prayer, He is honored.

When evil actions are thwarted and human pride is broken, He is honored.

When we stand before God and the world in weakness (meekness), He is honored.

Even in the discipline of His disobedient children, He is honored.

Awesomely, God will be honored — through us, or in spite of us. God, the Holy One, says, “Can you compare me to anyone? He is BEYOND COMPARISON!” Read Isaiah 40:

"Is anyone equal to me?” Look up to the skies. ‘Who created all these stars? He leads out the army of heaven one by one and calls all the stars by name. Because he is strong and powerful, not one of them is missing.

People of Jacob, why do you complain? People of Israel, why do you say, “The Lord does not see what happens to me; he does not care if I sin treated fairly”? Surely you know. Surely you have heard. The Lord is the God who lives forever, who created all the world....

No one can understand how great his wisdom is. He gives strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak. Even children become tired and need to rest, and young people trip and fall. But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again. They will rise up as an eagle in the sky; they will run and not need rest; they will walk and not become tired." Isaiah 40:26-31

We shall overcome not "..by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." Zechariah 4:6 (niv)

Daddy's Empty Chair

Normally, I don't forward stories to anyone but this story, "Daddy's Empty Chair", is something I couldn't hold back from each of you! Very touching!

*****
A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father.

When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. "I guess you were expecting me," he said. 'No, who are you?" said the father.The minister told him his name and then remarked, "I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up," "Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man."Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the minister shut the door.

"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head. I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, "Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.

Here is what I suggest." "Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'. "Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now.""So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon "Did he die in peace?" he asked. "Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange about his death. "Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?" The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."
*****

I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.
I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden.
I asked God for a friend, He gave me YOU...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

Holy Temple

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (niv)

We are God's temple! We are a Holy vessel! A dwelling where God lives by His Spirit. God lives in us. What we do in our bodies is part of our worship to him. We shouldn't sleep around, we shouldn't smoke, we shouldn't take drugs, we shouldn't get drunk. Rarely, do we focus on all the "positive" things it takes to care for and maintain these temples of ours? We are called to not only abstain from impurity, but we are called to glorify God in our bodies and honor the sacrifice by which our holiness was bought.

This Sunday, we're going to put more focus on 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and 3:16-17: The Spirit's Temple.

Let's pray: Father, I confess to you that I sometimes lose sight of how precious my body is to you. With aging and the other challenges that daily remind me that my body is a vessel of decay, I find it hard to believe that I can glorify you with it. Please, through your Spirit, quicken in me a deeper reverence and appreciation of your presence in me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

I'm Back!

As the opposite of Arnold S., The Terminator, "I'm back!"

It's been a great week after our 9 days of vacation! :) We're getting back on track now and ready for the Fall season! We're going to start working on "Deaf Rick (Warren)", a new 40 Days of Purpose video in ASL because some people have had a hard time following Rick Warren's 40 Days video. Lord willing, we'll get it done before Oct. 16th. The deaf need something in our language.

VBS is this week so our kids will have a very busy week! We were supposed to join with the hearing in worship but ended up having no interpreters available (all of our interpreters are out of town and we lost alot of interpreters to relocation). So I had to scramble getting the deaf worship ready today. We had our worship outside under an awesomely beautiful weather. It was actually a very natural A.C. breezing through. Everyone loved it and they want to do it again. :)

Today, I preaching about Jesus and the Samaritan women (John 4). You can preach a whole lot from this one history and apply it to our lives in many ways! Our focus was on "Thirsting For Living Water" which is thirsting for Jesus Himself! :) I asked the congregation some questions: Do you have family struggles? Tensions in relationships? Restlessness? Emptiness? Perhaps, you always ponder this in thought, "Life isn't fair!" You go door to door seeking answers, seeking peace. One door may be seeking for psychiatric help (sometimes that's good but they don't always give us an eternal answer to life's problem). One door may be drugs, alcohol. One door may be a door of "self-help". One door may be a friend's door (remember they can give good advice but they don't always give you full satisfaction).

Perhaps, we're looking in the wrong places seeking peace in life. Our frustrations, going door to door, led to our total surrender and loss knowing that we have been defeated by "life's pressures". We stick with whichever door gives us a "temporary relief" and do it all over again.

The Samaritan woman kept going to the well every day! The woman had an empty life. People in her community wasn't paying attention to her. Her expectations in life had faded. No longer is she expecting anything different in life. It's all a "merry-go-round" from her home to the well then back home. She's had five husbands and lived with another man. Having tried everything, she was miserable, unhappy - thirsty. That's when she met Jesus. Jesus provided the water she needs. A different kind of water. Not tap water. Not bottled water. Not Pur (filteration) water. It's the Jesus water. It's the Living water. It's the Eternal water. Stop running away from Jesus and seeking the water that doesn't quench our thirst for abundant life.

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." John 7:37-38 (niv)

In shared with the Frederick congregation that Jesus wants the well of our lives (those who are committed, faithful and believes in Him) to be overflowed with His goodness and love. When we bring God, His Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit into our lives, the Living Water overflows from within us unto others. When I meet Christians or "so-called Christians", I can tell if the water is overflowing from within them. How? By their conduct, their fruitfulness, their conversation, their understanding of the Scriptures, their compassion for the lost souls in the world, their eagerness to learn and grow, their maturity and more!! When I do not see any of the above, the well of their life is dry. I can tell they need help. When they resist the need for Jesus in their lives, I do not see how I can be filled by their empty way of life. There's nothing to drink from their well.

It is my prayer that we will constantly keep ourselves at the well of Christ then the well of our lives will be overflowed with blessings after blessings within us and around us.

Here's a pic of my three precious girls at the beach in Duck, NC. They really had a blast! The waves was very nice to them, though I wanted a monster waves for my pleasure. ;)

Weedy Weeds

"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' "'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' "'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Matthew 13:27-29 (niv)

Last Sunday, we returned from our family vacation finding that our lawn has been infested with weeds! All the weeds sprouted up during the 9 days we were gone! I learned from a brother in Christ that it has been very stormy and rainy all week while we were at the beach. It's one of the after-effects of 'Cane Dennis causing wreak havoc throughout parts of the midwest and the eastern seaboard.

I have been tending to our lawn almost everyday. Watering, pruning, mowing, and fertilizing. Even, I asked a neighbor to do me a favor by watering our plants and grass if needed. But God provided the rain! After weeks of work on the yard (probably since April), the weeds still come up, not taking weeks, but only a mere 9 days! This makes Jesus' parable so clear that even though you've done all the great work with the effort to care for your yard, weeds still pop up! Now, I am back to work doing "re-fertilization" to get rid of the weeds in my yard.

But the parable says the opposite. Jesus said to leave the weeds? Let's go to the Scripture and begin to understand His parable and how this applies to us today.

The "field" is the world; the world of mankind, a large field, capable of bringing forth good fruit; the more is it to be understood that it brings forth so much bad fruit: the world here is the visible church, scattered all the world over, not confined to one nation.

The "good seed" are the children of the kingdom, true saints, faithful, hard worker, goes the "second-mile", shows Jesus 24/7. This is the seed from which "fruit" (Galatians 5:22-23) is expected, the fruitfulness of honor and service God has rendered us.

The "weeds" are the children of the wicked one, even in the church. Here is the character of sinners, hypocrites, and all profane and wicked people. They are the children of the devil, as a wicked one. They bear his image, do his lusts, and from him they have their education; he rules over them, he works in them.

They are weeds in the field of this world (and in the church); they do no good, they do hurt; unprofitable in themselves, and hurtful to the good seed, both by temptation and persecution.

They are weeds in the garden, have the same rain, and sunshine, and soil, with the good plants, but are good for nothing: the weeds are among the wheat. Understand this, God has so ordered it, that good and bad should be mixed together in this world, that the good may be exercised, the bad left inexcusable, and a difference made between earth and heaven.

We give every weed a chance. We feed them the Word of God in hope that they will become a beautiful golden wheat by nurturing them with our love, encouraging them in fellowship, worshipping God with them, and sharing our burdens. But the time will come when the weeds are still weedy weeds, they will face judgment:

"Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'" Matthew 13:30 (niv)

The weeds will be judged, tied up in bundles along with other stubborn weeds and thrown into the fire of hell. That's the truth. That's the judgment of God. How many times has God given the weeds of the world and church a chance to repent and become a beautiful wheat? They are the first to go.

The wheat! Man! I am really excited for those who are wheat. You ought to be thankful to God for all the trials and temptations we have endured. They made you stronger. The service you've done for God has made you stronger. I can picture a small group of wheat softly singing, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, our God!" before our God like the Kansas wheat softly waving in the wind. Beautiful! Like the farmer knows how to raise a good crop of wheat, God raises a good crop of faithful Christians!

Bad Church Day

I had this funny thought in my sleep (yes, in my sleep) about the first time I visited Sports Clip, a new barber shop in the Broadland area, for a haircut. The welcome was a nice one. There were tv's everywhere in the barber store. When called to take a seat and meeting "Edward Sissorshand", something natural sets in the very core of my heart: fear of a bad hair day! I am very picky on who cuts my hair. A selfish side of me have a wish how my hair is to be cut. After "Edward", well, he is actually a she so may call her, "Edwina" does her job on my hair, I was rather impressed in how she did it. I walked out with a neatly trimmed hair on my head with a big smile.

A couple weeks later, my hair grew up like weeds in the yard! So it is time, again, to return to Sports Clip for another haircut. This time, "Edwina" wasn't there and there was another lady barber standing at the cashiers box. I am going to call her, "Cruella De Vil" because she's one cranky lady. She prompted me to sit down on the barber chair and asked how I would like my hair done. I explained exactly as I always have to every barber I meet (Paul, a deaf member and also a deaf barber, you're probably next!). Then "Cruella" probably did her worse. My hair was out of style. I could see that she missed some strands of hair. Yes, I actually use a microscope to see if any strands are left uncut. I, politely, told her that she needs to trim it a bit more, neatly (pretty please). But it wasn't the best cut, it was actually the worst cut in my life. I walked out with a Bad Hair Day! And since then, I didn't return to get a haircut there at Sports Clip.

Then a dream came in as I was asleep giving me a parallel between the barber shop and the church. Even though, "Edwina" did a fantastic job, "Cruella De Vil" erased the great things about Sports Clip! I should have seen "Edwina's" job more than "Cruella's", but instead, I see "Cruella's" more because I care about my hair more than the store. An interesting parallel between that and the church is suppose there is an "Edwina" in the church that gives positive attitude, fruitfulness and inspiration to a visitor but "Cruella" comes up to that specific visitor and causes discomforts probably because "Cruella" isn't as sensitive as "Edwina". "Cruella" may not have the fruit the Spirit is trying to help her grow, may not have the excitement for God like "Edwina". I wouldn't blame the visitor for not returning to church because "Edwina's" example may have been erased by "Cruella's" example. People always remember the bad things more than the good and that's sad.

The "visitor" may feel inferior, intimidated, neglected, insulted by the bluntness of "Cruella" and felt the church isn't given him/her the necessary things in life. He/she may be more "selfish" not to attend church in fear of the pressures of "negative" things a "Cruella" does on him/her. It's extremely crucial that we keep the spirit of "Edwina" in our lives and reflect the Lord more! How many "Edward's" and "Edwina's" do you have in the church? Are there any "Cruella's" that's causing harm to the church and her growth?

Let's pray that the visitors do not walk out with a "Bad Church Day"!

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother." Matthew 18:15 (nas)

"For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,.." 2 Thessalonians 3:7 (nas)