It seems most of the time, God reveals and provides opportunity without warning…

I was in Starbucks minding my own business, when a lady shows up with a couple large empty covered plastic containers.  A Starbucks employee proceeds to give her all the dated pastries for her containers and she hangs around at a table in front me sorting things out.

After a while, i get up to leave and go to work.  I stop in front of her and make comment that i bet she is going to make some people happy. She explains she is from the Saint Assisi or something catholic church and these pastries will go to feed the homeless.  As we are chatting about the local homeless shelter, i am doing a heart check and i think God is saying give her money.  You have to understand there was a time when giving from my excess was not challenging at all.  Today, i give from what i don’t have and i am very aware to give without God’s direction is stupid.

So as she is talking, i am thinking, “God.  Do you want me to give? i am not sure and i want to be responsible with the little i have.”  i am confident this thought was from God.  ”Whether you give or not, you will know my will when you walk out the door.”  It reminded me of the times, i heard God and chose to ignore the opportunity to be used by Him.  I get that really sick feeling in my stomach that i just blew it.

Today, i was not going to blow it.  i reached in my pocket and pulled out the exact amount God had impressed on me (without counting).  I handed it to the lady and without a word, began walking out.  She yelled, “What’s your name?”  I wish i had said, “Jesus.”

“Today if you dare, tell me how a worm infested hungry aids child in Africa experiences abundant life.”~priest

Jamie Longoria

ouch Archie!!  You have just inspired my prayers with a new purpose…just a thought, according to your definition of abundance “God’s perfect will and purpose in one’s life” is it possible that their illness and starvation is part of the abundant life..in that it calls the attention, breaks hearts and motivates God’s people into action so that we can be transformed by the impact. In this case, it wouls seem, dispite human logic, that abundant life really has nothing to do with happiness. Still contemplating though..thanks for the food..

I posted this comment to my status in Facebook and in wonderment received these replies.  Click on comments and enjoy the dialog…

“Revelation presumes action seems certain,” ~priest

Some things are certain in life.  The thought that revelation presumes action seems certain.  Why else would God reveal truth?

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God’s Word is meant to be shared.  There are limitless venues from which God’s Word is propagated.  Sometimes, it is shared in traditional worship services.  Sometimes, it is shared “one-on-one” in personal relationship.  God’s Word is even shared by those yelling it from a street corner.

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I was in Honduras years back, helping to build a missionary compound.  We took a break and went into the small town near by.  There was a man standing on a street corner proclaiming God’s Word at the top of His lungs.  From the raspy sound in his voice, you can tell this was not the first time he had been out.  

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Jesus tells us that there are those who proclaim the Word and there are those who hear the Word.  For those that hear the Word, their life is forever impacted.  

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With revelation from God, action follows and life begins.  Satan goes to work attempting to destroy any good thing God is in the process of creating.  Many times Satan is successful in stealing the blessings intended for you and I.  

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Uniquely when we are steadfast in our walk with Jesus, we are blessed to produce fruit some thirty times, some sixty times and some one hundred times.  

 

As we begin the new year, hear God’s Word.  
Keep your eyes focused on Jesus.  
Believe He will walk with you through the storm.  
In Jesus name, bind satan.  
I pray God’s protection on you and your family.  
There is wonderful fruit just waiting to be picked.  

 

“The farmer sows the word. 

 

4:15 The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 

4:16 These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy. 

4:17 They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble. 

4:18 Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word, and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 

4:20 Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times.” ~Jesus

 

Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

“When religion becomes nothing more than a bunch of rules it makes God want to puke.”~janitor

There seems to be a lot of confusion amongst the religions of the world.  As best I understand it, God is not a god of confusion.  There are other gods of confusion, but there is only one true God with a capital “G” and He is not confused nor does He create confusion.  These comments on confusion are not directed at a specific religion.  They are pointed at any religion you choose.  The confusion exists in all.

It seems to me the confusion starts in the heart of man and plays out amongst the heart of God’s people.  Within the heart of natural man is a built-in desire for self worth, power and influence.  It is difficult to naturally remove one’s focus on self and place the focus on Jesus.  The process requires direct intervention by Jesus and a willingness for man to submit to the authority of God. This process of submission is required of God regardless of the “position or rank” one holds in the local church. 

Considering submission is required of all, it would seem given that men of the cloth would naturally be submissive to the Father.  Sadly, it doesn’t happen like that.  Some do.  Some don’t.  Some have submitted at one time, only to allow pride and desire for power, prestige, self worth or whatever to begin controlling of their life once again.  The submission to Christ’s authority in one’s life is a daily task.

A sure sign of a submission problem amongst God’s people is when a person elevates themselves above another and speaks for God.  Some things said that might be a warning sign for you will go like this…. 

• “I need you to do this for God.” 
• “In Jesus name, I believe this is what you need to do.”
• “God forgives you and so do I.”
• “God will never do this or that.”
• “God told me you should do this or that.”
• “If you don’t do this you are being disobedient to God.”
• “God says to care for the poor.  You need to go to Timbuktoo.”
• “You need to grow in the spirit.  Let me show you how to perform miracles.”
• “Here eat this bread and drink this cup.  It will wash away your sins.”
• “You need to give at least 10% of your income to be a church member in good standing”
• “If you give, you are guaranteed 100 times more in return.”

The list goes on.  When religion becomes nothing more than a bunch of rules it makes God want to puke.  The creation of rules is a natural process of man taking control from God in an attempt to gain power, money and control over God’s people.

Anytime, anyone tells you what God will or will not do or allow to happen, you should have warning bells go off in your head.  The person may be right, but the person is setting themselves up for failure when they attempt to speak for God.  I don’t think anyone has the ability to dictate the terms of God’s activity.  We are much too limited in wisdom, knowledge and understanding to be successful at predicting the actions of God.  There is but one truth.  It is the Word of God.  

If you find yourself in a religion with elevated people controlling your life, you need to run away from it and them as far as you can go.  Run straight to Jesus.  He has His arms open wide.  In Jesus, you will find a place of love and forgiveness.  You will enjoy the life God intended.<

Oh and did I mention, we are all Priests? It seems to me, a priest answers to Jesus….  When Jesus served the people he did not elevate himself.  He positioned Himself at the people's level.  The Word says it this way…

“It happened in these days, that he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot; Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor. 

He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed. All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.”~Dr. Luke

Even as the Son of God, Jesus did not elevate Himself over the people. He came down to a level place. 

Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

Life’s experience I recall…

excerpt from “Plain View” by Ichabod

‘Years ago when I was in my late teens, I had a vision or dream.

There was a glow beyond the crest of a mountain. Climbing toward the
summit, the light gained in intensity. It was not a normal light, as
compared to sunlight or a light bulb. This “light” was different.
As I approached the peak and about to view the source of light, I
realized I would see my Creator or in essence, God’s face.

The purity was intense.

I did not have the courage within me to look.

As I tumbled back down the mountain, running away from the light,
which was not threatening other than my awareness of what I knew it to
be, I realized I was not in the land of consciousness.

I tried to wake and could not.

I forced my eyelids open with my fingers to view the familiar and escape.

My chest was heaving like it never heaved before or since, my heart
pounding past the point of dangerous. I forced my mind to concentrate
on slowing my heart down. I felt terror and was soaked in a cold
sweat. This all happened in a matter of minutes.

I continued with life. I performed that which we consider good and
evil on this world, living as if there was no consequence.

The vision or dream may have been born from a physical cause, yet
there is something so real about it, not like any other dream or
nightmare I have had before or since.

I realized my true nature and it was wanting.

Not where it should be.

The realization and experience of true humility. I was not worthy in
my own eyes.

I think upon the dialog Pain and I are having regarding the Pastor
who committed suicide and the questions the Pastor’s suicide spawned.

It brought me back to that time so many years ago and I now wonder……”

Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

For more GodSpots – 37stories Enjoy!

This may be the most important blog I have ever posted. What will you do with it?

How long does it take to write a blog post? After writing about a thousand. I don’t know. Sometimes the thoughts just kinda ripen with age. Other times they pop out of the microwave. This post is one that has been ripening with age. I’m not even sure what to write….

A few weeks back, a friend named Mike came in my tiny janitor’s office and began sharing about God’s love. It was one of several times our paths have intersected and we have talked about God’s love. I appreciate his passion. It’s not difficult for you that know Mike to figure out who I am talking about, when you put the word Mike and passion together. They fit.

Keep love in the forefront of your mind, but for a minute ask yourself the question: “Why love?” Consider from the beginning of time and before there was mankind. God was God and He likely did a pretty good job of being God. What was He thinking when he created you and me? For what purpose was the idea of mankind birthed?

The answer comes to me in a struggle. I have become aware that I do not know how to adequately express my appreciation for who and what God is. I believe my praise of God is inadequate. I want to tell God thank you for all His creations, but it doesn’t seem like that is enough. My inadequate expression of praise for the creator brought me back to my friends passion for God’s love.

I believe in a very limited way of understanding the makeup of God, that in the beginning of time and before mankind, God must have been bursting at the seams with love. He was like a balloon totally filled with love and stretched to the max. Love was the most important part of who He was. It was the essence of His being. He was bursting with Love and so passionately wanted to share in His experience. Even the rocks would cry out, but that wasn’t enough. It was time to give birth.

It was time for God to create mankind in His image. How else would His creation be able to experience the Love He so desperately wanted to share? Do you get it? God had this incredible thing called Love that He wants you to experience! It likely was the very reason you were created.

There is nothing more important in life than Love! Think on it. Dwell on it. Don’t just flippantly click to the next blog. You for a moment have been brought to a place at the feet of God and have been offered the opportunity to experience God’s greatest gift, Love. What will you do with it?

For me, Love answers a question. I now know the missing component to my praise of the Holy Father. Love.

surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

“If I were the devil, I’d put Jesus on the cross and leave Him there.”~priest

I am on the hunt. I want to be sold out for God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Now if I knew what that meant, I’d do it.  I figure Paul is as about as sold out as a guy can get. Of course  sold out doesn’t get any better than Jesus, but Paul did most of the writing. I’ll start there.

The thought comes to mind possibly my spiritual impotence is from leaving Christ on the Cross.  When Paul writes a letter he starts with:

“to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.

He specifically addresses TWO God entities. First, he addresses God the Father and then God the Son. He is referencing BOTH, not just God and not just Jesus. There has to be a reason. Could it be he is acknowledging the source of his power. He says he gives thanks to God remembering the work is in Jesus. It is obvious, Paul has not left Jesus on the cross.

Suppose I was some masterminded villain with a plan to make all of you impotent in your Christian walk. Where would I start? The first thing I think I’d do would be to inspire some poor fools to build miniature crosses with Jesus nailed to them. Then, I’d mass market them and make it fashionable to wear them as an idol around people’s necks. But, I wouldn’t stop there.

I’d have some other fools paint pretty pictures of Jesus on the cross and have everyone hang them in their living rooms. But I wouldn’t stop there. I’d build bobble headed dolls with Jesus on the cross. They can put them in their cars and watch Jesus bobble on the cross as the cars hit chuck holes. Well, I’ll stop there. I haven’t actually got the bobble headed Jesus to market, yet. But, maybe by Christmas.

That would really be in Jesus face.

Are you guilty of buying into the trap of the evil ones? Are you impotent because you worship the one hanging on the cross and left him there? Or are you impotent like me, because you have neglected the one who died for you, beat death and rose again?

It is not too late to change your destiny. It is not too late to add the power of Jesus in your Christian walk. Destroy the idols. Take Jesus off the cross and put Him in your heart. Pray!

Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

Dancing with Demons… How ’bout you?

I have a Bible believing friend who recently had major surgery. He ended up in ICU for a few days while he, the doctors and God sorted things out. 

He said during the time he was in ICU, he quit caring whether he lived or died.  It was during this time the dark demons began dancing in the peripheral of his vision.  He could physically see their presence.  He said it was the darkest of moments he had ever experienced.  He said the depression that accompanied the demons, was unbelievably bad.  My friend said he never wants to experience that again.

Toward the end of the stay in ICU, a doctor walked in and asked who was a believer?  My friend said it was he.  Very quickly the not caring about life and death disappeared and he was back to caring deeply about his friends and family.  That is a God Spot!

It is a pretty incredible story.  It makes me wonder if there are other ICU experiences, other friends would like to share?  You can post anonymously if you wish.   God bless.

Also "my friend" if I got anything wrong in the account, shoot me an email and I'll fix it.  

Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

For more GodSpots – 37stories Enjoy!

When you break a rule, sometimes it’s best to keep your head down….

RULE BREAKER #1: Jesus said, “Get up, take your bedroll, start
walking.” The man was healed on the spot.

RULE BREAKER #2: He picked up his bedroll and walked off. That day
happened to be the Sabbath.

BUSTED: The Jews stopped the healed man and said, “It’s the Sabbath.
You can’t carry your bedroll around. It’s against the rules.” But he
told them, “The man who made me well told me to. He said, ‘Take your
bedroll and start walking.’” They asked, “Who gave you the order to
take it up and start walking?”

KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN: But the healed man didn’t know, for Jesus had
slipped away into the crowd.

Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

For more GodSpots – 37stories Enjoy!

There is hope and it is NOT in the church.

What impact does the church have on the way you experience life?  I mean really.  Does it change the way you act at work or how you treat your wife and family?  Does it encourage you to personally help the poor and less fortunate than you?  Does it care you suffer from depression?  Does it help you when you have lost your job?  Is the church even revelant to your life?  I think likely not.  The church is irrelevant to most.

Does that offend you?  I hope so.  If you are a believer you should be offended.  If you are a nonbeliever you should be offended.  I mean really. If you have the faith to be a NONbeliever then there should be distinguishing characteristics about you that the world can easily identify what group you belong to.  The same can be said for the believer.  If you have the faith to be a believer then the world should be able to easily identify you as such. 

Yet, six days and maybe even seven days a week we are no different.   We talk the same.  We eat the same foods.  We drink the same beverages.  We watch the same sports.  We take the same vacations.  We do it all, THE SAME!

Or at least that is the way it has been for generations, but there is change in the wind.  There appears to be a deep social and spiritual dissatisfaction with the way things are.  There appears to be an awakening from deep within our human consciousness to a driving desire for something more.  Do you feel it?  If you are honest with yourself, you know the feeling.  You may choose to keep it buried most of the time, but it is there. 

You feel it when you give change to the beggar on the corner.  You feel it when you hear of your friend’s child struggling with cancer.  You feel it when your spouse rejects you for someone else.  You feel it when your child is picked up with drugs.  There is within you a deep desire for something better. 

I want to encourage you with hope.  For you, it may not be in the local traditional church.  You may have already been let down or burnt by the church, but there is still hope.  The hope was never in the church to begin with.  The hope is in Jesus.  This is the change that is in the wind…

There are home churches springing up all over the state, country and world.  Members of these churches are unwilling to continue play acting the role of “good christian”.  The people of these home churches have taken seriously their social and spiritual conscious to do something positive in the world they live.  It is their total desire to be honest with themselves and friends while looking through the eyes of Jesus. 

The enlightened believe God is alive and well and desiring to do great things through each of them.  They are no longer passive participants in their faith.  They are actively, aggressively, sincerely and maybe even recklessly doing as God directs.  They are allowing God to shape their future, not letting others tell them what box they should live in.  They are part of the revolution. 

If you feel a similar dissatisfaction with your local traditional church, temple, mosque or cathedral experience, surf to: Fresh Connections and begin your journey, living a life with meaning and power!  God willing, Fresh Connections will have its first gathering in the new year.  God bless.