Before I begin this week’s blog, I want to thank you and ask God to bless all of you that have made it a weekly commitment to connect and give consideration to what the good Lord has led me to share. This week I will enter in the Presidential 2020 election discourse. Before we embark on the topic of elections, it is plausible that many of us have been advised to avoid the topics of politics and religion with others. And before you decide to close the door that leads to your head and your heart, I ask you to give me some grace and “Let’s Go There” with respect to how saints should vote.
For this week’s blog, I like you to consider with me a word or term that you will not find in the dictionary. However, I submit to you that this word is a consistent characteristic of a carnal church. The word Churchianity is a word that I am employing for our edification. It is a word that reflects a church that is rigid in rules and rejects the truth of a real relationship with the Lord made possible by His grace and gift of eternal life through Christ’s death and resurrection.
Read MoreFor today’s blog, we will conclude our discussion on the tetrad of teachers offered to us by God’s Word. These teachers provide great insight as to how to navigate the tumultuous times in which we live. In Part Two of this series, we focused on the instruction offered by Ms. Wisdom. Today, we will conclude by focusing on the remaining three instructors: Ms. Justice, Mr. Judgment and Mr. Equity.
Have you ever considered that the Hebrew Scriptures personifies wisdom as a woman?
I open this week’s blog with the lyrics of not only a popular but a powerful piece of Christian music from Lauren Daigle. Daigle is an American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter from Lafayette, Louisiana. Her song “Trust in You” truly captures a transcending principle that is paramount for a pure, persistent and personal relationship with God.
When you don't move the mountains
I'm needing you to move
When you don't part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When you don't give the answers
As I cry out to you
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in you
I invite you to consider with me the following rhetorical questions for the introduction of this week’s blog: What’s going on? What just happened? What did I just hear? What is happening to our country? All of the aforementioned questions are connected with with the following news headlines:
“Protesters Demand Cops Let Themselves be Stabbed or Shot” New York Post
“More than Five Million Acres have been burned in West Coast Wild Fires” The New York Times
Wildfire Smoke from West Coast drifts through Midwest, reaches NYC and New England” Fox News
“2 L.A. Deputies Ambushed while sitting in their Patrol Vehicle” Los Angeles Times
“'Sterilizing children' bill heads to Calif. Senate floor amid public outcry” The Christian Post
“California reduces penalties for pedophilia with 'willing' kids” WBSM
“Coronavirus deaths in the United States near 200K as global, World Health Organization Declares COVID-19 a 'Pandemic.'” The Washington Post
“Chicago homicides up 52%, with vast majority of victims Black or Latino” Fox News
Do you remember your favorite and most influential teacher in grade school? My fourth-grade teacher was Mrs. Ivy Spikes. Mrs. Spikes was not just a masterful teacher she was also a marvelous motivator and she majored in the Master’s (Jesus’) love. She was a powerful portrait and purveyor of grace and truth. Personally, I know that she was the beautiful balm of healing for my heart that was filled with holes of hurt, crushed with a crippled confidence, and drowning in doubt. I am forever thankful that our Sovereign God used her to soften my heart and place the seeds of salvation in my life that would take hold some nine years later when I turned eighteen years old.
Read MoreIf you came into my office, you would notice that I have a number of pictures of my family. One of my favorite pictures is one of my three sons and me. Right away, the family resemblance is so apparent so that even Ray Charles would say “You got the right one, baby! Uh-huh!” I offer you this question: Can a world blinded by the enemy see that you look like Jesus? Now it is important to note that I am not referring to our Lord’s physical appearance. I am referencing His Spirit and character as well as His heart and mind. So, consider with me how people can see the Lord in your life.
Read MoreHistory tells us that the practice of placing a wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand goes back to ancient Egypt. The Egyptians were convinced that there is a literal “vein of love” that runs directly from the heart to the fourth finger on the left hand. This vein was identified as the “vena amoris”. It is this belief that has perpetuated the practice of placing rings on the marital couple’s left hand which also happens to be on the same side of the heart. Since ancient times, wedding rings have been worn as a symbol that seals a pledge between spouses.
Read MoreIn last week’s blog, we established that we need to exercise or condition our consciences to consistently conduct ourselves as Christians. This is essential and a non-negotiable due to what I deem as three realities: the flesh (a sinful human condition that strives for self autonomy), world (constructs and principles that power and promote an antichrist culture) and Satan (the dragon, devil and dedicated enemy of our Father God, the Lord Jesus Christ and the children of God). As children of God we are continually confronted by an anti-Christ culture. Hear what the Word of God declares about this tyrannical and twisted trinity of the flesh, the world and Satan.
Read MoreWhat comes to your mind at the mention of the word conditioning? For the professional hairstylist that styles my wife’s hair, she would be concerned with the conditioning of her clients’ hair. From her experience and expertise, she would educate and encourage her clients to take steps essential for helping them enjoy beautiful, shiny, and healthy hair. For those professionals with a psychological or therapeutic background they would be familiar with the phrase “classical conditioning” (also known as Pavlovian conditioning).
Read More