Another Year Coming

We are looking at another year coming. People make New Year's Resolutions, but almost never keep them. It tends to be like promises that we make to other people, and then forget it like it was not something that was that important anyway. We can make a bunch of promises, but can we keep them? I want to make an effort to serve God to the best of my abilities this coming year. I have been trying to give of myself to the glory of God, and as we all know it tends to be difficult.

Another year has past,
Did our resolutions last?
Did we watch the ball drop?
Did all our plans flop?


Why did those things matter?
What happens when those things shatter?
We come to yet another year,
Will we still be here?


What have I done that would count for You?
Or what have I put You through?
You died to save a life so small and frail,
You did it to save me from a sinner's Hell.

Where do you stand on the coming year?
Do you look at it with uncertainty and fear?
Will the Lord lead you through?
Or will you tread into it not knowing what do?

So follow after God, and He will lead you through,
Forgetting what is behind, and looking to what is ahead of you,
With the leading of the Lord, we will have the strength to tread,
We will be able to make it on the road ahead.

I am thankful for what the Lord has done in my life this past year, and I am looking forward to what He will do this coming year. My family and I will grow in grace and will seek the Lord throughout this coming year. "Serve the Lord with gladness..."(Psalms 100:2)

From the Manger to the Cross

From the manger to the garden,
Knowing the choice we would make,
He knew that our life was at stake,
He knew that some of our hearts would harden.

From the manger to the cross,
Without Him we would die in the grave.
For He came to seek and to save,
So that we might not suffer loss.

From the manger to the coming again,
The world would turn their back on Him,
Being turned away, because I never knew them,
Because instead of Him they chose sin.

From the manger to the world,
To spread the message of life,
Not forgetting that He would suffer strife,
That for me His banner would be unfurled.

-Wade Jinright

Life Is No Fairytale

I hate to disappoint most of the people that think life should be a fairytale, but life unfortunately is not a fairytale. There are no such things as fairy godmothers, wizards, or genies. If God intended us to have a simple life, He would have left us in the Garden of Eden. Satan chose to deceive us into thinking if we chose his way of life; we would have a fairytale life. His intentions were to turn our hearts away from God, and lead us down the path of heartache and destruction. It was ultimately our choice of the direction we would take, and we chose the path that so many before us chose to walk down. Israel chose to turn their hearts from God, and we know where that took them.

Many people of the Bible like John the Baptist chose to set himself apart to God, and his life was nowhere near a fairytale. He was beheaded at the decree of the queen at that time. He was given the job of proclaiming who Christ was. "John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me."(John 1:15) Paul is another example of a life of difficulty, but through it all, he was able to give God the glory. While he was still Saul, he witnessed the stoning of Stephen. He was yet to suffer persecution. "And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him."(Acts 9:23-24) I am not trying turn anyone away or make people to despair. We need to know that there is a world out there that needs You.

Seeking the King

Are you in a comfortable inn tonight?

No vacancy for a heavenly light.

There is a manger stall in the rear,

Our Savior had a purpose here.

The shepherds watched their sheep,

While startled from their sleep,

The heavenly host proclaimed the good news,

Our Savior was born, the King of the Jews.

The wise men heard from afar,

And were guided by a bright, bright star.

They came bearing precious gifts,

With this news my spirit lifts.

Seek the king while you are able,

By this star, they found Him in a stable.

Seek the child, and understand the story,

That this was done all for His glory.

What Are You Seeking This Christmas?

Have we forgotten the reason for Christmas? I think we have, because we have been brainwashed by the commercialization of the holidays. There are other holidays that this happened too. The two holidays that it has hurt the most are Easter and Christmas. Easter is not about bunnies and eggs; it is about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christmas is not about Santa, Christmas trees, and gifts; it's about the birth of Jesus Christ. It is also about bringing our families together to remember why we celebrate these holidays.

What are you seeking this Christmas? The reason I ask this question is because we all get caught up the newest electronics, clothes, and even for the kids, toys. I want to emphasize the importance of seeking the real reason of Christmas and celebrating our Savior's birth. Seek the Savior and you will find salvation. This is a gift that you can share with anyone, and it will make their Christmas special. Your soul is important to God. Remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Whose Reputation Are You Concerned About?

I was at my church's Sunday evening service and our pastor talked about the Faith of a Great Leader.
Hebrews 11:23-29

I. Decision of Refusal(v. 24)

II. Decision of Rejection(v. 25)

III. Decision of Reward(v. 26)

   A. He rejected a title.

   B. He rejected the pleasures of Egypt.

  C. He rejected the riches of Egypt.

IV. Decision of Resolve(vs. 27-29)

(My Notes on the Sermon- We can be offered all the things that the world has to offer, and come away from it all empty-handed. If we can refuse what the world has to offer; there is a much greater reward in Heaven. The question that I would ask here is eternal riches or temporary pleasures of the world? Rejection is hard to deal with for most of us, but what did Christ suffer for us? I have already asked the question about rewards, so what will you choose eternal or temporal? We all have a title in some form or another, but Moses chose his God over what Egypt could offer him. When Moses made these decisions; he knew what he had to do and God guided him on the journey that he had ahead of him.

I am resolved no longer to linger, Charmed by the world's delight;

Things that are higher, things that are nobler- These have allured my sight.

I will hasten to Him, Hasten so glad and free,

Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

(I Am Resolved- Palmer Hartsough and James H. Fillmore)

Moses was the great leader that was talked about last night. He used a man with a speech impediment to speak for His people. If He could use someone like this; He can use me. God used many people in the Bible and He is still using people today. Live life like God's reputation is on the line. We do represent our God to those around us.

Why Are We So Busy Judging?

"Judge not, that ye be not judged."(Matthew 7:1) We have read the rest of this passage. Let us look at ourselves and recognize where we fall short. And even when we have done that let us refrain from the judgment. We all know what sin is and we know how to recognize it, but when we begin to judge even the greatest writers of the past about what they have chosen to write about, it has gone to far. John Bunyan, C. S. Lewis, and E. M. Bounds knew what they were writing about when they penned their works. Christian made a journey to the Celestial City, but encountered many of the things that we encounter on a daily basis during that journey. This has been read over the years and helped people understand the simple things of our Christian lives. C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia give I think the best representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. E. M. Bounds knew that there was a need for prayer in America, and that was at the beginning of the twentieth century and we still need prayer for our country.

What Did Jesus Do?

We all hear, What Would Jesus Do? Instead let us focus on what He did. He created us in His image and all things around us. He brought His people out of Egypt. He brought the Kings of Israel to power, and David and Solomon were two kings though flawed God chose to use them in leading His people. He came to us in the form of a child, and dwelt among us. He did many great things to show His power, like healing the blind and crippled. He taught us how we should live. He sacrificed Himself, so that we might have eternal life. He gave us His Word so that we might know Him better.

What has Jesus done in your life? He has blessed you with salvation. Let us consider all the blessings that He has given us. This being the thanksgiving season; think on the blessings that mean something to you. It is the simple things of life that are a blessing to me. My God, my salvation, my family, and my needs are taken care of by the One Who owns it all.

Don't Blame God

So many people blame God for bad things that are happening to them. These circumstances that they have found themselves is of their own choosing. Sometimes God uses those situations to show them how they need to change. It is in some of most difficult situations that God shows His power more abundantly. When you are surrounded by difficulty there is an escape, and that is through Christ. This life was not meant to be easy, but it is something that we brought upon ourselves because we chose to believe the lies of Satan in the Garden of Eden. We are the ones to blame for our sinful state. God did not leave us to ourselves and our situations, but He did give us salvation from our sins through the blood of Christ.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."(I John 1:9)

We need to admit/confess our sins to Christ and He will forgive our sins and He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."(I John 2:2)

He has proclaimed us righteous by His blood sacrifice and He also made that same sacrifice for the whole world. He did not exclude anyone in His sacrifice, but He offered Himself freely. There are no strings attached to this gift. Please accept this gift of salvation, and stop blaming God for the trouble you are in.

Who is this King of Glory?

“Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”(Psalms 24:8)

This King of glory is Jesus Christ, and no one else can claim that title, except Him. None of the kings of kingdom's past can claim that title, and none of the kings of present and future kingdoms will hold that title either. If someone that has just recently become a Christian cannot explain who Jesus is; then are they really saved? God's Word is more than just a history or fairytale book that some would call it. The Word of God is a living book that speaks absolute truth. Yes, there is absolute truth. I would not say if I did not believe it. All who seek comfort in other things are seeking after vane things. God has sent a Comforter. This life is not about comfort, but He is there in those times of hopelessness. We need to look at all our circumstances and know that He is there.

To those of you that would like to stay oblivious to your eternal destination; there is a Hell, and if you do not accept Christ as your personal Savior; then that is where you will end up. Your attempts at being good and trying to improve the human condition are nothing but filthy rags in the sight of God. The only One that can improve the human condition is Christ. We are sinners, and yes, you are a sinner too. Once you recognize that you are sinner; then you have your eyes opened to what you are in need of, a Savior. Jesus can save anyone, a drunkard, a prostitute, an adulterer, a drug abuser, etc. We are more than just physical, moral beings; we are spiritual beings. Even to the Jehovah's Witnesses, the only way that you can be happy is in Christ and Him alone. Man tries to come up with step by step programs to fix the human condition, but that is only a temporary fix. The Word of God gives you everything that you need to know about who we are, who He is, and what He is able to do in our lives; if we are only willing to let Him change our lives.

Some people believe that God was not capable of creating the universe that we inhabit. They all say that it was a thing of chance. There are many things out there that we do not understand yet, but when God wants us to know He will open our eyes. It is recorded in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." The Bible did not say in the beginning something just exploded and everything was in perfect order. My question to you, How does order come out of chaos? Chaos has never brought order. I believe that God took seven days to create all that we see. What little brains that I have; I am amazed at all that God did in seven days. No man could accomplish what God did in seven days. If you need to understand Creation; there is a person that can help you find answers in Genesis, Ken Ham.

http://www.answersingenesis.org

If you are not satisfied with the answers that you find there; then go directly to the Word of God. I am trying to lead you in the right direction not mislead you. All the answers that man supposedly has will only lead to feeling even more lost.

Don't Ignore the Calling

"Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."(I Thessalonians 5:24)

The Lord does not call people and leave them to fend for themselves. He leads through His Holy Spirit. Prayer is a part of the calling, because without prayer we do not know where He is leading. The Word of God gives us the Scripture to guide us through some of difficult parts of our calling. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."(Hebrews 13:5) I have seen many people ignore their calling, and be miserable because they ignored it. He has given my family a clear calling to another ministry, and I am willing to take up that calling and minister where He would have me minister. Their are things that deter us from our calling, and we need to let those things go.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."(Hebrews 12:1)

I ran into someone that had a clear calling to the chaplaincy in the Army, and he encouraged me to go forward and not look back. When I go into basic training, I will be laying aside everything that so easily besets me, and running the race with patience.

What Can I Say?

I am no profound orator or cunning with words, but I am a man that dwells on the promises of God. He spoke the worlds into existence and yet He spoke to me. The words of life He uttered, and I have heard His words and I have a new life in Him. What can I say? You ask, I can say that your only hope is in Christ not in anything that the world has to offer. Don't look for the answers from the government or material things, because they will leave you just as lost and hopeless. Take time to find hope and as God spoke through Paul in I Corinthians 13:7 about charity, "hopeth all things." This is God's love for us.

Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say 
(The Words I Would Say- Sidewalk Prophets)

God can do great things through His people, if they would only let Him. Don't be one of those people that only takes care of themselves and not others. I can say that Jesus set the example of what we can say of Him in His earthly ministry. Be as Christ after coming down from the mountaintop and have compassion on your fellow man.

Salvation: Road to Calvary

In order to fully understand salvation, you must make these stops along the road to Calvary. Jesus did not leave us without a map of how to get there. I was saved through the story of Jonah at the age of six. God kept calling on Jonah to go to Nineveh, but he kept on running away from God's calling. I finally answered the call to salvation. I have been saved for almost 27 years. 

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."(Romans 3:23) No one is discounted from this number. We have all come short of the glory of God. Until we recognize that we have sinned against a sinless God; we cannot begin to understand salvation.

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asp under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of before their eyes."(Romans 3:10-18) The way of the wicked leads to death and destruction. We are reminded about our state apart from God throughout this passage.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) We have no amount of money that would cover the debt of sin. The blood of Christ covered that debt that we owe to a righteous God. He gives eternal life to those that choose to accept His gift of salvation.

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."(Romans 5:8) God saw the plight of man and had compassion on him.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."(Romans 10:9) It is a matter of making the choice to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that He was raised from the dead. We will be saved.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."(Romans 10:13) This verse echoes what verse nine says. This repetition aids learning the principle of how to call upon the Lord for salvation.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"(Romans 5:1) Having received salvation; we now have true peace with God. It is a greater peace than any man can devise.

Stanza 1:
King of my life I crown Thee now- Thine shall be the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary.
Lest I forget Gethsemane; Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary.

Stanza 4:
May I be willing, Lord, to bear Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share- Thou hast borne all for me.
Lest I forget Gethsemane; Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary.
(Lead Me to Calvary- Jennie Evelyn Hussey and William J. Kirkpatrick)

Will You Be Good Without God When You Go to Hell?

God said that there would be people that would deny Him. In God's Word, in Psalms 14:1, "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." A professional atheist says that he can discuss the important topics of life on the basis of science. What will he do when he comes into the presence God, and God says to him, "Depart from me, I never knew you," and then is cast into Hell? We may have the science of medicine to deal with a great deal of diseases, but there are still diseases that have no cure. All things that we have are created by God, even science. Everything has a detailed description in the mind of God, and He asks that we seek Him for the answers. King Solomon sought to find fulfillment through everything under the sun, but coming to the end of his life, he understood that all was vanity. Psychology can try to explain the deeper thoughts of man, but it is sin that is the cause of all the mental disarray. We can try to rely on man for our needs, but what will you do when man is gone? God is the One that we need to rely on, because He will bring us into eternity. What is your eternal state? Are you oblivious to your soul's state? I know my soul's state and I am covered by the blood of my Savior and have a home in Heaven.

Again, psychology wants to psychoanalyze man's well-being, but that only makes things worse. People assume that Christianity is a religion. Religion is defined as "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."
(courtesy of http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion) Our purpose is to honor and glorify God. To call God a superhuman is blasphemy. He is God and not a glorified man or a good teacher as some would say. A good, moral person will not see Heaven, because he has lived a good life. Traditions and rituals are part of religion's guise to make man look good. We can be a part of all the traditions and rituals of religion, and not get any closer to God. As Pastor said this past Sunday, that is not about religion, but a relationship with God. Our morals are as "filthy rags."

Sam Harris (professional atheist) says that "It is better alleviate famine in Africa because you think Jesus Christ is watching and deciding whether to reward you with an eternity of happiness after death? Or is it better to do that because you actually care about the suffering of your fellow human beings?" Is he trying to equate Jesus with Saint Nicholas? We have given Christ a bad name all in the name of holiness. I cannot proclaim it enough, we are all sinners and we have all sinned against God. Apart from God; we are lost. I want to say on behalf of all God's people, we do care about people, but most of all we care about their souls.

Sam makes another statement about science, "Science is the most durable and non-divisive way of thinking about the human circumstance. It transcends cultural, national, and political boundaries. You don't have American science versus Canadian science versus Japanese science." The human circumstance is far worse than Sam can see. Science can get you only so far, but it cannot get you to God. We have continually worked to translate the Word of God, so that the whole world can know Christ.

If we begin to compromise the things of Christ; then we compromise ourselves and all those we care about. We know the nature of the world and it is not because of science, it is because of Christ.

As the title of this post poses the question, Will you be good without God when you go to Hell, if you choose science you have chosen the world's wisdom.

Is your soul eternally secure? Or are you worried about your physical security? God will protect His people.

Prayer: Revive Us Again

Today, Pastor told us about call to prayer, because this is what we need in order to turn our nation back to God. We know that government is here for a purpose, but not for an eternal purpose. Pastor also made a point that change does not come from the government; it comes from Jesus and knowing Him. What we see minted on our money are these words "In God We Trust", but do we trust in Him? Those of us who know Him, know what we need to pray for, REVIVAL. We have truly forgotten what we have been saved from, from death and Hell. You wonder why the country is in such disarray; it is not because the government made the wrong decision. It is because we have turned our hearts away from God. We have read what happened to those that totally rejected God; they were destroyed by fire. God will judge those that reject Him. We need to pray not only for REVIVAL, but also for those that know not God.

We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.

Refrain:
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

We praise Thee, O God!
For Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior,
And scattered our night.

All glory and praise
To the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins,
And hath cleansed every stain.

All glory and praise
To the God of all grace,
Who hast brought us, and sought us,
And guided our ways.

Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.
(Revive Us Again- William P. Mackay)

Abba, Father

Father, I need you now. I want my Father's arms to surround me with love. He cares so much for His children, that sometimes He needs to chastise us. A child without discipline is an unruly one. The Lord guides us like an earthly father leads his child.

I call on the One who brought me into this world, and the One who will bring me safely home. We are not promised a hassle-free life, but we know that the Lord will help us to overcome life's obstacles.

He never leaves us to ourselves. He loves us a father and mother love their children.

Jesus Loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow black and white
They're all precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Whether you're rich or whether you're poor
It matters not to him
He remembers where you're going
Not where you've been

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow black and white
They're all precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

If you're heart is troubled
Don't worry, don't you fret
He knows that you have heard his call
And he won't forget

All around the world tonight
His children rest assured
That he will watch, and he will keep us
Safe and secure

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow black and white
They're all precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

We need to have a child-like faith, so that we can understand how much He truly cares for us.

It's Broke and Jesus Can Fix It

We in our human frailty are broken, and we cannot be repaired with all the super glue and duct tape in this world. The only One that can fix our broken lives is Jesus. Jesus gave us a pretty vivid picture of what we are; we are like cracked pots. There are many songwriters that have written about brokenness of spirit, and they have all had experiences like that. It is when we recognize that we are broken that we truly see our need for Jesus. Jesus spoke of not overloading us with burdens, but being there to help us carry them. He carried the greatest burden of our sins to the cross and bled and died to take away our sins.

Notice that I am not talking about the government as a means to fix the problems that people have. It is a deep seated spiritual problem. Some people are so deep in despair that they cannot see any signs relief. I am here to tell you that we need Christ, because He is the hope of the world.

Hear our cry, Lord, we pray
Our faces down, our hands are raised
You called us out, we turned away
We've turned away

With shipwrecked faith the idols rise
We do what is right in our own eyes
Our children now will pay the price
We need Your light, Lord, shine Your light

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out

All our hearts, all our strength
With all our minds, we're at Your feet
May Your kingdom come in our hearts and lives
Let Your church arise, let Your church arise

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out
We're reaching out

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, reaching out

We need You now
Revive us now
We need You now
(If We Ever Needed You- Casting Crowns)

Jesus is reaching out like He did when Peter was being overtaken by the waves. He is reaching out to the poor and needy, to the ones that are at the end of themselves, to those with broken families, to those with broken hearts, and to those in far away places.

Let those that are falling apart come to the One that can piece our lives back together.

Simple Truths About the Savior

Let us start this post with a revelation, nobody is perfect. The only One who is perfect is Jesus, but as He was here during His earthly ministry, He experienced all the testing and trials that we have gone through at one time or another. Do not limit God, because He is limitless.

I am not rebuking those that proclaim the Gospel, but Christ said about prayer, "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.(Matthew 6:5) But thou, when thou prayest, enter into the closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret shall reward thee openly.(6:6) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.(6:7) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him."(6:8) Prayer is that personal communication with God. I think that many people say that they will pray for you nonchalantly, and forget to do so right after they have said it. Prayer for yourself and others holds the same weight.

Jesus looked at the multitudes and saw their needs, and He said, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest."(Matthew 9:37b,38) We need to look out into this world and gather His harvest. Don't be the one to wait on others to do the harvesting. I am including myself in that call for laborers in the harvest.

I want to encourage those that have lost faith and hope in the Savior. He is willing to guide and direct you unto Himself through His Word and prayer, not through some 12 step program. The simple step is believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and that He spilled His blood that we might be saved. He above all, cares for those that have already been saved and those that are going to be saved. I have taken that step of believing in Christ as my Savior. Will you seek God and find Him?

I want those of us who question many things about our faith to know that their is hope in the Savior, not in the guise of fundamentalism. Fundamentalism never saved man, but Christ did and does. It is helpful in understanding the doctrines of the Bible, but it does not save man. It seems to turn man away from God, because it sends them wrong direction. God never turns away anyone. Let me say it again, GOD NEVER TURNS AWAY ANYONE. Christ says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." We are all lowly in heart, but can we see past the forest of fundamentalism, the light of the Son of God.

I saw a man today, his whole world across his back
A living monument opposed to my success
I tried to look into his eyes as his shuffled past my car
Sweat beading on his skin, his clothes and hair a mess
As the light turned green and I pulled away, he slowly disappeared
Just a memory of another chance I failed to show your love here

I wanna love because You love
I wanna give because You gave
I wanna reach my hand out to the lost
because I know Your hand can save
Only You can save
Only You can save

Sometimes I have to wonder if I really want to know
The struggle and the pain that others feel
Do I want to hear the stories I see echoed in their eyes
Or is this love I say that I’m reflecting even real
As the light turns on inside my head and I slowly disappear

I steel myself cuz what you call for me is to show your love here…

I wanna love because You love
I wanna give because You gave
I wanna reach my hand out to the lost
because I know Your hand can save
Only You can save
Only You can save

(Save) Let me be Your hands
(Only You can save) Let me be your eyes
(Only you can save) Help me understand
(Only you can save)

That I’m Your hands and feet hidden behind this frail human disguise

I wanna love because You love
I wanna give because You gave
I wanna reach my hand out to the lost
because I know Your hand will save
Cuz only You can save
Cuz only You can save
Cuz only You can save
(Only You Can Save- Chris Sligh)

In the words of Chris Sligh's song is the simple message of what Christ did for us so that we might be saved.