Is God in a box?

Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth. (Psalm 46:10 GWT)

What kind of box have I put God in? He doesn't exist in any box. Nothing can hold my God. So why do I feel like there is a soundproof piece of glass between us? I feel his presence and know he is there, however it feels like he is trying to speak to me but I can't hear him. It's like I can see his mouth move but I hear nothing he is saying. I am straining hard to hear him, even the smallest noise from him. I will do what I can to break the glass, but He is the one who can break it without effort. I will do the work I need to do to reach him, but I need his help and guidance. I will not stop doing the work He has called me to do until He says to do something else or I meet him face to face. I will serve and praise him through the storm.

Stuff...do you have too much?...

Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." 


There is one major thing that Christ told us to do as his followers...Go! So let me pose a simple question. Why do so many of us stay? It seems to me that many churchgoers now see missions as an option or as something to be observed from far away. We have become a church of bleacher bums.

We have decided that we are too comfortable in our nice homes, with our comfortable cars, sitting back and just observing life as it passes us by. We appear to think that God has called us to live the American dream, but I think we are just addicted to our stuff.

Look at the Gospels in the New Testament. Jesus never said we were going to fit in and live nice comfortable lives. In fact he stated the opposite. He said the world would hate us, and he even told several people that they would have to sell everything to truly be his followers. Now, I'm not saying we can't have nice things, but it's when those nice things take the place of the call God has put on our lives that a problem arises.

God has called us all to go, and it is time for us to answer the call. It's time for us to get out of our comfort zones and reach the lost. They are out there just waiting for us to come to them. Some of them are here in the United States, and there are many more around the world.

After my recent trip to Zimbabwe, I've realized that even though I may not have much my quest for more (aka the American Dream) was taking precedence over the call God has put on my life. I was more worried about how I would buy a bigger house and a nicer car when God opens the door for full time ministry than I was about the souls God has called me to touch. I think this is an epidemic that has swept our country.

Missions are not an option. God has called us to go. You may ask, what about the people in need around us? The answer is simple. That is what a life giving local church is for. The local church is there to serve people locally, but Christ said to go unto all the nations. It's time to quit relying on our stuff, get rid of what we need to get rid of, and follow God's command.

Ok, so you need a place to start. Try reading Radical by David Platt. It will give you a different outlook on how some churches have changed the Gospel to fit the American Dream instead of God's Dream.

It's time to reach out to the world. It's time to stop being comfortable and content. It's time to move. You have been challenged, now what will you do with it? Thanks for stopping by and God Bless...

I worship...You can too...It's ok...Really...

Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the king of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. - Psalm 47:6-7

     How many of you know this scenario? You walk into church on Sunday morning, get a bulletin from a greeter, find your way to your seat, maybe say hello to someone you recognize, you stand up when worship starts, hold on to the back of the chair in front of you while you sing, and all during the worship you sing as quiet as you can. When the music finally stops, you are glad that you can sit down and just be a face in the crowd the rest of the morning. Then, when the preacher is done you try to be the first person out the door so you can get on with the rest of your day.

     I'll be honest (big surprise), this scenario makes me sick. Now, I do not condemn anyone who does this when they go to church. Everyone is at a different place in their relationship with God, and that is just where some people are at. However, for me, this just won't do. To me, God deserves so much more from my worship. I haven't always had this opinion, but God has been doing some work in me that makes me care less about what other people think of me. My focus is on him, and I want to help others shed whatever holds them back from truly worshiping with all they have. 

     Now, I guess it might be time to step on some toes. People who think you have to wear a suit and tie to enter the church doors, plus stand at attention while holding a hymn book to sing have it wrong. Now you can say this is just my opinion, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say God agrees with me. How do I know this? Well, I've read the Bible, especially the book of Psalms. I've read stories about how the Israelites, David, Daniel, and many others have worshiped. Now, at times they have stood silently in God's presence, but most of the time they had their hands raised, raised their voices, played their best instruments, danced around, etc. Basically, they unabashedly praised God with every bit of their being, and they did it without shame or caring what other people were saying. Plus, I believe God smiled and took joy in how they were praising him, even if it looked silly.

     Let me add some more of my opinion here. I don't think everyone has to worship the same way. Some people give it all they have by singing with their hands raised. Others have to jump up and down or clap their hands. Some people, however, worship God with all they have by just standing in their spot, maybe singing, maybe being quiet before God, and they let the presence of God wash over them. When you sing is doesn't have to be a Grammy winning performance either. All you have to do is make a joyful noise to the Lord. One of the greatest worshipers I know right now sings a little off key, but he has it right. He worships with everything he has no matter who is around him, and I think thats where we all need to be. 

     So what this comes down to may sound a little strange. It comes down to honesty. You have to be honest with yourself and with God. When the worship music starts what urge do you have? If no one else was around and the music was on a CD, what would you do? Would you clap? Would you jump? Would you raise your hands and voice as high as you could and tell God how much you love and adore him? This is one time you shouldn't ask what would Jesus do. Stop holding back. If you feel like doing something during worship, do it. If your church looks down on that, find a life giving church that lets you worship the way God is calling you to. Stop being proud and embarrassed of God!!! That is what you are doing when you don't give God your all. He will meet you where you are, but you have to let go and worship Him. Do you think that if you go to Heaven you are just gonna walk around with your hands in your pockets? I don't think so. If you make it to Heaven, you with throw yourself at the feet of Jesus and cry out "Holy, Holy, Holy is our Lord God Almighty." If you think I must be crazy for saying that, then you need to read the Bible a little more because it says every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess. I'm pretty sure when it says every, it includes you and me. So why not get a head start and worship him here on earth so you can be practiced up when you get to Heaven.

     I feel the need to throw this in also. I believe that worship is one of the main things that you need in your relationship with God. If all you ever do is ask for stuff, how will God know that you love him? Sure he sees your heart, but he wants you to tell him. Does the person you love know that you love them if you never tell them? Of course not. They want to hear you say it, and so does our Savior.

     I have to say I hope this shakes somebody up. It's time to let go of religion and have a relationship. It's time to stop being prim and proper and go after an encounter with Christ. Let go. Be free. After all isn't that what Jesus came to this earth for? He came to set us free, and whom the Son sets free is free indeed!

     Thanks for stopping by and God Bless...

Word of the week...Encounter...

Ok, so I know its been a while since I've posted a blog. The last few months have been days of blurred activity and chaos. Well, not so much chaos, but needless to say I have been busy. Everything that has been happening has led up to this point.

So here is a quick question. Have you ever felt like your life is at critical mass? You know, that point where something has to give or you will explode. The point where you need a touch emotionally, spiritually, or even physically. The point where life's path will change forever. That's where I am at and I think a lot of people are.

Here's my opinion why. Most of the people that call themselves Christians have never had a true encounter with Jesus Christ. They go to church on Sunday. They might even go to a small group during the week, but they never take the steps necessary to truly have a life changing encounter. This is the biggest failure of today's church. We are so wrapped up in our social status, what we want, and (to be blunt) we enjoy our sins too much to let them go. Too many Christians think that sitting in a seat for an hour and a half on Sunday morning makes them good. The problem with this is that they never engage in worship, and while the message is coming from the stage, they are busy surfing facebook. They hear one or two lines of what the preacher says that makes them feel guilty, so they respond when the altar call happens. They might have a goose bump moment and feel better about themselves. Then they shake someone's hand as they walk out the door.

However, when they go home they aren't happy. They are like dogs returning to their vomit. They go back and do the same things that they know pull them away from Christ. They go to the same adult websites, the same clubs or bars, yell at their spouses, or just drink the pain away. It's always me-me-me, what I want to do, my busy schedule, just one more drink, just one more nude picture, I have to put my kids in every sport or event, we have this activity or that practice, I don't have time for Jesus stuff now, but I will later. After all God will understand, won't he? I have to do all these things to make it. All the while, the family Bible gets a little more dusty on the shelf. Unwilling to give God a little time with the most life giving tool only a few feet away. True joy and true peace are so close, but to several it is too much of a sacrifice to their lifestyle to change.

Critical mass, something in life needs to change or you will explode.

I honestly hope this slaps a few of you in the face. I'll be completely honest, I'm not perfect and I stumble from time to time. However, I choose to get up and chase after God. I hunger for a life-changing encounter with him. I sacrifice certain events for my family and my kids to have time for him. We try to do a family devotional every night (notice I said try), and we encourage our kids to serve and pray. Again, I'm not perfect, but I do my very best to lead my family into a God-filled life to encounter him.

I recently had the honor to go on a missions trip to Zimbabwe, Africa. God had whispered to me back in December that I needed to go on this trip and that he would change my life there. Needless to say, I went and he did. I truly realized for the first time that God is the same all over this world. Wherever there are people hungry for God, he shows up. What was so amazing is how hungry the people of that area are for God. Here is my lightbulb about that. They have so much less than us in the USA that they have more time to dedicate to seeking Christ. They have fewer material possessions to take care of, so they take care of their spirit and seek an encounter with him. Encountering God in Zimbabwe has forever changed me, and I hope that I can change the lives of others with the hunger I now have.

I'm gonna be a little blunt here. Ask yourself a few questions. What am I doing that I should give up and give that time to God? What sins am I returning to day after day that are keeping me from growing close to Jesus? Here is a simple one. Why don't I spend 5 or 10 minutes a day praying and reading my Bible? What steps do I need to take to have a life-changing encounter with Christ, and then lead my family there?

Be honest with yourself. Be honest with God. He already knows the truth. You can't hide it from him. Get past your pride. Who cares about social status. When you are hungry for God he is what matters, not what everyone else says or thinks.

Think about it. It could change your life.  Thanks for stopping by and God Bless...

Everyone loves a soft, chewy center...

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. - John 10:10 (NLT)


A lot of peoples favorite treats have soft, chewy centers.  They enjoy the feeling of breaking through the outer shell to feel the explosion from the middle of the treat flow into their mouth. Whether its chocolates, hard candy, or any other treat with this characteristic, most people savor and enjoy that experience. Some have harder shells than others, and some are just down right hard and almost impossible to get to the middle of.

Compare your life to these candies. Everyone in my opinion should have a soft heart. Always ready to spring into action and help those in need. However, we need to have an impenetrable outer shell that the enemy can not break through. We need the armor of God protecting us.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. - Ephesians 6:13-17 (NIV)


If you were about to walk out into a battlefield (whether dark ages or modern), would you want to just walk out to fight in a t-shirt and blue jeans? What about a three-piece suit? Don't give me that look, it's a legitimate question. Of course none of us would go out to fight like that. We would try to find the best armor from the greatest military cache we could find. So answer me this, why to we walk out our doors every day, onto the largest battlefield ever, without a hint of protection?

Too many people don't rely on God's armor to help them through the day. They think it is silly nonsense that someone would be serious about using it everyday. For most, the armor of God is only needed in the worst of circumstances, when we've lost everything. If those people would realize that had they only worn God's armor from the beginning, they might have never had to face the dark situations they are in.

They need truth in their hearts, and not the worlds version of the truth. They need to be righteous and walk the path that only the Bible can give in their lives (lamp to my feet and light to my path kind of stuff). They must have faith to block all of the lies and attacks that come from the enemy. You must be saved and have God's word with you all the time (whether it is memorized or physically in your hand). How many of these characteristics do you possess and use daily? I'll admit, I have many days where I will forget a piece of my armor, and those days are always a fight to get through.

In Matthew 11:30 Christ says, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." What that tells me is his armor is easy to carry. Ephesians 6 tells me that if I wear it all, everyday, it is impenetrable. The enemy, Satan, wants to hurt and even kill us. That is why we must wear the armor. Putting it on is a daily discipline that far too many people lack.

The battle is raging, and you are in the midst of it. Whether you are consciously fighting or surrendering by not doing anything, you are in the middle of a war. The question is this: will you prepare yourself with an unbreakable armor, or will you be run through by the world everyday because putting on the armor is a hassle or unpopular? The choice is yours! You have been challenged. What are you going to do with that challenge?

Thanks for stopping by and God Bless...

Are you the next Rocky...?

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. - Ephesians 6:13-18 (MSG)


Ever feel like life is just punching you in the gut? Do you feel like every time you climb out of a hole there is someone there to smack you in the face and knock you right back in? These are the times in life that we want to give up. I know, I've been there. Just when you feel like you are starting to make headway in life, something hits you and knocks the breath out of you and you fall to your knees.

When we are in those times in life, on our knees and out of breath, we have a choice to make. Do we get up and get back in the fight, or do we stay down for the count. Are you like Rocky Balboa? Do you continue to stand up and continue the fight no matter the punishment? Are you like Glass Joe from the video game "Punch Out"? Do you take a hit and stay down hoping it will all stop?

I think it all comes down to who we have in our corner of life. Do you have family, coworkers, friends helping you? Who exactly is helping you get up when you get knocked down? Is it the people in your life that are also getting knocked down constantly, or do you have the ultimate trainer and friend? Do you have God in your corner? Nobody can knock him down or even phase him. Will he let you take some shots? Sure, how else are we supposed to grow. How would we ever learn how to teach or lead others if we have never faced any type of struggle where we had to lean on Christ.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. - Matthew 6:34 (MSG)


The one thing that everyone can learn from the Rocky movies is this: no matter how many times you get knocked down you have to get back up. That is easy to say, but hard to do. Sometimes the punches come so hard and fast that all we can focus on is the pain. All we can see or think about is the pain, and we don't know if it will ever come to an end. This is the time we need to call on God. He will help you deal with whatever situation or pain you are going through. He will meet you where you are and will change your life.  All we have to do is trust that he has the right game plan to help us through the fight. However, like any other fighter, we must train for the fight.

How do we train for this fight? (This may sound preachy but it is true.) Get into the Bible, study God's word. There are so many lessons to be learned just by reading this book. Also, we need to pray, and I don't just mean at bed time. We need to spend time with God everyday, and sometimes quality supersedes quantity. Lastly, don't forget going to church. How are we supposed to have human help if we don't surround ourselves with like minded people that also seek God. They will stand in your corner and scream for your success.

Seek out what God wants you to do in your life. He will show you the game plan to follow in life. He will help you through every round of this fight. He will show you people that will help you train for this fight and succeed in life. One of the most important things to remember is this, when you get knocked down, he is the hand that helps you back up.

Don't stay down. Get up. God is standing above you with his hand out to help you up. The question is this, will you grab it and continue the fight? Thanks for stopping by and God Bless...

Can you handle the truth...?

Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” - John 18:37 (NLT)


We all know the famous line spoken by Jack Nicholson in the movie A Few Good Men. He is on the stand testifying and Tom Cruise yells at him that he wants the truth. Jack's response was, of course, "You can't handle the truth!" Sometimes I feel, as Christians, we don't want to see the truth because we couldn't handle it staring us back in the face. We don't want to look in the mirror or take off our mask because we are afraid of what we might face. Even worse, others may see the truth about our lives or our deepest darkest secrets.

We as churches have stopped loving the truth. We have become a body of zombies that file into church on Sunday morning. We hope the preacher doesn't say anything to make us uncomfortable. All we want to hear is something that makes us warm and fuzzy inside, or that makes us feel better because we sinned that week. We no longer want to be challenged or shake up the status quo. All we worry about is our money, houses, cars, careers, and social status.

Why? Because hearing the truth can hurt. It can make us uncomfortable. It will challenge us to get out of our comfort zones and actually do the work God has called us to do. It will challenge us to change. We might have to get our hands dirty. We might have to hug a child with a snotty nose. We may have to serve a family that doesn't smell so good. We might have to go to the altar and ask for prayer, and we might be embarrassed because people will stare. Worst of all, it will make us face our past mistakes and ask others for help to shape a better future. Should you care about what other people think? Nope. You should care about what God thinks. The truth will challenge us to change, and change doesn't come easy.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:31-32 (NLT)


As followers of Christ, we must follow ALL of Christ's teachings. We don't need to follow all the religious legalism that has caused so many to stumble. If you notice in most of the stories involving Christ changing peoples lives, they were sinners and some were even caught in the act of sinning. Did he yell and scream at them telling them they were going to hell? No. He loved them and told them to go and sin no more. Did it hurt when their sins were exposed? I'm sure it did. However, look at the eternal rewards they gained by listening to Christ. They are the same rewards available to us today. The truth no matter how painful will always set us free.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 (NLT)


So, there is the truth that can really hurt. Jesus is truth and life. He is also the only way to God. That thought may be unpopular, but Christ said it and I believe it. In today's world we want to be good and moral, thinking that will get us into heaven. However, believing in Jesus is the only way to walk through the "pearly gates." We don't have to be legalistic about it. If we read about how Jesus lived and follow his example, our lives will be fulfilled beyond our wildest dreams. Plus, (here's the big kicker) if we live and love like Christ, when we sin we won't be afraid to come to our peers and ask for help. Also, they won't look down on us, because we are all equal in God's kingdom. They will be glad to pray for us. There is no shame in admitting our mistakes when we are looking to grow closer to God.

Take off your mask. Stop being a zombie. Don't pretend to be perfect. Face the skeletons in your closet. Live and love like Christ. Go and sin no more. Admit your sins if you do stumble. Stop hiding behind your social status, house, cars, or possessions. Chase after Christ and ask for help. Read the Bible. Jesus Christ is the only way. The truth may hurt sometimes, but the rewards are more than worth it.

There is the truth. Can you handle it? Can you live it? Look at yourself in the mirror and make a choice. You have been challenged. Thanks for stopping by and God Bless...