abandoned to Christ.

Personality quizzes like, "What's Your Emotional Type?", "Which Famous Elizabeth Are You?", "What Does Your Eye Color Mean?", "Which State Do You Actually Belong In?" or worse, Christianized versions like, "Which Bible Character Are You?" not only clog many Facebook newsfeeds, but they're also the avenue in which many people subliminally praise themselves and invite others to join in. One of the biggest problems with these online personality quizzes is that there are a limited number of options of what your personality can be like, and they're largely generic so that your results can be somewhat true about everybody. "The quizzes are overwhelmingly upbeat and lighthearted in nature, a calculated decision by the people engineering them. After all, they’re designed to be an affirmation of how you see yourself, not an assessment of who you really are." - New York Post "People love knowing and talking...

Though it's an icky thought to have an electronic device (pacemaker) in my chest and two electrical wires (leads) in two chambers of my heart (right atrium and ventricle), I'm grateful to the LORD for providing this medical intervention that's making my heart beat as often as it should and gradually elevate as necessary, with activity. I have a six week recovery that includes not being able to raise my left arm above my head, bear down on it, extend it back, etc. so as not to pull the leads out of my heart, which would require another surgery to put them back in. And for the first two weeks, I can't drive or do much of anything but rest, and possibly, some very light activity. Six weeks gives the tissue in my heart enough time to surround the leads and hold them in place. I never realized how many things I have to do that causes me to have to put my arms above my head (wash and brush my hair, getting dressed, reaching for a drinking glass, etc.), bear down o...

If God meant my salvation to be solely for the purpose of me knowing Him, fellowshiping with Him and fellow saints in spirit and in truth, then why am I still here? Because really, I can do all these things in Heaven. If these things were God's sole purpose, then God, who wastes nothing, would have let me die and called me to glory right after He gave me eternal life in Jesus Christ. But He didn't. Why? Because God's sole purpose in saving me wasn't just so I could go to church, remain in a Christian bubble and enjoy fellowship with Him and other believers. God's purpose in saving me and leaving me here on earth was so I could be salt and light to the world—an ambassador of Christ—holding fast to the Word of life in a crooked and perverse generation (Mt 5:13-16, Php 2:14-16). "I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he has inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live...Gracious is ...

It's been a while since I've shared anything about my physical health ( my last post was in November 2014 ). Perhaps you thought the Lord healed me from my serious health afflictions...but He hasn't...yet. And that's okay with me. I'm now entering my 11th year of constant and often debilitating pain, extreme fatigue, seven surgeries in seven years (my most recent was a few weeks ago). I'm also still adding new specialists to my already large repertoire (an Endocrinologist, Cardiac Electrophysiologist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, and more). In addition to all this, it looks as if I'm going to need at least one more, and possibly two surgeries this year (one for my hyperparathyroidism and the other for a cardiac pacemaker). The reason it's been so long since I've shared anything about my continually declining health, is because I've wrongly concluded that it's better for me to encourage you rather than burden you with my seemingly, ...

You've most likely already heard about Tullian Tchividjian's wife's affair, and his reciprocal affair that required his resignation as Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (1 Tim 3:1-7). This announcement has stirred a media and social media frenzy; attracting both prayers and piranhas. I can't imagine what it's like to live a life through the magnified lens of the media, the favoritism of followers, and un-Christlike criticism of detractors. The majority of us can't imagine that either, but we're so quick to condemn, excuse or join whatever seems to be the most popular position (at the moment). We make quick assertions, often, without stopping long enough to seek God's precepts. "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." -Proverbs 12:18, ESV We're commanded by God our Father to weep with those who weep. And anyone in their right mind and wi...

One of the greatest and saddest deceptions that befall all people, is the deception of self. Too often we believe our own press and/or who we think we are, versus who we truly are before the sight of God Almighty. Because of our sin nature, none of us are as "good" as we should be. And because of God's grace, none of us are as depraved as we could be. If you're reading this today and aren't sure if you're one of the people living under the deception of who you think you are versus who you truly are as God sees you, I have good news for you. Because God is so kind, is filled with compassion and mercy, and is exceedingly gracious to us, He gives and shows us things He doesn't have to; to help us live in truth. And what is it that God has compassionately given us so we can face the truth of who we really are? He's given us His Word—His holy and infallible "mirror". "the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the comma...

It continually amazes me when professing Christians behave like unbelievers—insulted by God's Word, repulsed by discipline and loving reproof (or strong rebuke when necessary), and deferring to their feelings rather than the Word of God. It also amazes me that when acts of sacrificial love are demonstrated, the instant a feeling is hurt (not a sin committed mind you), how quickly love is forgotten for the deception of sin-founded feelings. What compounds this egregious manifestation of self-centeredness and ingratitude, is the expectation that one should conform to the likeness and feelings of another person rather than be conformed in every way, to the image of Christ Jesus the Lord. "Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he [or she] will not go unpunished...Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right." -Proverbs 16:5, 13 (ESV) I suppose the key word in all of this is "pro...

"In John 4:34 Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.' I can't say that...I do so much for me. So much of my 'food' stinks. It's fodder. I'd be a hypocrite to stand before you and say those words are mine. But Jesus could always say, 'My food, my sustenance; the thing I live for, is to do the will of My Father.' That's why how a man prays will tell you more about him, than how a man preaches." -Paul Washer I concur with our brother Paul Washer. I want my "food", my sustenance, the  only  thing I live for, to be the same as Jesus—to do the will of my Father and to accomplish His work. But more often than I'd like, my "food" unfortunately, is my desires, my opinions, my creature comforts and my will. And at times, when this is my "food", my prayers are filled with the same carnality. Similar to many, I want to be liked and accepted. I ...

Most of us are familiar with the popular idiom, "Keeping up with the Joneses", but not all of us know what it means. Therefore, before I write about how we're still "keeping up with the Joneses" in the 21st century, I thought you might enjoy reading about its origin.  "keeping up with the Joneses [sic]. According to his own account, cartoonist Arthur R. (“Pop”) Momand lived in a community where many people tried to keep up with the Joneses. Momand and his wife resided in Cedarhurst, New York, one of Long Island’s Five Towns, where the average income is still among America’s highest. Living “far beyond our means in our endeavor to keep up with the well- to-do class,” the Momands were wise enough to quit the scene and move to Manhattan, where they rented a cheap apartment and “Pop” Momand used his Cedarhurst experience to create his once immensely popular Keeping Up with the Joneses comic strip, launched in 1913. Momand first thought of calling t...

Prayer is a miraculous gift from God. We don't often think of it that way, but we should, because it is.  In the 1828 Webster's Dictionary the word miraculous is defined as something, "Performed supernaturally, or by a power beyond the ordinary agency of natural laws; effected by the direct agency of Almighty power, and not by natural causes". Even within a more modern resource like Dictionary.com , we find that miracles are attributed to, "an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause." Prayer Is A Gift This is why prayer, that is, the ability to communicate with the Almighty by approaching His throne of grace through prayer—is a miracle. Without God granting us eternal salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, no human being can approach God's throne of grace. Without being washed by the pure and precious blood of the Lamb ...

On March 26, 2015, a monumental act was signed in the beautiful and picturesque state of Indiana. Since the signing of this act, ugly and false accusations have been hurled at Governor Mike Pence by the bullies of the LGBTQIA . I know in the news, you'll only see the acronym LGBT used, but it's not accurate since all hands are on deck when it comes to trying to ring the neck of Governor Mike Pence and anyone else who stands with him. Before I continue, I want to clarify that I'm sure not everyone who is a lesbian, gay, transgender, etc. person, is part of this monstrous faction of LGBTQIA who, like bullies, purposely target and threaten those who are not like them. I'm sure there must be some who are a part of the LGBTQIA community who despise this hypocrisy, and truly aspire to allow all people to peaceably live as they choose, rather than impose their lifestyle choice on others. If you're not familiar with the acronyms, I'll give you a quick update...

As I was considering why my prayers are sometimes shallow, I realized they stem from one source: lack of consistent reading, meditating and studying God's Word. And I don't mean just going through the motions and reading Scripture just so I can check it off my list, pat myself on the back and go on with my day; still charged with my fleshly desires, thoughts, and habits. What I mean is, the lack of desire to read the Word of God, not to get something from Him, but just to be with Him—to know Him more, in order to love Him better (Ps 46:10). I know my prayers are shallow when I'm overcome by my weaknesses. I know my prayers are shallow when I'm wallowing in self-pity because I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I know my prayers are shallow when they're filled with my desires, how I think my life and the life of others around me should be. I know my prayers are shallow when they're filled with my limited knowledge of circumstances rather than f...

I know I don't mean to do it as often as I do. And I'm sure no one else does (or, at least I hope not). But we all do it more than we should, and even once is more than enough. What is it ? It, is our tendency to palliate, that is, lessen the severity of, without remedying—our sins and the sins of others—particularly those who sin similarly to us. And if we happen to like them, their sins aren't as bad as others, or even worse, we choose to be blind to their sins altogether. This is truly a grievous activity. How do we do it? Well, I'm not going to presume upon how others might do it, but I sure know how I do it. And it's often subtle because it's cloaked in the worldly definition of love. The love that says, "I'm okay, you're okay" therefore never does or says anything that might make you dislike or reject me. So, when I see you sin, and especially if it's a sin similar to mine, I might say something like, "Oh, well...none of ...

photo credit: www.Biblescreen.com Yesterday, on my way home from the grocery store, I was overwhelmed by a very small act of kindness. Not one done to me, but one I was able to offer a total stranger. As I neared a construction area in my neighborhood, I saw a man driving a truck wishing to come out of the alleyway. He was unable to because no one driving either north or south would allow him entrance onto the main road since we all had to share a single lane due to the construction. I understand. It was rush hour and everyone was trying to get home. When it was my turn, and I had the right of way, I stopped and waved him in. He was hesitant and looked to the car coming southward, but they saw me and stopped too. The driver of the truck smiled, carefully drove out, and gave me a warm wave of thanks. I smiled, nodded and waved back. Then I smiled and waved at the driver who joined me in this very small act of kindness and they smiled and waved back. Unexpectedly, as...